The Revelation of Jesus Christ

A study through the book of Revelation

A little bit of BackgroundFocus: Second coming of Jesus Christ

and the establishment of God’s Kingdom at the end of time

Outline: Chapter 1- The things you have seenChapters 2-3 – The Things which areChapters 4-22 – The Things to come

What is the purpose of tonight’s study?

To see beyond the symbolism in the book of Revelation, God’s

righteousness and love require the possibility of eternal condemnation

because God respects our free will and never forces us to repent.

Revelation 12:1-212 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.

Woman with Child

The Nation of IsraelShe is clothed with the sun and the

moon is under her feet. This represents God’s favor upon the nation of Israel.

Crown of 12 stars represents the 12 tribes

In child birth. This represents the troubled history of Israel. She is tired,

exhausted and slowed down by the birth

Artist rendering of Woman with Child

Revelation 12:3-43 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. 4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.

The Red Dragon

Satan himselfSeven heads, ten horns and seven

crowns represent ten nations revived.

He took 1/3 of the angels with him, now called demons (Daniel 7)

Artist rendering of the Dragon

Revelation 12:5-65 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

The Man-Child

Jesus Christ

Rules the nations with a rod of iron. This represents the millennial reign.

Caught up. Reference to the ascension where Jesus now rules at

the right hand of God the Father.

Artist rendering Woman with the Man-Child

Revelation 12:7-97 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

A great Battle in Heaven

Led by MichaelSatan is cast out of Heaven

This could have happened at an undetermined time in the past.

Spiritual warfare is highly significant here.

This battle will happen in the future and Satan will no longer have access

to Heaven like we see in Job 1.

Artist rendering of the Battle in Heaven

Revelation 12:10-1210 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

Satan’s wrath on God’s people

The Saints of God will have the ultimate victory

Saints in Christ can overcome Satan

Through: The power of Jesus’ nameThe blood of Christ

The word of our testimony.

This can happen now, but will definitely happen then.

Many saints will be martyred by Satan for their faith.

Revelation 12:13-1713 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.

Revelation 12:13-1716 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Satan’s attack on Israel

The remnant of Israel will be attacked

Woman in childbirth will be attacked

She will be able to escape into the wilderness

Some believe this place in the wilderness is Petra

Petra

Revelation 13:1-213 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

Beast from the Sea

The Anti-ChristHe will be a world dictator

Horns represent power. Possibly power of nations.

Leopard, Bear and Lion all represent dreadful power of Babylon. This dictator will be worse than any ever seen before.

Satan will empower him, give him a place to reign and give him authority.

Artist Rendering of the Beast of the Sea

Revelation 13:33 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

One head will be wounded

Wound means “Plague”Roman view- The empire was dead,

now it is revived.

Islamic View- The religion was hurt, but is now stronger than ever.

Revelation 13:44 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

Antichrist's Influence

All the world will worship SatanPeople will be tricked or forced to

worship Satan.Satan and his ways are always a cheap

imitation for God and His will.The Antichrist will blaspheme for 3.5

years. The last half of the tribulation. This will begin with the “Abomination of

Desecration” in the TempleThe Antichrist is Satan’s political

mouthpiece

Revelation 13:7-87 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

The Antichrist’s Influence

He will take over the entire worldSatan will empower the Antichrist to

take over the world using force (war).He will be worshiped by all (just like

Satan).All those who aren’t believers will

worship the Antichrist

Revelation 13:9-109 If any man have an ear, let him hear.10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

Hear This

If you have an ear, listen up!Whatever you do to others will be

done to you.

The Saints will be protected by God’s justice

Interesting thought about “the sword”.

Revelation 13:11-1211 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

The Beast from the Earth

The False ProphetTwo Horns- Represent his religiosity.

He will be labeled a “prophet”.

“Spake as the Dragon”- Speaking on behalf of Satan. Satan speaking

through him.

Works much like the Holy Spirit in God’s Trinity.

Artist Rendering of the False Prophet

Revelation 13:13-1413 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

The Deception of the False Prophet

Counterfeit RealityPeople will believe the False Prophet because of the miracles he performs.

They will be imitations of things God and His prophets have done.

Possibility of appearing to bring people back to life or heal them.

Revelation 13:15-1715 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

The Deception of the False Prophet

All will be required to worship himIf you do not worship the beast, you

be martyred.

The false prophet will require all to be marked.

You will not be able to buy or sell without the mark of the beast.

Revelation 13:1818 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

The Mark of the Beast

Six Hundred Sixty SixLetters in Greek, Hebrew and Latin all

had numerical values.

666 could equal the spelling of a name.

Many believe it is a reference to Nero

No matter who it is, You will have to have it in order to survive.

What can we learn?

Satan will do anything he can to counterfeit God.

Satan will do anything to attack God’s people.

Ultimately, Satan will be defeated. We fight our spiritual battles from victory

not for victory.