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Brief Summary of Revelation 1–9
Revelation 1 The Introduction: Scene:
Earth. Time: Past (ca. 95 AD).
John introduces the book of prophecy with
an explanation of the circumstances surrounding the Revelation. John was exiled
on the island of Patmos when Jesus sent and communicated the vision of things
which must soon take place. John is commanded to write and send the book to the
seven churches in Asia.
Revelation 2-3 Messages to the Angels of the Seven Churches
in Asia:
Scene: Earth. Time: Present (to original
readers in Asia).
Jesus sends a unique message to each of
the seven churches in the western part of the Roman province of Asia: Ephesus,
Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. The cities are listed in the order of the geographical circuit that the
messenger of the book would naturally travel as he delivered the letters.
Revelation 4–5 Prelude of Praise:
Scene: Heaven. Time: Future (Onset of the Great
Seven-Year Tribulation which will complete the present age, conclude with
Jesus’ return, and usher in the Millennium).
Revelation 4-22 records events that will
take place in the future. Three consecutive periods of judgment lead to the
second return of Jesus Christ: 7 Seals; 7 Trumpets; and, 7 Bowls. A prelude of
praise in heaven precedes the onset of each three sets of 7 consecutive
judgments. Revelation 4-5 records the initial heavenly prelude of praise that
will precede the opening of the 7 Seals of judgment in Revelation 6, ushering
in “a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the
world until now, nor ever will” (Matt 24:21).
Revelation 6 Seven Seal Judgments
Scene: Earth. Time: Future (Chronology moves
forward.)
The seven seals contain the
judgments of the Great Tribulation, concluding with the return of Jesus. The
seventh Seal contains the seven Trumpet judgments, and the seventh Trumpet
judgment contains the final seven Bowl judgments. The Trumpet and Bowl
judgments are all contained within the seventh Seal, unfolding consecutively
through the seven-year Tribulation Period. Through judgment, Jesus becomes King
of all the nations.
Revelation 6 records John’s
vision of the Lamb breaking the first 6 of 7 Seals:
§
Seal #1: First
Apocalyptic Horseman (White Horse): Conqueror
§
Seal #2: Second
Apocalyptic Horseman (Red Horse): Removes Peace
§
Seal #3: Third
Apocalyptic Horseman (Black Horse): Famine
§
Seal #4: Fourth
Apocalyptic Horseman (Ashen Horse): Death and Hades (over ¼ killed)
§
Seal #5: Cries
of the Martyrs for Judgment and Vengeance
§
Seal #6: Earthquake,
Blackened Sun, Blood-like Moon, Falling Stars, Split Sky, Moving Mountains and
Islands, Hiding Men, Great Day of Wrath
The seventh seal remains
unbroken at the end of Revelation 6. Before the Lamb breaks the seventh seal
(Rev 8), the foreheads of 144,000 from the 12 tribes of Israel are sealed.
Rev 7:1-8
Sealing of 144,000 from 12 Tribes of Israel: Scene: Earth.
Time: Future.
The
angels are commanded to refrain from harming the earth, sea, or trees until the
bond-servants of God are sealed on their foreheads with the seal of the Living
God. The 144,000 include 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Rev
7:9-17 Prelude of Praise by Multitude in Heaven: Scene: Heaven. Time: Future.
Before the Lamb breaks the
7th Seal, containing the 7 Trumpets and 7 Bowls, there is a prelude of praise
in heaven by a great, countless multitude from every nation, tribes, peoples,
and tongues. The multitude, clothed in white robes with palm branches in their
hands, stands before the throne and before the Lamb as they cry, “Salvation to
our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb” (7:10). The heavenly court
responds in worship. One of the elders explains to John that the multitude
came out of the great tribulation. They washed their robes, made white in the
blood of the Lamb.
Revelation 8–9 Trumpet Judgments
Scene: Earth. Time: Future (Chronology moves
forward, Second Half of Tribulation)
After the sealing of 144,000 from the twelve tribes of
Israel and a prelude of praise by a great multitude in heaven, the Lamb breaks
the seventh seal. In response, heaven is silenced for half an hour. The seventh
seal contains the seven trumpets, the second of three 7-judgment series that
are consecutively released during the Great Tribulation. The seven bowls are
contained in the seventh trumpet. The seven trumpets are contained in the
seventh seal. When the Lamb breaks the seventh seal, He is actually initiating
the seven trumpets. Once the seventh seal is broken, the seven trumpet
judgments occur consecutively. Revelation 8–9 records the consecutive release
of six of the seven trumpet judgments.
o
Trumpet
#1: Hail, Fire (upon earth)
o
Trumpet
#2: Burning Mountain (upon sea)
o
Trumpet
#3: Wormwood (upon waters)
o
Trumpet
#4: Sun, Moon, Stars (upon heavens)
o
Trumpet
#5: Demonic Locusts (upon people)
o
Trumpet
#6: Horsemen (upon people)
o
Trumpet
#7: Announces 7 Bowls
Introduction to Revelation 10–15:
Transition from Trumpets (8–9) to Seals
(16)
Scenes: Earth (10-14) and Heaven (15) Time: Future
Just as chapter 7, which deals with the
144,000 sealed Israelites and great multitude from all nations, serves as a
transition between the Seal and Trumpet judgments, Chapters 10–15 serve as a
transition between the Trumpet and Bowl judgments. The interlude provides
background information pertaining to significant people, places, and events
during the Great Tribulation without advancing chronologically through the
judgment series.
Chapter 10 introduces an angel, perhaps Michael the archangel,
who announces the 7th trumpet, which contains the seven final Bowl judgments
leading to the return of Christ.
Chapter 11 records John’s measurement of the temple of
God and the altar, then it introduces the two witnesses who prophesy for 1,260
days (42 months) of the Great Tribulation. At the end of 3 ½ years, the two
witnesses die and their bodies are displayed for 3 ½ days before they are
brought back to life and ascend into heaven.
Chapter 12 is often considered the most symbolic chapter
in the Bible. Five of seven major tribulation personages are identified: (1)
the woman clothed with the sun=Mary/Judah; (2) the red dragon (7 heads, 10
horns, 7 diadems)=Satan; (3) a male child=Christ; (4) Michael/angels; and (5)
offspring of woman persecuted by the dragon=Israel.
Chapter 13 introduces the final two of seven major
tribulation personages: (6) beast out of the sea=Antichrist; and, (7) beast out
of the earth=false prophet.
Chapter 14 reveals the Lamb standing on Mount Zion and
the worship of the 144,000 who have the name of the Lamb and the name of His
Father written on their foreheads. After a prelude of praise, angels announce
fallen Babylon and the reaping of the earth.
Chapter 15 records a heavenly prelude of praise in
preparation for the final series of judgment. Those who had been victorious
over the beast and his image sing the Song of Moses and Song of the Lamb. One
of the four living creatures gives to the seven angels seven golden bowls full
of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever, and the temple is filled with
smoke from the glory of God and from His power.
STUDY QUESTIONS:
Rev. 13:1 And the dragon stood
on the sand of the seashore.
Then I saw a beast
coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns
were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. 2 And
the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those
of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his
power and his throne and great authority.
3 I saw one of his heads as if it had
been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed
and followed after the beast; 4 they worshiped the dragon because he gave his
authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the
beast, and who is able to wage war with him?”
5 There was given to him a mouth speaking
arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was
given to him. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against
God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell
in heaven.
1.
Where does the dragon stand? (D) Who is
the dragon? (13:1)
2.
Describe the beast. Where does the beast come from? What does the dragon
give to the beast? (D) Who does the beast of the sea represent? (13:1-2)
3.
Describe the appearance of one of the beast’s heads. What happens to the
fatal wound? What is the response of the whole earth? (13:3-4)
4. What is given to the beast? How long is he
given authoriy? (13:5)
5. Against whom does the beast blaspheme? What
are the objects of his blasphemy? (13:6)
6. What
do you learn about God from Rev. 13:1-6? How could this transform your life?
Rev. 13:7 It was also given to
him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every
tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. 8 All
who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not
been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb
who has been slain. 9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear. 10 If
anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills
with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and
the faith of the saints.
1.
What is also given to the beast of the
sea? (13:7)
2.
Who will worship the beast? (D) What is the book of life of the Lamb?
(13:8)
(Ps.
69:28; Phil. 4:3; Rev. 3:5; Rev. 17:8; 20:12; 20:15; 21:27; 22:19)
3.
Who is commanded to hear? (13:9)
4. Who must go into captivity? Who must be
killed with the sword? Describe the perseverance and the faith of the saints.
(13:10)
5. What
do you learn about God from Rev. 13:7-10? How could this transform your life?
Rev. 13:11 Then I saw another
beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke
as a dragon. 12 He exercises all the authority of the first
beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to
worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. 13 He
performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the
earth in the presence of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth
because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the
beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to
life. 15 And it was given to him to give breath to the
image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause
as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 And
he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free
men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their
forehead, 17 and he provides that no one will be
able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name
of the beast or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding
calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his
number is six hundred and sixty-six.
1.
Where does the other beast come from?
Describe him. How does he speak?
(D) Who does the
beast of the earth represent? (13:11)
2.
Describe the authority and activity of the beast of the earth.
(13:12-13)
3.
Who does the beast of the earth deceive? How does he deceive? What does
he tell those who dwell on the earth to make? (13:14) For what purpose is the
image of the beast given breath? Who will be killed? (13:15)
4. What does the beast of the earth cause to be
given? To whom is it given? On what part of the body? What must a person have
to be able to buy or sell? (13:16-17)
5. What is identified as wisdom? What is he who has understanding to calculate?
What is the number? (D) What does 666 represent? (13:18)
6. What
do you learn about God from Rev. 13:11-18? How could this transform your life?
Write a prayer in response to Rev. 13.
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