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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. 15:1 Then I saw another
sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last,
because in them the wrath of God is finished. 2 And I saw
something like a sea of glass
mixed with fire, and those who had been
victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his
name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God.
1.
Describe the sign that John saw in heaven?
What is finished in them? (15:1)
2.
Describe the sea of glass that John sees. Who is standing on it? (15:2)
3.
Over what have those standing on the glass been victorious over ? (15:2)
4. What are the victorious ones holding? (15:2)
What might this signify?
6. What
do you learn about God from Rev. 15:1-2? How could this truth transform your life?
Rev. 15: 3 And they sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant
of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,
“ Great and marvelous are Your works,
O Lord God,
the Almighty;
Righteous and true are Your ways,
King of
the nations!
4 “
Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy;
For ALL THE
NATIONS WILL COME AND WORSHIP BEFORE YOU,
FOR YOUR RIGHTEOUS ACTS HAVE BEEN REVEALED.”
1.
Whose song do the victorious ones sing? (15:3)
2.
How is Moses identified? (15:3) (D) What
does the former song of Moses commemorate (Exod. 15)? How does the former song
compare to this song?
3.
Why might this song called the song of the Lamb? (15:3)
4. Who is the song’s object of praise? How are
His ways described? What is His title? (15:3)
5. What is to be feared and glorified? For what reason is it to be feared and
glorified? Who alone is holy? Who will come and worship before Him? Why will
all the nations come and worship before Him? (15:4)
6. What
do you learn about God from Rev. 15:3-4? How could this truth transform your life?
Rev. 15:5 After these things I
looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of testimony in heaven was
opened, 6 and the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, clothed in linen, clean and bright, and girded around their chests with golden
sashes. 7 Then one of the four living creatures gave to
the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and
ever. 8 And the
temple was filled with smoke
from the glory of God and from His power; and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven
angels were finished.
1.
After these things, what does John see
that was opened? (15:5)
2.
Who comes out of the temple? How are they clothed? (D) What might be the
significance of their clothing? (15:6)
3.
What does one of the four living creatures give to the seven angels??
With what are the bowls filled? How is God described? (15:7) Why is this attribute of God being emphasized?
4. With what is the temple filled? What is the
source of the smoke? (15:8)
5. Who is able to enter the temple until the
seven plagues of the seven angels are finished? (15:8)
6. What do you learn about God from Rev. 15:5-8? How could this truth transform your life?
Write a prayer response to Revelation 15.
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