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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.
Introduction to Revelation 16
(The
Grand Finale)
Revelation 16 – Seven Plagues/Bowl Judgments
Scene: Earth. Time: Future (Chronology moves
forward.)
The seven seals (Rev 6, 8)
contain all the judgments of the Great Tribulation, concluding with the return
of Jesus. The seventh Seal (Rev 8) contains the seven Trumpet judgments (Rev
8–9, 11:15), and the seventh Trumpet judgment (Rev 11:15) contains the final
seven Bowl judgments (Rev 16). 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 16 brings the
terrible judgments of the Tribulation to conclusion through the pouring out of
the final seven Bowl judgments.
· Bowl 1 (upon earth) Boils
· Bowl 2 (into sea) Blood
· Bowl 3 (into rivers) Blood
· Bowl 4 (upon sun) Scorching
· Bowl 5 (upon throne of the beast) Darkness
· Bowl 6 (upon the Euphrates river) Dries Up
· Bowl 7 (upon air) Earthquake,
Hail
STUDY QUESTIONS:
Bowl #1
Rev. 16:1 Then I
heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour
out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”
Rev. 16:2 So the
first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth; and it became a
loathsome and malignant sore on the people who had the mark of the beast and
who worshiped his image.
1. What does John hear from the temple? To whom
does the voice speak? What does the voice command the angels to do? (16:1)
2.
Where does the first angel pour out his bowl? What is the result? On
whom does the judgment fall? (16:2)
3. Why
do people have the mark of the beast and worship his image? (Rev. 13)
Bowl #2
Rev. 16:3 The second angel
poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became blood like that of a
dead man; and every living thing in the sea died.
1. Where
does the second angel pour out his bowl? What does it become? (16:3)
2.
What is the result of the second bowl judgment? (16:3)
3.
Why do you think that the bowl of judgment is poured into the sea?
(16:3)
Bowl #3
Rev. 16:4 Then the third
angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of waters; and
they became blood. 5 And I heard the angel of the waters saying,
“Righteous are You, who are and who were, O Holy One, because You judged these
things; 6 for they poured out the blood of saints and
prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. They deserve it.” 7 And I
heard the altar saying, “Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are
Your judgments.”
1.
Where does the third angel pour out his bowl? What does it become? (16:4)
2. How
does the angel of the waters describe the Holy One? Why does the angel praise
Him as
righteous?
(16:5)
3. Why do those who are judged deserve the bowl
of wrath? What does He give them to drink? What
does the altar say? (16:6-7)
Bowl #4
Rev. 16:8 The fourth angel
poured out his bowl upon the sun, and it was given to it to scorch men with
fire. 9 Men were scorched with fierce heat; and they
blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they did
not repent so as to give Him glory.
1. Where does the fourth angel pour out his
bowl? What is given to it? (16:8)
2. What
is the result of the fourth bowl judgment? How do they respond? (16:9) Why do
you think they refuse to repent after judgment?
Bowl #5
Rev. 16:10 Then the fifth
angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom
became darkened; and they gnawed their tongues because of pain, 11 and
they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores; and
they did not repent of their deeds.
1. Where
does the fifth angel pour out his bowl? What happens to the beast’s
kingdom? (16:10)
2. What is the response of those on whom
the fifth bowl is poured? What does it mean to blaspheme God? Do they repent of
their deeds? (16:11)
Bowl #6
Rev. 16:12 The sixth angel
poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried
up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east. 13 And I
saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the
beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like
frogs; 14 for they are spirits of demons, performing
signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together
for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. 15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is
the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about
naked and men will not see his shame.”) 16 And they gathered them together to the place
which in Hebrew is called Har-magedon.
1.
Where does the sixth angel pour out his
bowl? What is the result?
Why is the water of the Euphrates dried
up? (16:12)
2. What comes out of the mouths of the
dragon, beast, and false prophet? What are the three unclean spirits? Why do
they perform signs? (16:13-14)
3. Who is
coming like a thief? Who is blessed?
(16:15)
4. To what place are they gathered?
(16:16) What else is revealed about this great battle? (cf. Psa. 2:9; Isa.
11:4-5; Isa. 63:3-6; Rev. 17:14; Rev. 19:11-19)
Bowl #7
Rev. 16:17 Then the seventh
angel poured out his bowl upon the air, and a loud voice came out of the
temple from the throne, saying, “It is done.”
18 And there were flashes of lightning and sounds
and peals of thunder; and there was a great earthquake, such as there had not
been since man came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and
so mighty. 19 The great city was split into three parts, and
the cities of the nations fell. Babylon the great was remembered before God, to
give her the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath. 20 And
every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21 And
huge hailstones, about one hundred pounds each,
came down from heaven upon men; and men blasphemed God because of the
plague of the hail, because its plague
was extremely severe.
1.
Where does the seventh angel pour out his
bowl? What does a loud voice coming out of the temple say? (16:17)
2. Describe
the seventh bowl judgment. Describe the earthquake. (16:18-21)
3. Who is remembered before God? (16:19)
4. What
does the Bible reveal about Babylon the great?
(Dan. 4:30; Rev. 14:8; Rev. 17:5; Rev. 18:2, 10, 21).
5. Describe
the seventh bowl judgment’s impact on islands and mountains? (16:20)
6. What
comes down from heaven upon men? What is their response? (16:21)
7. What do you learn about God in Rev. 16? How
could this transform your life?
Write a prayer response to Revelation 16.
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