The Drama of Revelation ‐ Session 8 3/7/2017

WELCOME TO THE DRAMA OF REVELATION

A Study of The SESSION VIII – 03/07/17

THIS WEEK’S CLASS - 16 • Session 1 – Introduction and • Session 5 – The Process: Seven Background to Revelation Seals and (Ch. 9 – 11) • Session 2 – The Prologue • Session 6 & 7 – Seven Key Figures (Chapter 1): Vision of the Coming in the End-Times Drama King • Session 8 – Plagues: Seven • Session 3 – The Proclamation Bowls of Final Judgements (Chapters 2 & 3): Letters to the (Chapters 14 – 16) Seven Churches • Session 9 – Plagues: Seven Bowls of Final Judgements (Chapters 17 • Session 4 – The Problem – 20) (Chapters 4 & 5): Seven-Sealed • Session 10 – Seven New Things Scroll (Chapters 21-22)

1 The Drama of Revelation ‐ Session 8 3/7/2017

UNDERSTANDING THE UNFOLDING OF THE EVENTS

Trumpet Judgments (8 – 11) Seals (6-7) Bowl Judgments (15-16)

THE WORLD AT WAR (CHAPTER 8) The seven trumpets begin to sound and terrible calamities follow. These judgments are so severe that the global fire they ignite nearly destroys the whole planet. The whole world is at war and all life is in danger of .

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THE SEVENTH TRUMPET 8:6 – 9:21

When the seventh seal was opened, the scroll was ready to be unrolled, read, and put into effect. At that moment, heaven fell silent. Seven angels were given trumpets. The prayers of the saints went up before God, and in response, fire was cast upon the earth. The thunder of judgment rumbled. With that warning, the trumpets are blown.

CAN IT GET ANY WORSE? (CHAPTER 10) This chapter serves as an interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpets. It includes the apocalyptic thunders, which are sealed up and kept secret. The sounding of the seventh trumpet is delayed until John can take the “little book,” devour it, and prophesy again.

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HELL ON EARTH (CHAPTER 11) The invasion of Jerusalem by the Gentiles is accompanied by the rise of the . The scene shifts to the earthly Jerusalem, which is the center of the coming conflict with . The witnesses are martyred and then miraculously resurrected.

WAR IN HEAVEN CHAPTERS 12 AND 13

Right in the middle of the Book of Revelation lists the seven symbolic players in the great end-times drama. The identity of these figures is crucial to the interpretation of the whole book.

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The Seven Symbolic Players in the Great End-Times Drama Woman Israel 12:1-2, 6, 13-16 Dragon Satan 12:3-4, 9, 12-13 Male Child Christ 12:2, 5 Archangel 12:7-12 Rest of her offpring Seed of Woman 12:17 (saved Israel) Beast of the sea 13:1-10 13:11-18

WINE PRESS OF THE WRATH OF GOD CHAPTERS 14

Having identified the key players in the eschatological end game, John now reintroduces the drama itself. The everlasting gospel is proclaimed and the fall of “Babylon” is announced. The Son of man appears to judge the world and to tread the wine press of the wrath of God.

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WINE PRESS OF THE WRATH OF GOD

• Following the typical pattern of the Revelation, Chapter 14 provides an overview of what follows in Chapters 15 – 19.

• The chapter opens with the 144,000 and proceeds to four climactic announcements: • The everlasting gospel • The fall of Babylon • The judgement of the lost • The Blessed of the saved

• John’s perspective in this overview takes us all the way to (v. 19-20) and the judgments that follow (v. 11).

WINE PRESS OF THE WRATH OF GOD

• The 144,000 are the same group as in 7:3-8. What is more precise in this passage is that they are more precisely defined as male “virgins” who are “purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb” (v. 4).

• God seals this group unto salvation.

• They are described as: • Purchased and sealed to God (v. 1-3) • Morally pure male virgins (v. 4) • Followers of the Lamb (v. 4) • Speakers of the truth (v. 5) • Blameless (v. 5)

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WINE PRESS OF THE WRATH OF GOD

• Chapter 7 refers to the 144,000 as the “bond-servants of our God” (7:3), and this passage calls them the “purchased (14:3- 4).

• They are never specifically called “witnesses” – the claims of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Nor are they specifically called “preachers” as some assume.

• These are the saved Jews of the Tribulation period.

NOW HEAR THIS! Three angels fly across the sky, one after another, making dramatic and climactic announcements. These are followed by a fourth announcement from heaven itself. Each of these serves as a statement (preview) of what is to follow.

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NOW HEAR THIS!

1. “Fear God and give Him glory… and Worship Him” (14:6-7).

2. “Fallen, fallen, is Babylon the great” (14:8).

3. “The wrath of God… mixed in full strength” (14:9-11)

4. “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord” (14:12-13)

THE GRAPES OF WRATH

• The “wine press of the wrath of God” (v. 19) symbolizes the severity of this judgment. It’s location is “with-out (outside) the city”, indicating that the last great conflict will be near, but not in, Jerusalem.

• The final conflict s so severe that the blood of those killed runs like a river, neck-deep (“up to the horses’ bridles”).

• The depth of the blood and the land area covered are both indicative of a massive slaughter and loss of human life.

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THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES CHAPTERS 15

The final expression of the wrath of God is contained in the bowl judgments. The are called the “seven last plagues.” Before they are poured out upon the earth, the saved martyrs of the appear singing the songs of deliverance ad redemption. Then seven angels proceed out of the heavenly temple with seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God.

THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES

• The pouring out of the seven bowls (vials) are the divine judgments preceding the of Christ.

• The resulted in seven trumpets, which result in the seven bowls.

• What has been anticipated in the cup of wine (14:10), the harvest (14:14-16) and the vintage (14:17-20) is now about to happen. But before it does, we are again reminded that God is still in control. The throne of heaven still overrules the events on earth.

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THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES

• The seven angels are said to have “seven plagues, which are the last.”

• These angels are pictured holding seven “vials” or “bowls.”

THE LAST EXODUS

• You cannot miss the obvious symbolism drawn from the Exodus story in this chapter (15:1-8).

• The final judgments on the Antichrist will be similar to, but much worse than those that fell on Pharaoh in Exodus 7 – 10.

• The similarities point to a similar purpose of both judgment and deliverance.

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THE SONG OF THE LAMB

• In this hymn of praise, God is worshiped for His “great and marvelous” acts. He is praised as the “King of the nations.”

• This praise results in the theoretical question: “Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Thy name?” • Because You alone are holy • Because all nations shall worship You • Because Your righteous acts are revealed.

THE SHEKINAH GLORY

• In verse 7, one of the four creatures provides the angels with the golden cups filled to the brim with the wrath of God.

• As the angels receive their goblets of divine retribution, the “smoke” fills the temple with the Shekinah glory of God, as it did in the Tabernacle and the first temple.

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NEXT WEEK’S CLASS - 20 • Session 1 – Introduction and • Session 5 – The Process: Seven Background to Revelation Seals and Seven Trumpets (Ch. 9 – 11) • Session 2 – The Prologue • Session 6 & 7 – Seven Key Figures (Chapter 1): Vision of the Coming in the End-Times Drama King • Session 8 – Plagues: Seven Bowls • Session 3 – The Proclamation of Final Judgements (Chapters 14 (Chapters 2 & 3): Letters to the – 16) Seven Churches • Session 9 – Plagues: Seven Bowls of Final Judgements • Session 4 – The Problem (Chapters 16 – 20) (Chapters 4 & 5): Seven-Sealed • Session 10 – Seven New Things Scroll (Chapters 21-22)

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