Revelation 7 5-10-20
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Where Did They Come From? Revelation 7:9-17 a Sermon Preached in Page Auditorium on April 17, 2016 by the Rev
Where Did They Come From? Revelation 7:9-17 A Sermon preached in Page Auditorium on April 17, 2016 by the Rev. Dr. Luke A. Powery Each week we pray, “on earth as it is in heaven” because our present doesn’t yet match God’s promise so we keep striving, praying, moving, pressing, working, going to church, attending bible studies, singing hymns, giving alms, serving in the community, and taking communion. These are some signs that we desire “on earth as it is in heaven.” We want God’s future now, God’s future present. So many have yearned and dreamed for this moment that there are all kinds of end of the world predictions throughout history. Well before the end time imaginary predictions of the Left Behind book series, or the visions of Harold Camping (may he rest in peace), there was the year 1806. In that year, a domesticated hen in Leeds, England, appeared to lay eggs inscribed with the message “Christ is coming.” Great numbers of people reportedly went to see this hen and began to despair of the coming Judgment Day. It was soon discovered, however, that the eggs were not in fact prophetic messages of the future but the work of their owner, who had been writing on the eggs in ink and reinserting them into the poor hen’s body. If it was the end of anything, it was the end of that poor hen! But well before hens or Harolds, well before any of these, there is the revelation of John, literally the ‘apocalypse’ of John. -
THE DESTRUCTION of RELIGIOUS BABYLON Revelation 17
THE DESTRUCTION OF RELIGIOUS BABYLON Revelation 17 Revelation chapters 17 and 18 are an interlude in the sequence of Tribulation events. These chapters deal with the destruction of religious and economic Babylon. Dr. Charles Ryrie explains why Babylon is the figure used to describe these forces in the last days. Babylon has had a long and consistently dishonorable history. It had its beginnings around 3000 B.C. under Nimrod (Gen. 10:8–10). The tower of Babel (Gen. 11:1–9) was built to prevent people from scattering throughout the earth, in direct defiance of God's command to do so. Hammurabi made Babylon a religious power about 1600 B.C. by making Marduk god of the city of Babylon and head of a pantheon of 1,300 deities. Extra-biblical sources indicate that the wife of Nimrod became the head of the Babylonian mysteries, which consisted of religious rites that were part of the worship of idols in Babylon. Her name was Semiramis, and she supposedly gave birth to a son, Tammuz, who claimed to be a savior and the fulfillment of the promise given to Eve in Genesis 3:15. This anti-God Babylonian religion is alluded to in Ezekiel 8:14…, Ezekiel 8:14 (ESV) 14 Then he brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the house of the LORD, and behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz. Jeremiah 7:18…, Jeremiah 7:17–18 (ESV) 17 Do you not see what they are doing in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 18 The children gather wood, the fathers kindle fire, and the women knead dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven. -
Symbols in the Book of Revelation and Their Literal Meaning According to Other Passages of Scripture
Symbols in the Book of Revelation and Their Literal Meaning According to Other Passages of Scripture One vital basic rule of bible study is to compare Scripture with In the Footsteps of John: Scripture. Isaiah 28:9-10 “Whom shall He teach knowledge? And whom shall Walking through the Book of Revelation He make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept with John the Revelator upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little”. www.lrhartley.com/john 1 Corinthians 2:13 “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual”. The prophecies of the book of Revelation have only 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and one correct interpretation, and there is only one way to is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in discover it: allow the bible to interpret itself. righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works”. Angel Messenger ........................................................................ Daniel 8:16, 9:21; Luke 1:19,26; Hebrews 1:14 Ark of Testimony Ark of covenant; The mercy seat where God dwells ....... Exodus 25:10-22; Psalm 80:1 Babylon Religious apostasy; confusion ......................................... Genesis 10:8-10, 11:6-9: Revelation 18:2,3; 17:1-5 Balaam, Doctrine of Balaam Advancing our own interests, compromise, idolatry ....... Numbers 22:5-25 Beast Kingdom, government, political power .......................... -
The Order and Significance of the Sealed Tribes of Revelation 7:4-8
Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Master's Theses Graduate Research 2011 The Order and Significance of the Sealed ribesT of Revelation 7:4-8 Michael W. Troxell Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/theses Recommended Citation Troxell, Michael W., "The Order and Significance of the Sealed ribesT of Revelation 7:4-8" (2011). Master's Theses. 56. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/theses/56 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your interest in the Andrews University Digital Library of Dissertations and Theses. Please honor the copyright of this document by not duplicating or distributing additional copies in any form without the author’s express written permission. Thanks for your cooperation. ABSTRACT THE ORDER AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SEALED TRIBES OF REVELATION 7:4-8 by Michael W. Troxell Adviser: Ranko Stefanovic ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Thesis Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: THE ORDER AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SEALED TRIBES OF REVELATION 7:4-8 Name of researcher: Michael W. Troxell Name and degree of faculty adviser: Ranko Stefanovic, Ph.D. Date completed: November 2011 Problem John’s list of twelve tribes of Israel in Rev 7, representing those who are sealed in the last days, has been the source of much debate through the years. This present study was to determine if there is any theological significance to the composition of the names in John’s list. -
Revelation – 7 Churches
1 Revelation Chapters 2 & 3 The Seven Churches Note this, when Jesus is introduced in chapter #1 certain descriptions are attributed to Him: He who holds the seven stars and the seven gold lamp stands. The first and the last, who was dead and is alive. He who hath the two edged sword. He who has eyes like flames of fire and feet like bronze. He who has the seven spirits of God. He who has the key of David that opens that which no man can shut. The faithful and true witness: the beginning and the end. Now note: That each of these attributes are associated with one of the seven churches. Ephesus: He who holds the seven stars and the seven gold lamp stands. Smyrna: The first and the last, who was dead and is alive. Pergamum: He who hath the two edged sword. Thyatira: He who has eyes like flames of fire and feet like bronze. Sardis: He who has the seven spirits of God. Philadelphia: He who has the key of David that opens that which no man can shut. Laodicea: The faithful and true witness: the beginning and the end. Now here are the two in the combination as revealed in Genesis chapters 2 &3. Here is a general summary of how they are categorized. Ephesus: The church that lost it’s first love. (Attribute of the Church) Ephesus: He who holds the seven stars and the seven gold lamp stands. Smyrna: The persecuted church. (Attribute of the Church) Smyrna: The first and the last, who was dead and is alive Pergamum: The church settled in the world. -
The Book of Revelation
The Book of Revelation “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.” (Rev 1:3) The 144,000 Sealed Servants of God (7:117) I. The Identity of the 144.000 A. “The stage has been set anD the unveiling of GoD’s ultimate victory formally begins. This section marks the first of a series of three juDgment visions (seals, trumpets, anD bowls), each with seven elements. Crucial to unDerstanDing the larger story is the question in the opening of the sixth seal: ‘Who can stanD?’ (as the Lamb pours out his wrath). The answer comes in Revelation 7 with two visions of people belonging to GoD – the 144,000 on earth, sealeD with Divine protection, anD the great multituDe in heaven stanDing before GoD’s throne.” (Hayes, Duvall, and Pate, Dictionary of Biblical Prophecy, 377) 1. They are sealed with “the seal of the living God” (7:2; 9:4; 14:1; and see Ezek 9:4 on the letter tav). 2. This “seal” (sfragi÷ß, sphragis) is in contrast to the “mark” (ca¿ragma, charagma) of the beast. 3. The function of the seal was to mark God’s people for protection from His judgment (7:1-3). B. The 144,000 is not a symbolic reference to the church. 1. “Posttribulationalists identify the 144,000 as ‘spiritual Israel,’ i.e., the church, though some suggest that they form a Jewish remnant—not members of the church and therefore not to be raptured at the end of the Tribulation. -
Revelation 7
REVELATION 7 Rev. 7:1 • “Four corners of the earth” – just a figure of speech that describes the entire cosmos – not offering a scientific description of the cosmos (the earth is flat). These four angels are put in charge of the wind in the cosmos. Rev. 7:2-3 • “The ‘angel’ who ascends ‘from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God’ in Revelation 7:2 is Christ Himself, for Christ is the One who bears the seal of the living God, i.e., the Divine Name (cf. John 6:26-29). He is the Divine Name Incarnate in Flesh. He also is the One who rules over all things. It is He who commands the angels to do His bidding. He is in complete control over the course of history. The Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity has often appeared throughout history as an Angel. Most often, when you see “the Angel of the LORD (Angel of YHWH)” in the OT, it is an appearance of the Son of God. Thus, it is not uncommon to have Christ appear as an Angel. We will see Him appearing as an Angel later in Revelation as well. • “. until we have sealed the servants of God on their foreheads” – This is another reference to the sure and certain fact that the Last Day will not come until the last of God’s elect children are saved. Christ commands the angels to refrain from destroying the current earth and heavens to make way for the New Heavens and Earth until that Day. -
The Rapture and the Book of Revelation
TMSJ 13/2 (Fall 2002) 215-239 THE RAPTURE AND THE BOOK OF REVELATION Keith H. Essex Assistant Professor of Bible Exposition The relevance of the book of Revelation to the issue of the timing of the rapture is unquestioned. Assumptions common to many who participate in discussing the issue include the authorship of the book by John the apostle, the date of its writing in the last decade of the first century A.D., and the book’s prophetic nature in continuation of OT prophecies related to national Israel. Ten proposed references to the rapture in Revelation include Rev 3:10-11; 4:1-2; 4:4 and 5:9-10; 6:2; 7:9-17; 11:3-12; 11:15-19; 12:5; 14:14-16; and 20:4. An evaluation of these ten leads to Rev 3:10-11 as the only passage in Revelation to speak of the rapture. Rightly understood, that passage implicitly supports a pretribulational rapture of the church. That understanding of the passage fits well into the context of the message to the church at Philadelphia. * * * * * “As the major book of prophecy in the NT, Revelation has great pertinence to discussion of the rapture.”1 Participants in the discussion concerning the timing of the rapture would concur with this statement. Proponents of a pretribulational, midtribulational, pre-wrath, and posttribulational rapture all seek support for their positions in the book of Revelation.2 Many suggestions as to where Revelation 1Robert H. Gundry, The Church and the Tribulation (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1973) 64. 2Many books dealing with the rapture include sections specifically discussing the book of Revelation. -
Divine Judgment in the Book of Revelation James E
Loma Linda University TheScholarsRepository@LLU: Digital Archive of Research, Scholarship & Creative Works Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects 6-1988 Divine Judgment in the Book of Revelation James E. Shipp Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd Part of the Biblical Studies Commons Recommended Citation Shipp, James E., "Divine Judgment in the Book of Revelation" (1988). Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects. 455. http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/455 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by TheScholarsRepository@LLU: Digital Archive of Research, Scholarship & Creative Works. It has been accepted for inclusion in Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects by an authorized administrator of TheScholarsRepository@LLU: Digital Archive of Research, Scholarship & Creative Works. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Abstract DIVINE JUDGMENT IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION by James E. Shipp Judgment themes in the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament are described and classified. Special attention is given to recurring themes of remedial judgment and annihilation. John's Revelation is analyzed for consistency of judgment themes, and John's theology of judgment is compared and contrasted with other scriptural sources. It is concluded that John described God as the. active judge in human history. John's theology of judgment includes remedial judgment where physical or natural calamities are intended to lead people to repentence, and final judgment where lost souls are annihilated. John's Revelation is seen to be devoid of forensic or courtroom judgment. Decisions about final outcomes seem to be in the hands of humans. -
The Seven Last Plagues and Armageddon Beast, and the False Prophet
Study 17 So here we have the where and whom. The battle will be fought in The battle of Armageddon is a battle for our minds. Satan wants to the whole world. The leaders on one side are the dragon or Satan, the come into our hearts and exalt self. God wants to come into our hearts The Seven Last Plagues and Armageddon beast, and the false prophet. On the other side is God Almighty. All and take selfishness out. The battle of Armageddon is the battle for the the inhabitants of the world will take their stand on one of these two “mount of the congregation.” It is a battle for our allegiance and wor- sides. God is working to “draw all” unto Him through the manifesta- ship. It is a battle for us! tion of His great love (see John 12:32; 6:44). Satan works on the other side, through miracles, deceptions and coersion to gather his army (see In Closing Revelation 16:14; 13:13-14). Beyond the apparent manifestation of misery and destruction which That the nature of the battle is spiritual is evidenced by the fact comes as a result of sin, the seven last plagues hold a valuable message that it involves a false prophet, miracles, and a warning from God to for each one of us. The first plague, which brings sores upon the bodies keep the garments of Christ’s righteousness (see Revelation 16:13-15). of those who receive the mark of the beast, teaches that we can find The issue of the battle is the gospel. -
Revelation's Battle of Armageddon and the Seven Last Plagues
Revelation’s Battle of Armageddon and the Seven Last Plagues Revelation’s Seven Last Plagues 1 My topic tonight is “Revelation’s Battle of Armageddon and the Seven Last Plagues” The seven last plagues, or what many people think of as the 2 “Apocalypse,” is not a topic that normally makes people feel good. It is terrifying to imagine the world engulfed in natural disasters— Earthquake, 3 Fire 4 …and volcanic eruptions. 5 Will the world be engulfed in the war of Armageddon? Will our TV screens be filled with images of conflict, strife and famine. Will there be — 6 Unprecedented world financial collapse. 7 Or possibly will there be a global international conflict. By contrast, we read the Gospels and see the love of Christ 8 Revelation of Hope 2 English 1 Revelation’s Battle of Armageddon and the Seven Last Plagues in ministry and dying for a lost world. It is difficult to harmonize these plagues with the love of God. Could a loving God afflict people with sores and turn rivers into blood? We believe the Bible and specifically The Book of Revelation has answers. That is why our theme for these meetings is: 9 If it’s in the Bible, I believe it. If it disagrees with the Bible, It’s not for me. First, wouldn’t we expect that if these cataclysmic events are coming, that God would give a clear warning first? Wouldn’t God give a last day message before the plagues fall? Revelation the 14th chapter verse 6 and onward says— “Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— 10 God’s last day message flies to every nation, kindred, tongue and people. -
Lesson 3: Revelation 7 Opening Question
Revelation Bible Study © Calvin College 2016 Lesson 3: Revelation 7 Lesson 3: Revelation 7 Opening Question: What’s the worst thing that has ever happened to you because of your faithfulness to the word of God or your commitment to Christ? Opening Prayer: As we read today about dark and terrible things, remind us that Jesus is Lord and he has won, is winning and will win. Amen! The 144,000 Read aloud Revelation 7:1-8 You may have heard the number 144,000 as the number of those who are saved; that out of all time and places, only 144,000 people will be received into eternal life in the presence of God. Is that what this chapter is about? Thankfully, no. Read aloud Wright: The created order needs to be purified, it seems, in this case by a violent wind which will scorch the earth, stir up the sea and uproot trees. Like the other symbols of divine judgment, these images from the natural world are to be taken symbolically in terms of the great shaking that will pass through the whole world of human affairs as God’s judgments start to take hold. While that is about to happen, God’s people need to be reassured that they will come safely through, marked on their foreheads with the special seal that declares that they belong to God and are not to be harmed. Not that they will escape suffering. Most readers of Revelation (not all) agree that the list of people who are ‘sealed’ in this way in verses 4 – 8 refers to the same people who are then described as a great, uncountable crowd in verses 9 –17.