battle occurs: Christ returns in glory, a hailstorm is beyond comprehension. accompanied by His angel armies, and Revelation 16:17-18, 20-21. the wicked are slain. This is Armaged- Psalm 91:4 promises: “He shall cov- STUDY 13 don—an interrupted battle! er you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge.” And Plague Seven: Psalm 91:7-10 gives wonderful assur- Then the seventh plague brings “a ance: “No evil shall befall you, nor shall great earthquake, such a mighty and any plague come near your dwelling.” great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. Then Beautiful parallel: every island fled away, and the moun- The Ten Plagues fell upon Egypt just tains were not found.” This earthquake before God’s people were delivered from levels the cities as well as the mountains. that wicked country. Revelation’s Battle of Armageddon and the Seven Last Plagues Next comes a “great hail from heaven . The Seven Last Plagues will fall just . each hailstone about the weight of a before God’s people are delivered from by Mark Finley talent.” Since a talent is about fifty-sev- this wicked world—so keep looking hat if you’re comfortably settled lette. Jesus is coming soon, but specific en pounds, the devastation from such up! Win your favorite lounge chair events must take place before He re- to watch TV and the announcement turns. A big part of being ready for His blares across the screen: “We interrupt Coming involves understanding what this broadcast . .” Finally, the world’s God’s Word teaches about what will media are jolted from their narrow pre- occur in the last days. occupation with earth’s local politics This sequence of events—this pre- and forced to report events of cosmic view of Earth’s final headlines—begins significance. Network anchors ponder in Revelation 14:9-10: “If anyone wor- the meaning of an unprecedented se- ships the beast and his image, and re- ries of worldwide catastrophes. News- ceives his mark on his forehead or on papers write headlines alerting Chris- his hand, he himself shall also drink of tians that the Great War has reached its the wine of the wrath of God, which is final battle. Those who threw in their poured out full strength. .” lot with Satan reap a harvest of intense So before Jesus comes, the mark of suffering as they reel under the impact the beast will be enforced. Revelation of serial plagues. But God miraculous- 13:15-17 says the mark of the beast will ly protects and provides for His loyal be forced upon all classes of people— followers in this time of trouble and rich and poor, small and great, free and terror. slave. Only those with the mark will be Then, just as headline writers search allowed to buy and sell—all others face their dictionaries for the spelling of an economic boycott and death sen- “Armageddon,” that battle is interrupt- tence. Before Jesus comes, the whole ed by what would be history’s greatest world will be TESTED on the question headline—if anyone were around to of LOYALT Y. In Daniel’s day, the test of read it! Some people have the mistak- loyalty for the three Hebrew worthies RevelationsAncientDiscoveries.com en idea that Jesus might come at any was the Second Commandment, for- RAD170014 REV1/18 3ABN.tv moment—something like Russian rou- bidding the worship of graven images. When the three Hebrews would not close, ushering in the “time of trouble” Plague Three: while men continue to suffer from the bow down to the image and violate spoken of in Daniel 12:1. In the third plague, the rivers and earlier plagues, gnawing their tongues God’s Law, they were condemned to No description of this period of springs of water became blood (verse in pain. The text indicates the plagues death. In the last generation, the issue earth’s history can approach its re- 4). Just think! One turns on the fau- are not all universal nor all imme- will be not the Second Commandment ality as the wicked drink the cup of cet—and instead of water, blood flows! diately fatal, since those under the but the Fourth, worshiping the Creator God’s wrath unmixed with mercy. Could anything be worse? But, ghast- fifth plague are still suffering from on His true Sabbath. There’ll be two But let’s look at the preview given in ly and frightening as the Plagues may the sores of the first. Apparently the classes of people—those who receive Revelation 16. be, God’s justice is fully vindicated. plagues fall successively, not simulta- either the mark of the beast or the seal neously, as their effects overlap; the ac- Plague One: The angel declares, of God. Each person will be on one “You are righteous, cumulation of dreary side or the other. After each makes a The first plague to fall upon the trouble becomes un- wicked is “a foul and loathsome sore” O Lord, . because In Time’s last moment, when it final, irrevocable decision, God’s wrath You have judged speakable! will be poured out. (verse 2), possibly resembling the boils looks as if God’s people will be and blains suffered by the Egyptians these things. For they Plague Six: God’s wrath will come in the form have shed the blood annihilated, the final phase of of the Seven Last Plagues, reserved during their sixth plague. Exodus 9:9. The sixth plague Many scholars believe them to have of saints and proph- the battle occurs. includes the great for those who receive the mark of the ets, and You have beast. Revelation 15:1 & 16:2. Those been a type of cancerous lesion. But final battle, Arma- whatever the diagnosis, we know the given them blood geddon. Three un- who yield to human to drink. For it is their just due” traditions and laws, sores under the first clean spirits, symbolizing “spirits of plague will be painful, (verses 5-6). While the wicked per- demons,” will “go out to the kings of selling out their de- Those who yield to human ish of thirst with nothing to drink but votion to Christ, and they’ll fall on all the earth and of the whole world, to traditions and laws, selling out those who’ve chosen blood, Isaiah 33:16 promises the faith- gather them to the battle of that great will feel the unmiti- ful that “Bread will be given him, his gated wrath of God. their devotion to Christ, will feel to follow the dictates day of God Almighty” (verses 13-14, of man above the water will be sure.” This promise may 16). The Battle of Armageddon in- During this fearful the unmitigated wrath of God. sound like poetry now, but then it will time, God’s chil- commands of God. volves the combined forces of rebel re- The impact of such a be worth more than the wealth of all ligious powers mobilized against God’s dren will be alive but the world’s banks! protected by His grace. The plagues plague would close schools, factories, people to destroy those loyal to God. will fall all around them, but they and stores. Hospitals would overflow Plagues Four and Five: All will be involved in the Battle of won’t be touched. The church will go with people seeking treatment, but The fourth plague scorches men Armageddon. In Time’s last moment, through the tribulation and emerge most doctors and nurses would suffer with fire and great heat, and the fifth when it looks as if God’s people will triumphant. the same affliction. spreads darkness throughout the land, be annihilated, the final phase of the Prior to the plagues’ falling, Jesus Plague Two: solemnly announces: “He who is un- While people still suffer from their just, let him be unjust still; he who is sores, another calamity strikes! “The Isaiah 33:16 promises the faithful filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is second angel poured out his bowl on righteous, let him be righteous still; the sea, and it became blood as of a that “Bread will be given him, his he who is holy, let him be holy still.” dead man; and every living creature in water will be sure.” Revelation 22:11. Then and only then the sea died” (verse 3). What a sight— will Christ’s work as our High Priest in and what a stench, as the creatures of heaven be ended. Every case will have the sea wash ashore. People will be been decided for eternal life or eternal stumbling over one another in their death. The door of God’s mercy will speedy exodus from the beaches. QUIZ 13 Revelation’s Battle of Armageddon and the Seven Last Plagues SCRIPTURE REFERENCES Our heavenly Father has so much He longs to teach us! Think of each seminar session as one in a series of steps leading upward—a series of “lessons from heaven.” May we learn our lessons Revelation 15:1, 6-8, The Seven Last Plagues contain “the wrath of God.” well, so we in turn can teach others. God’s Word, the Bible—our Textbook for this seminar—offers Learning Unlimited! 16:1 Revelation 14:9-10 Only those who worship the beast and receive his mark “shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God.” 1. What awesome announcement does Jesus make indicating that salvation’s door is Revelation 16:2 So the Seven Last Plagues are not suffered by God’s faithful people closing? (REVELATION 22:11-12) but are poured out only on those who “had the mark of the beast.” (You may check more than one answer.) Psalm 91:7-11 Even while the wicked are falling everywhere, God promises the q A.