BIBLICAL PROPHECY Preparing Today For Tomorrow © Harvestime International Network TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF BIBLICAL PROPHECY I COURSE OBJECTIVES II INTRODUCTORY SECTION: THE PROPHETIC WORD OF GOD 1 The Source Of Prophecy 2 The Purposes Of Prophecy 3 Importance Of Studying Prophecy 4 How To Understand Prophecy 4 Old Testament Prophecy 8 New Testament Prophecy 9 The Prophetic Theme 9 Self-Test On Introductory Section 11 INTRODUCTION TO THE REVELATION 12 Symbols In The Book Of Revelation 13 Rules For Interpreting Revelation 14 Reading Through Revelation 15 Outline Of The Revelation 16 Self-Test On Introduction To The Revelation 19 SECTION ONE: AN OPEN REVELATION 20 1 The Spirit Of Prophecy 22 2 The Importance Of The Book Of Revelation 24 3 You Hold The Keys 26 4 The Revelation Of Jesus Christ 28 5 A Seven-Fold Blessing 30 6 A Victorious Church 32 7 The Revelation Of Christ 33 8 Jesus Is Coming 34 9 The Alpha And Omega 36 Self-Test On Section One 40 SECTION TWO: A MESSAGE TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES 41 10 Applying The Messages To The Churches 42 11 The Seven Churches Of Asia 44 12 Ephesus: The Danger Of Diminishing Love 46 13 Smyrna: The Danger Of Fearing Suffering 50 14 Pergamos: The Danger Of Doctrinal Compromise 52 15 Thyatira: The Danger Of Moral Compromise 55 16 Sardis: The Danger Of Spiritual Death 57 17 Philadelphia: The Danger Of Failing To Advance 59 18 Laodicea: The Danger Of Lukewarmness 61 19 The Final Call 63 Self-Test On Section Two 64 SECTION THREE: THE RAPTURE 65 20 What Is The Rapture? 67 21 What You Believe Is Important 70 22 Various Views About The Rapture 72 23 Scriptural Evidences For A Pre-Tribulation Rapture 76 24 Reasons For The Rapture 80 25 Understanding The Signs Of The Time 81 26 The Time To Prepare 84 Self-Test On Section Three 86 SECTION FOUR: THE OPENING OF THE SEVEN SEALS 88 27 In The Throne Room Of God 90 28 A Powerful Key To Victory 93 29 The Book With Seven Seals 95 30 The Search For One Who Is Worthy 96 31 The Seven-Sealed Book Is Opened 99 32 Between The Sixth And Seventh Seals 104 33 The Seventh Seal 108 Self-Test On Section Four 110 SECTION FIVE: THE SEVEN TRUMPETS 111 34 The Opening Of The Seventh Seal 112 35 The Sounding Of The First Four Trumpets 114 36 The Fifth Trumpet, The First Woe 117 37 The Sixth Trumpet, The Second Woe 121 38 A Heavenly Interlude 125 39 The Seventh Trumpet, The Third Woe 129 Self-Test On Section Five 131 SECTION SIX: THE GREAT TRIBULATION 132 40 The Tribulation Temple 133 41 A Tribulation Time-Line 135 42 The Two Witnesses 138 43 The Time Of Tribulation 144 44 Who Will Go Through The Tribulation? 148 45 The Spirit And Power Of Elijah 150 Self-Test On Section Six 151 SECTION SEVEN: SEVEN IMPORTANT PERSONAGES 152 46 The Sun-Clothed Woman 154 47 The Dragon 156 48 The Man-Child 158 49 Michael 161 50 The Beast Out Of The Sea 164 51 The Beast Out Of The Earth 167 52 The 144,000 170 53 The Lion Of The Tribe Of Judah 172 Self-Test On Section Seven 174 SECTION EIGHT: THE SEVEN VIALS OF WRATH 175 54 Three Angels, Three Warnings 176 55 The Final Harvest 177 56 A Victory Celebration In Heaven 178 57 The Seven Last Plagues 186 58 Hear The Voice Of The Spirit 191 Self-Test On Section Eight 194 SECTION NINE: THE FALL OF BABYLON 195 59 The Identity Of Babylon 197 60 The Scarlet-Colored Beast 200 61 Warring Against The Lamb 202 62 The Fall Of Babylon 204 63 The Fate Of The Apostate Church 207 64 Characteristics Of An Apostate Church 210 Self-Test On Section Nine 215 SECTION TEN: ARMAGEDDON AND THE NEW MILLENNIUM 216 65 Rejoice Over Her! 217 66 The Marriage Supper Of The Lamb 220 67 Preparing For The Wedding 223 68 The Mighty Warrior Of God 226 69 God’s End-Time Battle Plan 229 70 The Millennial Reign 235 Self-Test On Section Ten 238 SECTION ELEVEN: THE FINAL JUDGMENT 240 71 The Resurrection Of Jesus 241 72 The Spiritual Resurrection Of Believers 243 73 The Resurrection Of The Dead 245 74 Judgment Strategy 248 75 The Judgments 252 76 The Destiny Of The Wicked 257 77 The Rewards Of Faithful Service 259 78 How Then Shall We Live? 263 Self-Test On Section Eleven 266 SECTION TWELVE: THE NEW HEAVENS AND EARTH 268 79 A Glimpse Into Eternity 270 80 The Overcomers 273 81 The New Jerusalem 276 82 At Home With God 280 83 A Divine Confirmation 283 84 The Call Of The Spirit 286 Self-Test On Section Twelve 291 APPENDICES Appendix One Prophetic Fast Track 292 Appendix Two Interactive Study On The Churches Of Revelation 296 Appendix Three Further Study On The Rapture 300 Appendix Four Old Testament Prophets 301 Appendix Five Old Testament Prophetic Books 302 Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi Appendix Six Answers To Self-Tests 342 INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF BIBLICAL PROPHECY In a world shattered by terrorism, wars, famines, and natural disasters, people everywhere are greatly concerned about the future... ...What lies ahead for this world? ...What does the future hold for me as a child of God? ...How can I properly prepare to face the future? The good news is that you do not have to be fearful about the future because God has a divine plan He is working out in this world. Nothing can alter it. Nothing can abort it. You do not have to be confused about the future because through this study you will receive the keys to understanding biblical prophecy as you study the New Testament book of Revelation. This study is an exciting spiritual journey into the future. On the island of Patmos, John didn't receive a dry, dead, theological explanation of future events. He received a powerful, dynamic, life-changing prophetic revelation. He received a revelation of Christ in all His glory, he saw into the throne room of Heaven, and he received a supernatural unveiling of God’s end- time plan. You will receive the same exciting revelation as you study this manual. In the Introductory Unit, you will learn what prophecy is, how God commissioned His prophets, the source, purpose, and importance of biblical prophecy. You will also learn keys for understanding biblical prophecy. The Introduction To Revelation provides an overview of the book and keys to interpreting it. The remainder of the study will guide you step-by-step through the book of Revelation. The material is divided into twelve sections which consist of short, easy to understand chapters. You may want to do one section a month during the coming year. You might also want to use the material to teach a weekly Bible study, Sunday school class, or college course, doing one section per week for a twelve week quarter semester. Each lesson includes a self-test so you can review what you have learned and check your progress. The Appendices include a Prophetic Fast Track with the most frequently asked questions about prophecy, special charts, and outlines on the Old Testament prophetic books which will take you even deeper into the prophecies of God’s Word. Are you ready to begin your spiritual journey into the future? Grab your Bible and let’s get started! I OBJECTIVES Upon conclusion of this study you will be able to: C Use spiritual keys to unlock the mysteries of Biblical prophecy. C Provide an overview of the book of Revelation and the end-times. C Summarize and apply the messages to the churches of Revelation. C Properly interpret future events including: C The rapture. C The Tribulation. C Important personages in God’s end-time plan. C Satan’s end-time trinity. C The seal, trumpet, and vial judgments of Revelation. C The final battles. C The Millennial reign of Christ. C The resurrections. C Final judgment. C Describe Heaven and Hell as they are depicted in the book of Revelation. C Use the skills you have learned to continue your study of other prophetic books of the Bible. C Apply what you have learned to prepare yourself and others for the future. II INTRODUCTION SECTION THE PROPHETIC WORD OF GOD The word "prophecy" means to speak forth. Bible prophecy includes three basic kinds of speaking forth: 1. A message of inspiration from God. 2. Prediction of future events in God's eternal plan. 3. An interpretation for man of the acts of God. God commissioned each prophet of the Bible to fulfill a particular role in His plan. C As interpreters they explained God's acts to men. C As spokesmen they voiced God's truth. They spoke messages of hope and inspiration. C As prophets they predicted future events in God's plan through revelation given by the Holy Spirit. The predictions of Bible prophecy are beyond the power of human ability. They include a sufficient number of details to eliminate speculation or guessing. There are two basic ways in which God spoke through the prophets. THE SPOKEN WORD: The method most often used was the spoken word. God would tell the prophet the words to speak. For example, God said to the prophet Jeremiah: ...for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.