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I wanted to post this as a Blog on our website, so that anyone wishing to join our Adult Bible Study on Sunday morning will be able to see what we have covered up to the point of beginning Chapter 12. These points are important to the study of future chapters and I will be referring to them as we progress through the rest of the book.
Please note, that the actual slides I used in our presentation used pictures, some of which may have been copyrighted ©. I removed them to prevent any possible infringements. The slides presented below have been reformatted for that purpose but continue to show the actual text presented.
While not a live presentation and I am sure I added much more, the notes, presented or not, are below each of the eleven slides. If you have any more questions beyond that which was covered feel free to contact me at johnccts@live.com. I will be happy to try to answer any of those questions, comments, etc. I pray that we will see more attending soon! God Bless.
Chapter 12 has been called a pivotal point in the book. I give it another “P” for parenthetical. Revelation 12 is the first of a series of events called “signs” or “miracles” (12:3; 13:13–14; 15:1; 16:14; 19:20).
However, in planning for this chapter, since it is so parenthetical as others to follow, that I would briefly review some very important highlights given in earlier chapters.
Why? Not only because I can, but more importantly to help us remember some very critical points.
While Scripture does not show this, extra biblical literature does. John was exiled for his preaching and teaching of the Word by the terrible Roman emperor Domitian in 95 AD. However, remember that John tells us that he is on the isle of Patmos for a reason.
We won’t go into that again, but if anyone wants to refresh this, let me know and I will answer your questions outside this study.
Shortly to God? One day is as a thousand years and a thousand years is as one day. God gave us the idea of time as we could not grasp His eternity.
Prophecy is a prediction of future events. In fact, the very title of the Book in Latin is “Apocalypsis Jesu Christi.” Translated into English – The Revelation of Jesus Christ. Why did I mention this? Although many other prophecies are foretold in the Bible, I strongly believe that many commentators get people more confused by going back in time instead of forward to the future. The very meaning of the word, whether in Latin or English means, “that which has not previously been revealed.” If you consider this carefully, then you will see many of the Old and New Testament prophecies do in fact point to this book, but not really the reverse. Keep this in mind as we continue forward.
We won’t cover that again, but we did show here that the apocalyptic imagery is explained in the Book of Revelation, either immediately or much later in the book. That which is not explained there is explained in the Old Testament Scriptures.
If you have a Red-Letter Bible, you will see nothing but RED.
This is the only time He speaks of the Seven Churches per sei. Yes, John is to write to each of those Seven Churches, but this Scroll is for all the churches existing at that time (95 AD) and for all the churches up to and including today. ¶
Only two of the Churches (Smyrna and Philadelphia) are given no rebuke yet warned to keep what they have. One of the churches (Laodicea) receives no commendation, but a strong rebuke.
Each of the churches receives a sneak preview of what is to come.
The end game!
Each of the Churches receive the same admonition.
"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
The “seventy weeks” prophecy is one of the most significant and detailed Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament. It is found in Daniel 9. The chapter begins with Daniel praying for Israel, acknowledging the nation’s sins against God and asking for God’s mercy. As Daniel prayed, the angel Gabriel appeared to him and gave him a vision of Israel’s future.
The Divisions of the 70 Weeks In verse 24, Gabriel says, “Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city.” Almost all commentators agree that the seventy “sevens” should be understood as seventy “weeks” of years, in other words, a period of 490 years. These verses provide a sort of “clock” that gives an idea of when the Messiah would come and some of the events that would accompany His appearance.
The prophecy goes on to divide the 490 years into three smaller units: one of 49 years, one of 434 years, and one 7 years. The final “week” of 7 years is further divided in half. Verse 25 says, “From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’” Seven “sevens” is 49 years, and sixty-two “sevens” is another 434 years:
49 years + 434 years = 483 years. Where is the remaining 7 years? This is where most believe there is a giant pause and that the last 7 years will be called the tribulation period of the Book of Revelation.
For much more about this, you will have to come to Pastor Bob’s study in the Book of Daniel, (check out our video sermons' playlist) especially when he gets to chapter 9. However, we will shortly see where Daniel breaks down this last 7 years into: “Time, times, and half time,” “3 ½ years, “42 months,” “1260 days,” all of which describe this exact time. We are about to see these variations mentioned throughout the next several chapters.
The Tribulation begins with the opening of the first seal of the scroll.
The First Seal: We will find out is the Antichrist that brings the one world system of banking and promises peace. This period last for 3 ½ years, until mid-tribulation. Yet now his promises are worthless. However, he has brought many to worship him. They will receive the mark of the beast on their forehead or their right hand.
Second Seal: When this is over there is great conflict on the earth with war.
Third Seal - After the war, there is as expected great famine
Fourth Seal: Needless to say, that famine brings widespread death
Fifth Seal: Here we switch to the martyrs under the altar crying out “Revelation 6:10 (ESV) They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
Sixth Seal: There is so much cosmic disturbances, that they seem to see the light.
They do not repent. They would rather die than face His wrath.
Yet – they certainly cannot escape it. We will see that much later!
These are the ones from the 12 Tribes that will be existing at that time. There may be far more Jewish people still on earth at this time, but why only these? Like the song says, “God only knows.” They were elected from before the foundation of the world. Yet in Chapter 14 we will see just how special these particular Jews are.
So, who is left?
Revelation 7:9 (ESV)
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
There will be a great multitude of unbelievers, which we will discussing in the upcoming chapters. Yet, Revelation 7:9 shows us there will be this Great Multitude.
Added to the The Great Multitude are any other Jew from all tribes and all the Gentiles that are true followers of the Lord. Remember, they did not believe at the time of the Rapture, but now they do. However, not being sealed they must go through the Tribulation.
How did they become believers? Good question. We cover this in Chapters 8 & 9.
The word altar is used several times throughout the book of Revelation (cf. 8:3, 5; 9:13; 11:1; 14:18; 16:7). We’ll cover them as they come up. Commentaries vary so much here trying to allude to various altars we have seen throughout Scripture, especially in Leviticus and even as Paul talks about in Philippians. Another Bible Study in itself.
For now, it is more important to briefly cover a few items in the next two chapters.
John sees another Might Angel. He is holding a little scroll (Biblion a diminutive of Biblos that was used for the large scroll Christ took) in his hand.
He heard seven thunders and immediately wanted to write what they said down but was told to seal them up and not write them down. They are never revealed in this book. Another one for the after-life bucket list.
John was told to eat the scroll after being explained that it would be sweet in his mouth (God’s Word) but would turn bitter in his stomach (he would see what was about to happen).
But the most important thing to remember about this chapter is first John is told that he must prophesy and then chapter eleven introduces us to the Two Witnesses.
Although we discussed who they most likely are (Moses and Elijah), it is not so important as to who they are as to what they do and how long they do it.
Twice in this chapter we saw the time during all this is happening. First the nations would trample the “Holy City” for forty-two months. The second time we are told that the witnesses would prophesy for 1260 during that same time.
Future chapters parenthetically explain much more of what is to "Soon Take Place."
To learn more, pray about joining us as we cover HELL ON EARTH!
However, there is Good News for those who remain faithful till the end.
Bible Study starts promptly at 9:15 AM, Sunday mornings. Hope to see you there.