Revelation Study

[Richard_1]

Revelation 12:7-10

7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

We know from the book of Job that Satan has had access to heaven to accuse the children of God and the brethren. But here we see that Michael and his angels will fight with Satan in the time of the sounding of this trumpet judgement and will no longer have access to heaven and the ability to accuse the brethren any more. And it is the casting out of Satan to earth that is part of this third woe to the inhabitants of the earth.



We see now that the wrath of Satan will be increased because he is thrown out of heaven. The final steps in the coming of the Lord is Satan being thrown out of that kingdom. There can be no place for Satan in the coming kingdom of our Lord.



In these scriptures we are given an identification and explanation of Satan and his character. He is called the deceiver. God has allowed man to be deceived by Satan from the garden. God allows deception. You don't want to believe the truth, then don't. God will allow you to believe some crazy hair brain tale if you want too. If you don't want to believe that God created the earth or you don't want to believe that God created you, then God will allow you to believe that deception. You can believe the lie rather than the truth. You don't want to retain God in your mind; God will give you over to a reprobate mind. You don't want to believe the truth; God will let you believe a lie.



Now the one who deceives has been thrown out of heaven and onto the earth and now the deceiver is on this earth and the deception becomes stronger on the earth. It is through the great deception of the anitchrist that Satan uses to wage this final war against the Lord and His kingdom. The antichrist is going to bring a strong delusion on the people that those who did not want to believe the truth, and they will believe the great lie of the antichrist.



It is after the casting out of Satan that the salvation and kingdom that comes with Jesus will be in strength. It will have been purged of the influence and accusation of Satan in that kingdom.



In the next study we will see what overcomes the deception of Satan.

[Richard_1]

I have moved the post by Jay Dub to the theology forum under the title "Satan being cast to the earth" where there is a better formate to discuss this without derailing the study forum. This was Jay Dubs question that will be answered in the theology forum.

Jay Dub wrote
Richard

Where do you see the fulfillment of the prophesey in the garden

Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel

If this happened at the cross do you think that Satan still had access to heaven after the cross?

[Richard_1]

Revelation 12:11-17



Verse 11-12

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

12Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

When the voice speaks in heaven saying that Satan has been cast out of heaven and identifies him as the accuser of the brethren, continues to speak and say that the way Satan is overcome is by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. This is our great weapon in overcoming Satan's accusations against us. We have the blood of Jesus and our testimony of being "born again". We have the testimony of belonging to Jesus and the testimony that He is faithful and will deliver us from all. There is a quality of the person who has this testimony and understanding and it is that we are willing to die unto the flesh man. The old nature, the old life was worthless. and we count it dead. We reckon it to be dead that we might live this new life after Christ in the Spirit. Our testimony is that of redemption through the blood of Jesus, the new life, the new nature that we have in Him. We let the cross of Jesus be our safe haven from Satan.



We have spoken of the woes coming on the earth and here one woe is explained. Satan has been cast out of heaven and knows that he only has another 3 1/2 years to deceive man and rule the earth. This knowledge fills Satan with a great wrath and he is going to inflict that wrath on man upon the earth.



Verse 13

And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.

After Satan is cast out of heaven he turns his attention to the woman (Israel) who brought forth the man-child (Jesus). Through out the history of this world there has never been a more persecuted people. After so many severe persecutions (Egypt, Babylon, the fall and destruction of Jerusalem in 70ad, the inquisition, Hitler and the Soviet Union during the cold war) we see Satan come to once again persecute the people of God (Jews/Israel). These people have been persecuted throughout history and there are people who hate them that don't even know why they hate them. Anti-Semitism is an evil and wicked thing, but it is so prevalent. The tragedy is that they have yet more persecution to go through. Satan is going to seek to persecute the woman (Israel) which brought forth the man child (Jesus) in the last days of tribulation when he is cast out of heaven.



In Verses 6 we saw that God was going to prepare a place for the woman (Israel) to be to escape the wrath. And now that time has come in this prophecy



Verse 14

And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

So, the woman flees to the wilderness that she should be taken care of, the place prepared of God, to last for 3½ years. This refuge will hid Israel from the face of Satan. Now this wilderness place is probably the Rock City of Petra, south and east of Dead Sea. There is even some old Jewish songs that speak of Petra (the Hebrew song Ha-Selah Ha-Adom, the Red Rock, refers to the mysterious Petra) speaking of a place in the desert that people fled to for sanctuary. Isaiah in the sixteenth chapter, God says to Moab, which is present day Jordan (where Petra is located), "Open up your borders and receive My people. Shelter them until the tribulation is complete."

Isaiah 16:4 Let mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab; be thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler:

So God intervenes for Israel and helps her flee from the anti-christ and Satan.

Verse 15

And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.

Many see the “water as a flood: as a pursuing army that the anti-christ and Satan send out to destroy Israel in the tribulation after Satan is cast out of heaven. I also tend to agree with this view of the flood being an army raised up against Israel.



Verse 16

And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

In the time of Moses there was an uprising to challenge Moses position to lead the people of Israel. During the time of Moses Korah came and said that you have taken too much on yourself making your brother the one who offers sacrifices, we are Levites and have just as much right as does Aaron. Moses said to Korah ; "Okay, Korah, you and your men stand out there. If God is in this thing let the earth open up and swallow you whole right down into the pit." And the earth opened up and Korah and his men were swallowed up by the earth and they went on down. So, here again the earth will open up a swallow the army that is sent to destroy Israel.



Verse 17

And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

[Richard_1]

We begin chapter 13 with a little side trip into Daniel 7. In Daniel 7 we have dreams and visions that Daniel had about the coming history about the kingdoms/governments that would rise up and rule the earth. We have the Babylonian empire, the Medo-Persian empire, The Greek empire and the final empire of the Romans which would be the last kingdom/government that would rule. In Daniel's vision the last great kingdom was depicted as having ten horns. The ten horns depict ten kings who are ruling in a federation together. Then there arises an eleventh horn which overcomes and plucks out three of the kings and becomes the powerful ruler. This horn has eyes like a man and speaks great things. All of these describing the coming of the power of the Ant-christ when he rises to power. Now here in Revelation 13 John relates a similar depiction as was in Daniel



Revelation 13:1-2



Verse 1

And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

You see a beast (Antichrist) with seven heads (remaining kings/rulers) and ten horns (federated kingdoms) that are all under the control of the Antichrist. The thing to notice is the name of blasphemy that is written on this beast. The word from the Greek text that is translated blasphemy is the word blasphēmia which means in this sense

1)slander, detraction, speech injurious, to another's good name

2) impious and reproachful speech injurious to divine majesty

The whole of the kingdom of the Anti-Christ will be an impious (lacking reverance), reproachful (expressing reproach or blame) action and kingdom that tries to bring injury to the kingdom of God. The whole of the Antichrist is for the purpose of attacking the kingdom of God. So, the rise of the beast, the Antichrist, the one who is going to rise to take over the control of the earth, speaking, as Paul said, blasphemous things against God (2 Thessalonians 2:4). Daniel also makes reference of his blasphemies "He shall speak great words against the most High and shall wear out the saints of the most High." (Daniel 7:25)



Verse 2

And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

Now we see in Johns vision the same types of governments and kingdoms mentioned in Daniel that ruled the world but here we see that they are all incorporated into the kingdom of the Antichrist. The kingdom of the Antichrist will have elements of every major ruling kingdom mentioned in Daniel but it will be the confederation of the final ruling kingdom of the Roman empire revived in the last days under the Antichrist.



The major influence on the Antichrists kingdom is the fact that Satan givers his power and throne to the Antichrist to rule on earth. Now, where is Satan's throne? It is on this earth. We say the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, and all they that dwell therein (Psalm 24). That is prophetic. But the earth right now is under Satan's control. This is his place of dominion. He rules. Satan took Jesus into a high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and said,

Luke 4:5-6 All of these will I give unto you and the glory of them, if you will bow down, and worship me, for they are mine, and I can give them to whomever I will

Jesus came to redeem the world back to God. We know because of Adam that the kingdom of earth was handed over to Satan to rule over until the return of Jesus to claim possession of the earth by His purchasing it back by His obedience and sacrifice.



Now, the fact that thekingdoms of the earth are still Satan's during the tribulation is demonstrated by the fact that the Antichrist, which is yet future, receives from Him his authority, his power, and his throne. And so Satan is going to invest in a man, all of his power, and all of his authority. It will be Satan incarnate, the Antichrist.

[Richard_1]

Revelation 13:3-6



Verse 3

And I saw one of the heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast

To understand the impact and meaning of this verse we need to look ahead to verse 14. In verse 14 we are told that the false prophet says to the people of the world that they who dwell upon the earth should make an image to the beast which had the wound by a sword and did live. This man will be a world leader

And we know that the Antichrist is that world leader. There is possibly an assassination attempt on the Antichrist and he survives the deadly wound to the head. Even in Zechariah it talks about the last days ruler being wounded and losing sight in the right eye and losing the use of the right arm (Zechariah 11:15-17).



The very fact that he survives this assassination attempt will cause the world to marvel at this and it will bring him immediately into a prominent position in the minds of so many people, because it is by a definite miracle that this man survives. "One of his heads were wounded to death, but the deadly wound was healed."



Verse 4

And they worshipped the dragon which gave power to the beast and they say, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

There was a time that people thought it ridiculous that people would worship Satan but now we have the Satanic Church in our country. Here we see in the last days under the Antichrist that people will be directly worshipping the dragon (Satan) through the incarnation of the Antichrist.



There will be because of the power that the Antichrist wields (subduing of the three kingdoms) an attitude among the people of fear of the tremendous power of the Antichrist. The Antichrist also demonstrates the power to kill the two witnesses which no one could touch for 3 ½ years. He will put to death the two witnesses who have up to this point been invincible. From this the peoplewill be so afraid of him that they say it would be almost impossible to defeat him.



Verse 5-6

5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months

6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

The speaking of blasphemies and exalting himself against God is seen in the 7th and 11th chapters of Daniel. Here again is this mentioned by John. Now this is a man of open blasphemy. Paul makes mention of that in second Thessalonians chapter 2:3-4, as Paul talks about the man of sin, the son of perdition. So, he opposes and exalts himself against all that is called god, that is worshipped, so that he as god and sits in the temple calling himself God and declaring himself to be God, speaking blasphemies against God



So we are getting a clearer picture of the nature and character of the Antichrist which will be in power during the tribulation. In the next study we will deal with the Antichrist and the war he makes on the saints and who these saint are that he overcomes.

[Richard_1]

Revelation 13:7-10



Verse 7-9

7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.

Here we have the Antichrist rising up and making war against the saints of God and prevailing/overcoming them. This is a problem for those who would teach that the Church goes through the tribulation (post trib). The problem is that Jesus said this of the Church

Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Here Jesus says that the Church that He builds will not be overcome/prevail over it. The word for prevail here is the word katischyÅ which means

1) to be strong to another's detriment, to prevail against

2) to be superior in strength

3) to overcome

4) to prevail

As you see the devil will not overcome the Church so then we are left with the question of who are the saints here that the Antichrist (incarnated Satan) makes war with and overcomes. Well, in Revelation 12:17 the Dragon/Satan is angry with the woman (Israel) and goes to defeat and destroy her seed.

And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

So the saints that the dragon/Satan makes war with and overcomes are the saints of Israel not the saints of the Church which Jesus promised would not be overcome. Also in Daniel you see this same war and who is identified as the saints that the Antichrist will make war with

Daniel 7:18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.

This was a prophetic promise of God that Israel would inherit the kingdom that God had prepared for them. Then in Daniel 7:21-22 we see that the Antichrist makes war against these saints who were and are Israel.

I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

The promise to Israel has always been possessing the kingdom but the promises to the Church is to rule over the kingdom with Jesus. Therefore the saints are different from the saints that would rule. And it is against the saints that inherit the kingdom (Israel) that the Antichrist makes war with and prevails not the saints who rule with Jesus over the kingdom (the Church).



The exhortation is there that say let him that has ears hear. This is an exhortation to us to come and listen to what the Spirit is saying. So often man seems to try and figure these things out on his own but should always seek the Holy Spirit to speak and teach the meaning of this prophecy..



Verse 10

He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

This is the promise of God to these saints and to all of us. God will judge and revenge His saints and with this we can live in peace and patience knowing that no matter the situation that God will recompense His saints upon those that make war against them.

[Richard_1]

Revelation 13:11-18



Verse 11

And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

So here we have another beast coming. We had the first beast which Satan gave all his power (incarnated in the Antichrist). Now we have a second beast come. This beast has the appearance of a lamb (two horns as a lamb), yet he speaks as a dragon (satan). After the coming of the Antichrist there rises another that is the false prophet. Now the Antichrist will have one who is the religious overseer of the Antichrists kingdom, one who will introduce false worship of the Antichrist as God.



Jesus said, "Beware of false prophets, who will come to you in sheep's clothing" (Matthew 7:15). The one thing about false prophets is they never look like a false prophet. Satan never looks like the characters of Satan. We have built an image of satan that has horns and tail and red suit. We have ascribed to satan all the evil ugly things of something that looks and acts like a monster. Yet it says that even satan and his angels come disguised as ministers of light

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

To all intents and purposes the second beast looks like a minister of light not a ugly beast of monstrous intent. Not looking like the prejudiced and distorted image of Satan and his ministers but as one who appears as if he is from God.

Verse 12-14

12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men

14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

Here we have a second beast coming as a lamb but yet is a wolf. He does not have horns, a forked tail and a pitchfork in his hand and he doesn't wear red leotards. He would like you to think that he did. He would like you to think that he is some grotesque-looking character that would scare the wits out of you, if you saw him. He would like for you to be deceived by this image and not recognize his true character.



This beast will look and act as though it is a holy minister of light. He will act and look the part of a prophet of the kingdom of the Antichrist. He will come with signs and wonders as did the two witnesses of God. The two witnesses of God could make fire come down from heaven. The second beast will have the what appears to be the same powers by making fire come down from heaven. Again coming as though they are a minister of light./ Just as the magicians of Pharaohs court could mimic the miracles of the staff that Moses did so shall the second beast (false prophet) mimic the signs and wonders of the two witness therefore deceiving people into believing he is a minister of light. Satan is able to counterfeit many of the things of God. He can't counterfeit all of them, but he can counterfeit many of the things of God, and does counterfeit many of the things of God. And here is a counterfeit that comes along and he calls down fire from heaven in the sight of men just as the two prophets did.



Again we have the reference to the deadly wound that the first beast receives and then is healed of it. Then the second beast uses these signs and wonders including the deadly wound being healed (almost as the Antichrist rises from the dead ) and deceives the world into worshipping the beast with the deadly wound (the Antichrist) and building an image of the Antichrist.



The second beast comes and gives a religious foundation to the kingdom of the Antichrist. The people are greatly deceived by these events.

2 Thessalonians 2:8-12 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Verse 15-17

15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Thus begins the absolute persecution of the people on earth. The institution of the Antichrist as God by lying signs and wonders through the image of the Antichrist coming to life and the institution of the worship of the Antichrist as God. All who do not worship the image will be killed. All will be made to bear the mark of the beast. All will be made to bear an identification that they worship the beast and follow the Antichrist. The world will not be able to buy, sell, literally will be forced to worship the beast to be able to support themselves and live.



Verse 18

Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

Much speculation has been given to identify and to explain the number 666. I will not add to this speculation but will let the Holy Spirit teach wisdom in this. I will only say that it is the number of a man, and the number is 666. It is probably the total numeric value of the man's name, 666. Instead of speculation we can in the scriptures compare scripture with scripture to help us understand. That we will try and do as we go along.

[Richard_1]

Revelation 14:1-5



Verse 1

And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.

In chapter seven we remember that these one hundred and forty-four thousand who were sealed of God in their foreheads. And the angel was commanded not to hurt the earth until those could be sealed. And he saw them being sealed in their foreheads, the 144,000. That is 12,000 from each of the tribes (these 144,00 were Jews). Thething in the word is that God said that He always had a remnant so here we have a special remnant of Israel that God has preserved for these last days. There is no reason at all not to believe that these 144,000 in this verse are the same group that we saw back in chapter seven sealed in their foreheads. Now here we are told what the seal is. The seal is the name of the Father written in their foreheads.



Verse 2-5

2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:

3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.

4These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

We have and identification of the Lamb in the speaking as the voice of many waters

(Ezekie 43:2 And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory.) and the voice as great thunder (Psalm 78:18 The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.).



The Lamb is the Messiah of God and the 114,000 is the remnant of Israel that God has prepared for this time. The 144,000 have a special song that only they can sing. They are singing an exclusive song and they have an exclusive relationship with the Lord (they were sealed and they were preserved during a portion of the great tribulation period. And so they have that special relationship with God and they can sing of that special relationship). No one else can sing this song. Just as the Church had a special song they sang in chapter 5 (the song of redemption) Revelation 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;). Some try an identify with the 144,000 (Jehovah's Witness, Herbert W Armstrong and many other groups who want to claim some special place with God as His chosen above others), even some who claim this is the specially anointed believers in the Church.



Also we have the scripture saying that these were a first fruit unto God (the Father) and the Lamb from the tribulation. Just as the Church is a first fruits unto Jesus when He takes them in the rapture we have the 144,000 remnant being the first fruits of Israel in the tribulation. Here we see that the calling of the Israel was taking a special place in the tribulation. That God was again dealing with His chosen people. Also you see that these first fruits of Israel in the tribulation were also following the Lamb so you see that God has drawn Israel back to Him and He has drawn them to Jesus.



Just as in the parable of the virgins that followed the Bridegroom around we have 144,000 virgins following the Lamb wheresoever He goes. In Israel usually in the wedding feast would go on for several days, but then the groom would finally come and get the bride and then they would put them in this carrier and carry them around town. The bride never knew exactly when he was coming during this period of time, so she had to always be ready. And she would be there with all of her unmarried girl friends (virgins) waiting excitedly for these guys to come up the street with the groom. He is now coming for his bride. They would know he is coming, they wouldn't exactly know when but they knew He was coming.. As they would then bear the bride and groom through the streets, the virgins, the bridesmaids, would all follow after. It was just a part of the whole ceremony. They were not the bride, but they followed the bride and the groom.



These 144,000 are not the bride of Christ. The Church is the bride of Christ and that is quite obvious in chapter nineteen. But these are virgins, which do follow the procession. They follow the Lamb being the firstfruits unto God and unto the Lamb out of the Great Tribulation period. Now, these first fruits of Israel during the tribulation will appear faultless before the throne of God also speaking of that redemptive work of Jesus even in their lives. (Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, ). As with the Church Jesus will present the 144,000 faultless before God in His glory.

[canny]

Oh ! hello Richard, good to see you back

[BENONI]

This is far too literal the Book of Revelation is the most spiritual book in the whole Bible and there is nothing literal in any sence. John was in spirit on the Lord's day. No where does it say John was being literal.