Revelation: 11:19-16:21 7 Signs, 7 Bowls

3 rd Cycle- 7 signs( I saw) We have gone through 2 Cycles of what takes place in the church age. We have looked at events that take place in the church age and the judgment and blessing at the 2 Coming of Christ. 7 Seals = persecution of the church during the church age. 7 Trumpets= warnings to unbelievers during the church age. The goal is repentance. 3 rd Cycle – The 7 Signs introduces the audience to the enemies behind the persecution of the saints and mankind’s rebellion against God.

A Woman-12:1,2 A woman with Child, giving birth Description : similar to Joseph’s dream in Genesis 37:9 She is true Israel ( faithful community of believers)

Great Red Dragon 12:3- Great red dragon Seven heads, 10 horns, 7 diadems Powerful and wearing King’s crowns. His tail: swept down a third of the stars Again illustrates his power. His Goal: to devour the child being born by the woman. It looks like a hopeless situation for the child.

Identity of Dragon and Child The dragon is : 12:9-ancient serpent, the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. The Child: 12:5- one who is to rule the nations with a rod of iron. Isaiah 11:4,5 and Psalm 2:9. The child is Jesus.This is the Messiah’s birth.

Dragon’s failure With his seven heads ( mouths) and great power he should have succeeded in devouring the child. He failed! 12:5 “ but the child was caught up to God and to his throne.” From Jesus’ birth to his ascension.

Woman in the wilderness 12:5- Woman flees to the wilderness. The wilderness (place of protection) during the church age.(v.6 =1260 days) v.14=3 ½) The dragon pursues the woman. God supernaturally protects the woman.Echoes of the Exodus. Ex. 19:4. God preserves his people. The dragon’s anger. Angry at the woman so goes off to make war on the rest of her offspring,on those who keep the commandments of God and bear testimony to Jesus. 12:17 He makes war on Christians.

War in Heaven –12:7-12 On earth a baby born- in the heavenlies a battle raged. Christ’s birth – ascension (v.5) and everything in between overcame the dragon’s plans.

War in Heaven –12:7-12 Outcome of the war: Satan defeated 12:7, dragon thrown down, 12:9 (3x)10,13 When was this war? Look at the text!

The War: at Christ’s 1 st Coming Satan defeated at 1 st Coming 12:10- “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come.”… 12:11-” and they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.”

The Decisive Battle The decisive battle of History took place at Jesus’ 1 st Coming which includes his birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension. Armageddon is just the final wrap up of what was already won at the cross. Satan was defeated but he is not thrown into the lake of fire until the 2 nd Coming. He is angry, his time is short(12:12) so he now turn his anger toward believers. 12:17.

War on believers Now we know why there is persecution. Why is the Dragon so angry at us? Because we continually announce his defeat. 12:11-we continue to conquer 12:17- we bear testimony to Jesus Because we are not afraid to lay down our lives for Jesus.(12:11) Satan can’t threaten us anymore with death.

Some parallel verses Satan defeated at the Cross: John 12:31-” Now is the judgment of this world, now shall the ruler of this world be cast out…” John 16:11 “ concerning judgment because the ruler of this world is judged”. Luke 10:17-19 ( What was seen in the earthly realm and what was going on in the heavenly realm.)

Our enemies in this Age Dragon ( introduced in Chapter 12) Beast from the Sea. Chapter 13:1-10 Beast from the Land.Chapter 13: Also called the false prophet 16:13,19:20.

Beast from the Sea :13: horns, 7 heads, 10 diadems Blasphemous name upon its heads. Proclaiming itself to be God. Composite of a leopard, bear, lion. Like Daniel where the beasts that Daniel sees are Kings and Kingdoms. Daniel 7:17 and 8:20 Satan gives it his power, throne and great authority. Mortal wound but healed Pseudo –messiah. Didn’t die just wounded.

Beast from the Sea Men worship the beast,13:4. 13:8 clarifies who worships the beast. Only unbelievers worship the beast. It persecutes the church during the church age. 13: :10- “ The throne of the beast and its kingdom was in darkness.”

Beast,Anti-God Kingdom,Government,kings Evidence: diadems,blasphemes, power, throne, authority, worshipped by unbelievers, and persecutes the church. It is an anti-Christian Kingdom, government, that claims to be God, that persecutes the church, and is worshipped by unbelievers,and is a Beast.

Beast from the land False Prophet 13: Looks like a lamb but talks like a dragon.( deceptive in looks until it speaks) This beast is False religion: emperor worship, mystery religions, Judaism, Gnosticism,etc. Promotes the 1 st beast,v.12.-( anti-God Kingdom) Religion and government intertwined for evil.

False prophet 13:11-18 Deceives unbelievers –13:13,14. Promotes idolatry ( worship of the Beast) 13:14,15. Similar to Daniel’s three friends Kills those who will not worship the image.13:15 Polycarp and the 2 nd Seal Economic persecution if one doesn’t worship the beast. 13:16,17 The 3 rd Seal

Mark of the Beast: 13:16-18 Can’t buy or sell unless you have the mark. 13:16,17. Believers don’t have this mark. 14:9,10,15:2,20.4 Believers have the Seal of God. They worship God, owned by him. The mark of the Beast. Opposite of the Seal of God. Mark of the beast is on all unbelievers. All have the same mark or number. Just identifies a group of people. ( unbelievers) Believers all have the seal of God that identifies them as a group. Who you worship determines the mark you have.

Mark of the Beast Mark, name of the beast-see the opposite of this in 14: 1. Number of the beast-666 Number associated with an anti-God kingdom. Human number 6- the number of judgment in this book.

Number of the Beast Various illustrations

The worship of man instead of the Lamb Human- not deity Beast represents the worship of man and man – made kingdoms. It is 6- the number man ( created on 6 th day) Evil number because the beast is evil. Doomed to failure and judgment. Will never be 7. It is the mark ( not literal) of unbelief.

Contrast- those with his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 14:1 We bear his image and belong to him. 144,000-same as in Chapter 7. The church in this age. The community of believers in contrast to those who worship the beast.

3 angels 1 st - eternal gospel to proclaim to unbelievers. 14:6 Fear God, judgment is coming, worship the creator of Chapter 4. 2 nd – proclaims that Babylon is already fallen. Her wine=blood of the saints 17:6 3 rd -the judgment for those who worship the beast: Cup of wrath, torment forever, no rest 14:12-the saints have rest.

6 th Sign( I saw)-Judgment 14:14-20 Judgment described as a harvest. Joel 3:13, Jer.51:33, Hosea 6:11, Mark 4;29 and Matt. 13:39 ( Read ) Righteous gathered first. Unrighteous harvested and thrown into the wine press of the wrath of God. This judgment is at the 2 nd Coming of Christ. Harvest picture again in 19:15. Jesus treads the wine press.

7 th Sign(I saw)-15: 2-4 Blessing for the believers at the 2 nd Coming. Description of the saints: conquered the beast,its image and the number of its name. 5:2 Singing the Song of Victory: the song of Moses (Exodus 15:1-18) and the Song of the Lamb. 15:4- thy judgments have been revealed.Singing victoriously on the other side of judgment.

7 Bowls of Judgment The bowls are pictures of God’s Wrath on unbelievers at the 2 nd Coming. Notice Wrath associated with Bowls: 15:1,7 and 16:1 Wrath is for unbelievers. Wrath is what we have seen in every 6 th part or scene so far.In the bowls we have a more detailed view of the judgment on unbelievers.

Bowls at the 2 nd Coming God’s wrath on unbelievers occurs at the 2 nd Coming. See 16:4-7, This is the 3 rd Bowl. Look at verse 5. “ Is to come” is left out, so this is something that happens when he comes.

1 st Bowl-evil sores 16:2- on those who have the mark of the beast and worshipped the image of the beast ( unbelievers). The pain and suffering of Hell.

2 nd and 3 rd Bowls-blood Waters become blood. 16:6- explains this. Because unbelievers have shed the blood of saints and prophets, God judges them. 16: 7- the altar’s cry. Is this the altar where the martyrs were killed in the 5 th seal? Their cry for vindication is now answered at the end of the age. Vindication: 18:20, 23,24. And 19:2

4 th Bowl- fierce heat Hell described as fire.Matt.18:9,Mk.9:47 Parallel:14:10,11 The saints protected from this: 7:16 They curse God even as he judges them. They do not change their mind even when they are judged. Thoroughly hardened sinners.

5 th Bowl- Darkness Throne of the Beast and its Kingdom is in darkness. Matt.8:12 Anguish. Matt. 24:51,Matt.8:12 The redeemed are in eternal light: 21: 23,25 and 22:5

6 th Bowl- Battle that ends this age at the 2 nd Coming. Battle that settles forever the eternal destiny of unbelievers. The battle that brings the end of this age and wrath on unbelievers. Battle on “ the Great Day of God Almighty”= term for the visitation of God in judgment on His enemies. At the 2 nd Coming- see aside to the saints in 16:15 “ Lo I am coming like a thief, blessed…”

6 th Bowl-Battle (1 st of 4 Views) Images from the past:Drying up the Euphrates. Similar to the supernatural downfall of Babylon in 539. The Persians diverted the river and took the city and freed Israel to return to their homeland and worship. Supernatural takeover prophesied by Daniel. The Handwriting on the Wall incident. Parallel idea- a supernatural visitation of God at the 2 nd Coming that frees God’s people.

6 th Bowl-Battle (1 st of 4 Views) Armageddon- a symbolic location.In Joel this battle location is called the Valley of Jehoshaphat(supernatural battle, 2 Chronicles 20) Joel 3:2,12. Mount of Megiddo- Historic location of a famous pass through Israel where many battles were fought on the plain. Most famous battle : Judges 4,5. Sisera and Deborah and Barak. 900 chariots. Deborah’s song tell us that God sent a torrent of rain and the battle was won supernaturally. Parallel: Something supernatural. God shows up and it is all over. 2Peter 3:5-7

7 th Bowl-” It is Done” God’s wrath poured out on unbelievers. Which is our vindication. A demonstration of God’s justice. In the 1 st view of the Battle unbelievers are judged. other enemies also mentioned but not the primary focus. ( Babylon 16:19 mentioned).