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Revelation
Chapter 13
This chapter begins with John standing upon the sand of the sea.
There he sees a beast rising up out of the sea. This beast had seven
heads and ten horns. The horns had crowns upon them and the heads
bear the name of blasphemy. This beast was like a leopard, with feet
like a bear, a mouth like a lion, and the dragon gave him his
power and his seat and great authority. Notice that this
beast's appearance is identical to that of the dragon in Rev. 12:3.
It is also worthy of our consideration to compare his features with
the features of the beasts in Daniel 7. The leopard represents the
Grecian empire, the bear represents the Medes and Persian empire,
and the lion represents the Babylonian
empire. This only leaves one other beast and empire and that
is, the Roman empire, which this beast represents.
John then sees one of the seven heads as it were wounded to death;
and then that deadly wound was healed. This miracle caused the
entire world to wonder after the beast, which results in the world
worshipping both the dragon and the beast. They even declared that
no one could make war with this power. This beast spoke like none
else. His message was to blaspheme God, the name and the church. He
was given power to make war with the saints for forty-two months,
and to overcome them. There have been suggestions that this is not
the church this beast comes against, but, rather, Israel. But anyone
who has made any serious study of the term saints knows that this
term applies to the believers. There is but one church and will
never be but one church. If Israel is saved, they will be saved in
the church. To preach another salvation plan is to blaspheme
Calvary. Furthermore, God will not have part of his church in the
air and part on the earth. For there to be two brides would violate
everything God stands for.
In verse 11, John sees another beast coming up out of the earth.
This one had two horns like a lamb, and spake as a dragon. The mere
contrast of one beast coming from the sea and one coming from the
earth has to send a message. It appears the message is the joining
of the old/natural power with the new/spiritual power. This second
beast tries to look like Christ and causes the earth to worship the
first beast. He comes with great wonders and powers and is the one
who causes men to receive a mark in their right hand or in their
forehead. For those who are wise, we will have his number. That
number is 666. It is very obvious today that his mark will be in the
form of a computer chip. There are already experimentation with
these chips going on in some of our states. To accept this procedure
and concept makes sense to every human facet. But to the church, we
will not give in.
Revelation
Chapters 14 - 22
Chapter
14 begins with John seeing the Lamb on Mt. Zion with 144,000, having
the name written in their foreheads. These were singing a new song
that heaven had never heard, nor could they sing. This vision is the
vision of Christ returning to this earth with a special army. Some
have concluded that the 144,000 represents the church. I believe
they are the same 144,000 spoken of in chapter 7, which were all
Jews; 12,000 from each tribe. This is further verified by verse 4
which tells us that they were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits
unto God and to the Lamb. Now, if one has obtained firstfruits,
would it not seem reasonable that one would expect fruit afterwards.
The logical explanation seems to be that they are the beginning
revival of Israel accepting Jesus as the Christ. This group is not
the only ones that returns with our Lord, but is that group which
accompany the Lamb in His pronouncement of judgment.
In verse 6, John sees another angel which declares the final message
to mankind, and that His judgment is come. This angel is following
by a second angel which declares that Babylon, that great city, is
fallen. This is the city of the mother of harlots, which is Rome,
After this angel comes a third angel declaring that all who
worshiped the beast and his image and received the mark were judged
to be eternally doomed to God's wrath and punishment. The chapter
closes describing the harvest of the earth.
Chapter 15 describes the events taking place with those who overcome
the beast, his image and his mark. They are singing the song of
Moses, and the song of the Lamb. It also tells us of the seven
angels which have the last seven plagues which will be poured out
upon the earth. They are then given seven golden vials by one of the
four beasts. These vials contain the wrath of God.
Chapter 16 begins with the seven angels being told to go and pour
out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. These vials are
described in detail. These are those things that will fall upon the
earth during the 3 1/2 years after the rapture. Verse 16 also
introduces us to the battlefield called Armageddon. This is the
place of the battle which will bind Satan for 1,000 years, cast the
beast and the false prophet into the lake of fire, and usher the
church into the millennium.
Chapter 17 describes the great whore, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT,
THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. Verse 7 tells
us that she rides the beast which had seven heads and ten horns.
Verse 9 explains to us the meaning of the seven heads, They are the
seven mountain (hills) that the woman sits on. Verse 18 tells us
that the woman is the great city which reigns over the kingdoms of
the earth. This is a "present tense" statement. This has
to mean that the city is Rome, because this is the city of seven
hills and it was Rome that ruled in the day the Revelation was
written. According to verse 12 the ten horns are ten kings which
have no kingdom as yet; but will receive power as kings one hour
with the beast. It seems that these kings will turn on the woman,
and then give their kingdoms to the beast.
The final five chapters goes into detail to explain how some of the
end-time events will happen. Chapter 18 explains how that Babylon
(the woman) will fall. Chapter 19 explains the marriage supper of
the Lamb (rapture). In chapter 20 we learn of the events surrounding
the first resurrection. Two of the points explained are that Satan
will be bound 1,000 years, and the church will rule and reign with
the Lord right here on earth for that 1,000 years. Chapters 21 &
22 tells us about the splendors of heaven (New Jerusalem), including
the gates, foundations, precious stones, the light of that city
being the Lamb, and the river and the tree of life. It concludes
with letting us know that Jesus continues to remain first and last,
that men can find eternal life, and the warnings of adding or taking
away from this book.
This book is declared in its title given by man that it is "THE
REVELATION OF SAINT JOHN THE DIVINE." This, however, does not
correspond with the inspired writing itself. Revelation chapter 1,
verse 1 plainly tells us that it is "The Revelation of Jesus
Christ." TO HIM WE GIVE ALL THE HONOR, GLORY AND PRAISE!
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