REVELATION

1. Revelation - Embry Hills 2005, Lesson 4 REVELATION The CHURCH TRIUMPHANT Through CHRIST (the LAMB of GOD) Lesson Four God�s People in Four Images What would you do if your child was starving to death?What would you do if your child was starving to death?

2. Revelation - Embry Hills 2005, Lesson 4 LESSON PLAN Past, Present, or Future? The Old Testament Rome and God�s People A Woman, A City, and Witnesses The Serpent and The Christ Seals, Trumpets, and Bowls Armageddon, New Jerusalem Numbers and Their Message Chapters 1-10 (Two Lessons) Chapters 11-22 (Two Lessons) Past, Present, or Future? � Has Revelation been fulfilled? The Old Testament � Revelation uses over 350+ references to the OT Rome and God�s People Roman Empire � The Sea Beast (13:1-10) � Military and civil power Roman Empire � Earth Beast (13:11-18) � False religious system Prostitute and the City (17:1,18; 18) � Rome as a leading commercial power People of God � 144K are Sealed � Sum total of God�s people. A Woman, A City, and Witnesses Glorious Woman (12:1-17) � The people of God as a single unit. Woman�s Seed (12:17) � God�s People as Individuals Glorious City (21:2-22:5) � People of God, Contrasted to evil city (chap 18) Two witnesses � People of God The Serpent and The Christ Devil as a Seven-Headed Beast (12:3-4) Devil as a Fallen Star (9:1-2, 11) Jesus Christ as the Church�s Leader (19:11-16) Jesus Christ as the Resurrected Lord (1:17-18) Jesus Christ as the Faithful Witness (1:5; 19:11) Jesus Christ as King of Kings (17:14; 19:16) Jesus Christ as the Redeemer from Sin (1:5; 5:9) Seals, Trumpets, and Bowls 1. Seals(5:1-5, 9; 7:1-8), 2. Trumpets (8:2), Bowls (16:1-21) 3. Measuring the Temple (11:1-2); 4. Lake of Fire (19:20; 20:14-15) Armageddon, New Jerusalem 5. New Heaven and New Earth (21:1) 6. New Glorious Jerusalem (21:2,9) 7. Home in the Wilderness (12:6, 14) 8. Armageddon (16:12-16) Numbers and Their Message Chapters 1-10 (Two Lessons) Chapters 11-22 (Two Lessons)Past, Present, or Future? � Has Revelation been fulfilled? The Old Testament � Revelation uses over 350+ references to the OT Rome and God�s People Roman Empire � The Sea Beast (13:1-10) � Military and civil power Roman Empire � Earth Beast (13:11-18) � False religious system Prostitute and the City (17:1,18; 18) � Rome as a leading commercial power People of God � 144K are Sealed � Sum total of God�s people. A Woman, A City, and Witnesses Glorious Woman (12:1-17) � The people of God as a single unit. Woman�s Seed (12:17) � God�s People as Individuals Glorious City (21:2-22:5) � People of God, Contrasted to evil city (chap 18) Two witnesses � People of God The Serpent and The Christ Devil as a Seven-Headed Beast (12:3-4) Devil as a Fallen Star (9:1-2, 11) Jesus Christ as the Church�s Leader (19:11-16) Jesus Christ as the Resurrected Lord (1:17-18) Jesus Christ as the Faithful Witness (1:5; 19:11) Jesus Christ as King of Kings (17:14; 19:16) Jesus Christ as the Redeemer from Sin (1:5; 5:9) Seals, Trumpets, and Bowls 1. Seals(5:1-5, 9; 7:1-8), 2. Trumpets (8:2), Bowls (16:1-21) 3. Measuring the Temple (11:1-2); 4. Lake of Fire (19:20; 20:14-15) Armageddon, New Jerusalem 5. New Heaven and New Earth (21:1) 6. New Glorious Jerusalem (21:2,9) 7. Home in the Wilderness (12:6, 14) 8. Armageddon (16:12-16) Numbers and Their Message Chapters 1-10 (Two Lessons) Chapters 11-22 (Two Lessons)

3. Revelation - Embry Hills 2005, Lesson 4 Central Message God alone is to be Worshiped Truth is to be Maintained no matter what Rome (the World) opposes God, His Kingdom, and His Purposes When the Smoke clears � the Church will be Triumphant

4. Revelation - Embry Hills 2005, Lesson 4 Lesson 3: What We Learned God is the central character, as in all Scripture The Roman Empire Is Shown In Three Images Sea-Beast, Earth-Beast, Prostitute/City All show a different side of Rome The Sea-Beast stands for Military Power The Earth-Beast stands for Religious Power The Prostitute/City stands for a Commercial, Trading Power

5. Revelation - Embry Hills 2005, Lesson 4 Lesson 4: What We Will Learn The whole people of God are represented by the vision of 144,000 marked out for protection against God�s punishment The glorious Woman also represents the whole people of God, but in contrast to Rome The glorious City stands in contrast to Rome as the evil City The two Witnesses are God�s people fulfilling their obligations despite obstacles

6. Revelation - Embry Hills 2005, Lesson 4 The 144,000 (ch 7) This is a Symbolic Number Twelve: God�s People, Organized Religion It�s then multiplied by itself One-thousand: large scale fullness or completeness Represents the entirety of God�s faithful people on earth God�s people numbered and, therefore, known by God The Great Multitude No longer need protection on earth They praise God! They have come through Tribulation They no longer need to be numbered

7. Revelation - Embry Hills 2005, Lesson 4 The 144,000 Are Sealed A Seal had several Purposes Protection against tampering (Matt 27:66) Marks of ownership (Song of Solomon 8:6) Certifies authenticity (Esther 3:12) All apply to the Christian We are under God�s Protection We have been bought by His Blood The Spirit certifies we are His Sons (Eph 1:13; Rom 8:16) John ends Chapter 6 by asking �Who is able to stand?� In chapter 6 we saw saints under the alter who had been slain, and we receive some dreadful news that more may die. But we are given the assurance that they will be sealed (protected, even though they may die). God�s idea of protection, and ours is quite different: Rev 3:10 � Philadelphia was promised protection Ezek 9:4-6 � Put a mark on their forehead Ezek 21:3-4 � The righteous will be killed with the wicked Ezek 18:4 � the soul that sins shall die. Isa 40:26 � He calls them by name, not one is missing Chapter 7 is written to assure the saints of God that He is deeply concerned about them, and will look out for their welfare in His judgments on their enemies. Does this mean that Christians will not ever be hurt, or ever feel the bitter sting of death and tragedy? NO!!! a. How can God say He will protect His children from harm is some had already died? Is physical harm what God protects us against? What light does Ro 8:35-39 shed on this question? b. Rom 8:35-39 - Nothing can separate us from the love of God. c. The most important protection God offers His children is not insurance against physical harm, but the assurance that nothing that happens can separate us from His love. 6. Instead God promises to give them inner strength which will help them pass through any trials that will come their way. 7. Remember how many of the letters to the seven churches ended �to he who overcomes....� God is now telling them that they can overcome, despite the overwhelming obstacles, and odds. 8. These same promises are just as applicable today as they were 2,000 years ago. John ends Chapter 6 by asking �Who is able to stand?� In chapter 6 we saw saints under the alter who had been slain, and we receive some dreadful news that more may die. But we are given the assurance that they will be sealed (protected, even though they may die). God�s idea of protection, and ours is quite different: Rev 3:10 � Philadelphia was promised protection Ezek 9:4-6 � Put a mark on their forehead Ezek 21:3-4 � The righteous will be killed with the wicked Ezek 18:4 � the soul that sins shall die. Isa 40:26 � He calls them by name, not one is missing Chapter 7 is written to assure the saints of God that He is deeply concerned about them, and will look out for their welfare in His judgments on their enemies. Does this mean that Christians will not ever be hurt, or ever feel the bitter sting of death and tragedy? NO!!! a. How can God say He will protect His children from harm is some had already died? Is physical harm what God protects us against? What light does Ro 8:35-39 shed on this question? b. Rom 8:35-39 - Nothing can separate us from the love of God. c. The most important protection God offers His children is not insurance against physical harm, but the assurance that nothing that happens can separate us from His love. 6. Instead God promises to give them inner strength which will help them pass through any trials that will come their way. 7. Remember how many of the letters to the seven churches ended �to he who overcomes....� God is now telling them that they can overcome, despite the overwhelming obstacles, and odds. 8. These same promises are just as applicable today as they were 2,000 years ago.

8. Revelation - Embry Hills 2005, Lesson 4 The Twelve Tribes

9. Revelation - Embry Hills 2005, Lesson 4 Theories of the 144,000 and The Great Multitude The 144,000 are Jewish Christians and the Great Multitude are Gentile Christians Jehovah Witness� say the 144,000 are destined for Heaven and the Multitude for a purified earth The 144,000 are Evangelists who preach, converting souls during the Great Tribulation The 144,000 are Jews converted during the Great Tribulation (Premillenial/Dispensational) The 144,000 and Multitude are the same = Church The 144,000 Are Jewish Christians and the Great Multitude Are Gentile Christians Only Jews Never Married (14:4) Must know what tribe they came from What about Dan and Ephram? Jehovah Witness� say the 144,000 are Destined for Heaven and the Multitude for a Purified Earth. Totally False This is not a literal number 144k = immorality Multitude = purified earth This means we have 2 Hopes and 2 Destinations The JW have it mixed up, the 144k are on the earth, and the great multitude are in heaven. The 144,000 Are Evangelists Who Preach, Converting Souls During Great Tribulation This is suppoed to take place after the rapture A bunch of �Billy Grahams� 4. The 144,000 Are Jews Converted During Great Tribulation (Premil) 5. The 144,000 and Multitude Are the Same = Church The 144,000 Are Jewish Christians and the Great Multitude Are Gentile Christians Only Jews Never Married (14:4) Must know what tribe they came from What about Dan and Ephram? Jehovah Witness� say the 144,000 are Destined for Heaven and the Multitude for a Purified Earth. Totally False This is not a literal number 144k = immorality Multitude = purified earth This means we have 2 Hopes and 2 Destinations The JW have it mixed up, the 144k are on the earth, and the great multitude are in heaven. The 144,000 Are Evangelists Who Preach, Converting Souls During Great Tribulation This is suppoed to take place after the rapture A bunch of �Billy Grahams� 4. The 144,000 Are Jews Converted During Great Tribulation (Premil) 5. The 144,000 and Multitude Are the Same = Church

10. Revelation - Embry Hills 2005, Lesson 4 The Glorious Woman The people of God viewed as a corporate whole Recorded in Revelation 12:1-17 Lamentations 1:1, Ezekiel 16:32, Isaiah 47 OT examples A crown of twelve stars She is a light-bearer (sun and moon) Persecuted by the Dragon (see Isaiah 51) Woman and seed opposed by the serpent (Gen 3) Dragon unsuccessfully seeks death of Newly Born Suffers wilderness experience Dragon turns to kill �rest of her seed� Children (offspring) used to describe Christians as individuals

11. Revelation - Embry Hills 2005, Lesson 4 The Glorious City The people of God viewed as a corporate whole Recorded in Revelation 21 and first of chapter 22 Bride of the lamb adorned by her husband Square and secure walls God and Christ dwell in the city The tree of life is there River that flows through the middle of the city City is a light-bearer Notice the use of the number twelve

12. Revelation - Embry Hills 2005, Lesson 4 The Glorious City The glorious City stands in contrast to the evil City Compare chapters 21 & 22 with chapter 18 God dwells in glorious City Abominations are found in evil City Both are pictures of the conditions after conflict The people of God are triumphant Those that oppose him are defeated and humiliated What would the affect of this �picture� been for the reader of John�s day?

13. Revelation - Embry Hills 2005, Lesson 4 The Two Witnesses The Two Witnesses are the Church at work Recorded in Revelation 11 Hearkens back to OT prophets and evangelists (v.6) Are given authority to preach They preach despite adverse conditions Are persecuted and killed Yet are resurrected and made to ascend to heaven Notice use of numbers two; three-and-a-half

14. Revelation - Embry Hills 2005, Lesson 4 God�s People Represented The whole people of God are represented by the vision of 144,000 marked out for protection against God�s awful anger The glorious Woman also represents the whole people of God, but in contrast to Rome The glorious City stands in contrast to Rome as the evil City The two Witnesses are God�s people fulfilling their obligations despite obstacles

15. Revelation - Embry Hills 2005, Lesson 4 The Church Triumphant Pain but Protection, Trouble yet Triumph Main characters studied thus far: God, Roman Empire, God�s People Next Lesson: The final two main characters contrasted: Satan and Christ