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Hello! In Terry’s continuing series on the Book of Revelation, he took us on a quick tour through chapter 12. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. I’ve also included some notes and links to referenced Scriptures. Enjoy! *Note: this was recorded on my phone, so the sound quality may be different than usual.

God Is Coming, part 13

Introduction: Just like a grape, sometimes we have to be squeezed for the good stuff to manifest. God, throughout the Tribulation (the squeezing), is calling people back to Him. And in Rev. 11:13, we finally do see people turn to Him. Judgment has two reactions: 1) Repentance or 2) Rage against God. Both reactions are seen in Revelation, but God’s heart is for all to come to repentance.

Revelation 12

• v. 1-2: The Woman
  • Catholics say she is Mother Mary
  • This is actually a fulfillment of Joseph’s dream from Genesis 37
  • The woman is Israel.
    • The child is Jesus
      • Matthew 2 – warned not to go back to Bethlehem
      • Was a satanic attack – a relentless attack to eliminate Israel & Christianity (has been going on since the Fall of Man)
• v. 3-4: The Dragon
  • Takes us back to the promise in Genesis 3:15
    • The seed of the woman vs the seed of the serpent
  • This is not the Church (that is Replacement Theology, which is not biblical)
  • 7 heads, 10 horns
    • from the Book of Daniel & Revelation 17
      • the 7 heads: Egypt, Syria, Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece, Rome, yet to come
    • the 10 horns can be found in Daniel 7 & Revelation 17
      • for protection, fighting
      • 10 countries/kingdoms ally with Antichrist for a season
• v. 5: The Messiah
  • Mission & Ascension
  • Psalm 2:3-9: will rule all nations with a rod of iron (also in Revelation 19)
  • caught up to God – Acts 1
    • from the Mount of Olives
• v. 6: Israel Protected
  • by God
  • for 1260 days (3 1/2 years)
  • Matthew 24 – beginning of the Great Tribulation
• v. 7-9: War in Heaven
  • Between Michael & his angels and the Dragon & his angels
    • the Dragon – Isaiah 14 & Ezekiel 28
  • Dragon Identified
    • the serpent of old (Genesis 3)
    • the devil
    • Satan
    • deceives the whole world
  • Dragon thrown down to earth
    • his angels (demons) with him
    • right now, Satan has access to the throne of God to accuse us (Job 1)
• v. 10: Rejoicing in Heaven
  • Because the dragon has been banned from the Throne
  • Praising God because these have come:
    • salvation
    • power
    • kingdom
    • authority
  • Satan has already been sentenced
    • the enemy is a defeated foe in the life of the believer
    • we must continue to wash our minds with the Word of God
• v. 11: Overcomers
  • those who are in the Tribulation will only overcome the ways of the dragon by:
    • the blood of the Lamb
    • the word of their testimony
    • not loving their life, even unto death
• v. 12: Rejoice & Woe
  • Rejoicing in heaven
  • Woe on the earth
    • the devil is mad because he has been cast out
    • he knows his time (the final 3 1/2 years) is short
    • John 10 tells us that the thief (the devil) comes to steal, kill, & destroy
    • Zechariah 13:8 – only 1/3 of Israel left on the earth by this point in the Tribulation
    • Romans 11:26 – all Israel will be saved
• v. 13: Persecution
  • Israel will be even more heavily persecuted by the dragon
• v. 14: Protection
  • God will provide for & protect Israel during these 3 1/2 years
• v. 15-16: The Devil Tries
  • the dragon tries to kill/destroy Israel, but fails
• v. 17: The Dragon is Enraged
  • turns to destroying Christians
  • Matthew 24-25: Jesus’ words about the Tribulation
    • v. 15-22

Hello! I’ve been trying to figure out how to post Terry’s message from the last Sunday of December, since the batteries in the recorder died partway through. So, I finally decided that I’d post what I have of the audio and the notes I took in church. Sorry for the technical problems!

God Is Coming, pt. 12

Isaiah 46:4 is a great reminder of the ironclad promises of God.

Review: This book describes the preparation for Christ’s return. Romans 11:25-27 tells us that when the fullness of the Gentiles have come to the Lord, God will turn back to His people Israel. This all comes together in Revelation. God will make all things new.

Revelation 11

• v. 5-6 – the witnesses needed to be protected
  • both Jews & Gentiles are against them
  • fire comes out of their mouths
  • ability to stop the rains
  • power over waters
  • power to smite the earth with plagues
    • every kind
    • as often as they wish
• v. 7 – when they finish their ministry
  • just like John the Baptist
    • fulfilled his calling
    • faithfully served
  • the beast from the abyss will kill them
• v. 8-10 – after they are killed
  • the “great city” = Jerusalem (where the Lord was crucified)
    • called “Sodom” and “Egypt” because it is defiled
  • the people of the world react
    • leave the witness’ bodies on display
    • refuse to give them a respectful burial
  • rejoice over them
    • make merry
    • send gifts to each other
    • because the witnesses “tormented” them (by speaking God’s truth)
  • *Note: this is where the audio ends…
• v. 11 – after 3 1/2 days…
  • the witnesses are brought back to life
  • great fear falls on all who see
• v. 12 – at the same time…
  • a voice from heaven calls them
    • “Come up here.”
  • they ascend into heaven
  • their enemies watch
• v. 13 – another earthquake (one of 12 in Revelation)
  • 1/10 of the city of Jerusalem destroyed
  • 7000 people killed
  • then people finally repent & give glory to God
    • we’re not told how many, but it could be tons!
• v. 14 – the 2nd woe is past
  • of the 3 woes in Revelation 8:13
    • 1st woe: opening of the abyss
    • 2nd woe: witnesses
• v. 15 – 7th trumpet (result will be in Revelation 16)
  • John hears in heaven
    • rejoicing in heaven
    • He shall reign for ever and ever
• v. 16-18 – the 24 elders worship God again
  • fall on their faces
  • declare the glory of God
    • praising Him for He has taken His power & has begun to reign
  • tell us of the anger of the unredeemed
    • points to the White Throne Judgment
• v. 19 – a view of the temple in heaven
  • reminds us of the crucifixion – when the veil was torn (Matthew 27:51)
  • ark of the covenant is seen
  • lightning, thunder, another earthquake, a hailstorm (Matthew 27:50-53)
  • many things in Revelation have a first type of fulfillment in the Old & New Testaments

Before Christmas, Terry’s overview of the Book of Revelation took us through chapter 10 and into chapter 11. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. Also included are some notes and links to verses referenced, so you can read along with Terry’s lesson.

God Is Coming, pt. 11

Introduction: Brief review of chapters 8-9. The first 4 trumpet judgments affect the physical earth (where the rebellion happened). Judgments are a temper tantrum – they are a preparation/winnowing/call to repentance. The 5th & 6th trumpets pertain to the demon world – the abyss is opened, and the demons loosed to torture those not sealed by God. Deuteronomy 18:9-14 – God doesn’t want us dabbling in/opening the door to the spirit realm. There’s nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9) – demons want to inhabit man & the more people get exposed to/immune to the demonic realm, the easier it is for demons to do what they want.

Revelation 10 – Interlude

• v. 1 – John saw:
  • another mighty angel
  • came out of heaven
  • clothed with a cloud
  • rainbow on his head
  • face like the sun
  • feet like pillars of fire
• v. 2 – the angel held a “little book/scroll”
  • right foot on the sea
  • left foot on the land
• v. 3 – the angel cried out
  • loud – like a lion
  • 7 peals of thunder responded
• v. 4 – John was about to write what the thunders said
  • God stopped him from recording it
• v. 5 – the angel raises his right hand to heaven
  • sign of an oath
• v. 6-7 – the angel swears by God
  • there will be no more delay of judgment & prophecy
  • when the 7th angel is about to blow his trumpet the mystery of God will finish
• v. 8 – God speaks to John
  • “Go!” – go to the angel
  • “Do!” – take the book from the angel
• v. 9 – John obeys without argument
  • is told to take the scroll and eat it
    • Jeremiah 15:16 – Jeremiah ate the words of God
    • Ezekiel 2-3 – Ezekiel was given a scroll & told to eat it & prophesy
  • this “little book/scroll” is probably the Word of God
• v. 10 – John ate
  • was sweet in his mouth, but bitter in his stomach
  • Psalm 19 – the words of God are sweeter than honey
  • It’s sweet to know that God will deal with the unbelievers, but bitter to know what will happen to them.
• v. 11 – the angel speaks to John
  • “You must prophesy again concerning…”
    • peoples
    • nations
    • tongues
    • kings

Revelation 11

• v. 1 – John is given a measuring stick
  • told to measure the temple of God & the altar & the people who worship
  • is a physical temple on earth
    • v. 2 notes “the holy city” = Jerusalem
    • will be built in Jerusalem at the beginning of the Tribulation
    • Ezekiel 40-42: Ezekiel is told to measure the temple that will be in the new earth

• v. 2 – told not to measure the outer court
  • it is given over to the nations
  • for the 1st 42 months of the Tribulation (3 1/2 years)
• v. 3 – two witnesses
  • will prophesy in Jerusalem
  • for 1260 days (42 months; 3 1/2 years)
  • dressed in sackcloth (mourning)
• v. 4 – prophecy fulfilled
  • Zechariah 4:3,11,14
• v. 5 – power from God
  • if someone desires to harm them
    • fire proceeds from their mouths
• v. 6 – more power from God
  • to shut up the sky (stop the rains)
  • to turn water to blood
  • to smite the earth with plagues (as often as they desire)
  • will be encouraging people to turn to God’s salvation
• v. 7 – end of the 3 1/2 years
  • witnesses finish their testimony
  • Abaddon/Apollyon/beast from the abyss will kill them
  • all on God’s time

Hello! Terry’s continued series on Revelation took us into chapter 9. To listen to this teaching, simply click play on the audio player below. I’ve also included some notes and links to Bible Gateway for the verses he references.

God Is Coming, pt. 10

Introduction: Review of the first four trumpet judgments:

• 1st trumpet: 1/3 of the land burned, 1/3 of the trees burned, all of the grass burned
• 2nd trumpet: 1/3 of the seas turned to blood
• 3rd trumpet: 1/3 of all other waters turned bitter
• 4th trumpet: 1/3 of the sun, moon, and stars smitten
• God’s people will be protected, but some will be martyred for their faith. But to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8).

Revelation 9

• v. 1 – the 5th trumpet
  • star = angel (he) was given the key
    • key is to the abyss/bottomless pit/deep = a place where demons have been incarcerated for a long time
• v. 2 – the abyss is opened by the angel
  • terrible smoke rises and darkens the earth
• v. 3 – locusts/demons come out of the smoke
  • GIVEN power
    • allowed/used by God
  • power LIKE scorpions
• v. 4 – God commands the locusts/demons
  • part of God’s retribution/judgment
  • the only part of God’s creation that has free will is mankind
  • mission of these demonic entities is to hurt the unbelievers
    • unbelievers = those not sealed
    • Won’t affect the 144,000 sealed Jews (Revelation 7:3-4) or Christians sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30)
  • not to damage the earth/grass/trees, etc.
• v. 5 – more instructions to the locusts/demons
  • do not kill the people
  • torment them for 5 months
  • torment is like being stung by a scorpion
• v. 6 – the reaction
  • men will seek death, but they won’t be able to die (not even by suicide)
• v. 7-10 – characteristics of the locusts
  • 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 – Satan & his servants appear as angels of light – but not this time; they will be seen for what they are
  • Like horses prepared
    • crowns like gold
    • faces like men
    • long hair like women
    • teeth like a lion
    • breastplates of iron
    • wings make a horrible noise
    • tails like scorpions to hurt for 5 months
  • This is all to stop our sin/evil behavior & turn to the Lord for salvation.
• v. 11 – King of the Locusts
  • ruling angel of the abyss
  • Hebrew – Abaddon
  • Greek – Apollyon
  • Destroyer – the devil comes to steal, kill, & destroy (John 10:10)
• v. 12 – The first woe has passed (Rev. 8:13).
• v. 13 – 6th trumpet
  • God is in control
  • voice from the horns of the altar before God
• v. 14 – 6th angel
  • commanded by the voice from the altar
  • told to release the 4 angels bound under the Euphrates
• v. 15 – 4 imprisoned angels released
  • to kill 1/3 of mankind
  • nearly 1/2 the rebellions population of the world will have been wiped out at this point in the Tribulation
• v. 16 – Armies numbered
  • 200 million horsemen
  • NOT Armageddon
• v. 17 – Armies described
  • Breastplates
    • fiery red, dark blue, yellow as sulfur
  • Heads of the horses resemble heads of lions
    • fire, smoke, & sulfur from their mouths
• v. 18 – another 1/3 of rebellious mankind killed
  • killed by the fire, smoke, & sulfur from the mouths of the horses
• v. 19 – more description of the horses
  • power from their:
    • mouths (fire, smoke, sulfur)
    • tails – like a serpent with a head that does harm
• v. 20-21 – mindset of those that still reject God
  • did not repent of:
    • worshipping devils & idols
    • murder
    • sorcery/pharmakeia (drug use/witchcraft, etc. – the devil can use people much more effectively if they aren’t in their right mind)
    • immorality
    • theft
  • man is capable of so much depravity apart from God
• God is bringing His kingdom – that is the goal of the Tribulation!