Chapters 15 - 18

Chapters 15
This chapter outlines the last seven remaining bowls of judgement that will fall upon the world as a result of the Wrath of God. John starts the chapter by reaffirming that those who 'overcome' the beast have eternal rest and salvation. The saints who were slain for the testimony of Jesus, sing a song of deliverance. Both the song of Moses and the Lamb are about being rescued by God. While satan comes to steal, kill and destroy, God comes to save those that were lost. As the angels pour out the last remaining plagues, we see that Heaven cannot contain the Glory of the Lord. Jesus is to be feared, because He is the only one that holds the keys to life and death. The world, which to this point continues to worship the beast, is about to taste the final judgements from God, literally they will experience the Wrath of God. God is about to avenge His saints.

Question for Chapter 15: In verse 2 it says "to those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name." How did the saints accomplish victory over satan - what actions or inaction caused them to be victorious? Conversely, why did those who accepted the mark, suffer defeat - what inaction or actions lead them to defeat. 

Chapter 16 
Moore, Oklahoma as I am writing this, has been devastated by a mile wide tornado, classified as a number 4 tornado with winds reaching 200 miles per hour. The devastation coming across the television is horrifying. When a natural disaster like the one in Oklahoma occurs, we are reminded of the possibility that not only can disaster strike, but the finality of a tornado, hurricane can be absolute. Chapter 16 describes the results of the last remaining seven bowl judgements. Again, John points us back to the Old Testament book of Exodus, where God sent several plagues against Egypt until the Pharaoh relented, and let the nation of Israel go free. The citizens of the world will not 'fear the Lord' and continue to worship the beast. In verse 11 we find the people would not repent. They would not turn away from their actions, they were resolved to follow the beast, despite God's judgements. Finally, the world is gathered at Armageddon to wage the final WWWIII battle that if not cut short, would result in the loss of all life on planet earth. Yet, in the middle of this chapter Christ Himself warns, ¹⁵ “Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.” Jesus characterizes those that follow the beast as naked, asleep, shamefully exposed. 

Question for Chapter 16: How is it that a Christian is clothed and awake, but that those that do not know Christ are naked, asleep and shamed?  

Chapter 17 and 18
John is given a another vision:

 

babylon the great
the mother of prostitutes
and of the abominations of the earth.

In the last verse John identifies the woman with a city, a city that rules over the kings of the world. Who is the woman? 

In the Old Testament book of Hosea, God chooses to use the prophet Hosea to paint a physical picture of idolatry for the nation of Israel. Hosea was directed by God to marry a promiscuous woman, named Gomer. This marriage symbolized the covenant relationship between God and Israel. However, like Hosea's marriage, Israel had been unfaithful to God by following other gods and breaking the commandments which are the terms of the Old Testament covenant. Israel is symbolized by Gomer, a harlot who violates the obligations of marriage to her husband (God). The woman Babylon the great, is any world system that causes mankind to worship other gods, and willfully break the commandments of God.

This woman is not a literal person, and is likely the apostate church. She 'sits on many waters' meaning her influence is world wide. She is  "drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus." This woman helps orchestrate the killing of God's people, she is literally drunk with the blood of those who profess that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh. We also find that she rides the beast, or the revived Roman Empire. The world is astonished because the woman rides the ultimate counterfeit of Christ, the beast (antichrist) appears to have been resurrected. The woman forces all nations to worship the beast. Yet, ultimately this city, will be burned - possibly by a nuclear bomb - to the ground. 

In chapter 18 we learn that this city was THE supplier of goods throughout the world. All nations and kings drank her wine of adulteries (idolatry). This must be an actual location on planet earth, and the God calls his children out of her so that they do not share in her destruction. She is far off from the other nations...and finally we find that the merchants of the world weep because their best buyer is no more...

Question Chapter 17 and 18 : What city or nation immediately comes to mind as a result of the description John gives of the woman in chapter 17? 

Chapters 13 and 14

Question 1:  The below are the lyrics from the song by Iron Maiden, 'The Number of the Beast' Read Chapter 13 and then read the lyrics to the song...what immediately comes to mind after reading chapter 13 and the lyrics to this song back to back?

The Number Of The Beast (Iron Maiden)

"Woe to you, Oh Earth and Sea, for the Devil sends the
beast with wrath, because he knows the time is short...
Let him who hath understanding reckon the number of the
beast for it is a human number, its number is Six hundred and
sixty six."

I left alone my mind was blank
I needed time to think to get the memories from my mind

What did I see can I believe that what I saw
that night was real and not just fantasy

Just what I saw in my old dreams were they
reflections of my warped mind staring back at me

'Cos in my dream it's always there the evil face that twists my mind
and brings me to despair

The night was black was no use holding back
'Cos I just had to see was someone watching me
In the mist dark figures move and twist
Was this all for real or some kind of hell
666 the number of the beast
Hell and fire was spawned to be released

Torches blazed and sacred chants were praised
As they start to cry hands held to the sky
In the night the fires burning bright
The ritual has begun Satan's work is done
666 the number of the beast
Sacrifice is going on tonight

This can't go on I must inform the law
Can this still be real or just some crazy dream
But I feel drawn towards the evil chanting hordes
They seem to mesmerise me ... can't avoid their eyes
666 the number of the beast
666 the one for you and me

I'm coming back I will return
And I'll possess your body and I'll make you burn
I have the fire I have the force
I have the power to make my evil take it's course"

Question2: The beast in chapter 13 is described as resembling a leopard, feel like a bear, and the mouth of a lion. In the Old Testament, specifically in the book of Daniel, these animals are associated with what world powers?
Answers: Leopard = Greece ; Bear = Media/Persia; Lion = Babylon - Read Daniel Chapter 7 for more insight.

Questions3:  Where does the beast get the authority to wage war again God and His people?
Answers: Dragon (Satan)

Question4: What is the Lamb's book of life?
Answers: Names of all those who put there trust and faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ

Question5: Who is the second beast? Where does he come from?
Answers: False Prophet, likely a religious leader who is well known in the world.

Question6: The mark of the beast, 666, will that be literal, or is it a riddle for those that live during the time of the beast to solve?
Answers: The mark will be a literal mark upon a person allowing them to buy, sell during the tribulation, but will also seal an individual's fate to the lake of fire. It is likely that during the time when the antichrist comes to power, believers will be able to use John's message of having wisdom in regard to the number of the beast, 666, to identify the antichrist.

 

Question7: Who are these 144,000?

Answers: All who faithfully put their faith in Christ, instead of the antichrist.

Question8:  What are the three angels communicating?

Answers: That God created all things, to not follow the antichrist, and that judgement is inevitable.

Question9: What do verses 14-17 of Chapter 14 describe?

Answers: Jesus harvesting those who know Him, and those who do not.

Questions10: How easy do you think it will to be deceived by the beast?

Answers: The antichrist will fake a resurrection. It will be so astonishing that those who end up following the antichrist will essentially be able to say, what has Jesus done, that the antichrist has not done...it will be a very effective counterfeit, the antichrist will appear to have all the credentials, but will in fact be the greatest lie known to mankind.

More Commentary on Chapters 13 and 14

Below is an outline of the central characters in Chapters 13 and 14

Revelation chapter 13	Revelation chapter 14
The Dragon (Satan)	God the Father
The Sea Beast (The Roman Kingdom/Roman Ruler)	The Lamb-Christ the King
The false prophet Land Beast (Leader of False Church) who serves the Sea Beast and Satan	Angel/messengers (true prophets who serve the Lamb)
Apostate followers of the Beast marked by the number of the Beast	Immaculate followers of Christ sealed with the names of the Father and the Son

 
In chapter 13 we are introduced to the antichrist, the false prophet and the mastermind behind it all, the dragon who is satan. John identifies that the antichrist will come from the sea. In ancient times anything that came from the sea was thought to be a danger. In the Mel Gibson move Apocalypto, the Mayan people see a Spanish Galleon ship on the horizon coming toward shore, and the audience gets the feeling that this ultimately will not bode well for the Mayans...which history verified. The antichrist is by definition 'against Christ'. The book of Daniel states that this 'little horn' will say blasphemous things pertaining to God, Jesus and even Heaven itself, essentially saying that Jesus was a fraud, and that the antichrist is the true god. Unfortunately he will be able to perform many authentic signs and wonders so that many will be duped into believing the lie that the antichrist is the most powerful, and that Jesus is a myth. The antichrist will be an individual, but will also represent a revived Roman Empire that will do what no empire has done since the Roman empire that ruled during the time of Christ, rule the entire planet. This revived Roman empire will be a confederacy of 10 nations that ultimately have final say on the economic conditions for all of planet earth. The penultimate moment is the fake resurrection of the antichrist. It will appear to the entire world that the antichrist receives a death blow. Yet, the antichrist will be 'resurrected' in appearance to everyone, and because of that will be able to boast that the antichrist has accomplished everything that Jesus Christ did, including the resurrection. However, we read that the dragon (satan) will inhabit the antichrist after this resurrection and will have complete autonomy to make war against those who believe in Jesus Christ, and against God Himself. God will allow satan complete control. At the final judgement, satan will not be able to argue that 'if he was allowed to rule', that he could of ushered in peace, love and a utopian society. His short rule will prove him to be the 'father of lies' that Jesus named in the Gospels. Satan it is said in the New Testament has only one desire, 'to steal, kill and destroy'. This will be unfortunately on full display for all of planet earth.

Yet, the antichrist will not be alone. He will have a helper, the false prophet. John specifically mentions that he will come from the land. He will be someone that everyone in the world is aware of, and in facts admires and trusts. Likely a religious leader. Much like John the Baptist, this false prophet will connect this Revived Roman ruler (antichrist) to religion. The false prophet will also be able to perform authentic signs and wonders, and will cause many to follow the 'beast' and take his mark. The false prophet will be able to call fire from the sky, similar to what the real prophet Elijah did during his ministry. This is important because the Jewish people believe to this day, the Elijah the prophet will come in advance of the messiah. Satan will exploit this hope of the Jewish people, and the false prophet will identify himself as the prophet Elijah. Evidently the false prophets credentials will be such that the entire planet will take him at his word.

These three (dragon, antichrist and the false prophet) will use their authority to cause everyone to take a literal mark/tattoo on their person, or not be able to buy or sell. Essentially forcing grave economic consequences for those who do not worship the beast. In our present day it is plausible that with the dangers of identity theft, the need to buy and sell everywhere (global market), and to account for transactions that terrorists might make, the case for having everyone have an individual mark to buy and sell makes common sense. However, for those that do not accept the mark, and refuse they will not be able to participate in the global economy, and those that put their faith in Christ will suffer death. John tells those that are alive and believe in Christ, at this time to not be afraid to die. To die is to be with Christ, to remain is to suffer at the hands of satan.

John tells the reader to be aware of the number of the beast 666. Many, many scholars throughout history have tried to identify a person using John's directive. Yet, I do not believe that it will make sense, until that individual steps on the scene. There are many interesting parallels involving this number, 666, with known individuals. Hitler, Stalin, etc...but I think it will be someone more like a Nelson Mandela, (see his cell number) and link below

http://reachheavenonearth.blogspot.com/2005/09/is-nelson-mandela-antichrist.html

who the world loves and trusts, that will ultimately turn out to be the antichrist. By the way I am not saying that Mandela is the antichrist, but his cell number is more plausible then say someone pointing to Obama, or the Royal family of England. Still, I think this mystery will only be solved when the time is right...hopefully the rapture of the church occurs before this and we don't have to worry about this enigma. 

One key is that those who take the mark of the beast have no option of Heaven. Once the mark is accepted by an individual that person's fate is sealed absolutely. That is one of the warning of the three angels found in Chapter 14.

Chapter 14 reemphasizes that ultimately despite appearances on the earth during the time of the antichrist...Jesus Christ is Lord, and salvation is found in Him, and Him only. We see those who are victorious in that they followed Jesus, even through death. They did not accept the mark of the beast, and as it says in 14 “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." Real safety, both economic and otherwise is found only in a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Chapter 14 is written to help believers understand that Jesus is not only in control, but will judge the world and the antichrist.