|
THE CONFLICT: REVELATION 12-18
I. THE
PROTAGONISTS IN THE GREAT CONFLICT: A. The enemies of God and His people: 1. The Dragon - According to Rev. 12:9 it is Satan (the Devil). a. Chapter 12 speaks of his efforts to destroy the Messiah even as He came to the world for the first time. b. Satan was defeated completely, along with his angels, in the work of Jesus on the cross and in His resurrection - Rev. 8-12 - but he wasn't destroyed. He continues to work against the people of God because he knows that his time is limited. c. In chapter 12 the Dragon attacks the people of God (represented by the woman) and he tries to destroy her but is unable to do so - Rev. 12:13-16 d. Being unable to destroy the church, he begins to attack (persecute) individual Christians - Rev. 12:17 2. The Beast from the Sea - Rev. 13 - It symbolizes a world in opposition to God, Jesus, and His people. (It was for the early Christians a reference to the Roman Empire, note Rev. 17:5, 9, 12) a. It blasphemes God and all those that are His - Rev. 13:5-6 b. It wages war against the people of God and defeats them, materially Rev. 13:7-8 3. The Beast from The Earth - Rev. 11ff - It is identified as being the false prophet - Rev. 16:13; 19:20; 20:10 a. He causes those on the earth to worship the beast from the sea - Rev. 13:12 b. All those adoring the beast will receive a mark showing they have worshipped the beast; the mark is like a seal of ownership - Rev. 13:16 c. Within the context of the first century this reminds us of emperor worship. Nevertheless, there have been several governments and religious forces since that time that have fulfilled this description. B. Satan's Opposition 1. The Woman - Rev. 12 - represents all the people of God, under both testaments 2. The Son - Rev. 12:4-6; the Lamb - Rev. 14; and the son of man - Rev. 14:14 - represents Jesus 3. The 144,000 - Rev. 14:1 - the people of God C. The Six Angels 1. The first angel - Rev. 14:6-7 - he calls the people to repentance; contrasts with the call to worship the image of the beast. 2. The second angel - Rev. 14:8 - he announces that Babylon (Rome) has fallen (thus anticipating the description in chapters 17 and 18). Babylon symbolizes all those evil influences and powers of a world that rejects God and has continued to do so over the centuries. 3. The third angel - Rev. 14:9-13 - he announces the judgment of God on those that bear the mark of the beast and have adored him; he also speaks of the blessings that those that die in the Lord will receive. 4. The fourth angel - Rev. 14:14-16- it is time for the judgment; the son of man will be the judge. 5. The last two angels - Rev. 14:17-20 - they reveal that the time has come for the judgments and thereby anticipates 19:11-16 II. THE
STRUGGLE CONTINUES:
A. The Seven Angels with Seven Calamities - Rev. 15 1. The seven cups given to the angels - they are filled with the wrath of God, that is the last seven plagues completing God's warnings to man - Rev. 15:5-8 a. The first cup - Rev. 16:1-2 - it contained evil and painful sores to be poured over those that had the mark of the beast and worshipped him. b. The second cup - Rev. 16:3 - the water of the sea turns to blood and all the living creatures of the sea die. c. The third cup - Rev. 16:4-7 - the fresh water turns to blood d. The fourth cup - Rev. 16:18-9 - the sun burns the people, but they don't repent e. The fifth cup - Rev. 16:10-11 - the kingdom of the beast fell into darkness when this cup was poured out over the beast's throne; the people suffered but would not turn to God. f. The sixth cup - Rev. 16:12-16 - the water of the Euphrates dried up leaving a path for the kings coming from the East. Perhaps as a reply, three evil spirits, in the form of frogs, appear as the three representatives of evil. These unite with the kings of the world that challenge God, in order to prepare them for the great battle against God. g. The seventh cup - Rev. 16:17-21 - destruction falls over the earth, but the people continue speaking against God instead of repenting. 2. Armageddon - the place of the final battle between the forces of God and those of Satan - Rev. 16:16 B. The Great Prostitute and the Beast - Rev. 17 1. The Great Prostitute - Babylon the Great - Rev. 17:5 a. Probably represents Rome and her empire (note Rev. 18). b. In a symbolic way she represents any secular power in any age that opposes God and wants to destroy Christians. c. She is seen mounted on a monster, drunk with the blood of the saints - Rev. 17:1-6a. d. She is destroyed by the kings; evil destroyed by evil - Rev. 17:15-18 2. The Beast - Rev. 17 a. It is difficult to identify the beast - Rev. 17:6b-11 - his defeat is certain; ultimately the evil of this world will be destroyed with those that have aligned themselves with the evil forces. b. The 10 horns - rev. 17:15-18 - they probably represent all the powers that serve the beast, those that fight against the Lamb and His followers. III. THE
DEFEAT OF BABYLON - REVELATION 18
A. The defeat announced - Rev. 18:1-3 - The riches and the corrupted life of Babylon have contaminated all the world, but she has now been defeated and has become a dwelling place for demons. B. The people of God called out of Babylon - Rev. 18:4-5 - before the fall of Babylon, God's people are called out of the "City" in order to not have anything to do with either her sins or her punishment. C. Reactions to her defeat - Rev. 18:9-20- Three groups will lament her fall; one will rejoice. 1. The kings - they will realize that the source of their sinful lives has come to an end. 2. The merchants - they will not be able to sell their goods. 3. Those whose livelihood came from the sea - they too will lose their source of wealth and trade. 4. The people of God, however, should rejoice because God has acted justly in bringing down Babylon. D. Her defeat is Complete - Rev. 18:21-24 - The Great City will be like a millstone cast into the sea. CONCLUSION: ALTHOUGH GOD'S ENEMIES ARE MANY AND STRONG, GOD AND HIS PEOPLE WILL TRIUMPH COMPLETELY IN THE END. SATAN'S DEFEAT WILL BE COMPLETE. MEMORY VERSE - REVELATION 17:14
QUESTIONS
1. Who are the three principal enemies of God in this conflict? 2. Who are the three that oppose Satan? 3. T F The angels announced the coming of plagues upon the people of God. 4. T F The great prostitute represents imperial Rome. 5. T F The Christians are going to lament the defeat of Babylon. 6. T F The final defeat of Satan will be only a partial defeat. |