Revelation - Chapters 12-14

In Revelation chapters 12-14, there are different views on interpreting the book. The book is relevant to the church then and now, with elements of spiritual and historical events. The main themes are God's control of history and believers being called to endure. Chapter 12 describes a great conflict, with a woman giving birth to a child (Jesus) and being pursued by a dragon (Satan). The woman flees into the wilderness and the dragon is thrown out of heaven. Chapter 13 introduces the beasts of the sea and earth, possibly representing the antichrist and idolatry. The beasts wage war against the saints and deceive people. Chapter 14 shows the lamb and the 144,000, with the hour of judgment beginning. I'm Julie Callio, your host, and thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to tune in with me today. If by chance you want to contact me, you can do that at vab.bc.pc at gmail.com. Today we're looking at Revelation chapters 12 through 14. In the first lesson of Revelation, I spoke of various ways to interpret this book, like the Preterist view, which said the book only describes events during the time that it was written. Historical, which believes this book outlines the course of history from the first century to modern times, the Spiritual or Idealist view, which holds this teaches spiritual history of the church and God's triumph over all enemies, with no historical events given, and then the Futurist view, which sees the book from chapter 4 on only dealing with the last days before Christ's return. My opinion is that the book was relevant to the church at the time John wrote it, but it is also relevant to the church of today. It has spiritual elements to it, and it clearly shows God's triumph over enemies, but it did and may still have some things to do with historical events. It is about future events, but chapter 4 on is not just futuristic, but also describes things that have already happened, and chapter 12 is one of those chapters that I believe describes events that have already taken place. Two things that this book is extremely clear on, and these two themes run throughout the entire book, and that is 1. God is in control of history, and 2. This book calls the saints, believers in Jesus, to endure. Chapter 12 is entitled The Great Conflict. As one and two begin, a great sign appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars, and she was with child, and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth. Does this make you think of anyone or anything? If you remember when we studied the Gospel of John, he had seven signs, and all the signs point to something. Now there are various opinions as to if this is Mary, or the Jewish nation, the church, or the people of God. One thing that is interesting is in Genesis chapter 37 verse 9, Joseph had a dream, and in his dream eleven stars bowed down to him, and they represented his eleven brothers, which if you include Joseph, would then be the twelve tribes of Israel. She was crying out to be delivered. Verses 3 and 4 bring a new character, a great red dragon with seven heads, ten horns, and seven diadems, which are kingly crowns. The woman wore a Stephanos, or a victor's crown. If you remember the visions from Daniel, the horns represent specific rulers or nations, so that is why it may mean that here too. This dragon was waiting for the woman to give birth, so that he could devour her child. Verses 5 and 6 read, And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to shepherd all the nations with an iron scepter, and her child was caught up to God and to his throne. Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she had a place prepared by God, to be fed there for 1,260 days. Who is that child that was born? Jesus. Now, one thing I found so amazing is how funny it was that the child did not come out with a sword blazing through the heart of the dragon, yet the son was taken up to heaven to God and to his throne. Who is left to fight the red dragon? The woman. Now, the woman fled into the wilderness, which God prepared for her, and she would be fed. Verses 7 through 9 we learn of the war in heaven. Some commentators think that Satan pursued Jesus to heaven. Michael and his angels fought the dragon and his angels. This is like Daniel chapter 10 and 12 and Jude 9. In Luke 10.18 Jesus said, I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. Other verses to compare are 2 Peter 2.4 and Jude 6.9 starts, So the great dragon was thrown out, the ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the one who deceives the world. Ladies, this verse helps us to understand Genesis chapter 3 verse 1, 14 and 15 as the serpent is the devil, which means the liar or slanderer, and Satan means adversary or accuser. He deceives the world. Ladies, that is why it's so important that we choose to live in truth, no matter how painful it is, but we can handle the pain because we are not alone. Jesus is there to help us. Satan and his angels were thrown to the earth. Verses 10 through 12, a loud voice came from heaven declaring salvation because the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down. He who accuses them before our God day and night. This reminds me of the book of Job chapters 1 and 2, when Satan went back and forth before God and accused Job. But now ladies, because of the blood of the lamb and because of the word of their testimony in the blood of the lamb, they overcame the accuser, even to the point of giving up their lives. Woe to the earth, because Satan knows he only has a short time. His time is limited. Verse 13 reads, When the dragon saw that he had been thrown to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male. Then it says in verses 14 through 18 that the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, like in Exodus chapter 19 verse 4, Deuteronomy chapter 32 verses 9 through 12, and Isaiah chapter 40 verse 31, so she could escape from the serpent's presence, again in her place in the wilderness, where she was nourished for her time. The serpent kept trying, but the earth helped the woman. So then verse 17 reads, So the dragon was furious with the woman, and left to wage war against the rest of her offspring, those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony about Jesus. Ladies, this goes back all the way to Genesis chapter 3 verse 15 as well, when God told the serpent, And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed, he shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel. Another thing that is from Genesis to Revelation, is her offspring does two things, one, believers in Jesus keep his commandments, not because we have to, in order to be good enough, we can never be good enough, that is why we have the testimony about Jesus, it is because he shed his precious blood on the cross, and overcame Satan in death, that we have eternal life in him. We give testimony about Jesus and what he did for us, and then we obey him because we love him. Now in chapter 13 we have the beast of the sea and the beast of the earth. Brother Jerry said in his sermon, the next three chapters answer the question, why is this persecution happening? Keep in mind that we discussed that Revelation is apocalyptic literature, which means it uses symbols, that is why many times we see the word like a leopard or like a bear. Another thing you will notice is that there are references that make us think of other chapters we read last week, that is why some interpretations see these as repeating the same story in a slightly different way. Chapters 1-10 show us the beast of the sea, he was given power, his throne, and great authority from the dragon. Look up Daniel chapter 7, some people believe this is the antichrist. Now keep in mind that in John's first letter, chapter 2 verse 18, he says, children it is the last hour, and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared, from this we know that it is the last hour. He quote appeared to be fatally wounded, but he was healed, the earth was amazed and followed the beast. Verse 4, they worshipped the dragon because he gave authority to the beast, and they worshipped the beast saying who is like the beast, who is able to wage war against him. Do you see how this mimics the father and the son? The difference is that he speaks boasts and blasphemies against God, to blaspheme his name in his dwelling, or his tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. Patterson said the concept of blasphemy is more than failure to believe in God and endorse his programs and ways, it is active repugnance and open opposition to the creator God, consequently the motives and intentions of each of these kingdoms are explicitly noted. God's kingdom is built on truth and righteousness and love, not the beast. Verse 7 reads, and he was permitted to wage war against the saints and to conquer them, he was also given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. Then it says the whole earth will worship him, everyone whose name was not written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the lamb who was slaughtered. Then verses 9 and 10 are a warning to the readers, that if they have an ear they should listen, and then a call for endurance. Here is the endurance and the faith of the saints. Yates said the word for endurance is not a passive bearing of persecution, but it is courageous acceptance and transformation into victory. Yet the saints are called to faithful endurance rather than to vengeance. Verses 11 through 18 show us the beast from the earth. Verse 12 says he exercises all the authority of the first beast on his behalf and compels the earth and those who live on it to worship the first beast whose fatal wound was healed. Do you see how this mimics the trinity? Brother Jerry said worship of idolatry is worship of the devil even if it is humanism. This beast performs great signs and he deceives and he tells people to make an image of the beast who had the sword wound yet lives and if they don't they will be killed. This is like Daniel chapter 3 and the image of the king. He also gave a mark on either their right hand or forehead and this mark was the beast's name or the number of his name. Verse 18 here is wisdom the one who has understanding must calculate the number of the beast because it is the number of a man. His number is 666. Some people believe these are specific people and others believe they are empires and kingdoms. In chapter 13 we see the unholy trinity and now in chapter 14 we see the lamb with 144,000 with the hour of judgment beginning. Verse 1 the lamb is now standing on Mount Zion and with him 144,000 having his name and the name of his father written on their foreheads. In Revelation chapter 7 the 144,000 had the seal of God. This group has the name of the lamb and his father's name written on their foreheads. In Revelation chapter 6 verse 1 we heard a voice of thunder. Here in verse 2 it is like cascading waters and rumbling thunder but with this there is a harpist playing the harp. This time it is melodious possibly the joy of the redeemed for they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. Then in verse 3 it said but no one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. This reaffirms to me that the four beasts and the 24 elders are not human. This was a song for the redeemed. They are faithful followers of the lamb wherever he goes. They are redeemed or bought back as the first fruit for God and the lamb. We find first fruits in Romans chapter 11 verse 16 and then chapter 16 verse 5 and then in first Corinthians chapter 15 verses 20 through 23 and chapter 16 verse 15. It was also one of the Jewish festivals in the Old Testament. Revelation makes it clear that God's kingdom is based on truth and no lie is found in his children's mouth. Ladies that includes little white lies as well. They are blameless. Now the only way that's possible is because of Jesus has shed blood on the cross. Verses 6 through 8 is a vision of the angel with the eternal gospel that is announced to those living on the earth from every nation, tribe, language and people. This is the only place in Revelation where gospel or good news is used. Here we see another loud voice for all to quote dear God and give him glory because the house of his judgment has come. Worship the maker of heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water. This reminds us that even though there is a beast of the sea and a beast of the earth there is only one creator of both and that is God. The second angel declares that Babylon the great has fallen. The third angel warns that anyone who worships the beast and his image and receives their mark will drink of God's wrath which is mixed full strength. It is undiluted in the cup of his anger. This will be their torment with fire and sulfur forever and there will be no rest and it will be before the holy angels and the sight of the lamb. Verse 12 here is the endurance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and the faith in Jesus. In contrast we have verse 13, Then I heard a voice from heaven saying, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, let them rest from their labors, for their works follow them. Verses 14 through 20 show the reaping of the harvest. One like the son of man seated on the cloud with a victor's crown on his head and a sharpsicle, a tool of harvesting wheat, Daniel chapter 7 verse 13. The harvest is ready and the earth was harvested. Then those who were left, the grapes of wrath, were trampled outside the city. Where was Jesus crucified? Outside the city. The amount of their blood was great. Ladies, one thing this passage tells us is that believers in Jesus who walk in obedience will suffer persecution and trials but we will not experience the great wrath of God because Jesus bore that wrath when he died on the cross for us. It is also clear that God will be with us during the persecutions and trials so we are to stay faithful until the end. He will provide for us whatever we need. Ladies, this book is a letter of hope that evil is defeated and God and the Lamb have overcome. So if you have heard his voice today, please don't harden your heart. Please don't live in lies. Instead, let us endure, keep his commandments and our faith in Jesus until he comes again or until we go to him. Until next time and thanks so much for listening.