STUDIES IN REVELATION (Revised 1989) Mr K Gerner BA

STUDIES IN REVELATION (Revised 1989) Mr K Gerner BA

Lesson 12. GLORIOUS VISIONS OF THE FUTURE.

Chaps 14 to22

Audio Visual Ministries, 152 High St. HOLYWOOD.Co Down.N>Ireland.BT18 9HT

(viii) TWO HARVESTS AND SEVEN VIALS. Chaps 14 to 16

Here we have two harvests and the gathering of the 144,000 on the Last Day, when Jesus comes.

(a) THE 144,000. WHO ARE THEY ? Revelation chap 14: 1 to 5.

REV 21:5 NIV Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

Like Christ, this Body are select. with no idle or deceitful words. They are spoken of as being pure your men and virgin young women. This is not taken literally as marriage was honoured in Scripture.(1 Tim 4 v 1 to 3)

HEB 13:4 NIV Marriage should be honoured by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.

This seems to have SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE of perfect victory over sin, which corresponds with Revelation vision of the Church receiving white garments and walking in purity.

REV 19:7 NIV Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous ts of the saints.)9 Then the angel said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!'"

This select group may well be SAVED JEWS.

This number does NOT EXHAUST THE NUMBER ALL OVER THE WORLD SAVED (as JWs teach) since there are a great number, giving glory to God.

REV 19:6 NIV Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters : "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.

THE MOUNT ZION from which they will reign, may well be NEW JERUSALEM. The Old City will be devastated by Antichrist armies.

MAT 24:27 NIV For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.

The descent of the Lord onto the Mount of Olives will be accompanied by a GREAT EARTHQUAKE by which the whole land will be turned into a plain from Geba to Rimmon. (cf Zechariah 14 v 5 to v.10)

The old city will split into THREE PARTS and be covered by a great new river.(Ezekiel chap 47 v 1 to 12)

THE NEW CITY will be built on a new mountain rising from the NORTH from which those with the mark of Christ will reign 1,000 years

(b) THE ANGEL MESSAGES

(i) The FIRST ANGEL Revelation 14 v.6 to v 7

THE GOSPEL OF THE AGES is preached showing the Kingdom of God beginning to unfold with its untold ages of bliss. There is the warning of the need to REPENT with the message going into all the earth ...aided perhaps by TV ? (ii) The SECOND ANGEL.

REV 14:8 NIV A second angel followed and said, "Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great, which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries."

cf.ISA 21:9 NIV Look, here comes a man in a chariot with a team of horses. And he gives back the answer: 'Babylon has fallen, has fallen! All the images of its gods lie shattered on the ground!'"

This angel talks of GOD'S JUDGEMENT on the wicked City, which has become the centre for witchcraft. Jerusalem is referred to as "Babylon" and this first fall of Jerusalem fulfils

MAT 24:28 NIV Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.

CHRISTIANS are still dying for their faith; though the Lord has not yet returned:

REV 14:13 NIV Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labour, for their deeds will follow them."

THE FALL OF THE CITY comes about 4 days before the end of the Great Tribulation, when the TWO WITNESSES are killed

REV 16:10 NIV The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. Men gnawed their tongues in agony

GOD CONTINUES TO SPEAK BY ANGELS WHEN HIS EARTHLY WITNESSES ARE DESTROYED

(iii) THE THIRD ANGEL Revelation 14 v 9 to v 13

This angel warns that followers of Antichrist will be doomed to Hell."Torture" here refers to the state of mental agony and distress, caused by sin.

The Bible mentions the anger of God as settled due to the continued rebellion of those who had known the Gospel and rejected it time after time. These people who rejected the Gospel and the witness of the two last great prophets, become really hardened in sin

JER 13:23 NIV Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil.

HEB 6:4 NIV It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit,5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age,6 if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.

THIS ANGEL THEREFORE TRIES TO TURN MEN FROM THE FEAR OF THE BEAST BY SHOWING THEM THE GREATER ANGER OF GOD WITH THE REST AND BLESSING FOR CHRISTIANS.

Revelation 14 v 14 to 15 shows CHRIST AS THE FIRST REAPER, returning in clouds of Heaven (cf Rev 1:7)

DAN 7:13 NIV "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.

JESUS SENDS ANGELS TO REAP THE HARVEST OF SOULS

MAT 13:40 NIV "As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age.41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil

MAT 13:49 NIV This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous

MAT 24:30 NIV "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

HE WILL separate THE WHEAT FROM THE STUBBLE IN JUDGEMENT

HEB 4:12 NIV For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Revelation chap 14 ,v 17 to 20 shows AN ANGEL AS SECOND REAPER.

CHRIST HERE JUDGES THE WICKED AND THE ANGEL FROM THE ALTAR, WILL BURN THE WICKED WITH FIRE.

MAT 13:30 NIV Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.' "

MAT 13:39 NIV and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

2TH 1:7 NIV and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.8 He will punish those who do not know God and do not OBEY the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

THE VINTAGE IS THE GREAT WINEPRESS OF THE WRATH OF GOD WHICH SPRINGS FROM HIS LOVE IN THIS, THE ONLY WAY GOD CAN ESTABLISH HIS KINGDOM IS BY DESTROYING THE WICKED.THE WICKED, LIVING IN GOD'S KINGDOM, WOULD MAKE HAPPINESS IMPOSSIBLE FOR EVERY ONE.(cf Joel 3 v 11 to v 17)

THE BLOOD HERE WILL BE SHED BY THE DESTRUCTION OF ANTICHRIST AND HIS ARMIES THAT HAD WON A VICTORY A FEW DAYS BEFORE, AT THE TIME OF THE DEATH OF THE TWO WITNESSES.

(VIII) THE SEVEN VIALS Chapters 15 and 16

John sees the Redeemed, rejoicing in victory and singing the Son of Moses and the Lamb (Revelation 5 v 9 to v 12) cf Song of Moses in Exodus 15: v 1 to v 21. BOTH SONGS celebrated triumph over opposition. In the early Church, the day that martyrs were killed, was called their "day of victory".

The Temple is here filled with the visible glory of God, bringing judgement to sinners (cf KORAH. Exodus 40 v 34 to v 38 and Isaiah ch 6 v 1 to 6)

AFTER THE DEATH OF THE TWO WITNESSES, THERE WERE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES ("VIALS") SEEN HERE IN CHAPTER 16. BY THESE, GOD FULFILS HIS PROMISES TO THE SAINTS TO JUDGE THE WICKED (Rev chap 6 v. 9 to 11) The plagues are :

(1) FIRST VIAL

REV 16:2 NIV The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly and painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshipped his image. This curse is also found in Deut chap 28 v.27 to 5..v.3

(2) SECOND VIAL

REV 16:3 NIV The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a dead man, and every living thing in the sea died.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA is already contaminated to a great extent

(3) THIRD VIAL extends his to rivers and living water

Revelation 16 v 4 to v 7 matches the Egyptian plagues in Exodus 7 v.17 to v 25, when the Lord smote Egypt under Moses

(4) FOURTH VIAL

REV 16:8 NIV The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was given power to scorch people with fire.9 They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.GREENHOUSE EFFECT ?

(5) FIFTH VIAL

REV 16:10 NIV The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. Men gnawed their tongues in agony (11) and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.

This compares with the DARKNESS ON EGYPT (eXODUS 10+V 21 TO V 29)

(6) SIXTH VIAL Rev chap 16 v 12 to v 16

This shows the river Euphrates[then drying up to let Antichrist gathers his armies, led by three false prophets cf 2 Thess 2 v 7 ff

ARMAGEDDON is sited on the Plain of Esdraelon v 16

(7) SEVENTH VIAL. v 17 to 21 stresses final judgement earthquake

(ix) THE OLD JERUSALEM AND THE NEW. Revelation chap 17 to end

Here we see the virgin daughter of Jerusalem portrayed as a harlot woman

ISA 1:21 NIV See how the faithful city has become a harlot! She once was full of justice; righteousness used to dwell in her but now murderers!

SEVEN KINGS ruled over Jerusalem and in Daniel chap 9. v 20 to v 27, we see 490 years determined by God for OLD JERUSALEM (49 yrs from Commandment to actual rebuilding Jerusalem.Another 434 years then to death of Christ and the last 7 years before Christ would come back)

After the death of Christ, the Jews have no further place in prophecy until the last 7 years of the age

REV 21:9 NIV One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." The Scarlet woman is here contrasted with the new wife of Christ.

(1) Revelation chap 17 v 16 to ch 19 v 5 details THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM at the end of the Great Tribulation.

After winning a battle, Antichrist returns to Jerusalem to kill the Two Witnesses. He loots the City (Rev 17 v.16 and 17) After the resurrection of the Two Witnesses causes many to be converted. Christ then returns and the Mount of Olives splits under his feet and a new City is built to the North.

PSA 48:2 NIV It is beautiful in its loftiness, the joy of the whole earth. Like the utmost heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion, the city of the Great King.

Revelation chap 18 v 20 to 19 v 5 shows the joy in Heaven over the punishment of this wicked City. God reigns, as the wicked are vanquished and (2) The Lord rejoins His Church (Chap 19 v 5 to ch.20 v 3)

The Bride of Christ may include all Believers, including O.T. saints, who are looking for a Heavenly City (Heb chap 11 v 10 to 16)

#HEB 11:39 NIV These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.40 God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

THE CONQUERING CHRIST appears (Rev chap 19 v 11 to ch 20 v 3) The wrath of the Lamb is due to his love and justice. The meek Saviour is stirred to anger at the suffering caused by wickedness.

He is clothed in His own blood and called "The Word of God" as the perfect expression of God's mind and character.

Even in His Presence however, sinners rebel as Satan is chained 1,000 years.

(3) Satan finally stirs up rebellion at the end of the Millenium.ch.20 v.4 to 10

(i) This is referred to in Isaiah ch 11 v 1 to 9 and the Millennial blessings in:

HOS 2:18 NIV In that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the creatures that move along the ground. Bow and sword and battle I will abolish from the land, so that all may lie down in safety.

ZEC 9:10 NIV I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the warhorses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.

(ii) Revelation chap 20 v.4 to 6 shows the SAINTS REIGNING.

This offer is conditional upon their OVERCOMING, which Judas failed to do in being called to reign over one of the 12 Tribes.

LUK 22:28 NIV You are those who have stood by me in my trials.29 And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me,30 so that you may at and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Paul extend this to the Gentile saints

1CO 6:2 NIV Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases?3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!

(iii) All believers will be raised at the Last Trumpet, just not a certain number REV 20:6 NIV Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.

JOH 6:39 NIV And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.40 For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

UNDER THE RULE OF GOD'S ROD OF IRON, THE GOOD AND THE BAD WILL LIVE TOGETHER IN THE MILLENIUM. This reign breaks down in a final attack on God in rebellion, with the total destruction of evil. the final alternative.

(iv) Revelation ch 20 v.11 to 15 shows the SECOND RESURRECTION AND FINAL JUDGEMENT OF THE WICKED

The final questions to be decided will be the matter of eternal salvation and what place each Christian will have in the Kingdom of God. The Book of Life gives the NAMES OF THE SAVED, WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN MIRACLE POWER

LUK 10:20 NIV However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

The Lord Jesus has the keys of death and Hades (Rev 1 v 16) and all who die, will have to pass Him on their way to one place or the other.

Being in His presence, DOES NOT GUARENTEE SALVATION, for even the Devil had access to God but remained obdurate in sin (cf Job ch 1 v 6 to v 12) Some people may hear the Gospel for the FIRST TIME before the Throne of God, giving them a FIRST (NOT SECOND) CHANCE and may respond; but Satan will be in Hell for 1,000 years and still come out unrepentant ! (Rev ch 20.v.7 to 10) The heathen meanwhile, living according to their light, will be judged by that knowledge (Romans ch 2 v.2 to v 16) at the 2nd resurrection.

AFTER DEATH there will be a judgement also for REWARD

HEB 9:27 NIV Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgement,

We may be sure that God will BE UTTERLY JUST IN JUDGEMENT

GEN 18:25 NIV Far be it from you to do such a thing, to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?"

THE FIRST DEATH IS THE RESULT OF ADAM'S SIN, DEPRIVING MEN OF THE TREE OF LIFE; BUT THE SECOND DEATH IS THE RESULT OF MAN'S OWN SINFUL CHOICE, REJECTING THE GOSPEL AND PUTTING THE SPIRIT IN THE FIRE OF HELL

There will at this judgement, be a complete record of everyone's life.

JOB 13:26 NIV For you write down bitter things against me and make me inherit the sins of my youth.

PSA 50:8 NIV I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices or your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.

Perfect justice will be seen to be done as everything is recorded

MAT 12:36 NIV But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgement for every careless word they have spoken.

(v) Revelation chap 21 shows the PERFECT WORSHIP in the NEW JERUSALEM

This City will have HEALING TREES REV 22:2 NIV down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. EVERYONE WILL DERIVE LIFE FROM GOD IN THIS GLORIOUS PICTURE OF THE END OF TIME. JOH 5:26 NIV For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself.

(vi) The Lord warns every reader to take this Book seriously, as a personal prophecy from the Lord Jesus Himself (Revelation 22 v.18 to 19)

We must WORSHIP THE LORD, and NOT HIS PROPHET. He is coming quickly to fulfil all these promises.

2PE 3:7 NIV By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgement and destruction of ungodly men.8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Many of the signs in Matthew chap 24 are being fulfilled today, and we should pray with John to get the Church ready for His coming."Even so, COME LORD JESUS...!"