Africa Training Bible School Bible Verse Hand Book Session 9 to use with Mike Bickle Escatology Revelation Series adapted for Pastors in Africa

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Session #9 - Second Coming and Rapture - Bible Verse Hand Book

Session #9 Second Coming and Rapture

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Session 9 Second Coming and Rapture: War in the Spirit (Rev. 11-14)

I. THE RAPTURE AND REPLACEMENT OF WORLD GOVERNMENTS

A. The third chronological section in which events in Jesus’ end-time action plan are seen.

15The seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” 16And the twenty-four elders…worshiped God, 17saying: “We give You thanks…because You have taken Your great power and reigned. 18The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should reward Your servants…and should destroy those who destroy the earth.” (Rev. 11:15-18)

1. Paul prophesied that the rapture will occur at the seventh trumpet

51Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—
52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (1 Cor. 15:51-52)

7…in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His…prophets. (Rev. 10:7)

2. The saints who are alive at the time of Jesus’ coming will be raptured

16The Lord will descend from heaven…with the trumpet of God…17We who are alive…shall be caught up [raptured] together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. (1 Thes. 4:16-17)

II. THIRD ANGELIC EXPLANATION (PARENTHESIS): WAR IN THE SPIRIT

B. Daniel used most of these symbols

3 Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea.
4 “The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a human being, and the mind of a human was given to it.

5 “And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up and eat your fill of flesh!’

6 “After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard. And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.

7 “After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.

12 (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.)

17 ‘The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. (Dan. 7:3-7, 12, 17)

4 I watched the ram as it charged toward the west and the north and the south. No animal could stand against it, and none could rescue from its power. It did as it pleased and became great. (Dan. 8:4)

He described the Antichrist as the Beast with a vast empire

11 “Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire.

19 “Then I wanted to know the meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws—the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. 20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully. 21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.

23 “He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. (Dan. 7:7, 11, 19-23)

Ten kings whom he described as the ten horns on the Antichrist

20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully.

24 The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. (Dan. 7:7, 20, 24)

41 Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. 42 As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. (Dan. 2:41-42)

3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. (Rev. 12:3)

The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. (Rev. 13:1)

3 Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.

7 Then the angel said to me: “Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns.

12 “The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast.

16 The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. (Rev. 17:3, 7, 12, 16)

C. The dragon: is always symbolic of Satan

3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. 4 Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child the moment he was born.

7 Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.

9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

13 When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.

16 But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus. (Rev. 12:3- 4, 7, 9, 13, 16-17)

2 The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.

4 People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?” (Rev. 13:2, 4)

13 Then I saw three impure spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. (Rev. 16:13)

2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. (Rev. 20:2)

D. The first Beast: is symbolic of the Antichrist

9 A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, 10 they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” (Rev. 14:9-11)

3 Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. 5 The name written on her forehead was a mystery:

BABYLON THE GREAT
THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES
AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus.
When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. 7 Then the angel said to me: “Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns. 8 The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come.
9 “This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. 10 They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while. 11 The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.
12 “The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. 13 They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. 14 They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”

15 Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. 16 The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17 For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority, until God’s words are fulfilled. (Rev. 17:3-17)

19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army. 20 But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 21 The rest were killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh. (Rev. 19:19-21)

4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Rev. 20:4, 10)

E. Another Beast: is symbolic of the False Prophet

11 Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. 12 It exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. 13 And it performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people. 14 Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth. It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. 16 It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, 17 so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name. (Rev. 13:11-17)

13 Then I saw three impure spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. (Rev. 16:13)

20 But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. (Rev. 19:20)

F. The 7 heads: the seven empires that persecute Israel are Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome, and the revived Roman Empire

(Dan. 7:7, 20, 24 See above)

3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. (Rev. 12:3)

The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. (Rev. 13:1)

(Rev. 17:3-16 See above)

G. The 10 horns:

(Dan. 2:41-42 See above)

36 “The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place. 37 He will show no regard for the gods of his ancestors or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all. 38 Instead of them, he will honor a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his ancestors he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. 39 He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price.

40 “At the time of the end the king of the South will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood. 41 He will also invade the Beautiful Land. Many countries will fall, but Edom, Moab and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand. 42 He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape. 43 He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, with the Libyans and Cushites in submission. 44 But reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many. 45 He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at the beautiful holy mountain. Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him. (Dan. 11:36-45)

(Rev. 12:3 See above)

(Rev. 13:1 See above)

(Rev. 17:3, 7, 12, 16 See above)

H. The Harlot Babylon:
(Rev. 17-18) (Isa. 13-14; 21) (Jer. 50-51)

I. The Woman with the Male-child (Jesus):

A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. 2 She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. 3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. 4 Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child the moment he was born. 5 She gave birth to a son, a male child, who “will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.” And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne. (Rev. 12:1-5)

17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus. (Rev. 12:17)

III. WAR BREAKS OUT IN HEAVEN (REV. 12)

A. War will break out in heaven between Satan and Michael the archangel

7War broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon [Satan]; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer.

9The dragon…called the Devil…was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him…12Woe to the inhabitants of the earth…for the devil has come down to you, having great wrath [fury], because he knows that he has a short time. (Rev. 12:7-12)

B. 12We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities…against the rulers of the darkness…against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
(Eph. 6:12)

C. Satan and all his demons will be cast to the earth

9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
(Rev. 12:9)

He will give his throne to the Antichrist

2The Dragon [Satan] gave him [Antichrist] his power, his throne … (Rev. 13:2)

Multitudes of demons now in the bottomless pit will be released onto the earth

3 And out of the smoke locusts came down on the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth.

16 The number of the mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand. I heard their number. (Rev. 9:3, 16)

IV. THE END-TIME PERSECUTION OF SATAN AGAINST GOD’S PEOPLE

A. When Satan sees he is confined to earth, he will persecute Israel and the saints

13Now when the dragon [Satan] saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman [remnant of Israel] who gave birth to the male Child [Jesus]. 14But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time [3½ years], from the presence of the serpent [Satan]. 15So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth [persecution] like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood [destroyed]. 16But the earth [natural elements touched by God’s power] helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring [end-time Church], who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Rev. 12:13-17)

B. The woman or remnant of Israel is given two wings of a great eagle.

4You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings…
(Ex. 19:4)

11As an eagle stirs up its nest, hovers over its young, spreading out its wings, taking them up, carrying them on its wings, 12So the LORD alone led him… (Deut. 32:11-12)

C. Israel will flee into the wilderness to her place where she is nourished and protected from the presence of Satan for 3½ years

14 The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent’s reach. (Rev. 12:14)

Satan will seek to destroy all Israel

15 Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. (Rev. 12:15)

V. SATAN WARS THROUGH THE ANTICHRIST AND FALSE PROPHET (REV. 13)

A. Satan will seek to destroy Israel and the Church

17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus. (Rev. 12:17)

Satan will give his authority to the Antichrist to complete his plan to destroy Israel and the Church

2 The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.
(Rev. 13:2)

B. The Antichrist will be a world leader who has a political, military, and economic alliance with ten nations

3The dragon [Satan] gave him [Antichrist] his power, his throne, and great authority…4They worshiped the dragon…and worshiped the Beast, saying, “Who is like the Beast? Who is able to make war with him?”… 7It was granted to him [Antichrist] to make war with the saints and to overcome [kill] them. Authority was given him over every tribe…and nation. (Rev. 13:3-7)

C. The Antichrist will claim to be God and will demand that the whole earth worship him

43 He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, with the Libyans and Cushites in submission. 44 But reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many. 45 He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at[f] the beautiful holy mountain. Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him. (Dan. 11:40-45)

14 They are demonic spirits that perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty. (Rev. 16:14)

D. The Antichrist will seek to kill anyone who refuses to worship him

8All who dwell on the earth will worship him [Antichrist], whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Rev. 13:8)

12 It exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed.

E. The False Prophet

18 This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666. (Rev. 13:11-18)

F. John highlighted three strategies the False Prophet will use

G. First, he will be a prophet with a message.

(Rev. 13:12-14 See above)

H. Second, he will establish a worship system related to the abomination of desolation

15 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. (Mt. 24:15)

3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness[a] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. (2 Thes. 2:3-4)

14Telling those who dwell on earth to make an image [statue] to the Beast…15He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. (Rev. 13:14-15)

1. The abomination of desolation

15When you see the “abomination of desolation,” spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place…16then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. (Mt. 24:15-16)

3The son of perdition [Antichrist]4opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God…sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (2 Thes. 2:3-4)

2. The image of the Beast

3. The law will require all to worship the Antichrist

(Rev. 13:12, 15 See above )

I. Third, he will establish a worldwide economic system that forces the nations to worship the Antichrist by the mark of the Beast

(Rev. 13:16-18 See above )

VI. JESUS WILL SUPERNATURALLY HELP THE CHURCH COME TO VICTORY (REV. 14)

A. The purpose of this part of this parenthetical section is to give insight into the certainty of victory for the saints

15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:
“The kingdom of the world has become
the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah,
and he will reign for ever and ever.” (Rev. 11:15)

B. God promised to intervene to help the saints

In the first section

Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. 3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. 5 No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless. (Rev. 14:1-5)

In the second section

6 Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. 7 He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

8 A second angel followed and said, “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’ which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.”

13 Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”

“Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”
(Rev. 14:6-13)

In the third section

14 I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, “Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 16 So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.

17 Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, “Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe.” 19 The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath.
20 They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia. (Rev. 14:14-20)

VII. FIRST SECTION: THE 144,000 FIRST FRUITS OF ISRAEL (REV. 14:1-5)

A. John saw Jesus standing on Mount Zion in Jerusalem with 144,000 singers

1Behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 3They [the harpists] sang as it were a new song before the throne…and no one could learn that song except the 144,000…4These are the ones who were not defiled with [immoral] women, for they are virgins[celibates]. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes…5In their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault[compromise]… (Rev. 14:1-5)

VIII. SECOND SECTION: FOUR PROCLAMATIONS THE SPIRIT WILL ANOINT
(REV. 14:6-13)

A. John identified four promises

8 A second angel followed and said, “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’[a] which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.”

13 Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”

“Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”
(Rev. 14:6-13)

B. The message of the certainty of gospel being preached in all nations

6I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—7saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.” (Rev. 14:6-7)

There will be angelic assistance and power to succeed in preaching the Gospel

14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Mt. 24:14)

9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. (Rev. 7:9)

C.The message of the certainty of the judgment on Harlot Babylon

8Another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” (Rev. 14:8)

D. The message of the certainty of eternal judgment.

9Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast…10he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone… 11The smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast…and whoever receives the mark of his name.” (Rev. 14:9-11)

E. The message of eternal rewards for faithfulness

12Here is the patience [perseverance] of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. 13Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” (Rev. 14:12-13)

IX. THIRD SECTION: HARVEST OF SALVATION AND JUDGMENT (REV. 14:14-20)

A. John saw two end-time harvests: of souls

14Behold…One like the Son of Man [Jesus], having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. 15Another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him… “Thrust in Your sickle and reap…for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” (Rev. 14:14-15)

And of judgment

17 Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, “Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe.” 19 The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. 20 They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia . (Rev. 14:17-20)

B. All the kings of the earth will be gathered into one geographic area

2 “I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. 3 On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves. (Zech. 12:2-3)

2 I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city. (Zech. 14:2)

I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.
There I will put them on trial
for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel,
because they scattered my people among the nations
and divided up my land.
12 “Let the nations be roused;
let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat,
for there I will sit
to judge all the nations on every side. (Joel 3:2, 12)

8 Therefore wait for me,”
declares the LORD,
“for the day I will stand up to testify.
I have decided to assemble the nations,
to gather the kingdoms
and to pour out my wrath on them—
all my fierce anger.
The whole world will be consumed
by the fire of my jealous anger. (Zeph. 3:8)

14 They are demonic spirits that perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty. (Rev. 16:14)

Jesus will kill them in “this winepress”

C. The harvest of judgment will result in a river of blood will run nearly 200 miles

Who is this coming from Edom,
from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson?
Who is this, robed in splendor,
striding forward in the greatness of his strength?
“It is I, proclaiming victory,
mighty to save.”
2 Why are your garments red,
like those of one treading the winepress?
3 “I have trodden the winepress alone;
from the nations no one was with me.
I trampled them in my anger
and trod them down in my wrath;
their blood spattered my garments,
and I stained all my clothing.
4 It was for me the day of vengeance;
the year for me to redeem had come.
5 I looked, but there was no one to help,
I was appalled that no one gave support;
so my own arm achieved salvation for me,
and my own wrath sustained me.
6 I trampled the nations in my anger;
in my wrath I made them drunk
and poured their blood on the ground.”(Isa. 63:1-6)

17Another angel came…having a sharp sickle. 18Another angel came out from the altar…cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.” 19So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20The winepress was trampled…and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for 1,600 furlongs [200 miles]. (Rev. 14:17-20)