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Revelation Study 26. Revelation 20:1-15 (pg. 160-167)

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 1. List the order of things that happen in 20:1-15. An angel with a key and chain captures the dragon/ancient serpent/Devil/Satan and binds him (v.1-2). cf. 9:1 Satan is bound for 1000 years; he cannot deceive the nations  (v.2-3) There are thrones with judges on them (v.4a). The martyrs come to life and reign with Christ for 1000 years (v.4b): the first resurrection (v.5) The rest of the dead only get resurrected after the 1000 years (v.5) Satan is released after 1000 years (v.7). A parody of Christ's second coming Satan deceives the nations to gather thema for battle (v.8).  In Ezekiel 38, Gog appears to be the ruler of the country of Magog, but here Gog and Magog as a pair represent all the nations ranged against the people of God They are defeated (v.9) cf.  11:5; 1 Kgs 18:38, Gen. 19:24. " As with the fire from the mouths of the two witnesses (11:5), this must be a symbolic destruction, since the nations will in the end bring their glory into the holy city in ...
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Revelation Study 25. Revelation 19:11-21(pgs 158-159)

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 "The Return of the King" 6. What characteristics of the rider are mentioned in 19:11-16? Sitting on a white horse (v.11a) Faithful and True (v.11b) cf. 3:7, 14 Righteously judging and making war (v.11c). Not all war is unrighteous Eyes like a flame of fire (v.12a) = purity, holiness cf. 1:14, 2:18) Head has many diadems (v.12b). = ultimate authority A written name no one knows but himself (v.12c). Likely alluding to divine mystery. Clothed in a robe dipped in blood (v.13a) = of his enemies His name is The Word of God (v.13b) (cf. Jn 1:1ff) Leads the armies of heaven (v.14a)  Has a sharp sword coming from his mouth to strike down the nations (v.15a).  cf. Is 11:4, 2 The 2:8 He will rule the nations with a rod of iron (v.15b) cf. 2:27, 12:8, Ps 2:9 He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty (v.15c) cf. 14:20, Is 63:3 Has a name (King of kings and Lord of Lords, cf.17:14) written on his robe and on h...
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Revelation Study 24. Revelation 19:1-21. (pgs. 153-159)

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1. How would you describe the mood in 19:1-9?   Rejoicing, worshipful, triumphant, victorious, satisfied. The voice of the great multitude is matched by the voices of the elders and living creatures   2. For what deeds and attributes is God praised in these verses?  Salvation, glory (v.7), power belong to Him (v.1c) His judgments are true and just, he has judged the great prostitute (v.2a) He has avenged the blood of His servants (v.2b) He is seated on the throne (v.4). He reigns (v.6) He is worthy of being served and feared (v.5) He has granted His Bride clothes (v.8, cf. 3:5, 18; 7:9)   Optional Application: What are the Implications for you of the fact that Christ's relationship to the Church is described as a marriage? Do you act as one betrothed to the Lamb? How can this affect your life more deeply?   Love, loyalty, single-minded devotion. Earthly spouses can be flawed and unworthy. Not so the Lamb.    3. The great whore was described i...
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Revelation Study 23. Revelation 17:1-18:24

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  5. The angel's explanation of the "mystery" (secret) of the beast (17:7-17) may leave us more perplexed than before. Still, what do we know about the beast (his identity, character, and actions) from these verses? Scarlet, full of blasphemous names, with seven heads and ten horns (v.7, cf. the dragon in 12:3 with seven diadems, the second beast in 13:1-9, with ten diadems) it  was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit  and go to destruction (v.8, cf. 13:3 and the healing of its mortal wound) Those "whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world" (v. 8, cf. 13:8) will marvel, just as they worshipped. They experience wonder and awe. They are 'impressed'. The beast's seven heads are seven hills, also seven kings (v.9-10) The beast itself is an eighth king,  but it belongs to the  seven, and it goes to destruction.(v.11) The beast's  ten horns are ten kings who have not yet received royal ...
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Revelation Study 22. Revelation 17:1-18, pgs 141-150 (part 1)

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 "God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath" (16:19). Babylon's fall was promised in 14:8 and glimpsed in 16:19, but it is so important to the message of the Revelation that two chapters are now devoted to it." Chapter 17 and 18 expand on the effect of the seventh bowl   Why is prostitution wrong? It disconnects pleasure from everything else the  the totality of sex act is meant to include: intimacy/relationship, responsibility, spiritual union. The act of sex is inappropriate reward for payment of money. An artist who 'prostitutes' himself/herself compromises creative vision, or personal values in exchange for money, fame, commercial success or social approval. Something deeply personal has become a commodity.     These 2 acts have in common the giving up of something of great significance for an inappropriate price. The 'great prostitute' (v.1) is not an innocent victim. She revels in her sta...
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Revelation Study 21. Revelation 16:1-21 (pgs 135-138)

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 The seals represent the world as 'it is' in history (present), the trumpets, the warnings of God (present). The bowls are the judgments of God (future). The seals and trumpets had a 4+3 structure, but the bowls have a 3+2+2 structure.    1. What happens when each of the seven bowls of wrath is poured out?  16:2  poured on land. sores on worshippers of the beast and his image 16:3  the sea became like blood; sea creatures died 16:4  the rivers and springs becamse blood 16:8-9  the sun burns people 16:10-11  the kingdom of the beast is plunged into darkness 16:12-16 the Euphrates is dried up in preparation for invasion from the east 16:17-21  God speaks, an earthqyate and Babylon is destroyed . Hail.   2. The first four trumpet-judgments destroyed a third of the earth (and trees), the sea (and sea creatures), the fresh waters, and the light (8:6-12). How are the bowl judgments different? They are total. 3. a. How is the first plague ...
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