Day 363, December 29 Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today's Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Revelation 10–14
Spiritual Contests
It is the zenith of the American football season. The college bowl games have started, and the professional playoff games are about to begin to determine who is in the Super bowl. The contests are fierce, and all kinds of strategies are used to win.
There will also be fierce contests in the world’s end times, and these contests will be much more terrific than any football game. Satan will fight hard against God, and many people will be caught in the middle of the struggle. Have we ever felt caught in the middle? What can we do?
In yesterday’s Bible study, we read about the seven seals which Jesus Christ, the sinless Lamb of God, opened. He alone is worthy of doing this—he shed his blood on the cross, purchasing salvation for all people.
As each seal is opened, it reveals awful calamities that come upon the earth and its people. When the seventh seal has peeled away, it reveals seven trumpet judgments. As each trumpet is sounded, more disasters come upon the earth and its people for their wickedness.
At the end of yesterday’s Bible reading and today’s reading, there is another pause. It is between the sixth and seventh trumpet judgments (we are not told how long the break is).
A mighty angel then declares, “There will be no more delay! But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets” (Revelation 10:6b-7, NIV). In tomorrow’s reading, we will see that the seventh angel sounds his trumpet ushering in the final seven bowl judgments. Afterward, Jesus Christ comes to conquer and to reign over the earth, just as he predicted to the prophets in the Old Testament portion of our Bibles. But before the seventh trumpet sounds, other events are described.
The Temple
God directs the Apostle John to measure the earthly temple in Jerusalem and the altar (Revelation 11:1-2). Since there is no current temple or altar in Jerusalem today, we can only assume that one is in existence in the end-times, and sacrifices are re-instituted. Because of a treaty, the Jews are allowed to have their temple and worship in peace. However, in the middle of the Tribulation Period, the treaty with Israel is broken, and the holy city, Jerusalem, is trampled on for forty-two months (Daniel 9:26-27).The Two Witnesses
During this time, however, two witnesses arise with power from God.
If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. These men have power to shut up the sky so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them (Revelation 11:5-7, NIV).
There is much worldwide rejoicing at the death of these two troublesome witnesses. Still, after three and a half days, they see them resurrected and taken to heaven. John says of that day, “At that very hour there was a severe earthquake, and a tenth of the city [Jerusalem] collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven” (Revelation 11:13, NIV).
Spiritual Warfare
What is the response of Satan to this challenge? He wages war with God in heaven. Michael, the archangel of God, and his angels defeat Satan and his angels (fallen angels–demons). The devil loses any place he has in heaven, and he and his demons are hurled down to the earth. The heavens rejoice!
Satan is enraged—since he cannot win against God directly, he tries to destroy his people! He attacks Israel (symbolized by the woman who gives birth to a son who will rule and reign), but God protects her from a flood of destruction.
Satan then changes his strategy. Having failed with Israel, he wages war on the rest of God’s saints (i.e., believers—they become Christians after the church’s rapture). He gives power to a beast from the sea. This is probably a tyrannical non-Jewish world leader since he arises from the sea. The sea refers to the sea of nations; versus the land, which refers to Israel. This world leader is worshipped by these nations. He captures Christians and puts many of them to death. “This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints [believers in Christ]” (Revelation 13:10b, NIV).
Satan also gives power to another beast (possibly an antichrist figure from the earth). He is a miracle worker, and everyone is amazed at what he can do. However, he is deceptive and causes people to worship an image of the mighty world leader mentioned above. No one can buy or sell without the leader’s mark on his right hand or forehead. This puts tremendous pressure on the followers of Christ to sell out their profession of Christian beliefs so they can survive. God proclaims by an angel, however,
If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment rises forever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name (Revelation 14:9b-11, NIV).Those who bow down and worship the beast are not Christians, although they might associate with them. This calls for patient endurance for the genuine Christian believers. False believers, whom they thought they could trust, betray them. Christians find it difficult to get food and shelter. They must endure persecutions, captivity, and even death. They struggle to obey God’s commands and be faithful unto death, but the Lord promises future blessing and rewards for them if they do. In payback for the martyrdom of the believers, God slaughters many wicked people of the earth.
Discussion
Describe or summarize the spiritual warfare between Satan and God in today’s Bible reading.
Who wins the battles, and who are some of the characters involved?
Who is caught in the middle of the struggle, and what happens to them?
Focus Verse
Revelation 14:7 (NIV) “…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.”
Write a private prayer response to today’s Bible study:
Please send your comments to mtbiblestudies@gmail.com
Looking Ahead: Have you ever wished for Divine Retribution? In our Next Lesson the seventh trumpet sounds and brings final judgments against all wickedness and Satan. Then Christ comes to conquer, and to rule and reign on the earth. Join us!
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