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The
Bible: Sunday Sermon Tape # 66 |
Mercy-Grace
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The
Bible: Sunday Sermon Tape # 66 |
Mercy-Grace
|
Don't
miss the pictures of the zoo days. The Lord willing, Creation Creature Features
soon.
Review:
See
the previous sermon notes on the Web -
|
"'And I will give
power to my two witnesses, |
Every warning, struggle,
temptation, promise, strategy, and victory
in the Revelation can also play out in your life, your family, and your church!
The choice is yours ................
The Text ("Blue Letter
Bible"): Revelation
11
(Strong's numbers, Hebrew-Greek lexicons,
cross references, etc., can be accessed from the above link)
Review: Outline
of The
Revelation: Key verses = Rev 1:8 & 19
I. Character of Christ
for His Father's Glory (Who Was) (Things You've Seen) Chapter 1
What about your character, & your family's character, & that of your
church?
Can other people see Jesus' goodness, unselfishness, & humility through each
one?
A. Introduction (1:1-8) Of Jesus to His servants (1:4 Church)
(see also 6:1 Israel)
B. Post-Incarnate, glorified Jesus (1:9-18)
II. Counsel of Christ for the Church (Who Is) (Things Which
Are) Chapters 2-3
This counsel also applies to you personally, your family, your local church,
& all of "Christianity".
A. Command to Prophesy (1:19)
B. Seven Churches Counseled (1:20) ESP-TS-PL (Praise
before correction!)
C. Ephesus (2:1-7)
Loveless
D. Smyrna (2:8-11)
Persecuted
E. Pergamos (2:12-17)
Compromising
F. Thyatira (2:18-29) Corrupt
G. Sardis (3:1-6)
Dying
H. Philadelphia (3:7-13) Revived
I. Laodicea (3:14-22)
Lukewarm (no praise)
III. Consequences of Christ
for the Church, Israel & the World Chapters 4-22
(Who is to come again!) (Things
which will happen soon!)
Are you ready for your future? The judgment seat of Christ?
A. Church In Heaven
1. The Rapture (Jesus Rescues His Bride) up to Heaven (4:1)
2. The King & His Bride prepare for the future. (4:1-5:14) (see also Ch 19)
B. Tribulation of Israel (Jacob's) Trouble on Earth (6:1-18:24) (Daniel's 70th Week)
1. Seals (Seven) of Judgments (Rev 6:1-8:2), includes chapter 7's message of encouragement
** Ch. 7 Who Can Stand? Those God Has Chosen, & Who Choose Him
2. Trumpets (Seven) of Judgments (Rev 8-9)
a. The Little Book (Rev 10)
b. The Two Witnesses (Rev 11)
3. Players (Seven) on the Tribulation Stage (Rev 12-14)
* These three chapters are an interlude, zooming in for a personal look at the people.
4. Bowls (Seven) of Judgments (Rev 15-16)
5. Babylon's Final Fall (Rev 17-18)
C. Christ's Wedding & War (19:1-21)
D. Millennial Kingdom (20:1-6)
E. Final Futile Rebellion (20:7-10)
F. Great White Throne & Second Death (20:11-15)
G. New Heaven & Earth Coming (21-22:15)
H. Jesus' Promise & Warning for YOU, your family,
& your church (22:16-21)
III. B. 2. a. The Two Witnesses - Mercy & Grace
Revelation
11:1-19
1-2 Temple
Measurement
3-6 Ministry
of The Two Witnesses
7-10 Death
of The Two Witnesses
11-14 Resurrection of
The Two Witnesses
15-19 Seventh Trumpet
(Third Woe)
Rev 1-2 Temple Measurement (Why? What? When?)
* A rebuilt Jewish temple, not a symbol of the Gentile/Jew "church".
- Five Temples (Solomon's, Zerubbabel's, Herod's, Tribulation, Eternal Temple)
- Israel's rebuilding of the temple is a rejection of Jesus & His Cross.
- Holy of Holies & Altar of Incense (heart of Israel's national worship),
yet the altar of sacrifice was not measured. Why, because of the Cross!
(All elements mentioned in this passage are associated with "Jacob's Trouble".
- Physical measuring in Scripture is common to God's work with Israel, not the church.
Jer 31:38-39; Zech 2 - marked off for judgment & remnant protection (Rom 11:26)
- Church has no distinction of people groups Eph 2:14-22; Col 3:11
- Not Court of Gentiles: "outside the temple", "has been given to the Gentiles".
(Time of Gentiles, Luke 21:24; Dan 7:25; 12:11)Luke 21:24 "And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
- Tread? "the holy city underfoot"
- 42 months? (3.5 yrs, 1260 days, half of a week, time/times/half a time).
Gentiles & Lucifer are given limited permission to rule the world, and the last 3.5 years of the tribulation is the final period of Gentile rule, before God comes and establishes His eternal theocracy through Israel.
- Competent, conservative scholars disagree about whether the two witnesses serve during the first or last half of the tribulation week of years (70th week of Daniel).
- The 3.5 years, however, is a reminder to Israel of the 3+ years of Jesus ministry.
Rev 3-6 Ministry of The Two Witnesses
* Who are they? We're not told, so we can't be certain, yet we know that . . .
- Witness in Greek is "martus" (martyr) Rev 12:11 J.O.Y. (Jesus 1st, Others 2nd, Yourself last)
- OT Israeli allusions are used, not NT church figures like Peter or Paul.
- These 2 evangelize Israel, while the 144,000 evangelize the rest of the world!
- They possibly represent the OT Law and Prophets (Matt 22:36-40).- ?? Possibly Elijah (Representing the Prophets) Transfiguration appearance
(Predicted in Mal 4:5; Mat 17:1-12; 3.5 year drought 1 Ki 17:1; Jam 5:17)
c.f. 2 Ki 1:10-12
** Today the mideast & world suffering from a growing water shortage already.
** The final judgment will be the opposite of a flood (anti-flood = drought).
- ?? Possibly Moses (Representing the Law) Transfiguration appearance
(Predicted Deu 18:15, 18; Mat 17:1-4; Not buried Jude 9;
Water to blood Exo 7:19; Rev 11:6)- Heb 9:27 "appointed for man to die once" is not an issue here,
since Lazarus died twice, and all raptured Christians will never die.
- Probably not Enoch since he was a Gentile before Israel, & not Jewish representative.
- Both witnesses are definitely exercising God's mercy and grace!
- They warn people, so a remnant can repent, before the coming third woe.* Power: v. 3 it's implied in text ("will give ___ to my two witnesses").
- Exousia (Authority/Power) (Mat 28:18-20; Acts 1:7; Rev 11:6)
- Dunimas (Dynamite) (Acts 1:8; c.f. 1 Ki 18:38; 2 Ki 1:10)
- "As often as they desire" = God trusts them to maintain self-control.
If one is Moses, he no longer can sin in anger like he did at the rock of water.* Two: Not enough to have only one witness.
Deut 17:6-7 "Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses; he shall not be put to death on the testimony of one witness. "The hands of the witnesses shall be the first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So you shall put away the evil from among you.* Prophesy: proclaim God's Word about the past, present, & future.
- A prophet represented God before the people.
- A priest represented the people before God.* 1260 days: 42 months, 3.5 yrs, half of a week, time/times/half a time
- Will the witnesses serve during the first or last half of the tribulation??
(Some say first half, & will be killed at midtrib at time of abomination of desolation)
(Others say 2nd half during the "Great Trib", while Satan rules through Antichrist)
(What is clear, is that they will be obvious whenever they serve, & they will succeed)* Sackcloth: Repentant mourning & rejection of the pleasures of this world.
- (Gen 37:34; Dan 9:3; Joel 1:8 & 13; Mat 11:21; 1 John 2)* Two Olive Trees & Two Lampstands: (Zech 4 - Priest Joshua & Zerubbabel)
Zech 4:11, 13-14 "Then I answered and said to him, "What are these two olive trees—at the right of the lampstand and at its left?" . . . . Then he answered me and said, "Do you not know what these are?" And I said, "No, my lord." So he said, "These are the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth."
- Sin cannot be removed by man's works, but only by God's Spirit.
- These two will stand with God and "against" not only the human antichrist,
but also Satan who possesses him.
(John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; 2 Cor 4:4; Eph 6:10-20)
Rev 7-10 Death of The Two Witnesses
* "Finish their testimony"
- Good News: Not even Satan can stop God's witnesses until they do their job.
- You too, cannot fail in God's purpose unless you quit.* "Beast . . . out of the pit . . . kill them"
- Antichrist, possessed by Satan, is allowed to do this (Job 1-2).
- Unbelievers will foolishly think antichrist actually defeats God.* "Dead bodies . . . in the street . . . where our Lord was crucified" (3.5 days)
- Jerusalem could become the headquarters of antichrist's empire.
- "Spiritually called" Sodom (Isa 1:10) and Egypt, due to Israel's official rejection of Jesus & acceptance of the world's philosophy humanistic, pantheistic socialism (idolatry).
- Bodies will be seen on CNN, CBS, etc., as martyrs (Greek = martus).* The Peoples' Prophet Party: Global Mardi Gras
- Ghoulish, gleeful reveling over evil. 1 Cor 13 says real love "does not rejoice in evil".
- All sin is a manifestation of a lack of God's pure love ruling over a person's attitudes, thoughts, words, and actions (Mat 22:36-40).
Rev 11-14 Resurrection of The Two Witnesses
* "After the 3.5 days . . . life from God entered them"
- Part of the first resurrection (Rev 20:4-6) to life eternal.
- Ministered for just over 3 years, dead just over 3 days.
- This time frame is a reminder to Israel of Jesus death & resurrection!* "Fear fell on those who saw them"
- Only a worldly sorrow among those who did not repent (2 Cor 7:9-10).* "Come up here" "And they ascended to heaven in a cloud"
- Another reminder of Jesus as Messiah who went up & will come again in the clouds.* "Great earthquake" "1/10th city" "7,000 names were killed"
- "names of men" indicates men of renown (? antichrist's government leaders?).
- Remember the earthquakes at Jesus' death & resurrection (Mat 27:51-52; 28:2).* "Rest were afraid & gave glory to the God of heaven"
- Finally the nation of Israel begins to see the light of truth.
- Zech 12 says they will eventually realize the killed the Messiah, Jesus.Zech 12:10 "And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn."
* "Second woe is past . . . third woe is coming quickly"
- Seventh trumpet, the seven bowl judgments are coming.
- Rev 8:13; 9:12; 11:14; 16:1
- This is not the "last" trumpet (1 Cor 15:52; 1 Th 4:16), which initiates an instantaneous event (rapture/rescue of the Church, Christ's Bride). This seventh trumpet judgment initiates a period of judgment for Israel, not an instantaneous event.
- This interlude of 10:1-11:14 gives hope. Remember that John puts an interlude between the 6th & 7th events of the seals, the trumpets, and the bowls. These interludes speak of good news, and give comforting encouragement to the readers.
Rev 15-19 Seventh Trumpet (Third Woe)
* "Seventh angel sounded" (Joel 2:1-2)
Joel 2:1 "Blow the trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm in My holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the Lord is coming, ..."- "Kingdom" (singular) of world has become Christ's
- All the little rebellious nations of the world were really under one evil king, Lucifer.
- Lucifer is the Puppet Master behind the scenes of geopolitical dynamics (Dan 10).
- "has become" (Greek = done deal, absolute certainty).* "He shall reign forever and ever"
- Through the millennium & on into eternity!
- The form of His rule will change, but not its physical reality.
- It will change from semiperfect (millennial restoration) to perfect (recreation) 1 Pet 3.
- Back to the "Very Good" of Eden Gen 1:31* "24 elders . . . fell on their faces & worshipped God"
- (see notes for Rev 4-5) Represent the raptured Church.
- They see that the cavalry is coming to the rescue, to end all suffering.
- Rom 8:22 All creation is soon to be set free from the curse!!* "The nations were angry" (Psalm 2) Gnashing of Teeth
- Enraged unrepentance and refusal to submit, even after seeing their own failure at self-deification.
- They will eventually come against Jesus Rev 16:14-16 (Har Megedon) 19:19-21 (Ezek 38-39)
- Note that Rev. 20:8-10 also refers to a final rebellion after Lucifer is released from his 1,000 year imprisonment and gathers many across the world in war against Jesus. These enemies of Christ are also called Gog and Magog to highlight that the same heart attitude drives all rebellion. Amazingly, they will rebel even after watching the power, love, and wisdom of Jesus restore the earth for 1,000 years.* "Temple of God was opened in heaven & the ark of His covenant was seen"
- Good News (the sweet part of the little book John had to eat).
- God's covenant promise to creation, from Adam to Noah, to Abraham, to Israel, to the Church, and to the World, will be fulfilled.* "Lightnings, noises, thunderings, earthquakes, & great hail"
- Bad News (the bitter part of the little book John had to eat).
- Creation must first be cleansed of all self-deifying sin and its destructive fruit,
- v. 18 "to destroy those who destroy the earth"*** God will not tolerate sin in His presence forever.
The punishment for sin is separation from God's presence.
Separation, entropy, began with Adam in the Garden of Eden.
Absolute separation from the presence of God will be the final consequence of rejecting Christ2 Thes 1:7-10 "... and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed."
** This consequence will be irreversible. It's effect will last forever.
Next week . . . . Chapters 12-14 are a digression, where the Scripture reexamines the Tribulation from a different perspective with a focus not on God, but on Satan strategy.
Remember,
every warning, struggle,
temptation, promise, strategy, and victory in the Revelation can also play out in your life, your family, and your church!
The choice is yours ................
What do you need to change?
(The final question to ask God, whenever
you study God's Word)
Lord, how
am I doing on your conflict meter, for your glory?
Giving Up < < < < Standing
Firm > > > >
Blowing Up
Remember there are only two
modes for a believer:
* Marching forward with the gospel.
* Standing firm when conflict arises!
Return to related articles from "The Bible: One Bite at a Time" -
Biblical Prophecy: A Jigsaw Puzzle with Pieces Throughout the Bible
(Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Zechariah, Mat 24, 2 Th 2)
For further study of prophecy:
Prophecy
Today - http://www.gospelcom.net/shofar/pp/htm/report.shtml
Soulcare's
Recommended Materials on Prophecy (books, audios, videos, etc.)
http://www.soulcare.org/Resources_Biblical_Authority.htm#Prophecy
Booklet: The
Rapture,
by Thomas Ice & Timothy Demy
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1565073924/qid%3D980349983/104-6768955-3395119
John
MacArthur, D.D., The Second Coming of Jesus: Signs
of Christ's Return & the End of the Age.
- Book: This text is an excellent
overview, placing the puzzle pieces together until the picture is clear.
*- Audio Set (9 tapes): This tape set is the best I've heard
yet. Nothing beats the spoken word for clarity.
J. Vernon McGee, B.D., M.Th., Th.D.,, Thru the Bible Commentary Series,
Revelation. Dr. McGee's commentaries are probably the simplest, most
practical, yet thorough and biblical that are available on the Bible.
_______, Reveling Through Revelation.
Chuck Missler, Revelation
Commentary in MP3 on CD. Chuck's commentaries on Daniel, The
Revelation, etc., on CD not only contain extensive study notes, but also many
hours of audio teaching.
Henry Morris, Ph. D. (Physical Science doctorate), The Revelation
Record. A theologically and scientifically sound commentary on the
book of The Revelation. Dr. Morris explains the amazingly accurate
scientific parallels described in the Revelation that were unknown to the
culture of the first century. Only God's direct revelation to John can
explain such accuracy. For example, the "flaming mountain"
crashing into the sea during the second trumpet judgment. How would John
have known of even the possibility of massive asteroids that would ignite in our
atmosphere as a result of the friction and tremendous speed?
Dwight Pentecost, Ph.D., Things to Come: A Study in
Biblical Eschatology. This is a 600 pp encyclopedic reference
to all of the major passages, topics, and issues involved.
_________ Thy Kingdom Come: Tracing God's Kingdom Program &
Covenant Promises Throughout History. 1995.
Randall Price, Ph.D. Jerusalem
in Prophecy (Th.M. graduate of Dallas Theological
Seminary and holds a Ph.D. in Middle
Eastern Studies from the University of Texas at Austin.
He has done graduate study at the Hebrew
University of Jerusalem, and conducted archeological
excavation in Israel with the University of Texas
in conjunction with the teaching of courses in biblical
archaeology and the history and culture of modern
Israel.)
Renald Showers, Th.D., Maranatha, Our Lord, Come! A Definitive Study of the
Rapture of the Church. [Dr. Showers, a graduate of Grace Theological
Seminary, serves with Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, as well as the
Institute of Biblical Studies.]
John F. Walvoord, Every Prophecy of the Bible. This
reference commentary is over 600 pages long and is an invaluable tool for those
studying prophecy regardless of their perspective. When studying
eschatology, nothing is more important that having a comprehensive awareness of
all that the Bible says on the subject. This new work is more than
comprehensive. It is exhaustive. Dr. Walvoord was on the faculty of
Dallas Theological Seminary for 50 years, and is recognized even by those who do
not hold to a premillennial perspective as being one of the most knowledgeable
scholars in the area of prophecy and eschatology.
Audio Message: "The
Rapture: The Great Escape", John Ankerberg
http://www.khouse.org/media/conferences/steeling/stmankerberg98.html
Article: "The
Great Snatch", by Chuck Missler
http://www.khouse.org/articles/prophetic/19950101-35.html
Article: Byzantine
Text Discovery & the Rapture
http://www.khouse.org/articles/biblestudy/19950601-39.html
Revelation
11
