Revelation

Lesson 9 w/answersRevelation 12:1 - 13:18

Over the next two weeks we are looking at Chapter 12 and 13 and a description of the central figures in the last days of the Tribulation period.

Bible

As you skim both these chapters you will see 7 main figures described. They are, the sun-clad woman, the great red dragon, the man child, Michael the Archangel, the “seed” of the woman, the first beast, and the second beast. What marvelous insight God gives us into the last days if we can gain an understanding of these seven figures. May He richly bless you as you study His word this week.

Questions For Our Ninth Week

  1. Reading verses 1 and 2, and considering our previous study on this symbol can you tell who or what is being described in these two verses? (Genesis 37:9 and Isaiah 9:6)
    1. ANSWER: The Nation of Israel, a depiction of God’s Chosen People – about to “give birth” to Christ the Messiah who is born of the Jews, the tribe of Judah, in Bethlehem.
  2. Reading verses 3 and 4, Revelation 20:2, 17:3, Isaiah 7:4, and Jude verse 13, what is this describing?
    1. ANSWER: Satan, God’s chief adversary, he will have universal wisdom and great power as depicted by the seven spirits and ten horns which will later describe his worldly kingdom. (See 13:1) He is cast out of heaven and brings the fallen angels with him to earth. His goal – destroy Israel before Christ was born, and then destroy the male child when it’s born. The nation of Israel will be taken care of in a desert place for 1,260 days by God.
  3. Read verses 5 and 6. What is happening here – has some of this already happened?
    1. ANSWER: His goal – destroy Israel before Christ was born, and then destroy the male child when it’s born – Christ is born and taken up to Heaven to be at the throne of God. Satan will be coming after the nation of Israel to destroy them and they will be taken care of in a desert place for 1,260 days by God.
  4. What happens between verse 6 and verse 14? List the specific things that occur in these verses, verse by verse.
    1. Verse 6
      1. ANSWER: Fled to the desert for 1,260 days.
    2. Verse 7
      1. ANSWER: War in heaven.
    3. Verse 8
      1. ANSWER: Satan and his demons lose the war in heaven.
    4. Verse 9
      1. ANSWER: Satan and his demons cast down to earth and out of heaven.
    5. Verse 10
      1. ANSWER: Rejoicing in heaven over the defeat of Satan and his ejection from heaven.
    6. Verse 11
      1. ANSWER: Christ’s blood won the victory over Satan.
    7. Verse 12
      1. ANSWER: Satan realizes he doesn’t have much time left, the later half of the trib period will be horrible as a result.
    8. Verse 13
      1. ANSWER: Satan blames his defeat on the Nation of Israel and pursues after her to kill here.
    9. Verse 14
      1. ANSWER: Taken to a place out of Satan’s reach for a time, times and a half time – 3.5 years.
  5. How do we know that this means Satan is still not cast down to earth? If this means he is not cast down until the 2nd half of the tribulation period, called the Great Tribulation, or the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord, what words might indicate this?
    1. ANSWER: Verse 8 “any more” – implies a final end during the tribulation period, and Verse 10 tells us that Satan is accusing us before God day and night, but no more once he is cast down to earth. What a terrible day for all mankind, and especially the Jews, when Satan is cast down and confined to the earth.
  6. What happens in verse 13? When do you suppose this happens within the overall seven year period of the tribulation period? Is it possible that Matthew 24:9-27 is speaking of this event?
    1. ANSWER: Mid Trib period. Matthew 24:9-27 is a description of the events of this time.
  7. Verse 15 – what would the water and the flood represent here?
    1. ANSWER: Poisionous things, words, activities, etc that Satan unleashes against the Jews so as to cause them to be destroyed.
  8. Verses 16 & 17 describe the earth swallowing up the flood and helping the woman during this time. What does this mean?
    1. ANSWER: The earth protects the Jews and prevents them from being destroyed by Satan’s activities and his followers. In verse 17 all those won to Christ during the tribulation period by the testimony of the 144,000 are sought after by Satan to kill and destroy them blaming the Jews for these people who now follow Christ as a result of the Jews’ testimony and preaching of the Gospel.
  9. What do you suppose is referred to in verse 18 as “her seed” – curious since seed usually comes from a man?
    1. ANSWER: The offspring of the Gospel of Christ, the children of God.

May God richly bless you this coming week.

Yours in Christ,

Wes