The Trumpets Judgments (3) -The Great Tribulation
Revelation 12-14
Key vs. 13: 7 “He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.”
1. Read vs. 12:1-9. The two great signs appeared in heaven that expose the main actors in this cosmic struggle. Who do the woman and the child represent? (1,5, 17,Gn37:9) How did the dragon attempt to devour the child? (4, Mt2:16) But how has the Son come to rule the nations? (5,Phil2:9) How has the dragon lost the battle and been thrown out of heaven to the earth? (7-9,20:2,Job1:9-11)
2. Read vs. 10-17. What has come to reality due to this victory? (10) How can we overcome the devil? (11) How does the dragon attack the woman and her offspring? (15,Jer9:15,Mk16:18) How does God protect them? (14,16,Ex19:4) What does it symbolize by “a time, times and half a time” or 1,260 days? (6,14,11:3; Da9:27,12:7)
3. Read vs. 13:1-10. The dragon employs the two beasts as his agents to make war against the saints. How does the first beast look? (1,2) What does he represent? (Da7:4-6) What does it signify that he had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound has been healed? (3,12:9,20:2-3) What does it mean that the whole world worship him? (3,4,8) How does he blaspheme God and make war against the saints? (5-7, 11:7, 2Th2:4)
4. Read vs. 11-18. Who does another beast represent? (11,Mt24:24) What is the role of this beast? (12) How does he perform counterfeit miracles to deceive the people? (13,15,2Th2:9,10) How does he deify the first beast and indoctrinate the people? (16,17)
5. Read vs. 14:1-13. In this heavenly scene, the Lamb is standing with the believers. Who are they and what are they doing? (2,4,5) How are they different from those who worship the beast? (13:16) Why does God show this beautiful heavenly scene to the believers? How do the three angels urge the people to get ready for the final hour of God’s judgment? (7,8,9-11) How do they urge them to endure or repent?
6. Read vs. 14-19. How does Jesus come to harvest the earth? (14) What does it mean that the harvest of the earth is ripe (or the grapes are ripe)? (15,18,Mt13:39) How is the harvest related to the rapture? (11:12, 1Th4:16-17) How does an angel announce the coming of God’s wrath? (19,20)