09 the time has come for judging (part 2) slideshow

The Book of Revelation 4/29/2007

Lesson 9
The Time Has Come for Judging (Part 2)

Amen! Hallelujah! – A Study of the Book of Revelation
By Dale Wells
Text: Rev 10-11

Interlude
Partial judgment
hasn’t brought
repentance.
The only thing left is
total judgment.
But first, a word from
our sponsor.
This is a word of
peace & comfort for
the Christians.

Four things discussed in the interlude
The unrecorded thunders
Rev 10:1-7 WEB
No more warning
The little book
Rev 10:8-11 WEB
John must continue to
preach a sorrowful message
The measuring of the temple
Rev 11:1-2 WEB
God knows and protects his
people
The two witnesses
Rev 11:3-13 WEB
Gospel preaching will
ultimately triumph

Lesson 9 1


The unrecorded thunders – No more
warning

Rev 10:1-7 WEB
I saw a mighty angel coming down out of the sky, clothed with a
cloud. A rainbow was on his head. His face was like the sun, and
his feet like pillars of fire. (2) He had in his hand a little open book.
He set his right foot on the sea, and his left on the land. (3) He
cried with a loud voice, as a lion roars. When he cried, the seven
thunders uttered their voices. (4) When the seven thunders
sounded, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from the sky
saying, "Seal up the things which the seven thunders said, and
don't write them." (5) The angel who I saw standing on the sea
and on the land lifted up his right hand to the sky, (6) and swore
by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the
things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the
sea and the things that are in it, that there will no longer be delay,
(7) but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is
about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as he declared
to his servants, the prophets.

The angel is a reminder of God's
covenant presence

The shekinah symbolized his presence with Israel
Exo 13:21-22 WEB Yahweh went before them by day in a
pillar of cloud, to lead them on their way, and by night in a
pillar of fire, to give them light, that they might go by day and
by night: (22) the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire
by night, didn't depart from before the people.

Lesson 9 2


The rainbow symbolizes God’s
covenant with all
Gen 9:12-16 WEB God said,
"This is the token of the
covenant which I make
between me and you and
every living creature that is
with you, for perpetual
generations: (13) I set my
rainbow in the cloud, and it will
be for a sign of a covenant
between me and the earth.
(14) It will happen, when I
bring a cloud over the earth,
that the rainbow will be seen
in the cloud, (15) and I will
remember my covenant,
which is between me and you
and every living creature of all
flesh, and the waters will no
more become a flood to
destroy all flesh.

This angel stands astride the earth
like Colossus
Colossus, a 110 foot bronze
statue of the sun god Helios,
was erected in 282 BC.
Fell in 226 BC – earthquake
broke it at the knees.
In 1st Century AD, Colossus
was a well-known ruin.
Inspiration for Auguste
Bartholdi’s Statue of Liberty
(151 feet tall).
This angel rises through the
clouds, so John saw a
rainbow around his head and
the sun for his face. He
dwarfs Colossus and he
never collapses.

Seven thunders – warn of coming
storm

When the angel spoke, seven thunders sounded.
A voice from Heaven (not the angel) says “Seal up” – i.e. don’t write.
The significance is that there will be no more delay.
Rev 10:5-7 WEB The angel who I saw standing on the sea and on the land
lifted up his right hand to the sky, (6) and swore by him who lives forever
and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the
things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there will
no longer be delay, (7) but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel,
when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as he
declared to his servants, the prophets.

Lesson 9 3


This is the answer to the prayers of
the martyrs from the fifth seal

There will be no more warning for the enemy.
If six trumpets haven’t brought repentance, six
hundred won’t.
Therefore, it it time for judgment!

The little book – Think “tract”
Rev 10:8-11 WEB The voice
which I heard from heaven, again
speaking with me, said, "Go, take
the book which is open in the hand
of the angel who stands on the sea
and on the land." (9) I went to the
angel, telling him to give me the
little book. He said to me, "Take it,
and eat it up. It will make your
stomach bitter, but in your mouth it
will be as sweet as honey." (10) I
took the little book out of the
angel's hand, and ate it up. It was
as sweet as honey in my mouth.
When I had eaten it, my stomach
was made bitter. (11) They told
me, "You must prophesy again
over many peoples, nations,
languages, and kings."

Eze 2:8-3:14 WEB
But you, son of man open your mouth, and eat that which I give you.
(9) When I looked, behold, a hand was put forth to me; and, behold, a
scroll of a book was therein; (10) He spread it before me: and it was
written within and without; and there were written therein lamentations,
and mourning, and woe. (3:1) He said to me, Son of man, eat that
which you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel. (2)
So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat the scroll. (3) He
said to me, Son of man, cause your belly to eat, and fill your bowels
with this scroll that I give you. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth
as honey for sweetness. (4) He said to me, Son of man, go, get you to
the house of Israel, and speak with my words to them (12) Then the
Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me the voice of a great rushing,
saying, Blessed be the glory of Yahweh from his place. (13) I heard
the noise of the wings of the living creatures as they touched one
another, and the noise of the wheels beside them, even the noise of a
great rushing. (14) So the Spirit lifted me up, and took me away; and I
went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; and the hand of Yahweh was
strong on me.

Lesson 9 4


The sweetness is in the message,
the bitterness is in the delivery.
The message is bitter – it
contains bad news
In the rest of the book, he
pronounces woes upon:
People who rejected God
Physical woe on Christians
Conflict for the church
Mostly, woe upon Rome
John is going to keep
preaching – even if it doesn’t
produce repentance

Preaching sometimes produces no
repentance where it should
Eze 3:4-9 WEB He said to me,
Son of man, go, get you to the
house of Israel, and speak with
my words to them. (5) For you
are not sent to a people of a
strange speech and of a hard
language, but to the house of
Israel; (6) not to many peoples
of a strange speech and of a
hard language, whose words
you can not understand. Surely,
if I sent you to them, they would
listen to you. (7) But the house
of Israel will not listen to you; for
they will not listen to me: for all
the house of Israel are of hard
forehead and of a stiff heart .

Preaching sometimes produces
repentance where it shouldn’t
Jon 3:1-10 WEB (4)
Jonah began to enter into
the city and he said,
"Yet forty days, and Nineveh
shall be overthrown!" (5)
The people of Nineveh
believed God; and they
proclaimed a fast, and put on
sackcloth, from the greatest
even to the least ... (10)
God saw their works, that
they turned from their evil
way. God relented of the
disaster which he said he
would do to them, and he
didn't do it.

Lesson 9 5


The measuring of the temple

Rev 11:1-2 WEB A reed like a rod was given to me. Someone said,
"Rise, and measure God's temple, and the altar, and those who
worship in it. (2) Leave out the court which is outside of the temple,
and don't measure it, for it has been given to the nations. They will
tread the holy city under foot for forty-two months.
The naos (sanctuary) is measured, not the hieron (temple proper)
Some think this means Revelation was written before 70 AD, when the
Temple was still standing.

Biblically, it means the temple had
already fallen

The temple was measured in a vision in 572 BC, 14 years after it had
been physically razed in 586 BC (Ezekiel 40-48).
Ezekiel 40:1-5 NLT On April 28, during the twenty-fifth year of our captivity-
fourteen years after the fall of Jerusalem-the LORD took hold of me. (2) In
a vision of God he took me to the land of Israel and set me down on a very
high mountain (3) As he brought me nearer, I saw a man whose face
shone like bronze standing beside a gateway entrance. He was holding in
his hand a measuring tape and a measuring rod. (5) I could see a wall
completely surrounding the Temple area. The man took a measuring rod
that was 10 1/2 feet long and measured the wall, and the wall was 10 1/2
feet thick and 10 1/2 feet high

Measuring is to separate the holy
from the common

The theme of Leviticus is that everything falls between these
extremes.
Sin draws things from Holy to Common & from Clean to Unclean
Sacrifice draws things from Unclean to Clean & Common to Holy
What is God’s sanctuary? The church!
1Co 3:16 WEB Don't you know that you are a temple of God, and
that God's Spirit lives in you?

Lesson 9 6


Some of the 7 churches were
blurring distinctions – like OT priests
Eze 22:26 WEB Her priests
have profaned my holy
things: they have made no
distinction between the holy
and the common, neither
have they caused men to
discern between the unclean
and the clean and I am
profaned among them.
Eze 44:23 WEB They shall
teach my people the
difference between the holy
and the common, and cause
them to discern between the
unclean and the clean.

But God knows who is holy and who
is not
2Ti 2:19 WEB God's firm
foundation stands, having
this seal, "The Lord knows
those who are his," and, "Let
every one who names the
name of the Lord depart from
unrighteousness."
Jesus has already examined
the 7 churches: He knows
who is – and who isn't – holy
What is not measured is the
outer court – the courts of
the Jews & Gentiles
What is measured is the holy
place, the naos or the church

The court is not measured

There are no holy ones in the unmeasured world.
42 months is 3 ½ years, or 1260 days
Jews had 360 days in a year; & intercalary month every 7 years.
3 ½ years is ½ of 7. It represents a time when Satan is trying to
thwart God’s will, but during which God is still in control.
This introduces the onslaught against the church by Rome.

Lesson 9 7


The two witnesses

Rev 11:3-13 WEB
I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two
hundred sixty days, clothed in sackcloth." (4) These are the two olive trees and
the two lampstands, standing before the Lord of the earth. (5) If anyone desires
to harm them, fire proceeds out of their mouth and devours their enemies. If
anyone desires to harm them, he must be killed in this way. (6) These have the
power to shut up the sky, that it may not rain during the days of their prophecy.
They have power over the waters, to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth
with every plague, as often as they desire. (7) When they have finished their
testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them,
and overcome them, and kill them. (8) Their dead bodies will be in the street of
the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord
was crucified. (9) From among the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations
people will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not allow
their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. (11) After the three and a half days,
the breath of life from God entered into them, and they stood on their feet. Great
fear fell on those who saw them. (12) I heard a loud voice from heaven saying
to them, "Come up here!" They went up into heaven in the cloud, and their
enemies saw them. (13) In that day there was a great earthquake, and a tenth
of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the
rest were terrified, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

42 months and 1260 days

During the time when the church is besieged (42
months), the witnesses are preaching (1260 days).
Sieges are measured by months, but preaching is
day by day.

Lesson 9 8


Zec 4:1-14 WEB

The angel (2) said to me, "What do you see?" I said, "I have seen a
lampstand all of gold, with its bowl on the top and its seven lamps there
are seven pipes to each of the lamps, which are on the top (3) and two olive
trees by it, one on the right side ... and the other on the left side ..." (11)
Then I asked him, "What are these two olive trees on the right side of the
lampstand and on the left side of it?" (12) I asked him the second time, "What
are these two olive branches, which are beside the two golden spouts, that pour
the golden oil out of themselves?" (13) He answered me, "Don't you know what
these are?" I said, "No, my lord." (14) Then he said, "These are the two
anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth."

The figures are clear from vv. 5-6
Rev 11:5-6 WEB If anyone
desires to harm them, fire
proceeds out of their mouth
and devours their enemies. If
anyone desires to harm
them, he must be killed in
this way. (6) These have
the power to shut up the sky,
that it may not rain during the
days of their prophecy. They
have power over the waters,
to turn them into blood, and
to strike the earth with every
plague, as often as they
desire.
The men depicted are
Moses and Elijah.

Elijah – called down fire on the two
groups of soldiers sent by Ahaziah
2Ki 1:1-18 WEB (2) Ahaziah was sick: and he sent messengers ... Go,
inquire of Baal Zebub whether I shall recover of this sickness. (3) But the
angel of Yahweh said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the
messengers of the king of Samaria, and tell them, Is it because there is no God
in Israel, that you go to inquire of Baal Zebub ? (4) Now therefore thus says
Yahweh, You shall surely die. (9) Then the king sent to him a captain of
fifty with his fifty. He went up to him He spoke to him, man of God, the king
has said, Come down. (10) Elijah answered If I be a man of God, let fire
come down from the sky, and consume you and your fifty. Fire came down from
the sky, and consumed him and his fifty. (11) Again he sent to him another
captain of fifty and his fifty. He answered him, man of God, thus has the king
said, Come down quickly. (12) Elijah answered If I be a man of God, let fire
come down from the sky, and consume you and your fifty. The fire of God came
down from the sky, and consumed him and his fifty. (13) Again he sent the
captain of a third fifty with his fifty. The third captain of fifty came and fell on
his knees before Elijah, and begged him man of God, please let my life, and
the life of these fifty your servants, be precious in your sight. (14) Behold, fire
came down from the sky, and consumed the two former captains of fifty with
their fifties; but now let my life be precious in your sight. (15) The angel of
Yahweh said to Elijah, Go down with him He arose, and went down with him
to the king

Lesson 9 9


Elijah shut up the sky so it didn’t rain
for 3 ½ years

1Ki 17:1 WEB Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the foreigners of
Gilead, said to Ahab, As Yahweh, the God of Israel, lives, before
whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but
according to my word.
Jam 5:17 WEB Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he
prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it didn't rain on the
earth for three years and six months.

Moses – turned water to blood &
brought plagues on Egypt

These are the representatives of the Law & Prophets – sent to
prepare Jesus for his exodus at the Transfiguration.
Luk 9:28-31 WEB It happened about eight days after these
sayings, that he took with him Peter, John, and James, and went up
onto the mountain to pray. (29) As he was praying, the
appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became white
and dazzling. (30) Behold, two men were talking with him, who
were Moses and Elijah, (31) who appeared in glory, and spoke of
his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

The vision is broken down into three
phases of progress
The gospel is preached with success (11:5-6)
Rev 11:5-6 WEB If anyone desires to harm them, fire proceeds out of their
mouth and devours their enemies. If anyone desires to harm them, he must
be killed in this way. (6) These have the power to shut up the sky, that it
may not rain during the days of their prophecy. They have power over the
waters, to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as
often as they desire.
The gospel is seemingly crushed (11:7-10)
Rev 11:7-10 WEB When they have finished their testimony, the beast that
comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them,
and kill them. (9) From among the peoples, tribes, languages, and
nations people will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and
will not allow their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. (10) Those who dwell
on the earth rejoice over them, and they will be glad. They will give gifts to
one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the
earth.
They lie in the street of an infamous city (11:8)
Rev 11:8 WEB Their dead bodies will be in the street of the great city,
which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was
crucified.

Lesson 9 10


Sodom – What was the sin of
Sodom?
Sodom – self-obsessed
Eze 16:49-50 WEB Behold,
this was the iniquity of your
sister Sodom: pride, fullness
of bread, and prosperous
ease was in her and in her
daughters; neither did she
strengthen the hand of the
poor and needy. (50) They
were haughty, and
committed abomination
before me: therefore I took
them away as I saw good.
Egypt – oppressed the Jews
Jerusalem – killed Messiah
The figures describe Rome

Resurrection of the Gospel

Rev 11:11-13 WEB After the three and a half days, the breath
of life from God entered into them, and they stood on their feet.
Great fear fell on those who saw them. (12) I heard a loud
voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here!" They went
up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies saw them. (13)
In that day there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city
fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and
the rest were terrified, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

God’s response is “Oh No you don’t!”
He raised Jesus and he raises the church. The kingdom of God
is established & the Empire of Rome is destroyed.
Resurrection & ascension – like Jesus.
Enemies saw them exalted – just before they saw their own end.
Earthquake is God’s judgment on Rome.
They wouldn’t repent before but now they give him glory
Rev 9:20-21 WEB The rest of mankind, who were not killed with
these plagues, didn't repent of the works of their hands, that they
wouldn't worship demons, and the idols of gold, and of silver, and
of brass, and of stone, and of wood; which can neither see, nor
hear, nor walk. (21) They didn't repent of their murders, nor of
their sorceries, nor of their sexual immorality, nor of their thefts.
Rev 11:13 WEB In that day there was a great earthquake, and a
tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the
earthquake, and the rest were terrified, and gave glory to the God
of heaven.

Lesson 9 11


This is a recurring New Testament
promise
Rev 1:7 WEB Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every
eye will see him, including those who pierced him. All the tribes
of the earth will mourn over him. Even so, Amen.
Phi 2:10-11 WEB that at the name of Jesus every knee should
bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the
earth, (11) and that every tongue should confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus will be praised & God will be glorified – if not voluntarily,
then under compulsion.
The whole interlude is a message of divine retribution.
There is to be no more delay.
God’s judgment is to be proclaimed – even if it causes bitterness.
God’s people are known and protected by him.
The gospel appears to be crushed, but it will ultimately triumph.

Other kingdoms come and go, but
God's kingdom endures
Dan 2:44 WEB In the
days of those kings
shall the God of heaven
set up a kingdom which
shall never be
destroyed, nor shall its
sovereignty be left to
another people; but it
shall break in pieces
and consume all these
kingdoms, and it shall
stand forever.

Seventh Trumpet – Third Woe –
Final Judgment on Rome

Lesson 9 12


Rev 11:15-19 WEB
The seventh angel sounded, and great voices in heaven
followed, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the
Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ. He will reign forever and
ever!" (16) The twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones
before God's throne, fell on their faces and worshiped God, (17)
saying: "We give you thanks, Lord God, the Almighty, the one
who is and who was; because you have taken your great power,
and reigned. (18) The nations were angry, and your wrath
came, as did the time for the dead to be judged, and to give your
bondservants the prophets, their reward, as well as to the saints,
and those who fear your name, to the small and the great; and
to destroy those who destroy the earth." (19) God's temple that
is in heaven was opened, and the ark of the Lord's covenant
was seen in his temple. Lightnings, sounds, thunders, an
earthquake, and great hail followed.

The headline announces – “God’s
Kingdom Wins”
Rev. 12-22 will describe how God’s kingdom wins.
Describes the battle & the internal struggle behind the war.
The song of the 24 elders
Note: on v. 17 “who is & who was” but no “who is to come”
(as KJV). Why? Because he’s already come by the time we
get here.
Rev 11:17 WEB saying: "We give you thanks, Lord God, the
Almighty, the one who is and who was; because you have
taken your great power, and reigned.
The time has come for
Judging the dead (e.g. those dead in sin)
Rewarding the righteous (e.g. overcomers)
Note that judgment has to do with the wicked; reward has to
do with the righteous.

The Lord has come to save & to
destroy

2Th 1:5-10 WEB This is an obvious sign of the righteous judgment of God, to
the end that you may be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God, for which you
also suffer. (6) Since it is a righteous thing with God to repay affliction to those
who afflict you, (7) and to give relief to you who are afflicted with us, when the
Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, (8)
giving vengeance to those who don't know God, and to those who don't obey the
Good News of our Lord Jesus, (9) who will pay the penalty: eternal destruction
from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might, (10) when he comes
to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired among all those who have
believed (because our testimony to you was believed) in that day.

Lesson 9 13


Judgment comes because God
keeps his covenant

He’s faithful, whether we are or not – the nature of covenant.
Rev 11:19 WEB God's temple that is in heaven was opened,
and the ark of the Lord's covenant was seen in his temple.
Lightnings, sounds, thunders, an earthquake, and great hail
followed.
2Ti 2:11-12 WEB This saying is faithful: "For if we died with
him, we will also live with him. (12) If we endure, we will also
reign with him. If we deny him, he also will deny us.

Each judgment is intensified

Rev 4:5 WEB Out of the throne proceed lightnings, sounds, and thunders
Rev 8:5 WEB The angel took the censer, and he filled it with the fire of the altar,
and threw it on the earth. There followed thunders, sounds, lightnings, and an
earthquake.
Rev 11:19 WEB God's temple that is in heaven was opened, and the ark of the
Lord's covenant was seen in his temple. Lightnings, sounds, thunders, an
earthquake, and great hail followed.
Rev 16:18-21 WEB There were lightnings, sounds, and thunders; and there
was a great earthquake, such as was not since there were men on the earth, so
great an earthquake, so mighty (21) Great hailstones, about the weight of a
talent, came down out of the sky on people

Survey: Rev. 4

God on the throne in the midst of his people – the elect from the
OT & the NT. Everyone praises God.

Lesson 9 14


Rev. 5

God’s will is on a scroll, but no one can open the scroll. That is,
till the Lamb comes to open it.

Rev. 6

The seals are opened & God parades the power he has at his
control to bring his enemies into submission.
The fifth seal gives the essential question of the book. “How
long?”
In the sixth seal, the Day of the Lord (for Rome) is about to
commence.

Rev. 7

But first, God makes sure his people are sealed – marked for
protection & preservation.
144,000 on earth & great multitude in heaven.
Doesn’t mean they won’t suffer, just that when they end this life
they go to their reward.

Lesson 9 15


Rev. 8

The seventh seal starts with seven trumpets. The first four hit
1/3 of Rome’s world. Then, we’re told the worst is yet to come.

Rev. 9

The fifth seal unleashes the devil himself on Rome to deceive it.
Then comes invasion by the enemy hordes. But the Roman
Empire, like Egypt before it, didn’t repent.

Rev. 10

Before God hammers Rome one last time, the interlude tells the
Christians to keep on preaching, even if it causes bitterness
because of the response.

Lesson 9 16


Rev. 11

It may appear that the enemy wins, but the gospel ultimately will
prevail.

The 7th trumpet announces
judgment & victory
Rev 11:15 WEB The seventh
angel sounded, and great
voices in heaven followed,
saying, "The kingdom of the
world has become the Kingdom
of our Lord, and of his Christ.
He will reign forever and ever!"
Dan 2:44 WEB In the days of
those kings shall the God of
heaven set up a kingdom which
shall never be destroyed, nor
shall its sovereignty be left to
another people; but it shall
break in pieces and consume all
these kingdoms, and it shall
stand forever.

Next week, we’ll look at the eternal
struggle

The woman, the child and the dragon. And we’ll see a war in
heaven with its aftermath on earth. You won’t want to miss it.

Lesson 9 17


In the following lesson, we’ll meet the
enemy

The Beast & the False Prophet. And we’ll take a look at that
infamous number “666”. You won’t want to miss it, either.

Lesson 9 18

09 the time has come for judging (part 2) slideshow

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09 the time has come for judging (part 2) slideshow