Read the Bible in a Year (29DEC19)

DAILY REMINDER – Today, December 29’s Bible reading is Revelation 13-16.

NEXT DAY REMINDER – Tomorrow, December 30’s Bible reading is Revelation 17-19. May God bless you with the reading of His WORD.


Today's Lesson is Bible Lesson 8 from the series "Revelation: Removing the Prophetic Veil" by 
K L Rich on Amazon.com.

REVELATION

          

            John had a lot of turns and events that took place in his vision. Events for the times that he was in and those that would occur prior to the return of Christ. There would be all kinds of wickedness taking place, which would bring about the wrath of God. The important thing for all believers to know and understand is that we never have to fear or be afraid of what’s to come.

            God has guaranteed that all who endure to the end will receive a reward. The events that John saw in his vision was not to make us afraid, but it was to inform us, so that we would not be caught off guard. Therefore, just as we prepare for other life’s events that may take place unexpectedly, we are to prepare our hearts and minds by wrapping ourselves in the glory of His Righteousness. 

            Being in covenant with God is the only way that we will be able to stand. Jesus is waiting to get His bride. Who is that bride? All who believe, follow and trust in Christ is His bride. We are to wait with great expectation and prepare for the wedding that will one day take place. 

            However, there are a lot of things that are going to take place on the earth prior to Jesus’ return. There will be judgments that will be handed out on the face of the earth due to the rebellion of the wicked. These judgments will not be mild, but will be the harshest that have ever been seen. The antichrist and his false prophet will ensure to cause a firestorm with the body of Christ. Those who will not take his mark will endure much persecution, but even if we must lose our lives, we will pick them up again in Heaven. 

Quick Review from Lesson 7

a.)   A great sign appeared in Heaven with a woman who was clothed with the sun and the moon was under her feet wearing a crown of 12 stars.

b.)  The red dragon with 7 heads and 10 horns and 7 crowns swept 1/3 of the stars out of the sky with its tail.

c.)   The woman was about to give birth and her child would rule all nations with his iron scepter.

d.)  The dragon wanted to devour the child, but as soon as she gave birth, the child was snatched up to God.

e.)   John was told to measure the temple.

f.)    There was war in Heaven where Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his.

g.)  The saints triumphed over the dragon by the word of their testimony.

h.)  The dragon had been hurled down to the earth along with his angels and he pursued the woman, but God cared for her time, times and ½ a time.

i.)    A beast came out of the sea with 10 horns, 7 heads and 10 crowns on its horns with blasphemous names on each head.

j.)    One of the heads received a fatal wound that had been healed and they worshipped the dragon who gave the beast power.

The 144,000 and the Lamb

Revelation 14:1-5 ⁽¹⁾Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. ⁽²⁾And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. ⁽³⁾And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. ⁽⁴⁾These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among mankind and offered as first fruits to God and the Lamb. ⁽⁵⁾No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.

        John witnesses the Lamb standing on Mount Zion and the 144,000 were with Him who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. This means that that Jesus who is the Lamb that was slain was standing in Heaven, which is represented by Mount Zion. The 144,000 who were with Him represent those who were saved and had the seal of God written on their foreheads instead of the mark of the beast. 2 Corinthians 1:22-23 ⁽²¹⁾Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, ⁽²²⁾set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. (NIV) There are going to be two seals in the last days. You will either be sealed with the mark of God or the mark of the beast, which is of the devil. There will be no such thing as being in the middle. 

John heard a sound like mighty water and thunders. It sounded like music to his ears. The 144,000 sang a song before the throne, living creatures and elders. This song is a song that the Saints of God will sing because they made it to Heaven. Oh what a day it will be to know that you have finally made it and will never have to endure pain, suffering and trials anymore. One can only imagine the beauty of the tune that will be heard. Imagine not being able to carry a tune on earth, but once you make it to Heaven, strings of great sounding melodies will come from your vocal cords all because of the Lamb that was slain. Psalm 96:1-6 ⁽¹⁾Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. ⁽²⁾Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. ⁽³⁾Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. ⁽⁴⁾For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. ⁽⁵⁾For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. ⁽⁶⁾Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary. (NIV) This is a song that even the angels cannot sing. What a special song that it will be. The Bible says that no one could “learn” the song because it could only be sung by the redeemed. It makes you wonder will this be a song about the experiences that those living on earth had gone through, but had be triumphant over through the blood of the Lamb? If indeed so, then yes…the angels could not even sing this one. Only someone who had gone through the testimony could live to testify of God’s saving power.

John says that they were virgins and undefiled. This seems to be in the symbolic sense that they were not defiled with the things of the world. They stayed pure unto God. They did not commit adultery against God and ruin themselves to the temptations of the earth, but remained true to God. This does not mean that they were perfect, but that they had overcome and had not been defiled by the things of the world. 1 John 2:15-17 ⁽¹⁵⁾Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. ⁽¹⁶⁾For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. ⁽¹⁷⁾The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. (NIV)

John said that the 144,000 followed the Lamb wherever he went. God’s children will always be obedient to the will of God and will align themselves up accordingly. To be a Christian is more than just carrying the title, but it means to be Christ-like. Therefore, as a follower of Christ, we take on the characteristics of Jesus and this is done by listening to his voice and obeying him. John 10:27-30 ⁽²⁷⁾My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. ⁽²⁸⁾I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. ⁽²⁹⁾My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. ⁽³⁰⁾I and the Father are one.” (NIV) We belong to Christ because we were bought with a price. Jesus paid the price by the shedding of his own blood for our sins. We are the first fruits offered to God because He chose us first even though we did not choose Him. Due to Christ offering himself up for mankind, once we accept Christ, we are become that unblemished offering to be given to the Father. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ⁽¹⁹⁾Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ⁽²⁰⁾you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. (NIV) There was no lie was found in their mouths and they were blameless. They did not succumb to the devil’s schemes and were found worthy in the eyes of the Lord. 

The Three Angels’ Message

First Angel’s Message

Revelation 14:6-12 ⁽⁶⁾Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. ⁽⁷⁾He said in a loud voice, “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.”

        John witnessed an angel flying in the air and spreading the gospel of Christ to those throughout the earth. His message was to reverence God who is our Creator for the judgment had come. So many today do not have a respect for the things of God. They do not reverence Him and have a total disregard for the things that are holy. It is similar to what took place during Daniel’s time under the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar’s son, Belshazzar. He had not regard for God and misused God’s holy artifacts that had been taken from the temple during Israel’s captivity. However, God pronounced a judgment on him by giving him a personal message with His hand.

  Daniel 5:1-5 (1)King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them. 2)While Belshazzar was drinking his wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them. (3)So they brought in the gold goblets that had been taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. (4)As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone. (5)Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. (NIV) King Belshazzar had not paid attention to what his father had gone through. King Nebuchadnezzar had been made to humble himself before God by becoming a beast of the field. However, after seven years, God restored him once he acknowledged that God was the one over his life and had blessed him with all he had. This is they same thing that the angel’s message was saying. The world from every nation is to give God glory. Many governments, including the U.S.A. think that they are the reason for their own prosperity. Nothing could be further from the truth. God is the only reason that the United States has been a great nation. Unfortunately, as the United States is trying to usher out God, He is ushering in judgment upon the land. The protection and freedoms that we once enjoyed as a nation are quickly coming to an end. Judgment is upon the land as the angel proclaimed during John’s vision. 

Daniel 5:22-28 ⁽²²⁾“But you, Belshazzar, his son, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. ⁽²³⁾Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways. ⁽²⁴⁾Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription. ⁽²⁵⁾“This is the inscription that was written: mene, mene, tekel, parsin ⁽²⁶⁾“Here is what these words mean: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. ⁽²⁷⁾ Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. ⁽²⁸⁾ Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.” (NIV) The warning has been sounded just as in John’s dream and what we see here in the story of King Belshazzar. The handwriting is on the wall. Judgment is upon the face of the land and the world. Every day there is violence, riots, war, disease, animal deaths, and droughts all over the news and much more. God is letting us know that He is displeased with the world and judgment is upon the land. The writing is on the wall and the land has been found wanting. 

The Second Angel’s Message

Revelation 14:8 ⁽⁸⁾A second angel followed and said, “ ‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’ which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.”

            John witnessed the proclamation of the second angel that Babylon the Great had fallen. She had made other nations drink from her adulterous cup. Who is this Babylon that John saw? This Babylon is none other than the United States of America. According to the Jewish Virtual Library and other sources, Christopher Columbus was a Jew who had set sail to find land for other Jews who had been expelled from Spain for failing to convert to Catholicism during the Spanish Inquisition. This part of history is not told in most history books. As we understand God, we know that He has always had a hedge around the Children of Israel even in their darkest hour. Therefore, it seems that God was leading this expedition for His own purpose. 

The United States was not formed just to become a great nation. The nation was designated by God as a home for His people as well as a way for the gospel to be preached throughout the whole world. Daniel 2:21 He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. (NIV) Even though the United States has an imperfect historical beginning, God used this country through missionaries, pastors, teachers, doctors and other professions to give help to many countries throughout the world by financial aid, medical assistance, food, religious ministries and much more. People from every nation have come to the United States to live in the hopes of having a brighter future.

            Unfortunately, the United States has also been a major leader in sin by way of pornography imports and exports, drug trafficking, gambling, genetically modified crops and animals, genocide, toppling governments, and much more. Approximately 60 million abortions have taken place since the Roe vs. Wade’s Supreme Court decision and counting. Sexual immorality on TV, music, and video games, demonic worship through Free Masonry, Illuminati, Skull and Bones along with other secret societies, banker greed, dishonest politicians, corrupt evangelicals, in addition to a great push being led by the government in redefining marriage are all part of the adultery against God. Not only is the United States the leader of this, but she is also causing other nations to follow her sins and put pressure on those who do not endorse her ungodliness by threatening to deny needed assistance to these needy countries. There is no other nation who mirrors Babylon like the United States due the influence that she has all over the world. In real time, we are seeing the fall of the once great country—the United States of America. Some people think the Democrats can save them. Others think the Republicans can save them. No one other than the Lord can save the United States, but that will only happen IF she turns back to God. 2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (NIV) Unfortunately, it seems that the United States is on a path of destruction and as the prophecy in text says, Babylon the Great will FALL.

The Third Angel’s Message

Revelation 14:9-12 ⁽⁹⁾A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, ⁽¹⁰⁾they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. ⁽¹¹⁾And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” ⁽¹²⁾This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus. (NIV)

   John witnessed the third angel’s proclamation of warning to those who received the mark of the beast on their forehead or in their hand.  They would drink of God’s wrath and be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the Lamb and his holy angels. We are in the last days were end time events are quickly unfolding into what will be a seemingly total takeover of the devil. He is trying to have a world where he can eliminate the Saints of God at all cost. One of these ways is causing people to take an ungodly mark that will subject them to eternal damnation. 

There are many theories as to what this mark of the beast is. Some believe that it will be a mandated day of worship and those who do not observe will be persecuted. Others believe that it will be a microchip that all will be required to take. One thing that the Saints of God must know is that whenever there is a system put into place by none other than the antichrist where you cannot buy or sell unless you have this “mark,” you know that it is of the devil. If the text is to be taken literally, this means that should the government mandate any system for the whole world to comply with as a means of survival or acceptance into its “One World Government,” then we as Christians know it is of the enemy. Daniel 7:25 He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time. (NIV)

        The Prophet Daniel, just like John had seen a vision about the time of the antichrist. The mark that the beast will require all to have will be part of this antichrist system. This will involve one world religion, one world government, and one world currency. This may remind you of the Tower of Babel that the people were building. A system of government to defy God. However, God did not want it then and he does not want it now. This is why their language was confused and Jesus will return to destroy all the wicked nations of the world. 

Genesis 11:1-9 ⁽¹⁾Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. ⁽²⁾As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. ⁽³⁾They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. ⁽⁴⁾Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” ⁽⁵⁾But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. ⁽⁶⁾The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. ⁽⁷⁾Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” ⁽⁸⁾So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. ⁽⁹⁾That is why it was called Babel—because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth. (NIV) Man has always tried to come up with things to defy God’s order of things. However, as we just read in the text above, God lets us know that He is still in control and man cannot outwit Him. He sets up kingdoms and tear them down. Everything is in God’s control and nothing happens unless He allows it. 

        There are many beliefs about who the antichrist will be. This person has not yet been revealed, but God will let all who stay close to Him know and not be deceived by this man of sin regardless of the many wonders that he does. All we have to do is watch, prepare and be on guard for what the Bible has told us to look out for. Regardless of who are what type of person and system it will fall up under, we know that anything that requires you to take it in order to buy and sell…you are not to accept rather a microchip, enforcement of religion, and/or other. God will not allow you to be deceived. 

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 ⁽¹⁾Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, ⁽²⁾not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. ⁽³⁾Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. ⁽⁴⁾He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. ⁽⁵⁾Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? ⁽⁶⁾And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. ⁽⁷⁾For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. ⁽⁸⁾And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. ⁽⁹⁾The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, ⁽¹⁰⁾and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. ⁽¹¹⁾For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie ⁽¹²⁾and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness. (NIV) God does not want anyone to be deceived. If anyone is deceived, it is because they willingly closed their eyes to the truth. For those who choose to believe the lie, God will turn them over to their deception. However, for those who are saved and follow God’s lead, He will reveal all secret things to them.

Write These Words

Revelation 14:13 ⁽¹³⁾Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”

           

John was told to write down words of comfort. God said that those who die in Christ are bless for they will not have to labor any longer. Whatever deeds they did will follow them. Once a saved people die, they will have a reward in Heaven once Jesus returns because of their faithfulness. God rewards all who endure to the end with Eternal Life. There will be no more sickness, death, pain, tears, stress, worry, and/or anxiety. It will all cease! Colossians 3:23-24 ⁽²³⁾Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, ⁽²⁴⁾since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (NIV) God rewards those who are faithful.

 

Harvesting the Earth and Trampling the Winepress

Revelation 14:14-17 ⁽¹⁴⁾I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. ⁽¹⁵⁾Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, “Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” ⁽¹⁶⁾So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested. ⁽¹⁷⁾Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle.

       

John witnessed the Son of Man sitting on a white cloud with a crown of gold on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand. Another angel came out of the temple and told the Son of Man to take His sickle and reap the harvest, so He swung His sickle over the earth and took the harvest. Another angel came out of the temple and had a sickle too. Jesus is going to separate the righteous from the wicked. There will be a separation because sin cannot enter into the kingdom of God. This is why Jesus has to be the one to do the separating because He reads men’s hearts and minds and will judge them according to what they have done. The wicked will be judged and go to the Abyss, but the righteous will be harvested and go to Heaven.

Matthew 13:24-30 ⁽²⁴⁾Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. ⁽²⁵⁾But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. ⁽²⁶⁾When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. ⁽²⁷⁾ “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ ⁽²⁸⁾ “ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ ⁽²⁹⁾ “ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. ⁽³⁰⁾Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’ ” (NIV) This gathering will be the glorious day when Jesus comes to get His children to take them back home with Him. The wicked, however, will run in fear and try to hide from the brightness of His coming. 

Revelation 14:18-20 ⁽¹⁸⁾Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, “Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe.” ⁽¹⁹⁾The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. ⁽²⁰⁾They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia.

           

John saw another angel come who was in charge of the fire. He came from the altar in Heaven and told the angel who had the sickle to gather the ripe grapes and threw them into the winepress of God’s wrath. They were trampled over and blood flowed out and the amount reached up to a horse’s reign. This is letting us know that God is going to utterly destroy the wicked. Not one will get away from the wrath of God. Many people want to only focus on the love of God, but there is also another side to God. It is God’s wrath which He wishes for no one to experience. However, due to the sin of the wicked who refused to turn back to Him, they will experience this wrath without mercy. Joel 3:13 Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full and the vats overflow—so great is their wickedness!” (NIV)

Seven Angels With Seven Plagues

Revelation 15:1-4 ⁽¹⁾I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues—last, because with them God’s wrath is completed. ⁽²⁾And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name. They held harps given them by God ⁽³⁾and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb: “Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the nations. ⁽⁴⁾Who will not fear you, Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

        John saw seven angels with the seven last plagues showing the completion of God’s wrath. He saw a sea of glass glowing with fire and those who had been victorious over the beast held harps in their hands and sang about God. There are going to be judgments that will be poured out on the earth due to the wickedness of sin. These judgments will not be for the righteous, but for those who accepted the deception and mark of the beast and his image. The wicked will not be able to escape the final wrath of God. The Bible tells us why in the book of Romans. 

Romans 1:18-32 ⁽¹⁸⁾The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, ⁽¹⁹⁾since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. ⁽²⁰⁾For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. ⁽²¹⁾For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking be ⁽²³⁾and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. ⁽²⁴⁾Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. ⁽²⁵⁾They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. ⁽²⁶⁾Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. ⁽²⁷⁾In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

⁽²⁸⁾Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. ⁽²⁹⁾They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, ⁽³⁰⁾slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; ⁽³¹⁾they have no understanding, no fidelity, no  decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. (NIV) This text totally outlines why the wicked will be judged and the sins for which punishment will be given. We want to make a conscious decision to follow and obey God.

        The righteous sang a song unto God because of His goodness. They knew that God had been fair in all His ways and that all nations will acknowledge Him and His greatness. Exodus 15:1-3 ⁽¹⁾Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord: “I will sing to the Lord,for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea. ⁽²⁾“The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. ⁽³⁾The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name. (NIV) God is mighty and just in all His ways. We will not cry over anyone who doesn’t make it to Heaven once we get there because we will know that everyone had a chance to make it, but refused to accept His free gift of Salvation. 

Revelation 15:5-8 ⁽⁵⁾After this I looked, and I saw in heaven the temple—that is, the tabernacle of the covenant law—and it was opened. ⁽⁶⁾Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes around their chests. ⁽⁷⁾Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever. ⁽⁸⁾And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.

         

John saw the temple in Heaven, which is the tabernacle of the law that was opened. There was an ark during Moses time that was made to keep the 10 Commandments inside. These are the laws that man were to go by as a guideline for righteous living even though we cannot be saved by observance alone. Jeremiah 31:33 "This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. (NIV) The seven angels with the seven plagues came out of it. They were dressed in clean robes with gold sashes around their chest. These angels were dressed in righteousness and the glory of God. No one can stand before a pure and righteous God being full of sin. 2 Timothy 4:8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (NIV)  Everyone who is righteous will also wear robes of righteousness just as these angels and will be surrounded by the glory of God. 

One of the four living creatures gave the angels seven bowls filled with God’s wrath. The temple was filled with the glory of God and no one could go inside the temple until the plagues were complete. God is allowing time for all to be saved. This is why it is of great urgency that we witness to the lost in order to help them be saved through the grace and mercy of God. He does not wish for anyone to be lost, but for all to come to repentance. Unfortunately, many think that they will be able to go to Heaven in their sinful state and nothing could be further from the truth. There is judgment coming to the entire world. The world will witness the wrath of God like never before. God’s temple will remain empty during this time until the plagues are complete. God will come back to take His children home. Romans 2:5-8 ⁽⁵⁾But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. ⁽⁶⁾God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” ⁽⁷⁾To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. ⁽⁸⁾But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. (NIV)This is why we want to be on the side of righteousness, so that we may live forever with our Lord and Savior. 

Let’s Test Your Knowledge!

Now that you have completed the lesson, let’s test your knowledge. Read each question below and fill in the blank. Pay close attention to the *(Hint), so that you can find the correct answer. You may refer back to the chapters when answering the questions. One, two, three…here we go!

1.) Those who did not ________________themselves with

       _____________ for they kept themselves __________.

      * (Hint) Revelation 14:4

2.) Fear_____________ and give him _________________

      because the _____________of his judgment has come.

     * (Hint) Revelation 14:7

3.) Fallen! Fallen is _______________________the Great,

       which made all the ________________________ drink the

       maddening _________________ of her _______________.

     *(Hint) Revelation 14:8

4.) If anyone ____________________ the _____________

      and his _________________ and receives his _______

      on the ________________ and ___________________.

     * (Hint) Revelation 14:9

5.) Blessed are the _______________ who ____________.

      * (Hint) Revelation 14:13

6.) Take your __________________ and ______________

       Because the _____________ to ______________ has

       Come, for the ________________ of the ___________

       is ripe. 

     * (Hint) Revelation 14:15

7.) Great and ____________________ are your ________.

      * (Hint) Revelation 15:3

8.) After this I looked and in heaven the _______________

      Of the ______________________ was opened.

     * (Hint) Revelation 15:5

9.) Then one of the ___________ living _______________

      gave to the seven ________________ seven golden

      bowls filled with the _________________ of ________.

     * (Hint) Revelation 15:7

10.) And the _____________________ was filled with ___

        ______________ from the ______________ of _____.

        * (Hint) Revelation 15:8

Revelation: Removing the Prophetic Veil Bible Lessons 1-11 by K L Rich are available on  Amazon.  

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