Revelation - Week 22

Day 1 

Thrown to Earth

READ

Revelation 12:10

10 Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, “It has come at last—    salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth—the one who accuses them before our God day and night.”

These verses reveal a climax is coming as a heavenly voice makes it known. This anticipates the 1000-year rule of Christ on earth. In this passage another name, or description, of Satan is seen. He is called “the accuser of our brothers and sisters.” Note that the devil “accuses them before our God day and night.” There are examples of this in the Scripture and none is more graphic than what happened to Job in the first two chapters of the book named after him.

REFLECT

Think about the comfort in the fact that Satan can never go beyond what God allows.

RESPOND

Take time with a believer in Christ to scan the first two chapters of the book of Job. Especially notice the following verses: 1:8-12 and 2:4-7. Talk about how comforting it is that God sets limits on what Satan can do.

Day 2

Rejoice O Heavens

READ

Revelation 12:11-12

11 “And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die. 12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens! And you who live in the heavens, rejoice! But terror will come on the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you in great anger,     knowing that he has little time.”

The heavenly loud voice continued to shout out. The accuser of believers in Jesus is defeated by “the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony.” These Christ-followers did not love their lives so much that they refused to die for their faith in Jesus. Those who are in heaven are called to rejoice, but terror is about to come on earth and the sea. The devil is now in a rage. He realizes his time is short and will pour out his wrath on earth as God allows him to.

REFLECT

Think of fellow believers in the world who have been martyred for their faith in Jesus. Thank God that they did not love their lives so much that they were unwilling to die.

RESPOND

Take the time to read Hebrews 11:32-40. Hebrews 11 is considered to be the “Hall of Faith” chapter of the Bible. May it encourage you as you also hear reports of so many being martyred for their faith in modern times.

Day 3

Protected from the Dragon

READ

Revelation 12:13-14

13 When the dragon realized that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 But she was given two wings like those of a great eagle so she could fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness. There she would be cared for and protected from the dragon for a time, times, and half a time.

Although there is debate about who the woman is in Revelation 12, there is no doubt about who the dragon is because he is named as the devil and Satan. Two names for the same person. The Scriptures leave no doubt that Satan is opposed to Jesus Christ. It logically follows that Satan is opposed to the nation of Israel through which Jesus entered into the world. The woman, most likely representing Israel, will be protected for “time, times, and a half a time,” another way of saying three and a half years.

REFLECT

In God’s sovereign plan He used the nation Israel to bring His Son into the world. Because He is God, Jesus has always existed, but He came in human form when He was born of the virgin Mary in Bethlehem.

RESPOND

To see the deity of Jesus and His humanity in the same verse, check out Isaiah 9:6. A child is born, but a son is given.

Day 4

A Flood of Water

READ

Revelation 12:15-18

15 Then the dragon tried to drown the woman with a flood of water that flowed from his mouth. 16 But the earth helped her by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that gushed out from the mouth of the dragon. 17 And the dragon was angry at the woman and declared war against the rest of her children—all who keep God’s commandments and maintain their testimony for Jesus. 18 Then the dragon took his stand on the shore beside the sea.

Spiritual warfare between God and Satan continues in the Tribulation. Satan causes a flood trying to drown the woman, but God opens the earth and swallows it. Satan becomes even more angry at the woman and “her children.” These children would be Jewish people who believe Jesus is the Messiah and maintain their testimony for Him. Then Satan takes his stand on the shore beside the sea. This leads into chapter 13 where Satan’s top leader is revealed.

REFLECT

Are you impressed more than ever that Satan never lets up in his desire to persecute Jesus and His people? Satan is under a sentence now and his execution will be carried out in the future.

RESPOND

Read Hebrews 2:14-15 to see what Jesus had to do to break the power of the devil. Rejoice that Jesus provides salvation and spiritual victory to those who believe in Him. 

Day 5

The Beast Rises

READ

Revelation 13:1-2

1 Then I saw a beast rising up out of the sea. It had seven heads and ten horns, with ten crowns on its horns. And written on each head were names that blasphemed God. 2 This beast looked like a leopard, but it had the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion! And the dragon gave the beast his own power and throne and great authority.

The “sea” seems to be representative of nations (Gentiles). This beast will be a person who is the head of the revived Roman Empire and known as the “Antichrist.” The rulers in this empire blaspheme God. The four beasts referred to in verse 2 are similar to the four mentioned in Daniel 7:4-7. The beast is Satan’s main person in the Tribulation to carry out his will.

REFLECT

Be confident that even though Satan seems to have the upper hand at this point in the Tribulation, the main message of Revelation is that God wins.

RESPOND

Read John 16:5-11 that says the ruler of this world (Satan) has already been judged. Jesus spoke these words before He was crucified, rose from the dead and ascended to the Father. Satan’s judgment was so certain, however, it was spoken of in the past tense.