Though most people, including many Christians, don’t know much about the book of Revelation, one image or word from it has reached popular culture: Armageddon (see Rev. 16:16). Even in secular culture the word has come to stand for a final struggle in which the fate of the earth hangs in the balance. Hollywood produced a movie called Armageddon about … Continue reading –>
However corrupt and far-reaching the influence of Babylon has been in the world, the book of Revelation teaches that one day it will all end. Read Revelation 18:1-10. What do these verses tell us about “Babylon the great”? The second angel’s message (Rev. 14:8) about the fall of Babylon is repeated here, in Revelation 18:2. It is an expression … Continue reading –>
Read Revelation 14:8; Rev. 16:19; Rev. 17:5; Rev. 18:2, Rev. 18:10, Rev. 18:21, the six references to Babylon in the book of Revelation. Keeping in mind the story of Babylon as it appeared in the Old Testament, what do these texts teach us about Babylon as it appears in the context of last-day events? It has been said that the Bible … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Rev. 14:8; Rev. 16:19; Isa. 52:9; Rev. 18:1-10; Rev. 16:12-16; 1 Kings 18:1-40; 1 Cor. 15:1-2. Memory Text: “On her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” (Revelation 17:5, NKJV). The book of Revelation, as we already have noted, comes filled with images and language taken … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: “Just as soon as the people of God are sealed in their foreheads — it is not any seal or mark that can be seen, but a settling into the truth, both intellectually and spiritually, so they cannot be moved — just as soon as God’s people are sealed and prepared for the shaking, … Continue reading –>
As we have seen, the seventh-day Sabbath has been a sign of God’s true people throughout history, beginning with Adam and Eve and continuing during the time of Israel. We also see it perpetuated in the New Testament church with the practice of Jesus and the apostles, and as a distinguishing sign of God’s last-day … Continue reading –>
What is this mark that we need to avoid getting? As we saw in an earlier lesson, the fourth beast power of Daniel chapter 7, in its latter phase (also depicted by the sea beast of Revelation chapter 13), would “think to change times and laws” (Dan. 7:25). As we have seen already, one law that … Continue reading –>
A seal, like a signature, is used to validate a document. In ancient times it was a stamp pressed onto soft wax or clay to show authenticity or ownership, having the authority of its owner behind it. What is the seal of God, and how and when is it given? Eph. 1:13-14; Eph. 4:30; 2 Tim. 2:19; Rev. 7:1-4; Rev. 14:1. … Continue reading –>
Read the following texts. What do they teach us about how important it is to avoid “the mark of the beast”? Rev. 13:17; Rev. 14:9-10; Rev. 16:2. Receiving the undiluted wrath of God, punished by the seven last plagues, and, in the end, cast into the lake of fire. What a contrast to those who refused the mark of … Continue reading –>
In Old Testament times there were two outward signs as identifiers of God’s true people. One of them was circumcision. To whom was this sign first given? Gen. 17:9-11. God commanded Abraham and his descendants to be circumcised as a sign of the covenant of salvation. Males were to be circumcised on the eighth day (Lev. 12:3) . However, … Continue reading –>
