Read Revelation 13:12-13. How do 1 Kings 18:38 and Acts 2:3 help us understand the nature of the lamblike beast’s deceptive activities – the greatest of which is bringing fire down from heaven? By working miracles, the lamblike beast will convince many that its words are true despite not being in full harmony with Scripture. “Through the agency of spiritualism, … Continue reading –>
The first half of Revelation chapter 13 describes the Roman Catholic power active during the prophetic period of 1,260 days/years. With the events of the French Revolution, this religio-political system received a deadly wound. However, the mortal wound will eventually be healed, restoring this system to life. The second half of the chapter describes how … Continue reading –>
Revelation 13:5 specifies a time period of persecution that we talked about in yesterday’s study. The 42 months of the beast’s activities is the same time period as the 1,260 days/years of the persecution of the woman/church in Revelation 12:6, Revelation 12:14. (A prophetic day symbolizes a year [Num. 14:34, Ezek. 4:6]. See Tuesday’s study in Lesson 7). The year A.D. … Continue reading –>
Read Revelation 13:1-4, Revelation 13:8 and Revelation 17:8. What are the characteristics of this beast, and what are the phases of its existence? John watches as a monstrous beast rises out of the sea. While a beast represents a political power, the description of the sea beast points to a political power that has religion as a dominant characteristic. … Continue reading –>
By Andrew McChesney Tracey Lee, a mother of four living near Fort Worth, Texas, wondered what gift she could give to God. She didn’t have much money, and she has struggled for years with attention-deficit disorder. But between homeschooling and five pets, she realized that she had one thing that she could dedicate to the … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “Snares of Satan”, pp. 518-530, in The Great Controversy. The purpose of Revelation chapter 12 is, first of all, to tell God’s people that end-time events are a part of the great conflict between Christ and Satan. The book warns God’s people about what they are facing today and are about to … Continue reading –>
Revelation 12:17 marks a shift in Satan’s strategy as he tries to win the people of the world and even seeks to deceive Christ’s faithful followers. Throughout Christian history, Satan has opposed God’s work of salvation, primarily by means of subtle compromise within the church and through coercion and persecution from without. History shows that, while … Continue reading –>
Read Revelation 12:17. At the end time, against whom does Satan make all-out war? The word “rest”, or “remnant”, describes those who remain faithful to God while the majority apostatize (1 Kings 19:18, Rev. 2:24). While the majority of people in the world side with Satan at the end of time, a group of people whom God raised … Continue reading –>
Read Revelation 12:13-14. Having been barred from heaven, Satan continues his attack on the church during the prophetic 1,260 days/years. How was God involved with the church during that period? “The casting down of Satan as an accuser of the brethren in Heaven was accomplished by the great work of Christ in giving up his life. … Continue reading –>
Read Revelation 12:7-9, which talks about a war in heaven. What was the nature of that war that resulted in Satan’s expulsion from heaven? Satan was cast out of heaven at the beginning of the great controversy, when he rebelled against God’s government. He wanted to seize God’s throne in heaven and to be “like the … Continue reading –>
