Revelation lesson 25

     We will begin this lesson in Revelation 11:10 "And they that
dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and
shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented
them that dwelt on the earth."

     We see here that the church will appear to be dead. The world's
people will be happy because these witnesses bothered them trying to
cause them to get right with God. It seems that the prophets or
witnesses' message had tormented them. Probably because it touched on
things they knew they were guilty of. This torment could have been
partly from the plagues the witnesses brought upon the earth to get
their attention, but probably, it had to do with their conscience.
They were happy that they could stop feeling guilty now about their
way of life.

     Revelation 11:11 "And after three days and an half the Spirit of
life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and
great fear fell upon them which saw them."

     Oh my, the terror when not only do they see life come back in
them from God, but the Spirit of God comes in them, as well. Here they
will be more powerful than they were before. The church had become dry
bones before, having nothing going for it. God himself breathes the
breath of the Spirit in the church and lookout for the power! You
thought the church had power before, you cannot imagine the renewed
power the church will have. You see all throughout Bible history, the
church grows the most under heavy persecution. The church is usually
its strongest when it is in hiding. Can you imagine the fear that
grips them, when they realize what a great error they have made? You
see, God will not be mocked. He may let the old devil win in a
skirmish now and then, but the total victory is God's.

     Revelation 11:12 "And they heard a great voice from heaven saying
unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud;
and their enemies beheld them."

     Right here we are seeing the rapture of the Christians into
heaven. If there has ever been a doubt, about whether the world will
see us go up, it is answered right here, "And their enemies beheld
them." This "great voice from heaven"  that calls to "come up hither"
is the Lord's. It is when the trumpet of redemption blows. Jesus has
always inviting us to come. The final outcome of the church is
following Jesus in his resurrection. Living forever in the presence of
God is the final outcome of all true believers after they have run the
race and been victorious.

     Revelation 11:13 "And the same hour was there a great earthquake,
and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain
of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory
to the God of heaven."

     At the very time that Christians are caught away, we see this
terrible earth quake occur. God loses no time dealing with those who
have rejected the Lord or even those who have said, I will straiten up
later. There is no later. It is now. We see here that 1/10 of the
people lose their life in this earthquake. Whether the 1/10 has to do
with a tithe owed God or not, I cannot say; I know 1/10 is a tithe.

     I do not believe 7000 is a literal number. I believe it is a
spiritual number indicated that God has fulfilled an exact number who
totally rejected Jesus. "Seven" means spiritually complete and 1000
usually means a large number.

     God has shown himself as King, Supreme Ruler, who exacts what we
owe. In fact, He takes the payment instead of waiting for us to give
it. This remnant are the other 90% of those who are left in the city
who were not raptured or the 10% killed. This whole 100% were all
unsaved. God killed 10% and 90% were frightened and started praising
God. Whether they repented and God accepted their repentance and saved
them, I do not know. It must not be any of our business or God would
tell us right here. I know one thing for sure, they missed the rapture
and will have to go through the wrath. That is plenty bad enough by
its self.

     Revelation 11:14 "The second woe is past; [and], behold, the
third woe cometh quickly."

     Revelation is written for the believers (the church) and the
believers will not see the third woe. They will be enjoying their rest
with Jesus.

     Revelation 11:15 "And the seventh angel sounded; and there were
great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become
[the kingdoms] of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for
ever and ever."

     This is speaking of Jesus when he takes over on this earth and
reigns with the believers as His subordinates. You see, Jesus will
return as King of kings, and Lord of lords.

     We read in I Thessalonians 3:13 that the saints are with Him.
I Thessalonians 3:13 "To the end he may stablish your hearts
unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints." We believers are the
saints. We will rule with Jesus over those who are not raptured. There
is no end of the reign of Jesus. It is forever.

     Revelation 11:16 "And the four and twenty elders, which sat
before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,"

     These you remember, represented all of the believers. They have
something to praise about, seeing that they were spared the wrath of
God. It was the time to fall on their faces in total adoration to God.

     Revelation 11:17 "Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God
Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast
taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned."

     We see here that Jesus took power. The establishing of His
kingdom brings final victory to the Christian. The thanks really goes
to Jesus here; the believers have not established the kingdom, Jesus
did. All we can do is to praise him for establishing  the Kingdom. It
was not done through our power and might, but by His (Lord-Supreme
Authority, Divinity, Almighty-Omnipotent). You see from this, He is
all of it. His power is beyond reproach. His reign is forever and
ever. He has no beginning and no end. He alone is worthy of our
praise.

     Revelation 11:18 "And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is
come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that
thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the
saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest
destroy them which destroy the earth."

     The nations, (worldly people} had a hay-day persecuting the
believers. They were angry and very unfavorable to those with faith.
Now the tables are turned. These very ones whom they persecuted, will
rule over them. Here we see punishment for those who did not accept
the gift of salvation and great rewards given to those who did accept
and live for Jesus. These, who will be destroyed, are actually the
cause of the earth being destroyed. The wrath of God not only
destroyed them, but damaged the earth as well.

     Revelation 11:19 "And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and
there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were
lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great
hail."

     We see here the dwelling of God in all its awesomeness. There was
an ark of the covenant in the tabernacle in the wilderness. There is
much speculation about where that earthly ark is today. Some believe
that it is underneath the city of Jerusalem; some believe it is in
Rome.  The strange thing is that it is unimportant where it is.

     When the children of Isreal traveled to the promised land, It was
a visible reassurance that God was with them and would keep His
covenant with them.

     The one that is really important to believers, we see here at the
throne of God. We are reassured that God's covenant with us will never
fail. We see God's power and might in all these manifestations such as
these earthquakes. We must remember continually, that Revelation is
not in chronological order. God does not tell us just exactly when
each thing happens. We just know they will happen. All of these
earthquakes etc., just show God's dealing with man.

     Extra Scriptures on these subjects: Ezekial 37, Romans 8:17,
1 Corinthians 15:13, Acts 1:15, 1 Samuel 8:15 and 17.
Memorize 1 Thessalonians 3:13 and Revelation 11:17.

                      REVELATION QUESTIONS 25

1.  When the enemy thinks the church is dead, what do they do?
2.  What had the two witnesses done to the enemy?
3.  In verse 11, what happens in 3-1/2 days?
4.  What fell upon the believers?
5.  What had the church become before?
6.  Who breathed the Spirit into the church?
7.  When does the church grow the most?
8.  This great voice from heaven said what to the believers?
9.  How did they go up?
10. Their _______ beheld them go up.
11. What do we call this ascension of the believers?
12. What is the final outcome of God's church?
13. In the same hour, after the believers went up, what happened?
14. How much of the city fell? What percent?
15. What is the spiritual number associated with this percent?
16. What did those who remain do?
17. In this destruction, What has God shown Himself as?
18. How many of those who are left are saved?
19. Who was Revelation written for?
20. When the seventh angel sounds, what are we told by the great
    voices?
21. Jesus came to the earth as ________ of _______and_______of_____.
22. Who are the saints?
23. What did the four and the twenty elders do when Jesus took over
    Physical rulership of the earth?
24. What were the 24 saying?
25. The establishing of Jesus' kingdom here on the earth brings what
    to the Christians?
26. In speaking of the nations, we hear they were ________.
27. What is it time to do with believers and directly opposite to the
    non-believers?
28. Why did God say that they destroyed the earth?
29. What was opened in heaven?
30. What do we see in this?
31. Name two places various people believe the earthly ark of the
    covenant is.
32. Write 1 Thessalonians 3:13.
33. Write Revelation 11:17.
34. Where do you believe the ark is located?
35. Describe your feelings about the catching away of the believers in
    Christ.