Introduction: This quarter we have been studying the conflict between
good and evil. In our last lesson, we turn our attention to the
final events that wrap up the great controversy. What are the key
issues in the final conflict? Are they the same as they have always
been? Where do we fit into those issues? Will Jesus win in the end?
Let’s jump in and find out!
- The Mark
- Read Revelation 12:17. Whom do you understand to be the
“dragon?” ( Revelation 12:9 makes it very clear that the
“dragon” is Satan.) - Who is the dragon attacking? (Us. He is attacking
those who obey God’s commandments and believe in
Jesus.) - We have discussed this text several times during this
quarter. What is the timing of this segment of the
war? (If you read through chapter 12 you will see
that the battle begins in heaven. When Satan is cast
down to earth, he goes after Jesus ( Revelation 12:5).
When Jesus escapes Satan’s grasp, he turns his
attention to the followers of Jesus. The timing of
Revelation 12:17 appears to be after Jesus’
resurrection.) - If you continue to read through the next chapter,
Revelation 13, you will see that the dragon works in
association with a couple of “beasts” with the results
reported in Revelation 13:16-18. Read these three verses.
How is the controversy going for those who obey God’s
commandments and believe in Jesus? (This looks like the
low point. The dragon, through the beasts, has great
economic authority.) - What do you think it means to have a “mark in the
forehead or the hand?” (Your forehead is where you
think and your hand is what you use to work. This
suggests that people either believe in the
dragon/beast’s “mark” or they accept the mark just to
get along.) - Revelation 13:16 tells us that “everyone” received
this mark? If that is so, does it mean Satan has won
the victory? (Compare Revelation 20:4 with Revelation
14:11. This makes clear that not everyone receives
this “mark” of Satan. Those who do not reign in
heaven, those who do are burned.) - How important is this issue of the “mark?” (It
determines our outcome in the final conflict!
- What do you think is this “mark?” Does it have anything
to do with the issues in Revelation 12:17? (It must. We
need to explore this further.) - In Revelation 14:6-12 we read about three angels who have
the “end-time” judgment message for the world. Let’s read
these verses. Does this give us more information on “the
mark?” - Let’s list what we learn about those who have “the
mark” and those who do not. What clues do we have
about this mark? (Verse 9 reveals this is an issue of
worship. If we worship the “beast and its image” we
get the mark. Verse 12 reveals the “saints” have the
same qualities as the group that was the target of
the dragon ( Revelation 12:7). It is logical to
conclude, then, that those who are avoiding the mark
are those that “obey God’s commandments and remain
faithful to Jesus.”) - We often discuss “faith and works.” How do
faithfulness to Jesus and obedience to God’s
commandments fit into our “faith and works”
discussion? (Remaining faithful to Jesus is the
faith component and obeying God’s commandments
is the works component. The inescapable
conclusion is that God’s people who are faithful
during this end-time battle have both faith and
works. This is not a “either/or” situation.) - Let’s go back and explore the issue of the mark and the
end-time message a bit further. Look again at Revelation
14:7. What is the “issue” raised by this angel? What
“alert” is God’s messenger sending the earth? (He says
that the “hour” of the final judgment is here. As a
result, we must “fear God and give Him glory.”) - How do we fear God and give Him glory? What answer
does this angel give? (Worship Him as the Creator. I
was in a Bible book store this week and was looking
at two books by John MacArthur. One book argued that
the Genesis account was a critical part of most
Christian doctrines – that if you did not believe the
Genesis story of Creation, you did not have a proper
view of God. The second book was about how Christians
should relate to government. I agree completely with
MacArthur’s point about Creation – so I bought the
second book to see if I could learn something!) - Do you find any support in this message of the first
angel for MacArthur’s view that Creationism is
fundamental in the controversy between good and evil?
(A description of the first angel’s message begins in
Revelation 14:6 and there it is described as the
“eternal gospel.” That sounds fundamental. If you
tie this into the mark, then it becomes even more
important.) - Look at the second angel again: Revelation 14:8. What is
the message of this angel? (Fallen is “Babylon” which made
the nations commit adultery.) - What do you think is “Babylon?” (If you look at
Revelation 18:1-4 you find a similar description of
“Babylon” with a call to “come out of her my people.) - How can God’s people be in “Babylon?” (In
Revelation 12 the “woman” refers to the church.
If this symbolism continues, then “Babylon”
would be a church in which God’s people are
found.) - What ( Revelation 14:8) would be the “wine” of
“adultery?” (This should cause every one of us
to pause. This points to church teaching that
turns us away from God. We need to be careful
that our beliefs are based on the Bible and not
the teachings of the world. At the end of the
controversy between good and evil, those
churches which undercut the gospel are going to
“fall” and God’s people will come out of them.) - Look again at the third angel of Revelation 14:9. Do you
see a link in the message of this third angel and the two
prior angels? (Taken together they depict two groups.
Those who worship God as the Creator and those who worship
Satan and his allies. During the time of this message,
God’s people realize the alternatives and they come out of
false teaching. At the same time those Christians who are
really allies of Satan, or those who are unwilling to take
a stand for Jesus, move closer to Satan to the point that
they receive the “mark.”) - Worshiping the Creator
- If we are right that the three angels have an important
end-time message about worship and judgment, and this
message includes how to avoid getting “the mark,” what
should you do to be sure you were properly worshiping God
as the Creator? - Read Genesis 2:1-3 and Exodus 20:8-11. How do these verses
suggest that we properly worship the God of Creation? - Is Sabbath observance essential to the proper worship of
God the Creator? Is this the focal point of the end-time
controversy over who are the “saints who obey God’s
commandments and remain faithful to Jesus” (Revelation
14:12)? (Sabbath observance is the part of the Ten
Commandments which specifically is tied to memorializing
God as our Creator. It makes perfect sense that the focus
of the end-time controversy comes to rest here.) - Friend, how does your life measure up on this critical
issue of worship for God? Does your worship life reflect
your faith in Jesus? - The Rider
- Read Revelation 19:11-13. Who is the rider? (Verse 13
tells us His name is “the Word of God.” We know from John
1:1-2, 14 that Jesus is the Word of God. The fact that His
robe is “dipped in blood” (Rev. 19:13) and that He is
“Faithful and True” (Rev. 19:11) is further evidence of
Jesus’ identity.) - Read Revelation 19:14-16. Is this what the disciples
expected – Jesus to come as a mighty warrior? (As we have
seen in past lessons, the disciples expected Jesus to
overthrow the Romans. John the Baptist had this same view.
That was not His mission then. However, this time around,
Jesus comes as King and Warrior.) - Read Revelation 19:19. What do you think it about to
happen? (The stage is set for the final conflict in the
controversy between good and evil. Jesus comes with His
armies and the forces of evil prepare for battle.) - Read Revelation 19:20-21. Who wins this battle? How,
exactly, are the forces of evil defeated? (It says that
most of them are killed “with the sword that came out of
the mouth of the rider.”) - What do you think this statement means? Jesus has a
sword in His mouth? (Read 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Psalms
33:9; Genesis 1:3. The battle is won just the same
way the world was created – Jesus just spoke it into
existence. He will just speak the wicked out of
existence too.) - What does this add to your understanding of
Jesus being called the “Word” of God? (God acts
through mere speech. Jesus is the power of God.) - Is there a lesson in righteousness by faith in
this? (The army does not have to fight. Jesus
just speaks and ends the controversy. Praise
God!) - After all that, the forces of evil are spoken away?
Incredible! Friend, you have seen the outcome of the great
controversy between good and evil. If you haven’t chosen
sides, or if you are not on the side of God, will you make
your decision today? If you have already made your
decision to be on God’s side, remember whatever your
difficulty in life, whatever the problem, the Word of God
can make it right. He is a great God! - Next Week: We start a new quarter, entitled “Great Apocalyptic
Prophecies.”
