Chapter Seventeen

February 26, 2012

Agenda

Thought for the Week – Born to Declare His Praises

Review Chapter Seventeen and Sixteen

Summary Chapter Seventeen

Born to Declare His Praises

Born to Declare His Praises“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood... that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9

Praise to the Lord

“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess his name” Hebrews 13:15.

Praise is an expression of admiration and appreciation.When we praise someone, we tell them:

– How wonderful we think they are– How great their accomplishments are

In the same way, when we praise God:We are acknowledging His character and power

“Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live…” Psalm 63:3-4.

We praise God for many reasons…

Because of who He is:

“Sing praises to God, sing praises…for God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise” Psalm 47:6-7.

Because of what He does:

“Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases; he redeems my life from the pit and crowns me with love and compassion. He satisfies my desires with good things, so that my youth is renewed like the eagle’s” Psalm 103.2-5.

We are to praise God…

At all times (Psalm 34:1)

In every circumstance (1 Thess. 5:16-18)

Surrounded by God’s people (Psalm 22:22)

On our beds (Psalm 63:4-6)

Among the nations (Psalm 57:9)

Expressions of praiseIn the Bible we see many ways of expressing praise to the Lord:

With the mouthSinging (Psalm 9:2,11)Praising (Psalm 103.1)Shouting (Psalm 47:1)

With the handsLifting (Psalm 63:4)Clapping (Psalm 47:1)Musical instruments (Psalm 150)

With the feetStanding (Psalm 134:1KJV)Kneeling, bowing (Psalm 95:6)Dancing and leaping for joy (Psalm 30:11)

These are outward expressions of what is coming from the heart.“Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my in most being, praise his holy name” Psalm103:1

Praise about the Lord

Praise is not only directed in words toward the Lord.

We praise God every time we speak about Him to others.

“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord” Psalm 150:6.

Chapter Fifteen Summary

John sees:•a new sign or wonder in heaven•Seven angels appear

– having the seven last plagues that fill up or complete the wrath of God

– representing the wrath that is to come upon the beast, or the complete overthrow of this formidable anti-Christian power, Rev_15:1.

Those who in former times had “gotten the victory over the beast,” now appear standing on a sea of glass, rejoicing and rendering thanks for the assurance that this great enemy of the church was now to be destroyed, and that now all nations were to come and worship before God, Rev_15:2-4.

Chapter Fifteen Summary

John sees:•The interior of the temple opened in heaven•The seven angels

– have the seven plagues, issue forth to execute their commission– They come clothed in pure and white linen and girded with golden

girdles •One of the four beasts before the throne immediately gives them the seven golden vials full of the wrath of God

– to empty them upon the earth - that is, to bring upon the beast the predicted destruction.

•The temple is immediately filled with smoke, so that no one might enter; that is, no one could now approach to make intercession, and the destruction of this great enemy’s power is now certain, Rev_15:5-8.

Chapter Sixteen SummaryThe chapter comprises statements on the following points:

A command is issued from the temple to the seven angels, to go and execute the commission with which they were entrusted, Rev_16:1.

The first angel pours out his vial upon the earth followed by a plague upon those who had worshipped the beast and his image, Rev_16:2.

The second angel pours out his vial upon the sea - followed by the death of all that were in the sea, Rev_16:3.

The third angel pours out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters, and they become blood. This is followed by an ascription of praise from the angel of the waters, because God had given to those who had shed the blood of the saints blood to drink, with a response from the altar that this was just, Rev_16:4-7.

Chapter Sixteen SummaryThe fourth angel pours out his vial upon the sun, and an intenser heat is given to it to scorch people. The consequence is, that they blaspheme the name of God, but repent not of their sins, Rev_16:8-9.

The fifth angel pours out his vial upon the very seat of the beast, and his kingdom is full of darkness. People still blaspheme the name of God and repent not of their sins, Rev_16:10-11.

The sixth angel pours out his vial upon the great river Euphrates. The consequence is, that the waters of the river are dried up, so that the way of the kings of the East might be prepared. The writer sees also, in this connection, three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, that go forth into all the earth to gather all nations to the great day of the battle of God Almighty, Rev_16:12-16.

Chapter Sixteen SummaryThe seventh angel pours out his vial into the air, and a voice is heard answering that “it is done:” the time of the consummation has come - the formidable anti-Christian power is to come to an end.

The great city is divided into three parts; the cities of the nations fall; great Babylon thus comes up in remembrance before God to receive the punishment which is her due.

This terrific scene is accompanied with voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake, and with great hail - a tempest of wrath beating upon that formidable power that had so long stood up against God, Rev_16:17-21.

Chapter Seventeen Objectives

1) To appreciate the importance of this chapter in interpreting the book of Revelation

2) To note the significance of the fact that the beast “is not” when the Revelation was given

3) To ascertain the identity of the great harlot and the scarlet beast

Chapter Seventeen SummaryI. THE SCARLET WOMAN AND THE SCARLET BEAST (1-6)

A. JOHN IS APPROACHED BY AN ANGEL (1-2)1. One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls

2. Who offers to show him the judgment of the great harlota. Which sits on many waters

b. With whom kings of the earth have committed fornication

c. With whom inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication

Chapter Seventeen SummaryI. THE SCARLET WOMAN AND THE SCARLET BEAST (1-6)B. JOHN IS SHOWN THE SCARLET WOMAN ON THE SCARLET BEAST (3-6)1. He is carried away by the angel in the Spirit into the wilderness2. There he sees a woman sitting on a scarlet beast

a. The scarlet beast1) Full of names of blasphemy2) Having seven heads and ten horns

b. The woman1) Arrayed in purple and scarlet - 2) Adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls3) In her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication4) On her forehead the name written:

a) MYSTERYb) BABYLON THE GREATc) THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THEEARTH

5) Drunk with:a) The blood of the saintsb) The blood of the martyrs of Jesus

3. He marveled with great amazement when he saw her

Chapter Seventeen SummaryII. THE MYSTERY OF THE WOMAN AND BEAST EXPLAINED (7-18)A. THE ANGEL OFFERS TO EXPLAIN THE MYSTERY (7)

1. Asking John why he marveled2. Saying that he will tell him the mystery

a. Of the womanb. Of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her

Chapter Seventeen SummaryII. THE MYSTERY OF THE WOMAN AND BEAST EXPLAINED (7-18)B. THE BEAST EXPLAINED (8-14)1. The beast that John saw:

a. Was, is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perditionb. Will be marveled by those by those whose names are not written in the Book of Lifefrom the foundation of the world when they see it

2. The mind which has wisdom:a. The seven heads are seven mountains upon which the woman sitsb. There are also seven kings

1) Five have fallen, one is, the other has yet to come2) When the seventh comes, he must continue a short time

c. The beast that was, and is not, is himself the eighth1) He is of the seven2) He is going to perdition (destruction)

d. The ten horns are ten kings1) Who have received no kingdom as yet2) But receive authority for one hour with the beast3) Who are of one mind, and give their power and authority to the beast

e. These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them1) For He is Lord of lords and King of kings2) Those with Him are called, chosen, and faithful

Chapter Seventeen SummaryII. THE MYSTERY OF THE WOMAN AND BEAST EXPLAINED (7-18)C. THE WOMAN EXPLAINED (15-18)1. The waters upon which she sits are peoples, multitudes, nations and tongues2. The ten horns (ten kings) on the beast

a. Will hate the harlot1) Make her desolate2) Eat her flesh and burn her with fire

b. For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose1) For them to be of one mind2) To give their kingdom to the beast-- Until the words of God are fulfilled

3. The woman John saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth

Chapter Seventeen Summary

Review Questions for Chapter Seventeen

1) What are the main points of this chapter?- The scarlet woman and the scarlet beast (1-6)- The mystery of the woman and the beast explained (7-18)

2) What did the angel tell John he would be shown? (1)- The judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters

3) How does the angel describe this woman? (2)- With whom the kings of the earth committed fornication- The inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication

4) List the description of the woman as seen by John (3-6)- Sitting on a scarlet beast with seven heads and ten horns, full of names of blasphemy- Arrayed in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, precious stones and pearls- A golden cup in her hand, full of abominations the filthiness of her fornication- Written on her forehead: “Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and of theAbominations of the Earth”- Drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus

Review Questions for Chapter Seventeen

5) What was John's reaction to seeing the woman? (6)- Marveled with great amazement

6) What does the angel offer to tell John? (7)- The mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her

7) How is the beast described? (8)- He was, is not, and is to come- He will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition- Those whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world will marvel

8) What does the seven heads of the beast represent? (9-10)- Seven mountains on which the woman sits

9) What is said of the seven kings? (10)- Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come- When the seventh king comes, he must continue a short time

10) What is said of the beast that was and is not? (11)- He will be the eighth king- He is of the seven- He is going to perdition

11) What do the ten horns represent? (12)- Ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet- Who receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast

12) What else is said of the ten kings and the beast? (13-14)- The kings of are of one mind and will give their power and authority to the beast- They will make war with the Lamb

13) Why will the Lamb overcome the beast and the ten kings? (14)- He is Lord of lords and King of kings- Those with Him are called, chosen, and faithful

Review Questions for Chapter Seventeen

14) What do the waters upon which the harlot sits represent? (15)- Peoples, multitudes, nations, tongues

15) What will the ten horns (kings) do to the harlot? (16)- Hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire

16) Why will they do this? (17)- For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose and fulfill His words

17) How is the woman finally described? (18)- That great city which reigns over the kings of the earth

Review Questions for Chapter Seventeen

Resources Used

• Mark Copeland

• http://executableoutlines.com/back.htm

• Collins Family

• http://www.onlinebiblecollege.com/site/