THE BOOK OF REVELATION Life-Changing Truths Not Doctrinal Arguments
By Frank Eiklor and Cecilia Contreras
LESSON 44 (Part 7 of 8)
INTRODUCTION
We’re seeing why the Book of Revelation is so important. It is filled with the lessons of life—how to face adversity, how to maintain a first-love relationship with Jesus and how to recognize and defeat the forces of evil.
This is part 7 of this study. We are using the New International Version of the Bible. We will conclude our lessons in Revelation next time with part 8.
CHAPTER 18
· A Call To Separate From Evil—(One day God will call out to His true believers to leave the house of false religion. But in every generation, the Holy Spirit calls each believer to come out from the influence of the world and live pure lives in Jesus.)
“Then I heard another voice from heaven say: ‘Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues.’” (Revelation 18:4)
· The Death Of The World’s Gods—(The false god of America and the West has been materialism. The god of money has begun to fall. Look at how men cry—not to repent, but only because their riches have disappeared.)
“The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes any more.” (Revelation 18:11)
The Joy In God’s Final Vengeance—(It often looks like sin is the victor in our world today. But when God brings evil to a close, and those who practice sin are finally judged, all of heaven shouts for joy.)
“Rejoice over her, O heaven! Rejoice, saints and apostles and prophets! God has judged her for the way she treated you.” (Revelation 18:20)
Chapter 19
· The Shout Of God’s Triumph—(May this final shout of triumph be in your heart and mouth each day—when times are good or bad. Jesus never changes!)
“Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: ‘Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.’” (Revelation 19:6)
· Here Comes The Bride—(Is there anything more beautiful than a wedding? God is preparing a very special wedding for His Son—and those who love Him will constitute the bride. That’s you and me—hallelujah! So let’s live today with hearts of purity and spiritual robes of His righteousness.)
“Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear. (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) Then the angel said to me, ‘Write: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’ And he added, ‘These are the true words of God’” (Revelation 19:7-9)
· For Leaders: A Lesson In Humility—(In your service for God, never touch the glory that is only due to Him. Don’t let the devil or men—no matter how sincere people are with compliments—inflate you with pride.)
“At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, ‘Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.’” (Revelation 19:10)
· The King of kings and Lord of lords—(Here He comes—the real Jesus—alive forevermore. This time He does not come as a servant to die, but as King of kings and Lord of lords to reign through eternity. Let him reign today in your life.)
“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one but he himself knows. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter.’ He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written. KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”(Revelation 19:11-16)
· When Men Become Food For Vultures—(Never be fooled by the proud and powerful who live lives of luxury today but have no heart to seek the Lord. Live each day for Christ by loving Him and others. At His coming, you will be God’s child forever—not meat for the vultures).
“And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, ‘Come, gather together for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great.’” (Revelation 19:17,18)
· The Enemy’s Misguided Attack—(Satan is an evil spirit—and real. So is his demon army. That is why you and I must learn to resist his strategies, temptations and attacks by using against the devil the Name of Jesus and the Word of God. Satan’s end will soon be here—but those who resist him and choose Jesus will live forever.)
“Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. But the beast was captured and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.” (Revelation 19:19-21)
CHAPTER 20
· Satan’s 1000 Year Fall—(Jesus Christ defeated the powers of darkness through His death and resurrection. Now Satan’s evil madness is almost over as an angel throws him into a pit that has no bottom—for a 1000 year fall into the darkness that evil deserves.)
“And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations any more until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.” (Revelation 20:1-3)
· The Martyrs’ Vindication—(Many men, women and children have died as martyrs for Jesus through the centuries. They looked so weak to those who killed them. But now look who rule with Jesus! Those who died for Him now stand in triumph with Him.)
“I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:4)
· Lucifer’s Terrible End—(It’s all over for Satan. His days of tempting and tormenting the world are ended forever in the lake of fire. But even today, you have God’s authority to resist Satan in Jesus’ Name and watch him flee in defeat.)
“And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” (Revelation 20:10)
· No Place To Hide—(So much evil takes place today hidden behind covers of darkness. God, of course, sees it all. The day is coming soon when those who choose sin will find no place to hide.)
“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.” (Revelation 20:11)
· The Only Book That Matters—(I have written several books. Others have written millions and millions of books. But they are only books—written by little men like me. One Book only is authored by God—the Bible. And the only book that really matters is God’s book of life. If you have repented of your sins and trust Jesus alone for your salvation, your name is in that book. Hallelujah!)
“ If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15)
(CONCLUDED NEXT LESSON)
