REVELATION LESSON 29

REVELATION

LESSON 29

ARE WE LIVING IN THE END TIMES?

Revelation 13:18   ¹⁸ This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man.^[a] That number is 666.

Scripture tells us that in the future a one world system of government will require every person to receive a mark in his or her right hand or in their foreheads. Without this mark of the beast no one will be permitted to buy or sell.

In years past few could envision such a system. We did not have the technology in the past to accomplish this. Today we do have that technology. The system is not only viable now but plausible.

Scripture is very clear that those who do not receive the mark will be killed. A push of a button on the computer will tell who has the mark and who does not.

The reason Satan wants to use the mark is it’s a counterfeit of the mark that God will give to the 144,000 Jews. The reason the mark is given is also to extend favors to those who support the world government. It will help to identify and eliminate the opposition to the world government, it will track and control commerce, people will be expected to stop worshiping God and worship the antichrist. This mark will permanently tie people to the kingdom of the antichrist. The people who take this mark will face the wrath of God.

So just what is the mark of the beast? We only actually know that six is the number of a man. Because man was created on the sixth day. Scripture tells us that it comprises the number 666.

Many are so caught up trying to figure out who the antichrist is that they lose all sight of using any wisdom. Daniel told of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans and said the antichrist will come out of those people. The antichrist will not be revealed until after the rapture.

Revelation 14:1-2   14 Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. ² And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps.

After the rise of the antichrist and the false prophet, John now sees Jesus standing on mount Zion in Jerusalem with his 144,000 Jewish evangelists gathered around him. God is showing the world a great miracle. The 144,000 Jewish evangelists are being sealed.

This will happen between the opening of the sixth and seventh seals. The seventh seal will produce the seven trumpet judgments. One third of the earth and the trees will burn up. One third of the sea will turn to blood. One third of all ships will be destroyed. One third of the fresh water will be polluted. The moon will be diminished. The antichrist will kill multitudes and try to eliminate the Jewish people.

The antichrist will also try to stop the preaching of the 144,000 Jewish evangelists. But not even one of them will die. They will hold worship services in the middle of the city and not even be afraid. The name of God written on their foreheads will protect them from every judgment and the attacks of the Antichrist and his followers.

The followers of the antichrist will be the ones who have the mark of the beast, the name or number somewhere on their head or hand. The mark will be worthless when they stand before Jesus at the judgement. Everyone of them will perish.

The Lord Jesus Christ is going to be victorious over the world. He is going to triumph over evil and bring righteousness and Godliness to the earth. The kingdom of God will reign upon Earth. This is the reason Jesus suffered and died. So, he can return victorious and stamp out this ungodliness of the world.

Revelation 14:2   ² And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps.

Singing will be heard in heaven. They will be singing for the 144,000 who stand unhurt on mount Zion they have survived the disasters of the antichrist and the false prophet.

Revelation 14:3   ³ And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.

The Heavenly multitude will sing a new song before the throne of God. The four living creatures and the twenty-four elders. No one will understand their song but the 144,000.

Often, we sing songs and don’t really understand what the writer was trying to represent in the words. We would have needed to be there to understand what inspired them. The next two verses give and idea of the demands placed on the 144,000 that enables them to understand this new song. This will be addressed in our next lesson.

Make note that the 144,000 were redeemed from the earth. These will be Jewish young men who have accepted Jesus as the messiah. They will be recipients of the grace of God having been purchased by the blood of Jesus and set free from the penalty of their sin.

Until our next lesson,

Stay in the word.

Brother Andy.