Revelation 9:12-21

1. The Lord’s judgments have another purpose (verses 20,21) 1. The Lord’s judgments have another purpose (verses 20,21). What is that purpose? Those who see these terrible things happening would repent of their sins.   2. It is clear that the horses and riders are symbolical. What tells us this?  These horses and riders did not resemble normal horse and riders. Don’t think of companies of soldiers advancing against a specific location but forces of evil everywhere doing their work of trying to destroy the church.  

3. What should Christians bear in mind when they see this vision coming to pass? The Lord is in control of all things, and this world, even in its darkest times, is under God’s control. When Christians sit in prison or are killed, the Lord is in control. The Lord wants those who observe these terrible things to repent; these events are warning judgments meant to tell everyone the end is near. (2 Peter 3:9) We are to also take these words to heart and pray for the day when the Lord will come to judge evil and save his people.

Revelation 10

Revelation 10:1-4 1. Skim the description of the mighty angel. Who is this angel, or messenger? It is clearly the Lord Jesus. 2. Look at the details of the description of the angel. Comment briefly on each. • A rainbow was over his head. The angel is the Lord. Note the previous appearance of a rainbow (4:3).

• His face was like the sun. See the description of Jesus in 1:16. • He shouted like a lion.  In 5:5 Jesus is called the Lion of the tribe of Judah. • He was robed in a cloud. Jesus departed in the clouds, and angels said he would return in the same way. (Acts 1:11) See also Matthew 26:64; Luke 9:34, 21:27.  • He held an open scroll in his hand.  Jesus wants the contents of this scroll proclaimed. Note the vision beginning with Ezekiel 2:9; the present vision is related to that one.

• His legs were like fiery pillars.  Note the description of Jesus in 1:15. • His feet were on the sea and the land. In chapter 13, we see Satan is standing by the shore of the sea. There we see a beast that arises from the sea and another from the earth. Satan has his agents in the world, but Jesus has a foot in the sea and on the land also. Jesus is in control.

3. Do you wish you knew what the seven thunders said? It makes us curious to know what they said. Finally, Christians will be content to leave the future in God’s hands, not concerned that they don’t know everything that will happen.

Revelation 10:5-11 1. Why did the angel swear an oath before he said there would be no more delay?  The greatest blessing Christians can experience, especially when undergoing persecution, is Jesus’ second coming. To hear Jesus swear by the Creator of all is very reassuring. 2. Jesus said that the mystery of God would be completed. He then said that the mystery had been revealed through “his servants the prophets” (verse 7). What does this tell us about the content of Revelation? Revelation is nothing new; builds upon what had been revealed to Old Testament prophets. The message parallels that of Books like Ezekiel, Daniel, and Joel, in particular. What is the real “mystery” revealed throughout the Bible? -The gospel in its fullest sense. Ephesians 3:2-9; 1 Corinthians 1:18. In what sense is this mystery still yet to be completed? (See Colossians 3:3-4, Romans 8:18; 1 Corinthians 2:9-10)

3.Read Ezekiel 2:9–3:3,14. The Lord uses that vision to provide the foundation for this vision. Interpret Ezekiel’s vision, and then apply the interpretation to the verses in Revelation. Ezekiel was told to take a scroll and eat it. Eating clearly refers to reading it and taking it to heart. Even though some unpleasant things are on it when Ezekiel ate it, it was sweet in his mouth. Any time people hear God’s Word and take it to heart it leaves a pleasant taste in their mouths. Ezekiel, however, was to preach the Word he had read. He preached it to people who did not accept it and it was a bitter experience. It is the same way with John (who symbolizes all preachers of the gospel, as it will become clear in chapter 11). John took God’s Word, and it was sweet in his mouth but bitter in his stomach when had to preach it to all, many of whom would become his enemies.

4. Describe the sweetness of God’s Word to you.  Answers will vary as people reveal passages that were particularly sweet to them.      5. Describe when God’s Word was sour in your stomach. Any time we suffer persecution because we confess God’s Word, we experience the sourness.