Revelations Biggest Surprise Essay, Research Paper
IT IS WRITTEN’S
Revelation’s Biggest
Surprise
A budding industry today is Space Tourism, that expects we’ll be able to book ourselves on space vacations within the next 10-20 years—if we can pay the price. If you’re interested in space travel, interested in finding out “What’s out there” beyond our earth, but you don’t have the cash to invest, how about an eternity-long vacation that’s offered to you free? God’s ultimate reward for the redeemed is far more exciting than any journey in the cramped quarters of some man-made space shuttle!
Christ offers us the ultimate space journey. We’ll travel with Him through the starry heavens. But first must come to pass the words of Revelation 11:15 – “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord.” Throughout the ages, earthly kingdoms have arisen to challenge the kingdom of God. There has been a battle for the throne, a battle brought into sharp focus in the Old Testament Book of Daniel. Scripture contains two books of end-time prophecy: Daniel and Revelation. Unlocking Daniel’s symbols makes Revelation’s prophecies clear. And Jesus’ statement in Matthew 24:15 directs us to understand “Daniel the prophet . . . whoever reads, let him understand.”
One of the most fascinating Bible chapters is Daniel 2. A king dreamed of world events that spanned 2,500 years. Those events have come to pass with such precision that only the hand of God could have been involved. It’s a prophecy that proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is in control of history. It is a prophecy that’s been almost totally fulfilled . . . almost, but not quite. Daniel 2:1 says: “In the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was so troubled that his sleep left him.”
This was the king who ruled the great Babylonian Empire 500 years before Christ, the king who built the luxurious Hanging Gardens—one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Nebuchadnezzar had a dream which seemed of great significance, but when he awoke, he could not remember what he had dreamt. So he called his wise men—who claimed to see into the future—and asked them to tell what he had dreamt. When they admitted that they could not, Nebuchadnezzar condemned them to death.
Now young Daniel, though a prisoner of war in Babylon, was counted among the “wise men” for his gifted intelligence and understanding. When the king’s captain came to execute Daniel, he asked for time to pray for God to reveal the dream—and God did! Then Daniel, taking no credit to himself, went before Nebuchadnezzar and told the king that no mortal man could reveal the dream. “But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has revealed . . . what will be in the latter days.” Daniel 2:28. The king’s dream focused on end-times, the close of earth’s history. The dream starts with Nebuchadnezzar and marches through history to the current day.
So Daniel told the king what he had dreamed: “You, O king, were watching: and behold, a great image. . . This image’s head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.” Daniel 2:31-35.
The King was excited! “Yes, that’s it! That’s it!” he cried. “That’s exactly what I saw! But Daniel, what does it mean?” What does it mean not only to Nebuchadnezzar but to you and me? Daniel continued: “You, O King, . . . are this head of GOLD.” Daniel 2:37-38. The Babylonian Empire of Nebuchadnezzar (which made more lavish use of gold than any kingdom since) was secure as the dominant world power from 605 B.C. to 539 B.C., but he was to be overthrown by a kingdom repre-sented in Daniel 2:32 as “the breast and arms of SILVER.” Just a few pages ahead in your Bible, Daniel 5:28, the next world ruling power is named: the joint empire of the Medes and the Persians. Again, a fitting symbol: the two arms joined at the chest to show two kingdoms—Medes and Persians. They ruled the world for two centuries, from 538 B.C. to 331 B.C., but they too were overthrown by a third kingdom.
This third kingdom, depicted in verse 32 as the “belly and thighs of BRONZE,” was the Greek Empire of Alexander the Great. And what did Alexander’s men wear into battle? Bronze— bronze breastplates, bronze helmets, bronze shields, bronze swords. Once again, God chose a fitting symbol to describe the kingdom that would rule the world from 331 B.C. to 169 B.C.
But history doesn’t end with this third kingdom. Greece did not rule the world forever, for there was a fourth metal after the gold of Babylon, the silver of the Medes and Persians, the bronze of Greece. The next kingdom is represented by IRON. Daniel 2:40 says, “The fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron.” The iron monarchy of Rome was the last world kingdom, which in 168 B.C. overthrew the Greeks.
Just as legs form the longest part of the body, Rome had the longest reign of any other of the world powers. For more than 500 years, half a millennium, Rome was invincible. But what did the Bible predict would happen next? Daniel 2:41-43 says, “Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom.”
History confirms that this seemingly unconquerable Roman Empire crumbled for two rea-sons— from within and from without. From within—wealth poured into Rome through taxes col-lected from all over the world and the simple Roman life was replaced with luxury and pomp. The political world brewed with corruption, crime infiltrated the streets, the work ethic was lost, sexual immorality was rampant. And as the mighty Roman Empire weakened from within, Rome was attacked from without and divided into ten smaller kingdoms.
Where are we living today? Right down in the toenails of history! Every part of this prophecy has come to pass except one. Listen—Daniel told the king in verses 34 & 44: “You watched while a STONE was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. . . . The God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed. . . . It shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.” That Rock cut out without hands symbolizes Jesus Christ, who will come to establish His kingdom.
Why is it important that you know about the dream of an ancient king? Simply this: Nebuchadnezzar’s dream portrayed history before it was lived, and once you realize the Bible can be trusted with the past, you’ll know without a doubt it can be trusted to predict those things still to come. Today we have hope, for tomorrow is in the hands of the God who guides history—and who loves us!
. . .
The Lord of History has the last word . . .
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill stated: “Any man must have a blind soul who cannot see that some great purpose and design is being worked out here below.” So inescapably did Daniel’s prophetic portrayal correspond to its historical fulfillment that the great English historian Edward Gibbon, though not a Christian or Bible believer himself, wittingly or unwittingly used Scriptural language in his monumental History of the Decline and Fall of the
Roman Empire when he wrote: “The images of gold, or silver, or brass, that might serve to
represent the nations and their kings, were successively broken by the IRON monarchy of Rome.” History has followed this prophecy like a blue-print and will continue to do so. The political workings of this planet are not random. God has been guiding, controlling, and overruling all along. History has played itself out. Only one kingdom is left to be established. Soon Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Rock of Ages, the One who paid such a remarkable visit to this planet 2000 years ago, is going to pay us another visit. And He’s going to make quite an entrance the second time. The heavens will rumble with a great shout as trumpets blast and angels sing. Then Christ and the angelic host will swoop down in a cloud of glory to gather His faithful ones!
……………………
God through the prophet Daniel foretold the
breakup of the Roman Empire into ten toes of
the Image, representing the ten kingdoms into
which Rome was divided when barbarian tribes
carved up the empire. They are:
Anglo-Saxons: England
Alamanni: Germany
Burgundians: Switzerland
Franks: France
Lombards: Italy
Suevi: Portugal
Visigoths: Spain
Heruli
Vandals
Ostrogoths
The last three have no modern names, for they
originally took over parts of the Empire but were
eventually destroyed—“plucked up by the roots”
as Daniel 7:8, 20, & 24 foretold.
………………………
Daniel 2:41-43—Ten toes, ten kingdoms,
and just as IRON and CLAY won’t mix together,
so the ten kingdoms will not be joined. No mat-ter
how many battles are fought, no matter how
many Hitlers or Napoleons or Charlemagnes seek
to conquer, the world will never be united under
one ruler again.
Quick Quiz
Our heavenly Father has so much He longs to teach us! Think of each seminar session as one in a series
of steps leading upward—a series of “lessons from heaven.” May we learn our lessons well, so we in turn
can teach others. God’s Word, the Bible—our Textbook for this seminar—offers Learning Unlimited!
#3 – Revelation’s Biggest Surprise
1. Daniel took NO credit or glory to himself when he told the king, “But as for me, this secret
is not revealed to _________ for any wisdom that _________ have more than any living.”
To check your answer, see Daniel 2:30.
2. Instead, Daniel’s first words to the king directed that monarch’s thoughts to divinity
when he said: “There is a _________ in _________________ that revealeth
____________________ .”
To check your answer, see Daniel 2:28.
3. Just as the gospel hymn praises God by singing “He’s got the whole world . . . in His
hands,” so Scripture asserts the Supreme Rulership of God by saying, “He
_________________ kings, and _______________ _____ kings. . . . The most High
________________ in the kingdom of __________ , and giveth it to whomsoever He will.”
To check your answer, see Daniel 2:21 and 4:17 (compare Psalms 75:6-7).
4. Is predictive prophecy just for past events of Old Testament times, or does it extend into
our own day and age even into the future? Daniel told King Nebuchadnezzar that God
would reveal “what shall be in the _________________ days,” and John the Revelator
was told to “Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the
things which _______________ be ____________________________ .”
To check your answer, see Daniel 2:28, 45 & Revelation 1:19.
5. The “Blueprint of History” delivered by God in a dream seems dependable, for it has already
been fulfilled in all particulars for 2500 years, but can we trust it for the remainder of earth’s history?
God says: “The dream is __________________ , and the interpretation thereof ______________ .”
To check your answer, see Daniel 2:45.
Your Name: __________________________________________
Revelation of Hope Companion Resources
Revelation’s Star Wars:
The Battle Behind the Throne
IT IS WRITTEN’S
Angels! Angels have become phenomenally prominent the last few years. Angels have made it
to prime time. They star in a CBS hit called “Touched by an Angel.” They appear in feature films and
are the subject of best-selling books. All through the book of Revelation angels are prominent,
appearing in almost every chapter. But right now I want to focus on an angelic conflict outlined in
Revelation that overshadows anything we human beings can imagine, an epic battle that’s been going
on for centuries. This battle is supremely important because it’s really a battle about who God is. It’s
a battle about human destiny—and we’re all involved, whether we realize it or not.
War in Heaven: It seems impossible to believe, but Revelation 12:7-9 tells us, “War broke
out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels
fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great
dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world;
he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”
War in heaven! It seems like a contradiction in terms. This brings up other perplexing questions,
like “Why was there war in heaven? What was the dragon doing in heaven in the first place? What
was Satan doing there? Where did he come from?”
A Pre-history of Satan: Fortunately there are some good clues. Scripture gives us hints of how
that conflict developed. In fact, we can learn what Satan was like before the world was created and
where he came from. Ezekiel once communicated a message from God about the king of Tyre. But in
the prophecy we see that God is also talking about someone else. The exalted king represents a
different, angelic creature. “Thus says the Lord God: You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and
perfect in beauty. . . . You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; you were on the
holy mountain of God; you walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your
ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you.” Ezekiel 28:12-15.
Here is described “the anointed cherub who covers.” This was an angel anointed for a special task.
In the Jewish temple, the covering cherubs stood over the mercy seat, the throne of God. This angel had
a special place near God’s throne. He was “the seal of perfection, full of wisdom, perfect in beauty.”
But something happened to this angel. “Iniquity was found” in him. He allowed sin to enter his life.
How? Ezekiel 28:17 explains: “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your
wisdom for the sake of your splendor.” This angel got wrapped up in his own splendor and beauty.
There’s nothing wrong with appreciating your own talents and abilities and feeling good about yourself.
So how did this angel move from healthy self-esteem to “iniquity?” How was his wisdom corrupted?
Isaiah 14:12-14 tells us—and also tells us the angel’s name: “How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning! . . . For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will
exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest
sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’”
Lucifer became an angel with an attitude. Being near God’s throne wasn’t enough. He wanted
a higher position. He wanted “the kingdom and the power and the glory” of God Himself!
Love Is the Answer: John tells us that “God is love.” 1 John 4:8. Love was all around
Lucifer. But Lucifer turned away from that and finally saw God as a rival! His twisted mind
pictured God as the enemy. This rebellious angel wondered: Why should God have all the
power and authority? Lucifer thought he could do just as good a job at running things.
Now heaven was a place where jealousy and slander and malice had never existed. Angels had
never heard a lie (which was invented by Lucifer, John 8:44) and couldn’t cope with falsehood. It never
occurred to them to question God’s wisdom and love. And suddenly this brilliant Lucifer, this cherub so
near the throne of God, starts making remarks. He wonders why God has to have all the glory, why
every created being has to obey Him. Maybe there’s an alternative, a better way to run the universe.
Lucifer, who seemed so reasonable, so wise, questioned God’s authority and persuaded many other
angels to join his rebellion—enough to go to battle over who should run the universe. A great battle
ensued—a cosmic conflict. There was war in heaven, and Lucifer (now called Satan) was cast out of
heaven with all his followers. Why didn’t God just nip evil in the bud—destroy it before it had a chance
to spread and cause so much suffering? If God had executed Lucifer, just zapped him in an instant, all the
other angels would reason: “Poor Lucifer! He tried to tell us God is a tyrant—and look what’s happened
to him! It seems Lucifer was right. It seems that his charges are true.” God chose a wiser course: He’d
allow sin to exist for a period of time, and when it had been fully demonstrated that God’s way brings joy
and Lucifer’s way brings death, then and only then would God destroy all evil.
Love doesn’t force. Love lets people see for themselves, decide for themselves. God wants us to
love Him back for who He is. No one back then, except God, knew what a disaster Lucifer’s alternative
would be. No one knew how much suffering and misery it would create. We had to see that for
ourselves. That’s the only way God could ensure that evil would never plague the universe again.
Planet Earth Joins the Conflict: In the Garden of Eden, when Eve told the serpent God
had said she would die if she ate of a certain tree, Satan contradicted God and said: “You will not
surely die. . . . For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be
like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:4-5, NIV. Satan was saying, “You’ll have greater
happiness if you follow me. God is restricting your freedom.” Tragically, Eve and her husband
Adam accepted that lie. Today we live on a planet in rebellion, a planet full of decay and death.
The Origin of Suffering: In Matthew 13:24-43 Jesus talked about a man who planted good
seed in his field, but useless weeds popped up everywhere, leading a servant to ask, “Sir, didn’t you
sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?” That’s the question we all face
at some time in life: If God made this world to blossom for His children, why do we see so many
tragic weeds? In Jesus’ parable the master answered that question very simply. He said, “An enemy
did this.” It was an enemy of God and man who sowed his seeds of suffering and sin.
God Had a Plan: God didn’t abandon the human race because it rebelled against Him. From the
very beginning, He had a plan. If you wonder, “Why doesn’t God do something about the sickness and
sin and heartache in our world?”—the answer is: He has done something. He’s given everything in the
gift of His Son. He came into the world and suffered with us—and we can some day triumph with Him!
. . .
#4 – Revelation’s Star Wars: The Battle Behind the Throne
“IT IS WRITTEN . . .”
NOTE: There is now going on in the universe a cosmic conflict between Good and Evil.
Fortunately, your Bible reveals both the origin and the conclusion of that conflict.
3. When Lucifer exercised his God-given freedom and rebelled, the Bible says, “There was _________
in _________________________,” and today we’re still in the midst of a cosmic conflict bigger
than this small world.
To check your answer, see Revelation 12:7.
4. The egotistical Devil fell because of pride. The Bible says: “How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer. . . . For you have said in your heart, ____ will ascend into heaven, ____ will exalt
______ throne above the stars of God: ____ will also sit on the mount of the congregation. . . .
____ will ascend above the heights of the clouds; ____ will be like the _________________.”
To checkyour answer, see Isaiah 14:12-14.
5. When we wonder why all the sorrow, suffering, and death is in the world, we should recall
Jesus’ story of the wheat and the weeds, when He explained: “An __________ has done this.”
To check your answer, see Matthew 13:24-43—especially verse 28.
6. To disprove Satan’s malicious lies about God, “Jesus went about all the cities and villages,
_____________________ in their synagogues, and _____________________ the gospel of the
kingdom, and ______________________ every sickness and every disease among the people.
. . . He was moved with _______________ on them.”
To check your answer, see Matthew 9:35-36.
Your Name: __________________________________________
The very first words of this book we’re studying are “The revelation of Jesus Christ.” That’s how
John’s prophecy got its name. It’s a revelation from Jesus and about Jesus. A few verses later, lest there
be any doubt about who is at the center of this book, John presents Jesus Christ as “The faithful Witness,
and firstborn from the dead, and the Ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed
us from our sins in His own blood . . . be glory and dominion forever and ever
Quick Quiz
Our heavenly Father has so much He longs to teach us! Think of each seminar session as one in a series
of steps leading upward—a series of “lessons from heaven.” May we learn our lessons well, so we in turn
can teach others. God’s Word, the Bible—our Textbook for this seminar—offers Learning Unlimited!
#5 – Revelation’s Peace Maker
1. Some hang onto denial, putting on a bold front, saying, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and
have need of nothing,” not knowing they are “ _______________ , and _____________________ ,
and _____________ , and _________________ , and __________________ .”
To check your answer, see Revelation 3:17.
2. .T God vividly impressed on people in Old Testament times the cause-and-effect relationship
.F between SIN and DEATH, when any sinner—from king to commoner— would have to con-fess
his sin on the head of a sacrificial animal, then take the knife and slay the animal himself.
To check your answer, see Leviticus 4:22-30, etc.
3. Perfect balance is seen in the Scripture that says, “The wages of _________ is __________________;
but the ____________ of God is eternal ______________ through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
To check your answer, see Romans 6:23.
4. Those who fear coming to Christ will “cramp their lifestyle” overlook Christ’s promise: “I am come
that they might have __________ , and that they might have it more __________________________ .”
To check your answer, see John 10:10.
5. Men sometimes make salvation unnecessarily complicated, but the Bible makes it simplicity itself,
reducing it to its lowest common denominator as an either-or proposition in saying: “He who has
the ____________ has life; he who does not have the Son of God does _____________ have life.”
To check your answer, see 1 John 5:12.
Your Name: __________________________________________
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Revelation of Hope Companion Resources
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IT IS WRITTEN’S
Today there’s a new revolution in psychoactive drugs. Soon there’ll be a pill for every prob-lem.
Will we find all our answers in pharmaceuticals? Certainly psychoactive drugs are on a roll.
One big reason is the Prozac phenomenon. After this anti-depressant went on the market, people
began telling remarkable stories of how their lives had changed dramatically after taking the drug.
And that made a lot of people wonder—if a pill can do all this, do we still need God? Do pills
do what God cannot? Are psychoactive drugs going to make God obsolete in the 21 st century?
Let’s take a closer look at exactly what God does in an individual’s life. Let’s see how the
Holy Spirit works in our minds and compare that with what psychoactive drugs do. I think you’ll
be amazed. There is a divine power which provides radical, life-transforming changes!
Let’s turn to the Book of Revelation. Did you know that believers have one dominant image
in the Book of Revelation? They’re characterized in one way more than any other: God calls
them OVERCOMERS. Although Revelation pictures hard times and cataclysms in the end time, with
evil powers like the dragon and beast warring against God’s people, believers OVERCOME. Believ-ers
are delivered. Believers WIN! God’s instructive, illuminating refrain starts near the beginning
of Revelation:
Revelation 2:7 – “To him who OVERCOMES, I will give to eat from the tree of life.”
Revelation 2:ll – “He who OVERCOMES shall not be hurt by the second death.”
Revelation 2:17- “To him who OVERCOMES I will give some of the hidden manna to eat.”
Revelation 2:26- “He who OVERCOMES . . . to him I will give power over the nations.”
Revelation 3:5 – “He who OVERCOMES shall be clothed in white garments. . . .”
Revelation 3:12 – “He who OVERCOMES, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God. . . .”
Revelation 3:21- “To him who OVERCOMES I will grant to sit with Me on My throne.”
The Book of Revelation pictures believers as victors who overcome adversity and evil. We
see the same theme later in the book. Speaking of Satan, the accuser, the enemy, Revelation
12:11 says, “They OVERCAME him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.”
At the end of the book, this same picture emerges. God promises in Revelation 21:6-7: “He
who OVERCOMES shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.”
In various places, Revelation pictures believers joyously celebrating before God’s throne.
They’re pictured as having gone through great tribulation and coming out triumphant. Believers
overcome even in the worst of times. That’s part of Revelation’s message, friends. It’s telling us
that we weak, sinful human beings can be overcomers. We needn’t be intimidated by the forces
of evil in this world.
. . .
Yes, we may be weak, handicapped by our heredity, by our family of origin, by our environ-ment.
But Scripture still offers us hope that we can be overcomers and rise above these things. I’ve
seen God radically transform people around the world—their lives changed forever:
Drunkards become sober..
Thieves become honest..
Money–businessmen become unselfish, compassionate husbands and fathers.
Angry, bitter people become renewed in spirit..
Prostitutes and lust–men become transformed.
Hearts filled with hatred become filled with love..
It’s a miracle—a miracle of God’s grace! What God does in human hearts and lives is remark-able.
The apostle Paul shouts it in these words: “If any man [or woman] is in Christ, he is a new
creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17.
How does it happen? How does God transform our lives? The Bible calls this experience “the
new birth” or being “born again.” To be born again means to be radically transformed from deep
within by the power of the Holy Spirit. It means to have a new way of looking at things, a new
power operating in your life, new desires, new impulses, new joy and peace in your life.
The human mind cannot understand it, but we become overcomers through the Spirit. We’re
born again, powerfully changed, with a new power working in our lives. The Spirit has uprooted
anger, bitterness, lust, and addictions and replaced them with love, joy, peace, and longsuffering.
The Spirit’s power liberates us from the bondage of habits that destroy our souls. 2 Corin-thians
3:17 puts it this way: “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” The Spirit’s power
frees us from the chains of sin which bind us while drug medication deals only with symptoms. If
a person is depressed, certain pills may ease that depression. But no psychoactive drug can show
you WHY you’re depressed, what lies behind your anger, or what contributes to your anxiety. In
our rush to just medicate the mind, we forget that pills don’t give us the wisdom or insight we need
to deal with our problems and grow through them. But the Holy Spirit works in us to do precisely
that. He’s the Spirit of revelation, and His revelations can produce dramatic results.
One more thing God’s Spirit does is fill up our lives with good things. Look at Galatians 5:22-23:
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
self control.” Those good qualities the Holy Spirit reproduces inside us. That’s how we keep growing.
The Spirit moves us down a path that leads to abundant life—everlasting life. Pills can’t do that. Pills
may be a temporary help. But the Holy Spirit sticks with us for the long haul. He’s not an artificial
additive. He fills us with good character qualities. And being filled with the Spirit produces no side
effects. There’s no down side.
Ephesians 3:16 talks about being “strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man.”
You can be strengthened with the mighty power of God inside you! You can be different than you are!
You don’t need to struggle with the same habits over and over again. When life presses you down,
when you struggle with impulses which seem uncontrollable, when you feel too weak to try – remem-ber
the apostle Paul’s words, “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who
loved us.” Romans 8:37. God has called you to be a winner, not a loser. Our willpower is weak, but
when we surrender our will to Him, He gives us power directly from His throne.
My own Dad Jim Finley was born to a problem family in the New York City slum called “Hell’s
Kitchen.” He picked up bad habits, left home, joined the Navy and was going down the wrong road
in life when he dropped to his knees and gave His heart to Christ. Dad didn’t just get out of Hell’s
Kitchen. Hell’s Kitchen got out of him. My father truly escaped from his old life because he truly
made a commitment, heart and soul. That’s how we become OVERCOMERS.
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#6 – Revelation’s Power Line
“IT IS WRITTEN . . .”
Genesis 1:2 The Holy Spirit of God was present at Creation.
Acts 5:3-4 Peter in the Bible equates the Holy Spirit with “God.”
2 Corinthians 3:17 Paul in the Bible equates the Holy Spirit with “the Lord.”
Romans 8:27 The Holy Spirit has a mind.
1 Corinthians 2:11 The Holy Spirit knows and understands the things of God.
Ephesians 4:30 The Holy Spirit is not a mere power or force but a Person who can be grieved.
John 16:13-14 Jesus referred to the Spirit with personal pronouns like He and His—not “it.”
John 14:26 God sends the Holy Spirit to be our divine Teacher.
Acts 5:32 God gives the Holy Spirit to those who obey Him.
John 16:8 God’s Holy Spirit convicts us—in our hearts—of sin.
John 3:3-8 The Holy Spirit brings about the new birth, when one is “born again.”
Ezekiel 36:26-37 The Holy Spirit transforms our character, giving us a new heart.
1 Corinthians 12:11 The Holy Spirit distributes spiritual gifts, equipping us for God’s work.
Genesis 6:3 The Holy Spirit “strives” with us, leading us to do right.
John 16:13 The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth.
Ephesians 3:16 Through His Spirit, God will strengthen us with might in our inner being.
Romans 8:37 In all problems, we can be more than conquerors through Him who loves us.
Revelation 3:12 God gives many breathtaking promises “to him [or her] who OVERCOMES.”
(See also Revelation 2:7, 2:11, 2:17, 2:26, 3:5, 3:21, 21:7, etc.)
2 Corinthians 5:17 A person who comes to Christ is a new creation—all things have become new!
Galatians 5:22-23 The fruit of the Spirit can fill our lives, our characters, with all good things.
2 Timothy 1:7 God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a sound mind.
Romans 8:14 As we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us, we become sons and daughters of God.
Galatians 6:8 “He who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”
Romans 8:11 We need not fear death, for Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit,
will resurrect His faithful people.
Revelation 19:1 Through all eternity we’ll praise God for His miraculous power of deliverance.
. . .
4
Quick Quiz
Our heavenly Father has so much He longs to teach us! Think of each seminar session as one in a series
of steps leading upward—a series of “lessons from heaven.” May we learn our lessons well, so we in turn
can teach others. God’s Word, the Bible—our Textbook for this seminar—offers Learning Unlimited!
#6 – Revelation’s Power Line
1. The Holy Spirit is more than an essence or influence or power or force—He’s a Person!
For the Bible speaks of “the _______________ of the Spirit” and warns us, “__________ not
the Holy Spirit of God”—attributes that could never be applied to an unconscious force.
To check your answer, see Romans 8:27 and Ephesians 4:30.
2. If we want a Spirit-filled Christian life, we must understand that the Bible says God
gives the Holy Spirit “to them that ________________ Him” and keep His
Commandments through love.
To check your answer, see Acts 5:32. Compare John 14:15-17.
3. One ministry of the Holy Spirit Jesus pointed out is that “He will reprove [modern
versions say convict or convince] the world of ____________ ,” giving us a sense of
right and wrong.
To check your answer, see John 16:8.
4. The Holy Spirit was powerfully poured out on the the Day of Pentecost, but He was
present and active long before—even at Creation, for the Bible says, “In the beginning
God created the heaven and the earth. . . . And the _______________ of _________
moved upon the face of the waters.”
To check your answer, see Genesis 1:1-2.
5. God knows we face many troubles and temptations, but He offers many great promises
“to him who ________________________,” and wants us to be “ __________________
with ________________ by His Spirit in the inner man.”
To check your answer, see Revelation 2:7, etc., and Ephesians 3:16.
Your Name: __________________________________________
Revelation of Hope Companion Resources
Revelation’s Most
Amazing Prophecy
Presented by
Mark Finley
7
IT IS WRITTEN’S
Like an unconscious sky-diver hurtling out of control toward the earth, we are rushing headlong
toward an impact with the end time, speeding toward a collision with earth’s final events. Prophetic
signs reveal history is coming to a climax. As we plummet toward ground zero, many don’t have a
parachute on. Even more don’t realize the horizon is rushing up to meet them.
But even at this late hour, God has devised a way to help us pull our rip cord. God’s rescue is
described in Revelation, the last book of the Bible. Note what John saw happening near the close of
time: “I saw another angel flying in mid-air, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live
on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people.” Revelation 14:6, NIV.
What a dramatic picture! God attempting to rescue every person on planet Earth! This angel is the
first of three John saw who issue loud proclamations over the earth. These are God’s final, last-day
messages—words He shouts at us, seconds from impact. God has always sent messages to warn His
people of events that would affect millions. Before the Flood, God had Noah build the Ark and plead
with people to take refuge in it. Before Egypt’s great famine, God sent Joseph to have the Egyptians
stockpile supplies to meet the famine. God wants us to be prepared for what’s coming. Amos 3:7 puts
it this way: “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He reveals His secret to His servants the proph-ets.”
Prophecy reveals what is coming, and Revelation’s prophecies reveal what is coming especially at
end time. Revelation sends a message that something big is coming. What is this big event ? Look
carefully at Revelation 14 and you see that the third angel ends his message in verse 13. Then verse 14
describes the next event: The Son of Man returns with a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle
in His hand. This is the Second Coming, the final judgment, when history climaxes and all human
destinies are sealed. So obviously the messages that come right before this are vitally important. They’re
God’s last warning, telling us exactly how to open our parachutes as the end of time rushes up to meet
us!
Look again at the angel’s message: “I saw another angel flying in mid-air, and he had the eternal
gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people.” Rev-elation
14:6, NIV. Who is this message for? Is it aimed only at Canadians or those who speak Spanish
or those who live in big cities? No, it’s for everyone, a universal message for the whole world.
The angel is preaching “the everlasting gospel.” The gospel doesn’t change. The good news that
saved Paul is the same good news that will save the last person on earth. There’s only one parachute
ever made that can rescue sinful human beings— Jesus’ love and salvation. The everlasting gospel an-. . .
2
swers the most important question you’ll ever face—What must I do to be saved? We’re sinners, both
in nature and in behavior. But we can’t see the problem if we just keep saying, “I’m OK, everything’s
fine. I’m no worse than most other people.” If we don’t understand our fall from grace, we won’t see
the day of final judgment rushing up to meet us. We won’t pull the ripcord. Then the everlasting
gospel, that essential parachute, can’t save us.
The angel continues in Revelation 14:7: “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His
judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.” This
message has four parts. FIRST, “FEAR God.” To fear means to stand in awe, deeply admire, reverence,
or respect. Those we respect we long to please or obey. Fearing or respecting God and obeying Him
are often linked together. Ecclesiastes 12:13 says, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”
God’s last-day message calls us to obey Him at a time when millions feel responsible only to their
own “inner sense” of right. Millions feel “I can do whatever I choose; I’m accountable only to myself;
there’s no standard of right or wrong outside of my own mind.” But the Book of Revelation shouts an
urgent call: “Fear God”—obey God. There is a standard outside of your mind. God sends an urgent,
loving, truth-filled message calling us back to obedience to Him.
SECOND, Revelation 14:7 says, “Give GLORY to Him.” Giving God glory means honoring Him in
everything we do. Glory is a word reserved for the highest form of adoration. To give God glory means
our entire lifestyle is surrendered to His will. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “Therefore whether you eat or
drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:20 adds, “For you were bought
with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God’s.” Glorify God in
all your actions. You don’t glorify God by placing abusive substances in your body or by polluting your
mind with this world’s filth. You do it by saying, “Lord, my body, mind, and spirit are Yours.”
THIRD, Revelation 14:7 says: “Worship Him who MADE heaven and earth, the sea and springs
of water.” Why should we fear and glorify and worship God? One good reason the Bible gives is that
He’s the Creator. We worship the true God, the One who created us. Revelation 4:11 echoes: “You are
worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You CREATED all things and by Your will they
exist and were created.” In an age when the popular, so-called scientific view is that we evolved over
millions of years from simple life forms like amoebas to complex forms of life called humans, God calls
us back to worshiping Him as the Creator, back to exalting Him as the One who made all things.
Earth’s final conflict will pivot on this subject of worship: While Revelation 14:7 calls us to wor-ship
the Creator, Revelation 14:9 calls us to avoid worshiping the beast. These two worships—of the
Creator or the beast—form the heart of a titanic struggle between good and evil. The coming economic
boycott, the enforcement of the Mark of the Beast, the mysterious #666 all have to do with this final
battle over worship. We’ll fully explain the significance of what it means to worship the Creator and
how to avoid receiving the Mark of the Beast in future presentations.
FOURTH, Revelation 14:7 says, “The hour of God’s JUDGMENT has come.” Here is a double
meaning: Certainly God will execute judgment and put an end to sin. But in another sense He Himself
is the subject of judgment. Remember that at the beginning of time, a rebel angel challenged God’s
character. Lucifer claimed that God was unfair, unjust. He made these accusations before the whole
universe. Now, ages later, He wants to clear His good name and vindicate His actions. The universe
has seen the results of Satan’s evil work as well as all God has done to save us. The judgment proves
God has been fair with each individual. His character is vindicated. At the end of time, the whole
universe will joyfully proclaim in one chorus of praise, “Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous
are your judgments.” Revelation 16:7.
Jesus is coming back, not to destroy sinners, but to destroy sin. That’s why He’s given us this
urgent message about His judgment, so He can rescue you.
3
#7 – Revelation’s Most Amazing Prophecy
“IT IS WRITTEN . . .”
Revelation 14:6-12 God’s urgent message in earth’s last hour is His final call to a dying planet.
Revelation 14:6 (first part) The “everlasting gospel” never changes—it’s always new,
always true.
Revelation 14:6 (last part) This message is to go to all the world, to everyone everywhere.
Revelation 14:7 (first part) God calls us to “give glory to Him” in every aspect of life.
1 Corinthians 10:31 Paul says we can glorify God in what we eat or drink or whatever we do.
1 Corinthians 6:20 Since Jesus bought us—ransomed us—with His blood, we should
glorify Him.
Revelation 14:7 (middle) The angel announces that “the hour of God’s judgment has come.”
Revelation 22:12 Since Jesus comes to give out His rewards, there must be a judgment before
He comes, to determine who receives what reward, when He comes.
Daniel 7:9-10 Daniel saw the sitting of the Supreme Court of the Universe and the opening
of the judgment while events proceeded on earth before the Second Coming.
Ecclesiastes 12:14 God will bring every secret thing into judgment.
Hebrews 4:13 All things are open unto God.
2 Corinthians 5:10 We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.
Romans 14:12 Everyone must give account of himself to God.
Psalm 87:4-6 In the judgment the Lord considers where we were born.
Revelation 14:7 (last part) Heaven’s final message calls all humanity to worship God as the
Creator—to “worship Him who MADE” all things.
Revelation 4:11 The very basis of all true worship is the fact that God created us—He’s
our Maker.
John 1:1-3, 10, 14 Since Jesus was the active Agent in creation, Revelation’s final call to
worship the Creator is a call to honor Jesus.
Revelation 16:7 All God’s judgments are righteous and true.
4
Quick Quiz
Our heavenly Father has so much He longs to teach us! Think of each seminar session as one in a series
of steps leading upward—a series of “lessons from heaven.” May we learn our lessons well, so we in turn
can teach others. God’s Word, the Bible—our Textbook for this seminar—offers Learning Unlimited!
#7 – Revelation’s Most Amazing Prophecy
1. Paul urges, “Whether you __________ or ________________ , or ________________________
you do, do all to the __________________ of God.”
To check your answer, see 1 Corinthians 10:31.
2. “The ___________ of God’s ______________________ has come” could have a double mean-ing,
(1) referring to the Lord’s evaluation of all people, and (2) a judgment of God Himself—
an official vindication of God’s actions and character in the light of history, answering
Lucifer’s slanderous charges.
To check your answer, see Revelation 14:7.
3. . T Since Jesus comes to give out His rewards, there must be a judgment before He
. F comes, to determine who receives what reward, when He comes..
To check your answer, see Revelation 22:12.
4. The Bible says we should glorify God because “Ye are _________________ with a
_____________ ,” — the costly payment of Christ’s blood—so we belong to Him by both
creation and redemption.
To check your answer, see 1 Corinthians 6:20.
5. In this age of widespread belief in atheistic evolution, Heaven’s final message calls us to
honor God as CREATOR—that is, to “ ______________________ Him who ______________”
all things.
To check your answer, see Revelation 14:7.
Your Name: __________________________________________
Revelation of Hope Companion Resources
Revelation Reveals
How Jesus Will Come
IT IS WRITTEN’S
The triumphs of technology are inspiring. The achievements of the space program are so tangible and
specific. All the complex details—the flow of rocket fuel, the humming of computers, the astronaut’s check
list—fit together like clockwork. But religious hope today tends to be vague and shapeless. People have
hunches about life after death; people imagine what heaven might be like. We don’t have much that’s
specific or tangible, just a light at the end of the tunnel or mankind somehow stumbling into love and peace.
Vague hope is OK as a few lines on a greeting card. But what about when death comes close and you’re
face to face with eternity? Vague hope doesn’t do much for us then. We need something more than
hunches. We need something specific to cling to.
And God HAS laid out His end-time plan for our world in the Scriptures. He’s specific and eager to tell
us what’s coming, what we can hope for. Much of God’s wonderful picture is in the Book of Revelation.
Revelation pictures the Event that brings human history to a climax in various dramatic ways:
Revelation 14:14. John writes: “I looked, and behold, a white cloud and on the cloud sat One like
the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown and in His hand a sharp sickle.” This pictures Jesus
coming in glory, coming to a world ripe for the harvest.
Revelation 19:11-14: “Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on
him was called Faithful and True. . . . And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean,
followed Him on white horses.” This is Jesus Christ riding down like a triumphant general, leading the hosts
of heaven, coming to rescue His people from a doomed planet.
1 Corinthians 15:51-53 tells us what will happen to believers: “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will
not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the
trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must
clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.” This is not some mystic speculating
about the future. This is the God of the Universe telling us about His end-time plan! He will re-create us as
imperishable beings. When? At the last trumpet. 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-17 says Christ will descend with
the trumpet call of God, and the dead will rise from their graves!
Scripture outlines God’s end-time plan. It also says an enemy will try to sabotage that plan. Speaking
about the appearance of false christs, Jesus warned in Luke 17:23,24, NIV: “Men will tell you, ‘There he is!’
or ‘Here he is!’ Do not go running off after them. For the Son of Man in His day will be like the lightning,
which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other.” Charismatic figures will arise in the last days
and claim to be Christ. Their miracle-working powers will seduce many people. They’ll gain large follow- . . .
2
ings, and people will come to you excitedly, with glowing faces, and say, “We’ve seen Christ face-to-face!
There He is! Come and see Him.” And what are we told to do? “Don’t go running off after them.” Christ
won’t suddenly appear on a talk-show in New York or as a miracle-worker on the streets of Paris. He won’t
rise up from somewhere down here—He’ll be coming down from up there.
People can fake miracles; people can claim to be Christ. Even Satan himself, who can masquerade as
an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14) may try to impersonate Christ. But no one can counterfeit the
Second Coming as the Bible describes it. It will be unmistakably real. When the heavens above us explode
and ten thousand angels lift their voices, and the unspeakable glory of God Almighty breaks through the
clouds, no one will wonder who has come calling!
Some have misinterpreted a few Scripture texts and built up the picture of a Secret Rapture, where
individuals are whisked away to heaven while others go about their business. The Secret Rapture theory relies
primarily on a few texts that speak of Christ coming like a thief in the night. We’re told to watch and be ready
for the unexpected event. On the surface this seems to imply a secret, perhaps invisible, event. But all the
Bible passages which discuss Jesus’ coming as a thief discuss not a secret coming but an unexpected one. Jesus
is not coming secretly to a chosen few—He’s coming suddenly when millions don’t expect Him.
The problem is, texts about Jesus coming like a thief stand side by side with texts about Jesus coming
in a blaze of glory. Peter in fact mentions the two in the same breath: “The day of the Lord will come like
a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire. . . .” 2 Peter 3:10,
NIV. Obviously the Lord comes like a thief in the sense that His Return will be a great surprise to those who
aren’t ready—it catches them off guard. But it’s NOT silent or invisible. There’s nothing quiet about the
heavens disappearing with a roar.
Here’s how Christ Himself pictures the event in Matthew 24:27 & 30, NIV: “As the LIGHTNING comes
from the east and flashes to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man . . . the Son of Man will APPEAR
in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will MOURN. They will SEE the Son of Man coming on the clouds
of the sky, with POWER and great GLORY.” This eye-riveting Event may come as an incredible surprise to
some—but it won’t be quiet and invisible or secret and mystical!
God has laid out His end-time plan very carefully in His Word. Specific events will take place:
1. Seismic upheavals. Revelation 6:14; 16:18-20 There’ll be stupendous seismic upheavals. The heav-ens
roll back like a scroll; mountains and islands are moved; and a great earthquake shakes the planet.
2. The righteous dead are resurrected. 1 Thessalonians 4:16; John 5:28-29 “The dead in Christ shall rise
first.” The faithful asleep in their graves will hear Christ’s voice and rise up to eternal life.
3. The righteous living are translated. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 The righteous who are alive will be caught
up together with the resurrected and ascend toward Christ, their Redeemer.
4. Immortality is bestowed. 1 Corinthians 15:53 Both the resurrected dead and the translated living
receive the gift of immortality for their faith in Christ. “This mortal must put on immortality.”
5. The wicked are destroyed. 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 19:11-21 Those who deliberately and
persistently rejected God’s mercy will finally be destroyed.
6. The righteous welcome the returning Christ. Isaiah 25:9 The redeemed exclaim, “This is our God; we
have waited for Him, and He will save us. . . . We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.”
7. The righteous journey to heaven. John 14:2-3 The righteous are welcomed into the divine procession
and journey with Christ toward their heavenly home.
What will you feel during those last moments of Earth’s history? Joy? Or terror? You may feel indifferent
about God right now, may not think faith is important. But one day soon it will make all the difference and
will divide humanity into two groups. One group sees Christ’s Coming as a horrifying surprise. Revelation
6:15-17 says they’ll pray for the mountains and rocks to fall on them! The other group sees it as a wonderful
deliverance, a fulfillment of all they’ve lived for. Open your Heart and make your commitment to Christ
right now.
3
#8 – Revelation Reveals How Jesus Will Come
“IT IS WRITTEN . . .”
John 14:1-3 Like a promissory note, Jesus said He would return—and we can bank on it!
Acts 1:9-11 Angels confirmed His promise and testified to its truthfulness.
Jude 14 Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of our Lord’s return.
Revelation 1:7 It will be a VISIBLE event. When Jesus returns, every eye shall SEE Him.
Matthew 24:27 Jesus taught that His Return shall be like lightning flashing across the sky.
Matthew 24:30 The wicked also “will SEE the Son of Man coming . . . with power and great
glory,” but they “will mourn” their lost opportunity.
1 Thess. 4:15-17 It will be an AUDIBLE event. The Lord Himself will shout, and the
trumpet—the noisiest of instruments—shall sound.
Psalm 50:3-5 David declares “Our God shall come, and shall not keep silent. . . .
He shall call . . . gather My saints together to Me.”
Matthew 16:27, It will be a GLORIOUS event, in His own glory and the glory of His Father.
25:31 He comes with “ALL the holy angels”—which Revelation 5:11 says are trillions!
Revelation 19:11-16 As King of kings leading the armies of heaven, He returns as triumphant Lord.
Isaiah 25:9 The righteous, delighted to see Christ, joyfully exclaim, “Lo, this is our God!”
Revelation 6:14-17 The unsaved wicked fear His Coming and cry for the rocks to fall upon them.
1 Thess. 4:15-17 The faithful dead will first be resurrected and rise to meet the Lord; then the
faithful living will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air.
1 Cor. l5:51-54 God will clothe His faithful people with immortality.
2 Thess. 2:8 The wicked are struck dead by the brightness of His Coming..
Matthew 13:37-43 The evil are purged out of His kingdom, and the righteous are saved
through all eternity.
Titus 2:13 Christ’s Coming is called the “Blessed Hope” of a lost mankind.
Revelation 22:11-12, Jesus offers His final invitation to prepare for His soon Return.
17 & 20
. . .
If you like statistics . . .
There are over 1500 prophecies of Jesus’ Second Coming recorded in the Bible.
For every prophecy of His first coming mentioned in the Old Testament,
there are eight predicting His Second Coming.
The return of our Lord is mentioned once in every five verses in the New Testament.
4
Quick Quiz
Our heavenly Father has so much He longs to teach us! Think of each seminar session as one in a series
of steps leading upward—a series of “lessons from heaven.” May we learn our lessons well, so we in turn
can teach others. God’s Word, the Bible—our Textbook for this seminar—offers Learning Unlimited!
#8 – Revelation Reveals How Jesus Will Come
1. Jesus promised to return to this sinful world when He said, “I ________________ come again”!
To check your answer, see John 14:3.
2. The Savior leads us to believe His Return would be visually spectacular when He says it will be “as
the _______________________ ” that comes out of the east and shines all the way to the west.
To check your answer, see Matthew 24:27.
3. The Apostle Paul leads us to believe Christ’s Return will be noisily audible when he describes
that event by saying, “The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a _______________ ,
with the __________________ of the archangel, and with the _____________________ of God.”
To check your answer, see 1 Thessalonians 4:16.
Compare Matthew 24:31 and John 5:28-29.
4. . T What the Bible means by “the Second Coming of Christ” is that Jesus comes into your
. F heart when you invite Him and accept Him as your Savior..
To check your answer, see any or all of the Scripture texts listed on this Quiz.
5. Could John the Revelator use human language any more clear or emphatic about the visible
nature of Christ’s Return than to say simply: “ __________________ __________ shall see Him”?
To check your answer, see Revelation 1:7.
6. Besides the fact that the wicked are all struck dead by “the brightness of His Coming,” another
very cataclysmic, catastrophic event in connection with Christ’s Return is “a ______________
earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so ________________ an earth-quake,
and so great.”
To check your answer, see 2 Thessalonians 2:8 and Revelation 16:18, 6:14, and 16:20.
Your Name: __________________________________________
Revelation of Hope Companion Resources
Revelation Predicts
the Time of the End
IT IS WRITTEN’S
The United States Supreme Court is a symbol of the majesty of law and justice in a world that’s of-ten
tragically unfair. But each of us has a case pending before the highest tribunal of all—the Supreme
Court of the Universe! The final judgment is the most important one of all. To many, this is a terrifying
prospect. Our eternal destiny seems to be decided, as it were, in the wink of an eye; with the flick of His
wrist, God assigns us a place with either the sheep or the goats. Is God really acting alone in the final
judgment, making a private, arbitrary decision? How will He really conduct this all-important proceeding?
Daniel 7:9-10, NIV, says: “As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his
seat. . . . Thousands upon thousands attended Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.
The court was seated, and the books were opened.” Note that it says, “thrones were set in place.”
Thrones—in the plural. Evidently the Ancient of Days, God Himself, permits other heavenly beings to
preside with Him in the judgment. That idea is further supported by the phrase, “The court was seated.”
Evidently God’s decision isn’t just a matter of divine decree. He’s willing to carry this out in a court-room
setting, accompanied by others on their thrones, and in front of thousands upon thousands of wit-nesses.
God’s final judgment is not just a private decision but an open affair, which many will witness first-hand.
When the court is seated, Daniel tells us, “the books are opened.” The all-knowing God needs no
reminder of the facts, but He’s chosen to make the final judgment a matter of public record; all the evi-dence
is down in black and white.
In Revelation 20:12 John the Revelator confirms that scene: “I saw the dead, great and small, stand-ing
before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the Book of Life.
The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.” God doesn’t just want
to satisfy Himself in the judgment; He also wants to satisfy all those who witness the proceedings. Evi-dence
is presented on which to render a verdict.
Those nine justices on our own Supreme Court have law clerks do a great deal of research on each
case. They want as many facts as possible before making their decisions. The same is true here: There
seems to be a thorough work of investigation that goes on. The court is seated; books are opened. Be-fore
the saved and lost are finally judged, God graciously goes over the evidence in an open and thorough
investigation.
WHERE does the judgment take place? Obviously, in Daniel 7:9-10, the prophet was directed to
heaven, to the throne room of the universe. There Daniel saw the supreme court of the universe set up in
heaven’s sanctuary. The books were opened there. God’s final judicial investigation takes place in heaven.
What about WHEN? When does it begin? The surrounding verses of Daniel 7:8 & 11—tell of the
Little Horn power speaking great, pompous words on earth while this heavenly court begins proceedings.
And you may recall that Revelation 14:7 tells us: “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His
judgment has come.” Note the text doesn’t say “will come”—at some future time—but “has come.” The
same text clearly states that before Christ returns, a message will go to all the world announcing the judg-ment
hour. So we must look for a type of judgment that occurs before the Second Coming of Christ.
The prophet Daniel gives us the time frame in Daniel 8:14, the Bible’s longest prophecy: “Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” What does that mean, “the sanc-tuary
be cleansed”? The Old Testament sacrificial system had God’s people sacrifice an innocent animal
representing Christ that would bear the guilt of the repentant sinner. A few drops of the animal’s blood
were sprinkled in the sanctuary. Thus the sin was transferred from the sinner to the animal to the sanc-tuary.
All year long, sins symbolically accumulated in the sanctuary, and that’s why the yearly cleansing
service was required. Each year, the Hebrews participated in the DAY OF ATONEMENT. That’s when the sanc-tuary
was cleansed. Leviticus 16:29-30: “In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall
afflict your souls, and do no work at all. . . . For on that day the priest shall make atonement for you, to
cleanse you, that you may be clean from all your sins before the Lord.”
The Day of Atonement was the solemn day of judgment for God’s people. The Jews would search
their heart, “afflict their souls,” and make things right with God. Those daily sacrifices of animals pointed
forward to Christ, but the yearly cleansing of the sanctuary pointed forward to something else: It refers
to a very specific process of judgment that takes place