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Studies in the Book of Revelation
BOOK 5 - ANTI-CHRIST AND THE LAMB OF GOD (REVELATION 13:1 - 16:21) -- Christ in the midst of his martyrs in spite of anti-Christ and the devastating bowl judgments
PART 5.1 - SUPPLEMENT: BIBLE PROPHECIES ABOUT THE APPEARANCE OF ANTI-CHRIST
IntroductionIntroduction: Patriarch John, banished to the isle of Patmos, was standing on the beach of the Mediterranean Sea while he saw in a fearsome vision the seven-headed blazing red dragon fall from heaven onto the earth, presumably onto the land east of the isle of Patmos where the seven churches were situated. John heard and realized the comfortable message of this vision: Satan has been defeated by the Lamb of God through his angels! The seer also perceived that the enemy of God is still trying with all effort and in a fit of rage to destroy the church of Jesus Christ. The tempter knows that his time is short (Revelation 12:1-18). Satan tempted Jesus in vain that he could win the masses as “Bread King” or fill those who are hooked on wonders with enthusiasm through a vision where he was being hold up by angels or take all power on earth so as to set up his kingdom of the Messiah by means of money and gold, if he only fell down and worshipped him, Satan, instead of justifying the rebels against God on the cross (Matthew 4:1-11). Therefore, Jesus named Satan in the Lord's Prayer the “evil” (Matthew 6:13), who aimed at keeping him off from the atoning death in a “friendly” manner by Peter (Matthew 16:21-23). On the cross the Lamb of God revealed the powerlessness of Satan who had not succeeded in tempting Jesus to sin. He who was tortured to death loved his enemies and forgave them their debt (Luke 23:34). He held fast to the faithfulness of God who forsook him because of the judgment of our sins (Matthew 27:46). The Dying One committed his spirit to the hands of his hidden father, even though he passed away being in a desperate situation (Luke 23:46; John 19:30). In all temptations of Satan Jesus did not despair but he kept on loving, believing and hoping. By his wonderful resurrection from death Jesus revealed the legal validity of his substitutionary atoning death (Romans 4:25; 5:10 and other verses), his sinless holiness and his eternal life which death and Satan cannot extinguish. Christ is and remains the victor about God's wrath and Satan's cunning and power. The Evil One could not prevent the Son of Maria from reconciling the world to God. Christ's salvation means the total defeat of Satan. Since Jesus has ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9-11) and has been enthroned by his Father, the accuser of all sinners has no right any more to bring any charge against the justified ones (Revelation 12:10-11). Jesus, our high priest, justifies us through his own blood shed for us and gives us his Holy Spirit so that we may live a holy life (Romans 8:1-2; Ephesians 1:4). The gentle Lamb of God received all power in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18; Ephesians 1:20-22; Revelation 5:7-12 and other verses). Therefore Satan had to be cast out of heaven. His concept of lies and murder (John 8:44) had been failed by the humble Christ. Even nowadays the enemy of God and His Lamb is trying to destroy the church of Jesus Christ from the inside as well as from the outside. The destroyer wants to destroy the spiritual temple of God in this world whatever the cost. Satan knows that he is able as an evil spirit to tear and to liberalize the church but not to extinguish. Therefore he wants to become a human being so as to eradicate as a power-obsessed and brutal tyrant the saints of God by great power and much cunning. The fight of the Evil One against the children of the Good One has fully been broken out for 2000 years. St Paul awakes us so as recognize this fact and to live respectively (Ephesians 6:10-20). Since then many anti-Christs being inspired by Satan appeared and returned to hell again (Matthew 24:5.11.24; 1 John 2:18-19; 4:1 and other verses). Yet in the end of this time the devil will incarnate all his wickedness and murderous power in a single person, i.e. in anti-Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:3-12; Revelation: 13:2-3) who is to destroy definitely the church of the saints all over the world so that the returning Savior may not find a single follower on this earth. The son of the Evil One wants to kill and eradicate the spiritual body of the Son of God. Yet he will fail because of the lamb character trait of the followers of Jesus. Some of them the Lord will give share in his suffering and death (Romans 8:17, Galatians 6:17, Philippians 1:20-21; 3:10 and other verses). The Bible speaks several times of how dreadful this time of trial of the church of Christ will be in the end of time. Therefore, those who will understand the description of anti-Christ in the Book of Revelation of Jesus Christ should memorize the warnings of the Holy Spirit beforehand so that they do not become afraid and fall into temptation. Patriarch John assumed that the prophecies of the Old and New Testament are known to the readers of his visions, yet he summarized, deepened and complemented them so that we may face confidently the coming of Christ. With his summary of the previous prophesies John do not want to introduce us in the deep secrets of Satan (Revelation 2:24) but to glorify the victory of Jesus Christ over anti-Christ, his false prophet and the dragon. 1. The Night Visions of Daniel (Daniel 7:1-28)Daniel means “God is judging"! Daniel the prophet is the first who saw in his visions and dreams in the Land of The Two Rivers details about the terrible beast from the sea which was more dreadful than all his precursors. Yet the prophet saw also God, the judge, and the Son of Man who received authority and the eternal kingdom from God. With the seventh chapter of his prophetic book Daniel laid the foundation for all subsequent prophesies at the end times: DANIEL 7:1-28 This vision of Daniel relates to four world empires, of which the following is reported:
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we worship You and rejoice because You are the true father to those who are called Your children in heaven and on earth. We respect You because You grant each culture and each state a certain time to show their truth and their fruit, except Christ and His followers, because You have given Him all authority and glory in heaven and on earth. To Him belong glory and dominion forever, and we are kept in His grace. Amen. QUESTIONS:
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