Introduction: These transcripts of Kay Arthur's lectures on Revelation (Parts 2-4) are provided as a service to the body of Christ with the written permission of Precept Ministries International. This material is the property of Precept Ministries International and all rights are reserved. The transcripts are for the most part verbatim with deletions identified by the characters (...). The utilization of italics, bolding, hyperlinks and pop up notes represent editorial additions. Any written additions are identified by the designation "Ed note". Note that all text in blue identifies a link or popup. All reference are the NASB unless otherwise indicated. Please note that these lectures by Kay Arthur supplement the excellent Precept Upon Precept inductive Bible study on the Revelation. Click the following links to view each division of this encouraging study and note that you can also download the first lesson of each of the 4 parts:
Revelation - Pt 1 - Revelation 1-3, 10 lessons
Revelation - Pt 2- Revelation 4-22, 12 lessons
Revelation - Pt 3- Revelation 4-22, 11 lessons
Revelation - Pt 4 - Revelation 4-22, 14 lessons
If you can find a local Precept class studying Revelation, I would strongly encourage you to join the class, as I know of no other study available anywhere in the world that will equip you so thoroughly to discern the signs of the times and cause you to live expectantly as you look for Christ's Return!
Revelation 4-10
Revelation 11-16
Revelation 17-19
Revelation 20-22
Revelation Pt 2, Lecture 10
by Kay Arthur
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE INSTANT UNDERSTANDING?
(1). YOU SHOULD FALL ON YOUR FACE BEFORE GOD and tell Him you realize that truth is revealed and He alone can unveil the word just as He took the veil off your eyes and brought you from darkness to light, in His timing. The Spirit that is in you is the One that searches the deep things of God and He is the One Who reveals them to us ("For to us God revealed (Ed note: apokalupto = remove the veil or cover exposing to open view what was before hidden) them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God."1 Cor 2:10) as we compare Scripture with Scripture.
(2). BECOME THOROUGHLY FAMILIAR WITH THE TEXT so that you will know the truth for yourself. Kay believes that America is on the verge of God's judgment and her heart is to see an army of men and women be raised up who are able to stand as more than conquerors through Him Who loved us. Jer 12:5 "If you have run with footmen and they have tired you out, Then how can you compete with horses?...''
(3). LET THE TEXT SPEAK FOR ITSELF. Don't twist the Word to try to make it fit a specific interpretation that you may have been taught. Many people put on ''systematic theological'' glasses and therefore look at what they are taught with these preconceived views (on the millennium, on the tribulation, etc).
(4). ESTABLISH THE ''GIVENS'' -- those things in Revelation that we can be absolutely certain about.
(5). DON'T ALTER THE ''GIVENS'' or the OBVIOUS in order to fit some obscure text. Don't allow the obscure to override the obvious.
(6). LET IT SAY WHAT IT SAYS and don't bring fanciful imagination to the word of God. Scripture interprets Scripture.
(7). ALWAYS INTERPRET ANY GIVEN PASSAGE IN THE LIGHT OF ITS CONTEXT: especially the immediate context of the book in which you find the passage and in the light of the rest of the Scripture. Scripture never contradicts Scripture.
(8). WAIT ON THE LORD. When you've done all of these things and you still don't understand, you need to wait on the Lord. But not a passive waiting. Not waiting for God to ''zap'' you with some instant understanding. Wait ACTIVELY by continuing to study, to pray (in the Scriptures) and to meditate or think upon the Scripture.
Review: Click here for chart review of Revelation 4-10 and Revelation 11-16
When 7th SEAL BROKEN > 7 TRUMPETS > 7th BOWL
- End of Man's reign "
- Christ's return to earth
- Earth is harvested
7 SEALS: 6 Seals are mentioned in Chapter 6 (Click here for chart summary)
When was there a change in the book?
Chapter 4 begins the 3rd segment which begins with a vision of the throne and a vision of the opening of the scroll with 7 seals, and that the breaking of those 7 seals brings everything that takes us to the very end, the coming of Jesus Christ in Chapter 19.
GIVEN The 7 sealed scroll includes the trumpets and the bowls and one comes out of the other.
GIVEN : Rev 11:1-13.
a) John is to measures the Temple. Conclusion: There is going to be a literal temple.
b) Court outside is to be trampled by the nations (Gentiles) and is not to be measured
c) Nations will tread down the court 42 MONTHS = 3 1/2 years
d) There will be a Rebuilt Temple: In 70A.D. it was destroyed by Titus. It will be rebuilt in Jerusalem.
e) Two Witnesses prophesy for 1260 days = 3 1/2 years
f) They belong to Christ
g) WHEN they have finished their testimony, the Beast out of the Abyss will kill them
Rev 11:7 "And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up OUT OF THE ABYSS will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them.")
Rev 17:8,11 "The beast that you saw was and is not, and is about to come up OUT OF THE ABYSS and to go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth will wonder, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come...11 "And the beast which was and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction."
CONCLUSION - So this must be the SAME BEAST in Rev 17 as the BEAST that killed the two witnesses in Rev 11, just allowing Scripture to interpret Scripture, letting the text speak for itself.
7 mountains are NOT literal mountains but 7 kings (this may not be what you have been taught)
This BEAST is going to destruction: He may seem victorious in Revelation 11:7, 13:5-8 but not in Revelation 17:8 ("go to destruction [apoleia]") and Revelation 17:11 ("he goes to destruction [apoleia].")
Don't forget the BLESSING from reading, hearing and heeding this book. If I going to heed it, first of all I am going to have to believe it and I'm going to have to believe it the way God says it and I'm going to have to live in the light of it. So your struggle now is not in vain.
- Rev 1:3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.
- Rev 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, "Write, 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!'" "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them."
- Rev 16:15 ("Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his garments, lest he walk about naked and men see his shame.")
- Rev 19:9 And he said to me, "Write, 'Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.'" And he said to me, "These are true words of God."
- Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.
- Rev 22:7 "And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book."
- Rev 22:14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.
Revelation 11: THE BEAST KILLS THE 2 WITNESSES
Rev 11:7 And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them.
WHEN? This takes place at the END OF THEIR 3.5 YEARS (Rev 11:3 "they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days")
Rev 11:9 And those from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations [will] look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb.
Rev 11:9 used to be thought impossible to occur literally but not now with cell phone cameras allowing instantaneous broadcasts from anywhere in the world.
Rev 11:10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. 11 But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13 And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14 The second woe is past; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.
Those who DWELL ON THE EARTH will rejoice. Now WHO KILLED THEM? THE BEAST killed them and it follows that those who dwell on the earth must be very impressed with the BEAST.
How will their enemies behold them? This is ''good news'' to earth dwellers so the cameras will be trained on their dead bodies in Jerusalem the moment their dead bodies come to life and they go up to heaven.
Where's the earthquake? Jerusalem as determined by context (Rev 11:8)
When does this take place? Kay thinks the next verse tells us...
Rev 8:13 And I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in midheaven, saying with a loud voice, "Woe, woe, woe, to those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!"
Four trumpets have been blown. The ''REMAINING'' tells you that the trumpets are still in order but they are not happening at the same time.
In Revelation 9:1-11 you have the 5th Trumpet and in Revelation 9:12 it says the ''First woe is past, behold two woes are still coming after these things.'' Then you come to Revelation 9:13 where the 6th angel sounds his trumpet.
In Revelation 10 we have the angel with the little book, the 7 peals of thunder and John is not allowed to write down. John takes the little book which is sweet in his mouth but bitter in his stomach and then he is told that he must prophesy again concerning many peoples and nations and tongues and kings (Rev 10:11). Now he could have told us after Revelation 9:21 that the 2nd Woe is past but he didn't because he is giving us a GIVEN: he is telling us when
Revelation 11 happens because after Chapter 11 he says that the 2ND WOE IS PAST.
Now come let us reason together (Isaiah 1:18)...
If after the 6th trumpet the 2ND WOE IS PAST, where do you have to put the two witnesses ?
a) The two witnesses must go between Trumpets 6 & 7 or right at 6.
b) We also know that the TEMPLE is there but...
c) Jerusalem is trodden by the nations, for 3.5 years
d) These witnesses have completed their testimony at the end of the 6th trumpet.
e) So from the 6th trumpet on you can go back 3.5 years.
GIVEN WHAT HAPPENS IN THE 7th TRUMPET: Rev 11:14-19
Obviously the 7th trumpet comes AFTER the 6th trumpet
It appears that at the 7th TRUMPET God is beginning to reign. He has always reigned but this is an active reign. The nations are enraged because it is a definitive intervention by God.
ED COMMENT: This verse can be confusing, for clearly God is not yet reigning on the earth at the time of the sounding of the 7th Trumpet. The solution is found in understanding the meaning of the verb "has become" in the declaration "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ." Has become is what is known as a prophetic (proleptic) aorist which means that the event described is so certain to occur in the future that it is described in the past tense as if it had already occurred. The prophetic aorist is commonly used in the Revelation. For example, in Rev 14:8 we read "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great...." And yet she does not literally fall until the Seventh Bowl is poured out in Revelation 16:19 and "Babylon the great was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath." Thus the verbs "Fallen, fallen" are both in the past tense, the prophetic aorist, because Babylon's future fall is so sure!
The phrase "time to reward bondservants the prophets and the saints (there is a separation here) and to those who fear Thy name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth. "the time to give their reward to Thy bond-servants the prophets and to the saints and to those who fear Thy name, the small and the great (the time of the reward is separated from the time of the destruction) and to destroy those who destroy the earth."
What did we study this week? The destruction of the great city, Babylon. Next week we will see the destruction of the BEAST. So we see those who are destroying the earth will be destroyed.
So the 7th trumpet either happens instantaneously or it is a time in which all the rest of these things are going to be accomplished. We know that when that 7th trumpet is blown, seven bowls come out of this trumpet and "the mystery of God is finished".
Revelation 12: GIVEN WHEN THE DRAGON IS CAST DOWN:
a) When the woman flees into the wilderness she is there for 3 1/2 YEARS
b) Some say the woman is the church but note that she gives birth to a male child who is caught up to God and to His throne. What Male has ever been caught up to God and to His throne? Enoch (Ge 5:24) and Elijah (2Ki 2:11) went up but there is no mention of a dragon associated with them.
c) So the male taken up to heaven must be Christ
d) The dragon is clearly Satan, the serpent of old (so he has just defined for us who it was who came as the the tempter into the garden of Eden)
e) At some point in time the dragon is cast out of heaven and down to the earth
f) Next to Rev 12:10 (And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night. ) write Rev 11:15 "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever."
Revelation 11:15 The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ
Revelation 12:10 the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come,
So it seems that at the same THE TIME DRAGON IS CAST DOWN, the KINGDOM OF THIS WORLD has become THE KINGDOM OF OUR LORD AND OF HIS CHRIST. (Ed: see prophetic aorist)
If that is so, then when would that be happening?
The time when the dragon is cast down correlates with the sounding of the 7th Trumpet, because John states that at both events we see the kingdom of this world become the kingdom of our God. You may still have questions about the timing of this event and if you do put a question mark by these events.
Rev 12:6 "And the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she might be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days...11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even to death. (What do we learn? they were being killed) 12 "For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has ONLY A SHORT TIME." (time phrase) 13 And WHEN (time phrase) the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. 14 And the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, in order that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a TIME AND TIMES AND HALF A TIME, from the presence of the serpent.
When the dragon is cast down to earth, the woman flees in the wilderness for 3.5 years.
GIVEN So we know that after the devil has been cast down there has to be a 3.5 year time period. If this happens at the 7TH TRUMPET then you know that from this time on you have 3.5 year left. Where is the woman? In the wilderness. (Rev 12:6, 14)
Revelation 13: THE BEAST
The BEAST has been given his power and authority by the dragon.
Rev 13:5 And there was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies; and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, [that is], those who dwell in heaven. 7 And it was given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them; and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him.
GIVEN So the BEAST was given his power for 3.5 years and he will make war on the saints for 3.5 years and has power to overcome them.
Recall from Rev 12:12 that when the devil is cast down he has only a SHORT TIME.
So how long is a SHORT TIME? We know that the dragon gives authority to the beast for 3.5 years (Rev 13:5) and we know that the beast persecutes the saints for 3.5 years and that the woman flees from the dragon for 3.5 years. Interesting, isn't it?
The Trumpet and Bowl judgments both come out of the Scroll when the Lamb removes the Seventh Seal.
GIVENS associated with Revelation 11:1-13:
- The Jewish Temple will be rebuilt.
- Court outside the Temple will be trampled by the Gentile nations for 42 months (3 1/2 years, 1260 days)
- God's two Witnesses prophesy for 1260 days (3 1/2 years, 42 months)
- When the two witnesses have finished their testimony, the Beast out of the Abyss will kill them
- This Beast has the same description of the beast in Rev 17 - both came up out of the abyss
- The killing of the 2 witnesses by the Beast takes places at the end of 1260 days (3.5 years)
- The two witnesses are killed in Jerusalem
- After the 6th trumpet the 2nd woe is past.
- The 2 witnesses must be prophesying either between Trumpets 6 and 7 or right at Trumpet 6.
GIVENS associated with Revelation 12:
- The woman flees into the wilderness for 1260 days (Rev 12:6) or "time and times and half a time" (Rev 12:14)
- The woman is not the church for she gives birth to the Male Who has to be Christ
- The dragon is Satan
- Satan is cast out of heaven to earth at the 7th Trumpet
GIVENS associated with the 7th Trumpet:
- God is beginning to reign (ED: see prophetic aorist).
- Satan is cast down to earth and has only a "short time" which appears to equate with 3.5 years remaining for him to exert authority.
- Seven bowls come out of the 7th Trumpet and "the mystery of God is finished". (Rev 10:7)
- When the dragon is cast down there is a 3.5 year time period. If this happens at the 7th Trumpet then you know that from this time on you have 3.5 years left.
GIVENS associated with Revelation 13:
- The beast has been given his power and authority by the dragon (Rev 13:5), so the beast in Rev 13:1 is not Satan.
- The beast has authority for 42 months (3.5 years, 1260 days) to wage war against and overcome the saints (Rev 13:7)
Editorial note: This four part Precept course on Revelation and the lectures by Kay Arthur builds precept upon precept, so do not become discouraged or frustrated if you can't completely understand the timing of the various events John describes at this point in your study. Continue to prayerfully read the book of Revelation, making special note of the key time phrases and the progression of events. As you persevere, your Teacher, the Holy Spirit, will begin to unlock the timing of these glorious events step by step. As He reveals the truth, then you will be adequately prepared to compare your understanding with what the commentaries have to say. If you go to the commentaries before you have a good "feel" for the timing of events, you will find a wide variety of interpretations which may leave you very confused.
Study to show yourself approved unto God.
Instant holiness? No.
Instant knowledge? No.
But in the process of getting to know God,
God is going to give you an assurance that will hold you in the difficult days ahead.