Revelation - Part 3 - Lecture 11

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!

Index to Revelation Lectures
Kay Arthur

• Click Here for other "Futuristic" Resources on Revelation
• Click here for Kay Arthur's Older Lecture Series on Daniel

Revelation Lectures
Part 2

Revelation Lectures
Part 3

Revelation Lectures
Part 4

A Prophecy Regarding Israel: The Beginning of the End
Rev, Pt 3: LECTURE 11: By Kay Arthur

Click following for literal chapter by chapter chart summary of:
Revelation 4-10
Revelation 11-16
Revelation 17-19
Revelation 20-22

Revelation is certainly God's message to the church. It's the unveiling of things which must shortly take place. It is also a prophecy regarding Israel. It's like the end of the end or the beginning of the end.

In Genesis we see a number of beginnings: man, sin, nations, prophecy of promise to land to Abraham and his descendents forever.

When we go to Revelation we see the end of this creation and the beginning of a new heaven and a new earth. In Genesis we see the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden. In Revelation we see the Tree of Life in the Holy City, Jerusalem coming down out of heaven as a bride adorned for her husband.

In Genesis we see the beginning of the nation of Israel and in Revelation we see the culmination of those promises and that the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable as they relate to Israel. In Genesis there is a promise to the Church that in Abraham all the nations will be blessed. Paul teaches that "the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "ALL THE NATIONS SHALL BE BLESSED IN YOU." (Galatians 3:8+) So God preached the GOSPEL to Abraham and gave us the promise of Jew and Gentile coming together.

We see the fulfillment of Jew and Gentile in Revelation where the BRIDE, the CHURCH is told to make herself ready because He is coming and His reward is with Him. In Genesis God lays out the seeds of all the major truths of His Word and in Revelation we see it all unveiled.

What is started in Genesis is finished (completed, brought to fulfillment) in Revelation.

When you look at the Bible, you see that the OT centers around THE NATION OF ISRAEL, THE JEWS. But don't think that if the OT centers on Israel it has no significance for you. If you are going to know God, to understand His ways, to understand prophecy, to be prepared for the future, the OLD TESTAMENT is absolutely crucial.

Romans 15:4+ For whatever was written in earlier times (the OT) was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

The OT is the ''Bible'' of the Jews for the most part because they have rejected Jesus Christ. The OT is filled with PROPHECIES: about the first coming of Jesus Christ, about the second coming of Jesus Christ (although most Jews do not believe in a first coming), about the nations that have ''touched'' the nation of Israel, & about Israel's birth and future. There are very few prophecies about the church in the OT, a mystery which Paul reveals as Jew and Gentile in one body. So as you read the OT prophecies like Jer 31:31+ (see Scripture below. This passage is also quoted in Heb 9 &10), remember that this prophecy was primarily given to Israel and has a still to come fulfillment (refer to last week's lecture).

Jeremiah 31:31+ "Behold, days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them," declares the LORD. 33 "But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days," declares the LORD, "I will put My law within them, and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 "And they shall not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them," declares the LORD, "for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."

The promise to the church is hidden in Genesis

Genesis 12:3+ And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

When you come to the NT the focus is JESUS CHRIST, with great detail of His FIRST coming in addition to prophecies regarding His SECOND coming.

John 1:11+ He came to His own, (JEWS) and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

So except for a REMNANT (see more detail on "Remnant" in Ezekiel 6 notes) most of Israel did not RECEIVE the MESSIAH at His first coming. Then in Acts we see the GOSPEL being proclaiming to the Jews in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria (half Jew and half Gentile) and then to the uttermost parts of the world. So in Acts 2+ it begins with Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit to indwell the Jews and about 8 years later the Holy Spirit indwelling the Gentiles and thus you have the CHURCH. So in the NT you think more of Jesus and the Church. The prophecies in the NT then have to do with the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and also the relationship of the Church to His Second Coming. 1Cor 15 and 1 Thes 4:13-17+ (v17 says "we who are alive and remain shall be caught up...to meet the Lord in the air" where "caught up" is Greek word for "snatched away". Our English "rapture" comes from "raptus" meaning "seized") describe a ''Rapture'' or catching up of the church. These saints won't die but will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air along with those who are resurrected to be with Him forever. You also see prophesy regarding Israel in the NT. Remember that most Jews will not read the NT but God has it all present in the OT...including the GOSPEL and everything they need to know for salvation is in the OT. The NT is the fulfillment of these prophecies.

THE PURPOSE OF REVELATION IN THE WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD'S WORD

What is the specific role and purpose of Revelation in the NT and in the whole counsel of God's Word? The prophecies regarding Israel are not only in Revelation but also in Romans, this latter giving an explanation of the gospel, the most complete explanation of the gospel in the word of God. You need to get Romans under your belt. Romans 9-11 explains why Israel has refused the Gospel and what God is going to do in regard to Israel in the future. Now Israel's rejection has been our (Gentile's) salvation, but God is going to save Israel when a Deliverer comes from Zion and then all Israel will be saved. This is God's covenant with them when He takes away their sins as Paul taught in Romans

"For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own estimation, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles has come in; and thus all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, "THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB." "AND THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS." (Ro 11:25-27+ quoting Jer 31:31-34).

Why? "for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable" (Ro 11:29+) And those gifts and callings are explained in the OT.

REVELATION WAS WRITTEN TO THE CHURCH

Revelation was written specifically to the CHURCH...to show the things which must shortly take place...those things which lead up to the coming of Jesus Christ to the earth. John is told to write and send to the 7 churches in Asia. Revelation opens with a word to the church and closes with a word to the church.

Revelation 22:6+ And he said to me, "These words are faithful and true"; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must shortly take place....16 "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright morning star." 17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.

So as the BRIDE OF JESUS CHRIST you are to take these truths of things that will shortly come to pass and to offer them to JEW & to GENTILE (the gospel is to the Jew first and then to the Gentile). We are still in the times of the fulness of the Gentiles and there is still only a remnant of Jews who will believe in Messiah. The Church is the Bride of Christ and Israel is the Wife of God. See Jeremiah, Hosea, Ezekiel for a description of the WIFE of God (esp. Ezekiel 16+). God's "Wife" played the HARLOT, so He sold her into CAPTIVITY in Hosea. But Hosea redeemed his wife Gomer from the auction block of slavery, brought her home, shut her up for a while and then went back into her, re-consummating their marriage. Revelation is the message to the Bride of Christ, the Church and the OT is the message to Israel, the Wife of God. Where did Jesus Christ come from? From Israel. So Jesus was born from the woman Israel so to speak. Revelation 12+ teaches that from a woman would come a Male Child Who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron.

REVELATION TEACHES ABOUT ISRAEL, THE WIFE OF GOD

Revelation also teaches much regarding God's Wife Israel. Why? Because the OT prophecies have not been fulfilled. So when you study Revelation you have to carefully study to determine whether the text is talking about Israel or the Church. You may say for example that any time ''saints'' is referred to is about the Church but that is not true because in the OT ‘saints’ refers to Israel. Revelation has more OT prophecies (~300-350) than any other NT book and many are almost straight quotes from the OT. Revelation is in fact a ‘Jewish’ Book. (Ed: See Israel Wife of Jehovah)

THE HEAVENLY CONFLICT FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION

In the OT & the NT we also see a HEAVENLY CONFLICT that begins in Genesis 3+ when the Serpent comes into the garden and tempts Eve. In Revelation 12+ God identifies the Serpent as Satan. In Isaiah 14 there is a prophecy about the king of Babylon but that prophecy goes beyond the king of Babylon to speak about a power who is ruling through the king of Babylon. In Ezekiel 28 there is another section that gives us clues as to how Satan came into being. In Ezekiel 28 the prophecy about the king of Tyre shows us a glimpse of Satan acting through this leader.

HEAVENLY CONFLICT IN DANIEL

Daniel 10: Daniel is praying and an angel shows up:

Daniel 10:12+ Then he said to me, "Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. 13 "But the prince of the kingdom of Persia (There is an angelic being behind the prince) was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, (from Da 10:21 and Daniel 12:1+ we know that Michael is the angel that watches over Israel) one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.14 "Now I have come to give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision pertains to the days yet future."…20 Then he said, "Do you understand why I came to you? But I shall now return to fight against the prince of Persia; so I am going forth, and behold, the prince of Greece is about to come.

HEAVENLY CONFLICT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

So there is a HEAVENLY CONFLICT in the OT and it is directed specifically against the NATION OF ISRAEL. When you come to the NT what is the conflict that you see? You see Jesus being tempted by the Devil in the wilderness and then all through the gospels you see Jesus confronting demons and the disciples confronting people who are demon possessed. In the Epistles you see constant warnings about our ADVERSARY. In Revelation you see the HEAVENLY CONFLICT once again, especially in Revelation 13.

Revelation 13:2+ And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority.

Just as in the OT the kings of Tyre and Babylon got their power from Satan, we see a similar power behind the Beast.

Revelation 12:9+ And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

So as you study Revelation remember that we are seeing a CULMINATION OF THIS HEAVENLY CONFLICT as the Devil is first bound for 1000 years and then cast into the Lake of fire in Revelation 20:11-15+.

THE CHURCH & ISRAEL IN THE REVELATION

Revelation 1:19+ Write the things which he saw: Jesus Christ in His power and glory

Revelation 2 & 3: The things that are: To the church

Revelation 4-22: The things that must take place after these things. The church is not mentioned from Chapter 4-19, where the BRIDE is mentioned

Revelation 19:7+ "Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready."

Revelation 21:2+ And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.

Revelation 21:10+ And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,

So in Revelation 2&3 the CHURCH is mentioned and then again in Rev 19 & 21, but at that time the CHURCH is in HEAVEN not on earth.

When is the first time Israel is mentioned in Revelation?

Revelation 7:2+ And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the bond-servants (so immediately you tend to think about the Church because Rev 1:1 is to bondservants and refers to the Church. But here the bond-servants clearly refers to Israel.) of our God on their foreheads."4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:

The next mention of ISRAEL in Revelation is Revelation 11:1-2ff+ (the Temple). Just remember that Revelation as the last book of the Bible is summing up everything. It is the culmination, the fulfillment, the finishing of everything that God began in Genesis. When Israel appears on the scene you have had a description of the 7 seals but just before the 7^th Seal is broken we are told that God says to hold back the winds until the 144,000 are sealed on their forehead. Then with the 7^th Seal broken we have 144,000 of Israel sealed and after that we see the 7 Trumpets come forth. We see 1/3 of the earth burned, all of the green grass burned, 1/3 of the waters being polluted…so you see that the earth is being harmed. But you know that before the earth is harmed 144,000 Jews are sealed.

THE PIVOTAL POINT IN THE REVELATION

When you get to the 6^th Trumpet (2^nd Woe) you see some significant things happening. The 2^nd Woe in Rev 11 is the 7^th Trumpet and Kay believes that this is the pivotal point in the Revelation. You may not agree but before you go read what other commentators say, go to the word of God yourself. What is happening is that as we read commentaries, some of the things they say make sense but they don't present the whole picture. At the 7^th Trumpet God takes Israel ‘by the hand’ and brings her center stage. As the 7^th Trumpet is blown you see a fulfillment of much OT prophecy that has to do with this critical period in Israel’s history, the time of Jacob’s distress (Jer 30:7+).

Revelation 11:1+ And there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, "Rise and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and those who worship in it. (The Jewish Temple with Jewish worshippers…so Israel is now ‘center stage’) 2 "And leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months.

This 42 months either has to go back somewhere into the seals and trumpets or forward. Kay feels that at this point in the study it seems that this speaks to a future time when the Holy City will be given to the Gentiles. The 3 ½ years is a crucial time period in the history of Israel.

Revelation 11:3+ "And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth."4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.

WHO ARE THE 2 WITNESSES?

Zechariah 4:2 (An angel is talking to Zerubbabel the high priest and the angel speaks to him…) And he said to me, "What do you see?" And I said, "I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold with its bowl on the top of it, and its seven lamps on it with seven spouts belonging to each of the lamps which are on the top of it;3 also two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on its left side."4 Then I answered and said to the angel who was speaking with me saying, "What are these, my lord?"5 So the angel who was speaking with me answered and said to me, "Do you not know what these are?" And I said, "No, my lord."6 Then he answered and said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts…

Zechariah 4:11 Then I answered and said to him, "What are these two olive trees on the right of the lampstand and on its left?"12 And I answered the second time and said to him, "What are the two olive branches which are beside the two golden pipes, which empty the golden oil from themselves?"13 So he answered me saying, "Do you not know what these are?" And I said, "No, my lord. "Then he said, "These are the two anointed ones, who are standing by the Lord of the whole earth."

Revelation 11:4+ These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.

Who are they? We know they have been prophesying for 3 ½ years. Kay believes that up until the 6^th Trumpet the TWO WITNESSES have been prophesying for 3 ½ years. How far back she cannot say.

Revelation 11:6+ These have the power to shut up the sky, in order that rain may not fall during the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to smite the earth with every plague, as often as they desire. (Elijah according to Malachi has to come before the great and terrible day of the Lord. Also Elijah never died so he has been before the throne.) 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.8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.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.

So again we see the FOCUS IS ON ISRAEL. And Kay feels that since Elijah never died one of these prophets could be Elijah and the other might be Enoch. But she admits that this is just speculation.

Rev 11:14+ The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly

Here is the pivotal point in Revelation for the nation of Israel and it is at this time that Israel steps on the scene as a MAIN CHARACTER. In the 7^th Trumpet the kingdom of the World becomes the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ. Then in Revelation 12+ we see a SIGN of a Woman, pregnant with a CHILD, God’s Child through Israel, God’s only begotten Son. What was God’s Son to do? The OT said that He was to rule and reign with a rod of iron. So He was caught up to heaven. Satan was cast down and when he is cast down he persecutes the WOMAN and she flees into the wilderness for 3 ½ years . If the city of Jerusalem was not being trodden down at this time by the Gentiles, they would feel as if they were politically and militarily secure. But they are not, for the Antichrist, the man of lawlessness, the Little Horn, the first Beast, breaks his covenant in the middle of the Seven Year period, and the woman, Israel, flees into the wilderness for 3 ½ years.

In Matthew 24:15+ Jesus taught that when the Jews saw the Abomination of Desolation standing in the Holy Place they were to flee. So Matthew 24 fits into this time from the 7th Trumpet on. Luke 21:20-24+ is a prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD but it also jumps to the time of the end (eg, Luke 21:25ff+). Mt 25:31-46 describes the Messiah coming to judge all the nations based on how they treated the Jews. As you think of Revelation, remember to think of the events in terms of when God is dealing with the Church and when He is dealing with Israel.

You have seen precious truths that you would not have seen if you had just listened to Kay teach or just read someone else’s commentaries. As you read the OT try to decide what period God is talking about.

Blow Holy Breath upon us and open the eyes of our understanding
so that
we might see and understand what the Spirit is saying to us
about the things which must shortly take place
so that
we will live accordingly,
knowing that He Who is coming will come quickly
and
His reward is with Him to give to every man according to his deeds.

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What will your reward be? (2Co 5:10+)

Walk in the light of what you are hearing. (1Jn 1:7+)

Heed the words of this prophecy. (Rev 1:3+)