The Revelation Of Jesus The Christ
Session #6
The 7 –Trumpet, The Signs of the Dragon, The Star Crowned
BirthingWoman, A Beast From The Sea & One From the Land
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“When death stung Jesus Christ it stung itself to death.” Peter Joshua – Welsh Pastor
I. INTRODUCTION AND REVIEW –– CHAPTER 8–11:14
A. THE 7TH SEAL OF THE SCROLL IS OPENED AND IT REVEALS A MESSAGE VIA, 7
Trumpets reveal 7 images of heavenly & earthly realities. Realities that address
the shape of history as it moves to the fulfillment of God’s purposes and images
that speak to the role that Jesus’ people are play in the world.
1. We saw that this second circle of 7 “partial tribulations” was understood by
John to be a part of God’s patient grace. “And they did not repent.”

Isaiah 26: 9–10: My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my
spirit longs for you. When your jugdments come upon the earth, the people
of the world learn righteousness. Though grace is shown to the wicked,
they do not learn righteousness; even in a land of uprightouseness they go
on doing evil and regad not the majesty of the Lord.”
2. The role that Jesus’ people are to fulfill is summed up in the words “faithful
witnesses” and “overcomers.” Their role is also described by what they do and
do not worship –– expressing through word and deed the reality of the
Kingdom Gospel of the Lamb which is to be given to every people group
(nation).
3. This role is seen powerfully in the story of the ministry, death by persecution,
and resurrection of the martyrs, and the two prophetic witnesses (Ch. 11) who
like Jesus persist in their prophetic ministry to the death.
II. THE SEVENTH TRUMPET SOUNDS & THE THIRD WOE ROLLS OUT TO THE HEARER!
(11:15-19)
A. “HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT IS SAYING TO THE CHURCHES.” –– Chapter 11:15–19.
B. A LOUD VOICE ANNOUNCES: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom
of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever."
C. THE 24 ELDERS HIT THE DUST . The Theme Of Their Song?
D. A BRIEF DIGRESSION ON THE THEME OF HUMAN & DEMONIC ANGER/WRATH
AND GOD’S JUSTICE & JUDGMENTS.
1. We read that the nations are angry (v18) (full of wrath against God; we will
read that the “great dragon” is full of fury; that the Beast from the Sea is full
of blasphamous speech (angry, insulting, profane speech against God) – “Out
of the heart the mouth speaks.” –– Clearly the nations and the Beast are
pictured as having a heart of pride and intense anger? (Ps. 2)
2. The presence of anger, wrath and judgment are a profound theme in
Revelation. Human & demonic wrath and injustice are tied up in the question
of rebellion and pride. God and the Lamb’s wrath and judgments/justice are
always connected to the issue of unrepentant evil. I will try and augment this
issue with handouts over the next couple of weeks.
3. Note the idea of “justice/judgment” that is alluded too in the words, “and for
destroying those who destroy the earth.” Judgment is a real challenge for the
reader who holds that values are simply the product of human culture and are
never absolute. Such a reader is hard pressed to argue for any clear response
to the evils of injustice and the destructiveness of sin. It is a contradictive
paradox for the person who says that values are simply cultural constructions,
to then come out using language of good and evil in regards to such issues as
earth keeping, animal care, or other concerns that students are often times
passionate about. Where does this yearning for a kinder and more gentle
world come from? Where does this sense of “judgment” come from with
regards to right and wrong?
4. MOVING ON: The reader is just about ready to shout Amen and “whew it’s
over”, when another door opens into the temple itself and reveals to us the
Ark of God’s covenant with His people. (v.19)
III. THE MESSIAH’S WAR (CHAPTER 12–14)
A.
WAR ON EARTH AND IN HEAVEN :
(Chapters12-14)
B. 3 DOMINATING SIGNS.
•
12:1-17 The star crowned woman and the great red dragon.
•
•
13:1-10 The Sea Beast
13:11-18 The Earthly Beast
C. SIGNS IN THE BIBLE AND IN REVELATION? (JOHN’S GOSPEL)
D. THE TEXT: “HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT IS SAYING TO THE CHURCHES.” –– Chapter
12:1–17
E. THE STAR CROWNED WOMAN AND THE GREAT RED DRAGON –– Rev 12:1–17
1. WHO IS THE WOMAN?  HINTS AT HER IDENTITY.

F ANCY DRESS & ASSESSORIZED (Genesis 37:9):

SHE IS WITH CHILD AND CRIES OUT IN HER LABOR PAINS. (Isaiah 26:17-
18; 66:7-11)

WHO ARE HER OTHER CHILDREN?

A RETELLING OF THE NATIVITY STORY .

BIRTH AND ASCENSION BUT NO IN -BETWEEN! WHY?

WHAT THE MESSIAH’S BIRTH/RISING EXCITES !

MESSIAH’S BIRTH/RISING RESULTS IN WARFARE IN HEAVEN AND ON THE
EARTH. Note: In Revelation Satan’s defeat and his being cast out of
heaven is in light of the resurrection and ascension of Jesus not the
original fall.

HOW LONG OF A WAR?
F. WHO IS THE DRAGON?  HINTS AT HIS IDENTITY.
1. HE IS MASSIVE AND RED:

Seven Heads:

Ten Horns:

Seven Crowns:
–– The Images are meant to convey to the readers the pervasive primeval
power of evil and its origins in the serpent/dragon of Eden. Later named for
us: The Satan & The Devil
2. HE IS CAST DOWN
3. BRIEF DIGRESSION: HIS ROLE AS AN ANGEL? AS A F ALLEN ANGEL?

His role as an angel? It would have been to carry out the will and works
of God. But in the story of the fall and in the book of Job we find him
willingly provoking evil (and accussing) in order to prosecute evil.  He
is profoundly twisted in his corruption. He is pictured here (12:9–10) as
both the Satan (accuser) and He is the devil (diabolis).

Dr. Larry Hurtado suggests that he is a type of twisted “prosecuting
attorney.” “He [Satan] thinks that prosecuting and judgment are the most
important realities.” –– His last word is judgment and this puts him
profoundly in conflict with God whose deepest purpose (even in wrath) is
redemptive forgiveness and reconciliation. God’s last word is merciful
forgiveness in Christ.

Hurtado’s further pondering,  “Is this the deep basis of the great conflict
between good and evil? Is the deepest essence of evil in Satan a rebellion
against cooperating with God’s divine character and his creational and
now redemptive intentions”? (Jonah: the Diabolical prophet; Jesus on the
“father” of the twisted religious leaders being the devil?)
4. HE SPEWS A RIVER OF WATER OUT OF HIS MOUTH (12:15)
G. PASTORAL POINT:
H. THE BEAST OUT OF THE SEA –– “Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Churches.”
–– Chapter 13:1-10 ––
1. THE DRAGON’S EXPANDED WAR: In Revelation 12:17 we are told that the
dragon goes off in a rage to make war against the “rest” of the woman’s
offspring. We should ask, “Where, How, and When”, questions.
a. WHERE 
b. WHEN 
c. HOW 
2. THE FIRST & GREATEST BEAST –– OUT OF THE SEA
a. FOUR IN ONE! [Daniel 7: 2-8]
b. THE SEA MONSTER LEVIATHAN (Job 3:8, 26; 41:1; Ps 74:14; 104: 26;
Isaiah 27:1):
c. ASSOCIATES OF THE SATAN:
d. P RIMARY ATTRIBUTLES OF THE SEA BEAST:

The beast is given great power [ten horns] and has great authority and
wealth –– 7 heads with ten crowns which are ten kings 17:12.

THE HEAD FATALLY WOUNDED THAT WAS HEALED ? (Nero Ridivius
Myth)

Blasphemous and deceitful (deceiving the nations).

The sea beast is described in both political and spiritual images.
e. THE BREADTH & LENGTH OF HIS RULE?
f.
HE WARS AGAINST THE SAINTS AND CONQUERS THEM . (13:2; 15:2)

This conquering is _____________________ and
___________________________.

The readers could see all of this being fulfilled in the power and
authority of the Caesars of Rome.

But Jesus, Paul and John [1John] all speak of something that is both
present and will continue to the end of the age. (1Jn.4:2–3;
2Thessalonians:2:5–10; 2Timothy 3:1-5)

Is it small wonder that many ages have believed they were facing
Revelation’s Beast? [Handouts]
g. PASTORAL POINT: Once again the question is: “Which viewpoint are you,
as a reader going to embrace? Is it the earthly one or the heavenly one?
Which world do you live for? The present one that is passing away or the
one that will last?”
1. JOHN’S PASTORAL ASIDE [verse 9-10] “This calls for patient endurance
and faithfulness on the part of the saints.”
IV. THE BEAST OUT OF THE EARTH ––“Hear what the Spirit is saying to the
Churches.” –– CH. 13:11-18
A. THE MYTHICAL “BEHEMOTH” –– ruler of the land.

Looks like a lamb but speaks like a dragon.
B. PASTORAL POINT: Wisdom is called for. (Epistle of James also deals with trials,
temptations, discerning, and the need for wisdom. James 1:2–8; 3:13–18)

Discerning is more of the ear, or eye. “He who has an ear…”  Falsehood is
not always readily seen [looks like a lamb] but is discerned by its words [out
of the heart the mouth speaks].  John reminds us that we must not look to
the exterior world of “signs, wonders, and the crowd”  we must learn to hear
what the message is and think through clearly the messages effects and
implications.  The profound danger of being a mere experientialist.
C. WHO IS HE?

HE IS A ____________________________ OF THE SEA BEASTS AGENDA 
and by association the Dragon!

HIS P URPOSE?

HE HAS _______________________________ SATANIC P OWER  and is a
clear mimicry of true religion. (2Tim3:1-5 esp. v.5).
2 Timothy 3:1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.
2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud,
abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love,
unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,
4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—
5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with
them.

THE ___________________________ OF THE BEAST: This religion is co-
opted by the political power of the 1st Beast and is entangled in the realm of
economics.  No buying and selling without the “mark” of the Beast.  A
counterpoint to 7:3 and the mark of the “living God.”
D. PASTORAL QUESTION: Are we prayerful and discerning about the constant
attempt of political powers to co-opt the believing community for its own
purposes?

The use of economics as a form of oppression to create conformity?
Remember the trade guilds in the 7 letters? That is what they faced.

The Goal? ____________________________ of our testimony.
E. QUESTION: What insidious economic appeals and pressures will we face in our
jobs in the future?
F. THE TWO MARKS?
G. Revelation shows that the power of evil and lawlessness against God (echoing
Psalms 2) –– are already in the world.
But, remember that (2Thess2:8; 1John 4:2-3; 2Timothy 3:1–5) along with Jesus’
“Olivet Discourses” (Mathew 24; Mark 13:1-37; and Luke 21:5-36) state that this
“spirit” spoken of here as two Beasts, will continue to the end of the age.
H. THE BEASTS NUMBER: Finally we are given the number of the Beast –– the
number 666  All Kinds of Ideas.
1. The Gematria School  “let him count”  numerical value of letters in Greek
equaling 666. Some have suggested Nero and Domition but it takes an awful
lot of messing around with their names to ever get there.
2. Is It Purely Symbolic? Others focus on “it is a human number”  and think it
is purely symbolic.

“It is a human number, not a divine number; it’s a person not a god so
don’t be taken in.”

Hurtado  It’s 6 not 7. The six days of creation verses the Creator
himself.

Ladd  If 7 is the perfect number of God fullness than 666 is the best
Satan and rebellious humanity can muster.

Hendricson  God is trinity and 777 is His number. 666 would be a
symbolic means to speak of a demonic trinity [Dragon, and 2 Beasts]
represented by failure after failure after failure, never reaching fullness.
I. A PASTORAL CALL: This time, as we have seen it is for discerning, insightful,
wisdom. Verse 18 This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate
the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666.
YOU GOTTA SERVE SOMEBODY BOB DYLAN
You may be an ambassador to England or
France,You may like to gamble, you might like to
dance,
You may be the heavyweight champion of the
world,You may be a socialite with a long string of
pearls
even ownbanks
But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes
indeed. You're gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.
You may be a preacher with your spiritual pride,
You may be a city councilman taking bribes on the
side,
You may be workin' in a barbershop, you may know
how to cut hair,You may be somebody's mistress,
may be somebody's heir
You might be a rock 'n' roll addict prancing on the
stage,You might have drugs at your command,
women in a cage,
You may be a business man or some high degree
thief, They may call you Doctor or they may call you
Chief
But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes
indeed. You're gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.
You may be a state trooper, you might be a young
Turk,You may be the head of some big TV network,
You may be rich or poor, you may be blind or
lame,You may be living in another country under
another name
But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes
indeed. You're gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.
You may be a construction worker working on a
home,You may be living in a mansion or you might
live in a dome,
You might own guns and you might even own
tanks,You might be somebody's landlord, you might
But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes
indeed. You're gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.
But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes
indeed. You're gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.
Might like to wear cotton, might like to wear silk,
Might like to drink whiskey, might like to drink milk,
You might like to eat caviar, you might like to eat
bread,You may be sleeping on the floor, sleeping in a
king-sized bed
But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes
indeedYou're gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.
You may call me Terry, you may call me
Timmy,You may call me Bobby, you may call me
Zimmy,
You may call me R.J., you may call me Ray,
You may call me anything but no matter what you
say
You're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed.
You're gonna have to serve somebody.
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.