THE GOSPEL OF
CHRIST
SPREADING THE SOUL-SAVING MESSAGE OF JESUs
(Keys 5-8 to Understanding the Book)
Introduction by narrator accompanied by a cappella singing:
THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. Spreading the soul-saving message of Jesus. And now, Timothy Sparks and Ben Bailey.
Timothy Sparks:
“But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months” (Rev. 11:2). I’m Timothy Sparks.
Ben Bailey:
And I’m Ben Bailey. Welcome to our study of the Book of Revelation.
This lesson is being brought to you by loving, caring members of the
Timothy Sparks:
Before we present the next four keys that will provide
background information for us, so that we can look at the text of the Book of
Revelation, let us summarize what the first four keys tell us. The first key is that Revelation is a book that is
written in symbols and signs (Rev. 1:1). The second key (also described in
verse 1) is that Revelation describes things that were to come to pass within
the time frame of the first century. The third key is that the book can
be understood (Rev. 1:3). The fourth key is that the book was written to
comfort persecuted Christians. The fifth key is that the Book of Revelation
identifies the period of 42 months described in Revelation 11:2). John said in
Revelation 11:2 that “the holy city” would trampled “underfoot for forty-two months.” Remember, in
keeping with key number one to
understanding the book, that the numbers are symbolic, and thus are not to be taken literally. In chapters
11, 12, and 13, we are going to come across three things: (1) 42
months; (2) 1,260 days; and (3) “time, times, and half
the time.” What does the phrase, “time, times, and half the time” indicate?
Think of it this way. “Time” is one year. “Times” is two years. “Half the time”
is half a year. Thus we have 1 + 2 + 0.5, or 3.5 years—which is exactly 42
months, or 1,260 days (42 x 30). So when we see 42 months, 1,260 days, or
“time, times, and half the time,” we know that the text is speaking of the same
period of time. John said in Revelation 11:2 that evil, wicked people would
trample underfoot the holy city for
forty-two months. The “holy city” is the church, as we learn from such passages
as Revelation 21:2 “(“Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming
down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband”). In
Hebrews 12:22, we learn of “the heavenly
Ben Bailey:
As we mentioned in Lesson #1, the number “7” represents
“perfection.” Thus, when we read of 3.5, we are talking about something that is
imperfect. It was not an indefinite
period of time. Rather, it represented a definite
period of time, during which Christians would suffer persecution. One of the
pieces of encouraging news from Revelation 11 is that the persecution will not
last forever, and that the cause of Christ will be sustained. In some way, each
of us has to endure some persecution in our lives. Each of us faces challenges
and difficulties. Let us remember two things: (1) the difficulties will not
last forever; and (2) God will be there to help us. Perhaps the key verse to
understanding the entire Book of Revelation is found in Revelation 11:15, “The kingdoms of this world have become the
kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and
ever!” Although it may appear at times that the “kingdoms of this
world” are going to “win out” over the
Timothy Sparks:
The Christians who were still alive, and who were still undergoing severe persecution, were filled with questions. How long would it before God avenged their dead brothers and sisters in Christ? Would the church flounder—or, worse still, perish? The answer they received was, “Be patient.” God gives people time to repent! We know this because of passages such as 2 Peter 3:9, which tell us that God is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” The message (as found in the 1,260 days) for the Christians who were having to endure the persecution is that their suffering would not last forever, and that God would avenge them. Thus, this is the importance of the fifth key. They sixth key identifies the dragon (chapter 12) and the two beasts (chapter 13).
Ben Bailey:
In Revelation 12:9ff., we learn that “the dragon” is none
other than the serpent of old—Satan himself! The “dragon” is not some
modern-day figure. Rather, it is representative of the devil, who is causing
all these problems, and who is intent on snuffing out Christianity. But we also
see a child and a woman. As far back as Genesis 3:15, we learn that God would
deal a deathblow to the head of Satan. The woman represents Old Testament
Timothy Sparks:
Do you ever work crossword puzzles? If you do, you know
how the process works. The first thing you do is fill in the boxes, using the
information you know. That, then, sometimes helps you figure out what goes into
the boxes that are still empty (representing things you do not know). That is
what we need to do here in Revelation 12. We know that the dragon is Satan, so
we can plug that piece of information into our crossword puzzle. In chapter 13,
we see a beast that comes up out of the sea. We therefore can call him the “sea
beast” or the “first beast.” He receives his power from the dragon, and, in
fact, he looks so much like the dragon that there is no mistaking whose side he
is on. The second beast arises out of the Earth. Any time something comes from
“down below,” it is generally evil. Thus, both of these beasts are evil and
wicked. The second beast does only what the first beast gives him the power and
authority to do. What does the second beast do? He goes around setting up
images of the first beast, and then forces people to bow down and worship these
images. Was there a situation that existed at this time in history when someone
forced someone else to bow down and worship images? Yes, there was. During the
first century, the Roman government had people who went around the countryside,
set up images of the emperor (Caesar), and forced people to worship those
images. Those people who refused to worship Caesar were persecuted, and quite
often were put to death. Thus, the second beast represents those who enforced emperor
worship. The first beat represents the
Ben Bailey:
Those who refused to worship the images of Caesar faced certain death—in some of the most gruesome ways you can imagine. Some were dragged behind horses in the streets of the city. Others were burned alive. Some were dressed in animal skins (e.g., sheep skins) and placed in the middle of the Roman coliseum before a large crowd, where they were attacked and eaten by lions). John therefore identifies who the dragon is, and who the two beasts are. Today, we can make a practical application of this scenario by asking this question: If a nation is not honoring God, then who are they honoring? We can either honor God, or we can do the work of the devil. We need to ask whether or not we live in a nation that gives God the glory. If we are not, then we are doing the work of the devil.
Timothy Sparks:
The symbolism of the Book of Revelation is apparent here
in chapters 12 and 13 as we see the dragon (Satan) and the two beasts (the
Roman government and its henchmen). The real message is that the devil is
behind all of this, and is using the
The seventh key to understanding
the Book of Revelation has to do with the fact that the woman named “
Ben Bailey:
Timothy Sparks:
The eighth key that can help us understand the Book of Revelation has to do with the fact that the book identifies a spiritual, rather than a physical, kingdom. Jesus, as He stood before Pilate, said, “My kingdom is not of this world” (Jn. 18:36). Jesus was a King—but not a King of an earthly realm. His Kingdom is spiritual in nature. In Revelation 3:21, we read, “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” In Christ’s spiritual kingdom, those who die “in Christ” are blessed (Rev. 14:13). Those in our day and age who suggest that passages like Revelation 20 teach a physical, earthly kingdom, and a thousand-year reign of Christ in that kingdom, are not approaching the Book of Revelation properly. The text of Revelation 20 itself identifies those who “reign” as those who were martyred for the cause of Christ. Their reward is not in any earthly kingdom. When John identified “two witnesses” who were resurrected (Rev. 11), those witnesses represented a cause—not an earthly kingdom. In Revelation 20:6, we read, “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection.” That is the resurrection of a cause, and thus is of a spiritual nature.
Ben Bailey:
Yes, Jesus is “King of kings, and Lord of lords.” But He
rules over a spiritual kingdom, not an earthly one. The Book of Revelation sets
forth a message of hope, even for those of us today. Although we live in a
wicked and evil world, and although sin has a grip on many people, if we will
obey God and do what He wants us to do, then one day we can go home to Heaven
to be with Him. No matter how much we may suffer, or how intense our
persecution may be, God is on our side! We, therefore, are the ultimate winner.
We can overcome. The eight keys that we have discussed can help us
understand the Book of Revelation properly. The Book of Revelation is written
in symbols. The things discussed in the book were taking place in the first
century. The book can be understood. The time of persecution the Christians of
the first century were undergoing was going to be of a limited duration. The
dragon is Satan, the two beasts are the Roman government and its henchmen. The
harlot of
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Narrator accompanied by a cappella singing:
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1. What is the fifth key to understanding the Book of Revelation?
2. What is the sixth key to understanding the Book of Revelation?
3. What is the seventh key to understanding the Book of Revelation?
4. What is the eighth key to understanding the Book of Revelation?
5. How do we know that the suffering and persecution that the Christians of the first century were enduring was going to be of a limited-time duration?
6. Who is “the heavenly
7. What does the number 7 represent in biblical imagery?
8. If we today endure persecution, trials, and suffering, we need to remember two things. What are those two things?
9. What was the question that the suffering saints mentioned in Revelation 6 asked?
10. What was the answer to the suffering saints’ question (referred to in #9 above)?
11. Who is the dragon of Revelation 12?
12. Who are the two beasts of Revelation 13?
13. Who, or what, does the woman (depicted as “
14. What do “the two resurrected witnesses” of Revelation 11 represent?
15. To whom does the phrase “the Gentiles” refer in Revelation 11:2 (“But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months”)?
16. Who was “trampling underfoot” the Christians during the persecution they were enduring?
17. Explain the meaning of John’s statement, in Revelation 11:15, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”
18. Who were the Christians commanded (by the Roman government) to worship in the first century?
19. What was the fate of those who disobeyed that command (of question #18 above)?
THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST,