01 the alpha and the omega (part 1) slideshow
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The Book of Revelation 03/04/2007
Lesson 1 1
Lesson 1
The Alpha and the Omega (Part 1)
Amen! Hallelujah! – A Study of the Book of Revelation
By Dale Wells
Text: Rev 1.1-8; Rev 22.8-12
Revelation is a book to be
understood
Rev 1:1-3 WEB This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ �
Apocalypsis – an “unveiling”, “revealing”, or “disclosure”
The book is not a “mystery” (mysterion), but a “revelation”
"Blessed is he who reads"
Rev 1:3 WEB Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written in it...
Ho anaginooskon – “the one reading aloud”� Apparent in blessing
“those who hear”
� Envisions one reading to a congregation
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“Blessed are those who hear”
Akouoo with a genitive noun meant “hear”
With the accusative, as here, it meant “understand”
Jesus intended the message to be understood
“Blessed are 6 those who 6 keep
the things 6 in it”
Terountes means “observe”, or “obey”
� God intended people to “understand” and “obey”
the book, so he must have written one they could
understand and were capable of obeying!
Why is the book misunderstood?
� People misunderstand the book because of faulty
assumptions they bring to the text, not because of
what the text, itself, says
Popular approaches to Revelation
Some see it as a “summary of history”� They see the Catholic Church, Reformation, Luther & Calvin
� Philip Melanchthon, Luther’s contemporary, took this approach
� Recent authors are Albert Barnes and John Hinds
� Each reapplies history to put himself in the last days
Some believe it only deals with the end of time� Authors since 1948 think we are in the last moments of time
� Each rewrites when time proves him wrong
Something is wrong with an approach that rewrites interpretation every time history disproves it
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The time frame is set by two phrases
Dei genesthai en tachei - “which must happen soon”� Rev 1:1 WEB � the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God
gave him to show � the things which must happen soon...
� Rev 22:6 WEB He said to me, “� The Lord God � sent his angel to show � the things which must happen soon.”
Some believe that en tachei means “certainly”� Not so! Tacheoo always means “quickly”.
� Act 22:17-18 WEB “� while I prayed � I fell into a trance, and saw him saying to me, 'Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly,”
� Gal 1:6-7 WEB I marvel that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different gospel �
� 2Ti 4:9 WEB Be diligent to come to me soon...
Readers of Revelation understood that the fulfillment would be soon - from their point of view, not ours!
The time is at hand
Ho gar kairos engus – “for the time is at hand”� Engus means “in hand” or “within reach”
The use of “the time is at hand”� Rev 1:3 WEB Blessed is he who reads � those who hear �
and keep the things � written in it, for the time is at hand.
� Rev 22:10 WEB He said to me, “Don't seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.
This same expression is used elsewhere� Mar 1:14-15 WEB � Jesus came � saying, “The time is
fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand! �”
� Rom 10:8-9 WEB The word is near you...
� Phi 4:5 WEB The Lord is at hand.
No text uses engus of something far away
Reasons for interpreting the book in
light of its time:
It was a “revelation” to its readers, not a “mystery”
It was intended to be read, understood and acted on
Its time of fulfillment was close at hand
Picture yourself as a Christian in Pergamum� Antipas has been executed for his faith. You may be next!
� A messenger comes with John's letter.
� Do you want to know what to expect in 2000 years? No!
� You want to know if you’re going to be alive tomorrow! If not, what then? Was it worth it for Antipas – or for you?
� You don’t care about 21st Century writers. You want to know what’s going to happen to you and what God is doing about it!
A message to early Christians about their concerns!
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Keys to understanding Revelation
All literature is not read alike
� Elizabeth Barrett Browning vs. Edgar Allen Poe
� William Shakespeare vs. Stephen King
� Newspaper vs. poetry; biography vs. prophecy;
history vs. a math textbook
� They are not interpreted the same way
Revelation is written in apocalyptic style
� Makes heavy use of symbols
� Imagery that is not intended to be taken literally
What if I told you that yesterday, I
saw a vision
I saw what looked like a living creature
� It had four legs, but it stood up on two, like a man. It had a
prominent nose. It was brown with long ears
I saw another living creature
� It looked like a bird without wings. It was blue and had two
legs with three toes on each foot
The first creature sat astride a red cylinder
The first creature sped toward the second creature
The second stepped aside as the first sped past
Who are the two creatures?
Read Revelation the way you watch
animations – use your imagination
7-headed dragon, 7-headed beast, lamb with 7 horns and eyes, prostitute on a beast
Don’t let details distract you from the picture
Let the picture grab your imagination and you will understand it
Revelation uses symbols extensively� Some are self-evident
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Consider John's description of one
like a son of man in Rev 1:13-18
Robe and gold sash
Hair like white wool
Eyes like a flame of fire
Feet like brass
Sword out of his mouth
Face like the sun
I am the first and the last, and the Living one
I was dead, and 6 I am alive forevermore
This is clearly Jesus.
Look at the description of the Lamb
of God in Rev 5:5-6
Lion of Judah
Root of David
He who opens the book and its seven seals
Lamb standing, as though it had been slain
It cannot be anyone but Jesus
Consider the vignette about two
witnesses in Rev 11:6
Shut up the sky that
it may not rain
� Comes from Elijah
Turn water into
blood and strike the
earth with plagues
� Come from Moses
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A radiant woman gives birth to a
unique child in Rev 12:1-5
Clothed with the sun
Moon under her feet
Crown of twelve stars
Pregnant and in labor
Gives birth to a son who
is to rule the nations
with a rod of iron
John expects his
readers to identify the
woman as Mary, and
her child as Jesus
A conquering king rides in on a white
horse in Rev 19:11-16
Faithful and True
Eyes are a flame of fire
Many crowns
Covered with blood
“The Word of God”
Sword out of his mouth
Rules with a rod of iron
King of Kings and Lord
of Lords
No doubt this is Jesus
The text explains the less obvious
symbols
What are the stars and lampstands?� Rev 1:20 WEB � The
seven stars are the angels of the seven assemblies. The seven lampstands are seven assemblies.
The lampstands are churches and the stars are their messengers
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What about the dragon out to devour
the child?
Rev 12:9 WEB The great dragon �, the old serpent, he who is called the devil and Satan ...
In the Apocalypse, the dragon is Satan
John sees a prostitute riding on a
seven-headed beast in Rev 17
Rev 17:18 WEB The woman � is the great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.”
Rev 17:9-11 WEB The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sits. They are also seven kings �
Rome sat on 7 hills and ruled the world – the prostitute is Rome
A puzzle to solve, not a mystery to
ignore
Start with what you
know
� Lamb is Jesus
� Dragon is Satan
� Prostitute is Rome
� Heads are emperors
Start there and the
picture comes together!
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Lesson 1 8
Revelation for Dummies
God Rules!
Jesus is Lord!
We win!
The symbolism of numbers
Apocalyptic literature used numbers symbolically
Four numerals are oppositional pairs.� 7 stands opposed to 3 ½
� 12 stands opposed to 6
Others are not paired� 1/3, 2, 4, 10, 1,000
Oppositional pairs are a feature of Revelation
There are two lambs
The Lamb of God
� Rev 5:6 WEB I saw in
the midst of the throne �
a Lamb standing, as
though it had been slain
A lamb that speaks with
the voice of a dragon
� Rev 13:11 WEB I saw
another � He had two
horns like a lamb, and he
spoke like a dragon.
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Two oppositional women
The prostitute
� Rev 19:1-2 NIV � God
� has condemned the
great prostitute �
The bride of the Lamb
� Rev 19:7 NIV Let us
rejoice and be glad and
give him glory! For the
wedding of the Lamb has
come, and his bride has
made herself ready.
Two who claim dominion
God on the throne
� Rev 4:2 WEB � Behold,
there was a throne �
and one sitting on the
throne
Dragon who attempts to
invade heaven
� Rev 12:7 WEB �
Michael and his angels
made war on the dragon.
The dragon and his
angels made war.
Two marks on people’s foreheads
The seal of God� Rev 7:3 WEB Don't
harm the earth� until we have sealed the bondservants of our God on their foreheads!
The mark of the beast� Rev 13:16-17 WEB He
causes all � to be given marks on their right hands, or on their foreheads �
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Kings of the earth and the King of
Kings
Rev 17:12 WEB The ten horns � are ten kings �
Rev 19:16 WEB He has � a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
There are other opposites, but this gives you the idea
Some numbers are also in oppositional pairs
Seven symbolizes God's completed
work
7 occurs 6� more in Revelation than
the rest of the NT
� more in Revelation than in any OT book
7 symbolizes God finishing his work� Gen 2:1-3 WEB � On
the seventh day God finished his work � and he rested on the seventh day ...
Revelation begins with a letter to 7
churches.
Rev 1:4 WEB John, to
the seven assemblies ...
Rev 1:11 WEB ... “What
you see, write in a book
and send to the seven
assemblies �”
Rev 1:20 WEB ... The
seven lampstands are
seven assemblies.
Ekklesiai is “churches”
in other translations
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The first vision features two sevens
The son of man is among 7 lampstands� Rev 1:20 WEB ... The
seven lampstands are seven assemblies.
He is holding 7 stars� Rev 1:20 WEB ... The
seven stars are the angels of the seven assemblies...
Before God's throne were 7 lamps
Rev 4:5 WEB ... There
were seven lamps of
fire burning before his
throne, which are the
seven Spirits of God.
These are seen
elsewhere
� Rev 1:4 WEB ... Grace to
you and peace ... from
the seven Spirits who are
before his throne
A 7-sealed scroll was opened by a
Lamb with 7 horns and 7 eyes
Rev 5:1-6 WEB I saw, in the right hand of him who sat on the throne, a book written inside and outside, sealed shut with seven seals � (6) I saw � a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes �
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God's judgments were announced by
7 angels with 7 trumpets.
Rev 8:2-6 WEB I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them � (6) The seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
7 angels administer God's judgments
Rev 15:1 WEB I saw �seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them God's wrath is finished.
Rev 15:6-8 WEB �One of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God...
7 bowls of wrath were poured out on
the earth.
Rev 16:1 WEB I heard a loud voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God on the earth!”
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3½ depicts Satan's attempt to thwart
God's purpose
3 ½ is opposed to 7 � 7 is God doing his will.
� 3½ is a time of suffering
Daniel envisioned a 3 ½year oppression� Dan 7:25 WEB He shall
speak � against the Most High, and � the saints � be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time.
� A year (“time”) + 2 years (“times”) + 6 months (“half a time”).
A time of oppression and provision
Drought during the reign of Ahab� Jam 5:17 WEB Elijah �
prayed � that it might not rain, and it didn't rain on the earth for three years and six months.
God provided for Elijah� 1Ki 17:3-6 WEB � (6)
The ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.
The picture comes from military
sieges
Measured in months� Roman army surrounded
a city, cutting off supplies
� Built siegeworks and starved the city
Jewish-Roman War� Began in 66 AD
� Jerusalem fell 42 months later in 70 AD
A time when Satan tries to stop God’s work, but God is still in control!
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3½ years in Revelation 11
Gentiles besiege God’s
city for 42 months
� Rev 11:1-2 � They will
tread the holy city under
foot for forty-two months.
God's witnesses preach
for the same 1260 days
� Rev 11:3 � my two
witnesses � will
prophesy one thousand
two hundred sixty days
3½ years as 1260 days and “a time,
times, and half a time”
God cares for the woman for 1260 days� Rev 12:6
Satan tries to get at the woman for a time, times and half a time� Rev 12:13-14
He can’t get to her, because God is protecting her
The outcome is always the same – God wins!
Twelve symbolizes God's people
12 and multiples (24, 12,000, 144,000) is the second most prominent number in Revelation
In Rev 4:4, 24 elders sit on thrones
24 elders are God’s people in two covenants� 12 patriarchs (Old
Testament)
� 12 apostles (New Testament)
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In Revelation 7 there are 144,000
people sealed
Rev 7:4 WEB � one
hundred forty-four
thousand, sealed out of
every tribe of the
children of Israel
These are people with
God’s seal of approval
on their foreheads
12,000 from each of the
12 tribes of Israel
The number is not literal
The radiant woman in Rev 12 wears
a crown of twelve stars
Rev 12:1 WEB � a
woman � and on her
head a crown of twelve
stars
We saw this woman
earlier as an idealized
picture of Mary
The 12 stars represent
God’s people – her
crowning glory
12 dominates the description of the
holy city in Rev 21:10-17
12 gates
12 angels
Names of 12 tribes
12 foundations
12 names of the 12 Apostles
12,000 stadia
Wall is 144 cubits
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This is the city where God’s people
live!
It is a cube 12,000
stadia on each side,
with 12 gates, having
walls 144 cubits thick.
The city has plenty of
� access (gates)
� room (dimensions)
� security (angels at the
gates)
� protection (walls)
6 symbolizes rebellion against God
It depicts man’s attempt to dispense with God
Contrast of 6 and 12 � 12 is God’s faithful
people protected by him
� 6 is man in rebellion against God
Like Satan’s attempts to stop God (3 ½), man’s rebellion always fails
The most infamous use of 6 is the
number of the beast in Rev 13:18
Rev 13:18 WEB � His number is six hundred sixty-six. � Rebellion compounded
� Man’s attempt to usurp God’s throne
666 is a gematria� The number concealed a
name the readers knew, but history quickly forgot
� Irenaeus (2nd Century) suggested names, but couldn’t determine the name behind the number
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Ancient alphabets were not like our
modern alphabets
Hebrew and Greek had
alphabets composed of
characters that served a
dual purpose as letters
and numbers
Thus “a” could either
serve as a letter, or it
could be the numeral
“1”, “b” could be used
as the numeral “2”, etc.
Ancient writers engaged in
“gematria” (Greek isopsephia)
They added the letter values and the sum was the "number" of the name� The sum represented the name when they wanted to reveal
the identity to some, but conceal it from others
� This is important to understanding “666” in Rev 13:18
Ancient examples of gematria� Graffiti in Pompeii: “I love her whose number is 545.” Only
the couple would know about whom he was writing.
� A Roman inscription describes Gaius as holy and good
� Gaios = 3 + 1 + 10 + 70 + 200 = 284
� (Ha)gios = 1 + 3 + 10 + 70 + 200 = 284
� Aga(th)os =1 + 3 + 1 + 9 + 70 + 200 = 284
� The words are gematrically interchangeable
Possible names that make sense in
light of the historical setting
Lateinos = “Latin” (e.g. Rome, the city or the empire) = 30+1+300+5+10+50+70+200 = 666
Teitan = “Titus” (common name of the FlavianEmperors. Vespasian was emperor when Revelation was written. Titus ascended shortly thereafter. Domitian began the empire-wide persecution of Christians.) = 300+5+10+300+1+50 = 666
Kaisarsebaston = “Caesar Augustus” (“worshipful Caesar”). The imperial name = 20+1+10+200+1+100+200+5+2+1+6+70+50 = 666� (Note: this requires using the obsolete letter stigma (= 6) in
the place of the letters sigma (= 200) and tau (= 300). Recall the book was intended to be read aloud. The hearers would be used to associating the “st” sound with the value of 6.)
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Lesson 1 18
1/3 symbolizes God’s restraint in
judgment in Rev 8:6-12
1/3 earth burnt up
1/3 trees burnt up
1/3 sea became blood
1/3 sea creatures died
1/3 ships destroyed
1/3 rivers struck by star
1/3 waters became wormwood
1/3 sun, moon and stars darkened
Old Testament roots in Ezekiel 5
where he was told to shave his head
Eze 5:1-2 WEB � (2) A third part you shall burn � in the � city �take a third part, and strike with the sword �a third part you shall scatter to the wind �.
Eze 5:12 WEB A third � shall die � and a third � shall fall by the sword � and a third �I will scatter to � the winds, and � draw � a sword after them
Two symbolizes testimony
Emissaries sent in pairs � Mar 6:7 WEB He �
began to send them out two by two �
� Mat 11:2-3 WEB � John � sent two ... disciples
Jewish law of evidence required two witnesses� Deu 19:15 WEB One
witness shall not rise up against a man � at the mouth of two witnesses, or � three � shall a matter be established.
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The only significant usage of two is in
Rev 11:3-11
2 witnesses prophesy 1260 days � They are 2 olive
trees
� They are also 2 lampstands, standing before the Lord
� They are also 2 prophets
The image comes from Zechariah 4
Zec 4:2-3 WEB � “I have seen, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, � (3) and two olive trees by it�”
Zec 4:11-14 WEB Then I asked him, “What are these two olive trees �(14) Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”
The two represent the testimony of
the Law and Prophets
Moses and Elijah at Transfiguration� Mat 17:1-3 WEB � (2)
He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as the light. (3) Behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them talking with him.
In Rev 11 they are sent to proclaim God's word
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Four symbolizes the entire earth and
universe
Symbol of 4 derives from 4 compass points, 4 wind directions and 4 seasons
Babylonian mythology: 4 signs of the Zodiac, Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius, powerful figures supporting heaven by 4 corners, or as the beasts of burden of the 4-wheeled heavenly chariot
Ezekiel 1 described 4 creatures of
God's heavenly entourage
4 living creatures
Each had 4 faces: man, lion, ox and eagle
Each had 4 wings
Eze 1:4-28 WEB This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Yahweh.
John saw 4 creatures around God's
throne worshiping him in Rev 4:6-8
Rev 4:6-8 WEB �around the throne were four living creatures ... (7) The first � like a lion, � the second �like a calf, and the third � had a face like a man, and the fourth �like a flying eagle. (8) � They have no rest day and night, saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty �”
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The 4 creatures worship the Lamb in
Rev 5:6-14
Rev 5:6-14 WEB � (8) � the four living creatures � fell down before the Lamb � (9) � saying, “You are worthy � (11) � I heard � a voice of many angels � (12) saying � “Worthy is the Lamb �” (14) The four living creatures said, “Amen!”
Zechariah 6 has 4 chariots depicting
God's omnipresence & omniscience
4 chariots drawn by red, black, white, and dappled horses
Zec 6:5-8 WEB �“These are the four winds of the sky, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth. �” (7) � So they walked back and forth through the earth �
In Rev 6:1-8, 4 creatures announce 4
horses with the opening of 4 seals
1st seal – 1st creature announces 1st rider on a white horse
2nd seal – 2nd creature announces 2nd rider on a red horse
3rd seal – 3rd creature announces 3rd rider on a black horse
4th seal – 4th creature announces 4th rider on a pale horse
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The OT mentions the 4 winds & the 4
corners of the earth
4 corners of the earth from which God gathers� Isa 11:12 WEB He will
� assemble � Israel, and gather � Judah from the four corners of the earth.
4 winds by which God scatters his enemies� Jer 49:36 WEB On Elam
will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of the sky �,
Revelation has 4 angels at 4 corners
of the earth holding back judgment
Rev 7:1 WEB I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth �
Rev 9:13-15 WEB �(15) The four angels were freed who had been prepared for that hour and day and month and year, so that they might kill one third of mankind.
Ten symbolizes limits
Relates to anatomy: ten fingers on the human hand
� Once you’ve counted to ten, you’ve exhausted all of your
fingers, and all of your chances
Many places in the Bible where one counts to ten and
then says: “Enough!”
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Ten years was limit of Abram's
patience with God's promise
Gen 13:16 WEB I will
make your offspring as
the dust of the earth�
Gen 16:3 WEB Sarai,
Abram's wife, took
Hagar the Egyptian, her
handmaid, after Abram
had lived ten years in
the land of Canaan, and
gave her to Abram her
husband to be his wife.
Ten was the limit of God's patience
with Sodom
Abraham bargained
with God to spare
Sodom, testing God’s
limits till he reached the
ten
� Gen 18:32 WEB “Oh
don't let the Lord be
angry � What if ten are
found there?” He said, “I
will not destroy it for the
ten's sake.”
Ten changes in terms was the limit of
Jacob's patience with Laban
Gen 31:41 WEB These
twenty years I have
been in your house. I
served you fourteen
years for your two
daughters, and six
years for your flock, and
you have changed my
wages ten times.
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The Ten Commandments were the
limits God set on Israel's conduct
Exo 34:28 WEB He was
there with Yahweh forty
days and forty nights;
he neither ate bread,
nor drank water. He
wrote on the tablets the
words of the covenant,
the ten commandments.
God gave people ten
chances – as seen in
two other events during
the life of Moses
Ten plagues showed the limit of
God's patience with Egypt.
Egypt suffers for Pharaoh's refusal to let Israel go
In spite of plague after plague, Pharaoh continues to harden his heart
The tenth plague results in final judgment on Egypt
Ten rebellions test the limits of God's
patience with the Exodus generation
Num 14:20-23 WEB Yahweh said, �because all those men who have seen my glory, and my signs �yet have tempted me these ten times, and have not listened to my voice; surely they shall not see the land which I swore to their fathers �
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The uses of “ten” in Revelation
Pergamum would suffer
ten days before God
said, “Enough!”
� Rev 2:10 WEB � the
devil is about to throw
some of you into prison
� and you will have
oppression for ten days.
Be faithful to death, and I
will give you the crown of
life.
Devil is limited by what
God allows him to do!
The dragon and the sea beast have
10 horns
Rev 12:3 WEB Behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns �
Rev 13:1 WEB I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns � On his horns were ten crowns �
They have power, (horns), but only the power God gives them – God sets their limits!
10 horns are 10 kings – God sets
limits on the beast's power
Rev 17:7 WEB I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast � which has the seven heads and the ten horns.
Rev 17:12 WEB The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority as kings, with the beast, for one hour.
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1,000 symbolizes limitlessness
Psa 50:10 WEB For
every animal of the
forest is mine, and the
livestock on a thousand
hills.
God is not exempting
the livestock on other
hills, nor the livestock in
valleys. What he’s
saying is that all
livestock belongs to him
Apply that reasoning to other
passages:
Deu 7:9 WEB � Yahweh your God � keeps covenant � with them who love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations� Message: God loves everyone who loves and obeys him
Psa 68:17 WEB The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands �� Message: God has immeasurable power
And when we come to that text about 1,000 years� Time is insignificant to God. Man’s eon is God’s moment
� Psa 90:4 WEB For a thousand years in your sight are just like yesterday when it is past, like a watch in the night.
� God’s schedule is not to be judged by man's.
� 2Pe 3:8 WEB But don't forget � that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
Remember the symbolic use of 1,000
when we get to Rev 20:2-7
He seized the dragon � and bound him for a thousand years � I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus � They lived, and reigned with Christ for a thousand years �
Devil’s power is limited (10 horns), but God’s dominion over him is unlimited (1,000 years)