Lesson 7 0f Revelation: Key Terms of Revelation:

Lesson 7 0f Revelation: Key Terms of Revelation:Commentary's  Key Terms of Revelation:

666:  Number of the beast and sometimes connected with the mark of the beast, spelled out in Revelation 13:18 as six hundred threescore and six. “ Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.”  (Revelation 13:18).  The Greek and Hebrew languages didn’t have a written system of numbers.  Instead, numbers were either spelled or written out using the letters in the alphabet. For example, the first letter of the alphabet might represent the number on, and so on.  Many scholars have pointed out that, in Hebrew, the number of Caesar Nero’s name can be 666 if written using “Neron,” the Latin spelling.  (Nero reigned AD 54—68).  He was the first emperor to engage in specific persecution of Christians).  Perhaps the best approach to the number is to remember that six is a symbol of incompletion; 666 would indicate complete imperfection.

144,000:  Group of believers who endure the great tribulation (Revelation 7:14).  “And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb”.  Some suggest they are 144,000 Jewish persons—12,000 from each tribe—who embrace Jesus Christ as their Lord.  “And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.  “4. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. 5 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. 6. Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. 7. Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. 8. Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand”.  9. After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;  (Revelation 7:4-9).  Others suggest that Israel and Twelve tibes often refer to Christians (Romans 9:6-8; Galatians 6:16 and James 1:1).  Romans 9:6-8 ⁶ Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: ^7. Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. ^8. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.  Galatians 6:16 ¹⁶ And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.  And James 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.  Therefore, the number would point to God’s people (symbolized by twelve tribes, twelve apostles, or both) multiplied by 1,000 (a number that symbolized an extreme multitude or length of time)—in other words, the full number of those who belong to God.

Abomination of Desolation:  An event that desecrates the temple in Jersualem and is a signal to Jesus’ followers that soon Jerusalem will be ruined. Mentioned in Matthew 24:15, “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:”), it may refer to the destruction of the temple in AD 70 by the Romans, or Roman plans to set up a statue of the emperor in the temple in AD 40, or some future event,     

Antichrist:  (From Greek antichristos, “in place of Christ”.  Anyone who denies what the apostles taught about Jesus Christ (1 John 2:18-22, 4:3:2, and 2 John 1:7). 1 John 2:18-22 “¹⁸ Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. ¹⁹ They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. ²⁰ But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. ²¹ I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. ²² Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.”  1 John 4:3, “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”  and 2 John 1:7 , “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist”.  Specifically, the antichrist is a Satanic counterfeit of  Jesus Christ, described as “lawless” and as a “beast” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-8; Revelation 13:1-18, 17:3-17).  (2 Thessalonians 2:3-8 )--³ Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; ⁴ Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. ⁵ Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? ⁶ And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. ⁷ For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. ⁸ And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:  (Revelation 13:1-18 )--And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. ² And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. ³ And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. ⁴ And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? ⁵ And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. ⁶ And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. ⁷ And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. ⁸ And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. ⁹ If any man have an ear, let him hear. ¹⁰ He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. ¹¹ And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. ¹² And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. ¹³ And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, ¹⁴ And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. ¹⁵ And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. ¹⁶ And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:  ¹⁷ And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. ¹⁸ Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.  (Revelation 17:3-17)--  So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. ⁴ And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: ⁵ And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth. ⁶ And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. m⁷ And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. ⁸ The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. ⁹ And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. ¹⁰ And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. ¹¹ And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. ¹² And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. ¹³ These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. ¹⁴ These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. ¹⁵ And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. ¹⁶ And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. ¹⁷ For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.  The antichrist could be a specific person who rises to power during a time of tribulation, or a symbol of false teachers and leaders who will arise when the end of the age draws near.

Apocalyptic Literature:  (“from Greek apokalypsis, revealing”). A Jewish genre of writing, structured around vision that figuratively pointed to hidden truths for the purpose of assuring God’s people of the goodness of God’s plans during period of persecution.

Armageddon:  (from Hebrew Har-Megiddon, “Mount Megiddo”)  The city of Megiddo was located between the Plain of Jezreel and Israel’s western coast.  Deborah, Gideon. Saul, Ahziah, and Josiah fought decisive battles near Megiddo—largely because the area around Megiddo is broad and flat,  So the valley of Megiddo became the symbol of a point of decisive conflict.  Some believe that a literal end—times battle will occur near Megiddo near the end of time.  Others view the reference to Armageddon as symbol of an ultimate conflict between spiritual forces of good and evil.

Babylon:  In the book of Revelation, the name “Babylon” is symbolic, yet interpretations vary:

1.     Jerusalem:  Jewish persons assisted the Romans in their persecution of Christians after AD 64.  The fall of Babylon in Revelation 18 could be a symbolic reference to the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70.

2.      Rome:  After AD 70, Jewish writers often referred to Rome as Bablon.”  Babylon may symbolize the political and religious powers in every age that attempt to defy God and persecute His people.

3.     One -world government and church:  “Babylon” may be a reference to a one-world government and on-world-church that will emerge near the end time.

Beast, Two:  Symbolic creatures described in Revelation 11:7, “And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them,” and Revelation 13:1-18, And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. 2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

1.    The first beast:  This creature rises from the sea and has ten horns and seven heads.  The weven heads seem to point to Rome’ the city known for its seven hills.  Some interpreters understand this as a literal reference to a power that will rise from Rome near the end of time, other view it as a symbolic reference to the power that will rise from Rome near the end of time; others view it as a symbolic reference to the powers in every age that defy God’s dominion and persecute God’s people.   The beast claims blasphemous names for itself—much like Domitian. Emperor from AD 81 until 96 demanded that he be addressed as “Lord and God.”  One of the horns seemed to have died but then returned to life—much like the false rumor that emerged after the death of Nero that he had come back to life.

2.    The second beast:  This creature rises from the earth with horns like a lamb and a voice like a dragon—in other words, a satanic parody of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.  Some interpreters understand this creature as a literal leader who will encourage people to worship the first beast.  Others view the second beast as a symbol of any religion in any time period that focuses worshipers on anything other than Jesus Christ.

and

 Final Judgment:  The event described in Revelation 20:11-15, when God resurrects all people, judges them from the great white throne, and delivers them to eternal destinies.  “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” Rev. 20:11-15.

First Coming oh Christ:  The earthly life and ministry of Jesus Christ, about 4 BC-AD 30.

Mark of The Beast:  Indication of a person's allegiance to the teachings of the antichrist (Revelation 13:16—17).  “The And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” people of God receive a similar mark, indicating their allegiance to Jesus (Revelation 7:3; 9:4; 14:1; 22:4).   Rev. 7:3, “Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.”  Rev.9:4, “And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.”  Rev. 14:1, “And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.”  Rev. 22:4, “And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.”  Some biblical students believe that the mark of the beast will be an actual mark, required by the antichrist. (In the time between the Old and New Testaments, some Jews were forced to be branded with the symbol of the god Dionysius.)  Other interpreters of Revelation understand the mark as a reference to someone's actions ("hand"  and beliefs ("forehead"). "Hand" and "forehead" seem to carry this symbolic meaning in Exodus 13:9, 16.  “If any man have an ear, let him hear. 16. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:”

    Mark of the beast.

Millennialism:  The thousand-year reign of Jesus on earth (Revelation 20:4—6) (from Latin, mille, thousand).   “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”

1. Premillennialism: The millennium is afuture event and Jesus will return before (pre-) the millennium.

2. Amillennialism: The millennium is a symbol of Christ's present reign among his people

3. Postmillennialism: Jesus will return after (post-) the millennium. The millennium is a time in which most of the world submits to Jesus, and peace and justice reign.

Rapture:   Event described in 1 Thessalonians 4:15—17, when Jesus Christ returns for his people. Dispensational premillennialists believe that the rapture and the second coming of Jesus are two separate events. They place the rapture before the great tribulation and the second coming after the tribulation. Historical premillennialists, amillennialists, and postmillennialists understand the second coming of Jesus and the event described in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 as the event (from Latin raptus, carry away). “or this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”  Rev. 1 Thessalonian 4:15-17.

Second Coming of Christ:  The bodily return of Jesus to earth to reign as king.

Tribulation, Great:  Time when disasters happen on the earth and people who are faithful to Jesus suffer intense persecution, possibly lasting seven years (Revelation 7:14).

1.     Premillennialists place the great tribulation near the time when Christ returns.

2.     Dispensational premillennialists typically believe that the tribulation will last exactly seven years.

3.     Many historical premillennialists view the reference to "seven years" as a symbol of the completeness of God's dealings with the world as the end of time approaches.

4.     •   Most amillennialists and postmillennialists treat the tribulation as a symbol of calamities and persecutions that have occurred throughout church history.

5.     •   Some amillennialists and postmillennialists are preterists—they believe that the great tribulation occurred between AD 63 and 70, during the JewishRoman conflict that ended with the destruction of the Jewish temple.

“And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”  (Revelation 7:14).

Witnesses, Two:  Two beings described in Revelation 11:1—14 who speak the truth about God before being killed and then resurrected. Interpretations vary: “And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. Commentary's2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. 3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. 6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. 7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. 10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. 11 And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. 12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. 13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.” (Rev. 11:1-14).

            1. Some believe that these two witnesses are two people who will appear during the     tribulation, near the end of time.

            2. Others view them as two biblical prophets—perhaps Moses and Elijah—who have been resurrected for the purpose of proclaiming God's truth during the tribulation.

            3. Other interpreters see the two witnesses as symbols of the Law and the Prophets—both testified about Jesus, and yet this testimony was rejected, even to the point that those who appealed to this testimony were killed (for example, Stephen in Acts 7). If so, the "resurrection" of the two witnesses would point to a time of final vindication, a point at which God demonstrates that the Law and Prophets did indeed testify about Jesus Christ.