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Lesson 23 Seven Last Plagues Code: 7P; Color: gold
A terrible time of trouble is coming! Just before Jesus returns in power and glory a harvest of destruction will come as a result of man's own seed-sowing of wickedness. In addition, seven last plagues will fall on the followers of the "beast", the "false prophet", and all who accept the "mark of the beast" . They will be "tormented day and night for ever", which means that they suffer agony as long as they live! (Rev.20:10;14:10-11) Those who have God's seal will be protected and live to see Jesus return to take them to heaven.
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1. Rev.15:1,7-8- - What do the seven vials contain? Who will be able to enter the temple during the plagues?
Rev.15: 1. And I saw...seven angels having the seven last plagues:…in them is...the wrath of God. 7. And one of the four beasts gave unto the…seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. 8. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues... were fulfilled. --- Today we enter the temple by faith in the mediatory ministry of Jesus, but someday no one can enter. This tells us that our day of probation has closed. The investigative judgment is finished. Those who are wicked will remain so and those who are righteous will remain righteous. The destiny of all is fixed!
2. Isa.13:9,11,13 - Who will be destroyed during this time of God's anger?
Isa. 13: 9. Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. 11. And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease... 13. Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.
3. Isa.28:21;26:20-21- - What is this work or act of God called?
Isa.28: 21... The Lord shall…be wroth as in...Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act.
What are God's people invited to do at this time? Isa. 26: 20. Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers and shut thy doors about thee: hide self as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. 21. For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth...
4. Rev.18:8 - What comes in one day?
Rev. 18: 8. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. --- This is symbolic. "Babylon" and her harlot daughters represent the false churches. A "day" as a symbol stands for one literal year. This means that the plagues will all fall within a one year period, or at least within a very short time. (Cf.Rev.18:17)
5. Rev.16:1-2 - Upon whom does the first plague fall?
Rev.16: 1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. 2. And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image. --- (Read Rev.14:9-11) Those who reject the Sabbath Seal of loyalty to God and accept the Sunday Mark of "Babylon" will suffer the plague of sores. Could these be Atomic radiation sores? Perhaps it is boils like Job had, or maybe it is some incurable cancer! We may not know exactly what this will be but we do know how to avoid it. All who head the warning of third angel (Rev.14:9-11) will be protected.
6. Amos 8:3,11-12 - What kind of a famine will come upon the wicked?
Amos 8: 11. Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: 12. And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it. --- At last, the wicked will turn to the Bible for some promise of relief but they will not find it. They are too late! Opportunity has passed!
7. Prov.1:24-29 - What do the wicked hate, that could have saved them?
Prov. 1: 24. Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand,... 25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel,. 26. I also will laugh at your calamity… 27. When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 29. For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord: ---The God of the universe has stretched out his hand to save man many times. He stretched out his hand on a cruel cross to show his great love for the whole world. He stretches out his hand of mercy now before the time of probation runs out; but when the decree goes forth sealing man's destiny (Rev.22:11-12) it will be too late to change.
8. Lu.23:38-41 - (Note v.35-37) Just before Jesus died for the sins of the world he stretched out his hands on the cross toward two dying thieves. It was their last hour and their last opportunity. One wanted only to be saved from his punishment, but the other wanted to be saved from his sins, because he saw in Jesus the holy character of God. What did he say to the other thief about Jesus?
Lu.23: 38. And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 39. And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41. And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds but this man hath done nothing amiss.
9. Rev.16:3-4,5-6- - What are the second and third plagues?
Rev.16: 3.. The second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea. 4. And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood. Seas turned to blood! Rivers and drinking fountains turned to blood! This is hard to imagine. Some have suggested that this is symbolic of war and bloodshed, Why will God give these people blood to drink? 5...I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, 0 Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus. 6. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy. 7. And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments. --- The heavenly universe sees justice in this. The planned death decree of innocent people makes them guilty and deserving of blood. It could mean bloodshed, first in large cities (seas) and then in the rural (rivers) areas.
10. Rev.16:8-9 - What is the fourth plague?
8. And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. 9. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory
11. Joel 1:15-20 - In this picture of the end time, or day of the Lord, what is it that devours the pastureland? -- What happens to the rivers?
Joel 1: 15. Alas for the day! for the day of the Lord. -.a destruction from the Almighty... 18..The herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture;... flocks...are...desolate. 19...Fire...devoured the pastures.. Flame hath burned all the trees of the field. 20. The beasts of the field cry also unto thee: for the rivers of waters are dried up, and the fire hath devoured the pastures...
12. Nahum 1:3,5-7- Who can stand before God's anger? Who are they?
Na.1: 3. The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked:. 6. Who can stand before his indignation?…His fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him. 7. The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. --- (Hab.3:17-18) - Salvation hope will sustain God's people.
13. Isa.33:14-16,22;41:17-20 - Who will go through this time of "everlasting burnings"? --- List the lifestyle actions descriptive of them.
Isa.33: 14. The sinners...are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? 15. He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, he who despises the gain of oppressions, who gestures with his hands, refusing bribes, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, and shuts his eyes from seeing evil: 16. He shall dwell on high: his place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. 22. For the Lord is our judge... our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us.
14. Rev.16:10-11 - Where does the 5th plague fall?
Rev.16: 10. And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, 11. And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds. --- Darkness "which may be felt" was one of the ten plagues that fell on Egypt but this one is to fall on Rome the capital of the kingdom of spiritual Babylon. People that receive this plague will still be suffering from the first plague. They will be tormented with pain!
15. Rev.9:6 - How bad will these days seem to the wicked?
Rev.9: 6. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
16. Rev.16:12,16;19:19 - Where does the 6th plague fall?
Rev.16: 12. And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. 16. And he gathered them...into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. --- Water does symbolize peoples and multitudes so we think this "Euphrates" means that the people and commercial support flowing into and out of "Babylon" dries up. At least it is evident that there will be one last final war of Armageddon! It may include nations in actual conflict but it is a spiritual war between the forces of good and evil. Rev. 19: 19...The kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. Spiritual "Babylon" of Rev.17-18 will fight against the children of God, but the Horseback Rider of the skies will come with his great army to their rescue. He is the great God-man King who will destroy "Babylon" with the seventh plague. - The three divisions of "Babylon" that lead out in this war are the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. -(Rev.16:13)
17. Rev.16:17,21 - What is the seventh and last plague? How heavy are the hailstones?
Rev.16: 17. And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. 21. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of hail; for the plague therof was exceeding great. --- "talent" = about 57 lbs.
18. Job 38:22-23 - What arsenal of weapons does God have stockpiled?
Job 38: 22. Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, 23. Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
19. Job 5:19-20 - Can God protect his people from death during the plagues?
Job 5: 19. He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee. 20. In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword.
20. Isa.28:17;32:18-19 - What will the hail sweep away?
Isa.28: 17. Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. What will God's people be protected from? Isa.32: 18. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places; 19. When it shall hail, coming down on the forest; and the city shall be low in a low place.
21. Ps.91:7-10,14-16 - Why will no plague come near some people?
Ps. 91: 7. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. 8. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. 9. Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; 10. There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 14. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 15. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. 16. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. --- These terrible plagues are not universal or everyone would be destroyed. In some miraculous way they will not hurt those who have made the Lord Jesus their Refuge. The 7-plague warnings are like 7 red flares. The road ahead comes to an end and God is trying to arouse men to their danger!
Please Dear Reader---Please wake up! Be alert so you won't get hurt! Accept Jesus, the Life-giver as your Savior and receive His satisfaction guaranteed "eternal life" insurance policy. You can have it today
May God bless you,
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