The Epic Life - Bob Hallman

27-Judgment Of The Counterfeit Bride (Revelation 17:1-21)

To fully appreciate and properly interpret Rev 17 and 18, we must "unveil" or expose Satan's counterfeit efforts to be worshipped as God. Since the beginning of time he has had a two-fold strategy:
To destroy God's divine and eternal plan
To replace it with his own perverted counterfeit

26-The 7 Bowls Of God's Wrath (Revelation 16:1-21)

The bowls of wrath are very similar to the plagues of judgment in Egypt and are also similar to the seven trumpet judgments of Rev 8-9. However, a careful study reveals some striking differences. In Egypt, the plagues were local, affecting only the Egyptians. The trumpet judgments also were partial, destroying only one-third of each thing. The final 7 bowl judgments, however, are universal in scope affecting the entire earth with an unprecedented intensity.            
 

25-The Beginning Of The End (Revelation 15:1-8)

Revelation 15 is an introduction to the beginning of the end! The last outpouring of God's judgment on the earth -- the 7 bowl judgments.        You may recall that the judgments in Revelation are presented in the seven seals (6:1-17; 8:1).
The 7th seal includes all of the 7 trumpets (8:1-9:21; 11:15-19). The 7th trumpet includes all of the 7 bowl judgments. Every successive series of judgments emphasize the dramatic crescendo of God's final, white-hot judgment on a rebellious, Christ-rejecting world.

24-The Eternal Gospel (Revelation 14:6-20)

As God looks upon the wickedness of man, his rejection of His Son and his worship of the beast, He is left with only 3 choices.       
Rev 14 demonstrates just how far God will go to keep man out of hell.

23-The Song Of The Redeemed (Revelation 14:1-5)

Chapter 14 begins by revealing something quite remarkable. While the earth is plunging into the darkness of the influence of Satan, the Antichrist and the False prophet -- the 144,000 are invited to learn a new song -- the song of the redeemed!  

22-The Unholy Trinity: The False Prophet (Revelation 13:11-18)

The Unholy Trinity is a satanic counterfeit and perversion of the Holy Trinity of God. Satan's purpose is to deceive the world into worshiping himself instead of God.
Today as we study the beast from the earth who is also called "The False Prophet" (Rev 16:13; 19:20; 20:10), we will discover that this 3rd member of the Satan's unholy trinity is remarkably similar to the Holy Spirit in his work and ministry.

21-The Unholy Trinity: The Antichrist (Revelation 13:1-10)

Before considering Rev 13, a brief review of tribulation conditions will help us better understand the world’s vulnerability to the Antichrist -- the beast from the sea:
7 Seal Judgments (Rev 6):
Peace will be take from the earth
There will be terrible, world-wide famine
1/4 of the world's population will be killed - 1.5 billion people
There will be terrible earthquakes and cosmic disruptions
 7 Trumpet Judgments (Rev 8):
  Hail and fire will fall and burn up 1/3 of all the world's vegetation
1/3 of the sea will be turned to blood
A great star will fall and pollute 1/3 of all drinkable water
1/3 of the light sources are darkened
A terrible plague of scorpion -like locusts tormenting for 5 months
200 million horseman will destroy 1/3 of mankind - another 1.5 billion
During the Tribulation, people will be looking for a deliverer more than at any other time in human history. All the other world’s false religions are merely precursors to the Great Deception that’s coming. At the peak of their desperation they will be ready to believe anything. They will be looking for a “savior.”
We left the Dragon [Satan] looking out over the sea with two things on his mind:
 The best strategy with which to persecute and destroy Israel
The best strategy to persuade men to worship him above the highest God.

20-The Supernatural War - Part 2 (Revelation 12:10-17)

There are three primary characters revealed for us in this text: 
 The woman = Israel           
The male child = The Messiah, Jesus Christ                       
The dragon = Satan 
Notice that this is not a battle between God and Satan, but between Michael and Satan. It is two created angels and their forces battling each other.                  
Satan has perpetuated the lie that he is God’s opposite. He is not God’s opposite. He is not omniscient, omnipresent, or omnipotent. He is only a created being. He can’t even go one round with God. In fact, in chapter 20:10 he will be thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur where he will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

19-The Supernatural War - Part 1 (Revelation 12:1-9)

In 1992 a group of academics and historians compiled some startling information about war: Since 3600 B.C., the world has known only 292 years of peace! During this period there have been 14,351 wars large and small, in which 3.64 billion people have been killed. The value of the property destroyed is equal to a golden belt around the world 97.2 miles wide and 33 feet thick. Since 650 B.C., there have also been 1,656 arms races, only 16 of which have not ended in war. The remainder ended in the economic collapse of the countries involved.   (Today in the Word, June 19, 1992)
Who is ultimately behind this devastation? None other than Satan! It is what he does best. After all, John 10:10 tells us that "[Satan has come] only to steal and kill and destroy."             
In today's text, Jesus Christ reveals or unveils the truth of the supernatural war that is taking place all around us. A war that will ultimately be finished only when the enemy is finally vanquished.

18-The Inaugural Reign Of Christ (Revelation 11:15-19)

The world system and all its power and corruption is the result of the established universal dominion of Satan. But above it all God continues to remain sovereign over all and has worked out his plan to redeem and reclaim the earth and everything in it.            
One day, not long from now, the final minutes of history will tick past and we will hear the great multitude that John heard in Rev 19:6 like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns."  
Application:                       
Although the kingdom of God and His sovereign reign over it will be finalized in the last days, it also begins the minute you make God the King of your life. When you come to Christ, the kingdom shifts from you, your life and priorities, to God and His priorities.  The earth which God created, and which He redeemed with His own blood, will soon be His own once more -- never to be lost again.