Page 95 - Eschatology - Student Ebook

He will blaspheme the true God and persecute the saints (Rev. 13:4-7).

Revelation 13:4–7 (NIV84)4 Men worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the
beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can make war
against him?” 5 The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to
exercise his authority for forty-two months. 6 He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to
slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. 7 He was given power to
make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe,
people, language and nation.

John wrote that the false prophet will set up an image to this ruler and that the world will be compelled
to worship it (Rev. 13:14-15).

Revelation 13:14–15 (NIV84)14 Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the
first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor
of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 He was given power to give breath
to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the
image to be killed.

This abomination of desolation will continue “even until the consummation which is determined”. This
consummation is pictured dramatically in Rev. 19:20 when the beast and the false prophet are cast into
the lake of fire.

Revelation 19:20 (NIV84)20 But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had
performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had
received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into
the fiery lake of burning sulfur.

This will be the end of Daniel’s 70 sevens.

The Judgments of the Tribulation

The Seven Seals
The seven seals are one of a series of end-times judgments from God. The seals are described
in Revelation 6:1–17 and 8:1–5. In John’s vision, the seven seals hold closed a scroll in heaven, and, as
each seal is broken, a new judgment is unleashed on the earth. Following the seal judgments are the
trumpet judgments and the bowl or vial judgments.

The prelude to the opening of the seven seals in John’s vision is a search for someone worthy to open
the heavenly scroll in Revelation 5. John writes, “I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a
scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals” (Revelation 5:1). This scroll contains the
judgments of God; the fact that it is written on both sides indicates the extensive nature of the
judgment pending. A mighty angel cries out, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?”
(verse 2). No one was found worthy of breaking the seals and opening the scroll, a fact that causes John
to mourn (verse 3–4). If the scroll could not be opened, then wickedness would not be judged and evil
would continue to infect the earth.

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