LESSON EIGHT - PART A

How to know the news in advance!

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you could know the news in advance? You know, not like for a week or two, but for the rest of man's time on earth.

Think how God could use if you had all this information! Well, God has already made it available in "The Revelation" to John (the last book in the New Testament of the Holy Bible). Actually, it is the revelation of Jesus Christ as he made these things known to his servant John. [Revelation 1:1.]

The Bible promises in Revelation 1:3 that you will be blessed if you READ this book (The Revelation), or if you LISTEN to, and OBEY the words of this message of prophecy. It is one of the easiest books in the Holy Bible to outline:

Read the messages to the seven churches in Chapters 2 and 3. Even though these messages were to churches in Asia Minor (in the area of Turkey) in John's day (about 96-98 A.D.), they have a message to groups of believers in our day - and also to our individual lives.

After you study and answer the questions in both parts of this study (Parts A and B cover Chapters 4 through 22 in the Revelation), you will know the important world news in advance.

Chapter 4 shows us a scene in Heaven with 24 elders and four living creatures. The living creatures sings songs of glory and honor and thanks to the one who sits on the throne. What do the elders do as often as the four living creatures give glory to God? [See verses 9-10.]

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Chapter 5 shows a scroll in the hand of the one who sits on the throne; but no man in Heaven or earth is found who is worthy to break the seven seals on the scroll and open it. Then there is one who is worthy to open the scroll and look inside - it is the Lion from Judah's tribe who is worthy: the great descendant of David (Jesus, the Messiah of Israel). Why is he found worthy? [Verse 9.]

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Chapter 6 describes what happens when the Lamb breaks open the first six of the seven seals. On a separate page,* describe what happens when the first six seals are opened. Keep this extra page in a file with your Bible studies (either file it in a hard-copy [paper] file or in one of your computer files … or both).

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*CAUTION!

NOTE:

Seal #1 shows a person who conquers the world without war (he is given a crown). This leader will probably have a lot of military armament (a bow), but does not need to use it (has no arrows).

Seal #2 shows a world war; and Seal #3 a famine.

Chapter 7 describes two different scenes: one on earth, and the other in Heaven. On earth, 144,000 Jewish servants of God are marked in their foreheads (to protect them from harm). In Heaven, there is a crowd so great no one can number the people; they are from every nation, tribe, people, and language.

Who are the people dressed in white robes in Chapter 7? [See verses 13 and 14.]

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Chapter 8 starts where Chapter 6 ended. The 7th seal is opened. The 7th seal contains seven trumpets. [See verse 2.] The first four of the seven trumpets are sounded in Chapter 8. In your own words, briefly describe these four trumpet judgments on a separate page.* Keep this extra page in a file with your Bible studies (either file it in a hard-copy [paper] file or in one of your computer files).

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*CAUTION!

Do NOT omit this part of the lesson.
You will need this information in future days for friends and relatives!!

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NOTE:

The first four trumpets were judgments upon natural objects: the earth, the sea (and ships); the rivers and springs; and the sun, moon, and stars. You can see how they will hurt man's food supply (the earth); his distribution of products (ships and sea); his water supply (rivers and springs); and his work, or production (loss of light by which to travel or work).

There are three trumpets left to sound which are known as three horrors or "woes". Chapter 9 describes the first horror (Trumpet #5) and the second horror (Trumpet #6). Describe what these two judgments are like on a separate page.* Keep this extra page in a file with your Bible studies (either file it in a hard-copy [paper] file or in one of your computer files).

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Do NOT omit this part of the lesson.
You will need this information in future days for friends and relatives!!

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NOTE "A": Unlike the first four trumpets, where judgment is directed against natural objects, the 5th and 6th trumpet judgments are against men.

NOTE "B": Only one-half of the earth's population will be left at this time. One-fourth of the population is destroyed in Revelation 6:8, the 4th seal. This leaves three-fourths, or 75%, one-third of which is destroyed in Revelation 9:18.

NOTE "C": Men still do NOT repent of their murders, magic, immorality, or stealing. (Revelation 9:21.) Magic in this verse includes drugs (or, narcotics), sometimes accompanied by witchcraft. We know this because of the original Greek word used for magic (or,sorcery): pharmakeia.

Chapter 10 tells of an angel, with one foot on the land and one on the sea, who announces there will be no more delay. When the 7th trumpet sounds, God will begin to accomplish his secret plan.

Chapter 11 tells of two witnesses who are street preachers. They proclaim God's message for 3½ years. After they finish their message, the beast out of the bottomless pit (Satan) is allowed to kill them.

What will the people of earth do when the two street preachers are killed? [See Revelation 11:10.]

After 3½ days, a life-giving breath from God enters the dead preachers and they stand up. What happens then? [Read about this in Revelation 11:11-12.]

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Then there is another earthquake (the third, so far), and a tenth of the city is destroyed (7,000 people are killed). How do we know that this city where the street preachers are preaching is Jerusalem? [See verse 8.]

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This is the end of the second horror, or woe. Then the 7th angel sounds his trumpet (start of the third horror) and announces that the power to rule over the world belongs to our Lord and to his Messiah: the Messiah of Israel, Jesus Christ. Then, another earthquake!

This lesson has been divided into two parts. Your next study Lesson 8-B will continue your knowledge of  How to Know the News in Advance. 

For the answers to this lesson, email us at: wordservicesinc@gmail.com. Type “FBS No. 8A Answers” in the “Subject” line of the email.