INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PRAYER KC
FORERUNNER SCHOOL OF MINISTRY
THE BOOK OF REVELATION
MIKE BICKLE
IHOP-KC
Missions Base www.IHOP.org
Used by
Permission
Session 8 The Rapture: Victory in the
Eschatological War (Rev. 11-14)
I. OVERVIEW OF REV. 11:15-14:20: RAPTURE,
ANTICHRIST AND OUR SURE VICTORY
A. The third section revealing the chronological events in
Jesus’ action plan describe the Rapture of the Church and Jesus immediately
replacing all of the world governments (Rev.
11:15-19)
B. The third angelic explanation (parenthetical section) answers why Jesus’
wrath is so severe as to require the replacing of all governments on earth and
what happens to the saints? How will the Antichrist attack them
(Rev. 12-13)?
How will Jesus help us come to certain victory (Rev. 14)?
II. THE RAPTURE AND
REPLACEMENT OF ALL WORLD GOVERNMENTS (REV. 11:15-19)
15 The
seventh angel sounded…loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this
world have become the kingdoms of our Lord…18 The nations were angry, and Your
wrath has come, and the time…that You should reward…the saints…and destroy
those who destroy the earth. (Rev.
11:15-18)
A. This is the third section in which the chronological events in Jesus’
action plan are seen. Jesus will replace all the evil world governments with
His government. This will be a “hostile take over” because the nations will be
angry at Jesus and will resist His right to rule their nation. At this time,
Jesus will reward the saints and completely destroy those who destroy the
earth.
B. The mystery of God or His plan to prepare a Bride to rule the earth with
Jesus is now complete.
7 In the days of the
sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery (hidden
plan) of God would be finished, as He declared to His…prophets. (Rev.
10:7)
C.
Paul made it clear the Rapture takes place at the Last Trumpet which is
the seventh trumpet. We see the impact of the Rapture on world governments.
This trumpet continues in the pattern seen in the chronological sections which
describe what takes place on earth rather than in the sky.
51 We shall not all sleep,
but we shall all be changed-- 52 in a moment…at the Last Trumpet. For the
trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible... (1
Cor. 15:51-52)
16 The Lord will descend
from heaven…with the Trumpet of God…17 We who are alive…shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. (1
Thes. 4:16-17)
D.
Jesus raptures the Church to initiate His Second Coming Procession which
has 3 stages
including many events occurring over a
30 day period which
can be seen by comparing the 1,260 days (3½ year) in
Rev. 11:2-3;
12:6,
14;
13:5;
Dan. 7:25;
9:27;
12:7 with the 1,290 days of
Dan. 12:11.
Stage #1: Jesus’
procession across the sky: to rapture the Church (Mt.
24:30-31;
Rev. 1:7)
Stage #2: Jesus’
procession on the land: traveling from through Jordan to Israel (Isa. 63; Hab.
3)
Stage #3: Jesus’
procession into Jerusalem: to the Mount of Olives followed by His coronation
See www.IHOP.org for
extensive biblical support for Jesus’ 30-Day Procession
III. THIRD ANGELIC
EXPLANATION (PARENTHESIS): WAR IN THE SPIRIT (REV. 12-14)
A. The third angelic explanation (parenthetical section) is
in Rev. 12-14. It answers why Jesus’ wrath is so severe as to require the
replacing of all governments on earth and what will happen to the saints. What
will the Antichrist do to us (Rev. 12-13) and how will Jesus help us
(Rev.
14)?
B. This section gives us insight into the
magnitude of the attack
against God’s people as well as anointing us for
certainty of victory.
Satan overcomes people first by fear which opens the door to many compromises.
The Church will overcome Satan and the Antichrist (Rev.
12:11;
15:2;
2:7,
11,
17,
26;
3:5,
12,
21;
21:7). Fear will NOT dominate our spirit and extinguish our faith.
C. We see a fierce war in the spirit between the Antichrist and God’s
people in the years leading up to the Rapture. Rev. 12 describes Satan’s war
in the heavens with Michael. Rev. 13 describes the Antichrist’s war on earth
against the saints in seeking to gain leadership over all the nations. Rev. 14
tells us in 7 different visions what Jesus will do to help the Church come to
certain victory.
D. The 7 main symbols in Revelation are all in this parenthetical section
of Scripture (Rev. 12-14). Daniel used most of these symbols (Dan
7:3-7,
12,
17;
8:4). He prophesied of the Antichrist as the Beast with a vast empire (Dan.
7:7,
11,
19-23) that was supported by 10 kings who he spoke of as 10 horns on the
Antichrist (Dan.
7:7,
20,
24;
2:41-42;
Rev. 12:3;
13:1;
17:3,
7,
12,
16).
E.
The dragon: is always symbolic of Satan (Rev.
12:3,
4,
7,
9,
13,
16,
17;
13:2,
4;
16:13;
20:2).
F.
The first Beast: is symbolic of the Antichrist (Rev. 13; 14:9-11;
17:3-17; 19:19-21; 20:4, 10).
G.
Another Beast: is symbolic of the False Prophet who is only called,
“another Beast” one time. Every other time he is called the False Prophet (Rev.
13:11-17;
16:13;
19:20;
20:10).
H.
The 7 heads: are 7 empires from history that persecuted Israel (Egypt,
Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome, revived Roman Empire of
Dan. 2:41-42;
7:7,
20,
24;
Rev. 12:3;
13:1;
17:3-16).
I.
The 10 horns: speak of a future 10-nation confederation of ten kings
that rule simultaneously over their own nation as they come into an
enthusiastic agreement or partnership together under the Antichrist’s
authority (Dan.
2:41-42;
7:7,
20,
24;
11:36-45;
Rev. 12:3;
13:1;
17:3,
7,
12,
16).
J.
The Harlot Babylon: will be established in the literal re-built city of
Babylon on the Euphrates River in Iraq (50 miles south of Baghdad) that will
be restored and used as a headquarters for the Antichrist. It will function as
the center of worldwide demonic religious and economic networks (Rev. 17-18;
Isa. 13-14; 21; Jer. 50-51). It will seduce many to sin and to persecute the
saints.
K.
The Woman with the Male-child (Jesus):
the woman is the faithful remnant of Israel through history (Rev.
12:1-5). Satan wars with her offspring who are Gentile believers (Rev.
12:17).
IV. WAR BREAKS OUT IN
HEAVEN REV. 12
A. In Rev. 12, war will break out in heaven between Satan
and Michael the archangel. The result is that Satan will be cast to the earth.
This will happen at the beginning of the Great Tribulation.
7 War broke out in heaven:
Michael and his angels fought with the dragon (Satan);
and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a
place found for them in heaven any longer. 9 The dragon…called the Devil…was
cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him… 12 Woe to the
inhabitants of the earth…for the devil has come down to you, having great
wrath (fury, NIV),
because he knows that he has a short time. 13 When the dragon saw that he had
been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman (remnant
of Israel)...17 The
dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of
her offspring (Gentile believers),
who…have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Rev.
12:7-17)
B. Some teach that this war in heaven occurred at the cross and that Satan
is now confined to the earth. Paul taught that we war against Satan’s host
that operate in the heavenly places in this age.
12 We do not wrestle
against flesh and blood, but against principalities…against the rulers of the
darkness…against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Eph.
6:12)
C. Satan will be enraged at Israel to such a degree that he will seek to
exterminate the entire nation.
D. Satan seeks to overcome us first with fear. Why? He knows that fear
opens the door in a person’s life to many compromises. Many will worship the
Antichrist out of fear of lacking life resources. Jesus prophesied that many
will faint with fear. The Praying Church will overcome Satan and the
Antichrist (Rev.
12:11;
15:2;
2:7,
11,
17,
26;
3:5,
12,
21;
21:7). Fear need not dominate us.
26 Men's hearts failing
them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the
earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. (Lk.
21:26)
V. SATAN WARS THROUGH THE
ANTICHRIST AND FALSE PROPHET (REV. 13)
A. Satan will continue his war against God’s people by using
his main two weapons of war, the Antichrist and the False Prophet. They will
be supported by a ten-nation confederation. The Antichrist’s main goal is to
be worshipped by all nations and to rule them (Rev.
13:4,
8).
3 The Dragon (Satan)
gave him (Antichrist)
his power, his throne, and great authority…4 They worshiped the Dragon…and
they worshiped the Beast, saying, "Who is like the Beast? Who is able to make
war with him?" 5 He was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies,
and he was given authority to continue for 42 months. (Rev.
13:3-5)
7 It was granted to him (Antichrist)
to make war with the saints and to overcome (oppress and/or kill) them.
Authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. (Rev.
13:7)
21 I was watching; and the
same horn (Antichrist)
was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them…25 he shall
persecute the saints of the Most High… (Dan.
7:21-25)
B. The Antichrist is the final world leader who wages war against God’s
people. He has a political, military and economic alliance with a ten-nation
confederation that provides him with the largest army, the most money and
power (spiritual/political/military) of any man in history.
C. This tells us why Jesus has to replace all the governments on earth
because billions of people will willingly choose to worship the Antichrist as
their god
Rev. 13:8. Consequently, they will operate in his same spirit and do the
same deeds of darkness. God will allow man’s free will to be exercised to its
full degree. Thus, the seven Bowls of wrath will be necessary to stop evil men
from exterminating the whole human race and polluting the earth with evil.
8 All who dwell on the
earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life
of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Rev.
13:8)
D. In
Rev. 13:11-18, the False Prophet is the leader of the future worldwide
religious network that is devoted to causing all the nations to worship Satan
and the Antichrist (Rev.
13:4,
8).
11 I saw another beast (False
Prophet)…he had two
horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. (Rev.
13:11)
E. John revealed the False Prophet’s three most effective strategies.
1. First, he will give demonically empowered public speeches that will be
confirmed by great miracles to deceive the masses (Rev.
13:12-14).
12 He exercises all the
authority of the first beast…and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to
worship the first Beast…13 He performs great signs…14 He deceives those who
dwell on the earth by those signs… (Rev.
13:12-14)
2. Second, he will promote the Abomination of Desolation (Mt.
24:15;
2 Thes. 2:3-4) which will be based on an image of the Beast or a stature
of the Antichrist being set up in the Jerusalem Temple. It will be a
demonically empowered statue that breathes and speaks and causes all the
nations to worship the Antichrist (Rev.
13:14-15).
14 Telling those who dwell
on earth to make an image (statue)
to the Beast…15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the Beast,
that (it)
should speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the Beast to
be killed. (Rev.
13:14-15)
3 The son of perdition (Antichrist)
4 opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God…sits as God in the
temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (2
Thes. 2:3-4)
3. Third, he will force the nations to worship the Antichrist by the mark
of the Beast on their hand or forehead to force all to publicly declare their
loyalty to the Antichrist (Rev.
13:16-17). To refuse this mark will result in not being able to buy or
sell the necessities of life along with being guilty of the death penalty. He
will use the power of the state to kill all who resist the Antichrist’s
demands (Rev.
13:15).
16 He causes all…to
receive a mark on their right hand or forehead…17 that no one may buy or sell
except one who has the mark…18 His number is 666. (Rev.
13:16-18)
VI. JESUS WILL
SUPERNATURALLY HELP THE CHURCH COME TO VICTORY (REV. 14)
A. The message of Rev. 14 is that Jesus will help us and
that there will be real consequences for both righteousness and
unrighteousness. Jesus promises to reward His people and to judge the
followers of the Antichrist. This knowledge removes all the options for
compromise and in this posture of heart, the Holy Spirit will help anoint the
Church to walk in victory as overcomers.
B. This section will inspire confidence that righteousness is absolutely
necessary and that Jesus will help us with great power even with angelic
intervention until we fully triumph. We must not yield to the deceptive
allurements for the mark of the Beast nor be intimidated by the rage of the
Antichrist and his followers who will all soon be overthrown.
C. First section (Rev.
14:1-5): Jesus will visit and anoint 144,000 prophetic singers who will be
a model for victory in the midst of persecution as well as provide great
strength to the Church by the prophetic singing that releases great revelation
and power. Jesus will stand with them on Mt. Zion in earthly Jerusalem. These
singers will prophecy in power during the last 3½ years, and will be sealed or
protected by the power of God in the midst of God’s judgments (Rev.
7:4-8).
1 Behold, a Lamb standing
on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000, having His Father's name written on their
foreheads. 2 I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and
like the voice of loud thunder. I heard the sound of harpists playing their
harps. 3 They (the harpist)
sang as it were a new song before the Throne…and no one could learn that song
except the 144,000…4 These are the ones who were not defiled with (immoral)
women, for they are virgins (celibates).
These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes…5 In their mouth was
found no deceit, for they are without fault (compromise)…
(Rev.
14:1-5)
1. John saw Jesus standing on Mount Zion in Jerusalem with 144,000
prophetic singers as He stood with the disciples in Emmaus (Lk.
24:27-47) and the apostles (Acts
1:3) to open the Scriptures to them. Jesus will personally commission and
anoint. Their calling may relate to the seven thunder prophecies (Rev. 10).
They will be deeply dedicated to Jesus and filled with prophetic revelation.
The “they” of verse 3 are the harpists who are also singers who sing a new
song and who teach the new song to the 144,000.
2. There will be 144,000 prophetic singers from the 5-6 million Jewish
intercessors who call on God’s name in worship and intercession in
Zech. 13:9. These 144,000 prophetic singers will support the Two Witnesses
in prophetic intercession.
3. Jesus will raise up prophetic singers to release His power in the great
war as seen when Jehoshaphat stationed the singers to lead the battle (2 Chr.
20). Isaiah prophesied about prophetic singers across nations who will also
sing heaven’s new songs in the End-Times.
10 Sing to the LORD a new
song, and His praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the
sea…you coastlands…11 Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their
voice…let them shout from the top of the mountains….13 The LORD shall go forth
like a mighty man (at the Second
Coming); He shall
stir up His zeal like a man of war. He shall cry out…He shall prevail against
His enemies. (Isa.
42:10-13)
D. Second section (Rev.
14:6-13): reveals four prophetic promises and proclamations that the
Spirit will anoint so as to strengthen the spirit of the saints and will
confirm with signs and wonders.
1. In
Rev. 14:6-7, we will receive angelic assistance and great power that we
may succeed in preaching the Gospel to all nations in the presence of
hostility (Mt.
24:14;
Rev. 7:9).
6 I saw another angel
flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to
those who dwell on the earth--to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people-- 7
saying with a loud voice, "Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His
judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth…" (Rev.
14:6-7)
2. In
Rev. 14:8, the anointed proclamation of the certainty of the total defeat
of the Harlot Babylon will strengthen us (Rev. 17-18).
8 Another angel followed,
saying, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made
all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." (Rev.
14:8)
3. In
Rev. 14:9-11, the anointed proclamation of the certainty of eternal
judgment coming on all who worship the Antichrist will embolden the saints.
9 A third angel…saying
with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the Beast and his image, and receives
his mark…10 he shall drink of…the wrath of God…He shall be tormented with fire
and brimstone... 11 they have no rest day or night." (Rev.
14:9-11)
4. In
Rev. 14:12-13, the anointed proclamation of the certainty of eternal
reward for being faithful will greatly strengthen the Church.
12 Here is the patience (perseverance)
of the saints…who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. 13 I
heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write: 'Blessed are the dead who die
in the Lord…their works follow them." (Rev.
14:12-13)
E. Third section (Rev.
14:14-20): reveals two different End-Time harvests to be released by
prayer. The harvest of souls is seen in
Rev. 14:14-16 and the harvest of sin in
Rev. 14:17-20. These show the results of prayers that release power for
the Great Harvest and End-Time judgments.
14 Behold…One like the Son
of Man (Jesus),
having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. 15 Another
angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him…, "Thrust in
Your sickle and reap…for the harvest of the earth is ripe." 16 So He… thrust
in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped. (Rev.
14:14-16)
F. A river of blood runs 200 miles or the distance from Megiddo in the
north to Bozrah in the south (Israel is 160 miles from north to south). A
furlong equals a stadia (NIV) and is about 200 yds.
17 Another angel
came…having a sharp sickle. 18 Another angel came out from the altar…cried
with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, "Thrust in your sharp
sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are
fully ripe." 19 So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the
vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
20 The winepress was trampled…and blood came out of the winepress, up to the
horses' bridles, for 1,600 furlongs (200
miles). (Rev.
14:17-20)