Day 364 Reading Schedule: Revelation 13-16

Revelation 13: Vision of the Evil Beast 

[Summary]

John sees a beast rising out of the sea. The beast has seven heads and ten horns, and on its horns are ten crowns. Its appearance is like a leopard, its feet like spring, and its mouth like a lion. The beast receives the power of the dragon and performs miracles similar to resurrection, deceiving many people and persecuting God's people (verses 1-11). After this, John sees a beast rising out of the earth. The beast has two horns like a lamb and speaks like a dragon. The beast of the earth performed amazing miracles and deceived people. It caused people to worship the beast that came out of the sea. The name of the beast and the number of its name were six hundred and sixty-six (verses 12-18).

This chapter, which mentions Satan's persecution of the saints following chapter 12, is particularly notable for providing a detailed explanation of the enemy. From the vision of the beast coming out of the sea and the vision of the beast coming up from the land, we can learn lessons from this chapter about the spiritual battle between Satan and the church that continues even today.

Revelation 14: Vision of the Persecuted Saints 

[Overview]

John saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion with the 144,000. The 144,000 sang a new song before the throne and the four living creatures and the elders (vv. 1-5). John heard the three angels proclaim to mankind. The first angel proclaimed that they should believe in the everlasting gospel, the second angel proclaimed that the worldly kingdom of Babylon would be destroyed, and the third angel proclaimed that they should maintain the purity of faith even in the midst of suffering (vv. 6-12). John also witnessed one like the Son of Man sitting on a cloud harvesting grain, and another angel gathering the grapes and throwing them into the winepress of God’s wrath to judge them (vv. 13-20).

This chapter presents a scene that foreshadows God’s judgment on the saints who continue to be persecuted. It describes in detail the rewards that the saints who refused to receive the mark of the beast and were martyred, and the final judgment of the unbelievers who worshipped the beast. Through these scenes, we saints should be able to learn the secret of a life that will be victorious in the tribulation that will come.

Revelation 15: Seven Angels Preparing the Seven Plagues 

[Overview]

John sees the saints who have passed through the tribulation standing on the sea of ​​glass and singing praises (verses 1-4). After that, he sees the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven being opened again and the seven angels receiving the seven bowls containing the seven plagues. The temple was filled with smoke so that no one could enter (verses 5-8).

The seven seals and seven trumpets, which are the plagues connected to the number 7, continue, and the scenes in between pass by, and from this chapter to chapter 18, the seven bowls of tribulation are prophesied again. This tribulation is already the third tribulation, and the detailed description of the tribulation that will come continues. This chapter shows the preparation for the seven bowls of tribulation.

Revelation 16: The Seven Bowls of Plagues 

[Summary]

The first bowl was poured on the earth, and sores appeared on those who had the mark of the beast (verses 1-2). The second bowl was poured on the sea, and all the creatures in the sea died (verse 3). The third bowl was poured on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood (verses 4-7). The fourth bowl was poured on the sun, and the sun scorched people with fire. People still did not repent (verses 8-9). The fifth bowl was poured on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was darkened and people became sick (verses 10-11). The sixth bowl was poured on the Euphrates River, and its water dried up. An unclean spirit came out of the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet, and gathered the kings to Armageddon (verses 12-16). The seventh bowl was poured into the air, and there were lightnings, thunders, and an earthquake, and the great city split into three parts. Each island and mountain disappeared without a trace, and huge hailstones weighing up to 30 kilograms fell (verses 17-21).

In this chapter, the seven bowl plagues are revealed in earnest. The seven bowl plagues have some similarities in their sequential targets and objects with the previous seven trumpet plagues, but they are significantly more severe than the seven trumpet plagues, and they differ in that the targets of the plagues are limited to those who follow the beast. In this chapter, we must once again examine the extreme tribulation that will occur in the future and understand God’s providence.