Sabbath School Lesson for March 9-15, 2019
Overview
We are shown many features of God’s wrath this week, but they are sorted out by looking at…
- the meaning of the seven last plagues–why they happen (Sunday)
- what the plagues will be–and some of the symbols represented in them
- plagues 1-5, which consisted of loathsome sores, the sea turning to blood, waters turning to blood, scorching of the sun, and intense darkness (Monday)
- the sixth plague, the Euphrates River drying up (Tuesday)
- the seventh plague, a great earthquake (Wednesday)
- the nature of the battle of Armageddon (Thursday)
Introduction
Next to the mark of the beast, there is no topic in Revelation more unpleasant than the seven last plagues and the battle of Armageddon. But chapters 15 and 16 must be dealt with by God’s people, so we aren’t caught unawares when the final chapter comes around and this earth’s history ends.
We have the image of God’s people though on a sea of glass, singing the song of Moses in chapter 15. A reminder of the triumphant victory of the Hebrews’ escape from Pharaoh’s army, as they entered their new life of freedom from slavery.
In addition, we are given to believe that the first four plagues will not be universal. No one could survive them if they were. But the damage inflicted will be significant, so that when the darkness presents itself in the fifth plague, there is enough pain experienced by the world’s inhabitants that they will then feel the effects worldwide.
Another bright spot is the fact that God’s people, who have been sealed, will be protected from the effects of these horrific events. Just as the Hebrews were exempt from the final plague back in Egypt, by putting the blood of the lamb on their doorposts.
Memory Text: ” ‘Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested.’ “ Revelation 15:4 NKJV
The reason God will be seen as holy and His name glorified is because justice is finally witnessed by the universe. The full consequences of sin are allowed to happen and the sight isn’t pretty. But all God’s children will be able to relax for the first time in a place of eternal light and freedom.
Sunday: The Meaning of the Seven Last Plagues
The seven trumpets (in Revelation, chapters 8-11) were given to announce similar disastrous happenings as these last plagues in chapter 16. The purpose of the trumpets, however, was redemptive in nature–a warning call to those oppressing God’s people to stop and repent, before it was too late.
They, like the messages to the seven churches, and the seven seals (providing more details about the church periods), dealt with the seven time periods that have marked the existence of God’s church and the different disclosures of the plan of salvation that were provided them.
On the other hand, the seven last plagues that are announced in this last section of Revelation are predictions of the final moments before the Second Coming. God unfolds what will happen to the unrepentant, when Jesus ends His mediation in the Most Holy Place–when all the cases have been decided, and probation has ended.
This is what we see in Revelation 15:8, which says:
“The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.” NKJV
All mediation services have stopped in the temple. It’s time now for the Satan’s forces to reap what they have sown, to experience the full consequence of their wicked ways. The resulting disasters that fall upon earth do not reflect the desires of God, as much as what happens when His Holy Spirit is not there to keep the plagues from happening. (See Revelation 7:1, which depicts angels, holding back the winds of strife, just prior to God’s people receiving the seventh seal. Now, those winds are released.)
Discussion Questions:
Read Revelation 15:1, 16:9 and Romans 1:28-32. What causes the wrath of God to be complete at this point?
Read Revelation 15:5-8 and 1 Kings 8:10, 11. Why was no one able to enter the temple at this time?
Read Revelation 22:11, 12. Why must there be a time when repentance is no longer an option for the sinner? And when does this happen?
Monday: The Outpouring of the Last Plagues
There is one thing to be thankful for in all this. These are called the “last” plagues, so we can rejoice in the fact that we are almost at the end, and these major calamities will be our last.
The plagues that fell on Egypt can inform us by being a type of what happens when these seven last plagues occur. We are told in Exodus 7-11 that Pharaoh’s heart was hardened. He had evidently reached the point when the Holy Spirit could no longer reach him (which has been called the unpardonable sin, caused by grieving the Holy Spirit).
We also saw how the doors of the ark were finally closed by the hand of God, after Noah, his family, and the animals were safely aboard. This, too, indicated there was no longer a chance for those outside the ark to be saved from the flood.
Similarly, sinners in the very last days have been given every chance to repent, but have not. God has no choice but to allow them to suffer the effects of sin, allowing the rest of the universe to see the tumultuous end product of following Satan and believing his lies.
The first four plagues won’t destroy everything, and therefore may not be worldwide in nature, but by the fifth one, which involves darkness, there will be no doubt that Satan is responsible for these horrendous events. The Light of God’s presence is totally withdrawn.
Discussion Questions:
Read Revelation 16:2, Exodus 12:13, and Psalm 91:7-10. Who suffered the effects of the first plague? Why are God’s people spared?
Read Revelation 16:10, 11, 13:2, and 12:9. Who gave the beast its power?
Read Genesis 1:2, 2, John 1:4, 5 and Ephesians 6:10. Why has God always been associated with light and Satan with darkness? What does this tell us about the fifth plague of darkness? Why is it particularly painful to those experiencing it?
Tuesday: Drying Up the Euphrates River
The sixth plague, which consisted of the Euphrates River drying up, reminds us of the story of the fall of Babylon. Cyrus’ Persian army diverted the Euphrates River and was able to overtake the city by marching under the city gates on a dry riverbed, making a surprise attack during King Belshazzar’s drunken party.
The people looked to the Empire of Babylon and its king to protect them and must have been totally shocked and enraged that their shield of protection was inadequate to prevent the attack of the Persian army.
Satan also will feel the wrath of his people, when they realize that he is the cause of their downfall. Therefore, Satan makes one final, desperate effort to deceive his followers, just prior to the seventh and final plague.
Discussion Questions:
Read Revelation 16:12 and Jeremiah 50:38, 51:13. What were some of the sins that caused the waters to dry up in Israel?
Read Revelation 17:1, 15. Symbolically, what might the drying waters represent in the final days?
Read Revelation 17:16, 16: 13. How does losing his supporters (the “peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues”) affect Satan and his allies?
Wednesday: Satan’s Last Great Deception
Prophecies of Persia’s attack on Babylon are clearly presented in the book of Isaiah. Cyrus, known as a king of the east, evidently came down to Babylon from the north, and then approached it to attack from the east (or “the rising of the sun”–Isaiah 41:25).
What happens during the sixth plague especially sounds intriguing, when we understand that the conquest of Babylon, made possible by the drying up of the Euphrates, led to a rebuilding of Jerusalem and its temple. See Isaiah 44:27, 28.
Satan must also have read the handwriting on the wall, just as King Belshazzar did so long ago. Therefore, as we found in Revelation 16:13, 14, he gathers his fellow angel defectors, along with the global allies he has made, and endeavors to deceive his followers one last time. He convinces them to join him in fighting a great battle against the Most High, called the battle of Armageddon.
The mention of this deception being delivered by three unclean spirits (like frogs coming from the mouth of the dragon) should be easily identified to us as Satan’s counterfeit to the three angels’ messages that God in Revelation 14 reveals to us.
Discussion Questions:
Read Revelation 16:13, 14 and 1 Timothy 4:1. How long has apostasy (or the doctrine of demons) been at work in our world? How does the length of time Satan’s lying has been going on make it all the more dangerous to God’s people at the end?
Read Revelation 13:11-14. Who will be Satan’s allies in performing these lying wonders? Who do the dragon, and the first and second beasts, represent in this highly symbolic language?
Read 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12, 1 Corinthians 16:22, and John 14:6. What does it mean to have a love of the truth? Who or what are we really loving?
Thursday: Gathering for the Battle of Armageddon
The name of this battle, Armageddon, is only mentioned once in the entire Bible (Revelation 16:16), and its meaning has baffled Bible scholars for centuries now. The name means “the hill (or mount) of Megiddo” or to some, “The Challenge of Jehovah to Gideon”. Translater Moffat believes it refers to Gideon’s battle in the valley of Megiddo.
Mount Carmel, the site of Elijah’s famous showdown with the prophets of Baal, notably stands near the ancient city of Megiddo though. The battle of Armageddon might therefore be an allusion to Mount Carmel. This seems plausible since the whole issue then was Elijah convincing the people to worship God, rather than Baal.
Although the world pictures this famous battle of Armageddon as a real military struggle, it most likely must be interpreted symbolically. It indicates a global spiritual struggle about whom we will worship, Christ or Satan. 2 Corinthians 10:4, 5 helps us to see it this way…
“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty in God, for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,” NKJV
Discussion Questions:
Read Revelation 16:14-16, 13:13, 14, and 1 Kings 18:38. Why does Satan continue to make these counterfeits of true worship to God?
Read Revelation 14:6-9 and 16:13. What will likely be the theme of the messages from the three unclean spirits coming from the dragon?
Read 2 Corinthians 10:4, 5 and Ephesians 6:11, 12. What is the nature of our battle with Satan?
And, finally…
The everlasting gospel which makes our salvation possible involves our worship of Him, as defined by the first four of the Ten Commandments. The three angels’ messages of Revelation 14 certainly make that clear.
However, we clearly see how Satan has provided a counterfeit of God’s gospel (found in Revelation 13). The three unclean spirits coming from the dragon’s mouth speak of another gospel–a false one:
- fear God only and give Him glory–Satan wants himself to be worshiped through the beast powers he has created
- don’t worship images–Satan arranges an image of the first beast, which he claims should be worshiped
- don’t blaspheme God–Satan repeatedly exalts himself above God through his beast allies
- don’t forget God’s holy day–Satan deceives man into worshiping on another day
Perhaps Satan’s three demon messages would sound something like this…
- Fear Satan and give him glory, for judgment isn’t coming.
- Babylon is not fallen; it is very strong.
- Receive Satan’s mark and you will be saved, not lost.
Yes, the deception at the end will sound like the real thing, but don’t believe a word of it. Cling to God’s word–to Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life.
And you will be delivered from the plagues.
As our next portion of Psalm 92 to memorize says…
“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.” Psalm 91:14 NKJV
Don’t forget to check out Ed Dickerson’s continuing blog series about the art of teaching a Sabbath School class. You’ll find his tips very helpful. The latest one is…
Teaching a Sabbath School Class: Know Where You’re Going
Next Week’s Lesson: Judgment on Babylon
To read the Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly or see more resources for its study, go to https://www.absg.adventist.org/
Other Outlook blogposts by Teresa Thompson, are at http://outlookmag.org/author/teresathompson/
