The Antichrist And New Babylon Series

NOTE: This Bible study on the end times comes from the perspective of a pre-tribulation Rapture.

Tonight, we are going to look at Revelation chapters 14 and 17. The last time we met, we discussed in detail “the Antichrist’s rise to power.” Tonight, we are going to discuss “the Antichrist’s worldly kingdom.” We will reflect some more on “the mark of the beast.” We will re-identify one possible location of the Antichrist’s headquarters, and will also talk about the government of the Antichrist’s worldly kingdom, known as the “One-World Order,” and sometimes called “New World Order.” I wish to encourage you to be filling out the provided handout as we go along, so you can keep track of all this information.

(Refer to Handout: “The Symbolism of Chapters 14 and 17”)

The 144,000 Believers

Turn with me in your Bibles, and let’s read Revelation 14:1-5:

1 Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 3 They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.

• Who do you think the 144,000 are?

We read (past tense) about the 144,000 back in Revelation 7:4-8, and we identified them as Jewish converts to Christianity. The reason why is because they are numbered by the twelve Jewish tribes. For example, Revelation 7:4 says, “And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed.” This figure does not represent the totality of all those in heaven; just the number of Messianic Jews.

But they are also said to be virgins in verse 4. It has been noted that they should be viewed as “spiritual” virgins who have not committed spiritual adultery against God. As the Bride of Christ, or part of the Church, they maintained their spiritual purity for Jesus (Hunter). We see that they are redeemed from among men, and that they are also firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. The part about being “redeemed” means they were given salvation through Christ. The part about “firstfruits” means they were the first ones, or the premiere, of their group.

For the 144,000, fill in “Possibly the Jewish Converts.”

The Gospel Preached

Turn with me in your Bibles, and let’s read Revelation 14:6-7:

6 Then 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, the sea and springs of water.”

• In verse 6, what is the “everlasting gospel?”

It is the message of Jesus Christ. In 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, the apostle Paul tells us about the gospel message. He says, “Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved . . . For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”

• To whom is the gospel supposed to be preached, according to verse 6?

The answer is to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people; or rather, the entire world.

• What do these verses tell us about salvation in the Tribulation period?

That it is still possible to receive Christ.

For the Everlasting Gospel, fill in “The Message of Jesus Christ.”

The Fallen City Babylon

Turn with me in your Bibles, and let’s read Revelation 14:8:

8 And 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.”

We’re not going to discuss this verse, because this subject matter is covered in more detail later in the book of Revelation. In fact, there are one and a half chapters devoted to this topic, found in chapters 18 and 19; nevertheless, I am going to go ahead and tell you what this represents.