Recently someone cried out in anguish, “I’m trying desperately to find God’s church but what hope do I have? There are hundreds of church denominations and sects in the world. Most claim to be God’s true church, and all are alike in certain areas, yet different in others. I could never, in my entire lifetime, examine the teachings of all these groups. I feel frustrated and traumatized, it is almost as if God were playing games with me. It all seems so futile and so pointless.” Tragically, millions share such sentiments. Perhaps you, yourself feel the same way.
Did you know that, in Revelation, God so clearly describes His church for these last days that once you know what he says you can as easily select His true church from among all the churches as you could select your country’s flag from among all other flags?
This is dynamite! No wonder Satan panics when people begin studying the book of Revelation. He knows that God’s church is clearly described in the book and he utilizes every imaginable tactic to prevent our getting serious over its study. If everyone understood Revelation, Satan’s kingdom would be in immediate jeopardy, and God’s great name and His noble church would be exalted in a most exciting manner.
Lets’s look at Revelation’s amazing description of God’s church. It is found in Chapter 12. Please read the entire chapter before beginning this lesson.
GOD’s CHURCH TODAY
1. Jesus says in Luke 17:26, that the time just before His second coming will be like Noah’s day. How many ways of escape were there in Noah’s day? Genesis 7:1
Ans: _____________________________________________
2. How many faiths or churches did Paul say Jesus has? Ephesians 4:5
Ans: “One Lord, ___________________ faith, one baptism.”
NOTE: As in Noah’s day, God has but one boat or church that is going through to safety. Be certain that you board the right boat. Ephesians 5:25-27 points out clearly that Jesus died to bring His CHURCH into His kingdom.
3. Obviously, there are many beautiful Christians in all churches. Since God has only one true church, which He will save, what will happen to the sincere Christians in other churches? John 10:16, 27
Ans: “Them _________ I must ___________ … and there shall be one ______________ and one _______________”.
NOTE: Here Jesus is pictured as the good shepherd. His people as sheep and His church as the fold. Jesus plainly says that some of HIS SHEEP are not yet in His church but that He will call them, and they will follow Him into His church, John 10:27.
GOD’s CHURCH SYMBOLIZED
4. How does God symbolize Zion or His church in prophecy? Jeremiah 6:2, Isaiah 51:16
Ans: “I have likened … Zion to a comely … ______________”.
NOTE: The Bible repeatedly symbolizes God’s church as a virtuous woman. For additional references see Exhibit 18.1
5. In Revelation 12:1, Jesus introduces His church under the symbolism of a virtuous woman.
A. Where did John see the woman?
B. What was she clothed with?
C. What was she standing on?
D. What was on her head?
Ans:
A. _______________________
B. _______________________
C. _______________________
D. _______________________
NOTE:
a. HEAVEN here refers to the sky where the birds fly, Genesis 1:20.
b. The SUN represents Jesus and His righteousness, Psalm 64:11, Romans 13:14, Malachi 4:2, John 9:5.
c. The MOON has no light except that reflected from the sun. It represents the Old Testament sacrificial system which had no light except that reflected from the gospel, Hebrews 10:1.
d. The CROWN of 12 stars represents the work of the 12 disciples which crowned the early years of the church, Matthew 10:1-4.
SUMMARY: Since the sun and the moon make a complete whole, this symbolism represents the sum total of the church in history: the church before the cross and the church after the cross.
6. What next takes place in this great prophecy of God’s church? Revelation 12:2,5
Ans: a. A __________________ is born into the church.
Ans: b. The child is later caught up to God’s _________________.
7. Who is this baby who is destined to rule all nations and who ascended up to heaven? Psalm 2:7-9, Revelation 19:13-16, Acts 1:9-11
Ans: ________________________________________________
THE GREAT RED DRAGON
8. A great red dragon is next pictured. Revelation 12:7-9, Revelation 12:3-4
a. Who is the dragon?
b. Where did he come from?
Ans: a. __________________ b. He was cast out of _________________
9. When the devil left heaven, a. Whom did he bring with him? B. What did he try to do to the child? Revelation 12:3-4, 12,7-9
Ans: a. “The ____________ part of the ___________ of heaven”.
NOTE: Stars are angels, Revelation 1:20. Satan deceived one-third of the angels and “his angels were cast out with him”.
Ans: b. “To _____________ her child as soon as it was born”.
NOTE: Satan, through Herod, tried to kill Jesus at his birth by destroying all the babies of Bethlehem, Matthew 2:1-18. Joseph and Mary were forewarned by an angel and fled to Egypt. These two events were predicted by Old Testament prophets, Jeremiah 31:15, Hosea 11:1. Through the dragon represents Satan, it also has a secondary application to Pagan Rome. Herod was a Roman ruler, whom Satan used to try to kill Jesus at birth. A beast, normally, represents a kingdom or political power, Daniel 7:23.
10. What outstanding and extremely crucial facts are mentioned in Revelation 12:10-12?
Ans: a. The accuser … is cast _____________________________.
Ans: b. They overcame by the _______________ of the Lamb.
Ans: c. The devil is angry because time is ___________________.
NOTE: See Exhibit 18.1 – point 1.
GOD’s CHURCH PERSECUTED
11. After Satan failed in destroying Jesus when he was here on earth, what did he do to the woman or church? Revelation 12:13
Ans: “He __________________ the ___________________”.
12. Using the prophetic rule of ONE PROPHETIC DAY EQUALS ONE LITERAL YEAR, how long was this persecution to last? Revelation 12:6,14
Ans: _____________________________________________
NOTE: See Exhibit 18.1 – point 2.
13. What did the church do when this persecution began?
Ans: “And the woman _________ into the _____________ “.
NOTE: The wilderness typifies the deserted and remote places of earth. God’s people fled for their lives and hid in solitary places of the earth. The church dared not operate in the open else its members would not have survived. God’s true church did not exist OPENLY as an ORGANIZATION from 538 to 1798 AD.
MANY WONDERFUL CHRISTIANS are members of churches which WERE ORGANIZED and OPENLY FUNCTIONING between 538 and 1798 AD. However, NONE of these churches CAN BE GOD’s REMNANT CHURCH, into which HE IS CALLING ALL HIS PEOPLE TODAY because God makes it clear that His last church WOULD NOT EXIST OPENLY as a formal organization DURING THIS PERIOD.
GOD’s REMNANT (LAST DAY) CHURCH
Look at the symbols of Revelation 12:17:
a. Dragon – Devil, Revelation 12:9
b. Woman – True church (see question #5)
c. Remnant – Last day or end time
d. Commandments – The 10 commandments, Exodus 20:3-17
e. Testimony of Jesus – Spirit or gift of Prophecy, Revelation 19:10
Now, let’s put the verse in today’s language: “AND THE DEVIL WAS INFURIATED WITH THE TRUE CHURCH AND WENT TO FIGHT AGAINST GOD’s CHURCH IN THE VERY LAST DAYS WHICH KEEPS THE TEN COMMANDMENTS AND HAS THE GIFT OF PROPHECY”.
14. What two characteristics of God’s last day remnant church are mentioned in Revelation 12:17, Revelation 19:10?
Ans: _________ the commandments, have the ___________ of prophecy.
NOTE: So God’s last day church will have the gift of prophecy and will keep all the commandments, including the seventh-day Sabbath of the fourth commandment, Jesus is still saying, “If you love me, keep my commandments,” John 14:15. It is impossible to really love Him and knowingly break His commandments. 1 John 5:3
THERE ARE MANY TRUE CHRISTIANS in churches which do not keep the Sabbath or have the gift of prophecy. However, NONE of these churches CAN BE GOD’s LAST DAY REMNANT CHURCH, into which He is calling ALL HIS PEOPLE. His church must qualify in BOTH AREAS.
THREE SPECIAL MESSAGES
Here is something startling! Jesus assigns us THREE GREAT POINTS in proclaiming TO ALL THE WORLD the EVERLASTING GOSPEL in these last days. Revelation 14:6, Matthew 24:14
15. What are these “three great points”? Revelation 14:6-11, 18:2-4
a. Revelation 14:7 – “The hour of God’s ___________ is come … worship Him which made _____________ and ___________”.
NOTE: God’s church will be teaching that God’s judgment is now in session and that we must worship and honor Him as Creator by keeping His Sabbath, the sign of His creative power. (See Lesson 10).
b. Revelation 14:8, 18:2-4 – “Babylon is _______, come ______ of ________ my ________”.
NOTE: It is possible that you are in Babylon? God’s church for today must be calling people out of Babylon. We will take up a detailed study of Babylon in Lesson 21.
c. Revelation 14:9 – Beware of the beast and his image and his _______________________
NOTE: God’s church for today will be telling people how to avoid the mark of the beast.
God’s true CHURCH for TODAY will be presenting the THREE POWERFUL MESSAGES WORLD-WIDE. Many devout loyal Christians are members of churches which do not teach this three-point message. However, SUCH churches CANNOT be GOD’s SPECIAL CHURCH FOR TODAY, INTO WHICH HE IS CALLING ALL HIS PEOPLE, because God’s LAST DAY CHURCH must be preaching these three messages WORLD-WIDE.
16. What other key point will God’s true church for the last days stress? Revelation 12:11
Ans: “And they ____________ by the ___________ of the ___________________________”.
NOTE: God’s church will make it very clear that salvation and righteousness come by faith in Jesus Christ alone, Acts 4:12.
GOD’s CHURCH IDENTIFIED
According to Revelation, chapters 12 and 14, the following seven great points identify God’s church for today into which He is calling all His people. God’s church:
- Will appear after the wilderness – Dark Ages experience – that is, after 1798.
- Will hold same truths as apostles (teachings will square with the Bible).
- Will keep the Ten Commandments, including the fourth (seventh-day Sabbath).
- Will have the gift of prophecy.
- Will preach the final, end-time, three-point message of Revelation 14:6-12
- Will be a world-wide missionary church (to every nation, tongue & people).
- Will teach salvation through Jesus Christ (the everlasting gospel).
17. Jesus hands you these seven specifications and says, “go find my church”. What does He promise when we seek? Luke 11:9
Ans: “Seek and ye shall ___________________________________”.
18. How many church organizations in the world fit these seven points? Ephesians 4:5
Ans: __________________________________________________
NOTE: The church which is bringing you this Revelation Seminar fits all seven points. Let’s review quickly how it fits each point.
19. Once one recognizes God’s true church, is it necessary to become a member? Acts 2:47
Ans: “And the Lord _______________ to the _________________ daily ___________ as _________ be ___________”.
NOTE: Notice the following:
a. We are all called into one body – Colossians 3:15
b. That body is the church – Colossians 1:18
c. We enter the church by baptism – 1 Corinthians 12:13
IT IS JUST AS IMPERATIVE TO ENTER GOD’s ARK OR CHURCH TODAY, AS IT WAS TO ENTER THE ARK IN NOAH’s DAY. REMEMBER THAT JESUS INTENDS TO SAVE THE CHURCH, Ephesians 5:25-27.
20. Revelation 1:12-13,20 pictures Jesus walking among His churches. He still walks among the churches today calling His people, Hebrews 13:8. As He speaks to you and calls you into His blessed ark of safety for these last days will you respond to His loving call? You are very precious to Him.
Ans: _____________________________________________