LESSON TWENTY

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HOLY TRINITY

The concept of the Holy Trinity can often be a complex and perplexing doctrine for those unfamiliar with Christian theology. In Christianity, the Holy Trinity is a fundamental concept that represents God in three distinct persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. This concept can be challenging to explain, as it requires understanding and acceptance of the idea of one God existing in three persons. 

One way to simplify the understanding of the Holy Trinity is to think of it as a family unit. Just as a family has different members with unique roles (father, mother, child), the Holy Trinity consists of three distinct people who work together in perfect harmony. Each person of the Trinity has a specific role in the divine plan, yet they are all equally God. To further illustrate this concept, consider the analogy of water existing in three states: solid (ice), liquid (water), and gas (steam). Despite being in different states, they are all still water. In a similar way, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all part of the divine essence of God. 

Overall, the Holy Trinity is a complex yet essential concept in Christian theology. By breaking it down into simpler analogies and understanding the unique roles of each person, we can begin to grasp the mystery of the triune nature of God.

1.The Father: God is seen as the creator of the universe and all things. He is often considered the head of The Holy Trinity and the source of all things.

2.The Son: Jesus Christ is believed to be the Son of God, who came to earth in human form to save humanity from sin. He is considered the second person in The Holy Trinity.

3.The Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is seen as the presence of God in the world, guiding and empowering believers. It is often described as the love and power of God working in the hearts and minds of people. The Holy Spirit is the communicator between God and mankind.

While the Holy Trinity may seem like a complex and mysterious concept, it is essential to remember that it reflects the nature of God as revealed in the Bible. It is ONLY through accepting Jesus as your savior that you receive the Holy Spirit. It is ONLY through the Holy Spirit that you can communicate with God and Him with you. Through prayer, study, and reflection, we can deepen our understanding of this foundational belief in Christianity.

GOD

“And He who was sitting was like a JASPER STONE and a SARDIUS in appearance; and there was a RAINBOW AROUND THE THRONE, like an emerald in appearance. Out from the throne came FLASHES OF LIGHTNING and sounds and PEALS OF THUNDER. Revelation 4:3-5

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,' says the Lord God, 'who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8

JESUS

“I saw one like a SON OF MAN, clothed in a ROBE reaching to the feet, and wrapped around the chest with a GOLDEN SASH. His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His EYES WERE LIKE A FLAME OF FIRE. His FEET WERE LIKE BURNISHED BRONZE when it has been heated to a GLOW in a furnace, and His VOICE was like the SOUND of MANY WATERS. In His right hand He held SEVEN STARS, and out of His MOUTH came a SHARP TWO-EDGED SWORD; and His FACE was like the SUN SHINING in its strength.” Revelation 1:13-16

THE SLAUGHTERED LAMB 

“a Lamb standing, as if slaughtered, having SEVEN HORNS and SEVEN EYES, which are the SEVEN SPIRITS OF GOD sent out into all the earth.” Revelation 5:6

TWENTY-FOUR ELDERS

“Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads.” Revelation 4:4

This represents the 12 patriarchs in the Old Testament and 12 apostles in the New Testament. The Twelve Patriarchs refer to the twelve sons of Jacob, who are also known as Israel. These sons became the progenitors of the twelve tribes of Israel. The twelve apostles were those called by Jesus to learn and then go out spreading the word of the Gospel. In Greek, apostle is ἀπόστολος (apóstolos). The literal meaning of this is, “one who is sent out.” 

THRONE

“…and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal.” Revelation 4:6

From the throne proceeded not only the heavenly river of water of life, clear as crystal, but also the fire-stream of judgment, symbolizing purification and judgment. In the priestly system, it certainly stood for the necessity of purification (baptism) for entry into the presence of God. As the approach to the throne, it symbolizes the holiness required of those who draw near. As the final tribulation draws to a close, that sea mingled with fire symbolizes the source of the throne’s judgment on the earth below. Finally, it becomes the source of the healing and purifying streams for the redeemed earth.

FOUR LIVING CREATURES: SERAPH (plural Seraphim) 

“…and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. The first living creature was like a lion, the second creature like a calf, the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within. Revelation 4:6-8

“Seraphim were standing above Him, each having six wings: with two each covered his face, and with two each covered his feet, and with two each flew.” Isaiah 6:2

“For from the serpent’s root a viper will come out, and its fruit will be a winged serpent.” Isaiah 14:29

In Hebrew, seraphim mean “burning ones”, and they are said to be of the highest order of angels in Heaven. They are shown to be the guardians of the Throne of God, caretakers of God’s divine light, and are believed to be an eternal companion to God. It is said that whenever a seraph appears, the brightness that comes with it is so strong that it is impossible to look at them directly. The seraphim are believed to be powerful and wise, and they are said to have a purpose to sing “Holy, Holy, Holy” to God in Heaven. They are sometimes seen in iconography with harps, a symbol of their heavenly singing and praises to God.

CHERUB/ARCHANGEL (plural Cherubim)

“And within it there were figures resembling four living beings. And this was their appearance: they had human form. Each of them had four faces and four wings. Their legs were straight, and their feet were like a calf’s hoof, and they sparkled like polished bronze. Under their wings on their four sides were human hands. As for the faces and wings of the four of them, their wings touched one another; their faces did not turn when they moved, each went straight forward. As for the form of their faces, each had a human face; all four had the face of a lion on the right and the face of a bull on the left, and all four had the face of an eagle. Such were their faces. Their wings were spread out above; each had two touching another being, and two covering their bodies. And each went straight forward; wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go, without turning as they went. In the midst of the living beings there was something that looked like burning coals of fire, like torches moving among the living beings. The fire was bright, and lightning was flashing from the fire. And the living beings ran back and forth like bolts of lightning” Ezekiel 1:5-14

“Their backs, their hands, their wings and the wheels were covered with eyes all around” Ezekiel 10:12

“The CHARIOTS of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of ANGELS: the Lord is AMONG them, as in Sinai, in the holy place”. Psalms 68:17

“When the cherubim stood still, the wheels would stand still; and when they rose up, the wheels would rise with them, because the SPIRIT of the LIVING beings was in them.” Ezekiel 10:17

Cherubim are powerful protectors of divine sites; messengers of God sent to deliver prophetic insight and provide transportation for God and his throne.

SATAN - formerly known as LUCIFER (Serpent)

“You had the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The ruby, the topaz and the diamond; The beryl, the onyx and the jasper; The lapis lazuli, the turquoise and the emerald; And the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets, Was in you. You were the anointed cherub who covers, And I placed you there. You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked in the midst of the stones of fire. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created.” Ezekiel 28:12-15

“Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. And the Lord said unto Satan, whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, from going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.” Job 1:6-7

Currently, Satan has access to heaven. He does not reside there, but often he appears before God to accuse believers. Satan will finally lose all access to heaven when Michael ejects him. This is not a depiction of the initial fall of Satan, but at this point, however, he will be permanently evicted and thrown down to earth.

“And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads.” Revelation 12:3

In Revelation chapter 12 we are shown that this character who started out as Lucifer, an anointed cherub with great beauty, becomes recognized as a horrific beast. This passage typifies the grand symbolism found in much of the book of Revelation. 

ANTICHRIST (BEAST OF THE SEA) - RULER OF BABYLON THE GREAT 

“And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. The beast I saw resembled a leopard (Greece) but had feet like those of a bear (Medo Persia) and a mouth like that of a lion (Babylon). One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed.” Revelation 13:1-3

“He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:4

The difference between the dragon's seven crowns and the beast of the sea's ten crowns can be explained through the context of the biblical texts. The dragon's crowns are located on its heads, while the beast's crowns are placed on its horns. This distinction is significant in the interpretation of the visions in Revelation, where the dragon represents Satan and the beast symbolizes the forces of evil that oppose God's will. The crowns on the dragon's heads are often seen as a representation of the seven great political powers that have historically opposed God's people, while the crowns on the beast's horns are associated with the ten kingdoms that will rise from the Roman Empire's division and later support the Papacy. This interpretation underscores the continuity of Satan's opposition to God's plan throughout history, using political powers and alliances to persecute God's people.

FALSE PROPHET (BEAST OF THE EARTH) - RULER OF BABYLON THE WHORE

“Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. It exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf and made the earth, and its inhabitants, worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. And it performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people.” Revelation 13:11-13

“The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark in their right hands or in their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.” Revelation 13:15-17

The two horns represent the dual office of religious and political authority of the papacy, indicating a diarchic structure within the nation governed by the Pope (beast of the earth). The papacy is weak on its own and will exert itself by convincing state powers to cooperate (i.e. given power or authority)

TEN NATIONS

“And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.” Revelation 17:12-14

Based on typical interpretations of this passage, and of the timeline of the tribulation, it seems the kings will govern a confederacy of ten states at the beginning of the tribulation. Likely, this confederacy will involve nations in Western Europe, which is territory once occupied by the Roman Empire. 

By this interpretation, those leaders will ratify a peace treaty with Israel during their rule (1 Thessalonians 5:1–3), before trouble emerges. The situation becomes too complex for the ten kings to handle, so they unite with the beast. Together, the ten kings and the beast rule, but the union endures for only a brief time. While some Bible teachers try to identify the ten kings as successive rulers in the past, this verse identifies them as kings who rule together.

“And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.” Revelation 17:16-18

The horns represent kings. The ten kings and the beast, most likely the head of the Revived Roman Empire, will hate religious Babylon and will destroy her. The corrupt ecumenical system, therefore, will come to a sudden end. Perhaps religious Babylon will receive too much loyalty and too much wealth to the liking of the beast and the ten kings. They want all the resources for themselves so when they finish her off, they will confiscate all her wealth. 

The destruction of religious Babylon occurs at the end of the trumpet judgments when the church is raptured. The beast will then come into power, assume the role of God, and demand everyone worship him. 

TWO WITNESSES

“And I will grant authority to my two witnesses (anointed ones), and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.' These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; and so, if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire.” Revelation 11:3-6

The witnesses are referred to here as the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. The Old Testament prophet Zechariah received a vision of a gold lampstand and two olive trees, one on each side of the lampstand. The lampstand had a bowl and SEVEN LAMPS into which the olive trees poured oil. 

“There were SEVEN LAMPS of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven SPIRITS of God.” Revelation 4:5

“Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven SPIRITS of God sent forth into all the earth” Revelation 5:6

Olive oil was used in Bible times as fuel for lamps. One can see the oil as the Holy Spirit, and based on that, God's two witnesses during the tribulation will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to shine God's light into a dark world.

BABYLON THE GREAT – Satan’s Kingdom

“The church that is at BABYLON, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.” 1 Peter 5:13

Peter knew his Jewish readers would recognize "Babylon" as the traditional metaphor for those opposed to God's people. Rome, at that time, was the geographical and political source of that opposition. Peter may have been protecting the Christians in Rome by using Babylon as a stand-in and why in Revelation it is called “Mystery” Babylon.

One World Religion:

“I saw a woman (church) sitting on a “scarlet” beast (dragon), full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns. The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls, holding in her hand a gold cup full of abominations and of the unclean things of her sexual immorality, and on her forehead a name was written, a mystery: 'BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.' Revelation 17:3-5

“And he saith unto me, the waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.” Revelation 17:15

This corrupt religious system known as “the Whore” will include false religions all over the world. Some identify this eclectic religious system as the culmination of the ecumenical movement. According to this view, apostate Roman Catholicism (Mother), apostate Protestantism (daughters) and all world religions and cults (abominations) will unite and exist as one in the tribulation. This false religious system will be replaced with a new world order demanding worship of the antichrist.

One World Government (New World Order):

“The woman whom you saw is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth. She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird. For all the nations have fallen because of the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich from the excessive wealth of her luxury.” Revelation 18:2-3

Babylon is a political and economic entity. It is probably also a literal city—perhaps not with that exact name—during the end times. It's common for a capital city to stand in as a reference to a culture, or government, or even a religion. "Babylon," occupies a place somewhere in that range of meanings. 

“And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities” Revelation 18:1-5

Believers will be summoned to exit Babylon. If the believers stay in Babylon, they might succumb to the temptation to partake of its cultural and religious life.

“She saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. Therefore, shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her” Revelation 18:7-8

“Thus, he said, the fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. And he shall speak great words against the most High and shall wear out the saints of the most High and think to change times (holy sabbath) and laws (ten commandments): and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time (1260 days). But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.” Daniel 7:23-26

The Sabbath was never changed from Saturday to Sunday by Jesus Christ or the apostles. Sunday became the day of rest and worship for mainstream Christianity through the Catholic Church claiming authority to overrule Scripture, through pagan influences and through anti-Semitism. A royal decree to rest and worship on Sunday instead of Saturday was made by the Roman emperor Constantine, a pagan sun worshipper. Constantine, at the Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325, reported that Christians wanted nothing to do with Jews, they wanted to have a different day for rest and worship: Sunday.

The Catholic Church has made changes to the Ten Commandments, primarily in the numbering and the inclusion of the fourth commandment, which now refers to the Lord's Day. Additionally, the commandment prohibiting the making of graven images has been omitted. These changes have been made to align the commandments with the Church's teachings and to accommodate the practice of Sunday worship.

“And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.” Revelation 18:21

The "fall" occurs at the end of the tribulation, during the final act of the horrific seventh bowl judgment