Preacher: Bob Bryant | Series: The People of the Apocalypse

THEIR ENEMIES

Revelation 12:17 The dragon was enraged… and he went to make war with those who have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

13:1 I saw a beast… 7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them.

13:11 I saw another beast… 15 He was granted power…to cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.

THEIR DEATH

6:9…the souls of those who had been slain

6:11 …brethren who would be killed.

11:3 …my two witnesses… 7 the beast will kill them.

12:11 …they did not love their lives to the death.

14:13 …the dead who die in the Lord…

16:6 …the blood of saints.

17:6 …the blood of the martyrs of Jesus…

18:24 … the blood of saints…

19:2 …the blood of His servants…

20:4 …beheaded for their witness to Jesus…

 THEIR REWARD

6:9 I saw the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.

19:8 The fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 14…fine linen, white and clean…

12:11 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

14:13 I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on…. that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”

20:4 I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

2:10 Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

THEIR EXAMPLE

Matthew 10:32 “Whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. 34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes.

QUESTIONS FOR LIFE

1.Please read these passages about the tribulation martyrs:

Revelation 12:17 The dragon was enraged… and he went to make war with those who have the testimony of Jesus Christ. 13:1 I saw a beast… 7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them.

13:11 I saw another beast… 15 He was granted power…to cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.

11:3 …my two witnesses… 7 the beast will kill them.14:13 …the dead who die in the Lord… 16:6 …the blood of saints.19:2 …the blood of His servants… 20:4 …beheaded for their witness to Jesus…  17:6 …the blood of the martyrs of Jesus… 18:24 … the blood of saints… 12:11 …they did not love their lives to the death. 6:9…the souls of those who had been slain 6:11 …brethren who would be killed.  

20:4 I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 2

2:10 Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

2.What did you learn from these passages (and today’s message) that was new to you?

3.How do these passages (and today’s message) make you feel:  About the martyrs? About God?

4.Please read this passage: Whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 10:32

5.Have you been taught this passage in the past? If so, how was it explained?

6.Please review how this passage was explained in today’s message?

7.What do you think Jesus is saying to you in this passage?

8.Please read this passage which follows Matthew 10:32-33:  34 Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36 and a man’s enemies will be those of his own household. Matthew 10:34-36

9.What do you think Jesus is saying to you in 10:34-36 in light of what he says in 10:32-33?

10.Can you tell your group about someone you want to talk with about the gospel but have not  yet had the courage to do so?

11.How do you think today’s lesson can help you do what you have not yet had the courage to do?