Questions on Rev 13:1-10

1.  What are the chief features of the Beast?
	What does it do?

	[An easy starting question.  Make lots of observations.]

2.  What does the Beast remind you of?

	[Not a typical question, since it moves people away from the passage into comparisons with other passages (“correlation”).  However, in interpreting Revelation the process of correlation is necessary.]

	Modern science fiction monsters.  Satan.  Beasts of Daniel 7.  Daniel’s lions in Daniel 6.  Animals in creation.

3.  What does the Beast signify?

	[Interpretation.]

4. What lessons can we learn from this passage about the ways of Satan?
	About the ways of God?

	[Interpretation.  Principlizing.  Chief themes.]

5.  How does the Beast manifest himself now and in the future?

	[Application.]

	In Communist countries.  In the USA and free world.

6.  What are our responsibilities in the light of the Beast’s activity?

	[Application.]

Ephesians 2:1-10 Text

1 And you  were dead
  in the trespasses and sins
2   in which you once walked,
  following the course of this world,
  following the prince of the power 
    of the air, the spirit that is now at work
    in the sons of disobedience—
3 among whom we all once lived
    in the passions of our flesh,
  carrying out the desires 
     of the body and the mind, 
  and were by nature children of wrath,
  like the rest of mankind.
4 But God, being rich in mercy, 
  because of the great love 
     with which he loved us,
5   even when we were dead 
    in our trespasses, 
  made us alive together with Christ—
  by grace you have been saved—
6 and raised us up with him
  and seated us with him
  in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7   so that in the coming ages
    he might show the immeasurable
    riches of his grace
  in kindness toward us
    in Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace you have been
    saved through faith.
  And this not your own doing;
  it is the gift of God,
9     not a result of works,
  so that no one may boast.
10 For we are his workmanship,
  created in Christ Jesus
    for good works,
  which God prepared beforehand,
  that we should walk in them.
Observation

InterpretatiON

Application

Ephesians 2:1-10 Text

1 And you  were dead
  in the trespasses and sins
2   in which you once walked,
  following the course of this world,
  following the prince of the power
    of the air, the spirit that is now at work
    in the sons of disobedience—
3 among whom we all once lived
    in the passions of our flesh,
  carrying out the desires 
     of the body and the mind, 
  and were by nature children of wrath,
  like the rest of mankind.
4 But God, being rich in mercy, 
  because of the great love 
     with which he loved us,
5   even when we were dead 
    in our trespasses, 
  made us alive together with Christ—
  by grace you have been saved—
6 and raised us up with him
  and seated us with him
  in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7   so that in the coming ages
    he might show the immeasurable
    riches of his grace
  in kindness toward us
    in Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace you have been
    saved through faith.
  And this not your own doing;
  it is the gift of God,
9     not a result of works,
  so that no one may boast.
10 For we are his workmanship,
  created in Christ Jesus
    for good works,
  which God prepared beforehand,
  that we should walk in them.

Observation

1. “You”  Who does Paul have in mind?  Cf. v. 3.
2 Past time, when?  Preconversion?  “World” in what sense?  “Prince” = Satan.  .  “sons of disobedience” = who?  Why described so?
3 “Us” vs. “you” in v. 1.  Jews?  Before and after here.  Strong desires.  Flesh includes what?”  “Rest”—pagans?  “Wrath”—from God?  In the future or present?
4 “But” is contrast.  “God”—the Father?  Love and mercy from God.
5 Living/dead.  “With Christ”—how?  Allusion to v. 1.  When?  “Grace” connected with mercy and love.
6 “With Christ” again (vv 5,6).  “Seated”—meaning?  “In Christ”—why?  See v. 7.
7 What are coming ages?  “Show” to whom?  “Grace,” “saved” theme.  “Kindness” = “mercy” of v. 4.
8 Why repeated?  Why faith?  “This” is what?  Contrast of yourselves, God.
9. “Not” contrasts works, what?  Why is boasting tempting?
10 God working what?  “In Christ”—why repeated?  “Works” vs. v. 9.  What is the difference?  Works prepared, how?  We (Ctns) actors vs. God.

InterpretatiON

1 “You” may be Gentiles.  Dead spiritually.  Powerless to change ourselves.
2 “World” is used in an evil sense.  Two kingdoms with two heads.  Satan is a powerful ruler.  All unbelievers are subject to him, whether they know it or not.
3 Being “of the world” means being disobedient to God.  It can be pleasant (for a time).
God’s wrath (righteous anger) and judgment are real against Satan and his subjects.
4 God’s kingdom is antithetic.  He brought us in by pure grace and gift.
5 Christ is the model and representative.  What happens to Christ happens to us “with him” or “in him”:
6 We are alive, raised, seated (given power).
7 We are a display forever of God’s goodness.

8 Faith relies on God, hence is opposite of boasting in what I have done (works).  Faith itself is a gift of God.
10 God is the creator of our whole new life, which includes good works planned before.  Hence we do not boast in good works, integral as they may be to our new existence by new “creation.”

Application

1 You are to remember how it was before you were a Christian.  What if you grew up in a Christian setting?  That also can be contrasted with what would have been apart from God’s mercy.  Thank God!
2 you must reckon with a spiritual war where all unbelieving friends are captive.  don’t be surprised.
3 Don’t think or desire in imitation of people around you.  “Wrath.”  God is not a patsy.  When you pray, realize the seriousness of sin.
4 The resurrection of Christ is our fountain of mercy.  Keep eyes fixed on Christ.  Increase fellowship with him.
5 You are now alive with the new life of resurrection.
6 Realize that you have spiritual authority over Satan.  Pray for unbelievers to be made alive, in virtue of this authority.  Pray for whole nations as well!
7 Kindness.  Be aware of the depth of what you owe to God—everything.  God opened your eyes.  You should be kind too.
9 Don’t boast.  Don’t allow other Christians to do it either.  Remember the freeness and undeserving character of God’s love.  God has planned for you to do good flowing out of your new life.  Expect to change.  Be alert for opportunities for doing good.  Those things are God’s “plan for your life” in the biblical sense.

Ephesians 1:15-23 Text

15 For this reason, because I have heard 
  of your faith in the Lord Jesus 
  and your love toward all the saints,
16 I do not cease to give thanks for you,
  remembering you in my prayers,
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,
    the Father of glory,
    may give you a spirit
    of wisdom and of revelation,
    in the knowledge of him,
18 having the eyes of your heart
    enlightened,
  that you may know 
  what is the hope 
  to which he has called you,
  what are the riches of his glorious 
    inheritance in the saints,
 19  and what is the immeasurable 
    greatness of his power 
    toward us who believe,
  according to the working of 
    his great might
20  that he worked in Christ 
  when he raised him from the dead 
  and seated him at his right hand 
    in the heavenly places,
21  far above all rule and authority 
    and power and dominion,
  and above every name that is named, 
    not only in this age
    but also in the one to come.
22 And he put all things
    under his feet
  and gave him
    as head over all things 
    to the church,
23   which is his body,
	the fullness of him
  who fills all in all.

Observation

Interpretation

Application

Ephesians 1:15-23 Text

15 For this reason, because I have heard 
  of your faith in the Lord Jesus 
  and your love toward all the saints,
16 I do not cease to give thanks for you,
  remembering you in my prayers,
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,
    the Father of glory,
    may give you a spirit
    of wisdom and of revelation,
    in the knowledge of him,
18 having the eyes of your heart
    enlightened,
  that you may know 
  what is the hope 
  to which he has called you,
  what are the riches of his glorious 
    inheritance in the saints,
 19  and what is the immeasurable 
    greatness of his power 
    toward us who believe,
  according to the working of 
    his great might
20  that he worked in Christ 
  when he raised him from the dead 
  and seated him at his right hand 
    in the heavenly places,
21  far above all rule and authority 
    and power and dominion,
  and above every name that is named, 
    not only in this age
    but also in the one to come.
22 And he put all things
    under his feet
  and gave him
    as head over all things 
    to the church,
23   which is his body,
	the fullness of him
  who fills all in all.

Observation

15 What reason?  I = Paul.  You = Ephesians.  How did Paul hear?  Two actions, believing and loving.  “Saints” = God’s people.  Why this term?
16 2 negative, emphasis.  Thanks for you, not merely things.
17 God = Father.  Why “God of”?  How related to the Holy Spirit?  Theme of knowledge.  Know God, not just facts.  God = Father?
18 What are the “eyes of the heart”?  Knowledge again.  Object of knowledge is hope, riches, power.  What is hope?  Our mental state or things hoped for?  Do we inherit or God?
19 Emphasis with adjectives.  “For us” = our benefit?  Vv 19b expand on power with key illustration: Christ.  Paul heaps up words, “great might.”
20 Why resurrection as the instance?  Why “seated”?  What more do we learn from “right hand” and “heavenly places”?
21 Compares with other authority.  Why several terms?  Are there sharp distinctions?  “Age to come” = ?
22 “Under his feet”—authority?  “Head”—authority again?  “gave” what sense?  “to”—benefit as in v. 19?
23 Why “body”?  Why is the church “the fullness”?  In what sense?  How can it be when God fills all things?

Interpretation

15 On the basis of the riches of God’s provision (1:3-14), Paul prays.  A summary of Ctn existence includes faith to God, love towards fellow Christians.  Love towards fellow Christians is evidently distinct from general love for the world.
16 Repeated prayer is not “vain repetition.”  Paul’s consistency is a model for us as well as an encouragement to Ephesians.
17 God as object of prayer is both rich (glory) and sympathetic (Father).  HS is to continually give us wisdom and enlightenment in knowing God.  Knowing God is a growing process.
18 An inward change (heart) to see what is already there.  Hope = what God has promised.  We inherit in midst of others.
19 His power for our benefit is
20 miraculous power, shown in the resurrection.  He is granted the position of divine rule.
21 Christ’s rule extends over human governments, human positions of honor, angelic authorities, and the future.  Comprehensive.
22 All things serve Christ (willingly or not).  Christ is at work to use this authority for the benefit of the church.
23 The church receives the full blessing of Christ who also rules over all.

Application

15 You should be stimulated to prayer by doctrinal truths about God’s blessings and goodness to you.  Use Paul’s prayer as a model for your own.  Your life should show faith in the Lord Jesus and love for the saints.  Do you sense particular love for Ctns?  View them as saints.  Does your church really look like this?
17 In prayer, remember God’s riches and sympathy.  Pray that you may receive the Holy Spirit and have continually opening vision of God’s riches.
Ask God to change your heart, in order to see what he gives.
Thank him for hope, the riches of the future, and his power.
19  God still has the power to raise the dead!  That kind of power is available for your benefit!
20 Pray that your church and your life may have Christ’s rule and resurrection power.  What you can see in this world is not the key to what is going on.  Remember there is the unseen realm in heaven.
22 Why do we feel impoverished as a church?  Should we?  Shouldn’t we be optimistic about Christ’s being at work for us, his body?
23 Pray that we may be filled with God’s riches, as we receive from Christ’s fullness.