Lecture Notes: Chapter 16 and The Great Tribulation

The Seven Bowls of God's Wrath

Second Angel and the Sea (Verse 3)

• Context: Second Angel pours the bowl on the sea, turns it to blood, and all sea creatures die.
• Symbolism: The sea represents the world and its people, especially those who worship the Beast and take its mark.
• Consequence: Those who follow the world (pleasures, treasures) will die with it as God's wrath is imminent.
• God’s wrath is upon the world that rejected Jesus Christ.

Third Angel and the Rivers/Springs (Verse 4)

• Context: Third Angel pours the bowl on rivers and springs, turning them to blood.
• Symbolism: Rivers and Springs represent the Church in end times.
• Consequence: The church, by the end times, will be dead to the Lord because it denied Jesus by its actions.

The Great Tribulation

• Focus: Directed at Israel and Jewish people in the Middle East.
• Events: World War III with nuclear warheads, impacting the entire world, involving superpowers like China, Russia, Iran.
• Impact on Church: When the tribulation strikes, it will impact Christians who are Christians in name only but not in deeds.

The Fate of The Church in End Times

• Dead Church: Churches will be dead in the eyes of the Lord as they would have denied Jesus Christ totally.
• Christians by Name: People will claim Christianity but lack knowledge or relationship with Jesus.
• Springs of Water: Symbolize Holy Bible and its teachings; the dead church will push aside the true teachings.
• Rivers of Water: Church in the end times; illustrates Vanity and Lust for Power within the Church.

Distinction Between The World and The Church

• Sea (World): Salty water symbolizing worldly temptations, leading to emptiness and never-ending thirst.
• Rivers (Church): Sweet water, purified and elevated by God's word and distillation (trials and hardships).
• God’s Process: Converts the salty worldly person into sweet holy beings through trials and the cross.

God's Judgments and Righteousness

• Verses 5-6: Angels proclaim God's righteousness and justice in giving blood to drink for spilling the blood of saints and prophets.
• Medieval Church Conflicts: Reference to bloodshed within Christendom and its consequences.

Altar and Church Angels’ Declarations

• New Testament: Refers to Jesus as righteous, highlighting the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit).
• Old Testament: Refers to Jesus as Lord God Almighty, recognizing God’s almighty power and righteousness in judgments.
• Judgments: Laws and words of God which will bring back the Jewish people when they accept the New Testament.

Key Verses and Interpretations

• Psalm 100:3: The Lord is God.
• Leviticus 18:2: Addressing Israelites, speaks of the Lord as their God.
• Genesis 3:8: The Lord God walking in Eden, highlighting the divine presence.

The Jewish Acceptance in End Times

• Conversion: Jewish people will come back to accept Christ through his word during tribulations.
• Realization: Understanding Jesus as Lord God Almighty upon recognizing his righteous judgments.

Temporal and Eternal Perspectives

• Church Evolution: Concerns about modernization and superficial faith in the church.
• Shabbath (Sabbath): Realized in Jesus Christ, symbolizing eternal rest and divine completion.
• True Shabbath: Recognized through Jesus Christ, not a literal day but the eternal rest and salvation offered by Him.

Testimonies and Personal Insights

• Personal Testimony: Bishop’s personal encounter with Jesus and Satan, emphasizing the reality of spiritual battles.
• Message to All: Jesus Christ as the sole Savior and God for all humanity, beyond religious and cultural boundaries.

Concerns about Modernity and Spiritual Decline

• Modern Church Practices: Criticism of superficial church activities and lack of deep spiritual commitment.
• Role of Money: Warning against the church’s obsession with wealth and power, deviating from true faith.

Special Announcements

• 40th Day Memorial: Holy Mass for the bishop's departed mother on Sunday, July 9.
• Youth Ministry Meeting: Monthly meeting on Saturday, July 1.
• Fake Social Media Accounts: Reminder to report and avoid fake accounts of the bishop.
• Humanitarian Mission: Upcoming trip to Turkey, Lebanon, and Syria in August; call for donations.

Concluding Thought

• God’s Rest: Achieved when humanity accepts Jesus and lives sin-free; God eternally active in maintaining his creation.