Lesson 7 Foundations for Prophecy

                                       Lesson 7 Foundations for Prophecy

           (Ezekiel 28, Isaiah 6 & 14, Revelation 21)

Copr. 2025, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D.  Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. If you normally receive this lesson by e-mail, but it is lost one week, you can find it by clicking on this link: http://www.GoBible.org. Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as you study.

Introduction: Many story plots feature a powerful and abusive person who victimizes others. The story goes into detail about those being abused, but then the plot turns. The abuser loses power and the abused take over. Is there a story like that in the Bible? How about the Book of Esther? I think this is a type of “revenge plot.”  Bible prophecy follows that same story line. Satan serves in the throne room of heaven, he rebels against God, widens the rebellion to planet earth, and then tortures those in the rebellion. However, some on earth reject Satan, and join with the God who voluntarily left the throne room to save planet earth. The revenge is complete when Satan is destroyed and those on planet earth join with those in the throne room of heaven to praise God. Let’s turn to the Bible to prove this story plot!

1.    Satan in Heaven

1. 1.    Read Ezekiel 28:12-14. Who does this describe? (While it refers to the “King of Tyre,” no human was both in Eden and an “appointed guardian cherub” on the “holy mountain of God.” This seems to refer to Satan when he served in heaven.)

1. 1. 1.    What was special about Satan? (He was perfect in beauty and full of wisdom. He was in the middle of the “stones of fire.” He was a guardian.)

1. 1. 2.    Why make any reference to the King of Tyre? Is this simply intended to be confusing and we need to be diligent students? (Read Matthew 16:21-23. The story of Peter tells us that Satan can inspire our words. I believe there was a King of Tyre and that his actions reflected the inspiration of Satan. For that reason these details apply to Satan.)

1. 2.    Read Ezekiel 28:15-16. What happened to Satan? (He became unrighteous and profane. He sinned and became violent. He was tossed out of heaven and no longer lived among the stones of fire.)

1. 1. 1.    What do you think are the stones of fire? (Verse 13 speaks of precious stones of the kind we know today. My guess is that the stones of fire are like nothing we have ever seen. They are precious, beautiful, and reflect the power of God. They are of extraordinary beauty.)

1. 3.    Read Ezekiel 28:17. What caused the fall of Satan? (Pride over his beauty and a desire for splendor.)

1. 4.    Read Isaiah 14:12-14. Who does this describe? (Once again, a human could not fall from heaven. A human is unlikely to think that he could go to heaven and conquer God. This is another reference to Satan.)

1. 5.    Go back and read Isaiah 14:3-6. Who does this describe? (It says the “King of Babylon.” But this is like the reference to Tyre. We are looking at the inspiration behind the evil king, we are reading about Satan.)

1. 6.    Look again at Isaiah 14:14 and then read Genesis 3:4-5. What similarity do you find between the temptation that caused Satan to fall and the temptation that caused Eve to fall? (They both wanted to be like God.)

1. 1. 1.    This appears to be the most dangerous temptation. Does it exist today? Is it a problem in your life? (I think this temptation is a problem for anyone who puts human opinion over God’s opinion.)

1. 1. 1. 1.    How many people do you know who think the Bible is outdated, or has been eclipsed by modern ideas and understandings?

2.   Power of Sacrifice

1. 1.    Read Isaiah 6:1-4. Who is calling out? (The Seraphim angels are proclaiming glory to God.)

1. 1. 1.    Why would the foundations tremble at the word of the angels? (Read Revelation 15:8. The message is that God is surrounded by energy and power.  If you read a scientific discussion of the amount of power it would take to declare the world into existence, you know that God has limitless energy. I just listened to a discussion of physics in which the expert said that we have the theory for doing extraordinary things, we just do not have the means. He mentioned one theory which required several times the power of our sun.)

1. 1. 2.    Notice that verse 4 tells us that this angelic praise shook the foundations. Any chance that your praise shakes anything?

1. 2.    Read Isaiah 6:5. Why is Isaiah so discouraged?

1. 3.    Read Isaiah 6:6-7. How is a “burning coal” on the lips an answer to discouragement?   Why not lip balm? Why not a gentle word? (A burning coal represents the power of God. God’s power can take away our guilt.)

1. 1. 1.    Wait a minute. Verse seven refers to the atonement of Jesus for our sins. Isn’t a comparison to a burning coal very odd?

1. 1. 1. 1.    From where did this burning coal come? (From the altar. One example of the power of God is His willingness to give up Himself for us.)

1. 1. 1. 2.    Do you think this is a power that Satan can understand? (Recall that it was pride that was his downfall.)

1. 4.    Read Isaiah 6:8. What caused the complete reversal of Isaiah’s attitude? (His guilt was taken away. He has an understanding of the power of God.)

1. 5.    Read Isaiah 6:9-10. Would this encourage you? (This is most discouraging. Isaiah wants to go bring a message for God, and God says the people will not turn to Him.)

1. 6.    Read Isaiah 6:11-12. Look at Isaiah’s question. Is this how you would respond? Or, would you say, “So what else can I do for you, God, that will be successful?” (Isaiah is optimistic that this is a temporary condition.)

1. 1. 1.    What will cause the people to turn to God? Isaiah’s words? (No. It is calamity.)

1. 1. 2.    Let’s fit this into the storyline discussed in the introduction. Where does this fit? (This is the abuse of the people. They gave their allegiance to Satan, and destruction followed.)

3.      Power of Power

1. 1.    Read Genesis 3:22–24 and Revelation 12:7-9. What do you think Satan concluded about Adam and Eve being driven from Eden? (This is physical power being exerted against Adam and Eve. Physical power was exerted against Satan and his fallen angels. My guess is that Satan would have complained had Adam and Eve not been driven out.)

1. 1. 1.    What kind of power is the Cherubim using to protect the Tree of Life? (It is a flaming sword. It takes lots of energy to make a sword flame. Adam and Eve know that they are defeated.)

1. 1. 2.    What does this story tell us about the secret to eternal life? (Read Revelation 22:1-2. We live eternally by continuing to eat from the tree of life.)

1. 2.    Read Revelation 22:3-4. How is the storyline moving forward? (Evil is removed from heaven and Eden. But humans will come back and have access again to the tree of life.  Why? Because Jesus’ name is “on their foreheads.” They have made their choice for Jesus.)

4.   The Return

1. 1.    Read Revelation 21:1-3. How are things turned around for planet earth? (We have a new heaven and a new planet earth. God now dwells with His people on the earth. God is with those who have chosen Him.)

1. 2.    Read Revelation 21:4. What is gone from earth? (All reasons for sadness. All death. All the bad things that came from us choosing Satan have “passed away.”)

1. 3.    Revelation 21:1 tells us that the sea was also gone. What do you think about that? (The sea often represents danger for humans. Proof of this is that although the sea covers most of the surface of our planet, humans occupy very little of the sea versus the land.)

1. 4.    Look again at Isaiah 14:14 and then read again Genesis 3:4-5. How did that work out? (Our storyline ends with those who desire to usurp the power of God end up failing. But God shows true power by giving up Himself so that we might live with Him forever.)

1. 5.    Friend, will you choose to give your life to God? Why not do that right now?

5.    Next week: In the Psalms: Part 1.