Join us in this thought-provoking episode as Bible teacher David Hawking dives deep into the mesmerizing visions described in Revelation. Discover the great signs in heaven, the emergence of a terrifying dragon, and the cosmic conflict that unfolds. As David guides us through the scriptures, you’ll encounter a world on the brink of ultimate change, powerful imagery, and prophetic revelations that shape our understanding of end times.
the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass. Chapter 12, we have the great signs in heaven, the sign of the woman clothed with the sun, moon under her feet, garland of 12 stars on her head, the great sign of the dragon with seven heads and 10 horns, and a war in heaven. It’s a rather interesting chapter.
SPEAKER 1 :
Thank you.
SPEAKER 01 :
This is Hope for Today. And on today’s program, Bible teacher David Hawking takes us even further into the grand sweep of revelation, a global shifting of powers, a world shaken by God’s justice, and a Savior, a Savior who stands supreme over every force that rises against Him. The story moves fast, the stakes rise high, and Christ’s triumph comes into sharper focus with every step. Turn once again to Revelation, and we’ll be back in the book in just a moment. First, I want to quickly tell you about a resource we think you’re really going to appreciate in 2026. This is called Learning to Praise in the Psalms. It’s a one-year devotional book by David Hawking. And in it, David will take you through the Psalms each day to help you understand how God’s people can learn to praise him in every season of life. A powerful tool to add to your library. And think about this. With Learning to Praise in the Psalms, you’ll have a devotional for each day of 2026. Wow. Learning to Praise in the Psalms, the one-year devotional is just $20. To order, call 800-75-BIBLE. That’s 800-75-242-53. In Canada, call 888-75-BIBLE, 888-75-242-53. Or visit our website, davidhawking.org. Now as he continues his summary of the book of Revelation, here’s David.
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There appeared a great wonder in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars, and she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven, behold a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns. This is the first introduction of the seven heads and ten horns. It’s a dragon. It will also be a beast. A great red dragon, seven crowns upon his heads. Later we’ll see crowns upon the horns. His tail drew a third part of the stars of heaven. The stars represent angels, chapter 1, verse 20. So a third of the angels of heaven fall with Satan. He did cast them to the earth and the dragon stood before the woman who is Israel. clearly indicated by the illustration of verse one mentioned in the book of Genesis, the dream of Joseph. The dragon stood before the woman who was ready to be delivered to devour her child, referring to the Messiah, as soon as it was born. She brought forth a man child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. Her child was caught up unto God and to his throne. That’s the ascension. And the woman fled into the wilderness where she hath a place prepared by God that they should feed her there 1,203 score days or three and a half years the end of the tribulation. There was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon fought and his angels and prevailed not. Neither was their place found anymore in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent called the devil and Satan, who deceiveth the whole world. He was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now has come salvation and strength in the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ. For the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they love not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them.” Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea, for the devil has come down unto you having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. When the dragon saw that he was cast into the earth, he persecuted the woman who brought forth a man-child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, meaning three and a half years, from the face of the serpent. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. And the earth helped the woman. The earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the flood, which the dragon cast out of his mouth. And the dragon was wroth or angry with the woman and went to make war with the remnant of her seed who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. But in chapter 13, we’re introduced to two personages, two leaders, one political, one religious, who are going to bring great havoc and trouble upon the people of God. Chapter 13, verse 1, I stood upon the sand of the sea and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns. That was the dragon in chapter 12. Upon his horns, ten crowns. On the dragon… The horns didn’t have crowns, but the seven heads did. And upon his head’s the name of blasphemy. The beast which I saw was like a leopard. His feet were like the feet of a bear. His mouth like the mouth of a lion. That comes from the book of Daniel. The dragon gave him his power, his seat, and great authority. I saw one of his heads, not horns, heads. as though it were wounded to death, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon who gave power unto the beast, and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him? And it was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months, the last half of the tribulation. He opened his mouth and blasphemy against God to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. Chapter 11, verse 7, he overcame the two witnesses and killed them. So does he kill the saints? Yes. Power was given him over all kindreds and tongues and nations. All that dwell upon the earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any man have an ear, let him hear. He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity. He that killeth with a sword must be killed with a sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. In other words, they’re going to be killed, but be patient. God has reward coming. I beheld another beast, another of the same kind, coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke like a dragon. Such a contrast. He exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, causeth the earth and them that dwell on it to worship the first beast whose deadly wound was healed. He doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast, saying to them that dwell on the earth that they should make an image to the beast that had the wound by a sword and did live. And he hath power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand or in their foreheads, and that no man might buy or sell save he that hath the mark or the name of the beast or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast. For it is the number of a man, and his number is six hundred, threescore, and six. The mark of the beast is coming. Chapter 14, we have the angel proclamations. I looked, and lo, a lamb stood on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000, having his father’s name written in their foreheads. I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, like the voice of a great thunder. I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps, and they sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four beasts and the elders. And no man could learn that song but the 144,000 who were redeemed from the earth. These are they who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. They are they who follow the Lamb wherever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. Therefore they’re the first ones who are saved in the tribulation. And in their mouth was found no guile, for they are without fault before the throne of God. I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel. It’s always been an everlasting gospel. There are different gospels. the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth and every nation and kindred and tongue and people saying with a loud voice, fear God, give glory to him for the hour of his judgment has come and worship him that made heaven and earth and the sea and the fountains of waters. And there followed another angel saying, Babylon has fallen, has fallen that great city because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast in his image and receive his mark in his forehead or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation, and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever, and they have no rest day nor night who worship the beast in his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints. Here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth. Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors and their works do follow them. And I looked and behold a white cloud and upon the cloud one sat like the son of man having on his head a golden crown and in his hand a sharp sickle. Another angel came out of the temple crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, thrust in thy sickle and reap for the time has come for thee to reap for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped. Another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar who had power over fire, and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe. And the angel thrusted his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trodden without the city and blood came out of the winepress even under the horse bridles by the space of 1,600 furlongs or 200 miles of blood up to the horse’s bridles. This great winepress spoken of in Isaiah 63 is the one that the Messiah himself will trample. And the blood of all the nations who came against Israel will will be on his garments. Chapter 15, the scene moves to heaven. I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues, just about over, for in them is filled up the wrath of God. And I saw, as it were, a sea of glass mingled with fire, and then that had gotten a victory over the beast, over his image, over his mark, over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? For thou only art holy. For all nations shall come and worship before thee. For thy judgments are made manifest. And after that I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven. was opened and the seven angels came out of the temple having the seven plagues clothed in pure and white linen having their breasts girded with golden girdles and one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God who liveth forever and ever and the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power and no man was able to enter into the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled chapter 16 the seven last plagues I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, go your ways and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. And the first went, poured out his vial upon the earth and there fell. what is described here as a noisome and grievous or painful sore upon the men who had the mark of the beast and upon them who worshiped his image. The second angel poured out his vial upon the sea. It became like the blood of a dead man, and every living soul died in the sea. And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters, and they became blood. And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, who art and wast and shalt be, because thou hast judged us. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink, for they are worthy. And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments. And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. Men were scorched with great heat and blasphemed the name of God who hath power over these plagues and they repented not to give him glory. The fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seed of the beast and his kingdom was full of darkness. They gnawed their tongues for pain and blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores and repented not of their deeds. Unless man is changed in his heart by the power of the Holy Spirit, he won’t repent. The sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates. Its water was dried up that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. Verse 13, I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils working miracles that go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world. They gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame. And he gathered them together in a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon, the hill of Megiddo. The seventh angel poured out his vial into the air. There came a great voice out of the temple of heaven from the throne saying, it is done. Back in chapter 10, it said the mystery God would be finished during the blowing of the seventh trumpet. We’re still in that seventh trumpet message because it contains the seven last plagues. Now it says it is done. And there were voices and thunders and lightnings, and there was a great earthquake such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake and so great. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon came in remembrance before God to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. And every island fled away. The mountains were not found. There fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, for the plague was exceedingly great. Here we have the seven last plagues. A foul and loathsome, painful sore. A sea that becomes blood. All sea life dies. The world becomes totally dark. Devils gather kings of the earth to battle at Armageddon. And the greatest earthquake of all human history happens. Cities all over the world fall. Every island disappears. And mountains, great hail falls, each weighing 75 to 100 pounds. Can you believe the catastrophe that’s happening? In chapter 17 and 18, we have the fall of Babylon the Great, the woman who sits on the beast with seven heads and ten horns. And there came one of the seven angels who had the seven vials and talked with me, saying unto me, Come here, I’ll show unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters. with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication. The inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness, and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet-colored beast full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication. Upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon the Great, the mother of harlots. It’s not just ancient Babylon. And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. The angel said unto me, Why didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. The beast that thou sawest was and is not. shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, go into perdition, and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder whose names were not written in the book of life of the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was and is not and yet is. Here’s the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sitteth. Not the city of Rome. These are seven kings, verse 10. Five are fallen, Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece. One is Rome. The other has not yet come. When he cometh, he must continue a short space. And the beast that was and is not, even he’s the eighth, but he’s of the seven, and goeth into perdition. And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, who have received no kingdom as yet, but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, shall give their power and strength unto the beast. The sixth head is the one that got the fatal wound. The sixth head comes back to life as the seventh world empire. It is composed of ten divisions. Out of that will come the Antichrist, according to Daniel and his prophecy. And the Antichrist will, in fact, become the eighth empire of the world in and of himself, manifesting that trait in the last half of the tribulation period. In the first half of the tribulation period, the world will be divided into ten divisions, and he will arise in the middle of that. Verse 14, 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. And he saith unto me, the waters which thou sawest where the horse sitteth are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues. So obviously Babylon the Great goes over a great period of time. And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, shall make her desolate and naked, shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire, for God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will and to agree and give their kingdom unto the beast until the words of God shall be fulfilled. And the woman whom thou sawest is that great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth. And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven having great power, and the earth was made bright with his glory. He cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great has fallen, has fallen, has become the habitation of devils, the hold of every foul spirit, a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. The kings of the earth have committed fornication with her. The merchants of the earth are wax rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven saying, Come out of her, my people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues. We should leave the false church. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. Reward her even as she rewarded you. And double unto her double according to her works. In the cup which she had filled, fill to her double. How much she hath glorified herself and lived deliciously. So much torment and sorrow give her. For she saith in her heart, I said a queen, I’m no widow, shall see no sorrow. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death and mourning and famine. She shall be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. And the kings of the earth who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her shall bewail or lament for her when they shall see the smoke of her burning. standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, Babylon, that mighty city, for in one hour is thy judgment come, and the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her, for no man buyeth their merchandise anymore. The merchandise of gold and silver and precious stones and pearls and fine linen, purple, silk, scarlet, all thean wood and all matters of vessels of ivory and all kinds of vessels of most precious wood, brass, iron, marble, cinnamon, frankincense, ointments, incense, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, horses, chariots, slaves, and souls of men. And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee. All things which are dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. The merchants of these things who were made rich by her shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing and saying, Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, for in one hour so great riches are come to naught. Every shipmaster, all the company and ships and sailors, and as many as trade by sea stood afar off and cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city? And they cast dust on their heads and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city in which were made rich, all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness, for in one hour is she made desolate. Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets, for God hath avenged you on her. And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, 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. And the voice of harpers and musicians, flute players, pipers, and trumpeters shall be heard no more at all in thee. And no craftsman of whatever craft he be shall be found any more in thee. And the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee. And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee. And the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee. For thy merchants were the great men of the earth, for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all that were slain upon the earth. It may represent far more, but certainly the church at Rome has to take a major part of the responsibility of being this harlot woman, Babylon the Great.
SPEAKER 01 :
That’s David Hawking, and this is Hope for Today. David will be back to close out our time in just a moment. Just before that, his son Matt and I want to share a very special Christmastime study package with you. Matt? How do we experience the joy, marvel, and wonder of the Christmas season? Yeah. How do we find that true blessing that warms our hearts during the season? Well, Jim and I recommend this 2025 Hope for Today Christmas Package. Inside you’re going to find David Hawking’s booklet. It has blessed so many of our listening family over the years. Jesus Christ, the Reason. And it starts with a Christmas story, but then it unveils God’s plan from all eternity, salvation and redemption that really accelerated into motion at the Incarnation. Yeah. And we have a three-message special audio series also titled Jesus Christ the Reason. Get the package. A wonderful study. Just $20. Again, the booklet, Jesus Christ the Reason. And then the three-message series by David Hawking. Together, the whole package, just $20. Again, the package is my dad’s booklet, Jesus Christ the Reason. Plus his three-part miniseries also titled Jesus Christ the Reason. And it’s just $20 this month. And when you make this purchase, consider adding a special year-end donation with your order, or maybe send a donation all by itself. Either way, your gift to Hope for Today will help us finish the year and get a strong start for the new year. And remember to please pray for Hope for Today. To get your copy of this very special Christmas study package, call 800-75-BIBLE, that’s in the U.S., or 888-75-BIBLE in Canada. And Bible is 242-53. You can also order at DavidHawking.org. You know, as we wrap up the year, I’d like to be direct with you. Quite frankly, we rely on the faithful support of listeners to stay on the air. You can make a tax-deductible donation by calling 800-75-BIBLE in the U.S. or 888-75-BIBLE in Canada, or give online at davidhawking.org. And many folks prefer to write a letter. Well, to do that, write to Hope for Today in the U.S. at Box 3927. Tustin, California. 92781. In Canada, our address, hope for today, Box 15011, RPO 7 Oaks, Abbotsford, BC, V2S 8P1. Well, as promised, here’s David with those closing comments.
SPEAKER 02 :
Thanks for listening, friends, to our summary of the book of Revelation. Today, our focus is on the Great Tribulation. You can divide the Great Tribulation into three series of plagues or judgments on planet Earth. First, what’s called the seal judgments, seven of them. Secondly, the seven trumpets announcing judgment. And finally, seven bowls of wrath announcing which summarizes the Great Tribulation and takes us all the way through chapter 19. Now, in all of this, we learn about the dragon, who is Satan, and we learned also about the Antichrist, the beast, and we’ve learned that he’s got seven heads. Five of them had fallen in John’s day. They represented kingdoms that have ruled on this earth, like Egypt, Samaria, Assyria, Babylonia, and Greek, all of that. But then the final is about a false prophet who wants us all to worship the image of the beast, the Antichrist. Well, I hope you’re being helped by this as we review. God bless you.
SPEAKER 01 :
Well, thank you, David. And before we go, would you please tell Hope for Today where you listen to the program, how you listen to the program. You might be listening by radio in Texas or New York or Canada, for example. You might listen on the other side of the planet on our website at davidhawking.org. Whatever the case, let us know. This helps us to make sure we are being the best stewards of God’s finances. Call us at 800-75-BIBLE in the U.S., 888-75-BIBLE in Canada to tell us how you listen, or maybe leave a message on our website. Use the contact form at davidhawking.org. Next broadcast, David Hawking wraps up his intense summary of the book of Revelation. Don’t miss it. And make sure to invite someone who loves all things prophecy to listen along with you. We’ll see you then, right here on Hope for Today.
