Reasonings from Revelation

“The Revelation is comparatively easy to understand,” says Cliff’s Notes on the New Testament, a summary for college kids who do not want to read and process the scriptures for themselves. “In many respects, it is the least original of any of the New Testament writings” (Cliff’s Notes on Revelation). The individual who wrote those comments is positioning himself as one who looks at the scripture as uninspired, and views Revelation as another piece of writing to be placed somewhere in the stack of what has piled up throughout history. Revelation is not easy to understand, as witnessed by the amazing variation of interpretations of this closing book of the New Testament and the Bible. God wrote the apocalypse through the apostle John, and the goal of the saint should be to understand what it was that God meant to communicate. These “reasonings from Revelation” will be presented through the following lenses:

The word of God - The first proposition in examining this and indeed all scriptures is that the entire Bible is inspired. The core of the proposition is stated by the apostle Peter concerning prophetic utterances, which can then be extended to all scriptures. “But know this first of all,” asserted the apostle, “that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:20,21).

No contradictions - If man wrote the scriptures, they would be full of contradictions and errors. The proposition, however, that God is the ultimate author necessitates the corollary that there are no contradictions in its contents; if apparent contradictions occur, the problem is in the mind of the one seeing scripture as contradictory, and more understanding or information is the cure.

Plain statement of fact - There are very straightforward statements in the Bible which can be used as a basis for understanding statements which require more effort to process. Immersion in water in Jesus’ name, for example, is clearly for forgiveness of sins or to wash away sins (Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16). Any system of thought being used to “interpret” scripture which will not accept that fact is going to be skewed and unreliable. Those plain statements, then, can be used to process scripture that is another layer deeper.

Proving key definitions - The next step is to prove the meaning of key terms or definitions. Using Colossians 1:13,14 as a basis for establishing that the kingdom of Christ or kingdom of heaven is another name for the church is one example.

Literary devices - God is the original author of languages, both before and following Babel. Since all languages use literary devices, such as similes, metaphors, personification, hyperbole, and parables, it is not surprising that God’s word uses all of those as well. Having plain statements of fact and key definitions in place makes it possible to process the literary devices used in scripture. Jesus, for example, spoke in parables (often about the kingdom of heaven or the kingdom of God), and interpreted two of them to give His students a basis for interpreting the others. Recognizing a literary device is often critical to a correct understanding of the point being made.

Understanding the Old Testament - The apostle Peter pointed out that the prophets in the Old Testament writings, as they spoke of the sufferings of the Christ and the glories to follow, did not understand what they wrote (1 Peter 1:10-12). The old covenant writings must be viewed through the eyes of the new covenant inspired writers; otherwise, the meaning is misunderstood or twisted.

Once those things are in place, a rational study of the Apocalypse of John, the capstone of the entire revelation of scripture, can begin. Skipping over any of those steps will result in a viewing of Revelation that has completely gone off into the stratosphere somewhere. Example: if a person thinks that God’s goal is to establish an earthly kingdom for Jesus here on earth in the future, his approach to Revelation is fatally flawed.

In the words of the Voice to John, “Come up here…” (Revelation 4:1)

The Nature of the Apocalypse

The apostle John, exiled to the isle of Patmos, early on states, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day” (Revelation 1:10). This is similar to what happened to the apostle Peter as the Lord was preparing him to accept the Gentiles. About noon, as the representatives from Cornelius (the first Gentile to be saved) approached the house where Peter was staying, he went up on the rooftop to pray before lunch. The scripture records, “And he became hungry, and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance” (Acts 10:10). He then saw in a vision a blanket being let down from heaven with all sorts of unclean animals with instructions to kill and eat; God gave Peter the vision and it took awhile for him to figure out that the purpose of the vision was to open the door of salvation to the Gentiles, prefigured by the acceptance of “unclean animals.” Similarly, John in a trance received a series of seven successive visions, and it is the saint’s job to try to figure out what was meant as those visions have been given and have been written down.

The Greek word is apocalypse, and its Latin equivalent is revelation. At its core, it means “unveiling” or “uncovering.” It is a style of prophecy wherein the reader is seated in front of a stage, and periodically the curtain lifts, revealing the scene on the stage.

A general overview of Revelation - The book of Revelation roughly breaks down into these segments or visions, often with a mini-vision as an interlude between scene changes:
- Messages directly to the seven churches
- Vision of the seals
- Vision of the trumpets
- Vision of the bowls of wrath
- Judgment upon Babylon, the “beast” and the “false prophet”
- “1000 year” reign of Christ, and judgment upon the dragon
- What would generally be called the future heaven or the eternal kingdom

Letter introduction - The book of Revelation is a letter which was sent out simultaneously to seven congregations in the Roman province of Asia. “The Revelation of Jesus Christ,” are the beginning words, “which God gave Him [Jesus] to show to His bond-servants" (Revelation 1:1). God [the Father], interestingly enough, gave this revelation to Jesus Christ for Him to pass on to His bond-servants (the saints then and now).

Content - A brief overview of what is in the letter is given. It consists, He says, of “the things which must shortly take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John.” “The time is near,” he says a sentence later (Revelation 1:3). The general perspective of the new covenant writings is that the time of Jesus’ return and the wrapping up of all things earthly is “near.” “Be patient, therefore, brethren,” was James’ exhortation, “until the coming of the Lord...strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand” (James 5:7,8). The message is consistent that, once the great “apostasy” is finished (of which the apostle Paul spoke in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-9), the saints are to “be ready.”

John the faithful - The apostle John, in his gospel account and in his letters, makes it clear that he was an eyewitness, either during the days of Jesus’ earthly sojourn or in the days when these things were revealed in the spiritual realm. “John,” says the apostle of himself, is the one “who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw” (Revelation 1:2).

This, then, is called the revelation or apocalypse of John. What he saw in his visions, he recorded. The brethren in Christ are to go honestly and objectively to the writings, read them, and process them.

To The Seven Churches

This letter (Revelation) was sent to the assemblies of the saints of the seven congregations of Asia, the Roman province occupying what is now the western tip of Turkey. Someone would read this letter aloud to the congregation, and those in the congregation would have enough attention span and enough discipline to listen to the whole letter in one sitting! Hence, “Blessed is he who reads” (the designated reader) “and those who hear the words of the prophecy” (the brethren in each congregation). The blessing, however, is conditional. “Blessed,” says John, are those who “heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near” (Revelation 1:3). Heed is the way the NASB translates the Greek word akouo (from which our English word acoustics is derived); the thrust of the translation is that those who hear, understand, and act appropriately will receive God’s reward and bypass the curse coming on the disobedient.

From the Father - The apostle begins the greeting with these words: “John to the seven churches that are in Asia” (Revelation 1:4). He then follows with a fairly standard expression, “Grace to you and peace...” This grace and peace, interestingly, is from the “three.” The first listed here is “from Him who is and who was and who is to come.” In this context, this is greetings from the Father.

The “seven Spirits” - The second listing is “from the seven Spirits who are before His [the Father’s] throne.” In the straight-forward non-apocalyptic letter to the Ephesian brethren the apostle Paul had written that there is “one Spirit,” just as there is “one Lord” (referring to Jesus), and “one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:4-6). Thus when the language of Revelation is “seven Spirits,” the message being transmitted is that the number “seven” is the code number for unity or completeness; there are not literally “seven Spirits.”

Jesus Christ - The third one in the listing is “from Jesus Christ.” “Jesus Christ” has a string of titles tied to His name:
- “The faithful witness” - During the years of His earthly sojourn, the Lord referred to His bearing witness to the truth. “Truly, truly,” said He to Nicodemus, “we speak that which we know, and bear witness of that which we have seen; and you do not receive our witness.” He buttressed His point with this statement, “And no one has ascended into heaven but He who descended from heaven, even the Son of Man” (John 3:11,13). If Jesus’ “witness” on earth is true, certainly His “witness” from heaven is also true. He is “the faithful witness.
- “First-born of the dead” - While other resurrections are recorded in scripture, the only permanent resurrection is that Jesus Christ. Hence He bears the title “first-born of the dead’ because all others are awaiting His second coming to receive their resurrection bodies, either to eternal life or to eternal punishment.
- “Ruler of the kings of the earth” - The first century Christians suffered greatly, first at the hands of the Jews, then later at the hands of the Romans. Furthermore, the word of God indicates that most Christians in most places at most times will suffer. How encouraging it is, then, that the Lord Jesus has the position of “ruler of the kings of the earth.” The earthly governors and kings will one day answer to Him who is sovereign over all!
- “Who loves us” - Jesus’ love for each saint is manifest in His dying for them on that cruel cross, never to be forgotten by the formerly “lost sheep.”
- “Released us from our sins” - The price was high, but He took our sins on Himself, and gave us eternal life in exchange.
- “Priests to His God and Father” - What a privilege it is for each child of God by faith to be able to offer up spiritual sacrifices which are acceptable and desired by the Father! Serving under the High Priestly ministry of Jesus Himself, the faithful priests of true Israel offer their bodies as living and holy sacrifices.

Certainly, then, in every respect, through Jesus Christ to God the Father, “to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen” (Revelation 1:5,6).

The Lord's Second Coming

One of the great themes of scripture is Jesus’ second coming. Jesus Himself, during the time of His stay upon earth, began to bring clarity to heretofore vague prophecies of the Lord’s return. “Be on the alert,” He warned, “for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.” He then injected the idea that His second coming is “like a thief in the night.” “If the head of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming,” Christ illustrated, “he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.” The lesson: “You be ready too, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will” (Matthew 24:42-44). Hence both the apostles Peter and Paul speak of “the day of the Lord which comes like a thief” (2 Peter 3:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:2).

Coming with the clouds - “Behold,” says the apostle John, “He is coming with the clouds...” (Revelation 1:7). When Jesus lifted off the earth on the day of His ascension in the presence of the apostles, “two men in white clothing [presumably angels] stood beside them.” A cloud had just received Jesus out of the sight of the apostles, this being the last time the Lord would be seen with nail scars in His hands and a spear wound in His side. “This Jesus,” said the angels, “will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:10,11). He left the earth in a cloud, and He is coming back with the clouds. Be ready!

Every eye - The scripture continues, following the comment that Jesus is coming back with the clouds, noting that “every eye shall see Him, even those who pierced Him” (Revelation 1:7). A commonly held belief is that Jesus will come back in “a secret rapture,” and that some people (Christians) will simply and silently disappear while everyone else wonders what happened to them. But this very basic scripture verse makes it clear that everyone will see Jesus as He returns, emphasizing “even those who pierced Him.” This coming of Christ will be no secret!

Tribes will mourn over Him - When Jesus returns, He as “God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 4:14). For those saints who have not “fallen asleep” (who are still alive on earth), and who have been anxiously awaiting Him, this will be a happy day! For the non-Christians, the description is not so cheery. “All the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him” (Revelation 1:7). A more graphic display is given in the vision of the sixth seal in Revelation chapter six, also depicting the coming of Christ. “And the kings of the earth and the great men,” is the beginning of the listing, “and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come; and who is able to stand?’“(Revelation 6:15-17). That picture defines why “all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him.”

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18). God in His righteous anger will judge those who ignored His signals, His evidence, His teachings, and His warnings. Indeed, the gospel itself is available in all the world, so that truth-seekers have the opportunity to find. Hence the wrath of God is righteous and just.

The saint, however, can rejoice in the Lord’s coming. The apostle Paul closed the book of First Corinthians with a shout: “Marantha [O Lord, come]!” “Even so, Amen!”

And, lest anyone forget, “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8).

He Who Walks among the Lampstands

“I, John,” are the attention-getting words, “your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos” (Revelation 1:9). One thing repeatedly stands out in the new covenant writings is that the early Christians often suffered greatly for their faith, as John comments on “the tribulation” here. And why is he exiled to Patmos? It is “because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.” The “dragon” of Revelation, the serpent of old and the devil, has been able to bring the rebellion he started in heaven to earth, engulfing the deceived and willing sons of men in its flames. The only crime the apostle of love has committed has been to be a faithful witness to the saving testimony of Jesus the Christ.

The Voice - John said he was “in the Spirit on the Lord’s day,” meaning that he had fallen into a trance on the first day of the week, the day of the week on which Jesus rose from the dead (Revelation 1:10). “I heard behind me,” records the apostle, “a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet.” That voice was certainly not to be ignored or denied! And the voice commanded John to write this book of Revelation and send it to the seven churches of the Roman province of Asia, starting from Ephesus in the southwest and moving clockwise through Smyrna and ending at Laodicea as the most southeasterly.

In the lampstands - The “stage setting” for Revelation is patterned after the Old Testament temple. John, in turning to see the voice, saw seven lampstands instead of the ten that would have been in Solomon’s temple. “In the middle of the lampstands,” he notes, “was one like a son of man [the Son of Man], clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His breast with a golden girdle” (Revelation 1:11-13). Jesus is there, in the garb of the High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

His appearance - The appearance of Christ in this vision to John the apostle is very similar to the appearances of the Almighty to Ezekiel as recorded in Ezekiel chapter one and to Daniel in Daniel chapter seven. “And His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow;” says John, “and His eyes were like a flame of fire; and His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been caused to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters” (Revelation 1:14,15). The Jesus who walks among the lampstands is the one God reverenced and served by the faithful of the Old Testament.

His countenance - “In His right hand,” John points out, “He held seven stars; and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength” (Revelation 1:16). That “sharp two-edged sword” proceeding from His mouth is the scripture (which is designed to pierce the hearts of any who need repentance). And His face depicted “like the sun shining in its strength” is what the writer of Hebrews described as follows: “And He [Christ] is the radiance of His [the Father’s] glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:3). This is the One “who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen or can see” (1 Timothy 6:16).

Having been introduced to the One who walks among the lampstands, the reader is also given the meaning of some key symbols: “As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches” (Revelation 1:20). The “angels” will be those who read the letter, and the “lampstands” will be those who listen to the letter as it was delivered late in the first century.

But the focus never leaves Jesus the great High Priest and King: “And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as a dead man” (Revelation 1:17).

The Living One

The significance of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead cannot be overemphasized! The crucifixion of Christ was of signal importance, and cannot be underrated. The bodily resurrection of Jesus from the dead on the third day likewise cannot be minimized. But Christ in the ascended position is the most significant. In the words of the apostle Paul: “Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us” (Romans 8:34). It is this Jesus who has risen from the dead and who has ascended who meets with the apostle John in the book of Revelation.

“Do not be afraid” - The Christ appears to John “in the Spirit” as One who resembles the High Priest, and His face was like the sun shining in its strength. “And when I saw Him,” says John, referring to what is transpiring in the vision, “I fell at His feet as a dead man” (Revelation 1:17). When any vision of the glory of God appears to any of the prophets or even Saul of Tarsus on the Damascus Road, the awesomeness of that brightness and glory is overwhelming. Saul falls to the ground, Ezekiel falls on his face, and John falls down as a dead man. “And He laid His right hand upon me,” the apostle records of his being at the Lord’s feet. Then the Christ spoke, “Do not be afraid.” The great and awesome Jesus laid His hand on John to reassure him, and then encouraged him in the midst of that brightness, allaying John’s fears. The Almighty is communicating that His saints are welcome in His awesome presence!

The living One - Jesus states to John, “I am the first and the last, and the living One” (Revelation 1:18). Before there was time (and what human brain can really process that concept?), the great I AM always was, “Him who is and who was and who is to come” (Revelation 1:4). Jesus, as “the first and the last,” is making that claim as well. Furthermore, He adds that He is “the living One.” John, in his gospel account, put it this way, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4). Jesus, appearing to John in the Apocalypse, is revealing Himself as the source of all true eternal life.

Alive forevermore - “I was dead,” reasserts the Lord Jesus, “and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades” (Revelation 1:18). There were other resurrections recorded in the scripture, but Jesus is the only One who is permanently raised from the dead, “alive forevermore.” All others await the general resurrection from the dead on the last day. Hades (the Old Testament equivalent is Sheol) was divided into two parts, according to Jesus in His description of the rich man and Lazarus following their physical deaths (Luke 16:19-31). The “good” part of Hades was termed Paradise by Jesus in His conversation with the “good” thief (Luke 23:39-43), whereas Hades is the continuing term for the part that contains those who are in agony in the flame. Jesus, with “the keys of death and Hades,” opened the way of release to those regarded as faithful. “When He ascended on high,” is how Paul quoted from the Old Testament prophecy, “He led captive a host of captives” (Ephesians 4:8). Jesus in His ascension took those who were “down,” broke the bars of Hades, and led the captives “up to Paradise” (2 Corinthians 12:2-4). Praise God that the resurrected Christ used those keys; otherwise all saints would be forever locked away from the presence of God!

This powerful and shining One then instructs John, “Write therefore the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall take place after these things” (Revelation 1:19). This, then, is the introduction to the seven major visions which follow in the book of Revelation.

To the Church in Ephesus

“The seven stars,” the Christ informs the audience, “are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches” of the Roman province of Asia. As mentioned, the “angels” are the “messengers” who will read this letter publicly to the congregations. “To the angel of the church in Ephesus,” come the instructions, “write.” This is the One in whose presence John fell as a dead man, so there is no hesitancy in obeying His command! “The One Who holds the seven stars in His right hand,” is the authoritative picture, “the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this...” (Revelation 2:1).

“I know...” - There are some words of commendation coming from the Christ. “I know,” says the Christ, “your deeds and your toil and perseverance...” (Revelation 2:2). The congregation was a hard-working group, they “toiled” and thus worked through difficult, challenging, and tiring situations. They were also perseverant in that they continued positively engaging over a long period of time, and were not turned aside from what they were doing by persecution or intimidation.

Morally and doctrinally - Jesus also commends the church at Ephesus on their stand for righteousness and truth. He states “that you cannot endure evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false.” The congregation was clearly handling moral issues that had arisen inside the local church, and handling them properly. The congregation was also sound doctrinally, having tested the claims those who were purporting to be apostles, and found those claims false. Congregations that are weakening on doctrinal issues do not follow through that process.

“For My name’s sake” - Even the motive underlying the church at Ephesus’ actions was correct. “You have perseverance,” the Lord again stresses, “and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary” (Revelation 2:3). There is no indication of the congregation as a whole having an agenda that ran counter to the Lord’s; what they were doing was in truth for the sake of His name, which is truly commendable.

“Left your first love” - Jesus went on to add this condemnation, “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love” (Revelation 2:4). Since the apostle John did not specify directly what that “first love” was, there has been much speculation as to what that might be, such as their losing their love for Christ. But the statements that the congregation was doctrinally solid, tested false apostles, and had perseverance for Jesus’ name’s sake, militates against that position. Furthermore, they were instructed, “Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first” (Revelation 2:5). The “deeds” that any congregation must do “at first” are the works of seeking and saving the lost, otherwise there will not be a congregation. The apparent problem in Ephesus was that the congregation had gotten comfortable with their interactions within the local church itself, and had lost their zeal to carry out Jesus’ great commission. They lost their “first love” in reaching out to the darkened souls around them.

The congregation in Ephesus had a lot of boxes where the check marks were positive. But the one box that was not positively checked was a serious one. Jesus said unless the saints got back on track “I am coming to you, and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent.” The removal of the lampstand would mean that Jesus no longer recognized the congregation as belonging to Him!

“Yet this you do have,” states the Lord, “that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate” (Revelation 2:6). There is not enough solid information to know exactly who the Nicolaitans were, but they were clearly leading people away from the truth.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches,” pleads the Christ. “To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God” (Revelation 2:7). (More on the tree of life later.) Clearly, the reward for overcoming is great enough to make going through the suffering worthwhile!

To the Church in Smyrna

The pointer moves clockwise from Ephesus to Smyrna, sliding to the north. “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna,” says the sacred word, “write.” This message, directed to the one who will read this letter aloud in the congregation, is from “The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life” (Revelation 2:8). Jesus Christ, risen from the dead and ascended to the power position on high, is “the first and the last.” He is the great I AM, who has always been and who always will be!

Tribulation and poverty - The congregation in Smyrna received no rebuke from Jesus; only words of encouragement came from the Lord to these people. “I know your tribulation and your poverty,” empathized the Christ. There was much suffering for the gospel in the first century which was not recorded in the scriptures, and much of the early suffering came at the hands of unregenerate Jews. Jesus was cognizant of what the saints in Smyrna had gone through, and He was conscious of their challenging financial situation as well. “But you are rich,” He states, indicating that their standing in the realm of “true riches” was in good order.

Blasphemy - The congregation in Smyrna labored and endured for years, probably without any direct word from the Lord acknowledging His awareness of their situation. But here He asserts, “I know...the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan” (Revelation 2:9). (How encouraging it is to know that the Lord is aware of what His children of faith are undergoing!) The “true Jew” became a Christian; the others “say they are Jews and are not.” These fake Jews were heaping slander and calumny upon the heads of the brethren in the church of Christ, trying to destroy their reputations and their influences in the community. That is why Jesus describes them as a “synagogue of Satan.”

Coming suffering - “Do not fear what you are about to suffer,” the Lord comments, helping the brethren to focus forward (Revelation 2:10). The Lord is not going to take the suffering away. “Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days.” The word of God makes it plain that the saint will be strengthened to go through this experience, as the apostle Peter noted, “The God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you” (1 Peter 5:10). This period during which the brethren were to be “tested” was to be of comparatively short duration – “ten days.” That “ten days” might have been ten literal months or two years, but it by comparison is a short time. The testing was to be endured with joy!

Faithful ’til death - After talking about the upcoming suffering the brethren in Smyrna were about to experience, the Christ walking among the lampstands makes this statement, “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” These words of encouragement to the first century brethren ring down through the rest of the age. Immersion, as a key example, is the beginning of a new life in Christ; it is not the end of a process. The new saint or prospective saint must be told — upfront — that he must be faithful ’til death in order to receive that crown of life.

Jesus closes His exhortation to the Smyrna congregation: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death” (Revelation 2:11). It is interesting that these messages “from the Spirit” at the beginning of the apocalypse tie in to salient points later on in the book. “The second death” is described in chapter twenty as “the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:14). No one who is honestly processing the messages from the word of God wants to end up in the lake of fire! No matter what external circumstances are being experienced, be faithful until death, and get that crown of life!!

To the Church in Pergamum

Pergamum sat in a center of idolatry. It had been the capital of a reasonably large empire, and contained the Pergamon [Pergamum] Altar, a throne-like structure serving as a temple to Zeus and next to a temple of Athena. At one point the city hosted a library that rivaled the famous library of Alexandria, Egypt, and established Pergamum as a center for Greek thought. Jesus, then, gives this instruction: “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum, write:”. The Lord, who describes Himself as “the One who has the sharp two-edged sword,” has special words for the congregation (Revelation 2:8).

Satan’s throne - “I know where you dwell,” affirms the One who is near and not far off, “where Satan’s throne is” (Revelation 2:13). It is more than speculation to think that this is a reference to the throne-like altar to Zeus. When the apostle Paul talked about idols, he exposed the demonic forces behind them. “The things which the Gentiles sacrifice,” he commented, “they sacrifice to demons” (1 Corinthians 10:20). Since the demons are subject to the devil, and since Zeus was regarded as the mightiest of the Greek gods, it makes sense that the huge and magnificent (in earthly terms) altar of Zeus would be called “Satan’s throne.

Hold fast “My name” - The Lord Christ does have some words of commendation for the church in Pergamum. “You hold fast My name,” He affirms, “and did not deny My faith.” Speaking through the prophet Isaiah, the Almighty commented, “I am the Lord, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, nor My praise to graven images” (Isaiah 42:8). He is protective of His name, and He is earnest about the holiness of His name being vindicated. That the congregation in Pergamum is regarded by the Lord as holding fast His name is high commendation indeed.

“My faith” - The Lord further observes that they “did not deny My faith, even in the days of Antipas.” “My faith” is not a reference to Jesus’ personal faith, especially clear since He is delivering this message from the realm of “sight” — His being in the glory for which the rest of us await. “My faith” is the equivalent of “the faith of Christ” which the KJV and literal versions (such as the Modern Literal Version) bring out in places such as Romans 3:22. It refers to the system of doctrine and thought also known as the new covenant and the apostles’ doctrine. The congregation is commended because they did not compromise the doctrines of Christ under the pressures which were exerted upon them.

“Antipas, My witness” - You “did not deny My faith,” applauds the Christ, “even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells” (Revelation 2:13). What defines a “witness” of Christ? Early on, when the apostles are working with the Lord to select an apostle to take Judas’ place, the statement was made by Peter that from those who had seen the life of the Lord from the time of His immersion until “the day He was taken up,” one should be selected to “become a witness with us of His resurrection” (Acts 1:22). These men had already seen the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Christ on earth, but that did not qualify them to be witnesses. To be “a witness,” the individual had to have had a revelation of Jesus in glory, such as the apostles did from Acts chapter two onward. Antipas, of whom there is no reliable secular history, was such a witness, and was faithful in his proclamation of the gospel until his death.

Jesus clearly let Antipas be “martyred” for the faith. (“Martyr” actually means “witness,” and has come to mean those “executed” because that is what happened to so many of those faithful witnesses.) His death occurred “among you, where Satan dwells.” The persecution and execution of the saints was taking place because Satan directly wanted them killed and their mouths shut. While such persecution and execution intimidates some, it actually is a source of encouragement to dedicated saints, who are motivated to follow in the footsteps of such martyrs, knowing that the reward of Christ for being faithful until death awaits them.

To the Church in Pergamum - Continued

“I know where you dwell,” stated the Christ, concerned about the welfare of His congregation, “where Satan’s throne is.” The church in Pergamum was located where one of the large altars to Zeus occupied a significant place on the “acropolis,” the high place where many pilgrims came to pay homage to the one they regarded as the most powerful of the Greek gods. This church in general was commended because, even in the face of pressure coming from the rampant paganism around them, they did not deny the faith.

Things against you - “But,” says Jesus, “I have a few things against you...” (Revelation 2:14). These “things” might be “few,” but they seem to be major! “You have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam.” Balaam was the false prophet and diviner hired by the kings of Moab and Midian to curse Israel as they approached the crossing of the Jordan in the days of Moses and Joshua. God gave him some great prophecies of the future (including that “the shout of a king” was among them, looking to the eventual coming of the King, Jesus), and would not allow him to curse Israel. Balaam, dating from about 1405 BC, did not exist at the time Jesus is communicating with the church at Pergamum; the Lord is making the point that the situation in Pergamum was similar to what it was in the days of Balaam.

What Balaam did - Unable to collect his diviner’s fee for cursing Israel, Balaam instead encouraged Balak, king of Moab, to have the Moabites’ and Midianites’ young people intermingle with Israel, and thus pull Israel into the idol worship of these surrounding pagans. The Christ of Revelation states, concerning Balaam, that he “kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit acts of immorality.” Idol worship, driven by hidden demonic forces, always takes its devotees to the point of no moral standards, and a pagan society is always riven with debauchery of every kind. Not good when it is in the church! “Thus you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans” (Revelation 2:15).

Repent - God’s long war is against idolatry and its indirect worship of Satan. The message from the Lord about some of the brethren’s participation in such activity is predictably abrupt: repent! “Repent therefore,” commands the Christ, “or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth” (Revelation 2:16). The “sword” is Jesus’ word, which is powerful, even though only perceived as such in the spiritual realm.

“He who has an ear...” - “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches,” appeals the great High Priest and intercessor (Revelation 2:17). In making His appeal, Jesus makes it clear that He is very interested in the spiritual success of each of His saints, but it is also clear that the faith of each will be tested or even greatly tested. “To him who overcomes,” He exhorts, “to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.” The “hidden manna” would be a reference to the eternal life which comes from Him “who is the bread of life,” as contrasted to what was fed to those who perished in the wilderness of Moses’ day.

The fact that each of the victors receives a white stone, and a new special name known only to the recipient, makes it clear that in eternity each faithful follower of Christ never loses his identity. This is of foundational significance in that it establishes the value of the individual in the sight of the Creator and Redeemer. Devil-driven religions and paganism attack the value of the individual in general, and especially attack the value of saints “born from above.” Those who will receive the “new name written on the stone” have infinitely great value to the Almighty. They will have charged successfully through the fires that tested their faith, and will be honored accordingly!

To the Church in Thyatira

The fourth message of Christ to the churches of Asia is directed to the church at Thyatira. Geographically, the city lay east and a little south of Pergamum, and is next on the clockwise pattern that the Lord is using. “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira, write,” is Jesus’ directive to the apostle John (Revelation 2:18). Here the Lord Christ is described as “The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze.” Those “eyes like a flame of fire” would certainly produce terror and respect from the viewer. It would be good if the church at Thyatira would listen.

Commendations - The Lord gives credit where credit is due. “I know your deeds,” He states, “and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first” (Revelation 2:19). The Christ is happy to point out that there is love in the congregation, and that they have maintained some faith. The love and faith translated into “service,” and the type of service that endured, a service that required perseverance. And the congregation’s improvement in its performance was duly noted.

Toleration of “Jezebel” - Even though the church had been credited by the Lord with some really good things, Jesus (with those feet looking like burnished bronze) is bringing a serious charge against her. “But I have this against you,” He emphasizes, “that you tolerate the woman Jezebel” (Revelation 2:20). Jezebel was the daughter of the king of Sidon back in the days of Elijah the prophet, was married to King Ahab, and was a very evil woman. She had brought the worship of Baal and Ashtar into Israel in a big way, and thus hastened the nation’s downfall. Some lady inside the congregation at Thyatira is doing something very similar, and just as Jesus had used Balaam as an example in speaking to the church at Pergamum, he is using the Old Testament example of Jezebel in His instructions to Thyatira.

What “Jezebel” is doing - Nothing is hidden from the Lord. People often introduce things secretly into congregations, but that will not escape the notice of Him who sees all. “You tolerate the woman Jezebel,” is the Lord’s observation, “who calls herself a prophetess, and leads My bond-servants astray, so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols” (Revelation 2:20). The record, again and again, shows that the descent into idol worship is directly tied to gross immorality. This woman is appealing to the unrepressed sensual desires of many in the congregation, and successfully pulling them into her orbit.

Her coming punishment - The Lord is watching over His church, and He is active. “Behold,” says Jesus, with the eyes like a flame of fire, “I will cast her upon a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds” (Revelation 2:22). It is interesting that the Lord gives these weakened saints the opportunity to repent of “adultery” with this Jezebel. She and the unrepentant will get their punishment at the Lord’s discretion.

“The churches will know” - There apparently was quite a bit of communication between congregations in the same area, and this “Jezebel” was known. “And I will kill her children with pestilence,” asserts the Lord Christ, “and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts” (Revelation 2:23). The visible death’s of “Jezebel’s children,” just as in the case of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts chapter five, should cause “great fear” to come upon the churches, and further the call for repentance.

All is known to our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He does search “the minds and hearts,” and He knows the thoughts and intentions of the heart of each person making a claim to godliness. That should cause each Christian to pause and reflect about his thoughts, which lead to his words and deeds. “I will give to each one of you,” expresses our Lord to each one who would read and hear the words of this prophecy, “according to your deeds.” Is that clear?

To the Church in Thyatira Continued

“You tolerate the woman Jezebel,” (Revelation 2:20) Jesus admonished the church in Thyatira. In spite of the whirl of her influence and activities, there were saints in Thyatira who held fast to the “like precious faith” as Peter described it [KJV], and “the faith once for all delivered” as Jude characterized it. These are commended and encouraged.

“Hold fast” - “But I say to you,” are special comments from the Lord, “the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them—I place no other burden on you” (Revelation 2:24). It is noteworthy that part of “Jezebel” and her minions’ attraction were “the deep things of Satan.” There is an unholy fascination associated the realm of “divination,” which can be a broad term to describe man’s attempt to find sources of information outside of the scriptures. God was clear in His warning back in the days of Moses: “The secret things belong to the LORD our God,” was God’s instruction, “but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 29:29). When Satan arouses people’s curiosity and gets them seeking “the secret things” which are to be only within God’s purview, then he has opportunity to twist them doctrinally and morally, as was happening in Thyatira. Christ’s encouragement to the faithful saints is, “Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come” (Revelation 2:25). That, apparently, was enough “burden.”

Overcoming - The Lord closes His message, as He does to the six other churches, with the exhortation to conquer the obstacles in the brethren’s faith paths. “And he who overcomes,” adjures the Christ, “and he who keeps My deeds until the end...” (Revelation 2:26). The message to the saints is consistent, that they need to press on to the last breath, reaching for the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14).

The reward - In the second Psalm, the “begotten Son” is given the honor of ruling the nations with a rod of iron, with attendant descriptions. This same honor will be conferred on each precious child of faith who victoriously overcomes. “To him I will give authority over the nations,” says the One who reigns forever and ever, “and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces” (Revelation 2:26,27). For the saint who “has been raised up with Christ, and seated with Him in the heavenly places,” what is now in the realm of faith will have its fruition in the realm of eternal sight.“ And what a promise to the saints, to be placed in a position of honor and authority, “as I also have received authority from My Father.” What exactly that looks like in the courts of glory is beyond the saints’ current ken, but it certainly is greatly encouraging!

The morning star - Later in the book of Revelation, Jesus Himself says, “I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright morning star” (Revelation 22:16). The current era, the Christian age, is the dawn before the coming “new day” of existence in heaven, as the apostle Paul would say, “The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand” (Romans 13:12). The “morning star,” then, is Christ dwelling in the hearts of faithful brethren. The apostle Peter commented that brethren would do well to pay attention to the revelation given in the scripture, as “a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:1). To be given “the morning star” as a reward for overcoming is to be given the presence of Christ for all eternity!

These first century churches in the Roman province of Asia were battered by winds and storms challenging their faith, both without and within. The Lord earnestly desired their success, both at the personal level and at the congregational level. His warnings were to be heeded, and His offer of reward were to pull them and us onward. Hear the plea: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 2:29).

To the Church at Sardis

We must pay much closer attention to what we have heard,” exhorted the writer of Hebrews, “lest we drift away from it” (Hebrews 2:1). One of the dangerous pitfalls for saints is for them to be complacent in their faith; such complacency results in drifting unawares, and such drifting results in spiritual death. This was happening to the church in Sardis, the next on the clockwise circuit of Revelation. “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,” again commands King Jesus. The Exalted One says that it is “He who has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars” (Revelation 3:1). The “seven stars” are the messengers (or “angels”) who will read this message from Christ out loud to the congregations. It is interesting that the Lord describes Himself as the One who “has the seven Spirits of God”; He is the One directing the Holy Spirit in these cases.

“I know your deeds” - The Lord, who reads the hearts of men, confidently says, “I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead” (Revelation 3:1). These participants in the church at Sardis externally possessed the name “Christian,” as those belonging to Christ, but the analysis of Him who judges correctly is that they were spiritually dead.

“Wake up” - These straying “brethren” had drifted away from the faith once delivered, and a spiritual slumber had therefore befallen them. “Wake up,” shouts the Christ, “and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die” (Revelation 3:2). The challenge from the Lord was for these from Sardis to start the path of increasing their faith and therefore their spiritual strength, and to shore up the bonds which tied them together as brethren. “I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God,” is another comment. It is not good to falter before the finish!

“Remember what you received” - The scripture occasionally refers to “receiving the word” (1 Thessalonians 2:13). This “word,” the “apostles’ doctrine” was taught universally in the first century congregations, as in the case of Sardis. “Remember therefore what you have received and heard,” is Jesus’ exhortation, “and keep it, and repent” (Revelation 3:3). They had received and heard the correct teaching; they needed now to again put it into practice. “Repent!” says the Lord Jesus, echoing comments to the other congregations in Asia.

What if? - What if the so-called saints in Sardis did not repent? “If therefore you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you” (Revelation 3:3). One of themes in the thread of Jesus’ statements, whether in the gospel accounts or in this apocalypse, and referenced by the writers of the epistles, is that Jesus “will come like a thief” in the night. When the Master unexpectedly steps into the room and finds most of the workers slack or wrongly engaged, it will not be pleasant for them.

A few - In spite of the downward vortex existing in the congregation at Sardis, all was not lost. “But you have a few people in Sardis,” applauds the Christ, “who have not soiled their garments” (Revelation 3:4). They had kept their focus on getting Christ’s work done and had not drifted into the prevalent idolatry and immorality. “They will walk with Me in white; for they are worthy.” The rewards are there for those who will sacrifice themselves for the sake of truth and the love of the Lord.

“He who overcomes shall thus be clothed in white garments,” and thus fitted to stand in the presence of the Holy One of Israel (Revelation 3:5). “I will not erase his name from the book of life,” which is a great promise from Jesus, but also an indicator for modern saints that a person’s name can be erased from that book. “I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels,” says the Christ, also pointing to the great reward for faithfully following Christ.

And the closing admonition: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 3:6).

To the Church in Philadephia

How exciting it is for the Lord to find His children of faith walking joyfully in His footsteps! Of the seven churches in Asia to which this letter from Christ is directed, only two stand commended, and both of those had to come through the fires of persecution from the “synagogues of Satan,” as Jesus Himself described the Jews. The first commended is Smyrna, the second is Philadelphia, and the Lord is happy that both of them are holding firm. “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia,” says the glorified Christ, “write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut,” has some things to say (Revelation 3:7). Jesus is “true,” and the ultimate source and object of truth. He is “holy,” and even saints’ holiness flows from His.

Key of David - “I will set the key of the house of David on his shoulder,” said the Lord of Eliakim the son of Hilkiah in the days of Isaiah and Hezekiah, “when he opens no one will shut, and when he shuts no one will open” (Isaiah 22:22). The key of David, then, has to do with the ability to rule: “the government will rest on His shoulders,” as Isaiah had prophesied of the coming Child (Isaiah 9:6). The reference to Eliakim ultimately points to the rule of Christ, “and he will become a throne of glory to his father’s house” (Isaiah 22:23). The expression “throne of glory” looks far beyond anything Hezekiah possessed. The One, then, “who has the key of David,” speaks to the church in Philadelphia.

“I know your deeds” - The first thing He says, “I know your deeds” (Revelation 3:8). The Christ uses this same expression in addressing several of the other churches in Asia, but only for Philadelphia is its context wholly positive. “Behold,” is the Lord’s positive invitation to have a look, “I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.” That “little power” was more than what all the forces of darkness could muster! For the congregation to have kept Jesus’ word and for them not to have denied Jesus’ name in the midst of the severe persecution under which they functioned is truly commendable.

Another synagogue of Satan - “Behold,” states the Lord again, “I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie––behold, I will make them to come and bow down at your feet, and to know that I have loved you” (Revelation 3:9). These late first century Jews were apparently leaders in persecuting saints before the Roman government took that lead, about the time that the book of Revelation was finished. What a reversal, for these Jews with their arrogant “zeal without knowledge,” to have to bow down at the feet of the Gentile saints, and for them to be forced to recognize that the Lord of lords and King of kings loved the Christians!

History shows that about 100 AD the Roman government began seriously persecuting Christians on a major scale, although some persecution had begun before starting about the time of Emperor Nero. Jesus gives comfort and assurance to these faithful brethren: “Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell upon the earth” (Revelation 3:10).

The expression, “those who dwell upon the earth” in the book of Revelation, is a description of those still held under Satan’s sway, as contrasted to those who “dwell in heaven” (see Revelation 13:6,8). There is an ultimate day of judgment coming, a day of punishment for those who by intent or neglect did not choose to follow the Christ according to His terms. Faithful saints, such as those at Philadelphia, will be “kept” from that punishment. Jesus said, during the days of His earthly sojourn, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life” (John 5:24).

To the Church in Philadephia - Continued

“Behold,” cries the risen Christ in John’s vision to the church in Philadelphia, “I have put before you an open door which no one can shut” (Revelation 3:8). This faithful congregation is encouraged to keep on spreading the message of salvation, found only in Jesus Christ, in the midst of opposition from the Jews (and soon from the Roman government). Jesus had opened that door, and the brethren were to charge forward through it, carrying the only message of hope and peace to be found on this planet. “You have kept the word of My perseverance,” Jesus noted, and this congregation was therefore to be counted upon to make use of the open door.

Reminder - The Lord constantly reminds the churches that His second coming is imminent. “I am coming quickly,” is His statement, generally as a warning but here as encouragement; “hold fast what you have, in order that no one take your crown” (Revelation 3:11). If a person knows that he has to hang on only a little longer in the midst of trial and persecution, that encourages him to keep on keeping on! The crown is mentioned, the reward for faithfulness also mentioned by Paul and James.

A pillar - The church of the living God has numerous descriptive names attached to it, such as the bride of Christ or the body of Christ. It is also called the temple of God, as the only temple worthy of God’s dwelling place. “He who overcomes,” says the Christ, encouraging the brethren to be faithful and victorious, “I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God” (Revelation 3:12). This picture of being one of the supports for this most magnificent building is a true honor indeed. “And he will not go out from it anymore.” Once the faithful saint breathes his last, his eternity is set, and his reward is secure.

Names written - If someone were to take a marker and write his name on an object, that would indicate his ownership of the object. Here the Lord notes, in regard to each of the faithful saints at Philadelphia, that “I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God (the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God), and My new name.” In thus being marked and tagged, the one who had been born from above and had maintained his faithfulness to the end was denoted as belonging to God. This directive is one which was done with joy, paralleling that thought that Jesus is not ashamed to call Christians His “brethren” (Hebrews 2:11). That he regarded his citizenship in heaven during the years of his trials in his earthly sojourn is honored with the notation that he is marked with the name of the city of God. And, as a permanent resident of a new spiritual universe, he is marked with “a new name.”

The city - The book of Revelation is a tale of two cities, Jerusalem and Babylon; one honored and one eventually destroyed. “The new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven,” is the church, or kingdom of God. To be a part of that kingdom, the saint must be “born from above”; that is, to be born of heaven (John 3:3). In thus being “born of water and Spirit,” this new creation is no longer of earth but one whose dwelling is in heaven (John 3:5). But his faith must be tested, hence his trials while traveling through the wilderness of an earthly experience. But having been successful, he is a permanent part of that city. The eternal new Jerusalem, then, is thus spoken of as “coming down out of heaven.”

What great rewards are in store for members of this outstanding congregation in Philadelphia! Their Jewish persecutors were to “come and bow down” at their feet, and they were to be inscribed with the greatest of all names. It is emphasized again, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 3:13).

To the Church at Laodicea

There are those with a pre-millennial mindset who think that the seven churches of Asia represent seven “church ages.” (Pre-millennialism is based on the idea that the kingdom of God is yet to come, and the “1000 years” of Revelation chapter twenty will be when Jesus comes down from heaven to reign on earth. That perspective is flawed at the foundation since the kingdom of God is the church as evidenced by Colossians 1:13,14.) The idea, then, (and it is very commonly believed), is that the current “age of the church” is the “Laodicean age,” called “the age of the luke-warm church.” “The church,” from that perspective is a historical “church,” and not the church depicted by the New Testament writings. This first section of Revelation is straightforward; these are messages from Jesus to those first century congregations in the Roman province of Asia. The message “to the church in Laodicea” is a message to the church in Laodicea, and there are lessons for moderns to learn from that communication.

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write,” commands the Lord to John the apostle.

Titles - “The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God” definitely has something to say to this congregation that had strayed from its moorings. The Lord Jesus is “the Amen,” meaning that He is the One who gives the stamp of approval to all scriptural truth. As “the faithful and true Witness,” He is the One who is testifying from heaven as the great raised-up prophet, and who from the beginning has been the One speaking of “heavenly things” (John 3:12). As “the Beginning of the creation of God,” Jesus is the One by whom “all things came into being”; He is the One who, so to speak, ignited the spark that brought the creation into existence.

Deeds - What people say and what people do are often very different. Jesus says to the congregation in Laodicea, “I know your deeds” (Revelation 3:15). In this case, this is not positive, regardless of the claims that the Laodiceans might have been making. “You are neither cold nor hot,” the Lord points out; “I would that you were cold or hot.” If they were cold or hot, they would have at least been doing something, either right or wrong. “So because you are luke-warm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth” (Revelation 3:16). What a picture! Laodicea is in trouble, but they are so tepid they don’t know how close they are to having the wrath of the Lamb come upon them.

Their condition - There is the gap between their words and their performance. “Because you say,” intones the Christ, “ ‘I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing ...’ ” (Revelation 3:17). That was their analysis of themselves. Now the Lord gives His analysis of their spiritual condition: “and yet you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.” If that were their physical condition, they would be occupying the worst begging location in the city!

The solution for these struggling brethren would be for them to get things right spiritually. “I advise you,” says the Lord Christ, “to buy from Me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich, and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes that you may see” (Revelation 3:18). That “gold” would be their faith maintained and expanded through the fires of difficulty and persecution. The “white garments” would be deeds of the faith of Christ, performed for the glorification of the name of Jesus Christ and the spread of His gospel. The “eye salve” would be delving into God’s word and getting the scriptural perspective on the importance of God’s kingdom and His righteousness. Only if the fog of Satan’s confusion was penetrated would these pitiful saints be able to see what they would need to change.

Is there any lesson here for modern Christians?

To the Church at Laodicea - Continued

The church in Laodicea was apparently well-off financially. Speaking with one voice, they said, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing.” That would mean the saints as a whole had good jobs and successful businesses, and that their meeting quarters as a congregation had some comforts. Undoubtedly there were some in the congregation who commented on how much the Lord had been blessing them, and how they were clearly on the right track because of those good physical things that had come their way. What a shock it would have been to have received this letter, penned by the apostle John, pointing out from the Lord Jesus Himself what their true condition was. “You do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.” They didn’t know; now they do!

Reproof from Christ - Jesus is not willing to give up on these Laodicean brethren so easily, which is encouraging for a modern saint who may have struggled and wanted to find his way back. “Those whom I love,” says He, “I reprove and discipline” (Revelation 3:19). “But if you are without discipline,” noted Hebrews’ author, “... you are illegitimate children and not sons” (Hebrews 12:8). The discipline is obviously necessary for these children of faith in Laodicea, and the Lord is willing to give them some verbal correction as well as some discipline in a way that they will feel. What should be the result of said reproof and discipline? “Be zealous therefore, and repent.” These brethren were to shrug off their luke-warm condition, and begin to develop the fiery intensity necessary for loving the lost and reaching them with the gospel. That would require “repentance,” a change in thinking which would result in a real change in behavior.

An invitation - To this wayward congregation, the Lord is still gracious and appealing. “Behold,” is His call, “I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20). Here the Lord is inviting these brethren to have the very best fellowship with Him, described as His coming to their homes and sitting down at a leisurely meal together. He furthermore is taking the initiative on this fellowship, pointing out that He is already knocking on their doors. But it always comes back to a willingness to “hear His voice,” as now expressed in the written word of God. (This verse is not an invitation for a lost sinner to “invite Jesus into his heart”; it is an invitation for the blind and short-sighted saint to have his fellowship restored with the great King!)

Once again comes the encouragement to overcome all obstacles. To the Laodiceans, the Lord specifically says, “He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne” (Revelation 3:21). By faith the faithful follower of Christ has already been seated with Christ in glory, as Paul made clear in his epistle to the Ephesian brethren: He “made us alive together with Christ...and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:5,6). But the reward Jesus is offering here in Revelation is the reward that is “by sight,” when earthly life with its trials and persecutions is left behind, and what is in front is to reign with Christ eternally, effective at the resurrection from the dead. Paul thus said that his mental state of mind was such, as he announced, “one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13,14). So it is to be for all who claim the name of Christ.

“He who has an ear,” said He who had a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet, “let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 3:22).

The Thousand Year Reign of Christ

The first three chapters of the book of Revelation are comparatively straightforward, and chapters twenty-one and twenty-two about heaven are also. But chapters four through twenty are some of the most difficult passages in the entire word of God to process, and especially to try to process correctly without bias or with some hidden agenda in mind. The key to unlocking the pictures of the middle chapters is found in Revelation twenty, where the broad picture is most succinctly painted, and where the one-thousand-year reign of Christ –– the “millennium” –– is mentioned (and the only place where it is mentioned). And the key to Revelation twenty is found in verses five and six.

Here are those verses: “The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years” (Revelation 20:5,6).

Priests of God - Under the terms of the new covenant, every Christian is a priest, “a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9). Such priests minister in “a spiritual house,” and “offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5).

Second death has no power - The “second death” is also defined in this chapter: “the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15). The question would be, “Does the second death have power over those who are Christians?” The answer is found in the words of Jesus, expressed during the years of His earthly sojourn: “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life” (John 5:24).

Reigning with Christ at this present time - Do Christians currently “reign with Him”? The apostle Paul pointed out that those who have come under the grace and mercy of Christ are described in these terms: He “raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6). What is Christ sitting on now? A throne. Who is seated with Him on that throne? Every Christian. What kind of people sit on thrones? Those who reign!

First resurrection - Christians –– priests of God and of Christ, over whom the second death has no power, and currently reigning with Christ –– are those who must have undergone what the scripture calls “the first resurrection.” What could be called a “first resurrection” which saints of God have undergone, and which the lost have not? The answer comes in Paul’s instruction to the Roman brethren: speaking of immersion into Christ, the inspired apostle stated that those becoming Christians are “buried with Christ through immersion into death,” and as Christ was resurrected from the dead, so “we too” are raised to “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). Thus the “first resurrection” is a spiritual resurrection connected with a person’s immersion in Jesus’ name!

The one thousand years - The first of those “first resurrections” occurred on the Day of Pentecost, AD 30, when 3000 souls were immersed in accordance with Peter and the apostles’ preaching in obedience to Acts 2:38. The “thousand years” is a spiritual reference to the entire church age, the age when Christ reigns as King over the hearts of those who are true believers and truly obedient to the terms of His pardon. They indeed are “blessed and holy.”

Jesus said that “an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs shall hear His [Jesus’] voice, and shall come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment” (John 5:28,29). This is the general resurrection of all who have ever lived, or alive at Jesus’ coming. That is when “the rest of the dead come to life.”

With these pieces of information in place, it is now possible to take the next steps in processing “the one-thousand-year” reign of Christ, and figure out what is true about “the millennium.”

The Devil Bound

Armed with the knowledge that the “one-thousand-year reign of Christ” is the church age, the student of the Word can begin to process what it means for the devil to be “bound for a thousand years.” The scripture opens this section with these words: “And I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand” (Revelation 20:1). It is important to remember that this is a vision, and must be buttressed by more literal statements from the rest of the Bible. “And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the abyss...” (Revelation 20:2,3).

Tartarus - What is the abyss? “For if God didn’t spare the angels who sinned but threw them down into Tartarus...” reads the Holman Christian Standard Bible (2 Peter 2:4). This is the only place that “cast into Tartarus” is used in the New Testament writings, and is an adaptation of a Greek term for a realm of the underworld lower than Hades. The “abyss” of Revelation is its equivalent. Satan and his angels were cast out of heaven and use this realm of darkness as their headquarters while they still do their destruction among the sons of men. Jude commented, “And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day” (Jude 1:6).

Cast out of heaven - There are early indications of Satan’s being cast out of heaven. Jesus sent seventy others out following His initial training of the twelve apostles, and He had given them authority to cast out demons. As they returned, commenting, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name,” the Lord responded, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning” (Luke 10:17,18). This is one of Jesus’ somewhat enigmatic statements referring to the certainty of what was to come. Later in time, as recorded by the apostle John, Jesus -- in anticipating His death on the cross – also commented, “now the ruler of this world shall be cast out” (John 12:31). The “casting out of Satan from heaven” is still a future event in the gospel accounts.

When? - When did this “casting out of heaven” take place? The apostle John writes: “And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. And the dragon and his angels waged war, and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him” (Revelation 12:7-9). In the vision, Satan and the evil angels are depicted as being “thrown down to earth,” whereas the literal statement from 2 Peter is that they were thrown into Tartarus. Then follows the critical information: “And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, ‘Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night’ ” (Revelation 12:10). Satan and his angels were cast out before Jesus’ ascension, when “the salvation, the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ” became a reality as it is revealed in time, and set the stage for those things being executed ten days later on planet earth on the Day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts chapter 2.

In this way, then, Satan is described as “bound for a thousand years”: he is limited in the amount of havoc he can stir up on earth for the church age. Non-Christians are described as those “who dwell on the earth” and are thus trapped in the devil’s grip, whereas saints are described as those “who dwell in heaven,” and are thus where the devil cannot touch them spiritually unless they let him (Revelation 13:8.6). God indeed has “delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son” (Colossians 1:13).

The War in Heaven

The “war in heaven” and its matrix are worthy of more consideration. “Now the serpent,” is the record of Genesis, “was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made” (Genesis 3:1). As early as this was in the living oracles, it is not until the book of Revelation that we receive the official announcement of who this “serpent of old” is: “the devil and Satan” (Revelation 12:9). Satan, as the Adversary of God, is directly referenced only in Job, Zechariah, and 1 Chronicles in the Old Testament writings. Most of the information exposing him, his associated demons (the fallen angels or evil spirits who joined Satan), and his activities come from the new covenant writings.

When Ezekiel is prophesying concerning the king of Tyre, he apparently sees something more than just an earthly ruler. This being is described as having been “in Eden, the garden of God” and “the anointed cherub who covers” (Ezekiel 28:13,14). “You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created,” the prophet stated, “until unrighteousness was found in you” (Ezekiel 28:15). It fits the picture of Satan’s being a fallen angel, perhaps an archangel, and who sinned in heaven, leading other angels down the same path. Similarly, when Isaiah is prophesying against the king of Babylon, he also sees what appears to be more than an earthly king. “How you have fallen from heaven,” reads the scripture, “O star of the morning [“Lucifer,” KJV], son of the dawn” (Isaiah 14:12). What a claim emanates from this being: “I will ascend to heaven ... I will make myself like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:13,14). This comports with the expressed desire of “the tempter” to receive worship (which is reserved for God alone) when he showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, saying, “All these things I will give you, if you fall down and worship me” (Matthew 4:9).

What is given is a picture of a powerful angelic being who turned evil, and who desired to dislodge God from His rightful and glorious throne. Having failed to accomplish that in glory, he began to spread his rebellion to the sons of man, beginning with Eve and then Adam. Looking at the Old Testament writings through the eyes of the inspired New Testament authors, saints can see Satan’s hand in the idolatry and sinful rebellion evinced in the ancients. The gospel accounts show us Jesus’ consciousness of Satan and his goal to execute the Son of God. At the critical moment during Jesus’ last Passover, “Satan then entered into” Judas Iscariot, who then went out and gathered the soldiers and the mob who would arrest Jesus; Jesus sent him on his way, commenting, “What you do, do quickly” (John 13:27). Later, the Lord anticipating His arrest and crucifixion, told the apostles, “the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me” (John 14:30).

“The war in heaven” took place after these events. Satan clearly accused Job before God and had access to the courts of heaven. He is prophetically put forth as accusing Jesus (represented prophetically as “Joshua the high priest”) as He is standing before the throne in the vision as “clothed in filthy garments,” a picture of the sins of all mankind (Zechariah 3:1-4). After Michael and his angels defeated the dragon and his angels, “there was no longer a place found for them in heaven,” and “the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down” (Revelation 12:8,10). What he could do before the “war” he could do no longer. He was successful in working through Judas and the Sanhedrin in getting Jesus crucified.

But then came the resurrection of Christ! Matthew, in his gospel account, records how many bodies of Old Testament saints were raised, “and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many” (Matthew 27:52,53).

After appearing to selected witnesses for forty days following His resurrection, Jesus ascended to glory. His first action as High Priest according the order of Melchizedek was to cleanse heaven. The writer of Hebrews notes it in these words: “When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1;3). Heaven needed cleansing because that is where the devil and his angels sinned!

The “war in heaven” took place after Jesus’ crucifixion and prior to His ascension. The time of Jesus’ resurrection seems to be a logical point in time for that war to have taken place.

Reigning with Christ

Who reigns with Christ “for a thousand years”? It is important to remember that saints have been “delivered from the domain of darkness” and transferred “to the kingdom” of Christ; the kingdom is a “now” event rather than a future event, having come into existence in Acts chapter two. It is also important to remember that Christians have been “raised up” and “seated” with Christ in the heavenlies, that they have undergone “the first resurrection” in being raised up from the waters of immersion into Christ (Ephesians 2:6; Romans 6:3-7; Revelation 20:5,6). It has also been established that Satan and his angels were cast out of heaven and into Tartarus (the “abyss”) in connection with Jesus’ resurrection and prior to His ascension. The Christian, then, is the one who reigns with Christ in the “thousand years,” the church age.

The dragon in the abyss - An angel is depicted as coming down from heaven with the key to the abyss and with “a great chain in his hand.” The vision further pictures that the angel threw Satan into the abyss, “and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he should not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years are completed” (Revelation 20:3). Since the gospel has come to the Gentiles (the “nations”), the times of ignorance are past and all should repent (Acts 17:30,31). Any person on the planet still deceived at the end has chosen to be deceived. The dragon, however, has no dominion over faithful saints! This is a picture of the gospel’s continuing to make progress as long as there are truth-seekers on earth. When there is no longer anyone “who practices the truth” and thus “comes to the light,” then the vision states that the devil “must be released for a short time” (John 3:21; Revelation 20:3).

Thrones - “And I saw thrones,” John records, “and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them” (Revelation 20:4). Every Christian is one of those seated on a throne, and will be given the privilege of judgment. “Do you not know,” queried the apostle Paul, “that the saints will judge the world?” “Do you not know,” he further questioned, “that we shall judge angels?” (1 Corinthians 6:2,3).

The victors - As He approached Bethany, in the process of coming to the tomb of Lazarus, Jesus told Martha, “He who believes in Me shall live even if he dies.” That is clearly understandable. But the Lord came back with an amazing and powerful twist: “Everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die” (John 11:25,26). “The souls,” then, “of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God” are alive and reigning with Christ. “Those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand” really have come “to life” and are spoken of as having “reigned with Christ” in His kingdom “for a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4).

Jesus had said, “An hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs shall hear His [the Son of Man’s] voice, and shall come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment” (John 5:28,29). At Jesus’ second coming, when the last trumpet sounds, all who are alive on earth will be transformed to their resurrection bodies (1 Corinthians 15:51), and all who have physically died will receive their resurrection bodies as they come out of the tombs. The saints will have resurrection bodies for their eternity in heaven, the “rest of the dead” –– the non-Christians –– will have their resurrection bodies for an eternity in the hell fire, and this will happen at the end of the church age. “The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed” (Revelation 20:5).

For the faithful saints, having participated in the likeness of Jesus’ death and resurrection in the waters of immersion: “This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection” (Revelation 20:6). Blessed and holy indeed!

Surrounding the Camp of the Saints

At the end of the “thousand years,” the vision of John records, Satan “must be released for a short time” (Revelation 20:3). The picture is of a curtain of darkness beginning to be pulled over a source of light; the church age, the “thousand years,” is coming to an end. Satan has been limited, but those restrictions are being moved out of the way. “And when the thousand years are completed,” the inspired record continues, “Satan will be released from his prison, and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, God and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore” (Revelation 20:7.8).

Deceiving the nations - For the thousand years, the devil is described as not deceiving “the nations” (Revelation 20:3). Whatever roadblocks the prince of darkness might throw in the truth-seeker’s way, it is not enough to prevent him from coming to the “light” if he truly and persistently desires. Thus once he is immersed into the kingdom of Christ, he is free from the clutches of Satan. But as the church age comes to a close, Satan is “released from his prison.” And the efforts of the “nations,” the ethnic groups of the world (described as Gog and Magog, the most distant peoples scattered from the tower of Babel –– see Genesis 10:2 and Ezekiel 38:1-8) to find the truth fade away.

”The war” - The scene from Revelation shows the troops of Satan amassing for a great final battle, herein called “the war,” elsewhere called “Har-mageddon” or “Armageddon” (Revelation 16:16). “And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city…” (Revelation 20:9). The Old Testament “camp of the saints” was when the children of Israel came together in their God-ordained placement during their travels in the wilderness. The “beloved city” is Jerusalem, which became the capital and center for worship after David captured the city from the Jebusites and Solomon built the temple. Both of these are thus foreshadows of the church; one during the wanderings, and one for when the promised land was firmly in Israel’s control. The portrayal of these being surrounded is a description of when the church is spiritually surrounded; she can make no further progress in the spread of the gospel. [Author’s note: I used to wonder how that could possibly be, that there would be a time when no one would be seeking truth. When I see how the forces of the New World Order are working to set up the banking system to eliminate cash transactions, and how a system of “social credit scores” determining where a person could live and what he could eat or whether he could even buy or sell would put sufficient pressure on the world’s inhabitants so that, in order to survive, they would no longer seek the truth.]

Victory from heaven - When the camp of the saints and the beloved city has been surrounded, “fire came down from heaven and devoured them” (Revelation 20:9). This is the end of planet earth, as the apostle Peter taught: “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10). Also known as Judgment Day, “And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation 20:10).

What has been established from this section of Revelation twenty is a picture of the overall cycle. The gospel makes progress but the devil finally gets his defenses in place, things get worse and worse, the spread of the gospel comes to a standstill, then comes the judgement of God. The key to understanding all of this is knowing that “the first resurrection” is the saint’s participation in the likeness of Jesus’ resurrection in immersion, that the “thousand years” is the church age, thus setting up the basis for understanding the other visions of Revelation.

The Throne and He Who Sits upon It

The book of Revelation opens with a vision of the Christ who walks among the seven lampstands, and with His messages to the seven churches of Asia. Point of emphasis: every modern congregation periodically must analyze those messages and take an honest assessment of where it stands were Jesus to address it as He did those congregations of yore.

The next stop on our journey was to spend time in Revelation chapter 20. Here, in concise form, and with enough information to get a handle on what the “thousand-year” reign of Christ is, we could establish that this designated period of time is the church age, and those who participate in “the first resurrection” are those who are properly immersed into Christ. That establishes a picture of Satan bound or limited as to what he can do to the saint for that time, but it also shows that toward the end of the church age the devil is pictured as being loosed from his prison and being able to stop the church from moving forward with the gospel. At that point, the purpose for planet earth has ceased, and the devil is thrown into the lake of fire. In summary, there is a pattern wherein a) the church comes into existence in connection with Christ’s crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, b) forces are at work during the church age, and c) then comes the end. Now our focus turns to the stage pictured in chapter four, and its introduction to vision of the seven seals and the famous “four horsemen” of Revelation.

”Come up here” - As the book of Revelation continues from its portrayal of the vision of the seven churches, the apostle John writes, “After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven” (Revelation 4:1). A door standing open in heaven? Who could not have the earnest desire to walk through that door if possible! The narrative continues: “…and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me…” That first voice, from Revelation chapter one, was the voice of Him who was walking among the lampstands, the voice of the great High Priest Himself, Jesus Christ risen from the dead and seated at the right hand of power. And the voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things. Not only was the door open, but John received an invitation from the One who has all authority in heaven and on earth to “come up” and pass through that door.

Before the throne - How is John going to “come up here” and get through that door? “Immediately,” he says, “I was in the Spirit…” (Revelation 4:2). The apostle is in a trance-like state, and he is transported into the heavenly realms. “…and behold,” he exclaims, “a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne.”

The One on the throne - “And He who was sitting [on the throne] was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance” (Revelation 4:3). Jasper can often be a very bright red, and sardius also can be of nearly the same color; emeralds are often a brilliant green. Brilliant colors and references to a rainbow are common in visions the prophets had of Him who sits upon the throne in glory. No earthly words are adequate to describe the Almighty; in any description, the word AWESOME comes to mind!

“And around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads” (Revelation 4:4). Personal opinion: These twenty-four elders, who are pictured as in constant worship of the One on the throne, and who are clothed in white garments (“the righteous acts of the saints” from Revelation 19:8), and who are “kings” with golden crowns, are twelve representatives of the Old Testament saints (made righteous by being thrown in with new covenant saints, from Hebrews 11:39,40) and twelve representing the new covenant saints. August personages in the presence of the most august throne!

Around the Throne

For the apostle John, in the Spirit, a door opened in heaven, and he was ushered into the presence of the Almighty. The One sitting on the throne, described in terms of glistening jewel stones, was seated on His awesome throne. “And from the throne proceed flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder,” John records. “And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which,” the apostle states, “are the seven Spirits of God” (Revelation 4:5). This somewhat terrifying sight certainly befits Him who has the power of life and death in His hands, who is “the One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating calamity” (Isaiah 45:7). And, as previously commented, the “seven Spirits of God” is a symbolic representation of the one Holy Spirit stated in Paul’s non-symbolic letter to the Ephesians.

The sea of glass - “...and before the throne there was, as it were, a sea of glass like crystal” (Revelation 4:6). Wilson opinion: the sea of glass appears later in this book. “And I saw, as it were,” again says John, “a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had come off victorious from the beast and from his image and from the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God” (Revelation 15:2). From the new covenant writings, saints who have passed from this life are described as “absent from the body” and “at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). Awaiting their resurrection bodies, they are the ones who have been victorious in the good fight of faith. They are in Paradise, which in conjunction with Jesus’ ascension was taken “up” although until that time it had been “down” (see author’s tract “What Happens When You Die?”) The conclusion the author would draw is that the “sea of glass” is this Paradise. Those who have “overcome” are moving on to the sea of glass, which, like Paradise, is in the presence of the great and only God.

The four living creatures - “In the center and around the throne,” the apostle depicts, were “four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind.” These are very similar to the “living beings” described in Ezekiel chapter one, and called “cherubim” in Ezekiel 10:15. The expression “full of eyes” often used in visions of heavenly beings indicates that all things are visible to God and to His agents. “And the first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had the face of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle” (Revelation 4:7). These are the same “faces” as the cherubim of Ezekiel. “And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings [as contrasted to the four wings set forth in Ezekiel], are full of eyes around and within” (Revelation 4:8). These living creatures, like other parallel visions, could be considered guardians of the throne: “in the center and around the throne.”

“Day and night,” the narrative continues, “they do not cease to say, ‘Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.” The great “I AM” truly always has been, currently is, and will be for all the future, for all eternity.

“Holy, holy, holy” indeed is the Almighty. He is “set apart” from all sin, and He is wholly committed to His purposes and plans. This is exhibited in Jesus Christ, who is “such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens” (Hebrews 7:26). One of God’s intentions is that His holiness should become the saints’ holiness, carried out in thought, word, and deed. “Like the holy One who called you,” affirmed the apostle Peter, “be holy yourselves also in all your behavior, because it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:15,16). This holiness on the part of the brethren emanates from the holiness of God, being the result of each child of faith’s being indwelt by the Holy Spirit Himself. “You are,” said Peter, “a holy nation” (1 Peter 2:9).

Picture of New Covenant Worship

The overarching issue is worship of God. Even this early vision of the book of Revelation, the four living creatures are continually saying, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come,” creating an ambience concerning Him who is certainly worthy of worship.

Inspired history of worship (patriarchs) - On earth God began with Adam and Eve. Of Adam, it was written, “The first man [Adam] is from the earth, earthy” (1 Corinthians 15:47). Made from the “dust” of the earth, his interests and focus are earthy, looking down instead of up. The entire Old Testament record shows God’s working with mankind, particularly through the nation Israel, to set the stage for a truly spiritual people. Hence for the patriarchs, “worship” was the physical act of bowing down in total submission to the One who was “the fear of Isaac” as well as “the friend of Abraham” (Genesis 31:42; Isaiah 41:8). The only direct new covenant writing in reference the patriarchs and their worship is Hebrews 11:21, describing Jacob in his old age, leaning on “the top of his staff,” which was as near as he could come to full prostration before God. New covenant writings use this terminology to describe such physical obeisance, as when the magi “worshiped” Jesus when He was still in the house at Bethlehem (Matthew 2:11).

Inspired history of worship (Mosaic covenant) - With the giving of the Law on Sinai, God took “worship” in a more spiritual direction. When Israel gathered, eventually at the temple, for the feast days, they were spoken of as having “gone up to worship,” as the apostle Paul described, from a Jewish perspective, his coming to Jerusalem (Acts 24:11). Jesus verified that correct worship under the Mosaic covenant took place in Jerusalem, and it can be established that such worship occurred at the temple (John 4:22). When the people thus gathered on the temple grounds and shared in that which honored God, that was their “worship,” having “gone up” to the temple mount.

Inspired history of worship (new covenant) - The only direct reference to new covenant worship is found in John 4:23,24. Unlike old covenant worship, which took place at set times and a set place, new covenant worship is “in spirit and truth.” This requires that new covenant individuals be “born of God” and “born from above,” no longer of the earth as was Adam and his physical descendants (John 1:12,13; 3:3). Such “heavenly” individuals have been raised up with Christ and seated with Him (in the spirit realm). Now called “brethren” of Christ, each’s inner man is ushered into the presence of the great God, where he has “confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way” (Hebrews 10:19,20). Spiritually prostrate before the throne, these of precious faith are worshiping in spirit and truth.

“And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever,” John records, “the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne” (Revelation 4:9,10). Wilson opinion: the twenty-four elders, who are pictured as prostrating themselves before God and casting their crowns before the throne, are representative of the old covenant saints (12 of the elders) and of the new covenant saints (the remaining twelve). The old covenant saints are “up” in Paradise as well as new covenant saints who have passed from earth. By faith, this is where the new covenant saint dwells and thus has his mind set on things above rather than things on earth.

Rightly, then, the chorus of their voices praises the great Creator: “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created” (Revelation 4:11). The physical creation had to be first, as a touchstone for those who would be the spiritual people of God’s desire, worshiping Him in spirit and truth as only they can do.

Who is Worthy?

A door was open for the apostle John, in this vision in Revelation, a door for him to pass through. “Come up here,” commanded the voice like a trumpet, the voice of Him who walked amongst the lampstands. As John went up and looked, he saw a magnificent throne and Him who sat upon it, with four living creatures around the throne as well as twenty-four elders. Almost in unison, the living creatures and the elders give glory and thanksgiving perpetually to the Mighty God, with the elders praising Him as the great Creator. John continues: “And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals” (Revelation 5:1). From the time of Moses onward, God’s word was recorded and transmitted on scrolls and bound parchments. This is possibly a scroll, but since it is “written inside and on the back,” it is more likely a bound book.

Worthy - The vision focuses attention on the book that is in the hand of the One on the throne. “And I saw a strong angel,” witnesses John, “proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?’ ” (Revelation 5:2). The reader’s attention is arrested as he is drawn to the scene with the book; his curiosity is aroused about who would be worthy to break open the seals which bound the book and kept it closed. “And no one in heaven, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book, or to look into it” (Revelation 5:3). The tension increases! “And I began to weep greatly,” admits the aged apostle, “because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it” (Revelation 5:4). This was an extensive search, which – in the vision – took time.

The Lion of Judah - In the midst of John’s tears, “one of the elders [around the throne] said to me, ‘Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.’ ” (Revelation 5:5). The tension is released! As the capstone of God’s written revelation to man, the book of Revelation ties together pieces that were previously recorded. In Jacob’s prophetic blessing to his sons, he singled out Judah as one who is pictured as a lion gracefully and regally lying down, and of whom it was said, “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes. And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples [Gentiles]” (Genesis 49:9,10). The Lion of Judah is a descendant of Judah according to the flesh, but declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 1:3,4).

The Root of David - As the stated “Root of David,” clarity is given to the Old Testament prophecies concerning Jesus as the descendant of David and thus of David’s father Jesse. “And it will come about in that day,” averred Isaiah, “that the nations [Gentiles] will resort to the root of Jesse” (Isaiah 11:10). As the apostle Paul quoted from the LXX [Greek version of the Old Testament], “There shall come the root of Jesse, and He who arises to rule over the Gentiles, in Him shall the Gentiles hope” (Romans 15:12).

“And I saw,” John continues, “between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. And He came, and He took it out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne” (Revelation 5:6,7). The Lion of Judah is also the Lamb who had been slain (but clearly had come back to life). Again the number seven, God’s number representing completeness, shows up: the seven horns and seven eyes, which (he said) “are the seven Spirits of God.” The Lamb is complete, and His revelation is complete. He is worthy! And the Holy Spirit, represented by the seven Spirits, is at work in all the earth.

Worthy Is the Lamb

There was tension in heaven, as depicted in the vision which the apostle John saw while “in the Spirit.” So suspenseful was the tension that John himself was weeping because there was found no one worthy to “open the book” that was in the hand of Him who lives forever and ever. At that moment one of the twenty-four elders confides to John that “the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals” (Revelation 5:5). What a relief!

Presenting the Lamb - Here the vision which John sees moves to the next phase, beginning with the One who was sitting on the throne. “And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures),” is the way the NASB translates the passage, “and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth” (Revelation 5:6). The Lamb, looking like it had been slain (which is clearly a reference to Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! – John 1:29), has appeared suddenly right in the middle of the scene with the throne and the four living creatures.

Taking the book - The big moment has arrived; all the tension that has been building has reached its fruition as the Lamb reaches for the book. John records, “And He came, and He took it out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne” (Revelation 5:7). Then what happened at that auspicious moment? “And when He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints” (Revelation 5:8). Certainly the Lamb is thus pictured as being of elevated importance. [Side comment: the imagery here shows that the altar of incense in the Old Testament tabernacle and temple is a foreshadow of the prayers of new covenant saints, and how their prayers reach into the Holy of Holies, to the very presence of the Majesty on High who can hear and answer those prayers.] With harps in their hands, the elders offer the “sacrifice of praise” to the Lamb.

The new song - The first song praised Him who sat upon the throne as the great Creator. The “living creatures” and the elders have a new song, this time about the Lamb: “Worthy are You to take the book, and to break its seals; for You were slain and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9). Not only were these purchased by the blood of the Lamb –– shed on Calvary, sprinkled in glory –– but they have been refashioned for God’s purposes. “And You have made them,” are the words in the magnificent hymn, “to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth” (Revelation 5:10). The suspense in heaven awaiting the Lamb’s opening the book magnifies His greatness and, correspondingly, the greatness of His sacrifice, His purchase, and His reforming the purchased!

It is worth re-emphasizing that those who have been made “a kingdom” constitute the “church” of the new covenant, the body of Christ composed of those who have been redeemed. “For He delivered us from the domain of darkness,” the apostle Paul set forth, “and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins [through His blood – Byzantine stream]” (Colossians 1:13,14). As kings and priests of the new covenant, the saints reign in a spiritual sense and have thus inherited the earth. As Paul also stated, “For all things belong to you, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God” (1 Corinthians 3:21b-23). Truly, for this, the Lamb is worthy of all glory!

Worthy Is the Lamb - Again

The reader, along with the apostle John who received this revelation, is drawn by the words, “Come up here!” The view is expanding so that all the vast panoply of the heavenly host is seen, and the whole assembly’s awe at seeing the Lamb as if slain, standing in the center at the throne, is exposed to the reader’s view. “And I looked,” says the apostle, pulling the attention of the readers into the vision, “and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands” (Revelation 5:11).

The voice of the chorale - Having thus affixed the reader’s focus on the scene, and having thus attuned their ears, the revelation proceeds with what is said by the vast chorale, shouting with what is called “a loud voice”: “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing” (Revelation 5:12). Come then, to the scene of the thunder roll of one mighty, united voice filling the immense hall, with intense emphasis on each key word. WORTHY ... LAMB ... SLAIN ... POWER ... RICHES ... WISDOM ... MIGHT ... HONOR ... GLORY ... BLESSING!!

Added voices - As if the chorale depicted in heaven were not enough, the scene expands. “And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them,” describes John, “I heard them saying...” (Revelation 5:13). So what could be added to what the vast heavenly chorale had shouted? “To Him who sits on the throne,” is added thunderously, with some of the same praises, “and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory,” with the additional points of “and dominion forever and ever.” No one honestly processing this heavenly scene could doubt the worthiness of the Almighty and of the Lamb! “And the four living creatures kept saying, ‘Amen.’ And the elders fell down and worshiped” (Revelation 5:14). Of course they did!

The stage now set - Early in this vision, John is portrayed as weeping because no one was found worthy “to open the book, or to look into it.” But with all heaven and all creation in awe at the Lamb, it is clear that He is worthy. “And I saw,” says the apostle, “when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals” (Revelation 6:1). That was the moment for which all were earnestly waiting... “And I heard,” again states the apostle, “one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, ‘Come.’ ” John, having been initially pictured as falling as a dead man at the feet of Him who walked among the lampstands, has now been strengthened, encouraged, and pulled into the fellowship of those in the vision who watched the Lamb break the seals of the book. “Come up here,” had commanded the Voice of Him who walked among the lampstands. And now, when the time has come for the Lamb to break the seals from the book, these words emanate from one of the four living creatures, “Come.”

After the opening vision of the seven lampstands and Him who walked among them, we shifted to the vision depicted early in Revelation chapter twenty. The reason for so doing is that in Revelation 20 we have a piece of information, a key, which unlocks the meaning of the “one thousand year” reign of Christ, and thus gives us a handle on the rest of the middle visions of Revelation. Knowing that “the first resurrection” is a reference to the saints’ rising from the waters of immersion as new creatures in Christ enables us to know that the “millennium” is a reference to the entire church age, in which each saint reigns as a royal priest with Christ. Thus there is a pattern in which various forces are at work on earth while saints are delivered from the bondage of the devil, while those “who dwell on earth” are still deceived and subject to his will. This culminates in the return of Christ and the bringing in of His judgment. The same patterns are at work in the other visions, including that which begins with “the four horsemen of Revelation.”

The Four Horseman of the Apocalypse

“The four horsemen of the Apocalypse” is a theme referred to often in literature as well as in those screeds claiming to have the latest information on “the end times.” Hundreds of pieces have been written on this, generally using the horsemen of Revelation 6:1-8 to identify events considered near the end of time or near the end of the current era which might be called “the church age.” We are looking at the horsemen and the following points of the vision from the perspective of forces at work during the church age, culminating in Judgment.

The white horse - The thunderous voice commanded John, “Come!” Of course, John obeyed, noting when the Lamb broke the first seal, “And I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer” (Revelation 6:2). This strongly points to a picture of Christ conquering with the gospel (those who would have this as a picture of “the antichrist” have a flawed perspective of the church, the kingdom, and the millennium). The gospel of Christ contained in the holy scriptures is a powerful force in the world, even though Satan and his minions do everything they can to discount it and confuse it. Those who craft policy at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, for example, are conscious of the word of God, using twisted versions of “the beatitudes” and the “Ten Commandments” for their own benefit. People of all cultures are aware of Jesus, perhaps thinking that He is a “great guru” or that He was a prophet that was taken alive like Elijah of old. The word of God and the gospel of Christ impact those who push the false ideology of evolutionism, and they are conscious of the Biblical accounts of Creation and the Flood of Noah’s day. Furthermore, the gospel of God and the word of truth will reach every truth seeker on this planet before God decides to end it all. The horseman on the white horse “went out conquering and to conquer.” As Isaiah had prophesied, “So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).

The red horse - The moment has arrived in John’s vision for the breaking of the second seal on the book. “And when He broke the second seal,” the apostle records, in what seems to be breathless anticipation, “I heard the second living creature saying, ‘Come.’ ” (Revelation 6:3). The “living creatures” in succession are bringing John to closely view the action. “And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men should slay one another; and a great sword was given to him” (Revelation 6:4). This also strongly suggests that war another force that is constantly at work among the tribes and tongues of earth’s peoples. Whether it is large scale, such as the Babylonians’ taking Judah and Egypt, or smaller scale such as a war party’s capturing women and horses from another tribe, mankind is always at war. Even the United Nations, billed as a “peacekeeping” organization, actually is the fulfillment of George Orwell’s dystopian statement “WAR IS PEACE.” As also has been stated, it is “perpetual war for perpetual peace”; meaning that it will be war to subjugate the nations of the world under the tyranny of the big financiers’-driven “new world order,” and further wars to keep them subjugated. In the vision, it indeed was granted to him who sat on the red horse “to take peace from the earth.” That is how it has been, that is how it is, and that is how it will be, so long as earth exists. It was also given to him that men “should slay one another.” The red horseman rides, and will ride until Jesus comes again.

We have covered two of the horsemen; two more must go forth!

Two More Horsemen of Revelation

The first living creature, seeming to be like one of the cherubim which had appeared to Ezekiel, called for John to come, and he saw in the vision the white horse and its rider go forth. This points to the message of the gospel of Christ as a powerful and ultimately conquering force on earth. Another creature called for John, and he looked and saw the red horse and its rider released when the second seal was broken. This clearly represents the fearful force of war, something that will plague earth and provide continual upheaval for its inhabitants until Jesus comes again. But two more seals must be broken to release the next two horsemen.

The black horse - The Lamb in the center is now ready. “And when He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, ‘Come.’ ” Once again, John is invited to watch closely. “And I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat upon it had a pair of scales in his hand” (Revelation 6:5). More information is necessary. “And I heard as it were,” comments the aged apostle, “a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, ‘A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and the wine.’ ” (Revelation 6:6). A quart of wheat for a day’s wage or three quarts of barley for a day’s wage is expensive, indicating a shortage of foodstuffs. And when the voice in the center of the throne says to be careful of the oil and wine (don’t spill any!), the picture is that of famine. Shortage of food is one of the forces at work on the earth’s population. Weather-driven famines can be devastating, causing whole populations to migrate. Even worse are man-made famines, which are directed at targeted populations in order to bring them into submission under tyranny.

The ashen horse - Now John is set for the fourth horseman (but not the end of the vision of the seven seals). “And when He broke the fourth seal,” the apostle recalls, “I heard the voice of the fourth living creature, saying, ‘Come.’ ” (Revelation 6:7). Each time a seal has been broken, John has been invited in for a closer look. “And I looked,” he says, being in the vision himself, “and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat upon it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. And authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth” (Revelation 6:8). The word “ashen” is sometimes translated “pale”; in this context it refers to what is sometimes called “deathly pale,” referring to the color of the body when the blood flow is restricted or stopped. This horse and its rider are clearly identified with the force that continually plays in the mind of man — death and concomitant fear of death. Hades, the realm where the spirit and soul of those outside of Christ go following physical death on earth, is pictured as scooping up those who have fallen after the horseman has passed by. “Fear of death,” said Hebrews’ author, makes mankind “subject to slavery all their lives” (Hebrews 2:15). In the vision, death has power over “a fourth of the earth”; presumably, each of the other horsemen has power over his “fourth of the earth.” Not surprisingly, the victims of the ravages of war and famine also end up under the auspices of the ashen horse and his rider.

“The four horsemen of Revelation,” then, are not specific units of time or specific armies. They represent forces pressing on the minds of men globally, and they will continue to be four core factors in men’s decision-making processes and in men’s environments until the second coming of Christ (the finale). White: Christ and the gospel; red: war and its devastation; black: famine and its effects; ashen: death, and its pressure on the minds of men. Encouragingly, He who rides the white horse, who wears the crown, “went out conquering, and to conquer.” Jesus Christ and His gospel message will win!

Breaking the Fifth Seal

The first four seals on the book have been broken by the Lamb. Four horsemen have thus been released upon the earth, representing four major forces impacting men’s thoughts: the gospel of Christ, war, famine, and death. The apostle John’s attention is next going to be fixed on a vision of what is inside the temple of God. The book of Revelation opened with such a vision of Him who walked among the lampstands, a vision of what was taking place inside this temple, in this case in what originally had been the outer room. What John sees next is called “the altar.” While not specified in Revelation chapter six, in chapter seven what is called “the altar” is the one where incense is to be offered. Hence the vision is still centered about the throne, but a few steps away is the golden altar of incense.

Underneath the altar - The apostle John is once again permitted to peer in closely to see the action. “And when He broke the fifth seal,” says John of the Lamb, “I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained” (Revelation 6:9). It is worth remembering how much the brethren of the first century church suffered. The book of Acts directly records the suffering that the church in Jerusalem and Judea underwent at the hands of Saul of Tarsus and the Jews. The converted Saul of Tarsus himself then goes on to note the suffering at Thessalonica, referring back that which occurred at Jerusalem, “you also endured the same suffering at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews” (1 Thessalonians 2:14). The souls “underneath the altar” represent these faithful brethren, whose faith did not break under persecution, and whose teaching and preaching the gospel could not be stopped due to persecution or threat of persecution.

Their cry - In the vision, souls underneath altar are not simply in some visible anguish. John records, “and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’ ” (Revelation 6:10). That which is deemed “justice” is also deemed to be not only “sure” but “swift.” Hence it is right for those who had been unfairly executed to cry for their justice. (“Those who dwell on the earth” is an expression in the book of Revelation for those who are not Christians, as contrasted to “those who dwell in heaven.”)

Their consolation - How, then, is the fair and just God to answer those souls, depicted as underneath the altar, who rightly cry for justice and the avenging of their deaths? “And there was given to each of them a white robe,” is what John sees in the vision, “and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, should be completed also” (Revelation 6:11). In a picture somewhat reminiscent of dealing with children, their attention was redirected by being given the white robe, and being told to be patient.

One thing is really clear: Christians are going to be persecuted for their faith as long as earth exists. The Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Himself, engaged in a dangerous and (in one sense) fatal search and rescue mission carried out behind enemy lines. He also set in motion a recruitment process by which others are enlisted in the same cause, and often with the same fatal earthly ending. But the Lamb is pictured as “standing, as if slain”; He was raised from the dead, nevermore to die. These souls underneath the altar, then, are handed a white robe, told that they should rest a little longer while those others engaged in the rescue mission should be executed. When all is “completed,” like the Lamb who went on before them, they will also receive the resurrection of the righteous. Their blood will be avenged!

Breaking the Sixth Seal

The four horsemen rode, showing the forces of the gospel, war, famine, and fear of death working on the human race. The breaking of the fifth seal showed souls of the redeemed under the altar of incense, crying out for vengeance upon those who persecuted the early church. Real Christianity has been denigrated publicly, declared illegal many times, and has been hampered by every possible roadblock. True saints of the Lord have been persecuted and executed for their beliefs and for their proclamation of those beliefs. More souls keep being added to the number under the altar. So how does the story end on planet earth?

Breaking the sixth seal - It is important to remember this is a vision, a virtual stage play. “And I looked,” remarks the apostle, “when He broke the sixth seal” (Revelation 6:12). All the host of heaven are pictured as breathlessly awaiting the breaking of each seal on the book! “And there was,” John gives his description, “a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood...” Sometimes people with little Bible knowledge or perspective think that a “blood moon” is the beginning of the fulfillment of this vision of John in Revelation. “Blood moons,” where the moon turns reddish during a lunar eclipse, are common and don’t mean anything other than the usual course of the heavenlies in their orbits. Besides that, what about the sun’s turning black? It is important to remember that this is a vision in John’s mind. “And the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind” (Revelation 6:13). Our sun, which is in a category of what might be called smaller stars, is 1,000,000 times the volume of earth. The point is: these stars are not literal stars falling to earth, which would be impossible; this is a vision depicting the final destruction of the universe.

More destruction - In the vision, “the stars were a fallin’”! The vision continues. “And the sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up” (Revelation 6:14). The picture is like that of a scroll being slit with a knife, and the two halves snapping into their separate coils. “And every mountain and island were moved out of their places.” Everything on earth “was a shakin’”!

“Fall on us” - “And the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains” (Revelation 6:15). Something tremendously terrifying is appearing that would cause every person, without exception, to take cover. “...and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb...’ ” (Revelation 6:16). For the vast bulk of earth’s inhabitants, the day of Jesus’ second coming will not be a day of rejoicing. It is reminiscent of the early opening of this book: “Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of earth will mourn over Him. Even so, Amen” (Revelation 1:7).

For anyone to be in position where he would rather have a cliff fall on him than to face God’s wrath gives a better picture of the terrifying nature of the righteousness and holiness of the pure and true God. The apostle Paul stated, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18). Those calling for the rocks and mountains to fall on them are depicted as noting, “for the great day of their wrath has come; and who is able to stand?” (Revelation 6:17). “Their wrath” has come... Not only is the One described as on the throne wrathful, but the Lamb Himself is projecting His righteous and destroying anger. The new covenant is a covenant of mercy, but there will be no mercy for those not covered by the blood of the Lamb at His return. No games or pretenses; just get ready!

An Interlude

Six of the seals on the book have been broken by the Lamb. Horsemen have ridden, showing the forces of the gospel, of war, of famine, and of death at work in the world. Souls have cried out for their avenging from underneath the altar of incense, and told to wait awhile. And the disobedient have cried out for the rocks and the mountains to fall on them and hide them from the wrathful Judgment of “Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb.” So should the seventh seal be broken next? No ... there is an intermission of sorts, a vision within the vision while the stage is set for the next act of the Revelation play.

More suspense - The apostle John watches a whole different setting, turning his attention away from the throne in the center. “After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth,” he says concerning this interlude. It is not the literal earth he is looking at; it is how it appeared in the vision, such as the earlier one where stars were falling to earth. What were the angels doing? They were “holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind should blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree” (Revelation 7:1). In the next vision, things are going to happen to “the earth,” to “the sea,” and to “trees.” In this interlude, therefore, the winds have been withheld so that certain necessary things can be accomplished before the next vision is unleashed.

An ascending angel - John adds, “And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God” (Revelation 7:2). This angel, seen “in the east,” is very important; he has been entrusted with “the seal of the living God.” In earthly terms, the one with “the seal” is the head of the house, the noble at the head of the clan; perhaps his son, the heir-apparent, would have an identical seal as well. This angel has “the seal” of God. “And he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, ‘Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.’ ” (Revelation 7:3) The ascending angel was yelling at the other angels to wait!

The seal - It is important to note that “the bond-servants of God” are marked; the mark of the seal of God is described as being on their foreheads. It is a spiritual mark, seen as physical in the vision. What denotes a Christian is whether the individual is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, as the apostle Paul makes clear in the passage of Romans 8:9-11. Referring to the indwelling Spirit, he stated, “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.” Further information comes from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, where he noted, “You were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise” (Ephesians 1:13). Only those properly immersed into Christ, therein having received forgiveness of sins and the indwelling Spirit, can be regarded as stamped with the seal of the living God. Again, to re-emphasize, it is a spiritual mark, described in physical terms.

The ascending angel told the other four angels to wait before they unleashed their judgments on the earth until the bond-servants of God were sealed. This is a clear picture that God is not going to execute His final judgment until all those known to Him as truth-seekers can be brought into the fold of Christ. The prophet Isaiah had stated, looking to the end of God’s work on planet earth, “Seek from the book of the Lord, and read: not one of these will be missing; none will lack its mate. For His mouth has commanded, and His Spirit has gathered them”(Isaiah 34:16). Going back to the time of Moses, it has been known that there is such a book, and the names of those who will be redeemed are in there. Planet earth will not cease until all have been sealed and gathered!

The 144,000, the Multitude, and the Heavenly Host

The 144,000 - The angel ascending from the rising of the sun yelled to the four angels holding back the four winds not to harm anything “until we have sealed the bond-servants of God.” The aged apostle then offers his description: “And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand from every tribe of the sons of Israel” (Revelation 7:3,4). Twelve times twelve times a thousand! The listing follows closely to what a person would expect, but with a couple of wrinkles (Revelation 7:5-8). The “tribe of Joseph” is mentioned, as well as “the tribe of Manasseh,” Manasseh in old Israel being a descendant of Joseph. “Joseph” here may be a direct reference to “Ephraim,” a non-listed “tribe” of Israel. The “tribe of Dan” is not listed either, Dan having gone into idolatry early in Israel’s history. As they are “sealed bond-servants of God,” this probably represents symbolically the Israelite core of the new covenant church. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel,” said the apostle Paul, “for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). Of necessity, the groundwork for the gospel of Christ was laid first in God’s special people of the Old Testament, and all the early converts were of Jewish origin.

The multitude - While not directly mentioned, the multitude that follows in the vision would have been “sealed” also, or they would not be “bond-servants of God.” “After these things I looked,” is John’s record, “and behold, a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands” (Revelation 7:9). Here is a description of the influx of Gentiles, who were able to become part of the body of Christ following the immersion of Cornelius and those who were in his house as recorded in Acts chapter ten. The multitude of Jews shouting and waving palm branches at the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem, as He rode the donkey and its colt, is a mini-earthly picture of what John sees in the vision as the redeemed from the ranks of Gentiles lift their praises. John continues, “...and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.’ ” (Revelation 7:10). Before His birth, the angel informed Joseph, “You shall call His name Jesus [Yahweh our Savior], for it is He who will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). These clothed in white robes know that there would be no salvation for them except for the plan of God and that which came through the sacrifice of the Lamb!

The heavenly beings - In addition to the 144,000 and those from every tribe and tongue, the heavenly beings join in the praises. John notes, “And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God” (Revelation 7:11). As powerful and mighty as may be any of the host of heaven, they have no problem in prostrating themselves before Him who is infinitely mighty and so worthy of their obeisance. They are recorded as saying, “Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen” (Revelation 7:12). There are not enough words in any earthly language to declare the worthiness of our God in every consideration. In this portion of the interlude, the vast assemblage is pictured as those of Israelite heritage who were sealed, of the Gentiles who have found their way to Zion, and of the heavenly beings.

With one voice they glorify the God who is worthy, and glorify the Lamb who submitted Himself to be sacrificed. Who would not want to be a part of that vast assemblage for all eternity!

Those Clothed in White Robes

In this intermission, as one vision transitions to the next, the “stage play” puts an additional focus on the multitude clothed in white robes. Although they have come from a Gentile background, they are permitted to join the vast chorus of voices, and they are privileged to shout, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb” (Revelation 7:10). They, along with the 144,000 of Jewish heritage (and presumably all in Old Testament times whose sins were “passed over” in waiting for Jesus’ sacrifice to be operative), can sing this song that angels cannot sing: “I have been redeemed.” Conscious of their having been “strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world,” they are lifting their voices in praise and thanksgiving to Him who called them out of darkness into His marvelous light (Ephesians 2:12; 1 Peter 2:9).

”Who are they?” - As John watches the great spectacle before his eyes, it seems that one of the four and twenty elders approaches him. “And one of the elders answered, saying to me,” is how John records it, “ ‘These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and from where have they come?’ ” (Revelation 7:13). Now the reading audience as well as John is drawn into the scene, and attention is fixed on those in the white robes. The apostle, in that setting, certainly does not want to have any misunderstanding, so his answer is, “My Lord, you know” (Revelation 7:14). And the reading audience, drawn into trying to understand the vision themselves, is now waiting for the elder’s answer.

”Out of the great tribulation” - This great multitude, standing before the throne with palm branches in their hands, is described as follows: “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:14). Those with a pre-millennial perspective would describe these as “tribulation saints,” having come through the time of the “antichrist” successfully. This perspective is flawed from the foundation; these are saints who suffer through the trials of being disciples of Christ in a hostile world, as the apostle Paul stated, “And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). Each individual in the great multitude washed his robe when he was immersed into Christ, and his heart was sprinkled clean from an evil conscience by the blood of the Lamb. His obligation has been to keep putting on Christ, regardless of the persecutions and external circumstances connected with his earthly sojourn.

The reward - Those who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus and who seek for glory and honor and eternal life will be rewarded. The commentary of the elder: “For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne shall spread His tabernacle over them” (Revelation 7:15). What an honor! “They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore, neither shall the sun beat down on them, nor any heat” (Revelation 7:16). All of the difficulties of traveling through the “desert life” of earth’s existence are gone; victory has been won!

Jesus, in Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles, had stated that everyone who believed in Him would have rivers of living water flowing from within. This, explained the apostle John, was a reference to the indwelling Spirit, given to those properly immersed from Acts chapter two onward. This comment by the elder to John is interesting: “For the Lamb in the center of the throne shall be their shepherd, and shall guide them to springs of the water of life; and God shall wipe every tear from their eyes” (Revelation 7:17). In glory, then, the great Shepherd of the sheep continues to be the great Shepherd, and each saint continues in the deep fellowship of the Holy Spirit. The tears are forever gone, and the joyful fruit of the Spirit continues for each triumphant saint who has successfully come out of the great tribulation!

Introduction to the Seven Trumpets

The four horsemen have ridden, the voices of those who have gone into Paradise cry for justice from underneath the altar, and rocks and mountains have fallen upon those who did not repent. This is the first cycle of pictures given in the Lamb’s breaking the seals on the book. Firstly, forces are at work on mankind on the earth; secondly, there is a scene from the spiritual realm (what would be called the heavenlies or heavenly places in Ephesians); and thirdly, there is a gripping graphic of God’s judgment at the end. An interlude of 144,000 forming the Israelite core of the church is seen, followed by a multitude whom no one can count from every nation and tribe, comforted and encouraged in every way by the heavenly Father. The stage is set: “And when He broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour” (Revelation 8:1). Silence...

Seven angels - Having been kept on the edge of their seats for thirty minutes, the audience is really “prepped” for the next series of events. “And I saw the seven angels who stand before God,” recorded the apostle John, “and seven trumpets were given to them” (Revelation 8:2). Earlier, the audience was introduced to four living creatures (like the cherubim of Ezekiel) in and around the throne. Then twenty-four elders were presented, falling down before the throne and casting their crowns before Him who lives forever and ever. Now these who are called “the seven angels who stand before God” are brought into view.

Another angel - Before the seven angels do anything with their trumpets, there is one more series of actions that must occur. “And another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne” (Revelation 8:3). Again, this is the altar of incense in the heavenly temple paralleling the altar of incense which stood in the physical temple in physical Jerusalem. The incense from the physical altar is clearly identified as a foreshadow of the prayers of the new covenant saints, and the angel’s incense in the vision is being added to those prayers. “And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand” (Revelation 8:4). [This should encourage modern saints to pray more often and more intently!]

The censer - John is watching these events in heaven intently, and the audience is drawn into that same intense watch, wondering what will happen next. “And the angel took the censer; and he filled it with the fire of the altar and threw it to the earth...” (Revelation 8:5). That was totally unexpected! The angel just took that fire-filled censer and threw it over the edge of heaven where it landed on the surface of the earth (in the vision). Then what? “...and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.” It is similar to someone’s throwing a grenade over the edge of a cliff, and having an explosion occur when it lands on the talus below.

Anyone hearing the noise of that which was like an explosion –– the “peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake –– (and an explosion would have been small compared to what happened when the fire-filled censer hit “the earth”) would be thinking to himself, “This can’t be good!” The audience is now pulled to the edge of heaven, and ready to peer down on earth, ready to see what happens next. A sense of impending judgment or doom pervades the atmosphere. Certainly the honest individual reading this is becoming very repentant and willing to persevere through any earthly challenges in order to have the Lamb guide him “to the springs of the water of life” (Revelation 7:17).

“And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them” (Revelation 8:6).

The First Four Trumpets

The ultimate reason for earth’s existence is for the testing of men’s souls. God’s clear desire is for “all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). “The Lord,” the apostle Peter pointed out, is “not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Loving the eternal souls of men, the Almighty will do what He must do to bring every possible person to that repentance. “I am the Lord [Yahweh],” He stated to Isaiah, “and there is no other, the One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the Lord [Yahweh] who does all these things” (Isaiah 45:6,7).

Hence in the introduction to the vision of the seven trumpets, an angel took the golden censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to earth where major racket and shaking occurred. This is preparation for the trumpets and the judgments associated with them, and the purpose of these judgments is to get some of mankind to repent.

The first trumpet - The seven angels with the trumpets stand before God. He, then, looks on approvingly as each sounds his trumpet blast. “And the first sounded, and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown down to the earth and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up” (Revelation 8:7). It is important to remember that this is a vision; a third of the earth did not literally burn up. In the days of Moses, God sent a plague of hail mixed with fire, and it destroyed the flax and barley (Exodus 9:18-35). This similar picture of a plague in Revelation is showing God’s judgment on the crops in His effort to get men to repent.

The second trumpet - Next the judgment upon saltwater bodies. “And the second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood; and a third of the creatures, which were in the sea and had life, died; and a third of the ships were destroyed” (Revelation 8:8,9). The human race gets much of its foodstuffs from the seas, and much commerce is carried out on their surfaces. As the Nile turned to blood in Moses’ day, so a third of the sea is smitten; the judgment of God on its produce and its commerce is executed also with the goal of producing repentance.

The third trumpet - Now for judgment upon fresh waters. “And the third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters” (Revelation 8:10). The sons of men are totally dependent upon fresh water to drink, and for life in general, whether it be for cooking or for crops. “And the name of the star is called Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood; and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter” (Revelation 8:11). (Wormwood is an extremely bitter herb.) Did men repent at this partial destruction of fresh waters?

The fourth trumpet - “And the fourth angel sounded, and a third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were smitten, so that a third of them might be darkened and the day might not shine for a third of it, and the night in the same way” (Revelation 8:12). Did men repent at this vision of the partial destruction of heavenly bodies?

The first four trumpets are visions of various calamities God brings upon the earth — partial destruction of vegetation, partial destruction of saltwater livelihood, partial destruction of freshwater systems and their produce, and partial destruction of the sun and related heavenly bodies — in order to get men to turn from their earthly focus to Christ and the things above. These are partial judgments, showing God’s patience and, in Revelation’s visions, showing that there is still time.

The First “Woe”

The first four trumpets, somewhat in parallel with the four horsemen, dealt with forces on the earth. In the case of the trumpets, the bases for agriculture and commerce were pictured as disrupted in a major way: a third of the green grass and trees were destroyed, a third of the salt waters were turned to blood and a third of the ships were destroyed, a third of the fresh waters were made bitter and useless, and a third of the heavenly bodies were taken out of the way. The goal of such actions on God’s part as revealed in the vision is to get men to turn from their wicked ways and seek Him.

The eagle flies - Following the blast of the fourth trumpet, the apostle John sees something else enter the vision. “And I looked,” he comments, “and I heard an eagle flying in midheaven, saying with a loud voice, ‘Woe, woe, woe, to those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound’ ” (Revelation 8:13). This is the introduction of the term “those who dwell on the earth,” a reference to non-Christians. These woes are coming upon the lost and deluded in an effort to reach them with the gospel when they recognize that their earthly focus has been total futility.

The fifth angel sounds - The audience is now prepared for “the first woe.” “And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven which had fallen to the earth; and the key of the bottomless pit was given to him” (Revelation 9:1). This “bottomless pit” is the same as “the abyss,” and is the “Tartarus” (sometimes wrongly translated “hell”) of 2 Peter 2:4. The devil and his angels were cast into Tartarus in connection with Jesus’ resurrection, and Satan is the “star” which had “fallen to the earth” in the vision. “The angel of the abyss,” is a later description of Satan in this vision, and “his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek he has the name Apollyon” (Revelation 9:11). Both “Abaddon” and “Apollyon” mean “the destroyer.”

The “bottomless pit” opened - The devil is totally destructive, even unreasonably so, and hence God can use that destructive force any time he chooses to do so; He unleashes, Satan will destroy. In this vision, Satan is given the key to the bottomless pit, to Tartarus, where all the disobedient angels had been cast. “And he opened the bottomless pit; and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit” (Revelation 9:2). All the demonic forces, full of hatred of the human race, and willing to incite rebellion against God, were released in what looked like a massive dumpster fire to wreak havoc among the sons of men.

The “locusts” - The snarling demons released from Tartarus are depicted as locusts in this vision. “And out of the smoke came forth locusts upon the earth; and power was given them, as scorpions of the earth have power” (Revelation 9:3). All the evil and deception of the dark realm is thus turned loose to torment the lost, with guilty consciences and lustful desires driving them deeper into ruin and heartache, exacerbated by these demonic forces. “And they were told that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads” (Revelation 9:4).

“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience,” is the apostle Paul’s inspired observation (Ephesians 2:1,2). This is the book of Revelation’s description: “And they were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment for five months; and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a man” (Revelation 9:5). No physical death, just merciless torment!

From the Bottomless Pit

An expression in common use is “a tormented soul.” That generally refers to a person who struggles with extreme mental issues or guilt. But the Bible makes it clear that unless an individual is truly justified by Christ, that person is tormented by an unclean conscience and is suffering on the inside. The apostle Paul describes those outside of Christ as in “the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:26). The apostle John likewise noted that “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). This is pictured in Revelation chapter nine as “the bottomless pit” being opened and “locusts” with scorpion-like stinging power being unleashed upon mankind. These “messengers from Satan” do not cease from their tormenting those outside of Christ, driving them to all kinds of irrational beliefs and behaviors as they fight “the sting” of guilty consciences.

The “locusts” - Extensive description is given to these “locusts,” these demonic forces at work in men who are called “sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2), of the vision of the fifth trumpet. “And the appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle,” is John’s graphic description of these evils from the abyss, “and on their heads, as it were, crowns like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men” (Revelation 9:7). This is an army more powerful than mere men, doing battle in the spiritual realm. “And they had hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were like the teeth of lions. And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots, of many horses rushing to battle” (Revelation 9:8,9).

The “stings” - There is power in the “sting” of these “locusts.” “Their torment,” observed John, “was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a man” (Revelation 9:5). The “sting” of sin is real. The result of sin is spiritual death, separation from God. Attendant with that spiritual death are its consequences, as the apostle Paul phrased it in pointing out that what a man sows, he will reap: “For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption” (Galatians 6:8). The power of these “locusts” does not have to be permanent. “And they were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment for five months,” is the apostle’s notation. Men can repent, and break loose from their power. The revelator again comments, “And they have tails like scorpions, and stings; and in their tails is their power to hurt men for five months” (Revelation 9:10).

The locusts’ king - While these fallen angels are in rebellion against heaven, they are not in disarray. This information is given: “They have as king over them, the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek he has the name Apollyon” (Revelation 9:11). The Hebrew “Abaddon” means “destruction,” and the Greek “Apollyon” means “the destroyer.” Satan (the “adversary), the devil (the “slanderer”), and the “tempter,” is coordinating with his angels to wreak as much havoc as possible in the sons of men, enticing them into slavery to sin, separating them from God, creating division and destruction.

This vision of the fifth trumpet was introduced by a picture of an eagle flying in midheaven, saying, “Woe, woe, woe, to those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound” (Revelation 8:13). At the close of the vision of “locusts” darkening the sky as they fly out of the bottomless pit (the abyss), functioning under the prince of darkness, to “sting” and torment those outside of Christ, the reader is told: “The first woe is past; behold, two woes are still coming after these things” (Revelation 9:12).

The spiritual anguish of those “who dwell on the earth” has been described in these words: “And in those days men will seek death and will not find it; and they will long to die and death flees from them” (Revelation 9:6). Is this enough pain to get them to repent?

The Next “Woe”

“Woe, woe, woe, to those who dwell on the earth,” was the cry of the eagle flying in midheaven. The first woe arrived with the blast of the fifth trumpet, “locusts” coming from the bottomless pit like bats flying out of a cave at dark. These “locusts” are demonic forces and presences who torment those outside of Christ with guilty consciences as well as enslaving substances and propaganda. This sets the stage for the second “woe.”

The sixth trumpet - “And the sixth angel sounded,” John records what he is seeing the vision, “and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God...” (Revelation 9:13). In these visions, the audience is pulled back to the scene at the throne of God and His temple, and here again is the altar of incense that is near the Holy of Holies, wherein dwells the Most High. The voice emanating from the altar is described as the “one saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, ‘Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.’” (Revelation 9:14). The Euphrates River has been a significant dividing line in the scripture, dating back to the time when Abraham came out of Ur of the Chaldees, crossed the Euphrates after the death of his father in Haran, and made his way to what would later be called The Promised Land.

The four angels - “And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they might kill a third of mankind” (Revelation 9:15). This would certainly count as “the second ‘woe’“! The destruction of a “third of mankind” is once again symbolic in the vision, and represents God’s major effort to get mankind to repent.

Release of the armies - The release of the angels who had been holding events back “at the Euphrates” is connected with the unleashing of armies. “And the number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them” (Revelation 9:16). Two hundred million!! Certainly enough to make the earth shake with the tramp of their feet! But not of soldiers as would generally be thought of. “And this is how I saw in the vision the horses and those who sat on them: the riders had breastplates the color of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone; and the heads of the horses are like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths proceed fire and smoke and brimstone” (Revelation 9:17). “Hyacinth” would be the deep blue some hyacinth flowers exhibit, while “brimstone” [sulfur] is bright yellow. From the “lion-heads” came smoke and fire and sulfur similar to a volcanic cauldron.

Their tails - If a person escaped the head of one of these creatures ridden by the horsemen, then there was the tail. “For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents and have heads; and with them they do harm” (Revelation 9:19).

The great God, the One who causes well-being and creates calamity (Isaiah 45:7), is pictured as “pulling out all the stops” in an effort to reach the lost. “A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone, which proceeded out of their mouths” (Revelation 9:18). Everyone still alive should be impacted and thinking.

But what is the result? “And the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts” (Revelation 9:20,21). They did not repent! They plunged, and are plunging, heedlessly to an eternity of “outer darkness,” a place “of weeping and gnashing of teeth,” where “their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched” (Matthew 8:12; Mark 9:48). May none of us be in those ranks!

The Angel and the Book

God’s goal is the salvation of all men and He will do what He has to do to get men to repent. But even with the “second woe” unleashed on the citizens of earth, they did not repent of their wickedness nor their idolatry nor their immorality. So the scene in Revelation moves on.

Another strong angel - The previous visions started at the throne, with the seals being opened by the Lamb followed by the angels sounding their trumpet blasts. The next aspect, instead, pictures an angel coming down out of heaven. “And I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven,” John recalls, “clothed with a cloud; and the rainbow was upon his head, and his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire; and he had in his hand a little book which was open” (Revelation 10:1,2). Impressive! A big, strong angel, and a little book that was open!

The angel’s stance - “And he placed his right foot on the sea and his left on the land; and he cried out with a loud voice, as when a lion roars; and when he had cried out, the seven peals of thunder uttered their voices” (Revelation 10:2,3). This is clearly an authoritative angel, firmly standing on both sea and land, with that voice like a lion’s roar.

The seven peals of thunder - When this section of Revelation opens, it pictures the throne of the Almighty, with flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. At the voice of the angel “the seven peals of thunder” joined in. “And when the seven peals of thunder had spoken, I was about to write; and I heard a voice from heaven saying, ‘Seal up the things which the seven peals of thunder have spoken, and do not write them.’” (Revelation 10:4). Saints do not always get all the information about scriptural topics, but they get enough!

The angel swears by heaven - What happened next? “And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things in it, and the earth and the things in it, and the sea and the things in it, that there shall be delay no longer, but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as He preached to His servants the prophets” (Revelation 10:5-7). And what is the point of this angel swearing by the Almighty Creator? “There shall be delay no longer.” The “mystery” of God is the long-term plan of God coming to its visible conclusion, and the final Judgment of God is near. All the important details have been given in the prophets and the new covenant writings.

The apostle John takes the book - “And the voice which I heard from heaven, I heard again speaking with me, and saying, ‘Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land.’ And I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book” (Revelation 10:8,9). It’s okay, John; go ahead and take that little book out of the fearsome angel’s hand!

The little book - “And he said to me, ‘Take it, and eat it; and it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.’ ” (Revelation 10:9). This is parallel to the story of Ezekiel (Ezekiel 3:1-3). “And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was in my mouth sweet as honey; and when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter” (Revelation 10:10).

This little book represents the message of God which John is to deliver to the seven churches (and ultimately to the world) just as Ezekiel did to the Jewish people of his time. The words were sweet in his mouth, but the bitterness in his belly is his anguish over the judgments of God. “And they said to me, ‘You must prophesy again concerning many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.’” (Revelation 10:11). And so he has!!

Help from Daniel’s Messianic Vision

The book of Revelation often pulls imagery from earlier Old Testament history and prophecies. Thus, in diving into Revelation chapter eleven and twelve, three numbers stand out (1260 days, 42 months, and “a time, times, and half a time” - Revelation 11:2,3; 12:14), the reader finds he needs help from the book of Daniel, from the great Messianic prophecy of Daniel 9:24-27.

Seventy weeks - As the end of seventy years of captivity under the Babylonians nears its end in 536 BC, Daniel receives a vision from the Lord. “Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city,” the angel Gabriel informs Daniel, “to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy place” (Daniel 9:24). This is pointing to the Christ, but who is also the Savior, the One delivering from sin and the focus of all scripture.

Calculating the time - In 457 BC, in the time of Ezra, the decree was issued which resulted in the rebuilding of Jerusalem. “So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress” (Daniel 9:25). The Jews had “weeks” of days, but they also had “weeks” of years. “Seven weeks” and “sixty-two weeks” totals up to sixty-nine weeks, which is 483 years. Adding 483 to 457 BC (accounting for the Jew’s counting first and last in their way of doing things), the year AD 26 is the result. This is when “Messiah the Prince” is to appear!!

“Manifestation” of the Messiah - John the Immerser testified, saying that “in order that He [the Messiah or Christ] might be manifested to Israel, I came immersing in water” (John 1:31). At Jesus’ immersion, the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form as a dove on Jesus. The apostle Peter later called this Jesus’ anointing on earth (Acts 10:38). This “manifestation” of the Messiah to Israel occurred in AD 26: Jesus was born about 4 BC (based on Josephus’ recording of Herod the Great’s death). “And when He began His ministry,” states Luke, “Jesus Himself was about thirty years of age” (Luke 3:23). Adding thirty to 4 BC results in AD 26!! And thus 69 of the 70 “weeks” are accounted for.

Messiah “cut off” - “Cut off” is an expression referring to death or an execution. “Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing...” (Daniel 9:26). Sometime after the completion of the 62 weeks, which is also the completion of the 69 weeks, the Messiah is described as “cut off.” [This is also intermingled with the Roman destruction of Jerusalem (“the abomination of desolation”) in AD 70, and the ultimate destruction of the Romans themselves.]

”Middle of the week” - Jesus began to make His covenant with the apostles from the time of His immersion onward; thus they are spoken of as “already clean” (John 15:3); the “week” of His covenant is the “70th week.” But, “in the middle of the week He will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering” (Daniel 9:27; capitalization on “He” is author’s view). Jesus’ ministry is about three and one half years (one half of seven years). Jesus’ death effectively put an end to the effectiveness of the sacrifice and grain offering of the temple, since His perfect sacrifice and perfect priesthood accomplished what no other could. So...one half a “week” is left.

Half a “week” - In connection with Jesus’ death, everything turns from physical to spiritual: the sacrifices, the priesthood, the temple, and ... time! Three and one-half years is thus designated as “a time,” [one year], “times” [two more years], and “half a time” [one-half year, totaling the remaining three and one-half years] (Daniel 12:7). This is the time of the designated new covenant.

Hence the time that is the prophesied “new covenant” of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 31:31-34) is the “time, times, and half a time” of Daniel. 42 months. At 30 days per month, 1260 days. Now for Revelation chapter 11.

The Two Witnesses

With help from Daniel’s vision recorded in Daniel chapter nine, it can be established that the period of time denoted as “a time [1], times [2], and one-half a time [½]” is a reference to the entire church age. This last “three and one-half years” from Daniel’s vision also calculates out to be forty-two months, or (at thirty days per month) one thousand two hundred sixty days. These numbers are necessary in understanding the vision of “the two witnesses” of Revelation chapter eleven.

Measuring the temple - It is interesting that the apostle John himself often appears in these visions from Revelation, and that he is required to participate. “Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff;” he commented, “and someone said, ‘Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it.’” (Revelation 11:1). The “temple of God,” from a new covenant perspective, is the church, the “holy temple in the Lord,” the “dwelling of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:19-21). In the Old Testament, the only people who had access both to the temple and to the bronze altar were the priests. Every Christian, under the terms of the new covenant, is a priest, offering up spiritual sacrifices to God (1 Peter 2:4-9). Thus Christians, having “our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water,” have access to the “true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched,” and are engaged in “worship in Spirit and truth” on a continual basis (Hebrews 10:22; Hebrews 8:2; John 4:23,24). That is what John measured.

“Leave out the court” - Further instructions for John come. “Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months” (Revelation 11:2). Those who occupy “the court” are the non-Christians [the “nations,” or Gentiles], constituting “the world.” Since the scene covers “forty-two months,” this is a picture of the entire church age, and how it will be until Jesus returns.

The “two witnesses” prophesy - The unnamed voice then says, “And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth” (Revelation 11:3). These two authoritative “witnesses” function for 1260 days, again the entire church age. “These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands,” states the voice, “that stand before the Lord of the earth” (Revelation 11:4). The “lampstand” of the tabernacle was a foreshadow of the word of God (the Bible). Consisting of sixty-six parts (a repeating pattern of a “cup, bulb and flower”), the lampstand as well as the table of “showbread” and the altar of incense, all were part of the pattern set in motion in the physical realm to convey spiritual truths such as the weekly participation in the Lord’s Supper by the saints, and that their prayers continually ascend to the throne of God. The lamps were sustained by olive oil. Thus in Zechariah 4:11-14, there is a parallel vision of two olive trees feeding the lampstand with golden pipes. The “two witnesses,” then, are the only ones prophesying during the entire church age, and are also pictured by olive trees and lampstands. Thus they must be the “Old Testament” writings and the “New Testament” writings. The new covenant “prophets” were either the apostles, or those upon whom the apostles had laid hands; no one since that time claiming to be a prophet is a prophet of the Lord. Only the “two witnesses,” the Old Testament scriptures and the New Testament documents, are “prophesying” from that time forth.

The visions of Revelation tend to have the same cycle. There are forces at work, the gospel is advancing, the opposition increases, and then it’s “the end”! The two witnesses prophesy. “When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them” (Revelation 11:7). There will be a point where no one will hear the word of God; the picture is that of the scriptures’ being totally suppressed. That would signal the end of planet earth and that “the mystery of God is finished” (Revelation 10:7).

More on the Two Witnesses

The “two witnesses” of Revelation chapter eleven prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, which can be established as the entire church age. The only “two witnesses” operative for the church age would be the Old Testament and New Testament writings, represented by “two olive trees and two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth” (Revelation 11:4).

Protection - The prophet Jeremiah, early in his life, in a vision from God, was asked, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” His answer was, “I see a rod of an almond tree.” The Lord said to him, “You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it” (Jeremiah 1:11,12). Thus, God’s protection for the “two witnesses” is described. “And if anyone desires to harm them,” the voice said to the apostle John, “fire proceeds out of their mouth and devours their enemies; and if anyone would desire to harm them, in this manner he must be killed” (Revelation 11:5). This relates back to the description of Elijah’s calling down fire upon the captains and their fifties when they were sent to arrest him. The story of God’s efforts to collect, preserve, and distribute the writings of both the Old and New Testaments is gripping and powerful; His divine intervention was clearly necessary at certain key points along the way.

Drawing on Moses and Elijah - Moses and Elijah performed awesome signs to establish their authority as spokesmen for God. Backing for the authority of the “two witnesses” is given in pictures taken from Elijah and Moses. “These have the power to shut up the sky, in order that rain may not fall during the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to smite the earth with every plague, as often as they desire” (Revelation 11:6). In the words of Jesus: “the Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35).

Their final testimony - The forces of darkness from the beginning have tried to twist the word of God and misdirect mankind as to its meaning. But the book of Revelation depicts the time as the world approaches “the end” as a time where the “two witnesses” are overcome. “And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them” (Revelation 11:7). The “beast that comes up out of the abyss [depths]” is the same as the beast that comes up “up out of the sea [depths]” in Revelation chapter thirteen. Without going into it too deeply at this point, this beast represents world powers hostile to God and His word. The picture is that as this planet approaches its end as a worn-out garment, the force of government blocks the ability of the word of God to reach any more of the lost. The “two witnesses” are thus spoken of as overcome and killed.

The “dead bodies” spectacle - When the beast accomplishes his temporary triumph over the “two witnesses,” it will be the time for him to have his victory celebration. “And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified” (Revelation 11:8). What a great place to display the “bodies” — right in the middle of the street where all the passersby can get a glimpse, and marvel at the power of the beast and the brutality of the execution of his enemies. And what is “the great city”? The book of Revelation is essentially a tale of two cities: “Jerusalem” and “Babylon.” “Jerusalem” is the church, and “Babylon” is the world. “Babylon” is the “great city,” spiritually equivalent to “Sodom and Egypt,” paragons of wickedness and worldliness, where “the Lord was crucified.” The apostle Paul helps us to process that it was really “the world” which executed Christ, saying that if the rulers of this age [the world] had understood Godly wisdom, “they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Corinthians 2:8.)

The “two witnesses” in the vision are dead, and lie in derision on the street of Babylon.

Merry-Making and Then…

The visions of Revelation are separate, but they have threads that run from one vision to another. In Revelation chapter eleven, “the beast that comes up out of the abyss [depths]” is the same as the beast in Revelation chapter thirteen that comes “up out of the sea” (Revelation 13:1; 17:8). Without going into it too deeply at this point, this “beast” is empire-sized government, with power to oppress and destroy. Hence it makes sense that an oppressive world government near the end of earth’s existence would execute “the two witnesses” (the case has been made that these “two witnesses” are the testimony of the Old and New Testament writings). In other words, government will suppress the word of God on a world-wide scale, pictured as “their dead bodies” lying in the street of “the great city.”

Rejoicing - The very early church attributed Psalm two to David’s speaking by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, saying, “Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples devise futile things? The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against His Christ” (Acts 4:25,26). The “peoples” generally are hostile to God and His word, and want to position the scriptures so that its truths and requirements don’t bother them. Thus when the “two witnesses” are described as “dead,” “those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth” (Revelation 11:10). “Those who dwell on the earth” is a description of the non-Christian world, and they are happy that the word of God has been removed from public proclamation.

Surprise! - Just when those who dwell on the earth are relaxing because the “two prophets” aren’t “tormenting” them anymore, surprise! “And after the three and a half days the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were beholding them” (Revelation 11:11). “The three and a half days” is a reference to a short period of time; God brought them back to life, so to speak, and that the two prophets are alive and prophesying is terrifying to those who had planned on having them silenced forever. But the word of God is “living and abiding [enduring],” and its words will never pass away (1 Peter 1:23; Matthew 24:35). Somehow the Almighty is going to demonstrate that His word cannot be permanently suppressed.

“Come up here” - What’s next for the “two witnesses”? “And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, ‘Come up here.’ And they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies beheld them” (Revelation 11:12). The parallel between the “two prophets” and Jesus cannot be missed: dead three and a half days, resurrected, and then seen ascending to heaven in a cloud. Jesus and His word are intricately linked, as He said, “The word I spoke will judge ... at the last day” (John 12:48).

The end - These visions tend to have the same pattern: there are forces at work, things get really bad, then it is “the end.” In this case, the two witnesses testify, things deteriorate, the witnesses are “killed,” the witnesses are brought back to life to show the world that God’s word cannot be stopped, then it is “the end.” “And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; and seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven” (Revelation 11:13).

The eagle had flown in midheaven, crying, “Woe, woe, woe, to those who dwell on the earth” (Revelation 8:13). The first woe was when the “bottomless pit” was opened, and all kinds of torment was turned loose upon those outside of Christ in an effort to get them to repent. The second woe included the unleashing of plagues at the sixth trumpet (but men still wouldn’t repent) as well as the prophesying of the “two witnesses” and their execution. “The second woe is past,” noted John; “behold the third woe is coming quickly” (Revelation 11:14).

The Seventh Trumpet Saga Begins

In the vision of the seven seals, the breaking of the seventh seal, with a short interlude, introduced the vision of the seven trumpets. In parallel fashion, the sounding of the seventh trumpet, with a longer interlude, introduces the vision of the seven bowls of wrath beginning in Revelation chapter sixteen. “And the seventh angel sounded...” (Revelation 11:15).

The forever kingdom - In the vision, as soon as the trumpet blast’s reverberations died away, “there arose loud voices in heaven.” Loud voices? Voices of triumph! They were saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15). These words, magnified in Handel’s Messiah in the majestic “Hallelujah Chorus,” signify the subjection of everything to Christ. “Then comes the end,” stated the apostle Paul, in describing Christ’s ultimate act, “when He delivers up the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power” (1 Corinthians 15:24). It ties in with the thread found earlier, “...there shall be delay no longer, but in the days of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as He preached to His servants the prophets” (Revelation 10:6,7).

The twenty-four elders - The readers again see the twenty-four elders (in this writer’s opinion, twelve representing the saints of the Old Testament times, and twelve representing new covenant saints, who are kings and priests, and are seated with Christ on thrones in the heavenly places). “And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God” (Revelation 11:16).

Worthy - The twenty-four elders are described as saying, “We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who is and who was, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign” (Revelation 11:17). The Almighty was always powerful enough to crush the forces of darkness, but He wanted His “mystery,” His long term plan with many facets, to be carried out. Now, in this eternal sense, He “has begun to reign.”

Overview - In this section, the plan of God is pictured as complete. “And the nations were enraged,” are the praises of the elders recorded of this vision, “and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to give their reward to Your bond-servants the prophets and to the saints and to those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth” (Revelation 11:18). It is interesting that, even as God’s judgment looms over the “nations” or Gentile peoples of the earth, they are still enraged; no repentance ever. But God’s great wrath meets their wrath, and His wrath wins! Sin and rebellion anger Him, and His righteous judgment is upon all. “Those who destroy the earth,” which has nothing to do with so-called greenhouse gases or impacting the ozone layer, are those whose sin pollutes the world, and whose actions require the execution of His justice. Ah, but great reward for those who were bond-servants of the Lord, slaves by choice: the prophets, the saints in general, and for all who truly fear His name, whether “great” or “small.”

As this “mystery of God” is pictured as coming to a close in the days of the seventh trumpet’s blast, as a transitional interlude to the next section of the vision, the scene shifts to the true temple of God. “And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple, and there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm” (Revelation 11:19). This is serious; as the temple of God is opened the ark of the covenant is seen, the only time in Revelation that happens. The cycle of forces at work on earth, of God’s efforts to get man to repent in general fail, and of judgment is finished. Then there are the flashes of lightning, the sounds of thunder, and an earthquake and a massive hailstorm...what could be in the next vision?

The Woman, the Child, and the Dragon

“Flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm” introduce the next vision. Significantly, it begins with these words: “And a great sign appeared in heaven...” (Revelation 12:1). Not just a sign, a great sign! Featured prominently in this vision is a woman, and associated with her are those numbers “one thousand two hundred sixty days” and “a time and times and half a time.” Previously the case has been made that those numbers represent the church age, which is key to understanding this vision. “The woman” appears both before and after Christ’s ascension (details to follow). She is clearly the church, but the scope must be broader than that: she would be “the people of God,” both Old Testament and New.

The great sign - “And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; and she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth” (Revelation 12:1,2). This is a magnificent and royal woman, to be described as “clothed with the sun,” the moon under her feet, and with that crown of twelve significant stars. Could it be Mary, wife of Joseph, who was overshadowed with the Holy Spirit to conceive the Christ Child? No, Mary the humble handmaiden of the Lord, is too small a vessel to be described in this way. The apostle Paul points something out: speaking of Israel “according to the flesh” he describes the nation as those “to whom belongs the adoption as sons and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh...” (Romans 9:4,5). The woman, up to the formation of the church as recorded in Acts chapter two, is the physical nation Israel, “the people of God” in the Old Testament, and is the origin of the Christ Child according to the flesh.

Another sign - The reader has been ushered into the birthing room, where the Christ Child is pictured as about to be born. “And another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems” (Revelation 12:3). The dragon — Satan — has entered the birthing room. “And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven, and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child” (Revelation 12:4). A bit of a terrifying picture, with that tail thrashing around and described as sweeping away a third of the stars of heaven (possibly a reference to a third of the angels of heaven following Satan in his rebellion against God). Shortly following the birth of Jesus (there had to be enough time for Mary to go through her thirty-three days of uncleanness after giving birth to a male child, enough time for Joseph and Mary to go to Jerusalem to offer the sacrifices for the first born male to open the womb, to return to Bethlehem, and for the magi to arrive and offer their gifts), Herod’s troops were on the road to Bethlehem and its environs to destroy the rival “King of the Jews.” This is how the dragon attempted to “devour her child.”

Victory for the Child - “And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne” (Revelation 12:5). “The rod of iron” is a reference back to Psalm two, wherein Christ, the One begotten from the dead and having ascended to heaven, has been installed as King on the heavenly throne (Psalm 2:6-9). He is beyond the reach of dragon!

“And the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she might by nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days” (Revelation 12:6). The woman — the people of God, now the church — is in her place for the entire church age.

War in Heaven

Not many details are given about what happened in heaven before Creation, but there are telltale glimpses of rebellion and upheaval in what should have been Paradise. Angels, for example, are created beings, as indicated in Psalms where the angelic beings join the chorus of all creation in praising God. “Praise Him, all His angels,” said the Psalmist; “praise Him, all His hosts” (Psalm 148:2). That angels were created before the material realm is shown in the declaration given in Job as God queries Job with questions beyond Job’s ken. “Where were you,” asked the All Knowing, “when I laid the foundation of the earth?” Where were you, is the continued question, “when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God [angels in this context] shouted for joy?” (Job 38:4,7). But there was one who was going to be the outcast angel.

As Ezekiel prophesied about the destruction of the ancient economic powerhouse and trading center, Tyre, and her king, he saw something that had to be more than the king of Tyre. “You had the seal of perfection,” was the description of this shadowy form, known later as Satan or the devil, “full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God...” (Ezekiel 28:12,13). “You were blameless in your ways,” stated the narrative, “from the day you were created, until unrighteousness was found in you” (Ezekiel 28:15). From the record of Jesus’ temptations in the wilderness, it is clear that Satan wanted to be worshiped, which is rightly reserved for God alone. In a similarly styled prophecy from Isaiah, the exclamation is made, “How you have fallen from heaven, O star of morning [Lucifer – KJV], son of the dawn...But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God...I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:12-14).

This majestic being, “the covering cherub” as depicted by Ezekiel, fell and pulled myriads of other angels into his rebellious orbit. These are described by Peter as angels who sinned (2 Peter 2:4), and by Jude as “angels who did not keep their own domain” (Jude 1:6).

The war - “And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon” (Revelation 12:7). Michael, according to Jude, is an archangel (Jude 1:9). This war took place, not before Genesis chapter three, but in connection with Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. “And the dragon and his angels waged war, and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven” (Revelation 12:7,8). That would have been one intense and spectacular war.

The dragon thrown down - “And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him” (Revelation 12:9). In this vision, Satan (the serpent who deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden) and his angels are pictured as “thrown down to earth”; in the more literal book of Second Peter, the evil angels are described as thrown into “Tartarus,” a spiritual realm separate from heaven, and also called “the abyss” in Revelation (2 Peter 2:4; Revelation 9:2).

The kingdom comes - “And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night” (Revelation 12:10). Jesus’ first action at His ascension was to cleanse heaven (Hebrews 1:3); heaven had to be cleansed because that is where the evil angels sinned. Hence Satan had to be thrown out before the ascension occurred. Jesus’ ascension to the power position made the salvation, the kingdom, and the authority of Christ operative. It would be fitting that the casting out of Satan occurred in connection with the Lord’s resurrection from the dead!

The devil no longer has access to heaven to accuse the brethren as he accused Job. Saints are emboldened and empowered!

Overcoming the Dragon

A loud voice in heaven shouted, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come” (Revelation 12:10). The “mighty works of God” in the spiritual realm were in connection with Jesus’ ascension. He offered His spiritual blood in heaven as the great High Priest of the order of Melchizedek, cleansing “the tabernacle not made with hands.” He took His seat on “the throne of David” as the great King and Messiah, and He was declared to be Lord. He took His seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high in order to have the power to save as the Prince and Savior, and He was placed as the precious Cornerstone in the true temple of God. He was “begotten” as the Son of God, operative at His ascension, positioned then as the mediator or executor of the covenant, and revealed at that point as the mighty “arm of the Lord” all at accession to the throne on high. “The salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come!”

Power to the spiritual people - With the dragon “thrown down to earth” and no longer able to accuse the brethren “before God,” saints are encouraged to engage in the spiritual warfare against the forces of darkness. “And they overcame him,” states the loud voice, regarding saints’ overcoming the dragon, “because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even to death” (Revelation 12:11). There is true power in the blood of Christ — not only shed on Calvary but especially sprinkled in glory. It was “through this blood of the eternal covenant” that “the God of peace brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep” (Hebrews 13:20). Yes, power to overcome! And “the word of their testimony” has power also. It is the “testimony” that Jesus has risen from the dead, given initially by the apostles, and passed on to the disciples. It has power to save, power to cause the one who is obedient to it to be born again, and power to perform its work in those who believe. Again, power to overcome! Having been properly immersed into Christ, these saints have “eternal life” and thus have “passed out of death into life” (John 5:24). Physical death thus has no power over them and they are free to fight the spiritual battles without regard to whether it costs them life on this earth.

”Rejoice, O heavens” - In the vision of Revelation chapter thirteen, a key piece of information is given. The “beast coming up out of the sea” is described as blaspheming God “and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven” (Revelation 13:6). The tabernacle of God, “which the Lord pitched, not man,” is the church of the living God (Hebrews 8:2). Hence, saints who have been born from above are thusly presented as “those who dwell in heaven.” The faithful brethren who have overcome the dragon by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. “For this reason, rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them” (Revelation 12:12).

”Woe to the earth and the sea” - Those “who dwell in heaven” are the Christians, in contrast to those “who dwell on the earth,” the non-Christians (Revelation 13:8). “Woe,” then, “to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time” (Revelation 12:12). This is a “heads up” to all the saints; it is a very angry dragon whose thrashing around can be detected by anyone paying attention.

Spiritually speaking, each saint dwells in heaven, whereas the devil’s work in this vision is “on earth.” Brethren, by maintaining their faith firm to the end, can never be driven from their path in following the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Hence, they are described as those “who overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony”!

Persecuting the Woman

Revelation chapter twelve opens with a picture of a woman about to give birth. In the same opening, there is a great red dragon with a gaping mouth, ready to devour the woman’s Child, but the Child is caught up to heaven to sit on the throne and “rule all the nations with a rod of iron” (Revelation 12:5). The dragon is the devil, the Child is Christ, and the woman is the people of God (physical Israel in the Old Testament, spiritual Israel or the church in the New). The woman is then pictured in the “wilderness” where she is nourished for 1260 days (which is the same as “a time, times, and half a time,” which was established as the entire church age). There was “war in heaven,” and the dragon and his angels were thrown “down to earth” in the vision. “And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child” (Revelation 12:13).

The wilderness experience - Just as Israel according to the flesh experienced its time in the wilderness, even so the church experiences, in this vision, time in the “wilderness.” “And the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, in order that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent” (Revelation 12:14). This is a place of refuge in the spiritual realm, but not excluded from the physical maltreatments which the dragon and his agents could inflict.

“Like a river” - Satan is then pictured as sending a flood of oppression on the church. “And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood” (Revelation 12:15). From the author’s perspective, this is a representation that the true church described in the New Testament was wiped out or corrupted, so that the church did not exist in any measurable sense in the Old World. (Catholicism or any of its derivatives is not the church.)

“The earth helped the woman” - The vision continues: “And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon poured out of his mouth” (Revelation 12:16). Between what was called the Old World and the New World is the Atlantic Ocean. While seafarers of all kinds crisscrossed the ocean, it was a significant barrier to government overreach and to the religious persecution that developed in Western Europe. In this author’s judgment, this barrier opened the way for the redevelopment of the church and the doctrines found in the scripture, and the reestablishment of true Christianity in a measurable way. “The earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon poured out of his mouth.”

The dragon’s rage - It is not a far stretch to imagine the dragon’s anger at having his attempt to stamp the true church into oblivion (in terms of its measurable existence on this planet) frustrated. Thus, in the vision, it is recorded, “And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus” (Revelation 12:17). As mentioned earlier, the woman represents the people of God and is therefore “the church” in New Covenant times. “Her offspring” are also Christians and become part of the church by being immersed into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13).

The frustrated dragon, then, is pictured as unleashing all his pent-up anger against the church of the living God, and this is described as WAR! Modern saints have to realize that they are the targets of this warfare, and it is violent warfare on every front. It is a war for the minds of men, and Satan will use every spiritual and physical weapon in his armament to destroy the church and stop the progress of the gospel.

Modern brethren must therefore “keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.”

The Church in the Wilderness

In Revelation chapter twelve, the “woman,” which is the church from its inception as recorded in Acts chapter two, is pictured as being in the wilderness for “a time and times and half a time” (Revelation 12:14). The endeavor has been made to show that this is a reference to the entire church age. During this time the dragon “poured water like a river out of his mouth,” to cause her to be swept away. But the woman got help “from the earth, which drank up the river which the dragon poured out from his mouth” (Revelation 12:15,16). Some comments:

The Catholic Church - The Catholic Church and her Protestant daughters are not the church of the Lord, and therefore not “the woman” of Revelation chapter 12.

The “primitive” church - There were attempts in Western Europe to get back to “primitive” Christianity. What was meant by that terminology was a return to the doctrines, principles, and simplicity of the first century church. Those movements could never quite make that return because of state churches (such as the Church of Scotland or the Church of England) and related prohibitive legislation.

Freedom in the new United States of America - With the establishment of the U.S.A. and the ratification of its Constitution, true freedom of religion was a reality. Thus the true church of the Lord, which had become undetectable in the Old World, got a fresh beginning and came back in a measurable way in the New World. This is how “the earth helped the woman.” In the words of John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement inside the Church of England, in a letter to “our American brethren...now totally disentangled from both the state, and from the English hierarchy [the Church of England]”: “They are now at full liberty, simply to follow the Scriptures and the primitive church.”

Importance of the church - The only reason planet earth exists is for the distribution of the gospel and the salvation of souls. From God’s perspective the important history of the world has to do with His church and the events connected with her progress. It is not unreasonable, therefore, that a nation that would allow for the reestablishment of the church and provide for the spread of the gospel throughout the world as preached in Acts chapter two and related scriptures should be somewhat featured in scripture.

Stages in the restoration of primitive Christianity - The freedom in the U.S.A. allowed for a restoration, but it took time. In 1793, some of the Methodist “brethren” realized that the scriptural name for one of God’s servants under the new covenant was “Christian.” (Later this was termed the Restoration of the Ancient Name.) The next step was a recognition that the creeds, such as the Westminster Confession which governed the Presbyterian Church, were unnecessary and that the Bible alone was sufficient, was signaled by Thomas Campbell’s “Declaration and Address,” published in Washington, PA, in 1809. This is where he made the famous statement “Where the Scriptures speak we speak; where the Scriptures are silent, we are silent.” (Later this was called the Restoration of the Ancient Book.) In 1823 in the first edition of The Christian Baptist, Thomas’ son Alexander called for a “restoration of the ancient order of things.” This was a way of saying that the New Testament alone was sufficient for the local church to function, appropriately called the Restoration of the Ancient Order. In 1827 Walter Scott preached Acts 2:38 as the basis for his invitation for those who desired to come to Christ for salvation. In his “Restoration of the Ancient Gospel Letter No. 6” Scott writes: “the church of God on that day, had restored to it publicly and practically the ancient gospel, and a manner of handling it, which ought never to have been lost by the servants of Jesus Christ.”

Scott noted, “The Rubicon was passed” (a reference to Julius Caesar’s crossing with his army into Italy and thus essentially declaring war). From this point on, the “woman” will be fully at war with the “dragon.” As the NASB phrases it, in reference to the dragon, “And he stood on the sand on the seashore” (Revelation 13:1).

“The Beast from the Sea”

“The dragon,” says the scripture, “was enraged.” A very angry dragon is pictured as waging war with the “woman” [the church of the Lord], those who “keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” This testimony of Jesus, or what might be called “the apostles’ doctrine,” can be very difficult to maintain in the face of threats of persecution or the presentation of subtle inducements. The dragon (or possibly the apostle John himself) is described as standing on the seashore, and watching...

From the sea - “And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea,” says John of the vision, “having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names” (Revelation 13:1). This beast is working in concert with the dragon, who similarly has “seven heads and ten horns, on his heads were seven diadems” (Revelation 12:3). “And the beast which I saw,” records the apostle, “was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth was like the mouth of a lion” (Revelation 13:2). This takes the reader back to Daniel chapter seven where the lion is the “world empire” of Babylon, the bear is Persia, and the leopard is Greece, predictions in Daniel’s time which played out as history took its course.

World empires - In Revelation chapter seventeen, a woman — “Babylon” the great harlot (more on that later) — is presented as riding on a scarlet beast with seven heads and ten horns. “The seven heads,” notes the apostle, “are seven mountains on which the woman sits, and they are seven kings” (Revelation 17:9,10). This, as noted, ties in with Daniel’s vision of world empires. “Five have fallen,” is John’s annotation, “one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while.” These empires, or “kings,” are featured in the scriptures. The five that had fallen at the time that Revelation was written were 1) Egypt, 2) Assyria, 3) Babylon, 4) Persia, 5) Greece. The one that “is” at the time of Revelation, was Rome.

“One” to come - “And the beast which was and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction” (Revelation 17:11). More information is given: “And the ten horns which you saw,” says the angel to John, “are ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings for one hour. They have one purpose and they give their power and authority to the beast” (Revelation 17:12,13). Writer’s perspective: This last world empire will be global, a world government of the United Nations (the “ten kings” would be the nation-states giving their power and authority to the UN). It may undergo a name change (which would explain why “the eighth” is really the same as “the seventh”), but the same global tyranny is there. “These will wage war against the Lamb” (Revelation 17:14). Time will tell if author’s perspective is correct.

Back to the beast of Revelation chapter 13 - This beast has power given only to governments. “And it was given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them; and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him” (Revelation 13:7). Also the authority to put people in jail: “If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes...” (Revelation 13:10).

Longevity of the beast - “And there was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies; and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him” (Revelation 13:5). Once again, the forty-two months is the entire church age, from its inception on the Day of Pentecost in Acts chapter two until Jesus’ second coming. This “beast” is operating during all the years of the church’s existence on earth.

The “beast from the sea” represents the force of government, perverted and turned into a weapon against Christianity by the dragon. While the dragon thrashes around with great violence in these beginning stages of his death throes, the Lamb’s victory program progresses. “Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints” (Revelation 13:10)!!

Revelation 13:2-6 - “The Beast from the Sea” - Continued

“The dragon,” records the vision, gave the beast from the sea “his power and his throne and great authority” (Revelation 13:2). The case has been made that this beast is government stepping outside the bounds which God allotted it (to be a minister of justice), and tending to become tyrannical. In particular, the seven heads represent: 1) Egypt, 2) Assyria, 3) Babylon, 4) Persia, 5) Greece, 6) Rome, and 7) “one to come,” in this writer’s opinion something like the United Nations as a global government.

A “head is if it had been slain” - One point that has been presented is the importance of the United States of America in God’s overall plan. God’s focus and interest is in His church, as established by Jesus Christ beginning in Acts chapter two, and whose doctrines and practices are sufficiently detailed in the pages of the new covenant writings. This church went out of existence in any humanly measurable way on earth, and the circumstances connected with the freedom connected with the formation of the early U.S.A. made it possible for the church to come back in a measurable way in the U.S. and to reach into all the world. This principle of a Constitutionally limited government was a tremendous blow to the forces of tyranny; hence as John writes, “I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain” (Revelation 13:3).

Fatal wound healed - But it was only temporary. Again the apostle writes, “...and his fatal wound was healed.” The “great experiment” in self-government could only be sustained by a fiercely independent people, who had a solid moral base and an education in the principles of government; this independence and moral base eroded, and the American government, which should have been the bastion of freedom, has been corrupted into the driving engine of world tyranny.

Following after the beast - With the descent of the U.S. into socialism and concomitant big government and with the rise of multi-national corporations, the peoples of the world could see which direction would win at an earthly level. “And the whole earth was amazed,” says John of the fatal wound that healed, “and followed after the beast; and they worshiped the dragon, because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, ‘Who is like the beast, who is able to wage war with him?’” (Revelation 13:3,4).

For “forty-two months” - “And there was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies; and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him” (Revelation 13:5). It has been presented that the “forty-two months” is a reference to the entire church age. This “beast” opposes, and has opposed, the church of the Lord from the beginning, with the intensity of its opposition and persecution increasing until the climax at the Lord’s second coming. Arrogance: it desires to eliminate the name of God as revealed through Jesus Christ from the world, and position itself as the source of everything to its subjugated peoples. Blasphemies: in every way it can, it mocks the name of Jesus Christ, and marginalizes/criminalizes the Bible’s truths.

“His tabernacle” - This beast is very “mouthy”! “And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven” (Revelation 13:6). There is, under the new covenant, “the tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man” (Hebrews 8:2). Another name for this tabernacle is the “church,” which the Lord Jesus Himself said He would build. It is the true temple, consisting of “living stones,” and “built up as a spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:5). Thus it is that Christians compose this true tabernacle, and are therefore described as “those who dwell in heaven” as contrasted to those lost souls “who dwell on the earth” (Revelation 11:10).

Modern saints are thus advised that they are in the midst of a great spiritual war. It has been well-said that “it is a battle ground, not a play ground.” In the words of the apostle Paul, anticipating the coming of Roman persecution, “The time has been shortened...” (1 Corinthians 7:29). Pick those crosses up off the ground, and get to carrying them!!

Battlefield Conditions

This “beast from the sea” not only speaks “arrogant words and blasphemies,” but it also has “authority to act” (Revelation 13:5). The result is that the saint is thrown into an intense battle for his soul, for the souls of the saints, and for the souls of the lost. Because of the beast’s apparent power and illusion of winning a long war against God and against truth, “the whole earth followed after the beast.” Not only did they capitulate before the sword of the beast, they directly or indirectly “worshiped the dragon.” These, then, are the battlefield conditions under which the saint carries out his spiritual warfare for the glory of the Lord.

Severity of the war - Of the beast it was written, “And it was given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them; and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him” (Revelation 13:7). It has been presented that the formation of the American republic was an almost “fatal wound” to the forces of governmental tyranny. But as that republic has been corrupted and turned into a major force for the promotion of world government through the United Nations, the “fatal wound” has been healed, “and the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast.” The official policy of the United States State Department has long been to turn over sufficient arms and munitions to the United Nations such that no nation dare resist. The result, if this continues, will be as described. And the war against the saints is such that, in the physical realm, the saints are overcome!

Government as god - In past ages, the trend was for the king to be worshiped as a god, as in the cases of the Pharaohs of Egypt or the kings of Mesopotamia. But now “the state” is god. “And all who dwell on the earth [the non-Christians] will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain” (Revelation 13:8). In a socialist/tyrannical state, the state is the only source of sustenance; and that entity to which a person turns for his “daily bread,” that entity is his god. Hence “those who dwell on earth will worship him.”

Perseverance and faith - The apostle John therefore emphasizes, “If anyone has an ear, let him hear” (Revelation 13:9). Serious information follows: “If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints” (Revelation 13:10). The great God whom the Christian serves through Jesus Christ is God over all; there is nothing which occurs which escapes His purview. Thus, if a saint is destined for captivity, it is for a larger purpose in God’s strategy. Also, there is a time to use the “sword” for personal defense. But when the SWAT teams come, if the saint uses the sword, “with the sword he must be killed.” He has the freedom to do so; it is the Lord who is letting him know how it will play out.

There is a “book of life,” and this has been known since the time of Moses (Exodus 32:32). David spoke of this book (Psalm 69:28), Isaiah referred to it (Isaiah 34:16), as did Malachi (Malachi 3:16). Under the terms of the new covenant, an individual has his name surface in the book at his new birth in his immersion into Christ. The Lord, who knows all — past, present, and future — knows whose names are in that book “from the foundation of the world.” The saint’s faith and perseverance are what keeps his name in that book, as was promised to the church in Sardis: “He who overcomes shall thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life” (Revelation 3:5). No matter if the whole world follows after the beast and worships him, the faithful saint will not sink down to that level but will continue to follow the upward call of God in Christ Jesus!!

“The Beast from the Earth”

The battle from the beginning, and even before the beginning, is over “worship,” the total humble submission to a greater authority. The devil, then, does everything he can to turn mankind away from the type of worship that God wants from a truly spiritual people to anything else. Hence man in general is turned to worshiping images “in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures,” and even the “host of heaven” (the sun, moon, and stars) (Romans 1:23; Acts 7:42). Pressure and power even, according to John’ vision, result in “all who dwell on the earth” to worship the first beast, tyrannical government. That is a turning of mankind away from the true worship of God in a major way.

The second beast - “And I saw,” records John, “another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon” (Revelation 13:11). Looks like a lamb, but speaks like a dragon?? What a pretender! Later this second beast is illuminatingly called “the false prophet” (Revelation 16:13; Revelation 19:20). While the first beast is connected with raw political and military power, the second beast is associated with all false religion, any view other than the true Christianity revealed in the pages of the New Testament.

Authority and symbiosis - These two beasts work together. “And he [the second beast, the false prophet] exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence” (Revelation 13:12). An illustration: The Russian Orthodox Church gave a spiritual legitimacy to the Czar, with the Czars even being coronated by the Orthodox priests; the Czar, with the power of the sword, essentially gave the Russian Orthodox Church a monopoly on religious practice in old Russia. The second beast — false religion — gets its power from the first beast.

Quid pro quo - What does the first beast get in exchange for the appearance of legitimacy in its tyranny? “And he [the second beast] makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed” (Revelation 13:12). Those “who dwell on the earth” [non-Christians] are directed by the false prophet to continue in their obeisance to government, giving the glory and honor and obedience to it rather than God. This is a continuation of the age old struggle: does the follower of God stay firm in his faith, or does he compromise in the face of persecution and privation?

Great signs from the false prophet - By the time that the book of Revelation is written, and in the times ahead to which it looks, there are no more miracles or signs from God. The purpose of those signs was to “confirm the word” (Mark 16:20). Once the word was confirmed, the signs ceased. That should make it easy. But many are and will be deceived. “And he [the false prophet in the vision] performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast...” (Revelation 13:13,14). Unless a person is really committed to searching out and following the truth, he will be deceived by the signs and clever lies of the false prophet. A good example of the work of the “false prophet” is found in 2 Thessalonians where, with a little work, it can be shown that the apostle Paul is speaking of the coming of Catholicism and the development of the papacy. The apostle writes of one whose coming is “in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved” (2 Thessalonians 2:9,10).

The false prophet and his agents are very deceptive. “And no wonder,” stated Paul, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). The saint must be firmly grounded in sound doctrine!

The False Prophet and 666

The beast that the apostle John saw coming up out of the earth in his vision is also called “the false prophet.” The beast is a deceiver, working particularly in the religious realm to deceive “those who dwell on the earth” [non-Christians]. And he is “telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life” (Revelation 13:14). By the time “the beast” has recovered from his sword wound, he is moving into the range of the seventh head, the one described as the “one yet to come” in Revelation chapter seventeen. The labor has been done to establish that this is the final “world government” prior to the end of planet earth. The reader, then, is given a picture of the false prophet building “an image” of this first beast. This is not a physical image; this is showing how the false prophet works to get people to worship the beast that has the power to wage war and throw saints in prison.

“Breath to the image” - The job of the false prophet is to make the image of the beast as impressive and overpowering as possible, terrifying the non-Christians into obeisance and obedience. “And there was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast might even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed” (Revelation 13:15).

“The mark of the beast” - It is important to remember that God’s people have been “marked” in earlier portions of the vision. “The bond-servants of our God” were described as sealed “on their foreheads” (Revelation 7:3). While this “sealing” is portrayed in physical terms, it is spiritual; the saints of God are “sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise” (Ephesians 1:13). In a similar fashion, while the sealing of the non-Christians is described in physical terms, the marking is in the spiritual realm. “And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand, or on their forehead” (Revelation 13:16). What people really should be concerned about is not whether they get “a chip” in their right hands or some number stamped on their foreheads, but whether they have been immersed into Christ, received the seal of the Holy Spirit, and maintain their faithfulness to the great and eternal King!

Not able to buy or sell - With political and police power come the muscle to enforce actions in the economic realm. The false prophet makes an image of “the beast” for the people to worship, and “the beast” provides the backing to enforce the decrees of the false prophet. “... and he provides that no one should be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name” (Revelation 13:17). This is enough to frighten the people of the world into compliance; the saint will not be frightened; he trusts that God has the ability to provide for those who do not compromise by worshiping the image of the beast.

“666” - “Here is wisdom,” says the sacred writ. “Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six” (Revelation 13:18). This is not talking about the coming of some future “antichrist” executing a reign of terror on the earth; this is talking about the number of the beast who is the false prophet, and the phrase talking about that number can be translated, “for it is man’s number.” God has established His number as connected with seven’s earlier (in the “seven spirits before the throne”); His number, then, can be conceived of as 777. Man’s number, 666, falling short of God’s perfection, is connected with false or man-made religion, as exemplified in Paul’s teaching where he spoke of “self-made religion” (Colossians 2:23).

The message is simple: “Guard yourselves from idols.” “Worship God” (1 John 5:21; Revelation 22:9)

The 144,000 “First Fruits”

Another 144,000 shows up. The first 144,000 was from Revelation chapter seven, where it was posited to represent the Israelite core that formed the early church. Here, in Revelation chapter fourteen, the apostle John says, “And I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads” (Revelation 14:1).

Mount Zion - Zion in the physical realm was the mountain on which the original city of David, Jerusalem, was built after he captured the area from the Jebusites. But the Zion of Old Testament prophecy and New Testament reality is a spiritual mountain, the church of the living God. The writer of the book of Hebrews informed his audience, “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven...” (Hebrews 12:22,23). This would lead to the conclusion that the 144,000 is the totality of all Christians from the beginning of the church to the end of the age (with the Old Testament saints being joined with them – Hebrews 11:39,40).

Wonderful singing - No earthly chorus could match this one pictured in John’s vision. “And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps” (Revelation 14:2).

A new song - What an awesome song this must have been for John to hear in the vision! “And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders” (Revelation 14:3). The Lamb is pictured as standing with this 144,000 and joining in the song with them. This ties in with the writer of Hebrews’ comments concerning Jesus’ not being ashamed to call Christians His “brethren,” and to note the Old Testament forward-looking quotation, “In the midst of the congregation I [Jesus] will sing Your praise” (Hebrews 2:12). What about this new song? The Revelator made this point: “and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth.” This is the “new song” from the new covenant people. Angels cannot sing it, nor any other of the heavenly host. Only those “purchased from the earth” by the blood of Christ can sing that song.

Their purity - What a blessing it is for the saints to have been able to wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb, to have the past wiped away, and to stand before the throne blameless and with great joy. Their purity is illustrated in these words: “These are the ones who have not been defiled with women,” is the language, “for they have kept themselves chaste” (Revelation 14:4).

Their devotion - “These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes,” is the portrayal of the devotion of these disciples of Christ. (The modern individual making a claim to godliness could ask himself this question — am I following the Lamb wherever He guides me to go? Am I truly led by the Spirit?)

Their value - And what is the scriptures’ view of the value of the saints? “These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb.” The blood of Christ is not used by the Almighty to make cheap, bargain-basement purchases. “In the exercise of His will,” averred James, “He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we might be, as it were, the first fruits among His creatures” (James 1:18). The “first fruits” — an expression taken from the first offering brought to the Lord from the harvest — is “the best of the best”!

These 144,000 standing with the Lamb on Mount Zion are those who stand with Him through all the challenges of faith during the years of their earthly sojourns. Because they are of the truth, they speak the truth. “And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless” (Revelation 14:5). Stand with the Lamb!

The Glory and the Gloom”

Nearly everything, by God’s design, is in stark contrast. Light is in contrast to darkness, holiness to sin, good to evil, heaven to hell, God to Satan. These contrasts are a necessary part of God’s communication process, so that the lost race of mankind can understand that each has a choice to make: eternity in heaven, or eternity in the lake of fire. Glory... or gloom!

The eternal gospel - The apostle John is having a series of mini-visions inside a larger vision as the seventh trumpet has sounded and preparations are made for seven bowls of wrath. “And I saw another angel flying in midheaven,” the apostle records, “having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth...” (Revelation 14:6). Earlier in the Apocalypse, John had seen an eagle flying in that midheaven, crying out, “Woe, woe, woe, to those who dwell on the earth,” foreboding the destruction coming upon those who would not turn to the Lord (Revelation 8:13). Here, however, it is an angel flying, and the angel has “good news,” good news that is to be preached. (In God’s system of working with man, the message from heaven is delivered through “the foolishness” of preaching — 1 Corinthians 1:21-28). That message is thus delivered to “those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people.”

“Give Him glory” - This angel also spoke “with a loud voice.” “Fear God,” he heralded, “and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters” (Revelation 14:7). The Creator God is worthy of worship, and so is the Lamb. Judgment is coming, so choose well!

Babylon the late great - The book of Revelation really is “a tale of two cities,” “Jerusalem” and “Babylon.” “Jerusalem” is the church, and “Babylon” is “the world.” John, in his first general epistle, phrased it this way, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world” (1 John 2:16). “Babylon,” as her story develops in the book of Revelation, epitomizes “all that is in the world.” “Babylon” is first introduced without name, and in the symbolic language characteristic of the Apocalypse. She is termed “the great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified” (Revelation 11:8).

Another angel - The first angel flying in midheaven had positive news. But wait, there’s more. “And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, ‘Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality’” (Revelation 14:8). “Babylon” of the Old Testament was indeed, in human terms, a great city. Its land area, for ancient times, was huge, and it was a walled city, with walls by some accounts in some places 335 feet high and 85 feet wide, and with the wall length totaling about 41 miles. The main entrance to the city was the grand Ishtar Gate (dedicated to the fertility goddess Ishtar, equivalent to Ashtar in the Bible, and Easter to the Germanic tribes). Here was the awesome palace of Nebuchadnezzar, and the ziggurat honoring the god Marduk (equivalent to the Greek god Zeus). Isaiah and Jeremiah prophesied Babylon’s destruction, saying that it would be in ruins and nothing but wild animals would live there (which has come true!). The might and fall of earthly Babylon are used as a symbol for the fall of the “Babylon” of Revelation.

“Babylon has fallen” was the message of the second angel. She who enticed the world with the passion of her immorality (and how strong a pull is that in modern times) will come down. But “the eternal gospel” will triumph and will reach every truth-seeker on the planet, from whatever nation and tribe and tongue and people. “Gloom” for Babylon, “glory” for God, for the gospel, and for those who are partakers in it!

The Severity of the Wrong Choice

Sometimes in life a person has a second chance; most times he doesn’t. There are times when a person could wish that he could go back and make a different decision, or that he could go back and redo a fifteen-minute segment of his life. But the second hand moves on the watch, never to come back again; the lifeblood is spilt on the sand, never to be recovered. Those life lessons are there, designed by the caring Father Himself, to prep man’s mind for the hard-core fact that once earthly life is over, there is no coming back for a second opportunity. It is true: “it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). The message is clear: Get it right with God, on His terms, and keep it right! The book of Revelation paints an awesome picture of the rewards for those who get it right, and of the awesome judgment on those get it wrong.

The third angel - There has been a lot of action in “midheaven,” where John sees these angels flying. “And another angel, a third one, followed them” (Revelation 14:9). This is a scenario designed to be punched into the mind of those who read this letter from the apostle; an angel swoops by with a message to fear God, then another follows the same flight plan with the message that Babylon has fallen, and this third angel comes into view with a message in a loud voice! “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or upon his hand,” is the warning, “he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb” (Revelation 14:9,10). As was pointed out earlier, a person is either sealed with the seal of God, or he has the mark of the beast, neither of which is visible in the physical realm. Those with the mark of the beast will be tormented, significantly, in the presence of the angels as well as in the presence of the Jesus. The Lord Christ, who died for the lost, will preside over the punishment of those who rejected His efforts to rescue them from the clutches of Satan.

The “smoke of their torment” - How long does this suffering from rejecting the message of Christ last? “And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name” (Revelation 14:11). This needs to be processed carefully, and the starkness of the outcome of the ultimate wrong decision must be impressed on each saint’s mind. This punishment is eternal, and “there is no rest.” Stop, and think about this...

In the giving of the Ten Commandments, in warning against idol worship, the great Creator and Redeemer stated, “I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God” (Exodus 20:5). He is right in exercising His jealousy, for He has created everything, and has redeemed those who will turn away from idols and in earnestness of heart serve Him alone; He is right in protecting the integrity of His name. Those, then, who by intent or neglect choose to serve the dragon and his underlings are guilty of idolatry and have willfully chosen the place of eternal torment.

The book of Revelation has repeated warnings along this line. Whether it is the depiction of people crying for the rocks and the mountains to fall on them rather than face the wrath of the Lamb, or whether it is the “lake of fire” toward the close of this book, the message is for people to heed the pleadings of God. “’Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,’ declares the Lord GOD, ‘rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?’” (Ezekiel 18:23).

Perseverance of the Saints

The road to the saint’s developing maturity in Christ is not designed to be easy, any more than the chick’s pecking at its shell to be set free is designed to be easy. The strength and perseverance the chick gains in pecking at its shell are what are necessary for life outside the shell, and if the shell is broken for the chick by some well-intentioned person, the chick will soon die. “Tribulation,” wrote Paul to the Roman brethren, “brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven [tested] character (Romans 5:3,4). The discipline of the Lord, tendered to all who are legitimate children of faith, is tailor-made for each saint to help him develop the perseverance necessary to maintain his faith firm to the end.

The setting - Three angels have flown in succession, each with his message. The first stated that the hour of judgment had come, the second that Babylon the great had fallen, and the third that everyone who worships the beast and his image will be tormented forever. Can the saint take courage that “Babylon’s end” is in sight? Can the saint carefully process that those who are deceived or pressured into worshiping the beast and his image will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb Himself? “Here,” then, is the comment, “is the perseverance of the saints, who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus” (Revelation 14:12). (Literally, the verse speaks of keeping the commandments of God “and the faith of Jesus.” Tremendous perseverance, by the hand of the Lord, is needed to keep the commandments of God in seeking and saving the lost, as well as maintaining the doctrines of “the faith” of Christ and the exhibition of the character consistent with that faith. As Jesus issued His motivating challenge, “However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find ‘the faith’ on the earth?” (Luke 18:8).

Blessed - The spiritual seas are rough and roily, and the coast is treacherous; few indeed are those who make it to the safe and final harbor. Then John hears another loud voice, this time (in the vision) from heaven. “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!” (Revelation 14:13). Happy and exalted indeed are those who die in faithful fellowship with the Lord.

Rest and reward - More information: “’Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them’” (Revelation 14:13). “I have fought the good fight,” affirmed the apostle Paul, “I have finished the course, I have kept ‘the faith’” (2 Timothy 4:7). The example of Paul is the epitome of what it means to have labored, and recipient of the commendation accruing to him and which accrues to all who labor for the faith of Christ. In the heat of the battle, the voice of the apostle can be heard above the din, “Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). And there is the reward for the faithful: “In the future,” avers the apostle, “there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day,” to which he appends, “and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8). “Their deeds,” all those good works for which those who were created in Christ executed, do indeed “follow with them.”

“They rest from their labors.” Those who have labored and suffered for the Lord will in no wise be denied their reward, if indeed they are “in Christ.” As the writer of Hebrews noted, “There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God” (Hebrews 4:9). As God rested from all His works at Creation, the faithful saint, when he can cry out with the Lord, “It is finished,” will enter His rest, fully in force at Jesus’ return. This reward, to have Jesus say, “Well done, good and faithful slave,” (Matthew 25:21), is worth all the tribulation and perseverance!

Harvest Time!

There were two main harvest times in Israel. The first major harvest was grain, which in places like Israel occurs beginning in late March or April, with the barley ripening first followed by wheat. The second major aspect of the harvest season was the gathering of grapes, usually July through September. The Feast of Weeks (also called the Feast of the Harvest, or Pentecost) was celebrated in May or early June in connection with the wheat and barley harvest where the loaves of the first fruits were presented before the Lord. The Feast of Ingathering (also called the Feast of Booths or Tabernacles) was celebrated near the end of the grape harvest in late September or early October. In accordance with these two aspects of the harvest season, the final harvest of souls is pictured in Revelation.

The grain harvest - The next phase of the vision is revealed to the apostle John. “And I looked,” he notes, “and behold, a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one like a son of man, having a golden crown on His head, and a sharp sickle in His hand” (Revelation 14:14). This “son of man” with the golden crown is a reference to Jesus Himself. “And another angel came out of the temple, crying out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, ‘Put in your sickle and reap, because the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe.’ And He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth; and the earth was reaped” (Revelation 14:15,16). Of Him who is pictured as reaping the grain harvest, John the Immerser said, “And His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather the wheat into the barn, but He will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Matthew 3:12).

The grape harvest - Next comes the grape harvest. “And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle” (Revelation 14:17). Sickles were not generally used for harvesting grapes, but the scripture is presenting the harvesting in this way. “And another angel, the one who has power over fire, came out from the altar; and he called out with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, ‘Put in your sickle, and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe’” (Revelation 14:18). When the harvest is ripe, it is time to reap!

Result of the grape harvest - The earthly gathering of grapes is a great basis for processing the result of God’s final judgment upon all who have resided on planet earth. “And the angel swung his sickle to the earth, and gathered the clusters from the vine of the earth, and threw them into the great wine press of the wrath of God” (Revelation 14:19). This is, of course, where the expression “grapes of wrath” comes from. The “grape harvest” is the gathering of those who did not know God or who did not obey the gospel of the Lord Jesus (2 Thessalonians 1:8). “And the wine press was trodden outside the city, and blood came out from the wine press, up to the horses’ bridles, for a distance of two hundred miles” (Revelation 14:20). The judgment is “outside the city,” meaning outside of the heavenly Jerusalem. The number of souls of those poured into this harvest is immense, with “the blood” of the grapes described as being up to the horses’ bridles in depth and filling a basin up to two hundred miles wide. The gate that leads to destruction is indeed wide (Matthew 7:13,14).

The grain harvest, then, symbolizes the gathering of the faithful saints; the grape harvest the gathering of the lost. “So it will be at the end of the age; the angels shall come forth, and take out the wicked from among the righteous, and will cast them into the furnace of fire; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:49,50). Get it right, and keep it right!

The Victorious Ones

The book of Revelation pictures God’s judgments as coming harder and harder as He tries to bring the last remnant of mankind to repentance. The seven seals have been opened, the seven trumpets have sounded. Now preparations are made for the final stage. “And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous,” records the awestruck apostle: “seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished” (Revelation 15:1). But first...the scene has to be set, so that the mind of the reader (or hearer) can process the magnitude of the final phase of God’s wrath upon the earth and her residents.

On the sea of glass - When the messages of Jesus to the seven churches of Asia are completed, then the visions of what is, what was, and what is to come begin to come into view. Early on, there was a scene in which was the throne of God, “and before the throne there was, as it were, a sea of glass like crystal” (Revelation 4:6). In preparation for the finishing of the wrath of God on earth, John notes, “And I saw, as it were, a sea of glass mixed with fire,” with the victorious saints recorded as standing on that sea (Revelation 15:2). As history has progressed, and saints have successfully passed through their trials and persecutions, they are described as “absent from the body” and “at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). This being-present-with-the-Lord is termed “up,” and it is also labeled “Paradise” by the apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 12:3,4). Thus the “sea of glass,” in the presence of the throne, and now mixed with fire, wherein the saints are standing, is posited to be “Paradise.”

The victors - Who, then, are those on the sea of glass mixed with fire? They are “those who had come off victorious from the beast and from his image and from the number of his name,” and they are further described as “standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God” (Revelation 15:2). All the forces of darkness and all the wiles of evil could not turn these faithful brothers of Jesus aside from following the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Singing - “And they sang,” is the statement from the vision, “the song of Moses the bond-servant of God and the song of the Lamb” (Revelation 15:3). These are saints from the time of the Old Testament, and saints from the time of the new.

Praise - “Great and marvelous are Your works,” is how the song begins, “O Lord God, the Almighty.” Great indeed! As awesome were the works of God in the physical realm in the days of Moses, the kings, and the prophets, greater still are the works accomplished in the unseen realm. “Righteous and true are Your ways,” the praises continue, “You, King of the nations.” He is the definition of what is right, and He is the core definition of what is true!

His majesty - “Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name?” (Revelation 15:4). Anyone who will contemplate what He has done will certainly have the godly reverence for Him. “For You alone are holy,” the praise continues. All holiness stems from Him who is set apart from the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men and evil angels. “For all the nations will come and worship before You,” so prophesied Isaiah, and thus quoted here. The redeemed of all flesh, having turned from darkness to His marvelous light, willfully offer the God who is Spirit the worship He desires. “For Your righteous acts have been revealed.” In raising Jesus out of Hades, in seating Him at the right hand of power, and in redeeming those obedient to His word, God has demonstrated the unfathomable greatness of His might!

It is clearer for those in Paradise — those who dwell absent from the body and present with the Lord, in what Paul termed “unspeakable words” and “the surpassing greatness of the vision — than for those who still inhabit earth. Thus those on the sea of glass mixed with fire give the appropriate glory to Him who is about to execute the final phase of His wrath!

Vision of the Temple

One of the names for the tent of meeting of Moses’ day was “the tabernacle of testimony” (Numbers 1:53). Presumably this was because it housed the Ten Commandments written by the finger of God on stone, which were called “the two tablets of the testimony” (Exodus 34:29). Even Stephen, making his defense before the San-hedrin, stated, “Our fathers had the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness” (Acts 7:44). This Old Testament phraseology sets the stage for what is to come in what John sees next as recorded in Revelation.

The tabernacle of testimony - John states, “After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of testimony in heaven was opened...” (Revelation 15:5). The Holman Christian Standard Bible is clearer: “the heavenly sanctuary — the tabernacle of testimony—was opened.” There are, then, parallels: one parallel is to the temple of Solomon, where there were more than one lampstand, and the other parallel is to the tabernacle of Moses’ day. The floor plans of both the tabernacle and the temple were of the same shape, and were the same foreshadows, so in that sense they are interchangeable. Both were the “sanctuary” of God, His holy dwelling place.

Seven angels appear - John sees these come out of the door of the sanctuary (which faced east). “...and the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple [sanctuary], clothed in linen, clean and bright, and girded about their breasts with golden girdles” (Revelation 15:6). They are dressed similarly to the old covenant priests who served the tabernacle, and they are the same angels who in a previous vision blew the seven trumpets.

Bowls of wrath - God is angry over the absolute refusal of men to come to Him through Jesus Christ and honor Him on His terms. Here is how the apostle Paul spoke of it: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18). He has been willing to withhold His wrath, but His patience is running out. These angels, then, are about to pour out the bowls of wrath, and “in them the wrath of God is finished” (Revelation 15:1). “And one of the four living creatures [who surrounded the throne in the center of an earlier vision] gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever” (Revelation 15:7).

The sanctuary filled - When Moses completed the tabernacle in the wilderness, “the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle” and Moses was not able to enter (Exodus 40:34,35). Similarly, when Solomon finished the temple in Jerusalem and the ark of the covenant was in place, “the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord” (1 Kings 8:11). These create the picture that when the true tabernacle of the Lord—which is also the church of the living God—is completed, then the glory of the God will fill that tabernacle. The apostle John recounts this portion of his vision: “And the temple [sanctuary] was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished” (Revelation 15:8). The reaping of souls from the “grain harvest” and the “grape harvest” is being completed, and God’s last-ditch efforts to get any of the fallen race to repent as earth nears its end will have run their course. When the last “living stone” is put in place in this true temple of God, then the purpose of earth is finished, and the Father will have the glory of God fill this true temple forever.

Here are the words introducing God’s final efforts to get men to repent: “And I heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven angels, ‘Go and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God into the earth.’” (Revelation 16:1).

Angels and Bowls of Wrath

As the seven angels, seen as standing before the tabernacle of God in heaven, prepare to pour out their bowls of wrath, the plan of God for earth is coming to an end. The tabernacle has filled with the smoke of the glory of God, the final anger of God will be evident, and mankind will still not repent. These seven angels with their bowls are the same seven angels that sounded trumpets in an earlier vision, and there will be parallels between the trumpets and the bowls of wrath. The goal in the trumpets’ sounding was to get man to repent; the goal in the bowls of wrath is for the judgments of God to take place on earth.

First angel - “And the first angel went and poured out his bowl into the earth; and it became a loathsome and malignant sore upon the men who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image” (Revelation 16:2). All non-Christians have this mark, and worship this beast. There is nothing good, especially in the spiritual realm, for those outside of Christ, and these “malignant” sores are a reminder of what it means to be without God and without hope.

Second angel - “And the second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became blood like that of a dead man; and every living thing in the sea died” (Revelation 16:3). In the vision of the trumpets, only a third of the sea became blood; here it is all pictured as turning to blood, as did the Nile when Moses struck it with Egypt’s first plague. Everything dies.

Third angel - “And the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of waters; and they became blood” (Revelation 16:4). Now the fresh water is pictured as undrinkable and uninhabitable.

Righteousness of God’s judgments - At this point there is an interlude in the angels’ pouring out their bowls. “And I heard the angel of the waters saying, ‘Righteous are You, who are and who were, O Holy One, because You judged these things; for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. They deserve it.’” (Revelation 16:5,6). Those who sided with the prince of darkness, by intent or by neglect, poured out the blood of God’s people, so “blood” they get! “And I heard the altar saying, ‘Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are Thy judgments.’” (Revelation 16:7). Even the altar speaks in this vision, commending the righteous God for bringing His last earthly judgments upon the wicked.

The fourth angel - “And the fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun; and it was given to it to scorch men with fire” (Revelation 16:8). In Egypt in Moses’ day, the water was turned to blood for the first plague; for the last plague before God’s judgment upon Egypt was the sun’s being darkened. Here this is reversed; the sun is pictured as scorching men with fire. “And men were scorched with fierce heat; and they blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues; and they did not repent, so as to give Him glory” (Revelation 16:9). As was Jerusalem in Jeremiah’s day, these people are past even having the desire to repent, no matter what God sends them.

The fifth angel - “And the fifth angel poured out his bowl upon the throne of the beast; and his kingdom became darkened; and they gnawed their tongues because of pain, and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores; and they did not repent of their deeds” (Revelation 16:10,11). There are many who have moved in as close as they can to the seat of earthly power, clawing and climbing their way to the top. This judgment of God shows that it was not worth the climb.

Five angels have poured out their bowls of wrath on the earth, showing that dependence upon anything in the material realm is a major error. These people have gone beyond the point of repentance. Anyone who can read this still has time!

Armageddon!

The name “Armageddon” immediately grabs people’s attention! Images of space ships attacking planet earth have been conjured up by Hollywood and the movie and TV industry, or scenes of massive armies colliding in preparation for earth’s end have been propounded by certain eschatologies. “Armageddon,” also “Har-magedon,” comes from a Greek transliteration of the Hebrew, and it literally means “mountains of Megiddo.” Megiddo was an ancient Hebrew city which guarded the entrance to the plain of Esdraelon or Jezreel, which was the location of many great battles of Israel’s history. Gideon defeated the Midianites there, the final battle between King Saul and the Philistines was in that location, and King Josiah suffered defeat and death at the hands of Pharaoh Neco on that plain. Hence it is fitting that “Armageddon” would be the name for the great final spiritual battle. Here’s the vision from Revelation.

The sixth angel - “And the sixth angel poured out his bowl upon the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, that the way might be prepared for the kings from the east” (Revelation 16:12). The Euphrates River is the basic dividing line between Eastern thought and Western thought. Thanks must be given, as the hand of God worked, that the Hebrew scriptures and the Greek thinkers emphasized reason, whereas Eastern thought has a core process that throws reason off to the side in favor of some sort of inner enlightenment. Thus, when the Euphrates River is pictured as being dried up, the way is cleared for Eastern thought to come West. Along with the swamis and gurus of Hinduism and “enlightened ones” from Buddhism come Daoism and Confucianism; in Eastern thought there are no absolutes in morality or truth.

Unclean spirits - Once again the dragon shows up in the vision, as well as the first and second beasts of chapter thirteen, the first beast simply called “the beast” and the second “the false prophet.” “And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs...” (Revelation 16:13). Political power under the beast and religious confusion under the false prophet are orchestrated by the dragon himself. What are the unclean spirits like frogs? “...for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty” (Revelation 16:14). Satanically-driven lies, collected and herded by demonic forces, govern the modern world. Whether it is in the arenas of “religion,” “science,” “politics,” “economics,” or “morals,” lying reigns supreme. Demonic forces can “perform” some amazing signs or deceptions to draw the unwary in.

Gathered for “the war” - With the forces of “the big three” (the dragon and the beast and the false prophet) combined, gathering “the kings of the earth together,” all is in readiness for the final spiritual battle. “And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon” (Revelation 16:16). In Revelation chapter 20 (covered in detail earlier): “And when the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore” (Revelation 20:7). The end result of this gathering is that the church (“the camp of the saints and the beloved city”) is depicted as surrounded, and the gospel can make no further progress.

Some commentary: it is the writer’s opinion that this is the state of the world now. With the advent of modern communication and digital surveillance, the developing digital currency and control, the glorious freedom that once was America’s and indeed much of Western Civilization’s, is being chewed up rapidly. Jesus, in the vision, parenthetically says, “Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his garments, lest he walk about naked and men see his shame” (Revelation 16:15). Keep the faith, and focus on things above.

It Is Done!

The vision of the seven angels with their bowls of wrath follows the same pattern as the earlier visions of the seven seals and the seven trumpets. Forces are at work, governed by God, which are designed to get mankind to repent and turn to God; in each of the cases, the vision ends with some portrayal of the end of God’s plan on earth. When the seventh angel sounds, however, it is the final vision in this cycle of sevens where it is announced in tones of finality, “It is done!” Following this vision are God’s final judgments, broken out for communication purposes as the judgment of Babylon, the judgment of the beast and the false prophet, the judgment of the dragon, and the judgment of men.

The seventh bowl of wrath - It was written earlier about the seven angels, “And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished” (Revelation 15:1). Thus, when the seventh angel pours out his bowl of wrath, the announcement comes from heaven. “And the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon the air; and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, ‘It is done.’” (Revelation 16:17). This is very parallel to Jesus’ closing statement as He completed the work of His earthly sojourn, “It is finished!” (John 19:30).

The great earthquake - In this vision, John sees a couple of things which establish that this is the finale of what happens in God’s efforts to reach the lost and stubborn of the race of men. First, the earthquake: “And there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder; and there was a great earthquake, such as there had not been since man came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty” (Revelation 16:18). In the vision, the lightning and the thunder set the stage for the rumble of the most massive earthquake ever. Here’s what happens to Babylon (which had been introduced earlier, and which represents “the world” in contrast to “Jerusalem” which represents the church of the Lord). “And the great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell” (Revelation 16:19). Babylon gets special attention: “And Babylon the great was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath.” As the apostle Paul stated, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men” (Romans 1:18).

The last events - The cities of the nations, as described, fell. “And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found” (Revelation 16:20). In Second Peter, this end of the physical realm is predicted in these terms, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10).

The hard-hearted, stubborn, rebellious hearts of men are evident even as the efforts of God to reach man have ratcheted up. The second point in the finale: “And huge hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, came down from heaven upon men; and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, because its plague was extremely severe” (Revelation 16:21). No matter how severe the consequences of turning against God, there is no pleading for relief or mercy, only the shouting and reviling of those who are angry at God because He did not run the universe for their individual benefits.

What a history there has been concerning man! What began as “very good” has ended in man’s blaspheming God. But in the process there were truth-seekers who turned to God on His terms, and they constitute the redeemed and the new Jerusalem. “Babylon the great” is going to receive the “cup of wine of His fierce wrath”; “Jerusalem” will be immeasurably blessed. Saints need to remember that each day they are casting their votes for Babylon or Jerusalem by their interests and priorities. Choose well!

Introduction to the Great Harlot

The bowls of wrath have been poured out. Mankind has refused any further efforts on God’s part to repent, so the time for God’s judgments has come. As mentioned, the judgments are not time related; they are broken out in separate parts to communicate the overall areas in which God will show His superiority and finality. Judgment upon Babylon is represented first, then judgment on the beast and the false prophet, followed by judgment upon the dragon, and finally judgment upon men on an individual basis. These are judgments of the righteous God and His removal of all unholy and ungodly elements.

The apostle John records the next aspect of his visions. “And one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, ‘Come here, I shall show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters...’” (Revelation 17:1). This is the one who has “upon her forehead a name written, a mystery, ‘BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.’” (Revelation 17:5). God is rightly a jealous God, and that which would endeavor to pull the faithful away from Him is spiritual prostitution. Whether it was the idol worship of the Old Testament times, or Jesus’ warnings about Mammon, the allure has been there. Hence, the term “mother of harlots.”

In Protestant and early Restoration Movement thinking, this Babylon represents the Roman Catholic Church. Part of the reason for such thought is that the woman is pictured as “seven mountains on which the woman sits” (Revelation 17:9). Rome was built on seven hills, and certainly the Roman Catholic Church held major sway over western Europe. Its persecution of those who wanted the Bible in the hands of the common man and its obstruction of efforts to return to the practices of the primitive church as recorded in the Bible loomed large in the minds of the men at that time. For example, in Alexander Campbell’s debate with the Roman Catholic Bishop John Purcell in January of 1837, one of the propositions from Campbell stated, “She [the Roman Catholic Institution] is the ‘Babylon’ of John...” (The Cause We Plead, J.M. Powell, pg. 119, published by 20th Century Christian, Nashville, TN). But a deeper examination of the text in Revelation indicates that “Babylon the great” is much larger and more global in scope than even the Roman Catholic Institution and her separated sister, the Greek Orthodox Church, combined. The great harlot, then, “sits on many waters,” and is thus portrayed as the one “with whom the kings of the earth committed acts of immorality, and those who dwell on the earth were made drunk with the wine of her immorality” (Revelation 17:2). This, as mentioned, is larger in scope than the Western Europe of past years; the purview is “the kings of earth.” She embodies all that could be considered “the world.” As the apostle John noted in his first epistle, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world” (1 John 2:16). That description was prefaced with the strident warning, “Do not love the world, nor the things in the world” (1 John 2:15). Babylon’s sensual appeals are at all levels and from all possible angles.

John’s vision carries more description: “And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness; and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns” (Revelation 17:3). The “scarlet beast” is tied to the “beast” of Revelation chapter thirteen, and represents governmental power on a large scale (more to follow on this).

The voluptuousness of the harlot is on display. “And the woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a gold cup full of abominations and of the unclean things of her immorality” (Revelation 17:4). Her sensual appeals suck many a descendant of Adam into her maw. Like the “adulteress” of Proverbs, “Her house is the way to Sheol, descending to the chambers of death” (Proverbs 7:27).

The Woman Rides the Beast

Babylon the great, portrayed as a painted harlot with all her allures and wiles, rides the beast. Mankind, when it turns away from God, turns to all the things that gratify the flesh, and plunges into the vilest of depravities. “It is disgraceful,” noted the apostle Paul, “even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret” (Ephe-sians 5:12). Babylon is happy to “gin up” the excitement for all such appeals, and happy to sell the ideas and the products necessary to continue the fomenting of such depravities. She is indeed “the mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth” (Revelation 17:5).

Worldliness produces martyrs - Jesus ultimately was executed because He exposed sinfulness. He Himself stated the point, “If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin” (John 15:22). Hence it is not surprising that the great harlot, who embodies the excesses of the world, should be described in these terms, “And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus” (Revelation 17:6). The messengers must be killed!

Wonderment - “And when I saw her,” the apostle John, inside his own vision, commented, “I wondered at her greatly.” The stark sensuality of the woman, and her brazen brutality, left John standing in open-mouthed amazement. The angel then spoke to John. “Why do you wonder? I shall tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns” (Revelation 17:7). This is the same beast that is pictured as coming up out of the sea in chapter thirteen. The earlier proposition is that this imagery is initially taken from Daniel chapter seven and that the seven heads represent the world powers directly connected with the history of God’s scriptures. The beast is portrayed as carrying the woman, indicating that she maintains her influence through the backing of political and military powers.

Emphasis on the beast - The angel explains, “The beast that you saw was and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and to go to destruction” (Revelation 17:8a). As large and looming as the beast seems, his permanency is described as “was and is not.” Described as about “to come up out of the abyss,” the final stage is set for this beast to exercise world power. The non-Christians, referred to as those “who dwell on the earth” as contrasted to those “who dwell in heaven,” are overawed by the presence of the beast and forget about the eternal rewards of turning to Christ. “And those who dwell on the earth will wonder, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come” (Revelation 17:8b). They are focused on the point that the beast “will come.”

Some wisdom - “Here is the mind which has wisdom,” is the inspired comment. “The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits, and they are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while” (Revelation 17:9,10). The world powers connected with scriptures are: 1) Egypt, 2) Assyria, 3) Babylon, 4) Persia, 5) the Greeks, and 6) the Romans. At the time of Revelation the first five had fallen, and Rome was the one that “is.” One is yet to come.

With all the allure, with all the political and military power backing that she has, who could refuse to be a part of the great city, Babylon the harlot? Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life, and who keep them there, will be able to have the eternal focus necessary to overcome the pull of the allure and the push of the pressure emanating from the harlot and the beast she rides upon.

One Is Yet to Come

The beast on which the woman rides has seven heads. They are “seven mountains,” further defined as “seven kings.” These, as already listed, represent the world empires of Biblical times, six of them ranging from Egypt down to Rome. The seventh, says scripture, recording John’s vision, “has not yet come, and when he comes, he must remain a little while” (Revelation 17:10). More information: “And the beast which was and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction” (Revelation 17:11). This seventh, which turns into the eighth, but is really still the seventh, is the final stage in the episode of the beast, and is closely tied to “the great city,” Babylon.

Final world empire - When God scattered the peoples at the Tower of Babel by confusing their languages, the scattering made possible the development of competing nations. As the ancient rulers set themselves up as gods, they tended to eliminate the serving of the true God and Creator; hence the development of competing nations opened the possibility that men “might grope for Him and find Him” (Acts 17:27). But with modern technology closing the gaps that prevented global tyranny from developing earlier, with modern transportation and communication in place, now the “new world order” can continue apace. Writer’s opinion: the global governance anticipated by the strengthening the United Nations is the seventh and final king, which is described as the “beast which comes up out of the abyss.” There is the “eighth,” which is “one of the seven”; the writer suspects this is a rebranded United Nations.

Ten horns - The ten horns would symbolize the multiplicity of nation states which constitute the final stage in the final world government. “And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour” (Revelation 17:12). This, because of the looming judgment of God connected with the second coming of Christ, is short-lived; their power is only for an hour! The beast “was and is not.” “These have one purpose and they give their power and authority to the beast” (Revelation 17:13). One global entity, just as it was before God scattered the peoples at Babel.

More description - The global nature of this final stage is further described. John notes this from the angel who had been speaking to him. “The waters which you saw where the harlot sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues” (Revelation 17:15). As the titans of commerce strengthen their hand globally, all nations are pulled into the new world order. “For God has put it in their hearts,” is the commentary, “to execute His purpose by having a common purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God should be fulfilled” (Revelation 17:17). This is the plan of God unfolding. “And the woman whom you saw is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth” (Revelation 17:18). Babylon does indeed reign!

Nature of evil - Evil hates, evil corrupts, evil destroys, and evil even sometimes turns against itself. “And the ten horns which you saw, and the beast, these will hate the harlot and will make her desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh and will burn her up with fire” (Revelation 17:16). Once the thieves have grabbed the heist, then problems develop when it comes time to split the spoil.

The end of earth’s story is exciting for those who have stood on God’s side. The battle is fierce until the end, and the faith of the saints is tested to the maximum. The forces of darkness are hostile, and combine under Babylon’s influence. “These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful” (Revelation 17:14). Those who have heeded Christ’s words — “to him who overcomes” — will be with the Lamb when He over-comes!

“The Called, Chosen, and Faithful”

The internal visions of Revelation exhibit the same pattern; forces are at work, then as the end of planet earth approaches, things get tough. Jesus Himself noted, “For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah” (Matthew 24:37). He even issued a probing and challenging query, “However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). The apostle John, in this vision of Revelation about the harlot, the beast, and the ten horns, describes the fray in this way, “These will wage war against the Lamb...” (Revelation 17:14). It cannot be overstated: It is a battleground, not a playground!

Victory to the Lamb - Those of faith throughout the scriptures, Old and New Testaments, chose God’s winning side before it was evident that it was the winning side. Thus it is now; even though these forces appear to be winning, their doom is certain. “... and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings.” Those of the faith, then, are those who stand with the King of kings even if it costs them everything on earth. “... and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.”

The called - The apostle Paul introduced the topic of “the called” in this way in his epistle to the Roman brethren: “And we know,” he stated, “that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). Thus he follows up, speaking of those “whom He predestined [to become conformed to the image of His Son], these He also called...” (Romans 8:30). Later the apostle spoke of “vessels of mercy,” stating that these were those “whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles” (Romans 9:23,24). There is a bit of play on words from the Old Testament quotation Paul draws on, but it can be seen in Paul’s quotation from Hosea if stated in this way: “I will call ... My people” (Romans 9:25). The “called,” then, are those who have answered the call of the gospel by their belief in Jesus as the Christ, and their obedience in their immersions into Christ.

The chosen - In the parable of the wedding feast, Jesus described a man who got into the feast without his wedding garments. He should have been clothed with Christ at his immersion into Christ (Galatians 3:26,27), but failed to continue to put on Christ (Romans 13:14). He didn’t make it! As Jesus Himself stated, “Many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14). Hence the apostle Peter exhorted the brethren, “Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you” (2 Peter 1:10). A key word in this exhortation: diligent!

The faithful - Faithful saints are those who are doing what they are supposed to be doing in the place they are supposed to be doing it, and exhibiting the right attitude in the process of doing it. As has been well said, “The best ability is dependability.” That means faithful attendance in the assemblies of the saints, faithful in prayer time, Bible reading time, sharing the gospel time ... and standing firm for the apostles’ doctrine. As Paul commended the brethren in Ephesus in his opening greeting, “to the saints at Ephesus, and who are faithful in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 1:1).

The battle against the forces of darkness and against the wiles of Babylon the seductress is intense. The soldier of Christ must be diligent, vigilant, and not silent on his mission of serving Jesus during the years of his earthly sojourn. Many are the persecutions, many are the pressures, and many are the traps of the evil opposition. But the Lamb will be victorious. “And those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.” Each modern disciple of Christ must make certain that those terms are applied to him in order to join the victory celebration of the Lamb!

“Come Out of Her, My People”

After a series of visions wherein God’s increasing efforts to get mankind to repent do not succeed, the judgments of God are to begin. Babylon the great, the “city” of corruption which rules over the earth, has been introduced, and the “beast” of an earlier vision is depicted as carrying this brazen harlot. With seven heads representing seven world empires, the beast’s dominion over man is presented, and the harlot’s important participation is featured. But there’s more.

Next phase of the vision - The apostle John then sees the next phase of this vision, another angel. “After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illumined with his glory” (Revelation 18:1). This angel apparently has a tremendously important message to deliver. “And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, ‘Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!’” (Revelation 18:2). The imagery is taken from an initial vision by Isaiah the prophet in about 740 BC. At his time the Assyrians were coming from the east (by way of the north as they approached the land of Israel), and Babylon was only on the prophetic horizon. But the prophet had seen the oppression and destruction the Babylonians were to bring to Judah and Jerusalem beginning in 605 BC, and then had seen the coming of the Medes and the Persians in 539 BC and their destruction of Babylon. “Now behold, here comes a troop of riders, horsemen in pairs,” was the prophetic observation. “And one answered and said, ‘Fallen, fallen is Babylon.’” (Isaiah 21:9). As this would have been of great encouragement to the Jews in captivity, even so the message of the fall of Revelation’s Babylon is of major encouragement.

Babylon’s depravity - The record of God’s inspired word shows that men in general tend to dive to the bottom as fast as they can get there. Part of that descent is into paganism or idolatry, with the resultant spiritual destruction. “And she has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird.” Babylon’s selling her wares to further foment man’s destruction is thus described: “For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality,” is a portion of the charges against her, “and the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality” (Revelation 18:3). Much of the push towards paganism is economically driven. An example from the book of Acts is the silversmith’s making money off the images of Artemis, and their riotous behavior in opposition to the idea that “gods made with human hands are no gods at all” (Acts 19:26). There is a lot of profit in those things which are illegal and immoral!

Message to God’s people - Babylon is a spiritual entity, even though there are major impacts in the physical world. God’s people have been spiritually delivered “from the domain of darkness, and transferred...to the kingdom of His beloved Son” (Colossians 1:13). Why, then, would they find any allure in Babylon? But the message comes: “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, ‘Come out of her, my people, that you may not participate in her sins and that you may not receive of her plagues...’” (Revelation 18:4). Israel was to physically separate herself from the idol worshipers around her; Christians are to spiritually separate themselves from the world. “‘Therefore, come out from their midst,’” the apostle quoted, making spiritual application, “‘and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘And do not touch what is unclean, and I will welcome you.’” (2 Corinthians 6:17).

The Lord is preparing for Himself a bride that is white and pure. On an individual basis, the saints (who together constitute the bride) must not be tainted by the influences of the impure harlot. The Groom is earnestly pleading, “Come out of her, My people!”

Woe, Woe to Babylon

Babylon of old thought she was incapable of falling or of being conquered. With walls in some places three hundred feet high, eighty-five feet thick, and a perimeter of forty-one miles, she was resting in security and lavishing in her wealth, luxury, and concomitant depravity. What a great basis, then, was Babylon of old for being a representation of the worldliness and depravity of a spiritual Babylon, the peoples of the earth in their mad rush for pleasure, profit, and power. God’s people thus were told to “Come out of her, My people, that you may not participate in her sins and that you may not receive of her plagues” (Revelation 18:4). When God promised judgment upon a people or a city, He (with few exceptions where there was repentance) kept His promise, as recorded in Genesis, Exodus, and onward. By the time the saint is ready to read the book of Revelation, it is patently clear that God will keep His word. The saint knows, therefore, that he had best make haste to get out of Babylon. “Her sins have piled up as high as heaven,” is the divine analysis, “and God has remembered her iniquities” (Revelation 18:5).

Another warning - As mentioned, the allure of Babylon is strong. The saint thus needs numerous warnings about the judgment to come upon her. “Pay her back even as she has paid,” says the voice from heaven, “and give back to her double according to her deeds; in the cup which she has mixed, mix twice as much for her” (Revelation 18:6). That doubling down on Babylon’s worldliness should get through to the saint. There is more: “To the degree that she glorified herself and lived sensuously, to the same degree give her torment and mourning; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as a queen and I am not a widow, and will never see mourning.’” (Revelation 18:7). This quotation is taken from Isaiah 47:7,8, where Babylon of old was pictured as thinking she was impregnable and everlasting. Very arrogant! Then, and now! “For this reason in one day her plagues will come, pestilence and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for the Lord God who judges her is strong” (Revelation 18:8).

Weeping for Babylon - Babylon is pictured as “the great harlot,” and the one “with whom the kings of earth committed acts of immorality” (Revelation 17:1,2). Thus, as those who received her favors in their rush away from the righteousness of God, they mourn over her destruction. It is re-emphasized that “the kings of the earth” “committed acts of immorality and lived sensuously with her” (Revelation 18:9). No wonder, then, that they “will weep and lament over her when they see the smoke of her burning, standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’” (Revelation 18:9,10). Quite a picture, everyone standing at a distance so they don’t get caught in her conflagration!

Worldliness!! “And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargoes any more” (Revelation 18:11). Their source for pleasure was gone, their means of profit burned, and their power-brokering network collapsed. And with what were the ships laden? “...cargoes of gold and silver and precious stones and pearls and fine linen and purple and silk and scarlet, and every kind of citron wood and every article of ivory and every article made from very costly wood and bronze and iron and marble, and cinnamon and spice and incense and perfume and frankincense and wine and olive oil and fine flour and wheat and cattle and sheep, and cargoes of horses and chariots and slaves and human lives” (Revelation 18:12,13). As the Puerto Rican tour bus driver said as the bus crossed the Brooklyn Bridge into “the city” (Manhattan Island), “Anything in the world you want, you can buy in the city. ANYTHING!”

More "Woe!" to Babylon

The profit motive in and of itself is not bad. It is what men do to make that profit that is good or evil. There are those who are so bent on money and power that issues of morality do not even occur to them. “Woe to those who add house to house and join field to field,” spoke the Most High through His prophet, “until there is no more room” (Isaiah 5:8). “What do you mean by crushing My people,” the Almighty asked, “and grinding the face of the poor?” (Isaiah 3:15). It is the major merchants of the earth who are the real ruling class, and who provide the impetus and financing for the armies that march and the kings that reign. They are at the core of Babylon. As firmly ensconced as they think they are in the power centers of this planet, they will be dislodged by the fierce wrath of the great King.

The collapse of their economic system - Babylon, the great harlot city, had in its commerce anything a person could want, for a price! But that commerce is pictured as collapsing suddenly. “And the fruit you long for has gone from you, and all things that were luxurious and splendid have passed away from you and men will no longer find them” (Revelation 18:14).

The merchants’ outcry - All the planning, all the orchestration, all the execution of the plans of the great “merchant” families will come to naught. “The merchants of these things, who became rich from her, will stand at a distance because of the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning” (Revelation 18:15). They are pictured in the vision as standing at a distance, but as it plays out in real life, they will be caught in Babylon’s collapse. The merchants’ outcry is great: “Woe, woe, the great city, she who was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls; for in one hour such great wealth has been laid waste!” (Revelation 18:16,17). Such a loss of potential profit!

Others impacted - Others are portrayed as impacted by the fall of Babylon. As when ancient Tyre fell to Alexander the Great and his forces, “And every shipmaster and every passenger and sailor, and as many as make their living by the sea, stood at a distance, and were crying out as they saw the smoke of her burning” (Revelation 18:17,18). These are all deeply enmeshed in Babylon and her earthly allures. They also cried out, “What city is like the great city?” A marvel, and a monster! Further depictions of the collapse of Babylon follow. “And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had ships at sea became rich by her wealth, for in one hour she has been laid waste!’” (Revelation 18:19).

Rejoicing by God’s people - The wealthy, the “great men,” have always woven their web, goaded on by the prince of darkness, and have always persecuted the people of God. As was noted, “The prince asks, also the judge, for a bribe, and a great man speaks the desire of his soul; so they weave it together” (Micah 7:3). God’s people, God’s spokesmen, and God’s word have always condemned immorality and the purveyance of immorality. Hence those of Babylon have striven to silence those who would point out God’s judgments for immoral conduct. But in the end, those who stood for the righteousness and doctrines of God are vindicated. “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced judgment for you against her” (Revelation 18:20).

Modern Babylon is driven by multi-national corporations and the rich banking families who hold, in one way or another, controlling interests. The saint is encouraged to focus his attention on God, on His word, and on getting His message to the lost. Even though the persecution from Babylon and what she finances may be great, her doom is sure, and the justification of the faithful saint is certain.

Babylon Thrown Down

God often arranged situations up in the Old Testament times in a physical way to set the stage for what He wants to accomplish in the spiritual realm in new covenant times. In about 590 BC, Jeremiah the prophet in Jerusalem had a message sent by one of his helpers who accompanied the king on a diplomatic journey to Babylon. On the scroll were written “all the calamity which would come upon Babylon” (Jeremiah 51:60). The instructions for the servant were to read all the words of the scroll out loud, and then for him to announce that Babylon would eventually be “cut off,” and that it would be a perpetual desolation. “And it will come about as soon as you finish reading this scroll,” were the words of the directive, “you will tie a stone to it and throw it into the middle of the Euphrates, and say, ‘Just so shall Babylon sink down and not rise again...’” (Jeremiah 51:63,64).

Parallel - Here, then, is the picture from John’s vision recorded in Revelation: “And a strong angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, ‘Thus will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence, and will not be found any longer.’” (Revelation 18:21). The words of Jeremiah and the other prophets came true; a city with a 41-mile-long set of walls, with who knows how many inhabitants and a great commercial center and seat of governmental power...came to an end. And still today no one lives inside the boundary of those walls. Since what the prophets spoke about the awesome physical Babylon came true, it is equally certain that the much greater and more powerful spiritual Babylon will also “be thrown down with violence!”

How empty sits the city! - The destruction of spiritual Babylon, the source of worldliness and ungodliness, is final, and it is pictured as a forlorn city in its judgment. “And the sound of harpists and musicians and flute-players and trumpeters will not be heard in you any longer; and no craftsman of any craft will be found in you any longer; and the sound of a mill will not be heard in you any longer...” (Revelation 18:22). The merrymaking in the street has vanished, the noise of construction and sounds in the shop have ceased, and all manufacturing has come to an instant halt! “... and the light of a lamp will not shine in you any longer; and the voice of the bridegroom and bride will not be heard in you any longer” (Revelation 18:23). In the vision the finality of Babylon’s doom is painted; where light once was, now there is nothing but darkness and gloom; where the joy evinced the bridegroom and bride once was...now there is nothing!

Because of “the merchants” - Ah, yes, the merchants! In modern times “the merchants” are the megalithic corporations and those who have controlling interest in them. They have positioned themselves to control the commerce of whole nations and to be the driving force in establishing a world government, which will also be a world-wide monopoly. How powerful are these from ancient times as well as modern times? “... for your merchants were the great men of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery” (Revelation 18:23). An interesting statement: “deceived by your sorcery.” Apparently demonic forces were at work in the rise of the merchants to positions of wealth, influence, and power, and that they have been able to deceive the lowly inhabitants of the earth into following their agenda. “The great men of the earth” have had their fleeting moment of glory; their hollow and bitter end is eternal pain and abject humiliation.

Babylon, the great prostitute and purveyor of worldliness, has always been hostile to the truth of the gospel. The gospel’s call for repentance and turning to God is a message the great city wants to drown out or eliminate. Hence, proclaimers and participants in the gospel must be persecuted and executed. “And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all who have been slain on the earth” (Revelation 18:24). “What city is like the great city?”

Revelation’s “Hallelujah Chorus”

The judgment of God on Babylon has been set out and described as completed, with other judgments to follow. General worldliness, driven by the merchants of the earth and the “great” men, has been shown to be the evil that it is in the sight of God, and the great harlot who represents her corruption has been exposed.

First “hallelujah” - The reader is transported with the apostle John to the next scene. “After these things I heard, as it were,” John records, “a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven” (Revelation 19:1). The great multitude is pictured as in heaven and having watched the destruction of “Babylon the great.” And the multitude is saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God” (Revelation 19:1). Yes! It always begins with praises to Him who is the origin of all! And why the praise in this case? “... because His judgments are true and righteous; for He has judged the great harlot who was corrupting the earth with her immorality, and He has avenged the blood of His bond-servants on her” (Revelation 19:2). The first “hallelujah” [“hallelujah” means “praise Yahweh”] comes in praise of the Almighty’s judgments upon Babylon and for His avenging the blood of His bond-servants (good to know).

Second “hallelujah” - More judgment for Babylon! “And a second time they said, ‘Hallelujah! Her smoke rises up forever and ever.’” (Revelation 19:3). This is similar to the scene Abraham viewed after the destruction of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim: “Now Abraham arose early in the morning and went to the place where he had stood before the Lord; and he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the valley, and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land ascended like the smoke of a furnace” (Genesis 19:27,28). As impressive as that was, it would have been very small compared to the portrayal of the destruction of “Babylon the great.”

Third “hallelujah” - Who is next? “And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne saying, ‘Amen. Hallelujah!’” (Revelation 19:4). This casting down of “Babylon” is clearly a significant spiritual event.

Fourth “hallelujah” - The great multitude in heaven has twice shouted its “hallelujah!” This was followed by the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures. “And a voice came from the throne, saying, ‘Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great.’” (Revelation 19:5). Now all the bond-servants of God are brought in for the fourth “praise God”! “And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude and as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, ‘Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.’” (Revelation 19:6). “Babylon the great” is gone; that phase of God’s judgment has taken place. Mighty and maximum praise is indeed due Him who alone could accomplish such a large-scale victory in the spiritual realm.

It is interesting that the word “Hallelujah” is used in the New Testament in only these four places in Revelation chapter nineteen. Three of those four point to praising the Lord for His great judgment upon “Babylon” and the other praises Him directly for His ability to reign in righteousness.

Early in the book of Revelation, from underneath the altar described in the opening of the fifth seal, the martyrs for the faith cry out, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” (Revelation 6:10). Those who take a true stand for Christ are a small minority of the population, and are often persecuted. “Shall not God bring about justice for His elect, who cry to Him day and night?” (Luke 18:7).

“And in her [“Babylon”] was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all who have been slain on the earth” (Revelation 18:24). “Hallelujah” for God’s judgment upon her. “Hallelujah” that the smoke of her torment goes up forever and ever. “Hallelujah,” and “Amen.” And, “Hallelujah” that it is the Almighty and righteous God who reigns!

Marriage of the Lamb to the Bride

The great “Hallelujah’s!” of the multitude in heaven, the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures (or cherubim), and the great multitude have reverberated throughout heaven. Praise to God for His judgments upon Babylon has sounded, general acclaim to the great God has been elicited from His bond-servants, and veneration for the righteous God who reigns has been lifted up. All the host of heaven, as pictured in the vision, are exultant, waiting for the next great event!

Marriage of the Lamb - The stage is set for one of the major events of all eternity. “Let us rejoice and be glad,” sounds the great multitude, “and give glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come...” (Revelation 19:7). It is built into the human heart to long for the fulfillment of the wonderful relationship found in a happy husband and wife. Thus it is that marriages begin with all those hopes and dreams, and the day of the wedding is universally accepted as a time of joy. As the prophet Jeremiah looked to the time of the restoration of spiritual Israel to her land, he spoke of it as a time of “the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride” (Jeremiah 33:11). All the host of heaven, then, sweeping into the venue where the marriage of the Lamb is to occur, are rejoicing in the highest!

The bride - But how can there be a wedding without a bride? And who might this “bride” be? The apostle Paul takes his readers back to the Garden of Eden and quotes Moses in regard to Eve’s being joined to Adam as his wife, that the “two shall become one flesh” (Ephesians 5:31). Then the inspired apostle makes it clear that Adam and Eve’s union was a foreshadow, commenting that “I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church” (Ephesians 5:32). The church, then, is this wonderful and worthy bride of Christ. “The marriage of the Lamb has come,” were the words of the great multitude in John’s vision, “and the bride has made herself ready” (Revelation 19:7). Anyone who did not get himself ready and on time did not get to be part of the bride.

The wedding dress - Ah, yes, the wedding dress! Worn by the bride, looking to please the bridegroom, and treasured up along with its memories! “And it was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints” (Revelation 19:8). Two things are at play here. First, the part that Christ plays in the preparation of the bride. The apostle Paul notes that “Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her; that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless” (Ephesians 5:25-27). Because each of these members of the body of Christ came out of sin and darkness, they had to be cleansed from sin in the “washing of the water with the word,” which occurred at their immersions into Christ; this was not something that saints could do for themselves. The other part is that the members of the body of Christ each had to engage in righteous acts in furtherance of the faith of Christ; “faith without works is dead” (James 2:26). What a beautiful gown!!

“And he [the angel in the vision] said to me, ‘Write, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”’”’ (Revelation 19:9). What a blessing, to be invited to this gala event! The Feast of Tabernacles, at the close of the harvest season for the people of Israel foreshadowed this event. The Lord’s Supper under the new covenant is preparatory for this “marriage supper.” The invitation is still open, and it is to “whoever will” call upon the name of the Lord, to repent and be immersed into Christ.

“And he said to me, ‘These are the true words of God.’”

The Testimony of Jesus

The apostle John often appears as simply an onlooker in the tremendous visions recorded in the book of Revelation. But sometimes, he shows up in his own visions. After John hears the mighty “Hallelujah’s” to Him whose judgments are righteous and true, and the shouts of rejoicing over the marriage of the Lamb to His bride, the angel (one of those who had the bowls of wrath) speaks to John directly, saying that John was to write, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” The angel further commented, “These are true words of God” (Revelation 19:9). This was a great way to emphasize the heavenly significance of the ultimate union of Christ and the church.

Attempt at worship - When the angel finished his comment about the “true words of God,” the scripture records John as saying, “And I fell at his feet to worship him” (Revelation 19:10). This is an example of the type of worship the patriarchs engaged in and is the basic meaning of “worship.” When the Mosaic covenant was established, “worship” then moved to the Israelites’ participation in the activities at the temple during feast days. New covenant worship is the spiritual prostration of the saint’s inner man, raised and seated with Christ in the heavenly places, before the One who sits on the throne!

The angel’s response - When the apostle tried to fall down and worship the angel, he said, “Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus.” True worship is reserved for God alone, as the devil found out in his attempts to tempt Jesus in the wilderness. It is interesting that the angel would designate himself as a “fellow servant.” The tested and trusted apostle John is accorded an equal standing with the angel, but so are the brethren who will “hold the testimony of Jesus” without wavering, regardless of the intensity of the pressure or the brutality of the persecution.

The spirit of prophecy - The angel communicated to the apostle John that he was not worthy of worship. “Worship God,” is the clear and obvious instruction. The brethren who were also fellow servants were those “who hold the testimony of Jesus.” Then the angel added, “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” The “spirit of prophecy”... The purpose of the entire prophetic Word of God, the Bible, is to testify concerning Christ.

What a revelation! Genesis 1:1 through Revelation 22:21 is all about Jesus! The very first recorded command of God, “Let there be light,” was pointing to the light of Christ shining in the inner man of the Christian (2 Corinthians 4:6,7). The destruction of the rebellious sons of men in the Flood of Noah’s day, and the corresponding salvation of the righteous, prefigured immersion into Christ to save saints from the wrath to come upon the wicked of the world. Abraham was the father of the faithful, and in his “seed” all the nations would be blessed. God promised to raise up a “law giver and judge” like Moses. Joshua, the great general, foreshadowed the future “Joshua” and ultimate Conqueror of the forces of evil. Samuel was the first to hold the office of prophet in a long line of prophets, setting the stage for the Prophet who was to come. David, the great king, was a foreshadow of the Christ, the Anointed One and King over true Israel. The nation of Israel’s history — its rise, its decline, its captivity, its restoration from captivity, its dispersion, its synagogues — were all orchestrated and recorded so that the base for Jesus’ coming in the flesh might be believable and effective. His life on earth, His crucifixion on behalf of the lost souls of mankind, His resurrection, His appearances, and His ascension (and all that is connected with that event), all these are presented in the gospel accounts and in the other books of the New Testament.

“The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy”!!

He Who Rides the White Horse

Babylon of Revelation has been judged, broken out separately to give its judgment proper emphasis as an encouragement to the suffering saints of God. Next in line for emphasis are the “beast” and the “false prophet.” (All judgment happens at the same end of time; these judgments are pictured in Revelation as one following another for emphasis rather than a timeline.) But who would be capable of executing judgment upon the “beast” of Revelation chapters 13, 16, and 17? And who would have the strength to take on the false prophet at the same time? Answer: He who rides the white horse!

“Faithful and True” - The next scene in the vision opens for the apostle John, “in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day” (Revelation 1:10). “And I saw heaven opened,” he writes, “and behold, a white horse, and He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True; and in righteousness He judges and wages war” (Revelation 19:11). While the text does not specifically say this is Jesus, no One else could fit the description given here. “The only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father,” is the explanation and complete revelation of the great I AM. It has taken Him the entire history of the earth, as well as His establishment of and redemption of the church, to establish to the satisfaction of any objective man or angel that He is “Faithful,” stating and keeping His promises. He is “True,” having established the truthfulness of the testimony of Jesus. Thus it is “in righteousness,” then, that He judges, and likewise it is in righteousness that the God of peace wages war.

His description - He who rides the white horse is presiding over Armageddon. “And His eyes are a flame of fire,” just as He appears in the opening of the book of Revelation, “and upon His head are many diadems,” representing His kingship over all. “And He has a name written upon Him which no one knows except Himself” (Revelation 19:12). What a NAME that must be!! “And He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood...” (Revelation 19:13). That robe of His has been completely immersed in blood, as befits Him who wages war. “...and His name is called The Word of God.” He “who in the beginning was the Word” is He who at the end is that same Word.

His appearing on the battlefield - The white horse and its Rider have appeared on the battlefield. “And the armies which are in heaven,” is the apostle’s vision, “clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses” (Revelation 19:14). The armies...The bride, consisting of the saints, is described as clothed in white linen; so this picture of the armies could be another metaphor. “And from His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may smite the nations; and He will rule them with a rod of iron...” (Revelation 19:15). Again, as in Revelation chapter one, Jesus is depicted as having a sharp sword emanating from His mouth, which is the written word of God. The “nations” are smitten with this word, as Jesus Himself said, “the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day” (John 12:48). That sword, which is the written word of God, is also the “rod of iron” by which He rules, and as Jesus Himself also said, “the Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). “...and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.” “Fierce wrath...” Words to consider carefully.

As this portion of the vision reaches its climax, John records, “And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, ‘KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.’” (Revelation 19:16). What an army has appeared on this horizon! And what a General is at its head! “For the day of vengeance was in My heart, and My year of redemption has come” (Isaiah 63:4).”

End of the Beast and the False Prophet

In this mini-vision, the judgment upon the beast and the false prophet is to be carried out. Babylon has been pictured as judged, and “the King of Kings and Lord of Lords” is returning on His white horse, with His hosts in His train. “And I saw an angel standing in the sun...” states the apostle John, describing what he sees next in this vision (Revelation 19:17). Formerly this visionary sun had turned black as sackcloth; now the angel is portrayed as standing in it.

Calling the birds of prey - This angel “cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven...” Earlier in the book of Revelation, an eagle was seen flying in this midheaven, announcing three woes which were to come upon the unrepentant inhabitants of earth (Revelation 8:13). Now the call is issued for all the birds, “Come, assemble for the great supper of God...” The scene presented is like the aftermath on a great battlefield with lots of dead warriors laying on the ground, a carrion feast for all the birds. Here is the description: “... in order that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great” (Revelation 19:18).

The forces arrayed - The Great King has appeared on His white horse, and His forces are with Him. Also, drawn up in battle array, as John records, “And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies, assembled to make war against Him who sat upon the horse, and against His army” (Revelation 19:19). This is another picture of the great final spiritual battle, elsewhere called “Armageddon.” This focuses on “the beast and the false prophet,” who were directly introduced in Revelation chapter 13, representing the power of earthly governments opposed to God and false religion, respectively. The saint should take note that these forces “make war” against Christ and against His army and followers.

Short-lived battle - This battle is not going to last long! The King and His army start right at the “top” of the opposition. “And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone” (Revelation 19:20). All the tremendous power these two exerted on earth was shown to be nothing at all in the presence of Him who had died to rescue sinners, and rose again to the power position on high. It is important to note that “the beast” and “the false prophet” are conceptualizing world governments and powerful false religions. Their judgment in the freshly introduced “lake of fire” is simply demonstrating Christ’s superiority over all and encouraging the saint faithfully to serve the One who wins and who “wins big”!

How goes this battle for those who by intent or neglect forsook to follow the God of their salvation, and who by intent or default chose to serve with the beast and the false prophet? What happens in this spiritual war, described in physical terms? “And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat upon the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh” (Revelation 19:21).

The “sword,” which emanates from the mouth of Him who rides, the word of God, will utterly destroy the wicked, as Jesus Himself stated, “the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day” (John 12:48). But that same word that has the power to destroy, also has power to give life to those who believe and who consent to obey. As Jesus also proclaimed, “the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life” (John 6:63). “So choose life in order that you may live,” (Deuteronomy 30:19).

Judgment Day!

Babylon the great harlot has been judged. The beast and the false prophet have been thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone. Even the dragon himself has been cast into that burning lake after he and his forces surrounded “the camp of the saints and the beloved city” at the close of the “one thousand years” (discussed earlier following comments on Revelation chapter three). These judgments all occur at Jesus’ coming, but they are broken out as separate judgments for the understanding and encouragement of the saints. Now the only judgment that remains is the judgment of mankind.

The great white throne - The apostle John describes the next phase of chapter twenty’s vision: “And I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence [face] earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them” (Revelation 20:11). A key question is, who is sitting on that throne? Jesus Himself, in an intense conversation with the Jewish hierarchy, stated, “For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, in order that all may honor the Son” (John 5:22). Clearly it is Jesus who is seated on that throne, as the apostle Paul also noted, “For we must all appear before the judg-ment seat of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10). [Something to think about: the apostle Paul also stated, “For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God” (Romans 14:10). The judgment seat of Christ is also the judgment seat of God.] When Jesus returns in His glory (the face of Christ is also the glory of Christ; consider Moses’ asking to see God’s glory in Exodus 33:18-20), then the material universe will be vaporized; earth and heaven will have “fled away.”

All the dead - In general, man has been avoiding accountability to God since the day that Adam tried to shove the responsibility for his sin off on Eve. But there is no avoiding that accounting on Judgment Day. “And I saw the dead,” John records of this vision, “the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds” (Revelation 20:12). The deeds of all, great and small, are recorded in the books, and there are no accounting errors.

The “sea” and Hades - It is written, “And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds” (Revelation 20:13). When a non-Christian dies, his spirit and soul together go to Hades (Old Testament – Sheol). So, Hades is giving up its dead (presumably this would include the non-Christians who received their resurrection bodies at Jesus’ second coming). And the “sea?” In Revelation 4:6, there was “a sea of glass like crystal” near the throne. In Revelation 15:2 there is a “sea of glass mixed with fire” and the victorious saints are depicted as “standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God.” It is the author’s opinion that the “sea” of Revelation 20:13 is this sea, and that, as Hades gave up the dead in it, even so Paradise gave up the dead in it (presumably including those transformed at the last trumpet). “And death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:14).

The first “death” was the spiritual death of Adam for disobeying God’s command not to eat the forbidden fruit. It was his separation from God because of his sin. The “second death” is eternal separation from God for failure to have those sins covered by establishing fellowship with God on His terms. “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15). This is the “hell fire” spoken of by Jesus (Mark 9:48).

Be sure your name is written in the book of life, and be sure to keep it written there!

A New Heaven and a New Earth

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). This is a summary statement of the events of Creation, with additional details supplied in the rest of chapters one and two. “The heavens and the earth,” then, constitute what moderns would call “the universe,” a term meaning “all of creation” a term which did not develop until the Middle Ages. Hence, as the scriptures speak of “a new heaven and a new earth,” they are not talking about something like a future physical earth; they are speaking of a new spiritual universe. Everything physical will have passed away, as well as “Paradise,” “Hades,” and “Tartarus” (the “abyss”).

New heaven and a new earth - The judgments of God upon rebellious man and the rebellious Satan and his followers have been accomplished. The grand picture from this point on is what is generally called “heaven.” “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth,” records John, “for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea” (Revelation 21:1). This new spiritual universe is beyond man-who-walks’ comprehension, much as a student trying to memorize addition facts can’t comprehend college-level calculus. But it is glorious, and God has given saints some pictures to give them concepts they can use to get a glimmer of their eternities.

The new Jerusalem - In eternity, there is nothing physical. The body of the saint, for example, “is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body.” It is also described as “sown a natural body, raised a spiritual body” (1 Corinthians 15:42-44). Thus eternity, though described in physical terms, is not physical. “And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband” (Revelation 21:2). This “new Jerusalem” is the church, the bride of Christ, and the true temple of God. She comes “down out of heaven from God”; while she has done her part in preparing for the Groom, it is God who makes her glorious!

Tabernacle of God - From early times, God made it plain that His desire is to “walk among” His people, to dwell with them and fellowship with them. In Moses’ time, the Father stated, “And I will dwell among the sons of Israel and will be their God” (Exodus 29:45). But He really never had much fellowship with that stiff-necked and stubborn lot. The new covenant people, however, have fellowship with the Almighty through the indwelling Spirit. If the new covenant people “come out from their midst” (that is, to leave the world behind and walk in the ways of the Lord), then God says, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God and they shall be My people” (2 Corinthians 6:16). But that fellowship will only be complete when each disciple of Christ has his resurrection body. Hear these words: “And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them...’” (Revelation 21:3).

Fellowship described - When Adam sinned and was thus separated spiritually from God, then the material universe was also cursed. While earthly existence has its happy moments, in many respects it is truly “a vale of tears.” What comforting words then emanate from “the new heaven and new earth,” from “the new Jerusalem,” from Him who now tabernacles with the church: “... and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4). What love, what care, and what reward!

This section of the vision closes with these words: “And He who sits on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’” (Revelation 21:5). The “new heaven and new earth” are not anything like this present universe. And that’s a good thing! “And He said, ‘Write, for these words are faithful and true.’”

Who’s “In” and Who’s “Out”

If there is no positive resurrection from the dead, and if there is no heaven, what is the point? “If we have hoped in Christ in this life only,” the apostle Paul commented, concerning those who say there is no resurrection, “we are of all men most to be pitied” because he and others suffered greatly for something that is not true (1 Corinthians 15:19). How comforting and encouraging it is, then, that He who sits on the throne is the One who spoke about the truthfulness of the new heaven and new earth, saying, “Write, for these words are faithful and true” (Revelation 21:5). Heaven is a certainty, a “sure thing,” for those who are in Christ and remain faithful until death, backed by all the power and truthfulness of Him who sits on that throne.

“And He said to me, ’It is done.’” (Revelation 21:6). Earlier, in one of the visions, an angel had stood with one “foot” on the sea and the other on the land as the seventh trumpet was about to sound, and stated, “then the mystery of God is finished, as He preached to His servants the prophets” (Revelation 10:7). Now, “It is done!” The previous material universe is gone, judgment of men and of angels has taken place, and the plan of God to be executed on planet earth has finished.

“Alpha and Omega” - The One sitting on the throne then says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end” (Revelation 21:6). The New Testament writings were written in koine Greek, the widely spoken language of the first century AD. The first letter of the Greek alphabet is Alpha, and the last is Omega (even our word “alphabet” comes from a merging of the first two letters, Alpha and Beta). As “the Alpha and the Omega,” He is indeed everything from the first to the last, “the beginning and the end.” And He is therefore authoritative!

“Springs of water” - Jesus had spoken, as recorded by John in his gospel account, of “rivers of living water” and a “well of water springing up to eternal life,“ so that everyone who would drink of that water “will never thirst again” (John 7:37-39; 4:10-14). The apostle, in his inspired commentary, said that these referred to the indwelling Spirit, who would be given from the time of Acts chapter two onward to those who would be obedient to the gospel. In Revelation chapter twenty-one, then, He who sits on the throne makes His appeal, “I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost” (Revelation 21:6). That appeal is made to the one who reads and the one who hears the words of this letter, and it is the promise for all eternity. If the saint has really drunk from that spring, he will not be on the road to Egypt or to Assyria looking for more. “He who overcomes shall inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son” (Revelation 21:7). Yes, the rewards are to those who OVERCOME.

Those who are “out” - What befalls those who never followed Christ in the first place, or those who failed to overcome? “But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8). “Cowards,” those who are in some way ashamed of Jesus and His words, are first on this list. “All liars” is the wording bringing this list to a close. Time for reflection!

These words are so that those who are still “in the land of the living” on planet earth can make an intelligent choice about their eternities. Those who are “in” Christ are blessed for all eternity; those who are “out” and not part of the body of Christ end up in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone for all eternity. It is a clear choice, and no one can afford to let the devil obscure the clarity of these two options.

The Eternal City

The apostle John’s spiritual sight-seeing adventure continues. “And one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues, came and spoke with me, saying, ‘Come here, I shall show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.’” (Revelation 21:9). What follows is a physical picture of the church in eternity, described as a city.

“And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper” (Revelation 21:10,11). Satan carried Jesus away to a high mountain to show Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; but the Christ did not fall for the temptation because He had a view of this New Jerusalem, the one with the glory of God. And what an honor for the church of the living God. He had said, “I am the LORD, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another,” and yet He gives this glory to the bride (Isaiah 42:8)!!

The city - The “holy of holies” in both the tabernacle and the temple were cubes (15’ x 15’ x 15’ for the tabernacle, 30’ x 30’ x 30’ for the temple). This back room was where God symbolically dwelt, even saying to Moses, “And there I will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak to you” (Exodus 25:22). The measurements show that the eternal city was foreshadowed by the Old Testament places of worship. “And the one who spoke with me,” notes John, “had a gold measuring rod to measure the city, and its gates and its wall. And the city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as the width; and he measured the city with the rod, fifteen hundred miles; its length and width and height are equal” (Revelation 21:15,16). And these words were added, “...and the city was pure gold, like clear glass” (Revelation 21:18). For those who have been spiritually prepared, it isn’t that the city is gold (which is symbolic; the city is spiritual not physical) or that it is a perfect cube; it is that this is where the saint finds eternal fellowship in the presence of the awesome and loving God. As Ezekiel also foretold, “the name of the city from that day shall be, ‘The LORD is there.’” (Ezekiel 48:35).

The wall - It is not of much value to have a city if that city can’t be protected. Hence, in the time of Nehemiah, much effort was spent in rebuilding the fallen wall of Jerusalem that she might be protected from invaders. The vision of the holy city coming down out of heaven contains much detail about the wall of the eternal city, painting a picture of security for those saints who have spent their earthly lives in suffering, being occasionally destitute, and often in being arrested. The description begins, “It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on them, which are those of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel” (Revelation 21:12). “A great and high wall” — security! Twelve angels guarded the gates showing divine security, and the gates had the names of the twelve tribes of Israel inscribed upon them, showing that the basis for the church on earth and in heaven was laid in the formation and protection of physical Israel.

“There were three gates on the east and three gates on the north and three gates on the south and three gates on the west” (Revelation 21:13). A person has to be inside the gates to be safe. “And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb” (Revelation 21:14). Symbolically, twelve apostles (there are actually thirteen); it is only through the apostles’ doctrine that anyone enters into this eternal city!

The Walled City

The city, the new Jerusalem, is a perfect cube, 1,500 miles on each side and pure gold like clear glass. This city (which is the dwelling place of God) is surrounded by a “great and high wall.” “And the one who spoke with me,” states the apostle John, “had a gold measuring rod to measure the city, and its gates and its wall” (Revelation 21:15). Only an angel could have used a rod (suggested length 16 feet) to measure that city on all three sides!

More about the wall - The angel with the rod was busy. “And he measured its wall, seventy-two yards, according to human measurements, which are also angelic measurements” (Revelation 21:17). That is a high wall, indeed! “And the material of the wall was jasper” (Revelation 21:18). Modern “jasper” is a stone of various colors formed from a reorganization of silicon dioxide; Biblical “jasper” seems to be “crystal clear,” which is why some think it is talking about “diamond.”

Wall’s foundation stones - Beautiful jewel stones formed the base for the jasper wall. “The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone,“ is John’s description. “The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst” (Revelation 21:19,20). These parallel the stones on the breastplate of the high priest of Israel (Exodus 28:17-20). The foundation for the coming of Christ and the beginning of the church was laid in the physical nation Israel. As the apostle Paul described his “kinsmen according to the flesh,” he stated that to them belonged “the adoption as sons and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh” (Romans 9:4,5). It is fitting that the foundation stones of New Jerusalem’s wall should parallel the representation of Israel on the high priest’s breastplate. If the wall is magnificent, then the city itself is much more magnificent!

The “pearly gates” - The wall has been described as having twelve gates, “and at the gates twelve angels” (Revelation 21:12). Further description is given by the apostle John in his revelation, “And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl” (Revelation 21:21). Impressive!

Ezekiel, in chapters forty through forty-eight, described a new land with a new Jerusalem and a new temple. It can be shown that the river of living water which flowed from that temple is a reference to the indwelling Spirit given to those who are properly immersed into Christ (Ezekiel 47:1-12; John 7:37-39). It follows that the temple of Ezekiel is a spiritual temple for a spiritual priesthood which offers up spiritual sacrifices (1 Peter 2:4-10). In other words, it is a prophetic picture of the church of the New Testament.

But why such detail? Why such intricate description as this: “And the double hooks, one handbreadth in length, were installed in the house all around; and on the tables was the flesh of the offering” (Ezekiel 40:43). The church, the kingdom of heaven, is a spiritual entity, but there are no physical words which can describe something so spiritual. Hence, pictures from the Old Testament are used as a basis for communicating the tremendous detail that God uses for the construction of the church. His care is illustrated in this statement: “But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired” (1 Corinthians 12:18).

Now, to the “great and high wall.” Much detail has been given concerning this jasper wall with its foundation stones and gates of pearl. But this is just the wall! If the wall is magnificent, then the city itself is much more magnificent!! And that city is God’s eternal dwelling place; each of its building blocks, cut and carefully shaped, is an individual Christian.

The Glory of God Illumines the City

What a magnificent sight it would have been! To have come up the road from Jericho, climbing more than 3000 feet in fifteen miles, to reach the crest of the Mount of Olives, and then across the Valley of the Kidron to see the majestic Temple of Solomon capping the spot that once was the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. A sense of the awe that even the lesser temple of Jesus’ day inspired is caught in Matthew’s description, “And Jesus came out from the temple and was going away when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him” (Matthew 24:1). But compared to the New Jerusalem...

The temple in New Jerusalem - “I saw,” said the apostle John, referring to his final vision, “the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God” (Revelation 21:2). Is there a temple in this city? Will it dominate the landscape as did the one in Jerusalem of old? “And I saw,” states John, “no temple in it, for the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb, are its temple” (Revelation 21:22). The city is a spiritual entity, and this temple is a spiritual entity. God is finally getting to “tabernacle” among His people and walk among them! In Jesus’ prayer before He reached the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed thusly for all His future disciples: “And the glory which You have given Me I have given to them; that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them, and You in Me” (John 17:22,23). That unity is a spiritual entity, which can only ultimately be achieved where there is no physical realm having boundaries preventing this oneness. Jesus prayed for all future disciples, “that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be in Us; that the world may believe that You did send Me” (John 17:21). Saints are one with the Father and the Son, and thus are participants in this temple.

The illuminated city - What is the source of light for this new heaven and new earth? “And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb” (Revelation 21:23). God indeed is light (1 John 1:5). He and the Lamb are one, and that light illumines everything.

Kings of the earth - The apostle John records, concerning the city illumined by the glory of God, “And the nations shall walk by its light, and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory into it” (Revelation 21:24). So who are these “nations” and who are these kings? Each Christian is a spiritual king, being part of the “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9), and the “nations” are the converted Gentiles (converted Jews would be included in this picture). No one else is going to enter into the eternal city! “And in the daytime (for there shall be no night there) its gates shall never be closed; and they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it...” (Revelation 21:25,26). This is a picture of “heaven” for the faithful saints, and who are thus rewarded for what they accomplished for the “glory” of their King Jesus.

God, with His great mercy and His love, made a way for those whose sins had separated them from God to be forgiven and reconciled through Jesus Christ. This grace is in accordance with the terms that God dictates, extending only to those who as believers in Christ have properly repented and been immersed in accordance with Acts 2:38 and other scriptures. God has offered great grace and mercy, but for those who try to play games with Him, He has no mercy. “... and nothing unclean and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Revelation 21:27). Again, make sure your name is written there, and keep it written there!

The River of the Water of Life

There are passages in the New Testament writings that open up understanding for chunks of what was written in the Old Testament. One of the key sets of scripture is recorded in John 7:37-39 where it is noted that Jesus went up to the Feast of Booths in the autumn before He was crucified. The apostle John stated, “Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, “From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.”’” Then the apostle, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, told his readership what Jesus meant. “But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” Since Jesus had spoken in terms of “from his innermost being,” and since this is talking about an aspect of the Holy Spirit that was not given until after Jesus’ glorification (at His ascension), this passage is referring to the indwelling Spirit first granted at the Day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts chapter two.

Flowing from Ezekiel’s temple - In chapters forty through forty-eight, Ezekiel recorded his vision of a land, a city, and a temple. As he looked at the temple from the east side facing west, he noted his observation. “Then he brought me back to the door of the house; and behold, water was flowing from under the threshold of the house toward the east, for the house faced east” (Ezekiel 47:1). This water became deeper as it flowed away from the temple, and (in the vision), as it dropped into the chasm in which the Jordan ran, it became a river which tuned the Dead Sea into a body of water which supported life. This is one of the places where the “river of living water” is referred to by Jesus and is therefore a prophecy of the indwelling Spirit for the church. “And by the river on its bank, on one side and on the other, will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear every month because their water flows from the sanctuary, and their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing” (Ezekiel 47:12).

Revelation’s river - The parallel between the vision of Ezekiel chapter forty-seven and Revelation chapter twenty-two is very clear and striking. “And he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street” (Revelation 22:1,2). This river is a portrayal of the continuing fellowship with God that the saint currently has through the indwelling Spirit; the Spirit will be with each saint throughout all eternity. “And let the one who wishes,” is the invitation, “take the water of life without cost” (Revelation 22:17).

Tree of life - As in Ezekiel’s vision, trees grow alongside the river. “And on either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations” (Revelation 22:2). Because of Adam and Eve’s sin, they were separated from the tree of life in the Garden of Eden; hence physical death came upon all their descendants. But where the tree of life “grows,” there is no more death!!

The “indwelling Spirit” for saints is one of the major themes of the scripture, and He is what the river represents. “But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ,” stated the apostle Paul in clear reference to the Spirit who dwells within, “he does not belong to Him” (Romans 8:9). That Spirit continues to dwell in Christians who possess their immortal, resurrection bodies in heaven. The words of Jesus are eternally true: “It is the Spirit who gives life” (John 6:63).

The City of Light

“Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:9). Blessed indeed! They constitute the New Jerusalem, the “city four-square” and the dwelling place of God and the Lamb. Watered by the river of the water of life (the presence of the Holy Spirit), and “eating” from the tree of life, they are alive, complete in spirit and soul and the new glorious eternal body.

The “curse” is gone - As a result of Adam’s sin, God stated, “Cursed is the ground because of you” (Genesis 3:17). The thorns and the thistles popped up out of the ground, and since then man has had to hack the jungle back every day just to stay even, much less get ahead. Things break, the second law of thermodynamics (that says everything is headed toward decay) came into effect, and life is a major challenge. Thus there is a tremendous hope laid out for those who want to be a part of New Jerusalem. “And there shall no longer be any curse” (Revelation 22:3). For those who have never known any landscape but the cursed one, the spiritual land where there is no curse is nearly unimaginable, but clearly desirable.

In the presence of God - The river of the water of life is described as “flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb” (Revelation 22:1). The throne itself is described as “in it,” meaning inside the city (Revelation 22:3). The portrayal thus is that God and the Lamb are seated on the throne, the river of the water of life is flowing from the throne, and the saints are in His presence. “...and His bond-servants shall serve Him; and they shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads” (Revelation 22:3,4). All through man’s material existence on earth, he could not see the face of God; in glory the saints get to see His face, and rejoice in that they are clearly marked as His children. “Beloved, now we are children of God,” stated the apostle John in his first epistle, “and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is” (1 John 3:2).

The true “illuminati” - It is a simple but all-encompassing truth that “God is light” (1 John 1:5). He did not need the sun to light things up in the early stages of Creation, waiting until day four to bring forth the sun, the moon, and the stars. In eternity, He does not need a sun; of New Jerusalem John says that “the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb” (Revelation 21:23). The point is re-emphasized in the following chapter, “And there shall no longer be any night; and they shall not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God shall illumine them; and they shall reign forever and ever” (Revelation 22:5). Those are the “true illuminati.”

The selected angel of the seven who had the bowls of wrath is the one delivering this section of Revelation to John. “And he said to me,” the apostle notes, “‘These words are faithful and true...’” (Revelation 22:6). These pictures of the eternal city, the saints’ seeing the face of God, and saints’ being illumined are encouraging rewards to be kept in the forefronts of the Christians’ minds as they fight their way through the persecutions and challenges to their faith. “... and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must shortly take place” (Revelation 22:6).

"The Time Is Near"

The picture given in the visions to the apostle John has been completed. The forces unleashed on earth have been mentioned, God’s open door of repentance has been offered to mankind and refused, the judgments of God upon Babylon, the beast and the false prophet, the dragon, and upon men have been detailed, and the final picture of the holy city, the eternal Jerusalem, has been painted. The saints who have overcome see God’s face and reign with Him forever! What follows in the rest of the book of Revelation is a series of wrap-up encouragements and injunctions.

Taking effect immediately - One of the seven angels who had the bowls of wrath became John’s personal tour guide in the final stages of the book of Revelation. Speaking of the entire series of visions which John had seen, the angel noted, “These words are faithful and true” (Revelation 22:6). The angel then added, “...and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must shortly take place.” The events which were about to unfurl in the world at the time that Revelation was written (to the seven existing churches of Asia) would engulf the saints of the first century. It was important for them to be aware of the Lord’s warnings about their time so that they would not think of the entire book only referred to things in their distant future. The angel further stated to John, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near” (Revelation 22:10). Since the book obviously covers the Day of Judgment and beyond, the “near” time is “beginning” about 100 AD.

Jesus’ insert - In the closing wrap-up, Jesus Himself has a couple of insertions to encourage the brethren in their faithfulness. “And behold, I am coming quickly,” states the Christ in the first one of these. “Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book” (Revelation 22:7). It is a continuing point of emphasis in Revelation that Jesus is coming quickly, and saints are to be ready for that return. And to “heed” the words; hear and put into action!

John and the angel (again) - John once again shows up in his own vision. “And I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things” (Revelation 22:8). He had tried that once before and was told not worship the angel, but the awesomeness of what the angel had been showing him must have triggered that falling down in prostration before the angelic messenger. “And he said to me, ‘Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who heed the words of this book; worship God.’” (Revelation 22:9). Only God is worthy of worship; angels, greater in power and might than man, are content to be “fellow servants.”

The words of this prophetic book are not to be sealed up for a later time like Daniel’s were; they were to be delivered and understood. “The time is near.” The time is soon coming when men will not be able to change, when they are set and fixed in their ways and their thought patterns. Men now can still repent, but the warning is here that the time is coming when it is too late, when the words of this passage take full effect: “Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and let the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and let the one who is holy, still keep himself holy” (Revelation 22:11). If changes are necessary, make them now! If righteousness and holiness are being practiced now, maintain those, following the upward call of God in Christ Jesus!

“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done” (Revelation 22:12).

The Alpha and the Omega

Some of the first words written in the book of Revelation are, “‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty’” (Revelation 1:8). This is a clear reference to the Father, as the next verses in Revelation chapter one refer to the Holy Spirit and Jesus, respectively. What is also interesting is found in Revelation chapter twenty-two. Jesus, in one of His insertions, states, “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done” (Revelation 22:12). He then immediately follows that with this: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end” (Revelation 22:13). He obviously is the One who has been from everlasting and will be to everlasting, the One from Whom all things flow. So, is Father “the Alpha and the Omega” [the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet], or is it Jesus?

Helps from John’s gospel account - When Jesus healed the man beside Bethesda’s pool, the Jews (the Jewish hierarchy) were upset that this healing had occurred on a Sabbath. Jesus explained that the Father was working and therefore He was working also. “For this cause therefore,” the apostle commented, “the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God” (John 5:18). When Jesus stated, “I and the Father are one,” the Jews took up stones to execute Him (John 10:30,31). When Jesus asked why they wanted to stone Him, they responded, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God” (John 10:33). He had even pointed out earlier that “before Abraham was born, I am” (John 8:58). His claim to be the great I AM resulted in another attempt to stone Him. Attempts break down the interrelationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit into something simple and explainable (such as using the non-Biblical term “Trinity”) all fail. God is “the Alpha and the Omega.” Jesus is “the Alpha and the Omega.” Let it stand.

“Wash their robes” - Another pithy instruction comes: “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city” (Revelation 22:14). Those “robes” initially are washed clean in the waters of immersion in accordance with Acts 2:38 and related scriptures. Saul of Tarsus, for example, the future apostle Paul, was told by Ananias (and who was sent by none other than King Jesus Himself), “Arise, and be immersed, and wash away your sins, calling on His name” (Acts 22:16). That is the new beginning. But the saint has the obligation to mortify the flesh (Romans 8:13) and to continue to put on Christ (Romans 13:14). Failure to do so will result in his name’s being erased from the Lamb’s book of life (Revelation 3:5). Thus “no right to the tree of life” in eternity, and no entrance into the eternal city.

Who is on the outside? - Inside the city forever and ever are the faithful saints. “Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying” (Revelation 22:15). The “dogs” are the “male cult prostitutes” that served in temples such as the worship of Baal, whereas their counterparts were the female cult prostitutes serving at the Asherah. “You shall not bring the hire of a harlot or the wages of a dog into the house of the LORD your God for any votive offering,” God had stated through Moses (Deuteronomy 23:18). The other listings are very clear.

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men” (Romans 1:18). God will apply His righteousness to those who walk by faith, and who then endeavor to govern their lives accordingly. They will wash their robes, and will receive the reward that Jesus is bringing with Him!

Final Words

In the closing section of the book of Revelation, Jesus is quoted as saying, “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches” (Revelation 22:16). In these series of visions given initially to the extant churches of the Roman province of Asia, the warnings of Christ and His appeals for people to “get it right” are graphically portrayed. The angel “testifying” did his job. Revelation is also the capstone of the entire revelation of God to mankind, recorded in the pages of the sacred writ. “I am the root and the offspring of David,” says the Christ, pulling together all the prophecies about the coming descendant of David according to the flesh, who would be declared the Son of God with great power. Jesus is also “the bright morning star,” as the indwelling Spirit shining in the hearts of His obedient believers, who are waiting eagerly for the “Sunrise from on high” of Jesus second coming.

Open invitation - As the book of Revelation is finishing, then, the invitation or call of Christ still stands. “And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’” (Revelation 22:17). The “bride” is the church, which is entrusted with carrying the message of salvation and eternal life to the lost. “And let the one who hears say, “Come.’” This is the way the call of God reverberates through all humanity. “And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.” Yes, let him participate in the blessings of the indwelling Spirit, on earth and on into eternity.

“Do not add to or take away from” - From the earliest writings of Moses, Yahweh had stated, “You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it” (Deuteronomy 4:2). Even in the days when the book of Proverbs was being written and preserved, the principle stood, “Do not add to His words” (Proverbs 30:6). The similar statement in Revelation is, “I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God shall add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book” (Revelation 22:18,19). While the expression “this book” refers directly to this collection of visions from the apostle John, the establishment of the Old Testament and New Testament canons grants extension to the principle. Don’t add to the word of God, and don’t “diminish ought” from it. The eternal consequences are most severe!

“I testify,” were the introductory words of the statement not to add to or take away from. The record continues, “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming quickly.’ (Revelation 22:20). Very clearly, the One who testifies is Jesus Himself. And, in keeping with one of the key themes of Revelation, He says that He is coming quickly.

The apostle John adds, as he is finishing this wonderful book, “Amen.” Then he superadds, “Come, Lord Jesus.” The souls of modern saints, oppressed as was righteous Lot in Sodom and Gomorrah, certainly echo that cry! “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all,” implores the apostle, earnestly desiring that the strength of God through the Holy Spirit be given to each suffering saint. And then the closing word of the entire revelation of God to man: “Amen” (Revelation 22:21).

The book of Revelation is comprised of seven visions, with interludes. First, the vision to the seven churches; second, the vision of the seven seals; third, the vision of the seven trumpets; fourth, the vision of the dragon, the beast, the false prophet, and the victorious Lamb and His followers; fifth, the vision of the seven bowls of wrath; sixth, the vision of the judgments of God; and seven, the vision of heaven. Through this, each saint is given a clear picture of Christ’s victory over all in the end, and is thus exhorted to take his stand for Christ regardless of earthly suffering. And, for “him who overcomes,” heaven awaits!