Revelation 1
1) The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants (note), the things which must soon (note) take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel (note) to His bond-servant John,
2) who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.
3) Blessed is he (note) who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.
4) John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,
5) and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth (note) To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood--
John indicates that the seven horns and seven eyes of the Lamb represent the seven Spirits of God; thus,
the lampstand containing the seven lamps is a figure of speech for the Holy Spirit.
Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder.
And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God;
(Rev 4:5)
And I saw 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. (Rev 5:6)
Furthermore, this passage supports the view of the Holy Spirit having the attribute of
omnipresence as It is "sent out into all the earth" (Rev 5:6)
and ranges "to and fro throughout the earth" (Zech 4:1-10).
It is possible that, according to Isaiah, the seven Spirits are: 1) the Spirit of the Lord, 2) the Spirit
of wisdom, 3) the Spirit of understanding, 4) the Spirit of counsel, 5) the Spirit of strength, 6) the
Spirit of knowledge, and 7) the Spirit of the fear of the Lord.
Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse,
And
a branch from his roots will bear fruit.
The Spirit of the Lord will rest
on Him,
The spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The
spirit of counsel and strength,
The spirit of knowledge and the fear of
the Lord. (Isa 11:1-2)
This is an explicit statement that Jesus Christ is the first to be resurrected. This understanding
affects our understanding of other passages.
51) And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.
And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52) The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints
who had fallen asleep were raised, 53) and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the
holy city and appeared to many. 54) When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus,
saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"
(Matt 27:51-54)
38) So Jesus, again being deeply moved within, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave,
and a stone was lying against it. 39) Jesus said, "Remove the stone." Martha, the sister of the deceased,
said to Him, "Lord, by this time he smells, for he has been dead four days." 40) Jesus said to her, "Did I
not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" 41) So they removed the stone. Then
Jesus raised His eyes, and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42) And I knew that You always
hear Me; but because of the crowd standing around I said this, so that they may believe that You sent Me."
43) And when He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth." 44) The man
who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth.
Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go. (John 11:38-44)
6) and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father--to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
7) BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS (note), and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.
8) "I am the Alpha and the Omega (note)," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
9) I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation (note) and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos (note) because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
10) I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day (note), and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet,
11) saying, "Write in a book (note) what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea."
12) Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands;
13) and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man (note), clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash.
14) His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire.
15) His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters.
16) In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword (note); and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.
17) When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last,
18) and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.
19) "Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things. (note)
20) "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 (note), and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Revelation 2
1) "To the angel of the church in Ephesus (note) write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this:
2) 'I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false;
3) and you have perseverance and have endured for My name's sake, and have not grown weary.
4) 'But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
5) 'Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place--unless you repent.
6) 'Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7) 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.'
8) "And to the angel of the church in Smyrna (note) write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:
9) 'I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
10) 'Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
11) 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.'
12) "And to the angel of the church in Pergamum (note) write: The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:
13) 'I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
14) 'But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who 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.
15) 'So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
16) 'Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth.
17) 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches To him who overcomes, 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.'
18) "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira (note) write: The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze, says this:
19) 'I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first.
20) 'But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.
21) 'I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality.
22) 'Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds.
23) 'And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.
24) 'But I say to you, 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.
25) 'Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come.
26) 'He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS;
27) AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON, AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES, as I also have received authority from My Father;
28) and I will give him the morning star.
29) 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'
Revelation 3
1) "To the angel of the church in Sardis (note) write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: 'I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.
2) 'Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God.
3) 'So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.
4) 'But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.
5) 'He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
6) 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'
7) "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia (note) write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this:
8) 'I know your deeds Behold, 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.
9) 'Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie--I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you.
10) '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 (note), to test those who dwell on the earth.
11) 'I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
12) 'He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on 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.
13) 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'
14) "To the angel of the church in Laodicea (note) write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:
15) 'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.
16) 'So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.
17) 'Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,
18) I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.
19) 'Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.
20) 'Behold, 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.
21) '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.
22) 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"
Revelation 4 (note)
1) After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven (note), and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things."
Locating where each event occurs will help your ability to observe and track what is happening.
The first heaven appears to be the physical atmosphere around the earth and its gravity where water
exists as a gas and liquid.
Then God said, "Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it
separate the waters from the waters." God made the expanse, and separated the waters which were below the
expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so. God called the expanse heaven. And
there was evening and there was morning, a second day. (Gen 1:6-8)
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there
without watering the earth
And making it bear and sprout,
And furnishing seed to the sower and
bread to the eater; (Isa 55:10)
The second heaven appears to be the visible solar system.
Then God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the
day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years; and let them be for
lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth"; and it was so. God made the two great
lights, the greater light to govern the day, and the lesser light to govern the night; He made the stars
also. (Gen 1:14-16)
They will spread them out to the sun, the moon and to all the host of heaven,
which they have loved and which they have served, and which they have gone after and which they have sought,
and which they have worshiped. They will not be gathered or buried; they will be as dung on the face of the
ground. (Jer 8:2)
The third heaven appears to be where God resides on His throne (Ps 11:4),
is seen as the "highest heaven" (Deut 10:14;
1 Ki 8:27), where Jesus ascends after His resurrection
(Heb 9:24), and from where the Holy Spirit is sent
(1 Pet 1:12). Created by God, third heaven is also where
unfallen angels, the "heavenly host," reside (Neh 9:6) and
serve God (Rev 5).
While God resides in the third heaven, all three comprise His heavenly realm
(Ps 115:16).
The heavens are the heavens of the Lord,
But the earth He has given to the
sons of men. (Ps 115:16)
Notice Paul's vision of a man in Third Heaven. Did he see the apostle John?
1) It is necessary to boast, though it is not profitable, but I will go on to
visions and revelations of the Lord. 2) I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I
do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven. 3)
And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows— 4) was
caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.
(2 Cor 12:1-4)
2) Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne.
3) And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance.
4) Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders (note) sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads.
5) Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God (note);
6) and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures (note) full of eyes in front and behind.
7) The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle.
8) And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night 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."
9) 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,
10) 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, saying,
11) 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 5
1) 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 (note).
2) And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?"
3) And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it.
4) Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it;
5) and one of the elders 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" (note).
6) And I saw 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.
7) And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.
8) When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
9) And they sang a new song, saying,
"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.
10) "You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth (note)."
11) Then I looked, 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,
12) saying with 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."
13) 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, I heard saying,
"To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever."
14) And the four living creatures kept saying, "Amen " And the elders fell down and worshiped.
Revelation 6
1) Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals (note), and I heard one of the four living creatures (note) saying as with a voice of thunder, "Come."
2) 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.
3) When He broke the second seal (note), I heard the second living creature saying, "Come."
4) 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 would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.
5) When He broke the third seal (note), I heard the third living creature saying, "Come " I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand.
6) And I heard something like 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 damage the oil and the wine."
7) When the Lamb broke the fourth seal (note), I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, "Come."
8) I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him 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.
Seal 1: To conquer is to be victorious. Is this like living life with a zero sum strategy - I win and
you lose - in personal relationships, marriage, business, government, and nations?
Seal 2: The removal of peace as an option to disagreement. Does this mean conquering is not simply
winning; but, perhaps to include vanquishing an opponent completely?
Seal 3: The removal of food security and resulting in famine. Is this through climate change, water
shortage, or government policy? Or all of the above?
Seal 4: Death of 25% of earth's population by war, famine, infectious epidemic disease, and wild animals.
Compare Daniel's prophecy of "the little horn" (Dan 7:8)
to the views of Jesus and the apostle Paul.
Daniel (Dan 7:3, 7-8, 19-20, 23-26; 9:26-27):
Leading the fourth kingdom that arose from the sea with ten horns, the One Who Makes Desolate is the
"little horn" that became "larger in appearance than its associates" after usurping three. Extremely boastful,
he speaks "words against the Most High" and will "wear down the saints of the Highest One."
Jesus (Matt 24:15-23; Mark 13:14-20):
The Abomination of Desolation is associated with the great tribulation "such as has not occurred since
the beginning of the world."
Apostle Paul (2 Thes 2:3-9):
The Man of Lawlessness and Son of Destruction "exalts himself above every so-called god or object
of worship," "takes his seat in the sanctuary of God," and exhibits "himself as being God."
Daniel's little horn of the fourth beast from the sea will have power and authority for 3-1/2 years during
which he will be speaking great boasts against God and instigate the murder of Believers.
and the meaning of the ten horns that were on its head and the other horn which came
up and before which three of them fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth speaking great boasts and
which was larger in appearance than its associates. I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the
saints and overcoming them (Dan 7:20-21)
He will speak words against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One,
and he will intend to make changes in seasons and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time,
times, and half a time. But the court will sit for judgment, and his dominion will be taken away, annihilated
and destroyed forever. (Dan 7:25-26)
In John's third interlude, when Satan empowers the Antichrist (the Beast from the Sea,
Rev 13:1-8), the beast is given the authority to act for
3-1/2 years "to make war with the saints and to overcome them." All of this is within the context of Daniel's
fourth kingdom which God indicates, "Seventy weeks have been determined for your people and for your holy city"
to: 1) finish the transgression, 2) to make an end of sin, 3) to make atonement for iniquity, and 4) to bring
an everlasting righteousness" (Dan 9:24).
And there was given to him a mouth speaking great boasts and blasphemies, and
authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against
God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven. And it was also 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. And all who dwell on the earth 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.
(Rev 13:5-8)
When Jesus talks about the destruction of the Temple, it is in the context of the trampling of the holy city
Jerusalem by Gentiles:
And when you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be
terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately."
Then He continued saying to them, "Nation will rise against nation and kingdom
against kingdom, and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will
be terrors and great signs from heaven.
"But before all these things, they
will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you
before kings and governors for My name's sake. It will result in an opportunity for your testimony. So set in
your hearts not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which none
of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and
relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, and you will be hated by all because of My name.
Yet not a hair of your head will perish. By your perseverance you will gain your lives.
"But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its
desolation is at hand. Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are in the
midst of the city must leave, and those who are in the countryside must not enter the city; because these are
days of vengeance, so that all things which are written will be fulfilled. Woe to those who are pregnant and to
those who are nursing babies in those days; for there will be great distress upon the land and wrath against
this people, and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations, and
Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
(Luke 21:9-24)
Preceding the assault of Jerusalem, Jesus' prophesy of wars, death, great earthquakes,
famines, plagues, and great signs from heaven, appears to correspond to the events of the first four seals
(Rev 6:1-8).
Seal 1: People and nations go out to conquer each other.
Seal 2: Killing, murder and death.
Seal 3: Famine and food inflation.
Seal 4: 25% of the world's population dies by murder, starvation, disease and wild animals.
In consideration of all of the above data, Daniel's 70th week begins after Jesus' breaking of the Fourth
Seal (Rev 6:1-8) during wars, death, great earthquakes,
famines, plagues, and great signs from heaven. It begins with the emergence of the Abomination of Desolation
and his assault on Jerusalem and blaspheming God for 3-1/2 years.
The ministry of the Two Witnesses begins with the start of Daniel's 70th week.
Then a measuring rod like a staff was given to me, saying, "Get up and measure the
sanctuary of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. And leave out the court which is outside the
sanctuary and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles, and they will trample the holy city
under foot for forty-two months. And I will give authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy
for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth." (Rev 11:1-3)
9) When the Lamb broke the fifth seal (note), I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God (note), and because of the testimony which they had maintained (note);
10) 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?"
11) And there was given to each of them a white robe; 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, would be completed also.
In every instance when Jesus uses the term "tribulation," it is in the context of Believers being
persecuted for their faith; it is something all Believers will experience after He is gone from earth
(Matt 24:9-14; Mark 13:9-13;
Luke 21:10-19). And Jesus is saying what His Father wants
Him to reveal (John 14:10-11).
"Tribulation" occurs as the result of one's faith in God (Matt 13:20-21;
Mark 4:16-17). Speaking to His disciples, Jesus presents
"tribulation" as occurring very soon and with certain fatality (Matt 24:9-13;
John 16:33).
Drawing a comparison to a mother's pain in labor, Jesus reassures the disciples that while "tribulation"
is painful, the experience will be temporary and will be supplanted with the everlasting joy of seeing each
other again (John 16:21-22).
While tribulation, the persecution of one's faith, is an existential risk, Jesus pinpoints the start of
the Great Tribulation to the emergence of the "abomination of desolation standing in the holy place." When
the Antichrist is standing within the Temple, the Great Tribulation is upon Believers.
"Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through
Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must
flee to the mountains. Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his
house. And whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his garment. But woe to those who are pregnant
and to those who are nursing babies in those days! But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or
on a Sabbath." For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of
the world until now, nor ever will. (Matt 24:15-21)
John saw the souls of Believers who were martyred because of their faith in and testimony of God. Since
this was before the completion of their resurrection (Rev 20:4-6),
the apostle saw disembodied souls. These martyrs are Messianic Jews and Gentile Believers who died for
their faith (Rev 6:9-11). This includes martyrs before
and during the Great Tribulation (Rev 7:9-15;
20:4-6). They sought justice and appealed to God's
punishment of the wicked.
Upon their release from underneath the altar, the martyred souls were given a white robe
(Rev 6:11), which represented the righteous acts of the
saints (Rev 19:8). This clothing is reminiscent of Jesus'
Parable of the Wedding Banquet (Matt 22:1-14), and later
the wedding banquet actually occurs in heaven (Rev 19:7-8)!
It is significant to observe that when tribulation saints were given their white robes, they were told to
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, would be completed also" (Rev 6:11).
This suggests that all of the remaining Great Tribulation saints will be killed soon.
At the end of the Sixth Trumpet, the apostle John reports that all of the survivors of the plagues were
not repentant (Rev 9:20), which suggests that before the
Seventh Trumpet is sounded, most if not all, Believers are likely dead.
Carefully examine the following passages. Is resurrection a singular event or a process? Which has more
data support? If a process, what marks the start of the resurrection? When is the process completed?
Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear
the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in
Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; and He gave Him authority to execute
judgment, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are
in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of
life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment. I can do nothing from Myself.
As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him
who sent Me. (John 5:25-29)
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a corruptible body,
it is raised an incorruptible body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness,
it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body,
there is also a spiritual body. (1 Cor 15:42-44)
Behold, I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed,
in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead
will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this corruptible must put on the incorruptible,
and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this corruptible puts on the incorruptible, and this
mortal puts on immortality, then will come about the word that is written, "Death is swallowed up in
victory." (1 Cor 15:51-54)
Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I
saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word
of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their
forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
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. (Rev 20:4-6)
12) I looked when He broke the sixth seal (note), and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood;
13) and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind.
14) The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
15) Then the kings of the earth and the great men 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;
16) 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;
17) for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"
Revelation 7
1) After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth (note), holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree.
2) And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living 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,
3) 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" (note).
4) And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:
5) from the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand, from the tribe of Gad twelve thousand,
6) from the tribe of Asher twelve thousand, from the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand, from the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand,
7) from the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand, from the tribe of Levi twelve thousand, from the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand,
8) from the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand, from the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand, from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand were sealed.
9) After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues (note), standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;
10) and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."
11) 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,
12) saying, "Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever Amen."
13) Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?"
14) I said to him, "My lord, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation (note), and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15) "For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night (note) in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them.
16) "They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat;
17) for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes."
Revelation 8
1) When the Lamb broke the seventh seal (note), there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
2) And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
3) Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense (note) was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne.
4) And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel's hand.
5) Then the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.
6) And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them.
7) The first sounded (note), and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown 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.
8) The second angel sounded (note), and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood,
9) and a third of the creatures which were in the sea and had life, died; and a third of the ships were destroyed.
10) The third angel sounded (note), 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.
11) 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.
12) The fourth angel sounded (note), and a third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were struck, so that a third of them would be darkened and the day would not shine for a third of it, and the night in the same way.
13) Then I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in midheaven, saying with a loud voice, "Woe, woe, woe (note) to those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!"
Consider human habitation and survival when:
1) 1/3 of the earth, 1/3 of the trees, and 1/3 of the green grasses burn up. What impact
does this have on life?
2) 1/3 of the sea becomes blood, killing 1/3 of all sea creatures, and destroying 1/3 of
all ships in the sea. What impact will this have on coastal communities and international commerce?
3) 1/3 of the world's rivers and springs becomes poisoned, bitter, and kills many who
drink it. What impact will this have on lakes? Fresh water sources?
4) the darkening of 1/3 of the sun, 1/3 of the moon, and 1/3 of the stars resulting in
the net effect of darkening 1/3 of the day and night. What impact will this have on society?
Revelation 9
1) Then the fifth angel sounded (note), and I saw a star from heaven which had fallen to the earth; and the key of the bottomless pit was given to him.
2) 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.
3) Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
4) They were told not to 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.
5) 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.
6) And in those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, and death flees from them.
7) The appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle; and on their heads appeared to be crowns like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men.
8) They had hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were like the teeth of lions.
9) 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.
10) They have tails like scorpions, and stings; and in their tails is their power to hurt men for five months.
11) 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.
12) The first woe is past; behold, two woes are still coming (note) after these things.
13) Then the sixth angel sounded (note), and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,
14) one saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates."
15) And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind.
16) The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them.
17) 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.
18) 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.
19) 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.
20) The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands (note), 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;
21) and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts.
Revelation 10
1) I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven, 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;
2) and he had in his hand a little book which was open He placed his right foot on the sea and his left on the land;
3) 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.
4) 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."
5) Then the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to heaven,
6) 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 will be delay no longer,
7) but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished (note), as He preached to His servants the prophets.
8) Then 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."
9) So I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book. And he said to me, "Take it and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey."
10) I took the little book out of the angel's hand and ate it (note), and in my mouth it was sweet as honey; and when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter.
11) And they said to me, "You must prophesy again concerning many peoples and nations and tongues and kings."
Introduced in Revelation 11, the Second Interlude is very significant. It chronologically connects
Daniel's eschatological prophesies to Revelation. Understanding this connection requires knowledge of
Daniel's prophecies of:
1) The fourth Gentile empire that precedes the Divine Kingdom (Dan 2:40-44;
7:7-28)
2) The angel Gabriel's interpretation of Jeremiah's prophecy of 70 years
(Dan 9:2-27), and
3) The angel Gabriel's interpretation of rebuilding Jerusalem in 7 weeks, cutting off
the Messiah in 62 weeks, and the "one who makes desolate" in the 70th week.
This period (1260 days = 42 months = 3-1/2 years), the length of time for the ministry of the Two
Witnesses and the trampling of Jerusalem by Gentiles, is seen in Daniel's eschatological prophecy of the
70th week.
"Seventy weeks have been determined for your people and for your holy city, 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 Holy of Holies. So you are to know and have
insight that from the going out of a word to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince,
there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be restored and rebuilt, with plaza and moat,
even in times of distress. Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and
the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come
with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are decreed. And he will make a firm
covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will make sacrifice and grain offering
cease; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction,
one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate." (Dan 9:24-27)
The above prophecy was given to Daniel in response to his interest in Jeremiah's prophecy
of seventy years when the Exile will end (Dan 9:1-3;
Jer 25:8-14; 29:10-11).
But when asking God to restore Jerusalem (Dan 9:17), the
angel Gabriel's message reveals a puzzling eschatological restoration of Jerusalem when there is an end of
sin and a more complex and perplexing timeline.
When Daniel records Gabriel's Hebrew term for "week," the angel intended a meaning of seven years.
John's Revelation records "they will trample the holy city for forty-two months"
(3-1/2 years), and the "two witnesses will prophesy for 1,260 days" (3-1/2 years).
Of the angel Gabriel's interpretation of the 70th week, Daniel records, "the people of
the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary, and its end will come with a flood." The
"one who makes desolate" will "make a firm covenant with the many for one week (7 years), but in the
middle of the week (3-1/2 years) he will make sacrifice and grain offering cease."
Revelation 11
1) Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, "Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it.
2) "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. (note)
3) "And I will grant authority to my two witnesses (note), and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth."
4) These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.
5) And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way.
6) These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire.
7) 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.
8) 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.
9) Those from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb.
10) And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
11) But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them (note), and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them.
12) And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here " Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them.
13) And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14) The second woe is past; behold, the third woe is coming quickly (note).
15) Then the seventh angel sounded (note); and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever."
16) And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God,
17) saying, "We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign.
18) "And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth."
19) 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 12 (note)
1) A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman (note) clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars;
2) and she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.
3) Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon (note) having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems.
4) And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven (note) 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.
5) And she gave birth to a son, a male child (note), who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne.
6) Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days (note).
7) And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon The dragon and his angels waged war,
8) and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven.
9) 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 ((note).
10) Then 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, he who accuses them before our God day and night.
11) "And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.
12) "For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe 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."
13) And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child (note).
14) But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could 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.
15) 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.
16) But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon poured out of his mouth.
17) So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children (note), who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.
Revelation 13
1) And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea (note), having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names.
2) And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority.
3) I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast;
4) they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?"
5) There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him.
6) And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven.
7) It was also 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.
8) All who dwell on the earth 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.
9) If anyone has an ear, let him hear.
10) 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.
11) Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth (note); and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon.
12) He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed.
13) He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men.
14) 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, 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.
15) And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed.
16) 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,
17) and he provides that no one will 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.
18) Here is wisdom 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 14
1) Then 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.
2) 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.
3) And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth.
4) These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb (note).
5) And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless.
6) And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people;
7) and he said with a loud voice, "Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters."
8) 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."
9) Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand,
10) 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.
11) "And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name."
12) Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.
Three angels flying in midheaven make three pronouncements.
The first angel preaches to the whole world the gospel in a manner that all would
understand and have no excuse. This suggests that there are few remaining Believers who can evangelize.
The second angel proclaims the fall of the secular worldview that denies the existence
of God and sin. The lifestyle that is motivated by pride and power and attracts all cultures and people,
intoxicating and pleasurable, will be judged for its immorality. Is this present today?
The third angel, following the previous two in speaking to all human beings of the world,
condemns all those who have the mark of the beast.
At the conclusion of the three angels flying in midheaven, a voice from heaven instructs the apostle
John to write, "blessed is he who die in the Lord from now on" to which the Holy Spirit echos and reiterates.
This places an emphasis on what Believers should remember and persevere in one's faith.
This short passage illustrates the compassion of God. At this moment in time, most if not all
pre-existing Believers died at the end of the Sixth Trumpet; thus, any new Believers would have been those
who responded to the gospel of the first flying angel. When the bowls containing God's wrath are poured, the
plagues are no longer intended to rebuke and reprimand so that non-Believers will to turn to God. Instead
they are intended to receive His judgment of death (Deut 28:58-61).
13) And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, "Write, 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!'" "Yes," says the Spirit, "so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them."
14) Then I looked, 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 (note).
15) 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, for the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe."
16) Then He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped (note).
17) And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle.
18) Then another angel, the one who has power over fire, came out from the altar; and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, "Put in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe."
19) So 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.
20) 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.
Just as Jesus' reaping was a figure of speech, so too was this angel's reaping. Because it is Jesus
treading in the wine press (Rev 19:15) that produces
the vast amount of blood (Rev 14:20), this angel's
reaping event encompasses a period of time that includes the final dispensation of God's wrath –
specifically all of the bowls and the battle of Armageddon.
The angel from the altar announces that the grapes from the vine of the earth are "ripe"
(Rev 14:18). This "ripeness" represents the fullness of
sin which God allows before He judges. It is akin to Daniel's prophecy, "Seventy weeks have been determined
for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin,.."
(Dan 9:24)
The grapes that are thrown into the great wine press of the wrath of God (Rev 14:19)
represent evil human beings just before being crushed in judgment.
The plague wielding angels and the bowls of God's wrath are the last of God's wrath
(Rev 15:1), and it serves to enrage the world
(Rev 16:2, 9, 11).
Of particular note is the Sixth Bowl which was intended to dry out the Euphrates River
so that the kings from the east can make war at Armageddon (Rev 16:12-14;
17:9-14).
When the Seventh Bowl is dispensed, the seventh angel announces, "it is done," to express
the end of God's judgment and wrath (Rev 16:17).
The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Thessalonians, makes an indirect reference to this reaping by
angels:
Since it is right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to
give rest to you who are afflicted and to us as well at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with
His mighty angels in flaming fire, executing vengeance on those who do not know God and to those who do not
obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence
of the Lord and from the glory of His might, when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to
be marveled at among all who have believed—for our witness to you was believed.
(2 Thes 1:6-10)
When Jesus treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God (Rev 14:20;
19:15), the wine press metaphor represents divine
judgment. A similar metaphor was expressed by the prophet Isaiah who was speaking of God's judgment against
Edom.
Why is Your clothing red,
And Your garments like the one who treads in the
wine press?
I have trodden the wine trough alone,
And from the peoples there was no man with Me.
I also trod them in My anger
And trampled them in My wrath;
And their lifeblood is sprinkled on
My garments,
And I stained all My clothes.
For the day of vengeance was in My heart,
And My
year of redemption has come. (Isa 63:2-4)
With all of the bowl judgments poured, God's wrath is complete, and it is Jesus Christ who exacts
judgment at Armageddon (Rev 19:11-16). And all as of this
occurs before the Millennial Kingdom. Final judgment takes place after the millennium
(Rev 20:11-15), which is the context of "He has given all
judgment to the Son" (John 5:22-27).
Revelation 15
1) Then 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.
2) And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God.
3) And they sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,
"Great and marvelous are Your works,
O Lord God, the Almighty;
Righteous and true are Your ways,
King of the nations!
4) "Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy;
For ALL THE NATIONS WILL COME AND WORSHIP BEFORE YOU,
FOR YOUR RIGHTEOUS ACTS HAVE BEEN REVEALED."
The appearance of the seven angels with their seven plagues, inside the Temple of God and what they
represented, caused the saints of the Great Tribulation to sing three praises to God.
The first song was the Song of Moses (Rev 15:3;
Ex 15:1-18). The Song of Moses memorialized the
deliverance of Israel from Egypt and the spectacular nature of the Exodus. Celebrating God's victory over
Egypt was public acknowledgment of God's sovereign rule over the universe.
Just as when Satan appears to be in control at this time, as Pharaoh was in his time,
the saints of the Great Tribulation know otherwise as they sing in acknowledgment of God's sovereign rule
and judgment of evil.
The second song of praise was the Song of the Lamb that only the 144,000 sealed bond servants of God
could originally sing; but, now the saints of the Great Tribulation know the song as well. However, John
does not reveal what the Song of the Lamb is.
Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him
144,000, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads. 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. And they sang a new song before the throne and before
the four living creatures and the elders. And no one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been
purchased from the earth. These are the ones who are not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These
are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits
to God and to the Lamb. And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless.
(Rev 14:1-5)
The third praise is short and asserts God's holy, righteous, and powerful nature deserving of fear and
worship (Rev 15:2b). It places an emphasis on "the
kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and
ever" (Rev 11:15-18).
5) After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of testimony in heaven was opened,
6) and the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, clothed in linen, clean and bright, and girded around their chests with golden sashes (note).
7) Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever.
8) And the temple 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 16
1) Then I heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven angels, "Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God."
2) So the first angel went and poured out his bowl (note) on the earth; and it became a loathsome and malignant sore on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.
3) The second angel poured out his bowl (note) into the sea, and it became blood like that of a dead man; and every living thing in the sea died.
4) Then the third angel poured out his bowl (note) into the rivers and the springs of waters; and they became blood.
5) 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;
6) for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. They deserve it."
7) And I heard the altar saying, "Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments."
8) The fourth angel poured out his bowl (note) upon the sun, and it was given to it to scorch men with fire.
9) 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.
10) Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl (note) on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became darkened; and they gnawed their tongues because of pain,
11) and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores; and they did not repent of their deeds.
12) The sixth angel poured out his bowl (note) on the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east.
13) 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;
14) 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.
15) ("Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.")
16) And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon.
17) Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl (note) upon the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, "It is done."
18) 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.
19) The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. Babylon the great was remembered before God (note), to give her the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath.
20) And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
21) And huge hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, came down from heaven upon men (note); and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, because its plague was extremely severe.
Revelation 17
1) Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, "Come here, I will show you the judgment (note) of the great harlot who sits on many waters (note),
2) 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."
3) And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness; and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast (note), full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns.
4) 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,
5) and on her forehead a name was written, a mystery, "BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH."
6) And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered greatly.
7) And the angel said to me, "Why do you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.
8) "The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come.
9) "Here is the mind which has wisdom The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits,
10) 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.
11) "The beast which was and is not, is himself also an eighth and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction (note).
12) "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.
13) "These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast.
14) "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."
15) And he said to me, "The waters which you saw where the harlot sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.
16) "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 (note).
17) "For God has put it in their hearts to execute His purpose by having a common purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God will be fulfilled.
18) "The woman whom you saw is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth."
Revelation 18
1) After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illumined with his glory (note).
2) And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird.
3) "For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, 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."
4) I heard another voice from heaven, saying, "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues (note);
5) for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.
6) "Pay her back even as she has paid, and give back to her double according to her deeds; in the cup which she has mixed, mix twice as much for her.
7) "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.'
8) "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.
9) "And the kings of the earth, who committed acts of immorality and lived sensuously with her, will weep and lament over her when they see the smoke of her burning,
10) standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying, 'Woe, woe (note), the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has come.'
11) "And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargoes any more--
12) 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,
13) 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.
14) "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.
15) "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,
16) saying, 'Woe, woe (note), the great city, she who was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls;
17) for in one hour such great wealth has been laid waste!' And every shipmaster and every passenger and sailor, and as many as make their living by the sea, stood at a distance,
18) and were crying out as they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What city is like the great city?'
19) "And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning, saying, 'Woe, woe (note), 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!'
20) "Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced judgment for you against her."
21) Then a strong angel took up a stone like a great millstone (note) and threw it into the sea, saying, "So will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence, and will not be found any longer.
22) "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;
23) 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; for your merchants were the great men of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery.
24) "And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all who have been slain on the earth."
Revelation 19
1) After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Hallelujah! (note) Salvation and glory and power belong to our God;
2) 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."
3) And a second time they said, "Hallelujah! HER SMOKE RISES UP FOREVER AND EVER."
4) And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne saying, "Amen Hallelujah!"
5) 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."
6) Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.
7) "Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready."
8) 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.
The Marriage of the Lamb is best understood through the metaphor of an ancient Jewish wedding custom.
At the start of the process, an arrangement is made between the fathers of the bridegroom and the bride,
and the father of the groom pays a "ransom" for the bride. The payment is either to the bride herself
(Gen 24:22, 47, 53) or to the father of the bride
(Gen 29:18-20, 26-29; Ex 22:16).
Consistent with this metaphor, God the Father has His Son Jesus Christ pay the ransom
price for the bride.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
Following this agreement between the two parties, the betrothal ceremony takes place where a commitment
between the groom and bride is made to make the marriage legal. However, the groom and bride do not live
together and consummate their marriage; instead, each returns to their respective fathers' home.
With regard to an agreement, God made the New Covenant which Jesus is fully aware of what
He's committed to.
And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup which
is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood." (Luke 22:20)
During this betrothal period, which lasts at least a year, both groom and bride prepare for the marriage.
The groom prepares his home typically by adding a room to his father's home. Meanwhile the bride sets
herself apart to prove that she is a virgin, and by examining and changing any personal behaviors that might
lead her astray from her covenant of marriage.
In like fashion, Jesus returned home to make similar preparations:
In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have
told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again
and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. (John 14:2-3)
And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made
ready as a bride adorned for her husband. (Rev 21:2)
Similarly, the church was sanctified in preparation for the return of Jesus Christ:
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself
up for her, so 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 would be holy and blameless. (Eph 5:25-27)
Determined by the groom's father, the day of the wedding was unknown to both the groom and bride. When
the day is approved, the groom would leave with his wedding party to fetch his bride. Expectant of the
wedding but uncertain of the day, the bride would be waiting for her groom's arrival.
Jesus teaches His disciples of being ready for His return in parables
(Matt 25:1-13) and metaphor:
But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son,
but the Father alone. For just as the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be.
(Matt 24:36-37)
Therefore stay awake, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be
sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he
would have stayed awake and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you also
must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.
(Matt 24:42-44)
Jesus' return would be visible and triumphant:
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the
archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
(1 Thes 4:16)
The festive wedding ceremony presents the beautiful bride in all her adornments and at the end of human
history, the marriage of the Lamb occurs in heaven.
9) Then he said to me, "Write, 'Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb (note)'" And he said to me, "These are true words of God."
10) Then I fell at his feet to worship him But he said to me, "Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
11) And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True (note), and in righteousness He judges and wages war.
12) His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself.
13) He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
14) And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.
15) From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God (note), the Almighty.
16) And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."
17) Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, "Come, assemble for the great supper of God,
18) so 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."
19) And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.
20) 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.
21) And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse (note), and all the birds were filled with their flesh.
Revelation 20
1) Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss (note) and a great chain in his hand.
2) And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;
3) and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.
4) Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. (note)
5) The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection (note).
6) 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.
7) When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison,
8) and will come out to deceive the nations (note) 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.
9) And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them.
10) 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.
11) Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.
The apostle John indicates Jesus Christ.
To Jews who sought to kill Him, Jesus states that all judgment, in the context of
eschatological judgment, was given to Him by His Father (John 5:20-24).
To His disciples, Jesus tells them that He will sit on His glorious throne, which sounds
like the Great White Throne, actively judging the twelve tribes of Israel and all the nations gathered
before Him (Matt 19:28; 25:31-33).
To the public, Jesus tells them what judgment is based on and how He is involved
(Matt 7:21-23).
The apostle Paul indicates both God and Jesus Christ.
But as for you, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or you as well, why do
you regard your brother or sister with contempt? For we will all appear before the judgment seat of
God (Greek: bēma theos). For it is written:
"As I live, says the
Lord, to Me every knee will bow,
And every tongue will give praise to
God."
So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.
(Rom 14:10-12)
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ (Greek: bēma
christos), so that each one may receive compensation for his deeds done through the body, in accordance
with what he has done, whether good or bad. (2 Cor 5:10)
John records only one moment in which eschatological judgment occurs for human beings
(Rev 20:11-13), which means Paul's judgment seat of God
/ Christ is John's Great White Throne.
The biblical evidence supports the view that God is present during the judgment of all the nations
gathered before Him, but presided by His Son Jesus Christ. While both are associated with the Great White
Throne, John sees only one Person sitting on the throne.
12) And I saw the dead, 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. (note)
13) 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.
14) Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire This is the second death, the lake of fire.
15) And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Believers, whose souls in heaven join with their glorified bodies, clothed in the white robe of
righteousness, complete their process of resurrection and come to life (Rev 20:12).
Believers, evaluated in accordance to their deeds, are rewarded for their faithful
service (Matt 19:28; Luke 22:28-30;
Rev 22:12). The apostle Paul refers to this in his
exhortation to Believers in Corinth:
Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing
to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for
his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (2 Cor 5:9-10)
Non-Believers, whose souls in Hades join with their bodies and come to life (Rev 20:13).
Their resurrection is a singular event.
Non-Believers, after being judged for their deeds, discover their names missing in the
Book of Life, and are thrown into the Lake of Fire (Rev 20:15).
Following the Antichrist, False Prophet, and Satan into the Lake of Fire in their second
death, are non-Believers. It is a place of torment and without any rest. In the very end, death and Hades
are thrown into the lake of fire as well (Rev 20:14).
Revelation 21
1) Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.
2) And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.
3) And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God (note) is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,
4) and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."
5) And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new" And He said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true."
6) Then He said to me, "It is done I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.
7) "He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.
8) "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."
With this statement, "I will be his God and he will be my son" (Rev 21:7),
God refers to His covenant promise to Abraham:
And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your seed after you
throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your seed after you. And
I will give to you and to your seed after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an
everlasting possession; and I will be their God." (Gen 17:7-8)
With the Abrahamic Covenant in mind, God's preceding statements take on a deeper meaning.
"Behold, I am making all things new." (Rev 21:5)
In the complete fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant, there is a new creation of
heaven, earth, and the image of God.
"Write, for these words are faithful and true." (Rev 21:5)
That God's promises to Abraham (Abrahamic Covenant), encompassing the promise of who
enters the Promised Land (Mosaic Covenant), expanding the promise of land (Land Covenant), the promise of
the King from the line of David (Davidic Covenant), and the provision of a New Covenant to restore the
holiness of the name Yahweh, all came true, because God is faithful to His word.
This was important for John to record and emphasize when he was told to "write"
(Rev 21:5).
"They are done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will
give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost."
(Rev 21:6)
The complete fulfillment of His promises demonstrates that God is the beginning and end
of humanity, and the Alpha and Omega of His word from Genesis to Revelation. And it culminates in eternal
life for those who have faith in the One who bore the cost of their atonement.
"He who overcomes will inherit these things." (Rev 21:7)
Those who overcome the temptation of sin to disobey God will become a son of God and
entitled to the inheritance He has for His "treasured possession among all the peoples, kingdom of priests,
and holy nation."
God's plan of reclaiming His rule over His Creation, which began with His Divine Covenants with man, is
finally fulfilled with the return of the King, Jesus son of David, Messiah Son of Man who restores the image
of God and makes human beings righteous through His sacrifice in atonement. With His Son Jesus Christ,
Yahweh is the Lord God of the new heaven and earth and whose rule will last forever.
9) Then 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 will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb."
10) 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,
11) having the glory of God Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper.
12) It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel.
13) 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.
14) And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
The description of the New Jerusalem is breathtakingly beautiful.
It is in this context of God's glory adorning both New Jerusalem and the Believer that
John introduces the "New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for
her husband" (Rev 21:2).
In the same context, one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven
last plagues presents to the apostle New Jerusalem as "the bride, the wife of the Lamb"
(Rev 21:9).
The square dimensions reflect a heavenly Holy of Holies. New Jerusalem descends from heaven with the
glory of God (Rev 21:11) and Believers, completing the
process of salvation, are raised and resurrected in glory (1 Cor 15:42-44).
Just as the church represented the body of Believers betrothed to Christ (Eph 5:23),
New Jerusalem represented the body of glorified Believers (John 14:2-3)
now in the presence of God and His Son.
This marriage motif, symbolizing divine agape love, is complete and fulfilled.
15) The one who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city, and its gates and its wall.
16) 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 (note).
17) And he measured its wall, seventy-two yards, according to human measurements, which are also angelic measurements.
18) The material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.
19) The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald;
20) the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst.
21) And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
22) I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
23) And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb.
24) The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.
25) In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed;
26) and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it;
27) 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.
It is significant that there is no temple in the new Jerusalem; the new Jerusalem is the heavenly Holy
of Holies.
It is shaped as a cube.
It is constructed with the finest materials and craftsmanship.
It is the place where Believers are in God's presence, and as glorified Believers, see
His face (Rev 22:4). Glorified Believers, with God's name
written on their foreheads (Rev 22:4), bear a similarity
to the 144,000 sealed bond servants of God (Rev 7:1-8;
14:1-5).
"To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt as far as the great
river, the river Euphrates: the Kenite and the Kenizzite and the Kadmonite and the Hittite and the
Perizzite and the Rephaim and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Girgashite and the Jebusite."
(Gen 15:18-20)
Revelation 22
1) Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb,
2) in the middle of its street. 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.
3) There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him;
4) they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.
5) And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.
6) And he said to me, "These words are faithful and true"; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place.
7) "And behold, I am coming quickly Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book."
8) 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.
9) But 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."
10) And he said to me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.
11) "Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy."
12) "Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.
13) "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."
14) Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.
15) Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.
16) "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star."
17) The Spirit and the bride say, "Come " And let the one who hears say, "Come " And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.
18) I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book;
19) and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.
20) He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming quickly." Amen Come, Lord Jesus.
21) The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.