
- Introduction 1:1-8
- Title 1:1-3
- cf. Dan 2:28-30, 45-47
- Apocalypse (pulling back curtain) of Jesus Christ
- which God gave Him to make known to His servants
- -what is necessary to happen soon
- and He signified it by sending it by His angel to His servant John
- who testified to the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ, which he saw
- Blessed is the one who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy and who keep the things that are written in it
- because the time is near
- Salutation 1:4-5
- From: John
- To: to the seven churches in Asia
- Blessing:
- grace to you and peace
- From the One Who is and Who was and Who is coming
- And From the Seven Spirits (sevenfold/complete/perfect Spirit) which/Who is before His Throne
- cf. Isa 11:2
- cf. Zech 4:2-7
- seven favorite number of Rev.
- symbolizes completeness, fullness
- And from Jesus Christ
- the faithful witness
- the firstborn from the dead and the one ruling the kings of the earth
- cf. Psa 89:26-27
- Note that John adds "from the dead" to firstborn
- Doxology 1:5-6
- To the One Who loved us
- And freed us from our sins
- by His blood
- and He made us a kingdom, priests to God and His Father
- to Him be glory and power forever and ever amen
- Theme/Promise/Notice 1:7
- Behold He is coming with the clouds
- cf. Dan 7:13, Mt. 24:30
- as a sovereign conquerer, who rules and inherits the earth
- "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. (Dan 7:13 NIV)
- and every eye will see Him
- also those who pierced Him
- cf. Zeck 12:10
- symbol for repentance and mourning and grief for the bad guys
- "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. (Zec 12:10 NIV)
- and all the tribes of the earth will mourn for Him
- cf. Zech 12:10, 12,14
- bitter mourning and sadness
- Identity of Christ 1:8
- I am the Alpha and the Omega
- cf. Isa 41:4, 44:6, 48 ;12
- says the Lord God
- The One Who is
- and the One Who was
- and the One Who is coming
- The Almighty
- cf. Amos 3:13, 4:13, Hosea 12:5 LXX translation of Lord of Hosts
- pantokrator - all powerful
- In the Spirit on the Lord's Day 1:9-3:22
- John's Commission 1:9-20
- John's Commission 1:9-11
- Purposeful description of John
- I, John
- your brother
- and a fellow sharer in the suffering/tribulation
- cf. I Pet. 5:1 - puts self in same boat as readers as not aloof to their suffering
- and kingdom
- cf. I Pet. 5:1 but also reminds them of reward as hope to go through this suffering
- and patient endurance in Christ
- also model of how we should go through suffering
- "John is our guide to the visions, but because he is on our level, as 'brother and companion,' he is as amazed as we are at what he sees and hears. He knows some things we do not, but he misunderstands other things and has to be corrected, even rebuked, by the heavenly beings who appear to him." Michaels p. 17
- Background situation of John
- I was on the island called Patmos
- because of the Word of God
- typical description of prophecy in OT
- and the testimony of Jesus
- Context of vision
- I was in the Spirit
- cf. Ezek. 2:2, 3:12, 14, 24, 11:1, 43:5
- Equating John with OT prophets and manner of receiving revelation
- cf. 4:2 - vision, beyond normal this worldly sense and perception
- on the Lord's Day
- The Commission to write the vision
- and I heard behind me a great voice as a trumpet
- saying, "Write what you see in a book"
- cf, Exo 17:14, Isa 30:8, Jer 37:3 etc.
- equating John with OT prophets
- and send it to the seven churches: in Ephesus, and Smyrna, and Pergamum, and Thyatira, and Sardis, and Philadelphia, and Laodiceia
- Vision/Description of the Glorified Christ 1:12-18
- And I turned to see the voice which spoke with me
- And as I turned, I saw seven gold lampstands
- cf. 1:20 where lampstands defined as the seven churches
- Jesus is walking in the midst of the seven churhces in glory
- cf. Zech 4:1-10
- And in the midst of the lampstands, one like a son of man (a humanlike figure)
- cf. Dan 7:13 for one like Son of Man -
- Figure given all authority by God
- Some ways symbolizes the 'saints of the Most High"
- Some ways symbolizes God Himself
- clothed in a long robe
- with a golden sash around His chest
- cf. Dan 10:5ff.
- clothing of heavenly messenger
- His head and hair were white like wool, white as snow
- cf. Dan 7:9
- Hair of 'Ancient of Days' - God
- And His eyes were like flames of fire
- And His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace
- cf. Dan 10:6
- eyes and feet and appearance like heavenly messenger
- And His voice was like many waters
- cf. Ezek 1:24, 43:2
- voice of God
- And in His right hand were seven stars
- about to be defined as the 7 churches or their messengers/leaders
- And out of His mouth came a sharp two edged sword
- cf. Isa 11:4, 49:2 of effective communication
- elsewhere in Rev. of judgment and power of words to judge enemies
- And His appearance/face was like the sun shining in its full power.
- cf. Exo. 34:29 Moses' face shining reflecting God's glory
- cf. Ezek 1:13 bright shining appearance of the living creatures accompanying vision of God
- John's reaction
- And when I saw Him, I fell toward His feet as dead
- typical response to heavenly messenger
- Jesus' response
- and He placed His right hand on me saying:
- Do not fear
- typical reassurance by a heavenly messenger
- I am the First and the Last
- and the Living One
- cf. "Living God" of OT
- as opposed to idols and false Gods
- cf. now Jesus as risen from dead
- And I was dead
- And behold, I am living forever and ever
- cf. Deut. 32:40, Dan. 4:34
- OT God lives forever
- And I have the keys of death and Hades
- comfort to readers who were threatened by death and Hades
- John's Commission 1:19-20
- Therefore, write what you see
- both what is
- and what is about to be after these things
- cf. Isa 48:6 LXX, Dan 2:28,29,45
- God sometimes reveals the future
- The mystery of the seven stars which you have seen in my right hand and the seven gold lampstands:
- The seven stars are the seven messengers of the seven churches
- and the seven lampstands are the seven churches
- Letters to Churches 2:1-3:22
- Intro.
- notice how relevant these are for current churches
- we don't have Nicolaitans, but things similar
- Twofold threat
- from outside - Society and government
- from inside - false teaching, compromise and apathy
- The real pressure of Roman culture upon the churches did not take the form of direct persecution. Rather, it exerted itself as a subtle inducement to Christians to modify their exclusiveness by accommodating their moral and religious principles to those of the society at large. Corresponding to this external pressure was a movement from within the churches to make things easier all around by means of certain concessions. At Ephesus, Pergamos, Thyatira, and possibly elsewhere were the so-called Nicolaitans, who, like Balaam or Jezebel in ancient Israel, taught God's people to 'eat food sacrificed to idols...and to practice sexual immorality'….It was these...commandments that the Nicolaitans rejected, not necessarily out of sheer apostasy or lust, but out of a desire to be accepted in Roman society. The kind of 'freedom' they urged would have allowed Christians to participate in pagan feasts and in the quasi-religious activities of the urban trade guilds, and so to enter more fully into the mainstream of their culture. This attitude, whatever its motivation, is roundly condemned in the seven letters." BLM NT Speaks p. 369
- Report card and call to faithfulness based on Revelation of who Christ is and His promised future
- Pattern
- Addressee, same every time except for the city name - "To the messenger of the church in ..."
- Self identification of Christ - "This says the One who..."
- Description of the church's situation in the world - "I know..." both positive and negative, depending
- Imperative to the church, various commands, depending on what they needed to do - "repent," etc.
- Promise to the faithful - "To the one who overcomes..."
- Final appeal to hear and respond, same every time - "Let him who has ears, hear what the Spirit says to the churches"
- order of pattern sometimes changes slightly
- notice first three have the appeal before the promise and last four have promise before the appeal
- Proves the lie to the idea that Jesus is not a God of judgment who cares about false doctrine and unfaithfulness
- Ephesus 2:1-7
- Address
- to the messenger of the church in Ephesus, write:
- Christ's Self Identification
- This says the One Who holds the seven stars in His right hand
- generic idea of hold
- sometimes connotation of control, uphold/support
- holding something so it cannot be taken away cf. 2:25, 3:11
- holding to/adhering to something cf. 2:13-14
- Seven stars already = seven churches and their messengers
- Jesus is sovereign over the churches
- Description of the church's situation in the World
- Pos.
- I know your works and your labor and your patience/patient endurance
- and that you do not bear evil men
- And you have tested those who claim to be apostles and who are not
- and you have found them false
- And you have patient endurance
- and you have born hardship because of my Name
- and you have not become weary
- great model in these things - to be imitated
- Neg.
- But I have against you
- that you have forsaken your first love
- Imperative
- Command
- Therefore, remember from where you have fallen
- and repent
- and do the first works
- things you did at first
- most important/primary things
- back to basics/back to first love
- NEVER ASSUME THE GOSPEL
- Warning
- If you do not
- I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place
- i.e. you will cease to be a church
- cf. many "churches" that are not Christian churches, but just moral social clubs
- If you do not repent
- Description of the church's situation in the World
- Pos.
- But this you have (going for you)
- that you hate the works of the Nikolaitans
- could be among them
- could only see from afar at Pergamum and disapprove
- will talk about them in the letter to Pergamum
- which I also hate
- God cannot be a God of love unless He also hates the things that are hateful to His love and the ones He loves
- Final Appeal
- The one having ears
- not everyone
- but those who have insight, wisdom, faithfulness, care for Godly things
- implicit challenge to have these things
- cf. Isa. 6:9-10 in context against idolatry - as is many of the letters
- let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches
- those who have, will be given more.
- Promise to the faithful
- To the one who overcomes
- I will give to him to eat from the tree of life
- (not the tree of temptation, but of eternal life -
- the one that was barred by the flaming sword after sin)
- which is in the paradise (garden) of God
- cf. Gen. 2-3
- Smyrna 2:8-11
- Address
- to the messenger of the church in Smyrna write:
- Christ's Self Identification
- This says the First and the Last
- Who became dead and He lived (rose to life)
- Description of the church's situation in the World
- I know your tribulation/suffering and poverty
- cf. Smyrna was a very wealthy city, but the Christians were probably the lower classes
- But you are rich!
- and (I know) the blasphemy/slander from those calling themselves Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of satan
- very likely literal Jews according to the flesh
- but because they didn't recognize the Messiah, were not true Jews
- possibly gentile Christians who had Judaized to avoid persecution from Rome and Real Jews
- Imperitive to the church
- do not fear what you are about to suffer
- Behold the devil is about to throw some of you into prison
- so that you may be tested and have tribulation for 10 days
- cf. Dan. 1:12-15
- 10 days of testing whether God's ways or pagan ways were more healthy and helpful
- Be faithful unto death
- and I will give you the crown of life
- Final Appeal
- The one having ears
- let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches
- Promise to the faithful
- the one who overcomes
- will certainly not be harmed by the second death
- to be more thoroughly defined later in the book
- cf. also Dan 12:2 resurrection to everlasting shame and contempt
- Pergammum 2:12-17
- Address
- And to the messenger in Pergammum write:
- Christ's Self Identification
- This says the One who has the sharp, two edged sword
- cf. 1:16
- Description of the church's situation in the World
- Pos.
- I know where you live
- where "the throne of satan" is
- possibly temple of aseclepis
- pagan deity symbolized by snake
- possibly referring to the persecution that killed Antipas
- more probably refers to the fact that Pergamum was a center or Emperor worship
- yet you hold on to/grasp (same word as 2:1) my Name
- and you have not denied faith in me
- even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness/martyr
- who was killed among you
- where satan dwells
- Neg.
- Yet I have a small thing against you
- That you have there those who hold on to/grasp (same word as 2:1) the teaching of Balaam
- cf. Num. 22:5-25:3; 31:8, 16
- Who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel
- to eat idol's food
- cf. Exod. 34:12-16, esp. v. 15
- important verse not to even begin the compromise because God is a Jealous God
- and to practice sexual immorality (spiritual adultery)
- cf. Num. 25:1-3 - both literal and spiritual adultery with Baal of Peor
- This also you have likewise those holding on to/grasping the teaching/doctrine of the Nikolaitians
- very little is known for sure about Nikolatians
- some suggest they were identical with group who taught teachings of Balaam
- both taught compromise with paganism under the banner of 'Christian liberty' and progressive fitting in with the culture
- The real pressure of Roman culture upon the churches did not take the form of direct persecution. Rather, it exerted itself as a subtle inducement to Christians to modify their exclusiveness by accommodating their moral and religious principles to those of the society at large. Corresponding to this external pressure was a movement from within the churches to make things easier all around by means of certain concessions. At Ephesus, Pergamos, Thyatira, and possibly elsewhere were the so-called Nicolaitans, who, like Balaam or Jezebel in ancient Israel, taught God's people to 'eat food sacrificed to idols...and to practice sexual immorality'….It was these...commandments that the Nicolaitans rejected, not necessarily out of sheer apostasy or lust, but out of a desire to be accepted in Roman society. The kind of 'freedom' they urged would have allowed Christians to participate in pagan feasts and in the quasi-religious activities of the urban trade guilds, and so to enter more fully into the mainstream of their culture. This attitude, whatever its motivation, is roundly condemned in the seven letters." p. 369
- Imperitive to the church
- Therefore repent
- if not, I will come soon and make war against you with the sword of my mouth (cf. 2:12)
- Final Appeal
- The one having ears
- let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches
- Promise to the faithful
- to the one who overcomes
- I will give to him the hidden manna
- reward for not participating in pagan feast is to participate in God's wedding feast, which is not yet revealed
- and I will give to him a white stone
- cf. Num 11:7 - manna compared to rock crystal like salt - i.e. white stone?
- many other possible referrents - see commentaries
- and on the stone a new name is written
- cf. Isa. 62:2, 65:15
- new status and intimacy, new identity
- which no one is able to know except the one receiving it
- Thyatira 2:18-29
- Address
- And to the messenger of the chuch in Thyatira, write:
- Christ's Self Identification
- This says the Son of God,
- cf. Psa 2
- significant b/c ends with the promise from Psa 2
- who has His eyes like flames of fire
- and His feet in the likeness of fine bronze
- Description of the church's situation in the World
- Pos.
- I know your works and your love and your faith and your service and your patience
- And your last works are greater than the first
- Neg.
- Yet I have against you
- That you permit the woman Jezebel
- Who calls herself a prophetess
- and she teaches and deceives my servants
- to commit sexual immorality (spiritual adultery)
- and to eat idol food
- and I have given her time so that she may repent, but she was not willing to repent from her adultery (literal or symbolic or spiritual - all the same)
- behold, I am throwing her into a sickbed
- and those committing adultery with her (literal and symbolic and spiritual)
- [all thrown] into great suffering/tribulation
- if they do not repent from her works
- And I will kill her children with death
- and all the churches will know that I am the One who searches the inner life and heart
- And I will give to each one according to your works
- basically quoting Jer. 17:10
- ambiguous - encouraging to those who are faithful
- warning to those who are not
- God is serious and HE DOES PUNISH SIN AND HE HAS EVERY RIGHT TO DO SO
- Imperitive to the church
- do not go with Jezebel (or repent for having done so (as above))
- To you - the rest in Thyatira who do not have this teaching
- Who do not know the "deep things of satan" as they say (so called)
- either ironic twist on those who claim to know 'the deep things of God"
- or referring to compromise, where they litterally experience the depths of the things of the enemy
- I do not put on you other burdens
- yet, grasp/hold on to (same word as 2:1) what you already have until I come
- Steven Wellam - Southern Seminary
- "Around us on every side are calls to revise Christian theology, to reimagine evangelism and to rethink how we do church and even to rearticulate the very nature of the Gospel for our Postmodern times."
- Promise to the faithful
- and to the one who overcomes and keeps my works (contrast Jezebel's works) until the end
- I will give to him authority over the nations
- and he will shepherd them with a rod of iron
- just as a clay pot is shattered to pieces
- cf. Psa 2:8-9 nations as an inheritance and rule with iron scepter
- promised to Messiah (see below) but now Messiah promises that the overcomers will share in that rule and inheritance
- as I also have received from my Father
- also I will give to him the morning star
- cf. poss Num. 24:17 - star from Jacob, scepter from Israel
- Final Appeal
- The one having ears
- let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches
- Sardis 3:1-6
- Address
- and to the messenger of the church in Sardis, write:
- Christ's Self Identification
- This says the one having the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars
- Description of the church's situation in the World
- Neg.
- I know your works - that you have a name that claims you are alive, but you are dead
- Imperitive to the church
- be watchful and strengthen the things that remain, which are about to die
- For I have not found your works completed in the sight of my God
- Therefore remember what you have received and heard
- and keep/guard it and repent
- Thferefore, if you are not watchful/awake, I will come as a theif and you will not know what hour I come upon you
- Description of the church's situation in the World
- Pos.
- but you have a few names in Sardis
- who have not stained/defiled their clothes
- and they will walk with me in white
- because they are worthy
- Promise to the faithful
- The one who overcomes, in the same way will be clothed in white clothes
- and I will certainly not erase his name from the book of life
- cf. Exo 32:32-33, Psa 69:28, Dan 12:1
- in OT means to die
- later in Rev. is eternal life or death
- and I will confess his name before my Father and before His angels
- Final Appeal
- The one having ears
- let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches
- Philadelphia 3:7-13
- Address
- to the messenger of the church in Philadelphia write:
- Christ's Self Identification
- This says the Holy One, The True One
- Who has the key of David
- The One who opens and no one can shut, and who shuts and no one can open
- cf. Isa 22:22
- blessings to God's faithful servant who will have a secure place of leadership
- Description of the church's situation in the World - all Pos.
- I know your works
- behold I have given in front of you an open door, which no one is able to shut it.
- because you have little power and you have kept my Word and have not denied my Name
- behold, I am giving you some from the synagogue of satan, who call themselves Jews, and are not, but they lie
- Behold I will make them come and bow down before your feet and they will know that I loved you
- cf. Isa 45:14,49:23, 60:14
- nations coming to acknowledge God's faithfulness to His own
- because you kept the word of my patience/longsuffering
- And I will keep you out from from the hour of testing which is about to come upon the whole earth
- BTW Not a prediction of the rapture as avoidance of the tribulation
- language- out from being inside
- cf. Dan 12:1
- to test those living upon the earth
- Imperitive to the church
- I am coming soon
- grasp/hold on to (same word as 2:1) what you have
- so that no one will take your crown
- Promise to the faithful
- To the one who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God
- and he will certainly not ever go out of it
- and I will write on him the Name of my God
- and the name of the city of my God - the New Jerusalem, which is coming down from heaven, from my God
- cf. Ezek 48:35
- Name of God's city "The LORD is there"
- and my new Name
- Final Appeal
- The one having ears
- let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches
- Laodicea 3:14-22
- Address
- to the messenger of the church in Laodicea write:
- Christ's Self Identification
- This says the Amen, the faithful and true witness
- The ruler of the creation of God
- poss. beginning
- cf. Prov. 8:22
- Description of the church's situation in the World - all Neg.
- I know your works that you are neither cold nor hot
- I wish that you were cold or hot
- reference to water supply of Laodicea and surrounding towns
- hot spring - good drinking water
- cold water - good drinking water
- lukewarm water piped from hotspring through corroding pipes = stinky gross water unfit to drink
- In the same way, because you are neither cold nor hot, I am about to vomit you out of my mouth
- because you say that "I am rich and I have become wealthy and I don't have need of anything"
- and you do not know that you are miserable and pitiable and poor and blind and naked
- God's eye evaluation of true situation by God's standards
- cf. Prov 30:12 "There is a mn who is pure in his own eyes, but is not washed from his filthiness
- I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich
- and white clothes so that you may be clothed and the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed
- and eye salve to smear on your eyes so that you can see
- Imperitive to the church
- I rebuke and discipline those that I love
- cf. Prov. 3:11-12, Deut 8:5
- Therefore, be zealous and repent
- behold, I stand at the door and knock
- If someone hears my voice and opens the door
- I will enter to him and dine with him and he with me
- Promise to the faithful
- to the one who overcomes, I will give to him to sit with me in my throne
- just as I also have overcome and I sit with my Father in His throne
- Final Appeal
- The one having ears
- let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches
- Summary of churches
- some doing well
- some doing very poorly - about to die
- many halfway - good, but compromised
- all encouraged, threatened and promised toward faithfulness and away from spiritual adultery
- Jesus is still Lord of all churches with overabundant resources for what they need
- "...these congregations were not unlike Christian congregations today, whether in the situations they faced or in the prevailing attitudes with which they faced them. Persecution was a possibility (though not an actuality) for three of the congregations, but divisions and false teaching within the respective faith communities seem to have posed a more serious threat, with complacency representing the worst threat of all" Michaels p. 19
- In the Spirit in Heavenly Vision 4:1-16:21
- Worship in Heaven 4:1-5:14
- intro
- back and forth between narrative and song
- pay attention to content of worship - why they worship/Who God is - connected with narrative
- Uses symbolism from OT, esp Dan 7, Isa 6 and Ezek 1 to symbolically describe the reality of God's throneroom and the worship of heaven
- These purposely obscure as much as they reveal - showing transcendence and how much God is beyond our ability to see or know or understand
- make sure to soak in the big picture before you try to figure out all the details
- God is God and we are not! - He is the ONLY God, none is even close to being like Him
- Introduction to the Heavenly throneroom 4:1-6
- Intro
- After these things I looked
- and behold - an open door in heaven
- and the first voice which I heard as a trumpet spoke with me, saying -
- Come up here and I will show you what is about to be after these things
- Immediately I was in spirit
- (non) description of God
- based on OT Theophanies of Isa 6 and Ezek 1
- God shows up as all powerful divine beyond reckoning
- Preparation for an announcement of judgment
- and behold, there was a throne in Heaven
- and One seated on the throne
- notice how many times God is described as the One seated on the throne
- strongly emphasizes His sovereign authority, control and power
- why emphasize this?
- Comfort to those suffering under temporal authorities, that these authorities did not have ultimate power
- And the one seated on the throne had the appearance of the likeness of jasper and carnelian
- John is describing real realities that he saw, not symbolic representation or allegory
- but not exact, precise description - what he saw is beyond description so he has to resort to approximations "It kind of looked like this"
- notice twofold removal from actual - the appearance of something that looked like...
- fit the overall impact of all the images together, not to the exclusion of others - highly symbolic
- (non) description of God's surroundings
- effect is to set God off from everything else - separate, holy
- a rainbow surrounded the throne with the appearance of the likeness of emerald
- And 24 thrones surrounded the throne
- and upon the thrones sat 24 elders
- clothed in white clothes
- and upon their heads were crowns of gold
- important, significant people/beings
- debate whether they are people or angelic beings
- possibly 12 Christian apostles and 12 Jewish patriarchs, cf. new city 12 gates and foundations
- possibly referring to 24 orders of priests in OT temple
- More probably a high order of angels
- And from the throne went out lightnings and noises and thunderings
- God is powerful, not domesticated
- lightning is the most powerful force known to them
- and seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which is the sevenfold Spirit of God
- and in front of the throne was like a glass sea similar to crystal
- represents fallen order separating us from God
- not clear glass, but sparkling, glistening - somewhat obscuring
- setting up for ch. 5 - separated from God by the throneroom of God
- The Worship of Heaven 4:6-11
- Four Living creatures
- and in the midst of the throne and surrounding the throne were four living creatures
- cf. Isa. 6, Ezek 1
- full of eyes, in front and back
- the first living (no noun, just adjective, translations supply 'creature' or 'thing') was similar to a lion
- the second living thing was like an ox
- the third living thing has a face like a man
- the fourth living thing was like a flying eagle
- speed, compassionate care
- each one of the four living creatures had six wings above around and behind, covered with eyes
- God's throne is strong, royal, compassionate, intelligent, all knowing, etc.
- OT counterparts cover their faces - Pure, perfect beings cannot look at God
- and they never ceased, day and night saying
- Holy, Holy, Holy Lord
- separateness, difference
- transcendence emphasized
- God - the Almighty One - Pantokrator
- The One who was, and Who is and Who is coming
- Form of Worship
- and when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the One seated upon the throne - to the One who lives forever and ever
- the 24 elders fall down before the One seated upon the throne
- and they worship the One who lives forever and ever
- and they throw down their crowns before His throne
- Content of Worship
- saying:
- You are Worthy
- Our Lord and our God
- To receive the glory and the honor and the power
- because You created everything
- And because of Your will they were created and they exist
- Pay attention to these songs - soundtrack of Revelation, some of the most important ideas
- point - everything is derivative, dependent on God
- He is the only uncreated being
- All else is dependent on Him
- He is absolute monarch b/c everything comes from Him
- He deserves to be King, eternal and holy, Nothing like Him
- God is God and we are not, Ceasar is not, everything else is NOT
- We owe God everything based on the fact that we exist, God owes us nothing
- If God were the sort of God who needed anything, He would not be God - doctrine of Aseity
- again - separateness from God, setting up for ch. 5
- Introduction to the Scroll of History/Kingdom 5:1-5
- And I saw in the right hand of the One seated upon the throne a scroll
- written front and back
- and sealed with seven seals
- Nature/Content/Significance of this scroll?
- clearly having to do with God's Kingdom purposes for history and the consummation of God's plans for history
- Possibly last will and testament scroll
- typical will had two parts
- 1. description of the inheritance
- 2. List of heirs cf. book of life 3:5, 13:8, 17:8, 21:27
- If this is true, the content of the scrolls is not revealed until 20:12 - all meantime is preliminary
- breaking of 7 seals are preliminary signs
- seals, trumpets, bowls, etc are birth pangs, preparing for final revelation, and wrapping up this world history, but are not yet the final revelation of the content of the scrolls, which is the next age history
- and I saw a strong angel proclaiming in a loud voice
- Who is worthy to open the scroll
- and to break its seals
- open challenge to any one else to be worthy as God Himself is worthy - worship of true God vs false pretenders
- pressing question- who is able to be God's agent to bring about His purposes?
- in ch. 4 highest of angels cannot even look at God - so awesome
- God is so separate, if He does not bring about His purposes, no one can
- answer, next verse - no one
- And no one was able to open the scroll or even to see it
- neither in heaven
- nor upon the earth
- nor under the earth
- not only can we not bring about God's purposes, we cannot even know them
- and I wept much because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or even to see it
- if the seals are not broken, God's purposes remain unknown and unaccomplished
- if not, no guarantee that martyrs would be avenged
- If not, thousands of injustices are not righted
- If not, God is unconnected and unconcerned and distant
- If not, history has no meaning, our lives have no meaning, nothing has any meaning because nothing has a purpose/telos!
- The meaning of everything needs to be seen from the end
- If no purpose - eat, drink, be merry, nothing matters
- and one of the elders said to me
- stop weeping
- behold, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah has Overcome
- same word as in letters to churches
- Davidic King
- the Root of David
- Isa 11 root and shoot, cf. also Rev. 22:16
- There IS the promised redeemer, who has come to bring about God's purposes
- He has prevailed in the struggle and won
- to open the scroll and its seven seals
- Worship of the Conquering Slain Lamb 5:6-10
- And I saw standing in the middle of the throne and of the four living things and in the middle of the elders, a lamb
- lion/lamb mixing metaphors to get the best of both symbols
- not wimpy lamb
- but Kingly, strong warrior lamb
- as if it were slaughtered
- having seven horns
- perfection of kingly power and authority
- and seven eyes
- which are/is the sevenfold Spirit of God
- sent into all the earth
- knowledge and insight
- and He came and received (the scroll) from the right hand of the One seated upon the throne
- rest of book of Rev. the Lamb is connected with One who sits on Throne, not separated
- and when He took the scroll
- perfect effective work
- sacrifice accepted
- The four living things and the 24 elders fell before the lamb
- cf. worship no other gods - this is blasphemy unless the Lamb is God Himself
- which if you haven't figured it out by now, the Lamb is Jesus, Who is God
- Each had a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are prayers of the saints
- harp
- harp is musical instrument for joy
- heaven is a happy place
- justice is not only done, but publicly seen to be done
- God's justice that is sometimes hidden here, is public there and is being made public everywhere - point of the book
- therefore public rejoicing
- bowl
- prayer
- prayer actually makes it to the throne of God - effective, answered
- God will prove that prayers of the martyrs have been heard and answered
- every time you pray as a Christian, your prayer is heard because of Christ,
- Not because you have had a good day, and because you have earned it
- And they sang a new song, saying
- You are worthy to receive the scroll
- and to open its seals
- because You were slaughtered
- and You purchased for God by Your blood people from every tribe and language and people and ethnic group
- and You made them kings and priests to our God
- and they will rule upon the earth
- If Christ had not died and risen, God's purposes would not be fulfilled - not a single redeemed person!
- Death qualified Jesus to open the scrolls
- Universal Worship of the Conquering Slain Lamb 5:11-14
- And I looked and I heard a voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders
- And their number was ten-thoushand ten-thousands and a thousand thousands
- saying with a loud voice
- The Lamb who was slaughtered is worthy to receive
- power and riches and wisdom and strength
- and honor and glory and thanks
- notice sevenfold attributes - perfection
- and I heard every created thing
- in heaven
- and on the earth
- and under the earth
- and on the sea
- and the things in it
- Whole universe is transformed - renewed creation is part of salvation
- saying:
- To the One seated on the throne and to the lamb
- blessing and honor and glory and power
- forever and ever
- And the four living things said "Amen"
- and the elders fell down and worshipped
- Significance
- God is beyond description,
- God is Self-existent/separate
- We are dependent for everything
- God is creator
- We are debtors for everything
- God is Sovereign Lord of history- opening scrolls
- We have meaning only in God’s meaning and plan- it is not about us because it is bigger than us
- He is sovereign sitting on the throne, not us
- God is gracious redeemer
- We are double debtors for everything
- He has purched us by His own blood to be priests and kings under Him
- God has destined us
- We are double dependent debtors with a destiny
- See everything else from this perspective
- this is the most fundamental/foundational reality
- Everything else will eventually be conformed to this
- If something is out of whack with this reality, it is temporary/ephemeral and not as real and will soon be changed into this reality
- If someone disagrees with or denies this reality, they are wrong and will be shown to be wrong
- Series of Sevens on Earth (preparations for consummation) 6:1-16:21
- Intro
- outline
- 7 seals
- 7 trumpets
- interlude I've called 7 signs b/c has signs, organized in same grouping pattern
- 7 bowls of wrath
- relation to one another
- strait chronological, prob. not
- not separate and subsequent
- some sort of recapitulation?
- not in sense of parallel telling of same reality
- 7 trumpets are the 7th seal
- 7 bowls are the 7th trumpet
- 7 signs probably broad stroke for all of history
- trumpets are in many ways parallel to the bowls - BLM p. 374
- no order, but purely symbolic? - probably not
- but all demonstrate Christ's sovereignty over all events- real or symbolic
- all intensify toward end in response to hardness of heart
- probably spiral, going over same general ground more than once from different angles
- relation to rest of book
- most likely NOT the content of the scroll
- preliminary events to be wrapped up before the contents of the scroll
- just the birth pangs of the new creation
- finishing/vindicating this-worldly history before next-worldly history can begin
- relation to reality
- symbolic/metaphorical - beware of trying to find historical events that closely reflect the details of the symbols used
- pointing to real world realities that were in the first century/ were throughout history/ are in our time/ and will be at the very end (whenever that will be)
- beware of thinking you know the historical correspondence except from the hindsight of eternity
- look rather for the significance and application for John's readers and us
- identity of the beast is not as important as the character of the beast
- knowing the significance of 666 not as important as not worshipping anything but God
- overall background and symbols
- Exodus, esp. plagues
- judgment related to giving of law, Ex. 19: 16-18
- cf. 15:1 "seven last plagues" = perfection of plagues
- God's revelatory purpose to display His Name
- Daniel suffering under ungodly kingdoms and vindication
- Counterfeit/parody of true Christ/true sovereignty - deception/antichrist
- 7 Seals 6:1-8:5
- Four horsemen/first 4 seals 6:1-8
- First seal 6:1-2
- And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals
- The Lamb opens the seal
- because the lamb is sovereign over all history and worthy to bring about what happens next
- and i heard one of the four living creatures saying as a voice of thunder - "Come"
- and I looked and behold a white horse
- and the one sitting on it had a bow
- and a crown was given to him
- and he went out conquering/overcoming and so that he may conquer/overcome
- Second seal 6:3-4
- And when He opened the second seal
- I heard the second living creature saying "Come"
- and another horse (red like fire) went out
- and to the once seated on him was given to take peace/prosperity from the earth
- and so that men may kill one another
- and a great sword was given to him
- Third seal 6:5-6
- And when He opened the third seal
- I heard the third living creature say "Come" and I saw
- And behold, a black horse
- and the one seated on it had scales in his hand
- and I heard as a voice in the midst of the four creatures saying
- a quart of wheat for a denarius
- three quarts of barley for a denarius
- and do not harm the oil and wine
- Fourth seal 6:7-8
- and when He opened the fourth seal
- I heard the voice of the fourth living thing saying "Come"
- I looked and behold a pale (light greyish green) horse
- and the name of the one sitting on it was death
- and hades followed with him
- and authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth to kill them by sword, famine, deadly plague and by the wild beasts of the earth
- transition question - how could God do this? Isn't He a God of Love?
- Fifth seal - the martyrs calling for justice 6:9-11
- and when He opened the fifth seal
- I saw under the altar the souls/lives of those killed because of the Word of God and because of the testimony which they were having
- cf. description of John and reason for his exile on Patmos 1:9
- and they cried out with a great voice, saying
- How Long O Master, who is the Holy and True one?
- cf. lament Psalms
- term 'Master' used only here in Rev. - one in charge, soverign
- on 'holy and true" cf. 3:7
- will You not judge and pay back our blood upon those living on the earth?
- and each of them was given a white robe
- and they were told to rest/wait for a small time yet
- until the servants with them and their brothers, who were about to be killed as they were, were completed/fulfilled
- i.e. untill all of them were killed
- God fore knew who would be killed
- and it all works out perfectly according to plan
- Sixth seal - the wrath of the Lamb 6:12-17
- And I saw when He opened the sixth seal.
- Natural work impacted
- and there was a great earthquake
- and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair
- and the whole moon became as blood
- and the stars of heaven fell to the earth as a fig tree drops it figs when a strong wind shakes it.
- and the sky was split/opened as a scroll being rolled up
- and every mountain and island was moved from its place
- Humanity impacted
- and the kings of the earth and the great ones and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and freeperson hid themselves in the caves and rocks of the mountains
- and they said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the lamb.
- because the great day of their wrath has come
- and who is able to stand?
- Interlude 7:1-17
- The sealing of the 144000 7:1-8
- After this, I saw four angels standing upon the four corners of the earth
- 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.
- and I saw another angel goimg up from the rising of the sun/East - having the seal of the Living God
- and he cried out with a great voice to the four angels to whom were given the power to damage the earth and the sea.
- saying, "Do not damage the earth or the sea or the trees until we seal the servants/slaves of God upon their foreheads
- and I heard the number of those being sealed
- 144,000 being sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel
- from the tribe of Judah, 12000 being sealed
- from the tribe of Reuben, 12000
- from the tribe of Gad, 12000
- from the tribe of Asher, 12000
- from the tribe of Naphtali, 12000
- from the tribe of Manasseh, 12000
- from the tribe of Simeon, 12000
- from the tribe of Levi, 12000
- from the tribe of Issachar, 12000
- from the tribe of Joseph (Ephraim), 12000
- from the tribe of Benjamin, 12000 being sealed
- literal Israel or figurative? most likely figurative, in any case, Christian, whether converts from Jewish or Pagan, Jews must convert to Jesus to be saved
- different group than multitude that follows or same? Probably the same, in this section showing that they are protected from the Wrath of God, in the next section to show that they are NOT protected from persecution by the antichrist
- Why Dan missing? possibly no significance, possibly associated with idolatry in Judges, possibly b/c of Jewish tradition (also see Irenaeus) that the antichrist would come from Dan, most probably as a signal that this is not literal Israel, but symbolic for the Spiritual Israel, the church
- Numberless multitude in worship 7:9-12
- After these things I looked, and behold, a manifold, large crowd, which no one is able to count
- from every ethnic group and tribe and people and tongue standing before the throne and before the Lamb
- clothed in white robes and harps in their hands
- and crying out in a great voice, saying
- Salvation to our God
- to the one seated upon the throne
- and to the Lamb
- and all the angels standing around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures also fell before the throne upon their faces and worshipped God, saying
- Amen
- Blessing and glory and wisdom
- and thanks and honor and power and strength (7 attributes)
- be to our God forever and ever
- Amen
- Interpretation of the Vision of the multitude 7:13-17
- and one of the elders answered me, saying
- who are these who are dressed in white clothes and from where did they come?
- and I said to him, my Lord, you know
- and he said to me
- These are those who are coming out from the great tribulation
- and they have washed their robes
- and they have made them white in the blood of the lamb
- obviously figurative for salvation in Christ
- literal blood does not make white, but the death of Christ makes pure
- holiness effected by His atonement
- therefore
- they are before the throne of God
- and they serve Him day and night in His temple
- and The One sitting on the throne will tabernacle over/upon them
- cf. translations = shelter
- cf. Jn 1:14 dwelt among them
- and they will never hunger or thirst
- and the sun and burning heat will never fall on them
- because the Lamb in the middle of the throne will shepherd them
- and He will lead them to springs of living water
- and God will wipe every tear from their eyes
- Summary of interlude
- they will be protected from the Wrath of God
- They will not be protected from the persecution/suffering from men
- They will be blessed beyond imagination by God in vindication for this suffering
- This is a ground for much worship
- Seventh Seal 8:1-2
- And when He opened the seventh seal
- it was silent in heaven for a half an hour
- possibly, signifying rest
- possibly making the prayers of the saints heard
- most likely - dramatic silence of awe and humility before the wonder of God and what He is about to do - humility of silence before God - "Trembling Suspense" - Ladd
- and I saw the seven anges which were standing before God
- and seven trumpets were given to them
- Prayers of the saints 8:3-5
- another angel came and stood before the altar, having a golden censer
- censer is a bowl for burning incense
- and much incense was given to him
- so that he may give all of the prayers of the saints on the golden altar before the throne
- cf. insense altar/golden altar in temple before the ark
- and the smoke of the incence, with the prayers of the saints, went up before the throne from the hand of the angel
- and the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it onto the earth
- poetic payback for the suffering reflected in the prayers of the saints, cf. 5th seal
- And there was thunder and noises and lightning and an earthquake
- 7 Trumpets 8:6-11:19
- Preparation to blow the trumpets 8:6
- And the seven angels that had the seven trumpets prepared them, so that they may trumpet
- First Four Trumpets 8:7-13
- First trumpet 8:7
- And the first trumpeted
- and there was hail and fire mixed with blood
- and it was thrown to the earth
- and a third of the earth and a third of the trees and all green grass was burned up
- Second trumpet 8:8-9
- And the second angel trumpeted
- and a giant mountain of burning fire was thrown into the sea
- and a third of the sea became blood
- and a third of the creatures in the sea that have life died
- and a third of the boats were utterly destroyed
- Third Trumpet 8:10-11
- And the third angel trumpeted
- and a large star burning like a torch fell from the sky
- and it fell on a third of the rivers and springs of water
- and the name of star was Bitterness
- cf. Prov. 5:4, Jer. 23:15
- and a third of the water became bitter
- and many men died from the water
- because it was made bitter/poisoned
- Fourth trumpet 8:12-13
- and the fourth angel trumpeted
- and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon and a third of the stars
- so that a third of them were darkened and a third of the day did not shine and likewise the night
- and I looked and I heard an eagle flying in midair saying with a loud voice
- Woe, Woe, Woe to those living on the earth
- from the remaining sounding of the trumpets of the three angels that are about to trumpet
- Fifth Trumpet- Torment of unbelievers 9:1-12
- The differentiated torment of unbelievers 9:1-6
- And the fifth angel trumpeted
- opening the abyss
- and I saw a star falling from heaven to the earth
- and the key of the bottomless pit was given to him
- and he opened the bottomless pit
- and smoke went up from the pit as smoke from a giant furnace
- and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit
- locust from the abyss
- and locust went out from the smoke onto the earth
- and power was given to them like the power of scorpions of the earth
- differentiating between believers and unbelievers
- and it was told to them so that they would not destroy the grass or the trees
- and so that they would not destroy humans except for those having the seal of God upon their forehead
- The torment from the locust
- and it was given them so that they would not kill them, but so that they would torture them for five months
- and their torture was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a man
- and in these days men will seek death and they will not find it
- and they will strongly desire to die and death will flee from them
- Description of the locust 9:7-11
- and the likeness of the scorpions was like horses prepared for battle
- and on their head were something that looked like gold crowns
- and their faces looked like human faces
- and they had hair like a woman's hair
- and their teeth were like a lion's teeth
- and they had breastplates like breastplates of iron
- and the sound of their wings was like the sound of a chariot with many horses running into battle
- and they had tails and stings like scorpions
- and in their tails was their power to damage men for five months
- They had over them a king - the angel of the pit
- His name in Hebrew is Abbaddon
- and in Greek his name is Apollyon
- both names mean "destroyer/destruction"
The First Woe 9:12- The first woe has come
- Behold, two woes are still coming after these things
- Sixth Trumpet- 1/3 of humanity killed 9:13-19
- and the sixth angel trumpeted
- and I heard one voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God
- saying to the sixth angel that had the trumpet
- release the four angels that are bound at the great river - the Euphrates
- and the four angels that were prepared for the hour and day and month and year were released
- so that they would kill a third of humanity
- and the number of the horse soldiers was 200 million
- I heard their number
- and in this way I saw the horses in the vision and those sitting on them
- having breastplates that are fiery and purple and sulfurous
- and the heads of the horses were like the head of a lion
- and from their mouths came fire and smoke and sulfur
- a third of mankind died from these three plagues - from fire, and smoke and sulfur coming out of their mouths
- for the power of the horses were in their mouths and in their tails
- for their tails were like serpents having heads and damaging with them
- Interlude 9:20-11:14
- Men refuse to repent 9:20-21
- and the remaining men, who were not killed in these plagues
- they did not repent from the works of their hands
- so that they would not worship demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood
- which are not able to see or hear or walk
- and they did not repent from their murder or from their sorcery or from their adultery or from their theft
- The Mystery of God will be completed 10:1-7
- and I saw another angel coming down from heaven clothed with a cloud
- and there was a rainbow/halo upon his head
- and his face/appearance was like the sun
- and his feet were like pillars of fire
- and he had in his hand an open little scroll
- and his right foot was on the see and his left foot on the ground
- and he cried out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring
- and when he cried out, the seven thunders spoke their own sounds
- and when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write
- and I heard a voice from heaven saying- "seal up that which the seven thunders spoke and do not write it"
- and the angel, which I saw standing on the sea and on the land, lifted up his right hand to heaven
- and he swore by the One 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 no more time/delay
- but in the days of the sound of the seventh angel
- when he was about to trumpet
- and the mystery of God will be completed as His own servants the prophets evangelized
- Renewed Call to Prophecy 10:8-11
- And the voice which I heard from heaven spoke with me again and said
- Go, take the open scroll from the hand of the angel standing upon the sea and upon the land
- and I went toward the angel saying to him, "give me the scroll"
- and he said to me, "take and consume it"
- "and it will make your stomach bitter
- but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth"
- and I took the scroll from the hand of the angel and I consumed it
- and it was sweet as honey in my mouth
- and when I ate it, my stomack was made bitter
- and they said to me, "It is necessary for you to prophecy again concerning many people and nations and tongues and kingdoms
- The Two Witnesses 11:1-13
- Measuring the Temple
- And a measuring reed was given to me, saying-
- get up and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who are worshipping in it
- and the outer court of the temple do not measure, exclude it
- because it is given to the nations
- and the holy city will be trampled for 42 months
- Two Witnesses witness
- and I will give to my two witnesses
- and they will prophecy for 1260 days, wearing sackcloth
- These are the two olive trees and the two lamps standing before the Lord of the earth
- and if someone wishes to harm them, fire is coming out from their mouths and it is consuming their enemies
- and if someone will wish to harm them, in the same way, it is necessary for this someone to be killed
- These ones have power/authority to close the sky so that it will not rain for the days of their prophesying
- and they have authority over the waters to turn them into blood
- and to strike the earth with all kind of plague whenever they wish
- Two Witnesses are killed
- When their testimony is completed, the beast who came up from the pit make war agains them and overcame them and killed them
- and their corpses were on the street of the great city, which is called spiritual Sodom and Egypt, where also thier Lord was crucified
- and those from the peoples and tribes and tongues and ethnic groups saw their corpses for three and a half days
- and they will not permit their corpses to be buried in a tomb
- and those living on the earth are rejoicing over them and they will celbrate and send gifts to one another
- because these two prophets had been a torture to those living on the earth
- Two Witnesses are vindicated
- and after the three and a half days, a living Spirit from God entered in them and they stood upon thier feet.
- And a great fear fell on those who saw them
- and they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here"
- and they went up into heaven in the cloud
- and their enemies saw them
- and in this hour was a great earthquake and a tenth of the city fell and 7000 men were killed from the earthquake
- and those who remained became fearful and gave glory to the God of heaven
The Second Woe 11:14- The second woe went out
- Behold, the third woe is coming soon
- Seventh Trumpet 11:15-19
- and the seventh angel trumpeted
- and there was a loud voice 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
- and the 24 elders seated on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshipped God, saying
- We thank You, Lord, God, the Almighty
- Who was and Who is
- Because You have taken Your great power and reigned
- and the nations were enraged
- and Your wrath came
- and the time to judge the dead
- and to give the reward to your servants the prophets
- and to the holy ones and to those who are fearing Your Name
- Both the small/insignificant and the great
- and to destroy those who destroy the earth
- and the temple of God in heaven was opened
- and The Ark of His Covenant was seen in His Temple
- and there was lightning and noises and thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm
- 7 Cosmic Events 12:1-14:20
- 1. The Woman and the dragon 12:1-6
First Sign - Woman- And a great sign was seen in heaven
- a woman clothed with the sun
- and the moon under her feet
- and a crown of twelve stars on her head
- and she was pregnant
- and she cried out in pain and the torment of childbirth
- Interpretation
- signifies the People of God
- Israel gave birth to Jesus
Second Sign - Dragon- and another sign was seen in heaven
- and behold a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns
- and there were seven crowns on their heads
- diadem - crown of the highest king in the area
- false king/pretender
- and its tail dragged a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth
- Interpretation
- signifies the enemy of God
- satan fighting against God and against His people throughout history
- The Woman and the Dragon
- and the dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth
- so that when she gave birth to her child, he would eat it
- and she gave birth to a male child, who is about to shepherd all the nations with an iron rod
- and her child was snatched up toward God and toward His throne
- and the woman fled into the desert
- where she had a place prepared from God
- so that they could take care of her there for 1260 days
- Interpretation
- the devil consistently fighting against God and His people
- tries to kill Jesus
- e.g. slaughter of the innocents in Mt. 2, attempt to wipe out the Jews in Esther
- engineered the crucifixion as a way to kill the Christ, but was defeated thereby - failed miserably
- 2. The dragon is thrown out of heaven to earth 12:7-12
- And there was a war in heaven
- Michael and his angels warring against the dragon
- and the dragon and his angels also fought (back)
- and they were not strong enough and a place was not found for them still in heaven
- and the dragon was thrown out - the ancient serpent, who is called the devil and satan
- who deceived the whole world
- he was thrown to the earth
- and his angels were thrown down with him
- and I heard a loud voice in heaven saying
- now is the salvation and the power and the Kingdom of our God
- and the authority of His Christ
- because the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down
- who accuses them before our God day and night
- And they overcame him
- because of the blood of the Lamb
- only ground for our success
- not our works or good behaviour
- Carson - "Do you not understand that we overcome the accuser on the ground of the blood of Christ? Nothing more, nothing less. That is how we win. It is the only way we win. This is the only groundof our acceptance befroe God. That is why we can never get very far from the cross without distorting something fundamental, not only in doctrine, but in elementary discipleship, faithful perseverance, obedience, and spiritual warfare against the enemy of our souls. If you drift far from the cross, you are done. You are defeated. We overcome the accuser of our brothers and sisters, we overcome our consciences, we overcome our bad tempers, we overcome our defeats, we overcome our lusts, we overcome our fears, we overcome our pettiness on the basis of the blood of the Lamb." scandalous p. 103
- and because of the word of their testimony
- advance of the Gospel by testifying to Jesus
- not about ourselves
- not just to protect ourselves, but overcome the dragon, do damage to the enemy
- by proclaiming the death and resurrection and cosmic Lordship of Christ
- and they did not love their lives unto death
- simply being willing to die rather than being unfaithful to Christ
- "for me to live is Christ and to die is gain"
- because of this- Rejoice O heavens and those who dwell in them
- Woe to the earth and the sea
- because the devil has been thrown down toward you, having great anger
- knowing that he has little time
- 3. The dragon pursues the woman's offspring 12:13-18
- And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down into the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child
- and two wings of a great eagle were given to her
- so that she might fly into the desert to her place
- where she was taken care of for three and a half lengths of time from the presence of the serpent
- and the serpent threw water as a river out of his mouth after the woman
- so that he might make her swept away by the flood
- and the earth helped the woman
- and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river which the dragon put out of its mouth
- and the dragon was enraged with the woman
- and he went out to make war with the rest of her offspring
- who are keeping the commands of God and are having the testimony of Jesus
- and he stood on the shore of the sea
- 4. The beast from the sea that fights against the saints 13:1-10
- Beast = anti-God empire
- and I saw a beast coming up out of the sea
- having ten horns and seven heads
- and upon its heads it had ten crowns
- and upon its heads it had blasphemous names
- and the beast which I saw had the likeness of a leopard and its feet were like the feet of a bear and its mouth were like the mouth of a lion
- and the dragon gave to him his power and his throne and great authority
- compare with ch. 17 beast
- Beast = sporadic and regular opposition
- and one of its heads was like it was slain unto death
- and the wound of his death was healed
- Beast = worldly success
- and the whole world marveled after the beast
- and they worshipped the dragon
- because he gave the authority to the beast
- and they worshipped the beast, saying
- who is like the beast?
- and who is able to fight with him?
- Beast = prideful/hateful opposition to God
- and a mouth was given to him to speak great and blasphemous things
- and authority was given to him to do so for 42 months
- and he opened his mouth in blasphemies toward God
- to blaspheme His Name and His dwelling place and those dwelling in heaven
- and it was given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them
- and authority was given to him over every tribe and people and tongue and people group
- Beast = both challenge and opportunity for God's people
- and all those living in the world worshipped him
- whose names were not written in the book of life of the Lamb - those sealed from the foundation of the world
- if someone has ears, let him hear
- if someone is going into captivity, he will go into captivity
- if someone will be killed by the sword, he will be killed by the sword
- This is the longsuffering and the faith of the saints
- 5. The beast from the earth that deceives the world 13:11-18
- Beast = deceiving false prophet
- and I saw another beast coming up from the ground
- and he had two horns in the likeness of a lamb
- and he spoke like a dragon
- and all the authority of the first beast he did before him
- Beast = Causing idolatry via even miraculous deception
- and he made the earth and those living in it so that they will worship the first beast, of whom was healed his deadly wound
and he made great signs so that he even caused fire to come down from heaven to earth before men
and he deceived those living on the earth because of the signs which were given to him to do before the beast- telling those who live on the earth to make an image/idol of the beast, who had the wound of a sword and lived
- and it was given to him to give a spirit to the image of the beast
- so that the image of the beast may speak
- Beast = Jealously exclusive in its deception
- and so that it may make whoever does not worship the image of the beast to die
- and he is making everyone - the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves - so that he will give to them a mark/stamp upon their right hand or upon their forehead
- and so that no one will be able to buy or sell if they do not have the mark/stamp - the name of the beast or the number of his name
- Beast = both challenge and opportunity for God's people
- here is the wisdom
- let the one who has insight calculate/figure out the number of the beast
- for it is a human number
- and the number is 666
- one short of perfect 7 3 times
- gematra - unreliable, almost anyone can be made, suggestions include Nero (by twisting) Titus, Hitler, latin empire (Irenaeus), etc.
- sybolically characterize the beast, not name
- OT usage- I Kgs 10:14
- Solomon's tribute in God
- Prosperity and pleasure leading to forsaking God for foreign gods
- the mark of the beast is about worship and money
- 6. Lamb and His army 14:1-5
- and I looked
- and behold the Lamb standing on Mount Zion
- and with Him 144000 having His Name and the Name of His Father written on their forehead
- and I heard a voice from heaven as a voice of many waters and as a voice of great thunder
- and the voice that I heard was like harpists playing their harps
- and they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders
- and no one was able to learn the song except the 144000 - the ones purchased from the earth
- These are the ones who did not defile themselves with women - for they were virgins
- They follow the Lamb wherever He goes
- They were purchased from men as the firstfruits of God and of the Lamb
- and in their mouths falsehood was not found - they were blameless
- Interlude 14:6-12
- First Angel 14:6-7
- and I was another angel flying in midair
- he had the eternal Gospel to evangelize those dwelling on the earth - to every ethnic group, tribe, tongue and nation
- Saying with a loud voice
- Fear God
- and give Him glory
- because the hour of His judgment has come
- Vindication of God is good news
- Worship the One Who made the heavens and the Earth and the sea and the springs of Water
- Second Angel 14:8
- and a second angel followed
- saying
- Fallen, Fallen is Babylon the Great
- all the nations have drunk from the wine of the wrath of her adultery
- Third Angel 14:9-12
- and a third angel followed them
- saying in a loud voice
- If someone worships the beast and its image and receives the mark upon his forehead or upon his hand
- this one will also drink from the wine of the wrath of God
- which has been mixed full-strength in the cup of His anger
- and they will be tormented in fire and sulfur before His holy angels and before the Lamb
- and the smoke of their torture will go up forever and ever
- and the ones who worship the beast and his image and if someone receives the mark of his name
- they will not have rest day and night
- Challenge and opportunity
- Here is the patience of the saints, those who keep the commands of God and the faith in Jesus
- 7. The Harvest of the Earth 14:13-20
- First Harvest 14:13-16
- and I heard a voice from heaven
- saying, "write..."
- Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on
- The Spirit says "Yes"
- so that they may rest from their labor
- for their works will follow after them
- i.e. the reward for their good works
- and I looked and saw a white cloud
- and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man
- having a crown of gold on His head
- and having a sharp sickle in His hand
- and another angel went out from the temple, crying out with a loud voice to the one seated on the cloud
- send out your sickle and harvest
- because the hour to harvest has come
- because the harvest of the earth is ripe
- and the One seated on the cloud put out His sickle on the earth and harvested the earth
- Second Harvest 14:17-20
- And another angel went out from the temple in heaven
- he also had a sharp sickle
- and another angel went out from the altar
- having authority over the fire
- and He made a loud call to the one having the sharp sickle, saying
- send your sharp sickle
- and harvest the grapes of the vine of the earth
- because its grapes are ripe
- and the angel put out His sickle into the earth
- and he harvested the the vines of the earth
- and he put it into the great winepress of the wrath of God
- The winepress was trampled outside the city
- and blood went out of the winepress as high as the bridle of a horse for 1600 stadia
- a little less that 200 miles
- a little more than 300 km
- 7 Bowls 15:1-16:21
- God's justice is justified 15:1-4
and I saw a great and marvelous sign in heaven - seven angels having the seven last plagues- because in them is completed the wrath of God
- and I saw a sea of glass mixed with fire
- and those who had overcome the beast and his image and the number of his name standing by the sea of glass - having the harps of God
- and they sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the lamb
- saying
- great and marvelous are Your works
- Lord, God, the Almighty (pantokrator)
- righteous and true are Your ways
- King of the Nations
- who will not fear and glorify Your Name O Lord
- because only You are holy
- because all the nations will come and worship before You
- because Your righteous deeds has been revealed
- Giving the seven bowls 15:5-8
- and after these things, I looked
- and the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened
- and seven angels went out, having the seven plagues from the temple
- dressed in clean bright linen
- with gold sashes around their chest
- and one of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God - Who lives forever and ever
- and the temple was full of 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 completed
- Command to pour out the seven bowls 16:1
- and I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels
- Go and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God on the earth
- First Four Bowls - on Nature 16:2-9
- First Bowl - on the earth 16:2
- and the first went out and poured out his bowl upon the earth
- and there was bad and painful sores on the men who had the mark of the beast and those worshipped his image
- Second Bowl - on the sea 16:3
- and the second poured out his bowl on the sea
- and it became blood like of a dead man
- and every living thing in the sea died
- Third Bowl - on the waters 16:4-7
- and the third poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water
- and they became blood
- and I heard the angel of the water saying
- You are righteous
- the One Who is and Who was, the Holy One
- because You created these things
- because they poured out the blood of your saints and prophets
- and blood was given them to drink - they are deserving of it
- and I heard the angel of the altar saying
- Yes Lord, God, the Almighty (Pantokrator)
- true and righteous are Your judgments
- Fourth Bowl - on the sun 16:8-9
- and the fourth poured out His bowl upon the sun
- and it was given to it to burn men with fire
- and men were burned a great burning
- and they blasphemed the Name of God, Who had authority over these plagues
- and they did not repent - in order to give Him glory
- Fifth Bowl - on the beast and his followers 16:10-11
- and the fifth poured out his bowl upon the throne of the beast
- and his kingdom became dark
- and they gnawed their tongues in pain
- and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pain and their sores
- and they did not repent from their works
- Sixth Bowl - preparation for battle 16:12-16
- and the sixth poured out his bowl upon the great river - the Euphrates
- and the its water was dried up
- so that the way was prepared for the kings of the east
- and I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out from the mouth of the dragon and from the mouth of the beast and from the mouth of the false prophet
for they are demonic spirits doing signs, - which are going out on the kings of the whole earth
- to gather them into the battle of the great day of God Almighty (Pantokrator)
- Interlude
- Behold, I am coming as a thief
- blessed is the one watching and keeping his clothes
- so that he would not walk naked and they would see his shame
- and He gathered them into the place called Armageddon in Hebrew
- Seventh Bowl - judgment on Babylon 16:17-21
- and the seventh poured out his bowl upon the air
- and a great voice went out from the temple, from the throne, saying, "It is done"
- and there was lightning and a loud noise, and thunder
- and there was a great earthquake
- such as there never was as long as men were on the earth
- so large an earthquake as this one was
- and the great city was broken into three parts
- and the cities of the nations fell
- and Babylon the great was remembered before God
- to give to her the cup of the wine of the anger of His wrath
- and every island fled and mountains could not be found
- and huge hailstones, weighing about 100 pounds fell down from heaven on men
- and the man blasphemed God because of the plague of hailstones
- because the plague is extremely great
- In the Spirit Vision of the Prostitute 17:1-21:8
- The Great Prostitute 17:1-18
- Vision of the Great Prostitute 17:1-6
- Angel shows the Prostitute
- and one of the seven angels that have the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying
- come
- I will show to you the judgment of the great prostitute, who is sitting on many waters
- with whom the kings of the earth committed adultery
- and those inhabiting the earth became drunk from the wine of her adultery
- and he carried me into the desert in the Spirit
- Allied with the Beast
- and I was a woman seated upon a red beast
- filled with blasphemous names
- having seven heads and ten horns
- and the woman was clothed in purple and red
- and was covered with gold and precious stones and pearls
- having a gold cup in her hand, filled with abomination and the uncleanness of her adultery
- Babylon the Prostitute - tempting away from God
- and upon her forehead a name was written - Mystery, Babylon the Great
- the mother of the prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth
- and I saw the woman drunk from the blood of the saints and from the blood of the witnesses of Jesus
- and when I saw her, I marveled with great astonishment
- Interpretation of the beast and its destiny 17:7-14
- and the angel said to me,
- why are you marveling?
- I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that supports her - having the seven heads and the ten horns
- Same old Beast - Anti-God pretention to rule - earthly empires serving self
- the beast which I saw was, and is not, and is about to come up from the abyss and he will go into destruction
- and those inhabiting the earth would marvel seeing the beast
- those whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world
- because he was and is not and will come
- Roman Empire is one example, but not the only example
- This is the mind that has wisdom
- The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits
- and they are seven kings
- Five have fallen, one is, another has not yet come
- and when he comes, he must remain for a small time
- and the beast who was and is not, this one is an eighth, and he is from the seven, and he is going to destruction
- and the ten horns which you saw, they are ten kings who have not yet received their kingdom
- but they will receive authority as kings for one hour with the beast
- Unified in opposition to God
- cf. Psa 2
- these ones are having one knowledge/mind/purpose
- and they will give their power and authority to the beast
- These will make war with the lamb
- Unified in their failure to overcome God and its reason
- and the lamb will overcome them
- because He is Lord of Lords, and King of Kings
- and those with Him are called and chosen and faithful
- Interpretation of the woman and her destiny 17:15-18
- and he said to me
- World system - used by the beast as a tool to tempt people away from God
- the waters which you saw on which the prostitute was sitting are nations and crowds and ethnic groups and languages
- Hated by the beast and thrown away once its usefulness is done
- and the ten horns which you saw and the beast - these will hate the prostitute
- and they will make her desolate and naked and they will eat her flesh and they will burn her with fire
- For God gave into their hearts to do His purpose
- and to do the same purpose
- and to give their kingdom to the beast until the words of God are completed/fulfilled
- But for a while sucessful in tempting people
- and the woman which you saw is the great city having dominion/kingship over the kings of the earth
- Fall of Babylon 18:1-24
- Announcement of Babylon's Fall 18:1-8
- after these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority
- and the earth was lighted by his glory
- and he cried out with a strong voice, saying
- fallen, fallen is Babylon the great
- Her destiny
- and she has become a dwelling place of demons
- and a prison of all unclean spirits
- and a prison of all unclean birds
- and a prison of all unclean and detested beasts
- The Reason
- because all the nations will drink from the wine of the wrath of her adultery
- and the kings of the earth committed adultery with her

- and the merchants of the earth got rich from the power of her luxury/sensuality

- and I heard another voice from heaven saying
- Call for God's people to be separate - cf. letters to 7 churches
- come out from her my people
- so that you do not share in her sins
- and so that you do not receive from her plagues
- because her sins are joined together unto heaven
- and God remembers her unrighteous deeds
- Her punishment and its reason
- give to her just as she gave
- and give a double portion according to her works
- mix to her double from the cup which she mixed
- and the same way that she glorified herself and lived in luxury, to this extent give to her torment and mourning
- because in her heart she said
- I sit as a queen
- and I am not a widow
- and I will certainly not see mourning
- because of this, in one day her plagues will come - death and mourning and famine
- and she will be burned in fire
- because the Lord who is judging her is strong
- The three Woes as people mourn over Bablyon 18:9-20
- The Kings Mourn for Babylon 18:9-10
- and the kings of the earth, who committed adultery with her and lived in luxury wept and mourned over her
- when they see the smoke of her fire
- standing far off because of the fear of her torment
- saying
Woe, Woe, the great city- Babylon the strong city
- because in one hour her judgment has come
- The Merchants Mourn for Babylon 18:11-17
- and the merchants of the earth wept and mourned over her
- because no one buys her cargo anymore
- cargo of gold and siver and precious stones and pearls and fine linen and purple cloth and silk and red cloth
- and every scented wood and every article of ivory and every article from precious wood and bronze and iron and marble
- and cinnamon and spice and incense and myhrr and frankincense and wine and olive oil and fine flour and wheat and cattle and sheep and horses and chariots and bodies and souls of men
- and your fruit of the lust of the soul will be taken from you
- and all the luxuries and splendours will be destroyed from you
- and they will certainly no longer be found
- the merchants of these things who became rich from her stood from afar because of the fear of her torment
- crying and weeping
- saying
Woe, Woe, the great city- clothed in fine linen and purple and red
- and gilded with gold and precious stones and pearls
- because in one hour such great riches was laid in ruin
- The Sailors Mourn for Babylon 18:17-19
- and every ship's captain and all who travel by sail and sailors and those who work the sea stood far off
- and they cried out when they saw the smoke of her fire
- saying
- who was like this great city?
- cf. "Who is like God?" in many Psalms
- cf. 13:4 "Who is like the beast?"
- and they threw dust on their heads
- and they cried out weeping and mourning
- saying
Woe, Woe, the great city- in which all who had a ship in the sea grew rich from her wealth
- because in one hour she was destroyed
- But heaven rejoices 18:20
- rejoice over her - heaven
- and the saints and apostles and prophets
- because God judged your judgment against her
- Babylon will be thrown down 18:21-24
- and one strong angel lifted a stone like a huge milstone and threw it into the sea
- saying
- Babylon will be destroyed
- In this way, Babylon the great city will be thrown down with violence
- and she will certainly no longer be found
- and the sound of harpists and musicians and flute players and trumpeters will certainly no longer be heard in you
- and all craft of all craftsmen will certainly no longer be found in you
- and the sound of a mill will certainly no longer be heard in you
- and the light of a lamp will certainly no longer shine in you
- and the sound of a bride and groom will certainly no longer be heard in you
- reason
- because your merchants were the great men of the earth
- because by your sorceries you deceived all the earth
- and the blood of the prophets and saints and of all those slaughtered on the earth was found in her
- Final Victory over Evil 19:1-20:15
- Hallelujah (3 Hallelujahs coresponding to the 3 woes) 19:1-8
- Hallelujah because of God's judgments 19:1-3
- after this I heard something like a huge crowd of many from heaven
- saying
- Hallelujah
- the salvation and the glory and the power of our God
- because true and just are His judgments
- because He judged the great prostitute
- who corrupted the world with her adultery
- and He has vindicated/avenged the blood of His servants from her hand
- and they said for a second time
- Hallelujah
- and her smoke is rising up forever and ever
- Amen, Hallelujah 19:4
- and the 24 elders and the four living creatures fell and worshipped the God who is seated on the throne
- saying
- Praise God 19:5
- And a voice went out from the throne
- saying
- praise our God, all His servants
- and those who fear Him, both small and great
- Hallelujah because God reigns and His wedding has come 19:6-8
- and I heard something like a huge crowd and like a voice of many waters and like a voice of loud thunder
- saying
- Hallelujah
- because the Lord God, the Almighty (pantokrator) reigns
- we are rejoicing and being glad
- and we will give the glory to Him
- because the marriage of the Lamb has come
- and His bride has prepared herself
- and it was given to her so that she would be clothed with pure shining linen
- for the linen is the righteous deeds of the saints
- Worship God 19:9-10
- Interaction with the revealing angel
- And he said to me
- Write
- Blessed are those who have been invited to the feast of the wedding of the Lamb
- and he said to me
- this is the true Word of God
- and I fell before his feet to worship him
- and he said to me
- NO
- I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who have the testimony of Jesus
- WORSHIP GOD
- For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy
- The Rider on the White Horse comes in Judgment 19:11-16
- Vision of the Triumphant Christ
- And I saw the heavens opened
- and behold a white horse
- and the One seated on it is [called] faithful and true
- and in righteousness He judges and makes war
- His eyes are like flames of fire
- and many crowns are on His head
- He had a name written which no one knows except Himself
- and He was dressed in clothes dipped in blood
- and His Name was called the Word of God
- He judges the nations
- and the warriors in heaven followed Him upon white horses
- wearing clean white linen
- and a sharp sword came out from His mouth
- so that with it He may strike the Nations
- and He will shepherd them with a rod of iron
- and He will tread the winepress of the wine of the anger of the wrath of God the Almighty (Pantokrator)
- and He has written upon His clothes and upon His thigh - King of Kings and Lord of Lords
- The Feast of Judgment 19:17-21
- The Gathering for the feast
- And I saw one angel standing in the sun
- and he cried out with a loud voice
- saying to all the birds flying in midair
- Come
- gather together for the great feast of God
- so that you may eath the flesh of kings and the flesh of generals and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those seated on them and the flesh of all, the free and the slaves and the small and the great
- and I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war on the one seated upon the horse and against His warriors
- Punishment of the beast and false prophet
- and the beast was captured and the false prophet with him, who did the signs before him
- in which he deceived those receiving the mark of the beast and those worshipping his image
- the two of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with sulfur
- Punishment of those who followed them
- and the rest died by the sword coming out of the mouth of the one seated upon the horse
- and all the birds were satiated with their flesh
- Binding satan for 1000 years 20:1-3
- and I saw an angel coming down from heaven
- having the key of the pit and a great chain in his hand
- and he grabbed the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the devil and the accuser
- and he bound him 1000 years
- and he threw him in to the pit
- and he shut it and sealed it over him
- so that he would not still deceive the nations until the 1000 years were completed
- after these things it is necessary to release him for a small time
- Those reigning with Christ 1000 years 20:4-6
- and I saw a throne
- and they were seated on it
- and judgment was given to them
- and the souls of those beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the Word of God
- and who did not worship the beast and his image
- and they did not receive the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand
- and they will live and reign with Christ 1000 years
- the rest of the dead will not live until the thousand years were completed
- this is the first resurrection
- blessed and holy is the one having a part in the first resurrection
- The second death will not have authority/power over these
- but they will be priests of God and of Christ and they will reign with Him 1000 years
- final deception and defeat of the devil 20:7-10
- Final Deception
- and when the 1000 years were completed
- satan was released from his prison
- and he went out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth - Gog and Magog
- to gather them together into war
- their number was like the sand of the seashore
- and they went up upon the breadth of the earth
- and they surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city
- Final Defeat
- and fire came down from heaven and consumed them
- and the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where also the beast and the false prophet were
- and they will be tormented day and night, forever and ever
- The Great White Throne Judgment 20:11-15
- and I saw a great white throne and the One seated upon it
- from whose faith the earth and heaven fled
- and no place was found for them
- and I saw the dead, the great and the small standing before the throne
- and a book was opened
- and another book was opened, which is the book of life
- and the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to their works
- and the sea gave up the dead that were in it
- and death and hades gave up the dead that were in them
- and each was judged according to his works
- and death and hades were thrown into the lake of fire -
- this is the second death, the lake of fire
- and if someone is not found written in the book of life, he is thrown into the lake of fire
- summary
- 2 choices
- emphasize based on their works - without contradicting saved by grace
- emphasize presence or absence in the Lamb's Book of Life
- New Creation Purged of Evil 21:1-8
- New Heaven and New Earth 21:1-4
- Description of the New Creation
- And I saw a New Heaven and a New Earth
- for the first heaven and the first earth went away
- just like resurrection body will be similar to present body, but drastically different
- cf. PPP will walk and run in heaven, so no ozone problem in new earth
- and the sea did not still exist
- sea symbolic of chaos and untamed evil
- and I saw the Holy City, New Jerusalem coming down from heaven from God
- eschaton will in some sense be "in heaven"
- and in another sense will be on a new earthly existence - beyond our present ability to understand
- prepared as a bridegroom beautified for her husband
- and I heard a great voice from heaven saying
- behold the dwelling place of God is with men
- cf. Lev. 26:12, Jn 14:23, Ezek 37:27, Jer 32:38
- and he will dwell with them
- and they will be His people
- and this God will be with them
- and He will wipe every tear from their eyes
- and death will no longer exist
- neither will mourning or crying or pain
- because the first things have passed away
- The Soveriegn God makes everything new 21:5-8
- and the One seated on the Throne said
- Behold I am making everything new
- and He said
- write that these words are faithful and true
- and He said to me
- It has become/It is done
- God's Character
- I am the Alpha and the Omega
- the beginning and the end
- to the thirsty, I myself will freely give from the spring of the water of life
- Reward of the Overcomers
- the one who overcomes will inherit these things
- and I will be God to him and he will be a son to me
- Punishment of the Rebels
- but to the cowardly, and unfaithful and detestable and murderers and adulterers and sorcerers and idolaters and all the false
- their place will be in the lake burning with fire and sulfur - which is the second death
- In the Spirit Vision of the Bride 21:9-22:5
- New Jerusalem 21:9-27
- The New Jerusalem 21:9-14
- and one of the seven angels having the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came and spoke with me
- saying
- come
- I will show to you the bride - the wife of the Lamb
- and he brought me in the Spirit upon a great and high mountain
- and he showed me the Holy City Jerusalem coming down from heaven from God
- having the glory of God
- the shining of it had the appearance of a precious stone as a stone of crystal clear Jasper
- having a great and high wall
- having twelve gates and upon the gates were twelve angels
- and a name was written, which are the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel
- three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south and three gates on the west
- and the walls of the city had twelve foundations
- and on the twelve were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb
- Description/Measurement of the City 21:15-21
- and the one speaking with me had a gold measuring rod
- cf. measuring the temple in Ezek 40ff.
- so that he may measure the city and its gates and its walls
- and the city was laid out as a square and its breadth was equal to its width
- and he measured the city with the measuring rod - 12000 stadia (1500 miles)
- the length and breadth and height is equal
- cf.the perfect cube shape of the Holy of Holies in the OT temple
- and he measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measure, which is the angel's
- and the material of its walls was Jasper
- and the city is pure gold with the likeness of pure glass
- the foundations of the walls of the city were decorated with all kinds of precious stones
- the first Jasper
- the second sapphire
- the third aggate/calchedon
- the fourth emerald
- the fith sardonyx
- the sixth ruby/sardis/carnelion
- the seventh chrystalite/hyacynth
- the eighth beryl
- the ninth topaz
- the tenth chrysoprase/turquoise
- the eleventh jacinth
- the twelfth amethyst
- and the twelve gates were twelve pearls - each one gate was made from a single pearl
- and the main street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass
- The Glory of the City 21:22-27
- and I did not see a temple in it
- For the Lord God, the Almighty (pantokrator) and the Lamb is the temple in it
- and the city does not have need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it
- For the glory of God lights it, and the Lamb is its lamp
- and the nations walk by its light
- and the kings of the earth bear their glory into it
- and its gates are certainly not shut by day
- for there is no night there
- and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it
- and every common thing will certainly not enter into it
- and the one doing abomination and deceit (will not enter)
- except those written in the Book of LIfe of the Lamb (will not enter)
- Eden Restored 22:1-5
- and he showed me the river of the water of life - bright as crystal - going out from the throne of God and the Lamb
- in the middle of its main street
- and on either side of the river and their was a tree of life making twelve fruits
- according to each month it gave its fruit
- and the leaves of the tree are for healing of the nations
- and every curse will not be there
- and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it
- and His servants will serve Him
- and they will see His face
- and His Name will be on their forehead
- and there will no longer be night
- and they will not have a need for the light of a lamp or light of the sun
- because the Lord God will shine upon them
- and they will reign forever and ever
- Epilogue 22:6-21
- Inclusio - reiteration of title and introduction of the book 22:6-7
- and he said to me
- These words are faithful and true
- and the Lord God of the spirits of the prophets sent His angel/messenger to show to His servants what is necessary to be soon
- cf. 1:1
- Inclusion of whole book
- and behold, I am coming soon
- blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book
- cf. 1:3, also blessed for other reasons in 14:13, 16:15, 19:9, 20:6, 22:14
- John's Testimony about the book 22:8-11
- and I, John, was the one hearing and seeing these things
- and when I heard and saw, I feel to worship before the feet of the angel/messenger who showed me these things
- and he said to me -
- NO
- I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and the prophets and those keeping the words of this book
- Worship God!
- and he said to me -
- Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book
- Because the time is near
- let the wrongdoer still do wrong
- and let the filthy still be filthy
- and let the righteous still do righteousness
- and let the holy still be holy
- Jesus' Testimony about the book 22:12-13
- behold, I am coming soon
- and my reward is with me
- to reward each one as his work deserves
- I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last
- The beginning and the end
- Blessing on the righteous 22:14-15
- Blessed are those who are washing their robes
- So that their authority will be for the tree of life
- and to those washing, they may enter into the city
- Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the adulterers and the murderers and the idolaters and everyone who is loving and doing falsehood
- Jesus is and the church desires Him 22:16-17
- I, Jesus, sent my angel/messenger to testify these things to you for/about the church
- I am the root and branch of David
- The bright, morning star
- and the Spirit and the bride are saying "Come"
- and the one hearing, let him say, "Come"
- and the one who thirsts, let him come, the one wishing to freely receive the water of life
- Warning to take this prophecy seriously- as it statnds 22:18-19
- I am testifying to all those hearing the words of the prophecy of this book
- if someone adds to these things, God will add upon him the plagues written in this book
- and if someone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share from the tree of life and from the holy city which are written in this book
- Come Lord Jesus 22:20
- The one testifying these things says
- YES
- Come soon
- AMEN
- Come Lord Jesus
- Blessing 22:21
- May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with all