Both of
these passages seem to take us from the beginning of the birth pains up to the
very end of the age.
So, when do the birth pains begin in relation to
Daniel’s 70th Week? Do they begin before the 70th Week,
as the Antichrist is rising to power? Do the birth pains begin at the
beginning of the seven years when the Antichrist confirms the covenant? Or do
the birth pains begin in the middle of the seven years when the Antichrist is
revealed? If we can answer these questions from what is stated in the
Scripture we will know when the birth pains begin and the first seals are
opened. If not, we must wait until the prophecies are fulfilled, in the
future.
Now, let’s look as the seals are opened.
I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its
rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a
conqueror bent on conquest (Revelation 6:2).
Some have interpreted the rider on the white horse to be
Christ and a representation of the victory of the gospel. This appears to be
out of place when considering the context of the four horses and their riders.
Also, when we compare this rider and white horse with Christ and the white
horse in Revelation 19, we find the timing of their appearances is different.
While there are passages in Scripture which seem to
identify the first rider as the Antichrist, the passages are only inferences
and do not clearly reveal his identity. Therefore, we must wait until the
prophecies are fulfilled before we can know for certain the identity of the
first rider, if indeed we will ever know the riders identity. Remember the
riders like their horses may signify the four spirits of heaven and may not be
earthly beings at all. To understand the meaning and the timing of these first
seals and the beginning of the birth pains we will most likely have to wait
for their fulfillment.
The idea that many Bible prophecies will require their
fulfillment to reveal their truth was also the position of Sir Isaac Newton.
This is what he said in his book Observations Upon The Prophecies of
Daniel, And The Apocalypse of St. John.
“The folly of interpreters has been, to foretell times
and things by this prophesy, as if God designed to make them prophets. By this
rashness they have not only exposed themselves, but have brought the prophecy
also into contempt. The design of God was much otherwise. He gave this and
prophecies of the Old Testament, not to gratify men’s curiosities by enabling
then to foreknow things, but that after they were fulfilled they might be
interpreted by the event, and his own Providence, ”
While we cannot decipher everything that the book of
Revelation foretells, we should also remember that the Revelation was given to
show the servants of God the things which would soon come to pass. Therefore,
we will press on to understand the truth, trusting that God will reveal what
He intends.
Following the white horse and its rider, a red horse and
its rider are given power to take peace from the earth.
When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the
second living creature say, ‘Come!’ Then another horse came out, a fiery red
one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men
slay each other. To him was given a large sword (Revelation 6:3, 4).
Prior to the red horse and its rider the world may be in
relative peace. Relative because there will always be wars and rumors of wars.
However, once the red horse comes on the scene, war and killing will become
worldwide. This rider is given a large sword, a term often used in Scripture
to symbolize military power. Notice its use here in Isaiah.
Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor
will they train for war anymore (Isaiah 2:4).
Following the red horse and its rider come a black horse
and its rider. This horse and rider bring what would seem to be the inevitable
result of the worldwide wars. The wars will have caused incredible devastation
to the world’s ecology and food production resulting in severe shortages.
These food shortages will make today’s food production and distribution
problems pale in comparison.
When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the
third living creature say, ‘Come!’ I looked, and there before me was a black
horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what
sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, ‘A quart of
wheat for a day's wages, and three quarts of barley for a day's wages, and do
not damage the oil and the wine’ (Revelation 6:5, 6)!
The fourth seal is the last in the series of horses and
riders. The rider on the pale horse appears to bring either a natural
conclusion of the previous three horses or be a consummation of the first
three. The image presented is not new, God used the sword, famine and plague
to chastise and warn Israel to repent and turn back to God. Here, God may once
again, be employing the sword, famine, plague and wild beasts in the last days
for the same purpose. In this vision we see that the rider’s influence is over
one quarter of the earth.
When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the
voice of the fourth living creature say, ‘Come!’ I looked, and there before me
was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close
behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword,
famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth (Revelation 6:7,
8).
So that
we have a perspective of this concept of “sword, famine, plague and wild
beast” let’s see how God employed these in the past. The writing of
Jeremiah and Ezekiel may help us understand how these things will be used by
God in the last days leading up to the return of Christ.
Then
the LORD said to me, ‘Do not pray for the well-being of this people. ...
Instead, I will destroy them with the sword, famine and plague.’ But
I said, Ah, Sovereign LORD, the prophets keep telling them, 'You will not
see the sword or suffer famine. Indeed, I will give you lasting peace in
this place.' Then the LORD said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies in
my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them”
(Jeremiah 14:11-14).
Or if I send a plague into that land and pour out my
wrath upon it through bloodshed, killing its men and their animals. For this
is what the Sovereign LORD says: How much worse will it be when I send
against Jerusalem my four dreadful judgments--sword and famine and wild
beasts and plague--to kill its men and their animals! Yet there will be
some survivors (Ezekiel 14:19-22).
If we continue to follow Jesus’ outline in the Olivet
Discourse for understanding the book of Revelation, then we would expect to
see more indications of the Great Tribulation. According to Jesus, in Matthew
24, this severe persecution will cause many to turn away from the faith as
they consider death or life under the Antichrist.
Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put
to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time
many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and
many false prophets will appear and deceive many people (Matthew 24:9-11).
Just as expected, we find the same thing revealed in the
Revelation as we saw previously in the Olivet Discourse, the death and
martyrdom of the saints.
When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar
the souls of those who had been slain because of the Word of God and the
testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, ‘How long,
Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth
and avenge our blood?’ Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were
told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and
brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed (Revelation
6:9-11).
The opening of the fifth seal reveals the saints who
have died because of their testimony and the Word of God. These probably are
the saints who have died through the age up to this time. They almost
certainly include some who have already been martyred during the Great
Tribulation. However, they cannot be all the saints martyred during the Great
Tribulation because there are still others that will be killed as they had
been. They are told to wait until their full number has been completed.
I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a
great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the
whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late
figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The sky receded like a
scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.
Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty,
and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the
mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us
from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!
For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand’ (Revelation
6:12-17)?
Just as Jesus had stated, in Matthew 24:29, the sun,
moon and stars will be darkened before the coming of the Son of Man. When
these signs begin to occur the people of the world will know that the judgment
and wrath of God are at hand. These signs in the heavens and on the earth will
indicate the imminent return of the Son of Man. The passage stops just short
of Christ’s return and the Day of the Lord.
At this point, if the text followed in chronological
order, we would expect to see the appearance of the Son of Man in the clouds
next. However, that is not what happens, the progression abruptly stops, and
we are given a view of something that has occurred earlier. This is a common
pattern in biblical prophecy to move back and forth covering the same ground
again. Jesus did this in the Olivet Discourse when He brought us up to the end
of the age, in verse 14. Then, in verse 15, He takes us back and provides
details regarding the abomination that causes desolation and the Great
Tribulation. Then once again He brings us to the end of the age in verse 31.
What we are observing here in the Revelation is the same pattern. The prophecy
moves back and forth; first revealing a sequence of events and then going back
to provide additional details.
Our awareness of this characteristic of biblical
prophecy will help us avoid the errors caused by trying to interpret
Revelation as strictly chronological.
This brings us to the end of Revelation chapter 6, and
the Lord has brought us up to the last day at the very close of the Great
Tribulation. In keeping with the biblical pattern, the prophecy now moves back
to the start of the Great Tribulation.
Revelation 7
– Spiritual Israel is sealed
John relays the vision of what will take place just
before the angels sound their trumpets.
After this I saw four angels standing at the four
corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any
wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. Then I saw another
angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called
out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the
land and the sea: ‘Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a
seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God’ (Revelation 7:1-3).
The four angels are told not to harm the land or the sea
or the trees until the servants of God are sealed. Then, in Revelation 8, we
see that destruction will fall on the earth and the sea as the first four
angels sound their trumpets. When angels begin to sound their trumpets, the
land and the sea will experience the fury of Satan. Satan’s fury will commence
when he is thrown down to earth, exactly as written here.
Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in
them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to
you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short"
(Revelation 12:12).
However, before Satan is cast down to the earth we see
that the servants of God have already been sealed. The seal of God provides
spiritual protection, guarding them during the time of trial that is coming on
the whole world. We will see an example of this protection when the locusts –
demons - are released from the Abyss at the fifth trumpet, Revelation 9:4. The
locusts are not able to harm God’s servants because they were sealed before
the Great Tribulation.
Who are these servants of God, who are sealed? Are they
the Church of Jesus Christ (spiritual Israel, all believers Jewish and
non-Jewish) or are they the representatives of national Israel?
Some believe this group is national Israel because
twelve tribes are named. However, this does not fit with what is written. For
example, if the 144,000 is the Jewish remnant, who come to the knowledge of
the Lord only at the very end of the age, then who are those who are protected
as they resist the Antichrist during the Great Tribulation? Those who resist
the Antichrist and hold to the testimony of Jesus Christ are the Church who
have been sealed by God.
Who then are the 144,000 servants of God?
In order to correctly interpret this passage we need to
understand the new covenant made by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross
of Calvary. In the opening chapters of Revelation, John contrasts national
Jews with spiritual Jews - the Body of Christ:
I know your afflictions and your poverty-- yet you
are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but
are a synagogue of Satan (Revelation 2:9).
I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan,
who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars-- I will make them
come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you
(Revelation 3:9).
These
passages contrast national Israel and the law with spiritual Israel and the
new covenant made by the blood of Christ. God has revealed through the
apostles, that the new covenant that He made in His blood is with His people,
spiritual Israel, Jewish and non-Jewish alike. Once God worked through the
Jewish people, but now under the new covenant, God works through all
believers. These next passages make this truth abundantly clear.
... a man is a [spiritual] Jew if he is one inwardly;
and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the
written code (Romans 2:29).
This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles
are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers
together in the promise in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3:6).
For it is we [the Church] who are the circumcision
[Israel], we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and
who put no confidence in the flesh - (Philippians 3:3)
Therefore, there is no doubt that spiritual Israel is
made up of all who believe in Jesus Christ, Jewish and non-Jewish. With this
understanding of the new covenant in Christ Jesus, we can plainly see that the
144,000 servants of God represent spiritual Israel, the true Church. We also
find additional support for this position in Revelation 14, when John says the
144,000 are with Christ on Mount Zion. When Christ is on Mount Zion, as we
have previously seen, the Kingdom has come and the whole Church, the Bride of
Christ, is with Him. This is further confirmation that the 144,000 represent
all believers.
Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb,
standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's
name written on their foreheads (Revelation 14:1).
This confirms that the 144,000 are the Church because
they are described using characteristics which exclusively belong to the
Church. Let’s see how John describes the Church. Bold added for emphasis.
These are those who did not defile themselves with
women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever
he goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits
to God and the Lamb (Revelation 14:4).
We find that Paul and James use these same
characteristics in describing the Church. Paul says the Church is a “pure”
virgin bride who will be presented to Christ. James tells us that the Church
is a kind of “firstfruits” of all God has created.
I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I
promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you [the
Church] as a pure virgin to him (2 Corinthians 11:2).
He chose to give us birth through the word of
truth, that we [the Church] might be a kind of firstfruits of all he
created (James 1:18).
Therefore, based on what is written we can see that the
144,000 servants of God represent the Church. For the Church is spiritual
Israel, “pure” and undefiled a kind of “firstfruits” of all He
created.
Then after the 144,000 had been sealed John saw “a
great multitude” in heaven, as he describes here.
After this I looked and there before me was a
great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people
and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were
wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. … And he
said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have
washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb
(Revelation 7:9,14).
John is told that these are the martyred saints who have
come out of the Great Tribulation. They are before the throne in heaven, not
yet before the throne on earth. We know they are in heaven because when John
addresses one of the heavenly elders, the elder tells John what is about to
happen. The elder says the Lamb “will spread His tent over them,” “will
lead them to springs of living water” and “will wipe away every tear
from their eye.” Each of these statements indicates things that will
happen when Christ establishes His Kingdom.
Therefore, in this vision we first saw the Church on
earth sealed before the Great Tribulation. Then at the end of the Great
Tribulation we see the great multitude readied in heaven for the return of
Christ and the resurrection of believers. Once again we are poised at the very
end of the age. So, what happens next?
Revelation 8
– The scroll is opened
What is about to happen is the most important event in
John's heavenly vision, the opening of the seventh seal. The opening of the
seventh seal will allow the contents of the scroll to be revealed.
When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in
heaven for about half an hour (Revelation 8:1).
The contents of the scroll are so extremely important
that in the midst of these magnificent events everything in heaven stops and
there is silence for about a half-hour. A half-hour of silence in heaven at
this point would seem like an eternity. Earlier, in Revelation 5, John wept
and wept because he thought no one was found worthy to open the scroll. The
contents of the scroll are of such great importance, that all creation is
waiting for its contents to be revealed. Perhaps, this verse in Romans,
captures the importance.
The creation waits in eager expectation for the
sons of God to be revealed (Romans 8:19).
No one but Christ Himself is worthy and able to open the
scroll and reveal who are the “sons of God,” the Church and spiritual
Israel. Let’s take a look at what is written as we consider the possibility
that the scroll is actually the Book of Life.
First, let’s consult the original languages for insight.
The Hebrew word sepher
and the Greek word biblos
are each translated interchangeably in the Scripture as “scroll” and “book”.
Therefore, it is equally correct to refer to the “Book of Life” as the
“Scroll of Life.” Let’s look at an example from the prophecies of
Daniel.
But at that time your people-- everyone whose name is
found written in the book [sepher] -- will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep
in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame
and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of
the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever
and ever. But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words [dabar] of the scroll [sepher]
until the time of the end (Daniel 12:1-4).
Not only is sepher used interchangeably for “scroll”
and “book” in Daniel 12, but dabar can also be translated as
“names.”
Therefore, if we consider the context of this passage in Daniel 12:4 we see it
can also make sense to translate it as - But you Daniel, close up and seal the
names of the book until the time of the end.
While, this is merely a theory it could explain the
significance placed on the scroll in the right hand of Him who sits on the
throne. It is a theory which is impossible to substantiate by Scripture and
should not be considered more than a theory. We all long to know the names
that are written in the Book of Life which Christ will reveal on the Day of
the Lord. And since we already have the prophecies of Daniel and the book of
Revelation to reveal the events of the last days, it seems likely that
something else may be contained in the scroll. The contents of the scroll have
not been revealed to us, so there is nothing that allows us to confirm whether
or not this is the Book of Life.
Summary of
the seven seals
Let’s review what John saw in the vision of the seals.
The events of the first four seals seem to correspond to events that Jesus
described as the birth pains in the Olivet Discourse. The fifth seal brings us
to the martyrdom of the saints which we know will be unprecedented during the
Great Tribulation. The sixth seal reveals the signs in the heavens and on the
earth that take place just prior to the coming of the Son of Man at the end of
the age. Then just before the seventh seal is opened, we are taken back to the
beginning of the Great Tribulation and shown the sealing of the servants of
God. After the Great Tribulation, the great multitude is readied and the
seventh seal of the scroll is opened.
As we prepare to examine the seven trumpets of
Revelation it would be helpful for us to have a basic understanding of the
seven Jewish feasts. God commanded Israel, in Leviticus 23, to observe seven
feasts. God gave Israel the feasts to show them what was to come at the
appointed times. In fact feast in Hebrew means appointed time. When the
Messiah (Christ) came during His First Advent He fulfilled four of the seven
feasts as prescribed by God. For example, When Christ made His sacrifice on
the cross of Calvary, He fulfilled in Himself the feast of Passover. Then when
Jesus was resurrected from the dead He fulfilled the feast of First Fruits.
After His ascension into heaven, when He sent the Holy Spirit to indwell the
Church, He fulfilled the feast of Pentecost. Therefore, Christ has already
fulfilled the first four feasts, as appointed by God.
The three remaining feasts are harvest feasts and
have yet to be fulfilled by Christ. We will see as we study Revelation that
Christ at His Second Coming will fulfill the three harvest feasts.
Below is a brief outline of the seven feasts, which God has given to show us
what is to happen at the appointed time.
The Feasts of the Lord
The next feast to be fulfilled at God’s appointed time
is the Feast of Trumpets. Let’s examine what is written regarding the
fulfillment of the Feast of Trumpets.
The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came
hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third
of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the
green grass was burned up. The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something
like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea
turned into blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a
third of the ships were destroyed. The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a
great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers
and on the springs of water-- the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the
waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become
bitter. The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was
struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them
turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the
night (Revelation 8:7-12).
As we read what will happen during the sounding of the
first four trumpets, we observe that they primarily affect the earth and the
sea. This appears be a time of tremendous turmoil in the world and great
destruction of the earth, the sea and the environment. This destruction in the
earth and sea seems connected to a subsequent passage, in Revelation 12, when
the archangel Michael throws Satan to earth.
And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels
fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he
was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon
was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads
the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him
(Revelation 12:7-9).
The reason these two passages seem connected is because
when Satan is thrown down to the earth, he immediately brings destruction on
the earth and sea.
Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in
them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to
you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.
(Revelation 12:12).
There will be great destruction to the earth and the
sea, as described in the first four trumpets, when Michael throws Satan down
to the earth. Following the destruction on the earth and the sea (Revelation
8), there will be destruction and persecution, affecting mankind.
Revelation 9
– The demons released
As we continue with
John’s visions we should remember that John was in the Spirit. Which may
indicate that some of what John saw are spiritual things only visible in the
Spirit and not visible in the flesh.
The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a
star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key
to the shaft of the Abyss. When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like
the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the
smoke from the Abyss. And out of the smoke locusts came down upon the earth
and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. They were told not
to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people
who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads (Revelation 9:1-4).
What John sees during the time of the trumpets may at
least in part represent supernatural activity occurring in the world during
the Great Tribulation. When the fifth trumpet is sounded a star is seen which
had fallen to the earth. This star may be Satan, who we know at this point
during the Great Tribulation, has already been cast down to earth by Michael.
If this is correct then Satan will be given the key to the Abyss and will
release what appears to be an army of demons which will torment the people of
the earth. When these demons come up out of the Abyss they have as their
leader an angel whose name means destroyer.
They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss,
whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon (Revelation
9:11).
We also know from what is written in chapter 9 that the
Abyss is located on the earth and, therefore, the angel of the Abyss comes out
of the earth. This information will help us understand where the False Prophet
comes from in Revelation 13, because, we are told the False Prophet comes out
of the earth.
After the demons are released the sixth trumpet sounds
and 200,000,000 troops gather from the great river Euphrates in the east; this
may be part of what the Scripture refers to as the gathering of the nations in
preparation for the final battle of Armageddon.
We are also told in chapter 9 that even after all this
devastation, those who remain in the world will not repent and turn to God.
The rest of mankind that were not killed by these
plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop
worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood--idols
that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their
magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts (Revelation 9:20, 21).
Revelation 10 – Ready or not
We should also note that in Scripture there are two
principle uses of the trumpet, one is to sound a warning and the other is to
call the assembly of God’s people. It appears from what is written that the
first six trumpets in Revelation are warnings of God’s coming judgment. The
sixth trumpet appears to be the last call to repent, since the seventh (and
last) trumpet signals the resurrection and gathering of all believers at the
beginning of Christ’s reign on earth. Following the sixth trumpet – but,
before the seventh – John tells us,
But
in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the
mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants
the prophets (Revelation 10:7).
Revelation
11 – Two witnesses and the last trumpet
Here
as John is told to measure the temple he is given two identical periods of
time, “42 months” and “1,260 days.” Each of these periods equals
three-and-a-half years, in the Jewish prophetic calendar.
I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told,
"Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the worshipers
there. But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been
given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months.
And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260
days, clothed in sackcloth" (Revelation 11:1-3).
By now we should recognize this three-and-a-half year
period as the Great Tribulation. During the Great Tribulation, Gentiles
(unbelievers) will have possession of the holy city, Jerusalem. Also, during
this period the two witnesses of God will exercise great power as they
prophesy and testify of the Lord. One of these is almost certainly Elijah, as
we see written in Malachi.
See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that
great and dreadful day of the LORD comes (Malachi 4:5).
The other is most likely Moses. These are the two lamp
stands that stand before the Lord, just as they stood before the Lord on the
Mount of Transfiguration.
There he was transfigured before them. His face shone
like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there
appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus (Matthew 17:2,
3).
At the end of the Great Tribulation when they have
finished their testimony, the beast - known as the False Prophet - will
overpower and kill them. But after three-and-a-half days the breath of life
will enter into them and they will be called up to heaven in a cloud. Then
John tells us there will be a great earthquake in Jerusalem which will kill
7,000 people. The survivors of the earthquake will give glory to God. Now, if
all the survivors give glory to God, this may be the fulfillment of Jesus’
prophecy as written in Matthew.
For I tell you, you will not see me again until you
say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’ (Matthew 24:39)
If the
remnant of Jewish people recognizes Jesus as Lord, then this may trigger His
return and the Day of the Lord. Since we know when Christ returns all
believers will be resurrected, we would expect to see the last trumpet sound
at this point.
The last
trumpet
Just as we expected, when the seventh and last trumpet
sounds in Revelation 11:15 we see the Kingdom come and the resurrection of the
saints. Let’s read this carefully to see all that will take place at the last
trumpet.
The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were
loud voices in heaven, which said: ‘The kingdom of the world has become the
kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.’
And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell
on their faces and worshiped God, saying: ‘We give thanks to you, Lord God
Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power
and have begun to reign. The nations were angry; and your wrath has come. The
time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the
prophets and your saints and those who reverence your name, both small and
great--and for destroying those who destroy the earth’ (Revelation
11:15-18)
When the last trumpet sounds:
1.
Jesus begins His reign over the Kingdom of God on earth.
2.
The resurrection of the saints occurs.
3.
The saints are judged and they receive their reward.
4.
The wrath of God is poured out on unbelievers.
Revelation 12 – A vision of Israel
Once again it appears that the vision stops at the
return of Christ and then goes back to give us additional details which will
help us understand what is going to happen in the last days.
A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman
[Israel] clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of
twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was
about to give birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red
dragon [Satan] with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads
[Fourth Beast Kingdom]. His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and
flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about
to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was born. She
gave birth to a son, a male child [Christ], who will rule all the nations with
an iron scepter. And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne
(Revelation 12:1-5).
Israel is the woman with the twelve stars on her head.
The twelve stars represent the 12 tribes of Israel as described in Genesis
37:9. We also know this is Israel because she gives birth to Christ who came
from the Jewish people, Israel. We also know that Satan attempted to kill the
Christ child, when Herod had all the young male children in Bethlehem killed.
Finally, we see that Christ is caught up to heaven as He was in His ascension
into heaven at the end of His First Advent.
Next we see how Satan loses his place in heaven.
The woman fled into the desert to a place prepared
for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days [3 ½ years].
And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon,
and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and
they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down-- that
ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan (Revelation 12:6-9).
Satan then pursues Israel, but God protects her for
three-and-a-half years of the Great Tribulation. When Satan cannot destroy all
of Israel he will make war against the saints, those who hold to the testimony
of Jesus.
Revelation 13 - The two beasts
In this chapter, John describes the rise of the first
beast (known as the Antichrist) and of the second beast (known as the False
Prophet).
And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I
saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten
crowns on his horns (Revelation 13:1).
The first beast is said to have ten horns and seven
heads which connects this prophecy to Daniel’s prophecy of the fourth beast
kingdom that will rise to world power in the last days. As we saw in Daniel
the Antichrist will come to power out of the fourth beast kingdom. Again,
let’s see how Daniel describes his rise to power.
The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear
on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the
whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. The ten horns are ten kings
who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different
from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings (Daniel 7:23, 24).
John tells us several things about the Antichrist. He
will be very successful in war because the whole world says, who can make war
against him? John also reveals that the Antichrist will be killed, but his
fatal wound will be miraculously healed. At the peak of his career he will go
into the temple of God and declare himself to be God. Then he will make war
against the saints and conquer them during the three-and-a-half years of the
Great Tribulation. His dominion will be so complete that everyone, whose name
is not found written in the Book of Life, will worship the Antichrist.
Then, John describes a second beast that comes out of
the earth. We may recall, at the fifth trumpet, the angel from the Abyss whose
name means destroyer also comes out of the earth. This second beast
appears to assist the Antichrist in carrying out Satan’s plan to destroy the
people of God. The second beast is the False Prophet who is also identified
later in Revelation chapters 16, 19 and 20.
The False Prophet we are told will perform great signs
and wonders to deceive the whole world. He will even cause fire to come down
from the sky to earth in full view of men and will force everyone - from the
national leaders to the common man - to worship the Antichrist and take his
mark. Anyone who does not have the mark will not be able to buy or sell
anything, or make any type of financial transaction. All those who refuse the
mark are to be killed. The mark of the first beast is associated to the
identity of the Antichrist and is connected to the number 666.
This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him
calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666
(Revelation 13:18).
Many people have spent a great deal of time and energy
trying to determine the identity of the Antichrist by inventing various ways
of calculating his number. However, as we have seen in our study, if we have a
scriptural question our first recourse should always be to search the
Scripture for the answer. This passage even provides a clue to where we may
find the answer. It says, “[t]his calls for wisdom,” and where is
wisdom obtained? The Bible reveals that wisdom comes from God - “If any of
you lacks wisdom, he should ask God” (James 1:5). Therefore, let us turn
to the Scripture and ask God to show us how to identify the Antichrist.
Remember when we were studying 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, Paul told us the man of
lawlessness would be revealed when he goes into the temple and declares
himself to be God. Therefore, Paul is saying the Antichrist will be revealed
at the abomination that causes desolation. Now, we may suspect that
this world leader is the Antichrist before the abomination that causes
desolation, but we will not be certain until the abomination that
causes desolation. At that time, Paul says, we will know the identity of
the Antichrist. So, what is the significance of the number 666 in Revelation?
The Scripture says, “[e]very matter must be
established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”
Paul is one witness and he writes that the Antichrist will be revealed at the
abomination that causes desolation. Isaiah is the second witness and he
wrote of the same event. He describes what will happen in the temple in
Jerusalem when the Antichrist declares that he is God. Now, let’s read how
Isaiah describes what happens next.
Hear that uproar from the city, hear that noise
from the temple! It is the sound of the LORD repaying his enemies all they
deserve (Isaiah 66:6).
According to Isaiah, this will happen in Jerusalem at
the time of the abomination that causes desolation. The Antichrist and
his armies will have surrounded the holy city
and the Antichrist has come to the Jewish temple. Then he will cause the
sacrifice and offering to cease and he will set up the abomination that
causes desolation.
When he performs this detestable act, it is very likely that the Jewish
priests will become infuriated and resist him and his army. Jesus told us this
would be a time of unprecedented tribulation and persecution, worse than
anything since the beginning of creation. Anyone who does not accept and
submit to the Antichrist will be slaughtered during the Great Tribulation.
The “uproar from the city” and the “noise from the temple!” will
be the sound of the Great Tribulation. As we can see Isaiah 66:6 describes
what will happen in Jerusalem and the temple at the time the Antichrist is
revealed. Therefore, 66:6 of Isaiah points us to the identity of the
Antichrist and when his identity will be known.
John also provided another clue when he said, “the
number of the beast, is man's number.” The system of numbers used to
identify the chapters and verses in the Bible where placed there by man after
the Bible was canonized, they are not part of the original text. Therefore the
66:6 of Isaiah, is man’s number and the biblical answer to the Revelation
mystery of the number 666. Isaiah 66:6 reveals when the Antichrist will be
known.
Revelation 14 – The angels proclaim to the world
Once again the vision changes and moves to the
end of the age when the Kingdom of God has come. John sees Christ standing on
Mount Zion (in Jerusalem) with the Bride of Christ.
Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb,
standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's
name written on their foreheads (Revelation 14:1).
The elect of God (His Bride) are standing with Christ on
Mount Zion. They are undefiled and pure; the redeemed of the earth, purchased
from among men as firstfruits to God and Christ. This scene takes place
following the resurrection of believers and Christ’s return to earth.
Then once again the vision moves back, to sometime
before the coming of Christ. Based on the content of these three proclamations
they are most likely made sometime during the Great Tribulation. John records
three proclamations to those who live on the earth, to every nation, tribe,
language and people. John says,
Then
I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to
proclaim to those who live on the earth--to every nation, tribe, language
and people. He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because
the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the
earth, the sea and the springs of water” (Revelation 14:6, 7).
Jesus told us, in Matthew 24:14, “this gospel of the
Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and
then the end will come.” Just as Jesus said, the first angel proclaims the
gospel to the whole world. After the Gospel is proclaimed, two other angels
follow.
A
second angel followed and said, ‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great, which
made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.’ A third
angel followed them and said in a loud voice: ‘If anyone worships the beast
and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too,
will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength
into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the
presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment
rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship
the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name’
(Revelation 14:8-11)
Based on the content of these proclamations they most
likely will take place sometime during the Great Tribulation. First, we know
that they all take place before the end of the age and the return of Christ
(Matthew 24:14). Second, the beast and his mark do not occur until after the
Antichrist is revealed at the abomination that causes desolation. Finally, we
are told that Mystery Babylon the Great has been destroyed. Therefore, we can
place these angelic announcements sometime during the Great Tribulation.
Following these proclamations the saints are encouraged
to endure to the death for their reward will follow them.
This calls for patient endurance on the part of the
saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus. Then I heard
a voice from heaven say, ‘Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from
now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their
deeds will follow them’ (Revelation 14:12, 13)
This call to remain faithful to the end is repeated
throughout the Gospel whenever we read of the last days. Jesus also told us
that we would be called upon to give our lives for Him and the Gospel. The
Lord gave these instructions which are recorded five times in the three
gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke.
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but
whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it
for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul (Mark 8:35, 36)?
The
reason for our patient endurance is revealed in the next vision. John sees the
Son of Man coming on the clouds in great glory as the “harvest” is
described.
I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and
seated on the cloud was one "like a son of man" with a crown of gold on his
head and a sharp sickle in his hand. Then another angel came out of the temple
and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, ‘Take your
sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the
earth is ripe.’ So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the
earth, and the earth was harvested. Another angel came out of the temple in
heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. Still another angel, who had charge of
the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the
sharp sickle, ‘Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from
the earth's vine, because its grapes are ripe.’ The angel swung his sickle on
the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of
God's wrath. They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood
flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses' bridles for a distance
of 1,600 stadia (Revelation 14:14-20).
John not only witnesses the “harvest” when the
Son of Man comes on the clouds, he also witnesses the judgment and defeat of
His enemies at the battle of Armageddon.
Revelation 15 – Just before His wrath
After the believers have been gathered to the Lord, John
tells us of the preparations for the pouring out of the seven bowls of God’s
judgment and wrath. The seven golden bowls of God’s wrath are given to the
seven angels to punish the unbelievers and the disobedient.
The wrath of God being poured out after the believers
have been removed is a spiritual principle which God has repeated throughout
Scripture. He demonstrated it when Lot left Sodom before the destruction of
Sodom and Gomorrah
and when Noah entered the ark before the flood. In Paul’s writing he
encouraged us on several occasions to wait for Christ who would rescue us from
the wrath of God. In his first letter to the Thessalonians Paul says,
and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised
from the dead-- Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath (1
Thessalonians 1:10).
We also notice in Revelation that there are no saints
mentioned on the earth after the last trumpet sounds. Though the saints suffer
the trials of the Great Tribulation, they are not subjected to God’s wrath –
having already been gathered to the Lord at the “harvest”.
Revelation 16 – The bowls of God’s wrath
Then John hears the command to pour out the bowls of
God’s wrath on the earth. Let’s see how he describes the wrath of God being
poured out.
Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to
the seven angels, ‘Go, pour out the seven bowls of God's wrath on the earth.’
The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly and painful
sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped his
image. The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into
blood like that of a dead man, and every living thing in the sea died. The
third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they
became blood. And I heard the altar respond: ‘Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and
just are your judgments.’ The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and
the sun was given power to scorch people with fire. The fifth angel poured out
his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into
darkness. Men gnawed their tongues in agony and cursed the God of heaven
because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what
they had done. The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river
Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from
the East. (Revelation 16:1-12).
During God’s wrath the judgments poured out on the earth
and on all those who have the mark of the beast. We must always
remember; never take the mark of the beast. We have been warned ahead
of time. For those who think that because they were once saved they
should be able to take the mark with impunity, read and understand the
Scripture!
Revelation 17 – Mystery Babylon and the world
The next
two chapters of Revelation give us some very important information regarding
Mystery Babylon the Great. Mystery Babylon the Great, as we will see in this
vision, is a key player in the events of the last days. In the next two
chapters we will examine the characteristics which describe the woman called
Mystery Babylon the Great. Because of the key role she plays in the world and
her relationship to the fourth beast kingdom, it will be critical that we be
able to identify her. Let’s see how she is described.
One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came
and said to me, "Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute,
who sits on many waters. With her the kings of the earth committed adultery
and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her
adulteries." Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There
I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous
names and had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and
scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a
golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her
adulteries. This title was written on her forehead: MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT
THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. I saw that the
woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore
testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. Then the angel
said to me: "Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the
woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns
(Revelation 17:1-7).
Here, we observe what appears to be a very wealthy and
powerful city-state or nation who is identified as “the prostitute,” “the
woman” and “Mystery Babylon the Great.” In verse one she is
observed sitting on the many waters.
Then the angel said to me, "The waters you saw, where
the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.
(Revelation 17:15).
From this we learn that Mystery Babylon in some way
dominates the peoples, multitudes, nations and languages of the world. The
expressions in this passage “sits on” and “sitting on” signify a
position of dominance or influence. We are not told if this position of
dominance is economic, military or political in nature. However, it is
probably all three.
The beast on which she is sitting is the fourth beast
kingdom that is described in Daniel’s prophecies. Daniel prophesied about this
beast kingdom and how it came to have seven heads and ten horns. He also
revealed that the Antichrist would rise to world dominance from this kingdom.
Here is how it was explained to Daniel.
The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this
kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones;
he will subdue three kings (Daniel 7:24).
When Daniel received the explanation of his vision he
was told the fourth beast kingdom would begin with ten kings or rulers. Then
another king would arise from among them and overcome three of the original
kings, leaving the fourth beast kingdom with seven heads. So, from that time
the fourth beast kingdom will have seven heads and ten horns. Therefore, the
beast referred to, in Revelation 17, is the fourth beast kingdom which Daniel
saw in his vision. It is out of this fourth beast kingdom that the Antichrist
will rise to world dominance.
Therefore, as we watch the picture develop in Revelation
17, we first see that “Mystery Babylon the Great” dominates the whole
world. This superpower influences the world through its military, economic and
political strength. However, “Mystery Babylon the Great” will
ultimately be destroyed by what appears to be a conspiracy of the fourth beast
kingdom. Let’s see how John describes this,
The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the
prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her
flesh and burn her with fire. For God has put it into their hearts to
accomplish his purpose by agreeing to give the beast their power to rule,
until God's words are fulfilled. The woman you saw is the great city that
rules over the kings of the earth (Revelation 17:16-18).
John
is saying that the Antichrist and his kingdom, with its seven heads and ten
horns will hate Mystery Babylon. This is an incredible prophecy of how the
Antichrist and his fourth beast kingdom will destroy Mystery Babylon and then
dominate the entire earth. The seven heads and ten horns will be unified in
their purpose and they will give their power to the Antichrist. The Antichrist
will use his power to destroy Mystery Babylon the Great by fire. We will learn
more of this destruction by fire when we read Revelation 18.
The vision that John had of the fourth beast kingdom
destroying Mystery Babylon the Great appears to be similar to another prophecy
which Daniel wrote. Let’s read this passage to see how this comes about.
The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and
magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God
of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what
has been determined must take place. He will show no regard for the gods of
his fathers or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but
will exalt himself above them all. Instead of them, he will honor a god of
fortresses; a god unknown to his fathers he will honor with gold and silver,
with precious stones and costly gifts. He will attack the mightiest
fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who
acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute
the land at a price (Daniel 11:36-39).
When we compare John’s and Daniel’s prophecies we come
away with a picture of how this fourth kingdom develops and the Antichrist
comes to power. Daniel writes that the king - the Antichrist - will
successfully “attack the mightiest fortresses” with foreign help. Apparently,
the Antichrist will also receive outside help in his conspiracy to destroy “Mystery
Babylon the Great”.
Christians and Bible students over the centuries have
tried to determine the identity of “Mystery Babylon the Great”. Let’s
first review the characteristics we find in chapter 17 before we move on to
chapter 18.
Characteristics of “Mystery Babylon the Great”:
1.
She sits on peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.
2.
The world is intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.
3.
She sits on the beast that has seven heads and ten horns.
4.
She was drunk with the blood of the saints.
5.
John was greatly astonished when he saw her.
6.
The beast and the ten horns will hate her.
7.
The beast will bring her to ruin and burn her with fire.
8.
She is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.
As with all biblical prophecy, each of these
characteristics will be fulfilled by “Mystery Babylon the Great”. If we
put all of these characteristics together here is the picture that seems to
appear. “Mystery Babylon the Great” is a great city, probably part of a
very powerful nation. She has power and influence over the peoples of the
world and also the fourth beast kingdom of the Antichrist. The whole world
desires what she has which could be her way of life, her wealth and her power.
In some way she is responsible for the death of people who would be considered
the saints of God. She is probably a country who professes a faith in the true
God but she has committed adultery by being unfaithful to the God she
professes. The Antichrist and the fourth beast kingdom will hate her and
destroy her with fire. With this in mind let’s read Revelation 18 to see what
else we can learn about this last days superpower.
Revelation
18 – Mystery Babylon the Great
In this chapter John provides a rich and descriptive
picture of “Mystery Babylon the Great”. With the amount of detail
provided we should have little difficulty identifying “Mystery Babylon the
Great” when she appears on the world scene. Once again let’s look at the
characteristics which are attributed to her.
For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of
her adulteries. The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the
merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries." … Give her as
much torture and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself
(Revelation 18:3, 7).
The two of her main characteristics are her adulterous
behavior and her excessive consumption. John actually lists many of the things
she buys when describing her excessive consumption. Apparently, she consumes
much of what the world produces because the “merchants of the earth grew rich
from her excessive luxuries.” “Mystery Babylon the Great” apparently is
a nation on the sea or surrounded by the sea because she receives what she
consumes by sea, for we are told that “every sea captain, …who earn their
living from the sea,” will weep and mourn when “Mystery Babylon is
destroyed”.
Once again, the references to “her adulteries”
may indicate that she is a country that proclaims a faith in the true God but
has not remained faithful. In Scripture, God referred to Israel’s
unfaithfulness in terms of adultery when she, who knew the one true God,
abandoned Him for false gods and other forms of idolatry. Let’s observe how
God referred to Israel in this prophecy from Jeremiah.
I gave faithless Israel her certificate of divorce
and sent her away because of all her adulteries (Jeremiah 3:8).
Therefore, “Mystery Babylon the Great” is a rich
superpower that professes a faith in the true God but is really full of
unbelief and disobedience. Again, John reveals that the final outcome of this
wealthy superpower is destruction by fire in one day and one hour. Her
destruction is both swift and complete.
Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her:
death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the
Lord God who judges her. ... In one hour your doom has come! … When they see
the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, 'Was there ever a city like this
great city (Revelation 18:8, 10 and 18)?
The destruction of “Mystery Babylon the Great”
will apparently pave the way for the Antichrist and his fourth beast kingdom
to rise to world dominance. “Mystery Babylon the Great,” who had
dominated the world and the fourth beast kingdom, will be defeated never to
rise again. When “Mystery Babylon the Great” is out of the way the
fourth beast kingdom and the Antichrist will be elevated to the position of
superpower and world dominance, a position they will maintain until the end.
When the Antichrist and his kingdom destroy “Mystery
Babylon the Great”, the world will certainly say, "Who is like the
beast? Who can make war against him?"
Revelation
19 – the coming of the Lord
Once again the vision changes and we see what appears to
be the final preparations before the coming of the Lord.
Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude,
like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and
give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made
herself ready (Revelation 19:6, 7).
This is the second time the “great multitude” is
mentioned in connection to the preparations being made for the Lord’s return,
here and in Revelation 7:9. The “great multitude” is all the saints who
have died in Christ. They are given fine linen, bright and clean, to wear as
they are readied for the “harvest” which will occur at the return of
Christ. Now the vision shifts to Christ.
I saw
heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is
called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war
(Revelation 19:11).
Christ is seen in heaven just before He returns to
gather his Bride in preparation for the wedding supper on Mount Zion in
Jerusalem.
In the subsequent verses of Revelation 19, the
Antichrist, the kings of the earth and their armies are gathered together for
the great and final battle of Armageddon. The Antichrist and the False Prophet
are captured and thrown into the lake of fire and then Christ will slaughter
their armies, leaving them for the birds of the air.
Revelation
20
After the capture of the two beasts and the defeat of
their armies, Satan will be bound and thrown into the Abyss for “a thousand
years.” Sealed in the Abyss He will be unable to deceive the nations for
the thousand-year reign of Christ on earth. Here is how Isaiah saw Satan’s
defeat.
All your pomp has been brought down to the grave,
along with the noise of your harps; maggots are spread out beneath you and
worms cover you. How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the
dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!
You said in your heart, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above
the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost
heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I
will make myself like the Most High." But you are brought down to the grave,
to the depths of the pit (Isaiah 14:11-15).
John
then sees another vision and he describes the “first resurrection,”
which is the resurrection of the righteous, of those who will reign with
Christ for “a thousand years.”
I saw thrones on which were seated those who had
been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been
beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of
God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his
mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned
with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life
until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection.
Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The
second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of
Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years (Revelation 20:4-6).
This passage provides important information to our study
of the last days and the return of Christ. We are, now, told that the earthly
reign of Christ, which has been prophesied throughout Scripture, will last “a
thousand years.” We are also told that the saints, who take part in the “first
resurrection,” are martyred during the Great Tribulation. We know they are
killed after the Antichrist is revealed, because the beast, his image and his
mark are all present. Therefore, the “first resurrection” takes place
after the Great Tribulation.
In this passage John says the martyred saints of the
Great Tribulation are part of the “first resurrection.” However, these
martyred saints are not the only saints who are part of the “first
resurrection” because we have already seen in Scripture that this is the
time when all the saints will be resurrected. Recall the way Paul describes
the resurrection.
For since death came through a man, the
resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die,
so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the
firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him (1
Corinthians 15:21-23).
John also tells us that the rest of the dead, those who
have died and not taken part in the “first resurrection,” will be
raised after “a thousand years.” Apparently, the rest of the dead are
raised at a second resurrection. John sees that the rest of the dead are
raised and judged at the “great white throne.”
Then I saw a great white throne and him who was
seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for
them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and
books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The
dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The
sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead
that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done.
Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is
the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life,
he was thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15)
It appears that the second resurrection includes all
those who have died apart from Christ since the beginning of creation. This
would include everyone who name is not found written in “the book of life.”
They will be judged and thrown into the lake of fire with Satan, the
Antichrist and the False Prophet. Where they will be tormented forever and
ever.
What happens after the thousand-year reign of Christ has
not been described extensively in Scripture. Therefore, it is difficult to say
with certainty what exactly will happen. However, Paul provides insight when
he tells us in 1 Corinthians 15, that Christ will reign until He has
accomplished everything and then God will become the “all in all.” This
is how Paul describes what will happen following the thousand years of
Christ’s reign on earth.
For he must reign until he has put all his enemies
under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For he ‘has put
everything under his feet.’ Now when it says that ‘everything’ has been put
under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put
everything under Christ. When he has done this, then the Son himself will be
made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in
all (1 Corinthians 15:25-28).
Revelation
21 – New heaven and new earth
Once again, John tells of another vision which does not
follow in chronological order. Instead of taking place after the Millennium
this vision is of the “first resurrection” when Christ comes down to
the earth with His Bride. There are several indications in the text that place
this scene at the coming of Christ. Bold added for emphasis.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the
first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any
sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from
God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I
heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with
men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God
himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear
from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or
pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation
21:1-4).
First, we know that at the return of Christ, He will
gather His Bride and meet her in the air as He comes to earth to establish the
Kingdom on earth. Therefore, when we see the “Bride” of Christ coming
down, we know this takes place at Christ’s coming in glory.
Second, John tells us that at this time the “dwelling
of God is with man” and He “will be with them.” Again, this also
happens when Jesus returns, because when we are gathered to Him as described
in 1 Thessalonians 4, it is written, “we will be with him forever.”
Third,
John tells us “He will wipe away every tear,” and “[t]here will be
no more death,” and “the old order of things has passed away.” Each
of these things will have already taken place at the “first resurrection.”
Therefore, everything we see happening in this vision will take place at the
time of Christ’s return, not after the 1,000 years.
Finally, as John describes the New Jerusalem coming down
as the Bride of Christ from heaven, the symbolism portrays the picture of the
Bride of Christ coming down as she does at Christ’s coming. Therefore, once
again, we can see that this event will actually take place at the beginning of
the thousand-year reign of Christ on earth, not after.
Revelation
22 – When the Lord comes
Continuing the same picture from Revelation 21, John now
tells us how things will be when the Kingdom of God is established on the new
earth. Bold added for emphasis.
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of
life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down
the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood
the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every
month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No
longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be
in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face,
and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They
will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God
will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever (Revelation
22:1-5).
“No longer will there be any curse” when the Lord
restores everything at His return. Then John tells us that Christ’s servants “will
see His face” which occurs when we meet Him in the air. Therefore, from
the content of this entire vision we plainly see a picture of the coming of
Christ and the Bride of Christ at the beginning of His reign on earth.
Now that the vision of the last days is complete, Jesus
begins to close the Revelation with assurance that His coming is soon.
Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I
will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the
Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Blessed are those
who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may
go through the gates into the city (Revelation 22:12-14).
Note, that Jesus calls Himself “the First and the
Last “ This is a title that The Lord God almighty uses for Himself when He
says, “apart from me there is no God.”
This is what the LORD says-- Israel's King and
Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: ‘I am the first and I am the last; apart from
me there is no God’ (Isaiah 44:6)
Once again, Jesus clearly claims to be God – just as He
did throughout His earthly ministry. As the Word of God declares, Jesus the
Christ is one with the Father and God Almighty. He created all things, and He
will restore and establish all things just as He has declared in His Word. God
has revealed His plan, His purpose and His character in His Word, and He warns
us in these closing words that we are not to add to what He has written, we
are not to take away from what He has written. Read for yourself the most
severe warning in Scripture, against incorrectly handling the Word of Truth.
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy
of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the
plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book
of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and
in the holy city, which are described in this book (Revelation 22:18, 19).
The biblical warning which instructs us not to add or
take away from the Word of God was first written in the Old Testament.
But, no place in Scripture is this warning stronger than it is here concerning
Christ’s return. Therefore, everyone who preaches and teaches the Word of God
would be wise to take note of the consequences for going beyond what is
written.
Yes, I am coming soon (Revelation 22:20).
Richard H Perry
Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament by Joseph H. Thayer,
Hendrickson Publishers – tereo, #5083