Revelation: Outline

Chapter 1. GLORIFIED CHRIST REVEALED

A. As the author of Prophecy, (1:1-3,11,19)

8. As head of the Church, (1: 13, 18, 20a)

Chapter 2 & 3. MESSAGE TO THE CHURCHES GIVEN

A. To seen local groups of believers

B. To prophetically outline the seven aspects of the age.of grace to follow

Chapter 4. A PREVIEW OF THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH

A. As a calling up "hither" before the judgement falls. (4:1-4)

8. As indicating the saints to be objects of heaven's fellowship and favor,

(4:5-11)

Chapters 5 - 18. TRIBULATION DESCRIBED

A. The 7- sealed book of judgements to be opened (5,6 & 8:1)

B. 144,000 to be sealed and many Gentiles saved. (7 & 14:1,5)

C. The trumpet judgements, woes, and unavailing warnings of the two witnesses. (8:2-11)

D. Israels persecutions, the war to cleanse the heavenlies, and the casting down of satan. (12)

E. The anti-christ and the satanic trinity unleashed on the world. (13)

F. The doom of Babylon and the battle previewed. (14:8-20)

G.The seven last plagues (vials). (15, 16)

H. Spiritual Babylon ( the grat whore of religion) to be judged. (17 & 18)

Chapter 19. SECOND COMING PROPHECIED

A. After the marriage spper of the Lamb. (19:1-10)

B. The end battle of Armageddon and the reign of the beast and the false

prophet. (19:11-21)

Chapter 20. MILLENNIUM AND FINAL JUDGEMENT FORETOLD

A. Satan temporarily bound. (20: 1-3)

B. First resurrection completed, and millennium begun. (20:4-6)

C. Satan loosed a little season after the millennium.(20:7)

D. Final rebellion and satans doom. (20:8-10)

E. Wicked judged and cast into the lake of fire. (20:11-15)

Chapters 21 & 22. NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH PROMISED

A. New inhabitants. (21 :2-8)

B. New capitol city. (21:9-12)

C. New order of life. (21:22-27; 22:1-15)

D. Final blessings, warnings, promises, and benediction. (22:15-21)

The *Lord meets with John - Revelation 1: 1-20

• John tells us about his book - Revelation 1: 1-3

• John greets the *churches - Revelation 1 :4-8

• Jesus Christ speaks to John - Revelation 1 :9-16

• Jesus tells John to write - Revelation 1: 17-20

Letters to the 7 *churches - Revelation 2:1-3:22

• To the *church in Ephesus - Revelation 2: 1-7

• To the *church in Smyrna - Revelation 2:8-11

• To the *church in Pergamum - Revelation 2: 12-17

• To the *church in Thyatira - Revelation 2: 18-29

• To the *church in Sardis - Revelation 3: 1-6

• To the *church in Philadelphia - Revelation 3:7-13

• To the *church in Laodicea - Revelation 3: 14-22

*Worship in heaven Revelation 4: 1-5: 14

• *Worship of God who created all things - Revelation 4: 1-11

• *Worship of the *Lamb - Revelation 5:1-14

The 7 *seals Revelation 6: 1-8: 1

• The first 6 *seals - Revelation 6: 1-17

• Security and *salvation - Revelation 7:1-17

• The seventh (7th) *seal - Revelation 8: 1

The 7 *trumpets Revelation 8:2-11:19

• Preparation for the *trumpets - Revelation 8:2-5

• The first four *trumpets - Revelation 8:6-12

• The cry of the *eagle - Revelation 8: 13

• The fifth ( 5th) *trumpet - Revelation 9:1-12

• The sixth (6th) *trumpet - Revelation 9: 13-21

• The stronq *anqel and the little book - Revelation 10: 1-11

• John measures the *temple - Revelation 11: 1-2

• The two witnesses - Revelation 11 :3-14

• The seventh (7th) *trumpet - Revelation 11: 15-19

War in heaven and on the earth Revelation 12:1-14:20

• The woman and the *dragon - Revelation 12: 1-6

• War in heaven - Revelation 12:7-12

• War on the earth - Revelation 12: 13-17

• The *beast from the sea - Revelation 13:1-10

• The *beast from the earth - Revelation 13:11'-18

• The *Lamb on the hill called Zion - Revelation 14:1-5

• Messages from three *angels - Revelation 14:6-13

• Harvest of the earth - Revelation 14:-14-20

The 7 last troubles Revelation 15:1-16:21

• Preparation for the troubles - Revelation 15: 1-8

• The 7 bowls of God's anger - Revelation 16:-1-21

God destroys Babylon - Revelation 17:1-19:5

• The *beast and the evil woman - Revelation 17: 1-18

The funeral of Babylon - Revelation 18: 1-24

The crowd praises God in heaven - Revelation 19: 1-5

The return of Christ - Revelation 19:6-21

• The marriage of the *Lamb - Revelation 19:6-10

• Christ the kinq appears - Revelation 19:11-16

• The defeat of the enemies - Revelation 19: 17-21

The rule of Christ - Revelation 20:1-15

• The *angel binds *Satan - Revelation 20: 1-3

• Jesus Christ rules on earth - Revelation 20:4-6

• The end of *Satan - Revelation 20:7-10

• God the judqe of everybody - Revelation 20: 11-15

The new heaven and the new earth - Revelation 21 :1-22:5

• The new *creation - Revelation 21: 1-8

• The new Jerusalem city - Revelation 21 :9-27

• The river of life - Revelation 22: 1-5

Final words - Revelation 22:6-21

• The promise that Christ will come soon - Revelation 22:6-13

• An invitation but ... - Revelation 22: 14-19

• Promise and reply - Revelation 22:20-21

Revelation: Intro

Thought to have been written in the later years of the first century, the story of this final book of our Bible stands alone in its meaning and theme. Here in this quite different book we are shown what is seen by John, the beloved Apostle, as the portals of heaven are opened and the gates of pearl there are flung open. The original language teaches us that the book, known as Apocalypse, is titled in English as the Revelation, meaning an "unveiling" or "drawing back" of the curtain of eternity so that we may better understand the plan of the Lord for His creation in its final days.

More than half a century had elapsed since John laid his head on the bosom of Jesus at the Last Supper, had gazed in tears at the agony of the cross, and had followed the risen Lord, with the other chosen ones, to the Mount of Ascension until the cloud received Him out of their sight, and. the angel foretold His return in the same way;

John alone of this group remained in mortal life as all the others of the Apostles all suffered deaths of persecution. John himself was driven by persecution to a solitary island of rock in the Aegean sea known as Patmos. We have no account of the immediate cause of his' exile. We seem to surmise that it was his preaching and teaching of the divine Person and glory of the Lord he served. His Gospel writing both opened and closed in words of beauty on this matter:

"The Word was with God, and the Word was God"

"These things are written, that you might believe that

Jesus is the Christ, the son of God"

From being the beloved Apostle and among the most honored of men, John had become an exile and castaway.

Jesus, in every age of the church, has given to His favored servants special proofs and assurances of His grace and love.

When the heart of Moses was ready to faint under the repeated murmurings of Israel, God set him in a cleft of a rock and allowed him to see a portion of His glory.

When Elijah, the most heroic and worthy of the Old Testament servants, showed weakness by doubting whether any other than himself still were faithful, the Lord showed the power of nature to him but spoke to him in a still small voice, rebuking his unbelief and restoring his faith.

When Paul had a thorn in the flesh sent to him, a messenger of Satan given him, he was led to understand that the answer to every prayer is not yes, but also was taught that grace was sufficient. From then on Paul gloried in his infirmities suffered for Christ.

So it was also with John. He suffered in exile as a very old man of around 90 years, and was likely near the end of life. While he was exiled, forlorn, seeming to be friendless and alone, he was allowed to hold mystic communings with his Savior, shared by no man ever before and shared by no man since.

The first five words of the book indicate the design of the entire book, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ".

In its truest sense it is a revealing, an unveiling, a disclosing, and a manifestation of Christ to all men for all time. He is shown to be a glorious being in the midst of golden candlesticks, a slain Lamb standing before the throne (slain from the foundation of the world), the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the conqueror on a white horse, and a judge on His throne. All the other details and elements of the visions we will see are secondary to the vision of His judgment. In the book, the earthly cry is "Come Lord Jesus" while the heavenly cry is "Worthy is the Lamb".

We see in the opening four verses the testimony of John, given by the angel, so that he may bear record of what he will see, not just the things that are, but also the things that will be. There is in the first chapter also the powerful statement by Jesus Christ stating" ... I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and last. .. ". John is so overcome by the first moment that he falls as dead, struck down by his astonishment and the divine hand of the Lord raises him up and restores his confidence and his long tears of banishment are dried as he is in the presence of the One he has loved all his adult life, in the changed and glorified form.

What Christ is here to John, He is to His people still. His divine hand still raises us up, restores us, and continues to.allow us to know in our hearts what will come based upon His work and promise. His promise at the end of all these visions is that "Surely I come quickly" which does not mean immediately after the visions but rather means that when He comes, it will be accomplished quickly (in the twinkling of the eye).

Of this we remain assured. He, to whom a thousand earth years is one day, has some wise and sufficient reason for the delay so far of his return. Wise teachers and students have pondered this matter for almost 2,000 years. Perhaps it is enough for us to simply keep one possible reason for this timing in our hearts:

"He is long suffering with us; not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance".

One thing we can be sure of is that it will be well for those servants whose Master finds them watching when He arrives. This book will teach us in vision form, revealed to John, the plan arranged for all the earth and mankind since the beginning of all things.

Revelation 1: Look Who’s Coming

In verses 1 & 2 we are given the introduction to the book and a foreshadow of all that is later to be shown. Immediately we see that the book is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which he gives to the Apostle John. He sent it and signified it by His angel. The original word which is translated for us as "revelation" was considered to be best heard in the Greek as "apocalypse".

What is the book revealing? Jesus is doing the revealing and He is the object revealed. Here at the first is the most profound thought of the entire book. It shows us the Antichrist, God's judgment, the tribulation calamity on the earth, and the mystery of the end of all things in the current creation, but if we see all those things and miss the fact that our Lord is hereby revealed, we have missed the reason the book exists.

How we need a revealing of our Lord. So because of our great need, such a book is given to describe what will take place, when it will take place, and who is in control of those events. The book says these things will take place shortly. What does shortly mean? Short is a relative term. Does it mean short in man's time or in God's time. Remember that in His time, Jesus has only been gone two days from the earth, as we are taught that our 1,000 years equals one day above when time is forever now.

The signs of the book are necessary to show that there is power in symbolic language. Men seem to grasp what they see faster than what they hear. Though the book is filled with signs, it is rooted strongly in previous scripture. Revelation contains more than 500 allusions to the Old Testament, with 278 of the 404 verses (almost 70%), making some reference to the OT.

We are assured here at the beginning that John wrote the book with the visions given him by the angel of the Lord. This is so important that we are taught it in 5 :2, 7:2, 10:8, 11 :1, & 17:7. John bears record that this book is the witness and testimony of Jesus Christ. There can be no higher authority to deliver us this wisdom. Our Lord through His angel gave it to his beloved Apostle, who reveals it to us.

In verse 3 we are taught that those who read the book and keep these things are blessed. The blessing is unique and unlike all other blessings from all other scripture. This verse is the first of the seven declared blessings of the book with the others being 14:13,16:15, 19:9, 20:6, 22:7, & 22:14.

Those who skip the study of this book miss these blessings. We should recall that John never tells· us we had to understand everything in the book to have these blessings.

For 2,000 years there has existed several views on what the book truly means and these views may be summarized as follows:

PRETERIST VIEW: The book predicts nothing and was only meaningful in the time John wrote it. All the book was given in symbol code so the Romans would not understand its meaning.

HISTORICIST VIEW: The book is simply a large and disordered view of church history at the time of the writing. The book does make predictions but only makes predictions concerning the church ages, represented by the seven churches to whom the letter is later addressed.

POETIC VIEW: The symbols of the book are given as poetry of the day to encourage and comfort believers of the years John wrote it. This view says the book is simply a writing of personal meaning, nothing more.

FUTURIST VIEW: This view, beginning with chapter four, says that the book deals with the end times of all things in creation and the revealing of what will replace all things when these events happen (new Jerusalem).

Verses 4 & 5 teach us to whom the original greeting was to be sent, the seven churches in Asia (then a Roman province, now known as Turkey).

The greeting provides the assurance of eternity because it is sent from " ... Him who is and who was and is to come." The Lord is a timeless being, not created, self existent, never beginning and never ending. We see also that the greeting comes from the seven spirits before the throne, giving a perfect and complete description of the Holy Spirit Himself as seven is the Holy Number of scripture. This thought is from Isaiah 11 :2 which describes the seven aspects of the Holy Spirit. These are not separate spirits but are characteristics of one spirit just as the Godhead are not three separate Gods, but are one God in three persons.

Jesus is shown here as the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler over kings of the earth. Matthew 27:53 teaches us that the dead who rose and walked in Jerusalem could only do so after Jesus rose as the firstborn.

Praise is given to Jesus here in these verses which is appropriate and deserved. He is seen as the one who loved us, washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to the Father. Once saved we become His royalty and have the privilege to approach directly no longer needing a high priest to speak for us.

Because of those things done for us should we not praise Him? So here praise is given as proper respect of glory and dominion forever and ever.

We must remember that as we demonstrate our respect for His dominion, we are saying that He has dominion over ourselves with all parts of us, including body and soul, expressing our submission to Him and His Holy Spirit gifted to us to rule our lives both now and forever.

Now to demonstrate how important verse 6 is meant to be, it ends with its own AMEN, which means "so be it".

Verse 7 allows us an opening description of the return of Jesus. Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. Plus there will be wailing all over the earth at His return as there will be, as always has been, many who have rejected Him. To match the importance of verse 6, another AMEN is granted.

We should return our focus upon the cloud portion of the verse to recall that the Lord led His chosen people for almost 40 years through the wilderness in a cloud that clearly visible each day and became a pillar of fire each night so that the Hebrew tribes might know He was with them. Exodus 13 & 16 & 19 & 24 tell us so. That cloud/pillar was known as His "Shekinah" glory. It will be with that same type of cloud that Jesus will return to lead His people again.

His return to His own original people will be a pouring out of grace upon them, and will fulfill Zechariah 12:10.

Now in verse 8 Jesus provides His own introduction. It is complete and is of such power that no one can possibly misunderstand it.

"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty".

Alpha & Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek language. The last word, Almighty, means literally "the one who has his hand on everything". This word is used ten times in the NT, and nine of them are in Revelation.

Verse 8 likely is the strongest verse in all of the NT, and maybe of the entire Bible, of the total sovereignty of Christ.

This vision (including the description of His appearance) was the most spectacular ever seen by man. John was blessed to see it. But we can know this same Jesus that John saw. We can know His purity, His eternal wisdom, His searching judgment, His victory, His authority, and His majesty. All of these visions come into the heart of each believer when we begin our intimacy with Him at our salvation moment.

THOUGHTS BETWEEN CHAPTERS 1 & 5:

WE SHOULD UNDERSTAND THE FIRST CHAPTERS OF REVELATION TEACH US IT IS A BOOK OF HOPE & GLORIOUS BLESSING.

IT IS THE CONCLUSION OF THE GENESIS STORY, COMPLETING THE SCRIPTURE CIRCLE OF THE WORD OF GOD, BEGINNING TO END.

GENESIS GIVES US THE BEGINNING OF HUMAN SIN, REVELATION GIVES US ITS END.

GENESIS GAVE US THE BEGINNING OF JUDGMENT, REVELATION GIVES US ITS CONCLUSION.

NOW THE MYSTERY OF GOOD & EVIL IS REVEALED. WE SEE EVIL FOR WHAT IT IS AND WE SEE WHO IS BEHIND IT AS CHAPTER 4-22 SHOWS US WHAT IS TO COME.

WE ARE BEING GIVEN THE WORD OF GOD, THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS, AND THE DRAWING BACK OF THE CURTAIN OF HEAVEN TO SEE WHAT WILL BE.

WE REMEMBER THE GREAT PROPHECY WE STUDIED IN DANIEL 9:24

" ... TO MAKE AN END OF SIN ... "

CHAPTER 2 BEGINS THEMESSAGES TO THE CHURCHES:

EPHESUS - THE LOVELESS CHURCH

PERGAMOS -THE WORLDLY CHURCH

SMYRNA- THE PERSECl:JTED CHURCH

(THE WORLD IS NOT A FRIEND TO THE TRUE CHURCH)

THYATIRA-THE LAX CHURCH

SARDIS - THE DEAD CHURCH

PHILADELPHIA - THE REVIVED CHURCH

(NO REBUKE/ STEPPING OUT ON FAITH)

LAODICEA- THE LUKEWARM CHURCH

(DOES THE CHURCH TRULY STAND FOR HIS GOSPEL?)

CHAPTERS 2 & 3 REMIND US OF THE CHURCH THROUGH THE AGES.

CHAPTERS 4 -22 REMIND US OF WHAT SHALL BE AFTER THE CHURCH AGE IS FINISHED. THE CHURCH IS NOT MENTIONED AGAIN UNTIL THE END OF THE BOOK.

NOW THE DOOR OF HEAVEN OPENS TO THE TIME OF TRIBULATION AND JUDGMENT.

WHAT IS THE FINAL ANSWER? THE LAMB!!

Revelation 5: Song of Angels

From chapter four onward we begin the viewing of many symbols to reflect the events of the future, and from that chapter the church is no longer the focus of the story.

We begin with the Lord upon His throne in heaven, holding in Bis right hand a scroll. This scroll was unusual as it was written on both front and back ( containing much information as scrolls were generally written only on one side) and it was sealed with seven seals. Such seals were generally wax and contained strings to bind the scroll after sealing.

There are many views as to what the scroll contained. The most logical seems to be that it is the book of the affairs of the universe, kept from the foundation and now to be revealed to John, so that we might know what is to come. Roman law of the time' required a will to be sealed by seven people, each with his own seal, to assure proper witnessing ?f what is to be done with an estate a person may leave at death. Only God could hold the scroll and only God could reveal it, for it likely contained the plan of the second coming of Jesus.

Now the question given is who is worthy to open it? No one in heaven or earth or under the earth was seen to be worthy for such a task. John goes to tears because it seems the scroll may not be opened. But an elder said to John that there is no reason to weep as the Lion of the tribe of Judah is worthy. He is also called the Root of David, and as John looks again, he sees a lamb as though it had been slain. The lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, more use of the perfect number of seven, and the picture given is from Genesis 49:9-10, Isaiah 31 :4 & Hosea 11: 10, and will be repeated in Revelation 22: 16. The Lion is a fitting image as it shows excellency of strength, heroic spirit, and a reminder of the King of all beasts.

The marks of sacrifice are on the lamb showing the continual and eternal virtue of the sacrifice of Jesus for the sins of man. The seven horns are symbols of all power with the seven eyes a symbol of all seeing and all knowing.

Now the scene is set for the praise to the One worthy.

The four living creatures and the twenty four elders fall before the lamb, each having a harp and a gold bowl which hold the prayers of the saints, an assurance to every believer that our prayers do indeed reach heaven. Here we are also reminded of there being only one mediator between the prayers of men and the heavenly throne, the lamb of God, introduced by John the Baptist originally.

There begins a new song, for mercies that are forever new and never ending. It is a song of hope, embracing the songs sung by the faithful since the beginning from the eye of faith before Jesus came, and from the heart of faith after He had arrived.

YOU ARE WORTHY FOR YOU WERE SLAIN, AND HAVE REDEEMED US TO GOD BY YOUR BLOOD OUT OF EVERY TRIBE AND TONGUE AND PEOPLE AND NATION, AND HAVE MADE US KINGS AND PRIESTS TO OUR GOD, AND WE SHALL REIGN ON THE EARTH.

(paraphrasing verses 9-10)

The emphasis is on the work of redemption. The song honors the price and payment for our redemption, the work done on the cross, the destination (to God), the scope (from every part of creation), the result (we are now kings and priests and will reign on the earth in the new creation).

Luther ended his reformation work by saying all men are now their own priests (after the temple vail was torn) and Spurgeon preached that the Holy Priesthood now belongs to all saints who are saved.

Now countless angels join in, declaring the worthiness of the lamb because of the redemption he accomplished. While the voices of angels likely joined in praising the worthiness of Christ, it seems also likely that only the elders themselves sang the new song of actual redemption as there are no Bible words showing us redemption for angels. But angels do indeed know His power, wisdom, strength, honor and glory.

Lastly, all creation praises the Father and the lamb. Praise and worship come from every creature singing blessing and honor and glory and power to the One of the throne as well as the lamb, who is Jesus.

Now we are given the strongest possible scriptural proof that Jesus, while coming to us in the likeness of flesh, was truly also God, for if he were not so, this worship and praise would be idolatry. The last verse grants us the confirmation of eternal redemption for the praise and worship toward the Lord is said to be forever and ever.

Revelation 6

ONLY JESUS WAS WORTHY TO OPEN THE SCROLL OF SEALS.

THE AGE OF GRACE IS CLOSING & THE TIME OF JUDGMENT IS HERE. THIS TIME IS THE LAST "WEEK" OF DANIEL'S 70 WEEKS, EACH OF WHICH EQUALS A SEVEN YEAR PERIOD. CHAPTERS 6 - 19 TELL US WHAT IS TO HAPPEN ON THE EARTH DURING THIS PERIOD.

THE LAST SEAL WILL BE THE 7 TRUMPETS & THE LAST TRUMPET WILL INCLUDE THE 7 VIALS, AFTER WHICH COMES THE END OF THE WORLD. AFTER THE 6TH SEAL OPENS THE HEAVENS AND EARTH SHOOK JUST AS THE LORD SAID THROUGH HIS PROPHET HAGGAI (2:6): "Once more I will shake the heavens and the earth".

WE MUST REMEMBER THAT ONE OF THE MAIN POINTS OF REVELATION IS TO SHOW HOW BOTH EVIL & SIN WILL BE REMOVED FROM CREATION.

THE 1ST SEAL IS A REVELATION OF CHRIST'S VICTORY OVER EVIL AND THE 7TH IS A REVELATION OF THE SILENCE IN HEAVEN IN WHICH THE PRAYERS OF EVERY BELIEVER ARE HEARD. ALL EVIL TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THESE TWO SEALS IN OUR STUDY BOOK.

THE SUMMARY OF THIS MATTER IS THAT WE ARE TO RECOGNIZE EVIL BUT NOT FEAR IT AS JOHN TOLD US IN 1ST JOHN:4:4 THAT

" ... he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world ... "

THE LORD IS & ALWAYS HAS BEEN IN CONTROL OF EVIL.

HE CREATED EVIL (ISAIAH 45 :7)

HE BROUGHT EVIL UPON KING SAUL (1ST SAMUEL 16:14-15)

HE SENT EVIL ANGELS UPON HIS OWN CHOSEN PEOPLE (PSALM 78:49)

HE BROUGHT EVIL UPON JOB & NEVER TOLD HIM WHY (JOB 42:11)

HE LIMITED SATAN'S EVIL WORK TWICE ON JOB (JOB CHAPTER 1)

SATAN IS UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF GOD.

THE LAW WAS GIVEN TO SHOW US OUR SIN (ROMANS 3 :20) AND JESUS BROUGHT AN END TO THE LAW (ROMANS 10:4).

EVIL & SATAN WERE MADE THE LORD'S INSTRUMENT IN HIS MASTER PLAN TO TEACH US WHY WE NEED THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT IN THIS LIFE TO DEFEND OURSELVES AND JESUS WILL ALSO BRING AN END TO EVIL AND SATAN (REVELATION 20:10).

THOUGHTS ON CHAPTERS 8-11:

8: SILENCE IN HEAVEN FOR A HALF HOUR - A SOMBER SILENCE AT THE JUDGMENTS TO COME AFTER THE 7TH SEAL WAS OPENED. HEAVENLY WORSHIP AND 7 TRUMPETS WHICH WILL SOUND GOD'S BATTLE ALARM DURING THE TRIBULATION. THE FIRST 4 TRUMPETS BRING A PLAGUE ON VEGETATION, A PLAGUE UPON THE SEAS, A PLAGUE ON FRESH WATER, AND A PLAGUE UPON THE CELESTIAL HEAVEN BRINGS DARKNESS ON THE EARTH. ALL CONTAIN MERCY AS EACH AFFECTS ONLY 1/3 OF ITS TARGET (A STRONG WARNING).

9: TRUMPET 5 BRINGS DEMON LOCUSTS FROM A BOTTOMLESS PIT. A STAR FALLS FROM HEAVEN WITH THE KEY TO THE PIT. THE LOCUSTS DO NOT ATTACK PLANTS BUT ONLY PEOPLE WITH THOSE SEALED NOT HARMED, AND THOSE ATTACKED ONLY INJURED FOR 5 MONTHS. THERE IS A KING OVER THESE CREATURES KNOWN AS ABADDON (HEBREW FOR PERDITION) THE 4 ANGELS THAT HAD BEEN HELD BACK ARE UNLEASHED TO KILL 1/3 OF MANKIND WITH AN ARMY OF 200 MILLION. THE REMAINING 2/3 OF MANKIND DO NOT REPENT.

10: A MIGHTY ANGEL COMES FROM HEAVEN WITH A RAINBOW ON HIS HEAD, PERHAPS MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL WE SAW IN DANIEL 12. HE HOLDS A LITTLE BOOK AND HIS VOICE IS LIKE THUNDERS BUT JOHN IS COMMANDED NOT TO WRITE WHAT THE THUNDERS SAY. (A PORTION OF THE PROPHECY IS TO REMAIN SECRET). THE BOOK IS GIVEN TO JOHN TO EAT AND HE IS WARNED IT WiLL SEEM SWEET TO THE MOUTH BUT BE BITTER TO THE STOMACH, AND IT WAS. THE MESSAGE OF THE BOOK SEEMS TO BE A COMMAND FOR JOHN TO PREACH TO ALL MANKIND.

11 : JOHN IS COMMANDED TO MEASURE THE HOLY TEMPLE OF GOD, BUT THE OUTER COURT OF THE GENTILES IS NOT TO BE MEASURED. THERE IS TO BE A TRAMPLING OF THIS AREA BY THE GENTILES FOR 1260 DAYS, WHICH IS 3 1⁄2 YEARS (HALF THE TRIBULATION TIME). HERE AGAIN IS SEEN DANIEL'S PROPHECY OF 11 :26-27 WHEN ANTICHRIST POURS OUT HIS FURY. TWO WITNESSES APPEAR AND THEY WILL PROPHECY THESE 1260 DAYS. THEY ARE THE FULFILLING OF THE TWO OLIVE TREES AND TWO LAMPSTANDS OF ZECHARIAH 4. THEY ARE GIVEN GREAT POWER TO SPREAD FIRE FROM THEIR MOUTHS TOWARD ANY WHO TRY TO HARM THEM AND POWER TO SHUT UP HEAVEN. AFTER THEIR TESTIMONY THEY WILL BE OVERCOME AND KILLED BUT BE REVIVED INTO LIFE AND TAKEN TO HEAVEN AND THE 7TH TRUMPET SOUNDS.

Revelation 12: Enter the Dragon

Now we are given three signs by John from his revelation of Jesus Christ and each will provide a deeper understanding of the message John is being given for believers.

In verse 1 we begin with the woman, who is described in celestial images. A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet, arid on her head a garland of twelve stars.

We notice quickly that this particular sign is described as a great sign, and is the beginning of seven signs of the tribulation. These are:

• The woman, representing Israel

• The dragon, representing Satan

• The man-child, referring to Jesus

• The angel Michael, head of the angels

• The woman's offspring, representing Gentiles who come to faith in the tribulation

• The beast of the sea, representing the Antichrist

• The beast from the earth, representing the false prophet

Because this image was clearly noted as a sign, we are not to expect this woman to appear on earth. She is a symbol. She is clothed with the sun, taking us back to Genesis 37:9-11, where Jacob's dream showed the sun representing Jacob (Israel), the moon as Jacob's mother, Rachel, and the eleven stars are the sons of Israel. Now in this vision Jacob is shown back among the sons as we are shown twelve stars now.

The woman gives birth in verse 2. We see later in verse 5 that this child is Jesus. The birth was painful, as were the times for Israel when Jesus arrived.

Verse 3 shows us a great dragon with seven heads, ten horns, and seven diadems (crowns) upon his heads. These characteristics represent fierce power, and great strength. He has royal authority showing his crowns. The seven heads and ten horns take us back to Daniel 7 showing the Roman empire of the time.

Verse 4 shows us the dragon looking toward earth. His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to earth. He awaits the birth of the child, ready to devour it. The one third of the stars represent the rebel angels who were expelled from heaven with Satan, falling to earth to become his demons. The attempt to devour the child was seen on earth as Herod sought a location of the Christ child from the wise men and later slaughtered all male children under age two in Bethlehem. (Slaughter of the Innocents)

Verse 5 describes the beginning of the rule of Jesus, ruling with a rod of iron showing His return in triumph at His second coming. We saw this image in Psalm 2 and will see it again in Revelation 19. This woman image has been said to be the church, but it cannot be so, because Jesus gave birth to the church, not the other way around.

A place was prepared for the woman and she flees to the wilderness for 1260 days which is 3 1⁄2 years, the first half of the tribulation. This prepared place phrase uses the same Hebrew phrase as when Jesus later tells His disciples He will go to prepare a place for them ( and us) in John 14.

In verses 7-8 we see the war in heaven between Michael and the dragon. This figure has been taught by some as being Jesus but it is not so. Daniel 10 clearly teaches us that Michael is one angel prince among others. Jude 9 teaches that Michael would not rebuke Satan on his own authority when contending for the body of Moses, but uses the name of the Lord to prevail in that moment. Satan wanted to take the body of Moses to stop the plans that God had for the body shown later in Luke 9 when he was seen glorified. Daniel foretold the battle at the mid-point of the 70th week in Daniel 12.

Now we see that there was no longer a place found for them in heaven after this battle. But we must recall that Satan still has access there from time to time (Job 1 ), but can only do evil that is permitted him and no more. So the great dragon was cast out and is named for us to assure we clearly understand (Satan). He was cast down to the earth and in Luke 4 is said to be the price of the power of the air. Jesus said in Luke 10 that he saw this fall, which was like lightning, and in that moment Satan was changed from glorified to profane (Ezekiel 28: 14-16).

Two-thirds of the angels remained faithful and still serve the Lord in their original positions and function. In verses 10-12 we are given a joyful declaration from heaven. Heaven is to rejoice at this victory while there is woe for the earth as Satan has come down to walk it. But we are also given three keys to overcoming Satan on earth by the saints (believers):

• " ... overcame him by the blood of the Lamb ... "

• " ... and by the word of their testimony ... "

• " ... and they did not love their lives to the death ... "

If believers are unwilling to cling to their earthly lives and stand for the Lord, even unto death, there is therefore no threat Satan can bring against them.

Verses 13-16 show that Satan attacks the woman and God protects her. The woman was given wings to fly and escape while the serpent (Satan) spews water in a flood to overtake her, but the earth is opened to accept the flood of water.

Now persecution is brought against the woman (Israel AND the faithful). From the time of Abraham, Israel has a critical role in God's plan of redemption. First, it was from Israel that the Redeemer would come. Ultimately, it will be in Israel where He returns to begin the 1,000 year reign as he comes back in glory. Satan has tried every way he can to hinder that plan from the moment he fell to earth until now.

The woman is nourished for a time and times, and a half time ( one + two + one half year), the last half of the tribulation time of seven years. The dragon was focused upon the destruction of Israel (the nation+ those believing Gentiles who came to Christ). These two groups are particular targets of Satan and his counterfeit Christ (the Antichrist) during the remainder of the tribulation.

THOUGHTS ON CHAPTERS 13-16

13 THE TWO BEASTS ARE INTRODUCED. ONE IS THE ANTICHRIST, A CIVIL & POLITICAL LEADER WHILE THE THE SECOND IS A RELIGIOUS LEADER, THE FALSE PROPHET. BOTH ARE SATAN CONTROLLED AND THEIR POWER COMES FROM HIM. THE ANTICHRIST IS ELOQUENT AND HE WILL COME TO BE WORSHIPPED BY ALMOST ALL. A MONUMENT IS CREATED AND IT SEEMS TO COME TO LIFE, A COUNTERFEIT TO GOD, AS ONLY HE CAN GRANT LIFE. THE MARK IS GIVEN TO THOSE WHO FOLLOW THE FALSE ONE, PERHAPS 666, (THE IMPERFECT NUMBER OF 6 PERTAINING TO MAN, WHO WAS CREATED ON THE 6TH DAY).

14 THE 144,000 ARE ON MT. ZION WITH CHRIST. A VOICE FROM HEAVEN SOUNDS LIKE "MANY WATERS", THUNDERING, AND THE 144,000 SING A NEW SONG. THESE ARE DESCRIBED AS VIRGINS, (MEANING SPIRITUALLY), FOLLOWERS OF THE LAMB, REDEEMED FROM MEN, FIRST FRUITS UNTO GOD, HAVING NO GUILE, AND WITHOUT FAULT.

THREE ANGELS FORETELL THE COMING JUDGMENT.

15-16 SEVEN LAST PLAGUES. JOHN SEES A SEA OF GLASS ON WHICH STAND THE TRIBULATION SAINTS, SINGING A SONG OF VICTORY.

THE PLAGUES ARE INTENSE ON THE EARTH:

HARMFUL SORES, THE SEA IS TURNED TO BLOOD, FRESH WATER IS ALSO TURNED, THE SUN IN INCREASED, DARKNESS APPEARS, THE RIVER EUPHRATES IS DRIED SO THAT THE EVIL ARMY CAN EASILY MARCH OVER DRY LAND INTO JERUSALEM, AND THE EARTH ITSELF IS CHANGED BY EARTHQUAKES. THE WRATH OF GOD HAS ARRIVED.

Revelation 17: Babylon

Here in this chapter we are given the concept of Babylon.

This is a real city but over time has become also a symbol of corruption and worldliness which are rejection of God and His eternal plan for His creation. Verses 14:8 & 16:19 have declared the fall of Babylon. In chapters 17 & 18 the fall is detailed.

Babylon is mentioned 287 times in scripture, more than any other city except Jerusalem. It was a real city on the banks of the Euphrates river. Scripture begins to present it to us in Genesis 11 as a seat of civilization after the flood. It was later the capital of the empire that cruelly conquered Judea, used by God as judgment. The name Babylon is associated with idolatry, blasphemy, and persecution of God's people. Rome became the center of such things later in time and was used as a symbol of ungodly things. It was the center of a "world system" and under the Antichrist is to be the world power for all evil to come.

Verses 1-2 begin the description of Babylon by the angel. He allows John to see the judgment of the great harlot. There is no doubt as to the fate and failure of Babylon.

Babylon was a religion before Christianity was born, founded by the wife of Nimrod, the great grandson of Noah. Her name was Semiramis, a high priestess of idol worship who gave birth to a son named Tammuz, supposedly conceived by miracle, and was to be considered a savior. He was killed by a wild beast and then supposedly brought back to life. The Canaanite name for this person was Baal. We can see the false worship that follows the story of our Lord as Satan's counterfeit. The prophets spoke against him. Ezekiel protests against him in 8: 14 & Jeremiah mentions the heathen practice in chapters 7:18 & 44:17-19 & 44:25.

The angel teaches John that Babylon sits on many waters, meaning she is universal over many locations. The people of earth were made drunk with her wine of fornication. John saw in amazement this vision given as he was carried away into the wilderness. The woman vision he saw sits on a scarlet beast with seven heads and ten horns. We saw this beast before in chapter 13. She is clothed in luxury, purple and gold, and yet she offers impurity. She is described as a mystery not as a city anymore, but now to be seen as a symbol of spiritual corruption. She is seen to be drunk with the blood of the saints and martyrs of Jesus.

We should remember that such persecution has been at times used by portions of the Christian church, in corruption, against its own. Under the Roman Catholic queen of England, Mary, 288 Christians were burned at the stake who refused to convert. This period was known as "tum or bum" years (1555-1558). Mary was executed by Elizabeth the first.

Verse 7 begins the explanation of the great harlot to John. The focus is on her beast. She rides the system of the Antichrist. Verse 8 explains that the beast was and then was not, amazing those whose names are not in the book of life (unbelievers). Verse 9 associates seven mountains with this beast, a symbol for the seven hills on which Rome stood. Daniel 2:35 shows such figures of governments on hills. Verse 10 teaches of seven kings and five have fallen, one now is, and one is to come. The five fallen are Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia, Medea-Persia, and Greece. The one that now is in John's day is Rome. The one yet to come is the one world empire to be formed by the Antichrist, as a revival of the Roman rule ( one was, then was _J?-0t, and then is).

Verses 12-15 shows a vision of ten kings to come, allies of the Antichrist. It has been supposed that these are represented by the ten toes of the image in Daniel 2 and in our day, some see the symbol to be the ten nations bound together in Europe currently. All of these give their power and authority to this beast to war later against the power of Christ. John is told the harlot presides over peoples, multitudes, nations and tongues, showing another view of a one world power base.

Verse 16 allows the judgment of the harlot as the ten kings tum against her, likely a vision of the midpoint of the tribulation period. Once the Antichrist gathers his power he no longer needs the ten. He wishes himself to be worshiped as Paul teaches us in 2nd Thessalonians 2:3-4, as he discards-all ten and any pretense of religion, appearing in the temple of God to be himself worshiped.

Verse 1 7 teaches us that God himself put into the hearts of the ten to rebel against the Antichrist. Through history, God has used evil powers on earth to bring His judgment. Now he does so once more giving their powers to the beast, allowing the world to receive exactly what it wants, godless religion and godless rulers.

Verse 18 concludes the vision by teaching that this great city of his day, Rome, rules over the kingdoms of this world, as the political, economic, and military center of all things. But it remains as a symbol of Babylon, the concept.

The question for us is whether we are citizens of Baby Ion or are we citizens of a better city to come, new Jerusalem? Idol worship is even more powerful today in our time than ever before. Are we giving ourselves to it or to the Lord? What is our vision?

THOUGHTS ON CHAPTERS 18-20:

18: THE BABYLON WE STUDIED IN CHAPTER 17 NOW FALLS. IN CHAPTER 17 WE SAW THAT GOD PLACED HIS WILL INTO THE MINDS OF 10 NATIONS TO TURN THEM AWAY FROM THE ANTICHRIST TO FULFILL HIS PLAN.

NOW A GREATER ANGEL APPEARS WHO WE ARE TOLD LIGHTS THE EARTH WI TH GREAT GLORY, LIKELY A VIEW OF THE ANGEL OF THE LORD, THOUGHT TO BE JESUS HIMSELF. HE ANNOUNCES THAT BABYLON HAS FALLEN. NATIONS AND KINGS AND MERCHANTS HAD COME UNDER THE FALSENESS OF CORRUPT BABYLON, AND NOW SHE IS FINISHED. VERSE 7 TEACHES US THAT BABYLON HAD GLORIFIED HERSELF, NOT GOD, & THE WRATH ON HER WAS AWFUL, WI TH PLAGUES AND DEATH AND MOURNING AND FAMINE AND FIRE. THE FALSE RELIGION OF THE ANTICHRIST WAS MORE CONCERNED WITH MATERIAL MATTERS THAN WITH SPIRITUAL MATTERS AND NOW HAS BEEN SHOWN THE CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH FOCUS.

19: THE SCENE SHIFTS FROM HEAVEN TO EARTH AS THE TRIBULATION PERIOD IS CONCLUDING AND THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM APPROACHES. JOHN SEES THE COMING OF JESUS IN ALL OF HIS MAJESTY AND POWER. THE SYMBOLS OF A WHI TE HORSE AND FOLLOWERS IN WHITE ROBES ARE POINTS OF PURITY. PATIENCE AND MERCY IS OVER AND THE CLOTHING OF JESUS WAS DIPPED IN BLOOD TO SHOW THAT HIS ENEMIES WILL NOW FALL (ALL FORETOLD IN ISAIAH 63). HE IS SAID TO BE THE WORD OF GOD. JUDE 14 TEACHES THAT HE WILL COME WITH THEN THOUSANDS OF HIS SAINTS. SO SERIOUS IS THE DESTRUCTION TO COME THAT ALL THE BIRDS OF THE EARTH ARE INVI TED TO COME TO EAT THE FLESH SOON TO BE LYING DEAD. IN THIS BATTLE THERE ARE NO CASUALTIES ON THE SIDE OF VICTORY (THE LORD'S SIDE) AND NO SURVIVORS ON THE DEFEATED SIDE.

20: THE 1,000 YEAR REIGN BEGINS. SATAN IS BOUND, ASSURING PEACE AND HARMONY FOR THE 1,000 YEARS. AT THE END OF THE 1,000 YEARS THE UNSAVED DEAD WILL RISE AND BE JUDGED, HAVING CHOSEN THEIR OWN FATE BY REJECTION OF THE LORD. A FINAL REVOLT AT THE END OF THE 1,000 YEARS BY SATAN (NOW RELEASED FOR A LITTLE TIME) AND THEN HE IS CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE, THE SECOND DEATH IS SEEN FOR UNBELIEVERS & SIN AND DEATH ARE ENDED ..

Revelation 21:1-6: No More Tears

As we begin the final chapter studies of the book of Revelation, we come to the answers that Jesus promised near the beginning when He said John would be shown things that were and things that will be.

Here we are given understanding of the reason the curtain was pulled back for John to receive his vision which was to see and convey the plan for the end of the original creation and what will come next.

ALL THINGS MADE NEW

John says that he saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away. There was no more sea.

As we view this amazing teaching, we should be sure we have come to a solid understanding of the explanations of Jesus we have been given.

• Jesus the Lord of the churches (1:1 to 3:22)

• Jesus the Lion over the nations ( 4: 1 to 20: 15)

• Jesus the Lamb among believers (21:1 to 22:21)

This new perspective we are given is glorious. Through the smoke and pain and heat of the tribulation it is a relief to pass into the clear and clean atmosphere of the eternal morning where the breath of heaveh is sweet and the vast city of God sparkles from the Lord's radiance. This concept of a new creation is not arranged for us the first time in this scripture. Both our OT and NT foretells and shadows this idea for us clearly.

Isaiah 65:17-19

"For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind .... I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy ... the voice of weeping shall no more be heard in her, nor the voice of crying".

Psalm 102:25-27

"Of old thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the. work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them ... shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed ... ".

2nd Peter 3:12-13

"Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness".

It is important that we understand the formal meaning of the phrase "new heavens". The Bible uses the word heaven to have three meanings. First it means the sky just above us, the blue sky with our atmosphere contained in it. Second it means the night sky, the celestial darkness displaying planets and stars. Third it means the heavenly place above all things where God has always lived. Paul revealed this third heaven to us in 2nd Cor 12:2 when he himself was allowed to see it.

The new heavens to be changed are the first two, not the third. The Greek word used here "kaine" means new in character. This is not just some remodeled heaven and earth, but is a better heaven and earth. Jesus taught us in Luke 21 that heaven and earth shall pass away, but His word would live forever. Some have supposed that this change is only to be a spiritual change but this is untrue. We know this because we are also told that there is no more sea. The sea has always been a source of division and separation. This vision is of the final and eternal creation.

Verses 2-4 show us the perfect city coming down out of heaven to earth, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. A voice from heaven speaks explaining that God will dwell in this new eternal city with His own people. Every tear shall be wiped away. There shall be no more death, nor sorrow, or crying, or pain, for the former things are passed away.

This is a holy city, named New Jerusalem, so named because it was in the original Jerusalem where man's redemption was made. It will be unmarked by sin and will be the first community of mankind to be so. Adam & Eve had a family not marked by sin for a time but now this eternal city will forever be so blessed. Until this moment some think man has the potential to make such peace but we cannot avoid the fact that it arrives only in a city gifted from God. The ancient Tabernacle and the Holy Temple were representations of a place where God could be met but now there will be a permanent place where God will dwell with His own for eternity.

Verse 5 instructs John to write the words that all things are made new. We notice God uses the present tense "make new" not past tense. He is making it new as John beholds it happening. Paul uses such language in 2nd Cor 4 & 5 when he teaches that we become new creatures, present tense. John was so astounded at his vision that he had to be reminded by God to write.

Now God teaches that the new creation is done and that He is Alpha & Omega, the beginning and the end and that all who thirst for the living water of eternal life may come and receive it just as Jesus taught the woman at the well.

Revelation 21:7-22:5: Better than You can Imagine

This portion of our study begins with a contrast. Verse 7 is a promise and verse 8 is a warning. The promise is that he who overcomes shall inherit all things. It strongly echoes 1st John 5:5:

"Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?"

So he who so believes actually overcomes the world view of rejecting the Son sent for salvation of believers and in doing so inherits all the glorious things prepared for him in eternal life.

But for those who reject and do not accept the destiny is horrid. To make the point more forcefully, a list is given of those who will be forbidden to enter New Jerusalem and whose destiny is the eternal lake of fire. We immediately see the first group mentioned is the fearful. By a ratio of more than two to one, the strongest command given in scripture (said to be 365 times) is "fear not". Some Bible translations use the word cowardly in place of fearful. Both remind us there is no middle ground. Those who are too afraid to be servants of the Lord choose to be servants of darkness and here we are shown their final place.

Verses 9-10 allow us a view of the nature of the city coming from God for His own. An angel invites John to see it and to lead John to it, carrying him away in spirit to a high mountain so that his view of the city descending from above was clear. The angel describes the city as the bride, the _Lamb's wife. Here again is used the marriage metaphor to tie the elect to the Lord for eternity. The city is like the bride on her wedding day, adorned and made beautiful for her husband.

Verses 11-14 show the city's brilliance, wall, gates and foundation.

Having the glory of God within her, her light was as a precious stone, but pure and clear. She has a great high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, with the names written on them of the twelve tribes, three gates on each of the four sides. The foundations carry the names of the twelve apostles, an eternal testimony of their place in God's plan. Ephesians 2:20 foretold this part and that Jesus himself is the cornerstone.

The wall is measured with a gold reed as John watches, with identical length, breadth, and height, all 144 cubits, measure that says is the same for an angel as a man. ( a cubit being 18 inches, the length of an arm from the elbow to the tip of the fingers). The city is shown to be 1500 miles square, a distance like the distance from Maine to Miami, or the size of the moon.

One recent Bible scholar has said that if there have been 100 billion people on earth throughout time, and if 20% were saved, then each person will have 75 acres in New Jerusalem.

The walls are pure precious stone and the structures within are purest gold, so pure as to be clear. While we shall have no need of precious stones or elements, the vision is to give the proof of the value of that which God has prepared for those who are His. The symbol is meant simply to point to the high glory of God's work. There is very little prophetic scripture of this vision, with likely the best being the description of the breastplate of the high priest of the Hebrew people given in Exodus 28:15-21. The clearness seems to indicate that the city is designed to transmit the glorious light of God throughout. Clearly a city whose architect is God will surely be beyond any possible thing imagined by man.

Verse 21-23 are profound, teaching us that no Temple exists within the city. There is no need. The Holy Trinity will act as our Temple. The Temple is not removed, but expanded. Before Jesus, the Temple was prophecy and represented by the Tabernacle and later by a Temple of stone in old Jerusalem. In the Christian era (now) the Temple are His people, indwelt by His Spirit. In the millennium the Temple will be a shared space of the Lord and His elect. Here the Temple is everywhere, all present in every place in the city.

There is no need of sun or moon, as light will be given by God, and all there will be a reflection of it. It is a place of pure worship, with no joy, beauty, or knowledge based on created things by man, but focusing only upon the Creator.

Verses 24-27 speak to us of access_ to the city. The nations of peoples saved will walk in the light of the city, and its gates are forever open as nothing that defiles can enter there. The ancient tree ·of life is there bringing forth its fruit for all to take, and like the same tree placed in the original garden (but never used) it is for the healing (life giving) of all nations who accept the Lord and gain His eternal reward.

In the first verses of chapter 22 we see a view of the interior of the city. A pure river flows from the throne of God, the water of life that Jesus spoke of to the woman at the well. Now it flows for all who will live there in the new creation. Psalm 46 foretold it and said the river would make glad this city. The curse of earth made by sin of man is now removed, which remained even in the millennium. Isaiah 65 : 20 showed us sinners would still be cursed in that time. But now, the throne of God replaces the curse, those eternally there will serve the Lord, and they shall actually see His face which even Moses was not allowed to see. So the intimacy between God and man is now assured forever and His people there will be sealed with His name upon them, with no darkness (night) ever again, and the divine circle is closed as paradise lost by the sin of man is regained by the grace of God, and all things are made perfect in Him.

TODAY WE COME TO THE MEETING IN WHICH WE TRY TO SUMMARIZE WHAT WE HAVE STUDIED.

WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO LOOK DEEPLY AT THE PULLING BACK OF THE CURTAIN OF ETERNITY SO THAT ONE DEVOTED MAN COULD HEAR AND SEE WHAT THE LORD INTENDS BOTH FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM AND FOR THOSE WHO DON'T.

WE HAVE SEEN WHO IS COMING.

WE HAVE HEARD ANGELS .SING.

WE HAVE SEEN TERROR TRANSFORMED.

WE HAVE SEEN A DRAGON ENTER.

WE HAVE. SEEN A GODLESS CITY FALL.

WE HAVE SEEN ALL TEARS DRIED FOREVER.

WE HAVE BEGUN TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT IS RESERVED FOR US, HIS ELECT, IS FAR BETTER THAN ANY MAN MIGHT IMAGINE.

AND NOW, WE LISTEN TO A CONVERSATION WITH JESUS HIMSELF GRANTING US HIS WISDOM AS TO WHAT HE WISHES US TO HOLD DEAR FROM ALL OF THESE LESSONS.

1,000 YEARS BEFORE JESUS TOOK ON THE LIKENESS OF OUR FLESH, THE MAN WHOM WE KNOW AS THE WISEST MORTAL WHO EVER LIVED, SOLOMON, DESCRIBED OUR SUMMARY OF THIS FINAL LESSON IN THIS WAY:

ECC 12:13:

"LET US HEAR THE CONCLUSION OF THE WHOLE MATTER: FEAR GOD, AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS: FOR THIS IS THE WHOLE DUTY OF MAN"

Revelation 22:6-21: I am Coming Soon

As we begin our last study in Revelation, we should be sure we. step forward on the correct footing that will help us to fully understand these final verses.

In our last study portion, we learned of the eternal intimacy that will occur between the Lord and all who are His as we live in His presence in the holy city of New Jerusalem, sent by God down from the third heaven as our eternal home. We have a foretaste of this part of God's plan given to us in Hebrews 12:23:

"To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect".

We are justified by the righteousness of Jesus Christ, made just before God by, His shed blood. We come to our heavenly reward as just men and women. But that process does not end there. It is thereafter that we are made perfect, likened unto Jesus who is perfect. When we live eternally with Him in His perfection, we who are glorified at that point will finally be like Him.

The chapters we have studied so far all conclude in our current chapter and we are taught before this passage we now begin that there have been certain promises kept that help us to grasp this glorious change of that which was into that which is now perfect.

Here are those specific occurrences in summary:

• NO MORE CURSE - PERFECT RESTORATION

• THRONE IN OUR MIDST - PERFECT ADMINISTRATION

• SERVANTS SHALL SERVE - PERFECT SUBMISSION

• WE SEE HIS FACE - PERFECT TRANSFORMATION

• HIS NAME ON OUR FOREHEAD - PERFECT IDENTIFICATION

• REIGNING WITH HIM FOREVER - PERFECT JOY

Verses 6-7 teach us of the parting words of Jesus and the angel. What are we told? These words are faithful and true. There are things which shall shortly take place. I am coming quickly. Why does it seem that it has been so long? Our word study back to the Greek once more helps us. The word given here as quickly in the original language might be better translated as "suddenly". Had this more likely word been used, we might not continually be questioning how long "quickly" is. There is no wrong view here nor were we misled. God wishes to keep all generations expectant, watching, and ready for His return. Remember that in divine time, Jesus has only been gone two days. ( every 1,000 years here is as one day there). We must always keep in mind He is not on our schedule. We are on His.

Those who keep the words given are blessed. The main intent of all prophetic passages is to lead us to trust and obey, and apply His truth to our entire lives.

Verses 8-9 show John being corrected for a repeated mistake. He heard these words and fell down to worship the angel who speaks them. He made the same mistake in 19: 10 and is quickly reminded that he is not to worship angels, only God. We are never to worship any created being, even those who were devout and perhaps chosen by God for special missions, such as Mary, the mother of Jesus. Remember she was blessed "among" women, not "above" women. John is properly corrected once more.

Verses 10-11 tells us that unlike Old Testament prophecy which was commanded to be sealed, these passages are not so .commanded. Daniel's prophecy was to be sealed for later, but the time for the full revelation of this prophecy has arrived.

Verses 12-13 is the declaration from Jesus himself that He is coming quickly. But now He adds a phrase that must accompany His coming. He is bringing His reward with, Him, for each one according to their work. 1st Corinthians chapter 3 & 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 are our best teaching scriptures on this passage. For the saved, there is NO condemnation, only reward.

Jesus again reveals he is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. This description was applied to God in 1 :8 & 21 :6 and now Jesus confirms His deity for all time by applying this phrase to Himself.

Verses 14-15 allow a blessing and a curse. Blessed are those who do His commandments and therefore have access to the tree of eternal life and may enter the holy city. But those who do not will never be allowed entry. This passage does not mean there will be wicked people living outside the holiest city, but rather is using then current day imagery to portray what will be in that future time.

Now in verse 16 Jesus verifies that He sent His angel to testify to the churches the things he wanted them to know. Now He goes a step further to remind all readers for all time that he is both the root and offspring of David. He spoke these same words to the wicked Pharisees in Matthew 22:41-46. We are given a reminder here that this book was addressed to the churches, and is not a private writing. Here is the first reference to a church since chapters 2 & 3. His self description of "bright and morning star" is taken from Numbers 24:17, describing the star of Jacob (Israel).

Verse 17 is the continual invitation Jesus spoke throughout His earthly ministry, "come''. It is still an open invitation to the water of life only available through Christ.

Verses 18-19 provide the strongest message Jesus ever gives on the integrity of the Holy Word of our Bible. If any man adds to it, plagues are visited on him. If any man takes anything away, his name is removed from the book of life and he is rejected from the holy city.

Verses 20-21 allow how serious Jesus is concerning His coming. We are granted two "amens" here to be sure we grasp how strong the message is. John adds his own hopeful wish by using an expression from the Aramaic language that he, and Jesus spoke daily:

MARANATHA

Our best translation into English is : 0 LORD COME!

The last verse of the OT contains a curse. Malachi 4:6 says: "Lest I come and strike the earth With a curse"

It is fitting that the last verse of the-NT speaks of grace, begging the Lord of all grace to come, no longer with a curse, but with His perfect redemption.

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