Author: Jon Green

As we near the end of our study on the book of Revelation, we have a lot going on in this short chapter. As with many chapters in the book, this one includes things that have been debated for hundreds of years like the thousand year reign of Christ, the final defeat of Satan, and the judgment of the dead. 

It’s been well said, “The millennium is a thousand years of peace that Christians like to fight about.” We need to have a tight grip on the essentials of the faith and have room to disagree with the things that while still important, are not essential and not worth breaking fellowship on. So, whether you’re an amillennialist, premillennialist, or postmillennialist (or if you have no idea what those words mean!), we can all acknowledge that these passages are complicated and there are certain theological issues we may not fully understand on this side of eternity.  

Judgment before God will take place. We see two books opened in this passage, one for the judgment of the dead and the other the book of life. Believers and unbelievers alike will face accountability for their actions, as it says in Romans 14:10-12: 

“You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written:

“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will acknowledge God.’
So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.”

In this passage there is another book: the book of life. Verse 15 says anyone’s name that is not found in the book of life will be thrown into the lake of fire. So, while everyone will be judged based on their deeds, believers will be saved solely by the blood of the lamb that was shed. Their deeds should reflect a faith in Christ. No one can earn their way to an eternity with God; the only way is to have accepted Christ’s payment on the cross for your sins. When the book of judgment is opened as we stand before the throne of God, the works that were done should reflect a genuine and authentic faith in Christ. 

Satan, on the other hand, is currently running a scorched earth strategy. Satan knows that the end of his reign on earth is ending, and he is facing judgment. His goal is to take as many souls as possible with him. 

We as believers have a responsibility to boldly proclaim and share the Gospel. If we believe that the only way to be with God for eternity and escape an eternity of torment is to accept and follow Jesus Christ, why would we not tell everyone?

In today’s reading we see a celebration in Heaven! The Lord’s victory is sealed, the defeat of Babylon is final, and it’s time to party! There is a great multitude, of every nation and tribe, proclaiming hallelujah to our God! They proclaim two hallelujahs with the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures doing the same. It is interesting to note, this chapter is the only time the word “hallelujah” appears in the entire New Testament. Hallelujah is a Hebrew word that means “praise the Lord,” and it is fitting to praise Him in this chapter. In Revelation 19, we see a celebration in Heaven, the return of Christ, the wedding supper of the Lamb, and the beast and its armies defeated.   

The great multitude celebrates because the time has finally come for the Lamb to return and be united with His people. This return is depicted as a beautiful marriage. The Lamb of God, which is Christ, has come for His bride, the Church. A marriage is used various times throughout Scripture to depict God and His relationship with His people. It is important to look at the wedding customs of the day to understand the significance of this passage. During the time of Jesus, the parents of a bride and bridegroom would sign a contract that included a dowry, or payment to the bride or her parents. The betrothal period would consist of the bridegroom leaving to prepare a place for the bride and himself. The bridegroom would then return to the house of the bride, and the bride would be ready for his return, dressed in fine linen and pure. The marriage would take place, and there would be celebration for days. 

This custom is clearly shown in this chapter as Christ returns for His bride. The dowry or payment took place on the cross as Jesus paid for our sins, and we accepted the payment as we put our faith in Christ. The bride of the Lamb was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure. Jesus is the one who makes us pure and clean; we cannot do that on our own. He became sin so that we would become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). Now as the Church today, we wait for the return of our bridegroom. In Matthew 22, Jesus says, “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.” All of us are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb, we simply have to accept the invitation. 

The chapter continues as we see heaven open, and a rider comes on a white horse, which is the return of Christ! We see some of the most detailed descriptions of Jesus in this chapter as the Son of Man returns in victory! He is called faithful and true (v. 11), His eyes like a flame of fire (v. 12), and He wears many crowns with a name that no one knows (v. 12). He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood (v. 13) and His name is called the Word of God (v. 13). The armies of heaven followed him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean (v. 14). Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron rod (v. 15) He will pour out God’s wrath (v. 15) and on his robe and on his thigh, he has this name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 

The Son of Man comes to defeat the Beast and its armies. This war is a description of the Battle of Armageddon, which takes place in Revelation 16. The kings of the earth and their armies rise up to wage war against Christ and His army (v. 19). Donald Barnhouse, an American theologian, describes the Battle of Armageddon as the “laughter of God against the climax of man’s arrogance.” It is a one-sided war, and ultimately an act of judgment against those who rebel against the Lord. Our God wins! We can have a hope that is firm and secure because we know how the story ends. Jesus has the ultimate victory, and He is worthy of all glory and praise! Let it be today we join with all of Heaven saying, “Hallelujah our God reigns!”

Revelation 18 is a continuation of chapter 17 with a closer look at the fall of the woman, Babylon. Chapter 18 can be outlined in 5 parts: the Word, a warning, woes, worship, and the final weigh-in on evil.

Before we lean into the text, let’s consider who and what Babylon is. Babylon is both a place and a system (a mindset and attitude). Babylon serves as a metaphor for empires, domination, injustices, and idolatries. Each century has its Babylon characterized by arrogance, greed, sin, injustice, materialism, abusive power, oppression, opulence, and idolatry. Babylon’s goal is to represent and exhibit the way of the Dragon. If the Dragon is the mastermind, Babylon is the playground. Babylon stands in direct opposition to the way of the Lamb. 

The first three verses of chapter 18 announce the fall of Babylon. The word proclaiming, “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!” Every Babylon will rise and then fall. While it rules over the world for a time, Babylon’s days are numbered. 

Until Babylon is defeated for good, the seductions and allure of Babylonian mindset is tempting. Remember, the Dragon is out to steal, kill, and destroy anything good, anything of God. But we also can expect for Satan to be subtle and seductive in his attempts and attacks. We can hear the urgency and passion as God (through John’s hand) writes a warning in verse 6, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins.” The original reader of this passage would remember other times in Jewish history when that command and warning was given. Remember: Babylon is both a place and a mindset. In Jeremiah 51: 6, the Lord says, “Flee from Babylon! Run for your lives! Do not be destroyed because of her sins. It is time for the Lord’s vengeance; he will repay her what she deserves.” The warning is given: flee.

The bulk of the chapter is spent on the agony of the earth over the fall of Babylon and the woes to Babylon (woe is an exclamation of judgment). The kings, merchants, business men, and shipmasters who have benefitted from the economic exploitation and abuse of power will be brought to ruin. They will weep and mourn. The kingdoms of man and the idolatries and injustices will crumble and fall. The chapter ends with the rejoicing and worshiping in heaven over the final weigh-in on evil. Babylon is destroyed forever. We read the words “never to be found”,”never be heard”, “never shine”, never. The ache for justice has ended. Evil is defeated. 

It’s easy to get caught up in Revelation debates over poetic language, literal and metaphorical meanings, and eschatological theories and theologies; but, when we approach Revelation as a mystery to decode or a riddle to solve, we lose the message of Revelation: Jesus, the Lion and the Lamb, has won. How will we follow the way of the Lamb faithfully in a world of Babylonian systems and attitudes? 

Revelation 18 calls us to have courage to come out of Babylon. Resist and flee the temptation and seductions of the Dragon and to follow the way of the Lamb without compromise. Have we surrendered some parts of our life to Babylon and other parts to New Jerusalem? Unsurprisingly, God gave this message to John (in 1 John 2:15-17) previously: “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world–the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”

John could have easily substituted the word Babylon for world. May we have the discernment, wisdom, resilience, endurance, and resistance to follow the way of the Lamb in the world of Babylon. Babylon is crumbling and the heavens are starting to roar. The white horse and his Rider are about to make an entrance!

In Revelation 17, John sees the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters. With her, the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, which throughout scripture represents idolatry, and have made the people drunk. The angel carries him away into the wilderness and he sees the woman seated on a beast with seven heads and ten horns. This is the same beast we saw in Revelation 13:1 for the beast of the sea. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, which are signs of splendor and magnificence. She is also full of abominations and impurities. On her head was the name, “Babylon, the great mother of prostitutes and earth’s abominations”. This is fitting given that Roman prostitutes frequently wore a headband with their name engraved upon it. The woman was drunk on the blood of saints–the martyrs of Jesus. 

What does all of this mean? Fortunately for John (and us!), the angel proceeded to tell him what all that he had just seen meant. The beast is about to go destroy and those who aren’t God’s people will marvel at it. Who are not God’s people? John borrows language from Paul when he says, “The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world” to explain those who are not God’s people in Revelation 17:8. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated and also seven kings five have already fallen, one is and the other hasn’t come yet (v. 10). There is a lot of speculation as to what and who exactly are the seven mountains and kings. The ten horns are kings who haven’t yet received royal power. It is unclear who these kings are, but it is clear they wage war against Jesus. Jesus wins and those who are called, chosen, and faithful are with him. 

Then the angel explains that the great waters John saw at first are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages. This means the great prostitute presides over many nations and her influence is worldwide (v. 15). The ten horns and beast detest the prostitute, so they make her desolate, naked, devour her flesh, and burn her up with fire. God, in His sovereignty, ordained this. The woman is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.

In Revelation 16, John heard a voice come and send out the seven angels to pour out their bowl of the wrath of God. The first pours out his bowl on the earth and the result is harmful and painful sores that came upon those who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The second pours out his bowl on the sea and the result is it becomes like a bloody corpse and every living thing in it dies. The third pours his bowl into the rivers and springs of water; the result is blood. At this, the angels praise God for his faithful love and justice. 

The fourth bowl is poured out on the sun and the result is it was allowed to scorch the people with fire and it did. Even then, they did not repent. The fifth bowl is poured on the throne of the beast and the result is its kingdom was plunged into darkness yet they did not repent. The sixth bowl was poured out into the great river of the Euphrates; the water was dried up to prepare the way for the king of the east. 

Then, John sees three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, beast, and false prophet. They were demonic spirits performing signs. In the midst of this, there is a warning to stay ready for Christ’s return (v. 15). The seventh and final bowl is poured out into the air and a loud voice from the temple throne says, “It is done”. There is a great earthquake unlike any before (which was prophesied about in Hebrews 12:26).

So, what do we make of everything in this chapter? Depending on your view of Revelation (preterist, historicist, futurist, or spiritual) will lead you to different interpretations of the specifics of the seven bowls. However, John is clear about two eternal truths that are sobering and comforting. He refers to “The great day of God” (v. 14). This is all about God’s justice being served; ultimately He wins. Lastly, he says two times that despite God’s judgment, the people did not repent. Make no mistake, apart from God’s kindness to save us, we are lost and without hope (Ephesians 2:1-10).

John’s vision in this chapter describes a group of people standing next to what appears to be a sea of glass. We know that these people are “those who had been victorious over the beast” (v. 2) so we can ascertain that they are the tribulation martyrs that were described in previous chapters. Just as important as who they are, though, is paying attention to what they are doing.

Revelation 15:2-3 says “They held harps given them by God and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb.” These tribulation martyrs, who were killed because of their faithfulness, are worshiping God with music in heaven. These saints’ belief in Jesus cost them their lives and the text tells us that they were described as “victorious” but their focus is not on what it cost them nor their own victory. Their complete focus is on giving glory, honor and praise to God.  

In Deuteronomy 31:19, God told Moses to write a song which is commonly referred to as “The Song of Moses.” His instructions were “Now therefore write this song and teach it to the people of Israel. Put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the people of Israel.” Deuteronomy 32 displays the lyrics of this song that both served as prophecy to the Israelites as well as reminded them of the faithfulness of God. 

In Revelation 14:3 we were told that as the 144,000 stood before the throne, “they were singing a new song”. This is likely the Song of the Lamb. So as all these saints stand in worship, they sing of both the old covenant and of the new. They celebrate bondage and deliverance from the oppression of Egypt as well as bondage and deliverance from the oppression of sin. What follows is a unified song of praise that celebrates that God’s works are marvelous, that God’s way is just, that God alone is worthy, and that God deserves all worship. Even as the final judgment is about to be brought on mankind, heaven is echoing with a heart of true worship and understanding that it is all about God. Glory be to Him!

Revelation 12-14 is a three-chapter interlude between retellings of the seven judgments (seals, trumpets, and bowls). Revelation 14 contrasts the settings and events of Chapter 13. The scene (14:1-5) shifts from earth to heaven, from the mark and reign of two beasts to the mark and reign of the Father and the Lamb, from the many to the redeemed (144,000), from war to peace, from defiled to pure, from self to follower. The contrast is indescribably glorious. Perfected joy, expressed in a new song of endless worship, rewards faithful followers of Jesus (conquerors) who persevere through earthly sorrows (tribulation).

The scene shifts again in 14:6-13. John hears declarations from three angels. The first declares eternal good news for all who fear and glorify God. The second proclaims the fall of Babylon (corrupt kingdoms). The third warns the fallen of eternal torment. Revelation 14:12-13 calls the faithful to perseverance and wonderful rest. We are reminded judgment is imminent. Justice is promised for all. Immeasurable joy awaits only those who believe, hold fast and rest in God’s presence.

Revelation 14:14-20 contrasts two harvests: of the earth and the vine. John sees one, like the son of man, with a golden crown (Jesus), arrive on the clouds (second coming) with a sickle (judgment). A herald declares the harvest ripe, and the earth is reaped (saved or raptured). He then hears other angels (messengers) condemn vines of the world (the unfaithful) to the wrath of God’s winepress. He sees blood flowing several feet deep over roughly 182 square miles, the approximate area of the Valley of Megiddo (Armageddon). Both harvests (judgment) are just; one brings eternal hope, the other eternal despair.

Each revelation shares glimpses of the day of the Lord. Repetitive retellings have made the precise sequence of events the focus of far-flung speculation for generations. But eternal truths irrefutably remain unchanged; Jesus is coming again in power to judge and reign in a new Zion. 

John’s vision continues to reassure God’s people of Jesus’s ultimate victory and to warn us about the powerful, yet limited, authority of Satan in this world. In Revelation 13, the writer describes forces of evil that arise, how they lead people astray, and what happens to believers who live in these days. Similarly to the rest of Revelation and other apocalyptic texts, the writer uses images like ‘horns,’ animals, and ‘marks,’ as symbols of spiritual realities. These include rulers, their characteristics, and their works. This chapter has numerous references to the book of Daniel, specifically Daniel 7. Daniel’s visions point to beasts that arise from the sea (a symbol of chaos to Jewish readers), authority given to them, destruction of God’s people and the earth, and the Son of Man’s return to destroy evil. He will one day reign over all the nations in fullest holiness! 

In Revelation 13, we learn more about the nature of the enemy and his rule. Though the enemy is conquered (we see him overthrown in Revelation 12), he continues his fading rule by passing off some of his power to “a beast.” The enemy shows that he is content promoting the worship of any earthly power, so long as the true God is rejected and dishonored. Make note of the ways that we live amidst this prophecy, and how we see displays of evil from Satan at work. This is displayed in every nation, where there are religions and powers which kill the people of Jesus, speak against him, work miraculous signs, and claim to have the only god(s).

Another theme of scripture which appears in this chapter is people being “marked.” In the Old Testament, God tells his people that His word shall “be as a sign on your hand and as frontlets between your eyes, for by strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt.” (Exodus 13:9-10,16). In this instruction, God shows that he wants the world to know that His people belong to him. If His people are marked by His word, they will remember His salvation. In Revelation, we see similar language about “marked” on the head or “on the hand.” In an adverse and twisted way, the enemy also wants to mark those who are allegiant to him, and those who follow the ways of his kingdom and his words. This idea is further supported by the “number of man,” which is 666. In Jewish writings, each number holds symbolism. The number six generally points to humankind, created on the sixth day, given work for 6 out 7 days. By repeating ‘6’ three times, the writer emphasizes that the beast’s reign of complete human evil.  

Finally, John gives specific applications and warnings to us as believers. He suggests that there will be a great cost to those who are not marked by the way of the Beast. Followers of Jesus will have great difficulty in “buying and selling,” the economic system in the final days. We must be awake and aware of the fact that people of God will face difficulty as they live in obedience and integrity in this world. However, He is worthy of every cost. John also quotes parts of Jeremiah and Isaiah as reminders that the justice of God is coming (v. 10). He gives the saints a call for endurance and faith, not because we earn our salvation, but because the Lord will come to restore all things. He will raise up those whose names are covered by His blood in the Book of Life. We can have hope today knowing that the enemy will be conquered and awaits destruction.

Because of its symbolism, Revelation is one of the most highly debated books in all the Bible. Oftentimes, people either avoid it all together or obsess over the death, judgment, and apocalyptic narrative of it. Either extreme isn’t helpful in stirring our affections for Jesus. Remember, Revelation’s main theme is to reveal to us more about Jesus. To make Jesus more clear to us, not confuse us. Revelation gives us an understanding of God’s perspective on empire and evil and the judgment of the powers invading God’s people preventing them from living in the freedom and forgiveness won on the cross. 

Revelation 10-14 are parenthetical chapters of the book, meaning they are John’s way of highlighting or giving extra information about events. Events that have happened, are happening, or are still to happen. The timing of and literal interpretation of these events are some of the most debated and polarizing passages of Scriptures. Which, isn’t that what the enemy wants? For us to be divided and distracted and miss the point of Revelation? 

Before we throw our hands up and say, “This is getting too weird” or “There are so many interpretations, I guess we’ll never know”, let’s ask God to give us wisdom, discernment, and understanding. He preserved this book for a reason. Understanding it, even if it’s a limited understanding, can bring encouragement, meaning, and profound hope. John begins by pointing to signs early on in this chapter. Signs are always a symbol of something else–signs point to something. John is pointing us to a greater reality. Revelation 12 tells a bigger story. 

Revelation 12 is a behind the scenes look at the epic battle between God and Satan. This battle spans millennia and across cosmos (heavens and earth). This invisible battle in the unseen realms. While we are reading about it, John watches it play out in the heavens. As we read Chapter 12, there are three main sections: The Prelude to the War (v. 1-6), The War in Heaven (v. 7-12), The War on Earth (v. 13-17). 

Verses 1-6 give us the prelude, the introduction, to the invisible war—the battle of the ages between Good and Evil. We don’t know for certain if this war has happened, happening now, or is it still to come; but what we do know is that the story goes back to Satan’s rebellion (v. 4), the fall of mankind, and the first prophecy in Scripture (Genesis 3:15). There are two kingdoms in conflict.

John introduces us to the main characters: The Woman, Child, and Red Dragon. In verse 9, John identifies the Red Dragon as “The great dragon…that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan”. John identifies the dragon as “great” referencing the enemy’s fierceness. He calls him the “ancient serpent” speaking to the enemy’s subtlety and influence through the ages. John names him the “devil”, which means accuser and slanderer. Finally John identifies him as “Satan” whose name means adversary. The enemy stands against all that is righteous and good, attempting to deceive the whole world. The Red Dragon is Satan. 

We have clues identifying the Woman and the Child. We read in verse 5 that the child “will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.” There is only One who will rule with an iron scepter (Revelation 2:27). The Victorious One who has authority over the nations is the Messiah, the Lion of Judah, the Risen Christ. The child in Revelation 12 is Jesus. 

The Woman is more difficult to identify and many scholars differ on who she is. Referencing Genesis 37:9 (Joseph’s dream that the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down), it would make sense that the woman is the nation of Israel, God’s chosen people. 

What we know is The Red Dragon has been after the child, wanting to destroy him, long before the child was ever born. Then, war breaks out in heaven and the great dragon was hurled down along with all of his demons and his access to God ends (v. 7-12). We end the chapter with the dragon’s rage and his war on the earth and God’s people. 

There’s a beautiful application for us in the middle of the chapter. How do we defeat the enemy? How do we walk in victory? We learn 3 things: atonement and authority, activity, and attitude. The atonement and the authority of the blood of the Lamb is the basis of our victory. We stand on the merit of the blood of Christ. Since our sin has been covered, we need to tell and proclaim this Good News. Our testimony-in word and deed- is the activity that overcomes the devil. Finally, our attitude being like Christ and laying down our lives making this good news known. Laying aside our preferences and our rights so that others may believe and receive the forgiveness of sins and the gift of salvation through Jesus. 

In this chapter, John is given a measuring rod like a staff and is told to measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship. This is eerily similar to the scene in Ezekiel 40-43 when Ezekiel measures the temple. However, he is not to measure the court outside the temple because that is given over to nations who will trample the holy city for forty-two months. Two prophets will prophesy for 1,260 days in sackcloth. There are two olive trees and two lampstands standing before the Lord of the Earth. Since churches were lampstands earlier in this vision (Revelation 1:20), some believe the lampstands represent the faithful witness of the church in the end times. If anyone harms them, they are doomed by fire. The prophets have the power to shut the sky, keep rain from falling during times of prophecy, turn water into blood, and strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they desire. There are interesting correlations here to the plagues in Exodus 7-11.

When they finish their testimony, the beast from the bottomless pit will make war, conquer, and kill them. Symbolically, their dead bodies will be placed where Jesus our Lord was crucified. For three and half days many will rejoice at their death because while they lived they were a torment to those who lived on earth. They were preaching God’s truth and calling to repentance but the people didn’t care to listen to the prophets.  

After three and half days, God will breathe life back into them and call them to Heaven while those who rejoiced at their death watch. At that hour there was a great earthquake and 1/10 of the city fell. Seven thousand died and the rest were horrified and gave glory to God in Heaven. The seventh seal is opened and victory is declared. God wins and the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord Christ and He shall reign forever and ever. The heavens are opened, and the covenant ark is seen within his temple. This is the first mention of the Ark of the Covenant since Josiah in 2 Chronicles 35:1-6.