ã Copyright Ron Graff, 2000

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Note: The New International Version (NIV)

is used unless otherwise indicated.

Passages marked with NAS are from

the New American Standard Version.

1B. Introduction 1:1-3

2B. Salutation 1:4-8

1B. Preparation for the vision 1:9-10

2B. Presentation of the vision 1:11-18 1C. The revelation of John 1:11-16 1D. The Golden Stands 1:11-12 2D. The Glorified Savior 1:13-16 2C. The reaction of John 1:17-18

2A. THE PRESENCE OF JESUS CHRIST IN THIS AGE (The things which are) 1:19-3:22 1B. Insight about the church 1:19-20

2B. Instruction to the church 2:1-3:22 1C. To Ephesus 2:1-7 2C. To Smyrna 2:8-11 3C. To Pergamum 2:12-17 4C. To Thyatira 2:18-29 5C. To Sardis 3:1-6 6C. To Philadelphia 3:7-13 7C. To Laodicea 3:14-22

(The things which will take place...) 4:1-22:21 1B. The scene in Heaven 4:1-5:14 1C. View of the Heavenly Majesty 4:1-11 1D. The Throne 4:1-3 2D. The Elders 4:4 3D. The Surroundings 4:5-6b 4D. The Four Creatures (living beings) 4:6c-8 5D. The Worship 4:9-11

2C. Vision of the Holy Mystery 5:1-14 1D. The Scroll 5:1 2D. The Search 5:2-4 3D. The Savior 5:5-7 4D. The Song 5:8-10 5D. The Saying 5:11-14

2B. The Scene on Earth 6:1-20:15 1C. The Tribulation 6:1-19:21 1D. Opening of the Seven Seals 6:1-8:1 1E. First Seal - Antichrist 6:1-2 2E. Second Seal - Arms 6:3-4 3E. Third Seal - Agony (Famine) 6:5-6 4E. Fourth Seal - Annihilation (Death) 6:7-8 5E. Fifth Seal - Anticipation (Martyrs) 6:9-11 6E. Sixth Seal - Agitation 6:12-17 ( ) Tribulation Saints 7:1-17 1F. The Sealed Ones 7:1-8 2F. The Saved Ones 7:9-17 1G. Enormity of the Multitude 7:9 2G. Exultation by the Multitude 7:10-12 3G. Explanation about the Multitude 7:13-17 7E. Seventh Seal - Adjustment 8:1

2D. Sounding of the Seven Trumpets 8:2-11:19 1E. Expectation 8:2-6 2E. Execution 8:7-11:19 1F. First Trumpet - Scorching of the Earth 8:7 2F. Second Trumpet - Slaughter in the Sea 8:8-9 3F. Third Trumpet - Souring of the Water 8:10-11 4F. Fourth Trumpet - Smiting of the Planets 8:12-13 5F. The Fifth Trumpet - Striking by Locusts 9:1-12 1G. The Diabolical Pit 9:1-2 2G. The Demonic Plague 9:3-10 1H. Their Actions 9:3-6 2H. Their Appearance 9:7-10 3G. The Destructive Potentate 9:11-12 6F. The Sixth Trumpet - Slaying of One- third of the Population 9:13-21 1G. The Command from Heaven 9:13-16 2G. The Consuming Holocaust 9:17-19 3G. The Conscious Hardness 9:20-21 ( ) Parenthetical Explanations 10:1-11:14 1G. About God's Program 10:1-7 2G. About John's Prophecy 10:8-11 3G. About Gentile Power 11:1-2 4G. About Two Prophets 11:3-14 7F. The Seventh Trumpet - Sovereignty of God 11:15-19

3D. Important Considerations of the Period 12:1-19:21 1E. The Role of Israel in The Tribulation 12:1-18 1F. Birth of the Deliverer 12:1-6 1G. Purpose for Israel 12:1-2 2G. Plan of the Devil 12:3-4 3G. Protection of the Child 12:5-6 2F. Battle with the Devil 12:7-17 1G. War in Heaven 12:7-12 2G. War on Earth 12:13-17 2E.. The Reign of the Unholy Trinity During The Tribulation 13:1-18 1F. The Dragon (Satan) 13:2,4 2F. The Despot (Antichrist) 13:1-10 1G. His Appearance 13:1-4 2G. His Actions 13:5-10 3F. The Deceiver (False Prophet) 13:11-18 1G. His Person 13:11 1H. Like a Lamb 2H. Like a Dragon 2G. His Power 13:12-13 3G. His Purpose 13:14-18 3E. The Redemption of the 144000 During The Tribulation 14:1-5 4E. The Reports from Heaven During The Tribulation 14:6-13 1F. The First Message 14:6-7 2F. The Second Message 14:8 3F. The Third Message - 14:9-12 4F. The Fourth Message 14:13 5E. Reaping of Judgment During The Tribulation 14:14-19:21 1F. Judgment of the Beast and False Prophet 14:14-20 1G. The Conqueror 14:14 2G. The Conquest 14:15-20 2F. Judgment of the Earth 15:1-16:21 1G. The Victorious Vision 15:1-8 1H. Songs of Praise 15:1-4 2H. Scene of Preparation 15:5-8 2G. The Venomous Vials 16:1-21 1H. The First Vial - Damaging Sores 16:1-2 2H. Second Vial - Deadly Seas 16:3 3H. Third Vial - Deplorable Springs 16:4-7 4H. Fourth Vial - Dangerous Sunlight 16:8-9 5H. Fifth Vial - Dark Seizure 16:10-11 6H. Sixth Vial - Drying of the Strait 16:12 ( ) Demonic Spirits 16:13-16 7H. Seventh Vial - Destructive Scourge 16:17-21 3F. Judgment of Babylon 17:1-19:6 1G. Preface about the Woman 17:1-2 2G. Perversity of the Woman 17:3-6 3G. Position of the Woman 17:7-18 4G. Punishment of the Woman 18:1-19:6 1H. Ruin 18:1-8 2H. Reaction 18:9-19:6 1I. On Earth 18:9-19 2I. In Heaven 18:20-19:6 4F. Judgment at Armageddon 19:7-21 1G. Heavenly Jubilation 19:7-10 (The Marriage Supper of The Lamb) 2G. Horrible Judgment 19:11-21 1H. The Coming of Christ's Army 19:11-16 2H. The Crumbling of Antichrist's Army 19:17-21

2C. The Millennium 20:1-15 1D. Preparation for the Period 20:1-3

2D. Progress During the Period 20:4-6

3D. Postscript to the Period 20:7-15 1E. Rebellion 20:7-9 2E. Retribution 20:10-15 1F. The Devil 20:10 2F. The Deceived 20:11-15

3B. The Scene on the New Earth 21:1-22:21 It would require a much larger commentary to do justice to every word in every verse of The Revelation, but the following notes are given to help understand the general flow of this remarkable book.

1B. Introduction 1:1-3 1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testifies to everything he saw-- that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

The first three words of this book in the original language of Greek sets the purpose of the entire work. The first word is "Revelation" (Gr. apokalupsis - disclosure, unveiling) which indicates that the information the book contains is meant to reveal truth, not conceal it. In other words, it is knowledge which can and should be understood. The next two words are "Jesus Christ." The clear implication here is that Jesus Christ is the central subject of the book. Therefore, we should not focus on the Tribulation or Antichrist or the terrible events that are described in these pages. Dreadful things will happen in the future, but these are preparatory to the glorious coming of Jesus Christ as King of Kings and Lord of Lords in chapter 19. This corresponds perfectly to Jesus' own teaching in the Olivet Discourse that the coming trials are like birth pains. An expectant mother may suffer greatly with hard labor, but when the result is a beautiful baby, she will always say that the labor was worth it. The focus on Jesus Christ is seen throughout the book. Chapter one includes a vision of Jesus in Glory. Chapters two and three are messages from Jesus to His churches, chapters four and five are a heavenly scene with Jesus in view to prepare the reader to know that He is righteous in all the tribulation that will follow. In Chapters nineteen through the end of the book, Jesus is shown to be the coming king. The book is revealed through an angel to John the Beloved, one of Jesus' twelve apostles. There are many angels in the book, but one in particular seems to have been the messenger ("angel" means messenger) of these things to John. John himself was very old at this time, probably in his 90's. He was in exile on the island of Patmos because of his faith in Christ. John was the only one of the twelve apostles who, according to tradition, was not put to death for his belief in Jesus. However, the traditions do say that he was thrown into a boiling pot of oil and miraculously survived. A promise is given at the outset that whoever reads this prophecy, or even hears it, since many people did not know how to read, will be "blessed." To be blessed means to be made happy. A person should never become fearful or depressed because of this book. It is meant to bring joy because of the outcome: the triumph of good over evil, the restoration of the earth to perfection, salvation of those who believe in Jesus Christ, and their deliverance from a corrupted world into one of indescribable beauty and opportunity! Of course, those who do not yet know Christ will want to be sure they are in a right relationship with Him.

2B. Salutation 1:4-8

4 John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father-- to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. 7 Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen. 8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." John greets the believers of the seven churches of Asia, over whom he had evidently been the bishop or "overseer." His greeting is similar to most of Paul's epistles in that it offers "grace and peace." Grace is God's gift, freely given to those who believe in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9), and Peace is the result of this gift: We have Peace with God through salvation(Romans 5:1), and may also have the Peace of God (Philippians 4:7), an inner state of mind which does not depend on outward circumstances. This promise of happiness, grace and peace is another indication that the study of eschatology ("last things") should not cause fear and distress, but should result in peace of mind. The greeting is also from Him "who is, and who was, and who is to come." This is undoubtedly a reference to God the Father (see also verse 8). The Seven Spirits before His throne identifies the blessed Holy Spirit as co-author of this book as well. The number seven is used repeatedly in The Revelation to indicate completeness or perfection. Thus the Seven Spirits would mean the perfect, complete Spirit, revealed by Jesus to His disciples as the Holy Spirit (John 14:16 ff). This, of course, fortifies the truth found in 2 Timothy 3:16 that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God (literally "God-breathed"). This accounts for the perfect accuracy of Biblical prophecy Notice that there is yet another greeter here. It is Jesus Christ! Thus all three persons of the Holy Trinity are involved in the giving of this revelation. Jesus describes Himself as "the faithful witness." The Greek word for "witness" is martus, from which we get our word "martyr." The connection is this: those who are witnesses of spiritual truth may be called upon to give their very lives for the truth they believe. Jesus Himself did this, though His death was a necessity for our salvation, He was crucified for telling the truth about Himself. Two other titles of Christ are given here. He is "the firstborn from the dead," an obvious reference to His Resurrection. Furthermore, He is "the ruler of the kings of the earth," a preview of His glorious return mentioned in verse 7, and described more fully in chapter nineteen. These three descriptions are just the beginning of a very long list of names and titles of Christ given in The Revelation.

1B. Preparation for the vision 1:9-10 9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,

John identifies with those who read this book as a brother and a fellow-sufferer for bearing the testimony of Jesus. There is no doubt that this book has been valuable for people of all ages, but it is especially instructive to those who find themselves in the "last days" with its persecution of true believers.

John was prepared for reception of a vision by being "in the Spirit" on the Lord's Day. The Lord's Day was Sunday, the day of special importance to Christians because Jesus was raised on this first day of the week. Being "in the Spirit" is referred to elsewhere as being "filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18) and "walking in the Spirit" (Galatians 5:25). This is the privilege of every true Christian: to surrender himself or herself to the direction and empowerment of God's Holy Spirit. There is no thought here of entering a trance by use of drugs, hypnosis or other occult practices. John was simply in the right frame of mind for this relation by being filled with the Spirit. The revelation itself came as a vision rather than a dream. In his waking state John was startled by a loud voice.

2B. Presentation of the vision 1:11-18 1C. The revelation of John 1:11-16 1D. The Golden Stands 1:11-12 2D. The Glorified Savior 1:13-16

The message was to be written in a scroll and given to the seven churches of Asia over which John had presided. In Chapters 2 and 3 these churches represent the entire period of the church age. There are seven churches, seven golden lampstands and seven stars. Revelation 1:20 equates the seven lampstands to the seven churches, undoubtedly a reference to the golden lampstands in the Tabernacle and the Temple which were symbolic of the light of God's presence on earth. Jesus told His followers, who comprise His Church, that they are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14-16). The seven stars are also identified in Revelation 1:20. They are the angels of the seven churches. The word "angel" (Greek aggelos) literally means "messenger." Therefore the messengers to these churches may be their pastors. As mentioned in the notes on Revelation 1:4, seven is the number of perfection or completion. Thus these sets of seven churches, lampstands, and angels are representative of the entire church.

The first thing that John saw was a majestic person whom he thought might be Jesus, who often referred to Himself as the Son of Man. Yet he did not fully recognize this glorious person because he seemed different from the gentle Savior he had known so well. These descriptions of Christ are symbolic. There is extensive use of symbolism throughout the book or Revelation. The white hair, fiery eyes glowing feet and His face shining like the sun are pictures of wisdom, holiness and judgment. The concept of His burning eyes is reminiscent of Paul's teaching that Jesus will judge the works of believers, and only what is good will remain. Whatever is useless: wood, hay and stubble, will be consumed by the fire. (1 Corinthians 3:11-15) The bronze feet are a further picture of judgment, bronze being the material of the Altar of Sacrifice (Exodus 27:1-4), and of the serpent in the wilderness, one of God's most graphic judgments of sin. (Numbers 21:5-9; John 3:14-18).

2C. The reaction of John 1:17-18

17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades." John, like most other people in the Bible who received such visions, was terrified! He fainted, but was revived by the glowing vision of Christ, who put his hand on him and identified Himself with several meaningful descriptions. He is the First and the Last, an appellation that could only refer to God. To John this would not contradict his impression that it was Jesus since he had often equated Jesus with God in his writings (John 1:1-2,14; 20:28), and referred to Him as The Son of God (John 1:34;3:16-17; 5:18; 19:7). By calling Himself the Living One, who was dead and was now alive forever, Jesus confirmed His identity to John. He who had come the first time as Savior was now preparing to come again as Judge. Thus he held the keys of death and Hades. Hades is the name of the place of departed spirits. It is seen as the enemy of the Church (Matthew 16:18). Since Christ's ascension (Ephesians 4:8-10), is the temporary abode of unbelievers who have died and await their final judgment (Revelation 6:8; 20:13-14).

2A. THE PRESENCE OF JESUS CHRIST IN THIS AGE (The things which are) 1:19-3:22 1B. Insight about the church 1:19-20 19 "Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. 20 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. Verse 19 is the KEY to the Book. The three parts of The Revelation are: 1- What you have seen - The Person of Jesus Christ 2- The Things that are - The Presence of Jesus Christ in This

Age

3- The things that will take place - The Program of Jesus

Christ For The Future

There are several possible ways to view these seven churches. They were actual churches that existed in John's lifetime in the area of Asia. They are, however, so different from one another, that they could stand for all the kinds of churches that exist, as can be seen in the variety of denominations today. Probably the best way to see these churches is symbolic of seven periods of church history. This is the view presented here. Thus, Ephesus, the first church, portrays the Apostolic period, from the birth of the Church, at the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), until approximately AD 100.

The messages to the churches follow a pattern. First, there is a description of Jesus Christ in terms that are especially important to each church. Second, there is affirmation of the good characteristics of the church. Thirdly, there is a warning for each church (except Smyrna, and Philadelphia). Finally, there is a reward promised to those in the church who are overcomers.

2B. Instruction to the church 2:1-3:22 1C. To Ephesus 2:1-7

1 "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. 5 Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

During the Apostolic period there were false apostles. The early church was careful to identify true apostles and reject the false. This explains the need for the Apostle Paul to defend his calling as an apostle in 2 Corinthians, chapters 11-13. In chapter 11, verse 13 he also mentions people who were masquerading as false apostles. Believers of this period also endured great hardships without giving up their faith. Christianity was considered false by the majority of Jewish people who had been blinded because of their unbelief (Romans 11). Those who followed Christ often had to do so against the wishes of their families. Jesus warned His followers that this would happen (Matthew 10:34-39). Opposition to early Christianity became so strong that believers were scattered and many were imprisoned and even killed. Before he was converted, Paul zealously persecuted the church (Acts 9:1-2,21). It is shocking that this early church had lost its "first love" for Christ. It shows that it is possible for any Christian to be distracted from his devotion to the Lord by the cares of the world. Jesus Himself gave the Parable of the Sower which teaches that some new Christians fail to develop deep roots, others are choked by the competing "weeds" that spring up around them, and others grow well and bear good fruit (Matthew 13:3-8). The good news is that if a person or even a whole group of people in a church should loose their first love, there is a way to be restored. It is by repenting. To repent means to turn around and go the other way. If a Christian discovers that he no longer enjoys Christian fellowship and learning about the Bible, and telling others about Christ, there is something he or she can do. Repentance requires honest self-appraisal. One must identify the sins that are separating him from the Lord, and then confess (Greek homologeo -" to say the same"). This means that the person agrees with God about the sin. When a person does this, God is faithful to forgive and cleanse him or her from sin (1 John 1:9). The church of the Apostolic period hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans. This is a Greek word, which means "Conquerors of the people." This is probably a reference to the false apostles mentioned earlier, and their tendency to establish a ruling class over the rest of the people in the church. The proper Scriptural view is that the church is like a body, and different people in the church have different gifts from God, but all are of equal importance to the well-being of the whole spiritual body (1Corinthians 12). The promise to overcomers of this period is to eat of the Tree of Life, which is said to be in paradise. Adam and Eve ate instead from the forbidden fruit of the Tree of The Knowledge of Good and Evil, thus rebelling against God and entering into sin (Genesis 3). Part of the result of this sin was to be banished from the Garden of Eden so that they would not eat of this tree and live forever in their fallen state (Genesis 3:22-24). Nevertheless, an overcomer will be delivered from this fallen state, and will be permitted to partake of this fruit, thus living forever as a redeemed person! Who then is an overcomer? John himself explains this in I John 5:4-5: "For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." (NIV)

2C. To Smyrna 2:8-11

8 "To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. 9 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. 10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death. Smyrna was a city, of course, but it's name means "Myrrh," a valuable spice used in the process of embalming. It symbolizes death and yet is a sweet fragrance. This is an apt word picture for the period of church history characterized by martyrdom. This period lasted from approximately 100 to 312 AD when Constantine established Christianity as the state religion of the empire. During these two centuries there were ten definable periods of persecution of Christians under ten of the Emperors of Rome. To these believers, Jesus identified Himself as the resurrected one! There is no warning to this church, since it was a church constantly purified by the rigors of persecution. To put it simply, only a strong, dedicated Christian would be willing to die for Christ. A hypocrite would quit the church long before he would risk losing his life. True believers would be faithful unto death, and would thus receive a crown of life. This is one of the special believers' crowns mentioned in the Bible. Faithful believers will be able to lay these at the feet of Christ in the future to prove their love for Him (Revelation 4:10). The promise to overcomers of this period is that, though they might need to die physically, they would not be hurt by the "second death." This subject is revisited in Revelation 20:12-15 where it is equated with eternal punishment and being cast into the Lake of Fire. The Biblical concept of death is not annihilation, but separation. When a person dies physically, the material part (body) is separated from the immaterial (soul and spirit). The person does not cease to exist. Spiritual death is seen in the Scriptures as separation from God (Genesis 3, Ephesians 2:1). Those who are spiritually dead may be brought back to life-- be born again. (Ephesians 2:2-10; John 3:3-18).

3C. To Pergamum 2:12-17

12 To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. 13 I know where you live -- where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city-- where Satan lives. 14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. 15 Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.

Pergamum, also known as Pergamos, had a colorful history as a major city of Asia Minor. It was steeped in pagan idolatry, serpent worship, and Caesar worship. Pergamum means "thoroughly married." It represents the period of church history when the church became married to the world. Constantine, the Emperor of the Roman Empire probably meant well when he issued a decree that all his subjects should become Christians, but it actually did much damage to the church. The majority of people became Christian in name only, bringing their pagan practices and lifestyles into a compromised church. This merger of the church and state took place with the Edict of Milan in AD 313. This period lasted until about AD 500. During this time the Bishop of Rome assumed the title: Pontefex Maximus. To this church Jesus revealed Himself as the one with the sharp double-edged sword proceeding from His mouth. Hebrews 4:12 calls God's Word a double-edged sword, able to divide even between soul and spirit. In the same book Jesus is considered God's ultimate Word (Hebrews 1:1-2). In John's own writings Jesus is called The Word (John 1:1,14). If the church would follow Jesus and His Word, they would be able to separate the truth from the pagan influences that had come in like a flood. The warning to this church is about those who allowed the teaching of Balaam. This refers to a fascinating story from the Old Testament book of Numbers, chapters 22 through 24, where a prophet named Balaam was hired by Balak, king of the Moabites, to curse Israel. He tried repeatedly, but God would not allow him to utter a curse against His people. However, he evidently advised Balak to involve the Israelites in worldliness and immorality. Thus Israel could be corrupted from within. This, of course, is exactly what happened to the church during this period of time. They were corrupted by worldliness. Leaders of this church were guilty of the false "teaching of the Nicolaitans." These church clerics who lorded it over the people were first encountered above during the period of the Church at Ephesus. They had now entrenched their position by their doctrine. Overcomers are promised hidden manna and a white stone with a new name written upon it. The hidden manna might be the truth of Scripture which was in the process of being hidden by the worldly church. The white stone is a symbol taken from the ancient custom of giving a black stone to one judged guilty, and a white one to one who is acquitted. ("Revelation 2:12-17", Matthew Henry's Commentary, Electronic Version)

4C. To Thyatira 2:18-29

Thyatira stands for a dark period of the church from about AD 1000 until the time of the Reformation, which began in 1517. During this time such unfortunate historical events, as the inquisitions and the Crusades demonstrated the deepening lack of spirituality of the church. It was also the time when indulgences were sold, whereby people could pay money to supposedly have their sins removed. This led to the posting of Luther's 95 Theses on the door of the Wittenberg church and the beginning of the Reformation. Even this church received at least a mild commendation for doing some things right, but it also was given a stern warning about the toleration of Jezebel whose practices included false prophecy, immorality, and eating food offered to idols. It seems unlikely that Jezebel was an actual person during this period of time. This is more likely another of the many symbols in the book. Jezebel, an Old Testament queen, was an incredibly wicked person who was known for her idolatry, immorality, and hatred of the true prophets (1 Kings chapters 18 through 21 and 2 Kings 9). This would then symbolize the church hierarchy with its growing spiritual unfaithfulness and idolatry, which eventually caused the splitting of the church at the Reformation. It also prefigures the specter of the Woman Riding the Beast in Revelation 17. The promise to overcomers is to give authority over the nations. This stands in contrast to the deep secrets of Satan, which may be a reference to the unholy alliance between the church and various governments. God was not pleased with Papal influence over the nations, but He will be pleased to allow His righteous followers to rule and reign with Christ when He returns as King of Kings (Revelation 19:11-16). The overcomer will also receive the morning star. Jesus calls Himself the morning star in Revelation 22:16.

5C. To Sardis 3:1-6

1 "To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. 4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

The church at Sardis represents the period of the Reformation, from 1517 until the mid-1700's, when the great revivals and modern missions movement began. This was a time when the church had a reputation for being alive, but, as God saw it, they were really dying. The churches of the Reformation did break away from problems in the Roman Catholic Church. But history reveals that they still did not return to thoroughly Biblical practices, and had many problems of their own. They still allowed the union of church and state, and the persecution of other reformers, such as the Anabaptists, who practiced believer's baptism and were pacifists. Jesus reveals Himself to this church as the one who holds the Seven Spirits (The Holy Spirit), and the seven stars, identified earlier as the pastors of the seven churches. These images indicate His sovereignty and His right to tell them to repent and change their ways. The overcomer will be given white garments and his name will not be blotted out of the Book of Life. It seems that each person's name is already in the Book of Life, but those who are not true believers will have their names blotted out. This book is also mentioned in Revelation 20:12 where those not found in it are cast into the Lake of Fire.

6C. To Philadelphia 3:7-13

7 "To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 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. 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the New Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Philadelphia is the missionary church. It began in the mid 1700's with the great revivals and the modern missions movement and it gradually lost its power during the early years of the 1900's. Philadelphia means brotherly love. It is this love that causes the desire to evangelize others (Romans 5:5). Jesus is seen as having the keys of David. He was of the line of David, and thus eligible for the throne of Israel. The key is for opening the door of opportunity for missions. No one can close what He has opened. No one can open what He has closed. There is no warning to this church, but many promises including these: "I am coming soon.", and a promise to keep them from the hour of trial that is coming on the world. These are definite allusions to the Rapture and to its timing: before the trials of The Tribulation. There is also a warning not to let anyone take their crowns. This refers to one of the believers' crowns: possibly the crown of life, which was promised to the overcomers of the Smyrna church above.

To the overcomers of this period there is a promise of a new name and permanent residence in the New Jerusalem.

7C. To Laodicea 3:14-22

14 "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm-- neither hot nor cold-- I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. 21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." The Laodicean church is the last church of the seven, and stands for the last of the church periods. The name Laodicea means "rule of the people." It is a picture of a church controlled by the people instead of by God. It is the church of the Apostasy, or the great "falling away" of believers. Jesus reveals Himself as ruler of all creation, and as the faithful and true one in contrast to the unfaithfulness of the Laodiceans. He says they are neither spiritually hot nor cold, but lukewarm, and that He will spit them out of His mouth. This is shocking news to a people who have a very good feeling about themselves. They say they are rich, but they are poor and wretched and blind. If they were spiritually "hot" they would be like the flaming evangelists of the Philadelphia church. If they were "cold" perhaps they would recognize their spiritual plight. But they are active in their church work, doing what they want instead of what God wants. They are like those about whom Jesus warned-- they call Him Lord, but He never knew them (Matthew 7:21-23). Jesus counsels them to buy gold, symbolic of faith (1 Peter 1:7), white garments, which are like the linen of imputed righteousness with which the Bride of Christ is dressed (Revelation 19:7-8), and eye salve, showing dependence on God's spiritual healing for their blinded eyes. To this church Jesus says He is standing outside the door, knocking. If they will open the door, He will come in. This is a church full of unsaved people. Since it comes at the end of the church age, it is easy to see that there will still be many who call themselves Christians left behind when the Rapture takes place. Still, there are overcomers even from this church. Those who will open the door to Christ will be overcomers. To them, Jesus will grant the right to sit with Him on His throne. This is undoubtedly a reference to the future privilege of believers to reign with Christ.

(The things which will take place...) 4:1-22:21 1B. The scene in Heaven 4:1-5:14 1C. View of the Heavenly Majesty 4:1-11 1D. The Throne 4:1-3

1 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne.

Beginning the third major portion of the Revelation, the program, or plans, of Jesus Christ for the future, John saw a door in Heaven and was told to come up there. Heaven is used in at least three senses in the New Testament. Paul spoke of being caught up into the "third heaven" in 2 Corinthians 12:1-4. These three "levels" of heavens would be: 1) The sky: the atmospheric sphere surrounding the earth in which the clouds form and the birds fly (Genesis 1:6-8, James 5:18). 2) The heavens: outer space, or the universe where the Sun, Moon and stars exist (Genesis 1:1; Psalm 19:1; Matthew 24:35, Acts 1:10-11; Revelation 21:1. 3) Heaven: the place where God dwells (Matthew 5:16; 6:9). This "third heaven" is not necessarily a physical place in terms of our limited three-dimensional world, but may be a spiritual place since "God is spirit," (John 4:24), but according to Revelation 3:12, the New Jerusalem will descend from it! It is the place from which Jesus descended before He became a man (John 3:13; 6:38), and the place where He has now returned to sit at the right hand of the Father (1 Peter 3:22). The summons to Heaven is a picture of the Rapture. It is very interesting that the word "church", which is used repeatedly in the first three chapters, is completely missing after this point. This fits perfectly with a view that the Church will be caught up to be with the Lord before the Tribulation begins. The same expression is used in Revelation 11:12 where the Two Witnesses are raised from the dead and caught up into Heaven. (See Absence of the Church, and The Seven Trumpets.) John stood before the heavenly throne and saw an image of God which could only be explained in terms of the most beautiful and valuable of earthly treasures, sparkling jewels like jaspers, carnelians, and emeralds.

2D. The Elders 4:4

4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were Twenty-four Elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads.

Various interpretations have been suggested for the Twenty-Four Elders. They are mentioned but not identified elsewhere in the book (Revelation 5:8; 11:16; 19:4). They could stand for the twelve patriarchs of the Old Testament and the Twelve Apostles of the New Testament. The Heavenly Jerusalem has twelve gates with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, and twelve foundation stones with the names of the Twelve Apostles (Revelation 21:12-14). Some have thought they are angels, but since they are dressed in white, which is symbolic of the imputed righteousness of the Saints (Revelation 21:8), and they are wearing crowns of gold, it is more likely they represent redeemed human beings from the earth. Many Scriptures refer to believers' crowns We may receive the crown of life (James 1:12; Revelation 2:10), the crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8), and the crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4). Paul referred to those whom he had introduced to Christ as his joy and crown (Philippians 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:19)

3D. The Surroundings 4:5-6b

5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. 6a,b Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

The power and majesty of God are symbolized by lightning and thunder. The Holy Spirit is seen again as the Seven Spirits of God. (See Revelation 1:4). Here He is symbolized by seven blazing lamps. In chapters 1 through 3 there were Seven Lampstands which represented the Seven Churches. The lampstands were holders of the oil lamps, but the fire itself comes from the blessed Holy Spirit! In fact, according to Zechariah chapter 4, where a vision is given of two olive trees constantly supplying oil to the lampstand, even the oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. Zechariah 4:6 says, Then he answered and said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts.

The crystal sea before the throne of God is thought by some to be the "sea of humanity," but it probably fits the context better to see it as a symbol of purity and tranquillity of God's dominion.

4D. The Four Creatures (living beings) 4:6c-8

The imagery of this portion is almost identical to Ezekiel chapter 1 where there is a vision of the throne of God, being borne by four "living beings". These four beings are identified in Ezekiel 10:14-22 as Cherubim, angelic beings often identified with the worship and praise of God. Satan himself had been one of the Cherubim before his rebellion (Ezekiel 28:12-19). The figure of the two angels above the Ark of the Covenant depicted Cherubim also (Exodus 25:17-22). As in Ezekiel's vision, these angels were covered with eyes (Ezekiel 1:18 ;10:12), symbolic of the omniscience (all-knowing) attribute of God. The four faces of the Cherubim depict the highest representatives of several categories of earthly creatures: the lion, king of wild beasts; the ox (bull), king of domesticated beasts; the eagle, king of flying creatures; and man, the one to whom dominion of all earthly creatures is given. The purpose of these symbols may be to impress us with the power, intellect, and station of these privileged angelic beings. They are seen constantly praising God. Their message is about the holiness and the sovereignty of God. His holiness is emphasized by the three-fold repetition of this attribute: "Holy, holy, holy..." The word holy means "set apart." It is built on a Greek word that means "to venerate." When used of God, the word refers to His purity, majesty and glory.("Holiness, Holy, Holily", Vine's Expository Dictionary, Electronic Version) Thus God is transcendent. He is above and apart from His creation. He is righteous in all that He does. God's sovereignty or absolute power is emphasized by the word "Almighty" found in both places where He is called "the one who was, and is, and is to come." (Revelation 1:4,8; Revelation 4:8) "Almighty" is the translation of the Greek word pantokrator meaning the "all-ruling one (one who rules over all).

5D. The Worship 4:9-11

9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: 11 "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."

These verses prepare the reader to trust God's goodness and His judgments in the terrible events that will soon be revealed. Angelic and human representatives ( the Twenty-Four Elders) glorify God as the creator of all things. They fall down and worship God. The word for "worship" is the Greek word proskuneo, which means "to prostrate oneself in reverence or adoration." It is wise to focus on the righteousness of God before viewing the dreadful judgments He will permit.

2C. Vision of the Holy Mystery 5:1-14 1D. The Scroll 5:1

1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals.

The scroll was the "book" of the first century. Made from papyrus or parchment, sections of which were glued together, manuscripts of whole books of the Bible could be very long. They were rolled up in such a way that the current "page" could be scrolled to the right or to the left, revealing the previous or the next "page" of text. If the contents of a scroll was private, it could be sealed by the placement of wax or other substance at the end of the rolled-up manuscript which would have to be broken, presumably by the intended reader, before it could be read. In this case there are seven seals: one at the beginning, and six more at strategic portions of the manuscript. Thus the reader could scroll through the writing to a certain point, and then encounter another seal, temporarily gluing the manuscript to the remainder of the roll. This seal would then need to be broken by the intended reader before proceeding. Each of the succeeding seals would likewise need to be broken to continue the story.

2D. The Search 5:2-4

2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?" 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.

In John's vision, a search was conducted throughout the universe to find one who had the right to open the seven-sealed manuscript.

3D. The Savior 5:5-7

5 Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals." 6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.

One was found who was worthy to open the seals. It was The Lord Jesus Christ, called here the "Lion of the Tribe of Judah," a reference to his lineage in the kingly tribe of Judah, and "The Root of David," meaning He was a rightful heir to the throne of David. Above all, He is "a Lamb" which had been slain. This, of course, refers to His work of Salvation for all who will believe by sacrificing His own life in our behalf! This is why John the Baptist pointed Him out by saying, Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29)

Here is a striking picture of the Holy Trinity. Jesus is seen standing in the center of God's throne, yet He takes the scroll from the Father who is sitting on the throne. And He "has" the Seven Spirits, previously identified as the Holy Spirit! In this symbolic vision, the Holy Spirit is depicted as seven horns, a picture of His perfect power, and seven eyes, illustrating His perfect knowledge or omniscience.

4D. The Song 5:8-10

8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."

In response to Christ coming forward as the Lamb who was worthy to open the seals, the Twenty-four Elders fell down and worshipped Him as they had worshipped the Father on the throne previously (Revelation 4:10). Symbols of their worship include harps which are used to help them sing praise to Him, and golden bowls of incense which is immediately interpreted as the prayers of the saints. In their song they proclaimed Christ worthy because of His death by which men were purchased. This relates to the concept of redemption, the Old Testament instruction about buying back one who has been sold into slavery.(Leviticus 25:25-28, 47-55). All of mankind is seen as sold into slavery because of sin. But Jesus Christ paid the price to redeem each person who believes in Him by His own sacrificial death. Those who are purchased are said to be from all ethnic groups. Our modern, and often divisive, concept of "race" is not found in the Bible. We are all one race: the human race, but we are of various tribes, languages, nations and people. Those who have been redeemed have been given many privileges. They are a kingdom, meaning that they will reign with Christ when He returns as King of Kings. They are priests, meaning that they have the privilege of intercessory prayer - praying in behalf of others. This is reminiscent of Peter's description of believers: "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;" (1 Peter 2:9 NAS)

5D. The Saying 5:11-14

The conclusion of this glimpse into the glorious scene in heaven is a great symphony of all creation in a doxology (from the Greek word doxa, "glory"). This offering of praise and honor and glory and power is given to Him who sits on the Throne (God the Father) and to the Lamb (God the Son). The impact of this scene is to prepare the reader to trust God's righteousness and love as the awful events of the Tribulation unfold in the following verses.

2B. The Scene on Earth 6:1-20:15 1C. The Tribulation 6:1-19:21 1D. Opening of the Seven Seals 6:1-8:1 1E. First Seal - Antichrist 6:1-2

1 I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, "Come!" 2 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.

The first significant event of the future Tribulation will be the emergence of Antichrist, symbolized here as the rider on a white horse. There is another rider on a white horse at the opposite end of the Tribulation. In that case, found in Revelation 19:11-21, Jesus Christ is the conquering hero on the white horse. But in this instance, a human who is energized by Satan, begins his campaign of world conquest. He does not appear as a horrible or evil monster, but as a benevolent dictator. He is seen as a messiah, who has come to solve the world's great problems.

2E. Second Seal - Arms 6:3-4

3 When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come!" 4 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.

The second symbolic rider comes on a red horse which pictures the ravages of a great world-wide war. It is not likely that this war is started by Antichrist, since, as the previous verses indicate, he is seen as a messianic hero. It is more likely that this is the war of Ezekiel 38 and 39, which results in fiery destruction of the aggressors from the north when they try to conquer Israel. This could very possibly be atomic warfare, which might involve some of the nuclear powers. Antichrist could take credit for the destruction of Israel's invaders, or at least take advantage of the situation. This could be the reason for the seven-year treaty between Antichrist and Israel which was prophesied by Daniel (Dan. 9:27). If this is the case, this war would take place at the very beginning of the seven years of the Tribulation.

3E. Third Seal - Agony (Famine) 6:5-6

5 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. 6 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!"

This third seal and third rider appears on a black horse which symbolizes terrible famine, probably as a result of the previous world-wide warfare. Famine results from war directly when crops are destroyed by the warfare, and indirectly when the process of farming and distribution of food is disrupted by blockades and the diversion of manpower and resources for the war effort. The result is an extensive and terrible famine. The price of food will be prohibitive. The economic impact of this famine will prepare the people of the world to be willing to have a benevolent dictator.

4E. Fourth Seal - Annihilation (Death) 6:7-8

7 When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come!" 8 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.

The color of the fourth horse is translated many ways. Some Bible versions translate it as "pale,", others as "ashen," or "pale green." The Greek word is chloros, "greenish." It is the root of the well known "chlorophyll", the tiny green chemical converters in the leaves of most plants. The intended picture here is a sickly pale green which symbolizes death as a result of the former terrors of war and famine and the added threats of plague and wild beasts. All of this is the result of a world becoming progressively damaged, corrupted and neglected.

5E. Fifth Seal - Anticipation (Martyrs) 6:9-11

9 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. 10 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?" 11 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.

The fifth seal reveals martyrs of the Tribulation period. They are "under the altar", an expression used in the Bible only here. It seems to show that they are in the presence of the Lord. This corresponds to Paul's teaching that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). These martyrs are eager to see justice prevail. They are told to wait a little longer. This short period of trials on earth will soon be past. Toward the end of this revelation it is revealed that justice will be done and Jesus Christ will return in righteousness.

6E. Sixth Seal - Agitation 6:12-17

12 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, 13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. 14 The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. 15 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. 16 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! 17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?"

The opening of the sixth seal reveals a great earthquake, terrifying events in the skies, and a general fear of God who apparently causes all these terrible events. It is called the "great day of their wrath." Thus this sixth seal reaches right to the very end of the Tribulation period: the time of the Battle of Armageddon. Actually, references to the Battle of Armageddon appear at various places in the Book of Revelation. This helps us understand the organization of the vision. The Seven Seals cover the entire seven-year period, while the Seven Trumpets focus on the second half of the period, and the Seven Vials refer to the events leading up to the return of Christ.

( ) Tribulation Saints 7:1-17 1F. The Sealed Ones 7:1-8

1 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. 2 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: 3 "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." 4 Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel. 5 From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben 12,000, from the tribe of Gad 12,000, 6 from the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000, 7 from the tribe of Simeon 12,000, from the tribe of Levi 12,000, from the tribe of Issachar 12,000, 8 from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000, from the tribe of Joseph 12,000, from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.

These numbers are evidently meant to be taken literally since there is no obvious symbolic value to either the number 12,000 or 144,000. Since the destruction of the Temple in AD 70, it has been difficult to know which Jewish person belongs to which tribe. A great many know by the oral traditions of their families, or because of the large number of Jewish people who were already dispersed by that time, and who probably had family records with them. In any case, God knows who belongs to which tribe, and He is the one who chooses them. The exact purpose of this sealing is not given. It seems, by the placement of this information, that they are sealed so as not to be affected by the plagues that will visit the earth, just as their predecessors were protected from the plagues in the book of Exodus. It should also be noted that Jewish believers during this time will acknowledge Jesus as Messiah, God's purpose in protecting them might be to enable them to go freely about the earth proclaiming the Gospel message to those who have not yet heard. Christians without this protection will be captured, tortured, and put to death during this time.

2F. The Saved Ones 7:9-17 1G. Enormity of the Multitude 7:9 2G. Exultation by the Multitude 7:10-12 3G. Explanation about the Multitude 7:13-17

9 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. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." 11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, 12 saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!" 13 Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes-- who are they, and where did they come from?" 14 I answered, "Sir, you know." 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. 15 Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. 16 Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

As is often done during this vision, the focus returns to the throne-room of God so that the reader will know that God is in total control, no matter how great the trials become on earth. A huge, numberless multitude of martyrs is gathered, showing how great the persecution against true believers will be during this time. They are seen again in white robes, described here as symbolic of their cleansing from sin by the blood of Christ. They are no longer subject to physical needs or difficulties.

7E. Seventh Seal - Adjustment 8:1

1 When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

The seventh seal is an introduction to the next portion of the vision, the Seven Trumpets. No event is described preparatory to these trumpet judgments except silence in heaven for a short time. This dramatizes the anticipation of the heavenly observers as the intensified judgments of the second half of the seven years is about to begin. Since the Book of Revelation does not follow a strictly chronological sequence, it should be noted that the events of Chapter 13 will take place at the midpoint of the 7 years of The Tribulation.

2D. Sounding of the Seven Trumpets 8:2-11:19 1E. Expectation 8:2-6

2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. 3 Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. 4 The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel's hand. 5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.

Once again, activity in heaven precedes events on earth. Seven angels prepare to sound trumpets signaling disastrous events on earth, but first a glimpse of Heaven is given to remind the reader that God is in control. In this case the prayers of the saints mingled with incense ascends to God. It may appear to the suffering believers on earth that God has forsaken them, but they can be sure that He has received their prayers and will do what is best for them.

2E. Execution 8:7-11:19 1F. First Trumpet - Scorching of the Earth 8:7

Revelation 8:7 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 events of the previous section, the Seven Seals, were events caused by human activity and natural, earthly disasters. This next series brings what might be called supernatural judgments. The first three appear to be the result of asteroids, meteors or comets. These are also natural, but in the sense that they are divinely directed judgments on the earth, they have a supernatural element. There seems to be a progression of disasters from space: first hail and fire mixed with blood, then what seemed like a large mountain, and later, a star. It should be noted that these trumpet judgments could be caused by a nuclear war just as well. Hal Lindsey thinks it is more likely that the events of this chapter are the result of nuclear activity than supernatural activity; that they are the result of man's evil actions once the restraining hand of God is removed. (Hal Lindsey, There's A New World Coming, p.117) This first catastrophe in this series could be caused by a comet or by very severe weather conditions. Comets are made of ice which would provide the water for hail. It would first vaporize, then perhaps, depending on other weather conditions descend to earth as hail. This sudden intrusion of a comet could cause extreme world-wide storms. The blood might be caused by animals being sucked up by waterspouts and tornadoes. And the fire could be extraordinary displays of lightning, which, in turn, could start forest fires in many places.. All of these events have happened before, but never to the extent of this plague, burning up one third of the earth's vegetation!

2F. Second Trumpet - Slaughter in the Sea 8:8-9

8 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, 9 a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

This judgment could be caused by an asteroid plunging into the sea. Icarus, one of the smaller asteroids known to us is about one mile in diameter and is sometimes described as a small flying mountain. Other asteroids may be as large as Ceres, which is about 480 miles in diameter. Even a small asteroid crashing into one of our oceans would cause utter devastation. The fiery impact would burn and crush all life in a large portion of the ocean, and the resulting tidal waves would be beyond comprehension. These waves could capsize ships in every direction for hundreds of miles.

3F. Third Trumpet - Souring of the Water 8:10-11

10 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-- 11 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.

As we now know, a star is a large body of burning gases. Our own Sun is a comparatively small star, though it is 860,000 miles in diameter, compared to the Earth's diameter of 7,900 miles. This means, of course, that a star can not "fall" to the Earth, though the Earth could presumably "fall" into the Sun. However, the Greek word for star is aster, from which we get our word asteroid and the name "Esther." Thus, it is not a star as we know it, but a large asteroid that is in view here. As in the previous plague, the asteroid strikes earth, but, in this case, on land, causing widespread destruction and poisoning of the waters in a large area. A "Falling Star" can also describe one of the angels, as in Revelation 9:1. In this judgment it seems more reasonable to expect an asteroid than an angel.

4F. Fourth Trumpet - Smiting of the Planets 8:12-13

12 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. 13 As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: "Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!"

This judgment affects the entrance of light from space. The amount of light from the Sun, Moon and stars is diminished by one third. This is an apt description of what, in our generation, has been called "nuclear winter." One of the most serious side-effects of a nuclear war would be the wide-spread burning of cities and forests and the resulting soot and smoke reaching the stratosphere. This diminishing of the Sun's radiation could cause the average temperature of the Earth to cool between 18 and 36 degrees, resulting in crop failures and great ecological damage. ("Nuclear War", New Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia) The eagle flying through the heavens with a message of woe is most likely a symbolic image of an angelic being.In Revelation 4:7 one of the faces of the Four Living Creatures was the face of an eagle. The message is a warning of the dreadful nature of the next three trumpet judgments.

5F. The Fifth Trumpet - Striking by Locusts 9:1-12 1G. The Diabolical Pit 9:1-2

1 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. 2 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.

In this case the falling star is actually an angelic being. Satan fits this description best since He was created as the Anointed Cherub, a position of prominence among the angels (Ezekiel 28:14 Isaiah 14:4-17 and Ezekiel 28:12-19 are addressed to earthly rulers, but obviously refer to Satan's own history and work since he controlled the human rulers. Isaiah 14:12 says "How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, you who have weakened the nations!" (NAS) The Dragon of Revelation 12 is the Devil, another name for Satan (v.9). He is seen there sweeping away a third of the stars (angels) of heaven, and waging war against God, then being cast out of heaven (vv. 7-9, 12-13). Satan is given the key, presumably from Jesus Christ, who, according to Revelation 1:18 holds the keys of death and Hades. This key to the Abyss might well be one of these keys.

2G. The Demonic Plague 9:3-10 1H. Their Actions 9:3-6

3 And out of the smoke locusts came down upon the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. 4 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. 5 They were not given power to kill them, but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes a man. 6 During those days men will seek death, but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.

Once the Abyss, or Bottomless Pit is opened, its demonic inhabitants are set loose for the purpose of torturing people. Like locusts, they are numerous and destructive. Like scorpions, they inflict pain. But they are not allowed to kill. Here, as in the whole book of Revelation, God's Sovereignty is seen. He sets the limits of what is permitted (Job 2:6; 1 Corinthians 10:13). Those who have the seal of God on their foreheads can not be harmed by these demonic mutations. Some take this to mean all believers since we are sealed by the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13; 4:30). However, it probably refers to the 144,000 servants of God from Revelation 7:3 who are marked or sealed on their foreheads before any further plagues were permitted. The pain inflicted by this judgment is so severe that men who are afflicted would rather die than suffer the continuous torment (five months), but they are not allowed to take the easy course of death. This length of time may be allowed by God to give men the possibility to repent, though it appears from the last verses of this chapter that none of them do so (Revelation 9:19-20). Those who have hardened their heart against God would probably not even repent in hell itself.

2H. Their Appearance 9:7-10

7 The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces. 8 Their hair was like women's hair, and their teeth were like lions' teeth. 9 They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. 10 They had tails and stings like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months.

Further information is given about these malignant creatures. Each description is symbolic of some aspect of their power and activity. They are like horses prepared for battle: descriptive of strength. They seem to have crowns of gold, standing for power and authority, limited as it is by God's order that they may not kill their victims. Human faces imply intelligence. Hair like a woman's hair would be totally unnatural for insect-like monsters and would add to the confusion about their nature. The lion's teeth picture ferocity, breastplates of iron show that they are invincible. Like normal locusts, they have wings. Wings symbolize mobility and speed. Because of their extraordinary powers, their sound in flight is loud and terrifying like horses and chariots in battle.

3G. The Destructive Potentate 9:11-12

11 They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon. 12 The first woe is past; two other woes are yet to come.

Perhaps the most terrifying aspect of this fifth trumpet judgment is that these monstrosities are actually the demons which have been imprisoned in the Abyss, or Bottomless Pit (Luke 8:31; Jude 6). They have a leader of their fallen ranks, named Abaddon, or "Destroyer." This is a Hebrew word which is used in connection with hell, and normally refers to it as the place of destruction (Job 26:6; Proverbs 15:11; 27:20). It occurs only here as the name of a person. Apollyon is the exact Greek equivalent of the same name. This name is found only here.

6F. The Sixth Trumpet - Slaying of One-third of the Population 9:13-21 1G. The Command from Heaven 9:13-16 2G. The Consuming Holocaust 9:17-19 3G. The Conscious Hardness 9:20-21

13 The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the horns of the golden altar that is before God. 14 It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates." 15 And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. 16 The number of the mounted troops was two hundred million. I heard their number. 17 The horses and riders I saw in my vision looked like this: Their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke and sulfur. 18 A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths. 19 The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails were like snakes, having heads with which they inflict injury. 20 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 worshipping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood-- idols that cannot see or hear or walk. 21 Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.

The Sixth Trumpet is also the Second Woe. It is a judgment of great magnitude. It begins with the release of four evil angels (demons) from the area of the Euphrates River, the approximate location of the early evil empires of Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Assyria. They are allowed to kill a third of the people on the Earth. They accomplish this is by mobilizing a force of 200 million soldiers. It is only in recent times that it would be conceivable to raise an army of that size. Today China has that many people who could serve as soldiers. Each of these 200 million troops has equipment resembling modern weaponry, with fire, smoke and sulfur coming out of their mouths. They employ horses, symbolic of modern tanks, with "tails" able to inflict injury. Even after all the agony and death inflicted by these judgments, the survivors are not willing to repent or to stop worshipping demons and idols. There is a process of hardening of one's heart. It is illustrated in the case of Pharaoh during the days of Moses. He hardened His heart repeatedly, and then God actually hardened it too! (Exodus 8:19, 32; 9:12,34; 10:1) This hardening is explained in Romans 1:21-32. It starts with a conscious decision not to honor God, but to honor themselves instead. This results in idolatry. Idolatry in our age can take many forms. The word means, "to worship what can be seen." Some practice idolatry in the ancient way of venerating a man-made image of something that represents their false god. In New Age religious thought there is worship of the creation itself, such as "Mother Earth," or use of sacred objects, such as crystals. Other people, who do not consider themselves religious at all, often venerate material possessions: in essence, worshipping materialism and wealth. God is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9), but when man's rebellion has reached a certain point, He "gives them over" to their lusts and degrading passions. Since the Trumpet judgments appear to take place during the Great Tribulation, the second half of the seven years of the Tribulation, these people will have received the Mark of The Beast, which is an unforgivable act of worship of Antichrist.(Revelation 14:9-11; 20:4). This also helps to explain why none of them are willing to repent.

( ) Parenthetical Explanations 10:1-11:14 1G. About God's Program 10:1-7

In preparation for the next section a mighty angel brings a scroll. He says that there will be no more delay.

2G. About John's Prophecy 10:8-11

The little scroll tastes sweet to the prophet. This is probably symbolic of the sweet privilege of being used by God to transmit the prophetic vision. However, it is sour in the prophet's stomach because of the dreadful nature of the message for those who are in rebellion against God.

3G. About Gentile Power 11:1-2

1 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. 2 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.

The newly-rebuilt Temple will have been desecrated by Antichrist at the beginning of the Great Tribulation, which lasts three and one-half years, or 42 months. The outer court, the court of the Gentiles was not to be measured because Gentiles are occupying this area again. There is also the possibility that the Moslem Dome of The Rock will still be standing in the outer court.

4G. About Two Prophets 11:3-14

3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth." 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. 6 These men have power to shut up the sky so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want. 7 Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. 8 Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days men from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. 10 The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth. 11 But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on. 13 At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14 The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.

This parenthetical section is about Two Witnesses who are given supernatural power to prophesy, to perform miracles and to speak the truth boldly without fear of being captured or killed for a period of 1260 days. This is the same length of as the 42 months of verse 2 in this same chapter. The 42 months, in turn, is the same as 3 1/3 years, the exact duration of the second half of the Tribulation. This also corresponds to the period of Antichrist's reign in chapter 13, verse 5. The identity of these two is not certain, but they could be Enoch and Elijah since these are the two people who were taken to heaven without dying (See Genesis 5:24 and 2 Kings 2:11). Since it is "appointed for men to die once..." (Hebrews 9:27), God may be planning to send these two back to conclude their life's work in this striking manner, and to die. Elijah was, of course, a prophet and it is said of Enoch that he prophesied too (Jude 14). It is also possible that they will be Moses and Elijah since these were the two who appeared with Jesus in His transfiguration (Matthew 17:3). If this is the case, they would represent the two Old Testament periods of The Law and The Prophets. Moses did die, but he was with God alone when he did, and was personally buried by God (Deuteronomy 34:1-8). He was considered the greatest of prophets (Deuteronomy 34:10). These Two Witnesses are identified as two olive trees. This is reminiscent of the imagery in Zechariah's prophecy of two olive trees which automatically supplied oil continuously to the Golden lampstand in the Temple Zechariah 4:1-14). The meaning given in the passage is that the work of rebuilding the Temple in Zerubabbel's days was "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts." (Zechariah 4:6 - NAS) Likewise, though enemies are arrayed against God in the last days, His purposes will prevail by the power of His Holy Spirit. The miraculous powers these two demonstrate are very much like the miracles performed by Moses and Elijah (Exodus chapters 4 through 12; 1 Kings 17:1,7; 18:1,19-45; 2 Kings 1:10-14). This is another indication that the Two Witnesses could be Moses and Elijah. When their work is finished, God allows them to be put to death. The place of their death is Jerusalem, a city beloved of God, but known for killing the prophets (Matthew 23:37). Spiritually, Jerusalem can be compared to Sodom and Egypt, immoral places, which were condemned by the Lord. Ungodly people rejoice at their death because they had stood against all their evil deeds. After three and a half days, the Two Witnesses are raised from the dead and caught up to heaven when they heard the words from heaven,: "Come up here." The Rapture of the Church happens at the beginning of The Tribulation, but this event toward the end of these seven years is similar, and may even be representative of what happens to the believing martyrs of this period of time.

7F. The Seventh Trumpet - Sovereignty of God 11:15-19

15 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." 16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshipped God, 17 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. 18 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." 19 Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm.

The Seventh Trumpet, like the Seventh Seal, does not introduce an activity on earth, but looks to Heaven in anticipation of the next series of events. In this case, the next step is God taking His great power and beginning to reign on earth. Thus this last trumpet introduces the events leading up to the Battle of Armageddon.

The next few chapters explain important aspects of the total story, but they can not be taken strictly in chronological order. They focus on particular topics: Israel (chapter 12), Antichrist and the Mark of the Beast (chapter 13), the 144,000 sealed ones (chapter 14) (See 144000.), preparations for judgment (chapters 14-15), and then the Seven Vials (chapter 16) which are poured out in rapid succession, culminating in Judgment of Babylon (chapters 17 and 18), the Battle of Armageddon, and the glorious return of Christ as King of Kings and Lord of Lords (chapter 19). As the time approaches for Christ to return, it is also nearing the time for judging the dead and rewarding the faithful (chapters 20 and 21).

3D. Important Considerations of the Period 12:1-19:21 1E. The Role of Israel in The Tribulation 12:1-18 1F. Birth of the Deliverer 12:1-6 1G. Purpose for Israel 12:1-2 2G. Plan of the Devil 12:3-4 3G. Protection of the Child 12:5-6

1 A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. 2 She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. 3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads. 4 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. 5 She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne. 6 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.

It appears that most of this part of the vision had already taken place. Past events are given to set the scene for those which are still future.

The imagery of woman with sun and moon at her feet, and a crown with twelve stars, is reminiscent of Joseph's dream (Genesis 37:9-10) Where his father Jacob (Israel) and mother were seen as the Sun and Moon, and the twelve sons were seen as stars. Thus, the woman would be the nation of Israel, which, as a whole, longed for, and finally gave birth to the most special of all children, the Messiah. The dragon is shown in verse 9 of this same chapter to be the Devil, or Satan. This chief opponent of God has many names and descriptions in the Bible, including Lucifer (Isaiah 14:12), Beelzebul (Matthew 12:24-27), the old serpent (Revelation 20:2), and others. In the Bible the word "the" always precedes the word "Devil." This shows that it is actually not a proper name, but a title or description. It means "false witness," or "malicious accuser." The proper name "Satan" means "adversary." The explanation for the seven heads and ten horns is given in chapter 17. They are seven world empires, starting in ancient human history, five of which had come and gone.(Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece), one of which existed at the time (Rome), and one which was still future.(17:10) The ten horns are "ten kings which have not yet received a kingdom" (17:12) who will reign with "the Beast" (Antichrist) for a short time. This means that the final world empire controlled by Satan will begin as an alliance of ten nations. The blasphemous names refer to the ungodly character of each of these world empires. One third of the stars, which were cast out of heaven to the earth, may be a reference to the fall of the other evil angels when they were deceived by Satan. In Isaiah 14:12 Satan, acting as the power behind the king of Babylon, is said to have been cast down to earth. "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! " Evil angels, or demons are also said to have been cast down into a pit....... The birth of our Savior, the Messiah, was the fulfillment of this part of the vision. He was the male child destined to rule the world with a rod of iron (Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6-7). Satan desired to "devour" the child as soon as it was born. Historically, this was attempted by Herod the Great when he sent his soldiers to kill the babies in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:16). Jesus ascended into Heaven from the Mount of Olives (Acts 1:9-12), thus fulfilling this vision that he was "snatched up to God." The next portion may refer to the still future event of scattering Israel at the mid-point of the Tribulation. The time period for this is said to be 1260 days, which happens to be three and one half years of lunar months with 30 days each. (Notice "a time, times and half a time" in verse 14 below.) Three and one half years is exactly equal to the second half of the seven years of Tribulation when Israel will be driven underground. Many scholars believe that the ancient city of Petra will be the place prepared by God in the desert to protect fleeing Israel.

2F. Battle with the Devil 12:7-17 1G. War in Heaven 12:7-12 2G. War on Earth 12:13-17

7 And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 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. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. 11 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. 12 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." 13 When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the desert, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent's reach. 15 Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. 16 But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring-- those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

A war takes place in heaven. It is possible that this refers to the earlier part of this chapter when Satan and his demons had originally been cast down. However, it seems by the context of verses 10 through 12) more like a future celestial battle which seals his fate and enrages him because it leaves him with only a "little time." In his anger, Satan will seek to exact revenge from Israel, the "woman." He tries to destroy her, but the earth opens its mouth to swallow the flood he sends. The flood might symbolize armies and weapons. Again, Petra, in modern Jordan, or some other hiding place will provide safety for them. He will then turn his wrath to persecution of other believers, identified here as "her offspring." These are some of the martyrs of this period.

2E.. The Reign of the Unholy Trinity During The Tribulation 13:1-18 1F. The Dragon (Satan) 13:2,4 2F. The Despot (Antichrist) 13:1-10 1G. His Appearance 13:1-4 2G. His Actions 13:5-10 3F. The Deceiver (False Prophet) 13:11-18 1G. His Person 13:11 1H. Like a Lamb 2H. Like a Dragon 2G. His Power 13:12-13 3G. His Purpose 13:14-18 1 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, and on each head a blasphemous name. The dragon is the same as the one in the previous chapter, which has already been identified as Satan (12:9). The beast coming out of the sea is separate from the dragon. The sea in may be symbolic of many people, as in chapter 20, verse 8. As seen in the later verses of this chapter, this beast is actually Antichrist because he derives his power from Satan, requires people to worship him, and institutes economic dictatorship over the entire earth. The word "beast" means a ferocious animal. It is symbolic of the character of the Antichrist. In chapter 6, verse 1 he was introduced as a rider on a white horse. When he is first revealed he is seen as a powerful deliverer from the problems of the world. By the time he institutes his ultimate control over the earth he is seen a dangerous, bloodthirsty animal. As shown in the previous article, the explanation for the seven heads and ten horns is given in chapter 17. They are seven world empires, starting in ancient human history, five of which had come and gone.(Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece), one of which existed at the time (Rome), and one which was still future.(17:10) The ten horns are "ten kings which have not yet received a kingdom" (17:12) who will reign with "the Beast" (Antichrist) for a short time. This means that the final World Empire controlled by Satan will begin as an alliance of ten member nations. The blasphemous names refer to the ungodly character of each of these world empires. 2 The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. The Prophet Daniel himself also had a vision about a succession of empires which were described as a lion, a bear, a leopard, and an indescribable, frightening beast with iron teeth. (Daniel 7:1-7). These empires are exactly parallel to the ones in Nebuchadnezzar's dream (Daniel, chapter 2). They therefore represent Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome. The beast in Revelation 13 has characteristics of the first three of these empires, symbolized in reverse order by the leopard, the bear, and the lion. With the power granted to him by Satan, he epitomizes the cruel conquering power of Rome, the last of the world empires to date. Antichrist's career during The Tribulation Period will undoubtedly fulfill the nightmarish prophecies of the rest of Daniel's vision (Daniel 7:8-11,19-26). 3 One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished and followed the beast.

There are two ways this prophecy might be fulfilled. The first is the most direct, since the fatal wound was on one of the seven heads. The sixth head represents Rome, which ceased to exist as a world empire in AD 476 when conquered by the German chieftain Odoacer. In that sense, the sixth head suffered a fatal wound, and will be miraculously brought back to life by the emergence of Antichrist's world empire of the last days. One problem with this view is that all the previous empires also ceased to exist. Thus they all suffered a fatal wound, but only this one will come back to life. The other possible fulfillment is that Antichrist himself will receive a "fatal" wound to his head and then be "healed." Since he is a false Christ, perhaps he will even imitate Jesus in the all-important matter of resurrection. If this is the meaning, it is interesting to notice that the wording of the prophecy is not "raised from the dead" but that "the fatal wound had been healed," possibly meaning that his "death" was temporary, and medical means were used to restore his life. In our times, many people experience death (indicated by a flat line monitoring brain activity), but are brought back by restarting their hearts. Others are having their bodies frozen as soon as they die in special cryogenic solutions in the hopes that science will someday discover a way to revive them and then heal them of their deadly diseases. 4 Men worshipped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshipped the beast and asked, "Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?" Satan has always desired to be worshipped (Isaiah 14:12-14 and Matthew 4:8-11). Antichrist, who is energized by Satan will also crave worship. This becomes even clearer later in this passage 5 The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. 6 He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. 7 He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.

These descriptions of Antichrist are strikingly similar to those given in Daniel 7, as noted above. In that passage he is described as speaking boastfully (Daniel 7:8), and waging war against the Saints (Daniel 7:21). In addition, it is said that, "He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time." (Daniel 7:25). "A time, times, and half a time" could be interpreted as 31/2 "times" or years, which is exactly the same as the forty-two months of Revelation 13:5! 8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast-- all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world. 9 He who has an ear, let him hear. 10 If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints. During the second half of The Tribulation, also known as The Great Tribulation, anyone who wants to survive will be forced to worship the beast. The sign of this worship is given below. It is the Mark of The Beast. True Christians during the period will not worship him, nor will they accept the mark. Because of this, believers will be driven underground, and if they are found they will be captured and put to death. These believers' names are written in the Book of Life. Those who will worship Antichrist do not have their names written in this book. 11 Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a Lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. 12 He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. 13 And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. This third person of the unholy trinity, is symbolized by horns of a lamb, showing his religious affiliation, and a voice like a dragon, indicating his Satanic empowerment. He is often referred to as the False Prophet, because of his apparent religiosity and ability to perform miraculous signs like the prophets of old. His role is to convince people to worship the first beast, Antichrist. He may well be the personal head of the apostate one-world religion of that future time (see Mystery Babylon). 14 Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. This image of Antichrist corresponds directly to the Abomination of Desolation (Daniel 9:27) when Antichrist breaks the seven year covenant with Israel and sets up an image in the Temple. This, of course, is also in complete agreement with the timing mentioned above, leaving exactly the three and one half years of the Great Tribulation. Jesus also mentioned this event in His description of the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:15 ff). A speaking image could be the product of animation technologies, holography, genetic engineering, virtual reality, or a supernatural phenomenon. This False Prophet has supernatural powers, obviously granted to him by Satan, like Pharaoh's magicians in the days of Moses who were able to mimic some of Moses' miracles (Exodus 7:11) and the first two of the Ten Plagues (Exodus 7:22; 8:7; 8:18). He uses this power to make this horrific image breathe and talk. None of his powers should be construed to actually give life, which only God can do, but to deceive people into thinking that he could do so -- first by raising ('healing") Antichrist's wound, and then by making the image appear to be alive. This trick may be more than our modern technologies of animation and holography, but it is a deception just the same. 16 He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, 17 so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. 18 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. This is the heart of Antichrist's plan for economic dictatorship. The technologies are in widespread use now which will enable him to institute a cashless society and literally control the privilege of buying and selling world-wide.

We can not know who Antichrist is until he is revealed, after the Restrainer (The Holy Spirit) is no longer holding back sin (2 Thessalonians 2:1-11). But those who are alive during this period should be able to recognize him in a number of ways. Certainly by the time he sets up the Abomination of Desolation, everyone who knows the Bible will know who he is. But before that, while he appears to offer a wonderful solution to the world's problems, various numbering systems will be in use, and by one of these, Antichrist's own number should be 666. Using various numbering systems, several interesting possibilities can already be identified. See Mark of The Beast 666. Notice that the number is to be placed on the right hand or on the forehead. This is an obvious, external symbol of compliance - even of worship - of Antichrist. It is not an invisible tattoo or an implanted transponders chip implants, even though these things might also be employed to make all of this possible. It is also interesting that the number is not the number of each subject who receives it, but Antichrist's own number, or, optionally, his very name! Surely each subject will also have his own number, whether that is on a card, a tattoo, or an implanted device, but this actual Mark of The Beast is his name or number, a proof that the subject has agreed to worship him!

3E. The Redemption of the 144000 During The Tribulation 14:1-5

1 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. 2 And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. 3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 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. 5 No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.

The 144000 sealed servants of the Lord appear again here. They were first mentioned in Revelation 7:4 where it was said that 12,000 of them were chosen from each of the 12 tribes of Israel. As explained above in the section on The Seven Seals, Jewish believers during the Tribulation period will trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Messiah. The purpose of their sealing was not specifically stated, but it may be that their role will be to share the Gospel freely without being killed for their testimony. They are probably the ones in Revelation 9:4 who are not harmed by the demonic plague of the locusts with scorpion's stings. See the article on The Seven Trumpets. In this passage they are seen with Jesus Christ on Mount Zion, pure and victorious, and singing a special song that was just for them to know.

4E. The Reports from Heaven During The Tribulation 14:6-13 1F. The First Message 14:6-7 2F. The Second Message 14:8 3F. The Third Message - 14:9-12 4F. The Fourth Message 14:13

6 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. 7 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." 8 A second angel followed and said, "Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great, which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries." 9 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, 10 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. 11 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." 12 This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus. 13 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."

Chapters 14 and 15 look heavenward again, once more assuring the reader that God is in control. First, there are reports or announcements from Heaven. These announcements are delivered by angels. Then there are explanations about the coming judgment of the beast (Antichrist), the False Prophet, and the Earth itself. The announcements are given to all the people on the earth. In the midst of all the bad news, they deliver the Gospel, the "good news" of salvation in Jesus Christ. None will be able to say that they did not know God's will during this time of turmoil. When God's Word speaks about the differences between people, it does not speak of "races" as we often do today, because we are all one race: the Human Race. Instead, God sees us divided by nations (Greek ethnos) or cultures, tribes, languages, and people (Greek laos). See Dispersion of People. The four messages are:

5E. Reaping of Judgment During The Tribulation 14:14-19:21 1F. Judgment of the Beast and False Prophet 14:14-20 1G. The Conqueror 14:14 2G. The Conquest 14:15-20

This is the final signal from above that the time is right for the judgment of the Earth to begin. First we see the Conqueror: the one seated on a white cloud, coming with a sharp sickle, the special cutting and gathering tool of the harvest. This is a heavenly preview of Christ's coming from the sky, riding a white horse in Revelation 19:11-16. He will come as judge and executioner at that time to fight the Battle of Armageddon with the same result as in this passage: total destruction of his evil enemies. The conquest is portrayed as the harvest of grapes. In one quick motion, this reaper will cut off the grapes from the vine of the earth and throw them into the winepress of God's "grapes of wrath". In the nineteenth chapter, where this harvest is accomplished, Jesus Christ, as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, uses a sharp knife from His mouth to "tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty." (verse 15). The unbelievable carnage of that battle is depicted figuratively as a stream of blood as high as a horse's bridle, and extending the length of 1600 stadia. Each stadion would be approximately 600 feet, the length of a stadium or race track.

2F. Judgment of the Earth 15:1-16:21 1G. The Victorious Vision 15:1-8 1H. Songs of Praise 15:1-4 2H. Scene of Preparation 15:5-8

1 I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues-- last, because with them God's wrath is completed. 2 And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held harps given them by God 3 and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb: "Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages. 4 Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed." 5 After this I looked and in heaven the temple, that is, the tabernacle of the Testimony, was opened. 6 Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes around their chests. 7 Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever. 8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.

This portion of the heavenly scene introduces the next series of supernatural judgments to plague the earth, the Seven Vials of God's Wrath. These vials are held by seven angels. To assure us that God's fearsome wrath is just, a crowd of Tribulation martyrs sing of His glory and of His justice.

2G. The Venomous Vials 16:1-21 1H. The First Vial - Damaging Sores 16:1-2

1 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." 2 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.

These vial judgments seem to come in rapid succession, leading up to the Battle of Armageddon. Little detail is given, but they are supernatural judgments that seem to affect the whole earth. The first vial will cause ugly and painful sores. If mankind has the ability to develop biological warfare, just imagine what the Creator could do in this area. The result is painful, but evidently not deadly. Actually, all of these plagues cause torment rather than death.

2H. Second Vial - Deadly Seas 16:3

3 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.

This is reminiscent of the plague of Exodus 7 in Moses' times, when the Nile River and all the water in Egypt was turned to blood. In this case, it will affect "the sea," meaning at least the Mediterranean, and perhaps all of the oceans of the earth.

3H. Third Vial - Deplorable Springs 16:4-7

4 The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. 5 Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say: "You are just in these judgments, you who are and who were, the Holy One, because you have so judged; 6 for they have shed the blood of your saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve." 7 And I heard the altar respond: "Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are your judgments."

This judgment is a continuation of the last one, spreading the horror of bloody water from the seas to all sources of water. As repugnant as this plague is, it is just because rebellious mankind has shed the blood of the saints and the prophets.

4H. Fourth Vial - Dangerous Sunlight 16:8-9

8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was given power to scorch people with fire. 9 They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.

Many natural causes could account for this scorching by the Sun. Violent eruptions of the Sun itself, a slight change of orbit, or even depletion of the ozone layer. around the earth, could cause this. It is very significant that, even with these stern reminders of the power and anger of God, rebellious people still refuse to repent. See also: Terrors and Signs from Heavens.

5H. Fifth Vial - Dark Seizure 16:10-11

10 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 11 and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.

Coming on the heels of terrible burns from the Sun, there will be complete darkness and the cold that comes from this lack of light. Chills are common among those who have suffered burns, and this will make their situation worse yet. However, instead of repenting, mankind will curse God.

6H. Sixth Vial - Drying of the Strait 16:12

12 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.

These events will lead up to the great confrontation with Christ: Battle of Armageddon. Drying of the Euphrates River will make it easier for far eastern troops to enter the Middle East to prepare for the battle.

( ) Demonic Spirits 16:13-16

The invitation to this battle is not by conventional political alliances, but by a demonic seduction.

7H. Seventh Vial - Destructive Scourge 16:17-21

Comparing the various portions of The Revelation that give different aspects of the Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 6:12-17; 9:13-21; 11:13; 14:14-20; 16:12-21; 17:14; 19:11-21), this earth-changing quake and huge hailstones must accompany the descent of the Lord and the battle He wages. This is the greatest of all earthquakes, literally sinking every island and shaking down every mountain. Zechariah 12:3 predicts "On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves."

Again, in Zechariah 14: 4 On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. 5 You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.

Consider this amazing Old Testament prophecy in the light of what the angel promised the Disciples on the day Jesus ascended from the Mount of Olives. "This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." Acts 1:11

3F. Judgment of Babylon 17:1-19:6 1G. Preface about the Woman 17:1-2 2G. Perversity of the Woman 17:3-6 3G. Position of the Woman 17:7-18

1 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. 2 With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries." 3 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. 4 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. 5 This title was written on her forehead: MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 6 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. 7 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. 8 The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and will come up out of the Abyss and go to his destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because he once was, now is not, and yet will come. 9 "This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. 10 They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for a little while. 11 The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction. 12 "The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. 13 They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. 14 They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings-- and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers." 15 Then the angel said to me, "The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. 16 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. 17 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. 18 The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth."

The first six verses of this chapter are about an unfaithful woman who commits immorality with the kings of the earth and causes the people of the earth to be intoxicated to do evil. She rides on a scarlet beast with seven heads and ten horns. Many prophecy scholars see this woman as the church of the apostasy. Thus her immorality is spiritual unfaithfulness. At certain times in history the church has been very unfaithful to the Lord and His Word. That is why Alexander Hislop, in his book, The Two Babylons, written around the turn of this century, identifies this woman with the Roman Catholic Church. Dave Hunt, in his recent treatise, A Woman Rides the Beast, does the same thing, showing many heartbreaking examples from history of the corruption of the church and the persecution of the godly. The Roman Catholic Church will probably head the unified church of the last days because it is the largest branch of Christianity. However, all so-called "Christians," from every denomination, who are not really born again, are part of this apostasy. The heads of the scarlet beast are identified for us in the text. The first five of seven heads stand for the five world empires, which had already come and gone: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece. The "one which is" was, at the time of the writing of this prophecy, the Roman Empire, and the "one which is to come," is a future world empire. There has been no world empire from the close of the Roman Empire until the present time. The next world empire will be the last of these seven heads. The beast is further seen as the Antichrist of Chapter 13, energized by the Devil from Chapter 12. Antichrist is energized by the Devil, who is the first beast with seven heads in Chapter 12, and the second beast with seven heads is Antichrist. The final form is the seventh head which is the Revived Roman Empire, and it has 10 horns which stand for the ten nations (or possibly regions) which will be the beginning form of that final world empire.

The worst thing this immoral woman does is to give her authority to Antichrist, thus helping to establish him as world dictator. As such, she is seen as the woman riding The Beast.

4G. Punishment of the Woman 18:1-19:6 1H. Ruin 18:1-8 2H. Reaction 18:9-19:6 1I. On Earth 18:9-19

1 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. 2 With a mighty voice he shouted: "Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great! She has become a home for demons and a haunt for every evil spirit, a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird. 3 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." 4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say: "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues; 5 for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes. 6 Give back to her as she has given; pay her back double for what she has done. Mix her a double portion from her own cup. 7 Give her as much torture and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself. In her heart she boasts, 'I sit as queen; I am not a widow, and I will never mourn.' 8 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. 9 "When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her. 10 Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry: "'Woe! Woe, O great city, O Babylon, city of power! In one hour your doom has come!' 11 "The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes any more-- 12 cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble; 13 cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and bodies and souls of men. 14 "They will say, 'The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your riches and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.' 15 The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand far off, terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn 16 and cry out: "'Woe! Woe, O great city, dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet, and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls! 17 In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!' "Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off. 18 When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, 'Was there ever a city like this great city?' 19 They will throw dust on their heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out: "'Woe! Woe, O great city, where all who had ships on the sea became rich through her wealth! In one hour she has been brought to ruin!

While the emphasis in the previous chapter was on the woman who rode the beast - the apostate world religion that gives its power to Antichrist, this chapter focuses on Babylon, the symbolic name for the final form of world governments. This government, and its economic dictatorship, will crumble and collapse at the end of the Tribulation period. This decline of Antichrist will be a result of all the supernatural judgments that will have been poured out. It may be this collapse that motivates Antichrist to gather all the forces of the world together against the Lord at the Battle of Armageddon.

2I. In Heaven 18:20-19:6

Revelation 18 20 Rejoice over her, O heaven! Rejoice, saints and apostles and prophets! God has judged her for the way she treated you.'" 21 Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea, and said: "With such violence the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, never to be found again. 22 The music of harpists and musicians, flute players and trumpeters, will never be heard in you again. No workman of any trade will ever be found in you again. The sound of a millstone will never be heard in you again.23 The light of a lamp will never shine in you again. The voice of bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again. Your merchants were the world's great men. By your magic spell all the nations were led astray. 24 In her was found the blood of prophets and of the saints, and of all who have been killed on the earth."

Revelation 19 1 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, 2 for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants." 3 And again they shouted: "Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever." 4 The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried: "Amen, Hallelujah!" 5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying: "Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both small and great!" 6 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.

Once again the heavenly scene is shown. There is great rejoicing over the collapse of Babylon.

4F. Judgment at Armageddon 19:7-21 1G. Heavenly Jubilation 19:7-10 (Marriage Supper of The Lamb)

7 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. 8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) 9 Then the angel said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!'" And he added, "These are the true words of God." 10 At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

In Ephesians 5:23-27 the Church is said to be related to Christ in the same way that a husband is related to his bride. This relationship is also indicated in John 3:29, where Jesus is called the Bridegroom. The saints are dressed in white linen. This is symbolic of righteousness, not a righteousness earned by them (Isaiah 64:6), but imputed to them by the death of Christ in their behalf (Romans 3:21-26; Philippians 3:9; Revelation 3:5,18). The fact that this meal takes place before Christ returns at the Battle of Armageddon is evidence that the Rapture will have already taken place before the end of the Tribulation.

2G. Horrible Judgment 19:11-21 1H. The Coming of Christ's Army 19:11-16

11 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. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Jesus Christ appears here much the same as in chapter one. His very name is "The Word of God" (John 1:1,14). This is symbolic of His creative Word (Revelation 19:15; Genesis 1:3). The sharp sword from His mouth is a further demonstration of God's Word (Hebrews 4:12). With His Word he wages a war and strikes down the nations that have gathered against Him. Christ's armies, dressed in white linen, return with Him. The white linen has already been shown to represent the imputed righteousness of the saints. He will reign supreme, and those who are His followers will reign with Christ. Again, as in Revelation 14:14 ff., Jesus is seen treading the "grapes of wrath". His robe is dipped in blood: His own precious blood which was shed for us (Matthew 26:28; Romans 5:9; Hebrews 9:14).

2H. The Crumbling of Antichrist's Army 19:17-21

17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, "Come, gather together for the great supper of God, 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great." 19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. 20 But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 21 The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

This is the last step in the decline of Antichrist, when, in reaction to the supernatural judgments which had brought about the collapse of his world dictatorship, he summons all the heads of nations and their armies to fight against Jesus Christ Himself in the Holy Land. When Jesus descends, He will first capture Antichrist and The False Prophet, and cast them into the Lake of Fire. He will then quickly destroy all who have gathered against Him.

2C. The Millennium 20:1-15 1D. Preparation for the Period 20:1-3 2D. Progress During the Period 20:4-6

1 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time. 4 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. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6 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.

At the outset of the millennium, Christ's reign of a thousand years, the devil will be cast into the Abyss. Christian martyrs of the Tribulation period will be raised from the dead. They are those who would not receive the Mark of the Beast. Most of them will have been put to death for their faith in Christ. They are raised again as part of the "first resurrection." Jesus Himself was the "first-fruits" of this first resurrection. Later, believers of the church age are raised at the Rapture. Now we see these believers also joining the ranks of this first type of resurrection. The other type of resurrection is seen in the next few verses where the ungodly are raised to stand at their judgment.

3D. Postscript to the Period 20:7-15 1E. Rebellion 20:7-9 2E. Retribution 20:10-15 1F. The Devil 20:10 2F. The Deceived 20:11-15

7 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth-- Gog and Magog-- to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. 9 They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 11 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. 12 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. 13 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. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

At the end of the thousand years of Christ's righteous reign on earth, Satan will be released from the Abyss. He will lead those who do not believe in Jesus, even though they have been witnesses of His righteous reign, in fighting the Last War. All of these rebels will be destroyed by fire from heaven, and the Devil will be cast into the Lake of Fire. Non-believers will be raised to stand before The Lord, sitting on a white throne. They will be judged by their works, but, according to Romans 3:20, no one can be saved by the law and good works. Those who depend on works will have their name blotted out of the Book of Life.

3B. The Scene on the New Earth 21:1-22:21

Revelation 21 1 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. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 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. 4 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." 5 He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." 6 He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars-- their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." 9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. 13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. 16 The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long. 17 He measured its wall and it was 144 cubits thick, by man's measurement, which the angel was using. 18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. 19 The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. 21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass. 22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. 27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

This section is related to Peter's description of a fiery dissolution of the present heaven and earth and the establishment of new ones. (2 Peter 3:10-13) The new Earth will be much bigger than our present one because it will receive the New Jerusalem which is incredibly huge: about 1500 miles square, and, as hard as it is to imagine, about 1500 miles high as well! Such a city would make our present Earth very lopsided. The beauty of the city is beyond description, but is symbolized by some of the things we consider most beautiful. The "concrete" of that city will be like pure gold. The gates of the city, familiar to the first century readers as large unattractive fortress gates of heavy wood and metal plating, will be like huge pearls, and the foundations, normally the most uninspiring part of a city, will be sprinkled with sparkling jewels of unimaginable value. The gates will have the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, and the foundations will have the names of the twelve Apostles. Together they symbolize the redeemed of both Israel and the Church. The city is said to be the "bride" of the Lamb. In the Old Testament Israel is called the wife of the Lord (Ezekiel 16 is one of several such passages), and, in the New Testament, the Church is identified as the bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:24-32). Thus the New Jerusalem, the home of believers, is referred to as the bride of the Lamb. Jesus told His disciples that He was going to prepare a place for them and that He would come back for them so they could be where He was. (John 14:1-3) I once heard someone say, "Jesus created the whole universe in seven days. Just imagine what He has made for us during almost 2000 years!" The greatest treasure of that glorious future city will not be it's gold and jewels, but it's chief inhabitant, Jesus Christ, who is called here the Lamb because of His sacrificial death for our sins. There will be no need of a Temple there since God Himself will be there personally. In the same way, there will be no need for sunlight since it will be illumined by the presence of God (including God the Son - the Lamb). This light will undoubtedly permeate every portion of the great city. Jesus, who said, "I am the light of the world," will be its lamp. There will be no night there. Neither will there be any sin or sorrow. This is the most thorough description of our future state. For Christians, our future "heaven" is really heaven on the new Earth. One most valid description of heaven is "where God is." In that day the petition of Our Lord's prayer will have been fulfilled, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10).

Revelation 22 1 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 2 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. 3 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. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 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 for ever and ever. 6 The angel said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place." 7 "Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book." 8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. 9 But he said to me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!" 10 Then he told me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near. 11 Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy." 12 "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. 14 "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. 16 "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star." 17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. 18 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. 19 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. 20 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen.

Most of this last chapter of the Bible is devoted to further description of the New Jerusalem and the future blissful state of believers in the presence of the Lord. The city will have access to the river which has the water of life. The Tree of Life will be there as well. Partaking from this tree in the Garden of Eden was not permitted once Adam and Eve had fallen into sin. (Genesis 3:23-24) In contrast to the blessedness of those inside this city, there is a reference to those "outside" (v.15) - evil doers who are presumably in torment. There is a stern warning not to add to or subtract from these words (vv. 18-19). There is one last promise of the soon coming of Jesus Christ, and the expression shared by all who look for His coming, "Amen, Come, Lord Jesus!"