Blog

Revelation 18
Babylon is destroyed. This is the second half of a two-part story.
Babylon
In the first 8 verses of this chapter Babylon is declared to be fallen. Death, mourning and famine are not far behind.
Notice that one big reason for Babylon’s successes is that so many people have gained power and riches from her. Remember how Paul put it in 1 Timothy 6:10 – “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” This is how the world system has worked throughout history. The promise of power and wealth is more than enough temptation for most people to sell their souls.
It is no wonder that the angel is so insistent. “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive her plagues…” (Verse 4, NASB) Now is the time to choose God. Now is the time to become his people. Don’t wait. Don’t play with fire. If you do, you will lose.
Notice how rapidly it all comes apart in Verse 8. Regardless of how you think about time prophecies in the Bible, one day is a very short period. Why is this possible? Because “mighty is the Lord God who judges her.”
Three Laments
Verses 9-20 are a fascinating commentary from the three groups most closely aligned with this world system – kings, merchants and ship captains. I interpret these as political power, economic power and those who profit from both. All three lament the speed of her collapse, which in their view takes but one hour. All three understand the finality of her collapse.
Verses 21-24 bring the focus back to the One True God. The issue is not Babylon’s overwhelming evil, although the angel’s message recounts it yet again. The issue is that the blood of the prophets, saints and all who have been killed on the earth is found in her. Babylon, Satan’s best attempt at a counterfeit of God’s love and grace, turns out to be an empty shell of murder and suffering – just like Satan himself.
Revelation for You
Do you understand that everything the world has to offer is a poor imitation of the reality found in Jesus?
How can Jesus’ reality be yours?

Revelation 17
Babylon is described, judged and doomed. This is the first half of a two-part story.
Babylon
Finally, we get to dealing, once and for all, with the world system. It’s not pretty.

• A great harlot who sits on many waters (peoples, multitudes, nations and tongues).
• The world’s rulers commit adultery with her, made drunk on the wine of her immorality.
• Full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns.
• Expensively adorned, but holding a cup full of abominations.
• She is the mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth.
• She is drunk with the blood of the saints.
• She was, is not, is about to come up out of the Abyss and will go to destruction.
• Historically, the 7 heads (mountains) have been identified with Rome, but the horns (kings yet to come) confirm that this system goes way beyond Rome.
• Relatively speaking, these kings receive authority for a very short time.
• These other rulers hate the harlot, but they give their kingdoms to her, until God’s words are fulfilled.

All in all, this world system is utterly evil. There is nothing in it for anyone, yet nearly everyone bows in worship. We’ll see why this is in Chapter 18.
The Lamb
The contrast is painted with a single sentence. “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.” (Revelation 17:14) Simply put, the Lamb wins!
Revelation for You
Where is the hope in this description? Read the second half of Verse 8. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life will be able to discern the truth and reject the seduction.
Reread the description of the Lamb in Verse 14. How can you make his victory yours?

Revelation 16
The seven bowls of God’s wrath are poured out by the seven angels. Many will say, “It’s not fair.” God’s judgments are true and just.

• The first bowl is poured out on those who have the mark of the beast and worship his statue. These are the enemies of God, those who live in rebellion toward Him. Their skin breaks out with malignant sores.
• The second bowl turns the sea blood red and kills everything in it.
• The third bowl turns the rivers and streams to blood.
• The forth bowl causes the sun to scorch everyone with its fire.
• The fifth bowl plunges the kingdom of the beast into darkness causing the subjects to grind their teeth in anguish.

In spite of these horrible judgments, the people did not repent and turn to God.
Armageddon – the Sixth Bowl
When the angel poured out the sixth bowl filled with God’s wrath, the Euphrates River dried. These opened the way for armies from the east to march westward without hindrance. Demonic spirits were sent out to gather all the rulers to a place called Armageddon to battle against the Lord.
Jesus warns that He will come unexpectedly, but blessed are those who watch for Him. If you are a believer, His coming will not take you by surprise. As Paul wrote, “…you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day will surprise you like a thief in the night. You are all sons of light and sons of the day” (1 Thessalonians 5:4, 5).
It is Finished!
When the seventh bowl was poured out, a mighty voice from heaven shouted, “It is finished,” the exact words Jesus cried out from the cross. God’s wrath had come to an end. The impending battle at Armageddon never took place. With a word the rebellion was squashed. Thunder crashed, lightning flashed and the earth shook. Babylon drank the cup of God’s wrath. Islands disappeared. Mountains were leveled. Hail fell from the sky. Yet the people still cursed God.
Revelation for You
Do you know that you are a child of light and no longer in darkness?
How did you picture the battle of Armageddon? Can anyone ever battle the Lord?

Revelation 15
God’s wrath is soon to end. The seven angels are holding the seven last plagues. They will soon be released to pour out God’s wrath in full.
John takes note of another scene, one filled with victory and hope.
A Glass Sea Mixed with Fire
John noted this sea of glass in Revelation 4:6. Here it is mixed with fire. Standing on this sea are those who were victorious over the beast and his statue and the number representing his name. So much of what John and the other apostles wrote comes to life in this vision. Here are a few statements from John’s first letter:

• “I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one” (1 John 2:13).
• “Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God” (1 John 5:5).

Those standing on this sea were refined by fire. As Peter wrote concerning the fiery trials;
“These have come so that your faith–of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire–may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:7).
Through faith in Jesus Christ, you have overcome the evil one. You stand on this sea, and your faith brings praise, glory and honor to Jesus Christ. You will join the chorus singing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb.
God’s Temple Opens
John sees the temple open wide. The seven angels with the seven plagues come out of the temple. One of the elders gives to each angel a bowl filled with the wrath of God. This temple is filled with the smoke of God’s glory and power. Just as Moses could not enter the tabernacle when the cloud had settled over it (Exodus 40:34-35), no one could enter the heavenly temple until the angels finished pouring out the seven plagues. We will see those bowls of God’s wrath poured out in the next chapter.
Revelation for You
Do you know that you have overcome the evil one through your faith in Jesus Christ?
Do you believe that you are victorious in Christ?

Revelation 14
This is the third of a three-chapter story that encompasses all of salvation history.
The Characters
Chapter 14 calls a screeching halt to the dragon’s exercise of power and reveals ultimate salvation for God’s people. Some of these characters we’ve seen before; some we have not.

• We see the 144,000 again.
• Three angels give three messages regarding the eternal gospel and those who refuse to worship God.
• One “like a son of man” who harvests the earth of its children of God.
• Another angel who harvests the earth of its followers of the dragon.

As scary as Chapter 13 was, this chapter is even more glorious.
Parts of the Story Rarely Pointed Out

• Verses 1- 5: Whoever the 144,000 are, they are uniquely God’s. What a song that must be!
• Verse 12: The perseverance of the saints is equated with God’s judgment of the followers of the dragon. Remember, God said, “It is mine to avenge” (Romans 12:19), and avenge he does.
• Verse 13: A word of encouragement for those who die in the Lord, whether from natural causes or from violence. They rest from their labors, for their deeds, done by faith in the power and grace of God, follow with them. (For those who might be interested, John Rutter provided a masterful treatment of this verse in his Requiem.)
• Verses 14-20: Once again, we see that Jesus doesn’t waste his time with Satan. Jesus rescues his people. He leaves it to other angels to carry out justice on the rebels.

Revelation for You
This chapter makes crystal clear what it takes to be saved. What is it?
Are you willing to fix your eyes on Jesus, allowing him to work the details, in every one of life’s circumstances?

Revelation 13
This is the second of a three-chapter story that encompasses all of salvation history.
The Characters
Chapter 13 introduces two more characters that are under Satan’s control.

• A beast coming out of the sea: Most often this beast is identified with the Papacy, especially during the Dark Ages.
• A beast coming out of the earth: Not as terrible looking as the first beast, but even more dangerous. This beast is particularly identified with economic persecution.

What makes Chapter 13 so frightful is that Satan is in charge of these two beasts. If you ever doubted that Christians would be killed, this chapter should convince you otherwise. This is NOT God’s wrath, but Satan’s.
Parts of the Story Rarely Pointed Out

• Verses 1- 10: Note the characteristic of this beast – Powerful, authoritative, miraculous, arrogant, blasphemous, in charge of the whole earth, waging war on and overcoming the saints.
• Verse 8: The only way not to worship this beast is to have your name written in the book of life. Note that salvation is no guarantee of earthly comfort or safety.
• Verse 10: The word for perseverance or endurance means to bear up under circumstances. This isn’t about being patient with other people, but resting in Christ regardless of the trials.
• Verses 11-18: Note the characteristics of this beast – Lamblike, but speaking like a dragon, exercising all the authority of the first beast, miraculous, deceiving, etc. Critical to this beast is that it creates an image to the first beast; like it, but not like it. It is murderous and it wages economic war on everyone who is saved.
• Verse 18: The key to understanding this beast is NOT the number (whether 666 or 616), but that this is a man, or a representative of humanity. Whoever he is and whatever he does is fully and completely within the context of human effort and ability as controlled by Satan himself. No one could be more anti-Christ than this person. No one could be more opposite of Jesus than him.

Revelation for You
Does this chapter scare you? Why?
What is the solution to the problem of fear?

Revelation 11
The interlude, a further explanation of Trumpet 6, completes and we hear Trumpet 7 sound.
The Two Witnesses
This section references Ezekiel, Zechariah and Jeremiah, and is the source of much speculation. Does this guarantee that the temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem? Who are the witnesses – the Old and New Testaments, Moses and Elijah, something or someone else? Are the times given literal?
The time aspect may cause the most angst. Using a 30-day calendar, 42 months and 1260 days are identical. If one day equals one year, as some claim, then we have 1260 years during which some ungodly power(s) overrun the outer court and the witnesses prophesy. If this is literal time, then we get 3.5 years, which some say is the first half of the Tribulation. If one uses the year-day idea, then the witnesses are dead in the street for three and one-half years. And on and on it goes.
What we miss when we got lost in the weeds of speculation is that God has done some really important things. First, he has given the “outer court” to the nations. Second, he has given a specific job to the witnesses. Third, he has protected the witnesses for as long as it takes to say what needs to be said. Fourth, after they supposedly are defeated by the beast out of the abyss (see Chapter 9) he raises them to life, even as their enemies are gloating. Fifth, he calls them into heaven while their enemies watch.
As a result of God’s initiative, his enemies are constrained to give him glory. This isn’t an indication of salvation on their part, but an admission of their defeat.
Thus completes the Second Woe. The Third Woe follows immediately.
Trumpet 7
As a direct result of the first six trumpets, heaven breaks into tumultuous praise. Note the emphasis: The earth is Jesus’ kingdom. Further, Jesus and God are declared to be identical. Regardless of what the nations do in their rage against our Christ, he is victorious, absolutely, unquestionably victorious!
Revelation for You
How do the Two Witnesses give you hope?
Are you willing to let God be God and to rest in his completed work?

Revelation 10
After six trumpets, we come to an interlude that continues through Revelation 11:14.
Did you hear that?
John is still digesting what he has seen and heard regarding the first six trumpets when another angel comes down out of heaven. Clearly, this is an important angel with something vital to communicate. He cries out with a strong voice, similar to a lion’s roar, and then seven peals of thunder speak. John dutifully begins to write the thunders’ message when he is told, “Seal up what the thunders said and do not write them.”
Now, this is a mystery worth investigating. Right? Wrong. God said to seal it up, so we should let it be sealed up. Besides, what is said next truly is mind-boggling.

• How is God identified? Him who lives forever and ever.
• What has God done?  Created heaven, the earth and the sea and all the things in them.
• What has this eternal, overwhelmingly powerful God told this angel to say? There will be no more delay and the mystery of God will be finished as the Seventh Trumpet is about to sound!

Does the word mystery ring a bell? It should. Paul describes it in Colossians 1:27 as “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Elsewhere, the word is used to describe what Jesus gave to the apostles, how Israel will be brought back to their Savior, how it is possible for Gentiles to be saved, how lawlessness works, and so on. In every case, mystery refers to something that God, and God alone, reveals to his people.
When we describe Jesus as God’s final revelation to man, we’re not kidding. This letter, the revelation of Jesus Christ, is, from beginning to end, about our glorious, victorious, reigning Savior.
Bitter Sweet
The chapter ends with John being told to eat the little book held by the angel. It tastes sweet in his mouth, but sours his stomach. The words of the thunders truly have been hidden.
But fear not, John is told that he must prophesy again regarding peoples, nations, languages and kings. God is not done revealing Jesus just yet.
Revelation for You
How do you cope with the hidden things of God?
What is the only reasonable alternative to speculating about mysteries not revealed?

Revelation 9
Revelation 9 continues with the fifth and sixth trumpets. These trumpets are a study in contrast.
Trumpet 5 and the First Woe
Here we go with the beasties. What are they? Who are they? Should we be looking for particular photos and descriptions online, in news magazines and on TV?
Wrong approach! First, notice who is in charge. God is. The events of Trumpet 5, perpetrated by Satan, are limited in scope and effect by God. The suffering caused lasts but a short time and no one is allowed to be killed by it. In addition, God’s people are not touched by it at all.
The fact that the situation is described twice in slightly different way adds emphasis to what is identified as the First Woe. Remember, though, that Satan is revealed as the source of all this suffering. God is not to blame.
Trumpet 6
Look back to Revelation 7. Four angels were told not to harm the earth, sea or trees until God’s bond-servants had been sealed. In Verse 14 of this chapter, those angels are released. God’s bond-servants have been sealed. They are completely safe. They belong to Jesus, and no one can take them out of his hand.
These angels were released to kill 1/3 of mankind! Think about that for a minute or two. They are the agents of God’s wrath which is being poured out on the earth. Their proxies are the two hundred million horsemen.
Notice, though, that, besides impressive breastplates, there is almost no attention paid to the armies themselves. Instead, it is the horses that spew fire, smoke and brimstone out of their mouths. God is making it very clear that he is in charge. He decides how judgment is carried out.
Verses 20 and 21 are sad and chilling at the same time. The rest of the world “did not repent.” Apparently, repentance still is possible, but they refuse.
Revelation for You
What clues to God’s incredible mercy are in this chapter?
How can you be certain that you will not face these judgments?