Chapters 17-18 give us the history of religious Babylon, the mother of harlots. Chapter 18 presents God’s view of her destruction. In contrast, chapter 19 takes us to the marriage of the Lamb.
The next scene, witnessed by John, is of Christ, as King of kings and Lord of lords, appearing with His saints. The Beast and the kings of the earth with their armies will gather to make war with the Lamb, only to be taken and thrown alive into the lake of fire; the rest will be slain (ch. 19:11-21).
This begins a period of 1000 years during which time Satan will also be bound, and those martyred under the Beast will reign with Christ this is the millennium (ch. 20:34). At the close of the 1000 years, Satan will be loosed for a season, during which time he will deceive the nations, gathering them to their final battle, where they will be destroyed by fire (ch. 20:7-9). The second resurrection, the resurrection of damnation, will follow, with the judgment of the dead before the great white throne (ch. 20:12-15; John 5:29).
The first eight verses of chapter 21 Complete the history, with the introduction of a new heaven and a new earth and the establishment of the eternal state. “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God” (Rev. 21:3).
The Heavenly Glory of the Millennium
With the events from the fall of Babylon to the eternal state described, we now return to consider the position of the church during the millennium. In distinct contrast to “Babylon the Great” a city—and the “mother of harlots” a woman—we have the bride, the Lamb’s wife, descending out of heaven from God as a great city, the holy Jerusalem (ch. 21:9-10). This city is not to be confused with the new Jerusalem of verse 2 or the earthly millennial Jerusalem (Ezek. 48:15-20). The description and city are symbolic. The first five verses of chapter 22 Complete the description.
Conclusion
The words of the prophecy are faithful and true and must soon come to pass (Rev. 22:6). The state of each will be fixed for eternity the unjust will be unjust, and the righteous will be righteous (vs. 11). “The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (vs. 17). “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (vs. 20).
N. Simon