Chapter 4:1—The apostle John, as a prophet, is transported to heaven so as to view what God is going to do with the earth after the church (composed of all believers only) and the Old Testament saints are taken out of the earth and translated to heaven. (See 1 Thess. 4:13-1813But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13‑18); 1 Cor. 15:2323But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. (1 Corinthians 15:23).)
Chapter 5
Chapter 5—God's glory in redemption is seen here.
Chapter 5:1-7—The seven-sealed book, or Christ's "title-deed" to the earth, is seen; none being worthy to open it but Christ as the Lamb (Jer. 32:11-1411So I took the evidence of the purchase, both that which was sealed according to the law and custom, and that which was open: 12And I gave the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, in the sight of Hanameel mine uncle's son, and in the presence of the witnesses that subscribed the book of the purchase, before all the Jews that sat in the court of the prison. 13And I charged Baruch before them, saying, 14Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Take these evidences, this evidence of the purchase, both which is sealed, and this evidence which is open; and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may continue many days. (Jeremiah 32:11‑14)).
Chapter 5:8-14—His worthiness is celebrated in the "New Song" of heaven by those who know the redeeming power of His blood shed at Calvary.
Chapter 6
Chapter 6 — the opening of the first six seals.
Chapter 6:1-2 — The First Seal—an aggressive conqueror is seen going forth on earth. The white horse symbolizes victorious aggressive warfare (Job 39:19-2519Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder? 20Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible. 21He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men. 22He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword. 23The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield. 24He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet. 25He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting. (Job 39:19‑25)). The bow is distant warfare (2 Kings 13:14-1714Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. 15And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows. 16And he said to the king of Israel, Put thine hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it: and Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands. 17And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the Lord's deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them. (2 Kings 13:14‑17)).
Chapter 6:9-11 — The Fifth Seal—A martyred company is seen under the altar of sacrifices. Thus the hateful attitude of the world toward the Word of God and the testimony of His servants at that time is disclosed. Others martyrs were to follow.
Chapter 6:12-17 — The Sixth Seal—A partial answer to the cry for vengeance uttered by the group of martyrs seen under the altar. The whole structure of society as then constituted is turned into confusion and overthrow. Established authorities are darkened and shaken to their foundation. Fear takes hold of men (Luke 21:25-2625And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. (Luke 21:25‑26)) and they suppose that the great day of wrath has come. But greater judgments are to follow. The Seventh Seal is not opened until chapter 8:1.
Chapter 7
Chapter 7 — A parenthesis between the sixth and seventh seals.
Chapter 7:1-8 — Powers of evil are held momentarily in restraint while a seal of security is placed on a set number out of each tribe of Israel.
Chapter 7:9-17 — A vast number of saved Gentiles are seen as having passed through the Great Tribulation. They form no part of the church. Their robes were washed white in the blood of the Lamb. "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." These are Gentiles who believed the messengers of the gospel of the kingdom (cf. Matt. 24:1414And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. (Matthew 24:14) and Matt. 25:31-4631When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:31‑46)). Also called the "everlasting glad tidings" in Rev. 14:66And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, (Revelation 14:6).
Chapter 8
Chapter 8:1-5 — The Seventh Seal opened. Silence in heaven follows, a lull before the greater storm of judgments about to fall. Christ is seen as the Angel-Priest in intercession at the golden altar for his saints on the earth at that time. The fire comes from the brazen altar, but incense is burned on the golden altar. The brazen altar becomes the source of judgment to the earth. God's answer to man's side of the cross.
Chapter 8:7 — The First Trumpet sounds-God's sweeping consuming judgments follow. Those in high positions (trees) in the Roman Empire (western Europe) are the objects of this judgment and general prosperity (all green grass) is destroyed in that area.
Chapter 8:10-11 — The Third Trumpet sounds-A great person in high earthly position falls from his place and becomes an evil influence among men. Sources of refreshment and intercourse become poisoned. Apostasy (death) sets in. Physical death is not in view.
Chapter 9 —
Chapter 9:1-12 — The Fifth Trumpet sounds-A great subordinate power falls from his proper place. Darkening, Satanic influence blinds men. Torment (mental anguish) afflicts men for a determinate, limited period. This is the first Woe Trumpet.
Chapter 9:13-21 — The Sixth Trumpet sounds-An affliction from the eastern boundary of the Roman world falls upon the Empire (western Europe). The very power of hell and Satan is seen in this judgment. This is the second Woe Trumpet.
Chapter 10 —
Chapter 10:1 — Christ is seen as "another strong angel" in contrast with the strong angel of chapter 5 who is a creature.
Chapter 10:2-11 — He asserts His right to the earth (Josh. 1:33Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. (Joshua 1:3)). There will then be no longer a delay at that time (v. 6-7). The Seventh Trumpet would bring to a close God's dealing with the earth from behind the scenes.
Chapter 11 —
Chapter 11:1 — The temple and altar are measured, thus showing God's care for the true worshippers in Israel in preserving them and accepting their worship.
Chapter 11:2 — The "court" is not valued by God; that is, He disowns Israel's outward profession under Gentile rule and oppression.
Chapter 11:3-7 — The two witnesses signify adequate testimony to the "God of the earth", the very fact disputed by the Beast in asserting himself. The witnesses are preserved until their testimony is finished. Thus after three and a half years (1, 260 days or 42 months-see verses 2 and 3) they are slain just prior to the return in glory of the Lord. Jerusalem is seen as the center of things here.
Chapter 11:8-13 — They are raised up in sight of their enemies and a great overthrow (great earthquake) takes place in the complete organized systems of earth.
Chapter 11:14-18 — The seventh trumpet brings things down to the end in a general way. The 'World-Kingdom" of our Lord and His Christ is ushered in, with the judgment of the living nations (Matt. 25:31-4631When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:31‑46)) and then of the dead (Rev. 20:11-1511And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11‑15)).
Chapter 11:19 — More properly belongs to Chapter 12 as Israel comes strongly into view again.
Chapter 12 —
Chapter 12:1-2 — The Woman—is Israel, the Jewish mother of Christ (see Isa. 9:66For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6) and Rom. 9:4-54Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. (Romans 9:4‑5)). "Clothed with the sun" indicates Israel invested with supreme authority in the earth. She is seen superior to, and above, her previous state of reflected light-the moon under her feet. Completeness of human administration is also hers as shown by the crown of twelve stars (see Gen. 37:99And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. (Genesis 37:9) and Isa. 60:1-31Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. 2For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 3And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. (Isaiah 60:1‑3)).
Chapter 12:3 — The Red Dragon—Satan seen in connection with earthly power and in open blasphemous opposition to God. The crowns are here seen on his heads, not on the horns as in chapter 13. The seven heads denote completeness of power in evil, while the ten horns show incompleteness in kingly administration. The Lamb had seven horns (chap. 5:6). Twelve is completeness of power in man.
Chapter 12:4 — The rulers within the sphere of the Roman Empire (western Europe) are brought under Satan's malignant influence.
Chapter 12:5 — The Man-Child, a male of might, is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. The rapture of the Man-Child is thought, in divine purpose, to include that of the saints.
Chapter 12:6-17 — Israel (the Woman), as connected with the fulfillment of God's purposes in the earth, is sheltered for three years and a half (1,260 days, vs. 6, or a time, times, and half a time, vs.14) in spite of Satan's hate and opposition. Cast into the earth in the middle of Daniel's 70th week, he persecutes the faithful with great fury.
Chapter 13 —
Chapter 13:3 — The Imperial head is healed, causing all the world to wonder.
Chapter 13:4 — Satan receives worship because of the power given by him to the Beast. None is able to make war with the Beast for Satan is stronger than man and can supply the Beast with greater weapons than man could invent.
Chapter 13:5-7 — The time of the Beast's power to blaspheme and persecute is limited by God—42 months (three and a half prophetic years).
Chapter 13:9-10 — The saints were not to take power into their own hands as retribution from God would overtake the Beast.
Chapter 13:12-17 — The second Beast acts in conjunction with the first and directs worship to him. He is thus the false priest as well as prophet (chap. 19:20).
Chapter 13:18 — In that day the wise will understand what is not clear to us now (see Dan. 12:1010Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. (Daniel 12:10)). God in faithfulness will warn His own. Six, being short of seven, the number of completeness, is the number of man emphasized here as 666.
Chapter 14
Chapter 14 — This chapter is divided into seven parts which give an outline of the order of prophetic events.
Chapter 14:1-5 — The Jewish remnant seen in company with the Lamb on the mount of royal grace-Zion. This 144,000 is not the same as in chapter 7. Those include the twelve tribes, but these are Christ's brethren of Matt. 25:4040And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (Matthew 25:40) of Judah and Benjamin.
Chapter 14:6-7 — The everlasting gospel will be proclaimed, not the gospel of the grace of God which is peculiar to the Christian era. It will take the form of the gospel of the kingdom (Matt. 24:1414And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. (Matthew 24:14)). Many Gentiles will be blessed at that time (Matt. 25:31-4631When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:31‑46); Rev. 7:1414And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 7:14)). God's good news announced in Eden-that Christ, the woman's seed, would crush Satan and bring man into blessing-this is the everlasting gospel.
Chapter 14:8 — The fall of Great Babylon is announced although her guilt is not yet declared. That comes out later-. She is the false church in its final development.
Chapter 14:13 — The Blessed Dead — Babylon and the Beast, the two great persecutors of the saints, are seen as judged of God in the previous verses, so now the eve of blessing for the
Lord's own is noted in vs. 13. The thought in the verse is not "which die from henceforth" but rather they are "blessed from henceforth". We quote from W. K.:
"Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord, from henceforth." From this time on no one that belongs to the Lord is going to die, and those that have died in the Lord (that is, in fact all who have thus died since chapter 4 and 5) are on the eve of blessedness, not by personal exemption, but by sharing the first resurrection and the reign of Christ. Rev. 20:44And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4).
Chapter 14:17-20 — The Vintage Judgment—The fierce, unsparing wrath of God; unmixed vengeance on apostate Jews and nations with them. Psa. 75:88For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them. (Psalm 75:8); Psa. 83; Isa. 63:1-61Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. 2Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? 3I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. 4For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. 5And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me. 6And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth. (Isaiah 63:1‑6). The Vine of the earth (v. 19) is religious apostasy, i.e. religion formed by turning away from revealed truth. Note that the harvest judgment is directed by an angel out of the temple (v. 15) whereas the vintage being more severe is also directed by an angel but out of the altar. The rejection of Christ and His work brings in the worst punishment of Heb. 10:2929Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10:29). The 1,600 furlongs approximate the extent of the land of Canaan.
Chapter 15 — The sevenfold series of chapter 14 brought us in general down to the Lord's coming in judgment. Chapters 15, 16 and 17 go back to fill in certain details of judgment which take place before the Lord's coming in judgment. Chapter 15 introduces the instruments of God's seven last and severe strokes. Next is seen a martyred company who would not yield to the Beast (Rev. 13:1515And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. (Revelation 13:15)). The sea of glass is mingled with fire, indicating the great fiery tribulation through which they have passed. Here they are filled with joy and praise, having the harps of God. Their song is one of outward triumph over their enemies (Song of Moses) and of inward, patient suffering (Song of the Lamb). Actually they address the "King of nations" in verse 3. (Jer. 10:77Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee. (Jeremiah 10:7))
Chapter 15:8 — The judgment will be marked by purity and righteousness as shown by the pure and white linen. The chapter ends with the solemn fact that there will be no one to stand in the place of intercession (see Jer. 7:1616Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee. (Jeremiah 7:16)).
Chapter 16
Chapter 16 — The vials, or literally "bowls", of God's wrath are seen poured out on the guilty earth. God comes to closer grips with men and the judgments are more severe and wide reaching than before. The first bowl falls on the followers of the Beast, smiting them with moral distemper and misery (Ex. 9:8, 98And the Lord said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh. 9And it shall become small dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt. (Exodus 9:8‑9); Isa. 1:5-65Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. 6From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. (Isaiah 1:5‑6)). The second is poured out on the unsettled and revolutionary state outside the sphere of the first bowl. Spiritual death, i.e. apostasy from God, is indicated. The third bowl turns the influences and sources of refreshment to blood, not simply bitterness as in chap. 8:10-11. That is, there will be complete alienation from God produced by that which should have been for good among men. Under the fourth bowl the supreme authority becomes a persecuting power exercising tyranny over men. The fifth deals in great severity with the Beast and his kingdom. Men do not repent under these judgments, but blaspheme the more. (Rom. 8:7, 87Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:7‑8).) They recognize God's control over these plagues (v. 9) but do not repent. The Euphrates secured the eastern boundary of the Roman Empire. The sixth bowl has to do with this security of the revived Roman Empire. Something will happen to expose the West to powers from the East. Armageddon is a mystic name and has reference to the "Megiddo" of Judg. 5:1919The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money. (Judges 5:19). There Israel was triumphant over the Gentile foe. Psa. 83 refers to another association of Gentiles bent on Israel's destruction at the time of the end. Typically then vs.16 of Rev. 16 indicates the final overthrow of Israel's enemies by the Lord.
Chapter 16:17-21 — The seventh bowl reaches all; it is poured out into the air. A divine sigh of relief, as it were, is heard from the throne-"It is done." Judgment is God's strange work; He delights in mercy. Then follows the dissolution of civilization both in its center, "the great city," and all that was established outside the Roman Empire, "the cities of the nations". Great Babylon comes in final remembrance before God. Men yet blaspheme under God's crushing retribution.
Chapter 17
Chapter 17 — The judgment of Great Babylon had been announced in chap. 14:8 and had been set forth under the seventh vial of God's wrath (16:19). Now her guilt is clearly seen, thus showing the righteous judgment of God. Babylon of the Old Testament, the ancient city, was seen as the fountain head of idolatry (Jer. 51:7;50:27Babylon hath been a golden cup in the Lord's hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad. (Jeremiah 51:7)
2Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces. (Jeremiah 50:2); Zech. 5). See also Acts 7:41-4341And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. 42Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness? 43Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon. (Acts 7:41‑43). That city has been destroyed and will never be rebuilt (Isa. 13:19-2219And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. 20It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there. 21But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there. 22And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged. (Isaiah 13:19‑22); Jer. 51:29, 3729And the land shall tremble and sorrow: for every purpose of the Lord shall be performed against Babylon, to make the land of Babylon a desolation without an inhabitant. (Jeremiah 51:29)
37And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant. (Jeremiah 51:37)). Babylon of the New Testament is "the great licentious and idolatrous corruptress of religion; western civilization in its final state-apostate Christendom and Judaism.
Chapter 17:1-4 — Her guilt and worldly splendor.
Chapter 17:5 — She is the devil's mystery in contrast to the blessed mystery of Christ and the church (Eph. 3:3-113How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: 7Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. 8Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: (Ephesians 3:3‑11) and 5:32).
Chapter 17:7-8 — The Roman Empire which then existed was to disappear from the earth and after a period of non-existence (as at present) it is to reappear by Satanic power in such a way as to cause wonderment among the Christ-rejectors.
Chapter 17:9-10 — Two marks are given to signify Rome as the city in view. First, there is a geographical mark," seven mountains on which the woman sitteth"; Rome is the celebrated city of the seven hills. Next a historical mark, "seven kings". This does not mean seven persons, but seven forms of rule under which Rome would pass. When John wrote, the sixth form was in force, the Imperial. This had been preceded by (1) Kings; (2) Dictators; (3) Military Tribunals; (4) Consuls; (5) Decemvirs. Note that a seventh was yet to come and continue but for a short time.
Chapter 17:11 — The future ruler of the revived empire would be one of the seven but in such a new form that he would really be an eighth. And that is how verse 11 should read: "he also is an eighth, and is of the seven". It will be the Imperial head revived (chap. 13:3). Originally the Roman Empire was one solid entity under one head (vs. 12-13). There will be ten kings under the Beast.
Chapter 17:14 — Their power is directed against our precious Lord, but it will be the day of His power, not that of His humiliation. "Lord of lords and King of kings." Who will be in His train? We shall-all the redeemed up to the rapture! Wondrous, precious thought; we are His now and shall appear in glory with Him then (2 Thess. 1:1010When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. (2 Thessalonians 1:10))! We are called, chosen, and seen in grace as faithful. (See Luke 22:24,28,2924And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. (Luke 22:24)
28Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. 29And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; (Luke 22:28‑29).) Angels are never said to be called or faithful, but they are "elect" (1 Tim. 5:2121I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. (1 Timothy 5:21)).
Chapter 17:15 — The wicked religious system is seen dominating many peoples, but as soon as she has served the purpose of the Beast, he and the ten kings turn upon her and destroy her (v.16). Verse 16 should read 'and the ten horns which thou sawest, and the beast".
Chapter 17:17 — This proves that God is behind the scenes moving all the scenes that He is behind. These kings think to do their own will and are responsible for it, but God makes them carry out His will in spite of themselves and Satan their master (see Lam. 3:3737Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not? (Lamentations 3:37)).
Chapter 17:18 — Confirms the identity of Rome.
Chapter 18
Chapter 18 — In chapter 17 there were instruments used of God to afflict the wicked, Great Babylon, but here God Himself is seen dealing directly the judgment she had richly deserved (v. 8).
Chapter 18:1-2 — A mighty angel lightens up the whole scene as he announces, in a voice that none can gainsay, the awful doom of her who had used her power against the Lord's people. She who calls herself the church is degraded to Satan's level and marked out with all that is unclean and hateful in God's sight.
Chapter 18:3 — There was wrath connected with her illicit commerce with the nations. She made the nations to drink, and often by force; yet too often the kings of the earth were only too glad to bow to her in order to further their own worldly aims. She is also the mother of luxury and by her were the merchants enriched.
Chapter 18:4 — God is faithful and calls His people out in separation from her before judgment falls. We ought to leave whatever we discern to be Babylon in principle! This is so important that "another voice out of heaven" is used to make this appeal and warning. May all of the Lord's people heed this word!
Chapter 18:5 — God Himself alone can rightfully measure the extent of her guilt. The JND translation is very significant: "For her sins have been heaped on one another up to heaven."
Chapter 18:6-8 — Just retribution overtakes her. She reaps as she has sown. You always reap more in quantity than what you have sown; the seed multiplies. So here when God undertakes judgment, it is complete and meets the case exactly.
Chapter 18:9-10 — Those who profited by reason of her costliness mourn her (for contrast see 19:1-3).
Chapter 18:11-13 — Here is set forth the long list of her merchandise which includes "bodies and souls of men". The word "slaves" in verse 13 should be "bodies". There are 28 items enumerated which can be arranged in seven classes: (1) Ornaments-"gold, silver, and precious stones and pearls". (2) Costly and showy attire-"fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet". (3) Elegant and costly furniture-"all thyine wood, and all manner of vessels of ivory,... most precious wood, and of brass, and of iron, and marble". (4) Perfumery-"cinnamon, and odors, and ointments, and frankincense". (5) Foodstuffs-"wine, oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts and sheep". (6) Splendid equipages-"horses and chariots". (7) "Men's bodies and souls." How awful to realize that men's souls and bodies are bartered like so much merchandise by that wicked religious system here depicted!
Chapter 18:14-19 — We are reminded of our Lord's question in Mark 8:3636For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Mark 8:36), "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, but lose his own soul? " Here all is lost to the false church and those that served her, for her spirit and activities reach down into every walk of life.
Chapter 18:20 — No wonder then that they whose words she distorted to her own miserable use are here called upon to rejoice. The saints are also included in this verse along with apostles and prophets (see JND translation).
Chapter 18:21-23 — Her judgment will be violent and sudden, and final. Never again will she lift up her head in subtle defiance of God and His truth and holiness which she had dragged in the dust. Any light that she had will go out forever (v.23). The days of her music and dancing will be gone and instead eternal woe shall be her portion.
Chapter 19
Chapter 19 — We are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ and await our heavenly portion when He comes for us. The meanwhile, we are strangers and pilgrims on the earth and do not seek a continuing city (1 Peter 2:1111Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; (1 Peter 2:11); Heb. 13:1414For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. (Hebrews 13:14)). Great Babylon, the false church, sought her portion in the world and thus comes under God's judgment of the world.
Chapter 19:2-3 — Her guilt by both corruption and violence is again announced. The heavenly saints rejoice and again shout "Alleluiah" (Praise ye Jah).
Chapter 19:4 — The figure of the "four and twenty elders" appears for the last time. They are symbolic of the heavenly saints (those of the Old Testament and the church of the New Testament) caught up at the coming of Christ (1 Cor. 15:2323But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. (1 Corinthians 15:23)). Now the Bride is to be seen distinctly in glory and so the figure that merged the New Testament saints with those of the Old disappears. The Bride is seen separately from those "called unto the marriage supper" (v. 9).
Chapter 19:5 — From the place of power comes the call to praise and a great crowd responds with the resounding "Alleluiah". What a scene! and sinners saved by grace will all be there! (v. 6).
Chapter 19:7 — The great event, the marriage supper of the Lamb, is proclaimed and He Who was alone on the cross will have with Him for eternity His wife who is seen here as having "made herself ready".
Chapter 19:8 — Faithfulness will be rewarded at the judgment seat of Christ. The fine linen depicts "the righteousnesses" of saints (JND translation). All that His grace has wrought practically in the saints will meet its reward then. (For contrast see Isa. 64:66But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6).) The only place in Scripture where the judgment seat fits in, is between the coming of Christ for His saints and His coming back with them.
Chapter 19:10 — Angels, no matter what their message may be, are not the objects of worship. They are faithful servants and direct worship to God, not to themselves (Co1. 2:18). All Scripture testifies of Jesus, the prophetic as well as other portions (John 5:3939Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. (John 5:39)).
Chapter 19:11 — The day of Christ's power has now arrived and the heavens which now conceal Him "in counsels deep and wise" are opened and He is seen on a white horse (not now meek and lowly on an ass and its foal-Matt. 21:1-51And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, 2Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. 3And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. 4All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. (Matthew 21:1‑5)), the symbol of victorious aggressive power. It is the fulfillment of Psa. 45:3-43Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty. 4And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things. (Psalm 45:3‑4).
Chapter 19:13 — His vesture is dipped in the blood of vengeance, not now the blood of atonement (Isa. 63:1-31Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. 2Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? 3I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. (Isaiah 63:1‑3)). He is the "Word of God", the full expression of what God is in righteous judgment as He is also the full expression of His grace (John 1:1, 14-181In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)
14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 15John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. (John 1:14‑18)).
Chapter 19:16 — The MAN of Sychar's well, of Gethsemane and of Calvary is here displayed as having supreme authority over all, "King of kings and Lord of lords" (1 Tim. 6:1515Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; (1 Timothy 6:15))! Chapter 19:17-21—The powerful armies of western Europe will be gathered at Jerusalem (Zech. 12:2-42Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. 3And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. 4In that day, saith the Lord, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness. (Zechariah 12:2‑4) and 14:2-4). Gentile might will be assembled; all the resources of peaceful occupation will be converted to war (Joel 3:9-119Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: 10Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. 11Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Lord. (Joel 3:9‑11)). The prayer of the godly remnant is stated at the end of verse 11, "thither cause Thy mighty ones to come down, 0 Lord." Verses 12-17 are God's answer in Joel, and this is what we have in Rev. 19 in the verses under consideration. Joel no doubt goes further in that all the nations are called to judgment, whereas in Rev. 19 it is the Western powers only. That is, God's judgment falls on the Roman Empire, this being a righteous principle in God's ways, since it was the soldiers of the Roman Empire that mocked the Son of God and put Him on the cross!
Judgment of the other nations will follow, but for that we would have to go to Isaiah, Daniel and other prophets. In God's grace there were two men in the Old Testament, Enoch and Elijah, who were caught up to heaven without dying, and now in God's righteous judgment two men, the Beast and the False Prophet, are to be cast alive into the lake of fire. They are caught "red-handed" in open rebellion against the Lord and against His Anointed. God has made us His friends in letting us know what He is going to do in the earth. This should turn our hearts heavenward to listen for the voice that will soon call us home to glory.
Chapter 20
Chapter 20 — The symbol of power for judgment in chapter 19 is the horse. There, summary judgment is executed. In chapter 20 we find "thrones", and finally the "great white throne", symbols of sessional judgment. The saints are not connected with this last as it is Christ alone Who officiates there.
Chapter 20:1-3 — An angel possessing power (key), in administrative responsibility to God, lays hold on Satan, binding him with a great chain and casting him into the abyss. For a thousand years man is to be tested with no devil to tempt him and in the presence of the Lord's good and righteous reign of peace.
Chapter 20:4 — Three groups of saints are here seen: first, those who followed the Lord out of heaven (19:14), i.e. all those who were caught up at the rapture, are seated on thrones, associated with Christ in the judgment of the world (1 Cor. 6:2-32Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? (1 Corinthians 6:2‑3)). Second, those martyred before the Beast is manifested, "beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the Word of God" (see 6:9-11). Third, those "which had not worshipped the Beast" (JND translation makes this clear). John sees these last two groups in a disembodied state and as he looks "they lived". Killed during the tribulation, they would lose part in the kingdom if left in death. The Lord graciously completes the "first resurrection" by raising them at this time. They reign with the other heavenly saints-"more than conquerors". The first resurrection includes Christ and all the saints. The first resurrection is the resurrection of the just, a class of persons, not a point in time merely.
Chapter 20:5 — Only the unsaved dead remain in their graves during the thousand year reign of Christ and His saints.
Chapter 20:6 — The saints, all raised in the first resurrection, are (1) blessed, (2) holy, (3) exempt from the second death's power, (4) priests, and (5) kings. They reign for one thousand years. This period of time is mentioned six times in this chapter emphasizing that it is a literal and not a figurative period.
Chapter 20:7-8 — One more test must be applied to man-Satan is let loose once more. This is at the end of Christ's benevolent reign (read Psa. 72). Satan deceives the "nations which are in the four quarters of the earth". He does not deceive Israel nor the believing Gentiles, "the camp of the saints". All the believers are seen together in 'the camp of the saints, and the beloved city". (Psa. 78:6868But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved. (Psalm 78:68)) For permanency of blessing to Israel, see Isa. 59:20-21; 60:20-22; 62:1220And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord. 21As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the Lord; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever. (Isaiah 59:20‑21)
20Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. 21Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. 22A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the Lord will hasten it in his time. (Isaiah 60:20‑22)
12And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the Lord: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken. (Isaiah 62:12); Ezek. 39:25-2925Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name; 26After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid. 27When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations; 28Then shall they know that I am the Lord their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there. 29Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord God. (Ezekiel 39:25‑29). This last passage is interesting in that it indicates that Israel will be in the land and not in the "four quarters of the earth" where Satan deceives. The reference to "Gog and Magog" in this verse must not be confounded with Ezek. 38 and 39, as that takes place before the millennium, whereas this is after that period. We quote JND on Rev. 20:88And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. (Revelation 20:8)-"Gog and Magog-countless hordes from the four quarters of the earth. Repetition on a larger scale of Ezek. 38."
Chapter 20:10 — Satan's final and unending doom in the fire prepared for the devil and his angels. How sad that men will be there also!
Chapter 20:12 — The wicked dead, with spirit, soul and body reunited, stand for judgment before "the throne" (not before God as in the text-see JND translation). It is Christ as such on the throne Who judges. Man judged (alas as many desired) on the ground of his works, is lost! Even now he is weighed in the balances and found wanting, and so shall it also be then.
Chapter 20:13-15 — Even the sea will not hide from judgment. In the eternal state "death and hades" will have no work to do, so they are banished to that place where all traces of sin are consigned forever.
Chapter 21
Chapter 21:1 — The new heaven and earth are the fulfillment of God's promise (2 Peter 3:1313Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. (2 Peter 3:13)) based on the work of Christ (John 1:2929The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29) and Co1. 1:20). Now, grace reigns (Rom. 5:2121That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:21)), but in the millennium righteousness will reign (Isa. 11:44But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. (Isaiah 11:4) and 32:1). In the new earth righteousness will dwell (2 Peter 3:1313Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. (2 Peter 3:13)). "And the sea exists no more" (JND). That which separates and speaks of restlessness, as connected with sin, shall be no more (Isa. 57:20-2120But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. 21There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked. (Isaiah 57:20‑21)).
Chapter 21:2 — The glorified church is seen as the holy city (the center from which God will administer the new earth) and as the New Jerusalem, in contrast with the earthly Jerusalem. She came down from God (her source-Eph. 1:4-54According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, (Ephesians 1:4‑5)) and out of heaven (her native home, by grace-Eph. 2:6-76And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:6‑7); 2 Tim. 1:99Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, (2 Timothy 1:9)). The city here is not to be confounded with the Heavenly Jerusalem in Heb. 12:2222But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, (Hebrews 12:22) where more than the church is in view.
Chapter 21:3 — God will dwell forever in the church as His tabernacle. In this tabernacle He will dwell, not in the midst of Israel, as of old, but among the men who people the new earth (Eph. 2:77That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:7) and 3:21). It is God as God, no dispensational titles as Jehovah, or Lord God Almighty, but God. No longer will it be "nations" as in the millennium, but "men". What wondrous grace, they shall all be His people, not simply one group singled out as Israel in the past (Amos 3:1-21Hear this word that the Lord hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying, 2You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. (Amos 3:1‑2)).
Chapter 21:4 — The results of sin as we have experienced in this earth, will be entirely set aside and unknown in the new earth. God not only wipes away the tears of the men dwelling on the new earth, but removes the cause of tears-"for the former things have passed away". It is the full fruit of the work of Christ as applied, not to heaven, but to the new earth.
Chapter 21:5 — "God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?" (Num. 23:1919God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? (Numbers 23:19)). God's purposes never fail, whether for blessing of Israel, the church, or the formation of all things new as herein declared. So these are faithful and true words. They come from God Himself!
Chapter 21:6 — On the cross the word was "It is finished", but now in full answer to that work, the word is "It is done". The water of life stands here as the stream of blessing right on the threshold as it were of a lost eternity!
Chapter 21:7 — Encourages us to press on as the overcomer will inherit "these things" (JND).
Chapter 21:8 — On the other hand, here is what characterizes those who refused that water of life. They are: Fearful (too cowardly to confess Christ), Unbelieving (they would not trust God), Abominable (this is what they made of themselves as sinners), Murderers (violence), Whoremongers (moral corruption), Sorcerers (they held communion with the devil, and also used drugs in connection with it), Idolators (worshippers of Satan), and finally All Liars (they falsified the truth as to the Person and work of Christ). The second death is their eternal portion (Psa. 11:5-75The Lord trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. 6Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. 7For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright. (Psalm 11:5‑7)).
Chapter 21:9-27 — Take us back into the millennium and show us the church's position in that period.
Chapter 21:9-10 — The true church, the Bride of the Lamb, is introduced here in the same manner in which the false church was in chap. 17:1-3. The purpose is to show the contrast between the two. The Lamb's wife is the city, a "holy" city as it should read (not a "great" city, as was Babylon). The city is symbolic of administrative power.
Chapter 21:11-12 — God's glory invests the city viewed in a state of perfect security (a wall great and high), marked by perfect administrative power (twelve gates), and angels at the gates (as servants-Heb. 2:55For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. (Hebrews 2:5)). The names of the twelve tribes of Israel show the nearness of Israel in the administration of the "age to come". (See Hos. 2:21-2321And it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear, saith the Lord, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth; 22And the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil; and they shall hear Jezreel. 23And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God. (Hosea 2:21‑23) for closeness of heaven and earth in the millennium.)
Chapter 21:14 — Those who suffered here below in fellowship with the Holy Sufferer, the Lamb, are remembered in the foundations of the city (Matt. 19:27-2827Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? 28And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matthew 19:27‑28)).
Chapter 21:15-20 — The perfection and beauty of the church as eternally blessed by Christ (Eph. 5:2727That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:27)). In verse 21 there is only one street in that city, one place of holy concourse for the saints of God who will have but one motive and one object to share together throughout eternity!
Chapter 21:22-27 — No temple is seen; the temple is the place of God's veiled presence, but then all will be at home with God and the Lamb! The glory of God makes unnecessary any natural, borrowed or artificial light in that scene. The term "nations" makes clear that the millennial scene is before us, since in the eternal state the Scripture speaks not of nations but of "men". They bring their glory to it, not into it (see JND translation).
Chapter 22 —
Chapter 22:1-5 — The connection with the millennial reign of Christ continues in these verses. "Leaves for the healing of the nations" makes this clear as there will be nothing to heal in the new earth (21:4). However, what is true of the church in the millennium will be true of her in eternity-"His servants shall serve Him: and they shall see His face and His Name shall be in their foreheads." He will forever and publicly own us as His! What grace! No more curse actually brings in the eternal state, as there is curse in the millennium (Isa. 65:2020There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. (Isaiah 65:20)).
Chapter 22:6-21 — Give us the closing remarks, just as we had introductory statements at the beginning of the book. The Lord's coming is the preeminent theme in our Lord's closing words to us. In verse 7 it is His coming related to faithfulness in holding fast the words of this prophecy. In verse 12 rewards are
in view; but, alas for some, His coming will seal them up in their sins for all eternity, just as that coming will seal up the blessedness of His own in His presence (v. 11). But last and most precious of all, it is Himself and not reward or faithfulness that brings out the response of our hearts. This is a precious verse and we might end this outline with a brief meditation thereon. In verse 16 our Lord presents Himself first in that Name He took here below, the precious Name of Jesus, that Name which He keeps though now glorified above. That Name will make heaven heaven to us. Next, He is the root of David (the originator of David's blessing and exaltation) and the offspring of David, and as such He takes the kingdom (Luke 1:3232He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: (Luke 1:32)). But when He calls Himself the "bright and morning star" the Spirit immediately stirs up the Bride to look up and say "Come". All of those that know our Lord Jesus may, upon hearing this cry, join in it and also look up and say "Come". No doubt those that are in the enjoyment of what the church is to Christ will be longing the more for Him to come. But now in verse 17 the direction changes—the first two "comes" are upward to Christ. The next two are addressed outward to the sinner—"And let him that is athirst come." The sinner who feels his deep need is called upon to come (21:6). But even if the sinner does not feel deeply his need, he is not to stay away—"whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." What grace held forth at the end of a book of judgment!
Now let us bend our ears, let us listen sharply as the last audible voice is heard from heaven. What is the sweet word wafted to us? "Surely I come quickly." Nothing said about rewards or faithfulness—it is "the Lord Himself". No wonder then that John, as our representative, at once speaks forth, "Amen; come, Lord Jesus."
"Oh love supreme and bright,
Good to the feeblest heart,
That gives us now, as heavenly light,
What soon shall be our part."
A. R.