INTRODUCTION TO
Revelation
CIRCUMSTANCES OF WRITING
The traditional view holds that the author of Revelation is the apostle John, who wrote the Fourth Gospel and the three letters of John. Evidences for this view include: (1) the writer referred to himself as “John” (1:4,9; 22:8); (2) he had personal relationships with the seven churches of Asia Minor (1:4,11; chaps. 2–3); (3) his circumstances at the time of writing (1:9) matched those of John the apostle (who was placed in Asia Minor from about AD 70 to 100 by reliable historical sources from the second century AD); and (4) the saturation of the book with OT imagery and echoes implies a Jewish writer, like John, operating in overwhelmingly Gentile Asia Minor.
The initial audience that received the book of Revelation was a group of seven local churches in southwest Asia Minor (1:11; chaps. 2–3). Some of these congregations were experiencing persecution (2:9-10,13), probably under the Roman Emperor Domitian (ruled AD 81–96). Others had doctrinal and practical problems (2:6,13-15,20-23). Also behind these surface problems was the backdrop of unseen but powerful spiritual warfare (2:10,14,24; 3:9).
Though some scholars have dated the book later and a few have dated it earlier, commonly held dates of Revelation among evangelical scholars are the mid-90s and the late 60s of the first century AD. The mid-90s view is the stronger view, and it is held by majority opinion. Each view gives a different account of the persecution portrayed in the letters to the churches (2:9-10,13). Substantial historical evidence shows that some of the churches were persecuted intensely by Nero in the late 60s. But the reference in 17:10 to seven kings, five of whom have fallen, supports a date in the mid-90s, during the reign of Domitian.
While a case can be made for a late-60s date based on the Nero-related inferences and a possible reference to the Jerusalem temple in 11:1-2 (which may imply that the temple had not yet been destroyed, as it was by the Romans in AD 70), all other factors favor a date of about AD 95. Most notable among these factors is the tradition that John the apostle was exiled to Patmos during a period of intensifying local persecution of Christians by the Emperor Domitian (ruled AD 81–96).
CONTRIBUTION TO THE BIBLE
The book of Revelation provides an almost complete overview of theology. There is much in this book about Christ, mankind and sin, the people of God (both the church and Israel), holy angels, and Satan and the demons. There is important material on God’s power and tri-unity (i.e., Trinity), plus aspects of the work of the Holy Spirit and the nature of Scripture.
STRUCTURE
The book of Revelation previews its sequential structure in 1:19: “Therefore write what you have seen, what is, and what will take place after this.” From the apostle John’s vantage point in being commanded to “write,” he had already seen the vision of the exalted Son of Man (chap. 1). Next, he was told to “write” letters to the seven churches, telling each the state of their spiritual health (chaps. 2–3). Lastly comes the body of the book (4:1–22:5), which covers all the events that would “take place after this.”
SPURGEON ON REVELATION
The aim of the book of Revelation is not to lead us into speculation but is meant for practical purposes. Things written concerning the future are not intended so much to gratify our curiosity as to stimulate our watchfulness. The main objective is to keep us constantly on the lookout.
PROLOGUE
1The revelation of A Jesus Christ that 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 testified to the word of God and to the testimony B of Jesus Christ, whatever he saw. C 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep D what is written in it, because the time is near.
4 John: To the seven churches in Asia. Grace and peace to you from E the one who is, who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits F before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has set us free G from our sins by his blood, 6 and made us a kingdom, H priests I to his God and Father — to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
7Look, he is coming
with the clouds,
and every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him.
And all the tribes J of the earth K
So it is to be. Amen.
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “the one who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
JOHN’S VISION OF THE RISEN LORD
9 I, John, your brother and partner in the affliction, kingdom, and endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit N on the Lord’s day, and I heard a loud voice behind me like a trumpet 11 saying, “Write on a scroll O what you see and send it to the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”
12 Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me. When I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was one like the Son of Man, P dressed in a robe and with a golden sash wrapped around his chest. 14 The hair of his head was white as wool — white as snow — and his eyes like a fiery flame. 15 His feet were like fine bronze as it is fired in a furnace, and his voice like the sound of cascading Q waters. 16 He had seven stars in his right hand; a sharp double-edged sword came from his mouth, and his face was shining like the sun at full strength.
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. He laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid. I am the First and the Last, 18 and the Living One. I was dead, but look — I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades. 19 Therefore write what you have seen, what is, and what will take place after this. 20 The mystery of the seven stars you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels A of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands B are the seven churches.
1:3 “Blessed are those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in it.” The aim of the book of Revelation is not to lead us into speculation but is meant for practical purposes. Things written concerning the future are not intended so much to gratify our curiosity as to stimulate our watchfulness. The main objective is to keep us constantly on the lookout.
1:5 “To him who loves us and has set us free from our sins by his blood.” He loved us condescendingly. The poverty of our resources compels us to put up with defiled and broken things and make them better. But God is so full of power that, if a thing is broken, it is never worth his while to mend it. He could make another race of creatures and leave sinful people to die. When Christ gives his hands and feet to be sacred fountains of blood and we are cleansed through his death and agony—this is compassion like a God. This is a sight the likes of which heaven and earth have never seen. What love must he have for sinful people that he should stoop as low as this?
1:11 “The seven churches.” These are each separate and distinct, independent churches, though they are one in Christ Jesus. Each church is, in itself, complete if it is ordered according to the mind of the Holy Spirit.
1:17 “Don’t be afraid.” “Fear not” (KJV) is a plant that grows plentifully in God’s garden. If we look through the lily beds of Scripture, we will continually find the sweet “fear nots” peering out from doctrines and precepts, even as violets look up from among green leaves. Seeing his Savior in glorious array, John falls at his feet in deepest reverence. John’s dread, occasioned by the majesty of the Lord Jesus, is followed by a command not to be afraid. Although he loves to see our holy awe, our Lord would not have that reverence freeze into a cold reserve or a slavish trembling. Though he is divine, he invites us to approach him without dread. Great as he is, we may dare to be free with him. Let our Lord be glorious to us, but still let him be near us.
1:18 “I was dead, but look—I am alive forever and ever.” The central point of the atonement was death. There must be life to atone for sin. Therefore, Christ’s work was ended and done. There is nothing more to be done for his people’s redemption. As he himself said before he gave up his spirit, “It is finished.” The expression “was dead” comes like the sound of a peal of bells tolling the death of death and ringing in the jubilee of all who believe in Jesus.
Yet although he was dead, he is dead no longer. If, when he died, he had never risen again but had left his cause in our puny hands, it would soon have failed. Yet there is a guarantee of victory in the fact that Christ is now alive.
A 1:1 Or Revelation of, or A revelation of
G 1:5 Other mss read has washed us
H 1:6 Other mss read kings and
I 1:6 Or made us into (or to be) a kingdom of priests ; Ex 19:6
K 1:7 Gn 12:3; 28:14; Zch 14:17
L 1:7 Or will wail because of him
THE LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES
THE LETTER TO EPHESUS
2“Write to the angel C of the church in Ephesus: Thus says the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and who walks among the seven golden lampstands: 2 I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars. 3 I know that you have persevered and endured hardships for the sake of my name, and have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you D and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet you do have this: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in E the paradise of God.
THE LETTER TO SMYRNA
8 “Write to the angel of the church in Smyrna: Thus says the First and the Last, the one who was dead and came to life: 9 I know your F affliction and poverty, but you are rich. I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will experience affliction for ten days. Be faithful to the point of death, and I will give you the crown G of life.
11 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will never be harmed by the second death.
THE LETTER TO PERGAMUM
12 “Write to the angel of the church in Pergamum: Thus says the one who has the sharp, double-edged sword: 13 I know H where you live — where Satan’s throne is. Yet you are holding on to my name and did not deny your faith in me, A even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness who was put to death among you, where Satan lives. 14 But I have a few things against you. You have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block B in front of the Israelites: to eat meat sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality. 15 In the same way, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. C 16 So repent! Otherwise, I will come to you quickly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
QUOTE 2:13
Let none of us imagine that an orthodox creed can be of any use to us if we lead a heterodox life.
17 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give some of the hidden manna. D I will also give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name is inscribed that no one knows except the one who receives it.
THE LETTER TO THYATIRA
18 “Write to the angel of the church in Thyatira: Thus says the Son of God, the one whose eyes are like a fiery flame and whose feet are like fine bronze: 19 I know your works — your love, faithfulness, E service, and endurance. I know that your last works are greater than the first. 20 But I have this against you: You tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and teaches and deceives my servants to commit sexual immorality and to eat meat sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Look, I will throw her into a sickbed and those who commit adultery with her into great affliction. Unless they repent of her F works, 23 I will strike her children dead. G Then all the churches will know that I am the one who examines minds and hearts, and I will give to each of you according to your works. 24 I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who haven’t known “the so-called secrets H of Satan” — as they say — I am not putting any other burden on you. 25 Only hold on to what you have until I come. 26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works to the end: I will give him authority over the nations —
27and he will rule I them with an iron scepter;
he will shatter them like pottery J —
28 just as I have received this from my Father. I will also give him the morning star.
29 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.
2:4-5 “You have abandoned the love you had at first. . . . I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.” What love we had for our Savior the first time he forgave our sins. When we first loved him, how passionate we were. There was not a single thing in the Bible that we did not consider most precious. There was not one command we did not think to be like fine gold. Where did we lose our first love, if we have lost it? Have we lost it in the world? Too much of the world is a bad thing for any person. Have we lost our first love by spending too much time with worldly people? Have we forgotten how much we owe Christ? Have we neglected communion with Christ? There are a thousand possible reasons, but each person must search his own heart.
If we have lost the love we had at first, we must seek to have it restored. Though we are children of God, if we have lost our first love, there is trouble near at hand. Love and purity go together. The one who loves is pure. The one who loves little will find his purity decrease until it becomes marred and polluted. “The Lord disciplines the one he loves” (Heb 12:6), and he is sure to discipline us when we sin.
2:13 “You are holding on to my name and did not deny your faith in me.” The faith may be denied in several ways. Some deny the faith by never confessing the name of Jesus. Christ is also denied by false doctrine. If we espouse error as to Christ’s person or work, then we have denied his name and his faith. Furthermore, it is possible to deny the name and the faith by unholy living. Let none of us imagine that an orthodox creed can be of any use to us if we lead a heterodox life. Finally, we can deny the faith by actually forsaking it and quitting the people of God. Some do so deliberately; others do so because the charms of the world overcome them.
C 2:1 Or messenger, also in vv. 8,12,18
E 2:7 Other mss read in the midst of
H 2:13 Other mss add your works and
THE LETTER TO SARDIS
3“Write to the angel K of the church in Sardis: Thus says the one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: I know your works; you have a reputation L for being alive, but you are dead. 2 Be alert and strengthen M what remains, which is about to die, N for I have not found your works complete before my God. 3 Remember, then, what you have received and heard; keep it, and repent. If you are not alert, I will come A like a thief, and you have no idea at what hour I will come upon you. 4 But you have a few people B in Sardis who have not defiled C their clothes, and they will walk with me in white, because they are worthy.
5 “In the same way, the one who conquers will be dressed in white clothes, and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name before my Father and before his angels.
6 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.
THE LETTER TO PHILADELPHIA
7 “Write to the angel of the church in Philadelphia: Thus says the Holy One, the true one, the one who has the key of David, who opens and no one will close, and who closes and no one opens: 8 I know your works. Look, I have placed before you an open door that no one can close because you have but little power; yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 Note this: I will make those from the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews and are not, but are lying — I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and they will know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept my command to endure, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is going to come on 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 takes your crown.
12 “The one who conquers I will make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never go out again. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God — the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God — and my new name.
13 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.
THE LETTER TO LAODICEA
14 “Write to the angel of the church in Laodicea: Thus says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator D of God’s creation: 15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit E you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, ‘I’m rich; I have become wealthy and need nothing,’ and you don’t realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I advise you to buy from me gold refined in the fire so that you may be rich, white clothes so that you may be dressed and your shameful nakedness not be exposed, and ointment to spread on your eyes so that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be zealous and repent. 20 See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
QUOTE 3:18
Does someone have a religion that he received from mother, father, Sunday school teacher, or friends? It is worth nothing.
21 “To the one who conquers I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
22 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.”
3:8 “I know your works. Look, I have placed before you an open door that no one can close because you have but little power; yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.” The Philadelphian church was not great, but it was good. It was not powerful, but it was faithful. The Lord does not blame us for having little strength but for having little love, little faith, little zeal, and little consecration. The Philadelphian saints, like a limpet, which has but little strength, stuck firmly to the rock, and they are commended for it.
3:16 “Because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth.” As tepid water makes one’s stomach heave, so lukewarm religious profession is nauseous to the Almighty. He could better endure either the coldness of apathy or the warmth of enthusiasm, but the one who is lukewarm in religion moves him to the deepest loathing. Did Jesus Christ think salvation so important that he came from heaven to earth to work it out? Did he think the gospel so worthy that he spent his life proclaiming it? Did he think redemption so valuable that he shed his own precious blood to complete it? Then, if I profess to believe these truths and yet am indifferent to them, do I not insult Christ by insinuating that there was no need for him to be in such dead earnest?
3:17 “For you say, ‘I’m rich; I have become wealthy and need nothing,’ and you don’t realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.” These words were spoken not to the outside world but to the church of Laodicea. They were thought to be in a fine spiritual condition; they had a singularly high opinion of themselves. Yet they were actually lukewarm because they imagined themselves rich when they were poor. The Laodiceans did not know their own spiritual state; they took for granted that everything was sound. They had judged the surface of the matter and never looked below the topsoil. But “the faithful and true witness” (3:14) makes them see the naked truth. What a change from the distorting glass of self-flattery to the clear mirror of truth! Is this not much better than a delusive belief that all is safe? It is infinitely better to be uneasy and to get right than to be perfectly serene and to be wrong. Many a house is built on sand and only waits until the floods and winds come.
3:18 “I advise you to buy from me.” He just said that they were “wretched” and “poor” (3:17). How can they buy? Surely this suggests those blessed free-grace terms that are only met within the market of divine love: “Come, buy wine and milk without silver and without cost” (Is 55:1). If anyone has backslidden, let him come to Christ and buy. Does someone have a religion that he received from mother, father, Sunday school teacher, or friends? It is worth nothing. All true grace must be bought from Christ on free-grace terms. He says, “I advise you to buy from me.” Buy what? Everything! The articles he speaks of are entire monopolies in his hands. No one else can sell “gold refined in the fire,” or “white clothes so that you may be dressed,” or “ointment . . . so that you may see.” The whole stock of grace is vested in the person and offices of Jesus Christ.
K 3:1 Or messenger, also in vv. 7,14
N 3:2 Or strengthen who remain, who are about to die
D 3:14 Or beginning of God’s creation, or ruler of God’s creation
THE THRONE ROOM OF HEAVEN
4After this I looked, and there in heaven was an open door. The first voice that I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”
2 Immediately I was in the Spirit, and there was a throne in heaven and someone was seated on it. 3 The one seated A there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian stone. A rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald surrounded the throne.
4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white clothes, with golden crowns on their heads.
5 Flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder came from the throne. Seven fiery torches were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God. 6 Something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal, was also before the throne.
Four living creatures covered with eyes in front and in back were around the throne on each side. 7 The first living creature was like a lion; the second living creature was like an ox; the third living creature had a face like a man; and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings; they were covered with eyes around and inside. Day and night they never stop, B saying,
Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God, the Almighty,
who was, who is, and who is to come.
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the one seated on the throne, the one who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before the one seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne and say,
11Our Lord and God, A
you are worthy to receive
glory and honor and power,
because you have created all things,
and by your will
they exist and were created.
4:10 “They cast their crowns before the throne.” The elders confess that any honor they have received has been obtained through the grace of God. They must fully ascribe to grace what they dare not claim to themselves. Gratitude constrains them to lay their crowns where their crowns came from.
We must ask ourselves if we have learned to cast our crowns at the Savior’s feet. Have we anything that we call our own, or good things that we have done to boast of? Have we been industrious and feel we deserve esteem and honor as an acknowledgment of our distinguished services? No one in glory will ever say, “I have done well. I deserve credit and honor.” Quite the reverse. It is the mark of God’s children that, the more beautiful they are, the more uncomely they think themselves. The one who gives all glory to God and takes no glory to himself is the one who is on the road to heaven.
THE LAMB TAKES THE SCROLL
5Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides, sealed with seven seals. 2 I also saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals? ” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or even to look in it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found worthy to open B the scroll or even to look in it. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Look, the Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered so that he is able to open the scroll and C its seven seals.”
6 Then I saw one like a slaughtered lamb standing in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll out of the right hand of the one seated on the throne.
THE LAMB IS WORTHY
8 When he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and golden bowls filled with 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 slaughtered,
for God by your blood
from every tribe and language
and people and nation.
10You made them a kingdom F
and priests to our God,
and they will reign on the earth.
11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and also of the living creatures and of the elders. Their number was countless thousands, plus thousands of thousands. 12 They said with a loud voice,
Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered
to receive power and riches
and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and blessing!
“And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of
David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and,
lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb
as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God
sent forth into all the earth.”
Jesus is compared to a Lamb, as he was a Man God.
1. Humility. 2. Gentleness. 3. Weakness. 4. Submission. 5. His sweetness to his friends.
Were eminently concentred in him.
He is a Lion in his 1. Dignity. 2. Boldness. 3. Strength. 4. Invincibility. 5. His fury to his enemies.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
He was a Lamb when first he became incarnate. When he submitted to his parents, suffered the despite of men, was pained, when he took little Children to him, when he died, the just for the unjust. In his Condescension, Incarnation, Life, Death, Atonement.
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
He was a Lion when in glory he reigned, when he conquered Satan in the wilderness, in his miracles and sometimes reproofs, in his resisting unto blood, victory on the tree, and triumphant resurrection.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
He is a Lamb now in intercession, pleading, continual offering, bearing with the sons of men.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
He is a Lion in protecting his people against Satan. An invincible Lion in never suffering their destruction. At Last, when every Saint is saved, the mighty Lion shall show himself so to be in the judgment and damnation of his foes, and in that grandest scene: his triumphant entrance into heaven, “leading captivity captive.”
48.
13 I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say,
Blessing and honor and glory and power
be to the one seated on the throne,
and to the Lamb, forever and ever!
14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
5:5-6 “The Lion from the tribe of Judah . . . one like a slaughtered lamb.” He was a lamb when he became incarnate, submitted to his parents, welcomed little children, suffered the spite of people, and died for the unjust. He was a lion when he conquered Satan in the wilderness, performed miracles, resisted to the point of bloodshed, won victory on the tree, and rose triumphant from the dead. He is a lamb now—interceding, pleading, and bearing with the sons of men. He is a lion now—protecting his people against Satan. In the end, when every saint is saved, he will show himself to be a lion in the judgment of his foes and in his triumphant entrance into heaven, leading “the captives captive” (Eph 4:8).
5:6 “Then I saw one like a slaughtered lamb standing in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders.” It is for the lamb that the Father acts—he glorifies his Son. All the divine purposes run that way. The chief work of God is to make Jesus “the firstborn among many brothers and sisters” (Rm 8:29). He has made Jesus the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. All things ordained of the Father work toward Christ as their center. So all the redeemed and all the angels stand waiting about the Lord, swelling his glory and manifesting his praise. If Jesus is the center of the whole heavenly family, should he not be the center of our church life? Should we not always delight in him and see how we can magnify his glorious name? Should he not be also the center of our ministry? What will we preach about but Christ?
5:9 “You purchased people for God by your blood.” Have I been redeemed? Has the mortgage that was on me through sin been removed? Do I believe in Jesus Christ? If I believe that Jesus is the Christ and trust in him alone, I have been bought back with a countless price. The sufferings and death of Jesus have set his people free from slavery to sin. They have been purchased—redeemed. They come back to God as lands come back to the owner when the mortgage is discharged. We come back to God to whom we always belonged because Jesus has purchased us for God by his blood.
THE FIRST SEAL ON THE SCROLL
6Then I saw the Lamb open one of the seven A seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come! ” 2 I looked, and there was a white horse. Its rider held a bow; a crown was given to him, and he went out as a conqueror in order to conquer. B
THE SECOND SEAL
3 When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come! ” 4 Then another horse went out, a fiery red one, and its rider was allowed to take peace from the earth, so that people would slaughter one another. And a large sword was given to him.
THE THIRD SEAL
5 When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come! ” And I looked, and there was a black horse. Its rider held a set of scales in his hand. 6 Then I heard something like a voice among the four living creatures say, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, C and three quarts of barley for a denarius, but do not harm the oil and the wine.”
THE FOURTH SEAL
7 When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come! ” 8 And I looked, and there was a pale green D horse. Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following after him. They were E given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill by the sword, by famine, by plague, and by the wild animals of the earth.
THE FIFTH SEAL
9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered because of the word of God and the testimony they had given. F 10 They cried out with a loud voice: “Lord, G the one who is holy and true, how long until you judge those who live on the earth and avenge our blood? ” 11 So they were each given a white robe, and they were told to rest a little while longer until the number would be completed of their fellow servants and their brothers and sisters, who were going to be killed just as they had been.
THE SIXTH SEAL
12 Then I saw him open H the sixth seal. A violent earthquake occurred; the sun turned black like sackcloth made of hair; the entire moon I became like blood; 13 the stars J of heaven fell to the earth as a fig tree drops its unripe figs when shaken by a high wind; 14 the sky was split apart like a scroll being rolled up; and every mountain and island was moved from its place.
15 Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the generals, the rich, the powerful, and every slave and free person hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 And they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 because the great day of their K wrath has come! And who is able to stand? ”
B 6:2 Or went out conquering and in order to conquer
C 6:6 A denarius = one day’s wage
F 6:9 Other mss add about the Lamb
THE SEALED OF ISRAEL
7After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, restraining the four winds of the earth so that no wind could blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel rising up from the east, who had the seal of the living God. He cried out in a loud voice to the four angels who were allowed to harm the earth and the sea: 3 “Don’t harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we seal the servants of our God on their foreheads.” 4 And I heard the number of the sealed:
144,000 sealed from every tribe of the Israelites:
512,000 sealed from the tribe of Judah,
12,000 A from the tribe of Reuben,
12,000 from the tribe of Gad,
612,000 from the tribe of Asher,
12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali,
12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh,
712,000 from the tribe of Simeon,
12,000 from the tribe of Levi,
12,000 from the tribe of Issachar,
812,000 from the tribe of Zebulun,
12,000 from the tribe of Joseph,
12,000 sealed from the tribe of Benjamin.
A MULTITUDE FROM THE GREAT TRIBULATION
9 After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:
Salvation belongs to our God,
who is seated on the throne,
and to the Lamb!
QUOTE 7:9
Our robes will be white because his robes were red.
11 All the angels stood around the throne, and along with the elders and the four living creatures they fell facedown before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying,
Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom
and thanksgiving and honor
and power and strength
be to our God forever and ever. Amen.
13 Then one of the elders asked me, “Who are these people in white robes, and where did they come from? ”
14 I said to him, “Sir, B you know.”
Then he told me: These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15For this reason they are before the throne of God,
and they serve him day and night in his temple.
The one seated on the throne will shelter C them:
16They will no longer hunger;
they will no longer thirst;
the sun will no longer strike them,
nor will any scorching heat.
17For the Lamb who is at the center of the throne
will shepherd them;
he will guide them to springs of the waters of life,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
QUOTE 7:17
God is the great tear wiper.
QUOTE 7:17
We ask for no thrones; his throne is ours. The enthroned Lamb himself is all the heaven we desire.
7:1-3 “I saw four angels . . . restraining the four winds of the earth so that no wind could blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree. . . . He cried out in a loud voice to the four angels. . . . ‘Don’t harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we seal the servants of our God on their foreheads.’” The winds were to be restrained until all God’s people are safely sealed, and we may depend on it that no calamity will happen to destroy the people of God. They must first be saved. There was no flood until there was first the ark. God will protect his own. The wind did not blow on land, sea, or tree—not a ripple on the surface of the waters, not a leaf stirred on the bough—until God’s people are secured.
7:9 “There was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.” If there will be in heaven a multitude surpassing all human calculation, then the gospel is certain to achieve a great success. We are always fretting; we are in a great hurry for results. Let us be patient but diligent. Let us work as we wait. Let us serve, for the cause is in good hands. The pleasure of the Lord will prosper in the hands of Christ. He will not have died in vain; he will not lose the purchase of his blood.
“They were clothed in white robes.” Nakedness was revealed to man by sin. But Christ has come and clothed us completely. The robes are white to indicate purity and as an emblem of triumph over every foe. Oh, how beautiful that righteousness of Christ will be when we stand clothed with it before the eternal throne of God. Our robes will be white because his robes were red.
7:17 “The Lamb who is at the center of the throne will shepherd them.” Heaven will largely consist of expanded views of King Jesus and closer views of the glory that follows his sacrificial grief. We know too little of his glory. We scarcely know who he is that has befriended us. We hold the doctrine of his deity tenaciously, but in heaven we will perceive his Godhead in its truth so far as the finite can apprehend the infinite. We have known his friendship to us. But when we behold the King in his beauty in his own halls, and our eyes look into his royal countenance, and his face beams ineffable affection on each one of us, then we will find our heaven in his glory. We ask for no thrones; his throne is ours. The enthroned Lamb himself is all the heaven we desire.
“God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Tears are to fill the eyes of believers until they enter the promised rest. There would be no need to wipe them away if there were none remaining. God is the great tear wiper.
The more holy a man is, the more he hates sin. Surely, when we are made perfectly holy, we will have a greater hatred of sin. If on earth, we could be perfectly holy, I think we would do little else than mourn to think that so foul, black, and venomous a thing as sin had ever stained us. We would weep bitterly that we had ever offended such a good, gracious, tender, and abundantly loving God. It seems to me that if I were thoroughly sanctified and in such a holy state as those in heaven, I could not look at the Lamb without tears in my eyes. And it would be so in heaven, if it were not that by a glorious method—I know not how—God will wipe away all tears from our eyes. Who but the Almighty God could do this?
THE SEVENTH SEAL
8When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 Then I saw the seven angels who stand in the presence of God; seven trumpets were given to them. 3 Another angel, with a golden incense burner, came and stood at the altar. He was given a large amount of incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar in front of the throne. 4 The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up in the presence of God from the angel’s hand. 5 The angel took the incense burner, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it to the earth; there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.
QUOTE 8:3
No true prayer from the heart of a true child of God will miss its mark; all will reach the heavenly target.
THE SEVEN TRUMPETS
6 And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them.
THE FIRST TRUMPET
7 The first angel blew his trumpet, and hail and fire, mixed with blood, were hurled to the earth. So 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 SECOND TRUMPET
8 The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain ablaze with fire was hurled into the sea. So a third of the sea became blood, 9 a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
THE THIRD TRUMPET
10 The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from heaven. It fell on a third of the rivers and springs of water. 11 The name of the star is Wormwood, and a third of the waters became wormwood. So, many of the people died from the waters, because they had been made bitter.
THE FOURTH TRUMPET
12 The fourth angel blew 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 were darkened. A third of the day was without light and also a third of the night.
13 I looked and heard an eagle A flying high overhead, crying out in a loud voice, “Woe! Woe! Woe to those who live on the earth, because of the remaining trumpet blasts that the three angels are about to sound! ”
8:3 “Another angel, with a golden incense burner . . . was given a large amount of incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar in front of the throne.” Many Christians think their prayers are not heard because they are such poor things. But it is certain that every true prayer gets into the golden censer before the eternal throne of God. God has made provision for ensuring the acceptance of his people’s prayers. The “incense” offered “with the prayers of all the saints” makes our poor prayers acceptable to God—not the merit of our prayers but the power of Christ’s prevailing intercession. Jesus Christ has been appointed to the office of high priest so that he may take our supplications and present them before the throne of the Most High. No true prayer from the heart of a true child of God will miss its mark; all will reach the heavenly target.
THE FIFTH TRUMPET
9The fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from heaven to earth. The key for the shaft to the abyss was given to him. 2 He opened the shaft to the abyss, and smoke came up out of the shaft like smoke from a great B furnace so that the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke from the shaft. 3 Then locusts came out of the smoke on to the earth, and power C was given to them like the power that scorpions have on the earth. 4 They were told not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green plant, or any tree, but only those people who do not have God’s seal on their foreheads. 5 They were not permitted to kill them but were to torment them for five months; their torment is like the torment caused by a scorpion when it stings someone. 6 In those days people will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, but death will flee from them.
7 The appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. Something like golden crowns was on their heads; their faces were like human faces; 8 they had hair like women’s hair; their teeth were like lions’ teeth; 9 they had chests like iron breastplates; the sound of their wings was like the sound of many chariots with horses rushing into battle; 10 and they had tails with stingers like scorpions, so that with their tails they had the power to harm people for five months. 11 They had as their king D the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, E and in Greek he has the name Apollyon. F
12 The first woe has passed. There are still two more woes to come after this.
THE SIXTH TRUMPET
13 The sixth angel blew his trumpet. From the four G horns of the golden altar that is before God, I heard a voice 14 say to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels bound at the great river Euphrates.” 15 So the four angels who were prepared for the hour, day, month, and year were released to kill a third of the human race. 16 The number of mounted troops was two hundred million; H I heard their number. 17 This is how I saw the horses and their riders in the vision: They had breastplates that were fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow. The heads of the horses were like the heads of lions, and from their mouths came fire, smoke, and sulfur. 18 A third of the human race was killed by these three plagues — by the fire, the smoke, and the sulfur that came from their mouths. 19 For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails, because their tails, which resemble snakes, have heads that inflict injury.
20 The rest of the people, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands to stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see, hear, or walk. 21 And they did not repent of their murders, their sorceries, their sexual immorality, or their thefts.
THE MIGHTY ANGEL AND THE SMALL SCROLL
10Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head. A His face was like the sun, his legs B were like pillars of fire, 2 and he held a little scroll opened in his hand. He put his right foot on the sea, his left on the land, 3 and he called out with a loud voice like a roaring lion. When he cried out, the seven thunders raised their voices. 4 And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Seal up what the seven thunders said, and do not write it down! ”
5 Then the angel that I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. 6 He swore by the one who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it: “There will no longer be a delay, 7 but in the days when the seventh angel will blow his trumpet, then the mystery of God will be completed, as he announced to his servants the prophets.”
8 Then the voice that I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, “Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.”
9 So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take and eat it; it will be bitter in your stomach, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.”
10 Then I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I ate it, my stomach became bitter. 11 And they said to me, “You must prophesy again about C many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.”
THE TWO WITNESSES
11Then I was given a measuring reed like a rod, D with these words: “Go E and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count those who worship there. 2 But exclude the courtyard outside the temple. Don’t measure it, because it is given to the nations, F and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. 3 I will grant G my two witnesses authority to prophesy for 1,260 days, dressed in sackcloth.” 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord H of the earth. 5 If anyone wants to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and consumes their enemies; if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. 6 They have authority to close up the sky so that it does not rain during the days of their prophecy. They also have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every plague whenever they want.
THE WITNESSES MARTYRED
7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war on them, conquer them, and kill them. 8 Their dead bodies I will lie in the main street J of the great city, which figuratively K is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. 9 And some of L the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will view their bodies for three and a half days and not permit their bodies to be put into a tomb. 10 Those who live on the earth will gloat over them and celebrate and send gifts to one another because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.
THE WITNESSES RESURRECTED
11 But after three and a half days, the breath A of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet. Great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 Then they heard B a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” They went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies watched them. 13 At that moment a violent earthquake took place, a tenth of the city fell, and seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake. The survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second woe has passed. Take note: The third woe is coming soon!
THE SEVENTH TRUMPET
15 The seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying,
The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom
of our Lord and of his Christ,
and he will reign forever and ever.
16 The twenty-four elders, who were seated before God on their thrones, fell facedown and worshiped God, 17 saying,
We give you thanks, Lord God, the Almighty,
who is and who was, C
because you have taken your great power
and have begun to reign.
18The nations were angry,
but your wrath has come.
The time has come
for the dead to be judged
and to give the reward
to your servants the prophets,
to the saints, and to those who fear your name,
both small and great,
and the time has come to destroy
those who destroy the earth.
19 Then the temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant D appeared in his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder, an earthquake, E and severe hail.
11:12 “Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, ‘Come up here.’” When the time comes, fixed by irreversible decree, every believer in Christ will hear “a loud voice from heaven,” saying, “Come up here.” If we are in Christ, this should be the subject of joyful anticipation. Instead of dreading the time when we will leave this world to go to the Father, we should be thirsting and panting for the hour. With what joy will the voice from heaven sound in the ear of those wearied with labor. Our work will be ended, and our reward will come. Our Savior will say, “Come up here,” and we will see the glory we have believed in. Our lot in this life may never be that of protracted sickness, abject poverty, excessive labor, or the death of martyrdom. Yet let us still believe that, if we are true followers of Christ, whenever death comes—or rather whenever life and immortality come—it will be a joyous and blessed time for us. May we not seek of the Most High to delay the time when he summons us, but may we listen every morning for the royal message that says, “Come up here.”
11:19 “Then the temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant appeared in his temple.” If we could look into heaven at this moment, we may think that we would see an angry God, but we would see “the ark of his covenant.” The Lord said concerning his people that he would make an everlasting covenant. If God has made a covenant with us, it is not simply for today and tomorrow, or merely for this life, but forever and ever. Christ—the great sacrifice by whose death the covenant was ratified, the one who has sworn to carry out our part of the covenant—never alters. The guarantor of the new covenant is the Son of God who, like his Father, never fails and never changes. The covenant is always before God, for Christ is always there.
D 11:1 Other mss add and the angel stood up
J 11:8 Or lie on the broad street
B 11:12 Other mss read Then I heard
C 11:17 Other mss add and who is to come
THE WOMAN, THE CHILD, AND THE DRAGON
12A great sign F 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 labor and agony as she was about to give birth. 3 Then another sign G appeared in heaven: There was a great fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven crowns. H 4 Its tail swept away a third of the stars in heaven and hurled them to the earth. And the dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she did give birth it might devour her child. 5 She gave birth to a Son, a male who is going to rule A all nations with an iron rod. Her child was caught up to God and to his throne. 6 The woman fled into the wilderness, where she had a place prepared by God, to be nourished there B for 1,260 days.
THE DRAGON THROWN OUT OF HEAVEN
7 Then war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels also fought, 8 but he could not prevail, and there was no place for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was thrown out — the ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the one who deceives the whole world. He was thrown to earth, and his angels with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say,
The salvation and the power
and the kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Christ
have now come,
because the accuser of our brothers and sisters,
who accuses them
before our God day and night,
has been thrown down.
11They conquered him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
for they did not love their lives
to the point of death.
12Therefore rejoice, you heavens,
and you who dwell in them!
Woe to the earth and the sea,
because the devil has come down to you
with great fury,
because he knows his time is short.
THE WOMAN PERSECUTED
13 When the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he persecuted C the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 The woman was given two wings of a great eagle, so that she could fly from the serpent’s presence to her place in the wilderness, where she was nourished for a time, times, and half a time. 15 From his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river flowing after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman. The earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the river that the dragon had spewed from his mouth. 17 So the dragon was furious with the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring A — those who keep the commands of God and hold firmly to the testimony about Jesus.
THE BEAST FROM THE SEA
12:11 “They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb.” The death of the Son of God is the grand fact set forth by the words “the blood of the Lamb.” This death is the vital point of the gospel. The death of Christ is the death of sin and the defeat of Satan; therefore, it is the life of our hope and the assurance of Christ’s victory. We are to regard Satan as already literally and truly overcome through the death of the Lord Jesus. He is a vanquished enemy. By faith, let us grasp our Lord’s victory as our own since he triumphed in our nature and on our behalf. His victory was the victory of all who are in Christ. When the accuser has had his say and aggravated all our transgressions, let us not be ashamed to step forward and say, “But I have an advocate as well as an accuser. Oh Jesus, my Savior, speak for me!” Jesus has borne the penalty due to us. He has discharged for us on the cross all our liabilities to the justice of God, and we are free forever. The voice of the dragon has been silenced by the blood of the Lamb.
12:12 “The devil has come down to you with great fury, because he knows his time is short.” In the highest regions evil has received a total defeat through the life and death of our Lord Jesus. Atonement has been made for human sin. The peace of God reigns in heaven. Yet the conflict now rages here below. The prince of this world is warring mightily against the cause of God and truth. The devil knows that his time is short because of the victory Jesus gained over him. He is persuaded that his reign has ended and that his opportunity is fleeting. He values the time remaining to maintain his kingdom, to distress the people of God, and to dishonor the name of Christ. Oh that people were half as wise. We know our time is short and our lives will soon come to an end. Yet we fail to know it practically, for we are not as fervent as dying people ought to be.
This knowledge of the shortness of his time also excites Satan’s emotions. The deepest emotion of which he is capable is that of anger, for he does not know how to love. Wrath is his soul; hatred is his life. How much, then, ought the shortness of our time stir our hearts? With what compassion and eagerness ought we to pass our days of sojourning here? Knowing that the time of our departure is at hand and that the season in which we can serve God is brief, we ought to be excited to flaming zeal and passionate love. We are not half as stirred as we ought to be. Devils feel great hatred—how is it that we do not feel great love?
12:17 “The dragon was furious with the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring.” If ever there is a church of God that the devil likes, it is good for nothing.
F 12:1 Or great symbolic display ; see Rv 12:3
G 12:3 Or another symbolic display
B 12:6 Or God, that they might feed her there
B 12:18 Or he ; other mss read I
C 12:18 Some translations put Rv 12:18 either in Rv 12:17 or Rv 13:1.
13And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads. On its horns were ten crowns, D and on its heads were blasphemous names. E 2 The beast I saw was like a leopard, its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. The dragon gave the beast his power, his throne, and great authority. 3 One of its heads appeared to be fatally wounded, but its fatal wound was healed.
The whole earth was amazed and followed the beast. 4 They worshiped the dragon because he gave authority to the beast. And they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to wage war against it? ”
5 The beast was given a mouth to utter boasts and blasphemies. It was allowed to exercise authority F,G for forty-two months. 6 It began to speak H blasphemies against God: to blaspheme his name and his dwelling — those who dwell in heaven. 7 And it was permitted to wage war against the saints and to conquer them. It was also given authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation. 8 All those who live on the earth will worship it, everyone whose name was not written from the foundation of the world in the book I of life of the Lamb who was slaughtered. J
9 If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen.
10If anyone is to be taken captive,
into captivity he goes.
If anyone is to be killed K with a sword,
with a sword he will be killed.
This calls for endurance L and faithfulness from the saints.
THE BEAST FROM THE EARTH
11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; it had two horns like a lamb, M but it spoke like a dragon. 12 It exercises all the authority of the first beast on its behalf and compels the earth and those who live on it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. 13 It also performs great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in front of people. 14 It deceives those who live on the earth because of the signs that it is permitted to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who live on the earth to make an image N of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 It was permitted to give breath O to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast could both speak and cause whoever would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 And it makes 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 can buy or sell unless he has the mark: the beast’s name or the number of its name.
18 This calls for wisdom: P Let the one who has understanding calculate Q the number of the beast, because it is the number of a person. Its number is 666. R
E 13:1 Other mss read heads was a blasphemous name
F 13:5 Other mss read to wage war
H 13:6 Or He opened his mouth in
J 13:8 Or written in the book of life of the Lamb who was slaughtered from the foundation of the world
K 13:10 Other mss read anyone kills
L 13:10 Or Here is the perseverance
N 13:14 Or a statue, or a likeness
THE LAMB AND THE 144,000
14Then I looked, and there was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him were 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 I heard a sound S from heaven like the sound of cascading waters and like the rumbling of loud thunder. The sound I heard was like harpists playing on their harps. 3 They sang A a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders, but no one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 These are the ones who have not defiled themselves with women, since they remained virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were redeemed B from humanity as the firstfruits for God and the Lamb. 5 No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.
THE PROCLAMATION OF THREE ANGELS
6 Then I saw another angel flying high overhead, with the eternal gospel to announce to the inhabitants of the earth — to every nation, tribe, language, and people. 7 He spoke with a loud voice: “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship the one who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
8 And another, a second angel, followed, saying, “It has fallen, Babylon the Great has fallen. C She made all the nations drink the wine of her sexual immorality, D which brings wrath.”
9 And another, a third angel, followed them and spoke with a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he will also drink the wine of God’s wrath, which is poured full strength into the cup of his anger. He will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the sight of the holy angels and in the sight of the Lamb, 11 and the smoke of their torment will go up forever and ever. There is no rest E day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or anyone who receives the mark of its name. 12 This calls for endurance from the saints, who keep God’s commands and their faith in Jesus.” F
13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”
“Yes,” says the Spirit, “so they will rest from their labors, since their works follow them.”
REAPING THE EARTH’S HARVEST
14 Then I looked, and there was a white cloud, and one like the Son of Man G was seated on the cloud, with a golden crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 Another angel came out of the temple, crying out in a loud voice to the one who was seated on the cloud, “Use your sickle and reap, for the time to reap has come, since the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 16 So the one seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.
17 Then another angel who also had a sharp sickle came out of the temple in heaven. 18 Yet another angel, who had authority over fire, came from the altar, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Use your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the vineyard of the earth, because its grapes have ripened.” 19 So the angel swung his sickle at the earth and gathered the grapes from the vineyard of the earth, and he threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. 20 Then the press was trampled outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press up to the horses’ bridles for about 180 miles. A
14:3 “No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.” Heaven is not the place to learn that song; it must be learned on the earth. We must learn here the notes of free grace and dying love. And when we have mastered their melody, we will be able to offer to the Lord the tribute of a grateful heart, even in heaven, and blend it with the eternal harmonies.
14:5 “They are blameless.” What a wonderful change it will be for those who were once great sinners to be found blameless. They are cleansed from all of the guilt of sin and from all of the depravity that the addiction of sin brings. Part of the joy of heaven will be a long surprise, an endless wonder. If we are permitted to remember what we used to be, we will say, “Yet here I am, clean as the driven snow, washed in the blood of Jesus and renewed by the Spirit of God.”
14:12 “This calls for endurance from the saints, who keep God’s commands and their faith in Jesus.” Those who are to be crowned in heaven must bear the cross on earth. No cross, no crown. Many would be saints if everybody would encourage them. But as soon as a hard word is spoken, they are offended. Those who are to sing Christ’s praise in heaven must first be willing to bear Christ’s shame below. They must be numbered with him in humiliation, or they cannot expect to be partakers with him in glory. God grant us grace to have the endurance of the saints—the endurance that courts no one’s smile and fears no one’s frown but can endure all things for Jesus’s sake.
14:15 “Use your sickle and reap, for the time to reap has come, since the harvest of the earth is ripe.” This is the gathering in of the godly, who are Christ’s wheat. No angel reaps them but Christ himself with his own sharp sickle and with his own dear hands. He sowed wheat. He himself was the wheat that fell to the ground, died, and brought forth much fruit (Jn 12:24). So he gathers his own sheaves with his own hands. Let this be our prayer: “May I be among them. May I be one golden ear in Christ’s great harvest.”
14:19 “So the angel swung his sickle at the earth and gathered the grapes from the vineyard of the earth, and he threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath.” It is not the crowned Christ but an angel who will come to do this work of judgment. The wicked will be clearly distinguished from the righteous in that day. Nobody will mistake them then. In that day there will be no way of evading the judge’s infallible judgment. There will be no miscarriage of justice before the bar of God. Again, it will not be Christ who will do this work. An angel will do it—not the crowned King seated on the white cloud (14:14). They would not have anything to do with him, so he will have nothing to do with them except to deliver them over to the angel that has authority over fire and his brother executioner. There can be no possible exaggeration of the wrath of God. Let no one risk that doom for himself. Let sinners flee to the one refuge God has provided. Whoever will entrust his soul to Jesus Christ will be eternally saved.
A 14:3 Other mss add as it were
C 14:8 Other mss omit the second has fallen
D 14:8 Or wine of her passionate immorality
F 14:12 Or and the faith of Jesus, or and faithfulness to Jesus
PREPARATION FOR THE BOWL JUDGMENTS
15Then I saw another great and awe-inspiring sign B in heaven: seven angels with the seven last plagues; for with them God’s wrath will be completed. 2 I also saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had won the victory over the beast, its image, C and the number of its name, were standing on the sea of glass with harps from God. 3 They sang the song of God’s servant Moses and the song of the Lamb:
Great and awe-inspiring are your works,
Lord God, the Almighty;
just and true are your ways,
King of the nations. D
4Lord, who will not fear
and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All the nations will come
and worship before you
because your righteous acts
have been revealed.
5 After this I looked, and the heavenly temple — the tabernacle of testimony — was opened. 6 Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues, dressed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes wrapped around their chests. 7 One of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God who lives forever and ever. 8 Then 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.
THE FIRST BOWL
16Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the seven E bowls of God’s wrath on the earth.” 2 The first went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and severely painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped its image.
THE SECOND BOWL
3 The second F poured out his bowl into the sea. It turned to blood like that of a dead person, and all life in the sea died.
THE THIRD BOWL
4 The third F poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. 5 I heard the angel of the waters say,
You are just,
the Holy One, who is and who was,
because you have passed judgment on these things.
6Because they poured out
the blood of the saints and the prophets,
you have given them blood to drink;
they deserve it!
7 I heard the altar say,
Yes, Lord God, the Almighty,
true and just are your judgments.
THE FOURTH BOWL
8 The fourth A poured out his bowl on the sun. It was allowed to scorch people with fire, 9 and people were scorched by the intense heat. So they blasphemed the name of God, who has the power B over these plagues, and they did not repent and give him glory.
THE FIFTH BOWL
10 The fifth A poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People C gnawed their tongues because of their pain 11 and blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they did not repent of their works.
THE SIXTH BOWL
12 The sixth A 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. 13 Then I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming from the dragon’s mouth, from the beast’s mouth, and from the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are demonic spirits performing signs, who travel to the kings of the whole world to assemble them for the battle on the great day of God, the Almighty. 15 “Look, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who is alert and remains clothed D so that he may not go around naked and people see his shame.” 16 So they assembled the kings at the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon. E
THE SEVENTH BOWL
17 Then the seventh A poured out his bowl into the air, F and a loud voice came out of the temple G from the throne, saying, “It is done! ” 18 There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder. And a severe earthquake occurred like no other since people have been on the earth, so great was the quake. 19 The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations H fell. Babylon the Great was remembered in God’s presence; he gave her the cup filled with the wine of his fierce anger. 20 Every island fled, and the mountains disappeared. 21 Enormous hailstones, each weighing about a hundred pounds, I fell from the sky on people, and they blasphemed God for the plague of hail because that plague was extremely severe.
16:8-9 “The fourth poured out his bowl on the sun. It was allowed to scorch people with fire. . . . So they blasphemed the name of God, who has the power over these plagues, and they did not repent and give him glory.” What great power has God to accomplish his purposes when a single angel can do as much as this? And the Lord has myriads of them waiting to obey his command. God’s right hand can find out his adversaries. No ivory throne can lift a monarch above Jehovah’s rod. No pillar of fame can place a mortal beyond his sword. Since none can fly from God, let them fly to him. As no one can resist the power of his justice, let him flee to the power of his mercy.
One truth of God comes out of this passage more plainly than any other: Judgments, even the most terrible of them, do not in themselves produce a satisfactory repentance in the minds of people. The punishment drove them into still more furious rebellion. The terrors of the Lord produced blasphemy, but they did not produce repentance. The judgments of God may, through our hardness of heart, involve us in greater sin, apart from divine grace.
A 16:8,10,12,17 Other mss add angel
D 16:15 Or and guards his clothes
E 16:16 Some mss read Armagedon ; other mss read Harmegedon ; other mss read Mageddon ; other mss read Magedon
G 16:17 Other mss add of heaven
I 16:21 Lit about a talent ; talents varied in weight upwards from 75 pounds
THE WOMAN AND THE SCARLET BEAST
17Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me: “Come, I will show you the judgment of the notorious prostitute A who is seated on many B waters. 2 The kings of the earth committed sexual immorality with her, and those who live on the earth became drunk on the wine of her sexual immorality.” 3 Then he carried me away in the Spirit C to a wilderness.
I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered D with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, jewels, and pearls. She had a golden cup in her hand filled with everything detestable and with the impurities of her E prostitution. 5 On her forehead was written a name, a mystery: BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE DETESTABLE THINGS OF THE EARTH. 6 Then I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the witnesses to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.
THE MEANING OF THE WOMAN AND OF THE BEAST
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, with the seven heads and the ten horns, that carries her. 8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up from the abyss and go to destruction. Those who live on the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast that was, and is not, and is to come. 9 This calls for a mind that has wisdom: F “The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated. They are also seven kings: 10 Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he comes, he must remain for only a little while. 11 The beast that was and is not, is itself an eighth king, but it belongs to the seven and is going to destruction. 12 The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they will receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. 13 These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast. 14 These will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings. Those with him are called, chosen, and faithful.”
15 He also said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages. 16 The ten horns you saw, and the beast, will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, devour her flesh, and burn her up with fire. 17 For God has put it into their hearts to carry out his plan by having one purpose and to give their kingdom G to the beast until the words of God are fulfilled. 18 And the woman you saw is the great city that has royal power over the kings of the earth.”
THE FALL OF BABYLON THE GREAT
18After this I saw another angel with great authority coming down from heaven, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. 2 He called out in a mighty voice:
It has fallen, H
Babylon the Great has fallen!
She has become a home for demons,
a haunt for every unclean spirit,
a haunt for every unclean bird,
and a haunt I for every unclean and despicable beast. J
3For all the nations have drunk K
the wine of her sexual immorality,
which brings wrath.
The kings of the earth
have committed sexual immorality with her,
and the merchants of the earth
have grown wealthy from her sensuality and excess.
4 Then I heard another voice from heaven:
Come out of her, my people,
so that you will not share in her sins
or receive any of her plagues.
5For her sins are piled up A to heaven,
and God has remembered
her crimes.
6Pay her back the way she also paid,
and double it according to her works.
In the cup in which she mixed,
mix a double portion for her.
7As much as she glorified herself and indulged her sensual and excessive ways,
give her that much torment and grief.
For she says in her heart,
“I sit as a queen;
I am not a widow,
and I will never see grief.”
8For this reason her plagues will come in just one day —
death and grief and famine.
She will be burned up with fire,
because the Lord God who judges her is mighty.
THE WORLD MOURNS BABYLON’S FALL
9 The kings of the earth who have committed sexual immorality and shared her sensual and excessive ways will weep and mourn over her when they see the smoke from her burning. 10 They will stand far off in fear of her torment, saying,
Woe, woe, the great city,
Babylon, the mighty city!
For in a single hour
your judgment has come.
11 The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargo any longer — 12 cargo of gold, silver, jewels, and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; all kinds of fragrant wood products; objects of ivory; objects of expensive wood, brass, B iron, and marble; 13 cinnamon, spice, C incense, myrrh, D and frankincense; wine, olive oil, fine flour, and grain; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and slaves — human lives.
14The fruit you craved has left you.
All your splendid and glamorous things are gone;
they will never find them again.
15 The merchants of these things, who became rich from her, will stand far off in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning, 16 saying,
Woe, woe, the great city,
dressed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet,
adorned with gold, jewels, and pearls;
17for in a single hour
such fabulous wealth was destroyed!
And every shipmaster, seafarer, the sailors, and all who do business by sea, stood far off 18 as they watched the smoke from her burning and kept crying out: “Who was like the great city? ” 19 They threw dust on their heads and kept crying out, weeping, and mourning,
Woe, woe, the great city,
where all those who have ships on the sea
became rich from her wealth;
for in a single hour she was destroyed.
20Rejoice over her, heaven,
and you saints, apostles, and prophets,
because God has pronounced on her the judgment she passed on you!
THE FINALITY OF BABYLON’S FALL
21 Then a mighty angel picked up a stone like a large millstone and threw it into the sea, saying,
In this way, Babylon the great city
will be thrown down violently
and never be found again.
22The sound of harpists, musicians,
flutists, and trumpeters
will never be heard in you again;
no craftsman of any trade
will ever be found in you again;
the sound of a mill
will never be heard in you again;
23the light of a lamp
will never shine in you again;
and the voice of a groom and bride
will never be heard in you again.
All this will happen
because your merchants
were the nobility of the earth,
because all the nations were deceived
by your sorcery.
24In her was found the blood of prophets and saints,
and of all those slaughtered on the earth.
H 18:2 Other mss omit It has fallen
J 18:2 Other mss omit the words and a haunt for every unclean beast. The words and despicable then refer to the bird of the previous line.
K 18:3 Some mss read collapsed ; other mss read fallen
CELEBRATION IN HEAVEN
19After this I heard something like the loud voice of a vast multitude in heaven, saying,
Hallelujah!
Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God,
2because his judgments are true A and righteous,
because he has judged the notorious prostitute
who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality;
and he has avenged the blood of his servants
that was on her hands.
3 A second time they said,
Hallelujah!
Her smoke ascends forever and ever!
4 Then the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who is seated on the throne, saying,
Amen! Hallelujah!
5 A voice came from the throne, saying,
Praise our God,
all his servants, and the ones who fear him,
both small and great!
6 Then I heard something like the voice of a vast multitude, like the sound of cascading waters, and like the rumbling of loud thunder, saying,
Hallelujah, because our Lord God, the Almighty,
reigns!
7Let us be glad, rejoice, and give him glory,
because the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his bride
has prepared herself.
8She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure.
For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints.
9 Then he B said to me, “Write: Blessed are those invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb! ” He also said to me, “These words of God are true.” 10 Then I fell at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers and sisters who hold firmly to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God, because the testimony of Jesus is the spirit C of prophecy.”
THE RIDER ON A WHITE HORSE
11 Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and he judges and makes war with justice. 12 His eyes were like a fiery flame, and many crowns A were on his head. He had a name written that no one knows except himself. 13 He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God. 14 The armies that were in heaven followed him on white horses, wearing pure white linen. 15 A sharp B sword came from his mouth, so that he might strike the nations with it. He will rule C them with an iron rod. He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God, the Almighty. 16 And he has a name written on his robe and on his thigh: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
THE BEAST AND ITS ARMIES DEFEATED
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he called out in a loud voice, saying to all the birds flying high overhead, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of military commanders, the flesh of the mighty, the flesh of horses and of their riders, and the flesh of everyone, both free and slave, small and great.”
19 Then I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and against his army. 20 But the beast was taken prisoner, and along with it the false prophet, who had performed the signs in its presence. He deceived those who accepted the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image with these signs. Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21 The rest were killed with the sword that came from the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds ate their fill of their flesh.
19:9 “Blessed are those invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb!” At first sight it may seem incongruous to blend these two things together—the Lamb and a marriage feast. But the incongruity of figures must sometimes be allowed in order to make more apparent some significant truth of God. I gather that Christ, even in his highest glory, still wishes us to regard him as the sacrifice for sin. Since he delights to remember that he was our sacrifice, so does he appear as a Lamb in the marriage feast. He links the memory of his grief with the manifestation of his glory. The marriage supper is a feast of love—there love is at home. So Jesus, that he may reveal himself in his love best of all, appears as a bleeding sacrifice on the day of his love’s triumph.
This marriage feast will be the bringing of the people of God into the closest and happiest union with Christ their Lord in glory. Even now the Lord Jesus Christ is no stranger to some of us, and we are not strangers to him. Yet a day will come when we will see him face-to-face, and then we will know him with a clearer and fuller knowledge than is possible for us today. That feast will be, like most other marriage feasts, the fulfillment of long expectation. We do not know the longings of the heart of Christ for that day of glory. For this he lived. For this he died.
19:11 “Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and he judges and makes war with justice.” Jesus Christ has mighty power today, a power that none can measure. He was crucified in weakness. But where is the weakness now? He gave his hands to the nails and his feet to be fastened to the wood. But he does so no longer. He comes to fight, but the fight is for peace. He comes to destroy, but it is to destroy his people’s enemies. He comes as a conqueror, but it is as a delivering conqueror who scatters roses where he rides, breaking only the oppressor but blessing the citizens whom he emancipates.
19:16 “And he has a name written on his robe and on his thigh: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” This is the man of Nazareth. This is the crucified, despised, and rejected one. Servant of servants but now King of kings and Lord of lords. What will be the end of the battle he wages? Will any of his adversaries escape? Will they hold their own? No, they will be utterly destroyed before him. All the powers of evil will be destroyed.
SATAN BOUND
20Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven holding the key to the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, D and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the abyss, closed it, and put a seal on it so that he would no longer deceive the nations until the thousand years were completed. After that, he must be released for a short time.
THE SAINTS REIGN WITH CHRIST
4 Then I saw thrones, and people seated on them who were given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and who had not accepted the mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed.
This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! The second death has no power E over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.
SATANIC REBELLION CRUSHED
7 When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the sea. 9 They came up across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the encampment of the saints, the beloved city. Then fire came down from heaven A and consumed them. 10 The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet are, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT
11 Then I saw a great white throne and one seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. 12 I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books. 13 Then the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them; each one was judged according to their works. 14 Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. B 15 And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
20:11 “Then I saw a great white throne and one seated on it.” John saw a scene of the last day—that wondrous day whose coming none can tell. There is a throne of moral government over humanity, and he who sits on it presides over all the inhabitants of this world. We are not without a governor, lawgiver, and judge. This world is not left so that people may do as they will, without a legislator, without an avenger, without one to give reward or to inflict punishment. The sinner in his blindness sees no throne; therefore, he cries, “I will live as I like, for there is none to call me to account.” But John, with illuminated eyes, distinctly saw a throne and a personal ruler on it, who sat there to call his subjects to account. When our faith looks through the glass of revelation, it sees a throne too. It would be well for us if we felt more fully the influence of that ever-present throne and the one seated on it who will carry out his judgment before long. Are we ready to meet that last great day?
THE NEW CREATION
21Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.
3 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: C Look, God’s dwelling D is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, E and God himself will be with them and will be their God. F 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things G have passed away.
5 Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words H are faithful and true.” 6 Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give to the thirsty from the spring of the water of life. 7 The one who conquers will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son. 8 But the cowards, faithless, A detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars — their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
QUOTE 21:6
Need of water is a terrible need, but the need of divine grace is even more dreadful. If his soul’s thirst is not relieved, a person will die as surely as though slain by the sword.
THE NEW JERUSALEM
9 Then one of the seven angels, who had held the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues, came and spoke with me: “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 He then carried me away in the Spirit B to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 11 arrayed with God’s glory. Her radiance was like a precious jewel, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. 12 The city had a massive high wall, with twelve gates. Twelve angels were at the gates; the names of the twelve tribes of Israel’s sons were inscribed on the gates. 13 There were three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. 14 The city wall had twelve foundations, and the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb were on the foundations.
15 The one who spoke with me had a golden measuring rod to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. 16 The city is laid out in a square; its length and width are the same. He measured the city with the rod at 12,000 stadia. C Its length, width, and height are equal. 17 Then he measured its wall, 144 cubits according to human measurement, which the angel used. 18 The building material of its wall was jasper, and the city was pure gold clear as glass. 19 The foundations of the city wall were adorned with every kind of jewel: the first foundation is 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, the twelfth amethyst. 21 The twelve gates are twelve pearls; each individual gate was made of a single pearl. The main street D of the city was pure gold, transparent as glass.
22 I did not see a temple in it, because the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates it, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 The nations A will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. B 25 Its gates will never close by day because it will never be night there. 26 They will bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. C 27 Nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those written in the Lamb’s book of life.
21:1 “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth.” God means that this planet should continue to exist after it has had a new creation and renewed its youth. The regeneration of his people, their new birth, is a foretaste of what is yet to happen to this whole world of ours. We have the first fruits of the Spirit, and we groan within ourselves while we wait for the fullness of that new creation.
21:5 “Look, I am making everything new.” What a wonder it is that a man should ever hate a new heart. If a lobster loses its claw in a fight, it can grow a new claw—and that is thought to be marvelous. It would be wonderful if people were able to grow new arms and new legs. But whoever heard of a creature that grew a new heart? If a branch is lopped off a tree, perhaps the tree will sprout again and grow a new limb. But whoever heard of old trees getting new sap and a new core? Yet my Lord and Master, the crucified and exalted Savior, gives new hearts and new cores. He has put the vital substance into human beings afresh and made new creatures of them.
21:6 “I will freely give to the thirsty from the spring of the water of life.” Many things we think we need, and yet we live without them. But thirst is an urgent need, involving the loss of all comfort and even of life, if it is not supplied. There is no forgetting this pain and no stopping it except by drinking. The pain of thirst is keen to the last degree, and the desire to drink is intense beyond imagination. Need of water is a terrible need, but the need of divine grace is even more dreadful. If his soul’s thirst is not relieved, a person will die as surely as though slain by the sword.
Some people begin to be conscious of their soul’s great need; these are the ones whom the Savior calls “thirsty.” They have a dreadful need, and they know it by God’s grace. If I were some learned anatomist, I could give a lecture on the theory of thirst. Yet, though I cannot do this, I know practically what thirst is—as well as a doctor could tell me. When I am thirsty and am invited to drink, I do not refuse because I cannot explain my thirst. Nor is there any absolute necessity, in order to be saved, that we should know all about how it is that Christ can supply our needs. I may not be able to explain scientifically why this glass of water quenches my thirst, but I know it does. The liquid gets at the various organs and supplies them with what they require. I know enough about water to drink it when I am in need, and, practically, that is all that is needed. If I know enough about Christ to understand that he can meet every need of my soul, and if I take Christ to be my all in all, the matter is done.
Let us notice that being thirsty is not enough. It is not my sense of need; it is Christ’s power to bless me and my yielding myself up to Christ that will bring me salvation. The text plainly hits at the remedy for the thirsty soul. What does a thirsty man do to get rid of his thirst? He drinks.
21:25 “Its gates will never close by day because it will never be night there.” Shut gates signify war; open gates mean peace. There will be no more fear of war, no enemies to gather together to battle, no Armageddon to be dreaded by the glorified church of Christ, which will be in perfect peace forever.
C 21:3 Other mss read from heaven
F 21:3 Other mss omit and will be their God
A 21:8 Other mss add the sinful,
C 21:16 A stadion (sg) = about 600 feet; 12,000 stadia = 1,400 miles.
A 21:24 Other mss add of those who are saved
B 21:24 Other mss read will bring to him the nations’ glory and honor
THE SOURCE OF LIFE
22Then he showed me the river D of the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the city’s main street. The tree of life was on each side of the river, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree are for healing the nations, 3 and there will no longer be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will worship him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 Night will be no more; people will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God will give them light, and they will reign forever and ever.
THE TIME IS NEAR
6 Then he said to me, “These words are faithful E and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, F has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.”
7 “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown them to me. 9 But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you, your brothers the prophets, and those who keep the words of this book. Worship God! ”
10 Then he said to me, “Don’t seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near. 11 Let the unrighteous go on in unrighteousness; let the filthy still be filthy; let the righteous go on in righteousness; let the holy still be holy.”
12 “Look, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me to repay each person according to his work. 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, G so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. 15 Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to attest these things to you for the churches. I am the root and descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
17 Both the Spirit and the bride say, “Come! ” Let anyone who hears, say, “Come! ” Let the one who is thirsty come. Let the one who desires take the water of life freely.
18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book. 19 And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share of the tree of life and the holy city, which are written about in this book.
20 He who testifies about these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus A be with everyone. B Amen. C
22:3-4 “His servants will worship him. They will see his face.” What a happy blending—service and communion—the hands busy but the eyes ravished with the wondrous sight of the face of God. To serve the Lord and to see his face at the same time—this is a double joy. This is to be like Martha and Mary in one person. There can be no fellowship better than that which serves, and no service sweeter than what sees the face of the Master while serving him.
22:5 “People will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God will give them light.” While we are here, we need lamps and suns. It seems curious for John to put lamps and suns in the same sentence. But after all, compared with God, lamps and suns are much the same thing. Great lights and little lights are all limited. Even the sun is only worthy to be ranked with a lamp in comparison with the boundless, infinite God who is light and the source of all light in heaven above or on the earth beneath.
22:17 “Both the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ Let anyone who hears, say, ‘Come!’ Let the one who is thirsty come.” Here is a twofold ministry. We are urged to say, “Come,” but it is in a double sense. We say to Jesus, “Come,” and we say to the sinner, “Come.” If the verse is read in connection with what precedes it, one is persuaded that it depicts the cry of the Spirit and the bride addressed to the Lord Jesus concerning his second advent. The Redeemer’s coming is the desire of the entire church. The ministry of prayer for the coming of the Lord ought to grow more and more fervent as the years roll on.
But there is a second ministry of the church—the cry for the coming of sinners to Christ. It is a sad calamity when any church ceases from its mission work. Such a church is clearly out of fellowship with the Spirit of God and has ceased to work with him. For this purpose the Spirit of God dwells among humanity, and for this purpose there is a church left on earth.
This, then, is the double ministry, and the first call is not opposed to the second. The fact that Christ is coming ought never to make us any the less diligent in pressing sinners to come to Christ. Let the two parts be evenly balanced. Let there be prayer to our Lord—“Come quickly!”—and an equal measure of entreaty to sinners—“Come to Christ!” Let us blend the two in wise proportion and set both on fire. Let us tell of Christ’s coming for judgment and then invite people to come to Christ for mercy. Let us warn them that he is on the way but tell them that he waits to be gracious. While he lingers, they have time for repentance. Thus, we will both drive and draw, both convince and comfort.
22:21 “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with everyone. Amen.” The Old Testament ended with a curse. The New Testament ends with benediction. Oh, that we might all have a share of it!