Revelation 17-22
Chapter 17-19:10 Judgment on the Harlot ( 7 Voices ) Chapter 17: the big picture is the Judgment on the Harlot ( Babylon v.5, the great city v.18). Downfall already spoken of in 14:8 Harlot is a fallen community, the opposite of the church. Church- pure community, that promotes the kingdom of God and is washed in the blood of the Lamb. Harlot- impure community, promotes the kingdom of darkness, drunk on the blood of the martyrs.
Judgment on the Harlot Harlot rides on the beast ( anti- Christian Government) an evil culture and government working together. 17:3 Harlot beautiful and grotesque.17:4-6 Seduces- draws men away from God.17:2 Beast s judgment connected with her
Judgment on the Harlot 17:9,10- Past manifestations of the beast (five have fallen). Present manifestation (one is) A future manifestation ( the other has not yet come) A final manifestation ( the 8 th which is like the other seven and it goes to perdition.
Judgment on the Harlot Anti- God governments, kings and rulers that unbelievers worship have been, are, will be and will have a final manifestation.
Judgment on the Harlot-2 nd View of the Battle 17:13,14- Battle(war) described. Again not real battle or contest. The Lamb conquers.
Judgment on Harlot- 2 nd view of the battle The enemy destroyed here is the Harlot, Babylon. Ungodly culture,civilization, etc. Other enemies also mentioned in a secondary fashion. ( beast). Battle at the 2 nd Coming when all God s enemies are destroyed.
Revelation 18- Downfall of the Harlot Basically a long dirge. Funeral. In which everyone( unbelievers) mourn her shocking downfall. Similar to Old Testament Dirges over fallen cities like Tyre.
19:1-10 Contrast Contrast: from the judgment of the harlot to the victory of the Bride. From the orgy of the harlot to the marriage of the Lamb. From the decadent dress of the Harlot to the wedding garments of the Bride.
19:11-21 (3 rd View of the Battle) Beast and false prophet judged 19:20 Judged at the 2 Coming and thrown into the lake of fire that burns with sulphur. 19:11-21- Description of Jesus. The victorious King of Kings and Lord of Lords who conquered in 17:14. Two dinner parties: Great supper of God 19:17. Birds are the invited guests and the entrée is unbelievers. Ezekiel 39:17ff Marriage supper of the Lamb.19:9 Believers are the invited guests. 19:9 Blessed
3 rd View of the Battle 19:19- same enemies gather for battle as in Chapter 17. Repetition for emphasis. No contest. 19:20 beast was captured and with it the false prophet. Not a literal battle. People not killed by literal swords but slain by the sword that comes from the mouth of Jesus. 19:21 Jesus speaks and it is all over.
Chap. 20-4 th View of the Battle In the 4 th View of the Battle Satan is thrown into the lake of fire. 20:10. Climactic progression. Death and Hades also thrown into the lake of fire. 20:14.
1000 year reign The only place in scripture where it is mentioned. 6 times in 20:1-7. Jesus did not speak of a literal reign of himself on this earth before Satan is destroyed ( lake of fire) and before death is destroyed. Kingdom not of this world John 18: 36,37 Gospels the kingdom is not a literal one on earth where Jesus is sitting on a throne in Jerusalem. Kingdom in Revelation 12:10. Symbolic period of time. Complete
Binding of Satan: 20:1-3 Symbolic way to describe a limitation put on Satan. Not literal chains or pit. Limitation on Satan for the 1000 years. 20:3.
What is the limitation? How is Satan bound? Can t deceive the nations any more during the 1000 years. Satan s description in 12:9 compared with 20: 2- deceiver of the whole world is omitted in 20:2. Satan s power to deceive the nations was bound at Christ s 1 st Coming. Bound in a specific sense. Satan is not in the lake of fire ( the binding before the 2 nd Coming) yet but his ability to deceive the Nations ( Gentiles) has ended. Parallel with the message of Acts.
Chronology of Events Millennial reign in relation to the Second Coming. See Handout
1000 years before the 2 nd Coming We are living in the 1000 year reign of Christ. Time between 1 st and 2 nd Coming. Satan is bound now. Not bound in every aspect. But in one very important ( most important) aspect. The gospel goes to the nations.( gentiles). Other helpful passages: Matt. 12:28,29, John 12:31. Spoken of in the prophets as multitudes coming to God from the nations
1000 years as Now 2 Peter 3:8-1000 years can describe the period of time between the 1 st and 2 nd Coming of Christ. ( so can a day) Peter also says this period of time is for people to come into the kingdom 2 Peter 3:9,15 ( Satan bound)
20:7-10 (4 th View of the Battle) Fire from Heaven. 20:9 Fire and the 2 nd Coming. 2 Thes.1:7 and 2 Peter 3:7, 10,11. Final Enemy Destroyed: Satan in the lake of fire.
Great White Throne The dead ( unbelievers) judged by what is written in the books, by what they had done. What one has done can only condemn them. If one s name isn t in the book of life then thrown into the fire. Hell= 2 nd Death. Believers have their names in the Book of Life and do not Stand before the Great White Throne. Rewards 11:10 Believers trust in the work of Christ not their own works. Death and hades in the lake of fire. Death is no more. Believers get Glorified Spiritual Bodies.
Eternal Blessing(7) Chap.21,22 Again a Contrast: The two groups of mankind. Switches from judgment on the unbelievers to to the eternal blessing of the saints. Read C.S. Lewis Quote.
Blessing The book ends in Blessing. New heaven and earth. A new earth and atmosphere untouched by sin.. Holy City, New Jerusalem=church 21:10,1. out of heaven -The church is God s workmanship. The Wedding Image: Long awaited and anticipated Beauty Love relationship
Blessing 21:3 Behold the dwelling of God is with men. God s eternal and #1 goal. To restore the fellowship destroyed in the garden. The story of the Bible. He wants to dwell with us! We need to dwell with Him! This is the wedding! ( read illustration)
Blessing 21:5- Behold, I make all things new. The creator and redeemer Making everything new. New creations in Christ New Heaven and Earth
Blessing 21:6 It is done. I am the alpha and Omega. God has accomplished everything from beginning to end. 21:6,7- Those who acknowledged their Thirstiness ( spiritual need) got eternal life through Christ s payment. 21:7- our reward ( heritage) as conquerors is relationship with Jesus. He is our great reward.
Blessing 21:9- an invitation to see the Bride the wife of the Lamb. Instead of seeing a bride he is shown a city, the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven. The church is a bride. The church is a city the New Jerusalem. 21:11- having the glory of God. The glory of God filled the tabernacle and the temple. But here the glory of God dwells in his people permanently.
Blessing The church is made up of the faithful ( the new Israel). On the gates the names of the 12 tribes inscribed. The foundations the twelve names of the twelve apostles. Ephesians 2:20 built on the foundation of the Apostles and prophets.
Blessing 21:15- the new Jerusalem ( the church) is a perfect cube. In the Old Testament the Holy of Holies was a cube. The Church is God s Holy of Holies. Where he dwells. 21:21the street( there is only one. Not streets). See 22:1,2. A river (eternal life) comes from the throne and flows through the middle of this street. The street leads to the throne. The street is pure( gold, transparent as glass). The street is the way to eternal life. There is only one street, one highway one way to God. John 14:6. Spoken of in the prophets as the highway.
Blessing 21:22- I saw no temple. The is no need for a building for God to dwell in. The temple was a picture of God dwelling with his people. His people have his spirit in them. We always have access, always in his presence.
Blessing 22:1- the river from the throne. It brings life were ever it goes. The river (water) symbol in the prophets= blessing, salvation, cleansing. Salvation, blessing and cleansing come from the throne of God and of the Lamb. Eternal life and blessing comes from God.
Blessing The tree of life. Eternal life. the tree that brought eternal life was the cross. Acts 5:30, Acts 10:39, Gal. 3:13= the cross is called a tree.
Blessing 22:3- no more curse. 22:3- perfect worship 22:4-we shall see his face. 22:4- we belong to God. His name is on us. 22:5- dwell in light. 22:5- reign forever.
Epilogue and Benediction The Invitation to Come to Christ: 22:17 is the invitation. Who extends the invitation? Spirit, Bride and those who hear. Our role now, until he comes is to extend the invitation.
Final words Jesus- Surely I am coming soon John- Amen, Come Lord Jesus.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away.