Well, here it is, the last book in the Bible. The Revelation of Jesus Christ, given to John while he was in prison on the island of Patmos (off the coast of Turkey). There’s a lot of weird imagery in this book that I’m not going to even TRY to explain. Let’s get started.
John begins with a description of Jesus. John sees him standing with seven lampstands and holding seven stars. These represent churches throughout Asia; He tells John to write letters to the churches. Each letter has the words, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Are we listening?
Ephesus: You do good works, but you have lost your first love.
Smyrna: You are persecuted, you will continue to be persecuted; keep the faith.
Pergamum: You have followed false teachers: repent (or else!).
Thyatira: You do good deeds, but tolerate immoral women. Hold to the truth you have.
Sardis: You have a good reputation, but you are dead. Wake up!
Philadelphia: You have kept my word; hold on to your faith.
Laodicea: You are lukewarm, not hot or cold. Repent--I stand at the door and knock.
John’s end-of-the-world visions begin with a view of a glorious Jesus on a throne surrounded by 24 elders and 4 creatures, holding a scroll with seven seals; a Lamb appears to break the seals.
First seal: White horse, rider has a bow and a crown, represents War or Victory
Second seal: Red horse, rider has a sword, represents Violence
Third seal: Black horse, rider has a pair of scales, represents Famine
Fourth seal: Pale horse, rider named Death, followed by Hades, represents Pestilence
Fifth seal: Martyrs under the altar cry out, told to wait a while for the rest of their number
Sixth seal: Earthquake, eclipses, stars fell from the sky, everyone hid in the caves. Also, 144,000 Jews are sealed, or marked, as belonging to God.
Seventh seal: Silence in heaven. And then the seven trumpets.
First trumpet: One third of the earth, trees, plants destroyed.
Second trumpet: One third of the seas, fish, ships destroyed.
Third trumpet: One third of the rivers, springs destroyed by a falling star (Wormwood).
Fourth trumpet: One third of the sun, moon, stars destroyed.
Fifth trumpet: Locusts. Sort of. They look like horses, sting like scorpions, and have armor. And they fly. Their ruler is Abaddon/Apollyon.
Sixth trumpet: Four angels released, to kill 1/3 of all people. An angel comes with a book, but does not allow John to write what he says. Two witnesses come who preach for 3 1/2 years, then are killed, rise again after 3 1/2 days, and are taken up to heaven.
Seventh trumpet: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; And He will reign forever and ever” (11:15).
There are also signs in heaven, of a woman giving birth and a dragon. The dragon fights with Michael. (Guess who wins?) The dragon pursues the woman, but she flees.
There is a beast from the sea who works with the dragon to blaspheme the Name of God; another beast comes from the land and tells people to worship the beast from the sea. The beasts will mark their followers as God has already done, and no one will be able to buy or sell without the mark of the beast. The number of the beast? 666 (13:18).
The Lamb appears again with his 144,000 followers. Three angels come to command people to fear God and not to worship the beast or receive his mark. Hmm...worship God, don’t follow false prophets...this bears repeating once again! There is a great harvest of wheat and of grapes; when the grapes are pressed, blood floods the earth.
Another set of seven judgments is introduced: seven angels with bowls, with plagues resembling those poured out on Egypt.
First bowl: Sores on those with the mark of the beast
Second bowl: Sea turns to blood; all sea creatures die
Third bowl: Fresh water (springs, rivers) also turned to blood
Fourth bowl: Sun scorches the unrepentant
Fifth bowl: Darkness over the earth
Sixth bowl: The Euphrates river dries up; armies gather at Har-Magedon (Armageddon)
Seventh bowl: World-wide earthquake and hundred-pound hailstones
John then sees a vision of a woman robed in purple and scarlet (idolatry), and a beast with seven heads (seven kings) and ten horns (ten future kings). These two together will gain great power over the earth. An angel comes down speaking of the fall of Babylon (also sin and idolatry) and the world mourns the destruction of this “great” city.
Heaven rejoices at the ultimate triumph of good over evil. Christ returns, victorious, on a white horse. Satan is bound and thrown into an abyss for 1,000 years. Many martyrs are resurrected and reign with Christ. Satan is let loose, wrecks havoc and causes war, then is defeated again. Satan, Death, and Hades are thrown in the lake of fire. Forever.
Finally, “the holy city, the New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven” (21:2). No more tears, death, or pain. Jesus makes all things new. The city is enormous; the streets are gold, clear as glass. No temple is needed--God is there. No sun is needed--the city is light. Only those whose names are in the Lamb’s book of life are to enter.
Does that sound exclusive? Like it’s leaving people out? Sure it does. But that’s what has been happening over the course of THE WHOLE BIBLE. God offers wonderful joy to people who will love and obey him, and He promises utter destruction for those who will not. Time and time again, people choose the “will not” option. The Holy City, reserved only for God’s people, is the eternal fulfillment of both of those promises.
“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Come Lord Jesus” (22:20).
I couldn’t agree more.
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