Chapters 20

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Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Final Comments

This is a passage of scripture so difficult that even our own brethren have not been able to agree on the meaning of it. Everyone recognizes that the passage is highly figurative. It may possibly be the most difficult and controversial passage in the entire Bible.

As we strive to understand chapter 20 We must remember that the passages which are necessary to make one wise to salvation are simple enough to an honest heart that even a child can understand them (II Tim. 3:15; Isaiah. 35:8). Although it is not necessary for us all to come to complete agreement on a difficult passage such as this, we should know it well enough to be able to answer those popular modern interpretations that cast Christ in the role of a false prophet.

1-2 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;

Then that is next--after the destruction of Rome and the Beast, I next saw. Remember the chapter divisions are not inspired. This chapter is a continuation of the answer to the martyrs' prayers. The beast and false prophet had been dealt with, but their leader had not yet been punished. Note: it true that the word translated "then" is the word KAI. The normal meaning of this word is and, but one of the peculiarities of John's writing style is a tendency to use the word, in narrative to establish the order of events. The same can often be done in other passages. For example we could translate Acts 2:38, "Repent, then be baptized . . ."

3 and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.

Note that the purpose of the binding and sealing of Satan was to prevent him from deceiving the nations no more. The question immediately arises, How had Satan been deceiving the nations up until the 19th chapter? By commanding the worship of the emperor (beast). The one thousand years then would be a period of time during which the devil could no longer universally command the worship of himself through the state and outlaw Christianity. A THOUSAND YEARS is not a literal period of time. It indicates a long indefinite period of time (cf. introductory notes).

4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Note that the verse does not teach how long Christ was to reign. Christ reigned while these souls were yet under the altar and will continue to reign during the little season after the 1,000 years (I Cor. 15:24-26). Note that only the martyrs are mentioned as reigning and then only their souls.

5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. 7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison

The only ones involved in the first resurrection were to be those Christian martyrs of verse 4. Their reigning with Christ IS their RESURRECTION; literally "rising again." This word does not necessarily describe a literal resurrection (Luke 2:34). Their rising up and reigning is only for 1,000 years. Which means that they will not be reigning during the "little season" to follow.

One of the most difficult questions of this difficult chapter is the subject of the first resurrection. First remember that clear and obvious passages of scripture teach that there is to be only one literal universal judgment and resurrection (John 5:28-29; 11:24; II Pet. 3:10; Matt. 25:31ff) and that resurrection of all and judgment will take place at the last day.

With these facts clearly planted in our minds, we are forced to the obvious assumption that the resurrection--rising up--of this verse is figurative. This fact should not surprise us in light of Rev. 1:1. One other passage alludes to a figurative resurrection. In that passage, the Lord interprets the figure for us. In Ezekiel 37:1-12, Ezekiel, who is also an apocalyptic prophet, sees a vision of the resurrection of the bones of dead Hebrews. He is told that this figurative resurrection is to teach the vindication and triumph of the cause of those dead children of God at the hands of God who would destroy their oppressors (the Babylonians).

Thus the first resurrection of this verse is teaching that the cause of the martyrs under the altar would be vindicated at the hands of God by the destruction of the Romans who had murdered them.

8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea.

Gog And Magog. This figure, like that of the first resurrection--is also taken from Ezekiel. The historical fulfillment of Ezekiel's prophecy demonstrated that Gog was Antiochus Epiphanes and Magog was the nation over which he ruled. He was the hated enemy of the people of God in inter-testamental times. He polluted their temple by having swine flesh sacrificed upon the altar. In inter-testament literature, Gog and Magog became the terms used to describe the enemies of the Messiah.

9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.

The camp of the saints. The word CAMP is a military term to describe a barracks or headquarters. The BELOVED CITY is the church (Heb. 12:22ff).

10 And the devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Torments conveys the idea of torture which brings extreme distress or anguish to body and mind. Many question the doctrine of eternal torment, however Matt. 25:41,46 teaches that the torment of the wicked will last as long as the reward of the righteous. Romans 16:26 uses the same Greek word AIONIOS to describe God as the Everlasting God.

11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.

Him that sat upon it is the Son, not the Father. Some passages do indeed say that the Father will judge, still other passages say that the Son will judge (Acts 17:31; Rom. 2:16). When all these passages are harmonized It appears that The Father will judge through the Son.

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.

The dead, the great and the small. This is the literal resurrection (John 5:28ff; Acts 24:15). THE BOOKS are either the books of the Bible (John 12:48) or God's omniscient record of the events of our lives. The book of life is God's roll book of the saved (Psalm. 69:28; 139:16; Phil. 4:3). This is not judgment of only the wicked as Premillennialists suppose (II Cor. 5:10; Matt. 25:46).

14 Since this is the final judgment, there will be no more need for Hades to continue to exist.

Chapter 21

1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.

This New heaven and new earth is not the old universe cleansed and renovated (II Pet. 3:10-11). The old one could find no place to exist anymore. Surely resurrected spiritual beings (Matt. 22:30; Heb. 1:14) would have no need of a physical universe (Luke 24:39).

2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

The new Heaven and Earth will receive a New Jerusalem from God. It will be new KAINOS in kind superior to the one that preceded it (Gal. 4:26; Heb. 11:10; 12:22). As a bride adorned the New Jerusalem will be a place specially prepared for us as a bride is adorned for her husband just as Hell was a place prepared for the devil and his angels (John 14:1-4).

3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.

4 "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."

There will be no more sorrow. Paul's thorn will be gone. Jeremiah will never weep again. Peter will never stick his foot in his mouth. Lazarus will never hunger again. All that alarms and terrifies us will be gone forever. Why? Because there will be no sin present and God himself will care for our needs.

6 And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.

With this verse, John is brought back to the present and promised that God is willing to give the precious life-sustaining water of life (John 4:10; 7:37) to all who desire it to strengthen them in their journey toward eternity.

7 "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.

He who uses the water of life to overcome the world will inherit Heaven as the right of a son.

8 "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."

But i.e. in contrast to the overcomer, these people will be condemned. The fearful are at the beginning of the list. There is no place in God's army for the coward. He is worse than no help at all in time of battle. He is worse than the unbeliever, for he knows better but lacks courage. The cowards of the first century sold out their brothers in Christ to save their own necks. The abominable are the morally or spiritual foul. Many in our society see no problem with fornication (PORNANIA), illicit sex. Their judge does not share their "liberated" view. Sorcerers were false teachers who were devoted to magical arts and drugs.

9-10 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife." 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

The New Jerusalem that comes down is the church taking its place in the eternal abode, for this new Jerusalem is the Bride (v. 9) which is the church (19:7). In contrast to the city of Rome, which was pictured as a prostitute, the church is pictured as a pure, lovely bride. Verses 9 & 10 are parallel to verses 1&2. The first emphasizes that the church is Holy and the second that it is from God.

12-15 Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. 14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.

Wall great and high: in ancient times, high walls meant security. The Old and New Testament saints are united in eternity with the twelve gates named for the twelve tribes and the twelve foundation stones named for the apostles.

16-20 And the city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. 17 Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. 18 And the construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.

The city is described as a cube just as the Holy of Holies had been (I Kings 6:20). 12,000 Furlongs is about 1,500 miles. However, remembering that numbers usually have a symbolic value in Revelation, we see that it is the product of the multiplication of the number for religion (12) by a complete number 1,000. A literal application of the size of New Jerusalem by the Premillennialists of the size of New Jerusalem is futile since Palestine is only 150 by 70 miles.

21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

The gates were to keep the unworthy out. They were of pearl -- the only jewel that is the result of suffering. So, those who enter Heaven will do so through suffering in this world.

22-27 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 And the city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it, and the Lamb is its light. 24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. 25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). 26 And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. 27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

No temple: The temple was the place where the people met God to sacrifice for their sins. Since there will be no more sin to separate us from God, there will be no more need for a temple.

Chapter 22

1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.

2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Some have quibbled with the phraseology of songs that refer to the "streets of gold" because the phrase is singular in this passage. However the word is used in this passage in a collective sense to show the unity of everything in Heaven. Otherwise we have the absurd picture of a city 1,500 miles in every direction with three gates on each of the four walls with only one street (even Elyria has a better street system than that). The phrase tree of life is also used collectively for the trees of Heaven. The wording is confusing, but verses 1&2 picture the river of life flowing from the throne, down the midst of the streets with the tree of life growing along both sides of the river. It is the picture of paradise restored. The fact that the tree of life is said to be on "Either side of the river" makes it obvious that the phrase tree of life is used collectively.

3-4 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. 4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.

In this chapter, the Heavenly abode is pictured as the paradise regained. Paradise is an old Persian word meaning pleasure garden. In the first paradise of Eden there was a river, the tree of life and the coming of the curse. In this paradise restored there is a river, the tree of life and the final removal of the curse.

5 And there shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.

For those who question the application of chapters 21 & 22 to the period after this life is over and the world is gone we offer this verse. Some have maintained that chapters 21 & 22 are a glorified description of the church victorious over Rome or the Jews but still on this Earth. It is true that the saints reign upon the Earth now (5:10) and in life (Rom. 5:17). It is also true that there was to be a 1,000 year reign. But chapters 21 & 22 picture a time when we will reign forever and ever.

6-7 Then he said to me, "These words are faithful and true." And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place. 7 "Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."

These verses make it obvious that the first century saints were expected to and did in fact understand the book of Revelation. Given the great difficulty that present day explanations of this book have spawned, it must be assumed that our difficulties arise from the fact that many are trying to understand the book through twentieth century eyes. The only proper way to study the book must be to ask the question, "What did the ones who initially received the book understand it to mean?" The phrase I come quickly does not imply that the authors of the Bible mistakenly taught that Jesus was coming in the first century. Liberal theologians have made such a charge. But note that the Lord did not say that he was coming soon rather than when he came it would be quickly. To believe in the "soon return of Jesus" as the fundamentalists are fond of saying is also to believe that which cannot be substantiated by scripture. The Lord gives no signs of when he will return -- regardless of what many Premillennialists are teaching. Jesus himself said, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority" (Acts 1:7). And yet many are spending more time trying to figure these very times out than they are trying to make sure that they are prepared for that momentous event.

8-9 Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. 9 Then he said to me, "See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God."

These verses strike the death knell to the false doctrine which teaches the worship of the popes and dead saints. The popes receive the worship of mortals. They claim to be successors of Peter and yet they ignore the example of Peter who refused to receive the worship of Cornelius because he was also a man (Acts 10:26). The angel makes it clear that even angels are not to be worshipped. Only God is worthy of our worship.

10. And he said to me, "Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.

This verse certainly destroys the attempts of many to place the fulfillment of the bulk of this book thousands of years after its writing.

11-13 "He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still." 12 "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 13 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last."

These verses must be taken together to teach that when the Lord does come, there will be no more opportunity for the wicked to repent.

14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

This passage destroys the doctrine of faith only coupled with the doctrine of the impossibility of apostasy. It is taught by many that anyone who has ever believed in Jesus (faith only) will spend eternity in Heaven, regardless of how they live their lives from that day on (Impossibility of Apostasy). When asked why we should bother doing any more than just believing then, we are told that if we only believe we will not live as near the upper class section of Heaven in which God will dwell with the greats like Paul and Moses. However, this verse teaches that the only ones to enter Heaven will be those who do his commands. Thus, those who believe but refuse to obey (I John 12:42) will have no right to even enter Heaven.

15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.

Those who have faith only are placed in some very repulsive company in Hell for eternity. For one to believe the truth and not obey it one must love and practice a lie.

16 "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star."

Bright and morning star: Jesus as the morning star is a herald and harbinger of the coming eternal day.

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. And whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

Although these verses apply only directly to the book of Revelation the view that the Word of God is not something to be tampered with by men is taught throughout the Bible (Deut. 4:2; 12:32; Prov. 30:5ff; Gal. 1:6-9; Matt. 4:4).

18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, 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 shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. 20 He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

The Lord's last works to mortal men are contained in this verse. What is His final warning? Truly, I will come again quickly.

21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Jesus has given His closing words, now John gives his final written benediction. When we consider the incredible tests that were yet future for the saints, surely no more fitting benediction could have been given.

FINAL COMMENTS

We have just completed the capstone of God's revelation to man. When we consider the terrible persecutions being faced by the early Christians at the time Revelation was given, we wonder at their great faith. Indeed the whole world had turned against them, they were considered enemies of the state -- traitors fit for the worst punishments evil minds could devise.

We can guess at least some of the questions that filled their prayers: how can we endure such persecution? Why has our God not intervened to save us? How can such evil men prosper at the expense of the righteous? Does God see? Does he hear? Does he care? What will we receive from him in return for such great sacrifice?

All of these questions and more must have poured from the hearts of those early saints. One can only imagine what joy and increased faith and courage must have welled up in the hearts of those tested saints as they read this book--the answer to their questions.

The continuing existence of the Lord's church is striking testimony to the success of the book of Revelation for those saints did indeed overcome and the Roman beasts were indeed destroyed.

Those of us who are alive this day can take heart from this book. Although none of us are being tested to the degree that those early saints were, we too are often heard to ask some of the same questions in prayer that they asked. Also, we never know when a change in the course of world history could once again find the nations of the world opposed to us.

A proper understanding of Revelation will help us to be prepared for such an event. If such were ever to become our lot, we could take strength from the fact that others had so suffered and in God's good time justice was done. In short we can know that Heaven will be worth it all. We can know that if we continue as part of that great host of the "overcomers" that some day we will stand in eternity and shout victoriously with the redeemed of all ages --

Our God has vindicated and glorified His only begotten Son, so shall he vindicate and glorify His adopted sons.

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