Revelation

Revelation

Book Outhne

Key theme: Jesus Christ is Victor

Key verses: ;

I. The Things Which You Have Seen ()

1. John’s vision of the exalted Christ

II. The Things Which Are ()

1. The messages to the seven churches

III. The Things Which Will Take Place ()

A. The throne in heaven ()

B. The tribulation on earth ()

1. The first half ()

2. The middle ()

3. The last half ()

C. The kingdom of Christ ()

D. The new heavens and earth ()

Book Overview

Over the centuries, prophecies have come and gone, and yet the book that the apostle John wrote near the close of the first century is with us still.

The word translated “revelation” () simply means “unveiling.” It gives us our English word “apocalypse,” which, unfortunately, is today a synonym for chaos and catastrophe. The verb simply means “to uncover, to reveal, to make manifest.” In this book, the Holy Spirit pulls back the curtain and gives us the privilege of seeing the glorified Christ in heaven and the fulfillment of His sovereign purposes in the world.

In other words, Revelation is an open book in which God reveals His plans and purposes to His church. When Daniel finished writing his prophecy, he was instructed to “shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end” (), but John was given opposite instructions: “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand” (). Why? Since Calvary, the resurrection, and the coming of the Holy Spirit, God has ushered in the “last days” (, ) and is fulfilling His hidden purposes in this world—“the time is near” (; ).

John’s prophecy is primarily the revelation of Jesus Christ, not the revelation of future events. We must not divorce the Person from the prophecy, for without the Person we would have no fulfillment of the prophecy. In chapters through , Christ is seen as the exalted Priest/King, ministering to the churches. Then He is seen in heaven as the glorified Lamb of God, reigning on the throne (chs. ). Next, Christ is the Judge of all the earth (chs. ), and in chapter , He returns to earth as the conquering King of kings. The book closes with the heavenly Bridegroom ushering His bride, the church, into the glorious heavenly city.

Whatever you do as you study this book, get to know your Savior better.

“Be Transformed”

Why did John use symbolism? For one thing, this kind of spiritual code is understood only by those who know Christ personally. If any Roman officers had tried to use Revelation as evidence against Christians, the book would have been a puzzle and an enigma to them. But an even greater reason is that symbolism is not weakened by time. John was able to draw on the great images in God’s revelation and assemble them into an exciting drama that has encouraged persecuted and suffering saints for centuries. We must not conclude, however, that John’s use of symbolism indicates that the events described are not real. They are real!

John also used symbolism because symbols not only convey information but also impart values and arouse emotions. John could have written, “A dictator will rule the world,” but instead he described a beast. The symbol says much more than the mere title of “dictator.” Instead of explaining a world system, John simply introduced “Babylon the Great” and contrasted the “harlot” with the “bride.” The very name “Babylon” conveys deep spiritual truth to readers who know the Old Testament.

In understanding John’s symbolism, however, we must be careful not to allow our imaginations to run wild. Biblical symbols are consistent with the whole of biblical revelation. Some symbols are explained (; ; ); others are understood from Old Testament symbolism (, ; ); and some symbols are not explained at all (for example, the “white stone” in ). Nearly 300 references to the Old Testament are found in Revelation! This means that we must anchor our interpretations to what God has already revealed, lest we misinterpret this important prophetic book.

Ultimately the blessing promised to us in is the blessing of living in any age with the confidence that Christ is coming and we will spend eternity with Him. That hope leads to transformed living.

Introduction and Benediction

2who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.

Greeting the Seven Churches

Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,

6and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Vision of the Son of Man

10I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,

11saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”

14His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;

15His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters;

16He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.

18“I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.

19“Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.

The Loveless Church

‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:

2“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;

3“and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.

7“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’

The Persecuted Church

‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:

9“I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

11“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” ’

The Compromising Church

‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:

13“I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

15“Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

16“Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

The Corrupt Church

‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass:

21“And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.

22“Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.

23“I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

24“Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden.

26“And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—

27‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron;

They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’—

as I also have received from My Father;

28“and I will give him the morning star.

29“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

The Dead Church

‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.

2“Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.

3“Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.

5“He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

6“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

The Faithful Church

‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”:

9“Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.

10“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

11“Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.

13“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

The Lukewarm Church

‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:

15“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.

17“Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—

19“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

21“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

22“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ”

The Throne Room of Heaven

2Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.

4Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.

5And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

8The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:

“Holy, holy, holy,

Lord God Almighty,

Who was and is and is to come!”

10the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:

To receive glory and honor and power;

For You created all things,

And by Your will they exist and were created.”

The Lamb Takes the Scroll

2Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?”

3And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.

4So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.

5But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.”

Worthy Is the Lamb

8Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

9And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll,

And to open its seals;

For You were slain,

And have redeemed us to God by Your blood

Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

10And have made us kings and priests to our God;

And we shall reign on the earth.”

12saying with a loud voice:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain

To receive power and riches and wisdom,

And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

13And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:

“Blessing and honor and glory and power

Be to Him who sits on the throne,

And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”

First Seal: The Conqueror

2And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.

Second Seal: Conflict on Earth

4Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.

Third Seal: Scarcity on Earth

6And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.”

Fourth Seal: Widespread Death on Earth

Fifth Seal: The Cry of the Martyrs

10And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”

11Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.

Sixth Seal: Cosmic Disturbances

13And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.

14Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.

15And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains,

16and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!

17“For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

The Sealed of Israel

2Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea,

3saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.”

4And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:

5of the tribe of Judah

twelve thousand were sealed;

of the tribe of Reuben

twelve thousand were sealed;

of the tribe of Gad

twelve thousand were sealed;

6of the tribe of Asher

twelve thousand were sealed;

of the tribe of Naphtali

twelve thousand were sealed;

of the tribe of Manasseh

twelve thousand were sealed;

7of the tribe of Simeon

twelve thousand were sealed;

of the tribe of Levi

twelve thousand were sealed;

of the tribe of Issachar

twelve thousand were sealed;

8of the tribe of Zebulun

twelve thousand were sealed;

of the tribe of Joseph

twelve thousand were sealed;

of the tribe of Benjamin

twelve thousand were sealed.

A Multitude from the Great Tribulation

10and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

11All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,

12saying:

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,

Thanksgiving and honor and power and might,

Be to our God forever and ever.

Amen.”

13Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”

14And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

15“Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them.

16“They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat;

Seventh Seal: Prelude to the Seven Trumpets

2And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.

3Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

5Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.

6So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

First Trumpet: Vegetation Struck

Second Trumpet: The Seas Struck

8Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood.

9And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

Third Trumpet: The Waters Struck

10Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.

Fourth Trumpet: The Heavens Struck

12Then the fourth angel sounded: 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 did not shine, and likewise the night.

Fifth Trumpet: The Locusts from the Bottomless Pit

2And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit.

3Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

4They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.

5And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man.

6In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them.

8They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth.

9And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle.

10They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months.

12One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things.

Sixth Trumpet: The Angels from the Euphrates

14saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.”

15So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind.

16Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them.

17And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone.

18By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed—by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths.

19For their power is in their mouth and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents, having heads; and with them they do harm.

The Mighty Angel with the Little Book

2He had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land,

3and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices.

5The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand to heaven

6and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer,

7but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets.

John Eats the Little Book

8Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, “Go, take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth.”

10Then I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter.

11And he said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.”

The Two Witnesses

2“But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.

4These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.

5And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner.

6These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.

The Witnesses Killed

8And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

10And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.

The Witnesses Resurrected

11Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.

12And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them.

13In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.

14The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

Seventh Trumpet: The Kingdom Proclaimed

16And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God,

17saying:

“We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty,

The One who is and who was and who is to come,

Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.

18The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come,

And the time of the dead, that they should be judged,

And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints,

And those who fear Your name, small and great,

And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”

The Woman, the Child, and the Dragon

2Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.

4His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born.

5She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.

6Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

Satan Thrown Out of Heaven

8but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer.

10Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.

11“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

12“Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”

The Woman Persecuted

13Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child.

14But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.

16But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.

17And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

The Beast from the Sea

2Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.

3And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast.

5And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.

6Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.

9If anyone has an ear, let him hear.

10He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

The Beast from the Earth

12And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

14And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.

15He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.

16He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,

17and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

The Lamb and the 144,000

2And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps.

3They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.

5And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.

The Proclamations of Three Angels

7saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”

10“he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.

12Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

Reaping the Earth’s Harvest

15And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.”

16So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.

Reaping the Grapes of Wrath

17Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.

18And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.”

19So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.

20And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.

Prelude to the Bowl Judgments

2And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.

3They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying:

“Great and marvelous are Your works,

Lord God Almighty!

Just and true are Your ways,

O King of the saints!

4Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name?

For You alone are holy.

For all nations shall come and worship before You,

For Your judgments have been manifested.”

6And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in pure bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands.

7Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever.

8The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.

First Bowl: Loathsome Sores

2So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.

Second Bowl: The Sea Turns to Blood

3Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died.

Third Bowl: The Waters Turn to Blood

4Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood.

5And I heard the angel of the waters saying:

“You are righteous, O Lord,

The One who is and who was and who is to be,

Because You have judged these things.

And You have given them blood to drink.

For it is their just due.”

7And I heard another from the altar saying, “Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.”

Fourth Bowl: Men Are Scorched

8Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire.

9And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.

Fifth Bowl: Darkness and Pain

11They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.

Sixth Bowl: Euphrates Dried Up

12Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared.

13And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.

15“Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”

Seventh Bowl: The Earth Utterly Shaken

18And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth.

20Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.

21And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.

The Scarlet Woman and the Scarlet Beast

2“with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.”

4The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication.

5And on her forehead a name was written:

MYSTERY,

BABYLON THE GREAT,

THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

6I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.

The Meaning of the Woman and the Beast

7But the angel said to me, “Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.

8“The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

10“There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time.

11“The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition.

12“The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast.

13“These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast.

14“These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”

16“And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire.

17“For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.

The Fall of Babylon the Great

5“For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.

6“Render to her just as she rendered to you, and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her.

7“In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.’

The World Mourns Babylon’s Fall

10“standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’

11“And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore:

12“merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble;

13“and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men.

14“The fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all.

15“The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

16“and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls!

17‘For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.’ Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance

18“and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What is like this great city?’

19“They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.’

Finality of Babylon’s Fall

21Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore.

22“The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore. No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore, and the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore.

23“The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived.

24“And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth.”

Heaven Exults over Babylon

2“For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.”

3Again they said, “Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!”

4And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, “Amen! Alleluia!”

6And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!

8And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

9Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”

10And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

Christ on a White Horse

12His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.

13He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.

14And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

The Beast and His Armies Defeated

18“that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.”

19And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.

20Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.

21And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.

Satan Bound 1,000 Years

2He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;

3and 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.

The Saints Reign with Christ 1,000 Years

5But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

Satanic Rebellion Crushed

9They 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.

10The 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.

The Great White Throne Judgment

12And 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.

13The 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.

14Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

All Things Made New

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

4“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

5Then 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.”

6And 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.

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

The New Jerusalem

10And 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,

11having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.

12Also 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:

13three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.

14Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

16The city is laid out as a square; 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.

17Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.

19The 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,

20the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.

21The 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 Glory of the New Jerusalem

22But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

23The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.

24And 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.

25Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there).

26And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.

27But 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.

The River of Life

2In 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. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

4They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.

5There 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.

The Time Is Near

7“Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

8Now 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.

9Then 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.”

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

11“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.”

Jesus Testifies to the Churches

13“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”

14Blessed 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.

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.”

A Warning

19and 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.

I Am Coming Quickly

20He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Annotations for Revelation

John wrote this book in about AD 95, during the reign of the Roman emperor Titus Flavius Domitian. The emperor had demanded that he be worshiped as “Lord and God,” and the refusal of the Christians to obey his edict led to severe persecution. Tradition says that Domitian sent John to the island of Patmos, a Roman penal colony off the coast of Asia Minor. This being the location of John’s exile, we should not be surprised that the word “sea” is found twenty-six times in his book.

During Christ’s earthly ministry, John and his brother James had asked Jesus for special places of honor by His throne. The Lord told them that they would have to merit their thrones by sharing in His suffering. James was the first apostle martyred (, ); John was the last of the apostles to die, but he suffered on Patmos before his death (see ).

, How did the Lord convey the contents of this book to John? The Father gave the revelation to the Son, and the Son shared it with the apostle, using “His angel” as intermediary. Sometimes Christ Himself conveyed information to John (.), and often an angel was the messenger (; , ). Sometimes a “voice from heaven” would tell John what to say and do (). Regardless of the various means of communication, the book came from God to John, and it was all inspired by the Spirit.

The word “show” is important, and its meaning is broader than the single word. In Greek it means “to show by a sign.” This word is used in the gospel of John for the miracles of Jesus Christ because His miracles were events that carried a deeper spiritual message than simply the display of power. So we should expect to encounter a great deal of symbolism, much of it related to the Old Testament.

The Holy Spirit used the apostle John to give us three kinds of inspired literature: the gospel of John, the three epistles, and the book of Revelation. His purposes may be outhned as follows:

The Gospel of John

The Epistles of John

Revelation

Believe ()

Be sure ()

Be ready ()

Life received

Life revealed

Life rewarded

Salvation

Sanctification

Sovereignty

The Prophet

The Priest

The King

Go to the

, While the book was originally sent to seven actual local churches in Asia Minor, John makes it clear that any believer may read and profit from it (v. ). In fact, God promised a special blessing to those who would read the book and obey its message. (The verb “read” means “to read out loud.” Revelation was first read aloud in local church meetings.) The apostle Paul had sent letters to seven churches—Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, Colosse, and Thessalonica—and now John was sending one book to seven churches. Early in the book, he had a special message from Christ to each church.

Revelation contains seven beatitudes (statements of God’s blessing): ; ; ; ; ; , . The number seven is important in this book because it signifies fullness and completeness. God tells us how He is going to complete His great work and usher in His eternal kingdom. We will find seven seals (), seven trumpets (), seven bowls (), seven stars (), and seven lampstands (, ). And there are more.

John did not send this book of prophecy to the assemblies in order to satisfy their curiosity about the future. God’s people were going through intense persecution, and they needed encouragement. As they heard this book, its message would give them strength and hope. But even more, its message would help them examine their lives (and each local assembly) to determine those areas needing correction. They were not only to hear the Word, but they were also to keep it; that is, guard it as a treasure and practice what it said. The blessing would come, not just by hearing, but even more so by doing (see ).

Before John wrote the dedication to his book, he reminded his readers that the triune God had saved them and would keep them as they faced the fiery trials of suffering.

God the Father is described as the Eternal One (“Him who is and who was and who is to come”; see ; ). All history is part of His eternal plan, including the world’s persecution of the church. Next, the Holy Spirit is seen in His fullness (“seven Spirits”). The reference here is probably to .

Finally, Jesus Christ is seen in His threefold office as Prophet (“faithful witness”), Priest (“firstborn from the dead”), and King (“ruler over the kings of the earth”).

Of the three Persons of the Trinity, this book is dedicated to Jesus Christ alone. The reason? Because of what He has done for His people. To begin with, He loves us. This parallels the emphasis in John’s gospel. He also has freed us from our sins. This parallels the message of John’s epistles (see .). As a grand climax, Christ has made us a Kingdom of priests, and this is the emphasis of Revelation. Today, Jesus Christ is a Priest-King like Melchizedek (), and we are seated with Him on His throne ().

In His love, God called Israel to be a kingdom of priests (), but the Jews failed God and their kingdom was taken from them (). Today, God’s people (the church) are His kings and priests (), exercising spiritual authority and serving God in this world.

, The overriding theme is the return of Jesus Christ to defeat all evil and to establish His reign. Revelation is definitely a book of victory, and His people are seen as victorious (see , , , ; , , ; ; ; ; ). In his first epistle, John told his readers, “You have won your battle” (; ; ). Through eyes of unbelief, Jesus Christ and His church are defeated in this world, but through eyes of faith, He and His people are the true victors.

The statement, “Behold, He is coming with clouds,” describes our Lord’s return to the earth, and is amplified in . This is not the same as His return in the air to catch away His people (.; ). When Christ comes to catch away (rapture) His church, He will come “as a thief” (; ), and only those who are born again will see Him (). The event described in will be witnessed by the whole world and especially by a repentant nation of Israel (see ; ). It will be public, not secret (, ) and will climax the tribulation period described in through .

The titles given to God in this verse make clear that He is certainly able to work out His divine purposes in human history. Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet; so, God is at the beginning of all things and also at their end. He is the eternal God (see v. ), unlimited by time. He is also the Almighty, able to do anything. Almighty is a key name for God in Revelation (; ; ; ; , ; , ; ).

God the Father is called “the Alpha and the Omega” in and , but the name also is applied to His Son (; ). This is a strong argument for the deity of Christ. Likewise, the title “the Beginning and the End” goes back to Isaiah (“the First and the Last,” ; ; ) and is another proof that Jesus is God.

This book was born out of John’s profound spiritual experience while exiled on Patmos. On the Lord’s Day, John heard a voice like a trumpet behind him (vv. ). Jesus Christ was speaking! As far as we know, the apostle had not heard his Lord’s voice since Christ had returned to heaven more than sixty years before. The Lord commissioned John to write this book and to send it to the seven churches He had selected. Later John would hear another trumpet-like voice, summoning him to heaven ().

John saw a vision of the glorified Christ. This vision of Christ was totally different in appearance from the Savior that John knew in the flesh when He was ministering on earth. He was not the gentle Jewish carpenter that sentimentalists like to sing about. He is the risen, glorified, exalted Son of God, the Priest-King who has the authority to judge all people, beginning with His own people ().

Christ’s garments are those of a Judge-King, One with honor and authority. The white hair symbolizes His eternality, “the Ancient of Days” (, , ). His eyes see all (; ), enabling Him to judge righteously. His feet “like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace” also suggest judgment, since the bronze altar was the place where the fire consumed the sin offering. The Lord had come to judge the churches, and He would also judge the evil world system.

, A vision of the exalted Christ can only produce awe and fear (). We need this attitude of respect today when so many believers speak and act with undue familiarity toward God. John’s response illustrates what Paul wrote in . John no longer reclined next to the Lord’s heart, relating to Him as he had done before ().

John wrote to the seven churches mentioned here in chapters and . Keep in mind that John was a pastor at heart, seeking to encourage these churches during a difficult time of persecution. Before Christ judges the world, He must judge His own people (; ). A purified church need never fear the attacks of Satan or human beings.

Only the Head of the church, Jesus Christ, can accurately inspect each church and know its true condition, because He sees the internals, not only the externals (). In these special messages to the seven churches in Asia Minor, the Lord gave each assembly a description of its condition. But He intended for all the churches to read these messages and benefit from them.

The Ephesian assembly had enjoyed some stellar leadership—Paul, Timothy, and the apostle John himself—but the Lord reminded them that He was in control of the ministry, placing the stars where He pleased. Churches can become proud and forget that pastors and teachers are God’s gifts () who may be taken away at any time. Some churches need to be cautioned to worship the Lord and not their pastor!

Catalyst

The special messages to each of the seven churches are given in chapters and . Some students see in these seven churches a panorama of church history, from apostolic times (Ephesus) to the apostate days of the twentieth century (Laodicea). While these churches may illustrate various stages in the history of the church, these particular assemblies probably were not selected for that purpose. Instead, these letters remind us that the exalted Head of the church knows what is going on in each assembly, and that our relationship to Him and His Word determines the life and ministry of the local body.

Remember that the churches in Asia Minor were facing persecution, and they needed to be rightly related to the Lord and to each other. They are pictured as seven separate lampstands, each giving light in a dark world (; ). The darker the day, the greater the light must shine; unfortunately situations existed in at least five of these assemblies that required correction if their lights were to shine brightly. As you read and , note that the Lord always reminded them of who He was, and He encouraged them to be overcomers.

What’s more, the promise of Jesus Christ’s coming should be to all Christians at all times a motivation for obedience and consecration (, ; , ; , ; , , ; see also ). No believer should study prophecy merely to satisfy his curiosity. When Daniel and John received God’s revelations of the future, both fell down as dead men (; ). They were overwhelmed! We need to approach this book as wonderers and worshipers, not as academic students.

Go to the

The believers at Ephesus were a suffering people who patiently bore their burdens and toiled without fainting. And they did all of this for Christ! No matter how we examine this congregation, we would have to conclude that it was just about perfect. The One among the lampstands saw into their hearts, however, and He had a different diagnosis. This busy, separated, sacrificing church really suffered from heart trouble—they had abandoned their first love!

We can serve, sacrifice, and suffer for Christ and yet not really love Jesus Christ! The Ephesian believers were so busy maintaining their separation that they were neglecting adoration. Labor is no substitute for love; neither is purity a substitute for passion. The church must have both if it is to please Christ.

In spite of the privileges it had enjoyed, the church of Ephesus was in danger of losing its light! The church that loses its love will soon lose its light, no matter how doctrinally sound it may be. “I will come” (v. ) is not referring to the Second Coming but to Christ coming in judgment then and there. The glorious city of Ephesus is today but a heap of stones, and no light is shining there.

Ephesian Christians separated themselves not only from false doctrine but also from false deeds. The word “Nicolaitan” means “to conquer the people.” Some Bible students believe this was a sect that lorded it over the church and robbed the people of their liberty in Christ (see ). They initiated what we know today as “clergy” and “laity,” a false division that is taught nowhere in the New Testament.

The name Smyrna means “bitter” and is related to the word “myrrh.” The city remains a functioning community today, called Izmir. The assembly at Smyrna was persecuted for the faith, which explains why the Lord emphasized His death and resurrection as He opened His message. No matter what experiences God’s people may have, their Lord identifies with them.

, No words of accusation are given to the congregation in Smyrna. They may not have enjoyed human approval, but they certainly received God’s praise. The Lord did give them solemn words of admonition, however, as they faced increased suffering: “Do not fear.” The Lord assured the believers that He knew the devil’s plans and was in complete control of the situation.

The “crown of life” refers the winner’s crown awarded at the annual athletic games. Smyrna was a key participant in the games, so this promise would have been especially meaningful to believers living there. The Lord reinforced the promise given by James () and assured His people that they had nothing to fear. Because they had trusted Him, they were overcomers—victors in the race of faith (). Even if they were martyred, they would be ushered into glory, wearing crowns!

, Pergamum had the first temple dedicated to Caesar and was a rabid promoter of the imperial cult. This probably explains the reference to Satan’s “throne” (v. ). The city also had a temple dedicated to Aesculapius, the Greek god of healing, whose insignia was the entwined serpent on the staff. Satan is likewise symbolized as the serpent.

, Despite their courageous stand against persecution, the believers in Pergamum were not faultless before the Lord. Satan had not been able to destroy them by coming as the roaring lion (), but he was making inroads as the deceiving serpent. A group of compromising people had infiltrated the church fellowship, and Jesus Christ hated their doctrines and their practices. These infiltrators are called “Nicolaitans,” whom we met already at Ephesus.

In those days, a white stone would be put into a vessel by a judge to vote acquittal for a person on trial. It was also used like a ticket to gain admission to a feast. Both would certainly apply to the believer in a spiritual sense: Having been declared righteous through faith in Christ, the person feasts with Christ today () and will feast with Him in glory ().

The longest message was sent to the church in the smallest city! Thyatira was a military town as well as a commercial center with many trade guilds. Wherever guilds were found, idolatry and immorality—the two great enemies of the early church—were almost always present as well.

The believers in Thyatira were a busy lot! They were involved in sacrificial ministry for the sake of others. What’s more, their works were increasing and characterized by faith, love, and patience; so the church was not guilty of mere religious activity.

The Lord found much to expose and condemn in the assembly at Thyatira. No amount of loving and sacrificial works can compensate for tolerance of evil. The church was permitting a false prophetess to influence the people and lead them into compromise.

, The Lord had no special demands to make; He simply wanted them to hold fast in their resistance to evil. “Till I come” refers to Christ’s return for His people, at which time He will reward them for their faithfulness.

The believers at Sardis received no words of commendation. Nor did the Lord point out any doctrinal problems that required correction. Neither is there any mention of opposition or persecution. The church would have been better off had there been some suffering, for it had grown comfortable and content and was living on its past reputation. They had reputation without reality, form without force. Like the city itself, the church at Sardis was glorying in past splendor but ignoring present decay.

The church could have hope because Christ was the Head of the church and He was able to bring new life. He described Himself as the one possessing “the seven Spirits of God” and the seven stars. Only one Holy Spirit exists ()—the number seven speaks of fullness and completeness. The Holy Spirit gives life to the church, and life is exactly what the people at Sardis needed. The sevenfold Spirit of God is pictured as seven burning torches () and as seven all-seeing eyes ().

A remnant of dedicated people often exists in even a dying church. The Christians at Sardis had life, even though it was feeble. They were working, even though their works were not all that they could have been. The Lord admonished them to strengthen what remained and not to give up because the church was weak.

As most people know, Philadelphia means “love of the brothers.” Certainly, brotherly love is an important mark of the Christian. But it is not enough to love God and our fellow believers; we must also love a lost world and seek to reach unbelievers with the good news of the cross. This church had a vision to reach a lost world, and God set before them an open door.

The believers in Philadelphia were in a similar situation to that of Paul when he wrote —they had both opportunities and obstacles. Unbelief sees the obstacles, but faith sees the opportunities. And since the Lord holds the keys, He is in control of the outcome. So what do we have to fear? No one can close the doors as long as God keeps them open. Fear, unbelief, and delay have caused the church to miss many God-given opportunities.

, In a very real sense, the church today is like the Philadelphian church, for God has set before us many open doors of opportunity. If He opens the doors, we must work; if He shuts the doors, we must wait. Above all, we must be faithful to Him and see the opportunities, not the obstacles. If we miss our opportunities, we lose our rewards (crowns), and this means being ashamed before Him when He comes ().

As with some of the previous churches, the Lord adapted His words to something significant about the city in which the assembly was located. In this case, Laodicea was known for its wealth and its manufacture of a special eye salve, as well as of a glossy black wool cloth. It also was located near Hierapolis, known for its hot springs, and Colosse, known for its pure, cold water.

, The Christian life has three spiritual temperatures: a burning heart, on fire for God (), a cold heart (), and a lukewarm heart (). The lukewarm Christian is comfortable, complacent, and does not realize his need. If he were cold, at least he would feel it! Both the cold water from Colosse and the hot water from Hierapolis would be lukewarm by the time it was piped to Laodicea.

The city of Laodicea was noted for its eye salve, but the kind of medication the saints needed was not available in the apothecary shop. The eye is one of the body’s most sensitive areas, and only the Great Physician can operate on it and make it what it ought to be. As He did with the man whose account is told in , Christ might even irritate before He illuminates! But we must submit to His treatment, and then maintain good spiritual health habits so that our vision grows keener.

We often use these verses to lead lost people to Christ, but the basic application is to the believer. The Lord was outside the Laodicean church! He spoke to the individual and not to the whole congregation. He had appealed to a small remnant in Sardis (vv. , ), and here He appealed to the individual. God can do great things in a church, even through one dedicated individual.

The key word in this chapter is “throne”; it is used fourteen times. In fact, this is a key word in the entire book, appearing over forty times. No matter what may happen on earth, God is on His throne and is in complete control. Various teachers interpret Revelation in different ways, but all agree that John is emphasizing the glory and sovereignty of God. What an encouragement that would have been to the suffering saints of John’s day, as it is to every age in history.

The “One [who] sat on the throne” is God the Father, since the Son approaches the throne in , and the Spirit is pictured before the throne in . Human words cannot describe what God is like in His essence. John could only use comparisons. Jasper is a clear gem (see ), and the carnelian is red. The Lord is robed in light, according to and . Both the jasper and the carnelian were found in the chestpiece of the high priest ().

These living beings signify the wisdom of God (“full of eyes in front and in back”) and proclaim the holiness of God. They are heavenly reminders that God has a covenant with His creation and that He rules His creation from His throne. The presence of the emerald rainbow (v. ) further enhances this image, since the rainbow had been given as the sign of the creation covenant. No matter what terrible judgments may fall on God’s earth, He will be faithful to keep His Word.

Some expositors see in the four faces described in this verse an illustration of the fourfold picture of Christ given in the gospel accounts. Matthew is the royal gospel of the King, illustrated by the lion. Mark emphasizes the servant aspect of the Lord’s ministry (the ox). Luke presents Christ as the compassionate Son of Man (the human face). John magnifies the deity of Christ, the Son of God (the eagle).

True spiritual worship is one of the greatest needs for individual believers and for our churches. A constant emphasis today is on witnessing for Christ and working for Christ, but not enough is said about worshiping Him. To “worship” means “to ascribe worth” (see ; ). It means to use all that we are and have to praise God for all that He is and does.

Whenever the living creatures glorified God, the elders would fall before the throne and praise Him. This book is filled with hymns of praise (vv. , ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ). The emphasis on praise is significant when we remember that John wrote this book to encourage people who were going through suffering and persecution.

Acknowledging the Creator is the first step toward trusting the Redeemer. But sinful humans worship and serve the creature rather than the Creator, and this is idolatry (). Furthermore, sinful human beings have polluted and destroyed God’s wonderful creation. Creation is for God’s praise and pleasure, and people have no right to usurp that which rightfully belongs to God. Humans plunged creation into sin, so that God’s good creation () is today a groaning creation (). But because of Christ’s work on the cross, it will one day be delivered and become a glorious creation ().

The focus of attention now shifts to a seven-sealed scroll in the hand of God. The scroll could not be read because it was rolled up and sealed (like a Roman will) with seven seals. John could see writing on both sides of the scroll, which meant that nothing more could be added. What was written was completed and final.

The description of the Lamb, if produced literally by an artist, would provide a grotesque picture. When understood symbolically, however, it conveys spiritual truth. Because seven is the number of perfection, we have here perfect power (“seven horns”), perfect wisdom (“seven eyes”), and perfect presence (“every part of the earth”). Theologians would call these qualities omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence; and all three are attributes of God. The Lamb is God the Son, Christ Jesus!

, A title deed or will can be opened only by the appointed heir, and this is Jesus Christ. No one in all the universe could be found worthy enough to break the seals. No wonder John wept, for he realized that God’s glorious redemption plan for humankind could never be completed until the scroll was opened. The redeemer had to be near of kin, willing to redeem, and able to redeem. Jesus Christ meets all of the qualifications. He became flesh, so He is our Kinsman. He loves us and is willing to redeem, and He paid the price, so He is able to redeem.

The scroll represents Christ’s title deed to all that the Father promised Him because of His sacrifice on the cross. Jesus Christ is the heir of all things (). He is our beloved Family Redeemer who was willing to give His life to set us free from bondage and to restore our lost inheritance (see ; , ; ).

In this closing burst of praise, all the angels and every creature in the universe joined together to worship the Redeemer. What a cascade of harmony John heard! In this hymn, they stated those things that Jesus Christ deserved to receive because of His sacrificial death on the cross. When He was on earth, people did not ascribe these things to Him, for many of these things He deliberately laid aside in His humiliation.

All of heaven’s praise came because the Lamb took the scroll from the Father’s hand. God’s great eternal plan would now be fulfilled and creation would be set free from the bondage of sin and death. One day the Lamb will break the seals and put in motion events that will eventually lead to His coming to earth and the establishment of His kingdom.

The horse imagery probably relates to the vision described in . Horses represent God’s activity on earth, the forces He uses to accomplish His divine purposes. The center of His program is Israel, particularly the city of Jerusalem. (Jerusalem is mentioned thirty-nine times in Zechariah.) God has a covenant purpose for Israel, and that purpose will be fulfilled just as He promised.

, Daniel stated that a “prince” would make a covenant with Israel to protect her from her enemies (). In other words, the future world dictator would begin his career as a peacemaker! He would go from victory to victory and finally control the whole world. We would expect the Antichrist to resemble the Christ because Antichrist is Satan’s great imitation! Even the Jews (who ought to know the Scriptures) will be deceived by him (; ). This great deceiver will come as a peaceful leader, holding a bow but no arrows! (Our Lord’s weapon is a sword, .) Antichrist will seem to solve the world’s problems and be received as the Great Liberator.

Catalyst

According to , seven years are assigned to Israel in God’s prophetic calendar, beginning with the signing of an agreement with the world dictator (the Antichrist), and ending with Christ’s return to earth to judge evil and establish His kingdom. This period is described in through . By referring to John’s outhne (ch. ), we see that his description is in three parts: the first three and a half years (chs. ), the events at the middle of the period (chs. ), and the last three and a half years (chs. ).

As we study these fourteen action-filled chapters, we should remember that John wrote to encourage God’s people in every age of history. He was not only writing prophecy that would be fulfilled in the end times, but he was also writing great theology and dramatically revealing the character of God and the principles of His kingdom. These chapters describe the cosmic conflict between God and Satan, the New Jerusalem and Babylon, and no matter what key a Bible student may use to unlock Revelation, he or she cannot help but see the exalted King of kings as He vindicates His people and gives victory to His faithful ones.

Go to the

, Antichrist’s conquest begins in peace, but soon he exchanges the empty bow for a sword. The color red is often associated with terror and death: the red dragon (), the red beast (). It pictures wanton bloodshed.

, The color black is often connected with famine. During the tribulation, most people will have to work all day just to secure food for themselves, with nothing left for their families. At the same time, the rich will be enjoying plenty of oil and wine. No wonder Antichrist will eventually be able to control the economy () as he promises to feed the hungry masses.

, John saw two personages: “Death” riding a pale horse and “Hades” (the grave) following him. Christ has the keys of death and the grave (), and both will one day be cast into the lake of fire ().

Conquering tyrants who bring into the world war, famine, and pestilence are certainly nothing new. Suffering people from the days of the Roman empire to the most recent wars can easily recognize anticipations of these four dreaded horsemen. This is why the book of Revelation has been a source of encouragement to suffering believers throughout history. As they see the Lamb opening the seals, they realize that God is in control and that His purposes will be accomplished.

The Greek word martus, which gives us our English word “martyr,” simply means “a witness” (see ; ). These saints had been slain by the enemy because of their witness to the truth of God and the message of Jesus Christ. The forces of Antichrist do not accept the truth because Satan wants them to be deceived and accept his lies (see ; ; also ). God made clear to these martyrs that their sacrifice was an appointment, not an accident, and that others would join them. Even in the death of His people, God is in control (); so we have nothing to fear.

The martyrs cried, “Avenge us!” (v. ), but the unbelievers on earth cry, “Hide us!” The opening of the sixth seal will produce worldwide convulsions and catastrophes, including the first of three great earthquakes (v. ; ; ). All of nature will be affected: the sun, moon, and stars, as well as the heavens, the mountains, and the islands. Compare this scene with , and as well as with , and .

In Scripture, a seal indicates ownership and protection. Today, God’s people are sealed by the Holy Spirit (, ). This is God’s guarantee that we are saved and safe, and that He will one day take us to heaven. The 144,000 Jews will receive the Father’s name as their seal (), in contrast to the mark of the beast that Antichrist will give those who follow him (; ; ; ).

In every age, God has had His faithful remnant. This seal will protect these chosen Jews from the judgments that will “harm the earth and the sea” (), and occur when the first four angels blow their trumpets (ch. ). The number 144,000 is significant because it signifies perfection and completeness (144 = 12 x 12), but we should not try to identify who they are. Even if we interpreted this passage in a spiritual sense (i.e., Israel is the church), we would be no more certain. We must permit God to know “the secrets,” and not allow our ignorance of them to hinder us from obeying what we do know ().

We know the identity of this multitude because one of the elders explained it to John (v. ): They are Gentiles who have been saved through faith in Christ during the tribulation. (We will meet this same group again in ch. .) While today, in most parts of the world, confessing Christ is relatively easy, this will not be the case during the tribulation, at least during the last half of it. At that time, unless people wear the mark of the beast, they will not be able to buy or sell, and this would leave them without even life’s bare necessities.

The opening of the seventh seal will introduce the seven trumpet judgments (chs. ), and the wrath of God will increase in both intensity and scope. Before that occurs, however, we are assured that in His wrath, God will remember mercy (). Despite the wrath of God and the terror inspired by Satan and his helpers, multitudes will be saved through the blood of Jesus Christ. No matter what the age or dispensation, God’s way of salvation has always been the same: faith in Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.

, According to Numbers, trumpets had three important uses: They called the people together (), they announced war (), and they announced special times (). The trumpet had sounded at Mount Sinai when the law was given (), and trumpets would be blown when the king was anointed and enthroned (, ). Trumpets also had been used at the conquest of Jericho ().

The seal judgments have ended; the trumpet judgments are about to begin. These will be followed by the bowl judgments, culminating in the destruction of Babylon and in Christ’s return to earth. Note that from the seals to the trumpets to the bowls, the judgments increase in their intensity. Note also that the trumpet and the bowl judgments touch on the same areas, as the following summary illustrates: The trumpet judgments will be released during the first half of the tribulation, and the bowl judgments during the last half, which is also called “God’s cup of wrath” (; see ).

The Trumpets

The Judgment

The Bowls

The earth

,

,

The sea

,

The rivers

,

The heavens

,

,

Humankind—torment

,

An army

Angry nations

Go to the

The “prayers of the saints” are not the prayers of a special group of people in heaven who have arrived at “sainthood.” To begin with, all God’s children are saints—holy people set apart for God—through faith in Jesus Christ (; , ; ). And Scripture has no definite teaching that people in heaven pray for believers on earth, or that we can direct our prayers to God through them. We pray to the Father through the Son, for He alone is worthy ().

The first four trumpet judgments are natural, in that they affect the land, the salt water, the fresh water, and the heavenly bodies. The fifth and sixth judgments involve the release of demonic forces that first torment and then kill. The last of the trumpet judgments () creates a crisis among all the nations of the world.

The word translated “Wormwood” (bitterness) gives us our English word “absinthe,” which is a liqueur popular in some parts of the world. The word means “undrinkable” and in the Old Testament was synonymous with sorrow and great calamity.

The three “woes” in verse refer to the judgments yet to come, when the remaining three angels will blow their trumpets. It is as though the messenger cried, “If you think this has been terrible, just wait! The worst is yet to come!”

The “bottomless pit” is literally “the pit of the abyss.” Luke makes it clear that this “pit” is the abode of the demons (), and John states that Satan will be temporarily imprisoned there during our Lord’s reign on the earth (). The Antichrist (the beast) will ascend out of this pit (; ). It is not the lake of fire, for that is the final destination for Satan and all who follow him (), but part of that hidden underworld under the Lord’s authority. Today, the fearsome army described here is already incarcerated, waiting for the hour of liberation.

Reading the detailed description of these creatures, we realize that John is not writing about ordinary locusts. Yet, despite the obvious symbolism, a locust aptly portrays a powerful enemy armed for battle. With bodies like horses but faces like humans, the demons’ heads are crowned and covered with long hair. They have teeth like those of lions, and their skin is like a coat of iron. When they fly, the noise is like an army of chariots rushing by. We don’t need to try to spiritualize these symbols, or to interpret them in light of modern means of warfare. John is heaping image upon image to force us to feel the horror of this judgment.

This fallen angel is a person, the king over the beings in the pit. He does not have complete authority, for the key to the pit had to be given to him before he could loose his army. This “angel” is probably Satan and the army, his demons (.). One of the names for Satan is “Lucifer,” which means “brightness”; he also is called “day star” and “son of the morning” (cf. ).

The description cannot fit warhorses as we know them or, for that matter, modern warfare equipment, such as tanks. To assert that this is a literal army, and to point to some nation (such as China) that claims to have 200 million soldiers, is to miss the message that John is seeking to convey. The deadly power of these horses is in their mouths and tails, not in their legs. Fire, smoke, and burning sulfur issue from their mouths, and their tails are like biting serpents. They can attack from the front as well as from the rear.

These judgments are not remedial but retributive: God is upholding His holy law and vindicating His suffering people (see ). Even a casual reading of , reveals the awful wickedness of humankind, even in the midst of God’s judgments. The most frightening aspect about the contents of chapter is not the judgments that God sends but the sins that people persist in committing even while God is judging them.

We have come now to the midpoint of the tribulation (chs. ), a time during which some important events must take place. Thus far, we have covered about three and a half years of this seven-year period (). During this time, Antichrist began his career as a peacemaker and a special friend to Israel; at this point, his true character will be revealed. He will become a peace-breaker and a persecutor of the people of God.

This section describes the events that will occur at the middle of the seven-year tribulation. This explains John’s repeated mention of the three-and-a-half-year time segment in one form or another (, ; , ; ). At the beginning of this period, the Antichrist began to make his conquest by promising to protect the Jews and assist in their rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. After three and a half years, however, he will break his agreement, invade the temple, and begin to persecute the Jewish people.

The characteristics shared in these verses—the book in his hand and the awesome posture that he assumed—would suggest identifying the angel as Jesus Christ. The little book contains the rest of the prophetic message that John will deliver. Since our Lord was the only One worthy to take the scroll and break the seals (.), we might well conclude that He is the only One worthy to give His servant the remainder of the message.

We have seen the rainbow around God’s throne (); here it sits like a crown on the head of this messenger. The rainbow was God’s sign to humanity that He would never again destroy the world with a flood. Even in wrath, God remembers His mercy (). Whoever this angel is, he has the authority of God’s throne given to him. Jesus often appeared in the Old Testament as “the angel of the LORD” (; ).

In the Bible, a “mystery” (secret) is a truth “sealed up” or hidden to those outside but revealed to God’s people by His Word ().

God’s Word is compared to food—bread (), milk (), meat (), and honey ()—but God will not thrust His Word into our mouths and force us to receive it. He hands it to us, and we must take it. Nor can He change the effects the Word will have in our lives: We will experience both sorrow and joy, bitterness and sweetness. God’s Word contains sweet promises and assurances, but it also contains bitter warnings and prophecies of judgment. The Christian bears witness of both life and death ().

The place is Jerusalem, and the time is the first half of the tribulation. Israel is worshiping again at its restored temple, built under the protection of the Antichrist, whose true character has not yet been revealed. John’s measurement of the temple is a symbolic action. To measure something means to claim it for oneself. The Lord was saying through John, “I own this city and this temple, and I claim both for myself.”

Note that the two witnesses minister during the first half of the tribulation. Jerusalem is then overrun by the Gentiles for forty-two months, the last half of the tribulation. Their witness is related to Israel and the temple. How tragic that the power of God and the Word of God will be outside the temple and not within as in former ages. Like the temple that Jesus left, this new house will be desolate (see ).

The death of the witnesses happens only when the witnesses have finished their testimony. God’s obedient servants are immortal until their work is done. “The beast” (Antichrist) is now in power and wants to take over the temple, but he cannot succeed until the two witnesses are out of the way. God will permit him to slay them, for no one will be able to make war against the beast and win ().

Note the change in attitude shown by the nations of the world. In verse , the nations ruthlessly take over Jerusalem. Here they rejoice at the death of the two witnesses. But now they are angry; their arrogance and joy did not last very long. This belligerent attitude finally will cause the nations to unite to fight God at the great battle of Armageddon.

These “loud voices” were probably the choirs of heaven. The great announcement is that the kingdom of this world belongs to Jesus Christ. Of course, Christ does not claim His royal rights until He returns, but the victory has already been won. Today, He rules over a spiritual kingdom, but in that future day, He will reign over the nations of the world and rule with a rod of iron.

This chapter opened with a temple on earth, but now we see the temple in heaven. The focus of attention is on the ark of God’s covenant, the symbol of God’s presence with His people. This vision of the ark would have greatly encouraged God’s suffering people, to whom John sent this book. The ark would have reminded them of His presence and the faithfulness of His promises. And on that ark was the mercy seat on which the blood was sprinkled each Day of Atonement (). Even in wrath, God remembers His mercy ().

These chapters introduce the three key characters in the drama of the last half of the tribulation: Satan the dragon, the false Christ, and the false prophet. These three are, in a sense, an evil trinity, opposing the true God and His people on earth. While these events will be of special significance to God’s people at that time, the message of these two chapters can encourage suffering saints during any age.

The first image is of a woman giving birth to a son. Since this child is identified as Jesus Christ (compare v. with and ), this symbolic woman can be none other than the nation of Israel. Through Israel Jesus entered the world (; ).

Even today Satan has access to heaven, where he accuses God’s people. But he cannot dethrone the exalted Savior. His strategy is to persecute God’s people and devour them if possible ().

Christians are involved in a similar conflict today (see .). Satan is out to destroy the church, and our victory can come only through Jesus Christ. Jesus’ death on the cross signaled Satan’s ultimate defeat (). Satan will one day be cast out of heaven (), and then finally cast into hell ().

Satan stands at the throne of God and fights the saints by accusing them (see ; ). But Jesus Christ, the heavenly “advocate” (, ), represents God’s people before God’s holy throne. Because Jesus Christ died for us, we can overcome Satan’s accusations “by the blood of the Lamb” (). Our salvation is secure, not because of our own works but because of Christ’s finished work at Calvary.

Catalyst

The same serpent who accuses the saints in heaven also deceives the nations on earth (), and one of his strategies is to lie about the church (v. ). He deceives the nations into thinking that the people of God are dangerous, deluded, and even destructive. Through Satan’s deception the leaders of the nations band together against Christ and His people (; ).

God’s people in every age must expect the world’s opposition, but the church can always defeat the enemy by being faithful to Jesus Christ (). Believers in any age or situation can rejoice in this victory, no matter how difficult their experiences may be. Our warfare is not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of the wicked one, and these have been defeated by our Savior (.; see also ).

Go to the

When Satan discovers that the people he seeks to kill are protected, he turns on those who have not been carried to the hidden place of safety. He will declare war, and God will permit him to have victory for a time (). Ultimately, however, the old serpent will be defeated.

The symbolic description of the beast enables us to learn something about his origin and character. God does not see him as a human being, made in the divine image, but as a wild animal, under the control of Satan. He is a man (v. ), but he is energized from hell, for he comes out of the pit (; ). Just as Jesus Christ is God in the flesh, so the beast will be Satan in a human body (see , ).

The seven heads represent seven mountains but also seven kings or kingdoms (). Antichrist, or the beast, is one of these seven kings (), but he is also the eighth. Apparently, he reigns twice. The ten horns represent ten kingdoms (; ). Evidently the beast will head a “United States of Europe,” a revived Roman empire, before taking over as world dictator. All nations will no doubt admire and thank him for the “peace” he has achieved, little realizing the sorrow and destruction he will bring to the world.

Worship is the one thing Satan has always wanted (), and he will receive it through “the beast.” The second “beast,” described in the last half of this chapter, will organize and promote the worship of Antichrist, making it the official religion of the world!

God will permit Antichrist to war against His people (“persecute the saints of the Most High,” ) and even to defeat some of them. John prophesied that some of the saints will be captured and some will be martyred. But because of their faith, believers will have patience, or endurance (see ; ), and will not deny the Lord in spite of persecution and death.

Keep in mind that the beast is a counterfeit Christ. The world would not receive Christ, but it will receive Antichrist (). The world would not believe the truth, but they will believe the lie (). Jesus spoke (and still speaks) gracious words of salvation, and people turn a deaf ear, but they will listen to the blasphemous words of “the beast.” The world will not worship the Christ, but they will bow down to Antichrist.

In ; ; and , the beast from the earth is called “the false prophet.” The dragon or Satan is the counterfeit Father (“I will be like the Most High”; see ), the beast is the counterfeit Christ, and the false prophet is the counterfeit Holy Spirit.

The false prophet, energized by Satan, will perform his “great signs” and even duplicate some of the signs performed by the two witnesses (v. ; see also ). Not content to control people through religious deceit, the false prophet will institute strong economic measures as well. Everyone (except believers; ) will receive a special mark in order to buy or sell, but the only way to get that mark is to submit to the beast and worship him.

Since the first human was created on the sixth day, six is the number of humanity. Creation was made for humans and likewise has the number six stamped on it: twenty-four hours to a day (4 x 6), twelve months to a year (2 x 6). Seven is the number of perfection and fullness, but six is the human number, just short of perfection. Despite numerous imaginative calculations about “666,” we must confess that no one knows the meaning of this number and name.

Not only are the 144,000 standing, but they are also singing (vv. , ). Because of the special experiences they had during the tribulation, they have a new song to sing that others cannot share (see ; ; ; ; ; ). They are accompanied by heavenly harps and other heavenly voices. How encouraging to know that one day our sorrows will be transformed into songs!

“Firstfruits” is also translated “special offering” and means “the very finest.” It also carries the idea of an expected harvest. At the festival of First Harvest, the priest would wave a bundle of grain before the Lord as a sign that the entire harvest belonged to Him (). The 144,000 may be the firstfruits of the harvest yet to come; they may be the nucleus of the coming kingdom. For a heavenly company such as this to establish an earthly kingdom, however, would seem difficult.

, During the present age, the angels are not privileged to preach the gospel. That responsibility has been given to God’s people. While the nations will fear the beast and give honor to him, this heavenly messenger will summon them to fear and honor God alone. It is a reminder that God is the Creator, and He alone deserves worship. The message of the angel calls people back to basics: God is Creator—Worship and serve Him alone.

This proclamation anticipates the events of chapter (see also , ). We will consider it in detail then. “Babylon” is God’s name for the world system of “the beast,” the entire economic and political organization by which he rules.

The third message is directed especially to those who are deciding about following “the beast.” It is a warning that the easy way is really the hard way, that to go along with the world means to go away from God. The Greek text reads, “If anyone continues to worship the beast . . . ,” suggesting opportunity for repentance and salvation.

We must also keep in mind that God has repeatedly warned sinners and given them opportunity to repent. The first angel in this series invited sinners to turn to God, and the second one warned that the whole Babylonian system would be destroyed. If people persist in their sins even after God sends judgments and warnings, then they have only themselves to blame.

John intended for his readers to see the contrast between verses and : no rest for the wicked but eternal rest for the saints (see ). Better to reign with Christ forever than with Antichrist for a few short years! Better to endure persecution patiently now than to escape it and suffer throughout eternity!

While “harvest” is used as a picture of winning lost souls to Christ (), this image is also used of God’s judgment (, ; ). God permits the seeds of iniquity to grow until they are ripe, and then He judges ().

John saw the believers from the tribulation who had overcome the beast and his system. This scene would give great assurance and endurance to suffering saints in any age of the church. We can be victorious over the world system! One does not have to yield to the “mark of the beast.” Through the blood of the Lamb, we have deliverance. Our Lord’s work on the cross is a spiritual exodus accomplished by His blood. (See .)

The seven angels emerge from the heavenly temple (see ) because their work is holy, as are the judgments they bring. The angels’ clothing reminds us of the priestly garments, for their service is a divine ministry. When the Old Testament tabernacle and temple were dedicated, these earthly buildings were filled with God’s glory (; ), but now the heavenly temple is filled with smoke (see ; ). This smoke likewise is evidence of God’s glory and power.

Each of the angels has a specific target for the contents of his bowl. The earth-dwellers have already suffered from the seal and trumpet judgments, but this final series of judgments will climax God’s plan, leading to Babylon’s fall and Jesus Christ’s return to earth.

, Heaven gives justification for this terrible judgment: the earth-dwellers have shed the blood of God’s people, so it is only right that they should drink blood. In God’s government, the punishment fits the crime. Pharaoh tried to drown the Jewish boy babies, but his own army eventually drowned in the Red Sea. Haman planned to hang Mordecai on the gallows and to exterminate the Jews, but he was hanged on the gallows, and his family was exterminated (; ).

, When God sent the ninth plague to Egypt, the entire land was dark, except for Goshen, where the Israelites lived. The judgment of the fifth bowl is just the opposite: The world has light, but darkness reigns at the headquarters of the beast! Certainly this will be a great blow to his image throughout the earth.

From a human viewpoint, the armies of the nations seem to be gathering on their own, but John makes clear that the military movement is happening according to God’s plan. The satanic trinity, through demonic powers, will influence the nations and cause the rulers to assemble their armies. They will even work miracles that will impress the rulers and cause them to cooperate. But all of this will merely fulfill the will of God and accomplish His purposes (see ).

The name “Armageddon” comes from two Hebrew words, har Megiddo, “the hill of Megiddo.” The word “Megiddo” means “place of troops” or “place of slaughter.” It is also called the “Plain of Esdraelon” and the “Valley of Jezreel.” The area is about fourteen miles wide and twenty miles long, and forms what Napoleon called “the most natural battlefield of the whole earth.” Standing on Mount Carmel and overlooking that great plain, we can understand why it would be used for gathering the armies of the nations.

The devil is “the prince of the power of the air,” so perhaps this seventh bowl has a special effect on his dominion (). But the immediate result is a devastating earthquake that affects the cities of the nations. Satan’s entire system is about to be judged by God: his religious system (the prostitute, ch. ), his political and economic system (Babylon, ch. ), and his military system (the armies, ch. ).

Movements of armies, confederations of nations, and worldwide opposition to God cannot hinder the Lord from fulfilling His Word and achieving His purposes. People think they are free to do as they please, but in reality, they are accomplishing God’s plans and purposes.

, The scene begins with an invitation. One of the angels asks John to come and see what God will do with the beast’s worldwide religious system. Four times in this chapter, the woman is called a “harlot,” or a prostitute (vv. , , , ), and her sin is called “fornication” (vv. , ). Her evil influence has extended to the whole world, reaching even into high places (“the kings of the earth”).

John’s readers would not have been surprised when he used an evil prostitute to symbolize a wicked city or political system. God even called Jerusalem a “harlot” (). Isaiah said that Tyre was a “harlot” (), and Nahum used this same designation for Nineveh ().

These verses make clear that the harlot is identified with a city that existed in John’s day (“sits” is present tense, v. ). This city is prosperous and powerful but also idolatrous (“blasphemy”) and dangerous. For one thing, it pollutes the nations with its filth and abomination (pictured by the gold goblet); for another, it persecutes those who belong to the Lord (v. ). Power, wealth, pollution, persecution: These words summarize the “great harlot’s” involvement on a worldwide scale.

The seven heads symbolize seven mountains (v. ) and also seven kings or kingdoms (v. ), in keeping with Old Testament imagery (; ). According to , five of these kings (or kingdoms) had passed off the scene, one was present in John’s day, and one was yet to come. Probably the five past kingdoms would be Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, and Greece. The present kingdom would be Rome, and the future kingdom would be that of the beast.

In the days when John’s prophecy will be fulfilled, an amazing thing will happen: The harlot will be made desolate by the very system that carried her. We should note that the beast carries the harlot. Satan (and Antichrist) will use the apostate religious system to accomplish his own ends (i.e., attain world power), but then he will do away with the harlot and establish his own religious system. And all of this will fulfill God’s Word (v. ).

Readers in John’s day would have identified the harlot with the Roman empire. Readers in the Middle Ages might have identified it as the Roman ecclesiastical system. Today, some believers see the harlot and the Babylonian system in an apostate world church that minimizes doctrinal truth, rejects the authority of the Word, and tries to unite professed believers on some other basis than faith in Jesus Christ.

Satan’s counterfeit religion is subtle, requiring spiritual discernment to recognize. Paul was greatly concerned that the local churches he founded not be seduced away from their sincere devotion to Christ (). Every age has tremendous pressure to conform to popular religion and to abandon the fundamentals of the faith. In these last days, we all need to heed the admonitions in and and remain true to our Lord.

, Babylon was not only an ancient city and a powerful empire but also the symbol of humanity’s rebellion against God. In chapter , Babylon represents the world system of the beast, particularly in its economic and political aspects. At the same time, John called Babylon a “city” at least eight times (; ; , , ). John’s readers would think of the Roman empire as they read these words about Babylon.

The church, the bride of the Lamb, is the habitation of God (); Babylon, on the other hand, is the habitation of Satan.

The world system satisfies the desires of the earth-dwellers who follow the beast and reject the Lamb. But worldly things never permanently satisfy or last. The love of pleasures and possessions is but an insidious form of idolatry—demonic in its origin and destructive in its outcome.

This admonition parallels and , . In all ages, God’s true people have had to separate themselves from that which is worldly and anti-God. When God called Abraham, He ordered him to get out of his country (). God separated the Jewish nation from Egypt and warned the Israelites not to go back. The church today is commanded to separate itself from that which is ungodly (; ).

God’s people must not delay in separating themselves from this evil system because God’s judgment will come suddenly, and Babylon will be destroyed in a single day. Sometimes God’s judgments work silently “like a moth” (), but at other times they are “like a lion” () and spring suddenly, with no possible escape. In one day, the entire economic empire will collapse! But those who have their citizenship in heaven will rejoice at the judgment of God.

This long paragraph describes the mourning of the merchants as they see Babylon go up in smoke and all their wealth destroyed. The image here is that of a prosperous ancient city that is visited by many ships. The wealth of the city provides for many nations and employs many people. Not only do the merchants lament the fall of Babylon (v. ) but the kings of the earth will mourn as well (v. ). Business and government are so intertwined that what affects one affects the other.

In contrast to the lament of the kings and merchants is the rejoicing of heaven’s inhabitants that Babylon has fallen. God’s people need to look at events from God’s point of view. In fact, we are commanded to rejoice at the overthrow of Babylon, because in this judgment God will vindicate His servants who were martyred (see ).

We must not think that this voice of celebration calls us to be glad because sinners are judged. The fact of divine judgment ought always to break our hearts, knowing that lost sinners are condemned to eternal punishment. The joy in this section centers on God’s righteous judgment, the fact that justice has been done. Comfortable Bible students can easily discuss these matters in their homes. If we were with John on Patmos or with the suffering saints to whom he wrote, we might have a different perspective. We must never cultivate personal revenge (), but we must rejoice at the righteous judgments of God.

The song emphasizes God’s attributes, which is the proper way to honor Him. We do not rejoice at the sinfulness of Babylon, or even the greatness of Babylon’s fall. We rejoice that God is “just and true” (; ; ) and that He is glorified by His holy judgments.

When Babylon fell on the earth, the command had been given in heaven, “Rejoice over her” (), and what we read in this section is heaven’s response to that command—“Alleluia,” praise the LORD!

God has been reigning on the throne of heaven, but He is here about to conquer the thrones of earth as well as the kingdom of Satan and the beast. In His sovereignty, He has permitted evil human beings and evil angels to do their worst, but the time has come for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.

The bride is the church (; ), and the Bridegroom is Jesus Christ, the Lamb (). At a wedding, the focus usually is on the bride, but in this case, the Bridegroom receives the honor! “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory.” The Lamb’s bride is dressed in “the righteous acts of the saints.” When the bride arrived in heaven at the judgment seat of Christ, she was not at all beautiful (in fact, she was covered with spots, wrinkles, and blemishes, according to Paul in ), but now she is radiant in her glory.

At the judgment seat of Christ, the church’s works will be judged and all her spots and blemishes removed. This being completed, the church will be ready to return to earth with her Bridegroom at the close of the tribulation to reign with Him in glory (see ). Some students believe that the entire kingdom age will be the “marriage supper.”

John described the Conqueror () and then His conquests (). The rider on the white horse () is the false Christ, but this Rider is the true Christ. He is not coming in the air to take His people home (), but He’s coming to the earth with His people, to conquer His enemies and establish His kingdom.

The sharp sword is a symbol of God’s Word (v. ; see also ; ; ). This is in keeping with the fact that Christ will consume the enemy “with the breath of His mouth” (; see also ). We have met with the “rod of iron” before (; ), a symbol of His justice as He rules over the earth. The image of the winepress must be associated with the judgment at Armageddon (; see also ).

Christ’s most important name is “King of kings and Lord of lords.” This is His victorious name (), and it brings to mind references such as and . Paul used this same title for our Lord Jesus Christ in . The title speaks of Christ’s sovereignty, for all kings and lords must submit to Him. No matter who was on the throne of the Roman empire, Jesus Christ was his King and Lord!

The word translated “flesh” (sometimes translated “bodies”) occurs six times in this paragraph. While John’s immediate reference is to the human body, eaten by the vultures, a deeper meaning is here: Humans fail because they are flesh and rely on flesh. The Bible has nothing good to say about fallen human nature.

The “bottomless pit” spoken of in verse is not the same as hell, and we have read about it before (, , ; ; ). Satan is not cast into hell immediately, because God still has one more task for him to perform. Rather, Satan is confined in the bottomless pit for 1,000 years. First, Satan was cast out of heaven (), and here he is cast out of earth!

This period in history is known as “the millennium,” from two Latin words, mille (“thousand”) and annum (“year”)—the 1,000-year kingdom of Christ on earth. At last, Christ and His church will reign over the nations of the earth, and Israel will enjoy the blessings promised by the Lord (see ; ; ; ; ; ).

This kingdom will be a worldwide display of Christ’s glory, when all nature will be set free from the bondage of sin (). It will be the answer to the prayers of the saints, “Your kingdom come!” It will also be God’s final demonstration of the sinfulness of sin and the wickedness of the human heart apart from God’s grace.

At the close of the millennium, Satan will be released from the pit and permitted to lead one last revolt against the Lord. Why? As final proof that the human heart is desperately wicked and can be changed only by God’s grace. Imagine the tragedy of this revolt: People who have been living in a perfect environment, under the perfect government of God’s Son, will finally admit the truth and rebel against the King! Their obedience will be seen as mere feigned submission and not true faith in Christ at all.

Law will reign, but law will not change people’s sinful hearts. People will still revolt against God. The millennium will be a period of peace and perfect environment, a time when disobedience will be judged swiftly and with justice; yet in the end these feigned subjects of the King will follow Satan and rebel against the Lord. A perfect environment cannot produce a perfect heart.

Do not confuse this judgment at the Great White Throne with the judgment seat of Christ, where believers will have their works judged and rewarded. Only unbelievers will be at this judgment, and there are no rewards. John described an awesome scene. Heaven and earth will flee away, and no place will be left for sinners to hide. All must face the Judge!

Hell (“the lake of fire”) is a witness to the righteous character of God. He must judge sin. Hell is also a witness to human responsibility, the fact that people are not robots or helpless victims but creatures able to make choices. God does not send people to hell; they send themselves by rejecting the Savior (; ). Hell is also a witness to the awfulness of sin. If we once saw sin as God sees it, we would understand why a place such as hell exists.

God has promised His people a new heaven and earth (; ). The old creation must make way for the new creation if God is to be glorified. Jesus said this event will occur “in the regeneration” (), when the world is made new, and Peter explained it as a cleansing and renewing by fire (). Bible students are not agreed as to whether the old elements will be renewed or whether the old will be destroyed and a whole new creation ushered in. The fact that the Greek word translated new means “new in character” (, ) may lend credence to the former explanation.

Catalyst

Heaven is more than a destination; it is a motivation. Knowing that we will dwell in the heavenly city ought to make a difference in our lives here and now.

The vision of the heavenly city motivated the patriarchs as they walked with God and served Him (, ). Knowing that He was returning to the Father in heaven also encouraged Jesus Christ as He faced the cross (). The assurance of heaven must not lull us into complacency or carelessness, but spur us to fulfill our spiritual duties.

The eternal city is so wonderful that the best way John found to describe it was by contrast—“no more” (). The believers who first read this inspired book must have rejoiced to know that, in heaven, there would be no more pain, tears, sorrow, or death, for many of their number had been tortured and slain. In every age, the hope of heaven has encouraged God’s people in times of suffering.

Go to the

The most important fact about the city is that God lives there with His people. The Bible gives an interesting record of the dwelling places of God. First, God walked with Adam in the garden of Eden. Then He dwelt with Israel in the Tabernacle and later the temple. When Israel sinned, God had to depart from those dwellings. Later, Jesus Christ came to earth and “dwelt among us” (). Today, God does not live in human-made temples (), but in the bodies of His people () and in the church ().

The eternal city is not only the home of the bride; it is the bride! A city is not buildings; it is people. The city John saw was holy and heavenly; in fact, it descended to earth from heaven, where it was prepared. John’s description staggers the imagination, even accepting the fact that a great deal of symbolism is involved. Heaven is a real place of glory and beauty, the perfect home for the Lamb’s bride.

John had measured the earthly Jerusalem (ch. ), but here he was invited to measure the heavenly city. The city was “square”—that is equal on all sides—so it could be a cube or a pyramid. More importantly, the fact that it was equal on all sides indicates the perfection of God’s eternal city: Nothing was out of order or unbalanced.

Our God is a God of beauty, and He will lavish His beauty on the city He is preparing for His people. The rarest gems will be on display as decorations and building materials, indicating the way God’s values are directly opposite ours.

The interior of the city is like a beautiful garden, reminiscent of the garden of Eden. Eden had four rivers (), but the heavenly city has only one. Ezekiel saw a purifying river flowing from the temple, certainly a millennial scene (), but this river will flow directly from God’s throne, the very source of all purity. Humans were prohibited from eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and prevented from eating of the tree of life (; ). But in the eternal home, people will have access to the tree of life. The river and the tree symbolize abundant life in the glorious city.

As we seek to serve the Lord here on earth, we are constantly handicapped by sin and weakness, but all hindrances will be gone when we get to glory. Perfect service will happen in a perfect environment!

We must read and obey God’s Word. Because what John wrote is the Word of God, his words are “faithful and true” (v. , see ). The same God who spoke through the prophets also spoke through the apostle John. As the capstone of God’s revelation, John’s book cannot be divorced from the rest of the Bible. If we deny that John wrote the truth, then we must also deny the prophets.

God knows of our sufferings and service, and nothing will ever be done in vain if it is done for Him. At the judgment seat of Christ, believers will be judged according to their works, and rewards will be given to those who have been faithful.

, The contrast here is between those who obey God’s commandments and enter the city, and those who reject His Word and are excluded from the city (see , ). Those inside (“those who do His commandments,” ) are probably not a special or elite group of saints. The phrase characterizes all the people of God. Obedience to God’s Word is a mark of true salvation.

Believers ought also to invite lost sinners to trust Christ and drink the water of life. Indeed, when the church lives in expectancy of Christ’s return, such an attitude provokes ministry and evangelism as well as purity of heart. We want to tell others about God’s grace. A true understanding of Bible prophecy should both motivate us to obey God’s Word and to share God’s invitation with a lost world.

, In ancient days writers would often put this kind of warning at the close of their books because the people who copied them for public distribution might be tempted to tamper with the material. John’s warning, however, was not addressed to a writer, but to the hearer, the believer in the congregation where this book was read aloud. By analogy, however, it would apply to anyone reading and studying the book today.

We must keep expecting Jesus Christ to return. God wants to give this sinful world opportunity to repent and be saved (.). In the meantime, the Spirit of God, through the church (the bride), calls for Jesus to come, for the bride wants to meet her Bridegroom and enter into her home.

Revelation 1

1:1

1:1

1:2

1:2

1:3

1:3

1:4

1:4

1:4 []

1:5

1:5

1:5 []

1:5

1:5

1:5

1:5 NU-Text reads loves us and freed; M-Text reads loves us and washed.

1:6 ,

1:6

1:6 NU-Text and M-Text read a kingdom.

1:7

1:7

1:8

1:8 ;

1:8

1:8 NU-Text and M-Text omit the Beginning and the End.

1:8 NU-Text and M-Text add God.

1:9

1:9 []

1:9 NU-Text and M-Text omit both.

1:10

1:10

1:10

1:11 NU-Text and M-Text omit I am through third and.

1:11 NU-Text and M-Text omit which are in Asia.

1:12

1:13

1:13

1:13

1:13

1:14

1:14

1:15

1:15 ;

1:16 ; ;

1:16

1:16

1:17

1:17 ; ,

1:17 ; ;

1:17 NU-Text and M-Text omit to me.

1:18

1:18

1:18

1:19

1:19

1:19

1:19 NU-Text and M-Text read Therefore, write.

1:20

1:20

1:20 NU-Text and M-Text omit which you saw.

Revelation 2

2:1

2:1

2:2

2:2

2:2

2:3

2:5

2:7

2:7 [, ]

2:7 [; ]

2:8 , ,

2:9

2:9

2:9

2:10

2:10

2:10

2:11

2:11 [, ; ]

2:12 ;

2:14

2:14

2:14

2:15 NU-Text and M-Text read likewise for which thing I hate.

2:16

2:17 ,

2:17

2:18 ,

2:19

2:19 NU-Text and M-Text read faith, service.

2:20 ;

2:20

2:20 NU-Text and M-Text read I have against you that you tolerate.

2:20 M-Text reads your wife Jezebel.

2:20 NU-Text and M-Text read and teaches and seduces.

2:21 ; ,

2:21 NU-Text and M-Text read time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her sexual immorality.

2:22 NU-Text and M-Text read her.

2:23 ;

2:24

2:24

2:24 NU-Text and M-Text omit and.

2:24 NU-Text and M-Text omit will.

2:25

2:26 []

2:26 []

2:27 ,

2:27

2:28

Revelation 3

3:1 ,

3:2 NU-Text and M-Text read My God.

3:3

3:3

3:3 ,

3:3 []

3:4

3:4 []

3:4 ;

3:4 NU-Text and M-Text read Nevertheless you have a few names in Sardis.

3:5 []

3:5

3:5

3:5

3:6

3:7

3:7

3:7 ;

3:7 []

3:7

3:7

3:8

3:8

3:8 NU-Text and M-Text read which no one can shut.

3:9

3:9 ; ;

3:10

3:10

3:10

3:11

3:11

3:11 []

3:11 NU-Text and M-Text omit Behold.

3:12

3:12

3:12 [; ]

3:12 []

3:12

3:12 [; ]

3:13

3:14

3:14 ; ;

3:14 []

3:14 NU-Text and M-Text read in Laodicea.

3:15

3:16 NU-Text and M-Text read hot nor cold.

3:17

3:18

3:18

3:19

3:19

3:20

3:20 ,

3:20 []

3:21

3:22

Revelation 4

4:1

4:1

4:2

4:2

4:3

4:3

4:3 M-Text omits And He who sat there was (which makes the description in verse modify the throne rather than God).

4:4

4:4 ,

4:4 NU-Text and M-Text read robes, with crowns.

4:5 ; ;

4:5

4:5 []

4:5 NU-Text and M-Text read voices, and thunderings.

4:5 M-Text omits the.

4:6

4:6

4:6 NU-Text and M-Text add something like.

4:7 ;

4:8

4:8

4:8

4:8

4:8 M-Text has holy nine times.

4:9

4:10 , ; ; ;

4:11 ;

4:11

4:11

4:11 NU-Text and M-Text read our Lord and God.

4:11 NU-Text and M-Text read existed.

Revelation 5

5:1 ,

5:1

5:2 ;

5:4 NU-Text and M-Text omit and read.

5:5

5:5

5:5 ,

5:5

5:5

5:5 NU-Text and M-Text omit to loose.

5:6 []

5:6 ;

5:6 ; ;

5:6 NU-Text and M-Text read I saw in the midst . . . a Lamb standing.

5:7

5:8 ;

5:8

5:9

5:9

5:9

5:9 []

5:10

5:10

5:10 NU-Text and M-Text read them.

5:10 NU-Text reads a kingdom.

5:10 NU-Text and M-Text read they.

5:13

5:13

5:13 , ; ;

5:13 M-Text adds Amen.

5:14 NU-Text and M-Text omit twenty-four.

5:14 NU-Text and M-Text omit Him who lives forever and ever.

Revelation 6

6:1 [, ; ]

6:1

6:1 NU-Text and M-Text read seven seals.

6:2 ;

6:2 , , LXX

6:2

6:2

6:3

6:3 NU-Text and M-Text omit and see.

6:4 ;

6:4 ,

6:5

6:5 ,

6:5

6:6 ;

6:6 Greek choinix; that is, approximately one quart

6:6 This was approximately one day’s wage for a worker.

6:7

6:8

6:8 , ; ;

6:8

6:9

6:9 []

6:9 ,

6:9

6:10

6:10

6:10

6:11 , ;

6:11

6:12

6:12 , ;

6:12 NU-Text and M-Text omit behold.

6:12 NU-Text and M-Text read the whole moon.

6:13 ;

6:14

6:14

6:15

6:15 , , ;

6:15 NU-Text and M-Text read the commanders, the rich men.

6:16 ,

6:16

6:17

Revelation 7

7:1

7:1 ; ;

7:3

7:3

7:4

7:4 ,

7:4

7:5 In NU-Text and M-Text were sealed is stated only in verses and ; the words are understood in the remainder of the passage.

7:9

7:9

7:9 , ; ;

7:10

7:10

7:11

7:11 ; , , ;

7:12 ,

7:13

7:14

7:14 []

7:14 NU-Text and M-Text read My lord.

7:15 ,

7:16

7:16

7:17

7:17

7:17 NU-Text and M-Text read to fountains of the waters of life.

Revelation 8

8:1

8:2 []

8:2

8:3

8:3

8:4

8:5 ;

8:5

8:5

8:7

8:7

8:7 ,

8:7 NU-Text and M-Text add and a third of the earth was burned up.

8:8

8:8

8:8

8:9

8:10

8:10 ;

8:11

8:11

8:12

8:13 ;

8:13 ; ;

8:13 NU-Text and M-Text read eagle.

Revelation 9

9:1

9:1

9:2 ,

9:3

9:4

9:4

9:4 ,

9:5 [; ]

9:6

9:7

9:7

9:7

9:8

9:9

9:11

9:12 ;

9:13

9:14

9:15 ;

9:16

9:16

9:16

9:17 ,

9:19

9:19 NU-Text and M-Text read the power of the horses.

9:20

9:20

9:20

9:21 ;

9:21 NU-Text and M-Text read drugs.

Revelation 10

10:1

10:1

10:1

10:2

10:3

10:4 ; ,

10:4 NU-Text and M-Text read sounded.

10:4 NU-Text and M-Text omit to me.

10:5

10:5 NU-Text and M-Text read right hand.

10:6

10:6

10:7

10:9

10:10

10:10

10:11 NU-Text and M-Text read they.

Revelation 11

11:1

11:1

11:1 NU-Text and M-Text omit And the angel stood.

11:2 ,

11:2

11:2

11:2 ;

11:3

11:3

11:3

11:4 , , ,

11:4 NU-Text and M-Text read Lord.

11:5

11:5

11:6

11:7

11:7 , ;

11:7 ,

11:7

11:8

11:8

11:8 NU-Text and M-Text read their.

11:9

11:9 ,

11:9 NU-Text and M-Text read nations see . . . and will not allow.

11:10

11:10 ,

11:10

11:11

11:11 , ,

11:12

11:12

11:12 ,

11:12 M-Text reads I.

11:13 ; ; ;

11:13

11:13 ; ;

11:14 ;

11:15 ;

11:15

11:15

11:15

11:15 NU-Text and M-Text read kingdom . . . has become.

11:16

11:16 ; , , ;

11:17

11:17

11:17 NU-Text and M-Text omit and who is to come.

11:18

11:18

11:19 ; ,

11:19

11:19

11:19 M-Text reads the covenant of the Lord.

Revelation 12

12:2 ;

12:3 ; , ,

12:4 ,

12:4 ,

12:4

12:4

12:4

12:5

12:5

12:6 ,

12:6 ;

12:7 , ;

12:7

12:8 M-Text reads him.

12:9

12:9 ,

12:9

12:9

12:10

12:10

12:11

12:11

12:12

12:12

12:12

12:13

12:14

12:14

12:14

12:14 ;

12:15

12:17 NU-Text and M-Text omit Christ.

Revelation 13

13:1 ,

13:1

13:1

13:1 NU-Text reads he.

13:1 NU-Text and M-Text read ten horns and seven heads.

13:2 , ; ,

13:3 ,

13:3

13:4

13:5 , , , ;

13:5

13:5 M-Text reads make war.

13:6 []

13:7

13:7

13:7 NU-Text and M-Text add and people.

13:8

13:8

13:9

13:10

13:10

13:10

13:11

13:12 ,

13:13

13:13

13:14

13:14

13:14

13:14 M-Text reads my own people.

13:15

13:16 ; ;

13:17

13:17

13:17 NU-Text and M-Text omit or.

13:18

13:18 []

13:18

13:18

Revelation 14

14:1

14:1 ;

14:1 ;

14:1 NU-Text and M-Text read the.

14:1 NU-Text and M-Text add His name and.

14:2 ;

14:2

14:3

14:4 []

14:4 ;

14:4

14:4

14:4 M-Text adds by Jesus.

14:5

14:5

14:5 NU-Text and M-Text read falsehood.

14:5 NU-Text and M-Text omit before the throne of God.

14:6

14:6

14:6

14:7

14:7

14:8

14:8

14:8 NU-Text reads Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, which has made; M-Text reads Babylon the great is fallen. She has made.

14:9 , ;

14:9

14:10

14:10

14:10

14:10

14:10

14:11

14:12

14:12

14:12 NU-Text and M-Text omit here are those.

14:13 ,

14:13

14:13 ,

14:13 [; ]

14:13 NU-Text and M-Text omit to me.

14:15

14:15

14:15

14:15 NU-Text and M-Text omit for You.

14:18

14:18

14:19

14:20

14:20

14:20

Revelation 15

15:1 ,

15:1

15:1

15:2

15:2 []

15:2 ,

15:2

15:2

15:2 NU-Text and M-Text omit over his mark.

15:3

15:3

15:3 ,

15:3

15:3 NU-Text and M-Text read nations.

15:4

15:4

15:4

15:5

15:5 NU-Text and M-Text omit behold.

15:6

15:7

15:7

15:8 ;

15:8

Revelation 16

16:1

16:1

16:1 NU-Text and M-Text read seven bowls.

16:2

16:2

16:2 ;

16:2

16:3 ;

16:3

16:3

16:4

16:4

16:5 ,

16:5 ,

16:5 NU-Text and M-Text omit O Lord.

16:5 NU-Text and M-Text read who was, the Holy One.

16:6

16:6

16:6

16:6 NU-Text and M-Text omit For.

16:7

16:7 ;

16:7 NU-Text and M-Text omit another from.

16:8

16:8 ,

16:9

16:9

16:9

16:10

16:10 ;

16:10

16:12

16:12

16:12 , ;

16:13

16:13 ,

16:13 , ; ;

16:14

16:14

16:14 ; ;

16:14 NU-Text and M-Text omit of the earth and.

16:15

16:15

16:16

16:16 M-Text reads Megiddo.

16:17 ;

16:18

16:18

16:18

16:19

16:19 ,

16:19 ;

16:19

16:20 ;

Revelation 17

17:1 ;

17:1

17:1

17:1

17:1 NU-Text and M-Text omit to me.

17:2 ; ,

17:2

17:3 , ;

17:3

17:3

17:4 ,

17:4

17:4

17:4

17:4 M-Text reads the filthiness of the fornication of the earth.

17:5

17:6

17:6

17:6 ,

17:8

17:8 ;

17:8

17:8

17:8

17:8 NU-Text and M-Text read and shall be present.

17:9

17:9

17:10

17:11 , , ;

17:12

17:14 ;

17:14

17:14

17:14

17:15

17:15

17:16

17:16 ,

17:16 ,

17:16

17:16 NU-Text and M-Text read saw, and the beast.

17:17

17:17

17:18 ;

17:18

Revelation 18

18:1 ,

18:1

18:2 ;

18:2 ; ,

18:2

18:2 NU-Text and M-Text omit mightily.

18:3

18:3

18:4

18:5

18:5

18:5 NU-Text and M-Text read have been heaped up.

18:6

18:6

18:6

18:6 NU-Text and M-Text omit to you.

18:7

18:7 ,

18:8

18:8

18:8

18:8 NU-Text and M-Text read has judged.

18:9 ;

18:9

18:9

18:10

18:10 ,

18:11

18:12

18:13

18:14 NU-Text and M-Text read been lost to you.

18:16

18:16

18:17

18:17

18:18

18:18

18:19

18:19

18:20

18:20

18:20 NU-Text and M-Text read saints and apostles.

18:21 ,

18:21 ;

18:22 ; ;

18:23

18:23 ;

18:23

18:23

18:24 ;

18:24

Revelation 19

19:1 ;

19:1

19:1 NU-Text and M-Text add something like.

19:1 NU-Text and M-Text omit the Lord.

19:2 ;

19:2

19:3

19:4 , ,

19:4

19:5

19:5

19:5 NU-Text and M-Text omit both.

19:6

19:6

19:6 NU-Text and M-Text read our.

19:7 [; ]

19:8

19:8

19:9

19:9

19:10

19:10

19:10 []

19:10

19:10

19:11

19:11 ; ,

19:11 ,

19:11

19:12

19:12 ;

19:12 M-Text adds names written, and.

19:13 ,

19:13 [, ]

19:14

19:14

19:14 NU-Text and M-Text read pure white linen.

19:15

19:15 ,

19:15

19:15 M-Text adds two-edged.

19:16 ;

19:16

19:17

19:17 NU-Text and M-Text read the great supper of God.

19:18

19:18 NU-Text and M-Text read both free.

19:19

19:20

19:20 , ,

19:20

19:20

19:21

19:21 ,

19:21

Revelation 20

20:1 ;

20:2

20:3

20:3 ; ,

20:4

20:4 [, ]

20:4

20:4

20:4

20:4

20:4

20:4 M-Text reads the.

20:6 [; ]

20:6

20:6

20:8 ; ,

20:8 ; ,

20:8

20:9 ,

20:10 ; ,

20:10

20:10 NU-Text and M-Text add also.

20:11

20:11

20:12

20:12

20:12

20:12

20:12 NU-Text and M-Text read the throne.

20:13 ; ;

20:13 ;

20:14

20:14

20:14 NU-Text and M-Text add the lake of fire.

20:15

Revelation 21

21:1 []

21:1

21:2

21:2

21:2 NU-Text and M-Text omit John.

21:3

21:4

21:4

21:4 ; ;

21:5 , ;

21:5

21:5 ;

21:5 NU-Text and M-Text omit to me.

21:6 ;

21:6 ;

21:6

21:6 M-Text omits It is done.

21:7

21:7 M-Text reads overcomes, I shall give him these things.

21:8

21:8

21:8 M-Text adds and sinners.

21:9

21:9 ;

21:9 NU-Text and M-Text omit to me.

21:9 M-Text reads I will show you the woman, the Lamb’s bride.

21:10

21:10

21:10 NU-Text and M-Text omit the great and read the holy city, Jerusalem.

21:11 ; ;

21:12

21:13

21:14

21:14 NU-Text and M-Text read twelve names.

21:15

21:19

21:21 ,

21:21

21:22 ,

21:23 ; ,

21:23 NU-Text and M-Text omit in it.

21:23 M-Text reads the very glory.

21:24 , ;

21:24 NU-Text and M-Text omit of those who are saved.

21:24 M-Text reads the glory and honor of the nations to Him.

21:25

21:25

21:26

21:26 M-Text adds that they may enter in.

21:27

21:27

21:27 NU-Text and M-Text read anything profane, nor one who causes.

Revelation 22

22:1

22:1 NU-Text and M-Text omit pure.

22:2

22:2

22:2

22:3

22:3

22:3

22:4 []

22:4

22:5

22:5

22:5

22:5 ,

22:6

22:6

22:6

22:6 NU-Text and M-Text read spirits of the prophets.

22:7 []

22:7

22:8

22:8 NU-Text and M-Text read am the one who heard and saw.

22:9

22:9 NU-Text and M-Text omit For.

22:10

22:10

22:11 NU-Text and M-Text read do right.

22:12 ;

22:12

22:13

22:13 NU-Text and M-Text read the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

22:14

22:14 []

22:14

22:14 NU-Text reads wash their robes.

22:15

22:15

22:15 NU-Text and M-Text omit But.

22:16

22:16

22:16

22:17 [, ]

22:17

22:18 ;

22:18 NU-Text and M-Text omit For.

22:18 M-Text reads may God add.

22:19

22:19 M-Text reads may God take away.

22:19 NU-Text and M-Text read tree of life.

22:21 NU-Text reads with all; M-Text reads with all the saints.

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