revelationlesson6

An outpouring of praise comes from the occupants of heaven as the tyranny and injustice of the world’s evil systems are brought to an end…

   -         salvation comes only from God, he only is worthy of praise and worship, he alone is all powerful (vs. 1)
   -         justice is done as his judgments are handed down (vs. 2)
   -         he puts down corrupt rulers and brings to an end the nations that rebel against him, as he prepares
          to install the king of kings and lord of lords (vs. 2-3, cf. Proverbs 14:34, Jeremiah 25:29-32, Psalm 2)

   The representatives of the redeemed in heaven and God’s senior heavenly administrators praise God for the ending of the old era and the beginning of the new. (vs. 3-4)
   The Lord Jesus calls on all God’s people to join him in the chorus of praise. (vs. 5, cf. Psalm 22:22-23)
   Henry Morris[1] thoughtfully asks, “In the midst of ‘the great congregation’ [has] the slain Lamb thus become our great ‘praise leader’? ”

   The redeemed, that great multitude mentioned earlier, (Revelation 7:9-10) raise their voices in praise, with a sound like that of a fast flowing river crashing its way through a deep valley, or like booming thunder claps. (vs. 6, cf. Revelation 1:15)
   The first three ‘hallelujahs’ express praise and relief for the overthrow of evil. This final ‘hallelujah’ strikes a positive note, the Lord God Omnipotent reigns. (cf. the final five Psalms, 146-150 where each begins with the Hebrew ‘Hallelu Yah’, praise God, and which, as Henry Morris[2] notes, “also have as their primary themes the coming eternal reign of God.”)
   The occasion of the coming of the Lord is likened to that of a wedding. (vs. 7-9)
   The redeemed (the bride-Ephesians 5:25-27) are clothed in the righteousness of Christ (vs. 7-8, cf. Isaiah 61:10, Jeremiah 23:5-6, 1 Corinthians 1:30)
   Those who respond to the wedding invitation are blessed indeed. (vs. 9, cf. Matthew 22:1-14)

God’s special messenger declines John’s worship, just as Paul and Barnabas turned aside the worship of the crowds who were touched by their ministry in Lystra. (Acts 14:8-18)
Likewise, worship of the Holy Spirit is not called for in the description of his work. His work is to bring glory to the Lord Jesus Christ—to direct our adoration to him. (John 16:12-15)

John watches as the final drama to be played out on the earth is portrayed in heaven

    -      he is presented in the word picture of a warrior equipped to ride forth into battle. (vs. 11)
           His activities are in direct contrast to the rider of the horseman described in Revelation 6:2.
    -       his name is ‘Faithful and True’. (vs. 11, cf. Revelation 3:14) Henry Morris (p. 391) comments,
           “He is very faithfulness and very truth. And because he is true and faithful and must act in
         righteousness, He must finally, after long ages of grace and mercy, become the Judge and the Warrior.
         As the Judge he has pronounced the sentence; as the Warrior He will carry it out.”

   -         his eyes are the eyes of authority (vs. 12, cf. Revelation 1:14)
   -         his name is beyond description because an infinite number of names is needed to give him
           his identity (vs. 12)
   -         his robe dipped in blood speaks of the death resulting from the judgments about to fall
           (vs. 13, cf. Isaiah 63:1-4)
   -         one of his names is ‘λογοs’ (logos), the Word, he is the fulfillment of all that philosophers of all time
           have been searching for (vs. 13, cf. John 1:1-3, 14)
   -         he is accompanied by a great multitude from heaven (vs. 14, cf. Zechariah 14:3-9,
           1 Thessalonians 3:13, Jude vs. 14-15)
   -         his power to judge and to rule comes not from those accompanying him but lies in his own
           authoritative voice (vs. 15, cf. Isaiah 11:1-5)
    -         another of his names (vs. 16) reveals Christ “in his capacity as supreme Ruler” (Leon Morris[3])
    -         his overthrow of evil will be complete (vs. 17-18, cf. this word picture with that of Ezekiel 39:4, 17-20)

   “The description emphasizes universality. It starts with kings, and goes on to officers, to heroes, to horses and riders, and to all men, free and slave, small and great. None is excluded. The overthrow of evil is total.” (Leon Morris[4])

The evil world ruler, supported by the false prophet, marshals all his forces in a desperate attempt to keep his world kingdom intact. They ride out to meet the oncoming King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (vs. 19, cf. Joel 3:9-16)
But at just a word from the Lord Jesus they are deprived of the demonic powers given them by Satan. (vs. 20)
They and all their followers receive their just reward. (vs. 20-21, cf. Psalm 9:15-20, Jeremiah 25:15-38, Zephaniah 1:14-18, 3:8, Revelation 20:10-15, Matthew 10:28, 25:41)

   Satan and, by implication, all the forces of evil under his command, are restrained for a time.
   They are powerless to intervene while the Lord threads together the final stages of his plans for the world and its people.
   One thousand is the cube of the number ten, the Biblical number of completeness. (10 x 10 x 10 = 1000). Where can we place ‘the 1000 years’, the millennium, in the prophetic time line? There are three diverging views …

The Pre-millennial Perspective

Those who hold this view think that Christ’s second coming will be at the beginning of ‘the thousand years’. He will bring with him those believers who have already passed on into heaven and are living with him there in their heavenly bodies. They will then move again into their former earthly bodies. In resurrection those bodies will now become their eternal glorious bodies. Those who are still living on earth at that time will be drawn up to join them. Paul explains …

I can tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not rise to meet him ahead of those who are in their graves. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the trumpet call of God. First, all the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain with him forever. So comfort and encourage each other with these words.(1 Thessalonians 4:15-18)

In this view the redeemed of the Lord will then reign with him on earth for ‘the thousand years.’

The Post-millennial View

Leon Morris[5] tells us that in contrast to the pre-millennialists, “Post-millennialists differ, in seeing the return of Christ as taking place after the millennium. Sometimes they see the millennium as standing for the triumph of the gospel in this present age, sometimes as a literal 1,000 years at the end of time.”

Leon Morris[6] explains that on the other hand, “A-millennialists hold that there is no literal millennium. The thousand year period is symbolical. It stands for the whole time between the life of Jesus on earth and his second coming.”

It will be noticed however, that the pre and post-millennial schools of thought revolve around the placing of the second coming of Christ into a fixed position on a chronological time chart. This puts the theories on shaky ground because the coming of the Lord cannot with certainty be locked into any particular time slot. Jesus made it clear to his disciples that though certain events would alert people that his coming may be getting closer, the actual time would not be revealed.

   Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its buds become tender and its leaves begin to sprout, you know without being told that summer is near. Just so, when you see the events I’ve described beginning to happen, you can know his return is very near, right at the door. I assure you, this generation will not pass from the scene before all these things take place. Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will remain forever.
   However, no one knows the day or the hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.
   … You also must be ready all the time. For the Son of Man will come when least expected. (Matthew 24:32-36, 44)

   Those of all time who have trusted Christ for their salvation join him as he establishes his rule. (vs. 4a)
   Their garments are appropriate for both the wedding feast and their place in the heavenly court (Revelation 19:7-8, 14)
   They are assigned individual thrones, unless accounted as unworthy of reward (1 Corinthians 3:11-15)
   Their role is referred to many times in the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 6:2, Daniel 7:22, Matthew 19:28, 25:14-30, Revelation 1:4-6, 2:26-28, 19:14-15)
   Christians who have been killed in times of great persecution have a special mention. Intense persecution did not cause them to betray their Lord. (vs. 4b)
   The resurrection of everyone who has ever lived and died will be conducted in an orderly way. (vs. 5-6, cf. 1 Corinthians 15:20-24)
   Believers will be raised first then unbelievers will be raised to be assigned their permanent position in that place of eternal separation from God. It will be for them a second death. (cf. Matthew 25:31-34, 41)
   Not so for believers. It will be a time for them when their eternal life is confirmed.

   The restraint on Satan’s activities is removed. He does not escape, he is released. The Lord is in control, not Satan. (vs. 7)
   Satan draws together the military might of the world from every quadrant of the earth in what will be his final act of rebellion against God. (vs. 8)
The armed forces of the nations of the world surround Jerusalem in this last attempt to thwart the rule of God. (vs. 9, cf. Zechariah 14)
   But the attempt is futile as that once glorious being suffers the fate of all who rebel against the Lord. (vs. 10, cf. Isaiah 14:12-17, where a word picture is drawn in the life of the ruler of Babylon, of Satan himself.)

   The earth and its atmosphere are no more. They are engulfed in the advancing glory cloud of the Divine fire, which Henry Morris[7] refers to as ‘the pure white hot energy of the Creator in all His ineffable brilliance.’ There is no place to hide as the present planet earth is removed to make way for ‘a new heaven and a new earth.’ (vs. 11, Revelation 21:1, cf. 2 Peter 3:7-13, Matthew 24:35, Revelation 6:12-17)
   All people of all time are brought before the Lord. Their eternal destiny is now settled according to heaven’s detailed records. (vs. 12)
   The dead in their other world bodies are reunited with their earthly bodies, no matter where those earthly bodies have been ‘sleeping’. They may have been kept in an earthly grave, as ashes in an urn, ‘lost’ in space travel, or buried at sea. (vs. 13)
   Those whose sins are still recorded in ‘the books’ must now accept the verdict of the judge, guilty and sentenced to eternal death. (vs. 13-14)
   But the sins of ‘a great multitude that no one can count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb’ (Revelation 7:9) are no longer recorded in ‘the books’. All reference to them has been deleted. The delete key is marked with the symbol of a cross. (Isaiah 43:24, 53:4-12, Acts 3:19, Colossians 2:13-14)
   The names of those who have accepted Christ’s sacrificial death as being for them personally have been transferred from ‘the books’ to ‘the book of life’. Their destiny is now eternal life. (vs. 14-15)
   Believers are then living forever. Unbelievers are then dying forever. (John 17:1-3, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10)

The earth and its immediate planetary system revolving around the sun are no more. (Matthew 24:35, 2 Peter 3:13)
A newly created heaven and earth are now in place. (cf. Isaiah 65:17, 66:22, 2 Peter 3:13)

   This can be none other than the city Jesus is now preparing for his followers. Those who have already died are there with him. They will be with him when he returns. (John 14:1-4, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-15, 1 Corinthians 2:9-10)
   It is the city Abraham looked forward to being a part of. (Hebrews 11:8-10, 16)
   It is the city of which all believers are already citizens. (Philippians 3:20-21, Galatians 4:24-26, Hebrews 12:22-24, 13:14)
   It is the heavenly city now coming down to the new earth. (vs. 2)
   The New Jerusalem is portrayed in this word picture as being ‘prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.’ The same word picture is used of God’s people. (Isaiah 61:10, Ephesians 5:25-27) The city and its people are seen as one. This is an accurate portrayal for there is a sense in which people are the city in which they live and the city is the people who live there.

   It will be the kind of fellowship Adam and Eve enjoyed but then lost when they fell to Satan’s temptations and tried to hide from God. (Genesis 3:8-9, 23)
   The Lord will once again walk among his people as he did then. (vs. 3)   … The English word 'dwelling' or 'home' translates the Greek word ‘sκηνη’ (skēnē), ‘tent, tabernacle’ derived from ‘sκηνοω’ (skēnoō) meaning ‘to tent down, to dwell’.
   The Lord will ‘tabernacle’ himself among his redeemed people as was foreshadowed in the earthly tabernacle and in the person of Christ at his first ‘tabernacling among us.’ (John 1:14, cf. Exodus 25:8-9, Leviticus 26:11-13, Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23, Revelation 7:14-17)

In this life trouble cannot be avoided. (John 16:33, 2 Corinthians 6:4) We are not however, left to cope alone. (Psalm 91:15, 59:16, 2 Corinthians 1:4-70)
But then, life will be entirely trouble free, ‘no more death or mourning or crying or pain’. (cf. Revelation 7:14-17)

Henry Morris[8] writes, “The entropy law will be ‘repealed’. Nothing will wear out or decay, and no one will age or atrophy anymore … All things will be and remain eternally young and fresh and new, just as they were in the week of creation itself.”

Readers are reminded that their eternal quality of life is determined by present choices.
The Lord who created all things at the ‘Beginning’ is now positioned at the ‘End’ to create everything new. A way to life and a way to death is presented to us in this life. (Matthew 7:13-14, Proverbs 14:12)

   Those who find life (vs. 6-7) are …
        -         those who thirst for it, (vs. 6, cf. Matthew 5:6, Psalm 42:1-2, 63:1, 143:6-7)
        -         those who discover that it is a free gift, it cannot be worked for or purchased or bargained for, it comes
              without cost to its recipients but at enormous cost to its giver, (vs. 6 Isaiah 55:1-2, Ephesians 2:8-10,
              cf. 1 Peter 1:18-20)
        -         those who overcome, (vs. 7, 1 John 2:13-14, 5:1-5, Romans 12:21, Revelation 12:10-11)

   Those who find death (vs. 8) are …
        -        the cowardly, (Leon Morris[9] writes, “John is speaking not of natural timidity and fear, but of that
              cowardice which in the last resort chooses self and safety before Christ. God did not give his people
              such a spirit of cowardice, 2 Timothy 1:7-8).”
        -        the unbelieving, (cf. John 3:18)
        -       the vile, the abominable, those engaged in the blasphemous and licentious practices associated with
             idol worship, (cf. Jeremiah 32:32-35)
        -         the murderers, (cf. 1 John 3:14-15)
        -         the sexually immoral, (cf. Jude vs. 4-7, Ephesians 4:4-5, Colossians 3:5-10)
        -         sorcerers, (cf. Malachi 3:5)
        -        idolaters, those “whose religious worship is directed toward a material object which, in turn,
             represents to him some spiritual reality.” (Henry Morris[10])
        -         all liars, those who are devious and practice deception, including false teachers (2 Peter 2:1-3)

An invitation is issued to tour the city. And, by implication, not just to be tourists but to become residents. (vs. 9-10)
Life in the city has a sparkle to it, like the gleam of precious jewels. Everything in it reflects the glory of God. (vs. 11)

   No evil or wandering fiery asteroid can penetrate its protective wall.
   Barclay[11] suggests that symbolically the wall may be understood as being ‘the insurmountable wall of faith.’ If that is so, then it is the faith by which the gift of salvation is received. (cf. Isaiah 26:1-6, Zechariah 2:5)
   The names of Israel’s twelve tribes written on the gates and the names of the twelve apostles on the foundations indicate the pathway along which the message of salvation has come to the people of the world. Firstly through the prophets to the people of Israel, and then through the apostles to the Gentile world. (Genesis 12:1-3, Romans 1:16-17, Ephesians 2:14-22)

   The shape of the city is a cube, indicating perfection. It is the same shape as that of the ‘inner sanctuary’ of the tabernacle and later the temple. (cf. 1 Kings 6:20)
   12,000 stadia equals about 2,200 kilometers. 144 cubits equals about 65 meters.
   It is not the shape of the pyramids which were associated with the mythology of pagan cultures.
   The New Jerusalem fully satisfies the Lord’s highest standards of perfection.
   All who live in the city enjoy a perfect relationship with God.

   The materials used are of the finest, most valuable kind. Jasper for the walls, gold for the city, and all kinds of precious gems giving brilliance to the foundation stones.
   Barclay[12] notes that eight of these stones are found in the breastplate of the Jewish High Priest. (Exodus 28:15-21)
   Each gate is made of a single pearl, the most valued gem of all. Those who find entrance to the Kingdom of God find treasure, the value of which far exceeds anything else. (cf. Matthew 13:44-46)

The Triune Lord God Almighty is to the people of the city, all and more than were the Tabernacle and Temple of old. They and their rules and required duties were but the shadow. (cf. Colossians 2:16-17, Hebrews 8:1-6, 10) The Lord is now the reality.

   The sun and moon of the old heaven and earth are not needed here. They belonged to what has now passed away. (Matthew 13:31)
   The illumination the Lord now provides is everlasting. (cf. Isaiah 60:19-20)
   Christian believers enjoy a foretaste of this now. (Psalm 36:7-9)

The glory of the nations and rulers of the former world order is as nothing compared to the glory of this city. The splendor the redeemed bring from their countries into the New Jerusalem will be swallowed up in the splendor of the Holy City.
On the other hand, perhaps there is a reference here to large numbers of the redeemed living and serving the Lord outside the city, in other parts of the new earth. Something vast is perhaps being hinted at here that is beyond present comprehension. (cf. Isaiah 9:6-7)

   Only those whose sin record has been erased from ‘the books’ in response to their repentance and acceptance of Christ’s sacrificial death for them, may enter the Holy City.
   Only those whose names have then been transferred to the ‘Lamb’s Book of Life’ become residents there.
   As Barclay[13] observes, “It is not the repentant sinner, but the defiant sinner, who is barred from the city of God.”

   Conditions as they were before the fall operate again. (cf. Genesis 2:8-10)
   People have been denied access to the ‘tree of life’ since the fall of humankind. (Genesis 3:24) But now it is accessible once more.
   Its fruit provides all that is needed for the enjoyment of a glowing eternal life style. (vs. 1-2)
   The water of everlasting life flows freely. Its source is the Lord. (vs. 1, cf. John 19:24, 3:5-6, 7:37-39) It is pure in quality, sparkling as it flows, and eternally fresh.

   What a joy it will then be to serve the Lord without the hassles experienced in this life because of ‘the humanness of all believers’. No longer will ‘the curse’ which followed the fall be active. (vs. 3, cf. Genesis 3:16-24)
   Unlike Moses, the servants of the Lord will see him face to face. (vs. 4, cf. Exodus 33:17-20)
   Henry Morris[14] speculates about what the nature of service for the Lord may be as we ‘reign for ever and ever’ with him. Morris concludes, “Thus our future service for the Lord of glory may well include assignments in any part of the vast universe. But home will always be in the new Jerusalem where Christ is. There also, is where the mansions are which he has prepared for us. (John 14:2) and there is where we shall always return.”

We can be absolutely certain of the integrity of this and all other Scripture. (vs. 6, cf. 2 Timothy 3:14-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21, Psalm 119:159-160, Luke 24:27-34)

   The book begins with the promise of blessing for those who read it and take its teaching to heart. It ends with the focus fixed squarely on the need to respond to its teaching. (vs. 7, cf. Revelation 1:3)
   John assures his readers of the accuracy of what he has written. He has recorded only that which he has seen and heard. He is overcome by the magnitude and awesomeness of what has been revealed to him. (vs. 8-9, cf. Revelation 19:10)
   The book is to be published. Its message is not be hidden. (vs. 10, cf. Daniel 12:8-10) It is for all to read. Its content will become progressively clearer as world history draws nearer and nearer to its conclusion.
   The coming of the Lord is imminent. (vs. 10)
   At the time of his coming there will be no further opportunity for a change of lifestyle. People will then move on into eternity just as they are. Hearts that are hardened now will be remain hard then. It will be too late to change. But those who have turned to the Lord and are walking in his ways now will walk right on with him then. (vs. 11)
   Each person will then receive their just reward. (vs. 12)
   The same title ‘Alpha and Omega’ is taken by God when he is speaking and by Jesus when he is speaking. (vs. 13, cf. Revelation 1:8, 21:6) Jesus truly is God.
   This is the last ‘beatitude’ of the book, those statements beginning with the word 'blessed'. (vs. 14, cf. Revelation 1:3, 14:13, 16:15, 19:9, 20:6, 22:7) Those who have accepted the forgiveness and cleansing provided by Christ’s sacrificial death enter the Holy City clothed in the clean garments of salvation. (vs. 14, cf. John 1:5-9, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Isaiah 1:18, 61:10)
   But those who have refused the way of salvation provided through Christ are left outside, for there is salvation in no other. (vs. 15, cf. Matthew 22:11-14, 25:10-13, Acts 4:12)
   The revelation is from the Lord. (vs. 16) It is primarily for the instruction and encouragement of Christian believers in times of great tribulation and distress. He is the promised Messiah. The one spoken of to David. (vs. 16, cf. 2 Samuel 7:12-13) He is the promised Morning Star. (Numbers 24:17, cf. Luke 1:78-79)

- to those who would add further teaching to the now completed Biblical revelation (vs. 18)

-         to those who would delete anything from the book (vs. 19) The Scriptures are not to be tampered with
   in any way. (cf. Deuteronomy 4:2, 12:32, Proverbs 30:5-6, Jeremiah 26:2-3) To do so will result in
   missing out on the salvation promised in them.

Jesus responds to the invitation for him to hurry up and return, “Yes, I am coming soon.” (vs. 20)
The Biblical story begins with the record of creation and the subsequent failure of humankind. It ends with the reminder that salvation is by grace alone. (vs. 21, cf. Ephesians 2:1-10)

[1] Morris, Henry M. THE REVELATION RECORD. Illinois: Tyndale House. 1986. p. 381.

[2] ibid: p. 382.

[3] Morris, Leon. REVELATION. London: Tyndale. 1969. p. 232.

[4] ibid: p. 232.

[5] Leon Morris. ibid: p. 234.

[6] ibid: p. 234.

[7] Henry Morris. ibid: p. 425.

[8] Henry Morris. ibid: p. 441.

[9] Leon Morris. ibid: p. 246.

[10] Henry Morris. ibid: p. 444.

[11] Barclay, William. THE DAILY STUDY BIBLE – The Revelation Of John. Volume 2. 1993. pp. 209-210.

[12] ibid: p. 214

[13] William Barclay. ibid: p. 219

[14] Henry Morris. ibid: pp. 467-468