Revelation 22:6-21

This morning my family finished considering Revelation 22:6-21 in our study of the book of Revelation using Douglas Connelly’s The Book of Revelation Made Clear (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2007) and Serendipity Bible for Study Groups (Littleton, Colorado: Serendipity House, 1988). The passage contains statements/actions by the angel who has guided John in the book of Revelation, by John himself, and by Jesus . My comments on it are based primarily on Connelly’s exposition of it. The answers to the Serendipity Bible for Study Groups questions are based on what I can remember of our family discussion of them.

The Angel and John

6 And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.”
7 “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, 9 but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
10 And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. 11 Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.”

The angel who has been guiding John reassures John that what he has shown and told John is trustworthy because it came from God. As he had done in Revelation 19:10, John falls down at the feet of the angel to worship him. Again the angel tells not to do so because he is just a fellow servant of God and only God should be worshipped. Then he warns John not to seal up what he has written because “the time is near.” However that was almost two thousand years ago, and so how could the angel say that the time was near? Connelly answers, “I think that the angel’s statement (like Jesus’ statement later in the chapter that he is coming soon) points out the fact that the wrap-up if history could begin at any moment” (Connelly, page 367).

Jesus

12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. 15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.
18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

Jesus gives his final message to the world in verses in verses 12-16 (the NIV includes verses 14-15 in what he says). He emphasizes who he is and that he is coming soon. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end, the root and descendant of David, and the bright morning star. When he comes, those who have accepted his salvation will be able to enter the city and eat of the tree of life but those who haven’t accepted it will remain outside forever.

The book of Revelation opened with the promise on those who read it, “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.” It closes with a warning to those who add or take away from it, “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.”

Following the warning, Jesus exclaims again, “I am coming soon,” and John responds, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” May that be our prayer too.

Questions from Serendipity Bible for Study Groups

These questions are the ones which our family discussed of the questions on Revelation 22:6-21 in Serendipity Bible for Study Groups.

DIG, 1: What words of Christ are repeated three times in this closing (vv.7, 12, 20)? How do these words sum up the theme of Revelation?
“I am coming soon” is repeated three times. It’s sums up the theme of Jesus’ soon return.
DIG, 2: What significance do you attribute to Jesus’ claims and names in verses 12-17? Regarding these claims, how is the final state of humanity determined: By some arbitrary reward system, fixed from eternity? By what we have done in this present life? Or by our response to his universal (“whoever thirsts”) and undeserved (“free gift”) invitation to simply “come”?
The names are the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end, the root and the descendant of David, and the bright morning star., They point to his eternity and his being the Messiah or Christ. The final state of humanity is determined by our response to his universal (“whoever thirsts”) and undeserved (“free gift”) invitation to simply “come.”
DIG, 3: What then do you make of God’s summary of human destiny? Is it ever too late for people to change their ways and come to Christ? Why or why not?
God’s saying “Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy” points to the shortness of time before Jesus will return. However it is never too late for people to change their ways and come to Jesus because the invitation will remain open until the final judgment.
DIG, 4: In the contrast between those “inside” the city and those “outside” (vv. 14-15), what is implied about the basis for our salvation and judgment? What does it mean to “wash” one’s “robe”?
The contrast between those “inside” and those “outside” the city implies that the basis for salvation is having our robes washed in the blood or accepting Jesus’ sacrifice of himself for us.
DIG, 5: What is the meaning of God’s final curse in verses 18-19? Knowing what you now do about the seven plagues, the tree of life, and the Holy City, how seriously do you take this warning?
God’s curse in verses 18-19 means that we are not to add to or take away from what is said in the book of Revelation and that doing so will mean not receiving salvation.
REFLECT, 1: How have you prepared yourself for Christ’s second coming? Do you feel more (or less) ready for it after reading the Book of Revelation than you did beforehand?
REFLECT, 2: How have your perceptions of Jesus, Satan, heaven, and hell changed? Why?
REFLECT, 3: How will these new perceptions affect your worship? Your lifestyle?
REFLECT, 4: How would you sum up the central truth of this book?
The central truth of the book of Revelation is that Jesus is returning soon and thus we should be ready for his return.
I haven’t given our answers to the other three REFLECT questions because they were personal.
XX

Revelation 21:1-22:5

Yesterday morning my family finished considering Revelation 21:1-22:5 in our study of the book of Revelation using Douglas Connelly’s The Book of Revelation Made Clear (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2007) and Serendipity Bible for Study Groups (Littleton, Colorado: Serendipity House, 1988). The passage describes the new heaven and the new earth. It and any other Biblical quotations given below are from the ESV. My comments on it are based primarily on Connelly’s exposition of it. The answers to the Serendipity Bible for Study Groups questions are based on what I can remember of our family discussion of them.

The New Heaven and the New Earth

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and she will be my son. 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

In Revelation 20 John saw Earth’s history come to an end with a millennium of peace and abundance followed by a final rebellion by Satan and the final judgment. In Revelation 21 and 22 he sees God destroy the earth and the universe it is part of and make a new creation, an earth with no separating seas and oceans. John also sees a beautiful city descend to the earth, “the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Then John hears a voice (God’s or an angel’s) from heaven’s throne announce that God will now dwell with His people. Connelly understands this to mean that “God will dwell with human beings in bodily form as Jesus, but his glory and majesty as God will be visible” (Connelly, page 349). God’s presence will ensure that death, sorrow, and pain will be no more.
In verses 5-8 God confirms what John has seen and recorded. He assures John that He started, guides, and will end human history. He promises an eternal life with Him to all who believe in Jesus and remain faithful to Him and threatens hell for all who reject Jesus and do evil.

The New Jerusalem

9 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed— 13 on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15 And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. 16 The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal. 17 He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel’s measurement. 18 The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, 25 and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. 26 They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Connelly expresses the wish that John could have taken some pictures of the new Jerusalem to add to what he writes, concluding, “[John] does his best to use present-world language to describe next-world sights, but we can only begin to imagine the splendor and beauty of the great city where we will spend eternity” (Connelly, page 355).
Besides describing the new Jerusalem, John notes some things that it won’t have: a temple, darkness, and impurity. God will be its temple, and His glory will light it. Connelly infers from the absence of sin, sickness, and death in the new Jerusalem that there won’t be any things that cater to or deal with them, such as adult theatres, hospitals, and cemeteries. He also observes that the pursuit of material wealth will be a things of the past too and thus that there won’t be any need for institutions concerned with that pursuit, such as banks. He concludes, “A lot of things we accept as commonplace in this world will be missing in the next world—and we won’t miss any of them” (Connelly, page 357).

The River of Life

1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

This passage points out three specific blessings of the new earth: the river of the water of life, the tree of life, and the absence of sin’s curse. It also refers to two activities of believers in the new earth: serving and worshipping God (verse 3) and reigning with God (verse 5).
Over whom will we reign? In a break-out section on Revelation 21:24 Connelly suggests that church-age believers will reign over Old Testament believers and millennial-age believers either as kings over nations throughout the earth or as dwellers in the new Jerusalem over the occupants of the rest of the earth (Connelly, page 352). However he admits that this is just speculation.

Questions from Serendipity Bible for Study Groups

These questions are the ones which our family discussed of the questions on Revelation 21:1-22:5 in Serendipity Bible for Study Groups.

DIG, 1: Where will the new age be lived out—on earth or in heaven? Why do you think so?
The new age will be lived out on earth because John sees the new Jerusalem descend from heaven to earth.
DIG, 2: Who will be the “residents” of the New Jerusalem and the “wife” of the Lamb? Whose presence is the vision caught up with? What’s missing from this picture? Why?
The residents of the New Jerusalem and the wife of the Lamb will be the church-age believers. Evil is missing from the picture because the tempter, Satan, will be in the Abyss.
DIG, 5: What is it about the city that John and his readers are meant to notice in particular? Why? What impresses you most about the city and its central figures? Why?
We didn’t know what John and his readers were to notice in particular about the city. We were especially impressed by the splendour of the city, by our being able to see God face to face, and by His being the city’s source of light.
DIG, 7: What features will be found in the New Jerusalem (22:1-6)? Where else do we see the same features (see Ge 1-3; Eze 47:1-2; Joel 3:18; Zec 14:8)?
The river of the water of life will flow through the New Jerusalem, and the tree(s) of life will be on either side of the river. The passages for which references are given also refer to the tree of life (Genesis) or to water flowing from the temple (Ezekiel) or the house of the Lord (Joel) or Jerusalem (Zechariah).
REFLECT, 4: How must the early Christians have greeted this vision of what was in sore for them? How do you respond to this same hope?
We thought that the early Christians must have greeted this vision of what was in store for them with anticipation and that we should respond with the same feeling.
REFLECT, 6: What difficulties of comprehension does this eternal city, the river of life, and the immediacy of these events pose for you? What bearing, if any, do these realities have on your present life? Why?
I haven’t shared our answers to these questions because they were personal.

Revelation 20:1-15

This morning my family finished considering Revelation 20:1-15 in our study of the book of Revelation using Douglas Connelly’s The Book of Revelation Made Clear (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2007) and Serendipity Bible for Study Groups (Littleton, Colorado: Serendipity House, 1988). The chapter describes the millennium, Satan’s activities during and after it, and the final judgment. The passage and any other Biblical quotations given below are from the ESV. My comments on the passage are based primarily on Connelly’s exposition of it. The answers to the Serendipity Bible for Study Groups questions are based on what I can remember of our family discussion of them.

Before commenting on the passage, Connelly identifies and summarizes the arguments for the three main views about the millennium or “thousand years” of Revelation 20:1-6. Premillennialism holds that Jesus returns to earth before the millennium and reigns on earth during it. Postmillennialism holds that Jesus reigns through the church during the millennium and returns to earth after it. Amillennialism holds that the kingdom age is the present age, Jesus reigning in the church and in our hearts right now. The Internet contains many articles and charts comparing the main millennial views. Most of them distinguish between historic premillennialism and dispensational premillennialism. The latter views Israel and the church as two distinct peoples of God, but the former views the church as the fulfilment of Israel. Also the latter believes that the church will be raptured before the tribulation, but the former believes that the church will go through the tribulation and be raptured after it.

1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. 2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.
4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.
7 And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. 9 And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, 10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

An angel comes down from heaven, seizes Satan, binds him with a great chain, throws him into the Abyss (a bottomless pit which served as a place of confinement for disobedient spirits awaiting judgment), and seals the Abyss for a thousand years so that Satan is unable to deceive the nations. In verse 2 all four titles by which Satan is referred to Revelation are brought together. “He is the dragon defeated in heavenly combat by Michael (12:7-8), the serpent who tried to sweep away the Messianic community with a flood (12:15), and the devil who knows that his time is short” (12:12)” (Robert H. Mounce, The Book of Revelation, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1977, page 352) besides being Satan.
Connelly identifies five groups which will inhabit the earth during Christ’s reign: Gentile believers who survive the Tribulation, Jewish believers who survive the Tribulation, glorified church-age believers (they were taken to heaven in the rapture and will accompany Jesus when he returns in glory), resurrected Old Testament believers (they will be raptured when Jesus returns in glory), and resurrected Tribulation martyrs (they will be raptured when Jesus returns in glory). The first two groups will have normal bodies and the other three will have glorified bodies. Connelly claims that unbelieving survivors of the Tribulation will be judged and die in the transition after Jesus returns, citing Daniel 12:1-2 and Matthew 13:41-43, 49-50.
Next John sees thrones occupied by “were those to whom the authority to judge was committed.” Connelly thinks that these are resurrected church-age believers who returned with Jesus. However “others hold the occupants of the thrones to include apostles [Mt. 19:28], saints [1 Cor. 6:2-3], and all who remain faithful in the final trial (Rev 3:21)” (Mounce, page 355).
John refers to the resurrection of Tribulation martyrs as “the first resurrection,” which Connelly defines as the first kind of resurrection, a resurrection to life. He says that the second kind of resurrection will be what unbelievers experience at the end of the millennium, a resurrection to condemnation and eternal separation to God. However, other scholars distinguish between the two resurrections differently.
The thousand years will be marked by peace and blessing. “Sin’s curse will be lifted, and mankind will enjoy an age of opportunity and goodness the likes of which no one has known since the garden of Eden” (Connelly, page 337). However children born during it will be born with an inner inclination to sin, just like children born today, and when Satan is released at the end of the thousand years multitudes will follow him. He will organize an army which will march against the camp of God’s people (likely Jerusalem). Fire will fall from heaven and devour them. Satan will be thrown into hell, where the Antichrist and the false prophet already are.
Next John sees a great white throne and someone (God) seated on it. Unbelievers will be raised from the dead and be judged at the throne by “books” and “the book of life.” If their names aren’t in the book of life, they will be judged by the record of their deeds on earth contained in the books and cast into hell. Connelly claims that their deeds will determine the degree of their punishment in eternity.
Connelly concludes his exposition of Revelation 20 thus: “No Christian thinks about hell with joy. It’s a hard truth to accept, but we are convinced by the overwhelming testimony of Scripture that those who reject Christ are separated from the conscious presence of God forever.” (Connelly, page 342)

Questions from Serendipity Bible for Study Groups

These questions are the ones on Revelation 20:1-15 in Serendipity Bible for Study Groups.

DIG, 1. Why is Satan bound? By whom? How?
Satan is bound so that he can’t deceive the nations. He is bound with a chain by an angel and cast into the bottomless pit, which the angel then shuts and locks.
DIG, 2. Where and when will this 1000-year reign begin: On earth or in heaven? Beginning when Christ first came? Or when he comes again? Why?
This 1000-year reign will begin on earth when Christ comes again. Its purpose is to let people see what it is like to be ruled over by Christ and God’s people before making a final choice between God and Satan.
DIG, 3. What will life be like without Satan deceiving the nations, but with the church reigning instead? In what sense is that already true? And not yet true?
Without Satan deceiving the nations, there will be peace on earth. Evidence that it is already true in part is the good work done in society by Christians, but the evil in the world shows that is not yet fully true.
DIG, 4. What is the first resurrection? The second death (see also 20:11-15)? What do these mean to Christians? To the rest of the dead?
The first resurrection is the resurrection of the Tribulation martyrs. The second death is being cast into hell. Christians will share in reigning with Jesus in the millennium, which follows the first resurrection. The unsaved dead will be cast into hell.
DIG, 5. Why do you think Satan will again try to deceive the nations? Why do you suppose God released him and let him out of the Abyss?
Satan will again try to deceive the nations in the hope of being victorious over God. God released him and let him out of the Abyss to give the nations another chance to choose Him over Satan.
DIG, 6. Describe this version of the last battle, comparing it to the other versions in Revelation and to Ezekiel 38-39. What is the final fate of the beast and the false prophet?
In all versions of the last battle, God and His people are victorious over the nations. This version is different than the other versions because Satan takes part in it and those defeated end up in hell.
DIG, 7. Who is exempted and who is exhumed at the great white throne judgment? On what basis?
Those whose names were in the book of life were exempted from the great white throne judgment. The other dead were exhumed and judged.
REFLECT, 1. What do you find comforting in this chapter? What disturbs you? Why?
REFLECT, 2. What is your biggest spiritual battle today? What is the outcome so far? What is the hope in this passage for you?
REFLECT, 3. Imagine a book made of your life, with every thought and deed recorded, the read by all? How would you feel? If Christ edited that book by substituting his works for yours? If Christ edited that books by substituting his works for yours, how would you feel then? How would you then live today?
Our answers to these questions were personal and so I won’t share them here.

Revelation 19:11-21

Yesterday morning my family finished considering Revelation 19:11-21 in our study of the book of Revelation using Douglas Connelly’s The Book of Revelation Made Clear (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2007) and Serendipity Bible for Study Groups (Littleton, Colorado: Serendipity House, 1988). It announces Jesus’ return with the armies of heaven and their defeat of the Antichrist and his allies. The passage and any other Biblical quotations given below are from the ESV. My comments on the passage are based primarily on Connelly’s exposition of it. The answers to the Serendipity Bible for Study Groups questions are based on what I can remember of our family discussion of them.

11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, 18 to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great.” 19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. 20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21 And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.

John sees the skies open and reveal a white horse carrying a rider called Faithful and True, Jesus, returning to judge and make war on those who oppose him. His eyes are like fire, he is crowned with many diadems, he has a name that only he knows, he is wearing a robe dipped in blood, he is followed by the armies of heaven, he has a sword coming from his mouth, and he has written on his robe and on his thigh “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” The robe “dipped in blood” is not a reminder of the cross but of the judgment Jesus would bring. The armies of heaven following Jesus are dressed in white and riding white horses. Connelly says that they are likely church-age believers but could also include Old Testament believers, Tribulation believers, and angels.
The armies of the Antichrist and of the kings of the East have already turned from fighting each other and gathered in and around Israel to fight against Jesus (Revelation 17:14). The Antichrist and the false prophet are captured and thrown alive into hell. Then the armies are killed by the sword that comes from Jesus’ mouth. Connelly says that Zechariah 14:12-13 suggests how they will be slain: “And this shall be the plague with which the Lord will strike all the peoples that wage war against Jerusalem: their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths. And on that day a great panic from the Lord shall fall on them, so that each will seize the hand of another, and the hand of the one will be raised against the hand of the other.” The birds of the whole region are called by an angel to feast on their flesh.

Questions from Serendipity Bible for Study Groups

These questions are the ones on Revelation 19:11-21 in Serendipity Bible for Study Groups.

DIG, 1. What regarding the horse, the rider, and the setting commands your attention? What description, titles, and names from the rest of Revelation help you to identify the rider?
“His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he … is clothed in a robe dipped in blood” are the features that commanded the attention of members of our family.
DIG, 2. Who is following Christ: The church militant (still on earth)? Or the church triumphant (now in heaven)? Why?
The church triumphant is following Jesus, their coming from heaven nd being described as the armies of heaven.
DIG, 3. What weapon does the rider wield?
The rider is wielding a sword, its coming from his mouth.
DIG, 4. How does this supper (vv. 17-18) compare with the wedding supper (19:9)?
This supper is eaten by birds, their feast on the flesh of the armies opposing Jesus, but the wedding supper is eaten by those invited to the wedding of Jesus and the church.
DIG, 5. Who are the combatants in this war (vv. 19-21)? Who wins? What happens to the enemy leaders? To the army?
In this war are Jesus and the armies of heaven combat the Antichrist, the rulers of the world, and their followers.
DIG, 6. How does this “last battle” compare to the “previous” ones (16:12-16; 17:14-16) and a “later” one (20:7-10)? Do you think these are different accounts of the same battle? Why?
The battles described in Revelation 16:12-16 and 17:14-16 seem to be the same battle as this battle. The battle described in Revelation is a later battle, taking place after instead of before the Millennium and pitting people led by Satan, instead of by the Antichrist, against Jesus and God’s people.
REFLECT. What hopes and fears does this triumphant picture bring out in you? Why? How has Jesus been your deliverer this year?
Our answers to this question were personal and so I won’t share them here.

Revelation 19:1-10

This morning my family finished considering Revelation 19:1-10 in our study of the book of Revelation using Douglas Connelly’s The Book of Revelation Made Clear and Serendipity Bible for Study Groups. It announces the wedding supper of the Lamb. The passage and any other Biblical quotations given below are from the ESV. My comments on the passage are based primarily on Connelly’s exposition of it. The answers to the Serendipity Bible for Study Groups questions are based on what I can remember of our family discussion of them.

1 After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out,
“Hallelujah!
Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
2 for his judgments are true and just;
for he has judged the great prostitute
who corrupted the earth with her immorality,
and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”
3 Once more they cried out,
“Hallelujah!
The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.”
4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” 5 And from the throne came a voice saying,
“Praise our God,
all you his servants,
you who fear him,
small and great.”
6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,
“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.
7 Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
8 it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure”—
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” 10 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

The destruction of Babylon the Great in chapter 17 marks the end of the Tribulation and God’s day begins. Just before Jesus returns to earth, the inhabitants of heaven shout praises to God. Four times we hear the word “Hallelujah!” a Hebrew word meaning “Praise to Yahweh.”
The first “Hallelujah!” comes from what sounds like a great multitude in heaven, whom Connelly thinks are the Tribulation martyrs. Earlier they had called out for God to avenge their deaths and now He has destroyed Babylon. They praise Him for the justice of His judgment of it.
The second “Hallelujah!” comes them again, They cry, “The smoke from her goes up forever and ever,” which Connelly says can’t refer to Babylon’s burning forever and so must refer to the eternal judgment of those who carried out the Antichrist’s schemes.
The third “Hallelujah!” comes from the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures around God’s throne, whom Connelly identified in considering Revelation 4 as the raptured church-age believers and four magnificent angels. They shout, “Amen, Hallelujah!” “Amen” means “may it be.”
Before the next “Hallelujah!” John hears a voice from the throne, probably that of an angel, encouraging all God’s servants to praise Him.
The fourth “Hallelujah!” comes from what sounds like a great multitude in heaven, whom Connelly thinks consists of everyone in heaven—Tribulation martyrs, church-age believers, Old Testament believers, and angels. They rejoice because the wedding supper of the Lamb is about to begin. The Lamb’s bride is the church and is dressed in fine linen, which John says stands for the righteous deeds of its members. According to Alan F. Johnson, “the [righteous deeds] don’t imply any kind of meritorious works that would bring salvation.… The bride is ‘given’ the garments, but she ‘has made herself ready’ for the wedding by faithfulness and loyalty” (“Revelation” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing Company, 1981, volume 12, pages 571-72).
The angel accompanying John prompts him to write, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” John falls down in worship to him, but the angel forbids him, reminding him that only God should be worshipped. The angel adds, “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy,” which Connelly explains as meaning that the purpose of true prophecy is to exalt Jesus.

Questions from Serendipity Bible for Study Groups

These questions are the ones on Revelation 19:1-10 in The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups (Zondervan Publishing House, 1988).
DIG, 1. In contrast to the silence that comes with the fall of Babylon (18:22), what characterizes the new scene in heaven? Who participates in this praise?
This scene is characterized by loud shouting by everyone in heaven.
DIG, 2. Compare and contrast the five songs of praise. What is the most frequent refrain? What do you learn about God’s character?
The first two or three songs praised God for His destruction of Babylon, and the last song praised Him because the wedding of the Lamb was about to occur. The most frequent refrain was “Hallelujah?” The songs show that God is all-powerful and good.
DIG, 3. Contrast the prostitute of chapters 17 and 18 with the bride of verses 6-9 (see also Eph 5:25-27), What do you find interesting about this contrast? Why?
The prostitute was wicked and dressed in purple and scarlet, and the bride was righteous and dressed in white linen.
DIG, 4. How is John (and how might we be) tempted to worship the angel or messenger of the good news?
John was tempted to worship the angel because of all that he has shown John.
DIG, 5. How is the witness of Jesus related to prophecy.
The purpose of prophecy is to exalt Jesus.
REFLECT, 1. What are four things for which you are extremely grateful to God? How do you usually express your gratitude to him about these things?
REFLECT, 2. How has your interest in worshipping God increased or decreased in the last year? Since beginning your study of Revelation? Why?
REFLECT, 3. What sounds of worship do you really appreciate? Why? How will you use them this week to worship God?
REFLECT, 4. How does the defeat and condemnation of Babylon and the triumph and glory of the Lord God affect your overall view of your problems here and now? What is one problem you hope to manage more confidently and joyfully as a result of your study of Revelation?
We discussed the first of the REFLECT questions but our answers to it were personal.

Revelation 18:9-24

This morning my family finished considering Revelation 18:9-24 in our study of the book of Revelation using Douglas Connelly’s The Book of Revelation Made Clear and Serendipity Bible for Study Groups. It tells how three groups—kings, merchants, and seamen— will lament the fall of Babylon the great. The passage and any other Biblical quotations given below are from the ESV. My comments on the passage are based primarily on Connelly’s exposition of it. The answers to the Serendipity Bible for Study Groups questions are based on what I can remember of our family discussion of them.

9 And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning. 10 They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say,
“Alas! Alas! You great city,
you mighty city, Babylon!
For in a single hour your judgment has come.”
11 And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore, 12 cargo of gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all kinds of articles of ivory, all kinds of articles of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble, 13 cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human souls.
14 “The fruit for which your soul longed
has gone from you,
and all your delicacies and your splendors
are lost to you,
never to be found again!”
15 The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud,
16 “Alas, alas, for the great city
that was clothed in fine linen,
in purple and scarlet,
adorned with gold,
with jewels, and with pearls!
17 For in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste.”
And all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off 18 and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning,
“What city was like the great city?”
19 And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, crying out,
“Alas, alas, for the great city
where all who had ships at sea
grew rich by her wealth!
For in a single hour she has been laid waste.
20 Rejoice over her, O heaven
and you saints and apostles and prophets,
for God has given judgment for you against her!”
21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying,
“So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence,
and will be found no more;
22 and the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters,
will be heard in you no more,
and a craftsman of any craft
will be found in you no more,
and the sound of the mill
will be heard in you no more,
23 and the light of a lamp
will shine in you no more,
and the voice of bridegroom and bride
will be heard in you no more,
for your merchants were the great ones of the earth,
and all nations were deceived by your sorcery.
24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints,
and of all who have been slain on earth.”

Three groups of people mourn Babylon’s fall:
– The political leaders mourn because their strength, power, and influence are gone. According to Connelly’s reconstruction of end-time events, the Antichrist himself isn’t in the capital city when it falls. He’s at Armageddon in Israel preparing for the last war against God and His people.
– The merchants mourn because their wealth is gone.
– The seamen mourn because their jobs (transporting good to Babylon) are gone.
However the people in heaven will rejoice because God is bringing justice on an empire that has killed so many Christians.
An angel takes a huge boulder and throws it into the sea to illustrate how Babylon is going to be thrown down and sink to never rise again. Through the angel God points out three reasons for Babylon’s complete destruction:
– They worshipped material wealth instead of God — “your merchants were the great ones of the earth.”
– Demons were in control instead of God — “all nations were deceived by your sorcery.”
– God’s people were killed in it — “in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints.”

Questions from Serendipity Bible for Study Groups

These questions are the ones on Revelation 18:9-24 in the questions about Revelation 18 in The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups (Zondervan Publishing House, 1988).

DIG, 2. How do the voices from the world greet the fall of Babylon (vv.9-20)? Contemporize each of their laments—make them your own. Why do they mourn? Why would you mourn if you were in their situation?
All three groups mourned the fall of Babylon—the political leaders because of the loss of their power and influence, the merchants because of the loss of their wealth, and the seamen because of the loss of their jobs. We didn’t contemporize their laments or discuss what we would lament if we were in their situation.
DIG, 3. Compare this passage with the following OT prophecies about the fall of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (Ge 19), Babylon (Isa 13, 47), and Tyre (Eze 27-28). How is each an historical example of the fall of this spiritual Babylon?
In Genesis 19, two angels told Lot to take his family and leave Sodom because God was going to destroy it and Gomorrah because of the outcry against its people (in Genesis 18 the angels also referred to their sin). In Isaiah 13 Isaiah prophesied that God would stir the Medes to come against and destroy Babylon because of its wickedness and arrogance, and in Isaiah 47 Isaiah prophesied that God would destroy Babylon because of its treatment of Israel and its idolatry. In Ezekiel 27-29 Ezekiel prophesied the destruction of Tyre, referring to its merchants and seamen in doing so.
DIG, 4. What conclusions do you draw concerning the destruction of Babylon from this comparison? What do you learn about God?
We concluded that God will destroy because of its treatment of His people and of its wickedness. We learn that God is all-powerful and just (rewarding good and punishing evil).
REFLECT, 1. If you were going to describe your life in terms of a city, what would you say? What kinds of cargoes are coming into it? What activities take place within its walls? How does it compare with Babylon? What would be a fitting name for your city? Why that name? What do you do to keep the evils listed in the passage out of your city or life?
REFLECT, 2. When has an important part of your life collapsed? What did other individuals say about this demise? What perspective did God brong to your fallen situation?
REFLECT, 3. What is the most important lesson you have learned from this passage? What actions will you take today based on this insight?
We considered the REFLECT questions personally but not in a group discussion.

Revelation 18:1-8

Yesterday morning my family considered Revelation 18:1-8 in our study of the book of Revelation using Douglas Connelly’s The Book of Revelation Made Clear and Serendipity Bible for Study Groups. In it an angel announces the fall of Babylon the great. The passage and any other Biblical quotations given below are from the ESV. My comments on the passage are based primarily on Connelly’s exposition of it. The answers to the Serendipity Bible for Study Groups questions are based on what I can remember of our family discussion of them.

1 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory. 2 And he called out with a mighty voice,
“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!
She has become a dwelling place for demons,
a haunt for every unclean spirit,
a haunt for every unclean bird,
a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.
3 For all nations have drunk
the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality,
and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her,
and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.”
4 Then I heard another voice from heaven saying,
“Come out of her, my people,
lest you take part in her sins,
lest you share in her plagues;
5 for her sins are heaped high as heaven,
and God has remembered her iniquities.
6 Pay her back as she herself has paid back others,
and repay her double for her deeds;
mix a double portion for her bin the cup she mixed.
7 As she glorified herself and lived in luxury,
so give her a like measure of torment and mourning,
since in her heart she says,
‘I sit as a queen,
I am no widow,
and mourning I shall never see.’
8 For this reason her plagues will come in a single day,
death and mourning and famine,
and she will be burned up with fire;
for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her.”

John sees an angel appear whose splendour lights up the earth. The angel calls out loudly, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!” (On the identity of “Babylon the great,” see below.) He goes on to say that Babylon the great has become the dwelling place for demons and corrupted the world. Then John hears another voice from heaven, this one speaking on behalf of God. It appeals to God’s people to leave Babylon the great because God is about to punish it for what it has done, warning that in just one day He will inflict it with death, mourning, and famine and destroy it with fire.
Connelly closes his exposition of the passage with this comment on God’s appeal to His people to leave Babylon the great: “Why are any followers of Jesus in this sinful city to begin with? The righteous man Lot lived in Sodom (Genesis 19:1, 2 Peter 2:6-9), and true believers will be in the Antichrist’s city at the end. God warns them to flee, and as soon as they escape, judgment comes.” (Douglas Connelly, The Book of Revelation Made Clear, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2007, page 299)

Identity of “Babylon the great”

Some Bible scholars think that “Babylon the great” is the literal city of Babylon in Iraq, their arguing that the Bible says “Babylon” and we should accept what it says and that the predictions of the destruction of Babylon in Isaiah 13 and 47 and in Jeremiah 50-51 have yet to be completely fulfilled. Other Bible scholars think that “Babylon the great” is another city, their arguing that the predictions of Babylon’s destruction were fulfilled when the Persians captured and later destroyed it, that John says things about it that don’t fit Babylon in Iraq—it was “drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus” (Revelation 17:6) and it sits on seven mountains (17:9), and that the earliest Christians commenting on the book of Revelation took “Babylon” to refer to Rome. Connelly concludes, “The Antichrist will rule a revived Roman/Western empire from a powerful city. John calls it ‘Babylon’; we know it (most likely) as Rome.” (Connelly, page 296)

Question from Serendipity Bible for Study Groups

This question is the only one on Revelation 18:1-8 in the questions about Revelation 18 in The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups (Zondervan Publishing House, 1988).

DIG, 1. As compelling as the power of evil is, a more compelling authority shouts an overriding double-edged message: one edge cutting Babylon and her followers, the other exhorting God’s people. What are the two voices, the two messages, and the two responses from the two audiences? How does God’s perspective on Babylon (vv.2-6) differ from Babylon’s self-understanding (v.7)?
The two voices are the voice of an angel and the voice of God or of someone speaking for Him. The first message announces the fall of Babylon, and the second voice appeals to God’s people to leave Babylon and explains why Babylon deserves destruction. The passage doesn’t tell how the two audiences respond to the messages. God views Babylon as evil and deserving of destruction, but Babylon views herself as above others and impossible to harm.

Revelation 17:6-18

This morning my family finished considering Revelation 17:6-18 in our study of the book of Revelation using Douglas Connelly’s The Book of Revelation Made Clear and Serendipity Bible for Study Groups. In it an angel explains to John “the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides.” The passage and any other Biblical quotations given below are from the ESV. My comments on the passage are based primarily on Connelly’s exposition of it. The answers to the Serendipity Bible for Study Groups questions are based on what I can remember of our family discussion of them.

6 And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.
When I saw her, I marveled greatly. 7 But the angel said to me, “Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her. 8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come. 9 This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; 10 they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while. 11 As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction. 12 And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. 13 These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast. 14 They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”
15 And the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. 16 And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire, 17 for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. 18 And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.”

The leaders of the future religious system represented by the woman have three specific goals in mind:
– They will seek to destroy all the followers of the true God. In the Tribulation they will be supported by the civil authority and will search out and slaughter Tribulation believers and witnesses (the Greek of “the martyrs of Jesus” means “the witnesses to Jesus”) until they are drunk with their blood.
– They will seek to exalt the beast (the Antichrist). The passage says that the beast “was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction.” Connelly thinks that this refers to the fatal wound suffered by the Antichrist when he attacks Israel in the middle of the Tribulation (Revelation 13:3, 14). During the time of his death he descends into the Abyss, where he becomes fully dominated and indwelt by Satan. He also possesses incredible political power. The angel says that the beast’s seven heads are seven mountains, which Connelly identifies as the seven hills of Rome, and are also seven kings, whom Connelly identifies as five Roman emperors who could have been the Antichrist if the Tribulation started in John’s day, the emperor who sent John into exile (Domitian), and the Antichrist, the final Roman emperor who will rule during the Tribulation (thus Connelly suggests that the Antichrist might be both the seventh and the eighth rulers.) The angel also says that the ten horns are ten kings who will reign under the beast for a brief time (“one hour”)
– They will make war against Jesus and his followers. In the first half of the Tribulation they will have incredible power and influence. However the day will come, likely in the middle of the Tribulation, the beast (the Antichrist) will turn on them. Connelly explains, “When the Antichrist sets himself up as God in the temple, he will tolerate no competition, no rivalry for worship. At that point he will strip the apostate church of her power, devour her wealth, and burn whatever is left” (Douglas Connelly, The Book of Revelation Made Clear, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2007, page 291).

Personally I wondered about Connelly’s identifying the seventh king as a future Roman emperor considering that there is no indication in the Bible or in today’s world that the Roman empire will be revived. Thus I found interesting Walvoord’s and Wiersbe’s identifying the first six kings as six world powers (Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome) and the seventh king as a future world power); Walvoord makes a long quotation from Joseph A. Seiss’s The Apocalypse (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 1957, pages 391-94, in support of that view. However the other two commentators whose commentaries on Revelation I consulted, Mounce and Keener, give views similar to Connelly’s. I certainly agree with Connelly’s claim that Revelation 17:7-13 is “one of the most difficult passages in the New Testament” (Connelly, page 287).

Questions from Serendipity Bible for Study Groups

These questions are the ones on Revelation 17:6-18 in the questions about Revelation 17 in The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups (Zondervan Publishing House, 1988). I haven’t shared from our answers to REFLECT 2-4 because they were personal.

DIG, 2. What here is the ultimate sin? Why?
Here the ultimate sin is warring against the Lamb and his followers.
DIG, 3. What does the angel say about the origin of the beast? Its history? Its future? What response does the beats elicit? Why?
The angel doesn’t say where the beast originates from but says that it is now in the Abyss. He says that it once was, now is not but is in the Abyss, that it will come again, that it will war against the Lamb, and that it will be destroyed by the Lamb and his followers..
DIG, 4. Geographically, historically, and spiritually, what do you think the beast’s seven heads and ten horns represent (see also Da 7:15-28)? Why do the kings and the beast join forces? With what result? How can evil turn on itself, Satan (in effect) casting out Satan? How does God’s greater purpose triumph in all this?
I understand the beast’s seven heads to represent both the seven hills of Rome and seven first-century Roman emperors, giving meaning and hope to Christians of John’s day, and the beast’s ten horns to represent a coalition of end-time nations which will support the Antichrist in his war against the Lamb and his followers, giving meaning and hope to us. The kings and the beast join forces to war against the Lamb. They will be defeated by the Lamb and his followers. The beast turns on the woman because each wants to be supreme and because God put it into their hearts. God’s greater purpose triumphed because He became recognized as Lord of lords and King of all kings.
DIG, 5. How are the readers of Revelation comforted by the various “definitions” of the symbols? How do these many symbols draw attention to a single object from different angles?
If the readers of Revelation understood the beast to represent the Roman Empire, they would be comforted by John’s prophecy that it would be defeated by the Lamb. We didn’t discuss the second part of the question.
REFLECT, 1. In this passage how does Babylon symbolize what is wrong with society today? For example, what institutions have been overthrown by revolution, only to be replaced by new regimes which surrender to the same godless ideology?
The main thing that the passage attributes to Babylon that is wrong with society today is professing to be religious but not worshipping and obeying God.
REFLECT, 2. Of society’s wrongs, which ones have entrapped you from time to time? How has God enabled you to avoid the snares of “the great prostitute”?
REFLECT, 3. Surely by now you are “calling for a mind with wisdom” (v. 9). What wisdom do you want in the new few weeks? What wisdom do you need in understanding the message of Revelation?
REFLECT, 4. If you have not grasped the full meaning of the various beasts, have you at least been frightened by the power of evil? How will you translate that fear into action or hope?

Revelation 17:1-5

This morning my family considered Revelation 17:1-5 in our study of the book of Revelation using Douglas Connelly’s The Book of Revelation Made Clear and The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups. It describes a woman sitting on a beast. The passage and any other Biblical quotations given below are from the ESV. My comments are based primarily on Connelly’s exposition of the passage.

1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.” 3 And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. 5 And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.”

An angel invites John to witness the punishment of “the great prostitute,” the future apostate religious system. Connelly notes three things brought out about it in the invitation:
– It will permeate the Antichrist’s empire.
– It will lead the nations to turn away from the true God.
– It will intoxicate them in such a way that they can’t tell the difference between God’s truth and Satan’s lie.
John is carried by the Spirit into the wilderness where he sees the woman sitting on a scarlet beast that is covered with God-mocking names. The beast is the Antichrist. The woman’s sitting on it shows that she controls it to an extent and that it supports her. This seems to describe the situation in the first half of the Tribulation.
The woman is dressed in purple and scarlet and adorned with gold, jewels, and pearls, showing that she is not only powerful but wealthy. She is holding a golden cup full of abominable things.
The woman’s name is a mystery, its being hidden until God reveals it. Its being called “Babylon the Great” doesn’t mean that it is the actual city of Babylon or the Babylonian empire that was prominent in the Old Testament. Connelly says that it means that the woman “is a source of false worship, just as Babylon was the source of false religion and idolatry in the Old Testament” (Douglas Connelly, The Book of Revelation Made Clear, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2007, page 284).

Question from The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups

This question is the only question on Revelation 17:1-5 in the questions about Revelation 17 in The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups (Zondervan Publishing House, 1988). The answers to the questions in it are what I remember of how our family answered them.

DIG, 1. Who is the central figure in the next scene? Who appears to be “off-stage”? In what sense is she influential? Evil? Attractive? Repulsive? Who is she (see also 14:8 and 16:19)? How is the woman and this beast like the first and second beasts of chapter 13?
The central figure in this passage is a woman. John appears to be “off-stage.” That the woman is influential is shown by the kings of the earth committing adultery with her and its inhabitants becoming drunk on her wine. That she is evil is shown by her cup’s being full of abominable things and also by her being drunk with the blood of the saints (Revelation 17:6, which both the NIV and the ESV put with 17:1-5). She is Babylon the Great. Like the first and second beasts of chapter 13, the woman and the scarlet beast represent the Antichrist (the beast) and the false prophet (the woman).

Revelation 16:12-21

Yesterday morning my family finished considering Revelation 16:12-21 in our study of the book of Revelation using Douglas Connelly’s The Book of Revelation Made Clear and The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups. It continues describing the Tribulation judgments, telling what will happen when the angels pour out the sixth and seventh bowls of God’s wrath. The passage and any other Biblical quotations given below are from the ESV. My comments are based primarily on Connelly’s exposition of the passage.

The Sixth Bowl

12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. 13 And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. 14 For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. 15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”) 16 And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.

The sixth angel poured his bowl on the Euphrates River in modern Iraq. The river’s water dried up to prepare the way for the kings of the East whom we met in Revelation 9. Those leaders will gather a massive army to war against the Antichrist, who has his throne in Jerusalem, and will kill a third of the world’s people in their march westward. They will be drawn by demonic power, John’s seeing three evil spirits spring from the mouths of the dragon (Satan), the beast (Antichrist), and the false prophet. The three evil spirits will perform Satanic miracles and draw all the kings of the world, not just those of the East, “for battle on the great day of the Lord.” As they march towards Jerusalem, Jesus will issue a word of assurance and warning, “Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!” The three evil spirits will assemble the armies at Armageddon, a wide valley next to the mount of Megiddo, fifty miles north of Jerusalem.
The preceding paragraph is how Connelly combines Revelation 9:13-16 and 16:12-16. However since it is speculative, even commentators who hold a similar view differ on some details. For example, whereas Connelly says that the leaders gathered their armies to war against the Antichrist:
– Keener says, “The devil and his agents…gather the nations together in order to battle the true God” (Craig S. Keener, The NIV Application Commentary: Revelation, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2000, page 396).
– Mounce says, “The unclean spirits…gather the kings of the whole world for a great war against God and the hosts of heaven” (Robert H. Mounce, The Book of Revelation in The New International Commentary on the New Testament, Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1977, page 300).
– Walvoord says, “Some have interpreted this as this a gathering of forces in anticipation of the second coming of Christ. More probably, it reflects a conflict among the nations themselves in the latter part of the great tribulation as the world empire so hastily put together begins to disintegrate.” (John F. Walvoord, The Revelation of Jesus Christ, Chicago, Illinois: Moody Press, 1966, page 237)
– Wiersbe says, “Since ‘the beast’ has set up his image in the temple in Jerusalem, and since many Jews will not bow down to him, it is natural that the Holy City [and the Jews] would be the object of attack” (Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, Wheaton, Ilinois: Scripture Press Publications, 1989, volume 2, pages 610-11).

The Seventh Bowl

17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. 19 The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. 20 And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. 21 And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.

When the seventh angel pours out his bowl, a loud voice (probably God’s) shouts, “It is done!” Like when the seventh seal on the scroll was broken (Revelation 8:5) and the seventh trumpet was sounded (Revelation 11:19), there are flashes of lightning, rumbles of thunder, and an earthquake. The earthquake causes “the great city,” which Connelly identifies as Jerusalem (called “the great city” in Revelation 11:8) or Babylon (described as “great” five times in Revelation 18) and others say could be Rome because the early church viewed it as a contemporary Babylon, to break into three parts and every city in the world to be devastated. Also the entire surface of the earth changes, great hailstones fall from the sky, and people again curse God instead of pleading with him for mercy.
Connelly concludes his exposition of Revelation 16 by observing, “The next event in the time line of Revelation comes in Revelation 19:11—Jesus returns from heaven to destroy his enemies and to establish his kingdom on the earth. Chapters 17 and 18 give us more details about specific events that occur in the Tribulation’s last days, but as the seven bowl judgments end, Jesus returns.” (Douglas Connelly, The Book of Revelation Made Clear, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan), 2007, page 275

Questions from The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups

These questions are the questions asked about Revelation 16:1-21 in The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups (Zondervan Publishing House, 1988) which I didn’t ask in my last article. The answers to the DIG questions are what I remember of how our family answered them. The REFLECT questions are personal.

DIG, 3. What is described in the interlude (vv. 13-16) between the sixth and seventh bowls? What functions did the frogs perform?
In the interlude between the sixth and seventh bowls reassured and warned believers that he would be coming soon. The frogs encouraged the nations of the world to gather together to war against God.
DIG, 4. How will the just purposes of God and the evil purposes of Satan finally and awfully converge at Armageddon (or “hill of Megiddo,” an historic crossroads of the Middle East)?
Satan prompted the nations of the world to gather together to oppose the returning Christ at Armageddon.
DIG, 5. Compare the seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls to each other and to the seven plagues of Egypt (Ex 7-10). What examples of contrast (e.g., “not only…but…”) can you find in each section?
The seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls included plagues that were similar to each other and to the seven plagues of Egypt. The seven trumpets and the seven bowls differed in that the former affected only one-third of the areas or people but the former affected all of them.
REFLECT, 2. If “war is hell” (says Hawkeye on M*A*S*H), could John be envisioning that “hell is war”? What does this passage tell you about God’s judgment?
REFLECT, 3. What are the “frogs” that are battling with you? How is the battle going?