If there were to be a theme in the book of Revelation, that grand, glorious, eloquent theme would be “Victory!” “Overcoming” is a key word in that victory. There is also a key passage, and we’ll be seeing a number of key passages as we go through. Revelation 2, verse 10 says, “Be faithful until death,” [“Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”] The Lord promised “the crown of life” to those who do remain faithful, to those who do remain loyal until death, to those who have been obedient, who have become a Christian and have been baptized into Christ, those who would be considered faithful children of God and who will be rewarded. Initial obedience is absolutely essential. Continued obedience—remaining faithful until death—is absolutely essential. The salient point of the book is “overcome,” and you can—you will—we all will live eternally with God.
As we have pointed out, the very first verse of this book gives us an insight as to the nature of the book. It is something that is going to be written in signs and symbols. “Apocalyptic” is the type of language that is used. The book of Revelation is unique, in that it is a compilation of the things that John saw, and that he wrote. John is instructed to write what he saw in chapter 1, verse 2 [“…John, who bore witness to the Word of God, and to the Testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.”],and chapter 1, verse 19 [“Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.”]. Thus, we are reading here in Revelation what John saw on that occasion,and what he wrote down over 1,900 years ago.
If you are familiar with Ezekiel and the valley of dry bones, where God taught the prophet through a vision that was recorded, that is similar to what God is doing with John here. He’s teaching John through the visual things that he sees. [Ezekiel 37:1-2: “The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, and caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.”]
This is not a “documentary”—this is not something, for example, as we would have in the Gospels where the life of Christ unfolds before us as He lived it and as it was recorded; rather, this is an eye-witness point of view of what was revealed or what was shown. It is not testimony; it is eyewitness facts. When we read Revelation, we are seeing what John saw almost 2,000 years ago. This is a book that is different from the other books of the New Testament, in that it is not chronological in its nature. It doesn’t really have a story line, so to speak, that you can follow all the way through. Now certainly there is a theme—certainly there is a thesis—and we’ve already talked about those. But what we are seeing are these visions that John saw as he is recording them. Again referring to the Old Testament, it is not unlike certain parts of Ezekiel and Daniel, and even Zechariah, filled with imagery and emphasis on the principle that Truth will triumph.
We will spend some time on some of the historical information about the Roman government at that time, and their persecution of Christians. I think it will help us to put some of this into perspective when we read of some of the imagery that we’ll see as we go through the book. We will, perhaps, have a better appreciation for what those early Christians would have understood as they read through it as well.
I thought it was interesting that there is a “backdrop”for the book of Revelation. We talked a little bit in the Introduction lesson about the nature of the book, that it is written in apocalyptic type language—to “reveal,” to “draw back the curtain,” so to speak. But it is also written in symbols.
The matter which is addressed has to do with the persecution of the church. At the time that John writes this, the church has been under severe persecution by the Roman Empire. I hadn’t really thought about it in this particular way, but one of the books I’m using as a reference points this out. The point here is that there is really a backdrop to what is going on here in Revelation. This should not be a surprise that these things are going on.
For example, in Matthew 5, verses 10 through 12, as part of the Sermon on the Mount, what does Jesus say here? He says, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Jesus here introduces this idea of “persecution” very early in His ministry. Now we are some years removed from the time that He was on the earth, from the time of His Own persecution—His suffering and death on the cross—but, indeed, the fact that the church, that His followers—His disciples—are being persecuted should not have been (no pun intended) a “revelation.”
Look with me at Romans, chapter 8. Jesus will say numerous things about persecution, not only of Himself, but as well as of those who will follow Him. Let’s look and see what Paul says on this matter. In Romans, chapter 8, verse 18, he says, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” “Sufferings”—what’s Paul talking about? Well, he’s talking about his own sufferings, certainly, and we know that Paul suffered mightily. But even at the time that he writes this letter to the church of Christ in Rome, there are the beginnings of suffering and persecution against those who would be disciples of Christ—those who would follow Christ.
And then in 2 Timothy, chapter 2, verses 11 through 13, Paul says, “This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.” Now there are two key points here. He talks about “if we died with Him.” Here’s another reference to baptism. But, look, “if we endure,”—endure what? Well, the implication is suffering—persecution—which has already begun, and will increase in its intensity. “We shall reign with Him.” Hey, there is the Message—there is the crux of Revelation! You are going to “endure” some things—some things are already going on. You’re suffering mightily under the persecution of the Roman government, but, if you “endure,” you will “reign with Him.” That’s what Paul said here to Timothy, but that is the Message, is it not, of the book of Revelation?
So, you see, there is something of a “backdrop”—a “background”—here to be noted. Those 1st Century Christians could have never foreseen the scope, or the severity of the persecution that they would be under. Nevertheless, it is talked about here.
There are many other references that we could look at throughout the New Testament that would lead us to the same conclusion. For example, Paul says in Philippians, chapter 1, verse 29, we not only “believe in Him,” but we also “suffer for His sake,” [“For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,…”]. Well, indeed, that is what we see going on here, and that’s the Message: “Hold on!” “Wait!” “There is going to be vindication!” “There is going to be victory!”
Tonight, we are going to start a summary, or an overview, [survey] of the book of Revelation. The copy of the “Survey of Revelation” that you are receiving this evening is one that I “lifted” from Brother Jim McGuiggan’s book on Revelation [The Book of Revelation by Jim McGuiggan, International Biblical Resources, Inc., Lubbock, TX, 1976.]. I thought that was a good, succinct, chapter-by-chapter survey of the book. So we will elaborate a little bit on those things on the pages before you this evening.
[NOTE: McGuiggan’s chapter-by-chapter survey comments below will be in [ ] and are typed verbatim. All other comments are by John Phillis.]
There is even a more brief summary that I could give you here of four points: Chapters 1 through 3 introduce the letter and also introduce the letters to the seven churches of Asia; chapters 4 through 11 are the seven sealed books; chapters 12 through 20, the great battle which is God versus Satan; and, chapters 21 through 22, victory in Christ.
In the opening part of the book, chapter 1, we see that it was written to the Lord’s people, principally to seven congregations there in the latter part of the first century. The churches of Christ at Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea, are the original recipients of this letter. They were the first ones to read this letter. [Revelation 1:4: “John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him Who is and Who was and Who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne.” Revelation 1:11: “saying, ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,’ and, ‘What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.’”].
In the first three chapters, we see that it contains specific material, which is directed to those seven churches. As we go through them in more detail later on, we’ll see that five of the seven churches are rebuked by the Lord. Only two, Smyrna and Philadelphia, are praised.
The Lord would say to those five churches He rebuked:
“Ephesus, you have lost your earlier zeal for divine things,” [Revelation 2:2-4: “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”].
“Pergamos, you have allowed false teachers to come in among you and you haven’t been concerned about it—you haven’t done anything about it,” [Revelation 2:14-15: “But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.”].
“Thyatira, you have compromised on your morals,” [Revelation 2:20: “Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.”].
“Sardis, you claim to be strong—you claim to be spiritual, but, in reality, you are spiritually dead,” [Revelation 3:1: “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He Who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.”’”].
“Laodicea, you boasted of your wealth in material things, but in My view,” the Lord is saying, “You are poor, miserable, wretched, blind and naked,” [Revelation 3:17: “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked,…’”]. That church, it would seem, had everything, but they didn’t have the Lord—they didn’t have Christ.
So we see the condition there of those five churches. But two of the churches receive praise from the Lord, Smyrna and Philadelphia.
SURVEY OF CHAPTER 1
[McGuiggan: Chapter 1 is essentially an introduction in which John says hello to his readers and gives them the occasion for the epistle. He claims he saw a vision of Jesus and that Jesus told him to write the letter to the seven churches of Asia.]
Here in chapter 1, we see that John hears this voice and he turns and he looks and he sees someone that he refers to as the “Son of Man” [verse 13: “and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.”]. John will describe something about His appearance—how He looked. One of the things he mentions there is that His feet were as one who had walked through the fiery furnace, chapter 1, verse 15 [“His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters;”]. We might be reminded of Daniel, chapter 3, verse 17 [“If that is the case, our God Whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.”]. There is a relationship between the book of Revelation, the book of Daniel and Ezekiel, and so on. But here we might be reminded of the One Who appeared in the fiery furnace when Daniel and his friends were there, and this One delivered them.
He is also shown to be the Redeemer Who was alive, then “dead,” and now is “alive forevermore,” verse 18 [“I am He Who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.”]. And what a comfort these words would have been to 1st Century Christians who were being intensely persecuted at this time. They were being persecuted, they were being imprisoned, and they were even being killed for the cause of the Lord. They might be put to death in any number of ways, including death by gladiators in the arena of Rome or devoured by a wild beast, or, even in some cases, be crucified, have their heads cut off, be burned at the stake—whatever would please the Caesar of the day. But by the power of God, they, too, would raise from the dead. The bars of death could not hold the Christ, nor could the bars of death prevent Christians from living with Him—with the Master—with the Christ—forevermore. The cause of the Savior is more powerful than all of the demons in hell, than all the rulers of the earth. This was the Message—or is the Message, rather, of the book of Revelation. But it would have been much more palpable—it would have resonated much more with these ones in the 1st Century than perhaps it does with us today. Paul beautifully tells the saints in Corinth that, “death is swallowed up in victory” by the power of Christ, 1 Corinthians 15 [verse 54: “So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’”].
The book of Revelation opens with this grand and glorious Message of hope. If Christians are called upon to die for Christ, it is no strange thing, because He had already died for them. Truly, “by the grace of God,” Jesus “tasted death” for ever man, Hebrews 2, verse 9 [“But we see Jesus, Who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.”].
SURVEY OF CHAPTERS 2 AND 3
[McGuiggan: Chapters 2-3 are directed to the state and the needs of those seven churches. Where commendation is called for, Jesus gives it. Where censure is earned, He gives that also.]
Chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation speak primarily about the Son of God, and His observations of these seven churches. Contained here in chapter 2, verse 10 is one of the great and inspirational statements of all the Bible, “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life,” [“Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”]
In the first paragraph of chapter 3, we learn of the solemn fact that some names that were once recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life may be blotted out by the Lord, due to impurity and lack of dedication [verses 1-6: “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He Who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’”]. But beautifully and poignantly in chapter 3, verse 20, we see that the Savior is pleading for entrance into every heart. “Behold,” He says, “I stand at the door and knock. [If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”].
SURVEY OF CHAPTERS 4 AND 5
[McGuiggan: Chapters 4-5 begin the apocalyptic section of the book – in earnest. (Remember that “apocalyptic” means an unveiling or uncovering, a revealing. It denotes speech made up of symbols.) They are chapters loaded with comfort for people who were to see the beginning of a persecution which would stretch over two centuries. They show God to be on the throne and (in Christ) to be in love with them.]
The first three chapters, as I said, deal primarily with the seven churches, but the real drama of Revelation begins in chapter 4, verse 1 [“After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, ‘Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.’”]. Here John sees a most encouraging scene depicting the awesome and majestic power of God. He gets a look—he’s beckoned to “Come up here” and take a look! There is an open door that is depicted there that John is shown. It’s a wide-open door into Heaven. He gets a look into the heavenly realm, and he sees One sitting on the “throne.”Jehovah is on the “throne” of glory [verse 2: “Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.”], and there is a “rainbow” over the throne [verse 3: “And He Who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.”]. This is a clear portrayal of the access Christians have to Heavenly power. Though the saints on earth, to whom this revelation was originally sent, met virtually nothing but closed doors—shut doors, if you will—here they are seeing a wide-open door into the halls of Heaven where a gracious Father always is looking out for them. Later we’ll see in chapters 5 and 8 that the prayers of the saints came into the Heavenly realm as a sweet incense before the Father, perhaps through this open door. [Revelation 5:8: “Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”]
The language of Hebrews 4:16 [“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”] and 1 Peter 3:10 through 12 [“For ‘He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.’”] tells us to pray fervently, pray even “boldly” in our time of need, for God’s ears are open to the pleas of the righteous. Think about these early Christians—these first century saints—as they suffered, as they were lifting their prayers up, and wondering, perhaps: “Where are these prayers going?” “Are they having any effect?” “Are they doing me any good?” And then they read these Words in Revelation and they see this open door into Heaven, through which their prayers may flow.
We think, perhaps, about the rainbow that is depicted there over the throne. We remember from Genesis, chapter 9, when God placed the rainbow in the sky as a sign that He would never again destroy the world with water. But there is also an implication there having to do with evil and wickedness. What was it that prompted God to destroy the world at that time? Well, it was the sinful nature of the people. It was the extreme wickedness and evil that was going on. So there may be some additional symbolism here for us to see in Revelation, chapter 4 [verse 3], as we consider the rainbow over the throne.
In chapter 5, we have sort of a bitter-sweet picture in this apocalyptic language. In the “hand of Him Who sat on the throne” was a book that was “sealed” seven times [verse 1: “And I saw in the right hand of Him Who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.”]. This indicates that the book was official—it was important—and, as a matter of fact, it will be seen that it was full of the wrath of God, and of the future hope of the faithful ones. We see that there is only One Who is in a position—Who is capable—Who is worthy and meritorious enough—to open those seals and to reveal what’s in the book. He is both a “Lion” and a “Lamb,” [verses 5-6: “But one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.’ And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.”].
Chapter 5, verse 12 has that great statement, “Worthy is the Lamb,” a statement that we think about and hear again and again. One author observes and says that in many ways, chapter 5,verses 12 through 14 is the “pivotal passage” in Revelation [“saying with a loud voice: ‘Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!’ And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: ‘Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him Who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!’ Then the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him Who lives forever and ever.”]. We could look back at the text in Daniel, chapter 7, for example, and in Psalm 24, and we can see a parallel here. [See specifically Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14; Psalm 24:7-10.] Not only is He the “Lion,” not only is He the “Lamb,” but He is also the “King of kings,” and “the Lord of lords,” [see Revelation 14:17 below].
The whole point to this section is to prove that the crucified Savior is much more powerful in time and in eternity, as compared to those who put Him to death. To die in Christ is far better than to live in sin. In fact, one of the “beauty spots” of the whole Bible is Revelation 14, verse 13, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord…that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” [“Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, ‘Write: “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”’”]
SURVEY OF CHAPTER 6
[McGuiggan: Chapter 6 introduces us to the seals. Seals (in this case) are to keep the contents of a book hidden. To tear off a seal is to reveal a certain amount of the message. The sealed book is the immediate Will of God in reference to His Church amid the trials she is about to endure.]
Chapter 6 is an introduction to the fact that power struggles on earth do not compare with spiritual relationships that go beyond this physical realm—this so-called “veil of tears.” The seals of the book begin now to be opened and the contents revealed.
We’ll see that only six of the seven seals are opened at this time. The first four seals deal with the conquest of Rome, but the power of Caesar is depicted here as waning—as fading—as war looms on the horizon, to be followed in subsequent seals by famine, by pestilence, and by death [verses 7-8: “When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, ‘Come and see.’ So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.”].
And then suddenly the fifth seal is broken and the scene shifts from life in the Roman Empire to eternal life in the divine realm. John, in what he’s seeing and what he’s relating about what he saw, beheld martyrs. Again, think about the fact that we are seeing—through these words that have been preserved for us—what John saw. He saw martyrs beheaded for the testimony of Jesus. They are crying out for vengeance from the Lord upon those who persecuted them. They wanted to know how long—“How long, O Lord,” will these evil men dominate the saints of God and the Truth of the Gospel, chapter 6, verse 9 and 10 [“When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the Word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’”].
The last paragraph there of chapter 6, verses 14 through 17, forever shows us that judgment upon the ungodly will come in devastating power. “Who shall be able to stand,” is the question which is asked [“Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him Who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?’”].
It is in chapter 6 and in the fifth seal that we find, in a sense, the key to the next dozen or so chapters. We’re going to be introduced to this gigantic struggle that is going to be depicted in so many apocalyptic statements and phrases and images. What is being depicted in these chapters is this great, gigantic struggle that takes place—that is taking place—between good and evil—between God’s cause and Satan’s army. We’ll see those unfold clear up through chapter 19. And, finally, in chapter 20, the warfare comes to a close. We’re not jumping all the way to chapter 20 yet, but to tie this point together, in chapter 20, the warfare comes to a close with Satan bound and all the friends of Satan gone. When the storm clouds clear away, John is going to see, once again, these martyrs, those whom he had seen in the first part of chapter 6, who had been beheaded, who were under the throne crying out, “How long, O Lord, how long?” But this scene is different. By this time, they are no longer dejected, but they are elated! They will not be defeated, but victorious! They will not be under the thrones, but they will be seated “on” the thrones “reigning with Christ.”And John will then write these impressive and memorable words: “This is the first resurrection,” [Revelation 20:4-5: “And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the Word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.”]
As a part of John’s vision in chapter 20, the cause for which these martyrs died has now been vindicated and victorious. Now this has not yet come—that time is yet to come, but remember John is “pulling back the curtain,” and he’s looking into what’s going to happen. And so in his vision, the cause for which those martyrs died has been vindicated and victorious. Again, this is the point of Revelation. To zealous, but imprisoned Christians, it was exceedingly comforting to know that ultimately their cause would gain the “laurel wreath” of victory. This is a Message valuable in any age for the saints of God. As we sometimes sing in that hymn, “Be not dismayed whate’er betide; God will take care of you.”
SURVEY OF CHAPTER 7
[McGuiggan: Chapter 7 is one of comfort for the people of God. It assures the saints, all the saints, that no matter the terror which is to fall on the earth, they were to be assured everything will be well with them. All the righteous receive a seal which preserves them through the tribulation and the latter half of the chapter shows that seal to be effective.]
In chapter 7, John saw a great host that had come “out of the great tribulation,” having been cleansed by the “blood of Christ,” [verses 13-14: “Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, ‘Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?’ And I said to him, ‘Sir, you know.’ So he said to me, ‘These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.’”]. They stand on Mount Zion with the Lamb of God and they partake of the water which quenches one’s thirst forever [verses 15-17: “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He Who sits on the throne will dwell among them. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb Who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”].
As we go along, we’ll be continually reminded to think about those who are reading this letter for the first time, and the way things are phrased—the way things are put forth here. We need to think about what such imagery would have meant to them—“standing on Mount Zion with the Lamb of God,” “drinking the water that they would never thirst again.” Think about being in a Roman jail where it was hot, where the conditions were terrible, where one didn’t get enough, if any, water to drink. What a wonderful image this would have created in their mind’s eye. In the book of Acts, we read that those who became Christians during this era of the 1st Century entered the Kingdom with much “tribulation,” Acts 14, verse 22 [“strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, ‘We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.’”].
SURVEY OF CHAPTERS 8 AND 9
[McGuiggan: Chapters 8-9 introduce us to the seven trumpets. (The trumpets come under the heading of the seventh seal as subordinate points, in a speech, come under the heading of major points.) Trumpets, in the Old Testament, were to gain attention and give alarm. By trumpets, the nation was assembled or warned of approaching danger. The trumpets are warning judgments on the ungodly, the oppressors of God’s people. We are explicitly told they refuse to repent.]
In Revelation, chapters 8 and 9, we learn that the prayers of Christians entered the realm of Heaven as a sweet incense [verses 3-4: “Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand.”], while the wrath of God was poured out on evil men. Again, think about that image. Here are these poor, dear, down-trodden, persecuted saints and they are praying fervently. If they know what James said about “the effectual fervent prayers of a righteous man,” they are struggling, because they are not seeing it! [James 5:16: “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”] But yet, here John portrays that their prayers are coming up into the nostrils of God as a sweet savor, as a welcome aroma! And meanwhile, God’s wrath is coming upon those who are treating them this way, persecuting them.
In spite of the fact that both the love of God and His wrath were extended toward the wicked, neither phased those sinners, chapter 9, verses 20 and 21 [“But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.”]. But in the day of the Lord—in the day of the judgment of the Lord—they will be vindicated.
SURVEY OF CHAPTERS 10 THROUGH 12
[McGuiggan: Chapters 10-12 speak of conflict and comfort. Chapter 10 assures the saints of ultimate judgment on the oppressor because he spurned the warning. Chapter 11 speaks clearly of the conflict which at times appears to be going in favor of the enemy. However, it just as clearly sets forth the ultimate triumph of the Church. Chapter 12 makes it very clear that the Devil is a three-time loser. All this comfort is needed because of what we are about to be shown.]
Chapter 10 is a clear reminder of Ezekiel, chapter 3, where God told His servant to take the word and eat it up [verses 1-4: “Moreover He said to me, ‘Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.’ So I opened my mouth, and He caused me to eat that scroll. And He said to me, ‘Son of man, feed your belly, and fill your stomach with this scroll that I give you.’ So I ate, and it was in my mouth like honey in sweetness. Then He said to me: ‘Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with My Words to them.’”]. Ezekiel, in his day, and John, in his day, were to thoroughly take in—to ingest—the Word of God, the sacred text, and then share it with others. It was sweet to their taste, but became bitter in their stomachs [Revelation 10:9-10: “So I went to the angel and said to him, ‘Give me the little book.’ And he said to me, ‘Take and eat it; and it will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.’ Then I took the little book out of the angel's hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter.”].
You will remember that Ezekiel was the servant of the Lord and prophesied during the Babylonian captivity of the children of Israel, while John labored for Truth during the sad moments and despicable treatment that was given to God’s people of the 1st Century under Roman domination. So we see Ezekiel functioning or operating during the days of the Babylonian captivity, and we see John functioning as God’s servant, His messenger, during the domination of the Roman Empire over Christians. In each era, it was serious business, of course, to be servants of Jehovah. In Psalm 34, verse 8 [“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!”] and in Jeremiah 15, verse 16 [“Your Words were found, and I ate them, And Your Word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your Name, O LORD God of hosts.”], we learn that the Holy Scripture is sweet to the spiritual taste, but it can become a bitter pill to swallow when digested and shared with an evil world, and with worldly and indifferent brethren.
In chapter 11, John is told to measure the people by the standard of righteousness to see if they are pure and holy [verse 1: “Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, ‘Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.’”]. And John is blessed to see that eventually the kingdoms of this world will become subservient to the Kingdom of Christ in every way [verse 15: “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’”]. As Paul writes in Romans 13, verse 1, “there is no authority but God,” [“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.”] And the Psalmist declared, God “rules by His power forever” [Psalm 66:7: “He rules by His power forever; His eyes observe the nations; Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah”]. What a declaration of glory at a time when Rome seemed to dominate Christianity! Here, Christians are reminded that there is no power but God, and that God rules by His power forever [verses 17-18: “saying: ‘We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One Who is and Who was and Who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned. The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your Name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth.’”].
In chapter 12, there is a sort of a dividing line here where you can see the tumultuous struggle between Satan and Christ. And John beheld the tenacity of the “Devil who is the deceiver of the world,” he says there in chapter 12, verse 9 [“So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”]. And he is one so awesome that he can only be defeated by the “blood of Christ,” by the “Word” of God, and by those who are devoted to the Truth of God’s Word, and who are willing to die for that cause, Revelation 12, verse 11 [“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the Word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”]. When that old serpent is unable to overthrow the Lord, he tries desperately to demolish those who follow the Savior. This, again, is part of the Message there in chapter 12.
SURVEY OF CHAPTER 13
[McGuiggan: Chapter 13 spells out clearly the three enemies of the church. They are listed as the Dragon (Devil) and the “Sea Beast” (Rome - the civil power) and the “Earth Beast” (Rome - the religious movement). A fearsome trio indeed. Because they are so horrific, the saints are warned and assured of the human and evil nature of the beasts.]
In chapter 13, we are introduced to two fierce friends—“colleagues”—“cohorts”—of the Devil who will combine in a powerful onslaught against the cause of righteousness. Much has been speculated and much has been said about these beasts, but most commentators agree that they represent not physical beasts, but rather things of the world, one being perhaps materialism, the other being false religion, false doctrine, both that manifest themselves in the emperor worship of the Roman Empire. That became a combination of church and state, and as such, became, in a sense, subtle, but became very overt in the way it operated. From 29 B.C. forward, Caesars were known as “Augustus.” That word from the Latin means “the August,” or the “mighty one,” the “one to be worshipped.” That was their title. Christians can only worship the Lord, our God. That’s what Jesus Himself said, Matthew 4, verse 10 [“Then Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”].
So, you’ve got a problem! If you were living in the Roman Empire, if you were a citizen, then you were required to bow down before Caesar. You were required to worship the Emperor. Followers of Christ were put in that circumstance again and again, and the consequences were severe. There was not a gray area here, history tells us. You either bowed down and worshipped Caesar, or, if you didn’t, off came your head. You were killed. That was at least part of the dilemma that they were in. The representation here of these beasts speak to the influence—the power—of the materialistic world and of false religion, and the struggle that Christians would have faced.
SURVEY OF CHAPTERS 14 AND 15
[McGuiggan: Chapters 14-15 are more assurance. Chapter 14 makes that (assurance) not only desirable but needed. In sprite of the nature of the enemy, the 144,000 are singing “a new song” for (as the rest of the chapter tells us) the righteous are “garnered in” and the wicked are trampled in the winepress. Then chapter 15 explicitly declares the 144,000 are victorious.]
In chapter 14, there are two very dynamic verses that we will look at. Chapter 14, verse 4, “These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.” We are told here in verse 4 that it was the expectation that one would not bow down to Caesar, but, rather, would follow the Lamb of God—the Lord—and would be faithful and loyal to the Lord. Then they would be able to walk the golden streets of glory. Then verse 13 says, “Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, ‘Write: “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”’” This verse tells us that those who die in the Lord will be forever blessed.
In chapter 15, the ransomed host sings a song, and that song has two stanzas: “the song of Moses,” and the “song of the Lamb,” [verse 3: “They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: ‘Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!’”] Yes, the Redeemed of all ages hymn an anthem of victorious deliverance, as those with Moses did in Exodus 14, verse 14, when they sang, “our God will fight for us[“The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”].” We can see here a relationship, where, in the Old Testament context, we know that the enemy—this being the armies of Pharaoh, the armies of Egypt—perished in the very sea that had dramatically ushered Israel into safety and into the promised land [see Exodus 14]. We are on our way to the rest that remains for the people of God, Hebrews 4, verse 9 [“There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.”], and we shall reach that shore. We will reach that rest through the leadership of Christ Jesus, our Lord.
SURVEY OF CHAPTER 16
[McGuiggan: Chapter 16 introduces us to the seven bowls. (These come under the heading of the seventh trumpet, as the trumpets came under the seventh seal.) The seven bowls are the complete, outpoured wrath of God. This chapter implies all of the wrath of God outpoured and the complete victory of the saints over their enemy even though it leaves the details of that victory to the following three chapters. For example, the Battle of Armageddon is previewed in 16 and is described in 19. Babylon is declared destroyed in 16 but the details are left for chapters 17-18.]
Chapter 16uses an Old Testament reference as well, that bolsters the faith of the saints in every age. The word there, “plague,” reminds us of what we can read about in Exodus, chapters 7 through 11, where the Egyptians were beset with very serious problems due to rebellion against the Creator, while at the same time the people of God were untouched [Revelation 16:9: “And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the Name of God Who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.” Revelation 16:21: “And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.”]. Don’t you know that the saints of the 1st Century were comforted by the knowledge that earthly woes would soon be reversed and the Empire of Rome’s doom was shortly to arrive! Psalm 126, verse 5 says, “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.”
SURVEY OF CHAPTERS 17 AND 18
[McGuiggan: Chapters 17-18 speak of the fall of the city which ruled the world in John’s day (17:9, 18). Chapter 17 (the latter part) speaks of how she falls and chapter 18 gives a description of her fall.]
[McGuiggan: Chapter 19 tells of the joy (likened to the joy at a wedding feast) of the saints at the fall of the enemy and speaks of the fall of that enemy from the divine point of view. The fall was at the hands of Jesus. Her own internal strife which was emphasized in chapter 17 is marked here as the result of Jesus’ work. The enemy we are told, died in conflict with Jesus, not by accident.]
We move now to chapters 17 through 19. Here we see a number of very powerful metaphors and imagery that are pertinent to this apocalyptic literature that we’ve been referring to. The doom of the wicked and the gloom attached to their style of life is vividly contrasted with the end result of righteousness. It truly pays to serve Jesus, now and in the world to come, Mark 10, verse 30 [“who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.”]. In a marvelous verse, we learn that the Lord is “King of kings,” and we are “called, chosen and faithful,” Revelation chapter 17, verse 14 [“These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”]. The City of Rome here is identified as a sparkling exhibit of revelry, of wickedness [see chapter 18:9-16], but noticeably defiled in contrast to the sincerity and the purity of the bride of Christ.
Rome’s riches and glory and secular temporal power fade in one hour, chapter 18, verse 17 [“For in one hour such great riches came to nothing. Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance…”], as her sins come up before Heaven. The Redeemer, in awesome power, slays the wicked by the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, chapter 19, verse 15 [“Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” Ephesians 6:19: “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God….”] Evil men are feasted upon by birds of prey [chapter 19, verses 17-18: “Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, ‘Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.’”], while faithful children of God feast with the Savior at the marriage feast of the bride of the Lamb [chapter 19, verses 6-9:“And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, ‘Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.’ And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, ‘Write: “Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”’”]. What a contrast! Again, think of how that would have affected those who would have read it—those who were so persecuted!
SURVEY OF CHAPTER 20
[McGuiggan: Chapter 20 describes the utter defeat of Satan in the matter of using Rome against the Church. It speaks of the total and complete victory of the saints in terms of a resurrection of the martyred saints. A resurrection to thrones on which they reign a thousand years. It tells us also of the assurance given to the saints concerning the future. This is conveyed to us in the loosing of Satan – his obtaining an army colossal in size – and his utter defeat. And last, but not least, it tells us of the basic difference between the servants of God and the servants of Rome. One group, in death, rises to reign on thrones (in the vision) and the others rise only to be thrown into a lake of fire.]
Chapter 20is the story of binding Satan by the power and the death of Christ. Several references in the New Testament, Mark 3:27 [“No one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house.”], Hebrews 2:14 through 17 [“Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”], 1 Corinthians 15:54 [“So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’”], and John 12:31 through 33 [“‘Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.’ This He said, signifying by what death He would die.”] clearly affirm that the cross of Christ had tremendous repercussions in hell. Jesus spoiled the Devil’s goods. Jesus defeated him absolutely and removed the sting of death from the Devil’s arsenal. When Christians died for the cause of Christ, that victory over Satan was remembered one more time. Church historians wrote and quoted this phrase numerous times: “The blood of the martyrs was the seed of Christianity.” Though chained by the power of the Gospel, the Devil still has power, but only when weak and sinful people enter into his domain. This was characterized by one writer “like a mad dog chained,” meaning he can only function or operate “within the perimeter” and “around the periphery” of that chained area. So as long as we stay close to Christ, the Devil cannot harm us.
At the end of chapter 20, John is inspired to write of the final day of reckoning, wherein men shall be “judged according to their deeds,” chapter 20, verses 11 through 15 [“Then I saw a great white throne and Him Who sat on it, from Whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”]. So the Message to those Christians and those seven churches of Asia is the same Message to us today: Let us so live before God that the second death will not harm us.
SURVEY OF CHAPTERS 21 AND 22
[McGuiggan: Chapters 21-22 are a glorious description of the victorious “new Jerusalem,” the bride of the Lamb. Her glorious vindication is described much as the temple is described in the book of Ezekiel, chapter 47. That is, in respect of the river which flows from her and the trees of life which grow on either side of the river.]
Finally, chapters 21 and 22 form a grand conclusion, not just of this book of Revelation, but really of the entire Bible. It sets a glorious crescendo for the people of the Lord. Through twelve gates of pearl, John sees the procession of the saints on higher ground [21:10-12: “And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel;” 21:21:“The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.”].
In a land of fadeless day, where there’s no darkness, no sadness, no sickness, no separation forever, Christians will reap an enchanting reward. You see, pearls are produced by friction, by tribulation, by pressure, and the greater the tribulation, the greater the pressure, the greater the friction, the grander the pearl! Heaven belongs to those who press on to higher ground. [21:4: “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”22:6-7: “And He said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.” 22:3-5: “And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His Name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.”]
We’ll close with this verse: “Jesus is coming, my destiny to seal. Jesus is coming, I know that He will. Jesus is coming, in His presence may I stay. Jesus is coming, oh glorious day!” Amen.
CLOSE AND SUMMARY
[McGuiggan: The book closes with the solemn warning that its Message is to be taken seriously and any tampering with it (adding or taking from) would result in the individual losing his right to the tree of life and his place in the new Jerusalem.
Now there you have the survey. Brief I know. The book is not really as difficult as some have said. (1) Luther thought it of little account. (2) Calvin refused to comment on it. (3) Time-setters and modern prophets have brought it into disrepute in some circles. (4) It has suffered most at the hands of its “friends.”
YOU can understand this book. Oh, perhaps not all of it. But you can begin to feel at home in, and find comfort in, its timeless and deathless principles. It is a book written expressly to comfort the Church of God. Go ahead and enjoy it!]