OVERVIEW:
The fall of Babylon (chapter 18); the Second Coming of Christ (chapter 19); the Millennium (chapter 20); the New Heaven, New Earth and New Jerusalem (chapters 21-22).
HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:
Beginning in chapter 6, John has brought us through four different accounts of the Tribulation Period which, of course, culminates with the Second Coming of Christ:
1st account — The OPENING of 7 SEALS. (6:1-8:1)
2nd account — The SOUNDING of 7 TRUMPETS. (8:2-11:19)
3rd account — The REVEALING of 7 PERSONAGES. (12-14)
4th account — The POURING of 7 VIALS. (15-16)
It is very important to recognize that chapters 17 and 18 do not advance the events of the book of Revelation beyond chapter 16. These two chapters actually provide the commentary and explanation of two key verses: 14:8 and 16:19. Chapter 17 is the explanation of 14:8 where John says, “And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” Chapter 18 is the explanation of 16:19 where John says, “And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.”
Perhaps we could understand it this way:
- Revelation 17 is a MYSTERY form of Babylon where she is a RELIGIOUS system.
- Revelation 18 is a LITERAL form of Babylon where she is a COMMERCIAL city (both a political and economic system).
Chapter 19 is the revelation of the greatest event in human history—the Second Coming of Christ, or “the day of the Lord”. Note some key biblical realities about this event:
IT IS THE EVENT TO WHICH ALL OF GOD’S WORD HAS BEEN POINTING.
We have seen this from the very beginning of our 365 Days of Pursuit. The theme of the Bible is “the day of the Lord”. We read about it in almost every single book of the Old Testament, either specifically, or in picture form. It is “that day” when the Lord Jesus Christ finally receives the glory that is due His name!
IT IS THE EVENT OF WHICH ALL OF GOD’S PROPHETS HAVE BEEN PREACHING.
That’s not just my guess or opinion! That is specifically what the Bible says in Acts 3:20-21: “And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of ALL HIS HOLY PROPHETS since the world began.” It is the same event Jude 14 says Enoch was preaching about thousands of years before the first coming of Christ!
IT IS THE EVENT FOR WHICH ALL OF GOD’S PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PRAYING.
In fact, Jesus said it is actually to be the first request of prayer: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10; Luke 11:2) It becomes the number one prayer of our heart when we recognize that Christ’s Second Coming will be the first time since Adam sinned in the Garden that the Lord Jesus Christ will receive the glory He deserves! In that day, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father! (Philippians 2:9–11)
IT IS THE EVENT AT WHICH ALL OF GOD’S HOSTS WILL BE PRAISING.
That is what Revelation 19:1–7a describes. We will praise Him because:
- His SALVATION has been fully EXEMPLIFIED. (19:1)
- His JUSTICE has been fully EXECUTED. (19:2-4)
- His SOVEREIGNTY has been fully EXERCISED. (19:5-6)
IT IS THE EVENT FOR WHICH ALL OF GOD’S CHURCH HAS BEEN PREPARING.
This is the day when our marriage to the Lord Jesus Christ will be consummated. According to 19:7–8, we will be wearing the wedding garment that we prepared for ourselves through the righteous life we’re presently living! Notice, how we live on the earth right now does matter in eternity!
John takes the remainder of chapter 19 (verses 11-21) to give a further description of the “greatest event in human history.” By the time the chapter comes to a close, everyone gets exactly what they deserve. The Lord Jesus Christ finally gets the glory He deserves as King of kings and Lord of lords. The beast (Satan in a human body, the antichrist), his false prophet, and all of his followers will get exactly what they deserve as they are cast into the “lake of fire”. Again, in that day, everyone will get exactly what they deserve with one incredible exception…US!
Because God in His mercy and grace chose to place us “in Christ” (Ephesians 1:4) when we called upon His name, He accepts us and receives us as He does His very own Son! As undeserving as we are, we, because of Christ, get the glorious privilege of spending eternity with God!
Chapter 20 is awesome. It reveals the Lord Jesus Christ spanking the devil like a two-year old at Wal-Mart, exercising the power and authority that has always been His, as He establishes His millennial (1000 year) reign. (Note: This is the “seventh day” that the Father “blessed” and “sanctified” for Himself as a day of “rest” way back in Genesis 2:1–3! By comparing scripture with scripture, 2nd Peter 3:8 reveals that that “day of rest” would be a 1000-year day that would come after 6000 years of toil.)
The remainder of chapter 20 describes the fierceness of the final judgment we commonly refer to as the Great White Throne Judgment. The description is terrifying, as will be the event itself. Politicians in these last days have been talking about a “New World Order”. Revelation chapter 21 describes “God’s New World Order”. There will be a New Heaven that will be inhabited by the “Gentiles”, a New Earth that will be inhabited by the “Jews”, and a New Jerusalem that will be inhabited by “the church of God”. (1st Corinthians 10:32)
Chapter 22 concludes with seven practical responses to the book of Revelation, and to the conclusion of God’s revelation to man—the Bible!
- TRUST the Truth of God you hold in your hand. (22:6, 18–19)
- LIVE with the imminent return of the God of Truth in your thinking. (22:7a, 12a, 20a)
- DO the Truth of God you know in your mind. (22:7b,14–15)
- WORSHIP the God of Truth you have in your heart. (22:8–9, 13, 16)
- SHARE the Truth of God entrusted to your stewardship. (22:10–11, 17)
- WORK in response to the Truth of God you have received. (22:12)
- WALK in the grace of the God of Truth until He comes for you. (22:20b–21)
May we all say with John, “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” (22:20b) I say with John, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” (22:21)