THE REVELATION TO JOHN
I.
Introduction
A.
The Significance of Studying the Revelation
1. This is a book of prophecy (Rev 1:3, 19):
a.
One of the most important questions
concurring a Christian is 'When will Jesus come again?' (Mt 24:3; Acts 1:6)
b.
To prepare ourselves to inherit the
kingdom of heaven, which is the ultimate goal of our life, we must be aware of
the prophecies and signs of Jesus' second coming (Jn 14:1-3; I Cor 15:19; Mt
24:1-13, 21-31)
2. This is a book with blessings:
a.
Blessed is he that readeth, and they that
hear the words of the prophecy and keep those things which are written therein
(Rev 1:3) that they may live in holiness and godliness (II Pet 3:8-13)
b.
Jesus is coming soon. Blessed is he that
keeps the sayings of the prophecy of this book (Rev 22:7)
3. We need to pray for the understanding of
the words of God through the Holy Spirit (I Cor 2:7-13; II Pet -21). With Biblical
understanding we will then strive to fulfill the commandments (-19. As Jesus second coming
is near, we should say as John did, “Amen, come, Lord Jesus.” ()
B.
The Revelation was Written Especially To the Chosen Ones
1. To the seven churches in Asia
(Rev 1:4)
2. Because He has loved us and washed away our
sins in His own blood (Rev 1:5; Acts )
3. Because He has made us a kingdom and
priests to His God and the Father (Rev 1:6; I Pet 2:9; Eph 2:19-22; II Cor
5:17-19)
4. It is God's will that none of us shall be
lost (Jn -40)
II.
BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH CLOUDS (Rev 1)
"Beholds, he cometh with
clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all
kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen." (Rev 1:7)
A.
Jesus Is Coming To Judge the World
1. Jesus came to save the world with the
gospel of salvation and with His great love towards man (Jn ; -25)
2. But when the last day comes, Jesus will
perform the authority of judgment (Jn )
through His words (Jn )
3. We must walk in the light, that is to say,
to sanctify and to purify ourselves while we still have light (Jn -36; c .f . Mt 25:1-13; I Th
5:1-11). Then we may escape from the terrible punishment (Rev 1:7; -17; Lk -28)
B.
Jesus' Appearance As the Lord of Judgment (-16)
1. In the midst of seven candlesticks (-13):
The candlesticks are the churches () which have the Holy Spirit
as the oil to shine in the world (Rev 11:3-4; c. f. Zech 4:2-6,11-14; Phil
2:15; Mt 5:14-16). Jesus is always and forever present in His Church through
the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:22-23; Jn 14:16-20)
2. He clothes with a garment down to the foot,
and girdles about the breast a golden girdle ():
Jesus appears in the glory of a king
and a high priest (Zech 6:12-13; Is 6:1; Dan 10:5; Rev 15:6)
3. His head and hairs are white like wool, as
white as snow (Rev 1:14a):
As the Lord of Judgment Jesus is
holy and pure without any blemish ( c, f. Dan 7:9; I Pet -16)
4. His eyes are as a flame of fire (Rev
1:14b):
The Lord is omniscient, his eyes
behold the evil and good even into one's heart. Nothing can be hidden from Him
(Ps 139:1-8; Prov 15:3, 21:8; I Sam 16:7)
5. His feet like unto fine brass, as if they
were burned in a furnace (Rev 1:15a):
The Lord performs steadfast love,
justice, and righteousness on the earth (Jer -24). These are the divine characters which we must
follow (Mic 6:8), though only through many trials we may attain (I Pet 1:6-7; I
Cor -15)
6. His voice as the sound of many waters (Rev
1:15b):
The voice of the Lord is full of
power and majesty (Ps 29:3-4). It is the heavenly voice as the sound of many
waters (Ezek 43:2; Rev 14:2, 19:6)
7. He has in his right hand seven stars (Rev
1:16a):
The seven stars are the angels of
the seven churches ().
Jesus is the head of the church (Eph -23).
The church and all believers shall submit to His sovereignty (Eph -24; Acts 13:1-3, 16:6-10)
8.
Out
of His mouth goes a sharp two-edged sword (): The words of God discern the thought and
intents of the heart (Heb -13).
Jesus' words shall judge us at the last day (Jn -50)
9.
His countenance is as the sun shining in
His strength ():
When Jesus transfigured, His face was shining as sun (Mt 17:2)
C.
Conclusion
When Jesus comes again, (he is
coming soon), He will judge each every one of us according to His words. Our
speeches, deeds, and even thoughts shall be displayed in front of the throne of
judgment. Appearing as the Lord of judgment, Jesus is full of authority, power,
wisdom, glory, and majesty. The judgment will be absolutely definite, either
eternal life or eternal death. ARE WE
CONFIDENT OF FACING HIM NOW?
III.
"I KNOW YOUR WORKS", SAYS THE LORD
(Rev 2-3)
Before seeing the visions
concerning the thing which will take place at the end time, John was instructed
to write letters to the seven churches in Asia Minor.
Each letter contains a commendation or condemnation of the church addressed,
and admonition, and a concluding promise and exhortation to the faithful. The
purpose of these letters is to warn the churches the imminence of Jesus' second
coming by a descriptive phrase referring to Him as the Lord of judgment at the
beginning of each letter. The urgent tone exhorting to hold fast the virtues
and to turn back from the vices are everywhere in the letters. Seven churches
in Asia Minor are the symbol of the TrueChurch today. Their
virtues which win the commendation from God are the ones we need to reflect and
to cherish. Their vices which God reproves are the mirror for us to examine
ourselves.
What happened in the churches
then, indeed, is happening or will happen among us. "I know your
works", says the Lord to every one of us. Our virtues and vices, our
strength and weakness, our labor and laziness, Jesus knows them all. But, do we
really know the state of our own spiritually? Do we really realize the
imminence of judgment? Do we really know how far we are from being perfect? The
letters to the seven churches give us a pause to contemplate, to reflect, to
examine seriously before we face the tribulation, persecution, and disaster
prophesied in the book.
A.
Messages To the Churches
1.
Ephesus
(2:1-7)
a.
Merits:
Labor for the name of Jesus, patient
endurance discerning the false apostles, hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans
b.
Vices:
Decline of LOVE
c.
Exhortation:
Remember from what you have fallen,
repent, and do the good works as you did before.
2.
Smyrna
(2:8-11)
a.
Merits:
Suffering tribulation and poverty.
Being slandered by false believers
b.
Exhortations:
Do not fear the coming tribulation,
be faithful unto death.
3.
Pergamum
(-17)
a.
Merits:
Holding fast Jesus' name, not
denying the faith in the days of persecution
b.
Vices:
Following the teaching of Balaam and
Nicolatitans
c.
Exhortations:
Repent.
4.
Thyatira (-29)
a.
Merits:
Progress in the work of faith,
service, and patient endurance
b.
Vices:
Tolerating the false prophetess
Jezebel and her practice of immorality and eating the food sacrificed to idols.
c.
Exhortations:
No other burden to those who are
innocent of Satan's teaching. Hold fast
what you have until Jesus comes.
5.
Sardis
(3:1-6)
a.
Merits:
A few members have not soiled their
garments.
b.
Vices:
Have the name of being alive but in
facts are dead. None of the works is perfect in the sight of God.
c.
Exhortations:
Awake, strengthen what remains and
is on the point of death. Remember what you received and heard; keep these and
repent.
6.
Philadelphia
(3:7-13)
a.
Merits:
Having little power, keeping the
words, not denying Jesus' name.
b.
Exhortations:
Because you have kept my word of
patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial which is coming on
the whole world. Hold fast what you have.
7.
Laodicea
(-22)
a.
Vices:
Lukewarm Complacent and conceited.
b.
Exhortations:
Be zealous and repent, open the door
for Jesus
B.
Conclusion
1.
The merits which God will reward us are:
a.
The fruitful labor for Jesus (Jn ; Phil ; I Cor )
b.
Patient endurance in the time of
tribulation and persecution (Mt 5:10-12, ;
Jas 1:2-3), and of being slandered (Rom ,17-21)
c.
Holding fast the word and not denying
Jesus' name even under persecution (Gal 1:6-10; Jude 3; I Tim -20; Mt 10;24-33)
d.
Discerning the false teachings: The
characteristics of false teacher are boastful (Jas -18), denying Jesus (I Jn 4:1-3; II Pet
2:1-2); not following the word of God precisely (Gal 1:6-10; -19)
e.
Holiness (Rev 19:7-8; Eph 5:1-14)
2.
The crisis of the church at the end time:
a.
Decline in love toward God (Lk ; I Jn -17; II Tim 3:4) and toward man (II Tim
3:1-4; c. f. Rom 12:9-13)
b.
Immorality and idol worshipping (I Cor
6:18-20; II Cor 6: 14-18)
c.
Lukewarm and complacent:
d.
The judgment will begin from the house of
God (I Pet -19).With a
trembling heart (Phil )
and continuous striving one may attain the salvation (Phil 3:12-16; I Cor
9:24-27)
3.
Jesus' exhortation to the church at the
end time:
a.
Though the persecution and tribulation
will be very severe, He will keep the faithful through the difficult time (I
Cor 10:12-13; II Cor 4:16-5:10)
IV.
A THRONE IN HEAVEN AND THE LAMB (Rev 4-5)
"Lo, in heaven an open door!
And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said,
“Come up hither, and I will show you what must take place after this.” (4:1)
A.
A Throne Stood In Heaven (4)
1.
The One who seated on the throne:
a.
God dwells in unapproachable light, whom
no man has ever seen or can see (I Tim 6:16: Jn 1:18)
b.
He appeared like jasper and
carnelian.(4:3)
c.
From throne issues flashes of lightning,
voices and pearls of thunder (4:5a; Ex )
d.
Before the throne are the seven spirits
of God (4:5b)
e.
Round the throne was a rainbow that
looked like an emerald (4:3b; Gen 9:13-15; Ezek 1:28)
f.
Before the throne there is as it were a
sea of glass, like crystal (4:6; 15:2; ,
21)
g.
He is the Lord God Almighty, who was and
is to come (4:8b; 1:4a; Ex )
h.
He created all things ()
2.
Twenty-four Elders
a.
They seated on the thrones which are
round the throne (; II
Tim 4:7-8).
b.
Clad in white garments (4:4; 3:4-5; -14; 19:7-8)
c.
With golden crowns upon their heads (4:4;
Jas ; II Tim 4:7-8)
d.
They worship Him who lives for ever and
ever; they cast their crowns before the throne and praise Him ()
e.
Twenty-four elders symbolize the twelve
patriarchs of the OT and the twelve chosen apostles of the NT. God's salvation
is for every one in every generation (Heb -40)
3.
Four living creatures
a.
Each of them with six wings (4:8; Is
6:2-3)
b.
Full of eyes in front and behind (4:6b;
4:8; Mt - 23; I Cor
2:10-15; Eph 1:17-18)
c.
The first living creature like a lion
(4:7): noble and powerful (I Pet 2:9; I Th 4:3-5; Mic 5:8)
d.
The second living creature is like an ox:
laboriousness, endurance and humbleness (Prov 14:4; I Cor 9:9)
e.
The third living creature has the face of
a man: compassionate, loving as son of man (Mt ; -
36, -21; Heb , -16)
f.
The fourth living creature is like a
flying eagle: with power and belongs to heaven (Is 40:31; Col 3:2-3; Acts 1:8)
g.
The appearance of the four living
creatures refer to the most perfect spirituality the heavenly saints shall
obtain
B.
The Lamb (5)
1.
A scroll written within and on the back,
sealed with seven seals (5:1; Jer 36:1-6; Ezek 2:9-10)
2.
The Lamb is worthy to open the scroll and
break the seals (5: 5-12 Jn 5:1-29; Rev 1:5)
a.
For the Lion of the tribe of Judah
(5:5; Gen 49:9- 10; Heb ),
the Root of David (5:5, ;
Is 11:1,10), has conquered (Jn ;
Mt 28:18)
b.
For the Lamb, with seven horns and with
seven eyes(5:6; I Cor ),
has been slain (Eph -16)
c.
"Worthy art thou to take the scroll
and to open its seals, for thou wast slain and by thy blood didst ransom men
for God from every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and hast made them a
kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on earth." (5:9-10)
V.
SEVEN SEALS, SEVEN TRUMPETS, AND SEVEN BOWLS
"For nation will rise against
nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes
in various places: all this is but the beginning of the birth-pangs." (Mt
24:7-8) Jesus uses the term 'birth-pangs' to describe the things which will
occur before His second coming. The time interval between the signs will be
shorter and shorter; the severity caused by the occurrences will be more acute
as the end draws nearer. As the mysteries behind seven seals, and seven
trumpets, and seven bowls begin to disclose, we shall know indeed that He is
coming soon
A.
Seven Seals (6)
1.
The first seal was opened - a white horse
(6:2)
a.
Its rider (-13) had a bow (Eph -17)
b.
A crown was given to him (Eph ; Is 62:3)
c.
He went out conquering and to conquer
(Hag 2:9; Jn )
2.
The second seal was opened - a bright red
horse (6:3-4)
a.
Bright red: blood shedding, evil power
(12:3, 17:3)
b.
Its rider was permitted to take peace
from the earth (Mt 24:6-7)
c.
He was given a great sword
3.
The third seal was opened - a black horse
(6:5-6)
a.
Its rider had a balance in his hand (6:5)
b.
"A quart of wheat for a denarius,
and three quarts of barley for a denarius, but do not harm oil and wine."
(6:6)
c.
Material and spiritual famine (Amos ), economical chaos.
4.
The fourth seal was opened - a pale horse
(6:7-8)
a.
Pale color symbolizes despair and death,
no wonder that the rider of the pale horse was Death (6:8)
b.
They were given power over a fourth of
the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild
beasts of the earth (6:80)
5.
The fifth seal was opened - the cry of
the martyrs (6:9-11)
a.
They were slain for the word of God and
for the witness they had borne (6:9; Mt ,
-33)
b.
They cried for divine vindication (, -12)
c.
They were given a white robe (6:11a, 7:9)
d.
The persecution on the saints shall
continue until the number should be completed (6:11b)
6.
The sixth seal was opened - a great
earthquake (-17)
a.
The cosmic catastrophes (-14; Joel -31; Mt 24:29; Is 34:4)
b.
All the people seek to escape from God (-17; Lk ; Mal 3:2)
c.
"For the great day of His wrath has
come, and who can stand before it?" ()
7.
The seventh seal was opened - there was
silence in heaven for about half and hour (Zech ).
a.
Then I saw the seven angels who
stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. Now the seven angels
who had the seven trumpets made ready to blow them (8:1-6). The seven trumpets
will be blew consecutively. The pace of the occurrences is faster and faster
B.
Seven Trumpets (8-9)
1.
1st trumpet (8:7)
a.
Hail and fire mixed with blood fell on
the earth.
b.
1/3 of the earth, 1/3 of the trees, and
all green grass was burnt up. (Ex -26;
Job 38:23)
2.
2nd trumpet (8:8-9)
a.
Something like a great mountain, burning
with fire, was thrown into the sea
b.
1/3 of the sea became blood, 1/3 of the
living creatures in the sea died, and 1/3 of the ships were destroyed
3.
3rd trumpet (-11)
a.
A great star fell from heaven on 1/3 of
the rivers and on the fountains of water
b.
The star named Wormwood. 1/3 of the
waters became wormwood, and many men died of water
4.
4th trumpet ()
a.
1/3 of sun was struck, so was 1/3 of the
moon, and 1/3 of the stars
b.
1/3 of the day was kept from shining, and
likewise 1/3 of the night (Zeph 1:15-16; Is 13:9-11)
5.
5th trumpet (9:1-12)
a.
A star fallen from heaven to earth, he
was given the key of the shaft of the bottomless pit
b.
From the smoke came locusts on the earth:
(a)
Not to harm the grass or any green growth
or any tree.
(b)
Only harm those of mankind who do not
have the seal of God on their foreheads. (7:1-8) They were tortured for five
months, but not to be killed (9:3-6)
(c)
The description on the locusts (9:7-10)
·
The first woe has passed; behold, two woes are
still to come ()
6.
6th trumpet (-21)
a.
"Release the four angels who are
bound at the great river Euphrates." They
are to kill 1/3 of mankind
b.
1/3 of mankind was killed by the fire,
smoke and sulfur (-19)
c.
The rest of mankind did not repent of
their evil works (-21)
·
The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe
is soon to come ()
7.
7th trumpet (-19)
a.
The kingdom of the world has become the
kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever ()
b.
".... for thou hast taken thy great
power and begun to reign. The nation raged, but thy wrath came, and the time
for the dead to be judged, for rewarding and for destroying...."
(11:17-18)
c.
Then God's temple in heaven was opened,
and the ark of His covenant was seen within His temple; and there were flashes
of lightning, voices, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail. ()
C.
The Great Wrath of God
When the seventh trumpet was
blew, it was proclaimed that the wrath of God had come and also the judgment.
The seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, were given seven bowls
full of the wrath of God are ready to pour them on the earth (15:1-8)
1.
The announcement of coming wrath
(14:6-20):
a.
1st angel (14:6-7):
(a)
"Fear God and give Him glory, for
the hour of His judgment has come......"
b.
2nd angel (14:8):
(a)
"Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations
drink the wine of her impure passion."
c.
3rd angel (14:9-12):
(a)
"If any one worships the beast and
its image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also shall
drink the wine of God's wrath....."
d.
4th angel ()
(a)
"Put in your sickle, and reap, for
the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe."
e.
5th angel (-20):
(a)
"Put in your sickle, and gather the
clusters of the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe." So the angel
swung his sickle on the earth and gathered the vintage of the earth and threw
it into the great wine press of the wrath of God
2.
Seven bowls of the wrath of God
a.
1st bowl (16:2):
(a)
Poured on the earth
(b)
Foul and evil sores came upon the men who
bore the mark of the beast and worshipped its image
b.
2nd bowl (16:3)
(a)
Poured into the sea
(b)
Every living thing died in the sea
c.
3rd bowl (16:4-7)
(a)
Poured into the rivers and the fountains
of water, and they became blood. D "For men have shed
the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink. It
is their due!"
(b)
The altar cry, "Yea, Lord God the
Almighty, true and just are thy judgment! (c.f. 6:9-11)
d.
4th bowl (16:8-9)
(a)
Poured on the sun to scorch men with fire
(b)
The men cursed the name of God and did
not repent
e.
5th bowl (-11)
(a)
Poured on the throne of the beast, and
its kingdom was in darkness; men gnawed their tongues in anguish
(b)
They cursed God for their pain and sores,
and did not repent of their deeds
f.
6th bowl (-16)
(a)
Poured on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way
for the kings from the east
(b)
Issuing from the mouth of the dragon,
from the mouth of the beast, from the mouth of the false prophet, and three
foul spirits like frogs
(c)
They assemble the kings of the whole
world for battle on the great day of God the Almighty
g.
7th bowl (-21)
(a)
Poured into the air
(b)
A loud voice came out of the temple, from
the throne, saying, "It is done!" D A great earthquake such
as had never been since men were on earth (-20)
(c)
Till men cursed God for the plague of the
hail, so fearful was that plague
VI.
THE SAINTS
"Here is a call for the
endurance and faith of the saints"
A.
Sealing the servants of God (7:1-8)
1.
After the 6th seal was opened, it was
declared, "For the great day of His wrath come, and who can stand before
it," (). John saw
two vision concerning the saints before the seventh seal was opened.
2.
"Do not harm the earth or the sea or
the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God upon their
foreheads."(7:1-3)
3.
There were a hundred and forty-four
thousand sealed, out of every tribe of the son of Israel (7:4). The names of the
tribes are not in accordance with that of the OT tradition. Dan and Ephraim are
excluded
4.
These are the chosen ones according to
God's number. They will be secure from the wrath of God and the plague on the
earth
B.
Heavenly Multitude (7:9-17; 14:1-5)
1.
A great multitude in heaven before the
throne and before the Lamb, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and
tongues
2.
They were clothed in white robes, coming
out of great tribulation and having washed the robes white in the blood of the
Lamb (7:9,13,14)
3.
They praise God and serve Him day and
night (-12, 15)
4.
"They shall hunger no more, neither
thirsty any more;...... For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their
shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water; and God will wipe
away every tear from their eyes." ()
5.
On MountZion
stood the Lamb, and with him the chosen ones with Father's name written on
their foreheads (14:1)
6.
They sing a new song before the throne
(14:2-3)
7.
They were redeemed from the earth (14:3)
8.
They are chaste (14:4)
9.
Follow the Lamb wherever He goes (14:4)
10.
Redeemed from the mankind as first fruits
for God and the Lamb
11.
In their mouth no lie was found, for they
are spotless
C.
The Tribulation (11-13)
When the trumpets were blew,
there were plagues fell on the earth. In spiritual battle, there will be great
tribulation fell upon the saints, That why the description about the great
tribulation were recorded among the trumpets and the bowls
1.
The measuring of the temple and the two
witnesses (11)
a.
Rise and measure the temple of God,
the altar and those who worship there (11:1)
b.
Do not measure the court outside the
temple, the nations will trample over the holy city for 42 months (11:2)
c.
Two witnesses will prophesy for 1260 days
with power. And when they finish their testimonies, the beast from the
bottomless pit will make war upon them, conquer them and kill them (11:3-7)
d.
After 3 1/2 days they will go up to
heaven (11:8-14)
2.
The woman, the child, and the dragon (12)
a.
The dragon stood before the woman who was
about to bear a child, that he might devour the child (12:4)
b.
The child is to rule all the nations with
a rod of iron, but he was caught up to God and to his throne (12:5)
c.
The woman fled into the wilderness for
1260 days (12:6)
d.
The dragon made war on the rest of the
woman's offspring, and on those keep the commandments of God and bear testimony
to Jesus ()
3.
The Beast (13)
a.
The beast was allowed to make war on the
saints and to conquer them (13:7)
b.
Here is a call for the endurance and
faith of the saints ()
·
The saints conquered him by the blood of the
Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even
unto death ()
VII.
THE BEASTS
A.
The beast with seven heads and ten horns:
The first beast came out of the
sea, he had ten horns and seven heads. Head means kingship which represents a
nation (17:9-10). The number seven does not refer to the Actual number, but to
a considerably many number. They will be united in one, and organize a group of
great nation in cooperation with each other. Horn refers to the power; ten
horns mean a strong and sufficient power. He resembles a leopard which means
that he Acts speedily, and his feet are like those of a bear for the power of a
bear is in its feet with which he attacks or scratches the game not to escape.
His mouth is like that of a lion which means that once he roars, all around him
would be scared. He is the dragon which is the instrument of the devil, Satan
make use of. (Rev 13:2)
B.
One of the heads of the beast seems to have had
a fatal wound, but the fatal wound is healed. The whole world was astonished
and followed the beast. Men worshipped the dragon because he had given
authority to the beast, and they also worshipped the beast and asked, "Who
is like the beast? Who can make war against him?" (Rev 13:3-4)
C.
His work:
1.
Persecuting the Church:
Blaspheming God and His name - Jesus
(Jn ), and His Temple
- the Church (Heb 8:2), —the spiritual believers dwelling in Heaven (Eph 2:6;
Heb ). The beast was
given the power to persecute the Church for 42 months, and to conquer
2.
Conquering the nations:
He was given power and authority
over every tribe, people, language and nation. (Rev 13:7; Dan 8:24)
3.
The second beast:
This beast had two horns like a
lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. He is the false prophet and false Christ. He
exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, but in the end,
he, along with the first beast, were thrown alive into the fiery lake of
burning sulfur. (;
)
D.
He is the little horn prophesied in the book of
Daniel to appear in the last days - the anti-Christ, performing perverse and
abominable things. His appearance is one of the signs which indicates the last
day coming near. (Dan 7:7-8, 11, 25-26; 8:9-12, 23-24; , 36, 37; Mt 24:15-22)
VIII.
The Great Babylon
A.
Babylon
the great:
She is the great prostitute, who
sits on many waters (Rev 17:5), and rules over the kings of the earth (Rev
17:18), and the mother of prostitutes (17:5), a home for demons and a haunt for
every evil spirit (18:2,3). "Many waters" means peoples, multitudes,
nations and languages. ()
B.
Her sins:
Blaspheming God, shedding the
blood of the saints (17:3, 6; 19:2; ),
of prophets and of all who have been killed on the earth (), and boasting, luxury, immorality, and
so on (18:7, 3, 9; 17:2)
C.
Her end:
The beast and the ten horns hate
the prostitute, and bring her to ruin and leave her naked, and they will eat
her flesh and burn her with fire ().
In one day her plagues will overtake her, to be burnt to ruin (18:8, 10, 17,
19). She will be thrown down, never to be found again ()
D.
God's call:
"Come out of her, my people,
so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her
plagues;" (18:4)
IX.
The New Jerusalem (Rev. Chapter 21)
A.
She comes down out of heaven (21:1-2), from the
mountain great and high (;
Is 2:2-3)
B.
The Bride, the wife of the Lamb
The angel called her the wife of
the Lamb, that is Jerusalem,
the holy city coming down from heaven - the true Church (21:9-10, Gal ; Heb )
C.
The New Jerusalem - the spiritual contents of
the true Church should be equipped with:
1.
There is a river of the water of life in
the city (Rev 11:1):
This represents the river of the
Holy Spirit (Jn -39).
The church without the Holy Spirit does not belong to Christ (Rom 8:9; Eph )
2.
The wall of the city has twelve
foundations and on them are the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb ():
This means that the true Church
should have the foundation of truth that the apostles preached (Eph ). No other foundation, that is
to say, no other gospel must be preached (Gal 1:6-9; II Cor 11:4)
3.
There is a great high wall ():
This means God's protection. The
church is sanctified, it is not of this world (Ref. I Kgs 9:3; II Tim 2:19)
4.
There are twelve gates ():
Three gates on the east, three on
the north, three on the south and three on the west, which means that the
gospel of salvation must be preached to all the people in all directions (Mk
16:15; Mt 28:18-20; Gen 13:14-17; Rom 1:16)
5.
The city does not need the sun or the
moon to shine on it ():
This means that there is no need of
material, physical joy or pleasure, but that there is a spiritual joy more than
enough from the glory of God
6.
There are the trees of life (22:1-4):
These represent the saints full of
spiritual life. They will bear twelve crops of fruit, yielding their fruit
every month. The name of the Lamb is on their foreheads, for they have the
image of the Lord in them, and will see His face always
X.
Invitation
A.
The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come."
And let him who hears say "Come!" And let him who is thirsty come,
let him who desires take the water of life without price
B.
He who testifies to these things says,
"Surely I am coming soon." "Amen, Come, Lord Jesus.”
