Revelation 19-20

The Seventh Bowl of Wrath

Revelation 19.

Rev 19:1-2.

The victors are praising God saying “Halelujah” (Ps 135:1) salvation comes from God (Rev 7:10) and judgment comes from God as well and he judges with fairness (Ps 67:4) as he judges the city of this world in response to the prayer of the martyrs from under the altar in heaven (Rev 6:10; 16:6; 18:20). The two charges against her are i) corrupting the earth with sexual immorality (Rom 1:26-27) and shedding the blood of God’s servants (Ac 7:58)

Rev 19:3-4.

God’s judgment on his enemies is Hell and eternal destruction (Isa 34:10; Rev 14:11; Mk 9:43-49). The heavenly hosts joyfully worshipped God for his judgment (Ps 96:11-13)

Rev 19:5-7.

There is joy in heaven for the wedding of the Lamb has come. This wedding happened on the cross (Ezek 16:8; Lk 22:21, 29-30) and is a model for marriage (Eph 5:22-28). At the end of the ages, the wedding will be consummated (Lk 13:28-29)

Rev 19:8.

The fine linen worn by the bride is the robe being washed in the blood of the Lamb (Rev 7:13-14)

Rev 19:9.

Those who are invited to the wedding of the Lamb will be washed and sanctified in the blood (1 Cor 6:11) and will obey the word of God (Lk 11:28)

Rev 19:10.

We are fellow servants with the angels who listens and obey the word of God (Ps 103:20) and bear witness to Jesus (Lk 1:30-33)

Rev 19:11-13.

This is the white horse of the gospel as in Seal 1 (Rev 6:2) showing us the battle we face in proclaiming the gospel to all the earth (Mt 24:14). This is what is happening in these last days (Heb 1:1-2) which also warns us of the coming judgment (Ac 17:31). The horse rider is the Word of God which is preached through the gospel (1 Pet 1:23-25); his eyes are like a fiery flame for it purifies sins (Hab 1:13) and many crowns are on his head for he has triumphed over rulers and authorities on the cross (Col 2:15) his robe is dipped on blood for we see him in the gospel as the one we have pierced (Jn 19:34-37) and he is called Faithful and True for he comes to save us (Ps 57:3)

Rev 19:14-16.

The heavenly armies following Word of God are dressed in white having washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb (Rev 7:14) and the sword coming from his mouth is the sword of the Spirit, the word of God (Eph 6:17) which he strikes the nations with it and transforms believers (Heb 4:12-13); and the iron scepter is for unbelievers whom he will trample on the winepress of God’s anger (Isa 63:3-4). He is the King of kings and Lord of lords for there is no partiality nor does he take bribe in his judgment (Dt 10:17)

Rev 19:17-18.

This is the invitation for the day of judgment when God will completely destroy his enemies (Ezek 39:17-20); the flesh of God’s enemies will not be buried but will be left exposed to the birds as a curse for their rebellion against God (Isa 34:2-3)

Rev 19:19.

This promises the final destruction of God enemies (Zec 14:3) in the spiritual battle that we are facing today (Eph 6:12-13)

Rev 19:20.

This is the beast from the sea (Rev 13:1-2) who represents hostile-to-God political powers; the false prophets is the image of the third beast who represents hostile-to-God religious establishments (Rev 13:14-15). Jesus predicted both authorities will be involved in persecuting believers (Mt 10:17-18). They embodied the Antichrist who is at work in the world in these last days (1 Jn 2:18) and the spirit of the man of lawlessness (2 Thess 2:7) which the Lord Jesus will destroy when he appears (2 Thess 2:8)

Rev 19:21.

This clearly shows that this is the ongoing battle of the gospel proclamation to the world for the sword of the Spirit, the word of God hardens unbelievers in their unbelief so they are destroyed (Jn 12:39-40) and they are exposed to the birds as the curse of their unbelief (Isa 66:24)

Revelation 20.

Rev 20:1-3.

The Devil was bound by Jesus at the beginning of his earthly ministry when he defeates Satan in the temptation (Lk 4:12-13) so Jesus was able to exorcise (Mk 3:27) and set free those bound by Satan (Ac 10:38) for he confronts Satan with the Kingdom of God (Lk 11:20-22). The thousand year reminds us that from eternity’s perspective, a thousand years is like one day or a few hours in the night (Ps 90:4) and I believe this is how the apostles look at the present time where we are awaiting the coming of Jesus (2 Pet 3:8). Satan was released in Jesus’ ascension (Rev 12:5) for a short time (Rev 12:12) during these last days (1 Cor 10:11) where Satan is prowling around like a roaring lion (1 Pet 5:8) but having put on the full armor of God (Eph 6:11) we can resist him and he will run away (Jas 4:7; 1 Pet 5:9)

Rev 20:4-6.

These are the thrones of believers (Lk 22:29-30) who will judge the world (1 Cor 6:2) as Daniel predicted (Dan 7:18, 27). The spirit of those bear witness to Jesus and the word of God coming alive in the first resurrection is us believers having being raised with Christ (Eph 2:4-7) and we serve him as his holy priesthood (1 Pet 2:5) ruling with him now (2 Tim 2:11-12) but we will also reign with him when he appears (Col 3:4). We are blessed who partake in the first resurrection for we will not suffer second death for though we die we live in Christ who is the resurrecton and the life (Jn 11:25-26). We are alive to God in death (Mk 12:26-27) for we depart to be with the Lord (Phil 1:21)

Rev 20:7-10.

Satan has been released from his bondage after the ascension of Jesus (Rev 12:5) and he gathers his army against the encampment of the saints who holds to the word of God and the testimony of Jesus (Rev 12:17) and the beloved city (Ezek 38:16) the heavenly Jerusalem where we gather as believers (Heb 12:22) to the Lamb (Rev 14:1) but they will finally be destroyed by fire (2 Pet 3:12-13). The Devil will be thrown to the lake of fire where the beast and the false prophets have been thrown and they will be tormented day and night forever (Mt 13:41-42; Rev 14:10-11)

Rev 20:11-15.

The great white throne of God symbolises his justice and righteousness in the coming judgment similar to the throne of Ancient Days in Daniel’s vision (Dan 7:9); and the earth and heaven fled from his presence for they will vanish forever in constrast to God’s salvation which last forever (Isa 51:6). All the dead are raised (Dan 12:2) to stand before the judgment throne of God and Christ (2 Cor 5:10).

The books that were opened includes the Book of Tears (Ps 56:8); The Tablet of the Heart (Jer 17:1); the Register of the House of Israel (Ezek 13:9); the Book of Remembrance (Mal 3:16); The Register of those Born in Zion (Ps 87:6); the Book of Dust (Jer 17:13); The Letter of Christ and the Apostles (2 Cor 3:2-3); The Book of those who Live on Earth (Rev 13:8; 17:8) and the Record of Debt (Col 2:14)

The Book of Life’s full title is, The Book of Life of the Lamb who was Slain Before the Foundation of the World (Rev 13:8) and it is the Book of the Righteous (Ps 69:28) and the Book in Heaven (Lk 10:20)

The resurrected will be judged according to their works for each tree is known by its fruit (Lk 6:44) and the Lord judges the heart to give to each according to what they deserve (Jer 17:10) for we are not saved by works (Rom 4:2-3) in case we may boast (Eph 2:9) but our works of loving the brothers testify to the genuineness of our faith (Jas 2:22). Without our works of love our faith is that of the Devil (Jas 2:19) and without faith, our works are incomplete (Rev 3:2).

Death and Hades will be thrown to the Lake of Fire for Jesus has conquered all his enemies even the Last Enemy, Death (1 Cor 15:25-26) and those who abandoned God (Jer 17:13) by abandoning the word of God and the testimony to Jesus whose names were not found in the book of life will be thrown to the Lake of Fire (2 Thess 1:8-10)