The Beginning of the End

Today’s sermon is less of a verse by serve exposition and more of a stage setting sermon. After working on some of the exposition of this section I found myself feeling the need to take a step back and help us navigate this section with clarity.

As we leave the throne room of heaven from chapter 4-5, we are heading into a portion of the book of Revelation that is both loved and hated by many, and often for the same reason.

There is a significant amount of details that at times may even seem downright bizzare, and they require careful interpretation.

Some have seized upon these texts and the descriptions of the tribulation period and have sensationalized the interpretation process.

Blood moons. Solar Eclispes. Apache helicopters. Left Behind. The late great planet earth. Numerological interpretation that tries to do fancy business with various numbers.

Newspaper exegesis that tries to line up things happening now with what we read in Revelation.

Date setting. Years ago there was a pamphlet that was popular. 88 reasons why Jesus will come back in 1988. JWs have been famous for this. Harold Camping. etc.

People who love getting caught up in all the details, people who think that the Bible is like a giant puzzle to solve with a secret decoder ring....they love Revelation! They love this section of revelation, because here is where all the interpretive fun begins. Not the real fun. This chapter describes hell on earth. It’s no fun for anyone. But for some. Coming up with new ways or spreading the old ways of sensationalizing the text is fun.

So this section is loved by many for this reason, and yet it is hated by more for this very same reason.

They hate the sensationalizers. They think of them as a bunch of crazy lunatics who aren’t accomplishing anything good God’s kingdom who are giving sane Christians a bad name and are trying to scare people into the kingdom.

This second group is also sure that the fanciful interpretations offered by the first group cannot possible be correct, but when it comes to sorting through the details they agonize over the interpretation because it is genuinely difficult at times to track what’s going on.

So the second group looks at the first group and cringes at the sensationalism, but can struggle to articulate a positive case for an alternative interpretation, and the first group scoffs at the second for missing what is clearly right before their eyes!

What is the pathway forward?

There are a few things that need to be said and we walk into this text.

Avoid Speculative Sensationalism

I’m not into sensationalizing something as sacred as Scripture. I believe this is not only foolish, but dangerous. We don’t have to sensationalize anything. The details are provocative enough all on their own.

We should avoid newspaper exegesis in favor of biblical exegesis. Are there times when things happening now look similar to what’s going on in Revelation? Yep. Does that mean Revelation is being fulfilled right now? Nope. Why not? Well, while there are some parallels here and there, the total picture is not unfolding. People who have tried to force the total picture to fit have failed over and over again and their models have had to be continually revised as history marches on. And while some events of world history find parallels in the book of Revelation, what makes Revelation stand out is the shear intensity and unparalleled extent of the catastrophes making it clear that our speculations about current events need to cool it.

I recently watched a video of a famous preacher saying that the tensions between Iran and Israel are definite signs of the coming tribulation, it’s setting up the war of Gog and Magog that we read about in Ezek 38, but he went on to say he believes that war doesn’t happen until the midway point of the tribulation. He also believes in the pre-trib rapture, so that war is minimum 3.5 years away, and yet he said of Gog and Magog “which you see happening right now”. I’m sorry, but that doesn’t jive.

The fact is we don’t know. Could it be that current tensions will lead to that war?? It’s possible the current tensions will develop into that, sure. But it’s not like this is the first time there have been tensions with these nations and regions. The point is, we simple cannot know, and to make dogmatic statements about things that may never develop make us look just like those foolish date setters who get it wrong over and over and over again. But if we stick with what the Scriptures say and leave the speculation out of it, we will be in much better shape to 1. actually understand what the text is speaking of 2. learn how it has actual relevance to our lives and 3. equips us to engage with a watching world.

So I’m not into sensationalized speculation.

Avoid Reductionistic Dismissal of the Text

I’m also not interested in softening or glossing over what Scripture says. Sometimes God says things that are sensational. We don’t have to fear that. We ought not to soften that. We embrace it for what it is. We are about to cover a section that covers the opening of the seven sealed scroll, which begins with the famed four horsemen of the apocalypse. From there we see the 144,000 Jews sealed and a multitude from every nation who praises God for his salvation. And then we get to the trumpets, and bowls, two witnesses, the woman, child, and dragon. There are many wild details that have left many scratching their heads.

We don’t get to gloss over all that as if its unimportant. God wouldn’t have said it if it wasn’t important. he revealed it.

We don’t get to soften and flatten it as if it is all hyperbolic language that finds no real correspondence in reality. These things really will take place. He revealed it in intense language not because he likes to exaggerate, but because he intends to do what he says. He is going to do intense things on the earth. So let’s see what the text says and embrace it for it’s God-given intent.

Pursue the Original Author’s Intent

3. Our goal is to understand the intended meaning of the author. The original author wrote in such a way to be understood. It takes more work in some places in Scripture than in others, but it;s worth it.

When we avoid the original author’s intent, we divorce the meaning of the text from the power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit inspired the text. The word of God, rightly applied, has power for our growth. If we miss the meaning we miss what the Spirit wanted to effect in our hearts.

How do we discover the original author’s intent? We study the words he wrote, in its context. We don’t spiritualize, allegorize, and any other gorize. the text. We take the meaning at face value unless the author gives a clue he wants us to do otherwise, which he sometimes does.

Jesus doesn’t literally have eyes of fire, but John did see an individual whose eyes shone like fire. We pay attention to those details and we will do well with our interpretations.

As me move into this section of Revelation, I also want to help us remember a few things that will help guide our time and make it more productive and profitable.

Remember the Overall Purpose of Revelation

Remember the two primary purposes of the book of Revelation:

To encourage and comfort suffering believers. Revelation speaks of Christ’s ultimate triumph, His final victory for all time and eternity and how the world gets from here to there. This reminds believers that even though the tribulation period is dark and full of harrowing events and death and suffering, the night is not the end, but the day breaks with the coming of the bright and morning star, Christ himself shall come, the King of kings will reign, and the new heavens and new earth will bring never ending joy for those who are his own.

It encourages suffering believers to know that justice will be accomplished. We should never gloat over the death of the wicked. We should never delight in their downfall. But there is a sense of justice that we rightly recognize when those who have transgressed the law and have sinned egregiously against others receive the righteous penalty for their errors. If we were to learn of serial killers or human traffickers who are apprehended, tried, convicted, and sentenced, we take comfort and have a sense of satisfaction that justice was accomplished, and that they are not free to bring harm to anyone else.

Two weeks ago we saw John weep bitterly over the reality that no one was found to open the scroll, and he was grieved because justice was going to left undone. As harrowing as the tribulation is, there is a sense of justice being accomplished for those who have rebelled against the Lord and have acted in vile ways against believers. Revelation encourages and comforts suffering believers.

Second, it is to warn rebellious unbelievers. There is a day coming when it will be too late. This section warns such unbelievers that a day of judgment is coming that will make any previous experience of pain and suffering pale in comparison to the trouble that awaits. It urges the reader to repent now while there is still time, before they come to an untimely end, before they are given over to believe the lies of the man of lawlessness.

Next, we want to

Remember the Biblical and Covenantal Contexts

Two weeks ago I taught a Sunday school class on the rapture of the church. If you missed it it’s online and you can catch up there.

In that lesson I talked about the purpose of the tribulation period.

Jeremiah 30:7 LSB

‘Alas! For that day is great, There is none like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s distress, But he will be saved from it.

Zechariah 13:8–9 LSB

“And it will be in all the land,” Declares Yahweh, “That two parts in it will be cut off and breathe their last; But the third will be left in it. “And I will bring the third part through the fire And refine them as silver is refined And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are My people,’ And they will say, ‘Yahweh is my God.’”

Daniel 9:24 LSB

“Seventy weeks have been determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Holy of Holies.

Daniel 9:27 LSB

“And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will make sacrifice and grain offering cease; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.”

God made a covenant with Abraham. God made a covenant with Israel. God made a covenant with David.

The Tribulation and Second Coming represent the complete fulfillment of everything that God promised.

Cursing, judgement, and refinement.

Blessing and establishment and Kingdom rule of the Messiah.

As we have seen and as we will see will continue to see, there are numerous references to the OT prophets who spoke of the coming Day of the Lord. Revelation speaks of the fulfillment what those prophets foresaw.

If we remember the overall biblical context, and we remember the covenantal contexts of the promises that God has already made, Revelation 6-20 will make lot more sense than if you ignore all that and try to make it all about the church or the events of 70AD, which many people try to do.

Now, I’ve spent so much time setting the table that there isn’t a ton of time for eating.

Normally we spend time working through a text verse by verse, line upon line, precept upon precept.

Today I’m going to give us the 30,000 flyover of chapter 6-19, because this will help us see the big picture so we don’t lose the forest for trees. Next week we will get into things and look closely at the trees. Today let’s consider the forest.

In chapters 5 we saw the scroll that contained God’s plan to fulfill all his promises and to bring perfect justice on the earth. No one was worthy to open it except the Lamb.

Praise the Lamb, he is able to open and bring about God’s perfect plan!

As we come into chapter 6, the seals begin to be opened. Catastrophe on the earth as judgement falls.

At the end of the chapter there is great fear for the wrath of God has come and who is able to stand??

Chapter seven answers that question.

While there is a general chronological flow to these chapters, we find there are times of zooming in and out at certain points, and this is the first “interlude” as it is sometimes called. I’m not a huge fan of the term “interlude” because I think it communicates something that isn’t meant, but I’ve yet to come up with a better term. I’m working on that.

These interludes will zoom out and show us more things going on than the just the judgments that befall the earth as they are. Such is the case in chapter 7, where even though the hardship of the tribulation is ravaging the earth, we find many who do stand before God. The first half speaks of 144,000 jews sealed, 12 from each trib. The second half speaks of a great multitude of martyrs who die for the truth during the tribulation. Even though the church is gone, many are coming to faith in Christ and are thus able to stand before God, even if they die on earth.

Chapter 8-9 resumes the chronology with the trumpet judgments. The Structure that is here is that the seventh seal contains the 7 trumpet judgments, and the seventh trumpet is going to contain the 7 bowl judgments. Thus there seems to be an intensification of the tribulation as time winds closer to the second coming and all the trumpets and bowls are contain

chapter 10 and the first half of 11 for a second “interlude” of sorts, a second zooming out. We see John eating a bitter-sweet scroll, which is what God’s justice is for believers.

Chapter 11 speaks of two witness, once again showing us that God’s continue to have his Word available on the earth. The seventh trumpet is blown in the end of 11, and then we have another zooming out.

Chapter 12-14 are often challenging because they contain additional layers of imagery. Chapters 12 describes the cosmic conflict between God’s people and the devil.

chapter 13 describes two beasts, who are the antichrist and his false prophet.

Nevertheless, as dark as that scene is, chapter 14 reminds us one more time that the truth is being proclaimed by God’s heavily messengers.

With chapter 15 we return to the unfolding judgments that continue to come upon the earth. 15 sets the table, and chapter 16 sees the bowls of wrath poured out.

The next two chapters explain the nature of the world under the influence of the antichrist. False religion, corrupt government, rebellion against the King of kings. 18 Speaks of the fall of Babylon, which is the Antichrist’s rule

Finally, as we come into chapter 19, we find the triumphant return of Christ, the end of the antichrist, and 20 brings us the establishment of the Kingdom and millennial reign of Christ. The tribulation is over. Jesus rules and reigns as king.

I provided that overview for a few reasons.

It helps us to see where we’re going.

It helps us not get too caught up in the darkness. Though there are harrowing chapters, our Lord was kind enough to give us places to pause and catch our breaths along the way. We don’t have to dwell on the judgment all the way through here, but have moments of reprieve and praise

It helps see the cohesive whole, even when we encounter the “interludes” they advance the themes even if they seem to interrupt the chronology. We don’t have to be confused by the zooming in and out.

By the end of all this, I will have an amazing, handy dandy chart for you to look over. Currently in development!

Alright. This has been an unusual sermon for me. Usually we marinate in one particular text. Today I did a lot of table setting to help make our time more profitable as we return next week to look at the details of chapter six and the breaking of the first six seals.

As I close, I want to make note of one final issue.

Sometimes people will critique our approach to this portion of the Revelation and say that since we believe that the rapture occurs prior to these events that there is no application for the church age from this portion of Scripture.

This is wrongheaded. All Scripture is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness, Amen? That includes Revelation, amen?

We dealt with this when we were studying the portions of Daniel that deal with this time period.

Something I’ve said before and will say again, and it’s not original with me, but I’ll repeat it until I’m blue in the face. The prophecy is less about giving us a calendar, and more about shaping our character. Warren Wiersbe put it this way: It’s not to satisfy our curiosity, but to sanctify our lives here and now.

What kind of application can we make?

Here are things we will see:

This text brings us comfort as it reveals God’s character

The justice of God

The faithfulness of God

The mercy of God, even in times of wrath

The sovereignty of God

The promise-keeping nature of God

This text should move us to worship God for all that he is and does

This text motivates us to perseverance

From a positive standpoint, knowing that we will stand with Christ in the end.

From a warning standpoint, knowing that those who reject the King will meet their end in judgment.

This text motivates us to evangelism, knowing that we do not desire anyone to endure these things.

These texts, though harrowing at times, should bring us hope knowing that this is the Day of the LORD. He is sovereign over it. It has a limit. The King is coming.

These chapters may represent the beginning of the end of this present evil age, but where Revelation is taking us is really only going to get us to the end of the beginning of the eternal reign of Christ.

Let’s praise him.