Last Things 3 - The Book of Revelation - Part 2
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Psalm 38:17–20 (ESV)
17 For I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever before me. 18 I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin. 19 But my foes are vigorous, they are mighty, and many are those who hate me wrongfully. 20 Those who render me evil for good accuse me because I follow after good.
Revelation 1:4–20 (ESV)
4 John to the seven churches that 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, 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” 9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.” 12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. 20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
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19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.
Introduction
Last time we looked the makeup of Revelation noting some of the major ways in which it is interpreted. The most favourable is that which is termed The Spiritual Historicist View in which we see principles relevant throughout history. The history is that of the Church of Christ from the first advent of Jesus to the second advent of Jesus. A study of the book reveals a series of seven parallel sections all covering the same period of time but with different emphasis in each.
Today we look at all seven.
1. Christ in the Midst of the Lampstands – Chapters 1-3
2. The Vision of Heaven and the Seals – Chapters 4-7
3. The Seven Trumpets - Chapters – 8-12
4. The Persecuting Dragon – Chapters 12-14
5. The Seven Bowls – Chapters 15-16
6. The Fall of Babylon – Chapters 17-19
7. The Great Consummation – Chapters 20-22
Inevitably our look will be somewhat cursory but hopefully will enable us to know the blessing expressed in Revelation 1:3 “3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.”
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1 - Christ in the Midst of the Lampstands (1:1–3:22)
1 - Christ in the Midst of the Lampstands (1:1–3:22)
THE central theme of the first three chapters of Revelation seems to be Christ in the midst of the seven golden lampstands. These lampstands represent the seven churches (1:20) Hendriksen, W. (1967). More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (p. 16). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.
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20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
These lampstands represent the seven churches (1:20). To each church John is directed to write a letter (see chapters 2 and 3). As this number seven occurs again and again in the Apocalypse and is everywhere symbolical of completeness, we may safely take it for granted that such is the case here, and that it indicates the entire Church throughout the full span of its existence to the very end of the world. Thus interpreted, each individual church is, as it were, a type, not indicating one definite period in history, but describing conditions which are constantly repeated in the actual life of the various congregations. Therefore this section appears to span the entire dispensation, from Christ’s first coming to save His people (1:5) to His second coming to judge all nations (1:7). The last of these seven letters is written to the church at Laodicea. Hendriksen, W. (1967). More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (p. 16). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.
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Revelation 1:5 (ESV)
5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood
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7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
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2 - The Vision of Heaven and the Seals (4:1–7:17)
2 - The Vision of Heaven and the Seals (4:1–7:17)
Chapter 4 describes the One who is sitting upon the throne and the worship of those who surround Him. In the right hand of the Lord there is a book sealed with seven seals (5:1). The Lamb takes this book and receives adoration. From chapter 6 we learn that the Lamb opens the seals one by one. Between the sixth and the seventh seals we have the vision of the one hundred and forty-four thousand who were sealed and of the countless multitude standing before the throne. Hendriksen, W. (1967). More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (p. 16). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.
It should be carefully noted that this section also covers the entire dispensation, from the first to the second coming of Christ. The very first reference to Christ pictures Him as having been slain and as now ruling from heaven (5:5, 6). Hendriksen, W. (1967). More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (p. 17). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.
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6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
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15 Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, 16 calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”
The bliss of believers
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Revelation 7:16–17 (ESV)
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 17 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.”
This is a picture of the entire Church triumphant, gathered out of all the nations and thus, in its entirety, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, an ideal which is not realised until the day of the great consummation. We have again spanned the entire gospel age. Hendriksen, W. (1967). More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (p. 17). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.
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3 - The Seven Trumpets (8:1–11:19)
3 - The Seven Trumpets (8:1–11:19)
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Revelation 8:2–4 (ESV)
2 Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. 3 And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, 4 and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel.
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Revelation 11:18 (ESV)
18 The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.”
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4 - The Persecuting Dragon (12:1–14:20)
4 - The Persecuting Dragon (12:1–14:20)
This brings us to chapters 12–14: the woman and the Man-child persecuted by the dragon and his helpers. This section also covers the entire dispensation. It begins with a very clear reference to the birth of the Saviour (12:5). Hendriksen, W. (1967). More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (p. 17). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.
5 She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne,
The dragon now persecutes the woman (12:13). As his agents, he employs the beast coming up out of the sea (13:1) and the beast coming up out of the earth (13:11, 12) and the great harlot, Babylon (14:8). Hendriksen, W. (1967). More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (p. 17). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.
1 And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.
Revelation 13:11 (ESV)
11 Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon.
8 Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.”
The first beast comes up out of the sea. The second arises from the land. The first is Satan’s hand. The second is the devil’s mind. The first represents the persecuting power of Satan operating in and through the nations of this world and their governments. The second symbolises the false religions and philosophies of this world. More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (4. The Helpers of the Dragon (13:1–18))
In 14:8 a third agent is mentioned, namely, Babylon, the harlot. So, in all, three agents are employed by Satan in his attack upon the earth. They are antichristian persecution, antichristian religion, and antichristian seduction. More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (4. The Helpers of the Dragon (13:1–18))
This section, too, closes with a stirring description of Christ’s second coming in judgement. Hendriksen, W. (1967). More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (pp. 17–18). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.
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14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” 16 So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped.
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5 - The Seven Bowls (15:1–16:21)
5 - The Seven Bowls (15:1–16:21)
The next section comprises chapters 15 and 16 and describes the bowls of wrath. Here, too, we have a very clear reference to the final judgement and events that will take place in connection with it. Thus we read in 16:20, ‘And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.’ Hendriksen, W. (1967). More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (p. 18). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.
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Revelation 15:3 (ESV)
3 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!
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19 The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. 20 And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found.
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6 - The Fall of Babylon (17:1–19:21)
6 - The Fall of Babylon (17:1–19:21)
Next comes a very vivid description of the fall of Babylon and the punishment inflicted upon the beast and the false prophet. Notice the picture of Christ’s coming unto judgement (19:11 ff.). ‘And I saw the heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon called Faithful and True; and in righteousness he judges and does battle.…’ Hendriksen, W. (1967). More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (p. 18). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.
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Revelation 19:1 (ESV)
1 After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
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11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.
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7 - The Great Consummation (20:1–22:21)
7 - The Great Consummation (20:1–22:21)
While in 12:9 we are told that in connection with Christ’s ascension and coronation the devil is cast down, here in 20:2, 3 we read that he is bound for a thousand years after being cast into the abyss. The thousand years are followed by the little season during which Satan is loosed out of his prison (20:7). This, in turn, is followed by a description of the final overthrow of Satan in connection with Christ’s coming in judgement (20:10, 11 ff.). At this coming the present universe, fleeing away, makes room for the new heaven and earth, the new Jerusalem (20:11 ff.). Hendriksen, W. (1967). More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (p. 18). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.
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2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.
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Revelation 20:11–12 (ESV)
11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.
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15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
A careful reading of the book of Revelation has made it clear that the book consists of seven sections, and that these seven sections run parallel to one another. Each of them spans the entire dispensation from the first to the second coming of Christ. This period is viewed now from one aspect, now from another. Hendriksen, W. (1967). More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (pp. 18–19). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.
THE TWO MAJOR DIVISIONS
According to the opinion of many commentators, the seven sections fall into two groups. Chapter 12:1 (or 11:15) seems to be the point where the first group or series of visions ends and the second begins. In the first group (chapters 1–11) we see the struggle among men, that is, between believers and unbelievers. The world attacks the Church but the Church is avenged, protected, and victorious. In the second group of visions (chapters 12–22) we are shown that this struggle on earth has a deeper background. It is the outward manifestation of the devil’s attack upon the Man-child. The dragon attacks the Christ. Repulsed, he directs all his fury against the Church. . Hendriksen, W. (1967). More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (p. 22). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.
Conclusion
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Revelation 22:6–7 (ESV)
6 And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.” 7 “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”