Revelation 17

The Great Whore and the Beast

1-2 One of the 7 angels of the 7 bowls offers to show John the judgment of a “great whore,” seated on many waters. Kings have fornicated with her, and earthlings drink the wine of those fornications. Horrific description. Judgment = condemnation. “Many waters” is interpreted in verse 15 as people, multitudes, nations, and languages. She controls those who belong to the earth.

3-6 The angel carries John into the wilderness, where he sees a woman in scarlet sitting on a scarlet beast, marked with blasphemous names, having 7 heads and 10 horns. She’s bedecked in scarlet, purple and jewels and holds a golden cup full of abominations. On her head is written “Babylon the great, mother of whores and of earth’s abominations.” She is drunk with the blood of the saints and of witnesses to Jesus. The woman is in the wilderness, away from God, sitting on a beast – described the same as the beast of the sea (chapter 13). She represents the wealth of great cities that appear glorious and wealthy, seducing many to forsake God. She is the “embodiment of ‘the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life’” (Vision of Victory, p. 131).

7-8 The angel questions John’s amazement. The beast “was, and is not” and will go to the bottomless pit. The earthlings will be amazed when they see the beast. In the first three centuries, this beast would have represented Rome. From Maxie Boren, quoted in Vision of Victory, “The beast manifests itself in whatever government or power there is that gives itself to Satan and the pursuit of worldly ends, and to the persecution of the Lord’s people, whenever and wherever in history that such occurs.” Whoever the beast is, it will be destroyed.

9-12 The 7 heads are 7 mountains who have 7 kings. Five have fallen, one is living, the other not yet come. The beast is an eighth that belongs to the seven. The 10 horns are kings who do not have kingdoms yet, but they will receive authority for one hour. Readers at the time would have recognized this description of Rome, which sits on seven hills. Rather than trying to assign particular kings to this number, Hailey comments that to be consistent, the number should be treated symbolically, as in the rest of the book. The beast represents the “total of forceful or anti-Christian or anti-theistic opposition, and the harlot represented that which is lustful, enticing, and seductive – all that appeals to the flesh. The seven kings…[represent] all kings or kingdoms…that would oppose the kingdom of God. ..Each continues for a little while, then goes into perdition….” (quoted in Vision of Victory).

13-14 They all unite in yielding authority to the beast, making war on the Lamb. The Lord will conquer them, for he is “Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.” Refer to chapters 4 and 5: The Throne Rules; the Lamb Reigns.

15-18 The waters (v. 1) are nations and languages; the horns and the beast will hate the woman and will destroy her. God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose and give their kingdom to the beast, until His words are fulfilled. The woman is the “great city that rules over the kings of the earth.” The interpretation of verses 1-6. Those who oppose God may think they are in control, but the sovereign God uses them instead to fulfill His purposes. The woman is clearly recognizable to the readers as Rome.

Revelation 16

The Bowls of God’s Wrath

1 John hears a voice telling the 7 angels to pour out their bowls of wrath onto the earth.

2 First Bowl: Foul and painful sore for those who bear the mark of the beast and worship its image. Similar to the sixth plague on the Egyptians. “Into the earth” means “on the world of unregenerate men.” Revelation consistently distinguishes between earth-dwellers and heaven-bound people of God.

3 Second Bowl: Like the blood of a corpse; every living thing in the sea dies. After the second trumpet (chapter 8), only a third of the sea dies, as a warning of the wrath to come.

4-7 Third Bowl: Springs of water become blood, and John hears the angel of the water praise God for his just judgment. The altar responds in agreement. Similar to the first Egyptian plague and the third trumpet (8:10-11). Retribution for those who persecute Christians.

8-9 Fourth Bowl: Poured out on the sun, which scorches people with fire, yet they continue to curse God, still refuse to repent. Similar to the fourth trumpet (8:12). These first four bowls are similar to the first four trumpets in that they use symbols of the natural world: earth, sea, waters, and sun.

10-11 Fifth Bowl: Poured on the beast’s throne; its kingdom plunges into darkness, yet the people blame God and still do not repent. From Vision: “The ‘throne of the beast’ symbolizes whatever form of ‘man-power’ is aligned against God at a given time in history.”

12-16 Sixth Bowl: Poured out on the Euphrates, which dries up, enabling kings from the east to invade. Three foul frog-like creatures come from the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophets, who go out to assemble an army against God – Harmagedon in Hebrew. (Blessed is one who stays awake.) God clears the way for a final conflict. Forces of evil are allowed to spread their propaganda, their lies. It is a symbolic battle of good versus evil. A literal interpretation would put three frogs in charge. From Hendriksen: Armageddon “is the symbol of every battle in which, when the need is greatest and believers are oppressed, the Lord suddenly reveals his power in the interest of his distressed people and defeats the enemy. (Verse 15 is the third of seven beatitudes in Revelation. The others are in 1:3; 14:13; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7; and 22:14.)

17-21 Seventh Bowl: Poured into the air, followed by a voice declaring that it is done, followed by lightning, thunder. and earthquakes that tear the earth apart. Cities fall, islands flee, mountains sink, and 100-pound hailstones fall on the people, who curse God. A vivid portrayal of the terrors of the judgment of God.

Revelation 15

The Angels with the Seven Last Plagues

1 John sees seven angels with seven plagues – which end the wrath of God. From Vision of Victory: This is the third time John sees a “sign from heaven.” The other two are Revelation 12:1 and 12:3. The first introduces Christ, with his hope for salvation; the second introduces Satan with his evil work; this one describes the wrath of God about to be poured out on the wicked.

2-4 John sees a sea of glass mixed with fire. Those who have conquered the beast stand beside the sea with harps of God, singing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb, a song of praise to God for his might. The sea is probably the same one mentioned in 2:4. The fire could refer to either wrath about to be poured on the earth, or the trials through which the victorious have come.

5-8 John sees the “temple of the tent of witness in heaven” open, out of which come the seven angels. dressed in white linen with gold sashes. One of the four beasts give them golden bowls full of the wrath of God. The temple fills with smoke, and no one can enter until the plagues have ended. The “tent of witness” is reminiscent of the tabernacle in the wilderness (Acts 7:44; Deuteronomy 31:26,27). The angels’ attire indicates their purity and high rank. The seals of chapter 6 strike the 4th part; the trumpets of chapter 8 strike the 3rd part; these bowls bring the end. Yet there are still visions to be seen.

Revelation 14

The Lamb and the 144,000

1-5 John sees the Lamb standing on Mt. Zion with 144,000 who have his and the Father’s name written on their foreheads. He hears a voice from heaven that sounds like water, thunder, and harps playing, singing a new song before the four living creatures and the elders. The only ones who can learn the song are the 144,000, the redeemed, the pure, the blameless, who have followed the Lamb. Commentators disagree on whether this scene is a prophecy of heaven or not. In either case, it is a picture of victory, of Jesus standing with those who have stood with him. Christians are promised a life that helps them overcome whatever evils the beasts of chapter 13 may cause. The 144,000, sealed in Chapter 7, are the “church militant.”

Hailey: “The qualities of the voice which John heard indicate majesty, volume, and the melody of praise.” It’s not clear who is singing the song: possibly the innumerable hosts (7:9-17), singing a song that only the church militant will be able to learn.

The Messages of the Three Angels

6-7 First angel proclaims an eternal gospel to all who live on earth, telling them to fear, glorify, and worship God.

8 A second angel declares the fall of Babylon. From Vision of Victory, “Ancient Babylon was a source of corruption, sin, and bondage. Such an environment is represented in Revelation 14, 17, and 18. In John’s day, the latter part of the first century, Babylon obviously would symbolize Rome. The description in Chapter 17 graphically describes Rome.”

9-11 A third angel prophesies the fate of those who worship the beast and its image, the punishment they will receive because of God’s wrath.

12 This is a call for endurance of the saints.

13 John hears a voice from heaven blessing those who die in the Lord, for they will rest from their labors.

Reaping the Earth’s Harvest

14-16 John sees the Son of Man sitting on a white cloud with a crown on his head and a sickle in his hand. An angel comes out of the temple and tells him that it is time to use his sickle to reap, for the harvest is ripe, so the one on the cloud reaps the earth. Clouds often symbolize judgment (Isaiah 19:1; Jeremiah 4:13; Matthew 24:30, 26:64), The Son of Man wears a stephanos – a crown of victory. The Son of Man gathers in his harvest.

17-20 Another angel comes out of the temple. This one has a sharp sickle. An angel with authority over fire comes from the altar and tells the other angel to gather the ripe clusters of grapes. He does so, and throws them into the “winepress of the wrath of God.” Trampled outside the city, blood from the winepress flows for a distance of 200 miles. Hailey: “…as the Lord reaps His harvest through preaching the gospel, judgment falls on all who reject it.”

Revelation 13

The First Beast

12:18 The dragon takes his stand on the seashore.

1-4 A beast with 10 horns bearing 10 crowns and 7 heads bearing blasphemous names rises out of the sea. It looks like a leopard with a bear’s feet and a lion’s mouth. The dragon has given it his power. One of the heads has received a mortal wound but has healed. The whole earth follows the beast and worships the dragon. This is similar to the monster described in Daniel 7:17,23 and Daniel 2, which refers to the world powers of Babylon, Persia, Macedonia, and Rome. This beast symbolizes all opposition to the church. Those who reject God follow the beast, a representative of Satan. The mortal wound on its head could refer either to the death of Nero whose evil ways were resurrected in Domitian, or to the blow Satan took at the resurrection of Christ, after which he has healed and resumed his opposition to Christ’s body, the church.

5-9 The beast, who speaks haughty and blasphemous words, has authority for 42 months. It blasphemes God and those who dwell in heaven and is allowed to make war on and conquer the saints. It has authority over all whose names are not in the Book of Life. If you have an ear to listen, listen. If you want to be taken captive or killed by the sword, it will happen. This is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints. The 42 months is also mentioned in 11:2; 11:3; 12:6; and 12:14.

11-18 Another beast with two horns and the voice of a dragon rises out of the earth. It makes earthlings worship the first beast and performs signs on behalf of the first beast, deceiving earthlings, giving breath to the image of the beast, so it can condemn to death those who don’t worship it. It causes all – from small to great, free or slave – to be marked with its name or number. Those not marked are not allowed to buy or sell. A person with wisdom can calculate the number; it’s the number of a person: 666. From Vision of Victory: 666 represents all those who exalt themselves against God. In Biblical numerology, 7 stands for perfection. The number 6 falls short three times over. All human systems and efforts antagonistic to God and His Son will fail, will fall short.

Revelation 12

Beginning of Part 2: The Conflict in Heaven

The Woman and the Dragon

1-6 Two portents (NRSV, meaning “sign or warning that something, esp. something momentous or calamitous, is likely to happen”) appear in heaven. First, a woman about to give birth clothed with the sun, the moon at her feet, wearing a crown of 12 stars. Second, a great red dragon with 7 heads, 10 horns, and 7 diadems, whose tail sweeps away 1/3 of the stars down to earth.

He stands before the woman in order to devour her child the moment it’s born, but when her son is born – one who is to rule all nations with an iron rod – he is snatched up to God. The woman flees into the wilderness to a place prepared by God, where she will remain for 1260 days [3-1/2 years].

From Vision of Victory: The reason God’s people on earth face persecution is because of the conflict in heaven. Here, the woman represents all of every dispensation who have been faithful to God – including the Jewish nation – and have helped bring the Messiah. She is exalted with the glory of the sun, exercises dominion over the moon, and wears a crown of victory.

The dragon, Satan, portrays “complete diabolical power, wisdom and cunning against which the church must fight for its survival.” His aim is to destroy Christ, whom Psalm 2:9 prophesies will rule with a rod of iron. The woman, now representing spiritual Israel, flees to a place of protection, where she is fed with the true manna from heaven – Christ (John 6:50).

7-12 A war in heaven between the dragon and his angels and Michael and his angels ends in defeat for the dragon, who is the Devil. He and his angels are thrown down to earth. John hears a loud voice in heaven proclaiming the victory of the kingdom of God over the accuser, by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony, because they did not fear death. Rejoicing in heaven, woe to the earth and sea. This describes spiritual warfare. Because saints are cleansed by Jesus’ blood, Satan has lost his power over God’s people; he has no basis for accusation. The earth – those who refuse to repent – and the sea – masses of society – will be the sphere of Satan’s activity.

13-18 The dragon, seeing he has been thrown to earth, pursues the woman, who flees to the wilderness on wings of the great eagle, where she is nourished for 3-1/2 times. He tries to wash her away with a flood from his mouth, but the earth absorbs the river. Angrily, the dragon goes off to make war on her children. The church, represented by the woman, enjoys the protection and nourishment from God. Satan tries to drown the church with lies and slanderous accusations. Instead, the world swallows his lies, further distinguishing the church from the world. When he can’t destroy the church as a body, he goes after individual believers, to compromise their faith. Vision of Victory, quoting Home Hailey’s commentary on Revelation: “As long as the world absorbs the river of Satan’s lies, and the church drinks from the fountain of Divine truth, the separation between the two will remain clear and distinct. But when the woman begins to compromise with Satan and his lies, becoming submerged in his river of falsehood, tragedy follows.”

Revelation 11

The Two Witnesses

1-3 John is given a measuring rod with which he is to measure the temple of God, the altar, and the worshipers, excluding the outer court, which is for the nations, who will trample the holy city for 42 months. Two witnesses in sackcloth will prophesy for 1260 days. Only those within God’s sanctuary, or the church, are protected by God’s standard of truth. Nevertheless, they will be persecuted for 1260 days (42 months; 3-1/2 years; time, times, and half a time, as in 12:6, 12:14, Daniel 7:25 and 12:7) – which signify an indefinite period of time of unrest. Two witnesses could signify the necessity of two witnesses in a court of law or the combined witness of the Holy Spirit and the apostles – or maybe even the two testaments, the Old and the New.

4-6 The two witnesses are olive trees and lampstands that stand before the Lord. Anyone who wants to harm them will be destroyed by fire. The witnesses can cause a drought, turn water into blood, and strike the earth with plagues. These are plagues from the past: Jeremiah 5:14 (Fire is the word of God); 1 Kings 17:1; 18:1-45 (Elijah); and Exodus 9:14 (Plagues against Egypt).

7-10 When the witnesses finish their testimony, the beast comes from the bottomless pit and kills them. Their dead bodies lie in the streets in a city prophetically called Sodom and Egypt, where the Lord was crucified. For 3-1/2 days, nations view the bodies, refusing to let them be buried, gloating and exchanging gifts because the two prophets had tormented them. The beast represents the opposition of Satan. Sodom – depravity; Egypt – bondage; Jerusalem – rejection of God’s Son. Darkness cannot tolerate light.

11-14 After 3-1/2 days, the two stand up, terrifying those who witness their resurrection. A voice from heaven calls for them, and they ascend while enemies watch. At that moment, an earthquake destroys a tenth of the city – 7,000 people. Terrified, those who survive glorify God. As symbols of God’s Word, the witnesses can never be destroyed completely. The earthquake, a symbol of God’s wrath (Isaiah 24:18-20), is reminiscent of Proverbs 1:24-30, the response from God to blatant disobedience.

The Seventh Trumpet

15-18 The seventh angel blows his trumpet, and loud voices in heaven proclaim the Lord as King forever. The 24 elders fall down and worship God. The opening of the seventh seal, which began in silence (8:1), ends in songs of triumph.

19 God’s temple in heaven opens, revealing the ark of his covenant, with flashes of lightning, thunder, earthquake, and hail. The section opened in 4:1 with the revelation of the throne. The veil of the temple has been torn, and because of Christ, the holy of holies is open to us (Hebrews 10:20).

Revelation 10

The Angel with the Little Scroll

1-4 John sees another mighty (strong) angel coming from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, face like the sun, legs like pillars of fire, holding a little scroll. He straddles between land and sea and shouts like a lion, making seven thunders sound. A voice tells John not to write down what the thunders say. As indicated by his shining face (see Exodus 34:24-34), this angel has come directly from God, bringing a message that encompasses the whole world. God chooses not to reveal the message of the seven thunders. (Seven seals, seven trumpets, now seven thunders.)

5-7 The angel raises his right hand and swears by the Creator that there will be no more delay. When the seventh angel blows his trumpet, God’s mystery will be fulfilled, as he announced to his prophets. This will be the last warning before the fulfillment of the plan of redemption through Christ, which the prophets point to throughout the Old Testament. The word mystery almost always refers to the gospel. See Ephesians 1:9-11; Ephesians 3:8-11; Romans 16:25,26.

8-10 The voice tells John to take the scroll from the angel, who warns him that it will be sweet to taste, but bitter to his stomach. John takes a bite from the scroll, sweet as honey but bitter in his stomach. They say to John: Prophesy again about people, languages, nations, and kings. A reminder of the white horse followed by the red horse in 6:1-4. John tastes the sweetness of the gospel – grace, mercy, redemption – but it will be followed by the suffering and persecution that often comes to those who live and proclaim their faith. In fact, John is on the Isle of Patmos because of his faith.

Revelation 9

Fifth Trumpet, First Woe

1-6 Fifth angel sounds, and John sees a star that had fallen to earth, given the key to the bottomless pit (or abyss), which he opens. Smoke rises from the pit, darkening the atmosphere and spawning swarms of locusts, with authority like scorpions. They are told 1) to strike only those without seals on their foreheads – no foliage; 2) they can torture them for 5 months, but not kill them. Victims will wish to die but won’t be able to. Scriptures that help with the interpretation of this passage: Luke 10:18 – Satan falling from heaven; Luke 8:31 – Jesus releases demons from the abyss. God permits Satan to open the abyss and release sins that blot the light of God. Satan is responsible for evil but God allows those who prefer evil to pursue it (2 Thessalonians 2:11,12). The sting of the locusts symbolize the negative consequences of sin that cause physical, emotional, and spiritual torment but do not kill. Final judgment belongs only to God (Acts 17:31).

7-12 Description of locusts: Like war horses with crowns of gold, human faces, women’s hair, lions’ teeth, scales like iron breastplates, wings sounding like chariots going into battle, scorpion tails with stingers. Their king is the angel of the abyss, named Abaddon (Destruction) in Hebrew, Apollyon (Destroyer) in Greek. This is the first woe. A picture of terrible creatures who rob “earth dwellers” – those who follow sin – of righteousness, holiness, joy and peace – but for a limited time. Their king is Satan, who never creates, only destroys through deceit and murder (John 8:44).

Sixth Trumpet, Second Woe

13-19 Sixth angel sounds, and John hears a voice from the horns of the altar telling the sixth angel to release four angels bound at the Euphrates. The angels, who are waiting, ready to kill a third of mankind, have a cavalry of two hundred million. Description: Riders wear breastplates the color of fire, sapphire, and sulfur; horses’ heads are like lions' heads, breathing fire, smoke, and sulfur. These three plagues kill a third of mankind.  From Ray Summers’ Worthy Is the Lamb (quoted in Vision of Victory): God often uses armies of wicket men to execute His wrath – Assyria against Israel and Judah (Isaiah 10:1-11); the Chaldeans against Assyria (Habakkuk 1:6-11; the Medes and the Persians against Babylon (Isaiah 44:24-28; 45:7; Jeremiah 51:11, 28).

20-21 The other two-thirds still don’t repent of murders, sorceries, or fornication.

Revelation 8

Introductory Remarks

These trumpets of judgment indicate a series of events that occur over and over again throughout the final dispensation – not any single event, but the uncertainties of any time in any part of the world. From Hendriksen, pg, 140, “…by means of these judgments, God is constantly calling the ungodly to repentance….The very function of the trumpet is to warn.” (Adapted from Vision of Victory)

Seventh Seal: Prelude to the Seven Trumpets

1-5 After the Lamb opens the seventh seal, heaven is silent for half an hour, creating a sense of expectation. The seven angels are given seven trumpets, Another angel with a golden censer comes to the altar and offers the prayers of the saints, which ascend to God. Then the angel throws it to earth, resulting in noises, thunder, lightning, and an earthquake. Earth refers to the realm of the ungodly, to be distinguished from those who have been purchased by the blood of the Lamb.

6 The seven angels prepare to sound their trumpets.

First Trumpet: Vegetation Struck

7 First angel sounds, followed by hail and fire mingled with blood, thrown to the earth, burning up a third of the trees and all green grass. Notice the similarity between these judgments and those upon Egypt (Exodus 9:23-27). “A third” indicates that the destruction will not be complete. From Vision of Victory: “Whenever and wherever any natural calamity comes upon the earth, be it an earthquake, a forest fire, a hailstorm, or a tornado, we can view that as a warning from God concerning the impending final judgment to come.”

Second Trumpet: The Seas Struck

8-9 Second angel sounds, followed by what looks like a mountain on fire, turning the sea to blood, killing a third of the living creatures and destroying a third of the ships. Like the first plague (Exodus 7:20-24). From Vision of Victory: “Not even upon the vastness of earth’s oceans can man escape God’s judgments.”

Third Trumpet: The Waters Struck

10-11 Third angel sounds. A great star named Wormwood, burning like a torch, falls on a third of the rivers and springs, turning the water to wormwood and killing many men who drink the bitter water. Catastrophe has struck the earth and the seas; now it strikes sources of fresh water. Wormwood symbolizes great sorrow (Lamentations 3:19). In the Old Testament it is used in connection with the consequences of idolatry (Deuteronomy 29:18; Jeremiah 9:15; Jeremiah 23:15; Amos 5:7; 6:12).

Fourth Trumpet: The Heavens Struck

12 Fourth angel sounds. A third of sun, moon, and stars are darkened. The sun doesn’t shine for a third of a day. This plague strikes the heavens. Darkness was another of Egypt’s plagues (Exodus 10:21-23), symbolizing the removal of the presence of God, who is the source of light.  The absence of light signifies God’s judgment (Isaiah 13:10; Jeremiah 4:23; Ezekiel 32:7).

13 John looks and hears an eagle flying through heaven, shouting “Woe” to earth’s inhabitants because of the remaining blasts. “Earth’s inhabitants” is used throughout Revelation to describe “the earth-bound, non-believing, unrepentant, rebellious, sinful residents of the earth” (Visions of Victory)

Revelation 7

The 144,000 of Israel Sealed (An Interlude)

1-3 John sees four angels at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth. A fifth angel, holding God’s living seal, ascends from the east and calls to the other angels not to hurt the earth until God’s servants have been marked with a seal on their foreheads. *Angels hold back destruction that could come from the north, south, east and west, symbolizing God’s judgment on the world. An angel from the east symbolizes encouragement, as in Ezekiel 11:23 and 43:2. Seals indicate ownership (John 6:27; 2 Timothy 2:19) and provide security (Matthew 27:62-66). Some would be protected from God’s destruction, as described in Ezekiel 9:1-8 (“touch no one that has the mark.”)

4-8 The servants are numbered: 12,000 from each of the following tribes: Judah, Reuben, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin. *In Hebraic numerology, the number 144,000 is equivalent to 12 (everyone accounted for) x 12 (tribes of Israel, or God’s covenant people) x 1,000 (ultimate perfection in Christ). It is the redeemed of God on earth, which at the time Revelation was written, would be His church.

Note: Though Joseph and Levi were two of the sons, they are usually replaced in the list of 12 by Ephraim and Manasseh (Joseph’s two sons), because the Levites could not own land. In this list, both Joseph and Manasseh are mentioned, but not Ephraim, and Dan is replaced by Levi. I’m not sure why. I know Dan practiced blatant idolatry and received from his dying father a negative prophecy(Judges 18; Genesis 49:17); Ephraim is rejected as the ancestor of Christ in Psalm 78:62-72, but so is Joseph in the same verse.

The Multitude from Every Nation

9-10 An innumerable, white-robed multitude from all over the world stands before the Lamb and the throne holding palm branches and crying, Salvation belongs to God and to the Lamb and to God. These are in heaven, “standing before the throne” – those who have already overcome their trials on earth.

11-12 All the angels fall down and worship God.

13-17 One of the elders asks John who these people are. John doesn’t know, so the elder answers his own question: They have survived the ordeal, being cleansed by the Lamb’s blood. They constantly worship God, who will protect them from hunger and thirst and comfort them.The Lamb will be their shepherd.

*Hendriksen and Lenski refer to the 144,000 as the Church Militant and the innumerable multitudes as the Church Triumphant.

*Notes come from Vision of Victory, a study guide compiled by Bill Bryan.

Revelation 6

The Seven Seals

1-2 When the Lamb opens the first seal, one of the creatures cries “Come!”, and John sees a rider with a bow on a white horse, given a crown, conquering and coming to conquer. Conquest! White indicates purity; a horse represents power in battle. (See Job 39:19-25; Proverbs 21:31). Christ and his gospel go forth to conquer.

3-4 When the Lamb opens the second seal, the second creature cries “Come!”, and a rider on a red horse, given a sword, is permitted to take peace from the earth. Persecution against those who preach the gospel – the work of Satan on earth.

5-6 When the Lamb opens the third seal, the third creature cries “Come!”, and a rider on a black horse, with scales, and John hears a cry about the scarcity of food. Consequences of persecution; discrimination. The scales indicate a scarcity of food (Ezekiel 4:16,17), which results in grief and mourning (Jeremiah 14:1-3).

7-8 When the Lamb opens the fourth seal, the fourth creature cries “Come!”, and a rider named Death, on a pale green horse, is followed by Hades. Given authority over a fourth of the earth, they destroy. Death. Death destroys with everything at his disposal, but with power over only a fourth of the earth, his power is limited. Christ has all authority (Matthew 28:28), and he holds the keys of death and Hades (1:18).

9-11 When the Lamb opens the fifth seal, John sees the souls of martyrs under the altar, crying for justice. They are given white robes and told to rest, to wait for other martyrs to join them. Martyrdom. “Inhabitants on the earth” refer to those who are not God’s people. The martyrs are told that God is not finished yet.

12-14 When the Lamb opens the sixth seal, John sees a cataclysmic destruction of the earth and sky, after which both the rich and poor, powerful and weak hide in caves and mountains in fear of the wrath of God. End of the Roman Empire. In the context of those to whom the letter has been addressed, this “day of wrath” probably refers to justice upon Rome. In scripture, the “Day of the Lord” often refers to the demise of earthly nations. See Isaiah 13:6 – Babylon; Amos 5:18-20 – Israel. All non-believers will be affected, whether rich or poor.

Such apocalyptic figures are used in Isaiah 13 and 14 to predict the destruction of Babylon and the fall of Edom. Ezekiel 31 announces Egypt’s destruction, and Joel 2 and 3 foretell the destruction of Jerusalem. Jesus employs the same kind of language in Matthew 24 to describe the fall of Judah, the collapse of Judaism, and the destruction of the temple. (Vision of Victory)

Revelation 5

The Scroll and the Lamb (“The Lamb Reigns!”)

1-3 John sees a scroll in the right hand of the one on the throne, sealed with seven seals. A mighty angel asks loudly, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break the seals?” *VofV – depending on the commentator, this book “symbolizes the things that are to occur,” “God’s eternal purpose,” or “the destiny of men.” Only divine power can reveal what is in it.
4-5 John weeps because they don’t find anyone to open the scroll, but one of the elders tells him that the Lion of Judah, the Root of David, can open the scroll because he has conquered. “Lion of Judah” refers to a prophecy of Judah’s descendant in Genesis 49:9,10. Root of David - the Messiah was to be a descendant of David – Isaiah 11:1,10.
6-10 John sees among the elders a slaughtered Lamb with 7 horns and 7 eyes (the 7 spirits). He takes the scroll, and the creatures and elders fall before him, holding harps and bowls of incense (prayers of the saints). They sing a new song: You are worthy, you were slaughtered to be a ransom for the people, making them a kingdom and priests of God to reign on earth. The Lamb has been slain but now lives. VofV – 7 horns represent total power; 7 spirits represent ceaseless and perfect vigilance on behalf of his people.
11-14 John sees and hears myriads – thousands – of angels singing “Worthy is the Lamb…,” joined by every creature under heaven. The creatures say “Amen!” and the elders worship. VofV – from Hendricksen’s More Than Conquerors – “All the universe praises God and the Lamb because of their work in creation and redemption.”
*From Vision of Victory – Revelation study guide compiled by Bill Bryan.

Revelation 4

The Heavenly Worship ("The Throne Rules.")

1-6a John looks and sees an open door in heaven. The trumpet voice invites him up, and at once John is “in the spirit.” This is what he sees – both terrifying and glorious:

• One who looks like jewels seated on a throne, surrounded by a emerald rainbow – *VofV: Also a sign of the covenant with Noah in Genesis 19:11-16.
• 24 white-robed, crowned (Greek stephanos, indicating victory) elders sitting on 24 thrones around that throne. (VofV - 12 tribes of Israel + 12 apostles = 24, representing the redeemed of all ages) 
• Thunder and lightning coming from the throne
• 7 flaming torches (7 spirits of God) in front of the throne
• A crystal sea in front of the throne

6b-11 Four living creatures on each side of the throne, looking like:

• 1 – Lion (VofV –Nobility)
• 2 – Ox (Strength)
• 3 – Human face (Wisdom)
• 4 – Flying eagle (Swiftness). Also see Ezekiel 1 and Ezekiel 10.

They all:

• Are full of eyes – front, back, and inside VofV: Nothing in God’s creation escapes their view (Proverbs 15:3; Hebrews 4:13)
• Have six wings (See Isaiah 6:1-3)
• Never cease praising God, singing “Holy, holy, holy….”

When they praise God, the elders throw their crowns before the Throne, singing “You are worthy, Lord and God….”
From *Vision of Victory:An Expository Study of the Book of Revelation by Bill Bryan, 2002, page 31:

So great is the One that sits on the Throne that cherubim, the highest order of angels, humble themselves in reverence, awe, and adoration ascribing glory, honor, and thanksgiving to Him, the One who lives forever. Immediately, God’s covenant people of all time, the redeemed of the ages, cast their crowns before His throne and proclaim, “Worthy are Thou.”

Revelation 3

The Message to Sardis

1 The words of Him Who:

1. Has the seven spirits of God (1:4)
2. And the seven stars (1:20).

2 What I know:

1. Your works
2. You have a reputation for being alive, but
3. You are dead.

3 What you need to do:

1. Wake up!
2. Strengthen what’s left and is about to die
3. Remember what you have received and heard
4. Obey and repent
5. If you don’t, I will come like a thief.

4-5 But

1. Some of you have not soiled your clothes
2. They will walk with me, dressed in white
3. If you conquer,
   1. You will also be dressed in white, and
   2. I will not blot out your names from the book of life
   3. I will confess your name before my Father and his angels

6 Let anyone who will hear, listen! It seems that Sardis’s main problem was lethargy, which was not only causing inaction. Such inaction was either regarded as sin or caused over sin (they had soiled their robes). That’s not they way they were taught.

Message to Philadelphia

7 The words of the:

1. Holy one, the true one
2. He who has the key of David (1:18 – the keys of Death and Hades)
3. He who opens and no one shuts, shuts and no one opens

8 I know

1. Your works, and I have opened a door no one can shut
2. You have little power, yet you have kept my word

9-11 Therefore:

1. I will make those of the synagogue of Satan bow before you. (Same expression used in 2:9, where it says they slandered the Christians.) 
2. I will keep you from the hour of trial.
3. Hold fast, for I am coming soon.

12 If you conquer:

1. I will make you a pillar in God’s temple.
2. I will write on you the name of God and God’s city, and my new name.

13 Let anyone who will hear, listen!

Message to Laodicea

14 The words of the:

1. Amen
2. Faithful and true witness
3. Origin of God’s creation

15-17 I know your works:

1. You are lukewarm, therefore
2. I will spit you out of my mouth.
3. You say you are rich, but you’re poor and wretched

18-19 Therefore:

1. I advise you to buy gold from me
2. Buy white clothes from me to hide your nakedness
3. Buy salve so you can see
4. I discipline those I love

20-21 Listen! I stand at the door and knock. Hear me, and I will live with you. Conquer, and you will sit with me on my throne.

22 Let anyone who will hear, listen!

Revelation 2

The Message to Ephesus

1 The words of Him Who:

1. holds the seven stars (the seven angels) in his right hand (1:16);
2. walks among the seven golden lampstands (1:12, the seven churches – 1:20).

2-6 What I know:

1. Your works, toil, and patient endurance
2. Your intolerance of evildoers, testing and discovering false apostles
3. How you endure patiently for me, not growing weary
4. That you hate the work of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. (The People’s New Testament states this probably refers to the followers of a man named Nicolaus who taught that Christian liberty meant license to commit sensual sins. John Gill cites Lightfoot’s suggestion that their name comes from a Greek word meaning “Let us eat,” encouraging each other to eat meats offered to idols.

But: You have abandoned your first love. Christians in Ephesus were doing so many things right, but they had lost their "first love." Doctrinally they were right, but their fervor came from being right, not from loving others.

Remember: From what you have fallen, repent, and return.

Or Else: I will remove your lampstand.

7 Let anyone who will hear, listen! Reminiscent of Jesus’ teaching in many of his sermons: Matthew 11:15; 13:9; 13:43

Reward: Permission to eat from the tree of life in the paradise of God.

The Message to Smyrna

8 The words of the:

1. first and the last (1:17)
2. the one who was dead and came to life (1:18).

9-12 What I know:

1. Your afflictions and poverty, though you are rich
2. The way you’re slandered by false Jews and the synagogue of Satan

But: Do not fear what you are about to suffer. The devil will imprison you and you will suffer for 10 days. I think this is the first reference to a time span. Ray Summers, in Worthy is the Lamb, explains that the number “10” stands for human completeness. In this context, then (I think), the 10 days would indicate a definite period of time – one with a definite beginning and end.

Remember: Be faithful until death. This could mean “be faithful until the end of your life,” or “be willing to die for your faith.”

11 Let anyone who will hear, listen!

Rewards: The crown of life, and free from harm by the second death.

The Message to Pergamum

12 The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword (1:16):

13-15 What I know:

1. You are living where Satan’s throne is, yet:
2. You are holding fast my name
3. You did not deny me even when faithful Antipas was killed.

But:

1. Some of you hold to Balaam’s teaching, who caused Israel to stumble through idolatry.
2. Some of you follow the teachings of the Nicolaitans.

Repent or Else: I will fight them (the Nicolaitans?) with the sword of my mouth.

17 Let anyone who will hear, listen!

Rewards:

1. I will give them hidden manna;
2. I will give them a white stone with a new name, known only to recipients.

Message to Thyatira

18 The words of Him who has flaming eyes and burnished bronze feet (1:14,15).

19 What I know:

1. Your works – your love, faith, service, and patient endurance
2. Your last works are greater than the first.

20-23 But:

1. You tolerate “that woman” Jezebel, who beguiles my servants to fornicate and eat food sacrificed to idols. Christ gives this woman the same name as the evil wife of King Ahab of Israel (1 Kings 21:23-25).
2. She refuses to repent, so I will distress those who commit adultery with her, and I will kill her children.
3. All the churches will know that I can read their minds and hearts and will repay your works.

24-28 But:

1. I won’t lay that burden on you who do not follow Satan.
2. Hold fast to what you have until I come.

I promise:

1. To give the faithful authority over the nations, to rule with an iron rod
2. To give the faithful the morning star (an identity of Jesus, Revelation 22:16).

29 Let anyone who will hear, listen!

Revelation 1

Introduction and Salutation

1-2 This is a revelation of Christ, given to John by an angel, for the purpose of revealing things that are about to take place.

3 Happy are those who read it aloud, and those who hear and keep what is written.

4-6 Grace and peace from

1. the one who is eternal
2. the seven spirits
3. Jesus, who is the
1. faithful witness
2. firstborn of the dead
3. ruler of kings of the earth

Glory to him who

1. loves us
2. freed us from sins
3. made us to be a kingdom of priests

7 When he comes with the clouds, everyone – even those who killed him – will see him; earth tribes will wail.

8 God is all – the beginning, the end, who was, is, and will be.

Vision of Christ

9-11 John, on the island of Patmos because of persecution, while “in the spirit” on the Lord’s day, heard a trumpet-like voice telling him to write to seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. (Map of the 7 churches of Revelation.)

12-16 When John turned to look, he saw the glorified Son of Man in the midst of 7 golden lampstands, holding 7 stars, with a sword coming from his mouth and a shining face. Over and over again in the gospels, Jesus referred to himself as the Son of Man. (See Matthew 16:13 for one example.)

17-20 John falls down as if dead, but Christ tells him not to fear, for he:

1. is the first and last (In verse 8, the same words refer to the Lord God.)
2. was dead but now lives
3. has the keys of Death and Hades. Hades is the realm of the dead. See Luke 16:23 and Acts 2:27.

“Write what you see, John.” The 7 stars are the churches’ angels, and the 7 lampstands are the 7 churches.

The Song of Moses and the Lamb

A Moment’s Meditation
The Delta Point (Greenville, Mississippi)
March 19, 2004

One of God’s greatest gifts to us is the gift of song. Our voices are instruments we carry with us. Our singing allows us to express joy, sorrow, love, and praise in a way that far surpasses either verse without melody or melody without verse.

One of the more famous songs of the Old Testament – and perhaps the first recorded one – is the Song of Moses, sung when God rescued the Israelites from the armies of Egypt at the Red Sea: "I will sing to the LORD, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider he has thrown into the sea! The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; he is my God, and I will praise Him; my father's God, and I will exalt Him.” Exodus 15:1-2

David was known as “the sweet psalmist of Israel.” Songs attributed to him in the Psalms are passionate pleas for mercy, guidance, protection and sometimes for revenge. The favorite of many, the 23rd Psalm, is one of David’s. Other songs speak of his great trust and devotion to the majesty of God. David’s son Solomon was said to have written a thousand and five songs. 2 Samuel 23:1

Singing was common among God’s people in the New Testament as well. Jesus sang with His disciples at the conclusion of his last Passover feast with them. Paul and Silas, beaten and jailed for opposing and exposing corrupt merchants, “were praying and singing hymns to God.” Paul told Christians to encourage each other with “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Matthew 26:30; Acts 16:23-25; Colossians 3:16

The first recorded song in God’s Word is also the last. When Good has finally triumphed over Evil in the eternal realm, the Song of Moses will be repeated and joined by the Song of the Lamb — sung not just by those who have escaped from slavery, but “those who have the victory over the beast.” They will “sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: ‘Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!’” Revelation 15:2-3

How blessed it is to join in song with God’s people of all ages in praise and thanksgiving for the freedom and salvation God has granted to us!