By

JIM GERRISH

Watch out that no one deceives you.  Matthew 24:4

     I have many to thank in regard to this book. I would like to thank my dear wife, Betsy, who has read and re-read this manuscript from the outset.
     In addition I am grateful to the following people for reading the manuscript or parts of it and giving me their comments: Ronnie Smith, Julian Crider, Jack and Judy Stone, Pete and Peggy Steffel, Bill and Gloria Brereton. I am especially grateful to the latter couple because of their willingness to uphold me and my work in prayer over the last twenty-five years.  I am also grateful for Randy and Lin Swier, Richard and Sharon Wright, and Lynn and Cecile Lantz for their faithful help.
     I am especially grateful to my pastor, Ken Moore, for his steady and loving support throughout this project.
     Finally I am most grateful to Jesus, the giver of revelation, and the one who has opened the seals for us all.

This work is affectionately dedicated to our three dear children, Jon (Yoni), Elizabeth (Eliza), and Tim.

PART I - SAINTS, GET PREPARED!

Chapter one - John’s Alarming Vision
Chapter two – Urgent Warnings For The Churches
Chapter three- The Throne Room And Sealed Scroll

Chapter four - Jesus’ End Time Teaching
Chapter five – The Trumpets Are Blaring!
Chapter six – Seven Mysterious Figures
Chapter seven – Here Come The Beasts
Chapter eight – The Seven Figures Concluded
Chapter nine – Plagues That End The World

Chapter ten – Babylon
Chapter eleven – The Anti-Messiah
Chapter twelve – The Mystery Woman

Chapter thirteen – The Bridegroom Arrives
Chapter fourteen – Understanding Jesus’ Coming
Chapter fifteen – The Millennium
Chapter sixteen – Judgment And A New Era
Chapter seventeen-A Glorious Final Vision

     We are already being deceived about Revelation and about the end-days despite Jesus’ warning concerning this very thing (Mt. 24:4,5,11, & 24). Vast multitudes do not realize that a terrible time of God’s judgment has almost arrived. In fact, Jesus tells us that we are already feeling the "birth pains" of this approaching era (Matt. 24:8). Lately it seems that these birth pains are more severe and that they are coming closer together.
     Revelation assures us that this approaching judgment of God will bring about the complete destruction of the present evil age; the ruin of the world as we know it; and that billions of godless people will die in this fiery judgment.
     Sadly, the church of Jesus is not prepared for such an event. We have not bothered to read and heed the Lord’s final instructions sent to us through John the Beloved so many centuries ago.
     Revelation makes clear that God’s devoted saints will survive this time of testing and will be totally victorious. Like Noah of old, the world will be destroyed around them but they will be sealed and kept safe. This difficult period, in fact, may well become the most glorious era of all Christian history.
     It is sad that in Christendom today we have almost lost the Book of Revelation which speaks of these things. We have certainly lost many keys to understanding the book. Along with this, of course, we have almost lost the urgent instructions given us by our risen Lord on how we should prepare to survive this day.
     One widespread misunderstanding of this book is reflected in the fact that many Christians today refer to it as "Revelations." This is a misnomer, of course. The book is entitled "Revelation," no doubt because it contains only one revelation, and that is the final and complete unveiling of the Day of the Lord.
     The Day of the Lord includes not only the coming of the Kingdom of God, where victorious saints will reign with Christ on this earth, but it includes the Great Tribulation that must precede and accompany it.

KINGDOM AND TRIBULATION

     Thus, the inescapable and glorious theme of this book is the coming Kingdom of God. This is an astounding concept. The twin ideas of Jesus’ complete rule and of his victorious saints actually ruling with him are mentioned on numerous occasions in the book (1:5-6; 2:26-27; 5:10; 12:5; 12:10-11; 17:14; 20:4-6; & 22:5). The most important event of the whole book is Jesus coming from heaven on his white horse, both accompanied and met by his triumphant saints (19:16). He has written on his robe and thigh, "KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS."
     At the end of Revelation, Jesus is seen as totally victorious over all other rule and authority, with Satan being finally vanquished. As a part of his victory, his overcoming saints are then allowed to reign with the Lord on the earth and forever thereafter (22:5). This is surely one aspect of the Day that created a great excitement in the hearts of those earliest Christians.
     Unfortunately, the concept of kings and kingdoms is foreign to most of us today. It is almost impossible for us to imagine ourselves reigning with Christ or sitting with him on his throne. We must remember that the concept was not at all foreign to New Testament people. The kingdom message was at the heart of Jesus’ teaching and especially of his parables.
     How could we lose such a central teaching of Jesus? Although this message has virtually disappeared from the church today, Jesus promises in Matthew 24:14, that the gospel of the kingdom will be recovered and preached worldwide as the end-days approach.
     Of course, the other vital part of the Day of the Lord has to do with the accompanying Great Tribulation, which will not only bring much suffering on the world but will also touch the lives of God’s dear saints. Numerous believers will give themselves as martyrs during this time.
     We surely need to understand that tribulation and kingdom go together. The Bible says: "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22 NKJV).

     Interpreting prophetic scripture can be a bit difficult for us mortals. The Bible assures us that we see in part, and then only through a glass darkly (1 Cor. 13:9,12). However, we believers are priests of God. Through the Holy Spirit we can now make an attempt to interpret this book. We know that the Spirit within us will reveal God’s deepest mysteries to us (1 Cor. 2:9-10; John 16:13).
     So, in the realm of prophecy, we must walk softly. While God has given us broad outlines of things to come, he has not revealed too many details. We have enough information that we may recognize the events as they unfold, just as Simeon and Anna did when they saw the baby Jesus, and immediately recognized him (Lk. 2:25-38).
     We must always let the weight of scripture make decisions for us concerning last things. Here we can picture an ancient balance scale. On that scale we can arrange biblical truth. When the weight of scriptural evidence begins to tip in a certain direction that should help us make up our minds in that direction.
     We should believe it even if we do not understand it, and even if it sounds a little crazy. In time, we will see the truth revealed all over the Bible.

     Revelation is necessarily a book of symbols. It represents apocalyptic literature at its best. God, who is Spirit, is attempting to explain to us mortals, who are flesh and blood, some of the deepest mysteries of heaven and earth.
     This is virtually an impossible task. It would be almost like trying to explain a modern computer to a backward tribesman. Obviously to do so we would have to use some sort of symbolic language or pictures. That is exactly what the Lord has done in Revelation. Since there is little hope of our understanding heaven’s deep mysteries, God has presented them to us in word pictures, in order that we may get hold of them. Because Revelation is filled with these deep spiritual symbols, we, like John, had best get "in the Spirit" as we approach this book.

     The book of Revelation is much like a great symphony. There is the exposition, the development, and finally the recapitulation of the theme. In a symphony we will hear the theme repeated over and over, whether with trumpets, violins, flutes, etc.
     In Revelation we are not seeing many happenings, but the same event from many different perspectives. Much of this event is necessarily focused on the Great Tribulation, which ushers in God’s eternal kingdom. Whether incidents are pictured in seals, trumpets, or bowls of wrath, the same event is still being described.

     Thus in this precious book we have the full mystical revelation of what all the prophets glimpsed and described as the Day of the Lord, resulting in God’s eternal kingdom. Jesus, in the Olivet Discourse of Matthew 24:1-51 and elsewhere, also described this day in vivid details and he issued stern warnings to his followers lest they be deceived about it or caught off guard by its coming.
     Today let us also be warned in the words that Paul spoke to the people of Antioch long ago: "Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you" (Acts 13:40).
     In this book we have a plan for our own preparation concerning this day. Therefore, the Book of Revelation has a blessing for us (1:3). It is the blessing of being fully prepared for what is about to come upon us and upon the whole world. May we be ready!

     Servants of God, look out! Something is coming down the pike that will change everything. The earth as we know it will not survive this time. Billions of God’s enemies will be destroyed in a horrible conflagration. Apparently many Christians will be severely chastened and lose all for which they have labored, but somehow these will be saved through the fire (1 Cor. 3:12-15). Amazingly, the true and faithful saints of God will survive intact and will be totally victorious.
     So it is obvious from the beginning of Revelation that something terrible is approaching. It is also obvious that something indescribably glorious is about to happen. It will no doubt be the finest hour for the true church of Jesus, but it will come at a great price. Many of God’s dear saints will stand against the Beast or Antichrist and lay down their lives for the Lord Jesus. The prophet Joel describes this difficult time. He cries out: "Alas for that day! For the day of the Lord is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty" (Joel 1:15).
     Thus what we immediately hear in Revelation is an urgent message from the risen Lord himself that certainly applies to twenty-first century Christians just as it did to first-century Christians. It is a "wake up call" for all of God’s saints to get prepared for what is coming. As Joel the prophet exhorted long ago concerning this day: "Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill" (Joel 2:1).
     In our day, we can already feel the heat from God’s approaching fire. Even those who are not religious seem to sense that our world is racing toward judgment. We live in a time when even the secular books and movies are focusing upon the apocalypse and its characters, such as the Antichrist.
     When we look around we see that indeed, the birth pangs of a new era already seem to be upon us. In our time we have many apocalyptic-type events taking place, like the dreadful terrorist attacks of 9/11, the awful worldwide plague of AIDS; the recent killer Tsunami of Southeast Asia and the hurricane devastation of America’s Gulf Coast.
     Thus it is urgent for us saints of God to be prepared so that we can obey the Lord and be shielded in the coming day. The Beloved John says: "The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever" (1 Jn. 2:17).
     Throughout the ages virtually every prophet of God spoke about this dreadful day that is coming upon the earth. The prophets of old often called it "the Day of the Lord" (Joel 2:28-32; Amos 5:18-20; Obad. 1:15; Isa. 2:12ff.).
     The early Christians actually looked forward to this special time and they also called it "the Day of the Lord," just as the prophets had done before them (1 Cor. 5:5; 1 Thess. 5:2). They had several other designations for this period. They referred to it simply as "the day" (2 Thess. 1:10), and sometimes as "that day" (2 Tim. 1:12; 2 Pet. 3:12). In addition they called it "the day of Christ" (Phil.1:10; 2:16).
     It is variously referred to by other titles such as "the day of God’s wrath" (Rom. 2:5); "the day of redemption" (Eph. 4:30); "the day of evil" (Eph. 6:13); "the day he visits us" (1 Pet. 2:12); and "the day of judgment" (2 Pet. 2:9). In these differing expressions the Bible is describing for us Christ’s coming kingdom and the terrible suffering that will accompany it.
     John, the author of Revelation, is allowed to see this day in a fullness and completeness that no other prophet of God had ever experienced. John says, "On the Lord's Day [the Imperial Day] I was in the Spirit" (Rev. 1:10). The remainder of the book of Revelation is simply a description of this day that John saw coming. Although this day contains horrible suffering for the world, it brings about the glorious consummation of the kingdom. In many ways it will surely be the brightest and most glorious era of all Christian history.
     It is puzzling that most commentators still refer to the "Lord’s Day" mentioned here as a reference to Sunday, while the awesome context of the book seems to negate this conclusion. The content of the vision that John is about to see has absolutely nothing to do with Sunday but with the end of the age. The well-known commentator, Walvoord, assures us that this passage is speaking of the Day of the Lord and that the expression used here, "the Imperial Day," is never used in the Bible for "Sunday." (1)
     The purpose of John’s incredible vision is to "show his servants what must soon take place" (1:1). Thus we should understand that this vision is primarily for the servants of God. It is for us who live at this moment in history! The word for "soon" (en tachei) indicates a future event that is coming with suddenness or swiftness. From this root we get our word "tachometer." (2) Here we are reminded of Zephaniah 1:14: "The great day of the LORD is near—near and coming quickly."
     Once they begin to happen, things will develop rapidly. (3) We thus see that the Book of Revelation is not a history book. It is a book of the future (cf. 4:1; 22:6). Unless it is very clear in the context, we should assume that all figures and events of Revelation are figures and events of the future.
     Revelation contains an extremely important message for the church, sent down from heaven by the risen Lord himself. How urgent this message is! It contains instructions that will enable the saints of God to prepare for these awesome future events.
     Accordingly, there is a great blessing for those who read and heed what is written (1:3), because the day spoken of is almost upon us. Similar blessings are given seven times in the book: 1:3, 14:13, 16:15, 19:9, 20:6 and 22:7&14. Revelation is said to be the only book in the Bible that contains such a direct promise of blessing for its readers. (4)

     John writes to the seven churches of Asia, which will all be named later. He gives greetings from the Spirit of God and from Jesus who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth (1:4-5). It is clear that Jesus is the King of Kings and that he will come to assume full control of the earth, of its kings and kingdoms (cf. 11:15; 19:16).
     He reminds these early Christians that they are now made kings and priests unto God (1:6). This is a key concept in understanding the saints’ future role, and also in understanding the whole book of Revelation (cf. Gen. 1:26; Exo. 19:6). Jesus is the king who is coming for his kingdom. However, along with him will be his devoted saints who will then be made kings and priests, ruling with him, even on this earth. We should note particularly that Jesus has made us to be kings and priests with him. It is not something we have done.
     Admittedly, this is a foreign concept to many today, especially to those who live in western democracies. It seems strange when we even imagine ourselves reigning with Christ or sitting with him on his throne. The concept of our exercising kingly rule and authority on this earth is also very strange and foreign to us.
     Still, this prophetic book is a continuation of the central message of the New Testament. (5) It is a message concerning the Kingdom of God, or Kingdom of Heaven, as it is also called.
     John the Baptist announced this kingdom in Matthew 3:1-2. Jesus later came into Galilee proclaiming it (Mk. 1:15). Much of Jesus’ teaching dealt with the Kingdom of God, and most all of his parables pictured it (Mark 4:30-33). It was Jesus’ message even after his resurrection (Acts 1:3). The message of the kingdom was also the message of the early apostles (Acts 8:12; 19:8).
     In Matthew 24:14, Jesus makes plain that the gospel of the kingdom will again be preached to the whole world in the days just preceding the end of the age. We have almost lost this aspect of the gospel in our modern church. We might well wonder if it is the absence of this "kingdom" gospel that is causing such difficulty, failure and discouragement among many modern and postmodern Christians.
     In 1 Peter 2:9 we read: "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." Jesus wants his people to rule with him. He wants them to rule right now in the daily affairs of life (Rom. 5:17), and he wants them to rule with him on this earth in the last day. Real Christianity must be an intense preparation for this joint-rule with Christ. Of course, the devil is greatly opposed to this plan and tries to frustrate it in every conceivable way.
     How desperately this message of the kingdom is needed today! God has commanded us to rule over the earth. Yet we live in a time when multiplied millions of people are overcome and ruled by wicked spirits and by the earthly things around them. Unfortunately, it seems that many of these are Christians. For instance, we all probably know Christians who are ruled by a little weed called tobacco; or by the grape, which is turned into wine; or by the poppy flower or the marijuana plant which are made into hallucinogenic drugs. There are hundreds of other earthly things that can rule over us.
     Proverbs 25:28 tells us: "Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls" (NKJV). This seems to be the lot of so many today. Thus it is urgent that the church begin to take seriously the teaching of the Kingdom of God and how this kingdom is to be worked out in our everyday lives. (6) After all, as the commentator Beale points out: "It is not just how people die that proves them to be overcomers, but the whole of their Christian lives are to be characterized by ‘overcoming,’ which is a process completed in death." (7)
     The message of John is at once a message of great sorrow and of great joy. It speaks of the sorrow of the coming tribulation. It also speaks of the great joy at the appearing of the Lord with his kingdom, at the close of the tribulation period.
     The coming of this Day, and the appearing of the Lord will bring sorrow to the peoples of earth. They will mourn because of him (1:7). We cannot imagine how sorrowful this mourning will be. The whole world will suddenly see how bankrupt their philosophies are and how futile are all their plans of self-redemption. They will see how they have rejected their only hope, their only way and their only chance of life. The world will mourn but God’s victorious elect will rejoice. Jesus says in Luke 21:28, "When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

     It is clear that John, one of the original disciples of Jesus, and known as the Son of Zebedee, is now imprisoned. This imprisonment took place around A.D. 95, during the brief but severe persecution under the Roman ruler, Titus Flavius Domitian. John is suffering for the gospel on the Roman prison isle of Patmos (1:9). In this verse, John refers to himself as a "companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus." Obviously, suffering and kingdom are both ours and they are two things that simply must go together. We have almost lost both concepts in our modern church. This is tragic indeed.
     Both John and the other early followers of Jesus believed that to be a Christian was to share with Christ in tribulation in order that they may also share in the kingdom. We see this idea in 2 Timothy 2:12: "if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us." The inescapable teaching of Revelation is that this tribulation will finally become a universal thing. (8)
     By means of the Spirit, John is now transported to the time frame known as the Lord’s Day (1:10). He is commanded to write an account of what he sees and to send the account to the churches. In his vision he hears a trumpet voice behind him and turns to see seven golden lamp stands (1:12-13). This is a vision similar to one the prophet Zechariah once saw (Zech. 4:1).
     Strangely, this seems to be a vision closely connecting the churches with Israel. The Greek word, luchnias, used here is the same word used in the Septuagint (ancient Greek version of the Old Testament) to describe the menorah of the Tabernacle (Exo. 25:31ff). The menorah has been a symbol of Israel from earliest times.
     Apparently there is a mystery here. Ephesians 3:6 speaks of it: "This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus."
     One thing is clear; what has been used traditionally to represent Israel is suddenly used to include the churches (see 1:20b). This pictures for us the great unity of God’s work in the Old and New Testaments. Israel and the church have a wonderful and mysterious connection. Obviously they will draw much closer together, and even be seen as one in the end-days.
     In Ephesians 2:14 we read more about this: "For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one [Jew and Gentile] and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility." In this respect, we should mistrust all theologies that seek to divide Israel and the church, even in the very last days.
     John sees that in the midst of the lamps there is someone like the "son of man" (1:13). His appearance and attire are dazzling and virtually indescribable. His eyes of blazing fire, feet like glowing bronze, and voice as the sound of many waters are all descriptive of God elsewhere in biblical passages (cf. Dan. 10:6; Ezek. 43:2). This one is dressed in clothing strikingly similar to that of Israel’s High Priest.
     In his right hand he holds seven stars, who are messengers of the seven churches. We are not sure if this is a reference to the pastors of these churches, or to some angelic beings representing them. From his mouth there proceeds a two-edged sword (1:16). As we will see later, this sword represents the word of God.
     At the feet of the risen and glorified Messiah John falls as a dead man. What a good biblical position for us as we face His Majesty, and as we confront the Day of the Lord. The prophet Isaiah speaks in this wise of that coming day: "The LORD Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted (and they will be humbled)…The arrogance of man will be brought low and the pride of men humbled; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day" (Isa. 2:12, 17). In Zephaniah 2:3 we also read about the Day of the Lord in these words: "Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD's anger."
     John, who has now fallen on the ground as dead, is comforted by the one who was dead and is alive for evermore (1:18). We see here that the victorious Christ not only holds the keys of death and Hades but he holds the seven stars and their churches (1:18, 20).

Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.  Revelation 1:19

     In his astounding vision, John is directed to write to the seven churches in Asia telling them what he has seen, what is at present, and what is to come (1:19). Commentators have observed that this is almost a short outline of the book. What he has seen is no doubt the vision of Christ, and what is at present is most likely the condition of the seven churches. It appears that everything afterward in the book deals with things to come. (9) These seven churches to which John writes are, in some mysterious way, representative of all churches.
     John introduces his message, which is one telling of awesome tribulation to come as the Kingdom of God approaches. His challenge to each church is that they must overcome. Indeed, in the end of days we see just two classes of people left on earth - the overcomers and the overcome.
     The one who walks among the churches knows each one intimately. He knows their deeds, their hard work and their perseverance (2:1-2). He also knows their failures. Five out of seven of these churches have serious spiritual problems. (10)
     His message to them is one of urgent warning and encouragement. It is uniformly a message expressing their great need to overcome and be victorious. The commentator, Walvoord, states: "Many of the evils which exist in the church today are a direct outgrowth of neglect of the solemn instruction given to these seven churches." (11)

     The church at Ephesus while commendable in some areas has already left her first love. We remember in Ephesians 1:15, how this assembly was earlier praised by Paul for its great love. The plight of Ephesus may be indicative of many churches in the last day. In this regard we remember the words of the Lord in Matthew 24:12-13, "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved."
     This tells us that the loss of our first love will be one of the biggest problems for last-day Christians and churches. We see that this will be a problem for "most" of God’s people and not just for a few. In light of this we need to fan the flame of our personal devotion and ask the Lord to help us love him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, as scripture admonishes us.
     Now we observe that this important fellowship is also threatened with losing her candlestick or menorah. We might wonder how many congregations today have already lost their menorah, but who still insist on playing church?
     In Revelation 2:7, the Master says to Ephesus: "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God."
     Those winners in the coming battle will live in God’s paradise once more. What Adam lost, they will regain "in Christ" and through him. (12) Revelation is a complete reversal of the fall.

     The Spirit declares that the faithful, afflicted and poverty stricken church at Smyrna would have increasing trials. Some of its people are about to go to prison for their faith (2:10). They are not to be afraid when this happens. Jesus says, "Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death" (2:10-11).
     Here Jesus speaks of the faithful saints being crowned as kings and avoiding the second death. We will see these themes further developed as Revelation unfolds.

     For the church at Pergamum, tribulation has set in, and she has already produced her first martyr (2:13). The early Christians always knew that martyrdom was a real possibility and they were ready and sometimes even quite eager to meet this challenge.
     Still there is within this body the disgusting doctrine of Balaam (2:14). We read about Balaam in Numbers, chapters 22-24. His doctrine might be summed up as one of ministerial greed for money (2 Pet. 2:15), accompanied by sexual immorality and idolatry.
     This same doctrine is also destined to become a great problem for the end-day church. In fact, it appears that forms of this heresy are currently ravaging the church. This particular assembly also has within it the heresy of the Nicolaitans (2:15). This was apparently a heresy very similar to that of Balaam.
     The Lord sends this message to Pergamum: "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it" (2:17).
     We do not fully know the mystery of the white stone. We do know that jurors in ancient times used to give a white stone to a person acquitted in trial. (13) Regarding the hidden manna, we can assume that God will feed his flock with spiritual and even natural food, regardless of what transpires.
     Now, how are we to understand martyrdom today? Is this something that only applied to the ancient church? Hardly so, for today in many countries, millions of Christians are suffering severe persecution, and are already in deep tribulation. For instance, the Christian community in Sudan is being systematically eliminated by the Moslem government there. Already over two million Sudanese Christians have been murdered, sold into slavery or have simply disappeared.
     Christians are also suffering in North Korea, Vietnam, China, Iran and many other places. It has been stated by the World Evangelical Fellowship that more Christians suffered martyrdom in the recent twentieth century than in all previous centuries combined since the time of Christ.

     The church at Thyatira is commended for its love and increasing deeds. Yet, this assembly harbors the seducing spirit of Jezebel (2:20). The story of Jezebel can be found beginning in 1 Kings 16:31. Like the spirit of Balaam, this spirit will also be mightily resurrected in the end-time church, leading many down the road of spiritual seduction, fornication and idolatry.
     Jesus says to this group: "Only hold on to what you have until I come. To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery’— just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (2:25-29).
     Again, the Lord brings up the subject of rule and authority for his people. Now coupled with this, is the idea of doing God’s will to the end (2:26). This is otherwise known as perseverance.
     Indeed the Lord will give his victorious people the authority to rule over the nations of the world. In Matthew 19:28, Jesus tells his followers that they will someday judge the world. Paul even says that the saints will eventually judge the angels (1 Cor. 6:3). The victorious Christ will see to it that all the dominion lost in Adam will be regained in himself. Jesus has already given his saints the power and authority to deal with Jezebel and her like.

I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Revelation 3:1.

     The church at Sardis has a great reputation, but in truth, she is already dead. Still Jesus’ loving words to this dying assembly are: "Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God" (3:2).
     What words of judgment and exhortation for our day! In Revelation 3:4-6, we see that dying churches can still be made into overcoming ones. The message to this dying church is: "Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. (14) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
     Even in the pagan world, soiled clothing prohibited worshippers from entering their temples. (15) How much more this must be the case concerning the temple of the Living God? While many in our age have their garments soiled and defiled with sin, there are some who still remain undefiled. In the end-day they will shine in bridal glory in the presence of the Lamb (cf. 19:7-8).

I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.  Revelation 3:8

     The faithful church at Philadelphia is commended by the Spirit. Jesus makes his people a great and enlightening promise: "Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth" (3:10). Obviously, this promise and warning has world-wide implications. It also has implications for the present-day Christendom. We must quickly prepare ourselves and get ready for horribly difficult times.
     Once again, in very simple terms, Revelation makes plain that an hour of deep trial is about to come upon the church and the whole world. This time has been called one of "Messianic woes." (16) Such a time must accompany the coming kingdom.
     There is no idea here that the saints will entirely escape this ordeal. (17) Jesus once said in John 17:15: "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one." The coming flames will test the work of Christians everywhere. Some will literally escape with their shirttails on fire and all they have worked for will be lost (1 Cor. 3:13). But those who overcome will be kept strong to the end and preserved blameless (1 Cor. 1:8).
     In 1 Peter 4:12-13 the apostle says: "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed."
     Jesus says to this victorious church: "I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (3:11-13).
     Later in the book we will see the Lord writing his name upon his saints and sealing them for the trouble ahead.
     In the midst of the coming Great Tribulation there may be times when advance will be impossible, and when the saints will simply have to "hold on." To such as these, there is the promise of being pillars in God’s temple, and having the Father’s glorious name written upon them.

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!  Revelation 3:15

     Last of all, the Spirit speaks to the lukewarm church at Laodicea. Jesus is about to spew this people out of his mouth (3:16). This group, like many to come in the last days, feels it is rich, while in reality it is very poor and naked (3:17). Still the Lord stands knocking at the door of this lukewarm church, just as he must still be knocking at the doors of many lukewarm churches today. When Jesus was on earth he seemed concerned whether he would still be able to find faith at his coming (Lk. 18:8).
     He speaks these words to Laodicea: "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (3:19-22).
     The Lord here uses an expression he often used in his earthly ministry (Matt. 11:15; Mk. 4:9). In fact, seven times now the Lord has said, "He who has an ear, let him hear." This must be really important! We need to ask ourselves if we are hearing what the Lord is saying about the end-times (Mk. 4:9, 24). Are we willing to love the truth and believe what the Bible says? Are we willing to love it more than we love our pet theologies? Since five out of seven churches had serious problems in the first century, we can only imagine what kind of problems we have in hearing and obeying the Lord’s word today.
     The Lord wants to impress upon us the great importance of overcoming. We must wake up and be alert. God is about to install his overcomers as kings and priests in the earth. This is almost an unthinkable thought – that they should sit with him on his throne. Yet, Christ even makes this promise to the weakest of the churches. He will make it a reality, if we only let him. Oh, the blessings in store for those who listen and are faithful!
     We should mention, however, that overcoming may be best understood in the ironic sense as Beale points out. (18) Christ’s overcoming was ironically accomplished by his death on the cross. He is even pictured triumphantly as a Lamb that was slain. We see that in the end-day the Beast also briefly overcomes the saints, apparently causing a great flood of martyrdom on their part. Our overcoming and ultimate victory may eventually follow a similar path as our Lord’s.
     With this, the personal messages to the individual churches are brought to an end. In view of such urgent warnings by the Lord himself, and with the remainder of Revelation in mind, it is certainly amazing that multitudes of western Christians today feel the church will not have to face suffering or tribulation. If such is the case, it would seem that all these urgent warnings from the risen Lord, and even the rest of the book of Revelation, are simply unnecessary.

     The Lord knows how a vision of heaven can sustain those in deep persecution. John is here called up to heaven to see its wonders. The invitation to heaven is issued in a trumpet sound saying: "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this" (4:1). Once again we realize that Revelation is dealing with things to come or things in the future.
     When John arrives in the heavenly realm he sees the throne of God, the twenty-four elders, and the beasts or living creatures around the throne (cf. Ezek. 1:4ff; 10:12-14). He sees lightning from the throne and hears the rumble of thunder (4:5), all which seem to indicate that a mighty divine storm is about to break. (19) John then experiences the awesome and unceasing worship in heaven (4:8-11).
     As heaven’s praise continues, the twenty-four elders fall down before the throne and worship the Lord. They cast their crowns before the Lord (4:10) as they worship. This likely indicates that all rule and authority belongs to God. These elders seem to symbolize the leadership in both the Old and New Testaments.
     Now we come to the mysterious purpose of John’s invitation to heaven. A tightly sealed scroll is introduced to him. It is written on both sides and sealed with seven seals (5:1). There is an immediate problem in heaven. No one there can dare open this scroll or loose its seals (5:2-3).
     This sealed scroll has great significance. It is the document detailing the remainder and climax of human history. (20) The scroll also contains the "mystery of God" long foretold by the prophets of Israel. (21) It is likely a similar thing that Daniel once saw, and did not fully understand. How could he understand it? It was sealed (Dan. 12:8-9).
     At this point John begins to weep (5:4). Undoubtedly his weeping is much akin to the deep sorrow and sickness the prophet Daniel must have felt as he saw a similar vision. Daniel probably realized both the glories and horrors of the end-times. He likely realized that these horrors would touch the people of God (Dan. 8:27). John seems to sense the same thing.
     He greatly desires to know the details of the scroll, but there is no one in heaven or on earth who can open it (5:3-4). The sealed book is certainly an account of the Day of the Lord, including the Great Tribulation and the coming kingdom.
     John is then told to stop weeping, since the Lion of the Tribe of Judah has overcome and is able to open the book (5:5). Suddenly the metaphor is switched and John is looking at a Lamb. Interestingly the Lamb has seven horns which no doubt stand for all power and authority (5:6). Later in the book, the Beast will also have seven horns, in his attempt to emulate this total power.
     In the presence of the Lamb who has been slain, the all-powerful, all-knowing Savior, the twenty-four elders again fall down and worship. The living creatures, who are likely representatives of all creation, fall down with them and adore the Lamb (5:8). With this symbolism it is made plain that Christ alone is the key to the understanding of all human history. (22) Indeed, he is the Lord of history.
     It is interesting that these heavenly beings each hold a golden bowl, which represents the prayers of the saints (5:8). In some mysterious way, the prayers of the saints greatly figure in, and even help precipitate the tribulation that is about to be poured out on the earth, as well as the advent of the kingdom. Perhaps these are prayers like, "Come Lord Jesus," or, "Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done." Could it be that in 2 Peter 3:12, the apostle is talking about the same thing when he speaks of our hastening the coming of the day of God?
     All heaven now worships the slain Lamb who is able to open the seals and who has redeemed mankind with his blood (5:9).
     Again, we see the theme of kings and priests reigning on earth (5:10). Through Jesus, fallen man will now be elevated to reign once more as a co-regent of God on earth. This is one of the great goals of redemption, to elevate man in Christ to the place he was before the fall. It will be a reversal of what Satan has done.
     We read in Genesis 1:26: "Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule...over all the earth.’" In Revelation 20:6 we see this at last become a reality, as overcomers reign with Christ throughout the Millennium and forever afterward. So, it becomes clear that what God began in Genesis he will finish in Revelation. Indeed Genesis, and even the rest of the Bible, would simply not be complete without Revelation.
     In this book we will hear much about overcomers reigning with God. When we hear this we must remember that there is really only one overcomer, and he is Jesus. The Lord says in John’s gospel, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
     Thus, all the overcoming that humanity will ever do is solely because of what Jesus has already done and because of his living within. It is his victory, totally and exclusively. As we have faith in him, we too can share in this victory. In 1 John 5:4 the apostle says, "This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith."
     At this, all heaven and earth resound with praise to the Lamb who alone is able to open the seals (5:11-14). To Jesus, the victorious one, and the coming one, be all power, glory, praise and dominion forever and ever! Amen!

     As the Lamb begins to open the seven seals, we are treated to a short preview of the Great Tribulation and Day of the Lord. It is at first introduced to us with the picture of horses and their riders. We should note that this is but a preview of the scroll’s contents. All of the seals are not yet opened and the whole scroll is not unrolled, allowing its entire contents to be seen.
     As the first seal is broken there is a white horse and rider (6:1-2). This figure probably represents military conquest. (23) This one could perhaps even represent the Beast or Antichrist himself, who will be introduced to us later. Some have tried to picture Jesus as the rider on this horse but this does not seem possible. There is one thing for sure. When Jesus is presented on his white horse in Revelation 19:11ff, there is absolutely no doubt about who he is. He is specifically named as "Faithful and True," "Word of God," and "King of Kings and Lord of Lords."
     Next there is a fiery red horse and its rider. We are told that his purpose is to "take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other" (6:4). We realize that there will be much bloodshed as we are led up to the last days, because he is given a large sword. While this is a clear reference to bloodshed resulting from war, it could also include awful, worldwide terrorism.
     As the Lamb opens the third seal, a black horse appears (6:5). This horse likely represents worldwide famine and hunger. These so often have followed on the heels of military conquest and civil insurrection. This famine will be so critical that a person’s wages will do little more than provide bread for that one day.
     We need to remember that these first visions are merely introductions to the Great Tribulation. Since the time of Christ, history has been full of such things all reminding us of the approaching end. (24) Jesus himself says in Matthew 24:6-8: "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains."
     So, Jesus pictures for us that times will grow worse and worse, and not better and better as some suppose. God has actually promised to shake heaven and earth so that only the things that are unshakable may remain (Hab. 3:6; Heb.12:26-27). Thus the birth pains of the age to come will grow more frequent and intense until they end in the Day of the Lord. Clearly these birth pains are already upon us and Christians are not exempt.
     As the fourth seal is opened, a pale horse appears. Its rider is said to represent death, but we note that Hades follows closely after him. Hades appears to collect the spoils of war, famine and plague. Interestingly, this horse and rider have power over an amazing "fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth" (6:8). Death by wild beast may sound strange to our ears, but just lately the H5N1 flu virus in Asia is spreading from domestic to migratory fowl. This virus can be fatal to humans on a massive scale and already has the experts fearing a pandemic.
     Here we get our first real glimpse of the scope and incredible tragedy of coming judgment. Initially, at least one-fourth of the earth will be directly affected by the Great Tribulation. Later we will see it increased to cover a third of the earth, and then perhaps much more. One commentator sees that this will be the greatest destruction of human life ever recorded in history. (25) The early church father, Lactantius, adds: "For the human race will be so consumed, that scarcely the tenth part of mankind will be left."(26)
     When the fifth seal is opened, we observe the ravages of the tribulation on the saints of God. We immediately see martyrs under the altar in heaven. Some people may be surprised to learn that these martyrs are God’s dear saints. These saints seem to be martyred in a most unusual and cruel fashion, until we remember that today in many Moslem countries, beheading is a common occurrence. The martyrs are now given white robes and bidden to wait until their full number is completed (6:11). Obviously, there are many more saints who are about to lose their lives for the Lord.
     Daniel speaks of this awful time in these words: "Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand" (Dan. 12:10).
     Today in the affluent west, we Christians are not so comfortable with the ideas of suffering and especially of martyrdom for Christ’s sake. This is not the case in other parts of our world where the bulk of today’s Christians are already undergoing persecution, tribulation and even death.
     The early Christians were also severely persecuted. They didn’t seem to have the fear of suffering or dying for the Lord that some do today. These early saints knew when they took the name of Jesus, their suffering and persecution would begin immediately. They knew they were taking their lives into their hands, and they were prepared for the consequences. These saints were even instructed to rejoice in their sufferings, since suffering produces perseverance, character and hope (Rom. 5:3-4).
     As the sixth seal is opened, the events normally associated with the end of the world begin to take place. The sun turns to darkness and the moon to blood (Joel 2:31). Stars fall from the sky and the sky is rolled up like a scroll (6:12-14). The words of the prophet Isaiah are thus fulfilled: "Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail" (Isa. 51:6).
     At this point unsaved people begin to cry for rocks and mountains to fall on them and hide them from the wrath of the Lamb (6:16). We can understand how bitter this cry will be since these have spent their lives despising Christ and working against his program.
     We have had our first, brief preview of the Great Tribulation and the end of the world. There will be war, famine and trouble in increasing proportions. Then at last, the very heavens and heavenly bodies will be affected. The seventh seal will be dealt with later and will introduce the actual Tribulation.
     This section closes with the question of 6:17: "For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?" That question is about to be answered for us.

     We believers must be sealed for what is about to happen. We must understand how urgent and important this is. Here we see the vision of a great multitude in white robes. Now that we have had our preview of the coming day, we learn that something must happen before it befalls us. There must be preparation – intense preparation. The saints must be sealed (cf. Ezek. 9:4-6). Through the power of the risen Christ and through his Holy Spirit, they alone will stand in this awful day.
     We see that four mighty angels are actually holding back the evil winds of tribulation until the servants of God can be sealed in their foreheads (7:1-3). This seal is a pledge of safety. (27) It is obviously a seal in the minds of God’s people that they may know how to conduct themselves in the terrible trials ahead. (28) This sealing appears to be closely connected with the work of the Holy Spirit as we see in Ephesians 4:30: "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."
     This sealing or protection of the righteous was prefigured in the account of Noah and in the experience of the Hebrew children in Goshen. Noah’s ark was sealed both without and within (Gen. 6:14). He was so protected that God destroyed the world with Noah and his family still in it. They were kept safe because of the seal. We read in Matthew 24:37: "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man."
     Regarding the Hebrew children, we see in Exodus 9:4 and 11:7, that they and their livestock were protected during the great plagues that fell upon the land of Egypt. God made a difference between his people and the people of Egypt (Exo. 8:23). They were also later kept safe from the death angel. They were sealed by the lamb’s blood.
     The Bible talks about this subject on many occasions. The sealing and preparation are clearly matters of the heart and mind. In Jeremiah 10:2, the righteous are instructed: "Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the sky, though the nations are terrified by them." Proverbs 3:25-26 states: "Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared."
     In Proverbs 2:7-8 we read: "He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones."
     In Psalm 46:2 the Psalmist advises: " Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging" There are many other wonderful Psalms of protection such as Psalm 27:1-3, 5 and 91:1-8. Indeed, the Book of Psalms may become the hymnal for last-day saints.
     God says to his faithful and beloved: "Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me" (Psa. 50:14-15).
     In many other scriptures God vows to protect his own. Psalm 33:18-19 states: "But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine." We remember how the prophet Elijah was miraculously delivered from famine for three-and-one-half-years, a period of time very similar to that of the Great Tribulation (1 Ki. 17:1-16).
     Indeed, we see that "The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them" (Psa. 34:7). The sun will not harm them by day or the moon by night (Psa. 121:6). Joel the prophet in speaking about the day of the Lord says: "But the Lord will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel" (Joel 3:16b).
     In 2 Peter 2:9, the apostle assures us that: "the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment."
     This seal of God obviously does not keep God’s saints from martyrdom, should God choose this course. It is rather designed to keep them from giving up or denying their Lord under the awful pressures of the end-times. It is a form of spiritual protection. In Romans 8:35 Paul asks: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?"
     We will note later in Revelation 13:16 that the followers of the Beast or Antichrist will also receive a mark or seal in their foreheads. It is clear throughout the book that what God does the devil tries his best to emulate.
     The number of saints sealed is said to be 144,000 (7:4). This is obviously a symbolic reckoning, meant to represent completeness. The scripture states that these are from the twelve tribes of Israel, and that twelve thousand come from each tribe. However, it becomes apparent that all twelve tribes are not represented here.
     Yet, the great multitude that we see after this includes people from "every nation, tribe, people and language" (7:9). John is then told who these people are. The heavenly messenger says, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (7:14).
     Some have maintained that the first group (7:4-8) is made up of Jews and the second group (7:9-17) is made up of Gentiles. This identification does not seem to be workable on several counts. (29) Such a proposed dividing of Israel and the church would obviously do great violence to their end-time unity spoken of in Ephesians 2:11-21. The modern Greek commentator, Beale, sees this group as "the totality of God’s people throughout the ages who are viewed as true Israelites." (30)
     The Greek language of 7:14 conveys the idea of continuous action: that they are still arriving out of the tribulation rather than merely escaping from it. (31) What we likely have here is a picture of "all Israel," prepared for one final and awful act of suffering and even martyrdom on behalf of the Lamb and his kingdom.
     This figure includes the believing remnant of Israel and the believing remnant of the Gentiles who have been grafted into the olive tree of Israel, as we see in Romans 11:17-18. We must remember that God promised to make Abraham a father of many nations (Gen. 17:4). What we almost certainly have here is the emergence of the "new man" that Paul speaks of in Ephesians 2:12-20 and 3:6.
     As we said, whatever God does, Satan tries his best to emulate. It is certainly interesting today that there is a great and sudden aspiration in the Moslem world for "martyrdom." While real martyrdom is laying down one’s life for God and for the sake of others, this false martyrdom seeks to destroy as many others as possible. All this might indicate that a true and worldwide Christian martyrdom is not far away.
     In the remainder of this chapter, these faithful co-sufferers with Christ spend their time rejoicing before his throne. They have finished their course and kept the faith. God will wipe away all tears from their eyes (7:17). They will now enjoy the blessing of God’s presence forever.

Notes for Part I
             

Beale remarks: "Verse 5 shows that the promise to the conqueror cannot be limited to martyrs but includes all Christians, since it would be unthinkable that the names of all true believers would not be found in the ‘book of life.’
      15. Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, (Inter Varsity Press, Downers Grove IL), 1993, p. 773.

     In order for us to understand these coming end-day events it is necessary for us to be familiar with what has been called the Synoptic Apocalypse, found in the Gospels. This section is also known as the Olivet Discourse, and is found in Matthew 24:4-36; Mark 13:5-37 and Luke 21:8-36. This important section of scripture is from the Master’s own lips and gives us many details of the last days. For our benefit here, we will briefly summarize this section from all three synoptic gospels.
     The section begins with a warning that we should not to be led astray about the end-days. We are told that as the time approaches, many will come claiming to be Christ and will lead multitudes astray. We are warned not to go after them. We will hear of wars and rumors of wars, and are told not to be alarmed because the end will not immediately come. Nations will rise against each other and there will be famines and earthquakes. All these things are called only "the beginning of sufferings" or "birth pains."
     After these things, awful persecution will break out against the saints. They will be persecuted in synagogues and brought before governors and kings. This is their grand opportunity to testify about Jesus, even to proclaim the gospel to all nations. God’s chosen ones are not to be nervous when all this happens, but they must depend upon the Holy Spirit for their words. God will give his elect a mouth of wisdom.
     In the afflictions of these times, brothers will deliver up brothers, and fathers will deliver up children and have them put to death. Children will rise up against their parents. God’s elect will be hated of all people on the face of the earth because of Jesus. At this time, many false prophets will arise and lead numerous people astray. There will be a great falling away from the faith and a betrayal of one another. In all this, God’s people will be protected.
     During this turbulent period, wickedness will so abound that the love of most Christians will grow cold. Yet Jesus promises that those who endure to the end will be saved. Again, in spite of the difficulty, it will be a great time for the spread of the gospel, as people of all nations will eagerly receive the saving word. Then the end will come.
     In the midst of these difficult days there will be a repeat of the desolating sacrilege that Daniel spoke of (Dan. 9:27). Jesus desires that we gain understanding about this. When this happens it will once more be urgent that believers in Jerusalem escape the city in haste, without even turning back for forgotten items. In those days there will be great tribulation and distress unlike any that has ever been in the history of the world. In fact, no flesh would be able to survive, except that for the elect’s sake, the days will be shortened. Jesus expresses pity for nursing women and those with small children. He bids us pray that the time will not come on the Sabbath or in the harsh Jerusalem winter.
     The end-days will be a great time of deception. False Christs will be everywhere. People will be saying, "Here is Christ" or "there he is!" God’s people are warned not to believe such tales. Some of these false messiahs will be able to work great and impressive signs and wonders, to the extent that they could deceive even the elect, if that were possible.
     In those days, if these false prophets say, "He is in the wilderness," we should not go out there. If they say, "he is in the secret chambers," we should not go there looking. The Master assures us that when he does come, it will be like the lightning appearing from the east and shining to the west.
     Immediately after this tribulation, there will be signs in the heavenly bodies [this statement of the Lord serves as a great time-sequence key for the whole book of Revelation]. The sun will be darkened and the moon’s light will fail. The stars will begin falling from heaven and there will be distress and perplexity of nations. The sea will roar and men will faint with fear and foreboding as they consider what is coming upon the earth.
     Then the powers of heaven will be shaken and the sign of the Son of man will appear in the heavens. With this sight, all the tribes of earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming with great power and glory. He will then send out his angels with a loud trumpet call to gather his elect from the corners of earth and from the ends of heaven. When we see these things begin to come to pass, we believers should look up, because our redemption is near.
     The coming of the end of the age will be like the blossoming of a fig tree. We should learn a lesson from this. When its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves we can know that summer is near. Likewise when we see all these things taking place we can know that the Kingdom of God is near, even at the gate.
     Jesus then speaks these mysterious words to his listeners; that their generation would not pass away before all these things would take place. Heaven and earth might pass away but his words would never pass away. Although the time is about to come, no one knows the day and the hour, not even the angels of heaven, or the Son during his earthly sojourn, but only the Father.
     His servants must take heed and watch, because they do not know when the time will come. The coming of the end of the age will be like a man going on a long journey to receive kingly power and then returning. Before leaving, he puts his servants in charge, entrusting to them his property. He gives to each one according to his ability, and outlines the work for him. He commands the doorkeeper to watch, because no one knows when he will return. He could come in the evening, or at midnight, or even when the cock is crowing. He could also come in the morning. His servants must watch lest they be found sleeping.
     What the Master says to his servants he says to all – Watch! Jesus says that those servants will be blessed who keep watch.
     The writer Luke ends this section of scripture with an additional warning. In Luke 21:34-36 he says: "Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man."

     With Jesus’ words in mind we continue with the opening of the seventh introductory seal (8:1), which actually initiates the tribulation. This brings a reverent and prolonged silence in heaven (cf. Zech. 2:13; Hab. 2:20). We on earth often observe a moment of silence to commemorate some loss or tragedy. Here, all heaven seems to be doing a similar thing concerning the awesome tragedy to come. At this, we begin viewing the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord in their fullness and not just in preview form. The scroll is now opened completely.
     We are also able to witness these events from yet a different perspective. Where in the beginning the theme was played with flutes, so to speak, we soon have it sounded out with blaring trumpets, and later with a full orchestra. With the sounding of the seven trumpets we begin to actually witness the awful tribulation unfolding upon the world.
     This is surely the difficult time spoken of in Daniel 12:1. The prophet says: "There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered."
     In this section we realize once more that the prayers of the saints have a lot to do with the coming of this final day (8:3-5). Indeed it appears to be the prayers of the saints that will greatly help precipitate this worldwide crisis of divine judgment.

     The seven angels now begin to sound their seven trumpets. When the first trumpet sounds, the Great Tribulation begins in earnest. The first plague of hail, fire and blood works havoc on the trees and grass in about a third of the earth (8:7). This plague is very similar to the biblical plagues upon Egypt (Exo. 7:14-22; 9:18-26).
     We see fire mentioned many times in connection with the Lord’s coming (Zep. 1:18; 3:8; Psa. 97:3; 2 Thess. 1:7-10). Peter tells us that just as the ancient world was destroyed by water because of its evil, the present evil world will be destroyed by fire. He says: "By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men" (2 Pet. 3:7).
     With the sounding of the second trumpet, there is a horrible eruption of something like a great mountain. It spews its contaminants into the sea, killing a third of the sea creatures and destroying much maritime commerce (8:8-9). At our present time in history, we are just beginning to comprehend how certain contaminants can work such awful havoc and ruin.
     When the third angel sounds his trumpet, a great heavenly body or asteroid by the name of "Wormwood" smashes into the earth (8:11), contaminating a third of the world’s fresh water sources (cf. Jer. 9:15). The fourth angel then sounds his trumpet and one third of the sun, moon and stars is stricken (8:12). Joel 2:2 may speak of such a time as being: "a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness" (cf. Amos 8:9).
     All these disasters seem horrible enough but the heavenly voice announces: "Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!" (8:13).
     In this book we see a contrast between "earth-dwellers" and "heaven-dwellers." (1) The heaven-dwellers will have their citizenship there, even while they still live on the earth (Phil. 3:18-21; Heb. 11:10). The earth and the earth-dwellers are about to experience all the things spoken of by the prophets. The heaven-dwellers will be sheltered, just as the children of Israel were sheltered in the land of Goshen (Exo. 8:23).
     The prophets uniformly speak of these awful times. The prophet Isaiah utters these words: "See, the LORD is going to lay waste the earth and devastate it; he will ruin its face and scatter its inhabitants...The earth will be completely laid waste and totally plundered. The LORD has spoken this word" (Isa. 24:1,3).
     Isaiah then gives us the reason for these awful judgments: "The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear their guilt. Therefore earth’s inhabitants are burned up, and very few are left" (Isa. 24:5-6).
     The prophet Jeremiah adds that a worldwide disaster is certainly in store. In Jeremiah 25:31-33 the prophet says: "The tumult will resound to the ends of the earth, for the LORD will bring charges against the nations; he will bring judgment on all mankind and put the wicked to the sword...This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Look! Disaster is spreading from nation to nation; a mighty storm is rising from the ends of the earth.’ At that time those slain by the LORD will be everywhere—from one end of the earth to the other."
     In Zephaniah 1:2-3 it is said: "‘I will sweep away everything from the face of the earth,’ declares the LORD. ‘I will sweep away both men and animals; I will sweep away the birds of the air and the fish of the sea. The wicked will have only heaps of rubble when I cut off man from the face of the earth,’ declares the LORD."
     The prophet Micah affirms all this devastation with the words: "The earth will become desolate because of its inhabitants, as the result of their deeds" (Mic. 7:13).
     Malachi, the last prophet of the Old Testament, has this to add: "‘Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘Not a root or a branch will be left to them’" (Mal. 4:1).
     The prophets make clear that God’s approaching judgments are the result of man’s gross sin and lawlessness, as well as the breaking of God’s covenant.

     With the sounding of the fifth trumpet we are introduced to a chastisement exclusively designed to harm evil man. Apparently it is an angel who comes down from heaven, opens the Abyss, and releases a deadly plague upon the earth (9:1-3). This is described as a plague of locusts, but the text makes it clear that it is otherworldly in its source (cf. Exo. 10:1-20).
     These demonic powers, or whoever they are, have their mission restricted. They are told to afflict only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads (9:4). For five months they continue their torture (cf. Joel 2:1-11). People will seek death in their agony, but death will elude them (9:6). So we see something here that is much worse than death.
     When the sixth angel sounds, a horrible worldwide disaster is released from the area of the Euphrates River (perhaps ancient Babylon). Two hundred million mounted troops are set free to kill a third of humanity (9:15). At today’s population figures this would amount to about two billion people killed. The author, Warren Wiersbe, in calculating the various judgments of Revelation states that "...half of the world’s population will be dead by the time the sixth trumpet judgment is completed." (2)
     Still, after all this, we are told that sinful people are not willing to repent of all their deeds (9:20-21). Included in the deeds are sorcery, idolatry, murder and sexual immorality. It is interesting that the word sorcery (pharmakeion) always has a close connection to hallucinogenic drug usage, which is becoming the rage today.
     Because of the incredible size of this army, and because of its description, it is likely that we are dealing partly with demonic hordes rather than with actual soldiers.

WAITING FOR THE LAST TRUMP

     In chapters ten and eleven we are presented with an interlude prior to the sounding of the seventh trumpet. It seems that earth is given a small respite. In this interlude there appears a mighty angel from heaven, who stands with one foot on the land and one on the sea (10:1-3). His very stance seems indicative of a heavenly takeover of the earth .(3) This heavenly figure makes an oath and informs us that when the seventh angel finally sounds, the mystery of God will be finished without delay (10:7). As we see in all the various symbols used in Revelation, the number seven on each occasion signifies the end of the age.
     John is given instructions by the mighty angel. He is to take a little scroll from the angel’s hand and eat it (10:9). As John does so, the little scroll tastes sweet as honey in his mouth, but sour in his stomach (cf. Ezek. 2:9-3:3). How true it is, as we eat and digest God’s sweet prophetic word, it turns into something bitter. The true prophetic message today will certainly be received as a bitter message by many in the world, perhaps even by some Christians.
     As a part of the interlude, John is presented with the two witnesses who will appear and prophesy during part of the Great Tribulation (11:3-6). At this time, the Holy City and its Temple area will be trodden down by Gentile oppressors (11:2). (4) This Gentile force appears to be directed by the Beast or Antichrist himself.
     At this point, the Beast is mentioned as coming up out of the Abyss and overpowering the witnesses (11:7-10). We will hear much more about this figure. It is important that we do not confuse this beast with the four beasts, or four living creatures of heaven that we met earlier. The Greek word for these heavenly creatures is zo-on, with the root meaning "life." This Beast on the other hand is called thay-re-on, meaning "wild, dangerous animal."
     We are told here that the two witnesses will have power to work many miracles and mighty deeds during this difficult period. Although the Beast manages to eventually put them to death, they arise from the dead and ascend to heaven. Terror strikes those who observe them (11:11-12).
     It has long been debated whether these two witnesses are actual people or companies of people (i.e. the believing Jewish and Christian remnant). If they are indeed individuals, one may well be the final appearance of Elijah, as prophesied in Malachi 4:5: "See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes." Jesus said of John the Baptist, that if Israel would receive it, John was the Elijah (Mt.11:14). Obviously, Israel did not receive it, so what we likely see is Elijah appearing again. (5) It is good to know that even in the darkest hour of human history the Lord will not leave himself without a mighty witness.
     At this, there is a great earthquake touching a tenth part of Jerusalem and causing the death of seven thousand people. The terrified survivors give glory to God (11:13). It should be noted that the response of Jerusalem’s residents to disaster is far different than that of the Gentiles. In Zechariah 13:8-9, the prophet speaks of Israel’s suffering in the end-days: "In the whole land, ‘declares the LORD,’ two-thirds will be struck down and perish; yet one-third will be left in it. This third I will bring into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold’" (cf. Isa. 13:12).
     The prophet Malachi also remarks about this: "But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness" (Mal. 3:2-3).
     After the two witnesses have ascended to heaven, the seventh trumpet sounds. We now hear these words of Revelation 11:15: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ and he will reign for ever and ever." At this announcement there is much thanksgiving in heaven (11:16-18). The heavenly voices note God’s purpose in "destroying those who destroy the earth" (v.18). This would certainly include sinners who defile and corrupt the world, but it may even include terrorists who are determined to destroy the world and those in it.
     The simple truth is that Jesus is coming for what is his (Gen. 49:10). After all, the scripture says that he made the world and everything in it (Jn. 1:3). It all belongs to him. For these many centuries the world has been ruled by a usurper- the devil. He has kept his position by pretense and deceit. Soon his reign of terror will be over forever.

6

     We now come to one of the most interesting and intriguing sections of Revelation. From chapter twelve through chapter fourteen, we are introduced to seven pictures or seven figures. Now that the last trumpet has sounded we can expect these figures to give us in summary form various important aspects of that last day. So, this is really another picture of the end.
     Some have referred to this section as a parenthesis. However, rather than being a parenthesis, this portion may actually form the book’s main section. (6)

     In the first figure, a woman clothed with the sun appears. She has the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head (12:1). The author tells us that this figure is a great wonder or sign. A sign in scripture does not point to itself but rather it points to the theological meaning of history. (7) This sign probably indicates that the woman represents God’s heritage of light, goodness, and truth. We see that she has the powers of darkness, or the devil’s kingdom, firmly under her feet. She is in pain to be delivered.
     In recent decades many have interpreted this woman as Israel, or particularly as Mary. They see that both are about to bring forth the Messiah. However, we must remember that Revelation is clearly a book of the future, about things that will shortly come to pass. It is not a book of history as we have said.
      So, who is this woman? It is interesting that before the last century there was a general agreement among commentators that this woman represented the church. (8) We have certainly lost much of this understanding today.
     In fact, the woman could represent the true church or the faithful in Israel, or both. (9) We see in the Bible that God is bringing forth a remnant from Zion (Zech. 13:8-9). We also read in Isaiah 37:32: "For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this" (cf. Isa. 4:2-3; Joel 2:32).
     This surviving remnant, as we have seen previously, will include Gentile Christians, who are grafted by faith into Israel’s olive tree and who are now really a part of Israel (Rom. 11:17-21; cf. Eph. 3:6-7). We realize that God is bringing Jew and Gentile together into one new man for the last day. We note in Isaiah 66:8, that the mother of this faithful remnant is actually named "Zion:" "Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children." We see in this prophetic reference, that Zion gives birth to children, being many. The prophets often speak of Zion as a woman in travail about to be delivered (see particularly Micah 5:3). So it is likely that this picture would have been understood by most of the Hebrew people as Mother Zion. (10)
     As the woman gives birth, an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns eagerly waits to devour her child (12:3-4). This dragon is obviously the devil (cf. Isa. 14:12-15; Psa. 74:13-14) and his red coloration is appropriately fire-like or flame colored. We note that this dragon is also a sign. It is said that he has swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them down to earth (12:4). This no doubt speaks of the heavenly rebellion of Satan and the angels, as spoken of in Genesis 6:1-4 and pictured again in Daniel 8:10. Not only is Satan about to be cast down to earth, but all his evil angels are to be cast down with him.

     The woman gives birth to a male child (man-child) who will rule or shepherd all nations. This child is immediately caught up to the throne (12:5). Numerous modern commentators see this child as Jesus. But again, we must remind ourselves that Revelation is a book about the future. It is not a rehashing of past history, even if that history is glorious.
     Also, this child is caught up to heaven, while the Christ child came in the opposite direction, from heaven to earth. Should this be speaking of Jesus in his adulthood, we might wonder why his saving life and atoning death receive absolutely no mention here.
     The commentator, Barnes, remarks: "The Savior, indeed, ascended to heaven, but it was not, as here represented, that he might be protected from the danger of being destroyed; and when he did ascend, it was not as a helpless and unprotected babe, but as a man in the full maturity of his powers." (11) Again, we remind ourselves of Isaiah 66:8, where the woman Zion gives birth to "children," not just to a child. It is of note that many older commentators like Matthew Henry see the man-child as representing a triumphant group within Christianity. (12)
     It may be at this point, that we need to ask God for some illumination in our spirits, so that we may comprehend this wondrous mystery (Eph. 1:17). We must remember that John was "in the Spirit" when he saw these things. We cannot understand them with fleshly thinking.
     In the Bible, God has promised many wonderful things to his saints. Some of these promises are almost unimaginable. In 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 we are told: "‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him’—but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit."
     In Romans 8:17, the Bible tells us that we are to inherit all things in Christ: "Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." In addition, we are told that we make up the body of Christ and that he is the head of that body (1 Cor. 12:27; Col. 1:18). It would seem from this, that wherever Christ is, there also his true saints will be. Whatever he is doing, they will be doing.
     So, in this passage the author may be speaking about the overcomers who are "in Christ" (Rom. 8:1; 2 Cor. 5:17), and who are firmly attached to the Head, Jesus. Should this be the case, it is still Jesus within them. It is his body, and still his exclusive victory.
     Perhaps these overcomers are fully taking that heavenly position spoken of in Ephesians 2:6: "And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus." The Lord has already given this promise to the overcomers in Revelation 3:21: "To him who overcomes I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne."
     As we have seen, it is also promised to the overcomers, that they will rule with a rod of iron and reign with Christ on this very earth (Rev. 2:26-27; 20:6). So what we likely have in this passage is the faithful and overcoming remnant of Israel (including Gentile believers), who will begin to truly manifest the life of the Messiah in their own lives.
     After all, in Ephesians 2:15-16, we see that it is God’s ultimate purpose to make Jew and Gentile into one new man, thus making peace. Also, in Ephesians 4:13, we see it is his purpose that these two groups "reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."
     It should also be noted in Hebrews 2:5-13 how the writer expounds upon Psalm 8:4-9 in relation to mankind, revealing that God has put "everything under his feet" (v.8). He remarks how we do not yet see this as a reality but we see Jesus who has triumphed over everything. It is Jesus who will now bring "many sons to glory (v10)." It is of interests that the world to come will not be subjected to angels but to redeemed humanity (v.5).
     Jesus will have a complete victory over the devil, and his complete victory will be expressed in fallen man. This is a great and glorious mystery seen often in the Bible. Perhaps it is these of whom Isaiah speaks: "See, a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice. Each man will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land" (Isa. 32:1-2).
     We see that after the birth of the man-child, or the overcoming company, the woman flees to a desert place prepared for her where she will be kept 1,260 days (12:6). This, once more, is the approximate three and one-half-year period of the Great Tribulation, which is about to break upon the earth (Dan. 7:25). This woman and her seed will be sheltered, but they will certainly undergo persecution. The commentator, Ladd, says of this time: "At the end of the age, the church is destined to undergo the most intense persecution of her history...." (13) Barnes sees that in this period the persecuted church will become obscure and in danger of being swallowed up, although she will be sustained. (14)
     We must remember that God will somehow take care of his own people. In Malachi 3:17 we read his promise: "‘They will be mine,’ says the LORD Almighty, ‘in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him’" (cf. Zech. 9:16-17).
     The woman Zion has now produced a large group of victorious first-fruit saints, who will look and act like Jesus, much as those initial disciples did in the Book of Acts. Perhaps in these we see the complete fulfillment of Jesus’ words in John 14:12: "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."
     The group of overcomers, who are perhaps somewhat less victorious than the first-fruits of Zion, will now be sheltered during the horrible storm that is to come.

SATAN DOWN, BUT NOT OUT

     As the first group takes a heavenly position, and becomes in a real sense "heaven dwellers," it is interesting indeed that there is immediately a great war in heaven (12:7). Michael and his angels fight against the devil and his angels. The devil loses this battle and is hurled down to earth along with all his evil angels. Heaven then announces this event and treats it as one bringing about the power and kingdom of God (12:10).
     During his earthly ministry, Jesus once had a prophetic vision of this event. It happened after he sent out the seventy, and as they returned joyously and victoriously from their ministry trip. Jesus said: "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you" (Luke 10:18-19). It is clear that Jesus is speaking of a future event, since the Apostle Paul much later in Ephesians 6:12, still speaks of "the forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Clearly, Jesus sees this future event as having something to do with victorious saints.
     It is interesting that Satan does not fall to earth until this very late moment in history. Until this time he enjoys a position in the heavenly places. We get a clear picture of this in the book of Job. In this book we see Satan strutting before God and accusing the Lord’s saints (Job 1:6-12; cf. Zech. 3:1-2).
     It seems clear in this section of Revelation that the overcomers, who are now fully "in Christ," and who are exercising his authority, actually have something to do with Satan’s fall from heaven. Indeed, the heavenly voice exclaims: "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death" (12:11). "They" in this verse, speaks not of one (Jesus), but of many (saints). Obviously many of these saints will become martyrs.
     The well known scholar and teacher, Derek Prince, comments on this passage saying: "The victory in this conflict against Satan’s kingdom will only come through a joint action by God’s angels in heaven and the believers on earth. This challenges us to ask whether or not we on earth are sensitive to what is taking place in heaven and ready to play our part." (15) The writer, Mounce, adds here, "Not only does Satan suffer defeat at the hands of the archangel, but he is conquered by faithful believers as well." (16) We must remember here that the saints are only able to overcome because of the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony concerning that blood (12:11).
     Obviously, this passage cannot be speaking of Michael and his angels, for it speaks of martyrdom. It is apparently a word regarding mortal saints on the earth, who have overcome by Jesus’ blood and by their testimony. We should notice in 12:10-12 that heaven is rejoicing, because now at last "salvation, and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ" have come (v.10; cf. Dan. 7:27).
     Something incredibly important has happened in the heavenly realms. Long ago Satan brought about the fall of man. Now man through Christ and "in Christ" has helped bring about the fall of Satan. Isn’t this what the Kingdom of God is all about? Satan once cast man down from a heavenly position and confined him to earth. Now almost the same thing has happened to Satan through the power of Christ reflected in redeemed humanity and through the assistance of mighty angels.
     This defeat of Satan is prefigured in the account of the fall. God said to the serpent: "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel" (Gen. 3:15). While it is certainly injurious to have the heel struck, it is fatal to have the head crushed. This passage is generally interpreted as a messianic one, and it surely is, for Jesus crushed the head of Satan at Calvary. This is the basis of all victory for the saints.
     Yet, this passage might also involve those people who are "in Christ." We see that whatever Christ does, his people who are "in him" are allowed to do also (cf. Jn. 12:26). There is a beautiful type of this in Joshua 10:24-26, where this great leader, himself a type of Christ, bids his followers to come forward and stand on the necks of the kings of Canaan which he had defeated. It seems that Paul is speaking prophetically of a similar and spiritual thing in Romans 16:20, where he says to believers: "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet."
     The angelic voice now announces that the heavens can rejoice, but the earth will suffer great woe because the devil has been cast down to her (12:12).
     Perhaps Satan’s legal position in heaven has been maintained all this time due to the fall of man in the garden, and to the handing over of man’s original authority to Satan. As man "in Christ" finally takes his proper position of authority, Satan is immediately displaced, in that his legal authority is undermined. Obviously, redeemed people are finally entering fully into the victory that was gained by Christ through his death on the cross and through his resurrection.
     In the past, some have taken these mysterious verses and have gone into heresy with them by overly magnifying man. We must remember that all this is no credit to man whatsoever, but only to Jesus who has himself gained the victory and by his grace has chosen to share that victory with humankind.
     So often, heresy contains a grain of biblical truth. Unfortunately, the heretics take this grain of biblical truth to the extreme, ignoring most other biblical truths. We want to hold fast to the gems of Bible truth in Revelation, but we also want to keep these truths in balance with the rest of scripture. As some of our friends say, "If the devil can’t stop us, he will take us too far."
     We also must be careful to guard our hearts against pride. It is Jesus alone who has worked this wonderful salvation for us. All glory belongs to him. If Jesus gives us a crown on that last day there is only one place for it to go. It must go at the feet of our Lord and Savior (Rev. 4:10). He alone is worthy.
     At this point in Revelation the fall of Satan to earth immediately inaugurates the last period of time, including the three and one-half intense years of the Great Tribulation, or the "time, times and a half-time" spoken of by the prophets. This seems to be a literal time frame.
     So, with Satan’s fall, we see that heaven begins to rejoice. No longer will the brethren be accused before God. No longer will there be spiritual wickedness in the heavenly realms. No longer will Satan be called "ruler of the kingdom of the air" (Eph. 2:2).
     But to earth, the news is devastating. The age-old cosmic battle has now shifted and has become focused and localized on tiny earth. The defeated devil in great rage and fury is totally confined to earth, along with multitudes of his evil angels. He realizes now that his time is very short (12:12).
     Immediately he begins to persecute the woman who has produced the overcoming company (12:13). His pursuit of the woman, Zion, as his very first act indicates his great rage against her victorious offspring, the man-child. This act, of course, is also indicative of the latter’s key importance in the book. God comes to Zion’s aid and she is miraculously delivered from his hands (12:14-16).
     The devil is enraged and goes off to make war against the rest of her offspring. This group also seems to be an overcoming company, but perhaps not of the same caliber and maturity as the group of first-fruit saints. We might wonder if many or even most of the "first fruits" are now offered up to Christ in martyrdom (Exo. 23:19). The Bible does say that "they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death" (12:11).
     The scholar, Keener, tells us that this awesome end-day struggle is mentioned in the famous Dead Sea Scrolls. He points out that the scrolls often bear witness to how Satan/Belial will unleash his full wrath against God’s people in the last days. (17)
     We see that these believing and victorious people of the end-day have two great qualifications. They "obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus" (12:17). There will be no "cheap grace" for these saints. Contrary to what the church has often proclaimed, law and grace can now work together in beautiful harmony. These saints know that to believe is to obey, and to obey is to believe. They fully reflect the "obedience of faith" that Paul speaks of in Romans 1:5.
     How can we summarize the incredible and mysterious figure of the man-child? What we likely see is the emergence of the new man in Christ, the completed new creation, the end-day maturity of Christ’s body (cf. Eph. 4:13). As we have seen, this new man is made up of Jewish and Gentile parts, according to Ephesians 2:15 & 3:6.
     This completed humanity, or mature body of Christ, has been the longing of all creation since the fall. Paul says concerning this: "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed... We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time" (Rom. 8:18-19, 22). This picture surely represents the completion of one of our Lord’s great purposes; the formation of a new man in Christ.

     We learn in Revelation that as soon as the devil is cast down to earth, the mysterious beast figure arises (cf. 2 Thess.2:3-8). This First Beast with his crowns, horns and blasphemy, certainly seems a fulfillment of Daniel’s visions and interpretations (Dan. 7:2-8). The crowns and horns all speak of great authority and power from the devil, designed to establish his counterfeit kingdom (13:2). The blasphemous name on each head likely has some reference to the Roman emperors of the first century AD. Several wanted to be addressed as "God" and "Son of God." Domitian desired to be addressed and worshipped as Dominus et Deus "Lord and God." (18)
     Farmer remarks concerning the Roman Empire’s ‘absurd pretension to divine honors’ by saying: "Here we have a super-empire (ten crowns), an absolute concentration of power to the point of divinization demanding that all the inhabitants of the earth render him homage." (19)
      Of course we remember this very tendency in Nebuchadnezzar, who was the head or beginning of this system. In Daniel 3:5-6 we read what the king had commanded: "As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace." We can assume that the beastly government of the last days will make similar and even more urgent demands than Nebuchadnezzar once made.
      One of the heads of this beastly system has been mortally wounded in the past, but now this wound is healed (13:3). We will see a fuller development of this in 17:9-11. We should bear in mind that this wound may be more than a death stroke, and likely represents some great spiritual defeat in the past.
     This Beast apparently will head up a