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Home , Lake of fire, Revelation 21, Revelation 22

Revelation- Chapters 17 to 22, The Parousia (Royal Coming)

Judgment of Prostitute/Harlot and - :1-18 • The great prostitute = the of chapter 16 = the beast from the earth (2nd) of chapter 13. This prostitute represents religious power that is contrary to (all false religions and spirituality, false , and the apostate church). She appears attractive and entices all to come to her. But she is the enemy of Christ and the true Church and tries to destroy Christ’s Church. • Apostasy and Idolatry are often spoken of in the Scriptures as in terms of adultery and other forms of sexual immorality. • See Hosea 4:10-15. See Leviticus 18 and 20 where God speaks out against such pagan practices and deals out punishments.

• The beast, which the prostitute rides, the first one from the sea, with the 7 heads and 10 horns represents social/political/economic power contrary to Christ. • Verse 9- 7 heads are 7 mountains/hills; this is a reference to the 7 hills of Rome. • Verse 10- 7 kings (some have tried to identify with specific Roman Emperors like Nero and Domitian and others with vary lists of the Emperors and kings), but 7 is here symbolic of all earthly powers and rulers who claim spiritual authority by which they justify and sanction their despotic dominion over their subjects and in particular against the Church of Christ through out time until Christ returns.

• Verse 14- Christ The Lamb is Victorious!

The Fall of & Rejoicing of the Saints- :1-24 • Verses 1-8- The prostitute, Babylon (Rome at the time John wrote) receives her final judgment and God’s people are called out from her. • Verses 9-19- The kings of the earth lament over Fallen Babylon. • Verses 20-24- The Saints of God rejoice that Babylon is judged!

A Song of Victory and the Marriage Feast of the Lamb- :1-10 • Verses 1-4- The hallelujah chorus praise God for His salvation and victory! • Verse 5- A call for all God’s people to Worship • Verse 6-10- The Marriage Feast of the Lamb. The Lord’s Supper is a foretaste and participation in this great feast! o Mt 9:15 (Mk 2:19; Lk 5:34) refer to as the bridegroom. o Mt 22:2-14- is kingdom parable of a wedding feast. o Eph 5:22-33 compares marriage to relationship between Christ and the Church.

The of Christ at the End- Revelation 19:11-21 • Verses 11- 16 tell of the appearing of the Word of God (see John 1); the King of kings and Lord of lords! • Verses 17-21 summarize the concluding warfare.

1 The Millennium/The Era- :1-6 This section covers some events that we have already seen referenced to already in the Three 7-fold Visions.

• Key- the key appears in 1:18 & 3:7 in the hands of Jesus as the One with ultimate authority to bind and loose. Here an angel is given this key to the “bottomless pit” or the Abyss (a temporary holding place for demons until the End, see Luke 8:31 & 2Peter 2:4- contrast with Rev. 20:10). o Contrast this with Rev. 9 where is given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit.

• Binding of Satan- the holding back of Satan and his demons from accusing, lying, deceiving, and destroying God’s people; God’s people are free in Christ! Though he still is dangerous and seeks to devour where he can (1Peter 5:8-9). o This took place during the life of ministry of Jesus Christ culminating in His death, resurrection, and ascension. o In Matthew 12:22-32, Jesus speaks of the binding of Satan in reference to His ministry, when He is accused of casting out demons by Satan’s power (this is also found in Mark 3:22-30 and Luke 11:14-23). o In John 12:31-32, Jesus speaks of casting out Satan. o See Rev. 12:5-17- Satan is cast out from before the throne of God and Christ has ascended to be our Advocate.

• Thousand years- not a literal 1,000 years, but symbolic for a complete period of time marking the time of Christ’s first “Advent” until His second “Advent.” o 10 x 10 x 10= 1,0000. It has been symbolic for completeness in other Jewish literature o Read 2 Peter 3:8 and Psalm 90:4- these are the only other direct uses of 1000 years in the . But Psalm 50:10 & Isaiah 7:23 use “thousand” to convey sense of completeness.

• 1st Resurrection- the whole people of God have experienced the 1st Resurrection at conversion to Christ; a “spiritual resurrection” in which they were raised from the deadness of sin and transgressions; those who share in the first resurrection will not be overcome by the 2nd Death (this is eternal separation from God in or the Lake of Fire Rev. 20:14). . o Read John 5:19-30; 11:25-26 o Read Romans 6:1-11; Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 2:11-13 & 3:1-4

Battle of and the Final Doom of Satan- Revelation 20:7-10 • Satan is released for a final assault as pictured in the Three 7-fold Visions.

• Gog and Magog- symbolize evil forces, people, and nations who are against God and His people.

2 o See Ezekiel 39 and 39- God says that they will rise up against His people Israel in the later days so that the nations may know Yahweh as the One who delivers Israel and vindicates His holiness.

• Why will God permit this final fling of destruction by Satan? o God will be Glorified as the One Who Saves the Church and gets rid of Satan. o The Church, the people of God in Christ will follow in Christ’s Way- Suffering 1st and then Glory.

The Bodily Resurrection and the - Revelation 20:11-15 • “Him who was seated on the throne”- the Father; see Rev. 5:6-7 or the Son Jesus Christ the Lamb; see John 5:22-23; Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Corinthians 5:10; and Romans 14:10. o The authority to Judge belongs to God the Father, who has given this authority to His Son Jesus Christ, who suffered and died for all humanity’s sin. The Father and Son are One and act together in this as in all things. o See John 5:19; 10:30; and Rev. 6:15-17.

• “Book of Deeds”- the record of the things done by a person good or evil by which people will be judged by God. Unbelievers will be judged by all their evil deeds. Believers are covered by Christ thus only their deeds done in Christ, in faith and love are recorded. o See also Matthew 25:31-46.

• “”- the record of those who belong to Christ, the faithful who are covered by the Blood of the Lamb and will receive eternal life; these are those who have faith in Christ. o See Rev. 3:5; 7:9-17

• “Death and gave up the dead”- this refers to the universal bodily resurrection at the end. Those in Christ to Eternal Life in a New Heavens and New Earth. Those not in Christ to the Lake of Fire. o 1 Corinthians 15 also gives a great presentation of the bodily resurrection of Christians.

• “The Lake of Fire”- the ; eternal judgment and suffering.

3 The New Heaven and the New Earth- :1-8 • A New Creation, a new physical reality! • God dwells with man; they are His people; and God will be with them as God! (John 1:14 God Tabernacles with His people) • God will wipe away all tears! • Death no more! No mourning, no crying, no pain! • The former things have passed away! • Verse 8 describes the unbelievers judged by their deeds.

The New - Revelation 21:9-27 • is the Bride of Christ = all the people of God in Christ = the Church! • How is she described? • The Temple and Light of the New Jerusalem are God and the Lamb!

The Garden Restored- :1-5 • See Genesis 2. • See John 4:10-14 on the “water of life” and Ezekiel 47:1-12

The Epilogue- Revelation 22:6-21 • “These Words are Trustworthy and True!” • “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” (Jesus is speaking this). • The prophetic message of the book is recounted- Repent, turn away from sin AND Trust in Christ for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

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