Revelation (Written)

Friday, 2 July 2021

And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, “Amen! Alleluia!” Revelation 19:4

The praises to the Lord God are seen to continue in this verse. In the previous three verses, it mentioned the great multitude in heaven. Now, it says, “And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures.”

These twenty-four elders and the four living creatures mentioned first in chapter 4 are brought back into focus one last time. As in verses such as 5:8, when there is an exclamation of the Lord’s glory, it says they, “fell down and worshiped God.”

This is an act of praising God who accomplished the victory and He alone is ultimately to receive the credit for what has occurred in the destruction of Babylon the great.

The word is written in advance to show His intent and purpose for that to come about, regardless as to the way in which it happens (meaning an invading army, a nuclear blast, a naturally occurring catastrophe, or so on). Ultimately, the judgment on the harlot is of God, and He is to be worshiped for it. Of God, however, it says, “who sat on the throne.”

This then is referring to Jesus. It says in Hebrews 12 –

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1, 2

The “right hand of the throne of God” means the position of authority and power. It is not a physical location, but rather a designation. Further, God is Spirit and therefore doesn’t have parts. The Bible tells us that no man has seen God at any time (1 John 4:12), it also says that no man has seen nor can see God (1 Timothy 6:16).

Even Moses could only see the Lord’s glory as it passed by Him. He had to stand in the cleft of a rock, and that rock is Jesus. We can only see God’s glory if we are hidden in Christ Jesus.

Therefore, this verse in Revelation is referring to the Person of Jesus. He is the image of the invisible God according to the book of Colossians and He is the one who reveals the unseen Father to us. He is the God/Man. Therefore, the praise is directed to Him, “saying, ‘Amen! Alleluia!’”

The words speak of surety and praise. “Amen” can be paraphrased as “So let it be.” “Alleluia” means “Praise the Lord.” It is Jesus who is the Amen and to Him our praises are to be directed. The heavenly scene before John confirms this to us, setting the pattern for our own worship and praise.

For now, when the elders and living creatures fall down in worship, they first exclaim “Amen!” This is in response to the statements which come in combination to the first two “Alleluias.” Their proclamation of “Amen” is meant to emphatically confirm what has been said. This then is a resounding approval of the cries of the great multitude.

After this word of confirmation, the third “Alleluia” is uttered. This corresponds to the third cup of the Passover ceremony – the Birkat Hamazon (Grace after meals). It accompanies the thought “I will redeem.” Thus, it is the cup of redemption. Redemption is the act of re-purchasing something that was sold. Man was sold to sin through the disobedience of Adam. But God, through Jesus Christ, has redeemed man from that fallen state.

This was prefigured by God’s redemptive act on Israel when they were brought through the waters of the Red Sea, but it is realized in its fullness in the act of removing the saved believer from Babylon the great – redeeming them to God. Thus, the penalty of sin has been paid and man stands justified before God because of Jesus.

The third cup is realized in the delivery of the people from the problem of sin. As the smoke of Babylon rises forever and ever, so the greatness of the work of the Lord rises even higher.

Life application: At times, we hear people complain about God being unfair for letting little children die, for allowing cancer to take a spouse, or for some other reason that affects someone personally. But the fact is that we got ourselves into the mess that we are in. God owes us nothing. On the other hand, God has given of Himself to bring us out of this fallen state, and to restore us to Himself.

To blame God for the tragedies of the world is a foolish and selfish way of looking at our situation. When we realize that God has set forth the plan, seen it through, and will continue to see it through until restoration is realized, how can we do anything but praise Him. It is through His mighty work that man is redeemed from his fallen state. Hallelujah! Thank God for what He has done for us! Thank the Lord for JESUS!

Lord God, it is wonderful to look back on the Exodus account and see that all the things You did for Israel only prefigured what You would do for all of humanity. The state of sin which had us in bondage is removed from us when we call on Jesus. Someday we will even be from its presence when we dwell in Your presence forever! Hallelujah and Amen!

Thursday, 1 July 2021

Again they said, “Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!” Revelation 19:3

The rejoicing over Babylon the great continues now with the words, “Again they said.” The Greek reads, “And a second time they said.” There is specificity to the word because what is said is forming a pattern that will be explained in a minute. For now, what they said is, “Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever.” The Greek reads “to the ages of the ages.”

The rejoicing over Babylon is great as her burning reaches skyward. It is as if her destruction is an offering before the Lord as the billows rise. The thought of smoke rising in this manner takes the reader back to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah –

“And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the Lord. ²⁸ Then he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain; and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land which went up like the smoke of a furnace. ²⁹ And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot had dwelt.” Genesis 19:27-29

Concerning these “Alleluias,” they are forming a pattern that corresponds to the four expressions of deliverance promised by God in Exodus 6:6, 7 which state –

“Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the Lord; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. ⁷ I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.”

These two verses, given by God to His people form the basis of the works of Jesus in redemptive history and which culminate in the joyous expressions found in Revelation 19. Though not found in Scripture, it is worthy of note that during the Passover ceremony, the people of Israel have four cups of wine present during the rite. The first cup is the Kiddush (meaning “sanctification”). It accompanies the thought “I will bring out.” Thus, it is the cup of salvation.

It was prefigured in the “taking out of the people from Egypt,” but it is realized in the act of removing from God’s people Babylon the great, the system of false religion, and into the kingdom of Christ. Thus, believers are “sanctified” in the presence of a holy God. When the first “Alleluia” was given, along with it the great multitude proclaimed, “Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God!”

The first cup is realized in the salvation and thus “sanctification” of the people as they are removed from the penalty of sin.

Now, we see the second “Alleluia.” This corresponds with the second cup of the Passover, the Maggid (meaning “preacher”). It accompanies the thought “I will deliver.” Thus, it is the cup of deliverance.

This was prefigured by the “delivery from Egyptian slavery,” but it is realized in the deliverance from slavery to sin and the oppression of Babylon the great. When this “Alleluia” is given, the great multitude proclaims, “Her smoke rises forever and ever.” Just as the Egyptians were destroyed and unable to recapture the Israelites, Babylon the great is destroyed and will never again be able to harm God’s people – her smoke rises forever and ever.

The second cup is realized in the delivery of the people from the power of sin.

There are two more cups that come during the Passover ceremony, and they continue to prefigure the heavenly chorus as the people of God move closer to their ultimate state in His presence.

Life application: The Bible is a marvelous book, filled with patterns and typology. And it is all centered on the Person and work of the Messiah. Be sure to read it daily, contemplate it always, and let it fill your heart and soul with the hope that it provides to man. The restoration of all things is coming, and it is the Bible that gives us the grand plan in how that is being worked out.

God is doing a great thing for His children. To become one of them, call out for God’s offer of peace and reconciliation. Call out for JESUS.

Thank You Lord for the surety that we are not waiting on the coming of the Messiah, but on the second coming of the Messiah! We have in Jesus complete freedom from the penalty of sin. We can grow in holiness because the power of sin has been removed from us. How we long for the day when we are removed from the presence of sin as well! Yes, how we look forward to that day! Amen.

Wednesday, 30 June 2021

For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.” Revelation 19:2

The loud voice of the great multitude in heaven that began to cry out praise to God in the previous verse now continues with the words, “For true and righteous are His judgments.” The word translated as “true” has already been seen five times in Revelation. It is an adjective that connects what is true with its source of origin. It is thus that which is genuine.

The word translated as “righteous” speaks of that which conforms to God’s own being. As these describe His judgments, it means that they are made in connection with His character and nature. What has been determined by Him is in perfect accord with who He is. Of His judgments, they next cry out, “because He has judged the great harlot.”

This takes the reader back to Chapter 17 –

“Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, ‘Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, ² with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.’” Revelation 17:1, 2

From there, Chapters 17 and 18 detailed the state of Babylon the great, exposing her wickedness, and then detailing the Lord’s judgments upon her. These came in complete accord with His perfect and holy nature. She reaped what was deserving because it was she “who corrupted the earth with her fornication.”

The word translated as “corrupted” is in the imperfect tense (literally “was corrupting”) demonstrating the continuous nature of her fornication. Through her actions, the earth was continuously being corrupted.

One can think of the false teaching of Roman Catholicism. Instead of sharing the gospel, which is by grace through faith, she is teaching a false works-based gospel. Instead of revealing Christ to the world, she is consolidating power and setting forth agendas. In her actions, there is only a corrupting influence, hidden behind the guise of religion. The corrupting nature of Babylon the great brought only corruption, “and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.”

These words demonstrate that, above all, the judgment against her is because of the great blood guilt she bears. She has been behind the death of innumerable martyrs through “holy wars,” inquisitions, neglect of the gospel to those who should have heard it, and on and on. In Revelation, one can see that idolatry and persecutions stand as her most eminent traits as her influence has spread out and corrupted the earth.

The words of this verse witness against Babylon the great, but they also are a fulfillment of the promise made to the martyrs recorded in Chapter 6 –

“When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. ¹⁰ And they cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’ ¹¹ Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.” Revelation 6:9-11

The Lord is the Avenger of Blood of those who were slain by this harlot, and He acted to right the wrongs done against them. Of note is that the Hebrew word for “kinsman redeemer” and for “avenger of blood” is the same, goel. In other words, Jesus Christ is both our Redeemer and our Avenger.

As such, His judgments are both true and righteous. His judgment of Babylon is the obvious outcome for her because of her violations against His redeemed. She was judged in righteousness and her judgment is both complete and final.

Life application: God’s nature is seen in many more moral virtues, love, holiness, righteousness, truth, and so on. Love is one of them, but to proclaim the love of God only, without proclaiming His other moral qualities, is to proclaim a heretical view of His nature. It is like denying the Trinity because God’s nature must be considered in its fullness, or one has created a god in his own mind and to fit his own desires.

This verse proclaims two of his moral virtues – righteousness and justice. As these express His very nature, it means that judgment for wrongdoing must come from Him. He cannot arbitrarily overlook offenses. All must be met and judged according to His perfect nature.

As there are many chapters between the saints call for their blood to be avenged, and the actual record of that having been done, we can understand other aspects of God’s nature. He is orderly because He has a predetermined concept of when His justice and righteousness will be displayed. He is patient, not wanting any to perish, but to come to a saving knowledge of His work through Jesus. He is merciful, not taking vengeance immediately on the sins committed by the people of the world. In fact, if He did, no person would be alive because we are all fallen, and we would all be destroyed immediately. He is also holy, full of grace, and truthful. Each of these qualities is revealed in the pages of Scripture.

God is great, and so it is of the utmost importance that we do not lose sight of any of His moral virtues or attempt to place one above the others. They are a part of His very nature. To skew His nature can only lead others to a false understanding of Him. As you read the Bible, think on how God’s nature is revealed in His actions and in how those actions are presented. In this, you will get a much fuller sense of what God is truly like. When you get this better grasp of Him, you can then more fully appreciate the incarnation. God’s expression of Himself through the incarnation gives us the fullest sense of who He is. What you understand concerning God is perfectly revealed in our Lord, JESUS.

Lord God, You have given us a detailed and accurate revelation of Yourself in the pages of the Bible. Help us to contemplate who You are, what You are like, and to then always act in accord with what we see recorded there. Help us to be faithful followers of You. May we emulate our Lord Jesus who is the full expression of who You are. Thank You for our Lord Jesus. Amen.

Tuesday, 29 June 2021

After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! Revelation 19:1

Different source texts will read a little differently here –

And after these things I heard a great voice of a great multitude in the heaven, saying, ‘Alleluia! the salvation, and the glory, and the honour, and the power, is to the Lord our God; YLT

After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God; NASB 1995

With the variations, the verse can now be analyzed. The words, “After these things,” introduce a new train of thought into the narrative as has been seen elsewhere. In this case, the destruction of Babylon the great has just been noted, now a great rejoicing in the victory of the Lord over her comes into the narrative. As John says, “I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven.”

The vision starts with hearing, “a great voice, like voice of a multitude in heaven,” not with a single voice. The answer to who these are is found in the previous chapter, verse 20 –

“Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!”

It is the sound of the many worshipers there before the throne in heaven as they raise their voices in praise, “saying, Alleluia!”

This is the Greek form of the Hebrew words Hallelujah. That comes from the words halal, or praise (literally to shine), and Yah, a shortened form of the divine name Yehovah. This is the first of four times the word will be used in the New Testament. All four uses will be in this chapter of Revelation. The multitude are together praising the self-existent Creator God, the I AM THAT I AM of Exodus 3:14, and who is then proclaimed throughout the Old Testament.

“Hallelujah” is the phrase that today most closely unites believers from all over the world. Anywhere that the true God is proclaimed, a few words from Hebrew are almost universally understood. Chief among them are “Hallelujah” and “Amen.” These two words, in particular, seem to transfer to all languages on earth, and they will unite all souls in heaven’s praise as well.

Next, it says, “Salvation and glory and honor and power.”

Salvation – the Greek word is sótéria. It is that which is brought to the people through the workings of God in Christ. For example, Paul says –

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” Romans 1:16

Glory – it is the Greek word doxa. When ascribed to God, it conveys the thought of His infinite and intrinsic worth.

Honor – In Greek, the word is timé. It speaks of that which has value in the eyes of the beholder. Thus, in the case of God, it is that which is of infinite value that is being ascribed to Him.

Power – The Greek word is dunamis. It speaks of the ability to perform. When speaking of the power of God, it signifies His infinite ability to work out His plans effectively. There is nothing that He sets forth to accomplish that He will also not perform.

Each of these attributes is then said to “belong to the Lord our God!” They are His possession in their fullest sense, and thus it is acknowledged as such by His creatures. His redemptive plans were spoken forth, and He has brought them to pass because of His ability to do so.

Life application: The heavenly congregation was told in the previous chapter to rejoice at the fall of Babylon and now they do so in a resounding cry of exultation. But who is the Lord God that they are praising? A clue is found in Jesus’ words of Luke.

The word “salvation” in the Old Testament is quite often translated from the word yeshuah. This is the Hebrew name of Jesus, or Yeshua. Throughout the Bible, hints of His coming are given in the Old Testament and puns or plays on His name are given in the New. A good example of one such pun is from Jesus’ own mouth –

“And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.’” Luke 19:9

“Salvation” came to the house of Zacchaeus, both in the spiritual sense, but it also came in the literal sense when Jesus (Yeshua/salvation) came to dine with him.

Along with “salvation” the people also proclaim that “glory,” “honor,” and “power” belong to the Lord God. Each of these descriptions is used both of the Lord (Yehovah) in the Old Testament and to Jesus in the New. In fact, in Isaiah, the Lord says that He would not give His glory to another. The New Testament descriptions of Jesus’ glory are then confirmations of His deity.

The Lord has revealed Himself to mankind clearly and without confusion. He is the image of the invisible God, and in Him dwells all of the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Alleluia! He is JESUS!

How wonderful it is to know that we have You, O Lord Jesus, to reveal to us the love and greatness of Your Father. You have bridged the gap between the finite and the infinite so that we can now have a Mediator who both understands our weaknesses and who also is able to petition for us to our Heavenly Father. What a great and splendid Lord You are. Amen.

Monday, 28 June 2021

And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth.” Revelation 18:24

Chapter 18 closes out with more reasons why Babylon will face destruction. In verses 18:2 & 3, we read these reasons for her destruction –

She has become:
a dwelling place of demons
a prison for every foul spirit
a cage for every unclean and hated bird
Also:
all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication
the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her
the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury

That list is now rounded out beginning with, “And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints.” A logical question to ask would be, “Is this referring only to the time during the tribulation, or is it referring to a succession of bloody events throughout history.” The answer is probably the latter.

The tribulation period is simply a reason for judgment on the world that was already deserved. As for Babylon the great, if indeed it is Rome (as is suggested here), this is not only a certain truth, it is one that has permeated her history.

Prophets, meaning those who speak forth the word of God, and saints, meaning those who have believed the gospel of Jesus Christ, have been slaughtered by Rome since the beginning of the church. She has been drunk with the blood of these faithful while she has sat in splendid luxury.

Along with these, the verse finishes with, “and of all who were slain on the earth.” As often occurs in the Bible, not every “every” means “every,” and not each instant of “all” means “all.” The words are used in the superlative sense to show that the very nature of the thing being described demonstrates great abundance.

In this case, the amount of blood that has been shed by Babylon the great has been so copious that it is as if everyone ever slain is included in her murders. The same thought is given by Jesus when He spoke to the leaders of Israel –

^“Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, ³⁵ that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. ³⁶ Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.” Matthew 23:34-36

Abel came long before the establishment of Israel, but the conduct of the leaders of Israel was such that the guilt of the blood of Abel could be said to have been heaped upon them. Such is the case with Rome. The list of her martyrs was great, and it will only become greater during the tribulation period. Therefore, the guilt is so great that all who were ever slain appear to lay in her streets.

Life application: The name Babylon comes from the word Babel which means “confusion.” Therefore, the idea is that the death of these righteous people comes from the confusion of what is right and proper. The confused thinking of the world finds its home in Babylon.

Babylon the great is a system of unrighteousness, false religion, unclear thinking, and confusion about God. It inevitably leads to the martyrdom of those who hold fast to God’s word and the truth that there is one way to God and only one.

And more, that path is found in the grace of God and not in works by man – as if man can earn his way back to God. Babylon the great rejected this path long ago, and when it joins together in the end times with all of the other world religions, there will be only a state of complete apostasy from the truth in that body. Those who hold to the message of God in Christ will face martyrdom for their faith.

God has provided the way, He has done the work, and the offer of peace is made. It is a simple offer of grace that is to be received by faith. Come to the cross of Christ. Come to JESUS.

O God, we have rejected Your truth since the very beginning. Our first father, Adam, rejected it and we came under the penalty of sin and death. Cain rejected it, and killed his brother. Throughout the ages, we have turned our backs to You. And yet You sent us Jesus to lead us back to You and to forgive us. Thank You, O God, Amen.