Ralph Porter

© 2002

    It is difficult for us to grasp the significance of the final chapters of Revelation. Our reality is so far removed from the reality of the original readers. Its fulfillment seems so far removed from our concerns and our experience. Sometimes we may even find ourselves questioning whether we want to give up "the good life" we enjoy for this future "pie in the sky bye and bye" stuff! We're pretty comfortable now. Why would we want to change?

    The generation John is writing to, as well as the generation of those final days John is writing about, isn't vacillating about whether they want God to interrupt "the good life"!! There's nothing good about what they're going through! It's worse than anything we could ever imagine! It's worse than any generation has ever endured until now! And some groups of believers have had to endure some pretty rough times!

    The book of Revelation was written to God's people in the midst of suffering to encourage them by helping them understand God's perspective on what is happening to them. John has written for three reasons:

    (1)     To encourage God's people when they're suffering because of their faith.

    (2)     To inform them of the outcome of the conflict in which they are participating.

    (3)     To motivate them to remain faithful in spite of their affliction.

    To accomplish his purposes, John presents God's perspective on the events affecting them. Although it may not be apparent in the midst of hard times, Christ as Judge of the universe is judging His creation. God controls the world! Although His people may suffer because of Him, God is even in control of those who are in rebellion. In the end, He will be victorious. Those who are faithful will participate in His great victory.

    The key to understanding the whole book is the opening revelation of the Judge Who is ruling the universe from His heavenly throne (1:9-20). John is instructed to write concerning:

        The things you have seen:               Christ the Judge                              1

        The things which are now:             The Judge judges the church          2-3

        The things which shall be later:      The Judge judges the nations         4-22

    The predominant theme throughout the book is the judgment administered by Christ, the Judge. God is in control of the entire universe. Though the nations rage, their struggle is futile (Ps. 2). He will judge them. He will win the conflict. Those who are faithful will see the day of vengeance and will participate with Him in His victory over the nations. John is given a glimpse of wave after wave of judgment that the Judge will pour out upon the earth.

    After the initial description of the judgments which will come on earth, John is told to repeat the description of the judgment from a different perspective. He repeats the scene from the perspective of Satan's program, which seeks to bring about the failure of God's program. That program is presented in 12:1 to 13:18.

    Since people have chosen to submit to Satan's authority rather than God's, the divine program requires judgment. God's response to Satan's program in described in 14:1-18:24. The majority of that judgment focuses on the participants in Satan's program (14:6-18:24).

    The general judgment, which all people on earth will experience is described first(14-16). That is followed by two specific effects of that judgment: the description of the judgment of the world's counterfeit religious system, the prostitute, who tries to exalt the creature rather than the Creator (17). Finally, the prosperous city that has supported the prostitute will be destroyed (18).

Devastation   1-8

    After the destruction of the religious system, a totally different description is given of the destruction of the great city, likewise called Babylon. This Babylon is described as a great commercial center which is judged by God and destroyed (18:1-2a). Although the great society was built around its prosperous economy, only what is built on God lasts forever!

    It may be that the judgment comes against the city in which the prostitute had functioned, because of its identification with her. Once again, the city where the prostitute dwells may refer to a literal, restored Babylon, or to a figurative "Babylon" that assumes the role of Babylon. Although there's a strong possibility of literal fulfillment, either Rome or Jerusalem are attractive candidates for a figurative fulfillment in the light of contemporary history.

    The wealth of this prosperous city is described in terms that seem more appropriate for a middle-eastern city, rather than a European center. However, nothing like this city exists in the middle-east today. That's one of the reasons we expect a revival of Babylon, such as that proposed by Saddam Hussein. In 1948 a nation was born in the desert and modern Israel is the result. Even more startling is the birth in the jungle of the major city of Brasilia, where nothing existed before. That took place in about two years. What could happen if the wealth of middle-eastern oil interests were to unite to give birth to a modern city? Such a center could rise up overnight!

Lamentation   9-19

    The nations that did business with her mourn her destruction (18:9-11, 17b-24). They have nowhere to sell their wares and they have lost a major trading partner.

Motivation   20-24

    Why is she judged? The explanation is given several times (8, 20, 24). God isn't asleep! He has observed the suffering of His people and the persecution by the surrounding nations that have provoked it. In the end God judges those who have afflicted the saints. He wins! And we triumph with Him!

Response from heaven   19:1-10

    Praise for God   19:1-6.    A glimpse is given of the heavenly preparations for the final scene. God is praised by the multitude of those present in heaven because of His just judgment as demonstrated in Revelation 14-18. The worshipers present before Him have just witnessed His just judgment. The parallels between their testimony and the specifics of the preceding judgment make clear that they have witnessed what has just occurred on earth. God has judged those who have persecuted His people. He wins! The victory is His and the hosts of heaven praise Him.

    People who triumph in the conflicts and athletic competitions of this world, rejoice because of what they've accomplished. But no matter how great the accomplishment, someone greater comes along later and breaks their record. Many of us remember when an Olympic runner first broke the four minute mile. Since that time it has become common, and others have broken that record numerous times. How many of us even remember the name of the first to break that barrier? However, when Jesus achieves this victory, He reigns forever! No one will ever overthrow Him and no one will ever break His record!

    Wedding Celebration   19:7-10.    Following His triumph, the time comes for the wedding of the Lamb to His bride, the church (7-8). Preparations are made for the celebration of the wedding supper. Two groups of blessed, content people are present at the wedding: His bride comes with Him (7-8) and the invited guests have joined them for the celebration (9; Matt. 25:1-11).

    John can't help but respond to the scene by worshiping (10). He acknowledges that this is right; he is motivated to worship. The mystery is resolved. It's good! Let's worship God for He is good! As John sees the event unfolding, he is so moved that he is tempted to worship before the messenger but is warned not to. Only God is to be worshiped for this program.

Preparation for millennium   19:11-20:3

    At last the heavens open and Christ descends to prepare the earth for the establishment of the millennial kingdom.

    Second coming of Christ   19:11-16.    His coming back is appropriately depicted as the return of a great warrior (11-13). When He returns, He completes the work He began. He is accompanied by the heavenly armies (14) and He is ready to judge the nations (15). He speaks with authority. He strike down the nations. He rules with an iron scepter. He administers God's judgment. He is King of kings and Lord of lords!

    Victory over the nations   19:17-21.    The vultures are summoned to gather, in order to clean up the flesh that will be left behind when the battle is over (17-18). The nations turn to fight against Him (19). Christ triumphs over the nations by His mere spoken command. At the conclusion of the battle, the beast and the false prophet are cast into the lake of fire (20). The remaining armies are killed by the sword coming out of Christ's mouth (21a). His spoken command is sufficient to defeat them. Finally the vultures gather to enjoy a great feast (21b)!

    Binding of Satan   20:1-3.    Satan is taken captive. He is taken into the abyss where he is chained so as not to be able to deceive the nations for a thousand years.

    We can look at God's victory, and the destruction of the city, and respond, "That's nice!" We could even be impressed, look at the heavenly praise and say, "Won't that be a wonderful worship service? I don't want to sleep in that Sunday morning!" But we could observe all that's going on here and still walk away saying, "So what?" "How will this change my life tomorrow a.m.?" We don't get it!!! Since we have never experienced such severe persecution, it's impossible for us to really understand the emotions of the heavenly scene.

    A large percentage of both the New Testament and the Old Testament Scriptures could be appropriately described as "persecution literature." They were written to God's people in the midst of affliction, to encourage them to trust God and remain faithful in spite of hard times.

    That was the tone of Daniel's response to the visions he received. He couldn't comprehend how God could allow His people to be defeated by the beast, even for a little while. Though God assured Him that the eternal benefits of remaining faithful would far surpass the temporary affliction, Daniel was still troubled by the affliction God allowed to come upon His people. "How can you let this happen?!!"

    Ezekiel received a similar revelation. He was given a little book to eat. When he consumed it, it seemed sweet to the taste, but in the stomach it became bitter. What appeared to be good-that God would correct the injustices they observed among God's people-he was troubled by the pain that would come with it!

    Habakkuk observes what's going on among his people and calls out for God to do something: "How long will you let this go on?!!" But when God tells him what He plans to do to correct the abuses among His people, Habakkuk protests: "How could you

    John sees the affliction to come and is afflicted by what he sees. Yet when he sees out it all works out, he can't help himself. He must respond by worshiping with the hosts of heaven.

    But similarly,

    Ultimately our faithfulness results in glory and praise to God (1 Peter 1:3-7; Rom. 8:18). Whose side are YOU on?

"Amen! Hallelujah!

    Praise our God

        All you who serve Him

        All you who fear Him

            -small and great alike!"   (19:4, 5)

"Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns!

    Let's rejoice! 

        Let's celebrate! 

            Let's give Him glory!"   (19:6-7)