I Corinthians

We have gone through the whole Book of Revelation chapter by chapter.  Today, we come to the final message on the book, as we look at the last chapter.

Revelation is one of the most important books of the Bible.  It is also one of the most neglected books of the Bible.  Many never preach from this book.

It the only book of the Bible that promises a special blessing.  I trust, as you have been with me through this study, that you have received a blessing.

Revelation 22 brings us, not just to the end of the Book of Revelation.  It brings us to the end of the Bible.  If you don’t know where it is, go to the last book of the Bible and turn to the last page.

Today, we are going to look at the last words of this incredible revelation.

Last words are always important.  How well do you know Bible trivia?  I want to test your knowledge.  What were the last words before Jesus died?  His last words were a prayer.

Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. (Luke 23:46 NIV)

What were the last words before Jesus ascended into heaven?  His last words were a prediction.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. (Acts 1:8-9 NIV).

Today, we see what are the last words of Jesus in the Bible.  They are found in the Book of Revelation.  His last words are “I am coming soon” (Revelation 22:20 NIV).  Adrian Rogers calls that “the Bible’s last prophecy.”[1]

Revelation 22 gives us the last words of the Word of God.  They give us the final words of God to man.

The last two weeks we have been looking at heaven.  We talked about what heaven will be like, but John does not end his book describing the glories of heaven.

He could have done that, but he didn’t. The last part of the Book of Revelation is application.

We have seen some incredible prophecies and visions found in this book.  We have seen visions of angels and demons.

We have seen visions of Satan, the great red dragon with the long tail, who tried to eat a pregnant woman’s baby and then went after her other children.

We have seen monstrous politicians on earth who persecute and slaughter believers on the earth.

We have seen terrifying visions of judgment falling on the earth and all kinds of different plagues on the land, on the sea, in the sky and on people themselves.

We have seen Jesus returning triumphantly as King of kings and Lord of lords with the armies of heaven.  We have seen Him ruling on the earth for a thousand years with his saints.

We have seen a final rebellion and fire falling from heaven.  We have seen a terrifying scene of the Great White Throne Judgment, as God sits on his throne, opens the books and decides the eternal destiny of sinful people.

We have seen the earth passing away and a new heaven and earth created.  We discussed what life will be like in heaven with God for all eternity.  Now, it is time for some applications.

How should we respond in light of the truths of this book?  How should it change our lives?  What impact should this book have on us personally?

How should believers respond to this revelation?  How should unbelievers respond to it?  That is all addressed in Revelation 22.  Today, I want to look at five final applications, as we conclude our study of this book.

Five Final Applications

1) BELIEVE these prophetic words, because they are absolutely trustworthy.

The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.” (Revelation 22:6 NIV)

Jesus is called “faithful and true” (Revelation 19:11 KJV).  This book is also called “faithful and true” (Revelation 22:6).  What is true of the Living Word is also true of the Written Word.   It is the same words in Greek.

We are told that this book is “trustworthy and true” (NIV) and we are told that from an angel.  What it says is true.  You can believe it.

Everything in the book is true.  It is going to happen.  Some things are described symbolically but they are all going to take place.  What is true of the Book of Revelation is true of the rest of the Bible.  It will all be fulfilled.

When it says that Jesus is coming back soon and it says it three times in this chapter, it means He is coming back soon.

You say, “It has been two thousand years.  That does not seem soon.”  God’s timetable is different from ours (cf. II Peter 3:8-10) but it will happen.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but MY WORDS will never pass away. (Matthew 24:35 NIV) and these are His words.  Behold I am coming soon (Revelation 22:7, 12).

2) RESPECT these prophetic words, because they are inspired by God.

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll. (Revelation 22:18-19 NIV)

This book ends with a serious warning.  The Bible contains many warnings. The one in Revelation 22 is the last warning found in Scripture.  It is one of the strongest warnings found in Scripture.  It is a warning against doing two things.

It is a warning against ADDING WORDS to the book (Revelation 22:18).  It is a warning against TAKING AWAY WORDS from the book (Revelation 22:19). It is a double warning.  Some might be tempted to add words.  Some might be tempted to take away words.

It is specifically talking about the Book of Revelation (the words of the prophecy of THIS BOOK) but the same principle applies to every book of Scripture. It is interesting that the Bible begins and ends with this topic.

And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must NOT eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it YOU WILL CERTAINLY DIE.” (Gene3sis 2:16-17 NIV)

You will NOT CERTAINLY DIE,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:4-5 NIV)

Satan contradicted what God says.  God said, “you will certainly die.”  Satan said, “You will not certainly die.”  So, let’s talk about these two sins today.

First, there is the sin of ADDING to Scripture.  This is still happening today.  Some add tradition and say it is just as important as Scripture.  The Bible is not enough.

Genesis describes a marriage between a man and a woman.  That is really clear.  Some want to add the marriage of a man and a man or a woman and a woman.

Genesis says that God created everyone male and female.  Today, we are told that there are many more genders.  There is a joke that says, “God created man and woman.  Democrats created all of the other genders.”

The Bible says that if you believe in Jesus, you have eternal life.  Many will add, if you believe in Buddha or Muhammad, you will also be saved.

Some don’t just add doctrines but whole books of the Bible.  Mormons add Another Testament of Jesus Christ (the Book of Mormon) or The Pearl of Great Price.  That is what cultists do. They add false scriptures to true scriptures.

“Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 6 Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar (Proverbs 30:5-6 NIV).

Second, there is also the sin of TAKING AWAY from Scripture.  That is what Satan did in Genesis 3.  He said to Eve, “I know God said you would die if you eat from the fruit of the tree but don’t believe Him.  It is not true.”

Liberals take away from what God says all of the time.  They say that the Bible is unscientific.  One preacher said that pencils come with erasers, but the Bible does not come with an eraser.[2]

We can’t erase the parts of it that we don’t like or that offend us.  All of it is inspired by God.  We can’t edit out certain things or try to modernize the Bible.  That is what some denominations have done (Methodist Church)

By the way, this verse is proof that the Bible is inerrant.  If there are errors in it, you could take them out, but nothing is to be taken out or removed from the Word of God.

Here is the shocker.  Did you know that how you treat the Bible determines your eternal destiny?  How you treat God’s Word affects where you will spend eternity.  We we will see this in Revelation 22.  What should our attitude to Scripture be?

“These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who TREMBLE at my word. (Isaiah 66:2 NIV)

There are many different attitudes toward the Bible.  Some love it.  Some hate it.  Some are apathetic.  Some mock it but very few actually fear it.

Who does that these days?  I don’t see people in church doing this.  When was the last time that you trembled at God’s Word?  That is the type of person that God favors and blesses.

There is a good example in Scripture of mistreated God’s Word.  He was an OT king.  His name was Jehoiakim.  You can read about what he did in Jeremiah 36.  It is a fascinating story.

The word of the Lord came to the Prophet Jeremiah and God commanded him to write it down, so Jeremiah dictated it to a scribe named Baruch.  What did it say?  The country is sinful.  God is angry.  Judgment is coming.  The nation needs to repent.

Someone took it to the king.  The king had someone read it to him.  After he heard it, he was angry.  He cut it up with a knife and threw it into a fire.  His advisors told him not to burn it, but he did it anyway.

That is what we are told not to do in our passage in Revelation 22.  Notice what the punishment is.  The punishment fits the crime.

If anyone ADDS anything to the Revelation, God will ADD to that person the plagues described in this book.  If anyone TAKES AWAY from this book, God will TAKE AWAY some things from him.

You will suffer in this life (plagues) and in the next life. You will miss out on future blessings (tree of life and the holy city).  God warned that bad things would happen to Jehoiakim because of what he did.

He said, “his body will be thrown out and exposed to the heat by day and the frost by night” (Jeremiah 36:30).

What Jehoiakim did to the Scriptures was done to him.  He cut the Scriptures up and he was cut up by a sword and died.

He threw the Scriptures away.  His body was thrown away.  It was thrown over the city wall and he was not buried.[3]

Is this sin unforgivable?  No.  Any sin can be forgiven through repentance.  We saw that last week.  Murderers, idolaters, sexually immoral, and liars are excluded from heaven but this is talking about an unrepentant lifestyle.

King David was both a murderer and immoral and he will be in heaven.  Abraham was a liar and yet he will be in heaven.  John worships an angel.  He was an idolater and yet he will be in heaven

3) OBEY these prophetic words, because they guarantee a blessing.

Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll. (Revelation 22:7 NIV)

There is a special blessing promised to everyone who keeps the words of this book.  What does it mean to be blessed?  It doesn’t mean you will be healthy and wealthy, as some preachers say.  It doesn’t always mean that good things will happen to you.

Some of these Christians were martyred.  Jesus told some of them, “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer… Be faithful unto death” (Revelation 2:10 NIV).  You can have bad things happen to you and still be blessed.

A special blessing is promised here but notice who gets the blessing.  It is NOT a blessing just to everyone who reads the words of the book.

It is NOT a blessing just to everyone who hears the words of the book.  It is a blessing to everyone who KEEPS the words of the book.  We are told that twice (Revelation 1:3; 22:7).

Do you want to be blessed?  Keep the words of this book.  What does that mean?  How do you do that?

To keep it means to follow it.  It means to obey it.  It means to do what it says.  Apparently, Revelation is NOT a book that just gives us knowledge about future events.

Many look at Revelation that way.  The only thing they get out of the book is information and ammunition to use against other Christians who have a different viewpoint on bible prophecy.  Many just use it to debate other Christians.  That is a misuse of the book.

There are commands in this book.  There are some things we need to keep.  What are they?  I have never heard any preacher mention any.  Let’s look at three of them.  Three that stand out to me, although there are more.

One way to keep the words of this book is to REPENT.  Believers who live in sin are COMMANDED to repent. Are you living in sin?  Do you have unconfessed sin in your life?  Then, this book is for you.

Jesus wrote letters to seven churches in John’s day.  He told five out of seven churches to repent.  He was not talking to pagans.  He was talking to Christians.

Five out of seven is a high number.  That is like telling 71% of American churches today that they are out of the will of God and need to repent?  That would not go over too well.

Consider how far you have fallen! REPENT and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. (Revelation 2:5 NIV)

REPENT therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. (Revelation 2:16 NIV)

1 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they REPENT of her ways. (Revelation 2:21-23 NIV)

Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and REPENT. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. (Revelation 3:3 NIV)

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent (Revelation 3:19 NIV)

A second way to keep the words of this book is to PERSEVERE in the faith.  There is a lot in the book about perseverance.  Christians are defined by faithfulness.  They are faithful to Jesus until the end.

This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and REMAIN FAITHFUL TO JESUS. (Revelation 14:12 NIV).  Enduring patiently is a command.

Jesus said, “Since you have kept my COMMAND to ENDURE PATIENTLY, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth” (Revelation 3:10 NIV).

Jesus said, “Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; HOLD IT FAST.” (Revelation 3:3 NIV).  He said, “Hold On to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.” (Revelation 3:11 NIV).   He said, “HOLD FAST to what you have UNTIL I COME” (Revelation 2:25 NIV).

He said,” To the one who is victorious and does my will TO THE END, I will give authority over the nations” (Revelation 2:26 NIV).  Christians are defined in Revelation as those “who keep God’s commands and HOLD FAST their testimony about Jesus” (Revelation 12:17 NIV).

One of the big things to keep in the book is NOT denying Jesus’ name.  Jesus said, “you have kept my word and have not denied my name” (Revelation 3:8 NIV).

A third way to keep the words of this book is to LISTEN to the voice of the Holy Spirit.  Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Jesus says this seven times (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22).  Jesus also said it during his earthly ministry (Matthew 11:15; 13:9; 13:43; Mark 4:9, 23; Luke 8:8; 14:45).  Jesus said, “Whoever has ears, let them hear” three times in Matthew, two times in Mark and two times in Luke.

It is the most repeated exhortation of Jesus in the Bible, and it is something that we desperately need to hear today in the church.  We need to listen to what the Spirit says to us.

The Holy Spirit still speaks today.  He did not just speak to people in Bible times.  He speaks to people today.  He has something to say.  Are you listening?

Sadly, many Christians are not.  Many churches are not.  They are not open to hear what the Spirit is saying today.  Instead, they follow what their denomination or church tradition says.

4) SHARE these prophetic words, because the events will take place soon.

Then he told me, “Do NOT seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near” (Revelation 22:10 NIV).

What does this mean?  What does it mean not to seal up the book?  Don’t seal up the book means to make it known.  It means to reveal it.  It means to proclaim it and not hide it.

It means to tell people about it, because the time is near.  It means to share it.  There are many churches today which do not even preach through the Book of Revelation.  It is not shared.  It is not studied.

Many act like the Book of Revelation is completely sealed.  No one can understand it.  No one can understand what the 666 means, so there is no use trying but John is told the book is not sealed and not to be sealed.

5) PREPARE for these prophetic events, because Jesus is coming back.

Jesus is coming back.  He says that three times in this chapter.  He says, “I am coming soon!” three times (Revelation 22:7, 12, 20 NIV).  Jesus is coming back.  How do you prepare for His return?

One way to prepare for these events is to get saved. There will be a final judgment.  It is called the Great White Throne Judgment.  If you are not in the Book of Life, you will be cast into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:15)

There are two destinies.  We will either end up in heaven or we will end up in hell.  We will either end up in the New Jerusalem or we will end up in the Lake of Fire. People that end up there will be THE GREATEST LOSERS.

The time to get saved is now.  Sinners need to wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb.

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. (Revelation 22:14 NIV)

When Jesus comes back, it will be too late and He is coming back soon.

Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy. (Revelation 22:11 NIV)

That is one of the strangest verses in the Bible.  What does it mean?  The end of the verse makes sense (let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy). 

What does the first part mean?  Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong.  Why would God tell the wicked to keep being wicked?  Why would He tell them to keep being evil?

When Jesus returns, whatever condition you are in, you will be in for all eternity.  Your state will be irreversible.  Change will be impossible.  Repentance will be impossible.  Your spiritual state will be fixed for all eternity.  That is why you need to get saved now.

Change is possible now.  Repentance is possible now.  Salvation is possible now.  In fact, The Book of Revelation ends with a gospel call.  It is a final altar call.

John writes the Book of Revelation.  Before he writes the last few verses, God says, “Wait a minute John.  Don’t close the book yet.  Don’t write the last ‘Amen’ until I give one more urgent invitation to sinners.”[4]  Revelation 22 gives us the last invitation to lost sinners in the Bible.

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life (Revelation 22:17 NIV)

Who is invited to come?  Thirsty sinners.  The one who is thirsty can come and “whosoever will” (KJV) can come.  This is a good verse on free will.  Anyone who wants to can come.

There is no restriction.  It does not matter how sinful you are.  It doesn’t matter what kind of past you have had.  It doesn’t matter what you have done.

Here is the shock.  It is free.  All you have to do is to take it.  You don’t do anything to earn it.  Let the one who wishes take the FREE GIFT of the water of life.

Another way to prepare for these events is to get to work.  Be faithful to Christ.  Not too many Christians today are faithful.  Jesus is coming back.  Are you ready to meet Him?  Are you living for Him?

“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. (Revelation 22:12 NIV).  He is coming back with rewards.  Will you be getting one?

Do you need to get right with Him?  Do you have any sins to confess?  Christians are not sinless.  None of us are perfect.  Even the Apostle John wasn’t perfect.

Let’s think about this.  John was not only a Christian.  He was a mature Christian.  He had been a Christian for sixty years.  He was in his nineties when he wrote Revelation.

He was not just a Christian; he was a first-century Christian.  He saw the teaching and miracles of Jesus firsthand.  He was an eyewitness of Christ.

He said, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life” (I John 1:1 NIV)

John was not just a first century Christian; he was an actual apostle.  He was one of the Twelve.  In fact, he was not just one of the Twelve, he was part of the inner circle.  He got to see some things that the other apostles did not.

In fact, he was not just an apostle; he was given an incredible revelation that no one else was given.  He was raptured (taken up) into the very throne room of God.

He saw the future.  He did not just predict what would happen.  He saw it.  He had visions of the future and yet even this mature seasoned apostle was not perfect.

In fact, John did not just fall into little sins.  He fell into big sins.  He fell into idolatry.  That was a sin punishable by death in the Law of Moses.

8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me.

9 But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!” (Revelation 22:8-9 NIV)

Now, it is very easy for us to criticize John here.  Why is falling down before an angel but some of us might have done the same thing.  How would we respond if some bright shiny angel appeared to us?

We might not be tempted to commit idolatry, but we might be tempted to do something else.  Is God the center of our life or is something else the center and primary focus?

Notice how the book ends.  It ends with a prayer and with a benediction.  It ends with grace.

The OT ends with a curse.  It ends with the words “lest I come and strike the earth with a curse” (Malachi 4:6 NKJV).  The NT ends with grace.

He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen. (Revelation 22:20-21 NIV)

[1] https://www.lwf.org/sermons/video/the-lamb-has-overcome-2373

[2] https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/the-bible-doesn-39-t-come-with-an-eraser-jerry-cosper-sermon-on-bible-245350

[3] Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews X.6.3

[4] W. Herschel Ford, Simple Sermons on Conversion and Commitment, p. 50.

Last week, we began a fascinating study of heaven.  Heaven will be beyond our imagination.  It comes from God out of heaven.  The streets are made of gold.

We talked about what heaven will be like.  It is a big city.  It is bright.  It shines with the glory of God.  It is absolutely beautiful.  It will be stunning.

There are all of these precious stones there. and people will be happy there.  There will be no sorrow or suffering there.

If you did not see out study last week, you need to take a look at it.  It is a topic we could spend a month studying.  Randy Alcorn wrote a 500 page book on heaven.

There has also been some really good preaching on this topic.  One preacher mentioned seven things that will be missing from heaven from Revelation.

Keith Peters points out that in heaven, there will be no DARKNESS.  There will be no DANGER.  There will be no DEATH.  There will be no DECEPTION.  There will be no DEFILEMENT.  There will be no DISEASE.  There will be no DEVIL.[1]

Another preacher pointed out some special blessings in heaven.  David Nolte mentions four special blessings that we will have in heaven.  It is all based on the last two chapters of Revelation [2]

There will be CHRIST, NOT A CURSE: “There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it.”

There will be SERVICE, NOT SLAVERY: “His bond-servants will serve Him.”

There will be SIGHT, NOT SPECULATION: “And they shall see His face.”

There will be RELATIONSHIP, NOT REJECTION: “And His name shall be in their foreheads.

Satan has two main tactics when it comes to heaven.  Satan hates heaven.  He used to live there and then he was kicked out.

His first tactic is DENIAL.  Some deny that heaven even exists.  The Cambridge scientist Stephen Hawking called heaven a fairy tale.  He says that it is not real. [3]

Very few people believe Hawking, so Satan users another tactic.  His second tactic is not denial but DISTORTION.

Last week, we looked at “Heaven Revealed.”  Today, we want to look at “False Heaven Exposed.”

There are many false ideas that people have about heaven.  There are some false ideas about heaven in other religions.  Today, we are going to look at seven false ideas about heaven.

The Moralist Heaven

What is the moralist heaven?  A good moral life will get you to heaven.  On Judgment Day, God will look at your life and place all of your deeds on a scale.  If your good deeds outweigh your bad deeds, you are in.

If you live a good decent life, God will let you into heaven.  That is the humanist heaven.  That is the error of legalism.  It is the error of works-salvation.  It is the error of merit theology.  It is the view of many world religions.

The Bible teaches, “there is no one righteous, no not one” (Romans 3:11).  It teaches, “there is none that doeth good, no not one” (Romans 3:12).  Not only are there NONE that do good; there are NO exceptions to the rule (“no not one”)

The only way to get into heaven is to have your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.  That is clear from the Book of Revelation.

Revelation 20:15 says, “Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire” (NIV)

If your name is not written in that book, it doesn’t matter what you have done.   It doesn’t matter if you come from a Christian home.

It doesn’t matter if you attend church.  It doesn’t matter if you give to the poor.  If doesn’t matter if you read your Bible and pray.  We are saved by grace, not by works.

The Inclusive Heaven

The inclusive heaven says that everyone goes there.  That is what universalism teaches.  That is what Unitarians believe. All people go to heaven.

According to universalism, you don’t have to accept Christ as Savior to go to heaven.  Jesus is a way of salvation but there are other ways as well.

You don’t have to be a Christian to go to Heaven.  All religions are true and lead to God in some form or another.  There are many roads to God.

Atheists will be there.  If everyone goes to heaven, then even Hitler would be there.  If Hitler goes to heaven, it would not be heaven. All religions do NOT lead to God.  There are not many ways to God.

Jesus said, “I am THE way and THE truth and THE life. NO ONE comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 NIV)

The Apostle Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, said, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12 NIV)

According to Revelation, everyone does not go to heaven.  Not everyone will be there.  Certain people won’t get in.  In fact, we are told that three times.

“But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur” (Revelation 21:8 NIV).  Here are eight types of people who will not be there.

“Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful” (Revelation 21:27 NIV).  Here are three types of people who will not be there.

In fact, John uses a double negative in Greek.  In English, a double negative is bad grammar.  In Greek, double negatives (ού μή) are used for emphasis.  It is used to emphasize that certain people will NOT be there.  The impure will never ever  enter it by any means.

“Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood” (Revelation 22:15 NIV).  Here are seven types of people who will not be there.

The Immaterial Heaven

We could call this the Hindu heaven or the new age heaven.  We all reach Nirvana.  It is the view of the Christian Science cult.[5]  This is the eastern view of heaven.  Heaven is just a state of mind.

Many Christians have a similar view.  They think that heaven is spiritual, not physical.  It is nonmaterial.  Are they right?  They are partially right.

Heaven is being in the presence of God.  It is more of a relationship than a location.  Right now, if you die and are saved, you go to heaven.  It is an immaterial place.

It is different from earth.  Earth is down here.  Heaven is up there.  Heaven is in the North.  The Bible says that Jesus looked up to heaven to pray (Mark 7:34; John 11:41).

Jesus did not pray the way we pray.  When we pray, we fold our hands, close our eyes and look down.  When Jesus prayed, he opened His eyes and looked up to Heaven.

We will not be taken up to heaven.  Heaven will come down to us.  For all eternity, heaven will be on earth.

That is one thing that the Jehovah’s Witnesses got right.   There will be another paradise on earth.

It is the only thing they got right.  It is the only thing they got right.  They are wrong about the 144,000.  They are wrong about who Jesus is.

Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe that Jesus is God and yet Jesus sits on a throne with the Father in heaven (Revelation 22:3).

Jesus is not only a son of David; He is the root of David.  He is the Root and the Offspring of David (Revelation 22:16 NIV).  He is not only David’s descendant; He is David’s Creator.

Jesus is also worshipped in heaven.  We will see next week that angels do not receive worship (Revelation 22:8-9) but Jesus did, which shows that He is not an angel, like the Jehovah’s Witnesses teach.  Jesus was worshipped in Revelation.

And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne AND TO THE LAMB be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” 14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped. (Revelation 5:13-14)

Heaven is a real place.  We will spend eternity in a material heaven.  We will eat and drink on the new earth.

We will not spend eternity floating in space on some ethereal cloud.  Jesus said, “I go to prepare a PLACE for you” (John 14:3 NIV).

Heaven is a real city.  It is as real as Charlotte or Los Angeles. It is called a city fifteen times in this section (Revelation 21:2, 10, 14, 15, 16 (2), 18, 19, 21, 22, 23; 22:2, 3, 14, 19).

The city is given a name, the New Jerusalem.  It was named after the old Jerusalem, which was a real city.

It has real streets (Revelation 21:21; 22:2).  You can walk on those streets.

It has real dimensions (Revelation 21:16-17).  You can measure them.

It has a real mountain (Revelation 21:10).

It has real walls (Revelation 21:15, 19).

It has real gates (Revelation 21:12, 13).

It has a real foundation (Revelation 21:14, 19).

It has real rivers (Revelation 22:1-2).  One river is called the River of the Water of Life.

It has real trees in it.  They are fruit trees with real fruit on it, different kinds of fruit.

These trees contain fruit you can actually eat.  There will be real food in heaven.  We will eat in heaven.  You can’t get any more physical than that.

The Marital Heaven

This is the Mormon heaven.  We believe in the concept that marriage is “until death do us part.”  Mormons believe in the concept of ETERNAL MARRIAGE.  It is one of their doctrines.  That is the goal of every Latter Day Saint.

What is an eternal marriage?  In Mormonism, if you exchange vows in a Mormon Temple by a Mormon priest and kneel at a sacred altar, you are pronounced husband and wife for time and all eternity.[6]

Marriage is ordained by God.  He was the one who created it.  Marriage is holy.  It is sacred.  There was marriage in the world before there was sin.   Will there be marriage in heaven?

23 That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. 24 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for him. 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. 

26 The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh. 27 Finally, the woman died. 28 Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?”

29 Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. 30 At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. (Matthew 22:23-30 NIV)

A woman was married seven times.  Which husband will she have in heaven?  Jesus said that she won’t have any in heaven.  Now Mormons have an answer to Jesus.

Mormons would say that Jesus is right.  In heaven, people will neither marry nor be given in marriage.  There won’t be any marriage in heaven.

The question is whether marriages on earth go into eternity.  If we were married on earth, would we still be married in heaven?  There is only one problem with that argument.

That was the very question that Jesus was answering.  He was dealing with a marriage that took place on earth.  He said that there will not be that type of relationship in heaven.

If that bothers you, it shouldn’t.  Even if you have been married for fifty years, you won’t miss it in Heaven.  Heaven will be so amazing that the former things will not even come into mind.

We won’t be married in heaven, so if you want to get married, you better do it now.  We won’t be married in heaven.  It does not mean we won’t recognize our spouses in heaven.

It doesn’t mean we won’t have a relationship with our spouses.  I hope my wife will invite me over to her mansion in heaven, but we won’t be married.  It will be a different type of relationship.  It will be better than the relationship we have now.

The Sensual Heaven

This is the playboy heaven.  This is the hedonist heaven.  Hedonists are pleasure seekers.  They believe that the pursuit of pleasure is the most important thing in life.  This is the Muslim heaven.

That is why Muslim terrorists carry out so many suicide attacks.  They believe it will guarantee a sensual paradise with seventy virgins in heaven.  Heaven will be a sexual paradise.  There are several problems with that view.

Intentionally committing the mass murder of innocent people will not guarantee you get to heaven.  It will guarantee you won’t be there, unless you repent.

How terrible it will be to die and get the shock of your life.  You think you did a good deed, and you did a bad deed.  You think you are going to heaven, and you are going to hell.  You expect to be rewarded. Instead, you are punished.

Revelation 21 says that murderers will NOT be in heaven (Revelation 21:8; 22:15).  I John teaches the same truth.

Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him. (I John 3:15 NIV).

However, this does raise an interesting question.  Will there be sex in heaven?  The Bible does not say but it gives a big hint.  It says that there will not be marriage in heaven.

According to Scripture, sex was destined by God for the marriage relationship and there will not be any sex outside of marriage there either, because there will be no immoral person there (Revelation 21:8; 27; 22:15).

You say that sounds like bad news.  Some people could not even imagine heaven without any sex.  It wouldn’t be any fun.  The truth is that there is nothing wrong with pleasure.  God created it.

There will be pleasure in heaven.  Psalm 16:11 says, “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (NKJV).

Pleasures in heaven are infinitely greater than any pleasure we could have on earth.  You say, “I can’t imagine anything better than that.”  That is like a three-year-old child who can’t imagine anything better than a happy meal at McDonalds.

The Parochial Heaven

The parochial heaven is small.  It is filled with people just like you.  There is not a lot of diversity in this heaven.  Everyone is the same color and same denomination.

Many think that the only people going to heaven are members of their church or their denomination.  Catholics say that outside of the Catholic Church there is no salvation.”  Some Baptists think that no Pentecostals will be in heaven.

What is the problem with this view?  Heaven will be big.  It is a place that will be big enough for everyone.  Look at the size of the New Jerusalem and it is just one city on the new earth.

When he measured it, he found it was a square, as wide as it was long. In fact, its length and width and height were each 1,400 miles (Revelation 21:16 NLT).

There will be a lot of people in heaven, and there will be a lot of different kinds of people.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people (Revelation 21:3 NIV)

You wouldn’t know it by reading this in English but in Greek, the word “people” both times in plural, not singular.  God’s dwelling place is now among the people (ἀνθρώπων).  They will be his people (λαοι).  It is literally, they will be “his peoples.”

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:9-10 NIV)

There will be people from every nation, tribe, people and language.  There will be people there from every race and ethnicity.  Every color will be there.

There will be both Jew and Gentile there.  There will be Jews there.  The city is called The New Jerusalem.  The twelve tribes of Israel are written on the gates (Revelation 21:12).

We are also told that “the glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it” (Revelation 21:26 NIV).  That is a reference to Gentiles.

The Boring Heaven

Many think heaven is boring. Satan’s two tactics are to deny heaven exists or to say that if it does exist, it is so boring that you would not want to go there.

Some say that they would rather go to hell and have some fun, rather than go to heaven and be bored.  We will be sitting on a cloud playing a harp for all eternity in utter boredom.

Everything about that picture is completely false.  You won’t have fun in Hell.  It is a place of torture.  It is a place of torment in a lake of fire.  Heaven, by contrast will be a place without any pain or any suffering.

There is nothing boring about being in God’s presence.  We will be face to face with Jesus.  In God’s presence is “fullness of joy” (Psalm 16:11), not boredom.

We will not be bored in heaven.  We will have something to do.  We are told that his servants will serve him (Revelation 22:3 NIV).  How we will serve Him we are not told but we will have something to do.

We will work but it will not be like work on earth.  We will not be exhausted from our job.  We will not be under the curse (Revelation 22:3).  It will be like working our dream job times a thousand.

[1] Keith Peters, “Things Missing in Heaven” (https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/things-missing-in-heaven-keith-peters-sermon-on-heaven-158429)

[2] David Nolte, “Things in Heaven” (https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/four-special-blessings-in-heaven-david-nolte-sermon-on-heaven-251245)

[3] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/stephen-hawking-in-2011-heaven-is-a-fairy-story/

[4] James Hope Moulton, Vocabulary of the Greek New Testament, 664.  It is translated “sorcerers” by the KJV, ESV, NASB, NKJV.

[5]Mary Baker Eddy defines heaven as “Harmony; the reign of Spirit; government by divine Principle; spirituality; bliss; the atmosphere of Soul” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 587).

[6] https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-38-eternal-marriage?lang=eng

What will heaven be like?  What will it be like beyond the grave?  Many think they know.  Many claim to know.  Many say they have been there and tell us what they saw.

Many have written books on the subject.  They are called heavenly tourism books.  Some of these books have been made into movies.  They are all based on near death experiences.  Some were clinically dead and came back to life.

They describe the amazing things, the supernatural things that they saw.  In 2016, I had a heart attack on the softball field and almost died.  I was in the ER and started to go unconscious.  I felt like I was going right to sleep.

All of the sudden, I felt this terrible pain.  The doctor used electric shock to wake me up.  It worked quickly.  I felt this sharp pain and woke up quickly.

Later, he asked me if I saw any lights.  I did not see anything. I was not unconscious but was very close to dying.  Many have become unconscious and claimed to see things afterwards.

For the next two weeks, we are going to be talking about heaven.  John has a vision of heaven.  He is taken on a tour of heaven by an angel.  This topic is absolutely fascinating.  It is mind-blowing.

John saw what heaven looked like and he told us what he saw.  He not only give us gives us eyewitness testimony, he gives us inspired, apostolic eyewitness testimony about heaven.

God says, “these words are TRUSTWORTHY and TRUE” (Revelation 21:5 NIV).  We can trust what it says.  They are reliable.  Not every story about the afterlife is trustworthy.

In 2004, six-year-old Alex Malarkey and his father were in a horrific car accident in Ohio.  Alex was paralyzed.  He was left a quadriplegic

He claimed to go to heaven.  In 2010, he wrote, The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven: A True Story.  It was a best-seller.  The only problem is that it was all a lie.

In 2015, he admitted that he never went to heaven.  His dad made up the story.  His last name should have been a hint.  The word “malarkey” refers to something that is not true.

This is John’s final vision in the book.  He has had many visions.  He saw the Antichrist coming out of the sea.  He saw believers persecuted and martyred on earth.  He saw judgment coming down on earth.

He saw Jesus coming back to earth with the armies of heaven.  He saw the binding of Satan and the thousand-year reign.  He saw the Great White Throne Judgment.  John’s final vision is of heaven.  It is of the eternal state.

You can spend a lot of time studying prophecy and very little time studying heaven.[1]  You can spend a lot of time arguing about the Rapture.  Will it be before the Tribulation, at the middle of the Tribulation or at the end of the Tribulation?

You can spend a lot of time arguing about the Millennium (premillennialism, amillennialism or postmillennialism) and yet, if you are saved, the New Jerusalem is where we are going to be for all eternity.

Some preachers only talk about these verses when they are conducting a funeral.  They contain some of the most comforting passages in the Bible.  They make a really good funeral text. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. (Revelation 21:4 NIV)

How much do you actually know about heaven?  For the next two weeks, we are going to think about heaven.  This may completely change the way you think about heaven.

Today, we want to answer one question.  What will heaven be like? The opening verses of Revelation 21 describe three new things that we will encounter in heaven: a new home, a new life and a new relationship.  That is what we are going to be looking at today.

A New Home

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband (Revelation 21:1-2 NIV)

The first thing we will get in heaven is a new home.  The old home will be gone.  It will be gone forever.  The first heaven and earth will pass away.  If you are expecting it to stay, it will not.  It will be gone.

Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will PASS AWAY, but my words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35 NIV)

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them…The world and its desires PASS AWAY but whoever does the will of God lives forever (I John 2:15, 17 NIV)

“You look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the DESTRUCTION of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat” (II Peter 3:12 NIV) [2]

In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. they will PERISH, but you remain; they will all WEAR OUT like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. (Psalm 102:25-26)

The old heaven and earth will be gone, and we will get a new heaven and earth.  It is interesting that the Bible ends just like it began.

The Bible began with CREATION.  It ends with CREATION.  Genesis 1 begins with creation.  Revelation 21 ends with the new creation.

Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (NIV).  Revelation 21:1 says, “Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth” (NIV).

Three biblical writers mention a new heaven and a new earth.  John predicts it.  Peter predicts it.  Isaiah predicts it.  Isaiah actually mentions it twice.  Let’s read all three in order.

I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.” (Isaiah 65:17 NIV; cf. 66:22).

You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. (II Peter 3:11-13 NIV)

This may mean that we will get a brand-new planet but most Christians see this as a restored or renewed earth.  The Bible describes another passing away and does not involve a complete destruction and re-creation.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (II Corinthians 5:17 NKJV).

When we got saved, God did not destroy the old person completely.  We have the same DNA but we are changed on the inside.  We experience the new birth.  We got a new nature.

Whether God creates a brand-new earth or completely transforms it, the result is the same.  It will be completely different.

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea (Revelation 21:1 NIV)

There will not be any sea in the new earth.  That is 70% of the planet now.  There will be water in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 22:1-2).  It mentions a river there but no sea.

In the new earth, there will not be day and night.  In the old earth, God said, “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease” (Genesis 8:22 NIV)

In the new earth, there will be no night (Revelation 22:5).  It will be day all of the time.  The new earth may not need to rotate every twenty-four hours.  It may not even have a Sun.

Revelation 21 describes our new home.  It mentions a NEW HEAVEN, a NEW EARTH and a NEW CITY.  John heard God, the one who was sitting on the throne saying, “I am making everything new!” (Revelation 21:5 NIV).

We like new things (new house, car, clothes, shoes). We like the way new things look. We even like the way they smell.  God does not say, “I make some things new.” He says, “I make ALL THINGS new.”   In heaven, everything will be new all the time.

A New Life

We are not just going to get a new home, we are going to get a new life.  This is a life that is completely different from the life we live now.  This is where it gets very interesting.

Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. (Revelation 7:16 NIV)

‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain.” (Revelation 21:4 NIV)

But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8 NIV)

 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. ²³ The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. (Revelation 21: 22-23 NIV)

On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there (Revelation 21:25 NIV)

There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. (Revelation 22:5 NIV)

Heaven will be a completely new form of existence.  Life will be radically different.  Heaven will be beyond our imagination but let’s think of what heaven will be like.

1) We will never divided from other Christians in heaven.

There will not be any denominations in heaven.  There will not be Baptists and Methodists in heaven.  There will not be Charismatics and Non-Charismatics there.  There won’t be the black church and the white church.  We will just be saints in heaven.

2) We will never argue about theology in heaven.

We will not have theological debates in heaven.  We spend a lot of time, much of it is pointless, arguing theology.  There won’t be any fights in heaven.  All of our doctrinal disagreements will be settled forever.   If you have a question about what any of the Apostles meant, you could just go ask them in heaven.  All of our theology will be corrected in heaven.

3) We will never be hungry in heaven.

There are many silly questions that people have about heaven.  Will my pet be in heaven?  Revelation answers that one.  There will be cats in heaven but no dogs.  Revelation 22:15 says, “Outside are the dogs” (NIV).  It not talking about animals but people (cf. Philippians 3:1).

It is talking about people who act like dogs.  We have some of those in our world.  Unclean animals stand for unclean people.  There won’t be any dogs and probably no snakes or serpents in heaven either.

Will there be sports in heaven?  Will there be football in heaven?  Will we eat in heaven?  What will we eat?   We will eat in heaven.  Revelation 22 is clear.  It mentions a fruit tree with twelve different kinds of fruit on it (Revelation 22:2).

Revelation mentions us eating food in heaven.  Will we just eat fruit in heaven, like some health nuts or will we be able to eat a nice juicy steak in heaven?  Will there be cheesecake in heaven?

Will there be sweet tea in heaven?  Will there be coffee in heaven?  Will there be Starbucks in heaven?  Will there be Big Macs in heaven?  My kids used to ask that question.

There are many things we don’t know.  What we do know is that we will not have any unsatisfied desires in heaven.  If those things are not there, we will not desire them or miss them.

God is going to create a new heaven and earth and He says, “The former things will NOT be remembered, nor will they come to mind” (Isaiah 65:17 NIV).

Heaven will be so great that we will never think about earth.  We will not think about how great it was on earth.  We will not miss anything we had on earth.  In fact, it won’t even come to mind.

4) We will never get sick in heaven.

We won’t have a fever in heaven.  We won’t have any headaches.  We will never have any aches or pains.  We won’t have any joint pain (no arthritis).  We won’t have back pain in heaven.

We won’t have any chronic pain.  We won’t have any more broken bones.  There won’t be any cancer in heaven.  We won’t need a root canal in heaven.

No one will be deformed.  No one will have defects.  No one will have disabilities.  There won’t be people in wheelchairs in heaven.  There won’t be anyone who can’t stand up or walk.

Everyone will be perfect.  We will be perfectly healthy in mind, in body and in spirit.  No one will be blind in heaven.  We will all have perfect vision.  We won’t need glasses.  This city will be perfect.  It comes from God (Revelation 21:2).

5) We will never need medicine in heaven.

We won’t need any painkillers.  We won’t need any pills.  We won’t need Advil or Tylenol. We won’t have any inflammation. We won’t need any antibiotics.  We won’t need a first aid kit.

7) We will never need a doctor in heaven.

You won’t need a primary care doctor in heaven.  You won’t need a dentist.  You won’t need to see a surgeon.  You won’t need to go to the hospital in heaven.

8) We will never have any accidents in heaven.

We won’t need to call an ambulance. We won’t need to go to the ER.  We won’t even be able to stub our toes.  How many times do we have accidents on earth? We won’t have them in heaven.  Every day will be a good day.  We will never have to say, “Have a good day to people.”

9) We will never get tired in heaven.

At the end of the day, we are exhausted and fall asleep at night.  There will not be any night in heaven.  We won’t be tired.  We won’t be sleepy.  We won’t have any chronic fatigue in heaven.  We will not need a caffeine fix in heaven to wake up.

10) We will never be sad in heaven.

We won’t be depressed. No one will be bipolar in heaven.  There won’t be any mentally ill people in heaven.  People will be happy all of the time.  We won’t be sad.  We won’t be cranky.

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes (Revelation 21:4 NIV).  We have real tears.  God sees them and knows about them.  In heaven, not only will our tears be gone but EVERY TEAR will be gone.  They will be gone because God will wipe them away.

God cares about our tears.  God has compassion on us when we suffer.  He does not enjoy seeing us suffer.  God will do what loving parents do to their children.  They wipe away their tears.  There are a lot of tears on earth.  There won’t be any in heaven.

11) We will never get old in heaven.

There will be no gray hairs and no wrinkles on your face.  You will be forever young.  You won’t need any wrinkle cream or make-up to make you look better.  We will all look like we are in our 20s or 30s.  There will not be any funeral homes in heaven.  They will not be needed.

12) We will never die in heaven.

In heaven, there will be no more death (Revelation 21:4 NIV).  If there is no more death, there will be no more graves.  There will be no more cemeteries.

There will be no more tombstones. There will be no more funerals.  There will be no more eulogies about departed loved ones.

In heaven, we won’t die.  Death is a big part of our world today. People die every day. Every time we breathe someone dies.

According to the World Death Clock, 106 people die every minute.  Every day, 153,000 people die.  Those are current statistics.

In heaven, no one will die.  The death rate will go from one hundred percent to zero percent.  We will be immortal.  We will live forever.  John said it and so did Jesus (Luke 20:34-36).

The Tree of Life, the symbol of immortality, will be right in the middle of heaven. That tree was in the Garden of Eden.

If you ate the fruit from that tree, you could live forever (Genesis 3:22).  After Adam and Eve sinned, they were kicked out of the garden, so that they did not eat from the Tree of Life and live forever.

That same tree will be in the new Jerusalem, and we will be able to eat from it.  In heaven, everyone will have full access to that tree.

“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” (Revelation 2:7 NIV).

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the TREE OF LIFE, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. (Revelation 22:1-2 NIV)

13) We will never feel unsafe in heaven

We won’t need to protect ourselves in heaven.  We won’t need to buy a gun.  You won’t need any pepper spray.  We won’t need to study martial arts for self-defense.  You won’t need a big dog to protect your house.

Most big cities in the US are not safe.  They have high crime rates.  They have violent crime.  The New Jerusalem will be a big city and it will be perfectly safe all of the time.  It won’t have any crime.

On no day will its gates ever be shut (Revelation 21:25 NIV).  Gates of a city were normally shut.  We won’t even need to lock your doors in heaven.

These gates will be guarded.  There are twelve gates to the city and there will be twelve angels there as well (Revelation 21:12).  One angel for each gate.

14) We will never be poor in heaven.

We won’t have to worry about finances.   No one will be poor in heaven.  We will have mansions in heaven (John 14:2 KJV).  There won’t be any ghettos in heaven.  There won’t be any slums in heaven.  There won’t be any bad parts of heaven.

We will be walking on streets of gold (Revelation 21:21).  There will not just be gold there but PURE GOLD (Revelation 21:18).

There will not just be valuable precious stones but EVERY KIND of precious stone. (Revelation 21:19 NIV) and pearls there (Revelation 21:21).  Even the measuring sticks in heaven are made of gold (Revelation 21:15).  A member of my class suggested that he used a “golden rule.”

An angel measured the city and measured the walls of the city with these golden measuring sticks (Revelation 21:15-17).  Apparently, even in heaven we will still do math.  Maybe we will some type of heavenly calculus.

14) We will never sin in heaven.

We will be perfect.  We won’t face temptations.  Can you imagine being sinlessly perfect all of the time?  Can you imagine never being tempted by sin again?

People will not walk around with their head down staring into their phones.  There won’t be any addictions in heaven. We live in a world full of sin.  We live in a world full of sinners.  Can you imagine living in a world without either one?

We live in a world full of sin.  We live in a world full of sinners.  Can you imagine living in a world without either one?  There will not be any annoying people in heaven, because we will all be perfect. All of our rough edges will be gone.

The first two chapters of the Bible describe a perfect paradise.  Adam and Eve lived in paradise.  There was no sin, no Satan and no curse.  The last two chapters of the Bible also describe a paradise.

II Peter 3:13 says, “we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, WHERE RIGHTEOUSNESS DWELLS.” 

The earth today is the home of sin and wickedness.  Sin reigns on the planet. It is where depravity dwells.  The new earth will be the home of righteousness.

There won’t be any pornography in heaven.  Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful (Revelation 21:27 NIV).  Nothing there will be impure or unclean.

A New Relationship

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. (Revelation 21:3 NIV)

The best part of heaven will not be the gold streets or the great architecture, although they will be amazing.

The best part will not be the food.  We will be able to eat whatever we want, and we won’t gain any weight.  Foods that taste good won’t hurt us because we will be immortal.

The best part of heaven will not be our glorified bodies.  Think of all of the cool things we will be able to do with them.

We will be able to do some things with a resurrection body that we can’t do with our bodies now.  We will have a supernatural body.  It will be like Jesus’ body.

You will be able to walk through walls.  Jesus did that.  You could go anywhere you want.  You won’t need transportation.

You could jump off of a skyscraper and not die.  There are some high walls mentioned in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:11).

The best part of heaven will not be the angels.  We will get to see them and talk to them.  It will be cool to have a conversation with an angel.

The best part of heaven will not be the people we meet.  It will be the greatest reunion ever.  We will get to reunite with loved ones.  We will get to meet relatives who died a long time ago.  We will recognize them.

We will get to meet the Apostles.  We will get to meet our favorite Bible characters in person.  We will get to meet our favorite Christian in church history.

The greatest thing about heaven is not that we will meet Luther, Calvin, Moody or Spurgeon.  The best part of heaven will not be any of these things.

The best part of heaven is that God will be there.  Jesus will be there.  We will be in the immediate presence of God.

We will be face to face with God.  We will have face-to-face fellowship and communion with God for all eternity.  Everyone wants to know what Jesus looked like.  One day, we will see His face.

They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads (Revelation 22:4 NIV)

Now we can have a special relationship with God now.  God dwells with us.  He is inside us.  We are His children but there is one difference.

Right now, we walk by faith. We don’t see Jesus right now but in Heaven, we will see his face.  Now, God is near now.

God is near to the brokenhearted, but His presence is not manifested physically.  There is no bright light in the room.  We don’t see a burning bush outside, but God’s immediate presence will be in this city and will NEVER leave it.

In the first two chapters of the Bible, God walked with Adam and Eve in the garden.  In the last two chapters of the Bible, God will with people in a city, not a garden.

If you are saved, this is your inheritance.  This is what you have to look forward to.

Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children (Revelation 21:7 NIV).

No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. (Revelation 22:3-4 NIV)

Billy Sunday is the famous baseball player who turned into a preacher.  “One night in 1887, after a game in Chicago, Sunday went drinking with his teammates. As they sat on the steps outside a saloon, he overhead a group of urban missionaries singing hymns. Sunday experienced a religious conversion. Within a few years, he quit drinking, married, and became an evangelical preacher.” [3]

The great evangelist Billy Sunday once said, “When I reach Heaven I won’t stop to look for Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joseph, David, Daniel, Peter or Paul. I will rush past them all saying, “Where is Jesus? I want to see Jesus who saved my soul one dark, stormy night in Chicago in 1887.”[4]

[1] Randy Alcorn, Heaven, pp. 9-10.

[2] The  word “destroyed” does not necessarily imply annihilation.  Things that are burned are not annihilated but change form.  Furthermore, the same word is also used in the same chapter of something that is not annihilated. Through which the world at that time was destroyed by being flooded with water (II Peter 3:6 NASB).  Noah’s Flood destroyed the antediluvian world but did not annihilate the planet.

[3] https://www.massmoments.org/moment-details/evangelist-billy-sunday-draws-70000-to-boston-revival.html#:~:text=One%20night%20in%201887%2C%20after,and%20became%20an%20evangelical%20preacher.

[4] Curtis Hutson, ed., Great Preaching On: Heaven, Great Preaching Series (Sword of the Lord Publishers, 1987), 85.

We are studying the Book of Revelation and today we come to the end of the book.  We only have three chapters left in the book and the best part of the book is at the end.  Today, we will be looking at Revelation 20.  It is one of the most important chapters in the Bible.

Today, we will not be learning the basics.  This chapter is deep.  It is advanced.  It is a gold mine.  It is a short chapter.  It is only fifteen verses but there is deep theology in this chapter.

It is the chapter that deals with the thousand-year reign of Christ.  There is a lot of confusion today about the Millennium (what it is, when it happens, how long it lasts). There is confusion among Christians.

Revelation 20 is a very important chapter for the study of biblical prophecy.  There are eight major prophetic events found here.

Eight Prophetic Events

1. Satan’s Imprisonment (Revelation 20:1-3)
2. The First Resurrection (Revelation 20:4)
3. Christ’s Reign (Revelation 20:4, 6)
4. Satan’s Final Deception (Revelation 20:7-8)
5. Man’s Final Rebellion (Revelation 20:9)
6. Satan’s Eternal Destiny (Revelation 20:10)
7. The Second Resurrection (Revelation 20:5, 12)
8. The Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15)

Critical Issue

What is the difference between these views?  There are three main views but they all boil down to one question.  Do you take the chapter literally or do you spiritualize it?  Do you take it for what it says, or do you allegorize it?  Is it literal or symbolic?

The chapter begins with an angel coming down from heaven, seizing the dragon, putting a chain on him and throwing him into the Abyss. Is that literal?  Will it happen literally or is it all symbolic?

How can you put a physical chain on a spirit being?  What can a steel chain do to a spirit?  Spirits are immaterial.  Can you bind a spirit?

Satan may not be bound by a steel chain, but he can still be bound.  Satan puts chains on all kinds of people today and they are not physical chains.  He puts people in complete bondage and slavery.

If this is spiritual, is it happening now?  Some say that it is.  Some say that Satan is bound right now.  It is hard to say when you see that Satan is at work in the world today.  He is very active in the world today.

The chapter mentions two resurrections.  Are both literal?  Are both spiritual?  Is one literal one figurative?  The real debate is with the first resurrection.

At the first resurrection, souls come to life and reign with Christ.  Is this literal?  Does it describe a physical resurrection or some type of a spiritual resurrection?

Is this talking about dead bodies who come to life physically or is it talking about people who are spiritually dead in trespasses and sins who instantly come to life through faith.  Is the first resurrection spiritual or physical?

Revelation 20 mentions Jesus reigning for a thousand years.  Is this literal or is it spiritual?  Is the Millennium happening now or will it happen in the future?

Which view is correct?  We will find out.  One view makes perfect sense in the chapter, while other views make absolute nonsense of the text but whichever view you take, the applications are the same.

There are four important applications in this chapter.  One, Jesus wins. Two, Satan loses.  Three, the saints will be rewarded, and four, sinners will be held accountable.  All four applications are found in this chapter.

Today, we are only going to have time to look at the first two of these applications.

Jesus Wins

This chapter is all about Jesus winning.  Jesus comes back as a winner.  He comes back with the armies of heaven and as He is coming back, He encounters armies on earth, who try to attack Him.

It will be the shortest battle in history.  The battle will be over even before it starts.  This battle will be over in seconds.

Jesus will return on a white horse with a sword coming out of His mouth and eyes as a flame of fire.  All of the armies of the Antichrist will be instantly destroyed and there will be all these dead soldiers lying on the ground.

Jesus is not only going to win in battle; He is going to rule and reign after the battle is over.  He is going to reign for a thousand years (Revelation 20:4).

Satan will no longer be reigning.  Jesus will be reigning.  One preacher called this the coming theocracy.  It will be the climax of human history.  Jesus will come back as King of kings and Lord of lords.

He will be the supreme ruler over the whole earth.  His rule will not look anything like the type of government we have today.  The Book of Revelation says that He will rule the nations with a ROD OF IRON (Revelation 12:5; 19:15).

His rule will not be a democracy.  The people will not be ruling.  Jesus will be ruling, and He is not going to follow the US Constitution.  It is going to be a divine dictatorship.  He will possess absolute power, but He will not use it in a sinful way.  He will rule the world IN RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Satan Loses

The second thing we see in this chapter is that Satan loses.  God will not only win but Satan will lose. Now, in many ways it looks like Satan has been winning.

He got one third of angels in heaven to leave and go with him.  That is not a half but is a good amount of angels.

God creates a perfect world and he completely ruined it.  He got the first people to sin.  That wrecked the entire race.  We are all born sinners.

He has become the god of this world.  He has become the ruler of this world.  He is the one who deceives the whole world (Revelation 12:9).Satan is very active in the world in which we live.

During the Tribulation Period, he will persecute believers on the earth, possess politicians, supernaturally empower them to perform miracles so the whole world will worship the Antichrist.

He has influence even in some churches.  Some in the church of Thyatira were taught “the deep secrets of Satan” (Revelation 2:24).  He is not only deceiving the world; he is deceiving some Christians.  Satan has his own synagogues (Revelation 2:9).  He has his own churches.

It sounds like he is winning but if you look a little closer, you will see that he is losing.  In the Book of Revelation, we see that Satan is on his way down and it actually describes his doom.

Seven Specific Defeats

1) Satan loses an important battle in heaven

In Revelation 12, there was a great battle in heaven between Satan and his angels and Michael and his angels.  Satan is defeated (Revelation 12:7-8).  The angels defeat him.

2) Satan is kicked out of heaven

Satan will not only lose that battle; he will be cast out of heaven and flung to the earth, along with all of his angels (Revelation 12:9).  It was embarrassing and he was mad. He did not want to be limited to earth.  He not only had a defeat; he experienced a demotion.

3) Satan’s demonically inspired politician is defeated

Satan supernaturally empowers and possesses the Antichrist.  He gets the whole world to worship him.  He gives him his power.  The dragon gives his authority to the beast (Revelation 13:4).  He becomes a world dictator but that power does not last long, and the Antichrist is thrown alive into the Lake of Fire.

4) Satan is cast into the Abyss

After the Battle of Armageddon, Satan is grabbed by the scruff of his neck, chained and thrown into the Abyss for a thousand years (Revelation 20:1-3).  He goes from heaven to earth to the Abyss but that is not his final destination.

5) Satan’s final act of rebellion fails

After a thousand years later, Satan is let out of the Abyss.  He deceives people all over the earth to rebel against the rule of Christ on the earth.  Fire falls from heaven (Revelation 20:7-9) and Satan’s plan is a failure.

6) Satan is cast into the Lake of Fire

After tormenting people for thousands of years and ruining their lives, the devil is now tormented in a lake that burns with fire and brimstone (Revelation 20:10).

The Devil will not be alone there.  The Beast and the False Prophet will be there.  They have been there for a thousand years.

Now, the three big enemies in the Tribulation Period are the Beast, the False Prophet and the Dragon (the Satanic Trinity) are gone.  The demons will be sent there as well.  Jesus said that the Devil and his angels will end up in the same place.

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41 NIV)

The Binding of Satan

And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time. (Revelation 20:1-3 NIV)

An angel comes down from heaven with two things – a chain and a key.  Satan is seized.  He is arrested.   It will only take one angel to arrest him, not all the armies of heaven.

In Christian circles, we talk a lot today about binding Satan.  We talk about binding the enemy in spiritual warfare.  We have the binding of Satan in Revelation 20 but do not do this binding.  Jesus does not do it.  An angel does it.

It does not even say there was a fight.  This angel will grab him and take him.  He has a warrant for his arrest.  Apparently, Satan will be seized not by some strong or mighty angel but an ordinary one.

He will bind him.  He will put a chain on him and incarcerate him.  Satan will become an inmate in a maximum-security prison.  This angel will throw him in the Abyss.

Why the Abyss?  It is a special place of punishment for demons.  We saw that in Revelation 9.  It is where the worst of the worst go.  It is not on earth but under the earth.  Satan is thrown in the Abyss, and it is locked, so he can’t get out.

Satan will be on death row.  He will be chained.  He will be imprisoned and there will be no escape for a thousand years.  That is a long prison sentence.  It is a long time to be in prison.

This is poetic justice.  For thousands of years, Satan has been enslaving other people and putting them in chains.  Now, he is in chains himself.  He bound others.

Luke 13 describes a woman who was cripples by a spirit for eighteen years (Luke 13:11).  Jesus called her a “daughter of Abraham” and said that Satan kept her bound for eighteen years (Luke 13:16).

In fact, the Greek word for “bound” in Luke 13 is the same word used in Revelation 20.  Satan loves to bind others and in Revelation 20 he is bound, and he is bound with shackles.

Common Misinterpretation

There is a very common interpretation in the church today.  It is held by a lot of people.  There are many who believe that Revelation 20:1-3 is being fulfilled right now.  It is present, not future.  Satan is bound today.

Some say that just because Satan is bound today does not mean that he can’t harm people.  It doesn’t mean that he isn’t active or doesn’t tempt people.  He can still do a lot in the world today.  He is very active but has some limitations.

He is not able to deceive the nations.  That is the one thing mentioned in the text that he cannot do when he is bound.  If he is bound today, he would not be deceiving nations.

The problem is that Satan is still deceiving the nations today.  He is called “the ruler of this world” three times in John (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11).

Paul calls him “the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2 KJV).  He calls him “the god of this world” (II Corinthians 4:4 KJV).  Revelation 12:9 says that he deceives the whole world right now.

Satan has a lot of power today.  Revelation 20 is a picture of total powerlessness.  He is chained, thrown in the Abyss and it is locked.  It is a completely different picture.

The other big problem is that Satan is not confined right now.  He is not in the Abyss right now.  He has access to the earth.

“Where have you come from?” said the LORD to Satan. “From roaming through the earth,” he replied, “and from walking back and forth in it.” (Job 1:7 NIV)

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (I Peter 5:8 NIV)

According to that passage, the Devil is out prowling around looking for someone to devour.  He is not locked up in the Abyss today.

Some Christians point out that there is another place in the Bible that talks about Satan being bound.  In fact, the same word used for “bind” (δέω) in Revelation 20:2 is used in Matthew 12:29 and Mark 3:27.

The verse is mentioned in Matthew, Mark and Luke.  Each one adds a different detail.  Matthew gives us the context.

Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. 23 All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.” (Matthew 12:22-24 NIV)

So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. 27 In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house.  (Mark 3:23-27 NIV)

“When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. 22 But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder. (Luke 11:21-22 NIV)

Luke calls it a parable.  We could call it “The Parable of the Strong Man.”  It is a parable that most Christians have never heard before.  It is only one or two verses.

In this parable, a man guards a house.  He is strong.  He is armed.  Luke tells us that he has weapons (Luke 11:21).  The only way to get in the house and take things is to beat up the strong man and tie him up or bind him.

It is a strange parable.  It is even stranger when you find out that the one who attacks and overpowers the strong man is Jesus.

It looks like Jesus is pictured as a thief or burglar, until you realize that the strong man in the parable represents Satan.  It is not a home invasion but a rescue mission.  Jesus is freeing people in bondage.  To do that, he has to be stronger than Satan.

A Different Binding

Revelation 20 is talking about something completely different.  Some have called the binding of Satan in the gospels an initial binding.  This is his final binding.

1. The binding of Satan in Revelation 20 follows the Second Coming, not the First Coming.
2. The binding of Satan in Revelation 20 takes place in the Abyss, not earth.
3. The binding of Satan in Revelation 20 affects nations, not just individuals.
4. The binding of Satan in Revelation 20 deals with deception, not just exorcism.

We are coming to the end of the Book of Revelation.  There are only four chapters left in the book.  Revelation 19 brings us to three great events in biblical prophecy.

Those three events are the Marriage of the Lamb, the Second Coming of Christ and the Battle of Armageddon. Today, we will be looking at the Marriage of the Lamb.  The Bible begins and ends with a marriage.

The Marriage of the Lamb is a love story.  Many think that the Book of Revelation is a horror story.  There are demons and dragons.  There are seven headed monsters.  There are demon-possessed politicians.

There are demon-possessed insects in the book.  There are locusts that torture people so much that they want to kill themselves.  God’s people are slaughtered and butchered in this book.

The truth is that Revelation is not a horror story but a love story.  The whole Bible is a love story between God and people.  It is the story about how a bride is chosen for His Son.

It is the story of how Jesus paid the dowry price for his bride.  He gave up His life for his bride.  Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her (Ephesians 5:25 NIV).

It is the story of how Jesus protects His bride.  He defeats the enemies of His bride.  The Beast conquered the saints and overcame them, but Jesus overcame the Beast.

It is the story of how Jesus prepares a home for His bride (the New Jerusalem).  He will come back to get his bride and take them to that home.

The wedding of the Lamb is an event that should be important to each one of us.  This will not just be a wedding.  It will be our wedding.  We will be there.  We are part of the bride.

Everyone loves a wedding.  Weddings are times of great joy. They are great times of celebration. There is a lot of food at weddings. They are big events. They are planned for months.

We dress up for weddings. We have a photographer take pictures so we will not forget the event. We spend a lot of money on weddings. Many spend thousands of dollars. The average cost of a wedding in the US is about $30,000.

A Royal Wedding

Even more spectacular than a regular wedding is a royal wedding, when a king or someone with royal blood gets married. The last one I watched was the marriage of was the wedding of William and Kate in 2011.  They are now the Prince and Princess of Wales.

They had a wedding in London. They had 1900 invited guests.  Millions watched the event on television all over the world.  That wedding did not cost $30,000.  It cost thirty-four million dollars.

The wedding in Revelation 19 will be a royal wedding. It will be the wedding of King Jesus.  It will be the greatest wedding in history.

It will be the ultimate wedding.  Jesus and His bride get married and live happily ever after.  It will be a wedding like no other.  How will this wedding compare to weddings today?

In some ways this wedding will be similar to weddings today.  In some ways, it is even similar to western weddings.  In other ways, it is completely different.

An Unusual Wedding

This will be an unusual wedding.  There will be no best man at this wedding.  There will be no bridesmaids.  There is no ring.  There will be no rehearsal practice.  Three things will make this wedding very unusual.

1) It will be a corporate wedding

Jesus will NOT be marrying one person.  He will be marrying a group of people, a very large group of people (men and women).

2) It will be a divine wedding

This is not just a marring between humans but a marriage between God and humans.  Jesus is a man, but He is also God.

3) It will be a symbolic wedding

We know that from the name, the Marriage of the Lamb.  It is the marriage of a lamb.  Lambs can’t get married.  This is not a literal, physical marriage.  We also know it from the wedding clothes.

Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people (Revelation 19:8 NIV)

We are told that these wedding clothes are symbolic, not literal.  This marriage is a symbolic union.  Marriage is the closest relationship on earth between two people.  It is the most intimate bond between two people.

That is a picture of the relationship of God and His people.  It was a picture of the relationship between God and the covenant people in the OT.  It is a picture of Jesus and the church in the NT but it is just a picture.

In the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven” (Matthew 22:30 ESV).

Jesus said that in heaven we will not be married, and we won’t be getting married.  Mormons believe there will be marriage in heaven.

They believe in something called “celestial marriage,” but Jesus said, “in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.”

You won’t be married to your spouse in heaven.  There will be no marriage in heaven and because there will be no marriage, there will be no sex and no children born in heaven.

Five Important Takeaways

Even though there are some differences, there are some ways that this wedding is similar to weddings today.  I want us to see some of these similarities.

1) This wedding will be an occasion of great joy

All weddings are joyful occasions.  Weddings are times of celebration.  There is music.  There is dancing.  Everyone smiles.  They wear their best clothes.  The wedding of the Lamb will be an occasion for rejoicing as well.

Revelation 19:7 says, “Let us REJOICE and BE GLAD and GIVE HIM GLORY! For the wedding of the Lamb has come” (NIV).

This is a huge contrast from the last chapter.  In Revelation 18, there was not a lot of rejoicing. There were THREE WOES (Revelation 18:10, 16, 19).   There was a lot of mourning.  People were sad and crying.  They were weeping.  Why?  Babylon was destroyed.

When we get to Revelation 19, the mood changes.  People are happy, not sad.  They are not morning.  They are celebrating.  They are having a big party and are loud.

In Revelation 19, we go from lamentation to praise.  We go from lamentation on earth to praise in heaven.  There are FOUR HALLELUJAHS in this chapter (Revelation 19:1, 3, 4, 6).  We go from a funeral to a wedding.

There was a funeral in Revelation 18.  In Revelation 19, we do not see a funeral but a wedding.

2) You have to be invited to this wedding.

We receive invitations to weddings.  We have to RSVP.  There is an invitation to this wedding.  Did you receive an invitation?  Have you been invited?  Do you have a wedding invitation?

Blessed are those who are INVITED to the wedding supper of the Lamb!”  (Revelation 19:9 NIV).

You have to be invited to this wedding.  Many think that all people are invited, but it is our decision whether we accept the invitation or not.  That would be the Arminian way to read this, but it is not what this it is talking about.

Not everyone is invited to this wedding supper.  The unsaved are not invited to this wedding.  Only the saved are invited.  How do we know?  This is a beatitude.

Remember, there are seven beatitudes in Revelation.  Seven times we see the word “blessed” in Revelation. Each time we see that word in the book, the blessing only goes to some people.  It does not go to everybody.

Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. (Revelation 1:3 NIV)

Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” (Revelation 14:13 NIV)

Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.” (Revelation 22:7 NIV)

3) There will be a dress code at this wedding.

Brides usually wear white.  It is traditional.  It is the symbol of purity and innocence.  This bride will wear white.  She will be dressed differently from the prostitute.  The prostitute wears red and purple (Revelation 17:4). The bride of Christ will wear white.

Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Revelation 19:8 NIV).

You might think this makes the bride rather plain looking (no gold, pearls and jewels) but keep in mind that fine linen was expensive.  It was a luxury item in the ancient world.[1]  The same Greek word (βύσσινον) is used of the wealthy woman in the last chapter.  She was also dressed in fine linen.

“The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore— ¹² cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; FINE LINEN, purple, silk and scarlet cloth (Revelation 18:12 NIV)

‘Woe! Woe to you, great city, dressed in FINE LINEN, purple and scarlet,
 and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls! (Revelation 18:16 NIV)

What does the fine linen represent?  Not just salvation.  Our wedding garments are not salvation.  The bride is not saved by good works.  The bride had some dirty robes that needed to be washed in order to get saved.

They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 7:14 NIV).

These garments represent good words.  They stand for the “righteous acts” (NIV) or “the righteous deeds” (ESV) of the saints.  It is in the plural.

What does that tell you?  It tells us that the bride was known for righteous deeds.  The harlot, the counterfeit bride, was known for uncleanness, sin and abominations.

We are not saved by good works, but true believers will have some.  We were created for good works.  We were chosen by God for good works.  If you are really saved, you will have some.

4) There will be preparation for this wedding

Many brides today spend a lot of time getting ready for their wedding.  They spend hours putting their make-up on and doing their hair.  This bride will prepare for her wedding as well.

For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. (Revelation 19:7 NIV)

This is interesting.  The bride MADE HERSELF ready (19:7). She has to prepare herself for this event. That is her responsibility.

It doesn’t say that God made her ready.  We make our wedding garments now.  We make our wedding garments by how we live on earth.

5) This wedding will be followed by a reception

Most weddings have a reception afterwards.  Some serve alcohol and some don’t but they all usually have really good food.

The marriage of the Lamb will be followed by a marriage supper.  It will be followed by a wedding feast.  Sorry Baptists, but this feast will involve wine.

Jewish weddings always have wine.  In fact, Jesus made some wine miraculously at a Jewish wedding in His day.  In fact, at the Last Supper, when Jesus ate a Passover meal with his disciples and what did He say?

Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸ This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. ²⁹ I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” (Matthew 26:27-29 NIV)

There will be a lot of other food as well, although one preacher assured me that there will not be any squash on the menu.  Now, when we go to a wedding reception, it is just a meal.  The Jews had a wedding feast that lasted for about a week.

Many believe that the wedding feast in Revelation 19 will take place during the Millennium.  It will last a thousand years.  If that is the case, it will be the longest wedding feast in history.

Applications for Today

What are the applications from this passage for us today?  There are several.

1) Be Saved

If we are not saved, we will not get an invitation to this wedding.  We will not be part of the bride.  We will miss the wedding supper.  We will not be at this event.  We will not be clothed in white.  Are we part of the bride of Christ?  Are we saved?

2) Be Righteous

We have already seen that the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.  The first question is, are we saints?  The second question is, Do have righteous deeds?

Is our life characterized by righteous deeds?  What are we doing to make our wedding garments?  That is how we glorify God.  We do not do all of these deeds in our own strength and power.

We are told that fine linen, bright and clean, WAS GIVEN her to wear.”  They are not our robes by nature.  We did not have these robes before. They had to be given to us by God.  God is the one who empowers and enables us to do good deeds.

3) Be Faithful

The Bible describes believers as married to Jesus.  Paul says, “I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him” (II Corinthians 11:2 NIV)

We have a spouse.  Are we faithful to our spouse?  Do we live our lives faithful to him?  We will be presented as pure to our bridegroom.  It is a picture of physical purity.

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! (I Corinthians 6:15 NIV)

This goes beyond physical purity.  God’s people in the OT also entered into a marriage relationship.  Israel was the wife of Jehovah. God described the nation in the OT as an adulteress wife.  She committed idolatry and child sacrifice.  She worshipped all kinds of gods.  How faithful are you to Jesus?

[1] David E. Aune, Revelation 17–22, vol. 52C, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1998), 1030.

We have come in our study of the Book of Revelation to the topic of Babylon.  Two whole chapters of the book are devoted to that topic (Revelation 17-18).

Last week, we looked at the strange, mysterious woman found in Revelation 17.  It is the chapter about the filthy rich prostitute with the golden cup full of abominations sitting on a seven-headed blasphemous beast.

There are a lot of things that we don’t know about this woman.  She is a mystery, but we know that she represents a false religious system, a one-world prostitute religious system that will exist in the Tribulation Period.

We don’t know exactly what this system will look like, but it certainly will not be limited to the Roman Catholic Church, as some preachers have said.  In fact, it will not be limited to false Christianity.  It will involve false religion.

The last verse of the chapter tells us something else about this woman.  The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth (Revelation 17:18 NIV).  The woman also represents a real city.

City and System

Babylon will be both a city and a false religious system.  That raises this question.  How can cities represent things?    How can Babylon be both a city and a system?  Cities are known for things.  They get a reputation for certain things.

Madison Avenue is a real place in New York City.  It also stands for something.  It is home to some of the most extravagant shops in the entire world.  It stands for advertising.

Wall Street is another real street in New York City, but it also stands for the financial center of the country.  It is the largest stock exchange in the world.  It is the home of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

Washington, D.C. is a real city.  People live there.  It is also where our government is located – all three branches of government.  The White House is there.  This city is famous, not for advertising or finance but for politics.

Las Vegas is a real city in Nevada, but it also has a reputation for some things.  It has a reputation for casinos and gambling.  It is known as “Sin City”.  It is modern-day Sodom and Gomorrah.

Nevada is the only place in the U.S. state where prostitution is legal.  Surprisingly, it is not legal in Las Vegas (where most people think it is), but it is legal in other countries in Nevada.

Hollywood is a city in California, but it also stands for the movie industry.  That is where television and movie studios are located.  It is where movies are made.  When you think of Hollywood, you think of movie stars.

Some cities have a reputation for crime.  Many big cities have a high crime rate.  It is not safe to be in them.  The woman of Revelation 17 was both a city and a symbol.

When we come to Revelation 18, we see the destruction of the actual city.  We do not know what city it is, but it was a real city.  We do not know where this city is located but in Revelation 18 that city is completely destroyed.  It is wiped out.

This city will not be destroyed by some natural catastrophe or natural disaster.  It will be destroyed by God.  It will be destroyed violently (Revelation 18:21).  How do we know?  This will be divine judgment.

Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God WHO JUDGES HER. (Revelation 18:8 NIV)

“Rejoice over her, you heavens! Rejoice, you people of God! Rejoice, apostles and prophets! For GOD HAS JUDGED HER with the judgment she imposed on you.” (Revelation 18:20 NIV).

For her sins are piled up to heaven, and GOD HAS REMEMBERED HER CRIMES. (Revelation 18:5 NIV).  God destroyed cities in this past and He will destroy this city.

Four thousand years ago, God destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by fire.  He destroyed the city of Babylon.

Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the pride and glory of the Babylonians, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah. (Isaiah 13:19 NIV).

This makes you wonder when judgment is coming to America.  What does this chapter say to us today?  We learn some things about God’s judgment in this chapter.

Six Truths from Revelation 18

1) God’s Judgment is Certain

King Solomon said, “When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people’s hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong.” (Ecclesiastes 8:11 NIV).

Criminals are emboldened to commit crimes because there is no punishment.  They commit crimes because they can get away with it.

Sinners think they can get away with rebellion.  They can defy God and disobey His Word.

Judgment may be delayed but it is not denied.  Judgment is certain.  It is going to take place.  We see that in our chapter.

After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. 2 With a mighty voice he shouted: ‘FALLEN! FALLEN is Babylon the Great!’ (Revelation 18:1-2 NIV)

It is announced by an angel, a bright angel, shining with the glory of God.  One angel can make the whole earth bright.  This radiant angel makes a special prophecy.  With a mighty voice he shouted: ‘FALLEN! FALLEN is Babylon the Great!’

He says it twice, not because it will happen twice (a double fall), as some have suggested, but for emphasis.  It is so sure that it will take place that it is put in the past tense as if it already happened.  It is guaranteed to happen.

In fact, this is not the first time an angel gave this message.  We saw another angel say this in Revelation 14.  A second angel followed and said, “‘FALLEN! FALLEN is Babylon the Great,’ which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries (Revelation 14:7 NIV).

2) God’s Judgment is Fair

That is clear from this section.  This punishment is deserved.  God will give her back as she has given (Revelation 18:6). This was not only a great city; it was a wicked city.

This city not only had some sins, it had a lot of them.  Her sins are piled up to heaven (Revelation 18:5 NIV).  That makes you wonder if America’s sins are piled up to heaven.

Not only did this city have a lot of sins, God knew what they were and remembered them.  God has remembered her crimes. (Revelation 18:5 NIV).

That is interesting.  If we are saved, God doesn’t remember our sins.  We are forgiven, not some of them but all of them.

For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (Hebrews 8:12 NIV)

as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:12 NIV)

Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. (Isaiah 1:18 NIV)

If we are saved, God forgives our sins, even bad sins are forgiven.  He does not just forgive them; He forgets them.  If we are unsaved, He remembers everything we do.  In fact, He has a book of works which contains all of it.  That is a terrifying thought.

3) God’s Judgment is Surprising

God’s judgment will be a surprise.  It will come when people least expect it.  That is why Jesus said that He will come as a thief in the night.

People were surprised when God sent a flood which destroyed everything on the planet (men, women, children, animals).

They were shocked when God rained fire down from heaven and wiped out the wicked city of Sodom and Gomorrah four thousand years ago.  There is archeological evidence to confirm its destruction.

They were shocked when Ananias and Sapphira dropped dead in the Book of Acts.  They were Christians.  They had been baptized.  They were members of the first church in Jerusalem.  There were apostles in that church and God judged them.

People will be shocked when this city falls.  The one thing that people thought would never happen and could never happen will happen.

Not only will a city fall but a great city, a powerful city, a wealthy city, a famous city will fall, and people will be shocked.

When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city?’ (Revelation 18:18 NIV).

4) God’s Judgment is Terrifying

When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her. 10 TERRIFIED at her torment, they will stand far off and cry: “Woe! Woe to you, great city, you mighty city of Babylon! In one hour your doom has come!’ (Revelation 18:9-10 NIV)

The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand far off, TERRIFIED at her torment. They will weep and mourn (Revelation 18:15 NIV)

“Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off. 18 When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city? (Revelation 18:18 NIV)

Everyone stands afar off, all of the monarchs, mariners and merchants.  They don’t want to get too close to the ashes.  The politicians do not want to get too close.  Neither do the businessmen and sailors.

They are both sad and afraid.  When God’s judgment falls, people are terrified.  It is an absolutely terrifying thing for a person to face the judgment of God.

That is why the Bible says that “it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31 ESV).

It is a fearful thing for sinners to fall into the hands of an infinitely holy God. It is scary. We have seen this in the Book of Revelation.  We saw it with the Sixth Seal Judgment.

When the Sixth Seal was opened, there was a great earthquake, the Sun turned black.  The Moon turned red.  The stars fell.  The heavens receded and the mountains moved.

Apparently, everyone knows who is causing it.  It is God and He is angry.  Everyone begins to hide.  They hide in caves and under rocks.  They would rather die than face God, who was sitting on the throne. They would rather die than face the wrath of the Lamb.

That is not the God of modern Christianity.  It is not the God that most Christians worship.  God is loved but not feared.  We do not see God as anyone to be afraid of.  That is not the God of the Bible.

5) God’s Judgment is Swift

It will not be gradual.  It will not take place over a long period of time.  It will take place quickly.  That is the big problem with identifying this city completely with Rome.

That is the most common view among biblical scholars today.  Rome is called Babylon in the NT (I Peter 5:13).  It seems like Rome.  This was the city that killed the prophets and saints (Revelation 18:24).

The harlot woman of Revelation 17-18 is Rome, and this is talking about the Fall of Rome.  There is only one problem.  It is a big problem, in my opinion.  The Fall of Rome did not happen quickly.

Historians agree that it happened gradually over hundreds of years.  Rome was not built in a day and did not fall in a day.  The city in this chapter fell very quickly.  We are told that four times in the chapter.

Therefore in ONE DAY her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her (Revelation 18:8 NIV).

Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry: “‘Woe! Woe to you, great city, you mighty city of Babylon! In ONE HOUR your doom has come!’ (Revelation 18:10 NIV)

In ONE HOUR such great wealth has been brought to ruin!’ (Revelation 18:17 NIV)

They will throw dust on their heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out: “‘Woe! Woe to you, great city, where all who had ships on the sea became rich through her wealth! In ONE HOUR she has been brought to ruin!’ (Revelation 18:19 NIV)

This has happened in our history.  It happened when the stock market crashed in 1929 (Black Monday and Black Tuesday) but there it only lost half of its value. In Russia (1917) and China (1949), it went down to zero.  There is talk now that if the US defaults on its debt, there will be an economic catastrophe.

6) God’s Judgment is Permanent.

This city was going to fall.  It was never going to come back.  That is mentioned six times in the chapter.

Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea, and said: “With such violence the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, NEVER to be found again.

22 The music of harpists and musicians, pipers and trumpeters, will NEVER be heard in you again. No worker of any trade will EVER be found in you again.

The sound of a millstone will NEVER be heard in you again. 23 The light of a lamp will NEVER shine in you again. The voice of bridegroom and bride will NEVER be heard in you again.  (Revelation 18:21-23 NIV)

One imaginative preacher entitled this chapter, “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.”[1]

Two Commands

What bearing does this chapter have on us today?  We don’t even live in the Tribulation Period.  Things are not falling from the sky.  We have not seen any demonic locusts.  The Antichrist has not revealed himself yet.  How does this apply to us?

This chapter applies to believers today who do not live in the Tribulation Period.  There are two commands in this chapter to believers.  We need to see what these two commands are.

Come Out of Babylon

The first command in this chapter is a command to separation.  This time God speaks directly.  He talks directly to His people.  Notice what He says.

Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “‘Come out of her, my people,’ so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues (Revelation 18:4 NIV)

Apparently, there will be believers living on earth during the Tribulation Period.  Apparently, some of them will be living in Babylon.  There were some advantages to living there.  You could get rich living there.

God says, “come out”.  This is an allusion to Isaiah 52:11, which is talking about Babylon. Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing! Come out from it and be pure (NIV).

That was a command for Levites and priests but Paul quotes that verse in II Corinthians 6:14-18 and applies it to us today.

In Revelation 18, it is applied to Babylon.  Touch not the unclean thing.  There were a lot of unclean things in Babylon (unclean spirits, unclean birds, unclean animals, unclean moral practices, like prostitution).  The great harlot held a gold cup in her hand full of all kinds of unclean things.

Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. (Ephesians 5:11 NIV)

God commands believers to come out of Babylon, not to stay in it.  If you don’t come out of Babylon, God says that you can share in its sin.

If you live in a very wicked environment, it is easy to act like the people around you.  What does that mean not to be Babylonian?  What is the spirit of Babylon?

Rejoice

What is the second command?  It is a command to rejoice.  Notice the end of the chapter.

“REJOICE over her, you heavens! REJOICE, you people of God! REJOICE, apostles and prophets! For God has judged her with the judgment she imposed on you.” (Revelation 18:20 NIV)

This is strange.  Heaven does not just rejoice over the fall of Babylon; they are commanded three times to rejoice over the fall of Babylon.  People in heaven and God’s people are COMMAND to rejoice.

Why are they told to rejoice?  God judged Babylon.  Is this unchristian?  Is it vindictive?  No. It is celebration of the justice of God.  God has judged her with the judgment she imposed on you.

The judgment was fair.  Jesus said, “in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Matthew 7:2 NIV)

This is something that we NEVER do in church.  We celebrate grace.  We celebrate when we don’t get what we deserve.  Here, we are commanded to celebrate God’s justice, not just His grace.

We are not to render evil for evil.  We are not to take vengeance on people ourselves, but God can render evil for evil.  It is His job.  We live in a world when we rarely even see justice at work.  What does God say?

Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. (Romans 12:19 NIV).

[1] https://drjustinimelsr.com/sermon-on-revelation-ive-fallen-and-i-cant-get-up-revelation-181-8/

Today, we come to one of the most mysterious and intriguing chapters in the Book of Revelation.  It is the famous chapter about the scarlet woman with the golden cup.  It is a strange chapter in the Bible.  It is the story about a prostitute and her lovers.

John is carried away by an angel to see a hooker, and it was not for the purpose of evangelism.  Not too many angels take believers out to see prostitutes these days.

Here, an angel carries away an apostle of Jesus Christ in the Spirit to see a prostitute and not just any prostitute but a great prostitute (Revelation 17:1, 3).

Today, we want to look at who this woman is.  What does she represent?  How does it apply to us, even if we don’t live in the Tribulation Period.  We will try to see this chapter in a way you have never seen it before.

It is one of the most difficult chapters in the whole Book of Revelation.  We are told that this chapter calls for a mind with wisdom (Revelation 17:9 NIV).

Apparently, we don’t have wisdom.  Most of us don’t know what the chapter is about.  Who is the woman and who is who the beast she is riding?

Who is the woman?  Is the woman literal Babylon? That was a city that sits on many waters.  It was constructed on a canal system.

Is the woman Rome. That was the view of the early church.  It is the view of most modern scholars.

Is the woman Jerusalem?  God said of the city of Jerusalem, “See how the faithful city has become a prostitute!” (Isaiah 1:21 NIV).  That is interesting but Jerusalem is not a city on seven hills.

Is the woman the US?  There are plenty of websites and some books that take this view.

Is the woman the United Nations?  That is the view of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Is the woman the Catholic Church.  That was the view of the Reformers and many today.

Who is the woman?  Who are the ten kings?  What are the seven heads?  Are they kings or are they kingdoms?

Many who think they knew what the chapter is about are completely wrong.  That is not surprising.  It is called a mystery.  We see that word twice in this chapter.

The word “mystery” is used four times in Revelation (Revelation 1:20; 10:7; 17:5, 7).  The last time that we see the word “mystery” in the Bible is with regard to Revelation 17.[1]

Incidentally, if people say that they can explain everything in the chapter perfectly, don’t believe them.  There are some things in the chapter that are clear, but some things are a mystery.

The good news is that the chapter not only has a vision but an interpretation of the vision.  We have the VISION in Revelation 17:1-6.  We have the INTERPRETATION in Revelation 17:7-18.

Who does the interpretation?  An angel.  An angel interprets the vision for us.  We do not have to guess what it means.

We have the inspired interpretation.  The problem is that even with the interpretation, we still do not know completely what it means.

It is almost as if the angel is deliberately vague because this is a mystery.

The angel says that the woman is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth (Revelation 17:18).  What city is it?  Is it Nashville?  Is it LA or New York?  Is it Rome?  Is it Jerusalem?

The angel says that the seven heads are seven hills (Revelation 17:9) but does not tell us which hills.

Incidentally, some churches teach what is called seven mountain theology. It is supposedly based on Revelation 17.  The seven mountains are key institutions.

They are family, religion, education, the media, entertainment, business, and government.  They come up with the seven-mountain mandate based on this chapter but there is a problem.

The angel did NOT say that the seven heads are seven institutions but that the seven heads are seven hills or seven mountains (Revelation 17:9).  There is no reason not to take that literally.

A Graphic Chapter

This chapter should come with a content advisory warning. This is a graphic chapter.  It is not a good chapter for children’s church.  It uses graphic language.  It uses sexual imagery.  There is a great whore in the chapter (Revelation 17:1).

There is sexual immorality.  Kings commit sexual immorality (Revelation 17:2).  There is marital unfaithfulness.

There is seduction in this chapter.  The inhabitants of the earth will be seduced by this woman (Revelation 17:2)

There is prostitution all through this chapter.  In fact, the root word for “prostitute” in Greek is PORN.  The root word porn is used six times in the chapter.[2]

Revelation 17:1 – I will show you the great πόρνης (prostitute)

Revelation 17:2 – With her the kings of the earth have committed ἐπόρνευσαν (adultery)

Revelation 17:4 – She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her πορνείας (adulteries)

Revelation 17:5 – The name written on her forehead was a mystery: Babylon the great, the mother of πορνῶν (prostitutes)

Revelation 17:15 – the waters you saw, where the πόρνη (prostitute) sits

Revelation 17:16 – The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the πόρνην (prostitute).

There is drunkenness in this chapter.  It not only has a prostitute but a drunken prostitute in it (Revelation 17:6).

There is blasphemy in this chapter.  The scarlet beast is covered with blasphemous names (Revelation 17:3).

There are all kinds of filth in this chapter, a gold cup full of filth.  It is a cup of unclean things (Revelation 17:4).

There is violence.  There is murder in this chapter.  This woman is drunk with the blood of God’s people (Revelation 17:6).  Not only are the saints killed in this chapter but so is the prostitute (Revelation 17:16).

There are wicked politicians and kings who use people for their own purposes.  Politicians still do this today.

The clients of this prostitute use her and then get rid of her.  Her former lovers hate her and kill her (Revelation 17:16).

There is nudity in this chapter.  There is cannibalism in the chapter.  The beast and the ten kings leave her naked and eat her flesh (Revelation 17:16).

That shows the self-destructive nature of evil.  Evil is self-destructive. Evil turns on itself.  Evil destroys evil. The prostitute of Babylon is destroyed by someone more wicked than she is.

What is even stranger is that the beast and the ten kings actually do the will of God. When they kill the prostitute, they do what God wanted them to do.

We are told in this chapter that God “put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose” (Revelation 17:17 NIV).

How is that possible?  He uses evil people as instruments of judgment.  He used wicked Babylon and Assyria to judge His own people.

A Symbolic Chapter

We will see this woman is not pornographic; she is prophetic.  She is symbolic.  A woman rides a beast in the chapter (Revelation 17:3).

She is not a literal woman and the animal she rides, the seven-headed beast with blasphemous names, is not a literal beast.

The woman is called a harlot, but she is not a literal harlot. She is not a physical prostitute.  She is a spiritual prostitute.

Kings of the earth commit fornication with her, but it is not literal fornication.

The harlot sits on many waters, but these are not literal waters. These waters represent something.  They represent peoples, multitudes, nations and languages (Revelation 17:15 NIV).

This woman is also said to be drunk.  This is a drunken prostitute but she is not drunk on wine but on blood.  It is a different type of drunkenness.

In fact, not only is the woman drunk but so are the nations. You have drunken nations in this chapter, intoxicated from this woman.  The whole chapter is an allegory.

Five Characters

Who are the two main characters in the chapter?  A woman and a beast.  If you look carefully, you will see five characters in this chapter.

1) The filthy prostitute with the golden cup

2) The seven-headed beast with blasphemous names on it

3) The ten kings who are aligned with the Beast

These ten kings have not yet received a kingdom (Revelation 17:12 NIV).  They are not on the scene right now but one day they will be, and they will give their power and authority to the beast (Revelation 17:13 NIV).  They help support him and give him his power.

4) Jesus the Lamb

In this chapter, Jesus is attacked.  The Beast and the ten kings “will wage war against the Lamb” (Revelation 17:14 NIV).

They will not just wage war against Christians.  They will wage war against Jesus.  They will wage war against God himself.

He is not only attacked; He is victorious.  The Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of king (Revelation 17:14 NIV).

He will defeat them at the battle of Armageddon.  All of the forces of evil and all of the powers of Hell cannot stand up to the Lamb.

It is a little ironic that a lamb defeats them.  He is not just the Sacrificial Lamb.  He is the Warrior Lamb.

There is a lesson here.  Evil can be powerful.  Evil can be organized.  Evil can be frightening.  It can be intimidating but one day, evil will come to an end.

One day, evil will be destroyed.  That is hard to imagine in the day in which we live where we see evil every day on TV.  Can you imagine living in a world without evil?

The Beast will triumph over the prostitute.  He will triumph over the saints and overcome them, but Jesus will triumph over the Beast.

5) Believers

What are we told about believers in this chapter?  They will be persecuted.  Many will be martyred.  This woman who was drunk with their blood (Revelation 17:6).

Believers are described by three words: called, chosen and faithful followers (Revelation 17:14 NIV).  They are also described as those who bear testimony to Jesus (Revelation 17:6).

False Religious System

What is this chapter really about?  How does it apply today?  Many read Revelation 17 and miss the whole point of the chapter.

This chapter is all about false religion.  The Tribulation will be a time full of religion.  Everyone will not become a atheist at that time.

In the Tribulation, we will see a false end-time religious system appear.  It will be the final form of world religion.  It will be a great world church.  It will be a one-world religion.

It certainly will not be limited to the Catholic Church, as some think. It will not be limited to liberal Christianity.  It will include non-Christian religions, as well.

This religion will be liberal. It will be apostate. It will be unbiblical. It will be idolatrous.  It will be blasphemous.  It is called Babylon because that was where idolatry began.

Some would object to this and say that the woman is not a church.  She is a city.  The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth. (Revelation 17:18 NIV).  Are they right?  No.

This woman has to represent a religious system.  It has to represent a counterfeit church.  It is easy to prove.  Let’s compare two passages.  Compare the two women of Revelation at the end of the book.

One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits by many waters. (Revelation 17:1 NIV)

9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. (Revelation 21:9-10 NIV)

Both times John was taken away in the spirit by an angel to see a woman.

Both angels were one of the angels who had the seven bowls of wrath.

Both times, the woman that John saw was described as a city.  One city was called Babylon.  One city was called Jerusalem.

One woman was the bride, and one woman was the prostitute.  One woman represented the true church, and one woman represented the counterfeit church.  The harlot and the bride are both pictured as a city.

There is a big contrast between the two.  One is faithful and the other is unfaithful.  One is a pure and spotless bride and one is a harlot.  God demands purity in worship.

One woman was stripped naked, and one was clothed with fine linen (Revelation 17:16; 19:8).

One wears purple and red (Revelation 17:4).  The other wears white (Revelation 4:4; 7:9, 13; 19:14)

One woman is with Christ and one woman is allied to people who fight Christ.

What is the application?  There are two groups of people.  You are either part of the bride or you are part of the harlot.  Which group are you a part of?

Characteristics of False Religion

The woman represents the religious system that will exist in the Tribulation Period but there are some ways it applies to us today.  We see several characteristics of false religion from this prostitute.

1) False Religion is Seductive

The woman in Revelation 17 was seductive.  She seduced people all over the world.  Kings were seduced by her.

There must be something seductive about prostitution or it would not be called “the world’s oldest profession.”

False religion is also seductive.  People are attracted to false churches and to cults.  There is some appeal or people would not be joining.  Don’t be seduced.

2) False Religion is Hypocritical

This woman looked beautiful on the outside and ugly on the inside.  She had glittering jewels.  She was clothed in red and purple.

Purple dye was expensive in the ancient world.  She had this golden cup in her hand that was extremely valuable, but it was full of abominations.

Many churches look great on the outside.  They have a great building and stained-glass windows but may not teach things that are lined up with Scripture.  Is you religion hypocritical?

3) False Religion is Wicked

This woman has evil written on her forehead in big letters and is proud of it.  She doesn’t hide it.  She would wear it in a pride festival.

She has a gold cup in her hand.  It does not just have some unclean things in it.  This cup is FULL of unclean things.

This cup was “filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries” (Revelation 17:4 NIV).

God says in the next chapter that “her sins are piled up to heaven” (Revelation 18:6 NIV)

False religion does not only contain false doctrines but also false practices.  The two go together.  False doctrine leads to false living.  Liberal churches ordain homosexuals.  They support and encourage immorality.

4) False Religion is Intolerant

I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. (Revelation 17:6 NIV)

This woman was drunk with blood of the saints.  She killed believers.  She executed Christians.  That is why she wears the color red.  She stands for bloodshed.  That is a sign of false religion.  False religion always attacks the people of God.

At that time the son born according to the flesh persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. (Galatians 4:29 NIV)

5) False Religion is Political

In Revelation 17, the woman rides on the top of the beast.  She rides on top of the state.

There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. (Revelation 17:3 NIV)

Here, religion and government are combined.  This is a union of church and state, and the church controls the state.  It dominates and controls government.

The church should never be involved in government.  The state uses religion for its purposes.  Stalin used the church and then tries to destroy it.  Hitler used the Catholic Church and then persecuted it.

Notice who this woman is associated with.  She is not just associated with the state but with a demonically controlled government that opposes Christ.

The Beast is the one who comes out of the Abyss (Revelation 17:8). He is covered with blasphemous names (Revelation 17:3).

There is a hideous, horrible looking, seven headed, blasphemous beast.  Most people would be afraid of this animal, but she is not.  She associates with it proudly.

She had a partnership with the beast.   She sits on the one who eventually kills her.  Be careful who you associate with.  Be careful who your friends are.  They can get you killed.  You can end up dead like the prostitute in Revelation 17.

6) False Religion is Temporary

Notice how the chapter begins.  One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits by many waters (Revelation 17:1 NIV)

One day, false religion will come to an end.  Islam will come to an end.  Hinduism will come to an end.  Buddhism will come to an end and so will all the cults.

That is one thing that stands out clearly from this chapter.  All worship will be destroyed, except the worship of the Antichrist.  Eventually, the Antichrist will be destroyed.

[1] There is a translation note here.  The Revelation 17:5 KJV reads the words, “Mystery, Babylon the Great.” written on her forehead.  Mystery is part of her title in the KJV.  The NIV reads, “The name written on her forehead was a mystery: babylon the great the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth.” In the second reading, the name is “Babylon the Great”.  Both readings are possible, but four times in Revelation her name is “Babylon the Great” (Revelation 14:8; 16:19; 17:5; 18:2).  Nowhere else in Revelation is mystery a part of her name.

[2] https://www.universityreformedchurch.org/sermons/revelation-171-18/

[3] https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon-illustrations/100464/genesis-and-revelation-by-dr-larry-petton

We have been studying the judgments of the Tribulation Period.  To many, they seem too hard to imagine ever happening in our world today.  That was until 2021 when we encountered a worldwide pandemic.

Schools were closed.  Churches were closed.  We couldn’t meet in large groups.  We all had to wear masks and that was for something that was a man-made virus.  How much worse will plagues that come directly from God.

We live in a world full of DISEASE.  Sometimes diseases affect more than one country.  We call those diseases PANDEMICS. Some wiped out entire civilizations.  When diseases cross international boundaries and are worldwide, we call them GLOBAL PANDEMICS.

Revelation 16 describes a global pandemic.  It will be the greatest pandemic the world will ever see.  Revelation 16 describes the last plagues on planet earth.  They will be the final judgments of the Tribulation Period.

I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the SEVEN LAST PLAGUES—last, because with them God’s wrath is completed. (Revelation 15:1 NIV).

These plagues will be worse than any before them. They will affect health and safety.  They will cause water pollution.  They will affect the food supply. They will affect the water supply.  They will affect the environment.  They will affect the weather.  They will affect power sources.  They will affect electricity.

Rivers will turn into blood.  The Sun will be so hot, it will burn people up.  People will have sores all over their body and no water to drink.  Hundred-pound hailstones will fall on people’s heads (Revelation 16:21).  The heaviest hailstone that has ever been recorded was only 2.25 pounds. [1]  These hailstones will be a hundred pounds or more.

Some have called these seven bowls, “The seven super bowls” (to use a football analogy). They describe the end of the world, as we know it.  After these seven bowls, the Tribulation comes to an end, Jesus comes back and the kingdom begins.

What we are going to do today is to see what these bowl judgments are.  We will see where they come from and why they will come to planet earth.  We will see what people’s reaction to these judgments will be.

We will also look at how this chapter applies to us today.  How does it apply to people who are not living in the Tribulation Period?  Before John describes the final plagues on earth, He has a vision of heaven in Revelation 15.  He has a vision of the sea of glass.  He sees a heavenly temple or tabernacle.  The earthly one was just a copy of the heavenly one (Hebrews 8:5).

A Heavenly Vision

In Revelation 15 is the shortest chapter in the Book of Revelation.  In fact, it is the shortest chapter in the NT.  It is only eight verses long.  It is another vision of heaven.  John has seen many of them.

What does John see in heaven?  He sees God in His temple and the Temple is full of smoke from God’s glory.  He sees Jesus.  He sees two groups of people: saints and angels.  The saints SING and the angels SERVE.

He saw the 144,000 in heaven with harps, and they are singing.  They are singing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. We know why they are singing the song of the Lamb.  Why are they singing the song of Moses?

The Jews sang the song of Moses after they crossed the Red Sea.  They sang it after they were victorious over Pharaoh.  The 144,000 will be victorious over death.

They will be victorious over the Antichrist.  The Antichrist thought he was victorious when he killed them but they are in heaven and they are singing.

He also sees seven angels with shiny clothes, and a golden sash around their chest.  They have golden bowls of wrath.  They are given a special command from God.  They are given a direct order by God.

These seven angels are given a special job to do.  They are given a special commission.  Their job is to pour out bowls of wrath on the earth.  They did not pour out their bowls all at the same time but one at a time.

Four Shocking Truths

1) These terrible judgments will happen in the future

These bowls are literal.  They will all literally be fulfilled one day.  There are some who interpret all of this figuratively.  They say that it is all symbolic.  Many preachers say that Revelation 16 was all fulfilled in 70 AD.

Are they right? No. That makes absolute nonsense of the text.  When in 70 A.D. did all the rivers turn to blood?  When did the seas all turn to blood?  When did the Euphrates River dry up.

The truth is that Revelation is a symbolic book.  There are lots of symbols in this book.  Seven angels pour out bowls of wrath on the earth.  How can you have bowls of wrath?  How can judgment be placed in a bowl?  How can it be poured out like a liquid?

There are some symbols in this chapter but the judgments themselves are literal.  How do we know?  Many of these plagues resemble other plagues in the Bible that were clearly literal, the Plagues of Egypt.

If the plagues in Exodus were literal, and everyone agrees that they were, then, the plagues in Revelation must be literal as well.  If the historical plagues were literal, then these prophetic end-time plagues must be literal as well.  History is going to repeat itself.

There were Ten Plagues in Egypt in the Book of Exodus.  Some of the plagues in Revelation 16 are just like these plagues.  There is a bowl judgment of boils.  There was an Egyptian plague of boils.

It went on everyone in Egypt, including the magicians.  It broke out on every person and animal (Exodus 9:9).  In fact, the word for “sores” in Revelation 16 is the same Greek word (ἕλκος) used of the sores of the sixth plague of Egypt (Revelation 16:2; Exodus 9:6 LXX).

There was an Egyptian plague of darkness.  There was darkness over all Egypt for three days and it was total (Exodus 11:21-23).  The Fifth Bowl Judgment is darkness on the kingdom of the Antichrist.

One of the plagues of Egypt was the plague of blood.  Moses turned the Nile River into blood.  All of the fish died, the river stunk, and they could not drink any water (Exodus 7:14-23).  The second and third bowl judgments will be almost identical to this plague.

There was a plague of frogs in Exodus and there are frogs in Revelation 16. We see three of them there, the three frogs of Revelation.  These will be demonic frogs.  They will be demons.  They represent three powerful demons.

Three evil spirits come out of the mouth of the dragon, beast, and false prophet (Revelation 16:13).

How would you like to have demons coming out of your mouth?  Talk about having a frog in your throat and the Jews regarded frogs as unclean animals (Leviticus 11:10).

God dried up the Red Sea.  In the Tribulation Period, He will dry up the Euphrates River.  The Euphrates Rivers is one of the most important rivers in the world.  It is one of Iraq’s two main rivers.  It is 1800 miles long.

I learned something this week.  Did you know that the river right now is drying up?  It is in the process of drying up.  It has been drying up for years because of low rainfall and other reasons.

Scientists believe that it will completely dry up, possibly by the year 2040 unless action is taken.[2] That is an example of reading the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other hand.

In Revelation 9:14-16, four demons bound at the River Euphrates were released.

In Revelation 16, the Euphrates River dries up and three demons bring all the nations to that location to fight a battle.  There will be end-time demonic activity during the Tribulation.

They are demonic spirits that perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty (Revelation 16:14 NIV).

How will they convince everyone?  They will have the power to perform miracles.  Now, in the OT, we are told that God will gather the nations to battle for Armageddon.

A day of the Lord is coming, Jerusalem, when your possessions will be plundered and divided up within your very walls. 2 I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city. 3 Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights on a day of battle. (Zechariah 14:1-3 NIV)

“In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land… Let the nations be roused; let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge all the nations on every side. (Joel 3:1-2, 12 NIV)

The OT says that God will draw the nations to this battle.  Revelation 16 says that demons will do it.  God is sovereign over evil.  He is sovereign over Satan.  He uses Satan for His own purposes.  Both statements are true.

2) These bowls will come from God Himself

These bowl judgments actually come from God.  Here is the shocking truth.  These terrible disasters do NOT come from Satan.  They come from God Himself.  He sends them.  How do we know?  These bowls are poured out by angels from heaven.

They are not poured out by demons but by seven righteous angels, who are clothed in pure, bright and shining clothes (Revelation 15:6).  There are seven angels with seven plagues (Revelation 15:1), not seven demons with seven plagues.

They come from the Temple.  The Temple is filled with smoke from the glory of God.  These bowls issue from God’s presence.

These angels walk out of the temple with a bowl, and they hear a loud voice FROM THE TEMPLE saying, “Go, pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth” (Revelation 16:1 NIV).  They get a command from God to pour the bowls out.  It is the voice of the Shekinah Glory.

Many people think that good things come from God and terrible things must come from Satan but here are a bunch of bad things come from God.  These judgments come from God.  That raises this question: Does God cause sickness?

Some preachers say that only Satan does that.  They have not read their Bible.  Prosperity preachers will say that God does not cause sickness.  He does not cause disease, but God sent boils on the Egyptians.  He sent tumors on the Philistines and He sent the bowl judgments in Revelation 16.

THE HAND OF THE LORD was heavy against the people of Ashdod, and HE terrified and afflicted them WITH TUMORS, both Ashdod and its territory. (I Samuel 5:6 ESV)

This is the plague with which the Lord will strike all the nations that fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths. (Zechariah 14:12 NIV)

There are also passages where He did this to believers.  Miriam opposed Moses publicly and God gave her leprosy (Numbers 12). She was a believer and so was King Uzziah.  In fact, he was called one of the good kings of Judah but at the end of his life he sinned and God gave him leprosy.

16 But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God, and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. 17 Azariah the priest with eighty other courageous priests of the Lord followed him in.

18 They confronted King Uzziah and said, “It is not right for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord. That is for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who have been consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful; and you will not be honored by the Lord God.”

19 Uzziah, who had a censer in his hand ready to burn incense, became angry. While he was raging at the priests in their presence before the incense altar in the Lord’s temple, leprosy broke out on his forehead. 20 When Azariah the chief priest and all the other priests looked at him, they saw that he had leprosy on his forehead, so they hurried him out. Indeed, he himself was eager to leave, because the Lord had afflicted him. (II Chronicles 26:16-20 NIV)

He wasn’t content with being king.  He wanted to be the high priest as well and God made Him sick.  God also warned the Jews of diseases for disobedience.

The Lord will afflict you with the boils of Egypt and with tumors, festering sores and the itch, from which you cannot be cured… The Lord will afflict your knees and legs with painful boils that cannot be cured, spreading from the soles of your feet to the top of your head. (Deuteronomy 28:27, 35 NIV)

In Revelation 16, God sends the bowl judgments.  The first judgment affects people’s health, but it only comes on the worshippers of the Antichrist.  Believers are not affected.  They are excluded.

We care about our health.  We do all kinds of things to stay healthy but there will be absolutely nothing you can do if you get these ugly sores in the Tribulation Period.   Doctors will not be able to help.  Medicine will not work.  Shots will not work, because it is not natural but supernatural.

These will not be just natural pandemics.  They will be supernatural pandemics.  People will have sores that will not heal and there is nothing they can do.  Doctors can cure it because it is not natural but supernatural.

3) The bowls will be judgment on sin

The Fourth Bowl results in global warming but it has nothing to do with fossil fuels or greenhouse gases.  It has to do with the judgment of God on sin.

These are not just bowls.  These are called bowls OF WRATH.  They are “the seven bowls of God’s wrath” (Revelation 16:1 NIV).  Each one of these bowls is a judgment on sin.

They are targeted judgments.  They are not random plagues.  They are targeted plagues. They resemble the plagues of Egypt which came on the Egyptians, not the Israelites.

The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly, festering sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. (Revelation 16:2 NIV)

The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. (Revelation 16:10 NIV)

These are not judgments on believers but are judgments on unbelievers.  They are judgments on those who take the Mark of the Beast.  They come on the kingdom of the Antichrist.

The Euphrates River will dry up to draw unbelievers to Israel to wipe them off the map.  All of these anti-Semitic nations will come to fight Israel, but it will be a death trap.

4) The bowls will be perfectly fair judgments

Parents overreact.  They get angry sometimes and over punish their kids.  God’s punishments are always fair.  God is not just going to judge the world.  He is going to judge the world IN RIGHTEOUNESS (Psalm 96:13; Acts 17:31).  We see that in this chapter.

Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say: “You are JUST in these judgments, O Holy One, you who are and who were; 6 for they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets, and you have given them blood to drink AS THEY DESERVE.” (Revelation 16:5-6).

This angel says they got what they deserved.  People shed blood.  They killed the righteous and now are given blood to drink.  Pharaoh drowned the baby Hebrew boys in the sea and his troops drown in the Red Sea.

Even Abraham recognized this truth.  He said, “Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25 NIV)

The Bible says that God is no respecter of persons (Romans 2:11).  He does not show partiality.  He does not treat the rich differently from the way He treats the poor.  He does not treat one race any differently than He treats another race.

Applications for Today

What are the applications of these two chapters for us today?  How does it apply to us.  There are three applications.

1) If you rebel against God, expect consequences

Judgment is coming to planet earth.  Many think they can sin with no consequences.  Society thinks that.

See, the LORD is coming out of his dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins. The earth will disclose the blood shed on it; the earth will conceal its slain no longer. (Isaiah 26:21 NIV)

I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless. (Isaiah 13:11 NIV).

2) If you are judged by God for sin, repent

If you are judged by God for your sins, what should the proper response be?  Repentance but that is not what the wicked do.

When Moses told Pharaoh that God ordered him to let the Hebrews go, he said, “no.”  He responded arrogantly.  And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go. (Exodus 5:2 NKJV).

When God sent plagues on the land, he did not repent.  He just hardened his heart.  People do that today.  Instead of repenting, they just harden their hearts.  Are our hearts hard or soft?  The Bible says, “Don’t harden your hearts” (Hebrews 3:8)

The same thing happens when the bowl judgments fall.  These terrible judgments fall on the land and on people’s bodies.  The wicked know where they are coming from.

They know who is sending the plagues, but they do not repent.  It just makes them mad.  It makes them mad at God.  That happens three times in the chapter.

The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was allowed to scorch people with fire. 9 They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him. (Revelation 16:9-10 NIV)

10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in agony 11 and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done. (Revelation 16:10-11 NIV)

Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found. 21 From the sky huge hailstones, each weighing about a hundred pounds, fell on people. And they CURSED GOD on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible. (Revelation 16:20-21 NIV)

That raises a very interesting question.  Will people repent in hell?  Can people repent and get out of Hell?  That does not seem fair.  The truth is that there is no evidence that anyone repents.

People will experience God’s wrath in the bowl judgments and none of them repent.  They refuse to repent.  They will experience His wrath in the trumpet judgments and will not repent (Revelation 9:20-21).

Everyone would repent to avoid punishment.  They would repent to get out of hell.  People make apologies all of the time to avoid consequences, not because they are really sorry.  Hell would be empty if people did that but that is not the same thing as repenting of your sin.

Everyone in Hell will acknowledge that Jesus is Lord.  Every knee will bow and confess that Jesus is Lord but that is not the same thing are repenting.  The demons acknowledge that Jesus is Lord.

People do not stop sinning in Hell.  They will continue to curse God and blaspheme God, like people do when the wrath of God falls on them in Revelation 16.

3) When God judges on a wicked world, we should praise Him

That is what the saints and angels do in this section.  They praise God for what He does.

And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name. They held harps given them by God 3 and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb:

“Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. JUST and TRUE are your ways, King of the nations. 4 Who will not fear you, Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are HOLY. All nations will come and worship before you, for your RIGHTEOUS ACTS have been revealed.” (Revelation 15:21-4 NIV)

Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say: “You are JUST in these judgments, O Holy One, you who are and who were…7 And I heard the altar respond: “Yes, Lord God Almighty, TRUE and JUST are your judgments” (Revelation 16:6-7).

4) We all need to get ready for the return of Christ

This brings us to one of the strangest verses in Revelation.  It is Revelation 16:15. It is one of the seven beatitudes in the book (Revelation 1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14).

“Look, I come like a thief! BLESSED is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.” (NIV)

This is strange.  It says, “Stay awake and make sure that you are not naked when Jesus returns.  Make sure you have your clothes on when Jesus returns.”

Jesus compares Himself to a thief.  That is strange for Him to compare himself to a criminal.  Jesus is not a thief.  He is not a robber but all through the NT we are told that Jesus will come like a thief in the night.

Peter said it (II Peter 3:10).  Paul said it (I Thessalonians 5:2).  Jesus said it (Matthew 24:43; Revelation 16:15). What does it mean?

Jesus will return like a thief in the night. Thieves do not announce when they will come. People are always surprised when someone breaks into their house.

Jesus’ coming will be a big surprise as well.  He will appear unexpectedly when He returns.  Would you be ready for Him if He came today?

Many think that only unbelievers have to worry about Jesus coming as a thief in the night.  He only comes as a thief in the night to them.  Is that true?

The interesting thing is that Jesus told the same thing to a church.  He told it to the church of Sardis.  But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. (Revelation 3:3 NIV)

[1] https://wmo.asu.edu/content/world-heaviest-hailstone

[2] https://www.iflscience.com/euphrates-river-is-drying-up-and-crisis-looms-just-as-the-bible-warned-67934 is recent and from a non-Christian source.  Even they acknowledge that the Euphrates is drying up.

Today, we come to a section of Scripture that probably is not anyone’s favorite Bible verse.  It is not a warm and fuzzy chapter.  It is a disturbing passage.

It is graphic.  It is gruesome.  It is gory.  It is violent.  It is bloody.  It describes a winepress of God’s wrath.  It describes a river of blood that is two hundred miles long.

It is one of the most vivid pictures of judgment in the entire Bible.  The concept has made it into pop culture.  It has made its way into movies, literature and music.

There are plenty of horror movies about the Grim Reaper.  John Steinbeck wrote a novel called Grapes of Wrath based on this chapter.  The Battle Hymn of the Republic (1862) talks about God “trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored.”

Today we are going to read some obscure passages in the OT.  We want to look at this passage and see what it is talking about.  We also want to see what it says to us today.  What are the takeaways from this section for us today?

Overview

Revelation 14:14-20 describes two reapers and two harvests.  There are two reapers with sharp sickles.  Who are the two reapers?  Jesus and an angel.  Before the reaping begins, an angel from heaven says it is time to begin reaping.

What are the two harvests in this section?  There is a GRAIN harvest and a GRAPE harvest.  There is a gathering of grain and a gathering of grapes.

What do they represent?  The second harvest is called a winepress of God’s wrath with blood everywhere.  It is clearly a judgment harvest.  There is no question about that.

The big question is, what does the grain harvest represent?  Some believe that it is a harvest of salvation, not a harvest of judgment.  There are two harvests.  One is a good harvest, and one is a bad harvest.  There are some verses that talk about a salvation harvest.

Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. (John 4:35 NIV)

His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire. (Matthew 3:12 NIV)

That is a different picture.  Revelation is not dealing with wheat and chaff.  It is dealing with wheat and grapes.  If you want to know what it is talking about in the Book of Revelation, you have to go back to the OT.

OT Background

If you do not understand the OT, if you do not understand Joel and Isaiah, you will not understand Revelation 14.  It is easy to prove from the Book of Joel that both of the harvests in Revelation 14 are judgment scenes.

There are two harvest judgments.  God’s judgment on the wicked is pictured as a harvest.  There are two harvest judgments.  How do we know?  We can prove this from Joel 3.

“In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land. 3 They cast lots for my people and traded boys for prostitutes; they sold girls for wine to drink.

Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare for war! Rouse the warriors! Let all the fighting men draw near and attack. 10 Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weakling say, “I am strong!”

11 Come quickly, all you nations from every side, and assemble there. Bring down your warriors, Lord!

12 “Let the nations be roused; let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to JUDGE all the nations on every side. 13 SWING THE SICKLE, for the HARVEST is ripe. Come, TRAMPLE THE GRAPES, for the WINEPRESS is full and the vats overflow—so great is their wickedness!” (Joel 3:1-3, 9-13 NIV)

Cut them down like grain. The harvest is ripe.  Stomp on them as you would stomp on grapes. The winepress is full. The vats overflow. The nations are very wicked. (Joel 3:13 GWT)

What are the similarities between the two passages?  Both mention the harvest being ripe. Both mention the grain harvest and grape harvest.  Both deal with the Battle of Armageddon.

Both mention the sickle being swung and the grapes being trampled.  Both mention a winepress.  Both are clearly judgment scenes.  Joel 3 is a judgment scene and even tells why the nations are judged.

The main reason they are judged is because of how they treated the nation of Israel.  Nations will be judged based on their foreign policy.  Anti-Semitic nations will be judged for how they treat Israel.

The nations scattered the Jews and dividing up the land (Joel 3:2). The world tries to divide up the Promise Land and say that Palestinians get part, and the Jews get part.

It is called the two-state solution. All politicians advocate some form of it.  It is dividing the land up for peace and security.  God calls it sin.  It is an abomination to divide up the Holy Land.

It brings His judgment.  Why?  God made a special covenant with the Jews.  He gave them the land.  He says that it is their land.  There are other sins mentioned as well, like sex trafficking (Joel 3:3).  Apparently, God takes that very seriously.

If you read the whole chapter, you will have some idea what is going on in Revelation 14.   Joel 3 describes the Jews return to their land (cf. Joel 3:1).

It also describes an end time invasion of Israel by Gentile armies from all over the world.  They pour into Israel from all sides (Joel 3:11-12).  They are crammed into a huge valley to attack and wipe them off the map.

This is not going to involve some nations or a lot of nations but all nations (Joel 3:2).  They gather against God and His people, and they are armed.

They will surround Israel in a final climactic battle.  They will want to destroy Israel, but they are the ones who get destroyed instead.  God actually draws them there to judge them (Joel 3:2).

When they get to the battlefield, they do not face another human army.  They will face God Himself.  Jesus returns to earth.  He wipes them out instantly.  He is a one-man army.

There are other armies there (armies from heaven), but Jesus does all the fighting.  In fact, Jesus does not have to do much fighting.  Paul says they will be destroyed by the brightness of His coming.

And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. (II Thessalonians 2:8 NIV)

The Grain Harvest

First, there is the grain harvest. “The imagery of rebellious humanity being summarily cut down like stalks of grain at the edge of a sickle.”[1]  In Revelation 14, Jesus holds a sickle and swings it.

It is a sharp sickle (Revelation 14:14 NIV).  A sickle is used for cutting.  Here, it is not an instrument of farming or agriculture, but an instrument of judgment. Both grain and grapes are cut by sickles.  Jesus is using it on grain.

I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. (Revelation 14:14 NIV).

Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, “Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 16 So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested. (Revelation 14:15-16 NIV)

When he was on earth, he was the suffering servant.  He was arrested, beaten and crucified.  In Revelation 14, He is wearing a golden crown on his head and he is sitting on a cloud.  He is swinging a sickle and judging the world.

The Grape Harvest

The second harvest involves a winepress.  The way wine was made in John’s day was to put grapes in a vat and people would step on them and crush the grapes.  That is not how we make wine today.  That does not seem too sanitary but it was the old way to make wine

17 Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, “Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe.” 19 The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. (Revelation 14:17-19 NIV)

It is a terrifying scene.  It is not really a battle.  It is a massacre.  It is a bloodbath.  There’s no battle; just an execution.  Jesus comes back.  The nations gather to fight and are armed and everyone drops dead.  A sword comes out of His mouth, and everyone is wiped out.

Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. (Revelation 19:15 NIV).

When Jesus returns to earth, people are going to die, a lot of them.  There’s going to be dead bodies and blood everywhere.  When Jesus comes back, there will be a bloodbath and it will happen in a moment.

It is called the Battle of Armageddon, but it will not really be a battle.  It will be a massacre and it will result in a river of blood.  In fact, it will be so bloody that Jesus will have blood on Him and will not be His blood.  We see that in the Book of Isaiah.

Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson? Who is this, robed in splendor, striding forward in the greatness of his strength? “It is I, proclaiming victory, mighty to save.” 2 Why are your garments red, like those of one treading the winepress?

3 “I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations no one was with me. I trampled them in my anger and trod them down in my wrath; their blood spattered my garments, and I stained all my clothing. 4 It was for me the day of vengeance; the year for me to redeem had come.

5 I looked, but there was no one to help, I was appalled that no one gave support; so my own arm achieved salvation for me, and my own wrath sustained me. 6 I trampled the nations in my anger; in my wrath I made them drunk and poured their blood on the ground.” (Isaiah 63:1-6 NIV)

Isaiah sees the image of a conquering warrior who has just returned from battle.  He returns victorious.  He proclaims victory (Isaiah 63:2) but he is drenched in blood.  They are stained crimson (Isaiah 63:1).

Isaiah asks two questions:  Who is this person coming from Edom and why are his garments red?  It is Jesus.  He just trampled the nations in His anger.

This chapter is another winepress scene, and it is also bloody.  There is blood everywhere, even on Jesus’ clothes.  He is described as the blood-stained man.  That sounds like someone who committed a crime, but it is not a crime but an execution.

On the cross, Jesus shed His blood for His enemies.  At the Second Coming, blood will be shed again but it will be the blood of His enemies who rejected Him.  He will be covered in their blood.

Three Takeaways

1) God gets angry

Some preachers say that God never gets angry.  He is all love and mercy.  God is not mad at you. Joyce Meyer wrote a book with that title.  God doesn’t get mad.

In this section we see a winepress of God’s wrath.  God is slow to anger but He gets angry.  God’s wrath is His anger over sin.  We get angry for many reasons.  Sometimes our anger is sinful.  God gets angry because His is a holy God.

See, the day of the LORD is coming —a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger— to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it. (Isaiah 13:9 NIV)

Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken into pieces by him. (Nahum 1:6 NIV)

Many have a completely false view of God.  Many in the church have a false view of Jesus.  Many preachers today do not talk about God having wrath.  They do not talk about judgment.

They never preach on Hell.  It has gone out of style.  It is unpopular.  It is not positive and uplifting.  That is not good news.  There are very few hell, fire and brimstone preachers today.

Many think that a God of love would never punish people. He would never take vengeance on people.  What does the Bible teach?

The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The Lord takes vengeance on his foes and vents his wrath against his enemies. 3 The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished. (Nahum 1:1-3 NIV)

O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth! (Psalm 94:1 ESV)

I will take vengeance in anger and wrath on the nations that have not obeyed me. (Micah 5:15 NIV)

God is a God of salvation and a God of judgment.  He is a God of love and a God of vengeance.  He is mighty to save (Isaiah 63:1) and mighty to judge.  In Revelation 14 we see His judgment.  We see the great winepress of God’s wrath.  We see God in His wrath, not God in His love.

2) Judgment is coming

One day, Jesus will judge the world.  We see that from the two harvest judgments.  They do not describe hell but judgment on earth, because it mentions blood outside the city.[2]

Jesus is not only Savior but the Judge.  He is the one who is going to judge the world.  Judgment is coming.  The Jesus has a sharp sickle in His hand.  The Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son (John 5:22 NIV).

God commands people to repent “because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” (Acts 17:31 ESV).

Judgment is not just coming to INDIVIDUALS; it is coming to THE WORLD.  Amos 4:12 says, “prepare to meet your God.”  Most people that meet him will not be prepared.  We will see that next week.

You say, “If it is coming, why hasn’t it happened yet?”  God waits until the fruit is ripe for judgment.   God promised Abraham the Promised Land but said that He can’t give it to Him now “because the iniquity of the Amorites is not full” (Genesis 15:16).

The Amorites were Canaanites.  They were wicked but not ripe for judgment yet.  The Jews had to wait several generations to get the Promised Land.  God waits until the grapes are ripe and bursting with juice.

He waits until people are extremely wicked and ready for judgment.   It makes you wonder when America will be ripe for judgment.  We saw in Joel that that judgment came when the winepress was not only full, but the vats were overflowing (Joel 3:13).

Judgment is coming and it is coming to everyone.  No one will escape it.  You say, “We will.  We are believers.  We are not going to be judged.”  We will escape condemnation.

Paul said, “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1 NIV).  We will escape condemnation, but we will not escape judgment.  Judgment is also coming to CHRISTIANS.

Paul also said, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (II Corinthians 5:10 NIV)

Not only are we going to appear before this judgment seat but ALL of us are going to appear before it.  You will appear before it.  I will appear before it.  Paul said that he would appear before it.

We will all face some type of judgment.  There is a difference between judgment of the wicked and judgment of believers, but we will all be judged by God.

3) Judgment is terrifying

The Bible says that “it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31 ESV).  Many have no fear of falling into God’s hands.  If God is love, why is it a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God?  God is not only a God of love but of wrath.

We see very clearly in the Book of Revelation that divine judgment is terrifying.  We saw it in the Sixth Seal Judgment.  It is so terrifying that people want to kill themselves.  They want the rocks and mountains to fall on them but there’s nowhere to run.

Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?” (Revelation 6:15-17 NIV)

Revelation 14 describes a winepress.  It will be a divine winepress.  This will be a winepress of God’s wrath and people are put into this winepress.  It will not have grapes in it.  It will have people in it.  You do not want to be placed into this winepress.

There is no mercy or grace in this winepress.  It is a picture of “unmitigated judgment.”[3]  Sinners are being trampled and not a single person will escape the wrath of God.  “The clusters of grapes were trampled and trampled until every single grape was crushed. So shall the wrath of God be.”[4]

This winepress will not produce wine, like ordinary winepresses do.  This winepress will produce blood.  This winepress of divine wrath produces a river of blood that is one hundred eighty miles long.  This river is also four to five feet deep.  It is up to the horse’s bridle.

So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and loaded the grapes into the great winepress of God’s wrath. The grapes were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress in a stream about 180 miles long and as high as a horse’s bridle. (Revelation 14:19-20 NLT)

This is NOT literal, but it is a picture of the terror of divine judgment.  How do we know that this is not literal?  It is in an apocalyptic book.  There are lots of symbols in Revelation.  There are lots of symbols of judgment in this chapter.

Judgment of the world is not going to be a literal grain harvest.  It is not going to be a grape harvest.  They will not be trampled to death.  The wicked are not going to be squashed in a literal winepress, like grapes.

Jesus will not swing a sickle at people’s heads.  That sounds like a horror movie.  There will not be a literal river of blood five feet deep, but the Battle of Armageddon will be a massacre.  There will be a lot of dead bodies everywhere.

We know that this is symbolic because the same figure was used in other apocalyptic books in the first century and afterwards.  We also see it in the first-century, Jewish historian Josephus, who wrote about the Roman destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 AD.

And the horse shall walk up to the breast in the blood of sinners, And the chariot shall be submerged to its height (I Enoch 100:3 Charles).[5]

They shall clash against one another and shall pour out a heavy tempest on the earth, and their own tempest; and there shall be blood from the sword as high as a horse’s belly 36 and a man’s thigh and a camel’s hock. 37 And there shall be fear and great trembling on the earth; those who see that wrath shall be horror-stricken, and they shall be seized with trembling (II Esdras 15:35-37 NRS).[6]

Yet was the misery itself more terrible than this disorder; for one would have thought that the hill itself, on which the temple stood, was seething hot, as full of fire on every part of it, that the blood was larger in quantity than the fire, and those that were slain more in number than those that slew them; for the ground did nowhere appear visible, for the dead bodies that lay on it; but the soldiers went over heaps of those bodies, as they ran upon such as fled from them  (Josephus, Jewish War, VI.5.1).[7]

Nor was there any place in the city that had no dead bodies in it, but what was entirely covered with those that were killed either by the famine or the rebellion; and all was full of the dead bodies of such as had perished, either by that sedition or by that famine. (Josephus, Jewish War, VI.7.2).[8]

The whole city (was) run down with blood, to such a degree indeed that the fire of many of the houses was quenched with these men’s blood. (Josephus, Jewish War, VI.7.5).[9]

[1]Fanning, Revelation [Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament], 399)

[2] Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Revelation, 92-93.

[3] F. F Bruce, ed, New International Bible Commentary, 1618.

[4] The Preacher’s Outline and Sermon Bible, III, 1222.

[5] https://www.billkochman.com/Articles-Non-BBB/enoch-08.html

[6] https://www.biblestudytools.com/nrsa/2-esdras/15.html

[7] https://www.gutenberg.org/files/2850/2850-h/2850-h.htm#link62HCH0004

[8] https://www.gutenberg.org/files/2850/2850-h/2850-h.htm#link62HCH0004

[9] https://www.gutenberg.org/files/2850/2850-h/2850-h.htm#link62HCH0004

Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. 7 He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

8 A second angel followed and said, “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’ which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.”

9 A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, 10 they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.

11 And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” 12 This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.

13 Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”

We are studying the Book of Revelation.  Today, we are going to look at only two new verses in the book.  We want to look at this section practically.  The goal is to not only learn what Revelation teaches but apply it to our own lives.

We want to look at Revelation 14 practically, not just prophetically.  That is the goal of the book. Let’s begin with a little review.

Last week, we looked at the ministry of three angels.  These angels will have a special ministry in the Tribulation Period.  They will be preaching angels.

Each one will preach a different message.  One had a message of salvation.  One had a message of judgment, and one had a sober warning about the afterlife.

What is the message to us who don’t necessarily live in the Great Tribulation Period.  Practically, these verses in Revelation 14 say six things to us today.

The Reality of Angels

The first reality found in this chapter is the reality of angels.  Many do not believe in angels but angels are real.  We can’t see them unless they appear to us.  Most of us will never see one but they exist.

They serve God in heaven and sometimes He sends them to earth on a mission.  During the Tribulation, they will have a new mission.  They will do something that they are not doing now.  They will preach the gospel, the eternal gospel, to every nation on the planet.

The Reality of Sin

This is our greatest problem.  Man’s greatest problem is sin.  It is not just man’s greatest problem; it is society’s greatest problem, and it will only get worse in the Tribulation Period.

Man’s greatest problem is not education. If we just educate everyone, that will solve everyone’s problems.  It won’t, as important as education is.

Man’s greatest problem is not the environment.  It is not climate change.  Man’s greatest problem is not crime.  It is not even violent crime. It is not sex crime.  It is not terrorism.

Man’s greatest problem is not racism.  It is not poverty.  Solving the problem of income inequality will not change human nature. It will not solve all of society’s problems.

Man’s greatest problem is not sickness, disease and worldwide pandemics.  All of these things are problems.  Some of them are big problems but they are not man’s greatest problem.

Man’s greatest problem is sin.  Our greatest problem is not on the outside, it is on the inside.  Internal rot is the cause.  The problem is our heart.  We were all born with a bad heart.

Jeremiah said that “the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick” (Jeremiah 17:9 ESV).  We all have heart disease.  We all need a new heart.  We need a spiritual heart transplant.

We like to focus on symptoms.  If some lunatic creates a mass shooting, we blame guns or we blame mental illness or his upbringing.

The problem is not guns.  Banning guns is not the solution.  The problem is not even crime or disease.  It is not mental illness.  The problem is SIN which causes the crime.  That is exactly what Jesus said.

“Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? 18 But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20 These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them. (Matthew 15:17-19 NIV)

The Reality of Judgment

Hell is our greatest fear.  We have all kinds of fears, some are real, and some are imagined.  Some have a fear of insects, little bugs.  Some fear public speaking.

Some have a fear of heights.  Some have a terrible fear of being a victim of a violent crime. The greatest fear is not what people can do to us.  It is what God can do to us.  Should we ever be afraid of God?  Is it wrong to fear God?

Jesus said, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28 NIV)

Jesus says that we should fear God.  The Bible says that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10).  It is the whole duty of man (Ecclesiastes 12:13).  You don’t hear this preached too much in church.  Our problem today is that we have lost the fear of God in the world.

We have also lost the fear of God in the church.  Christians don’t seem to have any fear of deliberately disobeying what God’s Word says.  They will even say, “I know the Bible says one thing, but I am going to do something else.”

Revelation 14 is one of the most terrifying pictures in the Bible.  The scariest thing in Revelation is not the big red baby-eating dragon with seven heads.  The dragon that tried to eat baby Jesus just after He was born.

It is NOT the Beast demands to be worshiped, wages war on the saints and overcomes them.  The scariest thing is NOT martyrdom.  It is not being tortured for your faith.  It is not being fed to lions.

The scariest thing is to die in your sins, stand before a holy God and to be sent to Hell forever and ever.  Every time in Revelation we see the words “forever and ever,” they mean forever and ever.

Jesus was dead but now he is alive forever and ever, never to die again (Revelation 1:18).  The one who sits on the throne in heaven is said to live forever and ever (Revelation 4:9-10).

The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” (Revelation 11:15 NKJV).

The wicked will be sent to Hell where they are not extinguished and annihilated.  They are tormented.  They are tormented forever and ever.  Just as Jesus will live and reign forever; they will be tormented forever.

It is a horrible thought.  There is perhaps no greater description of Hell in the Bible.  No one would want to go to this place.

The Reality of Salvation

Salvation is our greatest gift.  The greatest gift ever given is not something wrapped up under a tree or something that we received on our birthday.  The greatest gift is the gospel.

It is good news.  It is called the “eternal gospel” in Revelation 14.  It will be preached by an angel in the Tribulation to every country.  It is not being preached by angels today.

The gospel is the greatest gift ever given.  It is the gift of salvation.  It is the gift of eternal life.  It is the gift of forgiveness of sins. It is a gift that affect where we will spend eternity.  Paul called salvation “the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8)

It is an expensive gift.  It is more valuable than gold and silver.  Jesus had to come to earth and become a man for you to receive this gift.  He had to die for you to receive this gift.  He had to die a violent, painful death for you to have that gift.

The Apostle Peter said that we were not redeemed with perishable things such as silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ (I Peter 1:18-19)

It is a powerful gift.  The gospel is “the POWER OF GOD unto salvation” (Romans 1:16).  It brings brings life to spiritually dead people.  It can save anyone, not matter how bad.  This gospel changes people’s lives.  People chained by sins and addictions are set free by the gospel.

It is a free gift.  You can’t buy it in a store to earn it.  It is absolutely free.  All you have to do is to receive it.  You have to accept the gift of God.  Some accept it and some reject it.

The Bible says, “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (II Corinthians 9:15 CSB) and it should lead to worship.  We need to give God glory and worship Him every day of our lives.  We should praise his name.

The Reality of Commands

Now, we come to a topic that many do not like.  God’s people have some commands to keep.  They had commands to keep in the OT and commands to keep in the NT.  Revelation 14 gives us our greatest obligation.

There are actually three of them.  There are three characteristics of a Christian here.  There are three signs of salvation.  This is important for us to see.  Many in the church miss this today.

Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. (Revelation 14:12 ESV)

What are the three signs of a Christian?  The three signs are faith, obedience and perseverance.

In the modern church today, we often focus on the first sign.  The first sign is FAITH.  If we are Christians, we are believers.  We believe and are saved.  That is absolutely true.

The problem is that this verse Revelation 14 does not stop with faith.  The Bible does not just stop with faith.  There are many other things God requires of believers.  James says that faith without works is dead.

The second sign is OBEDIENCE.  This is very important to get.  The saints in Revelation 14:12 are defined, not only as those who believe some things, but also those “who KEEP the commandments of God.”  That tells us several things.

1) We have some commandments

I have heard some Christians say that we do not have any commandments to follow.  That is ridiculous.  Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).

In the church today, we do not hear much about commandments for Christians.  Instead, we hear a lot about commandments for Jews in the OT but there are commandments for Christians as well.  “There are 1,050 commands in the New Testament for Christians to obey.”[1]

2) True believers keep them

Here in Revelation, 14:12, the saints are defined, not only as those who believe, but as “those who keep the commandments of God” (ESV).

We see it also in Revelation 12.  The children of the symbolic woman in that chapter represent believers.  How are they described?  They are called “those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus” (Revelation 12:17 ESV)

Why is this important today?  There are many who teach that you can be a Christian and not keep God’s commandments.  That is the view of the modern church.

There are some who teach that you can live any way you want as long as you believe in Jesus.  You can blaspheme God.  You can even commit murder.  The only important thing is that you believe.

That is not only ridiculous; it is demonic.  Based on Revelation 14:12, if you don’t keep the commandments of God, you are not a saint.  You are not saved.  One of the signs that you are saved is that you keep God’s commandments.

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (I John 2:3-4 NKJV)

Now this doesn’t mean that salvation is by works.  Obedience to God is NOT a condition of salvation. Salvation is not by works but works are evidence of salvation.

One of the characteristics of the sheep is that they follow Jesus.  Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27 NKJV).  If you don’t like the idea of having to keep commandments I John 5:3 reminds us that “His commandments are not burdensome” (NKJV)

The third sign is PERSEVERANCE.  It is not enough to believe in Jesus.  It is not enough to keep His commandments.  We must also persevere in the faith.  In this chapter, there is a call for the endurance or perseverance of the saints (Revelation 14:12).

Many make a profession of faith but don’t persevere.  They go to church.  They make a profession of faith.   They get baptized.  They join a small group but five years later don’t even believe in God.

This is a huge problem today.  How many young people grow up in church, go to youth group, go to college and throw away their faith.  They lose their faith in college.  The biblical term for this is apostasy.

Some worship leaders have given up their faith and so have some pastors.  A lead vocalist and lead guitarist for Christian band Hawk Nelson did not persevere.  His name is Jonathan Steingard.  He sang songs about Jesus but in 2020, he announced on Instagram that he no longer believes in God,

A song writer for Hillsong Worship and United, Delirious, and Young & Free did not persevere.  His name is Marty Sampson.  He wrote songs about Jesus for years.

In 2019, Sampson said, “Time for some real talk … I’m genuinely losing my faith … and it doesn’t bother me.” He also said that Christianity is just another religion.

A famous Christian author did not persevere.  His name was Joshua Harris.  He wrote the bestseller I Kissed Dating Goodbye (1997).  About twenty years later, everything changed for Harris.

In 2019, he divorced his wife and disowned Jesus and announced, “I am not a Christian.”  The same man who kissed dating goodbye, also kissed marriage goodbye, kissed Christianity goodbye and kissed Jesus goodbye.

This happens all of the time.  There is an evangelist who preached with Billy Graham in the 1940s and 1950s who helped found Youth for Christ International.

His name was Charles Templeton.  He became an agnostic and then an atheist.  When he was 80, he wrote a book called Farewell to God (1999).  Two years later, he died and jumped into eternity.

Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, IF you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. (I Corinthians 15:1-2 NIV)

And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— 23 IF indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister. (Colossians 1:21-23 NIV)

12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. 14 We have come to share in Christ, IF indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end (Hebrews 3:12-14 NIV)

The one who endures to the end will be saved (Matthew 24:13 ESV)

Perseverance is essential to salvation.  If you endure to the end, you will be saved.  If you don’t endure to the end, you won’t be saved.  True believers endure.  Let me show you how that will work in the Tribulation Period.

During the Tribulation Period, people will be tempted to take the Mark of the Beast.  It will be required and yet if you take it, we are told in Revelation 14 that you can’t be saved.

What would happen if a professing Christian takes the Mark of the Beast?  Will he lose his salvation?  No.  The Bible says that those who take the mark do not have their names in the Book of Life.

All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:8 NIV)

The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. (Revelation 17:8 NIV)

The Reality of Heaven

13 Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”

This verse gives us an unusual blessing.  It is the second blessing in the Book of Revelation.  The first one was blessed are those who read the Book of Revelation and apply it to their lives (Revelation 1:3).  The second is blessed are the dead (Revelation 14:13).

That seems strange.  Death is a curse.  Death came into the world as a result of the fall.  It came into the world as a result of sin.  How could death be a blessing?

Many of the beatitudes in the Bible seem backwards.  Blessed are the poor (Luke 6:20).  Blessed are the hungry (Luke 6:21).  Blessed are the dead (Revelation 14:13).  Blessed are the persecuted (Matthew 5:10).

That seems strange.  Poverty is not a blessing.  Persecution is not a blessing.  Hunger is not a blessing.  Death is not a blessing, but they are all called blessed.

It is NOT a blessing for everyone.  The worshippers who die are not blessed.  They are tormented day and night.

It ONLY a blessing for those who die in the Lord.  There are only two ways to die.  You can die in your sins or you can die in the Lord.  Jesus said, “Unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins” (John 8:24 KJV).  Revelation 14:13 says, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord” (KJV)

[1] https://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201407/r1308729_17984331.pdf

In Revelation 14, John sees several incredible visions.  He saw a vision of the 144,00 standing on Mount Zion in victory.  They are standing with Jesus, and they are worshiping.  They are in a heavenly choir, and they are singing.

Today, we come to a second vision.  The first was a vision of the 144,000.  The second was a vision of three angels.  Each one of these angels had a message to proclaim to people on earth.  Each message was different.  We are going to learn something about the ministry of angels.

You might be shocked to learn some of the things that angels do today.  When most of us think of angels, we think of guardian angels.  The job of angels is to guard and protect us. That is one of their jobs.

In Revelation 14, they do two other things.  They preach and they are involved in judgment.  We are going to see preaching angels and judging angels in this chapter.

Angels do something in this chapter that angels do not do anywhere else in the Bible.  They preach the gospel. God gave us the job to preach the gospel to people.  He gave us the Great Commission.

That was not given to angels but to people but, near the end of the Tribulation Period, He will use some angels to preach the gospel and they will probably do a better job than people do.

Some would say that this is what has happened for the last two thousand years.  The gospel has gone out all over the world.  That is true but it has not gone out by an angel flying in the sky preaching.  They will not only preach the gospel; they will do it from the sky.

This is the only time in the Book of Revelation that the word “gospel” (εὐαγγέλιον) is used.  It seems strange to us that angels would do any preaching, but this is not the first time that God used angels to preach.

Angels were the first to announce the birth of Jesus.  In Luke 2, a group of shepherds were the first people to get the message that Jesus was born, and they got that message, not from people, but from angels.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. (Luke 2:8-11 NIV).

Angels were the first to preach the resurrection of Jesus.  When the women went to the tomb on Easter Sunday, they encountered an angel at the tomb.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” (Matthew 28:5-7 NIV)

The men got the message of the resurrection from the women, but the women learned about it directly from angels, because they were the first ones to get to the tomb.

Tribulation Grace

Revelation 14 shows us grace in the Tribulation Period.  The Tribulation will be the darkest time on earth.

There will be demon possessed politicians and false worship.  People will be worshiping the Antichrist.  There will be false miracles.  Believers will be killed.

It will be like the time before the Flood.  The Bible says that there was violence in the earth.  People were demon-possessed, and the Bible says that people were only evil continually.  While the world was completely wicked, God sent one righteous man to that dark pace (Noah).

The Tribulation will be bad, but God will still show up. God does the same thing to us.  He shows up in our darkest hour when we are in a pit and there is no one else to help.  God will do three things to reach out to people in the Tribulation Period.

First, He will send the 144,000 on earth.  God’s servants minister in the Tribulation.

Second, He will send two prophets in Jerusalem to preach to people and perform incredible miracles.

Third, He will send an angel to preach the gospel.  In Revelation 14, humanity is given one final warning.  God gives everyone one final warning before Jesus returns.  Everyone gets one last chance to believe.

There will be all kinds of deception in the Tribulation.  There will be false miracles and lying signs.  If people do not get saved during that time, it will be their own fault.  They will hear the message from an angel.

God is not just going to send one angel; He is going to send three angels.  Each will have a different message to proclaim but they are related.  Let’s look at these three angelic messages.

The First Angel – Message of Salvation

What was the message of the first angel?  The message of the first angel in the Tribulation will be for people to repent, get saved and worship God.  There are four things to notice about the message of the first angel.  Several things stand out.

Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. 7 He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.” (Revelation 14:6-7 NIV)

1) This angel will preach the eternal gospel

It is not just good news.  That is what “gospel” means.  It is ETERNAL good news.  We live in a world where we hear all kinds of bad news all of the time.  You can’t watch the news and not hear bad news every day.

This is not only good news; it is eternal good news.  It is a message not just of life but of ETERNAL LIFE.  It is not just life we get after we die.  We can have eternal life now (John 5:24).

This angel will preach the eternal gospel.  There are all kinds of gospels being preached today.  The Mormons have their gospel.  The Jehovah’s Witnesses have their gospel.  We are to preach the eternal gospel, the same gospel that has been preached through history.

Some of the old dispensationalists taught that this gospel was different from the gospel of grace.  It is a gospel of judgment, which does not sound like much of a gospel.

Judgment is bad news, not good news but this was the view of C.I. Scofield and John Walvoord.[1]  Charles Ryrie corrects this old dispensationalist view in his Ryrie Study Bible.

The problem with the old dispensationalist view is that this is not called “The Tribulation Gospel” or “The Seven Year Gospel.”  It is called “The Eternal Gospel” (εὐαγγέλιον αἰώνιον).

2) He will preach it to everyone on earth

Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people (Revelation 14:6 NIV)

This will be a global message to every country and every race.  It will be preached in Russian, Chinese and Hindi.  It will be preached in every language and dialect.  This angel must be multilingual. He will preach the gospel and he will do it in a loud voice.  He won’t be whispering.

This will help us to understand what Jesus meant in Matthew 24.  He said, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14 NIV)

Jesus will not come back until this message is proclaimed to every nation.  We work hard to get that accomplished and we should.  I have always wondered when that prophecy will be fulfilled.

Has everyone all over the globe heard the gospel?  No.  Jesus said that He can’t come back until it is fulfilled.  This prophecy may not be completely fulfilled by people.  Angels may help fulfill it in the Tribulation Period.  It may be fulfilled by one angel in Revelation 14.

There is no evidence that a great revival will take place after this message goes forth.  It does not mention a lot of conversions taking place.  The angel may get the same reaction that Noah did in his day.

3) This message will be about Jesus

The eternal gospel deals with Jesus.  It deals with the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.  Is all through the NT.  We do not see this in this chapter.  The 144,000 were redeemed from the earth (Revelation 14:3, 4).  This is how people get redeemed.

They are redeemed by the death of Christ.  They get redeemed by the Lamb who was slain (Revelation 5:6).  Jesus was not only slain; He was slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8)

Jesus is worthy because he was slain and with his blood “purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9 NIV)

The angels do not mention Jesus specifically.  There is no mention here of any invitation but keep in mind that this is just a summary. It is not everything that the angel will say.

4) This message will require a response

He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.” (Revelation 14:7 NIV)

The gospel always requires a response from people.  The response is to accept the message, bow down and worship the Creator, the One who made the heavens and the earth.  Paul preached the same message.

Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. (Acts 14:14 NIV)

This angel does not just preach the gospel; he applies it.  He tells people to not only accept the gospel but to worship God.  Give Him glory.

If you notice, the angel mentions creation.  They preached the gospel of creationism.  God created the world and one day we will all stand before that Creator.

Most scientists today believe in evolution.  Some in the church believe in evolution.  Christians believe in evolution.  In some liberal churches, they have an Evolution Sunday.  The Bible teaches creation.  It teaches the exact opposite.  Evolution teaches that we are getting better through time.

The Bible teaches that Adam and Eve were created perfect.  They sinned and humans did not get better, they got worse.  They are getting worse today.

This angel will not say a word about evolution.  He will not praise evolution for getting us here.  He will praise God for creating everything on the planet.

There is no good news in evolution.  It is random chance.  It is survival of the fittest.  There is good news in creation.  Evolution cannot solve our problems, but the gospel of Jesus can.[2]

Many think that creation is a minor doctrine.  It is not a minor doctrine.  It is a major doctrine.  If humans evolved from lower life forms, then Adam and Eve were not the first humans and the whole human race did not come from them.

If there was no literal Adam and Eve, then there is no original sin.  They did not cause the first human sin and death on the planet.  If there is no original sin, there is no need for Jesus to come to earth to save sinners.

Apparently, this angel thought creation was important enough to mention it as he proclaims the eternal gospel to people all over the globe.  Creation is the foundation of the gospel.[3]

The Second Angel – Message of Judgment

A second angel followed and said, “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’ which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.” (Revelation 14:8 NIV)

The first angel preached a message of salvation to individuals.  The second angel preaches a message of judgment.  It is a message of judgment on a whole city, the city Babylon.

This is the first time we see the word Babylon in Revelation.  We will learn more about it later in the book.  It will not be literal Babylon, but it does represent a city.

Babylon represents a real city.  From this one verse, we learn that this city will be powerful.  It will be wicked.  It will be influential.  It will be destroyed.  The city will also represent an anti-God system.  It is a system that is in complete rebellion to God.

This city will be powerful.  It is called Babylon THE GREAT. It will be a world power.  It will be the capital of the Antichrist, but it will also be wicked It will be a city that promotes idolatry and sin.  It will be a city that encourages religious persecution of believers.

This will be influential.  We are told that Babylon will get other nations to drink the wine of her adulteries.

It is encouraging to know that no matter how wicked a city is, no matter how much it persecutes the church, no matter how much power it has over people’s live and over believers, one day that city and system will fall.

Nazi Germany had incredible power over people.  It was a police state led by a dictator and mass murderer.  It was led a totalitarian leader, and he was popular, but that country did not last forever.

One day that country fell.  Hitler said that the Third Reich would last a thousand years.  He thought it would last forever.  It only lasted twelve years.

The fall of Babylon is so certain that this second angel describes it in the past tense as if it had already occurred.  The angel does NOT say, “Babylon will fall.”  He says “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon” before it had fallen.  Babylon does not fall until Revelation 17-18.

The Third Angel – Message of Warning

A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, 10 they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” (Revelation 14:9-11 NIV)

The third angel has a message of warning.  Don’t take the mark of the Beast.  Don’t worship the Beast.  If you do, you will suffer in Hell forever.

This brings us to one of the most terrifying pictures in all the Bible.  No other passage of the Bible describes the terrors of Hell than this passage.  This is one of the most sobering passages in the Bible.

In many churches today, we have a different message preached.  We hear the message of love, mercy and compassion and God is not angry with you.  He would never send anyone to Hell.

Many preachers today no longer preach this doctrine.  There are not too many Hell, Fire and Brimstone preachers.  That is not very positive.  Preachers today like to deliver positive messages that encourage people.

They won’t come back if you talk about Hell Fire and Brimstone.  We need to preach the whole counsel of God.  We need to preach the parts people like to hear and the parts we don’t like to hear.

The third angel preaches a message that says, “Don’t worship the Beast” and says what will happen if people do worship the Beast.  If they worship the Beast, they will drink of the wine of God’s wrath.  If they drink Babylon’s wine, they will drink God’s wine.

“If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, 10 they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured FULL STRENGTH into the cup of his wrath.(Revelation 14:9-10 NIV)

In the Tribulation, people will think the mark will protect them.  They will get to buy food.  They will get to live.  The truth is that the mark will not protect them; it will doom them.  It will seal their fate.

We are going to see five truths about Hell from this passage.  Many don’t believe these truths.  Some Christians don’t believe them, but they are clearly taught in this passage.

Five Truths about Hell

1) Hell is a place of TORMENT

Many do not believe that.  Many think that when people die, they cease to exist.  The Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that.  It is the doctrine of annihilationism.  People don’t go to hell after they die, they are just annihilated.  They cease to exist.

There is a problem with this idea in the Book of Revelation, a big problem.  People who take the Mark of the Beast do not cease to exist.  They are punished.

They will be TORMENTED with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their TORMENT will rise for ever and ever” (Revelation 14:10-11 NIV).

Many believe that the wicked will be destroyed in Hell, but this passage says that they will be tormented.

K. Beale notes, the word βασανισμός (“torment”) in Rev. 14:10–11 is used nowhere in Revelation or biblical literature in the sense of annihilation of personal existence. Without exception, Revelation uses it of conscious suffering on the part of people (9:5; 11:10; 12:2; 18:7, 10, 15; 20:10).^[4]

That is how that word is used in the rest of the NT (Matthew 4:24; 8:6, 29; 28:34; Mark 5:7; 6:48; Luke 8:28; 16:23, 28; II Peter 2:8).  It NEVER means annihilation.

Of course, you have to be conscious to be tormented. A punishment that is not felt is not punishment. Jesus told the story about a wicked rich man and a poor beggar named Lazarus in Luke 16.

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in TORMENT, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am IN AGONY in this fire.’ (Luke 16:19-24 NIV)

2) Hell is a place of FIRE

They will be tormented with BURNING sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. 11 And the SMOKE of their torment will rise for ever and ever.  (Revelation 14:10-11 NIV)

Fire is the instrument of punishment in the Book of Revelation for the wicked.  They will be case into a lake of fire (Revelation 20:10, 14, 15).  Jesus called it “a furnace of fire” (Matt 13:42, 50).

Most people don’t like Fire and Brimstone preachers.  They are too negative.  They scream at people.

Hell is described as Fire and Brimstone four times in the book (Revelation 14:10; 19:20; 20:10; 21:8).

Those who worship the Beast will be tormented with fire and brimstone (Revelation 14:10 KJV)

When Jesus comes back, the Beast and the False Prophet will be cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. (Revelation 19:20 KJV)

And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are (Revelation 20:10 KJV)

This is further proof that annihilationism is wrong.  The Beast and the False Prophet and thrown into this place where there is fire and brimstone.  They do not cease to exist.  When Satan is thrown into hell, they are still there and they were not angels, just ordinary people.

The wicked will have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone (Revelation 21:8 KJV)

3) Hell is a place of NO REST

There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” (Revelation 14:11 NIV)

Hell will be a place of no rest.  There will be no break from the punishment day or night.  Indeed, annihilation would be a kind of rest or relief from the excruciating torment of the brief final judgment.^[5]

It will be pure unadulterated wrath.  There will be no mercy, no grace and no pity.  In Revelation 14, some will rest after they die (Revelation 14:13) and some will have no rest (Revelation 14:11).  It is a picture of eternal fatigue.

4) Hell is ETERNAL

And the smoke of their torment will rise FOREVER AND EVER (Revelation 14:11). That phrase “forever and ever” occurs thirteen times in Revelation and always refers to eternity.[6] It always means “forever and ever” (cf. Revelation 1:6, 18; 4:9, 10; 14; 7:12; 10:6; 11:15; 14:11; 15:7; 19:3; 20:10; 22:5).

I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! (Revelation 1:18 NIV)

the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. (Revelation 4:10 NIV)

The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15 NIV)

There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 22:5 NIV)

If Hell is not Eternal, they heaven is not eternal, and God is not eternal.  Some say that hell does not last forever, only the consequences last forever. With that logic, you would have to say that heaven does not last forever, just the consequences of heaven.

5) Hell is a place of SEPARATION

The sheep go to one place and the goats to another place. In Luke 16, there is said to be a gulf between the two and the wicked could see heaven from a distance.  They could see what they were missing.  In Revelation 14, we are told that the holy angels and the Lamb could see Hell as well.

They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. (Revelation 14:10 NIV)

Practical Applications

What are the applications from this sobering passage?  There are three.

1) Get saved

Have we accepted the eternal gospel?  Do we know for sure if we are saved? None of us want to go to the Hell described in Revelation 14 (a place of fire and brimstone, a place of torment, a place where there is no rest day or night).

2) Tell others about Jesus

We need to make sure to tell others about Jesus.  Others around us are lost. Many are dying and going to hell every day. Many have never heard the salvation message.  We need to reach out to them in love and share with them the gospel of Christ.

3) Worship God

Worship God our Creator.  Worship the One who created all things.  Praise His name every day.  Give Him glory.

4) Don’t Take the Mark

If we are alive during the Tribulation Period, we need to make sure never to take the Mark of the Beast, no matter how much pressure there is to take it.

[1] See Scofield Reference Bible (1917) and The New Scofield Reference Bible (1967) on Revelation 14:6; John Walvoord, The Revelation of Jesus Christ: A Commentary (1966), 217.

[2] https://answersingenesis.org/morality/gospel-can-solve-societys-problems/

[3] Henry Morris, New Defender Study Bible,

^[4] G. K. Beale, The Book of Revelation: A Commentary on the Greek Text, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, Cumbria: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press, 1999), 762.

^[5] G. K. Beale, The Book of Revelation: A Commentary on the Greek Text, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, Cumbria: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press, 1999), 764.

[6] G. K. Beale, The Book of Revelation: A Commentary on the Greek Text, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, Cumbria: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press, 1999), 764.

We have been studying the Book of Revelation.  Today, we come to a great chapter.  It is a chapter that has made its way into pop culture.  One man wrote a novel that won a Pulitzer Prize.

It is a famous book.  It is called The Grapes of Wrath (1939). The title was taken from Revelation 14. It deals with “the harvest of the earth.”  It is the chapter that deals with the two harvests.

A Scary Chapter

This chapter is scary for unbelievers.  It is graphic.  It is violent.  It has the grim reaper in it.  It contains one of the most terrifying pictures of judgment in the Bible.

It describes a river of human blood miles flowing through streets.  This river is that is one hundred eighty miles long and is six feet deep.

That sounds like something right out of a horror movie.  It also has one of the greatest descriptions of Hell in the Bible.  There is nothing anywhere like it in the Bible.

They, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name. (Revelation 14:10-11 NIV)

It is described as a place of fire and brimstone.  It is described as a place where people are tormented.  It is described as a place where there is no rest day or night.  It is described as a place where the smoke goes up forever and ever.

A Comforting Chapter

This chapter is terrifying for unbelievers but for believers, it is comforting.  We see Jesus.  That is the definition of heaven.  When Jesus comes back, we will see him.  We will be like him.  We will be with Him forever.

In this chapter, the 144,000 see Jesus.  They stand with Him on Mount Zion.  They are happy.  Jesus stands with the ones who were faithful to Him.  He will stand with us as well.

There is also a special blessing given to believers in this chapter.  There is a beatitude in this chapter.  It is the second one in the book so far.  We read a blessing to everyone who read this book in Revelation 1 and in Revelation 14 there is another beatitude.

Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: BLESSED are the dead who die in the Lord from now on” (Revelation 14:13 NIV).

Two Destinies

We see two destinies in this chapter.  There are only two eternal destinies.  Everyone either goes to Heaven or Hell.  There is no third place for people to go.  There is no purgatory, only Heaven and Hell.  We either take Jesus as our Savior or as our Judge.

Revelation 14 describes the salvation of the saints.  It describes the judgment of the wicked.  It describes the reward of heaven.  It describes the punishment of Hell.

It describes one group of people tormented and suffering.  It describes another group of people that are happy.  They are full of joy.

They are singing.  They are with Jesus on Mount Zion in victory (Revelation 14:1-5).  It is a chapter with angels doing some strange things.

When Angels Preach

Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. 7 He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.” (Revelation 14:6-7 NIV)

That is strange.  God gave us the job to preach the gospel to people.  He gave us the Great Commission.  That was not given to angels but to people but, near the end of the Tribulation Period, He will use some angels to preach the gospel.

He will not just use angels but flying angels to do it.  They will preach the gospel from the sky.  Supernatural beings will fly in the middle of the sky and preach the gospel to people all over the world.  They will probably do a better job than people do.

Symbolic Language

It is also chapter with a lot of symbols.  There are a lot of symbolic language in this chapter.  If you don’t see this, you won’t understand the chapter.  The symbolic part of the book began in Revelation 12.  This is not exhaustive, but here are some examples.

Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’ which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.” (Revelation 14:8 NIV)

The city that is fallen is not literal Babylon and this is not literal wine.  It is the wine of adultery and adultery is most likely more than literal adultery.  It is spiritual adultery.

This city will have sexual sin but Babylon will be the capital of the Antichrist.  It will be known primarily for promoting false worship. Idolatry is described as adultery in the Bible.

“If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, 10 they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. (Revelation 14:9-10 NIV)

Babylon had some wine.  God also has some wine, and it is undiluted. Most wine in the ancient world was diluted with water.  It is also not literal wine.  It is called the wine of God’s fury.  It is the wine of God’s wrath.  It is the wine of His anger.

The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. (Revelation 14:19 NIV)

That is not a literal winepress.  A literal winepress produces wine.  This winepress produces blood, and it is human blood (Revelation 14:20).

 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. (Revelation 14:3 NIV)

There are 144,000 on Mount Zion.  Is this a literal number or a symbolic number?  This group sings a song that only the redeemed can sing.  They sing the song of the redeemed.  No one else can sing this song but them.

There are more than 144,000 people that know that song.  It is a song not limited to Jewish men and not to single Jewish men.  The word “virgins” in Greek is in the masculine.

Is it just a male choir?  Some Jewish women and Gentiles know that song.  That is why this number is probably symbolic.

Are these literal virgins or symbolic virgins?  They can’t be literal virgins because they represent all of those redeemed from the earth.  That is not limited to single men.

Even during the Tribulation Period, more than 144,000 men will be redeemed from the earth.

These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. (Revelation 14:4 NIV)

If you take this verse literally, it sounds like an insult to woman.  Jesus does not stand with women but just with men.  Women are defiling to men.

This is symbolic.  Revelation is an apocalyptic book.  Much of it is symbolic.  Jesus is depicted as a Lamb.  He is not a literal lamb.  The Antichrist is not a literal beast.

John does not hate women.  The church is described as the bride of Christ.  This verse is also not saying that there is anything wrong with marriage.

God was the one who created sex.  Adam and Eve were commanded to reproduce after their kind and the NT says that the marriage bed is UNDEFILED (Hebrews 13:4 KJV).  It is not dirty or sinful.

This is a symbolic picture of moral purity.  It is a picture of extreme devotion.  It is a picture of total dedication.  The church is described symbolically as a virgin bride (Ephesians 5:25-27; II Corinthians 11:2).

A Scene of Triumph

There are three parts to the chapter.  Each part begins with the words, “and I saw” (Revelation 14:1, 6, 14).  John sees three visions.

He sees a vision of the redeemed rewarded in heaven.  He sees a vision of the wicked suffering and tormented in Hell.  He also sees a vision of the end of the world.

We are not going to look at all visions this week.  This morning, we are just going to look at the first vision of Jesus and the redeemed.

It is a scene of triumph.  Revelation 13 was a scene of terror.  It was a scene of horror.  It describes religious deception, false miracles, demon-possessed politicians, false worship, religious persecution and economic hardship.

In the last chapter, the saints suffered.  The whole world is following the beast.  The name of God is blasphemed and slandered.  The Beast is given power to wage war against the saints and to overcome them.  It is a period of GREAT TRIBULATION (not just tribulation but great tribulation).

In this chapter, the saints are vindicated.  They are victorious.  They are standing with Jesus and all of their enemies are gone.  You don’t see them.  Today, we are only going to look at the first five verses of this chapter.  We will, look at the rest of the chapter next week.

Standing With Jesus

Today, we are going to look at the 144,00 but we are going to look at this group practically, not just prophetically.  We are going to look at them in a way you may have not before.

Today, we want to ask this question.  How do the 144,000 apply to us today?  What can we learn from them?  How do they speak to us today?  Ask yourself this question.

Do you want to be blessed by God?  Do you want to be honored like the 144,000 were?  Do you want to stand with Jesus on Mount Zion, like the 144,000 did? The 144,000 will have several characteristics.  We should have them as well.

1) Have you had a genuine salvation experience?

To stand with Jesus, you have to be saved.  You have to be redeemed.  Notice who Jesus does not stand with.

Jesus is NOT standing with atheists.  He is NOT standing with skeptics on Mount Zion.  He is NOT standing with cultists.

He is NOT standing with Hindus or Buddhists.  He is NOT standing with Muslims.  He is standing with people who are saved and know him.

He is not standing with the wicked.  He is not standing with the Beast on Mount Zion.  He is standing with the saved.

Many church choirs have believers and unbelievers in them but everyone in this choir was redeemed.  They are called redeemed, not once, but twice in this chapter.

No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been REDEEMED from the earth. (Revelation 14:3 ESV)

These have been REDEEMED from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb (Revelation 14:4 ESV).

The 144,000 were not perfect.  They had to be redeemed and we had to be redeemed as well.  We are sinners.  We need a Savior.  We need a redeemer.

We need someone to pay for us and deliver us from bondage.  God redeemed the Jews out of Egypt and He redeemed us as well.  Salvation was not free.  A payment had to be made and Jesus made it.

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree” (Galatians 3:13 ESV)

¹⁸ For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. (I Peter 1:18-19 NIV)

Everyone is NOT saved.  Everyone on the planet is NOT redeemed.  The 144,000 were purchased from among mankind.

The question is this: Are you redeemed?  Do you have the Father’s name written on our forehead?  Are you saved?  Do you know for sure?  If you are saved, you are secure.  We know that from Revelation 14.

You can’t lose your salvation.  How do we know?  The 144,000 are mentioned two times in the Book of Revelation.  They are mentioned in Revelation 7 & Revelation 14.

In Revelation, 7, the 144,000 are ON EARTH at the beginning of the Tribulation period, surrounded by a hostile environment.  In Revelation 14, they are IN HEAVEN when the Tribulation Period is over.

William Hendriksen said that in Revelation, we see the church militant (Revelation 7).  We see the church triumphant in heaven (Revelation 14).[1]  The church militant refers to believers who are alive on earth.  The church triumphant refers to believers who have died and gone to heaven.

What is interesting is that ALL of them made it to heaven.  There were not 143,000 there.  There were 144,000 there.  None of them were lost.  None of them fell away or gave up the faith or lost their salvation.  None was missing.

37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose NONE of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” (John 6:37-39 NIV)[2]

2) Are you totally devoted to Jesus?

Many Christians are saved but they are not sold out.  They are not on fire for God.  They are lukewarm.  How are the 144,000 described?

They are described as spiritual virgins (Revelation 14:4), totally dedicated to God.  They are described as firstfruits (Revelation 14:4).  Their life is an offering to God.  They are called His servants (Revelation 7:3).

We are to be sexually pure, although we are not all supposed to be unmarried.  Our lives should be an offering to God and we should serve Him.

Servants serve.  We don’t know how they will serve God in the Tribulation Period.  We don’t know all that they will do but they will do something.

Are we on fire for God?  What are we doing to serve God?  We serve God in different ways.  In what capacity are we serving him?  Some are saved, but don’t serve.  They say that 20% of the people in church do most of the work. That is what we will do in heaven.

I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.¹⁵ “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and SERVE him DAY AND NIGHT in his temple; (Revelation 7:14-15 NIV)

Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. (Psalm 2:11 NIV)

Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! (Psalm 100:2 NIV)

3) Are you a passionate worshipper?

And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. (Revelation 14:3)

Not everyone who is saved is big on worshiping.  Some Christians never sing in church.  Their mouths are closed.  We do not all have to be in the choir, but we should all be singing.

We should all be worshipping.  The 144,000 were worshipers.  They were singers.  They were musical.  They are singing.  This chapter also mentions harps in heaven.  There will be a lot of music in heaven.

Some churches do not play musical instruments.  They are non-instrumental churches.  That makes absolutely no sense.  Here we see musical instruments in Heaven.

That was one characteristic of the 144,000.  They were singers.  We are told what type of song they sang.  They sang a LOUD song.  It was a loud sound like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder (not just thunder but loud thunder). It was loud but was also soothing and beautiful, like a harp.

They also sang a NEW song. The 144,000 did not just sing an old hymn.  They sang a new song.  This tells us what worship will be like in heaven. It tells us what heaven’s liturgy will be like.  We will not just be singing old hymns, like in gramma’s Baptist church.  God loves new songs.

The Bible tells us to do with that 144,000 will do.  Singing is a COMMAND.  It is not optional.

Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! (Psalm 96:1-2 ESV)

Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts. (Psalm 33:3 ESV)

4) Are you bold in your witness for Christ?

Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads (Revelation 14:1 NIV)

They have a seal on their forehead and the seal consists not just of one name but two (the name of the Father and of the Lamb).  What is this a picture of?

It is a picture of being a visible follower of Jesus.  He is on your forehead.  There is no hiding it.  Everyone knows you are a Christian.  You don‘t try to hide it.  You are not ashamed of the gospel.  You are not ashamed to be a Christian.

During the Tribulation Period, there will be no neutrality.  Everyone will have some mark.  You will either have the Mark of Jesus and the Father on your forehead or the Mark of the Beast.

Are you a visible believer or are you a secret believer?  Do people know that you are a Christian or would they be shocked if they found out.  Your life should be an outward demonstration of your faith.

5) Is your life completely surrendered to Jesus?

They are followers of the Lamb.  They follow Him wherever He goes.  Here you have sheep following a lamb but the lamb also happens to be their Shepherd (Revelation 7:17).  They follow Christ.  They are committed and devoted followers of Christ.

The Tribulation will be a period of great promiscuity.  There will be a lot of sexual  immorality, like there is today but the 144,000 will stay pure in this time.

While everyone else if following the Beast, this group will be following the Lamb.  They go where He goes.  They do what He tells them to do.  They follow His teaching.  They keep His commandments.

Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice. I know them and they follow me” (John 10:27).  That is the definition of a Christian, a follower of Christ.  It is one of the signs that you are really saved.  Real sheep follow Jesus.

People who are not his sheep do not follow him (cf. I John 2:3-6). They “follow the Lamb WHEREVER HE GOES” (Revelation 14:4).

If he leads you to stay single all of your life, you stay single.  If he leads you to get married, you get married.  If He leads you to move to a different state or country, you move.

When the world goes in one direction and Jesus goes in the opposite direction, they follow Christ.  When their friends go in one direction and Jesus goes in another direction, they follow Jesus.

The 144,000 do not do what everyone else is doing.  They do not follow the crowd.  They follow Christ, even if it leads to martyrdom.  Are you that surrendered to Jesus?

6) Do you glorify God with your words?

This is convicting.  Does that describe us?  Paul described the mouth of the unsaved.  “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The poison of vipers is on their lips.” “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” (Romans 3:13-14 NIV).

After salvation, many continue to have bad language.  You can find people in the church, who swear, use profanity and vulgar words. Some preachers use that language.

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29 NIV)

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. ⁴ Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving (Ephesians 5:3-4 NIV)

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Colossians 4:6 NIV)

We are told that no lie was found in their mouths (Revelation 14:5 NIV) and they will live in a world full of deception and lies.  In their day, everyone will believe the big lie about the Antichrist, the lie that he is God.

We may not all tell lies to people.  We may not all swear or use off-color language.  We may just use useless, idle words and not words that build people up.  We may not use words of grace.

7) Do you have you a good testimony before the world?

The 144,000 were sanctified.  We are told that they are not defiled.  They did not compromise with the world or with sin and they are said to be blameless (ἄμωμος). Does that describe us?

During the Tribulation Period, this group is described as blameless.  Noah before the Flood was called blameless (Genesis 6:9).  Apparently, it is possible to be blameless when everyone around you is completely wicked.  Are we blameless today?

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, ¹⁵ that you may be BLAMELESS and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, ¹⁶ holding fast to the word of life (Philippians 2:14-16 NIV)

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her ²⁶ to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, ²⁷ and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and BLAMELESS.  (Ephesians 5:25-27 NIV)

[1] William Hendriksen, More than Conquerors, 153.

[2] Arminians believe you can lose your salvation based on John 17.  “While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled” (John 17:12 NIV).

Jesus lost Judas.  If He lost Judas, other people could be lost as well. None of them was lost, EXCEPT one.  One of the ones that God gave Him was lost but you have to read the rest of the verse.

Jesus is not saying that He tried really hard but lost one.  Jesus is not saying that He was a complete failure when it came to Judas.  He said, “Not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, THAT the Scripture might be fulfilled” (John 17:12 ESV).

It was part of the divine plan. It was the fulfillment of Scripture.  Jesus was not caught off guard by what Judas did.   It did not catch Him by surprise.  He did not fail when it came to Judas.  What Judas did was planned long ago, and Jesus did not lose a child of God.  The one who was lost was called “the son of perdition” (ὁ υἱὸς τῆς ἀπωλείας).

Today, we are going to tackle one of the greatest mysteries of the Bible.  We are going to talk about the Mark of the Beast and what that means.  We are going to talk about the mysterious number 666.

There are many things in the Bible no one knows, and no one can know.  God said the secret things belong to Him.  Most people assume this must be one of things, but it is not.

John encourages his readers to solve this mystery and says that they can solve it.  Last week, we looked at the first half of Revelation 13, dealing with the coming Antichrist.

John saw a beast rising out of the sea.  He saw a sea monster.  This was not an ordinary beast.  It was a seven headed beast.  The Antichrist will be a charismatic world ruler and he will be characterized by several things, based on Revelation 13.

He will have supernatural power and authority from Satan himself.  He will have some miraculous powers.  He will persecute Christians.  He will demand to be worshiped by the world.

We also saw last week that the Antichrist is not only future but present, according to Scripture.  We focus on the coming end-time leader who will become the personification of evil.

John speaks of the spirit of the antichrist today.  He said that there were many antichrists in his day and that was two thousand years later.  If there were many antichrist then, there are much more in the world today.  The world has only gotten worse, not better.

We see that spirit manifested not only in bad rulers outside the church who persecute God’s people but in bad teachers in the church who say things about Jesus that are not true.

A Second Beast

Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. 12 It exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. (Revelation 13:11-12 NIV)

John does not see one beast but two beasts in this chapter.  One is a land beast, and one is a sea beast.  One is a political leader, and one is a religious leader.

These will be a pair.  They will be a team.  They will be a diabolical duo. Just as the two witnesses were a pair in Jerusalem.  Instead of being God’s men; they will be Satan’s men.

The first beast is more powerful.  He has ten horns on his head.  The second beast only has two horns.  The first beast has crowns on his head (ten crowns). The second beast does not have any crowns on his head.  He is not a politician.

He will work with the Antichrist.  He will be his number two man.  He will run the Antichrist’s propaganda machine.  He will be his spokesperson.  He will be his press secretary.  He will be in charge of the Ministry of Propaganda.

This Beast will be known for three things.  He will be known by his DECEPTION.  He will look like a lamb but speak like a dragon (Revelation 13:11).  He will look like a harmless lamb you want to pet.  He may even claim to be a Christian.

The Bible says that false prophets today are just like him.  Jesus said, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” (Matthew 7:15 NIV)

We have all had people knock on our door who look very well dressed.  They smile and have a Bible in their hands.  They claim to be Christians.  They don’t look like ax-murderers, but they do not all say things that line up with Scripture.

Two, he will be known by his MIRACLES.  He will use signs and wonders to draw people to the Antichrist.  Notice the two signs he will do.

And it performed GREAT SIGNS, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people. 14 Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it DECEIVED the inhabitants of the earth. It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. (Revelation 13:13-15 NIV)

Three, he will be known for his PROGRAM.  

This false prophet “also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, ¹⁷ so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.” (Revelation 13:16-17 NIV)

He will use economic pressure to get people to worship the Beast.  Now, we come to the fun stuff.  We get to talk about the Mark of the Beast.  It is the only place in the Bible that has a math problem in it.

The Mark of the Beast

This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666. (Revelation 13:18 NIV)

We are going to talk about all kinds of things.  We are going to talk about the mark and some misconceptions today about the mark.  We are going to talk about that mysterious evil number 666 and some myths about it.

Three Basic Facts

1. If you take the Mark of the Beast, you CANNOT be saved

Your eternal destiny is at stake.  If you take the mark, you can’t be saved.  That is why this is extremely important.

The Bible warns us that if we have the mark of the Beast, we will then share the fate of the Beast.

And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, OR FOR ANYONE WHO RECEIVES THE MARK OF ITS NAME (Revelation 14:11 NIV)

If you take this mark, you NOT only will not be saved; you will be tormented day and night forever and ever.  This mark will seal your eternal destiny.

You can repent of any sin you commit but this sin is so serious that anyone who commits it will not repent.

There are plenty of people can repent but won’t.  In fact, Hebrews talks about some people who are IMPOSSIBLE to renew unto repentance (Hebrews 6:4).

2. If you are saved, you CANNOT take the Mark of the Beast.

Only unsaved people can take this mark.  If someone takes this mark, it shows they are not saved.  How do we know?

All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world. (Revelation 13:8 NIV)

We are in one of two groups.  There are two marks in the Book of Revelation.  There is God’s mark and Satan’s mark.  Believers have God’s mark on them.  Unbelievers have the Devil’s mark on them.  It is a counterfeit mark.  The saved have the name of God written on them.

The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them 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 them my new name. (Revelation 3:12 NIV)

After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: 3 “Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” (Revelation 7:1-3 NIV)

Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. (Revelation 14:1 NIV)

They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. (Revelation 22:4 NIV)

The unsaved have the name of the Beast written on them (Revelation 13:16-18).  Satan is good at counterfeiting things.  We see counterfeits all the time (like fake Jordans or Rolex watches).  I wear a fake smart watch.  It is not an Apple watch.

We have the true gospel.  Satan has counterfeit gospels.  There is a true Jesus and a false Jesus.  There is a true religion and all kinds of false religions.

3. The mark CANNOT be taken until the Antichrist is revealed

Many Christians have caused needless fear.  They have told people that the Mark of the Beast is in the world today.  It is already here.  It is NOT.

The Mark of the Beast will be around in the Tribulation Period. We are not in the Tribulation Period.  How do we know for sure it is not here?

Five Common Myths

There are many myths about this mark.  Many Christians have some crazy ideas about the Mark of the Beast that have nothing to do with the text.

Today, we are going to debunk many false ideas people have about the Mark of the Beast.  What are some false ideas about this mark?

1) The Sunday Worship Myth

Seventh Day Adventists teach that worshiping on Sunday is the Mark of the Beast. Sunday worship is not the Mark of the Beast.   It is not a mark you put on your hand or forehead.  That is not in the text at all.

2) The Social Security Myth

Some believe that social security numbers are the Mark of the Beast.  The government gives everyone a number.  One man refused to give his social security number to his work.

He believed it was the Mark of the Beast and refused to give it.  He said that that it violated his religious convictions.  It went to the US Supreme Court in 2021 and they refused to hear the case.

The Mark of the Beast is NOT a social security number or a credit card.  It is not the devil’s credit card.  The Mark of the Beast is not your number or name.  It is HIS number and HIS name (Revelation 13:17-18).

3) The Barcode Myth

The universal product code (UPC) started in 1973.  Mary Stewart Relfe wrote a book in 1982 called The New Money System 666 in which she claimed that the Mark of the Beast has to do with barcodes that can be scanned.

It must be a sign that Satan is taking over the world economic system. That number identifies products electronically.  Each number is different.  It does not identify the Beast.

4) The Implant Myth

A fourth myth is that this will be some kind of microchip in your body.  It makes some good sci-fi movies, but this is not a verse against new technology.  It is a verse against idolatry.

The mark is not in people but on them.[1] The idea that the mark is placed in people is based on the KJV translation of Revelation 13:16; 14;9 but it is a mistranslation.  The Greek is upon (ἐπί), as the NKJV corrects.

5) The COVID Vaccine Myth

One of the most popular myths today is that the COVID vaccine in the Mark of the Beast, as if God is waiting before we get into heaven to make sure we do not have a vaccine card.

Whatever you think of the COVID Vaccine (you can be pro-vaccine or anti-vaccine), it has nothing to do with the Mark of the Beast.

Why? The Mark of the Beast is a religious mark, not a medical mark.  It has nothing to do with a medical procedure.  That is nowhere in the text.

Vaccination needles go into arms, not hands or foreheads.  Who gets a shot in their forehead?

It is not a requirement for buying and selling.  You don’t need to show your vaccine card to buy gas or food.  This will be a “commerce passport,” as Ron Rhodes points out.[2]

We do not know exactly what the mark will be, but it will be an outward visible follower of the Beast in the Tribulation Period. It will be a pledge of allegiance to the Antichrist. “There will be no neutrality; one either belongs to Christ or to the beast.”[3]

The Mysterious 666

Now, we come to the mysterious number 666.  Last week, we saw three applications in this chapter.

There is a call to HEAR this prophecy (Revelation 13:9).  There is a call to ENDURANCE, as believers are being slaughtered (Revelation 13:10).  Serving Jesus may cost you a lot, especially in the Tribulation Period.

There is also a call to WISDOM.  This calls for wisdom. LET THE PERSON WHO HAS INSIGHT calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666 (Revelation 13:18 NIV)

John gives us a riddle.  John says this is a mystery that can be solved.  You can figure it out and it involves a calculation.  What is he talking about?

Almost everything you have heard about this number is wrong.  There are many myths about the number 666.  Revelation 13:18 says that it is the number of a MAN.

It is NOT the number of the Devil.  It is NOT the number of the Roman Catholic Church, as the Reformers taught.  It is NOT the number of sin.  It is NOT the imperfection.  It is the number of a man.

A common view among preachers is that 666 just symbolizes imperfection.  Six symbolizes imperfection.  It is one short of seven and is mentioned three times for emphasis.  Six is the number of man.  Seven is the number of God (the number of perfection).  The number is symbolic, not numerological.

That sounds great but the number of Jesus is not 777 but 888 and this number was to be CALCULATED.  There is nothing to calculate if six is just the number of man and in Greek, the number is NOT triple six but six hundred sixty-six.

Furthermore, we are not even sure if 666 is the number of the Beast. The oldest copy of the book of Revelation that we have reads 616 (Χις), not 666 (χξϛ).

It comes from the third century.   It was discovered by archeologists in Egypt.  It is called Papyrus 115.  It reads 616.  That is a little ironic.

Satanists love the number 666.  A lot of heavy metal bands have used the number 666 written on their album covers and have 666 on T shirts.

Wouldn’t it be funny if the number 666 is not as evil, as people have thought, and the real number was 616?

Irenaeus, as early as the second century, said that some copies of Revelation read 616, although he thought at 666 was the correct reading.

Calculating a Name

How do you calculate a number from a name?  People in John’s day knew how to do it.  They knew how to find a name that added up to 666.  Two thousand years later, people do not know what he was talking about.  He is talking about what the Jews called GEMATRIA and the Greeks called ISOPSEPHY.

It is a way of turning letters into numbers.  The letters of the alphabet have numeric value. Each letter in the alphabet is a certain number.  If you add up all of the letters in your name, you can see what number you name makes.

Every name is actually a number.  Your name is a number. That is how the earliest Christians interpreted Revelation 13 (so Irenaeus, Victorinus).

On the walls of the Roman city of Pompeii, archaeologists have found Greek graffiti by a man who wrote, “I love the girl whose number is 545” (Φμέ) and that is not her phone number.  It is the number of her name.

Gematria in English

Now Greek has 24 letters but you can do this in English. English has 26 letters.  Gematria in English would look like this.

The Identity of 666

What does the number 666 refer to?  There is no way that anyone in the first century would know the personal name of the Antichrist who will come in the future.

He has not been revealed yet but there is something that they would know.  We don’t even know that but there is something that they would know.  There was someone in the first century would was just like the Antichrist.

When we think of the absolute symbol of evil today, we think of Adolf Hitler.  In the first century, they thought of Nero.  His name was synonymous with evil. He was a monster.  He was a demon-possessed mad man.

Some writers in his day called him a beast.  Apollonius of Tyana said that Nero was more evil than any beast he encountered in the wild.

He was a mass murderer.  He killed his mother.  He killed his adoptive brother Britannicus.  He killed two of his wives.

He committed sexual sins.  He had incest with his mother Agrippina. After both of his wives were dead, he married a man (after he castrated him).

He claimed to be God.  He uttered blasphemous words (Revelation 13:7).  He had a huge hundred-foot-tall statue of himself erected in Rome and put in the Temple of Mars. He was saluted on coins as the god Apollo.

He persecuted the saints (Revelation 13:7) and did it for forty-two months (Revelation 13:5).

He was the first persecutor of the church. He executed the Apostles Peter and Paul. He blames the fire of Rome on Christians. He accused his most loyal subjects of being arsonists.

He fed them to a bunch of hungry lions and invited thousands of people to fill a theater to watch them die.  Some were crucified. Some were set on fire.

Tacitus writes, “People began to pity these sufferers, because they were consumed not for the public good but on account of the fierceness of one man”.

He died from a head wound.  He died by suicide at the age of thirty.  He stabbed himself in the neck on June 9, 68 AD.

Nero died about 2000 years ago. He was dead when the Book of Revelation was written. He will not be alive when Jesus returns.

That is correct.  Nero is NOT the Antichrist.  He is a type of the Antichrist, as some church fathers point out (e.g., Chrysostom)[4].

It doesn’t work in Greek.  In Greek, Nero adds up to 1005.  If you use the Hebrew alphabet, it adds up to 666 (the Greek form of Neron Caesar written in Hebrew).

There is a textual variant that reads 616 and the Latin form of Nero Caesar adds up to 616.

[1] Ron Rhodes, Unmasking the Antichrist: Dispelling the Myths, Discovering the Truth (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2012).

[2] Ron Rhodes, Unmasking the Antichrist: Dispelling the Myths, Discovering the Truth (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2012).

[3] Grant Osborne, Revelation Verse by Verse, 366.

[4] https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/23054.htm

Today, we come to an amazing chapter.  The next two weeks are going to be deep, as we look at this section.  You are going to learn some things you may have never heard before.

It introduces us to two new characters in the Book of Revelation: the beast and the false prophet.  We saw five characters in Revelation 12 (the woman, the baby boy, the dragon, Michael and her other children).  Revelation 13 introduces us to two more characters.  It introduces us to two satanic beasts.

It is one of the most controversial chapters in the Book of Revelation.  It is one of the most controversial chapters in the Bible.

It is the only chapter of the Bible with a math problem in it.  It is a chapter that raises all kinds of questions.

What is the mysterious Mark of the Beast?  Is it a barcode?  Is it a computer chip or tattoo?  Is it the COVID vaccine?  What is the meaning of the number 666?  That may be the greatest mystery of the Bible.

Is America prophesied in this chapter?  Seventh Day Adventists (SDA) teach that America is the second beast of Revelation 13.  That is what Ellen White (1827-1915), the founder of the SDA, taught.[1]

Does this chapter refer to the Antichrist or does it not?  If it does, who is he?  People have said that a lot of people in history were the Antichrist.

Some said Nero was the Antichrist.  Luther and Calvin thought the Pope was the Antichrist.  Some said Adolf Hitler was the Antichrist and Joseph Stalin was the Antichrist. Some thought that Obama was the Antichrist.

Some think Vladimir Putin might be the Antichrist.  He seems pretty evil, invading sovereign countries, bombing maternity hospitals but most people do not see him as a Savior but as a bully.

Some thought JFK was the Antichrist at the time.  At the democratic convention in 1956 he received 666 votes.  He was popular and did receive a mortal head wound but never came back to life.

Three Applications

Many get bogged down in the details of the chapter.  They look at the chapter prophetically and that is not wrong, but there are also some applications from this chapter.  There are three calls for believers in this chapter.

There is a call to HEAR.  Whoever has ears, let them hear (Revelation 13:9).  God wants us to hear. Some people are open to what this chapter says, and some are not.  Many are not too interested in the prophetic portions of Scripture.

There is a call to ENDURACE in this chapter. “If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity they will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword they will be killed.” (Revelation 13:10 NIV).

Believers will be killed in the Tribulation.  It is going to be hard to be a Christian during that time.  Many will be martyred.  It will be hard to buy food.  Many will go hungry.  It will take endurance and courage to be a believer in that day.

There is a call to WISDOM.  This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666 (Revelation 13:18).

John gives a riddle.  Who is smart enough to figure this out?  Most people don’t know what he is talking about, including most preachers.  We will see if we can figure it out.

A Sad Chapter

Revelation 13 is also one of the saddest chapters in the Bible.  It tells us how bad it will be during the Tribulation Period.

Jesus said that when He returns to earth it will be like the days of Noah.  Those days were so bad that God sent a worldwide flood and wiped out the planet.

During the Tribulation, there will be demon possessed politicians.  They will be deceptive politicians, like many we have today.  They will not all look like monsters.  Some will look like cute, little, harmless lambs that you want to pet but they speak like dragons (Revelation 13:11).

There will be Satan worship.  People will be worshiping the dragon (Revelation 13:4).  There will be intense persecution.  Believers will be slaughtered for their faith.

It was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them (Revelation 13:7).

God’s name and His Word will be blasphemed.  It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. (Revelation 13:6 NIV).  People will mock the Bible.

People will not only worship the beast; they will be required to worship the Beast.  It will be mandatory.  All who refuse to worship the Antichrist will be killed (Revelation 13:15).  Christians will be killed.  They will not be able to buy food for their kids.

There will be worldwide deception.  People will think the Antichrist is great. They will say, who is like him? (Revelation 13:4).  He will be very popular.

He will be the most admired man on the planet.  The very they admire is the man who will be man who will be inspired by Satan himself.

One preacher called the Antichrist “Satan’s last victory.”[2]  It will look like Satan is winning and it will look like the saints are losing.  The dragon launches these two monsters in the Tribulation Period.

He supernaturally empowers the Antichrist.  He will perform false signs and wonders.  He will get the whole world to worship him.

He will slaughter the saints.  It looks like Satan is winning but looks can be deceiving.  God will be in control of the worst period of human history.  God actually restrains evil in this chapter.  It looks like Satan is winning but remember three things.

First, just before this, Satan was just defeated in heaven.  Michael the Archangel beats him.  He was defeated, cast out of heaven, and hurled to the earth in disgrace.  That is in Revelation 12.

Second, the Antichrist can only operate under the sovereign will of God.  God allows this to take place, like He allows evil to take place in the world today.

The beast WAS GIVEN a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months. (Revelation 13:5 NIV)

It WAS GIVEN power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it WAS GIVEN authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.  (Revelation 13:7 NIV)

The Antichrist will have incredible power, but it will only be for a short period of time.  It will only be for forty-two months (Revelation 13:5).  This reign of terror will only last for three and a half years. That is less than one term as president in our country.

Third, when Jesus returns to earth, He will go to war against Him.  He will be thrown into the Lake of Fire.  He will not even be killed first.  He will be thrown ALIVE into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 19:20).

Three Common Myths Today

Before we look at this chapter, we have to talk about three myths that people have about this chapter today.

1) The Beast in Revelation 13 is an empire, not a person

Many argue that this is not talking about a man but an empire.  Revelation 13 is an allusion to Daniel 7.  Daniel saw four beasts coming out of the sea (e.g., lion, leopard, bear).

They represented four world empires (Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome).  John sees one beast coming out of the sea that looked like the lion, leopard and bear.  The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. (Revelation 13:2 NIV)

The leader of a country often represents the country itself.  We say that Hitler killed six million Jews, but he did not actually kill them.  It was done by Nazi Germany.

In the Bible, the king and kingdom went together but Revelation 13 is referring to a person.  How do we know?  The beast is described in personal terms.  He has a throne.  He speaks.  He blasphemes and slanders people.  He wages war.  He has a mortal wound and almost dies.

At the end of the book, the beast and the false prophet are seized and thrown into the Lake of Fire. They are thrown alive into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 19:20).  That fits real people.  It does not fit an empire.

There is another reason for believing this.  The number of the beast is 666.  We are told that it is the number of a man (Revelation 13:18), not the number of a nation or an institution, like the Roman Catholic Church.  The Beast is a real man.

2) The Beast of Revelation 13 has already come

Some say the Antichrist refers to someone in the first century.  He already came.  This has already been fulfilled.  There are two problems with that view.  No one in history has done what this man will do.

He will be given authority over all inhabitants of the earth.  He will be worshiped and will force people to receive a mark in order to buy and sell.  That does not describe anyone in history. Another problem with that view is that the Antichrist will be alive when Jesus returns.

When Jesus returns in Revelation 19, he throws this individual into the Lake of Fire. Jesus hasn’t come yet, so the beast has not come.  Jesus will not come until the Antichrist comes first.  That is what Paul said (II Thessalonians 2:3).

3) The Antichrist is only future

That is common error among many in the church today.  Most people on focus on the future Antichrist.  There will be a future Antichrist.  He will be the worst ruler of history.  He will be the incarnation of evil.

The Bible predicts that he will come.  It is all through the Bible.  Daniel predicted him (Daniel 7:8, 20-25).  John predicted him (Revelation 13).  Jesus predicted him (Mark 13:14; Matthew 24:15).  Paul predicted him (II Thessalonians 2:4).

The early church predicted a literal end-time Antichrist (Hippolytus, Irenaeus, Tertullian).  It is not something that began with some dispensationalists in the 1800s.  The Church Fathers spoke of this in the second and third century.[3]

The Bible talks about a future antichrist, but it also of a present antichrist.  It speaks of “the spirit of the antichrist” (I John 4:3).  This spirit was in the world in John’s day and is in the world in our day right now.

In fact, John did not just say that there were some antichrists in his day, he said that there were many of them (I John 2:28).  What is the spirit of the antichrist?

The Beast in Revelation 13 makes war against the people of God (Revelation 13:7) and will kill many of them.  Many governments today persecute God’s people (Communists governments, Muslim governments).  They have the same spirit today.  The same spirit is at work in those places.

There is another spirit of antichrist today.  It manifests itself in doctrinal error, especially about Jesus.

This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist (I John 4:1-3 NIV)

Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. (I John 2:22 NIV)

Who denies that Jesus is the Christ?  Many do today.  Islam teaches that God has no son.  Jesus is not the son of God.  That is the spirit of the Antichrist.

Six Signs of the Antichrist

What will this man be like?  How do we know when he comes on the scene?  He will have six traits.

1) Demonic Power

The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. (Revelation 13:2 NIV).

He will have power.  He will have more power than anyone in history.  He will have power, a throne and great authority.

Where did he get his authority?  Where did he get his throne?  Where did he get his power?  Satan gave it to him.  He will have supernatural power. He will not just have political power. He will have demonic power.

The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; IT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME, AND I CAN GIVE IT TO ANYONE I WANT TO. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.” (Luke 4:5-7 NIV)

Satan has incredible power.  He is called “the god of this world” and he can give power to anyone he wants.  This does not mean that all governments are devil and demonic.[4]

It does mean that Satan has power and can give other people power, including political power.  During the Tribulation Period, that is exactly what he will do.

2) Global Dominion

And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. (Revelation 13:7 NIV).  He does not just have authority over one people and nation but over EVERY nation.

Many people have tried to conquer the world (Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, Adolf Hitler) but only the Antichrist will succeed.  Nations will still exist but the Antichrist will have authority over them.

The Antichrist will be a dictator over more people than anyone in history.  He will be worse than Hitler.  He will rule the whole world for three and a half years.  Hitler did not rule the world, only Nazi Germany.

The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast (Revelation 13:3 NIV)

3) Miraculous Signs

Not only will the two witnesses perform miracles in the Tribulation but, after they are gone, there will be miracles associated with the Antichrist and many people will be deceived.

One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast. (Revelation 13:3 NIV).  The fatal wound is mentioned three times in this chapter

And it performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people. (Revelation 13:13 NIV)

This mentions not just signs but GREAT SIGNS being performed and that word “signs” is the same word used of the miracles of Jesus.

For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. (Matthew 24:24 NIV)

The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness. (II Thessalonians 2:9-11 NIV)

That raises an interesting question.  What is God doing send a delusion.  That is Satan’s job, not God’s job, and yet this verse said that God will not only send a delusion but a POWERFUL DELUSION so that people will believe, not just a lie but THE lie.

That is strange.  Does God send a strong delusion on people because He hates them and wants to damn them?  Does He do it because He wants people to perish?  No.  That is not what is happening here.

The truth had already been rejected,  They rejected the truth.  God wants everyone to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth but when you reject the truth repeatedly there are consequences.

When people reject the gospel.  They don’t believe it.  They don’t love the Bible.  They can’t stand it.  They delight in sin; they leave themselves open to judgment.

God just reacts to their decision and choice to reject Him.  God allows false miracles to take place and they believe them.  Why?

When people reject the truth, they open themselves up to error.  When they reject the Bible, they end up believing lies.  That still happens today.

For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. (II Timothy 4:3-4 NIV)

This is not God causing people to reject the gospel.  This is further judgment on people who have already rejected it it.  He uses Satan as his instrument to punish them.

4) False Worship

People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?” (Revelation 13:4 NIV)

All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world. (Revelation 13:8 NIV).

Who will worship him?  People whose names are NOT in the Book of Life.  People whose names are in the Book of Life will NOT worship him.  Why are so many people going to worship him?  They will see the signs and wonders.

5) Blasphemous Words

The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months. 6 It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. (Revelation 13:5-6 NIV)

Most politicians are arrogant.  They have power so they say whatever they want.  The Antichrist will not only be pompous; he will be profane.  He will blaspheme God.

He will not only blaspheme God, He will do it right in the Temple in Jerusalem and commit the Abomination of Desolation.

 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. (II Thessalonians 2:4 NIV)

The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. (Daniel 11:36 NIV)

6) Religious Persecution

It was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them (Revelation 13:7 NIV)

He will kill the two witnesses (Revelation 11:7) and persecute the saints (Revelation 13:7).  Daniel says that he will wear out the saints of the Most High (Daniel 7:25).  Next week, we will look at the rest of this chapter.

[1] https://www.ellenwhite.info/us-in-prophecy-07.htm

[2] Arnold Froese (Revelation Thirteen: Satan’s Last Victory [Olive Press, 2009]).

[3] Augustine in the fourth century quotes II Thessalonians 2 and in the fourth century stated, “No one can doubt that he wrote this of Antichrist (City of God, Book 20, Chapter 19).

[4] https://capmin.org/are-all-governments-evil-and-demonic/

Today, we are going to go deep.  You are going to see some things in a way you may have never seen before.  Revelation 12 is a strange chapter.

It deals with angels and demons, Satan and spiritual warfare.  It deals with strange beasts, hideous looking monsters with seven heads and fiery red dragons.

It is a scary chapter.  A big red dragon tries to eat a newborn baby. A woman gives birth to a baby in great pain and agony and a gigantic dragon waits for the baby boy to be pushed out so he could grab it and eat it.  Most mothers do not worry about a monster eating their baby just after they give birth.

That is a little frightening.  It is almost like a horror movie with multi-headed beasts.  You are going to learn a lot about Satan in this chapter.  You are going to learn who he is, what he does, what his names are.

You are going to learn some things in this chapter about Satan that you don’t see anywhere else in the Bible.  There is some really bad news in this chapter and there is some good news for believers.

We learn how to defeat a dragon in this chapter.  Most of us like to win.  Revelation 12 brings us to the topic of spiritual warfare.

Four Introductory Truths

There are four truths that you need to understand about spiritual warfare before we look at Revelation 12.

1) There are two worlds: a visible world and an invisible world.

The Bible teaches this. Jesus created both worlds, according to Paul.

For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, VISIBLE and INVISIBLE, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. (Colossians 1:16 NIV)

Skeptics reject the invisible word but there are real things that exist which we cannot see with the naked eye, like atoms.  We can’t see viruses, but they are real.

2) Our greatest enemy is spiritual, not physical.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12 NIV)

We are in a war.  It is a real war against unseen forces of darkness.  It is a spiritual war.  It is a war with invisible spirit beings.

It is a war that you can’t see with your physical eyes.  It is a war with an invisible enemy.  There is a real battle going on around you.  Revelation 12 describes this battle.

If you don’t like fighting, you won’t like Revelation 12.  There is a lot of fighting in Revelation 12.  There are FOUR BATTLES in this chapter.

There is war between the dragon and the woman.  There is war between the dragon and the woman’s baby boy.  There is war between the dragon and the women’s other children.  There is war between the dragon and an archangel.

Satan fights the angels in heaven, and he fights the saints on earth.  Satan fights God.  He fights other angels, and he fights God’s people.

You may have thought that there is only war on earth, but Revelation 12 describes war in heaven as well.

You may have thought that only people fight but in Revelation 12 we see angels fighting angels.  We see good angels fighting bad angels.  We see angels fighting demons.  How they fight is a bit of a mystery.

How do spirit beings fight?  Guns won’t work.  Knives won’t work.  Do they use hand-to-hand combat?  Do they use some type of angelic kung fu or jiu-jitsu?  No one knows.

3) The invisible world affects the visible world.

We see that clearly in Revelation 12.  There is a direct relationship between war in heaven and persecution on earth.  Satan is defeated in heaven.  He is cast out of heaven, sent to earth and he takes it out on the woman and persecutes her.  The chapter describes war in heaven and woe on earth.

4) Revelation 12 describes this battle symbolically.

The way Paul describes spiritual warfare is very different from the way John describes it.  Paul describes it directly.  John uses symbols to describe it.  Why use symbols?

Symbols are sometimes more powerful than words.  A picture is worth a thousand words.  We see hundreds of symbols every day and know instantly what they mean.  A red heart represents love.  John uses some symbols of spiritual warfare in this chapter.

Revelation 12 begins a new section of the book.  It is the sign section of the book.  There are two signs in this chapter: the sign of the woman (Revelation 12:1-2) and the sign of the dragon (Revelation 12:3-4).  The woman is called “a great sign.”  The dragon is called just “another sign.”

The two witnesses were not called signs but these two are called signs.  What does it mean that they are signs?  They are symbolic.  They stand for something.  They represent something.

Now, all of the Bible is not symbolic.  All of Revelation is not symbolic but the highly symbolic part of the book begins in chapter twelve.  There are things in this chapter and the next chapter that you should not take literally.

The Roman Catholic Church takes the woman literally and believes it is the Virgin Mary.  It sounds like an individual woman.  She gives birth to Jesus, which Mary did, and they develop a whole system of theology based on this passage.

This woman has an exalted position.  She is dressed in the Sun, Moon and stars.  She has the Sun and Moon under her feet and twelve stars on her head as a crown.  Mary is the Queen of Heaven.

What they miss here is that the woman in Revelation is a sign. She has the Sun and Moon under her feet.  The Virgin Mary did not have the Sun and Moon under her feet and did not have twelve stars on her head.

This woman also has two wings and flies (Revelation 12:14).  This woman is a sing, not a literal mother.  How do we know for sure?  After Revelation 12, there are three women in Revelation from this chapter on.

There is a woman mentioned in Revelation, 12, Revelation 17 and Revelation 19.  One a mother.  One is a prostitute and one is a bride.  None refer to an individual woman.  They are all symbolic.

The Sun-clothed mother in Revelation 12 is symbolic.  It refers to Israel.  The clue is what she was wearing (Sun, Moon and stars).  That takes you back to Joseph’s dream in Genesis 37.

Israel is described as a pregnant woman in the OT (Isaiah 26:17-18; 66:7-9; Jeremiah 4:31; 13:21; Micah 4:10; 5:3).  The nation of Israel gave birth to the Messiah.  Jesus was Jewish.

Some say that the woman refers to the church but that does not work.  The church did not give birth to Jesus. Jesus gave birth to the church and the church is the bride of Christ, not the mother of Christ.

The great prostitute or harlot in Revelation 17 is not a literal woman.  That woman is the counterfeit bride of Christ.  The bride of Christ in Revelation 19 is also not a literal bride.  It is symbolic of the church, a whole group of people.

The woman is symbolic.  The dragon on is symbolic.  Israel is not really a woman.  Satan is not really red and is not really a dragon.  He does not really have a big, long tail.  The red dragon is just a symbol of Satan.  We have the idea of a red devil, and it comes from Revelation 12.

We add a pitchfork for Halloween, but this is symbolic.  It is not a description of the Devil’s physical appearance. It is a description of his nature and character.

Five Special Characters

There are five characters in Revelation 12.  Four are good and one is bad.  There is a beautiful pregnant woman.  She is not just pregnant; she is in labor and in great pain.

There is a giant multi-headed dragon with an extremely long tail.  He goes after the baby boy.  Then he goes after the mother.  When he can’t get her, he goes after he other children.

There is a helpless baby boy (a male child).  This is not any child.  This child is destined to rule the world.  One day, Jesus will rule the world.  He will rule all the nations with an iron scepter (Revelation 12:5 NIV).  There is a mighty archangel (Michael).  The final character is the woman’s other children.

Three Future Predictions

Part of this chapter is historical (Revelation 12:1-6) and part of it is prophetic (Revelation 12:7-17).  There are three predictions clear from this chapter.

1) The Tribulation will be a period of intense persecution of the Jews

The Tribulation Period will be a period of terrible antisemitism.  Israel will be subject to the worst persecution in the history of the world.  Satan will begin a period of Jewish destruction.  The Antichrist will attempt to kill every Jew on the planet.  It will be worse than the holocaust which killed six million Jews.

How do we know for sure that this is the correct interpretation?  The OT teaches this will take place as well.  It is clear teaching in Scripture.

Jeremiah predicted the Day of Jacob’s Trouble would come on Israel before the return of the Messiah.  Daniel predicted a time of great distress that would come on the nation during this time.  Jesus said the same thing in Matthew 24.  Daniel even mentions the angel Michael during this time, the same angel mentioned in Revelation 12.

7 How awful that day will be! No other will be like it. It will be a time of trouble for Jacob, but he will be saved out of it.  8 “‘In that day,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘I will break the yoke off their necks and will tear off their bonds; no longer will foreigners enslave them. 9 Instead, they will serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them. (Jeremiah 30:7-9 NIV)

“At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. 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. 2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. (Daniel 12:1-2 NIV)

For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. 22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. (Matthew 24:21-22 NIV).

2) The Tribulation will be a period of divine protection of the Jewish Nation

The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent’s reach. 15 Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. 16 But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth (Revelation 12:14-16 NIV)

This is symbolic language.  We don’t know how God is going to do it but He is going to protect and preserve the nation from extinction.  The archangel Michael will help save the nation from extinction.

Archangels are assigned to nations and Michael is assigned to Israel.  His special assignment, according to Daniel, is to protect Israel.  During the Tribulation, Israel will experience terrible trouble but will not be destroyed.

3) The Tribulation will be a period of increased satanic activity

This chapter is all about Satan.  If you want to know who Satan is, what he does, read Revelation 12. It is a major passage on Satan.   He has many names in this chapter.

The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. (Revelation 12:9 NIV)

“Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. (Revelation 12:10 NIV).

Notice Satan’s six names in this chapter.  He is the DRAGON.  He is the SERPENT.  He is the DEVIL.  He is SATAN.  He is DECEIVER, the one who leads the whole world astray.  He is the ACCUSER.  He is the accuser of the brethren.

We learn some things about Satan that we are not told anywhere else in the Bible.  Genesis says that a serpent tempted Eve in the garden.  Revelation 12 tells us who the serpent was or who was inside the serpent talking.  Genesis does not mention Satan or the Devil being there.

Ezekiel mentions the fall of Satan.  Revelation 12 is the only passage in the Bible that tells us how many angels followed Satan in his fall.   We are told that his tail knocked a third of the stars out of the sky.  In apocalyptic writings, stars refer to angels (so I Enoch).

When Satan fell, one-third of the angels went with him (Revelation 12:4). We don’t know how many angels God created but if created three billion, then one billion went with Satan.

Satan’s Three Main Activities

In Revelation 12, we learn more information about Satan’s three main activities.  What are his three main activities?

1) Murder

Where do we see this in the chapter?  He tries to kill the woman’s baby just after it is born.  He goes after the woman.  He tries to drown the woman in the wilderness, and he tries to kill her other children.

He is not only a dragon; he is a red dragon.  He is red, because he is a murderer.  He is stained with the blood of billions of people.

I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word…

As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. 41 You are doing the works of your own father.”

“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning (John 8:37, 40-44 NIV)

Satan is a murderer, and his children are just like him.  Murderers are children of the devil.  They act like their father.  Satan motivates people to kill.  He motivated Cain to kill Abel.  He motivates people to kill today.

When Herod wanted to kill Jesus and killed the babies in Bethlehem, he was motivated by Satan.  When you look at all of the murder and bloodshed in the world today, you know where it comes from.

2) Deception

Satan is not only a murderer; he is a deceiver.  He is a liar.  He is not only described as a dragon in this chapter; he is described as a serpent.  He is described as “the one who deceives the whole world” (Revelation 12:9 NIV).

He leads the whole world astray.  He is a master deceiver.  He deceived Adam and Eve in the garden and is still in the business of deceiving people today.

He deceives people into believing all kinds of things that are not true.  People believe all kinds of false religions and cults.  They are absolutely convinced that their religion is true, but it is false.

Of course, the best antidote to lies is the truth.  If you know the truth, you won’t be deceived.  That is why we need to know the Word.  We need to know what it says from cover to cover or we will be deceived as well and we need the Hoy Spirit to help understand it.

2) Slander

Satan’s third activity in this chapter is slander.  He is called “an accuser of the brethren.”  He is described as “the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night” (Revelation 12:10 NIV).

When Satan talks to you about God, he is a deceiver.  When he talks to God about you, he is a slanderer.  There is some irony here.  Satan tempts people to sin and then accuses them for doing what he tempted them to do.

The picture here is a courtroom scene. God is the judge sitting on his throne. The word “accuser” is a legal term. Satan is our accuser.  He brings an indictment against us.

He does it day and night.  While we are sleeping, he accuses us.  He accuses us of not being a child of God.  He accuses us of not being saved.  He points out our sins before God.

He is the great accuser of Christians today.  He is watching you every day to see what he can say to accuse you of.  What is he saying about us right now?

Good News for Believers

What is the good news in this chapter?  It has supernatural beings who hates God and His people.  They are scary looking.  Some of them have seven heads.  They are angry and they are powerful.

He must be powerful if his tail knocked out a third of the stars in the sky.   He must be powerful if he got a third of the angels to followed him.  It is still a minority, but he has a lot of helpers.

Satan has his own angels (Revelation 12:7).  He rules over a kingdom of evil angels, and he has power to attack God’s people on earth, so what is the good news?  There is a lot of good news here.  Heaven praises God in this chapter.

“Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah.  (Revelation 12:10 NIV)

There are three good news for believers in this chapter.

1) Satan’s FATE is sealed

Satan is going to lose in the end.  Everywhere you look in the Bible, Satan is going down.

– He fell in heaven. He sinned and lost his original position in heaven (Isaiah 14; Ezekiel 28) but continues to have access to heaven (Job 1:6-12; cf. Ephesians 6:12).

– He fell during the ministry of Jesus.  In the Gospels, Jesus said, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven” (Luke 10:18 NIV).  His power was broken during exorcisms.

– He fell on the cross. He was defeated on the cross.  The moment Christ died, Satan and his angels were defeated.  Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out (John 12:31 NIV)

– He will fall during the Tribulation Period. In Revelation 12, he is tossed out of heaven.  He is banished from heaven.  He won’t be able to go up there anymore.  There will be no more accuser in heaven.  He will be thrown down to the earth.

The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. (Revelation 20:9 NIV)

– He will be thrown into the Abyss before the Millennium. He will go from the earth to the Abyss.  He is not only thrown into the Abyss; it is locked and sealed, so he cannot get out (Revelation 20:3).

He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended (Revelation 20:2-3 NIV).

– Finally, Satan will be thrown into the Lake of Fire.

And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever (Revelation 20:15 NIV).

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41).

2) Satan’s TIME is limited

He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short. (Revelation 12:12 NIV).  Satan’s time is limited.  It is limited to forty-two months (Revelation 11:2; 13:4-5).

3) Satan’s POWER is limited

Satan is powerful but he is not all powerful.  He can be defeated.  Michael defeats him in heaven.

Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 BUT HE WAS NOT STRONG ENOUGH and they lost their place in heaven (Revelation 20:7-8 NIV)

He will be defeated in heaven, and we can defeat him on earth.  We can overcome him.

How to Defeat the Dragon

They triumphed over 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. (Revelation 12:11 NIV)

This tells us how Satan can be defeated. It is the most important statement in the whole chapter. It says, “they triumphed him”. It does not say “Jesus overcame him”.  It says, “they overcame him”.  How did they do it?  Three ways.

1) By the blood of Jesus

How do we overcome the devil by the blood?   The only hope for sinners before we are saved is the blood of Jesus.  The only hope for us after we are saved is the blood of Jesus.

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. (I John 2:1-2 NIV)

When Satan accuses us in heaven.  He is heaven’s prosecuting attorney but there is a lawyer who defends us before a righteous God and His name is Jesus.  He our defense attorney (I John 2:1).  He died as a sacrifice for all of our sins.  His blood is our only hope.  Are you trusting in Jesus’ blood or something else?

2) By public testimony

To have a testimony, you have to be saved.  A clear public testimony for Jesus Christ is an effective weapon against Satan. This is a way in which Satan is overcome. When we witness and lead others to Christ, Satan is defeated.

No one can say anything about your testimony.  They can argue about religion and theology all day, but they can’t argue with how God has completely changed your life.  There is no answer to that.  Do you have a testimony?

3) By martyrdom

Satan is overcome, not just by blood and words but by actions (they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death). They would rather die than deny Christ.

Jesus said, “Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life” (John 12:25 NIV)

What is that all about?  One way they defeated the devil was through martyrdom.  It looks like the devil won but he actually lost because they did not renounce their faith.  Do you love your life?  Do you love Jesus?   Would you be willing to give up your life for Him or do you love your life more than you love Him?

Who is the greatest preacher that you have ever heard?  Who is the greatest preacher in history? Who was the greatest preacher of all time?

Was it D. L. Moody?  Was it Charles Wesley?  Was it Jonathon Edwards or Charles Haden Spurgeon?  Was it Billy Graham or Billy Sunday?

Today, we are going to be looking at two powerful preachers.  The church has never seen anything like these preachers.  The world has not either.

They will come on the scene in the future during the Tribulation Period.  These will be end-time preachers.  They will be Spirit-filled preachers.  They will be fire-breathing preachers.

There are plenty of preachers like that today.  They get all worked up.  They scream and yell, but they do it from the flesh.

Many screaming preachers have very little biblical content.  They just like to scream at the top of their lungs.  They are angry preachers.  These will be Spirit-filled preachers.

They will be miracle-working preachers.  Most preachers today are not miracle workers, except for charismatic pastors.  These witnesses will breathe fire and shut heaven.  They can stop it from raining.  They will have the power to turn water into blood.

They will have supernatural powers.  Their message will be authenticated with stupendous miracles.

They will be miracle working, Spirit-filled preachers.  They will not just be preachers; they will be prophets, real prophets, like the prophets we see in the OT who spoke with authority.

They will not be prophets like in some Christian churches today.  We have all kinds of people claiming to be have a word from God for people but they cannot distinguish their words from God’s Words

They say that God told them all kinds of things that he didn’t say.  They make all kinds of predictions that never take place.  These will be real prophets. These will be fire-breathing prophets.

God says, “I will grant authority to my two witnesses” (Revelation 11:3 ESV).  They will be given special authority that we do not have today

Revelation 11 deals with three main topics: the MEASURING of the temple, the MINISTRY of God’s two witnesses and the MUSIC of the seventh trumpet.

There are TWO WTINESSES in this chapter and there are TWO TEMPLES in this chapter.  There is on at the beginning and one at the end of the chapter (one in heaven and one on earth).

It is a Jewish chapter.  It describes a Jewish temple in Jerusalem, the city where Jesus died.  It describes the ministry and murder of these two prophets, as well as their glorification.

A Controversial Chapter

There are two completely different ways to read this chapter.  What you hear from one preacher may be completely different from what you hear from another preacher.  If you hear two sermons by different pastors on Revelation 11, they may sound very differently.

What is the big controversy?  Some take the chapter almost all literally and some take it all symbolically.  Both interpretations are wrong, although one is closer to the truth, as we will see.  Let’s look at the two main interpretations.

Symbolic Interpretation

One view that is very popular in many churches is that this chapter is symbolic.  Just about everything is symbolic.  The numbers are symbolic.  Forty-two months is symbolic.  It doesn’t mean forty-two months.

Temple doesn’t mean temple.  It means the church.  The church is described as God’s temple.  Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 6:19).  We are a spiritual temple.

The two witnesses are not two men.  They are symbolic. They are symbolic of the church.  The church is described as a lampstand.  They represent believers in every age, according to this view.

F.F. Bruce, a respectable scholar, says that the two witnesses represent the church “in its royal and priestly functions.”[1]  There are some similarities to the church.

The church is to be God’s witnesses on earth, like these two were.  That is to be the mission of the church.

The church is hated by the world, like these two witnesses were.  Jesus said that the world would hate us (John 15:18-19).

Many Christians are martyred all over the world, like these two were but these two do NOT represent the church.  They CANNOT represent the church.

If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die (Revelation 11:5 NIV)

Does that describe the church today?  Does God kill anyone who wants to harm Christians?  No.  In fact, instead of fire killing the persecutors of Christians, many Christians have been burned at the stake.

The church is to love their enemies (Matthew 5:44) and to turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:39).  They are not to return evil for evil (Romans 12:17).  They are to return good for evil (I Peter 3:9).

They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want. (Revelation 11:6 NIV)

Does that describe the church today?  Does the church today control the weather?  Does it stop the rain, turn waters into blood and strike the earth with plagues and do it as often as they want to do it?  No

Some Christians perform miracles.  They heal the sick and cast out demons but do not strike people with plagues.  They do not turn water into blood. That is not a description of the church today or of the church throughout history.

It is not even a description of even the charismatic branch of the church.  You really have to stretch the text and completely spiritualize it to come up with that interpretation.

Literal Interpretation

The other view takes this chapter literally.  People mean people.  Places mean places. Numbers mean numbers.  Temple means temple.  Forty-two months means forty-two months and the two witnesses are two literal men who will have a ministry in Jerusalem during the Tribulation Period.

They do not stand for two churches or two groups of people but are two men who will have a ministry in Jerusalem during the Tribulation Period.  Here we see the power of two.

The Bible says, “two are better than one” (Ecclesiastes 4:9).  God will not send just one witness.  He will send two witnesses.  He sent the Apostles out two by two.

Many today don’t believe in the literal interpretation, but that is exactly the way the earliest Christians read this passage.  The very first person to write a commentary on Revelation held this view.

His name was Victorinus.  Victorinus believed these were two literal prophets who will be killed by the Antichrist in the future.[2]  He lived in the third century.

Hippolytus lived in the second century to the beginning of the third century.  Hippolytus also believed these were two literal men who will live during the time of the future Antichrist.[3]

No one takes everything in the chapter literally.  The city of Jerusalem is not literally Sodom, and it is not literally Egypt.  It is symbolically Sodom and Egypt.  We are told that in Revelation 11:8.

The two witnesses are not literal lampstands, and they are not literal olive trees, even though they are called this in Revelation 11:4.  These are metaphors.

These men are lampstands.  They shine the light in a dark place or hold up the light.  They are olive trees.  They represent the Holy Spirit.  It comes right out of Zechariah 4.

That is the famous passage that says, “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit” (Zechariah 4:6).

Seven Prophecies of Revelation 11

Today, we want to look at the end times, according to Revelation 11.  We want to look at seven prophecies found in this chapter.

1) God’s temple will be rebuilt

John was given a measuring rod in this chapter and was told to measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers (Revelation 11:1).  This temple had an outer court and an inner court.  What was he measuring?  You can’t measure something that is not there.

He was measuring a temple but what temple?  He was not measuring a temple in his day because there wasn’t one.  It had been destroyed.  When John wrote Revelation, there was no temple in Jerusalem.

Most scholars believe Revelation was written around 95 AD.  The Romans destroyed Herod’s Temple in 70 AD.  They destroyed it twenty-five years earlier.

The Tribulation will be a time of rebuilding.  In John’s day, there was no temple.  In our day, there is no temple in Jerusalem but in the Tribulation apparently there will be one.

Many Christians believe that the temple will be rebuilt.  Many Christians do not believe it.  The Jews have not had a temple in over two thousand years.  There is a Muslim shrine on the Temple Mount now.

The church is described as a temple.  Paul said that our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 6:19).  Christ our lamb has been sacrificed for us.  He is our Passover Lamb.  The sacrifices of the temple were fulfilled in Him.

There are several reasons why I believe there will be a Jewish temple rebuilt during the Tribulation Period.

One, Daniel said that there would be a Tribulation Temple

He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the TEMPLE he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.” (Daniel 9:27 NIV)

Two, Jesus said that there would be a Tribulation Temple

 “So when you see standing in the HOLY PLACE ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— ¹⁶ then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. (Matthew 24:15-16 NIV)

Three, Paul said that there will be a Tribulation Temple

Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in GOD’S TEMPLE, proclaiming himself to be God. (II Thessalonians 2:3-4 NIV)

Four, John said that there will be a Tribulation Temple

I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the TEMPLE OF GOD and the altar, with its worshipers. (Revelation 11:1 NIV)

Five, the early church believed there will be a Tribulation Temple

“But when this Antichrist shall have devastated all things in this world, he will reign for three years and six months, and sit in the temple at Jerusalem; and then the Lord will come from heaven in the clouds.” (Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book 5, Chapter 30, Sec 4)

Irenaeus lived in the second century.  He was from Smyrna.  According to tradition, he was a disciple of Polycarp who was a disciple of the Apostle John.

2) God’s city will be trampled

The Tribulation will be a time of antisemitism.  Antisemitism is demonic and yet hatred of the Jewish people has existed in the past.  It exists in the present.

There are Muslim nations that hate Israel and want to wipe them off the map.  Antisemitism existed not only in the past and present but will exist in the future.

I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months (Revelation 11:1-2 NIV)

God’s temple stands but God’s city is trampled.  That is why part of the temple is to be measured but not the other part because the temple represents the city.

Jerusalem will be divided.  It is divided today.  In the Tribulation, part of it will belong to the Jews and part of it will belong to the Gentiles and they will trample their part of the city for forty-two months (Revelation 11:2). We will see even more antisemitism, as we look at Revelation 12.

3) God’s message will be proclaimed

The Tribulation Period will be a time of anointed preaching.  It will be a time of powerful preaching.  These two witnesses will preach.  They will have a testimony to give (Revelation 11:7).

These will be old time preachers.  They will look strange and have a strange message.  They will prophesy (Revelation 11:3) which does not just mean that they will predict the future.  They will have a word directly from God, and they will proclaim it boldly and unapologetically.

They will not look like preachers today.  These preachers will not wear fancy clothes, like the TV evangelists.  They will not wear designer clothes.  They will wear sackcloth.

They will not sound like preachers today.  They wont say what people want to hear, like the prosperity preachers.  “God wants you to have a million dollars.”

They will not be all positive like Joel Osteen.  They will have a message of repentance and judgment.  They will preach against sin.  They will be direct.  They will be confrontational.

They will be biblical.  They will be uncompromising.  They will be fearless.  They won’t care what people think of them.

They will not be seeker sensitive.  They won’t be politically correct.  They won’t be woke.  They won’t be popular.

These prophets will speak truth boldly.  They won’t apologize for it.  They will not worry about offending anyone.

That is why people will hate them.  These prophets will torment people with their message.  We are told these two prophets “tormented those who live on the earth” (Revelation 11:10 NIV).

They will have a ministry in Jerusalem to Jews.  They will call Israel to their Messiah.  Many will come to faith through their preaching.

Their preaching will result in a revival.  Good preaching often results in revival.  These two witnesses will help bring about the salvation of Israel.

Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. (Revelation 11:13 NIV).

4) God’s power will be demonstrated

The Tribulation Period will be a time of incredible miracles.  These witnesses will not just say some things. They won’t just preach. They will perform miracles.

They are not really miracles as we think of them.  They are really supernatural acts of judgment.  They will have four miraculous powers but not the signs and wonders associated with the charismatic movement.

5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. 6 They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want. (Revelation 11:5-6 NIV)

They are mentioned in two verses.  They are all negative.  These two witnesses will have power over four things.  They will have power over WEATHER. They can stop the rain. They will have power over NATURE. They can turn water into blood.

They will have power over their ENEMIES. No one will be able to hurt them, and they will have power over HEALTH. They can actually cause plagues to come on people and not just plagues but every kind of plague. That is strange.  They will be able to make people sick.  That does not sound like your ordinary charismatic preacher.

They will have miracles performed when they are alive, and miracles performed after they died.  They will rise from the dead and ascend into heaven.

We need supernatural power today but not that kind of power.  We want the power to help people, not hurt people, although you might want to have that kind of power with some people just occasionally.

5) God’s people will be supernaturally protected

If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die (Revelation 11:5 NIV)

The Tribulation will be a time of divine protection.  These two witnesses will be invincible.  They will be immortal.  They will be hated but no one can hurt them, and no one can kill them.  No one can arrest them.  For a time, they will be completely untouchable.

They will have supernatural protection and they will need it in the Tribulation Period.  They will have not only supernatural power but supernatural protection.  We need to pray for God’s protection today.  We need supernatural protection today.

6) God’s people will experience persecution

The Tribulation Period will be a time of persecution.  It will be a time of intense persecution, satanic persecution.  We saw that earlier in Revelation.

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” (Revelation 6:9-10 NIV)

Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them.  Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. 10 The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth. (Revelation 11:8-10 NIV)

Not only will these two witnesses be killed, people will hate them so much that they will just leave their bodies unburied and they will celebrate their death.  They celebrate the death of Christians.  They rejoice when God’s people are killed.

7) God’s people will be divinely honored

But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on. (Revelation 11:11-12 NIV)

Notice how the section ends.  Everyone is celebrating and partying that God’s men are killed and suddenly they come alive right before their eyes and stood up and everyone was terrified.  Then they ascend to heaven right before their eyes.  Those that the world hated and despised, God honored and rewarded.

The chapter ends with the sounding of the Seven Trumpet.  When the trumpet is blown, three things happen: angels in heaven worship, the saints in heaven worship and God’s temple is opened.  They are worshipping because judgment is finally coming, and Jesus will reign forever and ever.

[1] F.F. Bruce, “Revelation” in New international Bible Commentary (Zondervan, 1979), 1612.

[2] https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0712.htm

[3] Hippolytus, On Christ and Antichrist, 43ff.

[4] https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/111833/jewish/Elijah-the-Prophet.htm

We have been studying the Book of Revelation.  Today, we come to Revelation 10.  It is a small chapter.  It is only eleven verses long, but it is not the shortest chapter in Revelation.  That is Revelation 15.  It is only eight verses long.

This chapter is small and raises a lot of questions.  Who is the mighty angel?  What is the little book in his hand?  What are the seven thunders?  Why are they sealed?  Why is John told to not write it down?  Why is John told to eat a book? This chapter deals with book eating.  Why would John eat a book?  How do you eat a book?

Revelation 10 is also supernatural.  John has an angelic visitation.  He gets a revelation.  He got a revelation that he was not allowed to share with anyone.

Revelation 10 deals with about John, a really big angel and a little book.  One preacher entitled it, “A Mighty Angel, Accomplished Mystery & A Tasty Scroll”[1]

We are looking at the Trumpet Judgments in the Tribulation Period which will bring utter devastation on the earth and on people, as God’s Wrath is unleashed on the earth.

Many of these chapters are a bit depressing with all of these plagues and judgments falling on people.  There is an invasion of demons on the earth.  A horde of demons from hell invade the planet and people want to kill themselves.

There are demon locusts which tortured people for five months and a demonic army which wipes out a third of the population.  It does not result in repentance.  A big revival does not break out when this happens.  No one gets saved.  it is all bad news.

Revelation 10 is very different. It is like a breath of fresh air. It is much more positive than negative. It is not depressing at all. No one dies in this chapter. No one is tortured.  No one gets stung by a demonic insect.

God gives us a break from all of the disasters that are taking place on earth. So far, we have seen six trumpets blown.  We would expect to hear the sound of the seventh trumpet.  But we do not hear that trumpet sound until we get to the next chapter (Revelation 11:19).

Instead of encountering a horde of demon locusts, John encounters a heavenly angel.  John sees a spectacular angel coming out of the sky and down to earth

This was not any angel.  It was a special angel.  This angel was wrapped in a cloud.  This angel had a rainbow over his head.  This angel was bright.  He was shiny.

We are told that “his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars” (Revelation 10:1 NIV).  He had these legs of fire and his face shined like the Sun.

This was a mighty angel.  He was really strong.  There are no weak Pee Wee Herman angels but, apparently, some angels are stronger than others.  He was not only strong; he was tall.  He was gigantic.

He had one foot on the land and one foot on the sea (Revelation 10:5), like a conqueror taking possession of his territory.  It was like someone taking dominion over a territory.

John sees this tall, strong angel descending from heaven, shining like the Sun.  This angel was not only strong, tall and bright, he was loud, really loud.  Many things in heaven are loud. When he shouted, we are told that the voices of the seven thunders spoke.

and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. 4 And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down.” (Revelation 10:3-4 NIV).

A revelation about the future came from this angel, the revelation of the seven thunders.

The Seven Thunders

And he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. ⁴ And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down.” (Revelation 10:3-4 NIV)

We are not sure how thunder can speak but these thunders spoke.  John heard them.  He understood.  When he started to do this, a voice from heaven said, “Do not write it down” (10:4). It is the only time in the book that John was ordered NOT to write down what he saw.

How many of us have been told by our spouse, “I have a secret but you can’t tell anyone.”  Some of us have trouble keeping a secret but John knew something probably about future events (since Revelation is prophetic) that he was not allowed to share.

The first part of the chapter, there were some things that John was not allowed to tell.  The second part of the chapter, he heard some things that he was allowed to tell.  He was commanded to tell.  He was given one prohibition and one command in this chapter.

God told John what the seven thunders were.  He was not allowed to tell us.  We don’t know what the seven thunders said.  John knew what they were and was about to write it down.  He heard what they said but was not allowed to write it down or tell anyone.

What did the seven thunders say?  We don’t know.  They have been sealed (Revelation 10:4), but if you want to find out, you can go on the Internet.  There are all kinds of websites which tell you about what they said.

They claim they have an important message for America.  Some Seventh Day Adventists say they know what they are, but we have no idea what the seven thunders are.  They have been sealed.

Then he told me, ‘Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near. (Revelation 22:10 NIV)

The Book of Revelation is not a closed book.  It is an open book.  It is a revelation.  It is an unveiling.  The Book of Revelation is not sealed, except for the seven thunders.  Only one part is sealed (not disclosed).

John was not the only one who was not allowed to tell what he saw.  The same thing happened to the Apostle Paul.  Both John and Paul were not permitted to share some supernatural things that God showed them.  We do not have any revelations that we are not allowed to share with people.

Paul’s Supernatural Experiences

In II Corinthians 12, Paul gives his personal testimony.  Paul had a lot of supernatural experiences.  He saw Jesus more than once.  He saw the Resurrected Christ on the Damascus Road.  Before he became a Christian, Jesus appeared to him.

In Acts 22, Paul was in Jerusalem and was praying in the temple and he fell into a trance and saw Jesus (Acts 22:17-21).

In Acts 23, Jesus appeared to Paul again, while he was in prison in Jerusalem (Acts 23:11) but Paul not only saw Jesus several times on earth, he went to heaven.  He was transported to the third heaven.  Three times, John saw Jesus on earth.

Once, he actually went to Heaven.  He was “caught up” to paradise (II Corinthians 12:4).  The word “caught up” is the same word used in I Thessalonians 4 of the rapture of the church (ἁρπάζω).  We will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord.

12 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell…

because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 
(II Corinthians 12:1-4 NIV)

Paul was raptured to heaven.  He saw some things and heard amazing things and he never told anyone about them.  In fact, he never told anyone for fourteen years.

Who would take a trip to heaven and wait for fourteen years to tell anyone?  If that happened today to us, we would share it, go on TV, write a book or start a ministry.

It is not wrong to do those things, but Paul was FORBIDDEN to tell anyone what he saw.  John had a vision of the Lamb on his throne worshipped by all kinds of angels.  He was allowed to tell us what he saw.  He was commanded to write what he saw.

Apparently, this trip to heaven was just for Paul.  It wasn’t for anyone else.  Why?  No one knows, but I have a theory.  This trip to heaven took place in 44 AD before any of his missionary journeys.[4] The reason he was taken to heaven was to prepare him for his three missionary journeys.

He was going to face some very difficult things.  He was going to suffer greatly.  He was going to be beaten, stoned with rocks and eventually martyred.  He needed this trip to heaven before he left for the missionary field.

Paul said, “because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh” (II Corinthians 12:7).

Paul’s trip to heaven led to pride, so God had to use some thorn therapy to treat it, as Church Swindoll calls it.[5]  He still uses thorns to humble us today.  They come in different forms.

Paul doesn’t tell us what his thorn in the flesh was, but it was something that kept him humble.  He implies that it was something physical, and it was demonically caused.  Paul came back from heaven and faced a demon from hell, a messenger of Satan.

We do know that getting a thorn stuck in your body is painful.  The greatest experience of Paul’s life was followed by the most painful experience of Paul’s life.  Paul prayed for God to remove it several times.  God said No.  Even apostles did not always get what they wanted when they prayed.

The TV preachers would have to say that Paul must not have had enough faith, but Paul had plenty of faith.  What Paul says at the end of the chapter is that this thorn taught Paul a lesson. Paul learned some things from his thorn in the flesh that he did not learn from heaven.

What is the lesson for us today from the Revelation 10 for us today?  Two very important lessons for us come right out of this chapter.

Practical Applications

1) Lesson from the Seven Thunders

What do we learn from the seven thunders?  We learn a very important truth.  It is a lesson that many Christians have not learned.  There are some things are hidden and some things are revealed.

We like it when things are revealed.  What we don’t like it that some things are hidden but the Bible teaches both.  There are actually three types of mysteries in Scripture.

2) Lesson from the Little Book

Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: “Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.”

9 So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but ‘in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.’”

10 I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. 11 Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.” (Revelation 10:8-11 NIV)

John sees a giant angel, shining as bright as the Sun, with a little book in his hand.  Apparently, angels in heaven like to read but I don’t think they like fiction

It was really not a book as we know it.  They did not have those in John’s day.  It was a little scroll. .  John hears a voice from heaven that tells him to take the little book and eat it.  The book is for him.

When he took it, the angel told him to eat it.  The same thing happened to Ezekiel.  He was given a scroll and told to eat it.  John took a bite out of this scroll that the angel held and ate it.

Chuck Swindoll once said that this was “God’s recipe for Sweet and Sour Scroll.”  We are told what it tasted like.

It was sweet but it gave him heartburn. John needed some Rolaids after eating this scroll. My wife once commented that what John needed was some Scrollaids.

Why was this book both bitter and sweet?  We don’t know exactly what the book was.  Some say it contained the contents of Revelation 16.  We know it contained a revelation of future events.

It was sweet because it was God’s Word, and it was bitter because it was a word of judgment.  That is a hard message to communicate to others.  The Bible contains warnings and promises.

The Bible speaks of heaven and hell. It speaks of sin and forgiveness. It talks about the love of God. It also talks about the wrath of God. It talks about the mercy of God, but it also talks about the judgment of God.

John was given a message to give to people.  It was a prophetic message.  Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.” (Revelation 10:11 NIV).

Before he preached, he was to absorb, digest and assimilate the contents of the message.  The prophet of God was to “let the word of God affect him first before he ministers it to others”[6]

We have a message to share with people as well.  God’s Word is is to be food to us, just like it was to Ezekiel and John.  It is compared to bread.  Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds. out of the mouth of God.

God’s Word is compared to milk.  It is compared to meat (Hebrews 5:11-14).  Some Christians just have a milk diet.  They do not want anything too deep.  Milk is great for baby Christians.  Mature Christians need more than milk to grow.

It is compared to honey.  David said, “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103 NIV).

What God told John and Ezekiel; he tells us to do.  We are to feed on the Word of God daily.  God’s Word is not just a weapon to be used against false teachers and demons.  It is food for us to eat.

We are to eat all of God’s Word, not just a few parts of it.  That is why we study books of the Bible.  When we finish one, we start another one.  We do not just do NT books; we study OT books as well.

[1] https://www.bethelottawa.org/sermons/a-mighty-angel-accomplished-mystery-a-tasty-scroll-revelation-101-11/

[2] G. K. Beale, The Book of Revelation: A Commentary on the Greek Text, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, Cumbria: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press, 1999), 523.

[3] David E. Aune, Revelation 6–16, vol. 52B, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1998), 557–558.

[4] Ralph Martin, II Corinthians, Word Biblical Commentary (Volume 40), Second Edition, p. 1295.

[5] https://insight.org/general/epochal-events/individual/the-pride-ripping-role-of-thorn-therapy1

[6] Charles Ryrie, Revelation, p. 69.

We are studying the Book of Revelation, the only prophetic book in the NT. It is the only book of the NT that deals with the future.  It deals with things to come.

Right now, we are in the future period of time called The Tribulation.  It is not just tribulation in general.  It is called in the Book of Revelation “the Great Tribulation” (Revelation 7:14).  Believers will suffer the wrath of man.  Many will be martyred.  Unbelievers will experience the wrath of God.

During the Tribulation, God’s wrath will be unleashed on a sinful and wicked world.  During that time, the world will encounter, not the love and compassion of Jesus.  They will encounter judgment.  They will experience wrath, “the Wrath of the Lamb” (Revelation 6:16)

These judgments come in three forms: seals, trumpets, and bowls.  Seven seals are opened.  Seven trumpets are blown.  Seven bowls are poured out and judgment follows each time, different levels of judgment.   They take different forms.

Some of these judgments affect nature.  The first four trumpets affected nature.  Some of them affect people directly.  We will see that today.

Some of these judgments seem natural.  They seem almost providential (disease, famine, warfare).  Other judgments are supernatural.  Some are brought by angels.  Others are brought by demons.

Today, we are going to be talking about demons.  We are going to see what demons are and what they do.  We are also going to see how to overcome demons from this chapter.

There is demonic activity in our world today.  All you have to do is to turn the TV on for one day to see what is going on, but the Tribulation Period, it will be even greater, and it will come from even worse demons than the ones at work in the world today.  Hell will be unleashed on earth.

Right before the return of Christ, there will be an invasion of demons on the earth.  There will be an increase of demonic activity on the earth.  There was a rise of demonic activity on earth right before the Flood.

Jesus said when He comes back that it will be just like it was in the days of Noah (Matthew 24:47).  Hell will be unleashed on earth.  Franklin Graham said recently, “every demon from hell” has been “turned loose” in our culture today.

The demons in this chapter will NOT attack believers.  They will be attack unbelievers.  They cannot hurt believers.  They cannot hurt anyone with the seal of God on their forehead (Revelation 9:4; 7:3).

These demons know who the unbelievers are.  Jesus knows who His sheep are.  He calls them by name.  The demons also know who they are.  They recognize them but they will not be able to attack them in the Tribulation Period.

Revelation 9 describes two demonic invasions on earth.  It describes on invasion of DEMONIC LOCUSTS, and it describes an army of DEMONIC HORSEMEN.  There will be an invasion of demonic locusts from the bottomless pit.

These will be locusts from hell, demons from the pit. There will also be a huge demonic army of two hundred million horsemen.  One third of the planet will be killed by these demons (Revelation 9:18).

If you think that demonic activity in the world is bad now, it will be ten times worse in the tribulation Period.

During those days people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them. (Revelation 9:6 NIV)

That is not happening right now.  Unbelievers are not being stung by locusts and the pain is so great they will not only want to die but try to die but it won’t work.

It is a terrible picture.  It is actually a picture of hell. People will be tormented but never die. That is the way that Hell is described in the Bible. In fact, the word “tormented” and “torment” (Revelation 9:5) in Greek is used later in the book to describe Hell (Revelation 14:10-11).

It is going to be so bad that you are going to think that God is not possible is control.  Evil is in control.  Every time, we see some monstrous evil committed on earth or some terrible natural disaster, we wonder where God is.  Why did He allow it.

The reality of evil is one of the biggest obstacles to faith in Jesus.  That is why many do not become Christians.  It is because of the problem of evil.

The big shock of the chapter is that God is not surprised by what happened.  He is not bothered by what happened.  In fact, He caused it but, as we will see, He is completely sovereign over evil.

The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star WAS GIVEN the key to the shaft of the Abyss. (Revelation 9:1 NIV)

And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very HOUR and DAY and MONTH and YEAR were released to kill a third of mankind. (Revelation 9:15 NIV)

God controls exactly WHEN they are released, to the very day and hour.  He controls HOW LONG they are released.  They are only released for five months (Revelation 9:5).  He controlled WHAT they were allowed to do (torture, not kill).  He also controlled WHO they were allowed to attack (unbelievers)

Demons are powerful but they are on a leash.  If God is sovereign over this evil, He is sovereign over the evil that takes places in the world today.  He is sovereign over any evil that takes place in our life as well.

Myths about Demons

Let’s talk about demons.  There are many myths about demons.  Here are four things that demons are not.

1) Demons are NOT just evil forces in our world today

They are more than abstract impersonal forces.  They are supernatural beings.  They are not just metaphors.

2) Demons are NOT just addictions

Demons are more than bad habits.  They are more than sins.  Every sin is not a demon (lust demon, a cigarette demon).  We talk about people battling personal demons, but they are not just figures of speech.

3) Demons are NOT just diseases

Demons can cause diseases.  Satan gave Job some boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head (Job 2:7).

There was a woman in Luke 13 “who for eighteen years had had a sickness caused by a spirit; and she was bent over double, and could not straighten up at all” (Luke 13:11 NASB).

We are specifically told that this was caused by a demon but not every medical condition is demonic.  Mental illness is not the same thing as demonic possession.  Some people just have a chemical imbalance and when they get that problem fixed, they are fine.

4) Demons are NOT the spirits of dead people

That is the view in Hollywood.  You see it in many horror movies, like Michael Myers, Freddie Kruger, like the Halloween movies and A Nightmare on Elm Street.  Demons are not the spirts of bad people who died.

The Nature of Demons

1) Demons are fallen angels

Demons are fallen angels.  When Satan sinned and fell, he took a third of the angels in heaven with him (Revelation 12:4).  They are his angels (Revelation 12:7; Matthew 25:41).  Satan’s angels are called demons.

2) Some are worse than others

Some people are worse than others (mass murderers, serial killers, child molesters and rapists).  All demons are bad, but some are worse than others.

Most demons that roam the planet are not incarcerated.  Some are so bad that God locked them up.  Some people are in jail because they are so bad.  Some demons are in jail because they are so bad.

⁶ And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. (Jude 6 NIV)

⁴ For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment (II Peter 2:4 NIV)

Revelation 9 mentions other bound demons.  Some are bound in the Abyss (Fifth Trumpet) and some bound in the River Euphrates (Sixth Trumpet)

We do not know if it is the same place or a different place, but the Abyss is some type of jail or prison for fallen angels.  Most demons are not in this prison, only the worst of the worst.

The Abyss is mentioned seven times in Revelation (Revelation 9:1, 2, 11; 11:7; 17:8; 20:1, 3).

Some Bibles translate it “the bottomless pit” (KJV, NKJV, NASB, NLT, ESV).  That is probably not what the word means.[1]  That sounds more like the appetite of a teenager, a bottomless pit.  It is a strange concept of a pit without a bottom.  If you drop a rock into it, it will never hit the bottom.  That is NOT the picture here.

The Abyss is not a perpetual falling but a perpetual burning.  It is a place of fire.  How do we know?  When the Abyss is opened, the first thing that came out was smoke.  Where there is smoke there’s fire. Smoke comes from a fire.

The Abyss always means in Revelation a prison for fallen angels.  This jail does not look like the Alamance County Jail.  It is much worse.  It looks more like a furnace.  None of the inmates at the Alamance County Jail are set on fire.

And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. 2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. (Revelation 9:1-2 NIV)

This produces not just smoke like a furnace but smoke like a GREAT furnace, not just a little smoke but a lot of smoke, so much that it pollutes the air.  The sky becomes completely black. The smoke blocks the Sun from shining.

It is a place of fire.  There is no escape from it.  The only way to get out is if someone opens it from the outside.  It is a place not only of confinement for demons but of torment.

It so bad that the Gerasene demonic begged not to go there.  He was the naked demon-possessed man who lived in the tombs and cut himself.  Jesus cast the demons out but “they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss” (Luke 8:31 NIV).

The Abyss is located downwards in the earth.  You always read of being going down into the Abyss (Revelation 11:7; 17:8).

This is a strange concept of demons bound on earth or inside the earth.  Hell is on earth.  It is under our feet or at least, the Abyss is.  The prison for fallen angels is in the Earth.

Revelation 9 mentions demons bound at the River Euphrates.  Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates. (Revelation 9:14 NIV).  These are demons of the Euphrates in the Middle East.  It is a place of demonic bondage and confinement and four of those demons will be released.

Why would spirit beings be tied up in a river? Why are they in the Euphrates River? Why not the Mississippi River or the Ohio River?

Why that particular river? It is where the Garden of Eden was located. It was one of the four rivers that flowed out of the Garden of Eden. It was where the first sin, the first rebellion and the first murder on the planet took place.

It was the place of Satan’s original deception. The Euphrates is the river that runs through the country of Iraq, past the city of Babylon (the center of idolatry and false religion in Scripture), so it is a fitting place where these demons were bound.

3) Demons take different forms

They take different forms.  When they come out of the Abyss, they look like locusts.  They take the forms of locusts.  These are demon insects.  In Revelation 16, demons take the form of frogs (Revelation 16:13-14).

Demons take different forms today.  They don’t always look like the demons in the horror movies.  Sometimes they look like an angel of light.  Beware of appearances.

By the way, this is the only time in the Bible we see what a demon looks like. They look like hippies with long hair.  They will have the face of a man and the hair of a woman.

Even though they are disgusting creatures, there is something seductive about them.  The Bible says that a woman’s hair is her glory (I Corinthians 11:15).

On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces. 8 Their hair was like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. 9 They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. (Revelation 9:7-9 NIV)

4) Demons love to torture

They were not allowed to kill them but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes.

Demons live to torture people.  They still do that today.  We have demonic tormentors today.  Satan loves to torture people.  He tortures people physically.  He tortures people psychologically.  He tortures people by addictions.

He tortures people today by bitterness and unforgiveness.  He tortures people by broken homes, and broken families.  He tortures people by broken wedding vows.  He tortures people by sinful thoughts.

People who like to torture others and are sadistic act like demons.  That is what demons do.  What is strange about this is who they attack.  They torture unbelievers (Revelation 9:4).  They torture their own.

Some of these unbelievers worship demons (Revelation 9:20).  They worship the demons who torture them.  They worship their killers.  Why would you worship someone who only hurts you and beats you up?

They keep on worshipping the very demons that are destroying them.  There is a little irony here.  Those who tortured the saints are now being tortured themselves by demons.

5) Demons cause destruction

God creates things.  Satan destroys them.  He does the exact opposite.  It is one of his titles in this chapter – “Destroyer.”  Satan has about thirty names in the Bible.

He is called “the Devil” (Matthew 4:1).  He is called “Beelzebub” (Matthew 12:24).  He is called “the Serpent” (Genesis 3:4).  He is called “the accuser of the brethren” (Revelation 12:10).

He is called a “great red dragon” (Revelation 12:3, 9).  He is called “the god of this world” (II Corinthians 4:4).  He is called “the father of lies” (John 8:44).  He is called “the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2).  He is called “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31).

We get two more titles of Satan in this chapter.  He is called Abaddon (Revelation 9:11) and Apollyon (Revelation 9:11).  It is actually one title in two languages.  Abaddon is Hebrew (אֲבַדּוֹן).  Apollyon is Greek (Ἀπολλύων).

Jesus said that the Devil comes to steal, kill and DESTROY (John 10:11).  Satan’s goal is destruction.  That is all he does.  God created Adam and Eve to live in a perfect world.  Satan destroyed it through sin.

He wants to destroy your life, your marriage, your home.  He wants to destroy your family, your church and your nation.  He wants to destroy America.  He wants to destroy Israel.

He wants to destroy gender roles established by God.  He wants to destroy God’s Word.  He does that by attacking the Bible and questioning it.  He wants to destroy your faith.  He does that by cults, false religion and false doctrine.  Some teach doctrines of demons (I Timothy 4:1).

There are two invasions in this chapter.  The first invasion of the demonic locusts brings TORTURE for five months.

The second invasion is a demonic army that brings DEATH.  It slaughters one third of the planet (Revelation 9:18).  One-fourth of the world population was already killed during the fourth seal (Revelation 6:8).

There are eight billion people on the planet today.  If one third were killed, that would mean that 2.6 billion will die in this Satanic slaughter.  In addition, many believers in the Tribulation will be martyred.

If you do the math, one-third of three-fourths is about a half.  These two judgments result in about one-half the world population being destroyed. That is why Jesus said in Matthew 24 that if this period was not cut short, no one would survive.

Of course, this is a big problem for preterists.  Preterists believe that the Book of Revelation was fulfilled in the first century.

They believe that this was all fulfilled in 70 AD. There is only one problem. One third of the planet did not die from a 200-million-man army in 70 AD. That was the entire population of the world in John’s day.  The earth has never experienced that kind of devastation.

Four Important Lessons

1) Judgment time is coming

God gives people time to repent.  A time of terrible disasters are coming soon to planet Earth.  Is there any way to stop them?  There is one way and that is to get saved NOW.  These demons only attack unbelievers, not believers.

2) God gives people time to repent

He gave Jezebel time to repent (Revelation 2:21).  Even wicked Jezebel was given time to repent.  He gives people time to repent but the time to repent is NOW.

3) God speaks through natural disasters

Whenever there is a personal tragedy or natural disaster today, like the Tsunami, it should cause us to fall on our knees. While the trumpets are judgments on earth, they were intended to produce repentance.

Sometimes that is the only way to get people’s attention is through pain, disaster, calamity, tragedy.  God sometimes sends a message to people that way.  Is God speaking to you?  Are you listening?

4) Some refuse to repent when tragedy strikes

When bad things happen to people, many become angry.   That is proof of the doctrine of free will.  God does not make people repent.  He gives them a choice.  When tragedy strikes, many hearts become hard.  They become mad at God.

People do not seem to be reformed by punishment. Locking a person up for fifty years does not change his nature. He has to be changed on the inside.  When parents spank their kids, sometimes they just get mad.

The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. ²¹ Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts. (Revelation 9:20-21 NIV).

Why don’t they come to faith?  They don’t want to give up their sins.  What were their sins?  The passage mentions five common sins in the Tribulation period (idolatry, murder, immorality, stealing and sorcery).

All five of these sins are common today (murder, sexual immorality, idolatry and theft).  Sorcery refers to the occult and drugs today. The Greek word sorcery is Φάρμακον (cf. Revelation 18:23; 21:8; 22:15). We get the word “pharmacy” from it.  This is not a verse against natural medicine.  Drug use is part of the occult.

[1] “The rendering ‘bottomless pit’ depends on a false etymology, and is rather absurd when one thinks about it.” (F.F. Bruce, Answers to Questions, [Zondervan, 1973] p. 139).

[2] Hal Lindsey, The Apocalypse Code, 149-180.

Today, we are going to talk about the environment.  Revelation 8 is all about that topic.  There is a lot of talk today about the environment.

We hear it from the media.  We hear it from politicians.  There is a lot of talk today about carbon footprints and climate change.  There is a lot of talk in the media about evil fossil fuels, like coal.

We don’t want to talk about science today, but we do want to look at the environment from a biblical perspective.  Not everything that you hear today from politicians is biblical.

The Bible teaches that God created the world.  For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them (Exodus 20:11 NIV).

The world belongs to Him.  The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it (Psalm 24:1 NIV).  Every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. (Psalm 50:10 NIV).

The Bible teaches God created the world, it belongs to Him and He has put people in charge to take care of it.

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” (Genesis 1:28 NIV)

We want to take care of it but there is a modern movement today that goes well beyond a natural concern for the environment.  What is the difference between a legitimate concern for the environment and the modern political movement?

Three Problems with Radical Environmentalism

1) Idolatry

Radical environmentalists worship the earth.  They worship nature.  They worship an earth goddess.  We still speak of Mother Earth today. Their motto is “earth first,” not “God first” but “earth first.”

Environmentalist Al Gore likes the Hindu motto, “The Earth is our Mother and we are her children.”  He quotes it approvingly in his book, The Earth in the Balance.[1]

This type of environmentalism is not just an ideology. It is a religion. It is the green religion. It is a mixture of climate change, religion and environmentalism.

2) Deception

Radical environmentalists teach that man-made climate change is the greatest threat to humanity’s future.  It’s not.  They teach that we only have a few more years to live before the human race faces mass extinction.

AOC said, “the world is going to end in twelve years if we don’t address climate change.”[2] That was in 2019.  That means we only have eight years left to go.  Whenever fools predict when the world will end, they are always wrong.  This is true every time, without exception.

3) Misplaced Priorities

Radical environmentalists want to save the dodo birds, and the spotted owl, but do not care at all about saving the unborn.  In their religion, recycling your trash is very important.

Personal morality is not as important.  Sexual ethics is not important.  How you live your life does not matter.  What is important is how you treat the earth.

Environmentalists are not concerned about any of the warnings in the Book of Revelation about the end of the world.  They are not concerned about dying and going to Hell.

They are not concerned about being cast into the Lake of Fire, but they are concerned about what is going to happen to planet earth.  In fact, one out of five children in Britain suffer nightmares about climate change.[3]

The truth is that we should be far more concerned with what God is going to do to the planet than what man can do to it.

What God is going to do is going to be infinitely worse than anything man will do. The Bible teaches that one day God is going to DESTROY the earth.

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. (II Peter 3:10 NKJV)

In Revelation 8, He is going to bring four terrible judgments on planet earth. God will not just people but the planet itself.  The physical universe will be judged.  Why?

The earth has been cursed because of man’s sin.  The whole planet was affected by man’s sin in the garden.  In Revelation 8, we are studying the future Tribulation Period.  Revelation 7 mentions “the Great Tribulation.”

Major environmental disasters are coming in the Tribulation Period, but they will not be caused by man.  God is going to bring them.  In Revelation 8, we see four environmental catastrophes coming to planet earth in the future.

One disaster will be on the land.  One disaster will be on the sea.  One disaster will be in the rivers and one disaster will be in the sky or outer space.  These are four natural disasters and God is going to do them.

We see good news for believers in this chapter and bad news for unbelievers. Unbelievers are going to face four natural disasters in the Tribulation and at the end of the chapter, we find that it is only going to get worse.  You think it is bad now.  You have not seen anything yet.  There are three woes yet to come.

As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: “Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!” (Revelation 8:13 NIV)

The good news for believers is that they don’t have to worry about these judgments.  They will be protected from them.  They will be sealed.  In fact, they are sealed before these judgments can even fall.

Silence in Heaven

There is a big mystery as this chapter opens.  Jesus opens each seal one by one and, as he does, bad things happen on earth.  In fact, they get worse and worse.  Seal number six is the worst one.  It is so bad that people want to kill themselves.

When the seventh seal is opened, you expect something really bad to happen.  When it is opened, nothing happens.

When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. (Revelation 8:1 NIV).  Not only did nothing happen but there was complete silence.  That would not be such a big deal, except heaven is a loud place.

And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a LOUD VOICE, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” (Revelation 5:2 NIV)

In a LOUD VOICE they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (Revelation 5:12 NIV)

Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a LOUD VOICE to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea (Revelation 7:2 NIV)

And they cried out in a LOUD VOICE: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:10 NIV)

Heaven is a place of sound.  It is a place of activity.  Many think that heaven is a quiet, serene place.  It is not.  It is loud.  The twenty-four elders were loud.  The angels were loud.  The martyrs in heaven were loud.  The saints are loud.  Everyone’s loud.

Jesus opens the seventh seal, there is complete silence in heaven.  You can hear a pin drop. No words were spoken. It is not quiet for long.  Soon, this silence will be followed by some loud sounds.  Nature is loud.  John will hear “peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake” (Revelation 8:5 NIV).

These seven special angels are loud.  They were given trumpets and they blow them.  These were musical angels.  Angels can not only sing; they can play musical instruments.  Why trumpets?  Why don’t they pay the violin?   In Scripture trumpets are associated with warfare and judgment.

The animals on earth are also loud.  John hears an eagle saying in a loud voice, “Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth” (Revelation 8:13).  This was probably an angel in the form of a bird.  It is a talking eagle, a talking animal.

Why the silence?  By the time you get to the seventh seal, we are near the end of the Tribulation. After the seventh seal is over, it is the end.  The coming of Christ is imminent.  The trumpets and bowl judgments do not follow the seventh seal.  They are part of the seventh seal.

These judgments bring us to the end.  Heaven stands in suspense as we come to the end of these dreadful judgments.  They get progressively worse in intensity, but they get shorter in duration.

⁸ I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over A FOURTH of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth. (Revelation 6:8 NIV)

The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A THIRD of the sea turned into blood, ⁹ A THIRD of the living creatures in the sea died, and A THIRD of the ships were destroyed. (Revelation 8:8 NIV)

The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a dead person, and EVERY living thing in the sea died. (Revelation 16:3 NIV)

The devastation goes from one fourth (seals) to one third (trumpets) to everything (bowls).  The judgments get progressively worse, but they also get shorter.  The seals last for years.  The trumpet judgments last for months (Revelation 9:5).  The bowl judgments may only last for weeks.

Literal Plagues

Many believe that the book of Revelation has already been fulfilled. They are called Preterists.  This chapter is a big problem for preterists.  This chapter has not already been fulfilled.

A third of the earth has not been burned up.  That would be like seventeen states burned up.  A third of the trees have not been burned up.  A third of the sea was never turned into blood. A third of the living creatures in the sea have not died.  A third of ships have not been destroyed.  When just one sinks, it makes the evening news.

How do they deal with it?  They spiritualize it.  They make it an allegory.  They come up with some ridiculous interpretations. When it says a third of the grass is burned up, grass must mean people, because of what Isaiah says.

All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. ⁷ The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. (Isaiah 40:6-7 NIV)

A great star falls from the sky called wormwood and poisons the waters.  Satan in the Bible is called a fallen star (Luke 10:18), so this must be Satan positing society and culture.

The Sun, moon and stars refer to ruling authorities.  The pastors were called stars earlier in the book (Revelation 1:20).  A falling star means political leaders losing their power.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that the word “earth” refers to Christendom, which makes up one-third of the population of the earth and the trees to the pastors of those churches.[4]

They are right that statistically, Christianity right now makes up 31% of the earth’s population.[5]  It is a third of mankind.  Are they right?  No.

That is spiritualizing the Bible.  When is it right to take something literally in Scripture and when is it right to take something figurately.  One of the rules of interpreting the Bible is, “If the literal sense makes sense, seek no other sense.”

There is NO evidence in the text that any of these plagues are spiritual.  In fact, this chapter is very similar to what we see in the Book of Exodus.

God sent Ten Plagues on the land of Egypt in the Book of Exodus, and they were literal plagues that fell on the Egyptians.  They weren’t symbolic.  The plagues in Revelation 8 look exactly like the plagues in the Book of Exodus.

History is going to repeat itself. The Plagues of Egypt are going to come back.  Some of these will be repeated in the Tribulation Period.  The Ten Plagues in Exodus were historical.  The plagues in Revelation are prophetic.  Not only will these plagues be repeated; they will be worse.  There was a plague of fire and hail in Exodus.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that hail will fall all over Egypt—on people and animals and on everything growing in the fields of Egypt.” ²³ When Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky, the Lord sent thunder and hail, and lightning flashed down to the ground. So the Lord rained hail on the land of Egypt; ²⁴ hail fell and lightning flashed back and forth. It was the worst storm in all the land of Egypt since it had become a nation. ²⁵ Throughout Egypt hail struck everything in the fields—both people and animals; it beat down everything growing in the fields and stripped every tree. (Exodus 9:22-25).

What was the First Trumpet Judgment?  It was hail and fire mixed with blood (Revelation 8:7 NIV)

There was a plague of blood in Egypt.  The Nile River turned into blood.

The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt—over the streams and canals, over the ponds and all the reservoirs—and they will turn to blood.’ Blood will be everywhere in Egypt, even in vessels of wood and stone.”

²⁰ Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded. He raised his staff in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials and struck the water of the Nile, and all the water was changed into blood. ²¹ The fish in the Nile died, and the river smelled so bad that the Egyptians could not drink its water. Blood was everywhere in Egypt. (Exodus 7:19-21 NIV)

What will in the Second Trumpet Judgment?  A river will not turn into blood; the sea will.  A burning mountain will fly through the air and fall into the sea and a third of the waters will became blood.

The Third Trumpet Judgment results in contaminated drinking water as well.  Not just one river but a third of all of the rivers became undrinkable.  There are 250,000 rivers in the US.  That would mean that would affect 83,000 rivers.

There was a plague of Egypt that affected drinking water.  We are told that “the river smelled so bad that the Egyptians could not drink its water” (Exodus 7:21 NIV).

There was an OT plague of darkness in the Book of Exodus.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that darkness spreads over Egypt—darkness that can be felt.” 22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and total darkness covered all Egypt for three days. 23 No one could see anyone else or move about for three days. Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived. (Exodus 10:21-23 NIV).

In the Fourth Trumpet, there is also a plague of darkness.  This will not be a plague of total darkness in the Tribulation Period but will limit the amount of light that is available.  It will last more than three days and will affect more than Egypt.

The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night. (Revelation 8:12 NIV)

We do not know how this will work.  We don’t know how God will do it.  Will God speed up the rotation of the earth, so we have sixteen-hour days, instead of twenty-four-hour days?  Somehow a third of the day will be without light.  Jesus predicted signs in the heavens before He returns.

“There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.” (Luke 21:25-26 NIV)

What does Revelation 8 have to do with us?  According to the theology of many people, we will not be here.  We will all be raptured.  If we are here, we will be protected from the Tribulation plagues.  We will be sealed with the seal of the living God.  How is this chapter relevant?

Prayers in Heaven

Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. ⁴ The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand. ⁵ Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake. (Revelation 8:3-5 NIV)

There is a huge application for us today from Revelation 8 that I want to share with you.  This chapter is all about prayer.  God wants us to pray.  He compares it to incense (Revelation 5:8; 8:4).

We need to pray and not stop praying.  Don’t stop praying.  “Don’t stop praying for your lost friend, or for your own family, or for that need that you’re living with.”[6]  In Luke 18, Jesus told some parables about why we should always pray and not give up (Luke 18:1).

When I was on vacation, I always find my way into some thrift stores and always gravitate to the used book section.  I have a weakness for books.  I glanced at a book with a strange title. The title was 101 Reasons Why You Should Never Pray.  At first, I passed over it.  That is not a book I want to have anything to do with.

Then, curiosity got to me.  I figured it would be good to see what atheists are saying so you know how to answer them, so I finally picked it up, opened it and found all of the pages blank.  In this chapter, we see three reasons why all of us need to pray every day.

Three Reasons to Pray

1) God hears prayer

God hears every prayer you utter.  That is what we see in this chapter. They ascend to Heaven.  He hears them.  Sometimes we think that God never hears our prayers.  We are wasting our time.  They never get past the ceiling.

In this chapter, we see that the prayers of the saints make it all the way to heaven.  They go further than any rocket sent into our space by NASA.  They go further than Apollo 11 which went to the moon.  Our prayers reach heaven.

God hears our prayers, and He does not forget them.  That is interesting to think about.  God remembers every prayer you ever made to Him.  The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous (Proverbs 15:29 NIV).

How do we know from Revelation that God hears our prayers?  Prayers of the saints are mentioned in two verses in this chapter (Revelation 8:3, 4).  In fact, we were told earlier that they are located in bowls.

And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. (Revelation 5:8 NIV)

There is a bowl of incense in heaven and the bowl represents the prayers of the all of the saints.  They are not just in bowls.  They are in golden bowls.

Later in Revelation, we are going to see bowl that contain God’s wrath that are poured out in the earth.  Here, we see, bowls containing the prayers of God’s people and they are in heaven.

2) God answers prayer

In Revelation 8, we see two things: prayer in heaven and judgment on earth.  In fact, the judgment was in response to the prayers of the saints.  They prayed in Revelation 6.

What did the saints pray for in Revelation 6?  They prayed for God to judge their persecutors.  People on earth are murdering believers.  They are executing the saints.  God allowed it but in Revelation 8 their prayers were answered, and judgment falls on the wicked.

God’s judgments in this chapter are an answer to prayer.  They are a DIRECT RESULT of the prayers of the saints.  They are a result of the praying martyrs.

Judgment doesn’t come to earth until the prayers of the saints go up to God. Revelation 8 “may be the most dramatic picture of answered prayer in the Bible.”[7]

3) Prayer is powerful

The prayers of the saints produced the opening of the seventh seal which produced the blowing the trumpets, which led to certain things happening on earth. There is power in prayer. Our prayers are powerful.

They can cause you to live longer.  Hezekiah found that out.  He was given a death sentence, not by a doctor but by a prophet but he prayed and God let him live longer.

They can get you out of prison.  Peter was in prison and was let out supernaturally by an angel because the church prayed for him.

Prayer can heal the sick.  In James, we are told that the prayer of faith will heal the sick.  James 5:15 says, the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up (NIV).

Prayer will get you a spouse.  Isaac got a spouse because the servant who went out looking for one for him prayed that God would give him success (Genesis 24:12-14) and the Bible says that before he finished praying Rebekah walked up to the well to get water.

Jesus taught that prayer moves mountains (Mark 11:22-24).  That is not just difficult; it is impossible.

Prayer can change the weather.  Elijah prayed and changed the weather.  James said that he was a man just like us (James 5:17).  Prayer can stop the movement of the sun and the moon.  Joshua leaned that (Joshua 10:12).

Prayer can shake the earth.   Peter and John prayed in Acts and after they prayed “the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly” (Acts 4:31 NIV).

[1] Al Gore, The Earth in the Balance: Ecology and the Human Spirit (Houghton Mifflin, 1992), 261

[2] https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/426353-ocasio-cortez-the-world-will-end-in-12-years-if-we-dont-address/

[3] https://www.reuters.com/article/climate-change-children/one-in-five-uk-children-report-nightmares-about-climate-change-idUSL1N2AV1FF

[4] https://www.jw.org/en/library/books/Revelation-Its-Grand-Climax-At-Hand/Jehovahs-Plagues-on-Christendom/

[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_religious_populations#Notes

[6] The Swindoll Study Bible NLT. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Kindle Edition.

[7] Morgan, Robert J., The 50 Final Events in World History (Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition), p. 59.

Today, we come to one of the most misunderstood chapters in the Book of Revelation. It is the passage that deals with the mysterious 144,000.  It is a passage that has been badly misinterpreted by the cults.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses used this passage to teach that only 144,000 special people will go to heaven.  They believe that the rest will live on earth but only 144,000 will go to heaven.

There is only one problem with this view.   In Revelation 7, John sees 144,000 people ON EARTH and these people sealed are all JEWISH.  These were 144,000 Jewish Witnesses, not Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Jehovah’s Witnesses are NOT the 144,000.  The 144,000 are the servants of God (Revelation 7:3).  They claim to be the only group with the truth, but they are a cult.  They do not serve God.  They do not even believe His Word.  They don’t believe the Bible.

They do not believe in basic Bible doctrines.  They are not Christians.  They may be great people.  They may make great neighbors, but they are not Christians.

They do not believe in the Deity of Christ.  They don’t believe in the Trinity.  They do not believe in the bodily resurrection of Christ.  They don’t believe in salvation by grace.

They don’t believe in Hell.  They don’t believe in a literal Second Coming.  Jehovah’s Witnesses are not the only ones to misinterpret this passage.  Many Christians misunderstand it as well.

Many have said that, in the Tribulation, there will be 144,000 Billy Grahams.  There will be 144,000 Jewish evangelists.  Have you ever heard that before?  It sounds great.  There is just one problem.

There is nothing in the text that says that the 144,000 will be evangelists.  They are NOT called evangelists.  They are NOT called preachers. They are NOT sealed for ministry.  They are NOT sealed for service but for protection.  They have a safety seal put on them.

Many have called this chapter, “the coming world revival.”  It has been called “the world’s greatest revival meeting.”  It is pictured as the greatest revival in history.  It is said to be a revival greater than any Billy Graham crusade.

That is a bit of a stretch.  The 144,000 do NOT get saved.  They do NOT get sanctified.  They just get SEALED, which is completely different.  It is NOT a sealing of salvation.  It is a sealing of protection.

What is in the chapter?  There is supernatural deliverance in this chapter.  It is angelic deliverance.  There is a heavenly worship service with angels falling down on their faces and worshipping God.  There is a celebration in heaven.

There is an incredible picture of heaven in this chapter.  If you want to know what heaven will be like, look at this chapter.  Some believe that this chapter describes the rapture of the church.  We will see if that is correct. We can only scratch the surface of this chapter today.

To understand Revelation 7, you have to go back to Revelation 5.  In Revelation 5, John sees a mysterious book in the Father’s hand that is sealed and no one in the universe can open.  That is no one, but Jesus.  Jesus can open it because He redeemed sinners by his sacrificial death.

He took the book from the hand of the Father and began to open the seals.  Jesus opened six of the seals in Revelation 6 and then He stopped.  There are seven seals in the book but only six are opened.  Why?

When each seal is opened, it is all bad news.  It is doom and gloom, plagues, sickness, famine and death.  Believers are being slaughtered and all kinds of natural disasters are taking place.  It is a dreadful scene of God’s wrath falling on people without any way to escape.

The chapter ends with a question, a great question.  Who can withstand the wrath of God?  Who can survive it?  We get the answer in Revelation 7.  We see two groups of people who CAN withstand it.

We will see two survivors of the wrath of God.  There is a group in heaven and a group on earth.  John sees two incredible visions in this chapter.  He sees one in Revelation 7:1-8 and one in Revelation 7:9-17.

John sees a vision of the saints sealed on earth and he sees a vision of saints celebrating in heaven.  John has a vision of the saints protected on earth and singing in heaven.  We are going to look at these two visions.

Revelation 6 was all bad news.  Revelation 7 gives us some good news.  He gives us good news for believers.  He gives us good news for God’s people. In Revelation 7, we see grace in the midst of horrific judgment.

All through the Bible we see grace in the midst of judgment.  Adam and Eve sin against God.  God judges them and kicks them out of the garden but before He does, an animal is sacrificed on their behalf, and they are given clothes to wear.

Cain commits the crime on the planet.  He commits the first murder.  He murders his brother.  God did not sentence him to death.  He just exiled him.  In fact, he protected him from death.  He deserved to die but Cain received mercy in the midst of judgment.

Before the Flood, the world was extremely wicked.  It was full of violence, sexual deviance and demonic activity.  It was so bad that Genesis says that the whole earth was corrupt but there was one man who received grace, even in this wicked world, and his name was Noah.

Even in the Tribulation Period, a period of suffering and persecution, a time of wrath, as God’s judgments are poured out on the earth, we see evidence of incredible grace on earth.

In heaven, John sees more people there than he could have dreamed.  He sees people in heaven from all over the world.  He sees more people than he could count, and they were all celebrating. Let’s look at the first vision.

The First Vision

7 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: 3 “Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” 4 Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.

5 From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben 12,000, from the tribe of Gad 12,000, 6 from the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,

7 from the tribe of Simeon 12,000, from the tribe of Levi 12,000, from the tribe of Issachar 12,000, 8 from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000, from the tribe of Joseph 12,000, from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000. (Revelation 7:1-8 NIV)

What is this mysterious group?  Why are they sealed?  What does it mean for us today?  What message does this have for today?

We come to a very controversial topic.  You are going to hear some things today that you have not heard before.  We will not all agree.  We do not have to.  This is not a major doctrine of the faith.  We can have different views.

It begins with four special angels.  We saw four horsemen in the last chapter.  Angels are used in judgment.  Four angels were sent to dispense judgment on earth.

Before they do it, another angel tells them  in a loud voice not to judge the earth until something takes place.  The 144,000 have to be sealed first with he seal of the living God.  The million-dollar question is, who are the 144,000?  There are two different views.

Identity of the 144,000

They are described as ethnic Jews.  If that is the case, these would be 144,000 Messianic Jews.  That is the plain meaning of the text.  It takes the Bible literally.

If you take the Bible literally, this refers 144,000 literal Jews. “One hundred and forty-four thousand from all the tribes of Israel” means national ethnic Israel.

One reason for this view is that it is very specific.  A specific AMOUNT of people (144,000) from a specific COUNTRY (Israel) were sealed.  Specific TRIBES (12) from that country were sealed and a specific NUMBER from each one of those tribes (12,000) were sealed.  If this is not literal, why is it so specific?

Furthermore, believers in the NT are not called Israelites.  They are not called “sons of Israel.”  They are called “sons of Abraham” by faith but not sons of Israel.

Nowhere are Gentile Christians said to be from any Jewish tribe.  The tribes of Israel refer to ethnic Israel in the NT but there is another view of the 144,000.  Many believe this is not literal.

We all believe in interpreting the Bible literally, but the book of Revelation is symbolic.  It is apocalyptic.  In any other book, this would be literal but not necessarily in the Book of Revelation.  What is some of the evidence it may not be literal?

First, Revelation 7 cannot refer to the literal twelve tribes, because all of the tribes are not even mentioned.  The Tribe of Dan is NOT mentioned at all.  One of the Tribes of Israel was never sealed.

Commentators speculate why Dan was not mentioned (e.g., idolatry) but that misses the point.  All of the Twelve Tribes were not listed.  One of the Tribes of Israel was never sealed.  This cannot be a sealing of twelve of ALL of the tribes of Israel if one tribe is missing.

Second, the sealing is figurative.  It is an invisible mark on the forehead.  People could not see it, but the angels could.  We are sealed with the Holy Spirit and that sealing is invisible.  If the sealing is symbolic, why couldn’t the tribes or number 144,000 be symbolic.

If this is literal, it causes a big problem.  Angels go around and seal the servants of God on their foreheads, but they only seal the JEWISH servants, and we know from Revelation 14 that they only seal men.[1] That is strange.

Why wouldn’t any female believers be sealed?  Why wouldn’t they be protected from the Tribulation plagues?  Don’t women need to be protected as well?  Why would God protect only men?

Why would these angels not seal the Gentile servants as well?  The sealing protects them from the judgment of God.  Why would God send divine judgment on Gentile believers but not on Jewish believers?  Why would one group get special treatment?

If you take this literally, you have a theological problem.  You have God’s wrath falling on some believers in the Tribulation period.  The Bible clearly says that believers cannot experience God’s wrath (cf. I Thessalonians 5:9; Romans 5:9).  Only unbelievers can experience the wrath of God

A strong case can be made that the 144,000 is symbolic.  It represents the complete number of the saints. The number itself is symbolic of completeness (twelve squared times ten cubed)

There is symbolism in the way the tribes are listed. The first one on the list is Judah (Revelation 7:5).  No list of the tribes of Israel had Judah first.  Judah was not the firstborn.  Reuben was and yet Judah was mentioned first.  Why?  Jesus is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.

The 144,000 may refer to all of the people of God (Jew and Gentile).  It could not refer to the redeemed of all of time but to believers who came out of the Great Tribulation.  What is the evidence they refer to all believers?

They are called “the servants of God” (Revelation 7:3).  That term is not limited to Jewish believers.

They are described as redeemed (Revelation 14:3-4).  That also is not limited to Jewish believers.

They sang the song of the redeemed.  It is a salvation song.  If this refers to literal Jews, they would not be the only ones to sing this song.  Gentile believers who were saved would be able to sing it as well.

The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. 3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. (Revelation 14:2-3 NIV)

This does not necessarily mean that God is through with Israel but it does mean that OT language regarding Israel is applied to the new people of God. There are many similarities between Israel in the church in Revelation.

Both were SLAVES.  The Hebrews were slaves in Egypt for hundreds of years.  They were physical slaves.  We were spiritual slaves.

Both were REDEEMED.  God redeemed the Jews out of Egypt with an outstretched arm.  Jesus “freed us from our sins by his blood” (Revelation 1:5).  He “purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9 NIV)

Both were PRIESTS.  The nation of Israel was described as “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:5 NIV).  Jesus “made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father.” (Revelation 1:5 NIV)

The Second Vision

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying:

“Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”

13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?” 14 I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “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. (Revelation 7:9-14 NIV)

Identity of the Great Multitude

After seeing a group of believers on earth, John sees a group of believers in heaven.  Some believe that these are two different groups.

They look like two different groups of people.  One is in heaven, and one is on earth.  One is Jewish and one is not.  One can be counted, and the other group cannot.  It is innumerable.

Others believe that this is the same group of people.  We have already seen this before in the book.  John hears something and then he sees something.  They seem different but they are the same thing.

In Revelation 5, John HEARD about a lion (the lion of the tribe of Judah) but he turned and SAW a lamb.  Lions and lambs are different animals.  They are opposite animals, but they refer to the same person.

In Revelation 7, John HEARD the number that was sealed on earth (Revelation 7:4-8) but he SAW an innumerable multitude in heaven (Revelation 7:9).

Who were the innumerable multitude?  John didn’t know who they were.  He had to be told by one of the elders.  He was told, “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.” (Revelation 7:14 NIV)

They did not just come from a background of great suffering.  They came out of THE great tribulation. The Greek has the definite article.

The chapter ends with a picture of heaven.  Two things immediately stand out.

One, there will be a lot of people in heaven.

There will be more than you can count. After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count (Revelation 7:9 NIV).  Some of those people we will recognize.  Friends, family members or ancestors will be there.  We are going to be shocked at how many people are there.

Two, there will be a lot of different kinds of people there.  They will be “from every nation, tribe, people and language” (Revelation 7:9 NIV).

Heaven will not just be full of Jews.  It will be full of people from every country, every skin color, every race, every nation, every language, and every ethnicity.

There will be people there from every denomination.  There will be Baptists and Methodists there.  There will be Armenians and Calvinists there.  There will be people there who spoke in tongues and some who never spoke in tongues.

Five Pictures of God’s People

1) God’s people protected

We see this at the beginning of the chapter.  The 144,000 are sealed, which is another way of saying that they are protected.  There are terrible things in the world that they were going to be protected from.

This is not to say that they were invincible or indestructible.  They could still be martyred but that seal kept them from experiencing the plagues that were going to fall on the earth.  It kept them from experiencing God’s wrath.

What is the lesson?  They did not have to be afraid of the Tribulation plagues since God would protect them.  We should not be afraid of all of the bad things happening in the world either.  God’s people have divine protection.  Remember what Satan said to God about Job.

“Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. (Job 1:10 NIV).

God’s people were protected in the OT.  They are protected now and will be protected in the Tribulation Period.

2) God’s people cleansed

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. (Revelation 7:14 NIV)

Believers are people who are cleansed from their sins.  We are not sinless.  If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9-9 NIV)

No matter how bad the sins are, we can be cleansed.  Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. (Isaiah 1:18 NIV).

We have seen a paradox in Revelation already.  We have seen Jesus as the lion and the lamb.  Now we see people taking dirty robes and washing them in blood to get clean.  They wash them in the blood of Jesus.  Blood does not make anything white.  Blood normally stains clothes.  This blood makes things white.

At the end of the chapter, we see another paradox.  The Lamb is our Shepherd (Revelation 7:17).  That is strange.  Normally a lamb needs a shepherd, but this lamb is the shepherd.  Jesus is the Good Shepherd.  The Lord will continue to be our Shepherd in heaven.

3) God’s people worshipping

What are believers doing in heaven?  They are serving God.  They are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple (Revelation 7:15 NIV).  They are worshipping God day and not, not once a week and they were loud.

And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” 11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” (Revelation 7:10-12 NIV)

Believers are worshipping in heaven and praising God for salvation.  The angels praise God for other things (glory, wisdom, thanks, honor, power and strength) but not salvation.  The angels were never lost and never got saved.  If we are saved, we should be praising God right now for what He has done.

4) God’s people rewarded

One day, God’s people will be rewarded and vindicated.  We may not be rewarded on earth, but we will be rewarded in heaven.  We have a picture of the afterlife in Revelation 7.

John sees a great multitude of them.  They are wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.  One of the promises to the Church of Sardis was that the one who overcomes will be dressed in white (Revelation 3:5).

These were people who went through great suffering on earth.  They went through the Great Tribulation, not just tribulation but the Great Tribulation.  Many were martyred. In heaven, they will be rewarded.  God promises to reward us as well.

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. (Hebrews 6:10 NIV)

And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward. (Matthew 10:42 NIV)

“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. (Revelation 22:12 NIV)

5) God’s people comforted

Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’ (Revelation 7:16-17 NIV)

Heaven will be a place without any suffering.  Believers will not suffer in any way.  They will not suffer externally (too hot or too cold).  They will not suffer internally either (with hunger or thirst).

There will not be any environmental problems in heaven (no tornadoes or hurricanes).  There won’t be any starvation in heaven.  People will not go around hungry.

They will have no unsatisfied desire.  They will not want anything.  Every need will be met.  We will have a Shepherd in heaven who will take care of that.  The Lamb will feed them.

We are also told that “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes”. This promise is later repeated for all the redeemed (Revelation 21:4), not just for Tribulation saints.

People in heaven will not be sad.  They will not be depressed.  They will not cry in heaven.  There will not be any tears in heaven.  Imagine what that would be like to live in a world without any tears and without any sorrow.

[1]The word “virgins” in Revelation 14:4 is masculine in Greek.  We are told that these 144,000 male virgins “have not defiled themselves with women”

[2] Renald Showers points this out in https://jashow.org/articles/who-are-the-great-multitude-that-john-saw-in-revelation-7-between-the-sixth-and-seventh-seal/

For many people, the Book of Revelation is one of the scariest books of the Bible.  If Revelation is one of the scariest books of the Bible, then Revelation 6 is one of the scariest chapters in the Bible.  It is scary at the beginning of the chapter and scary at the end of the chapter.

In Revelation 6, Jesus opens the seven-sealed scroll. As He opened the seals, John saw the famous four horsemen.  He had a vision of four horses.  It is one of the most famous images in Revelation.

As Jesus opens the seals, four horsemen are unleashed on the earth.  They bring hell on the earth.  They bring doom, devastation, and destruction.  They bring war, disease, famine, poverty and death on the planet.

The chapter ends with people scared to death.  They are so terrified of the judgment of God that they want to kill themselves.  They would rather die by a bunch of rocks falling on them than to face the judgment of God.

We have a big topic for today.  Revelation 6 begins the main part of the book. We are done with the introduction to the book.  We are done looking at the seven churches and the cosmic throne room.  We begin the prophetic part of the book.

As we enter this section of the book, we have to give a warning.  This part of the book of Revelation is a little more difficult.  It is controversial.

Not everyone agrees on how to interpret it.  Baptists read Revelation 6 very differently than Presbyterian do.

This chapter raises all kinds of questions.  Who are the riders of the Four Horsemen?  Where does this chapter fit on a prophecy timeline?  Are we in the Tribulation Period?  Have the Four Horsemen already appeared?

Did they appear in the past?  Will they appear in the future?  Who is the rider on the white horse?  Is the rider Jesus or someone else?

We are going to deal with some deep topics today.  I want you to think about this chapter in ways you never have before.

In many churches, you only hear one viewpoint and everyone in that circle says the same thing. Once you step outside the church and go to another church or talk to some other Christians, you hear something very different.

I will share with you my understanding of Revelation, but I am also going to mention some views of Christians who hold different view than I do.  That way, you can make up your own mind.

We are going to start by looking at some things that are clear about the Four Horsemen.  Then, we will look at some things that are debatable.  They are controversial.

Today, we will look at the six seals and then we want to look at some applications.  There are some powerful applications from this chapter.  What does this chapter say to us today?

Let’s begin with the mysterious Four Horsemen.  There is a famous painting of the the Four Horsemen by a Russian artist in the 1800s.  It was done by Viktor Vasnetsov in 1887.

What do we know about these mysterious horsemen?   Here are four truths from the text that all Christians can accept.  There is no doubt about them.

Four Horsemen Truths

1) The Four Horsemen are demonic spirits.

It is clear from the text that these are Satanic horsemen.  The one riding each of the four horses was a demon.

There is an old movie called Pale Rider (1985).  It is a good Western.  It is one of Clint Eastwood’s classic movies but the one who rode the Pale Horse was not Clint Eastwood.  It was a demon.

These horsemen were “given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other” (Revelation 6:4 NIV).  Angels do not make people kill other people.  God does not incite people to hate and murder people.  Demons do that.

Read the Book of I John.  Love comes from God.  Hatred comes from Satan.  These four horsemen are demons.  They do not cause peace.  They cause misery and destruction.  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy (John 10:10 NIV).

2) The Four Horsemen cause suffering on earth

These four horsemen, these demonic spirits, cause sickness, disease, poverty, warfare and death.  They all go together.

Military conquest leads to war. War leads to Death.  War also leads to food shortages which lead to poverty. These four are related.

Each of these riders has a different mission.  Their mission is symbolized by their color.

WHITE was the symbol of conquest in the ancient world.  It is the color of victory.  RED is the color of blood.  It is the symbol of war.  BLACK is the symbol of starvation and famine.  PALE GREEN is the symbol of death.

3) The Four Horsemen are divinely commissioned

All four horsemen get an invitation to do their work. They told them to COME (Revelation 6:1, 3, 5, 7).  They were given an invitation in a LOUD voice.  They were given an invitation in a voice LIKE THUNDER (Revelation 6:1).  They do not ride at their own command.  They are invited to ride.

How could Jesus send demonic spirits into the world?  How could they be invited to do a task for God?  How could Jesus have any connection to demons?  Where in the Bible does God use evil to accomplish His purposes?  What are some examples?

God sent an evil spirit to torment Saul.  Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him. (I Samuel 16:14 NIV)

The wicked Assyrians captured Israel and took the ten tribes into captivity in 721 BC.  God called them the rod of His anger and the club of His wrath (Isaiah 10:5 NIV).  In fact, he said that He raised them up (cf. Habakkuk 1:5-11).

The wicked idolatrous Babylonians captured the southern kingdom of Judah, destroyed the Temple that Solomon built and took them into captivity in 586 BC.  God called pagan Babylon His servant (Jeremiah 25:8-9)

Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery.  God used that to get him into Egypt.  Potiphar’s wife falsely accused him of a sex crime and put him in prison.  God used that to give him access to Pharaoh.  They meant evil.  God meant it for good (Genesis 50:20).

Judas betrayed Jesus and the Romans crucified Jesus.  That was the greatest betrayal and greatest miscarriage of justice in history.  God used the greatest crime in history that to accomplish the salvation of the world.

4) The Four Horsemen are instruments of judgment

The judgments in Revelation 6 are called the day of God’s wrath.  God’s wrath is unleashed on the planet in this chapter.  It is poured out on a sinful and rebellious world.

Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of THEIR WRATH has come, and who can withstand it? (Revelation 6:15-17 NIV)

These disasters are not accidents.  They are not providential.  They are not things that occur by chance. These are acts of judgment on a wicked world.  God uses different means to judge people.

For thus says the Lord God: How much more when I send upon Jerusalem my four disastrous acts of judgment, sword, famine, wild beasts, and pestilence, to cut off from man and beast! (Ezekiel 14:21 ESV).

Four Horsemen Controversy

Not everything about these horsemen is clear.  There is a big controversy about these horsemen. There is a big debate about them.

1. Are the Four Horsemen riding today?

Is this chapter a picture of history or is it a picture of prophecy?  Instead of giving you the answer, I want to give you two views.  I want to give you both sides.  You can make up your own mind which position sounds stronger.

2. Who is the rider of the White Horse?

I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!” 2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest. (Revelation 6:1-2 NIV)

There is a big debate about that. The first seal involves conquest.  The rider of the horse is a conqueror.  Who is the rider?  Some Christians believe that this is the spread of the gospel throughout the earth with people getting saved.

They say that this is the white horse of the gospel. Many Christians believe that the rider is Jesus.  He rides a white horse.  Good guys wear white.  He is crowned.  He conquers.

That view is almost certainly wrong.  The first rider is known by his company.  The other three seals represent bad things. If the last three seals are evil, the first is not good.

It does not fit.  Jesus’ return is not followed by famine and pestilence. His coming will not be associated with hunger and disease. Jesus will come back on a white horse but not until Revelation 19.

In this passage, Jesus is the lamb, not the horse.  The Lamb is opening the seals.  All of the best scholars on Revelation agree that this is not Jesus.  It can’t be Jesus.  Who is the rider?

There are two possibilities.   The rider on this horse may be the ANTICHRIST (future end-time ruler).  The Antichrist will be a Counterfeit Christ.  He will be an Imitation Christ.  He will be Satan’s demonic messiah.

We know from the Book of Revelation that the Antichrist will be crowned (Revelation 13:1).  A crown represents power or authority.  This individual will be a politician.

This individual is coming to conquer.  We know from the Book of Revelation that the Antichrist will conquer people (Revelation 11:7; 3:7).  This individual will receive worldwide dominion (Revelation 11:7-8)

He will also be a military leader but not at first.  He will be deceptive.  Most politicians are.  He begins peacefully.  He conquers with a bloodless victory.  He will use diplomacy. He will be an instrument of world peace.

If he is conquering militarily, it would be a red horse, not a white horse. The world is looking for a man on a white horse today bringing peace.  He will come as a peacemaker, but it will be a false peace.  If that is the case, do not trust everyone who rides a white horse.

The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. (I Thessalonians 5:2-3 NIV)

The rider on the first horse may represent FALSE RELIGION.  It may represent RELIGIOUS DECEPTION.  That also fits Matthew 24.  It describes people being deceived and making false claims.  That is happening today.  It fits the context of Revelation 6.  The other three seals are general (war, death, poverty).

Revelation 6 parallels Matthew 24.  Jesus was asked, What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

He answered, “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. (Matthew 24:4-5 NIV).

The very first sign of the end of the age in Matthew 24 is false religion.  Jesus said, not one or two, but MANY will claim to be the Christ and will deceive many.  Most of them are in California but there might be some in our area.

The Second Seal

When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 4 Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword (Revelation 6:3-4 NIV)

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. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. (Matthew 24:6-7 NIV)

The second seal shatters the false peace.  This horse is violent.  It is red the color of blood.  It leads to war, genocide and ethnic conflicts.  People are slaughtered and massacred.  The conflicts are international and global.

The Third Seal

When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. 6 Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “Two pounds of wheat for a day’s wages, and six pounds of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine! (Revelation 6:5-6 NIV)

The third seal is poverty.  Barley and wheat costs more than it used to, and you can’t buy as much.  There is inflation and food shortages, but you can still buy luxury items, like oil and wine.

We had a supply chain crisis with COVID.  There was a shortage of toilet paper but there was plenty of wine on the shelves.  There was a shortage of the things we needed and an abundance of the things we don’t need

The Fourth Seal

When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” 8 I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth (Revelation 6:7-8 NIV)

The Fourth Seal is death.  It is the color of death.  It is the color of a corpse.  It is yellowish green like a decomposing body.  Hades followed after it.  Why?  After death is the afterlife.  This horse can only kill twenty-five percent of the planet.

If this seal were opened today, that would involve the death of two billion people.  There are about eight billion people on the planet.  Twenty-five percent of 8,000,000,000 is 2,000,000,000 but they did not all die the same way.  If there are eight people in your family, two will die.

There are four different methods of death mentioned in the text: death from warfare (sword), death by starvation (famine), death from disease (pestilence) and death by animal attacks.  There are some wild animals that are deadly.  Which is the worse way to die?

The Fifth Seal

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” 11 Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been. (Revelation 6:9-11 NIV)

The Fifth Seal deals with martyred believers.  It deals with Tribulation Saints who were killed.  We will find out in Revelation 13 and 17 who killed them.

They are dead.  Notice what they are doing. They are speaking. They are conscious. It refutes the idea of soul sleep. Many people believe that when you die your soul sleeps.

That is not what the Bible teaches. When you die, the only thing that sleeps is your body. Your soul is alive and conscious. We see that in Luke 16. The unsaved rich man is dead, but he is conscious and talking to God.

These believers in heaven are dead but John can see them and hear them.  They are wearing white robes.  They are under the altar.  They offered themselves up as a sacrifice to the Lord.

What did they do?  They cried out to God in a loud voice.  There are a lot of loud voices in heaven.  It is not a quiet place.  They cried, “How long until you avenge our blood?”  That raises an interesting question.  Is that a Christian prayer?  They are not praying, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do”.

This is not so much a prayer for vengeance as for justice.  That is a biblical prayer.  Justice is part of God’s character.  These saints are not taking the law into their own hands.  God says that vengeance is His.  Their blood cried out to God like the blood of Abel cried out to God.

The Sixth Seal

I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. 14 The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.

15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?” (Revelation 6:12-17 NIV)

Now, we come to the longest of the seven seals.  This seal affects ALL CREATION (earth, sun, moon, stars, heavens, clouds, mountains) and it is not just a natural catastrophe.

It is divine judgment.  It is the wrath of the one sitting on the throne and the wrath of the lamb.  No angels are mentioned in this seal.

Many believe these seals describe the end of the world.  Some think they describes the Second Coming, but it doesn’t.

Jesus does not come back until Revelation 19.  There are thirteen more chapters which must take place on earth before Jesus returns.  What does this chapter say to us today?  How does it apply to us today?

Applications for Today

1) God is sovereign over evil

These four evil horsemen operate under the sovereignty of God.  God is sovereign over evil.  These horsemen can only work after Jesus breaks the seals.  They cannot do anything without the permission of Jesus.

These judgments are all initiated by Jesus.  He causes the seals to occur.  These seals are not sent by Satan.  Satan does not open the seals.  Jesus does.  They only had power to do their work because they were given that power from heaven.

I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he WAS GIVEN a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest. (Revelation 6:2 NIV)

Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider WAS GIVEN power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. To him WAS GIVEN a large sword. (Revelation 6:4 NIV)

When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” 8 I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They WERE GIVEN power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth. (Revelation 6:7-8 NIV)

We learn from this chapter that evil is ALLOWED by God.  We learn that evil in this world is LIMITED by God. There is a limit to what the horsemen can do. The fourth horseman is given power to kill a fourth of the earth, not two-fourths or three-fourths of the earth.

If the four horsemen operate under the sovereignty of God, then bad things that happen in our life also operate under the sovereignty of God.  If Jesus is in control of the Four Horsemen, then He is in control of our life as well.  Bad things that happen are under God’s control.

2) Sinners are accountable to God

The seals are divine judgment for sin.  We live on an extremely wicked planet.  People are in rebellion to God.  They reject His authority over their lives.  They reject His Word.  They reject His offer of salvation.

We think we can do what we want and not be held accountable.  We are the master of our own destiny but all of us will be held accountable to God.  One day, judgment will fall.  It will fall on earth.  People will not have to die to face it.

When it falls, it falls on everyone who is lost.  Seven categories of people are mentioned (Here we see seven categories of men (kings, great men, rich men, commanders, mighty men, slaves, every free man).  Being rich will not protect you.  Being famous will not save you.  Being poor will not help you either.

3) God’s wrath is terrifying to face

The Bible says that “it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31 ESV).  There’s nowhere to run.  There’s nowhere to hide.  This Seal Judgment is so terrifying that people want to kill themselves.

They want the rocks and mountains to fall on them (Revelation 6:16).  The preacher Hershel Ford (1900-1976) once called this “the world’s greatest prayer meeting.”[2] They do not prayer to God.  They pray to dead rocks and dumb mountains.  Rather than running to God, they try to hide from Him.

This seal has not been fulfilled yet.  This was not fulfilled in 70 AD.  It was not fulfilled in the past.  It is not being fulfilled right now.

4) There is a way to escape God’s wrath

The chapter ends with a question.  It is a penetrating question.  It is a solemn question.  It is a life-altering question.  For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?” (Revelation 6:17).

How can anyone survive this judgment?  How can they face it?  Where will you be when God judges sin?  Do you have a Savior from sin?  There is a group of people who will stand and can stand when this judgment falls.  We read about them in the next chapter.

If we are saved, we do not have to fear the wrath of God. Jesus is the one who “rescues us from the coming wrath” (I Thessalonians 1:10). It says that if we are saved “shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Christ” (Romans 5:9). The Bible teaches that the saved “are NOT appointed to wrath” (I Thessalonians 5:9).

[1] https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=111818939420

[2] Cited by S. Lewis Johnson (https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/sljinstitute-production/new_testament/Revelation/15_SLJ_Revelation.pdf)

Today, we come to an amazing chapter in Revelation.  It is one of the great chapters in the Bible.  This chapter is the foundation for the the Book of Revelation.  The rest of the book of Revelation is built on what happens in this chapter.

In this chapter, Jesus takes the scroll.  Then, he opens it and once he opens it, judgments fall on the earth and after the judgments take place, Jesus returns.  This chapter is important for three reasons.

One, this chapter is important because it contains one of the great mysteries of the Book of Revelation.

The Book of Revelation contains many mysteries.  That is why so many people like to study it. Everyone wants to find out what they mean.  They want to know what the Mark of the Beast means.  What is the meaning of the number 666?

The latest foolishness is that the Mark of the Beast is the COVID vaccine and if you take the COVID vaccine for medical reasons that you have somehow taken the Mark of the Beast.  If you want to learn more about the Mark of the Beast, you need to come back in a few months when we study Revelation 13.

In Revelation 5, we have a mystery.  There is this cosmic throne scene and the one sitting on the throne has a book in His hand.  Seven times in the chapter it mentions this mysterious book.  What was in the book?  We will find out.

Two, this chapter is important because it is all about Jesus.  Revelation 4 was all about the Father receiving worship.  This chapter is all about the Son receiving worship.

In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,

to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (Revelation 5:12 NIV).

Revelation 5 is proof that Jesus is God, because He is worshiped.  In Revelation 5, Jesus is worshipped, not by one or two people but by every creature in heaven and earth.

If Jesus was just a creature, this would be idolatry. When John tries to worship an angel, they say, “Don’t worship me.  Worship God.”  When Jesus is worshipped in heaven, He doesn’t say, “Don’t worship me.  Worship God instead.”

We get some new titles of Jesus in this chapter. So far in Revelation, Jesus has been called the Son of God and Son of Man.  He is called the faithful and true witness (Revelation 3:14), the beginning of the creation of God (Revelation 3:14).

He is called the First and the Last (Revelation 1:17).  He is called the firstborn from the dead (Revelation 1:5).  He is called the ruler of the kings of the earth (Revelation 1:5).

In this chapter, Jesus is given three new titles and they are all Jewish.  Jesus is called the lion of the tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5).  He is called the root of David (Revelation 5:5) and He is called the Lamb (Revelation 5:6).

The lion of the tribe of Judah goes back to Genesis.  The root of David goes back to Isaiah.  Jesus being our lamb goes back to the Book of Exodus.  Jesus is our Passover Lamb (I Corinthians 5:7).  He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).

Three, this chapter is important because it contains some of the greatest paradoxes in the Bible.  There are many paradoxes in the Bible.  A paradox is two contradictory statements that may be true.  It contains two things that seem to be contradictory but are not.

If I get closer to a fire, I get hot and yet if I climb on top of a mountain, I am closer to the Sun, and yet I am cold.  That is a paradox.  In the Bible, there are some paradoxes as well

The way to become first is to become last.  But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. (Matthew 19:30 NIV).

The way to get is to give.  Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you (Luke 8:38 NIV)

The way to become great is to serve.  Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave (Matthew 20:26-27 NIV).

The way to become strong is to become weak. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” For when I am weak, then I am strong (II Corinthians 12:9, 10 NIV).

There are some amazing paradoxes in this chapter as well.  Jesus is called the root of David (Revelation 5:5).  The root comes before a planet.  Jesus is both the root and descendant of David.  He is both.

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David (Revelation 22:16 NIV).  Jesus came from David, but David came from Jesus.

We will see more incredible paradoxes as we go through this chapter.  Revelation four and five go together.  They begin the second part of the Book of Revelation.

The first part of the book deals with present events.  Revelation 1-3 deals with the present.  In Revelation 4, Jesus invites John up to heaven to see the future.  John is given a vision of the future.

The Gospels give us an eyewitness account of past events.  John gets to be an eyewitness to future events and writes them down but before he gets a vision of the future, he gets a vision of God.

John has an out-of-body experience.  His body stays on earth, but his spirit goes to heaven, and he is taken right into the throne room of God.  The word “throne” is one of the key words in Revelation 4.  It is used twelve times in the chapter.

John not only sees God on a throne, he sees some ugly looking angelic being with eyes all over their bodies and strange heads.  He sees twenty-four elders.  He does not see Jesus, but he does see a worship service taking place.

Mystery of the Scroll

Revelation is the same scene.  God is still on the throne but there is a pause in the worship.  John sees a book (βιβλίον) in God’s hand.  That is good news for booklovers.

There will be books in heaven but don’t worry.  There won’t be any trashy novels in heaven.  When we hear of a book, we think of hardback or a paperback.

They did not have any books like that in John’s day.  Their books were all scrolls.  John knew all about scrolls.  He had written some.  He wrote the Gospel of John on a scroll.  When you unrolled it, it was over twenty-three feet long.

Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. (Revelation 5:1 NIV)

This was a heavenly book.  It was a long book.  It had a lot of writing in it on both sides.  You normally did not write on both sides of a papyrus. It was also sealed, not with one seal but with seven seals.

Important documents in John’s day, like wills, were sealed with wax.  This was a long book.  It was an important book.  It was a mysterious book.  It was secret.  No one can read it.  It was a sealed book.

What is the scroll?  Many believe this book is the title deed to the universe.  A deed is a piece of paper that gives you ownership to something (like a house).  The idea is that this scroll gave Jesus ownership to the because he bought it.  That is a very common view.

It seems to make sense on one level.  Satan is the god of this world.  He is in control of this world.  That is why so many bad things happen every day and Jesus is redeeming the world back.  He is taking control and it all starts with Jesus getting the title deed to planet earth.

It is true that one day the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of Christ (Revelation 11:15) but Jesus doesn’t need a piece of paper or a scroll to become the owner of the earth.  He already owns it.  He created it and He does not take the title deed away from Satan.  He takes it from God the Father.

It is better to see this as a book of destiny, a book of decrees or a book of judgment.  This was a judgment scroll.  It contains the judgments of God on earth.  How do we know?

When the seals are opened by Jesus in Revelation 6 one at a time, terrible judgment falls on the earth.  Each seal brings another judgment on the earth, but this scroll contains more than just Revelation 6.  Remember, this is a big book with a lot of words in it.

Many people believe that there are three separate series of judgments in the Book of Revelation.  After the seven seals come the seven trumpets.  After the seven trumpets come the seven bowls.

In reality, the seven trumpets are part of the seventh seal and the seven bowl judgments are part of the seventh trumpet judgment. What does this mean?  It means that they are all part of the seal judgments.  That means when the last seal judgment takes place, all of these judgments are over.

To understand what this book is, you have to go back to the Book of Ezekiel.  Sometimes, you might want to read Ezekiel 1-2.  Ezekiel and John had a lot in common.

Both wrote Scripture.  Both were captives.  John was on the Island of Patmos for his faith.  Ezekiel was sent to Babylon.  He was in exile in a pagan land.

Both had an amazing vision.  Both saw the heavens opened.  Both had a vision of God sitting on His throne.  Both saw brilliant light surrounding the throne and a rainbow.  Both saw angels.

Both saw the four living creatures.  Both saw the lion, ox, eagle and man heads.  Both also saw a scroll.  Both scrolls were written on both sides.  Ezekiel’s scroll was not sealed but notice what was in the scroll.

Then I looked, and I saw a hand stretched out to me. In it was a scroll, 10 which he unrolled before me. On BOTH SIDES of it were written words of LAMENT and MOURNIING and WOE. (Ezekiel 2:9-11 NIV).

Some believe that this scroll in Revelation is broader than just judgment.  Some believe that it contains God’s plan for establishing His kingdom on earth.  It is God’s plan for bringing salvation and judgment to earth.[1]  That is a good possibility.

Angelic Proclamation

And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. (Revelation 5:2-3 NIV)

The next scene in the chapter is a proclamation by an angel.  And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” (Revelation 5:2 NIV)

I don’t know if there are any weak angels but this was a strong angel.  It was not a Pee Wee Herman Angel.  It gave a challenge to anyone in the universe who was able to take the book and break the seals.  Who was the right person for the job?  That was the question.

The angel did not ask, Who is WILLING to open the book?  Many might be willing to do it.  He did not ask who is STRONG ENOUGH to open it? It did not take much strength to remove the seals. He asks who is WORTHY to open it?

John’s Search

John went on a search looking for the person who could open this scroll.  He searched in heaven.  He searched on earth and under the earth.

It reminds me a little of Dante’s book, The Divine Comedy.  It is a three-volume book.  In that book, a guide takes Dante to heaven, hell and purgatory.

Here John goes to heaven, earth and under the earth.  We all know what heaven and earth refer to but what is under the earth?  This is most likely a reference to Sheol or Hades (the underworld).

These are the three parts to biblical cosmology (heaven, earth and hades).  I guess there is no life on other planets.  Every knee is one day going to bow to Jesus.  Every knee in heaven.  Every knee on earth and every knee under the earth will all bow to Jesus (Philippians 2:10).

John went on a hunt to find who was worthy to do this.  What he found was that no one was worthy.  That is a little shocking.

No one on earth could open it.  No celebrity could open it.  No movie star could do it.  No politician could one it.  No philosopher could open it.  Aristotle and Plato couldn’t open it.  No scientist could open it.  Einstein couldn’t do it.

No Christian could open it either.  The godliest saint could not open it.  Mother Theresa couldn’t open it.  The greatest apostle could not open it.  No apostle, no pastor or missionary could open it.  No martyr could open it.  Joan of Arc couldn’t open it.

No scholar could open it either and that includes biblical scholars.  No theologian could open it.  No seminary professor or eminent Bible teacher could open it.  People on earth are all sinful.

No angel could open it either and angels are sinless.  The greatest angel could not open it.  Gabriel could not open it.  His name means “strength.”

Michael the Archangel could not open it.  The Cherubim could not do it.  The Seraphim could not do it.  No demon in hell could open it either.  Satan could not open the seals.

John’s Response

I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside (Revelation 5:4 NIV).

There are two words used for weeping in the New Testament. One is used in John 11:35, where the Bible says, “Jesus wept.” That word (δακρύω) refers to “silent weeping”.  This word (κλαιω) refers to “uncontrollable sobbing” (Luke 19:41).

This old apostle had an emotional response.  He wept.  He not only wept; he wept loudly.  You have heard of the weeping prophet (Jeremiah). John was the weeping apostle.

John’s Rebuke

Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” (Revelation 5:5 NIV)

John was told to stop crying, because Jesus is worthy to open the book.  Later, John is going to write in Revelation that there is no crying in heaven.  Who told him that there was someone who could take the scroll?  Not the angels but the twenty-four elders.  The elders represent believers in heaven.

They told John that Jesus the lion of the tribe of Judah can open it.  This is where it gets interesting.  It leads to another paradox.

One of the elders told John that he would see a lion.  He expected to see a lion, but he saw a lamb instead.  In Greek, it is a baby lamb (ἀρνίον).  If I said, “look at that big cat over there” and you turned and saw a little dog, you might wonder about me.

A lion and lamb are completely opposite animals.  A lamb is a weak, innocent and harmless animal. It is completely submissive in suffering, even to the point of death.  It is silent when brought to the slaughter. It does not resist or even complain.

A lamb is a picture of weakness, but a lion is a picture of strength. Lions are built for strength. They like to fight and are good at it. They are killing machines. They are predators.

Lions are powerful and dangerous. Some of them weigh six hundred pounds and have sharp teeth and sharp claws.  Lions are kingly animals.  They are called “kings of the beasts.”  They are completely opposite animals but Jesus is both.

He is the Lion and the Lamb.  He is not a literal lamb.  He is not a literal lion. He does not have seven literal eyes.  He does not have seven literal horns.  These are all symbols. They are metaphors.  They are pictures.  They are images.

The lamb refers to the First Coming.  The lion refers to the Second Coming.  Jesus is both a crucified Lamb and a conquering Lion.  Why is this important?  If you do not see Jesus as the Lion and the Lamb, you do not have a full picture of who Jesus is.

Some only see Jesus was weak, passive and submissive.  He does not conquer by force.  He did not conquer the Romans by force.  Some Christians believe that Jesus was a pacifist.

According to them, Jesus had a message of nonviolence.  He taught people to love their enemies, forgive people, not resist evil people and to turn the other cheek when someone slaps you in the face.

The problem is that they have only read half of the Bible.  Many people do that today.  They have their favorite Bible verses.  They have their favorite topics and hobby horses.  They do not teach or preach the whole counsel of God.

I have seen this in many churches.  They are not balanced.  They emphasize part of the Bible.  They are really strong in some areas but do not talk about other areas at all.  How do you stay balanced?  Teach the whole Bible.

Revelation 5 presents a full picture of Jesus.  He is both the lion and the lamb.  In the First Coming, we saw him as the Lamb, offering a sacrifice for the sins of the world.  During the Second Coming, He will return riding a white horse as a Lion.

He will return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16).  He will not return as Savior but as Ruler and Judge.  His robe will be dipped in the blood of His enemies (Revelation 19:13).

⁶ Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. ⁷ He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne (Revelation 5:6-7 NIV)

John was told not to worry that the lion from the Tribe of Judah has triumphed and is able to open the scroll, but the Lion does not open it.  The Lamb does.

The one who overcomes was not a ferocious lion, but a lamb.  It was not an ordinary lamb.  This lamb had seven horns, which represents strength, and it did not overcome by his life but by his death.  It overcame by being slaughtered.  If the lamb is butchered, how could it overcome anything?

When lambs are slaughtered, they fall over.  This lamb had its throat cut but it was standing at the center of the throne (Revelation 5:6).  This lamb did not just die but rose from the dead.  Why was the lamb worthy to take the scroll?

“And they sang a new song, saying: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, BECAUSE you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:9-10 NIV)

Jesus was worthy to do this because of what he did.  He earned the right to take this scroll by his actions.  He purchased people.  He redeemed people by his blood, and he made them a kingdom of priests.  Where does that idea and language come from?

It comes right out of the book of Exodus.  The Jews were in slavery for hundreds of years.  They were in slavery to Pharaoh. God redeemed the Jews out of slavery.  He redeemed them from the land of Egypt and made them a kingdom of priests.

In the Bible, this is a picture of salvation. It is an OT picture of the gospel.  You have terrible bondage and slavery.  You have blood atonement, and you have miraculous deliverance.

In fact, when the Jews went through the Red Sea, Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today” (Exodus 14:13 ESV).

There is another slavery that many people are in all over the world.  It is a slavery to sin.  It is a slavery to Satan, a greater Pharaoh.  It is a greater slavery than the Jews in Egypt faced.

Jesus redeemed us out of that slavery.  The Passover lamb died so that the firstborn son could live.  The lamb died in his place.  He died as a substitute.  Jesus was out substitute.  He died in our place.  He is our Passover Lamb.  He did not just redeem Jews from Egypt but people all over the world in every country.

An Explosion of Worship

Jesus walks over, takes the scroll out of the Father’s hand and, as soon as He does that, an explosion of worship breaks out in heaven.  Universal worship breaks out by all kinds of different beings in heaven.  All of heaven will publicly recognize Jesus’ work on earth as the Redeemer.

This worship builds.  If you do the math, it started in Revelation 4 with four angels (the four living creatures).  They worshipped the one on the throne and said “holy, holy, holy” day and night.  When they begin to worship, the twenty-four elders begin to worship.  Now, there are twenty-eight worshiping.

After Jesus took the scroll the father’s hand, an innumerable host of angels, ten thousand times ten thousand, begin to worship.  In Revelation 4, twenty-eight beings were worshipping God.  In Revelation 5, millions of angels were worshipping with Jesus in the center.

They worshipped with musical instruments (harp) and with singing.  The choir keeps getting bigger and the doxology gets longer.  They are worshipping Him in a loud voice.  They are not whispering it.

By the end, all of creation is worshiping, “every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them” (Revelation 5:13 NIV).

Life Lessons

1) Trust that God is in control

God rules the entire universe.  He is the one sitting on the throne of the universe.  He is the one in control.  He is in control of history.  He is in control of the future of our planet.  He is in control of our future as well.  Nothing takes God by surprise.  As one preacher said, He rules the world with his feet up.

God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne (Psalm 47:8 NIV)

The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all (Psalm 103:19 NIV)

When the world looks like it is going crazy, it does not look like God is in control, but He is.  You say, “I thought Satan was running this world.”  He is but God is still in control.  He is still seated on his throne.

2) Worship Jesus passionately

There is no one like Him in all of the universe.  There is no one like him in heaven, on earth or in hell.  He is worthy of our worship and our praise.  He is worthy to receive power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing.  He is worthy to receive our entire lives.  We can worship Him now.  One day, we will be in this choir in heaven when all creation worships Him.

3) Pray daily

He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. (Revelation 5:7-8 NIV).

Prayers are symbolized by bowls of incense.  They go up as incense to God.  He likes it when we pray.  When prayers go up to God, it is like incense going up to God.  It is like perfume.

God wants us to pray to Him regularly.  The Bible says we have not because we ask not (James 4:2).  How many things do not have because we never asked.  God wants a relationship with His people.

4) Serve God in your divinely appointed role

You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:10 NIV).

Right now, we can function as priests.  Every believer is a priest.  In the OT, you had to be born into a particular tribe and family to be a priest.  If you were not born into the tribe of Levi and if you were not a descendant of the family of Aaron, you could not be a priest.

Now, believers are priests.  It does not matter who your ancestors were.  Every believer is a priest.  Priests in the OT offered sacrifices in the temple.  We can offer spiritual sacrifices to God (Hebrews 13:15).

In the future, we will reign on the earth, according to this chapter.  We are not just going to have some spiritual kingdom.  One day, we will reign on the earth in the Messianic Kingdom.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0-O4r4yw1w&list=PLnNXzYjQerJgjY1cgmGP7EeJ5bjvNrUc_&index=10

Today, we want to talk about worship and some principles for worship from Revelation 4-5.  What is worship?  What does worship really look like?  What does it look like in Heaven? How is worship on earth different from worship in heaven?  How is what we do in church different from what we see in these chapters?

We do not have any strange mutants in the service with eyes all over their bodies.  We do not have any visible angels present.  God is in our services but we cannot see Him.  We cannot see his throne.  We do not see a throne of glass or seven lamps of fire in the service.  We don’t se any lightening or hear any thunder.

Today, we come to the second part of the Book of Revelation. The book of Revelation can be divided into two sections.  The first part of the book deals with PRESENT EVENTS.  Revelation 1-3 deals with the state of the churches of Asia Minor in John’s day.  We looked at Jesus’ letters to the seven churches.

The rest of the book deals with FUTURE EVENTS.  Jesus told John, “I will show you what must take place AFTER these things” (Revelation 4:1 NASB), not things which “might” or “may” happen but things which MUST happen.   That describes the rest of the book.

Revelation 4-22 deals with the Tribulation Period, the Battle of Armageddon, the Second Coming of Christ, the Millennium, the Great White Throne Judgment, the New Heaven and New Earth, the Lake of Fire.

Before John gets a vision of the future, he gets a vision of God.  He gets a vision of the throne room of God.  He gets to see the heavenly throne room.  Other people in the Bible saw it in the OT (Isaiah, Ezekiel).  Now John gets a chance to see it himself.

After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” (Revelation 4:1 NIV)

John looks up and sees a door in heaven.  Normally, that door is shut but John sees an open door in heaven.  Then he hears a voice.  It is a voice, like a trumpet.  It is the voice of Jesus.   It must have been a loud voice because trumpets are loud.

Jesus invited him to come on up to heaven. John receives an open invitation to the throne room of God.  He is instantly transported to heaven and gets to see Heaven.

Seeing heaven, even for a second, changes your whole perspective.  All of the bad things taking place on earth look a little different from heaven’s perspective.  Many people who have had near death experiences have been completely changed by what they saw.

Ten to twenty percent of people who almost die have NDEs.  I had a heart attack in 2016, while playing a softball game and almost died.  The ER doctor had to use the defibrillator on me twice to wake me up.

In the ER, I was dying. I was going to sleep.  I was feeling very comfortable.  My cardiologist said, “Oh you were going to sleep alright.  You were going to sleep for a long time.”  Then, I remember feeling this sharp pain.  When I woke up my cardiologist asked me if I saw any bright lights.  I did not see any.  I was not unconscious yet but many people have seen them.

The scene of the book shifts to heaven.  All throughout the Book of Revelation, the scene shifts from heaven to earth.

At first, the focus is on the seven churches on earth.  Then, John was taken to the throne room in heaven (Revelation 4-5).  Being taken right to the throne room of God changes you.

Revelation 6 brings things back on earth (seven seal judgments).  It is rather negative and depressing. Then the next chapter is positive.  We see a great multitude in heaven with all kinds of people and angels around the throne in heaven (Revelation 7).

Revelation 8-11 brings us back to earth with more terrible judgments (the seven trumpets).  They will be like the plagues of Egypt falling on the earth once again.  The whole book shifts back and forth from heaven to earth.

John gets a special invitation and a special privilege.  What John was invited to do, we will one day be invited to do, if we are saved.  Every saved person will one day be permitted to go through this door and enter heaven.  Jesus is the door. He is the door to salvation.  He is the door to heaven.

If we are saved, we will get to enter this door.  We will get to go to heaven.  We will not only get a chance to be observers, like John was, we will get to be participants.  We will participate in worship in heaven but we can worship God now, even though we cannot see Him.

We can still come before God’s throne to “receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16 NIV).  It is called a throne of grace.  God’s throne in heaven is a throne of grace.  It has a rainbow around it.  We have rainbows on earth and they are a sign of grace.  They are a sign that God will not judge the world with a flood.

There are not only rainbows on earth but will be one in heaven but it does not look like any rainbow you have ever seen.  This will be a green rainbow, an emerald rainbow.

After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this. (Revelation 4:1 NIV)

John takes a trip to heaven.  He not only got a vision of heaven; he took a trip to heaven.  Jesus said, “come up here” and he went up.  John tells us what he saw and what he heard.  John gives us eye-witness testimony.  What John saw was amazing. What he saw was breathtaking. He saw God.  He also saw some strange beings in heaven.

Four Living Creatures

John also saw four strange looking, supernatural beings there around the throne.  They are called “four living creatures.”

Who are they?  They are a special type of exalted angels.  They are different from any other angels in the Bible.  There are four living creatures in Ezekiel 1.  They are called CHERUBIM, but those angels only had four wings (Ezekiel 1:5-6), and these have six wings (Revelation 4:8).

There are another group of exalted angels in Isaiah 6.  They are called SERAPHIM.  These angels sound like the Seraphim.  They did have six wings (Isaiah 6:2).

The Seraphim said to one another, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory” (Isaiah 6:3 NIV).  That is very similar to the what the four living creatures of Revelation say.  They say, “

“‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.” (Revelation 4:8 NIV).

However, the angels in Isaiah 6 are NOT called living creatures.  They did not have strange looking heads.  They are the angels closest to the throne and they function as the worship leaders in heaven.  That brings us to a second group of beings that John saw.

Twenty-Four Elders

Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. (Revelation 4:4 NIV)

Who are the twenty-four elders? Many good NT scholars argue that they are angels (so Carson, Osborne, Mounce).  They are way better scholars than I am, but I think they are wrong. There are several hints that the twenty-four elders are people.

The FIRST HINT is that they are called elders. This term is only used of people in Scripture.  There were elders in Israel and elders in the church.  In fact, it is the name of an office in the church.   The term “elder” is never used in the Bible for angels, but the term was commonly used of synagogue leaders and church leaders.

The SECOND HINT is that they sit on thrones.  That was a promise to believers. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne (Revelation 3:21 NIV).  They are throne-sitters.

The THIRD HINT is that they wear a crown.  That was promised to believers in the last two chapters (Revelation 2:10; 3:11).  Jesus promised believers crowns.  Angels in the Bible are never said to wear crowns, but people are.

There are two different Greek words for crowns: στέφανος and διάδημα.  The Diadem Crown is the crown that the Messiah will wear.  Believers will wear the Stephanos Crown.

The FOURTH HINT is that they wear white clothes.  That was also promised to the overcomer.  Jesus promised believers in Sardis that “they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy” (Revelation 3:4 NIV).

Believers in Revelation wear white (Revelation 6:11; 7:9; 19:14).  It is a sign of salvation in the Book of Revelation.  They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 7:14).

Who are the twenty-four elders?  They are the people of God.  The represent the totality of the redeemed.  Twenty-four of them represent the people of God in the OT and in the NT.  There were twelve apostles and twelve patriarchs (cf. Revelation 21:12, 14).

Worship Principles

What does this passage say to us today?  What is the practical application to us today?  Is there one?  Yes.  Revelation 4-5 is all about worship.  It is about worship in heaven.  John went up to heaven and encountered a worship service in heaven.

God was worshiped in heaven by all kinds of beings.  Some of them were strange looking beings.  The four living creatures looked like demons with strange heads (lion, ox, man and eagle) and eyes all over their body in the front and back.  That seems little creepy.  What does this passage say to us today?

1) We were created for worship

People were created for worship.  We are worshipping beings.  They do not all worship the true God.  There are all kinds of false religions and cults.  Some follow Hare Krishna and all kinds of goofy things, but we were created for worship.

Aristotle said, “man is a political animal.”  Adam Smith said man is an economic animal.  Animals don’t trade with other animals and make bargains.  Only people do that.

If you watch Hallmark, you know that man is social animal.  We are created for relationships.  In Scripture, we learn that man is a religious animal.  We were created for a personal relationship with our Creator.  We are created for worship.

What have we learned?  Man is a political animal.  Man is an economic animal.  Man is a social animal.  Man is a religious animal.  Women say that men are just animals.

2) God is worthy of our worship

That is very clear from our passage.  Why are all of these beings and creatures in heaven worshiping God in heaven?

4) Worship God humbly

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, ¹⁰ the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever.  (Revelation 4:9-10 NIV)

 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. (Revelation 5:8 NIV)

The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped. (Revelation 5:14 NIV)

All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God (Revelation 7:11 NIV)

When we worship God in our modern church services what do we do? We stand up. We sing. If we are charismatic, we might clap our hands or raise our hands. What did they do in heaven?

They fall down on their faces and worship. They get as low as possible as quickly as possible.

The twenty-four elders were seated on thrones but were not too proud to get off their thrones and worship God, the one who was seated on another throne.

They were not too proud to take their thrones off and laid them before the throne.  They did not try to hold on to them.  One of the myths that people have is that one day we will give up all of our rewards.

That is not what the text says.  It simply says that during worship, they took off their crowns and laid them at the feet of the one sitting on the throne (so Frutchenbaum).[1]

4) Worship God creatively

They did not just sing an old hymn.  They sang a new song.  Their worship was fresh and creative.  Many churches only sing old song, ancient hymns that have been around for hundreds of years.  In heaven, they did not just sing old songs but new songs

5) Worship God constantly

Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.” (Revelation 4:8 NIV)

The four living creatures worshiped God day and night.  They NEVER stop.  They never take a break.  They never take time off to sleep.  You have heard of prayer without ceasing.  They worship without ceasing.

We think of worship as something we do just once a week and some do not do much of that in church.  Worship should be a daily thing.  We should worship God constantly.

[1] https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=17192320494694

We have been studying the letters of Jesus to the seven churches.  Today, we come to the end of that section in the Book of Revelation.  We saw Jesus standing and walking amongst the churches in Revelation 1. We saw Jesus talking to the seven churches in Revelation 2-3.

He wrote a letter to each one.  Today, we come now to the seventh letter that Jesus wrote to the Church at Laodicea.  This city today is located in Western Turkey.  It is the final letter of Jesus to the church.

Today, we are going to talk about the greatest danger that the church faces today, the danger of lukewarm Christianity.  That describes many churches today.  Many churches today are lukewarm.

The Church of Laodicea church was not a liberal church.  It was not an apostate church.  It was not a dead church.  That was Sardis.  It did not have problems with false teachers.  Jezebel was not in the church.

The Nicolaitans were not there.  No one taught the doctrine of Balaam there.  There were no moral problems in this church.  There were no doctrinal problems there.  The church was just lukewarm.

Many churches today have the same problem.  There are many modern day Laodicean churches.  This letter has an important message to the church today.  This is God’s word to the end-time church.  It is God’s word to the American church.

We definitely live in the end-times, so this is relevant to us today.  We need to pay special attention to this letter.  It not only contains a strong indictment and rebuke on this church but contains an incredible invitation and promise.

Jesus described Himself to this church as the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation (Revelation 3:14 NIV).  A witness tells what he has seen.  He is faithful and true.  Jesus inspects each church with those eyes of fire.  What the Son of God says is true.  You can depend on it.

Jesus always starts out on a positive note with each church, telling them the good things they were doing.  When He spoke to this church, Jesus had nothing good to say about them, only criticism. How embarrassing that must have been.

Can you imagine being in that church and hearing this letter read for the first time publicly?  You come expecting to hear something positive.  You expect Jesus to say that the church was doing great, and he says, “You are doing terrible.”

They were doing so bad that they made Jesus sick.  This church nauseated Him.  When you put some disgusting food in your mouth, you want to spit it out.  Jesus said that He wanted to spit this church out of His mouth.  It was so disgusting.  In fact, the Greek is even stronger.

The NIV says, “I want to spit you out of my mouth” but the Greek word ἐμέω means to vomit or throw up (so Thayer).  It means to puke.   Greek has a different word for “to spit” (πτύω).[1]

Some Christians make Him sick.  He still loves them, but they make him want to throw up and they are professing Christians. Are there churches like that today?  Apparently, there are some.

In fact, not only could Jesus not stand this church; He was not even inside it.  That is strange.  It is a Christian church.  It is full of professing Christians, but Jesus is not on the inside.  He is on the outside trying to get in.  He is knocking on the door to get into His own church.

Two Important Questions

That is interesting. Is Jesus inside our church or is He on the outside?  There are some churches, the minute you walk inside you can sense the presence of God.

You can step in other churches where you don’t sense the presence of God.  God is not doing much in those assemblies.  They have genuine believers in them, but nothing is happening there.

Some churches God has left.  Ichabod is written on the door.  They still meet every week, and hold services but God is not there.  That raises two important questions.  Is Jesus in our church?  If Jesus left our church, would anybody notice?  Would they continue as normal?

A.W. Tozer once said, “If the Holy Spirit was withdrawn from the church today, ninety-five percent of what we do would go on and no one would know the difference.”  In some churches, Jesus could leave, and no one would notice for six months.

Three Dangers Today

The danger of the church today is the same danger this church had.  It is the danger of lukewarmness.  What does that mean?  There are three dangers here.

1) The Danger of Powerless Christians

The people in this church met every Sunday.  They were religious.  They called themselves Christians.  They met together.  They sang songs.  They prayed.  They studied the Bible, but they had no power.

Why?  Because Jesus was not in the church.  He was on the outside.  Jesus said without Him we cannot do anything (John 15:5).  We need Jesus.

This was religion without Christ.  There was outward religion without genuine power.  We have all kinds of churches without Christ and without the Holy Spirit.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 NIV)

That is a danger today.  The apostle Paul said that some have a form of godliness but deny its power (II Timothy 3:5).  They had a form of godliness.  It looked great on the outside, but it was only on the outside.

Churches today without prayer are powerless.  They can have all kinds of other things.  If they don’t have prayer, they don’t have power.

2) The Danger of Prideful Christians

Pride is a big problem in the church.  Some of the most arrogant people are in church.  Some of them are in the pulpit.  Many Christians look down on other Christians and other churches.

Baptists look down on Methodists.  Methodists look down on ignorant Baptists.

Non-charismatics look down on those crazy charismatics.  Charismatics look down on non-charismatics because they do not operate in the spirit.

Arminians look down on Calvinists.  Calvinists look down on those fool Arminians.  What the Bible say?

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves (Philippians 2:3 NASB)

The Church of Laodicea also had a big pride problem.  This is one of the sins that God says that he hates.  It is one of the things God specifically says He hates (Proverbs 6:16-19)

What did this church say?  They said, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’  (Revelation 3:17 NIV).  This was a rich church.  It was a wealthy church.

Is it a sin to be wealthy?  No.  Some people in the Bible were wealthy.  Is it dangerous to be wealthy?  Yes.  Why?  The more wealth you have, the more you have a temptation to trust in your wealth.

You don’t seem to need God as much.  Wealth can lead to pride.  That is why Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:23 NKJV).

This letter is an indictment on prosperity theology.  One of the key tenants of prosperity theology is that when God blesses people, He blesses them financially and wealth is an indication of favor and blessing but it does not work that way in this church.

On the outside, this church looked great.  It had all of the signs of blessings.  It was wealthy.  It looked prosperous on the outside but, on the inside, the church was poor, wretched, blind and naked.  It was the exact opposite of the prosperity theology model

3) The Danger of Passionless Christians

Jesus used the image of lukewarm water to describe the condition of this church.  Jesus takes the spiritual temperature of the church and says that it is lukewarm, not hot or cold but lukewarm.

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

Many have misunderstood what Jesus was saying here.  We assume that hot is good and cold is bad.  It makes sense that Jesus would say that it is better for the church to be hot, but Jesus also said that it is better for the church to be cold. Anything is better than lukewarm.

How is it better to be cold than lukewarm?  Isn’t it better to be a weak Christian than a complete pagan?

Isn’t it better to be a backslidden believer than a complete atheist?  Isn’t it better to be alive but sick than to be completely dead?

It is but that is not what Jesus is talking about by these three degrees.  Jesus is NOT saying that hot is good and cold is bad.  He is saying that hot is good and cold is good but lukewarm is bad.

Hot drinks tastes good.  Cold drinks tastes good.  Lukewarm drinks you want to spit out of your mouth.

Jesus compared this church to their water.  We drink most beverages either hot or cold. We drink hot tea, and we drink cold tea. Most of us love a hot cup of coffee in the morning.

Some of us like cold coffee, iced coffee (frappe).   We usually would not want to drink a cup of coffee that has been sitting on the kitchen table for four hours at room temperature.

Jesus is saying that hot can be good.  It can be healing.  A cup of cold water on a hot day can be refreshing but lukewarm is useless and tastes bad.

The city of Laodicea was known for three things.  It was famous for three things: its wealth, its clothing and its medicine.  The one problem they had was bad water.

There was a water problem in the city.  It had no water supply.  They had to get it from other cities. All water in Laodicea was lukewarm by the time it reached Laodicea and it was disgusting.  That is the background to Jesus’ statement.

A wishy-washy church that has lost its passion, fervor and zeal will not make any impact on the world.

“How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” (I Kings 18:21 NIV)

We need to be on fire for God, on fire for Bible study, on fire for worship, on fire for evangelism, on fire for prayer.

Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. (Romans 12:11 ESV)

There is a story of an atheist in a small Tennessee town. He never went to Church.  However, one day the Church caught on fire. There was no fire department in town, so the people formed a bucket brigade.

The atheist stood at the head of brigade dashing water on the flames. The pastor said to him, “This is the first time I ever saw you at Church.” He replied, “Yes, but this is the first time I have ever seen the church on fire.[2]

Warning to a Lukewarm Church

Jesus gives a strong warning to the lukewarm church.  This warning has been misunderstood.  The warning is found in Revelation 3:16.

Everyone knows John 3:16. Everyone has memorized John 3:16.  Not as many people have memorized Revelation 3:16.  Revelation 3:16 contains some graphic language.

So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth (Revelation 3:16 NIV).

What does that mean?  Does this mean that lukewarm Christians can lose their salvation?  Jesus promises to spit them out of His mouth.  That does not sound like eternal security.  What do you think?

Keep in mind the context.  This is addressed to a church, not to individuals.  It is dealing with judgment on a church, not an individual Christian.

There are many who believe that this letter was written to a totally unsaved church.  That is the view of John MacArthur.  Not all hold that view.  This is a church.  It is a lampstand.

It it was a totally unsaved church, it would not be a lukewarm church; it would be a seed church.  it would be the church of Sardis.  Even that church was not completely dead.

Jesus said, “Those I love, I rebuke and discipline” (Revelation 3:19 NIV) and He only disciplines His own kids.   The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son (Hebrews 12:6 NIV; cf. Proverbs 3:11-12)

Jesus warned the church of Ephesus if they did not repent that He would remove their lampstand.  He warned the Church of Laodicea if they did not repent, He would spit them out of His mouth.

What Jesus said to the last church is similar to what he said to the first church.  It is a strong picture of rejection.  Jesus does not want to have anything with this church.  He can’t stand it.  He is warning that He will close the church down.  He will close the doors of the church.

Remedy to a Lukewarm Church

Now, we come to the interesting part.  There was hope for this bad church.  He did not just rebuke it, reject and condemn it.  He reached out to this church.

Jesus gave it some hope.  No matter how bad a church is, there is always hope.  No matter how bad a person is, there is always hope, if he or she repents.  What did this church need to do?  They needed to do three things.

First, they needed to acknowledge that they had a problem.  They thought they were fine.  They thought the church was fine.  Jesus said, “No.  It is wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked.”

Two, they needed to repent.  Jesus said to Christians, “be earnest and repent” (Revelation 3:19 NIV).  That is something Christians are almost never told to do in church.

Three, they needed to turn to Jesus to solve their problem.

You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I COUNSEL you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. (Revelation 3:17-18 NIV)

Jesus gave some advice to the church.  It comes from the counselor Jesus.  Counseling is big business today. People pay big money to go see a counselor.

Jesus gives some counseling to the Church of Laodicea, and it is free.  He gives better advice.  How would you like to come to Jesus for counseling?

Jesus told this church to get three things from Him: gold, clothes to wear and medicine.  Why did Jesus tell them to get these three things in particular?  These were the three things that the city prided itself on.

It prided itself on its wealth.  It was a big banking center.  It was the wealthiest city in Phrygia.  Jesus says to buy gold but not from Lear Financial but from Him.

It prided itself on its clothing.  They made clothing in Laodicea.  They were famous for their expensive black silk garments.  Jesus says to buy white garments from him.

They also prided themselves in their medicine.  There was a famous medical school there.  They specialized in eye diseases.  Laodicea was known for its world-famous eye salve.

Jesus says that they were sick but the medicine they needed could not come from a human doctor.  They had to go to Jesus to get it.  Doctors can only help with physical blindness.  They had spiritual blindness.

The solution to their problem was Jesus.  He had everything that they needed.  Jesus gave this church a rebuke.  It was a strong rebuke, but it was also a loving rebuke.  Jesus said, “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline” (Revelation 3:19 NIV).

It is very interesting to me that Jesus wrote letters to seven churches.  He loved all of them, but He specifically told only two churches that He loved them: the good church and the bad church.  He told it to the Church of Philadelphia (Revelation 3:9).  He also told it to the Church of Laodicea (Revelation 3:19)

Invitation to a Lukewarm Church

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 that person, and they with me (Revelation 3:20 NIV). 

Jesus gave a special invitation to the worst of the seven churches.  This church received the most famous invitation in the Bible.  There have been many famous paintings of this scene from Revelation 3:20.

This is a great picture.  Jesus is at the door.  He is standing at the door, but he does not just stand there.  He knocks. He is waiting for someone to open the door to Him.

It is a great picture of free will.  Jesus stops at the door.  He waits for someone to open the door.  He does not open the door.  He does not force His way in.  You have to open the door.  Some open it and invite Him in. Some do not.

Revelation 3:20 is one of the most misquoted verses in the entire Bible.  It is used as a gospel verse in many evangelistic meetings.  Billy Graham used it many times.  Every heart has a door and Jesus is knocking on the door of the sinner’s heart.

The only problem is that this invitation was NOT addressed to atheists or skeptics.  It was addressed to Christians.  It is addressed to members of the Church of Laodicea.

The invitation does not lead to salvation.  It leads to fellowship with Jesus.  Jesus comes to your house and has dinner with you.  He is seeking a relationship with people.  That is the primary application, but it is not wrong to use it in a different context.

I recently began listening to an audio book called I Dare Call Him Father. It tells an amazing story about a Pakistani woman, who lived in England and how she became a Christian.

It is a true story. It was written in 1978.  It describes a wealthy woman who was raised Muslim.  She normally read the Koran.  She found a New Testament and began reading it.

One day, she fell asleep and dreamed.  She said normally she did not dream but this night she had a vivid life-like dream.  She said, “I found myself having supper with a man I knew to be Jesus. He had come to visit me in my home and stayed for two days. He sat across the table from me and in peace and joy we ate dinner together.”[3]

It was a strange dream.  Much later, she began reading the Book of Revelation.  She did not know anything about the book.  When she read Revelation 3:20, she was completely shocked.  She could not believe what she was reading.

She said that it made the room spin.  She gasped, and the book fall in her lap.  She immediately remembered the dream she had about Jesus having dinner with her for two days.  She could not believe that it was in the Bible.

Jesus gives this church a special invitation of fellowship and a special promise. We get to sit on Jesus’ throne on day.  We will rule and reign with Christ.

To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. (Revelation 3:21 NIV)

Applications

1) Are we blind to our own spiritual state, like the Laodiceans were? Do we see ourselves as God sees us or does God see us completely differently

2) Jesus knows our works as well.  Do you need to repent?  If you do, Jesus says, “Be zealous and repent” (not be zealous and pray or be zealous and witness but be zealous and repent)

3) What type of Christian are we?  Are we hot, cold or lukewarm?  Are we lukewarm Christians?  Are we spiritually dull, apathetic and okay with it? Do we have a lukewarm spirit or are we fervent and passionate?

4) Do we need to go to Jesus for some counseling about any problem in our life?  Some need to go to Jesus for marriage counseling.  You can come at any time.

5) Is Jesus standing at the door of our heart and knocking?  Have we let him in?  We have accepted him for salvation.  Have we accepted Him for fellowship? Do we have daily fellowship with Jesus?

6) Lastly, do we hear what the Spirit says to the church today? Jesus said this seven times.  The Spirit is speaking.  He has something to say.  Are we listening?

[1] Mark 7:33; 8:23; John 9:6.

[2] Ken Trivette, “Dear_Laodicea_You_Make_Me_Sick_At_My_Stomach” (sermon).

[3] Bilquis Sheikh, I Dared to Call Him Father: The Miraculous Story of a Muslim Woman’s Encounter With God (Chosen Books, 1978), 155.

We are studying the letters of Jesus to the seven churches.  Today, we come to letter number six.  The sixth letter was written to the Church of Philadelphia.  This church was not in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

It was in Philadelphia, Asia Minor.  It is in Philadelphia, Turkey today, although it is no longer called Philadelphia.  It is a Turkish city today called Alaşehir (alah-shah-hear), which means “city of God” in Arabic.

This was a letter to a good church. Jesus wrote many letters to bad churches in Revelation.  We have bad churches today and there were bad churches in John’s day.

This letter was written to a good church.  It was written to a great church.  The Church of Philly was a model church.  Jesus is the Son of God.  He had eyes of fire and yet, when He evaluated this church, He had nothing bad to say about it.

He had no criticism.  He had no rebuke.  He did not tell them to repent.  He did not warn them of judgment, like He did to other churches.

The only thing that Jesus told this church to do was to keep doing what it was doing, to hold fast and to not let anyone take their crown.

Wouldn’t it be great if the Lord Jesus evaluated us and had nothing bad to say to us?  Wouldn’t it be great if we just heard the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant?”

We learn something about Jesus in this letter that is new.  This letter contains a unique description of Jesus.

This letter also talks about open doors.  Have you ever seen God open a door for you?  Have you ever seen God change something in your life, almost overnight?

The Sunday School class is an open door.  I did not have that opportunity a year ago or even six months ago, but God opened the door.  The Bible has a lot to say about open doors.

This letter is important practically.  This letter is also important theologically.  This is the one letter that mentions the future Tribulation Period.  It contains a controversial verse.

Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. (Revelation 3:10 NIV)

It deals with a topic we do not all agree on.  It is a minor doctrine.  There are major doctrines that all Christians should agree on, like the Trinity, and there are minor doctrines.  This verse deals with a minor doctrine.  We may not all agree on what it says.  You may not agree with what I have to say.

I ask everyone to do several things.  If you have an hear, hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  Have an open mind.  Compare everything I say to Scripture and feel free to ask questions.

Signs of a Philadelphian Christian

1) A Philadelphian Christian is BIBLICAL

If your church is not biblical, it is not a Philadelphian Church.  Jesus says, “you have kept my word and have not denied my name” (Revelation 3:8 NIV).

In many churches, there is a far greater emphasis on being contemporary, hip and relevant, rather than biblical.  Many churches are more interested in tradition or political correctness than in what the Word says.

What does it mean to be a biblical church?  It means you believe the Bible.  You accept the Bible as the Word of God.  Some churches do not believe it.  In fact, some churches mock the Bible.

The world is basically divided into people who believe that the Bible is a book inspired by God and other people who believe it is just a book written by man about God.

A biblical church believes in inerrancy, but a biblical church does NOT just believe the Bible.  It teaches and preaches the Bible.  You can go to some churches for twenty years and not learn what the Bible teaches.  It is never expounded.

Many Christians have never been taught what the Word says, or they have been taught only some of what it says.  One of the biggest problems in the church today is that many Christians only know partof the Bible.

A biblical church does NOT just believe and teach the Bible, it lives the Bible.  It obeys the Bible. The Christians in this church did not deny Jesus’ name.  Are you a biblical Christian?

2) A Philadelphian Christian is BALANCED

The way we know that this church was balanced is that Jesus had nothing bad to say about it.  He had nothing but praise for this church.

The big problem with many churches today is that they are not balanced.  They are good in some areas but weak in other areas.  The big problem with many Christians today is that they are not balanced.

Many in John’s day were not.  Some had a lot of love but no discernment or truth.  They had love for every heretic and false teacher and let them teach in the church (Thyatira).  Others had plenty of discernment but no love (Ephesus).

Many Christians are saved but don’t use their spiritual gifts.  Some Christians are on fire.  They have enough faith to raise the dead or walk on water, but they are weak in other areas.

We need to learn from one another.  We also need to be balanced.  Charles Ryrie many years ago wrote a book called Balancing the Christian Life.  Are you balanced?

2) a Philadelphian Christian is BLESSED

Are you blessed by God?  What does that mean?  If you listen to the TV preachers, it means that you are filthy rich. It means you are rolling in the dough.  This church was blessed, even though it was small and poor.

The Church of Philadelphia was not a mega church.  There is nothing wrong with mega churches, but this church was not one.  Jesus said that this church had little strength (Revelation 3:8).  It was not a big and powerful church.

This was a church of little power.  It was a small church.  This was the smallest church of all of the seven churches of Revelation, but it was also one with one of the greatest blessings given by Jesus.

Big churches have a tendency to look down on small churches and to think that they are superior to them.

Many people like big churches.  I like big churches.  I have been in some good big churches and I have been in some small churches with small-minded people with crazy controlling pastors who acted like dictators.

One preacher pointed out, “Every church is not supposed to be a big church. Every church is not supposed to have multiple campuses. Every church is not supposed to have ten thousand people in the church. Some churches are small.”  All churches should grow but all churches are not mega churches.

Jesus did not commend a great mega church, but a small weak church made up of ordinary people. The issue isn’t big or small but healthy or unhealthy, faithful or unfaithful.

Even though this church was small and poor, it was blessed by God.  How was it blessed?  What does it mean to be blessed?

Signs You are Blessed

1) If you are blessed by God, it will affect your relationships with people.

It will affect your relationship with your husband or wife.  It will affect your relationship with your kids.  It will affect your relationship with your co-workers.  It will affect your relationship with your enemies.

I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. (Revelation 3:8 NIV)

This church had enemies.  It experienced opposition in the community.  Some Jews in Philadelphia were highly antagonistic.  They did not like them.  They persecuted this little church.  Their enemies will honor them.

How is that possible?  Some of their Jewish persecutors are going to come to faith.  They have been persecuting a Gentile church and many will fall down at the feet of these Christians and acknowledge who they are, God’s people.

This is very interesting because the OT says that one day the Gentiles will come and bow down at the feet of the Jews and acknowledge that they are the Chosen People (Isaiah 60:12-14).

When you are blessed by God, you can influence your enemies.  When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him (Proverbs 16:7 NKJV).

2) If you are blessed by God, you will be given special opportunities

This church was given a special opportunity.  “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. (Revelation 3:7-8 NIV)

This letter tells us something very important about Jesus.  It is something that you probably have never thought about.  Jesus is the one who has the keys.

Keys are important.  You don’t have a key, you can’t get in.  We use a keys to open doors.  We use a keys to lock doors.

“Jesus has the keys that will open, or lock, any and every door.”[1]  He has the keys to eternal life.  He has the keys of salvation.  He has the keys of the kingdom.

He has the keys of death and hades.  We think that Satan has the keys, but Jesus does.  He is sovereign over death and hades. He has the keys to people’s hearts.  He is the one who can open hearts and change minds.

One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. (Acts 16:14 ESV)

The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. (Proverbs 21:1 NKJV)

In this letter, we learn that He has another key, the Key of David.  The Son of David has the Key of David.  Keys are symbols of authority in the Bible.  The Key of David is a symbol of kingly authority.  It is mentioned once in the OT (Isaiah 22:22) and once in the NT (Revelation 3:7).

Every believer needs this key.  This key has to do with service.  Jesus not only has the keys of salvation for unbelievers.  He has the keys of service for believers.  He can open doors or opportunity and ministry for us.

3) If you are blessed by God, you will be given special rewards

Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. (Revelation 3:10 NIV)

The word “keep” is found two times in that verse.  The Philadelphian Christians kept Christ’s Word and now He promises to keep them from something.  What are they kept from?  The hour of trial that was going to come on the whole world.  What trial was it?  It was the Tribulation Period.

Now, all of the seven churches were kept from this trial, so what kind of promise was this?  There was probably a trial in the first century that was a precursor to the future Tribulation.  This verse tells us four important things about the Tribulation.

What is the Tribulation Period

Based on Revelation 3:10, what do we know about the Tribulation?

1) The Tribulation is a Future Event

It had not happened yet when Jesus wrote this letter but we are moving closer and closer to it.

2) The Tribulation is a Worldwide Event

It will not be just a local event.  It is going to come on all who dwell on the earth.

3) The Tribulation is a Period of Testing

It will not just be a period of tribulation.  It will be a period of tribulation.

For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. (Matthew 24:21 ESV)

“At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. (Daniel 12:1 ESV)

What we learn from Revelation 3:10 is that this period will not just a time of trouble and tribulation, it will be a time of testing.  Some will turn to God during the test, and some will curse God.

4) The Tribulation is a Period of Protection

I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. (Revelation 3:10 NIV)

What does that mean?  Many believe that this means that the church will not go through the Tribulation.  It will be raptured before the Tribulation.  Does this verse proves the Pre-Tribulational rapture of the church?  Is this verse a proof text for this position?

The truth is that there will be a rapture.  The Bible teaches it, but this verse does not mention it.  Revelation 3:10 does NOT mention the rapture at all.

The Church of Philadelphia was not raptured.  Everyone in that church died.  None of them were taken out of the world supernaturally. The Book of Revelation does not promise escape from suffering.

It has already mentioned martyrdom (Antipas) and persecution.  The message of the book is to hold fast and endure to the end.  Jesus is not promising that the church will escape the coming trial but protected in it.

How is that possible?  Jesus said, “I will also keep you FROM the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world” (not in but from).  He promises to keep them, not just from the Tribulation but the hour of it.  It sounds like we will not even be here during that time.

Is that correct?  There is only one other time the word “keep” (τηρέω) and the word “from” (ἐκ) are found in the NT.  The other time those words are used are by Jesus.  He uses these words twice (once in Revelation and once in John).

I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. (John 17:15 ESV)

The only other time that these two words are used, Jesus prays that we would be kept from Satan but NOT taken out of the world but protected from something or someone bad. There are other promises that Jesus gives this church

The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them 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 them my new name. (Revelation 3:12 NIV)

To this church that was weak, Jesus says that He can turn them into pillars.  Jesus is going to put three tattoos on Christians in heaven: the name of God, the name of the New Jerusalem and His new name.

Many people love tattoos.  They love this verse.  What is Jesus’ new name?  Is He going to change His name?  Will we all get tattoos in heaven? John Piper calls these “eschatological tattoos.”[2]

These are probably not literal tattoos.  Christians are not going to be literal pillars in a temple.  This is symbolic.

God says that he will write His law on our hearts and that is not literal.  This is a picture of identity.  It is a picture of ownership.  It is a picture of citizenship.  The New Jerusalem is where we will live for all eternity.

Exhortation on Crowns

The letter also has an exhortation.  Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown (Revelation 3:11 NIV).  What does this say to us today?

1) Believers will receive rewards

Crowns represent rewards. We know this from Revelation 4:10.  We will receive rewards in heaven for how we live on earth.  Some will receive more rewards than others.  Every believer who has been martyred will receive a special reward.  Everything we do for Him will be rewarded.

2) Rewards can be lost

Salvation cannot be lost but rewards can be lost. Salvation is a free gift. Rewards are earned. Salvation is not based on works. Rewards are based on works.

Jesus said, “Don’t let anyone take your crown.”  That doesn’t mean that there are thieves in heaven who might take our crown if we don’t put it up.  It means that we can forfeit and become disqualified for certain rewards.

3) We need to hold onto them

They did not need to do anything new.  They just to keep doing what they were doing to hold onto them.  Most of us live our life and do not think about eternal rewards but we should.  Will we have a crown in heaven waiting for us?

[1] Tom Wright, Revelation for Everyone, For Everyone Bible Study Guides (London; Louisville, KY: SPCK; Westminster John Knox, 2011), 34.

[2] https://twitter.com/johnpiper/status/944613908811321344

We have been studying the letters of Jesus to the seven churches.  Jesus evaluates seven churches in John’s day and tells them what He thought of them.  So far, we have looked at Jesus’ letter to the church of Ephesus, the church of Smyrna, the Church of Pergamum and the Church of Thyatira.

Today, we come to the fifth number five.  It was the letter of Jesus to the church of Sardis.  This is a message that every Christian needs to hear.  We have some Sardis churches today.

Jesus said, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 3:6).  This is a message of Jesus to the church today.

Sardis was the church that couldn’t do anything right.  Jesus had nothing good to say about the Church of Sardis.  It is pretty bad if Jesus can’t say one good thing about you.

This church was opposite of the Church of Smyrna. Jesus did not say anything bad about the Church of Smyrna.  He did not say anything good about the Church of Sardis.

The Church of Sardis was a dead church.  Most people in the church were dead and the rest were dying.  Jesus said that there were only a few good people in the church.

There are many churches like Sardis today.  We will find out how to tell if a church is dead or sleeping.  We will see what that looks like and the only way that dead churches can be revived.

Jesus gave this church a warning.  Several of the churches received serious warnings from Jesus.  That is not the Jesus we hear about in church.  Jesus warned the church of Ephesus if they did not repent that He would remove their lampstand.

He told the Church of Thyatira if they did not repent that they would go through great tribulation.  Some would get sick and die.  Jesus told this church if they did not repent that He would come to them in judgment like a thief in the night.

In the Gospels, Jesus says that He will come as a thief in the night to judge unbelievers (Matthew 24:43; Luke 12:39).  Here He threatens to judge a local church that does not repent like a thief in the night.

This letter is also the only one that mentions the Book of Life.  What is in that book?  Can names be removed from the Book of life?  Could your name be removed?  Can salvation be lost?

There are some in the church who believe you can lose your salvation and some who believe you can’t.  People on both sides are absolutely convinced of their position.

They have verses they use to support their position.  Some believe that there is a verse in this letter that proves you can lose your salvation.  We will see if they are right.

The Dead Church

Jesus said, “I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead” (Revelation 3:1 NIV)

Jesus diagnosed the condition of Sardis and said the church was dead.  It is pretty bad if Jesus looks at your church and says, “You’re dead” (νεκρος). That is about the worst thing that Jesus could say to a local church.

Jesus did NOT say that the church is sick. He did NOT say that the church is weak. He did NOT say that it was unbalanced.  He said that it was DEAD.   This was a pretend church.  It was a nominal church.  They were Christians in name only.  They were just playing church.

Would you be able to recognize a dead church today, if you saw it?  What are some characteristics of a dead church?  What do dead churches look like?

A dead church is big on externals.  A dead church is big on rituals.  They focus on form rather than substance.  They are religious but not righteous. They are religious but not godly. They have a form of godliness but deny its power (II Timothy 3:5).  Here are some of the signs.

Five Truths about Dead Churches

1) Some churches die

Churches are born and some churches die.  Big churches die.  Small churches die.

Churches founded by apostles can die.  Churches that used to have great preachers can die.  Megachurches can die.

Jesus said that the Church of Sardis had a name.  It had a great history and a great reputation.  It was a famous church and it died.

Every year, thousands of churches close their doors and die.  They go out of existence.  Many died during the pandemic.

Why do most churches die?  There are many reasons, but someone gets mad, leaves the church and takes people with them.  The church doesn’t have enough money to keep the power on, so they close the doors.

2) Churches can be dead and alive at the same time

People can be physically alive and spiritually dead. Paul said, “But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead EVEN WHILE SHE LIVES.” (I Timothy 5:8 NIV)

Churches can as well.  They are just made up of people.  They can be alive on the outside and dead on the inside.

There is an old horror movie called Night of the Living Dead (1968).  This was the church of the living dead.  If you watch horror movies, you might have seen a few zombie movies.

There is another movie that came out in 2011 called Zombie Apocalypse. We all know what the apocalypse is.  Do you know what the zombie apocalypse is?  The Apocalypse is the book of Revelation.  The first word of the Book of Revelation in Greek is άποκάλυψις.

In this movie, a plague wipes out ninety percent of the US population.  Most of the country is dead.  Only a small percentage survived, and the survivors are attacked by a horde of zombies.  Dead bodies come out of the grave and attack the survivors.

Sardis was a church of zombies.  There were some zombie pastors in the pulpit, delivering dead sermons to dead people.  There were zombie worship leaders, leading worship.  There were zombie Sunday School teachers.

One thing that never makes sense to me is why people go to dead churches.  If people are given a choice between a church that is alive and vibrant and one that is dead, many choose a dead church.  Why?  Some do it because it was grandma’s church.  Some do it for social reasons.

3) Just because a church looks alive does not mean it is alive

Just because a person looks alive does not mean that they are.  They may be big and strong and active but spiritually dead.

A church may look alive.  They think it is alive.  Their doors are open.  They have services every week.  People show up to the church.  The church may do all kinds of things on the outside and have a lot of different ministries.

In addition, the church may even be famous.  It may have a good reputation among people.  Everyone wants to go to a church with a big name.  Appearances can be deceptive.  We look on the outside.  We clean the outside of the cup.  God looks on the inside.

A church may look great on the outside (a fancy building, a huge cathedral, large membership, a big choir) but still be dead.  That is just dressing up a corpse.  Some churches wear great grave clothes but are really a corpse.

4) Dead churches often have some saved people in them

We may know some dead churches in our community.  We think that there is no one saved there but even in dead churches, there are often some true believers.

Jesus said to a dead church, “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” (Revelation 3:4 NIV).

5) There are only two things that can revive a dead church.

More programs will not revive a dead church.  More rituals will not do it.  More hymns won’t do it.  Creeds will not do it. Only the Word of God and the Spirit of God can do it.

God’s Word brings life.  Jesus said, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63 NKJV).  We also know that the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12 NKJV).

God’s Spirit also brings life.  How do you stop a fire from going out?  Blow on the hot coals.  Give it some oxygen.  The Spirit needs to blow on some dead churches.  Only the Holy Spirit can bring life to a dead church.

The Spirit gives life.  A Spirit-filled church is alive.  We often try to have church without the Holy Spirit.  You can walk in a church and tell if the Spirit is present or not.

The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life (John 6:63 NIV).  The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (II Corinthians 3:6 NIV)

The Spirit gives life.  Jesus said it.  Paul said it.  Ezekiel says it..  The Prophet Ezekiel was in the Spirit.  He has a vision.  God took him, transported him right into the middle of a valley.  There are mountains on one side and on the other side and a valley in the middle.

Ezekiel walks around and look at this valley and sees nothing but dead bones all over the place.  He has to be careful where he walks, so he does not step on any of them.  The bones were not connected and were not buried.

God asked Ezekiel an impossible question.  Can these bones live?  Ezekiel said, “I don’t know but you know.”  Then God told Ezekiel to preach to these dead bones.  He told him to prophesy to the bones.

Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14 I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT IN YOU AND YOU WILL LIVE, and I will settle you in your own land. (Ezekiel 37:11-14 NIV)

The Word of God and the Spirit of God can bring the dry bones back to life and can also bring a dead church back to life.  The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ (Revelation 3:6 NASB)

Jesus’ words are God’s words.  They are also what the Spirit says.  Only the Spirit can bring a dead church back to life is the Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is the source of life.

That is why Jesus introduces himself to the dead church Sardis as the one who holds the seven spirits of God.

“To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.

The seven spirits have to refer to the Holy Spirit.  The seven spirits are another name for the Holy Spirit.  How do we know?  All you have to do is to look at the first time they are mentioned in the book.  That is in Revelation 1:4-6.

John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood (NIV).

The seven spirits are linked together with God the Father and God the Son.  When John sends the Book of Revelation to the seven churches it comes with a greeting.  It is a greeting of grace and peace. This greeting comes from three sources. It is from the entire Trinity.

The order is a little different. We usually think of the Trinity as the Father, Son and Spirit.  John changes the order to Father, Spirit and Son, because he wants to focus on Jesus in the next few verses.

It is a strange way to refer to the Holy Spirit.  We never talk about the Holy Spirit like that.  Is there one spirit or seven spirits?

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:4-6 NIV)

There is only one Holy Spirit.  There are not seven Holy Spirits, but this is a special, apocalyptic way to refer to the Holy Spirit.  Seven is the number of perfection and completion.

It is a way to refer to the complete ministry of the Holy Spirit.  It is an allusion to Isaiah 11.  The Holy Spirit is capable of ministering to any need in our life.

Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. (Revelation 3:1-3 NIV)

The Sleeping Church

Here we see, this was not only a dead church; it was a sleeping church. This was the Rip Van Winkle Church.  The elders were asleep. The pastor was asleep. The deacons were all asleep.  What is the lesson here?

You can be saved and spiritually asleep.  You can be a baptized and be asleep.  You can be a member of a local church and be asleep.  You can even be a church leader and be asleep.

Now only does Jesus talk about this, Paul does as well.  Paul talks about this in Romans.  He talks about it in Ephesians.  He talks about it in I Thessalonians.  He talks about this topic at least three times.

Therefore it says, “AWAKE, O SLEEPER, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Ephesians 5:14 ESV)

While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you bare not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.

5 For you are all children 2 of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then LET US NOT SLEEP, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. (I Thessalonians 5:3-8 ESV)

11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to WAKE FROM SLEEP. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. (Romans 13:11-14 ESV)

The Church of Sardis did not have problems with persecution from the Jews or the Romans. It did not have problems with false teachers. There is no mention of Balaam, Jezebel or the Nicolaitans in this church.

The sin in this church is that it was asleep.  It is the problem of many churches today.  It is the problem of many Christians today.  How do you know if you are asleep spiritually?  What are some characteristics?

Commands to a Sleeping Church

Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. (Revelation 3:2-3 NIV)

Jesus gives five commands to a sleeping church. Jesus gave a wake-up call to this church.  These are five commands to a dead church.  It is the formula for revival: wake up, strengthen, remember, keep and repent.

The first command is to wake up.  This church was asleep at the wheel.  The elders are asleep. The pastor is asleep.  The deacons were asleep.  They needed to wake up.  Jesus said this two times

Second, they are told to strengthen what remains and is about to die.  Sardis was a dying church.  The church needed to be strengthened before it died completely and was too late.

Third, they are to go back to their roots.  They are to remember what they received. A dead church does not need to hear something new. It does not need to go to a church growth conference and hear the latest fad.

It needs to go back to basics, like the sports coach that teaches the basics. A sleeping church needs to go back to basic Bible doctrine.

That is what Luther did.  The Roman Catholic Church in the Middle Ages was dead. Martin Luther took people back to the basics (salvation by grace, the authority of Scripture)

Four, they are to keep it.  They are to hold fast to it.  That is the problem today.  Many young Christians learn basic doctrine.  They learn the basic truths of Christianity but give it up and say they no longer believe it.

Lastly, they are told to repent.  The concept of repentance is foreign in many churches.  This command is for professing Christians, not unbelievers.  Jesus tells these church members to repent and ask God for forgiveness.

Why did they need to repent?  This church was not only dead, it was dirty.  They had soiled their garments.  There was sin in their life.  They had stained their clothes.

Jesus said if they did not repent, He would judge the church.  What if they did repent?  Jesus gave them three promises.

Three Promises

The one who overcomes will be clothed the same way, in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. (Revelation 3:5 NIV)

The church in Sardis had soiled their clothes but the overcomer in Sardis is promised new clothes in heaven.  Sardis was a city that manufactured clothes (wool garments).

The church in Sardis was dead but the overcomer in Sardis was not only promised life; their name would be in a book of life and not erased.  That is not only salvation but security.

The third promise to the overcomer in Sardis is recognition in heaven. They will not just get to enter heaven.  Jesus will confess their name to the Father.

That is not just a promise to people in that church.  It is a promise to us today.  Jesus said, “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven” (Matthew 10:32 NIV).

Modern Applications

What lessons does this church have for us today?  There are many.  This is a powerful letter.  It raises many questions.

Are we spiritually dead or spiritually alive?  Are we asleep or are we awake?  The church in America needs a revival.  Do we need a personal revival?

Do we need to go back to the basics?  Many Christians today do.

Are our works perfect before God?  That is not talking about sinless perfection.  Are our works complete before God?

Is there something that he wants us to do that we are not doing?  Perhaps we started to do something but did not finish.

Have we soiled our clothes?  Are we wearing dirty clothes spiritually?  Is there anything that we need to repent of?

Is our name written in the Book of Life?  Are we sure that we are saved?  Many think that you can know who is in the book today, but you can.

“Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life” (Philippians 4:3 NIV)

Paul said that some women in his day, along with Clement and his coworkers all had their names in the Book of life.  How could he say that?  He had never seen the book.  The book is in heaven but Paul already knew that they were in it.

You can tell if people are written in the book or not written in the book by their life.  Jesus said that a tree is known by its fruit.  People in the Tribulation who worship the Beast will demonstrate that they are not written in the Book of Life.

Do you know if your name in in that book?  Do we know if we are really saved?  Will Jesus say our name before the Father?  Jesus said that we need to rejoice that our names are written in heaven (Luke 10:20).

[1] Compare also Luke 10:20; Heb. 12:23.

[2] “The obvious implication is that the one who does not conquer will not be clothed in white garments and will be blotted out of the book of life and will not be confessed before the Father and the angels. The reference to blotting out of the book of life is especially instructive on the question of salvation security. For blotting a name out of the book of life implies that the name was in the book and that the person identified by the name was saved. But blotting out of the book indicates the removal of salvation and eternal life.” (http://evangelicalarminians.org/the-facts-of-salvation-a-summary-of-arminian-theologythe-biblical-doctrines-of-grace/)

[3] Some would say that Jesus threatens to remove people from the Book of Life in Revelation 22:19 but that is not supported by the vast majority of Greek manuscripts.  The majority text reads “tree of life,” not “book of life” in Revelation 22:19 (MT).

“A good woman is the best thing on earth… An evil woman is the most dangerous thing on earth”[1]

There are many godly women in the Bible.  There are some good role models for women in Scripture.  There is Abigail, Rebekah, Ruth, Esther, Hannah and many others.

There are some in the Bible that you have never heard about.  We just finished a study of II Samuel and found one of the godliest women.  Her name was Rizpah.

There are many good women in the Bible.  There also some very wicked women in Scripture.  Let’s think of just some of the women that would make the top ten bad girls of the Bible list.  They come from all different races.

There is Delilah, who was Samson’s girlfriend. She was a Philistine.  You can read about her in the Book of Judges.  Samson falls in love with a woman, a beautiful woman, a beautiful pagan woman.

Israel was at war with the Philistines, and he falls in love with a Philistine.  He is sleeping with the enemy.  He does not marry her but has a relationship with her.

The enemy finds out about it and bribes Delilah a lot of money to find the secret of his strength.  He refused to tell her, but she kept asking and finally said, “If you really love me, you will tell me.”   He finally tells her in a moment of weakness, and she cuts his hair.

There is Potiphar’s wife.  We read about her in the Book of Genesis.  She was an Egyptian and she was married.  She wanted to have an affair with one of her young attractive foreign slaves, but he said no.  She did not like to be rejected and she was rejected more than once.

As the saying goes, “hell has no fury like a scored woman,” so this seductress ends up framing Joseph for rape.  She falsely accused Joseph of a sex crime and had him thrown into prison.  You can read about that story in Genesis 39.

There is Herodias.  You can read about her in the gospels.  She was a Roman.  She was married to a politician.  She was married to Herod Antipas.  He was the son of Herod the Great, the ruler who tried to murder Jesus when he was an infant.

Antipas was the ruler of Galilee during the ministry of Christ.  Herodias was married to Antipas’ brother, but she had an affair with Antipas, got rid of her old husband and married him.

John the Baptist did something that is not done too much these days.  He preached against sin.  He said that certain things are right and certain things are wrong.  He said that Herodias’ marriage was wrong.

She hated him for that.  She hated him so much that she had his head cut off.  That was how she got her revenge.

The one who has the reputation as the most wicked woman in the Bible was Jezebel.  She was the meanest woman in the Bible.  She was “bad to the bone” as our pastor says.

If Judas was the worst person in the NT, Jezebel was the worst person in the OT.  She was Phoenician.  She was a Phoenician princess.  Her dad was the king of Phoenicia (modern day Lebanon).

She married the king of Israel (King Ahab).  She became this notoriously wicked queen.  You can read about her in I Kings and II Kings.

Today, we learn that there is a Jezebel in the NT, as well as the OT.  Her real name was not Jezebel.  We don’t know what her real name was, but we know that she was not born Jezebel.  Her mom did not call her Jezebel, but Jesus did, because she acted just like Jezebel.

We are going to see today what some characteristics of a modern-day Jezebel look like.  There are many churches today that have a Jezebel in it.  How many?  We do not know.  Some preachers act as if there is one in every church.

Jesus wrote letters to seven churches.  Only one of them had a Jezebel in them.  Only 14% of the churches that Jesus wrote had a Jezebel in the church.  Not every church has a Jezebel in it but some big mega churches might have more than one Jezebel in them.

We are going to look at the NT Jezebel today.  She is found in the fourth of Jesus to the seven churches, the letter to the Church of Thyatira.

It happens to also be the longest letter Jesus wrote to the seven churches.  The shortest letter was to the Church of Smyrna.  The longest letter was to the Church of Thyatira.

Thyatira was a small city.  It was an insignificant city.  It was not important politically.  It was just a trade town, but the church in this small city received the longest letter from Jesus

This was the church that had Jezebel in it.  She was a member of that church.  What was she like?  What is the Spirit of Jezebel?  How are people like her today?  What are some myths about this passage?  How does it apply to us today?

Jesus gives this church a serious warning.  Jesus threatens people in this church with tribulation, sickness and death, if they don’t repent.  That is not the nice Jesus you hear preached in church too much these days.

Jesus says that He will judge us according to our works.  I will repay each of you according to your works (Revelation 2:23).

He also gives them two promises.  He promised that they will share in Christ’s millennial rule on the earth. Jesus says they will have authority over the nations (Revelation 2:26).

That is a very interesting promise to this church because the city of Thyatira was not important politically. It didn’t rule over anything.  He also promised that they will be given the morning star (Revelation 2:28).

Jesus says, “I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” (Revelation 22:16 NIV).  He promises to give Himself to them.

Christ’s Character

To each one of these seven churches, Jesus tells him something about himself.

To the Church of Ephesus, Jesus holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands (Revelation 2:1)

To the Church of Smyrna, the persecuted church, Jesus is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again (Revelation 2:8).

To the Church of Pergamum, Jesus has the sharp, double-edged sword (Revelation 2:12) and would use that sword against members of the church who did not repent.  That is not the Jesus that you hear much about in church.

To the Church of Thyatira, Jesus is Son of God.  He is not just the human Son of Man.  He is the divine Son of God.  This is the only time in these letters that we see the words “Son of God.”

In fact, Revelation 2:18 is the only time in the whole book that we see the title “Son of God.”  It is common in the NT, but this is the only time in Revelation we see this title of Jesus.

We are also told that Jesus’ eyes are like blazing fire and His feet are like burnished bronze (Revelation 2:18).   It is a picture of omniscience, and it is a picture of judgment.

Jesus said, “I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds” (Revelation 2:23 NIV)

Jesus has penetrating eyes, like a flame of fire.  He sees everything in our church.  He sees everything in our lives.  He sees the good things you do for Him that no one else sees.  He sees the bad.  He can see in the dark. He sees everything (every action, every word, every thought).  He knows everything.

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:13 NIV)

People can accuse you of all kinds of things, but Jesus is the only one who knows the truth.  He is the only one who searches the hearts. Jesus not only sees; He judges.

Fire is an instrument of judgment.  The wicked will be judged by fire (Revelation 19:11-12; II Thessalonians 1:7-8). The unsaved will be cast into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:15).

Even Christians will face fire when they see Jesus. The works of Christians will one day face fire and be judged (I Corinthians 3:10-15).  Bronze is also picture of judgment in the Bible.

Christ’s Commendation

Jesus gave this church a mixed review.  There were some things the church was great at doing.  There were other areas it was terrible at doing.  Jesus begins His letter talking about the good things they did.  He starts with a commendation.  He starts positive.

I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and  that you are now doing more than you did at first. (Revelation 2:19 NIV)

Jesus said a lot of good things about this church. This church had four good points.  Jesus commended this church’s LOVE.  He commended their FAITH.  He commended their SERVICE.  He commended their PERSEVERANCE. It was a working church.  They refused to quit.  They kept on ministering.

In many ways, the Church of Thyatira was the exact opposite of the church of Ephesus.  The Church of Ephesus was doctrinally sound.  They did not tolerate false teachers.  They kept them out of the church, but they did not have any love.

The Church of Thyatira had love.  They had plenty of love, but they tolerated false teachers and false prophets in the church.  There are only two times the Greek word for “love” (αγαπη) is used in Revelation.

It is used once in the Church of Ephesus and once in the church of Thyatira.  Ephesus was the church that did not have love. It lost its love.  Thyatira was a church that had love.

The Church of Ephesus’ first works were greater than its last works.  He told the church to go back and do the first works again.  The Church of Thyatira had greater works in the end than they had in the beginning.

Jesus said, “you are now doing more than you did at first” (Revelation 2:19 NIV).  Their last works were greater than their first works.  This was a church that kept getting better.  It kept improving.  It kept making progress.

Their last state was better than the first.  We should be constantly growing and improving spiritually.  Our church should as well.

Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (II Peter 3:18 NIV).

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. (II Peter 1:5-7 NIV)

Are you growing?  Are you doing more spiritually than you did ten or twenty years ago or less?

Christ’s Criticism

This was a good church, but Jesus had one criticism, just one.  Just because a church is strong in one area does not mean that it cannot be weak in another area.

We can be very strong in one area.  Some are strong in prayer but weak in bible study.  Some are strong in worship but weak in evangelism.

Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols (Revelation 2:21 NIV).

What was the problem with this church?  It had one fatal flaw.  Many churches today have the same problem.  They allowed a heretic in the church.  Jezebel was in that church and it was their own fault, because they allowed it.  They allowed moral and doctrinal error in the church.

Their biggest problem is that they were too tolerant.  That is what Jesus said.  Nevertheless, I have this against you: You TOLERATE that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet (Revelation 2:20 NIV).

The world praises tolerance.  Tolerance is a virtue today.  Should it be?  Yes and No.  There are some things we should tolerate and some things we should not tolerate.

We don’t tolerate babies playing with sharp objects or kids running out in the middle of the street. We don’t tolerate cancer in your body. We cut it out, because cancer will kill us. We do not tolerate rapists, murderers and child molesters.

Teachers do not tolerate wrong answers on tests.  They do not say that any answer is acceptable.  We should not tolerate sin. The church should not tolerate moral error. It also should not tolerate doctrinal error.

The real problem in this church was NOT Jezebel. Jezebel was just the symptom of the problem.  The real problem in this church was the leaders.  Some church leaders are like dictators.  They try to micromanage everything.  Many of us have been in churches with pastors with big egos.

Other leaders never take a stand on anything.  They avoid conflict and don’t want to offend anyone, because they might leave the church.  Some churches tolerate things that they shouldn’t.

At Thyatira, there was a powerful, influential, strong-willed woman who had a big following.  She publicly promoted error and none of the leaders of the church had the courage to stand up to her.  None of them had any backbone.

A Spirit Alive Today

This spirit is alive and well in the body of Christ today.  This spirit can operate in men and women.  It infiltrates churches and can destroy them but what is it?  What does that look like?  What is the spirit of Jezebel?

There are multiple websites about Jezebel.  There are books on Jezebel.  Michael Brown has a book on Jezebel.  This spirit is described in a number of ways.

It is described as a domineering and a controlling spirit.  It is described as an intimidating spirit.  It is described as a spirit of witchcraft and sorcery.  It is described as an emasculating, man-hating spirit. It is described as a radical feminist spirit.

Today, we want to ask this question:  What does the Book of Revelation say about Jezebel?  That is where some people might be shocked.

Jesus does not condemn her for being a feminist or being a witch.  He does not condemn her for being a woman.  He does not call her a demon spirit.  What does Jesus say about Jezebel?

There are people like Jezebel in the church today.  There are some modern-day Jezebels.  What are the signs of a Jezebel spirit from this passage?  Do you have a Jezebel spirit?  Let’s look at four signs of this spirit from Revelation 2.

Do You Have a Jezebel Spirit?

1) You have a Jezebel Spirit,  if you claim to be something you are not

Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, WHO CALLS HERSELF A PROPHET (Revelation 2:20 NIV). This Jezebel claimed to be something that she was not.  She called herself a prophet.

God did not call her a prophet.  She called herself one.  She claimed special revelation.  She called herself a prophet.  She was prominent.  Everyone one else respected her.  Jesus insulted her and called her Jezebel.

Her problem is that she did not have a call.  She usurped the office without a call from God.  The tragedy today is that many today think they are prophets.  They call themselves prophets.  Others think they are a prophet, but they are not a real prophet. They are self-appointed and self-proclaimed.

That is a huge problem in the church today.  People go around in the church with big heads.  They think they have a special anointing.  They think that they have special God-given authority.  They think they are apostles, and everyone should listen to them.  Some claim to be Bible teachers who do not teach the Bible.

The Bible says that we are to test the prophets.  There are easy ways to test true and false prophets.  A prophet is someone who speaks for God.  They will claim to have a word from God.  They will say that God spoke to them.

It is very easy to apply two simple tests to these people.  The first test is the SCRIPTURAL TEST.  God has already spoke in His word.  If someone else says that God has spoken again, compare what they say to what God has already said.

What Jezebel taught plainly contradicted what Scripture teaches.  The Bible does not tell us to commit sexual immorality and to commit idolatry. Islam has some false prophets.  There are people that claim to be prophets.  They claim to have a revelation but their revelation contradicts Scripture.  That is the first test.

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. ² This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, ³ but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. (I John 4:1-3 NIV)

The second test is the PROPHETIC TEST.  If they make a prediction and if they say that the prediction comes from God, does it come to pass?

Some predicted that Donald Trump would win a second term.  Some said that he would remain president after the election.  It is one thing to say that I think he will win.  I believe he will win the election.  It is another thing to stand up and say that God told me that he will win.

It is very dangerous to not just make a prediction about something and claim to have a word from God and make God out to be a liar.  That is taking the name of the Lord in vain.  God takes that very seriously.  He says that He will not hold the person guiltless who take His name in vain (Exodus 20:7).

 But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death.”

21 You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?” 22 If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed. (Deuteronomy 18:20-22 NIV)

2) You have a Jezebel Spirit, if you have a lot of power and influence

Jezebel had power.  She had power in the OT.  She had power in the NT.  The OT Jezebel had a position of power.  She had a position of power in the government.  She was the wife of the king, and she controlled him, because he was a weak man.

The NT Jezebel also had power in the local church.  She had a strong personality.  She was liked.  She was popular.  She had influence.  She had followers.  She had disciples.  Jesus mentions her lovers and her children (Revelation 2:23).  People came to her for guidance.

They were not literal children.  They were spiritual children.  She had followers and she was given some position in the church.  She was given a platform.  She was allowed to teach or prophecy in the church.

She had a big following.  She claimed to have secret knowledge.  If you come to her, you will learn the deep truths of God.  Jesus said that people who came to her learned some deep truths, but they were “the deep secrets of Satan” (Revelation 2:24 NIV).

3) You have a Jezebel Spirit, if you use that power to deceive others

Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she MISLEADS my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. (Revelation 2:20 NIV)

The OT Jezebel seduced people.  She led her husband and the ten northern tribes in the worship of Baal.  Jezebel introduced idolatry to the people of God in the OT.

The NT Jezebel introduced idolatry to people in the church.  She used her power and influence to deceive others.  She deceived others doctrinally.  She deceived others morally.  She led them into theological error.  She led them into sin.

She taught the Doctrine of Balaam.  In the Church of Pergamum, there were people who believe the Doctrine of Balaam.  They were called Nicolaitans.  In the Church of Thyatira, a woman was actually teaching this doctrine in the church.

One characteristic of a Jezebel Spirit is deception.  Who was she deceiving?  Christians.  How did she do it?  How could real Christians worship idols and commit sexual immorality?  You say, “They must have been pretty stupid.”

Thyatira was the place known for its trade guilds.  They had a guild for almost every trade.  In order to get a job, you had to be a member of a trade guild. You had to join the union.

The problem is that each guild was dedicated to an idol.  At the guild meetings, they ate food offered to idols.  There was a lot of alcohol consumed at these meetings.  There were a lot of women at these meeting.  Immorality was associated with these guild meetings as well.

The burning question of that day was this: Is it right for a Christian to join a trade guild?  It is not the burning question today.  They did not deal with race issues (BLM, CRT).  They did not deal with people trying to change their gender.  They just dealt with trade guilds and whether they were allowed.

One prominent and outspoken woman in this church said that she had a word from God on the matter.  She said that Christians could participate in these clubs.  She told people what they wanted to hear.  You can fit it with everyone else and not have to be different.

Aftercall, idols were not real.  They don’t exist.  God wants you to support your family.  If you join one of these clubs, you will have more opportunity, make more money and be able to support your family, as you are called to do.  That led to idolatry and immorality.

4) You have a Jezebel Spirit, if you do are not open to biblical correction

I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. (Revelation 2:21 ESV)

A final characteristic of this spirit is stubbornness and pride.  Jesus loves everybody.  He even loved Jezebel. Now, Jezebel was wicked.  She was deceiving and seducing God’s people.  She taught error in the church.  You expect instant judgment, but Jesus was patient with her.

He did not judge her right away.  He gave her time to repent but she refused to repent.  She was not open to correction or rebuke.  She did not think she had done anything wrong.  In fact, she looked down on everyone else.

Jezebel was not submissive to church leaders.  She was not accountable. That is a dangerous place to be in.  Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy. (Proverbs 29:1)

Modern Lessons for Today

1) False teaching takes place in some churches today.

False teaching takes place in bad churches.  It also takes place in some churches that have some really good points.  They might be great worship churches.  They might be good at evangelism or spiritual gifts.  They might be churches where they take care of people.  They love people but still have false teaching in the church.

2) Some leaders allow false teaching to take place.

They do not do anything about it.  They may not encourage it, but they do not stop it.  They don’t stop it for a number of reasons.  Some leaders do not know the Word very well.

Some do not want to offend anyone.  Some want to be inclusive and accept everyone.  Most churches do not practice church discipline today.  We should beware of a church that does that.

3) True believers can be deceived.

They can fall into deep sin.  Many think that if you are a true Christian you cannot fall into sin, especially sexual sin.  All you have to do is to read the Bible.  Many believers fell into sin.  Some fell into deep sin.

Solomon was a believer.  He fell into idolatry.  David was a believer he fell into sexual sin.  Jesus says that true believers can fall into sin.

By her teaching she misleads MY SERVANTS into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols (Revelation 2:20 NIV).

4) We need to be careful who we follow.

Just because people say they are a prophet does not mean they are one.  Just because someone says that God spoke to him or her does not mean that He has.  Test the spirits.  Some false teachers are extremely gifted.  They may be great public speakers but what they say has to be evaluated with Scripture.

5) Jesus is not pleased with everyone.

He is not pleased with every church.  He is not pleased with every Christian.  Jesus said, “Nevertheless, I have this against you.”  Those are words that no church wants to hear from Jesus.

Those are words that no Christian wants to hear from Jesus: “I have this against you.”  Jesus was not pleased with Jezebel, and He was not pleased with the leaders in the church who allowed her to continue to deceive people.

6) If we sin, we need to repent

We do not talk about this too much in church today.  We only talk about the unsaved needing to repent.  Some Christians need to repent as well.  If we are living in sin, are we open to biblical rebuke or, like Jezebel, do we refuse to repent.

7) If we don’t repent, expect judgment.

This is something else almost never preached in church.  When was the last time that you heard anyone preached in church if you continue to live in open sin and rebellion and profess the name of Christ, you might get sick or die?  Sometimes, we are told the exact opposite.  We are told that God never makes anyone sick but notice the words of Jesus here.

So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. (Revelation 2:22-23 NIV)

The good news is that judgment is not inevitable.  If you repent, you won’t be judged.  Jesus knows the group in the church that followed Jezebel and the group that did not.  He searches the minds and hearts.  Only God can search our hearts.  Jesus is God.

[1] Vance Havner, Repent or Else, 45.

[2] Ken Trivette, “Dear Thyatira:  You have a Woman Problem” (spoken recording), n.d.

[3] Stephen Anderson, Understanding the Book of Revelation, 47.

We are studying the letters of the seven churches in the Book of Revelation.  Today, we come to the third letter of Jesus.  We looked at Jesus’ letter to the Church of Ephesus (the cold church).

We looked at his letter to the Church of Smyrna (the persecuted church).  Today, we look at the letter to the Church at Pergamum (the doctrinally unsound church).  They had people in it who believed all kinds of strange things.

Pergamum was a city in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey).  The city was sixty miles north of Smyrna.

This church is very similar to the American Church.  Most churches are not really good or really bad.  They are somewhere in the middle.  Most churches have a combination of good and bad.

They have some really good people in them.  They are faithful.  They are godly.  They are sincere but it also has some people who are not so good in it.

The Church of Pergamum was like that.  It had some godly people in it.  It had some people who took a stand for Jesus.  Jesus said that this church remained true to him.

He said that this church did NOT renounce their faith, even in the midst of intense persecution (Revelation 2:13).  One member of the church, named Antipas, was put to death.

His faith in Christ got him killed.  He did not deny Jesus and he was martyred.  There were other people in the church who were not so good.  Today, I want to look at four lessons from this church.

Modern Lessons from This Church

1) Don’t confuse education and culture with morality

Pergamum was an intellectual center.  It was a center of learning in the ancient world.  It had a huge library there, one of the most famous libraries in the ancient world. The second largest library in the Roman Empire was in Pergamum.

The first largest was in Alexandria in Egypt which contained 500,000. The library at Pergamum had over 200,000 books in it.

These books looked a little different than books today.  These were scrolls, not books. Books did not exist yet. Books were not invented until the fourth century.  This library had 200,000 scrolls all copied by hand because the printing press had not been invented yet.

Pergamum was a center of healing and medicine.  One of the greatest surgeons in the ancient world live there.  Galen was the greatest physician of ancient Rome. He lived a few years after John (c.129-200 AD).

He was also a writer.  He wrote twenty-one books.  Each one was a thousand pages long.  Pergamum was Galen’s hometown.  He was born in Pergamum.

A city may be a great intellectual center.  It may be a great cultural center but never confuse culture with morality.  Never confuse education with spirituality.

This city was a great cultural and intellectual center, but it was also an extremely wicked city.  It was a very dark place for a Christian to live.

Some Christians were martyred in this church.  Antipas was martyred there.  According to tradition, he was the Bishop of Pergamum and was martyred.

2) Don’t confuse your environment with your identity

Jesus said that we are to be in the world but not of the world (John 17:14-18).  He sends us into the world, but we are not of the world.  We are in the world.

All Christians live in enemy territory.  We live in the world.  We are surrounded by unbelievers.  In some cases, we live in a place that is a hostile environment for Christians.  Notice what Jesus said to this church.

To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. 13 I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives. (Revelation 2:12-13 NIV)

This church was not located in the Bible belt.  It was located in a center of demonic and satanic activity.  That sounds a little scary.  This church was surrounded by really bad influences.

Satan’s throne was in Pergamum.  Satan is called the “prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2).  He is a ruler.  All rulers have a throne where they rule from.  They all have a seat of government.

In John’s day, Satan’s throne was located in Pergamum.  No one could see his throne.  It was invisible and yet Pergamum was where Satan’s base of operations was located.

Jesus knew all about it.  He said, “I know where you live.”  He knew where members of this church where they lived, and he knows where we live as well. He knew where the Jews lived in Egypt.

“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God. 7 The Lord said, “I have indeed SEEN the misery of my people in Egypt. I have HEARD them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am CONCERNED about their suffering. (Exodus 3:5-7 NIV).

“Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day. 4 The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’ 5 And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious people—they will know that a prophet has been among them. 6 And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and YOU LIVE AMONG SCORPIONS. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people. (Ezekiel 2:3-6 NIV).

The Church of Pergamum was located near Satan’s headquarters.  Satan has his operations all over the world but apparently his throne, in John’s day, was located in Pergamum.  It was where Satan’s headquarters were located.

This city was a stronghold. It was a satanic stronghold. Satan had special power in that city.  Satan is more active in certain geographic locations.  He manifests his power and authority more in certain places than others.

Why would Satan’s throne be in Pergamum?  Why would he choose this city?

Pergamum was a center of demonic activity.  It was a center false religion.  It was a center of idolatry.  It was a center of immorality.  It was a center of persecution.  One member of this died for his faith in Christ.

Pergamum was full of idolatry.  It was a center of idol worship.  Pergamum is a city on a hill and at the top of the hill is a bunch of pagan temples.

Zeus was worshiped there.  There is a massive fifty-foot statute to Zeus there.  There are temples to other gods there as well.

Asclepius was the Greek god of healing.  Aesculapius was the Roman god of medicine.  Asclepius was worshiped in Pergamum.  There was a large temple built for this god.

Diseased people from all over the Roman Empire flocked to Pergamum.  Sick people would come to the Temple of Asclepius, worship Asclepius and hope to be healed.

The symbol of Asclepius was the serpent.  This picture of a snake on a stick is still the symbol of the medical profession to this day.

Pergamum was also a center of Caesar worship.  The Romans considered their emperors as gods.  They built temples for them.  They worshiped them.

Pergamum was also the first place that worshiped the Roman emperors as God. “It was the first city in Asia Minor to build a temple to a Roman ruler (Augustus)”[1]

What is the lesson for today?  No matter where we live, we can shine the light of Christ.  The darker the location is, the more the light shines, the more it needs the gospel witness.  This church was called a lampstand.  It held up the light in a dark place.

This church ministered in Satan’s territory and remained faithful.  This church stayed faithful in Satan’s city and we can too.  While others said that “Caesar is Lord,” they said, “Jesus is Lord” and remained faithful.

3) Don’t confuse opinion with truth

We all have opinions about things.  You have opinions and I have opinions, but all ideas are not equal.  All opinions are not biblical.  All ideas should not be accepted.

This church had people in the church who believed false doctrine.  There were more than one of them.  There were some in the church who held to the doctrine of Balaam.  They had others in the church called Nicolaitans.

It is also possible that there were only one group in this church that held false doctrine.  They were called the Nicolaitans.  What did they believe?  They taught the Doctrine of Balaam.  Some say that “The teaching of Balaam” is the same as “the teaching of the Nicolaitans” [2]

They are not teaching in the church yet.  In the next church, we see people in leadership position with false doctrine.   They were in the church spreading false doctrine and it was like cancer.  It was destroying the church.  No one was correcting it.

This was a leadership problem in the church.  We have people in the church who believe all kinds of things, some biblical and some unbiblical.  If the church does not do a lot of teaching, it is a big problem.

The Church of Ephesus, the hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans (Revelation 2:6).  The Church of Pergamum had people who taught the doctrine of the Nicolaitans in their church (Revelation 2:15).  They had people who taught the doctrine of Balaam.

Can there ever be false teaching in church?  Yes.  You can hear all kinds of crazy things in some churches.  Preachers say all kinds of goofy stuff.  How would you know if there are any?

You have to know the Word.  You have to know the difference between true and false doctrine.  Many think that the word “doctrine” is a dirty word.  It is simply saying what the Bible says on a particular topic.

We live in a day when many Christians do not know the Word.  Some leaders do not know it.  Some elders do not know it.  Some deacons do not know it.

They do not know what it teaches on a particular topic.  They do not know any verses on the topic.  They would not know how to answer some cultists who comes to their door with false doctrine.

If that describes you, it is very easy to fix.  Spend time in the Word.  Read some books.  Listen to good preachers.  Ask questions.  Most preachers get nervous when you ask questions but if they are honest questions, you should try to get an answer.

2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure SOUND DOCTRINE, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. (II Timothy 4:2-4 NKJV)

For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you— 6 if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, 8 but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, 9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by SOUND DOCTRINE, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. (Titus 1:5-9 NKJV)

But as for you, speak the things which are proper for SOUND DOCTRINE: 2 that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; 3 the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— (Titus 2:1-3 NKJV)

4) Don’t confuse feeling sorry with repentance

Now, we come to the difficult part of the letter.  Jesus has some difficult things to say to this church.  He confronted this church with sin.

Note how He described Himself to this church.  He came to this church with a sword, a sharp sword, a double-edged sword (Revelation 2:12).  I thought Jesus was always for us.  He did not come to this church all warm and fuzzy.

Here, He brings a sword of judgment against the church if it does not repent.  He stands over this church as a threatening judge.  It is better to face the sword of the Romans than the sword of Jesus.

Jesus is fair.  He praised the church for the good things they were doing.  Most churches have some good points.  After giving the church the good news, He said these words:

Nevertheless, I have a few things against you.  None of us want Jesus to have anything against our church.  Does He have anything against us?  Then He says two words. Repent therefore!  This church needed to repent.

It is interesting to me that five out of the seven churches were told by Jesus to repent.

Consider how far you have fallen! REPENT and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. (Revelation 2:5 NIV)

REPENT therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. (Revelation 2:16 NIV)

1 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they REPENT of her ways. (Revelation 2:21-23 NIV)

Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and REPENT. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. (Revelation 3:3 NIV)

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent (Revelation 3:19 NIV)

Jesus is talking to Christians.  He is not talking to pagans.  He is telling Christians to repent.  He tells five out of seven churches to repent.  That is a high number.  It is 71%.

Would He tell 71 percent of American churches to repent?  Would the number be higher or lower?  Would he tell us to repent?

What does repentance involve?  It starts with guilt.  You feel bad about something.  It involves a confession of sin (“I am sorry” or “I have sinned”).  It leads to a change of actions.

In this case, the leaders needed to remove the Nicolaitans from the church.  They needed to do some church discipline.  Few churches do that today.  It is not very popular.

One of the things that is lacking in the modern church is any teaching on repentance.  Preachers rarely talk about repentance in the pulpit. It is almost nonexistent in some churches, even though immorality is rampant in some churches.

Preachers today want to be positive and uplifting.  They want to be inspirational.  They rarely preach about sin.  They rarely preach about judgment.  We can’t be judged.  We are Christians.

That is the lie that we sometimes hear in church.  Notice what Jesus says.  Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.  That is a strange picture.  Jesus is fighting with professing Christians.

God judged Balaam.  He was killed with the sword (Numbers 31:8).  He also judged the Israelites who sinned.  Twenty-four thousand dropped dead.

Paul uses that as a warning to God’s people today.  Paul said that is a warning to us today.  It could happen to us.  When have you ever heard that message in church?

We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. (I Corinthians 10:8 NIV)

Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. (I Corinthians 10:12 ESV)

Three Promises

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’ (Revelation 2:17 NIV)

The letter ends with a promise to the overcomer.  Each church has different sins to overcome.  If this church is successful, they are promised three things: hidden manna, a white stone and a new name.

1) They will be given hidden manna

Instead of partaking of heathen feasts in pagan temples, they will get to eat of the hidden manna.  The manna is the bread that God supernaturally provided for the Israelites in the wilderness. They would not have survived without it.

Manna kept the Israelites alive for forty years in the wilderness and ceased to appear when they first harvested their crops near their new homeland (Joshua 5:12). This manna was hidden in the Ark of the Covenant in a golden jar (Hebrews 9:3-4).

It was later put in Solomon’s Temple. When the Temple was destroyed, no one knew what happened to the manna but there is Jewish legend which says the jar of manna that mysteriously disappeared will be revealed by the Messiah. All who overcome will one day receive some of the hidden manna from Jesus.

2) They will be given a white stone

White stones were used for several things in the ancient world. In ancient courts, the accused were acquitted or condemned by vote of a jury. The voting member would cast a white pebble for “acquittal” or a black pebble for “guilty”.

White stones were also used for invitations to certain functions (party) and festivals. You needed a white stone to get in. It was your ticket to get in. That is another possible meaning of the white stone.

3) They will be given a new name

We will not just get a new name.  God will give it to us.   It will not only be a new name; it will be a secret name.  We will get a new name that “no one knows except the one who receives it.” You will not know my new name and I will not know yours.  It does not necessarily mean that we will get rid of our old names.

[1] G. K. Beale, The Book of Revelation: A Commentary on the Greek Text, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, Cumbria: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press, 1999), 246.

[2] David E. Aune, Revelation 1–5, vol. 52A, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1997), 188; G. K. Beale, The Book of Revelation: A Commentary on the Greek Text, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, Cumbria: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press, 1999), 251; David L. Mathewson, Revelation: A Handbook on the Greek Text, Baylor Handbook on the Greek New Testament, (Waco: Baylor University Press, 2016), 30.

[3] Balaam was a son of Beor (Numbers 22:5).  King Bela was another son of Beor (Genesis 36:31-32).  Bela lived and ruled in Edom.

[4] Avila, Charlie, Detecting & Dealing With False Teachings: How to Maintain Sound Doctrine in the Local Church (p. 110). Kindle Edition.

[5] https://thewholedangthing.wordpress.com/2012/01/19/numbers-25-what-plague/

We have been studying the letters to the seven churches in the Book of Revelation.  Sixty years after Jesus died and rose from the dead, He wrote letters to seven special churches.

Two whole chapters of Revelation are letters.  They are letters from Jesus.  They are letters to churches.  They are personal letters of Jesus dictated to seven churches.

Jesus told these churches what He thought of them.  He gave each church a report card.  He gave some of these churches an A.  He gave some of them a C and He gave some of them an F.  What would He give our church?

Can you imagine what it would be like to go to church and hear one of these letters read for the first time?

The pastor says, “This morning, I have a special message from Jesus to everyone here.  I just received a letter that came straight from Jesus.  It is about our church, and I want to read it to you.  You are going to want to hear what He has to say.”  Before he reads it, everyone is wondering, what did He say?  Is it good news or bad news?

Jesus sees things differently than we do.  He sees people differently.  He sees churches differently.  People would not be impressed with the church that we are going to look at today.

The world saw the church as poor.  They saw themselves as poor.  Jesus said, “You are not poor.  You’re rich.”

We think certain kinds of churches are important but this church was not famous.  It was not founded by an apostle.  It was not big.  It was not wealthy.  It was not prestigious.

It was a small church.  It was a poor church.  It is the only one of the seven churches specifically called poor.  It was a persecuted church.  It was small, persecuted and poor.  Jesus liked this church.

Jesus gave this church a report card.  He had some good things and bad things to say about the Church of Ephesus, but he only had good things to say about this church.  Wouldn’t you want Jesus to only say good things about you?

Jesus had no correction.  He had no criticism.  He had no rebuke.  He said to the Church of Ephesus, “I have this against you.”  He did not have anything against the Church of Smyrna.  This was not a perfect church, yet Jesus had no words of criticism for this church.

Smyrna is the only one of the seven cities that still has a church in it today.  There are several churches in the city today. None of the seven other cities that received a letter from Jesus have a church in them today.

Today, we are going to look at Jesus’ second letter that He wrote to the Church of Smyrna.  Smyrna is forty miles away from Ephesus.  It is north of Ephesus.

It was a big city in John’s day (about 200,000 people).  There are over three million people living there today.  It is called Izmir today.  It is on the west coast of Turkey by the Aegean Sea.

This is a powerful letter.  It is a short letter.  It is only four verses long.  It is the shortest of the seven letters.  It is Jesus’ letter to the suffering church.  It tells us what Jesus thinks of persecution.

The name Smyrna means ”bitter.” It comes from the word ”myrrh.”  This church had a bitter experience.  Myrrh was a symbol of death.  It was a fragrance used to embalm dead bodies.  It was used to prepare Christ’s body for burial.  Some in this church were going to be put to death.

We know from history that sixty years later, a man named Polycarp was put to death in Smyrna.  He was the pastor of the church.  According to church history, Polycarp was a disciple of the Apostle John.

Jerome says that John had ordained him as a bishop of Smyrna.  He was martyred in 155 A.D.  He may have been in this church when Jesus wrote the letter.  He would have been in his 20s.

This letter seems like the least relevant of the seven churches to us today.  We don’t have to worry about being tortured or martyred for our faith in this country.

When was the last time anyone was put to death in our country for being a Christian.  We have something called religious freedom.  It is written into our Constitution.

This letter may not directly describe our condition, but persecution may come to us one day and we need to be prepared for it.  We may not be persecuted much it describes churches all over the world.  Christianity is the most persecuted religion in the world.

Christian persecution is a worldwide phenomenon. Christians face harassment.  They face arrest.  They face imprisonment.  They face physical death.

“Every day, 13 Christians worldwide are killed because of their faith. Every day, 12 churches or Christian buildings are attacked. And every day, 12 Christians are unjustly arrested or imprisoned, and another 5 are abducted.”[1]

“Around the world, more than 360 million Christians live in places where they experience high levels of persecution, just for following Jesus. That’s 1 in 7 believers, worldwide.”[2]  In 2021, I in 7 Christians all over the world faced persecution.

According to the Voice of the Martyrs, over sixty countries around the world have persecuted Christians.[3]  My daughter right now is in one of the top ten most persecuted countries where it is hardest to be a Christian.  Pray for her.

Martyrdom didn’t go away with the Middle Ages.  As you know, in many Muslim countries throughout the world, like in Iran, there are apostasy laws.

If you give up your Muslim faith and convert to Christianity, you are executed. Anyone who converts gets the death penalty.  That includes men and women.

We are going to look at this church and then we are going to look at how it applies to us.  What does this church say to us today?

“To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. 9 I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown. (Revelation 2:8-11 NIV)

Satanic Attack

This church was suffering, and Jesus said that it was going to get worse.  This church was under Satanic attack.  Persecution of believers is demonic.  It is satanic.

Jesus said, “THE DEVIL will put some of you in prison to test you” (Revelation 2:10 NIV) 

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12 NIV)

Their struggle was not against the Romans, or the Jews and our struggle is not against people.  The real battle comes on a different level.

This persecution was instituted by people but the one driving the persecution was not people but Satan Himself.  The one driving the persecution was a dark invisible force.

Jesus said that the Devil would put them in prison.  He didn’t say that the Jews would do it or the Romans would do it.

Satan uses different groups of people to persecute people.  He used the Jews in the first century to persecute the church.

He used the Nazis to persecute the Jews.  The Holocaust was demonic.  It was done by the Germans, and it was inspired by Satan. It was a far worse persecution than what happened to this church.

Today, he uses many Muslim nations to persecute Christians.  He uses communist governments to persecute believers (e.g., China).  North Korea is the number one persecutor on the planet.  The Bible is banned in that country.

Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10 NIV).  Jesus said that Satan “was a murderer from the beginning” (John 8:44 NIV).

Any persecution of the people of God is demonic.  Jesus called the local synagogue in Smyrna at the time “the synagogue of Satan” because they were instigating it in Smyrna.

It is pretty bad when God’s synagogue turns into Satan’s synagogue.  We see that phrase twice in the Book of Revelation.

I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. (Revelation 2:9 NIV)

I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. (Revelation 3:9 NIV)

What is the lesson for today?  The devil has a church.[4] A church that claims to be a “Church of God in Christ” may be a church of Satan.  You can’t go by the name of the church.  Jesus said, “a tree is known by its fruit.”

Some of the most intolerant people on the planet are religious people.  Religious leaders were behind the crucifixion of Christ.  The Church of Smyrna was a persecuted church and the ones behind it were religious people.

That is strong language.  It does not sound very nice.  It is not politically correct.   Some would say that it sounds like hate speech.  Is this anti-Semitic?  No.  Jesus is talking.  There is no antisemitism here.

The one who said these words was Jewish.  Jesus was a Jew.  The one who wrote the book was Jewish.  John was Jewish.  The Book of Revelation does not promote hatred of Jews.  It does not encourage violence against Jews.

In fact, even though they were physical Jews, Jesus did not recognize them as real Jews.  They are not real Jews.  They were fake Jews.  Jesus said that they say they are Jews and are not (Revelation 2:9; 3:9).

They called themselves Jews.  They looked like Jews by the way they dressed.  Other people called them Jews.  Jesus said that they are not real Jews.  They were Jews on the outside but not on the inside.

A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. 29 No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God (Romans 2:28-29 NIV).

How do we apply this today?  We do not have too many people who say they are Jews and who are not.  There are some but we have a different problem today.

Today, we have people who say they are Christians but are not.  There are all kinds of people to claim the name of Christ who do not know Him.  They may go to church every Sunday, but they are not saved.

What message did Jesus have for this church?  First, He told them who He was.  He is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.

To the church who faced death, Jesus tells them that He already conquered death.  He died and came back to life.  What religious leader can say that?  Mohammad can’t say that.  Buddha can’t.  He is also the First and the Last.  He is the God man.

He told the church of Ephesus to get back to where it used to be.  Some mainline denominations need to do that.  They are completely different day from the people who started the church.

Jesus told this church, not to get back to what they were doing but to keep doing what they were doing.

He gave the church two exhortations.  They are two exhortations to every persecuted Christians: do not fear and to be faithful unto death.

Jesus also gave this church two promises.  This church was given a special test.  Jesus promised them a special reward in heaven and promised them that they would not be hurt by the second death.

How to Respond to Persecution

Jesus says four things about persecution that are counter cultural.

1) Be Prepared

Don’t expect a Christian life without troubles, trials, difficulties or persecution.  It is all through the NT.  Jesus said this.  Paul said it.  Peter said this.  Don’t be surprised when persecution comes.

The word Smyrna means “bitter.”  We should not be surprised if persecution happens to us or when bitter things happen to us.

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. (I Peter 4:12 ESV)

“In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33 NIV).

“Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also” (John 15:20 NIV)

In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.  (II Timothy 3:12 NIV)

Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. (Revelation 2:10 NIV)

Jesus had some bad news for this church.  They already had some hard times and He told them that it would get even worse, and some would die.

Jesus is telling this church that persecution is coming soon.  It hadn’t happened yet, but it was going to soon.  That is what this church had to look forward to.  Persecution was coming and some would die.

A lot of the older translations read that they would suffer TRIBULATION for ten days (KJV). There will be a future Tribulation Period on the earth, but for this church, tribulation was NOT some end-time event that would happen in the future.

It was something that they experienced right now.  For them, and for many Christians around the world, the tribulation is present, not future.

2) Be Joyful

They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, REJOICING because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. (Acts 5:40-41 NIV)

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 REJOICE and BE GLAD, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:11-12 NIV)

Do not be upset if you are persecuted.  Why not?  Let me give you several reasons.

One, Jesus knows all about your problems.  I know YOUR AFFLICTIONS and YOUR POVERTY—yet you are rich! I know about the SLANDER of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. He knows your pain.  He knows your heartache.  He knows your struggles.  Jesus knows about it.  He sees what is happening.  He knows your situation perfectly.  He knows it better than you do.

Jesus not only know about their problems, He knows about your poverty.  He knows about their economic situation.  He knows about your financial situation, whatever it is.  What Jesus says is not what many preachers say.  Prosperity preachers say that God wants everyone to be rich.

They get that by quoting the Bible selectively.  One of the biggest dangers today is to only read half of the Bible. If you only read half of the Bible, you can make it say whatever you want it to say.  Cults do that all of the time.  Preachers sometimes do that.

Creflo Dollar wrote a book entitled, “You’re Supposed to Be Wealthy.”  It is God’s will for everyone.  The book was published in 2014.  Kenneth Copeland says that God has created a wealth generating system for believers.  You just need to use the keys to access this wealth.[5]

This poor church in Smyrna never got that message about the four steps to wealth.  They never heard of these keys.  This church was not rich.  It was poor.  Jesus said they were poor, and He does not condemn them for being poor.  He does not criticize them for being poor.  He did not say that they had a lack of faith.

The truth was that this church was NOT poor and suffering because it was out of the will of God. It was poor and suffering because it was IN the will of God.  It was poor because it was persecuted.  Jesus not only saw their poverty; He saw what people said about them.  He sees everything.

He does not just know about it; He can relate to it because He was persecuted Himself.  Jesus is the one who died and came to life again.

Jesus knows what it is like to be persecuted.  He knows what it was like to be falsely accused. He knows what it was like to be arrested.  He knows what it is like to be tortured.  He was beaten by the Romans.

Jesus knows what it was like to die. He suffered one of the worst kinds of executions that anyone has endured (Roman crucifixion).

Jesus not only knows what we are going through, promises to be with us but He also promises to reward us greatly.  People who are persecuted receive greater rewards in heaven than those who were never persecuted.

He is also in control of what happens.  He is the First and the Last.  In this case, He limits the persecution to just ten days.

3) Be Fearless

Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days.

God’s Word to every persecuted Christian is not to fear.  That seems strange.  It seems like a hard command to obey.  How is it possible not to be afraid in the midst of fierce persecution and the possibility of death.

How can we not be afraid of suffering? Let me give you two reasons.

We do not need to be afraid because God is with us.  The one who was dead and is alive is with us.  Jesus said He will never leave or forsake us.  If He is with you, you can face anything.  You can face any situation.

We do not need to be afraid because we will not experience the second death (Revelation 2:11).  There is something far worse than physical death.  It is the second death.

The second death is only mentioned in the Book of Revelation, and it is mentioned four times in the book (Revelation 2:11, 20:6, 20:14 and 21:8)

Most people think that there is just one death, but the Bible says that there are two.  Everyone who dies will one day be resurrected, stand before God and some will die a second time.

We are all afraid of the first death.  What we should all be afraid of is the second death. Revelation 20:14 says that the second death is the lake of fire.

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell (Matthew 10:28 NIV).

All persecutors can do is to kill the body.  They cannot kill the soul.  It might hurt for a few seconds.  People who are cast into the lake of fire are there forever.

4) Be Faithful

Jesus calls for faithfulness.  How faithful should we be?  Some of us are faithful for a long time, perhaps for years.  Jesus wants us to be faithful TO DEATH.  He said, “Be faithful, even to the point of death.”  Jesus was faithful to death.  We are to take up our cross and follow in his footsteps.

At the end of the letter, we hear these words from Jesus.  Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  He reached out to every member of that church and every member of our church to hear what the Spirit says.

God still speaks today.  The Spirit has some things to say.  The Spirit does speak in still small voice but here the Spirit says what Jesus says.  He says what Scripture says.  Are you listening?  Are you hearing what He has to say?  Next week, we will look at another letter of Jesus to another church.

[1] https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2021/january/christian-persecution-2021-countries-open-doors-watch-list.html

[2] https://www.opendoorsusa.org/2022-world-watch-list-report/?initcid=2201SRP2&initpkg=2201SRP2-SP2F&cid=7015a000001cwdCAAQ&pkg=a155a000005nQT1AAM&stat=Responded&utm_source=semp&utm_medium=paidsearch&ds_rl=1281464&ds_rl=1281464&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjbyYBhCdARIsAArC6LK57h0owLpeGwqkLlsi0dxXxFdMn5HHMZzznT2lBc0gEkd4-EnvKK0aAkfWEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

[3] https://vom.com.au/christian-persecution/

[4] Jerry Vines, “The Rich, Poor Church” (spoken recording).

[5] https://blog.kcm.org/8-keys-to-gods-system-of-wealth/

What does Jesus think of the church?  What would Jesus say if He stepped inside some churches in Alamance County on a Sunday morning?  What would He see?  What would He say?

What does Jesus think about Lamb’s Chapel?  What would He say if he wrote a letter to our church?  It is a question every church should ask.

The important question is not, what do I think about our church?  It is not, what do you think about our church?  It is not, what do the Baptists or Methodists think of our church?  It is not, what does the community think of our church?

The only thing that really matters is what Jesus thinks of our church.  He is the only one we should try to please.  We should not care what other people think about us.

Paul said, “I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself.” (I Corinthians 4:3 NIV).

For am I now trying to win the favor of people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ. (Galatians 1:10 HCSB)

The only thing that matters is what Jesus thinks of us and He does not think the way we do.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.  (Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV)

The things that many people think are important in a local church (famous pastor, a fancy building, huge membership, a big budget) are not necessarily what God thinks is important.

We think that the big, wealthy, prestigious churches are successful.  Jesus gave His highest praise to the small, poor, persecuted churches in the community.

Jesus wrote letters to seven churches in John’s day.  We don’t even write letters that much today. They seem a little outdated.  We just send emails, but Jesus sent a personal letter to each one of these churches and told them what He thought of them.

The last words of Jesus to the church are not the Great Commission.[1]  The last words of Jesus to the church are the letters that He wrote to the seven churches in the Book of Revelation.

What do we know about these seven churches that Jesus wrote letters to?  They were seven literal churches.  All of them were located in modern day Turkey.  You can visit the cities today.  Ephesus is in western Turkey.

They were literal churches that existed at the end of the first century.  They were also types of churches.  There are many churches today just like each one of these seven.

Are they the only type of churches?  Are there only seven types of churches in the world today?  No. They were not the only types of churches in the first century.  Other churches, even in NT times, had some different problems.

The Church of Corinth had the problem of lawsuits.  Christians were suing other Christians.  None of these seven churches had that problem.

The Church of Galatia taught a false gospel.  They had people who taught works salvation.  They taught that you had to keep the Law of Moses to be saved.  That is not an issue in any of these seven churches.

Churches today in the modern world have some different problems as well but there are some lessons that all ch