Today’s passage: Revelation 20:1-6

Helpful thoughts:

• Today we read of the millennial reign of Jesus Christ.
• Here are some evidences which I believe point to a “Premillennial” view of Christ’s return from these verses:
  • Satan is going to be bound for the 1,000 years.  If we were already in the millennial reign, Satan would have to be bound right now.
    • This could make sense if the only aspect of his binding is for the gospel to go to the nations, that he is unable to prevent the global spread of the gospel (verse 3).  However, it seems clear our enemy is still active in the world today.
  • There will be a resurrection of those who are in Christ, which is separate from the resurrection of those who will be raised to eternal judgment.
    • The first resurrection (Believers unto life)
    • The second resurrection (Unbelievers unto judgment)
  • Those who are part of the first resurrection will reign with Christ after they are raised (verse 6).
    • If deceased believers are reigning with Christ now in heaven, and if that is the “resurrection” being referred to in this passage, then what is the current condition of deceased unbelievers (verses 5-6)?  This understanding is problematic.
• The specific blessing communicated in this passage is this: If you are part of this first resurrection, you are blessed, holy (set apart to the Lord), you will never see judgment, you will serve and have access to the Lord, and you will reign with Him.
  • Christian, you will reign with Christ!

Questions to consider:

1. Regardless of what someone’s view is of the end times (whether Jesus will come back before this kingdom reign, after, or that it’s happening now from heaven), what really matters most about what we believe?  When will everything be finally and forever made right?  Who needs to return?
2. What are the blessings of the first resurrection?  How would this have encouraged a Christian in the first century?  How can it encourage you today?

Today’s passage: Revelation 19:11-21

Helpful thoughts:

• The second coming of Christ!
  • Christ is coming in victory (Riding on a white horse depicts a victorious entry).
  • Christ is coming for judgment (His enemies will be vanquished).
  • Christ is coming to rule (King of kings and Lord of lords, with a rod of iron).
• The clothing of Christ is covered in blood.  The clothing of the armies of heaven are white and pure. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
• This vision depicts the outcome of what we read in Revelation 16:14-16.

Questions to consider:

1. What are all the ways Jesus Christ is pictured in this passage?  What names is He given?  What can we learn about Him through this vision/revelation?
2. When Christ comes, who is coming with Him (verse 14)?   What event is depicted in this passage and what does it bring for God’s people?
3. What is the “weapon” Christ uses to vanquish His enemies (verse 15)?  How must we seek out and desire the cutting nature of the Word in this life as opposed to the nature of the final judgment that will come at the Word of God (Hebrews 4:12)?

Today’s passage: Revelation 19:6-10

Helpful thoughts:

• The loud worship from verses 1-5 continues.
• The occasion for this worship is the “Marriage Supper of the Lamb.”
  • The Lamb is Christ!
  • The Bride is his blood-bought people, the church (2 Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 5:25-27).
    • This pure bride, with her fine, bright, pure linen (Her righteousness) stands in stark contrast to the great prostitute of verse 17.
    • Christ’s righteousness has been put to our account and the righteous deeds we do now in this new life are the result of God’s grace (Romans 4:3, Ephesians 2:10).  All glory goes to Him!
• In the grandeur of this moment, John fell in worship before this angel, who quickly reminds John, all the glory goes to the Lord!

Questions to consider:

1. In what ways does the Lord reign now?  How will His reign be clarified or in what ways will it be distinctly different by the time of what we read here in Revelation 19?
2. What is true of all those who are present at this marriage celebration?  What is their blessing?  What is their invitation?  What is their reward?  What is their identity?
3. How does the Apostle John’s immediate response to this give us a sense for how wonderful it will be?  What responses does the true nature of God, His grace, and His redemption of us as His people demand?  How can these right responses inform our living today?

Today’s passage: Revelation 19:1-5

Helpful thoughts:

• Earlier in Revelation, the call from God’s people was “How long…?” (6:10), now the loud voice of a great multitude praises Him for the completion of the judgment that was due.
  • The multitude acknowledges that salvation, glory, and power belong to God and that His judgments are true and just.  They rejoice in the judgment against her (those) who sinned, corrupted, murdered God’s servants.
  • The twenty four elders and the four creatures (4:4-11) around the throne echo and affirm the praise coming from the multitude with their “Amen.”  The multitudes were right to praise and worship God for these attributes and His actions.
• God is and forever will be worthy of worship from all, whether they be considered “small” or “great” in this life.  Even the great of this world owe their worship and their very lives to their Creator, Savior, and Lord.

Questions to consider:

1. Who would possibly be comprising this great multitude?  Could this be God’s people whom He has redeemed?  Angels?  Both?
2. There will be those who are now considered “small” and “great” who are in heaven and who end up in the judgment.  What is the value of “greatness” in this life when compared to eternity and when compared to the Lord?  For what and for Whom are we to live this life?
3. In what ways to salvation, glory, and power belong to our God?  Why do they truly belong to no other?  How does this give us a clearer understanding of the gospel?  The resurrection?  The growth of the church?  The end times?

Today’s passage: Revelation 18

Helpful thoughts:

• Today, we read the proclamation of the fall of “Babylon”.
• As they have in all ages, the people of God are warned not to get integrated into (or yoked together) with the those who do not follow the Lord.  We (God’s people) have always been a people who are to be in the world, but not of the world (John 17:14-15, 2 Corinthians 6:14-18).
• As the great Babylon lies in ruins, all who selfishly benefitted from her mourn the loss of their means of exploitation.  They are not saddened for her, they are saddened at the end of their source of selfish pleasure.  They were caught up in her lusts and they will go down with her in the end.

Questions to consider:

1. How does “Babylon” (Her leaders, the heart of the city/power/populace as a whole) see herself in verse 7 even as she nears her judgment?  What does the world think of itself?  How does pride come before a fall?
2. When those who wail over the fall of “Babylon” do their lamenting, do they even show remorse for their sin?  What do they really care about?  What would repentance look like as opposed to what we see in these laments?
3. What are the things God’s people are called to do in this chapter?  How would these commands and examples be true of any age?  How could the first century church have applied these things and how can we still apply these things today?

Today’s passage: Revelation 17

Helpful thoughts:

• The beast of chapter 17 and chapter 13 are the same, likely the one who is called the Antichrist.
• First century Christians referred to Rome as “Babylon” symbolically.  Rome is a city set on seven hills.  The original audience of this letter certainly would have understood this chapter to be referring to Rome.
• What is depicted in this chapter is a world that is drawn to earthly pleasures and treasures (a wealthy economy and the pursuit of lustful passions), powers/governments that are devoted to providing those things over and above (even in opposition to) God, and those desires and powers combining to persecute those who appear to get in the way of their desires, namely Christians.

Questions to consider:

1. What are the pictures or allegories that are clearly explained in this chapter?  (Who is the woman?  Who are the many waters?, etc.)
2. What does it appear the woman (the prostitute) is alluring the people of the world toward?  How does it pull people away from the Lord?  How does “the beast” utilize the woman, the kings (authorities) to attack those who believe in Christ?  Therefore, what are the contrasts between the Bride of Christ and this prostitute and all who come to her for pleasure?
3. In what ways does the world depicted in today’s chapter compare with the way the world is right now?  When all the world wants is to pursue their own lustful selfish pleasures, who is safe from being “devoured” and “burned up”?  What is the lie and end result of everyone “following their hearts”?  Why is living for the glory of God better?

Today’s passage: Revelation 16

Helpful thoughts:

• Here is a chart for the seven bowls of God’s wrath.
  • The first four bowls correlate with the first four trumpet judgments.  The difference being that the trumpet judgments were restrained to the destruction one-third of their areas respectively.  The bowl judgments are total in nature.  Nothing is spared.
• In the description of the seal and trumpet judgments, there were breaks (interludes) between the sixth and seventh judgment.  This is not so with the bowl judgments.  The time for God’s wrath has come with no more delay.
• As striking as these judgments are, they are met with an equally striking reality.  The people who are under these judgments continually refuse to repent.
  • Verse 9 – “…and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.”
  • Verse 11 – “…and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds.”
  • Verse 14 – “…who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.” (The kings and people rally to fight against God.)
  • Verse 21 – “…and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.”

Questions to consider:

1. If these bowl judgments are to be interpreted literally, they must be in the future (Nothing like this has happened in the history of the world).  What will the world look like, what will be left should these things happen just as they are recorded in this passage?
2. In the height of God’s judgment, what is sinful man’s response?  What does the heart/the will of man do in the face of God and under His just judgment?
3. Why then must it be by the grace of God that we are saved (Ephesians 2:1-9)?  Why have your and why will you (if you are a follower of Christ) respond differently to the reality of who God is?

Today’s passage: Revelation 15

Helpful thoughts:

• In today’s reading, the final series of seven is revealed (The seven seals, seven trumpets, and now the seven bowls).
• Those depicted singing in worship could be the 144,000, and/or others who believe and are martyred during the tribulation.
• The Song of Moses was sung after Israel safely went through the parted Red Sea (Exodus 15:1-21).

Questions to consider:

1. In what way would Christian martyrs be those who had conquered the “beast” during their life on earth?  How does martyrdom in Jesus name prove to be victory over our enemy?  How are all those who are in Christ ultimately victorious?
2. In what ways is the Song of Moses be so fitting for this choir to sing in Revelation 15?  What are the similarities?
3. What is the promise and expectation of the song lyrics in verse 4?  To what kind of future does this seem to point?

Today’s passage: Revelation 14:14-20

Helpful thoughts:

• Coming clouds often refer to looming judgment in prophetic Scriptures.  Christ is coming, riding on the clouds (Daniel 7:13-14).  When Jesus comes again, there will be a time of judgment.
• There are two harvests depicted in this passage:
  • The first is likened to a harvest of wheat or barley.
    • This may refer to the gathering of God’s people, the saints, those who’ve repented and believed (John 4:35-36).
    • Or, it could simply be a dual illustration for the same judgment depicted immediately after.
  • The second to that of grapes for trampling to make wine.
    • This harvest is specifically stated as the wrath of God.
    • This area (1,600 stadia) is about 184 miles.  A horse’s bridle would be about 4-5 feet or so off the ground.
    • This judgment is foretold in Isaiah 63:1-6.

Questions to consider:

1. This second harvest/judgment takes place “outside the city” as the people of Jerusalem were accustomed to seeing judgment take place (Hebrews 13:12).  If this passage depicts the battle of Armageddon as some believe, what could the amount of destruction and carnage be?
2. Does there appear to be any difficulty in the effort God must exert to bring about these harvests?  Is the task too difficult?  Does the world stand any more chance against the Lord than grapes do in time of harvest?
3. Why is Jesus wearing a crown in this passage (The victor’s crown!)?  Whose side are you on?  Why can you approach this day with confidence, even if the whole rest of the world doesn’t?