Today’s passage: Revelation 20:11-15

Helpful thoughts:

• Earlier (verse 6) we read of those who believe and were redeemed, who enjoyed the “first resurrection, over such the second death has no power.”  Today, we read of this second death.  This is the Great White Throne judgment.  The final judgment, a judgment no one will escape, unless their names are written in the book of life (All those who put their faith in Christ).
• God is eternally omniscient.  He know all things from all times perfectly, without fail.  When the books are opened, not a single sin will be missed or looked over.
• God is righteous and just.  All sin must be paid for justly.

Questions to consider:

1. How does the reality of this judgment and the eternal nature of its severity help us to have a more accurate view of sin against God?  Just how terrible a thing is it to disobey our Creator and rightful Lord?
2. Just how terrible then must have been the anguish Christ endured when He took God’s wrath for our sin on Himself at the cross?  Why do we have reason to be utterly thankful and now wholly devoted to loving and following Christ?
3. What are the terrors of this day?  Why is it right for us to consider and acknowledge them?  What is the hope of this day?  What are the things this passage names that go to the lake of fire in the second death?  What will be true of death after this judgment takes place?

Today’s passage: Revelation 20:7-10

Helpful thoughts:

• Satan and all those who rebel against the Lord will be finally defeated.
• A prophecy against Gog and Magog can be found in Ezekiel 38-39.
• Amillennialists would view this battle as the same as that of chapter 19 (Armageddon).  Premillennialists view this as a different battle (Armageddon just prior to the beginning of the millennial reign, this battle at the end).
• From the beginning of the Bible to the end, Satan is the great deceiver of mankind.  His end will be torment, day and night, forever and ever in the lake of fire.

Questions to consider:

1. How will the Lord’s foes be defeated in this passage?  How were they defeated in 19:15?  Why would this difference matter?
2. What is Satan all about?  What is his end?  What is the end of all those who go with him?  What is the end of those who refuse his deceptions and side with the truth (John 8:31-32, John 17:17)?
3. How has Christ brought you to the victory side?  Who can you be praying for and taking the gospel, that they might join the victory side today?

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?