Revelation

John sees the risen Christ standing among seven golden lampstands, which are his churches. Christ knows each one. He praises faithfulness, exposes compromise, warns the complacent, and promises rewards to all who overcome. The rest of the book is written to help these churches, and every church since, overcome.

A door opens in heaven, and John sees God enthroned in glory, surrounded by worship. No one is worthy to open the sealed scroll of history, until a Lamb who was slain steps forward. He has already conquered by his death. As he opens the seals, conquest, war, famine, death, and martyrdom spill across the age. The martyrs cry, “How long?” But God’s people are sealed and kept, and John sees them as a countless multitude from every nation, standing before the throne.

Seven trumpets sound warnings on a rebellious world, echoing the plagues of Egypt. They strike only a third, because they are mercy calling people to repent, yet most do not. John is given a little scroll to eat, sweet and bitter, and is sent to prophesy again. Two witnesses, representing the whole witnessing church, testify with power, are killed, and are raised by the breath of God. The seventh trumpet announces that the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ.

The curtain pulls back on the spiritual war behind history. A dragon, Satan, tries to devour the child of the woman, but the child, Christ, is caught up to God’s throne. Defeated at the cross, the dragon turns his rage on the church. He calls up a beast from the sea, the political power that demands worship in every age, and a beast from the land, the propaganda and false religion that serve it. Everyone bears a mark of allegiance, either the beast’s or God’s. The Lamb stands on Mount Zion with his faithful people, and they sing the song of Moses and the Lamb.

Seven bowls of God’s wrath are poured out, now on the whole, not a third. They answer the martyrs’ cry for justice. Still the world curses God and refuses to repent. In the middle, Jesus interrupts: “Behold, I come like a thief. Blessed is he who watches.” The last bowl ends with a voice from the throne: “It is done!”

John is shown Babylon, a glittering prostitute riding the beast. She is the seductive world system of wealth, pleasure, and power, drunk on the blood of the saints. God calls his people to come out of her. She falls in a single hour, and the merchants who profited from her mourn. Heaven erupts in hallelujahs, and the bride of the Lamb, clothed in the righteous deeds of the saints, is ready for the wedding supper.

Heaven opens, and Christ rides out as Faithful and True. The final battle ends with a word from his mouth. Chapter 20 then steps back to show the whole church age once more: Satan is bound so he cannot stop the gospel from reaching the nations, while the souls of the faithful reign with Christ. That is the thousand years. At its end comes one last rebellion, the same final battle seen in chapters 16 and 19, and the devil is thrown down forever. The dead stand before the great white throne, and all whose names are in the Lamb’s book of life are welcomed home. Then John sees a new heaven and a new earth. The holy city comes down like a bride. God dwells with his people and wipes away every tear. There is no more death, no more curse, and no more night. They will see his face. The book ends with an invitation: “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’”