Revelation 19 “Christ’s Return”

“And I saw heaven open, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.” (v.11)

The time has now come for the Lord Jesus Christ Himself to return in power and great glory and establish God’s kingdom upon the earth - the “Day of the Lord” as described by the prophet Isaiah in which, “man will hide from the terror of the Lord and the glory of His majesty” (Isaiah 2:19-22).

Throughout time, history has been dated, by the life of Jesus Christ - B.C. (before Christ), and A.D. (after His death). So, world history as we know it is really “His story,” recorded for us in the ancient scrolls which became the Bible. In the 260 chapters of the New Testament, there are 318 references to the second coming of Christ—an amazing 1 out of every 30 verses. Twenty-three of the 27 New Testament books refer to this great event. And, for every prophecy in the Bible concerning the Messiah’s first coming, there are 8 which look forward to His second!

For centuries satan has been working through man to try and discredit God’s Word. Some going so far as trying to predict what the Bible says, “no man knows” and have failed miserably. However, even though no man knows the day or the hour of Christ's return, we can know the story. We have the road map, we’ve been given prophetic insight to the signs of His coming. Therefore, "we are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief” (1 Thess. 5:4), "nor are we appointed unto wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thess. 5:9). Hallelujah!

In this we have great hope looking for His return not fearing the Day of the Lord, for we will be with Him. But, Wow to those who stand against Him or His Word, for they will experience His righteous judgment and great wrath (Matthew 25:31-41).

The Truth: “He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.” (Isaiah 11:4b)

Revelation 18 “The Overthrow of Commercial Babylon”

“And the kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her (Babylon) will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning, standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, “Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.” (vv. 9-10)

Rulers throughout history have lived in luxury at the expense of others by waging war on them, enslaving them, taking their spoils, burning cities to the ground, and have not batted an eye at their plight. Babylon had not only acquired great wealth, but had deceived many through her false doctrines. She also had the blood of the saints and the prophets in her ledger, as well as all who were slain on the earth during the tribulation period (v.24).

Seeing these kings then so concerned about their economic loss (by weeping and wailing, throwing dust on their heads, because all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth v.19), is not to surprising, for they had been deceived as well. And while the earth mourns over the destruction of this economic center, heaven rejoices saying, “Alleluia!” (Revelation 19:1), "For true and righteous are His judgments, for He has judged the great harlot who captured the earth with her fornication; and God has avenged the blood of His servants shed by her.” (Revelation 19:2). Meaning, they rejoiced in the righteous resolution God’s judgment brought, not in the destruction.

This speaks to us on many levels; that God is a righteous judge, that He will avenge His servants, that He is mighty in power and none can stand against Him, and that we should rejoice and give Him glory, "for He alone is worthy to open the scroll and loose its seals."

The Truth: "Therefore behold, the days are coming that I will bring judgment on the carved images of Babylon; Her whole land shall be ashamed, And all her slain shall fall in her midst. Then the heavens and the earth and all that is in them Shall sing joyously over Babylon; For the plunderers shall come to her from the north,” says the Lord. (Jeremiah 51:47-48) 

Revelation 17 “Babylon, The Great Harlot”

“Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, "Come here, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed acts of immorality, and those who dwell on the earth were made drunk with the wine of her immorality." (vv.1-2)

The judgment of the great harlot mentioned here in our text refers to Babylon. To those familiar with the Old Testament, the name Babylon is associated with organized idolatry, blasphemy and the persecution of God’s people. Thus Babylon has from its inception symbolized evil, rebellion, and false worship against God. 

Babylon was founded by Nimrod (Gen. 10:9), a proud, powerful, God-rejecting ruler. Babel (Babylon), became the site of the first organized system of idolatrous false religion (Gen.11:1-4). The Tower of Babel, the expression of that false religion, was designed to facilitate the idolatrous worship of the stars. God then judged the people’s idolatry (You shall have no other Gods before Me) and rebellion by confusing their language and scattering them over the globe (Gen. 11:5-9). 

The seeds of idolatry and false religion were then spread around the world from Babylon, where the kings of the earth adopted the practices (and many others) and committed acts of immorality, thereby making all who dwelt on the earth, "drunk with the wine of her immorality." I see Babylon itself as a symbol of man's rebellion against the Lord. Which makes chapter 17 a prophetic look into the overthrow of all false religions (that which had their beginning in the ancient city of Babylon and its religion). 

In this final judgment which will come against her, we will see those who have divorced themselves from God and followed after false God's, believing in the great deceiver, be suddenly and catastrophically destroyed, like that of Sodom and Gomorrah. This destruction will be sudden, complete, and permanent. 

Whoa to those who play the harlot against God. 

The Truth: “Wail, for the day of the LORD is at hand! It will come as destruction from the Almighty. Therefore all hands will be limp, every man’s heart will melt, and they will be afraid. Pangs and sorrows will take hold of them; they will be in pain as a woman in childbirth; they will be amazed at one another; their faces will be like flames. Behold, the day of the LORD comes, cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate; and He will destroy its sinners from it. For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be darkened in its going forth, and the moon will not cause its light to shine. I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will halt the arrogance of the proud, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. I will make a mortal more rare than fine gold, a man more than the golden wedge of Ophir. Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth will move out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts and in the day of His fierce anger. “(Isa. 13:6-13)

Revelation 16 “The Seven Bowls”

“I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.” (v.1)

John now records for us the voice of God who dispatches the seven angels with the seven final plagues, with which He will smite the earth. This will be done prior to the sending of His Son to take control and to rule over the earth. Sin must be judged one way or another. The sickness, the cancer, the perversion and carnality which permeates and pollutes the world will now reap what it has sown.

Scripture tells us, “if you sow to the wind, you will reap the whirlwind” (Hosea 8:7). The whirlwind now comes upon the earth in the final outpouring of God’s wrath in the form of the seven bowl judgments. The last of which are the 100 lb. hail stones which fall down upon the people gathered there in the valley of Armageddon (v.21).  These hail stones are unlike any hailstones that have ever fallen upon the earth, for they come from the fury of God Almighty and are deadly upon impact. 

Someone once said about this judgment, “You can either hail Him as the King of Kings, or get hail “from” Him as the King of Kings!  It is your choice...” Better to proclaim the former, than to receive the latter. 

The Truth: "Sow for yourselves righteousness and reap the fruit of loving devotion; break up your unplowed ground. For it is time to seek the LORD until He comes and sends righteousness upon you like rain.” (Hosea 10:12)

Revelation 15 “The Prelude Song”

Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for only thou art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.” (vv.3-4)

Once again John takes us into the heavenly scene where we hear those who had gotten the victory over the beast, and over the image, and over the mark, and over the number of his name. And they are standing on the sea of glass, having the harps of God singing the song of Moses the servant of God (vv.2-3). They are from the nation of Israel, those saved during the Great Tribulation period, who received Jesus Christ as the result of the two witnesses and the hundred and forty-four thousand.

This song will proceed the final judgments of God (the seven bowls) to be poured out upon the earth. The lyrics speak of the Holiness of God, the Righteousness of God, and the Judgment of God. Indicating His time of waiting is over, His grace and patience with mans rejection of His Son has come to an end. His final judgments will now be poured out upon the earth.

Woe to those who have followed the beast, who have taken his mark, and have worshiped his image. The prelude song is about to be sung.

The Truth: "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:18-21)

Revelation 14 "The Point of No Return"

"And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud there was one sitting like the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.” (vv.14-16)

And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trodden without (outside) the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.” (vv.17-20)

According to our passage, there will come a time during the great tribulation when salvation is no longer possible. At that time, two harvests will take place on the earth separating those who have accepted God’s message of salvation (vv.14-16), from those who have not ( vv.17-20). While you and I will more than likely not be on this earth when this event takes place, we still need to choose whom we will serve. And while you may think to yourself, “I have plenty of time to get right with Jesus," I would say to you, “No man knows what tomorrow may bring.”

Therefore, we too must understand that there can come a time when our salvation opportunities have run out. That after multiple attempts by God to soften our hearts, to call us to salvation, it could reach the point of no return, becoming fixed, set in its rejection against God’s call. If so, He will tug at your heart no longer, but leave you to yourself, missing out on the harvest of salvation, but reaping the harvest of eternal destruction. Do not miss His heavenly harvest, accept Him now and avoid the point of no return. (see connection with God to the right on this page)

The Truth: “If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.” (Romans 10:9-10)

Revelation 13 "The Mark"

"And he (the beast from the land, the false prophet) causes all both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name (666).” (vv.16-17)

Here in chapter 13 John describes two Beasts, one from “the sea” (vv.1-10) and one from “the land" (vv.11-18). Most Bible scholars believe the beast from the sea to be the “anti-christ,” and the beast from the land to be the "false prophet.” 

The beast from the sea (the anti-christ) will more than likely come out from one of the European nations. John describes this beast as having, "seven heads, ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy" (v. 1). We are told in the book of Revelation that the seven heads are the seven mountains upon which the beast sits (rules), and that the ten horns are ten kings (also reinforced by the 10 crowns). He shall speak blasphemous things against God and "the world will marvel and follow the beast (anti-christ)” (v.3).

Now the beast from the land (the false prophet) will testify of the anti-christ causing many upon the earth to worship the first beast (v.12). He (the 2nd beast) will, "perform great signs, call fire down from heaven, deceive all those who dwell on the earth, and cause them to make an image of the first beast, and to worship the image or be killed” (vv.13-15). Finally we read in our text that, “he (the 2nd beast) causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name (666).” 

Amazingly enough, there will be those during this tribulation period who will receive Jesus Christ as Lord: through the witness of the 144,000 who were sealed and sent out, and the two witnesses from chapter 7 who prophesied in Jerusalem for 1,260 days. These will refuse to worship the beast or take the mark of his name and become martyrs for Christ, but will enjoy everlasting life. Conversely, those who deny Christ and take the mark of the beast we are told in Revelation 14, "will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb” (vv.9-10). 

As believers, we are sealed (marked) by the Holy Spirit, marking us as people belonging to Him, and preserving us for His kingdom. The mark of the beast similarly identifies men as his servants, and this mark will bring God’s full fury upon them. So, one who walks the earth during the tribulation period can either: 1) take the mark of Christ, probably die a martyr but rule and region with Him forever, or 2) take the mark of the beast, live for 1,260 days, but suffer for eternity. Everyone will be marked, the question is, which one will mark you?

The Truth: “A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.” (Revelation 14:9-10)

Revelation 12 “The Woman, The Child, And The Dragon”

“And the the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. And she bore a male Child who was to rule the nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and to His throne.” (vv. 4-5)

Here in chapter 12 John digresses from the continuing story of the seventh trumpet (the seven vial judgments) to give us a broader look into both past and future events. In it, we shall find great insight about our enemy, how his master plan was thwarted, and what his future plans entail.

The identity of the woman in our text is believed to be the nation of Israel. This fits theologically with Genesis 37 (Joseph’s dream), contextually with the church as the bride of Christ (Isaiah 62), and  also geographically with the birth of the Child Jesus, in Bethlehem. The dragon then, who stands ready to devour the Child, is none other than Satan.

We know from Matthew’s gospel that Jesus’s linage came through Jacob, to Joseph, to the husband of Mary (Matthew 1:1-16). And, that some time after the Child was born, the evil king Herod ordered that all the baby boys in Bethlehem area be killed (who were two years and under Matthew 2:16). Thus the dragon was ready to devour the child using king Herod’s paranoia to do it. If the Child could be killed, then no one would ever be found worthy to, "open the scroll and loose its seals" and redeem the title deed to the earth (Rev.5). But, Joseph was divinely warned in a dream to “take the young Child and His mother by night and depart for Egypt” (Matthew 2:13), thus thwarting the original plan of Satan. 

This was just the beginning of Satan’s efforts to derail the messiah’s life. He tempted Him with all manner of sin to slip-up, to miss the mark of a sinless life, just once, so he could keep his power and earthly reign (Matthew 4). But Jesus prevailed. He lived a sinless life, not giving into temptation, enduring the death of the cross, rose to life again, and now sits at the right hand of God’s throne, ready to redeem His property. However, because Satan could not defeat the Child, he now turns his attention to the woman, to deceive the whole world (v.9).

Scripture tells us that the “day of the Lord” will not come unless, "the falling away" (departure from the faith) comes first, and the man of sin is reveled" (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). This falling away will be led by Satan’s right hand man, the “anti-christ.” He will come with the power of Satan, with signs and lying wonders, and with unrighteous deception and will lead many to their deaths because they will not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved” (2 Thessalonians 2:8-10).

Today's passage should indicate the importance of making sure you haven’t been deceived by Satan. That he has not turned you away from God and the truth that He has for you in Christ. For in that day many will cry Lord, Lord, but shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Therefore, "Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near, for He will abundantly pardon." (Isaiah 55:6-7)

The Truth: “Jesus answered and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)

“Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Acts 16:31)