Revelation 21 “All Things Made New”

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away. Also there was no more sea.” (v.1)

We are now beyond the events of chapter 20 with the rebellion crushed, the earth polluted, and judgment handed out. John now sees "a new heaven and a new earth.” Due to the catastrophic events which polluted and destroyed our planet in the battle against satan, one could easily see the need for a new one. And God, having spoke the first one into and out of existence, could just as easily speak into existence a new one. Whether that means completing the greatest “home makeover” of all time, or just speaking into existence a “new universe," John records in verse five that He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new.”

Personally I believe that God will create a new heaven and a new earth. Peter tells us in his second epistle that, “The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up and all things shall be dissolved” (2 Peter 3:10-11). Look closely at highlighted words in this verse, they describe total annihilation. It just makes sense to create a new one. Additionally, the prophet Isaiah recorded (700 years before the birth of Christ) what the Spirit of the Lord spoke to him concerning a “glorious new creation”, “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And all the former shall not be remembered or come to mind” (Isaiah 65:17).

All this speaks to me of a “new creation” a new heaven and a new earth, all things made new. But regardless of whether the old is made new or something new is created, it will truly be glorious.

The Truth: "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)

Revelation 20 “Rebellion Crushed, Judgment Given"

Wow! So much in this chapter. Satan bound for 1000 years, and cast into the bottomless pit. The first resurrection (Going back to the time of Adam and Abel, those righteous of the Old Testament who waited for the promise of God, on through to the church and beyond the church, to those martyred saints during the Great Tribulation). The millennial reign of Christ. Satan released for a time to test those who have never been tested (those born during during the thousand-year reign of Christ who have never really had an opportunity to express their rebellion against God). Satan deceiving many and gathering them together to battle against God (the number of whom is as the sand of the sea). The satanic rebellion crushed by fire from heaven, and satan cast into the lake of fire [Gehenna] where the beast and the false prophet are, tormented there day and night forever and ever.

The chapter ends with God’s great white throne judgment of all the dead (second resurrection) for their evil deeds. And death, hell, and anyone not found written in the “Book of Life” is cast into the lake of fire. But this is not the end of His story, for John writes in Chapter 21, “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth” (v.1), which we will look at that tomorrow.

The Truth: "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me on my throne even as I have sat down with my Father on his throne.” (Revelation 3:21)
 

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 World Mourns, but Heaven Rejoices ”

“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).

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 “The Beast vs The Lamb”

"These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, for He is King of kings, He is the Lord of lords: and they that are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.” (v.14)

This chapter has a great deal of symbolism found in verses 1-6: a great harlot (v.1), who sits on a scarlet beast which has seven heads and ten horns (v.3), who has a name written on her forehead (v.5), and who is drunk with the blood of the saints and the martyrs of Jesus (v.6). Yet, all of the symbolism is angelically identified for us in verses 7-13, even to the point of identifying the beast as someone who: "was, and is not; and yet is” (v.8).

So, the beast (the anti-christ) mentioned here is one of the seven major Roman emperors (7 heads, seven hills of Rome), of which “five have fallen” (v.10b), one is (v.10c) and the other is “yet to come” (v.10d). The one that comes closest to fitting the description is none other than Caesar Nero whose name numerically in Hebrew totals to six hundred and sixty-six. Caesar Nero was called by the early church "the beast”, because the horrific things that he did to the church could only be done by a mind perverted by Satan.

At the time that John was writing, there had been seven Roman emperors: Julius Caesar, Caesar Augusts, Tiberias, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, and Domitian. Of the original seven, five were cut short (five have fallen): Julius assassinated, Tiberias poisoned, Caligula stabbed, Claudius smothered, and Nero committed suicide. We know from the history of the time period that Domitian was on the throne (one was), leaving one yet to come.

Therefore, it is entirely possible that Cesar Nero (or his spirit) will one day reappear as "the eighth and of the seven” to lead a 10 nation (10 heads) confederation, “to make war against the Lamb.” But as we read, “the lamb shall overcome them.” And not only will this coup be unsuccessful, but God will use the beast to destroy the false religious system created by the women (vv.15-16), and Babylon the great harlot will fall.

The Truth: "I will come like a lion from the thickets of the Jordan, leaping on the sheep in the pasture. I will chase Babylon from its land, and I will appoint the leader of my choice. For who is like me, and who can challenge me? What ruler can oppose my will?"

Revelation 16 “And So It Begins”

"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) but, "the one who sows to the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life” (Galatians 6:8).

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 10 “No Longer A Delay”

"And the angel which I saw standing upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, and he swore by him that lives for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be no longer a delay.” (vv.5-6)

Here in chapter 10 John continues to relate to us his revelation. But before the seventh trumpet sounds he tells us, “I saw a mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And having a rainbow on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. And he had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. And when he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices” (vv.1-3).

The angel being described here is none other than Jesus Christ, who comes to earth with an open book in His hand, the title deed to the earth (see Rev. 5:5). What the seven thunders uttered after Jesus cried out with a loud voice here in verse 3, we are not told and John was told by God to, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them down” (v.4). Obviously, what we do not know, we do not know! And, should not render a guess.

However, what John witnesses next, is what many have been waiting to hear for thousands of years, "And the angel which I saw standing upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, and he swore by him that lives for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be no longer a delay, but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound (the seventh trumpet), the mystery of God will be complete, as he hath declared to his servants, the prophets” (vv.5-7).

Translation, the wait is over! The LORD, who promised His church He would return and establish His kingdom on earth, is about to make good on that promise. And to further establish it, He raises His right hand to heaven and takes an oath (swears by Himself) that, “There shall be no longer a delay," that the time has come for the establishing of the kingdom and the delay is over.

Hallelujah! Jehovah is about to begin His reign.

The Truth: But Peter said, "God is not slack concerning His promises as some men count slackness, but a day is as a thousand years to the Lord and a thousand years is as a day, and you know that this delay is for redemption purposes, that more people might come in and be a part of the body of Christ"( 2 Peter 3:9 ).