Verses
preaching the "Gospel of Jesus"
Part
59 (concluded) - BOOK of REVELATION
19:11-22:21
back to Revelation 1:1-19:10 OR to J B Phillips HomePage
THE
CONCLUSION OF GOD'S JUDGMENT ON THE UNIVERSE The Book of Revelation concludes with:
|
X - FINAL VICTORY AND JUDGMENT
CHRIST'S VICTORY OVER THE TWO BEASTS 59.90 Christ on the white horse 19:11-16 59.91 Beast and false prophet destroyed 19:17-21 SATAN OVERTHROWN; GOD'S FINAL JUDGMENT 59.92 Satan imprisoned for 1,000 years 20:1-3 59.93 Christ reigns for 1,000 years 20:4-6 59.94 Satan released; the final battle 20:7-10 59.95 The last judgment 20:11-15 CHRIST'S VICTORY OVER THE TWO BEASTS
59.90 THE RIDER, CHRIST, ON THE WHITE HORSE, AND HIS ARMIES
Revelation 19:11-16 - Then I saw Heaven wide open, and before my eyes appeared a white horse, whose rider (Christ) is called faithful and true, for his judgment and his warfare are just. His eyes are a flame of fire and there are many diadems upon his head. There is a name written upon him, known only to himself. He is dressed in a cloak dipped in blood, and the name by which he is known is the Word of God.
The armies of Heaven follow him, riding upon white horses and clad in white and spotless linen. Out of his mouth there comes a sharp sword with which to strike the nations.
'He will rule them with a rod of iron' (Psalm 2:9),
and alone he will tread the winepress of the furious wrath of God the Almighty. Written upon his cloak and upon his thigh is the name, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
59.91 THE BEAST AND THE FALSE PROPHET ARE DESTROYED
Revelation 19:17-21 - Then I saw an angel standing alone in the blazing light of the sun, and he shouted in a loud voice, calling to all the birds flying in mid-air, "Come, flock together to God's great feast! Here you may eat the flesh of kings and captains, the flesh of strong men, of horses and their riders - the flesh of all men, free men and slaves, small and great!"
And I saw the animal (the Beast from the Sea, Rome now personified as "Nero"?) with the kings of the earth (the Parthian kings?) and their armies massed together for battle against the rider upon the horse and his army. The animal was captured and with it the false prophet (still the Beast from the Earth, the high priest of emperor-worship?) who had performed marvels in its presence, which he had used to deceive those who accepted the mark of the animal ("666") and worshipped its statue. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with sulphur (fire and brimstone).
The rest were killed by the sword which issues from the mouth of the rider upon the horse; and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.
SATAN IS OVERTHROWN; GOD MAKES HIS FINAL JUDGMENT
59.92 SATAN, THE DECEIVER, IS BOUND AND IMPRISONED FOR A THOUSAND YEARS
Revelation 20:1-3 - Then I saw an angel coming down from Heaven with the key of the pit (Abyss) and a huge chain in his hand. He seized the dragon (Satan), the serpent of ancient days, who is both the devil and Satan, and bound him fast for a thousand years (a millennium). Then he (the angel) hurled him (Satan) into the pit (the Abyss), and locked and sealed it over his head, so that he could deceive the nations no more until the thousand years were past. But then he must be set free for a little while.
- The period of a thousand years and sequence of events has led to endless speculation and theorising over the centuries. It is possibly a length of time symbolic of the Church's life on earth, during which time the Gospel is preached to all mankind while Satan is restrained by God. At the end-time, the second coming of Christ and the destruction of Satan finally takes place.
59.93 THE FIRST RESURRECTION - CHRIST AND THE SAINTS REIGN FOR A THOUSAND YEARS
Revelation 20:4-6 - And I saw thrones, with appointed judges seated upon them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been executed for their witness to Jesus and for proclaiming the Word of God - those who never worshipped the animal (Beast from the Sea, Rome?) or its statue, and had not accepted its mark upon their foreheads or their hands. They (the Christian saints and martyrs only) came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years (the millennial kingdom. The rest of the dead - all the other Christians - did not come to life until the thousand years were over.) This is the first resurrection. Happy and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! The second death (after the Last Judgment) cannot touch such men; they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him for the thousand years.
59.94 SATAN IS RELEASED; THE FINAL BATTLE; HIS DESTRUCTION
Revelation 20:7-10 - Then, when the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison, and will set out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog ( ... representing all who oppose God in the last great battle by Satan at the end of time, Ezekiel 38), and to lead them into battle. They will be as numerous as the sand of the seashore.
They came up and spread over the breadth of the earth; they encircled the army of the saints defending the beloved city (Jerusalem). But fire came down from the sky and consumed them. The devil (Satan, the first of the "trinity" of evil) who deceived them was hurled into the lake of fire and sulphur to join the animal and the false prophet (the second and third parts of this same "trinity"). And there they shall be tortured day and night for timeless ages.
59.95 THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD; THE LAST JUDGMENT
Revelation 20:11-15 - And then I saw a great white throne, and one seated upon it from whose presence both earth and sky fled and vanished (heaven and earth have perhaps disappeared).
Then I saw the dead (who had not shared in the first resurrection), great and small, standing (risen and embodied) before the throne and the books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books concerning what they had done. The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up the dead which were in them. And men were judged, each according to what he had done.
Then death and the grave (Hades) were themselves hurled into the lake of fire, which is the second death (following the Last Judgment). If anyone's name (the wicked) was not found written in the book of life he was thrown into the (eternal) lake of fire.
XI - GOD'S NEW WORLD
THE NEW JERUSALEM 59.96 The new heaven and new earth 21:1-5 59.97 Rewards of the believer; death of wicked 21:6-8 59.98 New Jerusalem revealed 21:9-21 59.99 Life with God and the Lamb 21:22-27 PARADISE REGAINED 59.100 Garden of Eden restored 22:1-5 THE NEW JERUSALEM - A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH
59.96 GOD PROCLAIMS THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTH
- Satan and all his evil works are no more; the Last Judgment has taken place; God now provides a new dwelling for all who have been saved:
Revelation 21:1-5 - Then I saw a new Heaven and a new earth (the new Jerusalem), for the first Heaven and the first earth had disappeared and the sea was no more (they are no longer fit for God's people). I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, descending from God out of Heaven, prepared as a bride (the Church) dressed in beauty for her husband (Christ). Then I heard a great voice from the throne crying, "See! The home of God is with men, and he will live among them ...
- The "Shekinah" glory, a Hebrew term expressing the majesty of God living among his people. Also "Immanuel" or "Emmanuel" meaning "God with us" - the prophecy about Jesus in Matthew 1:23:
... They shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death shall be no more, and never again shall there be sorrow or crying or pain. For all those former things are past and gone (suffering, pain, death, and all the results of the fall of man are no more)."
Then he who is seated upon the throne said, "See, I am making all thing new!"
And he added, "Write this down for my words are true and to be trusted!"
59.97 THE GLORIOUS REWARDS OF THE BELIEVER; THE DEATH OF THE WICKED
Revelation 21:6-8 - Then he said to me, "It is done! I am Alpha and Omega (a description of God in Revelation 1:8, and of Christ shortly in 22:13), the beginning and the end. I will give to the thirsty water without price (as in John 7:37-38) from the fountain of life. The victorious (referred to in the third part of each of the covering letters to the seven churches of Asia) shall inherit these things, and I will be God to him and he will be son to me. But as for the cowards, the faithless and the corrupt, the murderers, the traffickers in sex and sorcery, the worshippers of idols and all liars - their inheritance is in the lake which burns with fire and sulphur (fire and brimstone), which is the second death (following the Last Judgment)."
59.98 THE NEW JERUSALEM REVEALED, MEASURED, AND DESCRIBED
Revelation 21:9-21 - Then one of the seven angels who hold the seven bowls which were filled with the seven last plagues, came to me and said, "Come, and I will show you the bride (the Church), the wife of the Lamb (of God - Christ)."
Then he carried me away in spirit to the top of a vast mountain, and pointed out to me the city, the holy Jerusalem, descending from God out of Heaven, radiant with the glory of God. ...
- John describes the New Jerusalem in terms of the most beautiful objects he can imagine. To some modern readers, these might even conjure up visions of the colossal, magnificent structures of some science fiction galactic city:
... Her brilliance sparkled like a very precious jewel with the clear light of crystal. ...
Around her she had a vast and lofty wall in which were twelve gateways with twelve angels at the gates.
There were twelve names inscribed over the twelve gateways, and they are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel.
On the east there were three gateways, on the north three gateways, on the south three gateways and on the west three gateways.
The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on these were engraved the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
The measurement of the city
The one (an angel) who was talking to me had a golden rod in his hand with which to measure the city, its gateways and its wall. ...
The city lies foursquare, its length equal to its breadth.
He measured the city with his rod and it was twelve thousand furlongs (or stadia, about 1,400 miles or 2,200 km. Again presumably a symbolic number, 12 x 1,000) in each direction, for its length, breadth and height are all equal (a cube 1,400 miles on each side). Then he measured its wall, and found that to be one hundred and forty-four half-yards (or cubits, about 200 feet or 65 metres) high by human measurement, (which the angel was using).
The splendour of the city's building
The wall itself was built of translucent stone, while ...
... the city was of purest gold, with the brilliance of glass.
The foundation stones of the wall of the city were fashioned out of every kind of precious stone (similar to the stones in the breastpiece of the high priest, Exodus 28:17-20).
The first foundation-stone was jasper,
the second sapphire,
the third agate,
the fourth emerald,
the fifth onyx,
the sixth cornelian,
the seventh goldstone,
the eighth beryl,
the ninth topaz,
the tenth green goldstone,
the eleventh zircon, and
the twelfth amethyst
(the identification of some of these stones is uncertain).
The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl (the "pearly gates" of popular culture).
The street of the city was purest gold gleaming like glass.
59.99 NEW LIFE WITH GOD AND THE LAMB
Revelation 21:22-27 - I could see no Temple in the city, for the Lord, the Almighty God, and the Lamb are themselves its Temple (the city is the Temple, and God lives directly with his people). The city has no need for the light of sun or moon, for the splendour of God fills it with light and its radiance is the Lamb (who provide all the illumination required). The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. The city's gates shall stand open day after day (as there is nothing more for the saved of mankind to fear) - and there will be no night there. Into the city they will bring the splendours and honours of the nations.
But nothing unclean, no one who deals in filthiness and lies, shall ever at any time enter it - only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.
PARADISE REGAINED
59.100 THE GARDEN OF EDEN RESTORED
Revelation 22:1-5 - Then he (the angel) showed me the river (suggesting the river of the Garden of Eden, Genesis 2:10) of the water of life, sparkling like crystal as it flowed from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of the street of the city and on either bank of the river grew the tree of life (no longer denied to mankind as it was so long before to Adam in Genesis 3:22-24), bearing twelve fruits, a different kind for each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Nothing that has cursed mankind shall exist any longer; the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be within the city. His servants shall worship him; they shall see his face, and his name will be upon their foreheads. Night (and all the natural and symbolic darkness implied) shall be no more; they have no more need for either lamplight or sunlight, for the Lord God will shed his light upon them and they shall reign as kings for timeless ages.
XII - EPILOGUE: CHRIST'S FINAL APPEAL
59.101 A call to obedience 22:6-11 59.102 Jesus Christ is coming again 22:12-15 59.103 The final invitation 22:16-17 59.104 The final warning; a final blessing 22:18-21 59.101 A CALL TO OBEDIENCE
Revelation 22:6-11 - (The angel to John ....) Then the angel said to me, "These words are true and to be trusted, for the Lord God, who inspired the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants (such as John) what must shortly happen."
(The voice of Christ is now heard .....) "See, I come quickly! Happy is the man who pays heed to (obeys) the words of the prophecy in this book."
John's personal endorsement
(It is now John's turn to speak as his visions come to an end ...) It is I, John, who have heard and seen these things. At the time when I heard and saw them I fell at the feet of the angel who showed them to me and I was about to worship him. but he said to me, "No! I am fellow-servant to you and to your brother, to the prophets and to those who keep the words of this book. give your worship to God!"
Then he added, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy in this book, for the time of their fulfilment is near. Let the wicked man continue his wickedness and the filthy man his filthiness; let the good man continue his good deeds, and the holy man continue in holiness.
59.102 JESUS CHRIST IS COMING AGAIN
Revelation 22:12-15 - "See, I (Christ) come quickly! I carry my reward with me, and repay every man according to his deeds (we are saved by God's grace or goodness, but rewarded according to how we use this priceless gift). I am Alpha and Omega (first applied to God the Father in Revelation 1:8, and now to Christ the Son), the first and the last, the Beginning and the End. Happy are those who wash their robes, for they have the right to the tree of life and the freedom of the gates of the city (the new Jerusalem). Shut out from the city shall be the depraved, the sorcerers, the impure, the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practises a lie!
59.103 THE FINAL INVITATION
Revelation 22:16-17 - "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to you (John) with this testimony for the Churches. I am both the root and stock of David (Revelation 5:5), and the bright star of the morning!"
The invitation of the Church and the Spirit
The (Holy) Spirit and the bride (the Church) say, "Come!"
Let everyone who hears this also say, "Come (either the Christian's response to Christ, or their cry to the unsaved in the world to hear and respond to the Gospel)!"
Let the thirsty man come, and let everyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.
59.104 THE FINAL WARNING; A FINAL BLESSING
Revelation 22:18-21 - Now I (presumably John) bear solemn witness to every man (and woman) who hears the words of prophecy in this book: If anyone adds to these words God will add to him the disasters described in this book; if anyone takes away from the words of prophecy in this book, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city (the new Jerusalem, Paradise regained) which are described in this book.
He, who is witness to all this, says, "Yes, I (Jesus Christ) am coming very quickly!"
"Amen, come Lord Jesus (in Aramaic, "Maranatha" - "come, Lord" or "the Lord is coming". Return again Lord, the Christians cry out in response)!"
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all his people.
on to verses on "Christian Life and Worship", starting with Part 60, 1 James OR back to J B Phillips HomePage
J.B.Phillips, "The New Testament in Modern English", 1962 edition, published by HarperCollins, is presented here with the kind permission of Mrs Vera Phillips and the J.B.Phillips estate
Maps by Gordon Smith can be used without further permission. Please quote http://www.ccel.org/bible/phillips/JBPhillips.htm