Chronological Bible Study – Dec. 31

What I Noticed Today (Revelation 19-22)

Revelation 19

In verses 1-5, heaven celebrates the fall of Babylon the Great:

• After this (after the fall of Babylon the Great), I (John) heard a large multitude in heaven, saying…
• Verses 1b-4 are known as the Hallelujah Chorus. It is a song of praise to God for His righteous judgment over Babylon the Great.

• The 24 elders and the four living creatures joined in the worship and praise to God.
• A voice from heaven exhorted all those who belong to God and fear Him, small and great, to praise God.

In verses 6-10, the marriage of the Lamb is announced:

• Then I (John) heard something like a multitude, like the cascade of waters, like the rumbling of thunder, offer praise to God for the reign of the Lord has begun.
• Rejoice and give Him glory for the marriage of the Lamb has come.
• His wife [the church] has prepared herself. She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure.

• Then the angel commanded John to write, “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb.”
• I (John) fell at his feet to worship, but the angel commanded me not to, saying he was a fellow slave with you who have the testimony of Jesus.
• Worship God because the testimony about Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Revelation 19:11-20:15

The balance of Revelation 19 describes Jesus’ second coming, and Revelation 20 describes His millennial reign.

In verses 11-21, John describes the rider on the white horse who defeats the beast and his armies:

• Heaven opened, and there was a white horse with a rider [Christ] whose name was “Faithful and True.”
• He judges and makes war in righteousness.
• His eyes were like a fiery flame, and He had many crowns on His head.
• He had a name written that only He knew.
• His robe was stained with blood, and His name is the Word of God.
• The armies of heaven followed Him on white horses wearing white linen.
• A sharp sword came from His mouth so that He might strike the nations.
• He will shepherd them with an iron scepter.
• He will trample the winepress of God’s fierce anger.
• He has a name written on His robe and His thigh, “King of King, and Lord of Lords.”
• An angel standing on the sun cried out to the birds telling them to gather for the great supper of God, to eat the flesh of kings, commanders, mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of everyone both free and slave, small and great.
• The beast and his armies gathered together to wage war against the rider and His armies.
• But the beast was taken prisoner along with the false prophet who had performed signs in his presence.
• He deceived those who took the mark of the beast and worshiped his image.
• The beast and the prophet were thrown into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.

• The rest were killed [by Christ] with the sword that came from the mouth of the rider on the horse. And the birds ate their fill.

Revelation 20

Revelation 20 describes the Millennial reign of Christ. There are three interpretations of Revelation 20, which influence how one interprets the rest of prophetic scripture:

• Postmillennialism. This view suggests the millennial reign of the Gospel, leading up to the return of Christ.
• Amillennialism. This view denies any literal Millennial reign of Christ on earth. The millennial reign of Christ only exists in the hearts of believers.
• Premillennialism. This view supports a literal reign of Christ on earth for 1,000 years following His second coming.
• Those who support the postmillennial or amillennial view, interpret Revelation 20 figuratively.

In verses 1-3, John describes Satan being bound:

• I (John) saw an angel coming from heaven with a key to the abyss and a large chain in his hand.
• He seized the dragon, the serpent, who is the Devil and Satan.
• He bound Satan for 1,000 years and threw him into the abyss, closed it, and put a seal on it so that he could not deceive nations for 1,000 years.
• After that, he must be released for a short time.

In verses 4-6, John describes the martyred saints being resurrected and rewarded:

• Then, I (John) saw thrones and people seated on them with authority to judge. I also saw those martyred for their testimony for Jesus and because of God’s Word who had not worshiped the beast and had not accepted the mark of the beast on their foreheads or hands.
• They came to life and reigned with Messiah for 1,000 years.

• The rest of the dead did not come back to life until after the 1,000 years.

• This is the first resurrection.
• Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection.
• The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and Messiah and will reign with Him for 1,000 years.

In verses 7-10, John describes the rebellion of Satan being crushed:

• After the 1,000 years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison and will deceive the nations of the earth (called Gog and Magog, see Ezekiel 38) to gather them for battle.
• Their number is like the sand of the sea.
• They came up over the surface of the earth and surrounded the saints, the beloved city [Jerusalem, see Isaiah 2:1-5].

• Then fire came down from heaven and consumed them.
• The Devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet are.
• They will be tormented there forever.

In verses 11-15, John describes the resurrection and the Great White Throne Judgment of the wicked dead:

• Then, I (John) saw a great white throne and One seated on it.
• The earth and heaven fled from His presence

• I also saw all the dead, great and small, standing before the throne.
• Books of works were opened along with the book of life.
• The dead were judged according to what was written of their works.
• Then the sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and all were judged by their works.
• Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.
• This is the second death.
• Anyone not written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

Revelation 21

In verses 1-2, I (John) saw a new heaven and a new earth.

• For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.
• The sea no longer existed.
• I also saw the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, like a bride adorned for her husband.

In verses 3-8, then, I (John) heard a loud voice from the throne.

• God will dwell with His people, God Himself will be with them, and He will be their God.
• He will wipe away every tear.
• Death will no longer exist.
• Neither will grief, crying, or pain exists any longer.
• Because these things have passed away.

Then the One seated on the throne said:

• I am making everything new.
• He commanded me to write,
  • It is done.
  • I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.
  • I will give water as a gift to the thirsty from the spring of life.
  • The victor will inherit these things.
  • But cowards, unbelievers, murderers, sexually immoral, isolators, and liars will be in the lake of fire and sulfur, which is the second death.

In verses 9-27, John describes the New Jerusalem:

• One of the seven angels who held the bowls offered to show John the bride, the wife of the Lamb.
• He carried me away in the Spirit to a high mountain and showed me the holy city of Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God.
• It was arrayed with God’s glory.
• Its radiance was like precious stones, bright as crystal.
• It had massive high walls and 12 gates.
• Twelve angels were at the gates.
• The names of the 12 tribes of Israel were inscribed on the gates: three on each side.
• The city had 12 foundations, and the names of the twelve apostles were on the foundations.
• The angel who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city, its gates, and the walls.
• It is laid out in a square; 12,000 stadia (about 1,400 miles) on each side and 1,400 miles high.
• The wall was 144 cubits (216 feet) thick.
• The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold like clear glass.
• Each foundation was adorned with a precious stone: 1 – jasper, 2 – sapphire, 3 – chalcedony, 4 – emerald, 5 – sardonyx, 6 – carnelian, 7 – chrysolite, 8 – beryl, 9 – topaz, 10-chrysoprase, 11 – jacinth, and 12 – amethyst.
• The 12 gates are 12 pearls. Each gate made of a single pearl.
• The broad street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
• There was no sanctuary in the city because God and the Lamb are its sanctuary.
• The city does not need the sun or the moon for light because God’s glory illuminates it, and the Lamb is its lamp.
• Its gates will never close because it will never be night.
• They will bring honor and glory of the nations into it.
• Nothing profane will ever enter it.
• No one who does what is vile or false will live there — only those whose name is in the Lamb’s book of Life.

Revelation 22

In verses 1-5, John continues with additional details about the New Jerusalem:

• Then he (the angel) showed me (John) the river of living water flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the broad street.
• The tree of life was on both sides of the river, bearing 12 kinds of fruit that it produced every month.
• The leaves were for healing the nations.

• There will no longer be any curse.

• The throne of God and the Lamb will be in the city, and His slaves [servants] will serve Him.
• They will see His face, and His name will be on their forehead.
• The night will no longer exist because the Lord will give them light.
• And they will reign forever.

In verses 6-13, John is commanded not to seal the scroll:

• Then he (the angel) said these words are faithful and true.
• The Lord, the God of the prophets, sent His angel to show his slaves [servants] what is to take place.
• I (Christ) am coming quickly, the one who keeps the words of this book are blessed.

• I (John) fell down to worship the angel, but the angel rebuked him again, saying he was a fellow slave [servant] with you, your brothers, the prophets, and those who keep the word of God. Worship only God.
• He (the angel) also said not to seal the prophetic words of the book because the time is near.
• Let the unrighteous go on in unrighteousness; let the filthy go on being filthy; let the righteous go on being righteous, and let the holy go on being holy.

• I (Jesus) am coming quickly, and I will reward each person according to their deeds (for Christ).
• I am the Alpha and the Omega; the First and the Last; the Beginning and the End.

In verses 14-17, the final blessing and invitation:

• Blessed are those who wash their robes, so they have the right to the tree of life and to enter the City.

• Outside [of the City] are the dogs, sorcerers, sexually immoral, murderers, idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.

• I, Jesus, sent My angel to tell you these things for the churches.
• I am the Root, the Offspring of David, the Bright Morning Star.

In verses 18-21, Jesus issues a final warning and a benediction:

• I (Jesus) testify that if anyone adds to the words of this book, God will add to him the plagues of this book.
• If anyone takes away from the words of this book, God will take away his share of the tree of life and the holy city.
• He who testifies says, I am coming quickly.
• John responds, “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus.”
• The grace of our Lord Jesus be with the saints. Amen.

What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.