The Unveiling - A Guide to the Prophecies of the Book of Revelation

By Robert I. Adams

The world is heading toward a climax. End time prophecies in the book of Revelation are nearing the time of their fulfillment. As we get closer, it is imperative we understand what to expect will occur on the world scene. Here are some questions about the last book of the Bible that we need answers to:

- What does it say about the future of the world?
- Where does it place the church in the last days?
- What does it say about Israel in the end time?
- How does it portray the return of Christ?

THE UNVEILING conveys with clarity and conviction what the book of Revelation reveals concerning these issues.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Oct 29, 2017
• ISBN: 9781387296712

Book preview

FOREWORD

The God of the Bible is both the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning as well as the end. It comes as no surprise that the book of Genesis and the book of Revelation, the first and last books in the Bible, have been criticized and attacked more than the other books in the Bible. If we do not know the beginning of everything and if we do not know how everything will end, we will be hopelessly lost in life, without a proper understanding of our identity and without a true goal for our lives.

The book of Revelation is therefore a very important book. It is the only one in the Bible that promises a special blessing to all who read it: Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near (Rev. 1:3). Yet, many people have probably thought along the same lines as the great reformer Martin Luther, who commented about the book of Revelation: What blessing is there in reading a book that you cannot understand? (from the 1522 Preface to the Revelation of St. John in Luther’s translation of the New Testament).

Robert Adams has, however, in his commentary The Unveiling done an excellent job to make this final book of the Bible more understandable for everyone. It has been a tremendous blessing to read this commentary. In my view, it is a pioneer work of historic proportions.

The reader is spared a lot of unnecessary doctrinal baggage in this commentary. Adams rather lets Scripture explain Scripture in a very helpful and enlightening way, as he unlocks the content verse by verse.

The commentary is based on two very important assumptions, which greatly help the reader to better grasp the message in the book of Revelation. The first one is that, just like all other prophetic literature in the Bible—Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and others, the content in the book of Revelation is not presented in a strict chronological order. In the first introductory part of the commentary, Robert Adams does a beautiful job at unlocking the chronological relationship between the seven seals, the seven trumpets and the final seven bowls of wrath. Without this basic understanding, the book of Revelation is impossible to comprehend.

The second assumption is that the coming of Messiah takes place in chapter 19 without any secret rapture of the church preceding the visible revelation of the Son of Man from heaven. The last chapter contains a very serious warning: If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book (Rev. 22:19). The traditional pre-tribulation doctrine, which interjects a rapture of the church in the first verse of chapter four, in essence takes away most of the content in the book of Revelation from having any real relevance for true believers. It seriously contradicts the very purpose of the revelation John received. In the first chapter of the book, the Apostle John was commanded by Jesus to inform the churches about the things which must shortly take place and he admonishes everyone to keep those things which are written in it for the time is near.

Since the plain meaning of the text, as well as the logic of the content in Revelation, exclude a pre-tribulation rapture of the church, it makes the book of Revelation extremely important for every believer today to study and understand.

While preterist and historical interpretations of the book of Revelation have certain validity, it is obvious that the book primarily describes what will happen in the very end, just prior to the revelation of Messiah from heaven. In view of his soon appearance, the book of Revelation is more relevant today than at any other time in history. God promised Daniel that in the end times the understanding of the prophetic word would increase. We all owe a great debt to Robert Adams for doing an excellent job explaining the meaning of the final book of the Bible.

Nehemiah describes what happened when Ezra and all the Levites explained the meaning of the Torah of Moses to the Jews who had returned from Babylon. In this connection, it says: So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading. … And all the people went their way to eat and drink, to send portions and rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that were declared to them (Neh. 8:8, 12).

I was enormously blessed reading this commentary by Robert Adams, and I am certain that many who are hungry for the truth will be equally blessed when they read it.

Jerusalem, 2017

Lars Enarson

Founder and president of The Watchman International

INTRODUCTION

What does the future hold for the world? This question is on many lips. I believe the world’s most read piece of literature has the answer; the Bible is not at all silent about the future! It paints a picture of the state of the world at the close of the age we are living in. It also reveals the coming of another age that will begin when Jesus Christ returns. The book of Revelation—the only book in the New Testament that is predominantly futuristic—completes the biblical picture of the end time. It pulls back the curtain to reveal stunning details of the last days, the return of Christ, and the ultimate eternal home of all the saved.

This guide to the book of Revelation is divided into two parts. First, we look at what its message is all about. The question of its chronology is also addressed, as well as what the book tells us about how to live today in view of what is to come. The second and largest part is a detailed commentary on the contents of the Revelation from beginning to end.

My hope and prayer is that this contribution to a fuller understanding of the book of Revelation will shed light on the end time, and encourage you to always remain faithful to the Lord Jesus.

— Robert I. Adams

PART 1

CONSIDERING THE ACCOUNT

BASICS OF THE BOOK

The Revelation is the last piece of Scripture that constitutes the Bible. It was written by the apostle John, one of the first disciples Jesus called to follow Him. At the time John wrote the book, he was an elderly man and a prisoner of the Roman state because of his testimony concerning Jesus.

From the writings of some of the early church fathers, among them Eusebius and Irenaeus, we learn that John was incarcerated during the latter part of the reign of the Roman emperor Domitian (AD 81–96). Domitian had many Christians killed, their property confiscated, their Scriptures burnt, their houses destroyed, and many of the most prominent believers were banished to the prison island of Patmos to work in the granite quarries. John was one of those in exile on this tiny, barren island off the coast of modern-day Turkey. Before being released from his internment when the emperor died, John received a tremendous revelation from the Lord Jesus. What he saw and wrote down not only spoke to the early Christian churches but reaches into our future and encompasses the entire world in the end time and on into eternity.

The climatic event in the book of Revelation is the return of Jesus, and what it will entail for every person on the planet. The end time visions given to John lead up to this monumental event, and flow from it. What God revealed to John is the ultimate fulfillment of what He proclaimed through the prophet Isaiah: I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done (Is. 46:9, 10).

Besides containing much straightforward language, the book of Revelation also contains certain signs and symbolic terms. This is not as problematic as it sounds because as we shall see, the book itself explains some of the imagery, and much is interpreted by the rest of Scripture. In this regard, we should take note that more than 300 of the 400 verses in the book are rooted in the Holy Scriptures written before the time of Christ. Even though there are several passages that present a real challenge when it comes to interpretation, especially when John uses simile to describe what he saw, it is my conviction that the overall message God intended to convey is comprehensible.

The last book in the Bible not only unveils the future so that believers can know what is going to happen, but also so that they can be ready for it. A key concept that is interwoven into the fabric of the book is preparation for what will take place in the end time in view of Christ’s return and the eternal destiny that awaits each human being.

The Structure

The following is a simple outline of the book of Revelation:

Chap. 1–3: Jesus gives John messages to churches on earth.

Chap. 4 & 5: John sees the throne room of God in heaven.

Chap. 6–18: A time of trouble on the earth directed from heaven.

Chap. 19 & 20: Jesus descends from heaven to the earth to reign.

Chap. 21 & 22: God’s city descends from heaven to a new earth.

Here is a short summary of each chapter in the Revelation:

1. John describes how Jesus revealed Himself to him on the island of Patmos and told him to write in a book what he was to be shown and send it to seven churches.

2. Jesus gives John messages to four of the seven churches.

3. Jesus gives John messages to the remaining three churches.

4. John is transported to the throne room in heaven and describes God sitting on His throne as well as the beings around the throne.

5. Jesus receives a scroll with seven seals on it from the One sitting on the throne.

6. Jesus breaks open six of the seven seals on the scroll, and events follow each opened seal.

7. Two crowds of people are portrayed—one consisting of a numbered crowd on the earth, and the other of a vast unnumbered crowd in heaven.

8. The seventh seal is opened, followed by the giving of seven trumpets to angels—four of which are blown, causing devastation on the earth.

9. The fifth and sixth trumpets are blown, causing widespread pain and death on the earth.

10. An angel tells John about the coming seventh trumpet and gives the apostle a little scroll to eat.

11. Two prophets of God prophesy for a time and are killed in Jerusalem, followed by the blowing of the seventh trumpet.

12. A woman who gives birth is portrayed as being persecuted by a dragon, and the woman is sheltered for a time in the wilderness away from the dragon.

13. A beast arises and persecutes God’s people, and a second beast kills those who refuse to worship the first beast and enforces a mark that everyone must have to buy or sell.

14. The numbered group of chapter 7 is described more closely, three angels give proclamations, and two harvestings of the earth are portrayed.

15. People who refused to worship the beast and take his mark are seen in heaven, while seven angels are given bowls filled with God’s wrath.

16. The seven angels pour out the bowls of God’s wrath, which cause various plagues on the earth.

17. An angel shows John a harlot called ‘Babylon the great’ sitting on the first beast, who is drunk with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.

18. John is shown how Babylon is destroyed by the beast, and how various people react to her destruction.

19. The inhabitants of heaven rejoice at the destruction of Babylon, and Jesus descends from heaven with His army and destroys the beast and his army.

20. Jesus reigns for a thousand years together with those who belong to Him, and then the final judgment is held.

21. The holy city, New Jerusalem, is described as descending to a new earth, where the saved will live with God and Jesus for all eternity.

22. Jesus underlines that He is coming again and warns not to tamper with the contents of the book.

PIECES OF THE PUZZLE

In the Revelation, there are a number of persons, beings, groups and entities that are mentioned throughout the book. They all have a role within the prophetic visions given to John. We will take a look at them and see who they are, what they do, and where they appear in the book.

God

God is referred to about 100 times in the Revelation and is therefore the main focus of the entire drama. He is seated on a throne in heaven, which is mentioned about 40 times. That God sits on the throne, assures us that He reigns supreme and has everything under control. His absolute authority in the affairs of the world is underlined by the term Almighty, which is used of God no less than nine times in the Revelation. At the end of his vision, John saw God’s throne in the holy city, New Jerusalem (22:1, 3), where God will dwell with His people for ever (21:3).

The Lamb

This term is used 23 times throughout the Revelation and refers to Jesus. The angels of heaven call Jesus the Lamb when they worship Him (5:12, 13), as does a great crowd of people before the throne in heaven (7:10). We read of the wrath of the Lamb (6:16), the blood of the Lamb (12:11), the Book of Life of the Lamb (13:8), the song of the Lamb (15:3), the marriage of the Lamb (19:7), and the twelve apostles of the Lamb (21:14). The Lamb breaks seven seals on a scroll (6:1–17; 8:1), and when He returns to earth, He will defeat those who make war with Him (17:14). Finally, we are told that the Lamb will be eternally enthroned in the holy city, New Jerusalem (22:1, 3).

The Spirit

The Spirit is referred to 17 times in the Revelation. The Spirit speaks to the churches (2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22), told John about those who die in the Lord (14:13), and invites people to come to Jesus (22:17). John was in the Spirit when Jesus revealed Himself to him on the island of Patmos (1:10). John was also in the Spirit when he was shown the harlot sitting on the beast (17:3), and when he was shown the holy city, New Jerusalem (21:10).

The Four Living Creatures

These winged creatures are situated around the throne of God in heaven (4:6), where they continually praise and worship Him (4:8, 9; 5:8, 9, 14; 19:4). The four living creatures are actively involved when Jesus breaks the first four of the seven seals (6:1–8). Later, one of the four living creatures gives seven bowls full of the wrath of God to seven angels (15:7).

The Twenty-Four Elders

These elders sit on thrones around the throne of God in heaven (4:4). Five times throughout the Revelation we see them fall on their faces and worship God (4:10; 5:8, 14; 11:16; 19:4). The twenty-four elders pronounce the forthcoming judgment of the dead, and the rewarding of God’s people (11:18). One of the elders conversed with John while he was in heaven (7:13–17).

The Angels of God

Angels are mentioned more than 70 times throughout the book of Revelation. They are seen in heaven worshiping and praising God (5:11, 12; 7:11, 12; 16:5), and implementing God’s judgments on the earth (7:1–3; 8:3–5, 13; 9:11, 14, 15; 14:17–19; 18:1–3, 21). Angels blow the seven trumpets that cause destruction, pain, and death on the earth (8:2 ff), and they pour out the seven bowls filled with God’s wrath (15:1–16:21). Angels fight Satan and his evil angels (12:7), and they proclaim messages from the Lord to the people on the earth (14:6–9). An angel calls on birds to feast on the corpses of Christ’s enemies when He returns (19:17). Another angel binds Satan and imprisons him for a thousand years (20:1–3). Angels are also seen standing at the gates of the holy city, New Jerusalem (21:12). John interacted with several angels. An angel gave him a scroll to eat (10:10). Another one gave John a measuring rod to measure the temple of God in Jerusalem (11:1). Yet another angel showed John the judgment of the great harlot (17:1), and the splendor of the holy city, New Jerusalem (21:9).

The Saints

The term saints appears 13 times in the book of Revelation. These people pray (5:8; 8:3, 4), patiently suffer (13:10), and many of them are martyred (13:7, 10; 16:6; 17:6; 18:24). One reason they are killed is for not worshiping the image of the beast (13:15). When Jesus returns, the saints are rewarded for their righteous acts (11:18; 19:8), and they will live with Him in his future kingdom on earth (20:9). John says the saints are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus (14:12). The saints are also referred to as servants of God ten times, and brethren four times.

The 144,000

This group is comprised of people from all the tribes of the children of Israel (7:4) who are redeemed and follow Jesus (14:3, 4). There are 12,000 from each tribe (7:5–8). These servants of God are sealed on their foreheads with God’s name (7:3; 14:1). They are seen standing with Jesus on Mount Zion, while singing (14:1, 3).

The Woman Clothed With the Sun

In chapter 12, John sees a woman who is clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. The woman gives birth to a baby boy who is received up into heaven. Because she is persecuted, she is given the two wings of a great eagle so that she might fly into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God. There, she is in safety and is fed for 3 ½ years. It appears this woman represents a group of people who will be preserved by God in the end time just before Jesus returns. Later, we will look more closely at who these people are, and what the narrative concerning the woman represents.

The Two Witnesses

These two men, also called prophets (11:10), prophesy for 3 ½ years (11:3). No rain falls in the time of their ministry, while they turn water into blood and strike the earth with all kinds of plagues (11:6). No-one can harm them until their testimony is completed, at which time they are killed in Jerusalem (11:5–7). After three days, they are resurrected in the sight of their enemies, and ascend heavenward in a cloud (11:11, 12).

The Dragon

Halfway through the book, we are introduced to a great, fiery red dragon (12:3) that portrays the Devil and Satan (12:9). After fighting God’s angels in heaven and being defeated, the dragon is thrown down and then persecutes the people of God on the earth (12:7–17). The dragon deceives the people of the world (16:13, 14; 20:3), is worshiped by them (13:2, 4), and gives his power to a man who represents him on earth (13:2). When Jesus returns, the dragon is bound for a thousand years (20:2). After this time, he is released and instigates a last rebellion against God, only to be thrown into a lake of fire to be tormented forever (20:10).

The Beast

This term occurs more than 30 times and refers to a despotic leader that arises in the end time. He rules a kingdom from a throne (16:10), and the devil gives him power and great authority (13:2). The world follows this man and worships him (13:3, 4). He blasphemes God and makes war on the people of God (13:6, 7). We are informed he will continue for 3 ½ years (13:5). When Jesus returns, he is captured and thrown into the lake of fire (19:20) and is tormented there forever (20:10). The beast can be equated with whom the author of the Revelation calls the Antichrist in 1 John 2:18. The term beast used of the Antichrist stands in contrast to the term Lamb used of Christ.

The False Prophet

The false prophet is initially called another beast (13:11) to distinguish him from the first beast (13:12). This demon-possessed man (16:13) performs signs to deceive the nations into giving their allegiance to the first beast (13:14; 19:20). He oversees the making of an image to the beast and causes those who refuse to worship it to be killed (13:15). In addition, he causes people to receive a mark, without which no-one can buy or sell (13:17). When Jesus returns, the false prophet is captured and thrown into the lake of fire (19:20) to be tormented there forever (20:10).

Babylon the Great

Babylon the great is first mentioned in chapter 14, where an angel proclaims her coming fall. Then in chapter 16, Babylon the great is again mentioned as being destroyed because of God’s judgment. The next two chapters (17 & 18) take a closer look at Babylon the great, and her destruction. She is portrayed as a wealthy harlot who fornicates with the kings of the earth and makes the inhabitants of the earth drunk with the wine of her fornication. She is herself drunk with the blood of God’s people. An angel explained to John that the harlot represents a great city that exerts control over national leaders and their countries. Furthermore, the angel said that she makes businessmen of the world rich and is guilty of murdering God’s people. The angel also said that ten kings will destroy her by fire, thus carrying out God’s judgment on her for her sins.

The Ten Kings

These ten kings receive authority to rule when the beast arises (17:12), and all of them give their power and authority to him (17:13). The ten kings will hate the harlot city of Babylon and destroy her with fire (17:16). They attempt to do battle with Jesus when He returns (17:14), but they will be killed (19:18).

The Kings of the Earth

This expression appears nine times in the book. The kings of the earth commit fornication with the harlot city of Babylon (17:2; 18:3) who reigns over them (17:18). Spirits of demons are sent out from Satan, the beast, and the false prophet to gather the kings of the earth to the battle on the great day of God (16:14; 19:19). The kings of the earth will mourn when the harlot city of Babylon is destroyed (18:9), and they hide themselves in caves for fear of Christ’s wrath (6:15, 16), but are killed when He returns (19:18). The kings of the earth are national leaders, whether presidents, prime ministers, or monarchs.

Those Who Dwell on the Earth

This phrase occurs seven times in the book and is evidently used of ungodly people. Those who dwell on the earth are tested in the last days (3:10), and an angel preaches the everlasting gospel to them (14:6), but it is apparent they do not repent (9:20, 21; 16:9, 11). They marvel at the beast and worship him (13:8, 12; 17:8), and are deceived by the false prophet, who tells them to make an image to the beast (13:14). The earth-dwellers are guilty of martyring people who belong to God (6:10) and celebrate when the two prophets of God are murdered (11:10). Many of them are killed when Jesus returns (19:18).

The Nations

The term ‘nations’ occurs many times throughout the book and denotes non-Jewish races. The nations are deceived by Satan (20:3) and come under the authority of the beast (13:7). They all have illicit relations with the harlot city of Babylon (14:8) and are deceived by her sorcery (18:23). The nations will tread underfoot the city of Jerusalem for 3 ½ years (11:2), and at the time of Christ’s return, they are angry (11:18); therefore, He strikes them with His word (19:15). In the coming kingdom, the nations are ruled by Jesus and His obedient followers (2:26; 12:5). At this time, all the nations will come and worship before the Lord (15:4). After Jesus has reigned a thousand years, Satan is released from prison, and will once again deceive the nations to rebel against God (20:8). After the final judgment, the nations of those who are saved will dwell on the new earth (21:1, 24), and will have access to the holy city, New Jerusalem (22:2).

THOUGHTS ON THE THEMES

There are several topics that are prevalent in the book of Revelation. They help us see what is important in the visions that were shown to John. Let’s take a look at them:

Heaven

Heaven is mentioned about 50 times in the Revelation. We are told God created it (10:6; 14:7), and that God’s throne is there (4:2) within the temple of God in heaven (11:19; 15:5; 16:17). There are creatures and beings that dwell in heaven (5:13; 13:6), as well as martyrs and other servants of God who have died (6:9–11; 7:13–17; 15:2; 19:1). A war in heaven is portrayed between the Archangel Michael’s angels and Satan’s angels (12:7). On several occasions, angels of God come down from heaven (10:1; 18:1; 20:1), as also Jesus and the armies in heaven will do at His second coming (19:11–16). We are also told that the holy city, New Jerusalem will come down out of heaven (3:12; 21:2, 10).

The Earth

The book of Revelation shows that God created the earth (10:6; 14:7), and that His Spirit is sent forth into all the earth (5:6). Due to war, peace is taken from the earth (6:4), resulting in death on the earth (6:8). Angels are given authority to harm the earth with winds (7:1–3), as well as with hail and fire that are thrown to the earth (8:7). Satan and his angels are cast to the earth (12:9), at which time two prophets of God smite the earth with all kinds of plagues (11:6), followed by God’s wrath that is poured out on the earth (16:1, 2). When Jesus comes back, His followers will reign with Him on the earth (5:10). After Jesus has reigned for 1,000 years, God will create a new earth (21:1).

Thrones

God’s throne is mentioned in 14 of the 22 chapters in the book. It is the place of absolute power and authority, and is the central focus in heaven, around which everything that happens in the book revolves. Encompassing God’s throne are twenty-four other thrones, where heavenly elders sit (4:4; 11:16). Satan too, has a throne, which is depicted as being on the earth (2:13). The beast receives Satan’s throne (13:2), which is targeted by the wrath of God (16:10). When Jesus comes back and dethrones both Satan and the beast, thrones are set up for those who will reign with Jesus in His kingdom (20:4). At the last judgment, people will stand before a great white throne (20:11). After that, the throne of God and the Lamb will forever be in the New Jerusalem (22:1, 3).

Kingship

Six chapters in the book of Revelation mention kings who reign on the earth. Among them are the kings of the east (16:12). Special attention is given to ten kings who are associated with the beast (17:12). They stand in opposition to Jesus, who is King of kings (17:14; 19:16) and the ruler of the kings of the earth (1:5). When Jesus returns, He decimates these kings (19:18–21), and His faithful followers then reign as kings (1:6; 5:10; 21:24). God Himself is called King of the saints (15:3).

Power

The power of God and Christ is mentioned seven times (4:11; 5:12; 7:12; 11:17; 12:10; 15:8; 19:1). There is therefore no doubt as to their supremacy. God’s enemy, Satan, gives his power to the beast (13:2), and so do the ten kings (17:13). When Jesus comes back the power of Satan, the beast, and the ten kings will be no more; only the power God and Christ will remain.

Authority

The subject of authority is a major theme in the Revelation. We are told that God has authority over the end time plagues (16:9). There is an angel that has great authority (18:1), and another one that has authority over fire (14:18). The two witnesses have authority to not let it rain, and to turn water into blood (11:6). Death is given authority over a quarter of the earth (6:8), and strange flying entities are given authority to harm people for five months (9:3, 10). The beast is given authority over the nations (13:7), and to continue 3 ½ years (13:5). While Satan gives the beast great authority (13:2, 4), the false prophet exercises all the authority of the beast (13:12). The ten kings receive authority to rule with the beast (17:12), and they give their authority to him (17:13). When Jesus returns, He will by His own authority (12:10) strip Satan, the beast, and the ten kings of their authority. Jesus will then give His obedient followers authority over the nations (2:26).

Worship

God is worshiped by the four living creatures (4:8; 5:14; 19:4), the twenty-four elders (4:10; 5:14; 11:16; 19:4), the angels (7:11), and all creation (5:13). Jesus is also worshiped by the four living creatures (5:8, 9), the twenty-four elders (5:8, 9), the angels (5:11, 12), and all creation (5:13). The unrepentant on earth worship demons (9:20), Satan (13:4), the beast (13:4, 8, 12; 14:9; 20:4), and his image (13:15; 14:9; 16:2; 19:20, 20:4). A call is made to every nation, tribe, and people to worship God (14:7), but largely falls on deaf ears (16:9, 11). Albeit God is worshiped by His people on the earth (11:1), as well as saints in heaven who have suffered tribulation (7:9, 10; 15:1–3). Those who gain the victory over the beast, say that all nations will eventually come and worship the Lord (15:4). This will be a reality when Jesus returns. Twice John falls down to worship the angel who was showing him the visions (19:10; 22:8), and both times the angel tells him to worship only God (19:10; 22:9).

Deception

This theme is prevalent in the book of Revelation. Satan is the one who deceives the whole world (12:9; 20:3), and he is seen to have three minions who do his bidding. The first one is a false prophetess in one of the seven churches who deceives Christ’s servants into committing fornication (2:20). The second one is the false prophet who deceives those who dwell on the earth by signs that he is granted to do (13:14), and thereby deceives people into receiving the mark of the beast and worshiping his image (19:20). The third one is Babylon the great that deceives all the nations by her sorcery (18:23). When Satan is released for a while after Christ has reigned on the earth for 1,000 years, he again deceives the nations and causes them to rebel against Christ (20:8, 10).

War

A war is fought in heaven (12:7), which results in the Archangel Michael and his angels defeating and throwing out Satan and his angels. Satan then makes war with the people of God (12:17) through the beast who makes war with the saints (13:7), including the two witnesses (11:7). The beast will gather his forces to make war against Jesus when He returns (17:14; 19:19), but he and his forces are destroyed (17:14; 19:20, 21).

Blood

The book of Revelation speaks of the blood of Jesus, the blood of the saints, the blood of Christ’s enemies, and blood as an instrument of judgment. John wrote to the people in the churches that Jesus has washed them from their sins in His own blood (1:5). An angel tells John about people who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb (7:14). Jesus is praised for redeeming people to God by His blood (5:9), and the saints overcome Satan by the blood of the Lamb (12:11). The wicked shed the blood of the saints (16:6; 17:6; 18:24; 19:2), and the martyrs cry out to the Lord to avenge their blood on those who dwell on the earth (6:10). Hail and fire, mingled with blood, are thrown to the earth (8:7), and the two witnesses have power over waters to turn them to blood (11:6). A third of the sea becomes blood (8:8), and later the whole sea becomes blood as of a dead man (16:3). The rivers and springs of water become blood (16:4), and those who have shed the blood of the saints are given blood to drink (16:6). The moon becomes like blood (6:12), and when Jesus returns, His robe will be covered in blood (19:13). When He slaughters His enemies, there will be blood up to the horses’ bridles outside the city of Jerusalem (14:20).

Death

The Revelation given to John says much about death. In one of the seven messages to the churches, Jesus mentions a believer called Antipas who was killed for his faith. In another one of the seven messages, Jesus says He will kill with death those who seduce His followers to commit adultery (2:23). Since Jesus has conquered death (1:18; 2:8), He encourages His followers to be faithful until death when they are in tribulation (2:10). True followers of Jesus do not love their lives even when faced with death in their opposition to Satan (12:11). In view of the coming time of persecution before Jesus returns, John was told to write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on (14:13). These refer primarily to those who are killed for their faith in the last days (6:11; 13:10) because they refuse to worship the image of the beast (13:15). At this time, death is given authority over a quarter of the earth (6:8), a third of the living creatures in the sea die (8:9), and many people die from coming into contact with water that is made bitter (8:11). Those who attempt to harm the two witnesses are killed (11:5), and only when they have finished their testimony will the beast succeed in killing them (11:7). Toward the end, a third of mankind is killed by an army of 200 million (9:15–18), every living creature in the sea dies (16:3), and the people who remain in the harlot city of Babylon die too (18:8). We are also told that an earthquake will kill 7,000 people in Jerusalem (11:13). When Jesus returns, He will kill the beast, and annihilate all His enemies with a word from His mouth (19:19–21). The final end of all those who oppose God, is the lake of fire, which is the second death (2:11; 20:6, 14; 21:8). When God makes the new earth, there will be no more death (20:14; 21:4).

Life

The subject of life is presented in the Revelation in different ways. Of God, it says He lives forever and ever (4:9, 10; 5:14; 10:6: 15:7), and Jesus said, I am alive forevermore (1:18). We are told that Jesus keeps a list of names in the Book of Life (3:5; 13:8, 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27; 22:19). Those who overcome and therefore do not get their names blotted out of the Book of Life, receive the crown of life (2:10). They will have access to the water of life (21:6, 22:1, 17; cf. 7:17), and the tree of life in the New Jerusalem (2:7; 22:2, 14). After their resurrection from the dead, God’s servants will live and reign forever and ever (20:4; 22:5).

Newness

The book of Revelation mentions various new things. We read about a new song (5:9; 14:3) being sung in heaven, and Christ’s new name (3:12; cf. 2:17) that is given to those who overcome. We also read about a new heaven and a new earth (21:1) and the New Jerusalem (3:12; 21:2). Finally, we have the Lord’s promise that He will make all things new (21:5).

The Number ‘Seven’

Different numbers feature in the Revelation, and one that is very conspicuous is the number seven. It stands for completeness as well as perfection and occurs many times in the book. We are told of the seven Spirits (1:4), seven lampstands (1:12), seven stars (1:16), seven lamps of fire (4:5), seven seals (5:1), seven horns (5:6), seven eyes (5:6), seven angels standing before God (8:2), seven trumpets (8:2), seven thunders (10:3), seven heads (12:3), seven crowns (12:3), seven angels who come out of the temple in heaven (15:6), seven plagues (15:6), seven bowls (15:7), seven mountains (17:9), and seven kings (17:10).

CHEWING ON THE CHAPTERS

Now that we have viewed an outline of the book of Revelation, and looked at who and what the prophecies concern, let’s take an even closer look at the contents of each chapter.

Chapter 1

John begins with a prologue, where he greets the churches he is writing to and surmises the most significant of the various visions he received, which is the revelation of Christ from heaven in full view of the watching