Revelation

As the second half of Tribulation unfolds (v5, 42 months), two beasts are described: the Beast from the Sea (vv1-10) and the Beast from the Earth (vv11-18). Both are agents of Satan acting with and by his authority (vv4,12). The first will be the powerful leader the world has desperately sought, bringing peace and prosperity. John wrote in his first epistle you have "heard that antichrist is coming" (1 Jn 2:18). Paul similarly reminds us in 2 Thes 2:5 after describing Antichrist, "Do you not remember that while I was with you, I was telling you these things?". Revelation 13:1-8 is the most complete description of the Antichrist of all Scripture, although Daniel 7-11 gives the original source of biblical information. John lists descriptors of the Antichrist as a leopard (Greek), a bear (Medo-Persian), and a lion (Babylonian) (v2) as Daniel had in 7:3-7, but in reverse of Daniel's listing. Daniel was listing them in chronological order looking forward in time, while John was looking back. The Antichrist will solidify his rule in a miraculous recovery from a mortal wound. The world will be amazed and worship him (v3). With a new fanatical following, he will no longer hide his Satanic affiliation and desecrate the Temple in Jerusalem (vv5-6), and mercilessly attack believers in the one true God (v7). The final false prophet appears harmless as a lamb (v11), but by great signs (v13) and creating an idol (14), he will execute as many as refuse to worship the Antichrist (v15). His command brings the mark of the beast to be applied to the right hand or forehead of all (v16). Commerce will be refused to the unmarked (v17). There is wisdom in understanding the number of the beast "666" (v18). Six is the number for man. Repeated thrice, is to make it holy. Such was Satan's greatest sin - to make a god of himself.

In the introduction describing the arrival of the Lamb (vv1-5), note this memorable feature set characterizing the 144,000: Power (v1 - the name of His Father written on their foreheads), Praise (vv2-3 - voices like thunder and harps in a song no one could learn except the 144,000), Purity (4a - not defiled), Paritsanship (14b - the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes), Purpose (14c - they have been purchased), Precision (5a - only correct speech - no lie from their mouth), and Perfection (5b - they are blameless). The first angel that follows preaches the gospel (vv6-7). The second pronounces judgment (v8. The third promises damnation (vv9-11). Why are the dead from vv12-13 blessed? Because of how they lived (v12) and because of how they died (v13). The final reaping of the earth is described in vv14-20 as the grain harvest (vv14-16) and the grape harvest (17-20). *a stadion (v20) is appx 185m. *a horse bridle averages 5 feet from the ground. The result of the grape harvest will be blood five feet deep for almost 300km.

In this shortest chapter of the book of Revelation, John sees the prelude in heaven to the pouring out of the final displays of God's wrath - the seven bowl judgments on Earth (v1). The scene unfolds before the stage of God's throne which appears as a sea of glass - this time mixed with fire (v2). Moses described this same stage/sea of glass in Exodus 24:10, when from a vision of heaven, he "saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself." Ezekiel's described it "like the awesome gleam of crystal" (Eze. 1:22). The song of Moses and the song of the Lamb are sung (vv3-4) before the sanctuary of the tabernacle of testimony (heavenly arc of the covenant) is opened (v5) and the seven plagues emerge (v6) filling the sanctuary with the smoke of God's glory (v8). Moses' song from the Old Testament had been sung to the Israelites, in victory following their escape from the Egyptians (Ex 15:1-18). The song of the Lamb was declared earlier in this book (5:8-14). Dr. John Philips (1927-2010) compared these songs: "The song of Moses was sung at the Red Sea, the song of the Lamb is sung at the crystal sea; the song of Moses was a song of triumph over Egypt, the song of the Lamb is a song of triumph over Babylon; the song of Moses told how God brought His people out, the song of the Lamb tells how God brings His people in; the song of Moses was the first song in Scripture, the song of the Lamb is the last. The song of Moses commemorated the execution of the foe, the expectation of the saints, and the exaltation of the Lord; the song of the Lamb deals with the same three themes." It is difficult for the follower of Christ not to echo the words of this song from verse four, "WHO WILL NOT FEAR, O LORD, AND GLORIFY YOUR NAME? For You alone are holy."

So many of the previous demonstrations of God's wrath have brought about repentance as the mighty power of the Lord was seen by mankind. Not so in the case of the seven bowl judgments poured out on mankind in chapter 16. Because God is the only One in the sanctuary, we know it is Him speaking to the seven angels (v1) to go pour out His wrath. The first angel poured out "loathsome and malignant sores" on those bearing the mark of the beast (v2). The second poured out wrath turning the seas to congealed blood (v3). The third did the same, but to the rivers of the world, removing all remaining natural access to any source of water (v4). Verses 5-7 declare God's righteousness and the justification of His wrath. The fourth bowl judgement is reminiscent of Isaiah 24:4-6 with fiery judgement coming from the sun (vv8-9). The fifth, poured out on the throne of the beast darkened the sky and prompted the people to join the beast in blaspheming God - sealing their fate (vv10-11). The sixth was not as gentle as it seems, as it sets up the final judgement. The river Euphrates would have been overflowing from the waters expanding in response to the worldwide changes. The bowl judgement drying up these waters allows for the assembled armies of the world to gather at the valley of Armageddon for their final destruction (v16). And then it will be finished - setting up the arrival of Christ "it is done" (v17), as the seventh bowl unleashes the greatest fury the world has or ever will see. The mountains above and below the seas are flattened in such a great earthquake that all the Earth is reshaped. Jerusalem (the great city - v19) is divided into three parts, hail weighing 100 pounds falls, and men yet blaspheme God (vv17-21).