Revelation

If reading of the end times chronologically, you would go from Revelation chapter 16, directly to chapter 19, skipping chapters 17 and 18. The seventh bowl judgment at the end of Revelation chapter 16 occurs immediately before Christ's glorious return on a white horse to "strike down the nations" in chapter 19. But in God's perfect way, while revealing to John the final days of before Christ claims His bride (19:7) and exerts the final wrath of God (19:15), He delivers a final glimpse of the world and what has become a world religion, depicted as a harlot. This chapter exposes the harlot and details her demise. An angel having one of the seven bowls from the previous chapter spoke to John saying, "Come here," to show him (v1). John was then carried away in spirit to a wilderness we can associate with the desert land where modern Babylon is located (today), observing this metaphorical harlot. She is not to be understood as a person, but as the religion enforced by the beast (Antichrist) identified with the seven heads and ten horns (v3). The name written on her forehead is the name of the religion and should read as "mystery BABYLON" to indicate that Babylon in this context does not refer to a geographic location. Babylon is the symbol of all worldly resistance to God (v5). The imagery of this vision is easier to understand when placing it accurately in history. From verse 10, the kings (kingdoms) represented are the same as from Revelation 12:3 (Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, and Antichrist's future empire), but the timing being that of Christ's first coming makes the one that is ("one is") to be "Rome." The beast from verse 11 is one of the kings, who "was and is not" refering to Antichrist's faked death and resurrection. The final king/kingdom of the beast will last but for one hour (v12), which in actuality, is only 42 months. In verse 18, the woman is identified as "the great city." The angel's repeated reference to Babylon throughout chapters 17-18 indicates this is how we should also interpret this reference. Babylon will be closely identified with Antichrist's world empire, and obviously too with the world religion that worships him.

The theme of this chapter is God's destruction of Babylon. Separated into seven sections, it can be seen as the combined reading of a verdict and an obituary. The chapter opens with the PRONOUNCEMENT OF GUILT (vv1-3) against the city of Babylon, with whom all the nations of the world are also indicted following her in her spiritual filth and sexually immorality. God's people are called out of Babylon in the AQUITTAL OF THE SAINTS (vv4-5) who do not participate in the sins of Babylon, nor suffer the plagues she endured. THE VERDICT (vv6-8) is read according to the principle of justice, or law of retaliation (Mt 5:38, Ex. 21:23-24, Lev. 24:19-20, Deut 19:21), also satisfying the prayers of the martyred saints from 6:9-10. When someone dies today, their life is memorialized with a Lamenting OBITUARY (vv9-19) that includes the same elements seen here : the Announcement - "the smoke of her burning" (v9); the Biographic information - "the great city, Babylon, the strong city" (v10); the Family Members - the merchants of the earth (v11), those who became rich from her (v15), every shipmaster, passenger, sailor, and as many as make their living by the sea (v17); and the Funeral information - "in one hour she has been laid waste" (19) . But it is only those who share in Babylon's fate who truly lament her judgment. At the RECEPTION (v20), looking down from heaven, rejoicing is the appropriate response for righteous judgment. Next a strong angel picks up "a stone like a great millstone" (v21) and throws it into the sea. This MEMORIAL SERVICE (vv21-23a) is a dramatic picture of Babylon's destruction that we can visualize as the stone disappears into the sea, and the angel states " So will Babylon... not be found any longer" (v21). The EPILOGUE (vv23b-24) is then clear; Babylon's judgement was because of the abuse of power "merchants were the great men of the earth" (23b), alignment with the enemies of God - "sorcery" from pharmakeia - root meaning magic and occult (v24), and the murderous slaughter of God's people "blood of prophets and of saints" (v24).

"And after these things" (v1) indicates that John's vision from the previous two chapters has concluded, and the timeline of the seven bowl judgments resumes from chapter 16. The voice of angels (the multitude of the saints is invited to join later (vv5-8) declares, "Hallelujah!" This word is only used here in this chapter of the New Testament (vv1,3-4,6) but first appears in the Old Testament in Psalm 104:35. The Greek "Allelouia" transliterated from the Hebrew "Halal" (to praise) and "Yah" (God), expresses praise to God here, and in Psalms for His judgment of the wicked oppressors of His people. This rejoicing, too, is because, finally, the marriage of the Lamb (Christ) and His Bride (the church) has come (v7). Jesus descends as heaven opens for Him on a white horse (v11) to complete the final battle of the war for all mankind. He descends followed by the armies of heaven (14) as an angel calls for the birds to prepare to eat from the carrion that will remain as soon as Christ speaks "the wrath of the rage of God" (v15). With all the forces of Satan now assembled (v19) at Armageddon (16:16), the beast (Antichrist) and the false prophet are seized and thrown into the lake of fire (first mentioned here, and 20:15), and the rest (countless millions) were killed (vv20-21). There is no glory given to the battle at the end for the forces of Satan. Their defeat is not one of struggle nor effort from God. He spoke, and they were killed. (vv15,21).

The first thing that must be dealt with following the battle of Armageddon as Christ establishes His Kingdom is the confinement of the dragon, serpent, devil, and Satan (v2). Perhaps Michael, although not named, a powerful angel comes down from heaven with the key to the abyss, where Satan will be locked for a thousand years (v6). We know he will be released once more (v7) at the end of this thousand-year period when he and all the remaining deceived (v8) will be devoured by fires from heaven (v9) and thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone to be tormented day and night forever (v10). The closing verses of this chapter (11-15) deliver the vision John recounts of the Great White Throne Judgment, also foretold by Christ in Matthew 25:31-46. It is from these passages that we know of the Book of Life, where all the redeemed in Christ's names are written, securing them for eternity. "And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." (v15).