Lesson 16Hallelujah!

Amen! Hallelujah! – A Study of the Book of Revelation

By Dale Wells

Rev. 14:6-22:21

“Emperor Worshipers Judged, Saints Urged to Be Faithful” (Rev. 19-20)

The prayers have been answered; the martyrs have been avenged, the Lord has been vindicated! The Wedding Supper of the

Lamb has come & we’re preparing to meet the bride

The news is so good that John is about to worship the messenger. He is told to Worship God

Rev 19:1-10 WEB After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Hallelujah! Salvation, power, and glory belong to our God: (2) for true and righteous are his judgments. For he has judged the great prostitute, who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality, and he has avenged the blood of his servants at her hand." (3) A second said, "Hallelujah! Her smoke goes up forever and ever." (4) The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne, saying, "Amen! Hallelujah!" (5) A voice came forth from the throne, saying, "Give praise to our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, the small and the great!"

Rev 19:1-10 WEB (6) I heard something like the voice of a great multitude, and like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of mighty thunders, saying, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns! (7) Let us rejoice and be exceedingly glad, and let us give the glory to him. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready." (8) It was given to her that she would array herself in bright, pure, fine linen: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. (9) He said to me, "Write, 'Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.' " He said to me, "These are true words of God." (10) I fell down before his feet to worship him. He said to me, "Look! Don't do it! I am a fellow bondservant with you and with your brothers who hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God, for the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy."

The Rider on the White Horse (19:11-21)

Rev 19:11-21 WEB I saw the heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it is called Faithful and True. In righteousness he judges and makes war. (12) His eyes are a flame of fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has names written and a name written which no one knows but he himself. (13) He is clothed in a garment sprinkled with blood. His name is called "The Word of God." (14) The armies which are in heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in white, pure, fine linen. (15) Out of his mouth proceeds a sharp, double-edged sword, that with it he should strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He treads the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty. (16) He has on his garment and on his thigh a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."

Rev 19:11-21 WEB (17) I saw an angel standing in the sun. He cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the sky, "Come! Be gathered together to the great supper of God, (18) that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, and small and great." (19) I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him who sat on the horse, and against his army. (20) The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who worked the signs in his sight, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. (21) The rest were killed with the sword of him who sat on the horse, the sword which came forth out of his mouth. All the birds were filled with their flesh.

The groom rides home from victory to take his bride

The picture is of a victorious Roman general riding in his Triumph

He rides a white horse – symbol of victory

He is called Faithful & True Rev 1:5 WEB … Jesus Christ,

the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth…

Rev 3:7 WEB "To the angel of the assembly in Philadelphia write: "He who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no one can shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says these things:

Glimpses of Christ come together in the description of this rider

He has blazing eyes & double-edged sword coming out of his mouthHe is the High Priest of chapter 1

Revelation 1:12-16 WEB (12) I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. Having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands. (13) And among the lampstands was one like a son of man, clothed with a robe reaching down to his feet, and with a golden sash around his chest. (14) His head and his hair were white as white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire. (15) His feet were like burnished brass, as if it had been refined in a furnace. His voice was like the voice of many waters. (16) He had seven stars in his right hand. Out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest.

Glimpses of Christ come together in the description of this rider

He rules with a rod of iron

He is the child born to the woman in chapter 12 Revelation 12:5 WEB She gave birth to a son, a male child, who is

to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. Her child was caught up to God, and to his throne.

Glimpses of Christ come together in the description of this rider

He treads the winepress of God’s wrathHe is the one who exercised God’s judgment in chapter 14

Rev 14:19-20 WEB The angel thrust his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vintage of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. (20) The winepress was trodden outside of the city, and blood came out from the winepress, even to the bridles of the horses, as far as one thousand six hundred stadia.

Recall from chapter 1 that he has brass feet – he can stomp grapes pretty good!

Glimpses of Christ come together in the description of this rider

He wears many crowns (diademata – rulers’ crowns) Rev 19:12 WEB His eyes are a flame of fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has

names written and a name written which no one knows but he himself. The only diadems before were worn by the enemies

Rev 12:3 WEB Another sign was seen in heaven. Behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven crowns.

Rev 13:1 WEB Then I stood on the sand of the sea. I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads. On his horns were ten crowns, and on his heads, blasphemous names.

Don't be surprised to find the bodies of dead kings somewhere in the picture

He is unlike any other general and any other king

His robe is covered in blood Rev 19:13 WEB He is clothed

in a garment sprinkled with blood. His name is called "The Word of God."

But the robes worn by his armies are white & clean

Rev 19:14 WEB The armies which are in heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in white, pure, fine linen.

In most armies, soldiers fight & the general stays behind. In this army, the general does the killing! I want to be in his army!

He is King of kings & Lord of lords!

Domitian thought he was king of kings & lord of lords. He was wrong!“There is no greater drama in human record than the sight of a few Christians, scorned or oppressed by a succession of emperors, bearing all trials with a fierce tenacity, multiplying quietly, building order while their enemies generated chaos, fighting the sword with the word, brutality with hope, and at last defeating the strongest state that history has known. Caesar and Christ had met in the arena, and Christ had won.”

WILL DURANT, The Story of Civilization, vol. 3, ch 30, pt 1, p 652 (1944).

Two feasts: Entry or entrée?

Wedding supper of the Lamb, with saints as guests Rev 19:9 WEB He said to me, "Write, 'Blessed are those who are invited to the

marriage supper of the Lamb.' " He said to me, "These are true words of God."

Great Supper of God, with the enemies as entree Rev 19:17-18 WEB I saw an angel standing in the sun. He cried with a loud voice,

saying to all the birds that fly in the sky, "Come! Be gathered together to the great supper of God, (18) that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, and small and great."

Fall of the two beastsRev 19:19-21 WEB I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him who sat on the horse, and against his army. (20) The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who worked the signs in his sight, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. (21) The rest were killed with the sword of him who sat on the horse, the sword which came forth out of his mouth. All the birds were filled with their flesh.

Fall of the two beasts

This is The War. We’ve waited to see it, but in a moment it’s over!

The beast’s number is 666; He can’t win! So both beasts (second is called the False Prophet) are taken & thrown in a fiery lake of burning sulfur (remember, sulfur is God’s tool – remember Sodom).

The rest of the bodies on the battlefield are the ones killed by the rider on the horse.

Babylon, the Great Prostitute has fallen. Now, the beast & false prophet have fallen. There is only one enemy left. I’ll bet he’s next – Satan, the Dragon.

The Thousand Years

Rev 20:1-6 WEB

I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. (2) He seized the dragon, the old serpent, which is the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole inhabited earth, and bound him for a thousand years, (3) and cast him into the abyss, and shut it, and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years were finished. After this, he must be freed for a short time. (4) I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as didn't worship the beast nor his image, and didn't receive the mark on their forehead and on their hand. They lived, and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. (5) The rest of the dead didn't live until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. (6) Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over these, the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with him one thousand years.

Binding of Satan

Rev 20:1-3 WEB I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. (2) He seized the dragon, the old serpent, which is the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole inhabited earth, and bound him for a thousand years, (3) and cast him into the abyss, and shut it, and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years were finished. After this, he must be freed for a short time.

Satan has been bound before

In the book of Job, Satan was limited & could do only what God allowed Job 1:12 WEB Yahweh said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your

power. Only on himself don't put forth your hand." So Satan went forth from the presence of Yahweh.

Job 2:6 WEB Yahweh said to Satan, "Behold, he is in your hand. Only spare his life."

Satan has been bound before

Jesus bound Satan to cast out demons Mat 12:24-29 WEB But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "This man does not cast out

demons, except by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons." (25) Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. (26) If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? (27) If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. (28) But if I by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you. (29) Or how can one enter into the house of the strong man, and plunder his goods, unless he first bind the strong man? Then he will plunder his house.

Satan has been bound before

Jesus saw Satan fall in the work of the 70

Luk 10:17-20 WEB The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!" (18) He said to them, "I saw Satan having fallen like lightning from heaven. (19) Behold, I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will in any way hurt you. (20) Nevertheless, don't rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

Satan has been bound before

In the Cross, Christ triumphed over the Satan’s minions

Col 2:15 WEB having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

God always has the upper handBinding is not absolute, but specific: “to keep him from deceiving the nations any more” – e.g. He won’t be able to use a world-wide empire to try to stamp out the church any more. He can go after individual Christians, but he can’t go after the church as a whole any more, like he did with Rome.

The Thousand Year ReignRev 20:4-6 WEB I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as didn't worship the beast nor his image, and didn't receive the mark on their forehead and on their hand. They lived, and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. (5) The rest of the dead didn't live until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. (6) Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over these, the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with him one thousand years.The book is filled with symbols – it is not literal This is the only place it is mentioned Without this text, there would be no pre-, post-, or a- millennialists Avoid any doctrine that emphasizes something the Bible minimizes All we know about the 1,000 year reign comes from this text Four questions help clarify the meaning:

First question: Who reigns? Christ & the Christian overcomers Rev 20:4-6 WEB I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment

was given to them. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as didn't worship the beast nor his image, and didn't receive the mark on their forehead and on their hand. They lived, and reigned with Christ for a thousand years…

We saw them under the altar in the fifth seal Rev 6:9 WEB When he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the

altar the souls of those who had been killed for the Word of God, and for the testimony of the Lamb which they had.

We saw them in the great multitude Rev 7:13-14 WEB One of the elders answered, saying to me, "These

who are arrayed in white robes, who are they, and from where did they come?" (14) I told him, "My lord, you know." He said to me, "These are those who came out of the great tribulation. They washed their robes, and made them white in the Lamb's blood.

First question: Who reigns? We saw them on Mount Zion

Rev 14:1-5 WEB I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him a number, one hundred forty-four thousand, having his name, and the name of his Father, written on their foreheads. (2) I heard a sound from heaven, like the sound of many waters, and like the sound of a great thunder. The sound which I heard was like that of harpists playing on their harps. (3) They sing a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the one hundred forty-four thousand, those who had been redeemed out of the earth. (4) These are those who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are those who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed by Jesus from among men, the first fruits to God and to the Lamb. (5) In their mouth was found no lie, for they are blameless.

We saw them by the sea of glass Rev 15:2-3 WEB I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and

those who overcame the beast, his image, and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. (3) They sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God, the Almighty! Righteous and true are your ways, you King of the nations.

First question: Who reigns? We saw them in heaven Rev 19:1-2 WEB After these things I heard something like a

loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Hallelujah! Salvation, power, and glory belong to our God: (2) for true and righteous are his judgments. For he has judged the great prostitute, who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality, and he has avenged the blood of his servants at her hand."

We saw them following Christ, the Conqueror Rev 19:14 WEB The armies which are in heaven followed

him on white horses, clothed in white, pure, fine linen.

Second question: Why do they reign?

The reign is spoken of in terms of judging, so think in terms of these who had been judged by Rome now being in a position to judge Rome Rev 20:4 WEB I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment

was given to them. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as didn't worship the beast nor his image, and didn't receive the mark on their forehead and on their hand. They lived, and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

With the defeat of Rome & the emperor cult, they have been vindicated. They had been promised thrones & they now sit on those thrones Rev 3:21 WEB He who overcomes, I will give to him to sit down

with me on my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father on his throne.

The last two questions:

Third question: Where do they reign? Every time we see them, they’re in heaven. There is nothing here about an earthly kingdom.

Fourth question: When do they reign? Commencing at the fall of Rome, when Satan is bound to

prevent using a world-wide empire to try to destroy the church – and continuing until the end.

The thousand years is no more literal than any of the other figures in the book.

Satan’s Doom

Rev 20:7-10 WEB And after the thousand years, Satan will be released from his prison, (8) and he will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to the war; the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. (9) They went up over the breadth of the earth, and surrounded the camp of the saints, and the beloved city. Fire came down out of heaven from God, and devoured them. (10) The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are also. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

The picture is simple.

Satan never gives up

He gets loose & tries it again

God says “No you don’t” & throws him in the lake of burning sulfur

Don’t fret about the picture. It’s designed to tell us that no matter what Satan tries, God always has the upper hand!

The Dead are Judged

Rev 20:11-15 WEB I saw a great white throne, and him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. There was found no place for them. (12) I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and they opened books. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works. (13) The sea gave up the dead who were in it. Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them. They were judged, each one according to his works. (14) Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. (15) If anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.

Two books by which every life is evaluated

God looks in book of life to see if your name is there. If it is, then he looks no furtherIf it isn’t, then he looks into the book of your life to see why

“Could there be some mistake? Oh, no, I see, that you, like all others, have sinned & fall short of the glory of God.”

The destiny of unredeemed is the lake of fireThe destiny of the redeemed is not discussed yet

“Congratulations, Dead Saints” (Rev. 21-22)

Perfect fellowship with God

Rev 21:1-8 WEB I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more. (2) I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready like a bride adorned for her husband. (3) I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, "Behold, God's dwelling is with people, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. (4) He will wipe away from them every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away." (5) He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." He said, "Write, for these words of God are faithful and true." (6) He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give freely to him who is thirsty from the spring of the water of life. (7) He who overcomes, I will give him these things. I will be his God, and he will be my son. (8) But for the cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."New heaven & earth – i.e. new creationNo more sea – no more separation from GodNew Jerusalem – city of God

Perfect protection by God – Plenty of room for all

Rev 21:9-27 WEB One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls, who were loaded with the seven last plagues came, and he spoke with me, saying, "Come here. I will show you the wife, the Lamb's bride." (10) He carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, (11) having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, as if it was a jasper stone, clear as crystal; (12) having a great and high wall; having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. (13) On the east were three gates; and on the north three gates; and on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. (14) The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them twelve names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb. (15) He who spoke with me had for a measure, a golden reed, to measure the city, its gates, and its walls. (16) The city lies foursquare, and its length is as great as its breadth. He measured the city with the reed, Twelve thousand twelve stadia. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. (17) Its wall is one hundred forty-four cubits, by the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.

Perfect protection by God – Plenty of room for all

(18) The construction of its wall was jasper. The city was pure gold, like pure glass. (19) The foundations of the city's wall were adorned with all kinds of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; (20) the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprasus; the eleventh, jacinth; and the twelfth, amethyst. (21) The twelve gates were twelve pearls. Each one of the gates was made of one pearl. The street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. (22) I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb, are its temple. (23) The city has no need for the sun, neither of the moon, to shine, for the very glory of God illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb. (24) The nations will walk in its light. The kings of the earth bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. (25) Its gates will in no way be shut by day (for there will be no night there), (26) and they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it so that they may enter. (27) There will in no way enter into it anything profane, or one who causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life. Rev 21:9-27 WEB

Contrast the Heavenly City with Rome

The city described in Revelation 22 would cover 2,250,000 square miles - about the same area as the Roman Empire in the 1st Century - and it would rise 1500 miles up in the air. God's city is bigger than Caesar's empire.

"I found Rome a city of bricks and left it a city of marble" – Augustus

Nice touch, Augustus, but God made his city of precious stones, pearls & gold!

The stuff we regard as so precious, he uses as building materials.

No temple, no sun, because God & the Lamb are there.No need to shut gates because no fearOnly people there are those whose names are in book of life.

Perfect provision by God

Rev 22:1-6 WEB He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, (2) in the middle of its street. On this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruits, yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (3) There will be no curse any more. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants serve him. (4) They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. (5) There will be no night, and they need no lamp light; for the Lord God will illuminate them. They will reign forever and ever. (6) He said to me, "These words are faithful and true. The Lord God of the spirits of the prophets sent his angel to show to his bondservants the things which must happen soon."

Eze 47:1-12 WEB

He brought me back to the door of the house; and behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward; (for the forefront of the house was toward the east;) and the waters came down from under, from the right side of the house, on the south of the altar. (2) Then he brought me out by the way of the gate northward, and led me round by the way outside to the outer gate, by the way of the gate that looks toward the east; and behold, there ran out waters on the right side. (3) When the man went forth eastward with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were to the ankles. (4) Again he measured one thousand, and caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were to the knees. Again he measured one thousand, and caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were to the waist. (5) Afterward he measured one thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass through; for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed through. (6) He said to me, Son of man, have you seen this? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the bank of the river.

Eze 47:1-12 WEB

(7) Now when I had returned, behold, on the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other. (8) Then said he to me, These waters issue forth toward the eastern region, and shall go down into the Arabah; and they shall go toward the sea; into the sea shall the waters go which were made to issue forth; and the waters shall be healed. (9) It shall happen, that every living creature which swarms, in every place where the rivers come, shall live; and there shall be a very great multitude of fish; for these waters are come there, and the waters of the sea shall be healed, and everything shall live wherever the river comes. (10) It shall happen, that fishermen shall stand by it: from En Gedi even to En Eglaim shall be a place for the spreading of nets; their fish shall be after their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many. (11) But the miry places of it, and its marshes, shall not be healed; they shall be given up to salt. (12) By the river on its bank, on this side and on that side, shall grow every tree for food, whose leaf shall not wither, neither shall its fruit fail: it shall bring forth new fruit every month, because its waters issue out of the sanctuary; and its fruit shall be for food, and its leaf for healing.

Tree of life

Rev 22:2 WEB in the middle of its street. On this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruits, yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.Gen 3:22 WEB Yahweh God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil. Now, lest he put forth his hand, and also take of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever..."Fruit never out of season. Leaves for healing. – Many of our medicines come from jungle leaves.Bible begins with man in fellowship with God around a tree of life; ends the same way!

No curse of death any more

Gen 3:14-19 WEB Yahweh God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock, and above every animal of the field. On your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. (15) I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel." (16) To the woman he said, "I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth. In pain you will bring forth children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you." (17) To Adam he said, "Because you have listened to your wife's voice, and have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground for your sake. In toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. (18) Thorns also and thistles will it bring forth to you; and you will eat the herb of the field. (19) By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

God & Lamb share co-rulership

1Co 15:20-28 WEB But now Christ has been raised from the dead. He became the first fruits of those who are asleep. (21) For since death came by man, the resurrection of the dead also came by man. (22) For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. (23) But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ's, at his coming. (24) Then the end comes, when he will deliver up the Kingdom to God, even the Father; when he will have abolished all rule and all authority and power. (25) For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. (26) The last enemy that will be abolished is death. (27) For, "He put all things in subjection under his feet." But when he says, "All things are put in subjection," it is evident that he is excepted who subjected all things to him. (28) When all things have been subjected to him, then the Son will also himself be subjected to him who subjected all things to him, that God may be all in all.Servants will serve, see his face & have his name.

This city is self-sufficient, because it is God-sufficient

Unlike any other city of the 1st Century, it is not susceptible to siege: Too big for any army to surround Walls too thick for any siege works to penetrate Walls too high for any catapult to invade Twelve foundations too thick to dig under the wall Water source cannot be cut off because it originates within the city No famine – Fresh fruit every month, year round

This is God's description of the church Matthew 16:18 WEB I also tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the

gates of Hades will not prevail against it.

This is the fulfillment of Nebuchadnezzar's dream

Daniel 2:31-44 WEB

You, O king, saw, and behold, a great image. This image, which was mighty, and whose brightness was excellent, stood before you; and its aspect was awesome. (32) As for this image, its head was of fine gold, its breast and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of brass, (33) its legs of iron, its feet part of iron, and part of clay. (34) You saw until a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet that were of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. (35) Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken in pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that no place was found for them: and the stone that struck the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.

Daniel 2:31-44 WEB

(36) This is the dream; and we will tell its interpretation before the king. (37) You, O king, are king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the strength, and the glory; (38) … you are the head of gold. (39) After you shall arise another kingdom inferior to you; and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. (40) The fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron, because iron breaks in pieces and subdues all things; and as iron that crushes all these, shall it break in pieces and crush. … (44) In the days of those kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall its sovereignty be left to another people; but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.

Jesus is Coming SoonRev 22:7-21 WEB "Behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book." (8) Now I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who had shown me these things. (9) He said to me, "See you don't do it! I am a fellow bondservant with you and with your brothers, the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God." (10) He said to me, "Don't seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. (11) He who acts unjustly, let him act unjustly still. He who is filthy, let him be filthy still. He who is righteous, let him do righteousness still. He who is holy, let him be holy still." (12) "Behold, I come quickly. My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work. (13) I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. (14) Blessed are those who do his commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.

Jesus is Coming Soon(15) Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. (16) I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify these things to you for the assemblies. I am the root and the offspring of David; the Bright and Morning Star." (17) The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" He who hears, let him say, "Come!" He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely. (18) I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, if anyone adds to them, may God add to him the plagues which are written in this book. (19) If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, may God take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book. (20) He who testifies these things says, "Yes, I come quickly." Amen! Yes, come, Lord Jesus. (21) The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all the saints. Amen. Rev 22:7-21 WEB

Do not seal the words of the book. Why?

Rev 22:10 WEB He said to me, "Don't seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.Dan 12:4 WEB But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run back and forth, and knowledge shall be increased."Dan 10-12 covers the 600 years from the Persian Empire to the destruction of Jerusalem Daniel 12:7 WEB I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the

waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by him who lives forever that it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when they have made an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.

Daniel was to seal his vision because it had to do with the distant future – 600 years off; John was not to seal his vision because the time was near. The vision was to be fulfilled in the near future, from John's perspective

We see the end of Rome, the faithful & the wicked

Rev 22:10-15 WEB He said to me, "Don't seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. (11) He who acts unjustly, let him act unjustly still. He who is filthy, let him be filthy still. He who is righteous, let him do righteousness still. He who is holy, let him be holy still." (12) "Behold, I come quickly. My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work. (13) I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. (14) Blessed are those who do his commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city. (15) Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

An invitation & a warning

Invitation Rev 22:17 WEB The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" He who

hears, let him say, "Come!" He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely.

Warning Rev 22:18-19 WEB I testify to everyone who hears the words of

the prophecy of this book, if anyone adds to them, may God add to him the plagues which are written in this book. (19) If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, may God take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.

In light of the warning, what would John say to the modern writers who have taken it entirely out of its first century background & tried to make it a book for the 21st century

How to recognize a false prophet

Deu 18:21-22 If you say in your heart, How shall we know the word which Yahweh has not spoken? (22) when a prophet speaks in the name of Yahweh, if the thing doesn't follow, nor happen, that is the thing which Yahweh has not spoken: the prophet has spoken it presumptuously, you shall not be afraid of him.

Hal Lindsay

The Late Great Planet Earth was written in 1970 and purports to describe the world situation since May 14, 1948 when David Ben-Gurion read the Declaration of Independence announcing the establishment of a Jewish nation – the State of Israel.

Hal Lindsay

But even though he was writing 22 years after the event, Lindsey was not able to identify "The Future Fuehrer" or the "One-world Religion" or the "ten-nations which will come out of Rome," all of which are essential to Lindsey's theories.

Hal Lindsay

"Obviously, in context, the generation that would see the signs -- chief among them the rebirth of Israel.  A generation in the Bible is something like forty years.  If this is a correct deduction, then within forty years or so of 1948, all these things could take place.  Many scholars who have studied Bible prophecy all their lives believe that this is so." (The Late Great Planet Earth, p. 54)

Hal Lindsay

"The decade of the 1980’s could very well be the last decade of history as we know it." (The 1980’s: Countdown to Armageddon, p. 8)

We are 37 years after Lindsey wrote his book - 59 years into his 40 year countdown – and there is no evidence that these prophecies are being fulfilled.

Hal Lindsay

His comment, when time proved him wrong: ”I also said that ‘if’ a generation was forty years and ‘if’ the generation of the ‘fig tree’ (Mat 24:32-34) started with the foundation of the state of Israel, then Jesus ‘might come back by 1988.’ But I put a lot of ifs and maybes in because I knew that no one could be absolutely certain.”

Hal Lindsay

Equating the Soviet Union with Gog and Magog, he said: "The current build-up of Russian ships in the Mediterranean serves as another significant sign of the possible nearness of Armageddon" (The Late Great Planet Earth, p. 145-146)

Hal Lindsay

"When the Russians invade the Middle East with amphibious and mechanized land forces, they will make a 'blitzkreig' type of offensive through the area."

John F. Walvoord

Lindsay was following the thinking of John Walvoord: "Today we see precisely this setup: Russia about to move on the Middle East; Israel in its place, regathered; the wealth, the spoil of the nations there; the need for possessing the Middle East perfectly obvious to Russia; and the only thing deterring her the fear of our military might." (Moody Monthly, 1959)

Tim LaHaye

"Magog" is an ancient name for the nation now known as Russia.  "Gog" merely means "the chief prince of Magog," or more literally, the chief prince of Meschech and Tubal (38:2-3; 39:1).  The name "Moscow" derives from the tribal name "Meshech," and "Tobolsk, the name of the principal state, from "Tubal." The noun "Gog" is from the original tribal name "Magog," which gradually became "Rosh," then "Russ," and today is known as "Russia."

Tim LaHaye

"Russia is unquestionably the nation identified in the prophecies of Ezekiel 38 and 39." ("Will God Destroy Russia, in Storming Towards Armageddon: Essays in Apocalypse, ed. Wm. James (Green Forest, AR: New Leaf Press, 1992), p. 259, 260-261)

Tim LaHaye

After the collapse of the Soviet Union on Christmas Day, 1991, he said: "But world domination -- as Ezekiel makes clear -- was never in the script for Russia!"

Lindsey sidesteps his false prediction now by saying that the Soviet collapse was inevitable

Tim LaHaye

He once predicted that the Soviet Union would be the great enemy to the north that would swarm over Israel. Now that the Soviet Union is no more, he amends his interpretation to fit the current scene.

False Prophets

Lindsey, Walvoord, LaHaye, and others, deal with history selectively - drawing attention to what confirms at least part of their theories and avoiding or glossing over things that don’t fit.

How many errors or mistakes must be shown before these “prophets” and their followers admit that they are wrong?

A book you’ll never see: Why Jesus Didn’t Come in 1988, by Hal Lindsey

Jack Van Impe on 666

“The number “6” in Roman numerals is made up of the letters, “VI”. The ancient Greek number “6” was taken from the sixth letter of their alphabet, the letter “sigma” which looks like the English letter “s.” Returning to the Babylonian empire and their sexagesimal system of numbers, the [computer] programmer considered that the possibility that their letter “A’ equaled 6. Thus, from the three great world empires of history, he found that the composition of the number “666” spells the word VISA – the exact name of today’s most accepted and popular credit card” (11:59 and Counting, pp.106,107)

Jack Van Impe on 666

Wrong, Jack! Revelation was written in Greek, not Latin Sigma is the 18th letter of the Greek alphabet, not the 6th – with a value of

90 Why take a Roman numeral, a Greek letter and a Chaldean letter and put

them together to spell an English word? Do you expect us to believe that God put something in the book that could

only be understood by an English literate audience in the 21st Century?

A promise and a confident assurance

Rev 22:20-21 WEB He who testifies these things says, "Yes, I come quickly." Amen! Yes, come, Lord Jesus. (21) The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all the saints. Amen.