Year 2, Week 52, Day 4 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 52, Day 4

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Revelation 18-20.

Today’s reading consists of three more chapters of Revelation. The Book of Revelation, which was written by the Apostle John to seven churches, serves as an unveiling from Jesus Christ about Jesus Christ as it pertains to matters concerning the end of time. Revelation reveals the plans and purposes of the Lord Jesus Christ with a view toward encouraging suffering and struggling believers to persevere. Revelation 6-16 depicts, primarily through a series of seals, trumpets, and bowls, the unleashing of God’s judgment, while also displaying the Lord’s preservation of His people. Revelation 18 revisits the destructive judgment upon Babylon: "After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory. And he called out with a mighty voice, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!” (Revelation 18:1-2a). But the announcement of Babylon’s destruction is coupled with the call for God’s people to depart: “Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues” (Revelation 18:4). John’s words are reminiscent of earlier prophets who call the people to depart from Babylon in conjunction with their return from exile: “Go out from Babylon, flee from Chaldea, declare this with a shout of joy, proclaim it, send it out to the end of the earth; say, “The LORD has redeemed his servant Jacob!” (Isaiah 48:20; see also Isaiah 52:11; Jeremiah 50:8; 51:6; and 51:45). Revelation 19 describes the response from heaven to Babylon’s destruction: “After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants” (Revelation 19:1-2). Revelation 20 completes what was begun to be described in the second part of the previous chapter, as the Lord achieves a great military victory and establishes His kingdom reign: “Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years” (Revelation 20:6).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading is the glorious picture of the Lord’s return to judge His enemies: “Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God” (Revelation 19:11-13). John describes the glory of King Jesus, who descends from heaven as a conquering warrior. The pristine character of King Jesus is emphasized by the terms, “Faithful and True.” Jesus will be a warrior and ruler who will not fail, nor will He let down His people. John also clarifies the just nature of the war and judgment that Jesus will carry out upon His enemies. Jesus is also described as possessing perfect knowledge, absolute authority, and attributes that are beyond human comprehension. John also adds that the blood that Jesus shed for His people still stains His robe.

And when the Lord returns to judge His enemies, He will be accompanied by His people: “And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses” (Revelation 19:14). The calvary who rides with Jesus is the people earlier described as His own Bride: “Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure” (Revelation 19:7-8). And yet, the Conquering Warrior Himself will carry out the fighting: “From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty” (Revelation 19:15). Every statement from this verse connects to earlier prophecies: “He made my mouth like a sharp sword” (Isaiah 49:2); “and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth” (Isaiah 11:4b); “You shall break them with a rod of iron” (Psalm 2:9a); and “I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was with me; I trod them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath” (Isaiah 63:3a).

The battle is intense: “And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army” (Revelation 19:19). Bu the outcome of the Lord’s warring judgment is certain: “And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh” (Revelation 19:20-21). And after His victory, the Lord establishes the reign of His kingdom: “Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God…They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4). It is the destiny of His people to share in His reign. This destiny was referenced earlier by John to prompt God’s people to persevere: “The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father” (Revelation 2:26-27).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe