Search The Scriptures —Study 27 — Revelation 22:6-21

Study 27 From the Book of Revelation is: Revelation 22:6-21

      1-     What word of Christ is repeated three times in these verses? See also 3:11, and cf. 1:7; 16:15. How are we to reconcile this word with the fact that even now He has not come? What should be our attitude and response to this word of our Master? Cf. 2 Pet. 3; Mt. 24:43-51; Heb. 10:36-39. Can you join in the prayer of verses 17 and 20 as the spontaneous yearning of your heart?

      2-     How are the truth and the importance of the content of this book confirmed to us in this passage?  By what name is it four times described? What is its origin? Whence does it derive its authority? How ought we to express our regard for it and our response to it?

Notes

1-     Verse 6. This book springs from the same divine source from which all the prophets have derived their inspiration.

2-     Verse 8, 9. Cf. 19:10, Col. 2:18. John emphasizes both the attraction and the error of angel worship. The same might be said of the worship of the saints.

3-     Verse 11. An emphatic warning that the time of the end is near, and the opportunity of a change of character is passing. Cf. Dn. 12:10; 2 Tim. 3:13. Yet see verse 17b below, and 21:6.

4-     Verse 16.  ‘The root and the offspring of David’ cf. Mk. 12:35-37

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Search The Scriptures —Study 26 — Revelation 21:22 – 22:5

Study 26 From the Book of Revelation is: Revelation 21:22 – 22:5

     1-    Make a list of all that is said not to be found in the perfected kingdom of God, i.e., of all in 21:1-22:5 of which the words ‘no’ or ‘no more’ or ‘nothing… nor any of who’ are used. Over against these, set the positive blessings here spoken of. Comparing these blessings with those of the Garden of Eden (Gn. 1:28, 29; 2:8-25), how do they transcend them, and what is their chief glory? Cf. 1 Cor. 15:46; Eph. 1:3.

2-    Would a non -Christian be able to enter the city (see 21:27), and if he did enter would he find satisfaction in its blessings (cf. Eph. 2:8-25), how do they transcend them, and what is their chief glory? Cf. 1 Cor. 14)? In the light of this, consider the absolute necessity of the ‘blood of the Lamb’ and of regeneration for every man. Cf. Jn. 3:5; Lk. 10:20.

Note. 22:1, 2. Some interpret this to mean that there is one broad street which intersects the city, beside which the river flows, with threes on either bank. Others take ‘street’, ‘river’ and ‘tree of life’ as being collective nouns, and picture many streets and streams of the river flowing by them and many trees bearing fruit every month, all being symbolic of  ‘the superabundant character of God’s provision’. 

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Search The Scriptures —Study 25 — Revelation 21:9-21

Study 25 From the Book of Revelation is: Revelation 21:9-21  

This vision of the city of God is no more to be taken literally than was the vision of Christ in 1:12-20. It is a symbolic picture, and we have to see in an through the symbols the spiritual realities which they represent.

      1-     For example, the size of the city (verse 16; see Note 2 below) expresses the same thought as the phrase ‘which no man could number’ in 7:9; the shape of the city as a cube (21:16) suggests its perfection of design and its permanence; the gold and precious stones its brilliance and perfection of quality, and so forth. What other spiritual realities does this passage suggest to you?

2-     How is the contrast between this city and the harlot city Babylon brought to the mind of the reader? Cf. Verse 9 with 17:1. Work out this contrast in some of its features. What are the outstanding differences between Babylon and the New Jerusalem? Cf. Zc. 14:20, 21; Lk. 16:15; 1 Jn. 2:16, 17.

Notes

1-     Verses 12-14. The city, while offering entrance from all directions, is determined in character by the revelation given to Israel and through the apostles.

2-     Verse 16. ‘Twelve thousand stadia’: about 1, 500 miles.

3-     Verse 18. ‘Pure gold, clear as glass’: see also verse 21.  There is nothing not genuine, nothing not transparent.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 24 — Revelation 20:11 – 21:8

Study 24 From the Book of Revelation is: Revelation 20:11 – 21:8

       1-     20:11-15. We have here depicted the final settlement of the destiny of the present world order and of all who belong to it. Who is each man’s destiny to be determined? What are the only alternatives? Cf. Mt. 16:27; Jn. 5: 28, 29; Rom. 2: 6, 16; Rev. 21:8; 22:12.

      2-     21:1-7. A revelation of the new world order is now given.  Cf.  Is. 65:17; 2 Pet. 3:13. What is its metropolis? Contrast Rev. 18:10. Who are its citizens? What are their privileges? Of what blessings are they assured, and by whose word and deed? 

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Search The Scriptures —Study 23 — Revelation 20: 1-10

Study 23 From the Book of Revelation is: Revelation 20: 1-10

Great differences exist among Christians concerning the interpretation of ‘the thousand years’ and ‘the first resurrection’.  Either the thousand years follow Christ’s second coming, or this section is a fresh symbolic description of the period between Christ’s first coming and His second coming. There does seem to be parallel sequence in the main events of Rev. 11-14 and 20. It was through Christ’s first coming that Satan was bound. Cf. Mk. 3:23-27; Lk. 10:17-19; Jn. 12:31. Rev. 20:7-9 can be understood as yet another reference to Armageddon. Cf. 16:14-16; 19:19.  ‘The first resurrection’, however understood, is a privilege shared in only by faithful followers of the Lamb. Some think the phraseology symbolically predicts that the age of the martyrs would be followed by a far longer period of Christian supremacy during which the faith of Christ for which the martyrs died would live and reign.

1-     What activity is particularly attributed to Satan? In what different ways is he dealt with? How is his activity made to serve God’s purposes? Cf. 2 Thes. 2:9-12. What will be his end? Who will share the same fate? Cf. Mt. 25:41.

2-     What are the rewards of the martyrs who are faithful to death? Cf. Lk. 22:28-30; 2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 2:10, 11; 5:10. What grace should such awareness make us covet?

Notes

1-     Verses 1-3 ‘The bottomless pit’: as the abode of evil spirits (cf. 9-11) this is to be carefully distinguished from ‘the lake of fire’ (verse 10).

2-     Verse 3. ‘Must’: for reasons hidden in the divine will.

3-     Verse 8. ‘Gog and Magog’: the reference here is to Ezk. 38; 39, where the prophet conceived of a great invasion of the land of Israel.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 22 — Revelation 19:11-21

Study 22 From the Book of Revelation is: Revelation 19:11-21

Following upon the destruction of ‘Babylon’, the beat and the kings in alliance with him (cf. 17:12-14), make war upon Christ, who comes forth from heaven in judgement to overthrow them.  The end of the present age, prophesied throughout the book, has now come, and we have in today’s portion Christ’s second coming described in its aspect of judgment upon His enemies, as in 2 Thes. 1: 6-10 and Ps. 2:9

      1-     Verses 11-16. In this symbolic picture of Christ seek to appreciate the suggestive significance of each descriptive phrase. Contrast some of the phrases of Zc. 9:9, 10. In what ways will Christ’s second coming be different from His first coming? Should this prospect fill us with fear or joy?

2-     Verses 17-21. This is the battle of Armageddon, spoken of in 16:14-16. Note the contrast between ‘the great supper’ of judgment and ‘the marriage supper of the Lamb’ (verse 9). Cf. the contrast in 14:14-20 between the two harvests. See also Mt. 13:30, 40-43. What truths are thus repeatedly emphasized concerning the final settlement and issue of world history?

Notes

1-     Verses 13a, 15b Cf. is. 63: 2, 3.

2-     Verse 14. These are armies of angels. Cf. Mt. 16:27; 2 Thes. 1:7-9

3-     Verse 20. ‘The lake of fire’; so also in 20:10, 14, 15; 21:8; elsewhere called ‘the eternal fire’ or ‘the Ghenna of fire’ (Mt. 18:8, 9; 25:41; also ‘the furnace of fire’ (Mt. 13:42, 50).  It is the place of final destruction.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 21 — Revelation 18:21 – 19:10

Study 21 From the Book of Revelation is: Revelation 18:21 – 19:10

      1-     What thoughts does the action of the angel in 18:21 suggest as to the purpose of God towards ‘Babylon’? Notice especially how many times the words ‘no more’ occur in 18:21-24. Cf. 19:3. What truth is thus enforced concerning the whole system of godless luxury and lust which the name ‘Babylon’ represents? Cf. 1 Cor. 7:31b; 1 Pet. 1:24, 25; 1 Jn. 2:17.

      2-     What calls forth the praises of 19:1-3, 4, 5-8, and by whom respectively were they spoken? What truths about God’s character and ways are here acknowledged? Cf. 19:10; Is. 45:21-25.

Notes

1-     19:3b. Symbolic of final destruction. Cf. Is. 34:10.

2-     19:7. ‘The marriage of the Lamb’: the fulfilment of God’s purpose as described in Eph. 5:25b, 26. A final decisive contrast to the harlot and her impurities.

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