Revelation

The revelation of Jesus Christ: John, exiled on Patmos, receives a vision of the risen Christ standing among seven golden lampstands. Jesus appears with white hair, blazing eyes, and a voice like rushing waters. He holds seven stars and declares: I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!

Jesus dictates messages to four churches. Ephesus has lost its first love. Smyrna faces persecution—be faithful unto death. Pergamum holds to compromising teachings. Thyatira tolerates a false prophetess. Each message ends with a promise to those who overcome.

Jesus addresses three more churches. Sardis appears alive but is dead—wake up! Philadelphia is commended and given an open door no one can shut. Laodicea is lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—and Jesus threatens to spit them out. But He stands at the door and knocks: if anyone hears and opens, He will come in and eat with them.

John is caught up to heaven through an open door. He sees God's throne surrounded by twenty-four elders, four living creatures covered with eyes, and constant worship: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come!

No one in heaven or earth is worthy to open the sealed scroll except the Lion of the tribe of Judah, who appears as a Lamb that was slain. All creation erupts in worship: Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!

The Lamb opens six seals. The four horsemen of the apocalypse ride forth: conquest, war, famine, and death. The fifth seal reveals martyrs crying out for justice. The sixth seal unleashes a great earthquake, and the terrified cry for mountains to fall on them rather than face the Lamb's wrath.

Before the seventh seal, 144,000 from every tribe of Israel are sealed for protection. John sees a great multitude from every nation clothed in white robes, worshiping before the throne. They have come out of the great tribulation, and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.

The seventh seal is opened, and silence fills heaven for half an hour. Seven angels are given seven trumpets. The first four trumpets bring devastation on earth, sea, rivers, and sky. An eagle cries woe to those on earth for the remaining trumpets yet to sound.

The fifth trumpet releases locust-like creatures from the abyss to torment those without God's seal for five months. The sixth trumpet unleashes an army of two hundred million, killing a third of humanity. Yet the survivors refuse to repent of their idolatry and wickedness.

A mighty angel descends with a small scroll, straddling sea and land, declaring that when the seventh trumpet sounds, God's mystery will be accomplished. John is told to eat the scroll—sweet in his mouth but bitter in his stomach—and to prophesy again about many peoples and nations.

Two witnesses prophesy for 1,260 days in Jerusalem, protected by divine power. The beast kills them and the world celebrates, but after three and a half days God raises them. The seventh trumpet sounds—the kingdoms of the world have become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever!

A cosmic sign appears: a woman clothed with the sun gives birth to a male child who will rule the nations. A great red dragon tries to devour the child but fails. War breaks out in heaven—Michael and his angels defeat the dragon, who is Satan, cast down to earth. The saints overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.

Two beasts arise. The first beast from the sea receives authority from the dragon, blasphemes God, and makes war against the saints. The second beast from the earth performs signs and compels everyone to receive the mark of the beast—666—without which no one can buy or sell.

The Lamb stands on Mount Zion with the 144,000. Three angels proclaim: the eternal gospel, the fall of Babylon, and judgment for those who worship the beast. A harvest of the earth is reaped. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on—they will rest from their labor.

Those who conquered the beast stand on a sea of glass, singing the song of Moses and the Lamb: great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Seven angels emerge from the heavenly temple carrying seven bowls of God's final wrath.

The seven bowls of God's wrath are poured out: painful sores, seas turned to blood, rivers turned to blood, scorching heat, darkness on the beast's throne, the Euphrates dried up, and a devastating earthquake. Despite the severity, people curse God and refuse to repent.

An angel shows John the judgment of the great prostitute, Babylon, sitting on a scarlet beast with seven heads and ten horns. She is drunk with the blood of the saints. The angel explains the mystery: the heads represent seven hills and seven kings, the horns are kings who give power to the beast.

Babylon the Great is fallen! An angel announces its catastrophic destruction. Kings, merchants, and sailors mourn its demise—in one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin. Heaven is called to rejoice because God has judged her for the blood of prophets and saints.

Heaven erupts with the Hallelujah chorus celebrating God's righteous judgment. The marriage supper of the Lamb arrives, and the bride has made herself ready. Christ appears as a warrior on a white horse, faithful and true, with a name: King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The beast and false prophet are captured and thrown into the lake of fire.

An angel binds Satan for a thousand years and throws him into the abyss. Saints reign with Christ during the millennium. After Satan's brief release and final defeat, the great white throne judgment occurs. Anyone whose name is not found in the book of life is thrown into the lake of fire—the second death.

John sees a new heaven and a new earth. The holy city, New Jerusalem, descends from heaven like a bride adorned for her husband. God declares: Behold, I am making all things new. He will dwell with His people—He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order has passed away.

The river of the water of life flows from God's throne, with the tree of life on its banks bearing fruit each month. There will be no more night. Jesus declares: Behold, I am coming soon! The Spirit and the bride say, Come. John closes the Bible with a prayer echoed by believers through all ages: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!