This document provides commentary on chapters 19-20 of the book of Revelation, which describe the return of Jesus Christ. It begins by summarizing the events in chapter 19, including the celebration in heaven over God's judgment on Babylon and the marriage supper of the Lamb. It then analyzes some elements of the text, such as the brevity of the description of Christ's return compared to the extensive coverage of Babylon. The document suggests the Bible may focus on what believers need to know rather than providing lurid details. It also notes patterns in how the Bible depicts Christ's return as establishing important facts rather than vivid pictures.
1. XXV: THE
RETURN OF
JESUS CHRIST
THE LION THIS TIME
f
tion o
c
Produ OG
A
the sk op
orksh
W
Revelation 19+20: Promises Kept
http://www.visualbiblealive.com/stock_image.php?id=47365
2. As we work our way backwards in the book
of Revelation, we come to John’s presentation of the actual return of the Savior.
Chapters 19 and 20 continue to maintain the
end of the book’s story order presentation of
events.
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know, ‘No hyperlinks for you
till Slide 4!” Did I mention I’m
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Grammy-builts. Class-A!
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Slide Array Table of Contents
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5. WE NOW WORK INTO THE NEXT SECTION,
A 3-PART NARRATIVE UNIT
Introduction
Letters to the Seven Churches
The Story of the Tribulation
Doom of Babylon
Christ’s Return
The Millennium
Great White Throne Judgment
The Eternal City
Final Message
7. A LONG-AGO PROMISE
And as they were gazing
intently into the sky while
He was going, behold, two
men in white clothing stood
beside them. They also
said, “Men of Galilee, why
do you stand looking into
the sky? This Jesus, who
has been taken from you
into heaven, will come in
just the same way as you
have watched Him go into
heaven.” Acts 1: 10+11
8. A LONG INTERVAL
“This gospel of the kin
gdom shall be
preached in the whole
world as a testimony
to all the nations, and
then the end will
come.” Matt 24:14
“But the
one wh
o
end, he
will be s endures to the
aved.”
Matt 24
:13
ver
is coming? For e
e of H
ere is the promis
“Wh
continues just as
p, all
fathers fell aslee
since the
ning of creation.”
egin
it was from the b
II Peter 3:4
and
ly
, ho m
Lord n fro
The Lo
O
rd is no
ng, refrai
lo
our n
g
ts
count s
“How will You vengin well o
lownes low about H
i s p ro m
s, b u t i
II Pete
rue, g and a e who d
t
s patie
r 3:9
nt towa ise, as some
dgin n thos v 6:10
rd y o u
ju
...
od o h?” Re
blo art
e
the
9. AN ENDURING HOPE
ope an
h
essed our
bl
or the glory of
f
ooking g of the
...l
Christ
arin
e
r,
he app d and Savio
t
o
great G . . Titus 2:13
.
Jesus
d
13. But w
e do not w
ant you to
brethren,
be uninfo
about tho
rmed,
se w h o a r
will not gr
e asleep,
ieve as do
so that yo
the rest w
14. For if
u
h o h a ve n
we believ
o
e that Jes
again, eve
us died an hope.
n
d rose
have falle so God will bring w
n asleep i
ith Him th
n Jesus
ose who
I Thessalo
nians 4:13
+14
12. Be
lo
fiery o ved, do not
rdeal a
b
mong e surprised
upon y
you, w
a
ou for
hich co t the
your te
so me
ings ot
m
strang
e thing sting, as tho es
of th gs n
you; 1
ugh
3. but
were h
nce thin
to the
appen
the su
sura n of
degree
ing to
ffering
e as victio
s of Ch
that yo
rejoicin
is th con
ris
u shar
g
e w faith , the
His glo , so that als t, keep on
o at th
ry you
No ed for 11:1
e reve
1 Pete
may re
lation
r 4:12joice w
hop . Heb
of
13
ith exu
n
ltation
see
.
10. Caution: Speculation Alert: In my
opinion, even Jesus waits with
gathering emotional intensity for
The Day, His Day . . .
32. “Now learn the pa
rable from the fig tree:
when its branch has a
lready become tender
and puts forth its leave
s, you know that
summer is near; 33. s
o, you too, when
36. “Bu
t of that
you see all these thing
day and
s, recognize that
one kn
ows, no
h
He is near, right at the
t even t our no
door.
h e a ve n
he ange
, nor the
Matthew 24:32+33
ls of
Son, bu
Father
alone.
t the
Matthew
24:36
. . . whose exact date may well
remain known only to the Father!
11. Support for Speculation:
The Father tells the waiting Son,
“The hour to reap has come!”
14. Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one
like a son of man, having a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His
hand. 15. And another angel came out of the temple, crying out with a loud
voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle and reap, for the hour
to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 16. Then He who
sat on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped.
Revelation 14:14-16
13. PROMISES KEPT
CHAPTER 19: THE RETURN OF THE KING
1. After these things I heard somet
hing like a loud voice of a great m
ultitude
in heaven, saying, “Hallelujah! Sa
lvation and glory and power belo
ng to our
God; 2. because His judgments ar
e true and righteous; for He has ju
dged the
Great Harlot who was corrupting
the earth with her immorality, an
d He has
avenged the blood of His bond-ser
vants on her.” 3. And a second tim
e they
said, “Hallelujah! her smoke rise
s up forever and ever.” 4. And the
twentyfour elders and the four living crea
tures fell down and worshiped God
who
sits on the throne saying, “Amen.
Hallelujah!”
5. And a voice came from the thro
ne, saying, “Give praise to our God
, all you
His bond-servants, you who fear
Him, the small and the great.” 6.
Then I
heard something like the voice of
a great multitude and like the soun
d of
many waters and like the sound of
mighty peals of thunder, saying,
“Hallelujah! For the Lord ou
r God, the Almighty, reigns.
14. PROMISES KEPT
CHAPTER 19: THE RETURN OF THE KING
Hmmm. . . . before we can get to Chapter 19’s
triumphant declaration of Christ’s reign,
readers celebrate God’s victory over a female
entity called ‘The Great Harlot’.
I hope this prelude raises your curiosity with
regards to this figure. We’ll spend considerable
time on her in the next section, Revelation
14-19. Indeed, we must, for the Bible devotes
considerable space and text to her activities.
Shouts celebrating God’s triumph over her shall
ring in our ears as we descend with a returning
Christ to reclaim the planet.
16. PROMISES KEPT
CHAPTER 19: THE RETURN OF THE KING
7. “Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of
the Lamb has come and His bride has made Herself ready.” 8. It was given to
Her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the
righteous acts of the Saints.
9. Then he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the
marriage supper of the Lamb.’”
17. ELEMENTS IN REVELATION 14-19
CHAPTER 19: THE RETURN OF THE KING
A couple of things to note about this.
1. See how late in the narrative we encounter the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
As a POST Tribulationist, I’m hardly surprised :)
2. The Bride “has made Herself ready”. She is allowed to “clothe Herself in
white” as a tribute to Her righteousness. Hmmm . . . . Odd phrasing, that . . .
As a POST Tribulationist, I look at what the Tribulation Saints have endured,
have overcome and I see this phrasing as a tribute to their faithfulness in the
spiritual battle of the ages. “Made Herself ready”, indeed! Revelation 12:11
lauds these Saints, “And they (the Saints) overcame him (Satan) because of
the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they
did not love their life even when faced with death.”
3. Who are those who are invited to the ceremony? Every candidate I entertain
as a possibility seems not to fit. Sorry. Another question I can’t answer. Got
tons of’em.
18. PROMISES KEPT
CHAPTER 19: THE RETURN OF THE KING
who sat
He
rse, and
o
s
nd wage
a white h
a
ld,
e judges
nd beho
H
a
;
ousness
opened,
diadems
hte
en
ig
ny
av
, and in r
I saw he
d are ma
ue
ea
11. And
Himself.
ul and Tr
on His h
d
pt
thf
f fire, an
ws exce
alled Fai
o
no
e
on it is c
e a flame
no one k
alled Th
c
ar
h
name is
Him whic
His eyes
n
His
war. 12.
written o
od, and
o
e
ped in bl
as a nam
dip
and He h
d
h a robe
white an
thed wit
,
cl o
fine linen
3. He is
a
in
1
.
, clothed
th comes
en
od
ou
le
m His m
ord of G
e in heav
W
hich ar
He will ru
. 15. Fro
d
sw
es
tions, an
he armie
hite hors
t
na
14. And
wrath of
Him on w
own the
d
rce
ing
ay strike
re follow
of the fie
m
e
clean, w
ine press
with it He
at
ew
s a name
th
th
ha
e treads
word, so
high He
H
st
sharp s
iron; and
nd on Hi
a
of
H i s ro b e
”
th a rod
And on
them wi
LORDS.
6.
F
mighty. 1
LORD O
Al
GS, AND
God, the
IN
NG OF K
I
ritten, “K
w
19. ELEMENTS IN REVELATION 14-19
CHAPTER 19: THE RETURN OF THE KING
A couple of things to note about this passage.
It is short. Very short. Six verses. Powerful imagery, to be sure, but
comprised of only six verses. By contrast, God allots two chapters and
numerous allusions to the Harlot and her operation, characteristics, doom
and etc. Only six verses to the return of Jesus Christ. WUWT?
A. Perhaps the rule of thumb is this: We get prophetic coverage about
things we need to face as challenges while still on earth. We have work
to do down here and need to know the terrain and the adversary.
B. Even what the Bible does tell us of heaven seems designed to guide us
while still on earth to faithfulness, righteous action and sound attitude,
not diminish the importance of our calling here on earth or undercut
our determination to live out that calling to the fullest.
C. And besides, how on earth are any mere words going to depict
something as awesome as the Return of Jesus Christ?
20. oticing a pattern . . . .
N
Check out these depictions of Christ’s return:
1. Daniel 7:13-14 A formal scene in which God the Father presents His
Son with dominion over the kingdoms of the earth.
2. Matthew 24:29 Christ depicts His own return as involving ‘clouds’ and
‘power’ and ‘glory’ and trumpets and a gathering together of the
faithful from the far ends of heaven to the far ends of earth.
3. I Corinthians 15:50 Paul describes the return only to assure us that the
return involves a resurrection of the dead.
4. I Thessalonians 4:13 Paul describes the return to clear up the
sequence of the resurrection and the rapture of the saints.
5. Revelation 19:11-16 The actual return depicted with Christ as the
center of attention. A word picture in six short verses!!
The Bible methodically uses sparse
imagery to describe Christ’s return.
21. Most statements of Christ’s return
seem to have the purpose of
establishing certain facts, not
providing us with lurid and graphic
pictures.
That Ch
rist doe
s,
return (
Acts 1:1 in fact,
0+11)
ints
rist returns with the Sa
That Ch
or
24:29, Mark 13:27, I C
(Matthew
)
Thess 4:13, Rev 19:14
15:50, I
uthority
a
es with e the
m
hrist co to receiv
)
That C Father
:13+14
7
m His
Daniel
(
fro
at last.
m
kingdo
That Christ returns with purpose and intent to:
1. Restore Israel (Zech 12-14, Daniel 12)
That Christ returns with relief
2. Avenge the Church (II Thess 1, Rev14-20)
from a time of great desperation
(Zechariah 14:1, Matthew 24:29,
3. Judge the earth (Isaiah 24)
Rev 19:11, Isaiah 24:20, Daniel
4. Slay the AntiChrist (Daniel 11+12, Rev 19)
12:1)
5. Establish His kingdom on earth (Dan 12,
Rev 19+20, Zechariah 12-14)
22. It seems to me that God gives us information about His Son’s return on a
“NEED TO KNOW” basis,of Christ’s return basis.
Most statements not a “WANT TO KNOW” Tha
t Christ
1. seem to have the purpose of
Both faithful Jews and Tribulation Saints need to know thatturn
for a in fa of
re they’re indoes, timect,
(Acts 1:
great distress and certain they reach the
establishingtesting beforefacts, not end of their challenge. 10+11)
2. providing us with lurid craftedgraphic need to know certain kinds
Descriptions of Christ’s return seem and to meet our
of information.
pictures.
A. Yes, believer, Christ WILL return! He will return! hrist returns with the Saints
That C
B. Yes, you will face extremities of despair and doubt w 24:29, Mark 13that time!
unknown before :27, I Cor
(Matthe
C. Christ will return just uthorityou think all is 15:50, I Thess 4:13, Rev 19:14)
when y
lost.
a
es with e tauthority from His Father to defeat the forces of Hell
D. Christist com with final he
returns
hr
at C fix this er to receiv 13+14)
Thand Fath planet.
His
niel 7:
a
f m
E.roBeliever,t God. has not forgotten you. You will be remembered and avenged,
last (D
a
That Christ returns with purpose and intent to:
ngdom restored, resurrected, raptured, rewarded and returned. This world
ki rescued,
1. Restore Israel (Zech 12-14, Daniel 12)
will be rebuilt in righteousness by a King who remembers your name.
2. Avenge the Ch
(II Thess 1, Rev14-20
ThaF. Oh, Believer, yourelief endure. You will endure urch you will overcome and) you
t Christ returns with can
and
3. Judge the earth (Isaiah 24)
from a time celebrate your victory on a Sea of Glass singing your heart out in
will of great desperation
4. Slay the AntiChrist (Da l 11+12, Rev 19)
(Zechariah 14:1, Matthewsatisfaction with all God has worked nieyou and through you
gratitude, joy and 24:29,
in
5. Establish His kingdom on earth (Dan 12,
Rev 19:in the very-most worst of times.
11, Isaiah 24:20, Daniel
Rev 19+20, Zechariah 12-14)
12:1)
G. His victory is ours. God Himself thrills to your faithfulness, your endurance
and your love. He who knows the secret of every heart knows what you’ve
done in His name and with His power and His gifts.
23. We leave the brief
sketch of Christ to
reflect on His purpose:
Victory over Hell’s
pawns–the Beast, the
False Prophet and the
nations which have
allied themselves to
them.
17. Then I saw an angel standing
in the sun, and he
cried out with a loud voice, saying
to all the birds
which fly in midheaven, “Come, as
semble for the
great supper of God, 18. so that yo
u may eat the
flesh of kings and the flesh of com
manders and the
flesh of mighty men and the flesh
of horses and of
those who sit on them and the fles
h of all men,
both free men and slaves, and sm
all and great.”
19. And I saw the beast and the ki
ngs of the earth
and their armies assembled to m
ake war against
Him who sat on the horse and ag
ainst His army.
20. And the beast was seized, and
with him the
false prophet who performed the
signs in his
presence, by which he deceived th
ose who had
received the mark of the beast an
d those who
worshiped his image; these two w
ere thrown alive
into the lake of fire which burns w
ith brimstone.
21.And the rest were killed with th
e sword which
came from the mouth of Him who
sat on the horse,
and all the birds were filled with
their flesh.
25. WE NOW WORK FURTHER INTO
THIS 3-PART NARRATIVE UNIT
Introduction
Letters to the Seven Churches
The Story of the Tribulation
Doom of Babylon
Christ’s Return
The Millennium
Great White Throne Judgment
The Eternal City
Final Message
26. PROMISES KEPT
CHAPTER 20: INTO THE MILLENNIUM
Satan Bound for
1000 Years
A perio
d witho
interfer ut Satanic
ence!!!
1. Then I saw an angel coming down
from heaven, holding the key of the abyss
and a great chain in his hand. 2. And he
laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of
old, who is the devil and Satan, and
bound him for a thousand years; 3. and
he threw him into the abyss, and shut it
and sealed it over him, so that he would
not deceive the nations any longer, until
the thousand years were completed;
after these things he must be released for
a short time.
27. PROMISES KEPT
CHAPTER 20: INTO THE MILLENNIUM
4. Then I saw thrones, and they sat on
them, and judgment was given to them.
And I saw the souls of those who had
been beheaded because of their
testimony of Jesus and because of the
word of God, and those who had not
worshiped the beast or his image, and
had not received the mark on their
forehead and on their hand; and they
came to life and reigned with Christ for a
thousand years. 5. The rest of the dead
did not come to life until the thousand
years were completed. This is the first
resurrection. 6. Blessed and holy is the
one who has a 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 for a thousand years.
Let’s see . . . Satan
bound for 1000 years; we rule and
reign for 1000 years; the second
resurrection takes place after the
1000 years . . .
And as a POST-Tribulationist, may I
point out that this late moment hosts the
FIRST resurrection??? Just saying . .
I think God plans
for 1000 years of ruling
and reigning on earth . . .
literally!
28. PROMISES KEPT
CHAPTER 20: INTO THE MILLENNIUM
Satan Unchained
7.When the thousand years are completed,
Satan will be released from his prison,
8.and will come out to deceive the nations
which are in the four corners of the earth,
Gog and Magog, to gather them together
for the war; the number of them is like the
sand of the seashore. 9.And they came up
on the broad plain of the earth and
surrounded the camp of the saints and the
beloved city, and fire came down from
heaven and devoured them. 10.And the
devil who deceived them was thrown into
the lake of fire and brimstone, where the
beast and the false prophet are also; and
they will be tormented day and night
forever and ever.
Again with the 1000 years! I think
this is a REAL chunk of time
And, why one might well ask? A
thousand years-worth of
generations have lived under
Christ’s benevolent rule. They
were FORCED to act righteously
and (oh, horrors!) endure the
benefits that follow righteous
living. Now, here at the end,
Satan tests them as he tested Job
in the OT. Do they really love
Christ’s rule? Satan gathers an
army of those that do not!
29. PROMISES KEPT
CHAPTER 20: INTO THE MILLENNIUM
Satan Unchained
7.When the thousand years are completed,
Satan will be released from his prison,
8.and will come out to deceive the nations
which are in the four corners of the earth,
Gog and Magog, to gather them together
for the war; the number of them is like the
sand of the seashore. 9.And they came up
on the broad plain of the earth and
surrounded the camp of the saints and the
beloved city, and fire came down from
heaven and devoured them. 10.And the
devil who deceived them was thrown into
the lake of fire and brimstone, where the
beast and the false prophet are also; and
they will be tormented day and night
forever and ever.
Oh, and notice the word “ALSO”.
The use of ‘ALSO” asks the
reader to cast reflectively back in
the narrative to remember that, for
1000 years, the AntiChrist and the
False Prophet have been waiting
in Hell for Satan’s final arrival.
This word “ALSO” justifies our
treating Chapter 20 as a
continuous narrative, laid out in
story-order. The word’s inclusion
here all but forces us recognize
the literal reality of the 1000 year
rule of Christ on earth.
The Millennium, so called, is
REAL!
30. WE NOW WORK TO THE THIRD ELEMENT
OF THIS 3-PART NARRATIVE UNIT
Introduction
Letters to the Seven Churches
The Story of the Tribulation
Doom of Babylon
Christ’s Return
The Millennium
Great White Throne Judgment
The Eternal City
Final Message
31. PROMISES KEPT
CHAPTER 20: INTO THE MILLENNIUM
The Great White Throne
11.Then I saw a great white throne and
Him who sat upon it, from whose presence
earth and heaven fled away, and no place
was found for them. 12. And I saw the
dead, the great and the small, standing
before the throne, and books were opened;
and another book was opened, which is the
book of life; and the dead were judged
from the things which were written in the
books, according to their deeds. 13. And
the sea gave up the dead which were in it,
and death and Hades gave up the dead
which were in them; and they were judged,
every one of them according to their deeds.
14. Then death and Hades were thrown
into the lake of fire. This is the second
death, the lake of fire. 15. . . . .
This is our promised ‘second
resurrection’. I have much to say
about this event. See “ALL BOW
DOWN” for starters, an earlier
presentation in this series. Then
go to “THE NATIONS”.
It should not surprise you to
discover I see this event a leetle
differently than the average
evangelical bear.
One of two possible
judgmental outcomes is
clearly stated in the text: Hell.
Is Hell the only outcome of
these hearings?
Let’s look at vs. 15.
32. 15. And if anyone’s name was not found
written in the book of life, he was thrown into
the lake of fire.
Rev 20:15
OK, we know what happens to a resurrected soul
whose name is NOT found in the Book of Life,
the text tells us directly!
Can we fairly infer that a) some resurrected souls
DO have their names in the Book of Life and the
I think
b) these are therefore admitted into heaven?
so.
Let me
tell you
w hy . (C l
ic
k now.)
33. THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT:
MORE THAN A MERE SENTENCE HEARING
I can logically infer some souls have their names in the Book of
Life and do gain admittance to Heaven based on Rev 20:15.
In support, I see people from the “nations” in the Eternal
State; how else can they have gotten there if not via this route?
Romans 2:12-16 provides the legal basis for their admittance.
Christ bore their sins, too! and He it is who weighs their
conscience against their ignorance of both Law and Grace.
34. PROMISES KEPT
Search the
CHAPTER
Table of Contents
s In
for Other Offering
This Series
20: INTO THE MILLENNIUM
Now, before we look at what led up to the return of
our Savior, I feel the need to nail down the relationship between two distinct periods: Chapter 20’s
Millennium, so called, and the Eternal State of
Chapters 21 and 22.
You may want to investigate this relationship OR you
may want to continue backwards in Revelation and
see what led up to Christ’s return.
Next: XXVI The Millennium
and Eternity
OR: XXVII On The Edge
of The End