Revelation 21: The Husband's Jealous Love

Overwhelmed by the vision of the Bride in Revelation 21...

I'll let Dennis Johnson tell you what I see:

“Revelation has shown us the history-long combat in which Jesus the Lamb has been engaged in order to win and beautify his bride. The consummation of this romance is what Revelation has been about from the start. The blood and fire, locusts and smoke, falling stars and trembling earth, the dragon, the monsters, the scarlet woman—the whole terrifying conflict has been about the divine Husband’s jealous love for his bride, a love so jealous that he will fight all comers in order to have her all to himself, a love so sacrificial that he lays down his life to protect her from every threat and enemy…Now John sees the holy city, beautified for her Husband and radiating the light of his glory…The new Jerusalem, the bride, the wife of the Lamb is an almost blinding, imagination-overloading image of the people whom God loves passionately. John’s concluding visions reveal the new home that the Groom has prepared for his bride and the presentation of the bride—the church—in the beauty of holiness.”

The Gospel in Revelation 20

I have been massively encouraged this week studying Revelation 20 for Wed evening. It is easy to get bogged down in the debate about the millennium and miss the gospel.

Something taken from us: we don't have to expereince the second death (Hell).
Something given to us: we will reign and judge with Christ as priests (imputed righteousness!).
So that we can have Christ Himself!

What Christ saved us from: the second death and lake of fire.
What Christ saved us to: reign and judge with Him.
What Christ saved us for: Himself.

Christ didn't just die to resue us from Hell (amazing as that is). Christ died so that we could enjoy all the blessings provided by His precious blood, greatest of which is the ability to be with Him.

Revelation 19: Christ Conquers

Revelation 19:11-16 contains a rich description of our warrior Bridegroom.

4 Names:

• Faithful and True (v. 11)
• A name no one knows but Him (v. 12)
• The Word of God (v. 13)
• King of kings and Lord of lords (v. 16)

9 Characteristics:

• Riding on a white horse.
• Judges and makes war in righteousness.
• Eyes like a flame of fire.
• Many diadems
• Clothed in a blood-dipped robe.
• Followed by His army
• Words are like a sharp sword.
• Rules with a rod of iron.
• Treads the winepress of the wrath of God.

Revelation 14

It is pretty clear to me that the 144,000 in Revelation 7 and 14 are symbolic for the totality of the redeemed in Heaven. These are not a special subset of super-Christians. These are all those who have known Jesus as Savior and Lord.

Here is the description of them from Revelation 14:

• They are with the Lamb on Mount Zion.
• They are sealed with God’s name (possession and protection).
• They sing a new song that only they can learn (a loud and beautiful song).
• They are redeemed from the earth.
• They have not defiled themselves.
• They follow the Lamb wherever He goes.
• They are firstfruits for God and the Lamb.
• They are blameless (like their Savior).

Revelation 12: The Victory of the Lamb

Here is the main point of Revelation 12: “God protects His people against Satan’s attacks because of the victory of Christ through the cross and resurrection.”

Notice the specific references to the defeat of the devil:
-He was defeated in his attempt to devour the Christ-child (12:4-5).
-He was defeated in his war with the angels (12:8).
-He was defeated in his attempts to destroy the woman (12:16).

Read through Revelation 12 and notice all the results of the Cross:

-Satan and his army are defeated.
-Satan is cast out of Heaven.
-Christ’s kingdom has come.
-Satan can no longer accuse Christians before God (Romans 8:33).
-Christians share in Christ’s victory.
-Satan knows his time is short.
-The church is protected by God from Satan’s ultimate aim.

Preach the gospel to yourself today. Christ has defeated Satan and secured your eternal protection.

The Slain Lamb of Revelation 5

Revelation 4-5 is a majestic description of what is going on around the throne in Heaven.

-Christ is the One who invites and ushers John into Heaven (4:1).
-Christ is the only One worthy to take the scroll and open its seals (5:5, 7, 9).
-Christ is the lion of the tribe of Judah (5:5).
-Christ is the root of David (5:5).
-Christ has conquered (5:5).
-Christ is centrally located near or on the throne with the Father (5:6; 3:21).
-Christ is the slain Lamb (5:6).
-Christ is standing victoriously (5:6).
-Christ has seven horns with seven eyes (5:6).
-Christ ransomed people for God by His blood (5:9).
-Christ ransomed people from every nation for God (5:9).
-Christ has made these ransomed people a kingdom and priests to our God (5:10).
-Christ is worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing (5:12).
-Christ crucified is the center of worship in Heaven (chapter 5).

“One is taken aback by the emphasis on the cross in Revelation. Heaven does not “get over” the cross, as if there are better things to think about…Heaven is not only Christocentric, it is cruci-centric, and quite blaring about it.” –Jim Elliff

“When we are prone to think of the cross in a diminutive way, forgetting its grandeur, its accomplishment, its power, then remember what the angels think of it all and what we will see and sing at a future date when things are clearer.” -Jim Elliff

25 Glories of Jesus Christ in Revelation 1

Rejoice in the glory of your Savior today!

1. Jesus is the faithful witness (v. 5).
2. Jesus is the firstborn of the dead (v. 5).
3. Jesus is the ruler of kings on earth (v. 5).
4. Jesus loves us (v. 5).
5. Jesus has freed us from our sins by His blood (v. 5).
6. Jesus made us a kingdom, priests to His Father (v. 6).
7. Jesus deserves all glory and dominion forever (v. 6).
8. Jesus is coming and every eye will see Him (v. 7).
9. Jesus contains the patient endurance (v. 9).
10. Jesus is in the midst of His churches (v. 13).
11. Jesus is the Son of Man (v. 13).
12. Jesus is clothed with a long robe (v. 13).
13. Jesus has a golden sash around His chest (v. 13).
14. Jesus’ hair is white like snow (v. 14).
15. Jesus’ eyes are like a flame of fire (v. 14).
16. Jesus’ feet are like strong bronze (v. 15).
17. Jesus’ voice is like the roar of many waters (v. 15).
18. Jesus holds the church’s messengers in His hand (v. 16).
19. Jesus’ words are a sharp two-edged sword (v. 16).
20. Jesus’ face is like the sun shinning in full strength (v. 16).
21. Jesus is the first and the last (v. 17).
22. Jesus is the living One (v. 18).
23. Jesus died (v. 18).
24. Jesus is alive forevermore (v. 18).
25. Jesus has the keys of Death and Hades (v. 18).

7 Interpretive Helps for Revelation

1. Revelation focuses on Jesus Christ.
The point of this book is to make known the power, might, glory, and victory of the Lamb.

2. Revelation is given to reveal (make known).
The purpose of this book is not to confuse, but to reveal. Revelation is not trying to hide something. Its intent is to show something clearly.

3. Revelation must be interpreted in light of the rest of Scripture (particularly the OT).
MacArthur says 278 of its 404 verses allude to the OT Scriptures.

4. Revelation must be interpreted with humility.
Godly scholars vary in their interpretations on this book. Being dogmatic about something that is not clear is unwise. Humility demands that we use words like, “most likely,” “possibly,” “sometimes,” “could,” “may,” and “probably.”

5. Revelation has an original audience (like every other Biblical book).
Revelation is a letter written to real churches. Real original readers were supposed to hear the content of this book and be encouraged. Thus, interpretations that neglect the original readers should be suspect.

6. Revelation was written to suffering Christians.
The purpose of this letter is to encourage persecuted Christians to hold fast to the gospel. It is written so that Christians could know with certainty that the Lamb will triumph.
“God gave us Revelation not to tickle our fancy, but to strengthen our hearts.” –Poythress

7. Revelation is about Jesus Christ.
Since this is Revelation, I had to have a list of "7." So, I just restated the first one to make the most important point again.

Goldsworthy on The Millennium

In The Goldsworthy Trilogy, there is a book called, The Gospel in Revelation. In this exposition, Goldsworthy explains how the gospel is the key to the book of Revelation.

As I was reading the introduction, I came across this perspective on the millennium of Rev. 20:1-6:
"What we should not wish to see, in my opinion, is this brilliant portrayal of the end of the conflict between Christ and Satan being made a perpetual battle ground and the cause of conflict between Christians."

New From Sam Storms

Dr. Storms' new book is now available. To The One Who Conquers contains 50 meditations on the seven letters of Revelation 2-3. I expect this to be a refreshing look at the glory of Christ revealed in this often misunderstood portion of God's Word.

We'll be studying Revelation on Wednesday nights at Christ Baptist so expect some reflections in the next few months.