One of the angels came to John and told him, “Come! I will show you the bride, the wife of the lamb.” In the spirit, this angel carried John away to a great high mountain. He showed him the holy city Jerusalem coming down from heaven with the glory of God. It was a very rare jewel, like a crystal-clear jasper. This city had a great high wall with twelve gates and twelve angels, one for each gate. The twelve gates had the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, with three gates in each direction, north, south, east, and west. The city wall had twelve foundations with the names of the twelve apostles of the lamb. Do you think that the number twelve is important?
Month: January 2023
The new heaven and the new earth (chapter 21)
John saw a new heaven and a new earth. The first heaven and earth had passed away. The sea was no more. Instead, John saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. John then heard a voice from the throne saying, “See! The home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them. They will be his people. God himself will be with them.” He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, mourning, crying, and pain. The first things have passed away. God said from his throne, “See! I am making all things new! Write this down! These words are trustworthy and true.” Then he said, “It is done! I am the alpha and the omega! I am the beginning and the end!” He was going to give water from the spring of the waters of life to those who were thirsty. Those who prevailed would inherit these things. “I will be their God. They will be my children.” On the other hand, the cowardly, the faithless, the polluted, the murderers, the fornicators, the sorcerers, the idolaters, and all the liars will burn in the lake of fire and sulfur, the second death. Does God make new things?
The dead were judged (chapter 20)
Then John saw the great one sitting on the great white throne. The earth and heaven fled from his presence, but there was no place for them. John saw the dead, both great and small, standing before the throne. The books were opened, including the Book of Life, so that the dead were judged according to what was in these books. The sea gave up its dead. Death and Hades give up their dead. They were all judged according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were also thrown into the lake of fire. This was called the second death, the fiery lake. Anyone who was not found in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire. Is your name in the Book of Life?
Satan’s doom (chapter 20)
When the thousand years were completed, Satan would be released from prison. Once again, he would come to deceive the nations, like Gog and Magog, to gather people for the battle. They would be as numerous as the sands of the sea. They would march forward on the earth, surrounding the camp of the saints and the beloved city. Then fire will come down from heaven and consume them. The devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the eternal lake of fire and sulfur with the beast and the false prophet. This time, they were tormented day and night eternally, not just for a thousand years. Have you ever seen a fiery lake?
The Christians reigned for a thousand years (chapter 20)
John then saw people seated on thrones with authority to judge. John also saw the ones who were beheaded that had given testimony to Jesus and the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image. They did not have the mark of the beast on their foreheads or hands. Instead, they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years had ended. This was the first resurrection, so that they were blessed and holy. Thus, the second death had no power over them, because they were the priests of God and Christ. They would reign with God and Christ for a thousand years. Would you like to be charge for a thousand years?
The angel seized the dragon for a thousand years (chapter 20)
John saw another angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a chain. The angel seized the dragon, who was the ancient serpent, the devil, and Satan. He bound him for a thousand years, as he threw him into the pit, locked it, and sealed it. Thus, the dragon was locked up for one thousand years, so that he was not able to deceive various nations anymore. After a thousand years, he was let out for a little while. Do you think that the dragon, the serpent, the devil, and Satan are all the same?
The capture of the beast (chapter 19)
Then John saw the beast and the earthly kings with their armies ready for war against the rider on the white horse and his armies. The beast and the false prophet were captured. The two of them were thrown into the fiery lake with sulfur. The rest of their army were killed with a sword that came from the mouth of the rider on the white horse. Then all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh. Have you ever seen a fiery lake?
Birds would come to eat the flesh of the defeated ones (chapter 19)
Then John saw an angel standing in the sun. This angel called with a loud voice to all the birds that fly in midheaven, “Come! Gather for the great supper of God!” These birds were to eat the flesh of the kings, the captains, the mighty ones, the horses, their riders, the free-men, the slaves, the small, and the great. Have you ever seen birds eating dead bodies?
The rider on the white horse (chapter 19)
Then John saw heaven open with a white horse and its rider called “Faithful and True”. In righteousness, he judged and made war. His eyes were like flames of fire. His head had many diadems. He had a name that no one knew, but himself. He was dressed in a robe dipped in blood. His name was the word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in fine, white, and pure linen, were following him on white horses. He had a sharp sword in his mouth in order to strike down the nations that he was going to rule with an iron rod. He was going to tread the wine press of the wrath of the almighty God. On his robe and on his thigh his name was inscribed, “The King of kings and the Lord of lords.” Do you think that good guys ride white horses?
The “Hallelujah” rejoicing in heaven (chapter 19)
Then John heard a loud voice in heaven say, “Hallelujah! Salvation, power, and glory to our God! His judgments are true and just. God has judged the great whore who corrupted the earth with her great fornication. He has avenged the blood of his servants.” Then they said again, “Hallelujah! The smoke goes up from her eternally.” The twenty-four presbyters and the four living creatures worshipped God saying, “Hallelujah! Amen!” From the throne came a voice saying, “Praise our God! All your servants and all who fear him, small and great.” John heard the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and thunders, crying out, “Hallelujah! The Lord our God, the Almighty one reigns! Let us rejoice and exult! Give him the glory.” The marriage of the lamb has come. His bride has made herself ready. The bride is dressed in fine bright pure linen, that is the righteous deeds of the saints. Then the angel said to me, “Write this down! Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the lamb!” He told me, “These are the true words of God!” Then John fell down at the feet of the angel to worship him. However, the angel responded, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers, who hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Do you ever say “Hallelujah”?
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 