The Journey Continues

Revelation Chapter 19

1) Hallelujah simply means “praise ye Jehovah” or praise the Lord.  What do you praise God for today?

2) What is involved in preparing for a wedding?  What is the mood in the days prior to the celebration?  What is the mood during the reception?

3) Describe the type of clothing worn into battle.  How would you outfit yourself for the ultimate fight?

Found only four times in the New Testament and all in this chapter of Revelation, “hallelujah” echoes throughout heaven during the final days.  These words of praise to the Lord are for His salvation, glory and power (19:1) and His justice (19:2).  In verse 4, the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures simply say, “Amen, Hallelujah!”  Our praise to God should be for both specific things and a general response when there is nothing left to say.

The final hallelujah is heard from the great multitude.  Their praise is focused on the coming wedding of the Lamb (19:7-9).  Throughout the Bible, God uses the image of a marriage to speak about the intimate relationship He desires with His people.  And now, it is nearly time for the wedding supper.  This will be a time of great celebration and God and His people are finally united in His kingdom.

At last, as we get to verse 11, we find ourselves at the place that all of Revelation has been pointing toward.  Here we read about the glorious second coming of Christ.  Ready for war, we read of a strong Jesus putting down His enemies and establishing His kingdom.  We also read of those that go to battle with Him (19:14).  And notice how they are dressed: “…in fine linen, white and clean.”  Who wears white to war?  Those who don’t have to fight.  Jesus alone defeats all His enemies.

Revelation Chapter 20

1) Have you ever done something challenging or difficult on the way toward a desired end?  Are there times when the path to success includes defeat?

2) The Bible speaks of a one-thousand year period after Jesus’ second coming when Christ will rule on earth.  Who will be alive then?  What will that time be like?

3) How will God judge in the end?  What will be the basis for His decision of life or death?

In Chapter 20 we read of Satan’s punishment as he bound and thrown into the Abyss (20:1-3).  It’s with a sense that all is finally over that we view what happens.  However, the passage says that he is bound only for 1,000 years and “after that, he must be set free for a short time.”  Then, in verse 10, we read of Satan’s final doom.  Why the thousand years?  I don’t know.  But for us this can be a reminder that the road to success may include times of defeat.

It’s hard to believe, but after Jesus comes back and sets up His kingdom there will again be people that rebel against Him.  How is this possible?  The only people that will be alive after Christ returns are His followers.  But generations later, after 1,000 years, Satan will once again be able to deceive people.  The Bible speaks over and over about the hardness of our hearts.  Unless hearts are transformed by Jesus, they will be open to the deception of the evil one.  Each generation, each person, must choose to trust Christ for the forgiveness of sin.  Salvation is not genetic.

The final judgment for all mankind is found at the end of Chapter 20.  Verses 11-14 speak of the great white throne.  Two books are opened.  One, referred to as the book of life, is a record of all those who have trusted Christ.  The other book contains the works of those who chose to live life on their own.  Since they chose not to trust Christ they will be judged based on their works.  As a result, they will be thrown into the lake of fire.

 

Revelation Chapter 21

1) What would be your design for the perfect city?  How would the City of God look if you were its architect?

2) How would you describe the kind of relationship God desires to have with His people?

3) What is the timing of the end of the world?  When will God accomplish all things?

Jesus will take His place as King of kings and Lord of lords and reign for 1,000 years on planet Earth.  This will end with the complete destruction of the world as we know it (see 2 Peter 3:10).  Revelation 21:5 says, “I am making everything new!”  So the next things John is shown are the new heavens and new earth.  So John sees this incredible city described as being a cube 1,400 miles high and wide and tall with walls 200 feet thick!

The desire God has for His people will be fulfilled in the end.  Revelation 21:3 says: “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.”  This has been God’s desire from the beginning.  As far back as the book of Leviticus (see 26:12) we read about God’s plan on establishing a people through which He would enjoy a special relationship

Reminiscent of Jesus’ words on the cross found in John 19:30 (“It is finished”), in Revelation 21:6 Jesus says, “It is done.”  God will accomplish all He has set out to do.  This will all be done in His time according to His schedule.  We must prepare and watch, but it won’t be done until Jesus says so.

 

Revelation Chapter 22

1) Now that we are at the end of our time in Revelation, what do you know about the timing of Jesus’ return?  How soon will He be here?

2) What does it mean for Jesus to be the Alpha and Omega?  How does this impact your personally?

3) How do you live today in light of the end of all that we know?  What is your attitude toward the return of Jesus?

“I am coming soon.”  Three times in this final chapter of the Bible, Jesus indicates the timing of His return.  And although these words were written over 2,000 years ago, it is still a true statement today.  The word “soon” means “quickly, speedily, without delay, suddenly.”  The understanding is that once the events of the final days are put into motion, Jesus will truly be on His way.

Throughout Revelation, we have seen the sovereignty of God.  We have also seen that He was, and is, and is to come.  And while that has huge implications for the entire universe, the meaning is significant for you and me as well.  In Revelation 22:13 Jesus says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”  For us, this means He is the One we can turn to for everything.  This reminds me of a song by Tim Hughes called “Everything.”

God in my living, there in my breathing
God in my waking, God in my sleeping
God in my resting, there in my working
God in my thinking, God in my speaking

Be my everything, be my everything
Be my everything, be my everything

As the book of Revelation comes to a close, John quotes Jesus who summarizes all of the book by saying, “Yes, I am coming soon.”  Upon hearing this, how does John respond?  After seeing visions of destruction and judgment, as well as honor and victory, John responds, “Amen.  Come Lord Jesus.”  Knowing what we now know about the end and even in light of all that remains a mystery, I pray you and I can say along with John, “Amen.  Come Lord Jesus.”

 

The End of the Journey

Our journey through the rest of the New Testament has come to an end.  It has been a wonderful experience to consider how God’s Word applies to our lives.  No matter how long it took you to get to the end, I trust that God has blessed your journey.

So what now?  There is no right or wrong way to approach God’s Word.  You simply need to spend time in it every day and to be open to what God has for you.

If you have not been on the journey through the gospels, I would encourage you to do that next.  As you read Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, you will have the joy of reading about Jesus and the time He spent on earth.  By reading just two chapters each day, you’ll have the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of Jesus over several weeks.  For each day there are some questions to consider about the day's reading.  Use them to help guide your time in the Word.  You'll find this journey by going to www.lacognata.typepad.com/gospels.

Feel free to let me know if I can help you continue to pursue God as you journey through His Word.  You can reach me at [email protected].