Revelation 6

Revelation 19-22

Objective: 

• Heaven Exults over Babylon

• Christ on a White Horse

• The Beast and His Armies Defeated

• Satan Bound 1,000 Years

• The Saints Reign with Christ 1,000 Years

• Satanic Rebellion Crushed

• The Great White Throne Judgment

• All Things Made New

• The New Jerusalem

• The Glory of the New Jerusalem

• The River of Life

• The Time Is Near

• Jesus Testifies to the Churches

Resources:

• Fr Tadros Y Malaty Commentary
• Catena Bible Commentary
• HEMY
• Fr Dawoud Lamie Bible study (Arabic)

Reading:

• Revelation 19
• Revelation 20
• Revelation 21
• Revelation 22

Key verse(s):

“Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book." Revelation 22:7

Comments:

• The word translated “Revelation” means “unveiling.
• The verb simply means “to uncover, to reveal, to make manifest.”
• Apocalypse = Revelation = unveiling = uncover = to make manifest
• The author is St. John the Beloved

• Author	St. John the Beloved
  Place	Patmos during exile
  Date	96 AD
  Theme	The things which are things which you have seen the things which will take place after this
  Key verse	Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this-1:19

• Ch.19
  • This chapter talks about the heavenly rejoicing over the defeated sinful Babylon
  • That's why the word "Alleluia" is mentioned a lot (4 times) because of the rejoicing
  • V.2: God is just, and He gives time for repentance, but His judgments will surely come
  • V.3: God's final judgments are "forever and ever". This responds to the Catholic ideas of purgatory. There is no change of judgment or a "change of the decision" after the final heavenly judgment.
    • God's judgments are fair and eternal
  • Notice how our Coptic Church uses Allelulia in all prayers and praises to teach us to speak in the heavenly language
  • Omnipotent = All-powerful
  • V.7: "The marriage of the Lamb has come" is the day all the righteous are waiting for. "His wife has made herself ready," like any bride who gets ready for her wedding, the Church or human soul is always getting ready for the day of her wedding - Heavenly banquet.
    • The principle of God (Bridegroom) and Church/soul (Bride) is mentioned many times in the Bible, especially in the Song of Songs
  • V.7 "made herself ready" and V.8 "it was granted to her" - These refer to the concept of works and grace. The bride (soul) worked to get herself ready and struggled against sin, and it was granted to her: means the Grace of God made her complete and perfect
  • V.8: "he fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints." All the saints are righteous and struggled in their lives, but each person/saint shows God's grace in them differently.
    • Conclusion of Watos Theotokia - "The martyrs will come, bearing their afflictions, and the righteous will come, bearing their virtues"
    • For example:
      • David = Praises
      • Abba Abraam = Giving
      • Abba Anthony = Asetecisim
      • St. Athanasius = Defending the faith
      • Pope Cyril VI = Prayer
      • St. Rebekah and her children = Martyrdom
  • V.9: We are all blessed to be called. This shall make us encouraged to struggle against sin to attain and keep our invitation.
  • V.10: St. John thought that he saw God, but the heavenly creature instructed him not to worship him as he is not God
  • V.11: The same white horse we saw before in Ch. 6, who "conquered and went to conquer"
  • V.12: "His eyes were like a flame of fire" - same description in Ch. 1
  • V.14: The army of saints is following Him
  • V.15: "sharp sword" - same description in Ch. 1. God's word is a sword that destroys any sins or heresy
  • V.17-21: The defeat of Satan - The war of Armageddon in Ch. 16
    • This war was before the final judgment
    • V.18: Starting from kings to servants to show that everyone who followed the devil, whether rich or poor, small or great, will be punished
      • "Small or great" is important because sometimes young people as,y "When I grow, I will get closer to God." Repentance is every time and not for adults 
    • V.21: "The sword" the word of God, is what judges between right and wrong
• Ch. 20
  • Discusses the millennial reign of Christ
  • The millennial reign is a Theological topic that is widely debatable between different denominations
  • The literal meaning does not apply and is not accepted by our Coptic Orthodox Church
  • This is not true because this chapter talks about Him regigning now with the souls of the righteous and the Bible talks about 2 comings only (His incarnation and His coming to judge the world)
  • What we believe in our Coptic Orthodox Church: 
    1. A thousand years is a symbolic number - A symbolic period
    2. The millennial reign started by Christ on the Cross

       • Started from the crucifixion until the release of satan from his chains before end of world

    3. Christ is not to reign on earth (similar to the Jewish beliefs)
       • Christ Himself mentioned many times that He is not an earthly, but a Heavenly king
         
    4. Some Denominations believe that Christ will come again and reign for a thousand years before final judgment
       
    5. God’s Kingdom is a spiritual Kingdom

       • V.4: “I saw souls or martyrs reigned” - St. John saw them reigning 2000 years ago (time of this Revelation)

  • V.1-3: Laid hold of the dragon with a chain - Symbolizes limiting the wars and attacks of the devil
    • The devil was tied when Christ reigned over on the Cross and limited, but not ended
      

  • What does binding Satan mean?

    • He has no dominion over man, except if man goes to him or allow his ideas in his heart

    • Think of a wild animal in a cave. Can’t hurt you until you go to him

  • Why release satan?

    • Because many will be weak in faith, lukewarm, and away from God
  • V.3: He doesn't have authority over people like in OT, but now people go to him and fall into his trickery. But he was limited! The devil, after being tied (Christ's incarnation and death), is left to test people again for a thousand years (Symbolic number). But now we have authority over him (Luke 10:19)
    • End of the thousand years = end of time on earth = Second coming = Final judgment = A symbolic number signifies a big number
    • "But after these things he must be released for a little while." God will allow him to test the people and intensify his wars right before God's second coming for the final judgment
  • V.4: The thrones are the saints around God. "Judgment was committed to them": God judged them, and they were found righteous
    • The martyrs are in heaven, and they are reigning with Christ in Heaven
  • V.5-6: Many are dead and did not want to repent
    • "The first resurrection" = The resurrection from sin through baptism, repentance, and confession.
      • That is why in V.6, "Blessed is the person who gets up from sin before the final judgment
    • The first death: Death of the body
    • The second death: Eternal death - After no repentance
    • Those who repent do not have fear of the second death, and it has no authority over them
    • In Ch. 1, it is mentioned that He made us kings and priests. This means that the millennial reign already started because in Ch.1, it was in "past tense"
  • V.7: Right before the second coming and at the end of the thousand years, the devil will be allowed to intensify his war against the saints (same as V.3)
  • V.8-9
    • The war mentioned in chapters 17 and 18
    • "Four corners of the earth" - The devil will go around the whole earth to gather his allies for the war
    • "Gog and Magog" Symbolizes the evil nations and kings that will join the devil
      • Also mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39
      • Gog is the king
      • Magog is the land he reigns over
    • "The Beloved City" is not Jerusalem, as it was rejected. This is the Church
      • The war will be against the Church and saints (wherever they are found)
    • "fire came down from God out of heaven," Like the times of Elijah
      • God's people have spiritual power vs the political power of those who are persecuting them
      • Rev. 11 - The two witnesses
  • V.10: The devil was tied and now will be thrown into the lake of fire after the Antichrist and false prophet were thrown in there before him (Ch. 19)
  • V.11: The heaven and earth will end
  • V.12: We have faith that in the second coming, everyone will rise from the dead - this is a joyful message. But also a warning that everyone and everything will be judged
    • Importance of works. Our faith shown in works will be judged
  • V.13: The sea = world. Also, those who were worldly and died away from repentance will be judged

Chapters 21 and 22 discuss the heavenly banquet and the wonderful life after the life on earth ends.

• Ch. 21
  • V.1: The new heavenly Jerusalem. Sea = world = no more
  • V.2: St. John wanted to confirm that he saw the bride is ready for her bridegroom
    • Bride: New Jerusalem because the old Jerusalem was rejected by Christ
  • V.3: tabernacle where God will dwell with His people (Bride)
  • V.4: After the many wars, persecutions, and tribulations, wonderful things and eternal happiness await the righteous
    • Imagine God Himself wiping away our tears!
  • V.5: God wants us to attain the new man and a new pure life with him. We have to leave the old sinful habits
  • V.6: God said the same when salvation was done on the Cross. Now all His promises are done and fulfilled
  • V.8: Idolatry did not end as people worship materialistic things like money, degrees, technology, etc.
  • V.12-14: 
    • 12 = 3 (Believers of the Trinity) x 4 (Four corners of the earth) = The Church all over the world
    • Gates: 12 Tribes - Entering the relationship with God started in OT
    • Foundations: The Foundation of the Church is the Apostolic Teachings
    • The Bride is the believers of the OT and NT
  • V.16: Square = Equal sides = Perfect city
  • V.17: 144=12 (OT) x 12 (NT)
  • V.18-21: The many different precious stones symbolize the many different virtues of the saints in heaven
  • V.22: No temple is needed because the Lord Himself is in her midset
• Ch. 22
  • V.1: River = Holy Spirit
    • One Throne because God the Father and the Son are one
  • V.2: We finally get to eat from the Tree of Life after we have been banned from it since Adam and Eve
  • V.4: We finally get to see God's face vs when Moses couldn't see His glory
  • V.6-7: Confirming the credibility of the message and the revelation that St. John saw. This Revelation has been there for 2000 years. 1 Day is a thousand years and a thousand years are like one day for God (2 Peter 3:8).
  • V.8-9: This is the second time that St. John worships, and the heavenly creatures instruct him that he is not God
  • V.10: “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book" = Do not hide anything you saw so the people know what will happen and be ready through repentance
  • V.12: God repeats again that He is coming quickly. We shall be ready and wait for Him at any time
  • V.15: dogs are sometimes translated as "Sodomite/homosecuality"
  • V.16: "I am the Root and the Offspring of David"
    • Root: Creator of David - God's Divinity
    • Offspring: Son of David - God's Humanity
  • V.18-19: God warns those who do not believe or falsify or twist this prophecy
  • V.20: "He who testifies" = Christ
    • After all the things and the beautiful heavenly Jerusalem that St. John saw, he said, "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus."
  • V.21: The Bile and the NT ends with "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ" that we received after His resurrection

Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions

1. Who was sitting on the white horse?
2. What was written on the robe and thigh of the One on the white horse?
3. What did the angel do to Satan?
4. What happens when the thousand years have expired?
5. What were the twelve gates? What was the street in the city?
6. Why was there no temple in the city?
7. How many fruits did the tree bear and when? What were the leaves for?
8. What will happen to the one who takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy? 

Homework:
**Servant may add more questions

1. The angel coming down from heaven had keys to:
   a) Heaven b) the Kingdom of God c) Hades d) the bottomless pit
2. Blessed and _______ is he who has part in the first ________ Over such the ________ death has no _______, but they shall be priests of God and of _________, and shall reign with Him a ______ years.
3. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New _______, coming down out of ________ from God, prepared as a ______ adorned for her _________.
4. The twelve _______ were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one ______. And the street of the city was pure ______, like transparent ________.
5. What is on either side of the river?
6. "I, ________, have sent My ________ to testify to you these things in the _______. I am the ______ and the Offspring of _________, the Bright and Morning _______."