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Revelation 17:1—19:4 should be considered as one chapter rather than three separate chapters. Revelation 18:1-3 is the continuation and development of earlier verses since 18:3 speaks of three matters: (1) "All the nations have drunk of the wine of the fury of her fornication," which is mentioned only in chapter seventeen (17:2); (2) "And the merchants of the earth have become rich by the power of her luxury," which is mentioned only in chapter eighteen (18:11-15); and (3) "And the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her," which is mentioned in both chapters seventeen and eighteen (17:2; 18:9).
Revelation 16:19 speaks of the great city, Babylon, while 14:8 speaks of Babylon the Great. If these were the only references to Babylon, without chapters seventeen and eighteen, there would be no way to know clearly what they mean. In chapters seventeen and eighteen, there are two Babylons: one is Babylon the Great, and the other is the great city, Babylon.
The word Babylon is from the word Babel. According to Genesis 10—11, Babel was a city in Shinar built by Nimrod, a man who relied on his own strength to protect himself. Genesis 11:1-4 records the beginning of the tower of Babel. Because God confounded their language and scattered the people abroad, the name of the city was called Babel (v. 9). Babel, or Babylon, means confusion.
Babel was also a place of idol worship which is contrary to God. This city became greater and greater and reached its climax during the time of Nebuchadnezzar. At that time, because the Israelites rebelled against God, God delivered them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. This was at the time of Daniel. One day Nebuchadnezzar had a dream, and through Daniel's interpretation, he was helped to understand the dream. In this dream the golden head of the great image signifies Babylon at its height. Later, Media and Persia (the silver arms) destroyed Babylon, and the city became desolate. Following this, Greece (the bronze abdomen) destroyed the empires of Media and Persia. Then the Roman Empire (the iron legs) destroyed the empire of Greece. Babylon was the first kingdom, and the Roman Empire, the last. All four of these kingdoms persecuted the Jews. All of the first three nations have passed, but the influence of the Roman Empire remains to this day, although the ten toes have not yet appeared. Today the Jews are still under the rule of the Roman Empire (because England is still part of the Roman Empire). Babylon worshipped idols intensely and hated the Jews to the uttermost. The Roman Empire was the same.
Rome was not only a political city but also a center of religion. At the beginning of the church age, Rome had the greatest number of Christians, yet Rome hated the Christians the most. In the fourth century, Constantine embraced Christianity, encouraging and rewarding his people to join it. At that time he accepted Christianity as the state religion. It was also at that time that the center of politics shifted from Rome to Constantinople. Rome remained under the reign of Constantinople until A.D. 700. Eventually, at a conference held by Leo III in Constantinople (A.D. 725), it was decided that worshipping idols was heretical and, therefore, illegal. Rome opposed this decision and separated herself from Constantinople. Since that time, the church was divided into the eastern Roman religion (the Greek Orthodox Church) and the western Roman religion (today's Roman Catholic Church). The Eastern Church gradually became weaker, while the Roman Catholic Church grew more prosperous. Later, because the Roman Catholic Church was in power, many faithful Christians who loved the Lord were killed.
Revelation 17 and 18 indicate that the Roman Church will prosper beyond anything that has ever been recorded, and her power will be exceedingly great. When Antichrist comes, he will set up his own image for the people to worship. Therefore, Antichrist and the ten kings with him will dispose of the Roman Church. However, even after the religious Rome is terminated, the political Roman Empire will still exist, having the Mediterranean Sea as its center. After the three and a half years of the great tribulation, God will destroy the political Rome.
Why is it that chapters seventeen and eighteen do not refer to Rome directly, but rather mention Babylon? It is because John was living under the reign of the Roman Empire. If he had referred to Rome directly, this book could not have been published. This does not mean that John was afraid to write in an open way, but that the Holy Spirit intended to keep it hidden. However, the Holy Spirit, so that people might not mistakenly consider Babylon as the historical Babylon, says in Revelation 17:5, "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT." First, the word "mystery" indicates that this must be interpreted spiritually rather than literally. For example, if in Revelation 11:8, Jerusalem had been clearly spelled out, this book would have been opposed by the Jews. Therefore, it was written with spiritual implications. Second, John did not say Babylon but "Babylon the Great," indicating that this Babylon must be much greater than the physical, historical Babylon. When we read these chapters in this way, we realize that Babylon here is not the ancient Babylon, but Rome.
How do we know that the Babylon mentioned here is Rome? The reasons are as follows:
(1) There is only one city in the world which is built on seven hills; that is the city of Rome. In history Rome is known as the city of seven hills. This matches 17:9.
(2) "Fallen" in 17:10 indicates that the ones mentioned in this verse did not have a good end. Some were murdered, and some committed suicide. When John was writing this book, the king who "is" was no doubt the Roman emperor at that time.
(3) There is no kingdom other than the Roman Empire that has ruled over the kings of the earth. This is a fulfillment of 17:18.
What are the similarities between Babylon and Rome?
(1) Babylon was the first to invade the Jewish holy land and enter into the Holy Place. Later Rome did the same.
(2) Babylon means confusion, and Rome was full of confusion. It mixed the state with the church, the church with the world, the law with grace, man's tradition with God's word, heathens with Christians, Judaism with Christianity, God's promise to the church with God's promise to the Jews, fleshly things with spiritual things, earthly things with heavenly things, things to be rejected in the present with the glory in the future, and so forth. It was the center of all types of mixture and was utterly chaotic.
(3) The testimony of the church fathers also acknowledges that Rome was Babylon. Tertullian said that Babylon was Rome. Jerome said, "When I dwelt in Babylon and resided within the walls of the scarlet adulteress, and had the freedom of Rome, I undertook a work concerning the Holy Spirit, which I propose to ascribe to the Bishop of that city." Augustine said, "Babylon is a former Rome, and Rome, a later Babylon."
(4) There were several famous authors of the Roman Church, such as Robert Bellarmine, Cesare Baronius, Jacques Bossuet, Hug, etc., who also admitted that Babylon refers to Rome. According to Bellarmine, when John was writing the book of Revelation, every time he wrote "Babylon" he meant Rome.
One school says that Babylon simply refers to the political aspect of Rome, not the religious aspect, but that is a mistake. If it refers to only the political aspect of Rome, then the city should have fallen only once. Why does 14:8 say that it is fallen, and then 16:19 say it again? Furthermore, the fall in 14:8 takes place before the setting up of the beast's image, before the three-and-a-half-year period. However, the fall in 16:19 occurs at the time of the seventh bowl, which follows the setting up of the beast's image. Thus, these two falls must be related to the two aspects of Babylon. One is the religious aspect of Rome. (In the religious aspect, Babylon means confusion.) The other is the political aspect of Rome. (In Hebrew the word for "Rome" means the arrogant one, the one who is self-exalting and against God.)
"MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT" refers to the religious Babylon. The reasons are as follows:
(1) Revelation 17:1 says, "The great harlot who sits upon the many waters." The woman here signifies Rome. However, the city of Rome was not built on many waters (there is only one river in Rome). Therefore, the woman here must not refer to political Rome.
(2) Revelation 17:9 says, "The seven mountains where the woman sits." It is true that the city of Rome was built upon seven hills, but if the city of seven hills signifies political Rome, the woman cannot also signify political Rome, for a city cannot sit upon another city. Therefore, this woman must be the religious Rome which rests upon the political Rome.
(3) Revelation 17:6 says, "And I marveled with great marvel when I saw her." If this woman signifies the political Rome, what is there to marvel at? It is marvelous because it signifies religious Rome. (That people of other religions would persecute Christians is nothing to be marveled at, but it is a marvel that the Church of Rome would persecute Christians.)
(4) The fornication in 17:2 refers to doctrinal, not physical, fornication. Since a material city cannot commit fornication, this must signify the religious Rome.
(5) If political Rome rules over the kings of the earth, surely it cannot, at the same time, commit fornication with the kings of the earth. Therefore, 17:2 must refer to religious Rome.
Listed below are the reasons why Babylon also refers to political Rome:
(1) According to 17:16, the woman's destiny is to be burned utterly with fire by the beast (Antichrist) and the ten horns (the ten subordinate kings). But 18:8 mentions God's judgment on her. Therefore, 17:16 refers to the religious aspect and 18:8 to the political aspect.
(2) Revelation 18:7 says, "For she says in her heart, I sit a queen," but 17:16 indicates that the woman has already been rejected by Antichrist and the ten kings. How can 18:7 say that she still sits a queen? Hence, one must refer to religious Rome and the other to political Rome.
(3) Chapter seventeen uses symbols extensively; however, the latter part of chapter eighteen is mostly literal. This is why, in chapter seventeen, the angel has to give John an explanation, because it is full of signs. However, the latter part of chapter eighteen needs no further explanation, because it does not contain signs.
(4) After 8:13 mentions "woe" three times, exactly three woes follow. Since 18:2 mentions "fallen" twice, there should be two falls. One must be the fall of political Rome, and the other, the fall of religious Rome.
(5) In this book, there are two Jerusalems, one on the earth and another in the heavens. In the same way, this book has two aspects of Rome, the political and the religious. Political Rome is different from religious Rome, but the two are inseparable.
"And one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, Come here; I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits upon the many waters."
These are the events which come to pass after the pouring out of the seven bowls. It is marvelous that one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls also shows John the wife of the Lamb in 21:9. This fits with 17:1 because not until after the harlot has been judged will God reveal the wife of the Lamb. "The many waters" are "peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues" (17:15). This harlot is sitting upon many peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. This means that the influence of the Roman Church has reached the whole earth. The Roman Church often calls herself the mother and mistress of all the churches.
Why does God say that she is a harlot? It is because she traffics with and mixes with the world. She makes the fellowship among the saints so open that it includes even the worldly people. Thus, she gains the worldly enjoyment and worldly glory. She is as salt that has become tasteless. A harlot is one who commits fornication without marriage. An adulteress is one who commits adultery after having been married. In saying that she is a harlot, it is clear that God has never acknowledged any relationship between the Church of Rome and Christ. As a prostitute commits fornication before getting married and as a harlot commits fornication before her marriage, the Church of Rome has not preserved her virginity for Christ.
She is "the great harlot." She would not be great if she had followed the principles in Matthew — 7. She should be only a little flock on the earth (Luke 12:32), bearing the testimony that the world is rebellious and that Christ is coming to judge it. The greatness referred to here is exactly what the Lord prophesied in Matthew 13:32. Genesis 1:12 says, "Herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit...after his kind," but the herb in Matthew 13 became a tree. This is the greatness of "the great harlot." The Pope was even greater than the kings. While the kings could only rule over man's body, the Pope ruled over both man's soul and spirit. Furthermore, he ruled over the kings as well. Hence, the Pope is greater than the kings. This is not the proper condition of the church on the earth.
"With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and those who dwell on the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication."
According to the original Greek, throughout chapter seventeen the word "fornication" is used rather than adultery. A harlot commits fornication, while an adulteress commits adultery. Adultery is a sin committed by someone who is married, while fornication is committed by one who is not. This signifies that from the beginning to the end God never acknowledges having any relationship with the Church of Rome.
"With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication."
(1) The Roman Church would baptize anyone who was willing to be baptized in order to please the kings of the earth. Thus, she put the principles of Christ and the holy Word of God up for sale at a cheap price.
(2) The church made her boundaries equal to those of the nation and made Christianity the national religion of Rome. Whoever was a Roman citizen by birth could be a Christian. Originally, the boundary of the church was smaller than that of the nation, but the church dared to make herself as great as the nation.
(3) The church made an alliance with politics by putting emperors and government officials over the church. Above all, the Church of Rome was the first to commit the sin of fornication, that is, to bring religion to the worldly people through the authority of the emperor. This happened not only under the Roman Empire, but in many other nations as well. This has resulted in nothing more than an empty name.
"With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication" indicates that she has had a direct relationship with the kings of the earth. "Those who dwell on the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication" indicates that she has had an indirect relationship with those who dwell on the earth. "The wine of her fornication" refers to her heretical doctrines. She has made those who dwell on the earth lose their direction and become befuddled with her heretical doctrines. On the one hand, the teachings of the Church of Rome encourage people to become Christians, saying that as long as they give an amount of money and confess their sins before a priest, they can be forgiven. On the other hand, the Church of Rome does not teach them to have a sanctified living. Rather, she allows them to continue to enjoy all the worldly blessings, and thereby, the wine of her fornication has intoxicated all the people of the earth. Worldly people cannot live without religion, and the Church of Rome is the most agreeable to their taste. On the one hand, she does not care for spiritual reality, yet on the other hand, by means of various religious ceremonies, she brings people emotional consolation as well as hope for the future.
This has been the condition of the Church of Rome, and in the future, she will be revived in the same way. In China, for instance, while there are no more than three to four hundred thousand Protestants, there are at least two million members of the Church of Rome. Once a person becomes a member of the Church of Rome, he remains a member until death. Over the past year, while certain major denominations in the United States did not gain even one member, the Church of Rome gained millions. Some members of a denomination in England advocate returning to the Church of Rome, while some of the Episcopalian Church want to incorporate various characteristics of the Church of Rome into their official prayers. This was nearly passed by the Parliament.
"And he carried me away in spirit into a wilderness; and I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns."
"A wilderness" here may be interpreted spiritually because the earth was originally a wilderness (Psa. 107:33). It can also be interpreted literally because the city of Rome is surrounded by desert. "A woman sitting upon a scarlet beast." The beast here, on the one hand, refers to the Roman Empire because the "seven heads and ten horns" are parts of the Roman Empire. On the other hand, it refers to Antichrist because, though Antichrist is the eighth head, he encompasses the brutality of the seven heads and the authority of the ten horns. In God's eyes, Antichrist is only a beast, but the woman is a harlot. She is not as brutal or irrational as a beast; rather, she is a rational yet fallen harlot.
"A woman sitting upon a scarlet beast" refers to the fact that the Church of Rome is united with the Roman Empire and has carried out a tremendous amount of evil through it. For example, if a country magistrate offended a priest, the Pope would order that mass not be held in that locality. In this way he would stir up the people to oppose and attack that magistrate. The Church of Rome would never deal openly with any situation; instead, it would let the Roman Empire deal with it. Thus, the extent of the influence of the power of this woman has been as great as that of the beast because the woman is riding on the beast.
The beast is scarlet, the same as the dragon. This indicates that the beast comes out of the dragon and is one with the dragon in its appearance.
"Names of blasphemy" are different from words of blasphemy. To have "names of blasphemy" is to be called by names which are used to address God. All the Roman emperors claimed they were gods.
"And the woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and gilded with gold and precious stone and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the unclean things of her fornication."
"Purple" is the color of nobility in the Roman Empire. This is similar to the use of the color yellow in China during the previous Chin Dynasty. All the members of the Roman Senate wore a wide piece of purple cloth on their chests. Furthermore, all their gladiators wore a thin strip of purple around their waists. Just as the Chinese emperor was clothed in yellow when ascending the throne, the Roman emperor was clothed in purple. "The woman was clothed in purple." This indicates that she has obtained worldly glory (cf. Luke 16:19, where the rich man clothed himself in purple).
Purple is not a primary color, but a blend of blue and red. Blue is heavenly, but red is earthly. (Edom in Genesis 25:30 means both red and earthy). Thus the color purple signifies the blending of heavenly things with earthly things.
The Roman Church also makes much use of the color scarlet. While writing a book on Revelation, Mr. Barnes asked a person from Rome what its most striking color was. The answer was scarlet. "Scarlet" is the particular color of the Pope and the bishops, and among the bishops there are the cardinals. Their garments, hats, socks, chariots, etc., are all scarlet. As for the Pope, even his undergarments, vessels, and the clothing of his bodyguards are all scarlet. Whenever the Pope comes out to visit the people, they welcome him by decorating the streets with scarlet.
"And gilded with gold and precious stone and pearls." These are all materials which signify God's truth. The Roman Church decorates herself with these treasures on the outside. (Gold, precious stone, and pearls also have their literal meanings. Compare this with 1 Peter 3:3 and 1 Timothy 2:9.) On the one hand, the Roman Church displays many good points outwardly, but on the other hand, she is not proper before God.
"Having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations." She has no crown on her head because she is not the emperor. She has no scepter in her hand because she has no authority. A golden cup full of abominations is her only power, with which she entices people and leads them astray. Her success in gaining people is not through any direct authority but through enticement.
In the Roman Empire, there were plates showing a woman holding a golden cup in her hand with the caption, "Sitting upon the Universe." It seems that the Romans were admitting unconsciously that this woman was the Church of Rome.
"And on her forehead there was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS AND THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH."
Although it is a mystery, it is written on her forehead, that is, this mystery can be seen. This means that if you have the eyes to see, you will see the real meaning of this mystery.
God has ordained Jerusalem as the center of worship (religious) as well as the center of His administration over the whole earth (political). The error of the Church of Rome, however, is in claiming that God has raised it up to replace Jerusalem, thus making Rome both the political and religious center. She has assumed, at the present time, the position that Jerusalem will have in the millennial kingdom.
Though the "harlots...of the earth" are not the great harlot, we must ask whether or not they come out from the Church of Rome. A national church is a small harlot. The Anglican Church, for example, is the national Church of England. Therefore, the Anglican Church must be a small harlot. In England, the bishops of the churches are appointed by the king. Anyone who would prosecute a bishop must do so before the king. The establishing of any rites in the church must, likewise, be passed by a vote of Parliament. Only then may the church adopt that practice.
Not only are the national churches (whose systems resemble that of the Church of Rome) small harlots, but any church that is joined to the world and whose behavior is as corrupt as that of the Church of Rome, is also a small harlot. (Consider, for example, the practice of admitting people into church membership, not based on regeneration, but on their willingness to donate. Consider further the practice of accepting people at the Lord's supper, not according to whether or not that person is saved, but according to whether he is a member of the church. Moreover, sprinkled infants and YMCA members are all included in a church's membership. These are all examples of the conduct of a harlot!)
"THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS AND THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." In the Old Testament the word "abomination" always refers to idolatry (Deut. 7:25-26). The Church of Rome is famous for her idolatry. It worships Mary, the angels, the apostles, and many saints. The Church of Rome separated from Constantinople because it insisted on the worship of idols.
"And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. And I marveled with great marvel when I saw her."
This shows us that whatever this woman has done in the past will be repeated in the future, but with more intensity and severity. Note that it does not say that this woman shed the blood of the saints or that she shed the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. Rather, it says only that she was "drunk" with their blood. This means that she does not kill the saints directly. Instead, like Paul, who rejoiced at Stephen's death, the Church of Rome kills the saints indirectly through the power of the Roman Empire. The Church of Rome instigates the persecutions, but the Roman Empire is the one that actually carries them out.
The word "saints" here also includes the Jews. In the future, the Jews will also be under the persecution of the Church of Rome. Those who witness for Jesus will likewise suffer loss.
John marvels because such a persecution of Christians comes from so-called Christians. Is it not amazing that those who call themselves believers in Christ persecute those who believe in Christ?
Revelation 17:1-6 describes the vision that John saw. Beginning from verse 7, we have the explanation of the vision by the angel. Hence, verses 8 through 13 should be interpreted literally.
"And the angel said to me, Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast who bears her, who has the seven heads and the ten horns."
This tells us clearly that the angel will unveil to John the mystery of the seven heads and the ten horns.
"The beast that you saw was and is not and is about to come up out of the abyss and go into perdition. And those who dwell on the earth, those whose name is not written from the foundation of the world in the book of life, will marvel when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will be present."
The beast which the angel shows to John has four periods in his history: (1) he "was," (2) he "is not," (3) he "is about to come," and (4) he will "go into perdition."
The beast described in this book refers, in some instances, to the Roman Empire and, in others, to Antichrist. Here it refers to a man and not to the Roman Empire. The reasons are as follows:
(1) This beast was. How can we say that the Roman Empire was?
(2) This beast is not. How can we say that the Roman Empire was not at the time of John?
(3) This beast comes up out of the abyss. The abyss is the place where spirits are kept. How can we say that the Roman Empire comes up out of the abyss?
(4) This beast will go into perdition. How can we say that the Roman Empire will go into hell in the future?
Since this beast does not refer to the Roman Empire, it must refer to Antichrist.
He "was." This shows that he was a person living on the earth before the time of John.
"And is not." This means that at the time of John this one had died and was no longer in the world. The words "is not" are used in Genesis 42:36-38 and refer to death.
"And is about to come up out of the abyss." This shows that he is not here now, but in the abyss. For him "to come up out of the abyss" means that he will resurrect.
"And go into perdition." This refers to his not being able to remain on earth forever; he will not reign forever. His end will be the lake of fire (Rev. 19:20; 20:10).
The fact that he "was and is not and will be present" is a counterfeit of God "who is and who was and who is coming" (Rev. 1:4). Men "will marvel when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will be present." This marveling results in their worshipping the beast (13:12). Only those whom God has chosen will be preserved by God from this temptation; only those whose names are written in the book of life will be preserved by God from worshipping the beast.
"Here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are the seven mountains where the woman sits."
Revelation 13:18 has similar words. However, in 13:18 "wisdom" understands the "number of the beast," while in 17:9 "the mind which has wisdom" understands the "heads" of the beast. We need wisdom from God to understand. "The seven heads" have two meanings: (1) they refer to a place, and (2) they refer to persons.
(1) When referring to a place, the "seven heads" refer to the seven mountains. A mountain is the head of a land and indicates power (Num. 21:20; Jer. 2:6; Amos 1:2; 9:3).
Dr. Woodworth said, "Rome was in John's age usually called the seven-hilled city." In reading many poems by Roman poets, we find that many of them refer to Rome as "the city of the seven hills." Some have said that for five hundred years after John, Roman poets called Rome "the city of the seven hills." On the Roman gold coin is engraved a woman sitting upon seven hills. Furthermore, on the coins issued during the reign of the Roman Emperor Vespasian, the city of Rome was portrayed as being built on seven hills with two persons standing at its base and the Tiber River flowing in the foreground.
The poet Horace spoke of, "the gods, who look with favour on the seven hills." Another poet, Tibullus, said, "Ye bulls, feed on herbage of the seven hills."
The names of the seven hills are: Aventine, Esquiline, Caelian, Capitoline, Palatine, Quirinal, and Viminal.
(2) When referring to persons, the "seven heads" refer to seven kings, for kings are the heads of the people. The hills, as the heads of the land, exist continuously and simultaneously, while the persons, as the heads of the people, exist temporarily and successively, that is, one comes after the other has passed away. Isaiah 7:8-9 shows both the head of the land and the head of the people, "For the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin." Here we can see that the word "head" refers to the capital as well as to the person.
"And are seven kings: five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain only a short time."
The Brethren consider the seven kings to be seven political systems, but this is against the principle of the Scriptures. The reasons are:
(1) The seven kings are mentioned in the words of explanation by the angel; hence, they cannot be interpreted further.
(2) The Bible never symbolizes a political system by a king. This is not even found in non-Christian writings.
(3) A king speaks of a political system already (a monarchy or a constitutional monarchy). How can a king symbolize another type of political system?
(4) Although some have broken down the Roman Empire into seven different political systems, the seven kings here are successive, while the seven political systems are not successive; they are unrelated, rising and falling at different times, and are intermittent.
(5) If the seven kings refer to seven political systems, what do the ten kings refer to? Would not this mean that the ten kings must also refer to ten political systems? If this is the case, would there not be seventeen political systems in Rome?
(6) Verse 9 says that each of the seven heads upon which the woman sits are mountains. It is impossible for some to be mountains while others are not. In the same way, all of the seven kings must be kings.
(7) In the Bible, the word "head" always refers to a person. How can we say that it refers to a political system? The "four heads" in Daniel 7:6 refer to four kings and not to four systems. Why should Revelation use the seven kings to symbolize seven political systems?
(8) If the kings represent political systems, then during the reign of Constantine, Christianity should have been considered as another system. However, Revelation 12:3 says that the seven heads are on the dragon, signifying that all the heads are of Satan. Can we say that Christianity is also of Satan?
Some may criticize, saying, "Rome had twelve Caesars, with Domitian, at the time of John, as the twelfth. How can one say that there were only seven kings in Rome?" We turn the question back to these ones: How could there have been only seven churches? Of course, the seven churches are only the representatives of all the churches.
Some may say that even if the seven kings are the representatives of the kings in Roman history, how can we know which of the twelve Caesars these seven kings are? This we can find out from the following points:
(1) Revelation 13:1 says, "And on his heads names of blasphemy." Hence, all of these seven kings must have claimed deity and forced men to worship them as gods.
(2) The words "have fallen" in 17:10 refer to their sudden death (cf. Judg. 3:25; 2 Sam. 1:19, 25, 27). Hence, all of these seven kings had to die a sudden death. Before John there were five emperors: Julius Caesar (the first Caesar), Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero. All five of these emperors declared themselves to be gods and forced men to worship them as gods. Each of them died either by committing suicide or by being murdered.
Domitian was the sixth. He was still alive at the time of John. He also declared himself to be a god and was also murdered.
The seventh is the one who "has not yet come." The Bible does not tell us how long it is after the sixth king that the seventh king will come. It tells us only that the seventh king will remain on earth for "only a short time" (Rev. 17:10). Eventually, he will be killed (13:3, 14). The time between the sixth and the seventh kings is the time in which religious Rome reigns. The time of the first through fifth kings and the time of the seventh and eighth kings are the time in which political Rome reigns. At this time, religious Rome is replacing political Rome.
After Zedekiah was taken captive into Babylon, there was a period of time in which there was no king in Israel. This period lasted until the time of the birth of Christ. In the same way, after the fall of the Roman Empire, there is a period of time before Antichrist appears.
When Antichrist comes, the whole world will be ready. Once Antichrist comes on the scene, he will be able to do many things within three and a half years because by then the seventh one will be ready.
"And the beast who was and is not, he himself is also the eighth and is out of the seven and goes into perdition."
This verse has to be read in conjunction with 17:8. Verse 8 speaks of the four periods of the beast's history. Verse 11 also speaks of the four stages of the beast's history, which are: (1) he was, (2) he is not, (3) he is out of the seven, and (4) he goes into perdition.
Since the chronological characteristics of the first, second, and fourth periods in 17:11 correspond with those of the first, second, and fourth periods in 17:8, the third period of verse 11 must also correspond with the third period of verse 8. Hence, he will have to come up out of the abyss.
Here it says that, on the one hand, this one is the eighth and, on the other hand, he is out of the seven. Furthermore, he comes up out of the abyss. Hence, he must be one of the seven who has resurrected to become the eighth.
Which one of the seven is he?
(1) He is not the seventh one, because the seventh one has not yet come into the world (17:10), but he was in the world before (v. 8).
(2) He is not the sixth one, because the sixth one was still in the world at the time John was there. According to the prophecy, this one "is not" in the world at the time of John (v. 11).
Since he is not the seventh or the sixth, he could only be one of the first five. Which one of these five is he? From 13:18 we can tell that he must be Nero.
Revelation 17:8 tells us of the earthly position that Antichrist will occupy in the future, while verse 11 tells us of his royal position.
The seventh one is the forerunner of Antichrist, while the eighth will come in the resuscitated body of the seventh. Eight is the number of resurrection, but the resurrection of this one is different from the resurrection of the Lord. The Lord is the resurrection Himself, while this one resurrects through the resuscitation of a corpse.
When the Lord was on earth, the Jews chose the living Caesar over the living Christ. Even after Christ resurrected, men still would not receive Him. The coming Antichrist will be a resurrected Caesar, and men will choose such a resurrected Caesar over the resurrected Christ.
"And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom but receive authority as kings for one hour with the beast."
The "seven heads" are seven kings, and also the "ten horns" are ten kings. However, there are differences between the heads and the horns:
(1) Horns grow on the head. Hence, the horns must be smaller. The head is the whole Roman Empire, while the horns are but vassal kings under Rome. In other words, they are the subordinate kings of the Roman Empire.
(2) There is only one head at one time, all the heads being successive, but the horns are all kings at the same time.
(3) Among the seven heads, only one has not yet emerged, while all ten horns have yet to appear.
"Who have not yet received a kingdom." This means that they had not yet received their kingdom at the time of John. These ten will receive authority at the same time that the beast, the eighth king, receives his authority.
Many have said that the ten kings refer to ten kingdoms. This is not accurate for the following reasons:
(1) The matter of the ten kings has been explained by the angels; it cannot be further interpreted.
(2) If we change the word "kings" in 17:12 to kingdoms, it does not make sense.
(3) Since the beast is a man, the ten kings must also be men.
These ten kings are different from the other "kings of the earth" (v. 2):
(1) The "kings of the earth" are on earth before the ten kings come, and while the ten kings are reigning, the former remain.
(2) The "kings of the earth" have always maintained a bond with the great harlot, but these ten kings never have any bond with the great harlot. In fact, the great harlot is eventually destroyed by these ten kings (17:16).
"These have one mind, and they give their power and authority to the beast."
"These" refer to the ten kings. Some have said that the beast here refers to the Pope. This cannot be right, because no ten kings have ever given their power to the Pope. Some have said that the beast refers to one of the Roman emperors. But this is unreasonable too, because never have ten kings given their power to any one Roman emperor.
The ten kings give their power to the beast because they see the beast resurrecting from the dead and reckon that he is a superman and because they see the work of the evil spirits. After Christ died and resurrected, the Holy Spirit descended and formed the church. After Antichrist dies and resurrects, the evil spirits try to imitate such an operation, and they cause the ten kings to give their power to the beast.
"These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and they who are with Him, the called and chosen and faithful, will also overcome them."
According to the order of the record, we have this verse before verse 16. But according to the order of the facts, verse 16 occurs before verse 14. Revelation 19:11 is a detailed account of the war in 17:14. The actual war is recorded in Revelation 19:11-21. Although many follow the Lamb, the One who overcomes is the Lamb Himself. It is the sharp sword which comes out of the Lamb's mouth and the might of His feet that overcome the enemy and trample him under His feet. It is not His followers who overcome the enemy. The Lamb does not overcome the enemy through His power, but through His authority. He overcomes because He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. This speaks of authority, not of power.
There are three groups of people who accompany the Lamb: the called, the chosen, and the faithful. These three groups of people stand in opposition to the great harlot. Those who follow the Lamb must be called. To be called is based on God's own decision. Originally, the choosing came before the calling, but here, the calling comes before the choosing. Therefore, we see that this is a choosing from among the believers. The Lord says that many are called but few are chosen (Matt. 22:14), following the order in Revelation 17:14. Psalms 89:19 explains this. The Israelites had been chosen already, but God chose David from among the chosen Israelites. This shows that the saved ones belong to one group (all the called ones are saved), while the overcoming ones belong to another group (those who are after God's heart). Those who follow the Lamb are not only called and chosen, but also faithful. To be faithful is to not care for one's self, but to care for the Lord's mind.
"And he said to me, The waters which you saw, where the harlots sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues."
This verse explains the meaning of "waters." Since the harlot is a mystery, a sign, and is not interpreted literally, the waters should also be a mystery, a sign, and should not be interpreted literally. If we are satisfied with Christ, we will not be sitting on the waters. If we make the saints' fellowship an open fellowship with the world, we will be sitting on the waters.
This book tells us that the woman sits in three places:
(1) On the beast (17:3). This speaks of her union with the Roman Empire.
(2) On the seven hills (v. 9). This speaks of her taking Rome as the center.
(3) On the waters (v. 15). This speaks of her power reaching the whole world.
Why is she sometimes called "the harlot" and sometimes called "the woman"? The word "woman" refers to her relationship with Rome, while the word "harlot" refers to her relationship with Christ. Politically speaking, she is a woman, and religiously speaking, she is a harlot.
"And the ten horns which you saw and the beast, these will hate the harlot and will make her desolate and naked and will eat her flesh and burn her utterly with fire."
The ten horns and the beast hate the harlot. They do not hate the woman, because the woman, the city of Rome (17:18), is their kingdom. They hate the harlot because, in name, the harlot still belongs to Christ.
In this book the beast refers, on the one hand, to Rome and, on the other hand, to Antichrist. In 17:16 it refers to Antichrist. We know now that Antichrist is the resurrected Nero. When Nero was on earth, he persecuted the Christians severely. After he resurrects, how could he allow Rome to belong to Christ? Hence, the first thing he will do is destroy the great harlot. He hates the harlot for two reasons:
(1) The conduct of the harlot is too evil. Although the consciences of the worldly people have not yet been enlightened by God, they cannot tolerate the conduct of the Roman Church. This conduct includes: (a)teaching that the bread becomes Christ's actual body after the priest's blessing, (b)restricting the reading of the Bible to the priests only, (c)the practice of confessing to the priests, (d)the inquisition, (e)sending heretics to the civil government, (f)selling indulgences, and so forth. Therefore, even the heathen despise her vulgarness, wickedness, and greed.
(2) The harlot is hated also for her good. There is much truth in the Roman Church, such as God being triune and Jesus being the Son of God, born of Mary. Furthermore, the Roman Church recognizes the Lord's death, resurrection, and ascension. It still belongs to Christ in name. This is why it is hated.
The ways in which the ten horns and the beast deal with the harlot are:
(1) "Make her desolate." This may mean that the Vatican where the Pope resides will become a desolate place.
(2) "Make her...naked." If interpreted literally, this would mean material loss. If interpreted spiritually, this may mean the exposing of her secrets.
(3) "Will eat her flesh." If interpreted literally, this would mean to eat her flesh. If interpreted spiritually, this may mean the slaying of her prominent figures or of the Catholics.
(4) "Burn her utterly with fire." The literal interpretation should not be hard to understand.
"The kings of the earth" are her good friends. Yet when they see her suffering, they only weep and lament over her; they do not help her (Rev. 18:9-10). The seventh king is also her friend; however, he is only a friend temporarily and cannot help her either. Antichrist becomes her archenemy.
"For God has put it into their hearts to perform His mind and to perform one mind and to give their kingdom to the beast until the words of God are accomplished."
Probably this will happen after the harlot is removed. That may be the time for the kingdom of Antichrist to come.
"And the woman whom you saw is the great city, which has a kingdom over the kings of the earth."
The woman here refers to Rome because, at the time of John, only Rome had a kingdom over the kings of the earth.
"After these things I saw another Angel coming down out of heaven, having great authority; and the earth was illumined with His glory."
This is Christ Himself. Besides Him, no one else could have such authority or illumine the earth with his glory.
"And He cried with a strong voice, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the Great! And she has become a dwelling place of demons and a hold of every unclean spirit and a hold of every unclean and hateful bird."
God destroyed the religious part of Rome by the beast and the ten horns (17:16). Now, He Himself will come to destroy the city of Rome; hence, there is such a great proclamation. This was prophesied in the Old Testament. (The word "satyrs" in Isaiah 13:21 (KJV) was translated "devils" in the Septuagint. Although Isaiah 34:13-15 speaks of the conditions in the land of Idumea, it is very similar to what is described in Revelation 18:2.)
"For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the fury of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the power of her luxury."
This verse speaks of three things:
(1) "All the nations." All the nations have drunk of the wine of the fury of her fornication (cf. 17:2), which especially refers to the religious aspect of Rome.
(2) "The kings of the earth." They committed fornication with her (cf. 17:2; 18:9), which touches both the Roman religion as well as the city.
(3) "The merchants of the earth." They have become rich by the power of her luxury (cf. 18:15), which especially refers to the aspects of Roman commerce.
The last clause of 18:3 shows God's attitude towards commerce. Probably in the new heaven and new earth there will be no more commerce. Commerce prospers here probably because of the abundance of luxury. It is not good in the eyes of God for merchants to provide for men's luxury and work for their own profit.
"And I heard another voice out of heaven, saying, Come out of her, My people, that you do not participate in her sins and that you do not receive her plagues."
"Her" refers to both the city of Rome and the religion of Rome. There are lightnings and an earthquake right after God pours out His seventh bowl (16:17-18). Then God remembers the great city of Babylon, and great hail comes down (16:19, 21). Chapter seventeen tells us that Babylon is the great harlot, because upon her forehead is written, "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT." It also reveals her history, the coming of Antichrist in the future, and her end. Chapter eighteen then tells us that Babylon the Great is fallen.
Although the command to "come out of her" is given at this time, it is directed at those who are in Babylon the Great in 17:5, because within religious Babylon, there are also those who truly belong to the Lord.
"For her sins have accumulated up to heaven, and God has remembered her unrighteousnesses."
This verse matches 16:19. Both say that God has remembered Babylon the Great. Chapter seventeen says only that God will destroy the religious part, while chapter eighteen says that the whole great Babylon will be destroyed.
Every time God remembers a sin, He immediately punishes. When God remembers, He remembers clearly; when God forgets, He forgets completely.
"Pay her back even as she has paid, and double to her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix to her double."
This fulfills the words in Romans 2:6-9. Does the word "double" here contradict the phrase "render to each according to his works"? It could mean that there are two times of rendering.
"In the cup which she has mixed." God will also judge the city of Rome for its sins related to the religious aspect.
"As much as she has glorified herself and lived luxuriously, as much torment and sorrow give to her; for she says in her heart, I sit a queen, and I am not a widow, and I shall by no means see sorrow."
The church does not glorify herself; instead, she glorifies Christ. Not only does Rome do the opposite, she also lives luxuriously.
"Therefore in one day her plagues will come, death and sorrow and famine, and she will be utterly burned with fire; for the Lord God who judges her is strong."
There is sorrow when there is torment. God gives her torment in order to make her sorrowful.
"The Lord God" is God's name in the Old Testament. Thus, God resumes His Old Testament position.
"And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her, will weep and lament over her when they see the smoke of her burning."
The kings of the earth have no strength to help the woman. This judgment is God's doing, and they can do nothing. In 17:16 the harlot is burned, and here in 18:9 the city is also burned.
"Standing afar off because of fear of her torment, saying, Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city, for in one hour your judgment has come!"
"Woe, woe." This is spoken by the kings. "Woe, woe" is spoken three times in this chapter, in verses 10, 16, and 19.
"And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargo anymore."
Many people say that because of its geographical location, Rome cannot be a commercial center, but note what is said in verse 11. This city is not a center of import and export. She only buy things but does not sell, because Antichrist lives there luxuriously.
"Cargo of gold and silver and precious stone and pearls and fine linen and purple and silk and scarlet, and every kind of thyine wood, and every vessel of ivory, and every vessel of most precious wood and brass and iron and marble, and cinnamon and amomum and incense and ointment and frankincense and wine and oil and fine flour and wheat and cattle and sheep, and cargo of horses and chariots and slaves and souls of men."
There are seven kinds of merchandise mentioned here: (1) precious substances; (2) fabrics; (3) vessels; (4) spices; (5) delicious foods; (6) sheep, horses, and chariots; and (7) slaves and souls of men. Slaves and souls of men may be translated bodies and souls. There was a famous saying that went, "Among what Babylon keeps, the first is gold and the last is souls."
"And the ripe fruits of your soul's lust have gone away from you, and all the sumptuous and splendid things have perished from you; and men will find them no more at all."
In this verse she is told of her past.
"The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand afar off because of the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning, saying, Woe, woe, the great city, which was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and gilded with gold and precious stone and pearl."
"Woe, woe." This time it is spoken by the merchants. Compare this with 17:4; the two verses match each another.
"For in one hour such great wealth has become desolate! And every ship captain and everyone sailing to a place and sailors and all who work on the sea stood afar off."
"For in one hour...has become desolate." This is a continuation of the preceding verse.
"And cried out, seeing the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like the great city? And they cast dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and mourning, saying, Woe, woe, the great city, by which all those who have ships on the sea became rich from her wealth, for in one hour she has become desolate!"
"Woe, woe." This time it is spoken by the ship captains, all the passengers on the ships, and the sailors.
"In one hour." This expression is mentioned three times in this book: (1) by the kings (18:10), (2) by the merchants (v. 17), and (3) by the ship captains, all the passengers on the ships, and the sailors (v. 19).
"Be glad over her, O heaven and saints and apostles and prophets, because God has judged judgment for you upon her."
"Saints" may refer more to men of the Old Testament; "apostles," to Christians; and "prophets," to those from the second Pentecost.
"And a strong angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, Thus will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence and shall be found no more at all."
Although it is not known how God will destroy Babylon, it is possible that this will be done by an earthquake because in 16:19 He remembers the great Babylon after a great earthquake. Wherever there is an earthquake, there is usually fire; hence, the kings of the earth and the merchants see the smoke from afar but cannot help (18:9).
"And the sound of harp-singers and musicians and flutists and trumpeters shall be heard no more at all in you, and no craftsman of any craft shall be found any more at all in you, and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in you, and the light of a lamp shall shine no more at all in you, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall be heard no more at all in you; for your merchants were the great ones of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived. And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all who have been slain on the earth."
The words "no more" or "any more" appear six times in these verses (vv. 21b-23). In 18:23b-24 three reasons (they are actually sins) are given for God's judgment of Babylon:
(1) "For your merchants were the great ones of the earth."
(2) "For by your sorcery all the nations were deceived."
(3) "And in her was found the blood of...all who have been slain on the earth."
The error of today's commerce is that, instead of balancing the wealth, it entices people. Therefore, it is sinful. Sorcery is to communicate with the demons. In the future, Rome may become the center of such activity. Rome will also be preeminent in shedding people's blood.
Revelation 19:1-6 is a continuation of 18:24.
"After these things I heard as it were a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, Hallelujah! The salvation and the glory and the power are of our God."
"After these things" means after the complete destruction of Babylon. This "great multitude" includes all saved ones (not only those saved during the dispensation of grace).
Hallelujah means "Praise the Lord" in Hebrew. Why "Hallelujah"? It is because salvation and glory and power have now come.
"For true and righteous are His judgments; for He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication, and He avenged the blood of His slaves at her hand."
"For true and righteous are His judgments." This matches "righteous and true" in 15:3. They are "true" because God judges according to the real situation; they are "righteous" because God judges according to the proper method. The verses which follow cite God's judgment of religious Rome (the great harlot) as a proof that God is righteous.
"And a second time they said, Hallelujah! And her smoke goes up forever and ever."
Naturally, the smoke of Rome will cease, but her punishment will last forever and ever.
"And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshipped God, who sits upon the throne, saying, Amen, Hallelujah!"
This is the last time that the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures are mentioned in the Bible. The great multitude in heaven is the first to say, "Hallelujah!" (19:1); then the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures join them, saying, "Amen, Hallelujah!" This shows that they are different from the great multitude in heaven. The great multitude in heaven speaks of salvation, glory, power, and so forth, clearly indicating that the church is included. This shows that the twenty-four elders do not represent the church. From this point on there is no more mention of the twenty-four elders, because they resign from their office at this time.
"And a voice came out from the throne, saying, Praise our God, all His slaves and those who fear Him, the small and the great."
This is the last time that the throne is mentioned (this is different from the great white throne). The throne is in God's temple. Here there is only a temple but no city. In the new heaven and new earth there will only be a city but no temple. Therefore, after verse 5 there is no more mention of the throne.
The "voice" is the voice of the Lord Jesus because in 5:6 the Lamb is "in the midst of the throne."
"All His slaves" are those in the church, because this book emphasizes the responsibility of the individuals in the church before God. "Those who fear Him" are the Jews and Gentiles who fear Him.
"Praise our God." This is what the Lord always says (see Heb. 2:12).
"And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunders, saying, Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns."
"The voice of a great multitude" is the voice of many people; "the sound of many waters" is a continuous voice; and "the sound of mighty thunderings" is a solemn voice.
The word for "reigns" in the original text indicates that He has already been reigning. "The Lord our God the Almighty" has always been King, but His reign was not manifested until now.
"Let us rejoice and exult, and let us give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready."
Who is "His wife"? This cannot be the church for the following reasons:
(1) The great multitude in 19:1 includes saved Gentiles, saved Israelites, and of course, the church. The church is included among the great multitude that proclaims the words in 19:7. Since the church proclaims this, "His wife" must refer to someone else.
(2) Matthew 25:1-13 speaks of the whole church, but only the five wise virgins are qualified to attend the feast.
(3) The wife here is different from the bride mentioned in Paul's Epistles. The bride Paul speaks of is clothed with Christ, whereas the wife here is clothed with her own righteousnesses. In Paul's Epistles the church as a whole is Christ's bride. In Revelation each church is seen separately, and, therefore, the responsibility of the church before God is emphasized. In Paul's Epistles the church is accepted in Christ, but in Revelation the church is accepted because of her own conduct. In Paul's Epistles all of those in the church belong to Christ, while in Revelation she is divided into the saved ones and the overcomers.
The five wise virgins in Matthew 25:1-13 are only those attending the feast; they are not the bride.
The wife of the Lamb is composed of the overcoming believers. This wife is none other than the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:9-10).
God is now in His temple, and the voices of praise from the people are also in the temple. During the millennium the temple will gradually lose its place. There the overcomers will be kings in the city and priests in the temple. (Because there will still be sins, there will still be the need of priests.) But in the new heaven and new earth there will be no more temple.
Some within the church will attend the marriage feast (for example, the five wise virgins), and some will not be able to (for example, the five foolish virgins).
"And it was given to her that she should be clothed in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteousnesses of the saints."
The wife is a symbol of the New Jerusalem. "And it was given to her" refers to her being rewarded. "Bright" means white and is in contrast to what the harlot wears in 17:4. "Clean" is the same word that is used in 19:14.
"The fine linen is the righteousnesses of the saints." In the original text, the word for "righteousnesses" is the same as in Isaiah 64:6: "our righteousnesses."
"The saints." These saints are those who will live in the New Jerusalem. To be a bride is temporary, but to be a wife is from the beginning to the end. This is also the case with the New Jerusalem. The New Jerusalem is the Lamb's bride in the millennium and the Lamb's wife in the new heaven and new earth.
Christians must be divided into the saved believers and the overcoming believers because only the overcoming believers have a part in the new city in the millennium. However, in the new heaven and new earth, both the saved ones and the overcomers will have an equal share.
The "saints" in this book include not only the Christians but also the Jews.
The bride's garment is temporary; only the overcoming believers are related to the bride.
It seems that the marriage of the Lamb is the first time that the city gate is opened, to let the overcoming believers in. The five foolish virgins cannot get in at this time.
"And he said to me, Write, Blessed are they who are called to the marriage dinner of the Lamb. And he said to me, These are the true words of God."
This verse shows us clearly that some are invited (like the five wise virgins) and that these are blessed. This city is the bride of the Lamb, and only those saints who are invited and have their own righteousnesses as their garment can enjoy the glory and the beauty of the city. (These righteousnesses are also the very glory and beauty of this new city.) They have a foretaste of all the glory and beauty of this city.
"These are the true words of God." This appears two more times, in 21:5 and 22:6. It is written to call our attention especially to what has just been said. Some may think that it is a small thing to be raptured; however, only those who attend the marriage of the Lamb have a portion in the kingdom. Those who are not invited cannot partake of the kingdom. This marriage dinner must be something that is only for the overcoming believers. This matches the promise in Revelation 3:20, because both 3:20 and 19:9 talk about dining.
"And I fell before his feet to worship him. And he said to me, Do not do this. I am your fellow slave and a fellow slave of your brothers who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of the prophecy."
Angels are servants of God, and so are we. It is a great temptation to worship created things. "The spirit of the prophecy" is "the spirits of the prophets" in 1 Corinthians 14:32, because prophets are those who prophesy.
"And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sits on it called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war."
The marriage of the Lamb is now over, and the Lord comes to the earth with His people. "Faithful and True" are names of the Lord in reference to His second coming, and they reveal His relationship to the world. In chapter one, the church is to view things from the Lord's eyes.
"And His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems, and He has a name written which no one knows but Himself."
The "diadems," or crowns, here are stacked layer upon layer without end; this is how He can wear many crowns. The "name" here is a special name. The Lord promises the overcomers in the church in Pergamos a name which no man knows (Rev. 2:17). Therefore, the special name that the Lord receives must also be given to Him by God.
"And He is clothed with a garment dipped in blood; and His name is called the Word of God."
"He is clothed with a garment dipped in blood." The garment is not dipped in blood in the heavens, but on the earth during the fighting. This is the description of the war at Armageddon; it matches what is recorded in Isaiah 63:1-6.
The expression "the Word of God" is used only by John, showing that John wrote this book.
"And the armies which are in heaven followed Him on white horses, dressed in fine linen, white and clean."
Those who follow the Lamb are the same as the called and chosen and faithful in 17:14. By this time, the standing of every Christian has been decided. Only those who are invited to the marriage dinner of the Lamb may enter into the kingdom because:
(1) The clothing of the bride is the righteousnesses of the saints.
(2) The righteousnesses of the saints are the glory and beauty of the new city.
(3) All those who are invited to the marriage dinner of the Lamb must have "the righteousnesses of the saints." All those who descend with the Lord are those who have been invited to the marriage dinner of the Lamb. Hence, all who enter the kingdom have been invited to the marriage dinner of the Lamb.
(4) The Lord said, "Until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God" (Mark 14:25). This shows that the dinner is held in the kingdom.
(5) The dining in Revelation 3:20 matches that of Revelation 19:9.
(6) Being invited is different from dining. Only those who are invited may partake of the dinner.
(7) The "blessed" in Revelation 19:9 correspond to the "blessed" in 20:6.
(8) In the kingdom, the New Jerusalem is the bride. In the new heaven and new earth, the New Jerusalem is the wife of the Lamb. However, in 21:9 it still bears the likeness of a bride.
"And out of His mouth proceeds a sharp sword, that with it He might smite the nations; and He will shepherd them with an iron rod; and He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty."
This verse mentions three things that the Lord does:
(1) "Out of His mouth proceeds a sharp sword." This is the word that comes out of His mouth.
(2) "Shepherd them with an iron rod." This is mentioned three times in this book: here, in 2:27, and in 12:5. At the beginning of the kingdom, He will smite all the opposing authorities.
(3) "Treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty." This matches Revelation 14:17-20 and Isaiah 63:1-6.
"And He has on His garment and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS."
Because He rides on a horse, special reference is made to His thigh.
"And I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in mid-heaven, Come here; gather yourselves to the great dinner of God, that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of generals and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free and slave and small and great."
The marriage dinner of the Lamb is for those who are invited, while the great dinner of God is for the birds in mid-heaven.
"And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war with Him who sits on the horse and with His army. And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet, who in his presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshipped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire, which burns with brimstone."
Here it speaks of the destinies of the beast and the false prophet.
(1) Verses 11 through 16 speak of how the Lord will fight and triumph.
(2) Verses 17 and 18 speak of how the birds eat the flesh of the defeated ones.
(3) Verses 19 and 20 speak of the end of the beast and the false prophet.
The false prophet has done three things. He has: (1) wrought miracles before the beast, (2) deceived those who had received the mark of the beast, and (3) deceived those who worshipped the image of the beast.
We should pay attention to the word "alive." It matches what we explained regarding 13:11-18. Both the beast and the false prophet are resurrected, and since their bodies cannot die twice, they are cast alive into hell.
"And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeds out of the mouth of Him who sits on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh."
This is the end of those who follow the beast. The Christians who follow the Lord faithfully will enjoy glory one thousand years earlier than the ordinary Christians. Likewise, those who follow Antichrist faithfully will suffer punishment one thousand years earlier than the other people.
"And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold of the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years."
Revelation 9:1 says that the key of the pit of the abyss is given to Satan, with which he then does two things: (1) he causes two men to be resurrected, and (2) he causes the locusts to hurt people.
Satan is cast down to the earth as a result of the war in heaven. Now he is cast into the abyss as a result of the Lord being the King of kings and the Lord of lords. God's victory is by authority; His word has authority.
"And cast him into the abyss and shut it and sealed it over him, that he might not deceive the nations any longer until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be loosed for a little while."
Some may ask why the dragon is not immediately cast into the lake of fire. The Bible says, "And inasmuch as it is reserved for men to die once" (Heb. 9:27) and "The wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23). The dragon has never died according to the flesh. However, because the abyss is used to imprison the dead spirits, to imprison the dragon there is like putting him through death.
Escape is impossible once the seal is sealed (Dan. 6:17).
There are perhaps three reasons why the dragon will be imprisoned for one thousand years and then released: (1) to show that the dragon will never repent, (2) to reveal the unexposed sins of man, and (3) because God likes to do so.
"And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and of those who had not worshipped the beast nor his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years."
Three kinds of people reign with the Lord.
(1) The overcomers, that is, those who sit on thrones (20:4a). To receive the authority to judge here means to possess the kingdom (Dan. 7:10, 18, 22). (Today, according to the Bible, no Christian should work as a judge, a magistrate, or so forth.)
(2) The martyrs throughout the past two thousand years. These were the souls underneath the altar during the opening of the fifth seal. They have been martyred for the Lord's testimony throughout the past two thousand years. Men are resurrected, not spirits.
(3) The martyrs during the tribulation. These are those who did not worship the beast and his image nor have his mark on their foreheads or hands.
"They lived and reigned." Here we have to pay attention to two things:
(1) These people are not resurrected at the time of Revelation 20:4. Their resurrection is merely mentioned here as a postscript. John does not see their resurrection at this moment; he only sees them alive here.
(2) The living people mentioned here refer not only to the resurrected ones, but also to those who are raptured alive, because we cannot say that only those who are resurrected from the dead will reign with the Lord. Although there may not be many who are raptured alive, nevertheless, they shall also reign with the Lord.
Resurrection from the dead is mentioned in 1 Kings 17:22, 2 Kings 13:21, and Revelation 1:18. Second Timothy 2:11-12 speaks of dying, living, and reigning with the Lord.
"The rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no authority, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years."
"The first resurrection" is not necessarily a once-only resurrection; nor does it refer to any resurrection in general. It includes all the "best" resurrections that happen before the millenium.
The word "this" in verse 5 includes the two things mentioned in verse 4, that is, the living and the reigning. The first resurrection is the "best" resurrection. The best resurrection means to live and to reign. Because verse 4 has two verbs — "lived and reigned," the word "this" in verse 5 must refer to living and reigning. This is called the first resurrection. This resurrection is a reward and is both a resurrection and a reigning with the Lord for one thousand years.
"The second death" does not merely mean to die; rather, it means to go to a certain place to suffer. This is in contrast with the first resurrection. The first resurrection is the enjoyment of glory. Not only do those believers who are resurrected from the dead partake of the first resurrection, but also all those who are raptured alive. This is because the time of the first resurrection is the time of the reward, the time of repayment (Luke 14:14; 20:34-36).
In Philippians 3:11 Paul did not hope to be resurrected from the dead (for surely all dead men will be resurrected), nor did he hope for the resurrection of the spirit (for the resurrection of the spirit is received in regeneration). Instead, what Paul hoped to receive was the "out-resurrection," which is the best resurrection, spoken of in Revelation 20:5, that is, reigning with the Lord.
Read Philippians 1:23-25 again. In chapter one Paul talked of living; he did not want to die. How then could he speak about hoping to be resurrected from the dead in chapter three? In Philippians 3:20-21 he clearly said that he was waiting for the Lord's return. Thus, his hope was to reign with the Lord.
In the Bible, the phrase resurrection from the dead includes being resurrected from the dead, but more profoundly, it also refers to reigning with the Lord.
There are two expressions in the Bible that are slightly different from each other:
(1) "The resurrection from the dead" indicates the resurrection before the millennium and refers to reigning with the Lord for one thousand years.
(2) "The resurrection of the dead" indicates the resurrection after the millennium.
"The rest of the dead" of course includes the unsaved sinners.
"Blessed" in the New Testament can be translated "happy." Those who are happy today are not necessarily holy, while those who are holy can hardly be happy today.
The first resurrection has three kinds of blessings:
(1) "Over these the second death has no authority." The second death is the lake of fire. Those who have no part in the first resurrection will have to pass through the sufferings of the second death. Some Christians will be disciplined and punished in the future (Matt. 18:34-35). First Thessalonians 4:5-6 says that those who wrong their brothers will be punished. Luke 12:4-5 exhorts men to fear the Lord because He has the authority to put some into hell. We can see that hell will have authority over certain kinds of Christians. In John 15:6 we can see that the branches that do not abide in the Lord (the vine) will receive punishment.
Some may say that the Bible states that once a man is saved he will never perish; so why does it say here that some Christians will still suffer being hurt of the second death (Rev. 2:11)? This is because some verses are easily misunderstood. They are listed below:
(a) "He shall by no means see death forever" (John 8:51-52). In the original text, it is, "Not forever see death"; "He shall by no means taste death forever" should be "He shall not forever taste of death."
(b) "They shall by no means perish forever" in John 10:28 is, in the original text, "They shall not forever perish."
(2) "They will be priests of God and of Christ." The meaning of being a priest is to be one who draws near to God. This kind of people will be particularly close to God, for they will have an intimate relationship with Him and with Christ. Today we are all priests; therefore, we all may draw near to God. But in the millennial kingdom, only those who have a part in the first resurrection will be priests of God and of Christ.
Aaron could be a priest only because his rod budded. The budding rod signifies resurrection. The chosen priest is manifested through resurrection (Num. 17:6-10).
All the people of Israel became priests when they left Egypt (Exo. 19:6). But later, due to their worshipping the golden calf, some failed, and God chose Aaron's tribe to be the priests.
Here the overcomers become priests because there is still the need to intercede for others at this time.
"They will be priests...of Christ" because, at this time, Christ will be worshipped as much as God Himself is worshipped.
(3) "And will reign with him for a thousand years." In the Old Testament, no king could be a priest, neither could any priest be a king. But here is a group of people who are both priests and kings. As priests, they draw near to God; as kings, they have dominion over the earth. Only those who have suffered may reign with the Lord and enjoy the glory with Him.
This verse only speaks of the fact of reigning. It does not say how the overcomers reign, because the reigning here is heavenly.
