Revelation 18 – 20

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective

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In this particular article, we cover highlights in three chapters of Revelation. We’ve covered most of Revelation 18 previously and it’s been a while, but we are only covering the last few verses of that chapter and then into Revelation 19 and 20. It’ll be a few weeks before we get to the last two chapters of Revelation 21 and 22. So without further ado, let’s get into it.

–The text indicates the finality of Babylon’s doom – vv 21-24. It is a done deal as far as God is concerned. We might like to ask why has He seemingly waited so long, but that question simply pops up out of our own minds as we fail completely to see things from God’s perspective. God’s will is accomplished according to His personal preferences and that includes timing.

Without a doubt, Babylon is finally and completely destroyed at this point in John’s vision. He sees it occur. Note the text of Revelation 18:21:

With such violence the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, never to be found again.

The angel has thrown a stone like a millstone into the ocean as a symbol of just how quickly and completely Babylon will be destroyed. I believe Babylon refers here to the system that has been the world’s economic foundation and is multi-faceted to include all sorts of evil, corruption and idolatry. I also believe that during the Tribulation a physical place that may or may not be called “Babylon” will exist and will be seen as the headquarters of the world for the final seven years or at least the final three and a half years (second half of the Tribulation). However, in God’s timing it will be fully destroyed. Nothing will stop that from happening. Nothing.

This destruction of Babylon’s system and potential physical place will occur at nearly the very end of the Tribulation and will be in stark contrast to the beauty, lack of corruption, righteousness and near-perfection of the Millennial Kingdom over which Jesus will personally and physically rule.

Revelation 19:1-9 moves us from what occurs on the earth to what happens in the heavenly realm immediately following the destruction of Babylon. All in the heavens praise God for destroying Babylon as His vengeance has been completed against the evil system that has governed this world and society and most importantly, spilled the blood of the saints over centuries. Verse 9 looks forward to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb of which all authentic Christians will take part. If you are a Christian, you will be part of that supper.

Revelation 19:11-21 is filled with preparatory activity. Jesus readies to return to earth physically in order to take control and rule. The armies of the earth under the Beast prepare to fight Jesus as He returns. This is referred to as the Battle of Armageddon because it occurs on the plains of Megiddo. Ultimately, Jesus destroys the Beast who leads these earthly armies, with the word of His mouth (seen in the text as His “sword”). The Antichrist and False Prophet are captured after their failed attempt to destroy Jesus or at least keep Him from coming to the earth to claim what is His and they are thrown into Lake of Fire alive. I find this fascinating because these will be the only two individuals I’m aware of who do not gain entrance into the Lake of Fire without first dying. They are simply transferred to the Lake of Fire fully alive and notice there is no standing before Christ in judgment. They are guilty. They know they are guilty. Jesus knows they are guilty. The world knows they’re guilty.

The remaining armies who aligned with the Antichrist and False Prophet are also destroyed by Jesus. The carrion are called from the four corners of the earth to feast on all the dead. This is their feast/celebration; their invitation to celebrate God’s victory over Satan and all evil that has ensnared this world since Adam and Eve fell in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3).

From here, the world begins its move toward the Millennial Kingdom, directed by Jesus and those who are with Him, as seen in Revelation 20. Satan is captured and thrown into the Abyss for 1,000 years (vv 1-3), where he will no longer be able to deceive the nations on earth. However, as we’ll see, the heart of men and women is sin-laden and as such, doesn’t seem to have to look far to find a reason to turn against our Lord even after 1,000 years of peaceful living.

There is also the resurrection of Tribulation saints in verse 4. These people did not succumb to the pressure placed on them by society to give themselves over to the Beast. They did not receive the mark of the beast, which made living extremely difficult. Yet, they rejected the Beast’s system in order to embrace salvation in Jesus Christ. These saints ended up paying with their lives during Tribulation, are resurrected and will live and reign with Jesus for the 1,000 years duration of the Millennium. Interesting note here regarding the second resurrection (v 5). This resurrection is for the wicked who will be raised at end of Millennial for judgment; to be told why they are being sent to the Lake of Fire. Verse 6 references the first resurrection which is really twofold as it includes Tribulation saints & Old Testament saints. Christians during the Church Age will have already been “caught up” through the Rapture and will have been given glorified bodies and minds and will forever walk with Jesus in perfect harmony and without any sin.

Revelation 20:7-10 highlights what happens at the end of the Millennium. Satan is released from his prison, the Abyss and the first thing he does is go out and begin deceiving people of all nations. Because of his ability to deceive, his craftiness and his nuanced lies, he will succeed in gathering innumerable soldiers from the four corners of the world to fight against Jesus. Even though Jesus is on the earth and has been on the earth for 1,000 years ruling in perfect righteousness and creating harmony between all cultures, Satan manages to gain multitudes of followers to him in a last attempt to overthrow Christ’s Kingdom.

Think of the fact that the world will have lived through absolute righteousness with the world being somewhat rebuilt and food tasting as it’s never tasted before. Though there will be plenty of resurrected people who no longer have a sin nature, people who are born during the Millennial Kingdom will still be born with sin natures and will still need to come to repentance and receive salvation in Jesus. It seems that there will be multitudes who live as they’re supposed to live during this 1,000 years, but do so because of outward pressures to do so. It won’t come from their hearts. This proves that the heart of man is desperately wicked and can only be changed by God’s grace.

Consider that people who lived in absolute harmony with ZERO wars for 1,000 years under God’s Law, in perfect environment; a perfectly peaceful environment that is completely unable to produce a perfect heart sold out to Jesus. Their hearts are flawed and easily deceived by the master deceiver.

Revelation 20:11-15 highlights the Great White Throne Judgment. Everyone who does not possess salvation in Jesus will be at this particular judgment and will be seen for what they are – people who stand against Jesus; aka wicked through to their hearts. Their actions, their thoughts and their words will be seen and they will have no defense at all. They will know they are guilty and deserve the second death; aka the Lake of Fire.

Notice the two books are open at this final judgment. One is the book that highlights all their deeds and the things they failed to do. Their most egregious deed is not having saving faith in our Lord Jesus, who died for their sin. The other book is the book of Life, which lists those who have authentic salvation. The two books are used to cross-reference the life of the individual. The book of deeds is open and then the book of Life is open where they are shown that their name is not listed there. There is no argument that they can offer that will change that. Their life speaks for itself and they will finally see and understand that fact, tragically.

In a couple of weeks, we will have the final installment of this study of Revelation. We will go over highlights of Revelation 21, which includes a look at the –New heaven and earth along with the New Jerusalem. Revelation 22 highlights Eden restored and presents a warning and a final invitation to everyone.

Our Sunday night Bible study on Revelation will be concluded and then we will get into the book of Daniel, the prophet who also foretells many things that were to occur in the future from his vantage point. Even Daniel, with his love for God and wisdom, will not even understand many of the things he is shown by Gabriel and others.

Thanks for joining me on this Revelation journey. I hope it has been beneficial and gives you the urge to deepen your study of that book as well as other prophetic books of Scripture.

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective

Source: https://studygrowknowblog.com/2023/08/21/revelation-18-20/