Believer's Guide: Revelation 19

After this John heard a lot of noise coming from Israel (physical and spiritual) saying “Praise God! Salvation, glory and power belong to our God!

True and just are his judgements! He has condemned the prostitute who was corrupting the earth with her immorality. God has punished her because she killed his servants.”

Again they shouted, "Praise God! The smoke from the flames that consume the great city goes up forever and ever!" 

The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. They said, "Amen! Praise God!"

Then there came from the throne the sound of a voice, saying, "Praise our God, all his servants and all people, both great and small, who have reverence for him!"

Then I heard what sounded like a crowd, like the sound of a roaring waterfall, like loud peals of thunder. I heard them say, "Praise God! For the Lord, our Almighty God, is King!  (from believers)

Let us rejoice and be glad; let us praise his greatness! For the time has come for the wedding of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself for it. 

She has been given clean shining linen to wear." (The linen is the good deeds of God's people.) 

Then the angel said to me, "Write this: Happy are those who have been invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb." And the angel added, "These are the true words of God." 

I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, "Don't do it! I am a servant together with you and with other believers, all those who hold to the truth that Jesus revealed. Worship God!" For the truth that Jesus revealed is what inspires the prophets. 

Then I saw heaven open, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True; it is with justice that he judges and fights his battles.

His eyes were like a flame of fire, and he wore many crowns on his head. He had a name written on him, but no one except himself knows what it is. 

The robe he wore was covered with blood. His name is "The Word of God."

The armies of heaven followed him, riding on white horses and dressed in clean white linen.

Out of his mouth came a sharp sword, with which he will defeat the nations. He will rule over them with a rod of iron, and he will trample out the wine in the wine press of the furious anger of the Almighty God. 

On his robe and on his thigh (blessing) was written the name: "King of kings and Lord of lords."

Then I saw an angel standing on the sun. He shouted in a loud voice to all the birds flying in mid-air: "Come and gather together for God's great feast! 

Come and eat the flesh of kings, generals, and soldiers, the flesh of horses and their riders, the flesh of all people, slave and free, great and small!" 

Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered to fight against the one who was riding the horse and against his army. 

The beast was taken prisoner, together with the false prophet who had performed miracles in his presence. (It was by those miracles that he had deceived those who had the mark of the beast and those who had worshiped the image of the beast.) The beast and the false prophet were both thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 

Their armies were killed by the sword (the Word of God) that comes out of the mouth of the one who was riding the horse; and all the birds ate all they could of their flesh.

Revelation 18: Believer's Guide

After this John sees another messenger coming down out of heaven (Israel (physical or spiritual)) He has great authority and his splendour brightened the whole earth.

He cried out in a loud voice “she has fallen! Babylon has fallen! She is now haunted by demons and unclean spirits; all kinds of filthy and hateful birds live in her. 

For all nations drunk her wine which is immoral lust. Kings of the earth practiced sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the world grew rich form her unrestrained lust”

Then I heard another voice from heaven saying ‘come out, my people! Twice, You must not partake of her sins, you must not share in her punishment (Those who adhere to Catholicism but their hearts are truly in pursuant of Jesus are asked to leave so as not to partake in her punishment)

For her sins are piled as high as heaven, and God remembers her wicked way

She will be treated as she treated the church (believers); pay her double for all she has done. (please read church history)

Give her as much suffering and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself. For she keeps telling herself ‘here I sit, a queen, I am no widow, I will never know grief!; (will never lack adherents)

Because of this, in one day she will be struck with plagues--- disease, grief, and famine. And she will be burned with fire, because the Lord God, who judges her, is mighty."

The kings of the earth who took part in her immorality and lust will cry and weep over Rome when they see the smoke from the flames that consume her. 

They stand a long way off, because they are afraid of sharing in her suffering. They say, "How terrible! How awful! This great and mighty city Babylon! In just one hour you have been punished!" 

The merchants of the earth also cry and mourn for her, because no one buys their goods any longer; no one buys their gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; their goods of linen, purple cloth, silk, and scarlet cloth; all kinds of rare woods and all kinds of objects made of ivory and of expensive wood, of bronze, iron, and marble; and cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; wine and oil, flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and carriages, slaves, and even human lives. 

The traders say to her, "All the good things you longed to own have disappeared, and all your wealth and glamor are gone, and you will never find them again!" 

 

The traders, who became rich from doing business in that city, will stand a long way off, because they are afraid of sharing in her suffering. They will cry and mourn,

and say, "How terrible! How awful for the great city! She used to dress herself in linen, purple, and scarlet, and cover herself with gold ornaments, precious stones, and pearls! 

And in one hour she has lost all this wealth!" All the ships' captains and passengers, the sailors and all others who earn their living on the sea, stood a long way off, 

and cried out as they saw the smoke from the flames that consumed her: "There never has been another city like this great city!" 

They threw dust on their heads, they cried and mourned, saying, "How terrible! How awful for the great city! She is the city where all who have ships sailing the seas became rich on her wealth! And in one hour she has lost everything!" 

Be glad, heaven (Israel), because of her destruction! Be glad, God's people and the apostles and prophets! For God has condemned her for what she did to you! 

Then a mighty messenger picked up a stone the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "This is how the great city Babylon will be violently thrown down and will never be seen again.

The music of harps and of human voices, of players of the flute and the trumpet, will never be heard in you again! No workman in any trade will ever be found in you again; and the sound of the millstone will be heard no more! 

Never again will the light of a lamp be seen in you; no more will the voices of brides and grooms be heard in you. Your merchants were the most powerful in the entire world, and with your false magic you deceived all the peoples of the world!" 

Babylon was punished because the blood of prophets and of God's people was found in the city; yes, the blood of all those who have been killed on earth.

Revelation 17: Believer's Guide

One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke to me saying, Come with me I’ll show you the judgement of Rome.

She whom the rulers of the earth have joined in idolatry and the people of the world became confused.

I was taken up in the spirit into a wilderness (deprived of spiritual food) and I saw the city. She was sitting on a red beast that had names that are insulting to God written all over.  The beast had seven heads and ten horns. 

The woman was robed in purple (toga – purple dressing worn by Roman men and only prostitute women) and ‘red’  (shoes) (see’King of Rome- Wikipedia) and adorned with gold, precious stones and pearls (enriched)  she was holding in her hand a golden cup (richness) full of the accursed offenses and filthy things , the result of her immorality (death of saints and death of the true message of the gospel of Christ)

On her forehead was the name “Great Babylon (confusion), the mother of all prostitutes and perverts in the world”

And I saw the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s people and the blood of those who were killed because they had been loyal to Jesus. When I saw her, I was completely amazed.

John was told not to be amazed and will be given the secret to the woman and the beast that carries her which has seven heads and ten horns (Rome). 

That beast was once alive, but lives no longer (in John’s time); it is about to come from the abyss (after John’s time) and will go off to be destroyed. Everyone whose name has not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be amazed as they look at the beast. It was once alive, now it no longer lives (in John’s time) but it will reappear.

This calls for wisdom and understanding. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits (Seven Hills of Rome) they are also seven kings (one from each hill).

Five of the kings have fallen, (in John’s time), one still rules, and the other has not yet come. When he comes he must rule only a little while.

And the beast that was once alive, but lives no longer is itself an eighth king who is one of the seven and is going off to be destroyed. 

Ten horns are ten kings who have not yet begun to rule, but who will be given authority to rule as kings for one hour with the beast. (during the last period of this era)

These ten kings have only one purpose that is to give power and authority to the devil

They will fight against the Jesus; but the Lamb, together with his called, chosen and faithful followers, will defeat them, because he is the Lord of lords and King of kings.

The waters you saw on which the prostitute sits on are nations, peoples, races and languages.

The ten horns/kings you saw and the beast will hate the woman; they will take away everything she has and leave her naked, they will eat her flesh and destroy her with fire.

For God has placed in their hearts the will to carry out his purpose by acting together and giving to the beast their power to rule until God’s words come true

The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth (has influence in world politics). 

Revelation 16: Believers' Guide

A mighty voice from the temple sanctuary saying to the seven messengers, go and empty out on the earth the seven bowls of God’s anger (complete anger) on the earth!’

The First Angel

The first messenger went and poured out his bowl on earth. Terrible sores appeared for all those who have the mark of the beast and who worshipped its image. (disease)

The Second Angel

The second messenger poured his bowl on people and the economic drivers were chocked and caused world economic depression. (world trade suffers)

The Third Angel

The third angel poured his bowl on other smaller economic drivers and there was an economic depression there too.  (country’s economies suffer)

The messenger in charge of the waters said ‘the judgements you have made are just, O Holy One, you who are and who were!

They poured out the blood (killed) of God’s people (Jews and Christians) and of the prophets (ministers) so you have given them blood to drink. They are getting what they deserve.

Then I heard a voice from the altar saying’ Lord God Almighty! True and just indeed are your judgements!”

The Fourth Angel

Fourth angel poured his bowl on the sun and it was allowed to burn people with a fiery heat. (This causes famine which affects directly the lives of people and also trade, it also means hard labour)

People cursed the name of God, who was the one giving them over to the plagues but they did not repent and praise God for His greatness.

The Fifth Angel

Fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast. Darkness fell over the beasts kingdom, and people bit their tongues because of the pain (this darkness is lack of true knowledge. (Those who don’t have Christ will wallow in purported knowledge which will be proven untrue by the Word of God)

And they cursed the God of heaven for their pains and sores. But they did not turn from their evil ways. 

The Sixth Angel

Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great Euphrates (that makes fruitful) River. The river dried up (economy’s tumble as a result of ‘sun’s heat’) to provide a way for the kings (God’s people) who come from the East (to preach and conquer).

Then John saw three spirits which looked like frogs. These are words inspired by the devil, his political/authoritative messenger and his false religious messenger (immorality)

They are really spirits of demons that perform miracles. And they go around consolidating other nations for war on the great day of God Almighty.

For Christ will come as a thief for His people then, you better be prepared keeping on the clothes of salvation so that you may not be without cover and be found exposed. (remember Adam)

And they gathered at the place in Hebrew which is Armageddon. (The valley of decision/choice)

The Seventh Angel

The seventh angel emptied his bowl into the air; a mighty voice came from the temple in Jerusalem saying

 ‘it is done!  

After followed lightning flashes, loud rumblings, pearls of thunder and a tremendous earthquake – nothing like it seen before on earth and the earthquake was far reaching (a socio-economic shakeup never ever experienced before that will go out through the entire world)

Rome (which means strength or power) was broken in three parts (as Jerusalem is on matters religion)  and cities of the world fell. 

And God kept in mind Babylon (which means confusion and is what those who are not in Christ Jesus operate in) and it got a bigger share of God’s wrath and indignation

Islands disappeared and mountains crumbled. (in the eyes of the believer this means that difficulties will end but not so for non-believers for this means death)

Hailstones of about 20kg fell from the sky on people and men blasphemed God for the hailstones and so great was the torture of that plague.

Revelation 15: Believers' Guide

Then John saw in the sky another mysterious sight, great and amazing. There were seven messengers with seven messages of destruction which were the last ones, because they are the final expression of God’s anger.

Then I saw what looked like a multitude of righteous people with authority. I also say those who had won the victory over the Satan his messengers and over the beast’s way of doing things, the beast represented by the number. They were standing by the righteous multitude holding harps that God had given them.

And singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of Jesus ‘Lord Almighty, how great and wonderful are your deed! King of the nations, how right and true your ways!

Who will stand in awe of you Lord? Who will refuse to declare your greatness? You alone are holy. All the nations will come and worship you, because your just actions are seen by all.”

After this I saw the church in the heaven (Jerusalem) open, with the Sacred Tent in it.

The seven messengers who had the seven plagues came out of the church, dressed in righteousness and with economic authority.

Then one of the four prophets gave the seven messengers seven (complete) gold bowls full of the anger of God, who lives forever and ever.

The temple was filled with smoke from the glory and power of God and no one could go into the temple until the seven plagues brought by the seven messengers had come to an end. (Worship at the New Jerusalem will not start until those who have not received Christ in the world are punished)