KEYS TO UNDERSTANDING THE BOOK OF REVELATION – PART 7

Keys to Understanding the Book of Revelation

Surveying the Text:

Lesson 7: Final Judgment (Chapters. 17-20)

Dr. Mary Sue Davis

Before getting into Chapters. 17-20, I would like to reiterate the statement made in Rev. 1:3. We have been in this study for more than 2 yrs. So we are abundantly blessed!!

(Rev 1:3) Blessed is the one who reads and hears the Words of this prophecy, and the ones keeping the things written in it, for the time is near.

There are seven blessings for the one who reads and hears and keep the things that are written in Revelation. Including Rev. 1:3 they are:

(Rev 14:13) And I heard a voice from Heaven saying to me, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they shall rest from their labors, and their works follow them.

(Rev 16:15) Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is the one who watches and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.

(Rev 19:9) And he said to me, Write, Blessed are those who have been called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me, These are the true sayings of God.

(Rev 20:6) Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. The second death has no authority over these, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him a thousand years.

(Rev 22:7) Behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he who keeps the Words of the prophecy of this Book.

(Rev 22:14) Blessed are they who do His commandments, that their authority will be over the Tree of Life, and they may enter in by the gates into the city.

Chapters 17-18- Final Judgment on the Earth

Outline Chapter 17-18

The great harlot and the scarlet beast
Filthy prostitute vs. the pure bride
City of man vs. City of God
False religion, economic power, political dictatorship
The 7 mountains (17:9)
The 8 beasts (17:10-11)

The last world empire and the last world war
Babylon the great has fallen
Code word 1 Pet 5:13 (she – the Church made of Jew and Gentile- Babylon- Rome

Revelation 17:1-15

Vial Angel 1

Rev. 17:1Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters,

The judgment is detailed, close-up pictures of the events of 16:17-21. The great harlot is Babylon (see 7:5; 18:2), symbolic of the ancient city of Rome, a type of every idolatrous system opposed to Christ. The many waters are the people groups over whom the harlot reigns (v. 15).

*Symbol- great harlot- false church Prov. 7:6-23

The harlot represents symbolically carnal Christians who reject Christ. They love the thing of the world rather than Christ. The have a form of godliness but no power.

(2Ti 3:1-7) This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Symbolically/spiritually- Judgment always begins in the house of the Lord. Harlotry has entered the church to make the church more appealing and less confrontational to the world system. It is the image of the world instead of the image of Christ. The Harlot will have a hared time changing the church because it takes its strength from the many waters it sits upon. The many waters are the sold-out Christians.

Many waters symbolizing rivers of living waters flowing out of Christians.

(John 7:38) He who believes on Me, as the Scripture has said, “Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

Rev. 17:2“with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.”

*Symbol- wine of fornication- religion, deception, evil doctrines and practices- Is. 28:7-8

Committed fornication, porneuo (porn-yoo-oh); Strong’s #4203: Compare “pornographic” and “pornography.” To engage in illicit sexual intercourse, be unfaithful, play the harlot, prostitute oneself. The word is used literally (Mark 10:19; 1 Cor. 6:18; 10:8; Rev. 2:14, 20) and metaphorically to describe spiritual fornication, that is, idolatry (Rev. 17:2; 18:3, 9).

Symbolically the kings of the earth are the redeemed but they serve mammon instead of God. The wine was not the new wine that Christ gives, the new wine of His presence, but instead the wine of hypocrisy (fornication) This is why Christ will purify the Church before he completely evangelizes the world.

Rev. 17:3 So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

John is taken into the wilderness in order that he may view the scene from a proper perspective, as well as for protection. The woman is the harlot, identified in v. 18 as the ancient city of Rome. The scarlet beast is the beast that rose out of the sea (13:1). Its heads and horns symbolize the power of the empire which supports the harlot. Sitting on: Anti-Christian civilization is undergirded by anti-Christian political power (13:1-10). Names of blasphemy: Divine titles appropriated by an emperor or a state civil religion.

*Symbol- wilderness- Godless, forsaken world- Jer. 4: 23-28

Symbolically this Harlot sits upon a scarlet beast with a carnal heart issue (heart issue) who supports worldliness which shows that the beast supports the harlot. The Beast was full of names of blasphemy. Blasphemy in the Greek means slander, detraction, speech injurious to a good name, impious and reproachful speech injurious to divine majesty. The message of the Harlot sounds religious which is represented by the scarlet/royal color of life. But it is full of names injurious to God, speech laced with more of the world than the Spirit.

This basically symbolizing religion at its best. Religion is man’s last futile attempt to be god over God’s people The description of the whore/harlot in Rev.17 she has a cup full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication. She tell us to DRINK from it but Christ already drank the cup empty! She is drunk with the blood of the saints, marters and even Jesus! She deals in the souls of men! “MYSTERY CONFUSION! is her name! This (to me) is the religious system! Who thinks she is a whore because according to the law (that she is still stuck in) she is a whore because she doesn’t know her first husband (adam) is dead! She is confused about the MYSTERY! She sits AS a queen and is no widow! Someone told her she is married to the King (Jesus) but according to the law that makes her a whore in her mind because she still thinks her 1st husband is alive and therefore she is not loosed to be with another! CONFUSION WILL FALL!

A wilderness symbolizes a world without God. (Job 12:24) He takes away the heart of the chief of the people of the land, and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no path.

Seven the number of perfection; heads symbolizes authority. The seven heads here is the appointment to judge the 10 horns, the harlot. See Rev. 17:12.

Rev. 17:12 “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast.

Ten horns, ten kings. Literally 10 kingdoms or ten kings represent the redeemed, kings unto God.

Ten, the number of law, order, testing and trial; ten heads here symbolizes judgment, the horns , and a type of clemency.

Horns of Clemency: The projections of the altar of burnt offering (Ex. 27:20) and the altar of incense (Ex. 30:2) at their four corners were called horns. By laying hold of the horns on the altar burnt offering, a person found safety (1 Kings 1:50, 2:28), if the alleged offense was accidental. (Ex.. 21:14) Symbolically/spiritually: Horns represent the heart of the 10 kings who are with the harlot at first, but realized she has misled them.

Rev. 17:4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication.

*Symbol- golden cup of abominations- evil communion table- 1 Cor. 10: 19-21

The gaudy adornment of the woman suggests her wealth and earthly glory. Abominations are idol worship and its defilements.

Symbolically/spiritually:

This harlot looks like a queen in her raiment. She appears to be the Church in Rev. 12:1 and even wears the royal color. This is ultimate deception.

(Rev 12:1) And there appeared a great sign in the heavens, a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon was under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head,

But she is drunk with worldliness and her fruit is abomination. Rev. 18:7.

(Rev 18:7) As much as she has glorified herself and has lived in luxury, so much torment and sorrow give her. For she says in her heart, I sit as a queen, and I am not a widow; and I do not see mourning at all.

God is beginning to make a distinction between the Bride and the Harlot.

Rev. 17:5 And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

Roman prostitutes were required to wear a label with their names on their foreheads. BABYLON: To the early Christians, Rome was Babylon (see v. 9; 1 Pet. 5:13), THE MOTHER of idolatry and all its evils. DISPENSATIONAL INTERPRETATION: BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS, has used all peoples of the Earth for her own selfish interests. In vv. 1-6 she represents the ultimate religious and moral prostitute, which merges with and manipulates governmental power whenever it is to her advantage. She therefore symbolizes and heads up the religious apostasy of the last days.

Symbolically/spiritually: All socially acceptable sin is a result of the Church failing to honor the covenant with God. This is Harlotry in the Church which is responsible for abominations of the earth, the current condition of the world.

Rev. 17:6 I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.

Symbolically/spiritually: Drunk in the sense that the Harlot herself is confused thinking they have the same life as the True Church and their authority. These are religious spirits. Religious spirits tend to take credit for good and shed off any correction. The True Church, the Elect, the Bride separates from the Harlot (Religious spirits); these are those who “ come out from among her.” Rev. 18:4

Rev. 17:7 But the angel said to me, “Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.

Rev. 17:8 “The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

Symbolically/spiritually: The Beast was……This is the beast in the form of a religious Pharisee spirit which was bringing the kingdom into captivity which lead Israel astray.

(Mat 23:15) Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you compass sea and the dry land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, you make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

We have posted a discussion about the Pharisaical spirit which is religion. Truth is what God says and religion is what man says about God.

The Beast is not…. The kingdom was given to the disciples of Christ and now dwells within the hearts of Believers.

(Luke 22:29-30) And I appoint a kingdom to you, as My Father has appointed to Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

The Beast will ascend… Finally the beast finds its way back into the kingdom through the hearts of carnal Christians.

Rev. 17:9 “Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.

The city of Rome sits on seven hills. DISPENSATIONAL INTERPRETATION: The seven mountains have caused some to identify the woman with Rome and its papacy.

*Symbol- seven world kingdom of satan- Luke 4:5-8

Note: symbols sometimes have double or multiple meanings.

Symbolically/spiritually:

Seven heads is God’s authority. Seven is the number of godly perfection; heads represent authority.

There are 7 mountains of influence in culture :

Notice they can be godly or perverted.

Family: Where Generational Blessings or Curses are passed on to our children

Education: Where either Truth or lies about God and His Creation are taught.

Government: Where Evil is either Restrained or Endorsed.

Business: Where people build for the Glory of God or the glory of man.

Media: Where events, news and information are interpreted and passed on people through the lens of good or evil.

The Arts & Entertainment: Where Values and Virtues are either celebrated or distorted.

Religion: Where people worship God in “Spirit and Truth” or settle for religious rituals.

Symbolically the seven mountains are the church organizations that support the harlot. The harlot sits on the beast (1), many waters (2), and seven mountains(3). This is how the harlot gets support. These organizations promote forms of religion that can keep one from a relationship with Christ.

(Luke 23:30) And they shall begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us! And to the hills, Cover us!

(Rev 6:15-16) And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every freeman, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains. And they said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him sitting on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb;

(Rev 16:20) And every island fled away, and mountains were not found.

This is a promise that the mountains will be removed. Anything that can be used to hide from God and prevent a direct encounter with Christ is religion instead of relationship.

Rev. 17:10 “There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time.

Seven kings may represent the complete number of Roman emperors, however many there might be, and by implication the complete number of political powers that persecute God’s people throughout history.

Many believe that the eight beasts were these 7 Roman Emperors 1. Julius 2. Augustus 3. Tiberius 4. Caligula 5. Nero 6. Titus 7. Domitian. 8. The lat one being the beast.

Symbolically/spiritually: The seven kings represent the churches throughout the church age. Five have been and have fallen. One is, is the Philadelphia Church. The one who has not yet come is he eight , the Laodicean Church which represents the foundation of the harlot church.

(Rev 3:14-17) And to the angel of the church of the Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Head of the creation of God, says these things: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I would that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, I am rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing, and do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,

Rev. 17:11 “And the beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition.

Symbolically/spiritually:

This shows the story of the Church Age (chapters 2&3). The first five churches showed the general condition of the Church through the age of grace (five being the number of grace). The last two are distinctive and different. The Philadelphia Church and the Laodicean Church represent the culmination of the Church Age of Grace. The Philadelphia Church (brotherly love) shows the path the Elect/Bride will take. The eight church, the Laodicean Church (carnal church) shows the path that leads to the Harlot Church. Notice it is not a king. The Harlot will go into perdition (destruction) because the authority of the true church will be removed. To the Laodicean Church Jesus Christ says:

(Rev 3:18) I counsel you to buy from Me gold purified by fire, so that you may be rich; and white clothing, so that you may be clothed, and so that the shame of your nakedness does not appear. And anoint your eyes with eye salve, so that you may see.

The Elect/Bride will come out of this, be separated like the parable of the wheat and the tares; they will become pure gold tried by fire. They will truly shine as they leave the old dead, glory departed church.

Rev. 17:12 “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast.

Ten horns: Some see the governors of the chief provinces of the Roman Empire, who for one hour (a.d. June 68 to a.d. December 69), were involved in the bloody civil strife that nearly destroyed Rome as an illustration of the spiritual principle that anti-Christian political and military power inevitably destroy the economy and the nation or civilization that they undergird, thus inducing their own retribution and fulfilling the purposes of God (vv. 16, 17) This is primarily the view of the preterist.

The word “preterist” or “preterism,” means past fulfillment. Simply expressed, the word refers to that view of Bible prophecy which recognizes that all of the O.T. and N.T. prophecies of future redemptive and soteriological events were fulfilled completely at the time of the Roman invasion of Jerusalem and the burning of its Temple in A.D. 70. This was “the end of the world” to those believers of Jesus’ day!

Dispensationalist View: Satan’s Eight Beast Empires Concluding wih the Beast Empire of 10 horns and a little horn.

As seen in: The Revelation to John (Rev.17:3, 9-12), Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of the Statue (Daniel 1:31-43), Daniel’s Vision of the Beast (Daniel 7: 1-28), Seventy Weeks of Daniel (Dan. 9:24-27)

Beastly Empires:

Egyptian (Hamitic)
Assyrian (Semitic) until 626BC
Babylonian (Semitic) until 539 BC- statue of Daniel- head of gold- beast like a lion.
Medo-Persian (Japhethite) until 330BC- statue of Daniel- breast and arms of silver- another beast resembling a bear.
Greek (Japhethite) unitl 63 BC-statue of Daniel belly and thighs of bronze- beast like a leopard.
Roman (Japhethite) until 70AD-statue of Daniel- legs of iron- a dreadful and terrifying beast.
The Beast which was not yet to come (and) must remain a little while (Rev. 17:10)- not mentioned in statue of Daniel or beast vision.
Beastly Empire- the ten horns which will receive authority as kings of the beast (Rev. 17:12)- statue of Daniel- then toes partly iron and partly clay- ten horns and a little horn
Dispensational Timeline: 445 BC the decree of Artaxerxes- 69 weeks 483 prophetic years to 33AD- Messiah cut off- death of Jesus to 70AD- the city and the sanctuary destroyed- Jerusalem- to 1948 AD the state of Israel restored. Then the 70th week 7 years tribulation period.

Symbolically/spiritually: Ten is the number of judgment. They ere once of God (kings) yet have no kingdom and have given their authority to the beast only for a short time.

Kings of the earth are redeemed but they serve mammon. They get their authority from the world, They have not received their kingdom; Christ is not manifest in them. They have received Jesus as Savior but not as Lord, living through them. They have been deceived in believing they serve God. They have a form of godliness, again like the Laodicean Church

Rev. 17:13 “These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast.

Symbolically/spiritually: One mind is carnally minded that feeds on the beast. These kings have brought the carnal message of trying to serve God and mammon at the same time. They love the church/religion and will follow their doctrines

(Mat 6:24) No one can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

Rev. 17:14 “These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”

This verse summarizes the message of the Revelation. DISPENSATIONAL INTERPRETATION: In vv. 7-18 the woman is destroyed by the very beast (forces of Antichrist) upon whom she rode into influence and power. All of this will be performed by God’s providence to fulfill His word.

Symbolically/spiritually: The kings of he earth will make war with anyone who would dare speak against their denominations or doctrines. The kings of the earth desire God but have not reckoned themselves dead in their old nature. What finally overcomes them is the parousia, Christ appearing in his Body. Fighting against the Lamb is fighting against Christ revealed in the sold out lives of His surrendered vessels.

Elect Scriptures: MKJ

(Rom 8:33) Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God who justifies.

(Col 3:12) Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender feelings of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering,

(2Ti 2:10) Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

(Tit 1:1) Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ (according to the faith of God’s elect, in the acknowledging of the truth which is according to godliness

(1Pe 1:1) Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the elect sojourners of the Dispersion of Pontus, of Galatia, of Cappadocia, of Asia, and of Bithynia,

(1Pe 2:4) For having been drawn to Him, a living Stone, indeed rejected by men, but elect, precious with God;

(1Pe 2:6) Therefore also it is contained in the Scripture: “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner Stone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him shall never be ashamed.”

(2Jn 1:1) The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth,

(2Jn 1:13) The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen.

(Rev 17:14) These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them. For He is Lord of lords and King of kings. And those with Him are the called and elect and faithful ones. MKJ

Parousia- The End time Church in which Christ appears, translated in the New Testament 25 times as coming. Christ wants to be revealed in and through each individual, accomplishing personal transformation.

(Gal 1:15-16) But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and having called me by His grace, to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the nations, immediately I did not confer with flesh and blood;

Rev. 17:15 Then he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.

*Symbol- waters- peoples, nations and tongues

People, multitudes, nations and tongues symbolically/spiritually are the carnal worldly church populace in contrast to the Elect, in essence the harlot church. They are declaring he harlot’s doctrine in unity.

The harlot sits on the sea/waters which represents the heart of carnality in the church, the general worldly nature of the church. It is the place where the beast rises.

Sea or rivers/waters is seen in Hab. 3:7-8

(Hab 3:7-8) I saw the tents of Cushan under calamity; the curtains of the land of Midian trembled.Did Jehovah burn against rivers? Or was Your anger against the rivers? Or Your wrath against the sea? For You ride on horses, Your chariots of salvation.

References to the Harlot who sits on many waters.

(Jer 51:13) O you who live on many waters, rich in treasures, your end has come, and the measure of your unjust gain.

(Isa 17:11-12) In the day of your planting you fence it in; and in the morning you make your seed sprout. But the harvest shall be a heap in that day of grief and dying pain. Woe to the multitude of many people, who make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations who make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters!

Rev. 17:16 “And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire.

This is a fulfillment of prophecy and the fulfillment of God’s will.

Symbolically/spiritually: The ten horns become instruments of judgment against the harlot. They will make her desolate means stripped of everything. They will eat (fire) her carnality (flesh) through their righteous judgment. Her deception is over.

Rev. 17:17 “For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.

Symbolically/spiritually: This shows that God is in control to fulfill His will. Their kingdom is the seven headed beast. The plan all along was to trap satan in his own plans.

Paul is an example of one trapped by the enemy and he became a strong witness before Jewish leadership. He was one of the deceived, but saw the light.

Rev. 17:18 “And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.”

Literally: Woman, the great city Babylon.

Definition of Babylon:The Greek form Babylon (Βαβυλών) is an adaptation of Akkadian Babili. The Babylonian name as it stood in the 1st millennium BC had been changed from an earlier Babilli in early 2nd millennium BC, meaning “Gate of God” or “Gateway of the God” (bāb-ili) by popular etymology. The earlier name Babilla appears to be an adaptation of a non-Semitic source of unknown origin or meaning

In the Hebrew Bible, the name appears as בָּבֶל (Babel; Tiberian בָּבֶל Bavel; Syriac ܒܒܠ Bāwēl), interpreted in the Book of Genesis (11:9) to mean “confusion” (viz. of languages), from the verb בלבל bilbél, “to confuse”.

This is the great apostate church, the “mother” of more apostate churches: “And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and bedecked with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her fornication; and on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of harlots and of earth’s abominations.” “And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of the Martyrs of Jesus.” (Revelation 17:3-6 RSV)

Symbolically/spiritually: Babylon is the unity or gathering together of the carnally minded. As Chapter 17 concludes it reveal that many Christians ins the end times have become carnal and are used as a tool of the enemy. These are the spots in their love feasts.

(Jude 1:12) These are sunken rocks in your love feasts, feasting together with you; feeding themselves without fear; waterless clouds being carried about by winds; fruitless autumn trees, having died twice, having been plucked up by the roots;

This is the final judgment which separates the Lord’s Bride from the harlot church. This is unequal The Bride is joined with the Holy Spirit and becomes without spot or wrinkle. yoking which we are told to avoid.

(1Co 6:15-17) Do you not know that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them the members of a harlot? Let it not be!Or do you not know that he being joined to a harlot is one body? For He says, The two shall be one flesh. But he being joined to the Lord is one spirit.

The harlot church will make war with the Bride and this is what Jesus is saying in (John 16:2) They shall put you out of the synagogue. But an hour is coming that everyone who kills you will think that he bears God service.

and (Matthew 10:21) And brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. And the children shall rise up against their parents and cause them to be put to death.

The spiritualist say that the enemies of Christ ( the great apostate church) will be the very ones who will be the instruments of perfection in the Elect/Bride.

Types of Christ and His Bride in the Old Testament: Adam/Eve, Abraham/Sarah, Isaac/ Rebekah, Jacob/Rachel, Jospeh/Asenath, Moses/Zipporah, Salmon/Rahab, Solomon/Shulamite, Ahaserus/Esther

Types of the Bride in Scripture: OT- Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Asenath, Zipporah, Rahab, Ruth, Esther, Queen of Sheba, Woman and Coin in NT.

Types of the Harlot Church in Scripture: Jezebel, Woman and Leven, Goddess Diana, Great Whore.

(Jer 3:6-11) The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot. And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also. And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks. And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD. And the LORD said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah.

(Jas 4:4) Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever desires to be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

The Apostate/Harlot Church/Babylon and Zion/the Elect/the Bride, the true church Summary Differences:

Zion refers to the true Body of Christ, the Bride, the Elect,(Rev. 17:14) the Ekklesia; Babylon refers to the false church system of men’s traditions and religions. (Ekklesia is the Greek word in the New Testament which has been mis-translated “church” in most English versions, but it literally means “called-out-ones” Zion is place of praise, the dwelling place of the Lord; now is the time to favor Zion.

(Psa 102:13) You shall arise, and have mercy (favor) on Zion; for the time to pity her, yea, the set time, has come.

The Bride/Elect/Zion is a people–the people of God; Babylon is a Thing–church institutions and systems.

The Bride/Elect/Zion is a living organism; Babylon is characterized by organizations, institutions, and systems.

The Bride/Elect/Zion consists of people who have been born into it; Babylon consists of people who have joined it or been voted into it.

The Bride/Elect/Zion is a people who are called by the name of Jesus; Babylon is a people who are called by many different names that represent divisions within this Babylonian church system:

The Bride/Elect/Zion is Jesus-centered; Babylon is self-centered.

The Bride/Elect/Zion is living by the Spirit; Babylon is living after the flesh.

The Bride/Elect/Zion is heavenly; Babylon is earthly.

The Bride/Elect/Zion is grace; Babylon is law.

The Bride/Elect/Zion is life; Babylon is death.

The Bride/Elect/Zion is being; Babylon is doing.

The Bride/Elect/Zion is rest; Babylon is works.

The Bride/Elect/Zion is light; Babylon is darkness.

The Bride/Elect/Zion is humility; Babylon is full of pride, arrogance, and haughtiness.

The Bride/Elect/Zion is liberty in Christ; Babylon is bondage to the flesh.

The Bride/Elect/Zion is the Kingdom of God; Babylon is the kingdoms of men.

The Bride/Elect/Zion has Jesus Christ as her head; Babylon has elected or appointed men as their heads.

The Bride/Elect/Zion is a Spirit-led people; Babylon is led by rules and regulations of man’s own making.

The Bride/Elect/Zion is Spirit-sensitive; Babylon is man-pleasing.

The Bride/Elect/Zion is obedience to the Holy Spirit; Babylon is busy church work.

The Bride/Elect/Zion accomplishes things in Holy Spirit power (Zech. 4:6); Babylon tries to accomplish things in self-strength.

The Bride/Elect/Zion has its authority in the Word of God; Babylon places its authority in man-made doctrines.

The Bride/Elect/Zion is one body in Christ Jesus as Lord; Babylon is sectarian and divisive, consisting of many divisions of people.

The Bride/Elect/Zion worships in spirit and in truth; Babylon programs praise.

The Bride/Elect/Zion preaches Christ and Him crucified; Babylon proclaims denominations, doctrines, heritage, traditions, creeds, personal views and opinions.

The Bride/Elect/Zion is the priesthood of all believers; Babylon is the clergy system. The clergy are those who want to make a difference between themselves and others.

The Bride/Elect/Zion answers to God as the highest authority; Babylon answers to men and their institutions as the authority.

The Bride/Elect/Zion calls forth revelation; Babylon depends upon imagination.

The Bride/Elect/Zion conforms people into the image of Jesus; Babylon conforms people into its own image.

The Bride/Elect/Zion decreases that Christ may increase; Babylon increases itself in power, position, riches, and domination.

The Bride/Elect/Zion counts the cost; Babylon counts the money.

The Bride/Elect/Zion lays down its life; Babylon preserves and protects itself.

The Bride/Elect/Zion waits upon God to raise up what God wants in His timing; Babylon schemes, organizes, and promotes to execute its own plan in its own way and time.

The Bride/Elect/Zion seeks the Lord with a whole heart to be possessed by Him; Babylon goes after things and people to possess them.

The Bride/Elect/Zion is the city of God; Babylon seeks to build a city, a tower, and a name for itself. Gen. 11:4.

The Bride/Elect/Zion longs to be gathered into Jesus; Babylon passionately seeks to gather people unto itself.

Definition of Zion and symbolic meaning:It commonly referred to a specific mountain near Jerusalem (Mount Zion), on which stood a Jebusite fortress of the same name that was conquered by David and was named the City of David.

The Hebrew word Zion in early Judaism denoted a visible religious token of the relation between God and man. According to the Hebrew Bible, while the Israelites were living in the Sinai for forty years, they built a Tabernacle .”Place of [Divine] dwelling”); this was viewed as the abode of the Shekhinah (the presence of YHWH) on Earth, and the place where the priests could minister to God on behalf of the nation of Israel.

Zion and the Bride are synonymous.

Zion” speaks of a “set apart” place of worship, in which the abiding atmosphere of the “Spirit of Worship” opens the doors of heaven, and allows our entry into the presence of the Lord.

“When the Lord shall build up Zion, He shall appear in His glory.” Psalm 102:16

When “Zion” (a place where worship flows up to the Lord) is built up, the Lord will appear in His Glory. “Zion” is within us, in which “we” are becoming a “habitation” – a person in whom the Lord abides, and where He receives our worship. At this present time, Jesus is beginning to appear, in manifest (revealed) glory, to those who establish and function in this place of worship (Zion).

Zion is a city within a city. Zion is the highest hill, just outside the city of Jerusalem. This is the place where David set up his tent, and was finally able to place the Ark within, to rest.

In David’s “tent,” there were no partitions. The people and priests intermingled together on common ground. In contrast, the “temple” was structured, and liturgical. It had an outer court for the people, a holy place where a priest came once a day to make a sacrifice, and the Holy of Holies, which the High Priest entered, once a year.

Ephesians 2:20-22 tells us that “we” are Zion.

“And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building, fitly framed together grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In whom you also are built together for a habitation of God through the Spirit.”

Those who are saved are the household of God, a corporate body “fitly framed together.” Within this household is “Zion,” which especially at this present time, is growing into a holy temple for the Lord. When Zion is “built up” (a separated person and place for worship), the Lord will reveal His presence and glory.

Zion is a body of overcomers, a prepared people within the Church, that are being made ready for the end-time purposes of God, with the ability to flow in pure worship. Our worship becomes the response to what we have become, and it flows out in harmony and adoration to the Lord. Pure worship in “heavenly harmony” will lift us through the “sound barrier” of the earthly, into the full release and operation of the heavenly realm.

Characteristics of the Bride/Elect/Zion (taken from Commendations & Rewards to the Seven Churches of Revelation )

Who is the Bride?

Discerning, rejects evil, perseveres, has patience

Gracefully bears suffering

Faithful until death

Keeps the faith of Christ

A place in God’s presence, a new name, and the New Jerusalem

Love, service, faith, patience is greater than at first

Faithful honored and clothed in white

Have kept the faith

Repentant, strengthen what remains

Rule over nations and receive morning star

Perseveres in the faith

Keeps the faith

Hidden manna and a stone with a new name

Zealous

Shares Christ’s throne

This is a contrast of the pure Bride and the filthy prostitute. Correction or admonitions from Jesus about the 7 churches: Love for Christ no longer fervent, not doing the works you first did, not eating of the tree of life, Jesus, tolerates immorality, idolatry, and heresies, unrepentant, tolerates cult of idolatry and immorality, unfaithful, dead, lethargic, no zeal, not strengthening that which remains, indifferent.

More on The Bride, Zion, the Remnant, the Elect spoken of in Revelation, the 144,000

They:

Are the Mature Ones
Have intimate fellowship with the Father; Communion with God and with one another. The Bride carries the glory of God.
Hear His voice and instantly obeys.
Have the Light of Jesus on her face and projects that light.
Have humility and servant-heart. She will not covet position or the applause of men and will not think of herself more highly than she ought.
Each member of the Bride will embrace their own calling and gifting and allow themselves to be built into a spiritual house with each joint supplying, considering others better than themselves.
Have the wisdom of God spoken of in James 3, will be seen in operation. It will be pure, peace loving, courteous, considerate, gentle, full of compassion, impartial and unfeigned.

These are overcomers who have made Jesus both the center of their lives. They have a “single eye” toward Jesus and have taken up their cross. They have submitted themselves, and all that pertains to them, to His Kingdom rule. These are a called out “people within a people” who are being dealt with and qualified to become His Bride.

“For many are called but few are chosen, (few make the choice) ” Matt 22:14.

The Bride is the one who has made the choice to follow Him at all costs.

End-time Bride: Cont.’:

What does the Bride look like?

The Bride that God is preparing lacks that which is impressive to man. Even among the Body of Christ, the Bride is little esteemed. Separation, apart from the status quo even in the church. In the same way, the Bride will often find herself separated from her brothers/sisters. Although overlooked and lightly esteemed, those who comprise the Bride will achieve the greatest victories, and in the process they will deliver those who have scorned them. Those proceeding on in their pursuit of Christ will encounter opposition from their own household.
Her beauty, beauty of the heart, inwardly adorned, projects the glory of God, has the light of Jesus on her face.
Heart after God, passionate and zealous for the Lord, intimate fellowship, communion with the Lord
Great courage
Love of justice and integrity
Desires to walk uprightly.
Hears His voice, has instant obedience, becomes One Voice with Him.

The Bride of Christ is a virtuous woman; a joyful/warring, brave, strong army in the earth and she is the crown of her husband, Jesus.

So a hallmark of the Bride will be that they operate in the power of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation, the Spirit of Counsel and Might , the Spirit of Knowledge and the Fear of the Lord.

The Bride is rising up and stepping forth to take her place on the end-time stage. The Bride is coming out of her chamber, closet. The steps are 1. Awakened , made ready (Rev. 19:7) 2. Clothed (receiving her beautiful garments) (Is. 52:1, Rev. 18:8,Rev. 12:1) and 3. Coming forth with the Bridegroom, Jesus.

(Mal 4:2) But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

(Psa 19:5) Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

She is learning to simply step over the denominational, doctrinal and theological hedges, fences and walls that have kept her divided, dazed, and confused for nearly two millennia. She is truly becoming One.

Rev. 18:1-24

Vial Angel 2

Rev. 18:1 After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory.

Symbolically/spiritually: These are the Elect wearing their glorious robes of righteousness.

(Isa 61:10) I will greatly rejoice in Jehovah, my soul will be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the robes of salvation, He covered me with the robe of righteousness like a bridegroom adorns himself with ornaments, and like a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Rev. 18:1 is the beginning of the description of the fall of Babylon as an accomplished fact, some in thanksgiving and others in dismay. Babylon in the NT is a symbol of sinful humanity and its capacity for self-delusion, ambition, sinful pride, and demonized depravity. It thus represents world culture in rebellion against God. Babylon stands in contrast to the true church as a society that persecutes God’s people and thus inevitably will be destroyed. Some contend that Babylon is a type of Rome, the Romans Empire restored, an end-time Tower of Babel.

DISPENSATIONAL INTERPRETATION: Babylon in 18:1-24 represents the satanic world system in all of its industrial, economic, and godless commercialism in contrast to what last-days apostate, religious forces she symbolizes in ch. 17.

We must understand there is Governmental Babylon and Spiritual Babylon.

Symbolically/spiritually:

Definition of Babylon- Babylon represents the captivity that sin and worldliness (world system) bring on the children of disobedience. Governmental Babylon is ungodly economic power and political dictatorship. Babylon is the harlot gone into full perdition, false religion. Spiritual Babylon is a condition of a hardened heart, no revelation of Christ. Babylon will cause the apostate church to fall from her spiritual place and become the harlot. It is as Jesus said one who does not bear fruit,

John 15:2 “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away. And every one that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bring forth more fruit.”

In contrast the true church will be:

One New man- peace, unity, one body

(Eph 2:13-16) But now in Christ Jesus you who were once afar off are made near by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, He making us both one, and He has broken down the middle wall of partition between us, having abolished in His flesh the enmity (the Law of commandments contained in ordinances) so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, making peace between them; and so that He might reconcile both to God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity in Himself.

Characteristics of Babylon:

Pride, lewdness, defines humans as God, anti-God, worship of humans and the earth apart from God.

The Harlot -(2Ti 3:1-7) Know this also, that in the last days grievous times will be at hand. For men will be self-lovers, money-lovers, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, unyielding, false accusers, without self-control, savage, despisers of good, traitors, reckless, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying the power of it; even turn away from these. For of these are those who creep into houses and lead captive silly women loaded with sins, led away with different kinds of lusts, ever learning and never able to come to the full knowledge of the truth.

(2Th 2:3-12) Let not anyone deceive you by any means. For that Day shall not come unless there first comes a falling away, and the man of sin shall be revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself forth, that he is God. Do you not remember that I told you these things when I was still with you? And now you know what holds back, for him to be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already working, only he is now holding back until it comes out of the midst. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the breath of His mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming, whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceit of unrighteousness in those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, so that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie, so that all those who do not believe the truth, but delight in unrighteousness, might be condemned.

Rev. 18:2 And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!

*Symbol- fallen Babylon- confusion, religious and political- Gen. 11:1-10

*Symbol- cage of birds- unclean and fouls spirits

Symbolically/spiritually: Babylon is now revealed as the spiritual place of gathering for those who reject the life of Christ, both carnal and lifeless They are now the habitation for all kinds of spiritual evil. Unclean and hated birds are symbols of the demonic Mark 4:32.

Rev. 18:3 “For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.”

Symbolically/spiritually: Her is a reference to the Harlot and Babylon which now are the same, a good show for the world but ultimate deception. Those with spiritual eyes will see through her disguise.

Drunk here means confused in the spirit and is normally associated with spiritual hypocrisy.

(Jer 51:7) Babylon has been a golden cup in Jehovah’s hand, which made all the earth drunk. The nations have drunk of her wine; therefore the nations rage.

Merchants: Organizational leaders (carnal man-made) who love their positions more than the Lord, sees people as a commodity rather than the potential of God. They profit from the Lord’s Body. They are more impressed with numbers and programs than with the heart of the people. The word in the Greek is “megistanes” which means great men or lords within a royal court. They care more for the size of their ministries than for the people themselves. They will deceive to achieve their ends and they believe they are justified in doing so.

This is spiritual Babylon or churches & leaders of Babel: “Then they said, “Come, let us BUILD ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us MAKE A NAME FOR OURSELVES, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth. (Gen. 11:4)” There are churches and leaders who has this egotistical mentality of building themselves a city (people) and tower (high visible structure or church building) with its top (heads) in the heavens (clouds) with the motivational agenda to MAKE A NAME FOR THEMSELVES ABOVE EVERYONE ELSE.

This type of building is humanistic and it raises up leaders of Babel (CONFUSION). If what you are building is seen more than God, then you are building WITHOUT GOD!

Vial Angel 3

Rev. 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.

Symbolically/spiritually: Come out means to separate from pride and worldliness, spiritual Babylon or the carnal religious system.

(Jas 4:4) Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever desires to be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Plagues are a parallel to the plagues of Egypt. Only those in the land of Goshen (separated ones) were protected.

See Bonnie Nelson’s (Firestorm) teaching on modern-day plagueshttp://www.injesus.com/message-archives/prophetic/FSMI/fsmi-firestorm-ministry-intl-plague-one-the-blood-and

Rev. 18:5 “For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.

Here the cup of wrath is filling up and overflowing.

Rev. 18:6 “Render to her just as she rendered to you, and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her.

Symbolically/spiritually: In relation to the believer, the heart’s condition is related to and revealed by works, corresponding action of Holy Spirit. The fight of faith is doubled up, not talking about anger and strife but peace and joy in the Saints as they realize Who is in them. Christ is peace and joy.

(1Ti 6:11-12) But you, O man of God, flee these things and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness. Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold on eternal life, to which you are also called and have professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Rev. 18:7 “In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.’

Symbolically/spiritually: This is the condition of the Harlot Church, the Laodician Church, glorifying herself, taking credit for what is good. In reality this church is living luxuriously (rich in need of nothing, yet poor and wretched ), “no widow” reveals she had lost her husband Jesus, the Bridegroom but doesn’t know it. In essence the Harlot Church is not married to the Lord for she does not the things that please Him.

(John 14:21-24) He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me. And he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will reveal Myself to him. Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, Lord, how is it that You will reveal Yourself to us and not to the world? Jesus answered and said to him, If a man loves Me, he will keep My Word. And My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My Words, and the Word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.

This again is ultimate deception believing she (Harlot Church) is the Bride but is not.

The spirit of antichrist brings deception. This is the spirit of antichrist in a people who now have a veil distorting their vision.

(2Th 2:8-12) And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the breath of His mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming, whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceit of unrighteousness in those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, so that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie, so that all those who do not believe the truth, but delight in unrighteousness, might be condemned.

The good news is (2Co 3:16) But whenever it turns to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.

(2Co 3:14-16) (But their thoughts were blinded; for until the present the same veil remains on the reading of the old covenant, not taken away.) But this veil has been done away in Christ. But until this day, when Moses is read, the veil is on their heart. But whenever it turns to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.

Rev. 18:8 “Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her.

Symbolically/spiritually: A day refers to a specific time when things hidden are brought to light. One shows the quickness of the work. In the light of Glory comes repentance, a remorse of the old life and fruitlessness. This is a perfecting fire.

Rev. 18:9 “The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning,

Dispensational: The voices of the kings who are allied with Rome lament the fall of the mighty city.

Preterist view: The preterist interpretation of Scripture regards the book of Revelation as a symbolic picture of early church conflicts, not a description of what will occur in the end times. Preterism denies the future prophetic quality of most of the book of Revelation. In varying degrees, preterism combines the allegorical and symbolic interpretation with the concept that Revelation does not deal with specific future events. The preterist movement essentially teaches that all the end-times prophecies of the New Testament were fulfilled in A.D. 70 when the Romans attacked and destroyed Jerusalem and Israel.

Symbolically/spiritually: The kings of the earth are the redeemed but serve mammon instead of God. They have received Jesus as Savior but not as Lord. They mourn because they do not recognize what the Lord is doing, cleansing the church. They long for the old days. The smoke of her burning is the Bride Church’s Glory and the removal of spots from the wedding garments.

(Eph 5:26-27) that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, that He might present it to Himself as the glorious church, without spot or wrinkle or any such things, but that it should be holy and without blemish.

When John described a corporate people, the dissolving of the sin nature is described not as fire, but the result of fire…smoke, or, the ‘smoke of her burning’ (Rev. 18:9). When referring to a corporate people, ‘we’ are married to Christ yet commit adultery (whore of Babylon) with ego, selfish ambition, and the spirit of works, which is pride. The ‘smoke,’ or result of the processes of God, is eternal. The ‘behavior modification’ we often attempt is not eternal, and it achieves the mark (pinnacle) of the beast, which is unregenerate human nature.

Rev. 18:10 “standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’

Many see an analogy here or a foreshadowing in the fall of The World Trade Center, Sept. 11, 2011.

Rev. 18:11 “And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore:

The word mourn is pentheo (pen-theh-oh); Strong’s #3996: Compare “nepenthe,” a drug that removes grief. To grieve, lament, mourn. In vv. 11, 15, and 19, pentheo is used of merchants who mourn the destruction of Babylon. The ungodly will experience great sorrow at the overthrow of the world system.

The voices of the merchants selfishly lament the loss of their commerce and markets. The merchants are those who profit through governmental Babylon and symbolically those who profit through harlotry in the Church, spiritual Babylon.

Rev. 18:12 “merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble;

Vessels are symbolic of Christians. The makeup of the vessels are ivory, wood, bronze, iron and marble.

Notice the merchandise here, what the kings of the earth are merchandizing.

Symbolism of merchandise and makeup of vessels.

Rev. 18:12 “merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble;

Gold-Gold, silver and precious stones are materials used in building Solomon’s temple. IKings 6:21-22 And the whole house he overlaid with gold, until he had finished all the house: also the whole altar that was by the oracle he overlaid with gold.

Gold represents Deity and Divine Nature. It is a symbol of kingship and kingdom glory.You are but a stone, but God ANOINTS YOU WITH HIS OWN NATURE! Stone is overlaid with Gold in the temple to symbolize, you clothed with the nature of Jesus.

Silver-Silver means redemption in the Bible. Silver vessels were stored in the house of God to symbolize a tremendous building material – A vessel of honor to be used of the Master to minister redemption in this “ministry of reconciliation” entrusted to them. It is also a price of a soul. Some will not receive it, even as Judas threw down 30 pieces of silver in the temple and went and hanged himself. There will be Judases that will rather suffer the judgment. Silver in IKings 10:27 is typified as stones which are used for building. Silver is refined and purified, speaking of how we should preach/teach the unadulterated Word of God.

Precious stones/jewels-Who we are- Symbol of special reassures; the people of God.1 Pet 2:5you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (NAS)

We are living stones. Living stones opposed to dead stones can be fitted and framed, chipped away. We find our lives in God’s quarry. Just as in the construction of Solomon’s Temple, we can observe God’s constructive purposes in our lives. The workers first made the PERFECT STONE – Jesus is this stone. The purpose of this stone was to be used as a model or pattern for all the stones that would be formed afterward. Revelation tells us who these stones are.Rev 14:4-5 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.They are the 144,000 and they are a body of people that are patterned stones that are cut to the correct size and placed into the Temple of God.

We are God’s precious stones as we allow the inward condition of Holiness and Power to be manifested even as it is revealed from the “FACE OF JESUS”.

Pearls– A pearl is a hard object produced within the soft tissue (specifically the mantle) of a living shelled mollusk, usually a conch. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pearl is made up of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. The finest quality natural pearls have been highly valued as gemstones and objects of beauty for many centuries, and because of this, the word pearl has become a metaphor for something very rare, fine, admirable, and valuable. Rev. 21: And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: The pearl of great price in Matthew 13:45-46, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls,46 “who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” The Bride is like the merchant seeking for more and she lays down her life to gain Christ’s life. The city in here in Revelation chapter 21 has twelve gates, and each one is a pearl. In an oyster, a pearl is formed when a foreign particle causes an irritation. The oyster cannot get rid of the problem, so it forms a pearl around it, which relieves the suffering. Often the thing that irritates us is the Lord’s method of producing pearls in our lives. Our failure to respond properly could cause the very thing which the Lord desires to accomplish within us to become destructive to His purposes for us. The pearl becomes a gateway into the deeper knowledge of Him.

Fine linen-Symbol of moral purity and righteousness. (Rev 19:8) And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white. For the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints.

Purple-Purple is a range of hues of color occurring between red and blue. In additive light combinations it occurs by mixing the primary colors red and blue in varying proportions. In medieval Europe, blue dyes were rare and expensive, so only the most wealthy or the aristocracy could afford to wear them. Europeans’ idea of purple shifted towards a more bluish purple known as royal purple because of its similarity to the royal blue worn by the aristocracy. Jesus was delivered up t be crucified wearing a purple robe. (Mar 15:17) And they clothed Him with purple and plaited a crown of thorns and put it around His head.

Silk-Silk is made by silkworms fed with mulberry leaves. Because of this labor intensive process, it was traditionally only available to the wealthy. It has become a symbol of luxury. Silk is a symbol of rebirth. It is also connected with metamorphosis, as it changes from the caterpillar to the buterfly depicting transformation in the life of a Christian.

Scarlet- The color red or crimson. It ti the color of sacrifice. (Isa 1:18) Come now, and let us reason together, says Jehovah; though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool.

Citron Wood- Is the wood of a citron tree, durable fragrant wood used in building. It produces sandarac, a resin used for making varnish and incense (Revelation 18:12). The customs and language of ages have, in its own southern climes, indelibly impressed upon it the symbolism of bodily death and spiritual immortality.

Ivory- Symbol of beauty and strength- The color ivory is a soft neutral color that isn’t quite white and has some of the earthiness of light browns. Ivory represents quiet, pleasantness with a touch of luster. The ivory tusks of elephants have long been prized and used in jewelry and the decoration of housewares and furniture. Pearl and opal, shades of ivory, are also precious stones. An Ivory tower – refuge, place of seclusion from the world Also in a negative connotation, an ivory tower is often used in a derogatory manner to indicate someone who has been physically or mentally in a place out of touch with reality or the real world.

Wood–Wood is operating on your authority and with your own nature – the nature of Adam. Wood always represents man or humanity in the Scriptures.

Bronze- Bronze and iron were both seen in the vision Daniel saw of the statue representing beastly nature.

Iron– Iron a metal associated with the Earth and the inferior. Iron is also associated with war and brute strength, also a symbol of affliction, judgment, inflexible rule, crushing. (Dan. 2:33, Ps. 107:10)

Marble-Symbol of kingdom beauty. (1 Chr. 29:2, Est. 1:6, SS 5:15)

“Vessels of “ may also represent the embellishments men tend to place on people and things in church organizations.

(1Co 3:11-15) For any other foundation can no one lay than the one being laid, who is Jesus Christ. And if anyone builds on this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble, each one’s work shall be revealed. For the Day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try each one’s work as to what kind it is. If anyone’s work which he built remains, he shall receive a reward. If anyone’s work shall be burned up, he shall suffer loss. But he shall be saved, yet so as by fire.

Rev. 18:13 “and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men.

Symbols:

Cinnamon– symbol of any fragrance (Prov. 7:17, Ex. 30:23)

Incense-burning of a resin frankincense etc,something pleasing and acceptable being offered to God

Fragrant oil-Oil in the Bible is the physical representation of a spiritual reality. Hebrews 9:23-24 refers to such things as a type or “copy” of true things in the heavenlies. Anointing oil was used as a sign of joy (Isaiah 61:3, Hebrews 1:9,) and is to be used for joy when mourning has ended (1 Samuel 12:20-23) for readiness (Matthew 5:7-13), physical healing (Mark 6:13, James 5:14-15), adoration (Luke 7:16-30), to honor a guest (Luke 7:38,46), when preparing to meet the king (Ruth 3:3), for cleansing (Leviticus14: 15-18, Ezekiel 16:9), for burial Mark 14:8), medicine for wounds (Luke 10:34), for disease Jeremiah 8:22). To abstain from anointing with oil is a symbol of mourning (2 Samuel 14:2).Moses was commanded by God in Exodus 30:22-25 to use specific spices to make the anointing oil for the tabernacle. Specific spices (Exodus 35:8), directed by God, are added to olive oil for specific purposes. In James oil was applied in the name of the Lord along with the prayer of faith.

Frankincense-symbol of fragrance, prayers and intercession. (Lev.2 :1-2, Num. 5:5, SS 3:6, Ex. 30:34, Matt. 2:11)

Wine-symbol of teaching, blessing, true or false,

Oil– symbol of the Holy Spirit, anointing

Fine flour– symbol of the broken body of Jesus, grinding

Wheat-symbol of staff of life, bread, of Christ and of His saints

Cattle– symbol of strength, labor, sacrifice and burden bearing

Horses- symbol power, strength and conquest.

Chariots-symbol of speed, power and transport in warfare

Symbolically/spiritually: Merchandizing the bodies and souls of men is placing much value on church organizations, church growth, buildings, membership, money to support such, etc. Even much emphasis on conference fees, books, tapes could be with wrong motives the merchandizing of souls.

Many leaders feel that God gave them the saints to make them successful and to pay money so they can be supported, build greater buildings, be on tv and take mission trips. There is nothing wrong with these activities taking place, but the perception and motive for such a minister is contrary to God’s purpose for giving servant leaders. Here is the purpose/s.

Eph. 2:20 explains that apostles and prophets are the foundation- laying ministry in the Church and upon which the rest of the members of the Church are built. They provide a structure for the equipping of the Saints. Equipping the saints is shown in Eph 4:11-16.

(Eph 4:11-16) And truly He gave some to be apostles, and some to be prophets, and some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. And this until we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full-grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; so that we no longer may be infants, tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine, in the dishonesty of men, in cunning craftiness, to the wiles of deceit. But that you, speaking the truth in love, may in all things grow up to Him who is the Head, even Christ; from whom the whole body, fitted together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of each part, producing the growth of the body to the edifying of itself in love.

It is growth in the hearts (spiritual maturity) of Christians that will establish real value. It is knowing and walking in who you are in Him and who He is in you.

Rev. 18:14 “The fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all.

Symbolically/spiritually: The fruit of the Spirit is what we want and long for. But the rich and splendid, the dainty stuff is what carnal ministers have long for, lusted for. Their righteousness is found in their being “in the ministry”, having titles and positions and lording over people. This is pride in the heart. The true motive and intent of the heart will be seen.

Back in Chapter 2 we talked about the doctrine of the Nicolaitans; here is a summary and comment:

The doctrine of the Nicolaitans was mentioned in the Apocalypse of John to the churches of Pergamos and Ephesus of the seven churches of Asia in Revelation 2. It is a symbolic name of a party that represents the hierarchy of a ruling class over the rest of the people, developing a pecking order of fleshly leadership. The root of the word Nicolaitans comes from Greek nikao, to conquer or overcome, and laos, which means people and which the word laity comes from. The two words together especially means the destruction of the people and refers to the earliest form of what we call a priestly order or clergy which later on in church history divided people and allowed for leadership other than those led by the spirit of the risen Lord. A good translation of Nicolaitan would be “those who prevail over the people.”

The Lord said to His disciples (paraphrased), “You know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you but whosoever will be great among you shall be your minister. And whosoever of you will be the chiefest shall be servant of all. “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto but to minister and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:42-45)

This is the opposite of the wisdom of the world in regards to leadership and authority, the key here is dominion and sovereignty is the issue. The greatest among us are those that would be the servant or slave to the most of us with the authority to love, minister and serve, not to rule or govern those in the church. At stake here is getting out of the same Babylon of old that exalted herself by trying to reach heaven. God is calling us out of Babylon, what we do see are those attempting to gain a false authority that puts them in a position to be served and recognized by the most.

We as ministers are given to humanity as a sacrifice offering. Just as Jesus laid His life down for the brethren, we are to lay our own lives down. Jesus did not come to lord it over humanity, but to lay His life down for it; we could never do more yet no less is expected.

Rev. 18:15 “The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

Symbolically/spiritually: The harlot church leaders, spiritual Babylon, will come to their demise.

Rev. 18:16 “and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls!

Symbolically/spiritually: This is the death of carnality and as you see it is mourned.

Rev. 18:17 ‘For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.’ Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance

Ships are symbolic of carnal programs. Shipmasters are carnal ministers of these programs. Sailors are those who makeup these carnal programs. Trading by sea is the rest who use the carnality of the Harlot Church as their source of income.

Many who make their living at providing programs will see them come to naught. Their hearts will be judged ad their real motives exposed.

(Hab 3:6-8) He stood and measured the earth; He looked and shook nations, and the everlasting mountains were shattered; the eternal hills bowed down. His ways are everlasting. I saw the tents of Cushan under calamity; the curtains of the land of Midian trembled. Did Jehovah burn against rivers? Or was Your anger against the rivers? Or Your wrath against the sea? For You ride on horses, Your chariots of salvation.

Rev. 18:18 “and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What is like this great city?’

Works will be burned up by fire or come forth as pure gold. This is the perfecting fire of the Christ within us.

Rev. 18:19 “They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.’

Dust is symbolic of worldliness and carnality.

Dispensationalist: Economic collapse. (Ez. 38-39) (Governmental Babylon)

Symbolically/spiritually: The Harlot Church, spiritual Babylon fallen.

Rev. 18:20 “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!”

Symbolically/spiritually: Only those who love religion will be made desolate and only those who love their harlotry more than Jesus Christ will mourn.

Only the truly redeemed will desire perfection and want to be overcomers. Those that still lust after the world will find that their hearts have been hardened.

Vial 4 Angel 4

Rev. 18:21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore.

Great millstone is prophetic symbolic action indicating total destruction (see Jer. 51:63, 64; Luke 17:2).

A millstone is where the wheat is ground out. The function of saving souls (wheat) is completely removed from spiritual Babylon. The last of the wheat is ground out. Religion without relationship is gone forever.

Religion or ministry without relationship (intimacy) is false authority.

We are in the time of Babylon’s fall and the rise of the Kingdom of God. It may not look like this to an average person, but this is largely because people tend to identify with Babylon (world system or religious church system) rather than with the Kingdom. Hence, as Babylon falls, and as the church and media scream in panic, many think automatically that their own world is falling apart instead of the Babylonian world.

Rev. 18:22 “The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore. No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore, and the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore.

Symbolically/spiritually there is now no true praise (harpers and musicians), revelation knowledge (trumpeters), ministry (craftsman) or salvation (no millstone) among carnal believers (harlot).

Here we see no true form of ministry but a social club rather than a church.

Rev. 18:23 “The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived.

Symbolically/spiritually candlestick is the witness of Christ. This speaks of the fullness of Christ within us, the Bride appearing and coming forth. The Bride reflects Christ, who He is

The candlestick/lampstand is completely removed. The guiding voice of Christ the Bridegroom will not be heard in Babylon; anyone who chooses this path will NOT be part of the Bride.

(Rev 2:5) Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and will remove your lampstand out of its place unless you repent.

Rev. 18:24 “And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth.”

Notice the change in verb tenses. Verses 21-23 are future tense but verse 24 is past tense.

Symbolically/spiritually: Babylon’s unrighteousness in the face of truth (given by prophets and saints) will seal her fate. The name of men gathering together in a form of man-made religion is over.

Warnings for religious leaders who not do shepherd the church (Eze 34:1-43) And the Word of Jehovah came to me, saying, Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to them, So says the Lord Jehovah to the shepherds: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you kill the fat ones, but you do not feed the flock. (Read the remainder of the chapter)

The choice is clear either become the Bride Church or the Harlot Church.

Spirit of Christ/Bride/New Jerusalem OR Spirit of Antichrist/Harlot/Beast/Babylon

Compare the Fall of Lucifer described in Isa 14:12, a dirge against the king of Tyre, Ezek 27:1-11, doom song of Babylon, Isa 13:19-22, doom song of Edom, Isa 34:11-15, doom songs of Babylon, Jer 50:39, see also Jer 51 which contains many of the thoughts in Rev 18, doom song of Nineveh, Zep 2:13-15.

Preterist View:The images of two “women” (the harlot and the bride) who are two “cities” (Babylon and New Jerusalem) are symbolic of the two covenants (just like the two women/cities of Gal. 4:21-31 are). Revelation is unveiling the events surrounding the destruction of the old covenant and the full establishment of the new, the harlot is destroyed and then the bride becomes married.

Chapters 19-20- Jesus Reign on the Earth

Rev. 19:1-21

Vial Angel 5

The Elect/Bride Praise Him!

Rev. 19:1 After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God!

The voice of a great multitude exults over the triumph of righteousness and truth. The word Alleluia (“praise the Lord”) occurs only in this passage in the NT.

Rev. 19:2 “For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged (past tense) the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.”

Symbolically/spiritually this is a great time of joy for the Elect/Bride. Countless numbers of souls are being saved through His manifest Glory. The joy, love, patience and Glory of the Elect/Bride are all that is needed to accomplish the greatest harvest the world has ever known.

The harlot’s corrupt ways hindered this ministry of being salt and light to the world. Now the Church will redeem the time in the name of Jesus through the Wife of the Lamb/Bride. The Church has removed her spots, now spotless, pure without wrinkle. They will share in the glorious revelation of Christ.

Rev. 19:3 Again they said, “Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!”

Again they (the Bride) said Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever, as in Song of Solomon where it talks about the Bride coming up out of wilderness with pillars of smoke were seen.

(Son 3:6) Who is this coming up out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, from all the merchant’s powders?

Rev. 19:4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, “Amen! Alleluia!”

Symbolically 24 Elders depicts our will, falling down denotes a time of great surrender and ascension.

Symbolically/spiritually: The Bride/the Wife of the Lamb is responsible for this burning (the purification of the Church). The Bride is now revealed. The gospel of the kingdom can be preached to the entire world. The final harvest came be reaped.

This is called the Day of the Lord.

(2Pe 3:10) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a rushing noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat. And the earth and the works in it will be burned up.

The Day of the Lord is the Third Day (3rd millennium for Christ) or in contemporary terms the “appearing of Christ” in His Body. He will arise again, resurrect in the hearts of His Elect/Bride. In the same way as Christ rose on the morning of the “third day.” This is to bring forth resurrection life into this world. The Day of the Lord is also the 7th Day, seventh millennium from Adam.

Rev. 19:5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!”

The word servants is doulos (doo-loss); Strong’s #1401: From deo, “to bind.” The word denotes one in bondage to or subject to another, and is usually translated “slave” or “servant.” Often the service involved is voluntary, in which a person willingly offers obedience, devotion, and loyalty to another, subordinating his will to him. The word is used of natural conditions (Matt. 8:9; 18:23), and metaphorically to describe servants of Christ (Rom. 1:1; 1 Cor. 7:22), of God (Acts 16:17; Titus 1:1), of sin (John 8:34; Rom. 6:17, 20), of corruption (2 Pet. 2:19), and of evil (Matt. 18:32; 24:48).

Symbolically/spiritually: God is speaking to his Elect/Bride in such an intimate way that it can be expressed as stepping in and out of the throne of God (voice came from the throne). The voice/s coming out of the heart of the Elect/Bride. Small and great shows distinctions in spiritual maturity.

This was presented in Chapter 4. The distinctions are:

1st Beast- Lion- symbolizing our surrender to the Lion (Jesus Christ, the Lion of Judah).

2nd Beast- Calf- symbolizing our beginning walk with the Lord, immature, a tender shoot or sprout or fresh delicate child.

3rd Beast -Man- mature in Christ yet subject to weakness.

4th Beast- Flying Eagle, Overcomer in Christ. Notice an eagle is a flesh-eating bird. This eagle is soaring.

Eagles are the highest of the three beasts who minister around the Lion. These are the 100 fold overcomers, sold-out believers who operate in the fullness of Christ. They are separated from the world and constantly minister to the Lamb.

Rev. 19:6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!

The voice of a great multitude announces the marriage supper of the Lamb. Again, this is not sequential; the consummation of the kingdom, already prophetically announced in 11:15, is once again so announced.

Many waters mean many people, the Bride, declaring with one voice , unity.

Symbolically/spiritually: The army of God will speak with one voice. The corporate Man-Child is speaking (voices of many-waters) and is revealing the thunders/thunderings. (Revelation of Christ) Thunder is symbolic of God’s voice being heard. It is the revelatory voice for those who have ears to hear, a revelation of God’s desire. It comes with His presence and increases with the number of voices that are speaking with one accord. The world will have ears to hear at this time. Through the corporate manifestation of the Parousia (true Church, the separated ones)

(Rev 2:29) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (Proclaimed 8 times in he book of Revelation- (Rev. 2:7, 1, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22; 13:9).

(Rev 22:17) And the Spirit and the bride say, Come! And let the one hearing say, Come! And let the one who is thirsty come. And he willing, let him take of the Water of Life freely.

Daniel 11:32 {latter portion} – The people that do KNOW their God shall be strong and do exploits. {It is about Knowing HIM and making HIM Known}

Rev. 19:7 “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.”

*Symbol- marrriage of the Lamb- union with Christ -Eph. 5:23-32

KJV says the marriage of the Lamb is come. (Rev 19:7) Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

Marriage of the Lamb is come is a 3rd person present continuous verb. The marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife has made herself ready.” The Amplified version says, “The Marriage of the Lamb has come at last.” Both the Father and Jesus have been waiting for this.

It was in the Father’s heart from the beginning of time that Jesus should have a Bride. This Bride is the New Jerusalem come down from heaven, when Jesus will be totally unveiled at the time of His marriage.

“The Marriage of the Lamb is come.” It does not say the “wedding” of the Lamb has come. The Holy Spirit always uses the right words. There is a difference between a wedding, and a marriage. The wedding includes the best man, the bridesmaids, the cutting of the wedding cake, and all of the guests, activities, and food. A marriage is a union in which two people are being united, and you are invited to come and be one of these. Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb

Restoration of Intimacy with God. This text promises restored intimacy with God as His purpose develops in His people.

In the OT (see Is. 54:1-6; Hos. 2:19; 11:8, 9), Israel is called God’s wife, but in the NT (Eph. 5:23-32), this metaphor is transferred to the Bride.

Symbolically /spiritually the Bride has made herself ready through the perfecting/maturing power of the revelation of Christ.

(1Jn 3:2) Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be. But we know that when He shall be revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

There are 2 views here:

Dispensational- Christ must transform the Church as the Bride without spot or wrinkle at the Rapture.
Symbolic/spiritual- Christ comes spiritually to prepare for Himself a Bride. He has accomplished His will and now the Bride is ready to become the Wife of the Lamb.
Each person has a part in the “parousia” (appearing of Christ in a person/people). Yet 2 Thessalonians tells us that we must be counted worthy to be a vessel in whom He will appear. Since Revelation says that the Bride will make herself ready, then how do we get prepared to be a part of the Bride? And are we one of those that He is speaking to when He says, “to them who have an ear to hear (spiritually) let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.” We what to be part of the people that have ears, such as the “manifest Sons” or the “overcomers”, or even the elect chosen generation worth to become a habitation of the Lord.Are you worthy or do you know what it takes to be a part of this end-time people?

Rev. 19:8 and to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

*Symbol- fine linen, clean and bright- righteousness of the Saints

Symbolically/spiritually: Granted . . . fine linen: By God’s grace. The righteous acts: The good works that are the fruit of being justified by faith in Jesus Christ.

That means that she had the privilege (granted) to choose to be arrayed in the “wedding garment” which is pure white linen – the righteousness of saints. There is just one requirement that Jesus lays on us to become His Bride, and that is “righteousness.” We know He was righteous, and we are made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. He is working His righteousness in us. It is through a process, which He likens to the process that linen goes through to become the clean and white linen wedding garment of the Bride.

Linen is made of flax. The flax grows in a field, and the whole plant is pulled up. It is not cut like wheat. This is what the Lord does for us. He takes this whole mess that we are, spirit, soul and body, and begins to deal with the whole thing. He pulls us up, and hangs us up to dry, to rid us from our former source of supply. These roots had received their supply from the earth, but not anymore. The word says that I am crucified to the world. That is a strong statement and we need to know what that means. I am crucified and dead to the world. How many of us can say we are dead to the world, and the world is dead to me?

There are three parts to flax that have to be separated. It has to be pulled through spikes of fine steel that are nailed to rough boards. Do you ever feel Him pulling on you? We have to give Him our permission to pull us through this process.

Then these fibers have to be soaked in hot water for ten to fourteen days – soaking ten to fourteen days in prayer and in the precious Holy Spirit. We cannot pray or get soaked in His presence too much.

Now it has to be rolled and pressed until it becomes one continuous thread. Then it is put back in hot water in the trough and heated again to 150 degrees to soften it up. It is pulled through the hot water heated at 150 degrees fifteen times. This is you and I.

Now, to get the pure linen dazzling white, it has to be pounded sixty times a minute with fifty-pound blocks for sixty to seventy hours. This is the way that linen is made, and our garments are going to be “pure white linen.” So, we will be pulled and pushed, and in hot water, and in trials and troubles, but remember Paul’s statement, “Nothing is to be compared with the glory to come.” Paul hungered, was obedient and submitted, totally given to God.

Symbolically/spiritually arrayed in fine linen are the glorified bodies which allow one to become part of the final harvest, the marriage supper of the Lamb. The eternal robe of righteousness is a better resurrection because it is the glorified body. It is given to those who died to this world completely.

(1Co 15:53-54) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this corruptible shall put on incorruption, and when this mortal shall put on immortality, then will take place the word that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory.

Symbolically/spiritually: The last trumpet has sounded in our life, we will have stepped over the grave with our eternal robes of righteousness because death is defeated. Once given, it is our weight of Glory for all time.

Application of Rev. 19:8 Righteous acts: Dressed in fine linen- Living on Which Mountain?

How many righteous deeds are you able to perform during a day? To be conscious of that would be to be law based instead of grace based. We automatically do righteous acts and do not keep count.

All of us would admit there was a time when we with great eagerness kept a track record of our sins. Ignorantly, we weren’t aware of the fact that we are dressed in fine linen. The difference is living on Mt. Sinai (Law) instead of on Mt. Zion (Grace) And it was when we were there that we had this crippling fear of God which rendered us in a state of mind where we seldom dared to approach Him. We preferred to keep a distance, because as long as the commandments and sin dominated our outlook we had this terrible feeling of always falling short before the Father.

We now live on Mount Zion, a mountain renowned for its stunning scenery. It is a joyful and peaceful place. Another fascinating quality with this mountain is that it is always sunny here. Clouds and smoke are completely absent, so the view is never obstructed by a deprecating consciousness of sin. With this new clarity in sight we are empowered to distinguish the real us. Moreover, we are always close with God. Even though we do not always feel His presence tangibly all the time, we know we are connected in a unique and indissoluble way.

Mount Zion is our guarantee that we are as righteous as Jesus, wearing fine linen. We see that clearly now. God has not dressed us in fine linen to cover our filthy, dirty selves. When God does something He does it thoroughly and not half heartedly. We are clothed in righteous deeds as a sign of my new status; clean through and through. We didn’t earn our righteousness. It was a gift which we received and fully embraced when we switched mountains.

Do you think we live differently now when we know that we are righteous? Of course we do! All of us live according to how we think. To linger on Mount Sinai as new creation is like being a former convict who voluntarily prefer incarceration and bondage to liberty and a life as a free citizen with all the rights that entails. The quality of life soars exponentially when you are a free citizen of Mount Zion.

Rev. 19:9 Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”

*Symbol- marriage supper- kingdom communion time- Matt. 26:26-29

Symbolically the Marriage Supper of the Lamb also called the Great Supper is the fellowship of eternal blessedness, communion with the Lord face to face, foreshadowed by the Lord’s Supper, rather than a literal meal.

Also Great Supper symbolically/spiritually is the final time of the gleaning the harvest.

Rev. 1:3 says Blessed is he that reads, and they that hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written therein: for the time is at hand.

The time is at hand is now being part of the New Jerusalem, the Bride and the marriage supper of he Lamb.

The Adorning of the Bride an Analysis:

Revelation 19:7-8 NAS- 7″Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” 8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

Exegesis Bible- literal translation

Cheer and jump for joy and give Him glory because the marriage of the Lamb is come. And his woman prepares herself. And she has been given to be arrayed in white linen-pure and radiant- for the white linen is the justification of the holy.

The Bride Prepares Herself.

Who qualifies to be the Bride?

These are overcomers who have made Jesus both the center of their lives. They have a “single eye” toward Jesus and have taken up their cross. They have submitted themselves, and all that pertains to them, to His Kingdom rule. These are a called out “people within a people” who are being dealt with and qualified to become His Bride.

“For many are called but few are chosen” Matt 22:14.

Another way to express this verse is, “Many are called but few will pay the price in order to be chosen.” Our being chosen is the result of the outworking of the process of qualifying, or overcoming.

“To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My Throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His Throne.” Rev 3:21.

Zion (people of praise) signifies the atmosphere in which His Bride will be made ready for the coming of her Heavenly Bridegroom.

How is the Bride prepared?

HAS TAKEN ON A NEW NAME

Rev. 3:12He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. WE HAVE HIS MINISTRY, HIS NAME, AND HIS AUTHORITY.

HAS ON THESE GARMENTS

Robe of righteousness/ Breastplate of righteousness. Subjection and submission are the adorning of the church in the Bride of Christ’s righteousness. It is the submission of the church being worked in the heart by grace. For it says, “…for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints,” REV 19:8.

This adorning, this garment which is the garment of salvation, which shall be worn for all eternity in heaven.

Garment of praise-Garments represent all outward attitudes and external appearances. Garments are the symbol of who we are and how we present ourselves. Garments speak of our outer man, our actions, what others perceive of us.

What are we clothed with?

What was mankind clothed with originally? The Psalms tell us that man had been crowned or ‘clothed’ with GLORY and honor; … Psalm 8:4-5 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? 5 For You have made him a little lower than the angels (Elohim), And You have crowned him with glory and honor. (see also 1 Cor. 11:6)

Isaiah 61:10 “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall delight in my

God; for He has clothed me with the garments of Salvation. He has covered me with the Robe of Righteousness, as a Bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a Bride adorns herself with her jewels.” It is Yeshua who makes her that way, not herself. He gives us our robe, and crowns.

1 Peter 5:5 gives instructions on the kind of clothing which is pleasing to our Beloved: ‘Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility for God sets Himself against the proud but gives grace to the humble.’

Colossians 3:12,13 also have advice for us: Clothe yourselves as God’s representatives, by putting on behavior marked by tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, and patience. Be gentle and forbearing with one another and, if anyone has a difference against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has freely forgiven you, so you must also forgive. And above all these put on love…’Holy Spirit clothes us as we seek the kingdom.

HAS A CROWN

The Bride of Christ, is like the virtuous woman who is a crown to her husband (Prov. 12:4; 31:10-31; Eph. 5:31-32).

When a Bride is crowned, she is given a position of authority in the kingdom and is empowered to rule. (Proverbs 12:4 KJV) A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband. The word for ‘virtuous’ here means ‘a force, an army, wealth, might, power, riches, valor, virtue, strength’. The Bride of Jesus is a virtuous woman; a warring, brave, strong army in the earth and she is the crown of her husband, Jesus.

Isaiah 62:3 You shall also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, And a royal diadem in the hand of your God. She is a crown of glory, endued with favor, exercising righteous judgments in the earth and extending the Kingdom.

HAS A ROD OR SCEPTER

(Psalms 110:2 NKJV) The Lord will send forth the rod of Your strength from Zion; rule in the midst of Your enemies. Your people shall be willing in the day of Your power, in holy adornment from the womb of the morning: You have the dew of Your youth.

This rod or scepter sent forth out of Zion exercises God’s authority through the ruling reining Bride of Christ as she extends the influence of His Kingdom in the earth. The above verse says that God’s people will offer themselves willingly – they will say, “here am I, Lord; send me”. It also speaks of them being set apart for His purposes in holiness, having been in a place of preparation for such a time as this – and from this womb, they shall be brought forth with shouts of ‘favor, favor’ into the fullness of their inheritance in Christ, a place of bridal rule and authority.

OTHER ADORNMENT

Esther was crowned and thus equipped for her position, so too there is coming in this season, an outpouring upon those who take up their positions and appointments in Christ, will do the work of the ministry. The Bride will be the first fruits of the new move of God.

What other jewelry does the Bride of Christ wear? Isaiah 49:18 speaks of the Bride putting on her bridal jewels:

Lift your eyes round about, and see; all these gather together and come to you. As I live, says the Lord, you Zion, shall surely clothe yourself with them all as with an ornament, and bind them on you as a bride does.’

Prov. 3:3-4 Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,4And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.

The Adorning of the Bride

“And I John saw the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband.” Revelation 21:2 Kosmeo, the Greek word for “adorn” is used to describe the adorning of the Bride of Christ for her Husband. The word means put in order.

“And the Lord God took the man, and put him in the Garden of Eden, to dress it (put it in order) and to keep it.” Genesis 2:15

What does the Bride look like?

The Bride that God is preparing lacks that which is impressive to man. Even among the Body of Christ, the Bride is little esteemed, separation, apart from the status quo even in the church. In the same way, the Bride will often find herself separated from her brothers. Although overlooked and lightly esteemed, those who comprise the Bride will achieve the greatest victories, and in the process they will deliver those who have scorned them. Those proceeding on in their pursuit of Christ will encounter opposition from their own household.
Her beauty, beauty of the heart, inwardly adorned, projects the glory of God, has the light of Jesus on her face.
Heart after God, passionate and zealous for the Lord, intimate fellowship, communion with the Lord
Great courage
Love of justice and integrity
Desire to walk uprightly.
Hears His voice, has instant obedience.

Who does the Bride look like? She looks like Jesus.

If we desire to be the chosen Bride, we must spend one-on-one time with the Lord, listen acutely to the Holy Spirit, and allow God to take us through the beauty purification process, until we emanate the fragrance of Christ! Again we recall the statement “For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:14 This is a poor translation. In the original, it says, “Many are called, but few qualify.” You have to “qualify” to be the Bride of Christ. Let us start with this qualification:

Who is the Lamb going to choose as His Bride? The Bride He will marry is refined and purified. She desires to be in this Bridal Company, united to the Lamb. She has been dealt with, and has overcome. The Lord will give us all that is needed to qualify to be His Bride. Jesus has, in every way, paid the price that His Father asked Him to pay, and has qualified Himself to be our Bridegroom.

“I do always those things that please Him.” John 8:29b

Note of Encouragement to the Bride who is going through trials, tribulations, etc.:

You are not getting weakened by the trials of life, but rather are strengthened by them. Resistance builds muscle! The muscle of faith is increasing as you are growing in His Almighty Grace, Love and Power for the Glory of God. For He is faithful to complete the work that He started in you. You don’t go from strength to weakness, but you are growing in strength! Keep moving forward Bride of Christ in His authority!

Psa 84:7 They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appears before God.

Rev. 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

The entire Bible is a product of the Holy Spirit, who is not only “the Spirit of Truth” (John 16:13), but “the spirit of prophecy” (Rev. 19:10). The verb “to prophesy” (derived from Greek preposition pro and verb phemi) means “to speak forth before.” The preposition “before” in this use may mean 1) “in advance” and/or 2) “in front of.” Thus, “to prophesy” is a proper term to describe the proclamation of God’s Word as it forecasts events. It may also describe the declaration of God’s Word forthrightly, boldly, or confrontingly before a group or individual—telling forth God’s truth and will. So, in both respects, the Bible is prophetic: a Book that reveals God’s will through His Word and His works, as well as a Book that reveals God’s plans and predictions.

This text defines the witness or testimony of Jesus Himself as being synonymous with, or at the heart of, the spirit of prophecy. These words not only define Scripture; they also confine all utterances that claim to be true prophecy: Jesus Christ will be at the center of it all, as He is in the whole Bible. 1) The OT exists to reveal Christ (Luke 24:27; John 5:39; 1 Pet. 1:10-12); and 2) the NT is inspired by the Holy Spirit for the same purpose (John 14:26; 16:13-15).

John’s temptation to worship the angel, repeated for emphasis (22:8, 9), warns that idolatry may arise within the church when the messenger, or even the message, is idolized. The essence of every genuine prophecy is its testimony of Jesus, the witness borne to Him. DISPENSATIONAL INTERPRETATION: The marriage supper of the Lamb (vv. 7-10), an actual meal in heaven, is the final manifestation of the marriage of Christ and His wife. This culminates their initial relationship, likened to an engagement, which was a legal arrangement in Jewish culture. This follows the coming of Christ as Bridegroom in the Rapture of the church before the Great Tribulation and precedes His return seven years later to establish His millennial kingdom.

Symbolically/spiritually the angels here are symbolic of Christ-like Believers who even John mistakes as being angelic beings They are the manifested Sons of God in Romans 8:19 They are not Jesus but are so transparent His Glory is all there is to see. The Spirit of Christ is what opens your understanding to all things. He is the spirit of prophecy.

The ultimate purpose of all prophecy and the communication of Spiritual Gifts should reveal Who Jesus is, what He does, and how He feels. True prophecy reveals the heart of God — proclaiming God’s affection for His people and His jealous (overwhelming love)/ longing for us.

Rev. 19:11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.

Dispensational: The white horse symbolizes victory. Faithful and True describes Jesus, whose final victory in the war to come serves only to make clear to those “who dwell on the earth” what has been seen by the eyes of faith in His Cross and Resurrection. His standards and methods are qualitatively different from those of the dragon and his allies. He judges in the law court, not on the battlefield (see Is. 11:1-5). He conducts a spiritual warfare, not a military one.

*Symbol- white horse rider and armies- Christ and His saints and angels in victory

Symbolically/spiritually: The Bride is the White Horse. The Bride/Elect are His vehicles in this world through righteousness. The war is against carnality in the Church which concludes in victory.

We have posted this before but bears repetition.

A word about spiritual warfare: ( I call it spiritual joy fare)

THE WARFARE IS ACCOMPLISHED – VICTORY IS NOW

The war of the ages was fought and won 2,000 years ago. We must acknowledge and appropriate the bounty of His victory. To fight the good fight of faith (1 Tim. 6:12) is to arm ourselves with settled conviction that the warfare is accomplished. To participate in spiritual warfare apart from the revelatory truth that our adversary has been conquered is asking for defeat. We are not fighting to whip the devil. The good fight of faith is to believe, receive, and appropriate Calvary’s spoils!

The only battles the enemy has won are those in which we did not engage him. We have the right to come against satan in the name of the Lord, standing on the solid resurrection ground of Jesus’ finished work. Otherwise, we will cover ourselves with sweat and beat the air (1 Cor. 9:26).

The Old and New Testament are filled with examples of our Lord’s victory over the king of darkness. Messiah went forth to crush the serpent’s head (Gen. 3:15). He subdued the leader of the land of wickedness, stripping him from head to foot (Hab. 3:13). The Bible reveals eight absolutes about our glorious King, declaring that:

Jesus triumphed over principalities and powers (2 Cor. 2:14; Col. 2:15).
Jesus bound the strong man (Jer. 31:11; Mt. 12:29; Lk. 11:22).
Jesus slew the dragon (Ps. 74:13, 91:13; Is. 27:1; 51:9).
Jesus killed the giant (I Sam. 17).
Jesus judged the prince (Jn. 12:31; 16:8-11).
Jesus dismantled satan’s kingdom (Heb. 2:14-15; I Jn. 3:8).
Jesus abolished death (Is. 25:8; Hos. 13:14; Rom. 6:9).
Jesus divided the spoils (Lk. 11:22; Rom. 16:20).
Jesus didn’t go to hell (Eph. 4:9-10; 1 Pet. 3:18-19) to finish the victory; He went there to announce it! The complete and total triumph of our Lord is best summed up in His own words, uttered just prior to His epochal achievement at Calvary. The ancient serpent left no trailing influence upon the Rock (Prov. 30:19)!

No matter what your situation, circumstance, dilemma, concerns, troubles, struggles, setbacks, stresses, or disappointments, I want you, to speak in faith Revelation 12:10 which says, “And I heard a loud voice in heaven {The Heavens of your Inner Man} saying, “Now is come “SALVATION, STRENGTH, the KINGDOM of GOD our GOD & the POWER of HIS CHRIST: for the accuser of the brethren is cast down!”

Rev. 19:12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.

His eyes: flames of fire (Compare to Rev. 1:14)

(Rev 1:14) His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And His eyes were like a flame of fire.

Many crowns represent unlimited diadems of sovereign authority (11:15), far surpassing the limited number usurped by the dragon (12:3) and the Beast (13:1). Name written: No one knew: The fullness of the Person of Jesus is beyond human comprehension (see 2:17; 3:12, 13), can only be spiritually discerned.

Symbolically/spiritually: The Bride/Elect is His crowns. The Bride is His appointed authority in this world, His expression, His anointed. This name that no man (natural and carnal) can know only those who are intimate with Him.

Burning eyes (eyes-flame-fire) the natural and the carnal is burned up.

Rev. 19:13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.

Christ’s robe is dipped in His atoning blood. The Word of God: Jesus reveals the character and purpose of God (see John 1:1, 14, 18; 10:30; 14:9; 1 John 1:1).

Symbolically/spiritually: The Bride is His vesture/robe baptized into His death and raised into His life. This is the robe of righteousness.

(Isa 61:10) I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul will be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the robes of salvation, He covered me with the robe of righteousness like a bridegroom adorns himself with ornaments, and like a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Jesus is the Revelation, the Word of God, living Word. His Bride is His revelation, living epistles. Only those in Him can know the Revelation and live it, actually Christ living in you.

Rev. 19:14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.

“Dispensational Interpretation.” The armies in heaven are glorified saints described in similar terms of purity in v. 8. This is best seen as the time of the Rapture, as the church triumphant rises to meet Christ and the other returning saints (who have died) in the air at His return. The raptured saints shall then immediately return to Earth with Christ and the others.

Symbolically/spiritually the Bride is His army, (see Joel 2) His followers. We go where He goes and see His Glory. We are wearing fine linen, clean and white, the robes of righteousness. White horses symbolize the Firstfruits/Elect/Bride going to and fro throughout the earth bringing the Revelation of Christ.

(Zec 1:8-10) I watched by night. And behold! a Man riding on a red horse, and He stood among the myrtle trees in the ravine. And behind Him were red, sorrel and white horses. Then I said, O my lord, what are these? And the angel who talked with me said to me, I will show you what these are. And the Man who stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are those whom Jehovah has sent to walk to and fro through the earth.

(Joe 2:4-11) As the appearance of horses is its appearance; and as war horses, so they run. They shall leap like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains, like the noise of a flame of fire that devours the stubble, like a strong people set in battle order. Before their face the people shall be much pained; all faces shall gather blackness. They shall run like mighty ones. They shall climb the wall like men of war, and they shall march each one on his way, and they shall not break their ranks. And each one shall not press his brother; they each go in his paths. And if they fall behind their weapons, they shall not be cut off. They shall rush on the city; they shall run on the wall; they shall climb up on the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief. The earth shall tremble before them; the heavens shall shake. The sun and the moon shall grow dark, and the stars shall gather in their light. And Jehovah shall utter His voice before His army; for His camp is very great; for strong is He who does His Word. For the day of Jehovah is great and very terrible; and who can stand it?

(Joh 17:24) Father, I desire that those whom You have given Me, that they may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me, for You have loved Me before the foundation of the world.

(Joh 12:26) If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there also My servant shall be. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

Rev.19:15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

The sword coming out of his mouth is the Word of God (see Heb. 4:12). Rod of iron: Treads the winepress: See 14:19, 20.

Symbolically/spiritually: The Bride is His Sword; The Bride is the Rod of Iron.

Christ wields the Sword, the Word of God through the mouths of the Elect/Bride. The tongue speaking the Word of God is 2-edged (Heb 4:12) For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing apart of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

(Rev 1:15b) ……….. and out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword.

The Bride/Elect gives the manifest truth to the world of the Word of God (Jesus Christ).

The rod of iron stands for the Word of Correction given by the Bride/Elect. They will rule through righteous acts (rod of iron) Christ. It is directly from God and should be heard as such.

The Bride will go forth(tread) with the Word to declare the full revelation. Paul said: (Eph 6:19) And pray for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,

Another symbolic/spiritual view: The sword is the revelation of the 2 witnesses. Those who bring the Revelation (two-edged truth) will both live and speak the same message.

(Rev 2:16) Repent! But if not I will come to you quickly, and will fight with them by the sword of My mouth.

Rev. 19:16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

This awesome title (see 17:14; Deut. 10:17), earned by Christ’s completed work and victory on the Cross (Phil. 2:5-11), is the basis for His consummating the victory over the dragon and his allies.

DISPENSATIONAL INTERPRETATION: In vv. 6-11 Christ leaves heaven with His saints and angels prior to His destruction of the Beast’s forces. He fights for Israel to consummate the Battle of Armageddon. See Dan. 2:34, 35; Joel 3:9-16; Zech. 12:1-9; 14:1-4; Matt. 24:27-30.

Christ’s return to Earth (v. 11) is seen as literal and premillennial. It is apocalyptic, necessary to inaugurate the next phase of His reign. Although the symbolic nature of the Bible’s prophetic language makes it difficult to determine exactly what will be transpiring on Earth, it is clear antichrist will be ruling with destruction, and Christ’s return will destroy him.

Symbolically/spiritually: The Bride is His kings and His lords. Name written on His thigh means the Bride knows Him in the most intimate sense. Being completely surrender the Bride becomes His: White Horse, Crowns, Vesture, Armies, Sword f truth, Rod of Iron, kings and lords.

This is all unity in the Body of Christ, becoming One with Him and with all members of the Body.

Unity in the Body of Christ:

(Php 2:3) Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves.

(Rom 12:5) so we the many are one body in Christ, and each one members of one another.

(Rom 12:5) In the same way, even though we are many people, we are one body in Christ and individual parts connected to each other. ISV

A Revelation of Christ Corporate :

ONE NEW MAN: The Revelation of Christ-Gal. 1:15-16; Eph. 2:15-16; 4:15-16,24; Col. 3:10.

Have we seen that new man? Have we really seen Christ and the tremendous difference that there is between Him and every other creation? The life in the Spirit is the progressive conformity to the image of God’s Son, and the consummation of that life is the revelation of the sons of God, a different order altogether. (Rom. 8:21).

An explanation of this world’s trouble and travail is this, that there is a corporate sonship within this kingdom, and until this Babylon’s or Pharaoh’s overthrow is final this world will be plagued. “The whole creation groans and travails in pain waiting for the manifestation, (the apocalypse, the revelation) of the sons of God.” (Rom. 8:22,19).

It is a corporate thing. Our business is the completing of the Christ order in a corporate way in the Church which is His Body, and beyond that the bringing in from the nations of those who are eventually to make full that Body and be the fullness of Him that fills all in all.

Corporate Anointing

Is. 65:8aThus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it:

The new wine is found in the cluster. We are ready for new wine in new wineskins, not new wine in old wineskins or old wine in new wineskins.

The Hebrews when they spied out the promised land they brought back large clusters of grapes, so large it took two men to carry it.

(Num 13:23) And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs.

This is a symbol of their coming together in unity. But because they could not, they wondered in the wilderness for 40 yrs. , 1 year for each month that they spied out the land. Grapes grow and ripen in clusters. The do not ripen apart from the cluster. This speaks of maturity in the Body of Christ.

We cannot ever be one in theology, doctrine, or ideas. We are not to debate, but be bound together in love. But we have unity of the same experience, Jesus Christ is Lord.

We possess our inheritance together. Everyone in Christ is one, complete in Him.

Jesus prayed that we would be one. (John 17:22-22) And I have given them the glory which You have given Me, that they may be one, even as We are one, I in them, and You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me. That is already a reality! “He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” We must walk and act like we are one in Christ.

The glory of God comes as a consequence of unity, the Body is coming into maturity, being one in the Spirit. Only the Spirit of God brings unity. Jesus prayed that we be one mind with the Father and Him. Don’t you think that prayer has been answered. We are already One but need to act like it. There are many Scripture which speak of corporate inheritance in Christ.

(1Co 2:16) For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.

We are moving from the individual to the Corporate Son of Man- His Body- 5 fold ministries have been restored. It is now time for the move of God in the Saints.

Corporate anointing is the knitting together of the Body of Christ in accountability and love, which brings a greater measure of Christ. This happens because His presence in our brothers and sisters enable Him to speak into our lives. No one person can manifest Christ’s appearance because our selfish carnality will prevent us from hearing the voice of God, and we choose to walk in a way that seems right in our own eyes. Our brothers and sisters show us the spots that the Holy Spirit is trying to remove. The Body will produce a greater manifestation of Christ in us as we submit to this chastening. Pride, which goes before a fall, has denied us access to the benefits of the Lord’s Body. Soon His powerful witness will walk the earth again as He appears in His Corporate Body.

This is His appearing power. We know Christ showed forth a very powerful witness and we have longed for that manifestation of Christ ever since, the Greater Works. The Church has made excuses about why we do not see miracles and manifestations today like those in the days of Christ. The simple truth is that Christ has not been present enough within the body to minister healing, blessing and victory over death. When He appears in His Bride, He will again be able to minister fully to the world., the final harvest. The whole becomes greater than the sum of the parts.

As individuals within the Body obtain more of Christ’s Glory,( the presence of Christ) a greater measure of Christ will appear in the Corporate Body and will transform us more and more. This will continue until there is a true appearing of Christ through His Body and in His Saints., His bride, His Elect.

(Eph 4:13) Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:

The Corporate Son of Man- the perfect reflection of His image

Jesus on the Mt. of Transfiguration ( Mark 9, Matt 17:1) became the visible tangible reflection of the Father’s Glory

(Mat 17:1-22) And after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain apart. And He was transfigured before them. And His face shone as the sun, and His clothing was white as the light.

(Mar 9:2-3) And after six days Jesus took Peter and James and John and led them up into a high mountain, apart by themselves. And He was transfigured before them. And His clothing became shining, exceedingly white as snow such as no fuller on earth could whiten them.

Right now we are transitioning from the old into the new. That is what all the shaking is about. The Lord is going to smash the old to bring in the new. New wine into new wineskins, not new wine into old wineskins or old wine into new wineskins.

Vial Angel 6

Rev. 19:17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God,

Dispensational: The victory is announced before the battle is fought (vv. 17, 18). Birds of prey are invited to a grisly feast, a solemn contrast to the marriage supper of the Lamb (see Ezek. 39:17-20).

The brief account of the final battle in vv. 19-21 is almost anticlimactic. The beast (see 13:1-10) and the false prophet (see 13:11-17) are seized and cast alive into the lake of fire (see 20:14; Dan. 7:11). Their allies are slain by the Word of the Lord, which has power to overcome all evil. The principle taught here applies in all generations. Any system which sets itself in opposition to Christ is doomed to defeat. DISPENSATIONAL INTERPRETATION: The Battle of Armageddon: West of Jordan, in the plain of Jezreel called Megiddo, the military forces of the Beast and False Prophet will be totally destroyed by the return of Christ. Anti-Semitism will reach a level not previously seen in history. The kings of the earth will gather against national Israel in great numbers. Only Christ’s return to Earth destroys them (see Zech. 12:1-9; 14:1-4).

The beast (vv. 19, 20), a man, not a computer or government system, is the same power as “another horn, a little one” of Dan. 7:8, the “desolator” of Dan. 9:27, the “abomination of desolation” of Matt. 24:15, and “the lawless one” of 2 Thess. 2:8. Though destroyed, he is not annihilated.

Symbolically/spiritually: The Bride comes forth and says it is time for the feast. The angel standing in the sun (standing in the Son, having no will of their own) represents the Bride in her robes of righteousness. The demand to gather emphasizes that the New Jerusalem is a Corporate Body. Saying to the birds are the Eagle Christians (Bride) who will feast in the power of Christ.

Symbolic Quote from Doug Fortune:

The apocalypse is the unfolding revelation of Christ in the Lampstand (the Church). The “rapture” is the Daystar arising in our hearts, taking the origin of our life from an earthly origin to a heavenly origin! Armageddon is in the mind- the battle of the ages- the carnal mind is at enmity with the mind of Christ. Armageddon was won at the Cross of Christ!

Rev. 19:18 “that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.”

Symbolically/spiritually: The Eagles (Eagle Christians/Bride) devour/eat prey, flesh, carnality. Satan is defeated. Our true enemy is the flesh, carnality.

Rev. 19:19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.

Symbolically/spiritually: Kings of the earth are those that sere mammon rather than God. They take their authority from the world. Jesus is not Lord of their lives.

Kings of the earth is anyone who get their reward, peace, rest from the earth. They are content with carnality. This is a heart issue. The Bride has adorned the inner man, truly let the hidden man of the heart (our spirit moved by Holy Spirit) reign. (1Pe 3:4) but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, the meek and quiet spirit, which is of great price in the sight of God.

(Luke 12:34) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

(Pro 4:23) Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Those who have not repented at this point will make themselves enemies of God. This is final judgment.

Rev. 19:20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Symbolically/spiritually: This speaks of final separation from God. It is called the lake of fire and brimstone. The fear of eternal separation from God will bring the perfecting power of God(fire). It is called the 2nd death because there is no resurrection from it.

Rev. 19:21 And the rest(remnant) were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.

Symbolically/spiritually: Carnality will completely be destroyed.

The spiritualist cite Prov. 10:30 as an opposite to the Dispensationalist’s Rapture.

(Pro 10:30) The righteous shall never be moved; and the wicked shall not live in the earth.

The Scriptural references concerning the rapture or being caught up are :

2 Corinthians 12:4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

Jude 23 but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.

Revelation 4:1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”

Revelation 12:5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.

Spiritualists cite this as symbolic. No physical rapture view:

We are not taught to escape reality in the Scripture, but rather to face it knowing that God will work all things out for our good (Rom. 8:28-30). When Jesus Christ returned he gathered the elect of all the ages into his kingdom. We as believers now live in the kingdom of God. We need to learn to focus on the spiritual and not the physical. The value, the power and the need are in the spiritual realm and not the physical. The purpose of the rapture, then, is not to remove the saints from the world prior to the final
infidel persecution under the antichrist, but to gather them to Christ at
His coming to execute judgment in the earth that He might be glorified in them and marveled at by them (2 Thess. 1:10). He will be glorified in their being manifested in glory with Him and acting as co-adjudicators and co-regents with Him (Col. 3:4)

Rev.20:1-15

Rev. 20:1Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

The literal interpretation is satan will be bound in the bottomless pit for 1000 years.

There are basically two broad positions regarding the reign of Christ during this 1,000-year period, or Millennium. The premillennial view holds that after the victory of ch. 19, Christ will set up an earthly kingdom and will reign with the resurrected saints in peace and righteousness for 1,000 years, which may be a literal period or may be symbolic of an undetermined period. At the end of this period satan will lead a final rebellion which will fail, and the world to come begins.

The realized millennial view (also called amillennial or present millennial) holds that the 1,000 years symbolize the period between the two advents of Christ, either as fully or progressively being realized. In this view, the millennial kingdom is a spiritual, not a political, reign of saints, being realized with Christ now, whether the believer is in heaven or on Earth.

The devil, who empowered the beast and the false prophet, shares their doom. In the first stage of his judgment, he is bound for a thousand years in the bottomless pit. Whatever one’s interpretation of the Millennium, the central truth of the defeat of satan in stages remains the same. The purpose of the binding of the devil is that he should deceive the nations no more. From the time of Jesus’ First Advent and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, it has no longer been possible for satan to keep the peoples of the world in darkness without contest (Luke 2:29-32), as disciples proclaim the gospel to “all nations” (see Matt. 28:18-20).DISPENSATIONAL INTERPRETATION: An angel coming down from heaven . . . laid hold of the dragon signifies that Satan is uniquely at work on Earth after the events of 12:9. He is bound for the length of the Millennium in order that Christ might establish divine authority.

Symbolically/spiritually:

*Symbol- great chain- binding of satan, chains of darkness 2 Pet. 2:4 ( present day reality)

The key is an item or means to open something. Jesus is the possessor of the keys to the pit.

(Rev 1:17-18) And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying to me, Do not fear, I am the First and the Last, and the Living One, and I became dead, and behold, I am alive for ever and ever, Amen. And I have the keys of hell and of death.

Christ descends out of heaven to rise with power over the bottomless pit. The bottomless pit is a type of heart. It is the gateway of the spiritual realm. It is what comes out of the heart that defiles a man. Here we are dealing with heart issues.

(Psa 64:6) They search out injustice, saying, We have finished hiding a hidden plot. Yea, the inward part of man and the heart are deep.

The Greek word is “abussos”, hole without a bottom. These are other NT Scriptures where abussos is used.

(Luke 8:31) And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.KJV

(Rom 10:7-9) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.KJV

Romans is the correct place to look for the bottomless pit. The bottomless pit is a gateway in our heart from which we can be defiled (Matt. 12:34, 15:11) or receive eternal life. It is the place where the real battle is taking place.

Eternal life is the well Jesus was talking about in John 4. (John 4:13-14) Jesus answered and said to her, Whoever drinks of this water shall thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst, but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Thusly satan can be locked away in the hearts of men.

Yet, he is bound away by our faith and words of our mouths.

Rev. 20:2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;

Dispensational- Literally 1,000 years

Symbolically/spiritually: This is not literal but represents satan being bound in the hearts of those who will be tested at the end of the 1,000 years. Christ is not manifested in them as Lord. This is 2nd chance grace.

One View of Rev. 20:2

THE BINDING of SATAN

I wake up every morning to start my day living for Jesus, rather than against Satan. I don’t have to bind Satan to get over difficulties or to make it through life and neither do you!

There is an un-biblical belief requiring the Believer to engage in mortal combat with demons in spiritual warfare in order to further the Great Commission. This concept of over-stating the power and role of Satan is rooted in the false notion that Christ descended into Hell to wrestle the keys of Hell and Death out of the hand of Satan in the corridors of Hell in order to achieve our Salvation. “In order for the Believer to live a victorious life they must constantly battle Satan”, says those who have been blinded by this false sense of responsibility.

Defeated. Conquered. Bound.

“In this way, God disarmed the evil rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross of Christ.” Colossians 2:15

Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil and according to Colossians 2:15 He did just that by dying on the Cross.

“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—“ Hebrews 2:14

It wasn’t in the corridors of hell that salvation was achieved and the devil was defeated, it was on The Cross! While some argue that a method of salvation was achieved by the Cross, they reject the notion that the devil was defeated because of the Cross. Because they read The Book of Revelation as largely unfulfilled, they also read the account in Revelation 20 of Satan’s binding as also unfulfilled and yet to happen in the future. But this interpretation is against the New Testament’s description of Satan’s position since the Cross.

“BINDING” IN THE BIBLE

“Binding” can be physical, such as being bound by shackles, chains or ropes (Mark 5:4) or bandages (Luke 10:34). It can also be non-physical. That is, someone could be bound by an oath (Matthew 23:16; Acts 23:12), a condition, or an obligation. Jesus questioned whether it was right for Him to heal a woman who had been ‘bound by Satan for eighteen years’ (Luke 13:16). Christ also stated that we could only ‘bind’ people on Earth with what they were already bound by in Heaven. In this sense, binding referred to obligations and it meant that people who could no longer do what the Pharisees had done when they invented certain rules they called ‘binding rules’ (things forbidden), instead they could only restrict people from doing what God said they were restricted from doing.

Meaning of “THOUSAND “

When it comes to interpreting this passage in Revelation 20 about Satan being bound at the beginning of “the one thousand year reign of Christ”, it is assumed by some ( who believe in a literal and future 1,000 reign of Christ on Earth) that neither the Kingdom of God in which Christ is king (“1,000” years) or “the binding of Satan” has taken place. Silly simplistic arguments are used to dispute those, who like me, regard the “1,000” years as linguistically representing the rule and reign of Christ from the close of the Old Covenant in 70AD to the present day (and beyond). To ignore the way the Bible uses the number “1,000” and to then impose a literal understanding of it into the Revelation 20 text is perilous. Job says that he could ask “a thousand questions” of God and have them all answered. Surely this language is stating the enormous depth of God’s knowledge rather than limiting God to the capacity to only answer a thousand questions. The Law-Giver says that God’s love extends to “a thousand generations” to those who keep His covenant. Surely God’s love does not expire after a thousand generations of humanity? The Psalmist said that God “owns the cattle on a thousand hills”. Does this imply that the cattle on hill number 1001 and beyond are not God’s? It appears that the biblical usage of “a thousand” paints a picture of a number so large that it’s not meant to be counted as “thousand” was the largest increment. The words, “million”, “billion”, “trillion”, etc… did not exist. “Thousand” was the largest increment and so it was used to figuratively express endless longevity!

That’s exactly what it means in Revelation 20:2.

And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, Revelation 20:2

Secondly, since Satan is a non-corporeal being (that is, he doesn’t have a physical body) physical objects, such as metal chains, cannot restrict him. Therefore, whatever binding means in Revelation 20:2, its certainly cannot mean a physical restriction. Since we have already seen that binding can mean something non-physical, it is far more probable that the binding referred to in Revelation 20:2 is symbolic language for restriction. The Cross terminally weakened Satan, and the culmination of the Old Covenant in 70AD destroyed his ability to exploit the condemnation of the Mosaic Covenant.

Therefore, rejoice O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” Revelation 12:12

The teaching of the New Testament is that Christ came to defeat the works of the devil. For those who believe that nothing changed for Satan since the Cross, then the statement in Revelation 12:12 becomes non-sensical as they are forced into the absurd position of claiming that the devil’s short time is from the Cross to the present day. This type of Bible interpretation requires mental, theological, and exegetical gymnastics. For those of us not prepared to abandon the ordinary rules of Bible interpretation (including: Context, Non-Contradiction, Original Intention) such fanciful interpretations are not only ridiculous but impossible.

Since we know that the Cross announced the end of the Old Covenant which continued to function until the New Covenant had been preached to every Jew in the Empire, and which Christ said was conditional for the ending of the Old Covenant-

And this Gospel of the Kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world [Greek word: “oichoumene”, def’n: ‘Roman Empire’] as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:14

The writer of Hebrews, who wrote to discouraged Jewish Christians encouraging them not to succumb to the taunts of Pharisaic Jews that the Mosaic Covenant has not been done away with since the Temple, Priesthood and Sacrifices were still in place, revealed to them-

In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. Hebrews 8:13

Satan did everything he could to prevent the first Church from preaching the Gospel to every creature- because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. 1Thessalonians 2:18

But despite Satan’s best efforts, the Gospel prevailed by 70AD- the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing— Colossians 1:5-6

If indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. Colossians 1:23

When all those living under the Old Covenant had had an opportunity to convert to Christ and accept the New Covenant, the Old Covenant could end. With the end of the Old Covenant came the ‘binding’ of Satan. From that point Satan could no longer come into the presence of God (as he did in Job 1-2), instead he was ‘bound’ from approaching God, and ‘bound’ for eternal damnation (“bottomless pit”).

Satan was defeated at the Cross. He was bound at the close of the Old Covenant. This means that he is restricted from deceiving nations and accusing the brethren in the presence of God (since he is now cast out of heaven). For those who claim that if Satan is bound now “he certainly has a long leash” – I suggest that if he isn’t bound now he certainly lacks imagination! If Satan is not now restricted from conducting unlimited evil by the Lordship of Christ then his lack of rampant evil is bewildering.

The Biblical expression “1,000” speaks of not meant to be counted.:

(1) God owns the cattle on a 1,000 hills. PS. 50:10 (2) Job could ask 1,000 questions and each time receive an answer. JOB 9:3 (3) God’s faithfulness is to 1,000 generations, and so on. DUET 7:9

In a similar way, after the close of the Old Covenant Age with the destruction of the Temple and abolition the sacrificial system, Christ established His New Covenant reign.

HOW FAR INTO THE FUTURE DID REVELATION CLAIM SATAN WOULD BE BOUND?

Some claim that the Book of Revelation was written about events which were to be fulfilled in the much distant future. But the Book of Revelation makes emphatic claims that its contents pertained to its original audience. The opening verses of Revelation could not be clearer-

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John…Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. Revelation 1:1, 3 ESV

It flies in the face of logic to claim that although it plainly states that its contents are immediately about to happen, it actually meant that they were thousands of years off! That is an absurd interpretation. This also relates to what it says about the doom of Satan. The correct interpretation of “Satan’s time is short” (Rev. 12:12) as the forty or so years (an incredibly short time in the scheme of Biblical history) as being from the Cross to the destruction of Jerusalem. To suggest that Satan’s “short time” was from the Cross to the present day defies all ordinary senses of language and basic critical thinking skills.

“For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:8

And He did!

Rev. 20:3 and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.

Literally a millennium is one thousand years. Premillennialists base their doctrine of the literal 1,000 year millennium on the six occurrences of the phrase “a thousand years” in Revelation chapter 20. Their justification for doing this is the so-called “literal” hermeneutic in which all passages are interpreted literally unless there is sufficient grounds to interpret it figuratively.

Some symbolic Scriptures on 1,000.

He remembers his covenant forever, the word he commanded, for a thousand generations. (1 Chr 16:15)

For every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. (Psa 50:10)

May the LORD, the God of your fathers, increase you a thousand times and bless you as he has promised! (Deut 1:11)

How could one man chase a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the LORD had given them up? (Deut 32:30)

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. (2 Peter 3:8)

Figuratively in these verses 1,000 means “all,” “forever,” “many” or “abundantly, “all increase“, and “ large number.”

The verse a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like a day in 2 Peter supports the idea that each day of the creation week corresponds to 1,000 years of human history. Some argue that 1,000 years here (a long time to us humans) is like a day to God. So it’s not “1 day = 1,000 years,” instead it’s “1,000 years (of human time) = 1 day (to God).”

For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. (Psalm 90:4)

Symbolically 1,000 is a multiple of 10, 10 3rd power, 100x 10, ten being the number of order, government, restoration, kingdom. Symbolically 1,000 would be eternity.

Dispensationalist View: The Biblical Millennium will be a period of peace, love, and brotherhood when all nature lives in the harmony that was intended in the Garden of Eden. All the rest of the Messianic prophecies will be fulfilled during this time. The Book of Isaiah (11:6–9) speaks of a time when the wild animals will live at peace with domestic animals, when the serpents will no longer bite A little child will be able to play by a cobra’s den or lead wild beasts around and not be harmed. Military schools will close, and implements of war will no longer be manufactured. The money and resources that now go into warfare will then be devoted to peaceful pursuits. When this day comes, every person will have his own plot of ground, his own home. All will live in harmony with their neighbors. No one will be afraid that someone will try to steal his belongings. There will be universal peace, for the knowledge of the Lord will cover the Earth as the waters cover the sea.

The Millennium is a transition period, when Jesus Christ comes back to Earth to show mankind what it would have been like if sin had never entered the world. It will be a time when Jesus Christ will reign as king, and the kingdom of God will be established on Earth. There will be a one–world government under the leadership of Jesus with nation–states subject to Him. The Bible says representatives of the nations of the Earth will come to Jerusalem each year (Is. 2:2–4; Zech. 14:16).

End Time Prophecy of Isaiah. Isaiah contains much information about the Millennium.

(Isa 65:17-25) For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

Outline and Overview 17-20-The seven spectacles 17:1–20:3.

Dispensational View:

The setting: a wilderness (17:1–3). John is now shown the punishment of someone identified as the “great harlot” who commits adulteries with the kings of the earth (1–2).
The spectacles (17:3–20:3).
The woman on a scarlet beast (17:3–5).
The mystery of the woman and the beast (17:6–18). The woman is drunk “with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus” (6). The angel explains the mystery, again identifying the beast as the Antichrist (7–8). Aspects of the beast with symbolic meaning are explained (9–15). The woman, identified as “that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth,” will in time be destroyed by the beast, who wants sole possession of all power (16–18).
Seven voices: Babylon fallen (18:1–19:10). Now an angel with great authority shouts out his announcement. Babylon the Great has fallen (18:1–3). In counterpart, a voice from heaven calls on God’s people to “come out of her,” for she is doomed to be consumed by fire (4–8). The kings and merchants of the earth who profited from relationship with Babylon will *mourn (9–20). But Babylon will be overthrown with great violence (21–24). Of particular note is the repeated phrase “in one hour” (cf. vv. 10, 17, 19). The destruction of Babylon will be swift and complete. The final sequence is about to be played out. John hears the massed, triumphant shout of heavenly multitudes (see Servants), praising God for His victory over the great prostitute (19:1–5; see Revelation 17). He then hears a joyous announcement: God reigns, and the “marriage of the Lamb” has come at last (6–10;).
King of kings and Lord of lords (19:11–16). At this, heaven stands open and Christ appears as a rider on a white horse, with the armies of heaven following Him.
The supper of the great God (19:17–18). The birds are called to come, to feast on the flesh of the armies gathered to war against God.
The war (19:19–21). In the clash which follows the earthly armies are destroyed, and the beast and false prophet thrown “alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.”

Satan bound (20:1–3). This chapter picks up and continues from chapter 19. Satan is said to be chained in the Abyss, captive there for a thousand years, and unable to deceive the nations anymore.

Rev. 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Judgment, krima (kree-mah); Strong’s #2917: Compare “crime” and “criminal.” A legal term describing the judicial process of deciding guilt or innocence. The word is used chiefly for the verdict itself, reached after an investigation. The Lord forbids fault-finding decisions in Matt. 7:2, while in 1 Cor. 6:7, Paul discourages lawsuits against fellow Christians. Krima is used frequently of the judgment of God against wrongdoing.

The plural thrones is used only four times in Rev. (see 4:4; 11:16), and those seated on them are always the twenty-four elders. Judgment was committed to them as representatives of the church in heaven and on Earth (see Dan. 7:9, 22, 27; Matt. 19:28; Luke 22:30; Heb. 12:1, 2). Souls: The vision is of a time before the final Resurrection (1 Cor. 15:42-58). Beheaded is symbolic of all martyrs. DISPENSATIONAL INTERPRETATION: The first resurrection includes the resurrection of 1) Jesus Christ, 2) many dead saints of OT times (Matt. 27:52, 53), 3) the dead saints of the church, 4) the rapture of the living saints (1 Thess. 4:16, 17), and 5) those who are martyred for their testimony during the Great Tribulation.

Symbolically/spiritually

These are the persons who have died to themselves (beheaded) and are counted worthy to rule with Christ. They are also the ones He will use, the ones never soiled by the Harlot or marred by carnal, man-made worship. This is a warning to all who pursue religion instead of Love.

Religion vs. Pursuit to the Love of Christ

Religious teaching keeps people blinded to the truth of their being. The Christian religion for the most part is still under the old covenant teaching of keeping rules and regulations which veils Gods’ people to the truth of their being. Whenever you are living by a performance and trying to live by the knowledge of good and evil you do not have the proper experience of Christ.

2 Cor 3:14-16. But their minds were blinded: for until this day remains the same veil untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament; which veil is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.

Moses represents the law of the Old Testament. Many read the New Testament with an Old Testament mindset and they mix law and grace. In reality you cannot mix the two. We are either living by law or grace. We must choose which one to live by. Living by law we will never have complete peace and joy because we will always fail somewhere almost every day until we are completely transformed by Christ in us. Living by grace we realize that even though we may fail every day we have total and complete forgiveness and we know that Christ in us is the victor.

As we begin to turn our whole heart and our full attention on seeking after God, and put other things aside, and get into God’s presence, the veils begin to be removed.

2 Cor 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

As we look into the mirror we are transformed from glory to glory. The mirror is the word. Not the dead letter but the living word. Many years ago when I first discovered this verse I began to read the words of Jesus as my mirror. The scripture says “AS HE IS SO ARE WE IN THIS WORLD.

Jesus was the pattern son. The more we meditate on the life of Jesus and feast on Him as the living bread the more we will reflect Him and the veils will be removed from us. The more we are in His presence, and the more we behold Him, the more He saturates our being and the more we reflect Him. This will increase His anointing upon our life and the sweetness, and the meekness, and all the loveliness of Christ will come forth within us.

Rev. 20:5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

Rev. 20:6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

Since this is called a resurrection then there will be those who are raised from the dead.

Symbolically/spiritually these are they that are dead-in-Christ who sleep or the Saints who pass through the grave. They stayed obedient and faithful to Christ until their end so that that He was in them. The Saints who are not coming to life are those marred by the Harlot/Beast. They are not worthy to reign.

Worthy to Reign

(2Ti 2:11-13) For faithful is the Word, for if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.

If we do not believe Him, yet He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.

(Heb 3:6) But Christ was faithful as a Son over his own house; whose house we are, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.

Rev. 20:7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison

Dispensational View: Satan’s desire is to hasten the day of the battle (v. 8) in order to frustrate God’s purpose by limiting the scope of His salvation (2 Pet. 3:8-10), but he is bound until God sovereignly determines to release him. He then will make one last effort to destroy Christ and His people. Four corners connotes worldwide. In Ezek. 38 and 39 Gog is the prince of the land of Magog. They represent rulers and their peoples who ally with satan in rebellion against God. The camp of the saints is the beloved city, or the “New Jerusalem” (21:2), the residence of the saints. There is no military battle. This is spiritual warfare, and the enemy cannot withstand the overwhelming power of God. DISPENSATIONAL INTERPRETATION: At the end of the 1,000 years, satan will be released in the Earth again to deceive. It appears that many who submitted to Christ’s rule during the Millennium did so without inner commitment to His lordship. The final deception of satan separates these from those who have sincerely submitted. This is the last insurrection that the Lord will tolerate. satan will next be cast into the lake of fire and tormented forever.

Symbolically/spiritually:

This is the place where satan will be loosed from the hearts of men to tempt them.

Rev. 20:8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea.

Dispensational-

“And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I [am] against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts [of armour, even] a great company [with] bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: [and] many people with thee.” Ezekiel 38: 1-6

The major nations that will attack Israel, and they are:

Magog – this is modern day Russia

Persia – this is modern day Iran

Meshech and Tubal, Togarmah – this region is modern day Turkey

Ethiopia – this is modern Ethiopia

Libya – this is modern day Libya

Gomer – this is modern day Germany

While there is slight debate among bible scholars, the above list represents the best consensus of the identity of the nations in Ezekiel 38. These nations will attack Israel, “To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places [that are now] inhabited, and upon the people [that are] gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.” Ezekiel 38:12

Many debate whether this will happen before or after the Rapture of the Church.

Symbolically/spiritually:

*Symbol- God and Magog- Godless masses of the wicked counterfeit or false church-Ez. 38:39

Greek- Gog- mountain-

Mountains are places or organizations that make up the church. The right kind of worship brings us to God. The wrong kind of worship (false or psuedo worship) is an empty, carnal expression meant to show forth religion or focus on man more than a focus on God.

In the OT a mountain was a place to meet God or a high place of worship.

Gog is counterfeit. Much of Revelation is about a face to face relationship with Christ. Mountains speak of a need for personal relationship, the revelation of Christ, a face to face encounter with Him.

They also speak of independent religious organizations.

Spiritual Babylon is made of such places. Zechariah 4:6-7 speaks of mountains being removed or destroyed.

(Zec 4:6-7) Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, This is the Word of Jehovah to Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says Jehovah of Hosts. Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain; and he shall bring forth the top stone with shoutings, Grace! Grace to it!

Magog- covering

Gog and Magog represent a place of worship like a religion. Number as the sand of the sea speaks of corporate carnal man.

Rev. 20:9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.

Dispensational- literal rendering: And the beloved city – Jerusalem – a city represented as beloved by God and by his people. The whole imagery here is derived from a supposed invasion of the land of Palestine. And fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them – Consumed them – fire being represented as devouring or eating. The meaning is, that they would be destroyed as if fire should come down from heaven, as on Sodom and Gomorrah.

Symbolically/spiritually this speaks of criticism and cynicism toward the Bride, New Jerusalem (beloved city). Fire here is perfecting fire, devouring carnality.

What is carnality?

There are three types of people living on this earth:

Natural/Unsaved

Carnal

Spiritual

When we understand these three types, then we can understand where we were and are.

The Natural Man–The natural Man does what comes naturally to him/her. The natural man is controlled by the soul and body, the 5 senses. The natural man does not understand the spiritual world because he is in darkness. The spirit is dead (darkened). This is unregenerated man.

The Carnal man–The carnal man is simply a saved person acting like the world. He is led by the five senses. He’s turned back to the flesh. The carnal man is like a baby who has never grown up. He has the body of an adult, but the mind of a child. A carnal man never gets past the basic introduction of salvation. He misses out on the full knowledge of God. Carnal men cause division and controversy in the Church. They act like spoiled children throwing temper tantrums.

The Spiritual Man –What are the characteristics of a spiritual man?

One who knows who he is in Christ

One who know what belongs to him in Christ

One who appropriates, takes advantage of God’s promises and provision

One who regularly feeds upon the Word

One who continually drinks at the fountain of the Holy Spirit (filled every day)

One who has saturated himself in love, walks in love (a doer of the Word)

One who knows God intimately

Judgment in the New Covenant is upon carnality. Jesus came as the One to separate us from our carnality. The New Covenant emphasis is not so much a matter of bringing judgment upon individuals for their sin (as in the Old Covenant), but rather bringing judgment upon the kosmos, upon carnality itself. The emphasis is not that God is mad when individuals reject Him and therefore He will bring judgment upon them. God loves people. What He hates is carnality, because carnality brings death and decay to people. The LAW could never separate us from our carnality, but Christ IN us is well able to bring the necessary judgment.

Rev. 20:10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

This is satan being cast into the lake of fire. It is total separation from the Lord and it is eternal.

Symbolically/spiritually: “And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan (the carnal mind is enmity with God)…was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” The context here is fire (devouring unto a change of forms), and brimstone (purified). The actual word in Greek for ‘torment’ here is touchstone, which is defined as: 1. A black siliceous stone allied to flint;-used to test the purity of gold and silver by the streak left on the stone when rubbed by the metal. 2. Any test or criterion by which to try a thing’s quality.” The Greek for ‘for ever and ever’ is aeon to aeon, meaning age to age, signifying mankind will go through this process until purified.

Rev. 20:11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.

History has ended, and only Final Judgment is left to complete the drama of redemption. The Final Judgment is concerned with the spiritually dead, not the saints. The Book of Life was opened to reveal that the names of the dead do not appear in it. “The last enemy” to be destroyed is Death and Hades, the temporary abode of the dead until the Final Judgment. They are ultimately as powerless as the other forces of evil. DISPENSATIONAL INTERPRETATION: This judgment (vv. 11-15) closes the millennial period and opens the Age to Come. It is the greatest of all judgments because it encompasses all the wicked from the beginning of man’s history. Jesus Christ is the one sitting on the great white throne, fulfilling John 5:22. Those who are judged are lost because they refused God’s salvation in Christ by grace through faith. Their doom is the second death.

Spiritualist View: The kingdom of Heaven is fully in place, no distinction between heaven and earth. We will all be gathered together in the garden with the Glorified Resurrected Jesus Christ in person.

Rev. 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.

Spiritualist View: Books is plural; here judging the dead are those who have died to carnality and have he life of Christ in them. Another group is the group which came out of the Millennium with Life; they passed the test and will be judged according to their works.

Rev. 20:13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.

Spiritualist View: This verse is about those who have not been through the Millennium, those who were marred by the Harlot and some that came from the Old Testament hell which was a holding place. Some scholars believe Sheol was replaced by paradise until the new heaven and earth is established.

Rev. 20:14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Spiritualist View: Death and hell were cast into the lake of fire, no need anymore for death and hell. This is the 2nd death.

Rev. 20:15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

Symbolically/spiritually: The Book of (zoe) Life” (Rev. 20:15), is about Him, and His intention to perform His purposes through us His people, His Word made flesh.

Eph. 2:10, AMP For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship, recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us, (taking paths which He prepared ahead of time) that we should walk in them-living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live.

God knew us in Christ before we entered this world. He pre-planned “the good life, the Book of Life” for each of us (Rom. 8:28; 1 Pet. 3:10).

The Lake of Fire:

(Matt. 3:10) And now also, the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bring forth good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.

(Mat 3:10) And now also is the axe put to the roote of the trees: therfore euery tree which bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewen downe, & cast into Ye (God’s) fire.

Ye was the second-person, plural, personal pronoun (nominative), spelled in Old English as “ge”. In Middle English and Early Modern English, it was used to direct a superior person.

Superior Person is God’s fire.

Symbolically/spiritually the lake of fire is the perfecting power of God.

Note: Quote from Kim Perez

SPIRIT OVERCOMING FLESH:

It may be difficult for us to understand that God is a consuming fire. “For the Lord your God is a consuming fire.” (Deut. 4:24) In Heb. 12:29 this truth is repeated! “For our God is a consuming fire.” Since GOD IS SPIRIT, it follows that THIS FIRE HAS TO BE A SPIRITUAL FIRE – NOT A PHYSICAL FIRE. In Matt. 3:11 John the Baptist said of Jesus, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” This is the cleansing fire of God that takes place in the inward man. It destroys all our carnal thoughts – our wrong attitudes and our wrong idea of God, self, and Satan. When our wrong ideas are gone, our outward actions will change.

God’s consuming fire does what our self-effort fails to do! All our efforts at trying to be pleasing to God by making right choices and new resolves to do better in the future are useless, because we cannot make ourselves pure and righteous! This is an impossible task! The natural mind is filled with lies and deception; it always opposes Christ; in fact, it is anti Christ. Only God knows how to produce an effective cleansing! God loves us so much that He will do away with all our carnality! His cleansing fire does away with all our dross – with all our wrong thinking, pride and fleshly lusts! We don’t enjoy the process, but we appreciate the blessings that this cleansing brings.

Notice that God is a consuming fire! It is the very essence of His being! The so-called eternal hellfire is not a consuming fire. We are taught that it just keeps burning and torturing us, but it does not accomplish anything; its only purpose is to give us torturing pain forever. Since it is not consuming anything, it is not redemptive, and therefore not of God. Those who call our attention to the burning bush that was not consumed, forget that this fire did not hurt the bush, so it cannot be compared with a hellfire that is said to keep people in agonizing pain forever! God’s disciplines are always rooted in His love for us, and in His purpose to change us into the image of Christ!