Friends, we’ve reached the final chapter of the final book of the New Testament, which means we have also reached the end of our reading plan for the year. Today, John sees the river of the water of life flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. Whereas the first Adam fell into sin and death by eating from a tree, the second Adam from above provides a tree of life which heals the nations. John hears the Lord say that he is coming soon, and that his reward is with him. He declares himself to be the Alpha and the Omega, the root and descendant of David, and the bright morning star.

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

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While the message of “Immanuel, God with us” is rightly accented at Christmastime, it is neither the beginning nor the end of the idea. In fact, God’s presence with his people is a story arc that begins in Genesis and finds it fruition here in Revelation. In the new heaven and the new earth the Lord will be with his people in the fullest and more final sense. A new Jerusalem appears with massive walls but with 12 open gates named after the 12 apostles of the Lamb. The walls and streets are made of transparent gold, and even the foundations are adorned with jewels. All of this imagery connotes that this city is secure, beautiful, and wanting for nothing. There is no temple in this city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are it’s temple.

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

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There are many things written in the book of Revelation that are confusing and sometimes even scary, but one truth shines brightly throughout the message of this book: in the end Christ is unfathomably glorious and eternally victorious. In our last episode, Babylon the Great fell and the world mourned. Today, the vast multitude of heaven cheers that God’s righteous judgment is begin executed. Christ appears as a rider on a white horse whose robe is dipped in blood, and the sword from his mouth will strike the nations who refused to repent. The beast and its armies will be slain, and Satan will be bound. The slain in Christ who had not submitted to the beast are raised from the dead to reign with Christ for a thousand years. Ultimately, Satan is thrown into the lake of fire, along with all of those whose name is not found in the book of life.

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

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In our last episode, an angel escorted John to a wilderness where he saw a woman on a scarlet beast. That woman has “Babylon the Great” written on her forehead. Today, another angel with great authority proclaims that Babylon has fallen. This lament is modeled after the lament found in Jeremiah 51, one of the longest chapters in Scripture, which declares the fall of the historic Babylon. Since Revelation is a book about the future, we don’t know exactly what this represents, but it is likely that Babylon is representative of a global power in rebellion against God. Merchants mourn her demise, for they had grown rich from her. Finally, a mighty angel hurls a large stone into the sea, saying that Babylon will fall like this, never to rise again.

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

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Seven angels have poured out seven bowls of wrath, and today, one of them approaches John and carries him away in the Spirit to a wilderness. There, he sees a woman sitting on a scarlet beast. The woman is clothed in lavish and expensive attire, but holds a cup with every detestable thing. Moreover, she is drunk on the blood of the saints and the witnesses of Jesus. “Babylon the Great” is written on her forehead. The angel then explains the beast and its seven heads, stating that they represent seven mountains and seven kings. The beast itself represents an eighth king. It’s ten horns also represent ten kings which reign briefly, give their power and authority to the beast, and who unsuccessfully wage war with the Lamb.

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

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In our last episode the Son of Man appeared, seated on a cloud with a sickle in his hand. He harvested the earth with a single swing, and with a second swing he gathered the grapes for the winepress of God’s wrath. Today, the heavenly temple, also called the tabernacle of testimony, opens. Out of this temple, seven angels come forth to retrieve 7 golden bowls which are filled with God’s wrath. The first bowl produces painful sores for those who served the beast. The second bowl turns the sea to blood causing all life in the sea to die. The third bowl, likewise, turns the rivers and springs to blood. The fourth bowl intensifies the sun’s heat. The fifth bowl is poured on the throne of beast, plunging its kingdom into darkness. The sixth bowl dries up the Euphrates. The seventh bowl brings a number of natural disasters.

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

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The last few chapters have been focused on the dragon and the two beasts that arose from the sea and from the earth. In our last reading, we learned that the number of the beast is 666 and that this number or the beast’s name were to be marked on the right hand or on the forehead of everyone one earth. Today, the focus switches from the dragon to the Lamb who stands on Mount Zion with the 144,000. They have the Father’s name on their foreheads, and stand aloft, unharmed by the dragon or the two beasts. Three angels fly high overhead warning of judgment on Babylon and those who worship the beast and its image. The Son of Man appears, seated on a cloud with a sickle in his hand. He harvests the earth with a single swing, and soon thereafter the rest of the earth harvested for wrath. 

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

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As the dragon stands on the shore, a beast comes out of the sea. It has ten horns and seven heads, each horn has a crown and each head has a blasphemous name. One head appears to have been fatally wounded, but has since been healed. The earth is enamored with the beast and worships the dragon, who gave the beast authority. The beast speaks blasphemies against God and wages war against the saints. Another beast comes up from the earth whose two horns are like that of a lamb, but whose voice is like that dragon. It exercises the authority of the beast on it’s behalf and makes everyone on earth receive a mark on their right hand or forehead.

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

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The book of Revelation is full of imagery and prophecy, which means that as we read there will be many confusing passages that Christians may disagree on and which I will not be able to cover at length here. Some see this next section as an overlap, sort of a call back to what has already been described at a different angle. The sign of the woman that gives birth to a child who will rule the nations is full of references to Psalm 2 which in turn is full messianic promises. The dragon is a reference to Satan, who sought to annihilate this promised child through Herod. The woman is later supernaturally sustained for 1260 days, which is the exact amount of time that the two witnesses were protected. Unable to harm the woman, the dragon wages war against those who keep the commands of God.

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

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Thus far in our reading of Revelation, the lamb has opened the seven seals on the scroll and seven angels have come forward to blow trumpets. At this point, only six of the seven trumpets have been blown. Today, a mighty angels appears with a small scroll, which John commanded to eat; it tastes as sweet as honey, but it makes his stomach bitter. Two unnamed witnesses appear and are given authority to prophesy and to declare plagues. When their time is complete, the beast will arise to kill them. Though they will lay slain in street for three and a half days, at which point the breath of God will enter them and they will rise to their feet. When the seventh trumpet is blown, the 24 elders declare that “the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever.”

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

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