We now enter the last chapter of Revelation that directly pertains to our lives in 2006. The final three chapters of the book, 20,21 & 22 are referring to a new heaven and a new earth to come 1,000 years later and beyond.
Chapter 19 The Final White Horse at the Battle of Armageddon
The Final White Horse. This horse will not usher in a false peace plan as the future satan did, riding his white horse in Rev.6. This horse will carry Jesus our Savior with a final answer to our world's problems with real true and genuine peace.
The 24 Angels, the 4 Living Creatures, The Lord and His Saints pronounce victory before the Battle of Armageddon starts. John is shown very clearly now the full sight of heaven wide open, with its gates opening preparing for the battle. Jesus is on a white horse with armies of angels clothed in white linen. This signifies the righteous deeds of God's people of the earth who are now residents of heaven.
Verse 15 in chapter 19 starts the Battle of Armageddon and line 21 ends it. Unlike any other war where the commanders force their men to fight and die before them, here the two leaders, satan and the false prophet are taken out by heaven's army before any bloodshed begins.
Interpreting prophecy study notes
It will be the choice of the men down below to keep the anger and fight. There will be so much hatred and try for self gain in this war, it would be hard to compare it with another in history. The bloodshed will be overwhelming. From earlier chapters information, experts agree that more than 200 million will die. Blood will be bridle high for 1,600 furlongs. 14:20 This will be the winepress of the Lord's judgment. 19:17 God calls all the birds and beasts of the field saying "This is my sacrifice to you, eat the kings of the world." see Ezekiel ch.39.
John said this " And I saw a beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him who sat on his horse and against his army. 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 worshipped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the rest 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."
This ends chapter 19. Now with the exception of the first 3 lines of chapter 20, the rest of the Book of Revelation is not as of any immediate importance to us living in the 21st century. Learn these first 19 chapters. Witness for Jesus and practice only the ways of the Lord and not the ways of the world, and you won't need to read the rest; He will tell you in person!
These chapters below are of superior importance if you want to know the whole Bible. These pages give the answers to many questions of the Old and New Testaments.
Chapter 20
As the devil will only be an audience at this war, he will then be chained down by an angel to a great abyss or bottomless pit. This angel will seal the pit for 1,000 years. This is the same angel that was seen by John when the 5th trumpet sounded 9:12. Then John saw the thrones of God's judgment. He saw the dead who would not worship the beast and those who witnessed for Yeshua (Jesus). They came to live with God for this 1,000 year reign. This is the first resurrection.
In these one thousand years not everyone will be included in this idyllic situation. Those who battled in today's society or societies past of hell on earth that refused to join the masses of the non-caring, were included in either the Holy Trinity's rapture or the first Book of Life list. This is the quickest way to explain this matter. John saw only the tail end of this in the vision when the judgment seats were full. Some of the judged were sent with the Lord to the 1,000 year reign and some were sent back down to Hades to be judged much later.
In this 1,000 year reign there will be no hatred or sickness. There will be no lawyers, police or referees of any kind. Doctors and nurses will also not be needed. It will be a paradise for all the people who battled in today's society to stay on the side of the Lord. A sigh of relief, a reward for all of those who would not give up for righteousness.
1,000 YEARS LATER AND BEYOND
20:7 After the 1,000 years of being bound Satan will then be released. He is believed to only have power over the new residents of earth, those being born in this 1,000 year reign. All living before with the Lord cannot and will not ever be tempted. Those people have already served their time.
Battle of Magog and Gog occurs and the universe is destroyed. No mention is made in the Bible of how much time elapsed after the devil was set loose or how long this battle was. The devil will be cast into the lake of fire and will be tormented night and day forever and ever.
Then John saw the dead 20:12-15. They were standing before God and the "Book of Life" was opened. The dead were judged according to their works. The bad were cast into the lake of fire along with the devil. This is known as the "Second Death" and is eternal for the devil and all of his followers.
Chapter 21
Then John saw a new Heaven and Earth. He saw a new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God as a bride adorned for her husband. He heard a voice from heaven saying, The Lord will now deal with his people, He will wipe away every tear from man. No death, sorrow or pain. "John write these words they are true and faithful". "It is done, I am the Alpha and the Omega, I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts" .....Jesus Christ
The rest of Chapter 21 describes how the new Holy City looks and all the saved will walk in its light. It will be brilliant and loving. John did not see a temple in the New Jerusalem, for it is God the Father and Jesus the Lamb who are its new temple. The City had no need for the sun nor the light of the moon, for the Glory of God will illuminate it. And all of the saved will forever walk in its light and live with ( amongst ) the Lord. This section is a good reason to pick up a Bible and read its text. It's full of good news.
Chapter 22
The Angel showed John the River of Life and the Tree of Life. This signifies the Lord is giving us eternal life, free and clear. The tree has 12 fruits, signifying great abundance and variety in heaven. God promises us a therapeutic healing. We shall now see his face and live in his direct presence.
22:10-11 "Do not seal these words of prophecy" God commands us here to get these words out there and show all because the time is at hand. There will be no more warning. "When all who have seen this prophecy, Then he who is unjust, let him be unjust still".
From the time of the deliverance of the letters to the 7 churches until now is the last period of time. At the beginning of rapture starts the new age of God taking power on earth. It marks the last days of a "free for all" time of where the devil can tempt anyone he wants or lets another who is tempted bring grief upon one who was with the Lord's wishes.
The two most important points our Lord wants to make in Revelation are: 1. To spread the true word of the Bible to everyone on earth before the world starts giving harsh signs of end times. So everyone has the opportunity to know the truth before it is too late. 2. To beware and not go with the "Way of the World" near the end times just because it will be easier to do so than to live by the Bible in that time. The majority of people in that day will have an "all for themselves" attitude and will step on others for self gain of any kind. They will be delusional, evading, in denial of truth and will have no grace or respect for others. It will be an alarming, growing number in that time because it will be easier to jump on that bandwagon of the non-caring than it will be to honor the ways of the Lord and to follow the Bible.
22:14 "Blessed are those who do his commandments. They may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates of the city" With the above notes, self-explanatory.
22:18-19 "I Jesus, testify to everyone who hears the words of this book" No one may ever add to these words or take away from them. This is the final prophecy.
"Surely I am coming quickly" mentioned three times in chapter 22 broadcasts the importance of the knowledge there will be no final warning of when Jesus comes. There will be no more prophets and no more written. These are the end times.
Copyright 2003 Working Man's Ministries
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