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Revelation is a book of victory.
In this series, I want to expand upon that theme,
and show the victories revealed within Revelation.
Division of the Book
It helps us digest the message of Revelation if we understand
the basic breakdown of the book.
- Rev. 1 Introduction.
- Rev. 2-3 Messages to seven churches of Asia.
- Rev. 4-11 First prophesy.
- Rev. 12-19 Second prophesy.
- Rev. 20:1-22:5 The saints in heaven.
- Rev. 22:6-21 Closing exhortations.
Introduction
The book of Revelation begins by introducing the victory
we have in Christ, the ruler of the kings of the earth.
- "and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness,
the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler
of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves
us and released us from our sins by His blood
-- and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests
to His God and Father -- to Him be the glory and
the dominion forever and ever. Amen" (Rev. 1:5-6).
Chapter One closes showing our victorious Lord, who
rose from the dead, gloriously arrayed as He sits on
God's throne (Rev. 1:12-20).
Messages to the Seven Churches
In the messages to the seven churches of Asia, Jesus
promises victory to those who overcome.
- Jesus will grant them to eat of the tree of life,
which is in the Paradise of God (Rev. 2:7).
- They will not be hurt by the second death (Rev.
2:11).
- They will be given some of the hidden manna, a
white stone, and a new name written on the stone which
no one knows but those who receive it (Rev. 2:17).
- They will be given authority over the nations,
and given the morning star (Rev. 2:26-28).
- They will be clothed in white garments, their names
will not be erased from the book of life, and Jesus
will confess their names before His Father and the
angels (Rev. 3:5).
- Jesus will make them pillars in the temple of God,
and write on them the name of His God and the name
of the city of His God, the new Jerusalem (Rev. 3:12).
- Jesus will grant them to sit down with Him on His
throne (Rev. 3:21).
First Prophesy
The book of Revelation tells of Christ's victory over
Satan and the nations, whom Satan had deceived. Thus,
Revelation tells of the saints' victory through Christ.
This is expressed twice, in two major prophesies.
The first prophesy is in Revelation chapters 5-11,
and the second is in chapters 12-19. The first prophesy
begins with our victorious God (Father) reigning upon
His throne, by whom Christ is victorious over Satan
and the world, saving the saints from their persecutors
(Rev. 4).
Then the prophesy shows the victorious Lamb (Jesus),
who was worthy to open the book and the seven seals.
Those who worship Him say:
- "Worthy are You to take the book and to
break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased
for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue
and people and nation. You have made them to
be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will
reign upon the earth" (Rev. 5:9-10).
- "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
to receive power and riches and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing" (Rev. 5:12).
The seven seals show the Lord giving the saints white
robes, and punishing sinful men upon the earth.
Before the last seal is opened, there is an interlude,
and the saints are sealed, revealing a victorious multitude
in heaven.
- "These are the ones who come out of the great
tribulation, and they have washed their robes
and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
For this reason, they are before the throne of
God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple;
and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle
over them. They will hunger no longer, nor thirst
anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any
heat; for the Lamb in the center of the throne
will be their shepherd, and will guide them
to springs of the water of life; and God will
wipe every tear from their eyes" (Rev. 7:14-17).
After the seventh seal is loosed, seven trumpets sound,
again showing the punishment of sinful men upon the
earth.
Then when the last trumpet sounds, voices in heaven
victoriously proclaim:
- "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom
of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever
and ever." And the twenty-four elders, who sit
on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and
worshiped God, saying, "We give You thanks, O Lord
God, the Almighty, who are and who were, because You
have taken Your great power and have begun to reign"
(Rev. 11:15-17).
Second Prophesy
Like the first major prophesy of Revelation, the second
prophesy foretells of the victory of Christ and the
saints.
- Rev. 12:1-3, 6, 13-17 victory of the woman,
who fled into the wilderness to the place prepared
by God.
- Rev. 12:4-5 victory of Christ at His birth.
- Rev. 12:7-9 victory of Michael and his angels
over Satan.
- Rev. 12:1011 victory of the saints over
Satan.
- Rev. 14 victory of the first fruits over
Satan and the beasts, doom of those who worship the
beast.
- Rev. 15 saints victorious over the beast
rejoice in heaven.
- Rev. 16-19 victory of the Lamb over the
beast and false prophet.
- Rev. 19:7-10 victory of the saints at the
marriage supper of the Lamb.
Throughout the Revelation, the saints are persecuted
while patiently awaiting the coming of Christ.
The second major prophesy ends with a picture of Christ's
great victory over Satan and His ministers, showing
Christ coming on a white horse. He's called Faithful
and True, as He comes judging and waging war.
"His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head
are many diadems; and He has a name written on
Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed
with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called
The Word of God" (Rev. 19:12-13).
And "from His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with
it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule
them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press
of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His
robe and on His thigh He has a name written, 'KING OF
KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS'" (Rev. 19:15-16).
The Thousand Years
Now defeated, Satan is bound for a thousand years in
the abyss, while Jesus victoriously reigns in heaven
(Rev. 20:1-4).
- Note: A thousand years symbolizes a long, complete
period of time, in contrast to ten days which symbolizes
a short, complete period of time.
The saints are also victorious as they come to life
in the first resurrection, and reign with Christ for
a thousand years (Rev. 20:4-5).
- "Blessed and holy is the one who has a part
in the first resurrection; over these the second
death has no power, but they will be priests
of God and of Christ and will reign with Him
for a thousand years" (Rev. 20:6).
Satan's Final Release
When the thousand years are complete, Satan will be
released again for a short time (Rev. 20:3, 7).
He'll come out of the abyss to deceive the nations
once more, and wage war with the saints (Rev. 18:23;
20:8).
Then fire will come out of heaven and devour the ministers
of Satan. And God will again give the saints victory
over Satan, casting the devil into the lake of fire
and brimstone (Rev. 20:9-10).
Judgment
Then comes the judgment, when everyone will stand before
the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10).
Each person will be judged according to his deeds,
and punished for his sins, except the ones whose names
are written in the Lamb's book of life (Rev. 20:11-15).
At the judgment, the saints will be victorious over
sin and death, entering the New Jerusalem, while everyone
else is cast into the lake of fire, where they'll spend
eternity (Rev. 20:14f).
The Saints in Heaven
After judgment, the saints live in heaven for eternity,
victorious over sin and death.
God "will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and
there will no longer be any death; there will no longer
be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things
have passed away'" (Rev. 21:4).
And He'll give them the water of life without cost,
as His children (Rev. 21:6-7).
"There will no longer be any curse; and the throne
of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants
will serve Him; they will see His face, and His name
will be on their foreheads. And there will no longer
be any night; and they will not have need of the light
of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord
God will illumine them; and they will reign forever
and ever" (Rev. 22:3-5).
Closing Exhortations
The Revelation closes with final exhortations to heed
"the words of the prophesy of this book" (Rev. 22:7).
Those who heed the warning and obey the Lord are blessed,
victorious through Christ our Lord!
They "wash their robes, so that they may have the
right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates
into the city" (Rev. 22:14).
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