COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS FROM THE BOOK OF REVELATION

The Book of Revelation is a book that generates myriads of questions from those who delve into its pages.  In our last articles, we have been attempting to answer some of those questions which are often asked. Here are four more.

#1 – What is the marriage and marriage supper of the Lamb (19:7-10)?

In Revelation 19:7, the declaration is made that it is time for the marriage of the Lamb.  The scene is in heaven, and the bride is seen in beautiful apparel which represents the gracious rewards given by the Bridegroom to His bride.  This would tell us that when the marriage is ready to take place that the judgment seat of Christ has just taken place, since the church is seen as rewarded. The purpose of marriage is to unite two people and create a wonderful new relationship which includes the two being together, where one goes the other goes.  For Christ and His bride there is no more separation.  When He returns to the earth, so does His bride.

But then a future event is spoken of to which “blessed” persons are invited.  That future event is the marriage supper of the Lamb. The marriage supper is a picture of the messianic kingdom.  This imagery was used by the Lord Jesus in Matthew 22 as He discussed His coming kingdom.  Blessed people are the ones who get to enter and experience this time of great joy and marvelous blessing.  The marriage is in heaven, but the marriage supper is on the earth; that is, the revitalized earth of the messianic age. It is that 1,000-year period where peace, joy, and righteousness prevail and the curse has been lifted from the earth. Even in our own culture and time, the marriage and the wedding reception, or dinner, are often in two different locations.  The marriage might be in a church while the reception/supper is several miles away in another setting. This will be the case in the marriage and marriage supper of Jesus, the Lamb. Blessed is the one who will be part of these grand events.

#2 – Revelation speaks about the “book of life.” What is this book? Who is in it, and can a person be removed from it?

  

The “book of life” is mentioned a number of times in Revelation (3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:15; and 21:27).  It has been suggested that this book contains the names of all who are born into this world (a book, therefore, of physical life), or some propose it is a register of all believers including professing believers (who will eventually see their names blotted out of the book). But the “book of life” is best understood as a divine listing of all those who will receive the blessing of eternal life.  In Philippians 4:3, the Apostle Paul uses this same imagery and applies it to those that labor with him in the ministry.  And in Revelation 20:15, the issue is spiritual life, not physical life.  Those who are not in the book of life are dispatched to the lake of fire; telling us that they are unbelievers. That believers only are found in the book of life is supported by 21:17 where no one on the new, eternal earth in the New Jerusalem can be there if not found in the book of life.  Revelation 17:8 says that those in the book of life were written there from the foundation of the world; that is, it is the elect of God who are in the book.  Followers of the Antichrist (those who by choice worship him) are not found in the book of life even though they are physically alive on the earth (13:5). We should note that there are many books that are mentioned in the Bible.  These books are not to remind God of something He might forget but are there to give clear evidence to a person’s spiritual condition or to their reward or their punishment. We should also be aware that books in the OT are different from the NT book of life.  In the OT, these are referencing a book of covenant blessing, a register of the covenant people of Israel.  An Israelite could be blotted out of the book and forfeit the privileges of living in the theocracy (note Exo. 32:32-33). 

It is probably Revelation 3:5 that gives Bible students the most trouble, as it speaks of a name being “blotted out” of the book of life.  This is part of the letter to the church at Sardis where the “overcomer” is being addressed. The overcomer is likely another name for the believer, who overcomes in Christ (cf 1 John 5:4-5). This then is a powerful promise of what will not be his fate.  The promise is that the believer shall never (a double negative is used strengthening the promise) be blotted out of the book of life.  It is not a threat of something that could happen but a promise of what will not happen.  It is similar to the promise to the overcomer in the church at Smyrna (2:11), where the overcomer (believer) is assured that he will not “be hurt by the second death”; that is the lake of fire.   

#3 – When during the seven-year Tribulation period do the Seal, Trumpet and Bowl judgments take place?

These three series of judgments have been located in a variety of spots by  Bible scholars.  When all the evidence is in, it seems best to place the Seal judgments in the first half, the Trumpet judgments in the second half and the Bowl judgments in the second half right before the 2nd Coming of Christ to the earth.  There are some reasons to support this positioning of the judgments.                                      

The concept of “birth pangs".  Foundational to the placing of the three series of judgments as described above is the Old Testament concept of birth pains.  It was used by the prophets to speak of God’s judgments and then was used by the Lord Jesus in His discussion of the end time judgments (Matt. 24:8).  Birth pains are a unique kind of pain because: (1) they get worse as time goes by and the time of the birth gets closer; and (2) the time between the pains becomes less and less as the time of the birth draws near.  When Jesus generally described the end time judgments of God, He said the initial ones (wars, earthquakes, famines etc.) were just the beginning of God’s judgments, indicating that the birth pains would continue throughout the entire period.

The statements within the Book of Revelation.  When the 7th Seal is broken and the next series of the Trumpet judgments come, there is an emphasis on 1/3 of the earth being harmed by these judgments (7:7-12).  But in the last series of judgments (the Bowls of God’s wrath), not 1/3, but the entire earth suffers under the judgments, showing that things are getting worse and worse (16:1-21). So, for example, in the trumpet judgments 1/3 of the oceans turn to blood, but in the Bowl judgments all the oceans are turned to blood.  

Furthermore, the testimony of an angel (8:13) is that the final judgments are the worst of all.  He says “woe, woe, woe” to the earth dwellers because the final three trumpets are the worst judgments yet.  It is essential to keep in mind that the 7th trumpet (also identified as the “3rd woe”) is in fact the last series of 7 judgments (the Bowl judgments). The 7th trumpet is the final, terrible series of God’s judgments and it appears to come quickly, one right after the other. This angelic statement verifies the point that the concept of “birth pains” is what the world will experience; it will be far more painful at the end of the tribulation right before the kingdom of Messiah is “birthed” into the world.

Jesus’ statement that the 2nd half of the tribulation is the “great” time of judgment.  As Jesus, in Matthew 24, talked about the future judgments, He was clear that things will get worse once the “abomination of desolation” is set up in the Jerusalem temple.  It is the 2nd half of the tribulation that is “the great one” (24:21); and that if God had chosen to have this uniquely terrible time be more than 3 ½ years, then no human being would survive (24:22).

These statements and terms, when combined together, point to the second half of the tribulation being far more severe in the judgments of God than the 1st half.  The judgments are worse and they come closer together as the time for the “birth” of the messianic age gets closer.

#4 – Why does Revelation speak of things happening “shortly” or “quickly” when, in fact, almost 2,000 years have gone by?  That doesn’t seem very quick to most of us.

These words, as they are translated, can be confusing.  These words appear to be timing words, but they are not.  They are not chronological indicators telling us when something is going to take place, but rather qualitative indicators telling us how things will take place.  The family of words (tachos; tachy) are best translated as “suddenly” or “swiftly”.  “Tachos” in Revelation should be translated as descriptive of the manner in which things happen (that is, “suddenly”).  For example, when the Lord returns it will be suddenly or swiftly.  The “adverb of manner” does not describe when the events occur, but the manner in which they occur. So, we would translate these events as taking place suddenly.  (This is the position taken by key Greek lexicons such as Liddell and Scott, and Bauer, Arndt and Gingrich).

Those holding to an AD 70 fulfillment of Revelation and the Olivet Discourse (Preterism) insist that a first century fulfillment is required by these words.  But, when we see the proper understanding of these words, no such fulfillment is required by these words.  After some 2,000 years, the events of Revelation have not yet been fulfilled but when they are fulfilled, they will take place suddenly. We probably should not speak of the “soon” coming of the Lord and of these events, but rather they are imminent, and once the time does come these events will come swiftly

COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS FROM THE BOOK OF REVELATION

 The Book of Revelation answers many questions about the future. However, in answering those prophetic questions, many other questions are generated and need to be addressed. This article deals with three such questions.

#1 – In the Tribulation, will the Antichrist be killed and then return to life?

Revelation 13 is the key text in looking into this question.  If this chapter does teach that the Antichrist (AC) is killed and comes back to life, then there is another question that immediately follows, and that is, “does Satan have the power to do such a miraculous deed?” There are three verses in Revelation 13 that speak of this matter, verses 3, 12 and 14.

“And I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast.” (13:3)

“And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed.”  (13:12)

“And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life”. (13:14)

The normal reading of these verses would point to the AC dying a violent death (“the sword”—13:14).  Taken at face value, the words tell us that he did indeed die.  Then these verses speak of a return to life, which tells us that AC had died. Some have suggested that AC is badly wounded and medical procedures do a marvelous job of restoring him back to health again.  But that idea does not fit the normal understanding of the words used in the text of Revelation 13.

It is important to observe that the scriptural words used about the death, and return to life of AC, are also used of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Book of Revelation.  In the heavenly scene in Revelation 5:6 the Lamb is declared to be One that had been slain, and the phrase hos esphagmenen is used. This is the same phrase used of the AC being slain (used in 13:3, hos esphagmenen).  Since Jesus really did die then we should conclude that AC did also.  The phrase “come to life” (ezesen) is used of Jesus (2:8) and of AC (13:14). This identical word usage gives compelling support for the AC being killed and then returning to life again.

The question then arises whether Satan has the power to do this.  There are several important points to keep in mind as we approach answering this follow-up question.  First, the Tribulation period is a unique period.  Jesus said (Matt. 24:21) that there has not been a time like this in the past, nor shall there be a time like this in the future.  This suggests that what may or may not be true today, does not dictate what the events within the Tribulation period will be like.  The people and events during the Tribulation period are unique.

          Second, the Tribulation will be a time of tremendous supernatural activity, both coming from God and Satan.  The words used of Satan’s working (through the AC and the False Prophet) are the same ones used of the miracles of Christ and the Apostles.  Signs (semeion), wonders/marvels (teras) and miracles (dunamis) are used of God’s supernatural work (e.g. John 2:11; 2 Cor. 12:12; 1 Cor. 1:22) and of the supernatural worked through Satan’s men (e.g. Rev. 13:13-14; 2 Thess. 2:9; Matt. 24:24).  So, supernatural happenings at the hand of AC are of the same kind as those worked by God and His ministers (e.g. the Two Witnesses). These supernatural works from Satan will be unusually great and will impress all who observe them.  (Note especially Matt. 24:24, Rev. 13:13 and 2 Thess. 2:9-10).  It should be noted that 2 Thessalonians 2:9 speaks of “false wonders”.  This has led some to say that the miracles are not real but some sort of trick or magic.  But the text is simply communicating the truth that Satan’s miracles lead to false conclusions about the identity of the AC and other matters.

Third, another matter to consider is the ultimate source of miracles.  Ultimately, God is the source of all in the realm of the supernatural.  God has allowed, and will allow, Satan and his followers to do supernatural things. He has even done this in biblical history.  For example, the magicians of Egypt produced life when they threw down their inanimate staffs which then turned into snakes, and they also replicated the plague of frogs by producing frogs just like Moses did.  Now, no one can do these things unless it is allowed by God.

The text indicates that Satan will be involved with the AC returning to life in the days of the Tribulation. Technically, we should not speak of this as a resurrection (where the body is changed to live for eternity), but rather a return to life (like Lazarus and others). Ultimately, he can do so because God has given him permission and the ability. Satan and the AC do so because it is part of God’s plan to “send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false” (2 Thess. 2:11). These days are indeed unique.

#2 – Is the “Gog/Magog” found in Revelation 20:8 the same as “Gog/Magog” that is discussed in Ezekiel 38 and 39?

In writing Revelation, the Apostle John used hundreds of verbal phrases and words, along with some Old Testament names. The use of this OT imagery allowed John to communicate concepts without having to go into greater detail. He assumed that his readers would know what these stood for. As an example in Revelation 11, the Apostle spoke of the Two Witnesses as the “lampstands and olive trees” that appeared before the Lord. This reaches back to the night visions of Zechariah 4 and gives a great deal of information about the ministry of those two key individuals. In that same chapter, John spoke of Jerusalem being “Sodom and Egypt”. Instead of spending time talking about the spiritual and moral condition of Jerusalem during the days of the Tribulation, he simply used those two names to powerfully communicate truth about the “Holy City.” And so, “Gog/Magog” is used in a similar way.

In Revelation 20:8, the text describes a major rebellion against Christ after His 1,000-year reign upon the earth. It is a rebellion led by Satan, who was just recently released from his “prison” in the abyss. Satan will go out and will deceive a huge number of unbelieving people and will try and overthrow King Jesus. (This event shows that despite living in the gloriously perfect messianic age, people rebel when they get the chance, demonstrating that man’s sinful rebellion has never been because of his circumstances but because of his evil heart). The rebellion is a futile, last attempt to have his way, but it is quickly and decisively crushed. This rebellion is labeled “Gog/Magog” because it is a term which stands for a rebellion by the enemies of God. It symbolizes an aggressive attempt to thwart the plans and purposes of the Lord God in this world.

There are significant differences between Ezekiel and Revelation. In Ezekiel, the enemies of God are from specifically designated areas north of Israel, notably Russia and Iran (Persia). But “Gog/Magog” in Revelation involves all people coming from the “four corners of the earth.” The time of the battle is different. In Revelation it is after the 1,000-year reign of Christ while the battle in Ezekiel takes place prior to the rule of King Jesus. In Ezekiel, the battle is crucial in preparing Israel spiritually for their role in the Messianic age. Israel comes to faith in the Lord as a result. However, no one comes to faith (that we know of) in the Revelation battle. So, consistent with the Apostle John’s use of the OT, we can see here that he used an OT name to quickly communicate truth about this future event. 

#3 – At a study I attended recently, it was said that at the 2nd Coming of Jesus to the earth, the Church will remain in heaven. Is that true?

The one making that statement seems to have overlooked the teaching of Revelation 19.  In 19:7, the Church is in heaven and experiences the “marriage of the Lamb.”  The Bride of Christ is united with Jesus Christ in a grand ceremony where the Bride is said to be wearing beautiful garments: “fine linen, white and clean.”  These are said to represent the “righteous acts of the saints” (the church rewarded). Shortly thereafter the Lord Jesus mounts His white horse and comes to earth as the King of kings. Text says that an army will accompany Him as He returns to the earth.  That army which comes with Him is “clothed in fine linen, white and clean” (19:14).  The only group so identified is the Bride.  Furthermore, let’s not forget that the purpose of marriage is to unite two; so that where one goes, the other goes.  And, if it is true (and I believe it is), that the millennial/messianic kingdom is the “marriage supper” to which the blessed are invited (19:9), then the Bride and Bridegroom are there on earth and have never been separated.  Where He goes, she goes, suggesting the Church does not remain in heaven at the 2nd Coming but returns with the Lord Jesus.

QUESTIONS FROM THE BOOK OF REVELATION

          The Book of Revelation has been a regular focus for Bible study groups, sermons, and individual investigations. This has been the case for a long time, but it does seem that current events have heightened interest in this final book of the Bible.  When Revelation is studied, there seem to be certain questions that come up repeatedly. Recently someone said that they felt a little guilty about wanting the Rapture to come because while they were rescued off this planet, those left behind would be lost forever. However, in the Tribulation period, people in great numbers are going to come to faith in Jesus Christ and be redeemed. Saving people is the primary reason for this coming period. Here are three frequently asked questions that have to do with the matter of salvation in the tribulation.

#1 – Will just 144,000 be saved in the Tribulation, or will more than that be saved?   There will be millions, not just thousands, of people who are saved during the Tribulation period.  Those who limit the number of those redeemed in the Tribulation seem to forget that the great purpose of the Tribulation period is the salvation of the nation of Israel, which will then lead to Israel being a light to the gentiles.  This will result in great numbers of people from the gentile nations coming to faith in Jesus.  

Probably the key chapter in this discussion is Revelation 7.  There the group of 144,000 is mentioned for the first time (7:1-8); with 12,000 coming from each of Israel’s 12 tribes. These are made secure by a divine decree (“sealed”), most likely to be the key evangelists of the Tribulation.  Then in 7:9 a new part of John’s vision is given.  “After these things” (the truth about the 144,000), John tells us of a great multitude which is so large it cannot be numbered.  This group is distinct from the 144,000.  Whereas the 144,000 are Israelites, this great multitude comes from all the gentile nations. 

John is asked (7:13) to identify the great multitude, but he defers to the elder who is asking the question.  John is then informed that this great multitude are people who have died in the Tribulation period and are now in heaven.  These are not, as one might suspect, the believers from all human history.  Specifically, they have died recently, as this heavenly scene is between the 6th and 7th “seal” judgments.  Many are likely martyrs, but others who have died from other causes are included in this great multitude.

It should also be observed that at the end of the Tribulation (Rev. 20:4) there is another group of martyrs that are seen, which are not part of the great multitude of chapter 7.  This points to even more being saved.  And, finally, it should be remembered that the Apostle Paul (Rom. 11:25) tells us that “all” Israel will be saved when the end times come to an end.  This would involve millions of Israelites.  So, the number of Israelites and gentiles saved during the terrible days of the Tribulation will be multiplied millions, and not just 144,000. 

#2 – If the Holy Spirit is taken out of the world (2 Thes. 2:6-7) then can anyone be saved during the Tribulation?  These verses from Thessalonians impact the Book of Revelation. If it were true that the Holy Spirit was not in the world during the Tribulation period, then not one person could be saved. The Lord Jesus, however, was very clear on the essential role of the Spirit in salvation when conversing with Rabbi Nicodemus (John 3:3-8). Jesus said that “unless one is born again (from above), he cannot see the kingdom of God…that which is born of the Spirit is spirit…the wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” The Apostle Paul declared that “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds, but…by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5-6). So, if Paul was teaching in 2 Thessalonians that the Spirit is going to be taken out of the world then no one would be saved. But is that what he is really saying? First, as seen in the above scriptures, it is the Holy Spirit who does the work of regeneration, giving eternal life to those who believe. He must be in the world during those years if anyone is going to be saved. Second, theologically it is impossible to remove an omnipresent person from the world, or anywhere else. The Spirit simply cannot be banned from anywhere in the universe. And third, the subject in 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 is the restraint of sin in the world. The Spirit uses numerous things to put a lid on sinful people. At the Rapture event, the church, which is one restraining force which (despite its failures) is a great restraint, will be removed. It is not the Spirit Himself but His ministry of restraining sin that is seen departing. This must be the case or all the people that are said to be saved during the Tribulation period could not be redeemed. 

#3 – Will it be possible for those who receive the “mark of the Beast” to end up being saved during the Tribulation?

It appears from the texts in Revelation that people who receive the “mark of the Beast” do so by choice, and by so doing, eliminate the possibility that they will turn to Jesus Christ and be saved. 

The “mark” is first mentioned in Revelation 13:16-17 where it is said that it must be received if a person wants to buy and sell during the Tribulation; that is, to be able to carry on obtaining the essentials of life.  The pressure to have this mark will be enormous and it will be constant.  

The mark itself is something external and visible, something like a brand mark. With all the high-tech stuff with us and also being developed, we simply do not know exactly what it will look like. The mark of the beast becomes an issue in the second half of the Tribulation when the matter of the worship of the Beast (the Antichrist) and Satan becomes a dominant issue. External “tattoos” were common in John’s day; for example, worn with pride by soldiers and devotees of a particular god.  These “brands” were a way of openly identifying with a battalion or a religion or (like today) would be used to make a statement of some kind. Taking the mark will be a decision which is far greater than being able to buy a bag of rice at the grocery store; it is an eternal decision with terrifying consequences.                               

The “mark of the Beast” is mentioned several times in Revelation after its initial mention in 13:16-17 (see 14:9-11; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4).  This mark gives evidence that the individual bearing it is one who has chosen to worship the Beast (the Antichrist).  The mark (which will be the name of the Beast or the numerical value of that name) will be a symbol of allegiance to the Beast. Taking the mark is not some casual decision, but rather one that has been weighed carefully.  In the verses given above, having the mark of the Beast and worshiping the Beast go together.  There is simply no indication that one with the mark will not worship the Beast.  In 20:4, the martyrs, who died for their loyalty to the Lord Jesus, are specifically said to be those who neither received the mark nor worshiped the Beast. 

In 14:9-11, a special angelic announcement is made warning Beast worshipers of the coming undiluted wrath of God.  Also, it appears to be a warning to people on the earth who are tempted to avoid those great economic hardships and the wrath of the Beast by taking the mark.  They are being told that God’s wrath is far worse.  It is the clear conclusion that if they chose to align themselves with the Beast that they too will experience God’s great wrath.  And God’s wrath will indeed be poured out on the Beast and his followers in the final series of the “bowl judgments” (Rev. 16:2 ff.).

So, the conclusion is that those who make the willful choice of taking the mark of the Beast (and thus worship him), will experience the wrath of God and not be eligible for the salvation of God. They have hardened themselves and, like the people of Romans 1, they will not repent and turn to Christ.

It is clear that the Tribulation period will actually be the greatest time of evangelism in human history. This harmonizes exactly with the nature of the Lord God who delights in saving people. The horrors of the Tribulation will remove the atheism and agnosticism of mankind, causing multitudes to come to the Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life and the forgiveness of sins. Amen and amen.