The Millennium

1. What is the millennium?

The word “millennium” is not found in the Bible, it is referred to as the 1000 years.  (20:2). Since there is no longer any prophetic time in Revelation after Jesus declares there “is time no longer” in 10:6, this would signify a literal 1000 years.  The vast majority of fundamentalist Christianity believes in Dispensational Premillennialism. Catholics, Orthodox, and some Protestant groups believe in Amillennialism.  What are these beliefs? As introduced first by Ribera the Jesuit at the Council of Trent in AD 1565, and in modern times by William Darby and Margaret MacDonald, and popularized by the notes in the Scofield Reference Bible, they teach of a Secret Rapture of the believers BEFORE the tribulation mentioned in Scripture.  The Rapture could happen at any time, snatching away the believers.  There will be 3 ½ years of peace on earth, followed by the coming of the Anti-Christ, followed by 3 ½ years of tribulation and then the Second Coming. Catholics teach we are in the time period of the millennium now, the time period between the 1^st and 2^nd Advents of Christ.  The binding of Satan is a symbol which means Satan has been defeated by Christ.  There is so much more on these two views. We adhere to Historicist Premillennialism.  Historicists are premillennialists in orientation but differ from the two other premillennialist views in two important points. Historicists interpret 20:4–6 as Christ’s millennial reign with the redeemed in heaven, not on earth. They believe that the teachings of the early church fathers of a kingdom on earth were false, due to the influence of extracanonical Jewish apocalypses. This erroneous view of an earthly kingdom is the basis of all the other millennial views. Another major difference is that historicists follow the Danielic method of interpreting the book of Revelation, the general Protestant hermeneutic during the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries. Consequently, they see Revelation 4–18 unrolling across the Christian era and not as covering the last seven years just before Christ comes in glory. Historicism does not see anything Jewish in Revelation 20, nor does it believe that all literal Jews will be saved. However, each individual Jew, just like any individual person, can be saved.  Last but not least, historicism sees a general chronological progression through the book of Revelation, culminating in the return of Jesus, and the millennium occurring AFTER the Second Coming. For the historicist interpreter, Chapters 12 and 13 describe the issues of the great controversy between Christ and Satan, the child and the dragon, and the effects this great controversy has through the time period of the Christian era, A.D. 31 to the Second Coming. Satan is angry that Jesus defeated him at the cross, and he goes after those on this earth who believe His commandments and have faith in Jesus. The great time prophecies of Revelation 12 and 13 tell us how long Satan (through the sea beast) is going to “make war with the saints” and to “overcome them, from A.D. 538 to A.D. 1798. Furthermore, the chapters describe events leading up to the Second Coming, with the forcing of all people to worship the beast or be killed. Revelation is God’s road map for Christians, to show them what Satan is doing during the Christian era. Jesus not only won the battle at Calvary, but the cross is also a guarantee that He is going to win the war that has been raging ever since His return to heaven. Chapter 19 describes His return to earth, and Chapter 20 describes what happens between the Second Coming and His final cleansing of the earth. Chapters 21 and 22 describe the home and reward of the saints with Jesus in the New Jerusalem. Understanding the linear flow of history on this earth (Judaic understanding) gives a rich and deep view of what we are going through on this earth, as stated in Revelation.

• Events before the Millennium

One should ask themselves, does the Bible describe the events leading up to the millennium and also the events after the millennium.  If we can place the events surrounding this 1000 year time period, we should be a long way toward understanding Chapter 20.

Event No. 1: Events right at the end of time The sixth plague of 16:12–16 states that the unrighteous in this world are gathered together to the Battle of Armageddon. We established that this was the preparation, by Satan and the unclean spirits at his command, to seduce and gather the entire world together—all who had the mark of the beast and the number of his name. Even though there is fighting among themselves over the discovery of their own self-deception about the truth of God (Chapter 19), they gather together to face this external cosmic threat to their existence and prepare to militarily dispute the return of Jesus, in 19:11. The seventh plague (16:17–21) describes in part the awful scenes surrounding the return of Christ. Event No. 2: Christ’s Second Advent Does the rest of the Bible provide a more complete description of this Rider on the white horse, of 19:11, coming with His saints and angels? Yes! How does this symbolic account of Jesus’ return compare with the rest of the New Testament concerning His return? Following is a summary of the textual data: The Bible relates to us the manner of Jesus’ return. “This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven (Acts 1:11).” How many will see Jesus when He returns? “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him (Revelation 1:7).” Matthew 24:27 and Luke 17:24 give a clear description of the final events, verse 28 clearly linking the event to that in 19:17, 21. “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together (Matthew 24:27, 28; Luke 17:24).” How loud will be the return of Christ to this earth? “And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other (Matthew 24:31).” And also: “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God (1 Thessalonians 4:16).” Event No. 3: Jesus raises the righteous dead “And the dead in Christ shall rise first: (1 Thessalonians 4:16)” Event No. 4: Jesus takes the risen righteous and the living righteous up into the clouds, in the air “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:17).” Jesus does not touch the earth. The righteous are “caught up” to meet Him in the air. He does not touch the earth again till after the millennium. Event No. 5: The remaining wicked people are destroyed “And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground (Jeremiah 25:33).” “And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb (Revelation 6:15, 16).” “And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming (2 Thessalonians 2:8).” “But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked (Isaiah 11:4).” Event No. 6: Satan is restricted to this earth and has no one to deceive till the thousand years are finished “And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled (Revelation 20:2, 3).” If Jeremiah is predicting what happens on the day of the Lord, then this text certainly describes the millennial time here on earth: “I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger (Jeremiah 4:23–26).” See Jeremiah 25:33 above.

• Events at the close of the Millennium.

Event No. 1: The Holy City and its inhabitants descend to the earth The Holy City must have come “down” to earth, since the rest of the dead who “live not again till the thousand years are finished” compass the city. Furthermore, only the righteous were “caught up,” not the wicked. The wicked do NOT go to heaven at the Second Coming. “And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them (20:9).” In this messianic prophecy of Zechariah, he describes where the Holy City shall land when God moves His capital city to the earth. “And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one (Zechariah 14:4, 9).” Event No. 2: Satan is loosed from his prison on this earth That is, every person who ever lived on this earth, who was not raised in the first resurrection, will be raised to life, giving him someone to tempt again. “And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea (Revelation 20:7, 8).” Event No. 3: The wicked dead are raised to life Event No. 4: After some length of time, not likely more than days to weeks, Satan’s forces are ready to take the city In this context, with all the people who have ever lived, whether they are inside or outside the city, the great white throne judgment takes place. “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works (20:11–13).” This is the moment when Paul’s statement in Romans comes true. Countless Christian songs have used the language of this text to describe this moment at the end of the millennium. “For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God (Romans 14:10–12).” Event No. 5: Wicked and Satan are destroyed in the lake of fire The wicked then try to take the Holy City, but fire comes down from God out of heaven and devours them. “And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them (Revelation 20:9).” Event No. 6: Moment of silence The seventh seal, of Revelation 7, is finally broken, and the terrible finality of it all makes its presence known for the last time. “And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour (Revelation 8:1).” All the universe takes a moment of silence to mourn for the lost creation of God, who were destroyed because of their persistent and deliberate rebellion. The scroll is fully opened at last. What scroll is the Spirit of Prophecy referencing here?  Is this the scroll in the hand of Jesus as He takes it in Rev. 5:1-8?  (book or scroll)  EGW seems to link the scroll with the work of the messengers of God in one place.  Is this the book or scroll in Jesus’ hand in Rev. 5? ^EGW—“There in His open hand lay the book, the roll of the history of God’s providences, the prophetic history of nations and the church. Herein was contained the divine utterances, His authority, His commandments, His laws, the whole symbolic counsel of the Eternal, and the history of all ruling powers in the nations. In symbolic language was contained in that roll the influence of every nation, tongue, and people from the beginning of earth’s history to its close.”[1] The contents of this scroll are being unrolled by God’s messengers to the world. ^EGW—“The time has come when through God’s messengers the scroll is being unrolled to the world. The truth contained in the first, second, and third angels’ messages must go to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people; it must lighten the darkness of every continent, and extend to the islands of the sea. There must be no delay in this work.”  {PM 402.5} ^EGW—“The light we have received upon the third angel’s message is the true light. The mark of the beast is exactly what it has been proclaimed to be. Not all in regard to this matter is yet understood, nor will it be understood until the unrolling of the scroll; but a most solemn work is to be accomplished in our world. The Lord’s command to His servants is: “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” Isaiah 58:1.”  {6T 17.1} ^EGW—“The light we have received upon the third angel’s message is the true light. The mark of the beast is exactly what it has been proclaimed to be. Not all in regard to this matter is yet understood, nor will it be understood until the unrolling of the scroll; but a most solemn work is to be accomplished in our world. The Lord’s command to His servants is: “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” Isaiah 58:1.”  {6T 17.1} In these last two comments, EGW appears to be saying that when the end time proclamation of the third angel’s message is given in its true light, things will be understand when the scroll is unrolled.” (completely? My thoughts?)  Is this time at the end, just before the close of probation? Or, could it be at the Great White Throne Judgment, when all the works of Satan and his followers are exposed; each one and what part they played.  Is that when the scroll will be completely unrolled and everything “understood?” There is another view that says heaven is silent because it is empty of angels and people since they have come to this earth for the Second Coming.  If that is the case, then the scroll could still open till heaven is re-populated when Jesus returns with those He rescued from the earth. A third view says there is a moment of silence as the entire world waits just before the coming of Jesus. ^EGW***“Soon our eyes were drawn to the east, for a small black cloud had appeared, about half as large as a man’s hand, which we all knew was the sign of the Son of man. We all in solemn silence gazed on the cloud as it drew nearer, and became lighter, glorious, and still more glorious, till it was a great white cloud. The bottom appeared like fire; a rainbow was over the cloud, while around it were ten thousand angels, singing a most lovely song; and upon it sat the Son of man. His hair was white and curly, and lay on His shoulders; and upon His head were many crowns. His feet had the appearance of fire; in His right hand was a sharp sickle; in His left, a silver trumpet. His eyes were a flame of fire, which searched His children through and through. Then all faces gathered paleness, and those that God had rejected gathered blackness. Then we all cried out: “Who shall be able to stand? Is my robe spotless?” Then the angels ceased to sing, and there was some time of awful silence, when Jesus spoke: “Those who have clean hands and pure hearts shall be able to stand; My grace is sufficient for you.” At this our faces lighted up, and joy filled every heart. And the angels struck a note higher and sung again, while the cloud drew still nearer the earth.” {CET 58.3} This would suggest that the seventh seal is opened at the Second Coming of Jesus.  Has everything about the events on earth been understood yet, as EGW says it will? Event No. 7: New Heaven and a New Earth “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea (Revelation 21:1).” The New Heaven & the New Earth “The destruction of end-time Babylon is bad news for those who collaborated with this apostate religious system. For God’s people, however, it is good news (Rev. 19:1–7). Babylon was responsible for seducing the secular political powers to persecute and harm them (Rev. 18:24). The destruction of this great adversary means deliverance and salvation for God’s faithful people. With the destruction of Babylon, the prayer of God’s people in the scene of the fifth seal is ultimately answered. Their cry, “How long, O Lord?” (Rev. 6:10) represents the cry of God’s oppressed and suffering people from Abel to the time when God will finally vindicate them (Ps. 79:5; Hab. 1:2; Dan. 12:6, 7). The book of Revelation assures God’s people that evil, oppression, and suffering will come to an end. It is now time for Christ to usher in His everlasting kingdom. The remaining chapters of Revelation describe not just the destruction of end-time Babylon but also the destruction of Satan and all evil. We get glimpses, too, of the establishment of God’s everlasting kingdom. Name all the symbols of the church in Revelation?

1. Candlestick  (Rev. 1:20)
2. Horse           (Rev. 6:2; cf. Zech. 10:3; Isa. 63:13)
3. Woman       (Rev. 12:1 cf. Jer. 6:2)
4. Bride           (Rev. 21:2, 9, 17)

Moving to the text, we find that John saw something.  He sees several things.

1. The New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared AS A BRIDE…(21:2)
2. The angel calls John to come to the wilderness to see the Bride, the Lamb’s wife.
3. John describes earlier “the marriage supper of the Lamb”
4. And at the end of the book, the “Spirit and the Bride” say come!

Rev. 19:9    And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, these are the true sayings of God. Rev. 21:2     And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Rev. 21:9    ⁹ And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. Rev. 22:17   And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. What do these texts mean in context with the “time of the end?” The Marriage of the Lamb and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. The Scripture says Jesus has a bride, and will be married to her at some point, and at some other time, we shall participate in the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Before some of this takes place, the Bride will be calling with the Spirit, to call people to Jesus. Jesus began his marriage to his “bride,” The Holy City, (21:9) in 1844. If Jesus is to be married to His bride, then Jesus is the Bridegroom.  The marriage began in heaven at the commencement of the Pre-Advent Judgment, on October 22, 1844. There are two applications of this “Behold the Bridegroom cometh,” with the marriage.

1. The Midnight Cry of the Summer and Fall of 1844.

AND The Loud Cry just before the Close of Probation. Here is the text.   “And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.” Matthew 25:6.  Jesus is the bridegroom and He comes to meet his bride. Here in the following paragraphs is the description of the “behold the Bridegroom cometh” in the 1844 application.

• The Loud Cry just before the Close of Probation.

Look at the second application says. This is consistent with the following statement. Based on the reading of these statements, the marriage of the Lamb begins on October 22, 1844, Christ accepting the New Jerusalem as his bride, which is his kingdom made up of his saints.  At the end of the Most Holy Place cleansing, the “subjects of the kingdom are made up”, and the “marriage of the Lamb is finished.” This “marriage of the Lamb” is apparently a process leading to an event.  When the kingdom is made up, the marriage of the Lamb is finished, he puts on his royal robes and comes for his people.

1. In the Summer and Autumn of 1844, the proclamation was made, behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet Him.
2. The Ten Virgins hear the call and wake up to meet him.
3. The bridegroom comes on October 22, 1844 and the marriage of the Lamb begins.
4. Five look with joy to the Lord’s appearing and had been diligently preparing for it.
5. Five were influenced by fear, and were satisfied with a theory of the truth but were destitute of the grace of God.  They left the 2^nd Advent movement with the Great Disappointment.
6. When the bridegroom came, the five wise virgins who were ready went in with him to the marriage. (not literally in heaven but could in their  mind be there to see it)
7. This marriage began in heaven in 1844.
8. We were privileged in our mind’s eye to be present as Jesus went into the Most Holy Place to receive his kingdom
9. Notice that the Marriage represents the reception by Christ of his kingdom.  The kingdom is made up of his people who have had their sins cleansed in the sanctuary and have the Seal of God.
10. The Holy City, the New Jerusalem, WHICH IS THE CAPITAL AND REPRESENTATIVE OF THE KINGDOM, is called “the bride, the Lamb’s wife.
11. Notice that the New Jerusalem itself is a symbol of the kingdom and when he ACCEPTS the New Jerusalem literal City, it is the equivalent of accepting his kingdom.
12. When the subjects of the kingdom are made up, the marriage of the Lamb is said to be finished.
13. He comes to the Ancient of days in heaven to receive dominion, and glory, and a kingdom at the close of his work as a mediator.
14. Jesus takes his place on the white horse and comes with his saints and all the angels to the Second Coming to receive his people, who make up his kingdom.

Let us ask what is the meaning of this last text, 22:17.  The New Jerusalem is prepared as a bride adorned by her husband (21:2), and is the bride, the New Jerusalem in 21:9.  What or who is the “spirit and the bride?   May we say unequivocally that the “spirit” is the Holy Spirit here, who from Rev. 5 has been sent into the world to “reprove the world of sin, righteousness and of judgment.” (John 16:8)  Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to this world as His Comforter, after He returns to heaven.   Now this same Holy Spirit is making the call to come to Jesus at the very end of the earth.  Who is the bride? As discussed previously, it seems apparent that “bride” is one of four symbols, that describe the church. (candlestick, horse, woman).  The next text helps us understand the “bride of Christ,” in the first text. Chapter 19 begins with the saints in heaven praising the Lord for “righteous and true are his judgments.  He has judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth…”  The 24 elders join the “much people” in heaven with the same praise.  The “voice out of the throne” says “alleluia for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.  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…”  This “wife” is clearly something OTHER than the New Jerusalem since she is to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: which is the righteousness of saints.” Clearly, there is another application of the bride, which is to say, now the saints, or the church, is the bride of Christ.  Does the Spirit of Prophecy make any such statements as this? The guests at the marriage supper of the bridegroom, are to have the garment of Christ’s righteousness that He alone can give them.  They have nothing with which to recommend themselves to Jesus with their own righteousness. The message from Jesus to the guests is, take the garments I give you so you can come to the wedding feast of the Lamb and his bride (church, New Jerusalem)  Secondarily, as a bride of Christ yourself, you and the Spirit must give the invitation out to come to the marriage supper of the Lamb.  The guests need Jesus’ garment to be at the marriage supper of the Lamb and yet when they have the garment, they become his “bride” and give the invitation to come to the wedding supper of the Lamb.  What an amazing story here!

1. Creation of a New Earth

John sees a “new heaven and a new earth.” (See Isaiah 65:17; 66:22) The first heaven and the first earth were passed away.  This is likely the earthly heavens not the heaven where God resides.  God tells us he plans to re-create this present earth like it was in its original condition. We live in a real and literal world, will not the new earth be real and literal?  I believe so!  God says in 21:5, “behold, I makes all things new.”  Consider the following statement:  “The fire that consumes the wicked purifies the earth. Every trace of the curse is swept away. No eternally burning hell will keep before the ransomed the fearful consequences of sin. One reminder alone remains: Our Redeemer will ever bear the marks of His crucifixion. Upon His wounded head, upon His side, His hands and feet, are the only traces of the cruel work that sin has wrought.”[3] John is explicit in describing what will NOT be there. There will be no more curse 22:3. The Lamb has given His life to set humankind free from the curse of death. The earth and its inhabitants will be glorious when the curse is lifted. There is no more sea 21:1. Though God made the sea, see Exodus 20:11; Psalm 146:5, 6, for some reason the sea is no longer needed.  The sea will not separate us anymore nor will anyone die in the sea. There is no more death, tears, mourning, crying or pain 21:4. The death of a loved one produces tears, mourning, crying and pain. There will be no more sin 21:27. No one will want to sin.  The Lamb has forgiven and obliterated their sins.  There will be no more death, which was the result of sin. There will be no more temple 21:22, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. No need for mediation, for the forgiveness of sins, God and the Lamb are all that is needed there. There is no need of the sun and moon to shine upon the city. 21:22; 22:5.  The Glory of God and the light of the Lamb is all that is needed.  Because God and the Lamb are the light of the city, There will be no night in the city 21:25.  The planets still have their orbits with the sun and moon to light them but there will be no night in the city. There are no closed gates 21:5.  There is no sin, no law breaking, everything and everybody is safe.  The gates are always open, welcoming the saints into their city. The promises Jesus makes to the Seven Churches are fulfilled in the New Jerusalem. Ephesus: The victor will “eat of the tree of life,     The Tree of Life is on either side of the river which which is in the paradise of God” (2:7).                    flows from the throne of God (22:2). Smyrna: The victor is promised he “shall not         The victor “shall have this heritage,” but the ungodly [die] the second death” (2:11).                                 will receive the second death (21:7, 8 cf. 20:6, 14). Pergamum: The victor is promised “a new            “His name shall be on their foreheads” (22:4). name” (2:17). Thyatira: The victor is promised “power over       “They shall reign for ever and ever” (22:5). the nations” (2:26). Sardis: The victor is promised a white garment, and              “Blessed are those who wash their robes his name will not be erased from the “book of life”               [keep His commandments], …that they may enter  (3:5).                                                                                       the city by the gates” They are written in the                                                                                                             Lamb’s Book of Life (21:27). Philadelphia: The victor is promised: “I will make               The dwelling of God is among men (21:3). God’s him a pillar in the temple of my God;… I will write               name shall be on their foreheads (22:4). “The  him…the name of the city of my God, the new                  holy city Jerusalem. Jerusalem which comes down from my God out of heaven” (3:12). Laodicea: The victor is promised the privilege of               “The throne of God and of the Lamb shall sitting with the Lamb on His throne (3:21).                        be in it,” and the redeemed shall reign forever (22:3, 5).

• The Alpha and Omega

This is not the first time this phrase has appeared.  In fact, look at chapter 1 and 22 and you will see a chiasm or mirror image of most of the passages.  Being the Alpha and Omega has to do with Jesus’ function as God. He is the totality of the Godhead, the one who is all-sufficient for every need. He is sovereign over history from Creation to the eschaton. Being the Beginning and the Ending has to do with His existence. Jesus started everything, and He will finish everything. John looks back at the Gospel prophet’s appellations of God, where Isaiah has Him saying, “I am the first, I am also the last.”  Isaiah 41:4; 44:6; 48:12. Being who He is, being in control of the universe, and having the authority to bring salvation to His lost creatures, He is freely within His rights now to offer to him “that is athirst, of the fountain of the water of life freely.” As He offered water to the woman at the well (John 4:10), Jesus longs to give us the spiritual water of life, not just physical water. Jesus said: “He that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst (John 6:35).” Isaiah once again presages this offering by God to His people, when he declares, “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price (Isaiah 55:1).” Can you believe Jesus says, “He that overcometh shall inherit all things?” 21:7. If you recall, Jesus told every one of the seven churches they could be overcomers!  These blessings ascribed to the overcomers are now fulfilled in the New Heavens and the New Earth. To the Ephesians: “will I give to eat of the tree of life (2:7 = 22:2).” To the Smyrneans: they “shall not be hurt of the second death (2:11 = 21:7, 8).” To the Pergamons: “will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written (2:17 = 19:9).” To the Thyatirans: “will I give power over the nations (2:26).” To the Sardians: “the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life (3:5 = 19:7, 8, 21:2, 9, 10).” To the Philadelphians: “will I make a pillar in the temple of my God (3:12 = 21:2).” To the Laodiceans: “will I grant to sit with me in my throne (3:21 = 20:4; 22:3–5).” By contrast, there is a description of all those who will NOT inherit the kingdom of God.  See the full list at 9:21; 21:8; 22:15.  See also 2 Timothy 3:1-5; Romans 1:29. The Fearful will not be in heaven. They were cowardly and did not stand up for Jesus.  They would rather have the Mark of the Beast in their forehead or in their hand than suffer great affliction and be overcomers. The unbelievers have no faith in God’s promises. In Mark 4:40, Jesus asked, “Why are ye so fearful: how is it that ye have no faith?” Those people who hold on to the abominations of Babylon, those disgusting false doctrines of Babylon the Great, they will not be there. Needless to say, those who murdered God’s people on this earth and shed the blood of the saints will not be there.  They despised God and his Ten Commandments. Whoremongers will not be there. Those who have no moral restraint, unbridled passion, and who do as they please will not be there. Sorcerers, diviners, occultists are in league with Satan and his demons and will not be there. Idolaters, those who worship anything but God and who worship themselves, will not be there. Last of all, liars will not be there.  We are not talking about “white lies,” but people who do not tell the truth about Jesus.  They lie about him and deny that he is the Son of God 1 John 2:22).

• The New Jerusalem

John is carried away in the spirit to a high mountain to see that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.  21:10.   There is actually great debate over whether this city is real or a metaphor for God’s people.  Could we believe it is both?  There is a real and literal city, which has been stated to be the “bride of Christ.”  This New Jerusalem, as EGW notes, represents the kingdom of Jesus.  The Great City of Babylon represented the kingdom of Satan.  We should see and appreciate this parallel, which in no way destroys the literality and reality of either city. John sees a city, “COMING DOWN FROM GOD OUT OF HEAVEN. (21:2)  God is going to dwell with his people, just like he made a sanctuary and dwelt among them in the wilderness. (Exo. 25:8) The Holy City comes down on the Mount of Olives. (Zech. 14:4, 11) There are city gates, walls, twelve foundations, all in a perfect square. The River of Life/The Tree of Life Christ’s Invitation to You Two of the central choices in Revelation have to do with choosing to receive the Seal of God (7:3) or to accept the Mark of the Beast (13:17, et al).  Revelation is all about whom you worship, and by choosing the Seal of God or the Mark of the Beast, you declare whom you worship and with whom you have close relationship with. Why is that?  The choice has to do with the reward.  Those who choose to accept the Seal of God at the end time (7:3) will stand with the Lamb (Jesus) on Mt. Zion in the New Jerusalem (14:1-5).  Those who choose to receive the Mark of the Beast will receive the seven last plagues (16:2) before the Second Coming and will be cast into the Lake of Fire at the Great White Throne Judgment (19:20; 20:4). Those who choose the Lamb and the Seal of God live forever.  Those who choose the Mark of the Beasts will be lost forever. Seems like the stakes are extraordinarily high here.  You may not figure out every detail of Revelation to know this choice of yours on the Seal of God or the Mark of the Beast has eternal and permanent consequences. Revelation 13 tells us where we are today.  The sea-beast (papacy) had a deadly wound given to it (13:3) which is AD 1798.  The deadly wound started to heal in 1929 and the world began to wonder after this sea-beast (papacy). The world truly wonders today after the papacy, more so than almost any other time in earth’s history.  And this wonderment will increase shortly. The earth-beast (United States) has arisen at the right time (late 1700’s) and is becoming powerful.  The earth-beast will become so powerful that it will form an image to the sea-beast (papacy) (13:14) and end up causing everyone to worship the papacy.  In fact, at the very end, the United States “had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.  ¹⁶ And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: ¹⁷ And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”   (Rev 13:15-17 KJV) While those who love Jesus will receive his seal and keep the seventh-day Sabbath as a sign of their loyalty. Those who either believe in the papacy and keep Sunday holy or those who don’t believe in Sunday being holy but keep it anyway so they can buy and sell and take care of their family, will receive the mark of the beast.  Being loyal to God now may end up causing you great persecution soon, while being loyal to the sea-beast and keeping Sunday may allow you to buy and sell, but the end result of having the seal of God is eternal life, while having the mark of the beast results in eternal loss and annihilation. The easiest thing to do when the image of the beast is set up will be to go with the crowd. People who have believed the serpent’s lies—that God’s laws either should not, ought not, or cannot be obeyed—will find compliance easy. They will be influenced by Satan’s signs and wonders (2 Thess. 2:9–12). They will “bow” down to the image and receive the mark of the beast, indicating their submission and obedience to human authority.84 The seal of God protects us from the wrath of God but not from the wrath of the dragon and the beast. The mark of the beast protects us from the wrath of the dragon and the beast but not from the wrath of God. But those who cherish Jesus, have the “faith of Jesus,” and have learned to “conquer” as Christ conquered (3:21) will choose, at the risk of their lives, to honor God and worship Him in the way He has directed. They will consider loyalty to their Creator and Redeemer the most important consideration possible. These courageous ones will find themselves singing on the sea of glass (15:1–5).85 Take Peter’s advice and “give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall (2 Peter 1:10). Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy,1888 ed. (Battle Creek, MI: Review and Herald Publishing Company, 1888), 449.

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[1] Ellen G. White   {9MR 7.2} [2] Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy (Battle Creek, MI: Review and Herald Publishing Company, 1888), 427. [3] Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1911), 674. Special thanks to Ken Mathews, MD