The Last of the Last

Bill

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We quit after the harvest of the earth in 14

Seven Angels; Seven Plagues

“for with them the wrath of God is finished”

A vision of the saints who had survived

A sort of reiteration of the song of Moses from Deut. 31/32

Interesting parallel between the first victory of God and His people and the final one

A view into the heavenly sanctuary—out come the angels with the plagues

Devastating punishments on the earth and its inhabitants

Key issue here: they still did not repent

The sixth angel’s bowl dries up the Euphrates

Seemingly in response, the Dragon, Beast and False Prophets produce frog-like evil spirits

…to assemble the world’s forces for battle

…and that 7th bowl—major cataclysm

Again, history interjects its own interpretations

first trumpet (8:7) and bowl (16:2) refer to the destruction of Jerusalem in CE 71.

second trumpet (8:8) and bowl (16:3) is the translation of the Empire to the East in CE 316 (under Constantine and Pope Sylvester).

third trumpet (8:10) and bowl (16:4) signify Totila burning Rome in 561.

fourth trumpet (8:12) and bowl (16:8) refer to Charlemagne’s installation as Emperor in 806.

fifth trumpet (9:1) and bowl (16:10) indicate the rise of the heretical Turks, specifically Zadok.

sixth trumpet (9:13) and bowl (16:12) is Osman, in 1296.

seventh trumpet (11:15) and bowl (16:17) is the Reformation in 1541.

Others, from a French perspective see

The last three bowls indicate events that are soon to come, including the destruction of the French atheistic republic, the Ottoman Empire (signified by ‘the great river Euphrates’, v.16) and, finally, all the remaining enemies of God at Armageddon

Some see the drying of the Euphrates as the weakening of the Roman Church, others as the weakening of the armies of Spain

Some see Armageddon as historic (Massada), some see it in the 3rd century, some as WWIII

During the cold war, a nuclear holocaust

Chapter 17: Another Allegory?

Idolatry is represented by harlotry, relates to Dan. 7.

General historical understanding is that Rome, though for some it was Turkey

Incredibly deep metaphors, Cyprian (3rd century) had some great thoughts relating to overall morality

Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress may allude to this with Madam Bubble

Chapter 18: The Fall of Babylon

Much linkage to Jer. 51 and Ezek. 27-28;

Bunyan’s Vanity Fair may be drawn from this; image of the church of Rome and the Power of mammon

biblical term for riches, often used to describe the debasing influence of material wealth (Britannica)

Probable indication here is the destruction—at least major disruption of all normal trade

Chapter 19: A Declaration of Victory

Imagery of victory may relate to Ex 15.3, Isa. 59,17-19, also the victory of Jesus in 2 Thes. 2.8

Followed by the Marriage Supper of the Lamb

Bunyan again uses the imagery with Christian’s arrival to the heavenly court

Many other poets and other writers

An unanswered question here is will this be the church, the church PLUS the saved Jews, is there a difference?

These answers differ depending on how some others questions are answered

The rider on the white horse is undisputably Christ himself

We also have the False Prophet and the Beast being thrown into the lake of fire…and the slaying of the those with the mark of the beast—brutal imagery

Chapter 20: The Thousand Years

Then, the defeat of Satan

First question: Is it literal of figurative (Augustine’s City of God seems to argue for a figurative interpretation)

Common thought in OT times, God reigning on this earth as it was—no specific time mentioned

Also in the NT, (Mark 14:25; 1 Cor 6:9; 15:25)

Much of this thought may have come from extra-biblical literature

Personal thought, a true millennium is the better argument

Great White Throne judgment

Is this purely for the condemned or is this a full judgment of all?

The sheep and goat judgment would argue that this is a one-time event

The wicked to the lake of fire; the saved then judged for their works

Much discussion and disagreement over what the books are: the OT and NT, consciences?

Chapter 21: The New Heaven and New Earth

And New Jerusalem

Seems similar to Ezek. 40-48

After the 1000 years; after the judgment

The new heaven and earth, along with the new holy city, from which Christ will rule appear

NOTE: Historians suggest that Christopher Columbus thought his explorations were in a way, bringing this new world into being

Chapter 22: The River of Life

Revelation 22:12 ESV

“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.

22:6-end

I could preach for the rest of my life and be wrong on nearly every point

I could run rabbit trail after rabbit trail and never find my way back

But I will continue to hold to a single set of facts:

Christ died for my sins—for the sins of all who confess Him and repent

He will return

The world will be judged

Satan and his minions will all end in the lake of fire; all the unsaved with them

Believers will live eternally in the new heaven and earth—and there is more unknown than known about that

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