The End of All Things Revelation 19-22 "La nouvelle Jérusalem" (14th century tapestry)

The End of All Things

Revelation 19-22

"La nouvelle Jérusalem" (14th century tapestry)

The Wedding Feast (19:1-10)

The Bride is made ready

“Blessed are those invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” (19:9)

What is “prophecy”?

Prophecy is not:● Predicting future events● Performing miracles

(Koester 172)

True prophecy is:● words that point to truth● a guide to worship the true

God● a call to repentance

False prophecy is:● a guide to worship idols

and false gods● destruction/oppression

The Great Battle (19:11-21)

● Not a “normal” battle● Sword of the “Word”● Both beasts thrown into

lake of fire (19:20)● Satan bound with chain,

thrown into the abyss (20:1-3)

Christ the Warrior

● Faithful and true● Warrior on a white horse● One who conquers● Wears diadems● True name is hidden

○ “Word of God”○ “King of kings”

● Wears garments soaked in his own blood

Victory Over The Enemies of God

● Christ slays the kings of the earth with his word

● Birds invited to eat flesh of the fallen enemies

● Contrast to the “marriage supper of the Lamb”

● Warning and promise

The Millennial Kingdom (20:1-6)

● Not to be taken as a literal 1,000 years

● Traditionally an earthly kingdom

● Saints’ whereabouts described relationally, not geographically

● First resurrection and second resurrection

Final Conflict and Final Judgment (20:7-15)

● Satan is released and returns to old ways

● Gog and Magog attack● Security in God alone● The book of life● The book in which people’s

deeds are recorded

The New Jerusalem (21:1-22:5)

● Absence of powers that oppose God

● An end to death● Verses echo OT verses

(list in Koester p. 193)● Fulfillment of promises

made to those who “conquer”

● Not a place for sinners

The Holy City

● Dimensions are not literal● 12,000 stadia symbolizes

completeness● 12 gates, not 1● Sacred space in temple

was cubed● City and community are

the sanctuary● God and Lamb are temple● See the face of God

The End Is Near (22:6-21)

● Christ and God are the End of all things

● The message is still relevant today

● “I am coming soon!”● Do not tamper with what is

written in this book

Edith Humphrey: “A Tale of Two Cities”

Babylonrepresented by:

➔ Jezebel➔ The Mad Mistress

New Jerusalem

represented by:➔ The Refugee Queen➔ The Bride of the Lamb

Identity

Who are God’s people in relation to:● the world● their forbears● angelic beings● God

Identity of God’s people made present in feminine imagery

Jezebel

● Brings up imagery of the story of Jezebel in OT

● False prophetess / false queen

● Adulteress● Refuses to repent● Warning of punishment● Foreshadows the fall of

Babylon

The Refugee Queen

● Rightful queen● Gives birth to a son● Seeks refuge from the

dragon (Satan)● We are reminded of Israel

in the desert● Suffering is a part of God’s

plan● She is humble

"Santa Marija Assunta"

The Mad Mistress

● Mother of prostitutes● Rides upon the beast● Luxury and pride● Dies at the hands of the

beast● Her funeral is ironic● Babylon has fallen● God commands his faithful

to come out of her; that is to come out of Babylon

“The Whore of Babylon” (William Blake)

The Bride of the Lamb

● The bride is made ready● She is the holy city● White, innocent, pure● Glorified, fortified,

protected and illuminated● Maternal and fertile● She is an end to suffering

A Final Note on Female Imagery

A 21st century perspective:● Chauvinistic● Implied subordination● Makes assumptions about

women

Sympathetic reading:● Both men and women are

used in imagery● Images are used to show

us our true identity