The Revelation of John the Divine - the prophecy that happened

The revelation of John the Theologian is the last book of the Bible. Its author was one of the disciples of Jesus Christ - the Apostle John. He wrote it around the 90s from the Nativity of Christ, being in exile on the island of Patmos.

Disclosure of God's Mystery

Sometimes this book is called the Apocalypse, because this is how the word "Revelation" sounds in Greek. It would be a mistake to think that God's Revelation is contained only in this, the final book of Holy Scripture. The whole Bible is an initiation into the mysteries of God's design. The last book is the completion, the generalization of all Divine truths, "sown" in the very first Bible book - Genesis, and consistently developing in subsequent chapters of the Old and especially the New Testament.

Prophecies in Scripture

The revelation of John the Theologian is also a book of prophecies. Visions, which the author received from Christ, mainly relate to the future. Although in the eyes of God, existing outside of time, all these events have already occurred and are shown to the seer. Therefore, the narrative is conducted with the help of verbs of the past tense. This is important if we read Revelation not from idle curiosity about predictions, but as part of the Church of Christ, which finally defeated Satan here and became a magnificent New Jerusalem. Believers can say with gratitude: "Glory to the Lord! Everything has already happened. "

Summary of the Revelation of St. John the Divine

The final book of the Bible tells how the Antichrist (the embodiment of Satan) was born on earth, how the Lord Jesus Christ came the second time, how the battle took place between them, and God's enemy was cast into a fiery lake. The revelation of John the Divine narrates about the end of the world and the trial of all people, and about how the Church became a New Jerusalem, free from grief, sin and death.

Seven Churches

The first vision of John was the Son of Man (Jesus Christ) in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, which symbolize the seven churches. Through the lips of John, God addresses each of them, characterizing its essence and giving it promises. These seven represent a single Church at different times of its existence. The first, the Ephesian is its initial stage, the second - in Smyrna - characterizes the Christian church during the persecutions, the third, Pergamum, corresponds to the times when the meeting of God became too mundane. The fourth - in Thyatira - personifies a church that has departed from God's truths and has become an administrative apparatus. The Bible researchers say that it corresponds to the medieval Roman Catholic religious system. While the fifth church in Sardis recalls the reformation of Martin Luther. The gathering of believers in Philadelphia symbolizes a return to the truth that all who are redeemed by the blood of Christ are members of His Universal Church. Seventh, Laodicea, represents a time when believers "faded" in their zeal, became: "not cold and not hot." From such a church, Christ is sick, he is ready to "throw it out of his mouth" (Rev 3:16).

Who is around the throne?

From the fourth chapter, Revelation of John the Apostle (Apocalypse) tells about the throne seen in heaven with the Lamb (Jesus Christ) sitting on it surrounded by 24 elders and 4 animals worshiping Him. The elders refer to angels, and the animals to living beings on earth. He who has the form of a lion, symbolizes wild animals, like a calf - livestock. The one that has the "face of a man" represents humanity, and an eagle like that is the realm of birds. There are no reptiles and animals living in the water, because in the future kingdom of God they will not be either. The Redeemer is worthy to remove seven seals from a sealed scroll.

Seven seals and seven pipes

First seal: a white horse with a rider symbolizes the gospel. The second seal - a red horse with a rider designates countless wars. Third - the black horse and his rider foreshadow the hungry times, the fourth - the pale horse with his rider signify the spread of death. The fifth seal is the cry of martyrs for revenge, the sixth is anger, sorrow, a warning to the living. And, finally, the seventh seal opens with silence, and then with a loud resounding of the Lord and the fulfillment of His plan. The seven angels sounded into seven trumpets, judging the earth, the waters, the stars, and the living people. The seventh trumpet announces the eternal kingdom of Christ, the judgment of the dead, the reward of the prophets.

The Great Drama

From the 12th chapter the Revelation of John the Theologian shows the events that are destined to happen next. The apostle sees a Wife clothed in the sun, which is tormented in childbirth, pursued by a red dragon. The woman is the prototype of the church, the child is Christ, the dragon is Satan. The baby is delighted with God. There is a war between the devil and the archangel Michael. God's enemy is thrown to the ground. The dragon drives the woman and others "out of her seed."

Three Harvest

Then the seer talks about the two beasts that appeared from the sea (Antichrist) and from the earth (the false prophet). This is the devil's attempt to seduce those living on earth. Deceived people take the number of the beast - 666. Further it is said about the three symbolic harvest, representing the one hundred and forty-four thousand ascended to God righteous before the great tribulation, the righteous who heard the gospel in the time of trouble and admired for it to God. The third harvest is the Gentiles, who were thrown into "crushing the wrath of God." There is a phenomenon of angels carrying the gospel to the people, who announced the fall of Babylon (the symbol of sin), warning those who worship the beast and accepted its seal.

The End of Old Times

Behind these visions are the images of pouring out the seven bowls of anger on the unrepentant Earth. Satan tempts sinners to go to battle with Christ. There is Armageddon - the last battle, after which the "ancient serpent" is thrown into the abyss and imprisoned there for a thousand years. Then John shows how the chosen saints rule the earth together with Christ for a thousand years. Then Satan is released to deceive the people, the last rebellion of people who do not obey God, the trial of the living and the dead, and the final death of Satan and his followers in the lake of fire.

God's plan was realized

The New Heaven and the New Earth are represented in the last two chapters of the Revelation of John the Divine. The interpretation of this part of the book goes back to the idea that God's kingdom - Heavenly Jerusalem - descends to Earth, and not vice versa. The holy city, impregnated with God's nature, becomes the dwelling place of God and His redeemed people. Here the river of the water of life flows and the tree of life grows , the same that Adam and Eve once neglected, and therefore were torn away from it.