Children of the Dragon, Children of the Lamb #15: The End Of All Things (Revelation 19:11- 20: 15)

The previous post covered the fall of Babylon as recorded in Revelation 18. In this post, we look at the end of al things. First, a quick reminder. 

Revelation is “A revelation of Jesus Christ.” (Rev 1:1) “If anyone asks, ‘Why read the Apocalypse?’ the answer must be, ‘To know Christ better.’”[1] Too much of a focus on anything less will rob us of the goodness of the message of Revelation.

 I say this because today’s passages have been interpreted…a lot of different ways. We must be consistent with our interpretations when reading Revelation. We tend to play “duck, duck, goose!” with Revelation: “Figurative, figurative, LITERAL!” I am no exception. I have found myself revising numerous sermons in this series because I would think, “Anthony, that’s not how you used that image last week.” So, just some reminders on the approach I have been taking.

• Numbers are figurative. Weigh them, don't count them. That includes the 1,000 years that show up today.
• Sun, moon stars are heavenly beings
• Mountains are nations; the sea is people of all nations
• Fire/blood/winepress[2] have been icons that when you click on them lead to the grim reality of God’s judgment/justice. Sometimes more than one image is used at the same time (like today’s passage)
• The Beast, the False Prophet and Babylon have been corporate rather than individual, though individuals have embodied them throughout history. They are systems, empires, worldviews.
• The catastrophic physical calamities have been about spiritual, economic, and political realities.
• Recapitulation has been a thing; we saw the end of the world multiple times; we are about to hear about Armageddon again two more times (from two different perspectives) in Rev. 19 and 20.

We are going to pick up Revelation 19, beginning in verse 11. Verses 1-10 will show up next week when we get to Chapter 21. Once again, I am going to let the next few pages be the original text (mostly from The Voice translation) with its myriad of footnotes. If you want to, skip ahead for a version/translation/ commentary by yours truly that seeks to combine all the…stuff. All the things.

Children of the Dragon, Children of the Lamb #14: Babylon Is Fallen (Revelation 17-18)

Last post, when we covered the bowl judgments, I said I was going to take the approach that John's vision explains God’s coming judgment on the Roman Empire as a framework for a universalized prediction of the judgments that will fall on all Babylons (World Systems) – the corrupt systems that cater to the lust of the flesh, the lust of eyes, and the pride of life[1] – as they are  dismantled and judged, which is experienced in reaping what they have sown. With that in mind, the next two chapters show the nations of the world bemoaning the loss of Babylon the Great. 

There are three things to remember.

First, the details John describes do not neatly fit any past historical city. It’s not less than Babylon or Rome, but it’s more than just one city. It's the archetypal head of all worldly empires. It shows systemic satanic deception and power at a global and national level. I know the idea that there can be “systemic sin” is a debated issue right now, but John sure thought it was a thing. Babylon is the poster child. New Testament scholar Bruce Metzger wrote:

“Babylon is allegorical of the idolatry that any nation commits when it elevates material abundance, military prowess, technological sophistication, imperial grandeur, racial pride, and any other glorification of the creature over the Creator... The message of the book of Revelation concerns… God’s judgments not only of persons, but also of nations and, in fact, of all principalities and powers—which is to say, all authorities, corporations, institutions, structures, bureaucracies, and the like.”[2]