Book of Revelation Introduction + Ques - Ans by John MacArthur

The Revelation of Jesus Christ
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Title Unlike most books of the Bible, Revelation contains its own title: The Revelation of Jesus Christ (1:1). Revelation (Gr., apokalupsis) means an uncovering, an unveiling, or a disclosure. In the NT, this word describes the unveiling of spiritual truth (Rom. 16:25; Gal. 1:12; Eph. 1:17; 3:3), the revealing of the sons of God (Rom. 8:19), Christs incarnation (Luke 2:32), and His glorious appearing at His second coming (2 Thess. 1:7; 1 Pet. 1:7). In all its uses, revelation refers to something or someone, once hidden, becoming visible. What this book reveals or unveils is Jesus Christ in glory. Truths about Him and His final victory, that the rest of Scripture merely allude to, become clearly visible through revelation about Jesus Christ (see Historical and Theological Themes). This revelation was given to Him by God the Father, and it was communicated to the Apostle John by an angel (1:1). Author and Date Four times the author identifies himself as John (1:1,4,9; 22:8). Early tradition unanimously identified him as John the apostle, author of the fourth gospel and three epistles. For example, important second century witnesses to the Apostle Johns authorship include Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, and Tertullian. Many of the books original readers were still alive during the lifetimes of Justin Martyr and Irenaeusboth of whom held to apostolic authorship. There are differences in style between Revelation and Johns other writings, but they are insignificant and do not preclude one man from writing both. In fact, there are some striking parallels between Revelation and Johns other works. Only Johns gospel and Revelation refer to Jesus Christ as the Word (19:13; John 1:1). Revelation (1:7) and Johns gospel (19:37) translate Zech. 12:10 differently from the Septuagint, but in agreement with each other. Only Revelation and the Gospel of John describe Jesus as the Lamb (5:6,8; John 1:29); both describe Jesus as a witness (cf. 1:5; John 5:31,32). Revelation was written in the last decade of the first century (ca. A.D. 9496), near the end of Emperor Domitians reign (A.D. 8196). Although some date it during Neros reign (A.D. 5468), their arguments are unconvincing and conflict with the view of the early church. Writing in the second century, Irenaeus declared that Revelation had been written toward the end of Domitians reign. Later writers, such as Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Victorinus (who wrote one of the earliest commentaries on Revelation), Eusebius, and Jerome affirm the Domitian date.
The spiritual decline of the 7 churches (chaps. 2,3) also argues for the later date. Those churches were strong and spiritually healthy in the mid-60s, when Paul last ministered in Asia Minor. The brief time between Pauls ministry there and the end of Neros reign was too short for such a decline to have occurred. The longer time gap also explains the rise of the heretical sect known as the Nicolaitans (2:6,15), who are not mentioned in Pauls letters, not even to one or more of these same churches (Ephesians). Finally, dating Revelation during Neros reign does not allow time for Johns ministry in Asia Minor to reach the point at which the authorities would have felt the need to exile him. Background and Setting Revelation begins with John, the last surviving apostle and an old man, in exile on the small, barren island of Patmos, located in the Aegean Sea southwest of Ephesus. The Roman authorities had banished him there because of his faithful preaching of the gospel (1:9). While on Patmos, John received a series of visions that laid out the future history of the world. When he was arrested, John was in Ephesus, ministering to the church there and in the surrounding cities. Seeking to strengthen those congregations, he could no longer minister to them in person and, following the divine command (1:11), John addressed Revelation to them (1:4). The churches had begun to feel the effects of persecution; at least one manprobably a pastorhad already been martyred (2:13), and John himself had been exiled. But the storm of persecution was about to break in full fury upon the 7 churches so dear to the apostles heart (2:10). To those churches, Revelation provided a message of hope: God is in sovereign control of all the events of human history, and though evil often seems pervasive and wicked men all powerful, their ultimate doom is certain. Christ will come in glory to judge and rule. Historical and Theological Themes Since it is primarily prophetic, Revelation contains little historical material, other than that in chaps. 13. The 7 churches to whom the letter was addressed were existing churches in Asia Minor (modern Turkey). Apparently, they were singled out because John had ministered in them. Revelation is first and foremost a revelation about Jesus Christ (1:1). The book depicts Him as the risen, glorified Son of God ministering among the churches (1:10ff.), as the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth (1:5), as the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End (1:8), as the one who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty (1:8), as the First and the Last (1:11), as the Son of Man (1:13), as the one who was dead, but now is alive forevermore (1:18), as the Son of God (2:18), as the one who is holy and true (3:7), as the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God (3:14), as the Lion of the tribe of Judah (5:5), as the Lamb in heaven, with authority to open the title deed to the earth (6:1ff.), as the Lamb on the throne (7:17), as the Messiah who will reign forever (11:15), as the Word of God (19:13), as the majestic King of kings and Lord of lords, returning in glorious splendor to conquer His foes (19:11ff.), and as the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star (22:16). Many other rich theological themes find expression in Revelation. The church is warned about sin and exhorted to holiness. Johns vivid pictures of worship in heaven both exhort and instruct believers. In few other books of the Bible is the ministry of angels so prominent. Revelations primary theological contribution is to eschatology, i.e., the doctrine of last things. In it we learn about: the final political setup of the world; the last battle of human history; the career and ultimate defeat of Antichrist; Christs 1,000 year earthly kingdom; the glories of heaven and the eternal state;
and the final state of the wicked and the righteous. Finally, only Daniel rivals this book in declaring that God providentially rules over the kingdoms of men and will accomplish His sovereign purposes regardless of human or demonic opposition. Interpretive Challenges No other NT book poses more serious and difficult interpretive challenges than Revelation. The books vivid imagery and striking symbolism have produced 4 main interpretive approaches: The preterist approach interprets Revelation as a description of first century events in the Roman Empire (see Author and Date). This view conflicts with the books own often repeated claim to be prophecy (1:3; 22:7,10,18,19). It is impossible to see all the events in Revelation as already fulfilled. The second coming of Christ, for example, obviously did not take place in the first century. The historicist approach views Revelation as a panoramic view of church history from apostolic times to the presentseeing in the symbolism such events as the barbarian invasions of Rome, the rise of the Roman Catholic Church (as well as various individual popes), the emergence of Islam, and the French Revolution. This interpretive method robs Revelation of any meaning for those to whom it was written. It also ignores the time limitations the book itself places on the unfolding events (cf. 11:2; 12:6,14; 13:5). Historicism has produced many differentand often conflicting interpretations of the actual historical events contained in Revelation. The idealist approach interprets Revelation as a timeless depiction of the cosmic struggle between the forces of good and evil. In this view, the book contains neither historical allusions nor predictive prophecy. This view also ignores Revelations prophetic character and, if carried to its logical conclusion, severs the book from any connection with actual historical events. Revelation then becomes merely a collection of stories designed to teach spiritual truth. The futurist approach insists that the events of chaps. 622 are yet future, and that those chapters literally and symbolically depict actual people and events yet to appear on the world scene. It describes the events surrounding the second coming of Jesus Christ (chaps. 619), the Millennium and final judgment (chap. 20), and the eternal state (chaps. 21,22). Only this view does justice to Revelations claim to be prophecy and interprets the book by the same grammatical-historical method as chaps. 13 and the rest of Scripture. Outline I. The Things which You Have Seen (1:120) A. The Prologue (1:18) B. The Vision of the Glorified Christ (1:918) C. The Apostles Commission to Write (1:19, 20) II. The Things which Are (2:13:22) A. The Letter to the Church at Ephesus (2:17)
B. The Letter to the Church at Smyrna (2:811) C. The Letter to the Church at Pergamos (2:1217) D. The Letter to the Church at Thyatira (2:1829) E. The Letter to the Church at Sardis (3:16) F. The Letter to the Church at Philadelphia (3:713) G. The Letter to the Church at Laodicea (3:1422) III. The Things which Will Take Place after This (4:122:21) A. Worship in Heaven (4:15:14) B. The Great Tribulation (6:118:24) C. The Return of the King (19:121) D. The Millennium (20:110) E. The Great White Throne Judgment (20:1115) F. The Eternal State (21:122:21)
Related Resources (free):

Revelation, Vol. 01 (bible-book-studies) Revelation, Vol. 02 (bible-book-studies) Revelation, Vol. 03 (bible-book-studies) Revelation, Vol. 04 (bible-book-studies) Revelation, Vol. 05 (bible-book-studies) Revelation, Vol. 06 (bible-book-studies) Revelation, Vol. 07 (bible-book-studies) Revelation, Vol. 08 (bible-book-studies)
Related Products (to purchase):

NAS MacArthur Study Bible (Hardcover) (bibles) Revelation 1-11 Commentary (Hardcover) (commentaries) Revelation 12-22 Commentary (Hardcover) (commentaries) Revelation Study Book (Softcover) (bible-study-books) The Future of Israel (audio-series) Where in the World Is History Headed? (audio-series)
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Revelation 1-11 Commentary (Hardcover)

CODE: 431036SCRIPTURE: REVELATION 1-11
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Full of shrouded prophecy and eschatological mysteries, the book of Revelation is often considered an enigma by scholars and lay-readers alike. Now respected preacher and Bible teacher John MacArthur pulls back the veil and reveals more of what Gods Word has to say to us in Revelation.
Purchase eBook:

Back to the Future: A Jet Tour Through Revelation (audio-series) Because the Time Is Near (Softcover) (books) Is the Doom of the World Near? (audio-lessons) MacArthur LifeWorks Library 2.0 (CD-ROM) (digital) Revelation 12-22 Commentary (Hardcover) (commentaries) Revelation Study Book (Softcover) (bible-study-books) Revelation, Vol. 01 (audio-bible-study) Revelation, Vol. 02 (audio-bible-study) Revelation, Vol. 03 (audio-bible-study) Revelation, Vol. 04 (audio-bible-study) Revelation, Vol. 05 (audio-bible-study)
Revelation, Vol. 06 (audio-bible-study) Revelation, Vol. 07 (audio-bible-study) Revelation, Vol. 08 (audio-bible-study) The Future of Israel (audio-series) The Rapture and the Day of the Lord (audio-series) The Second Coming (books) The Second Coming of Jesus Christ, Vol. 1 (audio-series) The Second Coming of Jesus Christ, Vol. 2 (audio-series) When Jesus Comes (audio-series) Where in the World Is History Headed? (audio-series)

What happens to children during and after the rapture? (questions) The Revelation of Jesus Christ (bible-introductions) Fear God with All Your Heart? (bible-qna) I Stand at the Door and Knock (bible-qna) The Church List in Revelation (bible-qna) Who Are the Two Witnesses in Revelation 11? (bible-qna) Blotted Out of the Book of Life (bible-qna)
( PLEASE SEE THE DETAILS ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS BELOW )
Revelation 12-22 Commentary (Hardcover)

CODE: 431037SCRIPTURE: REVELATION 12-22
Rs.150.00
2314
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* Actual product may appear different than the image.
Full of shrouded prophecy and eschatological mysteries, the book of Revelation is often considered an enigma by scholars and lay-readers alike. Now respected preacher and Bible teacher John MacArthur pulls back the veil and reveals more of what Gods Word has to say to us in Revelation.
Purchase eBook:

Back to the Future: A Jet Tour Through Revelation (audio-series) Because the Time Is Near (Softcover) (books) Is the Doom of the World Near? (audio-lessons) MacArthur LifeWorks Library 2.0 (CD-ROM) (digital) Revelation 1-11 Commentary (Hardcover) (commentaries) Revelation Study Book (Softcover) (bible-study-books) Revelation, Vol. 01 (audio-bible-study) Revelation, Vol. 02 (audio-bible-study) Revelation, Vol. 03 (audio-bible-study) Revelation, Vol. 04 (audio-bible-study) Revelation, Vol. 05 (audio-bible-study) Revelation, Vol. 06 (audio-bible-study) Revelation, Vol. 07 (audio-bible-study) Revelation, Vol. 08 (audio-bible-study) The Character of Scripture, Part 2 (audio-lessons) The Future of Israel (audio-series) The Rapture and the Day of the Lord (audio-series) The Second Coming (books) The Second Coming of Jesus Christ, Vol. 1 (audio-series) The Second Coming of Jesus Christ, Vol. 2 (audio-series) When Jesus Comes (audio-series) Where in the World Is History Headed? (audio-series)

Will there be any sin or sorrow in heaven? (questions) What happens to children during and after the rapture? (questions) The Revelation of Jesus Christ (bible-introductions) Streets of Gold (bible-qna) A Walled City in Heaven? (bible-qna) The Mark of the Beast (bible-qna) The Accuser (bible-qna) The Fate of the Filthy (bible-qna) Hands Off the Word of God (bible-qna) Will Earthly Memories Exist in Heaven? (bible-qna) The Lamb's Book of Life and Praying for the Lost (bible-qna) What Will Heaven Be Like? (bible-qna) Will Believers Remember Pain in Heaven? (bible-qna) Do Believers Ever Doubt Their Salvation? (bible-qna)
( PLEASE SEE THE DETAILS ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS BELOW )
Revelation 1-11

Questions and Answers :-
What happens to children during and after the rapture? (questions) The Revelation of Jesus Christ (bible-introductions) Fear God with All Your Heart? (bible-qna) I Stand at the Door and Knock (bible-qna) The Church List in Revelation (bible-qna) Who Are the Two Witnesses in Revelation 11? (bible-qna) Blotted Out of the Book of Life (bible-qna)
What happens to children during and after the rapture?

Selected Scriptures July 23, 2009 QA206
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People say, "All those little kids!" Theyre beautiful and I mean, not only my three up here, but everybodys, they're just super little, little guys. I can appreciate the rest of the kids more than mine, because I dont see the other kids when theyre not like they ought to be. You know, I see them up here and they look, you know, all hearts and flowers and everything else. They are beautiful kids, and we love these children, and they mean so much to us. And we say, "Well, what happens in the rapture?" If theyre all here singing a concert, do we all leave and theyre just sort of standing here? What happens to children? Its a fair question. The answer to that question is that there is no Scripture that says anything in particular about children in the rapture. But there are some Scriptures that say something about children. There are many in the gospels. Jesus said regarding little children, "Of such is the..." what? "Kingdom of Heaven." Jesus said, "Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not." Jesus said, "These little ones are mine."
Now its my personal conviction, my personal belief that in the rapture every child that is too young to have made a conscience, willful, rebellious, sinful rejection of Jesus Christ will be taken to be with the Lord. I believe that it would be just the same if a little child died before he reached that age; he would instantly go to be with the Lord. Davids little boy died (2 Samuel), he says, "He cannot come to me but I shall go to him." He knew where he was; he knew he was in the presence of God. I believe when the rapture happens all the little kids that are under the age where they made a conscience, willful, sinful, rebellion against God, where they willfully turned their back on him, I believe the Lord will just take them right with us. You say do you believe that about the children of the unsaved parents? Yes, thats just my personal opinion cause the Bible doesnt say. But, if Jesus said, "If anybody offends one of these little ones, it would be better for him..." what? "That a millstone were hanged around his neck and he would drown in the sea. He said if anyone offends one of these MY little ones." I think he possesses them. I think they belong to him, and I think they will go in the rapture. Now those who have grown past the age where, or to the age where they have made a decision, I think if that decision has been against Christ, or if they have never come to know Christ, theyll be left in the rapture, and perhaps in the grace of God, be a part of the great revival that occurs after the rapture, in coming to the Lord Jesus Christ. But thats the best we can do with that question. Any unregenerate children, who are old enough to have made that decision, and I dont know where that age level is, but God does, will be left as any one else would who refused Christ, hopefully to open their heart to Christ in the great revival that occurs during the tribulation recorded in Revelation 7 and chapter 14 as well.
Fear God with All Your Heart?

Revelation 14 July 21, 2010 BQ72110
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And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; and he said with a loud voice, Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters. (Revelation 14:67) The angels message to sinners is Fear God, and give Him glory. He will call the people of the world to change their allegiance from the beast to the Lamb. He will urge them to no longer fear, reverence, and worship Satan and Antichrist, but instead to fear, reverence, and honor God by turning
to His Son. As the sovereign ruler of the universe, God aloneFather, Son, and Holy Spirithas the right to be worshiped (19:10; 22:9; Isa. 42:8; 48:11; Matt. 4:10). The Bible repeatedly calls people to fear God. In Psalm 111:10 the psalmist declared that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (cf. Prov. 1:7; 9:10), while Proverbs 23:17 commands, Live in the fear of the Lord always. A wise father counsels his son to fear the Lord and the king (Prov. 24:21), while Peter exhorted his readers to Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king (1 Pet. 2:17). In Matthew 10:28 Jesus warned, Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. To fear God is to live in the reality of His holiness, His sovereignty, and His judgment of sin. It is to love God, respect Him, reverence Him, adore Him, hold Him in awe, and worship Him. And that can only be done by loving His Son the Savior (John 5:23). In addition to fearing God, men are to give Him glory. This requirement goes to the very essence of the problem of unregenerate people, who even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks (Rom. 1:21). Refusing to give God glory is at the core of mans prideful rebellion. Unbelievers will be called to fear and glorify God immediately because the hour of His judgment has come. Opportunity is fading fast; the bowl judgments are about to be poured out, to be followed shortly by the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to judge the unbelieving world (Matt. 25:3146). The angel gives one final reason for sinners to turn from Antichrist to God, proclaiming that people should worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters. The created universe both offers proof of Gods existence and provides grounds for worshiping Him. Because God reveals Himself in His creation, men are without excuse for not acknowledging Him: The angels stern warning is that the Creator is also the Judge; He is the one people should fear and worship, rather than Satan and Antichrist. As the world teeters on the brink of final disaster, God graciously offers people another chance to repent. He will snatch those who heed the warning from the fire of judgment (cf. Jude 23), and transfer them from Satans kingdom of darkness into the soon to be manifest kingdom of His Son (Col. 1:13).
I Stand at the Door and Knock

Revelation 3 December 24, 2010 BQ122410
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The apostate Laodicean church could only have expected Christ to come in judgment. But the startling reality, introduced by the arresting word behold, was that Christ stood at the door of the Laodicean church and knocked; if anyone in the church would hear His voice and open the door, He would come in to him and dine with him, and he with Christ. Though this verse has been used in countless tracts and evangelistic messages to depict Christs knocking on the door of the sinners heart, it is broader than that. The door on which Christ is knocking is not the door to a single human heart, but to the Laodicean church. Christ was outside this apostate church and wanted to come insomething that could only happen if the people repented. The invitation is, first of all, a personal one, since salvation is individual. But He is knocking on the door of the church, calling the many to saving faith, so that He may enter the church. If one person (anyone) opened the door by repentance and faith, Christ would enter that church through that individual. The picture of Christ outside the Laodicean church seeking entrance strongly implies that, unlike Sardis, there were no believers there at all. Christs offer to dine with the repentant church speaks of fellowship, communion, and intimacy. Sharing a meal in ancient times symbolized the union of people in loving fellowship. Believers will dine with Christ at the marriage supper of the Lamb (19:9), and in the millennial kingdom (Luke 22:16, 2930). Dine is from deipneo, which refers to the evening meal, the last meal of the day (cf. Luke 17:8; 22:20; 1 Cor. 11:25, where the underlying Greek is rendered sup, supper, and supped, respectively). The Lord Jesus Christ urged them to repent and have fellowship with Him before the night of judgment fell and it was too late forever.
The Church List in Revelation

Revelation 2 January 19, 2011 BQ11911
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Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things . . . To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: (Revelation 1:19; 2:1) The astounding vision John saw inspired in him a healthy tension between fear and assurance. But to that was added a reminder of his duty. Christs earlier command to write is now expanded, as John is told to record three features. First, the things which you have seen, the vision John had just seen and
recorded in verses 1016. Next, the things which are, a reference to the letters to the seven churches in chapters 2 and 3, which describe the present state of the church. Finally, John was to write the things which will take place after these things, the prophetic revelations of future events unfolded in chapters 422. This threefold command provides an outline for the book of Revelation, encompassing (from Johns perspective) the past, present, and future. Like John, all Christians have a duty to pass on the truths they learn from the visions recorded in this book. Those visions may at first be startling, disturbing, or fascinating. But they, like all Scripture, are inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work (2 Tim. 3:1617). As believers study the glory of Christ reflected in the book of Revelation, we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, [will be] transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit (2 Cor. 3:18). To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: The seven churches addressed in chapters 2 and 3 were actual existing churches when John wrote. But while not precisely duplicated, they also represent the types of churches that are generally present throughout the entire church age. Five of the seven churches (Smyrna and Philadelphia being the exceptions) were rebuked for tolerating sin in their midst, not an uncommon occurrence in churches since. The problems in those five churches ranged in severity from waning love at Ephesus to total apostasy at Laodicea. Further, any church in any age could have a mixture of the sins that plagued these five churches. Though Christ may have addressed the Ephesian church first because it was first on the postal route, it was also the most prominent church of the seven. It was the mother church out of whose ministry the other six were founded (cf. Acts 19:10) and gave its name to the inspired letter of Ephesians penned four decades earlier by the apostle Paul. The contents of this first letter form the pattern for the other six.
Who Are the Two Witnesses in Revelation 11?

Revelation 11 April 26, 2011 BQ42611
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And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. (Revelation 11:3-4)
The connection between this vision of the two preachers and the previous passage (vv. 12) should be clear. They are among Gods unique witnesses who will proclaim His message of judgment during the final stages of the Gentile trampling on Jerusalemand will preach the gospel so that the Jewish remnant can believe and enjoy Gods protection. Witnesses is the plural form of martus, from which the English word martyr derives, since so many witnesses of Jesus Christ in the early church paid with their lives. Since it is always used in the New Testament to refer to persons, the two witnesses must be actual people, not movements, as some commentators have held. There are two witnesses because the Bible requires the testimony of two people to confirm a fact or verify truth (Deut. 17:6; 19:15; Matt. 18:16; John 8:17; 2 Cor. 13:1; 1 Tim. 5:19; Heb. 10:28). It will be their responsibility to prophesy. Prophecy in the New Testament does not necessarily refer to predicting the future. Its primary meaning is to speak forth, to proclaim, or to preach. The two witnesses will proclaim to the world that the disasters occurring during the last half of the Tribulation are the judgments of God. They will warn that Gods final outpouring of judgment and eternal hell will follow. At the same time, they will preach the gospel, calling people to repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The period of their ministry is twelve hundred and sixty days, the last three and one-half years of the Tribulation, when Antichrists forces oppress the city of Jerusalem (v. 2), and many Jews are sheltered in the wilderness (12:6). The fact that they are actual preachers and not symbols of institutions or movements is indicated by the description of their clothing and behavior which follows. clothed in sackcloth.? (11:3b) Sackcloth was rough, heavy, coarse cloth worn in ancient times as a symbol of mourning, distress, grief, and humility. Jacob put on sackcloth when he thought Joseph had been killed (Gen. 37:34). David ordered the people to wear sackcloth after the murder of Abner (2 Sam. 3:31) and wore it himself during the plague God sent in response to his sin of numbering the people (1 Chron. 21:16). King Jehoram wore sackcloth during the siege of Samaria (2 Kings 6:30), as did King Hezekiah when Jerusalem was attacked (2 Kings 19:1). Job (Job 16:15), Isaiah (Isa. 20:2), and Daniel (Dan. 9:3) also wore sackcloth. The two witnesses will put on sackcloth as an object lesson to express their great sorrow for the wretched and unbelieving world, racked by Gods judgments, overrun by demon hordes, and populated by wicked, sinful people who refuse to repent. They will also mourn because of the desecration of the temple, the oppression of Jerusalem, and the ascendancy of Antichrist. These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. (11:4) The question of who the two witnesses will be has intrigued Bible scholars over the years, and numerous possibilities have been suggested. John identifies them merely as the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. That enigmatic description is drawn from Zechariah 4:114. Zechariahs prophecy looks forward to the restoration of Israel in the Millennium (cf. Zech. 3:810). The olive trees and lampstands symbolize the light of revival, since olive oil was commonly used in lamps. The connecting of the lamps to the trees is intended to depict a constant, spontaneous, automatic supply of oil flowing from the olive trees into the lamps. That symbolizes the truth that
God will not bring salvation blessing from human power, but by the power of the Holy Spirit (cf. Zech. 4:6). Like Joshua and Zerubbabel, the two witnesses will lead a spiritual revival of Israel culminating in the building of a temple. Their preaching will be instrumental in Israels national conversion (Rev. 11:13; cf. Rom. 11:45, 26), and the temple associated with that conversion will be the millennial temple. While it is impossible to be dogmatic about the specific identity of these two preachers, there are a number of reasons that suggest that they may be Moses and Elijah. First, the miracles they will perform (destroying their enemies with fire, withholding rain, turning water into blood, and striking the earth with plagues) are similar to the judgments inflicted in the Old Testament by Moses and Elijah for the purpose of stimulating repentance. Elijah called down fire from heaven (2 Kings 1:10, 12) and pronounced a three-and-one-half-year drought on the land (1 Kings 17:1; James 5:17)the same length as the drought brought by the two witnesses (Rev. 11:6). Moses turned the waters of the Nile into blood (Ex. 7:1721) and announced the other plagues on Egypt recorded in Exodus chapters 712. Second, both the Old Testament and Jewish tradition expected Moses and Elijah to return in the future. Malachi 4:5 predicted the return of Elijah, and the Jews believed that Gods promise to raise up a prophet like Moses (Deut. 18:15, 18) necessitated his return (cf. John 1:21; 6:14; 7:40). Jesus statement in Matthew 11:14 that if you are willing to accept it, John [the Baptist] himself is Elijah who was to come does not necessarily preclude Elijahs future return. Since the Jews did not accept Jesus, John did not fulfill that prophecy. He came in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord (Luke 1:17). Third, both Moses and Elijah (perhaps representing the Law and the Prophets) appeared with Christ at the Transfiguration, the preview of the Second Coming (Matt. 17:3?). Fourth, both left the earth in unusual ways. Elijah never died, but was transported to heaven in a fiery chariot (2 Kings 2:1112), and God supernaturally buried Moses body in a secret location (Deut. 34:56; Jude 9). The statement of Hebrews 9:27 that it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment does not rule out Moses return, since there are other rare exceptions to that general statement (such as Lazarus; John 11:14, 3844). Since the text does not specifically identify these two preachers, the view defended above, like all other views regarding their identity, must remain speculation.
Blotted Out of the Book of Life

Revelation 3 June 02, 2011 BQ6211
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He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (Revelation 3:56) Christ promises every true Christian that He will not erase his name from the book of life, but will confess his name before the Father and before His angels. Incredibly, although the text says just the opposite, some people assume that this verse teaches that a Christians name can be erased from the book of life. They thus foolishly turn a promise into a threat. Exodus 32:33, it is argued by some, supports the idea that God may remove someones name from the Book of Life. In that passage the Lord tells Moses that whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book. There is no contradiction, however, between that passage and Christs promise in Revelation 3:5. The book referred to in Exodus 32:33 is not the Book of Life described here, in Philippians 4:3, and later in Revelation (13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27). Instead, it refers to the book of the living, the record of those who are alive (cf. Ps. 69:28). The threat, then, is not eternal damnation, but physical death. In Johns day, rulers kept a register of the citizens of a city. If someone died, or committed a serious crime, their name was erased from that register. Christ, the King of heaven, promises never to erase a true Christians name from the roll of those whose names were written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain (13:8). On the contrary, Christ will confess every believers name before God the Father and before His angels. He will affirm that they belong to Him. Here Christ reaffirmed the promise He made during His earthly ministry: Everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven (Matt. 10:32). The comforting truth that true Christians salvation is eternally secure is the unmistakable teaching of Scripture. Nowhere is that truth more strongly stated than in Romans 8:2839: And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against Gods elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered. But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Revelation 12-22 Questions and Answers :Related Resources (free):

Will there be any sin or sorrow in heaven? (questions) What happens to children during and after the rapture? (questions) The Revelation of Jesus Christ (bible-introductions) Streets of Gold (bible-qna) A Walled City in Heaven? (bible-qna) The Mark of the Beast (bible-qna) The Accuser (bible-qna) The Fate of the Filthy (bible-qna) Hands Off the Word of God (bible-qna) Will Earthly Memories Exist in Heaven? (bible-qna) The Lamb's Book of Life and Praying for the Lost (bible-qna) What Will Heaven Be Like? (bible-qna) Will Believers Remember Pain in Heaven? (bible-qna) Do Believers Ever Doubt Their Salvation? (bible-qna)
Will there be any sin or sorrow in heaven?

Isaiah 53:3-4; Revelation 21:1-7 September 01, 2009 QA107
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No! Heaven will be so dramatically different from the present world that to describe it requires the use of negatives, as well as positives. To describe what is totally beyond human understanding also requires pointing out how it differs from present experience. The first change from their earthly life believers in heaven will experience is that God will wipe away every tear from their eyes (cf. Rev. 7:17, Isa. 25:8). That does not mean that people who arrive in heaven will be crying and God will comfort them. They will not, as some imagine, be weeping as they face the record of their sins. There is no such record, because "there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1), since Christ "bore our sins in His own
body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed" (1 Pet. 2:24). What it declares is the absence of anything to be sorry about--no sadness, no disappointment, no pain. There will be no tears of misfortune, tears over lost love, tears of remorse, tears of regret, tears over the death of loved ones, or tears for any other reason. Another dramatic difference from the present world will be that in heaven there will no longer be any death (cf. Isa. 25:8). The greatest curse of human existence will be no more. "Death," as Paul promised, "is swallowed up in victory" (1 Cor. 15:54). Both Satan, who had the power of death (Heb. 2:14), and death itself will have been cast into the lake of fire (20:10, 14). Nor will there be any mourning, or crying in heaven. The grief, sorrow, and distress that produce mourning and its outward manifestation, crying, will not exist in heaven. This glorious reality will be the fulfillment of Isaiah 53:3-4: "He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, And we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted." When Christ bore believers' sins on the cross, He also bore their sorrows, since sin is the cause of sorrow. The perfect holiness and absence of sin that will characterize heaven will also mean that there will be no more pain. On the cross, Jesus was "wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed" (Isa. 53:5). While the healing in view in that verse is primarily spiritual healing, it also includes physical healing. Commenting on Jesus' healing of Peter's mother-in-law, Matthew 8:17 says, "That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: 'He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sickness.'" The healing ministry of Jesus was a preview of the well-being that will characterize the millennial kingdom and the eternal state. The glorified sin-free bodies believers will possess in heaven will not be subject to pain of any kind. All those changes that will mark the new heaven and the new earth indicate that the first things have passed away. Old human experience related to the original, fallen creation is gone forever, and with it the mourning, suffering, sorrow, disease, pain, and death that has characterized it since the Fall.
Adapted from John MacArthur, Revelation 12-22 in The MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago, IL: Moody, 2000), 269-71. For more information on heaven, take a look at John's book, The Glory of Heaven.

The Promise of Heaven (articles) Do all dogs really go to heaven? (questions) Is heaven big enough to be God's home? (questions)
Do those in heaven know what is happening on earth? (questions) Where is heaven? (questions) What will heaven be like? (questions)

Comfort for Troubled Hearts (audio-series) Revelation 12-22 Commentary (Hardcover) (commentaries)
What happens to children during and after the rapture?

Selected Scriptures July 23, 2009 QA206
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People say, "All those little kids!" Theyre beautiful and I mean, not only my three up here, but everybodys, they're just super little, little guys. I can appreciate the rest of the kids more than mine, because I dont see the other kids when theyre not like they ought to be. You know, I see them up here and they look, you know, all hearts and flowers and everything else. They are beautiful kids, and we love these children, and they mean so much to us. And we say, "Well, what happens in the rapture?" If theyre all here singing a concert, do we all leave and theyre just sort of standing here? What happens to children? Its a fair question. The answer to that question is that there is no Scripture that says anything in particular about children in the rapture. But there are some Scriptures that say something about children. There are many in the gospels. Jesus said regarding little children, "Of such is the..." what? "Kingdom of Heaven." Jesus said, "Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not." Jesus said, "These little ones are mine." Now its my personal conviction, my personal belief that in the rapture every child that is too young to have made a conscience, willful, rebellious, sinful rejection of Jesus Christ will be taken to be with the Lord. I believe that it would be just the same if a little child died before he reached that age; he would instantly go to be with the Lord. Davids little boy died (2 Samuel), he says, "He cannot come to me but I shall go to him." He knew where he was; he knew he was in the presence of God. I believe when the rapture happens all the little kids that are under the age where they made a conscience, willful, sinful, rebellion against God, where they willfully turned their back on him, I believe the Lord will just take them right with us. You say do you believe that about the children of
the unsaved parents? Yes, thats just my personal opinion cause the Bible doesnt say. But, if Jesus said, "If anybody offends one of these little ones, it would be better for him..." what? "That a millstone were hanged around his neck and he would drown in the sea. He said if anyone offends one of these MY little ones." I think he possesses them. I think they belong to him, and I think they will go in the rapture. Now those who have grown past the age where, or to the age where they have made a decision, I think if that decision has been against Christ, or if they have never come to know Christ, theyll be left in the rapture, and perhaps in the grace of God, be a part of the great revival that occurs after the rapture, in coming to the Lord Jesus Christ. But thats the best we can do with that question. Any unregenerate children, who are old enough to have made that decision, and I dont know where that age level is, but God does, will be left as any one else would who refused Christ, hopefully to open their heart to Christ in the great revival that occurs during the tribulation recorded in Revelation 7 and chapter 14 as well.
Streets of Gold
Revelation 21 January 12, 2011 BQ011211
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And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. (Revelation 21:2122) As if just seeing the magnificent capital city of heaven from a distance was not privilege enough, Johns angelic guide took him inside. As he entered the city, the apostle noted that the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. The streets in the New Jerusalem were made of the highest quality pure gold which, like everything else in the heavenly city, was transparent like glass. Translucent gold is not a material familiar to us on this earth. But everything there is transparent to let the light of Gods glory blaze unrestricted. Once inside the city, the first thing John noted was that there was no temple in it. Up to this point, there has been a temple in heaven (cf. 7:15; 11:19; 14:15, 17; 15:58; 16:1, 17). But there will be no need for a temple in the new Jerusalem, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. Their blazing glory will fill the new heaven and the new earth, and there will be no need for anyone to go anywhere to worship God. Life will be worship and worship will be life. Believers will be constantly in His presence (cf. 21:3); there will never be a moment when they are not in perfect, holy communion with the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. Thus, there will be no need to go
to a temple, cathedral, church, chapel, or any other house of worship. Believers will be the true worshipers God has always sought (John 4:23).
A Walled City in Heaven?

Revelation 21 February 23, 2011 BQ22311
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It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. There were three gates on the east and three gates on the north and three gates on the south and three gates on the west. And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. (Revelation 21:1214) Human language is inadequate to fully describe the unimaginable magnificence of the believers indescribable eternal home. Unwilling to take the language of Scripture at face value, many seek for some hidden meaning behind Johns description. But if the words do not mean what they say, who has the authority to say what they do mean? Abandoning the literal meaning of the text leads only to baseless, groundless, futile speculation. The truth about the heavenly city is more than is described, but not less and not different from what is described. It is a material creation, yet so unique as to be unimaginable to us. The words of John provide all the detail we have been given by God to excite our hope. That the city had a great and high wall indicates that it is not an amorphous, nebulous, floating place. It has specific dimensions; it has limits; it can be entered and left through its twelve gates. At those gates twelve angels were stationed, to attend to Gods glory and to serve His people (cf. Heb. 1:14). The gates had names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel, celebrating for all eternity Gods covenant relationship with Israel, the people of the promises, the covenants, the Scriptures, and the Messiah. They were arranged symmetrically; there were three gates on the east and three gates on the north and three gates on the south and three gates on the west. That arrangement is reminiscent of the way the twelve tribes camped around the tabernacle (Num. 2), and of the allotment of the tribal lands around the millennial temple (Ezek. 48). The massive wall of the city was anchored by twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Those stones commemorate Gods covenant relationship with the church, of which the apostles are the foundation (Eph. 2:20). At the top of each gate was the name of one of the tribes of Israel; at the bottom of each gate was the name of one of the
apostles. Thus, the layout of the citys gates pictures Gods favor on all His redeemed people, both those under the old covenant, and those under the new covenant.
The Mark of the Beast

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And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. (Revelation 13:1617) As part of his plan to enforce the worship of Antichrist, the false prophet will require all categories of unbelievers, summarized as the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead. Mark (charagma; from charasso, "I engrave") was the term for images or names of the emperor on Roman coins. In the ancient world, such marks (tattoos or brands) were commonly given to slaves, soldiers, and devotees of religious cults (cf. Gal. 6:17). God sealed, with a mark on the forehead, the 144,000 to preserve them from His wrath against the unbelieving world (7:23); the false prophet marks the unsaved to preserve them from Antichrists wrath against Gods people. The mark will signify that the person bearing it is a worshiper and loyal follower of the Antichrist. In much the same way, the Roman emperors required their subjects to prove their loyalty by offering sacrifices to Caesar. Those who refused, like those who refuse to take the Antichrists mark, were subject to execution. Besides the constant threat of death, refusing to take the mark of the beast will have dire practical consequences in daily living: no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark. Antichrists empire will maintain strict economic control over the world. Food, clothing, medical supplies, and the other necessities of life potentially in demand in the devastated earth, which has felt the judgment of God (6:56), will be unobtainable for those without the mark. Currency will probably vanish, to be replaced by controlled credit. Instead of a credit card, which can be lost, people will have a mark (possibly a bar code) in their forehead or hand. Scanning peoples foreheads or hands would identify them to a central computer system. Life under totalitarian governments in our time provides a faint glimpse of what is to come. A man who had lived under Bulgarias communist regime remarked:
You cannot understand and you cannot know that the most terrible instrument of persecution ever devised is an innocent ration card. You cannot buy and you cannot sell except according to that little, innocent card. If they please, you can be starved to death, and if they please, you can be dispossessed of everything you have; for you cannot trade, and you cannot buy and you cannot sell, without permission. (Cited in W. A. Criswell, Expository Sermons on Revelation, 4:12021) The pressure to give in to the worship of Antichrist will be far worse than anything ever experienced in human history. Life will be virtually unlivable, so the people are forced to bow to the demonized king, not prompted merely by religious deception, but also by economic necessity. Further describing the mark, John notes that it will consist of either the name of the beast or the number of his name. Antichrist will have a universal designation, his name within a numbering system. The exact identification of that phrase is unclear. What is clear is that everyone will be required to have the identifying mark or suffer the consequences.
The Accuser
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Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. (Revelation 12:10) The Bible exposes Satans devious and deceitful nature as the father of lies (John 8:44), cautioning that he disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14; cf. 2 Cor. 11:3) so that he can more easily deceive people. The apostle Paul expressed his concern that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes (2 Cor. 2:11). Put on the full armor of God, the apostle urged the Ephesians, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil (Eph. 6:11). One of the most pervasive and persistent popular myths about Satan pictures him (complete with pitchfork, horns, and pointed tail) as being in charge of hell. In reality, Satan is not in hell; in fact, he has never been there. He will not be sentenced to the lake of fire until after his final rebellion is crushed at the end of the Millennium (20:710). And when he does enter hell, Satan will not be in charge; he will be the lowest inmate there, the one undergoing the most horrible punishment ever inflicted on any created being.
Far from being in hell, Satan currently divides his time between roaming the earth seeking someone to devour (1 Pet. 5:8) and being in heaven, where he also engages in his doomed attempt to overthrow Gods Person, purposes, plans, and people. One way he seeks to do that is by constantly accusing believers before Gods throne (cf. 12:10). Satan ceaselessly harangues God about the unworthiness of believers, hypocritically appealing to Gods righteousness to further his own unrighteous aims. The unachievable goal of his accusations is to shatter the unbreakable bonds that inseparably link believers to the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:2939). There is no possibility of that happening, however, since no one can snatch a believer out of the hands of Jesus or the Father (John 10:2829). Still, Satan works on earth to turn Gods children against Him and in heaven to turn God against His children. But, as John proves, saving faith and eternal life are unbreakable realities. The event that will cause the kingdom and authority of Christ to be established is the expulsion of Satan from heaven. So the saints offer praise that the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. As redeemed and glorified individuals, there was nothing Satan could legitimately accuse them of. Still, it must have grieved them that their suffering brethren on earth were subject to the devils slanderous accusations. Satans defeat will put an end to those relentless accusations (cf. Job 1:11; 2:5; Zech. 3:1; 1 Pet. 5:8). The heavenly worshipers also offer praise because of events on earth, where their brethren overcame Satan. Ejected from heaven, Satan and his hellish hosts will vent their full fury on Gods people on earth (cf. 12:6, 1317). There too, however, they will suffer defeat. Again speaking of a future event in the past tense because of its certainty, the inspired apostle John sees the victory already won and notes that the believers alive on earth overcame Satan, though it is yet to happen.
The Fate of the Filthy

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Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy. (Revelation 22:11) The angels statement seems strangely out of place in this context: Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy. Some may think its connection with the command that preceded it is not immediately apparent. But the truth it
dramatically conveys is that peoples response to the proclamation of the truth will fix their eternal destinies. Those who hear the truth but continue to do wrong and be filthy will by that hardened response fix their eternal destiny in hell. On the other hand, the one who continues to practice righteousness and keep himself holy gives evidence of genuine saving faith. The adverb eti (still) may have the sense of yet more. In that case, the meaning is that those who do wrong and are filthy in this life will be even more so in eternal hell, where there will be absolutely no good influences to mitigate their evil. In contrast, those who are righteous and holy in this life will be perfectly holy in their glorified bodies in heaven. It is sobering to realize that peoples response to Gods gospel truth in this life will determine their eternal destiny. When they die, or when the Lord returns, their character will be forever fixed. Those who respond to the warnings in Revelation will live forever in heaven. But those who fail to heed those warnings and repent will remain forever in their sinful state. It is also true that Gods Spirit will not always call sinners to repentance, and Scripture warns sinners not to harden their hearts to the point where God judicially abandons them (Ps. 95:78; Heb. 3:15; 4:7). Yet, tragically, those warnings often go unheeded, and the opportunity to repent and believe the gospel is wasted (cf. Matt. 25:113; Luke 13:2425). Speaking of the wayward sinners of the northern kingdom (Israel), God declared, Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone (Hos. 4:17). Jesus said of the equally hardened Pharisees, Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind (Matt. 15:14; cf. Matt. 23:16, 24; Luke 6:39). Both of those passages express Gods wrath of abandonment (Rom. 1:1832), when He turns hardened, unrepentant sinners over to the consequences of their own choices. Preaching Revelation draws the line. Its truths will melt the hearts of the repentant and harden the hearts of the unrepentant. Those same truths thus become either an instrument of salvation, or an instrument of damnation (cf. 1 Cor. 1:18; 2 Cor. 2:1516). They must be proclaimed so men and women can hear them while there is still time.
Hands Off the Word of God

Revelation 22 May 23, 2011 BQ52311
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I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book. (Revelation 22:1819)
It is of great significance that the Bible closes with an affirmation of its truthfulness. Because the words of Scripture are faithful and true (22:6), they must not be sealed up, but proclaimed (22:10). Sinners are to be called to respond to the warnings in the Word of the living God or suffer the consequences. All the prophecies of Revelation regarding the doom of sinners will come true. That terrifying certainty should drive people to Jesus Christ to escape the wrath to come (1 Thess. 1:10). The speaker who testifies to the authority and finality of the words of the prophecy of this book is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ (cf. v. 20). His solemn warning against tampering with Scripture applies first of all to theprophecy of the book of Revelation (cf. 1:3). Its stern rebukes of Jezebel and her followers (2:2023), those who had embraced the deep things of Satan (2:24), and those of the synagogue of Satan (3:9) would have prompted them to assault it. Down through the centuries there have been others who have both attacked Revelation and seriously misinterpreted it. But in light of the repeated warnings against altering Gods Word, Christs warning must be broadened to include all of Scripture. In Deuteronomy 4:2 Moses cautioned, You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which Icommand you. In Deuteronomy 12:32 he added, Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from it. Proverbs 30:5 6 warns, Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Do not add to His words or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar. Thus, the prohibition against altering the Apocalypse by implication extends to all of Scripture. Because Revelation describes the entire sweep of history from the close of the apostolic age to the eternal state, any alteration of it would be an alteration ofScripture, as Robert L. Thomas notes: The predictive portions project from Johns lifetime all the way into the eternal state. Any type of prophetic utterance would intrude into the domain of this coverage and constitute either an addition to or subtraction from Revelations content. So the final book of the Bible is also the concluding product of NT prophecy. It also marks the close of the NT canon since the prophetic gift was the divinely chosen means for communicating the inspired books of the canon. (Revelation 822: An Exegetical Commentary [Chicago: Moody, 1995], 517) The canon of Scripture was closed at the end of the first century when Revelation was finished. Thus, any false prophet, fraud, or charlatan who adds alleged new revelations to it (as the Montanists did in the early church and Joseph Smith, Mary Baker Eddy, and other false prophets have done in recent times) will face divine vengeance. God will add to such people the plagues which are written in the book of Revelation. Gods judgment will be equally severe on anyone who takes away from the words of Scripture (as the heretic Marcion did in the early church and liberal higher critics have done in modern times)God will take away their part from the tree of life and from the holy city. Both warnings contain a play on words. Those who add to Scripture will have plagues added to them; those who take away from Scripture will have the blessings of heaven taken away from them. No true believer would ever deliberately tamper with Scripture. Those who know and love God will treat His Word with the utmost respect. They will say with the psalmist, O how I love Your law! (Ps. 119:97; cf. Pss. 119:113, 163, 167; John 14:23); and, I delight in Your law (Ps. 119:70; cf. Pss. 1:2; 119:77, 92, 174). That does not, of course, mean that believers will never make errors in judgment or mistakenly interpret Scripture incorrectly or inadequately. The Lords warning here is addressed to those who engage in deliberate falsification or misinterpretation of Scripture, those whom Paul denounces as peddlers of the Word of God (2 Cor. 2:17).
Revelation and the rest of Scripture are true, and the redeemed will believe the Bible, guard the Bible, love the Bible, and obey the Bible. That Scripture speaks truly when it describes the joys of heaven and the terrors of hell should motivate sinners to heed Gods gracious call to salvation.
Will Earthly Memories Exist in Heaven?

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And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away. (Revelation 21:4) Heaven will be so dramatically different from the present world that to describe it requires the use of negatives, as well as the previous positives. To describe what is totally beyond human understanding also requires pointing out how it differs from present human experience. The first change from their earthly life believers in heaven will experience is that God will wipe away every tear from their eyes (cf. 7:17; Isa. 25:8). That does not mean that people who arrive in heaven will be crying and God will comfort them. They will not, as some imagine, be weeping as they face the record of their sins. There is no such record, because there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:1), since Christ bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed (1 Pet. 2:24). What it declares is the absence of anything to be sorry aboutno sadness, no disappointment, no pain. There will be no tears of misfortune, tears over lost love, tears of remorse, tears of regret, tears over the death of loved ones, or tears for any other reason. Another dramatic difference from the present world will be that in heaven there will no longer be any death (cf. Isa. 25:8). The greatest curse of human existence will be no more. Death, as Paul promised, is swallowed up in victory (1 Cor. 15:54). Both Satan, who had the power of death (Heb. 2:14) and death itself will have been cast into the lake of fire (20:10, 14). Nor will there be any mourning, or crying in heaven. The grief, sorrow, and distress that produce mourning and its outward manifestation, crying, will not exist in heaven. This glorious reality will be the fulfillment of Isaiah 53:34: He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves
esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. When Christ bore believers sins on the cross, He also bore their sorrows, since sin is the cause of sorrow. The perfect holiness and absence of sin that will characterize heaven will also mean that there will be no more pain. On the cross, Jesus was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed (Isa. 53:5). While the healing in view in that verse is primarily spiritual healing, it also includes physical healing. Commenting on Jesus healing of Peters mother-in-law, Matthew 8:17 says, This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: He Himself took our infirmities and carried away our diseases. The healing ministry of Jesus was a preview of the well-being that will characterize the millennial kingdom and the eternal state. The glorified sin free bodies believers will possess in heaven will not be subject to pain of any kind. All those changes that will mark the new heaven and the new earth indicate that the first things have passed away. Old human experience related to the original, fallen creation is gone forever, and with it all the mourning, suffering, sorrow, disease, pain, and death that has characterized it since the Fall. Summarizing those changes in a positive way, He who sits on the throne said, Behold, I am making all things new.
The Lamb's Book of Life and Praying for the Lost

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and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lambs book of life. (21:2627) Then John adds another detail to his description of the New Jerusalem. Throughout the never-ending daytime of the eternal state (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed. In an ancient walled city, the gates were closed at nightfall to keep invaders, marauders, criminals, and other potentially dangerous individuals from entering the city under cover of darkness. That there will be no night in eternity, and the gates of the New Jerusalem will never need to be closed, depicts the citys complete security. It will be a place of rest, safety, and refreshment, where Gods people will rest from their labors (14:13). The kings will not be the only ones to surrender their earthly prestige and glory when they enter heaven. The glory and the honor of the nations will also dissolve, as it were, into the eternal
worship of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Like the twenty-four elders, all who enter heaven will cast their crowns before the throne of God (4:10). All in heaven will be perfectly holy. Thus, nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into the New Jerusalem (see the discussions of 21:78 in chap. 18 of this volume and 22:15 in chap. 21). The only ones there will be those whose names are written in the Lambs book of life. (For a discussion of the book of life, see 3:5; 13:8; and the comments on 20:12 in chap. 17 of this volume.)
What Will Heaven Be Like?

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Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. (21:1) The phrase kai eidon (I saw) is used throughout Revelation to indicate chronological progression (cf. 6:1, 2, 5, 8, 12; 7:2; 8:2, 13; 9:1; 10:1; 13:1, 11; 14:1, 6, 14; 15:1; 16:13; 17:3; 19:11, 17, 19; 20:1, 4, 11). It has introduced each of the climactic events beginning with the return of the Lord Jesus Christ in 19:11. As chapter 21 opens, all the sinners of all the ages, as well as Satan and his demons, have been sentenced to the lake of fire (20:1015). With all ungodly men and angels banished forever and the present universe destroyed (20:11), God will create a new realm for the redeemed and the holy angels to dwell in forever. The phrase a new heaven and a new earth derives from two passages in Isaiah. In Isaiah 65:17 God declared, For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things will not be remembered or come to mind. In Isaiah 66:22 He added, For just as the new heavens and the new earth which I make will endure before Me, declares the Lord, so your offspring and your name will endure. What Isaiah predicted is now a reality in Johns vision.
Kainos (new) does not mean new in a chronological sense, but new in a qualitative sense. The new heaven and the new earth will not merely succeed the present universe in chronological sequence; they will be something brand new, fresh, never before seen. God must create a new heaven and a new earth because the first heaven and the first earth passed away. God originally created the
earth to be suitable as mankinds permanent home. The entrance of sin, however, corrupted the earth and the universe, and God will destroy them (cf. 20:11). What lies ahead for the earth is not a nuclear or an ecological holocaust, but a divine judgment.
The Old Testament describes the pollution and destruction of the present universe. Job 15:15 declares that the heavens are not pure in His sight. Isaiah 24:5 adds, The earth is also polluted by its inhabitants, for they transgressed laws, violated statutes, broke the everlasting covenant. The psalmist writes, Of old You founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. Even they will perish, but You endure; and all of them will wear out like a garment; like clothing You will change them and they will be changed (Ps. 102:2526). The Lord Jesus Christ confirmed that Old Testament teaching when He declared, Heaven and earth will pass away (Luke 21:33). The first hint of what the new heaven and new earth will be like comes in Johns observation that there will no longer be any sea. That will be a startling change from the present earth, nearly threefourths of which is covered by water. The sea is emblematic of the present water-based environment. All life on earth is dependent on water for its survival, and the earth is the only known place in the universe where there is sufficient water to sustain life. But believers glorified bodies will not require water, unlike present human bodies, whose blood is 90 percent water, and whose flesh is 65 percent water. Thus, the new heaven and the new earth will be based on a completely different life principle than the present universe. There will be a river in heaven, not of water, but of the water of life (22:1, 17). Without a sea, there can be no hydrological cycle, so that every feature of life and climate will be dramatically different.
From a metaphorical perspective, commentators have seen the absence of the sea as symbolic of the absence of evil. Robert L. Thomas summarizes: Most justifiably see this void as representing an archetypical connotation in the sea (cf. 13:1; 20:13), a principle of disorder, violence, or unrest that marks the old creation (cf. Isa. 57:20; Ps. 107:2528; Ezek. 28:8). It is not that the sea is evil in itself, but that its aspect is one of hostility to mankind. For instance, the sea was what stood guard over John in his prison on Patmos and separated him from the churches of Asia. The sea is the first of seven evils that John says will no longer exist, the other six being death, mourning, weeping, pain (21:4), the curse (22:3), and night (21:25; 22:5). (Revelation 822: An Exegetical Commentary [Chicago: Moody, 1995], 440)
Will Believers Remember Pain in Heaven?

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and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away. And He who sits on the throne said, Behold, I am making all things new. And He said, Write, for these words are faithful and true. Then He said to me, It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. (21:46a) Heaven will be so dramatically different from the present world that to describe it requires the use of negatives, as well as the previous positives. To describe what is totally beyond human understanding also requires pointing out how it differs from present human experience.
The first change from their earthly life believers in heaven will experience is that God will wipe away every tear from their eyes (cf. 7:17; Isa. 25:8). That does not mean that people who arrive in heaven will be crying and God will comfort them. They will not, as some imagine, be weeping as they face the record of their sins. There is no such record, because there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:1), since Christ bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed (1 Pet. 2:24). What it declares is the absence of anything to be sorry aboutno sadness, no disappointment, no pain. There will be no tears of misfortune, tears over lost love, tears of remorse, tears of regret, tears over the death of loved ones, or tears for any other reason.
Another dramatic difference from the present world will be that in heaven there will no longer be any death (cf. Isa. 25:8). The greatest curse of human existence will be no more. Death, as Paul promised, is swallowed up in victory (1 Cor. 15:54). Both Satan, who had the power of death (Heb. 2:14) and death itself will have been cast into the lake of fire (20:10, 14).
Nor will there be any mourning, or crying in heaven. The grief, sorrow, and distress that produce mourning and its outward manifestation, crying, will not exist in heaven. This glorious reality will be the fulfillment of Isaiah 53:34: He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. When Christ bore believers sins on the cross, He also bore their sorrows, since sin is the cause of sorrow.
The perfect holiness and absence of sin that will characterize heaven will also mean that there will be no more pain. On the cross, Jesus was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed (Isa. 53:5). While the healing in view in that verse is primarily spiritual healing, it also includes physical healing. Commenting on Jesus healing of Peters mother-in-law, Matthew 8:17 says, This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: He Himself took our infirmities and
carried away our diseases. The healing ministry of Jesus was a preview of the well-being that will characterize the millennial kingdom and the eternal state. The glorified sin free bodies believers will possess in heaven will not be subject to pain of any kind.
All those changes that will mark the new heaven and the new earth indicate that the first things have passed away. Old human experience related to the original, fallen creation is gone forever, and with it all the mourning, suffering, sorrow, disease, pain, and death that has characterized it since the Fall. Summarizing those changes in a positive way, He who sits on the throne said, Behold, I am making all things new. The One who sits on the throne is the same One from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them (20:11). As noted in chapter 17 of this volume, the present universe will be uncreated. The new heaven and the new earth will be truly a new creation, and not merely a refurbishing of the present heaven and earth. In that forever new creation, there will be no entropy, no atrophy, no decay, no decline, and no waste.
Overwhelmed by all that he had seen, John seems to have lost his concentration. Thus, God Himself, the glorious, majestic One on the throne said to him Write, for these words are faithful and true (cf. 1:19). The words John was commanded by God to write are as faithful and true (cf. 22:6) as the One revealing them to him (3:14; 19:11). Though the present heaven and earth will pass away, still Gods words will not pass away (Luke 21:33). There will be an end to the universe, but not to the truth God reveals to His people. Whether or not men understand and believe that truth, it will come to pass. Also by way of summary, the majestic voice of the One sitting on heavens throne said to John, It is done. Those words are reminiscent of Jesus words on the cross, It is finished! (John 19:30). Jesus words marked the completion of the work of redemption; these words mark the end of redemptive history. It is the time of which Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:2428: Then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death. For He has put all things in subjection under His feet. But when He says, All things are put in subjection, it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all. The One who sits on the throne is qualified to declare the end of redemptive history, because He is the Alpha and the Omega (the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet; cf. 1:8), the beginning and the end (cf. Isa. 44:6; 48:12). God started history, and He will end it, and all of it has unfolded according to His sovereign plan. That this same phrase is applied to the Lord Jesus Christ in 22:13 offers proof of His full deity and equality with the Father.
Do Believers Ever Doubt Their Salvation?

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But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. (21:8) John concludes his overview of the new heaven and the new earth with a serious and solemn warning. He delineates those who will be excluded from any participation in the blessings of heavenall unforgiven and unredeemed sinners. There are similar lists of such sinners in 22:15; Romans 1:28 32; 1 Corinthians 6:910; Galatians 5:1921; and 2 Timothy 3:25. The first group excluded from heaven are the cowardly. These are the ones who lack endurance (cf. Matt. 24:13; Mark 8:35). They fell away when their faith was challenged or opposed, because their faith was not genuine. Jesus described such people in the parable of the soils: The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away (Matt. 13:2021). These are the ones who shrink back to destruction (Heb. 10:39). In John 8:31 Jesus defined those whose faith is genuine as those who continue in His Word. (For further discussion of this issue, see my books The Gospel According to Jesus [rev. ed., Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994], and The Gospel According to the Apostles [Nashville: Word, 2000].) Because they lack saving faith and are unbelieving, their disloyalty excludes them from heaven. They are also abominable (vile, polluted, detestable, wholly caught up in wickedness and evil), murderers, immoral persons, sorcerers (from the Greek word pharmakos, from which the English words pharmacy and pharmaceuticals derive; that indicates the inclusion of those who use mindaltering drugs in occult religion), idolaters, and liars. Those whose lives are characterized by such things give evidence that they are not saved and will never enter the heavenly city. On the contrary, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. In contrast to the eternal bliss of the righteous in heaven, the wicked will suffer eternal torment in hell. (For a further discussion of the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death, see chapter 17 of this volume.) The new heaven and the new earth await believers and the final hell awaits resurrected unbelievers. For believers, it will be a universe of eternal happiness as they dwell forever in the glorious presence of God. For unbelievers, it will be a terrifying place of unbearable torment and unrelieved misery away from Gods presence (2 Thess. 1:9). The choices men and women make in this life determine in which of those realms they will live forever.

Book of Revelation Introduction + Ques - Ans by John MacArthur

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