20. and with him the false prophet--A reads, "and those with
him." B reads, "and he who was with him, the false prophet."
miracles--Greek, "the miracles" (literally,
"signs") recorded already
(Re 13:14)
as wrought by the second beast before (literally, 'in sight of')
the first beast. Hence it follows the second beast is
identical with the false prophet. Many expositors represent the
first beast to be the secular, the second beast to be the
ecclesiastical power of Rome; and account for the change of title for
the latter from the "other beast" to the "false prophet," is because by
the judgment on the harlot, the ecclesiastical power will then retain
nothing of its former character save the power to deceive. I think it
not unlikely that the false prophet will be the successor of the
spiritual pretensions of the papacy; while the beast in its last form
as the fully revealed Antichrist will be the secular representative and
embodiment of the fourth world kingdom, Rome, in its last form of
intensified opposition to God. Compare with this prophecy,
Eze 38:1-39:29;
Da 2:34, 35, 44; 11:44, 45; 12:1;
Joe 3:9-17;
Zec 12:1-14:21.
Daniel
(Da 7:8)
makes no mention of the second beast, or false prophet, but mentions
that "the little horn" has "the eyes of a man," that is, cunning and
intellectual culture; this is not a feature of the first beast in the
thirteenth chapter, but is expressed by the Apocalyptic "false
prophet," the embodiment of man's unsanctified knowledge, and the
subtlety of the old serpent. The first beast is a political power; the
second is a spiritual power--the power of ideas. But both are
beasts, the worldly Antichristian wisdom serving the worldly
Antichristian power. The dragon is both lion and serpent. As the first
law in God's moral government is that "judgment should begin at the
house of God," and be executed on the harlot, the faithless Church, by
the world power with which she had committed spiritual adultery, so it
is a second law that the world power, after having served as God's
instrument of punishment, is itself punished. As the harlot is judged
by the beast and the ten kings, so these are destroyed by the Lord
Himself coming in person. So
Zep 1:1-18
compared with
Zep 2:1-15.
And Jeremiah, after denouncing Jerusalem's judgment by Babylon, ends
with denouncing Babylon's own doom. Between the judgment on the harlot
and the Lord's destruction of the beast, will intervene that season in
which earthly-mindedness will reach its culmination, and
Antichristianity triumph for its short three and a half days during
which the two witnesses lie dead. Then shall the Church be ripe for her
glorification, the Antichristian world for destruction. The world at
the highest development of its material and spiritual power is but a
decorated carcass round which the eagles gather. It is characteristic
that Antichrist and his kings, in their blindness, imagine that they
can wage war against the King of heaven with earthly hosts; herein is
shown the extreme folly of Babylonian confusion. The Lord's mere
appearance, without any actual encounter, shows Antichrist his
nothingness; compare the effect of Jesus' appearance even in His
humiliation,
Joh 18:6
[AUBERLEN].
had received--rather as Greek, "received," once for
all.
them; that worshipped--literally, "them worshipping" not an act
once for all done, as the "received" implies, but those
in the habit of "worshipping."
These both were cast . . . into a lake--Greek,
". . . the lake of fire," Gehenna. Satan is subsequently cast
into it, at the close of the outbreak which succeeds the millennium
(Re 20:10).
Then Death and Hell, as well those not found at the general judgment
"written in the book of life"; this constitutes "the second death."
alive--a living death; not mere annihilation. "Their worm dieth
not, their fire is not quenched."
JFB.
The Book of Revelation
Revelation 1:9-11 - I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send [it] unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
Revelation 19:11-16 - And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him [was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes [were] as a flame of fire, and on his head [were] many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he [was] clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies [which were] in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on [his] vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Revelation 22:18-20 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Revelation in The New Testament - A Brief Overview
Painting of St. John the Evangelist by Reni - 1620
Introduction to The Book of Revelation
Brief Summary. John describes the seven churches in Asia, he records the visions that he received, and in the prophecy Jesus returns as the kinsman redeemer to claim this world as His inheritance. The final battle unfolds in a 7 year period through a series of seal, trumpet, and bowl judgements, He casts the antichrist and false prophet into the lake of fire and sets up the New Jerusalem, the new heaven and new earth for the redeemed. The book of Revelation is in harmony with the prophecies in the Old Testament especially the ones written by Ezekiel, Daniel and Zechariah.
Summary of The Book of Revelation
Author. John the apostle names himself as the one who wrote down what the Lord said through the angel. The earliest writers in the church like Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Hippolytus, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria and the Muritorian all credit John the apostle as author of the book of Revelation.
Date. John indicates that he was on the Island of Patmos when he received the prophecy (Revelation 1:9). According to tradition John wrote during the reign of the Emperor Domitian which would have been around 95 AD. Tradition also states that John was released the next year and was allowed to return to Ephesus. Domitian was perhaps the cruelest Emperor toward the Christians, demanding that he was to worshipped as deity, or be put to death.
Audience. John said that the prophecy was directed to the seven churches in Asia (Revelation 1:4).
Outline of the Book of Revelation
Description and Fate of False Teachers - 1:1-16
Encouragement to Believers in Christ - 1:17-25
The Name Jesus In Ancient Hebrew Text
"Yeshua" in First Century Hebrew Text. This is how the name "Jesus"
would have been written in ancient Hebrew documents. The four letters or
consonants from right to left are Yod, Shin, Vav, Ayin (Y, SH, OO, A).
Jesus is the Greek name for the Hebrew name Joshua or Y'shua which means
"The LORD or Yahweh is Salvation".
The Book of Revelation Resources
Map of the Roman Empire (14 A.D.) - This map reveals the Roman Empire during the time shortly after the birth of Jesus, in 14 AD at the time of the death of Augustus. The order which prevailed in this extensive empire, the good military roads, and the use of Koine Greek as the general language of culture throughout the area were among the factors which multiplied the rapid spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (Color Map)
Map of Paul's First Missionary Journey (48 A.D.) - This map reveals the areas in Asia Minor where Paul visited in his first missionary journey. Around 48 AD, in the springtime, Paul and his companions Barnabas and Mark were sent on a mission from the church in Antioch. This would be the first of Paul's Missionary Journey's. (Color Map)
Map of Paul's Second Missionary Journey (51 A.D.) - This map reveals the areas in Asia and Greece where Paul visited in his second missionary journey. Paul re-visits a couple cities in Asia, one of which was Lystra where he was stoned and left for dead a few years earlier. He later has a vision that leads him over to Greece and Paul and his companions travel and minister in various cities in Greece (Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens and Corinth. Later Paul returns to Ephesus and finally to Caesarea and Antioch. (Color Map)
Map of Paul's Third Missionary Journey (54 A.D.) - This map reveals the areas in Asia and Greece where Paul visited in his third missionary journey. On Paul's third missionary journey he returned to the cities he had first visited on his first missionary journey. During this time he decided to remain in Ephesus for about 3 years, and this city was the main focus of his activities and an important Christian community (Acts 19). (Color Map)
Map of the New Testament World - This map reveals the "Nations" within the ancient world during the first century A.D., the time of the New Testament. The map includes the areas of Israel, Asia, Greece, and Italy. (Color Map)
Map of New Testament Greece This map reveals the cities within Greece in the ancient world during the first century A.D.,The map includes the principal cities of Greece like: Athens, Corinth, and Thessalonica, and provinces like Macedonia and Achaia. (Color Map)
Map of New Testament Asia - This map shows the cities within
Asia Minor during the first century A.D., the time of the New
Testament. The map includes the principal cities of Asia
including Tarsus, Ephesus, and Colossae, and provinces like
Galatia and Pamphilia. (Color Map)