Atheist Parenting Book by Eric Lyons, M.Min.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=9&article=2223

Atheist Parenting Book

by	Eric Lyons, M.Min.

In the July 16, 2007 issue of Newsweek, Lisa Miller informed readers about a new and different parenting book, titled Parenting Beyond Belief. Edited by Dale McGowan, this volume “aims to help folks who are raising their kids without religion deal with the sticky questions that come up about Santa Claus and heaven, and it raises more serious concerns about how to bring up ethical, confident, non-believing kids in a culture saturated with talk about God” (Miller, 2007, p. 10). According to McGowan’s Web site, Parenting Beyond Belief “is the first comprehensive parenting book by a major publisher on raising children without religion” (2007). McGowan added: “We hope it isn’t the last” (2007).

Included in Parenting Beyond Belief is discussion about a new summer camp for children of atheists. Camp Quest: The Secular Summer Camp, which operates in six different locations in North America, claims to be “the first residential summer camp in the history of the United States for the children of Atheists, Freethinkers, Humanists, Brights, or whatever other terms might be applied to those who hold to a naturalistic, not supernatural world view” (Camp Quest, n.d., emp. added).

It seems as if atheists are more determined than ever to indoctrinate children with godless materials and ideologies. In the end, Dale McGowan’s hope of seeing more atheistic materials for families ultimately fails to provide reasonable, not to mention comforting, answers to life’s biggest questions. Imagine the child who ponders his origin for the first time: “Mom, why are we here?” “Ricky,” mom replies, “we’re here because, by chance, billions of years ago a tiny ball of matter exploded. Eventually Earth was formed, life emerged from lifeless matter, and millions of years later humans evolved from lower animals.” “So we’re here by accident?” Ricky asks. “That’s one way of looking at it,” says his mother. Parenting Beyond Belief and Camp Quest no doubt help atheistic parents explain origins and ultimate destinations to their children in a more creative way. However, the bottom line is, children will learn that life ultimately is meaningless because their existence is accidental and there is no life beyond death.

The key to an abundant life, both in the present and in the afterlife, is found only through Christ Jesus (John 10:10). May God help us to teach our children this truth, as well as reach out to those reared by atheists, who may never have heard the answers that Jesus and His Word can provide.

REFERENCES

Camp Quest: The Secular Summer Camp (no date), [On-line], URL: http://www.camp-quest.org/.

McGowan, Dale (2007), “Parenting Beyond Belief,” [On-line], URL: http://www.parentingbeyondbelief.com/.

Miller, Lisa (2007), “BELIEF WATCH: How To,” Newsweek, July 16.

What Exactly Did Jesus Say? by Eric Lyons, M.Min.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=10&article=2142

What Exactly Did Jesus Say?

by	Eric Lyons, M.Min.

Numerous times in the gospel accounts, the Bible writers recorded statements made by Jesus while He was on Earth. Puzzling to some Bible readers is the fact that, although Bible writers frequently recorded the same statements, they are not exactly (word-for-word) alike. For example, whereas Matthew recorded that Jesus told Satan, “It is written again (palin gegrapti), ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God’” (4:7), Luke wrote: “It has been said (eiratai), ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God’” (4:12). Although this difference is considered minor, and is referring to the same thing (the Old Testament), Matthew and Luke still recorded Jesus’ statement using different words. Why? Why did Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John not always record the words of Jesus exactly alike?

First, it is possible that some differences are due to Jesus having made both statements. It is unwise to think that every similar statement recorded by the gospel writers must refer to the exact same moment. In the example of Jesus responding to Satan’s temptation, it may be that Jesus repeated the same thought on the same occasion using different words. After telling Satan, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God,” Jesus could have re-emphasized the point (especially if Satan repeated the temptation) by saying, “It is written, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’” Thus, Jesus could have made both statements.

A second reason why differences exist among the gospel writers’ testimony of Jesus’ teachings is because the writers’ purpose was to record precisely what the Holy Spirit deemed necessary (cf. John 16:13), but not necessarily exactly what Jesus said. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21), one writer may summarize a person’s (e.g., Jesus’) words, while another writer may quote the exact words.

Consider the variation in notes taken by honest, intelligent college students in the same class on the Civil War. At the close of the class, when the notes of the students are compared and contrasted (as the gospel accounts are) differences are evident. If one student recorded that the teacher said Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous Gettysburg Address “in November of 1863 to honor those who died in the Civil War Battle of Gettysburg,” and another student wrote that Lincoln’s speech was delivered “on November 19, 1863 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania,” their notes would not be considered contradictory. Though there are slight differences in what the students indicate the teacher said, they both are faithful testimonies of what the teacher taught—one student simply chose a less definite style of note-taking (i.e., not mentioning the precise day on which the Gettysburg Address was given).

Throughout the gospel accounts, we find accurate statements that Jesus made, but not necessarily the exact quotations. Inspired summaries of what someone said does not take away from the sacredness of the God-given Scriptures, nor our ability to apply those Scriptures to our lives. What’s more, differences among statements recorded in the gospel accounts also may be the result of the statements being made at different times. In whichever category a difference among the gospel accounts falls, Bible students can be confident of the Bible’s reliability.

Do Christians Need “Additional Scripture”? by Eric Lyons, M.Min.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=739

Do Christians Need “Additional Scripture”?

by	Eric Lyons, M.Min.

For many people who claim to be Christians, the Bible is not enough. Supposedly, it is not sufficient revelation. It does not give us enough information. These individuals seek additional works of inspiration. Either they want direct revelation from the Holy Spirit, or they want some kind of additional inspired work from God. In a recent Bible study with two gentlemen who claimed to believe in the divine inspiration of both the Bible and the Book of Mormon, one of the men made the statement: “God wanted us to have…additional Scripture.” That is, allegedly God wanted us to have more than just the Bible. This gentleman then followed up this assertion by saying that it is “unfair to just choose one.”

Is it really “unfair” to believe only the Bible is inspired? Is it inappropriate to tell individuals who advocate additional Scripture that the Bible is the only inspired, written revelation for man? Does God really want us to have “additional Scripture”?

Almighty God has the power and authority to communicate with man in whatever way and however often He chooses. But these questions must be answered in light of what God said He did, and not what man might surmise God could do. A thorough study of the New Testament reveals that what God said He did (through His inspired writers—2 Peter 1:20-21) was give mankind (some 1,900 years ago) all the revelation he needed to live a faithful Christian life.

The Bible indicates that all truth necessary for salvation was revealed during the lifetime of the apostles. The night before Jesus’ crucifixion, He promised His apostles that after His departure from them, the Spirit would come and guide them “into all truth” (John 16:13, emp. added), teaching them “all things,” and bringing to their remembrance “all things” that Jesus taught them (John 14:26, emp. added). After His crucifixion and resurrection (but before He ascended into heaven), Jesus then commanded these same disciples to “make disciples of all the nations…teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20, emp. added). The fact is, “the faith…was once for all delivered to the saints” in the first century (Jude 3, emp. added), so that since that time Christians have had “all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3, emp. added). Since then, “the man of God” has been “complete,thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17, emp. added).

Indeed, hearing God’s will in the 21^st century is as easy as picking up the providentially preserved Bible and reading what Jesus’ apostles and prophets recorded for our benefit (cf. Ephesians 3:1-5). No modern-day messages, dreams, visions, or “additional Scripture” are needed. Christians should be content with the powerful “sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12) and be warned to “not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).

I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed  (Galatians 1:8-9).

From Nonlife to Nonlife by Trevor Major, M.Sc., M.A.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=1121

From Nonlife to Nonlife

by	Trevor Major, M.Sc., M.A.

Q.

Organic evolution is based on the concept of something inorganic and nonliving becoming organic and living. Do the actual scientific data support such a concept?

A.

How did life arise from nonliving chemicals? This is the most fundamental, yet sketchiest chapter of evolutionary theory.

One proposal is to start with seemingly lifelike chemicals. This is the approach taken by Julius Rebek and his coworkers (Hong, et al., 1992; Feng, et al., 1992). Like DNA, Rebek’s chemicals can make copies of themselves (i.e., replicate). Further, Rebek can make more efficient replicators by subjecting them to ultraviolet radiation. These new varieties outproduce other forms, eventually dominating their test-tube world. Supposedly, these chemicals could provide the missing link between nonlife and life.

Yet, the gap remains because Rebek’s system contains little information (see Hurst and Dawkins, 1992, 357:199). Life is defined by a set of elegant instructions recorded on the DNA molecule, and there is more to life than replication.

Another proposal tries to circumvent the famous chicken-and-egg problem of chemical evolution by starting with RNA. If we think of DNA as the “brain,” then RNA is the “nervous system” carrying the message of protein formation to the rest of the cell. However, the whole process involves crucial enzymes (specialized proteins). So which came first, the protein or theDNA?

The answer, many evolutionists believe, lies in the discovery that a special part of RNA can act like an enzyme. This means it can carry information and do various jobs within the cell. If this is the case, then perhaps evolution worked both ways, turning RNA into DNA for better information storage, and into specialized enzymes for more efficient copying. Last year, the proponents of this RNA world received a boost from the work of Beaudry and Joyce (1992) who used selection and mutations to make a more efficient RNA enzyme.

Some journalists and scientists have made extraordinary claims about this new research. First, they described the techniques and chemical processes in evolutionary terms such as “selection” and “mutation.” One newspaper article hailed Beaudry and Joyce’s work as the “first complete laboratory demonstration of evolution” (Graham, 1992). Second, they believe the experiments show that “darwinian selection is universal for all lifes” (Hurst and Dawkins, 1992, 357:198), not just for “life as we know it.” And third, because this research has a practical application in biotechnology, they wish to promote evolution as a fundamental tool of science, and not a mere theory.

However, using terms such as selection, mutation, and evolution does not explain the origin of life. These experiments entail a great deal of design and technical innovation. The human experimenters are forcing or directing “evolution” to achieve goals they have set (Culotta, 1992). As Leslie Orgel noted, to really show how life could have evolved, we need to start with something that does not require the “intervention of organic chemists” (1992, 358:207).

Further, this research may come closer to Darwin’s arguments than they would really like. By showing that man can use artificial selection to change species dramatically, even within recorded history, Darwin hoped to establish his case for long-term, large-scale evolution bynatural selection (1859, pp. 133,153). But this analogy breaks down because artificial selection, by definition, involves human intelligence. The same is true for this recent research. We are seeing nothing more than high-tech horse breeding. Actually, we may be seeing less, because the experiments do not deal with life at all. If anything, they resemble Edison’s efforts to find a better filament for his electric light bulb.

What we must emphasize is that an evolutionist can invent any theory about the origin of life, no matter how implausible it may sound. He might succeed in modeling that theory in the laboratory. However, a model is not necessarily the same as reality; he has not proved that life evolved in that way. Ultimately, all he would have displayed is his God-given intellectual and physical abilities.

REFERENCES

Beaudry, Amber A. and Gerald F. Joyce (1992), “Directed Evolution of an RNA Enzyme,”Science, 257:635-641, July 31.

Culotta, Elizabeth (1992), “Forcing the Evolution of an RNA Enzyme in the Test Tube,”Science, 257:613, July 31.

Darwin, Charles (1859), The Origin of Species (New York: Avenel Books, 1979 reprint of the 1968 Penguin edition).

Feng, Qing, Tae Kyo Park and Julius Rebek, Jr. (1992), “Crossover Reactions Between Synthetic Replicators Yield Active and Inactive Recombinants,” Science, 256:1179-1180, May 22.

Graham, David (1992), “Evolution in the Lab at Scripps,” San Diego-Union Tribune, July 31, pp. A1-A2, July 31.

Hong, Jong-In, Qing Feng, Vincent Rotello and Julius Rebek, Jr. (1992), “Competition, Cooperation, and Mutation: Improving a Synthetic Replicator by Light Irradiation,” Science, 255:848-850, February 14.

Hurst, Lawrence D. and Richard Dawkins (1992), “Life in a Test Tube,” Nature, 357:198-199, May 21.

Hezekiah Bulla: More Evidence for Bible Inspiration by Kyle Butt, M.Div.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=13&article=1113

Hezekiah Bulla: More Evidence for Bible Inspiration

by	Kyle Butt, M.Div.

Outspoken unbelievers have attacked the Bible for years. They accuse it of being filled with errors and contradictions. For those who have listened to their accusations, it may come as a surprise to find out that the Bible is the most historically accurate book in the world. There has never been a single legitimate mistake found in its pages. To those who are familiar with the field of archaeology, the Bible’s accuracy comes as no surprise. In fact, over the centuries, thousands of discoveries have come to light that corroborate biblical stories and statements.

An exciting new discovery adds further weight to the case for the Bible’s accuracy and inspiration. In the Old Testament, we read about a king named Hezekiah. Second Kings 18:1 says that Hezekiah was “the son of Ahaz, king of Judah.” On December 2, 2015, a press release from Hebrew University in Jerusalem explained that a small clay seal was discovered near the Temple mount. The text on the seal reads, “Belonging to Hezekiah [son of] Ahaz king of Judah” (Smith, 2015). This seal is called a bulla (bullae is the plural form). Clay bullae like this were used to seal documents. There are other such seals, but this one is the first of an Israelite or Judean king that has been discovered by professional archaeologists in situ (in the location where it was left) (Smith). Dr. Eilat Mazer and her team unearthed the bulla in a garbage heap, along with more than 30 other bullae.

The fact that the Bible is the inspired Word of God has long been a settled question (Butt, 2007). Finds like this one, however, add increasing weight to the ever growing mound of evidence that confirms the divine origin of the glorious book we call the Bible.

REFERENCES

Butt, Kyle (2007), Behold! The Word of God (Montgomery, AL: Apologetics Press),http://www.apologeticspress.org/pdfs/e-books_pdf/Behold%20the%20Word%20of%20God.pdf.

Smith, Dov (2015), “First Seal Impression of an Israelite or Judean King Ever Exposed in Situ in a Scientific Archaeological Excavation,” PhysOrg, http://phys.org/news/2015-12-israelite-judean-king-exposed-situ.html.

Recommended Resources

From Mark Copeland... "THE BOOK OF REVELATION" Chapter Eighteen

                        "THE BOOK OF REVELATION"

                            Chapter Eighteen

In this chapter we find the fall of "Babylon the great" proclaimed, and
the great mourning over her by those in the world.  The fall of Babylon
is proclaimed by an angel with great authority, who illuminated the
earth with his glory.  The reasons for her fall include how the nations
and kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and how the
merchants have become rich through her abundance.  Meanwhile, a voice
from heaven calls for the people of God to come out of her lest they
receive the plagues to come upon her.  Her judgment will involve death,
mourning, famine, and utter destruction by fire, for it is the Lord God
who judges her (1-8).

The fall of Babylon is mourned by the kings of the earth who committed
fornication with her, and the merchants and sea-traders who had become
rich by her.  They all cry out "Alas, alas, that great city..." as they
observe her judgment.  They bemoan that in just one hour her riches came
to nothing and she has become desolate.  On the other hand, heaven
itself, along with the apostles and prophets, are called to rejoice,
because God has avenged them on her (9-20).

Finally, a mighty angel throws a large stone into sea to depict with
what great violence Babylon will be thrown down.  The sounds and sights
of music, crafts, even weddings will be gone.  The fall of Babylon is
justified, for her merchants were great, by her sorcery the nations
were deceived, and in her was found the blood of prophets, saints, and
all those slain on the earth (21-24).

What is this chapter describing?  If the date of the book suggested in
the introduction is correct (spring, 70 A.D.) , and Jerusalem is indeed
the "harlot", then this chapter likely refers to its destruction by the
Romans in August, 70 A.D.  This would be in harmony with Re 17:16,
where those who first supported the harlot eventually turned on her. 
So it was with Jerusalem, who depended upon the approval of the Roman
authorities to persecute the church, and later became the object of
Roman persecution herself.  Very fitting is the depiction of Jerusalem
as a harlot, for she who should have been a great spiritual city had
become a great commercial center by virtue of the roads that passed
through her between Europe, Asia and Africa.  Her spiritual adultery
was also manifested by rejecting the many prophets and apostles sent to
her (cf. Mt 23:31-39 with Re 17:6; 18:20,24; 19:2).

But if Rome (in particular her commercial and immoral spirit) is the
"harlot", then this chapter may describe the fall of Rome in 476 A.D. 
The statements in Re 18:3,9-19 ("all the nations..." and "the merchants
of the earth...") seem to fit Rome better than Jerusalem.   The fall of
"Babylon, the harlot" was due to her treatment of apostles, prophets,
and saints (Re 18:20,24).   When Revelation was written, Rome had
already killed Peter and Paul, and by the time of Rome's fall, there
had been at least ten periods of persecutions by Rome against the
church.  Rome, like Jerusalem, certainly qualifies as "Babylon, the
harlot!"  

POINTS TO PONDER

*  The pronouncement and depiction of the fall of "Babylon the great"

*  The reasons why Babylon would receive such terrible judgment

*  The identity of "that great city Babylon, that mighty city"

OUTLINE

I. THE FALL OF BABYLON PROCLAIMED (1-8)

   A. BY AN ANGEL FROM HEAVEN (1-3)
      1. John sees an angel coming down from heaven
         a. Having great authority
         b. Illuminating the earth with his glory
      2. The angel cries mightily with a loud voice
         a. Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen
         b. She has become...
            1) A dwelling place of demons
            2) A prison for every foul spirit
            3) A cage for every unclean and hated bird
         c. With her...
            1) The nations have drunk of the wine of her fornication
            2) The kings of the earth have committed fornication
            3) The merchants of the earth have become rich  

   B. BY A VOICE FROM HEAVEN (4-8)
      1. Calling God's people to come out of her
         a. Lest they share in her sins and her plagues
         b. For her sins have reached to heaven and God has remembered 
            her iniquities
      2. Calling for judgment to be rendered her
         a. Render her just as she rendered them
         b. Repay her double according to her works
         c. In the cup she has mixed, mix double for her
         d. To the degree she glorified herself and lived luxuriously...
            1) Give her torment and sorrow
            2) For she says in heart that she is a queen and will not see
               sorrow as a widow
         e. Her plagues will come in one day...
            1) Death, mourning, and famine
            2) Utterly burned with fire
            -- For great is the Lord God who judges her

II. THE FALL OF BABYLON MOURNED (9-20)

   A. BY THE KINGS OF THE EARTH (9-10)
      1. Those who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her
      2. They shall weep and lament when they see the smoke of her
         burning
      3. They shall stand afar off for fear of her torment, saying...
         a. "Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city!"
         b. "For in one hour your judgment has come."

   B. BY THE MERCHANTS OF THE EARTH (11-17a)
      1. They shall weep and mourn over her
      2. For no one buys their merchandise anymore
      3. All that they longed for, both rich and splendid, they shall
         find no more
      4. The merchants shall stand at a distance for fear of her torment,
         weeping and wailing...
         a. "Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen,
            purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious 
            stones and pearls!"
         b. "For in one hour such great riches came to nothing."

   C. BY THE TRADERS AND TRAVELERS ON THE SEA (17b-19)
      1. They stood at a distance, crying when they saw the smoke of her
         burning, "What is like this great city?"
      2. Throwing dust on their heads, they cried out, weeping and
         wailing...
         a. "Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on
            the sea became rich by her wealth!"
         b. "For in one hour she is made desolate."

   D. BUT NOT BY THE HOLY APOSTLES AND PROPHETS (20)
      1. They are to rejoice over her
      2. For God has avenged them on her

III. THE FALL OF BABYLON JUSTIFIED (21-24)

   A. THE EXTENT OF HER FALL ILLUSTRATED (21-23a)
      1. By a mighty angel...
         a. Who took a stone like a great millstone and cast it into the
            sea
         b. Who then proclaims "Thus with violence the great city
            Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found 
            anymore."
      2. Neither shall be heard or seen in her...
         a. The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters
         b. A craftsman of any craft
         c. The sound of a millstone
         d. The light of a lamp
         e. The voice of bridegroom and bride

   B. THE EXTENT OF HER FALL JUSTIFIED (23b-24)
      1. For her merchants were the great men of the earth
      2. For by her sorcery all the nations were deceived
      3. For in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of 
         all who slain on the earth

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - The fall of Babylon proclaimed (1-8)
   - The fall of Babylon to be mourned (9-20)
   - The fall of Babylon justified (21-24)

2) Who proclaims the fall of Babylon? (1-2)
   - An angel with great authority, whose glory illuminated the earth

3) What is said concerning nations, kings and merchants in regards to
   Babylon? (3)
   - Nations have drunk of the wine of her fornication
   - Kings have committed fornication with her
   - Merchants have become rich through the abundance of her luxury

4) What does a voice from heaven implore the people of God? Why? (4-5)
   - Come out of her, lest they share in her sins and receive of her
     plagues
   - Her sins have reached to heaven and God has remembered her 
     iniquities

5) To what degree will Babylon be judged? (6-7)
   - Just as she did to others
   - Double according to her works
   - To the degree she lived in glory and luxury, she will suffer
     torment and sorrow

6) What plagues will come to her in one day? Her ultimate end? (8)
   - Death, mourning, and famine
   - Utterly burned with fire

7) What first group is described as mourning the fall of Babylon? (9)
   - The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived
     luxuriously with her

8) What will they say as they see the smoke of her burning from a
   distance? (10)
   - "Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city!"
   - "For in one hour your judgment has come."

9) What second group is described as mourning the fall of Babylon? Why?
   (11)
   - The merchants of the earth
   - No one buys their merchandise anymore

10) What will they say as they stand afar off, weeping and wailing?
    (16-17a)
   - "Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple,
     and scarlet, and adorned with great gold and precious stones and 
     pearls!"
   - "For in one hour such great riches came to nothing."

11) What third group is described as mourning the fall of Babylon? (17b)
   - Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and sea-traders

12) What do they say as they see the smoke of her burning? (18-19)
   - "What is like this great city?"
   - "Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea
     became rich by her wealth!"
   - "For in one hour she is made desolate."

13) Who is told to rejoice over the fall of Babylon?  Why?  (20)
   - Heaven, and the holy apostles and prophets
   - For God has avenged them on her

14) What did a mighty angel do and say? (21)
   - Throw a great millstone into the sea
   - "Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and
     shall not be found anymore."

15) What did the angel say would not be seen or heard in Babylon anymore?
    (22-23a)
   - The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters
   - Craftsmen, or the sound of a millstone
   - The light of a lamp, or the voice of bridegroom and bride

16) What two reasons are given for her downfall? (23a-24)
   - By her sorcery all the nations were deceived
   - In her was found the blood of prophets, saints, and of all those
     slain on the earth

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2012

 

From Mark Copeland... "THE BOOK OF REVELATION" Chapter Nineteen

                        "THE BOOK OF REVELATION"

                            Chapter Nineteen

This chapter illustrates the ultimate defeat of the enemies of God's
people.  John hears a great multitude in heaven rejoicing over the fall
of Babylon.  The multitude is joined by the twenty-four elders and four
living creatures, and a voice from the throne calling upon all God's
servants to praise Him (1-5).
  
John then hears heaven rejoicing in preparation for the marriage of the
Lamb.  His wife has made herself ready, and she is adorned in fine linen,
signifying the righteous acts of the saints.  John is then told to write
that those invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb are truly blessed.
John falls down to worship the one speaking to him, but is immediately 
rebuked and told to worship God (6-10).

The scene quickly changes as John sees heaven opened and Christ the
warrior king on a white horse, followed by the armies in heaven on
white horses.  Described in terms reminiscent of His appearance in the
first three chapters, He is ready to strike the nations and rule them
with a rod of iron, even as He treads the winepress of the fierce wrath
of Almighty God.  As inscribed on His robe and His thigh, Jesus is
truly "King of kings and Lord of Lords" (11-16).

With an angel standing in the sun and inviting the birds to gather for
the supper of the great God, John then sees the beast and his forces
gathered to make war against Christ and His army.  But immediately the
beast and the false prophet (the earth beast of Re 13:11-18) are
captured and cast alive into the lake of fire.  Their armies are killed
with the sword proceeding from the mouth of Christ, and all the birds
were filled with their flesh (17-21).

This chapter appears designed to reinforce the idea that Christ in His
kingly rule will defeat those who have been persecuting His people. Just
as Babylon the harlot would be destroyed, so the beast and false prophet
would be overcome.  If the latter two represent the Roman empire in its 
persecution against the church, this section with its vivid imagery would
have been fulfilled by 313 A.D. when Constantine brought an end to Roman
persecution.

POINTS TO PONDER

*  The great joy in heaven over the fall of Babylon

*  The excitement over the preparation for the marriage of the Lamb and
   His wife

*  The victory Christ would have over the beast, the false prophet and
   their armies

OUTLINE

I. HEAVEN REJOICES OVER THE FALL OF BABYLON (1-5)

   A. A GREAT MULTITUDE IN HEAVEN (1-3)
      1. Praising God, attributing salvation, glory, honor, and power to
         Him
      2. Declaring His judgments on the great harlot as true and 
         righteous
         a. For she corrupted the earth with her fornication
         b. He has avenged the blood of His servants which she shed
      3. Praising God, for her smoke rises up forever and ever

   B. THE TWENTY-FOUR ELDERS AND FOUR LIVING CREATURES (4)
      1. Falling down and worshipping God who sits on the throne
      2. Saying "Amen, Alleluia!"

   C. A VOICE FROM THE THRONE (5)
      1. Calling upon all God's servants and those who fear Him
      2. Calling upon both small and great to praise God

II. PREPARATION FOR THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB (6-10)

   A. A GREAT MULTITUDE IN HEAVEN (6-8)
      1. Sounding like many waters and mighty thunderings
         a. Praising the Lord God Omnipotent for His reign
         b. Calling to be glad and rejoice and give God glory
      2. For the marriage of the Lamb has come
         a. His wife has made herself ready
         b. She was arrayed in fine linen, which is the righteous acts of
            the saints

   B. A FELLOW SERVANT (9-10)
      1. Telling John to write:  "Blessed are those who are called to the
         marriage supper of the Lamb!"
      2. Proclaiming:  "These are the true sayings of God."
      3. When John fell at his feet to worship him, he is rebuked
         a. "See that you do not do that!"
         b. "I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the
            testimony of Jesus."
         c. "Worship God!  For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of 
            prophecy."

III. CHRIST THE WARRIOR KING ON A WHITE HORSE (11-16)

   A. HIS AWESOME DESCRIPTION (11-13)
      1. As heaven opened, John sees Him sitting on a white horse
         a. He is called Faithful and True
         b. In righteousness He judges and makes war
      2. As seen by John:
         a. His eyes were like a flame of fire
         b. On His head were many crowns
         c. He had a name written that no one knew but Himself
         d. Clothed with a robe dipped in blood
         e. His name is called The Word of God

   B. HIS GREAT RULE AND REIGN (14-16)
      1. Followed by the armies of heaven
         a. Clothed in fine linen, white and clean
         b. Sitting on white horses
      2. From His mouth, a sharp sword to strike the nations
         a. He Himself will rule the nations with a rod of iron
         b. He Himself treads the winepress of Almighty God's fierceness
            and wrath
      3. On His robe and thigh a name written:  "King of kings, and Lord
         of lords"

IV. THE FALL OF THE BEAST, THE FALSE PROPHET, AND THEIR FORCES (17-21)

   A. THE DECLARATION OF AN ANGEL (17-18)
      1. John sees an angel standing in the sun, crying with a loud
         voice
      2. Speaking to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven:
         a. "Come and gather together for the supper of the great God."
         b. "...eat the flesh of kings...captains...mighty men...horses
            ...all people, free and slave, both small and great"

   B. THE END OF THE BEAST AND FALSE PROPHET (19-21)
      1. John saw the beast, the kings of the earth and their armies,
         gathered to make war against Him who sat on the horse and His 
         army
      2. John saw the beast and false prophet captured
         a. The false prophet who worked signs in the presence of the
            beast
         b. By which he deceived those who received the mark of the
            beast and worshiped his image
         -- Both were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with
            brimstone
      3. The rest of their forces were killed 
         a. With the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat
            on the horse
         b. All the birds were filled with their flesh

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - Heaven rejoices over the fall of Babylon (1-5)
   - Heaven rejoices in preparation the marriage of the Lamb (6-10)
   - Christ the warrior king on a white horse (11-16)
   - The fall of the beast, the false prophet, and their forces (17-21)

2) What did John hear a great multitude in heaving saying? (1)
   - "Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the
     Lord our God!"

3) Why are God's judgments on the harlot proclaimed as true and 
   righteous? (2)
   - She has corrupted the earth with her fornication
   - She has shed the blood of His servants

4) What else does this great multitude in heaven say? (3)
   - "Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!"

5) Who else joins end with a cry of "Amen! Alleluia!"? (4)
   - The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures

6) What does a voice from throne proclaim? (5)
   - "Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both
     small and great!"

7) What did the voice of a great multitude cry out next? (6-7)
   - "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!"
   - "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage
     of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready."

8) In what was the Lamb's bride adorned? (8)
   - Fine linen, clean and bright (the righteous acts of the saints)

9) What was John then told? (9)
   - "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of
     the Lamb!'"
   - "These are the true sayings of God."

10) As John fell down to worship the one who spoke to him, what was he
    told? (10)
   - "See that you do not do that!"
   - "I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the
     testimony of Jesus."
   - "Worship God!  For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of 
     prophecy."

11) List the descriptive features of the One sitting on a white horse
    (11-16)
   - He was called Faithful and True, in righteousness He judges and
     makes war
   - His eyes were like a flame of fire, on His head were many crowns
   - He had a name written that no one knew except Himself
   - He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood
   - His name is called The Word of God
   - He was followed by the armies of heaven, clothed in white linen and
     on white horses
   - Out of His mouth goes a sharp sword with which He should strike the
     nations
   - He will rule the nations with a rod of iron
   - He treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of God
   - On His robe and thigh was a name written:  KING OF KINGS AND LORD
     OF LORDS

12) What did an angel standing in the sun say to the birds? (17-18)
   - "Come and gather together for the supper of the Great God"
   - "That you may eat the flesh of mighty men...horses...those who sit
     on them...all people, free and slave, both small and great."

13) What did John see next? (19)
   - The beast, the kings of the earth and their armies, gathered to
     make war against Him who sat on the white horse and His army

14) What happened to the beast and the false prophet? (20)
   - They were captured and cast alive into the lake of fire burning
     with brimstone

15) What happened to the rest of their armies? (21)
   - They were killed by the sword which proceeded from the mouth of
     Christ
   - All the birds were filled with their flesh






Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2012


 

From Mark Copeland... "THE BOOK OF REVELATION" Chapter Twenty

                        "THE BOOK OF REVELATION"

                             Chapter Twenty

Previous chapters have illustrated the defeat of agents used by Satan to
persecute God's people.  One by one we have seen the fall of Babylon, the
beast, the false prophet, and the armies they had gathered.  What about 
Satan, the dragon who gave authority to the beast in his efforts to wage
war against the saints (Re 12:17-13:7)?  And what of those killed by the
agents of Satan?

This chapter reveals the binding of Satan for "a 1000 years".  It most
likely depicts a long period of time in which Satan is no longer able to
deceive the nations as he did during the time of the Roman empire (cf. Re
13:14; 20:3).  It began following the end of Roman persecution and would
continue for some time in the future.  During this period, John sees 
souls reigning with Christ, who were beheaded for their faithfulness to
Jesus and the word of God.  No mention is made of reigning on the earth,
so my conclusion is that they reign with Christ in heaven during this 
period (cf. Re 2:26-27; 3:21).  This "first resurrection" may be a 
special blessing for the martyrs of Christ during the intermediate state
(between death and the bodily resurrection at the end of time), while Re
7:9-17 may describe the intermediate state for the average Christian.  
Truly those who had been beheaded for the witness of Christ are "blessed
and holy" (1-6)!
 
After the "1000 years" are over, Satan is released for a short time
where he once again seeks to "deceive the nations" to persecute the
people of God (cf. Re 13:14; 20:3,8,10).  The mention of "Gog and
Magog" is likely an apocalyptic reference to forces of evil at Satan's
disposal during this time, not any particular nation or nations.  But the
final attempt of Satan is quickly thwarted by the Lord, and the devil is
cast into the lake of fire, where the beast and false prophet were (cf. 
Re 19:20).  If any section of Revelation pertains to the time just prior
to the Lord's final coming, I believe it to be this one.  The description
is brief, for the book was written for the benefit of Christians in Asia
Minor about things to shortly come to pass (cf. Re 1:1-4; 22:6,10). Those
Christians would not experience this last attempt of Satan. But to assure
them (and us!) that Satan would ultimately be defeated, we have the 
description found in these few verses (7-10).

The chapter closes with a description of the final judgment.  Before
the great white throne and Him who sat on it, all the dead are judged. 
Books are opened, including the Book of Life, and judgment is based upon
their works.  None escape the judgment, for the sea, Death, and Hades 
give up all the dead that are in them.  Death and Hades are cast into the
lake and fire, described as the "second death".  The same end is given to
those whose names were not written in the Book of Life (11-15).

POINTS TO PONDER

*  The binding, future release, and ultimate defeat of Satan

*  The "thousand year" reign described in this chapter, and who will
   reign with Christ

*  The criteria used in the final judgment, and the importance of the
   Book of Life

OUTLINE

I. THE THOUSAND YEAR REIGN (1-6)

   A. SATAN BOUND FOR 1000 YEARS (1-3)
      1. John sees an angel come down from heaven
         a. Having the key to the bottomless pit
         b. With a great chain in his hand
      2. The angel binds Satan for a thousand years
         a. Casting him into the bottomless pit, shutting him up and
            setting a seal on him
         b. So that he should deceive the nations no more for a thousand
            years
      -- But afterward he will be released for a little while

   B. SAINTS REIGN WITH CHRIST FOR 1000 YEARS (4-6)
      1. John sees souls upon thrones, to whom judgment was committed
         a. Who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and the word
            of God
         b. Who had not worshiped the beast or his image
         c. Who had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their
            hands
      2. These souls lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years
         a. The rest of the dead not live again until the thousand years
            were finished
         b. This is the first resurrection
            1) Blessed and holy are those who have a part in the first
               resurrection
            2) Over such the second death has no power
            3) They shall be priests of God and of Christ
            4) They shall reign with Christ a thousand years

II. SATAN'S FINAL ATTEMPT AND DEFEAT (7-10)

   A. HIS RELEASE FROM PRISON (7-8)
      1. After the thousand years were completed
      2. He will go out to deceive the nations
         a. Those in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog
         b. To gather them to battle

   B. HIS FINAL ATTEMPT AND DEFEAT (9)
      1. To have the nations surround the camp of the saints and the
         beloved city
      2. But fire from God out of heaven devoured those Satan had 
         deceived

   C. HIS ETERNAL TORMENT (10)
      1. The devil who deceived the nations was cast into the lake of
         fire and brimstone
      2. The same place where the beast and the false prophet are
      3. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever

III. THE FINAL JUDGMENT (11-15)

   A. THE ONE ON THE GREAT WHITE THRONE (11)
      1. John sees a great white throne and Him who sat on it
      2. Before Whose face the earth and heaven fled away so no place
         was found for them

   B. THE JUDGMENT OF THE DEAD (12-13)
      1. John sees the dead, small and great, standing before God
      2. Books were opened, including the Book of Life
         a. The dead were judged according to their works
         b. The dead were judged by the things written in the books
      3. All the dead were judged, each according to his works
         a. For the sea gave the dead who were in it
         b. For Dead and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them

   C. THE LAKE OF FIRE (14-15)
      1. Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire (which is the
         second death)
      2. Anyone not found written in the Book of Life were cast into the
         lake of fire

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - The thousand year reign (1-6)
   - Satan's final attempt and defeat (7-10)
   - The final judgment (11-15)

2) What did John see coming down from heaven? (1)
   - An angel, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in
     his hand

3) What did the angel do to Satan? (2-3)
   - Laid hold of him and bound him for a thousand years
   - Cast him into the bottomless pit and set a seal upon him

4) Why did the angel do this to Satan? (3)
   - So that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand
     years were completed

5) What souls did John see sitting on thrones? (4)
   - Those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the
     word of God
   - Who had not worshiped the beast or his image
   - Who had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands

6) How long did they live?  With whom did they reign? (4)
   - A thousand years; Christ

7) What is this reigning with Christ called?  Why are those who have a 
   part considered blessed and holy? (5-6)
   - The first resurrection
   - Over such the second death has no power, and they shall be priests
     of God and Christ and reign with Him a thousand years

8) What happens when the thousand years have expired? (7)
   - Satan will be released

9) What will he do? (8-9)
   - Deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth to gather them
     for battle
   - To surround the camp of the saints and the beloved city

10) What will happen before they succeed? (9)
   - Fire from God out of heaven will devour them

11) What will happen to the devil? (10)
   - He will be cast into the lake of fire, where the beast and false
     prophet are
   - They will be tormented day and night forever and every

12) What does John see next?  What about the earth and the heaven? (11)
   - A great white throne and Him who sat on it
   - They fled away; no place was found for them

13) Who does John see standing before the throne? What was opened (12)
   - The dead, both small and great
   - Books, including the Book of Life

14) How were the dead judged? (12)
   - According to their works
   - By the things which were written in the books

15) Who had given up the dead? (13)
   - The sea, Death and Hades

16) What is the lake of fire called?  Who was cast into it? (14-15)
   - The second death
   - Death and Hades, and anyone not found written in the Book of Life

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2012

 

From Mark Copeland... "THE BOOK OF REVELATION" Chapter Twenty-One

                        "THE BOOK OF REVELATION"

                           Chapter Twenty-One

Following the Judgment scene at the end of the previous chapter, the
eternal destiny of the redeemed is now revealed.  The motif of a new
heaven and new earth, along with the New Jerusalem, is used to provide
great hope and comfort to Christians.  This is certainly nothing new,
for both the Old and New Testaments provided similar pictures to increase
anticipation of the future (cf. Isa 65:17-25; 66:22-24; He 11:10,13-16;
13:14; 2Pe 3:13).  In each case, the eternal destiny of God's faithful is
described in terms that provided the greatest meaning and encouragement
to the people of that dispensation.  Here we see the destiny of the 
redeemed in terms depicting fellowship with God and protection by God.

John first sees all things made new.  There is a new heaven and a new
earth, for the first heaven and first earth are no more (cf. Re 20:11).
 He sees the holy city, New Jerusalem, "coming down out of heaven from
God."  A loud voice from heaven declares that God will dwell with His
people and be their God.  God, who is the Alpha and the Omega, the
Beginning and the End, will comfort His people by removing all that
causes pain, and provide the fountain of the water of life freely to him
that thirsts.  While those who overcome inherit all things and enjoy the
blessings of being God's children, the wicked and unfaithful have their
part in the lake of fire and brimstone (cf. Re 19:20; 20:10,14-15) which
is defined as the second death (1-8).

One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls (cf. Re 15:7; 16:1) then
carries John to a great and high mountain, to show him "the bride, the 
Lamb's wife".  This is none other than the great city, the New Jerusalem,
which is seen "descending out of heaven from God." It is a city having 
the glory of God, and the bulk of the chapter describes its prominent 
features.  A great and high wall surrounds the city. Standing about 216
feet high and made of jasper, the wall has twelve pearly gates upon which
are the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, with an angel at each gate.
The wall has twelve foundations, each made of precious stones of various
colors, upon which are the names of the twelve apostles. The city itself,
made of pure gold like clear glass, is 1500 miles long in its length, 
breadth, and height.  The street of the city is also pure gold, like 
transparent glass (9-21).

The glory of the holy city is described further by noting that there is
no temple, for God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.  There is no
need for the sun or moon, for the glory of God and the Lamb illuminate
the city.  Its gates are never shut, there is no night there, and the
nations of the saved along with the kings of the earth bring their honor
and glory into it.  Only those written in the Lamb's book of life enter
this glorious city, ensuring that it remains free from any abomination 
and defilement (22-27).

POINTS TO PONDER

*  The eternal destiny of the redeemed, in terms depicting fellowship
   with God and protection by God

*  The new heaven and new earth (cf. 2Pe 3:13), along with the holy city,
   New Jerusalem "coming down out of heaven from God" (cf. Re 3:12; 
   21:2,10) 

*  The detailed imagery used to describe the heavenly city, the New
   Jerusalem

OUTLINE

I. ALL THINGS MADE NEW (1-8)

   A. THE NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH (1)
      1. John sees a new heaven and a new earth
      2. The first heaven and earth had passed away, and there was no sea

   B. THE NEW JERUSALEM (2)
      1. John saw the holy city coming down out of heaven
      2. It was prepared as a bride adorned for her husband

   C. THE PROCLAMATION FROM HEAVEN (3-4)
      1. "The tabernacle of God is with men"
         a. "He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people"
         b. "God Himself will be with them and be their God"
      2. "God will wipe away every tear from their eyes"
         a. "There shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying"
         b. "There shall be no more pain, for the former things have
            passed away"

   D. THE PROCLAMATION FROM THE ONE WHO SAT ON THE THRONE (5-8)
      1. "Behold, I make all things new"
         a. "Write, for these words are true and faithful"
         b. "It is done!"
      2. "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End"
         a. "I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to
            him who thirsts"
         b. "He who overcomes shall inherit all things"
            1) "I will be his God"
            2) "He shall be My son"
      3. "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually
         immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars..."
         a. "Shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and
            brimstone"
         b. "Which is the second death"

II. THE NEW JERUSALEM (9-21)

   A. JOHN IS SHOWN THE HOLY CITY (9-11)
      1. By one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with
         the last plagues
         a. Who offered to show John "the bride, the Lamb's wife"
         b. Who carried him away in the Spirit to a great and high
            mountain
      2. He sees the great city, the holy Jerusalem
         a. Descending out of heaven from God
         b. Having the glory of God
         c. With light like a jasper stone, clear as crystal

   B. THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CITY AND ITS WALL (12-21)
      1. It had a great and high wall with twelve gates
         a. With twelve angels at the gates
         b. With the names of the twelve tribes of Israel
         c. With three gates each on the east, north, south, and west
         d. With twelve foundations, on which were the names of the
            twelve apostles of the Lamb
      2. The measurement of the city, the gates, and the wall
         a. The angel had a golden reed to measure them
         b. The city is laid out as a cube, its length, breadth, and
            height are each 12,000 furlongs (1500 miles)
         c. The wall is one hundred and forty-four cubits (216 feet)
      3. The construction of the city, the wall, its foundations, and the
         gates
         a. The wall was of jasper; the city was pure gold, like clear
            glass
         b. The twelve foundations of the wall were adorned with precious
            stones:
            1) Jasper      5) Sardonyx      9) Topaz
            2) Sapphire    6) Sardius      10) Chrysoprase
            3) Chalcedony  7) Chrysolite   11) Jacinth
            4) Emerald     8) Beryl        12) Amethyst
         c. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate one pearl
         d. The street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass

III. THE GLORY OF THE HOLY CITY (22-27)

   A. ILLUMINATED BY THE PRESENCE OF GOD AND THE LAMB (22-23)
      1. Its temple are the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb
      2. It is illuminated by the glory of God and the Lamb

   B. ENHANCED BY THOSE WHO ENTER IT (24-27)
      1. The nations of the saved shall walk in its light
      2. The kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it
      3. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day, and there is no night
         there
      4. The nations shall bring their glory and honor into it
         a. Nothing that defiles, causes an abomination or a lie, shall
            enter it
         b. Only those written in the Lamb's book of Life enter it

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - All things made new (1-8)
   - The New Jerusalem (9-21)
   - The glory of the holy city (22-27)

2) What did John see? (1)
   - A new heaven and new earth

3) What happened to the first heaven and first earth? What of the sea?
   (1)
   - They had passed away; it was no more

4) What did John see coming down out of heaven from God? (2)
   - The holy city, New Jerusalem, prepared as bride adorned for her
     husband

5) What is said about the dwelling of God? (3)
   - The tabernacle of God is with men
   - He will dwell with them and they shall be His people
   - God Himself will be with them and be their God

6) What will God do?  What shall be no more? (4)
   - Wipe away every tear from their eyes; death, sorrow, crying, pain

7) What did the One on the throne say to John in verse 5?
   - "Behold, I make all things new"
   - "Write, for these words are true and faithful"

8) What did He say in verse 6?
   - "It is done!"
   - "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End"
   - "I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who
     thirsts"

9) What is promised to those who overcome? (7)
   - He shall inherit all things
   - "I will be his God and he shall be My son"

10) Who shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and
    brimstone?  What is this called? (8)
   - The cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral,
     sorcerers, idolaters, all liars
   - The second death

11) Who offered to show John the bride, the Lamb's wife? (9)
   - One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls

12) Where is John taken, and what does he see? (10)
   - To a great and high mountain
   - The great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from
     God

13) What was the general description of the city? (11)
   - It has the glory of God
   - Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear
     as crystal

14) What surrounded the city? (12)
   - A great and high wall with twelve gates

15) What stood at each of the gates?  What was written on the gates? (12)
   - An angel; the names of the twelve tribes of Israel

16) How many foundations did the wall have?  What was written on the 
    foundations? (14)
   - Twelve; the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb

17) What was the length, breadth, and height of the city? (16)
   - 12,000 furlongs (about 1500 miles)

18) How tall was the wall? (17)
   - 144 cubits (about 216 feet)

19) What was the construction of the wall?  Of the city? (18)
   - The wall was of jasper
   - The city was of pure gold, like clear glass

20) What were the foundations of the city adorned with? (19)
   - All sorts of precious stones

21) What were the twelve gates?  What was the street of the city? (21)
   - Twelve pearls, each gate of one pearl
   - Pure gold, like transparent glass

22) Why was there no temple in the city? (22)
   - The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple

23) Why was there no need for the sun or moon to shine in it? (23)
   - The glory of God illuminated it, and the Lamb is its light

24) Who shall walk in its light?  Who shall bring their glory and honor
    into it? (24)
   - The nations of those who are saved
   - The kings of the earth

25) What shall not be shut at all day?  What about at night? (25)
   - The city's gates
   - There shall be no night there

26) Who will by no means enter the city?  Who will enter the city? (27)
   - Anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie
   - Only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2012

 

From Mark Copeland... "THE BOOK OF REVELATION" Chapter Twenty-Two

                        "THE BOOK OF REVELATION"

                           Chapter Twenty-Two

In the previous chapter John described the glory of the New Jerusalem as
the eternal destiny of the redeemed was revealed.  In the first six 
verses of this chapter, John's vision of the glorious future for the 
people of God is completed with a brief description of the river of life,
the tree(s) of life, and the throne of God and of the Lamb.  With the 
river of life proceeding from the throne, and the tree (the definite 
article is not in the Greek , so perhaps two trees on either side of the
river) of life bearing fruit every month along with its healing leaves,
the picture is one of provision from God.  Eternal fellowship with God,
stressed in the previous chapter (cf. Re 21:3-4,7), is emphasized again
with the promise of seeing His face and having His name on one's 
forehead.  With no more curse (cf. Gen 3:17-19), the redeemed shall serve
God and the Lamb on the throne. There is no night nor need for the sun, 
for the Lord God gives them light (cf. Re 21:23). The redeemed will also
reign forever and ever (1-5).

The remainder of this chapter contains the grand conclusion of this
wonderful book. The angel who showed John the holy city stressed that the
events described in this book were soon to take place, such that John is
not to seal the book (cf. Re 22:6,10; contrast this with Dan 8:26). Jesus
Himself states three times that He is coming quickly (cf. Re 22:7,12,20),
which I take to refer to His coming in judgment as described throughout
this book (cf. Re 3:10-11).  With a reminder of the blessedness of those
who do His commandments, Jesus, who is the Alpha and the Omega, the 
Beginning and the End, the First and the Last, the  Root and Offspring of
David, the Bright and Morning Star, declares that He sent His angel to
testify of these things to the churches.  The Spirit and the bride join
in with an invitation to let those who thirst come to drink of the water
of life freely.  The book ends with a fearful warning not to add to or 
take away from the book, a final promise of the Lord's coming, and a 
two-fold prayer calling for the Lord Jesus to come, and for His grace to
be with all the brethren (6-22).

POINTS TO PONDER

*  The eternal destiny of the redeemed, in terms depicting provision from
   God

*  How things revealed in this book were soon to take place 

*  The promises and warnings given as the book concludes

OUTLINE

I. THE RIVER, THE TREE, AND THE THRONE (1-5)

   A. THE RIVER OF LIFE (1)
      1. John sees a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal
      2. It proceeds from the throne of God and of the Lamb

   B. THE TREE OF LIFE (2)
      1. On either side of the river was a tree of life
      2. The tree(s) bore twelve fruits, yielding fruit every month
      3. The leaves were for the healing of the nations

   C. THE THRONE OF GOD AND OF THE LAMB (3-5)
      1. There shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and the
         Lamb shall be in it
      2. His servants shall serve Him
         a. They shall see His face
         b. His name shall be on their foreheads
      3. There shall be no night there
         a. They need no lamp nor light of the sun
         b. For the Lord God gives them light
      4. They shall reign forever and ever

II. THE GRAND CONCLUSION (6-21)

   A. THE TIME IS NEAR, DO NOT SEAL THE BOOK (6-11)
      1. John is told by the angel that these words are faithful and true
         a. The Lord God has sent His angel to show His servants the
            things which must shortly take place
         b. The Lamb proclaims:  "Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is
            he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."
      2. John attempts to worship the angel
         a. He falls down at the feet of the angel who showed him these
            things
         b. The angel forbids him
            1) The angel is his fellow servant, and of his brethren the
               prophets and of those who keep the words of this book
            2) John is to worship God
      3. John is told not to seal the words of the prophecy of this book
         a. For the time is at hand
         b. Let he who is unjust be unjust still, the filthy be filthy 
            still
         c. Let he who is righteous be righteous still, the holy be holy
            still

   B. THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS (12-17)
      1. His first declaration:
         a. "Behold, I am coming quickly"
         b. "My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his
            work"
         c. "I am the Alpha and the Omega"
         d. "The Beginning and the End, the First and the Last"
      2. The promise:
         a. Blessed are those who do His commandments (or wash their 
            robes)
            1) That they may have the right to the tree of life
            2) That they may enter through the gates into the city
         b. Those outside the city
            1) Are dogs, sorcerers, sexually immoral, murderers, and
               idolaters
            2) Whoever loves and practices a lie
      3. His second declaration:
         a. "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things
            in the churches"
         b. "I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and
            Morning Star."
      4. The invitation:
         a. The Spirit and the bride say "Come!"
         b. Let him who hears say "Come!"
         -- Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely

   C. A WORD OF WARNING (18-19)
      1. Do not add to the words of this book, or God will add to him the
         plagues written in it
      2. Do not take away from the words of this book, or God will take 
         away his part from:
         a. The Book (or Tree) of Life
         b. The holy city
         c. The things written in this book

   D. CLOSING PROMISE, FINAL PRAYERS (20-21)
      1. The promise of Him who testifies to these things:  "Surely I am
         coming quickly."
      2. John's two prayers:
         a. Concerning his Lord:  "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"
         b. Concerning his brethren:  "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
            be with you all. Amen."

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - The river, the tree, and the throne (1-5)
   - The grand conclusion (6-21)

2) What does John see proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb?
   (1)
   - A pure river of water of life, clear as crystal

3) What is on either side of the river? (2)
   - The tree(s) of life

4) How many fruits did the tree bear and when?  What were the leaves for?
   (2)
   - Twelve fruits, each yielding its fruit every month
   - The healing of the nations

5) What no longer existed?  What was in the city instead? (3)
   - There shall be no more curse
   - The throne of God and of the Lamb

6) What is said concerning the servants of God and of the Lamb? (3-5)
   - His servants shall serve Him; they shall see His face
   - His name shall be on their foreheads; they shall reign forever and
     ever

7) What is said of night and the light of the sun? (5)
   - There shall be no night there
   - They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them
     light

8) What is John told about the things which he has seen? (6)
   - "These words are faithful and true"
   - The Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His 
     servants the things which must shortly take place

9) What promise and assurance is given in verse 7?
   - "Behold, I am coming quickly!"
   - "Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."

10) What did John try to do when he heard and saw these things? (8)
   - Fall down and worship before the feet of the angel who showed them
     to him

11) What did the angel tell John? (9)
   - "See that you do not do that."
   - "I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and
     of those who keep the words of this book."
   - "Worship God."

12) What is John told regarding the prophecy of this book?  Why? (10)
   - Not to seal the words of the prophecy of this book
   - For the time is at hand

13) What is said of the unjust and filthy? The righteous and holy? (11)
   - Let them be unjust and filthy still
   - Let them be righteous and holy still

14) What promise and assurance is given in verse 12?
   - "Behold, I am coming quickly"
   - "My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work"

15) How does Jesus describe Himself? (13)
   - "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First
     and the Last."

16) What blessedness is promised to those who do His commandments (some 
    manuscripts say "wash their robes")? (14)
   - They will have the right to the tree of life 
   - They will enter the through the gates into the city

17) What is outside the city? (15)
   - Dogs, sorcerers, sexually immoral, murderers and idolaters
   - Whoever loves and practices a lie

18) Why had Jesus sent His angel? (16)
   - To testify these things in the churches

19) How does Jesus describe Himself? (16)
   - "I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning
     Star."

20) Who extends the invitation to "Come!"?  Who else is to extend this 
    invitation? (17)
   - The Spirit and the bride
   - Him who hears

21) To whom is this invitation extended?  What is offered? (17)
   - To him who thirsts
   - To take the water of life freely

22) What warning is given to those who hears the words of the prophecy of
    this book? (18-19)
   - If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues
     written in the book
   - If anyone takes away from the words of this book, God will take away
     his part from the Book (or Tree) of Life, the holy city, and the 
     things written in this book

23) What promise is given by Him who testifies of these things? (20)
   - "Surely I am coming quickly."

24) What two prayers does John express as he closes the book? (20-21)
   - "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"
   - "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2012