Tag: Luke 10:18-20

Seven Last Sights

It’s been a grueling journey through Revelation, but we’ve arrived at the seven last sights. Up to this point, we’ve studied seven churches, seven seals, seven trumpets, seven histories, seven bowls and seven words of woe. If you’re still with me, well done–we’ve made it to the final set of seven in the book of Revelation!

First Sight (19:11-16): In John’s vision, heaven opens and a white horse appears. “Its rider is called Faithful and True, and with justice he judges and makes war.” (19:11b) Like the vision of Christ in Revelation 1, His eyes are “like a fiery flame” and a “sharp sword came from his mouth.” This time, the priestly robe He wears is “dipped in blood and His name is called the Word of God.” (19:12,15,13) He leads the armies of heaven riding on white horses and wearing pure white linen. “And he has a name written on his robe and on his thigh: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” (19:16)

Christ’s entrance here contrasts His previous triumphal entry recorded in the Gospels (Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19, John 12). “He is no longer riding a humble donkey…[but returns] on a fiery white charger, bringing judgment, just as He had promised (Matthew 25:31-33).”* John’s vision reveals Jesus as a warrior king marching in victoriously. Just as a priest’s garments would have had been stained with blood from making sacrifices, Jesus’ robe exhibits evidence of His blood shed on the cross to atone for the sins of the saints. Simultaneously, He also bears the blood of His defeated enemies, recapitulating a prophecy in Isaiah and showing the fulfillment of His wrath: “I trampled the winepress alone, and no one from the nations was with me. I trampled them in my anger and ground them underfoot in my fury; their blood spattered my garments, and all my clothes were stained.” (Isaiah 63:3) (Jen Wilkin Week 9 video)

Second Sight (19:17-18): John describes an angel calling out in a loud voice to all the birds flying overhead “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of military commanders, the flesh of the mighty, the flesh of horses and of their riders, and the flesh of everyone, both free and slave, small and great.” (19:17b-18) This “banquet” appears to be the antithesis of the wedding supper of the Lamb. In a gruesome turn of events, those who refuse the invitation to the wedding supper of the Lamb become a feast for the birds.

Third Sight (19:19-21): Moving on to John’s next vision, “the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and against his army.” (19:19) Instead of an epic battle between good and evil, the beast (Antichrist) and the false prophet are “thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.” (19:20c) Furthering their defeat, “the rest were killed with the sword that came from the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds ate their fill of their flesh.” (19:21) This is another view of the sixth bowl judgement described in Revelation 16:16. Jen Wilkin describes this one-sided victory at Armageddon as “the battle that wasn’t.” (141)

Other parts of Scripture clarify the symbolic double-edged sword coming from the mouth of Christ: “For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. No creature is hidden from him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.” (Hebrews 4:12-13)

“God’s Word reveals His standard, our obligations, and our shortcomings. It cuts through our veneer of virtue, exposing us as the rebels we are, and promises that we will receive a just penalty… Against the divine standard, we inevitably fall short (Romans 3:23). That’s why we need a Savior.”**

Fourth Sight (20:1-3): Returning to a familiar scene from Revelation 9, John revisits the abyss from which the enemy unleashed locusts in the fifth trumpet judgement. In this vision, an angel holds a key to the abyss and a great chain in his hand. “He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the abyss, closed it, and put a seal on it so that he would no longer deceive the nations until the thousand years were completed. After that, he must be released for a short time.” (20:2-3)

Both Jen Wilkin and Pastor Matt Chandler assert that 1000 years is a symbolic number that references the fixed period of time between Christ’s first and second coming to earth. This interpretation would mean we are currently living during the 1000 years. Chandler asserts that Satan is like a mafia boss calling the shots from behind bars. Because of the death and resurrection of Jesus, His followers can no longer be accused by the enemy (Romans 8:33). And with the arrival of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the devil hasn’t been able to stop the gospel as it spreads from “Jerusalem to Judea to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

Fifth Sight (20:4-10): Next, John sees people seated on thrones “who were given authority to judge.” (20:4b) He also sees martyrs and believers who didn’t take the mark of the beast raised back to life to reign with Christ. While this seems like a future vision, it may also symbolize our present spiritual reality. Consider this in light of Paul’s words: “we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:3b-7)

We’ve already been brought from death to life in a spiritual sense. We are born again and seated at the right hand of Christ. So, the “first resurrection” (20:5) is a spiritual one—when a person chooses to follow Jesus. The second resurrection will occur after Christ’s bodily return when our physical bodies will be raised and made new. The first death is physical death. The “second death” (20:6) is spiritual death—when those who have rejected God will be separated from Him and His goodness, light, and love for eternity. (Jen Wilkin Week 9 video)

Through Christ, believers already have spiritual authority and eternal life: “ [Jesus] said to them, ‘I watched Satan fall from heaven like lightning. Look, I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy; nothing at all will harm you. However, don’t rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:18-20)

The fifth sight continues by explaining events following the thousand years when Christ physically returns. Satan will be released from captivity, will go out to deceive the nations and will gather people from the four corners of the earth to wage battle. They will surround “the encampment of the saints, the beloved city.” (20:9b) But just like the battle of Armageddon, they will be shut down before they can attack: “Then fire came down from heaven and consumed them. The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet are, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” (Revelation 20:9c-10) This is the last we’ll see of the unholy trinity—it’s the final defeat of the dragon and the two beasts. Sin, death, Satan and all the brokenness they bring have been overcome by God’s power and justice. That’s worthy of a Hallelujah!

The Sixth Sight (20:11-14): Next John describes a scene we often fear and misunderstand—the final judgement. “Then I saw a great white throne and one seated on it… I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books… And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.” (20:11a, 12, 15) This is the fourth time we’ve seen the book of life in one of John’s visions (see 3:5, 13:8, 17:8) With every mention, we’re given assurance that those whose names are written in it have nothing to fear.

Jesus uses three parables to describe different aspects of judgement day in Matthew 25: The Parables of the Ten Virgins, the Talents, and the Sheep and the Goats. Each one emphasizes the importance of living in a way that honors the Lord and anticipates His return. From beginning to end, Scripture makes it clear that the way we live and treat others matters. We show we belong to God by keeping His commandments. On judgement day we’ll be called to account for all that we’ve done, but by God’s grace, we can stand before His throne and claim righteousness through the atoning sacrifice of Christ’s blood.

The Seventh Sight (21:1-8): John sees a new heaven and a new earth and a new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven. He hears a voice from the throne saying “Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.” (21:3-4)

The Lord comes down from heaven to reveal Himself many times in Scripture but people repeatedly rebel and follow their own desires. Here, at the end of time, we see Him coming down once more. Only this time, He’ll be here to stay and will redeem our broken and fallen world once and for all.

Take a moment to ponder this incredible truth. Consider how you can live in a way that honors the Lord and brings His hope to our broken world. (And keep an eye out for my next post that will bring us all the way to the end of Revelation 22.)

*gotquestions.org “Why is Jesus going to return on a white horse?” 

**gotquestions.org “What is the meaning of the two edged sword coming out of Jesus’ mount in Revelation 1:16?”  

Jen Wilkin, Revelation: Eternal King, Everlasting Kingdom, Lifeway Press, 2024.

All Scripture quoted from the Christian Standard Bible (CSB), unless noted otherwise.

To access Matt Chandler’s sermon on this portion of Revelation, click here.

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Authority Lost and Reclaimed- Women of the Word Part 2

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Squaring my shoulders, I tried to smile, hoping no one could see my heart thumping wildly as the teacher spoke, “Class, this is our new student teacher, Miss Callahan. She’ll be taking over for the rest of the semester and I expect you to show her some respect.”

One or two expressionless sophomores made eye contact with me; the rest slumped in their chairs or talked with their seat mates. No one acknowledged the teacher’s announcement. As an unseasoned student teacher ready to start my first classroom assignment, the scene in front of me was hardly encouraging.

That semester of student teaching was one of the most challenging times in my life. The two classes I taught behaved in almost opposite ways: the sophomores were disengaged and disrespectful while the seniors were open and willing to learn.   It wasn’t that my teaching methods varied from one class to the other or even that the kids were different ages. The issue was the way the students viewed my master teachers, the ultimate authorities in the classroom. One teacher had lost the attention and respect of her students in September, so by the time I arrived in January, her authority meant nothing. I was fighting a losing battle to win their respect. The other teacher, however, was both feared and esteemed. Her authority meant something, so as her student teacher, the class took my authority seriously too.

This memory surfaced recently as I pondered the concept of authority reading the story of Adam and Eve in Genesis 1-3.   Just after creating Adam and Eve, God blessed them and said: “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” (Genesis 1:28, NIV)

God created the world and then gave Adam and Eve authority to rule over it. They had the free will to choose to do things His way or to follow their own path. Although everything He had given them was good, it wasn’t long before Satan came in the form of a serpent and enticed Eve to doubt God. By tempting her to disobey Him, the snake implied God might be withholding something desirable from her:

“Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’ The woman said to the serpent, ‘We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’

 ‘You will not certainly die,’ the serpent said to the woman. ‘For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’ When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.” (Genesis 3:1-6, NIV)

By choosing to disobey God and eat the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve gave away the authority God had given them at creation. They were too naïve to understand that everything under their authority would fall when they fell. Their actions brought a curse on all of creation and gave Satan authority over all that God had given them.   Although God remained the ultimate and sovereign authority, He allowed Adam and Eve to exercise their free will, even though it went against Him. But they also had to live with the consequences of their choice.

This is why many years later, when Jesus was just beginning His earthly ministry, Satan could legitimately claim authority over the earth when he tempted Jesus: “The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, ‘I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.’” (Luke 4:5-7, NIV)

Fortunately, Jesus retraced Adam and Eve’s footsteps to the point of temptation and succeeded in obedience where they had failed. Although Jesus was fully God, he set aside that part of Himself so that He could function completely as a human:

“[Jesus] Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:6-8, NIV)

When God resurrected Jesus from death, Satan was defeated and stripped of his authority: “For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive… Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.” (1 Corinthians 15:21-22, 24-25, NIV)

Jesus gave us the same Holy Spirit that empowered Him, making it possible for us to be obedient to God and to have an intimate relationship with Him (see John 14:11-21). Jesus returned us to the original place of authority for which we were created. He said to His disciples: “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:18-20, NIV)

Our Master Teacher commands ultimate authority and respect and as His “student teachers” we have access to that same authority. It is ours to claim, if only we will recognize this and act upon it.  Satan was defeated at the cross, but he will continue to wreak havoc on the earth until Jesus returns.  He pushes boundaries, preying on weakness and taking advantage of people who don’t know or have access to spiritual authority through Christ.  “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8, NIV)

There is no need to fear, however:  “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.” (Romans 16:20, NIV)

Do you understand the authority God has given you? Are you using it to combat the enemy and to unleash God’s rule and reign in your spheres of influence?

If you want to learn more about these concepts, consider reading Charles Kraft’s book I Give You Authority, which provided the inspiration and content for this post. The information here is a brief overview of this important topic for anyone that is serious about following Jesus.

For a musical reminder of this important truth, click on the link to hear Blanca’s song “Greater is He.”

Continue reading “Authority Lost and Reclaimed- Women of the Word Part 2”