The Beasts and the Lamb & the New Jerusalem

In Revelation, the unholy trinity is represented by the dragon (Satan), the first beast (the Antichrist), and the second beast (the false prophet). Some of the symbols and main imagery are included and interpreted in the lesson to assist in comprehension, but reading the passages can be helpful for a fuller understanding.

The Woman (Israel) and the Dragon (Satan)

John received another vision. This vision was of a woman. She was clothed in the sun with the moon under her feet. She wore a crown of twelve stars. The twelve stars represented the twelve tribes of Israel, and the woman was Israel. She was also pregnant. This symbolized Jesus coming from Israel. A dragon representing Satan stood by, waiting to devour the child when He was born. The child was called up into heaven, and the woman fled into the wilderness for 1,260 days.¹

A great war began in heaven, with the dragon fighting Michael and the other angels. Satan was defeated, along with his angels (demons), and they were thrown down to the earth. A loud voice in heaven proclaimed that the accuser had been thrown down and conquered by the blood of the Lamb (Jesus). When this happened, the heavens rejoiced, but Satan was now on earth, and he knew he did not have much time. When the dragon (Satan) was on earth, he chased the woman (Israel). The dragon became furious because he had tried to destroy the woman but could not, so he went after those who kept God's commandments and believed in Jesus.

The First Beast (the Antichrist)

John saw a beast with ten horns rising from the sea (the beast represented the Antichrist, and the ten horns represented the ten nations of the confederacy that he would rule). The beast uttered blasphemous words (the blasphemous words represented the Antichrist blaspheming the name of God).² The dragon gave the beast great power. The beast waged war on the saints, and all who dwelled on earth worshipped both the dragon and the beast.

The Second Beast (the False Prophet)

John then saw a second beast coming from the earth (the second beast represented the third part of the unholy trinity: the false prophet). The second beast forced everyone to worship the first beast. It performed signs, like making fire come from heaven. The second beast caused everyone to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he or she had the mark. The mark had the number of the beast's name, which was 666.

The Lamb and the 144,000

John saw a vision of the Lamb (Jesus) on Mount Zion. There were 144,000 with Him. They had the name of Jesus and God the Father written on their foreheads (the 144,000 represented the evangelists who would announce the gospel worldwide to save more people during the tribulation).³ John heard a song, but no one could learn the song except the 144,000. None of these 144,000 had ever had a relationship with a woman. They followed the Lamb everywhere He went. They did not lie and were the first redeemed of mankind because they were found blameless.

Angels

John saw an angel proclaiming the gospel to everyone on earth. He announced the hour of judgment and told everyone to worship God. A second angel came along, declaring that Babylon the great had fallen (Babylon referred to a system of religion and rebellion against God).⁴ A third angel appeared, warning the people that if they followed the beast and had the mark placed on them, they would be sent to hell, where they would suffer the torment of fire and sulfur forever. He called for the saints to endure and to keep the commandments and their faith in Jesus.

Harvest Time

John then saw One like Jesus sitting on a white cloud with a golden crown and a sharp sickle in His hand. Another angel came from the temple, calling for Him to put in His sickle and reap the harvest. He swung His sickle, and the earth was reaped. Another angel came and also swung his sickle and reaped, and blood flowed like wine coming from a wine press. (This passage refers to Jesus gathering the faithful and destroying the wicked. The sickle is a tool for gathering the harvest and the winepress refers to crushing the wicked.)

Seven Angels with Seven Plagues

Seven angels appeared with seven plagues, the last of God's wrath. John saw a sea of glass with fire in it. The seven angels came from the tent of witness in heaven. The sanctuary was filled with smoke, so no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven angels had finished with the plagues.

A voice cried out from the temple, telling the seven angels to pour out their bowls of the wrath of God. The first poured out painful sores onto those who worshipped the beast. The second poured his bowl into the sea, and everything in the sea died. The third poured his bowl into the rivers, and they turned to blood. The fourth poured his bowl into the sun, and it scorched the people with fire. The fifth poured his bowl out onto the beast's throne, and its kingdom became dark. The sixth poured his bowl into the Euphrates River, and it dried up. Three unclean spirits, like frogs, came out of the mouths of the dragon and both beasts. These creatures went out to assemble the kings of the world for battle. They gathered at a place called Armageddon.

The seventh angel poured his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple saying, "It is done!" There was thunder and lightning along with a great earthquake. Jerusalem split into three parts. All islands and mountains went away. Hailstones of around one hundred pounds each fell from heaven onto the people. The people cursed God because of the plague of the hail.

The seventh angel then showed John the great prostitute and her judgment. She was seated on a scarlet beast with seven heads and ten horns. She held a cup that contained the impurities of her sexual immorality. She had "Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations" (Revelation 17:5, ESV®) written on her head. (The prostitute represented unfaithfulness to the Lord. The identity of the prostitute is a holy mystery.) The angel told John that the beast she sat on would rise from the bottomless pit and be destroyed. The seven heads of the beast and the ten horns represented kings that had been and were yet to come. The ten kings had not been given power yet. They would make war on the Lamb, but the Lamb would conquer them. The water where the prostitute sat represented the people. The ten horns (kings) would destroy the prostitute.

Another angel came down from heaven and declared that Babylon had fallen. The angel took a millstone and threw it into the sea, saying that Babylon would also sink that quickly (Babylon represented a brazen, immoral, man-centered society—not a single city, but the godless society that would be destroyed when judgment came). This would cause great rejoicing in heaven.⁵

The Rider

John saw heaven open, and a Rider (Jesus) on a white horse appeared. The Rider's clothes were bathed in blood. He was called The Word of God. The army of heaven followed Him on white horses. He had a sharp sword coming from His mouth. "On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords" (Revelation 19:16). An angel called the birds of the air to come feast on the remains of the dead. John saw the two beasts and the kings of the earth ready to fight the Rider. The two beasts were captured and cast into the lake of fire. The rest were killed by the sword that came from the mouth of the Rider, and the birds feasted on their flesh. An angel came from heaven, bound the dragon (Satan) in chains, and threw him into the pit for one thousand years. John then saw those who had died for Jesus and those who had not worn the mark of the beast come to life and reign with Jesus for one thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years had ended. This was the first resurrection.

Satan Defeated

Satan would be released from his imprisonment after one thousand years. He would gather allies from the four corners of the earth. There would be a great multitude of fighters, and they would surround the great city, but fire would come down from heaven and consume them. Satan would be cast into the lake of fire with the two beasts.

Judgment

John saw a great white throne. He saw the dead before the throne. Certain books were opened, including the book of life. The dead were judged based on what was written in the books. The sea, Hades, and Death gave up their dead, and every one of them was judged according to what they had done. The ones not found in the book of life were thrown into the lake of fire.

New Heaven, New Earth, New Jerusalem

There was a new earth without a sea. The first heaven and earth were no more. John saw a new Jerusalem prepared like a bride. He heard a voice declaring that God would now live with mankind, and they would be His people. There would be no more tears or death. All of the old things had gone. God promised that He would make everything new. He told John to write down that it was done. God said that He was the beginning and the end. He would give water to the thirsty without payment, but the sinners would face the second death and be thrown into the lake of fire.

One of the seven angels came to John and told John to come with him. The angel said that he would show John the wife of the Lamb. (The wife of the Lamb was the holy Christian church.) John went in the Spirit and saw Jerusalem coming down from heaven. It had the glory of God. It shone like jewels and had high walls and gates. On the twelve foundations, it had the names of the apostles of Jesus. The wall was made of jasper, the foundations of the wall were adorned with all kinds of jewels, and the city and streets were made of pure gold. There was no temple because God and His Son were there. There was a river flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb.

Revelation closes with the promise that Jesus is returning.

It is important to note that this is not the complete text of Revelation. This is a summary lesson. John wrote, "I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book" (Revelation 22:18-19).

Summary

This lesson begins with a vision given to John in which Israel was represented by a pregnant woman. She eventually delivered Jesus. Satan chased Jesus, but Jesus was taken up into heaven. The next vision was of the unholy trinity: Satan, the Antichrist, and the false prophet. Satan was represented as a dragon. The Antichrist was represented as a beast from the sea, and the false prophet was represented as a beast from the earth. Jesus was represented as a Lamb.

In John's vision, seven angels had seven different plagues that were visited upon the unfaithful people of the earth. Jesus came as a Rider on a white horse and defeated Satan and his followers in the final battle. Satan was cast into a pit for a thousand years. When he was released, he raised an army, was defeated, and was cast into the lake of fire.

John's vision continued with God creating a new heaven, earth, and Jerusalem. The new Jerusalem came down from heaven and was presented like a bride to Christ. The book closes with a promise of the return of Christ.

"The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen." (Revelation 22:21)

Application and Reflection

Application

This is a difficult book of the Bible to comprehend. It can be frightening as well. The visions that John saw are of things to come. The fear of these things can be reduced in one sure way, and that is by having a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Reflection

Many religious scholars have written about this book, and countless sermons are available with a wide variety of thoughts on the end times and Jesus' return. The most important question you must ask yourself is: are you ready?