Revelation 19:1-22:21
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Happy New Year!  Congratulations to everyone who completed the Chronological Bible journey in 2023 today!  It has been awesome to go through the journey this year with each of you.  It is quite a blessing to realize that you've read through God's Word this past year!  It has been a huge blessing for me.  God has continued to transform me this past year through this journey.  Reading through the Bible in a year will change us.  For the better!  :) For those of you wrapping up the Chronological Bible today in 2023, I'd like to ask you to post up your reflections on this experience in the Comments section below.  The reason for this request is because we have hundreds of new folks signing up to take the Chronological Bible journey in 2024. What advice would you give them?  Any encouragement?  What has reading the Bible on a daily basis meant to you over the past year?  Has this experience changed you in any way?  Thanks for sharing! I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry! If this blog has been a blessing to you in 2023, please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Revelation: Revelation chapter 19 verses 7 through 9 discuss the wedding feast of the Lamb (Jesus) in powerful language: "Let us be glad and rejoice and honor him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. She is permitted to wear the finest white linen." (Fine linen represents the good deeds done by the people of God.)  And the angel said, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb." And he added, "These are true words that come from God."  The wedding feast of the Lamb is the end of human history - the judgment of the wicked and the wedding of the Lamb and his bride, the church.  Are you looking forward to the wedding feast of the lamb?  Do you want to be there?  Do you believe the words - blessed are those who are invited to the feast?  Have you accepted the Invitation?

Revelation chapter 19 utilizes the Hebrew for Hallelujah! four times in the first six verses - but it is interesting to note that Hallelujah is not used anywhere else in the New Testament.  Though, certainly we are reading Hallelujah frequently now in the Psalms!  (such as today's Psalm 147).  The Hallelujah's in this chapter, along with verse 16 in today's readings - "On his robe and thigh was written this title: King of kings and Lord of lords." - reminded me of Handel's Messiah.

The rider on the white horse in chapter 19 is not the rider of the white horse from earlier in the book of Revelation, chapter 6 verse 2.  The rider in this chapter is Jesus, returning as Warrior-Messiah-King.  It's interesting to note that many of the Jewish faith in the 1st century were looking for their Messiah to come as Warrior-Messiah-King, and thus they rejected Jesus as Messiah, who came then as the Suffering Servant.  However, it is powerful for us to keep in mind that Jesus is indeed coming again - and when he returns it won't be in his previous role as the Suffering Servant.  That debt has been paid.  Jesus will return as Warrior-Messiah-King!

Below is an image for verse 21 in today's readings that is well worth cheering about!  "And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast—miracles that deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue. Both the beast and his false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur."

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Revelation chapter 19 titled "The Second Coming of Christ" is at this link and "Eater or Eaten?" is at this link. 

In Revelation chapter 20 today we read about the Millennial Reign of Christ! There are 3 basic beliefs in the 1,000 years described in this chapter: 1.  Amillennialism (means we're in a figurative 1,000 years now) describes the present reign of Jesus in heaven, along with deceased believers and currently living believers - all of which will be followed by Jesus' second coming, the resurrection of the dead, the final judgment, and Jesus' reign over the new earth eternally.   2. Premillennialism (means Jesus will come before a literal 1,000 years) also believes in the present reign of Jesus in heaven that is moving toward a time when Jesus returns again, the first resurrection occurs, and there will be a reign of Jesus on the current earth as we know it for 1,000 years. Then will come the final general resurrection, the final judgment, and then the eternal kingdom on the new earth.  3.  Postmillennialism (means Jesus will come after a literal 1,000 years) believes that the entire world as we currently know it will be converted to Christianity and this will bring a millennium of peace - then to be followed by Jesus' second coming, the general resurrection, final judgment, and the eternal kingdom.   Hopefully this makes some sort of sense on these three views? :)  I read a commentary that said the key to remember with all 3 of these views is that they are simply timing differences.  In all 3 views, Jesus returns again.  Jesus reigns.  Forever.

Verses 11-12 get into Judgment, which is obviously quite a topic to attempt to cover in a daily blog... :)  "And I saw a great white throne, and I saw the one who was sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God's throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to the things written in the books, according to what they had done."  So...  I am going to defer to someone much smarter than me on this one, and HIGHLY encourage you to read Lehman Strauss's article entitled "The Future Judgment of the Believer" at bible.org at this link.  I encourage you to check this link out if you'd like a glimpse toward what happens after we pass on from this life - including a very interesting look at 5 crowns that can be given / received!  Actually, if you are really interested in learning more about what happens after we die, Mr. Strauss at bible.org has a great 10 part series called "Death and Afterward" at this link.  (which "The Future Judgment of the Believer" link above is #6 in the 10 part series.)  Below is artist Pat Marvenko Smith's "The Great White Throne of Judgment" and "The Books Are Opened and The Book of Life" based on Revelation chapter 20 verses 11-12 today (which are at the top of this paragraph):

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Revelation chapter 20 titled "Pay Day Someday" is at this link.   

Revelation chapter 21 is definitely one of my favorite chapters in the Bible! It is what our very hearts long for!  Today we read a wonderful glimpse of the New Jerusalem, the dwelling place of God.

Certainly verses 3 and 4 are powerful for us to reflect upon: "I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, "Look, the home of God is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever."  Are you looking forward to that day when God will be among his people?  When he will remove all sorrows and pains?

And verses 23-25 are so beautiful to meditate upon: "And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. The nations of the earth will walk in its light, and the rulers of the world will come and bring their glory to it. Its gates never close at the end of day because there is no night."  Are you looking forward to this everlasting light?  The light that can come only from God and Jesus, the Lamb?

Below are artist Pat Marvenko Smith's two great images of the heavenly Jerusalem from today's readings titled "The City Four-Square: New Jerusalem" and "The Foundations of the City", which verses 18 through 20 capture very well: "The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass. The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve precious stones: the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst."

Art used by permission by Pat Marvenko Smith, copyright 1992.
To order prints visit her "

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Revelation chapter 21 titled "The Eternal State" is at this link and "It Just Doesn't Get Any Better Than This!" is at this link.

Today we finish the book of Revelation with a glorious chapter describing the New Jerusalem in heaven, and with a clear reminder that Jesus is coming again!  Below is artist Pat Marvenko Smith's look "Through the Gate of the Eternal City" from Revelation 22:1-6 in today's readings:

Chapter 22 verses 1 & 2 are so beautiful: "And the angel showed me a pure river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb, coursing down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations."   This river combines the elements of the river in the Garden of Eden - see Genesis 2:8-14 - and the river flowing from the temple in Ezekiel's vision - see Ezekiel 47:1-12.  I love this idea of this "river of life".  There are so many beautiful allusions to God and grace being like water or a river in the Bible - particularly in the Psalms.  A river that heals us. I love this.  There is a great song by Steven Curtis Chapman about diving into the river.  I think it's called "Dive" on his Speechless CD.  This song of his reminds me so much of these verses.  One of his lyrics goes something like:  "The River's deep, the river's wide, the river's water is ALIVE!  So sink or swim, I'm diving in!"  Do you want to dive into this holy river of God?  Do you want to be healed and purified by it's waters? Will you dive in?

Verse 8 is powerful for us to reflect upon, where we see an angel speaking to John after he fell to worship the angel:  ""No, don't worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers the prophets, as well as all who obey what is written in this scroll. Worship God!"" My thought here is that do we sometimes worship other people in our life?   And does this worship of other people ultimately take away from our worship of God?  Meaning, I think it might sometimes be tempting for us to "worship" our pastors or ministers or spiritual mentors.  But, should we do this?  I think we would do well to remember that these people in our life are simply servants of God, like this angel.  They are not God.  We are called to give our hearts and minds and souls and worship to God and God only.

Verse 20 (almost) closes out the book of Revelation with these words: “Come, Lord Jesus!” Are these three words a prayer of your heart? Should they be? It’s only recently that I started praying these words from my heart, and it is an amazing thing to truly pray and truly desire. Come Lord Jesus!

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Revelation chapter 22 titled "The Epilogue" is at this link and "Famous Last Words" is at this link.

Worship Video: Today's readings in Revelation reminded me of the Steven Curtis Chapman song "Dive." However, rather than share that song with you in the video below, our readings in Revelation chapter 22 also reminded me of his powerful song about his daughter called "Heaven is the Face." Here's a great live version of this song:

Can you imagine meeting Jesus in heaven?  Click here and make your imagination real!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years." Revelation 20:4 (NIV)

Prayer Point: Pray that your life is a testimony that brings glory to Jesus. Pray that you will bring glory to Jesus no matter what the cost might be.

Comments From You and Question of the Day:  For those of you wrapping up the Chronological Bible today in 2023, I'd like to ask you to post up your reflections on this experience in the Comments section below.  The reason for this request is because we have hundreds of new folks signing up to take the Chronological Bible journey in 2024.  What advice would you give them?  Any encouragement?  What has reading the Bible on a daily basis meant to you over the past year?  Has this experience changed you in any way?  Thanks for sharing!  Also, for everyone, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 - Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 - I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!