For those of you who do not have John MacArthur’s Revelation study guide, I am going to include a bit of his introduction to the next few chapters as I think it will be incredibly helpful to our understanding of the text. ” This study focuses on the terrible three enemies to come: Satan (the dragon), Antichrist (the first beast), and the false prophet (the second beast). Chapters 12-14 are actually a digression in John’s vision, taking readers back through the Tribulation from Satan’s perspective….Continue Reading “Revelation 12: The Great Dragon” →

After John digests the little book or scroll from chapter 10, the angel then hands him a reed for measuring. He is told to measure the temple of God, the altar and those who worship there. This measuring of the temple was to signify God’s ownership of it. John was also told what not to measure – the court which is outside the temple. This referred to an area separated from the inner court in the Herodian temple by a low wall. It was known…Continue Reading “Revelation 11” →

We ended chapter nine with the awfulness of the sixth trumpet, yet as we being chapter 10, just as he did before describing the seventh seal, John takes a brief interlude to describe a separate vision before telling us about the seventh trumpet. 1-7 He begins by describing “another” angel whom he sees coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud and with a rainbow upon his head. John’s description of this “mighty” angel has led some commentators to believe that it is Christ. We…Continue Reading “Revelation 10: A Bittersweet Vision” →

As chapter nine begins, the fifth trumpet is sounded and first “woe” from verse of chapter eight begins. First John sees a “star” fallen from heaven, however, unlike the other stars he has seen, this one is not a comet or meteor, but actually an angelic being – possibly Satan or at least a high-ranking demon in his army. He is given the keys to the “bottomless pit.” MacArthur points out that this pit is mentioned seven times in Revelation and always refers to the…Continue Reading “Revelation 9: When Hell Breaks Loose” →

Chapter 8 begins with the opening of the seventh seal, an action that will only multiply the judgments on earth. Instead of an end, the seventh seal contains the seven trumpet and seven bowl judgments. But first, silence! This silence lasted for an entire half-hour and most likely signified the anxious anticipation for the dramatic events that were about to unfold. Then, we again see angels fulfill their role of messengers. This time, seven of them, are given seven trumpets to proclaim and commence the…Continue Reading “Revelation 8: The Trumpets Sound” →

As chapter six ends, the destruction of the sixth seal has devestated and terrified the earth. However, before the seventh seal is opened, John sees another vision. Chapter seven details this vision. It begins with four angels, standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth. They are holding them back to keep them from blowing on the “earth, sea or any tree.” I read this chapter through several times and looked at several other commentaries, beside MacArthur’s notes…Continue Reading “Revelation 7” →

As chapter five ends, we see all of heaven’s throne room bowed down before the Lamb as he prepares to open the scroll with seven seals – the title deed to earth. Here we will see the “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” well known characters to many. They are described to us as the first four seals are opened. The first seal reveals a white horse whose rider holds a bow and wears a crown. The riders of the four horses aren’t given specific names…Continue Reading “Revelation 6” →

Chapter four left off with the living creatures and the 24 elders praising and worshipping God. Chapter Five picks back up in the throne room, where John now sees that God holds a scroll in his right hand. The scroll has writing on the inside and the back and is sealed with a total of seven seals. (An interesting historical note here, according to John MacArthur, is that the Romans sealed their scrolls with 7 seals to prevent unauthorized entry.) (image from Hello-Bible.com) Then John informs…Continue Reading “Revelation 5: Worthy is the Lamb” →

The letters to the churches are now complete and chapter four begins with a new vision. According to the outline in 1:19, we are now on the third and final part of this revelation, describing the events which will take place after the Church Age. Again, John was temporarily transported to heaven, where the first thing he sees is the throne of God. On the throne, he sees God himself who, as Matthew Henry points out, “is not described by any human features, so as…Continue Reading “Revelation 4: Glimpse into Glory” →