Calendar Date: December 31 Day of the Year: 365 Timeline. Map. Go to today's Bible reading(use your browser arrow to return): Revelation 19–22
A New Year Celebration in the End Times
The New Year is just about upon us. Perhaps we have been invited to a New Year’s Eve celebration. We wait in anticipation for the stroke of midnight and wonder what things will be like in the next year.
There’s another kind of New Year celebration talked about in the Bible: The Revelation of Jesus Christ. The book of The Revelation was written to encourage the first century churches, who were suffering for their Christian testimonies. John’s message to them is to be patient and faithful, for Jesus is coming again!
Today, we still await his sudden appearance. While we wait, many of us suffer persecution or other trials. Their encouragement is also ours—Jesus is coming again! Before he comes, however, the way must be prepared. Evil must be swept away and the earth and heavens renewed.
We are at the end of our study of The Revelation. After the seven seal judgments, trumpet judgments, and bowl judgments, the wrath of God will be complete. Evil will be swept away, and Satan’s throne, the city of Babylon, destroyed. The souls of countless martyrs in heaven will be celebrating God’s justice (payback) and retribution. What’s next?
The Wedding Supper
Jesus is the bridegroom, and the church is his bride. What a glorious day for a wedding! Jesus dresses all true church-age believers in white linen, bright and clean. Then the angel speaks to the Apostle John proclaiming, “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” (Revelation 19:9, NIV)
Are we genuine believers in Christ? If so, each of us received a gracious invitation. If not, then we need to believe in Christ for our salvation so we can join the rest (more).
Jesus Conquers Satan and his Armies
Although the marriage supper of the Lamb is a celebration, the war between Satan and God won't be quite finished. In the next scene, we see our bridegroom, Jesus Christ, coming to earth as a conquering hero. He’s a king wearing many crowns on his head and has a robe dipped in blood. The conqueror rides a white horse, and on his thigh is written, “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:16, NIV). He has a sword in his mouth (a picture of judgment) to strike the nations.
Jesus will come with his army of believers and conquer the world’s leaders. He'll destroy and feed all unbelievers (whether they are kings or peasants) to the birds of the air, inviting them to his wrathful supper.
Then the Lord will take the beast and the false prophet and throw them into the eternal lake of fire. Afterward, he'll bind Satan for one thousand years. Which supper would we rather attend, the wedding supper or the supper of God’s wrath? Let’s choose the former, not the latter.
Christ’s Millennial Reign
After the Messiah (Jesus) wins the battle against Satan and his minions, he'll fulfill the Old Testament prophecies about his rule and reign. He'll begin his reign from Jerusalem, and his rule will extend over all the earth for one thousand years. The Lord will rule over believers who survive the Great Tribulation Period. He'll reigns with righteousness and justice, and the world will live in peace (Isaiah 11:1-9).
Satan’s Last Battle
After one thousand years, Satan will be loosed for one last battle against God and his righteous ones—believers in Christ (cf.Ezekiel 38-39 with Revelation 20:8-9).
We may ask, if Jesus destroys all the evil people on earth during the Tribulation, how could Satan raise an army against God? The answer is logical. During the one-thousand-year reign of Christ, the righteous ones who survive will bear children. The world will soon re-populate.
Many children today, raised in godly Christian families, rebel against Christ and Christianity. So, it will be in that day. Children and adults will be forced to obey the laws and come to worship in Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:16-21). Many won’t like it—they won’t enjoy playing the part of a Christian.
In that day, Satan will deceive unbelievers all over the world and gather his army of rebels for an ultimate battle against Jerusalem. However, fire from heaven will devour them, and God will finally defeat Satan and cast him into the Lake of Fire. This is the place where the beast and false prophet are. There they’ll suffer forever.
The Great White Throne
What’s next for those rebels who don’t follow Christ? All unbelievers from every age in history will be judged somewhere in outer space before God’s Great White Throne. Afterward, they also are thrown into the Lake of Fire to suffer forever. The battle against Satan and all evildoers will be over, and Christ and all true believers will win (2Peter 3:10; Revelation 21:1).
What about the genuine believers in Christ? There’ll be something special to experience.
A New Heaven, Earth, Relationship, and Temple
First, to prepare for the New Year of eternal celebration, God creates or restores heaven and earth.
After this, the Holy City, New Jerusalem, will come down from heaven, and with it, God himself. The Lord of the universe will make his home with people on the earth. There’ll be no more tears or sorrow, only joy.
The size of the city will be enormous! It’ll be beautiful, shining with precious stones and the glory of the Almighty. The streets will shine with translucent gold. The dimensions of the city will be 1,400 miles to each corner of the walls, and each wall will be 1,400 miles high. Some think the city will be cubic, while others believe it’ll be a pyramid.
The New Jerusalem will not have a temple in it “because the LORD Almighty and the Lamb are its temple,” (Revelation 21:22, NIV). “Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life,” (Revelation 21:27, NIV). It’s only followers of Jesus Christ who are written in this book. Are we written there? (more)
Life Forever
A river of life flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb will have a tree of life on each side. The curse of death for sin will be gone. No threatening darkness will invade us—only light from God himself. He’ll make his throne in the New Jerusalem, and we Christians will serve and reign with him forever. This is good news!
An Invitation to Keep
We are all invited to this New Year’s celebration! “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life” (Revelation 22:17, NIV). If any of us haven't received salvation, we're invited to come to Jesus. He offers us forgiveness for any and all wrongs. Jesus can give us spiritual life, peace, and joy so we can celebrate forever after the New Year’s festivities are over. Let’s come to Jesus!
Discussion
What are we celebrating in today's Bible reading?
Who is invited to the wedding supper?
What things are new in heaven at the end of the age?
Focus Verse
Revelation 22:17 (NIV) “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.”
Write a private prayer response to today’s Bible study:
Please send your comments to me, Rod (the author)
Looking Ahead: Our next Lesson begins the New Year with Answers to Some of Life's Most Challenging Questions. Join us in our One-Year Daily Chronological Bible Study to find out what the Bible means and how it applies to you.
If you have already done this, why not take the journey again? Every year we make improvements, provide additional helpful links, some new pictures, insights and applications. In 2022 I'm adding daily podcasts for those of you who like to listen on the go. You will be blessed!
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