| Christian Life and Doctrine | July 1967 |
John Sees the Kingdom
“The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” —Revelation 22:17
CHRIST’S kingdom, and the blessings it will give to the people, is one of the prominent themes of the Bible. Jesus’ death as the world’s Redeemer provides the blessings of life for all the willing and obedient of mankind, and the messianic kingdom will be the agency through which those blessings will be dispensed to all mankind. These two great truths, and related teachings, are the essential message of the Word of God. Its historical records, its prophecies and promises, its symbols, types and parables, are all parts of this one great theme of redemption and deliverance for both the church and the world.
The theme of messianic kingdom blessings reaches a glorious climax in the last three chapters of Revelation. In these chapters many of the promises relative to the kingdom, and the symbolisms which portray it, as touched upon in other parts of the Bible, are elaborated and given their true setting in the great plan of God. Not alone is the kingdom, and its blessings, portrayed in these chapters, but the work of redemption which provided the blessings is emphasized, this basic feature of the plan being kept before our minds by references to the “Lamb”—“the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”—John 1:29
The Counterfeit
The establishment of the messianic kingdom, and its functioning for the blessing of the people, as portrayed in the closing chapters of Revelation, is a refreshing change from much that is contained in the earlier chapters of this book, where we are shown symbolic beasts which persecute God’s people. We see an unholy city, likened to a harlot who commits fornication with the kings of the earth. (Rev. 17:4-6,18) It is evident that neither the “beasts” nor the harlot-city are in any way related to the true messianic kingdom, except as counterfeits.
The Lamb symbolism is first mentioned in the 5th chapter of the book, where Jesus is referred to as “a Lamb as it had been slain.” In this chapter we are given a brief, comprehensive glimpse of the completed plan of God as centered in the Lamb. John wrote, “I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, … and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.”—Rev. 5:11-13
On Mount Sion
The Lamb is mentioned again in chapter 14, verse 1. We quote: “And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the Mount Sion, and with him an hundred and forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.” In verse 4 these are identified as those who “follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.”
Still another reference to the Lamb is found in chapter 17, verse 14. Referring to ten symbolic and unholy kings, John wrote, “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.” Here we have a change in the message of the book. Previously the various “beasts” and the harlot-city government are very much in control. Evil triumphs, and God’s people are persecuted. Now these make war with the Lamb but are not victorious. The Lamb overcomes them, and this victory of the Lamb is shared with those who are with him, the “called, and chosen, and faithful.”
Chapter 18 portrays in symbolic detail the final and complete destruction of the unholy city, Babylon; and the Lord’s people are bidden to rejoice over her in her humiliation and destruction (vs. 20) The Revelator explains: “The light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee [Babylon]; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.”—vss. 23,24
The opening verse of chapter 19 reads, “And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God.” No longer was the Lord to allow evil men and institutions to triumph and to persecute his people. Now the time had come for him to assert his authority and power throughout the earth, and this he was to do through his appointed King, the “Lamb,” and the called and chosen and faithful who were with him.
The Marriage
Now the time had come for a most dramatic act in the plan of God. It is described in verse 7: “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.” These faithful followers of the Master had all been betrothed to him through their vows of consecration to do his will. However, their covenant was one of sacrifice. They were willing to suffer and to die with him, and were inspired with the hope of sharing the glory of his kingdom when it was established.
In laying down their lives in the service of the Lord these also endeavored to be like their Master—kind, patient, generous, loving, sympathetic. They did their best to adorn themselves with a meek and quiet spirit. They endeavored to be emptied of self, that the Holy Spirit might fill and control their lives, producing its fruit and its graces. They endeavored to give heed to the slightest wish of their future Bridegroom, particularly to his command that they lay down their lives for one another.
These “called” and “chosen” and finally “faithful” followers of the Master knew that they could not be united with their Lord in “marriage” until they had made themselves ready. They knew also that it was as a company that they were destined to become the “bride” of Christ. It is the “bride” that makes herself ready, and this is accomplished through the faithfulness of all the individual members of the bride class, the faithful followers of the Master. They knew that one of the ways to be faithful to their future Bridegroom was to be faithful to one another. And now, in the progress of the narrative as it unfolds in Revelation, we find that the bride has made herself ready, and that the marriage of the Lamb is come, and with great rejoicing.
Satan
In the opening of the next chapter (the 20th) the Revelator begins to reveal to us some of the major developments related to the establishment of the kingdom, and the blessings which will reach the people through that kingdom. Verses 1-3 tell of the binding of Satan, “that old serpent, which is the Devil,” and that he is bound for a thousand years. What a blessing this will be to mankind!
Satan is here referred to as the one who has deceived all nations. His deceptions began in the Garden of Eden, and have continued throughout the ages, and he is still deceiving the people. Even today, Satan is one of the greatest enemies of the Lord’s own people, going about as a roaring lion, seeking to devour them. And while we know the truth of God’s Word, and are not ignorant of Satan’s devices, it is only by the Lord’s help and by faithful alertness, together with humility of mind and heart, that we are able to detect his sophistries for what they are, namely, misrepresentations of the plans and purposes of God. And if this is true with respect to those who know God’s truth, how helpless is the world of mankind to detect the cunning lies of the great Adversary!
How glad we are, then that at the outset of the kingdom Satan is to be bound! The angel that binds him is undoubtedly the returned Lord, and to emphasize the thoroughness with which he is bound, a great “chain” is mentioned, also a “bottomless pit,” and a “seal.” Only by divine power could the great Adversary thus be rendered helpless to carry on his work of deception and oppression of the people. What a glorious prospect it is to realize that this will be accomplished and that his imprisonment will continue for a thousand years, as the text declares. Then, as the record indicates, Satan is to be loosed for a “little season” to test those who have been enlightened and restored to perfection. Finally he will be destroyed.
The Saints Share the Kingdom
In verse 4 we read, “I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the Word of God, … and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” Verse 6 confirms this, saying, “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” This is the blessed hope of those who through faithfulness have laid down their lives as witnesses for Jesus and the Word of God. These constitute the “wife” class, the members of which, after their resurrection, are joined with Jesus, their Heavenly Bridegroom.
The King James Version states that “the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.” This is spurious, having been added, probably, by a copyist during the Middle Ages. And we can see the possible reason for this addition. It was made during the papal Millennium, The dead were not then being restored to life; so the monk who made the addition thought it was needed in order to have the sacred record harmonize with what he believed to be the truth.
The Greek Orthodox Catholic Church also had difficulty with the idea of a thousand-year messianic kingdom, and as a result banned the whole Book of Revelation from their Bible. This is also understandable. This group, as well as essentially all denominational groups, believed that the kingdom of Christ was established at Pentecost, and that this kingdom would continue until “the end of the world.” There was no room in this view for a thousand-year kingdom; so the Greek Catholics eliminated the Bible’s testimony on the subject.
But how glad we are for the truth concerning Christ’s thousand-year kingdom, in which his true followers, the “bride” class, will reign with him! We are happy to know that what began at Pentecost was the making ready of this “little flock” to live and reign with Christ, and that the kingdom itself will put down all authority contrary to God, and that finally the great enemy Death will be destroyed. How blessed we are in mind and heart as we look forward to this glorious work of the kingdom!—I Cor. 15:25,26
The Throne
Verse 11 reads, “I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.” A throne is a symbol of kingdom authority, and this “white throne” is the messianic kingdom authority controlling in the affairs of men. While the “bride” of Christ will share the authority and glory of the kingdom with the Bridegroom, this is not always directly mentioned in the prophecies, particularly in the Old Testament.
The “earth” and the “heaven” that flee away from the face of the One who sits upon “the great white throne” are the civil and spiritual ruling powers of Satan’s world. These cannot continue once the authority and power of the new kingdom take control of earth’s affairs. Satan, the prince of this world, will then be bound, and the last remaining vestiges of his dominion will quickly give place to “the King of kings, and Lord of lords.”
John continues, “I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened.” (vs. 12) More than six thousand years ago, through the disobedience of our first parents, the human race lost its standing before God; but Jesus provided an opportunity of release from the penalty of death, and the privilege of returning to God’s favor. So in this portrayal of kingdom blessings we see the world of mankind awakened from death and standing before God. This symbolizes the fact that then, through Christ, God will begin to deal with and bless his human creatures.
“And the books were opened”: This is a beautiful symbolism of the fact that then the knowledge of the Lord will fill the earth as the waters cover the sea. (Isa. 11:9) Satan, the prince of darkness, will then be bound, and the truth concerning God and his purposes will quickly rid the minds of the people of the many misrepresentations of God which, throughout the ages, Satan foisted upon them. These opened “books” of divine revelation will make God’s will plain to all, and they will be judged upon the basis of their obedience to this revelation of truth—or, as the text further states, “out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”
And then there will be another “book,” “the book of life.” As the people respond in obedience to the revealed will of God, their names, symbolically speaking, will be entered in “the book of life.” In other words, they will be in the way of life, and if through faithfulness they maintain their standing before the Lord, they will eventually enter into everlasting life.
In verse 15 we are told that whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. The “lake of fire” is a symbol of the second death. (vs. 14) The Apostle Peter, referring to the great Prophet, or enlightener of that time, says, “It shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that Prophet shall be destroyed from among the people.” (Acts 3:23) The Apostle Peter also refers to the day of judgment as “a day of … perdition [destruction] of ungodly men.” (II Pet. 3:7) Today, the godly as well as the ungodly are dying, and they will continue to do so until that day when “the dead, small and great, stand before God” and “the books” are opened.
Verse 13 of chapter 20 again emphasizes the resurrection of the dead. Here the dead are said to return from death and hell and the sea. How thankful we are to know that hell is not a place of torment, but a condition of temporary “sleep” from which there will be an awakening! Jesus said, “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, … and have the keys of hell and of death.” (Rev. 1:18) Thank God, Jesus will use these “keys” to unlock the great prison of death and set its captives free!
CHAPTER 21
Chapter 21 presents us with another symbolic description of the messianic kingdom and the blessings which will reach the people through its rulership. Verse 1 reads, “I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first [‘former,’ R.V.] heaven and the first [‘former,’ R.V.] earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.” Yes, the former heaven and earth had fled away from before the face of him that sat upon the throne. (ch. 20:11) And now John sees “the new heavens and new earth” of promise established.
This is a reference to the spiritual and earthly phases of the kingdom—the new heavens and new earth foretold in Isaiah 65:17-23. Peter wrote that because of God’s promises the church looks for this “new heavens and … new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” (II Pet. 3:13) In Isaiah’s prophecy this new heavens and new earth is associated with “Jerusalem”—the New Jerusalem. John sees the same picture. In verse 2 he writes, “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”
In verses 9 and 10 of this chapter, John explains, “There came unto me one of the seven angels … and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.” The coming down to earth of the kingdom symbolized by this holy city had to wait until the marriage of the Lamb had come and his bride had made herself ready. Prior to this there was no “bride,” no holy city.—Rev. 19:7
God’s Tabernacle
And what wonderful blessings will reach the human family through the holy city! John speaks of it as “the tabernacle of God” being with men, and of his dwelling with his human creatures. The tabernacle in the wilderness was a symbol of God’s presence with his typical people, Israel. During the thousand years of the messianic kingdom God’s presence and favor will be manifested toward all mankind through Christ and his glorified followers—the heavenly Bridegroom and his bride. The word “tabernacle” implies that this will be a temporary arrangement, and indeed it will be, for at the conclusion of this messianic kingdom the authority will be turned over to the Heavenly Father, and he will be “all in all.” No longer will he bless the people through the mediatorship of the kingdom.—I Cor. 15:28
And what wonderful blessings will reach the people through this temporary kingdom arrangement! As Paul explains, it will ultimately result in the destruction of even death itself. On this point the Revelator wrote, “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”—vss. 4,5
CHAPTER 22
The last chapter of Revelation opens with still another symbolic description of messianic kingdom blessings, and tells how they will reach the people. John wrote, “And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. And in the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations, and there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him.”—vss. 1-3
It will be divine authority that will be exercised throughout the Millennial Age, and it will be manifested through the risen Christ Jesus, to whom was given all power in heaven and in earth. And it is significant that “the Lamb” is mentioned in connection with this throne, for it reminds us that no blessings of life could reach the people were it not for the fact that Jesus laid down his life as man’s Redeemer and thus became “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”—John 1:29
And it is from “the throne of God and of the Lamb” that the water of life will flow out to the people. In verse 17 we read further concerning this: “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Just as the holy city, which is “the bride, the Lamb’s wife,” could not begin to function in the earth until the marriage of the Lamb took place, for the simple reason that prior to this there was no bride, so the bride cannot say, “Come,” and partake of the water of life until there is a bride.
The bride is still making herself ready, and what an inspiration to faithfulness this should be to all the “espoused virgins” as they continue to lay down their lives proving their loyalty to their future Bridegroom, “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” What a privilege it will be to participate with the Lamb in dispensing the blessings of life to “all the families of the earth.” Let us continue to rejoice in this glorious prospect!
These are simple truths of the divine plan. They have been presented effectively by the Lord’s people throughout all the years of the harvest with which the present age is ending. These simple and beautiful truths satisfy our longings as nothing else could do. Let us give thanks to God that he has opened the eyes of our understanding relative to these “mysteries” of the kingdom. They are mysteries only to those whose eyes of understanding have not been opened to behold their beauty and simplicity. But to us, although simple, they are “the power of God unto salvation.” John saw the kingdom in vision. Today, the “sure word of prophecy” enables us to see the dawning light, and we can rejoice to see that now, as never before, “the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”