4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia. Grace and peace be on you from Him that is, and was, and is to come, and from the seven Spirits which are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and the Prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests unto God and to His Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

7 Behold, He comes with clouds, and every eye shall see Him, including those who pierced Him. And all peoples of the earth shall wail because of Him. So it will be. Amen.

COMMENT:

Daniel 7:13 "As I watched in the night vision I saw One like the Son of Man come before the Ancient of Days to be presented before Him."

1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are alive until that time will be caught up with them in the clouds and together we shall meet Him in the air. And so, we shall always be with the LORD.

8 "I am the Alpha and Omega," the beginning and the end, says the LORD Almighty, which is, and was, and is to come.

COMMENT:

Isaiah 41:4 "Who has called forth the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD, who is the first and the last. I am the One."

9 I, John, your brother and companion in the patience of Jesus Christ in tribulation and in the kingdom, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10 I was in the Spirit on the LORD's day, and heard behind me a voice like the sound of a trumpet,

COMMENT: The Lord's day is defined in Isaiah.

Isaiah 58:13-14 "If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on My holy day, calling the Sabbath a delight and the day of the LORD, and if you honor it by not doing your own things, or speaking idle words," [14] "Then you will take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth. And I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

11 saying, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last. Write in a book the things you see. Send it to the seven churches in Asia, to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea." 12 I turned to see the one that spoke to me, and I saw seven golden candlesticks. 13 In the midst of the candlesticks, one like the Son of Man stood, clothed in a garment reaching down to his feet, and a golden sash wrapped around His chest. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow. His eyes were like flames of fire.

COMMENT:

Daniel 7:9 "I kept watching until thrones were set up, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His garments were as white as snow and his hair was like pure wool. His throne was flaming with fire and its wheels blazed."

Daniel 10:6 "His body was like beryl. His face had the appearance of lightning. His eyes were like flaming torches. His arms and feet had the gleam of polished bronze, and his words were like the voice of a multitude."

15 His feet were like burnished bronze when it glows in the furnace. And His voice was like the sound of many waters. 16 In His right hand were seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword. His countenance was as the sun when it shines in its strength.

COMMENT:

Isaiah 49:2 "He has made My mouth like a sharp sword, and concealed me in the shadow of His hand. He has hidden me as a perfect arrow in His quiver."

Revelation 19:15 A sharp sword comes from His mouth and with it He strikes the nations. He will rule over them with a rod of iron, and He treads the winepress of the fierce wrath of Almighty God.

17 When I saw Him I fell at His feet as though dead. He laid His hand on me and said, "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last," 18 "and the One who lives. I was dead and behold, I am alive forever more. I have the keys of death and hell."

19 "Write the things which you have seen, the things which are and the things which shall be hereafter." 20 "The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks are as follows: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches. And the seven candlesticks are the seven churches."

Revelation 2 - RWB Paraphrase (29 V)
With Comments
Go to top__ OR __Exit Comments
1 To the angel of the church of Ephesus write: "These things says the One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks:" 2 "I know your works, your labor and patience, and how you cannot bear those who are evil. You have tested those who say they are apostles but are not, and you have found them to be liars." 3 "You have born all this with patience for My name's sake and have not grown weary." 4 "But I have this against you. You have lost your first love." 5 "Therefore, remember from where you have fallen. Repent and do the deeds you did at first, or else I will come quickly and remove your candlestick from it place." 6 "Yet you do hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate." 7 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him that overcomes I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God."

8 And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: "These things says the First and the Last, which was dead, and is alive." 9 "I know your works, tribulation and poverty, even though you are rich. And I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews, but are not. They are of the synagogue of Satan." 10 "Do not fear any of the things which you shall suffer. Behold, the devil will try you by casting some of you into prison. You will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful unto death and I will give you a crown of life." 11 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches. He that overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death."

COMMENT: No condemnation for this church. Only commendation by Jesus.

12 And to the angel of the church of Pergamos write, "The One with the sharp twoedged sword says this,"

COMMENT: This is Jesus speaking, as He is described in the first chapter of this book.

Revelation 1:16 In His right hand were seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword. His countenance was as the sun when it shines in its strength.

13 "I know your works, and that you dwell where Satan's throne is, and that you hold fast to My name and have not denied My faith, even when My faithful Antipas was martyred, slain among you where Satan dwells." 14 "But I have a few things against you because you have some among you who teach the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block before the Children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and commit acts of immorality."

COMMENT: We cannot commit acts of immorality and say that Jesus covers us while we � willfully sin.

15 "Thus you also have some who hold to the teachings of the Nicolaitanes. I hate these teachings." 16 "Repent, or I will come to you quickly and fight them with the sword of My mouth." 17 "He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches. To him who overcomes I will give a white stone with a new name written on it, which no one knows except he who receives it."

COMMENT: Isaiah talked about God giving a new name.

Isaiah 62:2 "The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You will be called by a new name which the LORD will give you."

18 And to the angel of the church of Thyatira write, "The Son of God, whose eyes are like flames of fire and feet like burnished bronze says this,"

COMMENT:

Revelation 1:14-15 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow. His eyes were like flames of fire. [15] His feet were like burnished bronze when it glows in the furnace. And His voice was like the sound of many waters.

19 "I know your works, your love, service, faith and patience, and that your last works are greater than at first."

COMMENT: So they are growing in Christ.

20 "But I have a few things against you, because you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants so that they commit fornication and eat things sacrificed to idols."

COMMENT: Do we ever tolerate sinful behaviour in the church in an effort to be understanding?

21 "I gave her time to repent of her fornication, but she would not."

COMMENT: To do the right thing we need to understand God's timing and when enough is enough.

22 "Behold, I will throw her on a bed of tribulation, along with those that commit adultery with her, unless they repent of their deeds." 23 "And I will kill her children, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches minds and hearts and gives unto everyone of you according to your works."

COMMENT: Our works have meaning as they demonstrate our cooperation with God who is at work in us.

24 "But to the rest in Thyatira, who do not hold to this teaching, and have not embraced the deep things of Satan, I will place no other burden." 25 "Hold fast to what you have until I come." 26 "And to him who overcomes and keeps My works to the end, I will give power over the nations." 27 "He shall rule them with a rod of iron, shattering them as potters vessels, just as I have received authority from My Father,"

COMMENT:

Psalms 2:9 "You shall break them with a rod of iron and shatter them like an earthen pot."

Isaiah 30:14 "Its destruction will be like the smashing of a potter's jar. Nothing left of it will be used for any purpose."

28 "and I will give him the morning star." 29 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

Revelation 3 - RWB Paraphrase (22 V)
With Comments
Go to top__ OR __Exit Comments
1 And to the angel of the church of Sardis write: "He that has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars says; "I know your works, and that your name says that you are alive, and yet you are dead. 2 "Be watchful and strengthen what is left that is about to die, for I have not found your works to be perfect before God." 3 "So remember what you have received and heard, and hold fast and repent. If you do not do this, I will come to you as a thief, and you will not know the hour I am coming to you." 4 "But you have a few people in Sardis who have not defiled their garments. They shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy." 5 "He that overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot his name out of the Book of Life. I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels." 6 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: "These things says the One who is holy and true, and has the key of David, who opens what no one can shut and shuts what no one can open." 8 "I know your works. Behold, I have set an open door before you that no man can shut it. You have little strength, and yet you have kept My word, not denying my name." 9 "Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, because they are liars, to come and worship at your feet and to know that I have loved you." 10 "Because you have kept the word of My patience, I will keep you from the hour of temptation which is coming upon all the world." 11 "Behold, I come quickly. Hold fast to what you have. Let no man take your crown." 12 "And he who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of His city, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from God. And I will write upon him My new name." 13 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

14 And to the angel of the church of Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God says this, 15 "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot." 16 "So because you are lukewarm, and neither cold or hot, I will spit you out of My mouth." 17 "Because you have said, I am rich and need nothing, and do not realize that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked," 18 "I advise you to by from Me gold that is tried in the fire so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may be covered and no longer naked, and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see." 19 "Those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore, be zealous and repent."

COMMENT:

Proverbs 3:12 "The LORD disciplines those He loves, the same way a father does with the son he delights in."

20 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and we will dine together." 21 "He who overcomes, I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne." 22 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

Revelation 4 - RWB Paraphrase (11 V)
With Comments
Go to top__ OR __Exit Comments
1 After this I looked and saw a door opened in heaven. The voice I had heard at first that was like a trumpet said to me, "Come up here and I will show you things yet in the future." 2 Immediately I was in the spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven with One sitting on it.

COMMENT:

1 Kings 22:19 Micaiah said, "Hear the word of the LORD. I saw the LORD sitting on His throne and all the host of heaven standing around him."

3 He looked like jasper stone and sardius stone, and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance. 4 There were twenty-four thrones around the main throne. And I saw twenty-four elders on those thrones. They were clothed in white garments and had golden crowns on their heads. 5 Lightening, thunder and voices came from the throne. Seven lamps of fire which were the seven Spirits of God burned before the throne. 6 And before the throne there was a crystal like sea of glass. Around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. 7 The first creature was like a lion and the second like a calf. The third creature had a face like a man, and the fourth creature was like an eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings with eyes all over each wing. Day and night they never cease to say, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD God, the Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."

COMMENT:

Ezekiel 10:12 Their entire bodies, including their backs, their hands and their wings, were full of eyes, as were the four wheels.

9 And when the creatures around the throne gave glory, honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty four elders fell down before Him who sits on the throne and worshipped Him. They cast their crowns before His throne, and said, 11 "Worthy are You, O LORD, to receive glory, honor and power, for You have created all things, and they exist for Your pleasure."

Revelation 5 - RWB Paraphrase (14 V)
With Comments
Go to top__ OR __Exit Comments
1 I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written on the inside and outside and sealed with seven seals.

COMMENT:

Ezekiel 2:9-10 I looked and a hand extended toward me holding a scroll. [10] He spread the scroll out in front of me. It had words written on the front and back. They spoke of Lamentations, mourning and woe.

Isaiah 29:11 "The vision will seem to you like the words of a sealed book that cannot be read."

2 A strong angel proclaimed with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the book and break its seals?" 3 And no one in heaven, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book or look into it. 4 And I wept because no one was found worthy to open and read the book, or look into it.

COMMENT: I think John somehow was aware that unless someone was found worthy to open the book, all would be lost as far as he was concerned. His future depended on someone being able to open the book.

5 One of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has overcome and is able to break its seven seals and open the book." 6 I looked and saw in the midst of the throne with the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, there stood a Lamb, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

COMMENT:

Zechariah 4:10 "Who has despised the day of small things? These seven will be glad when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. These seven are the eyes of the LORD which range to and for throughout the earth."

7 And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. 8 When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp and a golden vial of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

COMMENT:

Psalms 141:2 May my prayer be like incense. I lift up my hands to You like the evening offering.

9 And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals, for You were slain and by Your blood You have redeemed us to God from within every tribe, tongue, people and nation." 10 "You have made them kings and priests to God, and they will reign upon the earth." 11 Then I looked as I heard the voice of many angels around the throne with the living creatures and the elders. The number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand thousands of thousands, 12 and they were saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power and riches, wisdom and might, honor, glory and blessings." 13 I heard every creature in heaven, on the earth, under the earth and all things in them, saying, "Blessings and honor, glory and power, be unto Him that sits on the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever." 14 And the four living creatures kept saying, "Amen." And the elders fell down and worshipped Him that lives forever and ever.

Revelation 6 - RWB Paraphrase (17 V)
With Comments
Go to top__ OR __Exit Comments
1 I watched as the Lamb broke open the first seal. I heard something like thunder. One of the four living creatures said, "Come and see." 2 I looked and saw a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow, a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering to conquer.

3 When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come and see." 4 A red horse went out. The one who sat upon it was given power and a great sword to take peace from the earth, so that men killed one another.

5 When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come." I looked and I saw a black horse and he who sat upon it had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures say, "A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny. See that you do not hurt the oil or the wine."

7 When He had opened the forth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come." 8 I looked and I saw a pale horse, and the name of the one who sat on it was Death, and Hell followed after him. They were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword and hunger, with pestilence and wild beasts of the earth.

9 When the Lamb had opened the fifth seal, I looked under the altar and saw the souls of those who were slain for the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They cried out with a loud voice, saying, "O LORD, holy and true, how long before You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" 11 Each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to rest for a little while longer, until their fellow servants and brethren had also been killed, to fulfill all.

12 I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became black as sackcloth made with hair, and the moon became like blood.

COMMENT: The sun was darkened over New England on May 19, 1780. It was so dark candles were required from noon on. It lasted until noon the following day.

13 The stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind.

COMMENT: This must be a reference to the falling stars, or actually the great Leonid meteor shower of 1833.

14 The sky departed like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. 15 Then the kings of the earth and the great men and their commanders, the rich and the strong, every slave and every free man hid themselves in caves among the rocks of the mountains. 16 And they said to the rocks and the mountains, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb." 17 "For the great day of their wrath has come, and who shall be able to stand?"

Revelation 7 - RWB Paraphrase (17 V)
With Comments
Go to top__ OR __Exit Comments
1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, keeping the four winds of the earth from blowing on it, or the sea or any tree. 2 An angel with the seal of the living God ascended from the east, crying out with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was granted to hurt the earth and the sea, 3 saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of God in their foreheads." 4 I heard the number of those being sealed. It was one hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of Israel. 5 From the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were sealed. And twelve thousand more for each of the tribes of Reuben and Gad. 6 Twelve thousand from each of the tribes of Asher, Naphtali and Manasseh. 7 Twelve thousand from each of the tribes of Simeon, Levi and Issachar. 8 And twelve thousand from each of the tribes of Zebulon, Joseph and Benjamin. Twelve thousand were sealed from each of the twelve tribes. 9 After this I saw a great multitude which could not be counted. They came from every nation, tribe, people and tongue, and they stood before the throne and the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. 10 They cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne, the elders and the four living creatures. They fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, 12 saying, "Amen, blessing and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving, honor and power and might be to our God forever. Amen."

COMMENT: Satan had cast doubt on God's right to rule. Now there is no longer any question on that matter.

13 Then one of the elders asked me, "Who are the ones clothed in white robes, and where have they come from?" 14 And I replied, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones which came out of great tribulation having washed their robes and made them white in the in the blood of the Lamb." 15 "For this reason they are before the throne of God, serving Him day and night in His temple, and He who sits on the throne dwells among them." 16 "They will not be hungry or thirsty any more. Neither will they suffer from the heat of the sun." 17 "For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will feed them, and lead them to living waters. And God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Revelation 8 - RWB Paraphrase (13 V)
With Comments
Go to top__ OR __Exit Comments
1 When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for half an hour. 2 And I saw the seven angels which stand before God, each one having a trumpet. 3 Another angel with a golden censer came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to mingle with the prayers of the saints upon the golden altar which is before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God from the angel's hand. 5 Then the angel filled the censer with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth, and there were voices, thunderings, lightenings and an earthquake. 6 And the seven angels with the seven trumpets stood ready to sound them.

7 The first angel sounded his trumpet, and hail and fire mixed with blood fell on the earth. A third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.

8 The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea. And a third part of the sea became blood. 9 A third of the creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

10 The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star burning like a torch fell from heaven on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters. 11 The name of the star was Wormwood. A third part of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from using these bitter waters.

12 The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun, a third of the moon and a third of the stars were struck. A third part of them was darkened and did not shine. It was the same for the night.

13 And I saw and heard an angel as it flew through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, "Woe, woe, woe, to earth's inhabitants, because of three more angels who are about to sound their trumpets."

Revelation 9 - RWB Paraphrase (21 V)
With Comments
Go to top__ OR __Exit Comments
1 And the fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star fall to earth from heaven, and to him was given the key to the bottomless pit. 2 With this key he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke came up out of it like the smoke of a great furnace, darkening the sun and the air. 3 Out of the smoke came locust upon the earth. They were given the power of scorpions. 4 They were commanded to not hurt the grass of the earth, or any tree or green thing. They were to hurt only the men without the seal of God in their foreheads. 5 They were not permitted to kill these men, but were allowed to torment them for five months. Their torment was like that which a man experiences when stung by a scorpion.

COMMENT: Five months equals 150 days or 150 years.

6 In those days men will prefer death but not find it, for death will flee from them. 7 The locusts had the appearance of horses prepared for battle with golden crowns on their heads and faces like that of a man. 8 They had long hair like a woman, and the teeth of lions. 9 They had breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots and many horses rushing to battle. 10 Their tails were like that of scorpions, able to sting men and hurt them for five months. 11 The angel of the bottomless pit is their king. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek it is Apollyon.

COMMENT: Abaddon is Hebrew for the bottomless pit or the place of the dead. It is bottomless because the dead do not come back from it.

12 The first woe is now past, and two more woes are to follow.

13 Then the sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard the four horns of the golden altar which is before God. 14 They said to the angel with the sixth trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates." 15 And the four angels, which were prepared for the hour, the day, the month and the year were released to destroy a third of mankind. 16 The number of the men in the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million. 17 In the vision I saw those on the horses wearing breastplates the color of fire, hyacinth and brimstone. And the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions with fire, smoke and brimstone, issuing from their mouths.

COMMENT: Some have suggested that this is a depiction of men leaning forward on their horses as they fired muzzle loaded weapons. This would have fit the time period for these weapons.

18 A third of mankind was killed by the fire, the smoke and the brimstone which issued from their mouths. 19 Their power was in their mouth and their tail. Their tails were like serpents. And with their heads and their tails they do harm.

COMMENT: If this were to be applied to our day it would be a description of a helicopter shooting forward and backwards at the same time.

20 The rest of mankind was not killed by these plagues. And yet they did not repent of their evil works, of worshipping the devils, and idols of gold and silver, brass and stone, and of wood, things which cannot see, hear or walk. 21 And they did not repent of their murders, sorceries, fornication or thefts.

Revelation 10 - RWB Paraphrase (11 V)
With Comments
Go to top__ OR __Exit Comments
1 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven clothed with a cloud. A rainbow was upon his head, his face was like the sun, and His feet were like pillars of fire. 2 In his hand he had a little book that was open. Placing his right foot on the sea and his left on the land,

COMMENT: His right foot was where there were lots of people and His left foot was where there are few people.

3 he cried out with a loud voice, like the sound of a roaring lion. When he had cried out, seven thunders sounded. 4 Having heard the seven peals of thunder, I was about to write them down. But a voice from heaven said, "Seal up the things which the seven peals of thunder said and do not write them."

COMMENT: This is one occasion when what John heard was not to be written.

5 Then the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and the earth lifted his hand to heaven, 6 and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and earth, the sea and all the things in all three of these, saying, "There shall be no more delay." 7 "But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he begins to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God, that He gave to His servants the prophets, shall be finished." 8 Then the voice I heard from heaven spoke to me again, and said, "Go, take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and the earth." 9 So I went to the angel and asked him for the little book. And he said to me, "Take it and eat all of it. It will be bitter in your stomach, but sweet as honey in your mouth."

COMMENT: This is associated with the time around 1844 when people who misinterpreted Daniel's prophesy and expected Jesus to come only to be disappointed.

10 I took the little book from the angel's hand ate all of it. In my mouth it was sweet like honey. But after I ate it, it was bitter in my stomach. 11 And he said to me, "You must prophecy again before many peoples, nations, tongues and kings."

Revelation 11 - RWB Paraphrase (19 V)
With Comments
Go to top__ OR __Exit Comments
1 A measuring rod was given to me, and the angel said, "Get up and measure the temple of God, its altar and those who worship in it." 2 "Do not measure the court which is outside the temple, for it has been given to the Gentiles and will be trodden under foot for forty-two months." 3 "And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophecy for one thousand two hundred and sixty days while clothed in sackcloth."

COMMENT: Forty two months equals one thousand two hundred and sixty days, or three and one half years. The two witnesses are the old and new testament, the witness of the prophets before Christ's death and of those who came afterwards. The Bible will be suppressed during this time.

4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks that stand before the LORD of the earth.

COMMENT: The olive tree was for shade and its fruit for healing. The candlesticks provided the light of God's presence. These are provided by the holy scriptures.

5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire comes out of their mouths to devour their enemies. 6 They have the power to shut up the heaven so that it does not rain during the days of their prophecy. And they have power to turn waters to blood, and to strike the earth with plagues as often as they want.

COMMENT: Lack of rain sounds like it was in the days of Elijah for three days. The rest sounds like the plagues that fell on Egypt. In both cases, it was God's judgment on the unrepentant.

7 When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, overcoming and killing these two witnesses.

COMMENT: We understand that this was fulfilled when France killed so many of the faithful and tried to eradicate the scripture.

8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where our Lord was crucified. 9 The peoples, tribes, tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not permit them to be buried.

COMMENT: Three and one half days, or three and one half years, the length of time this went on in France. If they had been buried they might have been forgotten.

10 Those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over their dead bodies and send each other gifts of celebration, because of the torment cause by the message of these two prophets. 11 But after three and a half days, God's breath of life entered into them, and they stood up. And great fear fell upon all who saw them. 12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they ascended to heaven in a cloud while their enemies watched. 13 In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. The earthquake killed seven thousand men. The survivors were very afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.

14 The second woe has past and the third woe is coming quickly. 15 Then the seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying, "The kingdoms of the world have become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever." 16 And the twenty-four elders, which sat before God on their thrones, fell on their faces and worshipped God. 17 They said, "We give You thanks, O LORD God, the Almighty, who is and was, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reigned." 18 "And the nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time to judge the dead, so that You can reward Your servants the prophets, the saints, and those who fear Your name, both small and great. Now You will destroy those who destroy the earth."

COMMENT: This must be the beginning of the investigative judgment in 1844.

19 And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened. The ark of His covenant appeared in His temple. And there were flashes of lightening, voices, thundering, a great earthquake and great hailstones.

COMMENT: In the earthly sanctuary the ark of the covenant held the sins of the people from the previous year and these were remove once a year on the day of atonement, which represented God's final judgment that began in 1844.

Revelation 12 - RWB Paraphrase (17 V)
With Comments
Go to top__ OR __Exit Comments
1 A great wonder appeared in heaven. It was a woman clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet. She wore a crown of twelve stars on her head.

COMMENT: The woman represents the church, or God'S people. The sun represents the New Testament enlightenment while the moon is a representation of the Old Testament which speaks in types and shadows of what is to come after Jesus appears on earth.

2 She was with child and she cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. 3 Then there appeared another wonder in heaven. I saw a great red dragon with seven heads and ten horns. Each head had a crown. 4 With his tail he drew a third part of the stars of heaven after him, and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth. He was prepared to devour her child as soon as it was born.

COMMENT: Satan drew a third of the angels of heaven with him in his rebellion against God. And he made every effort to thwart what God was doing through Jesus Christ.

5 She gave birth to a son who was to rule the nations with a rod of iron. Her child was caught up to God and to His throne.

COMMENT: God's goal was to take the nations from the devil's control and give everything to Jesus.

Revelation 2:27 "He shall rule them with a rod of iron, shattering them as potters vessels, just as I have received authority from My Father,"

Revelation 19:15 A sharp sword comes from His mouth and with it He strikes the nations. He will rule over them with a rod of iron, and He treads the winepress of the fierce wrath of Almighty God.

6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she would be fed for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

COMMENT: We come up with 1260 years using the year for a day principle in prophesy. Therefore, God's chosen people hid from the religious-secular power for 1260 years (538 AD to 1798 AD). The pope came to secular power in 538 AD and was taken captive in 1798 AD.

7 And there was war in heaven. Michael and His angels fought with the dragon and his angels, 8 but the dragon and his angels were not able to prevail, and there was no longer a place for them in heaven.

COMMENT: As we understand it, there was no longer any place for Satan to return to heaven after Christ's death. So as we understand it, this event is not shown to be after or during the 1260 year time period.

9 The great dragon was thrown down, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, who deceives the whole world. He was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him.

10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, strength and kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren is cast down before our God day and night." 11 "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, for they did not love life, even as they faced death."

COMMENT: They overcame by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, meaning that they are willing to die.

12 "For this reason rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell there. Woe to the inhabitants of earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you with great wrath, for he knows that he has only a short time."

COMMENT: The devil lived for who knows how long before he chose to go against God. Now he doesn't have much time left.

13 When the dragon saw that he had been cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the child.

COMMENT: The woman is comprised of God's people who have placed their trust in Christ.

14 But she was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, to a place where she would be nourished for a time, and two times, and a half a time, away from the presence of the serpent.

COMMENT: A time is a year. Two times is two years and half a time is half a year. In Jewish reckoning a year is 360 days. So this time prophesy is for the following number of days: 360 + 720 + 180 = 1260 days, or 1260 years.

15 So the serpent poured water from its mouth as a flood after the woman, hoping to cause her to be carried away in the flood.

COMMENT: Water represents people as opposed to the wilderness where there are few people. So Satan sent armies to look for God's faithful so they could be destroyed.

Revelation 17:15 And he said to me, "The waters which you saw where the harlot sits are peoples, multitudes, nations and tongues."

16 But the earth helped the woman and opened her mouth, and swallow up the flood intended for the woman.

COMMENT: This was the time when the new world was opening up with its eventual freedoms. Christianity has not flourished in Europe as it did in the United States. The earth represents a sparsely populated area.

17 So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went to make war with those who most closely resembled the apostolic church, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

COMMENT: The testimony of Jesus is the gift of prophecy, one of the Holy Spirit's gifts to God's church.

Revelation 13 - RWB Paraphrase (18 V)
With Comments
Go to top__ OR __Exit Comments
1 I stood on the sand of the seashore and watched as a beast rose up out of the water. He had seven heads, ten horns and ten crowns, and on his heads the name of blasphemy was written.

COMMENT: We have seen this beast in the previous chapter. One way that we know that this beast is evil because blasphemy is written on its heads.

Revelation 12:3 Then there appeared another wonder in heaven. I saw a great red dragon with seven heads and ten horns. Each head had a crown.

2 This beast resembled a leopard, but his feet were like a bear's, and his mouth was like a lion's. And the dragon gave power and great authority to this beast.

COMMENT: It would seem that this beast is comprised of parts of beasts representing former political powers described in Daniel. The pope made use of every political power willing to cooperate with it. For an account of the beasts representing political power see Daniel 7.

Daniel 7:3-7 "Four great beasts came up out of the sea. Each one was different." [4] "The first was like a lion except that it had wings like an eagle. As I watched its wings were plucked off and it stood up on two feet like a man and was given a human mind." [5] "Another beast looking like a bear came up out of the deep. It was higher on one side and had three ribs between its teeth. It was told to arise and devour much." [6] As I watched a leopard like beast with four wings of a bird appeared. It had four heads, and dominion was given to it. [7] "After this I watched in the night visions, and saw a fourth beast. It had very strong large iron teeth and was dreadfully terrifying. It devoured, crushed and trampled down every other beast. It was different from the beasts that preceded it, and it had ten horns."

3 One of his heads appeared to have been slain, but then his deadly wound was healed, causing the entire world to be amazed and follow after the him. 4 They worshipped the dragon which gave authority to the beast, and they worshipped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?"

COMMENT: Satan ruled the world through these powers and they thought they had control. But God is the ultimate ruler and has control of who rules.

5 The beast was given a time to speak arrogant words and blasphemies. He continued to be in power for forty-two months.

COMMENT: A Jewish month is 30 days. Forty-Two months is the same as 1260 years. 42 X 30 = 1260 days, or years.

6 He blasphemed against God, His name, His tabernacle and those who dwell in heaven.

COMMENT: If ever any earthly power was inspired by the devil this one certainly was. And look at what Satan has lost by the choices he has made.

7 He was allowed to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and was given authority over every tribe, tongue and nation. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship the beast if their names are not written in the Lamb's book of life, who was slain from the foundation of the world. 9 If anyone has an ear, let him listen.

10 He that leads into captivity will himself go into captivity. Those who kill with the sword will die by the sword. Here is the patience and faith of the saints.

11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. He had two lamblike horns and he spoke like a dragon.

COMMENT: He looks fairly harmless until his true nature is revealed. Remember, he comes up out of, or has his beginning, in a sparsely populated area represented by coming out of the earth.

12 He exercised all the power of the first beast before him, causing the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, who's deadly wound had healed.

COMMENT: You will recall that the pope lost power in 1798 AD. He now has his power restored.

13 He performs great wonders, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven to earth in the sight of men.

COMMENT: Although Satan may be allowed to perform great signs through various political powers, it may also be true that this political power will develop weapons of war that are beyond what we are currently aware of and will be hard to understand.

14 His power to do miracles in the presence of the beast deceives those who dwell on the earth, and he tells them to make an image of the beast which had the deadly wound that had healed. 15 He had the power to give life to the image of the beast so that it could speak and cause all that would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 And he causes all, both great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to be given a mark in their right hand, or in their forehead,

COMMENT: A mark in their hand suggests power over their ability to work and make a living. A mark in their forehead signifies mental ascent so that they do not need to be forced to follow.

17 so that no man could buy or sell unless he had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 "Who will not fear You, O LORD, and glorify Your name? For You are holy. All nations shall come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed."

COMMENT:

Jeremiah 10:7 "Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? It is Your due! For there is no one on earth like You."

Psalms 86:9 You have made all the nations and they shall come and worship before You, glorifying Your name, O LORD.

Revelation 14 - RWB Paraphrase (20 V)
With Comments
Go to top__ OR __Exit Comments
1 I looked and saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion. With Him there were one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and His Father's name written on their foreheads.

COMMENT: To have Jesus and His Father's name in their foreheads is to think about what He stands for and to believe it with all their hearts.

Ezekiel 9:4 saying to him, "Go throughout the city, even through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the forehead of every man who sighs and groans over all the abominations which are being committed."

2 And I heard a voice from heaven like the sound of many waters and the sound of great thunder. I also heard the sound of harps. 3 They sang a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn this song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 These are the ones who have not been defiled with women. They are virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever He goes. They were redeemed from among men as first fruits unto God and to the Lamb.

COMMENT: These people have most closely follow the path Jesus walked here on earth. The term virgin signifies purity of purpose.

5 And no lie was found in their mouths, for they are without fault before the throne of God.

COMMENT: By the grace of God they have become totally committed to God.

Psalms 32:2 He is truly blessed when the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit He finds no deceit!

First of Three Angels
6 And I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth, to every nation, tribe, tongue and people. 7 And he said with a loud voice, "Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come. Worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the fountains of water."

COMMENT: This angel's message was to be given shortly before Jesus would enter the most holy place to deal with the accumulated sin of the entire world's history. According to Daniel's prophecy of 2300 days, this would take place in the fall of 1844. Ecclesiastes also talked about this.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 "When all has been said and done, here is the conclusion of the matter: fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." [14] "And know that God will bring every act into judgment, even the hidden things, whether they be good or evil."

Second Angel
8 And another angel followed, saying, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality."

COMMENT: This second angel's message was to build upon the first angel's message and to warn of the coming judgment period to begin in the fall of 1844.

Isaiah 21:9 "I see a troop of riders, horsemen by pairs." One of them said, "Babylon has fallen, and all the images of her gods are shattered on the ground."

Jeremiah 51:7-8 "Babylon has intoxicated all the earth as the golden cup in the LORD's hand. The nations have drunk of her wine and are going mad." [8] "Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed. Wail over her and maybe she can be healed."

Third Angel
9 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark in his forehead or hand,"

COMMENT: Those who did not accept the first and second angels messages of Revelation 14 would not be able to accept the third angel's message either. These messages build on each other.

The mark in the forehead shows that a person is convinced intellectually. The mark in the hand shows that a person feels compelled to worship, though not necessarily believing in it.

10 "he shall drink the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured undiluted into the cup of His indignation. And he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb." 11 "And the smoke of their torment ascends up forever and ever. They have no rest day or night, those who worship the beast and his image and have received the mark of his name."

COMMENT: This is not a satisfying worship. Satan's ways never truly satisfy. God's way may seem hard, but they ultimately bring happiness.

12 "Here is the patience of the saints. Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."

COMMENT: It is the faith of Jesus that makes it possible for them to persevere.

13 And I heard a voice from heaven say to me, "Write, blessed are the dead who die in the LORD from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, so that they may rest from their labors, and their works do follow them."

14 Then I looked and saw a white cloud, and one like the Son of Man sitting on it. He had a golden crown on His head and in His hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, "Put in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, because the earth is ripe for harvest." 16 Then He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped.

17 And another angel came out of the temple in heaven carrying a sharp sickle. 18 And still another angel with power over fire came out from the altar. He cried out with a loud voice to the angel with the sharp sickle, saying, "Put in your sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe." 19 So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and gathered the clusters of the vine of the earth, and threw them into the great wine press of God. 20 And the wine press was trodden outside the city, and blood came out of the wine press, flowing as high as a horse's bridle for two hundred miles.

Revelation 15 - RWB Paraphrase (8 V)
With Comments
Go to top__ OR __Exit Comments
1 Then I saw another great and marvelous sign in heaven. There were seven angels who had the seven last plagues, filled up with the wrath of God.

COMMENT: It appears that the seven last plagues come after the fate has been determined for everyone living.

2 I then saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire. Those who had been victorious over the beast, his image and the number of his name, stood on it holding harps of God.

COMMENT:

Revelation 13:18 "Who will not fear You, O LORD, and glorify Your name? For You are holy. All nations shall come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed."

3 And they sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and marvelous are Your works, LORD God Almighty, just and true are Your ways, O King of saints!"

COMMENT: The Children of Israel sang the song of Moses after having come through the Red Sea and watching the destruction of those bent on their captivity. God has proved to be just and true. He is the Savior of those who place their trust in Him.

Exodus 15:1 Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD." I will sing to the LORD, for He has triumphed gloriously. He has thrown the horse and his rider into the sea."

4 "Who will not fear You, O LORD, and glorify Your name? For You are holy. All nations shall come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed."

COMMENT:

Jeremiah 10:7 "Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? It is Your due! For there is no one on earth like You."

Psalms 86:9 You have made all the nations and they shall come and worship before You, glorifying Your name, O LORD.

5 After these things I looked and I saw the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. 6 The seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, clothed in pure white linen, and they were girded about their chests with golden sashes. 7 Then one of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven golden vials filled with the wrath of God who lives forever and ever. 8 The temple was filled with the smoke of God's glory and from His power. No one was able to enter it until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.

Revelation 16 - RWB Paraphrase (21 V)
With Comments
Go to top__ OR __Exit Comments
1 I then heard a great voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, "Go and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth."

COMMENT:

Jeremiah 10:25 "Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not know You and on the families that do not call Your name, for they have devoured Jacob, and consumed him, laying waste his habitation."

First Plague
2 So the first angel went out and poured his vial upon the earth. There fell grievous sores upon men who had the mark of the beast and worshipped his image.

Second Plague
3 The second angel poured out his vial upon the sea. It became as the blood of a dead man and every living thing in the sea died.

Third Plague
4 Then the third angel poured his vial upon the rivers and fountains of water, and they became blood. 5 And I heard the angel of the waters say, "You are righteous, O LORD, who is, who was and who shall be, because You have judged thus." 6 "For they have shed the blood of the saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. They deserve it." 7 And I heard a voice from the altar say, "Even so, LORD God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments."

Fourth Plague
8 The fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun, and it scorched men with fire. 9 Men were scorched by its great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God, who had power over the plagues. And they did not repent or give Him glory.

Fifth Plague
10 Then the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast, and his kingdom was full of darkness. They gnawed their tongues from the pain, 11 and blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pain and their sores. But they did not repent of their deeds.

Sixth Plague
12 The sixth angel poured out his vial on the great river Euphrates, and it dried up preparing the way for the kings of the east.

COMMENT:

Isaiah 11:15 The LORD will dry up the gulf of the Egyptian sea. With a scorching wind He will sweep His hand over the Euphrates River breaking it up into seven streams so that men can cross over in sandals.

13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouths of the dragon, the beast and the false prophet. 14 These are the spirits of devils, working miracles, and going forth to the kings of the earth, to gather them to the battle of the great day of God Almighty.

15 "Behold. I come as a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and men see his shame." 16 And they were gathered together in a place called Armageddon in Hebrew.

Seventh Plague
17 Then the seventh angel poured out his vial upon the air, and a great voice spoke from the throne of the temple in heaven, saying, "It is done." 18 And there were voices, thunders, lightening and a great earthquake such as never had been on the earth. 19 The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered by God who gave her the cup of wine holding the fierceness of His wrath. 20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21 Huge hailstones, each weighing about seventy pounds, came down from heaven upon men. And they blasphemed God because of the extreme severity of the plague of hail.

Revelation 17 - RWB Paraphrase (18 V)
With Comments
Go to top__ OR __Exit Comments
1 One of the angels with the seven vials came and talked with me. He said, "Come and I will show you the judgment of the great whore that sits on many waters."

COMMENT: Waters represents peoples, so the whore has something to do with many people.

2 "The kings of the earth have committed fornication with her while the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication."

COMMENT: The whore is unfaithful to God and has illicit relationships with political powers.

3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast having seven heads and covered with names of blasphemy.

COMMENT: This woman has a relationship with the devil.

4 The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, precious stones and pearls, and holding a golden cup that was full of abominations and the filth of her fornications. 5 On her forehead a name was written, a mystery, "Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and the abominations of the earth." 6 And I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of the martyrs for Jesus. When I saw her I was amazed.

COMMENT: This woman is the apostate church that persecuted and killed God's people.

7 The angel asked me, "Why are you amazed? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and the beast she rides on, that has seven heads and ten horns." 8 "The beast was but is no more. But it shall ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth, whose names are not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, shall wonder when they see the beast again."

COMMENT: The person whose name is written in the book of life is not surprised by this beast because he knows from scripture that this will happen.

9 "Here is wisdom for the mind: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits." 10 "And there are seven kings: five are past, one is and the other has not yet come. When he does come he will remain only a little while." 11 "The beast that was, and is not, is the eighth. It is one of the seven and is going to destruction." 12 "The ten horns that you saw are ten kings which have not received a kingdom yet, but will receive power for one hour with the beast."

COMMENT: Is one hour is prophetically two weeks? It is for a very short time. The rewards promised by the devil are short lived.

13 "These kings all exist to give their power and authority to the beast."

COMMENT: The whole world will cooperate with this beast power.

14 "They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of Lords and King of kings. Those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful."

COMMENT: The entire world will unite against God and His chosen people.

15 And he said to me, "The waters which you saw where the harlot sits are peoples, multitudes, nations and tongues."

COMMENT: In prophecy water represents people.

16 "And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, shall hate the harlot and make her desolate and naked. They shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire."

COMMENT: The political powers that at first supported her will turn against her.

17 "For God has put it in their hearts to fulfill His will, giving their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God will be fulfilled." 18 "And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth."

Revelation 18 - RWB Paraphrase (24 V)
With Comments
Go to top__ OR __Exit Comments
1 After these things I saw another angel come down from heaven. He had great power and the earth was lighted up with his glory. 2 He cried out with a mighty voice, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become the habitation of devils and the place of every foul spirit, and unclean and hateful bird." 3 "For all the nations have drunk the wine of her fornication, and the kings have committed fornication with her. The merchants of the earth have become rich by the abundance of her sensuality." 4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, "Come out of her, My people, so you do not partake of her sins and receive her plagues." 5 "For her sins have reached up to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities." 6 "She will be paid back double for what she has done to you. The cup she has filled will be twice filled for her." 7 "To the extent she has glorified herself, and lived sensuously, to the same degree she will be tormented and made to sorrow. For she has said in her heart, 'I sit as a queen. I am not a widow and I will never mourn.'" 8 "For this reason her plagues will come in one day: death, mourning and famine. She shall be utterly burned up with fire, for the LORD who judges her is strong." 9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived sensuously with her, shall weep and lament over her when they see the smoke as she is burned. 10 They stand at a distance in fear of her torment, saying, "Woe, woe, the great city of Babylon, that mighty city! Her judgment has come in one hour." 11 "And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their merchandise any more." 12 "They used to sell gold, silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet, and every kind of citron wood, articles of ivory and very costly items of wood, bonze, iron and marble." 13 "And cinnamon, spice, incense, perfume and frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle, sheep, cargos of horses and chariots, slaves and the souls of men." 14 "The fruit you lusted for is no longer available. Everything luxurious has departed from you and cannot be found." 15 "The merchants who were made rich selling these things weep and wail as they stand at a distance from her for fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud." 16 They say, "Woe, woe, the great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple and scarlet, decked with gold, precious stones and pearls!" 17 "In one hour her great riches have come to nothing. Every shipmaster, sailor, and all who made their living by the sea now stand a long way off." 18 "They cried out as they watched the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What city has ever been as great as this city?'" 19 "And they throw dust on their heads and cry out with weeping and wailing, saying, 'Woe, Woe, the great city in which all who had ships of the sea were made rich by her wealth, and now she has been made desolate.'" 20 "Rejoice over her, O heaven, you holy apostles and prophets, for God has pronounced judgment for what she did to you."

21 Then a mighty angel took a stone like a millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, "So will Babylon the great be thrown down, and shall be found no more." 22 "And the sound of harpists, musicians, flute players and trumpeters will no longer be heard within her. Neither will craftsmen be found at work in her and no longer will the sound of the mill be heard in her." 23 In you the light of a lamp will no longer shine. The voice of the bridegroom and bride will never again be heard in you. Your merchants were great men because the nations were deceived by your sorceries. 24 "And in her was found the blood of the prophets, the saints and of all who were slain upon the earth."

Revelation 19 - RWB Paraphrase (21 V)
With Comments
Go to top__ OR __Exit Comments
1 After this I heard the voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Hallelujah! Salvation, glory and power belong to our God." 2 "His judgments are true and righteous, for He has judged the great whore, which corrupted the earth with her fornication, and has avenged on her the blood of His servants."

COMMENT:

Psalms 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever. The judgments of the LORD are true and altogether righteous.

3 Again, they said, "Hallelujah! Her smoke rises up forever and ever."

COMMENT:

Psalms 104:35 Let sinners be consumed from the earth. Bless the LORD, O my soul. Praise the LORD!

Isaiah 34:10 "It will not be quenched night or day. From generation to generation its smoke will rise forever, and it will lie desolate. No one will ever pass through it again."

4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshipped God who sits on the throne, saying, "Amen. Hallelujah!" 5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, "Give praise to our God, all you His servants who fear Him, the small and the great." 6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voices of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters, and mighty thundering, saying, "Hallelujah! For the LORD God Omnipotent reigns." 7 "Let us rejoice and be glad, and give honor to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready."

COMMENT: The wife of the Lamb is comprised of the redeemed, many of whom are saved at the end of time, having passed through their Gethsemane, having been appointed to demonstrate their complete trust in God, whether He will save them or not. Here are the words of a bridegroom to his bride to be:

John 14:3 "And after I go and prepare a place for you, I will return for you so that where I am you can be also."

8 To her it was granted to be dressed in fine linen, clean and white. For the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 9 Then he said to me, "Write, blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said me, "These are the true words of God." 10 Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "Do not do that. I am a fellow servant of your brethren that have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophesy."

COMMENT: Jesus testifies through His prophets of what He see. Prophecy is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. God's end time church has this gift.

11 And I saw heaven opened and a white horse with One sitting on it called Faithful and True. In righteousness He judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are as a flames of fire, and on His head are many crowns. He has a name written on Himself which only He knows.

COMMENT: There are some things about God that are known only to Him. They are beyond our understanding and probably always will be.

13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called, "The Word of God."

COMMENT: God's thought made audible, made plain for human minds.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God and the Word was God.

14 And the armies in heaven follow Him on white horses. They are clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 A sharp sword comes from His mouth and with it He strikes the nations. He will rule over them with a rod of iron, and He treads the winepress of the fierce wrath of Almighty God.

COMMENT:

Revelation 1:16 In His right hand were seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword. His countenance was as the sun when it shines in its strength.

Job 4:9 "By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of His anger they come to an end."

16 On His robe and His thigh He has a name written, "King of kings, and LORD of lords." 17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun. He cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, "Come, gather yourselves together for the great supper of God." 18 "So that you may eat the flesh of kings, their captains and mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, small and great."

19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 And the beast was seized, as was the false prophet that performed miracles in his presence, with which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and worshipped his image. Both of these were thrown into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword that proceeded from the mouth of the one who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.

COMMENT: They were destroyed by the word of His mouth.

Revelation 20 - RWB Paraphrase (15 V)
With Comments
Go to top__ OR __Exit Comments
1 Then I saw an angel come down from heaven. He had the key to the bottomless pit. He carried a great chain in his hand. 2 He laid hold of the dragon, that old serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 shutting him in, so that he could no longer deceive the nations until the thousand years had been completed. After this he would be released for a short time.

COMMENT: The devil will no longer deceive the nations after the wicked are slain at the brightness of Christ's second coming. The righteous are taken to heaven for a thousand years the devil and his angels spend that time on earth awaiting their fate at the end of the thousand years. With no one to tempt this will be a very difficult time for them. At the end of the thousand years when the wicked are raised shortly before they are destroyed for good, the devil is once more allowed to have his way with the wicked, further demonstrating that he has had no change of heart during the thousand years.

4 I saw thrones and those who sat upon them were given judgment. I saw those who had been beheaded for their witness for Jesus, and for the Word of God, because they would not worship the beast, or his image, or receive his mark in their foreheads, or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Jesus for a thousand years.

COMMENT: The mark in their forehead signifies that they believe his error with their minds while those with a mark on their hands have accepted without believing in order to have economic security.

5 This is the first resurrection. The rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.

COMMENT: The first resurrection is referring to those who were raised and taken to heaven at the second coming of Jesus while the wicked died and remain dead for a thousand years.

6 Those raised up in the first resurrection are blessed and holy. The second death has no power over them. They shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him for a thousand years.

COMMENT: The second death comes to the wicked after the thousand years. The righteous will never die again. After the thousand years Jesus takes them back to earth where He will make all things new.

Revelation 21:5 And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And he said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."

7 When the thousand years are complete, Satan will be released from his prison, 8 and go out to deceive the nations from the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, gathering them together for battle. Their number is as the sand of the seashore.

COMMENT: Jesus has come back to earth with the redeemed after the thousand years in heaven. Satan and his angels have been confined to earth during those thousand years. When Christ returns this time He raises the wicked dead to face their final judgment along with the devil and his angels. Satan picks up where he left off with the wicked when they all died at the brightness of Jesus coming a thousand years earlier. Think how many there will be. Their number is comprised of all the wicked that ever lived, including those who lived before the flood.

9 These came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. Then fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone with the beast and the false prophet. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

COMMENT: Forever and ever means for as long as they exist. There will be nothing more for them once they cease to exist. Their punishment will be according to their crimes. The devil will burn the longest of all. But even he will eventually cease to exist. He will burn and become ashes.

Ezekiel 28:18-19 "By your many sins and dishonest trade you desecrated your sanctuaries. So I made a fire come out of your midst, and it consumed you. I reduced you to ashes on the ground in the sight of all who watched." [19] "Everyone who knew you was appalled to see what you had become. And so, you will cease to be forever."

11 Then I saw a great white throne, and Him who sat upon it. Heaven and earth fled away from His presence, for no place was found for them. 12 I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God, and the books were opened. One of the books was the book of life. And the dead were judged according to their works, as recorded in the books.

COMMENT: Now the account steps back to review the final moments of the wicked. The book of Revelation quite often retells of an event in more detail.

13 The sea gave up her dead, and the graves delivered up their dead, and every man was judged according to his works. 14 Then death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Revelation 21 - RWB Paraphrase (27 V)
With Comments
Go to top__ OR __Exit Comments
1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no more sea.

COMMENT: The heaven mentioned here is the atmosphere around this earth. It certainly needs to be replaced. To John the sea had the added meaning of limitation, or lack of freedom.

2 I saw the holy city, the New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven. It was prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

COMMENT: The holy city will have great splendor, being magnificently adorned beyond anything we can now imagine. The imagery of a bride, adorned for her husband, not herself, suggests that the splendor of the Holy City is for the glory of God.

3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them. They shall be His people and He Himself shall be with them and be their God."

COMMENT: Sin has caused a separation between God and man. This will no longer be the case. What a privilege it will be to have God physically with us and for us to always have access to His throne.

4 "He shall wipe away all tears and there will be no more death or sorrow. Neither will there be any more pain, for the former things have passed away."

COMMENT: This will be the case after the thousand years. All disappointments will be resolved. Blessed eternity will stretch out ahead. The future will be bright with unblighted certainty. Isaiah talked about this.

Isaiah 25:8 "He will swallow up death for all time, and the LORD GOD will wipe tears away from all faces, and He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken."

5 And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And he said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."

COMMENT: You can depend on what God says. What He has said is a certainty.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things have passed away and all things have become new.

6 Then He said, "It is done. I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who is thirsty the water of life without cost."

COMMENT: He is our all in all. He gives what we need and without cost.

Isaiah 55:1 "Come, everyone who is thirsty. Come to the waters, you who have no money. Come, buy and eat! Yes, come, buy wine and milk without cost."

7 "He who overcomes shall inherit all things. And I will be his God and he shall be my son."

COMMENT: He becomes God's son by believing in God's Son.

2 Samuel 7:14 "I will be a Father to him and he will be a son to Me. When he sins I will correct him with the rod of men and the stripes of the sons of men."

8 "But the cowardly and unbelieving, the abominable, the murderers, the immoral, the sorcerers, idolaters and all liars, shall have their part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."

COMMENT: To be unbelieving is to sin. To be unbelieving is to separate ourselves from the only One who can make a change in us.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Don't you realize that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived, neither fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, homosexuals, [10] thieves, those who covet, drunkards, revilers, or swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

9 Then one of the seven angels with the seven vials holding the last plagues, spoke to me, saying, "Come here. I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife." 10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem as it descended out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the glory of God and its light was like that of a very precious stone, such as jasper. It was clear like crystal. 12 It had a great high wall with twelve gates with an angel at each gate. The names written on the gates were the names of the twelve tribes of the Children of Israel. 13 There were three gates on each of the four sides of the city.

14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations with the names of the Lamb's apostles written on them. 15 The one talking with me had a golden measuring rod with which to measure the city, its gates and the wall. 16 The city is laid out foursquare. Its length is the same as its width. He measured the city with the golden rod. It was twelve thousand furlongs in length, width and height, all being equal.

COMMENT: A furlong is 660 feet or 1/8th of a mile. So the city was 1,500 miles in each dimension.

17 He measured the wall. It was one hundred and forty-four cubits, a man's cubit which was used by the angel.

COMMENT: Assuming that the angel was measuring the height of the wall, 144 cubits, it would be 216 feet high.

18 The wall was made of jasper and the city of pure gold, appearing like clear as glass. 19 The foundations of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second, sapphire, the third, agate, the fourth, emerald, 20 the fifth, sardonyx, the sixth, sardius, the seventh, chrysolite, the eighth, beryl, the ninth, topaz, the tenth, chrysoprase, the eleventh, jacinth, the twelfth, amethyst.

21 The twelve gates were each made of a single pearl. The streets of the city were made of pure transparent gold that also looked like glass.

22 I saw no temple in the city, for the LORD God, the Almighty, and the Lamb are its temple.

COMMENT: It is a bit like saying, wherever Mother and Dad were, that was home.

23 The city had no need of the sun, or the moon, because the glory of God was its light, as was the glory of the Lamb.

COMMENT: This is why there was an evening and a morning on the first day of creation before there was a sun or moon. God was there.

Genesis 1:5 God called the light day and He called the darkness night. This was the first evening and morning, one day.

24 The nations which are saved will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory and honor into it. 25 Its gates will never be closed. There will be no night there. 26 They shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. 27 Nothing unclean or defiling will enter its gates. The only ones who will enter will be those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Revelation 22 - RWB Paraphrase (21 V)
With Comments
Go to top__ OR __Exit Comments
1 And he showed me a river of pure water of life. It was clear as crystal and proceeded from the throne of God and the Lamb. 2 In the middle of the street, on either side of the river, stood the tree of life. It bore twelve kinds of fruit and yielded its fruit every month. Its leaves are for the healing of the nations. 3 There will be no curse there. The throne of God and the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will serve Him. 4 They will see His face and His name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no night there. They will need no light, not even the sun, for the LORD God will be their light, and they shall reign forever and ever.

6 And he said to me, "These words are faithful and true." And the LORD, the God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show his servants the things which must soon take place. 7 "Behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he who keeps the sayings of the prophecy of this book."

8 I John saw and heard these things. I immediately fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things. 9 But he said to me, "Do not do that, for I am a fellow servant of you and your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God."

10 Then he said to me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time described is near."

COMMENT: If it was near at that time, how much nearer it is now.

11 "Let the one who is unjust remain unjust, and the one who is filthy remain filthy. He that is righteous shall remain righteous and he that is holy shall remain holy." 12 "Behold, I come quickly. My reward is with me, to give to every man according to what he has done."

13 "I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." 14 "Blessed are those who do His commandments so that they might have a right to the tree of life, and enter in through the gates of the city."

COMMENT: We are told to keep His commandments. We are told that entering the holy city depends on us keeping His commandments. He will help us to do this. Our strength is not sufficient. Although we are saved by His grace, we must keep His commandments.

15 "Outside are the dogs and sorcerers, the immoral people, the idolaters, and everyone who loves this lifestyle."

16 "I Jesus have sent My angel to testify to you of these things concerning the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright and morning star."

COMMENT: He is the root since He made everything and everyone, and He is the offspring because He was born of the line of David.

Hebrews 2:10 For it was fitting for Him, who made all things and for whom all things exist, to bring many sons to glory, and to be made the Captain of their salvation through His perfect sufferings.

Matthew 1:1 The book of the generations of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the son of Abraham.

17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let him who hears say, "Come." Let the one who is thirsty come. Whosoever will may take the water of life freely.

COMMENT: Someone invited each of us and we in turn are to invite others. We are to invite others to drink of the water of life.

John 6:35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst."

18 I testify to every man that hears the words of the prophecy of this book. If anyone adds to what is written here, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. 19 And if anyone takes away from the words of the prophecy of this book, God shall take away his part from the book of life, and the holy city, and from the things written about in this book. 20 He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I come quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

21 The grace of the LORD Jesus be with you all. Amen.

Chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22