Prophecy

Revelation’s sixth vision—The Vision of the Great Whore (Rev. 17–20)—mentions a thousand-year reign of Christ (Rev. 20:2–7). Commentators call this period “the millennium.” This word comes from the Latin words mille, “thousand,” and annum, “year.” The traditional prophetic frameworks derive their names from this period. Postmillennialism believes the Lord will…

Two major earthquakes have shaken my theological world. Elements that caused both appear in Revelation’s sixth vision (Rev. 17–21). One quake happened in my mid-twenties. It involved the doctrine of salvation. Bible teachers had taught me to believe Christ died for all men without exception. God loves everyone and wants…

The post The Seven Vials — Part 2: Our Vision caused interesting reactions. One reader suggested I am smoking a hallucinogenic drug. Speaking of his younger days, he said, “none of us had the wild visions you have had and/or [sic] still having. Perhaps you would send me some of…

Our title comes from the opening words to Revelation’s sixth vision: “And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore” (Rev. 17:1; emphasis added). But, this…

According to Inmillennialism, Revelation describes God’s first-century judgment of apostate Israel. It does so in visions two through six. In vision two, seven seals reveal that judgment. Seven trumpets announce it in vision three. In vision four, seven actors dramatize the judgment. Now, in vision five, the saints in heaven…

The Song of Moses was an age-changing song. As we saw in our last post, John hears the saints in heaven singing it in the Vision of Seven Vials. God would soon judge apostate Israel. This judgment would end the Mosaic age and allow the Messianic Age—started by Jesus during his…

The music of Moses plays an important role in prophetic interpretation. He joined all of Israel as they sang a song of victory over the armies of Pharaoh (Exod. 15:1–18). Over 400 years earlier, God had told Abraham about their bondage in Egypt and how he would redeem them from…

Revelation’s fourth vision—that of Seven Mystic Figures (Rev. 12:1–14:20)—ends without a full resolution. We have seen six of the seven figures. John has revealed the destiny of the Man-Child; he is in heaven on his throne (Rev. 12:5). The Lamb is on Mount Zion (Rev. 14:1). However, John will not reveal…

Our application of inmillennialism to this section of Revelation (Rev. 14:1–5) introduces the sixth mystic figure in this vision—the Lamb on Mount Zion (Rev. 14:1). The Dragon (Satan) has attempted to destroy the Man-Child (Christ) at his birth (Rev. 12:4; cp. Matt. 2:16). When the Man-Child ascended to heaven (Rev.…

We now come face-to-face with an evil triad. The Seven Mystic Figures vision has already revealed the Dragon (Rev. 12:3–17) and the Sea Beast (Rev. 13:1–10). Now John introduces us to the Land Beast (Rev. 13:11–18). “This second beast completes the triumvirate of evil—the dragon, the sea beast, and the…