The holy city, the new Jerusalem descends as a bride made ready and adorned for her husband. Heaven comes down because God's plan from the beginning was to be with his people. However, sin had prevented that reality but in the new Jerusalem he will dwell with his people and this new place will be different from everything that we have experienced. Jesus shared our life so that we might share his life in heaven. God will comfort his people and death will be no more.
John sees an angel from heaven appears with a key and a chain. The key is to the bottomless pit, and the chain is for binding Satan and casting him into the pit. Satan is not seized by God; it is this unnamed angel who has authority over the pit and sufficient power to bind the ancient serpent. The enemy will not deceive the nations for a thousand years. Imagine the scene as one angel binds the fallen angel, casts him into the pit and seals it. Satan is dominated, and although he may be at work, he is restrained from doing his worst, and he cannot destroy the church.
This chapter begins with the voice of a great multitude responding to God’s judgment on Babylon. They are praising God for his judgment which is irrevocable. John describes hearing the loud voice of a great multitude singing a song which begins with Hallelujah which appears only here in the New Testament. It is a transliteration of a Hebrew expression that means praise God. Salvation, glory, and power all belong to God.
Jesus introduces these seven letters with titles demonstrating his right and authority to correct these churches. He is the one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. He is the holy one, the true one, and has the key of David. Jesus is the Amen, the faithful witness, the true witness, and the beginning of God's creation. His call to these churches has application for us today. May we wake up, be strengthened, remember, endure, obey, and repent. If you have an ear, listen to what the Spirit says.
According to some traditions, John was the overseer in Ephesus which if true, means that John must have received this word with great interest. The message to be delivered was from Christ who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands. These are not notes for consideration; these are directives, warnings, and promises from the King.
Revelation sets forth of what God has made known by Jesus Christ who sent his angel. John is not using his imagination to explain the circumstances of his day; he is receiving what was given to him Jesus from the Father to show his servants the things that would soon take place.
Scripture always benefits those who receive it as God's word and John assures the reader that those who read and keep this revelation will receive great benefit.
Everyone lives by faith, the question is,"What is the object of that faith?" The object of faith is not fixed on some vague spiritual reality, but the object of faith is found in the truth of Scripture. Scripture explains origin, meaning, and purpose. Faith comes from hearing the word of Christ (Romans 10:17).
The Israelites could not approach God directly; they had to come through the priests, and only one could enter annually into the Most Holy Place. Certain preparations were necessary before the priests were allowed to enter, preparations which served to remind the priests of their personal need and God’s provision. As the Day of Atonement approached, the soberness of the occasion was made clear as the priest prepared a blood sacrifice for himself before providing it for his people.
The writer explains that the point of the previous assertions is that Jesus is a high priest who operates from heaven in holy places that are not earthly or temporary, but eternal. Jesus does not function as a high priest in a temporary and symbolic fashion within a tent or a building constructed by man, Christ's ministry is real and everlasting.
The curse of sin is finally removed, but the thing that will make heaven such a beautiful place will be the face of the Lord Jesus Christ. Moses was not allowed to see the face of God, but in heaven, it will be the glorious privilege of the redeemed to look directly into the face of Jesus. Jesus' face in glory will be a human face because he has forever taken a body to himself since he added our humanity to his deity in the incarnation. Nothing will stand between the king and his servants. Those who belong to Jesus will bear his name and worship him.