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May 3 - December 27, 2024
Although the Greek word ekdikeo can mean “avenge” or “render a fair verdict,” its primary meaning is to “validate” or “vindicate.”
Few phrases in the Bible could seem more contradictory than “the wrath [anger] of the Lamb” (not the anger of the Lion). This is corrective and redemptive—not beastly rage but fiery passion to judge whatever gets in the way between the Lamb and his bride. The Greek word orge means “to reach out with passionate desire and take hold of.” The simplest definition of the Greek word orge could be “fiery passion.”
“They are ones who have washed their robesv and made them white in the blood of the Lamb and have emerged from the midst of great pressure and ordeal.w
Judgment is temporarily held back by these four angels of mercy.
v7:14 The implication is that their robes were defiled and needed to be washed. The world and the religious system must be removed from our “robes.” w7:14 Or “the great [or ‘major’] oppression [persecution, tribulation].” Each of the white-robed saints had to pass through tribulation. This phrase “great tribulation” occurs twice in the book of Revelation and refers only to believers, never to the world. It is the true followers of the Lamb who pass through this “tribulation.” This comes from the Latin word tribulum, a hollowed-out rock that was used to separate wheat (or other grains) from the
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The Greek word for “anoint” is “to wipe” or “smear.” It is possible to translate this “He will anoint every tear shed from their eyes.” See Isa. 25:8.
9Then the fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that fell from heaven to earth, and he was handed the key to the shaft leading down to the pit of the deep.a
4They were told not to harm the grass, or any green growth or any tree, but only to afflict those who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.c
8Their hair was long, like women’s hair, and their teeth like lion’s teeth.
20Those not killed by these plagues did not repent of their deeds so that they would stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood—blind and mute idols that have to be carried around.p 21And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceriesq or their thefts or their immorality.
Jesus is the one who holds the keys of death and Hades
The devil holds no keys, for Christ has destroyed the works of the devil and holds the keys of every realm, including death and hell. Christ is the “angel” referred to in this passage.
The Greek word for “sorceries” is pharmakeia and implies drug usage.
10Then I saw another extremely powerful messengera coming out of heaven, robed in a cloud. There was a halo over his head like a rainbow;b his face shined bright like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire.c
8Then the heavenly voice spoke to me again: Go, take the open scroll from the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land. 9I went up to the angel who stood on the sea and the land and told him to give me the little scroll. Then he said to me, “Take it, and eat it. It will be sour in your stomachi but sweet as honey in your mouth.” 10I took the little scroll from the hand of the mighty angel and ate it. Indeed, it was sweet as honey to taste,j but after I had eaten it, my stomach turned bitter. 11Then theyk said to me, “You must go back and prophesy again to many peoples, and
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Or “innermost being” or “womb.” The message of the unrolled scroll would be bittersweet.
9If anyone has been given ears to hear, he’d better listen! 10For the one who leads others into captivity, into captivity he goes. The one who kills others by the sword, by the sword he will be put to death.h This is a call for the endurance and faithfulness of the holy believers.
The word beast (therion) is used in the Bible for an evil person or in describing the sinful nature of man. See Eccl. 3:18; Pss. 22:12–13; 73:22; 1 Cor. 15:22. Therion is found extensively in classical Greek describing wicked or pathetic people. Plato (Phaedrus, 204b) applies it to people: “A flatterer is a horrid creature [therion] who does great harm.”
This is one of the more difficult verses in Revelation to translate and interpret, with many variations found in differing manuscripts. It could also be translated “If anyone is destined for captivity, into captivity he goes. If anyone is destined to be killed by the sword, by the sword he will be killed.”
k13:16 The Greek word used here for “marked” (or “engraved”) is same root word from which we get the word character. The character of the beast is now upon the people. l13:18 Or “man’s number.” The Aramaic can be translated “the son of Adam’s number.” There is no reference to the Antichrist in the book of Revelation. The beast is equated to the nature of humanity. The number 666 is the number of man; not an incarnation of the devil, but human nature. The number six is always equated with man, for man was created on the sixth day. The wild beast rising out of the ground (which man was made
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3And I heard a thunderous voice from the throne, saying: “Look! God’s tabernacle is with human beings. And from now on he will tabernacle with them as their God. Now God himself will have his home with them— ‘God-with-them’ will be their God!b 4He will wipe awayc every tear from their eyes and eliminate death entirely. No one will mourn or weep any longer. The pain of wounds will no longer exist, for the old orderd has ceased.”
6Then he said to me, “It has been accomplished! For I am the Aleph and the Tav,e the beginning and the end. I will give water to all who are thirsty. As my gracious gift, they will continuously drink from the fountain of living water. 7The conquering ones will inherit these gifts from me. I will continue to be their God and they will continue being children for me.f
8But as for the cowardly,g the faithless, the despicable, the murderers, the perverts,h the sorcerers, the idolaters, and all deceivers,i they will find their place in the lake of fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
c21:4 Or “anoint.”
f21:7 Or “in me.”
g21:8 The Aramaic can be translated “fearmongers.” h21:8 Or “fornicators” or “male prostitutes.” i21:8 Or “pretenders.”
15Those not permitted to enter are outside: the malicious hypocrites,k the sexually immoral, sorcerers,l murderers, idolaters, and every lover of lies. 16“I, Jesus, sent my angel to you to give you this testimonym to share with the congregations. I am the bright Morning Star, both David’s spiritual rootn and his descendant.”o
Come,”p says the Holy Spirit and the Bride in divine duet. Let everyone who hears this duet join them in saying, “Come.” Let everyone gripped with spiritual thirst say, “Come.” And let everyone who craves the gift of living waterq come and drink it freely. “Come.”
c22:2 Or “are given for service” (nurture and care) of the nations.
k22:15 Or “dogs,” a likely metaphor of those who pretend to follow Christ while hiding their immorality.
p22:17 Or “be continuously coming”; also in each instance of the word come in this verse and v. 20.
