Get Ready
What is the most interesting city you’ve ever visited? What made it especially interesting — the setting, the cultural opportunities, the recreational or sporting activities, the architecture, the history, or the restaurants? What was the most vivid picture of the city for you?
The Word
19 11 Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse! Its rider is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems; and he has a name inscribed that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, wearing fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron; he will tread the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, “King of kings and Lord of lords.”
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly in midheaven, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, 18 to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of the mighty, the flesh of horses and their riders—flesh of all, both free and slave, both small and great.” 19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against the rider on the horse and against his army. 20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed in its presence the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21 And the rest were killed by the sword of the rider on the horse, the sword that came from his mouth; and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.
The New Jerusalem
21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And in the spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It has the glory of God and a radiance like a very rare jewel, like jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It has a great, high wall with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates are inscribed the names of the twelve tribes of the Israelites;
13 on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city has twelve foundations, and on them are the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15 The angel who talked to me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. 16 The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width; and he measured the city with his rod, fifteen hundred miles; its length and width and height are equal. 17 He also measured its wall, one hundred forty-four cubits by human measurement, which the angel was using.
18 The wall is built of jasper, while the city is pure gold, clear as glass. 19 The foundations of the wall of the city are adorned with every jewel; the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates are twelve pearls, each of the gates is a single pearl, and the street of the city is pure gold, transparent as glass.
22 I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.
23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. 25 Its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. 26 People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 27 But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. NRSV
Get into the Word
1. What does John see next? How does John describe the rider? Why do you think he chose these symbols? What are the rider’s names? What is their significance? Why is one name hidden?
2. How does the angel announce the next event? What is going to happen? How do you respond to this description? What is really happening? Who is involved? What do they intend to do? What ends up happening to each participant?
3. What does John see next? How does he describe this event? Who guides John’s vision? What does he show John next? What images does John use? What details does he give the reader? What is significant about the details?
4. How big is the city John sees? How tall is it? What other details does John give about the city? Why do you think he uses these gems?
5. What is missing from the city, according to John? Why are these attributes not needed in the city? Who will be in this city? How will they get in? What will they bring into the city? What determines who gets into the city?
Get Personal
God’s blessing is his presence in our lives – in what ways have you been aware of his presence in your life recently? What images do you use to describe his presence to other people? Do you use the same images for believers and those who don’t know Christ?
Notes . . .
19:11-16. Called . . . title — names are extremely important in the Bible because they are always appropriate to the person. “Faithful and true,” “Lord of lords,” and “King of kings” are titles for God in the Old Testament. “Word” is logos in Greek, meaning “full expression” as in John 1:1.
Name no one knew — check Rev 2:17.
19:13. Dipped in blood — could refer to the blood of martyrs, the blood of sinners in the coming battle, or Jesus’ blood of sacrifice on the cross.
19:14. Armies of heaven — some scholars believe this refers to angels (from Matt 24:30-31), while others interpret this as all Christians (relying on Rev 17:14).
19:15. Sharp sword — another image from Isaiah, [Isa 11:4, also check 49:2 and Hosea 6:5].
19:17. Great supper — an ironic image of the future of worldly power, [Ezek 39:20-21].
21:1. New Heaven and new earth — these two concepts run throughout Old Testament prophecy, [Check Isaiah 65:17-19 and 66:22-23, Lev 26:11, 7: Eek27, Jer 31:33, Hebrews 11:10 and 2 Peter 3:12-13].
21:10-21. Holy city — John borrows extensively from Isaiah in describing the Holy City, [Check chapters 54 and 60].
21:12. Twelve tribes — this concept is first presented in Ezekiel’s writings, [48:31].
21:16. 1,500 miles —John describes an area larger than the western half of the United States.
21:22. No temple — the temple will be unnecessary because God and Christ will be present.
Memory Verse
Worthy is the lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing! [Rev 5:12].
Next Lesson
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