The visions of the end times events are now complete. As the book of Revelation draws to a close, John conveys to us the last words of our Lord and underscores three themes of revelation, overcoming, and imminence. They teach us that we are to trust, know, preserve, and heed His revelation to us. His core message in this book can be captured in the one word “overcome.” The true overcomer in the book of Revelation is the Lord Himself. This reveals the nature of our overcoming efforts. We overcome in Christ. it is only as we abide in Christ and He abides in us that we overcome. He has conquered and He enables us to do the same in this sin infested and corrupt world. He guides us in the pathway to heaven which is the pathway of sanctification. The urgency of this matter is seen in the resounding reminder that the coming of the Lord for rapture is imminent. May the Holy Spirit give all of us the wisdom to walk closely with the Lord and be ready for Him whenever that day comes.

The last section of Revelation is regarding New Jerusalem, the believers’ eternal home. John sees the vision of that remarkable place marked by its newness, the glory of God, its magnificent and beautiful appearance, its sustenance for its inhabitants, and its fruitful activities. The celestial city comes down from heaven like a bride adorned for her husband into the new creation, the new heaven and the new earth where all things have been made anew. How glorious will be our eternal home! Scripture brims over with the pictures of that wondrous city. May the Lord teach us to fill our hopes and our dreams with the anticipation of this glorious future and see our fleeting life on earth as training grounds for heaven’s worship and service.

The Lord’s kingdom will conclude with one final rebellion instigated by the Devil. This reveals the marvelous nature of saving faith which has been gifted to God’s elect. Regeneration and genuine faith is the stupendous present from heaven. Moreover, the gift of salvation means all our sinful deeds are marked as “paid in full” by the Lamb who was slain for His people. The millennial kingdom of our Lord means change in the present life, it will stamp out one final insurrection, and usher His people into the eternal kingdom of God because all their sins are counted as paid by the blood of the Lamb.

The Millennium is the appetizer before the main course, the first movement of a symphony, the penultimate prior to the ultimate. It is the forerunner who heralds the excellence of the world to come.

Jesus’ return is marked by two suppers, one a celebration of the marriage of the Lamb and the other the aftermath of the Armageddon. The bride of Christ prepares herself for her groom while the rest of the world prepares to war with Him. May the Lord grant us to grace to be at peace with God, not at war with Him. In the end, there are only two ends, the wedding feast or the judgment feast. May the grace of God lead us all to follow the Lamb wherever He goes.

The call to depart from Babylon is the culmination of the multitudinous and resounding call of Scripture that God’s people be separate, be set apart from this world, and in some cases, actually leave the place of contaminants. In this study, we examine what Babylon is and what it represents and why our need for separation is reflected in the final call of God for the tribulation saints to leave Babylon. The implications of this call for us are these: 1) See the world for what it is, a harlot; 2) See the Devil’s ploy behind the harlot; 3) Delight yourself in the Lord; 4) Run from Babylon and run toward Jerusalem.

The bowl judgments reveal the last of the judgments of God that bring utter devastation on the earth: sores, bloody waters, fire, darkness, preparation for the Armageddon, and the fall of Babylon. Amid all these supernatural and extraordinary plagues, men refuse to repent but blaspheme the name of the God of heaven. The Lord’s message to the churches in the present age is found in verse 15, “Stay awake.” The final battle of this age is coming and He wants all who call upon His name to be on His side of the battle-line when that day comes.

The third sign in heaven introduces the bowl judgments in which the wrath of God is finished. The judgment of God is His first order of business as He establishes His kingdom on earth. When He comes who is the almighty, the all-powerful, the omnipotent, He roots out all wickedness and corruption from His world. But there is mercy to those who are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb who follow Him wherever He goes. All who are overcomers in Christ find their strength and steadfastness in the Savior. Depend on Him, follow Him, obey Him, and love Him supremely.