Revelation and the End of All Things

This exposition is the fifth article in my Revelation series and concludes the study. In this segment, we will examine the latter part of John’s third vision (chapters 10-22).

I find the latter part of the third vision fascinating because, typically, the interpretations in this section vary the most among different denominations. These are the key chapters which shape eschatological (end of the world) theories. The latter part of this section covers issues such as the mark of the beast, the two witnesses, Babylon the Great, Mary, the Church, and the final judgement, to name a few.

The Small Scroll

Chapter 10 of Revelation starts off describing a vivid scene of a mighty angel coming down from heaven with a small scroll. I always like to remind myself (and in this case the reader) that Revelation is a prophecy and that John is a prophet. Therefore, prophetic language will be used to describe his visions. The most important takeaway from chapter 10 is that it is the beginning of his final vision directly from God.

In the appropriate setting, a scroll was used by a king to make an announcement by the king. Accordingly, Revelation 10:4 describes what is called the seven thunders speaking. This is a prophetic allegory for God speaking judgement upon nations. In Psalm 29:3-9, the Lord’s voice is praised seven times signifying his perfection and dominion. Verse 11 directly tells us that John will prophesy about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.

The Two Witnesses

John starts off chapter 11 with a vision of the temple and those worshiping in it. This is interpreted as the New Jerusalem. It is followed by the account of the two witnesses.

The Catholic Church doesn’t offer a definitive interpretation of the two witnesses. Two figures can possibly be Moses and Elijah, Peter and Paul, and also the Church itself. One interpretation makes more sense than the others, which is why I tend to lean towards the idea that the two witnesses are the Church.

Before we get into why, it’s important to point out the significance of the legal meaning of two witnesses. Having two or more witnesses present at a testimony certifies that is legally valid (Deuteronomy 19:15, Matthew 18:16). We get another clue in the next chapter of Revelation 12:10-11, which speaks about the context of the testimony.

For example, Revelation 12:11 says “They [God’s anointed] conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; love for life did not deter them from death.” Further, Matthew 24:14 says “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the world as a witness to all nations, and then the end will come.”

To drive this point home, verse 4 calls the two witnesses the Olive Tree and the Lampstand. This is taken from elsewhere in scripture where two witnesses stand by the Lord and give testimony (Zechariah 4:8-14).

Last but not least, Revelation 11:6 gives the two witnesses prophetic powers. Revelation 19:10 provides excellent insight on the Church and prophecy. When John fell down to worship the Angel, the Angel told him “Don’t! I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brothers who bear witness to Jesus. Worship God. Witness to Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

Mary, Israel, and the Church

Chapter 12 of Revelation brings forth new imagery and imagination. It tells of the birth, life, and death of Jesus and what these involve. Catholics interpret the image of the “woman clothed with the sun” and crowned with 12 stars in three possible ways. We recognize her as Mary, who gave birth to Jesus and lived through His ministry and testimony. She is also Israel, which gave birth to the Messiah that reunited the twelve tribes (twelve stars).

Last but not least, she is depicted as the Church. The woman was protected by God for 1260 days. In Chapter 11, it reveals that the two witnesses would witness for 42 months (1260 days). This number is a recurring symbol dealing with persecution or protection from it dealing with the Church or the nations.

The Beast

Of all chapters of Revelation, chapter 13 is usually the crème de la crème of “end times” theology. Everyone is fascinated with the menacing beast and its mark. It has spurred many different interpretations. Depending on what Christian you ask, the beast could be the Roman Catholic Church, a future charismatic person, or even a nation.

One of these interpretations makes sense more than the others, based on other scriptural texts; namely, that the beast represents nations conquering and pillaging others to rise to power. Daniel 7 uses the same prophetic imagery that John uses here of vicious animals to describe the power or force of a nation.

The question then becomes: Which nation is John seeing? The text gives us a few clues as to which makes the most sense. The beast from Revelation 13 is a composite of the beasts from Daniel 7. These form the Roman Empire.

There is also a chapter in Daniel that describes King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the fall of Babylon and Rome as well as the ministry of Christ. During the time that Revelation was written, Rome was the empire that dominated most of the world. The emperors are depicted as the heads of the beast (Revelation 17:9).

The Mark of the Beast & the Antichrist

A few questions arise frequently when talking about the beast: What is the mark? Who is the antichrist? Many people think the mark is a physical object like a microchip that’s inserted into people’s hands or foreheads. Scripture however, gives us a better answer about the mark.

Elsewhere in scripture God tells the Israelites to worship him by being obedient to His ways. He tells the Israelites to “bind them [the Commandments] at your wrist as a sign and let them be as a pendant on your forehead” (Deuteronomy 11:18). In Hebrew literature, binding something to your forehead and right hand are signs of what you think and do. Therefore, the mark of the beast is not a physical object to be inserted but the object of worship itself.

Another popular concept in Hebrew literature is gematria; namely, a system of numbers that reflect each letter of the Hebrew alphabet. When the Hebrew spelling of the name of the Emperor Nero is tallied up, the number of his name amounts to 666. Contextually, the beast is the Roman Emperor Nero, but its wider interpretation can apply to anyone who defies God and sets himself up to deny Jesus and the Father. This is the definition of an antichrist (see also 1 John 4:3).

The Whore of Babylon

Another popular topic of Revelation is the Whore of Babylon. She is depicted as a harlot riding the scarlet beast from Revelation 13. Typically, nations who defied or disobeyed God in scripture were metaphorically referred to as whores. This metaphorical language was commonly used to describe Jerusalem (Ezekiel 16).

The harlot riding on the beast fits with Jerusalem having an alliance with Rome before Rome turned on Jerusalem and pillaged her in 70 AD. This would fit the interpretation of the beast riding the whore in Revelation 17:16. In Matthew 24, Jesus also uses the same language to foretell the destruction of the Temple and fall of Jerusalem.

The Second Coming

One teaching the Church does emphasize in regards to eschatology is that she is “amillennial”. This is not to be understood as the same thing as reformed amillennialism. Catholic amillennialism holds that the Church herself is now in the thousand years reign listed in chapter 20. This will be concluded by Christ’s Second Coming and the end of the world.

The Catholic amillennial position holds that the thousand year millennial reign is not literal but allegorical. Psalm 90:4 says “A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.” Likewise 2 Peter 3:7-8 says “The present heavens and earth have been reserved by the same word for fire, kept for the day of judgment and of destruction of the godless. But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day.”

In Conclusion

There are many more topics to discover and research in the Book of Revelation. It is the most mysterious and fascinating book of the Bible. One important thing to keep in mind is to read Revelation in light of the other prophets that came before John. This is essential in order to properly understand what the passages are saying.