Revelations 18, 19 and 20

Revelation 18
The righteous are called to come out of Babylon. None of those who stay can be saved because they would not change their life so they could be saved. Babylon represents the perversion of all that is good. Lust is substituted for joy, passion for happiness, security is sought in materialism. The attitude is "He that dies with the most toys, wins" is the rule. Babylon could easily be substituted for Las Vegas, New York, or other cities where the pursuit of wealth and pleasure are perverted and the people grow rich while the poor suffer through no fault of their own.

Revelation 19
The second coming of Christ is described here and in other parts of scripture as as marriage feast. I like the symbolism because marriage requires commitment, fidelity or being true to each other, and being long suffering. The fine white linen of the feast is symbolic of the purity of the saints. As it says in Isaiah, "put on thy beautiful garments, O daughter of Zion; and strengthen they stakes and enlarge thy borders forever."

Verse 10 says that "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." Moses once wished "that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them" meaning he wished that all of them had a testimony of the Savior. The essence of a prophet is his testimony of the Savior and his desire to bear testimony his atonement.

In Jerusalem, the Savior rode into the city on a donkey symbolizing humility and peace as well as royalty. At his second coming, he is portrayed as riding a white conquering horse. Unlike many pictures which show him wearing a white robe, he will be robed in red symbolizing the blood he shed in his atonement. The scriptures say "I have trodden the winepress alone." The pressure of the atonement caused him to bleed at every pore just as the juice is squeezed from the grapes in a wine vat. Now he comes to bring vengeance and death to billions of people who are wicked and deserve the justice of God.

Revelation 20
Satan and his followers will be bound for a thousand years. What will make him bound and powerless is the righteousness of the people. The faithful saints will be resurrected at the beginning of the Millennium during which they will continue their work to help in the redemption of all people. At the end of the Millennium will be the great and last battle of Gog and Magog. Satan will have been loosed for a brief time to tempt those who have been born and lived during the thousand years. Then Michael will once again lead the forces of good and defeat Satan for the final time. In the end, Satan and his followers are "cast into a lake of fire and brimstone." Brimstone is sulphur, a yellow-green and highly combustible substance found commonly along the shores of the dead sea. It is used to make matches and gun powder. When lit, it turns into a liquid and burns at a high temperature while producing a sharp and suffocating smoke. In those days, probably no worse fate could be imagined than someone being thrown into a lake burning with brimstone.

At the end of the Millennium will be a final judgment where all will be judged according to their works.