7/6/2019 Unveiling Christ and His Bride Exegetical Essays in the Book of Revelation Chapters 14-19 Fulfilled by AD 70 | Facebook

Unveiling Christ and His Bride

Exegetical Essays in the Book of
Revelation Chapters 14-19 Fulfilled by
AD 70
MIKE SULLIVAN · DOMINGO, 4 DE FEBRERO DE 2018

Revelation 14

The 144,000 and the Eschatological Harvest Judgment / Resurrection Hour

Vss. 1-5 – The 144,000 represents the AD 30 – AD 70 first generation of the Jewish remnant
from “all nations under heaven” to be saved from the great day of the Lord and that perverse
and crooked generation (Acts 2). They were the Jewish first fruits -- to be saved, raised and
glorified at Christ’s Second Coming harvest/gathering to close the OC age in AD 70 (Mt. 3:10-
12; 13:39-43; Mt. 24:3, 30-31).

The 144,000 are those Jewish Christians that came out of the Great Tribulation of 7:14 and
thus experienced the resurrection of Daniel 12:1-7. Jesus predicted that the end of the age
harvest gathering (resurrection of Daniel 12:2) and tribulation would be fulfilled within His
contemporary “this generation” (Mt. 24:3-34) and so the book of Revelation confirms our
Lord’s teaching.

Vss. 6-8 – I have already connected the GC of verse 6 with Genesis 10-11; Zeph. 3:9 and Acts
1:8—chapter 2 with its fulfillment by AD 70.

V. 7 - “The HOUR of His judgment has come.” The eschatological “hour” of judgment and
resurrection in vs. 15 is significant. The OG LXX of Daniel 12:1-2 is the “HOUR of the end”
and forms John’s theology on the coming eschatological “hour” of judgment and resurrection
in John 4-5; 1 John 2:17-18 and here. Again, the time for the judgment and resurrection of
Daniel is what is in view here and would not be delayed (10:6) – being fulfilled soon in AD
70.

The NT knows nothing of TWO eschatological comings of Jesus or harvest hours. John the
Baptists (Mt. 3:7-12); Jesus’ (Mt. 13:39-43/Mt. 24:3, 30-31, 34); Paul’s (1 Cor. 15) and John’s
(here in Rev.14 and 20) -- are all descriptions by various authors concerning ONE
harmonious imminent harvest judgment and resurrection event in AD 70.

V. 8 – The GC of verse 6 and the eschatological harvest judgment and resurrection of this
chapter is inseparably connected with the judgment of “Babylon.” And we know that Babylon
or this “Great City” is OC Jerusalem – “where the Lord was crucified” (11:8). This too is
consistent with Daniel 12 and Matthew 24 where the time of the judgment and resurrection
of the dead is connected with the destruction of Jerusalem.

Vss. 9-11 – Those that receive the mark of the beast (Roman or Jewish) will be tormented and
have no rest “day and night.” This phrase “day and night” has been used earlier in Revelation
to describe the worship of the saints and angelic hosts before God – forever. A clear contrast
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between the two groups is made and what they can expect in either their acceptance or
rejection of the Lamb’s gospel and testimony.

V. 13 – Prior to AD 70, all the dead (believers or the wicked) went to Abraham’s Bosom or
Hades to await Messiah’s redemptive work and bring judgment and reward. Those that “die
in the Lord from now on” (that is post AD 70) are “blessed indeed” because they inherit the
ultimate reward of God’s presence when Hades is emptied (cf. Rev. 20).

V. 20 – This is a harvest upon the earth (Greek ge – better translated as LAND) or land of
Israel and the measurement of blood covering 1,600 stadia helps confirm this – with this
being the length of Israel from north to south.

Revelation 15

We have witnessed the same imminent AD 70 end time judgment through the scroll with
SEVEN seals, the SEVEN angels blowing SEVEN trumpets – and so now the same judgment
is recapitulated through the imagery of SEVEN plagues and bowls of God’s wrath being
poured out in chapters 15:1—16:21. For it is after the seventh bowl is emptied that “the wrath
of God is finished.” But we have just seen (in different literary forms and the common
prophetic recapitulation structure) the wrath of God being finished and poured out upon OC
Jerusalem – as being the time when the judgment of the dead takes place (i.e. the
consummation or finishing of God’s covenant wrath). In other word’s we return to the same
judgment and time of wrath – it’s just described with different OT symbols in these chapters.

This “wrath” is specifically God’s OC wrath against Israel as laid out in Leviticus 26 and
Deuteronomy 28.

v. 2 – Those that had conquered is the picture of the persecuted church and martyrs of
Revelation 6 that would be vindicated in a very “little while” in AD 70. They overcame
through their faithfulness to the Lamb (not taking the mark of the beast) and through their
imprecatory prayers.

The “sea of glass” corresponds to the Solomon’s brazen sea of which the priests needed to
wash and purify themselves before entering the Temple. Here it is mixed with “fire” to
represent the purging process of their faith (cf. 1 Pet. 1:6-7).

v. 3 – These Jewish Christians sing the song of Moses (Deut. 32) and the song of the Lamb.
The song Moses predicted the last days of OC Israel and her “end.” Her end would be “near”
when a very specific “perverse and crooked generation” arrived. It is also when the
vindication of the martyrs and salvation of the Gentiles takes place. Peter informs us that his
contemporary “perverse and crooked generation” was the one Moses prophesied of and
therefore the “end of all things was NEAR” (cf. Acts 2:40; 1 Pet. 4:5-7, 17). Jesus identifies
His contemporary generation as the one that would witness the vindication of the martyrs
going as far back as Abel (cf. Mt. 23). They also sang the song of the Lamb which is depicting
the OT motif of the “second exodus” that leads to the salvation of the Gentile nations (cf. Isa.
11). This is an exodus from the spiritual bondage of OC Jerusalem that was earlier described
as “Egypt” in 11:8.

v. 4 – All the nations coming to Christ is the fulfillment of what we have seen in Haggai 2:20-
23. We see this during the GC being fulfilled before Christ’s coming to close the OC age in AD
70 (the “already and not yet” of the building up of the NC messianic Temple), and then the
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nations outside the NJ continuing to come through the gates within the NC “age without end”
in Revelation 22:17.

v. 5 – The concept of the Most Holy Place being opened up (the consummation and access to
God’s presence) has been addressed in chapter 11 and connected with the judgment of the
Great Harlot City Babylon – OC Jerusalem in AD 70. The same concept is depicted here –
after Israel’s covenant wrath is poured out upon the Great City or OC Jerusalem/Babylon
falls (cf. 16:17ff.), then and only then, can man have access to God in the Most Holy Place
(15:8). A similar concept is taught in Hebrews 9 where the OC system is described as the
“first” compartment or Holy Place and the NC system is the “second” or the Most Holy Place.
When the “first” was removed and judged in AD 70, the “second” would remain. And in
Revelation 21:16 we see the New Jerusalem (the NC wife) being the Most Holy Place (a
perfect cube) taking the place of the OC Jerusalem/wife.

Revelation 16

The Second Exodus

The seven bowls of the wrath of God are descriptive of the plagues that were poured out upon
Egypt in the first exodus. Thus, the Jewish reader knows this is the fulfillment of the “second
exodus” ushered in by messiah or Yahshuah.

Babylon

Chapter 16-18 are parallel and describe the sin of Babylon for killing the prophets and
apostles of Christ. This wrath is being poured out upon the Great City or Babylon (which
earlier was described as Egypt or OC Jerusalem where Yahshuah was crucified 11:8). Why?
Because Babylon “shed the blood of the saints and the prophets” (v. 6). When “the prophets”
is used without a qualifier in the NT it is always referring to the OT prophets. The prophecy
itself is the fulfillment of the OT prophets (10:7; cf. 1 Pet. 10-12) and Babylon/OC Jerusalem
is the only city that has killed her own prophets as Yahshuah so eloquently describes in His
seven wows pronounced upon OC Jerusalem in Matthew 23 (see also Lk. 13:33 and Acts
7:54). Therefore, the judgment upon Babylon cannot be a future judgment to be poured out
upon the Roman Catholic Church, a new world order, the apostate church or Iran, etc… for
none of these qualify to be “Babylon.” There is only ONE city that qualifies as the killer of the
OT prophets and that is OC Jerusalem. This theme will be picked up again once we get to
Revelation 18. But when one reads Matthew 23 beside Revelation 16 and 18, it is clear that
OC Jerusalem is Babylon who alone is guilty of shedding all the blood on the earth/land and
had slain the prophets.

“THE war” and Armageddon

vss. 14-16, 19-20 - The context for the gathering of the armies in “Armageddon” and the
coming “THE war of the Great Day of God” that ensues in Revelation 16, is for the purpose of
judging the Great Harlot City or Babylon which per 11:8 and here in chapters 16-18 is clearly
OC Jerusalem. So again, “Armageddon” and “THE war” here has nothing to do with the
Roman Catholic Church, the lands or nations of modern day Iran, Iraq, Syria, the Muslims,
the Russians, or even modern Israel. This is a “war” and judgment upon OC Jerusalem.

The rest of the prophecy tells us why “THE war,” comes about or why Babylon is to be
judged. In chapters 17-18 we learn it is because OC Jerusalem or Babylon has played the
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harlot, and has a history of killing all the prophets God sends to her, and has gotten drunk off
the blood of the Apostles, prophets, and martyrs (again that Jesus promised to send to her in
Matthew 23), and as a result, then judges her because she has now filled up the measure of
their suffering, and the thus the cup of God’s wrath is now full and ready to be poured out.
The time of avenging the last Apostles and Prophets Jesus had sent to her along with all the
blood of martyrs going as far back to Genesis had come!

The coming “Great Day” of God’s judgment and wrath in Revelation 16 in relation to bringing
judgment upon Israel’s sin of bloodguilt, has also been previously addressed in Revelation 6.
In Revelation 6 John is consistent with Jesus’ time frame of “the war” and vindication of the
martyrs as developed in Isaiah 2—4/Luke 23:28-30. John tells us that the vindication for the
martyrs would be in a “very little while” after their number would be completed. This
corresponds with Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 23 where He says the blood of the martyrs
would be filled up or completed within their generation when He would come and judged
their city and Temple.

John, like Jesus, also cites the last days war and coming Day of judgment of Isaiah 2—4 in
Revelation 6:15-17. Here people are seeking to hide in themselves from the majesty of the
Lord’s “Great Day” of judgment coming – in caves and among the rocks of the mountains.
And in both Revelation 6 and our Armageddon prophecy here in Revelation 16, parallel de-
creation language is used. “Every mountain and island was removed” in chapter 6 is parallel
to “Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found” in chapter 16. So thus far
John is using the last days war of Isaiah 2—4 to be against OC Jerusalem for shedding the
blood of the martyrs and to be judged imminently in that first century generation.

So then what relationship does the term “Armageddon” have with “THE war of the Great Day
of God”? Armageddon simply means “Mount Megiddo.” There is no “mountain” there
because it is a plain, but the closest one is Mount Carmel. This term and geographical
locations are referred to because they function as a symbol for famous battles Israel and her
enemies had there. As David Chilton and Farrer explain,

“Megiddo” thus was for St. John a symbol of defeat and desolation, a “Waterloo” signifying
the defeat of those who set themselves against God, as Farrer explains: “In sum, Mt. Megiddo
stands in his mind for a place where lying prophecy and its dupes go to meet their doom;
where kings and their armies are misled to their destruction; where kings and their armies
are misled to their destruction; and where all the tribes of the earth mourn, to see Him in
power, whom in weakness they had pierced.” (David Chilton, Days of Vengeance, p. 412).

For a detailed exposition of the battle of Armageddon and God and Magog see my article
here: https://www.facebook.com/notes/mike-sullivan/the-last-days-the-war-of-isaiah-2-4-
daniel-9-12-revelation-16-19-20-fullfilled-b/10153941401569364/

Christ Comes as a “Thief”

Christ coming as “a thief” in the following verse is another way of describing the coming of
“the Great Day of God.” And we know from Revelation 3 that Him coming as a thief was His
AD 70 “soon” coming. Not only this, but His coming as a thief once again connects this event
to Christ coming in the generation of AD 70 (cf. Mt. 24:43).

In putting this together so far, we learn the following:

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Premise #1 – Revelation 16-18 teaches us that the gathering for “the war” in “Megiddo” was
for the purpose of bringing judgment upon the Great City of Babylon (who is identified in
11:8 as OC Jerusalem) for shedding the blood of the martyrs.

Premise #2 – The war designed to Judge OC Jerusalem and vindicate the martyrs in
Revelation chapters 16-18 is referring to the same “Great Day” of judgment and vindication of
the martyrs in Revelation 6 to take place “in a very little while” and is the “last days” war of
Isaiah 2—4 (which Jesus also places in AD 70 per Luke 23:18-20).

Conclusion: Both Jesus and John prophesied that “the war” and vindication of the martyrs
in Isaiah 2—4 would be fulfilled in the AD 30 – AD 70 “this generation” or “in a very little
while,” when Jerusalem (or Babylon) would be judged in “THE war” between AD 66 – AD 70.

Revelation 17

For a discussion of who the beast and false prophet are – see the study on Revelation 13.

The harlot and attire is unfaithful apostate Israel. She is dressed in scarlet, purple and gold
like the OC priesthood (cf. Ex. 28). And instead of wearing the title, “Holy to the Lord” (Ex.
28:36-38), it is, “Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and the Abominations of
the Earth/Land.”

Revelation makes a contrast between the Harlot City/Babylon/Wife (OC Jerusalem) and the
Church as the Bride of Christ (the New Jerusalem). The NC Jerusalem/Wife is arrayed in
righteousness (19:8), whereas OC Babylon is arrayed in the law, and thus could not bring
righteousness (Heb. 10:1-4; Gals. 3:21). The OC wife and Mosaic law was an “administration
of death,” whereas the Law of Christ and those united to Him under the NC perform in a
“ministry of righteousness” and life (cf. 2 Cor. 3).

There may be a partnership between the wicked OC Harlot/Jerusalem and Rome when it
came to their shared interest in persecuting the early church. But this eventually goes bad
and the beast turns on the woman (the Roman / Jewish war – AD 66 – AD 70). Jerusalem
rebelled against Rome and as a result Nero sent his troops and “made her desolate and
naked, and burned her with fire” (17:16; Mt. 22:7). Those that place the date of Revelation in
95 AD under Domitian not only have a hard time finding the extent of persecution that Nero
gave the Christians, but there was no partnership between Domitian and the Jews to
persecute them. Nor did Domitian destroy the city as was the case between AD 66 – AD 70.

Revelation 18

v. 2 - Babylon and Jerusalem was a habitation of demons (cf. Mt. 12:43-54).

v. 4 – In the OT we have been reading the call for the Jews to return to the land from Babylon
because God was going to judge Babylon. Jesus told the Jewish Christians to flee Jerusalem
when they saw the armies surrounding her in fulfillment of all OT prophecy (Lk. 21:20-22).
OC Jerusalem/Babylon is a symbol of the slavery of sin/death.

Vss. 20-24 – See our study of Revelation 16-17 thus far and the connection to Jesus’ teaching
in Matthew 23. There is only ONE city guilty throughout her history of killing the OT
“prophets” (chapter 16), and within Jesus’ contemporary “this generation,” there is only one
city that put to death the apostles and prophets” – and that is OC Jerusalem (cf. Mt. 23).
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Since the office of prophet and prophecy was “sealed up” or came to an “end” at the
destruction of the temple and judgment upon Jerusalem (cf. Dan. 9:24-27), there can be no
other fulfillment or identification of Babylon as any other city that OC Jerusalem and her
“burning” (vss. 8-9 - see also Mt. 22:7) in AD 70.

Revelation 19

vss. 1-9 - The vindication of the martyrs and judgment upon Babylon/OC Jerusalem in AD 70
is the time of the eschatological wedding feast. But the time of the wedding feast is the time
of the resurrection (cf. Isa. 25:6-9) which we will develop more in the next chapter. This is in
line with Jesus’ eschatology in Matthew 8:10-12; Matthew 22:1-7 and Matthew 24-25. When
OC Jerusalem is judged and her subjects “cast out” with the kingdom being given over to the
Gentiles, is when the messianic feast and resurrection of Isaiah 25:6-9 is fulfilled.

vss. 11-18 – Here is a description of Christ’s Second Coming. Do literalists believe Jesus is
going to come on a physical “horse” with a literal “sword” coming out of His mouth?!? Did He
ascend riding on a physical horse and a sword coming out of his mouth – since per them, he
is to come “exactly the same way as he left…”?!?

Yahushua bears the title, “Faithful and True,” and yet Futurism in their denial of Him coming
WHEN He said He would (in the AD 30 – AD 70 “this generation” [Mt. 24:34] and within the
lifetime of some standing next to Him [Mt. 16:27-28] and thus “shortly” and “soon” [Rev. 1:1
—22:7, 20, etc…) -- portrays and embraces an UNFAITHFUL Christ. Selah. The truth be told,
Futurism holds to an unfaithful messiah in His office not just as a prophet, but priestly and
kingly offices as well. The error and heresy of Futurism is no small error.

Jesus is the living “Word” and since those that pierced Him from among the tribes of the land
of the OC Israel (cf. Rev. 1:7) did not repent, they are now feasted upon by the birds – while
the the NC Israel of God enjoys the wedding feast.

vss. 19-20 – As we covered in Revelation 16, John uses the definite article “THE” to describe
the same time of the end “THE war” in chapter 16:14, 19:19 and 20:8-9. And again, this is
common prophetic recapitulation.

To view the Revelation series on how Full Preterism harmonizes the Reformed
classical Amillennial view and the Reformed Partial Preterist view, go to the
following links:

A Pre-AD 70 Date for the Book of Revelation - A Full Preterist Response to Dr.
Simon Kistemaker: https://www.facebook.com/notes/mike-sullivan/a-pre-ad-70-date-
for-the-book-of-revelation-a-full-preterist-response-to-simon-k/10155311579099364/

How Futurists Have Failed to Deal with Imminence in Revelation:

https://www.facebook.com/notes/mike-sullivan/the-various-failed-attempts-by-futurists-
to-deal-with-imminence-in-the-book-of-r/10155045480034364/

Revelation 1-4: https://www.facebook.com/notes/mike-sullivan/unveiling-christ-and-his-

bride-exegetical-essays-in-the-book-of-revelation-chapt/10154616917064364/

Revelation 5-10: https://www.facebook.com/notes/mike-sullivan/unveiling-christ-and-

his-bride-exegetical-essays-in-the-book-of-revelation-chapt/10154616922304364/
https://www.facebook.com/notes/mike-sullivan/unveiling-christ-and-his-bride-exegetical-essays-in-the-book-of-revelation-chapt/101546169287193… 6/7
7/6/2019 Unveiling Christ and His Bride Exegetical Essays in the Book of Revelation Chapters 14-19 Fulfilled by AD 70 | Facebook

Revelation 11-13: https://www.facebook.com/notes/mike-sullivan/unveiling-christ-and-

his-bride-exegetical-essays-in-the-book-of-revelation-chapt/10154616926529364/

Revelation 14-19: https://www.facebook.com/notes/mike-sullivan/unveiling-christ-and-

his-bride-exegetical-essays-in-the-book-of-revelation-chapt/10154616928719364/

Revelation 20-22: https://www.facebook.com/notes/mike-sullivan/unveiling-christ-and-

his-bride-exegetical-essays-in-the-book-of-revelation-chapt/10154616931499364/

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