Adapted from Jim McGuiggan's excellent Revelation. You can get the book from www.StarBible.com.
... What have we seen in this book? The central thrust is comfort and assurance of ultimate triumph. In its unique way, the book told of a coming and terrible storm... We saw that the heart of the universe is a heavenly throne! That God and the Lamb rule -- not Italy!
We saw the seals reveal, the trumpets warn and the bowls punish in a full and complete way. We saw the saints sealed against the coming fury upon the ungodly -- the world, piece by piece, attacked; her seas bloodied as well as her water supplies; her commerce was ruined and her armies defeated while their property was invaded; her gods were punished while her society ran riot in decadence.
We saw that the church under the heel of the oppressor and the witnesses preaching in sackcloth, while death was awaiting them. But we saw the inner sanctuary hold and the witnesses loyally preach and, after death, vindicated in resurrection. We saw the people of God in a wildnerness, yet nourished while the Devil is raging on earth and in heaven.
We saw Rome go under in blood and fire and smoke -- Rome in all her apocalyptic manifestations, from the civil persecution (the sea beast) to the religious pervert (the earth beast). The God of all power broils the sea beast; and the seductive power of a commercially successful Rome (Harlot) is set on fire by no man's hand and burns as Nero's fire never did -- eternally and thoroughly.
We saw the end of Rome, pictured in the battle of Armageddon, and we heard the serpent thrash as he was bound and salted away for a thousand years, while the saints, living and dead, sat enthroned with their Lord!
We saw the full story of those who died in the service of the beast. They were raised to no thrones but to die one more time, finally, in a lake of fire. We hear from God, through the "little time" of loosing the Devil, that all attempts by the Devil are doomed to failure, anytime and anywhere.
And then we saw the picture of the Church of God. Consecrated in her service; glorious and honored in her reputation and appearance; unbeatable in her strength; intimate in her communion; a blessing to the world and beloved of her Lord. Her future secure and her triumphs eternal!
