Victory in Jesus - Part 1
By Allan E. McNabb

Wednesday night, I mentioned that Revelation was a book of victory.

In this series, I want to expand on that theme, as many of our teachers prepare to teach Revelation in our Bible classes.

Division of the Book
It helps us digest the message of Revelation if we understand the basic breakdown of the book.

  • Rev. 1:  Introduction.
  • Rev. 2-3:  Messages to seven churches of Asia.
  • Rev. 4-11:  First prophesy.
  • Rev. 12-19:  Second prophesy.
  • Rev. 20:1-22:5:  The saints in heaven.
  • Rev. 22:6-21:  Closing exhortations.

Introduction
The book of Revelation begins by introducing the victory we have in Christ, the ruler of the kings of the earth.
“and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.  To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood -- and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father – to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever.  Amen” (Rev. 1:5-6).

Chapter One closes showing our victorious Lord, who rose from the dead, gloriously arrayed as He sits on God’s throne (Rev. 1:12-20).

Messages to the Seven Churches
In the messages to the seven churches of Asia, Jesus promises victory to those who overcome.

  • Jesus will grant them to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God (Rev. 2:7).
  • They will not be hurt by the second death (Rev. 2:11).
  • They will be given some of the hidden manna, a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but those who receive it (Rev. 2:17).
  • They will be given authority over the nations, and given the morning star (Rev. 2:26-28).
  • They will be clothed in white garments, their names will not be erased from the book of life, and Jesus will confess their names before His Father and the angels (Rev. 3:5).
  • Jesus will make them pillars in the temple of God, and write on them the name of His God and the name of the city of His God, the new Jerusalem (Rev. 3:12).
  • Jesus will grant them to sit down with Him on His throne (Rev. 3:21).

First Prophesy
The book of Revelation tells of Christ’s victory over Satan and the nations, whom Satan had deceived.  Thus, Revelation tells of the saints’ victory through Christ.

This is expressed twice, in two major prophesies.  The first prophesy is in Revelation chapters 5-11, and the second is in chapters 12-19.

The first prophesy begins with our victorious God (Father) reigning upon His throne, by whom Christ is victorious over Satan and the world, saving the saints from their persecutors (Rev. 4).

Then the prophesy shows the victorious Lamb (Jesus), who was worthy to open the book and the seven seals.  Those who worship Him say:
“Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.  You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth” (Rev. 5:9-10).

  • “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing” (Rev. 5:12).

The seven seals show the Lord giving the saints white robes, and punishing sinful men upon the earth.

Before the last seal is opened, there is an interlude, and the saints are sealed, revealing a victorious multitude in heaven.

  • “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.  For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them.  They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes" (Rev. 7:14-17).

After the seventh seal is loosed, seven trumpets sound, again showing the punishment of sinful men upon the earth.

Then when the last trumpet sounds, voices in heaven victoriously proclaim:

  • “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.”  And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, “We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign” (Rev. 11:15-17).

In the next article, we’ll explore the victory foretold in the second major prophesy of Revelation, and the final victory of the saints in heaven.