The Salvation of the Church

Setting (11:19) This division began with the Resurrection having taken place already. The Resurrected Christians, singing praises to God before the ark of the covenant in heaven, are given a view of the time of Judgement. From their perspective in heaven they see what the time of Judgement looked like from the perspective of the Church in eternity.

Scene 1 (12:1-17) -- The vision of the woman and the dragon shows the Resurrected Christians that the time of judgement began with the Crucifixion. At that time Satan was cast out of heaven - the first to feel the effects of the time of Judgement.

Scene 2 (13:1-10) - The second vision of the Beast arising from the sea showed the Resurrected Christians that the Roman Empire was Satan's representative on earth. Its role in the time of Judgement was to begin dividing people into two groups: those who worship the Dragon by worshipping the Beast from the Sea, and those who worship only God.

Scene 3 (13:11-18) - The third vision of the Beast from the Land showed the Resurrected Christians that the time of judgement had begun with the Crucifixion, had used the Roman Empire to divide people into 2 camps, and continued by using the local government to provide martyrs. The martyrdoms (which John's readers were preparing themselves to face daily) were an integral, necessary part of the time of judgement. The Beast from the Sea (and the Dragon) - but by martyring the Christians it was actually serving God.

Scene 4 (14:1-5) - look at the reward brought the resurrected ones, killed through the action of the Beast from the Land (the Local governments). In this sense the Beast is unknowingly serving God. We know that these are the resurrected ones because they are called the "first- fruits" (Vs. 4).

Scene 5 (14:6-13) - The time of judgement continues as worldly power is destroyed and the still-living are called to repentance and belief in the Gospel. Some of the living "children of earth" do repent1 because of the Resurrection of the Dead Christians - and these people are the "deeds the martyrs carry with them into heaven". Here is seen the second sense in which the Beast of the Land was unknowingly serving God; the martyrdom of Christians is redemptive for others.

Scene 6 (14:14-20) - The resurrected Christians saw the last phases of the time of Judgement which had begun with the Crucifixion. First came the "sifting out of the hearts of men before the Judgement seat" as Christ reaped the earth in the final harvest.

And then came the utter destruction of all that is evil in the winepress of God.

Scene 7 (15:1-4) - Now that the Resurrected Church has seen the entire time of Judgement and eternity with the Lord has begun, the end of it all is a beautiful hymn to the Lamb which only Christians can learn.