Mark Tabata’s Weekday Devotionals:
Thursday September 4 2025
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Revelation 1:3-Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
One reason many people have such a difficult time understanding the Book of Revelation is because they are not familiar with how Old Testament prophecy works. They start at Revelation verse one and read through the end, thinking that the Book unfolds in a series of events that will follow one right after the other. Granted, some prophecies in the Bible work that way, but not all of them. But sometimes, the Old Testament Prophets will provide a prophecy, and then repeat it using different symbols and conveying new truths in the retelling. A good example is how the Prophet Daniel described four world empires breaking into ten kingdoms and focusing especially on the kingdom of God being established (Daniel 2:1-45). Later in chapter seven, the same prophecy is repeated using different symbols and adding much more detailed content. We find the same pattern throughout other Prophetic Books (Isaiah, Hosea, Zechariah, etc).
The Book of Revelation follows this same pattern. It is a series of seven visions, each beginning with the First Coming of Jesus. At the beginning phase of each vision, we see Christ triumphing over Satan. Then the vision unfolds through the church age, during which time Satan and his forces on Earth increase in power. This culminates in the Second Coming, and prophesies the final defeat of Satan and the triumph of Christ’s people. And then, after the defeat of Satan at the Second Coming, the vision resets and begins again, showing the same cycle from a different vantage point and offering more details into the mix.
Hendrickson explains it well:
“A careful reading of the book of Revelation has made it clear that the book consists of seven sections, and that these seven sections run parallel to one another. Each of them spans the entire dispensation from the first to the second coming of Christ. This period is viewed now from one aspect, now from another…. The seven sections are parallel. Our final argument in support of the parallelistic position is the fact that we find exactly the same thing in the prophecies of Daniel, which has been called the Apocalypse of the Old Testament. Thus the parts of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (chapter 2) correspond exactly with the four beasts of Daniel’s dream (chapter 7).[ 7] The same period of time is covered twice, and is seen from various aspects.” (William Hendriksen, More Than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation, 18-21 (Kindle Edition): Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books)
When we read Revelation carefully, we see these same themes being brought out and expanded upon. Notice these themes in every one of the seven sections of Revelation.
Revelation Section One (Revelation 1:1-3:22)
Initial Triumph Of Jesus At First Coming (Revelation 1:5-7; 2:1-2, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 14); Rise In Demonic Activity During Church Age (Revelation 2:2, 6, 9, 10, 13-15, 20; 3:3-4, 9, 17): Final Triumph At Second Coming (Revelation :7, 10, 17, 26-28; 3:5, 12, 21)
Revelation Section Two (Revelation 4:1-7:17)
Initial Triumph Of Jesus At First Coming (Revelation 4:2-3; 5:5-7, 9-10); Rise In Demonic Activity During Church Age (Revelation 6:1-8, 12-17); Final Triumph Of Jesus At Second Coming (Revelation 7:13-17)
Revelation Section Three (Revelation 8:1-11:19)
Initial Triumph Of Christ At First Coming (Revelation 8:1-6); Rise In Demonic Activity During Church Age (Revelation 9:1-12; 11:1-10); Final Triumph Of Jesus At Second Coming (Revelation 11:11-19)
Revelation Section Four (Revelation 12:1-14:20)
Initial Triumph Of Christ At First Coming (Revelation 12:1-5); Rise In Demonic Activity During Church Age (Revelation 12:13-17; 13:13-14); Final Triumph Of Christ At Second Coming (Revelation 14:14-20)
Revelation Section Five (Revelation 15:1-16:21)
Initial Triumph Of Christ At First Coming (Revelation 15:3-5); Rise In Demonic Activity During Church Age (Revelation 16:13-14); Final Triumph Of Jesus At Second Coming (Revelation 16:17-21)
Revelation Section Six (Revelation 17:1-19:21)
Initial Triumph Of Jesus At First Coming (Revelation 17:14); Rise In Demonic Activity During Church Age (Revelation 17:6; 18:2); Final Triumph Of Christ At Second Coming (Revelation 19:11-21)
Revelation Section Seven (Revelation 20:1-22:21)
Initial Triumph Of Jesus At First Coming (Revelation 20:1-3); Rise In Demonic Activity During Church Age (Revelation 20:4-9); Final Triumph Of Christ At Second Coming (Revelation 20:11-22:21)
What truths shall we take away from all of this and how may we use them to enrich our walk with God?
First, we need to be students of the Old Testament Scriptures. These Books were written for our continual intense learning and study (Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:1-12). A failure to understand the Old Testament background of Revelation will lead us to miss out on some of the great teachings of this great Book of God.
Second, the Lord Jesus triumphed over Satan in His death at Calvary. It was here that Satan’s power was broken:
Revelation 12:10-11-Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
Thanks to Jesus, we can have victory over Satan and his forces (cf. 1 John 3:8). We do not need to live in terror of Satan.
Third, we still need to be aware of Satan and his work in the world. Just because Jesus has defeated Satan at Calvary does not mean that Satan and his forces are not dangerous. Indeed, as John goes on to tell us:
Revelation 12:12-Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”
In each of the seven sections of Revelation, Satan and his demonic horde increase in power during the church age between the First and Second Coming. This echoes other Scriptures which teach us the same (cf. Matthew 7:21-34; 24:24; Ephesians 6:10-18; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-14; 2 Timothy 3:1-8; James 1:13-15; 1 Peter 5:8; Jude 12). The spiritual war continues. We need to constantly suit up with the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) as we resist the devil with God’s promise that he will flee from us (James 4:7).
Finally, we can take comfort in knowing that God’s Word foresaw that while Satan and his forces would continue to gain power during the church age, our victory in Christ Jesus is assured.
Revelation 2:10-Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Sometimes we become discouraged at the evil in the world. Yet we can take solace in the knowledge that God’s Nature and His Word assure us that evil will be fully dealt with on that great Day.
Holy Father, thank You for victory in Jesus. Lord Jesus, thank You for coming to our world and saving us. Spirit of God, thank You for the Book of Revelation that prepares us, equips us, and consoles us. Amen.
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