The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. (Revelation 21:24 NRSV)
Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. (Revelation 22:14 NRSV)
INTRODUCTION
This essay briefly explores the implications of "the kings of the earth" getting slaughtered by the sword while opposing the return of Jesus Christ (Revelation 19:19-21) before "the kings of the earth" enjoy the bliss in the new heaven and the new earth (Revelation 21:24). This article concludes that John the Revelator used these images to teach that various kings of the earth and other people in heaven died lost before enjoying salvation.
John the Revelator borrowed the phrase "the kings of the earth" from various Old Testament passages. For example, 1 Kings 10.23 says Solomon possessed more riches and wisdom than all the kings of the earth. And Psalm 2:2 says the kings of the earth oppose the Lord and his anointed one. And Psalm 89:27 refers to King David as the firstborn among the kings of the earth. And Psalm 102:15 says the nations and the kings of the earth will fear the Lord. And Psalm 138:4-5 says the kings of the earth will praise and sing to the Lord.
The New Testament uses the phrase "the kings of the earth" nine times while John the Revelator used it eight of those times. First, a prayer in Acts 4:24-30 refers to the kings of the earth opposing the Lord while quoting Psalm 2:2. Second, Revelation 1:5 declares Jesus Christ the ruler of the kings of the earth. Third, Revelation 6:15 says that the kings of the earth hide in caves to dodge the wrath of God. Fourth, Revelation 17:2 says the kings of the earth have sex with the great whore. Fifth, Revelation 17:18 says the great whore, Babylon the great, rules over the kings of the earth. Sixth, Revelation 18:3 repeats that the kings of the earth have sex with the great whore. Seventh, Revelation 18:9 says that the kings of the earth will weep and wail over the destruction of the great whore. Eighth, Revelation 19:19-21 says the beast and the kings of the earth gather to fight against the return of Christ before the army of Christ throws the beast into the lake of fire and kills the kings of the earth. Ninth, Revelation 21:24 say the kings of the earth bring their glory into the New Jerusalem in heaven.
The Bible teaches remarkable paradox about the kings of the earth. For example, the Old Testament teaches on one hand that the kings of the earth oppose the Lord and on another hand they will sing praises to the Lord. And Revelation paradoxically implies the following: Christ rules over the kings of the earth while the great whore rules over them; Christ rules over the kings of the earth while they fight against the return of Christ; the kings of the earth transition from getting slaughtered by the returning Christ to enjoying the bliss in heaven.
REVELATION 19:11-22:5 & 22:14-15
Revelation 19:11-22:5 teaches about the culmination of human history with vivid images. These verses teach about the return of Christ, the Battle of Harmagedon, the first resurrection, the thousand-year banishment of Satan into the bottomless pit, the thousand-year reign of Christ and his saints, the final satanic battle, the great white throne judgment, and the nations enjoying the bliss in heaven.
Revelation 19:11-16 teaches about Christ and his heavenly armies preparing for the triumphant return of Christ. And Revelation 19:17-21 describe the notorious Battle of Harmagedon (Armageddon), which gets its name from the satanic plot against the Lord in Revelation 16:13-6. Verses 19:17-18 say an angel prophesies that many people great and small who oppose Christ will die. Verse 19:19 follows by quickly describing the demonic beast (Antichrist) leading the kings of the earth with their armies while they gather to battle against Christ. Then verse 19:20 quickly describes the capture of the beast and the false prophet, which finishes with the two of them getting thrown alive into the lake of fire. And verse 19:21 describes the destruction of the kings and armies that oppose Christ.
Revelation 20:1 describes the appearance of an angel holding the key to the bottomless pit and a chain. And verse 20:2-3 says that the angel captures Satan, binds him with the chain, and throws him into the bottomless pit for a thousand years.
The first sentence of Revelation 20:4 describes various thrones with authoritative judges. And the second sentence of 20:4 says that those martyred by the forces of the beast resurrect back to life and reign with Christ for a thousand years, the Thousand Year Reign. And verses 20:5-6 clarify that this is the first resurrection and the rest of dead come to life after the Thousand Year Reign, and those in the first resurrection receive an extraordinary blessing.
Revelation 20:7-10 describes a release of Satan after the Thousand Year Reign. Satan emerges from the bottomless pit and again deceives the nations of the earth to attack the saints of Christ, an attempted repeat of Harmagedon. A satanic army as numerous as the sands of the sea attack the saints in Jerusalem while fire falls from the sky and consumes the satanic attackers. Satan gets thrown into the lake of fire along with the beast and false prophet, and the three of them suffer torment day and night forever.
Revelation 20:11-15 teaches about Judgment Day. God appears on a great white throne while the earth and heaven disappear from the presence of God and his throne. God judges all people according the record of their life. And all people without record in the book of life get thrown into the lake of fire.
Revelation 21:1-8 teaches about the bliss in the new heaven and the new earth. God makes all things new. And God lives with his people while God brings an end to death, mourning, crying, and pain. And outside the new heaven and the new earth are unrepentant sinners in the lake of fire.
Revelation 21:9-27 teaches more about the bliss in heaven while using images of a glorious city. For example, each of the four city walls measure one thousand four hundred miles long and high while they shine like the glory of God. Each wall had three gates made of pearls while the great street of the city was made of pure gold. The city temple is the Lord God and the Lamb while they light the city. The nations walk in the light of God. The kings of the earth bring their glory into the city. And nothing impure ever enters the city.
Revelation 22:1-5 compares the bliss in heaven to the Garden of Eden. The river of the water of life flows from the throne of God down the middle of the great street of gold. And each side of the river stood the tree of life with twelve kinds of fruit bearing fruit each month. And the leaves of the tree bring healing to the nations. And the people will see God while they worship him, and they will reign forever.
Revelation 22:14-15 quotes Christ speaking in the epilogue of Revelation:
[14] Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. [15] Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and fornicators and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practises falsehood. (Revelation 22:14-15 NRSV)JUDGMENT AND THE KINGS OF THE EARTH
Focusing on the phrase "the kings of the earth" in Revelation illuminates the paradox of the kings of the earth opposing Christ and getting slaughtered during Harmagedon before the kings of the earth enjoy the bliss in heaven. The juxtaposition of these images implies the postmortem salvation of the kings of the earth and other lost dead. And the paradox in Revelation thickens when comparing the images of postmortem salvation with images of Judgment Day and everlasting torment in the lake of fire.
A literal interpretation of Revelation 19:11-22:5 leaves various gaps in the details of sequential events. For example, the kings of the earth go from getting slaughtered during the return of Christ to enjoying heaven while events between the slaughter and heaven include the Thousand Year Reign, the satanic battle after the Thousand Year Reign, and Judgment Day. This sequence of events never clarifies if the kings of the earth would enter salvation before or after Judgment Day.
Revelation never clarifies the chronology of the salvation for the kings of the earth in regards to Judgment Day while the epilogue of Revelation quotes Christ teaching about salvation. For example, Revelation 22:14-15 teaches that "those who wash their robes" enter the gates of heaven as opposed to those outside heaven and presumably inside the lake of fire. This implies that people must wash their robes to enter heaven. Likewise, God requires the condition that people must wash their robes to enter heaven. And this washing of robes relates to Revelation 1:5, which teaches that Christ frees believers from their sins by his blood. Likewise, those who wash their robes accept the gift of salvation from Christ. And those who accept the gift of salvation from Christ genuinely repent from disobedience to Christ such as murder and falsehood.
As stated earlier, various kings of the earth get slaughtered during the return of Christ and enjoy heaven after Judgment Day. And Revelation never clarifies if these kings of the earth accept salvation before or after Judgment Day. If some of them accept salvation before Judgment Day, then they would accept salvation while suffering in Hades during the Thousand Year Reign. And if some of them would accept salvation after Judgment Day, then they would accept salvation after suffering in the lake of fire.
CONCLUSION
The biblical prospect of various kings of the earth accepting salvation in Hades or the lake of fire emphasizes the symbolism of biblical images related to finality during Judgment Day and never ending punishment. And John the Revelator juxtaposes the kings of the earth suffering judicial wrath and accepting salvation. This suggests the possibility of all people eventually accepting salvation, which this essay calls "quasi-universalism". Likewise, John the Revelator taught quasi-universalism.
The New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2010 James Edward Goetz
Posts
5 comments:
Minor note: "kings of the earth" is used 10, not 9 times (Matt 17:25; Acts 4:26; Rev 1:5; 6:15; 17:2,18; 18:3,9; 19:19; 21:24).
Rev 21:24 is clearly echoing the language and ideas of Isaiah 60. And note that Isaiah 19 distinguishes between some from the nations rebelling and suffering divine wrath, and some repenting and honoring the LORD.
An attempt to squeeze universalism out of this relies on forced exegesis that ignores factors like these.
And I see no reason to subject this most figurative of books to an overly literal interpretation. Why do the "kings of the earth" have to be exactly the same people in each occurrence, rather than the rebellious wicked in passages talking about judgment, and the repentant righteous when talking about kings mentioned in places like Isaiah 60:1ff and Revelation 21:24f?
The Greek phrase basileis tes ges occurs throughout the LXX, sometimes referring to the wicked rebellious nations (e.g., Josh 12:1; Ps 2:2; 75[76]:13[12]; Ezek 27:33; 1 Esdr 8:74[77]). Other times it's more positive, referring so kings who acknowledge divine wisdom (1 Kgs 5:14[4:34]; 10:23f; 2 Chr 9:23) or even worshiping God (Pss 101:16; 137:4; 148:11).
Thank you, Dale. I always appreciate your input.
Concerning the minor point, I searched the NRSV for "the kings of the earth" while I would also have included Matthew 17:25 if I searched "kings of the earth" without "the". And I see that the NASB includes "the" while the NRSV and NIV exclude "the", perhaps to make the translation more user friendly.
Anyway, the main issue at hand is whether or whether not the respective verses in Revelation teach that some lost humans will accept salvation after dying lost, postmortem conversion, which has implications about the possibility of universalism. And I see that I didn't do enough in my conclusion to drive home that point. And after I get enough feedback, I hope to include an updated conclusion for this post. For now, I'll bring up the ideas in the comments.
We both pointed out that the Old Testament refers to the kings of the earth in drastically different ways such as disobeying God and obeying God. And you note that Revelation 21:24 echoes the language of Isaiah 60 while Isaiah 19 distinguished between some nations rebelling and suffering divine wrath while others repent and honor the Lord. And you say, "An attempt to squeeze universalism out of this relies on forced exegesis that ignores factors like these." And you say that I have an overly literal interpretation of a figurative book. And you ask a challenging question: "Why do the "kings of the earth" have to be exactly the same people in each occurrence, rather than the rebellious wicked in passages talking about judgment, and the repentant righteous when talking about kings mentioned in places like Isaiah 60:1ff and Revelation 21:24f?"
First, I'm unclear about your point on Isaiah 19. This chapter predicts great judgment against Egypt followed by great revival among Egyptians, Israelites, and Assyrians. This appears to go along with my belief in restoration following judgment, including the Assyrians. Perhaps Isaiah 19 was partially or typologically fulfilled during the Ancient and Medieval Church before the rise of Islam while I also believe that this chapter suggests an end-time revival in the respective lands. And this goes along with Isaiah 2 prophesying how nations will stream to the Lord during the Messianic Age. Anyway, my article doesn't come close to ignoring that some nations face divine wrath. For example, I wrote, "John the Revelator juxtaposes the kings of the earth suffering judicial wrath and accepting salvation." I never doubt divine wrath as taught by, for example, Isaiah 45, which teaches that "every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear" to the Lord while those who raged against him will come to him and be put to shame. My article supports divine wrath. However, how long must divine wrath last? For example, I see John the Revelator implies that divine wrath doesn't have to last literally forever.
I'll try to do a better job at explaining why the kings of the earth in Revelation 21:24 include at least some of the kings of the earth in Revelation 17-19. And if my interpretation is correct, then John the Revelator taught about postmortem conversions, along with many others in the Early Church.
Let's review the eight occurrences of "the kings of the earth" in Revelation in regards to their obedience and disobedience to God. First, verse 1:5, John the Revelator passes no moral judgment on the kings of the earth while he declares that Jesus rules them. Second, verse 6:15, they evidently disobey God and try to hide from the wrath of God. Third to seventh, verses 17:2, 8; 18:3, 9; 19:19, they follow the whore and the beast while disobeying God. Finally, verse 21:24, they obey God in heaven.
Continued in next comment because of blog comment limit of 4,096 characters.
Continued from last comment.
Most occurrences of "the kings of the earth" in Revelation occur in Revelation 17-19. I view these chapters in the original context while I see them from the perspective of both idealism and futurism. And according to futurism, these kings are political leaders in the last generation before the return of the Lord. And I suppose few of them would have an actual title called "king". And I suppose that they are among the unrepentant followers of the whore and beast according Revelation 16:9. And some of them may be among the ten horns of the beast. And the kings of the earth in heaven from verse 21:24 represent political leaders from all eras.
A primary teaching in Revelation focuses on the conversion of the kings of the earth and the nations, which fulfills Messianic Prophecy. And I'm unsure of the smoothest way to state this, but the most natural flow of interpretation about the kings of the earth is that at least some of the kings of the earth in Revelation 17-19 appear in verse 21:24. And I would need to see compelling evidence to convince me that none of the kings of the earth in chapter 19 appear in 21:24 while such a claim appears as forced exegesis.
Current refutation of my interpretation challenges the development of my interpretation, which I always appreciate, while I'm unconvinced by the refutation. I hope for more refutation of my interpretation so I may pray and analyze them.
Blessings,
Jim
Excellent post, James. This will be a great help to me in thinking through this whole "kings of the earth" topic.
I was wondering, in addition to "kings" being leaders of all sorts of titles, whether "kings of the earth" might not refer more generally to the population. We all, in our lost state, attempt to rule our own lives. Aren't we, in doing this, setting ourselves up as "kings of the earth," even if only over our own little spheres of influence?
Thanks again. I'm really glad I hopped over here and read this!
Blessings, Cindy
trytempa
Cindy Skillman
http://www.journeyintotheson.com/
Hi Cindy,
Thank you for stopping by.
Revelation ultimately teaches about the conversion of the nations while the kings are the leaders of the nations. Look again at Revelation 21:24 NRSV:
"The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it."
The nations enter the New Jerusalem.
Also, Robin Parry in THE EVANGELICAL UNIVERSALIST made a good case for universalism in Revelations 15:4:
"All nations will come and worship before you, for your judgements have been revealed."
Blessings,
Jim
Post a Comment