Jesus and Judgment Day | Revelation 12–18

On this episode of the Sermon Notes Podcast, host Jay Strother and Brian Ball pick up where Sunday’s sermon on Revelation 15 left off and cover the chapters we didn’t have time to preach. Jay’s advice before they dive in: buckle up, and remember that the plain things are the main things. Revelation is the revelation of Jesus Christ, a book written in worship, to worshiping churches, about the One we worship. As Jesus told His disciples, these signs are given so we can be aware, not alarmed. They should feed our faith, not fuel our fears. And every judgment is bounded by mercy, a reminder that the door is still cracked open.

Revelation 13 introduces the dragon’s “buddies,” the beast from the sea and the beast from the land, a counterfeit “unholy trinity.” Satan’s strategy is simple: act like God and attack anyone who isn’t fooled. The beast’s healed wound astonishes the world, but it isn’t a resurrection. If 777 points to the fullness of God, 666 is the enemy falling short in every way. Rather than speculating about microchips or names, Jay and Brian point to thoughtful resources like John Lennox’s God, AI and the End of History. Whatever the mark turns out to be, Christians don’t take it, because we worship no one but Jesus. Recorded on Election Day, the conversation calls us to read the news with the Bible in hand, walk out from the gospel to every issue, do our part, and trust God with the outcomes.

Then comes the beautiful interlude of Revelation 14: the Lamb standing on Mount Zion with His redeemed, and not one is lost. In Revelation 15, God’s people sing the song of Moses and the Lamb, a song of victory sung before the victory is complete. Then come the seven bowls. Jay is clear: God’s wrath is not like human anger. It’s His holy hatred of sin and evil. And Brian points out that there’s more wrath in the New Testament than the Old, because it fell on Jesus. When we see these bowls, we see the cup He drank to the dregs on our behalf. Chapters 17 and 18 expose Babylon’s seductions. As Brian puts it, we want so badly something that isn’t broken that isn’t God. Every idol promises a shortcut, but Jesus says no payment or sacrifice is needed on our part, because He has already paid it all.

So what do we do with all this? Jay and Brian land on two words: obedience and watchfulness. Fix your eyes on Jesus in whatever chaos of history you find yourself, do what He says, worship Him alone, and let the nearness of His return deepen your hope, your holiness, and your urgency to share the gospel. As C.S. Lewis put it, when the author walks on the stage, the play is over. Listen to the full conversation, and ask God to show you one priority to reorder around Jesus this week.