159 | Making All Things New: A Word Study That Will Change How You Read Revelation (Part 7)

Find the full episode here: LivingOnPurposeInChrist.com/blog and the companion printable resource here): PaulaBehrens.com/store

Have you ever done all the “right” faith things and still felt like the world is coming apart around you? That tension is exactly why Revelation ends the way it does. We open up Revelation 15 through 22 and follow the story from the final wave of judgment to the most comforting promise in Scripture: the Lamb wins, death dies, and God makes all things new.

Along the way, we talk through the seven bowls, not as shock value, but as a window into God’s holiness and God’s patience. We slow down at Babylon’s fall in Revelation 17 and 18 and name what it represents, both historically (Rome) and spiritually (every seductive system that offers false comfort and borrowed security). If you’ve felt pulled by what looks powerful, beautiful, or “safe” apart from Christ, these chapters bring clarity without despair.

Then the atmosphere flips. Revelation 19 gives us the wedding feast of the Lamb and the Rider on the white horse, victorious with a robe already dipped in blood, pointing back to Calvary. Revelation 20 brings the great white throne and the book of life, and Revelation 21 and 22 bring the heart of our hope: a new heaven and new earth, the New Jerusalem, the river of life, and the tree of life with healing for the nations. We even unpack the Greek word kainos, “new” in quality, not just new in time, because that changes how we carry hope into an ordinary Tuesday.

If you want to go deeper, I’ve created guided Bible studies and step-by-step leaders’ guides to walk through Revelation verse by verse. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs steady hope, and leave a review so more women can find this space.

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Transcript

When Faith Feels Shaky

Paula Behrens 0:01

Have you ever felt like you're doing everything right and the world still feels like it's falling apart around you? You're reading your Bible, you're praying, you're trying to raise your kids, or run your business, or just get through Tuesday with your faith intact. And yet the news, the culture, the constant noise makes you wonder if any of it is going to matter in the end? If you've ever quietly asked God, is this all going somewhere good? Then you are exactly who this final part of Revelation was written for. Before we go any further, stick with me all the way to the end of this episode because these last chapters of Revelation contain one of the most comforting promises in all of Scripture. And I want to give you a way to actually hold on to it this week instead of just hearing it and moving on. I've put together a series of companion resources that walk you through Revelation with guided Bible studies and step-by-step leaders' guides if you want to teach this to a small group or in a Sunday school class. Or maybe just go through it on your own. I'll tell you where you can find it before we close today.

A Gentle Rhythm Back To God

Paula Behrens 1:09

Are you finding it difficult to figure out where God is leading you through the whirlwind of daily life? Perhaps, like me, you've had moments of doubt, surprise encounters, and maybe even a bit of overwhelm along the way. Well, if that resonates with you and you're yearning for clarity, peace, and faith-focused encouragement, this podcast is for you. Friend, have you ever sat down with your Bible, a cup of tea, and high hopes for a quiet moment with the Lord, only to find your mind racing with to-do lists, your spirit distracted, or your heart dry? I remember a season when my spiritual life felt more like a checklist than a connection. I had a book of prayers, a seminary degree, and even my favorite kneeling rail in my office. But truthfully, I was just going through the motions at that time. I was hungry for more, more peace, more presence, more of God. I was showing up with all the right tools, but none of the soul satisfying stillness I craved. My time with God became something I did, not something I delighted in. Then the Lord gently reminded me, He never asked me for polished prayers or perfect discipline. He just wanted my presence. And

Aroma of Christ Coaching And Review Request

Paula Behrens 2:18

from that moment on, I began creating a space to simply be with him. I built a new rhythm, one that was deeply rooted in grace, filled with scripture, and supported by the soothing presence of his creation that helped me slow down and breathe in deeply. That sacred rhythm is what I now share in the Aroma of Christ coaching hour. Whether you're spiritually weary, stuck in a routine, or longing for a fresh encounter with the Holy Spirit, this hour is your invitation to begin again with grace. Together, we'll craft a practice that helps you feel grounded, nourished, and deeply connected to God, mind, body, and spirit. You don't have to keep trying to figure it out all on your own. There's a simple way to grow in faith and draw near to God, and I'd be honored to help you find it. Let's breathe in His peace. Let's rediscover His presence. Let's begin again together. Book your Aroma of Christ coaching hour at PaulaBehrens.com /coaching. That's Paula Behrens B E H R E N S .com /coaching (no spaces). Before we dive in, I have a quick favor to ask. If this podcast has been a blessing to you or helped you grow in your walk with Christ, would you take a moment to leave a review? It only takes a minute, and your words help more women discover this space and be encouraged in their faith as well. Thank you so much. I truly appreciate your support. All right, it's time

Revelation Turns Toward The Ending

Paula Behrens 3:47

to get started. Grab your Bible, dust off your journal, and cozy up to your favorite beverage, and let's dive in. Over the last six episodes, we've walked through the throne room, the seals, the trumpets, the two witnesses, the woman and the dragon, and the beast rising out of the sea. It's been heavy in places, hasn't it? Revelation doesn't apologize for showing us how real evil is. But today, in chapters 15 through 22, we get to see how the story actually resolves. And friend, it resolves in favor of the Lamb. Chapter 15 opens with a great and marvelous sign in Heaven showing we've reached the final wave of judgment. First, John sees those who overcame the beast and its image standing by a sea of glass, mixed with fire and worshiping. They sing the song of Moses and of the Lamb, praising God's deeds, justice, and truth. Notice the order. Before the hardest part unfolds, God shows the overcomers already singing. He reveals the ending before the middle. Then the Heavenly temple opens, and seven angels come out in pure linen and golden sashes, carrying bowls filled with God's wrath. The temple fills with smoke from his glory and power, and no one can enter until the plagues are finished. This is a sobering picture of God's holiness and justice. Chapter 16 describes those seven bowls being poured out, the final and most intense waves of the woes in Revelation. Painful sores appear, the sea and rivers turn to blood, the sun scorches, darkness covers the beast's kingdom, and the Euphrates dries up. But don't miss this. These judgments come only after God has shown humanity patience again and again, giving repeated opportunities to repent. Even here, his purpose is not merely punishment, but to awaken hearts to their need for him.

Babylon’s Collapse And False Security

Paula Behrens 6:00

God is just, and he is deeply patient. But Scripture also reminds us that patience will not last forever. Eventually, the day of reckoning comes, Babylon falls, and so does every false comfort. Chapter 17 and 18 brings us to the fall of Babylon, pictured as a woman on a scarlet beast, clothed in purple and scarlet, covered in gold and jewels, holding a golden cup of impurity. This is worth pausing over because faithful Bible teachers often understand this in two main ways. Many scholars connect Babylon directly to Rome. Babylon destroyed Jerusalem's first temple, and Rome destroyed the second. So John seems to blend the two under one name. The seven heads point to Rome's seven hills, and the image reveals the seductive power and cruelty of the empire persecuting the church in John's day. That view carries strong historical support. Other faithful teachers believe Babylon is bigger than one empire in one era. In this view, Babylon represents every worldly system that opposes God wherever deception and worldly allure appear, dressed in beauty and power. I believe these readings work together. Babylon was Rome for John's first readers, and Babylon is also every version of that rebellion that rises again wherever pride, greed, and resistance to God are made attractive. Either way, chapter 18 ends the same. The merchants of the earth weep over her fall, not because they loved her, but because they lost their market. Whatever Babylon looks like in your life, whatever false comfort or security you've been tempted to trust outside of Christ, Revelation makes it clear it will not last. Only what is built on the lamb survives the fire.

Hallelujah, The Wedding Feast, And White Horse

Paula Behrens 8:06

Chapter 19 shifts the atmosphere completely. Heaven burst into worship, shouting hallelujah over God's righteous judgment. Then comes one of Scripture's most beautiful scenes, the wedding feast of the Lamb, with the church as his bride, ready and prepared. Next we see the rider on the white horse, faithful and true, wearing a robe dipped in blood and bearing the name King of Kings and Lord of Lords. That robe was dipped in blood before the battle began. This is not the blood of his enemies, but his own blood from Calvary. He conquers by the sword of his mouth, carrying the marks of his sacrifice into victory. The lion and the lamb are one and the same, and his sacrifice is what secures the triumph. Notice how the conflict unfolds. The beast and the false prophet are seized and thrown into the lake of fire, and their followers are defeated by Christ's word alone. His people do not win the final victory for him. They simply remain faithful, trusting the victory is already his.

The Millennium, Binding of Satan, Great White Throne

Paula Behrens 9:17

Chapter 20 introduces Satan's binding for a thousand years, often called the millennium. Faithful Christians differ on how to understand this period of time, and that's okay. What all agree on is this Satan is bound, God's people reign with Christ, and those in the first resurrection are untouched by the second death. Afterwards, Satan is released briefly to deceive the nations once more, but the rebellion ends swiftly with fire from heaven, and Satan is cast into the lake of fire forever. Then comes a great white throne judgment. Books are opened, along with the Book of Life. The books reveal what each person has done, while the Book of Life reveals who belongs to Christ. Good works do not earn salvation, but they do testify to a heart truly surrendered to Him. Scripture does not soften the end. Death and Hades are thrown into the lake of fire, and so are those who are not found in the Book of Life. It's a sobering truth. God's mercy is beyond measure, but it is meant to be received, not presumed upon.

Kainos (καινός) And The New Creation

Paula Behrens 10:35

Chapter 21 is the heart of the whole book. John writes. Then I saw a new Heaven and a new earth, for the first Heaven and the first earth had passed away. That's not a touch-up. The old one is genuinely gone. And right in the middle of that vision, Christ says, Behold, I am making all things new. Here's a fun one for you. The Greek word for new here in the scripture is kainos (καινός) . And it doesn't just mean new in time, like a fresh car off the lot, it means new in quality, something of an entirely superior kind. So when Christ says he's making all things kainos (καινός), what replaces the old Heaven and earth isn't a patched-up version, it's something of a whole new caliber prepared by the same God who made the first one out of nothing. Then John describes the new Jerusalem coming down like a bride ready for her wedding day, with God Himself dwelling among his people.

River Of Life And Healing Nations

Paula Behrens 11:46

Chapter 22 closes the whole book with the river of the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb, and on either side of the river stands the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, with leaves described as being for the healing of the nations. In the Garden of Eden, the tree represented an unbroken connection between God and his people, a source of life itself. Humanity lost access to it after the fall, but here, at the very end of the story, the tree reappears, flourishing, and its leaves bring healing not just to individuals, but to entire nations, torn apart by sin, division, and strife. It's a picture of total restoration, God mending what has been broken since Genesis all the way down to the roots. There will be no more tears, no more pain, no more mourning, no more sickness, no more death, because death itself has been swallowed up in victory. And the book closes the way any good love letter should, with an invitation. Jesus says, Surely I am coming soon. And the spirit and the bride, that is the church, answer back. Come. Everyone who is thirsty is invited to come and take of the water of the gift of life. That's not a formality. That, my friend, is an open door. Here's

Why Revelation Steadies The Weary

Paula Behrens 13:18

what I want to leave you with today. Revelation was never written to scare faithful believers into anxious speculation about headlines and timelines. It was written to steady the hearts of ordinary, tired, faithful people, people very much like you and me, so that no matter what Babylon looks like around us today, no matter how loud the beast roars in our culture, we can hold on with confidence because we already know how the story ends. The lamb wins, death dies, and God makes all things new.

Study Resources And Closing Encouragement

Paula Behrens 13:52

If this series has stirred something within you, I would love for you to keep walking through it with me. I've created a series of Bible studies for this seven-part study on Revelation, along with step-by-step leaders' guides. That is, if you want to teach to a small group, a Sunday school class, or even just walk through it slowly on your own with your morning coffee. You can find it by heading on over to PaulaBehrens.com /store and looking for the "Printable Resources" section. That's Paula Behrens B-E-H-R-E-N-S .com/store (no spaces), and look for the "Printable Resources" section. It's built to help you go deeper than a podcast episode alone can take you, verse by verse, with reflection questions and teaching notes ready to go. I'd be honored to have it be a part of how God speaks to you through this amazing last book in the Bible.

Closing Thoughts and Next Steps

Paula Behrens 14:52

Thank you for tuning in today. And remember, just like setting biblical boundaries, it's okay to say no to things that don't serve you well. Like that third piece of cake at the church potluck. If you were blessed by this episode, be sure to share it with a friend and leave a review so that we can reach even more listeners like you. Check the show notes for all the links. Join us next week as we continue to discover how to live on purpose in Christ. Until then, keep leaning into Him and walking in His Wisdom. See you next time.