The episode features Father Mike Schmitz, host of the Bible in a Year podcast brought to you by Ascension, using the Great Adventure Bible timeline to read through Scripture from Genesis to Revelation.

On day 364 of the journey, Father Mike reads Revelation chapters 18, 19, and 20, Hebrews chapters 9 and 10, and Proverbs 31:26-29 from the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition.

The reading covers the fall of Babylon, heavenly rejoicing, Christ's return on a white horse, the thousand-year reign, Satan's final defeat, and the final judgment where the dead are judged by their deeds.

Father Mike explores the theological significance of the Ascension as Christ entering the heavenly sanctuary as high priest, contrasting the limited Old Testament sacrifices with Christ's unlimited, once-for-all sacrifice that secured eternal redemption.

The Identity and Fall of Babylon in Revelation 18

Chapter 18's imagery draws heavily from Jeremiah 50 and 51, connecting John's vision to Jeremiah's condemnation of ancient Babylon according to the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible

Two primary theories identify Babylon as either Rome or Jerusalem, with substantial evidence supporting both interpretations. Father Mike notes "it's important, obviously, it matters whether this is Rome or Jerusalem. In some ways, you could say it could be both."

Saint Caesarius of Arles interpreted Babylon spiritually: "Babylon and the harlot, whose smoke goes up forever, are none other than the lustful, the adulterous, and the arrogant," applying the judgment to personal sin rather than only a physical city

The prophets in the Old Testament described Jerusalem as unfaithful and unresponsive to God's promises, similar to how Revelation describes Babylon's corruption and judgment

The Thousand-Year Reign and Final Judgment

Revelation 20 describes Satan being bound for a thousand years, then released briefly before final defeat. "Those who are first resurrected are those" who remained faithful, followed by a general resurrection of all the dead - Father Mike

Ancient Christian belief holds that everyone receives their body back in the resurrection, "whether your body is restored to you for glory or whether it's restored to you for shame" - Father Mike

"The dead were judged by what was written in the books, by what they had done" appears multiple times in Revelation 20:12-13, emphasizing judgment based on actions recorded in opened books

"Our decisions matter. Our decisions make a difference. They don't just echo in time. They also echo in eternity" - Father Mike, connecting Revelation's judgment theme to daily choices

Christ's Ascension as High Priestly Entry

Hebrews 9:11 describes Christ appearing "as high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent, not made with hands, that is, not of this creation, he entered once for all into the holy place"

The Ascension represents Christ entering heaven's actual sanctuary with his own blood, not the blood of goats and calves, "thus securing an eternal redemption" according to Hebrews 9:12

The Old Testament temple was "made as a copy, as a foreshadow of what actually exists in reality in heaven" - Father Mike, explaining how earthly worship pointed to heavenly reality

"When Jesus Christ, the great high priest, entered into heaven, he brought a sacrifice that is unlimited, his one sacrifice once for all" - Father Mike, contrasting limited annual sacrifices with Christ's eternal offering

The Superiority of Christ's Sacrifice in Hebrews

Hebrews 10 states the law "has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities" and "can never, by the same sacrifices" perfect worshippers

"It is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins" according to Hebrews 10:4, establishing the inadequacy of Old Testament sacrifices

Christ's declaration "Behold, I have come to do your will, O God" abolishes the first covenant to establish the second, sanctifying believers "through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all"

"By a single offering, he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified" - Hebrews 10:14, contrasting priests who "stand daily" offering repeated sacrifices with Christ who "sat down at the right hand of God"

Hebrews warns against deliberate sin after receiving knowledge of truth: "How much worse punishment do you think will be deserved by the man who has spurned the Son of God, and profaned the blood of the covenant"