The Book of Revelation

96 AD
@2011/2012
Many people are confused by this book. One of the reasons this
book is so strange because of our lack of grasp of the Old
Testament. The book of Revelation has 404 verses that contain
nearly 800 allusions from the Old Testament. The more we know
about the Old Testament, the more the idioms of this book will
become comfortable to us. Only the Biblically illiterate are
unable to perceive that we are moving quickly into the last days.
We are being propelled into a period of time about which the
Bible says more than it does in any other period of time in
history including the time that Jesus walked the shores of
Galilee and the mountains of Judea.
Book of Revelation has a hepatic structure- everything is based
on 7s. John is the author and he wrote 5 books. John is the
younger brother of James. John was a very passionate person. John
was one of the three inner circle, along with Peter and James.
Satan will eventually be bound for 1000 years
The early church such as during the time of Acts and subsequent
for more than one hundred years, took the Bible literally. It
wasnt until Origen who started to allegorize and it really
started to change around the 4th century. When Constantine
adopted Christianity as his religion, it became awkward for the
Roman leadership to adopt a religious view that argued that Jesus
Christ was coming back and rule the world to wrestle the world
away from its evil conquerors. That was not very popular to the
Roman leadership. Origen, Constantine and others therefore began
to allegorize Revelation and other books in the Bible and
suggested that these ideas were merely spiritual and not literal.
These become the formal doctrines of the Catholic Church. One of
the things that will emerge is this idea of the Millennium. The
Old Testament teachers and the Old Testament reinforces that
Jesus Christ is destined to take the thrown of David and
literally rule the planet earth as a political ruler. When
Gabriel announced the birth of the Messiah to Mary in Luke 1, he
makes that point to her that her child will sit on the throne of
David. Jesus today is sitting not on the thrown of David, but on
his Fathers throne. The concept of a literal millennium was held
by the Jews in the Old Testament and by early Christians in the
first few centuries, but things changed when Christianity became
the official state religion of Rome and they applied an
allegorical meaning to many passages. That doctrine becomes the
doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church. Another view and the view
we hold to is that the Book of Revelation and other doctrine in
the Bible is literal.

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John the apostle was transported through time into the future and
into a whole other domain. They are not simply visions. John is
simply reporting what he saw and heard, as he was translated in
time as well as space (God being Creator of both!) to be an
actual eye-witness of these great future events. It is
significant that he used the words I heard exactly twenty-eight
times in the book (i.e., 4 x 7), and the words I saw (or
looked, or beheldsame Greek word) forty-nine times (i.e., 7
x 7). Thus, he asserted that I saw or I heard seventy-seven
times (11 x 7) throughout the books twenty-two chapters. He is
merely reporting, as a direct eyewitness and ear-hearer, of these
things to come.
Church Period in Church History Dates

Ephesus Apostolic Age Before AD 100

Smyrna Age of Persecution 100 to 313 AD

Pergamus Imperial Church Age 313 to 590

Thyatira Age of Papacy 590 to 1517

Sardis Reformation Age 1517 to 1730

Philadelphia Missionary Age 1730 to 1900

Laodicea Age of Apostasy 1900 to ?

Some scholars believe that the seven letters to seven churches in

Revelation 2 and 3 seem to layout the history of the church in
advance from Pentecost to the Rapture. However if you put those
letters in any other order it would not be true, but in the order
they are in, it seems to profile the history of the church. There
are elements of each of all of the books all the way through the
Bible that anticipate things before they happen, which means the
origin, the real author of these 66 books is from outside the
dimensionality of time.

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Summary of the Seven Letters from Revelation 2/3:

Church 1- Ephesus
Jesus first letter to a church in Revelation. The main point of the letter
was that they lost their first love. They had doctrine but not devotion.
In other words they were fading away (apostasy). Jesus told the
Ephesians to remember how they were when they first became saved
and to revert back to the desire they first had for the gospel when they
became saved.

The church at Ephesus was representative in time of the apostolic

period during the 1st century when the church was concerned about
organization and doctrine to the point that it became legalistic while
lacking devotion.

Jesus letter to Ephesus is most closely tied to Pauls epistle to the

Ephesians. The Ephesians church resides in Ephesus.

Jesus first parable in Matthew 13. The Sower and the Seed. The
sower is Christ and the seed is the Word of God. Some seeds fall by the
wayside and are snatched away by the fowls. Jesus explains the
parable that when someone hears the word of the kingdom and does
not understand it, the evil one snatches what has been sown in his
heart. People who understand the word of God bear much fruit. If you
have been born again, Gods word has penetrated your heart. In
Ephesians, Paul writes: You heard the Gospel and believed it, and the
Lord marked you with His seal and has guaranteed that His promise of
eternal life will come true for you (Ephesians 1:13-14). Which of the
two groups you belong to depends on whether your life has changed to
the extent that youre no longer concerned about the things of this
world and are living your life for the Lord.

Church 2- Smyrna
Jesus second letter to a church in Revelation. The main point of the
letter is that Smyrna was the persecuted church. One of only two
churches where no bad things were said about them.

The church at Smyrna was representative of the suffering church from

1st century to 313 AD. Jesus instructs them that they will suffer
persecution for ten days. These ten days refers to the reigns of ten
Roman Caesars from the 1st century to 313AD.

Smyrna is most closely tied to Pauls epistle to the Philippians where

the theme was joy through suffering.

Jesus second parable in Matthew 13. The Parable of the Weeds. The
point of the parable is that the enemy came and sowed weeds from the
wheat- that is suggestive of the oppression and persecution suffered
by believers in the second and third centuries.
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Church 3- Pergamus
Jesus third letter to a church in Revelation. The main point of the
letter is that Pergamus was mixing Christianity with the world.

The church at Pergamus represented the Imperial church from 313 to

590AD. During the 4th century Christianity became the official religion
of the Roman Empire. The church was involved in a mixed marriage
between Christianity and the pagan practices of the Roman Empire.
That edict caused forced conversions, which lead to degenerate
leaders and members in the church. The church therefore had a
comingling of Christianity and paganism. This church period is
regarded as a marriage between the church with the world.

Pergamus is most closely tied to Pauls epistle to the Corinthians where

many in Corinthians were not of the church, but of the world.

Jesus third parable in Matthew 13. Parable of the Mustard Seed. The
point of the parable is that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of
mustard that grows up to be a large tree, and that it is so great that
birds of the air come and make nests in its branches. Jesus said in
Revelation 2:12 that Pergamus is where Satans throne is. This picture
of the demons themselves coming to make their home in the branches
of the mustard tree corresponds precisely to the church becoming
worldly as a result of the church being married to the world.

Church 4- Thyatira
Jesus fourth letter to a church in Revelation. The main point of the
letter to Thyatira was to call the church out of religious externalism
such as rituals and establishment of pagan practices. This letter is the
only one to mention a woman- Jezebel. Here in Revelation, the usage of
the word Jezebel may not so much refer to it being a womans name,
rather a title. The good news is that Jesus gives Thyatira six
commendations, but the bad news was that he warned them of a false
prophetess named Jezebel who was introducing false doctrine by
teaching false worship to the church.

The church at Thyatira represented the age of the Papacy of the

Catholic Church from 590 to 1517 AD. The introduction of rituals and
church doctrine supplanted personal faith in Jesus Christ. The church
introduced during this time introduced non-Biblical and false doctrine
such as the doctrine of Purgatory (593 AD), prayers to Mary (600 AD),
kissing of the Popes foot (709 AD), and celibacy of the Priesthood

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(1079 AD). The Bible was also forbidden for the layman (Council of
Toulouse 1229 AD). Pope Innocent III was the most powerful of all of
the popes. More blood from Christians was shed under his direction
and that of his immediate successors than in any other period in
church history, except for perhaps during the Reformation.

Thyatira is most closely tied to Pauls epistle to the Galatians due to

their call out of religious externalism. Galatians mentions the fruits of
the spirit from Galatians 5:22 which closely resemble Thyatiras good
news. Also, the main theme of Galatians is faith through grace alone
through Jesus Christ and there is no amount of works we can do to gain
salvation.

Jesus fourth parable in Matthew 13. Parable of the Woman and the
Leaven. Only one of seven letters in Revelation where a woman is
referenced. Jezebel is introducing false doctrine by teaching false
worship in the church. Leaven is the false doctrine contaminating the
three major branches of Christianity- Western portion of the Roman
branch, the Orthodox/Catholic branch, and the even the mainline
denominations resulting from the Reformation (priests dressing in
vestments, infant baptism, etc)

Church 5- Sardis
Jesus fifth letter to a church in Revelation. The main point of Sardis is
that they have fallen asleep and that the church members are dead.
Sardis is one of two churches where Jesus says nothing good about
them. However Jesus did say that there are some in the church who
have not soiled their garments- meaning that some in the church are
saved.

The church at Sardis represents the Protestant Reformation from 1517

to 1730. Since this was one of two churches where Jesus said nothing
good about it, we Protestants should understand that before we point
the finger at other denominations. The Protestant Reformation was one
of the most important events in the history of the world, but empathy
set in among many in the church where they claimed to be believers
but were spiritually dead. I feel that when Jesus said Sardis was
spiritually dead that we Christians today can see that spiritual death
among other Protestants. People who claim to be Christians yet have
no commitment to a church home, have no fellowship with other
Christians, or are people who are not growing in their faith.

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Sardis is most closely tied to Pauls epistle to the Romans. Martin

Luthers key verse came from Habakkuk 2:4- the just shall live by faith
and Romans expounds on the concept of grace through faith. The
Protestant Reformation reinforced that theology.

Jesus fifth parable in Matthew 13. Parable of the Hidden Treasure. In

this parable, a treasure is hidden, buried in a field. To obtain the
treasure, a man must purchase the entire field. This hidden treasure in
the field refers to the rediscovery of the Bible. The reformation
reestablished the rights and privileges that we have access to the
Bible. The reformation also emphasized that we are saved through
Gods grace, not a combination of grace and works. Works
demonstrate that we are saved, but are not a basis for salvation.

Church 6- Philadelphia
Jesus sixth letter to a church in Revelation. The main point of
Philadelphia is closer adherence to Jesus word and that we should be
patient. The letter to Philadelphia makes reference to the Rapture. This
letter is only one of two letters where Jesus says nothing negative
about the church.

The church at Philadelphia represented the Missionary age or the

revived church from 1730 to 1900. There were great awakenings all
over Northern Europe and the British Isles, and later America. In the
Philadelphian period there was a return to the true basis of fellowship
according to Scripture.

Philadelphia is most closely tied to Pauls epistles to the Thessalonians.

Thessalonians makes reference to the Rapture. Praise and thanksgiving
are the primary themes of the epistle.

Jesus sixth parable in Matthew 13. The Parable of the Pearl of Great
Value. Heaven or Jesus is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who
on finding the pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had. The
pearls may represent the seven churches, but since Christ says nothing
negative about Philadelphia, they being the church in Philadelphia
whom Jesus had no negative comments to the church are the pearl of
great value.

Church 7- Laodicea
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Jesus seventh letter to a church in Revelation. The main point of

Laodicea was that it was the apostate church. The church was neither
hot nor cold, but lukewarm. Jesus said they were only lukewarm and as
a result he would spit them out of his mouth. They were proud that
they were rich and prosperous but Jesus said they were wretched. Their
material wealth had blinded them to spiritual bankruptcy. Does the
idea of pride in ones wealth sound like a common theme today? When
I first moved to Dallas pride in the wealth of the people living in Dallas
was one of the first things I noticed about this city.

The church of Laodicea represents the church from 1900 to the Great
Tribulation. Many churches today only preach non-controversial, happy
messages that fail to mention the blood and the cross. These feelgood messages rarely divulge the truth which is that unless you have
Christ, you will not inherit the kingdom of God. Too many churches
today are concerned their membership numbers and therefore wont
talk about our sin or messages that make people uncomfortable. Many
churches also deny Israels role in the future, as God is not yet done
with Israel.

Pauls epistle to the Colossians tied to the letter to Laodicea. Colossae

was twelve miles from Laodicea and Laodicea is mentioned four times
in the Colossians letter.

Jesus seventh parable in Matthew 13. Parable of the Net. In this

parable, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the
sea and gathered fish of every kind. Man then drug the catch to shore
and sorted the good fish from the bad. The parable reflects the
judgment of God to come. Gods judgment against the world will be
during the Great Tribulation.

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Revelation
Table of Contents
Rev 1- Prologue, Greeting to the Seven Churches, Vision of the Son of Man

9-11

Rev 2- To the Church in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira

10-17

Rev 3- To the Church in Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea

17-21

Rev 4- The Throne in Heaven

21-23

Rev 5- The Scroll and the Lamb

23-24

Rev 6- The Seven Seals

24-26

Rev 7- The 144,000 of Israel are sealed, A Great Multitude from Every Nation

26-28

Rev 8- The Seventh Seal and the Golden Censer, The Seven Trumpets

28-29

Rev 9- Seven Trumpets, continued

29-31

Rev 10- The Angel and the Little Scroll

31-32

Rev 11- The Two Witnesses, The Seventh Trumpet

32-34

Rev 12- The Woman and the Dragon, Satan Thrown Down to Earth

34-36

Rev 13- The First Beast, The Second Beast

36-38

Rev 14- The Lamb, The 144,000, The Three Angels, The Harvest of the Earth

38-39

Rev 15- The Seven Angels with the Seven Plagues

40

Rev 16- Seven Bowls of Gods Wrath, The Seventh Bowl

41-42

Rev 17- The Great Prostitute and the Beast

43-45

Rev 18- The Fall of Babylon

45-46

Rev 19- Rejoicing in Heaven, Marriage Supper of the Lamb, Rider on White Horse

47-49

Rev 20- The 1,000 Years, Defeat of Satan, Judgment Before the Great White Throne

49-52

Rev 21- The New Heaven and the New Earth

53-55

Rev 22- The River of Life, Jesus is Coming

55-57

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Revelation 1
Prologue, Greeting to the Seven Churches, Vision of the Son of Man
John starts, the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him
to show his servants the things that must take place. The
revelation was a gift from the Father revealing to the Son. John
continues, he made it known by sending his angel to his servant
John, who bore the witness of God and to the testimony of Jesus
Christ, even to all he say. This isnt just a vision that John
was given. John provides a physical description of Jesus Christ
from his resurrection body from what he saw. John heard things
and saw things. John continues, blessed is the one who reads
about the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear,
and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
Revelation is the only book in the Bible to have the audacity to
say read me Im special. It pronounces a special blessing to
the reader. This is the only part in the Bible that promises a
special blessing to the reader. Lots of places are you admonished
to read the word of God, but this one book singles itself out.
John continues, John to the seven churches that are in Asia:
grace to you and peace from him who is and who was to come, and
from the seven spirits who are before this throne, and from Jesus
Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and ruler
of kings on earth. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and
every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all
tribes on earth will wail on account of him. The area of Asia is
what we consider Turkey today. John continues, I am the Alpha,
and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is
to come, the Almighty. I, John, your brother and partner in the
tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in
Jesus, was on the island of Patmos on account of the word of God
and the testimony of Jesus. The island of Patmos is west of
Turkey and East of Greece that today is part of Turkey. John
continues, I was in the Spirit on the Lords Day, and I heard
behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, write what you see
in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to
Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to
Philadelphia and Laodicea. Be careful not to assume the Lords
day is Sunday here. We dont know what day John received the
Spirit. John continues, then I turned to see the voice that was
speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and
in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed
with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The
hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His
eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished
bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of
many waters. Here we see a description of the risen Christ. We
didnt get a description of the risen Christ in the gospels, but
here we do. His hair was white as snow. His eyes were as a flame
of fire. His feet were like brass. Daniel mentions that Jesus had
white hair: "As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days
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took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like
pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. Daniel
7:9. John continues, in his right hand he held seven stars, from
his mouth came a two edged sword, and his face was like the sun
shining in full strength. A two edged sword in scripture is a
figure of speech. Paul in Hebrews writes, For the word of God is
living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division
of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts
and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12. This sword in Jesus mouth
is a figure of speech because a two edged sword is scripture.
John continues, when I saw him, I fell at his feet as though
dead. He but laid his right hand on me, saying, fear not, I am
the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I
am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death. The first and
the last is a key phrase. Jehovahs Witnesses may one day come
knocking on my door and one of the first things I want to open up
the Bible too is Isaiah 41: Who has performed and done this, calling
the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD, the first, and with the last;
I am he. Isaiah 41:4. Ask them who that is and they will gladly
say it is Jehovah God. Jehovahs Witnesses love the book of
Revelation and come down to verse 17 here in Revelation 1: When
I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me,
saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last Revelation 1:17. In
Revelation 2:8 we read: "And to the angel of the church in Smyrna
write: 'The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.
Revelation 2:8. It could not be mistaken that the first and the
last is Jesus Christ. Jesus died and rose from the dead and is
the same guy and is Jehovah God in their vernacular. The first
and the last is also mentioned in Revelation 22: I am the Alpha
and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."
Revelation 22:13. The first and the last is mentioned three times
in Isaiah and four times in Revelation for a total of seven
times. The Jehovah Witnesses obviously now have a problem.
John continues, write therefore the things that you have seen,
those that are, and those that are to take place after this. That
verse is an outline of the book. The things that John has seen
was the vision of Jesus Christ that are verses 12-18. The things
that are, are the seven churches that will be mentioned in
Revelation 2 and 3. The things that will be seen after these
things start at Revelation 4 and continue on to the end of the
book (future). John continues, as for the mystery of the seven
stars that you see in my right hand, and the seven golden
lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches,
and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. The seven stars
are the angles of the seven churches and the seven lampstands are
the seven churches. At this point, the lampstands are on the
earth. They will be found in heaven beginning in Revelation 4.
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 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and
blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the
time is near. Revelation 1:3
Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even
those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account
of him. Even so. Amen. Revelation 1:7
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right
hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last. Revelation
1:17
Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and
those that are to take place after this. Revelation 1:19
Revelation 2
To the Church in Ephesus, To the Church in Smyrna, To the Church in
Pergamum, To the Church in Thyatira
Revelation 2 and 3 are the most important chapters of the Book of
Revelation. It is a conjecture that these seven letters will also
outline a profile of 2,000 years of church history and that these
seven letters layout the history of the church in advance.
However if these letters were in any other order it would not be
true. These seven letters that John writes are seven actual
churches that operated at the time John wrote this letter. They
were churches at that day that needed the Lords counsel.
Revelation 2 covers four of the seven churches- Ephesus, Smyrna,
Pergamum, and Thyatira. Ephesus was a major sea port. Timothy,
John and Mary are all suspected to have died there. Jesus gives
all seven of these churches a report card. The sobering lesson of
these churches is that each church is surprised with the report
that Jesus gives them. The ones that thought they were doing well
were not. The ones that though they werent doing well were doing
better than they thought.
Ephesus
John starts, to the angel in the church of Ephesus write: the
words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who
walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your works, you
endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but
have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and
them found to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and
bearing up for my names sake, and you have not grown weary. But
I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had
at first. Repent and do the works you did at first. If not, I
will come to you and remove the lampstand from its place, unless
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you repent. Yet you have this, you hate the works of Nicolaitans,
which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant
to eat the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. The
paradise of God John mentions is a synonym for heaven. When Jesus
tells those in Ephesus about knowing their works, his comment
applies to all of us too. Jesus knows my works. The report card
that the Lord gives to Ephesus has both good and bad points.
Jesus gives praise to the church at Ephesus on how they did a
good job at digging out heresy and clinging to sound doctrine.
They received seven commendations. However he also says that
Ephesus has forgot their first love. They are too busy on the
business of the King to have any time for the King. God wants
devotion in addition to doctrine. The Nicolaitans may have been a
1st century sect or it may be an un-translated word. They key
thing the Ephesians were lacking was devotion to their king.
Pauls epistle to the Ephesians deals with this whole issue. The
main theme of the letter to Ephesus is that they lost their first
love as Jesus required devotion, not just doctrine. After Johns
closing phrase, (he that hath an hear let them hear what the
Spirit says to the churches comment) is a post-script. This postscript comment after that closing phrase is consistent in that it
comes after the closing phrase in the first three letters in
Revelation, but not the last four. If the conjecture is true that
these seven letters are written in successive phase of church
history then Ephesus is the apostolic church from the 1st century
(before 100 AD). Next John will discuss the letter to the second
church- Smyrna.
Smyrna
John continues, and to the angel of the church in Smyrna write:
the words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. I
know your tribulation (works) and your poverty (but you are rich)
and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not,
but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to
suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you in
prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have
tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the
crown of life. He who has an ear, let them hear what the Spirit
says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by
the second death. The good news or commendation for Smyrna is
that Jesus knew their works. Jesus knows what we accomplished and
what really motives us. The tribulation here is not to be
confused with the Great Tribulation, but was that they suffered
persecution. The phrase that says that Jesus knew their poverty
(but you are rich) was a complement as it didnt mean they were
financially rich, but that they were rich in Christs eyes. The
phrase where John talks about those who say they are Jews and are
not, but a synagogue of Satan goes back to Jesus discussion with
the Pharisees from John 8 where they refer to the Lord as the
father of the devil. The early persecutions of Christians were
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first by Jews, then by Rome. Jesus also told them not to fear the
tribulation and not be fearful of death. Ten days may be a Hebrew
idiom or figure of speech that means a short time. What does the
fact that those in Smyrna would receive persecution mean for us
today? Paul says is well in Timothy: Indeed, all who desire to live a
godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted 2 Timothy 3:12. If we
havent yet been persecuted for following Christ, just wait.
Smyrna is one of two churches where Jesus says nothing bad of the
church and had concerns. If Ephesus was the apostolic church from
the 1st century, then Smyrna is the persecuted church up until
Constantine and the beginning of the 4th century or from 100313AD. Christ had no concerns to the church at Smyrna. Next Jesus
talks about the church of Pergamum.
Pergamus
Pergamus is about 48 miles north of Smyrna. Ephesus was the great
political center, Smyrna the great commercial center and Pergamus
was the great religious center. Pergamus became a major center
for Greek culture. They had the perception to align themselves
very early with Rome and became extremely wealthy and prosperous
as a result of that. John continues, and to the angel of the
church in Pergamum write: the words of him who has the sharp twoedged sword. I know where you dwell (I know thy works in the
KJV), where Satans throne is. Yet you hold fast to my name, and
you did not deny my faith, even in the days of Antipas my
faithful witness, who has killed among you, where Satan dwells.
The issue of Satan here would involve long study. The world
system belongs to Satan- as he is the God of this world. Paul
confirms this truth: In their case the god of this world has blinded the
minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of
the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Corinthians 4:4.
We dont know who Antipas was. Antipas in the Greek means
against all. John continues, but I have a few things against
you: you have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who
taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel,
so that they may eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual
immorality. So also you have some who hold to the teaching of
Nicolaitans. Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon
and war against them with the sword of my mouth. The sword of my
mouth is the word of God. We have one of these cases where Jesus
uses reference from the Old Testament to make a point. Balaam was
a prophet, a strange one, but he wasnt a Jewish. In Numbers 2224, Balaam was hired by the King Balak of the Moab to curse
Israel. Balaam asks God if he should go on many occasions and God
tells him not to go, but he goes anyways. Balaam didnt get the
message. Balaam however did not curse Israel. However in Numbers
31 Balaam taught King Balak on how to get Israel defeated. He in
effect said for him to get his good-looking single girls and have
them camp around the outside of the camp of Israel. Entice these
young men into fornication, marriage which was prohibited in the
13 | P a g e

Torah. The Jews were specifically told to be kept separate from

the Moabites. Balaam taught Israels enemies on how to get them
corrupt and then God would then bring judgment upon Israel.
Balaam sold his gift of prophecy for money. The theme here is
marriage with the world. 2 Peter 2 and Jude 11 also comments on
Balaam. John continues, he who has an ear an ear let him hear
what the Spirit says to the churches. The promise to the
overcomer or the PS section here is once again at the end of the
letter, which is the next sentence. John continues, to the one
who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will
give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that
no one knows except the one who receives it. Manna, as opposed to
hidden manna, is a reference back to Exodus 16 where it was given
to Israel for 40 years. For 40 years they had manna for
breakfast, lunch and dinner for six days only. The hidden manna
refers back to John 6 as Jesus Christ himself when he says I am
the bread of life. A review on Ephesus was that they were sound
on doctrine, but short on devotion. In Smyrna, the whole issue
was satanic opposition persecuting the church. In Pergamus they
had spiritual compromise. Spiritual compromise is what Balaam
taught Balak. Israel compromised itself with the sexual
immorality and the spiritual morality by taking on the idols of
these girls. Pergamus in history is the married church. When
looking at church history Pergamus is the Imperial church from
313 to 590AD. Constantine allowed for the first time freedom of
religion. He did not however make Christianity the state religion
of Rome. Rome was so pagan, that he moved the capital from Rome
to what then became known as Constantinople, which is modern day
Istanbul. When Constantine dies, there were a few leaders who
come on the scene and one of them attempts to bring back paganism
which was rampant in Rome prior to Constantine. Theodosius is the
one who made Christianity the state religion. That edict caused
forced conversions and all of a sudden churches were filled with
degenerate people that were used to hedonism. We now have a
comingling of Christianity and paganism. This church period is
regarded as a marriage between the church with the world.
Hedonism because Christianized. Hedon festivals were converted
into Christian ones. This December 25th day of Christmas is a
derivate of pagan holidays. All we know about the birth of Christ
was that it wasnt in the winter. Pagan priests slipped into the
office of Christian priests. What Satan couldnt accomplish from
Smyrna by persecuting Christians, he tried to accomplish by
joining them and mixing the church with the world. He tried to
crush Smyrna and it didnt work, so he attempted to combine the
church and the world together.
Thyatira
And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: the words of
the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet
are like burnished bronze. The title of Christ is the Son of God
and he is coming in the form of judgment here. This is the only
14 | P a g e

mention of the title of the Son of God in Revelation. Jesus eyes

were like a flame of fire and feet like brass. These are the eyes
of judgment. Brass also speaks of judgment. Jesus opens up in a
form of accommodation. Jesus knows what we are doing and he says
so by saying he knows our works. John continues, I know your
works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and
that your latter works exceed the first. Jesus gives them a good
complement and he is fully informed on them and their walk is
good and improving. Now Jesus gives them the bad news. John
continues, but I have this against you, that you tolerate that
woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and
seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat
foods sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent but she
refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. The problem here
isnt Jezebel, but that the church embraces Jezebel and doesnt
do anything about it. John continues, behold, I will throw her
onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will
throw into the great tribulation, unless they repent of her
works, and that I will strike her children dead. What Jesus says
is that if they dont change they are going to go into the Great
Tribulation. It also implies that if they do change they wont go
into the Great Tribulation. Jezebel married King Ahab and becomes
the queen and she set out to exterminate the prophets (1 Kings
18-21). She ushers in the worst period of time in the Old
Testament. Jesus is using Jezebel as an idiom. John continues,
and all of the churches will know that I am he who searches the
mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your
works. But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold to
this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep
things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other
burden. Only hold fast what you have until I come. This is the
first place in the seven letters that there is an explicit
reference to the Second Coming of Christ. John continues, the one
who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will
give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with an
rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I
myself have received authority from the Father. He who has an
ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. In the
4th century (300-399) there were 5 major primary centers- Rome,
Constantinople, Antioch, Jerusalem and Alexandria. The 5 bishops
were essentially equal. In 395 AD when the empire divides,
Antioch, Jerusalem and Alexandria acknowledged the leadership of
Constantinople not Rome and that was one reason Constantine moved
it.
This
started
a
struggle
between
pagan
Rome
and
Constantinople, and it went on for quite a while. The bishop of
Rome in his lust for world power claimed universal jurisdiction
over the church. Unfortunately under his watch the empire divided
into two separate powers the east and the west. The west fell
apart by 476 AD. The eastern leg outlasted the western leg by
over 1,000 years. As time progressed the popes were becoming
extremely unethical and immoral. Pope Innocent III was the most
15 | P a g e

powerful of all of the popes. More blood was shed under his
direction and that of his immediate successors than in any other
period in church history, except for perhaps during the
Reformation. In 1208, he ordered a bloody war of extermination in
town after town against the Albigenses in southern France,
northern Spain and northern Italy. The Albigenses preached
against the immorality of priesthood, opposed the claims of the
church in Rome, they made great use of the scriptures and lived
self-denying lives of great zeal. Innocent III murdered the
Albigenses until they were utterly wiped out. The Waldensians
were a similar, but not identical group, in the same region
emphasizing Bible reading were similarly wiped out. At the Fourth
Lateran Council in April 1215, Innocent III condemned the Magna
Carta and demanded that the Jews wear distinctive dress. He also
declared that anybody caught reading the Bible would be stoned to
death by "soldiers of the Church militia". In the 30 years
between 1540 and 1570 no fewer than 900,000 Protestants were put
to death by the popes war for the extermination of Waldensians.
(Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses in 1517.) For 500 years the
inquisition was the most diabolical thing in human history. Other
popes were just as guilty of immorality. Pope John XXIII (14101415) was called the most depraved criminal ever to sit on the
papal throne guilty of almost every crime. As cardinal in
Bologna, he violated virgins and nuns, lived in adultery with his
brothers wife, was guilty of sodomy, and openly denied the
future life. Pope Pius II (1458-1464), was said to have been the
father of many illegitimate children, spoke openly of the methods
he used to seduce women, encouraged young men to, and even
offered to instruct them in methods of immorality! Pope Paul II
(1464-1471), "filled his house with concubines." Pope Sixtus IV
(1471-1484). Sanctioned the Spanish Inquisition. Decreed that
money would deliver souls from Purgatory. Was implicated in a
plot to murder Lorenzo de Medici, and others who opposed his
policies. Used the Papacy to enrich himself and his relatives.
Pope Innocent VIII (1484-1492) had 16 children by various married
women. Multiplied Church Offices, and sold them for vast sums of
money. Long before Luther the winds of reformation were starting
to blow. The papacy was vulnerable for attack because of greed,
immorality and ignorance of its officials. This leads us to the
background of Martin Luther. On October 31, 1517, Luther nails
his famed 95 theses to the door of the Castle church in
Whittenburg, Germany. In 1521 Pope Leo X excommunicated Luther
from the Catholic Church. That same year, Luther again refused to
recant his writings before the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V of
Germany, who issued the famous Edict of Worms declaring Luther an
outlaw and a heretic and giving permission for anyone to kill him
without consequence. Luther began working on a German translation
of the Bible, a task that took 10 years to complete. The wars on
the Protestants continued and it was called the 30 years wars. On
May 21, 1995 the pope himself asked forgiveness for all of the
wrongs and crimes committed and permitted by the Roman Catholic
16 | P a g e

Church throughout their history. Haleys Bible handbook covers

this history. A review of the prophetic profiles was that Ephesus
was the apostolic church. Smyrna was the persecuted church.
Pergamus was the married church. And we can call Thyatira the
medieval church. Thyatira is distinctive in that it includes a
threat that if they dont repent then they will be thrust into
the Great Tribulation. Thyatira was the age of Papacy 590 to
1517.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is
in the paradise of God. - Revelation 2:7
Revelation 3
To the Church in Sardis, To the Church in Philadelphia, To the Church in
Laodicea
Sardis
The most provocative of the seven letters may be this letter to
Sardis. The letter to Sardis has nothing good said about it. John
starts, and to the angel of the church in Sardis write: The words
of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I
know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you
are dead. Notice there is no commendation. Jesus only says that
they are dead. Thats a heavy indictment coming from the King.
John continues, wake up, and straighten what remains and is about
to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of
my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and
repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and
you will not know at what hour I will come against you. The
implication is for us to be watchful. If we do hold fast and do
repent, we wont be caught by surprise. If this is the
Reformation then it could be the later stages. The point is since
the Reformation, these glorious denominations that fought the
good faith have become rigid. After the Protestants had separated
from Catholicism and suffered under persecutions, they began to
do the same thing to each other. Another issue is that a small
minority of pastors today hold to the truth that the scripture is
without error. Some of the Protestant churches deny Israels role
in the future, as God is not yet done with Israel. Many of
Americas leaders do not understand Israels prophetic destiny.
Much of the world is challenging the Abrahamic covenant. Many
churches deemphasize the gospel of Christ. You can go to many
churches for many Sundays before you hear anything about shed
blood for our sins and our place, or you can go to the other
extreme with the ordination of homosexuals. John continues, yet
you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled
their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are
worthy. John tells us that there are a few in church of Sardis
that are saved and worthy. John continues, the one who conquers
17 | P a g e

will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his
name out of the book of life. The book of life is used several
times in the book of Revelation. The book of life is the set of
names who will live with God forever in heaven. Is your name
written in the book of life? You should not be guessing about
that. You need to be more certain of that than anything else in
your life because our eternity can start the next time I walk out
the door. John continues, I will confess his name before my
Father and before his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear
what the Spirit says to the churches. A review of the prophetic
profiles was that Ephesus was the apostolic church from the 1st
century and it contained doctrine but not devotion. Smyrna took
place from 100AD to 313AD and was encouraged to hang in there and
endure the persecution. Pergamus was the Imperial church from 313
to 590AD and was encouraged to stand fast against the world.
Thyatira was the age of Papacy 590 to 1517 was instructed to
abhor the pagan practices and its abuses. Sardis was from 1517 to
1730 and their thing was watchfulness and diligence.
Philadelphia
John continues, and to the angle of the church in Philadelphia
write, the words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key
of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one
opens. Isaiah 22 refers to the key of David and is messianic
where Isaiah and is similar to Daniel 9:27 where they comment
about the Messiah being killed. John continues, I know your
works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one
is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet
you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Behold, I will
make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews
and are not, but lie- behold, I will make them come and bow down
before your feet and they will learn that I have loved you. Some
say Jesus is referring to the legalists. He may be also talking
about the false doctrine of the Replacement Theology where the
church has replaced Israel. Replacement theory is bad theology.
John continues, because you have kept my word about patient
endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming
on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am
coming soon. This verse may be the most important verse of the
whole letter. Jesus is asking us to be patient. Jesus makes one
of the most important promises in the New Testament. One of the
most important truths of the scriptures that covered by the
evangelical moments of the 19th century was the Lords return for
his church. What Jesus is saying is that those of us who are
patient will be kept from the time of the Tribulation. This time
of trouble is not just a persecution of Israel or Christians, but
the Tribulation is the entire world. The earth dwellers are the
class of people that dwell on the earth with the adversaries.
During the Tribulation the gentile believers are not protected.
There are 144,000 Jews that are protected and part of a postrapture redeemed Israel and will evangelize and proclaim the
18 | P a g e

gospel during the tribulation period. Paul tells us in Romans:

Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this
mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the
fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved,
as it is written, The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish
ungodliness from Jacob; and this will be my covenant with them when I
take away their sins. Romans 11:25. The people that take the mark
wont be murdered, but then cannot be saved. The people that
dont take the mark are going to be murdered. John continues,
hold fast to what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
Jesus mentions crows twice in the letters to the seven churches.
He first mentions it in Smyrna and now mentions here in
Philadelphia. Both Smyrna and Philadelphia were the only two
churches where Christ said nothing bad about them. Jesus primary
admonition is to hold fast- dont let any man rob me. John
continues, the one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the
temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write
on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God,
the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven,
and my own new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit says to the churches. Jesus had no concerns about
Philadelphia. A review of the prophetic profiles was that Ephesus
was the apostolic church from the 1st century and it contained
doctrine but not devotion. Smyrna took place from 100AD to 313AD
and was encouraged to hang in there and endure the persecution.
Pergamus was the Imperial church from 313 to 590AD and was
encouraged to stand fast against the world. Thyatira was the age
of Papacy 590 to 1517 was instructed to abhor the pagan practices
and its abuses. Sardis was from 1517 to 1730 and their thing was
watchfulness and diligence. Philadelphia was from 1730 to 1900
and had a missionary outreach and had loyal ambassadorship. John
will continue with Laodicea next.
Laodicea
John continues, and to the angel of the church in Laodicea write,
the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the
beginning of God's creation. I know your works, you are neither
cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because
you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out
of my mouth. Jesus is not saying that it is OK for believers to
be cold. We do not need to be lukewarm. John continues, for you
say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not
realizing that you were wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and
naked. This is another example that we see through the seven
letters that the perception of the church was wrong. The churches
that thought they were doing poorly were doing well. The churches
that though they were doing well were doing terribly. That should
be sobering to every one of us. Every one of these churches need
a perspective of Jesus Christ to be corrected in that direction.
John continues, I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by
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fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may
clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen,
and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. These are
idioms familiar to the local people. The blindness and nakedness
were not incurable. John continues, those whom I love, I reprove
and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the
door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I
will come to him and eat with him, and he with me. Where this
verse stands is the final indictment on the church of Laodicea.
Jesus is outside. Jesus is in the midst of us, but not here.
Jesus then gives the promise to the overcomer. The overcomer is
the one who overcomes the world and believes Jesus is the son of
God. John continues, the one who conquers, I will grant him to
sit with me on my throne, as I have also conquered and sat down
with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear
what the Spirit says to the churches. Christ was promised a
throne. Gabriel told Mary that he would get a throne- Davids
throne. Hes not on Davids throne today, hes on his Fathers
throne. Sardis and Laodicea had no commendations for either of
these churches. These churches most characteristically describe
the churches today. A review of the prophetic profiles was that
Ephesus was the apostolic church from the 1st century and it
contained doctrine but not devotion. Smyrna took place from 100AD
to 313AD and was encouraged to hang in there and endure the
persecution. Pergamus was the Imperial church from 313 to 590AD
and was encouraged to stand fast against the world. Thyatira was
the age of Papacy 590 to 1517 was instructed to abhor the pagan
practices and its abuses. Sardis was from 1517 to 1730 and their
thing was watchfulness and diligence. Philadelphia was from 1730
to
1900
and
had
a
missionary
outreach
and
had
loyal
ambassadorship. Laodicea was age from 1900 to present day and is
the apostate church. How many pulpits can you go today in America
and never hear the blood of Christ cleanses us from our sin? A
summary of the seven letters comes from Matthew 13. Jesus gives 7
parables in Matthew 13. The seven parables are:
Parable of the Sower- Ephesus
Parable of the Weeds/Tares- Smyrna
Parable of the Mustard Seed- Pergamus
Parable of the Leaven- Thyatira
Parable of the Hidden Treasure- Sardis
Parable of the Great Value- Philadelphia
Parable of the Net- Laodicea
And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: The words of him who
has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your works.
You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up, and
strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your
works complete in the sight of my God. Revelation 3:1-2
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 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you
from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who
dwell on the earth. Revelation 3:10
I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were
either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor
cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. Revelation 3:15-16
Revelation 4
The Throne in Heaven
Revelation 4 is about us entering the throne room. Remember John
gives us an outline of the book: Write therefore the things that you
have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. Revelation 1:19. The things that you have seen applies to Jesus
first coming. The things that are were the current events of the
day or Revelation 2 and 3 with Jesus seven letters to seven
churches. The things that are pertain to the future which begins
here in Revelation 4 to the end of the book. John starts, after
this I looked, and behold a door standing open in heaven! And the
first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet,
said, come up here, and I will show you what must take place
after this. This event refers to the Rapture. Paul in 1
Thessalonians wrote: For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with
a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the
trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive,
who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the
Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. -1 Thessalonians
4:16-17. The words caught up in the Greek means Harpazo which
means to be snatched. The past participle in Latin is Rapture.
John continues, at once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne
stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And he who sat
there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the
throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald.
Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the
thrones were twenty-four elders clothed in white garments, with
golden crowns on their heads. These 24 elders had crowns of gold.
The only place we will find 24 in the Bible was when David
organizes the Lavetical Priests into 24 courses. Some that study
prophecy believe the elders are the Tribulation believers.
However belief is refuted in Revelation 7:13. The 24 elders
cannot be angels and Revelation 7:11 elaborates on that. Angels
also do not age and crowns are never presented to angels. The
elders cannot represent Israel because at this time Israel had
not been redeemed. For this same reason the elders cannot
represent the tribulation saints- as not all had been converted
at the time of Johns vision. Tribulation saints are those that
are saved after the church is removed. One of the elders
distinguishing characteristics is that they are sitting on
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thrones. They also clothed in white garments. Both of these

illusions come from the letter to Laodicea in Revelation 3. They
are wearing crowns of gold and that is referred to twice in the
seven letters to seven churches. Elders in the New Testament are
the highest officials in the church. (Titus 1:5). The most likely
option is that the elders represent the raptured church which
sings songs of redemption (Revelation 5:8-10). They wear the
crowns of victory and have gone to the place prepared for them by
their Redeemer (John 14:1-4). Crowns dont refer to salvation but
rewards. John continues, from the throne came flashes of
lightning, and rumblings, and peals of thunder, and before the
throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are seven
spirits of God, and before the throne there was as it were a sea
of glass, like crystal. Seven lamps of fire are similar to seven
lampstands from Revelation 1. The seven stars Jesus mentions in
Revelation 1 are the angels of the seven churches. The seven
lampstands are the seven churches. The seven churches were on the
earth in Revelation 1, and now it appears that they are in heaven
in Revelation 4. John continues, and around the throne, on each
side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in
front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the
second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with
the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle
in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six
wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and all day and
night they never cease to say, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God
Almighty, who was and is to come! John continues, and whenever
the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who
is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twentyfour elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and
worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns
before the throne saying, worthy of you, our Lord our God, to
receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created. These four living
creatures are angels whose purpose is primarily worship. These
four creatures are mentioned later in Revelation 19:4 along with
the twenty-four elders.
After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven!
And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a
trumpet, said, Come up here, and I will show you what must take
place after this. Revelation 4:1
And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full
of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease
to say, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is
and is to come! - Revelation 4:8
Revelation 5
The Scroll and the Lamb
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Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne
a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals.
At this time in history a book to them was a scroll. John
continues, and I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud
voice, who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?
There is a sealed scroll in the right hand of God, and the angel
asks who is worthy to open the book and loosen the seals? John
continues, and no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth
was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to
weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or
look into it. John sobbed convulsively. We dont understand what
is going on, but John did and John felt that the worst tragedy he
could imagine that no man was found worthy to open the scroll. In
the world we live in today the world will pretend to know what is
going on and in many cases the world is wrong. John continues,
and one of the elders said to me, Weep no more; behold the Lion
of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that
he can open the scroll and its seven seals. And between the
throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a
Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and
seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out of the
earth. The Lamb of course here is a title for Jesus Christ. All
through the book of Revelation we see different titles for Jesus
Christ. We also notice a change in the book where the book of
Revelation becomes very Jewish (lion, lamb, tribe of David). The
Lamb is the title John the Baptist gave Christ and was idiomatic
of his first coming, and the lion is idiomatic of his second
coming. The seven horns are representative of honor and power
from the Old Testament. Seven horns denote perfect power. Daniel
speaks on horns: I considered the horns, and behold, there came up
among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns
were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the
eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things. - Daniel 7:8. God is
omnipotent (unlimited power). Seven eyes denote that God is
omniscient (unlimited knowledge). The lamb speaks of the grace of
God and the lion speaks of the government of God where he will
judge. John continues, and he (Jesus) went and took the scroll
from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when
he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures, and the
twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a
harp, and golden bowls of incense, which are prayers of the
saints. And they sang a new song saying, worthy are you to take
the scroll and open its seals, for you were slain, and by your
blood you ransomed your people for God from every tribe and
language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom
and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth. These
are the words of the 24 elders. It is important we recognize what
is going on. The 24 elders are there before Jesus gets the
scroll. They celebrate when he receives the scroll. When Christ
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starts opening those seals, it starts the wrath of God on the

earth which is called the Great Tribulation. The tribulation
cannot start until the seals are open. The seals cannot be broken
until the lamb receives the book. The Lamb cannot receive the
book until the 24 elders have already cast their crowns in the
glassy sea. John continues, then I looked, and I heard around the
throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many
angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands,
saying with a loud voice, Worthy of the Lamb who was slain, to
receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory
and blessing! John continues, and I heard every creature in
heaven and on earth and under the sea, and all that is in them,
saying, To him that who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be
blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever! and the
four living creatures said, Amen!, and the elders fell down and
worshipped.
And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open
the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one
was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the
elders said to me, Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of
Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the
scroll and its seven seals. Revelation 5:3-5
And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the
twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and
golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
Revelation 5:8
Revelation 6
The Seven Seals
Revelation 6-19 is a detailing of the 70th week of Daniel. This
period about to be discussed is called the Day of the Lord and
the beginning of the Great Tribulation that is the outpouring of
Gods wrath. The Great Tribulation is preceded by a leader who
will establish a false covenant. The battle of Armageddon is the
climax of that week which is interrupted by the Second Coming of
Christ. The prerequisite condition for the Second Coming of Jesus
Christ is for Israel to acknowledge their offense and petition
his return. That is why Satan is trying to wipe out the Jews.
Hosea tells us: I will return again to my place, until they acknowledge
their guilt and seek my face, and in their distress earnestly seek me.
Hosea 5:15. Here we see the purpose of the Great Tribulation. In
order for God to return to his place, he must have left it. God
left his place when he came to the earth to become a man. The
tribulation doesnt begin until the Lamb opens the seal. The 24
elders and the lampstands are in heaven when the Tribulation
begins and that is important. One of the things we will also see
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in Revelation is that when there are a group of seven judgments,

there is a break between the sixth and the seventh or what is
called a parenthetical. John starts, now I watched when the Lamb
opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living
creatures say with a voice like thunder, Come! And I looked,
and behold a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown
was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer. The
first seal is the white horse. This is an imposter and even
though he is on the white horse, its not Christ. Horses in the
Old Testament were a symbol for judgment. This guy is carrying a
bow. John continues, when he opened the second seal, I heard the
living creature say, Come! And out came another horse, bright
red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so
that people should slay one another, and he was given a great
sword. Red is sometimes connected with war. John continues, and
when he opened the third seal, I heard the living creature say,
Come! And I looked, and behold a black horse! And its rider had
a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard what seemed to be a
voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, A quart
of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for denarius,
and do not harm the oil and wine! Black is sometimes connected
with famine (Lamentations 4, Jeremiah 14). John continues, when
he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth
creature saying, Come! And I looked, and behold a pale horse!
And its riders name was Death, and Hades followed him. Hades is
the Greek word for the unseen dead and it refers to the place of
the dead. It is the holding place until the final judgment.
Gehenna is another Greek word also used in the New Testament is
the lake of fire. The Old Testament / Hebrew word for dead was
sheol. John continues, and they were given authority over a
fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with
pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth. This pale horse
encounters two riders (death and hell). John continues, when he
opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar of souls of those
who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness had
been borne. They cried out with a loud voice, O Sovereign Lord,
holy and true, how long before you judge and avenge our blood on
those who dwell on the earth? They are calling for Gods justice
to be manifested. John continues, then they were each given a
white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of
their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who
were to be killed as they themselves had been. They are anxious
for all of this to be resolved, but God says, great, but not yetor in other words be patient. This fifth seal are the martyrs who
are asked to be cool for a little longer. John continues, when he
opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great
earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the moon
became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as
the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by gale. The sky
vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every
mountain and island was removed from its place. This is the first
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of three earthquakes (Revelation 6, 11, 16). The sun became black

as sackcloth is the same language used in Isaiah 13 and Joel 2.
The moon became like blood is used in Isaiah 13, 24 Joel 2, and
Matthew 24. These are not unique phrases. The idiom of God
stretching out the heavens is used all over the Bible (Jobe 9,
Psalm 104, Isaiah 40, Jeremiah 10). John continues, then the
kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the
rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid
themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains,
calling to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us and hide us from
the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from wrath of
the Lamb, the great day of their wrath has come, and who can
stand? The kings of the earth, all of the leaders of the earth
are trying to hide in the caves and the mountains. The wrath is
happening here in Revelation 6.
Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I
heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder,
Come! Revelation 6:1
Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and
the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid
themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling
to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of
him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for
the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand? Revelation 6:15-17
Revelation 7
The 144,000 of Israel are sealed, A Great Multitude from Every Nation
Revelation 6 concerned itself with many things and with one of
those things being the wrath of the Lamb. The chapter closed with
the question on who can stand in the wrath of the Lamb?
Revelation 7 deals with that question on who can stand in the
wrath of the Lamb. This chapter deals with two halves. The first
eight verses deal with some servants being sealed. They are a
very special group of 144,000. These are Jews who are saved out
of the great tribulation. John starts, after this I saw four
angels standing at the four corners of the earth, that no wind
might blow on the earth or sea or against any tree. Then I saw
another angel (fifth) ascending from the rising of the sun, with
the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to
the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea,
saying, Do not harm the earth or the sea, or the trees, until we
have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads. These
four angels will in Revelation 8 hurt the earth. The four angels
come to harm the earth but this fifth angel tells them to stop
for a moment because they had not yet sealed the servants on
their foreheads. This fifth angel may be at a higher rank because
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he gives the other angels orders not to at this point mess with
the earth. The 144,000 are the servants of God and if they are
not preserved they are not going to make it through the day of
wrath that is coming to the earth. We dont know what the mark on
the forehead is. We are just told that they are going to be
marked. This mark is in contrast to the mark of the beast
revealed later. John continues, and I heard the number of the
sealed, 144,000 from every tribe of the sons of Israel: 12,000
each from Judah, Ruben, Gad, Asher, Manasseh, Simeon, Levi,
Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin were sealed. After this I
looked, and behold, a great magnitude that no one could number,
from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages,
standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white
robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out in a
loud voice, Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne
and to the Lamb! This is a different group then the redeemed we
saw represented by the elders. John continues, and all of the
angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and
the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before
the throne and worshipped God, saying, Amen! Blessing and glory
and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to
our God forever and ever! Amen. How many are there? Seven John
continues, then one of the elders addressed me saying, Who are
these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come? I
said to him, Sir, you know. And he said to me, These are the
ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their
robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. One of the
elders asks John who are those in the white robes? However John
didnt know and he asks the elder to tell him. The elder tells
John that these guys came out of the Great Tribulation. If these
believers would have been the church, John would have known it.
John wrote to the church in his day and wrote to the body of
believers and he would know the church. Since John does not know
this group, and since he knows the church this confirms the
church will not go through the Great Tribulation. The elder who
represents the church is these guys in the white robes is not one
of them. This group is distinct from the church and they came
through the Great Tribulation. These are redeemed Gentiles that
will come out of the Great Tribulation. John continues, therefore
they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in
his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with
his presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;
the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the
Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he
will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe
away every tear from their eyes.
Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with
the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four
angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, saying, Do
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not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the
servants of our God on their foreheads. And I heard the number of
the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel: Revelation 7:2-4
Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, Who are these, clothed
in white robes, and from where have they come? I said to him, Sir,
you know. And he said to me, These are the ones coming out of the
great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white
in the blood of the Lamb. Revelation 7:13-14
Revelation 8
The Seventh Seal and the Golden Censer, The Seven Trumpets
When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was a silence in
heaven for about half an hour. Then I saw the seven angels who
stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. The
seventh seal has just been opened. What we will see soon is these
seven prominent angels blow seven trumpets and pour out bowls of
wrath. These seven seals lead to seven trumpets. Revelation 7 was
a parenthetical passage (break between the sixth and the seventh
of something). So in other words there were six seals opened, a
break between the sixth and the seventh seal and after the
seventh seal was opened it leads to seven trumpets. We will also
see later when we get to the sixth trumpet, there is a large
parenthetical, or a group of chapters this time between the sixth
and seventh trumpet. The seven trumpets will lead to seven bowls
of wrath. John continues, and another angel came and stood at the
altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to
offer with prayers of all of the saints on the golden altar
before the throne, and the smoke of incense, with prayers of the
saints, rose before God from the hand of an angel. Then the angel
took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw
it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings,
flashes of lightning, and an earthquake. Now the seven angels who
had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them. We are about to
hear the trumpets. The trumpets are providing a warning and a
prelude of whats coming. John continues, the first angel blew
his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood,
and these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth
was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all
green grass was burned up. Vegetation is devastated and this is
not a traditional hail storm. The global warming blowhards are
going to be shocked John continues, the second angel blew his
trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burned with fire,
was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. A
third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the
ships were destroyed. The third angel blew his trumpet, and a
great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on
a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. The name of
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the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and

many people died from the water, because it had been made bitter.
The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was
struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so
that a third of their light might be darkened, and a third of the
day might be kept from shining, and likewise a third of the
night. Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud
voice as it flew directly overhead, Woe, woe, woe to those who
dwell on the earth, and the blasts of the other trumpets that the
three angels are about to blow!
When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven
for about half an hour. Then I saw the seven angels who stand before
God, and seven trumpets were given to them. Revelation 8:1-2
The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire,
mixed with blood, and these were thrown upon the earth. And a third
of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up,
and all green grass was burned up. Revelation 8:7
Revelation 9
Seven Trumpets, continued
And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a fallen star
from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of
the bottomless pit. He opened the shaft of the bottomless pit,
and from the shaft rose smoke like the great furnace, and the sun
and the air were darkened with the smoke from the shaft. Then
from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given
power like the power of the scorpions of the earth. They were
told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green plant or any
tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on
their forehead. They were allowed to torment them for five
months, but not to kill them, and their torment was like the
torment of a scorpion when it stings someone. And in those days
people will seek death and not find it. They will long to die,
but death will flee from them. These are not your ordinary
locusts, but more like scorpions. Their stings are very painful.
Man during this period try to commit suicide but are unable to do
it. It is difficult to understand why those who want to commit
suicide are unsuccessful and thats OK. John continues, in
appearance the locusts were like horses prepared for battle: on
their heads were what looked like crowns of gold; their faces
were like human faces, their hair like womens hair, and their
teeth like lions teeth; they had breastplates like breastplates
of iron, and the noise of their wings was like the noise of many
chariots with horses rushing into battle. They have tails and
stings like scorpions, and their power to hurt people for five
months is in their tails. They have as king over them an angel of
the bottomless pit. His name is Abaddon, and in Greek he is
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called Apollyon. In both the Hebrew and the Greek this word means
the destroyer. John continues, the first woe has passed; behold,
two woes are still to come. Then the sixth angel blew his
trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden
altar before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet,
Release the four angels who are bound at the great river
Euphrates. There are four angels that are bound in the river
that will be released here. The Euphrates is the eastern boundary
of Israel from Genesis 15:18. Today however the river runs from
the north in Syria to the south in Iraq. John continues, so the
four angels, who had been prepared for the hour, the day, the
month, the year, were released to kill a third of mankind. The
number of mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten
thousand; I heard their number. The number within the army of
200,000,000. This is where some commentators believe it may be
the Chinese army due to its size. John continues, and this is how
I saw the horses in my vision and those who rode them; they wore
breastplates the color of fire and of sapphire and of sulfur, and
the heads of the horses were like lions heads, and fire and
smoke and sulfur came out of their mouths. 1/3 of the world gets
wiped out either by the fire, smoke or the brimstone. John
continues, by these three plagues a third of mankind was killed,
by the fire and smoke and sulfur coming out of their mouths. For
the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails,
for their tails are like serpents with heads, and by means of
them they wound. The rest of mankind, who were not killed by
these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor
give up worshipping demons and idols of gold and silver and
bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, nor
did they repent of their murders of their sorceries or their
sexual immorality or their thefts. We see many of these behaviors
in our culture today. There are four categories of non-repentance
from Revelation 9- murders, sorceries, sexual immorality and
thefts and you should notice how these are characteristics of
today. The ancients would put babies on a heated statue until it
was red hot and the baby burned to death. We found a better way
to murder the babies which is in the womb of the mother. The word
for Sorcery is Pharmakia in the Greek. Sorcery is translated to
mean the use of drugs. The drug industry is the largest of any of
the lobbyists in Washington DC. The promotion of sex by Hollywood
is blatantly obvious. Fornication is the preoccupation of todays
culture. Throughout the entire book of Revelation the earth
dwellers dont repent. With everything that is going on, you
would think they would learn. We have read about the six trumpets
but now there will be parenthesis between the 6 th and 7th
trumpets.
So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour, the day, the
month, and the year, were released to kill a third of mankind. The
number of mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten
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thousand; I heard their number. Revelation 9:15-16

The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not
repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and
idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot
see or hear or walk, nor did they repent of their murders or their
sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts. - Revelation 9:2021
Revelation 10
The Angel and the Little Scroll
Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped
in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like
the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire. This illusion is
similar to Revelation 1 describing Jesus Christ. However this is
not Christ and the Greek will clarify that. John is describing a
key angel. This angel could be Gabriel, Michael or another angel.
John continues, he had a little scroll open in his hand. And he
set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the land, and
called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he called
out, the seven thunders sounded, I was about to write, but I
heard a voice from heaven saying, Seal up what the seven
thunders had said, and do not write it down. So John is about to
describe what the seven thunders uttered, but a voice from heaven
told John not to write what he said. John continues, and the
angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on land raised his right
hand to heaven and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who
created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it,
and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no delay, but
that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh
angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he
announced to his servants the prophets. Then the voice that I had
heard from heaven spoke to me again, saying, Go, take the scroll
that is open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea
and on the land. So I went to the angel and told him to give me
the little scroll. And he said to me, Take and eat it; it will
make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet
as honey. This book may be the book that was just unsealed. Only
Christ was able to open the seals. John continues, and I took the
little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it. It was sweet
as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it my stomach was made
bitter. Many people today dont like prophecy because they are
scared at what they read. Reading prophecy should be like sweet
honey in our mouths. We discover there is nothing in the word of
God that ministers to a holy life like prophecy. We cannot live a
dirty life and be a student of prophecy. We would become abnormal
if that happens to be true. John continues, and I was told, You
must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages
and kings. John believed that all nations and all people ought
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to hear the word of God. They need to hear it because judgment

was coming.
And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it. It was
sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it my stomach was
made bitter. And I was told, You must again prophesy about many
peoples and nations and languages and kings. Revelation 10:10-11
Revelation 11
The Two Witnesses, The Seventh Trumpet
Revelation 11 deals with the last 3 years of the times of the
Gentiles. John starts, then I was giving a measuring rod like a
staff, and I was told, Rise and measure the temple of God and
the altar and those who worship there, but do not measure the
court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to
the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two
months. 42 months is 3 years and John is referring to the holy
city which is Jerusalem. We know the temple is going to be
rebuilt because Jesus, Paul and John all make reference to it.
Jesus references the temple being the pivotal event dealing with
end-time prophecy in Matthew 24, Luke 21, and Mark 13 known as
the Olivet Discourse. Paul mentions the destruction of the temple
in 2 Thessalonians 2, and here John makes reference to the
destruction of the temple. John continues, and I will grant
authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260
days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees and
the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And
if anyone would harm them fire pours from their mouth and
consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is
doomed to be killed. They have the power to shut the sky, that no
rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have
power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the
earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire. There
are three specific powers here: 1) power to shut off the rain, 2)
turn water into blood, 3) strike the earth with plagues. These
powers remind us of Moses and Elijah and they could be these two
witnesses. Moses and Elijah show up on an earlier occasion at the
Mount of Transfiguration. One of Elijahs unique powers was
calling fire down from heaven (1 Kings 17). We also know from
Luke 4 and James 5 that Elijah that shut the heavens for 3
years and we know from the Old Testament that he brought rain
after those 3 years. Moses turned water into blood from Exodus
7 and plagues in Exodus 8 through 12. There seems to be a pattern
of two witnesses in scripture. We see Moses and Elijah at the
Transfiguration. There were two men resurrection tomb (Luke 24).
There were two witnesses at the Ascension (Acts 1). John
continues, and when they have finished their testimony, the beast
that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and
conquer them and kill them, and their dead bodies will lie in the
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great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where

their Lord was crucified. This is the first mention in Revelation
of the beast that rises out of the bottomless pit, or the antiChrist as we tend to call him. The anti-Christ will kill
successfully kill these two witnesses. John continues, for three
and half days some of the peoples and tribes and languages and
nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be
placed in a tomb, and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice
over them and make merry and exchange presents, because the two
prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth. The
earth dwellers are so upset with these prophets who have been
ministering for three and half years, they dont even bury them.
This is the only rejoicing in book of Revelation by the world.
The world is celebrating that these two troublemakers are
finally done in. John continues, but after the three and half
days a breath of life from God entered them, and stood up on
their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw him. After those
3 days, those two witnesses come back to life and the people
were freaking out. John continues, then they heard a loud voice
from heaven saying to them, Come up here! And they went to
heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. And at the
hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell.
Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest
were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second
woe had passed; behold, the third woe is soon to come. Then the
seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in
heaven saying, The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom
of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and
ever. And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before
God fell on their faces and worshipped God saying, We give
thanks to you Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have
taken your great power and begun to reign. The nations raged, but
with your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and
for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those
who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the
destroyers of the earth. The part in quotes is a preview of
whats to come as it hasnt happened yet. John continues, then
Gods temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant
was seen in his temple. There were flashes of lightning,
rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and heavy hail.

And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy
for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees and
the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if
anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes
their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be
killed. They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall
during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the
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waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind
of plague, as often as they desire. - Revelation 11:3-6
For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and
languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let
them be placed in a tomb, and those who dwell on the earth will
rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because
these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the
earth. But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God
entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on
those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven
saying to them, Come up here! And they went up to heaven in a
cloud, and their enemies watched them. Revelation 11:9-12
Revelation 12
The Woman and the Dragon, Satan Thrown Down to Earth
Revelation 12 begins with the discussion of some woman. However
what we will find out is that this is not a literal woman, but
simply a symbol of Israel. Israel is a symbol of the woman
because she gave birth to the child- Christ. John starts, and a
great sign appeared in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, with
moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
This isnt the first time in the Bible we hear of the moon with
twelve stars. Back in Genesis, Joseph says: Then he dreamed
another dream and told it to his brothers and said, Behold, I have
dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were
bowing down to me. Genesis 37:9. Joseph then tells his father
about the dream. But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his
father rebuked him and said to him, What is this dream that you have
dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow
ourselves to the ground before you? Genesis 37:10. It is implicit
that Jacob is interpreting the dream for us. Josephs dream
depicted the family. The sun and the moon were Jacob and his
wife, and his twelve brothers lead to the twelve tribes. Who is
this woman? Israel is described as an illusion throughout the Old
Testament as a woman in travail. (Isa 54, Jer 3, Micah 4). The
English word travail originated from a French word meaning heavy
labor - travel originated from the same word (in ancient times,
travel was heavy labor). Eventually, travail also came to be used
to refer to childbirth, hence the roundabout way that "labor"
also came to refer to the birth process. In Micah we read: Be in
pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail:
for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field,
and thou shalt go even to Babylon Micah 4:10. John continues, she was
pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of
giving birth. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a
great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his
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heads seven diadems. His tail swept down a third and cast them to
the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to
give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it.
This red dragon is out to get the child as soon as he is born.
John continues, she gave birth to a male child, one who is to
rule all of the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was
caught up to God and to his throne, and the woman fled into the
wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she
is to be nourished for 1,260 days. If the woman is Israel, then
her son who is caught up to God and his throne is clearly Jesus
Christ and his ascension into heaven. GH Pember however said it
could also be an illusion to the Rapture. The child could be the
body of Christ is caught up to God in the rapture. The word
caught up in the Greek is harpazo which means snatched and the
same word appearing in 1 Thessalonians 4. Back to Revelation, the
woman here then flees into the wilderness where God will feed her
for 3 years. John continues, now war arose in heaven, Michael
and his angels are fighting against the dragon. And the dragon
and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no
longer any place for them in heaven. Here Michael and his angels
succeed. If verse 5 is an illusion to the Rapture then verse 7
may be an illusion to the Great Tribulation. You can then sense
there may be a gap of time between the Rapture and the
Tribulation. In Daniel 9 there is a gap between the 25th and 27th
verse or between the end of the 69th week (Palm Sunday) and the
beginning of the 70th week (peace treaty). John continues, and
the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is
called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world-he
was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down
with him. We see here the dragon is confirmed as Satan. John
continues, and I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, Now the
salvation and the power and the kingdom of God and the authority
of Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been
thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And
they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word
of their testimony, for they loved not the lives even unto death.
Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you will dwell in them! But woe
to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in
great wrath, because he knows that this time is short! And when
the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he
pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. But the
woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she
might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place
where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a
time. This is the last wave of anti-Semitism that will roll over
the earth. This is the times of Jacobs trouble. Eagle wings
became a symbol to Israel in Exodus 19 and these wings are
reminiscent of the grace of God delivering Israel out of Egypt.
Here in the Great Tribulation Israel cannot deliver themselves
and nobody is interested in delivering them but God will get them
out on eagles wings by his grace. John continues, the serpent
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poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, and
the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the
dragon had poured from his mouth. God will destroy Israels
enemies in the last days with natural forces. We read in Ezekiel:
With pestilence and bloodshed I will enter into judgment with him, and I will
rain upon him and his hordes and the many peoples who are with him
torrential rains and hailstones, fire and sulfur. Ezekiel 38:22. John
continues, then the dragon became furious with the woman and went
off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep
the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And
he stood on the sand of the sea. The rest of her offspring refer
to the 144,000 who are witnessing throughout the world and they
keep the commandments of God.
She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a
rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, and
the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared
by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days. Revelation
12:5
Revelation 13
The First Beast, The Second Beast
Revelation 13 deals with a satanic trinity with Satan, the antiChrist and his false prophet. The first beast is the coming world
leader or anti-Christ and the second beast is his false prophet.
John starts, and I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten
horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and
blasphemous names on its heads. And the beast that I saw was like
a leopard; its feet were like a bears, and its mouth was like a
lions mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne
and great authority. One if its heads seemed to have a mortal
wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth
marveled as they followed the beast. There are differing views
that the heads are a government or an entity, and others feel
that this head wound is literal to a person. Since this idiom is
mentioned three or four times, it could refer to a literal head
wound. The world thinks he is dead, but he is apparently healed,
but it is not likely he actually died. The head wound becomes a
major identifier of this leader, and thats why we should take
the head wound as literal. There is a physical description of the
anti-Christ in the last verse of Zechariah 11. Woe to my
worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and
his right eye! Let his arm be wholly withered, his right eye utterly blinded!
Zechariah 11:17. It seems to be an illusion to this final world
leader that leaves him with one arm incapacitated and one eye
incapacitated. John continues, and they worshipped the dragon,
for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshipped
the beast, saying, Who is like the beast, and who can fight
against it? this leader will be satanically empowered. His
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followers worshipped the dragon. According to Revelation 20:9,

the dragon is Satan. His followers are going to be Satan
worshippers. John continues, and the beast was given a mouth
uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to
exercise authority for forty-two months (3 years). It opened
its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name
and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. Also it was
allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. To be a
believer in this period of time means death. Gentiles are not
protected in this period and they are killed. John continues, and
authority was given it over every tribe and people and language
and nation, and all who dwell on the earth will worship it,
everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of
the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. If
anyone has an eye, let him hear: If anyone is to be taken
captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the
sword, with the sword he must be slain. Here is the call for the
endurance and faith of the saints. The first beast here is a
political leader and very powerful. He is also worshipped and he
is commonly called the anti-Christ. However what everyone
overlooks is that there are two guys and that second beast will
be described next. John continues, then I saw another beast
riding out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it
spoke like a dragon. This second beast is the false prophet and
will cause people to worship the first guy. John continues, it
exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence,
and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast,
whose mortal wound was healed. Here we learn the second guy
causes the rest of the world to worship the first guy. John
continues, it performs great signs, even making fire come down
from heaven to earth in front of people, and by the signs that is
allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those
who dwell on the earth, telling them to make an image for the
beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. This false
prophet is a worker of false miracles. John continues, and it was
allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the
image of the beast to be slain. Therefore this might mean that
believers that have been left behind after the Rapture that the
only way to get to heaven is to be beheaded, or otherwise they
will have to take the mark of the beast. John continues, also it
causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free
and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so
that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the
name of the beast or the number of its name. His followers are
going to willingly take on a brand that will manifest their
allegiance to this leader. He is able to enforce that because he
has economic control. John continues, this calls for wisdom: let
the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast,
for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666. Revelation
13 deals with two beasts; the first beast was out of the sea with
seven heads and ten horns and one of the heads has a deadly would
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that healed and the earth dwellers who have not been written in
the book of life worship him. There is a very prominent world
leader coming. The second beast is the false prophet and has two
horns and exalts the first beast and causes the earth to worship
the him.
One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound
was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast.
Revelation 13:3
Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like
a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. It exercises all the authority of the
first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants
worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. Revelation
13:11-12
Revelation 14
The Lamb and the 144,000, The Messages of the Three Angels, The Harvest of
the Earth
Revelation 14 is a like a Table of Contents or prelude of what is
coming later. John starts, then I looked, and behold, on Mount
Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and
his Fathers name written on their foreheads. John is still a
spectator to these events. In Revelation 7 we learn of the
144,000 that were sealed; none of them get lost. The 144,000 are
standing with Jesus on Mt Zion. These 144,000 came through the
Great Tribulation. John continues, and I heard a voice from
heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud
thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing
on their harps, and they were singing a new song before the
throne and before the four living creatures and before the
elders. No one could learn that song except for the 144,000 who
had been redeemed from the earth. It is these who have not
defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these
who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed
from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, and in their
mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless. These may be
literal or spiritual virgins here, but we are not sure. John
continues, then I saw an angel flying directly overhead, with an
eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every
nation and tribe and language and people. And he said with a loud
voice, Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his
judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the
sea and the springs of water. The emphasis here is on God as the
creator and the creation. The first step in ones knowledge is to
recognize God as the creator. Its that failure that leads to all
of these other problems. Romans 1 elaborates on that the failure
to recognize God as a creator will result in his judgment of
giving them over to homosexuality. In America today see the
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widespread denial of God as creator has led to Americas

homosexuality problem. John continues, another angel, a second
followed, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who
made the nations drink the wine of passion of her sexual
immorality. And another angel, a third, followed them, saying
with a loud voice, If anyone worships the beast and its image
and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will
drink the wine of Gods wrath, poured full strength into the cup
of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in
the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.
If anyone takes the mark of the beast, it eliminates any
opportunity to get saved. John continues, and the smoke of their
torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or
night, these worshippers of the beast and its image, and whoever
receives the mark of its name. Here is a call for the endurance
of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their
faith in Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying, Write
this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.
Blessed indeed, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their
labors, for their deeds follow them! This statement refers to
both the 144,000 and the Tribulation Saints (saved Gentiles) who
will lay down their life for Christ. They will be martyrs and
will be rewarded. John gives them this word of praise. John
continues, then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated
on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his
head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. And another angel came out
of the temple, calling with a loud voice to the one who had the
sharp sickle, Put your sickle and gather the clusters from the
vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe. So the angel swung
his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the
earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed
from the winepress, as high as a horses bridle, for 1,600 stadia
(furlongs).
And he said with a loud voice, Fear God and give him glory, because
the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made
heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water. Revelation 14:7

Revelation 15
The Seven Angels with the Seven Plagues
We see here the introduction of the seven angels with the seven
bowls of wrath. Weve already seen the seven seals, the seven
trumpets, and now we have the seven bowls of wrath and this is
the worst of all. These seven bowls of wrath are the final series
of judgments that come on the earth during the Great Tribulation
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period and these series of judgments are the most intense and
devastating of any that have preceded them. Revelation 15 and 16
actually belong together. John starts, then I saw another sign in
heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which
are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished. We have
no real ability to understand what the wrath of God really is.
John continues, and I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass
mingled with fire- and also those who had conquered the beast and
its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of
glass with harps of God in their hands. The sea of glass was
mentioned earlier in Revelation 4 where the 24 elders were
standing on it. The sea of glass is now mingled with fire. Fire
suggests judgment. John continues, and they sing the song of
Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb saying,
Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just
and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear
you O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All
nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have
been revealed. All the nations will fear him. They dont do that
today as we live in godless society even in our own country, but
this will all change. John continues, after this I looked, and
the sanctuary (temple) of the tent of witness in heaven was
opened, and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the
seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with gold sashes
around their chests. And one of the four living creatures gave to
seven angels seven golden bowls full of wrath of God who lives
forever and ever, and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from
the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the
(temple) sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels
were finished. This is the introduction to the seven bowls or
wrath. These seven bowls represent the final part of the Great
Tribulation period with the seven bowls of wrath poured out upon
the earth. The temple referenced here is the temple from heaven.
This is the preamble and from here on it gets rough.
Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are
holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts
have been revealed. - Revelation 15:4

Revelation 16
Seven Bowls of Gods Wrath, The Seventh Bowl
Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling seven angels,
Go and pour on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.
So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and
harmful and painful sores upon the people who bore the mark of
the beast and worshipped its image. The first angel pours out his
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bowl and the people receive sores. We saw boils in Deuteronomy or

this could be similar to HIV. John continues, the second angel
poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of
a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea. The
third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and springs of
water, and they became blood. And I heard the angel in charge of
the waters say, Just as you, O Holy One, who is and was, for you
brought these judgments. For they have shed the blood of saints
and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is what
they deserve! and I heard the altar saying, Yes, Lord God
Almighty, true and just are your judgments! The third angel
turns all of the water into blood and mankind will have no water.
Those that worshipped the beast will not find anything to drink
accept blood. The irony is that they have taken the blood of the
martyrs and all they have left to drink is blood. The Lamb is
worthy and God is justified in his judgment. John continues, the
fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed
to scorch people with fire. They were scorched by the fierce
heat, and they cursed the name of God who has power over these
plagues. They did not repent and give him glory. The fourth angel
pours his bowl on the sun and the earth dwellers are scorched by
the fire. All through this book the earth dwellers do not respond
and they never repent. John continues, the fifth angel poured out
his bowl on the throne of the beast, and the kingdom was plunged
into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish and cursed
the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent
of their deeds. This time is filled with spiritual darkness. It
may be a dark period without light, but and the Old Testament in
many places suggest that the earth will become dark. The sun shall
be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and
awesome day of the LORD comes. Joel 2:31. Joel also mentions this
event later in his letter. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the
stars withdraw their shining. - Joel 3:15. John continues, the sixth
angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its
water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings of the east.
The Euphrates is a barrier today between India and China today.
God gave that land to Israel from Genesis 15. John continues, and
I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth
of the beast and mouth of the false prophet, three unclean
spirits like frogs. For they are demonic spirits, performing
signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble
them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. (Behold, I
am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake,
keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be
seen exposed!) And they assembled them at the place that in
Hebrew is called Armageddon. The thief here is Jesus and his
title of a thief isnt dressed to us, but to those in darkness.
John continues, the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the
air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne,
saying, It is done! The seventh bowl is poured out on the air.
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The prince of the power of the air is a title for Satan. All of
these things are being aimed at his throne. John continues, and
there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, a
great earthquake such as there had never since man was on the
earth, so great was the earthquake. The great city was split into
three parts, the city of nations fell, and God conquered Babylon
the great, to make her drain the cup of wine of the fury of his
wrath. And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be
found. And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell
from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the
hail, because the plague was so severe. This seventh bowl
consists of one hundred pound stones falling to the earth. This
great earthquake concludes the Great Tribulation period. The
great city is Jerusalem but the earthquake is not confined there
because the text tells us the cities of the nations fell. The
final act of judgment is the hail storm.
The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of
water, and they became blood. Revelation 16:4
The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to
scorch people with fire. They were scorched by the fierce heat, and
they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They
did not repent and give him glory. Revelation 16:8
The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its
kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in
anguish and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores.
Revelation 16:10-11
The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice
came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, It is done! And
there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a
great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the
earth, so great was that earthquake. Revelation 16:17-18
And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from
heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail,
because the plague was so severe. Revelation 16:21
Revelation 17
The Great Prostitute and the Beast
When we think of Revelation 17 we can think of the great whore.
John starts, then one of the seven angels who had seven bowls
came and said to me, Come, I will show you the judgment of the
great prostitute who is seated on many waters, with whom the king
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of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine
of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become
drunk. And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness,
and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of
blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. These
seven heads and ten horns are familiar idioms to prophecy
students as they were used in Daniel 7 and several other times in
Revelation. This beast was described in Revelation 13. The ten
horns are ten kings were the original Roman Empire. This is the
alliance between the anti-Christ and the Catholic church. John
continues, the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and
adorned with gold and jewels and pearl, holding her hand a golden
cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual
immorality. And on her forehead was written a name of mystery:
Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earths
abominations. And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the
saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I
marveled greatly. There are two characters here worth noting.
First the beast and second the woman. They are two different
characters. Dave Hunts book A Woman Rides the Beast is a nonBiblical but excellent resource for any Bible scholar and
discusses in great length that the woman (not the beast, but
rides the beast) but that the Vatican rides the beast and there
is a clear linkage to the Vatican. The color scarlet has been
adopted by the Vatican as its primary thematic color. The woman
however is not limited to the Vatican as there are other parties
guilty of aligning with the anti-Christ. There has been no
organization on the earth that has murdered more Christians than
the Roman Catholic church. One pope, one afternoon murdered more
Christians than all of the Roman emperors put together. John
continues, but the angel said to me, Why do you marvel? I will
tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven
heads and ten horns that carries her. Here John is astonished at
what he saw. He wouldnt have been astonished if the blood of the
martyrs would have been at the hands of pagan Rome because they
were the enemy of the church. However the so-called Christian
church guilty of murdering martyrs astonished John. Its a clue
that the source of the blood of the saints is from a surprising
place. John continues, the beast that you saw was, and is not,
and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to
destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been
written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will
marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to
come. What is being portrayed here is that it existed at one
time, disappeared and remerged. Bible scholars believe this is
the revived Roman empire. The empire in Johns day was the Roman
empire. However no one conquered Rome and it just fell into
pieces. The Bible portrays in Daniel 2 that these pieces will
reemerge as another empire. John continues, this calls for a mind
with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the
woman is seated; they are also seven kings, five of whom have
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fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come
he must remain he must remain only a little while. The woman here
is clearly identified as the city of Rome. John continues, as for
the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to
the seven, and it goes to destruction. Satans seven super
kingdoms are Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and ancient
Rome and the Rome that has yet to reemerge. This Rome II is the
one that has the ten horns according to the book of Daniel, and
here in Revelation. The seven heads and then horns is an idiom
common to both Daniel (2, 7, and 13) and Revelation (13, 17).
This verse also says there are seven kings and five have fallen
at the time of this writing- (Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia and
Greece). The one refers to Rome I and the one who has not yet
come refers to Rome II. Rome II is the seventh and even he will
be taken over by this coming world leader who is #8 who we call
the anti Christ. We know from Micah 5 and Isaiah 10 that the
world leader will come out of Assyria which at one time was
part of the Roman Empire. John continues, and the ten horns that
you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but
they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together
with the beast. These are of one mind, and they hand over the
power and authority to the beast. This may be 10 nations, or 10
regions. This is not a literal one hour of time, but a distinct
period of time or the hour of whatever and they will be in the
spotlight with the beast for a short time. John continues, they
will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he
is lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called
chosen and faithful. And the angel said to me, The waters that
you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are people and
multitudes and nations and languages. And the ten horns that you
saw, they and the breast will hate the prostitute. They will make
her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with
fire, for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his
purpose by being of one mind and handling over their royal power
to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. And the woman
that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings
of the earth. What city during the days of John ruled over the
kings of the earth? That of course is Rome. Rome endured over
kings of the earth for hundreds of years and a good part of
medieval history. The pope was in constant struggle for temporal
power. As a matter of review, the beast and the woman are two
different characters. The prostitute or the woman exploits the
beast but is eventually destroyed by him. The pope is not the
anti Christ. However the pope calls himself the Vicar of Christ.
The term anti Christ does not mean against Christ, but in the
Greek it means a pseudo Christ or in place of Christ. Mystery
Babylon has been identified as Rome from the earliest centuries.
The anti-Christ not only breaks his promise to Israel but also
the Roman Catholic church as they get destroyed as they are
devoured and burned by fire.
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 They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for
he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and
chosen and faithful. Revelation 17:14
And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the
prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her
flesh and burn her up with fire Revelation 17:16
Revelation 18
The Fall of Babylon
After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having
great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory.
And he called out with a mighty voice, Fallen, fallen is Babylon
the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons. For all of
the nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual
immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed immorality
with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the
power of her luxurious living. The commerce between the kings
and the merchants of the earth are substantial. John continues,
then I heard another voice from heaven saying, Come out of her
my people, lest you take part in her sins, and God has remembered
her iniquities. Gods people, the Jews (not the Christians as
they have already been Raptured) will be in the world until the
very end. The phrase come out of her my people is used how many
times in scripture? 7, good guess. Its just another example of
the subtleness of the Holy Spirit. John continues, pay her back
as she herself has paid back others, and repay her double for her
deeds; mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed. As she
glorified herself and lived in luxury, so gave her a like measure
of torment and mourning, since in her heart she says, I sit as a
queen, I am no widow, and mourning I shall never see. For this
reason her plagues will come in a single day, death and mourning
and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for mighty is
the Lord God who has judged her. And the kings of the earth, who
committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will
weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning.
They will stand off, in fear of her torment, and say, Alas!
Alas! You great city, you mighty city, Babylon! For in a single
hour your judgment as come. This is the first of three different
groups of people that bemoan her passing. John continues, and the
merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys
their cargo anymore, cargo of gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine
line, purple cloth, scarlet cloth, all kinds of articles of
costly wood, bronze, iron, wine, oil etc. Here we see a total of
28 cargos used which again is a multiple of 7. These 28 cargos
are just another example of the Holy Spirit at work. These very
specific examples may clue us in that these cargos are literal
and that that Babylon is literal. In Isaiah 13 and Jeremiah 50
they both make the point that Babylon is going to be destroyed
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like Sodom and Gomorrah. That has not yet happened. In the
Jeremiah passage, it makes the point that Babylon will never be
inhabited. However Babylon is inhabited today and being rebuilt.
John continues, The fruit for which your soul longed has gone
from you, and all of your delicacies and your splendors are lost
to you, never to be found again! The merchants of these wares,
who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her
torment, weeping and mourning aloud, Alas, alas, for the great
city that was clothed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet,
adorned by gold, with jewels and pearls! For in a single hour all
this wealth has been laid waste. And all shipmasters and
seafearing men, sailors and whose trade is on the sea, stood far
off and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning, What
city was like the great city? And they threw dust on their heads
as they wept and mourned, crying out, Alas, alas for the great
city where all who had ships at sea grew rich by her wealth! We
have seen three groups of people that bemoan Babylons passingthe kings of the earth, the merchants of the earth, and those
that trade by sea are the third group that grieve her passing.
This suggests that the foundation of the empire is a world trade.
The foundation of the EU is the common market. John continues,
for in a single hour they have been laid to waste. Rejoice over
her, O Heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, for God
has given judgment for you against her! This is the first time
in the book of Revelation where we are commanded to rejoice. John
continues, then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great
millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, So will Babylon the
great city be thrown down with violence, and will be no more; and
the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and
trumpeters, will be heard in you no more, and the light of the
lamp will shine no more, and the voice of the bridegroom and
bride will be heard in you no more, for your merchants were the
great ones of the earth, and all nations were deceived by your
sorcery. And in her was found the blood of the prophets and of
saints, and of all who have been slain on earth.
They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say, Alas! Alas! You
great city, you mighty city, Babylon! For in a single hour your
judgment has come. Revelation 18:9
Revelation 19
Rejoicing in Heaven, The Marriage Supper of the Lamb, The Rider on the White
Horse
Revelation 19 contains details of the big event, the event that
all Christians are all looking forward to being part of- the
return of the King! John starts, after this I heard what seemed
to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out,
Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God. For
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his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great
prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has
avenged on her the blood of servants. Hallelujah occurs 24 times
in the New Testament and 4 times in the New for a total of 28
which is again a multiple of 7. John continues, once more they
cried out, Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up forever and
ever. And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures
fell down and worshipped God who was seated on the throne,
saying, Amen. Hallelujah! This is the last reference to the 24
elders because the 24 elders represent the church and next time
we see the church because the church is the bride of Christ. The
24 elders do not co-occur with the bride which is another
confirmation of the perception that the 24 elders represent the
raptured church. The four creatures were identified earlier in
Revelation 5 as possible angels who worship the Lamb. The bride
is identified as the church and Jesus as the bride groom with
Ephesians 5:25-27 is the reference. Now that the harlot
(apostate) church has been disposed of, the marriage of the Lamb
can take place and we will see that marriage soon. John
continues, and from the throne came a voice saying, Praise our
God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great.
Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of the great multitude,
like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty pearls
of thunder, crying out, Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the
Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him glory, for
the marriage of the Lamb has come and his Bride has made herself
ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with a fine linen,
bright and pure. for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of
the saints. And the angel said to me, Write this: Blessed are
those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he
said to me, these are the true words of God. Then I fell down
at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, You must not do
that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold
to this testimony of Jesus. Worship God. For the testimony of
Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. This is an angel and good angels
do not allow themselves to be worshipped. This is also the supper
of the Lamb not to be confused with the second supper mentioned
later on. John continues, then I saw heaven opened, and behold a
white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True,
and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a
flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a
name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a
robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is the
Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen,
white and pure, were following him on the white horses. From his
mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations,
and he will rule them with a rod of iron. A sword from Jesus
mouth is a not a literal event, but an idiom for the Word of God
according to Hebrews: For the word of God is living and active, sharper
than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of
joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the
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heart. Hebrews 4:12. Jesus is coming to the earth and we will be

there and we will coming back with him! John continues, he will
tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.
On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings
and Lord of lords. Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and
with a loud voice he called to the birds that fly directly
overhead, Come, gather for the great supper of God, to eat the
flesh of the kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty
men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all
men, both free and slave, both small and great. This is the
second supper and not the supper of the Lamb. John continues, and
I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies
gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and
against his army. The armies of the earth prepare to go to war
with God. LOL. John continues, and the beast was captured, and
with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs
by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast
and those who worshipped its image. The KJV says the false
prophet performed miracles which were getting people to worship
him and he also had the power to enforce a forced worship. John
continues, these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that
burns with sulfur/brimstone. And the rest were slain by the sword
that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and
all the birds were gorged with their flesh. To switch topics, we
see in Zechariah that all nations will turn against Israel and
that includes the United States. Behold, a day is coming for the LORD,
when the spoil taken from you will be divided in your midst. For I will gather
all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and
the houses plundered and the women raped. Half of the city shall go out into
exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
Zechariah 14:1-2. The day will come when the United States will no
longer support Israel.
And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and
worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, Amen.
Hallelujah! And from the throne came a voice saying,Praise our God,
all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great. Revelation
19:4
Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting
on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and
makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many
diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself.
He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is
called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine
linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses.
Revelation 19:11-14
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 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its
presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had
received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image.
These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.
Revelation 19:20
Revelation 20
The Thousand Years, The Defeat of Satan, Judgment Before the Great White
Throne
The millennium from Revelation 20 is a major division in the
Christian community. Some people take the millennium seriously
and some do not and many churches dont believe in a literal
1,000 year millennium. There are three classifications:

Premillennialism
Postillennialism
Amillennialism.

Premillennial theologians teach that there will be a series of

key events that occur before the millennial rule of Christ on
earth. These events include the rapture of the church, a sevenyear time of tribulation and the return of Christ to establish a
thousand-year rule on earth. Premillennialists often adopt one of
the three distinct rapture positions of pre-tribulation, posttribulation or mid-tribulation.
Postmillennial theology teaches that the Church will be
triumphant as a result of the Church Christianizing the world.
After this, Christ will then return, upon which believers will
enter the eternal state. Postmillennialists, therefore, apply a
more allegorical approach to their interpretation of the book of
Revelation.
Amillennialism can be deciphered by its title. A preceding
millennium means this view teaches there is no future millennial
earthly rule of Christ sitting on Davids throne. This stance
also employs an allegorical interpretation and non-literal
approach to prophecy.
We want to take the millennium seriously and one reason to
believe in a literal interpretation of the millennium is from
what we read in Luke during the Christmas season. Gabriel has a
conversation with Mary and he says: And behold, you will conceive in
your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be
great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give
to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of
Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end. Luke 1:31-33. The
amillennial view (no literal 1,000 years) have a real problem
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because the throne of David did not exist during Jesus first
coming. Also Jesus has never ruled over the house of Jacob. He
will reign over the house of David during the millennium. The
Davidic covenant is an unconditional covenant made between God
and David through which God promises David and Israel that the
Messiah (Jesus Christ) would come from the lineage of David and
the tribe of Judah and would establish a kingdom that would
endure forever: And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will
plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no
more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, from the time
that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from
all your enemies. Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make
you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your
fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your
body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name,
and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 2 Samuel 7:10-13.
The Davidic Covenant is unconditional because God does not place
any conditions of obedience upon its fulfillment. The surety of
the promises made rests solely on Gods faithfulness and does not
depend at all on David or Israels obedience. The provisions of
the covenant are summarized in 2 Samuel 7:16: And your house and
your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be
established forever. 2 Samuel 7:16. God promised David an eternal
throne. The church has not replaced Israel. Amillennialism
started in the 3rd century by Origen. He advocated looking at the
scriptures as allegories; there are many allegories in scripture
but he carried that to an extreme including looking at the
millennium as just a big allegory. In that day, the church had
become supported by the state and pastors were paid by the state.
Its uncomfortable to be in the pulpit and preach the Bible on
how Jesus is going to come back and rid the world of its evil
rulers if the pastors are being paid by evil rulers. This becomes
the eschatological view of the medieval church. The Roman
Catholic church derives from all of that and therefore they an
amillennial eschatology view today. They believe the millennium
is allegorical and that Christ is coming to rule in our hearts,
not literally from a throne. The Reformation did a wonderful job
in on the issue of salvation by faith alone. One of the failures
of the reformation is that they didnt address the issue of the
amillennial
eschatology.
As
a
result
many
Protestant
denominations (Episcopalians, Lutherans) have an eschatology that
is amillennial. When we pray the so-called Lords prayer from
Matthew 6, we are praying for the kingdom. John starts, then I
saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding his hand the key to
the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon,
that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him
for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and
sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any
longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must
be released for a little while. Then I saw thrones, and seated on
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them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed.

Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the
testimony of Jesus and for the Word of God, and those who had not
worshipped the beast or its image and had not received its mark
on their foreheads or their hands. Either the earth dwellers took
the mark of the beast or they were beheaded. Its interesting
that the people who behead people today are the Muslims. John
continues, they came to life and reigned with Christ for a
thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until
the thousand years were ended. They are raised from the dead as
many of these are Tribulation saints. Many are going to die for
Christ in that period. These tribulation saints are going to
essentially trade in 3 year for 1,000 years. John continues,
this is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who
shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has
no power, but they will be priests of God and Christ, and they
will reign with him for a thousand years. There are two
resurrections. The first resurrection began with the resurrection
of Christ, then his church, then the Old Testament saints and
then the Tribulation saints who had been beheaded. This first
resurrection is the resurrection of the saved. The second
resurrection is at the end of the 1,000 years and is the
resurrection of the lost. The second resurrection, then, is the
raising of all unbelievers; the second resurrection is connected
to the second death. It corresponds with Jesus teaching of the
resurrection of damnation (John 5:29). Daniel adds: At that time
shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And
there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a
nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered,
everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. And many of those
who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and
some to shame and everlasting contempt. Daniel 12:1-2. Isaiah 65
contains some good details on the millennium. There will be death
and sin in the millennium and it wont be heaven. The last nine
chapters of Ezekiel also deal with the millennium. John
continues, and when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be
released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations
that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to
gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea.
John continues, and they marched up over the broad plain of the
earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city,
but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil
who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur
where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be
tormented day and night forever and ever. Fire and brimstone came
down from heaven and this is exactly what happens in the Magog
invasion from Ezekiel. The beast (anti-Christ) and the false
prophet were thrown into the lake of fire 1,000 years prior to
the millenium when Jesus came back. Satan was put into prison for
1,000 years. 1,000 years later Satan is now out and leads a
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rebellion that gets squashed. Satan is now cast into the fire of
lake of fire and brimstone with his two buddies (beast/antiChrist and false prophet) who are still there. John continues,
then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The
first is called the bema seat. The bema seat does not determine
salvation that Christ paid for our salvation at the cross. The
bema seat / judgment seat refers to our rewards. At the judgment
seat of Christ, believers are rewarded based on how faithfully
they served Christ (1 Corinthians 9:24-27 and 2 Timothy 2 2:5).
The great white throne is something different as this is Gods
final judgment. These are the unsaved standing before God. John
continues, from his presence earth and sky fled away, and no
place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small,
standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another
book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were
judged by that was written in the books, according to what they
had done (the dead were judged by their works in the KJV). And
the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up
the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of
them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were
thrown into the lake of fire. This second death is the lake of
fire. And if anyones name is not found written in the book of
life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Hades is a temporary
place although the KJV translates hades as hell. Hades may mean
its where unbelievers go as a temporary judgment and are kept
until the Great White Throne judgment. The book of life is not
based on works. Those that are judged by their works are cast
into the lake of fire. Our works are inadequate.
Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the
authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who
had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of
God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had
not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to
life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. Revelation 20:4-5
And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was
thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:15
Revelation 21
The New Heaven and the New Earth
We move from the millennium in Revelation 20 to eternity in
Revelation 21. John starts, then I saw a new heaven and a new
earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away,
and the sea was no more. This is exactly what we pray from the
Lords prayer from Matthew 6: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your
name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:9-10. Thats what we are beginning to see here. The
first heaven and first earth are gone. Peter mentions a new
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heaven and new earth: But according to his promise we are waiting for
new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:13.
The chief characteristic of the new earth is the absence of the
sea. Therefore we have a new climate, atmosphere and living
conditions. It is impossible for the human mind to comprehend the
complete transformation which will take place in a new creation.
There will therefore be more land surface. John continues, and I
saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from
God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Very little in
scripture is said about heaven but here it is. This new Jerusalem
should not be identified by the earthly Jerusalem. The new
Jerusalem is the eternal home that is prepared for the church.
God brings heaven to earth in the New Jerusalem where he dwells
with his own for eternity. The new Jerusalem is where believers
in Christ will spend eternity. John continues, and I heard them
with a loud voice from the throne saying, Behold, the dwelling
place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will
be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He
will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no
more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain
anymore, for the former things have passed away. If there is no
more death, no more pain, no more sorrow where are the tears
coming that God is wiping away? Why would there be tears in
heaven? This could be referring to lost opportunities; that
person that I didnt talk to over the fence or someone I didnt
witness to enough. John continues, and he who was seated on the
throne said, Behold, I am making all things new. Also he said,
Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true. And
he said to me, It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the
beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring
of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will
have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
But as for the cowardly (fearful), the faithless, the detestable,
as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and
all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire
and sulfur, which is the second death. Notice the list here. The
fearful are listed first. The fearful here means the lack in the
fear and awe of God. The unbelieving are mentioned next. If we
dont fear or believe God, we will end up in the lake of fire.
The lake of fire is the final hell, the place of great eternal
punishment for all unrepentant rebels. Matthew adds: Then he will
say to those on his left, Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire
prepared for the devil and his angels. Matthew 25:41. John continues,
then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of
the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, Come, I will
show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb. And he carried me away
in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy
city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the
glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper,
clear as crystal. The city comes down out of heaven, but there is
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no suggestion that the heavenly city comes down to the earth.

Just how far down the city descends is a matter of speculation.
There are extreme views in interpreting the new Jerusalem. We
need to be aware that scripture says that the new Jerusalem comes
down out of heaven and some believers deny that. What may happen
is that either the earth or the new Jerusalem will become a
satellite to one another. John continues, it had a great, high
wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on
the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel
were inscribed on the east three gates, on the north three
gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. And
the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the
twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. There is a wall
around the city. The walls serve to demonstrate the peace it has.
There are twelve gates around the city and one each gate is the
name of one of the tribes of Israel. John continues, and the one
who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city
and its gates and walls. The city lies foursquare, its length the
same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000
stadia. Its length and width and height are equal. He also
measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also
an angel's measurement. The wall was built of jasper, while the
city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall
of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. And the twelve
gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single
pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent
glass. And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the
Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. The Lord will reside here in
the New Jerusalem with us. John continues, and the city has no
need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it
light, and its lamp is the Lamb. There will no need for sunlight
in the new Jerusalem. John continues, we have a new heaven and a
new earth and that the light of the earth is illuminated by the
city. We dont know. John continues, by its light will the
nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory
into it, and its gates will never be shut by dayand there will
be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the
honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor
anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who
are written in the Lamb's book of life. The real issue is that we
should be written in the Lambs book of life.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the
first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the
holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.- Revelation 21:1-2
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no
more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore,
for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:4
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 And he who was seated on the throne said, Behold, I am making all
things new. Also he said, Write this down, for these words are
trustworthy and true. And he said to me, It is done! I am the Alpha
and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give
from the spring of the water of life without payment. Revelation
21:5-7
But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers,
the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion
will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second
death. Revelation 21:8
And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of
God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations
walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its
gates will never be shut by dayand there will be no night there.
Revelation 21:23-25
But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is
detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book
of life. Revelation 21:27
Revelation 22
The River of Life, Jesus is Coming
Revelation 22 is the last of Gods words and therefore are
significant. John starts, then the angel showed me the river of
the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of
God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city;
also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its
twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves
of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Remember up to
this point there is no grass to sit upon (Rev 8:7), no green
tress to enjoy, and no water to drink (Rev 16:4). In the new
Jerusalem there is a river that is the water of life. God
supplies an abundance of water in the new Jerusalem. The tree of
life is a fruit tree bearing 12 kinds of fruit each month. John
continues, so longer will there be anything accursed, but the
throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants
will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on
their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no
light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and
they will reign forever and ever. The new creation will be marred
by sin. Sin will never be permitted. We also see here in the new
creation like mentioned in Revelation 21, that God will provide
the light, not the sun or the moon. God lights the universe by
his presence for God is light. For eternity the church will reign
with God and Christ. John continues, and he said to me, These
words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the
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spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants
what must soon take place. And behold, I am coming soon.
Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this
book. The book of Revelation is prophecy and here it says so.
Jesus tells us three times in this chapter that he is coming
soon. What he means by that is that these events we read in this
chapter are coming soon. John continues, I, John, am the one who
heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell
down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me,
but he said to me, You must not do that! I am a fellow servant
with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep
the words of this book. Worship God. And he said to me, Do not
seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is
near. This is in contrast to the book of Daniel. While the book
of Daniel tells us to seal up the book until the end, here John
tells us to not seal the words of the prophecy. John continues,
let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy,
and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.
Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to
repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the
Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the
right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the
gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually
immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and
practices falsehood. I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to
you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the
descendant of David, the bright morning star. The Spirit and the
Bride say, Come. And let the one who hears say, Come. And let
the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the
water of life without price. I warn everyone who hears the words
of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will
add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone
takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will
take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city,
which are described in this book. Chuck Smith said that the book
of Revelation is not to be messed with and this verse alone is an
obvious declaration of its legitimacy in scripture. It would be
stupid for anyone to suggest this book is an allegory and this
verse says that God will remove him from the book of life. Woah!
John continues, he who testifies to these things says, Surely I
am coming soon. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord
Jesus be with all. Amen.
No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and
of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will
see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be
no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will
be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. Revelation 22:3-5
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 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if
anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this
book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this
prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the
holy city, which are described in this book. Revelation 22:18-19

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