A THANKSGIVING/CHRISTMAS POEM

I had posted this poem for Thanksgiving but decided to add a Christmas addendum.  As we wait for Jesus to come and take us home, I think we should all be focused on honoring the LORD in all we do and say to thank Him for the priceless gift of our salvation!  May you have a blessed Christmas!

My heart is filled with joy and love

With thankfulness and praise

For God’s great love and mercy

Forgiveness, peace and grace!

Help me, Lord, to honor You

In all I do and say

To boldly share Your truth in love

And in Your hands be clay.

Help me imitate Your Son

Submissive to Your will

Serving without thought to self

Your plan for me fulfill.

Help me to reflect Your heart

And with You, Lord, to grieve

For those enslaved and bound by sin

Refusing Your Son to receive.

Help me, Lord, to hear Your voice

And quickly to obey.

May others look at me and see

Your love ever on display.

Christmas addendum…

Help me, Lord, to share the news

Of Jesus and the cross

Of His great love and sacrifice

A gift to all the lost

To those who place their faith in Him

The power to conquer sin

And a home with Him in heaven

With joy that never ends. 

CLARIFYING THE END TIME SCENARIO AS I SEE IT

I have listened to and read a great many teachings concerning end times, the rapture and the return of Jesus.  In that process, I have noticed that so many teachers use the same terminology but with different meanings.  This makes it difficult to compare apples to apples so to speak when seeking the truth.  I am no scholar, but I do believe that prayerful study has given me an understanding to this point that makes the prophetic puzzle pieces fit without trying to force them.  The purpose of this blog is to share with you accordingly.  I continue to seek God’s truth and will not hesitate to change my view if presented with biblical evidence that refutes and corrects it. 

I think there are many that are close-minded to considering the possibility that they may be wrong in any of the conclusions they have made in this area of study.  I think much of this resistance is a result of pride.  I pray I never fall into that trap.  My goal is to understand the truth of God’s word to the best of my ability as a Berean, those who searched the word daily seeking the truth.

Acts 17:10–11 “And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

This blog is not meant to be a comprehensive study; verse-by-verse book studies can be found at my website.  I will just be addressing those issues that resulted in changes in my understanding of this area of study.

Following is clarification of the terminology I will use:

• 70th week of Daniel = 7-year tribulation; “tribulation” for short
• Great tribulation = last 3.5 years of 7-year tribulation
• The tribulation is directed toward the Jewish people.
• The “day of the Lord” (aka the wrath of God) is directed toward the enemies of God throughout the world, toward unbelievers.  
• The “tribulation” and the “day of the Lord” are not interchangeable terms.
• The “tribulation” and the “day of the Lord” are largely concurrent.
• The “rapture” is when Jesus takes believers (both dead and alive) home to heaven to dwell with Him before God’s wrath.

The rapture is clearly identified in the following scriptures:

• John 14:2–3 “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
• ”1 Corinthians 15:51–53 “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”
• 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

Following are some verses that clarify that believers are not appointed to suffer God’s wrath; it is directed toward unbelievers.

• 1 Thessalonians 1:10 “And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.”
• 1 Thessalonians 5:9–10 “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.”
• Revelation 3:10 “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”

Regarding the book of Revelation, I believe that the book flows in a natural chronological order while including some explanatory sections that are necessary to understanding what follows.  

One of the first problems I encountered when first going through Revelation verse-by-verse on my own was chapter 4, the first explanatory section (including chapter 5) that sets the stage for the opening of the 7-sealed scroll.  I had always been taught that when John is caught up to heaven at the beginning of that chapter, it represented the rapture of believers.  The first thing that stood out to me was that Jesus was not present.  John 14 specifically tells us that when Jesus comes to receive us to Himself, we will be with Him.  Paul confirms that truth in his first letter to the Thessalonians (as shown above).  Other verses are very specific in stating that Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the Father; He was not there.

Jesus appears in chapter 5 as the Lamb that was victorious over sin and the grave.  It is then that He is privileged to take the 7-sealed scroll from God the Father.

We must keep in mind that heaven’s perspective of time is very different from earth’s perspective.  2 Peter 3:8 “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”

The signs that Jesus identifies as birth pains in Matthew 24 mirror the first five seals of Revelation 6, and I think their connection is too strong to be ignored.  These signs are not part of the tribulation period; they precede the tribulation as previously defined.  I believe Jesus has opened these seals as evidenced in history since His return to heaven.  I do not claim to know the earthly timeframe of the opening of each seal, but their impact is evident and ongoing in our world today.  Just as birth pains increase in frequency and intensity before a woman gives birth, the signs that are evident today are increasing in frequency and intensity throughout the world today.

Regarding the martyrs that are referenced in the opening of the fifth seal, it makes sense (to me) that this is a reference to all the martyrs of the church age, an age that will end with the rapture.  

Christians are promised deliverance from God’s wrath.  This does not negated the fact that Christians have and will suffer tribulation and persecution as declared by Jesus and recorded by John until Jesus comes to take them home in the event called the rapture.

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”  (The Greek for the word “tribulation” includes persecution.)

It is the opening of the sixth seal that identifies the beginning of God’s wrath (called “the wrath of the Lamb” in obvious reference to Jesus who is God in flesh).

Revelation 6:16–17 “And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?”

It is at this point that we can say with certainty that the rapture has previously occurred or is occurring in conjunction with the opening of the sixth seal.   

The LORD never leaves Himself without a witness on earth, so it is natural that the 144,000 witnesses are sealed at the beginning of chapter 7.  Note that since the 70th week is directed toward the Jewish people, these witnesses are from twelve tribes of Israel.  It also explains the reference to the great multitude of believers before the throne of God “which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues”—an obvious (to me) definition of the body of believers that have been raptured and delivered from God’s wrath.

I believe this sets the stage for the emergence and identity of the Antichrist through the signing of the 7-year covenant with Israel.

I believe Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians is clear in stating that the Antichrist will not be revealed until the Holy Spirit is “taken out of the way” and is no longer serving as a restraining power of evil.  The Holy Spirit cannot be taken out of the way without taking believers out of the way since He indwells every believer.

2 Thessalonians 2:7–8 “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And THEN shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:”  The word “letteth” is a reference to “holding down, retaining, withholding.” 

My conclusion, based on the above, is that the time of God’s wrath begins before the start of the tribulation which begins when the Antichrist signs the 7-year covenant with Israel.  This is as foretold by Daniel.

Daniel 9:26–27 “And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”

It is detailed in Revelation 11 that the two witnesses (I believe to be Elijah and Moses) will be on the scene for 1260 days before “the beast” is allowed to kill them.  I believe this indicates that they will be serving during the first half of the seven years before Satan indwells the Antichrist and is given full reign for the last 3.5 years.  However, we know that the world will witness their resurrection 3.5 days later.

Revelation 11:8–12 “And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.”

Satan, identified as the Dragon, is thrown out of heaven in chapter 12 and emerges on the scene in chapter 13 as the power behind the beast that rises from the sea, the Antichrist.  As stated above, he will rule without restraint for 3.5 years, the time known as “the great tribulation.”

Revelation 13:5 “And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.”

Matthew 24:15–21 “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) ….then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”

It is during this last 3.5 years that the Antichrist will desecrate the temple by going there to declare himself to be God (as referenced in the above scripture) and will implement the mark of the beast that will be required for anyone to buy or sell.

2 Thessalonians 2:3–4 “…and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”

Revelation 13:16–17 “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”

I will have to admit that I did not expect to witness the foreshadowing of the mark of the beast before the rapture.  However, my expectations have no bearing on the truth.  Wrong expectations can lead to all kinds of problems if we allow them to.  I am not sitting around worrying about what is going to happen next.  I know that my LORD is in control and that everything is going to unfold according to His plan.  Maybe the Holy Spirit will reveal yet more to give me better understanding if I keep an open heart to listen as I continue to study God’s word…and maybe not.  I just KNOW that the signs around me are shouting that Jesus is returning very soon—and I can’t wait!

I pray that you have accepted the gift of salvation that the LORD so freely offers and are ready for His return.  

Come, LORD Jesus!

SOME THOUGHTS FROM TOZER’S “PURSUIT OF GOD”

“Lord, teach me to listen.  The times are noisy and my ears are weary with the thousand raucous sounds which continuously assault them.  Give me the spirit of the boy Samuel when he said to Thee, ‘Speak, for thy servant heareth.’   Let me hear Thee speaking in my heart. Let me get used to the sound of Thy Voice that its tones may be familiar when the sounds of earth die away and the only sound will be the music of Thy speaking Voice.”

“Faith is occupied with the Object upon which it rests and pays no attention to itself at all. While we are looking at God, we do not see ourselves—blessed riddance.”

“We are right when and only when we stand in a right position relative to God, and we are wrong so far and so long as we stand in any other position.”

“Jesus never uttered opinions.  He never guessed; He knew, and He knows.”

“The meek man cares not at all who is greater than he, for he has long ago decided that the esteem of the world is not worth the effort….He knows well that the world will never see him as God sees him and he has stopped caring.”

INSIGHT FROM THE PROPHET JEREMIAH

Jeremiah 6:13 ““Because from the least of them even to the greatest of them, Everyone is given to covetousness; And from the prophet even to the priest, Everyone deals falsely.”

Jeremiah 9:6 “Your dwelling place is in the midst of deceit; Through deceit they refuse to know Me,” says the LORD.”

One of the main reasons that God judged the nation of Israel and sent them into captivity in Babylon was because they had followed the direction of their deceitful leaders.  Even worse, this deceit was being perpetrated by those that were supposed to represent God to the people.  I am afraid that is true in so much of what is called Christendom throughout the world today.  And it is surely true of the leaders of governments throughout the world—leaders who are themselves deceived by the great deceiver, the father of lies, Satan himself.  

John 8:42–45 “Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.”

The Apostle Paul warned Timothy that evil men with the intent to seduce people with their lies and deceit would become more and more prevalent in the last days before the return of Jesus—and that is certainly evident in our world today.

2 Timothy 3:1 & 13 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come….But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.”

Jeremiah points out that the LORD had faithfully tried to get His people’s attention with judgments that should have caused them to grieve and change their ways.  It didn’t work because the people had hard hearts and refused to respond in repentance and faith.  I believe that the same can be said today—especially in America.

Jeremiah 5:3 “O LORD, are not Your eyes on the truth? You have stricken them, But they have not grieved; You have consumed them, But they have refused to receive correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; They have refused to return.”

Jeremiah also revealed God’s desire to relent from judgment against a nation if they would just turn from their evil ways.  

Jeremiah 18:7–10 “The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it.”

Jeremiah also warns, however, that there comes a point in time at which judgment becomes certain, and God will not even acknowledge prayers made on behalf of a nation.

Jeremiah 7:16 “Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee.”

Jeremiah 11:14 “Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble.”

Jeremiah 14:11–12 “Then the LORD said to me, ‘Do not pray for this people, for their good. When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.’”

That is a very scary thought.  We are to keep on praying for God to soften hearts and bring people to repentance because we do not have specific instructions from God not to pray.  These verses point out, however, that there comes a time when God will no longer honor such prayers.  The people’s hearts are so hard that God will no longer delay judgment.

I look on with both grief and joy as I witness all that is occurring in our world today, especially in my nation.  I grieve over the growing influence and control of the forces of evil, yet rejoice that the signs according to scripture declare that Jesus is coming soon to take His family home to heaven.  There are still many of my friends and loved ones that need to come to saving faith in the Savior, and I don’t want one of them to miss out on the blessings of salvation.  Yes, I am eager for the LORD’s return; but I know that His timing will be perfect and that every day He delays is because He doesn’t want anyone to perish and miss out on those blessings either.

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

If you do not truly know my Savior, I pray that you will ask Him to forgive you of your sins and accept His gift of salvation today.  Secure life in the presence of the LORD forever!

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

Luke 24:46–47 “Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”

Isaiah 55:6–7 “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”

A WORD OF EXHORTATION

I just finished reading C. S. Lewis’ space trilogy and was amazed at how pertinent it is to the times in which we live—times that are growing spiritually darker by the day.  From a selfish perspective, it’s hard to be patient and wait for the LORD to come and take us home.  We  need to take our focus off of self and keep it on the LORD.  We need to look at this world through His eyes and grieve over the millions that have rejected His gift of salvation.  Peter gives us God’s perspective, the perspective that we should all embrace as we wait for His return.

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

With that in mind, we should be doing everything we can to spread the good news of salvation and to encourage one another to grow in faith and obedience through spending time in God’s word and in prayer.  We also need to hang on to the precious promises in scripture such as the words of Jesus as recorded by John.

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

We are going to face hard times in this world, and those times will become ever more difficult as His return nears.  However, we know the outcome of the war against the forces of good and evil, against God and His armies and Satan and his armies.  The LORD Jesus will one day in the not too distant future establish His throne as King of kings in Jerusalem to rule the world.  The forces of evil will no longer be allowed to exert their influence as He rules with a rod of iron in righteousness.

So, dear brothers and sisters in Jesus, keep your mind fixed on Jesus and trust Him completely.  The LORD is in control and nothing will touch His children that He does not turn to good! 

WHAT DO WE AS CHRISTIANS OWE GOD?

The verses below answer the question in the title above.  Our salvation was bought at the greatest cost possible to God the Father--the sacrifice of His Son Jesus.  In light of that truth, we owe Him more than we can ever repay.  At the very least, we should love the LORD with all of our being and strength!!

 

THE RAPTURE, THE ANTICHRIST, THE DAY OF THE LORD

I think I must preface this post by stating that I believe the first five seals of Revelation 6 have already been opened.  The first four seals mirror the signs identified as birth pains in the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24 and Mark 13).  I do not intend to expound on that belief at this time, but it may affect the language I use considering the predominant pretribulational teaching.  (Detailed explanation of my understanding can be found at my website in my journal on Revelation.)  My purpose for this study is clarifying the order of events concerning the rapture, the day of the LORD and the revealing of the Antichrist.

The Rapture = When Jesus gathers believers to Himself and transforms us to immortal incorruptible bodies.

the day of the LORD = The appointed time that God will pour out His wrath and exact His vengeance on all that is wicked and evil on planet earth.

the Antichrist = The man of sin that Satan will use and eventually indwell to establish his throne of power over the whole of planet earth—a time limited by God to the last 3.5 years before Jesus comes to establish Himself on the throne of David as King. 

I must also clarify that I believe “the day of the LORD” (the wrath of God) and the seven years that we commonly refer to as “the tribulation” (aka the time of Jacob’s trouble and the 70th week of Daniel) are two separate but predominantly concurrent events with specific purposes.  As stated before, I believe “the day of the LORD” is the designated time that God will exact His wrath on all that is wicked and evil on planet earth.  The “tribulation” is the last seven years before Jesus returns as King, and the signing of the covenant as foretold in Daniel 9:27 marks its beginning.  

Daniel 9:26–27 “…and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary….And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week….”

This seven-year period is directed toward the people of Israel as a refining fire to produce a purified remnant of believers that accept Jesus as the Messiah and through whom the LORD will fulfill His covenants with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David concerning possession of the Promised Land and the Davidic dynasty.  Jesus described the last 3.5 years of the seven as “great tribulation,” a time worse than any other the world has or will experience.

Matthew 24:21–22 “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.”

I do want to clarify that I am seeking to understand the truth of scripture and use many teachers and resources in the process.  I believe that God will hold me accountable for what I share with others.  I am not seeking to please anyone but the LORD and only want to ensure to the best of my ability that I am sharing truth. 

2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition….”

There is a teacher I listen to that uses this scripture to teach that believers will know who the Antichrist is.  

As I read these verses, I understand that two things must happen before “the day of the Lord” (the time of God’s wrath) begins— 1) “our gathering together unto Him” (the Rapture) and 2) the man of sin must be revealed.

Revelation 6:17 identifies the opening of the sixth seal as the beginning of the “wrath of the Lamb” (the day of the Lord).  

Revelation 6:16–17 “Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?”

Scripture is very clear that the believer will not suffer God’s wrath; therefore, the rapture must precede the sixth seal or occur concurrent to it.  As far as I can see based on all my studies, the first thing that identifies the Antichrist will be the signing of the covenant referenced in Daniel 9:27.  Taken in conjunction with verse 3 of 2Thessalonians, I must conclude that the signing of the covenant also occurs before the sixth seal.  

If we stopped here, I can see the possible basis of this man’s teaching.  However, Paul goes on to tell us more.

2 Thessalonians 2:6–9 “And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders….””

The Greek for the word withholdeth states “to hold down…retain.”  The same Greek word is translated letteth in verse 7.  In other words, there is a force in the form of a being that is “holding down” or preventing the revealing of the Antichrist.  That being has to be stronger than Satan, the power behind the Antichrist.  I believe the only possible conclusion is that this is a reference to the Holy Spirit—who is now indwelling the body of believers.  Only after the Holy Spirit is “taken out of the way” will the Antichrist be revealed.  For the Holy Spirit to be taken out of the way, the body of believers must be taken out of the way.  That will happen when the LORD gathers His people together in the rapture.

My conclusion of the order of events based on this passage—1) the Rapture, 2) the Antichrist is revealed by the signing of the covenant, 3) the day of the Lord, God’s wrath, begins with the opening of the sixth seal.

This, of course, negates the possibility of the rapture occurring in conjunction with the sixth seal as I had previously considered possible.

America, The Fading Beacon

America the beautiful

Once the sweet refrain

A time when God was honored

Before this age of shame

A time we treasured freedom

All across the land

That many fought and died for

To keep our nation grand

Our country was a beacon

Of liberty and law

A place to fulfill dreams

A place of hope for all

The beacon light is fading

We’ve turned our backs on God

Rejecting His great truth

As on His name we’ve trod

No longer do we honor

The sanctity of life

Our leaders stoke the fires

Promoting racial strife

Common sense has vanished

Morality despised

Everyone is doing

What is right in their own eyes

It’s like the days of Noah

Evil powers are in control

But there’s still a faithful remnant

Fighting hard for people’s souls

My heart is grieved and saddened

At my nation’s fall from grace

But scripture’s very clear that

In end times we have no place

The whole world now is reeling

Convulsing with the pains

That signify His soon return

As King of kings to reign

Keep looking up dear child of God

It’s clear He’s coming soon

To take His family home to heaven

Before earth meets her doom

THE BOOK OF REVELATION CHAPTER SUMMARIES

These summaries are a result of my studies in the scripture.  Detailed explanations including biblical support for my views can be found in my journal on Revelation at www.momsbiblejournal.com.

Revelation 1

An introduction to Jesus Christ, the Son of God, in His glory and His instruction to John to inform the churches of what he has seen and what the future will hold.

Revelation 2

Letters to the churches at Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos and Thyatira.

• Ephesus is the church that left its first love.
• Smyrna is the church that is poor in the eyes of men but rich in the eyes of God.
• Pergamos is the church in the very midst of Satan’s stronghold, where false doctrine prevails.
• Thyatira is the church that has no discernment and allows a false prophetess to teach the doctrines of Satan to its members.

Revelation 3

Letters to the churches at Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.

• Sardis is the church that appears to be thriving but is spiritually dead.
• Philadelphia is the church that is committed to God and the truth of His word—but it has “little strength.”
• Laodicea is the lukewarm church that basically has no influence at all on the world around it.  It thinks it is rich, but it is spiritually bankrupt.

Revelation 4

This chapter provides a foundation of understanding by allowing John to witness events that set the stage for the last days as revealed in the rest of the book.  The last days began after the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus.  John is taken to heaven and sees the God the Father on His throne surrounded by myriads of angels.  A special group of 24 elders are seated around the throne; I often refer to them as the heavenly Supreme Court; Daniel refers to them as watchers.  Notice that Jesus (who was seated at the right hand of the Father when He returned to heaven) is not part of the picture.

Revelation 5

God the Father is holding a seven-sealed book that basically represents the authority to exact His vengeance, destroy Satan and establish His kingdom on planet earth.  At first, no one is found that is worthy to open the book.  Suddenly, “the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David….a Lamb as it had been slain” appears and takes the book.  This is obviously a picture of the Lord Jesus returning to heaven victorious over the grave.  A great worship service breaks out in heaven.

Revelation 6

The first six seals of the book are opened.  Note how the first four correspond to the birth pains described in Matthew 24.  I believe these seals are already open and these forces of evil are already at work.  Reminder—their impact will be like birth pains, increasing in frequency and intensity as the time for Jesus’ return approaches.

• I believe the opening of the first seal represents Satan going forth as an angel of light to deceive the nations through false teaching.  He will eventually attain worldwide dominance in the person of the Antichrist.
• The opening of the second seal releases an evil spiritual power with the purpose of provoking war and violence on planet earth.
• The opening of the third seal releases an evil spiritual power with the purpose of destroying the world’s economy and food supply.
• The opening of the fourth seal releases evil spiritual forces that are set on killing the people on earth by means of sword, hunger, death (a broad category) and “beasts of the earth.” 
• I believe the opening of the fifth seal is a picture of all the martyrs of the church age that are waiting for Jesus to exact vengeance for their deaths.
• The opening of the sixth seal is declared to be “the wrath of the Lamb.”

Revelation 7

Since the word of God declares that the church will not suffer God’s wrath, it has been removed from the scene.  God never leaves Himself without a witness, so He selects 144,000 Jewish witnesses, sealing them with a protective mark in their foreheads.  Next, we see a great multitude of people from every nation, people, and language standing before the LORD on His throne and worshipping Him.  I believe this is a picture of the raptured body of believers in heaven.

Revelation 8

The seventh seal is opened and the first four trumpet judgments are announced.

• The seventh seal results in silence in heaven for a half hour followed by an angel throwing a censer to earth that causes the people on earth to hear voices and experience thunderings, lightnings and an earthquake.
• The blowing of the first trumpet causes great hailstones and fire from heaven to burn and destroy a third of the trees and all green grass on planet earth.
• The blowing of the second trumpet causes a great mountain burning with fire to fall into the sea, turning a third of it into blood.
• The blowing of the third trumpet causes a great burning star to fall from heaven that poisons a third of the rivers and fresh water sources.
• The blowing of the fourth trumpet causes a third of the sun, moon and stars to go dark.

Then an angel flies through the heavens loudly pronouncing a woe on the people of earth because of the coming three judgments.

Revelation 9

The next two trumpet judgments, the first two woes, are revealed.

• The first woe, the blowing of the fifth trumpet, reveals a spiritual being falling from heaven and releasing a great swarm of evil spiritual “locusts” that are given the power to sting the people on earth that do not have the seal of God in their foreheads.  Men will desire to die, but “death shall flee from them.”
• The second woe, the blowing of the sixth trumpet, releases four angels that have been bound at the Euphrates River until this specific point in time.  They gather an army of 2,000,000 that go out and kill “a third part of man.”  Still, men refuse to repent of their evil doings.

Revelation 10

In this chapter, a mighty angel (that I believe is Jesus) appears and gives John a book to eat that contains the message he is to give to the people on earth.

Revelation 11

We are introduced to the two witnesses that will prophesy for the first 1260 days (3.5 years) of the last seven years (the 70th week of Daniel) before Jesus returns to establish His kingdom.  No one will be able to harm them during this time, and anyone that tries will be killed with fire from their mouths.  At the end of their ministry, they will be killed and their dead bodies allowed to lie in the street in Jerusalem for 3.5 days.  People on earth will celebrate their death.  After 3.5 days, they will arise from the dead and ascend to heaven, causing a great earthquake that destroys a tenth of the city and kills 7,000 men.  This actually marks the end of the judgment of the second woe.

The third woe, the blowing of the seventh trumpet, reveals the temple of God in heaven being opened, noting that the ark of the covenant is there.  Once again those on planet earth experience lightnings, voices, thunderings, an earthquake and great hail.

Revelation 12

This chapter provides foundational information for understanding what follows.  The nation of Israel is pictured giving birth to Jesus the Messiah.  Satan (pictured as a dragon) was ready to destroy the child, but God the Father saves Him.  We are told that a third of the angels of heaven followed Satan in his rebellion.  Many of the Jewish people flee into the wilderness to a place prepared by God and are provided for and protected by God for the last 3.5 years of Daniel’s 70th week.  Michael and his angels throw Satan and his angels out of heaven once and for all; no longer can they accuse believers before God.  Satan is so angry that he begins to exact his wrath on the rest of the Jews that keep God’s commandments.

Revelation 13

We are introduced to the Antichrist, the beast from the sea, that is empowered (and I believe indwelt) by the dragon (Satan).  He is dealt a death blow from which he is miraculously healed, inspiring people to worship him.  He will be allowed to rule for 3.5 years.  We are also introduced to “another beast coming up out of the earth,” the false prophet.  He is empowered to do miracles in the presence of the Antichrist.  He encourages the making of an image of the beast, making a law that those who do not worship the image must be put to death.  He is also responsible for establishing the system that prevents anyone from  buying or selling unless they have the mark of the beast (666) on their right hand or forehead.

Revelation 14

This chapter pictures the 144,000 witnesses with the LORD Jesus, the firstfruits of the Jews that come to know Jesus as their Savior during the tribulation period.  An angel flying in the heavens declares the everlasting gospel to every person on earth.  A second angel follows him announcing the destruction of Babylon.  A third angel follows  loudly warning that anyone who worships the beast and receives his mark will suffer fiery torment forever.  A picture is given describing the final harvest that removes the wicked from the earth.

Revelation 15

Seven angels emerge, carrying the seven last plagues that mark the fullness of God’s wrath.  We also are given a picture of the victorious martyrs that suffered to the point of death for refusing to worship the beast or take his mark.  The seven angels are given vials full of the wrath of God to mix with the plagues.

Revelation 16

The seven vials of God’s wrath are poured out on planet earth.

• First vial - Sores appear on those that have received the mark of the beast.
• Second vial - The sea turns to blood, killing every living soul in the sea.
• Third vial - Fresh water sources turn to blood.
• Fourth vial - The sun scorches men with fire.
• Fifth vial - The kingdom of the beast turns dark.
• Sixth vial - The Euphrates river is dried up and the spirits of devils go to world leaders, convincing them to gather at Armageddon for war against God.
• Seventh vial - Again there are voices, thunders, lightning and the greatest earthquake ever since men were on earth.  Islands disappear, mountains are formed, and monstrous hailstones fall from heaven.

Revelation 17-18

The source of false religion is destroyed at the great city from which it originated—Babylon—avenging the blood of prophets, saints and all that suffered death for their faith in the LORD.

Revelation 19

Heaven rejoices over the destruction of Babylon.  Jesus returns to destroy the armies of Satan/Antichrist and establish Himself as KING OF KINGS.  The Antichrist and the False Prophet are thrown into hell.

Revelation 20

Satan is bound and cast into the bottomless pit for a thousand years.  The saints will rule with Jesus during that time.  After the thousand years, Satan is released and amazingly is able to gather a HUGE army; it is destroyed by fire from God out of heaven.  The LORD judges all that refused to accept His gift of salvation and condemns them to hell; this is known as the Great White Throne Judgment.

Revelation 21

God creates a new heaven and new earth, and the new Jerusalem, the home of the bride of Christ, descends from heaven.  The new Jerusalem is described—shining with the glory of God, having twelve gates and twelve foundations, measuring 15,000 miles in length, breadth and height.  Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life are allowed to enter.

Revelations 22

We are told that a river of the water of life flows from the throne of God and the Lamb (Jesus).  On each side of the river grows the tree of life, baring twelve kinds of fruits.  God’s glory provides sufficient light, negating a need for the sun.  Jesus, the son of David, appears and identifies Himself as “the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.”  He warns against tampering with the prophecy recorded by John.  Most important of all—He declares He’s coming quickly!  “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”