End Times 5 – Revelation 4:1-11 – Our Worship Of God In Heaven

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1. The words in the song of the opening video relate very closely to the message of this article. Consider what it will be like for us to be in the Presence of God. The reverence that is addressed in the song, and in the verses of this article, relate to the Holiness of God, and to the reverence that is due to Him, “by everyone.” Consider the message that the following paragraph about Translation Considerations.

a. “The New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation was chosen for this, and other studies, because of two main reasons. First, the NASB capitalizes the first letter of pronouns that relate to God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit); not all Bible translations show that same respect for God. Second, the NASB has a history of correctness in translation.” 

2. Have you ever wondered what you will do in Heaven? Of course, many people have no idea of the details of Heaven, e.g., where it will be, when it will be, and who will be there. We have discussed the details of Heaven in past articles; we will begin a review of those details, which will help us to understand the details of Revelation, Chapters 4 and 5, especially as to who will be there. Additionally, a better understanding of Heaven, and those who will occupy it, will help us to understand who will be in Heaven during Revelation, Chapters 6 through 19. As we learn more about Heaven, we will learn more about who will occupy “the eternal state of the new Heaven, new Earth, and new Jerusalem, of Revelation, Chapters 21 and 22, as the eternal state is introduced in Revelation 21:1-2.

3. In this article we will discuss the events that are recorded in Revelation 4:1-11, as to timing, events, and participants. Through this study of the Throne Room of God, we should gain an increased desire to be in constant worship of God. We should also come to understand that the primary purpose of mankind is not to lead souls to saving faith in Christ, but to glorifying God, whether, inside or outside of a Church sanctuary. If we don’t glorify God, soul winning can become an academic exercise, based on “how many people” may have led “how many other people” to Christ. However, whenever a soul is saved, God is glorified.

4. Consider the following verses, and also consider how many people do not heed the teaching that is made so very clear.

a. Ecclesiastes 12:12-13 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
12 But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.
13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.

5. Strong’s Hebrew And Aramaic Dictionary, shows a number of possibilities of meaning for “fear and God,” as they relate to Ecc 12:12. Consider the experience that Isaiah had when he came “face to face” with God.

a. Isaiah 6:5 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 5 Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined!Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”

6. Consider the Hebrew words for “fear and God,” as they relate to Ecc 12:12-13. “to fear, to revere, to frighten. There are other words that come from those root meanings See Strong’s Hebrew And Aramaic Dictionary meanings in the following two examples.

a. The Hebrew word for fear in this scripture is: 3372a, ye·ra. Its meaning is expressed in a number of words, to include: afraid (100), awesome (21), awesome acts (1), awesome things (4), became afraid (1), became…frightened (2), become frightened (1), cautious (1), dismayed (1), fear (165), fear and awesome (1), feared (36), fearful (1), fearful thing (1), fearfully (1), fearing (5), fears (9), frighten (4), frightened (1), have…fear (1), made me afraid (1), revere (10), revered (3), reverence (3), showed reverence (1), stand in awe (1), terrible (3), terrible things (1), terrifying (2). The parenthesis shows the number of times that the word is used.

b. The Hebrew word for God in this scripture is: 430. elohim. Its meaning is also expressed in a number of words, to include: divine (1), divine being (1), exceedingly (1), God (2326), god (45), God’s (14), goddess (2), godly (1), gods (204), great (2), judges (3), mighty (2), rulers (1), shrine* (1).

c. My thought of “fearing God,” is to have a loving fear, a reverence, for the creator of the universe, knowing that He can make things “start, stop, turn, spin, and be destroyed,” as well as many other things that only He can do. Let’s consider what it must have been like for the Apostle John, and the other “caught up” believers, as they were face to face with “Elohim,” (Gen 1:1).

7. In Rev 4, we see the God-head member being the Father, with His role being “Creator,” with the reason for His being worshiped due to His role in Creation (Rev 4:11).

8. Rev 5, we see the God-head member being the Son, with his role being “Redeemer,” with the reason for His being worshiped due to His role in Redemption (Rev 5:9, 12).

9. The events of Rev 4 and 5 show the events in Heaven, preceding and during the Godly judgments of the Tribulation (Seal, Trumpet, Bowl), which will be released on earth, “by God,” through the Lamb (the Risen and Glorified Christ) and the angels of God. Re: Rev 6:1 “Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals.” Re: 8:6-7. “6 And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them. 7 The first sounded, and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.” Re: Rev 16:1, “Then I heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”… We will go into greater detail of the judgments of God (Seal, Trumpet, Bowl), that will be poured out on the earth, which will affect all whom will be left behind from the “catching up” of the born again believers in Christ (Rev 3:10,”…the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” Born again believers in Christ have no need to be tested; “we” have passed the test by knowing Christ as our Lord and Savior.) The catching up of the believers in Christ is known as the rapture (English), harpazo (Greek), rapio (Latin); (John 14:2-6, 1 Corinthians 15:50-54, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

10. Rev 4:1 shows John at the “door standing open in Heaven.” John could only have had access to Heaven by having been born again (John 3:3, “you must be born again”). We, also, will be caught up to Heaven (after also having been born again). This view of Heaven is the same one that is described in John 14:1-6. Consider the following verses that relate to Heaven, and to a special place “in My Father’s house” in heaven, where Christ will be taking “His” bride (the born again believers in Christ), at the time of the rapture. Think! Christ will take His bride to a place in His Father’s house that will be specially made for His (Christ’s) bride. Let me add this thought. On the way to that specially built place in the Father’s house, the Bride will not be “brow beat” at the Judgment Seat of Christ, and will not be subjected to the Godly judgments of the Tribulation. Additionally, Scripture has no such promise for anyone, other than the born again believers in Christ, to being taken to “a specially prepared place” in “My Father’s house.” The promise is not made to the Old Testament saints or to the Tribulation saints; the promise is made only to those whom will be caught up in the resurrection and rapture of believers in Christ (John 14:2-6; 1 Cor 15:50-54; 1 Thes 4:13-18).

a. John 14:2 “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.” (Christ told the disciples that He was going to prepare a place in Heaven.)

b. John 14:3 “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” (Christ will prepare such a place in Heaven where He will His take born again believers.)

c. John 14:6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. (This verse is often related to faith in Christ as being the only way to heaven, which is true. But, the words in the verse show this to be an event of action, where Christ will take His born again believers to Heaven, and that He is the only one who can take His believers to Heaven.)

11. The Heaven that Christ describes in John 14:2-6, is the place where all raptured saints will be taken after they have been caught up by Christ. On the way to Heaven (John 14:2-3), these born again saints will be taken to the Judgment Seat of Christ where they will receive spiritual rewards (2 Cor 5:10). I like the wording of the HCSB, which also capitalizes pronouns that refer to God.

a. 2 Corinthians 5:10 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
10 For we must all appear before the tribunal of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or worthless.

b. From the Judgment Seat of Christ, we are on our way to an eternity with our Lord. On our way to Heaven (as is described in John 14:2,3), as we are taken by Christ (John 14:6), we and Christ are present at the Marriage of the Lamb.

(1) Revelation 19:7-8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Marriage of the Lamb
7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” 8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

(2) The born again believers in Christ are the Bride of Christ, and are clothed in righteousness (no need to go through the Tribulation).

(3) 2 Corinthians 11:2 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.

12. While the righteous Bride of Christ is present in Heaven with Christ, the following events will take place.

a. Revelation, Chapters 4-5 will precede the Tribulation. The “One” sitting on the throne (Rev 4:2) is God, the Father. The twenty-four elders (Rev 4:4) are the redeemed, whom are the raptured born again believers in Christ. Israel is not included in the number of the twenty-four elders; they will not be redeemed until they call on Christ to save them at the end of the Tribulation (Psalm 118:26/Matt 23:39/Zech 12:10). The seven Spirits of God (Rev 4:5) represent the fullness of God (John 4:24, “God is Spirit;” not, God is a spirit, which would make Him being “one of many spirits.”). The four living creatures (Rev 4:6) are angels, probably Cherubim (Ezek 10:15-20). The redeemed saints (body of Christ) will worship God (the Father), and cast “their” crowns at the feet of God (the Father), in Rev 4:9-11.

13. We will now discuss the crowns that we will “throw, or cast” at the feet of God.

a. Will we throw “our” crowns at the feet of God, and “leave them there” or, will we pick them up, and cast them at the feet of God again? Will we have only one occurrence of such worship (Rev 4:9-11) during the seven years of tribulation, when we are in heaven, when we will “fall down before God” (vs 10), and “cast our crowns before God,” (vs 10), and say, ““Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created” (vs 11)? I think not.

b. Let’s consider the crowns.

(1) 2 Cor 5:10 a, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body”

1. The Imperishable Crown – (1 Corinthians 9:24-25)
2. The Crown of Rejoicing – (1 Thessalonians 2:19)
3. The Crown of Righteousness – (2 Timothy 4:8)
4. The Crown of Glory – (1 Peter 5:4)
5. The Crown of Life – (Revelation 2:10)

(2) The crowns that we cast at the feet of God are “our crowns.” I believe that we will continue in our worship of God in Heaven throughout the entire seven year period of time of the Tribulation, and that we will repeatedly cast our crowns at the feet of God. Scripture shows that the crowns are our crowns, as follows.

(3) Rev 2:10, “I will give you the crown of life.”

(4) Rev 3:11, “hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown.” (Salvation can not be lost, but a crown can be (lost), 2 John 8, “Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward.”

14. The events of Revelation, Chapters 4 and 5, take place after the rapture of the church and before the time of the Tribulation.

15. The events that follow Revelation, Chapter 5, take place during Revelation, Chapters 6 through 19, which are the Tribulation’s seven years.

16, In Matt 24:3, “the disciples came to Christ “privately,” saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” (Notice that the conversation is only among Christ and His disciples; no Gentiles are present.)

a. The events of Matthew, Chapters, 24:3-25:46, take place during Revelation, Chapters 6-19. The Ryrie Study Bible states that Matt 24:29-31 speaks of the sign of “Christ’s coming.” (second coming, mine) 25:4-28 speaks of the sign of the end of the age. Verses 4-14 list characteristics of the first half of the Tribulation period, whereas verses 15-28 deal with the second half (of the Tribulation, mine). This passage is called the Olivet discourse, which was given by Christ (a Jew), to His disciples (also Jews), about Jews in the Tribulation. For example, are we concerned about, “fleeing Judea to the mountains, and if our flight will happen on a Sabbath?” (Matt 24:16-18). Such things will be of significance to the Jews that will have been left behind from the rapture, and who will be experiencing the persecutions and judgments that will be taking place during the Tribulation.

b. During Rev 6-19, the raptured, born again believers in Christ, will be in Heaven worshiping God. At the call of Israel to Christ to save them, (at the end of the Tribulation, Zech 12:10), Christ, His Bride and angels, will descend to earth for the Battle of Armageddon (Rev 19:11-21), where He will stand on the Mount of Olives, and defeat the forces of the world that are attacking Israel (Zech 14:1-15) (Consider China in Rev 16:12.) The battle victory will come quickly (Rev 19:15).

c. Christ and His believers of all times will rule and reign for 1,000 years (Rev 20:4, Tribulation resurrected martyrs); (Dan 12:1-3 and Matt 19:28, Old Testament resurrected saints); (1 Cor 6:2, Church age saints).

d. At the end of the 1,000 years (millennium/Kingdom Age), those whom have not been born again, from all of the ages, will be cast into the lake of fire (Rev 20:15). The born again believers of all ages will enter the Eternal State of the New Heaven, New Earth and New Jerusalem (Rev 21:1-2). At this time the New Jerusalem, which has been hovering above the earth, will begin its ascent to our present earth, which will have been destroyed by God.

e. 2 Peter 3:10 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
A New Heaven and Earth
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.

17. Considering Heaven.

a. Three heavens are described in 1 Cor 15:40: the first heaven, “terrestrial,” is where the birds fly; the second heaven, “celestial,” is where the astronauts fly; and the third heaven, being the Presence of God, is where God “doesn’t need to fly.”

b. The Apostle Paul described his trip to the Presence of God. In the following passage; Paul is the man.

c. 2 Corinthians 12:1-4 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Paul’s Vision
1 Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows— 4 was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.

d. We must not forget the place, in “my Father’s house,” that Christ promised to His bride, His born again believers.

(1) John 14:2-3 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

(2) As stated above, it is in “The Father’s House” that Christ has been preparing a place for His Bride, whom are the born again believers in Christ. No such promise has been made to any other group of people in all of history. A bride is the joy of every bride groom. No loving bride groom is going to subject his bride to the persecution and judgments, as those which will take place during the Tribulation. Neither will a bride groom “stop off on the way to the wedding alter” to treat his bride with great disrespect, such as has been the teaching of many about the Judgment Seat of Christ.

e. The New Heaven will exist in the eternal state of the New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem (Rev 21:1-2).

18. Church! We are “the Bride!” We are special! Don’t let anybody tell you anything less about your place in Christ! If we are not raptured, we can not be taken to the Marriage of the Lamb in Heaven. If we are not “raptured and taken to Heaven,” we can not return with Christ from Heaven for the Battle of Armageddon. If the church is not raptured, we will be left on earth to go through the tribulation.

a. There are many people who are saying that we are in the Tribulation, because of COVID-19. I must add this thought. During 1918-1920, an estimated 500 million people from the South Seas to the North Pole fell victim to Spanish Flu. The deaths that we are experiencing now, are minuscule, in relation to the number of deaths that occurred during the Spanish Flu.
https://www.livescience.com/worst-epidemics-and-pandemics-in-history.html

b. The Tribulation can come only after a peace treaty is made between the anti-Christ and Israel.

(1) Jeremiah 30:7, “Jacob’s distress.” The coming days of Tribulation that will come upon all Israel (Jacob) [Ryrie Study Bible].

(2) Daniel 9:24:27, vs 27, “And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.” “he”. the anti-Christ, will make a pact with many (of the Jewish people) at the beginning of the Tribulation period. But “in the middle of the week” (i.e., 3 1/2 years later) anti-Christ will break his covenant and desecrate the Temple by demanding worship of himself in it. At Christ’s second coming, anti-Christ and his false prophet will be cast into the lake of fire (Rev 19:20). [Ryrie Study Bible]. {mine. No such pact has been made. No such temple exists.}

(3) Ezekiel 38:11, “the land of unwalled villages.” This passage relates to the peace in Israel during the period of anti-Christ’s short-lived treaty with them (Daniel 9:27), in the first half of Daniel’s 70th week. References to “unwalled cities” relate to that period of 3 1/2 years when Israel is secure under the protection of the world-ruling “prince that shall come,” called anti-Christ (Daniel 9:27). After anti-Christ turns on Israel, there is an escalation of hostility until the end of the 7 year time when this great force (38:10-12) comes to plunder Jerusalem and the Promised Land (vs 12). [MacArthur Study Bible]. {mine. Israel is not living in peace.}

19. Conclusion. The events of Revelation, Chapters 4 and 5, will occur after the rapture of the church occurs (Jn 14:2-6, 1 Cor 15:50-54, 1 Thes 4:13-18). The raptured church will not be on earth while the tribulation is taking place, but will be in Heaven worshiping God. We are not in the tribulation now. The anti-Christ has not made a peace treaty with Israel, which will mark the beginning of the Tribulation. Israel is not now living in peace.

20. Question. What is necessary for a person to be present during the worship of God, as explained in Revelation, Chapter 4?

a. We must be born again. John 3:3, “unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

b. We must have an intimate relationship with God the Father, through God the Son, being empowered by God the Holy Spirit. John 17:3,

“This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

21. Video Details. In The Presence Of Jehovah // Terry MacAlmon // Pikes Peak Worship Festival // Terry MacAlmon Official

22. More detailed information about this article can be obtained by viewing the following video teachings of Andy Woods (Th.M., J.D., Ph.D.).

a. Revelation Episode 19. Our Heavenly Destiny. Revelation 4:1-5.
b. Revelation Episode 20. True Worship. Revelation 4: 6-11.

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End Times 4 – Revelation 4:1-4 – John Caught Up To Heaven

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I. Subject.

A. End Times 4 – Revelation Chapter 4:1-4 – John Caught Up To Heaven

B. Video Support. Is John 14:1-3 a rapture passage? Details will be shown at the bottom of this page.

II. Translation Considerations.

“The New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation was chosen for this, and other studies, because of two main reasons. First, the NASB capitalizes the first letter of pronouns that address God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit); not all Bible translations show that same respect for God. Second, the NASB has a history of correctness in translation.”

III. Text. Revelation 4:1-4 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

A. Scene in Heaven.

1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.” 2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne. 3 And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads.

B. Comments. MacArthur Study Bible.

4:1(a) Come up here. This is not a veiled reference to the rapture of the church, but a command for John to be temporarily transported to heaven “in the Spirit” (see note on 1:10) to receive revelation about future events.

4:1(a)(1) 1:10 in the Spirit. This was not a dream. John was supernaturally transported out of the material world awake—not sleeping—to an experience beyond the normal senses. The Holy Spirit empowered his senses to perceive revelation from God (cf. Acts 10:11).

4:1(b) things which must take place after this. According to the outline given in 1:19, this begins the third and final section of the book, describing the events that will follow the church age.

4:1(b)(1) 1:19 This verse provides a simple outline for the entire book: “the things which you have seen” refers to the vision John has just seen (chap. 1); “the things which are” denotes the letters to the churches (chaps. 2, 3); and “the things which will take place after this” refers to the revelation of future history (chaps. 4–22).

4:2(a) I was in the Spirit. See note on 1:10. This was not a dream. John was supernaturally transported out of the material world awake—not sleeping—to an experience beyond the normal senses. The Holy Spirit empowered his senses to perceive revelation from God (cf. Acts 10:11).

4:2(b) throne. Not so much a piece of furniture, but a symbol of sovereign rule and authority (7:15; 11:19; 16:17, 18; cf. Is. 6:1). It is the focus of chap. 4, occurring 14 times, 11 times referring to God’s throne.

4:3 emerald. A cool, emerald-green hue dominates the multicolored rainbow surrounding God’s throne (cf. Ezek. 1:28). From the time of Noah, the rainbow became a sign of God’s faithfulness to His Word, His promises, and His Noahic covenant (Gen. 9:12–17).

4:3(a) Ezekiel 1:28 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
28 As the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking.

4:3(a)(1) Ezekiel 1:28(a) the glory of the LORD. That glory shines fully in the person of Jesus Christ (cf. 2 Cor. 4:6), which is a constant theme in Ezekiel.

4:3(a)(2) Ezekiel 1:28(b) fell on my face. John, in Rev. 1:17, had the same reaction to seeing the glory of the Lord.

4:4 twenty-four elders. Their joint rule with Christ, their white garments (19:7, 8), and their golden crowns (2:10) all seem to indicate that these 24 represent the redeemed (vv. 9–11; 5:5–14; 7:11–17; 11:16–18; 14:3; 19:4). The question is which redeemed? Not Israel, since the nation is not yet saved, glorified, and coronated. That is still to come at this point in the events of the end. Their resurrection and glory will come at the end of the 7-year tribulation time (cf. Dan. 12:1–3). Tribulation saints aren’t yet saved (7:9, 10). Only one group will be complete and glorified at that point—the church. Here elders represent the church, which sings the song of redemption (5:8–10). They are the over-comers who have their crowns and live in the place prepared for them, where they have gone with Jesus (cf. John 14:1–4).

C. Comments. Ryrie Study Bible.

1. 4:1 The things which will take place after these things.”

a. 4:1 These are the things which occur from 4:1 through 22:5.
b. 4:1 The Tribulation Period occurs from 4:1 through 19:21.
c. 4:1 The throne in heaven is discussed in 4:1 through 4:11.
d. 4:1 The throne is discussed in 4:1-4:3.

2. 4:1 Ryrie comments on 4:1. Here begins the third section of the book (see 1:19 and note there) describing what is yet future. This section can be divided into three parts: the coming Tribulation (chaps. 6-19), the Millennium (chap. 20), and the new heaven and new earth (chaps. 21-22).

3. 4:2 “I was in the Spirit.” as in 1:10.

4. 4:4 “twenty-four elders.” Some understand this to be angelic beings, though it is likely that the 24 elders represent redeemed who are glorified, crowned, and enthroned. Angels are never said to be given crowns, though believers are (2 Tim 2:8; James 1:12; 1 Peter 5:4; Rev 2:10).

D. My comments. I will touch on one aspect of Revelation 4:1, “Come up here.”

1. 4:1 “Come up here.” John is shown in this verse, which is not the first account in the Bible of someone being caught up to Heaven. We will discuss other instances of such “raptures” in the following verses.

4:1(a) Gen 5:24. Enoch was caught up to Heaven.
4:1(b) 2 Kings 2:1. Elijah was caught up to Heaven.
4:1(c) Acts 1:9 Christ was caught up to Heaven. He will return to earth at the end of the tribulation (Matt 24:30; Rev 19:11-21; Zech 14:1-4).
4:1(d) Acts 8:38-40. Philip was snatched away from the place where he had baptized the Ethiopian, to the city of Azotus where he began to tell others about Christ.
4:1(e) 2 Cor 12:1-3. Paul was caught up to the Presence of God, in the third heaven, and came back to earth.
4:1(f) Rev 11:11-12. The two witnesses, whom will be murdered in Jerusalem, will be raised to life, and be told “Come up here.” They will be taken to the Presence of God.

2. 4:1 All of the above people whom were taken to the Presence of God, and made that trip in perfect resurrected bodies, soul and spirits.

4:1(a) In order for anyone to appear before God, whom is Holy, such a person must also be Holy.
4:1(a)1 1 Cor 15:50. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

3. 4:1 John 3:3. “You must be born again…to see the Kingdom of God.” A person having a flawed spirit (this applies to all whom have ever been conceived) must be given a spirit that is “without flaw,” that is as righteous as the Spirit of God. All whom are in the Presence of the Risen Christ must be, and will be, as Holy as Christ, “body, soul and spirit.” The born again experience causes the spirit of those whom have been born again to dwell within the Spirit of God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). Also, the Spirit of God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) will dwell within the spirit of each born again believer in Christ. No person whom has not been born again has any place in the Presence of God, nor can reside within the Spirit of God.

4. 4.1 All of those whom have been identified as being taken to the Presence of God have had one satisfied condition in common: John 3:3, Ezekiel 36:24-29, 2 Cor 5:17; they were all born again, and possessed a resurrection body and soul (soul is our consciousness, emotion, mind). In essence, each of them had Godly provided resurrection bodies.

4:1(a) John 14:20. “In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.”
4:1(b) 2 Cor 5:17. “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” The new creature is the new born again spirit, which is as pure as the Spirit of Christ.
4:1(c) 2 Cor 5:21. ” He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” The born again spirit dwells within the perfect Spirit of God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). Christ did not sin, but was made to “be sin” so that He could pay the sin debt for everyone whom has been born again (Rom 3:23, 6:23, 5:8).
4:1(d) Col 1:27. “…Christ in you, the hope of glory.” The perfect Spirit of Christ will dwell within the perfect spirits of all whom have been born again.
4:1(e) 1 John 3:2 “We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.” Christ is perfect; born again believers in Christ will be “just like Him;” “Holy!” “Body, soul, and spirit” (1 Thes 5:23).
4:1(f) 1 John 3:5-6 ” 5 You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.” After we have been born again, there is no sin within our born again spirit. When we come face to face with God, our total, “body, soul and spirit” will be as sinless, and without defect, as God; there is no sin in God, and there will be no sin in His born again believers.

5.4:1 An event will take place that will cause millions of born again believers in Christ to be taken to the Presence of God. The event is called the “rapture” (English), “harpazo” (Greek), and “rapio” (Latin), which means “to catch up,” or, “to snatch away.” https://biblehub.com/lexicon/1_thessalonians/4-17.htm

5.4:1(a) John 14:1-6. “2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And you know the way where I am going.” 5 Thomas *said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” 6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”
5.4:1(a)(1) vs 2 Christ will be taken from this earth to prepare a place for all of His born again believers of the Church age to dwell with Him during the tribulation. vs 3. Christ will return to earth “in the air” to personally take His believers back with Him. vs 6. This verse is more than a “belief” scripture. It is an action statement of Christ personally taking His believers to Heaven with Him. The proof, which is often not believed, is that “only Christ” will take His believers to Heaven. Only church age saints will be caught up and taken to Heaven. At the end of the Kingdom Age, the “new heaven, new earth, and new Jerusalem,” will be made the dwelling place of all born again believers “of all times.” The new Jerusalem, which will have been hovering above our present earth, ever since John 14:2, will come down from Heaven (Rev 21:1-2).
5.4:2(a) 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18. “16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
5.4:2(a)(1) vs 16 Christ comes from Heaven. Deceased believers in Christ will be resurrected from their places of death. vs 17 Living believers will caught up (raptured). Both, the deceased and living believers, will be caught up in the air and will always be with Christ. vs 18 This is a verse of comfort.
5.4:3(a) 1 Cor 15:50-53. “50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.
5.4:3(a)(2) vs 50 In order for us to be allowed into the Kingdom of God, we must be changed from “flesh and blood beings,” to “spiritual beings of perfection. vs 51 A mystery is a truth that had never been revealed, such as all deceased and living believers in Christ “will be given perfect resurrection bodies.” vs 52 the deceased saints will be resurrected, and the living saints will be “changed” and be given resurrection bodies. vs 53 Perfected dead and living believers will be given resurrection bodies that will never suffer from illness, and will never die.

6. When the Apostle Paul was caught up to the Presence of God, he mentions “the third heaven.” Let’s consider the three heavens, per the MacArthur Study Bible description of 2 Cor 12:2-4.

6.1 Since it took place 14 years before the writing of 2 Corinthians, the specific vision Paul relates cannot be identified with any incident recorded in Acts. It probably took place between his return to Tarsus from Jerusalem (Acts 9:30) and the start of his missionary journeys (Acts 13:1–3). caught up to the third heaven . . . caught up into Paradise. Paul was not describing two separate visions; “the third heaven” and “Paradise” are the same place (cf. Rev. 2:7, which says the tree of life is in Paradise, with Rev. 22:14, which says it is in heaven). The first heaven is the earth’s atmosphere (Gen. 8:2; Deut. 11:11; 1 Kin. 8:35); the second is interplanetary and interstellar space (Gen. 15:5; Ps. 8:3; Is. 13:10); and the third is the abode of God (1 Kin. 8:30; 2 Chr. 30:27; Ps. 123:1).

6.2 The three heavens are also described in 1 Cor 15:40: the first heaven, “terrestrial,” is where the birds fly; the second heaven, “celestial,” is where the astronauts fly; and the third heaven, being the Presence of God, is where God “doesn’t need to fly.”

7. As has been shown above, only church age born again believers in Christ will be caught up from earth to be with Christ in Heaven; they will remain there with Christ during the seven year tribulation period. At the end of the tribulation, Christ and His resurrected and raptured saints will descend from Heaven to earth for the Battle of Armageddon. For those whom will be left behind from the rapture, the words in 1 Thes 4:18 are meaningless to them: “comfort one another with these words.” Those whom will be undergoing God’s judgments during the tribulation will have words and feelings of grief, torment, and fear, as follows in Matt 24:29-31.

7.1 Matt 24:29-31 “29 “But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. 31 And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
7.1(a) vs 29 The rapture takes place before the tribulation. The second coming of Christ, as shown in these verses, comes at the end of the tribulation. There will be great cataclysmic disruptions. vs 30 The tribes of the earth are the Jews; they had rejected Christ as Messiah. The mourning comes from their knowledge of the Godly judgment that will come upon them, as well as upon unbelieving Gentiles. vs 31 Christ will send His angels to gather His elect (the Jews, Deu 14:2) from all over the world for judgment (Matt 24:40-41). Those whom came to belief in Christ will enter into the Kingdom Age. Those whom will still be in a state of unbelief will be taken in death to the end of the Kingdom Age for the Great White Throne Judgment, where they will be cast into the lake of fire (Rev 20:15).
7.1(b) Matt 24:40-41. 40 Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.
7.1(c). The ones whom are left, will be left to enter the Kingdom Age of the 1,000 year millennium. Those whom will be taken, will be taken to the great white throne judgment. In the rapture, the reverse will happen. Those “taken” will be taken from earth to be with Christ; those “left” will be left behind on earth to face the judgments of God, which will include the persecution of the anti-Christ.

8. In coming articles, we will discuss what will happen to people of the Old Testament, as they await eternal life with Christ or eternity apart from Christ. We will also discuss what will happen to those whom will be left behind from the rapture, as they also await eternal life with Christ or eternity apart from Him.

9. Video Data.

9.1 Is John 14:1-3 a rapture passage? May 29, 2009. John Ankerberg Show.

9.2 This clip is from our series “35 most asked questions concerning Bible Prophecy”. This clip answers the question: Why is John 14:1-3 a rapture passage?

IV. Conclusion.

A. The words that were spoken to the Apostle John in Rev 4:1, “come up here,” are of essential importance to all whom whom are present in the world today. Had the Apostle not “been born again,” he would not have received the call, and would not have taken the heavenly journey, that allowed him to be shown “what must take place after these things.” The key words “you must be born again,” are eternally important. The body of Christ is called to make known, to all whom they may meet, the truth of the following new birth scriptures.

1. A scripture of truth by Ezekiel to Jews in 587 B.C.

Ezekiel 36:24-29 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
24 For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land. 25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. 28 You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God. 29 Moreover, I will save you from all your uncleanness; and I will call for the grain and multiply it, and I will not bring a famine on you.

2. A scripture truth of Christ to Jews in 30 A.D.

John 3:3 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

3. A scripture truth of the Apostle Paul to the Church at Corinth in 60 A.D.

2 Corinthians 5:17 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

B. The message is clear, “you must be born again.”

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End Times 3 – Revelation 2-3 – Letters From Christ – The Rapture

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Subject. End Times 3 – Revelation 2-3 – Letters From Christ – The Rapture

I. Introduction.

A. Translation considerations. Text and Comments. The New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation was chosen for this, and other studies, because of two main reasons. First, the NASB capitalizes the first letter of pronouns that address God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit); not all Bible translations show that same respect for God. Second, the NASB has a history of correctness in translation. Comments will come from various sources, as noted.

B. Terms. Repetition will be used.

1. Revelation 1:1-20. New American Standard Bible (NASB), selected verses.

1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, 2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.

a. 1:1 The revelation. [ MacArthur Study Bible] The Gr. word from which the Eng. word “apocalypse” comes lit. means “to uncover, or to reveal.”

(1) {Mine} The whole Book of Revelation is “a revelation” (singular) of Christ, and “not a book of revelations,” (plural). [ MacArthur Study Bible. “apocalypse” relates to an “uncovering or revelation,” as opposed to “a happening,”].

(2) {Mine} The path of the revelation is from “God the Father,” to “God the Son,” via “Angel,” to “John the apostle, to seven churches.”

b. 1:3 The blessing. [ MacArthur Study Bible. This is the only biblical book that comes with a blessing for the one who listens to it being read and explained and then responds in obedience. {Mine} It is clear that many people who claim to be believers in Christ are ignorant of the facts of the Book of Revelation.]

c. 1:3. The reality of imminency. “for the time is near.” [Walvord Commentary note. “For the time is near.” The Greek word for “time” here is “kairos,” which means a season of time in contrast to the term “hour,” which means time on a calendar or clock. The next great event on God’s prophetic calendar, the imminent return of Christ to rapture His church, is near from the standpoint of prophetic revelation and could occur at any moment.] {Mine. It is important to remember the term, “imminency,” when we consider the seven churches of Revelation 2-3.}

d. 1:4. The distribution. “John to the seven churches that are in Asia.”

(1) 1:11. Instructions to John. “Write in a book what you see, 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 to Laodicea.” [Mine. Notice the names of the recipient churches that are included in this verse. Notice that the church at Rome is not named, even as being an “info-addressee.”] { MacArthur Study Bible. “book” is a Gr. word that refers to a scroll made of parchment formed from papyrus.}

(2) 1:19. The order of things to be written. “Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things.” [ MacArthur Study Bible. This verse provides a simple outline for the entire book: “the things which you have seen” refers to the vision John has just seen (chap. 1); “the things which are” denotes the letters to the churches (chaps. 2, 3); and “the things which will take place after this” refers to the revelation of future history (chaps. 4–22).]

C. Looking back. [Mine. The instruction from Christ to the churches was for the churches to study “the revelation.” However, that instruction has largely fallen on deaf ears. Consider the reasons that pastors have given for not teaching the book of Revelation, or the other books of prophecy that give scriptural support for a Revelation teaching. If anyone finds it difficult to understand the Book of Revelation, please allow me to recommend that you purchase two invaluable study tools. First, The Ryrie Study Bible provides information that is “quick, and to the point.” Second, the MacArthur Study Bible, provides notes that go into much greater detail than any other study Bible that I have ever seen.]

D. Looking forward. [Mine. Revelation, Chapters 2 and 3, point to situations that have existed within churches, from the time that the revelation was given to the Apostle John, until today. Such church conditions will continue until the day that Christ comes to catch up His born again believers and takes them to Heaven with Him. Following the rapture (1 Thes 4:16-17), the anti-Christ will make his presence known to the world; his motives will be revealed when he signs a peace treaty with Israel, at which time The Tribulation begins. Mid-way through the seven-year tribulation, the anti-Christ will break his treaty with the Jews, then, the Great Tribulation begins. Revelation Chapter 6 shows the seal judgments which Christ will send to earth; those judgments will include the anti-Christ and his deceptive influence and persecution upon those on the earth. Christ will use the force of seal, trumpet and bowl judgments to draw unsaved Jews, who were left behind from the rapture, to saving faith in Christ. The judgments of The Tribulation will be severe, becoming much more severe as the judgments follow, one after the other. Israel will see their demise as being imminent, meaning that it can happen at any moment. It will be when Jews call upon Christ to save them from utter destruction and annihilation, that Christ and his raptured believers will return from heaven to earth at the Battle of Armageddon. After Christ is victorious in this battle (Armageddon), The Great Tribulation will end, and the 1000 year millennial reign of Christ will begin (We will continue this timeline in following articles). After Revelation Chapter 3, the church is mentioned no more. The church will have served her purpose. With the church having been removed from the earth, God will then begin to deal with Israel, through the judgments that He will force upon the earth. God’s judgments will be experienced by everyone on the earth, from Revelation Chapter 6 until Revelation Chapter 20. It is important to know that it is God whom is in total control of the events of The Tribulation, and the Great Tribulation. It is the purpose of God that, by using His judgments of the seven-year Tribulation, Jews whom will be left behind from the rapture, may call on Christ to save them. It is also important to remember that the judgments of the tribulation period are God’s judgments that He forces on the earth, and “are not” judgments of accident, or are judgments that are under the control of Satan and/or the anti-Christ.

E. All that is written in the above paragraph, D., is the reason that the Book of Revelation, “must be heard, and everyone must heed the things which are written in it,” (Rev 1:3). Because the letters of the Revelation were sent to churches, it is incumbent upon church pastors to ensure that the words of Revelation are made known to the members of each church (Rev 1:4).

F. The events of The Tribulation “will happen!” Many pastors are telling their congregations that “it is all an allegory.” Yet, the Book of Revelation is very clear as to its teaching having a literal meaning. Many pastors are also telling their congregations that Christians will have to go through The Tribulation, or some parts of it. Everyone needs to understand the love that exists between “Christ and His bride, the Church:” Eph 5:25 “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her.” No loving husband would put his bride in the midst of such judgments as those that will come upon the earth during The Tribulation.

G. Here is a word to remember: “imminency.” The Tribulation “will happen.” The “imminency” of The Tribulation can not be shoved aside. For something to be “imminent” means that its happening can occur “at any moment.” Imminency is the meaning of Rev 1:3, “for the time is near.”

II. Current lesson background. A discussion about the the seven letters that were written to the seven churches.

A. Imminency is a term that must be understood in the discussion of the churches that are shown in the Book of Revelation, Chapters 2 and 3.

B. The churches of Rev 2-3 are common in behavior among many congregations that have come into existence ever since the first church was established in Jerusalem, in A.D. 33. Because of the teaching of imminency (Rev 1:3), Christ could have returned to earth in the rapture, to take His born again saints to Heaven with Him, at any time after he ascended to Heaven (Acts 1:7, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority.”).

C. The following is a brief description of the churches of Rev 2-3.

Ephesus. Rev 2:1-7. Loveless… Smyrna. Rev 2:8-11. Persecuted… Pergamum. Rev 2:12-17. Compromised… Thyatira. Rev 2:18-29. Compromised… Sardis. Rev 3:1-6 Dead… Philadelphia. Rev 3:7-13. Missionary… Laodecia. Rev 3:14-22. Man-centered.

III. Lesson verses. Revelation 2:1-3:22.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+2%3A1-3%3A22&version=NASB

IV. Key verse.

A. Revelation 3:10 (NASB)

1. Verse. Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

2. My note. The verse was written to the Church in Philadelphia. However, the promise to that church is a promise to believers of all times. The promise relates to the pre-tribulation rapture of all born again believers in Christ (John 14:2,3,6; 1 Cor 15:50-54; 1 Thes 4:13-18).

3. The following commentary note comes from the MacArthur Study Bible.

3:10 keep you from the hour of trial. Christ’s description—an event still future that for a short time severely tests the whole world—must refer to the time of tribulation, the 7-year period before Christ’s earthly kingdom is consummated, featuring the unleashing of divine wrath in judgments expressed as seals, trumpets, and bowls. This period is described in detail throughout chaps. 6–19. The latter half is called “the Great Tribulation” (7:14; Matt. 24:21) and is identified as to time in 11:2, 3; 12:6, 14; 13:5. The verb “to keep” is followed by a preposition whose normal meaning is “from” or “out of”—this phrase, “keep . . . from” supports the pre-tribulational rapture of the church (see notes on John 14:1–3; 1 Cor. 15:51, 52; 1 Thess. 4:13–17). This period is the same as Daniel’s 70th week (see notes on Dan. 9:24–27) and “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (see notes on Jer. 30:7).

B. Consider earth dwellers.

1. Rev 3:10, “to test those who dwell on the earth.”

2. Revelation 6:10 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
10 and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”

3. Revelation 8:13 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
13 Then I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in mid-heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”

4. Revelation 11:10 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.

5. Revelation 13:8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.

6. Revelation 13:14 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who *had the wound of the sword and has come to life.

7. Revelation 17:8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
8 “The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come.

C. Earth dwellers are those whom will be left behind from the rapture of the Church; they chose earth over heaven, by refusing to know Christ as their Lord and Savior. During The Tribulation, earth dwellers will continue to defy God; they will have the opportunity to come to saving faith in Christ, but most will remain in their states of unbelief. Consider the account of Lazarus and the rich man in Luke 16:19-31. The rich man, whom is in Hades, makes a request concerning his family whom is still alive, but is surely also headed for Hades upon their deaths: “v. 30. if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!” v.31. But, the response to the rich man is: “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.” The earth dwellers whom continue to defy God during The Tribulation will have much of the mindset of the family of the rich man in Luke 16, even as the conditions of The Tribulation become increasingly more severe.

D. All born again believers in Christ have a heavenly citizenship that exists from the time of their new-birth.

Philippians 3:20-21 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

E. Nothing stands between us and the time that Christ will come in the air (rapture) to take His born again believers to Heaven with Him, both Jew and Gentile (John 14:2,3,6); “it can happen at any time.” After the rapture takes place, those whom will be left behind from the rapture, Jew and Gentile, will face the deception and persecution of the anti-Christ, as well as the the other judgments of God during the seven-year tribulation. God will bring the anti-Christ into power, and will bring about all of the other judgments of The Tribulation, in order that unbelieving Israel may be brought to saving faith in Christ (Matt 23:39; Zech 12:10).

V. Video details.

A. “What are the Prophecies that need to be Fulfilled before the Rapture? 100huntley. October 30, 2015.”

B. Dr. Ed Hindson, co-author of “Target Israel”, explains about the bible prophecies – what has been fulfilled and what is to come.

C. Credentials for Ed Hindson can be seen in my Page, “About Sources.”

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End Times 2 – COVID-19 – The Tribulation?

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Subject. End Times 2 – COVID-19 – The Tribulation?

Part I. Introduction.

A. Disasters, plagues and death. There have been many deaths in the history of our world that have been the result of disasters and plagues. There are many people who believe that significant catastrophic occurrences, including the current COVID-19 virus, are signs that we are in The Tribulation. There are many believers in Christ who also believe that they will be included in the great number of people who will be part of the tribulation population. This article will discuss, and refute, each of these non-factual theories and beliefs.

1. The following timeline of disasters date back to 3000 B.C. In 1887 China’s Huang Ho (Huang He, Yellow River) flooded and killed about 900,000 people. Up to 2.5 million people are thought to have drowned or died from disease and starvation. (Click onto the following link for more disasters. https://timelines.ws/subjects/Disasters.HTML

2. Plagues and epidemics have ravaged humanity throughout its existence, often changing the course of history. Throughout the course of history, disease outbreaks have ravaged humanity, sometimes changing the course of history and, at times, signaling the end of entire civilizations. Here are 20 of the worst epidemics and pandemics, dating from prehistoric to modern times. In the Spanish Flu: 1918-1920, an estimated 500 million people from the South Seas to the North Pole fell victim to Spanish Flu. One-fifth of those died, with some indigenous communities pushed to the brink of extinction. Click onto the following link for more plagues and epidemics. https://www.livescience.com/worst-epidemics-and-pandemics-in-history.html

a. People, whom were present in the above histories of disasters and epidemics, may have thought that either, the world was coming to an end, or that they were entering into The Tribulation. But, as history has proven, none of the plagues or disasters of the past, regardless of the number of associated deaths, have had any bearing on the order of events of the end times, of which The Tribulation is a key occurrence in Scriptural prophecy. Scripture will prove that this current COVID-19 tragedy has nothing to do with the end of the world or the beginning of The Tribulation. Comments will be made in this article on some basic scriptural reasons that should provide assurance that we are not in The Tribulation, and that the end of the world is also a prophetic Scriptural event that has no basis on “Mother Nature” or a lack of United Nations mandated climate control legislation. There is no Mother Nature.

b. In relation to The Tribulation, there must necessarily be a key figure to emerge, who will be known as the anti-Christ. There have been many figures in history, whom have been said to be the anti-Christ. It is amazing that a number of U.S. Presidents have been included in the anti-Christ list. The all-time most popular contender for the title of Antichrist was not any individual but an office, the Roman Catholic Papacy. The following link shows the list of those whom have been thought to be the anti-Christ. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/the-7-most-popular-contenders-for-the-antichrist/

c. This article will discuss whether the current COVID-19 virus is a part of the end times scenario of the anti-Christ and The Tribulation, which are tools of God to bring Israel, and Jews everywhere, to saving faith in Christ. It must be noted that the facts and conclusions that are stated in this article come from many years of end times study, and find mutual agreement with the facts and conclusions of the many highly acclaimed sources of information that can be found in my Page, “About Sources,” in this site. These sources have had many more years of end times study than I have had. They have studied the original languages of the Bible, of which I have not. I have found it is best, “not to reinvent the wheel.” J. Dwight Pentecost, Th. D., taught biblical subjects for over 60 years, and wrote many books relating to eschatology. Charles Ryrie, Ph. D., taught biblical subjects for 38 years, and wrote many books relating to eschatology. John Walvoord, Th. D., taught biblical subjects for 50 years, and wrote many books relating to eschatology. These three exceptional theologians are deceased, and taught the majority of their careers at Dallas Theological Seminary. While preparing articles for my site, I follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, which begins with prayer. My thoughts design each article, which consist of many biblical facts. However, before I include a conclusion in a writing, I will base my conclusion on facts that have been made by theologians, such as the ones that I have discussed in this paragraph. We all read books that are written by other people; it is my responsibility to choose authors that pass the test of scriptural scrutiny.

B. Tribulation and Scripture examined. There are many scriptural identifiers that let us know of the events that must precede the tribulation. Scripture also identifies those whom will, and will not, be occupants of the tribulation.

1. The events that must precede the tribulation will be (1) The Rapture (catching up) of the born again believers in Christ, and (2) the peace treaty being signed by the anti-Christ and the nation of Israel. (Rapture, English; Rapio, Latin, Harpazo, Greek)

2. Those whom will not have to go through “any part” of the tribulation are the church, whom will be born again believers in Christ, to include small children whom God will cause to be born again.

3. Those whom will have to go through the tribulation will be those whom are not born again at the time of the rapture. Gentiles and Jews will go through the tribulation if they have not been born again, which means they have not come to saving faith in Christ. The purpose of The Tribulation is for God to judge sin, and to draw Jews to saving faith in Christ. At the end of the tribulation when the Jews are about to be destroyed from the face of the earth, God’s chosen people (Deu 14:2) will call on Christ to save them (Matt 23:39; Zech 12:10). During the tribulation, Jews and Gentiles may accept Christ as Lord and Savior and will be allowed to enter into the Kingdom Age of the millennium (1000 years), and the following eternal state of the new heaven, new earth and new Jerusalem (endless time). However, such tribulation believers may very easily become tribulation martyrs (Rev 6:9-11).

4. The reason for believers in Christ to be caught up from the earth, preceding the tribulation, is for God to deal with Israel, as was stated in paragraph 3, above. Unbelieving Jews must be born again to enter the eternal state. Believing Jews and Gentiles are one in Christ (Gal 3:28) at the time of the rapture because of having been born again. Unbelieving Jews and Gentiles are “not in Christ;” they have not been born again (John 3:3). We are born again by an act of the Holy Spirit (John 3:8); and have the indwelling of the Spirit of God, (“Father, Son, and Holy Spirit”), within our spirit (John 14:20). God’s Holy Spirit teaches born again believers of things of Christ (John 14:26; 16:7-11), and will abide with us forever (John 14:16; John 10:27-30); there is no “if” involved. Once we have been born again, we can not be unborn. God’s Holy Spirit gave us a new spirit, and no one, not even one whom has been born again, can undo that which the Holy Spirit has done within us. Born again believers’ spirits dwell within the Spirit of Christ, and have a spirit as righteous as the Spirit of Christ (2 Cor 5:17, 21). We have the Spirit of Christ dwelling within our spirit (Col 1:27). Our spirit dwells within the Spirit of God, because “God is light, and in Him is not darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). At the time of the rapture, our body and soul (living or dead) will be caught up from this earth (1 Cor 15:50-54). In verse 50 it says that “flesh and blood can not inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.” In verse 51 it says that “we shall be changed.” Our spirit was changed when we were born again, so our body and soul will be changed to be as perfect as our spirit in this event. In verse 52 it says that “the dead will be raised (resurrected) imperishable (perfect), and “we shall be changed,” (from perishable to imperishable) meaning that those who are alive when the rapture takes place will also be given perfect bodies and souls. Only the dead in Christ, and the living in Christ (we who have been born again), will be caught up by Christ and taken to Heaven (1 Thes 4:13-18). Christ is the One who will take us to Heaven (John 14:6). On the way to heaven we are absent from our earthly body, but are present with Christ (2 Cor 5:8); we will be given rewards (2 Cor 5:10), and will participate in the Marriage of the Lamb (Rev 19:7-8). Born again believers in Christ are the bride of “Christ (2 Cor 11:2) Who died for us, His bride” (Eph 5:32). When the rapture takes place, Christ takes His bride to her dwelling place in Heaven (John 14:2,3,6). Christ and His bride remain in Heaven throughout The Tribulation, until both return to earth for the Battle of Armageddon (Rev 19:11-21), because Israel has called upon the Name of Christ to be saved (Matt 23:39; Zech 12:10; Rom 10:13; Joel 2:32). Satan is bound for 1,000 years (Rev 20:1-3). Christ and His saints rule and reign for 1,000 years (Rev 20:4-6). The unsaved dead of all ages remain in their death state until the end of the 1,000 years (Rev 20:5). Satan is released and leads a rebellion (more on this later) (Rev 20:7-9). Satan is tormented forever (Rev 20:10). The Great White Throne Judgment sends those whom have not been born again into the lake of fire (Rev 20:15). Born again believers of all ages enter the eternal state of the new heaven, new earth, and new Jerusalem (Rev 21:1-3). Everything about the eternal state is discussed in Rev 21:4-22:21); everything is wonderful, and Holy.

5. The tribulation relates to Israel, and only Israel (Jer 2:2 30:7; Daniel 9:3-19; 9:24-29); the church has been taken to heaven by Christ (John 14:2,3,6). Notice in Jer 2:2 that the prophecy of Jeremiah relates to Israel, and in Dan 9:2-19, that The Tribulation is a horrible time that unsaved Jews will have to go through. The anti-Christ makes a treaty with Israel and breaks it midway through the seven-year period (The Tribulation) (Dan 9:27), which brings about The Great Tribulation. See Matt 24:4-28: [4:-14, tribulation; 15-28, great tribulation.] [24:6-7, see the same judgments outlined in Rev 6:1-8, Ryrie Study Bible]. God is in charge of bringing the seal judgments of Rev 6 on the earth. God is also in charge of the following trumpet and bowl judgments, which will be of greater severity. Rev 6:1-2, Christ breaks the first seal which brings the anti-Christ onto the scene, who begins to deceive the world and brings about a peace treaty with Israel, but breaks it (Dan 9:27, Ezek 38:11). Rev 6:3-4, Christ breaks the second seal, which brings about war; bloodshed, peace taken from the earth. Rev 6:5-6, Christ breaks the third seal, which brings about famine; great inflation. Rev 6:7-8, Christ breaks the fourth seal, which brings about death; disease accompanies war and famine; one-fourth of the world’s population will die. Rev 6:9-11; Christ breaks the fifth seal, which is the beginning of the Great Tribulation; it brings about martyrdom. The martyrs are people who were left behind from the rapture, and had come to saving faith in Christ, and were martyred because of their faith in Christ. Rev 6:12-17, Christ breaks the sixth seal, which brings about great earthquakes and cosmic disturbances; men will act as if they believe the end of the world is at hand. Yet, more judgments are to come, in the form of trumpet judgments and bowl judgments. Then, the battle of Armageddon will occur, and the Jews will believe that they are about to be exterminated from the face of the earth (Matt 24:22; Zech 12:3-4; 14:1-4).

6. The church is not mentioned anywhere about being in the tribulation. God removes the church from the earth so that He can deal with Israel, and draw Jews to saving faith in Christ. Christ is the Groom, the Husband, of the church. No husband is going to submit His bride to the judgments of the tribulation, of which He is causing to happen. From para 4, above, When we are born again, our spirit dwells within the Spirit of Christ, and His Spirit dwells within our spirit. Our spirit is as righteous as is the Spirit of Christ. In order for our spirit to dwell within the Spirit of God, our spirit must be flawless.

7. If the born again believers in Christ are not taken to Heaven with Christ, after the marriage of the Lamb, how will the bride and groom return to earth to save the Jews at the end of the tribulation? (Rev 19:11-21). If anybody thinks that we are in the “kingdom now,” consider the kingdom as it is described in Isaiah 2:1-4; none of that is going on now. The Kingdom Age of the Millennium (1,000 years) will not come until after Christ returns to earth with His born again believers at the end of the tribulation (Zech 12:10, Zech 14:1-12; Matt 24:29-31).

8. Rev 3:10 states:”Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I will also keep you from “the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” The earth dwellers, or those that dwell on the earth,” appears again in: 6:10, 8:13, 11:10, 13:8, 13:14, 17:8. In each case, the earth dwellers continue to defy God. Born again believers chose “citizenship in Heaven.” (Phil 3:20); but, earth dwellers chose earth. Believers in Christ “passed the test” when we were born again. Earth dwellers “will be tested on earth,” where they may be born again; however, coming to saving faith in Christ during The Tribulation will most likely result in death from the forces of the anti-Christ (Rev 6:9-11).

9. As I have said, the purpose of the tribulation is to bring unbelieving Jews to saving faith in Christ. Believers already “believe in” Christ. By Christians being in the tribulation, there is nothing that can happen to make our righteous spirit any more righteous. You might ask this question. “If my spirit is dwelling within the Spirit of Christ, and is as righteous as the Spirit of Christ, “why is my husband (Christ) doing all of those horrible things to me, and to my young child, the things that we are facing in The Tribulation?” To think that any born again believer in Christ will have to go through “any” of the seal judgments, we may also say to Christ: “You gave me a spirit that is as pure as Yours, then you gave me a body and soul that is just as righteous as yours. You took me to the marriage, our marriage, of the Lamb. You gave me rewards, and took me on to heaven to a place that you prepared for me. You brought me back to earth with You for the battle of Armageddon. Now! Lord! Please tell me how I ended up in the tribulation, where I will have to come under the control of the anti-Christ, where you will force on my young children and me the judgments of war, famine, death, martyrdom, great earthquakes, stars falling from the sky, up to one fourth of the earth’s population being killed by your judgments, which may include my child and me. Lord, I don’t understand a bit of this!”

Part 2. Conclusion. The conclusion to the matter is simple. (1) The anti-Christ has not come on the scene and signed a peace treaty with Israel. (2) Regardless of what the severity of COVID-19 may be, it is not the beginning of The Tribulation. (3) Only those whom have not been born again will be found in The Tribulation.

Part 3. Video information.

REVELATION. Aug 6, 2019. REVELATION STATION.

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End Times 1, Revelation 1:1-20, Introduction

Subject. End Times 1 – Revelation 1.

Part I. Introduction.

A. At this time in our world’s situation with the Coronavirus (COVID-19), it has become my strong belief that I should veer from my intended course of writing, and explain the prophetic events of the end times. There are voices in the Christian world that have attempted to place the things that are affecting our world in the “yet future tribulation.” The events of Matthew 24 and Revelation 6 are said “to be happening now,” without making any mention of Israel, or of Christ. Israel is key throughout the tribulation. God will cause the tribulation events to occur, which will include the persecutions of the antichrist. So, what can we say about the things of COVID-19? Is God aware of the world’s situation? Is God a distanced bystander?

B. The recent article that I wrote, “God’s Purposes,” it addresses our world from Genesis to Revelation, prior and beyond. Psalm 103:19 explains God’s power over the entire world: “The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all.” The strength of Psalm 103:19 is that it is God, “who keeps Jupiter from bumping into Mars;” you can take that train of thought further. As we look closer to earth, Psalm 147:8 explains the governing hand of God: “Who covers the heavens with clouds, Who provides rain for the earth, Who makes grass to grow on the mountains.” Again, you can carry that thought further. In this study, we will also introduce and discuss “The Office of Theocratic Administrator.”

C. This study of Revelation will answer many questions about the current world situation as they relate to the end times, and will conclude that we are not presently in any part of the tribulation. The articles in this end times study will show the purposes of the tribulation, which do not relate to anything that is happening in our world today. These articles will also conclude that nothing that occurs during the tribulation will be outside of God’s purposes, and His plan for the salvation of Israel. There will not be an “end of the world, ” which will be caused by global warming, or by “Mother Nature.” God is in charge of global warming, and “there is no “Mother Nature!” I will tip my hand and go “way forward” into this series of articles, and let Scripture speak concerning the subject of world destruction.

(1) 2 Peter 3:7 (NASB) “But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.”

(2) Revelation 21:1 (NASB) “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.”

D. That which has been tainted by sin will be replaced by that which is Holy, and will be based on God’s sovereign purposes. No other factor, outside of God’s plan for the ages, has any place in the affect of the end times, which is known as eschatology.

E. Translation considerations. Revelation 1 (NASB) Text and Comments. The New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation was chosen for this, and other studies, because of two main reasons. First, the NASB capitalizes the first letter of pronouns that address God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit); not all Bible translations show that same respect for God. Second, the NASB has a history of correctness in translation. Comments will come from the MacArthur Study Bible, unless otherwise noted.

F. Sources of information. Everyone reads articles and books that have been written by other people. Whenever I choose an author, a speaker, or any other type of teacher for articles that I write, I try to find out as much as is possible about each potential source of information. I want to know about person’s reputation among their peers; I also want to know how their writings, or discussions, relate to my understanding of the subject that I will be discussing. A potential source’s length of service, in their field of expertise, is an extremely important factor in my search. The biographies of the sources that are mentioned in this article, as well as other related source data, can be found in my Page, “About Sources.”

Part II. Revelation Chapter 1 Study.

A. The Revelation of Jesus Christ (vv 1-3).

1. Verses. 1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, 2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.

2. Comments.

a. 1:1. The Revelation. The Gr. word from which the Eng. word “apocalypse” comes lit. means “to uncover, or to reveal.” When it refers to a person, it means that person becomes clearly visible. [My note. Notice that Revelation, “singular,” is used. The entire book of Revelation is “one revelation,” and is not a book of revelations.]

b. 1:1. Jesus Christ. The gospels unveil Christ at His first coming in humiliation; Revelation reveals Him in His exaltation: (1) in blazing glory (vv. 7–20); (2) over His church, as its Lord (chaps. 2, 3); (3) in His second coming, as He takes back the earth from the usurper, Satan, and establishes His kingdom (chaps. 4–20); and (4) as He lights up the eternal state (chaps. 21, 22). The NT writers eagerly anticipate this unveiling (1 Cor. 1:7; 2 Thess. 1:7; 1 Pet. 1:7).

c. 1:1. God gave Him. As a reward for Christ’s perfect submission and atonement, the Father now presented to Him the great record of His future glory (cf. Phil. 2:5–11). Readers eavesdrop on the gift of this book, from the Father to His Son.

d. 1:1. shortly. The primary meaning of this word (lit. “soon”; cf. 2:5, 16; 3:11; 11:14; 22:12; 2 Tim. 4:9) underscores the imminence of Christ’s return. [Walvoord Commentary note. That which Daniel declared would occur “in the latter days” is here described as “shortly” (Gr., en tachei), that is, “quickly or suddenly coming to pass,” indicating rapidity of execution after the beginning takes place. The idea is not that the event may occur soon but, that when it does, it will be sudden (cf. Luke 18:8; Acts 12:7; 22:18; 25:4; Rom. 16:20). A similar word, tachys, is translated “quickly” seven times in Revelation (2:5, 16; 3:11; 11:14; 22:7, 12, 20).

e. 1:3, Blessed. This is the only biblical book that comes with a blessing for the one who listens to it being read and explained and then responds in obedience. This is the first of 7 beatitudes in the book (v. 3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14). [ My note. The importance of churches studying the Book of Revelation can not be understated.]

f. 1:3. time is near. “Time” refers to epochs, eras, or seasons. The next great epoch of God’s redemptive history is imminent. But although Christ’s coming is the next event, it may be delayed so long that people begin to question whether He will ever come (cf. Matt. 24:36–39; 2 Pet. 3:3, 4). [Walvord Commentary note. “For the time is near.” The Greek word for “time” here is “kairos,” which means a season of time in contrast to the term “hour,” which means time on a calendar of clock. The next great event on God’s prophetic calendar, the prophetic calendar, the imminent return of Christ to rapture His church, is near from the standpoint of prophetic revelation and could occur at any moment.]

B. Message to the Seven Churches (vv 4-7).

1. Verses. 4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— 6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

2. Comments.

a. 1:4 seven churches which are in Asia. Asia Minor, equivalent to modern Turkey, was composed of 7 postal districts. At the center of those districts were 7 key cities which served as central points for the dissemination of information. It is to the churches in those cities that John writes. [My note. Notice that John did not address the Church at Rome.]

b. 1:4. who is and who was and who is to come. God’s eternal presence is not limited by time. He has always been present and will come in the future. [Walvoord Commentary note. The “who” relates to “God” the Father.]

c. 1:4. the seven Spirits. There are two possible meanings: (1) a reference to Isaiah’s prophecy concerning the 7-fold ministry of the Holy Spirit (Is. 11:2); or (2) more likely, it is a reference to the lampstand with 7 lamps (a menorah) in Zechariah—also a description of the Holy Spirit (see notes on 4:5; 5:6; Zech. 4:1–10). In either case, 7 is the number of completeness, so John is identifying the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

d. 1:5. firstborn. Of all who have been or will be raised from the dead, He is the preeminent one, the only one who is the rightful heir (cf. 3:14; Ps. 89:27; Col. 1:15). [Walvoord Commentary note. Referring to Christ’s resurrection.]

e. 1:6. kings and priests. More accurately, “a kingdom and priests.” All who believe live in the sphere of God’s rule, a kingdom entered by faith in Jesus Christ. And as priests, believers have the right to enter God’s presence. [Ryrie Study Bible note. “A kingdom, priests.” Description of both Israel {Ex 19:6} and the church. See note on 1 Peter 2:9-10, indicating that we shall minister to Him forever.]

f. 1:7 coming with clouds. This echoes the promise of Daniel: The Son of Man will come with the clouds of heaven (Dan. 7:13)—not ordinary clouds but clouds of glory. In the OT, God often manifested Himself in an energized, blazing light, called the Shekinah or glory cloud. No one could see it fully and live (Ex. 33:20), so it had to be veiled. But when Christ returns, the glory will be completely visible. Cf. Matt. 24:29, 30; 25:31; see notes on 6:12–17. [My note. Not every eye will see Christ when He comes in the air at the rapture to take His born again believers to Heaven {John 14:2,3,6; 1 Thes 4:16-17; 1 Cor 15:50-54}. At the 1:7 coming with clouds, every eye, of those whom were left behind from the rapture, will see Christ when He returns to earth from Heaven with His previously raptured born again believers {Zech 12:10; Matt 24:29-30}].

g. 1:7. they who pierced. Not a reference to the 4 Roman soldiers usually involved in crucifixion, but to the Jews who were actually responsible for Christ’s death (Acts 2:22, 23; 3:14, 15). Zechariah identified the ones who pierced Him as “the house of David” and “the inhabitants of Jerusalem,” and prophesied that they will weep tears of genuine repentance because of what they did to their Messiah (Zech. 12:10). [See my note in 1:7, above.]

h. 1:7. all the tribes…will mourn. The mourning of the rest of the earth’s inhabitants is not that which accompanies genuine repentance (cf. 9:21). It is the result of guilt for sin and fear of punishment (6:16; cf. Gen. 3:8–10). [My note. Tribes more directly relate to Jews, as they were the tribes of Israel; see Gen 49:16.]

i. 1:8 Alpha and the Omega. These are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. An alphabet is an ingenious way to store and communicate knowledge. The 26 letters in the English alphabet, arranged in almost endless combinations, can hold and convey all knowledge. Christ is the supreme, sovereign, alphabet; there is nothing outside of His knowledge, so as there are no unknown factors that can sabotage His second coming (cf. Col. 2:3).

j. 1:8. the Almighty. “Almighty God” occurs 8 times in Revelation, underscoring that God’s power is supreme over all the cataclysmic events it records (see also 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7, 14; 19:15; 21:22). He exercises sovereign control over every person, object, and event, and not one molecule in the universe is outside that dominion. [My note. See Introduction I.B., above.]

C. The Patmos Vision (vv 9-20).

1. Verses. 9 I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet, 11 saying, “Write in a book what you see, 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 to Laodicea.” 12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands; 13 and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. 14 His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. 15 His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. 16 In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. 19 Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things. 20 As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw 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.

2. Comments.

a. 1:9–18. This vision of Christ is equaled in grandeur only by the vision of His final return as King of kings and Lord of lords (19:11–16).

b. 1:9 tribulation and kingdom and patience. Four characteristics that John and his believing readers share: (1) persecution for their faith; (2) membership in the redeemed community over which Christ serves as Lord and King; (3) eager anticipation of the glory of His coming millennial reign on earth; and (4) endurance and perseverance in spite of difficult times.

c. 1:9. island . . . called Patmos. Located in the Aegean Sea off the coast of Asia Minor (modern Turkey) and part of a group of about 50 islands, Patmos is a barren, rocky, crescent-shaped island that is about 10 mi. long and less than 6 mi. at its widest point. Barren in John’s day, it served as a Roman penal colony. According to early Christian historian Eusebius, the emperor Nerva (A.D. 96–98) released John from Patmos.

d. 1:10. in the Spirit. This was not a dream. John was supernaturally transported out of the material world awake—not sleeping—to an experience beyond the normal senses. The Holy Spirit empowered his senses to perceive revelation from God (cf. Acts 10:11).

d. 1:10. “Lord’s Day.” [Ryrie Study Bible note. Likely not a reference to Sunday (which is called the first day of the week) in the NT) but a “Lordian day,” or an “imperial day” (the same adjective is used elsewhere only in 1 Cor 11:20), referring to the contents of the vision that reveal the future time when Christ will judge and rule]. {My note. See Isaiah 2:4a, “And He will judge between the nations, And will render decisions for many peoples.}

e. 1:10. loud voice. Throughout Revelation, a loud sound or voice indicates the solemnity of what God is about to reveal.

f. 1:11 book. The Gr. word refers to a scroll made of parchment formed from papyrus, a reed that grows plentifully along the Nile.

g. 1:12. lampstands. These were portable gold lampstands that held small oil lamps. Each lampstand represented a church (v. 20), from which the light of life shone. Throughout Scripture, 7 is the number of completeness, so these 7 lampstands are representative of all the churches. [Ryrie Study Bible note. “lampstands.” These represent the seven churches mentioned in verse 11 (see also v. 20).]

h. 1:13. Son of Man. According to the Gospels, this is the title Christ used most often for Himself during His earthly ministry (81 times in the Gospels). Taken from the heavenly vision in Dan. 7:13, it is an implied claim to deity. “garment.” Most occurrences of this word in the Septuagint, the Gr. OT, refer to the garment of the High-Priest. The golden sash across His chest completes the picture of Christ serving in His priestly role (cf. Lev. 16:1–4; Heb. 2:17).

h. 1:13.(1). garment. Most occurrences of this word in the Septuagint, the Gr. OT, refer to the garment of the High-Priest. The golden sash across His chest completes the picture of Christ serving in His priestly role (cf. Lev. 16:1–4; Heb. 2:17).

i. 1:14. white like wool. “White” does not refer to a flat white color but a blazing, glowing, white light (cf. Dan. 7:9). Like the glory cloud (or Shekinah), it is a picture of His holiness.

j. 1:14. eyes . . . flame of fire. Like two lasers, the eyes of the exalted Lord look with penetrating gaze into the depths of His church (2:18; 19:12; Heb. 4:13).

k. 1:15 feet . . . fine brass. The altar of burnt offering was covered with brass and its utensils were made of the same material (cf. Ex. 38:1–7). Glowing hot, brass feet are a clear reference to divine judgment. Jesus Christ with feet of judgment is moving through His church to exercise His chastening authority upon sin.

l. 1:15. voice . . . sound of many waters. No longer was His voice like the crystal clear note of a trumpet (v. 10), but John likened it to the crashing of the surf against the rocks of the island (cf. Ezek. 43:2). It was the voice of authority.

m. 1:16. seven stars. These are the messengers who represent the 7 churches (see note on v. 20). Christ holds them in His hand, which means that He controls the church and its leaders. [ Walvoord Commentary note. The seven stars Christ holds in His hand are identified in verse 20 as “the angels of the seven churches.” Since the word “angel” means “messenger, one who is sent,” it is best to understand these angels not as divine beings, but as the leaders in these churches who are responsible for their spiritual welfare. These messengers representing the churches are in Christ’s right hand, indicating possession, protection, and sovereign control.]

n. 1:16. a sharp two-edged sword. A large, two-edged broad sword. It signifies judgment (cf. 2:16; 19:15) on those who attack His people and destroy His church.

o. 1:17. fell at His feet. A common response to seeing the awesome glory of the Lord (Gen. 17:3; Num. 16:22; Is. 6:1–8; Ezek. 1:28; Acts 9:4).

p. 1:17. First and the Last. Jesus Christ applies this OT name for Yahweh (22:13; Is. 41:4; 44:6; 48:12) to Himself, clearly claiming to be God. Idols will come and go. He was before them, and He will remain after them.

q. 1:18. keys of Hades and of Death. See note on Luke 16:23. Death and Hades are essentially synonyms, but death is the condition and Hades, equivalent to the OT Sheol, the place of the dead (see note on 20:13). Christ decides who lives, who dies, and when.

r. 1:19. This verse provides a simple outline for the entire book: “the things which you have seen” refers to the vision John has just seen (chap. 1); “the things which are” denotes the letters to the churches (chaps. 2, 3); and “the things which will take place after this” refers to the revelation of future history (chaps. 4–22). [My comment. Chapters 2-3 relate to the church age, of which time we are a part today. So, we can look at Chapter 1, as being our past, and Chapters 2-3 being our present time, and Chapters 4-22 being our future. The church is never mentioned in the book of Revelation after the end of Chapter 3. After the rapture of the church occurs, the purpose of the church will have been fulfilled, and the church will be non-existent. Rev 21:1-3 describes those whom will inhabit the eternal state, of what many people refer to as heaven. The Bible says that God will create “a new heaven and a new earth,” and the New Jerusalem will descend from God to the new earth (Rev 21:1-2). In this new creation, “the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God” (Rev 21:3). The word,”men,” relates to all whom are born again believers in Christ, as opposed to “unbelievers,” whom are identified in Rev 21:8. At present time, all Jewish and Gentile born again believers in Christ can take pride in knowing that “we are one in Christ” (Gal 3:28).]

s. 1:20. the angels. The word lit. means “messenger.” Although it can mean angel—and does throughout the book—it cannot refer to angels here because angels are never leaders in the church. Most likely, these messengers are the 7 key elders representing each of those churches (see note on v. 16). [Walvoord Commentary note. As earlier noted, the mystery of the seven stars is revealed to represent the messengers to the churches, and the seven golden lampstands are the churches themselves.]

III. Video details.

A. Revelation Song/Holy, Holy, Holy – FBC Jacksonville, FL. Mar 26, 2012. videos of blessings.

B. Revelation Song (Worthy Is the Lamb Who Was Slain) and Holy, Holy, Holy. Performed by Daniel Crews with the choir and orchestra of First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, FL. (Pastors’ Conference 2012)

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