A quick and simple overview of the book of Revelation.
The book of revelation starts out with Christ’s letters to the seven churches of Asia.
Chapter four takes us right into the main theme of the book. The last days, the end of time, judgment, and eternity.
When speaking of the last days, it is generally understood to mean “what it will be like at the end of time.” or “at the end of the world” but this also includes what happens AFTER that!
This is sometimes referred to as the apocalypse . There are many theories and ideas concerning the book of revelation. It seems like there Is no end to the constant onslaught of theories, but if we STAY to what the scripture says, and leave out all the religions and their ideas, it will be a lot easier to understand.
The beginning of the “last days”, starts with what is called “The tribulation period” it’s a 3 ½ year period that starts the entire last days events, as they unfold.
There are some who combine the time of tribulation and the time of Gods wrath together, (both are 3 1/2 yrs. long.) and say the tribulation period is seven years long. If they want to combine them, that’s their prerogative, but to be honest, they need to clarify where they came up with the seven years.
It might be helpful to know,:
3 ½ yrs., is / 42 months./ 182 wks., / 1277 days.
Sometimes when the bible refers to a year, it calls it a “TIME”
When you read the verbiage: time, times. Half a time. time = I year. timeS = two years. Half a time = half a year. 3 ½ yrs.
This is helpful to know, because the 3 ½ yrs is referred to in different ways. Depending on the writer.
The bible is like a puzzle. Each piece plays a part in the big pitcher. It would be very silly, to look at a few pieces, and decide on what the whole pitcher is. When the pieces don’t fit right, lay it aside and keep going. The more you read, The more sense it will make. As you continue to progress, you will also discover other pieces that you thought went together, but didn’t. Undoing the mismatched scriptures, clears up a lot of misunderstanding. It also gives us a clearer picture of what is ahead!
Another thing you will find is: Revelation repeats itself a lot. But each time it does, it gives a more detailed events, as to what was going on. for example, if you list the first explanation of what is happening in a coulomb, then make another coulomb for the next time it repeats the events, and so forth. You will discover each coulomb is telling you what is going on in a different dimension. Some of these dimensions are;
- The physical world.
- Heaven.
- The spiritual world as pertains to earth.
- The devils world.
- The antichrist kingdom.
- kingdoms.
You will also discover, when placing these coulombs side by side, they mesh very well. Giving you a timeline reading downward, and who Is doing what, reading right and left. This will be a great help in understanding the book of revelation. However, it is not all conclusive. There are many more bible books and scriptures that can be added, to clarify even more details. I stayed with Revelation mainly, because it was my main focus at the time.
WARNING: Giving people the clear understanding of Revelation, will start a war zone against you! WHY? Because the clearness of the bible exposes the falsehood of most all churches! They will gang up on you! Trust me!
You don’t even have to show them. Just tell them what you did and how you did it, and what you discovered.
One of the most common false teachings on the tribulation period, is that Christ can return any day and deliver us from the terrible suffering that is going to happen. This false unbiblical idea started with a man called Darby. His theories proved to be all wrong. And the error of those ides was exposed. However, because it is a popular idea,( to be delivered from the apocalypse), many still hold on to those teachings. Even today, most churches claim that Christ can return at any minute, like a thief in the night. But to anyone who actually reads those scriptures, that unbiblical teaching will be exposed.
The truth is: there are lots of scriptures and events that have not been completed! and must all be completed before Christ returns! Don’t buy the lie! At Any moment!
A sequence of events as told in the book of Revelation, as pertaining to the end of time and eternity.
1. We will see a (3 ½) year period of tremendous upheaval and turmoil. This is referred to as the great tribulation. It’s the tribulation period that kicks off the apocalypse!
Jesus tells of the extreme horror and terror that will prevail over the earth at that time.
Revalations starts out with the four horsemen. it’s the four horsemen In Mathew 24, Jesus is describing!
2. Next comes ” the Day of the Lord. “ a time of great punishment and retribution, known as the wrath of the lamb.
3. Next comes another a (3 ½) year period of total wrath from God poured out upon the earth.
It’s during this total wrath period, that satan sets up his physical kingdoms and empires, and attempts to take over the entire world, to the effect, that he will kill every living thing on earth.
Jesus himself said “unless those days should be shortened, there would be no flesh saved. But for the elects sake, those days will be shortened. “
4. After the wrath period, Christ returns to earth and cast satan and his followers into the bottomless pit.
Then Christ, as the Messiah, sets up HIS kingdom on earth, for 1000 yrs. This is called” the millennium.”
5. At the end of the Millennium, satan is loosed from the bottomless pit, and gathers his forces on earth. These forces are numbered as” the sands of the seas”. Satan attacks the kingdom of Christ.
This battle is known as the battel of Armageddon.
Christ, at the very start of this battle, cast Satan and his false followers, one final time into the bottomless pit. This time forever.
6. Next come the great white throne Judgment of God, as every man, woman, and child, (those old enough to be held accountable.) are judged according to the life they lived, the choices they made, and the many sins they are guilty of.
They are cast into the lake od fire.
There will also be the judgment seat of Christ. This is similar to the great white throne judgment of God, but in the judgment seat of Christ, he judges every person who has known the truth of God, or made any false pretense to being a Christian.
This is basically, the judgment of ALL hypocrites, and all who were once Christians, but backslide.
They are also cast into the lake of fire, BUT They are sent to the very lowest part of that lake!
7. The last thing to happen is the eternal existence of heaven and the eternal existence of the lake of fire.
Notes: A. Eternity
It’s interesting to note: eternity is often referred to as millions and millions of years, that have no end. This is a verbal illustration used to define eternity as having no end. But in reality, eternity is when time no longer exist.
Here is a crazy illustration to explain eternity!
if you went to hell, on your birthday, in the year 1974. Then after “millions of years” in hell, you go to “the main office” and ask what is the date? They would tell you its still your birthday, in 1974. you would as, “But that was millions of years ago!” They would tell you; you don’t understand eternity. Eternity is place where time never changes. Conditions never change. Punishments never change, despair never changes. NOTHING changes in eternity! you’re in the bottomless pit or in hell, or in the lake of fire. . It will never change. You will never get out. There will never be any hope of getting out. Welcome to eternity!
Notes: B. Hades, Hell, Death, Lake of Fire, and bottomless pit.
Are all different places. As each one went away, a new place came into existence. God in in control of all of them. It is his decisions to create this sequence. But notice, each one is many times worse than the one before it!
It started as hades. Hades was in the center of the earth, and was divided into two palaces. Above was the place called paradise. Where the righteous went after death. There was a great separation between the two places. Below was the place of burning, called Hell. Where the wicked went after death. Hades was during the Old Testament period.
It is understood, that When Christ came, and lead captivity captive, it was to paradise. However: peter tells us ,Christ also went and preached to those who lived and died before the flood in Noah’s day. Those who accepted Christ offer of salvation, are led into heaven by Jesus himself. This is why it says he led captivity captive; they were captives in hell by the force of their sins. Then they became captives of his love and grace. This emptied out paradise! at the “center of the earth”, and the space was taken up by the burning places of hell. Hell has enlarged itself.
Death refers to Satans domain in the underworld.
Satan has no control over Hades, Hell. the lake of fire, or the bottomless pit. He is terrified by them.
Lake of fire; here is the challenge to those who love physics. How hot does it have to be, to melt fire! The Bible calls it a lake of Fire. It does not say a lake that’s on fire, or a lake that is burning with fire. That would be a different scenario. But an actual lake of fire, is something that only God could create!
The lake of fire takes place after the great judgment of God. Death, (satan and his followers) ,Hell (and all who are in it). Are punished even further by being cast into the lake of fire.
The bottomless pit is somewhat of a mystery. It seems to be a holding place of confinement. God cast Satan, his followers, and the false prophets into the bottomless pit. However, the bottomless pit is also where the creatures come from that tormented man , Apollyon is the leader of the creatures.
There is evidence that the lake of fire and the bottomless pit could be the same place!
The bottomless pit is still an unknown. And don’t want to find out the hard way!
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