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(Rev 1:1-2 NCV)  This is the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to show his servants what must soon happen. And Jesus sent his angel to show it to his servant John, who has told everything he has seen. It is the word of God; it is the message from Jesus Christ.

Jesus sent an angel to reveal the entire book of Revelation to the Apostle John. Since everything in Revelation is dictated by an angel we will take a look at the whole book along with some other prophecies that are as yet unfulfilled.


(Rev 1:3 NCV)  Happy is the one who reads the words of God's message, and happy are the people who hear this message and do what is written in it. The time is near when all of this will happen.

Notice that it doesn’t even say that one must understand the book of Revelation to be blessed by reading it. Even if we read it and cannot interpret all of the symbolism, we can easily get the general idea that after a time of tribulation on earth the Lord Jesus Christ will return with his saints and his angels, imprison the devil for one thousand years, institute peace on earth, and following that one thousand years later the last judgment will take place and eternity will begin.

We can take comfort in the fact that we who are in Christ will eventually rule and reign with him and be blessed with eternal happiness in the presence of the Lord forever. This is the great message of the book of Revelation and a blessing to all who read it.

Having said that we will attempt to dig a little deeper into it and see how the angels will be involved in fulfilling the things predicted in that book. We are going to look at the entire book of Revelation in this the last chapter because the time is near for all of these things to be fulfilled.


(Rev 1:4-6 NCV)  From John. To the seven churches in the country of Asia: Grace and peace to you from the One who is and was and is coming, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ. Jesus is the faithful witness, the first among those raised from the dead. He is the ruler of the kings of the earth. He is the One who loves us, who made us free from our sins with the blood of his death. He made us to be a kingdom of priests who serve God his Father. To Jesus Christ be glory and power forever and ever! Amen. Look, Jesus is coming with the clouds, and everyone will see him, even those who stabbed him. And all peoples of the earth will cry loudly because of him. Yes, this will happen! Amen.

The book of Revelation was ordered by Jesus to be given to John by an angel and then sent to the seven churches in Asia. God was making sure that this book would be included in the bible by doing so. At least seven original copies were made and sent out to the churches. Seven is the number of completeness in the bible and this shows that the message is for the entire church, meaning all believers down through the centuries.

Because Revelation is so different from all of the other biblical books there were many arguments among early church leaders and even during the reformation in the 1500’s as to whether or not Revelation belonged in the bible. As much as some wanted to reject the book the authorship by John the Apostle was unquestionable and its use in the early church verified by history, so it was retained in the canon of scripture.


(Rev 1:8 NCV)  The Lord God says, "I am the Alpha and the Omega. I am the One who is and was and is coming. I am the Almighty."


(Rev 1:9 NCV)  I, John, am your brother. All of us share with Christ in suffering, in the kingdom, and in patience to continue. I was on the island of Patmos, because I had preached the word of God and the message about Jesus.


(Rev 1:10 NCV)  On the Lord's day I was in the Spirit, and I heard a loud voice behind me that sounded like a trumpet.

The “Lords Day” here is not referring primarily to either the Jewish Sabbath or to Sunday the Christian day of worship. It is referring to John seeing future history in advance concerning what the old testament calls “The Day Of The Lord.” There could very well be a double fulfillment though, John could very well have received it while he was worshipping God on either the Sabbath (Saturday) or on Sunday.


The ‘Day of the Lord” in the old testament was revealed to be the time when all the nations that were trying to wipe Israel off the map would be destroyed and the Messiah would reign over all the world from Jerusalem. This is why the disciples asked Jesus before his ascension “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom.” The Jews were looking for the Messiah to restore independence to Israel and when he told them that was not his mission at the present time they rejected him.

(Acts 1:6-7 NIV)  So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.

The Jews wanted to be freed from Roman domination and did not understand that Jesus’ first coming was to deal with the sin problem and his second coming would restore the kingdom about 2000 years in the future. 


( Isa 2:12 NIV)  The LORD Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted and they will be humbled,

(Isa 13:6 & 9 NIV)  Wail, for the day of the LORD is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty. See, the day of the LORD is coming --a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger-- to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it.

(Ezek 30:3 NIV)  For the day is near, the day of the LORD is near-- a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations.

(Joel 1:15 NIV)  Alas for that day! For the day of the LORD is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty.

(Joel 2:11 & 31 NIV)  The LORD thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty are those who obey his command. The day of the LORD is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it? The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.

(Amos 5:18-20 NIV)  Woe to you who long for the day of the LORD! Why do you long for the day of the LORD? That day will be darkness, not light. It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him. Will not the day of the LORD be darkness, not light-- pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness?

(Oba 1:15 NIV)  "The day of the LORD is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head.

(Mal 4:5 NIV)  "See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes.


(Acts 2:20 NIV)  The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.

(1 Cor 5:5 NIV)  hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.

(2 Cor 1:14 NIV)  as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus.

(1 Th 5:2-4 NIV)  for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.


Unbelievers and the nations of the world will be shocked and awed when the “Day of the Lord” begins. It will begin with destruction upon the earth and its armies followed by Jesus ruling and reigning from Jerusalem.

For the saved though it is a time for rejoicing because we will receive our new bodies and rule and reign with Christ. We can rejoice as the “Day of the Lord” nears, while the lost can tremble with fear as it approaches.

(1 Th 5:4-6 NIV)  But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.

(2 Pet 3:10-11 NIV)  But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives


(2 Pet 3:12 NIV)  as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.

While we cannot actually make God change his calendar and begin the “Day of the Lord” earlier than he has planned it, we can help fulfill the “Great Commission” and share the gospel message whenever we can. The “Day of the Lord” cannot come until the gospel is preached to all nations, and that is our job.

(Mat 24:14 NIV)  And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

From what I have read the gospel has been preached to 97% of the nations of the world, and the last 3% is being speedily accomplished with the use of modern technology such as radio, satellite television, cell phones and computers. It won’t be long before the job is done and that obstacle that prevents Christ from returning is removed. Every time we give to missions in the church we attend we “speed the coming” of the “Day of the Lord” as Peter said we should. Put a little bit in missions this week and be blessed for it.

(2 Pet 3:13-14 NIV)  But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

As we look forward to that day it should inspire us to live holy lives for Christ and be ready to meet him face to face.


(Rev 1:11-16 NCV)  The voice said, "Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea." I turned to see who was talking to me. When I turned, I saw seven golden lampstands and someone among the lampstands who was "like a Son of Man." He was dressed in a long robe and had a gold band around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like flames of fire. His feet were like bronze that glows hot in a furnace, and his voice was like the noise of flooding water. He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp double-edged sword came out of his mouth. He looked like the sun shining at its brightest time.

(Rev 1:17-19 NCV)  When I saw him, I fell down at his feet like a dead man. He put his right hand on me and said, "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the One who lives; I was dead, but look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys to death and to the place of the dead. So write the things you see, what is now and what will happen later.

John was instructed to write what he saw in the vision, things that were happening in his time right then and things that would happen in the future. As we read the book of Revelation we have to keep that in mind, that some of the things John was writing about were happening then and some would happen in the future. Our concern in this study is the things which as yet have not come to pass but will come to pass in the near future.


(Rev 1:20 NCV)  Here is the secret of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and the seven golden lampstands: The seven lampstands are the seven churches, and the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches.

Notice that every church has an angel assigned to it. We already know that every one of us has at least one angel assigned to us and countries also have angels assigned to them such as Michael to Israel. But now we find that even the churches have angels assigned to look our for their welfare. God created myriad's of angels and they all have some type of job. In one sense the term “angel of the churches” is also referring to the pastor or the overseer.

The seven churches give us a twofold message. In one sense almost every type of church that exists today could be loosely placed in one of the categories that we will look at. Ask yourself, as you read this, where does my church fit in with these descriptions. Are we a church that is doing God’s will or do we lack something that should be corrected?

In another sense the order of the seven churches seems to reflect the history of the church down through the centuries. Each church seem to match the description of the condition of the church for a period of time from the beginning of the church age until the present. In actuality none of characteristics concerning the churches went out of existence when the next one came on the scene. they will all continue to coexist until Christ returns and unites all the churches under his authority.


(Rev 2:1- NCV)  "Write this to the angel of the church in Ephesus: "The One who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands says this: I know what you do, how you work hard and never give up. I know you do not put up with the false teachings of evil people. You have tested those who say they are apostles but really are not, and you found they are liars. You have patience and have suffered troubles for my name and have not given up.  "But I have this against you: You have left the love you had in the beginning. So remember where you were before you fell. Change your hearts and do what you did at first. If you do not change, I will come to you and will take away your lampstand from its place. But there is something you do that is right: You hate what the Nicolaitans do, as much as I. "Every person who has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To those who win the victory I will give the right to eat the fruit from the tree of life, which is in the garden of God.

The church at Ephesus represents the condition of the church from Pentecost about 33 A.D. until Christianity was legalized in the Roman empire about 312 A.D. The church at Ephesus was doing pretty well but some were losing their excitement, fervor and love for Christ. Jesus warns them to rekindle the early fire of their salvation. Like a marriage, it takes some effort to keep the flame of love burning brightly.

Isn’t that just like us today? When we first get saved most of us are on fire for God, but after a time it gets so normal to be a Christian that we aren’t even excited about it anymore. We need to remember what great things the Lord has done for us in our lives and share the gospel message with others, as we did at the first.


(Rev 2:8- NCV)  "Write this to the angel of the church in Smyrna: "The One who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again, says this: I know your troubles and that you are poor, but really you are rich! I know the bad things some people say about you. They say they are Jews, but they are not true Jews. They are a synagogue that belongs to Satan. Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer for ten days. But be faithful, even if you have to die, and I will give you the crown of life. "Everyone who has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. Those who win the victory will not be hurt by the second death.

The early church suffered under 10 waves of persecution from the Roman emperors including Christians being fed to the lions under the emperor Nero. The church at Smyrna endured the persecution well and Christ promised the the crown of life. There is no word of condemnation here from Christ. In times of persecution and trouble the Lord is pleased when we just endure and hang on to our faith. Christians in many parts of the world today suffer persecution such as in Moslem countries and in China, and no doubt can identify with what the Lord told the church at Smyrna. 


(Rev 2:12-17 NCV)  "Write this to the angel of the church in Pergamum: "The One who has the sharp, double-edged sword says this: I know where you live. It is where Satan has his throne. But you are true to me. You did not refuse to tell about your faith in me even during the time of Antipas, my faithful witness who was killed in your city, where Satan lives. "But I have a few things against you: You have some there who follow the teaching of Balaam. He taught Balak how to cause the people of Israel to sin by eating food offered to idols and by taking part in sexual sins. You also have some who follow the teaching of the Nicolaitans. So change your hearts and lives. If you do not, I will come to you quickly and fight against them with the sword that comes out of my mouth. "Everyone who has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. "I will give some of the hidden manna to everyone who wins the victory. I will also give to each one who wins the victory a white stone with a new name written on it. No one knows this new name except the one who receives it.

The church at Pergamum had a lot of problems. It was located where there was a lot of idol worship going on and the church was becoming corrupted by it. along with the idol worship there were those indulging in sexual sin, as Balaam had told the Moabites to use to tempt and corrupt the Israelites in the old testament, a subject we have already studied.

In addition to these problems a practice was emerging that forbid Christians from meeting together to celebrate the Lords Supper as he commanded us to do in remembrance of him. A heresy was developing that commanded that and ordained priest was required to bless the elements before communion was valid. this was the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which means “conquered laity,” a doctrine which the Lord hates. Christians may break bread together and serve wine or grape juice to show the Lords death until he comes whenever they are together, non just when an ordained seminarian is present.

(1 Cor 11:25-26 NCV)  In the same way, after they ate, Jesus took the cup. He said, "This cup is the new agreement that is sealed with the blood of my death. When you drink this, do it to remember me." Every time you eat this bread and drink this cup you are telling others about the Lord's death until he comes.

Nicolaitanism probably represents a movement present in the churches at Ephesus and at Pergamos to subject the people of God to one or more powerful leaders. The term is derived from nikao (Gk.), "to conquer," and laos (Gk.), "people," hence, "people conquerors." Very plausibly, the Nicolaitan movement marks the beginning of a form of priesthood in the church.   Believers Study Bible Notes

This church in history seems to represent the Orthodox Churches, such as Eastern Orthodox and Russian Orthodox. They are often located today in areas where the true religion is suppressed or surrounded by Mohammedism. They also have a very formal type of worship.


(Rev 2:18-23 NRSV)  "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze: "I know your works--your love, faith, service, and patient endurance. I know that your last works are greater than the first. But I have this against you: you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet and is teaching and beguiling my servants to practice fornication and to eat food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her fornication. Beware, I am throwing her on a bed, and those who commit adultery with her I am throwing into great distress, unless they repent of her doings; and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts, and I will give to each of you as your works deserve.

This church seems to represent the Roman Catholic Church in history. There has been a lot of immorality down through the centuries in it, even among the Popes and cardinals who reside in Rome. Some of this may be due to the unworkable policy of forbidding it’s priests to marry. Only certain special people like Paul have the gift of celibacy, the ability to completely live without any sexual fulfillment. God calls many people to be priests or ministers of the gospel who do not have this gift. By making it a rule of the church that a priest cannot marry they have caused much suffering by priests who do not want to quit their vocations to have wives or mistresses in secret, or worse turn to homosexuality or child abuse. The bible makes it clear that priests and church leaders, even bishops are permitted to marry.

(1 Tim 3:2 KJV)  A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

In the N.T. the terms "bishop" ("overseer"), "elder," and "pastor" all refer to the same position (cf. Acts 20:17, 28; Titus 1:5, 7; 1 Pet. 5:1-4, note). It was customary to have more than one person in each local church who was responsible for spiritual leadership (Acts 14:23), but with one ruling elder having primary leadership as the pastor. Believers Study bible

(1 Tim 4:1 & 3 KJV)  Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

(Rev 2:24-29 NRSV)  But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call 'the deep things of Satan,' to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden; only hold fast to what you have until I come. To everyone who conquers and continues to do my works to the end, I will give authority over the nations; to rule them with an iron rod, as when clay pots are shattered--even as I also received authority from my Father. To the one who conquers I will also give the morning star. Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

Even though there were problems in this church, God did not command the people to leave the church. In the middle ages before the reformation there was no choice. Today we have many denominations and churches to choose from. The Lord told the people to continue with the good things they were doing and to hold fast to their faith until he comes. This message is still true today. Don’t stop going to church or forsake the assembling together of yourselves just because of some bad doctrine or a few scandals in the church. There are always a few bad apples in every bunch. The fact remains that the best place to labor for the gospel of Jesus Christ is with a group of other believers. A lot more can be accomplished together than if we all try to operate as independent individuals. Of course, today in the United States we have so many churches to choose from that everyone should be able to find a good one to attend.

(Heb 10:25 NKJV)  not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.


(Rev 3:1-2 NCV)  "Write this to the angel of the church in Sardis: "The One who has the seven spirits and the seven stars says this: I know what you do. People say that you are alive, but really you are dead. Wake up! Make yourselves stronger before what you have left dies completely. I have found that what you are doing is less than what my God wants.

(Rev 3:3 NCV)  So do not forget what you have received and heard. Obey it, and change your hearts and lives. So you must wake up, or I will come like a thief, and you will not know when I will come to you.

The church at Sardis had the truth in their doctrine but they weren’t doing much with it. Jesus told them not to forget what they received, meaning that what they received, their doctrine was good, they just were not using it. This compares with the denominational protestant churches of today. They rooted out some of the doctrinal error that crept into the Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches, such as Nicolaitanism and forbidding priests to marry, but now they sit there in their little churches happy and content to let the world go by on it’s way to hell while they rest. Where is the evangelism?, where is the fire? Jesus says to these churches to wake up and make use of the knowledge you have and don’t be caught unprepared at his return.


(Rev 3:4-6 NCV)  But you have a few there in Sardis who have kept their clothes unstained, so they will walk with me and will wear white clothes, because they are worthy. Those who win the victory will be dressed in white clothes like them. And I will not erase their names from the book of life, but I will say they belong to me before my Father and before his angels. Everyone who has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.

Even though most of the denominational world is asleep there are still some who labor for the Lord in these churches. It is getting more and more difficult though as many denominational churches are becoming more and more liberal and even allowing the ordination of people living in open sin.

(Eph 5:3 NIV)  But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.


(Rev 3:7-8 NCV)  "Write this to the angel of the church in Philadelphia: "This is what the One who is holy and true, who holds the key of David, says. When he opens a door, no one can close it. And when he closes it, no one can open it. I know what you do. I have put an open door before you, which no one can close. I know you have a little strength, but you have obeyed my teaching and were not afraid to speak my name.

The church of Philadelphia appears to represent the holiness, pentecostal, and non denominational churches that came in to being from the 1700’s onwards. These churches have the open door and the commission to finish the job of preaching the gospel around the world, and no one can shut that door until the job is done. We are getting close.

(Rev 3:9-10 NCV)  Those in the synagogue that belongs to Satan say they are Jews, but they are not true Jews; they are liars. I will make them come before you and bow at your feet, and they will know that I have loved you. You have obeyed my teaching about not giving up your faith. So I will keep you from the time of trouble that will come to the whole world to test those who live on earth.

The church of Philadelphia held to it’s faith even though some people from outside the church would have liked to introduce false doctrine into it. Because this church will exist in the time when Christ returns he promised that he would keep them from the time of trouble that will come upon the whole earth.

(Jer 30:7 KJV)  Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.

That time is also known in the scriptures as the time of “Jacob’s trouble” and refers to the time during the beginning of the “Day of the Lord” when God pours out his seven bowls of wrath upon the earth. The church of Philadelphia will not have to undergo the wrath of God. They will either die before it happens or be rescued at the time of the first resurrection, sometimes called the rapture. The Jews will have to go through the time of God’s wrath and it will drive them to recognize Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

(Rev 3:11-13 NCV)  "I am coming soon. Continue strong in your faith so no one will take away your crown. I will make those who win the victory pillars in the temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, that comes down out of heaven from my God. I will also write on them my new name. Everyone who has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.


(Rev 3:14-15 NCV)  "Write this to the angel of the church in Laodicea: "The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of all God has made, says this: I know what you do, that you are not hot or cold. I wish that you were hot or cold! But because you are lukewarm--neither hot, nor cold--I am ready to spit you out of my mouth.

Hot tea or iced tea is good, but lukewarn tea isn’t that enjoyable to drink. This is what Jesus means when he is talking to the lukewarn church of the end times, the church called Laodicea. For the most part we like things hot or cold but not in the middle. What Jesus is talking about though is not the temperature of what people are drinking, he is talking about their attitude towards him.

(John 14:6 NCV)  Jesus answered, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.

Jesus would rather have people love him or hate, receive him as Lord and Savior or completely reject the gospel rather than to just say, well Jesus was a good man and he did a lot of good things for people a few thousand years ago.

In the end times church it appears that Jesus won’t be recognized as the only one who can lead us to reconciliation with God the Father. He will just be put in a basket so to speak with Buddha, Mohammed, Hindu gods, earth spirits and other assorted gods, goddesses and idols that people worship.

(Rev 3:17-22 NCV)  You say, 'I am rich, and I have become wealthy and do not need anything.' But you do not know that you are really miserable, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. I advise you to buy from me gold made pure in fire so you can be truly rich. Buy from me white clothes so you can be clothed and so you can cover your shameful nakedness. Buy from me medicine to put on your eyes so you can truly see. "I correct and punish those whom I love. So be eager to do right, and change your hearts and lives. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with you, and you will eat with me. "Those who win the victory will sit with me on my throne in the same way that I won the victory and sat down with my Father on his throne. Everyone who has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches."

This church is in the process of forming today. It already exists in the sense that any church that meets the description above is a part of it, but it is going to get worse. As we get closer to the return of Christ there will probably be some type of organization that one can join that permits the worship of anyone or anything that a person desires. Anyone will be able to join that church and worship as they please, that is until the Antichrist comes on the scene and demands that everyone in the world worship him. For the members of this church it will be not problem, the Antichrist will just be one more god in their permissible pantheon of gods and goddesses.


(Rev 4:1 NCV)  After the vision of these things I looked, and there before me was an open door in heaven. And the same voice that spoke to me before, that sounded like a trumpet, said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this."

John is ordered to come up to heaven and view what must happen after all of the church ages have transpired and the Laodicean church is the dominant one on the world scene. This is correct because if you notice the voice tells him “I will show you what must happen after this.” The “this” in this case is after what John has just been shown, the history of the church from Pentecost until just before the return of Christ.

While it is depressing to me in some ways to read in the newspaper the reports of sexual child abuse in the Roman Catholic Church, homosexual priests being ordained in the Episcopal church, the laxity and formalism of the Orthodox and Protestant churches and even the monetary and sexual sin scandals in the non denominational and Pentecostal churches, it just shows one thing, that the return of Christ is getting closer and closer, so I rejoice in that even amid the problems. The deadness of much of the church world in these times just proves once again that God’s word is true and can be trusted and that everything that is predicted will soon be fulfilled.


(Rev 4:2-5 NCV)  Immediately I was in the Spirit, and before me was a throne in heaven, and someone was sitting on it. The One who sat on the throne looked like precious stones, like jasper and carnelian. All around the throne was a rainbow the color of an emerald. Around the throne there were twenty-four other thrones with twenty-four elders sitting on them. They were dressed in white and had golden crowns on their heads. Lightning flashes and noises and thundering came from the throne. Before the throne seven lamps were burning, which are the seven spirits of God.


(Rev 4:6-9 NCV)  Also before the throne there was something that looked like a sea of glass, clear like crystal. In the center and around the throne were four living creatures with eyes all over them, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion. The second was like a calf. The third had a face like a man. The fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of these four living creatures had six wings and was covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty. He was, he is, and he is coming." These living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the One who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever.


(Rev 4:10-11 NCV)  Then the twenty-four elders bow down before the One who sits on the throne, and they worship him who lives forever and ever. They put their crowns down before the throne and say: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, because you made all things. Everything existed and was made, because you wanted it."


(Rev 5:1 NCV)  Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the One sitting on the throne. The scroll had writing on both sides and was kept closed with seven seals.


(Rev 5:2-4 NCV)  And I saw a powerful angel calling in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?" But there was no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth who could open the scroll or look inside it. I cried hard because there was no one who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.


(Rev 5:5-10 NCV)  But one of the elders said to me, "Do not cry! The Lion from the tribe of Judah, David's descendant, has won the victory so that he is able to open the scroll and its seven seals." Then I saw a Lamb standing in the center of the throne and in the middle of the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb looked as if he had been killed. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God that were sent into all the world.  The Lamb came and took the scroll from the right hand of the One sitting on the throne. When he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders bowed down before the Lamb. Each one of them had a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's holy people. And they all sang a new song to the Lamb: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were killed, and with the blood of your death you bought people for God from every tribe, language, people, and nation. You made them to be a kingdom of priests for our God, and they will rule on the earth."


(Rev 5:11-14 NCV)  Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels around the throne, and the four living creatures, and the elders. There were thousands and thousands of angels, saying in a loud voice: "The Lamb who was killed is worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom, and strength, honor, glory, and praise!" Then I heard all creatures in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea saying: "To the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever." The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders bowed down and worshiped.


(Rev 6:1 NCV)  Then I watched while the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, "Come!"


(Rev 6:2 NCV)  I looked, and there before me was a white horse. The rider on the horse held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out, determined to win the victory.


(Rev 6:3-4 NCV)  When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come!" Then another horse came out, a red one. Its rider was given power to take away peace from the earth and to make people kill each other, and he was given a big sword.


(Rev 6:5-6 NCV)  When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a black horse, and its rider held a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard something that sounded like a voice coming from the middle of the four living creatures. The voice said, "A quart of wheat for a day's pay, and three quarts of barley for a day's pay, and do not damage the olive oil and wine!"


(Rev 6:7-8 NCV)  When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a pale horse. Its rider was named death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill people by war, by starvation, by disease, and by the wild animals of the earth.


(Rev 6:9-11 NCV)  When the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been killed because they were faithful to the word of God and to the message they had received. These souls shouted in a loud voice, "Holy and true Lord, how long until you judge the people of the earth and punish them for killing us?" Then each one of them was given a white robe and was told to wait a short time longer. There were still some of their fellow servants and brothers and sisters in the service of Christ who must be killed as they were. They had to wait until all of this was finished.


(Rev 6:12-14 NCV)  Then I watched while the Lamb opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became black like rough black cloth, and the whole moon became red like blood. And the stars in the sky fell to the earth like figs falling from a fig tree when the wind blows. The sky disappeared as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place.


(Rev 6:15-17 NCV)  Then the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the rich people, the powerful people, the slaves, and the free people hid themselves in caves and in the rocks on the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us. Hide us from the face of the One who sits on the throne and from the anger of the Lamb!  The great day for their anger has come, and who can stand against it?"


(Rev 7:1 NCV)  After the vision of these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth. The angels were holding the four winds of the earth to keep them from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree.


(Rev 7:2-3 NCV)  Then I saw another angel coming up from the east who had the seal of the living God. And he called out in a loud voice to the four angels to whom God had given power to harm the earth and the sea. He said to them, "Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we mark with a sign the foreheads of the people who serve our God."


These Israelite believers are sealed and protected by God to live through the tribulation period. God has promised a kingdom on earth with Jesus the Messiah ruling over it to the Israelites and there must be people from every tribe of Israel preserved alive through the tribulation period to fulfill his word.

(Rev 7:4 NCV)  Then I heard how many people were marked with the sign. There were one hundred forty-four thousand from every tribe of the people of Israel.

(Rev 7:5-8 NCV)  From the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were marked with the sign, from the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand, from the tribe of Gad twelve thousand, from the tribe of Asher twelve thousand, from the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand, from the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand, from the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand, from the tribe of Levi twelve thousand, from the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand, from the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand, from the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand, and from the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were marked with the sign.


(Rev 7:9-10 NCV)  After the vision of these things I looked, and there was a great number of people, so many that no one could count them. They were from every nation, tribe, people, and language of the earth. They were all standing before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. They were shouting in a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."

The 144,000 have been sealed to survive the wrath of God that will be poured out upon the earth. In the verse above it appears that the first resurrection has taken place at about the same time as the sealing of the 144,000. One group is going to live through the tribulation on earth, and the other group, the saved of all ages, which includes the martyrs from righteous Abel to the Two Witnesses will be lifted up off of the earth to heaven before the wrath of god is poured out.


(Rev 7:11-12 NCV)  All the angels were standing around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures. They all bowed down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, "Amen! Praise, glory, wisdom, thanks, honor, power, and strength belong to our God forever and ever. Amen!"

(Rev 7:13-14 NASB)  And one of the elders answered, saying to me, "These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and from where have they come?" And I said to him, "My lord, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Those who were killed for their faith and service to God are singled out with the special distinction of wearing a white robe. The living and the dead have been raptured to heaven to celebrate the marriage supper of the lamb.

(Rev 7:15-17 NCV)  Because of this, they are before the throne of God. They worship him day and night in his temple. And the One who sits on the throne will be present with them. Those people will never be hungry again, and they will never be thirsty again. The sun will not hurt them, and no heat will burn them, because the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd. He will lead them to springs of water that give life. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."


(Rev 8:1 NCV)  When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.


The seven seals have given us an overview of the entire sequence of events of the tribulation period. Here is a review of it.

1. The rider on a white horse, Antichrist comes to power on earth. The world believes peace and prosperity has come, and it will for a short time.

2. The red horse signifies the blood that will be shed by the wars of Antichrist as he seeks to rule the world.

3. The black horse signifies famine that will come upon the earth as the two witnesses withhold the rain for 3 1/2 years and food prices skyrocket.

4. The Pale green horse (like the color of glowing green watch hands) signifies the death that will come as a result of Antichrists wars and the famine and judgments poured out on earth by the two witnesses.

5. The saints are being martyred along with the Jews. Satan seeks to kill the Christians because they will not worship his Antichrist and the Jews in order to prevent God from fulfilling his promises to them.

6. The signs of The Day of the Lord are seen in the heavens and on the earth as prophesied throughout the old and new testaments.

7. The saints are raptured to heaven and the 144,000 are sealed to live through the wrath of God on earth.

8. A time of respite and silence before the wrath of God is poured out followed by the return of Christ.

There is a lot more to the interpretation of the seven seals that the items that are listed above. Although they give us the order of the tribulation period they are also actual events that begin when Antichrist comes to power.

The seals, the trumpets and the bowls are similar to the plagues that Moses brought upon Egypt, but each successive judgment affects more people on the earth. The seals only affect 25% (1/4) of the people living on the earth. The trumpets affect 33 1/3% (1/3) of the people and land areas of the world and the last set, God’s wrath affects  66 2/3% (2/3) of the earth.

The proof of the amount of people who will die during the tribulation period is found in the verses below. Zechariah is speaking about the time when the wrath of God strikes the earth and that is the third set of judgments, the bowls, sometimes called vials.

(Rev 6:8 NCV)  I looked, and there before me was a pale horse. Its rider was named death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill people by war, by starvation, by disease, and by the wild animals of the earth.

(Rev 9:18 NCV)  A third of all the people on earth were killed by these three terrible disasters coming out of the horses' mouths: the fire, the smoke, and the sulfur.

(Zec 13:8 NIV)  In the whole land," declares the LORD, "two-thirds will be struck down and perish; yet one-third will be left in it.

(Isa 13:11-13 KJV)  And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.

(Isa 13:9-13 NIV)  See, the day of the LORD is coming --a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger-- to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it. The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light. I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless. I will make man scarcer than pure gold, more rare than the gold of Ophir. Therefore I will make the heavens tremble; and the earth will shake from its place at the wrath of the LORD Almighty, in the day of his burning anger.

If there were 6 billion people on earth when the first seal was opened only one billion would be left after completion of all of the judgments. That is not including the removal of the living believers in the rapture. The earth will not have a lot of people on it when Christ returns, and at his coming all the armies of the world will be destroyed at Armageddon reducing the total even more. That’s OK though because there will be a thousand years of peace and prosperity to replenish the earth. By the end of the millennium there will probably be more people on the earth than have ever existed before.


When the Antichrist first comes to power it will appear to the world that the has the answers to all of the worlds problems. He will implement a program that the world believes will bring peace and safety. There will be peace for a short time and the world will think that the golden age has arrived. In book of 2 Esdras In the Greek Orthodox bible it says that just before the seven seals are opened (the seven seals are what Jesus called “the Beginning of sorrows”) there will be a short time of unprecedented peace and prosperity.

(Mat 24:3-5 NKJV)  Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. "For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.

(Mat 24:6- NKJV)  "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilence's, and earthquakes in various places. "All these are the beginning of sorrows.

(Mat 24:9-13 NKJV)  "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. "And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. "And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. "But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

(Mat 24:14-22 NKJV)  "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. "Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. "And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. "But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! "And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. "And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened.

(Mat 24:23-28 NKJV)  "Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it. "For false Christ's and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. "See, I have told you beforehand. "Therefore if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or 'Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it. "For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. "For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.

The verse above concerning the carcass and the eagles has often been misinterpreted to apply to the rapture. In truth, it applies to armageddon when the birds of prey will feast on the armies of the world that are destroyed by Jesus Christ at his coming, not in the rapture for the saints, but to the Mount of Olives, from where he left.

(Mat 24:29-31 NKJV)  "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. "And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.


2 Esdras 16:18-20 The beginning of sorrows, when there shall be much lamentation; the beginning of famine, when many shall perish; the beginning of wars, when the powers shall be terrified; the beginning of calamities, when all shall tremble. What shall they do, when the calamities come? Famine and plague, tribulation and anguish are sent as scourges for the correction of humankind. Yet for all this they will not turn from their iniquities, or ever be mindful of the scourges.

2 Esdras 16:21  Indeed, provisions will be so cheap upon earth that people will imagine that peace is assured for them, and then calamities shall spring up on the earth—the sword, famine, and great confusion.

2 Esdras 16:22-34  For many of those who live on the earth shall perish by famine; and those who survive the famine shall die by the sword. And the dead shall be thrown out like dung, and there shall be no one to console them; for the earth shall be left desolate, and its cities shall be demolished. No one shall be left to cultivate the earth or to sow it. The trees shall bear fruit, but who will gather it? The grapes shall ripen, but who will tread them? For in all places there shall be great solitude; a person will long to see another human being, or even to hear a human voice. For ten shall be left out of a city; and two, out of the field, those who have hidden themselves in thick groves and clefts in the rocks. Just as in an olive orchard three or four olives may be left on every tree, or just as, when a vineyard is gathered, some clusters may be left by those who search carefully through the vineyard, so in those days three or four shall be left by those who search their houses with the sword. The earth shall be left desolate, and its fields shall be plowed up, and its roads and all its paths shall bring forth thorns, because no sheep will go along them. Virgins shall mourn because they have no bridegrooms; women shall mourn because they have no husbands; their daughters shall mourn, because they have no help. Their bridegrooms shall be killed in war, and their husbands shall perish of famine.


2 Esdras 16:35-39  Listen now to these things, and understand them, you who are servants of the Lord. This is the word of the Lord; receive it and do not disbelieve what the Lord says. The calamities draw near, and are not delayed. Just as a pregnant woman, in the ninth month when the time of her delivery draws near, has great pains around her womb for two or three hours beforehand, but when the child comes forth from the womb, there will not be a moment’s delay, so the calamities will not delay in coming upon the earth, and the world will groan, and pains will seize it on every side.

2 Esdras 16:40-50 Hear my words, O my people; prepare for battle, and in the midst of the calamities be like strangers on the earth. Let the one who sells be like one who will flee; let the one who buys be like one who will lose; let the one who does business be like one who will not make a profit; and let the one who builds a house be like one who will not live in it; let the one who sows be like one who will not reap; so also the one who prunes the vines, like one who will not gather the grapes; those who marry, like those who will have no children; and those who do not marry, like those who are widowed. Because of this, those who labor, labor in vain; for strangers shall gather their fruits, and plunder their goods, overthrow their houses, and take their children captive; for in captivity and famine they will produce their children. Those who conduct business, do so only to have it plundered; the more they adorn their cities, their houses and possessions, and their persons, the more angry I will be with them for their sins, says the Lord. Just as a respectable and virtuous woman abhors a prostitute, so righteousness shall abhor iniquity, when she decks herself out, and shall accuse her to her face when he comes who will defend the one who searches out every sin on earth.


2 Esdras 16:68-73  The burning wrath of a great multitude is kindled over you; they shall drag some of you away and force you to eat what was sacrificed to idols. And those who consent to eat shall be held in derision and contempt, and shall be trampled under foot. For in many places and in neighboring cities there shall be a great uprising against those who fear the Lord. They shall be like maniacs, sparing no one, but plundering and destroying those who continue to fear the Lord. For they shall destroy and plunder their goods, and drive them out of house and home. Then the tested quality of my elect shall be manifest, like gold that is tested by fire.


2 Esdras 16:74-78  Listen, my elect ones, says the Lord; the days of tribulation are at hand, but I will deliver you from them. Do not fear or doubt, for God is your guide. You who keep my commandments and precepts, says the Lord God, must not let your sins weigh you down, or your iniquities prevail over you. Woe to those who are choked by their sins and overwhelmed by their iniquities! They are like a field choked with underbrush and its path overwhelmed with thorns, so that no one can pass through. It is shut off and given up to be consumed by fire.

The apocryphal Revelation of John says much the same thing as 2 Esdras. During the short time of peace and safety there will be also be an abundance of food. It will appear that no one will ever have to go hungry again due to antichrist brilliant plan.


From The Apocryphal Revelation Of John
And I heard a voice saying to me: Hear, righteous John. In this book which thou seest there have been written the things in the heaven, and the things in the earth, and the things in the abyss, and the judgments and righteousness of all the human race. And I said: Lord, when shall these things come to pass? and what do those times bring? And I heard a voice saying to me: Hear, righteous John. There shall be in that time abundance of corn and wine, such as there hath never been upon the earth, nor shall ever be until those times come. Then the ear of corn shall produce a half choenix, and the bend of the branch shall produce a thousand clusters, and the cluster shall produce a half jar of wine; and in the following year there shall not be found upon the face of all the earth a half choenix of corn or a half jar of wine.

(Choenix -  CHOENIX ke'-niks : A Greek dry measure, almost equal to one quart. Mentioned in the New Testament only in Revelation 6:6, where the Revised Version, margin would read "choenix" instead of the indefinite translation "measure." The verse is then obviously a threat of famine.)  International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Somehow Antichrists system of government will appear to be the answer to all of the worlds problems. It will be short lived though, perhaps only a year or two and then the whole thing will fall apart when the seven seals begin to be opened and the two witnesses appear and withhold the rain.

(1 Th 5:3 KJV)  For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

(Jer 8:15 NIV)  We hoped for peace but no good has come, for a time of healing but there was only terr or.

When the time of peace and prosperity comes at the start of Antichrist’s reign it will be time for those who don’t want to take the mark a year or two later in order to buy or sell to pay off all of their bills and stock up on non perishable food. Remember, if you own your home you may be able to live in it for a few years until they throw you out for non payment of taxes. But, if you owe money on it and can’t make the payments without the mark you could be out in the street three months after the mark is implemented. Christians should strive to be out of debt by whatever means necessary when they see the Antichrist come to power. Even if it means selling your home and buying a smaller one thats paid for. Remember, once the mark is implemented you won’t be able to sell your home without it. You could have a million dollar home and not be able to sell it to get money to buy food on the black market without taking the mark and swearing allegiance to Satan. We should all follow the principles below whenever possible, but especially in the end times.

(Rom 13:8 KJV)  Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

(Prov 22:7 NCV)  The rich rule over the poor, and borrowers are servants to lenders.

Don't be sucked into the home refinance trap and extend your mortgage into the tribulation period. If you do re-fi make sure you have enough cash in the bank to pay it off at any time you need to. That way if Antichrist comes to power you can run down and pay it off before he implements the mark. Why should they throw you out of your own home you worked so hard for and out into the street for not taking the mark? You'll be sleeping in the bushes instead of in your own bed. Any mortgage that extends past 2018 is definitely in the danger zone as we will be very close at that time to completing 6000 years from the creation of Adam. Even if  nothing happens at that time it's still a good goal to have your home paid for and you will be happy you did it and followed biblical money management principles. A word to the wise is sufficent.

(Prov 22:26-27 NIV)  Do not be a man who strikes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts; if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you.

The short time of peace and safety will be followed by war and famine at the opening of the 2nd and 3rd seals.