The Revelation describes the consummation of prophecy, the end of the fifth course of punishment for Israel.  It gives an account of the day to day events of this time period. Leviticus 26:14-33,40

Revelation is a continuation of Daniel’s prophecy - filling in the details of the 70th week; it is also closely connected to Genesis.

Click HERE for "70 Weeks of Daniel" timeline

The Body of Christ is nowhere to be found - it is in Heaven, having been caught up to meet the Lord.
I Corinthians 15:51-52 - mystery!; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; II Thess 2:1-3

The Dispensation of Grace stands out in stark contrast to this Jewish, kingdom, prophetic book. The Revelation centers on Christ - emphasizing His deity - and His final confrontation with, and triumphant victory over, Satan. This day belongs to the Lord!

February 2, 2003

Overview of Revelation:

The seven "churches" in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 are Jewish assemblies, meeting in Synagogues; the Greek word "ecclesia" - translated "church" in the AV - simply means "called out ones".

By this time, the kingdom church in Judea has been decimated and driven out of the land so that James, Peter and now John address the saints "scattered abroad".
Acts 11:19 James 1:1 I Peter 1:1

Jerusalem is called "Sodom and Egypt".     Revelation 11:8

Each address begins with a description of God from the introduction, a critique of the health of the assembly (”I know thy works”)/warning, and encouragement to "overcome".

Each address ends with a different facet of the reward "package" available to those who endure to the end.     (cf Matt 24:13)

February 9, 2003

After the message to the seven churches, the scene shifts to the throne of God, where the judgments to come originate.

Chapter 4 and 5 are a unit, and the issue is authority - Who is worthy to open the seals of judgment? - Only the Lamb of God!

The "beasts" of chapter 4, 5 and 6 are "living creatures" = Greek: zoon (different than the beasts of 7:8, 11:7 & 13, etc. = Greek: therion)

These "zoon" are cherubims, attending the throne of God.
Gen 3:24; Ezekial 1, 10, 28; Hebrews 9:5

Seals 1-4 correlate beautifully with Matthew 24:5-8; Antichrist appears, along with wars, famine and pestilence.

The fifth seal correlates with Matthew 24:9-28 - the martyrdom of the remnant - and is probably the start of the second half of the week.

The sixth seal is seen in Matthew 24:29-30, and has to do with events just prior to Christ’s second coming.

Despite the most horrific events in the history of the earth, the severity of God’s wrath is still in crescendo.

A man will not be able to kill himself despite the desire to do so. Rev 9:6

February 23, 2003

Chapter 7:1-8 describes the sealing of the 144,000 of Israel, before the events of the 7th seal.

They have survived and stayed faithful.

This sealing protects them from the judgments to come.
cf Rev 9:6 Type: Daniel 3

They will take the gospel of the kingdom to all the earth, and then the end will come.      Matthew 24:14

They will be equipped with the gifts described in early Acts and Mark 16.

Rev 7:9-17 envisions the future kingdom on earth and the glory of the saints - God is dwelling among them. This has always been the hope of Israel.

The 7th seal begins with a "moment of silence," as the prayers of the saints are offered up to God.

These prayers would be similar to those in Daniel 9:4-19, Matthew 6:9-13, Acts 2:24-30 and Revelation 6:10.

The seventh seal contains the 7 trumpet judgments and probably overlaps with the fifth and sixth seals, beginning at the middle of the week.

The trumpets and vials are continuous once they begin.

First trumpet - 1/3 of trees and all grass destroyed.

Second trumpet - 1/3 of seas become as blood; 1/3 of sea life/ships destroyed.

Third trumpet - 1/3 of fresh waters become as "wormwood" - poisonous.

Fourth trumpet - 1/3 of sun, moon and stars darkened.

Fifth trumpet = first woe - scorpion-like locusts from the bottomless pit/abyss tormenting man for 5 months.

Sixth trumpet = second woe - 1/3 of all mankind killed at an appointed time (third woe = seventh trumpet = 7 vials).

Despite the overwhelming evidence of God’s wrath, man refuses to repent!

March 2, 2003

There is a great spiritual conflict taking place in the heavenlies and on earth, which will soon break out into war.
Daniel 10:10-21; Col 1:16; Rev 12:7

The angel of Rev 10:1 is preparing for war!

The Word of God is sweet, but His wrath is dreadful to behold.
Rev 10:9-10; Ezekiel 2:9-10, 3:1-3; Jeremiah 15:16

The two witnesses will prophesy for a period of 42 months - up until the end of the 6th trumpet. We can only speculate as to their identity! Elijah? - Mal 4:5-6 ; Moses? 11:6 - powers like in Exodus; 15:3; Enoch? Genesis 5:24

They will work in conjunction with the 144,000 - like the 12 and the little flock.

The activities, death, resurrection and ascension of the two witnesses will be seen by all the world! 

The 7th trumpet sounds in 11:15-19 but the events of that trumpet don’t resume until 15:5.

Chapters 12, 13, 14 all deal with parenthetical information:

• Ch 12 - Satan’s plan of evil against Israel and the remnant
• Ch 13 - Details of Antichrist’s rise to power and his policy of evil
• Ch 14 - Fate of the 144,000, unregenerate men, and God’s readiness for the harvest

March 9, 2003

The beast of chapter 13 is the earthly manifestation of the dragon of Chapter 12.

The beast is a composite of all the Gentile kingdoms of Daniel chapter 2 and represents the consummation of Gentile world dominion - aligned against Israel.

"Mystery Babylon"- the false, idolatrous, "religious" system- rides this beast to power.

The beast is not the "revived Roman Empire," but a distinct, brutal, Satanically controlled composite kingdom.

Daniel 2 presents this "beast" from man’s perspective - an awesome image of a man (Daniel 3 = type of the worship of the beast).

Daniel 7 presents these beasts/kingdoms from God’s perspective - an evil, ravenous, vicious "creatures".

The fourth beast of Daniel 7 will be different than any other kingdom that ever existed on earth (vs 7,19,23)

The lion (Babylon), bear (Media/Persia), and leopard {Greece (Greco-Roman)} of Daniel 7 are all seen in Revelation 13.

The ten toes (Dan 2) and ten horns (Dan 7, Rev 12,13,17) are ten kings in this last kingdom.

Antichrist will arise as a "little horn" beside these 10 kings, subdue 3, and rule over all Daniel 7:8,20; 8:9,20-27; Rev 17:11.

Antichrist as the "man of sin" will be the 6th "head" or king. He will be mortally wounded or assassinated, be seen as dead by the world and then miraculously arise from the dead, indwelled by Satan, completely deceiving the world into thinking he is of "God", then continue as the "son of perdition".
Rev 13:3, 13-14; 17:8,11. the 7th king Rev 13:3,12; 17:8-10; II Thessalonians 2:3

Antichrist will receive worldwide adulation and worship, even as he blasphemes God, the saints, and defiles the temple Rev 13:4-8.

True, awesome miracles are performed by the false prophet - not all miracles are of God!!!   Rev 13:12-15; Matthew 24:24

The penalty for not worshipping the beast will be death Rev 13:15.

Just as God sealed His 144,000, Antichrist will seal his "believers" Rev 13:16-18; 20:4; cf I John 5:16- "sin unto death".

The penalty for not receiving the seal/mark of Antichrist will be exclusion from the economic system - hunger, no job, no home, no medical care, etc. Rev 13:16-18; James 2:15-16.

Antichrist is the false Messiah of the counterfeit tri-unity; the false prophet is the counterfeit Holy Spirit ; Satan is the counterfeit Father. They initially work through the false "church" - the harlot -until it no longer serves their purpose. Rev 17:16

He won’t manifest until after the departure - we (members of the Body of Christ) will not be able to identify him until then! II Thess 2:3

He will be a charismatic global leader who will consolidate power by conquest and "flatteries" Daniel 7:8,20; 8:25; 11:21-24.

He will be a part of a 10 king confederacy, of which he will arise as the 11th king, "subdue" 3 of the kings, and somehow gain complete control. Daniel 7:8,20,24

He will speak "great things" and seduce the world. 
Daniel 7:8, 20; Rev 13:3

He will deceive apostate Israel into signing a seven year contract - the world will think that middle east peace is here at last.
Daniel 9:27; I Thess 5:3 

He will even allow Israel to rebuild her temple (220 days building time) and restart the sacrificial system.
Daniel 8:13-14; 9:27

He will then do a complete "180" as he arises from the abyss to persecute those he once vowed to protect.    Dan 9:27; 11:31

He will be a gentile, arising out of one of the four subkingdoms of Greece; he will probably be unmarried, from a Muslim family, and of Assyrian descent.
Dan 8:8-9, 21-23; 11:37; Is 30:31; Micah 5:1-6

March 16, 2003

He will worship Satan (the "father") and demand worship of himself (the "son" if you will). Dan 11:36-38; Rev 13:15

He will be a blasphemer, persecute God’s saints without mercy , and attempt to completely destroy the Nation of Israel.   Psalm 83; Daniel 7:21,25; 11:33 

He will turn on the false religious system/"Babylon"/apostate Israel and destroy it.
Rev 17:16-17

He will gather all the armies of the world against Christ.   Rev 16:14,16; 19:19

His fate will be everlasting torment in the lake of fire.   Rev 19:20; 20:10

The 144,000 are the firstfruits of the tribulation harvest.  Rev 14:4 cf 14:15

They stand faultless before the throne - true of all the saved of all time (by Grace!)

By fearing God (showing reverence Him), you believe what He has told you (faith!).

By receiving the mark of the beast, one will reject the "everlasting gospel".

The fate of unbelievers is everlasting torment - with no rest day or night.
Rev 14:10-11, 20:10-15; Luke 16:19-31

After the second death, man is a described as a "worm" Psalm 22:6 (wrath of God being poured out on Christ).   Is 66:24; Mark 9:44, 46, 48

Tribulation saints are "in the Lord"- as are all believers - some according to prophecy, some according to mystery.   Rom 16:7; I Thess 2:14; Rev 14:13

The harvest of Rev 14 is the fulfillment of the parable of the wheat and tares. Note: unbelievers are "taken," not believers!
Jer 51:33; Joel 3:13; Matt 13:24-30,36-43, 47-50; 24:39-41 II Thess 1:6-9

At Armageddon, blood will flow to a depth of several feet over an area of 200 square miles as God treads the winepress of His wrath.
Is 63:3; Joel 3:13; Rev 14:20,16:14-21

Chapter 15 picks up where chapter 11 left off - with details of the preparation of the pouring out of the 7 vials.

March 23, 2003                        Chapters 16 and 17

The seven vials are consecutive and additive.

These judgments represent the third woe - culminating at Armageddon.
Rev 11:14-15.

The sixth vial is designed to drive the kings of the earth toward Armageddon.
Rev 16:14

The seventh vial manifests with the campaign of Armageddon, a global earthquake and hailstones weighing 56 pounds !!!

After the seventh vial - "It is done" (for God’s wrath). Rev 16:17; 11:15; John 19:30

The "campaign" of Armageddon takes place over a period of time - possibly over the entire second half of the tribulation, culminating in the hailstone judgment. 

Jerusalem will be central in the campaign.   Zech 12:2-3,9, 14:1-3; Isaiah 31:5 

The campaign will take place over most of Palestine, with several invading forces.    Ezekiel 38, 39; Daniel 11:24-28,40-45 

It will take seven years to clean up the mess and seven months to bury the corpses.    Ezekial 39:9,12; Joel 3:2,12 ("Jehoshaphat" = burial)

The "great whore" of Rev 17 is apostate Jerusalem - "that great city" - spiritually called "Sodom and Egypt" aka "Babylon".   Rev 11:8; chap 17 & 18

"That great city" is Jerusalem, not literal Babylon.   Isaiah 13:19-20, 51:17; Rev 11:8, 21:10; *Matthew 23:34-37; Rev 18:24

Her name is "Aholibah" - representative of Judah/Jerusalem.
Ezek 16 & 23; Jer 3:6-11

She is adorned with the same colors and jewels of the tabernacle/priesthood - typical of how they have led the nation astray and "bowed the knee to Baal".

She "rides" antichrist - i.e., makes a pact with him to continue her idolatrous ways ("covenant with hell" - Isaiah 28:14-18).

This relationship is a continuation of the adulterous relationship she had with the gentile kingdoms in times past.    Rev 17:2 Jeremiah 3 and Ezekiel 16, 23 - Egypt, Assyria, Babylon mentioned specifically.

She is also called "Mystery" because her meaning is hidden to those not "in the book".   Luke 10:21

The beast is clearly identified as the antichrist.   Rev 17:12-13,17

The beast is the sixth king and becomes the seventh after rising from abyss. Rev17:8-10

He is also the "8th" of the ten kings (10+1=11, minus 3=8).
Rev 17:11; Daniel 7:8,20

God will use the beast and ten horns/kings to destroy the woman - the destruction of Jerusalem.   Rev 17:16-17; Zechariah 14:2

March 30, 2003

In chapter 18, we "loop back" to see the destruction of the harlot of chapter 17 - pictured as the destruction of a city.    cf Ezekiel 27 (Tyre)

The nations are complicit in her corruption and evil.    Rev 18:3,9

The world laments her destruction; God and the saints rejoice in her fall.
Rev 18:9,11,15-19, 20

God will accomplish this via the instrumentality of Antichrist’s confederacy; this will probably be a part of the campaign of Armageddon.     Rev 17:16-17

Her destiny is like Sodom and Gomorrah.    Rev 11:8, 19:3; Genesis 19:24; Isaiah 1:9-10,21; Jeremiah 23:14 Matthew 10:15

In chapter 19, with the whore/Aholibah/apostate Israel/"old" Jerusalem/"Babylon" destroyed, we see a picture of the marriage of the Lamb. The bride is clearly new Jerusalem.
Rev 19:7-9; 21:9-10 

Only the saved will be invited to the wedding of the Lamb.   Rev 18: 9

The world will see the Lord coming in the clouds and they will be scared to death.
Matthew 24:30

The saints will accompany Him to battle (Will we be there? - I Thess 4:17)
Rev 19:8, 14

Antichrist’s forces will be arrayed at Armageddon to face the Lord in battle.
Rev 16:14, 16; 19:19

Christ’s victory will be swift, decisive and overwhelming.
Rev 14:20; 16:18-21; 19:21

The fowls and beasts will have plenty to eat for 7 months!
Ezekiel 39:4, 11-14, 17-21; Rev 19:18,21

For leading the rebellion, and deceiving the nations, the beast and false prophet are sent to everlasting punishment - soon to be joined by Satan.   Rev 19: 20; 20:10

April 13, 2003

Satan will not be bound until the end of the tribulation - no mere man can "bind" Satan, only God Almighty! Rev 20:1-3

Satan’s demise will eventually be witnessed by the world.
Ezekiel 28:17-19

Satan will be imprisoned for 1000 years along with the fallen angels.
Matt 8:29; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6

Christ will reign in perfect righteousness for 1000 years, with Israel as the head of the nations, filling positions of rank and authority on Earth.
Rev 20:4, 6; Matthew 19:28

The first resurrection takes place before the millennial kingdom - all kingdom/law program believers are raised to go into the kingdom with Christ.
Rev 20:5-6; Matt 8:11

The millennial kingdom is the first installment of the long prophesied, eternal reign of Christ.    Daniel 2:44-45

The kingdom will be centered in the new Jerusalem and Christ will be head of all things (this is the dispensation of the fullness of times).
Rev 21; Ephesians 1:10

The second resurrection is for all unbelievers of all dispensations - to face Christ in judgment (the Great White Throne Judgement - see below).

Those that are born once, die twice; those that are born twice, die once.

Most of the nations will come to worship the Lord in Jerusalem.
Micah 4:1-3; Zech 8:20-23

Those that do not will suffer consequences.
Isaiah 60:12; Zech 14:16-19

Despite the absence of Satan, some men will still have the sin nature; this fact, coupled with resentment for Christ’s righteous judgments, will make these people ripe for Satan’s overtures when he is released briefly from the pit.
Rev 20:7-9

The rebellion will be very large ("as the sand of the sea") but will be swiftly destroyed - and Satan cast into the lake of fire.
Rev 20:8-10

The destruction of the "old" earth and heavens take place at the time of the Great White Throne Judgment (GWTJ), and is connected with man’s judgment.
2 Peter 3:7, 10; Rev 20:11; 21:1

Those that "overcome" have their names written in the book of life and are not judged, but inherit all things.
Rev 3:5; 20:12,15; 21:7

For them, the second death has no power - for they don’t stand in their works and Christ took their judgment at the cross!
Rev 2:11; 20:6, 12; 21:6 Ephesians 2:8-9

Only unbelievers will stand before the Lord at the GWTJ - and be judged by their works, exactly as they desired.
Rev 20:12, 13; 2:23; 2 Cor 11:15

One of Satan’s great deceptions is to persuade people that they can approach God on the basis of their works!

An unbeliever’s works are written in the "books" of Rev 20:12 and punishment will be in proportion to the wickedness of the person.
Rev 20:12; Romans 2:5-6

Believers’ names are written in the book of life. Rev 20:12, 15; Philippians 4:3

May 4, 2003 (final session)

The present earth and heavens will be destroyed by fire.     2 Peter 3:7

God will create a completely new heaven and earth, along with a new Jerusalem, the seat of His throne.     Rev 21:1-2

God Himself is the temple.     Rev 21:3,22

God will finally be Israel’s God; they are no longer "Loammi".
Hosea 1:9-10; Rev 22:3-4

Salvation is by grace through faith!!!
Rev 21:6-8; John 4:7-14; Rom 3:24; Eph 2:8-9

The bride of Christ is the new Jerusalem, the center of the kingdom.
Rev 21:9-10; Hebrews 11:13-16

The description in Rev 21:11-22:5 is of the literal new Jerusalem - it is not figurative.

The Lord is all the light the city will need!

The tree of the knowledge of good and evil is no longer present.
Rev 22:2; Gen 2:9

The correct order is now established - man serving God and God reigning.
Matt 20:28; Rev 22:3,5

The book ends with clear statements of Christ’s deity, the sanctity of scripture, an invitation to "come and drink" and warnings to treat this book with utmost care!!!

This concludes our study.  Please call our church telephone number at (847) 894-2893  for information on how to obtain a complete set of audio tapes.