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Before we get started, I just wanted to bring your attention to the timeline that goes along with the book of Revelation. You can download that off of our website.
Revelation TimeLine
Revelation TimeLine Notes
And I just wanted to point out a few things on the timeline there. Sometimes it's going to be easier to follow what I say, especially when we get to some of these third and fourth loops just by looking on the timeline, because you can see where the narrative begins and where the narrative ends, and it's pretty specific. Like if you look at the line for chapter eight to ten, you'll see that that arrow begins at the second coming of Christ, but it stops short of the battle of Armageddon. So it's very specific where the arrow begins and ends. Of course, the timeline's not in scale, that gap is, well, probably anywhere from maybe one to two years at the least. Then of course you have three and a half years and three and a half years. That's pretty easy to understand. The time frame between the second coming of Christ and Armageddon is actually only three days. Okay, then you're moving on into the millennium and then on into eternity. So I just wanted to bring that to your attention. So you might want to be following along a little bit as we go through some of these chapters in Revelation.

Okay, so this morning is going to be part 11 and the final message in our dispensational overview of the Bible. Now ever since the book of Hebrews with the resumption of Israel's prophetic kingdom program, we have been following the doctrines and the instructions that have been written to the little flock of true believers in Israel's Prophetic Kingdom program. Those doctrines and instructions which are designed to get them through the trials and tribulations of the seven Year Tribulation as they will be striving to endure all the way to the end of the tribulation. And those members of the little flock are the first thing we see when we dive into the book of Revelation. Then the book of Revelation will go on to describe the earth shattering events associated with the seven Year Tribulation, God's judgments on the earth, the second coming of Christ, the final battle of Armageddon, the initial stage of Israel's everlasting kingdom, and some other things which will be occurring after the 1000 year millennium.

That initial stage of Israel's never ending Kingdom is that 1000 year millennium which is described in Revelation chapter 20. So that then takes us into the book of the Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ. And when we come to Revelation, we're at the end, because this is where we see the culmination of all prophecy and the establishment of Israel's prophesied kingdom program here on the earth. That kingdom which has been spoken of by the mouth of all of God's holy prophets since the world began, as Peter stated it in Acts 3:21.

Now, I'm not going to go through the entire book of Revelation, but I certainly want to take us through some of the initial chapters in Revelation so that we can see the little flock again, that little flock of believers which we've been focusing on so intently in the book of Hebrews through Jude. That little flock of believers continues to be the focus in Revelation chapters 1, 2, and 3. Then I want to go over some important principles pertaining to how the book of Revelation is presented with multiple loops back along the timeline of events. And that's one of the things that makes the book of Revelation so confusing for many readers. You have to recognize those loops back along the timeline of events.

You also have to recognize when the narrative jumps ahead to describe some future event. Now, these jumps ahead to a future event may take you to a scene up in the Third Heaven, typically where we get a look at heaven's reaction to something that occurred either earlier during the Tribulation, or sometimes there may be a jump ahead into some event that will be going on in the millennium. Now, hopefully you've all got a copy of the timeline there and the accompanying timeline notes. You won't need the notes so much today, but there's five pages of accompanying notes that go with every line on the timeline. So you can see how those loops go throughout the book of Revelation.

Now, I don't know how it was for you folks and for our listeners, but I grew up in a church which never taught anything out of the book of Revelation because it had no clue about what anything in the book meant. The only thing I ever heard said dogmatically about the book of the Revelation was that everything in Revelation had already happened. That any events, whether those might be literal or figurative, that any of the events which are recorded in the book of Revelation occurred in the first century AD and were associated with the destruction of the Temple. Well, that is obviously nonsense, but many churches believe that, and that is what would commonly be referred to as the preterist interpretation of Revelation, that everything in the book has already taken place. Other denominational churches hold to what is commonly referred to as the historical spiritual interpretation.

They would also contend that everything in Revelation is past history, but that there are spiritual lessons within the book for the church today and that you have to kind of search those out and figure out what they are. Now, both of these interpretations fall under a general description of what is called amillennialism, which simply means that they don't believe that there will ever be a literal, physical, earthly, Davidic kingdom for the nation Israel here on the Earth, that 1000 year initial stage of Israel's prophetic kingdom, which is found in Revelation chapter 20. They simply don't believe that. They would contend that the church, the Body of Christ today, has replaced the nation Israel and either has been or will be the recipient of everything that God has promised to Israel. Now, how anyone could spend their life studying the Bible and reading all the verses that are in the Bible and come away with that idea is beyond me.

But that is what they believe. I've always liked what J. Vernon McGee had to say about the book of Revelation. He said that the book of Revelation was like a great Union Railway station where all the great railways of prophecy and scripture were all finally arriving at their destinations. That's really good. And that's why it's really pretty simple to explain why all these churches can't explain the book of Revelation.

They don't understand most of the rest of the Bible, especially Israel's prophetic kingdom program, and especially when you don't rightly divide the word of truth. You'll never understand the book of Revelation if you haven't studied all those books from Genesis Through Acts, Chapter 7, all those books pertaining to Israel's prophetic kingdom program, and also the things that Paul has written about Israel and Israel's future in Romans chapters 9, 10 and 11.

Now it's interesting and really quite fitting that the apostle John is the writer of the book of Revelation, because it's John who, in his first book in the Gospel of John, he goes further back into eternity past than any other New Testament writer in order to present Christ. What does John write in his Gospel account? He writes, in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John, chapter one, verse one. And then John moves ahead up to the time of creation as he presents Christ, where he says, all things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made. John 1:3.

And then John presents Christ as he and the other apostles came to know him during his earthly ministry to the nation Israel. What does he say? He says, and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. That's John 1:14.

And then John reminds his readers of that very same thing in his first letter to members of the little flock of the future in the book of I John. What did he say there? He said, that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and was manifested unto us that one we declare unto you. That's I John 1:1-3. So is it not perfectly fitting that John should now be presenting Christ in his glory, that glory which will proceed on into eternity future as Christ fulfills that which was written about him by Paul in Ephesians chapter 1, verses 9 and 10?

Let's just flip back there for a minute. Ephesians 1:9-10. Christ is about to fulfill this in verse 9, having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself. And what is that? That in the dispensation of the fulness of times, that's a future dispensation. He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth, even in him. Okay, let's get into the book of Revelation, verse 1:1. The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass. And he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John, who bare record of the word of God and of the testimony of Jesus, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are written therein, for the time is at hand.

Verse 3 says that these are the words of this prophecy. Don't ever lose sight of the fact that what John is going to present here is prophecy. Prophecy. These are events of the future. John is not going to be writing about things that have already taken place.

Verse 4. John to the seven churches which are in Asia, grace be unto you, and peace from him which is, and which was, and which is to come and from the seven spirits which are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth, unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God, and his Father. To him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Verse 6 says that Jesus Christ hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father, well, does that sound like something that pertains to us as members of the Body of Christ today? Obviously not.

Who is it that will assume the role of kings and priests unto God and the Father? It's going to be Israel. Their destiny is to be a kingdom of priests. Their destiny is to rule with Christ, but they're not doing that yet. And if someone were of the misguided belief that the Christians of this current church age have replaced the nation Israel and everything in the book of Revelation has already taken place, please explain to me the sense in which we are now functioning as kings and priests unto God, as it says in verse six.

What you have there is another positional statement of what the nation Israel will finally realize when Christ completes his role as Israel's Redeemer, Deliverer, Avenger, King and Blesser. Those five mandates of the Davidic covenant, Christ's role as Israel's Redeemer, has already been fulfilled on the cross at his first coming. The remaining four mandates are all associated with his second coming.

Verse 7. Behold, he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him, and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so. Amen. Have we seen this yet? Obviously not. When the prophecies in this book of Revelation come to pass, there won't be any people debating whether these things are taking place or not. Everybody will know what's going on.

Then the Lord speaks, and John provides some accompanying commentary. Verse 8. I am Alpha and Omega. The beginning and the ending saith the Lord, which is and which was and which is to come, the Almighty. I, John, who also am your brother and companion in tribulation in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice as of a trumpet, saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. And what thou seest, write in a book and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia, unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. So here we learn that there are going to be seven churches in Asia Minor in the region of what is commonly referred to today as Turkey.

And as we shall soon see, this is where many of the members of the little flock, who will be located outside of the land at that time, outside of the land of Jerusalem and Judea. This is where they will be in the future. Now we saw this very thing to be the case in the greetings of both James and Peter in their introductions to the little flock of the future. Verse 12, and I turned to see the voice that spake with me, and being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks. Now what these seven golden candlesticks will be revealed to us before the chapter ends.

Verse 13. And in the midst of the seven candlesticks, one like unto the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle, his head, and his hairs were white like wool, white as snow, and his eyes were as a flame of fire, and his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace, and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars, and out of his mouth went a sharp two edged sword, and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. Well, this one, like unto the Son of man in verse 13 is of course the Lord Jesus Christ, who is going to provide John with some more important information. And what these seven stars in verse 16 are will also be revealed to us before the chapter ends.

Verse 17. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead, and he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, fear not, I am the first and the last, I am he that liveth and was dead. And behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And have the keys of hell and of death. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter. And now we come to Christ's explanation of those things which were spoken of in the previous verses. Verse 20. The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand and the seven golden candlesticks. So what was that?

The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches. And the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. So the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches. And as I previously pointed out to you previously in this study, angels are literally messengers. And they're messengers primarily to the nation Israel.

And as we're going to see, each of these seven angels are going to have a message for one of the seven churches in Asia Minor. Now, the seven candlesticks which thou sawest, those are the seven churches. So these seven churches are likened unto candlesticks because they will be giving light out into the world around them. Now what does that thought bring to mind? That should immediately bring to mind what Christ said to the nation Israel during his Sermon on the Mount.

If you want to turn back to Matthew 5 for a moment, Matthew 5:14, Jesus says, ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven. So verse 16 says that they and that they here would be all those Gentile nations around them throughout the world that they may see your good works.

That was the objective. That was the anointing of the good seed which the Son of Man had sown out into the world in the parable of the wheat and tares in Matthew, chapter 13, verses 37 and 38. And so here begins the Lord's messages to those seven Jewish churches of the future. So we'll move on into chapter two. Chapters two and three are going to be picking up with members of the little flock which we have been following in the books of Hebrews to where we are now in Revelation, chapter 2, verse 1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus. Write these things, saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. I know thy works, and thy labour and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil, and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles and are not, and hast found them liars. So here is the message to the church at Ephesus. Verse 2 says, Thou hast tried them which say they are apostles and are not, and has found them liars. Well, isn't that exactly what the little flock was supposed to be doing in 1 John? The members of the little flock at this church in Ephesus have tested these people who say they are apostles, tested them with the 10 tests that we saw in 1 John and have found them to be liars.

So at least they know who these false apostles and liars are. Verse 2 also says, I know thy patience and how thou canst not bear them which say they are apostles and are not. Now I tried to make this point to you when we looked at these imposters in 1 John. How that this is going to be such an unbearable thing, such an unbearable thing for the little flock to have to just allow these tares to remain in their midst until the Lord returns to deal with them. And that's what you're seeing right here, verse three.

And hast borne and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast labored and has not fainted. So these are those in the little flock who have stood fast in the Lord's doctrine. They've put up with these evil imposters and they have not caved into the pressures that these imposters will be putting on the little flock to get them to fall back into Israel's vain, apostate religious system or to do something contrary to what the word of God has instructed them to do in all these books we've looked at from Hebrews on. Verse four. Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and repent and do the first works. Or else I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy candlestick out of his place. Except thou repent. But this thou hast that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of of the paradise of God.

Now, as we get into some of these verses, there are going to be some things that I don't think we can explain. I'm not sure anyone can say exactly what some of this means until members of the little flock are actually in this situation in the future. For example, what exactly is the first love which the little flock is leaving here in verse 4? And who are these Nicolaitans and what are the deeds associated with these Nicolaitans which both the Lord and the little flock both hate in verse six? Apparently, and you don't find this in the Bible anywhere, but apparently, the Nicolaitans were a group of people who promoted a lifestyle that blended Christian beliefs with pagan practices, specifically involving sexual immorality and eating food offered to idols.

And we'll see some more of that as we progress through these first two chapters here. But what we do know is that the members of little flock have been repeatedly encouraged to endure to the end. And we see that again here in those who are encouraged to overcome in verse seven. And if they do overcome, what are they told that they're going to be given? The verse says that they will eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Now, isn't that interesting. We have not heard anything about this tree of life in all of scripture since Genesis 3:22, which said that those who ate of this tree would live forever. And verse 5 is interesting. Verse 5 reaffirms the reality that members of the little flock are still capable of sinning, that some of them have done some things for which they need to repent. So I guess they'll be appealing to 1 John 1:9, won't they?

Well, next we come to the message for the church at Smyrna, verse 8. And of the angel of the church in Smyrna write these things, saith the first and the last, which was dead and is alive. I know thy works and tribulation and poverty, but thou art rich. I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Verse 9 says, I know thy works and tribulation and poverty.

Well, this sort of sounds like it might be written to those tribulation saints who are in a situation similar to what James was describing, doesn't it? They may be in literal poverty, but the rewards which are in store for them are actually going to render them to be rich. And verse nine also refers to the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. They are of the church of Satan. Well, that shouldn't be any problem identifying these folks.

These are the tares. These are the children of the devil. These are Satan's workers, and they are constantly undermining the righteous pursuits of the true believers. And notice that these false Jews are said to be blaspheming. So here are some people who are blaspheming the Holy Ghost in the age to come, as Christ warned them back in Matthew 12:32.

Continuing on in verse 10. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer. Behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried, and ye shall have tribulation 10 days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

He that overcometh shall not be hurt. Of the second death, verse 10 says, Fear none of these things which thou shalt suffer. Be faithful unto death. So members of little flock are going to suffer, and some of them are even going to be killed. But does it really matter?

Because they will be resurrected, and their suffering and death will only result in greater rewards for them and in fact, in greater glorification of Christ when Christ establishes the kingdom. Peter spoke about this increased glorification of Christ because of their suffering in 1 Peter 4:12, 14.

You know, when I read through these things, all I can say is that I am very glad that I am a believer in this current dispensation of Grace. Because if I were ever in the situations that the little flock are going to be in, in the future, I'm thinking that the best I could ever hope for would to be one of those believers, a true believer who is cast out into outer darkness for a time, only to be admitted into the kingdom at some later date.

Next is the message to the church at Pergamos, verse 12. And unto the angel of the church in Pergamos write these things, saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges. I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, and even where Satan's seat is. And thou holdest fast my name, and has not denied my faith, even in those days where Antipas was my faithful martyr who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. So verse 13 says, Thou holdest fast my name and has not denied my faith.

So these members of the little flock are faithfully professing that Christ was the Messiah, that he was who he said he was, and that he has come in the flesh. All those things that we saw, the tares would be denying in the midst of the little flock which we read about in 1 John. That was one of the tests we looked at. Verse 14. But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans which think I hate. Repent, or else I will come to thee quickly and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

Well, the Lord has some things to say about this church that are kind of negative, like he did back at the church of Ephesus. In verse 14 we see this doctrine of Balaam. And what Balaam did back in the book of Numbers was to get Israel to sin, to try to get them to commit some kind of a sin. In verse 15 we again see this doctrine of the Nicolaitans. So this negative influence of the Nicolaitans must be something that's going to turn out to be pretty significant when the time comes. Now we could expect that these negative activities which the Lord has against them are things which the tares would naturally be involved in. So the question here seems to be whether there might be certain members of the little flock who are being drawn into those activities, being drawn into these particular sins, and whether that is the reason for these warnings.

That would seem to make sense. And then the usual exhortation is repeated. He that hath an ear, let him hear. He says that in verse 17. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth, saving he that receiveth it. So here we've got hidden manna, a white stone, a new name written on the stone, which is uniquely personal to the one who receives it. So here are some more things I don't think that we can explain. What are these things all about? Maybe there are some types in the Old Testament writings throughout Israel's history which could shed some light on these things.

But if there are, I certainly haven't figured out what they are. Next we come to the church at Thyatira, verse 18. And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write these things, saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass. I know thy works and charity and service and faith, and thy patience and thy works. And the last to be more than the first.

Well, there appear to be a lot of good characteristics listed here pertaining to this group. In verse 19, the Lord is aware of their works of charity, service, faith, and patience. Patience. But look at how verse 19 ends. And the last shall be more than the first.

What does that phrase bring to mind? Could this possibly mean that as a result of their love and their service and their faith, and especially their patience, that this group of believers has been particularly successful in converting many of the tares in the little flock of believers as the tribulation was coming closer to the end. So that within this church there are going to be an extraordinary number of 11th hour believers, so to speak, who are pulled out of the fire as Jude described, and will make it into the kingdom.

From the Matthew 20 parable of the laborers in the vineyard, that's something to give some serious thought to. Verse 20 notwithstanding, I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants, to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. So here the verse speaks of committing fornication and eating things sacrificed unto idols. Again, we saw these two problems back in verse 14 in the church of Pergamos. And this might have something to do with that doctrine of the Nicolaitans which the Lord hates.

I think it's pretty clear that this type of activity is going to become quite commonplace within the apostate element, which is in the middle midst of the true believers, probably associated with the religious system introduced by Satan. And here the Lord even names this false prophetess Jezebel, who will be instigating all these things in this particular church. Now, when we get down to verse 24, Satan's role in all this becomes pretty clear. Verse 21. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication, and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death. And all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts. And I will give unto every one of you according to your works. But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan as they speak, I will put upon you none other burden.

So here we have the depths of Satan. In verse 24, it sounds to me as though Satan is giving it to this particular church with everything he's got. And the exhortation to overcome all these things is repeated again, verse 25. But that which ye have already, hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations. And he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers, even as I received of my Father. Well, how about those rewards for them who are able to overcome and endure to the end? They will be literally ruling with Christ over the earth. Now here is where they become kings and priests, reigning over the earth, as it says in Revelation 5:10.

Let's just flip over there for a moment. Revelation 5:10 and he that is Christ hath made us unto our God, kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth. So many of those who overcome or who are killed attempting to do so will be made kings of the earth, ruling with Christ. And what does that bring to mind? That brings to mind the parable that Christ gave his disciples in Matthew 25:14 30 and then again he repeats that parable in Luke 19:11 and following where the degree of faithfulness which the servants demonstrated while he was away determined whether they would have authority over 10 cities, or five cities, or no cities, or in fact whether they might even be cast out into utter darkness because of their unfaithfulness to endure to the end.

Verse 28 and I will give him the morning star. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. So the morning star, of course, would be the Lord Jesus Christ. He that hath an ear, let him hear. This exhortation is given to all seven of the churches, and you probably recognize that this is the same exhortation which Christ gave to his disciples repeatedly back in Matthew chapter 13 in association with those seven mystery kingdom parables.

Now we move into chapter three, verse one and unto the angel of the church of Sardis write these things, saith he that hath the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know thy works that thou hast the name that thou livest. But what does it say? And art dead? I know thou works, that thou hast a name that thou livest and art dead.

So this particular church doesn't sound as though it's doing very well. It sounds to me like these might be those who James spoke about in James chapter two, where faith without works is dead.

They have a name that they profess. They say they have faith, but their works don't match up. These are probably those folks who are showing love in word, showing love in tongue, but not in deed and truth, exactly as John stated it in 1 John, chapter 3, verse 18. These are some pretty strong words of negativity against this church here, probably the strongest we've seen so far.

Verse 2 Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die, for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast and repent. If thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. So it sounds like this group is being warned to shape up before it's too late. Verse 4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis, which have not defiled their garments, and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy. So there are only a few who are demonstrating the life which Christ is expecting from members of the little flock.

And then the exhortations are repeated again. Verse 5 He that overcometh the same shall be clothed in white raiment. And I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Okay, so two more church assemblies to go. Verse 7. And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia. Write these things, saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth and no man shutteth. And shutteth, and no man openeth. I know thy works. Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it. For thou hast a little strength and hast kept my word and has not denied my name. Now these members of the little flock look to be doing a whole lot better. This is the church in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia is typically referred to as the city of brotherly love, isn't it? Is this church demonstrating that love for their brothers to such a degree that they stand head and shoulders above all the other churches in righteousness? I suspect that is the case, because it sure sounds like they're doing something good. And so look at what the Lord says to them.

Verse 9. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews and are not, but do lie. Behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet. And to know that I have loved thee because thou hast kept the word of my patience. I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Whoa. Are the saints in this church so far above all their peers in righteousness and faithfulness that they're going to receive some special consideration here? Perhaps this is going to be a situation like we saw with Abraham back in Genesis chapter 22, where the tremendous test of faith which Abraham demonstrated resulted in God foregoing the act of Abraham actually slaying his son. Well, I think the best we can do here is just to speculate how these events will play out. But that seems a logical scenario. And then the typical exhortations are repeated again.

Verse 11. Behold, I come quickly. Hold fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out. And I will write upon him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God. And I will write upon him my new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

So special blessings for those who overcome and endure to the end in verse 12 and then finally we come to the last church at Laodicea. Verse 14 and unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write these things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness the beginning of the creation of God. I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot I would thou wert cold or hot. So then, because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth, because thou sayest, I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing, and knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.

So it looks like these people have given in to the lust of the flesh and to the deceitfulness of riches, as though those things should have some value when they have no value at all. At this point in Israel's program they think they're rich, but in reality they have nothing, nothing of value. Verse 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear, and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve that thou mayest see. And as many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Be zealous, therefore, and repent.

So the instructions here seem to be along the lines of abandoning those pursuits of worldly riches in lieu of instructions from the words of the Lord and the pursuit of righteousness, that they should be pursuing those things before it's too late. Verse 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. And if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. So the Lord is leaving the door open for those who may be tending to drift away, as he always leaves the door open, become faithful, and get back onto the right track.

So there you have the specific messages which are given to seven specific churches which will be present in the tribulation when God's program for the nation of Israel is coming to its fulfillment. And I wanted to examine chapters two and three in a little more detail, like we've done so that you would be able to see that little flock of true believers which we have been following throughout the books of Hebrew through Jude. And you also might want to take note of the fact that just as we saw in the book of 1 John, these members of the little flock are still capable of sinning because they are still not yet functioning under the implementation of the new covenant. I guess that's why he wrote what he wrote in 1 John 1. 9.

From this point on in the book of Revelation, the scenes begin to shift quite dramatically in chapter four. I'm just going to give you an overview here of chapter four. A door to heaven is opened and John is actually invited to enter into the throne room of God, where he will now hear and see things which will soon be taking place. And John provides a description of some of the amazing things he sees in that throne room. Things like a description of the one who is sitting on the throne, the 24 elders who are seated around the throne and who are worshiping the one seated on the throne. Lightnings and thundering voices that proceed out of the throne. John sees seven lamps of fire, which he refers to as the seven spirits of God. And John sees the four beasts full of eyes before and behind that worship the one on the throne. They worship him night and day. All these things associated with the throne room of God.

So that's just a sweeping overview of chapter four, which you and our listeners can read on your own. Then, in chapter five, John is still in the throne room of God. And we looked at this chapter in some detail when we examined the resumption of Israel's prophetic program in Hebrews chapter one. This is where we learned that the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David in verse five, who is a lamb as it had been slain in verse six, how that he is the only one who is worthy to open and possess the title deed to the universe. That one who is worthy to take possession of that title deed, of course, is the Lord Jesus Christ.

He is worthy by virtue of the fact that he had been slain. He has redeemed the nation of Israel out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation. That's verse nine. And now every voice in heaven is saying, we ought to read what they're saying. Verse 12, saying with a loud voice, worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing, and every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth, and such as are in the sea and all that are in them heard I saying, blessing and honor and glory and power be unto him that sitteth up on the throne. And unto the Lamb forever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and 20 elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth forever and ever.

But I want you to notice that this book which the Lamb was worthy to open did not just give him the title deed to all the universe. It also contained seven seals which he now has the right to open. Look back again at verse one, chapter five. And I saw on the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within. And on the backside sealed with seven seals.

Then, as we move on into chapter six, we see that the Lamb is now going to be opening these seals. So we're going to read some verses there. Chapter six, verse one. And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals. And I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts coming, saying, come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse. And he that sat on him had a bow and a crown was given unto him. And he went forth conquering and to conquer. And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, come and see. And there went out another horse that was red. And power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth that they should kill one another. And there was given unto him a great sword. And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, come and see. And I beheld, and lo, a black horse. And he that sat on him and a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, a measure of wheat for a penny and three measures of barley for a penny. See thou hurt not the oil and the wine. And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the beast say, come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse. And his name that sat on him was Death. And hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth to kill with sword and with hunger and with death and with the beasts of the earth. And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them which were slain for the word of God and for their testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, how long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them. And it was said unto them that they should rest yet for little season until their father, fellow servants also, and their brethren that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

Now what I want to point out to you here is that every time another seal is opened, it takes the reader a little further along the timeline of the seven year Tribulation. But it gives us only a minute glimpse of what will be happening along the way. And without going into detail, just understand that Christ is not the one seated on any of these four colored horses. That should be pretty obvious when you read what these four horses are associated with. But now let's look at the opening of the sixth seal, which will give us considerably more detail.

Verse 12 and I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal and there was a great earthquake and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood, and the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind, and the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together. And every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth and the great men and the rich men, and the chief captains and the and the mighty men, and every bondman and every free man hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains and said to the mountains and rocks fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of his wrath is come. And who shall be able to stand? Well, what's all this about?

Shouldn't be hard to identify. We're given all the information we need here to be able to identify these events as the second coming of Christ. So these first six seals have taken us through almost the entire seven year Tribulation. Now there are still many more major events in the book of Revelation after the Second coming of Christ, but His Second coming takes you very close to the end of the seven Year Tribulation. After his second Coming, there are essentially only three days remaining until the Tribulation will be over. And notice that the seventh Seal has not been opened yet.

I'll have more to say about that in a minute, but first you need to appreciate what happens when you get to chapter seven. So moving into chapter seven and after these things, I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth nor on the sea nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying, hurt not the earth, neither the sea nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed. And there were sealed 144,000 of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

So here we have the sealing of the 144,000 servants of God. And as you read on down through the chapter, you see that this 144,000 are going to consist of 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of the nation Israel. So what is all this about? Well, if you might be familiar with some of the things which I've taught in the past, you might recall that it is my opinion and the opinion of others also that the sealing of these 144,000 servants of God represent the reestablishing of the little flock of Israel, the little flock of the future God's Israel. I'm sure that most of you understand that the Israel which exists in the Middle east today in year 2025 is not the Israel of God.

It is not the Israel of prophecy. It will not be the Israel of God of prophecy until there is once again a little flock of believing members. So something over there in present day Israel has to change. And the sealing of these 144,000 servants of God can establish that chain. These 144,000 servants of God can fulfill the well known prophecies in Ezekiel chapter 37, which describes God breathing life back into the nation Israel which had been dead since their rejection of Christ in Acts chapter 7 and actually for many centuries before Acts chapter 7, because Israel is formally cut off.

The Lord left Israel in Ezekiel 9, 10, 11 around there. So these 144,000 servants of God can fulfill the prophecy of Christ. Also, when Christ said in Matthew 24:14, he said, and this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations. And then the end shall come.

Now, everything that I've just said is very important, but you need to appreciate something else about chapter seven, which is also very important if you want to understand the whole book of Revelation. The sealing of the 144,000 is an event that is going to take place before the seven year Tribulation even begins. It is the first event associated with the re establishing of Israel's prophetic program after the rapture of the Church, the Body of Christ. So when we read about what is going to occur in chapter seven, we are backing up along the timeline of events in the book of Revelation. Chapter six took us all the way up to the second coming of Christ.

And now Here in chapter 7 is a description of an event which will be going on before the Tribulation even begins. Now, this is a literary technique referred to as looping parallelism. I believe it was Keith Blades who coined that phrase, looping parallelism, and that's a very good phrase. The classic example of looping parallelism is found immediately in our Bibles in Genesis, chapters one and two. In chapter one, God presents the creation of man, Adam and Eve, and then chapter two loops back again to provide more details about that event.

That's looping parallelism. And this is something that occurs repeatedly throughout the book of Revelation. And each time that there is a loop back along the timeline, you pick up a little more detail and a little more information about something that has already been presented in lesser detail. In chapters one through three, we were given information about things which will occur following the Rapture and actually proceeding on into the millennium when we read that certain members of this little flock, the overcomers, who endured to the end that they would literally be ruling with Christ in the millennium. So technically, chapter six is the first loop back on the timeline of events.

And you can follow this on your timeline now, as chapter six loops back to the beginning of the seven year Tribulation, when the first of the seven seals is open, designating the appearance of the Antichrist riding in on the white horse. And then chapter six progresses on to the second coming of Christ, as we saw then chapter seven gives us the second major loop back to something that occurred earlier, the sealing of the 144,000 after the rapture, but before the seven year tribulation begins. And there are at least 10 loops like this back to previous events as you progress through the book of Revelation. Now look at what happens when we get to chapter eight, verse one. And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And I saw the seven angels which stood before God.

Let me just stop there for a minute. Here is the opening of the seventh seal. And we just saw how that in chapter six, only the first six seals had been opened. So now we're getting back on the timeline of events in Revelation again and picking up where we left off earlier in chapter six.

And this is where the action really begins. Verse two. And I saw the seven angels which stood before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. So now we've got seven angels and seven trumpets. So with the opening of the seventh and final seal, events will now progress according to these seven angels who will be sounding their trumpets.

Now, if you were to go back to chapter seven and read from verse nine to the end of the chapter, you would also see that those 144,000 sealed servants end up being blessed by Christ in the millennium. Chapter seven took us into the millennium. Chapter seven took a jump, a big jump from one of the first events after the Rapture, before the Tribulation, took a jump all the way to the millennium. You can see that on your timeline. So the opening of the seventh seal in chapter eight is another loop back along the timeline.

It's the third loop. With the opening of the seventh seal, events will now progress according to the sounding of these seven angels. And this third loop will progress all the way through chapter 10. And each trumpet will usher in a whole new degree of devastation on the earth and upon the unrepentant members of humanity. But that seventh angel will not sound his trumpet until you get to chapter 11, verse 15.

And with the sounding of the trumpet of that seventh angel, we see events taking us to the end of the seven year tribulation as chapter 11 concludes. But there is something else which is important to see in chapter 11. There is another loop back in time. This is the fourth loop along the timeline of events. And that fourth loop starts in chapter 11 at verse one, and it runs through verse 13, where we're given the description of the two witnesses who will be giving out the word of God in Jerusalem for the first three and a half years of, of the Tribulation.

So here's a loop that gives us more details about a very important event which takes place at the very beginning of the Seven Year Tribulation. Now, you could probably follow what I just said better simply by looking at the arrows and where they are and where they take you to on the timeline for chapter 11. And this is how it goes throughout most of the book of Revelation, we're given a series of events taking us up to some specific event along the timeline. And then there are these loops back to some earlier event along the timeline where we pick up a little more information. So you have to be looking for these loops back in time as you're reading through Revelation.

Now, sometimes it's pretty easy to recognize that you've looped back because you come across, for example, obvious descriptions of the second coming of Christ now, like we saw in chapter six, verses 12 through 17. But you also see obvious passages of the second coming of Christ in chapter 14 beginning in verse 14, and then you see it again in chapter 19 beginning in verse 11. And it's pretty obvious also when you're reading things about the final battle of Armageddon in chapter 16, verse 16, and again in chapter 19, verse 11 and following. And you can follow these things on the timeline, but sometimes it's not that easy. And that's what makes things so difficult about the book of Revelation for people to understand.

Now when you get To Revelation chapter 20, you're reading about the millennial kingdom. And from that point on, I don't think there are any more loops back to previous events that you need to recognize, except that Revelation 22: 8-21, which takes you to the end of the book, is referring to some things which John heard much earlier. So that final section could actually be considered another loop back into time, which brings John back into real time. And you can see that on the timeline as well. And that's about all I'm going to say about the book of Revelation.

There are accompanying notes, five pages of notes that accompany every line on the timeline that you can get off the website as well. Our objective from the beginning of the series was simply to provide an overview of the entire Bible to see why the books of the Bible are arranged in the order in which they are arranged, and to make it clear which books of the Bible pertain to Israel's prophetic kingdom program and which books pertain to the church of this present day, the Church, the Body of Christ. So anytime you want to work your way through the entire book of Revelation, the timeline and the accompanying timeline notes should be very helpful in keeping you on track.