The Revelation: More Than Meets the Eye

REVELATIONS 

EVENTS OF THE LAST DAYS

Revelations opens with a main theme of writing and applying the things which are seen, the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter. These things need to be applied to John’s day (past), our day (present), the days to come (future). These writings were also for the corporate church as a whole, and the individual (personal church). We open by seeing Jesus in his glorious body and then there is a message for the seven churches. To define Revelation, it means to reveal. To reveal the truths of Christ & Gods Will.

Matthew 24:14-42

14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

The Abomination of Desolation
15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.

The Coming of the Son of Man
29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, 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. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

The Lesson of the Fig Tree
32 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 34 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

No One Knows That Day and Hour
36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son,[a] but the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.

The Church Age:

Symbols- 7 stars & 7 angels- Pastors of the churches

7 candlesticks- the seven churches

Church Names:

Ephesus (desirable) the apostolic century church

Commended for: Good Works, Patience Sound Doctrine, Church Discipline, Steadfastness, and Hatred of evil

Sins and Weakness Rebuked: Backsliding, Left their first love.

Promise to Overcomer: Heavenly Food

Smyrna (Suffering) The suffering age 100AD- 300AD This church was poor, but rich the time was the early centuries of persecution

             Commended for: Spiritual endurance, Heavenly treasures

Sins and Weakness Rebuked: No rebuke but warned of tremendous attack from Satan and endures to the end

Promise to the Overcomer: A Crown of Life

Pergamos (married to the world) 300 AD- 500AD The church and state became one. Position of elevation in power and compromise. This was the age of Constantine, and temporal prosperity

Commended for: Steadfastness in the midst of evil environment

Sins and Weakness Rebuke: Tolerance of Corrupt Doctrines and Heretics

Promise to the Overcomer: Hidden Spiritual Blessings, Divine Food, And New Name

Thyatira (continual sacrifice) Roman Catholic Mass enters the seen. 500AD – 1500AD. We see the church of the evil prophetess. Good works but compromise to wicked leaders and doings in the church. The age of apostasy

Commended for: Love (charity), Spiritual Service, Faith and Patience

Sins and Weakness Rebuke: Lax Discipline, Tolerance of Corrupt Prophetess

Promise to Overcomer: Spiritual Dominion and Illumination

Sardis (remnant, those who escaped) had a form of godliness but deny the power there of. This is the dying church. Reformation era begin. Churches pull out from the Catholic Religion 1500AD- 1700AD The Middle Ages

Commended For: None for the majority of Members a few commended for purity

Sins and Weakness Rebuke: Extreme Formalism, Spiritual Death Imminent, and Inactive

Promise to the Overcomer: A Robe of Righteousness, Heavenly Registration

Philadelphia (The church of Brotherly Love) (Church of Revivalism, mission movement) The period of reformation during Martin Luther Time 1700AD- 1800 AD Commended For: Keeping the Testimony of the WORD.

   Sins and Weakness Rebuke: None Recorded

Promise to Overcomer: To become Spiritual pillars bearing a Divine Inscription

Laodicea (The rich but poor church) represented the rights of the people. People don’t want sound doctrine, already thought they made it in. The Last Days 1800AD- Present Commended For: Nothing

Sins and Weakness Rebuke: Lukewarm, Spiritual Conceit, No conscious Need, Spiritual Poverty, Spiritual Blindness, and Spiritual Wretchedness

Promise to the Overcomer: Divine Fellowship, Spiritual Enthronement