Know What the Future Holds: A Study of Revelation and End Times Events

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

ISBN: 9781543927443

Table of Contents

Introduction

Revelation: Five Key Themes

Revelation 1: John, the author

Revelation 2: Letters to the First Four churches

Revelation 3: Letters to the Remaining Three churches

Summary of the Seven Churches

Revelation 4: The Throne of Almighty God; 15 characteristics

Revelation 5: The Scroll and the Lamb

Revelation 6: The Six Seal Judgments

Revelation 7: 144,000 Sealed

Revelation 8: The Seventh Seal and the Golden Censer

Revelation 9: Fifth Trumpet-First Woe: The Locust Plague; Sixth Trumpet-Second Woe: The Euphrates Angels

Revelation 10: The Angel and the Small Scroll

Revelation 11: The Two Witnesses, and the Third Woe

Revelation 12: The Woman and the Dragon

Revelation 13: The Beast from the Sea (of unrepentant humanity): The antichrist

Revelation 14: The 144,000 and Four Heavenly Declarations

Revelation 15: Pouring out the Seven Plagues, Seven Angels with Seven Plagues

Revelation 16: The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath

Revelation 17: Babylon and the Beast

Revelation 18: The Fall of Babylon

Revelation 19: Heavenly Hallelujah Choruses

Revelation 20: The Kingdom of God: The 1000 year Millennial Kingdom

Revelation 21: The Kingdom of God: The Eternal, New Creation

Revelation 22:1-5b: More on the Holy City

Revelation 22: Conclusion

Understanding End Times events

Bibliography

About the Author

~Introduction~

I have been fascinated in future world events ever since reading The Late Great Planet Earth by Hal Lindsey in the mid-1970s. At that time, Lindsey asked the question, Do we live in the era of the antichrist (and End Times) as foretold by Moses and Jesus Christ? Since then, we all have repeatedly asked that question! It was appropriate that much of his study was focused on the Book of Revelation.

For many years, it has become clear to me that the prophetic Book of Revelation has been avoided by many Christians to study. Why? Quite simply, it is a real faith tester. To be honest, the amount of symbolism and allegory (hidden meaning) leaves a lot of room for one’s imagination. That is why many Christians do not pursue the study of this prophetic last book in the New Testament.

This companion book as an attempt to simplify End Times events for you. Study the book of Revelation with this book at your side!

Did you know that the Book of Revelation is the only book out of the Bible’s 66 books that explicitly tells us that we will be blessed by God if we read it, and take it to heart? Most people probably don’t realize this. Revelation 1:3 says this: Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

Prophecy, of course, is history written in advance. For example, in the Old Testament of the Bible, the Lord said through Isaiah the prophet, Remember the former things long past, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times thing which have not been done, saying, My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all my good pleasure; calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my purpose from a far country. Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it."- Isaiah 46:9-11.

In the book of Revelation, we have at our fingertips what the future holds. The pearls of prophecy in this book will keep you studying for years!

There are at least seven reasons why Christians should study this prophetic book of Revelation. These include: 1) Prophecy acquaints us with the most important subject of the ages, God’s plan for man. 2) Studying Bible prophecy convinces us that there really is a God who reveals mysteries- Daniel 2:28 3) The literal fulfillment of prophecy teaches us that prophecy should be interpreted literally. 4) The study of prophecy prepares the Christian to avoid the deceptions of the many false prophets that are arising in our day. 5)The study of prophecy promotes an evangelistic church. 6) The study of prophecy tends to purify the believer. Everyone who has this hope fixed on him purifies himself, just as God is pure.- 1 John 3:3, and 7) Prophecy offers confident hope in a hopeless age- Matthew 24:21.

Remember this! Jesus Christ is not only the most influential person in history; he’s also the subject of more Bible prophecy than anyone else. At least 129 times, the Old Testament prophets predicted that Jesus would come in the future—and in his first coming to Israel over 2000 years ago, he fulfilled every one of those prophecies.

Did you know that Jesus himself prophesied more than anyone who has ever lived? Matthew alone records 39 prophecies of Jesus, Mark lists 40; Luke describes 35: and John has more than 60. Many of these predictions are parallel accounts of the same prophecy.

Do you realize that 28% of the Bible was prophetic at the time it was written? Dr. John Walvoord, who has dedicated decades of his life to studying Bible prophecy, has identified more than 1000 prophecies in the Bible, 500 of which already have been fulfilled. The others are yet to come. If God already has fulfilled 500 prophecies, with another 500 yet to unfold—can we trust him when he tells us about days yet to come?—Tim LaHaye, in The Merciful God of Prophecy.

Verse by verse, I have summarized the book of Revelation into 22 short sections that will be easy for you to follow as you read along with your Bible. Numerous Old Testament references are noted. I have streamlined the study of eschatology; the study of end times events that have yet to occur in our human timetable. Take heart fellow Christians, and enjoy the sobering journey!

Satellite View of Revelation

The Church on earth and in heaven………………..….………..Revelation 1-3

Heaven’s Throne Room………………………………………..…Revelation 4-5

The Great Tribulation………………………………………..….Revelation 6-18

The Messiah’s Kingdom…………………………………….….Revelation 19-22

At the end, there is a summary chapter on End Times events that ties together nine overriding themes of Biblical prophecy. You will find this chapter very helpful in understanding your future.

Robert M. Gullberg

Franksville, Wisconsin

Book of Revelation

Five Key Themes

God’s sovereignty- read Deuteronomy 32:39-40 - God states that he is in control of all things. He kills and makes live. He wounds; he heals. No one delivers from his power. He says, I alone am God.

Christ’s Return- 62% of the American public believe that Jesus Christ is physically coming again back to this earth. However, only 41% have committed their lives to Christ. In John 14:3 Jesus said, I am coming again. There is no way to get around it.

God’s faithful people- look at 1 Corinthians 4:1-2- Paul taught that he was a servant of Christ and that it was required of him because he was given much, that he must prove faithful. God would judge that and not man. 2 Corinthians 5:7- We live by faith, not by sight. Colossians 1:23- You will be reconciled to God by Jesus’ death on the cross IF you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the Gospel.

Judgment- in Matthew 10:14-15-Jesus sends out the 12 disciples and tells them that if a town rejects them, and doesn’t listen to their words, that that town will be worse off at judgment day than Sodom and Gomorrah. Matthew 11:20-24 Woe to the cities of Korazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, says Jesus. They saw His miracles and did not repent! Capernaum is mentioned specifically; it will not go to heaven, but instead to HELL (down to the depths). Matthew 12:35-37 Jesus teaches