Pretty much the whole entire chapter of Revelations (or at least the beginning of it) I'm having difficulty understanding. Can somebody help me break it down so I can understand it better?
Join For His Glory for a discussion on how
https://christianforums.net/threads/a-vessel-of-honor.110278/
https://christianforums.net/threads/psalm-70-1-save-me-o-god-lord-help-me-now.108509/
Read through the following study by Tenchi for more on this topic
https://christianforums.net/threads/without-the-holy-spirit-we-can-do-nothing.109419/
Join Sola Scriptura for a discussion on the subject
https://christianforums.net/threads/anointed-preaching-teaching.109331/#post-1912042
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Revelation was given to John in visions as prophecies that had their beginnings in the Old Testament, being fulfilled in the New Testament and yet much to be fulfilled in future events before the great and terrible day of the Lords return.
God gave these revelations to Jesus first and then he passed them onto John through a ministering angel through visions as God reveals those things that have to come to pass before the return of Jesus. The revelations are for the Church in John’s time plus every generation from that time on until Jesus returns in the air to gather up his Bride to the clouds as they receive their new glorified bodies and meet Jesus in the air, 1Corinthians 15:5-58; 1Thessalonians 4:13-18.
Revelations is full of symbolism that is literal where it needs to be and Spiritual where it needs to define that of the literal. These revelations are given as a warning to those who have yet to accept Jesus as Messiah. Gods chastisements are to draw those back to him in repentance before that door of salvation is closed forever when Jesus returns and Gods true Church is gathered up to be with the Father forever.
The focus in Revelations would seem to center around Israel only and the nations that come against her for this is how John would recognize it to be since all other nations were not yet developed in his time. Revelations is about all of us, Jew and Gentile, past, present and future that by faith keep Gods commandments. We are Gods witnesses that testify of His mercy and grace as we take His word out into the world to those who have ears to hear.
The Book of Revelations is a sort of "Final Exam" of scripture knowledge. The book contains the truth of the future as well as the truth of the present at the time it was written.Pretty much the whole entire chapter of Revelations (or at least the beginning of it) I'm having difficulty understanding. Can somebody help me break it down so I can understand it better?
The Book of Revelations is a sort of "Final Exam" of scripture knowledge. The book contains the truth of the future as well as the truth of the present at the time it was written.
The typology and symbolism and all the other devices used in scripture are contained within the book in its revealing about the future of mankind.
It's contents have been debated heavily since it was written. I'd dare say that you won't find two people on the planet who agree about what is said and intended by the scriptures.
You can find out what I mean by going over to "End Times" forum, posting a section of scripture from Revelations and seeing the many varied responses by people.
I will warn you though that "End Times" forum is a debate forum so wear your hard hat, bullet proof vest and your good armor when going in there.
I know what I believe, no one shares my opinion of what is said...and that is all that really matters to me. So I pretend to be a "pan-millenialist"...meaning that I say that I believe everything will "pan out" ok in the end.
The end of all things is coming though. No one is able to stop it or slow it down in the least bit. God has his plan and its going to come about. (in spite of us all)
Of course He does!God also has a sense of humor. How do I know this? Because I exist.
Of course He does!
He is just like you and me with emotions. He has had all of them at one time or another. He is sarcastic often...irony knows no bounds with God either.
God doesn't lie...but does use hyperbole. (extreme exaggeration)
When God doesn't want to reveal something (keep a secret) He goes silent...
Can you imagine a laughing and dancing Jesus with a ton of little kids surrounding him playing some inane game?
Actually I know His sense of humor everytime I look at or think about the Duck Billed Platipus. I see Him on His Majestic Gold Throne with His Feet resting on the Purple Velvet and Silk, chuckling as He thinks, "Let's see the radicle scientist explain that one with evoluion!"God also has a sense of humor. How do I know this? Because I exist.
The essential thing about Revelation is that God has everything under control, and He has given us a peek into the future of eternal salvation. Besides that, I am pretty confident to say that no one understands it in its entirety. The main controversy over the book is the assumption of chronology. Some people spend lots of time trying to prove their assumed eschatological construct of events. I think it's a distraction. I simply read the book and thank God that my future is hopeful. If you want to learn further details of what the various views are, I recommend this book:Pretty much the whole entire chapter of Revelations (or at least the beginning of it) I'm having difficulty understanding. Can somebody help me break it down so I can understand it better?
This is my understanding of Revelations during the seven trumpets sounding.
When the son of perdition takes his literal seat in the holy place of Jerusalem Jesus warned us to flee as He has a place prepared for us wherever we go to, Matthew 24:15-21; Rev 12:14.
God's protection is absolute to those who escape into the wilderness and trust in Christ to help meet their needs. Just as God told Moses to strike the rock for fresh water, Exodus 17:1-7, and sending manna down from heaven and providing Quail for meat, Exodus 16, so will be the same in the end of days, Philippians 4:19.
Nut shell scenario of what will happen during the first six trumpets of Rev Chapter 8-11 that leads up to the seventh trumpet and the events of Chapter 13 with the beast out of the sea and out of the earth.
God’s wrath is poured out into the world as chastisements for disobedience, but also a warning that man needs to repent and turn back to God before the door of salvation is closed forever when Christ returns.
Hail and fire can be likened unto meteors that fall from the sky. A third of the trees and all the green grass are burned up which makes a third part of the world with a shortage of oxygen in the air that is created from the carbon dioxide from the trees and living plants. Seeing that this is Global the intense fire and smoke from all the trees and grass burning can travel for miles causing much more damage throughout the nations. The trees that produce various healthy foods for our well being will become scarce. The green grasses that would probably include crops of wheat, barley, corn and so forth will be destroyed causing a shortage in food. The animals we depend on as a food source will also die as they are left without vegetation they need to live on.
This great mountain burning with fire could be another meteor or even a series of meteors sent down from heaven at one time, but on an extremely larger scale as the third part of the sea is destroyed along with sea life and the third part of the ships that sit in it. The third part of the sea turned to blood by reason of all the animal life that is killed and those men, women and children who are on these ships that are destroyed. Take into consideration the disease that would spread from all the rotted sea life that is rotting away washing up on the shore and the flesh of those who were burned along with the ships.
These ships will more than likely be types of fuel tankers, merchant, fishing and luxury cruises ships traveling the waters. With the third of these ships being destroyed means a third part of the world’s fuel and food supply would be destroyed. There is only one ocean, but divided by four regions as being the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Arctic Ocean, and the Indian Ocean. This would be like the four corners of the earth as being North, South, East and West. The only difference between the ocean and the sea is that the ocean is much larger and feeds into the 108 seas around the world that also flow into our lakes and streams that provide us with fresh drinking water and other sources of food.
With the third part of the sun, moon and stars being darkened this will affect mans source of electricity and heat that is vital to keep a certain degree of the earth warm, and generated power in homes, hospitals and manufacturing plants including nuclear reactors.
Agriculture and navigation would be hard pressed as it takes the solar power from the sun to run the solar cells that produces the energy needed to run farming machinery and trucks to take the produce to manufacturing plants where the produce is then distributed to market.
Vehicles such as cars, ambulances, planes, trains and the list goes on need an energy source from the sun in order to run their engines. The darkness of the third part of the day would be roughly around eight hours of daylight being lost and total darkness of night as the moon and stars are illuminated by the sun at night. A flashlight would be useless to see in the dark as it needs energy from the sun to run the battery that turns the light on.
This much darkness would cause people to panic in the streets creating chaos as the love of many will wax cold, Matthew 24:12. Riots would break out causing looting and lose of life as those who have not will do anything in desperation to take from those who have much. IMO Marshal law will be enforced as we see history repeat itself with many Christians taken captive that did not flee and killed as they refuse to denounce Christ and take the mark. They will also die a martyr's death, Rev 6:9-11, especially vs. 11. Also we are not to fear what man can do to us, Matthew 10:28.
This is where the mark of the beast comes in during the seventh trumpet as this NWO is a Luciferian system of economics, political and false religious power that gives power to the beast out of the earth being the son of perdition. By lying signs and wonders will deceive the nations (people) into taking its mark. IMO I think the mark is the thoughts of our mind and the actions of our hands reaching out to this beast that promises peace, safety and provision as many will bow down and worship this beast who claims to be God. Luciferian reign on eath will Christ then
After the 3 1/2 years of this Luciferian reign on earth that will wear out the saints then every eye will see Christ coming in the clouds with His army of angels that are then sent out to gather those saints who are alive at His coming and those who sleep in their graves. We are gathered up to the clods as we receive our new glorified bodies in order to meet Jesus in the air. From the air He destroys the beast and false prophet by the brightness of His coming only speaking their destruction casting them into the lake of fire. Satan is bound for a time as Jesus sets out to destroy all the nations that followed after the beast. Satan is then released in a final attempt to destroy the saints as he sends his angels out to surround the camp of the saints, but the angels are consumed by fire and Satan cast into the lake.Then comes God's great white throne judgment and the books are opened and all are judged. Then this present heaven and earth are burned up and made new again and the New Jerusalem is ushered down from heaven where we will be with the Lord forever.