GROUND OF TRUTH BIBLE INSTITUTE
ESCHATOLOGY
(DOCTRINE OF LAST THING)
INTRODUCTION:
The word Eschatology is from two Greek word joining
together to make one, that is, ESCHATOS which means “Last” and logys which
MEANS “study “Therefore, the word Eschatology means “The study of last things”
so Eschatology is a theological term that designates the study of what will
happen, at the end of history, particularly the event known about the second
coming of Christ, In another word is known as the book of Revelation or Apocalypse.
The book of Revelation is very important amount the
others, as important as the book, those who keep the wordens shall be blessed.
The book of Revelation is the last and great prophetic
message in the bible. The purpose of the
book is stated in the opening words. “To
shew unto his servant things which must shortly come to pass”. It is stated, the revelation is from God,
given to Jesus Christ. Who in turn
commissioned an Angel to communicate it to St. John, in a series of vision.
The book is in three major part e.g.
(1) Things
past - “things which thou has seen”
(2) Things
present - “things which are”
(3) Things
future - “things shall be hereafter”
DEFINITION:
1. Revelation is Gods communication to people concerning himself,
his moral standard and his plan of salvation.
2. Revelation means an “unveiling or disclosure” but many regards
its contents as veiled or closed because of the heavy symbolism.
THE AUTHOR
There are two authors that
wrote the book of revelation e.g.
1. The divine author which is God himself.
2. The human author which is John the beloved who wrote it as the
verse one is sound “The revelation of Jesus Christ “God dictated it through
Jesus Christ and by Angel to John that man who pen it down and send the completed
book to the seven churches Rev 1:1,4,9,28.
Even early fathers of faith confirm it to be John, early father like
“Irenious”.
i.
Ephesians
Church -
ii.
Smyrna
Church - Fearing of persecution
iii.
Pergamous
Church - Faithful, but tolerates false teach,
iv.
Thyatra
Church - Dominated by a powerful false prophet
v.
Sardis
Church - Spiritually dying
vi.
Philadephia
Church - Faithful
witnessing
vii.
Laodicea
Church - Lukewarm
2. DISPENSATIONAL
APPLICATION: That mean 7 basic
division of church history, they are:
a. Ephesians Church - Apostolic Church – 30 – 100 AD
b. Smyrna Church - Persecuted
Church – 100 – 312 AD
c. Pergamous Church - State Church – 313
– 590 AD
d. Thyatra Church - Papal
Church – 590 – 1517 AD
e. Sardis Church - Reformed
Church – 1517 – 1790 AD
f. Philadephia Church - Missionary Church –
1790 – 1900 AD
g. Laodicea Church - Apostate
Church – 1900
Well, this theory is under debate, it may not be pen
down but it may be historically true.
3. PROPHETICAL APPLICATION: That means 7 types of churches that exist in
our Christian life.
4. INDIVIDUAL APPLICATION: That means 7 characteristic that can exist
in our Christian life.
THE LESSON IN THE MESSAGE TO THE 7 CHURCHES
Six things shall be
considered in the message to the churches, they are as follows:
1. The destination of the message
2. Description of Jesus to that Church
3. Commendation to the Church
4. Condemnation to the Church
5. Counsel to the Church
6. Promise to the Church
THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS (REV
2:1 – 7)
As we have it in
the background through the book of Acts of the Apostles that the people of
Ephesus were the worshipper of an idol call Diana, now let us consider these 6
things (2:1 – 7).
1. Destination - Ephesus
2. Description – He that holded the 7 stars
in his right hand.
3. Commendation
– I know thy work, i.e. A working church, rejects evil, perseveres and his
patience.
4. Condemnation/Criticism
– Thou has left they first love, i.e. love for Christ is no longer fervent
5. Counsel/Instruction
- Remember where thou have falling and
do the works you did at first.
6. Promise
– The tree of life.
In conclusion,
Jesus commended this church as a working, pure and separated church who hates
the doctrine of Nicoliatan. He also told
them that those who have ear should hear i.e. we have 3 set of people in the
church.
(a)
Those
that has no ear (b) Those that are deaf to hear (c) Spiritually minded
Christian, they want to hear and work for God.
THE CHURCH AT SMYRNA (REV.
2:8 – 11)
1. Destination - Smyrna
2. Description - The first and the last, who was dead and alive.
3. Commendation
– A persecuted and poor church, physically poor and spiritual blessed, and
gracefully bears suffering.
4. Condemnation/criticism
– None
5. Counsel/Instruction
– Fear not, be faithful unto death, Jesus said “The devil shall cast some of
you into prison” also that there are 10 series of persecution as interpreted
for 10 days.
6. Promise
– Not partake of 2nd death, also the crown of life.
THE CHURCH AT PERGAMOS (REV.
2:12 – 17)
1. Destination
– Pergamos
2. Description
– He that has double edged sharp sword.
3. Commendation
– Thou dwellest even where satan’s settleth is and keeps the faith of Christ
without denied it.
4. Condemnation/criticism
– Tolerates the doctrine of Balam, Nicolaitan, immorality, idolatry and
heresies.
5. Counsel/Instruction
– Repentance
6. Promise
– Hidden Manna and a stone with a new name.
HERESIES AND FALSE DOCTRINE AT PERGAMOS
1. Prayer
for the dead
2. Making
use of sings of cross
3. Worshipping
the dead, saint and Angel
4. Moses
feast was instituted
5. Worshipping
of Mary (Holy Mary)
6. Doctrine
of Purgatory e.t.c.
THE CHURCH AT THYTIRA (REV.
2:18 – 29)
1. Destination - Thytira
2. Description – He who has eyes like a
flame of fire, and His feet like (fine brass)
3. Commendation
– I know thy works, love, service of faith, endurance, and thy patience is greater
than the first.
4. Condemnation/Criticism
– Tolerate cult of idolatry and immorality also of that Jezebeel the false
prophetess
5. Counsel/Instruction
– Judgement is coming; keep the faith.
6. Promise
– Rule over nations and receive morning star.
THE CHURCH AT SARDI (REV. 3:1
– 6)
1. Destination
– Sadis
2. Description
– He who has the seven spirit of God and seven stars.
3. Commendation
– I knew your works that you have a name (popular).
4. Condemnation/criticism
– The dead church, symbolizing the dark age church.
5. Counsel/Instruction
– Be watchful and repent, also strengthen what remains.
6. Promise
– Faithful honoured and clothed in white.
THE CHURCH AT PILADELPHIA
(REV. 3:7 – 13)
1. Destination
– Philadelphia
2. Description
– He that is holy, truth and had the key of David
3. Commendation
– I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it for you have a
little strength, you have keep my word, and have never denied my name.
4. Condemnation/criticism
– None
5. Counsel/Instruction
– Hold fast what you have so that no one may seize your crown.
6. Promise
– A place in God’s presence, a name and new Jerusalem.
THE CHURCH AT LAODICEA (REV.
3:14 – 22)
1. Destination
– Laodicea
2. Description
– The amen, faithful, truth witness and the beginning of the creation of God.
3. Commendation
– None, and from two centuries back to the time of rapture their will be no
church without one or two condemination.
4. Condemnation/criticism
– Thou art like worm and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my
mouth.
5. Counsel/Instruction
– Rev. 3:18 – 19 (be zealous and repent)
6. Promise
– Share Christ’s throne.
REVELATION IN OUTLINE FORM
The book is an apocalypse, that is, a revelation or
“unveiling”. Many oppressed people have
learned to communicate in crypolograms.
John used figures, symbols, cryptic phrases and words meaningless and
jargon. But to the Christians those
symbols and figures or vision had significant and meaning. So these words of the aged Apostle would
easily pass by the Roman authorities into the hands of those believers who
would read and understand what John was saying to them.
We may readily admit that these symbols and vision are
not understandable to us. For this
reason there have been so many strange and fallacious interpretations of
them. However, the central truth of each
of the seven visions is easily discerned.
We get into endless difficulties when we seek to know the detailed
meaning of all the pictures, beasts, trumpets, horses, trees seas, stars and so
on.
The book of apocalypse is made up of seven visions and
their messages e.g.
1 1st vision (Rev 1:10 – 3:22) – The triumphant,
living Lord who move among his churches with the assurance that He is the first
and the last, the living one who has the keys of death and of Hades.
2. 2nd
vision (Rev 4:1 -8:1) – The vision of the slain lamp controlling the events of
history.
3. 3rd vision (Rev 8:2 – 11:10) – The seven Angels
with the seven trumpets, calamities and devastation are visited upon
unrepentance people, but at least victory comes and men worship God.
4. 4th vision (Rev 12:14) – We see the seven symbolical
figures that finally ceases with victory for righteousness.
5. 5th vision (Rev 15:16) – We have a picture of seven
Angels who came to pour the bowls of divine wrath upon the earth.
6. 6th vision (Rev 17:19) – Give the vision of judgment
of the great harlot that sitteth upon may waters. Also in chapter 20, we are told of the
capturing and the binding of Satan.
7. 7th vision (Rev 21:22) – The picture of the consummation
of the historical process. Here we see a
“New Heaven” and a “New Earth” and the “New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven
from God.
THE THRONE OF HEAVEN
INTRODUCTION:
Revelation divides itself into three major sections, each state in verse
seventeen of the first chapter. “Write the things which thou hast seen” namely
the past, “and the things which are “the present,” and the things which shall
be hereafter,” the future. Chapter one covers the past, chapters two and there
the present and from chapter four to the end of the book, the future.
THE THRONE
According to verse nine of chapter one john had been
exiled to patmos for his faith in Christ. There he receives the vision. Perhaps
the key verse to entire book is verse seven of chapter one: “Behold, He cometh with
clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all
kind reds of the earth shall wail because of him” For the apocalypse is the
unveiling of Jesus Christ in connection with His second Advert.
John is shown a throne in Heaven, God’s throne. It is
surrounded by twenty-four elders, all clothed in white, and with crowns of the
gold on their heads. Lighting thundering and voices proceed from the throne.
Seven Lamps turn before it. In the midst are four Livings Creatures, in the Authorized
Version translated “beasts” And before the throne is a sea of glass.
Days and night the four Living creatures worship and
praise. “Holy, Holy, Holy, lord God Almighty, Which was, which is, to come,”
they cry in unison. And as they thus praise Him “Who Liveth for ever, and ever,
the twenty-four elders fall down and worship and cast their crowns before the
throne,” exclaiming, Thou art worthy, O lord, to receive glory and honour and
power: For thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are were
created.”
What a magnificent spectable spectable! Isn’t it
glorious to realize that amid the toppling thrones of earth there is a throne
“set”, namely, established, one throne that can never fail. How secure and safe is the kingdom,
therefore, of which that throne is the centre.
There is one stable government, at least now the scene changes. It is still in Heaven and before the throne,
but a book appears, and an angel cries aloud for someone who is worthy to open
it. No one answers and John commences to
weep. Then an elder informs him that
Jesus Christ is able to loose the seals and bids him weep no more. A Lamb appears, a Lamb that had been slain. He, the Lord Jesus Christ, takes the book
from the hand of God.
Immediately the elders and living creatures fall down
before Him and together sing the new song: “Thou art worthy to take the book,
and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us by Thy
blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation; and hast made us
unto our God kings and priest: and we shall reign on the earth, “So that the
Lamb is none other than Christ Himself, for He alone is the Redeemer.
THE SEVEN SEALS
INTRODUCTION
Let us bear in mind that the opening of the first four
seals takes place previous to the Tribulation, as already stated, and that
these are therefore the pre-tribulation seals.
The four housemen presented to us clearly indicate restlessness,
activity, turmoil, for a horse is never used in the scriptures to denote peace.
SEVEN SEALS
he first is White.
Here we have the Antichrist, or the false messiah, who rides forth at
the beginning of the last seven years of the age, namely, the seventieth week
of Daniel, to commence his diabolical reign, conquering and to conquer. He heads up the revived Roman Empire,
overcomes three of the ten kings who rise against him, and establishes himself
as head over the remaining seven, thus bringing the entire world into
subjection to him.
The red horse, in verses three and four, denotes war,
and this is in perfect agreement with Mathew 24. There can be no peace under
the reign of the Antichrist apart from the peace of subjection. Hence his reign is immediately followed by
bloodshed.
The black horse, in verse five and six, represents
famine, and the pale horse, in verses seven and eight, pestilence or
death. Yet all these, terrible, though
they are, only the beginnings of travail, and occurring in the first three and
a half years, they but usher in the Great Tribulation, when the real tragedy of
suffering commences.
Hence, under the opening of the fifty seal, in verses
nine to eleven, we have presented the Great Tribulation commencing with the
middle of the seventieth week of Daniel, and coinciding exactly with the
setting in Matthew 24. Many are
martyred, and as in the imprecatory psalms, the victims cry for vengeance, but
are told to rest a little while until more martyrs are added to their number,
for the end of the Tribulation is not yet.
Under the sixth seal the sun and the moon become
darkened, which is in perfect agreement with Acts, chapter two, verse twenty:
The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before that great
and notable day of the Lord come. “And
it will be remembered that the same darkening of sun and moon is described as
following the Tribulation, in Matthew’s Gospel, so that each event is in
perfect order.
This seal brings us t the immediate coming of Christ
in power and glory, to the time when men will hide themselves in the dens and
rocks, crying. “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”, Hence we are prepared for the
manifestation of God’s wrath and the events immediately connected with the
Second Advent itself.
THE SEVEN TRUMPETS
Passing over chapter seven, which is in parenthesis
and does not belong to the general order of events, we take up the narrative
aging at chapter eight, where we have the sounding of the seven trumpets. In the first verse the seventh seal is
opened, and, as previously stated, instead of a single event, we have, under
this seal, the sounding of all seven trumpets.
These trumpets, it will be remembered, constitute the
judgments of God, and they are sounded at approximately the close of the
Tribulation period. The antichrist has
now reigned for almost seven years. The
time of his doom is at hand, but before he himself is dealt with, the
unbelieving world is visited by the judgments of Almighty God.
1. The first trumpet, in verse seven, destroyed a third part of
the trees and all the green grass.
2. The second, in verses eight and nine, turns the third part of
the sea into blood and destroys a third part of sea life and ships
3. The third trumpet, in verse ten, makes a third of the waters
bitter and results in the death of many who dare to drink of them.
4. The fourth trumpet, in verse twelve, darkens a third part of
the sun, moon and stars, and reminds us of the similar plague wrought by Moses
in Egypt. At this point there is a
definite break in the soundings of the trumpets, and an angel appears, flying
through the heavens and crying. “Woe,
Woe, Woe to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpets
of the three angels, which are yet to sound”. The reason is not far to
seek. The first four judgments are mild,
terrible, though they are, in comparison with the three yet to follow. Moreover, they have to do with physical nature
alone, whereas the others have to do with men, so terrible are these last three
that they are designated the “Woe” trumpets.
5. When the fifth trumpet is sounded, which is the first woe, the
bottomless pit is opened, namely, the abyss, and hordes of demons, called
locust, with the power of scorpions, are loosed. They are organized and have a king over
them. They are forbidden to hurt the
grass or anything green, including trees, but are commanded to attack and
torment all men who have not the seal of God in their foreheads. Yet their power is limited; they are not
permitted to kill but only to cause indescribable suffering for a period of
five months. So terrible will be the
agony that men will seek death but will find it impossible to die.
6. Now, when the sixth trumpet is sounded, the angels loosed have
almost unlimited power; even to the extent of death and are permitted to
destroy men; so that, as a result of their judgment, one-third are slain. The entire army numbers 200,000,000 a
multitude beyond our imagination. The
destructive work is done, not by the riders on the horses, but by the horses
themselves.
Omitting chapter ten, which is in parenthesis, and the
first part of chapter eleven, we continue the second woe at the thirteenth
verse, thus closing up the sounding of the fifty trumpet. A great earthquake destroys a tenth part of
the city and slays seven thousand men.
So terrible is it that, for the first time, those escaping the
catastrophe are filled with fear, and acknowledge that God’s hand is in it.
7. The third woe follows quickly as the seventh trumpet is
sounded; and once again we are brought right up to the return of our Lord. “The kingdoms of this world are become the
kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever.” Thus we have again the announcement of God’s
wrath (verse 18), the time of the judging of the dead and the giving of rewards
to the faithful, ending with the destruction of those in opposition.
THE TWO COMPANIES
INTRODUCTION:
Having now disposed of the various events prophesied
in Revelation in their chronological order, we continue our study by going back
to the passages in parenthesis, which we omitted. And first of all the two companies in chapter
seven.
An angel, described as ascending from the east with
the seal of God, cries with a loud voice, to the four angels who, presumably,
will sound the first four trumpets, “Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor
the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their
foreheads.” The first four trumpet
judgment, it will be remembered, affected the trees, the grass, the sea,
sea-life ships the rivers, the sun, the moon, and the stars, and to protect
God’s servants in the midst of these calamities, this angel is sent.
THE TWO GROUPS
Two groups are seen, the first Jewish and the second
Gentile. The first are numbered, namely
144,000, the second are numberless, and are spoken of as “a great multitude
which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and
tongues.” The first are on earth, namely
the Jewish company, and the second, the Gentile, in Heaven.
The first company, apparently came through the
Tribulation, but escaped by preservation.
The second came out of it. “These
are they which came out of great tribulation.
“reads the inspired record”.
Obviously, then there will be many saved during the reign of the
Antichrist.
Undoubtedly the group referred to in Revelation
fourteen, one to five, is the same. Here
the scene is on earth, at Jerusalem.
Christ has come. Around Him are
gathered 144,000, and be it noted, His father’s seal is in their
foreheads. It is stated of them that
they have followed the Lamb wholly, and have lived lives of separation from all
defilement. Holiness characterized them
while on earth, and they are uncontaminated by the world. Because of their acceptance of God’s
righteousness, in Jesus Christ, they are without fault, and utterly
guiltless. They were redeemed from among
men, redeemed, of course, by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, What a scene is presented by the second
group, namely, the Gentile multitudes, also saved in the midst of the
Tribulation, and now at last in Heaven.
Evidently God is no respecter of persons for every nationality is
presented. With joyful acclaim, they
appear before the throne of God, crying, Salvation to our God, and unto the
lamb.: And, in response, angels, elders,
and the four living creatures fall on their facers, and worship God,
exclaiming, as with one voice, “Blessing, and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving
and honour, and power, and might be unto our God for ever and ever.”
There they stand, arrayed in white robes. “Who are they? Asks one of the elders. “Sir, replies John, “Thou knowest”
Triumphantly the answer if given, and oh, what a revelation! Tribulation?
Listen: “There are they which came out of great tribulation and have washed
their robes, and made them white in the blood of the lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God,
and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne
shall dwell among them. They shall
hunger no more, neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the
throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters;
and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
THE TWO WITNESSES
Continuing the passages in parenthesis, we turn to
chapter eleven and discover , in verse two, that the Great Tribulation is to
last for a period of forty-two months, which of course, is three and a half
years, and that during that time Gentile world power will hold complete away
over Jerusalem.
Now appear the two witnesses. Who they are we know not. Malachi tell us
that Elijah is to return before the great day of the Lord (Mal. 4:5). Verse six would indicate that they have the
same power that Moses and Elijah had, for they cause the rainfall to cease,
turn the waters into blood, and smite the earth with all manner of
plagues. Hence, they may be Moses and
Elijah. God never leaves Himself without
witnesses. Even during the days of the
Great Tribulation, the darkest period of the world’s history. He has His representatives. They are to prophesy for 1,260 days, which
equals approximately forty-two months or again, three and a half years, namely,
the entire period of the Tribulation.
Their testimony, be it noted, closes when the sixth trumpet has been
sounded, which is the second woe.
They are energized by the Holy Spirit, according to
verse four and are to shine as God’s lights in the midst of universal
darkness. In all probability, they will
proclaim to a deceived and unbelieving world the truth about the Antichrist,
and will expose his lies and deceptions, warning men of his coming doom.
God’s servants, who live in the centre of His will,
are immortal until their life’s work is done.
According to verse five, these two witnesses are protected from the
wrath of the Antichrist until they have finished their testimony. Finally in the midst of the sounding of the
sixth trumpet, they are slain, slain by the Antichrist himself; and for three
and a half days their bodies lie unburied in the streets of Jerusalem, while
all the world rejoices.
But, Lo and behalf, at the end of three and half days,
to the amazement of all, they are suddenly resurrected. How surprised the multitudes will be! For three and a half days they had been
exchanging gifts. The newspapers, in all
probability, had been carrying flaring headlines, and writing triumphant
editorials regarding the victory of the world emperor over God’s last representative
on earth.
How startled all will be when, suddenly, those two
bodies, lying their in the street, move, sit up, and them stand upright on
their feet! But they will not have long
to watch. Presently a voice from heaven
speaks, and distinctly, they hear the command, “Come up hither.” A moment later, their feet leave the earth,
as they ascend in a cloud, while their enemies, multiplied thousands in number,
gaze at them.
It will be remembered, in our study of the second woe,
we discovered that, in less than an hour after their ascension, a terrible
earthquake destroys a tenth part of Jerusalem and takes a toll of seven
thousand lives, and that, for the first time, fear clutches at the hearts of
men, so much so that they somehow acknowledge God.
CHAPTER
13
This chapter thirteen was in perfect agreement with
the vision that Daniel saw in (Dan.7:27) the beast here is nobody than
anti-Christ who will take over all the political power of the earth. He will
operates on earth by speaking blasphemies against God, His Christ His
tabernacle and those who dwell in heaven. ‘’It was granted to him to make war
with the saints and to overcome them’’ Rev.13:7 these will happen during the
last three and half year, but we could imagine the saint that miss the rapture
will be the saint that he will make war with, during this time, they will not
be able to buy or sell, in fact the earth will be so difficult for them to
dwell. Anti-Christ will kill them because of their faith and their refusion to
accept the mark of the beast. But all others that dwell on the earth will
voluntarily summit to him and receive the mark of the beast. {666} because the
false prophet will perform many signs and miracle to convinced them. All the
inhabitant of earth will be compel to received the image of the beast
(anti-Christ) and that image will have power to be speaking and respond to
communication, also to expose those who did not want to receive the mark of the
beast (666).
CHAPTER
14
As said early that his chapter is referring to thesame
event of chapter seven, especially from verse one through verse five, while the
remaining verses in thesame chapter introduce to us the falling of great
Babylon and harvesting of the earth, which may happen toward the end of last
port of the seventh year, it may also refers to a time of separating of remnant sealed Israel and those who miss the rapture.
CHAPTER15
In this chapter preparation is made for the
consummation of the judgement with introduction of seven angels who will empty
the seven bowls in which the wrath of God is completed. Those who overcome the
beast and his mark were given the harps as the stood on a stood of glass
mingled with fire to sing the song of Moses and of the lamb.
CHAPTER16
It was in this chapter that the bowls were poured,
this event was likely took place after the completion of the seven years, at
this time, it same there were no more saint on earth. Just prior to the battle
of Armageddon and at the close of the tribulation period.
1.
The first bowl brings a painful scores
upon the inhabitant of the earth
2.
The second bowl landed on sea and kill
all living creature in the sea
3.
When the third was poured, all the
rivers and the springs of water became blood, this is unlike the Egyptians
plague, which affected only the waters of Egypt, every source of earth’s fresh
water is now affected, indicating complete judgment
4.
The fourth brings scorch, for power was
given to sun to scorch men with fire
5.
The fifth brings darkness complete
darkness not on earth, but on the entire kingdom of anti-Christ and people
gnawed their tongue because of pain. (Now, having dealt with men in general, as
the first four vials are poured out, and with Anti-Christ in particular through
the fifth vials God returns to the preparation that must be made for the battle
of Armageddon and the final overthrow of the Anti-Christ)
6.
The sixth bowl therefore affects the
Euphrates, dries up its waters and makes a road for the kings of the east, with
their armies. Verses thirteen to sixteen are in parenthesis, so that we omit
them and take up the thread of our story again at verse seventeen.
7.
The seventh, however, has to do with the
atmosphere itself. Voices thunders and lightning are heard and seen ; bud most
prominent of all are two outstanding catastrophes, namely, an earthquake and
hailstorm. The earthquake is the worst ever experienced of the world.
In
addition to the earthquake, there is a hailstorm unprecedented in violence. It
reminds us of the hailstorm of Egypt through the agency of Moses. Yet, once
again, punishment fails to produce repentance for men still blaspheme God in
spite of all their sufferings.
Passing
over chapter seventeen, eighteen and nineteen down to verse ten, all of which
is in parenthesis and taking up the order of event again at verse eleven in
chapter nineteen, we are brought immediately to the second coming of Christ in
power and glory. Like the false messiah of chapter six, who appeared on a white
horse, the true messiah now rides forth to complete the subjection of His
Kingdom and to establish His millennial reign. (Rev. 19:11-16)
Suddenly,
as they watch, beset on every side by the Antichrist and his armies, their
attention is focused on a most extraordinary phenomenon in the skies, the
heavens open, the clouds part, and lo! A figure, cloud in brightness that
outshine the sun, suddenly appears. Thousands upon thousands circle round Him,
angels and archangels, the vast armies of heaven and in addition, innumerable
saints who had been raptured away.
ARMAGEDDON
WAR
From verse seventeen of chapter nineteen,
we have the record of how the Beast and his
armies were defeated by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
We may not be able to give the exact time of this war, but however, it
is obvious that it happens before the begging of the Millennium reign (1,000
years), this scenario is in perfect agreement with (Rev. 14:20 & Rev.
17:14) “ Blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles for one
thousand six hundred furlongs” there will the birds that fly in the midst of
heaven gather together for the supper of the great God.
The Antichrist is taken capture alive, also the false prophet, who
through his miracles had deceived the nations, especially the worshipers of
the image, the recipient of the mark of the beast. Even death is defeated, for
they are cast, both of them, alive, into the lake of fire that burns with
brimstone, and their armies slain.
Going back to the passages in parenthesis
which we omitted i.e. chapter seventeen and eighteen.
Babylon came in remembrance before God. The term “Babylon” in this book
has a two-fold reference and is highly significant the one refers to Babylon
historical, the second to Babylon mystical. Here in chapters 17 and 18, we have
the description and destruction of Babylon mystical.
This however may be referring to one of the
great nation in which all countries of earth will love to trade with. A country
that many will like to leave and use their currencies for trade. This nation
will first loose her political recognition and power of her economy.
MILLENNIUM REIGN
Now
comes the establishment of the millennium as set forth in chapter 20. True, the Antichrist and false prophet have been dealt with, but not their leader. Satan
is still at large, and before there can be any peace, he must be arrested and
imprisoned. To an angel is given this task with the key of the bottomless pit
and a great chain in his hand, he proceeds to arrest the devil, to blind him
with chain, and to cast him into the bottomless pit, which is then sealed, so
that the nations are no longer deceived, at least not for a thousand years
which is the entire period of the millennium.
For some six thousand years, he has been at work as
the enemy of souls seeking to destroy God’s kingdom and to gain control over
the heart and lives of his saint. For one thousand years, at least his
diabolical work will cease, and his temptation be no more. With Satan at large,
there can be no millennium; but with Satan bound, the golden age will be a
glorious reality.
Commencing with verse four, we are brought face to
face with the majestic vision of the millennium in its initial stage. Thrones
appear, each one occupied many by the martyrs, especially those who had refused
to worship the Antichrist and his image, or to receive his mark. These, it is
lived, that is , lived in resurrection, and the reigned with Christ a thousand
years. Thus, the kingdom is established, with the Lord Jesus Christ and those
of his followers who have qualified, reigning in millennial splendor. But there
is another company, they are called “the rest of the dead”, namely, the unsaved
of all ages. These are not resurrected at the beginning of the millennium. In
fact, they remain in their grave until the close of that wonderful period.
Now comes the final result, Satan is loosed from his
prison for one thousand years he has been in captivity. The bottomless pit has
held him fast. In verse three, we have the statement: “After that he must be
loosed a little season”. Thank God, it is but for “a little season” A short
time. In verse seven, it is stated “that then the thousand years are expired
Satan shall be loosed out of his prison”
Once again, filled with rage, he sailed forth to
gather the nations from whence had come the armies that follow the antichrist,
the nations over which Christ had ruled with a rod of iron for a thousand
years, so vast is the army that is compared to the sand of the sea.
Around the camp of the saint they gathered, namely
around Jerusalem, the beloved city, eager to over throne the government of the
Lord Jesus Christ and place Satan, their leader, on the throne, it is the last
great attempt to wrench the sceptre from the son of God, and its falls.
The battle is of short duration. God, himself,
accomplish the over throw, for fire comes down out of heaven, and the vast
armies of the devil are completely and forever destroyed.
Now follows the final downfall of Satan himself as set
forth in verse ten. At last his career is ended. He will deceive no more at the
close of his insurrection he finds himself in the lake of fire and brimstone.
But he is not alone. These, through whom he carried on
his hellish work, are there to welcome him. the antichrist and the false
prophet, who for a thousand years have endured the lake of fire, are still
there. And now, it stated that “he shall be tormented day and night forever and
ever”.
THE NEW HEAVENS AND THE
NEW EARTH
Glorious beyond expression is the scene described in
chapter twenty – one after all the sorrow and sadness of the past. Oh, how the prophet’s heart must have
thrilled as he beheld the wondrous vision!
“I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first
earth were passed away.” He exclaims.
As John gazed on the new earth, his attention was
suddenly attracted by the descent of the Holy city, the New Jerusalem, the
abode of God Himself, coming down out of heaven. And oh, what a city! The description taxes the imagination.
Suffice it to say that, in addition to its precious
stones, its gates of pearl and its streets of gold, according to the inspired
description, “The city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in
it” for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light
thereof.” And so, “There shall be no
night there.”
The closing chapter of the book pictures “A pure river
of water of live, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of
the Lamb.” It tells us of a tree of life and its twelve manner of fruits, a
tree bearing fruit each month.
The book closes with the glorious promises of our
Lord’s soon return. Verse seven says:
“Behold, I come quickly.” Verse twelve declares: “And, behold, I come quickly:
and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall
be.” Verse twenty states “Surely I come
quickly.” And then John adds. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
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