INTERPRETING PROPHECY LINK
In addition to regular text pages, we have added 3 sectional study links. Use them when you need additional information on selected subjects. We will also give you many direct references to other books of the Bible pertinent to the subject at hand. Try to follow our pages with a Bible.
Chapters 1, 2 & 3
The Seven Churches
They represent typical churches of today, 1000 years ago and 2000 years ago etc. The Seven Churches represent the entire life of the Christian church. The majority of population of typical churches (styles) follow the approximate outline of years listed below. Although you could probably find each of these church types today, the majority would be Laodecian now. Jesus told John to write word for word his messages to each of these churches. There were hundreds at this time but Jesus picked these 7 as the examples of all the others, and that still holds true for today. These churches are believed to exist throughout time, aprx. 35AD to present day. But they were live churches (city names) in aprx. 98AD, the time of writing.
EPHESUS 50-170AD The beginning church type of the apostles, but in latter years the Ephesians goal was to get the Christian church back to their Jewish roots. This included high order of priests. It really turned into a power game of high order and who is holier than who. Jesus was very much against separating the clergy from the church goers. We are all equal when we worship the Lord.
This is the church from the Book of Acts, the original. In God's view it was supposed to be the one and only. Because of its sour turn near the time of John's writings, it created thousands of Christian denominations to follow. See "The Shame of our Church System Today" in study link #2.
SMYRNA 170-312AD Most members here in Jesus' eyes were all right. He told these to be faithful until death and " I will give you the crown of life." But some members were pagan worshippers of Caesar, In God's words "satan". The city of Smyrna was a rich and rotten place to live. Caesar's people were some of the church goers.
PERGAMOS 312-606AD This was named by Jesus, "Satan's Seat". Due to both great population shift and power shift, satan moved his head operations from Babylon to Pergamum in the Constantine era. The emperor Constantine who united church and state for political reasons. In short, he lied to the existing church in Pergamum in order to get high-standing worldly type people in, most who were pagans. Due to his mother's wishes, Constantine made a Christ worshipping day on December 25th so he could blend their existing "Sun God Day" a pagan festival, with the church in aprx. 320 AD. ........................... For deep study, This was the beginning of the new age (present day) of the Jew-hater. Constantine and his church heads claimed that the "New Millennium" would now come without Jesus' return since they married church with state. It was claimed that the Jews would be cast off forever and all of the Bible's prophecies about Israel were now intended for the church. In other words, every time the word "Israel" is mentioned in the Bible concerning prophecy, Its meaning has been changed to "the Church" Some religions still follow this act of anti-dispensationalism.
The word "pergamos" means marriage, as when the church married the state.
THYRATIRA 606-1500AD Rev. 2:24 "All in this church who won't accept these teachings, I will save you" (the promise of Jesus). Scholars believe this statement was made because this church is a giant. There will be many members within it who will not accept non-Biblical teaching or traditions. Some scholars suggest Catholicism. Was there a woman in 95AD with the name of Jezebel that Jesus is talking about? Or was it "Jezebel" of Ahab's day that is found in first and second Kings? Jezebel being a false "prophetess" who inserted the "leaven" of false doctrine into the "meal of the gospel." In other words, man made twists and rules into the church.
SARDIS 1500-1750AD "The Dead or Sleeping Church." This is the perfect church that died. This stands for the Reformation period church of the 1500's that divided from mainly, the Roman church. This was the Martin Luther era, when he and others protested against the false teachings of the dominant church of its day. Rev.3:1-6, The Lord is proud of the reformation but not of the relaxed individual in the latter years the church has produced. When all the founding reformers died, the followers turned uncaring.
PHILADELPHIA 1750-1900AD "The Church of Sardis Revived" Rev. 3:7 refers back to Isaiah 22, His son Elikiam has the key of David, so did Christ. This is the Philadelphia Church. God opens up satan's possessed prison and lets them out. Heaven's door is open and once they decide to walk through it (to become a believer) the door will be shut forever so satan cannot tamper with them again.
Rev. 3:8 refers to open doors of countries letting in missionaries and Bibles to places like China, India and Africa. Rev. 3:9 talks about Jews who are not God's Jews (Jews who did not turn to Christ).
Rev. 3:10 talks of the rapture. The only one of the seven churches The Lord includes in the rapture. Rev. 3:11, To amplify this Rapture announcement. Jesus states, "I am coming quickly" to the Philadelphia church type, "Hold on, you will be kept from the hour of trial in which I will test the whole earth."
Rev. 3:12 "The pillar verse" This means each Christian is promised an important role in his kingdom. "Pillar" meaning he who holds up the roof or structure of the building. "He who holds His crown," or "building". The building is the whole of the church or the whole of belief in God. Those pillars or holders of His crown are the ones who overcome a uncaring and immoral society, and will be included in Rapture.
A Philadelphia type church today are churches usually small in number in modest buildings or meeting places. The main reason people go to this church is to study the Bible. They don't have membership drives or raise money for newer and bigger buildings etc. They try their best to learn Jesus's ways and to practice them.
The Philadelphia type church is the the jewel of the Lord's eye. God warns that "at the hour of temptation" He will save and protect this church and its people. It could very well be possible that it is the reason for Rapture in total.
There recently have been some new discoveries about the Philadelphia Church. Click on the link below after reading the Laodecian Church.
LAODECIA 1900-present Rev. 3:15 Jesus has strong hatred for this church. It is the "Lukewarm Church" These were Jesus' words. A hot church would be a good on-the-ball Bible studying church. A cold church (dead or bad) would be a good public announcement for the people there to find another church or to admittedly have to improve it. A lukewarm church is a deceiving church who will not admit its coldness. A lukewarm church is a church in lying denial. One that cannot be approached seriously. A Laodecian minister will always deny they are in need of any spiritual help or leadership. Laodecian or "lukewarm" churches are very proud, delusional, rich and competitive. All things the Lord is ashamed of.
3:18 The Lord is asking the people of this church to buy unto him instead of buying items for the church like uniforms, furniture, office equipment, more buildings etc. To invest in the real gold which is Faith. 3:19 Jesus is asking the people of this church to come forward and repent. "I will chasten you", meaning, to teach you to correct by punishment or suffering, "And you will be saved". 3:20 Jesus is humbly knocking at this church's door, asking all members to take a good look around them, realize what surroundings they are all in and repent.
SEE WORLD IN DENIAL TIME PERIOD
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Chapters 4 and 5
At the greatest meeting of all time, John will share his experiences with us very vibrantly. He will practically put us there with his brilliant descriptions. Read the Bible's text here to really connect. This location is truly Heaven, the House of God.
5:6 The lamb having seven horns is of course Jesus. He will now have perfect power. Having "horns" means battling power. Having 7 of them translates "perfect power". Seven eyes which are the seven spirits of God sent out into the earth translates "overlooked perfectly" or finally enough spirits to watch and protect over the earth, something that is not in place as of now nor has ever been.
Read 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15 In the time frame of where we are studying now. Rev. chapters 4 and 5. The message "Do not join the new masses!"
Chapters 6 & 7
Tribulation Begins
Read Isaiah 22 . Review the subject of Rapture in 1Thessalonians chapters 4 & 5. Review "Jacob's Trouble" in Chapter 30 of Jeremiah. It is important to know that satan will be riding the white horse. Why? Well, at first introduction to the people on earth he will be the least likely person that would be the devil. He will be the "knight in shining armour" type. He will have a political peace making plan. A very large percentage will trust him. He's the clean cut, shiny toothed guy with all the answers, and always with a smile. White horse indeed.
The Peace Treaty
The action to start Tribulation will be a signature by satan on a treaty to protect Israel against the terrorists of Islam. Some theologians suggest it will be a new covenant to permit the renewal of Jewish Sacrifice. Either way it will guarantee the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. It will sit in the spot of the present "Dome of the Rock" . It will be visited by satan himself during "The Great Tribulation" which is the second half of the 7 year Tribulation period. Satan will break his covenant with the Jews and show himself in the temple, demanding he be worshipped as God. This is known as "The Abomination of Desolation".
Also Read: 1Cor15, John 14 and Acts 8.
7:4 The 144,000. God's promise to his chosen people. Even though they are not Christian, they are believers in the Heavenly Father. They are Jewish. Read Numbers chapter 1.
Why do many cults such as the Jehovah's Witnesses have trouble with this verse? You would really have to be extremely dense to confuse this verse in Revelation 7 with anything else but the people named here. This is one of the most easiest to understand verses in all the Bible. It clearly states who they are, and these are not really the promised or the chosen people anyway. These are some of the unsaved who did not believe in Jesus. They are not revered here at all. These 144,000 are still failures in the Lord's eye but they are Jews, His people. He is reaching out with his heart to grab more of His promised 12 tribes into the millenium because in His heart there is not enough of them saved initially through the Rapture (see Jeremiah 30:10 "I will spare your seeds"). They will have a mark on their foreheads meaning "truth". They may not be tempted nor harmed by satan during the rest of Tribulation.
The Great Multitude
7:9-17 "a great multitude which no one could number of all nations, tribes, people, and tongues standing before the Lamb, clothed with white robes" This verse must not be confused with the 144,000. Remember this group is too big to number and it speaks all different tongues. But, who are these people John is witnessing? These are the last saved of the final three and one-half years. They are the final people EVER who will be martyred for Christ! They have a special seat in Heaven it is no doubt (7:15). Yes, many theologians believe this will include a great number of Jews, finally seeing the truth. After all, the Jews are the first and favored educated on this subject, They had the first chance of all the world to hold the capitol of Christianity but unfortunately for our Lord, they were the most stubborn. They are The Lord's chosen because they stood by God their Father thousands of years ago when no one else would, yet The Lord was creator and Father of all people.
3RD TRUMPET Revelation 8:10
(Jeremiah 9:11-15)A meteor will touch the earth in this day of the third trumpet. With it being "named", This will prove the significance of Jeremiah's warning. In our universe as of now a star or broken fragment of a nearby star has been named "Wormwood" or something close to that name through many languages of Bible translations. In this coming day a meteor fall will be predicted probably as non threatening , but will take a change of course and strike the earth. Many doubters now will believe and turn to God and be saved.
5TH TRUMPET
Revelation 9:7-11 Bible scholars are split on these verses between two thoughts: The description given of "locusts flying out of a pit with their wings making the sound of many horses running into battle and had tails like scorpions" Thought #1 : When the Angel came down and showed John all of this great vision to come, it was most likely quite vivid and in most parts un-narrated to him. In this particular segment, put yourself in John's place. If he saw a series of deadly war helicopters coming out of a great underground storage (many out there as of now), how would he describe this in 98A.D.? ??? Thought #2: The locusts are really locusts. They will spread a plague for five months. The plague will comparable to the one the Lord put on the Egyptians in Exodus.
Chapter 10
The Angel's book which John was told to swallow is a great mystery. What is in that book that could not be written in the book of Revelation? Revelation reveals quite a bit of information already. This little book given to John will most likely contain exact dates, exact locations, times and names.
Revelation 10:7 The bitter Pill. The book in the Angel's hand John was told to eat. It was the bitter truth of the end. So bitter that God ordered it eaten for now, which is aprx. 98A.D. time of the writing of Revelation, and for it to not be revealed until End Times. So it will be probable now that John will return to reveal these words when the Lord sees fit. These words are probably too specific and detrimental to be printed in the Bible. It also would be too informative for the one with no faith in Christ.
The Philadelphia Church: There has been some new discoveries recently about the prophecies of the Philadelphia Church.
Working Man's Ministries Copyright 2005
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Read chapters 12 through 18 on our text pages then do it's study link. Check out the Rapture Link, the Occur Link and the Argument Link. There are more than 21 links on this web other than its Revelation Text.