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RevelationStudy GuideBible text along with commentary and study notes By: Jerry Hood An in depth, critical verse by verse study of the book of Revelation with complete King James Version text! All scripture contained in this study, unless otherwise noted, is from the King James Version. Some references, definitions and alternate scriptures taken from: Modern King James Version of the Holy Bible Copyright Ó1962, 1990, 1993, 1998, 1999. Used by permission of the copyright holder, Jay P. Green, Sr. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance; James Strong, S.T.D., LL.D., 1890 Thayer's Greek Definitions Brown-Driver-Briggs' Hebrew Definitions Easton's Bible Dictionary; M.G. Easton M.A.; D.D. 1897 Young's Literal Translation Bible 1862, 1898 ALT Bible: Scripture taken from the Analytical -Literal Translation of the New Testament of the Holy Bible. Copyright © 1999 - 2001 by Gary F. Zeolla of Darkness to light ministry (www.dtl.org) Foreword
Let me start by saying that I do not claim to be a prophecy expert, only one who is interested in it. Prophesy can be easy to interpret looking back on it, but can be very difficult to see looking forward. Just ask ten people about their interpretation of Revelation and you'll probably get ten different answers. We must however keep in mind that Revelation, or the way we interpret it, is not a salvation issue. We as the church study it in an attempt to be prepared for things that are to come upon the earth whether good or bad.
The goal of this study guide is for it to be used as a tool to help in your own studies and take some of the mystery out of the book. To show that Revelation doesn't have to be a dark secret if we will just follow the most important rules of interpretation, let the Holy Spirit guide you and let the bible interpret the bible. If you will do that, I believe that you will find that it isn't as hard to understand as you may have thought.
Quick OverviewThe book of Revelation is a glimpse into the seventieth week of Daniel and events leading up to the return of Jesus. In this book we find the conditions of this world, the judgments of God upon a lost society and Satan’s attempt to undermine God and His people. We see that this world’s governments, or the majority of them, will join together under a strong leader who most likely rises to power through diplomacy but later proves to be a ruthless man that is possessed by Satan and tries to wipe Israel out. During the tribulation period we find that God is still dealing with mankind, through the ministry of the two witnesses and the angles who “preach the everlasting Gospel”, warning people to turn to God and against taking the mark of the beast. The Antichrist, being possessed by Satan, hates the saints of God and persecutes those who keep the name of Jesus. This man of sin, who Israel thinks is, or could be, their messiah, breaks a covenant with her and declares himself to be god as he stands in the Holy Place. This Abomination of desolation causes the wrath of God to be poured out on this world and culminates with the return of Jesus and the battle of Armageddon. The Antichrist and False Prophet are destroyed; Satan is cast into the bottomless pit and Jesus sets up His kingdom and ushers in the thousand-year reign.
There will probably be some major event that will cause this man to be able to rise to power, when it’s his appointed time, and the people call for a leader to unite this globe. We must understand that there are three main reasons why nations go to war: political, economic and religious. And in mans attempt to bring world peace all three of these must be unified. Thus we see a one-world system of government, economy, and religion in the time just before Jesus’ return to this earth. We’ll see that the Antichrist is the political and governmental aspect. The ‘mark of the beast’ is the economic portion, and False Prophet unifies religion. Being the DetectiveAny serious bible student will, weather studying prophecy or any other topic of the bible, approach the word prayerfully and sincerely to see what the word is saying and not making the word fit what we think it says. I urge every one to use an approach that I like to call being the detective. Simply put it’s laying all the facts out and letting the bible interpret the bible. Then we can put the pieces of the puzzle together and solve the case. A good detective does not go into a case knowing what the truth is and trying to prove it. He goes in with the understanding that everyone is a suspect and begins his process of examining all the clues and eliminating suspects one at a time until he comes to a reasonable facsimile of the truth. So as we start in the book of Revelation we are to be the detective, search out and examine all the clues with the understanding that all of the rapture theories are in fact suspects. Remember that we can make the book of Revelation say just about anything we want it to. We must be a detective and be unbiased in our search for clues.
There are four major views of teachings concerning the timing of the rapture: Pre-tribulation - believes the church is raptured before the tribulation period begins (since the church is not mentioned after the message to the churches.) [Revelation 4:1] Mid-tribulation -Believes that the church will be here for a portion of the tribulation period and then is taken out. [Revelation 11:11, 18] Post-tribulation- believes that the church will go through all of the tribulation period and then will be raptured just before the battle of Armageddon, meet the Lord in the air, return to fight the battle and go into the millennial reign of Christ. [Revelation 20:4-6] No rapture at all (although the word rapture isn’t in the bible...) view says that the book of Revelation has been fulfilled with the destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD and that the church will grow and grow until finally Jesus comes back and sets up His Kingdom. Some Prophecy BackgroundHosea 6:1-2(1) Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. (2) After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Isaiah 66:8(8) Who has heard a thing like this? Who has seen things like these? Will the earth be brought forth in one day? Or will a nation be born at once? For Zion travailed and also brought forth her sons. Israel was declared an independent state May 14, 1948 Israel reborn in one day! Thus fulfilling prophecy. Ezekiel 37:1-13Foretelling of the rebirth of Israel The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, (2) And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. (3) And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest. (4) Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. (5) Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: (6) And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. (7) So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. (8) And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. (9) Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. (10) So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army. (11) Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. (12) Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. (13) And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, Book of DanielChapter 2Nebuchadnezzar's Dream (28) But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these; (29) As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass. (30) But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart. (31) Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. (32) This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, (33) His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. (34) Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. (35) Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. [Kingdom of GOD] (36) This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king. (37) Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. (38) And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. (39) And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. (40) And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. [Roman Empire] (41) And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. (42) And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. [Revised Roman Empire] (43) And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. (44) And in the days of these kings [the 10 toes] shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. (45) Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure. Chapter 71) In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters. (2) Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. [Sea being people and nations] (3) And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. [Wesley, Gill and Henry all agree that these four beasts are: 1) Babylonians, 2) Medo-Persian, 3) Greek, 4) Rome; the same as Nebuchadnezzar's Dream.] (4) The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it. (5) And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. […had three ribs in the mouth …Sir Isaac Newton and Bishop Chandler, to understand by them Babylon, Lydia, and Egypt; which countries were ground and oppressed by the Medes and Persians, ] (6) After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. (7) After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. [10 toes] (8) I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.[I believe this to be the antichrist] (9) I beheld till the thrones were cast down [rock], and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. (10) A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. (11) I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. [Cast into hell (at Armageddon) Rev 19:20] (12) As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time. [The millennium reign] (13) I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man [Jesus] came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. (14) And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. (15) I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. (16) I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things. (17) These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. [Breast and his arms of silver (Media-Persia), his belly and his thighs of brass (Graeco- Macedonia), His legs of iron (Rome), his feet part of iron and part of clay (Last form of Roman Empire). This could also be the four horns from the He Goat!] (18) But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever. (19) Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron [Rome], and his nails of brass [Greco- Macedonia]; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; [Note: Rome came to power but was still influenced by Greek thought, culture…] (20) And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. (21) I beheld, and the same horn [little horn] made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; [Rev_13:7] (22) Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. (23) Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. (24) And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. [Feet part iron and part clay] (25) And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. [3.5 years] (26) But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. (27) And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. (28) Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitation's much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart. Chapter 88:1 In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first. 8:2 And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai. 8:3 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns [Media and Persia]: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. 8:4 I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great. 8:5 And as I was considering, behold, an he goat [Greece, Alexander the Great] came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. 8:6 And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power. 8:7 And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand. 8:8 Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.
8:9 And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land. [Out of one of the four horns] 8:10 And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. 8:11 Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. [Abomination of desolation Dan_9:27] 8:12 And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered. 8:13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? 8:14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. [6.3-6.6 years] 8:15 And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man. 8:16 And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision. 8:17 So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision. 8:18 Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright. 8:19 And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be. 8:20 The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. 8:21 And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. [Alexander the Great] 8:22 Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.
8:23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. [The vile person] 8:24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. 8:25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes [at Armageddon]; but he shall be broken without hand. 8:26 And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days. 8:27 And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it. Daniel 9:24-27Seventy Weeks [490 years](24) Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. (25) Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem [44BC] unto the Messiah the Prince [483 years] shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks [69 weeks]: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. [The command to restore… Neh chapter 2; Artaxerxes gave command to rebuild (one of several) in 44BC. Seven weeks - 49years of rebuilding + 434 years to Christ (33AD)] (26) And after threescore and two weeks [62 weeks] shall Messiah be cut off, [crucified in 33AD] but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary [70 AD]; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolation's are determined. (27) And he [the antichrist] shall confirm the covenant with many for one week [7 years, the final or 70th week]: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. [There are those who say that this "he" is actually Jesus and the "abomination" refers to animal sacrifices after the cross. However there is NO place that I can find where Jesus made a covenant for seven years. If Jesus set up this abomination the timing is way off. See Daniel 12:11. Therefore, this abomination of desolation could not be referring to the work of Jesus!] Daniel 10:14-21(14) Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days. (15) And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb. (16) And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength. (17) For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me. (18) Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me, (19) And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me. (20) Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come. (21) But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince. Daniel 11:1-45 (1)
Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm
and to strengthen him. (2) And now will I shew thee the truth. Behold,
there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall
be far richer than they all: and by his strength through his riches he
shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia. (3) And a mighty king
shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according
to his will.
[Alexander the Great] (4) And
when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be
divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor
according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be
plucked up, even for others beside those.
[4 generals]
(5) And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes;
and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion
shall be a great dominion. (6) And in the end of years they shall join
themselves together; for the king's daughter of the south shall come
to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not
retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm: but
she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begat
her, and he that strengthened her in these times. (7) But out of a
branch of her roots shall one stand up in his estate, which shall come
with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the
north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail: (8) And shall
also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and
with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall
continue more years than the king of the north. (9) So the king of the
south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land.
(10) But his sons shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude
of great forces: and one shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass
through: then shall he return, and be stirred up, even to his
fortress. (11) And the king of the south shall be moved with choler,
and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the
north: and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude
shall be given into his hand. (12) And when he hath taken away the
multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down many
ten thousands: but he shall not be strengthened by it. (13) For the
king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude
greater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years
with a great army and with much riches. (14) And in those times there
shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the robbers of
thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they
shall fall. (15) So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a
mount, and take the most fenced cities: and the arms of the south
shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be
any strength to withstand. (16) But he that cometh against him shall
do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he
shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed.
(17) He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his
whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do: and he
shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall
not stand on his side, neither be for him. (18) After this shall he
turn his face unto the isles, and shall take many: but a prince for
his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease;
without his own reproach he shall cause it to turn upon him. (19) Then
he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he shall
stumble and fall, and not be found. The Antichrist (The events of the 70th week) (21) And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. (22) And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant. [The covenant is not made by the antichrist, but is confirmed by him] (23) And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people. (24) He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time. (25) And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him. (26) Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain. (27) And both these kings' hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed. (28) Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land. (29) At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter. (30) For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant. The Abomination of Desolation (31) And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. (32) And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. (33) And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. (34) Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. (35) And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed. (36) And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. (37) Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. (38) But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. (39) Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain. (40) And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of t he north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. (41) He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. (42) He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. (43) But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. (44) But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. (45) And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain [Zion]; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. Daniel 12:1-13(1) And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.[The Book: Exo_32:32, Exo_32:33; Psa_56:8, Psa_69:28; Isa_4:3; Eze_13:9; Luk_10:20; Phi_4:3; Rev_3:5, Rev_13:8, Rev_20:12, Rev_20:15 Psa_27:5]
(2) And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. (3) And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. (4) But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. [Dan 5:4~ see Rev 5:1] (5) Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river. (6) And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? (7) And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; [3 1/2 years] and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. (8) And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? (9) And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. [The final week; Rev_5:1] (10) Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. (11) And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. [1290 days = 3.5 years] (12) Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. [3.5 years plus 45 days!] (13) But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days. Overview of prophecy background
Revelation Order of events
Timing of the Rapture or Catching AwayWhat we do know » We know that the Tribulation lasts for 7 years. We are told that the beast comes out of the bottomless pit at the 5th trumpet (11:7) and that he continues for 3 ½ years (13:5). We also know that the 5th vial is poured on the beast (16:10). So, if from the 5th trumpet to the 5th vial is 3 ½ years, then the seals could not be included in the final 7 years. Also: “1:19 Write the things, which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter. 4:1 I will show thee things, which must be hereafter. 5:5 Jesus has prevailed to open the book and loose the seals.” This would appear to be referring to the work of the cross. Rapture Passages I Thessalonians 4:13-18; John 14:1-3 ; I Corinthians 15:51-53; Philippians 3:20-21; I Corinthians 1:7-8 Romans 8:19 Colossians 3:4 I Thessalonians 1:10 I Thessalonians 2:19 I Thessalonians 5:9 I Thessalonians 5:23 2 Thessalonians 2:1-9 I Timothy 6:14 2 Timothy 4:8 Titus 2:13 Hebrews 9:28 James 5:7-9 I Peter 1:7, 13 Second Coming Passages Daniel 2:44-45 Daniel 7:9-14 Daniel 12:1-3 Zechariah 12:10 Matthew 24:15-31 Matthew 26:64 Mark 13:14-27 Mark 14:62 Luke 21:25-28 Acts 1:9-11 2 Thessalonians 3:13 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 2 Thessalonians 2:8 I Peter 4:12-13 2 Peter 3:1-14 Jude 14-15 Revelation 1:7 Revelation 19:11-16 I Peter 5:4 I John 2:28-3:2 Revelation 2:25 Thessalonians 2:1-9 (1) Now we beseech you, my brothers, with regard to the coming [1Th 4:15-17] of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, [This verse is clearly speaking of the rapture of the church.]
(2) That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. (3) Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a (1) falling away [apostate church] first, and (2) that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Note the identifying marks of the Antichrist. (4) who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself forth, that he is God. [The Abomination of Dessolation (see also Mat_24:15 )]
(5) Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things [Many people say verses 6-9 is saying that since it’s the Holy Spirit that restrains the antichrist, when He is taken out of the way it is the rapture of the church. The only problem with this is that it directly contradicts verse 3.] (6) And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. (7) For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. (8) And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
2 Thess 2:1-9 (KJV) 10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Dan 12:10-11 (KJV) [3 1/2 years + 30 days ...See all of chapter 12] Matt 24:15-16 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand) 16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: 1 Thess 4:13-17 (KJV) 13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1 Cor 15:51-52 (KJV) 51 Behold, I shew you a [2]mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ISee Matt 13:24-30 (two harvests) before going any further I Chapter 1Things which thou hast seen In chapter one John is seeing Jesus in His glory and majesty, not the meek and lowly servant that he knew before, but the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I believe he is also seeing Jesus as High Priest over His churches, notice that Jesus is holding the stars, or pastors, of the seven churches in His hand; which would signify His control of these pastors. Also note that Jesus warned that if these churches did not line up to Christ's will they would be removed. We are given a blessing in verse three not just for reading the prophecy but for reading and keeping those things written therein. The bible tells us that we are not to be just hearers of the word, but doers as well. John writes his revelation from Christ to the seven churches1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants1 things »which must shortly come to pass 2; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. 3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. 4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; [There are some that believe that these seven churches represent seven church ages, however we must realize that these churches were actual churches that were in existence at the time John received the revelation. Also note that Antipas who was an actual martyr is s | |||||||||||||||||||
