Rev. Daniel True
Because of the complexity of the Book of Revelation that requires a lot of detail, cross-references and confirmation, I have molded this on-line version of my normal seminar teaching into a number of Parts. Each part will contain references to chapters in the Book of Revelation (as well as cross-references to Ezekiel and Daniel). They are grouped into “parts” so as to maintain the meaning and thought patterns that those groups of chapters are addressing.
In short, the Book of Revelation can only be correctly understood by “chapter grouping”. The right approach to this Book is to read and study the chapters in this grouping: 1-2-3, 4-5-6, 7-8-9, 10-11-12-13, 14-15-16, 17-18-19 and 20-21-22. If you read the Book straight through from Chapter 1 to Chapter 22, you will probably get lost, for the context jumps around (back and forth, contextually & time-wise) from group to group! In the groupings shown above, we will explore the meaning of each group or “part” and show the relationship to the other groups.
Keep in mind that these pages are NOTES that are used in a Seminar setting. In a live seminar, each chapter in a Part would be read and then the notes would be used to go back and help explain any hidden or confusing meanings in that chapter. So, rather than my putting the whole text from the Bible into this study, just open your Bible (your choice of version – KJV preferred), read the text and go back and use this guide in regard to the various verses and the meanings.
Also, you will be hampered by not being able to pose questions “from the floor” but that is a limitation to this kind of presentation (e-mailed questions will be answered).
I know – all this sounds complicated, BUT if you follow the study guide, you will receive the “revelations” that have been hidden (sealed) for the past 2,000 years! Now, if you think that is a superbia statement, the Book of Daniel has the following words (Daniel had a very similar vision (description) of the End of Times, and here is his response):
“Although I (Daniel) heard, I did not understand. Then I said, “My Lord, what shall be the end of these things?” And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.” (Daniel 12: 8, 9). I believe that, given all that is happening in the world today, and the advanced knowledge imparted to mankind during the past 100 years, we are near the time of the end! Consequently, those things that could not be understood thousands of years ago are now opened to OUR understanding.
The following are some situations and terms that need to be realized:
The Rapture ?
The church must go away because our prayers will prevent the anti-Christ from accomplishing his prophesied evil deeds on the earth! The word rapture does not appear in the Scriptures, however, in the New Testament a similar word is found: anabaino, which means, “to go up” or “arise”, and is used 12 times in the Book of Revelation alone! See my “Rapture” posting: http://www.kingswayministries.org/archives/2262. This word is used in chapter 4, verse 1, the occasion of the sounding of the trumpet, etc.
Jesus temporarily takes His Body (the bride of Christ) out of the world.
In Jewish tradition, the groom comes after his bride sometime during the night. The bride must be ready and waiting for him. He takes her away with himself. The ‘honeymoon’ lasts seven days after which the groom brings his bride back and presents her to the public as his wife.
The church is not mentioned after the 3rd chapter of Revelation but is present with Jesus (in chapter 19) as He returns to earth after the seven years (seven days?) of the Tribulation. The Tribulation begins with a TRUMPET blast in the first verse of the 4th chapter, as He removes (anabaino) the Church. Jesus takes us up to check out our new Heavenly home!
Ref: In 1 Thess. 4:16-17 the Lord calls us (the Church) up to Him with the sound of a TRUMPET.
End-Time Occurances, For The Believer
1. The Rapture (‘snatching away’) of the Church (1 Thess.4:16).
2. The Judgment Seat of Christ [2 Cor. 5:10] (the honeymoon) where we are purified by seeing our works, and our rewards are given to us for the good works we have done.
3. The Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:7) where the bride (church) appears in PURE white linens (which stands for the righteous acts of the saints). Our sins were forgiven at the cross and our works awarded at the Judgment seat, and we are perfect and pure before Him. He would not marry (have as a bride) any less.
4. After the wedding, we return with the Bridegroom to the ‘housing’ He has arranged for His bride, in accord with Jewish customs (the 1000 year reign of Jesus on the earth).
SIMILE –
“A figure of speech that expresses a resemblance between things of different kinds (usually formed with ‘like’ or ‘as’)”
In the King James Version of the Book of Revelation, there are 110 occasions of the use of “as” or “like”, in trying to describe things that John, the visionary, could not identify. How many of us who have seen UFO’s have described what we had seen with “it looked LIKE a flying saucer” (or “LIKE a cigar”, etc.)?
This is a common procedure; associating what we cannot identify with something that we DO know about.
Tanks, helicopters, guns, submarines – none of these things were known to John, so he identified them as best he could. This would explain some of the unusual descriptions that John gave as he looked into the future, since many of those things he saw had not even been invented then! Many times he used animals or mythical creatures in his descriptions. This study will attempt to more accurately identify those items, especially as they relate to the Battle of Armageddon.
For your convenience, a printer-friendly version of this study can be downloaded for your personal use. There are no restrictions on your (non-commercial) use – we need to get this into the hands of all (unsaved) people Time IS Short!!
Download a printable copy of the whole study HERE! NOTE: It IS 28 pages!
To begin the study of the Book of Revelation, click HERE to go to Part I
