Introduction
It is extremely important to read this Introduction before beginning the study!
The book has 22 chapters but this study will be concerned solely with interpretations of the verses starting in Chapter 4.
The visions are seven seals on a scroll, seven trumpets to be sounded and seven bowls containing God's wrath. The visions are opened each time the Lord releases a seal, or an angel sounds a trumpet or another angel pours out God's wrath from a golden bowl.
A major difference between the images of the seal visions and the other two sets of visions is the Lord Jesus is the only person authorised to open the seals, whereas the trumpets and bowls are activated by angels.
I have done this study because end-time preaching in Australia is almost non-existent. Most Australian preachers steer away from it because of concerns it causes division in the church. However, a third of biblical text is prophecy. That's a lot of scripture to ignore!
Unlock the Secrets with Two Keys.
The knowledge of two keys is needed to unlock the secrets held in this fascinating book. They will lead you to interpretations of the visions that differ to much of today's popular understandings.
THE FIRST KEY. Here's a shocker for most Christians to start with: the Book of Revelation is two books! Book 1 finishes at the end of Chapter 11 and contains the visions of the 7 seals and the 7 trumpets.
The scroll contains knowledge of God's ways which is only given to those who wish to hear. "God does not cast his pearls before the swine..." (Matt.7:6). The trumpets call God's people to safety and celebrations. Thus, it would be apt to consider Book 1 as Mount Gerizim, Joshua's mountain of blessings. So, Book 1 is a book of blessings, forgiveness, and warnings of coming danger for God's people.
Book 2 begins with Chapter 12 and closes at the end of Chapter 22. Thus each book has 11 chapters. Chapter 12 begins the story of Satan's hatred of the Jewish nation, The woman with 12 stars is representative of Mary but the truth of this vision has been corrupted by Satan's false church. More of this will be revealed in the study. The bowls of God's wrath are all poured out in Book 2. We need to note: God's wrath is only poured out on the unrepentant sinner. Thus, Book 2 can be seen as Mount Ebal, the mountain of curses. (Joshua 8:33).
So, there is a different emphasis coming from each book.
THE SECOND KEY. The visions of seals, trumpets, and bowls are in chronological order in their individual sets, but they line up parallel with each other across the page. In other words, they are presented as a spreadsheet. A major benefit seeing all the prophecies in spreadsheet format is it is easier to determine in which season of time those prophecies belong.
Most theologians place the visions in a consecutive order; most likely because that's how they're presented in Scripture. However, serious study will show they align with each other when listed as concurrent, i.e.. in a parallel presentation.
So, that's a basic outline of how the visions must be seen as a spreadsheet. The study will show you how that impacts the interpretations.
SEALS Rev.6 & 8 | TRUMPETS Rev. 8,9,10,11 | BOWLS OF WRATH Rev. 16 | |
1 | These visions are all opened by our Lord Jesus Christ | God’s church anointed on Day of Pentecost | A sore upon the men that had the mark of the beast |
2 | Third part of sea became blood | Poured out His vial upon the sea | |
3 | It fell upon the rivers and upon the fountains of waters | Third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters | |
4 | And the third part of the sun was smitten | The fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun | |
5 | A time of torment | Kingdom of Darkness. Dark Ages | |
6 | For the great day of His wrath has come | ... Four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates | The sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates |
7 | Time of silence in heaven | For thy wrath has come | The fierceness of His wrath |
Presenting the 3 sets of visions as a spreadsheet verifies the following: -
The 3 sets of visions begin concurrently, i.e. at the same period of time.
The sounding of the 1st trumpet is a vision of the Holy Spirit poured out for the first time on the believers at the Day of Pentecost.
That marks the beginning of the Church Age.
The mark of the beast was put on people who worshiped at a paganistic church (approximately 315AD) which was created by the Roman Emperor in the same era as the beginning of the Church Age.
The visions all culminate at the Second Coming of the Lord.
This table proves the mark of the beast is not a modern-day mystery. The false, paganistic Roman Church has been putting the mark on its new members for more than 1500 years.
More truthful information regarding the Mark can be read in Chapter 16.
THE END
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