Complete Eschatology

Revelation

Date: Two potential dates:

68 A. D. Nero – Before the destruction of Jerusalem

Significance – Jesus second coming came at the destruction of Jerusalem.

96 A. D. Domitian

Church Fathers

Ephesians, Colossians and 1 and 2 Timothy – Dramatically different problems from Paul’s day to John’s writing of Revelation

Tradition indicates that John did not leave Jerusalem until the time of the first revolt.

The different views

Idealist – View Revelation as entirely symbolic – Battle between good and evil.

Preterist – Believe the events in Revelation have already been fulfilled, beginning with the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A. D.

Historicist – View Revelation as a historical account of the church age.

Futurist – Sees Revelation 4-22 as the prophetic account of actual events

The Seal Judgments – Revelation 6:1-17

The Seals encompass the entire tribulation period - Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:10).

First, four seals taking place during the first 3 ½ years

The fifth stretches from the first through to a period during the second half of the tribulation.

The 7th seal contains the 7 trumpets and the 7th trumpet contains the 7 vial judgements

The Seals – After each seal is broken, the scroll is not read but acted out.

And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer (Revelation 6:1-2).

Some say this is Jesus but it cannot be Jesus (19:11)

Jesus is the one opening the scroll

This person has one crown but Jesus in 19:12 has many royal crowns

The rider carries a bow but Jesus in 19:15 carries a sword

Jesus returns at the end of the tribulation not the beginning.

Some say that the rider is the anti-christ

The other three riders represent impersonal forces (War, famine, and death)

Therefore, it is better to view the first rider as a force, too.

Worldwide peace

A deceptive peace that will be followed by war, famine and death.

He has a bow without arrows

A bloodless crown

It is a victors crown that he won because of achievements to bring about world peace.

Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie (2 Thessalonians 2:9-11).

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. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one 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(Daniel 9:24-27).

And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword (Revelation 6:3-4).

Red is the color of fire and blood, depicts war.

Men will kill one another on an unprecedented level.

As the head of a western confederacy the Anti-Christ will initially champion himself as a person of peace. However, his desire for dominance will produce revolt. Throughout the tribulation period the Anti-Christ will crust the revolts.

Revelation 6:5-6 “And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.”

“Beheld” reflects some startling event.

The color black is associated with famine (Leviticus 5:10 “And he shall offer the second for a burnt offering, according to the manner: and the priest shall make an atonement for him for his sin which he hath sinned, and it shall be forgiven him.” )

A logical result of world-wide war.

The scales represents the rationing of food.

A measure of wheat for a penny.

A measure of wheat fed one person

a penny was a days wage

Could not support a family

3 Measures of barley

feed a family of 3

Barley significantly inferior to wheat.

Barley went to feed to livestock.

Oil and wine will need to be protected.

Revelation 6:7-8 “And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.”

The color represents the decomposition of a corpse

Death on a massive scale follows war and famine.

1/4 of all humanity dies

Current population means just over 2 billion people will die

Compare this to at most 60,000,000 people died during World War 2

Means of deaths

Sword - War

Hunger - Famine

Death

Beasts - Pestilence ?

Revelation 6:9-11 “And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.”

The seal spans the two halves of the tribulation

Martyrs killed during the time of the judgments (Revelation 13:7 “And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.”).

They are described as souls because their bodies have not been resurrected, yet.

two reasons they were killed:

Word of God

Testimony

They are praying - how long before you avenge?

Rest for a little while

Until your fellowservants that should be killed are fulfilled.

Revelation 6:12-17 “And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, 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; and who shall be able to stand?”

Timing - during the second half of the Tribulation period - known as the Great tribulation

Events

Great earthquake

Earthquake means shaken (Matthew 8:24 “And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.” )

Impact is the universe - Stars will fall to the earth.

Sun is black like sackcloth of clothes

This is the day Joel spoke of - Joel 2:31 “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, Before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come.”

And, Peter on Pentecost.

Moon turns red

Stars fall tot he earth - most likely asteroids.

Before the 7th seal an interlude occurs. Revelation 7:

Revelation 7 KJV 1900

And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand. After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These 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 thirst any 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.