I’ve covered the beginning of the Book of Revelation already in the letters of Jesus to the 7 churches…
The Number 7
And there were the 7 Blessings of Revelation. The number 7 features prominently throughout the Bible especially in the Book of Revelation.
Numbers are very important in the book of Revelation. Numbers show up everywhere. One key number is the number seven. The book of Revelation breaks down into seven sections. The letters go to the seven churches of the province of Asia (what is now southwest Turkey). The letter to each of the seven church breaks down into seven portions. Throughout Revelation we will see a series of numbers coming up again and again. These numbers include three, four, six, seven, twelve, twenty-four and one thousand. To the Jewish person, these numbers had very important meaning and they would always look for special meaning when these numbers show up…
…Why is seven so important? It is the number of completion to the Jewish person – like the seven days of creation. These letters represent the full message of Jesus to these churches. Even though the letters go to seven churches, all of the churches got all the letters. In other words, all the letters are to all the churches. There are other churches in this area (for example, Colossae has a church – Paul wrote the letter to the church in Colossae). The number seven represents completeness – so these letters were for all the churches even if they are not given an individual letter.
https://aaec.ae/ (Bible Study in the YouVersion Bible App)
Other numbers…
Twelve is important, too. There are the 12 tribes of Israel, which will come up with the 144,000 — 12,000 from each tribe. There were the 12 apostles.
Then there’s 1000 — the Millennial rule of Jesus on this earth after the tribulation. Six — in fact, 666 — is the number of the Antichrist, whom we met in 1 Thessalonians in my last post.
The Signs of the End Times
The Jewish leaders — the Pharisees and the Sadducees were always trying to test Jesus. They kept asking Him for a “sign”.
One day the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus, demanding that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority.
He replied, “You know the saying, ‘Red sky at night means fair weather tomorrow; red sky in the morning means foul weather all day.’ You know how to interpret the weather signs in the sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the signs of the times! Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign, but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah.” Then Jesus left them and went away.
Matthew 16:1-4 NLT
They said, “Show us.” Jesus said, “Believe first, then I will show you.” The sign of the prophet Jonah was to let them know that Jesus would be dead for 3 days then rise from the grave. Remember Jonah was in the belly of the whale (or big fish) for 3 days.
Jesus also brought up Noah. Read Genesis 6 and you’ll see why Jesus says that last days will be as it was in Noah’s day…
“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.”
Matthew 14:27-31 NLT
That is the Rapture and it can happen any day now!
We are living in the last days!
The idea of Bible prophecy is to apply the prophetic Word of God to the acts of God that are happening today. Or what God is allowing to happen today. The study of Bible prophecy is called “eschatology.”
What’s Next in the Book of Revelation?
“Revelation” means “unveiling” like “apocalypse” — bringing understanding. Chapter 1 was the introduction. Chapters 2 and 3 are the letters from Jesus to the churches. From chapter 4 until the end is the future — the end times. Chapters 4 and 5 cover the church in Heaven or the believers who will be raptured. 6-19 cover the great tribulation — which I’m so glad I won’t be around for that! In chapter 19, Jesus returns to earth — the 2nd coming which ushers in the millennium age of chapter 20. And finally, in chapters 21 and 22, we have the new Heaven and the new Earth and the devil is gone! Jesus wins! Sweet!
Is the Rapture the 2nd Coming of Jesus?
No. Simply because Jesus stays in the sky and calls His believers to Him and we join Him in Heaven. The 2nd coming is after the tribulation, which Jesus saves us from. That’s when we come down with Him in the Millennium reign, then finally, in the New Heaven and the New Earth forever. Yay!
It’s All About Salvation!
Salvation does much more than bring you out of darkness and death. Salvation leads you into the presence of God to experience divine communion in prayer, praise, worship and study. As you read the Bible, pray first. Ask Jesus and the Holy Spirit to open your eyes, mind and heart to understand what God is trying to tell you and wants you to comprehend.
Like I explained in the prior post, I’m not planning on doing an in-depth study on Revelation. Pastor Kris Langham already did that in ThroughTheWord.org — the free Bible study app which I highly recommend.
I’m going to dose it out in larger chunks capturing the big ideas in each section. The Book of Revelation is a warning to the churches to obey and get with the program or suffer the consequences. It’s fairly simple.
Jesus said…
“Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Revelation 3:19-22
Here’s a prayer from the Prophetic Gallery Series, also from the Bible app…
Father, nothing could allow me into heaven accept the death of Jesus for my sin. Nothing. Nothing I can do. Nothing anyone else can do. Nothing else that You would do. As You waited for the death of Jesus, all of heaven was waiting. Once the death of Jesus was accomplished, the door was opened for me and for the rest of mankind. Today, I thank You for making a way available. Thank You that it is for me and all mankind. Thank You for the cross. Thank You for Jesus. Thank You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Prophetic Gallery Series, the Bible App
Soli Deo Gloria — to God Alone be the Glory!
