Chapter 19 This chapter could well be two chapters. The first ten verses deal with “the marriage of the lamb.” The remainder jumps back to the beginning of the harvest to give us yet another perspective on how the current social order will meet its end. The “marriage of the lamb” is a symbol for the time when Jesus has (in terms of his Matthew 13 parable) gathered all of the wheat into the barn. Near the end of the…
A Closer Look at Section 2 (Chapters 14-19) “Men’s hearts failing them for fear” – Luke 21:26 Chapters 14 through 19 focus on events at the close of the Gospel Age — THE HARVEST. This is a complex period. In it the world is experiencing troubles it cannot handle, and Christianity is faced with the kind of scrutiny that destroys everything that can be shaken. (Heb 12:26-29) Perhaps we can summarize the events of this harvest as three works progressing…
To see the structure of Revelation is to see more than most theologians throughout history have been privileged to see the following information can be the key to a very large measure of understanding of Revelation. Even though Revelation is a very complicated prophecy, its BASIC SIMPLICITY is at once encouraging and enlightening. Revelation can be broken down into five sections. At the beginning (1:1-8) is a small section that serves as an introduction to the entire prophecy. At the…
Five Basic Methods in Good Bible Study continued. 5. TIME-FRAME STUDY Not all scriptures nor all Scriptural injunctions apply at all times. For example, there was a time when God dealt with the Jewish nation and no one else (Amos 3:2); and there is now a time when placing ourselves under the ten commandments of the Jewish Law is inappropriate (Gal 3:10, 11, 24, 25). Some scriptures apply only during the Millennial Age — the thousand years of Christ’s reign…
“We began this chapter with a list of seven questions that are basic to an understanding of God’s plan (and hence are basic to an understanding of the details of prophecy that are found in Revelation). To close this chapter we will ask the same seven questions and this time give concise answers to cement our understanding and memory before we proceed to the principal topic. 1. Why did God create the earth and mankind? He created because love is…
THE OTHER HALF OF THE GOSPEL “Genesis begins with the fall of man. Revelation concludes with the restoration of man. In Genesis the curse falls on man. In Revelation the curse is “no more.” In Genesis are the promises that the “seed of the woman” and the seed of Abraham will destroy the enemy and bless all of the families of the earth. In Revelation, that seed (the Lamb and 144,000), destroys the enemy and blesses all of the families…
This study is for those who desire to take up a study of Revelation, but who are not sure precisely as to how to proceed. Perhaps you have attempted a studied Revelation before but were unable to make heads or tails about it or you simply avoided the book altogether because it appeared too complicated. Adding to the confusion is the fact that there are numerous commentaries written on the subject, each being presented from a different perspective based upon…
VERSE 6-10 “The heavens declare His righteousness, and all the peoples see His glory. Let all be put to shame who serve carved images, who boast of idols. Worship Him, all you gods. Zion hears and is glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoice Because of Your judgments, O Lord. For You, Lord, are most high above all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods. You, who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the souls of His…
VERSE 3 “A fire goes before Him, and burns up His enemies round about.” “If we inquire, why is this Day of His presence such a Time of Trouble and distress of nations? The answer comes, because righteousness and judgment are the habitation of His Throne, and He is judging the nations and weighing them in the balance. Judgment is being laid to the line and righteousness to the plummet (Isa 28:17), to the intent that ere long the equitable…
VERSE 2 “Clouds and darkness surround Him; Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.” “The morning cometh (the blessed day), and also the night (a night of clouds and thick darkness)…” Isa 21:12 “Suddenly the picture changes from joy to gloom! David now characterizes the effects of the beginning of the reign lest anyone err in picturing the Millennium as all sunshine. “Darkness is round about him.”—Darkness is a symbol. It stands for lack of understanding. David shows…