The book of Revelation is a book that has had several different interpretation methods over the years.
The Preterist, Historical, Historical-spiritual and the Futuristic all have their positions
and they list the supporting arguments with great zeal but only one can be correct.
The Futurist position is also separated into the pre, mid, and post tribulation raptureists.
Again only one can be correct.
Most scholars date the book to 95 A.D. that is in the Domitian reign (81-96 A.D.).
Others mentioned are Nero (54-68 A.D.) and Vespasian (69-79 A.D.).
An event of prophecy that is recorded in secular history is the destruction of
Jerusalem in 70 A.D.*(from NIV Text Notes on Revelation).
In response to the disciples comments about the beauty of the city, Jesus foretells the event in Matthew 24:2 and Mark 13:2
There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down
They then asked him a three part question that has a similar character to Revelation.
The framework of the prophecy is laid out in both Matthew and Revelation.
In looking into the scripture, and listening to many commentaries on prophecy of the end times,
I began to wonder why the time of the "rapture of the Church" was in question.
There are many in the fururist camp who say the catching up of believers occurs in Revelation 4:1.
This is known as the "pre-tribulation rapture" position. The position includes a "Church Age"
idea. That over the centuries we have been living in one of the 7 distinct church ages revealed
in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. The dogma contends that we are now in the church of Laodicea ready for
the catching up of the Church said to be in Revelation 4:1.
But there are problems with that idea. Look closely at Revelation 1:19,
Write the things which thou hast seen,
and the things which are,
and the things which shall be hereafter;
So firstly we should expect to read about what "thou hast seen" This should remain in
context until we have a noticeable break.
Revelation 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou saw in my right hand,
and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches:
and the seven candlesticks which thou saw are the seven churches.
The description of the churches continues through chapters 2 and 3. There is no need to place
an arbitrary "age" for these churches. Each church can stand on it's own. As we stand today, the
entire church is not luke-warm. Some of the church is under persecution, such as in China, Russia,
Africa and more and more in the United States. There are today churches of Love (Philadelphia).
There are all sorts of churches but one Lord. There are essentials of belief but can we even
agree on what those are? Try John 1:1-5, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, and 1 Peter 1.
The obvious break at Chapter 4 verse 1 will now speak to those things that "are". Some say
in defending the Chapter 4:1 catching up that the church is no longer mentioned through the book.
I disagree, the saints are mentioned. The reply is that these are then the tribulation saints.
Jesus said exactly when it would be in Matthew 24:29-30. After the sun and moon color change.
This is also in 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.
Revelation 6:12 is where this event is listed.
So the mystery is solved and the camps can be unified when we lay the events
listed in all of scripture that match.
Probably not, although it will make no difference to some who are convinced their
Revelation 4:1 verse is the correct as well as the "Last Trumpet" or post trib crowd.
I will lay out what I see in scripture. The great help in the matter is that Revelation was the
last book that I read. I started out in Genesis and went straight through.
The book of Revelation has many events that are spoken of in other parts of the Bible.
This presentation will be an attempt to organize those events in such a way as to clear up some of the confusion.
As most Bible's have a cross-reference bar down the middle to help in this exercise.
I will point out the equivalences that are recognized by the cross-reference builders, and add a little commentary.
Matthew 24:2
- when shall these things be?
- and what shall be the sign of thy coming,
- and of the end of the world?
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Revelation 1:19
- Write the things which thou hast seen,
- and the things which are,
- and the things which shall be hereafter;
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Jesus does not say to them that the destruction of Jerusalem was the event.
He does speak however about the Temple with a reference to the prophet Daniel.
He answers these questions posed to him.
The seals of Revelation 6 are not after but before
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Matthew 24:3-
And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying,
Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
| | 24:4
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
| | 24:5
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
| | 24:6
And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
| | 24:7
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
| | 24:8
All these are the beginning of sorrows.
| | 24:9
Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
| | 24:10
And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
| | 24:11
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
| | 24:12
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
| | 24:13
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
| | 24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
| | 24:15
When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
| | 24:16
Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
| | 24:17
Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
| | 24:18
Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
| | 24:19
And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
| | 24:20
But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
| | 24:21
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
| | 24:22
And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
| | 24:23
Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
| | 24:24
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
| | 24:25
Behold, I have told you before.
| | 24:26
Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
| | 24:27
For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
| | 24:28
For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
| | 24:29
Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
| | 24:30
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
| | 24:31
And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
| | 24:32
Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
| | 24:33
So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
| | 24:34
Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
| | 24:35
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
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