Chris' Notes, keys to revelation 4-22
Intro:
Jesus’ Second Coming vs. the Rapture. Although most Christians refer to Jesus’ return for his Church as the “Second Coming” technically that doesn’t happen until after the tribulation. Although both share some similarities, here are several key differences:
Larkin says that the “First Coming” of Jesus was when He was born on earth. The “Second Coming” is when Jesus puts His foot on Mt. Olivet (see “A. Feast of Tabernacles” under “Seven Feasts” in the notes for “Revelation 4: Intro” for more). See Titus 2:11-13 for “how Paul links up the two Comings” (Larkin, http://www.blueletterbible.org/study/larkin/dt/02.cfm).
References:
Chart 1 ("Second Coming vs. the Rapture") : http://christianity.about.com/od/endtimestopicalstudy/f/secondcomingof.htm
Chart 2 ("Contrasts Between the Rapture and the Second Coming"): http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/revelation/related-topics/rapture-versus-second-coming.html
References:
Chart 1 ("Second Coming vs. the Rapture") : http://christianity.about.com/od/endtimestopicalstudy/f/secondcomingof.htm
Chart 2 ("Contrasts Between the Rapture and the Second Coming"): http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/revelation/related-topics/rapture-versus-second-coming.html
The Tribulation: Revelation, chapters 6-19 is considered the “Tribulation.” It is interesting that the majority of the book revolves around the story of only 7 years of time. MacArthur says “this lengthy section details the judgments and events of the time of tribulation from its beginning with the opening of the first seal 9vv. 1, 2) through the 7 seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments to the return of Christ to destroy the ungodly (19:11-21)” (Source 1).
A. The Titles: The Tribulation is also referred to as “the Day of the Lord (Isaiah 2:12; Isaiah 13:6-9; Joel 1:15; Joel 2:1-31; Joel 3:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:2); trouble or tribulation (Deuteronomy 4:30; Zephaniah 1:1)” (Source 2).
B. The 7 Years, 3 ½ Years, the Beast: The Tribulation will run for 7 years, mid-way through (at 3.5 years) the Great Tribulation will start. S. Michael Houdmann gives a great explanation of this time: Daniel 9:27 gives a few highlights of the seven-year tribulation period: “He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.” The person of whom this verse speaks is the person Jesus calls the “abomination that causes desolation” (Matthew 24:15) and is called “the beast” in Revelation 13. Daniel 9:27 says that the beast will make a covenant for seven years, but in the middle of this week (3 1/2 years into the tribulation), he will break the covenant, putting a stop to sacrifice. Revelation 13 explains that the beast will place an image of himself in the temple and require the world to worship him. Revelation 13:5says that this will go on for 42 months, which is 3 1/2 years. Since Daniel 9:27says that this will happen in the middle of the week, and Revelation 13:5 says that the beast will do this for a period of 42 months, it is easy to see that the total length of time is 84 months or seven years. Also see Daniel 7:25, where the “time, times, and half a time” (time=1 year; times=2 years; half a time=1/2 year; total of 3 1/2 years) also refers to “great tribulation,” the last half of the seven-year tribulation period when the beast will be in power” (Source 1).
References:
Source 1: John MacArthur, MacArthur Study Bible, p. 2000.
Source 2: S. Michael Houdmann, http://www.gotquestions.org/tribulation.html#ixzz32fh8M9Am
A. The Titles: The Tribulation is also referred to as “the Day of the Lord (Isaiah 2:12; Isaiah 13:6-9; Joel 1:15; Joel 2:1-31; Joel 3:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:2); trouble or tribulation (Deuteronomy 4:30; Zephaniah 1:1)” (Source 2).
B. The 7 Years, 3 ½ Years, the Beast: The Tribulation will run for 7 years, mid-way through (at 3.5 years) the Great Tribulation will start. S. Michael Houdmann gives a great explanation of this time: Daniel 9:27 gives a few highlights of the seven-year tribulation period: “He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.” The person of whom this verse speaks is the person Jesus calls the “abomination that causes desolation” (Matthew 24:15) and is called “the beast” in Revelation 13. Daniel 9:27 says that the beast will make a covenant for seven years, but in the middle of this week (3 1/2 years into the tribulation), he will break the covenant, putting a stop to sacrifice. Revelation 13 explains that the beast will place an image of himself in the temple and require the world to worship him. Revelation 13:5says that this will go on for 42 months, which is 3 1/2 years. Since Daniel 9:27says that this will happen in the middle of the week, and Revelation 13:5 says that the beast will do this for a period of 42 months, it is easy to see that the total length of time is 84 months or seven years. Also see Daniel 7:25, where the “time, times, and half a time” (time=1 year; times=2 years; half a time=1/2 year; total of 3 1/2 years) also refers to “great tribulation,” the last half of the seven-year tribulation period when the beast will be in power” (Source 1).
References:
Source 1: John MacArthur, MacArthur Study Bible, p. 2000.
Source 2: S. Michael Houdmann, http://www.gotquestions.org/tribulation.html#ixzz32fh8M9Am
The Millennium:
Pre-Millennialism vs. Post-Millennialism. “In short, ‘Post-Millennialism,’ as advocated in our day, is barely 200 years old, while ‘Pre-Millennialism’ dates back to the days of Isaiah and Daniel” (Source 1).
A. Premillennialists are divided into three different "Schools of Interpretation," which are fundamentally antagonistic, known as the "Preterits," "Historical" and "Futurist" Schools.
B. The "Preterist School" originated with the Jesuit Alcazar. His view was first put forth as a complete scheme in his work on the Apocalypse, published in A.D. 1614. It limits the scope of the Apocalypse to the events of the Apostle John's life, and affirms that the whole prophecy was fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus, and the subsequent fall of the persecuting Roman Empire, thus making the Emperor Nero the "Antichrist." The purpose of the scheme was transparent, it was to relieve the Papal Church from the stigma of being called the "Harlot Church" and the Pope from being called the "Antichrist." It is a view that is now but little advocated.
C. The "Historical School," sometimes spoken of as the "Presentist" scheme, interprets the Apocalypse as a series of prophecies predicting the events that were to happen in the world and in the Church from John's day to the end of time. The advocates of this School interpret the symbols of the Book of Revelation as referring to certain historical events that have and are happening in the world. They claim that "Antichrist" is a "System" rather than a "Person," and is represented by the Harlot Church of Rome. They interpret the "Time Element" in the Book on the "Year Day Scale." This School has had some very able and ingenious advocates. This view, like the preceding was unknown to the early church. It appeared about the middle of the Twelfth Century, and was systematized in the beginning of the Thirteenth Century by the Abbot Joachim. Subsequently it was adopted and applied to the Pope by the forerunners and leaders of the Reformation, and may be said to have reached its zenith in Mr. Ellicott's "Horae Apocalypticae." It is frequently called the Protestant interpretation because it regards Popery as exhausting all that has been predicted of the Antichristian power. It was a powerful and formidable weapon in the hands of the leaders of the Reformation, and the conviction of its truthfulness nerved them to "love not their lives unto the death." It was the secret of the martyr heroism of the Sixteenth Century.
D. The "Futurist School" interprets the language of the Apocalypse "literally," except such symbols as are named as such, and holds that the whole of the Book, from the end of the third chapter, is yet "future" and unfulfilled, and that the greater part of the Book, from the beginning of chapter six to the end of chapter nineteen, describes what shall come to pass during the last week of "Daniel's Seventy Weeks." This view, while it dates in modern times only from the close of the Sixteenth Century, is really the most ancient of the three. It was held in many of its prominent features by the primitive Fathers of the Church, and is one of the early interpretations of scripture truth that sunk into oblivion with the growth of Papacy, and that has been restored to the Church in these last times. In its present form it may be said to have originated at the end of the Sixteenth Century with the Jesuit Ribera, who, actuated by the same motive as the Jesuit Alcazar, sought to rid the Papacy of the stigma of being called the "Antichrist," and so referred the prophecies of the Apocalypse to the distant future. This view was accepted by the Roman Catholic Church and was for a long time confined to it, but, strange to say, it has wonderfully revived since the beginning of the Nineteenth Century, and that among Protestants. It is the most largely accepted of the three views. It has been charged with ignoring the Papal and Mohammedan systems, but this is far from the truth, for it looks upon them as foreshadowed in the scriptures, and sees in them the "Type" of those great "Anti-Types" yet future, the "Beast" and the "False Prophet." The "Futurist" interpretation of scripture is the one employed in this book.
The Second and Premillennial Coming of Christ is the "Key" to the Scriptures. All of the prophetical writings make it their terminal end. This is a dark world and the "Sure Word of Prophecy" is given as a light to show us the way over the stormy sea of time. 2Pet. 1:19. Prophecy is not a haphazard guess, like our weather probabilities, it is history written in advance (Source 1).
References:
Source 1: Larkin, http://www.blueletterbible.org/study/larkin/dt/02.cfm
Pre-Millennialism vs. Post-Millennialism. “In short, ‘Post-Millennialism,’ as advocated in our day, is barely 200 years old, while ‘Pre-Millennialism’ dates back to the days of Isaiah and Daniel” (Source 1).
A. Premillennialists are divided into three different "Schools of Interpretation," which are fundamentally antagonistic, known as the "Preterits," "Historical" and "Futurist" Schools.
B. The "Preterist School" originated with the Jesuit Alcazar. His view was first put forth as a complete scheme in his work on the Apocalypse, published in A.D. 1614. It limits the scope of the Apocalypse to the events of the Apostle John's life, and affirms that the whole prophecy was fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus, and the subsequent fall of the persecuting Roman Empire, thus making the Emperor Nero the "Antichrist." The purpose of the scheme was transparent, it was to relieve the Papal Church from the stigma of being called the "Harlot Church" and the Pope from being called the "Antichrist." It is a view that is now but little advocated.
C. The "Historical School," sometimes spoken of as the "Presentist" scheme, interprets the Apocalypse as a series of prophecies predicting the events that were to happen in the world and in the Church from John's day to the end of time. The advocates of this School interpret the symbols of the Book of Revelation as referring to certain historical events that have and are happening in the world. They claim that "Antichrist" is a "System" rather than a "Person," and is represented by the Harlot Church of Rome. They interpret the "Time Element" in the Book on the "Year Day Scale." This School has had some very able and ingenious advocates. This view, like the preceding was unknown to the early church. It appeared about the middle of the Twelfth Century, and was systematized in the beginning of the Thirteenth Century by the Abbot Joachim. Subsequently it was adopted and applied to the Pope by the forerunners and leaders of the Reformation, and may be said to have reached its zenith in Mr. Ellicott's "Horae Apocalypticae." It is frequently called the Protestant interpretation because it regards Popery as exhausting all that has been predicted of the Antichristian power. It was a powerful and formidable weapon in the hands of the leaders of the Reformation, and the conviction of its truthfulness nerved them to "love not their lives unto the death." It was the secret of the martyr heroism of the Sixteenth Century.
D. The "Futurist School" interprets the language of the Apocalypse "literally," except such symbols as are named as such, and holds that the whole of the Book, from the end of the third chapter, is yet "future" and unfulfilled, and that the greater part of the Book, from the beginning of chapter six to the end of chapter nineteen, describes what shall come to pass during the last week of "Daniel's Seventy Weeks." This view, while it dates in modern times only from the close of the Sixteenth Century, is really the most ancient of the three. It was held in many of its prominent features by the primitive Fathers of the Church, and is one of the early interpretations of scripture truth that sunk into oblivion with the growth of Papacy, and that has been restored to the Church in these last times. In its present form it may be said to have originated at the end of the Sixteenth Century with the Jesuit Ribera, who, actuated by the same motive as the Jesuit Alcazar, sought to rid the Papacy of the stigma of being called the "Antichrist," and so referred the prophecies of the Apocalypse to the distant future. This view was accepted by the Roman Catholic Church and was for a long time confined to it, but, strange to say, it has wonderfully revived since the beginning of the Nineteenth Century, and that among Protestants. It is the most largely accepted of the three views. It has been charged with ignoring the Papal and Mohammedan systems, but this is far from the truth, for it looks upon them as foreshadowed in the scriptures, and sees in them the "Type" of those great "Anti-Types" yet future, the "Beast" and the "False Prophet." The "Futurist" interpretation of scripture is the one employed in this book.
The Second and Premillennial Coming of Christ is the "Key" to the Scriptures. All of the prophetical writings make it their terminal end. This is a dark world and the "Sure Word of Prophecy" is given as a light to show us the way over the stormy sea of time. 2Pet. 1:19. Prophecy is not a haphazard guess, like our weather probabilities, it is history written in advance (Source 1).
References:
Source 1: Larkin, http://www.blueletterbible.org/study/larkin/dt/02.cfm
Seven Feasts: Colossians 2:16-17 says that festivals, “a new moon” and Sabbaths are a picture of things to come. There are Seven Feasts in the Hebrew calendar: 1. Passover, 2. Unleavened Bread, 3. First Fruits, 4. Pentecost, 5. Feast of Trumpets, 6. Feast of Atonement, 7. Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23; Numbers 28, 29; Deuteronomy 16).
A. Jesus has fulfilled the first FOUR: Passover (Jesus’ death, 1 Cor. 5:7-8); Unleavened Bread (Jesus’ burial); First Fruits (Jesus’ resurrection, 1 Cor. 15:20-23); Feast of Weeks, i.e. Pentecost (birth of the Church, Joel 2:28-29, Acts 2:1-4, 16-18).
B. The last THREE: 1. Feast of Trumpets (the Rapture of the Church), Feast of Atonement (Jesus’ Second Coming) and the Feast of Tabernacles (the Millennial Kingdom). It is important that each of these events are focused on Jesus and are a one time event. As with all things involving Revelation there are many theories about these feasts but it is my opinion that these are the correct representations:
i. Feast of Trumpets: “Feast of Trumpets, on the 1st day of the 7th month, ushered in the Civil Year” (Source 1) this is found in Numbers 29:1-6). In Revelation this represents the Rapture (Revelation 4-5; 1 Thess. 4:16-18; 1 Corinthians 15:50-52. WaitingForJesus.com says The Jewish wedding doesn’t start until the father of the groom says the bridal chamber is ready (as Jesus said only the Father knew the day and time (Mt. 24:36), then the groom goes and gets the bridesmaids (10 virgins from Mt. 25:13) to go quickly get his bride (like “a thief in the night” from 1 Thess. 5:2, 2 Pet. 3:10, Rev. 16:15) and usher him (Jesus) and his bride (the Church) into the bridal chamber (heaven) (Source 2). Interestingly the “Feast of Trumpets” is the only festival that falls on “a new moon” (as mentioned in Numbers 29:6 & Colossians 2:16-17). For more on the actual Feast of Trumpets see this site: http://www.khouse.org/articles/1995/105 .
ii. Feast of Atonement: “Day of Atonement, on the 10th day of the 7th month” (Leviticus 16) (Source 1) also see Numbers 29:7-11. The start of the Feast of Atonement is Jesus’ Second Coming. “the Day of Atonement being fulfilled for Israel at the return of Christ (Rev. 1:7; Zech. 12:10; 13:1)” (Source 3).
iii. Feast of Tabernacles: “Tabernacles, also called Feast of Ingathering, was kept on 15th day of 7th month, 5 days after Day of Atonement, lasting 7 days” (Source 1). “Revelation chapters four through nineteen [cover] the period between the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement. With the return of Christ the millennial kingdom (Revelation 20) will begin fulfilling the Feast of Tabernacles” (Source 3). For more on the actual Feat of Tabernacles see this page: http://bible-truth.org/Feasts-Tabernacles.html .
References:
Source 1: Halley’s Bible Handbook, p. 152
Source 2: http://waitingforjesus.com/jewishfeastsprophecy.html
Source 3: http://www.prophecyforum.com/seven_feast_days_and_revelation_compared.html
A. Jesus has fulfilled the first FOUR: Passover (Jesus’ death, 1 Cor. 5:7-8); Unleavened Bread (Jesus’ burial); First Fruits (Jesus’ resurrection, 1 Cor. 15:20-23); Feast of Weeks, i.e. Pentecost (birth of the Church, Joel 2:28-29, Acts 2:1-4, 16-18).
B. The last THREE: 1. Feast of Trumpets (the Rapture of the Church), Feast of Atonement (Jesus’ Second Coming) and the Feast of Tabernacles (the Millennial Kingdom). It is important that each of these events are focused on Jesus and are a one time event. As with all things involving Revelation there are many theories about these feasts but it is my opinion that these are the correct representations:
i. Feast of Trumpets: “Feast of Trumpets, on the 1st day of the 7th month, ushered in the Civil Year” (Source 1) this is found in Numbers 29:1-6). In Revelation this represents the Rapture (Revelation 4-5; 1 Thess. 4:16-18; 1 Corinthians 15:50-52. WaitingForJesus.com says The Jewish wedding doesn’t start until the father of the groom says the bridal chamber is ready (as Jesus said only the Father knew the day and time (Mt. 24:36), then the groom goes and gets the bridesmaids (10 virgins from Mt. 25:13) to go quickly get his bride (like “a thief in the night” from 1 Thess. 5:2, 2 Pet. 3:10, Rev. 16:15) and usher him (Jesus) and his bride (the Church) into the bridal chamber (heaven) (Source 2). Interestingly the “Feast of Trumpets” is the only festival that falls on “a new moon” (as mentioned in Numbers 29:6 & Colossians 2:16-17). For more on the actual Feast of Trumpets see this site: http://www.khouse.org/articles/1995/105 .
ii. Feast of Atonement: “Day of Atonement, on the 10th day of the 7th month” (Leviticus 16) (Source 1) also see Numbers 29:7-11. The start of the Feast of Atonement is Jesus’ Second Coming. “the Day of Atonement being fulfilled for Israel at the return of Christ (Rev. 1:7; Zech. 12:10; 13:1)” (Source 3).
iii. Feast of Tabernacles: “Tabernacles, also called Feast of Ingathering, was kept on 15th day of 7th month, 5 days after Day of Atonement, lasting 7 days” (Source 1). “Revelation chapters four through nineteen [cover] the period between the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement. With the return of Christ the millennial kingdom (Revelation 20) will begin fulfilling the Feast of Tabernacles” (Source 3). For more on the actual Feat of Tabernacles see this page: http://bible-truth.org/Feasts-Tabernacles.html .
References:
Source 1: Halley’s Bible Handbook, p. 152
Source 2: http://waitingforjesus.com/jewishfeastsprophecy.html
Source 3: http://www.prophecyforum.com/seven_feast_days_and_revelation_compared.html
The “First Resurrection” and the “Second Death”
The “first resurrection” (Rev. 20:5) is comprised of different times raising the dead. The common denominator are: believers. 1. OT believers/ Jerusalem saints who rose when Jesus resurrected (Matt. 27:52-53), 2. The believers who have died since Jesus resurrected, 3. The current Church and 4. Martyrs from the tribulation.
The second resurrection is of all non-believers, for judgment. Rev. 20:12-13 ties the second resurrection to the “second death” (Jesus taught this in John 5:29).
The “first resurrection” (Rev. 20:5) is comprised of different times raising the dead. The common denominator are: believers. 1. OT believers/ Jerusalem saints who rose when Jesus resurrected (Matt. 27:52-53), 2. The believers who have died since Jesus resurrected, 3. The current Church and 4. Martyrs from the tribulation.
The second resurrection is of all non-believers, for judgment. Rev. 20:12-13 ties the second resurrection to the “second death” (Jesus taught this in John 5:29).
Figurative vs. Literal Interpretation.
See Wayne Jackson’s article at https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/694-how-do-i-distinguish-the-literal-from-the-figurative.
See Wayne Jackson’s article at https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/694-how-do-i-distinguish-the-literal-from-the-figurative.
ANOTHER SECTION TBD...
References:
Source 1:
References:
Source 1: