IEGM

Chapter-by-Chapter Explanation of the Book of Revelation:
Chapter 1-5 | Chapter 6-10 | Chapter 11-15 | Chapter 16-22

Chapter 1: Introduction
1. The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: 2. Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he
saw. 3. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” (1-3)

The opening words of this book “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” declare that this book is a direct word of revelation that came from Jesus Christ! The ultimate purpose of this Revelation is to witness to the return of Jesus Christ to the earth. It promises to give wonderful spiritual blessings to those who read, hear, and keep those things which are written therein.

“7. Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen”.

After His resurrection and before His ascension at the Mount of Olive, Jesus declared clearly that He shall come again at the end of the time. (Matt. 24:30; Acts 1:9-11; Zech. 14:4) Not only that, but coupled with this book, we can see that fierce judgments shall accompanying his second coming, and there shall be weeping and sorrow among many nations and tribes. (Rev. 19:11-16)

The Lord's first appearance and his second appearance are entirely different events. Jesus, who came the first time in the form of a babe in a lowly manger, said He shall be sitting on the throne of glory when he comes again. (Matt. 25:31) The Lord, who did not break a bruised reed nor quench a smoking flax, shall come again to break the bruised reed and to quench the smoking flax! Jesus, who came the first time to call sinners to repentance, shall come the second time to call the righteous to himself and to judge the sinners for rejecting him.

He, who entered Jerusalem on a donkey’s colt, shall come again on a white horse as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Instead of seeing Him meekly accepting a crown of thorns and standing speechless before Pilate’s court, we shall see Him with a crown of glory on his head and a two-edged sword flashing forth from his mouth. He shall come back as the Lord of Judgment to vanquish the wicked. (Rev. 6:15-17)

The Lord of love, who shed his blood on mount Calvary and asked forgiveness for the sins of those who pierced him, shall separate the wheat from the chaff, and divide the five wise virgins from the five foolish virgins. He shall separate the sheep from the goats, the true servants from the false servants, and the righteous from the wicked. He shall be come again! (Matt. 25:1-13, 32-34)

“19. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter.” (1:19)

From this verse, we learn that we can divide the contents of Revelation into three parts. These divisions are (1) the events of the past, (2) the present and (3) the future. This is key to understanding the book of Revelation, and it will eliminate much confusion when understood as laid out below:

An Overview
The things thou has seen (Rev. chapter 1)	The things which are (Rev. chapters 2 – 3)	The Things hereafter (Rev. chapters 4 – 22)
The Basis of Revelation	7 Stars and 7 Candlesticks	The 7 seals, 7 trumpet plagues, 7 vial plagues of the Great Tribulation
The scene that had been shown to John when he received the Revelation	The spiritual history of the Church from its beginning in the New Testament to the end-time.	The 1st Woe (8:13, 9:1-11), 2nd Woe (9:12-21), and 3rd Woe (11:14-15, 16; 17; 18) poured out upon the earth.
	The activity of the churches in extending the gospel for the past 2,000 years.
	This work of Jesus shall continue to the end of the history of mankind on earth. It is symbolized by the white horse in chapter 6.

Chapter 2 - 3: The Seven Churches
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” (2:7, 11, 17, 29, 3:6, 13, 22)

The Apostle John sent his letters to the seven local churches of Asia Minor. Those churches and the letters he sent to them served as the prototypes for what would happen to the Church throughout its history until Christ’s return. Just as the churches of John’s day faced many difficulties, churches right up to the time of the coming of the Lord shall face the challenges and attacks of false prophets, idolatry, worldly enticements, and shall be increasingly threatened by spiritual and moral degradation.

Especially since because this message is to the spiritual churches in all the whole world which are preparing for the return of the Lord, this Revelation emphasizes that the servants of God and the saints must heed its words of reproach, advice and promises recorded in it by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. (Matt. 10:20; John 16:13; Rom. 8:26-27; 1 Cor. 2:10; Eph. 6:18; Jer. 33:2-3; Rev. 3:1)

Chapter 4: The Glorious Throne of God
“1. After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. 2. And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.” (1-2)

Here, John was called by Jesus from heaven and went through a door into heaven to behold the vision of the Revelation which he was to put into writing. Before the throne of God, he saw the things which shall happen in the future. Today, the powers of this world would challenge God in order to elevate their own thrones, but John beholds this clear and impressive scene which illustrates that the Lord of Hosts is the only God with a heavenly throne, that He alone is the Sovereign Ruler of the universe and of history.

“3. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. 4. And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. 5. And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 6. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. 7. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. 8. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” (3-8)

This passage describes the glorious appearance of God Who is sitting on the throne. Radiating from him are qualities such as faithfulness, dignity, glory, splendor and covenant-keeping. In this scene twenty-four elders and the four creatures worship the Awesome, Holy and Almighty God. To him they give glory, honor and praise, both night and day. Just as they worship God night and day in heaven, on earth also, his servants worship God and give praise and glory to him night and day.

Concerning the Pre-Tribulation Rapture Doctrine

Many servants of God who are now on earth believe that this chapter four is the rapture chapter or the chapter of the secret coming of the Lord in the sky. But those who believe this have had nothing but disappointment on numerous occasions when they have set dates for it during the last five hundred years. Still this theory persists in the belief of many Christian denominations.

The author of this book has spent much time praying earnestly and meditating deeply about this subject of the rapture, and I have received the Lord's definite answer that “Jesus shall return to the earth when he comes again.” The Bible mentions the second coming of the Lord over 2,000 times—more than 1,700 times in the Old Testament and over 350 times in the New Testament. In nearly every reference, it describes the second coming of Christ as when He returns to the earth. The two references about being caught up in the sky are found in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 and in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52. Neither of these references suggest that they do not accompany him back to the earth after meeting Him at his appearing in the sky. However apostle Paul spoke about Christ’s second coming to the earth more then once about in the sky.

Especially in Revelation chapters 6-19, which presents the historical unfolding of events of the end-time, many of which are about to be fulfilled in this very age, the apostle John wrote on Patmos Island about tribulation, plagues, wrath and judgment. These chapters give strong witness that the coming of the Lord will be on the earth. Also, in the verse which describes “worship God day and night”, we can see that the saints are not caught up into heaven, but that they are worshipping God on the earth where day and night exist!

Traveling around the world conducting crusades, I have come to realize how many disappointed saints there are who are hoping to escape the Great Tribulation through the rapture theory. Due to this false belief, therefore, they are not equipping themselves to go through the Great Tribulation. In the name of the Lord, I pray for the servants of God and those saints who believe what I am explaining, and understand that the Lord is coming back to the earth, and that they be equipped with an understanding of the three stages of the Great Tribulation and prepare and participate in the blessing of the coming of the Lord to the earth. (Dan. 7:13; Matt. 24:30; 26:64; Mk. 13:26; Lk. 21:27, 33-36; Acts 1:9-11; Rev. 1:7, 19:11-16, 22:20; 5:6)

Chapter 5: The Lamb Who Can Open The Seals
“1. And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.”

John wept much when he saw that there was no man to open the sealed book that was in the right hand of God. But, there was a man worthy to open the seals: He was the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, the Lamb that was Jesus Christ, who takes away the sins of the world!

“6. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.” (5:6)

In His capacity as the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ begins to open the seals of the book which is sealed with seven seals. It reveals wonderful mysteries about the end of time. These revelations are directed to the servants of God throughout the world and elaborate on God’s plan which shall surely come to pass. To the servants of God who are preparing the way for the return of the Lord as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, He shall reveal the mysteries of the seven seals of this book through the illumination of the seven Spirits of God (Jer. 33:2-3; Amos 3:7-8; Rev.1:3-4; 3:1; 4:5; 5:6; 22:10; 22:20) sent forth into all the earth.

This profound message of the seven Spirits is discussed in “The Three Stages of the Spiritual Realm” in the IEGM’s “Everlasting Gospel World Mission Bulletin,” (Issue Number 10-1.)