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Chapter-by-Chapter
Explanation of the Book of Revelation:
Chapter 1-5
| Chapter 6-10 | Chapter 11-15
| Chapter 16-22
Chapter 6: The Lamb Begins Opening The Seals
Revelation Chapter 6 shows the opening scene of
God's plan by opening the first to the sixth seal. The
four horsemen appear when the Lamb opens the first through
the fourth seals.
The white horse that appears in the first seal shows the
ever-conquering work of Jesus Christ over the hearts of
men. The next seals show how this continuing victory is
opposed by Satan. The red horse shows the breaking out
of wars and it symbolizes the atheistic power that shall
persecute Christianity. The black horse shall threaten
the existence of mankind. It is the force which shall
seize economic dominion over all the world due to the
chaos resulting from all the wars. The pale horse symbolizes
the false prophet who shall seduce the world with a deceptive
peace policy which will result instead in deception and
death. (Rev. 6:2-8; Zech. 6:5-8) The detailed contents
of this are introduced again in The Chart of the Seven
Seals.
“12. And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal,
and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became
black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
13. And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even
as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken
of a mighty wind. 14. And the heaven departed as a scroll
when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island
were moved out of their places. 15. And the kings of the
earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief
captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every
free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks
of the mountains; 16. And said to the mountains and rocks,
Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth
on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17. For
the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able
to stand?” (12-17)
The judgment of the wrath of the Lamb shall fall upon
the everything in the universe at the opening of the sixth
seal. One reason that the book of Revelation is hard to
understand is the placing of this event at the beginning
of the opening of the sixth seal. It is important to remember
the book’s structure—the seven seals, the
seven trumpets and the seven vials—are presented
in their proper order to help us follow the different
events as they happen. All these events do not take place
on the same time line. We must differentiate between (1)
a chapter which fills in extra details, (2) a chapter
or verse which serves as a parenthesis or perspective
on what is happening, and (3) the great unfolding of events
in the sequence in which they take place.
Chapter six of Revelation is an independent chapter. This
chapter’s contents relate to several other chapters.
For example, the sixth seal of Revelation chapter 6 actually
refers to the wrath of the Lamb as described in chapter
19. When God judges the earth then, He shall withdraw
His love and mercy, and the heavens shall be rolled together
as a scroll. (1 Thes. 5:2-3) Now is the time for the servants
of the Lord and saints of all the earth to prepare themselves
through prayer and fasting before coming of the tribulation
plagues and judgments that are soon to come upon the earth.
(Dan 12:1; Matt. 24:21-22; Rev. 19:11-21; 1:7-8; 22:13)
Chapter 7: The Sealed of God
“2. And I saw another angel ascending from the east,
having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a
loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to
hurt the earth and the sea, 3. Saying, Hurt not the earth,
neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the
servants of our God in their foreheads.” (2-3)
Through this text, we can see that the winds of the earthly
tribulation are already being prepared by God's Sovereignty.
After the six seal events end and before the opening of
the seventh seal, this chapter of sealing appears because
the Great Tribulation is about to start. Before it begins,
there is this period of time during which God’s
servants receive His seal in their foreheads.
The wonderful blessing that shall be received by spiritual
Israel is recorded in chapter 7. The first is the blessing
of those servants of God who are sealed in their foreheads
with the seal of the living God. This work of sealing
shall take place throughout the whole earth. (Gal. 3:28-29;
Rom. 11:25)
The number of those who are sealed--144,000--is recognized
by God in heaven. They are the righteous, the prophets,
apostles and martyrs who are commissioned to prepare for
the time of the Great Tribulation, the plagues, the wrath
of the Lamb, the end-time judgment, and last of all, the
return of the Lord to earth. (Hag. 2:23; Ezek. 9:3-4;
Jn. 3:33; 6:27; Rev. 2:10; 6:9-11; 7:2-3; 9:4; 14:1-7;
17:14; 19:7-8, 14; 20:4; 22:4; Neh. 9:38; Jer.33:2-3)
A second blessing is for the great multitude clothed with
white robes, which no man can number. The significance
of the white robes is the equipping and blessing of God's
temple. Living fountains of waters are prepared for those
who will be saved, who will win the victory through the
Great Tribulation through prayer and fasting. (Rev. 7:14-17;
21:1-7)
The profound message of the Seal of God is explained in
detail in “The Three Stages of The Seal” in
the IEGM's “Everlasting Gospel World Mission Bulletin,”
(Issue number 9-1.)
Chapter 8: The Silence in Heaven for
Half an Hour
“1. And when he had opened the seventh seal,
there was silence in heaven about the space of half an
hour 2. And I saw the seven angels which stood before
God; and to them were given seven trumpets 3. And another
angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer;
and there was given unto him much incense, that he should
offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden
altar which was before the throne.” (1-3)
The period of silence in heaven for the space of half
an hour before the tribulation is to prepare for the sealing
of the servants of God. (Ezek. 9:3-4; Rev. 7:2-3; 17:14;
14:1-7) It is the time granted by God for the saints to
pray, equip themselves, and prepare for the Great Tribulation.
(Rev. 8:3-4; Lk. 18:7-8; Mt. 24:20-22; Lk. 21:25-28) After
this period is over, the first, second and third woes
shall begin with the seven angels’ trumpet blasts,
announcing the coming of plagues upon the whole earth.
(Dan. 12:1; Matt. 24:21-22; Rev. 9:4)
The trumpet plagues begin after the period of silence.
The sign of hail and fire mingled with blood begins with
the sounding of the first angel’s trumpet. The sign
of a great mountain burning with fire falling upon the
earth appears at the second trumpet, indicating the outbreak
of regional wars which shall break out here and there
throughout the world; nation shall rise against nation
and kingdom shall rise against kingdom. (Rev. 8:6-7; Matt.
24:7-8)
At the sounding of the third trumpet, a great star fell
from heaven blazing like a torch. This star is the false
prophet who, in collaboration with the Antichrist, shall
deceive many people. He shall cause the destruction of
many souls with Wormwood and bitter waters. He shall also
be the cause of the falling away of many saints from the
Lord through his deception. Only the elect will remain
faithful to the Lord. (Rev. 8:10-11; Matt. 24:11)
Chapter 9: The Beginning of the Great
Tribulation
“1. And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw
a star fall from heaven unto the earth; and to him was
given the key of the bottomless pit.” (9:1)
Of the trumpet plagues of the seven angels beginning in
chapter 8, only now does the first woe begin. (Rev. 9:1-11;
11:7; Isa. 14:12-15; 27:1; Lk. 10:18-19; Rev. 17:8; 20:1)
From this point onward, we can say that the full-scale
Three Stage Tribulation begins. As soon as the first woe
passes, the second woe, or the trumpet blast of the sixth
angel, defines the time of the outbreak of World War III,
which will include the exchange of nuclear missiles between
nations. (Rev. 9:12-21; Lk. 21:24; Isa. 34:1-3; Jl. 2:4-11;
Zep. 1:15-18; Rev. 6:3-4; 8:7-13; 11:14; 16:12-16)
A detailed account of “The Three Stages of the Tribulation”
is given in this magazine under the article entitle “Prepare
for the Three Stages of the Tribulation.”
Chapter 10: The Mystery of the Little
Book
“2. And he had in his hand a little book
open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his
left foot on the earth... 7. But in the days of the voice
of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the
mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared
to his servants the prophets… 10. And I took the
little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and
it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had
eaten it, my belly was bitter.” (2-10)
The core of the prophecy of the Second Coming of Jesus
is written in this little book. The mystery of the book
testifies to the truth that will be revealed by (1) Jesus
Christ himself (Revelation chapters 1 to 3); (2) by one
of the elders in heaven (Revelation chapters 5 to 7);
and (3), by an angel on the earth (Revelation chapters
8 to 10).
The seventh angel in this verse is not the angel appearing
after chapter 9 who sounds the trumpet announcing the
plagues. This is the last angel to declare to John the
mystery of God. By this angel, all end-time revelation--the
mystery of the Second Coming of Christ and the enigmatic
climactic relationship of the book of Revelation to the
other sixty-five books of Bible-- shall be revealed.
There are prophetic signs of the times and specific references
to historical developments in the Word of God. Now is
the time to increase our faith, time spent in prayer,
and re-commitment to the commission and preparation of
promulgating the revealed facts concerning the end-time.
That is why God commissions to His servants to give His
people their portion of meat in due season. (Matt. 24:45-47;
Lk. 12:42; Rev. 10:7, 11; 1:4)
“11. And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again
before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.”
(10:11)
The command to prophesy the mystery of the little book
again may be interpreted in the two following ways:
1. The words of this little book were words that shall
be prophesied again at the time of the end.
2. This shall be the end-time commission to prophesy of
the Second Coming of Jesus, that is, the Everlasting Gospel
and the sealing of the servants of God, throughout the
whole world.
God wants to abundantly pour out all the blessing for
the three stages of the Tribulation upon His servants
in the last days. (Rev. 14:6-7; 19:16; Mt. 24:30; Dan.
7:13) Therefore, in the beginning of the book is written:
“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.” (Rev.
1:3) and in the last chapter is the promise that:
12. “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward
is with me, to give every man according as his work shall
be. 13. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end,
the first and the last. 14. Blessed are they that do his
commandments, that they may have right to the tree of
life, and may enter in
Specific Blessings for God’s Servants
There are over seventeen specific spiritual blessings
of God mentioned for the readers of the book of Revelation.
There are also sixteen other blessings mentioned in "Blessings
for those preparing for the Three Stages of the Great
Tribulation.” (Rev. 8:13; 9; 16:17; 18; Dan. 12:1;
Matt. 24:21-22) The increase in one’s faith will
cause one to go from the first stage to the second and
then, in turn, to the third stage. In this way, those
servants who are commissioned for the end-time work shall
equip themselves through a process of spiritual growth.
These servants prepare for the blessings of the:
| 1. |
Preparing
Blessing for the Three Stages of the Tribulation
1st/Rev. 9:1-12 2nd/Rev.
9:13-19
3rd/Rev. 11:14-19; 6:14-17; 16, 17, 18;
Dan. 12:1; Mt. 24:21-22 |
| 2. |
Three Stages
of Blessings in the Gospel
1st/Mt. 4:17 2nd/Acts
1:8 3rd/Rev. 14:6-7 |
| 3. |
Three Stages
of Blessing of the Seal
1st/Rom. 4:7-11 2nd/2Cor.
1:21-22 3rd/Rev.
7:3; 9:4; 14:1 |
| 4. |
Three Stages
of Blessing in the Spiritual Realm
1st/Mt. 10:20 2nd/Jn.
16:13 3rd/Rev. 5:6 |
| 5. |
Three Stages
of Blessing in the Book of Life
1st/Ex. 32:32 2nd/Lk.
10:20 3rd/Rev. 21:27 |
| 6. |
Three Stages
of Blessing of the Garments
1st/Gal. 3:27 2nd/Rev.
3:4-5 3rd/Rev. 19:7-8 |
| 7. |
Three Stages
of Blessing of the Water of Life
1st/Jn. 4:14 2nd/Jn.
7:38 3rd/Rev. 22:1 |
| 8. |
Three Stages
of Blessing of the Breath of Life
1st/Gen.2:7
2nd/Jn. 20:21-22
3rd/Eze. 37:1-10;
Rev.11:11 |
| 9. |
Three Stages
of Blessing for Spiritual Armor
1st/Mt. 10:1-8 2nd/Acts
1:8; 2:1-4
3rd/Rev.2:26-27 |
| 10. |
Three Stages
of Blessing for Manna
1st/Ex. 16
2nd/Jn. 6:32-63 3rd/Rev.
2:17; 22:1-2 |
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| 11. |
Three Stages
of Blessing in the Harvest
1st/Mt. 9:37-38 2nd/Acts
1:8; 20:24
3rd/Rev. 14:6-7;
14:14-16; Dan.12:3 |
| 12. |
Three Stages
of Blessing in Healing
1st/Mt. 11:5 2nd/Mark
16:17-20; Acts 9:17
3rd/Rev. 21:4 |
| 13. |
Three Stages
of Blessing for Missions
1st/Mt. 4:17
2nd/Acts 1:8
3rd/ Rev. 14:6-7;
11:15; 22:20 |
| 14. |
Three Stages
of Blessing in Salvation
1st/Lk. 23:43 2nd/Mt.
25:1-10 3rd/Rev.
20:5-6; 21:1-7 |
| 15. |
Three Stages
of Blessing the Resurrection
1st/John 11:25-26
2nd/Rev. 1:7; 1Cor.
15:51-53
3rd/Rev. 20:5-6 |
| 16. |
Three Stages
of Blessing in the Second Coming
1st/Rev. 19:16
2nd/Rev. 20:5-6 3rd/Rev.
21:1-7; 22:1-7 |
| 17. |
Three Stages
of Judgement
1st/Gen. 6:7:
2nd/Rev. 1:7; 6:15-17; 19:11-21; Mt.
25:31-32; 7:21-27; 1Cor. 15:23-26; 2Peter
3:1-13; 3rd/Rev.
20:11-15; 21:8; 22:15 |
| 18. |
Three Stages
of Blessing in Genesis
1st/Gen. 1: 2:1-7
2nd/Rev. 20:1-5;
11: 15; Isa.35; 3rd/Rev.
21:1-7; 22:1-7 |
| 19. |
Three
Stages of Blessing through Words, Prayer and
Laying on of Hands
Words/Jn. 8:32; Rev. 1:3
Prayer/Jas. 5:16; Rev. 5:8
Laying on of Hands/Acts
9:17; 19:6; Eze. 9:3-4; Rev. 7:2-3; 14:1 |
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Chapter 11: Measuring the Temple Of God / The Two Witnesses
“1. And there was given me a reed like unto
a rod: and the angel stood, saying, rise and measure the
temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
2. But the court which is without the temple leave out,
and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles:
and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and
two months.” (1-2)
This passage reveals that the household of God and the
faith of the saints shall be precisely determined using
a reed as a measuring stick. This reed represents a specific
word from God, that is, the mystery contained in the little
book in the hand of the angel. By it, the temple of God
and the works of the saints shall be measured. Today,
in Judaism (Rev. 3:9; Rom. 11:25; 1 Jn. 4:3; 2 Thes. 2:4-8),
in Catholicism (Rev.17:1-6), and in Christianity (Eze.
9:5-7; 1 Pet. 4:17-18), many people are being deceived.
The truly spiritual and mortal elements are crumbling
and corrupt elements are replacing them due to compromise
with demonic spirits and false doctrines. They are deceiving
the saints with accepting the theory of evolution, the
influence of pagan religions and philosophies, false prophecies
and fortune telling. These “false prophets”
generally say that there shall not be any tribulation,
judgment or accountability for evil deeds, and so despise
the idea of the Second Coming of the Lord. For them, the
true saints and true Bible teaching are objects of hatred
and scorn. These scorners and those who give them credibility
in the Church shall come under the judgment of God. (2
Pet. 3:3-4)
Those who are allowed to tread under the court of the
temple of God correspond to the power which the beast
shall receive for forty-two months in the chapter 13.
The objects of attack by the beast are not the gentile
peoples outside the temple, but those who would enter
the temple of the New Jerusalem.
“3. And I will give power unto my two witnesses,
and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore
days, clothed in sackcloth. 4. These are the two olive
trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God
of the earth.” (3-4)
The servants of God who receive the message of the two
witnesses shall testify to the truth of the mystery of
the little book during the seven-year period of the Great
Tribulation. (Zech. 4:6; 4:10) They shall oppose and eventually
defeat the power of Satan, thus preparing the way for
the Second Coming of the Lord. (Exo. 7:17; Jam. 5:17-18)
They shall have the power of blessing and cursing under
the God’s sovereignty direction. They shall continue
to “measure the temple of God”, prophesy,
and will be commissioned to seal those servants of God
who are the righteous, the prophets, apostles and martyrs
in the last days. Their job is to place the Seal of God
in the foreheads of those receiving their message of the
Everlasting Gospel. (Rev. 11:5-6; 14:6-7; 7:2-3; 2:26-27;
21:17; Lk. 10:18-19; Amos 3:7) When the two witnesses
finish their commission, they shall be killed as martyrs
at the beginning of the second three and a half year period
of the Great Tribulation. (Zech. 4:11-14; Ps. 52:8; Rom.
11:17; Gal. 3:28-29; Lk. 1:17; Mt. 17:12-13; Mk. 9:13;
Isiah 34:16; Rev. 11:7-8; 11:11, 13, 18-19)
The power and commission of the two witnesses is introduced
in “Prepare for the Three Stages of the Tribulation”
in this publication. |
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