Mastering the Book of Revelation, Part 1

In a few weeks, on President's Day weekend, we'll be hosting churches here. We call it Family Weekend. And we'll have a Bible Bowl. I think we call it Bible Baseball, whatever we call it. Same difference, maybe a little bit different. But anyhow, the book that has been chosen for the Bible Baseball will be the Book of Revelation. So today and next week, and maybe the next week, we're going to master the Book of Revelation. It's easy to do. Now, I know some of you, I pour over the Scripture some weeks, you know, many hours, and I know that's part of my job.

And you have another job, and you don't have the time or whatever to pour over the Scriptures in that way. Plus, part of the job for many years was teaching Bible classes. So in that sense, I have a slight advantage. But on the other hand, I think we can master a great deal here. I love learning. I love learning for learning's sake. Some people don't like learning for learning's sake. They say, well, why do I need social studies? Why do I need to know who discovered America, when they discovered America, or any of that? Why do I need to know these things? Well, to make life more complete, if you would turn to Revelation 1 and verse 1.

Revelation 1 and verse 1. A lot of people, when they look at the Book of Revelation and they say, well, it's the revelation of Jesus Christ. Well, what we're going to see here clearly, first of all, in Revelation 1 and verse 1, the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him. So the revelation is initiated by God. It is God's revelation, God's revelation that He gave to Jesus Christ to show under His servant things which must shortly come to pass.

And He sent and signified it by His angel. Now, the Greek word for angel is angelos, and it's spelled A-G-G-E-L-O-S, and with that double G, it has an in sound, angelos, and of course, the Los Angeles means the city of angels. And so in English, you get this angelos, signified it by His angel under His servant John.

So we'll talk about the chain of revelation in just a moment. We see here the literal meaning of the word revelation. The Greek word is apokalupsis, and in English, we say the apocalypse, which means the unveiling, the disclosing, the laying bear. So the book of Revelation is to be understood.

It is an unveiling of things that will shortly come to pass. The chain of revelation, as we've seen here in Revelation 1 and verse 1, God gave the revelation to Christ. Christ gave it to an angel, angelos, spirit being. Now, angelos can refer to a spirit being or to a human being. Now, that's a very important concept to understand.

Turn to Mark 1. You want to mark revelation, because we'll be basically in the book of Revelation. You look at Mark 1. I show you an example where angelos is used for a human being. So you have to know by the context whether or not angelos is referring to a spirit being, an angel, or to a human being.

In Mark chapter 1, the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as written in the prophets, Behold, I send my angelos, my messenger. In this case, it is a human being. It is John the Baptist. I send my messenger before my face, who shall prepare the way before you.

The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Eternal, make his path straight. John did baptize in the wilderness. So that's John the Baptist. So that's an example where where angelos is used for a human being. Most of the time in the book of Revelation, but not every time, in a key time, which we'll point out a key occurrence, most of the time in the book of Revelation, it's referring to a spirit being.

So the chain of Revelation from God to Christ to the angel and to the man John. And John was to write down these things. John wrote in three dimensions of time, the past, the present, and the future. The following chapters of Revelation are basically directed toward the Church.

In Revelation chapter 1, you look in verse 11.

Revelation chapter 1 and verse 11, saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. What you see right in a book, send it to the seven churches in Asia. Verse 12, and I turn to see the voice that spoke with me, and being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks in the midst of the seven candlesticks, one like unto the Son of man. So Jesus Christ is walking among the seven candlesticks, and as we shall note, these seven candlesticks represent the seven churches in Revelation. So in verses 11, 12, 14, 15, 19, and 22, we have that example of Christ walking among these seven candlesticks. We'll come back to that in just a moment. I'll go back here. In chapters 11 and 12, we turn to Revelation chapter 11.

Chapter 11 in Revelation, first part, the temple is measured, and we'll be coming back to this as well. We're going to do an overview of the book, and I put it on PowerPoint. I could just rattle it off, but I wanted you to see it and put it on PowerPoint. In Revelation 11, the temple is measured, and then the two witnesses, and much of that applies to the church. Two witnesses, their testimony. Then Revelation chapter 12, to a large degree, applies to the church.

Talking about the birth of Christ, Satan tried to kill him. Satan is deceiving the whole world.

Satan is slandering the brethren. Satan is cast down, then the key to overcoming him. Then chapters 14 and 15, to a large degree, have to do with the church.

Then Revelation 19 and 22 through 22 largely deals with the church. Revelation 19, the marriage supper of the Lamb, pictures Jesus Christ coming with the saints, the war that is fought, Satan and the false prophet, the beast and false prophet are cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20, saints are awarded. Revelation 21, New Jerusalem. Revelation 22, picture the throne of God. So those chapters, 1 through 3, chapter 7 as well, which I skipped, have to do with the ceiling of the 144,000 and the innumerable multitude that come out of the Great Tribulation. So those chapters have a lot to do with the church.

Then these chapters have to do with events in heaven.

Chapters 4 and 5 deal with events in heaven. Chapter 4 has a description of the throne of God.

Chapter 5, who is worthy to open the book with the seven seals, the Lamb is worthy.

So then we'll go through now and we'll overview.

Chapter 5, opening of the first six seals, the Four Horsemen. We hear about the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. That has been depicted in many different ways in booklets and so on. The White Horse, the False Messiah. He goes out to conquer and conquer in. He goes out feigning to be one who would bring peace, but in the end, he corrupts people. If you look at Daniel 8, we see a description of this fierce one who will stand up against Christ at the end of the age, the False Messiah. We'll start here in verse 20. Daniel is given a vision of a he-goat and a ram pushing against one another.

This vision is then explained. Daniel 8, 20. The ram which you saw having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. So the Medo-Persian Empire. And the rough goat is the king of Grisha, Alexander the Great. And the great horn that is between the eyes is the first king. Alexander the Great conquered much of the world from Macedonia all the way to Afghanistan and even into India. Kandahar in Afghanistan is named after Alexander the Great. Alexander the Great did not have a son to succeed him. I think he did father some sons, but there was no dynasty. And verse 22, now that being broken, that is the first king, he suffered an untimely death somewhere around the age of early 30s, wherefore stood up four in its place. Four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his own power.

And those after Alexander the Great died, his kingdom was divided into four divisions, divided among his four generals. And the two principal areas in prophecy, the general Ptolemy, got Palestine and Egypt, and he became known as the king of the south. And then Seleucid got Syria and points east, modern day Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, all the way to India. He's known as the king of the north. But we see here, with regard to this, verse 23, and in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the fully, king of fierce countenance and understanding dark sentences shall stand up, and his power shall be mighty, but not of his own power. We know from Revelation 13 that the beast's power is energized by Satan the devil, and he shall destroy wonderfully, and is not wonderfully in the sense. It would be amazing what he does. And this word, destroy, is not what we think of today as destroyed. It has to do with corrupt. Well, corrupt in an amazing way, and shall prosper in practice, and shall corrupt the mighty and the holy people.

So, the speaking about the people of that time would be the Jews, and many of the Jews have returned to Israel. That's why you have a modern state of Israel. And through his policy also, he shall cause craft to prosper, deceit in his hand, he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace. And by peace shall corrupt many, and he shall also stand up. That's how you know that it is the false Messiah and the beast's power. He shall stand up against the prince of princes, but he shall be broken without hand. You go quickly now to Revelation 17. Revelation 17. In Revelation 17, we see a similar kind of scene with regard to the beast's power here.

In Revelation 17 and verse 12, and the ten horns which you saw are ten kings which have received no kingdom yet, but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. So ten kings receive power one hour. No one knows for sure how long that one hour is, but the main point I'm getting to is in the next two verses. These have one mind and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. These shall make war with the Lamb. Just like we read from Daniel chapter 8, who will stand up against the prince of princes. Will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them. For he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and they that are with him are called chosen and faithful. And of course, that's one of the main things we want to do is make sure that we are called chosen and faithful. Now back here to Revelation, the opening of the six seals and the four horsemen. Of course, chapter 5 is the one that is the chapter I must have gotten this out of order. Yeah, I wanted that chapter first. The fifth seal, we'll go back here, it's chapter 6 that deals with the opening of the six seals, not chapter 5. The red horse make war, and then the black horse famine and the pale horse death, the four horsemen of the apocalypse.

Then the fifth seal is that of martyrdom. When he'd opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar. This is chapter 6, verse 9. The altar of the souls of them that were slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. They cried with a loud voice saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, do you not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

And white robes and white robes symbolic of righteousness were given unto every one of them, and it was said unto them that they should rash yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. So this is envisioned seeing these souls under the altar. Of course, they are awaiting the resurrection of the just. Then the sixth seal in Revelation chapter 6, verses 12 and 13, which we call the heavenly signs, the heavenly signs where the sun becomes black and sackcloth of hair and the moon becomes as black. And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth. Now there is symbolism in the book of Revelation, and you need to understand this. Virtually all the stars are larger than the earth. If one of the, quote, major stars were to fall to the earth, it would, no telling what it would do to the earth. So there is some symbolism. We know from Revelation 1 that star also represents angels, and there are fallen angels, there are demons. Satan is the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience. He is the god of this world. When Jesus Christ begins to intervene in the affairs of humankind, this is the day of the Lord, we believe to be the last day, the last day or the last year of the three and a half years of great tribulation. Last year of that, when Satan, when God begins to intervene, when God begins to take control, and he is going to shake the powers of heaven and earth, the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree cast her untimely figs, when she's shaken of a mighty wind. And people begin to be so frightened, they begin to call on the mountains and rocks to fall on them, to hide them from the face of him that sits on the throne, and that's God the Father sitting on the end from the lamp. One of the things that you're going to see if you really pay attention and not according to just what you might think or have heard, that very often there's a couplet, and a couplet means, too, that it is God the Father and the Lamb, God the Father and the Lamb. For the great day of his wrath has come, and who shall be able to stand? This is what we call the day of the Lord. Chapter 7 is the sealing of 144,000, 12,000 from 12 tribes of Israel, our seal for protection from the trumpet plagues. Now, these are physical beings that are being sealed. And turn to Revelation 9, verse 4. Now, I'll show you that why we say that. Revelation 9, verse 4. It was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree, but only these men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. So, if you have the seal of God in your forehead, you are protected from that fifth trumpet plague or the first woe.

Heard the number of them that were sealed, verse 4, 144,000 of all the tribes of Israel. Now, in addition to that, in chapter 7, you have the tribulation saints. They're called those who come out of great tribulation, who have washed their robes and made them white. And the question is, who are these? These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Now, there is a lot more to be said about the great multitude there that comes out of the great tribulation. And people talk about, well, who are they? And so on. And they stand before the throne of God. Chapter 8, the seventh seal, the trumpet plagues. So, the seventh seal is divided into the seven trumpet plagues. The first four trumpet plagues were poured out on the earth. So, let's look at Revelation 8. One of the interesting things about Revelation 8, the first four verses there have to do with the role that you play, or some people play, before the trumpet plagues were poured out. Revelation 8.1, and when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. I saw the seven angels, which stood before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. So, the seventh seal divided into seven trumpets. And another angel came out and stood at the altar, having a golden censer. They were given unto him much incense, an incense symbolic of prayers, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar, which was before the throne. The prayers that the people of God are sending up, and the church is going to be in mourning. M-O-U-R-N-I-N-G, as in Isaiah 61. The church will be in mourning during this time, and the prayers of the saints play a role. Then these four trumpet plagues are poured out upon the earth.

Then in chapter 9, the fifth and sixth trumpet plagues, also called woes, the first and second woe. Here's the first woe. The fifth angel sounded. I saw a star fall from heaven under the earth, and to him was given. See, this is where star is called an angel. And to him, that is the star, it's a spirit being, was given the key of the bottomless pit. And he, the star, opened the bottomless pit. There rose the smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace and the sun and the air were darkened by reason, and the smoke of the pit. Now, what happens during this trumpet plague is that whatever this is, and some have said, basically we have taught historically in the church, that this is warfare of a European power going against an Eastern power. What the Bible says here is that what comes out of this bottomless pit, they have a sting, and they sting and torment men for five months. Men will seek death, but cannot find it. Somehow they're kept alive during this time of that trumpet plague. And then the sixth trumpet plague, of course, we're just hitting the highlights to try to get an overall feel of the book. The sixth angel sounded, heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar, which is before God, saying to the sixth angel, which had the trumpet loose, the four angels which were bound in the great river Euphrates, and the four angels, or loose, which were prepared for an hour today and a month and a year, for to slay, to kill, the third part of men. So with the seals and four horsemen, and you can read there how many people are killed, then you have the four trumpet plagues, which are basically against the environment, and a lot of people die. Then you have the first and second woes, which are the fifth and sixth trumpet plagues, which are the first and second woes. Then chapter 10 is an inset kind of chapter which very few people understand and really have difficulty explaining exactly what it means, and I don't pretend that I can explain exactly what it means. John is instructed to write the utterances of the seven thunders, but let's look at that. I think I miscopied that. Let's look at Revelation chapter 10.

In Revelation 10 and verse 4, in verse 3, you see that the seven thunders uttered their voices, and when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write.

And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not. Now, he was going to write it. Now, you look back in verse 2. This is Revelation 10.2. And he had in his hand a little book open, and he set his right foot upon the sea and his left foot upon the earth, which probably means that the whole world is included in this.

Verse 5, In the days of the voice of the seven angel, when he begins to sound, the mystery of God should be finished as he is declared to his servants of prophets.

And that mystery of God that is finished is that of the resurrection of how a human being can become a spirit being in the kingdom of God. And the voice which I heard from heaven spoke unto me again and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel, which stands upon the sea and upon the earth. And I went unto the angel and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it and eat it, and it shall make your belly bitter, and it shall be in your mouth sweet as honey. 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. And he said unto me, You must prophesy again before many peoples and nations and tongues and kings. And this sounds like the work of the two witnesses, which they are there in Jerusalem, and they are basically proclaiming the words of this book and much more, and unveiling and revealing to the peoples of the world that this is what you see happening here is the false Messiah. It is false. It is wrong. And here is the truth.

But I don't know dogmatically that's what that's talking about, whether that's what it's talking about or not. The seven thunders, the little book, is somewhat of a mystery.

Now, in chapter 11, the temple is measured, and the two witnesses prophesy.

The temple that is measured can have a dual meaning there. On the one hand, we are the temple of God today, and the Spirit of God dwells in us. So let's read Revelation 11.1. There was given me a read like under a rod, and the angel stood, saying, Rise and measure the temple of God, and the alder and them that worship therein. And of course, judgment is now upon the house of God. We are being judged. 1 Peter chapter 4, verses 17-19-20. Judgment is now upon the house of God.

But this also applies to the physical as well. But the court, which is without the temple, leave out, measure it not. For it is given unto the nations, and the holy city shall they tread down for three and a half years. And during that time, the two witnesses for three and a half years will give their testimony. And you see in verse 4, the two olive trees that are talked of in Zechariah chapter 4 are identified. The two olive trees and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. So the two olive trees are the two witnesses.

Two witnesses give their testimony. They are killed by the beast's power.

Their dead bodies lie in the streets for three and a half days. People of the world send gifts to one another. Obviously, this would be covered by CNN or whatever network at that time. Fox and whatever else. And then, after three and a half days, they're taken up, translated somewhere else. The voice says, come up here, and they were gone. Chapter 12, the woman gives birth to the man-child.

Satan tries to kill it. Satan draws a third of the angels. Satan persecutes the woman. Satan deceives one-third of the angels, deceiving the whole world. Revelation 12.9 is persecuting the saints. He's before the throne of God day and night. This is Revelation 12.10, slandering the people of God. Then he knows he has but a short time, and he tries to kill the saints. And some are taken to a place of safety, and the earth swallows up some of Satan's army.

Chapter 13, the beast system, empowered by Satan the devil, blasphemes God, cannot buy or sell without the mark of the beast. You either worship the beast or face being killed. Of course, some will be protected. 14 to 144,000 three angels, message, and judgment. Chapter 15, the seventh trumpet divided into the seven last plagues. The pictures of the saints on the sea of glass, they sing the victory song of Moses. Back in Exodus chapter 15 verses 1, 2, and 3, you'll read about when Israel came up out of the Red Sea and the host of Pharaoh were drowned in the sea, symbolic of Satan and the demons, that Moses and the people of Israel sang the victory song of Moses. And one of the things that they talked about was building a habitation for God.

So here's the vision of that, that is, this song of Moses is not forgotten. Verse 2, I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire, and then that had gotten the victory over the beast and over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the hearts of God. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb. Notice this couplet, the servant of God and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, you King of Saints. Revelation 15 also contains, I looked and behold the temple of the tabernacle, the testimony in heaven was open.

So there is an ark of the covenant as it were in that temple. Remember that the tabernacle that was built in the wilderness and later the temple was built after the heavenly pattern. Seven angels came out of the temple having the seven plagues clothed in pure and white linen, having their breastplates girded with golden kirtles. And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who lived forever and ever. You know, there are four beasts around the throne of God.

Then the seven vials of wrath are poured out, so the seventh trumpet is divided into the seven vials of wrath. Now one of the things interesting in this chapter 16, I don't have it in on this in a slide, but verses 11 and 12 talk about Satan, the beast, and the false prophet are still in league even at this time. Look at Revelation 16.12. Revelation 16.12.

And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates.

It's in modern day Iraq.

The water thereof was dried up, and the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.

And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, Satan the devil, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. So this, when holy triad, they are still in league even at this time during the pouring out of the sixth vial of wrath. Chapter 17, Mystery Babylon, the Beast System.

There came one of the seven angels, which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come here, I will show unto you the judgment of the great whore that sits upon many waters. Now, this sort of goes back in time.

The book of Revelation is not in straight chronological order, with whom the kings of the earth had committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth had been made drunk with the whining of her fornication.

The angel said unto me, Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has its seven heads and ten horns.

For God has put in their hearts, that is, the beast power with the ten kings, to fulfill his will and to agree and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.

So that's the civil power, the military power. And the woman which you saw is that great city which rules or reigns over the kings of the earth.

In chapter 18, the judgment of Babylon, verse 4 in particular, to us, I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

Then chapter 19, the marriage supper of the Lamb, the return of Christ with the saints. Chapter 20, the millennial reign, Satan's final rebellion and the white throne judgment.

Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast in the lake of fire.

The New Jerusalem, the bride of Christ.

Now, the New Jerusalem, there is a symbolic aspect, and this usually passes over people's heads.

There's a symbolic aspect. The Church of God is the New Jerusalem in symbolism, just as Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, is symbolic of the Church.

The New Jerusalem, look at this, I saw a new heaven and a new earth.

First heaven, the first earth were passed away. There was no more seed. And I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men. He will dwell with them. They shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. There shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away. Those in the New Jerusalem. Now, verse 9, there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and taught me, saying, Come here, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife. Now, this is a description of the city itself. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great in Highmountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.

Now, the last two verses, they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.

There shall be in no wise enter into it anything that defiles me to whatsoever works of abomination, or makes a lie, but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. So, the New Jerusalem is the church. It's only those in the resurrection. Of course, the church is added to during the millennium. One of the great goals, of course, of the church, and purpose of the church even now, is to bring people into relationship with God and Christ. That'll continue into the millennium. Chapter 22, The Throne of God and the Lamb, showed me a pure river of water of life, clears crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

One of the big themes in the book of Revelation is the throne of God.

So, chapter 4 describes the throne of God. A good bit about the throne. In the midst of the street of Ed and on either side of the river, there was a tree of life, which bare twelve manor of fruits, yielded her fruit every month, and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. There shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb, couplet, shall be in it, and in its servant shall serve him.

They shall see his face, and his name shall be in their foreheads. See, the mark of the beast is in the forehead or on the hand, trying to mimic what God does in the spiritual sense. They shall see his face, the word phaise-prosopone. Literally, they shall see his face, and his name shall be in their foreheads.

Here's how the book closes.

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come, and let him that hears say, Come. Let him that is a thirst come. Whosoever will let him take the water of life freely.

For I testify unto every man that hears the words of the prophecy of this book.

If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life and out of the holy city and from the things which are written in this book. He which testifies these things says, Surely I come quickly, Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. So now we have mastered the book of Revelation in 43 minutes or so. But we have more we probably want to learn. Okay, now we want to mention here now, not just mention, we want to master. One of the great things about the book of Revelation has to do with blessings and rewards. We're going to talk about now blessings and rewards, blessings. The seven blessings of Revelation. These blessings are basically predicated on doing. So seven blessings for doing. In Revelation 1.3, I would encourage us all to turn to these, maybe mark the underlying, whatever blessing or blessing, Revelation 1.3, Blessed is he that reads, step number one, reads, and they that hear, step two, this is not hearing just in the sense of, well, I heard it, but it's to really hear it, internalize it, to hear the words of this prophecy, and three, keep those things which are written therein, for the time is at hand. So that blessing is predicated on reading, hearing, internalizing, and doing. Now in Revelation 14 verse 13, Revelation 14.13, And I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and upon the cloud, one like unto the Son of man, having the, well, I'm a bit the wrong verse, and heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Right, blessed are the dead, which dine the Lord from henceforth, yet, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works do follow them. So that's those who dine the faith after the, during the time of the Tribulation is what I take there. In Revelation 16.15, Behold, as I come, I come as a thief. I come as a thief. I think most people don't believe that. I think they think they're going to figure it out, and somehow you'll know by certain things, you'll know, oh, that's what a lot of people in the world, they play this game of, if things get bad enough, then I'm really going to get with it. And some of the people who have left the Church, and some of the young people and young adults and those who've never been baptized, everybody's under 50 as a young adult, and they're just treading water, whatever they're doing.

Well, if it gets bad enough, I'm going to, you know, I may be going to, I may be talking, whatever I do. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watches and keeps his garments. That garments is, of course, symbolic of the white linen, the righteousness of the saints, lest he walk naked and they see a shame. So you have to keep your garments spotless, and the white garments are symbolic of the righteousness of the saints.

Then in Revelation 19 9, Revelation 19 9, he said unto me, right, blessed are they, which are called under the marriage supper of the Lamb. Can you imagine what that would be like, just knowing that you would be a part of that ceremony, enough motivation to keep you going?

Then in Revelation 20 in verse 6, blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection. I should say so. If you be in the first resurrection, what a blessing that is.

Then Revelation 22 in verse 7, behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he that keeps the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

And then the next verse, and I, John, saw these things and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel, which showed me these things. And verse 14, blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the city. You know, the rich young ruler came to Jesus Christ and asked, good master, what good thing must I do to enter into life?

This is in Matthew 19 verses 14, 15, 16, long and there. And Christ said, if you would enter into life, keep the commandments.

Blessed are they which do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and they may enter in through the gates into the city. So those are the seven blessings basically for doing. Then the three blessings on God and the Lamb.

Revelation 5, 12, saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.

5, 13, every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth, and such as are in the sea and all that are in them, heard I, saying blessing and honor and glory and power be unto him that sits upon the throne and, as coupled again, under the Lamb forever and ever.

Revelation 7, 12, and saying, Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power might be unto our God forever and ever. So you have those blessings. Blessings we're doing, blessings toward God and the Lamb. There's emphasis in the book of Revelation on the number seven. Seven is the number of completion. Revelation 1, 12, so let's turn to these and Revelation 1, 12.

Of course, we won't turn to every seven, but the reason I asked you to turn was if you see it, you underline it, that goes a long way. And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me, and being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks.

Then in verse 16, and he had in his right hand seven stars out of his mouth when a shark two-edged sword in his countenance was as the sun shines in his strength. Now the interpretation of the seven candlesticks and the seven stars. Verse 20, the mystery of the seven stars, which you saw in my right hand, the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven candlesticks, which you saw, are the seven churches. So, stars represent angels, as we've already talked about. Seven candlesticks represent seven churches. Now the vision that parallel to a large degree of Revelation chapter 1, verses 10 through the end of the chapter, what is it, verse 20? And Revelation 11, where it talks about the two witnesses, to a large degree is parallel by Zechariah 4. So if you hold your place, I'll show you this, you might want to put it in your margin, Zechariah chapter 4.

In Zechariah chapter 4, Zechariah is given this vision, Zechariah 4.1.

The angel that talked with me came again and waved me as a man that has waken out of his sleep.

And said unto me, What do you see? And I said, I've looked and behold a candlestick, all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps there on. And seven pipes to the seven lamps, which were up on the top thereof, and two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.

So these seven lamps down into this bowl, they have pipes going down, and there's oil in the bowl, oiled and symbolic of the Holy Spirit. So these lamps are lighted by the Spirit of God. Of course, one of the warnings to Ephesus is, You better repent and do the first works, else I will come and remove your candlestick out of its place. It is a dire warning to have the Holy Spirit cut off. Then you look at verse 11, Then answered, I and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick, upon the left side thereof? And I entered and said unto him, What be these two olive branches, which through the two golden pipes emptied the golden oil out of themselves? Of course, we've already read from Revelation 11. I think it's verse 4 or 5 that says these are the two witnesses. And he answered me and said, Don't you know what these are? You ought to know. And I said, No, my Lord. Then said he, These are the two anointed ones that stand by the Lord of the whole earth. So there's a revelation and unveiling of the meaning of Zacharias 4 to Elisha 3 and Revelation 1 and also Revelation 11. A message to the seven churches. The churches were on a mail route in Asia Minor, basically on the western side of Asia Minor. I don't know how many. I would estimate the total mileage if you sort of made the loop would probably be somewhere around 400 or 500 miles.

And three views of the messages to the seven churches, literally to the three I made a typo here, a bad one, literally to the seven churches. The dominant conditions in church eras and people view while Ephesus was from the time of Christ to a certain period in Smyrna and another period, Pergamos, Thyatyr, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea. And there may be some truth to church eras in the sense of the dominant theme of that existed during that period of time.

And then the third view, conditions that exist throughout church history. Now note this. The key to understanding messages to the seven churches the key to understanding the messages to the seven churches is found in these verses.

And after, or just sometimes it's the next to the last verse, sometimes it's the last verse that says he that has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says unto the church is. These seven messages are for us all times and as the old saying goes if the shoe fits wear it. Examine yourselves. See whether or not these messages apply to you. So the last, these seven messages are relevant for us today to those with an ear to hear. And we have ears to hear and we want to internalize all of this. The topics addressed in the messages.

I didn't get none of this out of a... We have too many people looking in commentaries. Well, maybe we don't have enough. But anyhow, the... Here's what's contained in each one of these messages. First of all, the characteristics of Christ are given. Now, not every characteristic, a characteristic of Christ is given before each message. So if you want to know more about Christ and His characteristics, the first of each message has something about Him and His being.

There is a commendation if there's a commendation to be given. In some churches, there is no commendation. Then there is pointing out what is wrong. Then the type of punishment. Then the command to do whatever, repent, do thus and so. When? Then this warning, hear what the Spirit says to the churches. And then the reward. Sometimes reward is given before what the Spirit says. But those elements are in each one of the messages. Now, everyone who makes it into the kingdom gets all of the rewards. And some people talk about, well, if I'm in Philadelphia, I get to be in the kingdom. I mean, I get to be at headquarters in the temple. Well, if you don't get the other rewards, it won't do you much good. You won't be there. Let's see. Here are the rewards. In Ephesus, to him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God. In Smyrna, he that overcomes shall not be heard of the second death.

In other words, you'll be in the first resurrection. Pergamos, to him that overcomes will I give to eat of the hidden manna and will give him a white stone. And in the stone, a new name written which no man knows saving he that receives it. Now, we read from Revelation 22 and verse 4 that we shall look upon his face and his name shall be in our foreheads. But this seems to be something in addition to that. Thyatira, in he that overcomes and keeps my works into the end, to him will I give power over the nations. So we're going to be made kings and priests.

Sardis, he that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment.

And I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my father and before his angels. Philadelphia, him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of my God and he shall go no more out and I will write upon him the name of my God.

So we have the writing of a name that no man knows on the white stone in Smyrna. The name of the city of my God, which is New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, and I will write upon him my new name. And there's a lot contained in that verse that deals with Revelation 21, but I shall not go there.

Aleta sia, to him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame and am sat down with my father in his throne.

And more on rewards. Now that's the rewards for each of these seven churches. And have made us kings and priests unto God, and his father to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. So one of the great things, great themes, is rulership, king and priest, and the kingdom of God. Revelation 5.10, and have made us unto our God kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth. This is Revelation 20 in verse 4. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them, and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded, for the witness of Jesus, for the word of God, which had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands.

And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. More on rewards. He that overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

And we've already read Revelation 22 verses 3 and 4.

I love the verse 4, and they shall see his face, and his name shall be in their foreheads.

There is emphasis on commandment-keeping, as we read the blessings upon those who do.

The dragon was mad with the woman, went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

The testimony of Jesus Christ, of course, is his word, his record, what he brought. 1412, here is the patience of the saints, here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And yet we have people out there talking about commandments being done away. Here is the very end times.

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have a right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. A common theme in the rewards is, he that overcomes, he that overcomes.

In addition to obedience, three main keys for overcoming.

Let's turn to Revelation 12. Revelation 12.

This particular juncture of time, if you're alive at this time, when this is going on, this Satan is cast down, come down having great wrath, and it seems to me that if that period has not occurred, it's surely at hand.

Revelation 12.10, I heard a loud voice saying, In heaven now has come salvation and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ, for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accuses them before our God day and night, and they overcame him. How do they overcome? By the blood of the Lamb. What does that mean in practical terms?

Well, that means that they are judging themselves, they're exercising judgment, mercy, and faith before God and Christ, and before each member of the body of Christ, their neighbor.

And they judge themselves by the word of God, and if they have sinned, they go before God, as it says in 1 John chapter 1 verses 8, 9, and 10. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to cleanse us of our sins.

So they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb. They are continually reconciled to God, Christ, each member of the body of Christ, and by the word of their testimony. They did not deny the name of God. They did not compromise with the word of God. And if they are brought, and here's what the main meaning of this is, and if they are brought before kings and rulers and whomever, it shall turn unto them for a testimony. This is Luke 21. It shall turn unto them for a testimony. And, of course, if your time comes and you're called up there, probably they'll say, you know, if you don't worship the beast, you're going to be killed.

And it might look like every minute you would be killed, but you cannot deny his name. Remember those in the fifth seal when that's opened, the martyrs that are under the altar, crying out, how long, O Lord, how long, O Lord? So it's rest and peace, sleep in the grave until the rest who are to be killed are killed.

And by the word of their testimony, and they love not their lives, which goes along with their testimony, and they love not their lives until the death. And, hopefully, I would sure hate to be called up in that situation. You know, a lot of this, you read about some of the things that went on in what they call that intensive interrogation or something like that of waterboarding and the various things or going back to the Inquisition, where they put in the stocks and they begin to pull your body apart and all of that kind of stuff.

They overcame him, the blood of the Lamb, by the word of their testimony. They love not their lives until the death.

The seven spirits John to the seven churches. This is Revelation 1.4.

Revelation 1.4. John to the seven churches, which are in Asia Minor.

This gets a little bit into the speculative realm of trying to pinpoint about the seven spirits.

John to the seven churches, which are in Asia, grace be unto you, and peace from him, which is, which is to come, and from the seven spirits, which are before his throne.

That's the throne of God. And from Jesus Christ, once again, time after time, you have this couplet.

And from Jesus Christ, who is a faithful witness and the first New King James Correct Translation is born, the firstborn of the dead and the prince of the kings of the earth, unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood.

So seven spirits before the throne of God.

Under the angel of the church in Sardis Rite, this is, as I said, each message to the seven churches begins with a description or characteristic of Christ. These things says he that has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.

So the seven spirits, you know, the seven stars are the angels to the churches, the Angelos, whether it be human or divine.

I know your works. You have a name that you live and are dead.

Revelation 4 and 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. So here we have the seven lamps are equated with the seven spirits.

It says clearly seven lamps of fire, which are the seven spirits.

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, seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth. Now, we have already seen that the seven lamps were equated with the seven spirits, and here we have the seven horns, the seven eyes equated with the seven spirits. Seven lamps, seven horns, seven eyes are equated with the seven spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth.

So my speculation with regard to that, I mean, seven spirits sent into all of the earth, these are the eyes of the Eternal, possibly could be spirit beings that report back to God.

Could it be the Church?

Go, you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even until the end of the world. You are the light of the world that is set on a hill that cannot be hid, a city that cannot be hid.

The light of the body is the eye, if therefore the eye be single, the whole body shall be full of light. So in a sense, whether or not this is the meaning, or whether it's seven spirit beings, but it's equated with seven horns, seven eyes, seven lamps, seven spirits, these are the eyes of the Lord, sent forth through the whole earth.

Church is the light of the world. The light is in the eye.

Now look at 2 Peter 1.19. If I had a white board or a black board, I could demonstrate, if you were to draw a circle representing the earth, and then if you were to put pinpoints within that circle, unlike George Bush's New World Order in Points of Light, we are the points of light wherever we are in the earth, and in a sense, God's ears and eyes. So you look at 2 Peter 1.

Verse 19, we have also a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto you do well, that you take heed as unto a light that shines in a dark place. And that's what we're to do, to shine in a dark place until the day dawn and the day star arise in your hearts.

Now, according to my watch, we are time to quit. So, I would encourage you to read Revelation 2 and 3 with those things in mind that we put up there with regard to characteristics of Christ that starts off, then accommodation, then what's wrong, then it goes to the punishment, the when, what to do, the reward, and he that hath in the ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. And next week, we will then, next Sabbath, we will go into some more of the internal parts and one of the most essential elements.

of what the book of Revelation is all about.