Two-Edged Sword Ministries
We have come to the end of our deep investigation into the book of Revelation. As there is so much detail that we have uncovered in this outline, we attempt to bring all the prophecies together as a complete summary, in the form of a story.
The page is turned, Revelation, the unveiling, what is this all about? John turns around and sees a vision of Jesus and Jesus instructs him to send a message to the seven churches situated in the Roman province of Asia Minor. From the outset it becomes apparant that these are not just seven mesages to the historical churches, but is a projection of the walk an average Christian faces as well as a forecast for predicting what each era in the church age will bring before Christ will return. This is clearly pronounced with the phrase repeated seven times - "He who has an ear, listen to what the Spirit says to the seven churches.
The church age has passed through seven key stages. At present, according to the scriptures, we are in the lukewarm stage, a stage that Jesus despises. He utters the words that He would rather have us hot or cold, but because we are lukewarm, He will spit us out of His mouth with revulsion. Two types of Christians stand out in this final age, those that rely on the word of God and have endured patiently and those that have performed good works but have tolerated pagan teachings and accepted it into the church.
The church of Philadelphia was commended for relying on the word of God and enduring patiently; and as a result of their faithfullness, would be kept from the hour of trial that is coming upon the earth. The Old Testament prophet Daniel, had prophesied about 500 years or so before Christ was born, that there would be a final seven year period, which Jesus later called the Tribulation, before human rule would return to God. The other church, Thyatira, performs many good works, but unfortunately tolerates false teachings. As a result of this, Jesus said that He would cast her and her followers into the "Great Tribulation". Those who are unaware of Satans' plan for this church, must hold fast and just wait for the Lord's physical return.
The prophet Daniel gives us further information about this period called the Tribulation. It all starts off, when a coming ruler, a leader from the revised version of the Old Roman Empire, confirms a treaty between Israel and many nations for a period of seven years. Later this leader is identified as the Antichrist, the one who opposes Christ and as a result brings havoc on the earth.
The church age has passed through seven key stages. At present, according to the scriptures, we are in the lukewarm stage, a stage that Jesus despises. He utters the words that He would rather have us hot or cold, but because we are lukewarm, He will spit us out of His mouth with revulsion. Two types of Christians stand out in this final age, those that rely on the word of God and have endured patiently and those that have performed good works but have tolerated pagan teachings and accepted it into the church.
The church of Philadelphia was commended for relying on the word of God and enduring patiently; and as a result of their faithfullness, would be kept from the hour of trial that is coming upon the earth. The Old Testament prophet Daniel, had prophesied about 500 years or so before Christ was born, that there would be a final seven year period, which Jesus later called the Tribulation, before human rule would return to God. The other church, Thyatira, performs many good works, but unfortunately tolerates false teachings. As a result of this, Jesus said that He would cast her and her followers into the "Great Tribulation". Those who are unaware of Satans' plan for this church, must hold fast and just wait for the Lord's physical return.
The prophet Daniel gives us further information about this period called the Tribulation. It all starts off, when a coming ruler, a leader from the revised version of the Old Roman Empire, confirms a treaty between Israel and many nations for a period of seven years. Later this leader is identified as the Antichrist, the one who opposes Christ and as a result brings havoc on the earth.
The scene shifts, The Heavenly throne, multitudes minister before God and 24 elders surround the throne. A sealed book is given to Jesus and He is the only one capable of opening this book. A mystery is found in this book. As He opens the book, seven major judgments are brought upon the earth. The rider on the white horse emerges on the world stage. What a spokesperson and a charismatic man of note. The world has been waiting for a ruler like this and he is so decisive. A major catastrophe has recently occured and everyone has been looking for a man for this season. A new world order arises quickly out of the ashes. Based on a revision of the Old Roman empire, it has ten rulers who rule over ten seperate regions of the world. He emerges on the world scene with a storm and through his great skills deposes three heads of the regions. He also assumes control over the remaining seven rulers. How he goes about this, many speculate, but he has powers of influence that no man has had. He has great assistance from the religious head of his empire. This religious leader gives him his full support and together they appear unstoppable. They unite many religions of the world into their religion which incorporates a major world church, who many people refer to as Thyatira. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the seven churches".
He quickly takes control of the problem in the Middle East and confirms a treaty between Israel and many other surrounding nations for a period of seven years. The Old Testament prophet, Zecharai, had prophesied that in the last days of human rule, Israel will return to their lands and become a cup of wrath for the world. Any country that lifts the cup, will receive grave damage. Finally, he grings peace to the Middle East. The peoples of the earth marvel at his action. At this time, he notices two men in Israel dressed in sackclothe preaching to the masses concerning things he does not understand. He wants to act against these two men, but news off armies coming against him quickly diverts his attention. Seal two is released. Many dissidents refer to him now openly as the antichrist and this humours him greatly. He goes against the armies and a might war ensures engulfing the ten regions which he controls. A bloody war that leads to a high cost of living. People are bartering for basic food that they had in great supply just months before. The third seal has passed.
The forth seal judgment comes swiftly, disease and pestilence come after the great war. People are dying in the millions as plagues are loosed upon the planet. At the same time, he initiates a mark that must be placed on all people, either on their hands or on their foreheads, to prevent rebellion and to control the distribution of food. Many voluntarily receive this mark and immediately receive provisions. But there is a large band of dissedents who do not accept this mark on their bodies as they believe the ancient scriptures warn them never to accept this mark. Finally, the antichrist, has enough of the people who profess the coming of Jesus. He sets forth to destroy them and millions of Christians are killed for there belief. The fifth seal is completed and the sixth is about to be released.
In the meanwhile, the Jewish race has rebuilt there temple and are offering sacrifices to the Ancient of Days. He alters there festivities and instructs them on limitations to their worship. He finally decides to visit Jerusalem and specifically enters the temple of the Jews to make an important announcement. "I am the Messiah" he bellows from the podium. The Jews watching, suddenly realise that what the two witnesses have been prophesying are true. They mock and deplore him. He sets up a statue in the temple and instructs them to worship the statue from that moment onwards. At this moment a great earthquake strikes Jerusalem. The sun becomes dark, the moon becomes red like blood. The earth shifts out of position and the heavens depart like a scroll receeding upon itself. Every mountain and island is moved out of its place and the seas roar as tides sweep over areas that are largely populated. People cry out at the size of the seas and the roaring of the waves. Seal seven descends, but there is silence in the Heavenly realms.
The trumpet judgments sound. The first resulting in massive hailstones and one-third of the world loses its trees and grass. This is followed by a gigantic rock that comes from space and strikes the sea with such impact that one-third of all living creatures in the sea die. The third trumpet sounds and another meteor strikes the major river systems and a third of all the water on earth becomes bitter. The forth trumpet shows an increase in destruction, the days now have one-third less sunshine and the nights have one-third less darkness.
The Jewish people flee to the mountains and the armies of the Antichrist attempt to destroy them but to no avail. In the process he receives a mortal wound and the world is in turmoil. Miraculously, he comes through and returns to head his global constituency. His personality changes, people close to him realise he is not the same man that they once knew. He hears news that 144 000 Jews are professing the word of God throughout the world. This angers him but he has no time to deal with these new dissidents.
A fifth trumpet sounds in the heavenly realms. There is torture and anguish as people who do not have the seal of God are tormented for five months by devilish creatures. Multitudes are now seeking death, but do not find it. The Bowl judgments commence. The first judgment causes all those who have the mark of the beast that enabled them to acquire provisions to recieve painful sores on their bodies. The second and third bowl judgments follow rapidly causing all living creatures in the sea to die and all rivers become bitter as rotting fish and creatures of the earth pollute the waters. The sun becomes intense and people are now being singed with great heat. The Antichrist decides that he now has no need of the false prophet and the religious system he represents. He goes forth and brings fire upon the city in which this religious system as thrived throughout the centuries. As the fifth bowl judgment is released, the head of the Antichrists' empire is cast into total darkness.
Finally, after five months, he gains control over his empire. He sets forth with his armies and conquers Eqypt in a short space of time and starts to descend throughout Africa taking over country by country in rapid succession. No-one can withstand the might of his army. He hears news from the north that a large naval fleet and armies are descending upon Israel, his conquered territory. He turns his forces and while returning to Israel, he also hears news from the East that a large mass of two hundred million troops are stationed just behind the Euphrates river. The sixth trumpet sounds and the sixth bowl judgment causes the Euphrates river to dry up. The antichrists' forces, the armies from the North and East collide for world control in the Valley of Armageddon. A mighty war breaks out, in the heat of battle, all forces turn and focus their attention upon the events in the sky. Lightning descends from the East to the West and a large multitude of angelic type beings are accompanying the return of their king. The forces attempt to destroy this king, but confusion reigns and in the process all the armies are subdued. The kingdoms of the world has now become the kingdom of Christ.
The antichrist and the false prophet are captured and are thrown into hell. Jesus assumes reign, banishes Satan and begins one thousand years of reign over the earth with all those that have seeked him during the tribulation period and were associated with the Biblical church of Thyatira, but had overcome. These are the ones who did not receive the mark of the beast and they lived and reigned with the Christ for one thousand years. During this period, the lion lay with the lamb, there was no bloodshed throughout God's kingdom. Peace finally comes to the earth.
One thousands years later, Satan is released from is confinement. Immediately, he gathers large multitudes of people from the north of Israel and they rise up against Jesus and the tribulation saints. They come against the land of Israel in open rebellion and surround the city. In an instance, fire comes down from heaven and devours them. Satan, the deceiver, is now removed from society and cast into the lake of fire, a place reserved up to now for the antichrist and the false prophet.
The scene fades ... a throne. The dead, those that did not receive their salvation through Jesus Christ, our brought before God with fear and trembling. There is no escape and no arguments. The books are opened and judgment is brought upon the unbeliever. They are also cast into lake of fire where their torment lasts forever and ever, anyone whose name was not written in the book of life.
Immediately after these days, God restores his creative work. A new heaven and a new earth, with no more sea is remodelled. From here on out there is no more sorrow, no more death, no crying and no pain. All the former things have now passed away. The Lord brings His Holy city down from heaven and its touches onto the earth. Literally, heaven on earth.
Eternity begins ....
He quickly takes control of the problem in the Middle East and confirms a treaty between Israel and many other surrounding nations for a period of seven years. The Old Testament prophet, Zecharai, had prophesied that in the last days of human rule, Israel will return to their lands and become a cup of wrath for the world. Any country that lifts the cup, will receive grave damage. Finally, he grings peace to the Middle East. The peoples of the earth marvel at his action. At this time, he notices two men in Israel dressed in sackclothe preaching to the masses concerning things he does not understand. He wants to act against these two men, but news off armies coming against him quickly diverts his attention. Seal two is released. Many dissidents refer to him now openly as the antichrist and this humours him greatly. He goes against the armies and a might war ensures engulfing the ten regions which he controls. A bloody war that leads to a high cost of living. People are bartering for basic food that they had in great supply just months before. The third seal has passed.
The forth seal judgment comes swiftly, disease and pestilence come after the great war. People are dying in the millions as plagues are loosed upon the planet. At the same time, he initiates a mark that must be placed on all people, either on their hands or on their foreheads, to prevent rebellion and to control the distribution of food. Many voluntarily receive this mark and immediately receive provisions. But there is a large band of dissedents who do not accept this mark on their bodies as they believe the ancient scriptures warn them never to accept this mark. Finally, the antichrist, has enough of the people who profess the coming of Jesus. He sets forth to destroy them and millions of Christians are killed for there belief. The fifth seal is completed and the sixth is about to be released.
In the meanwhile, the Jewish race has rebuilt there temple and are offering sacrifices to the Ancient of Days. He alters there festivities and instructs them on limitations to their worship. He finally decides to visit Jerusalem and specifically enters the temple of the Jews to make an important announcement. "I am the Messiah" he bellows from the podium. The Jews watching, suddenly realise that what the two witnesses have been prophesying are true. They mock and deplore him. He sets up a statue in the temple and instructs them to worship the statue from that moment onwards. At this moment a great earthquake strikes Jerusalem. The sun becomes dark, the moon becomes red like blood. The earth shifts out of position and the heavens depart like a scroll receeding upon itself. Every mountain and island is moved out of its place and the seas roar as tides sweep over areas that are largely populated. People cry out at the size of the seas and the roaring of the waves. Seal seven descends, but there is silence in the Heavenly realms.
The trumpet judgments sound. The first resulting in massive hailstones and one-third of the world loses its trees and grass. This is followed by a gigantic rock that comes from space and strikes the sea with such impact that one-third of all living creatures in the sea die. The third trumpet sounds and another meteor strikes the major river systems and a third of all the water on earth becomes bitter. The forth trumpet shows an increase in destruction, the days now have one-third less sunshine and the nights have one-third less darkness.
The Jewish people flee to the mountains and the armies of the Antichrist attempt to destroy them but to no avail. In the process he receives a mortal wound and the world is in turmoil. Miraculously, he comes through and returns to head his global constituency. His personality changes, people close to him realise he is not the same man that they once knew. He hears news that 144 000 Jews are professing the word of God throughout the world. This angers him but he has no time to deal with these new dissidents.
A fifth trumpet sounds in the heavenly realms. There is torture and anguish as people who do not have the seal of God are tormented for five months by devilish creatures. Multitudes are now seeking death, but do not find it. The Bowl judgments commence. The first judgment causes all those who have the mark of the beast that enabled them to acquire provisions to recieve painful sores on their bodies. The second and third bowl judgments follow rapidly causing all living creatures in the sea to die and all rivers become bitter as rotting fish and creatures of the earth pollute the waters. The sun becomes intense and people are now being singed with great heat. The Antichrist decides that he now has no need of the false prophet and the religious system he represents. He goes forth and brings fire upon the city in which this religious system as thrived throughout the centuries. As the fifth bowl judgment is released, the head of the Antichrists' empire is cast into total darkness.
Finally, after five months, he gains control over his empire. He sets forth with his armies and conquers Eqypt in a short space of time and starts to descend throughout Africa taking over country by country in rapid succession. No-one can withstand the might of his army. He hears news from the north that a large naval fleet and armies are descending upon Israel, his conquered territory. He turns his forces and while returning to Israel, he also hears news from the East that a large mass of two hundred million troops are stationed just behind the Euphrates river. The sixth trumpet sounds and the sixth bowl judgment causes the Euphrates river to dry up. The antichrists' forces, the armies from the North and East collide for world control in the Valley of Armageddon. A mighty war breaks out, in the heat of battle, all forces turn and focus their attention upon the events in the sky. Lightning descends from the East to the West and a large multitude of angelic type beings are accompanying the return of their king. The forces attempt to destroy this king, but confusion reigns and in the process all the armies are subdued. The kingdoms of the world has now become the kingdom of Christ.
The antichrist and the false prophet are captured and are thrown into hell. Jesus assumes reign, banishes Satan and begins one thousand years of reign over the earth with all those that have seeked him during the tribulation period and were associated with the Biblical church of Thyatira, but had overcome. These are the ones who did not receive the mark of the beast and they lived and reigned with the Christ for one thousand years. During this period, the lion lay with the lamb, there was no bloodshed throughout God's kingdom. Peace finally comes to the earth.
One thousands years later, Satan is released from is confinement. Immediately, he gathers large multitudes of people from the north of Israel and they rise up against Jesus and the tribulation saints. They come against the land of Israel in open rebellion and surround the city. In an instance, fire comes down from heaven and devours them. Satan, the deceiver, is now removed from society and cast into the lake of fire, a place reserved up to now for the antichrist and the false prophet.
The scene fades ... a throne. The dead, those that did not receive their salvation through Jesus Christ, our brought before God with fear and trembling. There is no escape and no arguments. The books are opened and judgment is brought upon the unbeliever. They are also cast into lake of fire where their torment lasts forever and ever, anyone whose name was not written in the book of life.
Immediately after these days, God restores his creative work. A new heaven and a new earth, with no more sea is remodelled. From here on out there is no more sorrow, no more death, no crying and no pain. All the former things have now passed away. The Lord brings His Holy city down from heaven and its touches onto the earth. Literally, heaven on earth.
Eternity begins ....
Two-Edged Sword Ministries - South Africa
Copyright © May 2003 [ T.E.S. Ministries ]
All rights reserved.
First revision, November 2006 [2.0]
Second Revision: March, 2009 [3.0]
All rights reserved.
First revision, November 2006 [2.0]
Second Revision: March, 2009 [3.0]
