The American Wisdom Series 
 http://www.americanwisdomseries.com

John 15:26
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

John 16:13-14
[13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. [14] He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Introduction the The Book of Revelation

Do Sundays sneak up on you like a thief in the night?
Do they take you by surprise? If they do there's a new thing out now called a "calendar" which will let you know when they are  coming. 

Revelation, the name of which means to "Disclose", to "Unveil", to "Reveal", i.e. to make known.  The Greek word for "revelation" is apokalupsi (Strong's #602) which comes from apokalupto (#601) and more specifically means to "Take the Cover Off". It is Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who has given this open, unsealed, book as a special gift to those who love and serve Him.

Perhaps those who have studied the Book of Daniel will recall that Daniel was instructed to SEAL UP the words that he wrote until the time of the end, when the wise would understand.

Daniel 12:4
But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

So in contrast to Daniel, John was given specific instructions by one of the seven angels, whom we will read about shortly, NOT TO SEAL the sayings and prophecy of this book. That means that the Book of Revelation is UNSEALED, free and open for the partaking and understanding by God's "servants".

Here is John relaying his instructions:

Rev. 22:10
And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

And guess what? It is a documented fact that people remember infinitely more of what they "see" than what they "hear" or "read". 

Please allow me to digress for a moment:

I once worked closely with the man who carries the credentials of the "World's Foremost Applied Memory Expert". He not only has the #1 Medical Terminology course in the U.S., which teaches over 11,000 complex medical terms and their meanings in just 14 hours of video with a guaranteed classroom average of an "A", but he also has a program that can teach third graders ALL 100 of the basic multiplication facts in just 90 minutes. Here's how:

First he simplifies the task at hand by teaching four easy rules: 1.) The Little Rule, which is to always say the little number first, for the answer to 5 x 3 is the same as 3 x 5. This rule eliminates almost half the 100 questions. 2.) The Zero Rule, which is that the answer to any question with a "0" in it is "0". 3.) The 1's Rule, which is that the answer to any question with a "1" in it is the other number. 4.) The 2's Rule, which is that the answer to any question with a "2" in it is the same as adding the other number to itself.

After applying these Four Easy Rules there are only 28 questions left to learn in the multiplication table. In fact, in the "9,s" column there is only one question left (9 x 9), because the Little Rule eliminated the others.

Next, he converts the ten digits, 0 - 9, into the ten hard consonant sounds of the English language. For example 1 = T, there is one "downstroke" in the letter "T", 2 = N, there are two downstrokes in the letter "N", M = 3, there are three downstrokes in the letter "M", etc. The children learn to "sound-out" the letters, i.e. 3 = mmmmmmM. Now by adding vowels, which have no numeric value, he can form nouns and turn the 28 remaining multiplication questions into PICTURES they can see.

For example, the question 3 x 3 is turned into a picture of MoM, "mmmm"  "mmmm" (M*M = MoM), and they see a picture of a Mom. The picture is then made funny by showing MoM with a Pie on her head. A "9" flipped around becomes a "P", so 9 = "P" in the number code (remember vowels have no value). So 3 x 3 = 9, MoM = Pie. So after learning the "number code" and seeing 28 funny pictures, they KNOW their multiplication facts. The need for the pictures soon goes away and they are left with knowledge.

This teaching method is so powerful that later you cannot "unteach" the children. If you try to tell them that MoM had a TaiL sticking out her ear, they would correct you and say "NO, Mom had a pie on her head! We know because WE SAW IT."

We also have a few "easy rules" to apply in learning the pictures of Revelation. The first is to begin reading and studying the rest of the Bible, for Revelation is the "last" book. If you have read the entire Bible you will basically discover nothing prophetically nor symbolically new in Revelation, it's just that it is now tied together and simplified into pictures for us. The other rules we will point out as we come to them.

Now, having exceeded the length of an introduction, let us begin the "Unveiling".  

John, that disciple Jesus loved, wrote these words in approximately 96 A.D. from the isles of Patmos where he was imprisoned for teaching the Word of God.

Rev. 1:1
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:

The reason John writes that these things must "shortly come to pass" is because we will find in verse 10 that John isn't writing from the perspective of 96 A.D. He was spiritually taken ahead in time, to the future, even to this 21st. century, shown what is to happen then, and he wrote from the perspective of the time he was  taken to. 

How do we know that time is now, in this 21st century? Because we learned "The Parable of the Fig Tree" as Jesus told us we should, in order to know when he would return.  

On  May 15, in the year 1948 both The GOOD FIGS & The BAD FIGS were both planted, together, in that little country in the middle east, that we call Israel, today!

So, therefore, we know we are in that final generation when Christ will return.

Live Link to- The Parable of the Fig Tree

This is another "rule" that you must understand.

[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.

John now addresses The Seven Churches.

[4] John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

We will learn about the seven Spirits later on.

[5] And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten 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,

[6] And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Rev. 5:10
And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Rev. 20:6
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

For those who are familiar with the closing chapters of Ezekiel, because they have read the rest of the Bible, these priests are the same as the "Zadok", the just, i.e. God's elect.

[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.

When does Christ return? At the seventh trump, the last one! Just wait 'till we see that picture a few chapters from now. 

Did you know that His return ends this "flesh" age, instantly, in the twinkling of an eye, at the sound of last trump?

And because we know that the final generation began on May 15, 1948, when both the good and the bad figs were set forth in Judea, that means that there will be "Baby Boomers" who will hear that Seventh Trump. Pretty exciting, isn't it?

Would you believe me if I told you that the Book of Revelation is one of the easiest, if not "the" easiest books of the Bible to understand?  Sure, it's filled with symbolism, but that's what makes it so easy. Remember, it is an uncovering, a revealing. Yes, of course you have to understand what the symbols mean. But that is really easy too! They are either already used and explained in the prior books of the Bible or they are clearly defined for us in Revelation.

You'll "see".

Let's continue in Revelation. Christ is speaking.

Rev. 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

And did you know, that in all that expanse of time, the Lord is the same? 

The apostle Paul explains:

Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

[9] I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ
.

So we see John, the Christian realist, who knew there was no "easy ride", on the isle of Patmos for the preaching and teaching God's Word. 

[10] I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet.

Remember we discussed earlier how that one should read and study the entire Word of God?  Well, here is an example of a verse that a student of the Bible would immediately understand. The "day of the Lord" is spoken of in Isaiah 2, 2 Peter, 1 Thessalonians, etc., and is a time yet future, beginning with the first day of the millennium, the day the Lord returns, (and lasting 1000 years) His day, the Lord's day.

If you're not familiar with God's Word you may be unprotected and susceptible to listening to the unlearned tell you that it's now Sunday on the isle of Patmos!

But know this well. The understanding of verse 10 is extremely important in order to know the time frame of the Book of Revelation. The Lord's day is where John was taken, in spirit, when he saw the visions.

Let's look at a few verses concerning the day of the Lord. Paul talks about Christ's return, the day of the Lord, in 1 Thes. 5:2.

1 Thes. 5:2
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

Do they take you by surprise? If they do there's a new thing out now called a "calendar" which will let you know when they are  coming.  The Day of the Lord Isn't Sunday!

Christ's return will only come as a thief in the night to those who aren't watching (which is the majority of Christianity), to those who do not have the seal of God, His word, in their foreheads. God's children, His servants to whom the Book of Revelation is addressed, have the solar calendar, if you will, i.e. the calendar of events in the order in which they occur.

1 Thes. 5:4-6
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. [5] Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. [6] Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

Peter also discusses the day of the Lord in his second book.

2 Peter 3:8
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

[9] The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

[10] But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

So in verse 10 John heard a great voice as of a trumpet,

Rev. 1:11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

And now John will "SEE" exactly why he was just given the instructions of verse 11.

[12] And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

[13] And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

[14] His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

Daniel 7:9
I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

Rev. 1:15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters.

Ezekiel 1:24
And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings.

Eccles. 1:9
The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

Rev. 1:16 And He had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

Got it so far? OK, let's look first at the twoedged sword. What is it?  Do swords come out of peoples mouths? Oh please! Words come out of the mouth, in this case His Word! Christ's Word is the sharp twoedged sword. This is nothing new. Paul, tell us!

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

And, guess what? God's elect also have this sharp Sword. It is part of the Gospel Armor that you must have on to be in the battle we are soon going to read about in this exciting Book of Revelation. So, you can see why it must be handled with the utmost care, for it is razor sharp!

Ephes. 6:17
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Rev. 1:17 And when I saw Him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

[18] I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Christ is alive for evermore. He's not dead on a cross any more. And He has the keys of both hell and death.

This would be a good person to get to know. Don't you think?

[19] Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

Oh, and just to wrap up the rest of the symbols in this  Illustration, here it is.

[20] The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

Now, let me see if I got the picture:

Jesus Christ, who is standing in the midst of the churches (hmmm, equal distance from all, that's fair), is going to use His messengers, the seven angels, to send a message, directly from His mouth (His Word which is the very, very sharp twoedged sword), to all seven churches, meaning ALL churches.

OK, it's time for a pop quiz!

1.) The day of the Lord is:

A. Sunday
B. The Millennium
C. Saturday

2.) The stars in Christ's right hand represent:

A. Oscar winners
B. The Zodiac
C. Angels

3.) The two-edged Sword represents:

A. The Word of God
B. King Arthur's Excalibur
C. An hors d'oeuvre accessory

4.) The seven candlesticks represent:

A. The Altar
B. The Churches
C. Liberace

5.) The Book of Revelation is the revelation of:

A. John
B. Jesus
C. Jerry

This Bible Study was originally written by Roger Christopherson,
 published at http://www.theseason.org/ 

Without the leading by the Holy Spirit, there is no understanding of the truths, for all the truth of the Scriptures are revealed to us by God's Spirit.

Now, The Book of REVELATION

OF SAINT JOHN THE DIVINE BY JESUS CHRIST:

Chapter 1

"Introduction."

Many churches stay clear of the Book of Revelation,
on a verse by verse study, because they teach;
"You're going to be gone anyway at that time".

They also say;
"It's not to be understood yet".

This is odd because the very word "Revelation"
means to "to reveal" or "unveil" something. 

When you unveil anything,

you make it known.

The book of Revelation is a sister book to the book of Daniel in the Old Testament. 

Both of these books were written to the people who live in the final generation, of the "latter days". 

Daniel was told to, "shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end:"  [Daniel 12:4].   

He was told by God; "Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand: but the wise shall understand." [Daniel 12:10]

The wise are those who study God's word, line upon line, chapter upon chapter, and all these words are wisdom from God. 

This is why the wise should understand.

As we study Revelation, let us take a fresh look at the book, and allow God's Word to speak through us. Let's pray that the Holy Spirit be allowed to speak, His words, to our hearts which is our minds with understanding. 

This chapter covers a time period that most people living on the face of the earth today will live through, and the wise Christian should understand these teachings.

So, be very cautious of any group that would tell you not to study, or to throw away part of God's word. Those are words Satan would use.

Revelation 1:1 "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:"

This is not the Revelation of John,
but a Revelation of Jesus Christ.

"Jesus" means "God's Savior", and "Christ" means the "Anointed One [Messiah]".

Jesus the Christ is the person that this Revelation is by.

Jesus showed the Revelation to John, and Jesus told John to write it down.

This Revelation is directed to, and revealed to God's servant's, and those servants are living in every corner of the earth in this
"time of the end".

Jesus told John to write this so that you and I,
living and witnessing events in these latter days, 
will have the wisdom to understand everything that happens, is all part of God's plan, 
and to see where each of us fit into that plan.

The word "shortly" is explained in verse ten, and we can better understand it when we study it there.

This verse then, tells us it was Jesus Christ that is the Revelator; 
while John did the writing.

The purpose here is to show Christians, of our generation, the things that will occur at the end of this earth age.
It was sent, and signified, or guaranteed by Jesus Christ Himself. 

The willingness of a person to search for the wisdom of Revelation separates the man of God, from the puff of smoke found in many churches today.

When Satan, the Antichrist, does appear as the savior of the world, the lazy Christian will follow him, thinking that the Antichrist (the instead-of-christ) is Jesus Christ.

Revelation 1:2 "Who bare record [witness] of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw."

John bore witness of this record given by Jesus, 
                                                God's anointed Messiah. 

The record of Revelation reveals more then John had seen, but in the Greek, it means "to both see and to hear with understanding". 

Now let's let the Word speak for Himself.

Revelation 1:3 "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand."

"Blessed" means "happy", and you will be very happy when you read, and come to understand the full knowledge of all of the events coming to pass in these end times. 

It gives us security, and peace of mind to know exactly what will take place, and how God will use us, and protect us; We who love Him, as He loves us! 

This is Jesus Christ's own words, or commitment to you and me, as we live in this godless one world system, that is tightening it's grip on the nations of the world today.

Read God's Word with understanding, for it is what Jesus is telling us; Then do those things that He has put into writing in His Word, the Bible.

Revelation 1:4 "John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be to you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before His throne"

This "grace", or "unmerited favor", is extended to all the churches, and comes from Jesus Christ.

"He is" today, and He lives as our Savior,

"He was" when he walked the earth in the flesh,
and died on the cross of Calvary; 

"He is yet to come"; when He shall return at the sound of the seventh trumpet, which is the Second Advent.

The "seven Spirits" also refer to Jesus Christ. For "Seven" shows spiritual completeness, and Christ is all the spirits of the Throne joined into one.

The "seven churches" of Asia are formed in a circle geographically, and these churches are symbolizing  all the churches around the globe today. 

They are symbolic of all the forms of church doctrine, represented in the 21st. century, Christian world today.

God is not the God of the Middle East, but of the universe; of all the world.

Revelation 1:5 "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed [loosed] us from our sins in his own blood,"

We see here other titles of Jesus Christ, so it cannot be misunderstood who it is revealing this to us, and sending His blessing to us. His title, "Prince of the King's of the earth", is in reference to Christ being the "Prince of the King's of the Gentile nations", recorded in chapter 21; and "King of Kings" in Revelation 19:16. Race has nothing to do with this, for it is dealing with the "elect" of God, and the overcomers of this earth age.

The word "washed" is better translated, "freed"; for Jesus Christ freed us from our sins. There can be no mistake in identifying Jesus Christ by this description. When Jesus Christ shed His blood, He became "the first begotten of the dead." He defeated death and the devil. 

That was Jesus Christ's sole mission for coming to earth; being born of a woman; living in the flesh body; and then dying on the cross and shedding His sin free blood. Our Lord Jesus Christ conquered death, and Satan the devil, [Hebrews 2:14]. Satan's name is Death.

Hebrews 2:14 "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil."

Revelation 1:6 " And hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory, and dominion for ever and ever. A-men."

The "priests" are the "elect", while the "kings" are the "ethnos", the saved Gentile people of this earth age. They are not the chosen, but the "overcomers". 

They read and heard God's word,
then they believed and repented,
and "overcame" the devil in this earth age.

Revelation 1:7 "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 [mourn over] Him. Even so, A-men."

This event is describing the second advent, when Jesus Christ will return "with clouds", or in other words  "with the masses" of His saints. 

This is not, and has nothing to do with flying away, as many Christian churches teach today.

"They that pierced Him," is referring to all the "Kenites" those Jewish religious leaders, the ones that killed Jesus by delivering Him up to Pilot. 

Every person on this earth will see Jesus Christ upon His second coming. Some will "wail" in joy, for they kept His Word, and did not yield to Satan, the Antichrist.

However, most will "wail" in sorrow and shame for they were taken by the wrong Christ in the wrong marriage. They followed after the Antichrist who came first, five months before Christ returned, and appeared, as they were taught through their churches traditions, that Jesus Christ would appear. It's called the "rapture doctrine".

Whether you stand or fall in this final generation, it will be according to whether you had prepared yourself to stand against Satan, when he comes claiming he is God.

 If you have, you will stand; and if you did not, then you will be deceived by Satan, the false-christ, and worship him.

When Satan arrives, you will not resist him by accident, nor can you prepare in that late hour.

Therefore; The understanding of this Revelation of Jesus Christ must occur before Satan arrives on earth. Revelation 9:1.

It is stated in this book of Revelation that the spurious messiah, Satan, shall come at the sixth trumpet, before the second advent of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, which is at the sounding of the seventh trumpet.

Revelation 1:8 "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.:

Jesus Christ is everything, in all ages [earth ages] to all sons [no gender applied here] of the living God.

Revelation 1:9 "I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the Kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Pat'-mos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ."

Most teachers of the Bible believe that John was exiled to the isle of Pat'-mos, for his faith in Jesus Christ. "Pat'-mos" is an island called "Patino" in the Aegean Sea.

The word "was", in the Greek manuscripts would be better translated,  "came to is be". The word "for" as used in the Greek is used in the "Accusative", and it has the sense of "on account of", or "because of". This would leave nothing to indicate that John had been banished there to the isle of Pat'-mos.

"...companion [partaker] in tribulation, and in the Kingdom..."; should read, "...in the tribulation, and in this Kingdom." John was spiritually taken, by Jesus, to this 21st. century, and partook in "the tribulation" that our generation is about to witness. He was taken to our generation in the spirit, and those things and events that he saw, he wrote about.

John also visited, in the spirit, "the Kingdom" of God in the Heavens; 

both in this age and the next to come.

The next earth age to come is the "kingdom of Jesus Christ", which is established at the sounding of the seventh trumpet. It is called the "Millennium kingdom" and continues for a thousand years. Then after the Christ's Millennium kingdom, God's Kingdom goes on eternally here on earth, following the "Judgment seat of God" [The Great White Throne].

All of these events are going to be revealed within this study of the book of Revelation, and when you read and study this book with understanding you will not be deceived when they take place before your eyes. There are many negative things that are going on right now, today, and they must happen, just as Jesus death on the cross happened, because they are all part of the glorious plan of God.

Revelation 1:10 "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,"

This verse is the key to understanding the book of Revelation. Without a clear and full understanding of it, the entire book just will not make sense. The sequence of order will seem strange.

"I"; this is John speaking and telling us where he was. "I was in the Spirit". He was not in his flesh body; "on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet". John is taken forward in time, "in the Spirit", to the "Day of the Lord". Don't make the same mistake many Christians make! The "Day of the Lord" is not referring to Sunday or Saturday. This is the same "Day of the Lord" Paul speaks about in I Thessalonians 5:2, as "coming as a thief in the night". Later in II Thessalonians 2:2-3 Paul makes it clear that at the "Day of the Lord", Christ's return will not happen until "after there will be a great falling away; and "that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition". Satan must be revealed in his role as the false-christ first, before that seventh trumpet will sound, The seventh trump is the  last trumpet.

The time, or day, John was taken to was to a time later than we are currently living in, however we are living in the generation that will see it come to pass, and this current generation will live through what John saw and lived, while he was "in the Spirit". 

There is only one day that is called "The Day of the Lord" in all the Scriptures and that day, starts on the day of His return for His second advent and  continues for His entire 1000 year Millennial Kingdom.

Isaiah 2:12 "For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low."

This is the day that our Lord returns. 

This is the day "God's cup of wrath" is poured out upon His enemies.

So John was taken, in the Spirit,  to witness the last day of this earth age (the start of the Millennium); which continues fhrough the age of the Millennium. (1000 years)

If you are still in your flesh body, that day that John was taken to, hasn't happened yet, it is still future to us, but our Lord thinks it is important for our spiritual health to know it now; That's the reason He took John there, to tell us about what he sees.

Every verse that you read in Revelation from this verse to the end of chapter twenty two, will be viewed from the Lord's day, either looking backwards or forwards a short period of time.

If you haven't come to that point in your understanding of how, [in the spirit] and where, [into the furture] our Lord took John to, the rest of what John is telling us just will not make any sense to you.

Revelation 1:11 "Saying, I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesis, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea."

This is Jesus talking to John, and asking him to look around, and write what you see, and then send it to the seven churches of Asia.

These seven churches represent all of the types of Christian churches in existence on the earth in these last days.

Which of these churches represents your church? 

Can you identify the type of church by what is taught in that church? 

Jesus said, I want you, John, to show each of those churches exactly what is going to happen at the end of this earth age, and what I think of each of them.

Chapters two and three will give us the details of the doctrine of each of these end time churches.

My fellow Christian, If you sit in a pew every Sunday, you most certainly will know which church, of the seven, you belong to.

Revelation 1:12 "And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;"

Wow, that sounds deep. Well, let's break it down so we can understand what it is saying. We use objects all the time to teach our children lessons. That is all that is happening here. These candlesticks are symbolic of something.

Revelation 1:13 "And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

The one standing or the focus of attention in these seven candlesticks looked like the "Son of man" [Christ], because it was Jesus Christ.

Revelation 1:14 "His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire."

Why were Christ's eyes "as a flame of fire"? Because of God's magnificent splendor and glory that is shown through His eyes. So we see Christ is standing among the seven candlesticks; However, the candlesticks also stand for something.

Revelation 1:15 "And his feet like unto fine [burnished] brass, as if they burned [as if it had been refined] in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters."

"Waters" in the Greek text are peoples. When Christ talked, it gave the sound of many people speaking. [see Revelation 17:15 for documentation.]

Revelation 1:16 "And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength."

The "stars" are symbolic of angels, they are guiding angels for John, as he makes his trip into his future; all the way to the "day of the Lord".

The "seven" represents completeness, and there is one angel for each of the churches.

The "two-edged sword" is what Jesus will return with, as He returns, as a man of war, at the seventh trumpet. 

"I come not to bring peace, but a sword;"
Jesus said in Matthew 10:34. 

Those that are against Christ shall be cut deep, but they shall heal if they repent. 

We will all be in our spiritual body, on the Lords day, when He has returned to earth. 

For as we saw in [I Corinthians 15:51]; "Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed."

To "sleep" is better translated "die". While our changing is to be into our spiritual bodies, from the physical bodies of the flesh we are now in.

Then in [I Corinthians 15:52], "In a moment, in the twinkling [wink] of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible [never decaying], and we shall be changed." 

This change to our spiritual body is for every soul now still living in a flesh body. It shall take place on the very day that John is brought forward to see, on this "day of the Lord".  What Paul is telling us is that we will not all die the shadow of death, which is the death of our flesh and blood body, but we will all be changed into our spiritual bodies at the Lord's return, whether we are dead physically or physically still alive, when He comes. 

This is why the Sword is given with words from Christ and not with physical armor.

Christ's sword will make all things right, and the glory around our Lord will cause all to bow and praise His holy name.

Revelation 1:17 "And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:"

The Lord Jesus Christ put His hand upon John, and He comforted John as Jesus reminded him who He was. Just as when Jesus walked and talked with the disciples as a man. John had peace within his soul being with our Lord again.

Revelation 1:18 "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen, and have the keys of hell and of death [death and Hades]."

The "keys of hell and of death", means you have the authority, and ability to control what ever is on the other side of the locked door of this physical life.

It means that what you do with those keys is entirely up to you. Jesus Christ holds the keys which will allow you to escape out of Hell, and the death of your soul. 

That is why our prayers offered to the Father are given "in Jesus Name", for "Jesus Name" identifies you as under the shed blood of Jesus Christ. 

It is your credentials before the throne of God.

Revelation 1:19 "Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;"

Jesus told John to write down the things that he has seen; about those candlesticks, and the stars; "and that I have shown you Myself with the sword", now write it all down.

John is to record the things Jesus is going to show, both before, and after "the day of the Lord". [remember from back in verse 1:10, that is where John has been taken to, to witness and record for our benifit.]

We will also be on that day, in the very near future, but first Satan will come claiming he is God.

Revelation 1:20 "The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches."

How simple could it be; Jesus has explained that the "seven stars" are "the seven angels of the seven churches"; While the "candlestick are the seven churches". A candlestick holds a candle giving off light. 

The Christian church is
to be on a mission 
to hold up the light of God's Word. 

The "right hand" is the hand of power and might and it shows where the work is done.

So, the vision John saw taking place on the "day of the Lord"; is Jesus Christ standing in the middle of this circle of seven churches, not candlesticks, for the candlesticks are symbols for the churches.

There was an angel of God standing over each church.

In Christ's mouth is the sword within those churches, and the sword is the words of authority that Jesus has over Satan, and all the ungodly.

While that sword is in the hands of us Christians, 
we hold the keys over death and Hell.

Why make this book of Revelation
so hard?

It's a writing that as we continue our study, will reveal the future that you and I, and most all people now living in our generation, will witness in person, while still in our flesh bodies.

 This book is very comforting to each of us, as we read and study it with understanding. 

                      

The real  But Satan comes to earth first and he (Satan) will claim he is God.
Will you endure until the end (wait) for the real Christ, or will He (Jesus) find you worshiping Satan when He (Jesus) returns!
Do you know how to tell the difference?
Are you sure!

          

To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.  We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.

---

The American Wisdom Series

is

Published by:

Rhine Publishing Co.
E-mail address - americanwisdomseries@verizon.net

Here at the American Wisdom Series our goal is to make you think about and question the wisdom of the current:

doctrine of many of our Christian churches, (The Man on a White Horse)
political direction of our country, (The Man on a Red Horse)
economic direction our country has taken, (The Man on a Black Horse)
 and teaching of our schools and media, (The Man on a Pale Horse)

The Four Hidden Dynasties of the New World Order Revelation 6:1-8
"The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse"
Did you know all four are being ridden by Satan?