The last book of the New Testament begins with the phrase, “Revelation of Jesus Christ.” It is a message for his “servants,” namely, the “Seven Assemblies of Asia.” It concerns “what things must come to pass soon,” information that is vital since the “season is at hand.” Because of its importance, the Book pronounces the man who “reads it, and they who heed the words of the prophecy, BLESSED” – (Revelation 1:1-3).
Continue reading “The Season is Here!”
The Book of Revelation’s first paragraph declares its purpose is to show God’s servants “what things must come to pass,” and it specifies the timing of those “things,” namely, “soon” and the “season is near.” The “things” referred to are detailed in John’s visions, including information about Satan’s war against Jesus and his “saints” that is waged through his earthly agents, the “Beast,” the “False Prophet,” and “Babylon.”
Continue reading “What Things Must Occur”
At the close of his visions, an angel commanded Daniel “to close the words and seal the book until the season of the end.” In contrast, in Revelation, the “scroll” is unsealed, revealing its contents for all to see. Daniel was told to “seal the scroll,” but John is commanded NOT to do so. The verbal parallels are deliberate and telling.
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Daniel’s final vision concludes with the description of a period of intense “tribulation” that is about to befall the Jewish nation, one more severe than any preceding trial in its history. There are no chapter divisions in the original document, and contextually, chapter 12 is the continuation of the vision of chapters 10 and 11.
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The fourth seal released “Death,” followed by “Hades” to gather the dead in its wake – Revelation 6:7-8.
To this point, the “victims” harmed by the first three seal openings have not been identified, although the details from the assigned task of each “rider” provide certain clues. Nothing has been said about the enemies of the “Lamb,” or about judgments against the “inhabitants of the earth.” Moreover, the actions of the “four riders” are never labeled “plagues,” “wrath,” or “judgments.”
Continue reading “FOURTH SEAL”
Insights into Bible Prophecy 