Revelation: An Eschatological Perspective

“How Near Are the End Times”

By:  Dr. Jim Shaw

June 8, 2008, 10:45 AM

THE VISION

(Revelation, Chapter 1)

The Revelation opens with a clear statement of purpose:  to reveal the future.  Then it moves immediately to John’s vision of the risen Savior.  The glorified Christ assures John that He has the future under control and the stage is set for the great “unveiling.”  The Lord Jesus commanded John to write: “What you have seen; and things which are; and things which will take place after this.”  [Revelation:  Unlocking the Future by Edward Hindson]

June 15, 2008, 10:45 AM (Part One)

June 22, 2008, 10:45 AM (Part Two)

THE SEVEN CHURCHES OF ASIA MINOR

(Revelation, Chapters 2 and 3)

These seven letters were dictated by the risen Lord Jesus and delivered to seven local churches.  The letters also indicate seven types of churches and seven dispensations of time in the church age.  “Ephesus was the formal church; Smyrna was the fearful church; Pergamum was the faltering church; Thyatira was the false church; Sardis was the fruitless church; Philadelphia was the feeble church and Laodicea was the fashionable church.”  [Exploring Revelation by John Phillips]

July 6, 2008, 10:45 AM

RAPTURE

(Matt. 24:36-44; Matt. 25:10; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Thess. 5:1-11; 1 Cor. 15:51-58)

In the book of Revelation, chapters one – three deal with current churches of the first century.  In chapter four, the perception changes from Jesus addressing the churches to John being taken to see heaven.  Therefore, the church is not mentioned after 4:1 until 22:16.  The church is gone from the earth.  Jesus has come as the bridegroom to take the bride (the church-Ecclesia. . . those called out. . . truly saved) to the Father in heaven.  This occurs before the tribulation.  The church is the reality of God’s grace on earth.  Therefore, when the grace is gone, all tribulation breaks out across the world.

July 27, 2008, 10:45 AM

THE TRIBULATION

(Revelation, chapters 6 – 18)

After the rapture of the church (rapture is not a word found in the Bible, but a Latin word meaning “to gather up”), total chaos breaks out on the earth.  There will be anarchy, violence, famine, disease, mass death, for seven years.  Half way through the seven years, or three and one-half years after the rapture, the world will be looking for someone to solve their problems.

            Now remember, Satan tries to copy God.  So there will be a false prophet (to imitate John the Baptist) and an antichrist (to imitate Jesus Christ).  Three and one-half years into the tribulation the world will be in such total chaos that it will look for a savior, and the antichrist will become that leader.

            This time will be similar to the Roman Empire dictatorships, and the antichrist will eventually demand that all worship him as god.  Many will realize that the antichrist is not the true Messiah and will turn to Jesus as Savior and Lord.  Those who trust Christ and do not carry the mark of the beast will be killed.  144,000 Jews will accept Christ and begin a worldwide evangelistic effort.  The antichrist will promote an apostate religion that will combine a political dynasty and a false religion.  This world system is called “Babylon”.  This title refers to any thing or location that is against God.  Babylon will fall.

            Toward the end of the seven year tribulation, the antichrist will gather kings and armies at a place called Armageddon (16:16).  There will be no war because this is when Jesus comes back for the second time and destroys all who come against him in this place.

August 3, 2008, 10:45 AM

THE TRIBULATION, PART II:  THE ANTICHRIST

August 10, 2008, 10:45 AM

THE TRIBULATION, PART III:  THE SEVEN TRUMPETS AND THE SEVEN BOWLS

August 17, 2008, 10:45 AM

The Religious Babylon (Rev 17)

August 24, 2008, 10:45 AM

The Commercial Babylon (Rev 18)

August 31, 2008, 10:45AM

THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

(Revelation 19 “The Day of the Lord”)

            This is not the Rapture.  This is when Christ returns to the earth with the army of saints (all who were already in heaven . . . the Rapture has already happened).  The Lord Jesus comes not as the humble carpenter from Nazareth, but as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  He comes as judge and ruler of this earth.

            Time to be saved has run out.  Christ destroys all the kings and armies who have gathered at Armageddon.  He throws the false prophet and the antichrist into the lake of fire.  Jesus regains His rightful position as the King of Creation.  All will know that He is Lord.  The scripture prophecy will come true “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  (Phil. 2:10-11)

September 7, 10:45 AM

THE MILLENIUM KINGDOM

(Revelation 20)

            Isaiah’s prophecy about this coming kingdom is found in chapter 2, verse 4.  The Lord Jesus will set up a literal kingdom from Jerusalem and will reign for 1,000 years.  God will show the world that His plan would have worked if man had obeyed the Lord.  This kingdom will consist of glorified saints and the living lost.  The world will be at peace for 1,000 years.

            The Lord Jesus will chain Satan up during this 1,000 years.  He will not be able to work, and righteousness will flourish.  At the end of the 1,000 years, Satan will be freed once again to tempt the nations.  He will lead a final revolt against Jesus and the city of Jerusalem.  All who come against the Lord and His people will be destroyed by fire from heaven.  Satan is thrown into the lake of fire forever.

             Christians will not be judged here.  II Cor. 5:10 says that the Christian will be judged by the Lord somewhere between the rapture and the second coming, not for salvation, but pertaining to works and rewards for obedience,.

            This judgment is for the lost.  Reuniting of the old flesh with the lost soul.  Names are not in the “Book of Life”, so they are judged by their works.  Unsaved works, the Bible says, are like rags.  There is nothing redeemable about their spiritual nature.  Therefore, they have brought divine judgment on themselves by choosing to reject Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.  All who are not written in the “Lamb’s Book of Life” are cast into hell (lake of fire).

October 5, 2008, 10:45 AM

THE NEW HEAVEN AND EARTH

(Revelation 21:1-8)

            God had promised Noah (Genesis 9:11) that He would never again destroy mankind by water.  The current earth and heaven will be destroyed with fire.  II Peter 3:7 “By the same word the present heaven and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.”

            This is a new creation for the glorified saints of God to live in.  Notice that when the old earth and heaven are passed away, there is no more sea.  The term heaven refers to the sky and astrological design, not to the spiritual heaven of the Lord.

October 12, 2008, 10:45 AM

THE NEW JERUSALEM

(Revelation 21:9-22:5)

            This is the Holy City Jerusalem that Jesus has prepared for His bride (the church).  It will come down from heaven and exist between the new heaven and the new earth.  The Christian will be able to move from one place to another.

            The basic design of this city is a cube.  It will be 1,500 miles wide, high and deep.  It consists of 12 gates, one for each of the 12 tribes of Israel.  It has 12 foundations, one for each apostle.  Everything in this city is translucent, meaning it can beam and reflect light.  The light of God and of Christ illuminate the city.

            It is a city of beauty, has a street of Gold, a tree of life, and a river of water of life.  We will spend eternity with the Lord in this beautiful city.  The main activity of heaven will be to praise God the Father and Jesus the Son.

October 19, 2008, 10:45 AM

THE LAST MESSAGE

(Revelation 22:6-21)

            The whole message of the Bible centers around the redeeming Savior Jesus Christ.  Here in Revelation, Jesus emphasized His return.  “Behold, I am coming!”  (Rev. 22:7a)  Jesus gives a heart cry for the people of God to be busy about his work.  We are to be obedient to the Bible.  The Christian is to be ready for the Lord’s return, and at the same time, fulfilling the task of reaching a lost world for Jesus.

            The last words of Revelation are a comfort.  “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people.  Amen” (Rev. 22:21) Today there is still time for the lost to be saved.  Today the grace of God abounds.  People must seize the opportunity to accept, by faith, Jesus as Savior and Lord, and the church must reach out to all in His name.