Category Archives: Rapture

The Revelation of Jesus Christ

The book of Revelation is a book of prophecy and is straightforward and linear in regards to how the chapters appear. Contrary to the various doctrines of some men that seek to interpret the book, Eph 4:14, with ulterior motives.

Revelation 22:18-19 KJVS
[18] For I testify unto every man that heareth 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: [19] 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.

Apostle John was instructed by our Lord to write down In a specific order the vision he received in this book.

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

The first chapters is what John had seen at the start of the vision. The things which are in the next two chapters are what is presently taking place at that moment in time as John is receiving the vision. They cover the seven churches of that time and their spiritual condition and Apostle Paul was instructed to write to them. Chapter 4 and chapters that follow chronicle events which shall be hereafter in time, describing end time events surrounding the tribulation. Throughout the chapters that follow, the narrative is interspersed with cut scenes, using motion picture parlance, in various places. Often between what is taking place on earth and cut scenes to what is taking place in heaven. Sometimes Apostle John is in a few of these scenes in heaven wherein explanations are given to him on what he is observing in the vision. Similar to the book of Daniel and some of his visions. The 10th chapter is one example. Some schools of theology displace some of the chapters in this book to support their specific view of when the rapture takes place. The 12th chapter in the book of Revelation is one. They use the term parenthetical chapters to justify this action. Based on the literary device called parentheses. A short definition of this term from Google.

“Parenthesis is a stylistic device that comes from the Greek word meaning “to place,” or “alongside.” Parenthesis is a qualifying or explanatory sentence, clause, or word that writers insert into a paragraph or passage. … However, the overuse of parenthesis may make sentences look ambiguous and poorly structure.”

As you can see this device is not intended to be used to displace entire chapters. Context is useful in establishing truths in the Bible. Point in fact scripture shows that the 12th chapter of Revelation cannot be displaced from its position in the book.

Revelation 8:13 KJVS
[13] And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!

The three woes are linked to the last three (5-7) trumpets, first woe takes place when the bottomless pit is opened.

Revelation 9:1,11-12 KJVS
[1] And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. [11] And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. [12] One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.

The second woe takes place after the two witnesses are killed by the beast. To be honest, I have never been able to find where it states the sixth trumpet has sound. But the following verses mentions the second and third woe.

Revelation 11:7,13-14 KJVS
[7] And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. [13] And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. [14] The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.

Notice the third woe comes quickly after the second woe.

Revelation 12:9,12 KJVS
[9] And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. [12] Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

The three woes linked to the last three trumpet entails that the 7th through the 12th chapter in the book of Revelation are linear. I have had some that argued that the third woe happen later in the book of Revelation rather than the woe mentioned in Revelation 12:12. It is a simple matter to use the Strong’s Concordance and see if that is true. I’ll leave that up to the reader. Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy to study to show himself approved 2 Ti 2:15. That is good advice to all Christians. At this point there is no need for me to go overly long regarding the book of Revelation, I already wrote a article concerning the rapture timeline that covers some of the book.

Rapture timeline

I just wanted to give a bit of a overview of the book of Revelation to help the readers get a handle on it.

2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 YLT
[7] and to you who are troubled — rest with us in the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven, with messengers of his power, [8] in flaming fire, giving vengeance to those not knowing God, and to those not obeying the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ; [9] who shall suffer justice — destruction age-during — from the face of the Lord, and from the glory of his strength, [10] when He may come to be glorified in his saints, and to be wondered at in all those believing — because our testimony was believed among you — in that day;

When he shall come to be glorified in his saints

1 Thessalonians 1:1 KJVS
[1] Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1:1 KJVS
[1] Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

The other day I noticed how unique the opening verses of 1&2 Thessalonians were in contrast with the other epistles. Both verses have this phrase in them. “church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:” Which is no coincidence since both epistles contain details surrounding when the Saints are gathered unto the Lord, commonly referred to as the rapture. Which is the fulfillment of the mystery of God, which is Christ in you the hope of glory, Col 1:27. And that glory is realized…

2 Thessalonians 1:10-12 KJVS
[10] When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. [11] Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: [12] That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul mentions this mystery of God, mystery of Christ in regards to the rapture in 1 Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 15:51-53 KJVS
[51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. [53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

The last or seventh trumpet in the book of Revelation is when the mystery of God is finished.

Revelation 10:7 KJVS
[7] But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
Revelation 11:15 KJVS
[15] And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

One should note the phrase “in the days” found in Rev 10:7, that phrase does not limit the mystery of God as being finished just when the seventh trumpet is sounded but in the days when it is sounded. If you are not familiar to the mystery of God you should do a study on the word as it appears in the New Testament. It is the hidden wisdom of God, 1 Co 2:7-8. That was revealed to the Saints of God at a certain point in time.

Colossians 1:25-27 KJVS
[25] Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; [26] Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: [27] To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Our Lord mentions the mystery of the kingdom of God and uttered many parables concerning it. Notice that understanding this mystery has to be make known to you by God, which is also stated in Col. 1:27.

Mark 4:11-13 KJVS
[11] And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: [12] That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. [13] And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?

The Strong’s Concordance definition for the Greek word translated into the English word kingdom is in line with what this mystery is.

Strong’s Definition
From G935; properly royalty that is (abstractly) rule or (concretely) a realm (literally or figuratively): – kingdom + reign.

Properly royalty, royalty that is being prepared to rule and reign with Jesus Christ for a thousand years, Rev 20:6.

John 17:22-23 KJVS
[22] And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: [23] I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

In addition to what has already been written , is a observation I just made regarding verses in the book of Revelation that confirms the observation made about Rev 10:7 above. There are two seed of the woman in the 12th chapter of Revelation, the man child who is caught up to the throne of God, Rev 12:5, and the remnant of the woman’s seed.

Revelation 12:17 KJVS
[17] And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Some if not all of the remnant of the woman’s seed are martyrs for refusing to take the mark of the beast.

Revelation 13:7-8,15 KJVS
[7] And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. [8] And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. [15] And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

These members of the body of Christ also rule and reign with Christ for a thousand years.

Revelation 20:4 KJVS
[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, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped 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.

There are a myriad of scripture verses in the Bible that comprise a complex interrelated whole. A unified theory if you will, of God’s will for man.

Ephesians 1:9-12 KJVS
[9] Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: [10] That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: [11] In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: [12] That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.