Book of Revelation

John pauses his story before the seventh “seal” judgment to show us two groups of people—what they have seen, felt, and experienced up to this point.

This is a series of short expositions of Revelation 4-22 from a futurist perspective. Follow along with a timeline here.

We continue our discussion of Revelation 6 from last time with the third horseman, who corresponds to the third “seal” on the scroll Jesus opens throughout most of this book (Rev 6-16).

This is a series of short expositions of Revelation 4-22 from a futurist perspective. Follow along with a timeline here.

In Revelation 6, the apostle John shows us the first six divine seal-judgments in rapid succession. He handles them in barely a few sentences each. While these first six judgments are terrible, the Lord seems to save his powder for the seventh and final act of vengeance—an event which runs from Revelation 8-18.

This is a series of short expositions of Revelation 4-22 from a futurist perspective. Follow along with a timeline here.

As John watches, the lamb cracks open the first seal binding the scroll together (Rev 6:1). There are 19 judgments contained within the seven seals, which expand outward like a telescoping hiking pole (see the outline):

This is a series of short expositions of Revelation 4-22 from a futurist perspective. Follow along with a timeline here.

This is a series of short expositions of Revelation 4-22 from a futurist perspective. Follow along with a timeline here.

We now wrap up our discussion about Revelation 3:10 (see Part 1). We’ve considered (a) what this “time of testing” is, and (b) who Jesus protects. Now, we turn to the burning question—what does the apostle John mean when he says believers will be “kept from” this time of testing?

Here is the passage—what kind of protection is Jesus promising? Physical removal from the scene, or protection from danger during the time of testing?

The “pre-tribulation rapture” is the belief that Jesus will remove the church (the living and the dead) from the earth before the great tribulation. Faithful Christians who believe this often cite Revelation 3:10 as a key proof for this doctrine. However, the preponderance of evidence does not support this claim.

Read the series.

I am convinced that the Book of Revelation ought to be interpreted as a prophecy and that its numbers and symbols have identifiable referents either close by or in other Books of the Bible. I have therefore given a list of works espousing the Dispensational point of view. Not that non-Dispensational writers aren’t useful, but accuracy of interpretation must come first. I have made note also of some non-dispensational works.

The traditional Advent theme is that Jesus is on the way. Old covenant prophesies tell us so. Today, I offer something a bit different—a sketch of how Jesus defeats Satan.