Things To Come - End-Time Visions

 Dear Saints:

As we begin our study of Revelation chapter 4 to 22, we enter into a different territory. We move from “things which are” here on earth to “the things which will take place after this”. We move into the realm of heavenly visions Jesus gave to Apostle John.

 “After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.” Revelation 4:1.

We are moving into Christian Eschatology, the “theology concerned with death, judgment, and the final destiny of the soul and of humankind”; of last things, end times and Christian hope. Eschatology in the book of Revelation is broad, wide, and narrow and subject to various understandings of what exactly the Scriptural texts are saying; and interpretations of what they mean to us and how they govern our lives.

Most of us bring presuppositions into the reading and understanding of the book of Revelation. As a result, we may all approach it differently. Our differences stop at our absolute unity on specific issues. We must believe that Jesus Christ is God, who came in the flesh, lived a perfect life, died for us on the cross for the atonement and forgiveness of our sins; He was buried and He rose from death after the third day thereby guaranteeing and securing our own resurrection; Christ then ascended into heaven and He is coming back again for us so that we will be with Him forever. That in a nutshell is the Gospel, our greatest HOPE.

We also agree and believe that Jesus is the Lord of lords and King of Kings who has conquered Satan and will triumphantly bring us to the ultimate victory and will finally bring judgement on Satan and the evil ones and the unbelieving. And that Jesus Christ as the King will surely return to rule and reign forever. Amen. Caution: Anyone who states the exact date and time of Christ's return is a FALSE prophet.

Beyond the above points of absolute unity, various well-meaning true followers of Jesus have different positions on the end times. There are in essence six main positions or schools of thought. These are namely, the Premillennial, Postmillennial, and Amillennial with regards to the meaning of the 1000 years (Revelation 20) relative to His return, rule and reign of Christ before the final judgment and the final entry of saints of all times into eternity.

There are also positions of the Pretribulation, Mid-tribulation, Post-tribulation with regards to when Jesus will return physically to earth for His saints relative to the event described as the “Great Tribulation”.  See Daniel 9:27; and 12:1; Matthew 24:3-28 and Revelation 6-18.

You can do a quick study of these positions by a quick google of the phrases. In whichever position you end up believing, please know that I love you and the body of Christ loves you. I also request you love us back for whatever position any other true believer in Christ may hold.

These end-time positions are in-house, family debates and not show-stoppers. A show-stopper and a non-negotiable position is one saying that Jesus is not God because if He is not God, then He is imperfect and sinful and therefore cannot save us. Only a Holy God can be our perfect atonement sacrifice for our sins. Listen to Jesus: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8. Jesus Christ is God Almighty.

When I look at the end of the last chapter 22 of Revelation, we see this warning. “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; ¹⁹ and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” Revelation 22:18-19.

Some see the above admonition and refuse to read the book of Revelation. That is wrong. Jesus gave these revelations to us and will help us understand what He is saying to us. It also means that we must walk gently and approach the book with the utmost humility since we do not have perfect knowledge yet. May love above all things rule our hearts to see the revealed Jesus; and to see what doom await those who do not believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior. With this knowledge, we must rise up with all passion to sound the alarm of the Gospel to our friends, enemies, neighbors and family members so that they can escape the ultimate judgment of God.

Finally, above all, make sure that your name and my name is written in the “Book of Life”. This is the only book that matters at the end. May you be found in the book of life by repenting of your sins (for all have sinned) and trusting in Jesus Christ who has paid and forgiven our sins forever. May you help someone else enter the book of life by introducing him/her to Jesus, the only Savior, the only Way, the only Truth and the only Life and Life-giver. Amen.

Please enjoy reading the book of Revelation from beginning to end. Read it and keep reading and ask God to give you understanding. The Holy Spirit will surely reveal Himself to you through the book of Revelation. Please study with me and lets together discover the book of Revelation. Let’s allow the author-the Holy Spirit and the book speak to us from every page. Amen.

I am eagerly waiting and looking forward to Jesus Christ’s return. Are You? ”He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! ²¹ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen”. Revelation 22:20-21.