Revelation Chapter 1
1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified [it] by his angel unto his servant John:
2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
3 Blessed [is] he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time [is] at hand.
4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
5 And from Jesus Christ, [who is] the faithful witness, [and] the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they [also] which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
9 I John, who also am your brother, and com- panion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lordʼs day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a
book, and send [it] unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks [one] like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
14 His head and [his] hairs [were] white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes [were] as a flame of fire;
15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance [was] as the sun shineth in his strength.
17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
18 I [am] he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
OVERVIEW
An introduction to the whole book.
verse 1 The Revelation of Jesus
The Revelation reveals Christ and is from Christ. Revelation reveals what Christ is doing in Heaven for His church. Hebrews tells us that Christ is our High Priest ministering in Heavenʼs Sanctuary. Revelation reveals the Heavenly Sanctuary and Christ working within. In fact the whole of Revelation is structured around the things seen in the Sanctuary. See general Introduction to Prophecy.
Seven lamps (Rev 4:5).
Altar of incense (Rev 8:3).
Ark of the testimony (Rev 11:19).
God gave the Revelation to Jesus, Who gave it to the angel, who gave it to John, who gives it to us. A revelation is a mystery revealed not sealed (cf. Rev 22:10)
verse 1 Things which must shortly come to pass. Revelation describes things throughout the history of the Church and in this way it has always been true that parts must “shortly come to pass.” Some of the things John describes in the Revelation occurred before John wrote the book.
verse 3 The Blessing
Revelation is the only book of the Bible with a special blessing for those who share it, hear it and keep what they learn. Revelation is full of things mentioned elsewhere in the Bible so the whole Bible must be studied in order to understand the Revelation. This is itself a blessing.
verse 4 The Seven Churches
The book was written to seven specially chosen churches in Johnʼs day and has a message for them.
Preterists say the whole book of Revela- tion applied to the churches of the first century. However much of Revelation obvi- ously concerns the end time.
Futurists apply most of the book to the fu- ture (Rev 4-22). However much of Revela- tion, even among chapters 4-22, describes things which are now past.
Historicists believe that the Revelation had relevance to the seven churches of Johnʼs day but ALSO that those churches were chosen because they represented the conditions of the entire church in seven successive periods throughout the New Testament. Revelation is thus seen to have a message to all Christians in all ages. See General Introduction on Methods of Interpretation.
verses 4-5 Grace & Peace from HIM which is, and which was, and which is to come... AND from the SEVEN SPIRITS which are before His throne...AND from JESUS CHRIST
THE FATHER - “Him which is...was...and is to come”
THE HOLY SPIRIT - “The Seven spirits” See on Rev 4:5.
The Holy Spiritʼs ministry is sevenfold. (Isa 11:2).
Seven times in Rev 2-3 we read, “let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” Just as the things in the sanctuary could not be seen without the candlestick (it was the only source of illumination) so the Spirit makes manifest the truth. The Holy Spirit, the spirit of Christ, shines through His church.
THE SON - “And from Jesus Christ.”
verse 5 First begotten of the dead
Christ is the first in importance of those raised from the dead. Christ died to pay the debt we owe and has made His followers kings and priests.
verse 6 King priests
All true Christians are king-priests. As such all Christians may commune directly with God and are authorized to teach others about God. True Christians are of the priestly order of Melchisedec: king-priests (Heb 7:1). There is a counterfeit kingdom of priests which claim themselves the only mediators between God and men. See on the Little horn in Daniel 7.
verse 7 The Second Coming
Christ will return with clouds just like He went to heaven with clouds, visibly and literally. (See Acts 1:9-11).
Those who crucified Christ will be resurrected to see Him come (Matt 26:64; Dan 12:2).
Jesus returns to receive His people (John 14:2-3) and to reward them with eternal life (1Cor 15:22-23; 1Thess 4:16-17). His return will be the greatest reunion of all time!
Tit 2:13 “Looking for that blessed hope, and [Gr. kai, which often means “EVEN”] the glorious appearing of the great God and [Gr. kai “EVEN”] our Saviour Jesus Christ.”
All Christians look for the blessed hope even the glorious appearing. The churches blessed hope is Christʼs glorious appearing. As there was only one first advent so there will be only one Second Advent. See Appendix.
verses 8, 11 Alpha & Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Christ was, is, and is to come. He is the Son of God who died and rose again (v 18).
verses 9-10 How, Where, Why, When
John gives the circumstances of the vision: How - “In the spirit,” - in vision. Where - On the island of Patmos, a Roman prison colony, in the Agean Sea.
Why - For sharing the testimony of Jesus. When - On the Lordʼs day.
The Lordʼs day
The “Lordʼs day” must not be confused with the “day of the Lord”. The Greek is different. Rev 1:10 shows that the Lord still has a day ~60 years after Calvary when the Revelation was written. Decades after the Bible was finished some writers began to refer to Sunday, the first day of the week, as the Lordʼs day, however the only day the Bible ever calls the Lord day is the seventh day Sabbath (Matt 12:8; Isa 58:13; Exo 20:8-11). The Lord Himself said, “The Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath day.” Mark 2:27,28. The Sabbath is Christʼs day. Christ thus showed Himself to be the Lord Who created all things and the Lord of all Ten Commandments (John 1:3)!
“As a solar festival, Sunday was the sacred day of Mithra; and it is interesting to notice that since Mithra was addressed as Dominus, ʻLord,ʼ Sunday must have been the Lordʼs day long before the Christian times.” Arthur Weigall, The Paganism in Our Christianity, p145.
Daniel 7:25 shows who brought Sunday into the church. See also Sabbath study Revelation 7.
verse 11 Send it (the book of Revelation) to the seven churches The word “church / churches” (Gr. ekklesia) is found 19 times in the Revelation.
18 times in Rev 1-3 and once in Rev 22. Though the word ekklesia (“church”) is not used in Rev 4-21 we should not conclude as do some, that the church is in heaven during the scenes described in Rev 4-22 because:
1. The word “church” is not found anywhere in Johnʼs gospel but the church was obvioulsy present.
2. Rev 4-22 describes scenes of things in heaven and on earth but nowhere is the word ekklesia used. Obviously the church must be present in these passages as a symbol.
3. The church is described in Rev 12 under the symbol of a pure woman. See on Rev 12.
4. The events described in the whole book of Revelation concerns the church and this is why the whole book was given to churches (Rev 1:4).
5. The word “antichrist” is not found in the Revelation but antichrtist is described under various symbols in the Revelation. Likewise the church is represented under various symbols.
6. The church is the body of ALL BELIEVERS of all time. In Acts 7:38 Paul spoke of Israel as the “church,” for they were the church of their time. God will always have people who worship Him on earth to the very end so the church will always be present until the very end. “The harvest is the end of the world.” Matt 13:39. God has “not appointed us to wrath,” that is appointed to the wicked. As God preserved the Church in Noahʼs day so He will preserve His end-time church.
verse 12 Candlesticks - The Churches
See Rev 2 on the seven churches. The seven candlesticks represent the churches (v 20). Christ lovingly tends all His church not just the seven literal churches mentioned. The seven chosen represent ALL His Church through all the Christian Era. The seven candlesticks (Gr. LUCHNIA) of Rev 1:12, should not be confused with the the seven lamps (Gr. LAMPAS) of Rev 4:5. The seven candlesticks represent the “seven CHURCHES” (Rev 1:20). The seven lamps of Revelation 4 represent the “seven SPIRITS” (Rev 4:5; cf. Rev 5:6).
verses 13-17 Christ our Priest
The first actual appearance of Jesus in Revelation is as Priest, One Who ministers for others. Jesus shows His care for the churches (candlesticks) by standing in their midst. (cf. Matt 28:20).
White hair = purity, Ancient of days. Eyes like fire = purifying (Ps 11:4). 7 Candlesticks = seven churches (v 20). 7 Stars in His hand = The ministers of the churches (v 20). Sword = The word of God (Heb 4:12; Rev 19:15, 21). The First and the Last = God (Isa 44:6). Compare Rev 1:13-15 and Dan 10:5-12.
verse 18 Liveth and was dead
Jesus, the Son of God, died to pay our debt and rose from the dead. He has the keys of death and of hell.
“And if Christ be not raised, your faith [is] vain; ye are yet in your sins.” 1Cor 15:7. Jesusʼ resurrected body was not a spirit but made of flesh and bones (Luke 24:39).
His body was raised (John 2:19-21). God gave Christ to mankind and He will ever bear human form. A much finer material will compose the human body, for it is a new creation, a new birth. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a “spiritual body.” (1Cor 15:44-46).
As the antitype of the wave-sheaf offering, our Lord was raised from the dead on the third day, “the first-fruits of them that slept,” (1Cor 15:20; Lev 23:10, 11) a sample of all the resurrected just, whose “vile body” shall be changed, and “fashioned like unto his glorious body.” (Phil 3:21). Because He lives His followers need have no fear of death.
verses 19-20 Candlesticks and stars symbols explained The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
WHAT CAN WE LEARN
Before Revelation speaks of beasts and war it introduces Christ as:
One Who died to pay the debt we owe.
One Who has made us kings & priests.
One Who is Coming again to receive His faithful followers
He gives us hope and encouragement to endure what will come.
One Who cares for His church.
He is our heavenly Priest ministering for us.
THE SECOND COMING - THE RETURN OF THE KING
verse 7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they [also] which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
7* Behold, he cometh [“cometh” is present tense indicating the certainty.
THE SECOND COMING will be VISIBLE and LITERAL
This is the keynote of Revelation. Almost every line of prophecy culminates in the Second Coming with clouds. Christ does not come “behind” clouds but “with” them "and every eye shall see Him,” not just the clouds.
Christ ascended to heaven in “a cloud” (Acts 1:9-11) to begin His ministry in the first appartment of the heavenly sanctuary - the holy place.
“The clouds of heaven” carried Him into the Most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary to begin the investigative judgment (Daniel 7:13).
When the investigative judgment is over He will return in the “clouds of heaven” to receive His people (Matt 24:64; Mark 13:26; John 14:1-3).
The heavenly clouds which transport Christ are the angels as Jesus said, “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him...” Matt 25:31]; and every eye shall see him, Note: It does not say “every eye shall see Him at the same time.” Just as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west and is seen by all in the course of a day, so Jesus said “Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth...For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming [Gr. parousia] of the Son of man be.” Matt 24:26-27.
Notice that Christ’s coming, (Gr. Parousia) will be visible like lightning. There will be nothing secret or invisible about His return. No one will need to be told that Christ has come, for “every eye” will see Him. The Greek word “Parousia” is often used in Scripture to refer to a literal visible arrival and cannot be used to argue for an invisible secret or spiritual coming. A comparison of Matt 24:36-43 & Luke 17:26-37 will show that inspiration uses (Gr. apokolupto) as synonymous with (Gr. parousia). A principle of good Bible interpretation is to take the Bible as it reads unless there is good reason not to. There is no reason to interpret “see Him” to mean anything other than “see Him.”
As the disciples watched Christ ascend to heaven two angels told them that “this same Jesus [flesh & bone, not a spirit. Luke 24:39], which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1:9-11 Christ was taken up to heaven literally, bodily, visibly. Though none of the wicked saw Christ ascend at this time the Scriptures teach that ALL will see Him return.
“Immediatelly after the tribulation of those days shall...ALL the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming [Gr. parousia] in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory....” Matt 24:29-30.
In vision John saw that at Christ’s return all the wicked, “...hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:” Revelation 6:14-16. They will see Him.
Will Christ’s return be noisy?
“Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.” Ps 50:3
Matt 24:31 “And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”
“So Christ...[shall] APPEAR the second time without sin unto salvation.” Heb 9:28.
What isthe purpose of Christ’s return?
Christ’s returns to receive His people (John 14:2-3) who will be resurrected at His return:
“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's AT HIS COMING [Gr. parousia].” 1 Cor 22-23.
“And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.” Mark 13:26.
“ For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thess 4:16-17.
Note: Those “dead in Christ” are resurrected and ascend together with those living in Christ at Christ’s coming. As none of those living in Christ have been caught up into the clouds yet, it is clear that this resurrection of the dead in Christ has not yet occurred] and they [also] which pierced him [John alone records the piercing of Christ. John 19:37 quoting from Zech 12:10. This is indirectly evidence that the author of the gosplel is the author of the Revelation.
Christ told those who condemned Him, “...Hereafter shall YE see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven..” Matt 26:64. These individuls who died 2000 years ago will be resurrected to see the return in glory of Him whom they condemned. The most violent persecutors of Christ and His people will rise to witness His return in a special resurrection (Acts 2:36; 9:5; See on Dan 12:1]: and all kindreds of the earth [the wicked] shall wail [literally cut themselves. A reference to gashing or smiting one’s body as a sign of great grief. Here it refers to the remorse of the lost. cf. Jer 8:20] because of him. Even so, Amen [Clearly ALL will be aware of His return including those with no spiritual discernment (Matt 24:29-30)].
What has been the blessed hope of Christians throughout the ages?
Tit 2:13 Looking for that BLESSED HOPE AND THE GLORIOUS APPEARING of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” The word “and” here is from the Greek kai, which often means “even.” The great God, EVEN our Saviour Jesus Christ. The blessed hope EVEN the glorious appearing.
Will Jesus return the second time?
“So Christ...shall... appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” Hebrews 9:28 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:3.
In what manner will Jesus return?
“A cloud received him out of their SIGHT. And while they LOOKED stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye GAZING up into heaven? THIS SAME JESUS which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come IN LIKE MAN- NER as ye have SEEN him go into heaven. “ Acts 1:9-11
As Christʼs ascended Bodily, Visibly, Liter- ally so He will return in the same way.
Will Christ really appear visibly at His second Coming?
“So Christ...shall... APPEAR the second time without sin unto salvation.” Hebrews 9:28
Christʼs first appearance was very literal & visible so He will APPEAR the second a time.
Will Christʼs 2nd Coming be visible to everyone?
“Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him... and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.” Rev 1:7
“And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven; and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.“ Matt 24:30
Clealry the righteous AND the wicked see Jesus return. Rev 1:10 does not say Jesus comes “behind” clouds, but with them. “Every eye shall see HIM.”
Note: Rev 1:7 does not say Jesus comes “behind” clouds, but “with clouds.” “Every eye shall see HIM.” Neither does Rev 1:7 say that He will seen by all “at the same time.” Christʼs coming will be “from east to west” (See next point). Just as the sun rising in the east & setting in the west is seen by all in the course of a day, so the Sun of righteousness will be seen by every eye on the last day.
What does Christ liken His return to?
“For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matthew 24:27. Note: Lightning is VERY visible.
Who will return with Jesus & why?
“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and ALL the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory.” Matthew 25:31.
“And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall GATH- ER TOGETHER HIS ELECT from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Matt 24:31.
What is the purpose of Jesus returning to the earth?
“And if I go and prepare a place for you [i.e. the mansions in heaven], I WILL COME AGAIN, AND RECEIVE YOU UNTO MYSELF; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:3
“And, behold, I come quickly; and MY REWARD IS WITH ME, TO GIVE every man according as his work shall be.” Revelation 22:12.
Christ returns to receive all His people and to give them the rerward of eternal life!
What will happen to the righteous when Jesus comes the second time?
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a SHOUT, with the voice of the archangel, and with the TRUMP of God: and THE DEAD IN CHRIST SHALL RISE FIRST: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thess 4:16-17.
Notice that the “dead in Christ” will ascend into the clouds TOGETHER with those living in Christ.
“...they [the faithful dead, Abel, Enoch etc.] without us should not be made perfect.” Hebrews 11:40.
All the faithful will be perfected TOGETHER when Jesus Returns. The Dead saints will come to life again and TOGETHER with those who remain alive till the Second Coming, Rise to meet Jesus in the clouds. See previous text.
“For as in Adam ALL die, even so in Christ shall ALL be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they THEY THAT ARE CHRISTʼS AT HIS COMING.” 1Cor 15:23.
ALL those that are Christʼs and are still sleeping in their graves will be made alive AT CHRISTʼS SECOND COMING.
Will the resurrection at Jesus Coming take place over a long period of time?
“And this is the will of him that sent me, that EVERYONE which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up AT THE LAST DAY.” John 6:40.
“And this is the Fatherʼs will which hath sent me, that of ALL which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again AT THE LAST DAY.” John 6:39
Obviously the resurrection will occur at the LAST DAY not over a long period of time.
What will happen to the righteous when Jesus comes the second time?
“ Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which ALL that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life...” John 5:28-29.
ALL the righteous that are still in their graves will rise in the resurrection of life at the Second Coming.
What wonderful thing will occur for the righteous when Jesus comes the second time?
“We shall ALL be changed, 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. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-53.
At Christʼs Coming ALL will be changed.
What else happens to the righteous at the second coming?
“We look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body.” Philippians 3:20-21.
Christ will bestow a glorious immortal body on His people when He returns.
What is this resurrection of the righteous called?
“... This [is] the first resurrection. Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, ” Rev 20:5, 6.
“...the resurrection of the just.” Luke 14:14. Will every case be decided before Christ returns? “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward [is] with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Rev 22:11-12.
There will only be two classes when Christ returns, the saved and the eternally lost. There will be no second chance for the wicked after the Second Coming.
What happens to the wicked at Christ's second coming?
“ And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man... the flood came, and destroyed them ALL. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot... it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed [them] ALL. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.” Luke 17:26-30. When Christ returns ALL the wicked will be destroyed.
What does it mean “One shall be taken and the other left?”
“And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man... and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days
of Lot... it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed [them] all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed....In that night...one shall be taken and the other shall be left...And they answered and said unto him, Where Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles [vultures] be gathered together.” Luke 17:26-30. As it was in the days of Noah and Lot, so shall it be in the day the Son of man returns. Those left behind will be left behind DEAD! As it says in Rev 19:17, a supper for vultures!
What will happen to the wicked when Jesus comes the second time?
“...the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction...” 2Thess 1:7-9.
What will happen to The Beast when Jesus comes the second time?
At the second Coming: “[the beast and the false prophet]...were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which [sword] proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.” Rev 19:20-21.
When Christ returns ALL the living wicked will be slain.
What will happen to the wicked when Jesus comes the second time?
“...the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they [i.e. the wicked] shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” 1Thess 5:2-3.
What will happen to the wicked when Jesus comes the second time?
“With the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.” Isaiah 11:4; cf. 2Thess 2:8.
“And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth.” Jeremiah 25:33.
There will not be one wicked soul left alive on the earth when Christ returns.
What effect will Jesus Coming have on the earth itself?
“I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place [was] a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, [and] by his fierce anger.” Jer 4:26
“Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste... The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the LORD hath spoken this word.” Isa 24:1
Christʼs return will result in total devastation. The earth will be “utterly emptied.”
“...and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, [and] so great...And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.” Rev 16:18-20.
“ I beheld the earth, and, lo, [it was] without form, and void; and the heavens, and they [had] no light. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and, lo, [there was] no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled..” Jer 4:23.
With ALL the saints caught up into the clouds and taken to the mansions Christ has prepared (John 14:1-3), and with ALL the wicked slain, the earth will be utterly empty. There will be “NO man.”
Will the Christʼs Second Coming come as a surprise?
As the Lordʼs coming is to be “as a thief in the night” isnʼt it going to be a SECRET?
“For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.” 1Thess 5:2-4 Note: It will come as a thief, unexpectedly, to the unprepared but NOT to the faithful Christian who has noticed the signs of the times. Jesus shows that “as a thief” means unexpectedly, not invisibly. See Luke 12:39. Jesus will come again at a time the unprepared donʼt expect (Matt 24:44-51).
What signs are there that the day is near?
Wars & rumours of wars (Luke 21:9)
Distress in nation (Luke 21:25-26)
Increase in knowledge (Dan 12:4)
Scoffers & Skeptics (2Pet 3:3; 2 Tim 4:3-4)
Moral degeneracy (2Tim 3:1-5)
Craze for pleasure (2Tim 2:4) Vain sporting rivalry, evil games.
Increasing lawlessness (Matt 24:12; 2Tim 3:13)
Destructive earthquakes, famines & diseases (Luke 21:11)
95% of the world now have access to the gospel (Matt 24:14)
Spiritualism (1Tim 4:1; Rev 16:14) Supposed communictions with the dead.
How near is Christʼs second coming?
“...when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, [even] at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.” Matt 24:33-34.
We do not know the day nor the hour but the signs show that our Lordʼs return is very close.
How may we be ready when Jesus comes?
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Rev 3:20.
“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, [even] our faith.” 1John 5:4
Let Jesus into your heart so He can change your life. If you will let Him in and believe His words He will forgive your sins and give you power to overcome the world. It is so simple that many doubt it, but itʼs true.
QUESTIONS As the Lordʼs coming is to be “as a thief in the night” isnʼt it going to be a secret?
“For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.” 1Thess 5:2-4. Note: That day will come as a thief to the unprepared but NOT to the faithful Chris- tian. Jesus shows that “as a thief” means unexpectedly, not invisibly. See Luke 12:39. The wicked at the time of the Flood showed the same unexpectedness (Matt 24:38-39).
Please explain “One shall be taken and the other left”?
“And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man... and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days
of Lot... it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed [them] all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed....In that night...one shall be taken and the other shall be left...And they answered and said unto him, Where Lord? And he said unto them, Whereso- ever the body is, thither will the eagles [vultures] be gathered together.” Luke 17:26-30. As it was in the days of Noah and Lot, so shall it be in the day the Son of man returns. Those left behind on earth will be left behind DEAD! A supper for vultures! (Rev 19:17).
ONE FALSE THEORY IS THE INVISIBLE RETURN OF CHRIST
In John 14:19 Jesus said “Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me...” After His crucifixion & burial the world would see Jesus no more. The text does not say that the world would “NEVER” see Him again. The texts mentioned in the comment on this verse show plainly that they will.
1Tim 6:16 says God is “dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see.” This text speaks of the past and the present, “Hath” & “can”. The text does not however teach that no man “will” ever see God in the future. Job said, “...in my flesh shall I see God:” Job 19:26. Jesus said, “Blessed [are] the pure in heart: for they shall SEE God.” Matt 5:8. Rev 22:4 says: "And they shall see his face..."
Matt 24:30 “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall SEE the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”
“And then shall they SEE the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” Luke 21:27.
Matt 26:64 “...Hereafter shall ye SEE the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming [Gr. erchomai - to come from one place to another...to appear, make one's appearance. Strong’s Greek Dictionary] in the clouds of heaven.”]
May God bless you as you study into these things for the time is at hand. Elias
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