10. War in the heavens.

And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and the dragon and his angels fought back.’ (Revelation 12:7) There is a battle being waged above our heads that we aren’t aware of but we experience the everday effects of this struggle as we live our lives on earth. ‘For our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm.’ ( Ephesians 6:12)

Two parallel histories seem to occur simultaneously: one on earth and the other in heaven. However the Bible views them together. The ‘Revelation’ (Greek : Apokalypsis meaning ‘uncovering’ ) or parting of the curtain, allowed John to have a quick look behind the scenes and to witness for himself, the war in the heavens and its impact on earth. Little did Daniel know what was involved, when he started to pray until the Angel told him: ‘Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding … your words were heard and I came in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty one days. Then Michael, one of the princes came to help me because I was detained there with the king of Persia … soon I will return to fight the prince of Persia and when I go, the prince of Greece will come … I took my stand to support and protect Michael. ” ( Daniel 10:12- 11:1) These comments by the angelic messenger hint of heavenly warfare, human beings know little about. As we fight the good fight of faith against evil on earth, the supernatural universe seems to be simultaneously at war and sometimes it can break out into actual violence on earth. Isn’t it unusual for a war to end in six days and for a nation to capture enemy territory thrice its own size? But it did happen in June 1967 when Egypt, Jordan and Syria declared war against the nation of Israel. (Iraq later joined the Arab coalition). But the war was over in a matter of days after Israel seized control of Gaza, West Bank (including east Jerusalem), Sinai peninsula and Golan heights. Strangely, it was reported that people saw visions of angels descending on earth and undoubtedly, it affected the outcome of the war. (Promised Land, 2005, by Derek prince)

A war is being waged on this planet between good and evil, a war that reflects a larger struggle in the whole universe. But no matter where it is fought, God is in control. Events are marching onward to a definite climax as each player unwittingly ends up fulfilling God’s plan and purpose. But what is the mission of the Church, in this battle? The mission of the Church is to establish God’s Kingdom on earth. So we were taught to pray : ‘Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth (by men) as it is done in heaven (by angels)’. We are not called to a physical combat with the forces of darkness but to fight the good fight of faith. Hence,‘the weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, we have divine power to demolish strongholds.’ ( 2 Corinthians 10:4) Therefore ‘put on the full armour of God … the belt of truth buckled around your waist … the breastplate of righteousness in place … feet fitted with the boots of peace … take up the shield of faith… helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit… and pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayer and request. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (Ephesians 6:13-18) May God open our eyes to see that ‘those who are with us is more than those who are with them’, just as he opened Elisha’s servant’s eyes : ‘… he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.’ (2Kings 6:16-17) Amen.

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Qn 12. If Rapture happens before tribulation, how can the words of Jesus in Matthew 24 : 31 come true ?

And he shall send his angels with a loud trumpet call and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.” ( Mt 24 : 31 )
You might have noticed that in this passage from Matthew, he only mentions about the gathering of the elect who are dead, from the ends of the heavens and not the gathering of the elect who are living, from the ends of the earth, probably because none of the elect survived the tribulation. The only ones who will be protected during the tribulation and escape from being beheaded are the 144,000 from the tribes of Israel ( Rev 7 : 4 ) because they had the seal of the living God on their foreheads ( Rev 7 : 3 ). They are the first fruits from among the Jews and they will be ‘snatched’ (Greek : Harpazo, the same word used in 1 Thess 4 : 17 to denote Rapture ) upto God (Rev 12 : 5 ) and will be seen with the Lamb ( Rev 14 : 1-3 )
As said earlier, the gathering of the saints who are dead in Christ and those who are still alive and left, at his secret coming in the clouds, will happen at Rapture and they will be with the Lord forever ( 1 Thess 4 : 17). So they are not the ones who need to be gathered again at the second coming of Jesus because they will have been with him during the tribulation and they will be also be with him at his second coming ( Rev 19 : 14, Jude Vs 14 ) But it is the tribulation saints ( both Gentiles and Jews ) who will be beheaded during the tribulation, who needs to be gathered ( not in the heavens but on earth because it will happen after the second coming of Jesus, when he takes his seat on the throne in Jerusalem – Lk 1 : 32, Mt 25 : 31 )

Here then are the references about the elect who will be beheaded :-
I saw under the altar souls of those ( mostly Gentiles ) who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained.’ ( Rev 6 : 9 )
And I saw … those ( mostly Jews ) who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held harps .. and sang the song of Moses …’ ( Rev 15 : 2 – 3 )

Here is the reference of these two groups being gathered together :-
And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshipped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. The rest of the dead ( the wicked in Hades ) did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.’ ( Rev 20 : 4 )
( The wicked people who survive the tribulation, will go into the millennium but from among them and their children, many will be gathered by Satan , at the end of the thousand years, for the final rebellion against God – Rev 20 : 8 – 9)

So coming back to your question: Will all the elect be slain? It is not explicitly said so in the Scriptures but it is implicit .
Then I heard a voice from heaven say,” Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” ( Rev 14 : 13 )
But if some of the elect escape from being beheaded and survive the tribulation, they will have to be gathered ( not in the heavens but on earh because it will happen after the second coming of Jesus, when he takes his seat on the throne in Jerusalem ), before the Millennial rule of Christ, provided they never worshipped the image or took the mark of the beast (Rev 14 : 9 – 11 ). Probably that could be the reason why Mark also added : ‘from the ends of the earth …’ ( Mk 13 : 27 ). But that reference doesn’t alter the course of events nor support the arguement for a post-trib rapture.

Qn 11. Does not Revelation 6 : 11 say that only those who are predestined to be martyred will be killed and not everyone?

Then each of them was given a white robe and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed.’ ( Rev 6 : 11 )

The full number of Gentiles have to come in, before Israel will be saved ( Ro 11 : 25 ) and those who didn’t get saved before rapture were saved during the tribulation and that is the number Rev 6 : 11 refers to. Indeed the number of Gentiles who will be saved during the tribulation is know by God and they are the ones being addressed as ‘brethren’.
If we go by your assumption that all of them were not slain, shall the same apply to Rev 13 : 15, which says the beast that came up from the earth ‘ caused all who refused to worship the image to be killed’ ? So the ones who escaped earlier in Rev 6 : 11, will now face the inevitable martyrdom or should we assume again that some of them escaped for 1 Thess 4 : 17 to be fulfilled ? If so, when are they going to be raptured? At the second coming of Jesus ? Why go up when Jesus and all the holy ones are coming down ? ( Rev 19 : 11)

All through the Bible we see that when God judged the wicked, the righteous escaped his wrath. Ex : Noah from the Floods, Lot from Sodom, the Hebrews from the plagues in Egypt, Rahab from the fall of Jericho etc and these narratives unequivocally back up this Scripture :
For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (1Thess 5 : 9 )

But the strongest argument for a pre-trib rapture is the fact that the ‘man of lawlessness’ cannot be revealed unless the person of the Holy Spirit leaves the earth ( 2Thess 2 : 6 ) and the Holy Spirit will not leave without the Bride of Christ going along with Him. ( Just as Eliezer, the servant of Abraham would not return without taking along with him Rebecca as a bride for Issac, the ‘offspring’ of Abraham, so also the Holy Spirit will not return without taking along with him the Church as a bride for Christ, the ‘seed’ of Abraham.)
Together they wait for the appointed time ! ‘The Spirit and bride say, “Come!” (Rev 22 : 17 )
Maranatha!

Qn 10. How can Christians abandon their faith if they are raptured ?

The truth of the matter is, not all are going to be raptured but only those who have the Holy Spirit in them or in other words are born again.
Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession.’ ( Eph 1 : 13 – 14 )
I tell you the truth, no one can enter the Kingdom of God unless he is born of the water and the Spirit.” ( Jn 3 : 5 )

Unfortunately many Christians are not born again and they will find themselves left behind. Some might abandon their faith whereas many will realize the truth and will take a stand for Jesus and will be saved.

When he opened fifth seal, I saw under the altar souls who have been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained … they were told to wait a little longer until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed.’ ( Rev 6 : 9 – 11 )
After this I looked and there before me was a multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.
“Who are they and where did they come from? … These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
( Rev 7 : 13 -14 )
And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God … They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.’ ( Rev 20:4 )
Both the raptured saints and the tribulation saints will reign with Christ.

Many think that the dispensation of grace ends before the tribulation but it actually ends with the tribulation because multitudes of Gentiles are going to be saved during the first half of the tribulation and thereafter a remnant of the Jews during the second half of the tribulation. In short, the grace for salvation is available until the second coming of Jesus. If it is not for grace, how can these tribulation saints stand for Jesus, even to the point of being beheaded ?
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith.’ (Eph 2 : 8)

Qn 9. Is the parable of the ten virgins referring exclusively to the Jewish nation?

The context in which Jesus said this parable was Mt 24:3
Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age ?”
At that time the Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom … The bridegroom was a long time in coming and they all became drowsy and fell asleep…” ( Mt 25 : 1 – 12 )
Just because Jesus used a Jewish custom to predict the state of the Church, in the last days, it doesn’t make the parable exclusively for the Jew. Even if it is, the warning is relevant to both the Jew and the church.
Keep watch because you do not know the day or hour.” ( Vs 13 )
So what difference does it make?

Qn 8. Is the wedding supper, the seven years in heaven ?

We read about the announcement of the wedding supper in the 19th Chapter of Revelation, towards the close of the 7 years. Why not earlier, soon after Rapture ?
Let us rejoice and and give him glory ! For the wedding of the Lamb has come and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean was given her to wear … Then the angel said to me, “Write : Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” ( Rev 19 : 7 – 10 )
Since both the Raptured saints and the Tribulation saints together make the bride of Christ, the wedding will have to wait until all of the tribulation saints are beheaded.
So the wedding supper is not the entire seven years but towards the end of it. Since it happens in heaven, it is definitely not in the Millennium or even at the second coming of Jesus.
( The Raptured saints will have experienced a bodily resurrection, earlier at Rapture but the Tribulation saints will experience a bodily resurrection only after the second coming but before the Millennial rule of Christ. (Rev 20 : 4 )
It shouldn’t surprise us then that the tribulation saints too will be found wearing fine linen at the wedding of the Lamb because John had seen earlier in his vision, these souls in heaven and they were found wearing white robes and holding palm branches even before they experienced a bodily resurrection. )
When the fifth seal was opened, I saw under the altar the souls who were beheaded … Then each of them was given a white robe …’ ( Rev 6 : 9 – 12 )
After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.’ (Rev 7 : 9 ) … These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. ( Rev 7 : 14 )

Qn 6. Will the Raptured saints and the Tribulation saints be rewarded together at the second coming of Jesus ?

The only references we have are the following and from these we have to make an inference :
Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad because great is your reward in heaven for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you …” ( Mt 12 : 11 – 12 )
In his great mercy he has given us new birth … into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept on heaven for you …’ (1Pt 1 : 4 )
These New Testament passages do reveal that there is a reward in heaven but it doesn’t tell us when it will given. But this Old Testament passage does hint of a possible time :
As for you, go your way till the end.You will rest and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.” ( Dan 12 : 13 )
So could it be that the Raptured saints will receive their reward in heaven but the Tribulation saints, who will come to life to rule with Christ for a thousand years, will receive their reward on earth, before the Millennial rule of Christ ? It should be or else, how is the reward distinct for those who are faithful now ?

Qn 4. When will the Antichrist be revealed ?

The Antichrist will mimic Christ in every possible way, even following the same time line.
Jesus was 30 years old when he began his ministry’ ( Lk 3 : 23 ).The first year was the year of his inauguration and the second year was the year of his popularity and the third year was the year of opposition, after which he was killed at the age of 33 & 1/2 years following which ‘he was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead’ ( Ro 1 : 4 ) and was worshipped ( Mt 28 : 17 ) and was given all authority in heaven and on earth. ( Vs 18)

So also when the Antichrist ‘rides out as a conqueror bent on conquest’ (Rev 6 : 2), he will probably be 30 years old and will gain popularity in the years that follow. But after 3 & 1/2 years, he will receive a fatal wound, probably from an assassination attempt, but will be miraculously healed and thereafter will receive great authority and will be worshipped.
And I saw a beast coming out of the sea … The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. One of the heads of the beast seemed to have a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished and followed the beast. Men worshipped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast and they also worshipped the beast …’ ( Rev 13 : 1 – 4 ).
Then I saw another beast coming out of the earth … He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived … and cause all who refuse to worship the image will be killed. ( Rev 13 : 11 – 15 )

Just as it was revealed only after 3 & 1/2 years into his ministry, that Jesus was the Messiah ( Mt 16 : 20 ), following his death and resurrection, so also will the man of lawlessness, the man doomed to destruction, the Antichrist be revealed only half way into the tribulation when he claims to be the ‘Messiah’, following his fatal injury and recovery, thus mimicking Christ’s death and resurrection.
He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshipped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.’ ( 2 Thess 2 : 4 )
“He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven’. In the middle of the ‘seven’, he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple, he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.” ( Dan 9 : 27 )

Qn 3. Are there other scriptural references about the Antichrist making a covenant with Israel other than the one in Daniel 9:27 ?

This is the last hour and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many have come’. ( 1Jn 2 :18 )

Since the ones who came before were forerunners, it would be Scripturally sound to apply those passages pertaining to them to the one to come. Two passages in Daniel, that scholars believe match the description of Antiochus IV of Syria, who was the the Jew’s worst enemy in history until Hitler, does speak prophetically about the coming AntiChrist.
“… a master of intrigue will arise. He will become very strong but not by his own power … he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed but not by human power.” ( Dan 8 : 23 – 25 )
He will invade a kingdom when it’s people feel secure and he will seize it through intrigue … after coming into an agreement … will act deceitfully and with a few people will rise to power… his armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation ( Rev 13 : 14 ). With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the ‘covenant’ but the people who know their God will firmly resist him … he will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard of things against the God of gods. ( Rev 13 : 5 – 6 ) He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed for what has been determined has to take place … yet he will come to his end.” ( Dan 11 : 21 – 45 )

Since the AntiChrist is the ‘false Christ’, he will do everything possible to deceive the elect.
For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive the elect – if that were possible.” ( Mt 24 : 24 )
So it makes sense for the AntiChrist to make a covenant with the Jews because they will not believe him to be the ‘Messiah’ unless he does.

Qn 2. Is there a scriptural basis for a ‘7’ year tribulation ?

Since the book of Revelation doesn’t specify that the tribulation lasts 7 years, it is obviously based on the passage in Dan 9 : 27, where it says : “And ‘he’ will confirm the covenant with many for one ‘seven’ and in the midst of the ‘seven’ shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease …” But there exists an ambiguity about who this ‘he’ is ! Some believe ‘he’ refers to the ‘prince of the people’, the Antichrist who too will arise from the territory of the erstwhile but resurgent Roman empire, while others believe that ‘he’ refers to ‘Messiah the Prince’ mentioned in Vs 25. So they interpret that Jesus made a covenant with Israel for one ‘seven’ at the start of his ministry ( though there is no scriptural reference to back this view other than Dan 9 : 27 ) but he was rejected and crucified 3 & 1/2 years later, leaving Israel with just another 3 & 1/2 years, which would be the second half of the seven years, after which they will be restored.

It then makes sense that the Antichrist too will enter into a seven year covenant with Israel at the start of his reign, in a bid to deceive the elect, if that were possible but will violate it midway. In that case both these interpretations seem to be compatible and run parallel to each other without creating a clash in our understanding. So either way the ‘7’ year timeline seems to be consistent.

Qn 1. Where does the Bible call the 7 years as ‘tribulation’ ?

The only time we come across the word tribulation’ in the Bible is in Rev 7 : 14, when John the Apostle was told by one of the 24 elders : “These are they who came out of the great tribulation…” It is the translation of the Greek word ‘thlipsis’, which means trouble, distress, oppression, tribulation. But there are many other passages that refer to this period of time.

There will be a time of distress such as not happened from the beginning of nations until then.” ( Dan 12 : 1 )
For then there shall be great distress unequaled from the beginning of the world until now – and never to be equaled again.” ( Mt 24 : 21 )
I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.” ( Rev 3 : 10 ) etc.

So the word that is used in the book of Revelation to collectively address this period of time has been translated as ‘tribulation’.

5. The mystery of the 7 Churches and the 7 Angels.

Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches : to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyathira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea.” (Rev 1 : 11 )

The cities mentioned were actual cities in the ancient world where a church existed. John listed them in the order in which a messenger on the road would have found them, starting with the chief city of Ephesus and then circling back clockwise. The cities lie in what is now part of modern Turkey. But none of these churches survived the religious wars that took place. However these seven churches represent the universal church throughout the age. Since these churches existed at the same time, it would be irrational to interpret them as different periods of the church age. According to this interpretation, the Church age has been divided into different periods based on Church history.
Ephesus upto 170 AD
Smyrna upto 312 AD
Pergamos upto 606 AD
Thyathira upto 1517 AD
Sardis upto 1750 AD
Philadelphia upto 1900 AD
Laodicea upto Rapture.
The fallacy of such an interpretation is the notion that we are in the Laodicean period of lukewarmness and therefore there can’t be an endtime revival. Yet the greatest revivals happened after 1900 AD. The Welsh revival in 1904, Asuza street revival in 1906, the healing revivals from 1947, the latter rain movement in 1949, the Charismatic revival in 1959, Jesus movement in 1970, just to mention a few ! Infact the 20th century has witnessed more awakenings and revivals worldwide than in the centuries preceding it.

In addition to this incongruity, some have even gone to the extent of identifying the seven angels of the seven churches, as men through whom these periods of church history were ushered. That is because the Greek word ‘angelos’, which was translated as ‘angels’ or ‘messengers’, could mean either angelic or human messengers or even both.
But whom did John see in his vision? “The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand … are the angels of the seven churches …” ( Rev 1 : 20 )
‘I saw the seven angels who stand before God and to them were given the seven trumpets.’ ( Rev 8 : 2 )
Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues.’ ( Rev 15 : 6 )
So undoubtedly he was speaking about angels ! Just because the letters to the churches were written to the ‘messengers’ of the seven churches, does it mean that the seven stars in the right hand of Jesus were men ? ( William M Branham taught about the seven church ages and identified St Paul, St Irenaeus, St Martin, St Columba, Martin Luther and John Wesley as the six ‘messengers’ that preceded him and declared himself to be the seventh and last messenger to the Laodicean church. No wonder the ministry he founded eventually became a Christian cult! )

What then is the central message in all these letters to the churches ? A searching of the hearts by the ‘one who stood among the seven golden lampstands’, revealed the state of the churches, which otherwise is the state of believers themselves :
Ephesus the ‘loveless’ church,
Smyrna the ‘suffering’ church,
Pergamos the ‘worldly’ church ,
Thyathira the ‘adulterous’ church,
Sardis the ‘hypocritical’ church,
Philadelphia the ‘faithful’ church and
Laodicea the ‘complacent’ church.
The call to repentance rings through the letters and five out of the seven churches were admonished to repent. But it was to the ‘faithful’ believer that Jesus promised : “See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have so that no one will take your crown.” (Rev 3 : 8 – 11 )
So whatever be the period we are in or whichever be the church that we attend, what matters is our obedience, if we want to ‘escape all that is about to happen and be able to stand before the son of man.’ ( Lk 21 : 36 ) Amen.

3. The book of Revelation and the order of events.

Rev 1 : Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place.
Rev 2 – 3 : ‘Seven Churches’ represent the entire Church age – ‘Seven messengers’ with a message from him who stood among the ‘seven golden lampstands’.

( Two events that will take place before the Tribulation begins ) :-
👉🏻 Rev 4 : John saw a door standing open in heaven (Mt 25 : 10 – 11 ) and heard a voice say, “Come up here and I will show you what must take place after this (Church age ).” He saw a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. Surrounding the throne were twenty – four other thrones and seated on them were twenty – four ‘elders’ (Greek : presbyteros – elder of a Jewish community ). Who are they ? ‘Raptured’ (Greek : harpazo – to catch, steal or carry off – 1 Thess 4 : 15 – 17 ) saints ?
👉🏻 Rev 5 : The Lamb was found worthy to take the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne and open the scroll and its seven seals. Jesus glorified in the presence of the saints (Dan 7 : 14, Jh 17 : 5, 24 )

Rev 6 : The ‘seven seals’ were opened and the inhabitants of the earth were judged.

( Two events between 6th and 7th seal ) :-
👉🏻 Rev 7 : 144,000 from the tribes of Israel were sealed. (Ro 9 : 27, 11 : 5 )
👉🏻 A great multitude from every nation, tribe, people, language – ‘the full number of Gentiles has come in’ ( Ro 11 : 25 ) – These are they who have come out of the great tribulation.

Rev 8 – 9 : 7th seal was broken and the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them. The inhabitants of the earth and their ‘gods’ (fallen angels ) were judged – a third of everything was destroyed.

( Two events between the 6th and 7th trumpets. ) :-
👉🏻 Rev 10 : A mighty Angel with a scroll in his hand was standing on the sea and the land and swore by him who was seated on the throne that the mystery of God will be accomplished when the 7th Angel blows his trumpet.
👉🏻 Rev 11 : 1 – 6 Temple was measured but the outer court was excluded – given to the Gentiles. They will trample the holy city for 42 months. Two witnesses prophesy for 1260 days.

[ Events during the 1260 days that are revealed in Rev 12,13 ,14, should be read in between Rev 11 : 6 and Rev 11 : 7 :-
👉🏻 Rev 12 : A woman ( Jewish Church ) was about to give birth and the dragon stood in front to devour her child the moment it was born – child was snatched’ ( Greek : harpazo ) upto God – There was war in heaven – The great dragon , that ancient serpent called the devil or Satan was hurled to the earth and his angels with him.
👉🏻 Rev 13 : Rise of the Antichrist ( Beast out of the Sea ) and the false prophet (Beast out of the Earth ) – ordered that the image of the first beast be set up in the temple ( Dan 9 : 27, Mt 24 :15 -16 ) – all who refuse to worship the image to be killed – forced everone to receive the mark of the beast.
👉🏻 Rev 14 : John saw the Lamb and with him the 144,000 who did not defile themselves with women. When did the 144,000 reach heaven? The male child who was snatched’ ( Rev 12 : 5 ) ? – Three angels flying in midair – proclaimed the eternal gospel and warned the rest of the mankind against worshiping the image of the beast or receiving the mark of his name. ]

Rev 11 : 7 – 14 The two witnesses finished their testimony and they were killed by the beast that came up from the Abyss – their bodies lay in the street of Jerusalem but after three and a half days, they came back to life and ascended into heaven.
Rev 11 : 15 -19 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet and there were loud voices in heaven, which said : “The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ” Then God’s temple in heaven was opened.

Rev 15 : Seven Angels with seven bowls of wrath came out of the temple in heaven.
Rev 16 : Seven bowls of God’s wrath was poured out on the earth and the kingdom of the beast was judged.

( Two events that John was shown after the bowls of God’s wrath ) :-
👉🏻 Rev 17 : John was shown a Woman ( false Church ) riding on the beast (Antichrist ) – the woman is the great city on seven hills – Babylon
👉🏻 Rev 18 : John was shown the fall of Babylon – never to rise again – in one hour her doom has come !

( Two events between the 6th and 7th bowl that are revealed in Rev 19 should be read in between Rev 16 : 14 and Rev 16 : 17 :-
👉🏻 Rev 16 : 15 / Rev 19 : 1 – 10 Stay awake and keep your clothes / The wedding of the Lamb has come and his bride has made herself ready – fine linen was given her to wear.
👉🏻 Rev 16 : 16 / Rev 19 :11 – 21 The kings of the earth and their armies were gathered together at Armageddon / to make war against the rider on the white horse and his army – the beast ( Antichrist) and the false prophet were captured and were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. Rest of them were killed by the sword that came from the mouth of the rider on the horse – flesh will rot while standing on their feet ( Zech 14 : 12 – 13 ) – birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

[ Rev 16 : 17 Seventh Angel poured out his bowl into the air – out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne saying, “It is done !” Then there was a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since man has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake that the great city split into three and the cities of the nations collapsed, every island fled away and the mountains could not be found.]

Rev 20 : Satan was bound for a 1000 years – the tribulation saints were resurrected ( first resurrection ) – Judgement of the livingMillennial rule of Christ began – At the end of 1000 years, Satan was released from prison – gathered the nations for the final rebellion – Satan was thrown into the lake of fire – Great white throne – second resurrectionJudgement of the dead – those whose names were not found in the book of life were thrown into the lake of fire ( second death).
Rev 21 : John saw the new heaven and new earth. He saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down from heaven.
Rev 22 : John was shown the River of the water of life – Final exhortation to keep the words of this book. Amen.