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- Herausgeber: Books on Demand
- Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
- Sprache: Englisch
Biblical prophecy of the past, today, the near future, and eternity. What the church and the world would look like in this end-time. Book of Revelation, from chapter to chapter explained. For example, the following descriptions can be well understood: - The world is divided into two, the block of the western countries and the block of the dictator countries. - The world economy will stagnate so much that a collapse will inevitably occur. - All the nations of the world will together attack Jerusalem and Israel. - God will allow the fire baptism of the earth what will also solve the climate crisis.
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The ground text of the Holy Bible,
translated as literal as possible / useful with the help of
the Berean Standard Bible,
the King James Version Text,
and any other possible better translation
0§ Prayer
Power and Peace!
From today may guide my life He,
Who created me,
Who knows all,
knows what is best for me.
From today I have Hope and a Family
on a hopeless earth,
one Big Family,
with God as Father.
In God's Family
you learn love your enemy,
not with own power,
in Holy Spirit’s Power.
Lord Jesus thank You,
for washing away my sins!
Lord God thank You,
for Your Peace!
0§ Copyright
Peace with God!
^ This explanation of the Book of Revelation of the Bible reveals news of the past, of today, of the near future and of eternity.
In addition, it came forward as a structural poem.
^ Since September 2020 I had written one page after another for a small group of Finnish believers, starting from the first chapters of the Book Revelation. Then, with the final last pages I found that it had divided into three parts, A, B, and C, each 18 pages long, and each A4-page (in the Finnish language with the same font and size) ≤ 60 lines long.
Next I published everything on my new website on the Internet (ilmestyskirja-branham.com/). And soon after, I had translated and published everything in English. ^
^ Constantly improving everything, both versions got their last big change when I had written the Summary, BookRevelation page (0b§SumBR).
Then, 2022-12-13, I found the last main title RECOGNIZE SIGNS OF OUR TIME (page 0c§SumExp, along with six other already existing main title pages: 2a§45, 4e§1317, 6m§6(8)10, 8c§89₁156, 10a§18 and 12c§1-22).
^ The seven is God’s number of perfection and central number in the Book Revelation (seven churches, star messengers, seals, heavenly trumpets and bowls).
God inspired and confirmed all. In this way, He confirmed my copyright to this explanation.
^ He is the God of inspiration, harmony, and beauty.
Just as the world-famous painter Rembrandt had learned to accurately copy God's Creation. He too had drawn many Biblical scenes (~300), for which in the same way ready-made Bible words can be found.
^
^ However, copyright should be considered in a broader sense. The second and more important copyright holder would be my Brother in Christ, William Marrion Branham. On every major question, I have relied on his sermons. What is also based on the Bible. To me he has been Elijah the prophet at the end of the church era. The prophet Malachi had promised his coming in the last verses of the Old Testament {Mal. 4:1-6 (1d§1-3 and 5c§6(8)10 (+5d+5e§6(8)10))}.
^ BBranham had been a Christian minister in the United States (1909-1965). After the Second World War he had started a healing-by-faith movement and a part of his sermons was taped. There had been big meetings, partly all over the world. (Also two in Finland, in the year 1950.)
Over 1,200 of his sermons and sermon series were compiled and published in spoken and transcribed form by the Voice of God Recordings, Jeffersonville, Kentucky, USA. This is 'copyright 2023 by themessage.com' where all rights are reserved.
^
^ In addition, God's Grace I must remember. In 1974, the Lord Jesus had called me, to which I answered 'yes'. Thus, He had filled me with His Love, His Joy, His Peace, etc. (Gal. 5:22; Phili. 4:4-7).
God's Love had attracted me and actively I began to seek the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness. Then in 1981, God filled me with His Holy Spirit (Mat. 6:33).
^ Two thousand years ago, God had given His Son to be tortured to death by the most terrible death that mankind had invented by then, crucifixion (John 3:16).
Therefore at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father {Phili. 2:(5-)10-11}.
^ By Jesus' Sacrifice, every human being was redeemed who follows Him in word and deed (Rm. 10:9-11).
This is how I confess: the Lord Jesus Christ would be the chief holder of my copyright. ^
^ According to God's (Book of) Revelation, Christians in the end-time of the churches would be so blind that they would not know to be blind {Rev. 3:17-18 (1a§1-3 and 1c§1-3)}.
However, you do not have to be a believer to understand the apocalyptic events (0c§SumExp).
^ Understanding the Book of Revelation starts with wanting to see and approve facts, which can be seen around us.
The Bible is of no private interpretation, It exactly means what It says (2Pet. 1:20). ^ In the same way through Jesus Christ can be gotten Peace with God {John (1:1-) 20:19-21}.
By Him you should be saved through faith! Pray, accept and confess that Jesus Christ is your Lord, now! It is absolutely a free Gift of God (Eph. 2:4-8)!
^
Bert Hovestadt
~~~
0a§ Contents
Pages and Titles
0§ PRAYER
P
OWER AND
P
EACE
!
0§ COPYRIGHT
P
EACE WITH
G
OD
!
~~~
0A§ CONTENTS
P
AGES AND
T
ITLES
0B§ SUMMARY, BOOK-REVELATION
T
O EVERYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN HIS
/
HER FUTURE
0C§ SUMMARY, EXPLANATION
“RECOGNIZE SIGNS OF OUR TIME”
~~~~~~
A1 (REVELATION §1,2,3, CHURCHES) 1A§1-3
S
EVEN
R
EVIVALS
1B§1-3
S
EVEN
A
GES AND
M
ESSENGERS
1C§1-3
S
TATE OF THE
E
ND
-T
IME
C
HURCH
1D§1-3
J
OHN THE
B
APTIST OF THE
E
ND
-T
IME
~~~
A2 (REVELATION §4,5, IN HEAVEN) 2A§45
“HEAVEN”
2B§45
S
EVEN
S
PIRITS OF
G
OD
2C§45
L
AMB OF
G
OD
~~~
A3 (REVELATION §12, SPIRITUAL WAR) 3A§12
T
WO
S
IGNS IN
H
EAVEN
3B§12
W
OMAN OF
T
HREE
K
INGDOMS
3C§12
M
ANKIND
’
S
T
WO
M
OST
B
EAUTIFUL
W
OMEN
3D§12
T
HE
S
EVENTY
Y
EAR
-W
EEKS FOR THE
J
EWISH
P
EOPLE
, D
ANIEL
§9
3E§12
D
ETAILS OF
Y
EAR
-W
EEKS
’ P
ROPHESY
, D
ANIEL
§9
AND
§12
3F§12
R
EVELATION
§12
IN
L
IGHT OF THE
S
EVENTY
Y
EAR
-W
EEKS
~~~
A4 (REVELATION §13,17, BEASTS) 4A§1317
F
IRST
B
EAST
4B§1317
F
IRST AND
S
ECOND
B
EAST
4C§1317
S
ECOND
B
EAST AND
I
MAGE OF
F
IRST
B
EAST
4D§1317
S
ECOND
B
EAST AND
M
ARK OF
F
IRST
B
EAST
4E§1317
B
ACKGROUND OF THE
P
OPES
’ T
ITLE
“
VICARIUS FILII DEI”
~~~~~~
B5 (REVELATION §6,(8,)10, SEALS GENERALLY) 5A§6(8)10
R
IGHT AND
W
RONG
C
HURCH
5B§6(8)10
E
ND
-T
IME
C
HURCH
A
GE
5C§6(8)10
P
ROPHETIC
B
ACKGROUND
5D§6(8)10
B
ACKGROUNDS IN THE
B
OOK
R
EVELATION
5E§6(8)10
S
EVEN
A
NGELS OF
H
EAVEN
(1): I
NTRODUCTION
5F§6(8)10
S
EVEN
A
NGELS OF
H
EAVEN
(2): S
EVENTH
S
EAL
5G§6(8)10
S
EVEN
A
NGELS OF
H
EAVEN
(3): I
MPOSSIBLE
E
XPLOSION
, C
LOUD
, E
TC
.
~~~
B6 (REVELATION §6,(8,)10, SEALS EXPLAINED) 6H§6(8)10
F
IRST
S
EAL
6I§6(8)10
S
ECOND
S
EAL
6J§6(8)10
T
HIRD
S
EAL
6K§6(8)10
F
OURTH
S
EAL
6L§6(8)10
F
IFTH
S
EAL
(+
SEALS
1,2,3,4)
6M§6(8)10
“SEVENTH SEAL”
~~~
B7 (REVELATION §6,7,11,14, SIXTH SEAL EXPLAINED) 7A§67
₁
14
L
EARNING AND
F
ULFILLING OF THE
S
EAL
7B§67
₁
14
N
EW
M
ENORAH
T
IME OF THE
S
EAL
7C§67
₁
14
144,000 I
SRAELITES
,
AND
T
HREE
W
OES
7D§67
₁
14
A
LL
J
EWS
C
OME TO
F
AITH
7E§67
₁
14
T
HE
W
ORD
H
OUR IN THE
B
OOK OF
R
EVELATION
~~~~~~
C8 (REVELATION §8,9,11,15,16, JUDGMENTS GENERALLY) 8A§89
₁
156
S
EVEN
T
RUMPETS IN
H
EAVEN
8B§89
₁
156
P
LAN OF THE
T
RUMPETS
(
AND THE
S
EALS
)
8C§89
₁
156
“TRUMPETS ARE OPENING”
8D§89
₁
156
C
OMING
E
CONOMIC
C
OLLAPSE
8E§89
₁
156
T
HE
N
EW
T
ESTAMENT
’
S
W
ORDS
F
URY AND
W
RATH
~~~
C9 (REVELATION §8,9,11,15,16, JUDGMENTS EXPLAINED) 9F§89
₁
156
E
PHESIAN
/F
IRST
T
RUMPET AND
B
OWL
(1
S
)
9G§89
₁
156
S
MYRNEAN
/S
ECOND
T
RUMPET AND
B
OWL
(2
S
)
9H§89
₁
156
P
ERGAMEAN
/T
HIRD
T
RUMPET AND
B
OWL
(3
S
)
9I§89
₁
156
T
HYATIREAN
/F
OURTH
T
RUMPET AND
B
OWL
(4
S
)
9J§89
₁
156
S
ARDISEAN
/F
IFTH
T
RUMPET AND
B
OWL
(5
S
)
9K§89
₁
156
P
HILADELPHIAN
/S
IXTH
T
RUMPET AND
B
OWL
(6
S
)
9L§89
₁
156
L
AODICEAN
/S
EVENTH
T
RUMPET AND
B
OWL
(7
S
)
~~~
C10 (REVELATION §18, END OF CHRISTIANITY) 10A§18
“WHY, HOW AND WHO?”
~~~
C11 (REVELATION §19,20,21,22, KINGDOM OF GOD) 11A§19-22
M
ILLENNIAL
S
ABBATH
K
INGDOM OF
C
HRIST
11B§19-22
N
EW
H
EAVEN AND
N
EW
E
ARTH
~~~
C12 (REVELATION §1-22, SUMMARY) 12A§1-22
T
WO THOUSAND
Y
EARS OF
R
EVIVALS
12B§1-22
F
INLAND
, E
ND
-T
IME
A
WAKENING
12C§1-22
“THE LAST AWAKENING”
~~~~~~
13§ CONCORDANCE: TANAKH/OLD-TESTAMENT ABBREVIATIONS
13§ CONCORDANCE: NEW-TESTAMENT ABBREVIATIONS
13
A
§ U
SED
B
IBLE
V
ERSES
/ §-P
AGE
13
B
§ U
SED
B
IBLE
V
ERSES
,
SORTED
~~~
14§ PERSONALLY
N
OTES
0b§ Summary, Book-Revelation
To everyone who is interested in his/her future
^ The Book of Revelation is the last Book of the Bible, which came directly from God.
He had, He has, and He still has much to say (cf. Rev. 1:1, 19).
Two thousand years ago He had spoken, how at the end of the Gentile church ages the church and the world would look like, and what is soon going to happen. Recognize signs of our time!
^ However, knowledge does not save you. Spiritually you only grow when you humble yourself, as Jesus Christ had to humble Himself. We are not more important than Jesus.
Find a Bible and read about the Life of Jesus every day, possibly. You do not need to read much, but think about what you have read and possibly pray. God answers people through all kinds of things/people and especially through His Own Channel of Salvation, Jesus Christ. The most important thing in the life of a human being is to accept the Lord Jesus as your personal Saviour and Leader. Then you get the power/right to become a child of God (John 1:12).
^ You must be the small child, what learns (again) to speak with its Heavenly Father.
By this attitude, you can be born from above. Study on your knees the Bible, then God will in His Time fulfill you with His Holy Spirit. Then you desire to tell all people the gospel (Acts 2:38, and so on).
God is ready to set you free when you want to be truly free, when you are really sorry for your sins, when you do what you are able to do. Then God is doing what you are not able to do.
^
^ The explanation is divided in three portions,
A: History of the church, as it had been given in forward:
^ The seven churches in the Book of Revelation have represented seven successive Revival Light ages. They contain outlines and warnings for the believers of the first churches till the believers of our end-time churches.
Already two thousand years ago God knew that before Jesus' Second Coming the believers would not be ready to meet their Lord and Groom. Throughout the time of the Old Testament God had used one great prophet at a time to warn His people. And for our end-time a same kind of prophet had been promised to come.
^ I believe he has been William Marrion Branham. However, everyone has to find that answer in his/her own prayer life. Maybe you find that he is/was Lars Enarson, or Billy Graham, Baruch Korman, David Wilkerson, …., your pastor, another spiritual leader, ….,
a multitude of Elijah prophets, or a future prophet.
But because of the many deceptions in this end-time, approach this subject very carefully! ^
B: The Seven Seals, and God’s Own Explanation:
^ Brother Branham did not get the revelations of the Seven Seals just in his study room.
He was commanded to move to another town. After that, miraculous things started to happen.
After the revealing of the secrets of the Seven Seals can be believed, that these revelations had come in at least two main ways. One way is, what brother Branham had explained directly.
^ The other way is, what he had said indirectly with the words {from the book: An Exposition of the Seven Church Ages (4.), Introduction (5.)
(1. https://table.branham.org/#/en/main 2. ‘Bookmark’ 3. III,IV,V)}:
“…., for out of the (Church) Ages come the Seals, and out of the Seals come the Trumpets, and out of the Trumpets come the Vials [Bowls]. [One creates light for the other.]”
In this way every seal belongs to one church age. And with the help of the Seventh and last Seal believers can recognize the spiritual warfare of the end-time and find suitable spiritual weapons.
^
C: Judgments, and the Final Judgment, and Eternity:
^ First, the ready believers are raptured. They are the ones, who during their life have voluntary persevered ‘great tribulation, such as has not been’ (‘Mat. 24:21’; Rev. 7:14;
Rev. 20:4).
After that, a period of distress begins, which I have called the Greater tribulation time, ‘such as never occurred since there was a nation.’ In this way, the difference between those time periods can be seen. The word greater I have used, because it now affects all mankind (‘Dan. 12:1’).
In that time, the Gospel and Its proclamation returns to 144,000 Israelites. And at the end of it all the Jews of Israel will be freed from their bondages by accepting the Lord Jesus as their personal Saviour.
^ In the 18th chapter of the Book of Revelation from its beginning, every Christian has been severely warned about a system that would be very beautiful on the outside but very polluted on the inside, Rev. 18:4, <“Come out of her [the organized Church system], My people, so that you will not share in her sins or contract any of her plagues. ….”>
Soon it will be destroyed. Next, the Lord Jesus Christ will come and rule the world during the last seventh thousand sabbatical years together with His Bride believers. (According to the Jewish Biblical calendar, about 6000 years have now passed.)
After seven thousand years is the Final Judgment. After it, the City New Jerusalem will come down from Heaven, where God will dwell surrounded by His loved ones.
0c§ Summary, Explanation
“RECOGNIZE SIGNS OF OUR TIME”
^ In front of you is one explanation of the entire Book of Revelation. This Book came straightly from God and is part of the Bible.
God, Who created the first human being, had not only foreseen the fall of Adam (and Eve and all mankind). He had also planned before the foundation of the earth to come Himself in His Son Jesus as a Lamb. He, our Creator, sacrificed Himself in order to restore His relationship with everyone, whose heart thirsts for God (Rev. 13:8b, 22:17).
^
^ I am Dutch who had moved to Finland with my family in 1996.
In September 2020 in the Finnish language I started this processing of the entire Book of Revelation together with a few interested Finnish believers. So it has not just been a writing of my thoughts, but a sharing of thoughts and at the same time my inviting to pray for each other. Too, still I thank for correction suggestions and for helping to spread this writing (12a§1-22, address).
^ Mainly I have used the Berean Bible translation for an easy-to-understand entirety.
Where necessary I have translated the Bible texts with a word for word translation.
^
^ As the prophet Jonah I’ve had to warn. The Presence of the Lord Jesus in the air to catch up and meet His Bride believers, would already have been (Easter, April 2022).
This event is also called the rapture or the taking up into Heaven of those believers, who are ready.
^ Jonah warned a big city and God’s Judgment would have come. Then its whole population repented, and God had mercy on them (Jonah 3).
Although Jonah's 40 days’ prophecy had not been fulfilled, the Lord Jesus referred to him (Mat. 12:39-42).
^ He had preached powerfully. That is why a city of hundreds of thousands of people had turned from their bad ways.
Likewise, the using of the Book Revelation has been an effective tool. E.g. the following pictures are easy to understand:
- In the end-time there is the (anti) Christian bloc of the West and the United States as its leader (4bcd§1317, etc.).
- In the end-time, the world economy will tighten so much that a collapse will inevitably occur (8d§89₁156, etc.).
- In the end-time, all the nations of the world will together attack Jerusalem and Israel (9k§89₁156).
- In the end-time, the world is divided into two, the western countries’ and the dictator countries’ blocks (9l§89₁156).
- In the end-time, God will allow the fire baptism of the earth what also will resolve the climate crisis (11a§19-22).
^
^ It is possible that the Presence of the Lord Jesus did not yet come and that the judgment period has not yet begun. In the same way as with Jonah. On the other hand, by Easter this entire writing had been completed in Finnish and widely visible on the Internet. It could have been God’s explanation and confirmation, because He wants things to be done in faith {Luke 18:8 (12c§1-22)}.
Later the English translation and website was completed. At another date, which I had mentioned {6m§6(8)10, 12c§19-22}.
^ The Book Revelation helps to understand the Greater tribulation time period after the Rapture. After the church age chapters, the moment of the rapture and this following period show up, although also of events of the past and the future is spoken, Rev. 4-19
{Rev. 4:1 (2a§45)}.
It is the hell on earth, which could turn into the eternal Hell! So seek God now (Isa.
55:6)!
^ In most Bible translations the word presence has not been translated with one clear word, as for example with the ‘Young’s Literal Translation’ (https://biblehub.com/1_thessalonians/4-15.htm).
In the Bible 24 times this Greek word parousia occurs (https://biblehub.com/greek/3952.htm).
^ Throughout my writing it is used, 1The. 4:15b, <We who are alive and remain until the presence of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep.>
It is an important concept with which for ex. the events in Matthew §24 begin to unfold {Mat. 24:1---14 (6h§6(8)10)}.
^
^ In addition the next general remarks:
- My website with the English (and Finnish) text can be extended only one year at a time (https://ilmestyskirja-branham.com/book-revelation).
So it exists as long as it exists. (You can find the date of a page if it has received an important update in the last thirty days. Changes are underlined where possible and reasonable.)
- At the end the situation before and after Easter has been included (12c§1-22).
- Many Christians turn to psychiatrists for answers, not to mention yoga, etc. However, God can allow all kinds of problems before He allows complete blindness {Rev. 3:20
(1bc§1-3)}.
God does not change. He does things in His Own Perfect Way. Two thousand years ago the prophet Elijah [John the Baptist] was needed to get the Jews ready. And the coming of a same kind of prophet has been promised to get us Christians (and Jews) ready for the Presence of the Lord Jesus {Mal. 4:1-6 (1d§1-3)}.
This last text was not fulfilled by John the Baptist. In his time he helped to turn the hearts of the fathers, not the hearts of the children {Luke 1:17 (1d§1-3)}, Bert
~~~~~~
A1 (Revelation §1,2,3, Churches) 1a§1-3
Seven Revivals
Shalom,
^ The book Revelation is a special book. It was the last book of the Bible that came directly from God.
Likewise the first five books of the Bible had come, written down by Moses (cf. Deu.
34:10).
Prayer of them who walk worthy of their calling, bearing with one another in love (Eph. 4:1-2), Bert
¤ The Book Revelation is the Revelation of Jesus Christ given to Him by God. From God came the prophetic thoughts, what first the churches would need, and in the future the people of Israel. It was given by Jesus Christ to His angel. And after that the apostle John received it (Rev. 1:1).
A miraculous revelation of which John, the only still living disciple of the Lord Jesus, wanted to testify as regards everything he had seen, that it was the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ (Luke 6:13; Rev. 1:2).
¤ Christ is the Head and Lover of the Church (Eph. 5:23-27).
He is God's Plan of Salvation for all mankind (Acts 4:12).
¤ Our only Hope is the Coming of Jesus/God (Rev. 1:7-8), Rev. 1:7a, <Behold, he is coming with the clouds,> For this the book Revelation prepares, and this is what Jesus says at the end, Rev.
22:20, <"Yes, I am coming soon.">
¤
¤ If you keep the Book Revelation, you will be blessed and Heaven will open to you (cf.
Rm. 4:6-8), Rev. 1:3, <Blessed is the one who reads, and they that hear the words of the prophecy, and obey what is written in it; because the time is near.>
Jesus Christ is the Word of God, Which became Flesh and by Which Life and Light came (John 1:1-5 and 9-14).
¤ God did in Jesus what God had demanded in His Word. God let Himself in Jesus be crucified. In this way God's prophetic Word had spoken and is speaking, Rev. 19:10b, <The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.>
Woe to them who add something to it or take something away (Rm. 3:4; Rev. 22:18-19).
¤
¤ The Prophetic Word has enormous power from God's point of view. Two thousand years ago, much had been foretold about the life of Jesus Christ. And among the Jewish people, Jesus fulfilled all those prophecies (Luke 24:44).
In the same way, He bluntly declared to his fellow citizens that no prophet has been honored in his hometown without much more explanation (Luke 4:16-30 and especially verse 24).
¤ And so on. To His cousin John the Baptist, when in prison he could not (anymore) believe everything, He answered (Luke 7:1-23), Luke 7:22b-23, <“Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the good news is preached to the poor, 23. and blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.”>
This was based on several texts of the prophet Isaiah as regards the coming Messiah, for example, Isa. 61:1-2a (Luke 4:18-19), <The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners, 2. to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, ….>
¤
¤ Imprisoned for his faith, the apostle John had been expelled to the prison island of Patmos. It was the year 96 AD. He was seeking the Presence of God, he was ‘on the Lord’s day in the Spirit’ (Rev. 1:10a).
Suddenly the Lord Jesus stood behind him. When he saw Him, he fell at His feet like a dead man. But the Lord Jesus reassured him and told him something miraculous (Rev.
1:10b-20), Rev. 1:20, <"…. The mystery of the seven stars you saw in My right hand and of the seven golden lampstands {is this}: The seven stars are the messengers/angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”>
¤ He got among others seven letters from the Lord Jesus for the churches in seven Asian cities. The nearest large port city on the mainland was Ephesus. After that came the other cities in the same order as in the book Revelation, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea (Rev. 1:4-11).
But these events of Light would be more than just letters to seven churches (Rev. 2-3).
¤ The stars together with the lampstands would be seven huge Lights, seven events of Light, just as Jesus Christ Himself had come as the Light (John 1:4-5).
Seven consecutive ages, such as the Feast of Unleavened Bread (the Lord’s Supper /
Communion) was celebrated for seven consecutive days. At the beginning the Passover lamb had been sacrificed, and after the Sabbath, on Sunday, a Sheaf of the Firstfruits had been raised to God. All three Feasts Christ had fulfilled (Lev. 23:4-14; Luke 22:120).
¤ Seven successive Light periods, Revival events, Revival ages. For many churches at the same time (Rev. 2:7; 2:11; etc.).
Next, these seven (spiritual) Revivals with their messengers/angels will be further discussed.
1b§1-3
Seven Ages and Messengers
Shalom,
^ Relatively quickly I deal with the church ages. Much deeper and wider it can be done, what I will do in part later. But in the beginning the getting of an overview of the book Revelation is more important.
^ Thanks for any correction, comments, encouragement, prayers, etc.
With the prayer of believers who carry another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2), Bert
¤ In 70 AD Rome had destroyed Jerusalem (and its apostolic center) and among others the apostle John and the mother of Jesus, Mary, had settled in the city of Ephesus (cf.
John 19:27).
In 96 John was Jesus' last living disciple/apostle. Times were hard and there was much persecution. Possibly John was boiled for 24 hours in oil before he was deported as a witch to the prison island of Patmos. Though, his presence near the church in Ephesus confirmed that it was the spiritual center of the churches of that time (Rev. 2:1-7), Rev.
2:7a, <"…. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. ….”>
¤ To seven churches the Lord Jesus had written His heartfelt messages. In the beginning He had referred to some of His Attributes (Rev. 2:1, 8, 12, etc.).
For the church of John in Ephesus it had been an emergency message. Its lampstand would be soon removed out of its place, if it did not repent (Rev. 2:4-5), Rev. 2:4, <
But I have this against you: You have abandoned your first love.>
¤ From John the first runner left for the first stop. He had among others the task of conveying the personal message of Jesus Christ to the messenger of the church, Rev.
2:1, etc., <To the messenger/angel of the church in Ephesus write: '…. ….’>
The messenger/angel in question (the Greek word ‘angelo’ [‘angel’]) was a believer on earth, as the basic meaning of that word is messenger. Only in special situations, when it relates to heavenly beings, the translation would be angel. Throughout the Book of Revelation this should be remembered.
¤ Already was explained, that the church in every town represented one Revival period for many churches. A total of seven Revival periods had been announced. It was the mystery of the lampstand (1a§1-3).
In addition, the messengers of the churches would represent seven different star apostles. It was the mystery of the stars (1a§1-3, =), Rev. 1:20, <…. The seven stars (in My right hand) are the messengers/angels of the seven churches. ….>
¤ The undisputed star messenger of the Ephesian church age had been the apostle Paul. He had been absolutely true to the Word, done the work in the Power of the Holy Spirit and he had the evident fruit of his God given ministry, multitudes of Gentiles had come to faith. More than half of the letters of the New Testament he had written. Even, he had been the first apostle of the revival of the church in Ephesus, thus this Revival had begun, about 53 A.D. (Acts 19).
With sound teachings and his self-sacrificing way of life he had equipped the churches.
His first love for God was never extinguished.
¤
¤ When the revivals of the Ephesian church age everywhere had extinguished, Jesus had removed its lampstand. But active believers, hungry and thirsty, had previously begun to pray to the Lord God for a new revival. When the believers of the Smyrna age had been ready for it, the next Revival had begun, and at some point the next star messenger appeared.
Of the seven ages, only in two the believers would act so well, or the circumstances would be so harsh, that to them were to be given only words of encouragement, Smyrna and Philadelphia.
¤
¤ In revival circles has somehow been accepted that, after the (Dark) Middle Ages, the Reformation of 1517 on the European continent represents the revival period for the fifth church, the Sardis’ church (Rev. 3:1-6).
Under Luther's leadership the truth had been rediscovered that only through faith man can become righteousness, Rm. 1:17, <For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”>
¤ Regrettably this Revival did not go farther on. A new Revival was needed (Rev. 3:713).
During the Philadelphian church age the blessing of a holy life was widely found back in Britain, with the birth of the Methodist Movement (later Church), the Salvation Army, and many mission societies. Next in the United States it spread on a large scale (cf. Hep. 12:10b-14).
¤ Also this Revival died out little by little. A last Revival was needed, the Laodicean church age Revival, the Azusa Street revival, the worldwide Revival of the Pentecostal churches. It began in 1906 in the city of Los Angeles. Then was found that the gifts of the Holy Spirit would be part of the life of every believer (Rev. 3:14-22).
But the message to the Laodicean church tells, that this Revival changed. For later the Lord Jesus is only found from the outside of this church (Rev. 3:20)….
1c§1-3
State of the End-Time Church
Shalom,
^ This time a part of my testimony.
Prayer, even in our weaknesses (2Cor. 12:10), Bert
¤ Last time I wrote about the church in Laodicea and its significance for us end-time believers. For decades, this had been a familiar explanation to me. But in the spring of 2012, I noticed that my spiritual state had become similar.
The spiritual fruits of my life were too little or too small. Something did not work. I was even depressed.
¤ I was a similar spiritual child, what had been predicted. Also I had given a too good picture of myself, Rev. 3:17a, <You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ ….>
There had come across what I had been trying to avoid. My facade did not work. I did not (longer) feel that the Lord God was with me.
¤ A year earlier, I had felt guided by the Holy Spirit to join a church. Before that in Finland, I had not been a member of any church. However, everywhere we need each other, especially when the day of Jesus' Coming is very near (Heb. 10:25, 37).
The best way to help myself was to learn to participate. My best act of repentance was to accept that I am as bad or good a believer, as this church and other end-time churches look like in the eyes of God.
¤ But e.g. the following things the Holy Spirit demanded of me. I had to begin to testify with cold or hot words and deeds. To neighbors and so on (cf. Rev. 3:15).
In addition, It instructed me to tell believers that the Second Coming / Presence of the Lord Jesus in the air will take place within a year. Then the believers who are ready, are raptured into Heaven, Mat. 24:36-44.
¤ As the prophet Jonah I have had to preach the sermon of God {Jonah 3:1-4 (also 0c§SumExp)}.
Thus I have become ready to act and write on God’s terms all, what you read here.
¤
¤ In the end-time, Jesus Christ stands before the door of the church in Laodicea, Rev.
3:20, <”…. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me. ….”>
He, the written and living Word of God, is no longer accepted as such in the churches of this end-time (cf. John 1:1-3, 14).
¤ Although the gifts of the Holy Spirit had been rediscovered (1b§1-3, Rev. 3:14-22).
But if the Giver of the gifts is not served as the first one, whatever kind of heavenly gift is not relevant.
¤
