12 Week Revelation Intensive Week 1– Introduction to Revelation and the Broader End Time Plan

1 Corinthians 13:1-2 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. I.

How can I possibly understand what so many seem to argue about?! a. Most confusion about the events in the Book of Revelation come from a lack of discernment concerning “Eschatological Frameworks”. Eschatology simply means “study of the end-times.” b. There are four basic Eschatological Frameworks Bible scholars teach from: i. Historic Pre-millennialism ii. Dispensational Pre-millennialism iii. Amillennialism iv. Post millennialism c. Each Eschatological framework uniformly interprets the scripture from its own viewpoint. d. The trouble with not studying the scriptures ourselves, is that we tend to mix information from various Eschatological Frameworks: the result is utter confusion. e. To study as a group, we really have to pick an Eschatology and go with it. f. Because the fundamental theology behind each eschatological framework is different, only one can be right. It is important for each of us to decide which we believe, and then to know which “well we are drinking from” as we study the Bible. Here is my very simplistic summary of the four popular frameworks: 1. Historic Pre-millennialism: historic=early church Pre-millennialism=Jesus returns before the millennium (thousand year reign of Jesus to renew the earth). This is what the original apostles and disciples believed to be true. This eschatology believes in the literal end-time fulfillment of the prophetic revelations in the Bible. It typically holds that the Church is raptured to be with Jesus at the 7th trumpet in Revelation, following the Great Tribulation, and then coming into Edom (Jordan) with Jesus to make war with Him on everyone who resists Him as the last 7 bowls of wrath are poured out on the earth. This one believes a victorious church is on earth through all the events of the Book of Revelation, walking in the power of the Holy Spirit being poured out on all flesh, bringing in the great harvest during the most intense time in human history. This is my eschatology, and the things I write and teach are from this framework. 2. Amillenialism - believes there is not really a millennium, and that the events of Revelation are symbolic of what takes place in our hearts. To hold this view requires that we believe the 150 chapters in the Bible describing the return of Jesus are primarily symbolic, and that God is primarily interested in us overcoming sin in our own hearts. This view generally promotes a commitment to holiness, which is awesome, but disregards much of the prophetic information in the Bible, which is not awesome. 3. Dispensational Pre-millennialism - dispensational = God deals with each Church age differently, with different "dispensations" of relationship with God available to each one. Dispensational Premillennialists are typically, but not always, “cessationists”. Believes Jesus returns to rescue to the Church "from tribulation" rather than keep the

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12 Week Revelation Intensive Week 1– Introduction to Revelation and the Broader End Time Plan

Church "through tribulation." This eschatology has a very negative view of the earth and Jesus’ plans for it, often leading to escapism or fatalism. This eschatology holds the extra-Biblical views that Jesus returns twice, and that the gifts of the Spirit experienced by the Acts church stopped operating after the Bible was written. This view was first proposed in 1830 by a man named John Nelson Darby. The Scoffield Reference Bible was written to support this eschatology and the resulting theology that came from it. This view has widespread popularity. This view supports a literal reading of the prophetic scriptures, which is awesome, but denies the great victory of the end time Bride operating in the final outpouring of the Holy Spirit and requires extra-Biblical beliefs, which is not awesome. 4. Post Millennialism - holds that Jesus returns after the millennium, and that we are actually in, or nearing, the millennium right now. This view is very optimistic, believing that "revival" will make everything better and better until Jesus returns. This view makes much of Revelation either symbolic, or mostly already fulfilled by past events (like the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.). Much of the scripture has to be disregarded to hold this view, since revelation describes the moon turning red, the sun turning black, 100 lb hail killing millions, meteor showers hitting the earth, global war, pestilence and famine killing over one half of the world's population in 3.5 years, which has obviously never happened. This view typically focuses on revival and its great effect on transforming the earth and hearts, which is awesome, but it requires disregarding or taking as symbolic much of scripture, which is not awesome. g. I have settled on Historic Pre-millennialism for the following reasons: i. It takes a straight-forward LITERAL interpretation of the Bible, and minimizes symbolic interpretation of the intense events described by the prophets and in the Book of Revelation. Only things stated to be symbolic by the word itself are taken as symbolic. ii. It is what those closest to Jesus believed. It is by far the oldest Eschatological framework, according to established Church historians. iii. History and current events both support the common-sense understanding and application of this eschatology. h. Once we establish which framework we are working from, we can sort out what the book of Revelation is describing. II.

Why Study Revelation? a. Revelation is the “Revelation of Jesus Christ,” it is VERY important to Jesus that we know and understand the events of Revelation and why He is allowing them to take place. It is the only book in the Bible with a promise for reading and teaching it:

Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. b. There are over 150 Chapters in the Bible that primarily deal with the return of Jesus. There are only 89 Chapters in the Gospels. The Bible is more weighted toward His return. 2|Page

12 Week Revelation Intensive Week 1– Introduction to Revelation and the Broader End Time Plan

c. Every time Jesus spoke of His return, He said watch, pray, and/or be ready: Luke 21:34-36 "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man." Mark 13:32-37 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. 34 It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. 35 Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning— 36 lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!" d. In order to “watch” we need to know what to watch for. In order to pray, we need to know what to pray for. In order to be ready, we need to know what to be ready for. e. The end time plan, and its chronology is CLEAR AND KNOWABLE. It is not confusing, but rather very intense. Once you know it, you will actually see it EVERYWHERE in the Bible, but you need to take the time to see it first. Knowing the plan will unlock the entire Bible to you. f. Matthew 24 is a chronological account of the PHYSICAL events believers should be prepared for. Matthew 24:3-51 3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" 4 And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. 15 "Therefore when you see the 'ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.

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12 Week Revelation Intensive Week 1– Introduction to Revelation and the Broader End Time Plan

21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened. 23 "Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 "Therefore if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or 'Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together. 29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 32 "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. 36 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. 45 "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. 47 Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. 48 But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, 51 and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

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12 Week Revelation Intensive Week 1– Introduction to Revelation and the Broader End Time Plan

g.

We need to consider the following questions: i. Who was Jesus talking to? The Disciples “privately”. This is a message and warning for those that are following Him. Not for those rebelling against Him. ii. Does Jesus lay out a chronology of events that is knowable/measurable? Yes. iii. Does Jesus give information about “signs” that we would be tempted to “symbolize”? Yes . But, was He speaking symbolically? No h. Jesus wants us to be SURE of the order of events and what is happening. Watching, praying, and being ready are essential for two primary reasons i.

To Prevent OFFENSE - The Great Falling Away

2 Thessalonians 2:1-7 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 

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The end time is the “lifting of restraint” from the hearts of mankind. Evil men will get more and more of what they want, and people that actually want to make their lives all about Jesus will be released to get more and more of God and the things of God, until heaven actually starts to “manifest” all around them. This is VERY intense. The events of Jesus plan are so intense, if people are not prepared for them and actively engaging in them, they will actually be offended and abandon trust in the invisible Jesus (Read Mat 24:9-13). Knowing Jesus’ plans in advance are essential for endurance. The timeline of events are time-limited and knowable. As they advance we will know with more and more certainty exactly how many days it will be until the rapture.

Mark 13:14-20 "So when you see the 'ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not" (let the reader understand), "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house, nor enter to take anything out of his house. 16 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 17 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 18 And pray that your flight may not be in winter. 19 For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be. 20 And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days.

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12 Week Revelation Intensive Week 1– Introduction to Revelation and the Broader End Time Plan

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Daniel (Daniel 9:27 and Daniel 12:7) and John (Revelation 11:2-3 and 13:5) were both told that the time between the setting up of the abomination of desolation and the rapture would be 1,260 days (time, times and half a time = 3.5 Jewish years = 42 months). This is very important to know and will be a great encouragement through the trouble. Jesus said “many” would be offended by what He allows to take place. The apostles agreed with Jesus; The “great falling away” describes a time when “many” will leave the church (fall away from the truth) and join a world-wide global worship movement called the “harlot Babylon.” Falling away = believers denying Jesus.

Luke 8:13 But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. Hebrews 6:4-6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. 

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The Church is becoming a Bride, but satan will offer the world a false bride, called a prostitute (harlot), who will desire to be the church to the world, but outside of a covenant relationship with Jesus. Jesus said that offense at the intensity Jesus allows will dramatically fuel the falling away. Knowing Jesus’ plans is essential to guard our hearts from offense and falling away:

Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law. ii. 

Jesus also wants us to be sure of the chronology of the events because there is MUCH to do – The Great Harvest The primary two analogies the Bible uses to describe the end time is a pregnancy and a harvest. Both of these analogies involve the maturing of a seed into the time appointed for the delivery of the treasure. What was planted IS what grows to maturity.

Matthew 13:24-30 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?' 28 He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, 'Do you want us then to go and gather them up?' 29 But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn." ' " 6|Page

12 Week Revelation Intensive Week 1– Introduction to Revelation and the Broader End Time Plan

Matthew 13:36-43 Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field." 37 He answered and said to them: "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. 39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. 40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! 

John 17:13-26 gives the chronological account of the SPIRITUAL events believers should be prepared for.

John 17:13-26 But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. 20 "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. 24 "Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them." 

Jesus told His disciples what His joy was…what His desire was. Then He planted them in to Jerusalem to do this exact thing, called the “great commission.”

Luke 24:46-49 Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things. 49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."

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12 Week Revelation Intensive Week 1– Introduction to Revelation and the Broader End Time Plan

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The harvest analogy is very important to understand. Hundreds of passages in the Bible will start to unlock as you look for harvest activities. The primary harvest activities to watch for are sowing, watering, and harvesting. 1. Jesus sowed the Gospel into His disciples then He planted them in Jerusalem…specifically in the upper room. 2. The disciples waited for the power to grow until the first rain came, which was the Acts 2 outpouring of the Holy Spirit. 3. When the first rain came, the first sign of what the crop would be like was seen when the great commission happened and 3,000 people got saved on the first day! 4. As the crop began to emerge, we see the first picture of what the end time Bride will look like:

Acts 5:11-17 So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things. 12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's Porch. 13 Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. 14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. 16 Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed. 17 Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, 5. The end time harvest will be a global reaping and sifting of this same crop!

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