Page 540 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

REVELATION

priest who stands between God and sinful man (He. were fulfilled. From the time that Jerusalem was rebuilt
14:18-20; He. 7). (6) Heavenly kingdom. They had until the coming of the Messiah was 483 years (69X7).
revelation of a heavenly kingdom God is preparing for One week of years remains to be fulfilled from this
His people (He. 11:13-16). (7) Restored earth. They had prophecy. The Lord Jesus came as promised Messiah,
revelation of a restored earth (Ac. 3:21). (8) Tithing. was rejected and crucified in fulfillment of prophecy.
They had revelation about tithing (Ge. 14:18-20; Following His resurrection, He ascended back to heaven
28:22). (9) Righteous living. Noah was a preacher of to await the time of His return in power and glory. Israel
righteousness (2 Pe. 2:5). We have seen that God has was set aside temporarily and God began calling out a
always spoken to men in great detail about salvation people for His name from among all nations. When the
and future things. The world is in darkness today only fullness of the Gentiles will be come in, God will fulfill
because most men have consistently ignored the His promises to Israel (Ro. 11:25-27). The 69th week of
prophets of God. Cain ignored Abel. The people of Daniel 9 expired during Jesus’ first coming. One week
Enoch’s day ignored him. Noah’s message was ignored. remains. Therefore we know that from the time the N.T.
Most of Noah’s grandchildren rejected the truth which believers are removed from the world until the Second
had been taught by their fathers. Israel rejected its Coming of Christ will be seven years, the final week of
prophets. Most people today are rejecting the Gospel of Daniel’s prophecy.
Jesus Christ which has been preached to the ends of the 3. It will be divided into two 3.5-year periods. The
earth for almost 2,000 years. For example, most parts of seven year Tribulation will be divided into two distinct
Asia today are in gross heathenism, but the reason lies parts. The first half will be less intense than the last half.
in the historical rejection of the Gospel by Asian Da. 9:27 indicates that the division is marked by the
peoples. The first foreign missionary work took place in occasion in which the Antichrist will desecrate the
western Asia by the Apostle Paul. The message of truth Jewish temple. Compare 2 Th. 2:3-4. The Lord Jesus
was largely rejected, and today most of western Asia told of this same event in Mt. 24:15. Matthew 24:4-14
continues to be in bondage to false religion. A strong describes the first half of the Tribulation, while verses
tradition says the Apostle Thomas carried the Gospel to 15-30 describe the last half. The watershed is the
India and other parts of South Asia in the first century. abomination brought into the temple by the Antichrist.
His message was largely rejected by Asian people, and The prophecies of Revelation reaffirm this division of
today the offspring of those Christ-rejectors continue to the Tribulation into two 3.5-year periods. For example,
live in darkness and lies. It is not because God has not the two witnesses of Revelation 11 will preach for 1260
tried to give light! God has made every attempt to fill days, or 3.5 years (Re. 11:3). Israel shall flee into the
the world with light and is endeavoring to do so today wilderness for 1260 days, or 3.5 years (Re. 12:6), and
through the Great Commission, but men love darkness Antichrist will rule for 42 months, or 3.5 years (Re.
rather than the light (Je. 7:25-26; 25:4; Jn. 3:19). [See 13:5). The events of the Great Tribulation in Re. 6-19
Bible, Conscience, Inspiration, Light, Mystery.] occur during a seven year period following the removal
REVELATION - BOOK OF. The last book of the Bible, of the church-age believers and ending with the Second
containing the revelation of Jesus Christ given to the Coming of Christ. The first 3.5 years is called “the
Apostle John. The Greek word for Revelation, beginning of sorrows” (Mt. 24:5-8). The last 3.5 years is
apokalupsis, means “an uncovering” and is the basis of called the “great tribulation” (Mt. 24:15-21).
the English word apocalypse. Different Interpretations of Revelation
The Outline (Re. 1:19). (1) Things which thou hast Post-Millennial. According to this view, the church
seen (Re. 1). (2) Things which are (Re. 2-3). (3) Things will overcome evil in the world by Gospel preaching and
which shall be hereafter (Re. 4-22). socio-political action. Civilization will gradually become
The Time Element of the Events in Revelation 4-22 better, ultimately resulting in the kingdom of God. This
1. It will occur just preceding Christ’s return. The view ignores much Bible prophecy—for example, the
prophetic events of Revelation foreview the Great apostasy of the professing church (2 Ti. 3) and the
Tribulation described by the Lord Jesus Christ in Mt. 24, violent defeat of Satan and wicked men at Christ’s
which He said would occur just prior to His Return (Mt. return (2 Th. 1-2; Re. 19).
24:29-30). A-millennial. According to this view, the events of
2. It will be of seven years duration. The prophecy of Revelation are thought to be symbolic of things
Da. 9:22- 27 reveals the time length for the Great happening in the world today—the general struggle of
Tribulation. Daniel was told that 70 weeks were good against evil. A-millennialism does not believe in a
required to complete God’s judgments upon rebellious literal antichrist, or end-time Great Tribulation, or a
Israel and to bring in the kingdom. We know these are literal 1,000 year earthly reign of Christ. The arguments
weeks of years because of the way the first 69 weeks

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