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In the book of Revelation, aside from worship, the Church has two main functions in the world:- Testify to the truth of the Gospel- Be killed (Usually the first is what leads to the second) We can see this in a number of places (Rev 2:10, 13; 6:11; 11:4-13; 12:11; 13:7, 15). In the instance of … Continue reading Tempted to Despair? Don’t Be a Denethor
Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour, the … Continue reading Two Hundred Million Chimaeras (Rev 9:12-21)
Last week I wrote about the fifth trumpet found in Revelation 9:1-11 and while discussing when we should anticipate these events to take place said: "...there is nothing in the text that refers to a specific seven year period prior to Christ’s return that these events take place during." I thought now may be the right time … Continue reading What is the “Great Tribulation”?
The seven trumpets in the book of Revelation (along with the seven seals and bowls) contain some of the most unusual elements of John's apocalyptic vision. The fifth trumpet has led to some of the most interesting interpretive conclusions. Hal Lindsey, back in 1973, was the first to conjecture that the locusts described in this … Continue reading A Swarm of Locusts: Rev 9:1-11
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number...- Rev 7:9 At the breaking of the sixth seal, when the wrath of the Lamb is revealed, people cry out with this question: "the great day of... wrath has come, and who can stand?” (Rev 6:17). The following chapter is a response … Continue reading Who are the 144,000 in Revelation?
The four horsemen of the book of Revelation have captivated the popular imagination of many. But who are these four horsemen and what do they represent? They are the by-product of the first four seals of the scroll of judgment being cracked open by the Lamb, Jesus Christ, directly following His enthronement in Heaven (Rev … Continue reading What Are The “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse”?
In Tom Schreiner's helpful commentary in the ESV Expository Commentary series on Revelation, he discusses the four major approaches to interpreting the timing of the events described in the book: Preterist--Fulfilled entirely or mainly in the first century Historicist--Fulfilled in stages throughout church history Idealist--Fundamentally symbolic Futurist--Fulfilled mainly in futureThe preterist view argues that Revelation … Continue reading 4 Perspectives on Revelation
I recently preached a sermon on how Christians should think about Satan and Demons. One element that I didn't get to explore more was a tableau from the book of Revelation that illustrates everything I was trying to say, but in a more vivid, powerful way. Why Revelation is so Confusing The book of Revelation … Continue reading Why Satan is Doomed: Revelation 12
Marc Sims 