对启示录一书正确的认识是了解所有耶稣基督再来预言的基础。与其说启示录是了解其他有关基督再来的文章像是但以理书和福音书的辅助文献，倒不如说启示录是圣灵启示的终极预言。当然,了解启示录不能不靠圣经其他章节的相互比较，但是没有任何预言在以西结，但以理，马太,和马可福音中可以不靠启示录去了解的。

圣经中的最后一部书(即启示录)有明确的时间顺序，这时间的顺序可以从连贯的章节中主事件的重复现象去建立，有些事件的重复性是相当高的但有些并不明显的。有些事情因为在对於人们准备神的再来上不是很重要所以重复性不是如此的明确。

若想要建立了解预言的基础，我们要先了解一些原则。无论我们对於预言的解读是对是错，上帝已经将必定发生的事情写在圣经上，所以我们要做的很重要的一件事是对於神在圣经上所启示我们的事情要有正确的了解。(译注:而不是单靠瞎猜)

使徒保罗用黑夜和白天的比较来象徵地球上无知的人和聪明的人(帖前:5:1~5)。主的到来对於那些忽视他言语的人而言是很惊骇的，就像是小偷趁主人不在家时偷东西一样。小偷什么时候要来是无法预料的，所以主的再来不是那些不相信主预言的人所能预料的。

保罗写给信徒说” 弟兄们，你们却不在黑暗里，叫那日子临到你们像贼一样” (帖前:5:4)主再来的日子并不会惊扰信徒，只是叫他们当日子近了的时候要晓得，而如何分辨和晓得主来临就要从上帝的话语着手。启示录不应该从圣经中单独分别出来讨论，否则很多启示录的问题就解不开了(译注:因为它必须要和其他的圣经预言共同解释)，所以我们要先彻底的阅读过整本圣经。

圣经预言中可以看出有所谓的预言之灵。圣灵招唤了某些人来当先知并且能了解预言，并不是所有主内的人都担当如此的职责，有些人的责任是去研究预言并且警告可能将发生的事。就像是启示所有其他的真理一样，我们应该要有将圣灵是我们的导师的认知。主耶稣说” 他(指圣灵)要把将来的事情给你们知道” ( 翰16:13)

约翰当时被启示真相时形容是”圣灵感动”，启示录如果没有圣灵的启示真相的话将会暧昧不明且难以理解，当你阅读圣经时要祈求圣灵将真相启示给你知道。

“主耶和华若不将奥秘指示他的仆人—众先知，就一无所行。”(摩3:7) ，期待主将真相给我们知道。这儿有一个规则:主会将他的计划启示给他的发言人。主亲自启示给亚伯拉罕知道所多玛和蛾摩拉因为充满罪恶而将被毁灭，上帝启示给耶利米知道以色列会被外邦俘虏七十年。当这七十年结束，巴比伦的但以理阅读并且相信耶利米的预言，并且为了以色列的复兴而祈祷。很多例子显示上帝会将未来会发生的事情启示给他的先知知道。

有时候一些假先知会说一些上帝没有启示他们的话。在旧约里假先知的处罚就是死。这就是为什么在亚哈王时杀了450个侍奉巴力的先知，以色列人就是照着耶和华的命令去杀巴力的先知。这种行为并不构成杀人罪。他们就是以同样律令对待所有的假先知。巴力的先知是假先知，他们就是教导人崇拜偶像而无视於真神。

今天在新约下，我们并不杀假先知，但我们都知道主对他们是如何想的。如果你说了一句”上帝如此如此交代”而上帝却并没有给你任何指示，那是相当可怖的事情。

如果一个章节中有些事情重复的提起的话就可以明确的知道是真相，这个规则从创世纪到整本圣经都适用。约瑟就用这个观念去解释法老王的梦，他说” 至於法老两回作梦，是因神命定这事，而且必速速成就”(创41:32)

我要说的在新约中有超过叁百多个的地方提到主的再来，有50个指示明确的说”我会回来….”，”….当他再来时”或是”他将再来”。如果我们再加上义人的复活，上帝子民的报酬，对於邪恶的处罚还有其他有关於基督再来的文句，可以发现有365个地方有这些指标。

新约中有四个地方指出耶稣的来临像是夜间的贼一样，有叁个地方说”主的日子(The Day of the Load)”会像贼一样的来临。有一个事实可以从这七个指标中看出来说主的日子会从耶稣再来的时候开始，或是说当耶稣回来时，主作王的日子就开始了。如果上帝称王之前耶稣基督会再来的话，那主作王的日子就没什么好惊奇的了。”像贼一样”说明了对於那些作恶的和不认识主的会有神天谴的一日。有些作恶的人口里会说天谴是真的，但他们若不看见主出现在云中的时候他们总不相信。突然间那些作恶的人像向山和 石说把我们藏起来吧(启6:15~17)。主和主回来的日子对於那些走在黑暗中的和还未准备好的人就像”夜里的小偷”般来临。

在启示录中有些关键事件的重复是我们用逻辑去推断解答的唯一方法。我很不能理解有些人坚持启示录非得就要像是”直线型”(译注:指的是时间关系不能重复，其中的情节不能相互解释)一样，不能容许任何的重复。

在但以理书中有些预言的内容重复了至少四次以上。在第二章中提到一个人的雕像，这王国的分裂在第七章中又以野兽的异像再次的比喻出来。在第八章，两个不同的象徵物(公山羊和公绵羊)代表了个两个先前的王国(甚至在第十二章中还提到有关第七章中的一个王国)，在预言中重复的出现是相当平常的。

1.有些很简单的证明像是在17:3邪恶女人所坐的兽和13:1的那个兽在象徵上是相同的，这两个章节的文章讲的是同一段时期的事。

2.殉道者在第五印的时候会为耶稣而死(6:9~11)，第五印结束时为基督作见证的人们也停止(完成或了结)被杀，但在13,14,17,18,20章都提及圣徒(基督徒)的牺牲，怎麽可能在第五印当所有的殉道者都被杀光了以后，其他后面的章节还有其他的圣徒被杀呢。所以这些在(译注:第六章)以后的章节所提到的殉道者其实都是在讲第五印中的事情，第五印是一个大灾难的时期。

3.在7:9~14中提到有许多的人从大灾难中”出来”到天堂，”出来”所说的就是”退出”。这证明了大灾难在启示录中第七章中就已经结束了。所以说研究圣经的人都同意启示录13章所讲的也是大灾难的一部份，这就说明了只可能是重复了之前　(译注:第七章以前)所提的灾难。

4.神大怒的天谴从第八章开始，所以在第8，9，10，11章里地球上不会存有基督徒受到神复仇。第五个大怒的天谴对於”住在地上的民”将是极大的忧伤，几乎所有的人都要受到试 (8:13)。在第八章以前所有的基督徒都被神招去与主同在，然后神真正的天谴才开始，基督徒并没有经历(帖前1:10 , 5:9 罗5:9)。所以所有的圣徒在13，14，17，18和20章的时候其实在神大怒的号角吹响前都已经被提了。

5.启示录9:20节中，其馀未曾被这些灾所杀的人仍旧不悔改自己手所作的，但在13, 14, 17, 18 和 20 章中还有基督徒。阅读一下那些9:20 中不悔改的人的罪状，然后阅读一下13:8中谁的名字会被记在羔羊生命册上，谁拒绝崇拜敌基督和撒旦。如果在吹号的时候没有人悔改所行的，怎麽会有圣徒还住在兽的国度中呢? (13:7~8)，又是谁的血让妓女喝醉了呢?(17:6)。所以这些从第九章20节确定了一个事实，就是之后的情节中所有的圣徒指的都是在天谴的吹号以前的。

6.在10:6节，书中透露说当第七号响起时”不再有时日了”。”时日(time)”这个字原来的希腊字是”chronos”。Chronos 是 chronology (年代学或是年代顺序)，这代表说:这七印七号的顺序在第七印中第七个天使吹号的时候就会停止了，注意下一个项目。

7.约翰被告知他会再说预言，这将是一个世界性的预言”…多民，多国，多方，多王”(10:11)。就是一些和第5，6，7印同时期的细节。所以说这段时期已经结束，只是有更多的细节需要说明。

8.在第8，9，10，11章中号角的审判和第十六章中碗的审判是可以用来解释同一个事件的，只不过因为有必要了解其中的细节所以才提第二次的。当然有可能七个天使的吹号和七个天使大怒的碗指的事同样的事情而用不同的比喻，像是创世纪41章一样。法老王梦见瘦的牛吃掉肥的牛和细弱的穗吃掉饱满的穗(创41:18~25)。约瑟解释这两个象徵为同一件事情，法老王也相信他。

当然，如果”数字线索”(七)在启示录中可以延续下去的话，那就不是14个惩罚天使了，而是同样是七个惩罚天使用两种不同的形象将神的大怒带到地上。

9.圣经里并没有提到复数次的复活(plural for Resurrection)，永远都是”THE Resurrection”。再圣经中只有一次提到第一次的复活(FRIST Resurrection)(20:5,6)。其他没有在第一次复活的都称为”其馀的死人还没有复活，直等到那一千年完了”(20:5)，那是第二次的死。

如果说圣徒的复活并不止一次的话，或是说复活有很多阶段的话，那主就要将他的”肢体”(教会)分成好多段，或是主的新娘支离破碎了一样。这似乎违反了保罗在以弗所书5:26~27对教会是没有污点的描述。

以上的例子证明了启示录中确实具有可重复性。所谓”直线型”的解读方法只会混淆事实。第五，六，七印中的情节在启示录随后的章节中至少又出现了四次以上，我们可以藉由第五，六，七印期间的事件来判定后面哪些情节是重复解释的。

其实所有阅读预言的人都要有一个概念就是上帝子民的被提应是所谓的”灾前提”

(译注:原作者所谓的灾前提指的是7:9节中的被提，即是第六印揭开以后的被提，跟我们认为在封印解开前的”灾前提”是不同的，作者所认为的真正神的愤怒(Wrath)应该是从第九章开始，即是第五位天使吹号以后开始)

在以赛亚书43:15中，耶和华被视为以色列的王者。在以赛亚44:6 中，耶和华 以色列的君王被视为是首先的也是末后的。在启示录1:17~18中，耶稣说自己是”我是首先的，我是末后的，又是那存活的; 我曾死过，现在又活了，直活到永永远远!”在约翰福音1:49中拿但业说”你是 神的儿子，你是以色列的王”。所以把这些材料一起检视的话就会发现耶稣拥有永生的神格，是生来要作以色列的王的。

以色列会被归还并立国的原因之一是因为耶稣基督会回来作以色列的王者，就像是教会的救世主一般。因此做为以色列的王者，他就配称为万王之王，万主之主来统治整个世界(启20:6)。所以利用比较的原则可以了解不同预言的情节。

在启示录20章中，”一千年”这个词在前七节就提了六次。很多人不能接受”一千年”指的就是实际的一千年，因为启示录中有太多的比喻和象徵了。但如果”一千年”是象徵式的而不是实际意义的，那其实就违背了以往上帝启示给先知们知道的规则。我们几乎在任何例子中都可以知道，上帝在预言中是如何的明载着确切的年份，并且就照着那些年份一一的实现。

亚伯拉罕被启示知道他的子孙会在外国受苦400年。以色列的人民在埃及待了整430年，不过之前的30年因为约瑟的统治而没有受苦，所以说以色列人在外地受苦的时间正好是400年。

上帝告诉耶利米以色列人会被俘虏到外地70年。在以色列人被巴比伦人打败并俘虏了以后，但以理为同胞祷告并且有法令公告使以色列人返回耶路撒冷重建圣殿时，正好是70年。

1. 圣经会为自己的异梦，异像 或是 象徵提出解释，我们应该接纳这些解释。

2. 不要为那些本来就是实际代表的事情找象徵性的解释，上帝的旨意会运行在象徵的比喻和实际的文辞上面。像是70年的俘虏期间就是一个实际的数字，不是象徵式的。

复活和被提是有关於末世中在地上义人的得救，这包括了在末了中已死了的人和还活着的人(帖前4:15~18)。这包括了那些在旧约中寻求基督救赎的圣徒，也包括了这世代中寻求耶稣的圣灵进入他们心里和生命而得救的那些人。我们救赎的基础是因为上帝为我们死在骷髅地的十字架上。

基督会返回以色列并且在地上建立起自己的王国一千年(20:1~6)，当耶稣基督回到地上时会被所有的以色列人所接受(罗11:25~27)。虽然现在以色列大部分的人都不知道 神的计划，像是有许多的以色列人和其他国家的人民都要死在 神的天谴中，但最后那些所有活着的以色列人都会接受耶稣。上帝捡选了以色列让基督生在他们当中，并且以色列也要继续成为 神的王国。

当耶稣回到地上后，以色列全国会下决心接受耶稣。捡选以色列是”为列祖的缘故”(罗11:28)

上帝知道所有的事情，并且会在他认为适当的时机才使人知道。他从开始的时候就已经知道了结局，但总是将知识保留到必要的时候才透露出来。但以理书应该可以当一个明显的例子，因为从它被写下的时候就如同被封印了般直到最近才解开”但以理阿，你要隐藏这话，封闭这书，直到末时”(但12:4)。我们的智慧必须要藉由阅读圣经并经过圣灵启示，在神所允许的时机中才会显现出来。

几世纪后但以理书第二章和第七章中的第四个王国被解释成罗马帝国，我们相信是因为别人是如此教我们的。但现在很明显我们是错误的，而那十角的兽指的就是基督再来前的那个王国，并且在主来临时是掌权的(启17:12)。我们能够对於神从来就没在他的话语中指示的事上如此的武断不是相当奇怪吗? 在但以理书第二和七章中并没有提到地方任何有关这第四个王国就是罗马王国。但启示录中透露了这十角的兽在主回来时会行在世上，主会将秘密隐藏到适当的时机才透露出来。

Tribulation和Wrath并不完全是相同的意义。当我们了解启示录中tribulation(灾难)指的并不是plagues of Wrath(大怒的天谴)的时候，对於预言的 清和拼凑上会有很大的帮助。

新约上有关灾难(tribulation)的词有过去，现在，和未来式，希腊字”thlipsis”在英文上永远被翻成灾难(tribulation)或是相同的意思，但从来没有被翻成是天谴或是愤怒。让我们来定义tribulation这个字。

Tribulation 指的是压迫(pressure)，麻烦(trouble)和战争(conflict)。世上的压迫如同耶稣所言"In the world ye (plural) shall have tribulation"(在世上,你们有苦难)(翰16:33)，大灾难指的是一段有重大压迫或是一个范围广的苦难(tribulation)(太24:21 启7:14)。迫害(persecution)是(tribulation)的一种指的是被追捕(pursue)或追杀(chase)(使8:1 太23:34)。

保罗在罗马书5:3节讲”就是在患难(trubulation)中也欢欢喜喜….”,但他也在罗马书5:9写到”…就更要藉着他(基督)免去 神的忿怒(wrath)”。保罗并没有特别写到有关启示录中的(plagues)天谴，不过其中当然也包括了这些。上帝从来没有在启示录中将plagues说成”tribulation plagues”，但有许多的作家和讲员常将这两个字混在一起说。

将这两个字结合在一起会造成意义上的抵触。启示录中的天谴(plagues)应该要说成是”大怒的天谴”(plagues of wrath)。神在号角的天谴中将他的忿怒倾倒在那些虐待神的子民的恶人身上。

在启示录7:14中的大灾难(Great Tribulation)应该被解释成基督徒在那些崇拜撒旦的恶人手中所受的苦难。那些在天堂的巨大人群是从大患难中”出来”的，神的大怒还未开始实行(8:1)。

在圣经中有许多上帝大怒的例子，如诺亚时代的洪水，从天上降到所多玛和蛾摩拉的火，和耶路撒冷多次的毁坏，这些都是神大怒的例子。希腊字对於wrath和 anger (Thumos and Orge)从来就没被解释成灾难(tribulation)。

我们再来看看上帝从他的教训和规范所教导我们的一个原则，那就是主永远永远永远不会将他毁灭的大怒倾倒在他的子民身上。但那些不接受上帝藉主耶稣基督所表明的爱的人就随时会受到上帝愤怒的威胁。”不信子的人得不着永生（原文作不得见永生），神的震怒常在他身上”(翰3:36)

我们可以从马太福音24章中找到一个上下文参阅的问题。在第叁节中主被问了叁个问题，而24章其他的段落你会发现答案参杂在一起。如果你没有将第叁节中的叁个问题记住的话，你也许会从耶稣的回答中得到一些很惊奇的结论。

主和他的门徒曾参观过圣殿而圣殿也曾变成他们讨论的焦点。耶稣曾告知门徒们圣殿的石头将会被丢弃而圣殿会倾倒。然后显然门徒就不停的问耶稣叁个问题1.什么时候会发生(圣殿的毁灭)呢。2.主来临的时候会有什么预兆呢。3.世界末了会有什么预兆呢。

当然耶稣告诉他们的事情有一部份是有关公元70年圣殿的毁坏，要注意的是

这些问题提到时间关系的只有第一个问题提到”何时”。如果你将”世代”翻成一代人到另一代的时间，那我们就可以将马太24:34中的回答视为圣殿的毁灭”…这世代还没有过去，这些事都要成就”，而基督并没有说这叁个答案会在一个世代中得到回答。如果将”这世代”视为是二十世纪的一段时间虽然也是用上下文的关系去得到的猜想，或许也比较生动但却是不当的运用神的话语，试着用较宽广的角度去看待上下文的关系。

耐心，耐心，耐心。有些最早的预言也都还没实现，犹大重复了以诺的预言并写着”看，主和他千千万万的圣灵就要来审判每个人…”(Jude 6)这个预言是在五千多年前的写下的也还没实现。很多的预言已经由耶稣基督的第一次到来而实现了。当适当的时机所有神所说的预言都回实现的。

当然，圣经中并没有将末世中的日子的景况完整的放在一部书供人阅读，所以我们要耐心的去研读圣经。不讳言的主并没有将预言用明确的情节表达出来确实使人觉得挫折，不过不论如何，他还是在启示录中用象徵比喻了出来! 启示录是使我们可以想像末世情节的唯一一部书。

对於主来临日子的猜测和预测从古至今都没有一次准确过。我们因为渴望而为基督所定的”回程时间表”并不会让耶稣更快的回来。往后那些预言主回来的日子也照样的要失败，但总有一天那日子还是会来临的。多年以前有些人把主回来的日子设定在1957年因为是耶路撒冷从日尔曼人归还的四十年。然后又有些人猜想那日子会在以色列回归立国后的的四十年到来，所以所有的报纸都以头条报导主会再1981年回来，他们就说”别笑”。但就一直到了1988年他们说，要注意!!主对这些问题有88个回答呦，结果耶稣还是没来。

然后一再又一再的预言说耶稣会在1989，1992，1994年再来，当有人自行猜测那再来的日子的时候，就会造成许多人对於耶稣是否真的会再来造成怀疑。当然，自订日子的这个举动会不自觉得造成一些结果像是会使一些人信仰动摇和被没有信仰的嘲笑等等。还有一个事实，就是很多人说上帝跟他们保证他们在有生之年会看到基督的再来，可是那些人现在早已经死亡去见上帝的面了。

　

CHAPTER ONE

Basis for Understanding Prophecy

      A proper understanding of the book of Revelation is a basis for understanding all prophecy concerning the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the final product of Holy Spirit revelation, rather than only a help to the understanding of other Scriptures about coming events as found in Daniel and the Gospels. Of course, Revelation could not be understood without other Biblical comparisons, but neither could prophecy be understood in Ezekiel, Daniel, Matthew, and Luke without an understanding of Revelation.

      There is a definite time-line in this last book of the Bible. The time-line is established by seeing the repetition of main events in successive chapters. Some of the repetition is obvious and some is not as apparent due to the symbolical language used to depict each event. Some events are not clearly repeated so they may not be as important as others in order to prepare God's people for the Lord's coming.

      In order to form this basis for understanding prophecy, we need to consider definite principles. God alone can accurately foretell the future. Whether we are right or wrong, the important things in our future depends on our correct understanding of what the Lord has told us in the Bible.

      Many times scholars make a variety of interpretations of the same Biblical passage. It then becomes evident that everyone is not reading and interpreting with the same set of rules.

      In the broad field of Biblical prophecy there is a need for the use of specific principles to help understand and interpret what is found in the Scriptures. Our purpose here is to give some principles in non-technical terms to direct our thinking toward understanding Biblical prophecy.

Study the Entire Bible

      There should be a good general understanding of the whole Bible if there is to be a proper understanding of the Bible prophecy. There are more Bible study helps available today than ever before. Anyone with a desire to learn can do so.

      The Apostle Paul used night and day as a comparison of the ignorant and the enlightened people on the earth (1 Thessalonians 5:1-5). The coming of the Lord will surprise those who are ignorant of His Word. It is like a thief who comes and takes things while the owner is away. The coming of the thief is not expected. And the Lord's coming will not be expected by those who do not know and believe the Word of the Lord.

      Paul writes to the believers, "But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief" (I Thessalonians 5:4 NKJV). If the Lord's coming does not surprise the believers then it will be necessary for them to discern near the time of Christ's coming. That discernment will come from the Word of God. Revelation should not be taken as a separate book from the remainder of the Bible. To do so leaves unsolved problems in Revelation. Study the entire Bible to understand prophecy.

Let The Holy Spirit Teach You

      In understanding Bible prophecy there is a Spirit of prophecy. The Holy Spirit calls some to be prophets and understand prophecy. Not everyone in the Body of Christ has the same function. Many ought to be interested and alert to what is happening. As in the revealing of all other truth, there must be the recognition of the Holy Spirit as the Teacher. The Lord Jesus said, "He (referring to the Holy Spirit) will show you things to come" (John 16:13 NIV).

      John was "in the Spirit" when he received the truths of Revelation. It will be a dark book and be misunderstood unless the Holy Spirit reveals the truths contained in it. Pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal truth as you study the Bible.

The Lord's Prophets Will Know

      "Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7 NIV). Expect the Lord to reveal the truth. It is a principle with God to reveal His plans to His spokesmen. It was revealed to Abraham by the Lord Himself that Sodom and Gomorrah were going to be destroyed because of their wickedness. God revealed to Jeremiah that Israel would be captive in a foreign land for seventy years. At the end of the seventy years, Daniel in Babylon read and believed the prophecy of Jeremiah. Daniel then began to pray for the restoration of Israel. In each case God first revealed to His prophets what was going to take place in the future.

      Sometimes false prophets stood and spoke what God had not told them. The penalty for doing this was death under Old Testament law. This was the reason for the killing of the 450 prophets of Baal at the time of King Ahab. Israel was simply obeying the Lord when they killed the prophets of Baal. It was not murder as forbidden by the law. It was the taking of the lives of false prophets as commanded by that same law. The prophets of Baal were false prophets and leading the people to worship idols and ignore the true God.

      Today under the New Covenant, we do not kill false prophets. But we know what God thinks of them. It is a fearful thing to say, "This is what God says," if God has not spoken.

      God has established a principle by which we can know true prophets. Their prophecies come to pass every time.

The Important Is Repeated

      Repetition in Scripture establishes truth. This has been a principle from the book of Genesis on through the Bible. Joseph used this understanding to interpret Pharaoh's dream. He said, "The dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass (Genesis 41:32 NKJV).

      It has been said there are more than 300 references in the New Testament to the Lord's second coming. There are 50 specific references that state, "I will return...", "...at His coming" or "He is coming." If we add the many references to the Resurrection of the righteous, the rewards of God's people, the punishment of the wicked, and other subjects connected with His coming, then 365 references can be found.

      There are four references which show Jesus coming like a thief in the night. And there are three that show "The Day of the Lord" coming like a thief. A truth established by these seven references is that the Day of the Lord will begin when Jesus returns. Or when Jesus returns, the Day of the Lord begins. If one preceded the other, the latter would come as no surprise, "like a thief." The Day of the Lord includes a day of Wrath. The Wrath will come as a surprise to the wicked and ignorant. The wicked may be told the Wrath is coming, but they will not believe it until the Lord appears in the sky. Then suddenly the wicked cry out for the rocks and mountains to hide them (6:15-17). The Lord and the Day of the Lord will come as a "thief in the night" for those in darkness who are not ready for the Lord to come.

Repetition in Revelation--and Reasons to Believe it

      Repetition of some key events in the book of Revelation is the only way to logically solve some problems presented in the book. It is a mystery why some insist that Revelation must be kept in a "straight line" only, and no repetition of events is tolerated.

      In the book of Daniel some items in prophecy are repeated at least four times. The image of a man in Chapter 2 and its division into world kingdoms is shown a second time as wild animals in Chapter 7. Then in Chapter 8, two different symbols (a ram and a goat) are used to describe two of the former kingdoms. (Even as far as Chapter 12 in Daniel, information is given about one of the kingdoms in Chapter 7.) Repetition is nothing new is prophecy.

      Following are some logical reasons to believe there is repetition in Revelation.

     

1. One of the more easy proofs of repetition is shown by the wicked woman of Chapter 17:3 sitting on the beast of Chapter 13:1. This shows they existed at the same time and are symbolically related.

        

2. Martyrs are dying for Jesus during the 5th seal (6:9-11). Taking the life of those who hold to the testimony of Jesus is ended (finished or completed) under the time period of the 5th seal. Yet the mention of saints (Christians) suffering and dying is repeated in the 13th, 14th, 17th, 18th and 20th Chapters. How can there be more "saints" suffering and dying in these later Chapters after the 5th seal if all of the taking of the lives of martyrs is "finished" in the time period of the 5th seal? The later mention of the martyrs anywhere in Revelation show repetition of the events during the period of the 5th seal. The 5th seal is the time of The Great Tribulation.

        

3. In 7:9-14 there is a great multitude in Heaven "out of" the Great Tribulation. The "out of" is as "exited from." This proves that the Great Tribulation is over by the end of the 7th Chapter of Revelation. Yet, Bible students agree that Revelation 13 is a part of the Great Tribulation. This could be true only if there is repetition.

        

4. The plagues of the Wrath of God start in the 8th Chapter. Therefore, there cannot be Christians on earth in the 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th Chapters without their being under the Wrath of God. The fifth plague of Wrath is a great woe upon the "inhabitants of the earth" and it is not limited by percentages (8:13). All Christians must be taken to be with the Lord before the 8th Chapter, which is the beginning of Wrath. Christians are not appointed to Wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:10 and 5:9, Romans 5:9). All saints from Chapters 13, 14, 17, 18 and 20 must be taken to be with the Lord in the Rapture before the trumpet plagues of God's Wrath begin.

        

5. In Revelation 9:20, it is stated that no one repented who is not killed by the plagues of the Wrath of God. Yet, there are Christian saints in Chapters 13, 14, 17, 18 and 20. Read the list of sins of those in 9:20 who did not repent. Then read the description of the saints in later chapters whose names were in the Lamb's book of Life (13:8) and who refused to worship the Beast Antichrist and Satan. If there is no repentance during the trumpet plagues, where did the saints come from that are here on earth during the Beast Kingdom (13:7-8) and whose blood makes the harlot drunk (17:6)? These events in the Chapters following Chapter 9, verse 20, confirm the truth that any saints found living there, actually lived before the plagues of Wrath announced by trumpets.

        

6. In Revelation 10:6, it was revealed that there would be "time no longer" at the sounding of the 7th trumpet. The word "time" here is the original Greek word "chronos." Chronos is a word from which we get chronology. The meaning here is this: the chronology of the seven seals and seven trumpet judgments of the 7th seal is ended at the sounding of the trumpet by the seventh angel. Notice the next item.

        

7. John is informed that he is to prophesy again. It is a world-wide prophecy about "...many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings" (10:11 NKJV). These are details which fit into the times of the 5th, 6th, and 7th seals. Now the chronology of events is over and yet more needed details are coming.

        

8. The trumpet judgments of Chapters 8, 9, 10 and 11 and the bowl judgments of Chapter 16 are so similar they can be interpreted as the same events, with interesting and needful details added the second time. Certainly it is no more difficult to believe the various pictures of Wrath announced by seven Angels blowing trumpets or seven Angels with bowls of Wrath to pour out than Genesis 41. Pharaoh dreams of fat cattle eating lean cattle and large heads of grain eating small heads of grain (Genesis 41:18-25). Joseph interpreted the two symbols as one and the same things, and Pharaoh believed him.

         Also, if the "number key" (seven) is to be followed throughout Revelation, there cannot be 14 Angels of Wrath. There are seven Angels of Wrath pictured in two different symbolical ways bringing God's Wrath upon the earth.

        

9. There is no plural for Resurrection in the Bible. It is always THE Resurrection. There is a FIRST Resurrection mentioned in only one place in the Bible (20:5, 6). Those not in the First Resurrection are called "the rest of the dead (who) did not live again until the 1000 years were finished" (20:5 NKJV). For them it is called the Second Death.

      If there were more than one resurrection of the saints, or phases of the Resurrection, the Lord would be taking His "body" (the church) in sections or taking His Bride with missing parts. This seems so unlike Paul's description of the Lord's church in Ephesians 5:26-27 where the church is without spot or blemish.

SUMMARY OF REPETITION

      The above examples prove repetition in Revelation. A "straight-line" approach will confuse truth. The events in the 5th seal, the 6th seal, and the 7th seal time periods are repeated in Revelation at least four times after the first time through. The times of the 5th seal, 6th seal and 7th seal give understanding when the repetition is followed.

      If the straight-line approach is used in understanding the time-line events in Revelation it creates insurmountable problems that cannot be logically solved. It creates positions about the rapture such as Pre-tribulation, Mid-tribulation, Post-tribulation, which separate prophecy students into groups and results in confusion in the church about His coming.

      One position on which all prophecy students should agree is the "Pre-Wrath" Rapture of all the people of God.

Compare Scripture With Scripture

      A fundamental principle in understanding prophecy is the need to compare verse with verse and chapter with chapter. The purpose of comparison is more than finding the repetition of an idea. Instead, it is the adding of various shafts of light on the same subject to clarify and complete the picture. Only by comparing various sources will some truths emerge. An example for the use of this principle is a study of Jesus Christ as King.

      In Isaiah 43:15 Jehovah is identified as the King of Israel. In Isaiah 44:6 Jehovah the King is identified as the First and the Last. In Revelation 1:17-18, Jesus identified Himself by saying, "I am the First and I am the Last. I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!" In John 1:49 Nathanael said, "You are the Son of God, You are the King of Israel." In all of these together we see Jesus as a part of the Eternal Godhead, born as the King of Israel.

      One of the reasons Israel has been restored as a nation is the simple fact that Jesus Christ is coming back to the nation of Israel as its King as well as Savior of the church. then as King of Israel, He will be received as King of kings and Lord of lords, and will become ruler of the entire world (Revelation 20:6). The principle of comparing will bring understanding about many coming prophetic events.

Let the Bible Interpret Itself

      There is much symbolism in prophecy which can be understood only when interpretation is found in the Bible itself. In the broad field of Bible prophecy God has used dreams, visions, types, symbols, and parables. It should be kept in mind that there is a real and tangible meaning for every picture presented. The great difficulty comes in discovering the exact intent. One sure method is to find a similar picture and interpretation elsewhere in the Scripture. Sometimes there are many interpretations and surely some misinterpretations.

      In Revelation, Chapter 20, a thousand years is mentioned six times in the first seven verses. Many find it difficult to accept the thousand years as literal because so much of Revelation is filled with imagery and symbols. But if the thousand years is symbolical and not literal, it would be a departure from the way God informed His prophets in the past. In every instance that can be found where God specified years in prophecy it came to pass exactly in the number of years revealed.

      Abraham was informed by the Lord that his descendants would suffer in a foreign land for 400 years. The people of Israel were in Egypt exactly 430 years. But their suffering did not start for thirty years until Joseph was no longer in charge. Consequently they suffered exactly 400 years.

      God told Jeremiah that Israel would be carried captive for 70 years. After the Babylonians defeated Israel and took captives to Babylon, it was exactly 70 years later that Daniel prayed and the decree was made to send a company of Israeli back from Babylon to start the restoration in Jerusalem.

      Here then is the principle regarding interpretation:

     

1. The Bible interprets itself and gives the meaning of a dream, vision or symbol, accept it without question.

        

2. Do not make something symbolical that has always been used in a literal sense. God works from the symbolical to the literal or real. For example the seventy-year captivity of Israel was not symbolical, but literal.

Observe The Church and Israel

      It is necessary to keep in mind that Jesus has a dual purpose in His return. The good news for the Christian is the fact that Jesus is coming back in person as Lord and redeemer of the church. But He will also return as King of the nation of Israel.

      The Resurrection and Rapture is one event which concerns the taking of the righteous from the earth at the close of this age. It will include those who have died and those who are yet living, at the close of this age (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18). This will include the Old Testament saints who were looking forward to redemption in Christ. It will also include those of this age who were saved by receiving the Spirit of Jesus into their hearts and lives. The foundation for our salvation and acceptance with God was laid at the cross of Calvary.

      Christ will return to the nation Israel where He will set up His kingdom on earth for 1000 years (20:1-6). When Jesus Christ returns to the earth He will be accepted totally by the nation Israel (Romans 11:25-27), although at the present time most people in Israel are ignorant of His plans. It seems that many in Israel will die during the wrath along with a multitude in other nations. But finally all who survive in Israel will accept Him. The Lord God chose Israel as a nation to bring forth the Christ and Israel continues to be the nation of His nativity.

      Our choice to become a part of "His elect" must be made before His return. In the church we are "elect" in Christ Jesus.

      The choice of the nation of Israel to accept Jesus will be made by those alive in Israel after He returns to the earth. The election of Israel is "on account of the patriarchs" (Romans 11:28 NIV).

Allow for God's Sovereign Timing

      God knows all things and will reveal needed truth in HIS timing. He knows the end of time from the beginning. But at one point in history God withholds knowledge only to reveal its truth at another time when it is needed. It seems evident that the book of Daniel has been a sealed book from when it was written until recent times. "But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end" (Daniel 12:4 NIV). It is so easy to be dogmatic about future events and be wrong. Our wisdom must come from the Bible with the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit and in God's timing.

      For centuries the 4th kingdom of Daniel Chapters 2 and 7 has been interpreted as the Roman Empire. We believed it because we were taught it. But now it appears we were wrong and the beast with the ten horns is a kingdom to be set up just before the Lord comes and is in power at the time of His coming (Revelation 17:12). Isn't it amazing we could be so dogmatic about something God never indicated as truth in the Word? There is not one reference in Scripture stating the 4th kingdom of Daniel Chapters 2 and 7 was the Roman Empire. The book of Revelation reveals the ten-horned Beast as in the world when the Lord returns. God will hold in secret what He desires until the proper time.

Careful Word Definitions

      Tribulation and Wrath are not identical in meaning. One of the largest pieces in the jigsaw puzzle of prophecy falls into place when it is understood that tribulation is not referring to the plagues of Wrath in Revelation.

      The New Testament speaks of tribulation in terms of past, present and future. The Greek word "thlipsis" is always translated into English as tribulation or similar meanings, but never wrath or anger. Let us define tribulation and forms of it.

      Tribulation means pressure, trouble or conflict. Pressure from the world is indicated when Jesus said, "In the world ye (plural) shall have tribulation" (John 16:33 KJV). Great tribulation means a time of great pressure or wide-spread tribulation (Matthew 24:21 and Revelation 7:14). Persecution is a form of tribulation and means to pursue or chase (Acts 8:1, Matthew 23:34).

      Paul wrote in Romans 5:3, "We glory in tribulations...", but he also wrote in Romans 5:9, "...we shall be saved from wrath through Him (Christ)." Paul was not writing specifically of the plagues of Revelation at this point, but it certainly includes them. At no place does God's Word call the plagues of Revelation "tribulation plagues" but writers and speakers refer to them as such many times. Combining the two words together is a contradiction of meanings. The plagues of Revelation should be called "plagues of wrath." The Wrath of God in the trumpet plagues is poured out on the wicked people who have mistreated God's people.

      The Great Tribulation of Revelation 7:14 should be considered the suffering of Christians at the hands of wicked people under the direction of Satan. The great multitude is in Heaven having come "out of" the Great Tribulation. The Wrath of God was yet to start in the plagues (8:1).

      There are many examples of God's Wrath in the Bible. The flood at Noah's time, fire from Heaven on Sodom and Gomorrah, and the destruction of Jerusalem several times. All these are examples of God's wrath or anger. The Greek words for wrath and anger (Thumos and Orge) are never translated as tribulation.

      We see then this principle in God's Word taught to us by precept and example. The Lord will never, never, never pour out His destructive Wrath on His own people. But those who do not accept God's love as manifest in the Lord Jesus Christ are now and ever will be under the threat of God's Wrath. "He who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him" (John 3:36 NKJV).

Check The Context

      Taking facts out of context has caused much error in prophecy. Don't be quick to declare something as prophetic truth until you check what precedes and what follows what you see as the truth.

      One context problem is found in the 24th Chapter of Matthew. Three questions were asked of the Lord in verse 3. In the remainder of the Chapter you will find the answers mixed together. If you do not keep in mind the three questions in verse 3, you may come to the most astonishing conclusions from the answers.

      The Lord with His disciples had visited the temple area and the temple had been the center of their attention. Jesus had just informed them the stones of the temple would be thrown down and the temple destroyed. Then, evidently without stopping, they asked Jesus three questions. 1. "When will this (the destruction of the temple) happen?" 2. What will be the sign of your coming?" 3. "(What will be the sign of) the end of the age?"

      Certainly a part of the information He gave them was concerning the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D. Notice that the only question dealing with time is "when" in the first one. If you take the common interpretation of a "generation" as being a period of time from one generation of people to the next, then it can be seen that Matthew 24:34 is the answer to the question about the destruction of the temple. "...this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened" (NIV). Christ was not saying all three questions would be answered within one generation. To say "this generation" refers to a span of years in the 20th century is taking a statement out of context and making a dramatic but wrong application of the Word of God. Try to find a wide-angle view of the context.

Exercise Patience

      Patience, patience, patience. Some of the earliest of prophecies have not yet been fulfilled. Jude repeated the prophecy of Enoch and wrote, "See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of His holy ones to judge everyone..." (Jude 6, NIV). This prophecy was made originally about 5000 years ago and is yet to be fulfilled. Many later prophecies were fulfilled at the time of the first coming of Jesus Christ. At the proper time every prophecy in the Word of God will be fulfilled.

      Also, since there is no complete answer to prophecy of the last days in one place in the Bible be patient to study the Bible. It is a truly frustrating discovery to find the Lord has not set forth in clear language the order of events about to take place. However, it is presented in Revelation in symbols! Revelation is the only place in the Bible where the order of events can be visualized.

Avoid the Crazies

      The setting of dates has failed every time up to the present. Our wishing for Christ's return according to our schedule will not bring Jesus back any sooner. There will be a few more failures in setting dates. But some day the time of Christ's return will arrive. Years ago some set the day of the Lord's return in 1957 because it was 40 years after the freeing of Jerusalem from the Turks in 1917. Then some figured it would be 40 years after Israel was restored as a nation. Full-page ads in the newspapers said he would return in 1981. They said "Don't laugh." Then it was going to be in 1988. Remember! And there were 88 reasons presented as to why it was true. But Jesus didn't come.

      Then it was prophesied Jesus would come in 1989, 1992, 1994 and on and on. When someone sets a date now for the Lord's return, it causes some people to doubt the reality of His coming. Also, the setting of dates has inadvertently caused the unintended result of making skeptics and cause the unbeliever to scoff. And it is a fact, some who said the Lord had assured them He would return before they died have now gone on to be with the Lord.

      In spite of the skeptics concerning the Lord's coming there is an amazing truth in the Word of the Lord in Revelation and Daniel. A world-wide political kingdom is coming some day on the earth and is timed, after which the Lord does come. But until that political kingdom is set up on earth no one can say, with certainty, the coming of the Lord is imminent. The Lord's coming for an individual may be at any moment, but His coming for the church is not imminent until after the Antichrist's kingdom is set up.

      Let us base our interpretations on what Scriptures reveal as truth and not on people's hopes, wishes or imaginations. Rather than the setting of dates for the Lord's return, let us continue to read the Word of God and recognize the sequence of signs and establishment of predicted political powers that will alert the church of the Lord's soon arrival. Let us be faithful about the Lord's business until He comes.