TEACHING OF THE END TIMES Revelation 1:1-3 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him,

to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: 2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. 3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. The word Revelation comes from the Greek name of Apokalypsis or Apocalypse which means a disclosure, a revelation or manifestation. The content of this book is not a secret or hidden thing, for the secret things belong unto God, but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children. Deuteronomy 29:29. GOD GAVE UNTO CHRIST The message originally came from God the Father. But since the introduction of sin, all communication between heaven and earth has been through Christ as He is the only mediator between God and man. (1 Timothy 2:5) The events that are outlined in the book of Revelation were in the future at the time that they were given. SERVANTS - They are the ones that receive this message from heaven. While ever any portion of this message remains to be fulfilled, then Gods servants are to be interested in it as it is for them, in all times and all places until it all is finished. A servant is one who faithfully serves his master. Thus these, being the servants of God, must be serving God faithfully by continually yielding their will over to His will, and by doing all that He bids them. They are obedient to him. (Romans 6:16, 20-22)

Symbolism - Prophetic passages in the Old Testament symbolize things taking place when the prophet speaks and preaches, but at the same time other phrases are dropped in that foreshadow the coming of the Messiah and the ultimate salvation of Israel. Tribulations - Jesus' description of how Christians will die and will want to run for the hills closely captures the waves of persecutions that began when the Temple fell in the church's first generation, and continued for the next three centuries. He mentions repeatedly that those who withstand the tribulation, the great persecutions, meaning those who do not turn back on their baptisms to be spared, will be saved. The Orthodox churches have always said he does not give the people hope that they will escape the tribulation by being raptured The seven churches 1. Ephesus The Era of Waning Love > Revelation 2:1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; Ephesus means first or desirable. the angel of the Church is none other than a messenger or leader/minister of that Church. John is instructed to write to the angel of this Church. The one that is giving this message to John is the one that holds the seven stars in his right hand. We have found this to be Jesus himself. the candlesticks are the Churches. Time period for Ephesus was 31 A.D. to 100 A.D.

2. Smyrna The Period of Suffering and Martyrdom Revelation 2:8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; Smyrna - synonymous with myrrh, which was an aromatic substance used sometimes as a healing ointment but especially for embalming the dead, John 19:39. 3. Thyatira The Church That Tolerates Jezebel Revelation 2:18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who has his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; Thyatira - Sweet savour of labour or sacrifice of contrition. The citizens of Thyatira were mostly poor and humble labourers, being made contrite by sacrifices and their lives were made fragrant by the blessing of labour. They produced instruments of brass, bronze, and other metals, also the production of and dyeing of cloth in red but especially in purple, as we find that Lydia was a seller of purple from Thyatira. (Acts 16:12-14) Jezebel - To find out or understand what is being said here, we need to understand who and what Jezebel was. Listed below are the comments of who Jezebel was. - She was a whore and witch. (2 Kings 9:22) - A prophetess of Baal, the realm of an impure religion. (Revelation 2:20) - Teaches fornication. (Revelation 2:20) - Married to Ahab king of Israel, or Church and state united. As a result he was led into Baal worship. (1 Kings 16:31) - Jezebel (Church) dominated Ahab (state), she controlled the state through Ahab. (1 Kings 21:25) - One result of the apostasy was a drought for three and a half years. (1 Kings 16:32-17:1; 18:18, James 5:17)

- Persecuted Gods faithful. (1 Kings 18:3-4; 19:1-2) - She has children. (Revelation 2:23) - Ultimate end was total annihilation. (2 Kings 9:36-37) 4. Pergamos The Epoch of State Religion - Revelation 2:12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which has the sharp sword with two edges; Pergamos - The name Pergamos means height or elevation. Sharp sword with two edges Revelation 1:16 this is none other than the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. Thus Christ is coming to this Church with the word of God. those who overcome will be given the hidden manna to eat and a white stone with a secret name on it. 5. Sardis The Church That Lives But is Dead - Revelation 3:1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know your works, that you have a name that you livest, and are dead. Sardis - The name means, song of joy or that which remains. 6. Philadelphia The Era of Brotherly Love - Revelation 3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that has the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; Philadelphia - The word Philadelphia means Brotherly Love. Key of David - A key is the symbol of power and authority, for the key gives the possessor the power or authority to open and shut the door when he chooses to use it.

 Openeth, and no man shutteth, shutteth, and no man openeth - From this statement, it is quite obvious that Christ has the power to open and shut doors that no man can. 7. Laodicea The Period of Lukewarmness - Revelation 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; Laodicea - The word Laodicea is made up from two words, that when placed together mean a people judged or the judgment of the people. Seven Seals are broken off 1. First Seal: A white horse appears, whose crowned rider has a bow with which to conquer. (6:1-2) 2. Second Seal: A red horse appears, whose rider is granted a "great sword" to take peace from the earth. (6:3-4) 3. Third Seal: A black horse appears, whose rider has "a pair of balances in his hand," where a voice then says, "A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and [see] thou hurt not the oil and the wine." (6:5-6) 4. Fourth Seal: A pale horse appears, whose rider is Death, and Hades follows him. Death was granted a fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and with the beasts of the earth. (6:7-8) 5. Fifth Seal: "Under the altar," appeared the souls of martyrs for the "word of God," who cry out for vengeance. They are given white robes and told to rest until the martyrdom of their brothers is completed. (6:9-11) 6. Sixth Seal: (6:12-17) There occurs a great earthquake where "the sun becomes black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon like blood" (6:12). The stars of heaven fall to the earth and the sky recedes like a scroll being rolled up (6:13-14).

Every mountain and island is moved out of place (6:14). The people of earth retreat to caves in the mountains (6:15). The survivors call upon the mountains and the rocks to fall on them, so as to hide them from the "wrath of the Lamb" (6:16). 8. Seventh Seal: Introduces the seven trumpets (8:1-5) "Silence in heaven for about half an hour" (8:1). Seven angels are each given trumpets (8:2). An eighth angel takes a "golden censer," filled with fire from the heavenly altar, and throws it to the earth (8:3-5). What follows are "peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake" (8:5) After the eighth angel has devastated the earth, the seven angels introduced in verse 2 prepare to sound their trumpets (8:6). The Seventh Seal Silence in Heaven There was silence in heaven he sixth seal brings us down to the climax of the second coming of Christ, but does not describe the actual personal appearing of Him. we find here, in the seventh seal, the second coming of Christ. THE SEVEN TRUMPHETS The Seven Trumpets - Revelation 8:2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. Seven angels - We now move on from the seals to the opening of another prophecy. Here we have the seven angels that stood before the throne and to each was given a trumpet. Trumpets - We find, in Jeremiah 4:5-6, 19-21, that a trumpet is associated with, and a symbol of, the following;

1. The sounding of war. 2. Preparing for war. 3. Used as a warning. (Joel 2:1) 1. First Trumpet: Hail and fire, mingled with blood, are thrown to the earth burning up a third of the trees and green grass. (8:6-7) 2. Second Trumpet: Something that resembles a great mountain, burning with fire, falls from the sky and lands in the ocean. It kills a third of the sea creatures and destroys a third of the ships at sea. (8:8-9) 3. Third Trumpet: A great star, named Wormwood, falls from heaven and poisons a third of the rivers and springs of water. (8:1011) 4. Fourth Trumpet: A third of the sun, the moon, and the stars are darkened creating complete darkness for a third of the day and the night. (8:12-13) 5. Fifth Trumpet: The First Woe (9:1-12) A "star" falls from the sky (9:1). This "star" is given "the key to the bottomless pit" (9:1). The "star" then opens the bottomless pit. When this happens, "smoke [rises] from [the Abyss] like smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky [are] darkened by the smoke form the Abyss" (9:2) From out of the smoke, locusts who are "given power like that of scorpions of the earth" (9:3), who are commanded not to harm anyone or anything except for people who were not given the seal on their foreheads (from chapter 7) (9:4). The "locusts" are described as having a human appearance (faces and hair) but with lion's teeth, and wearing "breastplates of iron"; the sound of their wings resembles "the thunderings of many horses and chariots rushing into battle" (9:7-9).

6. Sixth Trumpet: The Second Woe (9:13-21) The four angels bound to the great river Euphrates are released to prepare two hundred million horsemen. These armies kill a third of mankind by use of three plagues: fire, smoke, and brimstone. 7. Seventh Trumpet: The Third Woe that leads into the Seven bowls (11:1519) The temple of God opens in heaven, where the ark of His covenant can be seen. There are lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.