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The Apocalypse, or Unveiling of Hidden Future Events
The word, "apocalypse", comes to us from the Greek word, "apocalypsis", which means “the unveiling or disclosing of a reality that previously has not been perceived.” Things, which may have been spoken in veiled terms, or parables, are more fully revealed and brought to greater illumination by the Holy Spirit, in an apocalypse, or a revelation. It is from this concept and root that we have the Book of Revelation, the last book of the New Testament, or The Apocalypse.
Many times when the Apocalypse is mentioned, whether it is in a church service, on television, radio, or other media, instantly, the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse come to mind. Or thoughts of the judgments, bowls, and trumpets of the Book of Revelation are visualized by the hearer. These events, as well as many other end time events, are written about in the Apocalypse, or Book of Revelation, but those happenings comprise only a portion of this book which has been a mystery to so many for so long, myself included before much indepth, prayerful study of this glorious book, under the tutelage of the Holy Spirit and men and women who faithfully studied the end time prophecies throughout the Word of God for fifty years or more. Many of these, I have heard in person, and some, I’ve had the blessing of reading their books and hearing them teach, utilizing the media.
“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 to His servant John:” Revelation 1:1
The highest glory of the Book of Revelation is that it is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son. In Revelation, the attributes of Jesus are amplified in a way which they had not been until the Apostle John recorded the visions and instructions which were given to him over a period of approximately 15 years, 81 A.D. through 95 A.D., while he was exiled for his faith on the Isle of Patmos, a place where Rome kept prisoners for life. A major theme of the Apocalypse is the exaltation of Jesus Christ, our Lord, Savior, Messiah, King, Bridegroom, Head of the Church, the Lamb, the Lion of Judah, Almighty God, the Alpha and the Omega, and All in All. He is all we will ever need.
Jesus’ past, present, and future work is contained in the pages of the Book of Revelation. Revelation 12:11 speaks of the tribulation saints, or those who are still on earth during the tribulation, as engaging battle with the antichrist “by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives to the death.” They refer back to the Cross, where the sins of all believers were cleansed, and, they endure in faith, spiritually, but , not necessarily, physically, by the Blood of the Lamb. In this seven year period, many tribulation saints are martyred for their faith, especially those who refuse to take the mark of the beast in order to buy or sell. Revelation 13:16-17
In His present work, Jesus is revealed in The Apocalypse, as having the keys of hell and death, Rev. 1:18, which He took from satan during the three days He spent in the heart of the earth, preceding His all-powerful, life-giving resurrection, on the third day after His Crucifixion, for the sins of the whole world. “He always causes us to triumph in Him.” 2 Corinthians 2:14 Jesus shares His victory over death, hell, and the grave, with those who believe in and cling to Him in trust. "He has made us unto our God and Father, kings and priests." Rev. 1:6 Jesus is seen so majestically, as the Head of the Church, walking among the seven golden candlesticks, which refer to the seven churches of the Apocalypse, as well as to all the true churches existing during the Church Age, beginning with the Day of Pentecost and continuing for the past two thousand years, until the Feast of Trumpets, or the harpadzo, the snatching away, like a thief in the night, of His waiting Bride, according to Jewish wedding tradition, both past and present. In the opening chapter of the Book of Revelation, Jesus is seen holding the seven stars, or pastor-messengers of His Church in His right hand, where He sustains and protects them. In Hebrew thought, the right hand carries power and strength not assigned to the left hand. So, pastors and messengers of the Lord, don’t despair. You are being sustained and protected in the right hand of Jesus. Glory! Keep on keeping on!
The future work of Jesus is seen in many places in the Apocalypse, or Revelation, including His return for His waiting Bride, as mentioned above, when compared with other scriptures. More of His yet-to-be-accomplished work is His Return with His Bride in His Second Coming, as the Conquering King, riding on a white horse, returning to the earth as Judge and Warrior, His Bride following Him, also upon white horses, from heaven, where she has been kept from the horrors of the tribulation period of seven years, returning with Him as He stops the Battle of Armageddon, smiting the nations that have come against Jerusalem with a sharp sword, which proceeds from His mouth, ruling the nations with a rod of iron, and treading the winepress of Almighty God.
“From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.” Revelation 19:15 Jesus reveals Himself to those peoples who survive the tribulation, who do not know Him, as KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. His Church already knows Him in His Kingship and Lordship, but there will be no doubt left in any unbeliever’s mind when Jesus returns in His rulership over all the earth at the end of the tribulation period of seven years, also known as Daniel’s seventieth week, or the seven years of tribulation. We will examine the tribulation much more closely in other parts of this study.
Isaiah 9:6-7 “For a child is born to us,
a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His government and its peace
will never end.
He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David
for all eternity.
The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
will make this happen!” (NLT)
It is much better to know Jesus now, as Lord and Savior, than to wait for the day that He comes as Judge of all the earth. Both His saving grace and His outpoured wrath are everlasting. You do not want to incur the wrath of Almighty God and feel its eternal separation and flame with no hope of escape. If you repent of your sin and receive His sacrifice on the Cross for your sin, now, while there is still time, He will save and abundantly pardon you. Give your heart to him today.
If you aren’t saved by the Blood of Jesus, and you want Him to cleanse you of your sins, receiving Him as Lord and Savior, He will cleanse your heart and recieve you as His own right now. Pray a prayer something like this, and mean it with all your heart.
“Lord Jesus, I am a sinner, and I need You to save me. I repent of my sin, and I ask You to wash my heart clean of all sin by Your Blood which You shed for me. I give my life to You and I ask you to help me live daily for you, obeying your Word. I love You, Lord Jesus, and I thank You for saving me. Fill me with Your precious Holy Spirit, so that I will have power to be Your witness. Thank You, Lord. Amen.”
As the Holy Spirit leads, we will continue this study of the Book of Revelation. It will be posted on our website, and on InJesus as the Lord gives each part. Our church has begun a study of end time prophecy. The time that the book is to be opened is here, as we see the signs which Jesus gave in Scripture abound on every hand.
In His grace and strength,
Betty Seiley
www.bettyseiley.multiply.com
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