In my ministry I have led studies in Revelation many times. This time a simple look at each lifetime – each persons ‘now’ and ‘not yet’.
John would have been with Matthew when Jesus said these words about the “not yet:”
Quote…… “You will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
Matthew 24:9-14
In this revelation from Jesus, He is simply saying: – I love you
I came to save you – to be with Me for eternity (Mark 1:15; John 15:13, 14).
– Repent (1 Peter 3:18);
– Trust and Obey Me (John 14:15);
– Be with Me at the Wedding Supper – The Banquet (Revelation 19:9);
God made each one of us in His image and simply wants us to glorify Him, and be with Him forever.
Keep watch – worship the One True God of the Holy Bible – and do not worry. (Matthew 6:25-34).
This author has been very thankful for the NIV Study Bible published by Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA, and for the wonderful comments by contributors to Revelation – Robert Mounce and David O’Brien. Grateful thanks.
Grateful thanks to Dr Barry Gumm for wonderful, deep and meaning bible conversations and research over glasses of water and much laughter, who also has studied the Book of Revelation over 40 years, written books on the Book of Revelation.
This book resulted from two events in our human history.
- The reality of Almighty God’s Son Jesus’ revelation to man – The Book of Revelation[1] particularly Chapter 6 and –
- The relationship of the above Chapter to the events of January 2020 onwards – the evil Covid War on humanity.
I embarked on the writing of this book because of some research given to me by Dr. Barry Gumm in 2018 and discussion thereafter as mentioned before. The research I believe is coming true. The research follows defining an alleged attempt by the devil to destroy God’s creation. Holy Scripture warns those who are prepared to listen – recorded by the Apostle Paul who reveals:
2 Corinthians 11.14-20
14 ….for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade
as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
16 I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do,
then receive me just as you would a fool, so that I may
do a little boasting.
17 In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool.
18 Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast.
19 You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise!
20 In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves
you or exploits you…..
However, dreadful times, evil times are approaching – worse than in history before – worse that the disasters of WWI and WWII! Is there an alleged totally evil conspiracy against all the people on God’s earth?
Is there a type/shadow like what occurred in context with Zechariah’s prophecy (520BC) and the revelation to the Apostle John (c67-70 or 95AD).
Zechariah 1.10-11
10 Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, “They are the ones the LORD has sent to go
throughout the earth.”
11 And they reported to the angel of the LORD, who
was standing among the myrtle trees, “We have gone
throughout the earth and found the whole world at rest
and peace.
Revelation 6.2-8
2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.
3 When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!”
4 Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword.
5 When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the
third living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there
before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair
of scales in his hand.
6 Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a day’s wages, and three quarts of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!”
7 When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!”
8 I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the
earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the
wild beasts of the earth.
I believe end times and tribulations are approaching – man’s deeds are becoming disgustingly totally evil! More evil than Germany’s deeds 1939-1945.
Just as I mentioned a type/shadow Zechariah/Revelation is there an overlaying type/shadow Revelation/today? Is Almighty God hardening men’s hearts today as He did with Pharaoh?
I need to comment on Revelation 6.4 above – the words “make men slay each other”
Revelation 6.4 rsv
4 and out came another horse, bright red; its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that men should slay one another; and he was given a great sword.
I do refer to Revelation 6.4 in the RSV
Notice “that men should slay one another”. Shortly you will notice the heading:
GOD’s Commission to the red rider.
I believe God’s authority to the red rider had alternatives for ‘men” (Rev 6.4) not to be tempted to slaughter their fellow man, In the Lord’s prayer, we see:
Matthew 6.13
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
The Lord Jesus was tempted by the devil in a similar way JOB was tempted:
Matthew 4.11
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be
tempted by the devil.
2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written:
‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had
him stand on the highest point of the temple.
6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a
stone.’”
7 Jesus answered him,
“It is also written:
‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain
and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and
their splendor.
9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is
written:
‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
This truth from Jesus is about basic human needs of foo, safety, land and our relationship to God. Men and women do not have to give in to temptation.
The Apostle Paul records:
1 Corinthians 10.10-13
10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—
and were killed by the destroying angel.
11 These things happened to them as examples and
were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.
12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!
13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
I know from all we are experiencing that there will be trials, temptations and dreadful tribulations, but Paul also recorded:
I Corinthians 9.24-25
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run,
but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
25 Everyone who competes in the games goes
into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
2 Timothy 4.7-8
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Ungodly power and greed destroys.
Dr Gumm’s research – the Georgia Guidestones follows.
Are the elite acting as ‘sons of the devil?’
Amos 5.12-18
12 For I know how many are your offenses and how great your sins. You oppress the righteous and take bribes and you deprive the poor of justice in the courts.
13 Therefore the prudent man keeps quiet in such
times, for the times are evil.
14 Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the LORD God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is.
15 Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts.
Perhaps the LORD God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph.
16 Therefore this is what the Lord, the LORD God Almighty, says: “There will be wailing in all the streets
and cries of anguish in every public square. The farmers will be summoned to weep and the mourners to wail.
17 There will be wailing in all the vineyards, for I will pass through your midst,” says the LORD.
Let us begin this awesome research – COVID WAR and REVELATION 6.
[1] The Book of Revelation – The Now and Not Yet by Rev’d Dr Graham J Whelan OAM