What will happen at the end of time The Return of Christ What does the return of Christ mean to the believer? It should generate an exhilarating hope and confidence because we know the end of the story and we know who wins. It should also produce a great longing to be found faithful when Christ returns and a great passion for mission because we understand the consequences for those who do not believe. During Jesus' last evening with His disciples, He told them not to let their hearts be troubled because He was going away to prepare a place for them. He promised that He was going to come again. Christians believe history is working relentlessly and inexorably toward the consummation of God's eternal purposes. These purposes will be brought to pass at the glorious triumphant return of the risen Lord Jesus Christ. When Jesus first came into Jerusalem, He came humbly on a donkey and with tears. When Christ returns, it will not be in tears but as a triumphant warrior in charge of the armies of God to bring about the purposes of God. At the end time, He will gather together God's people, and He will bring final judgment on those who don't belong to Him. Jesus is called the one who is faithful and true.

He will come to rule and reign in righteousness—irresistibly and indisputably in control. He will be King of Kings, and there will be no area in which His authority is not final. Jesus, the Word of God, also became the Lamb of God. The one who will come to judge has earned the right to judge because He accepted the wrath of God for the sins of the whole world, went down into death, and was raised again triumphant. The end times will see Jesus ruling the nations in truth and righteousness as King of kings and Lord of lords. There is a picture in Revelation of the aftermath of battle and victory over the enemies of God. It is called the great supper of God (vs. 17). The wedding supper of the Lamb (vs. 9) is set in contrast to it. The bride of Christ is the church of Christ and at the end of time, she will share in the marriage supper of the lamb. The day of the Lord is all about judgment and blessing and we need to see both in balance in order to get the full picture of the return of Christ. The Second Coming The one who is opposed to the purposes of God is Satan.

He will be bound for a thousand years, released to deceive the nations, and then finally judged at the end of the age. The Bible refers to this period of time as the second coming and the great white throne judgment. It will include all of creation. The great white throne judgment is an awe-inspiring and terrifying thought. The books will be open and we will be judged based on the righteousness of God. There are no exceptions, no omissions, and no excuses. There will be no miscarriage of justice, just the awesome righteousness of God like a spotlight evaluating all. The Book of Life will also be opened at the second coming. It is the record of all who have received life eternal. Scripture says that eternal life is the gift of God through grace. It has nothing to do with us and everything to do with what God has done for us. The glory of God will be seen in the return of Christ during the end times whether it be in judgment on the unrepentant or in blessing on the redeemed. The Book of Revelation The title "Revelation" in Greek is the word “apocalypse” or “apocalyptic.” Apocalyptic literature is full of symbols and imagery that are intended to convey a message through symbolism.

Therefore, the book of Revelation in the Bible is apocalyptic literature that is symbolic and requiring both careful study and careful interpretation. The Apostle John has a vision while in exile in Patmos for the testimony of Jesus. He’s instructed to take careful notes and send what he learns to the churches in the Roman provinces of Asia Minor, now western Turkey. Those churches were struggling at that time. John writes to encourage them to stand firm so that instead of being overwhelmed, they will be an overcoming community. Dig deeper into the subjects of Revelation and the end times by checking out the resources below: What Is the Book of Revelation About? What Is the Book of Revelation About? Frequently Asked Questions Does Revelation say only 144,000 people will go to heaven? Is the United States or Israel mentioned in Revelation? Does Revelation predict present and future events? What is the mark of the beast? What does the number 666 mean? What do the four horsemen represent in Revelation? Were the seven churches actual places? The book of Revelation is difficult to understand and inspires a wide range of questions, especially since there are many competing interpretations. Author One day in about the year 95 A.D., a man named John had a vision from heaven.

The book of Revelation is John's record of that vision ( Revelation 1:9-11 ). John was a Christian leader of Jewish origin who was in exile on the Roman prison island of Patmos. We don't know why John was exiled to Patmos, but it may have been for refusing to worship the Roman emperor Domitian, who had declared himself a god. Tradition says John the apostle ( Mark 3:14-19 ) was the author of both Revelation and the Gospel of John, but that is not certain. The author does not identify himself as an apostle. Literary Form The book of Revelation (also called The Revelation of John or The Revelation of St. John the Divine) is an example of "apocalyptic" writing - a form that delivers a message using symbols, images and numbers. Parts of the Old Testament, particularly in the book of Daniel, are also written in the apocalyptic genre. Many of the symbols and images in Revelation have parallels in the Old Testament. Apocalyptic writing is characteristic of times of persecution. Some of the symbols and images in Revelation equate the Roman emperor with Satan and depict the ancient Roman Empire as the ultimate evil.

As a prisoner of the Romans, John could not communicate that message in plain language, but the apocalyptic form was ideal for recording John's heavenly vision. John's writing would have been just nonsense to his Roman captors. But the Christians of Asia Minor were familiar with the Old Testament and the apocalyptic writings and would be able to understand it. Revelation is also a prophecy ( Revelation 1:1-3 ). We often think of prophecy as a prediction of the future, but the original Greek word, propheteia, means "speaking the mind of God." A prophecy may predict the future, or it may not ( Matthew 26:65-68 , 1 Timothy 4:14 , Revelation 19:10 , 22:7 ). Revelation is also known as The Apocalypse from its original Greek title. The word "apocalypse" has come to be associated with cataclysmic disaster, judgment day or the end of the world. However, its true meaning is an unveiling or revelation of things known only to God.

Purpose Revelation was written as a letter to be circulated among the Christian churches at seven important cities in Asia Minor: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea ( Revelation 1:9-11 ). Asia Minor was a region of the Roman Empire that is now the western part of the country of Turkey. Patmos is a small, rocky island off its coast. The map at right shows these sites at the time Revelation was written. There had been several waves of persecutions of Christians by Roman authorities. The vision John received offered encouragement to persecuted Christians and assurance that God was still in control. The forces of evil, particularly the Roman Empire, would eventually be utterly destroyed by God. Revelation offers comfort and encouragement to Christians of all ages that God is firmly in control. When the time is right, the forces of evil that seem to dominate our world will be utterly destroyed, and God's eternal kingdom will come into its fulfillment. In particular, John's vision offered encouragement and comfort to the persecuted Christians of Asia Minor that their suffering was not in vain. God would surely triumph and destroy the evil Roman Empire that was the source of their persecution.

Interpretation Revelation often seems bizarre and incomprehensible. But understanding the apocalyptic genre, the history of the early Christians, the persecutions they faced, their fears, and the issues they debated makes it much clearer. Many of the images and symbols parallel those in Old Testament books such as Daniel. Others allude to people, places and events that were very familiar to the first century Christians of Asia Minor. Extensive research in these areas has given Bible scholars a good understanding of what John's visions were intended to mean and how they would have been understood by their original audience in Asia Minor. Even so, many different shades of interpretation are possible, and there is still considerable debate about the meaning of some of the symbols and images. Many of the scenes in Revelation convey a strong sense of God's infinite power and glory, and that may be its most important message of all. Prediction of Current and Future Events Over the centuries, there have been countless fanciful interpretations of Revelation. Many fascinating books, essays, and sermons have tried to equate the cataclysmic images in Revelation to world events and to predict when or how the "end times" would come.

But the fact that none of those countless predictions has come true demonstrates the futility of trying to predict things known only to God ( Matthew 24:36-50 , Luke 12:40 , 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 ). In recent years, some people have understood the allusions in Revelation as references to modern events and modern nations, particularly Israel and the United States. However, most Bible scholars say the symbols in Revelation refer to events and places familiar to its intended audience - the first century Christians in Asia Minor. The book, itself, states that its message is directed at the first century Christians in Asia Minor, and that the events it describes would happen "soon" ( Revelation 1: 1-4 , 1:9-11 , 22:10 ). Revelation in Popular Culture The book of Revelation, the Rapture and related Bible prophecies have spawned a whole industry in recent years. Hal Lindsey's 1970 book The Late Great Planet Earth and the Left Behind series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins have been at the forefront.

Besides the many books, there are websites, TV evangelists, lecture series, movies and videos. Some of these feature imaginative and vivid embellishments of Bible prophecies mingled with contemporary political and social theories. Most of these works go well beyond anything revealed in the Bible and are properly classified as fiction - not as Bible prophecy. Revelation as Propaganda Some have tried to turn Revelation into propaganda by associating its evil symbols with various modern nations, churches, religious leaders, political leaders or other people. However, such interpretations seem to be based on little more than prejudice and hatred. The evil symbols in Revelation almost certainly referred to the ancient Roman Empire and its emperors. Synopsis This section gives a brief synopsis of each section of Revelation and an interpretation based on the best mainstream reference materials available. Introduction (1:1-20) John introduces Revelation as a letter to the seven Christian churches of Asia Minor. He states that it is a revelation given to him by Jesus Christ through an angel. One day, John falls into a kind of ecstatic state and experiences the vision he records in Revelation. He hears a voice and turns to see a vision of seven golden lampstands.

In the midst of the lampstands is "One like the Son of Man" with white hair, eyes like fire, and a voice like rushing water. A two-edged sword is coming out of his mouth. Interpretation: The One like the Son of Man is the risen Christ, in all His heavenly glory and power. The seven gold lampstands are the seven churches of Asia Minor. The seven stars in Christ's right hand are the seven angels of those churches ( Revelation 1:20 ). The sharp, two-edged sword coming from His mouth is the word of God ( Isaiah 11:4 , 49:2 , Hebrews 4:12 ). The Seven Letters (2:1 - 3:22) The One like a Son of Man dictates seven messages for John to send to the seven churches in Asia Minor. A letter of several paragraphs is addressed to each of the seven churches. Each message praises the church community for its strengths and urges community members to correct their weaknesses. A Vision of Heaven (4:1 - 5:14) John has a vision of an open door to heaven. He sees the throne of God and the heavenly court.

He sees a scroll with seven seals in the right hand of God, but no one is found worthy to open it except a lamb. Interpretation: The "lamb" is Jesus. Lambs were routinely sacrificed in the Jewish temple for atonement (reconciliation) with God. God accepted the death of the animal as a substitute for the death that a sinner actually deserved. Jesus was metaphorically called "Lamb of God" because he gave his life as a sacrifice for all sinners ( John 1:25-29 , 1 Peter 1:18-19 ). Opening of the Seven Seals (6:1 - 8:5) Opening of the Seven Seals (6:1 - 8:5). The Lamb opens the seven seals of the scroll. As each is opened, it reveals one aspect of human suffering or human destiny: First seal (6:1-2): A white horse. Its rider has a bow and a crown and comes to conquer. Second seal (6:3-4): A red horse. Its rider has a sword and takes peace away from the earth. Third seal (6:5-6): A black horse.

Its rider holds scales to weigh out grain. Fourth seal (6:7-8): A pale green horse. Its rider is Death, and Hades follows with him. Interpretation: These are known as "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse." The white horse represents nationalistic pride and the urge to conquer. The red horse is the bloodshed of war. The black horse is famine, which often follows war. The pale green horse is death, which follows famine. This tragic cycle has plagued mankind throughout history. Fifth seal (6:9-11): The souls of Christian martyrs crying out Sixth seal (6:12-17): Destruction in the heavens and on earth Interlude (7:1-17): 144,000 faithful sealed by an angel Interpretation: There is a lot of uncertainty about the meaning of this. Most agree that 144,000 is symbolic for a "perfect" large number. The Bible mentions 12,000 sealed from each of the 12 tribes of Israel.

However, one common opinion is that, taken in the context of the whole book, "Israel" is a symbol for the Church, and the 144,000 represent all the faithful Christians who will be martyred for their faith (Revelation 14:1-5). The seal protects them from the tribulations that will beset nonbelievers, but not from death. Seventh seal (8:1-5): Seven angels are given seven trumpets. The Seven Trumpets (8:6 - 11:19) As each of the seven trumpets is blown, a plague is unleashed upon the earth. First trumpet (8:7): Hail and fire mixed with blood burns a third of the land. Second trumpet (8:8-9): A third of the sea is turned to blood and a third of sea life is killed. Third trumpet (8:10-11): A third of all fresh water is poisoned. Fourth trumpet (8:12-13): A third of the sun, moon and stars became dark.

An eagle cries "Woe to the inhabitants of earth." Fifth trumpet (9:1-12): Locusts that sting like scorpions invade the land. Sixth trumpet (9:13-21): Four angels are released to kill a third of mankind. Despite the warning plagues, the rest of mankind does not repent of their sins. Interlude (10:1-11): John eats a small scroll that is sweet in the mouth but turns the stomach sour. Interlude (11:1-14): John is told of two witnesses who will prophesy for 1260 days, wearing sackcloth. Seventh trumpet (11:15-18): Great voices in heaven announce, "The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of God, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever." Interpretation: These plagues are similar to the Plagues of Egypt in Exodus 7 - 12. The plagues in Exodus served as a warning to the Egyptian pharaoh to repent. These plagues of partial destruction serve as a warning to the Roman Emperor Domitian to repent. They also foreshadow the total destruction to come later.

The Woman, Dragon and Child (12:1-18) A woman about to give birth appears in the sky. A red dragon with 7 heads and 10 horns also appears, waiting to devour the woman's child. The woman gives birth, and she and the child escape. War breaks out in heaven. Michael and his angels battle against the dragon. The dragon is thrown down to earth. The dragon is angry and makes war against the faithful Christians of earth. Interpretation: The woman represents Mary, Jesus' mother, and/or Israel, Jesus' birthplace. She gives birth to her son, Jesus. The dragon represents Satan ( Revelation 12:9 ). The Beast from the Sea (13:1-10) A beast with seven heads and ten horns emerges from the sea. It has a blasphemous name on each head. It is like a leopard, but with feet like a bear and mouth like a lion. The dragon gives it great power and authority over every tribe, language and nation. Interpretation: The seven heads, each with a "blasphemous name" represent the seven Roman emperors and the seven hills of Rome ( Revelation 17:9-10 ).

So, this beast represents the evil Roman Empire, which received its power and authority from Satan. The Beast from the Earth (13:11-18) Another beast comes up out of the earth. It has two horns like a lamb but speaks like a dragon. It deceives the inhabitants of earth. No one can buy or sell who does not bear the mark of the beast. One with wisdom can calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a person. Its number is six hundred sixty-six. Interpretation: There is some disagreement, but this beast most likely represents the Roman emperor Nero. The Hebrew language used letters to represent numbers. Taking Nero's Greek name (Neron Kaiser), writing it in equivalent Hebrew letters and adding up the value of the letters yields 666. The Christians of Jewish origin, who were familiar with Hebrew, would see this immediately. But the Roman authorities would not be able to figure it out. Nero, a fierce persecutor of Christians, had committed suicide in 68 A.D. But there was a persistent rumor that he was still alive. The healed wound in Revelation 13:3 , 13:12 alludes to that rumor.

The emperor's image was stamped on Roman coins, so no one could buy or sell without having the beast's image ( Revelation 13:16-17 ). The dragon (Satan), the beast from the sea (the Roman Empire) and the beast from the earth (Emperor Nero) represent a sort of "unholy trinity" to mock the real Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Lamb and the 144,000 (14:1-5) John sees the Lamb standing on Mount Zion with the 144,000 sealed by the angel. They have been redeemed from mankind as the first fruits for God and the Lamb. Interpretation: Mount Zion was the hill the temple at Jerusalem was built on. Here, it represents God's throne in heaven ( Revelation 14:3 ). The 144,000 probably represent all the faithful Christians who will be martyred for their faith. The Three Angels (14:6-13) A first angel says, "Fear God and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come." A second angel says, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!

She has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." A third angel says, "Those who worship the beast and its image, and receive a mark on their foreheads or on their hands, they will also drink the wine of God's wrath." (NRSV) Interpretation: These are warnings of God's impending judgment against the wicked. Babylon was a code name the early Christians used for the city of Rome, capital of the evil Roman Empire (see The Whore of Babylon, below). "Those who worship the beast and its image" are those who worship the Roman Emperor instead of God. The Harvest of the Earth (14:14-20) John sees One like the Son of Man reap the earth with a sharp sickle. The harvesting of the earth is compared to the harvesting of grapes in a vineyard. The grapes are thrown onto God's winepress of wrath to be trampled underfoot. Interpretation: This is another warning of God's impending judgment against the wicked. The Seven Bowls of God's Wrath (15:1 - 16:21) John sees seven angels with seven gold bowls filled with God's wrath.

The angels pour out the bowls one at a time upon the earth. First bowl (16:2): Ugly sores break out on those who had worshipped the beast. Second bowl (16:3): The sea turns to blood and all sea life dies. Third bowl (16:4-7): The rivers and springs turn to blood. Fourth bowl (16:8-9): The sun was given the power to burn people with fire. Fifth bowl (16:10-11): The kingdom of the beast was plunged into darkness. Sixth bowl (16:12-16): The great river Euphrates dried up. The kings of the world assemble for battle at the place named Armageddon. Seventh bowl (16:17-21): An earthquake split the great city into three parts. Huge hailstones rained down on the people. Interpretation: This tells of God's final and total judgment against the Roman Empire. The Emperor and the people who worship him have sealed their fate by ignoring all warnings to repent. The great city (Rome) will be destroyed and its citizens killed.

The Whore of Babylon (17:1-18) John sees a woman seated on a scarlet beast with seven heads and ten horns. On her forehead is written, "Babylon the great, mother of whores and of earth's abominations." (NRSV). Interpretation: The early Christians used "Babylon" as a code word for Rome. Babylon was an ancient city between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, and it was noted for its wickedness. In 587 B.C. the Babylonian army captured Jerusalem and took many Jews captive. Thus, Babylon held a special place of infamy in Jewish history. Similarly, the Roman army attacked Jerusalem in 70 A.D., about 25 years before Revelation was written. The holy city and the temple were destroyed and most of the people were massacred. To the early Christians, Rome was the new "Babylon," the source of all evil. In Revelation 17:18 , John makes it clear that the "whore of Babylon" was the ancient capital city of the Roman Empire.

The Fall of Babylon (18:1-24) An angel announces that the fall of Babylon is imminent, and warns the faithful to depart the city to escape the destruction. Those who have profited from their relationship with Babylon lament her passing. Interpretation: As before, Babylon represents the ancient city of Rome. Rejoicing in Heaven (19:1-10) A great multitude in heaven sing a song of praise to God, who has pronounced righteous judgment against the whore of Babylon and avenged the blood of His servants. Interpretation: This is a victory song and assurance to the persecuted Christians of Asia Minor that God is firmly in control and everything will go according to His plan, in His time. It is also a reminder to Christians not to take vengeance themselves ( Revelation 19:2 , Deuteronomy 32:35-41 , Romans 12:19-21 ). The Rider on the White Horse (19:11-21) The heavens are opened again, and John sees a rider on a white horse.

Its rider is called "Faithful and True." His robe is inscribed with the words, "King of kings and Lord of lords." The beast from the sea and the beast from the earth make war against the rider on the white horse. They are captured and thrown into the fiery pool of burning sulfur. Their followers are killed. Interpretation: The rider on the white horse is Christ. The Roman Empire and its Emperors are defeated once and for all and are utterly destroyed. The victory is accomplished by God and Christ alone; human armies do not participate. Christ did "conquer" the Roman Empire without help from human armies and without the cataclysmic destruction we might infer from John's vision. The Roman Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan in 313 A.D. which ended all persecution of Christians and returned confiscated Church property. In 391 A.D., Christianity became the official state religion of the Empire. Satan is Bound for a Thousand Years (20:1-10) John sees an angel seize the dragon, Satan, tie it up in chains and throw it into the abyss. The dragon is confined there for a thousand years so it can no longer lead the nations astray.

After a thousand years, Satan is released to again deceive the nations of earth for a short time. Then Satan is thrown into the pool of fire and sulfur with the other two beasts to be tormented day and night forever and ever. Interpretation: This thousand year period is known as the "millennium," and it has been interpreted many different ways. One common interpretation is that the millennium is the present age - the binding of Satan has already been accomplished by Christ, and His work is carried on by the faithful within the Church. There are also two other common interpretations: Postmillennialism views the millennium as a future period during which the gospel message will eliminate evil from the world and Christ will rule spiritually for a thousand years before the Second Coming. Premillennialism views the millennium as a thousand year period between the Second Coming and the final judgment. The Judgment of the Dead (20:11-15) John sees all the dead standing before a great white throne. All are judged according to their works as recorded in the "book of life." Anyone whose name is not found in the book of life is thrown into the lake of fire. Death and Hades are also thrown into the lake of fire.

Interpretation: All people who have ever lived will face a final judgment ( John 5:25-29 , 1 Corinthians 15:20-29 , Hebrews 9:27-28 ). Death is defeated, and there will be no more death after this. The New Heaven and the New Earth (21:1-8) John sees a new heaven and earth; the old order is no more. A new holy city, the new Jerusalem, comes down from heaven. God will now dwell among people. "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away." (NRSV) Interpretation: With evil destroyed and the earth purified, God will now dwell among the faithful whose names are written in the book of life. The New Jerusalem (21:9 - 22:5) The new holy city is described in all its splendor. There is no need for a temple because God and Christ will be there. Interpretation: All the effects of sin have been erased from earth.

The new state of the earth is a paradise like the Garden of Eden, and God will dwell among the people. Epilogue (22:6-21) Christ assures John that He is coming soon. He says, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end," and "Surely I am coming soon!" Interpretation: Alpha and omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, the original language of Revelation. So, Christ is eternal, the beginning and end of everything. The Christians of Asia Minor, and Christians of all times, are assured of their eternal reward for their faithfulness. Even though things may seem hopeless, God will make everything right in the end! References for In-Depth Study Charles T. Chapman, Jr., The Message of the Book of Revelation, The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota, 1995. A readily available paperback by an Episcopal priest that gives a verse-by-verse explanation of Revelation based on a hundred years of scholarly research. G. B. Caird, The Revelation of St.

John the Divine, Harper's New Testament Commentaries, Henry Chadwick, ed., Harper & Row Publishers, New York, 1966. A standard commentary on Revelation. R. H. Charles, The Revelation of St. John, The International Critical Commentary, Driver, Pummer and Briggs, eds., T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh, 1920. A standard commentary on Revelation. G. J. Wenham, et. al., New Bible Commentary, 21st Century Edition, Intervarsity Press, 1994. Commentary, interpretation and historical perspective on each book and each verse of the Bible. James L. Mays, ed., Harper's Bible Commentary, Harper, 1988. Commentary, interpretation and historical perspective on each book and each verse of the Bible. The illustrations on this page are used by permission by Pat Marvenko Smith, © 1992. To order prints visit her Revelation Illustrated site.

Armageddon - End Of The World Predictions End Of The World Predictions This site is being transformed But it will focus on debunking Doomsday theories and keep Will we see the end of the world with Armageddon on December 21, 2012? Armageddon - What does it mean? The word, "armageddon" occurs in the Bible in Revelation 16:16 (R.V. "Har-Magedon"). It is a key word used in connection with the end of the world. Symbolically it designates the place where the "battle of that great day of God Almighty" (Revelation 16:14) shall be fought. The word means the "mount of Megiddo" from the root word, gadad, "to cut off," i.e. "slaughter" (Revelation 16:16). Armageddon is presented as the scene of the final conflict between Christ and Antichrist. This picture of the final destruction of evil at the end of the world was suggested in the Old Testament of the Bible concerning the great battle-field, the plain of Esdraelon.

The valley of Megiddo was part of the plain of Esdraelon, the great battle-field of Palestine. Historians believe that there were more battles faced in this valley than in any other place on the earth. The plain of Esdraelon was the great Old Testament battle field between Israel and the various enemies of God's people: the scene of Barak's victory over Canaan, and Gideon's over Midian (Judges 4; 5; 7), the scene also of Saul's death and Israel's defeat before the Philistines (1 Samuel 31), and of Josiah's death in battle with Pharaoh Necho (2Kings 23:29-30). Both this and "the valley of Jehoshaphat" (the scene of his great victory, 2Chronicles 20:26, compare Zecariah14:2-4) can be seen as figurative phrases for the scene of the final conflict of Christ and Antichrist at the end of the world. The apocalyptic writings in the last book in the Bible, Revelation, also point also to a literal final battle!

The mourning at Josiah's death in the valley of Megiddo became proverbial for the most poignant grief. As he and his army represent the professing church, so Pharaoh Necho and the Egyptians represent the God-opposed world. The triumph of Pharaoh then shall be utterly reversed in the last conflict at the end of the world, of the ten confederate kings under Antichrist against the Lamb and His hosts (not merely professors, but "called, chosen, and faithful") (Revelation 17:12-14; Revelation 19:11-21). The last Antichrist is developed after executing judgment on the whore, the apostate church; he then, with his ten confederate kings and the false prophet, opposes Christ Himself, and perishes. Armageddon - When will it happen? You will not find a 2012 end of the world date in the Bible as "D" day for the earth. HOWEVER, the Bible does make it clear in the book of Daniel, the gospels, the letters to the 1st century church and in the book of Revelation, that one day the world will end!

After this there will be a new heaven and a new earth. Before the end of the world comes, there will be one final battle between the nations of the world before God intervenes and Jesus Christ returns in all his heavenly glory. This war is often referred to as the battle of Armageddon. It's not a comet from space or a natural disaster but a war inspired by "the great dragon... [who was cast out of heaven], that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world" (Revelation 12:9). The purpose of this war is to finally destroy Israel. Israel had been called out by God to be his people that they might be a light to the nations. They did not always fulfill this calling and even now fail in many ways. But God has not written them off. You may have noticed Satan's less than subtle attempts to annihilate the Jews (the nation of Israel) over the centuries (the most obvious being through Hitler). This final war led by the devil against Israel will precede (come before) the second coming of Jesus Christ . The second coming of Christ precedes the final judgement of mankind by Almighty God as each person is brought before their creator.

And the final judgement precedes that moment when you will be welcomed into eternal glory or cast into everlasting torment. To find out where YOU will go click here or read on a little first. So, the really, really important question to ask is NOT, "When will we see the end of the world (eg. 2012), when will these things happen, or how (eg. giant meteor)?" This is the whole point of this website: to stir you up to think of eternal issues, things greater than when and how the world will end. Yes, we need to do our part not to destroy the earth by 2012 or anytime before or after that date. But the really, really big question we all need to ask and face is, "Will I be ready to meet God when my LIFE comes to an end?" The rest is detail. The Bible says, "It is appointed unto man [people] once to die and then the judgment (Hebrews 9:27)." You cannot escape death but is is possible to escape God's wrath against sin. Click the links below to find out more. CLICK HERE FIRST to see how God will judge every living soul after the end of the world.

While 2012 is not the end of the world, you can be sure that the end of your world will come one day when your heart ceases to beat. That could be in 2012 or many years later. By clicking the link at the start of this paragraph, you will see just what happens when the soul of a person who had died, is brought before the almighty. This should terrify you... for good reason. After you have visited this page, visit the page called, "Good People Only", do a short test and see if you deserve hell. CLICK HERE NEXT to see how you can escape a fate worse than death, the final judgement of Almighty God. This link will take you to a presentation that invites you to consider how good you are. This is an important question if you are to go to heaven WHEN you die. You WILL die. 150,000 will die just today alone. We invite you to consider what happens next? So when you open the presentation, do it all. If you bail out before the end, you will not discover how to escape a fate worse than death, the damnation of your soul to eternal hell .

A Battle greater than armageddon Right now, there is a battle going on for your soul. It is a battle far greater than armageddon. Those who will fight against God in armageddon are destined to lose. You however can still escape the wrath to come when God casts all the wicked into the eternal lake of hell fire. "I found this wonderful site by pure chance(?) Lots of inspiring information that has reopened my heart as well as stimulates my brain. Keep up the great work and I will suggest ..." Wally retired & very concerned & thankful. "This website is amazing. I hear so much about the end of the world coming soon, and being so very afraid of death, It makes me feel unwell and I get anxious and worry too much, ..." William Revelation | Define Revelation at Dictionary.com revelation [rev-uh-ley-shuh n] /ˌrɛv əˈleɪ ʃən/ Spell the act of revealing or disclosing; disclosure. 2. something revealed or disclosed, especially a striking disclosure, as of something not before realized. 3. God's disclosure of Himself and His will to His creatures. an instance of such communication or disclosure. something thus communicated or disclosed.

something that contains such disclosure, as the Bible. 4. (initial capital letter). Also called Revelations, The Revelation of St. John the Divine. the last book in the New Testament; the Apocalypse. Abbreviation: Rev. Late Latin 1275-1325 1275-1325; Middle English revelacion (< Old French) < Late Latin revēlātiōn- (stem of revēlātiō), equivalent to Latin revēlāt(us) (past participle of revēlāre to reveal ) + -iōn- -ion Related forms 1. divulgation, admission, divulgence, exposure. Dictionary.com Unabridged Examples from the Web for revelation Expand Contemporary Examples This revelation turned out to be just one of many secrets that Lindbergh had kept from the world. The Religious Sentiment Daniel G. Brinton Kamehameha, on this revelation of his destiny, sprang to his feet. Shakespearean Tragedy A. C. Bradley British Dictionary definitions for revelation Expand the act or process of disclosing something previously secret or obscure, esp something true 2.

a fact disclosed or revealed, esp in a dramatic or surprising way 3. (Christianity) God's disclosure of his own nature and his purpose for mankind, esp through the words of human intermediaries something in which such a divine disclosure is contained, such as the Bible Derived Forms C14: from Church Latin revēlātiō from Latin revēlāre to reveal Revelation noun 1. (popularly, often pl) Also called the Apocalypse, the Revelation of Saint John the Divine. the last book of the New Testament, containing visionary descriptions of heaven, of conflicts between good and evil, and of the end of the world Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Word Origin and History for revelation Expand n.

c.1300, "disclosure of information to man by a divine or supernatural agency," from Old French revelacion and directly from Latin revelationem (nominative revelatio), noun of action from past participle stem of revelare "unveil, uncover, lay bare" (see reveal ). General meaning "disclosure of facts" is attested from late 14c.; meaning "striking disclosure" is from 1862. As the name of the last book of the New Testament (Revelation of St. John), it is first attested late 14c. (see apocalypse ); as simply Revelations, it is first recorded 1690s. Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper revelation in the Bible Expand an uncovering, a bringing to light of that which had been previously wholly hidden or only obscurely seen. God has been pleased in various ways and at different times (Heb. 1:1) to make a supernatural revelation of himself and his purposes and plans, which, under the guidance of his Spirit, has been committed to writing.

(See WORD OF GOD .) The Scriptures are not merely the "record" of revelation; they are the revelation itself in a written form, in order to the accurate presevation and propagation of the truth. Revelation and inspiration differ. Revelation is the supernatural communication of truth to the mind; inspiration (q.v.) secures to the teacher or writer infallibility in communicating that truth to others. It renders its subject the spokesman or prophet of God in such a sense that everything he asserts to be true, whether fact or doctrine or moral principle, is true, infallibly true. Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary No Man Shall Add to or Take Away - Howard W. Hunter No Man Shall Add to or Take Away Email Recently a young friend in the mission field wrote a letter to me regarding a question that had been asked of him concerning the concluding verses of the Bible and how they apply to the Book of Mormon. We remember that at the end of the book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible, the author, John, issues a warning and a curse upon any man who adds to or takes away from the book.

Specifically, these are the words he wrote: “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: “And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” ( Rev. 22:18–19 .) These verses of scripture have been cited repeatedly by those attempting to discredit the Book of Mormon, claiming that God’s revelation to man is closed. Nothing more is to be added and nothing is to be taken away. They assert that the Book of Mormon is an attempt to add to the words of the Bible. These claims were made when the Book of Mormon was first published and have continued to be made, and are made today. Is there any validity to such assertions? The answer to this query is really very simple.

A careful reading of the words makes it clear that the warning against adding to or taking away does not refer to the whole Bible or even to the New Testament, but to use John’s words, only to the words of “the book of this prophecy.” That is, the prophecy contained in the book of Revelation. This is substantiated by the fact that some of the books of the New Testament had not yet been written when John wrote the book of Revelation, and even those that had been written and were in existence at that time had not yet been gathered into one compilation. The collection of writings consisting of the sixty-six books we know as the Bible were brought together and compiled into one volume long after John wrote the prophetic book that has been placed at the end of the collection. It is clear, therefore, that the terrible judgments pronounced upon those who add to the book could not possibly apply to the whole of the Bible or even to the New Testament, but only to the book of Revelation.

Secondly, the warning uses the words “the prophecy of this book” and also “the words of the book of this prophecy.” The word book in both instances is singular and could only refer to the book of prophecy written by John which is titled, in the King James Version, “The Revelation of St. John the Divine” and is often referred to as the Apocalypse—a Greek word which means revealed. Of necessity the word book would have been in the singular because when written it was not associated with any other book or books, and it was after many years and many ecclesiastical debates that it was added to the collection that became known as the new canon of scripture or the New Testament. It is also interesting to note that John himself added to scripture after writing the book of Revelation, which is generally conceded to have been written while he was on the Isle of Patmos. It was long after John left Patmos that he wrote his first epistle. This fact standing alone would be sufficient to defeat the claim that revelation was closed and that man was enjoined from adding to scripture. This adds cumulative evidence that John had reference to the book of Revelation only.

In the Old Testament also are found similar vigorous denunciations and commands that there shall not be taken away or added to the words that were written. The first is found in Deuteronomy, written at the time Moses was exhorting Israel to live the law of the Lord. The Torah was oral law and had not been reduced to writing prior to the time of the codification of the law in Deuteronomy. Now that it had been reduced to writing by Moses prior to his death and assumed to be complete, Moses wrote: “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.” ( Deut. 4:2 .) Later in this same book of the law, Moses repeated the admonition in similar words. He said, “What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.” ( Deut.

12:32 .) In the minds of some, these admonitions in the Old Testament raise the same question as to the Book of Mormon being an attempted addition to scripture as does the injunction and warning at the end of the book of Revelation. In effect, these passages contain the same injunction as the one at the close of the Apocalypse; and if the same interpretation and argument was applied to them as is applied to the closing verses of the book of Revelation, there would be no scripture after the writings of Moses. Such an absurdity would result in discarding the greater part of the Old Testament and all of the books of the New Testament. A careful reading of each of these admonitions makes it clear that man is not to make changes in the revelations of the Lord: man is not to add to or take from the words of God. There is no indication or intimation that God could not, or would not, add to or take from; nor would any reasonable person with a belief in the divine powers of God consciously believe that God would be so restricted. Without question he would have the right and power to give additional revelation for the guidance of his children in any age and to add additional scripture.

A study of the revelations of the Lord in holy writ confirms the fact that it is continuous revelation that guides prophets and the Church in any age. Were it not for continuous revelation, Noah would not have been prepared for the deluge that encompassed the earth. Abraham would not have been guided from Haran to Hebron, the Land of Promise. Continuous revelation led the children of Israel from bondage back to their promised land. Revelation through prophets guided missionary efforts, directed the rebuilding of Solomon’s temple, and denounced the infiltration of pagan practices among the Israelites. Before the ascension of Christ, he promised the remaining eleven apostles, “lo, I am with you alway, Even unto the end of the world.” ( Matt. 28:20 .) Following his ascension, he guided the Church by revelation until the death of the Apostles and subsequent apostasy of the Church of Jesus Christ. A distinctive sign of the last days that will precede the eventual second coming of the Lord was seen in vision by that same Apostle who recorded the book of Revelation.

He said: “I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.” ( Rev. 14:6 .) The fact that John saw a messenger from God reveal anew a lost gospel negates the argument that further revelation could not be added to the Bible. We testify to all the world that heavenly ministers have already appeared in our age, bringing authority from heaven and restoring truths lost through corrupted teachings and practices. God has spoken anew and continues to provide guidance for all his children through a living prophet today. We declare that he, as promised, is with his servants always and directs the affairs of his Church throughout the world. As in times past, revelation directs missionary labors, the building of temples, the calling of priesthood officers, and warns against the evils of society that may deny salvation to our Father’s children.

In a revelation to a modern oracle, Joseph Smith, the Lord said: “For I am no respecter of persons, and will that all men shall know that the day speedily cometh; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand, when peace shall be taken from the earth, and the devil shall have power over his own dominion. “And also the Lord shall have power over his saints, and shall reign in their midst.” ( D&C 1:35–36 .) The Savior is reigning in the midst of the Saints today through continuous revelation. I testify that he is with his servants in this day and will be until the end of the earth. May our vision not be so narrow that we would relegate revelation to only the ancients. God is merciful and loves his children in all ages and has revealed himself to this time in history. Of this I solemnly testify, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. BBC - Religions - Christianity: Revelation Revelation The Dragon pursuing a woman, from the Bamberg Apocalypse © The Book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible, has fascinated and puzzled Christians for centuries.

With its vivid imagery of disaster and suffering - the Battle of Armageddon, the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, the hideous Beast whose number is 666 - many have seen it as a map to the end of the world . Some say it predicts global warming, AIDS and even the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. But Biblical scholars, having studied the text and the social and political history of the time, have a different interpretation. Who wrote Revelation? The author of the text tells us that his name is John. Christian tradition has taken him to be the apostle John, author of the Fourth Gospel. However, the John of Revelation does not claim to be one of the disciples or to have known Jesus. Stylometric analysis, a process which analyses an author's style of writing, shows that the Book of Revelation and John's Gospel display more differences to each other than any other two books in the New Testament. What scholars can say about the John of Revelation is that he was a significant figure in the early church in the Roman province of Asia Minor (modern day Turkey).

The text starts with a series of seven letters addressed to the Christian communities in seven important cities of the province - Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. He mentions details about these communities that indicate he knew and was known to them. Scholars conclude that John was a Jew from Palestine. His use of the Greek language indicates that he was not a native speaker but of a Semitic mother tongue, and he is very familiar with the Hebrew Bible. An ancient copy of Revelation John tells us in the text that he's writing from the island of Patmos and that he's there "because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus". Christian tradition tells us that he was a prisoner of the Roman Empire, but again scholars disagree and say he may have been exiled to Patmos for being a bit troublesome or he may have gone there to preach. In any case, he was able to write (or more likely dictate to a scribe) and circulate the texts to the Christian communities. An angry text The Book of Revelation certainly contains some vivid and disturbing imagery and many have called it an angry text.

John's anger has traditionally been understood to be directed at the Romans for their persecution of the early Christians. Statue of Nero © Christians were certainly persecuted in Rome and the Emperor Nero blamed them for the devastating fire that destroyed much of Rome in 64CE, but there is no evidence for a systematic persecution of Christians in Asia Minor. Rome was a society that worshipped many gods and goddesses, each with their own temples. In the first century BCE people began to worship the Roman emperors and temples were built in their honour. This was blasphemy to Jews and the early Christians, who believed there was only one God and saw worship of other gods as idolatry. Academics believe that the development of this Imperial Cult made John angry and the Book of Revelation is a polemic against it and a warning to the Christians not to engage with it. The imagery shows that good triumphs over evil, that faithfulness will be rewarded and justice will be done. Symbolism of the seven-headed beast The infamous seven-headed Beast that rises from the sea demanding to be worshipped symbolises Rome. By John's time seven emperors had ruled over Rome and Rome was known as the city of seven hills.

The beast as portrayed by Albrecht Dürer © The number of the Beast - 666 - has always puzzled Christians and led to many speculations about who this could be. Scholars now believe that this was a matter of numerology, a popular puzzle in ancient times. The letters of a name were ascribed numerical value and added up to give a number. The name of the Emperor Nero adds up to 666. Historians believe that Nero's persecution of Christians in Rome may have entered the consciousness of early Christians, making him a hate figure. However, evidence from ancient manuscripts indicates that 666 may not have been the number of the Beast. In the late 19th century, British archaeologists working at the site of the Egyptian city Oxyrhynchus discovered a cache of papyri that were brought to Oxford, where academics have been working their way through them ever since. One of these papyrus fragments is of the Book of Revelation and gives the number of the Beast as 616. Working on the same principle of numerology, academics work out 616 to indicate the Emperor Caligula.

Caligula had had a statue of himself erected in the temple in Jerusalem, greatly offending Jews. If John indeed was a Jew from Palestine he would have known this. Four Horsemen of Apocalypse by Viktor Vasnetsov, 1887 © Symbolism of the four horsemen The image of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse is borrowed and updated from the Hebrew Prophet, Zachariah. The red horse symbolises war and destruction; the black horse symbolises famine; the pale horse symbolises death; the white horse symbolises vengeance and salvation. The final battle The angel with the millstone, from the Bamberg Apocalypse © The word Armageddon is taken from al-Megiddo, a place on the Jazreel Plain in modern-day Israel. By John's time many famous battles had been fought there and in the first century it was the site of the camp of the brutal Roman Ironsides. To John's mind this would have been the perfect place for the final battle between good and evil. So it seems that the Book of Revelation is not prophesising the end of the world but is a polemic against the Roman Empire.

John frames his attack in a way that parallels other religious writings of the time and which would have made sense to early Christians. John was telling first century Christians to galvanise themselves against compromising with Rome, and that their faithfulness would be rewarded. The origin and influence of Revelation Martin Palmer, theologian and Director of the International Consultancy on Religion, Education and Culture; Marina Benjamin, journalist and author of Living at the End of the World (Picador, 1999) and Justin Champion, Reader in the History of Early Modern Ideas at Royal Holloway College, University of London, discuss the place of this narrative of judgement and retribution in our morality and history.

Question: What word for 'the end of the world' referred originally to a revelation?
Answer: Apocalypse