First things first
The Golden Rule of Biblical Interpretation: When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense; therefore, take every word at its primary, ordinary, usual, literal meaning unless the facts of the immediate context, studied in the light of related passages and axiomatic and fundamental truths, indicate clearly otherwise. – Dr. David L. Cooper
How to study Revelations
The Book of Revelation remains a closed book for many. When it is opened, it is found to be full of startling, and some times frightening, images and symbols. Nobody should be put off by these: they offer clues to the understanding of this book.
Number Seven
Number seven is the key which unlocks the meaning of the Book of Revelation. The whole book is build on a framework of the number seven.
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The seven churches —— Revelation 2:1-3:22
– The seven churches —— Revelation 1:4, 2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 14
– The seven spirits —— Revelation 1:4
– The seven lamp-stands —— Revelation 1:12
– The seven stars —— Revelation 1:16
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The seven seals —— Revelation 5:1
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The seven horns —— Revelation 5:6
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The seven angels —— Revelation 8:2
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The seven trumpets —— Revelation 8:2
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The seven thunders —— Revelation 10:3
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The seven personages —— Revelation 12:1 – 13:18
– The woman —— Revelation 12:1-2
– The dragon —— Revelation 12:3-4
– The man child —— Revelation 12:5
– The archangel Michael —— Revelation 12:7
– The remnant —— Revelation 12:17
– The beast from the sea —— Revelation 13:1-8
– The beast from the earth —— Revelation 13:11-18
(See also – Fulfilled prophecy in the Book of Daniel – 2:32-45; 7; 8
4 empires – Babylonian, Medeo-Persian, Greek, Roman)
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The seven last plagues —— Revelation 15:1 – 16:21
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The seven golden bowls —— Revelation 15:7
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The seven kings —— Revelation 17:10
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The seven new things in the Book of Revelation
Seven stands for perfection and completeness.
– New heavens —— Revelation 21:1
– New earth —— Revelation 21:1
– New city —— Revelation 21:9-23
– New nation —— Revelation 21:24-27
– New river —— Revelation 22:1
– New tree —— Revelation 22:2
– New throne —— Revelation 22:3-5
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Other topics covered: —— Revelation Reference (Other Reference)
Paradise lost, paradise regained —— Revelation 21-22 (Genesis 3)
The Antichrist —— Revelation 12:1-10; 19:20 (Ezekiel 28:1-10)
The mark of the beast —— Revelation 13:18
The Lord Jesus Christ —— Revelation 1:1 (Genesis 3:15)
The times of the Gentiles —— Revelation 6:1 – 19:16 (Daniel 2:37-44)
The Church —— Revelation 2-3 (Matthew 16:18)
The great tribulation —— Revelation 4-19 (Deuteronomy 4:29-30)
The nations judged —— Revelation 16:13-16 (Joel 3:1-10)
The second coming of Jesus —— Revelation 19:11-16 (Zechariah 14:1-14)
The wicked judged —— Revelation 20:11-15 (Psalm 9:17)
The new heaven and earth —— Revelation 21-22 (Isaiah 65:17)
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Two fulfillments
Many prophecies in the Bible have two points of reference. They refer to their own day and they point forward to a future fulfillment. The prophecy in Isaiah 7:14 about a young woman, for example, was true in Isaiah’s day, and it also refers to Mary, Jesus’ mother. The prophecies in the Book of Revelation refer both to their own time, (probably the times of persecution under Domitian, AD 81-96) and to the events at the end of time.
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The promise
The personal return of Jesus is sometimes called his “second coming.” While these two words “second coming” do not appear in the Bible, the event is mentioned about 300 times in the New Testament.
At Jesus’ ascension, two angels told Jesus’ disciples: “This same Jesus who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” — Acts 1:11
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Jesus coming again —— Revelation 16:15; 19:11-21
Other scripture:
Gospels —
Matthew 19:28; 23-39; 24:1-51;
Mark 13:24-37;
Luke 12:35-48; 21:24-25
Letters —
Romans 11:25-27
1 Corinthians 11:26; 15:15-58
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
2 Thessalonians 1:7-10
2 Peter 3:10-12
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When, exactly, will Jesus return?
Many godly people have studied the biblical prophecies and identified some of the events which will take place before Jesus’ return, from which they have concluded that Jesus’ second coming is imminent. See Luke 21:8-12.
Events associated with the time of Jesus’ return are:
– War
– Rumors of war
– Revolution
– Earthquake
– Famine
– Pestilence
– Great signs from heaven
– Persecution of God’s followers
Some people have been rash enough to predict the year, the time of day and the place of Jesus’ return. Every prediction has shown the fallibility, the inaccuracy, and the presumptuousness of human beings.
Others say that God will give no signs, and that nobody knows the day or the hour when Jesus will return. Jesus will return when he is least expected. See Matthew 24:36-44.
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Related Article Links:
Judging Planet Earth – Breakdown of the Seals, Trumpet, and Bowl Judgments
The Four 4 Horsemen, al Mahdi, and the Magnetic Polar Reversal
Jack Kelly’s series on the Book of Revelation
myBlessedHope 