Revelation 11:1-14:20

I pray that none of us are here on earth to witness this part of Revelation, it is frightening especially for those not saved. The scary part is some is already happening, so what a great bible study this would be, and to be prepared to answer questions to those who are skeptics. I have so many questions, and don't always know if I am interpreting Revelation correctly, and really want to gain knowledge in this area. Knowing there are so many thoughts, beliefs, interpretations, I did some research on my own. Much can be misleading so discernment is pivotal anytime you look for other interpretations, but found a couple very interesting and insightful and would like to know your take on this part of the book. So here goes....
These are 2 responses from "Christians" to questions from skeptics

I found much of the information here in #1 truthful, insightful, and learned some things I did not realize...
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#1-Yes, I believe that the apocalypse is a real thing. It is beginning to happen. Some of it already has. 

Why don't you believe the whole Bible? The Bible is God's written Word to us.
It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit.

When reading the Bible, you need to ask who, what, why, where and when.

For an example, in Genesis, Moses was not there when God created everything. He wrote what God told Him to write, in the way that he could explain it. Which is why it appears like a fairy tale to some. If we had been there, we would have seen how real and awsome it was.

In the Revelation, John saw heaven. This was new to Him and there was no human way to explain some of the things that he saw and was told.

“Above all you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter 1:20-21. (New International Version)

Breakdown of the Bible
36 human authors inspired entirely by God over 1600 years.
66 separate books

39 Old Testament
Genesis- The creation of the world, sin, flood and birth of Israel
Exodus to Esther- History of the nation of Israel
Job to Proverbs- the books of poetry and wisdom
Isaiah to Malachi- Prophecy or foretelling of the future events to come.

27 New Testament
Matthew to John - Four Gospels representing the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ now with all authority in Heaven and earth.
Acts- Birth of the Church (The Bride of Christ)
Romans to Jude - Letters to the Churches
Revelations - The ultimate future plans for: The Church, Heaven, Hell, a New Heaven and a New Earth.

Here are some Bible Study Resources for anything you may want to look up:
http://www.Biblegateway.com
http://www.Ntgateway.com
http://www.Bible.org
http://www.bible-history.com
http://www.answersingenesis.org/

P.S. Hey Jan, you said
If you want to know about this mark and about who's who when Antichrist comes, check out Cain, Satans son. Oh, you think it weird that Cain is not Adams son? Check out Genesis 5:1, where the complete geneology of Adam is listed: you won't find Cain listed there, because Cain simply was not Adams son.

Genesis 4:1 says Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, "With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man. Later she gave birth to his brother Able. Can you come to my avatar for an explaination? God bless and thanks.

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I found #2 to be very thought provoking myself.

#2-Yes, the Book of Revelation is true.

Yes, we are in the end times, prophecied when Judah returns and establishes an independent state (May 15, 1948); that begins the Generation of the Fig Tree, the final generation of this age.

However, you are confused with this mark of the beast. It is not a social security number, or a chip surgically placed into the hand; I don't care if they tattoo you from head to toe with "666", its not gonna change what you think or believe. The Mark of the Beast is IN YOUR FOREHEAD; whats in your forehead? Your brain. This "mark" is in the minds of all those deceived who believe that the Antichrist is the true Christ. Antichrist will come in prosperously and peacefully - he's gonna be disguised as Jesus, acting like Jesus; he'll be teacher/preacher/savior.
What is 666? Which teaching seal is regarding Antichrist? The 6th.
Which trumpet sounds that Antichrist is thrown out and onto earth? 6th. Which vial
concerns Antichrist? the 6th.
6th seal
6th trumpet
6th vial
Thats all; people make this much more complicated than it is: If only people would slow down, and read and learn in the simplicity that God teaches.
If you really want to understand the mark of the beast, here is a bit of information for you (I am a disiplined student of the manuscripts).
When you read "Count the number of the beast", that word "count" does not mean to count like 1-2-3-4 ; it means to enumerate over a long period of time, as when a rock is worn smooth by water running over it for a vast period of time. So what does that mean? It means that mark has a history, and if you check back in the beginning, you will see what the history of that mark is, and also a deeper study as to what God wants you to know about these end-times, and about the Antichrist and his entourage.
So where is the beginning of the mark of the beast? The Garden of Eden. When Cain murdered his brother and God threw him out, a mark was placed on him - the mark of his own father, the devil (yes, blood father, "sperma" in the manuscripts).
If you want to know about this mark and about who's who when Antichrist comes, check out Cain, Satans son. Oh, you think it weird that Cain is not Adams son? Check out Genesis 5:1, where the complete geneology of Adam is listed: you won't find Cain listed there, because Cain simply was not Adams son.
"Wormwood" is just another name for Satan (he has about 35 in the manuscripts)
and when it states that wormwood will fall, thats Antichrist getting booted out and onto earth - the death mentioned is spiritual death, not physcial death. People are already spiritually deader than a hammer,
but when Antichrist comes and the mass believe he is Jesus Christ, spiritual death will be in worldwide mass.
Anyway, I've been wordy enough........

Keep that gospel armour on and in place.

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#3-GOD's Word is true. And 666 is not a bar code. Satan comes in the 6th tumpet, 6th seal, 6th vial.

You will not be able to "buy and sell" in his beast system (Rev 13) unless you sign up to worship him. He will have a world wide credit card.

Wormwood is one of Satan's names. He is playing Jesus, and not out killing people. Waters are people Rev 17:15, and are made bitter because of Satan. But Satan is not here yet.

Rev 8:11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.

1/3 of the people are killed a "spiritual death".

Rev 8:12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.

Sun is symbolic of Chirst, 1/3 was darkened with deception.

Rev 8:13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!

Three more "Woe" trumpets

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Interesting reads and discussion, I know it's a lot to take in, but would like to know your thoughts? Have any of u studied Revelation extensively? 

God Bless!

Julia

Revelation 7:1-10:11

John 3:16 ESV 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life

As HE paid the ultimate price for us by giving up HIS only SON,and as HE uttered these words in John 19:30.... "It is finished", we were saved.

To see the masses of the saved, and to be standing before the throne of my Savior...Oh what a day that will be...... all of us praising together and saying......Thanks be to God!

In Revelations 7, we are  definitely in the eye of the storm, which is always the calm part. of any storm. However,we don't live life and learn life lessions and grow through the calm part. It is the rough seas we survive through and the HELL that is coming if we are not prepared as Christians. No one likes to talk about that part, not even me. If I could avoid it I would, but it's coming right after we pass through the eye in Revelations 7...

Revelations 7:9-15

⁹ After this I looked and a vast host appeared which no one could count, [gathered out] of every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages. These stood before the throne and before the Lamb; they were attired in white robes, with palm branches in their hands.

¹⁰ In loud voice they cried, saying, [Our] salvation is due to our God, Who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb [to Them we owe our deliverance]!

¹¹ And all the angels were standing round the throne and round the elders [^[b]of the heavenly Sanhedrin] and the four living creatures, and they fell prostrate before the throne and worshiped God.

¹² Amen! (So be it!) they cried. Blessing and glory and majesty and splendor and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and might [be ascribed] to our God to the ages and ages (forever and ever, throughout the eternities of the eternities)! Amen! (So be it!)

¹³ Then, addressing me, one of the elders [^[c]of the heavenly Sanhedrin] said, Who are these [people] clothed in the long white robes? And from where have they come?

¹⁴ I replied, Sir, you know. And he said to me, These are they who have come out of the great tribulation (persecution), and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

¹⁵ For this reason they are [now] before the [very] throne of God and serve Him day and night in His sanctuary (temple); and He Who is sitting upon the throne will protect and spread His tabernacle over and shelter them with His presence.

I want to be HIS servant and feel HIS prescence every day that I live on this earth!

I give all praise and glory to my Father, my protector, my shield! He clothes me in righteousness, loves me unconditionally and I am thankful HE is a forgiving God. 

Isaiah 43:25 (NLT)

“I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake

    and will never think of them again.

HE promises us no more hunger, or thirst as HE is all we ever need! The best thing is, we don't have to wait for the 7 trumpets, HE provides all of this for us here and now if we just trust HIM enough to let HIM! HE is "the bread of life"!

Over these past months that HE has kept me "still", HE is teaching me that HE will always be there to provide for me. As this is the first time EVER in my life to not be working fulltime, it has been a test in faith for me for sure. HE is so faithful, and so good,  and as I stressed over how I was going to pay for something I really needed when knew I had no means to do so, I learned to be patient, to trust, to lean on HIM,and not to fret. Each time, I was provided what HE knew I needed, not what I thought I needed. HE is so smart, HE always knows JUST what I need, and I am so thankful for HIM!

In Revelations  7:17 HE promises...

the second part of this verse is escpecially comforting...

No more worry, no more crying, sadness, depression....... 

I think of all of the parents that lost their children/family in the school shooting incident. I pray they feel the love of our Father as we do, and know that HE is holding their angels in heaven as they continue to grieve. I also pray that those who do not know HIM are saved, and that all are relieved of the emptiness, the anger, the guilt, depression,  and sadness that consumes them. I pray they feel HIS prescence, HIS love enveloping them and making them stronger in their faith and in turn changing this devastating event into one of healing for all involved.

Oh what a day that will be when there are no more tears, just joy!

Revelations 8-10:11

We should all be prepared at this point, if not, we are destined to a life of pain, suffering, and terror which I would not wish on my worst ememy. 

Matthew 24:10-20 ESV 

And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. ..

 In time, God’s wrath against sin will be released against all sin. :

Romans 2:5-6

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁵ But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. ⁶ He will judge everyone according to what they have done.
The time of this wrathful reaction to sin is a day of judgment (day of wrath) , thus God’s wrath is a judicial action, done perfectly through God’s complete knowledge.

Our job here on earth, however long HE has numbered for us should be :

Hebrews 12:14 ESV

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

Mark 16:15-16 ESV 

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

and the greateast command that HE gives to all of us...

John 13:34-35
New International Version 
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”


Love and Peace to you my sisters in Christ and I wish you all a Blessed New Year in 2013!