Revelation Abbreviated

This a VERY abbreviated summary of the book of Revelation. My intent is to show the underlying message of Revelation, not an examination of, and the applied meaning to, every word.

But first i would like to point out a misrepresentation of a verse by the Governing Body (GB) of Jehovah's Witnesses. At Revelation 1:10 the NWT says this:

(Revelation 1:10) By inspiration I came to be in the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a strong voice like that of a trumpet,

Here is what the original Greek actually says:

(Original Greek) "I was in spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a voice loud, like that of a trumpet"

John tells us that he is "in spirit". This refers to his state of mind. Then John tells us that it was "on the Lord's day" not "in the Lord's day" as the GB claim. Biblical and ancient Greek scholars agree that this refers to a particular day of the week, though which day of the week is debated.

Some say that John's mentioning the Lord's day at Revelation 1:10 makes no sense unless he was referring to Armageddon. But John is merely providing details, as any good narrator does. Example: "I, John Smith, was driving down highway 10 after work on Thursday evening happily singing along with a song on the radio, when suddenly I saw..."

John begins his recountal by identifying himself followed by a description of the circumstances: he was on a certain island (v 9), in a certain state of mind, on a certain day of the week, when he heard behind him a voice....

Why do the GB intentionally mistranslate Revelation 1:10? So they can claim that "the Lord's day" refers to the days since 1914. That enables them to apply Matthew 24:45 to that year so that they can claim authority to govern Christ's sheep. Their whole claim to power relies on a contrived false doctrine based on a cobbled together set of misapplied and mistranslated verses.

(see my articles "Presence" and "Are You Worshiping Jehovah Acceptably?")

Although the GB say that "the Lord's day" refers to the last days since 1914, nowhere in the Bible are the last days referred to as "the Lord's day" or even "the day of the Lord". When that day is referred to it is speaking about the day of Armageddon, not some extended period of time before Armageddon.

(1 Corinthians 5:5) you must hand such a man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.

(Matthew 7:22) Many will say to me in that day: ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’

(Matthew 24:36) “Concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father.

(Luke 17:30) It will be the same on that day when the Son of man is revealed.

In chapter 4 John himself tells us that it is after all the letters to the congregations that he "came to be in the power of the spirit":

(Revelation 4:1, 2) After this I saw, and look! an opened door in heaven, and the first voice that I heard speaking with me was like a trumpet, saying: “Come up here, and I will show you the things that must take place.” ² After this I immediately came to be in the power of the spirit, and look! a throne was in its position in heaven, and someone was seated on the throne.

If John had been taken into the power of the spirit at Revelation 1:10, then here in chapter 4 verse 2 he would still be in that power. Was John taken into the power of the spirit, then released from the power of the spirit, then taken into its power again? The scriptures do not give any indication of that happening, and it does not make sense that it would have happened. No, but it is here in chapter 4 that John tells us that he "came to be in the power of the spirit", not at Revelation 1:10.

===== Abbreviated Summary =====

Chapters 1-3 are messages to the seven congregations.

Chapter 4 = John is taken to heaven (in the power of the spirit), shown heaven and Jehovah on His thrown and those around Him.

Chapter 5 = A scroll is in God's right hand. The lamb's death enabled the scroll to be opened. (see my article "Time of Arrival")

Chapter 6 = The 1st of 7 seven seals on the scroll is opened and the rider of the white horse "went out conquering" (ousting Satan and his demons from heaven. Re 12:7-9) "and to complete his conquest."

The 2nd seal is opened and peace is taken from the earth.

The 3rd seal is opened and the price of food goes up.

The 4th seal is opened (like the 6th trumpet and 6th bowl) and war and death came to a certain fourth of the earth. (see my article "The Fourth Horseman")

The 5th seal is opened and the righteous dead are told to continue resting in death a little longer. (The dead "chosen ones" (Mt 24:31) and those still living "will, together with them, be caught away in clouds" - 1Th 4:16, 17)

The 6th seal is opened and the supernatural signs immediately preceding Armageddon occur.

Chapter 7 = Armageddon will not happen until the 144k are sealed. John also sees the great crowd of those who survive the great tribulation caused by the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th horsemen.

Chapter 8 = The 7th (final) seal is opened and silence occurs in heaven "for about half an hour".

===== reset =====

7 angels are given 7 trumpets.

The 1st trumpet blast (like the war of the 2nd seal) brings destruction to the earth.

The 2nd trumpet blast (like the 2nd bowl) brings destruction to the sea.

The 3rd trumpet blast (like the 3rd bowl) brings destruction to the rivers and springs.

The 4th trumpet blast (like the 4th bowl) darkens the sky.

Chapter 9 = The 5th trumpet blast (like the 5th bowl) brings locusts to torment those who reject God.

Those first 5 trumpet blasts are a single woe (happen simultaneously). The next 2 trumpet blasts are 2 separate woes.

The 6th trumpet blast (like the 4th seal and the 6th bowl) brings death by war to a third of the pagan people in the vicinity of the Euphrates river. The other 2/3 of the pagan people do not repent.

Chapter 10 = There is a bitter-sweet secret that will be completed just before the 7th trumpet is blown.

Chapter 11 = (Continuing with the 6th trumpet blast) The holy city is trampled. 2 powerful witnesses prophecy. When their witnessing is complete they are killed by those they prophesied against. They are then resurrected to heaven. Thus ends the 2nd woe (6th trumpet blast).

The 7th trumpet blast = "The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ,"

===== reset =====

Chapter 12 = The son of God battles with Satan and the demons and they are thrown out of heaven. (Re 6:1)

Chapter 13 = Now confined to earth, Satan manipulates the governments of the earth into opposition to God.

Chapter 14 = The Lamb and the 144k spread the good news on earth.

Babylon the great (BtG) falls.

The wicked are destroyed at Armageddon.

===== reset =====

Chapter 15 = (7 seals, 7 trumpets) Now 7 bowls each with a plague.

Jehovah is praised.

Chapter 16 = The 1st bowl (plague) afflicts those who side with the governments.

The 2nd bowl (like the 2nd trumpet) is poured out on the sea.

The 3rd bowl (like the 3rd trumpet) is poured out on the rivers and springs.

The 4th bowl (like the 4th trumpet) is poured out on the sky.

The 5th bowl (like the 5th trumpet) is poured out on those in opposition to God.

The 6th bowl (like the 4th seal and the 6th trumpet) is poured out on the region of the Euphrates river.

Using propaganda the Devil gathers his followers to positions of opposition to God. (gathered to Armageddon)

The 7th bowl is poured out on the air. A great earthquake occurs. The great city is split into 3. The cities of the nations fell. BtG was remembered. Great hailstones fell from heaven.

Chapter 17 = BtG is described. The beast she rides is identified. The beast will destroy BtG. The beast will battle the Lamb and be destroyed.

Chapter 18 = An angel declares that BtG has fallen.

Those in BtG are warned to get out. Merchants morn her fall.

Chapter 19 = God is praised. Heaven is opened and the rider of the white horse is seen.

Birds are called to eat the fallen dead.

The kings and their armies are killed.

Chapter 20 = Satan is abyssed.

Those to rule with Christ are resurrected.

After 1,000 years Satan will be released, he will mislead many, then they will all be destroyed.

The second resurrection.

Chapter 21 = (after Armageddon)

===== end =====

Here is a chart showing the parallel prophecies of the 7 seals, 7 trumpet blasts, and 7 plagues:

(For more information regarding the 4th seal, 6th trumpet, and 6th plague, see my article "The Fourth Horseman".)

What do you think?

yb

:^)
Dave

da.getmyip@gmail.com       http://da.getmyip.com/PDF/Ramblings      

Last edited 03-24-2024 (date created 02-28-2024)