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When giving the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus mentioned several prophecies, both for his day and ours.  He started out by providing nine ways to get blessed by God.  They are "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.  Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.  Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.  Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Matthew 5: 3-11.

Jesus goes on to warn against hypocritical gifts and prayers.  He teaches his disciples to pray for the sanctification of the Father's name, for His Kingdom to come, and for their daily sustenance.  Throughout the sermon Jesus holds the Kingdom to the fore.  He cautions those who follow him not to worry about or work merely for material riches, for the Father knows their actual needs.  "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."- Matthew 6:33.

Jesus goes on to relate about the "signs of his coming".  While on the Mount of Olives, Jesus points forward to a time of wars, "nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom." Famines and earthquakes will occur in various places. Many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other.  Many false prophets will appear and deceive many.  Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.  But also "the gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."  Jesus also warned about a great distress that will come that is unequaled from any time in history, nor be repeated again.  During the time of the end, people will come and say "Look, here is the Christ!" or, "There he is!" or, they'll claim to have talked with Jesus in spirit. When this happens, don't believe it. Jesus went on to relate how "false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect." Jesus told his apostles and gave this warning for us today that "no one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father ... therefore keep watch, because you do not know what day your Lord will come."   Jesus mentioned an appointment of  "the faithful and discreet slave ... over all his belongings," and many other features of the composite sign that is to mark "the arrival of the son of man in his glory to sit down on his glorious throne."' (Matthew 24: 1 - 51; 25:31).

Just what do these prophecies mean for us today?  Was Jesus just talking about events to occur in his day?  To answer these questions we only have to look at what is happening in the world.  In the book of Revelation we are told about events that would happen in our time.  The Apostle John received a vision while on the island of Patmos concerning 'the last days'.  Jesus was given revelations by his father to give to mankind.  As Rev.1:1 states it, "A revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him, to show his servants what must soon take place.  He made it known by sending hisangel to his servant John."   In Revelation, everything that is happening to us today is explained in detail using symbols to represent actual people, places, and things.  Through these ideas and abstractions, we come to the knowledge of what our time would be like.

But just what do these prophecies mean?  And how do we know everything stated in Revelation is meant for our day?  Well before we answer that question, let's backtrack a little and find out just when the book of Revelation was written.  According to earliest testimony, John wrote the Revelation about 96 C.E., approximately 26 years after the destruction of Jerusalem.  The entire book of Revelation, from beginning to end, gives us a coherent picture of things to come, going from one vision to another until the full disclosure of God's Kingdom purposes is reached at the end of the visions.  The book is divided into 16 visions.  These visions are followed by a motivating conclusion, in which God, Jesus, the angel, and John all speak, making their final contribution as the principals in the channel of communication.

Getting back to what the prophecies mean, we have to evaluate each vision in succession, so as to uncover the meaning and provide the correct interpretation necessary to understand them. We start with the first vision John had.  In Revelation, John addresses those in the seven congregations in the district of Asia, at that time.  As the first vision begins, by inspiration John finds himself in the Lord's day.  A strong, trumpet like voice tells him to write in a scroll what he sees and to send it to the seven congregations, in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.  Turning toward the voice, John sees someone "like a son of man" in the midst of seven golden lampstands, having seven stars in his right hand.  This One identifies himself as "the First and the Last ... the Living One"  who became dead but is now living forever and ever and who has the keys of death and of Hades.  He is therefore the resurrected Jesus Christ.  He explains: "The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are seven churches." - Revelation 1: 13, 17, 20.

John is told to write to the angel of the congregation of Ephesus, which, despite its labor, endurance, and refusal to put up with bad men, has left its first love and should repent and do the former deeds.  The congregation in Smyrna is told that despite tribulation and poverty, it is in fact rich and should not be afraid.  The congregation in Pergamum, dwelling "where Satan has his throne," keeps holding fast to Christ's name but has apostates in its midst, and these must repent or Christ will war with them with the long sword of his mouth.  In Thyatira the congregation has "love and faith ... service and perseverance," yet it tolerates "that woman Jezebel."  However, faithful ones who overcome and does his will to the end will receive "authority over the nations." - Rev. 2: 10, 13, 19, 20, 26.  The congregation in Sardis has the reputation of being alive, but it is dead because its deeds are not fully performed before God.  Those who conquer, however, will not have their names blotted out of the book of life.  The congregation in Philadelphia has kept Christ's word, so he promises to keep the congregation "from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth." Christ will make the one who conquers to be a pillar in the temple of His God.  Christ says: "I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem ... and my new name."  Referring to himself as "the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation," Christ tells the Laodicea congregation that it is neither hot nor cold and will be vomited out of his mouth.  Though boasting of riches, those in that congregation are actually poor, blind, and naked.  They need white outer garments, and they need eye salve in order to see.  Christ will come in and dine with anyone who opens the door to him.  To the one that conquers, Christ will grant to sit down with him on his throne, even as he has sat down with his Father on His throne. - Rev. 3: 10, 12, 14.

Do you see the parallel to churches today.   There is so much hypocrisy today that it is unreal.  In the Catholic church, Priest as committing sexual acts against alter boys and young children.  In nearly every religion today, members are dropping like flies.  In 2002 alone, over 10,000 people dropped and left the Catholic church.  Baptist churches saw a 20% drop in attendance and membership.  Jehovah's Witnesses saw nearly 40,000 members become disassociated or disfellowshipped.  People are trying to find answers to their burning questions and unfortunately, the very people they turned to, are letting them down.

Going on, we continue with vision number two.  This vision takes us before God's heavenly throne of splendor.  The scene is dazzling in its beauty, like precious gems for brilliance.  Around the throne sit 24 elders wearing crowns.  Four living creatures ascribe holiness to God, and he is worshipped as worthy "to receive glory and honor and power" because of being the Creator of all things. - Rev. 4: 11. "Him who sat on the throne" holds a scroll with seven seals.  But who is worthy to open the scroll?  It is only "the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David," that is worthy!  This One, who is also "the Lamb ... that had been slain," takes the scroll from God. - Rev. 5: 1, 5, 12. Right now don't worry about what the 24 elders represent.  That will be explained later.  Just know that the number 24 is a representation or symbol of significance.

The third vision now begins.  The Lamb proceeds to open the seals.  First, a horseman on a white horse goes forth "as a conqueror bent on conquest."  Then the rider of a fiery red horse takes peace away from the earth, and another on a black horse rations out grain.  However, the black horse was not allowed to touch the oil and the wine.  In Jesus day oil and wine were a luxury that only the rich had.  Therefore, in today's society, that means the poor will face hardship while the very rich are not disturbed.  A pale horse is ridden by Death, and Hades follows closely.  The fifth seal is opened, and "the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God" are seen calling for the avenging of their blood.  - Rev. 6: 2, 9. At the opening of the sixth seal, there is a great earthquake, sun and moon are darkened, and the mighty ones of the earth call upon the mountains to fall over them and hide them from God and the wrath of the Lamb.

I believe the above description is obvious.  Let's break it down this way.  The first horse is white with a man conquering evil.  If you think about it, this refers to when Satan was ousted from Heaven back around 1914.  Since then, we have had wars, pestilence, food shortages, earthquakes, and more.  Of course we had those things occur before 1914.  But not on a global scale as has been seen since that time.  And as time went on, all the above events occurred more frequently than ever before.  Now the fourth vision began.  Four angels are seen holding back the four winds of the earth until the slaves of God are sealed in their foreheads.  Their number is 144,000.  This seal by the way, is a symbol of their acceptance of God's spirit or active force in their lives, and not some actual mark.  Afterward John sees an innumerable great crowd out of all nations, standing before God and the Lamb, to whom they attribute salvation, rendering service day and night in God's temple.  The Lamb himself  "will lead them to springs of living water.' - Rev. 7: 17.  So there are two classes of people - a heavenly and an earthy one.  The heavenly class makes up 144,000.  While the earthly class makes up a great crowd which no man was able to number.

There is silence in heaven.  Then seven trumpets are handed to the seven angels.  The first six trumpet blasts make up the fifth vision.  As the first three trumpets are successively blown, calamities rain down upon the earth, the sea, and the rivers as well as the fountains of waters.  At the fourth trumpet, a third of the sun, moon, and stars is darkened.  At the sound of the fifth, a star from heaven releases a plague of locusts that attack those "who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads."  This is "one woe," and two more are coming.  The sixth trumpet heralds the untying of four angels who come forth to kill.  "Two hundred million" of horsemen bring further calamity and slaughter, but still men do not repent of their evil deeds. Rev. 9: 4, 12, 16.

As the sixth vision begins, another strong angel descends from heaven and declares that "in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished. Rev. 10: 7.   John is given a little scroll to eat.  It is "sweet as honey" in his mouth, but it makes his belly bitter.  Two witnesses prophesy 1,260 days in sackcloth; then they are killed by "the beast that comes up from the Abyss," and their corpses are left three and a half days "on the street of the great city." Those dwelling on the earth rejoice over them, but this turns to fright when God raises them to life.  In that hour, there is a great earthquake.  "The second woe is past." Rev. 11: 7, 8, 14.

Now the seventh angel blows his trumpet.  Heavenly voices announce: "The Kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ."  The "twenty-four elders" worship God and give thanks, but the nations become wrathful.  It is God's appointed time to judge the dead and to reward his holy ones and "destroying those who destroy the earth."  His temple sanctuary is opened, and in it is seen the ark of his covenant.  Rev. 11: 15, 16, 18. Following the announcement of the establishment of the Kingdom, the seventh vision immediately shows "a great and wondrous sign appears" in heaven.  It is a woman who gives birth to "a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with an iron scepter."  "A red dragon" stands ready to devour the child, but the child is caught away to God's throne. A war breaks out in heaven.  Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and "the great dragon was hurled down - the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray." It is "woe to the earth."  The dragon persecutes the woman and goes off to make war with the remaining ones of her seed. Rev. 12:1, 3, 5, 9, 12; 8: 13.  According to other prophecies, just before 1914,  God's Kingdom was established with Jesus as ruler in heaven. Satan did not like this, so he tried to kill Jesus and the kingdom arrangement before it even started.  But Jesus would have no part of that so he fought the Devil and threw him down to the vicinity of the earth. Ever since, Satan has been attacking Jesus followers, persecuting and killing them.

This is happening in many countries today.  Jesus followers are persecuted for preaching about him and his established kingdom.  Some Christians have to go underground in order to carry out Jesus message to 'preach the good news'.  In some areas, Christians are being killed for preaching and teaching the truth.  This was foretold many centuries ago by Jesus when he told his apostles that they would be persecuted and even killed for his sake.  All because people don't like to hear the truth.  Why?  Because the truth scares them.  Because they know that if they knew the truth, they would be responsible for changing and confirming to the truth.

The eight vision now shows a wild beast with seven heads and ten horns, ascending out of the sea.  It gets its power from the dragon.  One of its heads was as though slaughtered to death, but it got healed, and all the earth admired the beast.  It utters blasphemies against God and wages war with the holy ones.  Right after WWII ended, the League of Nations was disbanded.  However, this was short-lived because with Satan's control of this world, the government decided to establish a new center of force known as the United Nations.  This represented the head that got healed.  When the United Nations was born everyone admired it.  Every nation put their power and allegiance to it.  They figured this was the last try for peace in the world.  But this is not enough for John sees another wild beast, this one ascending out of the earth.  It has two horns like a lamb, but it begins speaking like a dragon.  It misleads earth's inhabitants and tells them to make an image to the first wild beast.  All are compelled to worship this image or be killed.  Without the mark or number of the wild beast, none can buy or sell.  Its number is 666.  This sure did happen when Britain and America split and became the dual -world power.  In the technology sector, there is talk about Japan having developed a chip that would be embedded in the hand of every person on earth.  This chip is suppose to contain every vital stat about the person.  If the person did not have this chip, they could not buy or sell.  Although this is a long way off, it just proves the validity of this prophecy.

In happy contrast, in the ninth vision, John sees the Lamb on Mount Zion, and with him are 144,000 who have the names of the Lamb and of the Father on their foreheads.  "They sang a new song before the throne," having been "purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb."  Another angel appears in midair, bearing "the eternal gospel to proclaim to those live on the earth - to every nation, tribe, language and people" saying, "Fear God and give him glory because the hour of his judgment has come."  And still another angel announces: "Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great." Another, a third, proclaims that those who worship the wild beast and its image will drink of God's wrath.  One "like a son of man" thrusts in his sickle, and another angel too thrusts in his sickle and gathers the clusters of grapes from the earth's vine, and threw them into "the great winepress of God's wrath."  As the winepress is trodden outside the city, blood comes up as high as the bridles of the horses, "for a distance of a thousand six hundred stadia." (about 184 miles). Rev. 14: 3, 4, 6-8, 14, 19, 20.

This vision has John seeing the end of the last days when God's Kingdom is fully established  in heaven and on earth with Jesus at the helm.  Jesus destroys all false religions with just those who worship in spirit and in truth left.

The tenth vision begins with another glimpse of the heavenly court.  Those who have gained the victory over the wild beast glorify God, the "King of the ages," for his great and wonderful works.  Seven angels come out of the sanctuary in heaven and are given seven golden bowls full of the anger of God.  The first six are poured out into the earth, the sea, and the rivers and fountains of waters, as well as upon the sun, the throne of the wild beast, and the river Euphrates, drying up its water to make way for "the kings from the East."  Demonic spirits go out to "the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty" at Armageddon.  The seventh bowl is poured out upon the air, and amid terrifying natural phenomena, the great city splits into three parts, the cities of the nations fall, and Babylon receives "the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath." Rev. 15:3; 16:12,14,19.

The 11th vision begins.  Look!  It is God's judgment upon Babylon the Great, the mother of prostitutes, "with her the kings of the earth committed adultery."  Drunk with the blood of the holy ones, she rides a scarlet beast having seven heads and ten horns.  This beast "once was, now is not, and will come up out of the abyss."  Its ten horns battle with the Lamb, but because he is "Lord of lords and King of kings," he conquers them.  The ten horns turn on and devour the harlot, and with the beginning of the 12th vision, another angel, whose glory lights the earth, declares: "Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!"  God's people are commanded to get our of her, lest they share in her plagues.  The kings and other mighty ones of the earth weep and mourn over her, saying: "Woe! Woe, O great city, O Babylon, city of power! In one hour your doom has come!"  Her great riches have been devastated.  As a great millstone is hurled into the sea, so with a swift pitch has Babylon been hurled down, never to be found again.  At last the blood of God's holy ones has been avenged!  Heaven resounds with the call: "Hallelujah!! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God ... Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both small and great!" Rev. 17:2, 5, 8, 14; 18:2, 10; 19:1, 5.

Won't this be a glorious time when false religion won't have its grip on society anymore.  Just before God's war of Armageddon starts, events will occur on earth that will cause the government to turn away from the UN first.  Then they will turn against organized religions.  Once most religions are brought down, the governments will come after the faithful and true followers of Jesus.  It is just before this time that Christians will warn unbelievers and all those in these false religions to leave and follow in Jesus footsteps and get converted to Christianity.  If this does not happen, they will perish.

In vision number 13, the "King of kings and Lord of lords" leads heavenly armies in righteous warfare.  Kings and strong men become carrion for the birds of heaven, and the wild beast and the false prophet are hurled alive into the fiery lake that burns with sulfur.  This is a figurative place, not literal.  This is when Armageddon starts.  Look out for the world and the wicked. For your days are up.  As the 14th vision begins, an angel is seen "coming down out of heaven, having the key of the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain."  "The dragon, the original serpent, who is the Devil and Satan," is seized and bound for a thousand years.  Those having part in the first resurrection become "priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years."  Thereafter, Satan will be let loose and will be hurled, with those who follow him, into the lake of fire. - Rev. 20:1, 2, 6. During the great day of God the Almighty, Jesus will come to destroy his enemies on earth.  He will bound Satan in the abyss for a thousand years.  During this time, he will resurrect (the first resurrection), those who will go to heaven with him. These involve all those who died including Jesus apostles, and those who had the heavenly calling in our day.  These persons will complete the number of the 144,000.  Then he will turn his attention to the earth and once again attach and destroy his enemies.  He will preserve his faithful ones.  He will finish resurrecting the rest of mankind (the second resurrection), which includes Abraham, Moses, Aaron, up to this day, and make everyone perfect.   After this is completed, Satan will be let loose from the Abyss to test mankind.  Shortly thereafter, he will be destroyed.

The 15th vision shows the dead, great and small, being judged before God's great white throne. Those who are judged good, will live.  Those who are judged evil will die the everlasting death.  Following this, Death and Hades are hurled in the lake of fire, which "means the second death" and with them is hurled anyone not found written in the book of life.  The New Jerusalem comes down out of heaven (the 144,000), and God will dwell with mankind, wiping out every tear from their eyes.  No more death, mourning, outcry, or pain! Yes, God is "making everything new," and he confirms his promise, saying: "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."  Those conquering will inherit these things, but the cowards, those lacking faith, and those who are immoral, or practice idolatry will not. - Rev. 20:14; 21:1, 5.

John is now shown, in the 16th and final vision, "the Lamb's wife," the New Jerusalem, with its 12 gates and 12 foundation stones bearing the names of the 12 apostles (again this makes up the 144,000).  It is a foursquare, and its majestic splendor is represented by the jasper, gold, and pearl in it.  God and Jesus are the temple of the city, and they are also its light.  Only those written in Jesus scroll of life may enter into it.  A "river of water of life issues from the throne down the middle of the great street of the city.  On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month.  And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. ... they will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light.  And they will reign forever and ever." - Rev. 22:1-5.

The assurance is given: "These words are faithful and true."  Happy, indeed, are all those who observe the words of the prophecy!  Having heard and seen these things, John falls down to worship the angel, who reminds him to worship only God.  The words of the prophecy are not to be sealed, "because the time is near."  Happy are those gaining entrance into the city, for outside are the "dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood."  Jesus states that he himself "sent his angel to give this testimony for the churches ... "the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star. The Spirit and the bride say: 'Come!' And let him who hears say, 'Come!' Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life." Rev. 22:6, 8-17.

Just as Genesis 1:1 described God's creation of the material heavens and earth, so Revelation 21:1-4 describes a new heaven and a new earth and the untold blessings that will be brought to mankind.  Note too, how Revelation ties together the prophecies concerning wicked Babylon.  Isaiah had foreseen the fall of the literal Babylon long before it happened, and he declared: "She has fallen! Babylon has fallen!" - Isa 21:9.  But the Revelation speaks in symbol of "Babylon the Great, the mother of the harlots and of the disgusting things of the earth."  This Babylon will not be a literal place but an entity, a representation of evil on this earth.  Also, one other factor to make note of is the way Revelation depicts God's Kingdom.  By understanding the prophecies, we have come to know that that the number of those who were bought from the earth to enter the Kingdom amounted to 144,000.  That this number is sealed out of the 12 symbolic tribes of spiritual Israel, not literal.  The literal Israel has nothing to do with any prophecies in Revelation, just Christians.  One final though to point out.  After Jesus resurrects everyone, destroys Satan and his demons, and makes everyone perfect, his thousand year rule will end at which time he will turn the kingdom over to his father who will rule on earth forever, with Jesus and the 144,000 by his side.

Now that you know more about the prophecies, let's all worship God together as we wait patiently for his rule on earth to begin.  Praise God and bless you all.

Harry Husted is a freelance writer and author. He is also an ordained minister.  His writing projects include ghostwriting, copywriting, web site content, and DTP.  His credits include articles for Internet Day, Internet World, Advertising Today, Advertising Age, L-Advertising, and a host of others. Harry is also an author of three books, Learn How to Repair Computers: Get Certified in 15 Weeks, How to Write Your Way to Millions, and How to Find and Start a Legitimate Home Business. He can be reached by sending email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit his site at www.creatingwords.com

This article is copyright (c) 2004 by Harry Husted, and may be reprinted in it's entirety as long as this byline and copyright statement is included.