Simply Revelation

As we look upon the world today, we see the uneasiness and difficulties of each nation dealing with their problems. Jesus taught there would be distress of nations with perplexity upon the earth in the last days (Luke 21:25). One might ask the question, where are we at in the timeline concerning Bible prophecy? Jesus said in Luke 21:24, “And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” Apostle Paul conveyed the same message to the Romans who were brethren in Christ Jesus about the mystery of the blindness in part happening to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles come in (Romans 11:25). The fulfillment of the Gentiles will take place when Jesus plants his feet on the Mount of Olives at his second visible coming to the earth. At that time, he will set up the millennial reign with the church and Israel over the earth.

One day as Jesus was coming into Jerusalem he looked upon the city and wept over it because he knew there was coming a day when the enemies of the Jews would come and build a trench around the city and destroy her (Luke 19:41–44). This happened in 70 AD when the Romans came and destroyed Jerusalem and scattered the Jews among the nations.

On May 14, 1948 Israel became a nation once more. After the six-day war of June 5-10, 1967, Israel gained Jerusalem back as their capital and ended the control of the city by the Gentiles except for the Temple Mount. Jesus said during this time there would be signs in the sun and in the moon and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring (Luke 21:25). With the invention of the telescope and the knowledge of safe techniques such as solar filters the sun can be viewed and studied in a manner that was impossible before. Today we understand the effects of solar flares coming off the sun can have upon the earth. In 1969 man landed on the moon just two years after Jerusalem was taken by the Jews. With the help of the Hubble telescope and the Internet, you can find images of the cross in the Whirlpool Galaxy, the Eye of God, and the Crown of Thorns in the constellation Indus, and the Hand of God all signs in the stars. Genesis 1:14 says, “God created lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night, and let them be for signs.” In the past decade we have witnessed the effects of a tsunami and the destruction it can cause. These things happening and the expectation of the things that are coming upon the world will cause men to fear even to the point their hearts fail them (Luke 21:26).

There are signs all round the world that are pointing to the tribulation period to come. Within the last decades, the world has seen a rise in earthquakes, violent storms, hurricanes, and weird weather patterns, and all seem to get worse as each year goes by. We see monetary problems all round the world. We have seen conflicts between nations and within nations. There has been drought and famine in parts of the world, and yet there has been so much moisture in other parts that it has caused great destruction. We have seen the cruelty of man upon man in this world and how painful it is.

As the cup of iniquity of this world rises, so is the coming judgment of this world by God. Together with many prophecy scholars, I consider these things to be the birth pangs before the big event. We can see it is building toward the catching away of the church and the coming tribulation period. Apostle John was told not to seal the messages of the prophecy of the book of Revelation: for the time is at hand (Rev. 22:10). We know the Bible teaches us in the last days there will be scoffers not believing what is coming but walking after their own lusts. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation” (2 Pet. 3:3-4). I personally believe we are approaching that time.

Simply Revelation is a commentary on the book of Revelation. Overall, my intent is to give you a simple overview of this book, although I do, in part, go into detail. Over the years, I have discovered that many questions about the Bible can be answered using other scriptures. Throughout this commentary, I will be using the King James Version of the Bible. As you read this book, you might want to have your Bible handy to look up scripture. I love Bible prophecy and have studied and taught it for years.

With the help of the Holy Spirit, I hope to give you some insight about Revelation. My desire for you as you read is to have an open heart and to allow the Holy Spirit speak to you that you may learn more from him. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). There is a blessing that comes in reading the book of Revelation. Revelation 1:3 says, “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” Revelation 22:7 says, “Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.”