Posts Tagged ‘Revelation’
Who Can Stand?
by Ryan Boyer In Revelation 6, Jesus (the Lamb) is opening the scroll’s seals one by one. The first four are the famous four horsemen of the apocalypse. These are not only punishments against people who have persecuted God’s people but also wake-up calls and opportunities to repent (like the Egyptian plagues). They are also…
Read MoreDo the letters in Revelation support the idea of a leading elder?
Question: We believe in the plurality of elders in the church and that elders are equal in the sense that there is no senior or chairman elder. In Revelation chapters 2 & 3, the seven letters are addressed to “the angel of the church.” The angel refers to the elder of the respective church, and…
Read MoreWhen Is the 1000-Year Reign of Christ?
by Robert Harkrider via Timberland Church of Christ One of the most highly publicized teachings today in the religious world is the 1,000-year reign of Christ. Phrases such as “It’s a sign of the times,” “The rapture is coming,” and “The kingdom of God on earth is about to be established” are flung at people from…
Read MoreTen Facts About Local Congregations
by Gardner Hall Ten facts about local congregations today: taken from the letters to the seven churches (Revelation 2,3). Christ knows their works! Most congregations have a mixture of good qualities and weaknesses. Christ considers some congregations in bad spiritual shape to be his still. Even though we might not be able to conscientiously recommend…
Read MoreAre the plagues in Revelation literal?
Question: While much is figurative in Revelation, are the plagues that John sees in his visions literal? Did those things actually happen at some point? Answer: A better question is why select the plagues to be literal in a book filled with symbolism and figurative language? What indications are there that these should be treated…
Read MoreWho Deserves Your Heart?
by Terry Wane Benton “Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and…
Read MoreWorthy Art Thou: An Understatement
by Terry Wane Benton “And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation'” (Revelation 4:9). So, a new song comes out in…
Read MoreEarthly Politics Versus the Almighty
by Terry Wane Benton “Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever” (Revelation 4:9). In John’s vision “up here” he sees the living creatures giving honor, glory, and thanks to God on the throne, and he knows that God is eternal,…
Read MoreReminder of Sinai
by Terry Wane Benton When John saw the vision of Revelation, there seems to be a reflection that reminds us of Sinai. “And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God” (Revelation 4:5). We recall thundering, lightning, and voices…
Read MoreThere’s a Rainbow
by Terry Wane Benton “And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald” (Revelation 4:3). He who sat on the throne “was like” jasper and a sardius stone in appearance. How was He like that? We…
Read MoreCome Up Here and See
by Terry Wane Benton “After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this” (Revelation 4:1). John has seen the strengths and…
Read MoreThe Revelation of Jesus Christ
by Terry Wane Benton “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants–things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John” (Revelation 1:1 NKJV). Since this book is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, it seems clear that it is revealing all…
Read MoreThe Thousand-Year Reign
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/The-Thousand-Year-Reign.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. Revelation 20:4-6 A. Many elaborate theories are based on this 1. Some teach that Christ, at his second coming, sets up a kingdom here on earth. 2. Christians from the early church are raised up to rule with him. 3. After a peaceful, thousand-year reign, the Devil is released 4. A seven-year battle ensues (the…
Read MoreSymbolism in Revelation
by Hugh DeLong As you are reading through Revelation, one of the things that should be abundantly evident is that the book is not about literal events. We see dragons with tails able to knock a third of the stars of heaven onto the earth (and yet the earth not only survives but is only…
Read MoreWhen were the four angels placed at the Euphrates River?
Question: When were the four angels placed at the Euphrates River? Answer: “One saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, ‘Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.’ And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that…
Read MoreThe Judgment of Babylon
by Matthew W. Bassford It seems like the farther we get into the book of Revelation, the more contentious it gets. Our reading concerns chapters 16 through 18, and the main character in this section is the wicked city of Babylon, personified as a prostitute. To say that the identity of Babylon is under dispute…
Read MoreGod Has an Answer
by Matthew W. Bassford The contrast between Revelation 13 and Revelation 14 is one of the most striking between any two chapters in the Bible. In Revelation 13, all the news is bad. Even though the dragon has been defeated in heaven, a new ally for him, the beast, emerges from the sea. Another evil…
Read MoreGod’s Promises to the Faithful
by Matthew W. Bassford No matter how many times I read the Bible, I always find something new in it. Nor are these discoveries subtle or inconsequential. Often, they are magnificent! So it was with this week’s Bible reading. I’m familiar with Revelation. I’ve taught it several times and read it many more. However, never…
Read MoreHow many streets are in Revelation 21:21?
Question: In Revelations 21:21, is it correctly written as “street” or “streets” as other translations say? Is it more than one? Thanks Answer: The phrasing in Greek is for a single street.
Read MoreWhat are the books opened in Revelation 20:12?
Question: Good day. I have an argument with a Catholic defender on social media about Sola Scriptura. I used Revelation 20:12 that the written word will judge us in the last days. But he said that the books opened are not the Bible but the record of men’s deeds. What are the books opened in…
Read MoreI don’t believe Apollyon is Satan
Question: In regards to Is Satan female? you said one of his names was Apollyon and cited Revelation 9:11. But read Revelation 9:1-11 and 20:1-2. Apollyon binds Satan. Answer: “They have as king over them, the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek he has the name Apollyon” (Revelation…
Read MoreGreat Merchants
by Doy Moyer Revelation 18:21-24 gives three reasons for the fall of Babylon: Merchants were great men, “nobility of the earth.” “Nations were deceived by your sorcery,” (Revelation 18:23), and “In her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all those slaughtered on the earth” (Revelation 18:24). Points 2 and 3 are…
Read MoreDoes everyone who was baptized have eternal life?
Question: Hi, From the topic of “The Thousand-Year Reign”, you stated that baptism is the first resurrection. John also states that second death will not have an effect on those who take part in the first resurrection. Then does that mean all who were baptized will have eternal life? But what about those who are…
Read MoreWhat is meant by ruling with a rod of iron?
Question: What did the Apostle John mean, when he wrote that Christ, the child, “was to rule all nations with a rod of iron” in Revelation 12:5? Answer: We are given an image of the kingdom, the universal church, coming into being after Jesus was resurrected and went back up to the Father. Reading a…
Read MoreThe Winepress of God’s Wrath
by Steve A. Hamilton “So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image” (Revelation 16:2). The date was 541 A.D. Roman Emperor Justinian was reigning in his 14th year…
Read MoreTiming the Book of Revelation
by Steve A. Hamilton Timing is everything for the proper interpretation of the book of Revelation. Various theories have developed concerning the interpretation of the Book of Revelation that have been ignored when it was written or when it concludes. These theories take advantage of the symbolic nature of the book to express ideas that…
Read MoreThe 144,000
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/144000.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Revelation 14:1-5 I. The Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that the kingdom of heaven will be established after the “end times” with 144,000 faithful saints chosen by God to becomes spirits and to rule with Christ for the millennium. A. These rulers, they say, will govern the earth on which will dwell…
Read MoreRevelation 14 and the Harps
by Doy Moyer I’m dealing here with a very narrow aspect of the question of instruments in worship. In support of the use of instruments in worship, we often hear Revelation 14 brought up. Because this passage is used positively, and because it involves the use of instruments, then this is supposed to prove that…
Read MoreHow could Revelation be about the fall of Rome when Rome didn’t fall until AD 476?
Question: I intend to start teaching on Revelation soon. I have a decent basic understanding of the book so far, but I have some unanswered questions about it. I believe that John wrote the book around 95 AD during Domitian’s reign. From what I’ve read, John was released under Nerva’s two-year reign. Also, I don’t…
Read MoreWhen was the church in Smyrna established?
Question: Brother Hamilton, Our local fellowship of congregations has been impacted by the doctrine of Preterism, with a number of problems caused by one individual in particular who has garnered a small but aggressive group of followers holding to Max King’s teachings. In an article on your site, “70 A.D. ‘ism and the Date of…
Read More70 A.D. ‘ism and the Date of Revelation
by Carl A. Allen The doctrine of “70 A.D.’ism” demands all the writings of the New Testament books be before 70 A.D. There is no way the books could be after that date. Their doctrine is that the “Second Coming of Christ” took place in 70 A.D. If there are books after 70 A.D. that…
Read MoreComing in the Clouds
by Matthew H. Allen via The Jackson Drive Reporter, August 2, 2009. “Behold, He is coming in the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be, Amen” (Revelation 1:7). The term coming “with the clouds”…
Read MoreIf there are no warnings for the second coming of Christ, then what about the signs in Revelation?
Question: If there are no warning signs for the last days or second coming of Christ, what do the Bowls, Seals, and Trumpets represent in Revelation? Answer: Revelation deals with things that were to take place shortly. One of the greatest errors people make in regards to understanding Revelation is to ignore several statements in…
Read MoreHow can you teach that Revelation has already happened?
Question: I read your article against Jack Van Impe. I am so amazed that you can teach that Revelation has already happened. Are you unable to read? John starts right out being told these visions are of what was, is, and is to come! But what I really want to know is who was this great…
Read MoreYour study on Revelation is just what I was looking for
Question: I just wanted to say I love your web site. I was looking for a study on Revelation to use along with the class we are having on Wednesday night. Our preacher is doing an excellent job of teaching the class, but I wanted to find a scripturally sound study to use as a…
Read MoreDid the rider on the pale horse appear in Egypt?
Question: Have you seen this video? Video: Has Revelation’s ‘pale rider’ shown up in Egypt? People think it’s one of the horsemen, but I don’t really know about that. It seems something like that wouldn’t really be able to be filmed. Also doesn’t this kind of tie in with only God knows when the world will end…
Read MoreDoes the Bible say the earth will be renewed at Jesus’ coming?
Question: Once again I have a question that I dealing with. I recently had a friend of mine converted to Seventh-Day Adventist religion. He has been studying with them and basically accepted a lot of their beliefs that they are teaching. He has even provided me the events surrounding the second coming of Jesus from…
Read MoreWhat does Laodicea mean?
Question: What does Laodicea mean? Answer: Laodicea is the name of a city in Asia Minor that wasn’t too far from Colosse. The name of the city is a compound Greek word: laos means people, nation, or crowd; dike means custom, law, judgment, penalty, or punishment, depending on the context. From that, most conclude that the founders of Laodicea…
Read MoreDidn’t you overlook the “also” in the discussion about the Nicolaitans in Revelation 2:15?
Question: I was reading your response regarding the nature of the Nicolaitans, their doctrine, and practice. Perhaps you may take the same issue with me that you do with the other commentator who did not offer an answer but rather a criticism. However, I hope you would pardon the simplicity of my question or observation. I…
Read MoreIs the reference to a new earth given so we can understand heaven better?
Question: The new heaven and the new earth in Revelation is being taken literally by my friend. I know it’s referring to the spiritual earth. My grandson and I studied this scripture last night (Revelation 21:1-2). He brought up the fact that in Rome, the Christians were oppressed and God is promising them, in this…
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