[The text below represents an edited transcript of this Tomorrow’s World program.]
Revelation Explains Humanity’s Future
The book of Revelation, or the Apocalypse, is a mysterious book to most people. This Revelation is the last book in your Bible. And yet, it is one of the most important books in the world. Why? Because it reveals the future of humanity, and the future of planet earth! But there are symbols and secrets that challenge us. The four horsemen of the apocalypse destroy one-fourth of all people on the earth in their famous ride. A harlot rides a beast with seven heads and ten horns. The writer of Revelation, the Apostle John, sees another beast with seven heads and ten horns rising up out of the sea. And then the final battle of World War III, Armageddon, determines the victory between good and evil.
My friends, you need to know the secrets of this mysterious book. The mystery of Revelation has been unveiled. You need to know the mysteries of this last book in your Bible. You need to know the prophesied future and the ultimate future for you and your family. You need to know its good news. Today, I’ll share with you seven mysteries of Revelation.
Stay tuned!
Jesus Christ Foretold the Events Described in Revelation
Warm greetings to all our friends around the world!
One of the most important books in the world is the book of Revelation in your Bible. This mysterious book reveals what will happen in the next decade and beyond. You’ve probably heard about the famous four horsemen of the Apocalypse. Who are these horsemen, and what do they represent? The writer, the Apostle John, also describes a beast rising out of the sea with seven heads and ten horns. Later, he describes a harlot riding another beast. What do these and other symbols mean? Can we unlock the mysteries of Revelation? Can we know the future? My friends, the mystery of Revelation has been unveiled. You need to know its secrets.
On today’s program we’ll reveal Seven Mysteries of Revelation. You need to know the prophetic meaning and messages of this mysterious book. You need to know the sequence of prophetic events leading up to the Second Coming, the return of Jesus the Messiah to rule the world.
The Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, inspired John to write what he saw in vision so that we could understand the future. As mysterious as this book appears, you can understand its message. This is what Christ Himself stated. Revelation 1:1,
“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, who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. [Now listen to this] Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near” (Revelation 1:1–3).
Notice, my friends, that the purpose of Revelation is for you to understand the future, not to be mystified. You need to understand the secrets of Revelation. Today, we’ll reveal seven mysteries that unlock this important book.
Mystery #1: The Theme of Revelation is the Day of the Lord
Our first mystery of Revelation is: Revelation’s major theme is the Day of the Lord.
Turn in your Bible to Revelation 1:10. The Apostle John wrote:
“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet….”
John is speaking of the major prophetic period of time described in the rest of the book as the Prophetic DAY OF THE LORD. John is NOT referring to Sunday as the Lord’s Day. If John were doing that, he would have referred to Sunday “as the first day” of the week as he did in the Gospel of John. Jesus Himself said he was Lord of the Sabbath! And He was not speaking of Sunday. The expression “Lord’s Day” here in Revelation is plainly referring to the theme of the whole book, the prophetic Day of the Lord, culminating in the return of Christ as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
The Day of the Lord is introduced by the sixth seal. The sixth seal is the heavenly signs, or the cosmic disturbances that will shock people all over the earth. Let’s read that in Revelation 6:12. The Apostle John writes:
“I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” (Revelation 6:12-17).
Jesus Christ, the Lamb, will judge rebellious nations. The heavenly signs introduce the Seventh Seal of Revelation. The Seventh Seal represents the Day of the Lord, the one-year judgment on the nations. It is “the great day of His wrath” (Revelation 6:17). Notice this powerful statement by the prophet Isaiah:
“For it is the DAY of the Lord’s VENGEANCE, the YEAR of recompense for the cause of Zion” (Isaiah 34:8).
God’s punishment, the day of the Lord’s vengeance is equated to one year. Isaiah 63:4 also indicates this year-long day of God’s vengeance on rebellious nations.
Our first mystery for understanding the book of Revelation is: Revelation’s major theme is the Day of the Lord.
Mystery #2: The SeVen Seals of Revelation Depict the Timeline Order of End-Time Events
Our second mystery of Revelation is: The seven seals reveal the sequence of end-time events. The Apostle John saw in vision a scroll with seven seals mentioned in Revelation 5:1. The Revelator, Jesus Christ, unseals them one by one. Turn in your Bible to Revelation the 6th chapter. Here we see the famous four horsemen of the Apocalypse represented by the first four seals. What do these horses and their riders symbolize? Jesus gave an outline of prophetic events in the Olivet prophecy found in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. These prophetic events explain the four horsemen in the book of Revelation. The famous four horsemen of the Apocalypse symbolize, in order, false Christs and false religion, war and its devastating effects, famines that normally follow on the heels of war, and pestilences and disease that follow after famine.
My friends, there are shocking times ahead for the whole world. We need to be prepared for them. These four horsemen will cause devastation all over the earth. As we read in Revelation 6:8,
“[P]ower was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.”
My friends, can you imagine the death of two billion or more people in the future? Perhaps even in your lifetime?
Now, what happens when the fifth seal is opened? Turn to Revelation 6:9.
“When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.”
Here is described the martyrdom of the saints, true Christians. In the first century, the Emperor Nero severely persecuted Christians and put them to death. A major end-time persecution of saints is also predicted by this fifth seal. Jesus predicted this tribulation in Matthew 24:9. Then Jesus opens the sixth seal, revealing the heavenly signs that will terrify people all over the earth. This chart in our free booklet gives you an overview of the seven seals and their prophetic significance. The seventh seal consists of the seven trumpet events, and the seventh trumpet consists of the seven bowls or the seven last plagues. Our second mystery of Revelation is: The seven seals reveal the prophetic sequence of events.
Mystery #3: Know the Three Major End-Time Events
Our third mystery of Revelation is: Three milestone events reveal the end-time prophetic framework. What are those milestone events?
They are:
- The Great Tribulation
- The Heavenly Signs
- The Day of the Lord
These three events cover a period of about 3 and one-half years. There are over 30 prophecies in your Bible referring to the Day of the Lord. As we’ve seen earlier in the program, Isaiah 34:8 and Isaiah 63:4 show that the Day of the Lord in end-time prophecy, the time preceding the Second Coming, is a period of one year. You might want to write down those references: Isaiah 34:8 and Isaiah 63:4. Our third mystery of Revelation is: Three Milestone Events Reveal the End-Time Prophetic Framework.
Jesus warned us that mankind’s mad obsession with war and weapons of mass destruction would lead to total cosmocide. He stated in Matthew 24:21,
“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.”
The Great Tribulation is a time unique in all history. The prophet Daniel referred to it in Daniel 12:1. The prophet Jeremiah referred to it in Jeremiah 30:7 as “the time of Jacob’s trouble.” Yes, the time of judgment on the modern descendants of Jacob, the American and British descended peoples, as we’ve explained on previous programs. What happens after the Great Tribulation? Notice Matthew 24:29,
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”
So, Christ gives us the sequence of major events: First the Great Tribulation. Then the cosmic disturbances, or heavenly signs that we also read about earlier in Revelation 6:12. What follows the heavenly signs? The prophet Joel gives us the answer. Joel 2:30,
“And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, BEFORE the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.”
The heavenly signs precede the Day of the Lord. So, again, we see our third mystery of Revelation, revealing three milestone events: 1. The Great Tribulation; 2. The Heavenly Signs; and 3; The Day of the Lord.”
Mystery #4: The Beast of Revelation and False Prophet’s Rule Will Be Short
You’ve probably heard of the Beast of Revelation. The Book of Revelation, or the Apocalypse, features a symbolic Beast. Our fourth mystery of Revelation is: The beast and the false prophet will rule for a short time.
What does this beast of Revelation symbolize? The beast of Revelation the 13th chapter has seven heads and ten horns. This beast rises out of the ocean. The scarlet beast of Revelation the 17th chapter has seven heads and ten horns, and is ridden by a woman described as a harlot.
WHEN will this beast appear on the world scene? We only need to read the next verse, Revelation 17:14,
“These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”
The Lamb is Jesus, the Messiah. He will come to this earth to save it from total cosmocide. The time setting is for the future. The seventh revival of this Beast power is just ahead of us. Who is this Beast? My friends, Bible prophecy reveals that a great superpower will arise in Europe. And it will be a revival of the Roman Empire. This great power will be political, military, and economic. You can read about this economic power in Revelation, chapter 18. The current European Union aspires to hold all three dimensions of that power. This power is symbolized by the Beast, who will rule with the support of the False Prophet. Our fourth mystery of Revelation is: The Beast and the False Prophet will Rule for a Short Time.
Mystery #5: Jesus Christ Wins the Ultimate Victory
But the good news is in our fifth and sixth mysteries of Revelation. Our fifth mystery is: Christ will win the final battle. Revelation 11:15 tells us of a wonderful announcement:
“Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’”
But notice, the worldly nations under the sway of the Beast power will not submit to God’s coming kingdom. How will they respond to this new world government? Revelation 11:18,
“The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that you should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earth.”
Satan and his demons will influence worldly armies to gather at Megiddo, about 55 miles north of Jerusalem. You can read about that in Revelation 16:14-16. Who will win that battle, commonly referred to as Armageddon? Remember, as we read earlier in Revelation 17, Christ will conquer the Beast power. Revelation 17:14,
“These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”
Our fifth mystery of Revelation is: Christ will win the final battle. And what will happen after He wins that victory?
Mystery #6: The Kingdom of God on Earth Will Replace This World’s Governments
That’s our sixth mystery of Revelation: The Kingdom of God will rule on the Earth.
My friends, Jesus Christ came preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God. The apostles continued preaching that gospel. Even the Apostle Paul continued to preach that gospel to the end of his life. Read the last two verses in the book of Acts in your Bible. Acts 28:30-31,
“Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.”
Your Bible plainly reveals that Christ will return as King of kings and Lord of lords, as we’ve seen. He is called the Prince of Peace in Isaiah 9:6. Notice that He will ensure world peace for all nations, Isaiah 9:7,
“Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”
Genuine and faithful Christians will serve in His world-ruling government. Revelation 20:4,
“And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”
That is the Millennium. After that, the New Jerusalem will descend from Heaven, and God’s Kingdom will continue for all eternity. Our sixth mystery of Revelation is: The Kingdom of God will Rule on the Earth.
Our seventh mystery of Revelation involves you personally, and it’s the key that will determine your future when these prophesied events take place.
Mystery #7: The Seven Churches of Revelation Describe Eras and Attitudes
Our seventh mystery of Revelation is: The seven churches have meaning for us today.
The people in those seven churches had different characteristics, some good and some not so good. John describes them in Revelation, Chapters two and three. The seven churches were on one mail route in what is today western Turkey. They were Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. The spiritual conditions of these seven churches have been reflected in the true Church of God through various eras during the past 1,900 years.
The Revelator, Jesus Christ, tells us to learn lessons from each church. Listen carefully to the descriptions and warnings. The Revelator, Christ, describes the church at Ephesus this way: Revelation 2:4,
“Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”
Ephesus is called “The Loveless Church.” Next, to Smyrna, “The Persecuted Church,” Jesus states [2:10],
“Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
The third is Pergamos, “The Compromising Church.” It tolerated sexual immorality. Jesus tells them (v. 16),
“Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.”
Artifacts of a pagan temple from Pergamos can be seen today in Berlin’s Pergamon Museum. The fourth church, Thyatira, is referred to as “The Corrupt Church.” The fifth church, Sardis, is called “The Dead Church.” The sixth church, Philadelphia, is “The Faithful Church” and Jesus tells them:
“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth” (3:10).
The final church, Laodicea, is called “The Lukewarm Church.” Jesus warns them in verse 16:
“… because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”
Do you want Jesus to vomit you out of His mouth? Or, do you want to be a faithful Christian? Study those chapters and the characteristics of those churches. Apply them in your life! Jesus gave a warning to those churches. And, my friends, we need to listen to them as well. Revelation 3:19,
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”
My friends, I encourage you to read carefully these two chapters, Revelation 2 and 3. Jesus reveals the changes we need to make in our lives. He exhorts us to apply all these messages to our own life. Seven times He tells us: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches,” all seven of the churches!
These seven churches also reveal the spiritual characteristics and attitudes of the Christian church from the time of Christ, to the end of this age.
My friends, we are nearing the end of the age and the coming of the Kingdom of God. You need to take action and seek the truth of your Bible.
Thank you for watching!
You need to know the secrets of the book of Revelation. Our booklet Revelation: The Mystery Unveiled will unlock the mysteries to the future of humanity and the future of planet earth. You can order your free copy by clicking the link in the description. And remember to subscribe to our channel so you don’t miss another Tomorrow’s World video. See you next time!
