I have been away from my computer for a TV interview and a conference, but I will get back to current events next week.
Some professors, pastors and others say no one understands the Book of Revelation.
The idea that Jesus would give His people a meaningless book of symbols that no one can understand and promise to bless those that read, hear and keep it does not make sense.
Matthew Chapter 24 is like a sermon outline, and the Book of Revelation is a commentary on what Jesus said in Matthew Chapter 24.
In Matthew Chapter 24, Jesus went out to the Mount of Olives and “the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” (Matt. 24:3)
Mark records that the disciples that went to Jesus privately were Peter, James, John and Andrew (Mark 13:3).
There is no question that John heard what Jesus said on the Mount of Olives or that it was John that wrote what Jesus said in the Book of Revelation (Rev. 1:1).
One, on the Mount of Olives Jesus said, “For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many” (Matt. 24:5).
In Rev. 6:1-2, Jesus revealed that the first horseman of the Apocalypse (a false Christ; the Antichrist) will come forth on a white horse (like the Second Coming of Jesus in Rev. 19:11) with a bow and no arrows (deceiving people into thinking he is a man of peace), but he will go forth conquering and to conquer.
More in Revelation: The Antichrist will try to destroy Israel (Rev. 12:13-17), be given power over a world government, be a Satan worshipper (Rev. 13:1-7), be cast into the Lake of Fire (Rev. 19:20), and more.
Two, on the Mount of Olives Jesus said, “Ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars . . . For nation shall rise against nation” (Matt. 24:6-7).
In Rev. 6:3-4, Jesus revealed that the second horseman of the Apocalypse will remove peace from the earth (cause wars and rumors of wars; nation to rise against nation).
More in Revelation: the kings of the east will go to the Middle East, demons will gather the nations for the Battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16:12-16), and more.
Three, on the Mount of Olives Jesus said, “There shall be famines” (Matt. 24:7).
In Rev. 6:5-6, Jesus revealed that the third horseman of the Apocalypse (famine) will come forth.
More in Revelation: Food will be weighed on scales, it will take a day’s wages to buy enough food for one meal, families will try to survive by buying cheaper food, (Rev. 6:6), and more.
Four, on the Mount of Olives Jesus said, “There will be pestilences” (Matt. 24:7).
In Rev. 6:7-8, Jesus revealed that the fourth horseman of the Apocalypse will be Death, and he will be followed by Hell.
More in Revelation: Death and Hell will kill with war, famine, plagues (or pestilences) and wild animals, kill one-fourth of those on earth (Rev. 6:8), and more.
Five, on the Mount of Olives Jesus said, “There will be earthquakes in divers places” (Matt. 24:7).
In Rev. 6:12, Jesus revealed that a great earthquake will darken the earth and cause the sun to turn red.
More in Revelation: An earthquake in Jerusalem will kill 7,000 people (Rev. 11:13), and the greatest earthquake of all time will occur during the Tribulation Period (Rev. 16:17-21).
Six, on the Mount of Olives Jesus said, “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you” (Matt. 24:9).
In Rev. 6:9, Jesus revealed that there will be souls under the altar in heaven that will be killed for the Word of God and the testimony they hold.
More in Revelation: The Antichrist will kill the Two Witnesses (Rev. 11:7), he will persecute the saints (Rev. 13:7), the Antichrist and False Prophet will behead saints (Rev. 20:4), Satan will persecute Israel (Rev. 12:13), etc.
Seven, on the Mount of Olives Jesus said, “Many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many” (Matt. 24:11).
In Rev. 16:13, Jesus revealed that an unclean spirit will come out of the mouth of the False Prophet.
More in Revelation: The False Prophet will help gather the kings of the earth for the Battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16:14), he will order people on earth to worship the Antichrist, order people to take the Mark of the Beast, etc. (Rev. 13:11-18).
Eight, on the Mount of Olives Jesus said, “The gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world” (Matt. 24:14).
In Rev. 14:6, Jesus said an angel will preach the everlasting gospel “to every nation, and kindred, and tongue and people.”
More in Revelation: 144,000 servants of God from the 12 tribes of Israel will be sealed, and they will win a great multitude that no one can number from all nations, tribes, peoples and tongues (Rev. 7:3-9).
Nine, on the Mount of Olives Jesus implied that the Temple will be rebuilt (Matt. 24:15).
In Rev. 11:1 an angel told John to measure the Temple.
More in Revelation: John was told not to measure the court outside the Temple because it will be given to the Gentiles (Rev. 11:2).
Ten, on the Mount of Olives Jesus said when people see the abomination of desolation stand in the holy place “let them that be in Judea flee into the mountains” (Matt. 24:15-16).
In Rev. 12:14 it is written that Israel will flee into the wilderness where she will be protected for 42 months (3 ½ years; 1260 days).
More in Revelation: Satan will try to stop the flight of the Jews, but God will help them, and Satan will fail (Rev. 12:15-17).
Eleven, on the Mount of Olives Jesus told the Jews that flee into the wilderness if they are on top of their house not to try to get anything, if they are in the field not to go home for clothes, it will be bad for women that are expecting and those with small children, and they should pray that they don’t have to flee in the winter or on the Sabbath (Matt. 24:17-20).
In Rev. 12:15-16 Jesus revealed that the Jews need to flee as fast as they can (without burdens, children slowing them down, breaking the Law, etc.) because Satan will try to catch and destroy them.
More in Revelation: Satan will persecute the Jews that don’t flee and are trying to obey God and follow Jesus (Rev. 12:17).
Twelve, on the Mount of Olives Jesus said this is when the great tribulation will start.
In Rev. 12:14 Jesus revealed that the Jews that flee will be in the wilderness for 42 months, so the great tribulation starts at the middle of the seven-year tribulation period and ends 42 months later with the Second Coming of Jesus.
More in Revelation: At the Second Coming of Jesus, the Antichrist will be captured and cast into the Lake of Fire (Rev. 19:20), and Satan will be bound and chained and cast into the Bottomless Pit for one thousand years (Rev. 20:1-3).
Thirteen, on the Mount of Olives Jesus said when the great tribulation starts “There shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; and if it was possible, they will deceive the very elect” (Matt. 24:24).
In Rev. 13:13-14) Jesus revealed that the beast out of the earth (the False Prophet) will perform great signs, call fire down from heaven and deceive people on earth.
More in Revelation: The False Prophet will tell people to make an image of the Antichrist, cause it to breathe and speak, command people to worship it, etc. (Rev. 13:13-15).
Fourteen, on the Mount of Olives Jesus said, “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Matt. 24:27); and He said people will see Him coming in the clouds with power and great glory (Matt. 24:30).
In Rev. 1:7 Jesus revealed that every eye will see Him including those that crucified Him, and everyone on earth will cry.
More in Revelation: Jesus will come back on a white horse, others will come back with Him, King of kings and Lord of lords will be written on His thigh, He will destroy those that are attacking Israel at the Battle of Armageddon, and more (Rev. 19:11-19); He will come quickly (Rev. 22:12, 20).
Fifteen, Jesus said “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matt. 24:35).
In Rev. 21:1 Jesus revealed that there will be “a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away.”
More in Revelation: New Jerusalem will come down to the new earth, God and Jesus will dwell there with His people, there will be no more death (Rev. 21:2-22:21); the Tree of Life will be there (Rev. 22:22).
More examples could probably be cited, but this article is longer than I like.
It is sad that some professors and pastors wasted their time getting an education under people that teach that the Book of Revelation is just a book of symbols or allegory that no one understands.
They are the ones that don’t understand it; they are not studying it, teaching false doctrine, and hindering others from studying that part of the Word of God.
Part of what Jesus said on the Mount of Olives is also recorded in the Gospels of Mark and Luke.
To infer that what Jesus said in parts of Matthew, Mark and Luke is meaningless symbolism or allegory is not of God.
Humankind is approaching the Tribulation Period, people need to know the truth about the future, and it is the Church’s responsibility to tell them.
Incidentally, did you notice that the first four signs that Matthew recorded are the first four signs (and in the same sequence) that John recorded in the Book of Revelation (the first four signs in Matthew are the four horsemen of the Apocalypse in the Book of Revelation)?
That is not likely meaningless or accidental.
Prophecy Plus Ministries, Inc.
Daymond & Rachel Duck
duck_daymond@yahoo.com