November/December 2018
Volume 100 Number 6
1. In The Beginning
A Reader’s Simple Guide to Revelation
The book of Revelation adds a beautiful touch to the New Testament by outlining the future of God’s plan, from the Apostle John’s time onward. Seeing its prophetic predictions come true brings us to our knees in humble adoration and trust in our Heavenly Father. read more…
2. An Introduction
Revelation 1
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show unto his servants, even the things which must shortly come to pass: and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John” (Revelation 1:1 RVIC).read more…
3. The Seven Churches
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (Revelation 2:7).The messages of Jesus Christ to the seven churches are powerful and extremely meaningful to us as we consider the development of the church throughout the entire Gospel Age. The care and feeding of each of the church periods, by Jesus Christ, begins immediately following his sacrifice on Calvary
and continues through our present day.
4. The Seven Trumpets
“And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshipped God” (Revelation 11:16 NASB).The seven trumpets sounding in Revelation 8-11 represent the messages from each of the seven messengers. The text does not reveal how each trumpet sounded, nor the content of each message. Instead, it describes the effect of each sound. Thus,the symbols do not reveal the content of each message but the effect of each message on the world.read more
5. News and Views
B.C.E. to the first century C.E., mostly contain Jewish religious texts. About 40 percent of the manuscript fragments consist of texts from the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). Pseudepigraphal texts — that is, religious texts that did not make it into the Hebrew Bible — from the Second Temple period (c. 530 B.C.E.-70 C.E.) comprise another 30 percent. The final 30 percent consists of texts written by a sectarian group, whom many associate with the Essenes, an ancient Jewish religious sect; these texts talk about the group’s beliefs and rules. — Biblical Archaeology Review, 7/27/2018
6. Today In Prophecy
The Global Financial Crisis — 10 Years Later
“And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargoes any
more — cargoes of gold and silver and precious stones and pearls … for in one hour such great wealth has been laid waste!” (Revelation 18:11, 12, 17 NASB) read more
7. The Woman, The Beasts and The Harvest
Revelation chapters 12-14 discuss events during the entire Gospel Age, from the early persecution of the saints by Pagan Rome, through the Harvest. Descriptions include the persecution of the church, the battle between Pagan Rome and Papal Rome, the formation of the Church of England and Ireland, and the Gospel Age Harvest. read more
8. The Seven Last Plagues
“Seven angels having seven plagues, [which are] the last, for in them is finished the
wrath of God” (Revelation 15:1 RV).
9. Babylon’s Sins and Judgment
“Upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon the Great, The Mother of
Harlots and Abominations of the Earth” (Revelation 17:5).
10. A Wonderful Change Is At Hand
“Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God” (Revelation 19:1).
Two beautiful chapters describe how the saints view the end of the Gospel Age. From our vantage point, we see that all that mankind has been able to accomplish falls short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
11. It is Done
The last two chapters of the Holy Bible contain two beautiful descriptions of The Kingdom of God. Each describes a time of peace, righteousness, resurrection, restoration, and the healing of the people of all nations. These two beautiful panoramas capture the fondest hopes of mankind as they have longed for (unknowingly) the manifestation of the sons of God (Romans 8:19). read more
12. Concluding Counsel
The final words of Revelation contain an admonition and a blessing. John’s stern warning shows the importance attached to this final book of scripture. “I witness unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto them, God shall add unto him the plagues which are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city [or even from the things] which are written in this book” (verses 18, 19)
Categories: 2018 Issues, 2018-November/December
