End Times, Part 2 From The Book of Revelation Scriptures and Notes From The Expositor’s Study Bible

End Times, Part 2 From The Book of Revelation Scriptures 

and Notes From The Expositor’s Study Bible

Revelation 4:1-11
1After this I looked (represents the time after the Churches, or in other words after the Rapture) , and, behold, a door was opened in heaven(gives John the ability to see what is taking place there): and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me (is actually the Voice of Jesus, harking back to Rev 1:10); which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter (after the Rapture of the Church). 2  And immediately I was in the spirit (John saw these in a Vision): and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne (God the Father). 3  And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald (This proclaims the Glory of the God, which is beyond Comprehension). 4  And round about the throne were four and twenty seats (Thrones): and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting (these men represent the entirety of the Work of God as it pertains to Believers, with, no doubt, a mixture of Prophets and Apostles), clothed in white raiment (represents the Righteousness of Christ); and they had on their heads crowns of gold (signifying authority). 5  And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices (whatever all of this is, it is constant): and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God (This Represents the totality and universality of the Holy Spirit. The number “Seven” is God’s number, denoting perfection.) 6  And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal (presents that which is perfectly transparent): and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts (living creatures) full of eyes before and behind. (This is introducing creatures we have no knowledge of and which are beyond comprehension, as so much in Heaven actually is.) 7  And the first beast (living creature) was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. ( These strange creatures are before the Throne constantly.) 8  And the four beasts (living creatures) had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within (signifying the revealing of their innermost nature and being): and they rest not day and night (proclaiming that these beings are “spirit” and not “Flesh”), saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. (Using the threefold repetition calls attention to the infinite Holiness of God.) 9  And when those beasts (living creatures) give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever (if these creatures can constantly give God “Glory, and Honor, and Thanks,” how can we who have known the glorious Redemption of our Lord do any less!), 10  The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever (the action of the 24 Elders, who represent the Church of the Living God in Heaven,proclaims what the Church on Earth ought to be), and cast their crowns before the throne, saying (presents the acknowledgment of their royal estate; it all comes from God!), 11  You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power (unless the Lord’s worth is fully sensed by the worshiper, one’s own unworthiness will never be realized): for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (In effect, the praises of these 24 Elders tell us that the Creation, and that means every part of Creation, Is Going to Be completely restored, and all because of what Christ did on the Cross!)

Revelation 5:2
 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice (this strong Angel is probably Gabriel, as evidenced by Gabriel’s appearance to Daniel) , Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? (This implies Moral Fitness [Rom. 1:4].)

Romans 1:4
And declared to be the Son of God with power (He was the Son of David regarding His Humanity, and the Son of God regarding His Deity), according to the spirit of holiness (presents another Name for the Holy Spirit), by the resurrection from the dead (the Jews Crucified Jesus because He claimed to be the Son of God; God Resurrected Him because he was the Son of God):

Revelation 5:3-6
3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. (We should look very carefully at the words “no man.”) 4  And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon (This pertains to the fact that this Book is so very, very important. It contains not only information regarding Judgment upon this Earth, but as well the message that this Judgment,as tendered by God, will ultimately lead to the Redemption of the Earth.)  5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not (states that man’s dilemma has been solved): behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof (presents Jesus Christ).  6  And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain (the Crucifixion of Christ is represented here by the word “Lamb”, which refers to the fact that it was the Cross which Redeemed mankind; the slain Lamb Alone has Redeemed all things), having seven horns (horns denote dominion, and “seven” denotes total dominion; all was done for you and me, meaning that we can have total dominion over the powers of darkness, and in every capacity; so there is no excuse for a lack of victory) and seven eyes(denotes total, perfect, pure, and complete illumination of all things spiritual, which is again made possible for you and me by the Cross; if the Believer makes the Cross the Object of his Faith, he will never be drawn away by false doctrine), which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth (signifying that the Holy Spirit, in all His Perfection and universality, functions entirely within the parameters of the Finished Work of Christ; in other words, it is required that we ever make the Cross the Object of our Faith, which gives the Holy Spirit latitude, and guarantees the “dominion,” and the “illumination” [Isa. 11:2; Rom. 8:2]).

Isaiah 11:2
2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him (upon Christ), the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD (this proclaims the Perfection of the Holy Spirit in all His attributes listed here resting upon the Messiah);

Romans 8:2
 2 For the law (that which we are about to give is a Law of God, devised by the Godhead in eternity past [1 Pet. 1:18-20]; this Law, in fact,  is “God’s Prescribed Order of Victory”) of the Spirit (Holy Spirit, i.e., “the way the Spirit works”) of life (all life comes from Christ, but through the Holy Spirit [Jn. 16:13-14] in Christ Jesus (any time Paul uses this term or one of its derivatives, he is, without fail, referring to what Christ did at the Cross, which makes this “life” possible) hath made me free (given me total Victory) from the law of sin and death (these are the two most powerful Laws in the Universe; the “Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus” alone is stronger than the “Law of Sin and Death”; this means that if the Believer attempts to live for God by any manner other than Faith in Christ and the Cross, he is doomed for failure).

1 Peter 1:18-20
18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold (presents the fact that the most precious commodities [silver and gold] could not redeem fallen man), from your vain conversation (vain lifestyle) received by tradition from your fathers (speaks of original sin that is passed on from father to child at conception);  19  But with the precious blood of Christ (presents the payment, which proclaims the poured out Life of Christ on behalf of the sinners), as of a lamb without blemish and without spot (speaks of the lambs offered as substitutes in the Old Jewish economy; the Death of Christ was not an execution or assassination, but rather a Sacrifice; the Offering of Himself presented a Perfect Sacrifice, for He was Perfect in Every Respect [ex12:5]):  20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world( refers to the fact that God,in His Omniscience, knew He would create man, man would fall, and man would be redeemed by Christ going to the Cross; this was all done before the Universe was created; this means the Cross of Christ is the Foundation Doctrine of all Doctrine, referring to the fact that all Doctrine must be built upon that Foundation, or else it is specious) , but was manifest in these last times for you (refers to the invisible God Who, in the Person of the Son, was made visible to human eyesight by assuming a human body and human limitations,

John 16:13-14
13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come (which He did on the Day of Pentecost), he will guide you into all truth(if our Faith is properly placed in Christ and the Cross, the Holy Spirit can then bring forth Truth to us; He doesn’t guide into some truth, but rather “all Truth”): for he shall not speak of himself (tells us not only What He does, but Whom He represents); but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak (doesn’t refer to lack of knowledge, for the Holy Spirit is God, rather He will proclaim the Work of Christ Only): and he will shew you things to come(pertains to the New Covenant, which would shortly be given).  14 He shall glorify me (will portray Christ and what Christ did at the Cross for dying humanity: for he shall receive of mine (the benefits of the Cross), and shall shew it unto you (which He did, when He gave these Great Truths to the Apostle Paul [Rom., Chpts. 6-8, etc.]).

Revelation 7:2
 2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east (the advent of this Angel portrays the fact that this is the beginning of the Restoration Of Israel), having the seal of the living God (pertains to the Seal of Salvation [2 Tim. 2:19]): and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea(the Judgments are to be held in check),

2Timothy 2:19  Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure (proclaims the truth that this foundation is secure, despite the fact that some make shipwreck of their Faith), having this seal, The Lord knows them who are his (This “seal” guarantees the “security of the Church” and the “purity of the Church.” The two go together. The purity of the Church is indispensable to its security.) And, Let every one who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity. ( One can “depart from iniquity,” only as one makes the Cross the Object of his Faith, which then gives him Holy Spirit Power.)

Revelation 8:9
9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed (concerns the part affected by the meteorite, or by whatever manner God chooses to do this).

Nehemiah 8:17
17  And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths: for since the days of Jeshua (Joshua) the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness (it is not to be understood that there had been no previous compliance of this Feast, but only that there had been no such joy and general celebration of the Festival; it is the “very great gladness” that is especially insisted upon the - Pulpit)  .

Revelation 7:17
17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them (not only did the Lamb save them, but He as well “shall feed them”; not only does our Salvation come by and through what Jesus did at the Cross,but we “live” by what Jesus did for us at the Cross as well), and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters (symbolic of the Holy Spirit [Jn. 7:37-39]: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes (All things causing sorrow will be forever gone.)

John 7:37-39
37In the last day, that great day of the feast (spoke of the eighth day of the Feast of Tabernacles), Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink (presents the greatest invitation ever given to mortal man).  38  He who believes on me (it is “not doing,” but rather, “believing”), as the scripture has said (refers to the Word of God being the Story of Christ and Him Crucified; all of the Sacrifices pointed to Christ and what He would do at the Cross, as well as the entirety of the Tabernacle and Temple and all their appointments), out of his belly (innermost being) shall flow rivers of living water (speaks of Christ directly, and Believers indirectly).  39 (But this spake he of the Spirit (Holy Spirit), which they who believe on him should receive ( it would begin on the Day of Pentecost): for the Holy Ghost was not yet given( He has now been given); because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (The time of which John wrote was shortly before the Crucifixion. When Jesus died on the Cross and was Resurrected three days later, He was raised with a Glorified Body, which was one of the signs that all sin had been atoned, now making it possible for the Holy Spirit to come in a new dimension.)

Revelation 8:10
10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp (more than likely another meteorite), and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters ( a third part of land area; speaks of the Roman Empire area [Dan. 7:7-8]);

Daniel 7:7-8
7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. (This beast represents the Roman Empire,which was the strongest and most powerful of all. It lasted for nearly a thousand years. The phrase, “And it had ten horns,” speak of that which was part of this beast, and for a particular reason. But it had nothing to do with the conquests of the original Roman Empire. These “ten horns” portray ten kingdoms which will arise in the latter days, in fact, in the very near future. These ten nations will persecute Israel.) 8  I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. (At first, Daniel did not understand the horns.  Even though the Roman Empire has come and gone, still, the “ten horns” have not yet risen to power; however, the breakup of the former Soviet Union is the beginning of the fulfillment of this passage. If one is to notice, the “ten horns” were a part of the non-descript beast, which has to do with the territory which the old Roman Empire controlled. “There came up among them another little horn,” means this one came up after the “ten horns” were fully grown. The “little horn” is the Antichrist. Three of the horns will be plucked by the “little horn,” meaning that he will defeat these countries in battle, with the others then submitting to him. This will take place in the first half of the Great Tribulation.)
Revelation 8:11
And the name of the star is called Wormwood (this huge meteorite, which will fall, will carry with it the properties of the bitter, nauseous plant known as “Wormwood” [Jer. 9:15]) : and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter. (Conceivably this could take the lives of hundreds of thousands, if not millions.)

Jeremiah 9:15
15 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink. ( The “Water of gall to drink” is a fluid secreted by the liver, which is extremely bitter!)

Revelation 8:12
12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise. (Once again let us emphasize the fact that these Judgments aren’t  symbolic, they are literal! Jesus said this would happen [Lk. 21:25-26].)

Luke 21:25-26
25And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars (proclaims the Lord now returning to His former subject of signs concerning His Second Coming, which was first broached in Verses 8 through 11); and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity (refers to problems without a solution, which will prevail in the coming Great Tribulation); the sea and the waves roaring (does not pertain to bodies of water, but rather to nations roaring in discontent, anger, rebellion, and war [Rev. 17:15]);  26  Men's hearts failing them for fear (has nothing to do with heart disease,but rather men losing heart, i.e., having no more courage to continue), and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth (Rev., Chpts. 6-19 give in graphic detail an account of that which will happen): for the powers of heaven shall be shaken (proclaims the Judgment of God that will fall upon unbelieving Israel and the Gentile nations, which will have no precedent in all past history, and will have no counterpart in all succeeding history [Mat. 24:21]).