So What’S Next: The Earth’S Future from the Book of Revelation

By Hugh Bryant

The future of the church, the future of Israel, the future of man in general, and the future of planet Earth are all chronicled in the book of Revelation. What an awesome story the resurrected Jesus has given us to end Gods Holy Book, the Bible.

This book on Revelation is meant to be a study guide, a handbook of information, or a digest of the amazing things that are about to take place on earth. In part, it presents the glorious future God is preparing for His children. Read it with prayer and an open mind. Let the great teacher, the Holy Spirit, witness to the truth or error of those things expressed. As you read this book, if you come across a statement or passage you cant swallow, lay it aside. Pray about it. Ask the Holy Spirit about it. If He doesnt witness to the truth of the statement, then reject it; but dont reject the whole book. There may be other truths that will bless and enrich your life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Feb 11, 2015
• ISBN: 9781490866215

Hugh Bryant

Hugh H. Bryant, an Atlanta native and world traveler, was an Elder, church planter, and well-respected Bible teacher in the Atlanta area for more than 45 years. He was passionate about the study of Biblical prophecy and end time events. Before his death in 1999, Hugh became driven to complete a book he had been working on for many years. This book is the product of that life-long passion and in-depth study. His family now wants this book to be available as a guide book for the coming end times, as well as a valuable resource for those left behind.

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Copyright © 2015 Michael Bryant.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture taken from the Amplified Bible, copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks of Biblica, Inc. Use of either trademark for the offering of goods or services requires the prior written consent of Biblica US, Inc.

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

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ISBN: 978-1-4908-6622-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-6623-9 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-6621-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015900467

WestBow Press rev. date: 01/09/2015

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1: The Present-Day Jesus

The Three Divisions of Revelation

Church Age vs. Age of Grace

Chapter 2: The Letters to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, and Thyatira from Jesus

Chapter 3: The Letters to Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea from Jesus

Chapter 4: The Resurrection/Rapture (R/R)

The Resurrection/Rapture vs. The Second Coming of Jesus

Scenes in Heaven

Chapter 5: Heavenly Scenes Continue

Understanding Symbols

Understanding Figures of Speech

Chapter 6: The Beginning of the End

Seals One through Six

Chapter 7: Jews Saved after the Resurrection/Rapture

Gentiles Saved after the Resurrection/Rapture

Benefits of Being a Part of the First Resurrection

Chapter 8: The Seventh Seal

The First Four Trumpets

Chapter 9: The Fifth and Sixth Trumpets

The First and Second Woe

Chapter 10: The Mighty Angel

The Little Book

Chapter 11: The Temple

The Two Witnesses

The Three Woes

The Seventh Trumpet

Chapter 12: The Sun-Clothed Woman

The Man-Child

The Red Dragon

Angelic War in the Heavenlies

Revelation 13: The Beast Out of the Sea

The Beast Out of the Earth

The Mark of the Beast

Chapter 14: The 144,000 in Heaven

Three Preaching Angels

The Harvest of the Earth

Chapter 15: Tribulation Martyrs in Heaven

The Heavenly Temple

Chapter 16: Seven Vial Judgments

Chapter 17: Mystery Babylon and the Scarlet-Colored Beast

Chapter 18: The Destruction of Literal Babylon

Chapter 19: Worship in Heaven

The Marriage of the Lamb

Armageddon

Chapter 20: Satan Imprisoned

The Millennial Period

Earth’s Last Rebellion

The White Throne Judgment

Chapter 21: The Earth Renovated

The New Heavens and Earth

The New Jerusalem

Chapter 22: The New Jerusalem Continued

The Conclusion

Appendix A: Abbreviations Used

Appendix B

Appendix C: Maps and Charts

Glossary

To my family: my wife, Sybil; my sons Michael and David; my daughter, Janine, and my son Steve,

who is already with the Lord.

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to Terri and Roy Leffew Jr., who did the computer work and contributed the title and book cover. Without their tireless labor and encouragement, this work would never have been completed.

Introduction

The future of the Church, the future of Israel, the future of Man in general, and the future of planet Earth are all chronicled in the book of Revelation. What an awesome story the resurrected Jesus has given us to end God’s Holy Book, the Bible.

It’s been said that prophecy can’t be fully understood until it is fulfilled. This may be a true statement, but I feel that as we approach the fulfillment of prophecy, we are better able to understand how these predictions can take place. Previously we may not have been able to see how what was predicted could happen; but now, with current technology, impossibilities have become possible. With radio and television development, it is easy to see how the gospel message can "be preached in all the world for a witness" before Jesus returns (Matthew 24:14 KJV). With transportation developed as it is today, it is easy to see that in "the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased (Daniel 12:4 KJV). Not only has scientific and technological knowledge increased, but also knowledge of the Bible, and especially prophetic knowledge, is increasing. The book of Daniel has been a sealed book for some 2,500 years (Daniel 12), but now most Bible readers understand these prophecies, at least to some degree. Surely we are living in the time of the end." (Daniel 12:9 KJV)

In this writing, I take the position that the Anti-Christ will not be a worldwide ruler and that he will not come from the European Union (EU). I know this is not a popular position, so I make a rather strong defense of this position in chapter 13. I also propose that the future Ten-Nation Confederation out of the old Roman Empire is not the EU, and that the Anti-Christ will not come from northern Europe, as is being preached today. Further, I believe that the future Ten-Nation Confederation is a Middle Eastern confederation with five nations being in the eastern division and five nations in the western division of old Rome. I explain that the Anti-Christ will come from the eastern division, which was also part of the old Grecian Empire, according to Daniel chapters 2, 7, and 8.

I am warning modern church members to "make their calling and election sure" (2 Peter 1:10 KJV), for the coming of the Lord to receive His people to Himself is on top of us. I want to impress on the uncommitted, lackadaisical, lukewarm church members to repent and get ready; if they don’t, I believe they will miss the call when the trumpet sounds and Jesus resurrects and raptures His children. I also want to reassure those who do miss His call and are left behind that all is not lost; they can still be saved and avoid Hell. I want those left behind to know scripturally what they will be confronted with during the short seven-year Tribulation Period. I want them to know what their position will be during the Millennial Period should they miss the Rapture and get saved afterward. They need to know that there will be two classes of earth people who will populate the earth during the Millennial Period and into the period of the new earth. These classes will be the ruling class, made up of resurrected and raptured saints (kings and priests), and the ruled class, made up of those saved during the Tribulation Period, who were judged and called sheep at the Judgment of Nations (Matthew 25:31–34).

I’ve also tried to emphasize that heaven is a temporary place for believers and that all will return to earth (Jude 14), for earth is our inheritance. I’ve shown that the restored earth will become like heaven and that, ultimately, God will make earth the capital planet of the universe by moving His capital city from the planet Heaven to the planet Earth. I’ve shown that widely used terms like the end of time, and the end of the world are misleading and unscriptural. The Bible says, "The earth abideth forever" (Ecclesiastes 1:4 KJV), and time will continue as long as the earth exists (Genesis 8:22).

I’ve endeavored to teach the untaught how to interpret prophetic symbols by using the Bible to interpret itself, and also to recognize figures of speech when they are used in the Bible. I take the position that the Bible is God’s Word and that it does not and cannot contradict itself; it must be our faulty understanding if there are passages that seem contradictory.

This book is by no means an in-depth or exhaustive study of the book of Revelation, but it does contain truths not widely taught and old truths repackaged in the light of current events. It is meant to be a study guide, a handbook of information, or a digest of the amazing things that are about to take place on earth. In part, it presents the glorious future God is preparing for His children. Read it with prayer and an open mind. Let the Great Teacher, the Holy Spirit, witness to the truth or error of those things expressed. I have often said, Listening to and reading after preachers and Bible teachers is like eating fish. When you run up on a bone, you don’t throw out the whole fish; instead you lay aside the bone and continue to enjoy the good meat of the fish. So as you read this book, if you come across a statement or passage you can’t swallow; lay it aside. Pray about it; ask the Holy Spirit about it. If He doesn’t witness to the truth of the statement, then reject it, but don’t reject the whole book, as there may be other truths in it that will bless and enrich your life. That’s what I would do if I were reading your book.

The chapter numbers in this book are arranged to coincide with the chapter numbers of the book of Revelation, for easy cross-reference. Also, the major subjects in the chapters are shown in bold print at the beginning of each chapter; and finally, the harder-to-understand chapters are reviewed at the end of the chapter.

Chapter 1

—The Present-Day Jesus

—The Three Divisions of Revelation

—Church Age vs. Age of Grace

The Present-Day Jesus

Chapter 1, verse 1 of this book declares that this is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God the Father gave to Him to give to us. It reveals to us, the church in John’s day and throughout this age, things which must shortly [quickly] come to pass. The word shortly could be translated from the Greek language as quickly, and I think it should have been, since all of the events from chapters 4–22 will take place only after the church age is over. The word shortly cannot mean right away, since this book was written about nineteen hundred years ago and only the things concerning the churches have begun to be fulfilled.

The events of chapters 4–19 will take place rapidly and in the sequence as written. They will all be fulfilled during a seven-year period, which is not very long for things of this magnitude to take place. Things are happening faster now than ever before in the history of humankind, and they will continue to accelerate all the way through the tribulation period. Jesus declared, Except those days should be shortened there should no flesh be saved; but for the elect’s sake [the Jews] those days shall be shortened (Matthew 24:22 KJV).

Jesus "sent and signified" this book to John by His special messenger angel. God the Father gave this book to Jesus, Jesus gave it to His angel, and the angel showed it to John. John gave it to us, the church, by writing it in a book and sending it to the churches. John "bore record of and testified to the truthfulness of what he wrote, of the testimony of Jesus, and of all the things that he saw."(Rev. 1:2 KJV) We must decide if John was a truthful person, if he was on drugs and hallucinating, or if he really did see the things he recorded.

I choose to believe John was truthful and saw the things he recorded in an open vision, as if they were happening right before his face. They appeared to be very real to John. Can you imagine how difficult a task John had trying to describe the things he was seeing: things he had never seen before—things no one had seen before? If you have ever tried to describe a scene to someone who has never seen anything like it, you understand John’s predicament.

John relays the blessing of Jesus on all who read this book, on those who hear the words of this prophecy, and on those who "keep the things which are written therein." (Rev. 1:3 KJV) He states in verse 3 that "the time is at hand"; that is, the time is now for the church to begin and continue to read this book, hear the words of this prophecy, and keep the things recorded in this book. This was to begin with the church in John’s day and continue into eternity, for the events described in the last three chapters of this book have to do with the millennial period, the white-throne judgment, the new earth, and on into eternity.

John starts the second paragraph of his book as a salutation from himself and the trinity of God to the seven churches in Asia. He pronounces grace and peace to the churches from God the Father (who is, who was, and who is to come), from the Holy Spirit (the seven spirits who are before the throne), and from Jesus, the Anointed One (who is the faithful witness, who is the first begotten from the dead, and who is the prince of the kings of earth). He is also the One that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and has made us kings and priests to God the Father.(Rev. 1:5 KJV)

The number seven in verse 4 denotes fullness, completeness, or all of an entity. This tells us that the revelation is pertinent not just to the seven literal churches in first-century Asia but to all churches that will exist in this church age. Also, the number seven as applied to the Holy Spirit (the term seven spirits of God) denotes the fullness or immeasurable spirit of God. This same spirit came on Jesus as John the Baptist baptized Him in the Jordan. This anointing of the spirit sets Jesus apart and identifies Him as the old covenant Messiah (the anointed one). John the Baptist testified of Jesus that he whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives not the Spirit by measure to him (John 3:34 KJV). Jesus said, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor" (Luke 4:18 KJV [emphasis added]).

The descriptive terms used to describe Jesus in Revelation 1:5–6 tell us much about Jesus.

About His Character: He was the faithful witness; the one, like Moses, who was faithful in all his house; the one who spoke only the words He heard from the Father; the one who revealed to mankind what God was really like when He said, When you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father (John 14:9 KJV).

About His Experiences: He was the first begotten from the dead. That is, He was the first man to be resurrected from the dead and receive a glorified body (1 Corinthians 15:20, 23). Others had died and been resuscitated—such as Lazarus, Jairus’s daughter, and the son of the widow of Nain—but they still had a mortal body and had to die physically again later in life. Jesus was the first fruit of the first resurrection. Those who arose with Him were the second fruits (Matthew 27:53), and those who will be resurrected at the resurrection/rapture will be the third fruits, and so on. To use John’s terminology, they will be the third begotten from the dead.

About His Being the Prince of the Kings of Earth: Jesus is the ruler who is higher than, and has more power and authority than, all the kings of the earth combined. One of Jesus’ titles is "King of Kings and Lord of Lords" (Revelation 17:14; 19:16). He is higher than the angels (Hebrews 1:1–6). He is more powerful than any in heaven or on earth (Matthew 28:18).

About His Love for Us: He loved us so much He gave Himself for us, Washing us from our sins in his own blood. On top of that, He gave us His name to use on the earth like a power of attorney. This name is above every name (Philippians 2:9). And finally, He has given us positions in His government as kings and priests unto the Father, and we are to rule with Him after His return and into the new earth.

The primary message of the book of Revelation is the return of the Lord Jesus to the earth at Armageddon, and the events that immediately precede that happening. These are recorded in verse 7 of chapter 1. He will come with clouds, as is stated here and in Acts 1:9–11. The phrase every eye shall see Him in verse 7 is a figure of speech indicating that most of the people in the area of Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives will literally see this event. It does not mean, as many have taught, that this will definitely be a literal televised event so that everyone in the world will see this happen. Just think for a minute about this idea, and you will see how absurd this really is. In the first place, everyone in the world does not have a television set, and I doubt if they ever will or if they even would want one. In the second place, if everyone did have a television set, what do you think would be the odds of everyone having theirs on at the same time and tuned to the same channel, even if that channel was available to every television set? Next, how would the people working in jobs where television sets are not accessible see this event, such as those working in coal mines, jails, hospital operating rooms, or flying airplanes or driving buses?

Regarding this event, some might also bring up Matthew 24:27, which states that His coming will be like lightning that cometh out of the east and shineth into the west. This passage also indicates that His coming will be seen only locally, for lightning flashing in one place is certainly not seen all over the world by every single person; it’s visible only in the area of the thunderstorm. Isaiah 66:18 and 19 also indicate that for months and years after Jesus returns, there will be people on earth who will not know Jesus, or that He has come and taken over the governments of earth. Missionary Jews will be sent from Israel to all parts of the earth to tell people Jesus is ruling from Jerusalem.

Also in verse 7 of Revelation chapter 1, the phrase And they also which pierced Him refers to the descendants of the Romans and Jews who caused the death of Jesus, and who will be (some of them) in Jerusalem to witness His return. And all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him, refers to the nations of earth that oppose the return of Jesus at Armageddon. They will not be glad to see this event and will bemoan His appearance. All of these terms are figures of speech.

The setting of the Lord’s return is vividly described in Zechariah 14:2–4 (KJV):

For I will gather all nations [that is, all that are confederated with the Antichrist] against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken [that is, part of the city], and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people [the other half of the people] shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations [the nations confederated with the Antichrist] as when he fought in the day of battle [Old Testament days, when the Lord fought for Israel, crossing the Red Sea, taking the city of Jericho, and so on]. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives which is before Jerusalem on the east.

So we see from this passage that the Anti-Christ will not completely conquer Jerusalem before Jesus returns to stop his invasion of the city. How, then, can people say the Anti-Christ will rule the whole world, when he does not completely conquer Israel, which is right in the middle of his empire? This idea, which may be foreign to you, will be discussed more fully later in this discourse.

In verse 8, Jesus declares again who He is. In verse 5, He is described as the faithful witness, the first begotten from the dead, the prince of the kings of the earth and the one who loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood. In verse 8, He declares Himself to be, The Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the one who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty One. Jesus is no ordinary person. He is God the creator.

John gives his testimony in verses 9 and 10 concerning his experience on the island of Patmos, where he was imprisoned for preaching and witnessing the gospel. He first identifies himself as a brother and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus the Anointed One. He relates what he was doing. He was worshiping "in the Spirit [a term meaning immersed in worship] on the Lord’s day." By this time in history, the term Lord’s day had come to mean the first day of the week on which the early Church met, worshipped, and celebrated the Lord’s resurrection.

John relates how he heard a voice behind him that sounded like a trumpet. The voice declared, "I am Alpha and Omega the first and last," a title already used of Jesus in verse 8. John is commanded to write what [he sees] in a book, and send it to seven churches in Asia [literally Asia Minor, which is present-day Turkey]. The voice names the cities where the churches were