The Last Days: A Guide to Understanding the Book of Revelation

By Dr. William N. Glover S.T.D

Within the last pages of the Bible, lies the story of the revelation of Jesus Christ as told to Apostle John. While unveiling a chain of events foretold to precede and accompany the Messiahs return to Earth, the book of Revelation also addresses the seven churches in Asia Minor that represent intriguing periods in church history.

Dr. William Glover, who first became interested in Revelation while attending college in New York, explains the symbolism of the book while highlighting the methods God will use to accomplish his goals as the world as we know it comes to a close. While discussing the various stages of doom predicted to occur, Dr. Glover methodically leads others through his interpretation of Revelation as it chronically presents futuristic events that include not just Christs return, but also the creation of a new heaven and earth.

The Last Days, A Guide to Understanding the Book of Revelation provides a seasoned pastors scriptural interpretations intended to help others understand and apply the teachings related to the final book of the Bible.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jun 25, 2016
• ISBN: 9781491799895

Dr. William N. Glover S.T.D

Dr. William N. Glover was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, served in the army and was discharged in New York where he returned to college and graduated from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn; United Christian College of New York with a Bachelor of Science degree, a Master of Theology, and a Doctorate Degree of Sacred Theology from New York Theological Seminary. He returnedto Alabama in 2005 and is presently serving as Assistant Pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Mobile.

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Copyright © 2016 William Glover.

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THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNTIONAL VERSION, NIV COPYRIGHT Biblica, inc. used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

St. John 16: 3, reads: They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. (NIV.)

All scriptures quoted from the New International version of the Bible will look as follows (NIV.) All Others Quotes from the Bible will be from the Kings James Version of the Bible.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

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ISBN: 978-1-4917-9988-8 (sc)

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iUniverse rev. date: 06/21/2016

CONTENTS

References

The Revelation of Jesus Christ

The Announcement: (Rev. 1: 7).

Foreword

Preface

Introduction

The Key To The Book Of Revelation

The Things Which Thou Have Seen

The Things Which Are.

The Following Are Messages Written To Each Of The Seven Churches:

I.   The Church at Ephesus. (A Backslidden Church Rev. 2: 1-7)

II.   The Church at Smyrna. (A Persecuted Church. Rev. 2: 8-11)

III. THE CHURCH AT PERGAMOS (A Licentious Church Rev. 2: 12-17.)

IV.   THE CHURCH AT THYATIRA. (A Lax Church. Rev. 2: 18-29)

Sermon # 1

I. The Church At Sardis. (A Dead Church Rev. 3: 1-6.)

Sermon: # 2.

V. The Church At Philadelphia (A Favored Church. Rev. 3: 7-13.)

I. The Church At Laodicea.(A Lukewarm Church. Rev. 3: 14-22)

Sermon # 3.

III. The Things Which Shall Be After These Things.

1.   The Heavenly Door. (Rev. 4: 1.)

2.   The Heavenly Throne. (Rev. 4: 2-3, 5-6.)

3.   The Four And Twenty Elders

4.   The Four Beasts (Rev. 4: 6-11) Or(Living Creatures)

5.   The Seven-Sealed Book. (Rev. 5: 1-14).

The Seven Seals Opened

First Seal (Rev. 6: 1-2)

Second- Seal (Rev. 6: 3-4)

Third Seal. (Rev. 6: 5-6)

Fourth Seal (Rev. 6: 7-8.)

Fifth Seal (Rev. 6: 9-11)

Sixth Seal (Rev. 6: 12-17)

The Interval Between The Sixth And Seventh Seals

1. The Sealing Of The 144,000. (Rev. 7: 1-8)

2. The Blood Washed Multitude. (Rev. 7: 9-17)

The Seventh Seal

The Golden Censer

The Seven Trumpets

First Trumpet

Second Trumpet

Third Trumpet

Fourth Trumpet.

Fifth Trumpet.

The Bottomless Pit.

The Sixth Trumpet Second Woe

The Interval Between The Sixth And Seventh Trumpets.

1.   The Little Book. (Rev. 10: 1-11.)

2.   The Two Witnesses. (Rev. 11: 1-14).

3.   Seventh Trumpet. Third Woe

The Middle Of The Week

The Seven Personages

1.   The Sun-Clothed Woman.

2.   The Dragon.

3.   The Man Child.

4.   The Archangel.

The Persecution Of The Sun Clothed Woman

The Cities Of Refuge.

5.   The Jewish Remnant.

6.   The Beast Out Of The Sea.

Daniel’s Viewpoint.

1.   The Colossus.

2.   The Vision Of The Four Beasts.

3.   The Vision Of The Ram And The He-Goat.

I. Paul’s Viewpoint.

II. John’s Viewpoint.

1. The Beast Out Of The Earth.

The Interval Between The Seven Personages And The Seven Vials.

1. The Lamb On Mount Zion. (Rev. 14: 1-5.)

2. The Three Angel Messengers.

The Everlasting Gospel. (Rev. 14: 6-7).

(1). The Gospel Of The Kingdom. (Matt. 24: 14).

(2). The Gospel Of The Grace Of God. (Acts 20: 24).

(3). My Gospel. (Rom. 2: 16; Acts 26: 16-18).

(4). The Everlasting Gospel. (Rev. 14: 6).

Second Angel.

Fall Of Babylon Proclaimed. (Rev. 14: 8).

Third Angel.

The Doom Of Antichrist’s Followers. (Rev. 14: 9-11).

1.   The Blessed Dead. (Rev. 14: 12-13).

2.   The Harvest And Vintage. (Rev. 14: 14-20).

The Seven Last Plagues Or Vial Judgments.

The Tabernacle Of Testimony (Rev. 15: 5-8).

First Vial. (Boils—Rev. 16: 1-2).

Second Vial. (Blood On The Sea.–Rev. 16: 3).

Third Vial. (Blood On The Rivers.–Rev. 16: 4-7).

Fourth Vial. (Great Heat.–Rev. 16: 8-9).

Fifth Vial. (Darkness–Rev. 16: 10-11).

Sixth Vial. (The Euphrates Dried Up.–Rev. 16: 12).

The Interval Between The Sixth And Seventh Vials.

Seventh Vial. (Great Hail.–-Rev. 16: 17-21).

The Seven Dooms.

First Doom. Eccclesiastical Babylon.

Second Doom. Commercial Babylon. (Rev. 18: 1-24).

The City Of Babylon To Be Rebuilt.

The Ephah Of Commerce.

The Interval Between The Second And Third Dooms

1. The Hallelujah Chorus. (Rev. 19: 1-7).

2. The Marriage Of The Lamb (Rev. 19: 8-10).

1. Who Is The Bridegroom?

2. Who Is The Bride?

3. Where And When Shall This Marriage Take Place?

4. What Is Meant By Her Making Herself Ready?

6. What Is The Marriage Supper?

7. Who Are The Guests?

8. What Happens After The Marriage Supper?

9. The Battle Of Armageddon. (Rev. 19: 11-19).

Third Doom.

Fourth Doom.

The Antichristian Nations. (Rev. 19: 21).

The Interval Between The Fourth And Fifth Dooms.

1. Satan Bound For A Thousand Years. (Rev. 20: 1-3).

2. The First Resurrection (Rev. 20: 4-6).

3. The Millennium. (Rev. 20: 4).

The Character Of The Millennium.

The Revival Of The Land Of Palastine.

Changes In The Animal Kingdom. (Isa. 11: 6-9).

Human Life Will Be Prolonged.

There Will Be A Sevenfold Increase Of Light.

4. Satan Loosed. (Rev. 20: 7-8).

Fifth Doom.

Sixth Doom.

Satan. (Rev. 20: 10).

Seventh Doom. The Wicked Dead.

The Great White Throne Judgment. (Rev. 20: 11-15).

The Seven New Things

1. The New Heaven (Rev 21: 1).

2. The New Earth. (Rev. 21: 1-8).

The New Heaven And The New Earth.

3. The New City. (Rev. 21: 9—23)

4. The New Nations (Rev. 21: 24-27).

5. The New River. (Rev. 22: 1).

6. The New Tree Of Life. (Rev 22: 2).

7. The New Throne (Rev. 22: 3-5).

The Great Abdication

The Epilogue Or Final Testimony And Warnings (Rev. 22: 6—21).

Other Books By Dr. William N. Glover S.T.D. The Author of this Book.

The Things Which Shall Be After Those Things

References

Most references in this book are Scriptural; and the Scriptural references are from the following Books:

King James Version of the Bible

The Holy Bible, New International Version*, NIV* Copyright, 1973, 1978, 1984. By Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan.

All rights reserved Worldwide.

The following books were used for other references:

Unger’s Bible Dictionary (Moody Press)

The Expanded Panorama Bible Study Course (Alfred T. Eade S.T.D.)

The Book of Revelation Illustrated (Clarence LARKIN)

African Presence in the Bible (Wyatt Tee Walker)

From Eternity To Eternity (William N. Glover S.T.D.)

Commentary on the Whole Bible (Matthew Henry).

The Revelation of Jesus Christ

The character of the book of Revelation is described by its title. It is not the revelation of St. John the Apostle, but the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

___________________

The revelation which God gave unto Jesus Christ, to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His Angel unto His servant.

___________________

John the Apostle; received the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. However, the book is endorsed by Jesus Himself in Rev. 22:16, and Rev. 22: 13 let’s us know who is actually during the testifying.

___________________

The word Revelation is a form of the Greek word APOCALUPSIS meaning TO UNVEIL; that portion of the Greek word APO means away from and the Greek word KALUMMA means a veil, Hence Revelation means taking away of a veil. It is not so much a revelation or unveiling of the person of Christ, however, it does disclose His High Priestly and Kingly glory, because it is the unveiling of those events that shall precede and accompany His return to the earth.

What is revealed in the book of Revelation, was given unto Jesus Christ, by God the Father, to show unto His servants the "things which would shortly come to pass. And which is now coming to pass? The book of Revelation is a Prophetic book as well as a Symbolic book, because it is written mostly in symbolic type language, thus the statement–He sent and SIGNIFIED IT BY His angels unto His servant John. In this interpretation the interest is from a futurist standpoint. Chapters two and three covers the present Church Dispensation of Grace. From chapter four to the end of the book is all future. (future meaning before the return of Christ to the earth.) The purpose of this book is to show that the book of Revelation is to be taken literally, and that it is written in chronological order. (Arranged in order of time of occurrence.) Deut. 29:29 says’ that The secrect things belong unto the Lord our God, but those things which are REVEALED belong unto us and our children forever. The Salutation can be found in chapter 1: 4-6; (The Salutation is the greetings) it is addressed to the Seven churches which are in Asia Minor By Asia, it does not mean the entire Continent of Asia, or even the whole of Asia Minor, but only the western end of Asia Minor bordering on the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas, and about the size of the State of Pennsylvania There were other Churches in Asia Minor; but these seven Churches undoubtedly, were representative or typical Churches, chosen for certain characteristics; typical of the character of the Church of Christ, not only in that day, but on down the centuries until the Church shall be removed from the earth, and represent seven Church periods that will be clearly defined in Church History.

In the Benediction–Grace be unto you, and peace, from Him which is, and was, and is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before His throne; and from Jesus Christ, who is the Faithful witness,… we behold the Trinity. Here Jesus is distinguished from… HIM (the Father) which IS, and which Was, and which is to Come, but in verse 8 He claims the same Title, which only proves that Jesus is God manifest in the flesh, and that He and The Father are one.

It is also worthy of note that the Threefold Office Jesus as Prophet, Priest, and King is brought out in the Salutation. He is called The Faithful Witness, as such He is a Prophet. As the first begotten from the dead, He carried His own blood into the Heavenly Tabernacle, and thus performed the work of a Priest.

As Prophet Jesus is God’s Word, as Priest He is God’s Lamb, and as King He Is God’s LION. John also emphasizes the fact that Jesus Loved us before He Washed (loosed) us from our sins in His own blood, and that He has made us KINGS and PRIESTS unto God, and that we need no human Priest to stand between us and God.

The Announcement: (Rev. 1: 7).

This verse refers to the second Stage of Christ’s coming, the Revelation or Appearing. The first stage of His coming is the Rapture, and it is not mention in the book; however it will fulfil Zech. 12: 10, (KJV.} They (meaning the Jews) shall look upon Me (meaning Jesus) whom they have pierced. This is surely confirmation of the view that the book of Revelation deals mainly with the events that follows after the Rapture (after Jesus give’s up the sepulcher.) and precedes and attends the Revelation or the return to the earth by Jesus.

It is difficult to imagine the grief and remorse that will fill the hearts of those Jews who shall witness the return of the Lord to the Mount of Olives, especially when they shall see in His hands and feet the Print of The nails, and He shall be revealed as the One they crucified. TheProphet Zechariah in Zech. 12: 10(KJV.) describes it as a time of great Bitterness and a day of great mourning in Jerusalem, when families will separate themselves from their neighbors and mourn every family apart. And not only shall the Jews mourn because they rejected Him, but will mourn when they realize that He has come back, come back, not as a Saviour, but as a Judge to punish them for their iniquities

Foreword

In this book of the the last days, Dr. Glover presents this fascinating book to us in the most simpless form. He presents it as a book not to be read with fear, for it is the most feared, because of its content. This book is about the finality of the world as we know it. For it fore-tells the word of God as to what is to come. He tells us about the choosen people through whom the Messiah would come. This book gives us an appreciation of what God did to redeem us. He discusses the arrival and life of the Messiah and gives us even more confidence in the fact that it is indeed true. He make’s it clear that this book stands along in a peculiar kind of way. He lets us know that this book not only tells us about what is happening but explains in understandable terms "What will happen." He gives to us what he believe is a way to understand what you read in this book. What he presents in this book helps one to understand the symbolism and the method that God will use to accomplish what is intended in the book of Revelation. Even though it may seem to be complicated, it really is not. Even though it may appear to be scary, it really is not. It is a book which describes events that are going to occur in the order in which they are going to occur for the things that will happen on this earth as we know it. For all of us who believe; this book will solidify our belief in what we’ve read in the previous books of the Bible. I am prayerful that this book will give you the method to read and understand the book of Revelation which is the most intriguing book in the Bible. Rev. Dr. Robert Emanuel; Graduate of Ala. State college; Pastor Friendship Prim. Bat. Church. Mobile, Al. ; & ST. Lewis Prim. Bat. Church. Yellow bluff, Al.

Preface

Revelation is the last book of the Bible, the book of futurist unveiling. This book of Revelation, was written between A.D. 90 thru A.D. 96; on the island of Patmos, in the Aegean Sea. The book is named Revelation because it is the revelation of Jesus Christ as given to the Apostle John. The word Revelation in the Greek language is Apocalupsis. It is now called by most The Apocalypse the verb form of, to unveil; it is the unveiling of those events that shall precede and accompany Christ’s return to the earth. This is seen from the fact that what is revealed in the book of Revelation, was given unto Jesus Christ, by God the Father, to show unto His servants the things which must shortly come to pass. And is now coming to pass in this dispensation of Grace. This dispensation or period began with the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (Rom. 3: 24-26; 4:24-25 (KJV.)). The point of testing is no longer legal obedience to the law as a condition of Salvation, but acceptance or rejection of Christ with good works as the fruit of Salvation (St John 1:12; 3:36(KJV.)); 1 John: 5:10-12 (NIV.)). The predicted end of the testing of man under Grace is the apostasy of the professing Church (II Tim. 3:1-8 (KJV.)) and the subsequent apocalyptic judgments. The book of Revelation is a prophetic book as well as a Symbolic book, because it is written mostly in symbolic type language, thus the statement–He sent and signified it by His angels unto His servant John. In this interpretation the interest is from a futurist standpoint. Chapters two and three covers that present Church Dispensation. From chapter four to the end of the book are all future. If according to the protestant theory, the Churches are divine-human institutions, and not infallible, then the rule of conduct must be in accordance with the teaching of the infallible word of God. The ethical standard of the visible church must be simply that of the Holy Scripture, otherwise the true idea of the Church is lost sight of; and the Church assumes either too much or too little. Only by adhering to the word of God as the rule of faith and practice can the Churches be saved from the two extremes; one purpose of this book is to show that the book of Revelation is to be taken literally, and that it is written in chronological order; (Arranged in order of time of occurrence.) Revelation Chapter 1:4-6,(KJV.) addresses the Seven Churches which are in Asia Minor. By Asia, it does not mean the entire continent of Asia, or even the whole of Asia Minor, but only the western end of Asia Minor, bordering on the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas, and about the size of the state of Pennsylvania. There were other Churches in Asia Minor as well; but these seven Churches undoubtedly, were representative or typical Churches, chosen for certain characteristics, that were typical of the character of the Church of Christ. Not only in that day, but on down the centuries until the Church shall be removed from the earth, and represent seven Church periods clearly defined in Church history.

In the benediction Grace be unto you, and peace from Him which is, and was, and is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before His throne; and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness; "we behold the Trinity. Here Jesus is distinguished from Him (The Father) which is, was, and is to come. But in Revelation 1 Verse 8 Jesus claims the same title, which only proves that Jesus is God, manifest in the flesh, and that He and The Father are one. It is also note-worthy that the Threefold Office, Jesus as Prophet, Priest, and King is brought out in this Salutation. He is called the Faithful Witness, and as such He is a Prophet. He is also the First Begotten from the dead, which means that He carried His own blood into the Heavenly Tabernacle, and thus performed the work of a Priest. As Prophet Jesus is God’s Word, as Priest He is God’s Lamb, and as King He is God’s Lion.

John emphasizes the fact that Jesus Loved us before He washed us from our sins in His own blood, and He has made us Kings and Priest unto God, and that we need no human priest to stand between us and God. Now Revelation 1 verse 7 refers to the second stage of Christ’s coming, the Revelation or Appearing. The first stage of His returning to earth is the Rapture, even though the word Rapture is not mentioned in the book of Revelation; however, it does fulfill Zech. 12:10 (KJV.) They (The Jews) shall look upon me (Jesus) whom they have pierced. This is surely confirmation of the view that the book of Revelation deals mainly with; the events that follows after the Rapture and precedes and attends the revelation or Jesus return to the earth. For I Thess. 4:16-17 lets us know that the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud shout. With the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

It will be very difficult to even imagine the grief and remorse that will fill the hearts of those Jews who shall witness the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to the Mount of Olives; when they shall see in His hands and feet the "Print of the nails," and He shall be revealed as the One they crucified. Zech. 12:10 (KJV.) describes it as a time of great "Bitterness" and a day of great mourning in Jerusalem, when families will separate themselves from their neighbors and mourn every family apart. And not only shall the Jews mourn because they rejected Him when He came the first time, but the nations of the earth will mourn when they realize that He has returned, not as a Saviour but a Judge, to punish them for their iniquities.

DR. William N. Glover, S.T.D.

Introduction

While attending United Christian College of New York, and New York Theological Seminary where I received my "Doctor of Sacred Theology Degree I became interested in the Book of Revelation." As I began to read