Simply Revelation

By Edward L. Brownlee

There are signs all around the world that are pointing to the tribulation period to come. Within the last decade, the world has seen a rise in earthquakes, violent storms, hurricanes, and weird weather patterns, and all seem to get worse as each year goes by. We see monetary problems all around the world. We have seen wars and heard rumors of war. Drought and famine have been present in the world or the struggle of power within some nations. We have seen the cruelty of man upon man in this world and how painful it is. As the cup of iniquity of this world rises, so is the coming judgment of this world by God.

Do you want to know why the antichrist will not rule the world? What is the real reason behind the mark of the beast? How will God send his angels to preach the everlasting Gospel for the last time? Why does Jesus come on a secret mission? How will Jesus, the saints, and angels return to the earth to save Israel?

The book of Revelation is jam-packed with so much information, and its sometimes hard to understand what it all means. Simply Revelation breaks down the chapters in Revelation in a way thats easy to understand. Learn what brings on the confirming of the covenant with many nations by the antichrist. Understand how the two witnesses control the environment of the world in the first half of the tribulation period. Simply Revelation will bring you clarity to Gods coming judgment!

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jun 1, 2017
• ISBN: 9781512787641

Edward L. Brownlee

Edward L. Brownlee lives in Illinois and has been a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for thirty-seven years. He was raised to know Jesus by his parents and loves Bible prophecy. Edward has been a youth pastor/pastor/evangelist and is currently working in a multiethnic church, preaching and teaching. Edward married his high school sweetheart, Gloria, and they have three children—Valerie, Cynthia, and Ed, who are all married. They also have two grandsons, Asher and Silas.

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Copyright © 2017 Edward L. Brownlee.

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 author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

All scriptures are from the KING JAMES VERSION (KJV): KING JAMES VERSION, public domain

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ISBN: 978-1-5127-8765-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-8766-5 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-8764-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017907846

WestBow Press rev. date: 05/31/2017

To my parents, Ed and Elaine Brownlee, who love the Lord Jesus with all their hearts. They raised a son to love the Lord and taught him much about the Word of God and his love. I say thank you to my parents for what they have done for me in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Contents

Preface

Introduction to Revelation

1 - Revealing Who Jesus Is

2 - Letters to the Churches (Part One)

The Church of Ephesus

The Church of Smyrna

The Church of Pergamos

The Church of Thyatira

3 - Letters to the Churches (Part Two)

The Church of Sardis

The Church of Philadelphia

The Church of the Laodiceans

4 - The Throne Room

5 - The Seven-Sealed Book and the Lamb

6 - The First Six Seals

7 - The 144,000 Jews Sealed on the Earth and the Saints in Heaven

8 - Four of the Trumpet Judgments

9 - Fifth and Sixth Trumpets

10 - Jesus and the Little Book

11 - The Two Witnesses and Seventh Trumpet

12 - Israel the Woman

13 - The Antichrist and False Prophet

14 - The 144,000 Jews in Heaven and the Three Angels’ Announcements

15 - Preparation of the Seven Vials

16 - The Seven Vials

17 - The Judgment of the Great Whore

18 - Judgment of Babylon

19 - The Marriage Supper of the Lamb and Armageddon

20 - Satan Bound and the Millennium and White-Throne Judgment

21 - The New Heaven and Earth and New Jerusalem

22 - The Eternal Age

End Notes

Preface

As we look upon the world today, we see the uneasiness and difficulties of each nation dealing with its problems. Jesus taught there would be distress of nations with perplexity upon the earth in the last days (Luke 21:25). One might ask the question, where are we at in the time line concerning Bible prophecy? Jesus said in Luke 21:24, And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. The apostle Paul conveyed the same message to the Romans who were brethren in Christ Jesus about the mystery of the blindness in part happening to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles come in (Romans 11:25). The fulfillment of the Gentiles will take place when Jesus plants his feet on the Mount of Olives at his second visible coming to the earth. At that time, he will set up the millennial reign with the church and Israel over the earth.

One day as Jesus was coming into Jerusalem he looked upon the city and wept over it because he knew there was coming a day when the enemies of the Jews would come and build a trench around the city and destroy her (Luke 19:41–44). This happened in AD 70 when the Romans came and destroyed Jerusalem and scattered the Jews among the nations.

On May 14, 1948 Israel became a nation once more. After the six-day war of June 5–10, 1967, Israel gained Jerusalem back as its capital and ended the control of the city by the Gentiles, except for the Temple Mount. Jesus said during this time there would be signs in the sun and in the moon and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring (Luke 21:25).

With the invention of the telescope and the knowledge of safe techniques such as solar filters, the sun can be viewed and studied in a manner that was impossible before. Today we understand the effects of solar flares coming off the sun can have upon the earth. In 1969, humans landed on the moon just two years after Jerusalem was taken by the Jews. With the help of the Hubble telescope and the Internet, you can find images of the cross in the Whirlpool Galaxy, the Eye of God, and the Crown of Thorns in the constellation Indus, and the Hand of God—all signs in the stars. Genesis 1:14 says, God created lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night, and let them be for signs. In the past decade we have witnessed the effects of a tsunami and the destruction it can cause. These things happening and the expectation of the things that are coming upon the world will cause humans to fear even to the point their hearts fail them (Luke 21:26).

There are signs all around the world that are pointing to the tribulation period to come. Within the last decades, the world has seen a rise in earthquakes, violent storms, hurricanes, and weird weather patterns, and all seem to get worse as each year goes by. We see monetary problems all around the world. We have seen conflicts between nations and within nations. There has been drought and famine in parts of the world, and yet there has been so much moisture in other parts that it has caused great destruction. We have seen the cruelty of person upon person in this world and how painful it is.

As the cup of iniquity of this world rises, so is the coming judgment of this world by God. Together with many prophecy scholars, I consider these things to be the birth pangs before the big event. We can see it is building toward the catching away of the church and the coming tribulation period. The apostle John was told not to seal the messages of the prophecy of the book of Revelation: for the time is at hand (Revelation 22:10). We know the Bible teaches us in the last days there will be scoffers not believing what is coming but walking after their own lusts. They will say, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation (2 Peter 3:3–4). I personally believe we are approaching that time.

Simply Revelation is a commentary on the book of Revelation. Overall, my intent is to give you a simple overview of this book, although I do, in part, go into detail. Over the years, I have discovered that many questions about the Bible can be answered using other scriptures. Throughout this commentary, I will be using the King James Version of the Bible. As you read this book, you might want to have your Bible handy to look up scripture. I love Bible prophecy and have studied and taught it for years.

With the help of the Holy Spirit, I hope to give you some insight about Revelation. My desire for you as you read is to have an open heart and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you that you may learn more from him. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). There is a blessing that comes in reading the book of Revelation. Revelation 1:3 says, Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. Revelation 22:7 says, Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

Introduction to Revelation

Matthew chapter 24 is one of the most used chapters in the Bible when it comes to prophecy teaching or preaching. The chapter is a short version of the book of Revelation, and one might say it takes it all in a nutshell. When discussing this chapter, there are some guidelines that should be considered. Even though Jesus came to seek and to save the lost, whoever they were, Jew or Gentile (Luke 19:10), his primary purpose was to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 15:24). He even sent his disciples to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 10:5–6). His focus was on the house of Israel first, and here he is addressing a Jewish question. We have to consider that the church wasn’t born yet because Jesus hadn’t gone to the cross at this time.

The thief on the cross who was being crucified with Jesus said, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom (Luke 23:42). Jesus told him that he would be in paradise with him that day (Luke 23:42). Paradise was called the bosom of Abraham, where the people of the Old Testament who trusted in the Lord went when they died physically (Luke 16:22–31). There was a great gulf between the bosom of Abraham and hell, where the lost went who didn’t know the Lord. When Jesus died on the cross, his spirit and soul came out of his body, and he went to the bosom of Abraham. There he told them of the good news of his kingdom, and they received him, and he brought them up out of that place to heaven (Luke 23:46; Ephesians 4:8–10; 1 Peter 3:19). This tells us the church hadn’t been born yet, or the thief on the cross would not have gone down into paradise but, rather, straight up to heaven. Today, it is appointed unto humans once to die, but after this, the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). Humanity either goes to hell or heaven once the body gives up the soul and spirit, depending on whether you know Jesus or not.

Remember what Jesus told Peter in Luke 22:31–32: And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. He was converted after Jesus arose from the grave. Once Jesus rose from the grave, his spirit could come and live within Peter. Before the cross, Jesus gave power unto his twelve disciples against unclean spirits (to cast them out) and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease (Matthew 10:1). After the cross, Jesus said, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth (Matthew 28:18). Jesus allowed his disciples to experience the power he had over their enemies, which took faith, later to have that same power. This is why he told the disciples to go into the entire world to preach the gospel, and whosoever would believe in him (Jesus) would be saved now because of the cross. He also told them that signs would follow those who have faith in his name to cast out evil spirits, and they would speak with new tongues (Mark 16:15- 17).

Jesus breathed on them so they would receive the Holy Ghost in preparation of his coming (John 20:22). Before being received up to heaven, Jesus told his disciples not to depart from Jerusalem but to wait for the promise of the Father, which was the Holy Ghost (Acts 1:4–5). Then on the day of Pentecost in an upper room, about one hundred twenty received the infilling of the Holy Ghost, and the church had begun (Acts 2). Considering these guidelines, the focus of Matthew 24:3–31 pertains to the house of Israel for the most part, not the church. I believe verses four through eight pertain to the first half of the tribulation period, and verses nine through thirty-one pertain to the second half of the tribulation.

Jesus was sitting around with his disciples on the Mount of Olives when they asked him a question about the sign of his coming and the end of the world, meaning the end of this present age. When Jesus returns, his feet will stand upon the Mount of Olives, the place he was crucified, and split the mount in half. The mount will part to the east and to the west forming a great valley, and half of the mountain will move to the north and the other half to the south. It will cause a river to flow out of Jerusalem from the Temple. Living waters shall go out from Jerusalem into the Mediterranean and Dead Seas (Zechariah 14). The Dead Sea will be healed and will have many fish in it. Jesus will set up his kingdom upon the earth in Jerusalem. Jerusalem will become the capital of the world and be rebuilt after its destruction during the tribulation period. It will become the place of safety, and there will be no more destruction of her.

They wanted to know when he was coming back to the earth to set up the kingdom. Jesus told his disciples to be careful that no one leads you astray because many will come in his name to deceive many. Jesus was warning his disciples of this for their benefit, but he was also speaking to the future of our day and the tribulation period when there will be false teachers and prophets. He tells them they shall hear news of wars going on and talk of wars. As you will see in this book, Israel isn’t involved in any wars during the first half of the tribulation period because the two witnesses will be there to protect it. Jesus tells the disciples not to worry about these things because they are going to happen. When the time comes for Israel to see these things happening, the end has not come yet. Because a nation will cause war against another nation, there will be a lack of food, plagues, and earthquakes in various places.

This relates to the four horsemen of Revelation 6 and the trumpet judgments of Revelation 8 and 9. Jesus tells them all these things are the first of many troubles, speaking of the first half of the tribulation period.

What Jesus tells them next relates to the breaking of the covenant by the Antichrist and the killing of the two witnesses at the middle of the tribulation period that starts the second half of the tribulation. He tells them they (the Jews) will be handed over to the one who will afflict them and kill them, and they will be hated because of his name. You will see in Simply Revelation how Satan leads the Antichrist on a rampage against Israel and those who are trusting in the Lord once he is cast out of heaven by Michael, the angel of the Lord. Satan will know his time is short, and this is why he tries to do away with many in the second half.

Then many will stop doing what is right and go against their neighbors and will have hate toward one another. Jesus tells them many will come prophesying falsely and will cause many to err. Because wrongdoing will increase, the love of most people will become cold. But those who make it to the end will be saved. Jesus is saying those Jews who stay alive during this time will enter into the millennium with him, along with millions of people from Gentile nations. During the second half of the tribulation, the everlasting gospel is preached to all nations before the end comes as a witness unto them. You will learn in this book how angels will carry out the mission of preaching the gospel to the nations.

What Jesus tells his disciples next has to do with the Antichrist and the false prophet entering the temple of God, and setting up an image unto the Beast who is the Antichrist (Matthew 24:15). Then the Jews who are living in Israel will flee into the mountains to Petra leaving their possessions behind. In this book, you will learn that while the Jews are fleeing to Petra, the Antichrist sends some of his army after them, but Jesus comes on a secret mission to help them. Jesus tells his disciples those who are fleeing need to pray that it won’t be wintertime or on a Sabbath day when they are fleeing to Petra. Jesus making this statement might indicate that it will be in the winter, and the possibility being on a Sabbath day when this happens. Jesus tells his disciples at this time there will be great sorrow as has never been seen before or will ever be seen again. This is speaking to all the wars and the vials of wrath from God and the great earthquakes that will take place in the second half of the tribulation—even to the point that it makes the earth rock. The Bible declares, The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again (Isaiah 24:20). The Messiah declares to his disciples that unless the days of the tribulation are shortened, no one will be saved, but for the Jews’ sake, the days will be shortened.

In Simply Revelation, you will see how the days of the tribulation could be shortened for the Jews.

Apostle Paul wrote that once the wicked one is revealed with the breaking of the covenant with many nations, God would send among them a strong delusion that they should believe a lie, that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness (2 Thessalonians 2). What Paul said goes along with the words of Jesus in Matthew 24:23–26, when he told his disciples there would be false Christs and false prophets in the last days of the tribulation. This alludes to the time when the Antichrist and the false prophet are deceiving many with their great signs and miracles. Jesus even said, If it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect, speaking of the Jews (Matthew 24:24). But in the end, Jesus tells them of his visible return to the earth and gathering up the Jewish elect from the four corners of the earth by his angels (Matthew 24:31).

Just as one of the four beasts around the throne says in Revelation 6:1, Come and see, let’s go in to Simply Revelation.

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Revealing Who Jesus Is

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servant’s things, which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John. (Revelation 1:1)

The book of Revelation is all about revealing who Jesus is. Jesus is a prophet, according to the scriptures (Luke 24:19; Matthew 13:57). Jesus is the prophet who shows John the things to come by his angel. The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (Revelation 19:10). Jesus was the Word of God in spirit form, and he existed from the beginning with his Father. While in the bosom of his Father, the Word declared the future of the universe. And down through the dispensations of time and by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, it was given to humankind to write it down in what is called the Bible today. This enabled us to have the written Word of God to read and to study. I agree with author Joel Richardson when he says in his book entitled The Islamic Antichrist that even though God used humans as his agents to convey his thoughts and words, it didn’t diminish the message because it is still the inspired Word of God. ¹ Praise to his name!

In chapter 8 of Revelation, Jesus is seen as the high priest before the golden altar. Jesus is also our high priest sitting at the right hand of God. Seeing then that we have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession (Hebrews 4:14). Jesus came to this earth to die upon a tree for you and me; he came to become our high priest before God the Father. Jesus was resurrected from the grave by God through the Holy Spirit, and he was taken up back to heaven to sit at the right hand of God for you and me. Jesus is seen as our coming King as well. Revelation 19:16 calls Jesus the King of Kings. One reason Jesus is called the King of Kings is because he has made us kings unto him (Revelation 1:6).

This revelation of Jesus was in God the Father, who showed it to his Son. It seems here that Jesus had a personal angel that served him.