What in Heaven and on Earth Is Jesus Doing?: Embracing Jesus as Savior and Lord

By James Mann

Revelation is about the Lord Jesus Christ of the past, present, and future events. Jesus is called “the Beginning” and “the Last” of all history. On page 6, I have provided a puzzle as an outline to all of Revelation. Study guides after commentaries for each chapter provide answers to difficult verses.

All attempts for practice applications are made for believers and warnings to those in doubt of God’s stated future.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Aug 9, 2018
• ISBN: 9781973613756

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Copyright © 2018 James George Mann.

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

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

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ISBN: 978-1-9736-1374-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-1375-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017918879

WestBow Press rev. date: 8/7/2018

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FAITH STATEMENT

This is my faith statement which is important in the book of Revelation, but not a complete list of all my areas of Christ faith and practice:

1. Lord Jesus Christ is Divine having Godly characteristics (John 8:24; John 10:30; John 17:21, 22), only Savior (I Chronicles 16:35; Matthew 1:21; Luke 19:10; I Timothy 1:15), rose from the dead (Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-8; Revelation 1:5), shed his blood as sacrifice for my sin (Leviticus 17:11; Isaiah 53:5, 6; Hebrews 9:14, 22; Revelation 12:10, 11), eternal (Psalm 90:2; Revelation 22:13), omniscient (all knowing) (Psalm 139:1-6; Revelation 1:8), omnipresent (Psalm139:7-13; Revelation 5:6, 7), omnipotent (Revelation 19:6), and Holy (Revelation 4:8).

2. The Bible is the Word of God both the Old Testament and New Testament without error (II Timothy 3:16, 17; II Peter I:20, 21: Revelation 19:13-15).

3. God created Holy angels as messengers and servants of God for His purposes (Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 148:2; Hebrews 1:14; Revelation 5:11). Revelation has 66 angels serving God in varies roles.

4. Satan exist with his fallen angels called demons (Isiaiah14:12-17; Ezekiel 29:12-15; Revelation 12:9; Revelation 20:10).

5. Salvation is a free gift from God only offered by His Grace by the finish work on the cross by Christ’s death (Ephesians 2:8, 9; Romans 5:8; Romans 10:9, 10; Revelation 6:16, 17).

6. Future events with Lord Jesus Christ returning called the Rapture for all believers (I Thessalonians 4:13-18 ;I Corinthians 15:52; Matthew 24:26-41; Revelation 1:7)

7. Future Second Coming not to be confused with Rapture (Revelation 19:11-27).

8. Unique to Revelation is the Millennial Years which last 1,000 years at the end of Lord Jesus Christ Second Coming (Revelation 20:1-15).

9. Creator of all with the whole Trinity present (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) (Matthew 28:18-20) (Genesis 1:1, 2; Revelation 1:8; Revelation 3:14).

10. Sovereign over all as ruler making no mistakes (Daniel 4:25; II Peter 2:1; Revelation 19:16).

11. Eternal destiny of those who refuse to believe Lord Jesus as their only Savior for their sin (Revelation 6:16, 17; Revelation 9:20, 21; II Peter 3:9)

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

To: Dr. Ronald Sauer @ Moody Bible

From: James Mann ([e-mail])

Hi Dr. Sauer,

I have written a commentary on the book of Revelation from the Bible. All quotes are from Revelation by John Walvoord, Revelation by John McArthur, Revelation Record by Dr. Henry M. Morris, and New World Coming by Hal Lindsey.

I appreciated you and your wife for being our inter pastor for two years at Wauconda Evan. Free Church about eight years ago.

I have made all changes as you and your wife read the first draft of my commentary on Revelation. My book is entitled What in Heaven and on Earth is Jesus Doing? Also, subtitled: Embracing Jesus as Savior and Lord.

As a teacher of Greek and Hebrew at Moody Bible, I value your experience and expertise of Bible knowledge and wisdom.

Brother in Christ,

James Mann

To: James Mann ([e-mail])

From: Dr. Ronald Sauer @ Moody Bible

RE: Jim Mann’s commentary on Revelation

I am a professor of English Bible and New Testament Greek at the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago.

Some time ago, both my wife and I read Jim’s commentary on Revelation.

She and I made a number of suggestions that we believe would enhance his work.

He has implemented those suggestions, and so we recommend it to you for your consideration.

Ron Sauer, Ph.D.

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CONTENTS

Introduction

Revelation Chapter 1 Commentary: I am the first and the last.

Revelation Chapter 2 Commentary: Three faithful Churches with issues and one unfaithful church to the Lord

Revelation 3 Commentary: Three Unfaithful Churches to the Lord-Revelation 3:1-22

Revelation Chapter 4 Commentary: All around the Throne of God

Revelation Chapter 5 Commentary: Worthy is the Lamb to Open the Seven Seals of the Scroll"

Revelation Chapter 6 Commentary: The Lamb Releases The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

Revelation Chapter 7 Commentary: Pause Between Sixth and Seventh Seal

Revelation 8 Commentary: The Seventh Seal Opens with the Four Trumpet Angels

Revelation Chapter 9 Commentary: The Fifth and Sixth Trumpet Angels with Two Woes

Revelation Chapter 10 Commentary: A Mighty Angel With a Little Scroll

Revelation Chapter 11 Commentary: Two Witnesses and the Seventh Angel

Revelation Chapter 12 Commentary: Woman with 12 stars and the Great Red Dragon

Revelation Chapter 13 Commentary: A Beast from the Sea and Another from the Earth

Revelation Chapter 14 Commentary: The Slain Lamb, 144,000 Evangelists, and Six Other Angels

Revelation Chapter 15 Commentary: Seven Bowl Angels with Seven Plagues

Revelation Chapter 16 Commentary: Seven Bowl (or Vial) Angels Administrate Seven Plagues

Revelation Chapter 17 Commentary: Religious Babylon Destroyed

Revelation Chapter 18 Commentary: Commercial Babylon Destroyed

Revelation Chapter 19-Commentary-Hallelujah and the Final Preparations for the Millennium (1000 year reign of the LORD in Revelation 20:1-6)

Revelation 20: Millennium Reign of Christ and Enemies Defeated (judged)

Revelation 21 Commentary: A New Heaven and A New Earth (under new management) for the Wife (Bride) of the Lamb

Revelation Chapter 22 Commentary-The Bride United to the Husband

Closing Statement

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INTRODUCTION

This book is a serious effort to put all the pieces of your life together by studying the book of Revelation in the Bible. Do not miss God’s free gift of eternal life and abundant life offered to you! (John 10:10). All verses of this book will be in King James Version of 1611 copyright. Revelation 3:20 states, Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if anyone hears my voice, and opens the door, I will come in to him, and sup with him, and he with me. John F. Kennedy’s famous inaugural address could be changed to apply to Christians to say, so my fellow Christians, ask not what you can do with your life, but ask what God can do with your life. One of my life verses is, "For knew the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart in Jeremiah 29:11, 13.

Most would agree that no one can live without hope, love and purpose. Andrei Bitov, a Russian writer and an atheistic Communist wrote not knowing God removes all hope and purpose of living. A book by Francis Schaeffer called The God Who Is There makes a careful description of God’s many attempts to rescue us from our destructive life style. There is an anecdotal story of a person drowning in a deep lake refusing help from people in boats who are offering life saving water equipment. God uses many things such as music, art, books, films, and people sent by divine appointment to rescue us.

Is this world really ending? Harold Camping of Oakland, California stated on Family Radio Ministry that on October 20, 2011, the Lord Jesus Christ would physically return. He had made similar predictions in May, 1991 and 2011. But Matthew 24:36 clearly states, But of that day and hour knoweth no man. nor angels of heaven. but my Father only (Matthew 24:36; I Thessalonians 4:16-18, Revelation 4:1; 5:13; 7:9, 10). Jim Downing, Navigator on Glen Erie staff often said, Do not get the Bible Revelation charts before the horses.

Overview of the Book of Revelation

The book of Revelation was written by John the Apostle (John 1:1, 4, 9; 22:8). He also wrote the Gospel of John, I John, II John,and III John.

I am suggesting either Revelation 4:1, 2 or Revelation 3:20 are the key verses of Revelation. These verses portray the Lord Jesus Christ offering salvation to all who believe and pursue a close daily fellowship with Him.

The titles of the Lord Jesus Christ are the main theme in the Book of Revelation. There are 23 titles given to Him. The Alpha (first) and the Omega (last) (Revelation 1:5) is the most all encompassing one. John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Outline of the Book of Revelation

There are three divisions in the Book of Revelation, all of them from chapter one verse nineteen. The first division Write the things which thou hast seen… Most scholars believe that this includes all the great events of the Bible in Old Testament. The second division is …and the things that are. This portion refers specifically to the existing situation in the seven churches of John’s day as written in chapters two and three of Revelation and the Age of God’s Grace starting in Acts 2:5. The third division, The things which shall be hereafter, begins with Revelation 4:1 where John sees the Throne of God to Revelation 22 which describes the final eternal New Heaven. Can you trust this God because He knows the past, present, and future events affecting your life? He can be trusted because He is the Good Shepherd (John 10:10-14).

The Pieces of the Puzzle

Through the book we will be putting a puzzle together starting with the borders using the outline of Revelation 1:19. The border includes the past found in Revelation 1:10-16, the present as described in Revelation 2, 3 (church history), and the future as written in Revelation 4-22 showing God’s Sovereign (I Timothy 6:15).

The pieces filling in from the borders are the history and exhortations given to each of the Seven Churches (Revelation 2, 3).

The next pieces reoccur as God directs. These include believers, holy angels (specially created messengers of God), demons, Satan, disobedient unbelievers, 144 thousand Jewish believers, 24 elders, two witnesses, the anti-Christ, the false prophet, the woman of the sun, the woman of Babylon, John the Apostle, Lord Jesus Christ (Lamb), and God the Father.

Other pieces are animals. This list includes horses, the great dragon, frogs, scorpions, locusts, and birds.

The last pieces are places and future events. The places include all seven churches, the island of Patmos, the Throne of God, Jerusalem, Babylon, the new earth, and the New Jerusalem.

There are several events. Some of are battles on earth and in heaven.

Bible teachers agree that the key event of all of Revelation is Revelation 4, 5 where John sees the Throne of God as breath-taking.

A serious event is John seeing Christ at the Great White Judgment evaluating all who they repented not to give him glory (Revelation 16:9). Refusing to repent (admission of sin) will qualify a person for an eternal