Revelation 2021 / 101

The rapture has occurred, the seven bowl judgements have taken place and the earth is dead. The souls of all people have been judged. The souls that believed in Jesus Christ and were born of the Holy Spirit will live in a new heaven and a new earth.

2 Peter 3:13 But in keeping his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of the righteous.

Revelation 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.

Just as God created heaven and earth, he can and will destroy them and create a totally new heaven and earth.

2 Peter 3:7 … the heaven and earth that now exists are stored up for fire, being kept for the day of judgement and the destruction of the ungodly.

2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies (sun, moon, planets and stars) will be burned up and dissolved.

2 Peter 3:12 … because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn.

The heavenly bodies will be set on fire, burned up and dissolved. Here are a couple more scriptures to solidify this fact.

Isaiah 34:4 All the stars of heaven will be dissolved. The skies will be rolled up like a scroll.

Isaiah 51:6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth below; for the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and its people will die like gnats. But my salvation will last forever, and My righteousness will never fail.

Most definitely, God is going to destroy the current heaven and earth and create a new heaven and earth. Next week, we will study a few details about the new earth.

Thank you so much for studying. God bless.

Jeff

Revelation 2021 / 100

Recently, we studied the final judgement. In Apostle John’s vision, he describes Jesus sitting on a great white throne. All of the dead were before the throne and the books were opened. He describes the saved souls being on the right side of Jesus and the non-saved souls being on the left side of Jesus. I believe this imagery is symbolic. It is an illustration to help us understand what happens at the end of days. Let me explain.

God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are omnipresent. Each one of them are present everywhere in the universe at the exact same time. They, including Jesus, have no right or left side. I doubt that Jesus lined up billions of souls on his right and billions of souls on his left. Also, because Jesus is omnipresent (see study on trinity), he doesn’t sit on a single throne and open books.

I believe there is a judgement upon our souls but it probably happens instantly. Currently, we immediately go to heaven or hell. At the end days, the non-believing souls will be thrown into the lake of burning fire. Also, the souls who are in hades (hell) will be thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, the final place of eternal torment. In addition, Jesus, like the Father and Holy Spirit, is omniscient (all knowing). He knows who accepts him and who rejects him even before they die. He does not need to look in a book.

Next, a new heaven and new earth.

Thank you so much for studying. God bless.

Jeff

Revelation 2021 / 99

We have read that during the final judgement, Satan and the false prophet will be thrown into the eternal lake of fire. Believers go to heaven and will be rewarded according to the works they have done. Next, where do non-believing souls go?

Mathew 25:33 He will place the sheep (believers) on his right and the goats (non-believers) on his left.

Mathew 25:34 Then the King (Jesus) will say to those on his right (believers), come, you who are blessed by my Father, take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

Mathew 25:41 “Then he will say to those on his left (non-believers), “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

Revelation 20:14-15 Then death and hades (hell) were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyones name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

All non-believing souls, including those in hell, will be thrown into the eternal lake of fire along with Satan, the false prophet, and the angels that followed Satan. This is the second death and there is no longer an earth and no longer a hell which was located at the center of the earth (see study on hell).

Thank you so much for studying. God bless.

Jeff

Revelation 2021 / 98

Last week we learned that faith in Jesus and receiving the righteousness of the Holy Spirit allows a person to enter heaven. If your faith is genuine, it will produce good works. Part of your faith is good works. Once in heaven, your reward will be based on your good works.

Here are more scriptures confirming the importance of good works:

Psalms 62:12 and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”, and, “You reward everyone according to what they have done.”

Romans 2:6 … when his righteous judgement will be revealed. God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”

Revelation 20:13 The sea (watery grave) gave up the dead that were in it, and death and hades (hell) gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done.

It is important to remember, God wants Christians to produce good works. It is through the partnership between the Holy Spirit and people of faith, doing good works, that salvation is gifted to others.

To perform the works that you’re best at, figure out the spiritual gifts given to you by God. Do the best you can with the gifts you are given. See Mission 4 – 6 to study the spiritual gifts.

1 Peter 4:10 Each one should use whatever gift he received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

Thank you so much for studying. God bless.

Jeff

Revelation 2021 / 97

Last week we read that the devil (Satan) was thrown into the lake of burning fire. This is the final place of eternal torment. What happens next?

Revelation 20:11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it.

Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, the books were opened. Another book was opened which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.

The dead (everyone at this point), great and small, means the powerful and powerless, the good and bad, the rich and poor, believers and nonbelievers will be judged. All souls are judged according to what they have done.

This may seem like an error. Aren’t believers saved by faith and not by works? Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and not through yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast. Why are believers judged according to what they have done?

The above is absolutely true. A soul is saved through faith and not by works, but true faith will produce good works. Faith includes works. Rarely, a person will die immediately after they receive Christ. In these cases, they will be saved by faith alone. For the majority of believers, faith is combined with the good works they are spurred to do in Christ’s name. Faith without works is dead. Good works are part of a persons faith. A real servant of Christ will do good works.

Here’s the difference between believers and nonbelievers.

From the above scripture Revelation 20:12 … Another book was opened which is the book of life. This book contains the names of all believers who are granted eternal life in heaven. Their entrance into heaven is based on faith. They have received the righteousness of the Holy Spirit. Once in heaven, their reward is determined by the good works they have done. One possible reward might be the level of heaven they reside? (See study on heaven to study three levels). There may also be rewards that we cannot imagine.

If you have no faith and have denied Christ and the Holy Spirit, your name will not be in the book of life. You are judged only by your works. Your righteousness alone can never reach God’s level and you are condemned to the eternal lake of fire (second death) with Satan.

Thank you so much for studying. God bless.

Jeff

Revelation 2021 / 96

The seven bowl judgements have occurred and the world is dead. What happens to the devil (Satan)?

Revelation 20:10 And the devil, who deceived them was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown.

The lake of burning sulfur or the lake of burning fire is the final place of torment forever. This is a different place than hell, which is at the center of the earth (See left of this page for study on hell).

The above scripture also tells us that the beast and the false prophet were thrown into the lake of burning sulfur. There are two possible identities to both the beast and the false prophet.

First, God may be referring to the beast as the Roman Empire and more specifically Emperor Nero. They persecuted the early Christians without mercy by crucifying them, cutting off their heads and burning them as candles. They also worshipped many false Gods.

Secondly, God may be referring to the beast as the political/religious states that come from the east to attack Israel during the sixth bowl judgement. They gather at the valley of Megiddo to attack and destroy Jerusalem.

Let’s now review the two possible false prophets.

First, God may be referring the false prophet as Pelagius, better known as wormwood. He was a highly regarded and powerful religious leader. He denied original sin and taught that man was able to keep the whole law to perfection, without the grace of God. His doctrine poisoned many souls. Many people died spiritually because they followed his false teachings. With the fall of Rome, Pelagius fell from his high position.

Secondly, God may be referring to the false prophet as the prophet of a false religion. The political/religious states that come from the east to attack Israel will be led by this prophet or in honor of this past prophet. The armies of these states meet at the Valley of Megiddo to destroy Jerusalem before they are stopped by the seventh bowl judgement.

Whoever God is referring to as the beast and the false prophet, they are most likely thrown into the lake of burning sulfur before Satan.

Thank you so much for studying. God bless.

Jeff

Revelation 2021 / 95

I’d like to do a quick review of our recent study. To be sure we’re all on the same page.

Soon after the rapture of all believers, God will release his seven bowl judgements upon the world. This is his final retribution on all who appose him. The seven bowl judgements will consist of festering sores breaking out on all people that are alive (they did not accept Jesus), the seas turning into thick blood, the rivers and streams turning into thick blood, the sun scorching people with fire, the throne of the beast and his kingdom are plunged into darkness, the Euphrates River will dry up, allowing the kingdoms from the east to attack Israel. As they gather at the valley of Megiddo to attack Jerusalem, God releases his seventh bowl judgement. A great earthquake collapses the cities of the world and crumbles every mountain and island. From the sky, huge one hundred pound hailstones fall on the people. It is done! The destruction of the world! It is a dead world! No one survives! Satan’s influence is over!

Next, what happens to Satan, the fallen angels and all of the nonbelievers?

Thank you so much for studying. God bless.

Jeff

Revelation 2021 / 94

As we have studied, a great earthquake will cause the cities of the nations to collapse. The mountains and islands will crumble.

There is one more thing that occurs because of the seventh bowl judgement.

Revelation 16:21 From the sky huge hailstones, each weighing about a hundred pounds, fell on people. And they cursed God on account of the plagues of hail, the plague was so terrible.

This was not the first time a hailstorm was hurled down as judgement:

In Exodus 9:18-26 God sent the worst hailstorm that has ever fallen on Egypt because the Pharoah would not release the Israelite slaves to Moses.

Also, in Joshua 10:11 As they fled before Israel on the road down from Beth Haron to Azekah, the Lord hurled large hailstones down on them, and more of them died from the hail than were killed by the swords of the Israelites.

The second scripture describes how Joshua and the Israelites defeated all of the Amorite kings and their forces. Then God caused a plague of hail upon them as they fled.

This is the first time that hundred pound hailstones are hurled down on the entire world. Even as the world is being completely destroyed, the people don’t ask for mercy. They continue to curse God.

Again, I believe the Christian believers are already raptured before the seven bowl judgements begin.

Thank you so much for studying. God bless.

Jeff

Revelation 2021 / 93

As we studied last week, the seventh angel will pour out the seventh bowl judgement. A great earthquake will occur and the cities of the nations collapse.

What else happens during the seventh bowl judgement?

Revelation 16:20 Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found.

During the sixth seal (Revelation 2020/20 of this study) the islands and mountains refer to the kings and princes of that day. They were removed from their lofty places. In this scripture, it could refer to kings and princes, but I think it is referring to actual islands and mountains of the world crumbling. Islands are the tips of under water mountains. These mountains and the above water mountains will crumble from the great earthquake.

God is returning earth to its original formless state. The way it was before he created life.

Genesis 1:2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the water.

The cities of the world are collapsing, the islands and mountains are crumbling. The earth will be formless and all people who were not resurrected will die.

Next week, one more thing happens as a result of God’s seventh bowl judgement.

Thank you so much for studying. God bless.

Jeff

Revelation 2021 / 92

The armies from the east have gathered at the mountain and valley of Megiddo (Armageddon), reading for an attack on Jerusalem.

Revelation 16:17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, “It is done!”

What is done? The very final judgement and the destruction of earth and Satan’s influence is done!

Revelation 16:18-19 Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since man has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed.

In scripture, the great city is referred to as Jerusalem. It was split into three parts, representing the trinity. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. They still rule (see categories to left of this screen to study the trinity)!

The cities of the world collapse. The buildings collapse, power grids collapse, all infrastructure will collapse. Add this to the first six bowl judgements and you can see why God said “It is done! The world is in ruin and all mankind dies. Remember, in the first six bowl judgements, there will be festering sores. The oceans, rivers and streams will be turned to blood. The sun will scorch people with fire and there will be physical darkness. These seven bowl judgements must happen fairly quickly as people are dying of thirst and hunger. There is very little water to drink and no water to grow crops. With no water, animals are also dying. There will be no animals to capture for food.

Remember, this all happens (seven bowl judgements) shortly, if not immediately, after the rapture of all believers in the world.

Thank you so much for studying. God bless.

Jeff