Greek for ‘revelation’ and title of the Bible’s closing book. It is the revelation Father God gave to Jesus Christ and conveyed as visions to Jesus’ disciple John of the future, or ‘end days’, and of Jesus’ return to earth for His Bride (the Church) and the end of Satan. It also includes 7 letters Jesus dictated to John for 1st Century churches which He had visited and inspected!
As mentioned in 6 events over 6 days, Alan messaged me on Friday as follows, and you know from my introductory piece that I can strongly recommend his kind offer :
“Thank you so much, Richard, for endorsing my book. I’ve been following Richard’s Watch since 2016 or so, (before we actually met). Keep up the good work faithful servant.
If any of your readers is a member of a home-group or church that is interested in exploring Revelation and other End-time prophecy, then I am happy to give a 1 hour introduction to help them on their journey (in person if close to home, on Zoom or MS Teams otherwise).
And, subject to availability, timing and the level of interest, I could subsequently deliver a 4 week (1 hour per week) mini-course via Microsoft Teams or Zoom, following the same pattern as in the book. (Or maybe run this a few times a year).
Week 1: from John’s time to the start of the seven-year Tribulation (signalled by a new peace-treaty in the Middle East). Rev. 2 to Rev. 8.
Week 2: First 3½ years of the seven-year Tribulation (which ends when Antichrist reveals his true nature and desecrates the new Jewish Temple). Rev. 8 to Rev. 11. (mid-Tribulation Rev. 14).
Week 3: Last 3½ years of the seven-year Tribulation (i.e. the time of ‘Jacob’s Trouble’ / the (terrible) ‘Day of the Lord’). Rev. 12 to Rev. 13 and Rev. 15 to Rev. 19.
Week 4: Christ’s 1000-year (Millennial) reign on Earth, the final battle and defeat of Satan and his judgement. Judgement Day for all humans (alive or dead). The new heaven & new Earth – including the new Jerusalem. ‘Eden’ restored. Rev. 20 to Rev. 22. ”
If you or friends wish to take up Alan’s offer he can be contacted by email at > askquestionsoffaith@gmail.com (Ask Questions Of Faith)
Chilling out after a demanding few days online, on the first day’s evening of our long weekend we took a friend with us to spend a couple of hours in non-stop Spirit-led worship. Alan Shemwell, author of Trustworthy and True had sent a thank you message but I was intrigued to now hear a new relevance of the Book of Revelation only to be more astonished that the evening began with this full quotation of Rev 1:10-26:
I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying, [g]“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches[h]which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.” 12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; 16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. 17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying [i]to me, “Do not be afraid;I am the First and the Last.18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold,I am alive forevermore. Amen. AndI have the keys of[j]Hades and of Death.19 [k]Write the things which you haveseen,and the things which are,and the things which will take place after this.20 The[l]mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars arethe[m]angels of the seven churches, andthe seven lampstands [n]which you saw are the seven churches…”
SO, MY ATTENTION WAS WELL AND TRULY CAUGHT AND I RECALLED HOW OFTEN THESE VERSES HAD FEATURED AND BEEN REPEATED THOUGHOUT THE WEEK – THEREFORE, IT MUST BE WHAT THE LORD IS SAYING TO THE CHURCH > REPETITIONS STRESSING, ‘PAY ATTENTION!’
Therefore, here’s the week’s daily sequence of ‘jigsaw pieces’:
Monday – house group discussion of Sunday’s teaching on Rev 1.
Tuesday – Chris G Bennett posts on Facebook above Rev 1 AI-image.
Wednesday – I used image for Triple47 post in drafting introduction to Alan’s book on the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
Thursday – with ‘coincidence’ of Amazon pricing, posted outline of Trustworthy & True + our church’s post-Alpha evening course looks at Revelation.
Friday – read message from Alan about follow-up study groups + opening invocation of worship at Waverley quotes from Revelation 1, as above.
So would there be a 7th event? Had we not been at a friend’s 30th birthday party on Saturday then I may have been able to publish Alan’s message, which is now next post.
Meantime, do listen to this worship song about Jesus’ return…
A riveting scripture-charged exploration and interpretation of the Book of Revelation and study into the fast-approaching End-times – showing how the US, Russia, China and Europe fit into those events to lead into that prophesied global climax.
DESCRIPTION
Acknowledge it or not, we are hurtling towards the End-times. The pre-conditions have never been more complete than today. More so in the past 80 years than in the previous 19 centuries.
Cautious scepticism is healthy but we have a duty to understand the warnings about what’s happening around us and what’s coming, so we can prepare and warn others.
Many prefer to shy away from any attempt to interpret the Book of Revelation, viewing it as unfathomable and bizarre, full of symbolism, metaphors, repetition of earthquakes, fire and hail from the skies, plagues and battles.
Some interpret it is relevant to the first Century only (A.D. 70), when the Jewish revolt against Roman occupation was cruelly crushed. However, given it was written around the same time it would not have been much of a ‘revelation’. It would not have been read by Jewish people, who perceived Christianity as blasphemous. It would also not have been helpful to the early Christian church and the ‘book’ is clearly written to both the Christian church and to the Jewish people.
End-time scripture isn’t so unfathomable when viewed through the lens of the people of Biblical times – their beliefs, practices, experiences and stories; then superimposing understanding of things that are very familiar to us now but were alien to them.
Some important insights also help interpretation – such as the fact that during Old Testament times a year was perceived as 360 days (and this was also adopted as the default for ‘prophetic’ years in the New Testament). Also, Jewish people often referred to themselves as people of the land and the gentiles as people of the sea.
Many expect evil influences to present themselves in obvious ways no one can deny – but the best strategy of these is to convince us all that they do not exist! So, we should not expect to see them for who or what they are until very late on, when it might be too late for the uninformed.
The USA, China, Russia and Europe are all referenced, if you interpret properly, through ‘markers’ that include: global trading status, economic size relative to military might, historical basis of their trading and legal systems, population size, direction of their homeland relative to Israel, the nature of their current leaders, initiatives in international expansion, colour of their battle flags, symbols and statues that they are renowned for, geological characteristics, and, historical names of tribes from which these nations originated. The combination of many markers helps to make the interpretation less tenuous and more convincing.
There will be hard times ahead, even for Christians, but the Book of Revelation is fundamentally a message of HOPE – how to survive without compromising our eternal future, that evil will be dealt with once and for all, and that the world will be reshaped into the perfect paradise it was meant to be.
I invite you on an amazing exploration into the wealth of information that has been freely given to us on what is to come. I can boldly promise you a journey that will have huge consequences for you and your loved ones.
I have spent many years researching, grappling with and meditating on the scriptures – asking for divine inspiration to help interpret these prophecies. I hope and pray that this book is as accurate an interpretation as possible, and that it will spark the reader’s interest in interpreting what’s happening around them in the context of biblical revelation, so that they are forewarned of the dangers, can warn others, and can gain hope about the final outcome.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Louise Petrossian Mokhof who leads and supports many Christian charities including KORPU BUILDING BRIDGES WITH THE WORD, and speaks at Christian conferences around the globe. Louise acted as a key proof-reader:
“This book is a must read and thought provoking for those readers who are keen to know and have a deeper understanding about the End times, divine judgment, the Antichrist, Christ’s second coming and so on. The author’s narrative is direct and focused on global affairs in connection with Biblical facts from the past, present, and future. It is condensed with so much information to wet the reader’s appetite and keep them at the edge.”
Rebecca (Becky) Coulter, (avid ‘bookworm’ and daughter of a renowned newspaper journalist), and her husband Andrew Coulter, who acted as proof-readers, hungry to understand more about what the Bible tells us of the End-times:
“This book is a thorough and comprehensive guide to understanding The Book of Revelation. It is easy to understand – woven together in a way that helps the reader to follow with clarity and understanding. Foundational reading for anyone looking for sound biblical insight and understanding about this crucial book of the Bible.”
FOOTNOTE from ‘God-incidence’ concluding previous introductory post:
Alan writes “The book is also available on the Waterstones.com site. The prices on Amazon.co.uk are currently not correct. I’m told this often happens with Amazon, just before publishing date but will soon correct itself on the Publishing date 26th March. Pricing is correct on Waterstones.com”
Early Tuesday morning I was musing over my WApp to the previous evening’s house group “I submit that the timing is surely of the Lord, for not only myself but others too, I trust” – as well as in recent blogs of current news and changes across Islam delaying my introducing a friend’s new book on the Book of Revelation.
Then came Sunday’s service featuring the mission to Iran of Elam Ministries together with excellent teaching on Revelation 1.
(With gratitude to Chris G Bennett for AI image)
Immediately upon musing “Whyever I should think there may be any significance of timing, am I imagining it, why me?”, this came straight to mind, as though a Holy Spirit ‘drop’:
“It’s triple 47: 47th year (my birth) of 20th Century! 47th year of Iranian regime! 47th US president!”
By the way regarding numerics, the timing of Michael Bennet’s What Was Whispered email at 11:10 yesterday is significant regarding our ‘3-in-1’ God: thus 11 = The Father and Son (“The Father is in me and I in Him” John 10:38) and 10 = Holy Spirit; zero being nothing is ignored and so 10 is 1. AND as told at the close below, we have yet more evidence of the Lord’s hand in the timing of this post and the next post.
Also, in that blogged ‘briefing’ I refer to a very personal experience in 2019 of the Lord’s glory in a Catch The Fire conference in Fleet, Hampshire. Nina and I knew the pastor and wife and a leader of CTF, Alan Shemwell, later led an excellent study of the Book of Revelation, even presenting attendees with certificates. I asked, therefore, about the availability of his notes and diagrams available and the story unfolds below…and I note that 1989 is the re-start of both our lives!!
BIO
‘Alan was always enthralled with ‘End-time’ stories even before becoming a Christian, at age 26 in 1989. Then he was drawn to the books of Revelation and Daniel.
He struggled to make sense of prophecies, especially the number of years mentioned, which simply didn’t add-up. He jumped at the chance to hear any speaker on Revelation. Almost always, their interpretations simply did not sit right with his spirit and seemed too naïve, simplistic, biased, dismissive, worldly – seemingly quick, lazily formed interpretations, not well thought through, and not Holy Spirit inspired.
For 35 years he sought a clearer, more rounded, unified, God-inspired interpretation.
Alan has been happily married to wife Sian for 35 years. They met in school (6th-Form). and have 3 sons, all in their 20s. Alan and Sian became Christians at the same Billy Graham event in Aldershot, a year before they married. They moved from Somerset to Hook, Hampshire and found a lively, Spirit-filled church.
Within months they were leading home-groups, involved in evangelistic outreach, attending international Christian conferences by John Wimber and other notable Christian pioneers. For years they led Christian introduction (Alpha) courses. Their journey of faith was on an exponential trajectory. They are still very active in their walk of faith. Until recently they were part of the core-team for a new Catch-the-Fire church plant in Farnborough. Alan enjoys street evangelism, Healing-on-the-Street (HOTS) and Christian teaching. Sian is gifted in hearing and responding to God’s heart – demonstrating compassion for the lost and broken.’
As for myself, Richard, having been introduced to eschatology and geopolitical history of the Middle-East a few years before becoming born-again in 1989, and 20 years later began emailing on the subject and attending Neil Mackereth’s teaching at Winchester Vineyard and launching this blog in November 2011, I found Alan’s to be an excellent course. He relates The Apocalypse (Greek title) to current events and I’m pleased he’s now been able to find a publisher. And I particularly like his easy-to-read style and typography.
GOD-INCIDENTAL TIMING
Alan posts only occasionally on his Facebook but for once I dropped in this morning and find this of Monday relating to TODAY:
“The book is also available on the Waterstones.com site. The prices on Amazon.co.uk are currently not correct. I’m told this often happens with Amazon, just before publishing date but will soon correct itself on the Publishing date 26th March. Pricing is correct on Waterstones.com”
SO I invite my readers and visitors to read all about Trustworthy and True in the next post in a few hours and seriously consider buying…
Not only the superb teaching and content but also the timing of the guest speaker’s visit to 3Counties Vineyard Church on Sunday was of significance for the congregation, as well as personally and blog-wise.
Events last week delayed my intended blogging on a friend’s new book about the Book of Revelation, but I needed to finish what was in mind about Iran and the eventual fall of Islam with its growing schism between Sunni and Shiite branches – LOL as I type that I saw a picture in front of my monitor of branches falling off a tree!
The delayed timing, nevertheless, must be of the Lord – ‘God-incidental’ – because I had first to hear the Executive Director of Elam Ministries at our church, as in video intro: ‘This morning David Yeghnazar from Elam Ministries is with us as part of our “Mission March” focus on “Shining in the world”. He will be sharing about Elam, which exists to to strengthen and expand the church in the Iran region and beyond, and will also be speaking from Revelation chapter 1.
The video link starts when our church team-leader Dave Wright shows a 5 minute video of the foundation and history of Elam Ministries in Iran and interviews David Yeghnazar for 12 minutes. After their prayer David proceeds to present a superb message from the 42 minutes mark . The transcript, however, is too long and complicated to publish here.
I was astonished at 48:45 minutes when he says the Book of Revelation gives a clue about Christians in Iran – here and elsewhere shining in the darkness – and tells why its first chapter is his favorite. Then at 1 hour 2 minutes he speaks into the dream vision I had of the glory of Jesus during His overnight Visitation on 13-14 September 1989!! 1:01:56 “Then it says, “Behold, he is coming with the clouds.” Verse seven, “And every eye will see him.” Behold, this word behold is so important. 19 times in the book of Revelation you see this word, ‘behold’. What’s it saying? It’s saying, guys, you need to SEE. And you need especially to see Jesus. Behold, HE, Jesus, is coming with the clouds.”
And I note my marginalia scribbled atop that chapter in my small Bible >
‘9/11/19 Vision whilst in ‘Fire’ ministry. J(esus) in brilliant light, me in golden Spirit.’ [Catch The Fire meeting in Fleet with John & Carol Arnott of Toronto.]
Moreover, in describing Jesus as King of Glory, David echoes the penultimate point of my recent Bible Update:
‘The founder himself had engaged in or else planned over four dozen battles and within 50 years of his death another battle between his followers split the movement. SUCH A DEEP CONTRAST WITH THE EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH BORN FROM JESUS’ HOLY SPIRIT ANOINTED APOSTLES – IT DEFINES THEIR DIFFERENCE – MOST DEFINITELY NOT THE SAME GOD!’
So at 1:16:41 of our meeting I hear David say: “And others begin to see it. One of my dearest friends, the one who was in the video, who was in prison for 5 year. While he was in prison one of the otherprisoners came up to him was an Islamic cleric, but he was against the government, so he was in prison. And this Islamic man comes to him and says, “Ours is dead. Yours is alive. Ours is dead. Yours is alive!” And he asked him about Jesus Christ. So my friends, that’s my offering to you….”
SO. please carve out 50 minutes to listen to David’s uplifting, enlightening messages. HOUSE GROUP DISCUSSION
Monday evening’s house group was highly enthused about that teaching and, with his kind permission, leader Clem Burford allows me to share his following notes:
Do You Love Jesus? Rev. 1:1-20
Looking to Jesus
Many have suffered and are still suffering
John a prisoner, alone on the island
Receives Revelation of Jesus
What is true – Needed to see Jesus again
Joy in Suffering? – When you’ve Tasted and Seen
Blessed is the one who reads the Word Aloud
John had to write down what he sees – NOT what he thinks
Behold (Look but See) – We need to see, especially see Jesus
He is coming with the clouds
John Hears a loud voice “Write what you see and send it to the seven churches”
Jesus was in the centre of the churches, amidst them, not above or below or outside
Jesus appears
Hair white like snow (wisdom),
Eyes like a flame, fire – (Pure) – Makes you feel clean
Feet Bronze
His voice – many waters flowing, (powerful)
Seven stars in his right hand
Sword of Truth
Face like the Sun shining in all it’s Brilliance and Strength
The Grace – We Bless Each Other
John Falls at His (Jesus) feet
Do Not be Afraid
I am the First and the Last and the living One
40 YEARS AGO
Bear with me in returning to the personal pertinence of the morning and remind you my monitoring of Iran began with flicking through a history book on the religions and geopolitics of the Middle-East and seeing simultaneously a rehearsal of the storming and liberation of Jerusalem out of Israel.
Still not a Christian, a couple of years later I was stunned by a foretaste of Jesus’ glorious return on and rapid descent from the clouds.
A couple of years later, being born-again I witnessed in the heavens about the fall of Islam. 20 YEARS AGO
Let’s go back to a memorable evening in mid-2006 and join Lindell Cooley and Kelley Warren somewhere in the Caribbean in the next video, wherein Heidi Baker of Iris Ministries pops up nearby.
Dear Nina was struggling with severe back pain and upon return to UK we learned her lower spine had collapsed and she needed a wheelchair, thus officially registered as being disabled. BUT PRAISE THE LORD, she was healed from that necessity when John Arnott heard the Lord tell him the next year when in Bath City Church to put aside his sermon as He wanted to heal folk. (Click to read about her documented healing)
Ever since then that praise song stirs my spirit, especially this rendition:
WHEELS-within-wheels continue with Revd Christopher’s video message showing events really are happening as outlined 16 years ago in my very first email/blog The Endgame IS Now In Play of 29 February 2009. Therein I write,
‘However, (forbidding prayer for patients in hospital) is just one instance of the growing persecution of believers, principally through a policy supposedly promoting toleration but that’s now a tyrannical tool of intolerance – Equality & Diversity. There are other powers of suppression. Even the previous director of MI5 warns about UK sleep-walking into a police state … Rampant lawlessness now exists not only in society but also within legal authorities – laws not approved by Parliament – ‘snoop and snitch’ culture – correction punished and evil behaviour rewarded – ID cards and routine interception of email and phones – etc etc. Clearly, Banking isn’t the only thoroughly corrupt UK institution.’
Several posts herein plus more on my personal Facebook and blog’s Telegram feature on police activity and arrests turning the UK into a fascist farce, and ridiculed across the ‘pond’ at presidential level. AND PM Starmer has digital identity cards in the pipeline!
So, it’s most encouraging that some church leaders have started speaking out….
Please take time to watch this half-hour sermon and I’m grateful to Chris Wickland for kindly providing this summary of the heart of this most serious issue (emphases RB):
THE RISE OF THE FOURTH REICH – Chris Wickland
What I want to talk about today is what I call the rise of the Fourth Reich.
In Nazi Germany, there was the Third Reich. For those who don’t know, “Reich” means kingdom or empire. According to Hitler:
The First Reich was the Roman Empire.
The Second Reich was Germany in its heyday.
The Third Reich was Hitler’s attempt to bring Germany to global prominence, which led to terrible atrocities under the guise of progress and nationalism.
Watching it gave me chills because I saw parallels in Britain today. Initially, I thought the message was too strong, too much to share. But after recent events, it’s clear this is a time to speak, to challenge what’s happening.
In Bonhoeffer’s day, pastors were arrested for speaking the truth — 800 of them. How many pastors in Britain today would dare to speak the truth? Few, because reputation matters more than the cause of Christ.
A quote from the Daily Telegraph highlights current issues (RB: DT search results):
“The news that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans are to be banned from attending Aston Villa’s Europa League match in Birmingham is perhaps the highest-profile example yet of two-tiered policing. This case lays bare an ugly truth about British policing in 2025.The police have chosen to afford different rights to different groups. Israelis—or Jews—have again been relegated to second-class status. Imagine if it involved mainly Muslim supporters—would the outcome have been the same?”
This is happening in our nation. Subtle, clever propaganda is at work. We’re told actions are “for their safety” — a tactic reminiscent of totalitarian control.
Before diving further, let’s ground ourselves in Scripture. Ephesians 5:11 says:
“Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead expose them.”
Every Christian has a responsibility to speak, to act, to stand. To not speak is to speak.To not act is to act. There is no neutrality. You are either for righteousness or for darkness!
The Church is called to be children of the light, shining in this dark hour. Alarmingly, many churches today are doing their best to do nothing.
The Church’s prophetic role is to hold those in power accountable. This is what Bonhoeffer emphasized. If the Church needs to raise her voice, it is NOW!
I witnessed people at a protest in Southampton, hugging me, crying, grateful to see Christians with the courage to stand for truth and defend the nation. Grown adults were moved by someone simply wearing a clerical collar.
Consider the treatment of Jewish people:
banned under the guise of “safety,”
denied access to events, while governments and institutions remain silent.
Last year, London’s largest Christmas market was told to rename itself a “Winter Market” to avoid offending anyone.
This is cultural erasure.
It’s also a spiritual war. Cultural Marxism, political correctness, woke ideology—they infiltrate churches and society alike.
Compassion has become a cult, replacing justice and righteousness.
Christians must resist being duped by misleading agendas like Black Lives Matter or pro-Palestinian narratives that, at their core, aim to delegitimize Jews.
Zechariah 12:3 reminds us of the End-times significance of hatred against Jews:
“…all who lift it [Jerusalem] will be severely injured, and all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it.”
We see a subtle global hatred for Jews, often hidden behind terms like “anti-Zionist.” Yet Zionism simply affirms Jews’ right to their homeland. To oppose that is to oppose them.
The Church must not stay silent.
Many denominations today, including state churches and evangelicals, have taken pro-Palestinian stances. Some even forbid praying for Israel.
Those who remain quiet or complicit are aiding a cultural agenda reminiscent of Nazi Germany.
Matthew 5:13-16 teaches:
“You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden… Let your light shine before men…”
Churches have lost their saltiness. Many fear offending or being labeled extremist, prioritizing reputation over obedience. Yet Jesus called us to take up our cross daily, to live sacrificially, and to let our light shine.
History shows that Hitler promised the Church safety if it stayed out of politics. Today, Christians are told the same. But Scripture calls us to influence the world for God’s Kingdom — to be yeast in the dough, salt in the wounds, light in the darkness.
Who do we serve? The Jewishness of Jesus is suppressed in our churches. He is not a “nice white hippie”; He is the Jewish Messiah, and He will reign from Israel. Hatred of Israel or Jews is incompatible with serving Christ.
Acts 5:29:
“We must obey God rather than man.”
Romans 13 teaches submission to authority — but only when it aligns with God’s will. When governments contradict Scripture, Christians must stand for God,not man. [RB note verse 4 – governments are to act against – NOT promote and practice – evil.]
Christianity today faces persecution—sometimes subtle, sometimes overt. Those who speak truth are labeled fascists, Nazis, or racist. Yet those truly operating in that spirit are often anti-Semitic, woke, or culturally Marxist—mirroring the Church of the Third Reich.
Faith without action is dead. Silence in the face of evil is complicity. Dietrich Bonhoeffer warned:
“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil. God will not hold us guiltless.”
This is the defining hour: light or darkness, truth or compromise. The Church must stand, proclaim righteousness, and resist the rise of the Fourth Reich in our time.
Last weekend a second powerful prophetic vision of personal relevance after that of the previous post, but for reasons relating to my dream Father, Let Your Kingdom Come! (2011) not only for its location but also untold name directly echoing “Patmos” (!), was that told by Veronika West on her Facebook.
Thus, it’s effectively the 11th posting of the full-circle, wheels-within-wheels series! And so I’m grateful to Angus MacKillop for permitting use of images from His Kingdom Prophecy:
A NOW WORD: “THE KEY TO THE VALLEY OF VISION IS THE CRUCIBLE OF PATMOS”
So, I had a powerful and profound Dream which I believe and submit, is speaking to The Body of Christ and particularly to the Prophets — to those who are seeking a greater level and measure of Prophetic Revelation, Illumination and Understanding.
A short dream – but powerful
This Valley I knew by Revelation in the dream, was “The Valley of Vision,” and I saw from a distance that the landscape of the Valley before me was rugged and the terrain looked difficult to traverse — jagged rocks jutted out from the hillsides, and the narrow paths that marked the landscape looked somewhat daunting.
The atmosphere in the dream was thick, and yet weighty and again I knew by Revelation that the very ground I was standing on was shrouded in Divine Mystery and Hidden Secrets.
Now, as stepped forward in the Dream, I felt a Mantle come upon me.
( It was almost as if I was being clothed and prepared spiritually to enter into The Valley of Vision.
I was taking on the very fabric of the Valley, the spiritual texture of that deeper dimension of the Spirit was coming upon me which would enable and empower me to both receive and carry what would be imparted to me should I enter in. )
But as I took another step forward towards The Valley of Vision, not only did I feel a tangible sense of great weight now upon me, but suddenly my Vision began to take on greater clarity, and just as I was about to take another step towards The Valley of Vision, I saw what looked like an Ancient Door suddenly appear before me.
As I looked at the door, I saw the Word, ”PATMOS” deeply engraved upon this Ancient Door!
Ha! Immediately in the Dream, it was quickened to me of John, who was sent to the Isle of Patmos where he wrote the Book of Revelation. [RB: aka ‘The Apocalypse’]
Now, as I stood in that place, I knew by The Spirit that the Ancient Door that stood before me in the Dream was like that of the Door of Revelation 4.
“After this I looked, and there before me was a Door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”Revelation 4:1.
As I looked and looked again at the Word “Patmos” engraved upon the Ancient Door, again I knew by Revelation that the Door was Living — it was Alive!
The Ancient Door was full of The Glory of The LORD, and the Ancient Door seemed to recognise me, as a Son of Righteousness.
( Even the fact that I was being given access to traffic in this Realm and dimension in The Spirit, through a Dream, I knew that I was Marked to be there — Called — to become a Partaker of a greater level and Dimension of The Vision Realm of the Glory. )
But as I stood in that Sacred Place, I was made to understand by The Spirit of Revelation that this was not exclusive to me, but rather this was an Invitation to the Prophets — to those in The Body of Christ — who are seeking the Face of God in this Season, for the unveiling and the revealing of the Knowledge of Christ unto greater Transformation and Reformation of The Nations.
The Glory Hunters were being Invited to “go beyond” the shallows in this Season — to “go higher” — to go where “Deep Calls Unto Deep…” (Psalm 42:7)
In the Dream, I could tangibly feel The Glory of The LORD — the weight of The Spirit of The Fear of The LORD filled the atmosphere!
Yet I knew that I was being given and shown a powerful and strategic message for the hour — a Message to the 11th Hour Prophets!
And though I was being given permission to stand before the Ancient Door, I was not yet permitted to go beyond the Door, even though there was a Invitation to “Come up here! Come up higher!”
In the Dream, I began to inquire of The Holy Spirit asking, ”Spirit of Wisdom, what must I do to enter into The Valley of Vision””
In reply I heard these Words, “The Key to The Valley of Vision, is the Crucible of PATMOS!”
I woke up!
As you can imagine, I was now wide awake; grabbing my journal; writing everything down!
But the first thing I wrote was; “The Key to The Valley of Vision is the Crucible of PATMOS…..”
I immediately felt to look up the word PATMOS— Meaning ; “My killing.” (Thayer : #G3963 : Πάτμος — Patmos).
Wow! Now, as I read those words, I believe and humbly submit that God is saying,”Patmos is the crucible”, where the fiery trials and tribulations will refine the Faith and deepen the vision of His 11th Hour Prophets into the coming Season.
This Valley of Vision is not one of despair, but rather of the Birth Place of Divine Revelation; glorious Illumination; greater Understanding and Knowledge — which will bring us into a greater measure of the Statue of Christ — the place where the veil is lifted and the 11th Hour Prophets are given unfettered access to look upon His Glory!
Then I heard The Holy Spirit say, “Watch and Listen! For I AM Calling My 11th Hour Prophets into The Valley of Vision in this Hour, that their Eyes of Understanding may be Opened — and that what may BECOME what is Beheld!
Yes! For I AM Calling My 11th Hour Prophets to the Crucible of PATMOS — to the Place of Death unto greater Life and a Greater degree of the Vision — through the Light of My Glory and Power!
I say again, a Crucial of Patmos, where the Fires of Purification will bring forth greater Humility and Purity to My 11th Hour Prophets — an Invitation — to enter into a sacred place — the Birthing place of True Vision — The Valley of Vision — where the flesh dies in order that the Spiritual Senses can come Alive, and are fully Awakened, Illuminated and Ignited!”
Friends, ”The invitation is Open! It’s NOW — and it’s time to Respond in total Surrender, Faith and with Radical Expectation!”
Let me briefly give my understanding of ‘globalism’ and its use in this blog, as implied in almost 200 postings in New World Order category.
Basically it means worldwide interconnection of business and the interrelated network of nations and political activities, motivations, operations and plans. Yet it also has a direct relevance to Bible prophecy and what Jesus foretold and in His Revelation shared with apostle John, The Apocalypse.
“New World Order” was a visionary term used in a speech by President George H.W. Bush to Congress on September 11th, 1990, as recounted inThe Other 9/11by The Dallas News.
Subsequent, geopolitical developments of that ‘vision’ advanced in tandem with those of the World Economic Forum, which was founded in 1971 by Klaus Schwab as European Management Forum and changed to WEF in 1987. Schwab was a business professor at the University of Geneva and as is now stepping down, as in the previous post on its prophesied demise.
The combined action by the WEF- NWO in the global implementation of controlling the world led to a great wake-up call by ‘Kiwi’ Barry R Smith in his renowned writings and speeches:
In more recent years those nefarious aims of globalization enveloped climate-change, net-zero and pandemic narratives and controls
JULIE GREEN PROPHECIES:
Now here’s yet another amusing timing from the Lord: I spent some time away from the desk upon Nina’s return home for I decided to search Julie Green’s site to add to the prophecy shown in the previous post and found many references to Klaus Schwab and was prompted to take capture another screen. THEN I saw the time shows personally significant numbers of my birthday ’22’ and a variation upon my first home address ‘212’ (featured during the Lord’s Visitation 36 years ago, as recounted herein).
Let’s look at just a few of those Julie brought from the Lord:
“Great destruction of the One World Government is about to be seen. Yes, a great fall is coming that the world will see. Klaus Schwab, George Soros, Bill Gates, and many others are about to fall from their places of power and control.” – 31 Jan 2023 Great Destruction Is Coming To The One World Government.
“Obama is nothing. Kamala is nothing. “The Biden” is nothing. The Clintons are nothing. Klaus Schwab is nothing. The elites are nothing. Their establishment is nothing. Don’t you see, My children? Your enemies are nothing. I am the Lord that will cut them off and bring their plans to nothing. My Army is moving forward to take them all out, saith the Lord of Hosts.
George Soros’s money will be exposed in a major way, (showing) how he and his fellow elites used their fortunes to rule the world and change world events (such as) elections worldwide, how they helped to fund the machine in Washington, and how they paid many of your government officials to pass bills to take more of your freedoms away.
My children, Soros, Gates, Schwab, the secret societies, and the UN are the oneswho are really running your government, controlling the markets worldwide, and controlling the mainstream media and social media and what is allowed to be said on the news or spoken about worldwide—total censorship because they want total control“. – 4 Sept 2024 The Silencers Are About To Be Silenced
“Major corruption will be eradicated, and explosive evidence and exposures regarding the UN and the EU, connections to the One World Government and this fraudulent administration in the United States, and the WHO, and how they devised a great plan against you and the whole world. Fauci, Biden, Nancy, Mitch, Chuck, Hillary, Zelensky, Trudeau, Macron, Gates, Schwab, and many of the world leaders devised a plan to steal your nations, your freedoms, and your lives. For world control and great depopulation. They planned to continue to lie and continue to enslave. Their plan was to completely take over. A plan to kill, not just lives, but to kill any independence, any faith, anything they didn’t want you to have, like privacy or your own way of thinking. They had planned to take it all away, and you haven’t even seen or experienced everything they wanted to have done to you by now.
A great fallout is about to be seen. A great fallout and a great collapse. A great surrender, a great silence, a great reinstatement, a great restoration, a great transfer, a great removal, a great glory flood, great celebrations, and a Great Exodus. Yes, My children, a great fulfillment of My Word. A great time to be alive, saith the Lord your Redeemer. ” – 19 Dec 2022 Giant Moves Have Been Made To Secure This Nation
Since the Lord stunned me by dropping “This is ALL about to be fulfilled!” into my mind and spirit sixteen years ago upon opening my Bible to check what Jesus said about the parable of wheat and tares in Matthew 13 – as recounted in my first email on eschatology The Endgame is Now in Play – it’s been rare to read or hear anyone who plugs that parable into End-times teaching, unless maybe within group discussion.
Could that be because it may contradict claims about the ‘Rapture’ or ‘snatching up’ of believers upon Jesus’ Second Advent, as outlined in Paul’s first letter to the early church in Thessalonica? (1Thess 4 13-18)
However, Rick Joyner, founder/director of Morning Star Ministries, refers to it specifically in his latest message on his examining the Book of Revelation.
First, a reminder of Jesus’ explanation to His disciples about the purpose of parables after they’d asked, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” (Matthew 13 NKJV)He answered and said to them, “Becauseit has been given to you to know the[a]mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.”
Then, when the gathered multitudes had left, His disciples needed to know what the parable of wheat and tares means and Jesus specifically relates it to the far distant future, the end of the Age (emphases mine):
“He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.38 The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares arethe sons of the wicked one.39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil,the harvest is the end of the Age, and the reapers are the angels.40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this Age.41 The Son of Man will send out His angels,and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness,42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire.There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
Rick Joyner in his Word for the Week: The Book of Revelation, Part 9 not only refers to that parable but also likening it to today’s returning to the depraved Days of Noah, The Tower of Babel and ‘Mystery Babylon’. His brief study begins:
‘We have been talking about the Lord restoring mankind and the earth. In Revelation, mankind falls to its deepest depravity before the Lord comes to rule and restore. He said it would be like “the days of Noah,” which saw the worst corruption and evil the world would experience until the end of this age. In His parable about the wheat and the tares, Jesus said, “the end of the age is the harvest” (see Matthew 13:39).
In this parable, Jesus was speaking of how the wheat and tares would grow up together. The harvest is when all the seeds that have been sown will come to full maturity, so both the good and evil sown into man will come to full maturity at the end of this age. Then, we will experience evil in its fullness—the full maturity of the sin of man personified in “the man of sin”—and the full maturity of the nature of Christ will be manifested in His people. This is predicted in Isaiah 60:1-3: “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples; but the Lord will rise upon you and His glory will appear upon you. And nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.” …’ (continue reading here)
As with Johnny Enlow’s Embracing the Golden Age, It is most encouraging to read a learned leader’s analysis that’s independent of overarching doctrinal direction.
For newcomers, the first of above references includes not only internationally acclaimed books on the ‘Big Brother’ and on the New World Order’s methodology of introducing the Mark of the Beast, but also my hearing the Lord with confirmation from a prophet and follow-up on its connection with the imposition of masks and cashless society.
Now we catch up with the weekend’s news and how its significance may have been confirmed ‘God-incidentally’….
“I have long said that Covid 19 was launched by design by a small number of people in the globalist predator class for one reason and one reason only — as a beta test for the coming technocratic new world order.
Now, we’ve got the World Economic Forum coming out and all but admitting that was exactly why the Covid-19 “pandemic” had to happen.
The WEF gleefully posted the following snippet to the “My Carbon” page of its website where they make a pitch for so-called smart cities, which is just another term for 15-minute cities….” (continue reading at Substack)
Being a weekend I took some screenshots and hoped to blog Monday. But visiting our local pharmacy I encountered backlog issues and wrote to surgery’s management as well as signing an online Petition to NHS to Save Our Pharmacies (please sign if UK resident). So I mentioned this at the evening’s house group and management by phone app was raised – meaning not only one’s private financial but also confidential medical data is digitally accessible… taking us full circle back to our topic – NWO/WEF control.
SO, I posit to the group:: “Thx for the tips about the phone app; doesn’t it include your digital data onto the global database? The one that mapped your location during lockdown? As well as where, who, when and how you make cashless payments? Isn’t it the same process described in Rev 13:16-18? I wonder…”
“I heard from the Lord four years ago after already having confirmed Cv-19 is “Man-made” (ie a bioweapon) and since validated a couple of dozen times by top leaders. When he woke me with “MaSk is 1 letter away from maRk” (ie of the Beast)
I understood it to refer to governments’ test-run of public compliance to wearing masks, lockdown and cashless payments. It was unexpectedly confirmed – word for word – by an American prophet whilst speaking about another matter! And now the globalist WEF has validated it.”
‘GOD-INCIDENCE’
Finally, I write “😁 A friend has just put this from an MP on his Telegram, so maybe the Lord’s pointing it out?” Chris Moyler had posted on Telegram this from the outstanding ‘warrior’ Member of Parliament…OH WOTTA COINCIDENCE!!!
“As said last night, I love it when there’s ‘two witness’ confirmation because it establishes a matter/prophecy (Deut 19:15)”
This deep insight is especially noteworthy because upon reading it via my Facebook home page on Monday and sharing I also inserted it on Richard’s Watch Telegram (be sure to visit as LOTS of prophecy-related news). I forwarded to a friend’s channel but a discussion ensued because he believes we’re far from the days Jesus predicts in His Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24) for the reason that many contemporary prophecies are yet to come to pass! I said of my having heard opening my Bible sixteen years ago, “This is ALL about to be to fulfilled” – SO I submit the distinct possibility of all true prophecies being conjoined with scripture in the rapidly accelerating End-times to deal with the increasing satanic evil of these days.
Thus, I submit the following as indicating how that scenario may be operating and was blessed to receive the ‘God-incidence’ of a double confirmation, as recounted in my Footnote:
WORD OF THE DAY, AUGUST 4, 2024: RED ALERT!!!! THESE NEXT FEW WEEKS WILL BE INTENSE!
FROM THE FIG TREE LEARN THE LESSON
Beloved, this morning I was quickened by the Holy Spirit Matthew chapter 24:
32 From the fig tree learn this lesson: as soon as its young shoots become soft and tender and it puts out its leaves, you know of a surety that summer is near.
33 So also when you see these signs, all taken together, coming to pass, you may know of a surety that He is near, at the very doors.
Saints of God, I have an alarm in my spirit going off for the past month and even more this last week. There is something brewing by the enemy we must be ready for.
BELOVED THINGS ARE GOING TO SHIFT IN THE NATIONS AND NATIONS DRAMATICALLY IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND MONTHS.
WE’VE BEEN WARNED SEVERAL TIMES OVER DECADES! Now, blatant ‘two-tier’ justice exists on both sides of ‘the pond’! SO before we consider what the Lord is saying and doing FOR HE IS FAR GREATER, we need to be aware of scripture-relevant events:
The danger of demonic globalist control of peoples’ lives has surfaced occasionally throughout my life, for example:
2020 – Trying to return to sleep early 18th July I got stopped by: “MaSks are 1 letter away from MaRk (ie. of the Beast) – Wake up Church”. Upon getting confirmation from a prophet I posted Personal Appeal: WAKE UP Church!
1996-8 – Bible teacher Barry Smith warned in-depth about New World Order’s total government control and developing use of bar-codes [Barry Smith Evangelism – ‘…better than Nostradamus’ – ‘The Devil’s Jigsaw’]
1949 – Publication of George Orwell’s ‘1984’ about ‘Big Brother’ surveillance and control. [Google-search: ‘Orwell’s hope when he published “1984” was that he could communicate his concerns related to authoritarian governments. He wanted people to be aware of the potential problems that could arise if they did not pay attention to their government’s attempts to control them’. See Overview & Analysis of Orwell’s novel 1984 at Study.com.]
Thus, I blogged and now with extra emphases:
‘That is, we need to realise that compulsory wearing of masks in public is a trial-run, or testing, the progress and outcome of which will inform and lead into the imposition of the infamous Mark of the Beast. It is a softening up and preparing the global population for such an eventuality, as foretold in chapter 13 of the Book of Revelation. Therefore, it is becoming increasingly important for Christian leaders to teach about being prepared for the End-Times.
‘…It dawned upon me we’re not only ‘one letter’ but also ‘one inch’ away from carrying the full marking, or ‘carved-effect’ (original Greek). The new legal requirement from last Friday imposes a mandatory restriction upon anyone wanting to go shopping and buy anything that focuses not only upon a person’s mask, thereby highlighting their forehead and eyes – its edge being on the bridge of their nose, is an inch below the forehead – but also uponwaving a hand in order to buy without handing over cash or cheque, or tapping one’s own private code.’
‘On June 6, 2020, 14 police officers were injuredin London after a Black Lives Matter protest turned violent. One female officer suffered a broken collar bone, broken ribs and a collapsed lung after a protester threw a bicycle at her horse, causing it to bolt. The next day, at another Black Lives Matter protest in London, a further eight officers were injured. One was pictured with blood pouring down his face.
Then, two days after that, Sir Keir Starmer chose to publish a photo of himself, solemnly taking the knee.’
NB: Thank you to Chris G Bennett for informing me about this directly implicit danger of surveillance and crowd control :
As if by coincidence, a week ago today three people alerted me separately to ‘the Mark of the Beast,’ as in the 13th chapter of The Book of Revelation, as herein:
The Beast from the Earth
11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives [f]those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causesall, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no-one may buy or sell except one who has [g]the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666. [NKJV courtesy BibleGateway.com – the Greek is particularly illuminating on ’emblem of the hand’: click image to read in full.]
1st GOD-INCIDENCE
Friday 26th June was the latter half of 24 hours of fasting to finish a week of prayer held by our church. I limited my drinks to tea or coffee and didn’t have any accompanying ‘yummies’! Therefore, this unusual when joining a couple for a chat over morning coffee at Petersfield Heath. It was their first time near others since the start of lockdown three months ago.
For several weeks the outdoor cafe has opened on certain days to serve take-away drinks, subject to ‘socially distanced’ queuing and not handling items, such as cash, for the good of the staff’s health. So, it’s ‘contactless payments only’. We’ve known the manager since the cafe first opened and my card is not enabled for such payments, so they allow me to pay by tapping my PIN whilst wearing one of their disposable gloves.
Last Friday, the manager took orders and asked if I don’t use contactless on principle, so I answered “Yes”. He said local Environmental Health officials are instructing businesses to reopen by following his method of accepting money. That is, local firms are now encouraged not to accept any cash, thus avoiding the risk of Covid-19 virus, and move entirely to payments enabled by a digital personal number – as foretold in Revelation 13!
2nd GOD-INCIDENCE
That evening Neil Mackereth emailed me a new article in which he quotes those verses in connection with a vaccination programme against the Covid-19 virus. The pertinent part coinciding with what I’d heard that morning, reads:
“Everyone will be encouraged to have the vaccination and, for seemingly very sensible reasons, to have an identifying mark (like a tattoo) to show their immunity. In the early stages of “normalisation”, retail outlets (shops, pubs, restaurants etc.) will be able to relax social distancing restrictions, for those who can show that they have been vaccinated (i.e. have the mark of immunity)…I am not suggesting that it will be inappropriate to have the vaccination. However, if it is conditional on having some sort of mark, great care will be needed in assessing the appropriateness, in light of God’s guidance on the subject. (see Revelation 13:16-18).”
3rd GOD-INCIDENCE
Also, on Friday my phone alerted me to a YouTube video prophet Tomi Arayomi had issued the previous day in which he divulges a dream about lockdown of markets relating to the implantation of radio-frequency identification (RFID) micro-chips. He also brings an important prophetic word for the Church in these days.
In my humble opinion this video is essential viewing! It is most important that we know about such matters because they are directly relevant to End-Times and clearly indicate we’re now there..!!
No wonder I’m ‘God-smacked’ over what the Lord brought to my attention 7 days ago!
“By the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established” (Deuteronomy 19:15)
‘Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said’ (1 Corinthians 14:29)
NOW, 4 YEARS LATER (11 April 2024)
BUYING BY FACIAL RECOGNITION PLUS WAVING HAND = IMPLEMENTATION OF Rev 13’s ‘MARK OF THE BEAST’
In his third annexure to Simplicity, Neil Mackereth asks and points out:
WHY IS THE BOOK OF REVELATION SO IMPORTANT? 10 KEY POINTS
1. It is the Culmination of The Bible Story. The denouement.
Could you imagine the Bible ending with the one-chapter book of Jude?
2. It Shows Jesus in His glory – As King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
So awesome that even His close friend John fell on his face as if dead when he saw Jesus. We know Jesus as prophet, teacher, priest, healer and so on – but here we see Him in all His glory.
3. It Provides Knowledge: to Defeat Misinformation. A challenge to false prophets and false doctrine.
4. It Provides Knowledge: to Help us Understand World Events. Revelation shows that God foreknew, He is in control, and His plan will not be thwarted.
Current events: Israel, 1948 and following; moves towards a new world order – a world economic system and a world governmental system.
5. It Provides Knowledge:to help us be pathfinder guides and watchmen for Israel.
6. It is a Basis for Evangelism.
It is my contention that the incredible significance and glorious wonder of so much fulfilled prophecy in the Bible, is so “undersold” that it indicates the church has been duped into veiling parts of the Word of God Any other prophetic book that was so absolutely accurate over so many events over such a long period of time, would be hailed and revered in awe and wonder by the secular world.
7. An antidote to complacency.
We now know enough to not be caught unawares.
8. Future Focus: it prepares us for what lies ahead.
Revelation tells us more about our eternal home and condition, rather than our current temporary state – more about the significance and urgency of the choice we, and all people, need to make.
9. Worship.
A book full of worship, and how to worship – 11 major songs that have inspired a multitude of hymns and choral works, songs etc.
10. Because God tells us it is Special!
It is the only book in the Bible that blesses the reader and the hearer (Rev 1:3) John wrote it as he saw it and heard it, which may account for its unusual style – he was continually being reminded to write down what he saw and heard, and then told not to change it! – Reveleation 22:18-19.
Briefing 11’s Introduction to the Book of Revelation draws to a close by its author, Neil Mackereth, stating “Apocalyptic works seek to inform the reader about aspects of an End-Times drama. The grand climax of the Bible is imminent — that is to say, it could happen at any moment…” He reminds us, “The Bible explains that two absolute powers or principles operate in the universe…In the book of Revelation (and the whole Bible), God himself is the ultimate source of all that is good; Satan and his followers refuse to submit to God and are the ultimate source of evil. This ethical dichotomy underlies the conflict within the book of Revelation”.:
OVERVIEW OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION
The Prologue provides essential information for understanding the meaning and structure of the Book of Revelation. “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place; he made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.” (Rev. 1:1–2).
Apostle John conveys to his first-century readers the unveiling of Jesus. It’s something like the showing of a video of a Monarch and his court. The Book of Revelation is written for Christians who understand the language of a faith unique to Christian experience. But given the complexity of the metaphors and images, even “insiders” have difficulty understanding Revelation. However, anyone can grasp the basic message: Jesus is going to return to earth, overthrow Satan’s evil empire, reward his faithful followers, punish those who reject his Lordship, and create a new heaven and a new earth.
From the very start, it is abundantly clear that God holds the Book of Revelation to be of paramount importance.
Revelation continues with 7 letters dictated by Jesus to John for distribution to the churches at: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. The letters, which summarise positive and negative aspects of these representative churches, have stood the test of time. They were written over 1,900 years ago but signpost conditions and circumstances that continue to exist in churches today.
The pattern of the letters is fairly consistent. Each is addressed to a specific church, followed by a particular characteristic of Jesus. Then comes positive comments (none for Sardis or Laodicea) and negative comments (none for Smyrna or Philadelphia), and advice to each. The letters close with an entreaty that the readers will open their ears and hear, and with a promise to ‘overcomers’, which is different for each church.
These letters are relatively straightforward and understandable (which is not to say that we shouldn’t look for help to “unpack” their full meaning!).
From chapter 4 onwards we move into an altogether more challenging series of visions that are filled with symbolism, allegories, metaphors, imagery and other such figures of speech and apocryphal language: to try to interpret the Book literally would be to miss its meaning. Some scholars argue that there are seven visions each of which is linked to a matching day in the seven days of creation in Genesis (ie. that the order of events links the beginning with the end).
The timing and sequence of events can be difficult to follow. This is in part because the very act of writing things down gives them an order that may not be intended. Some of the actions recorded are clearly happening simultaneously.
I have the impression that John (Jesus’ scribe) is seeing visions on a huge scale (like vast paintings) and trying to scribble down what catches his eye, without necessarily having time to arrange and classify the information. It is clear that there are two or three sections that are digressions or parentheses from the central narrative.
Furthermore, the unusual style, which is not in character with John’s other writings, may have remained ‘unedited’ because of the very strong warning against alteration given in Rev. 22: 18-19. These verses show us again that Revelation is both unique and of huge significance: no other book of the Bible has such a ‘health warning’!
In simple terms, Revelation shows that:
Things on earth are not right and the Church is not as it should be (Rev. 2 & 3);
Things in heaven are right: God is on His throne and Jesus is the overseer and leader for the End-Time plan and action (Rev. 4 & 5);
The world will suffer great tribulation for 3½ years, under the unholy trinity of Satan, the antichrist and the false prophet (Rev. 6-18);
Jesus will return as King of kings and Lord of lords, defeat the armies of the unholy trinity and establish His rule on the earth for a thousand years. The Day of Judgement will be at the end of the millennium rule, followed by the ushering in of the new heaven, new Earth and new Jerusalem (Rev. 19-22).
It’s now time to expand upon Briefing 3’s listing of Signs from the Gospel accounts and Paul’s letters by considering ‘The Apocalypse’, as in the annexures to Neil Mackereth’s paper dated 21st May: Simplicity. First, recall Apostle John’s opening remarks on its awesome origin, along with benediction (Young’s Literal Translation – in Greek here):
A revelation of Jesus Christ, that God gave to him, to shew to his servants what things it behoveth to come to pass quickly; and he did signify [it], having sent through his messenger to his servant John, 2 who did testify the word of God, and the testimony of Jesus Christ, as many things also as he did see. 3 Happy is he who is reading, and those hearing, the words of the prophecy, and keeping the things written in it — for the time is nigh!
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF REVELATION
The challenge in introducing Revelation to a new audience, or to infrequent readers of the book, is twofold: how do we make sense of this strange book; and how do we overcome longstanding antipathy to it, which, unfortunately, is often reinforced by those who should be explaining its message. I want to describe what apocalyptic literature is and to provide a basic overview of what Revelation is about.
The Bible, at its opening, quickly moves to the fall of man and the success of Satan. Then follows God’s sovereign selection of His chosen people Israel, the story of their triumphs, failures, trials and tribulations up to the first coming of Christ. The New Testament describes Jesus’ life and role as Redeemer King, His death, resurrection and ascension to heaven. At the close of the Bible, Jesus returns, Satan is overthrown and his followers are defeated. Without the Book of Revelation, the story would be incomplete.
First, I believe it is essential to consider what the writer’s mindset might have been, if we are to have any hope of untangling and understanding the book’s mysteries.
The Hebrew Mindset
Those who first taught me Bible truths encouraged me to read the Bible with integrity, in context and with a Hebrew mindset. I felt confident about the context and integrity aspects but, in the past, rather glossed over the “mindset” factor.
Recently, whilst meditating on the concept of divine control, I had a distinct feeling that I should address the mindset question far more rigorously. As I have come to understand it, there are three main types of mindset, and each will lead to a different world view:
Barbarian: Tyrannical “strong man” rule based on control by fear. Typically, a ruthless dictator using extreme force to subjugate. Examples of the Barbarian mindset include ISIS, the Taliban, the Church during the Inquisition, Iraq under Saddam Hussein, Iran, North Korea and so on.
Greek: Man-centric democratic rule based on the concept that human reason reigns supreme and that the application of intellect and logic can bring about a utopian liberal society. Ours is the pride, power and glory, there is no need for God. Knowledge is power and anything that cannot be comprehended is ignored. Examples include USA, UK, most European countries and communist nations.
Hebrew: God-centric (Theocracy) based on acknowledgement of God’s existence and His absolute power and authority. A biblical way of thinking and acting that is Holy Spirit lead. Standards based on the Torah which guides moral values of right and wrong, holy and unholy. Examples here are more difficult. Historically, the Jewish nation had a Hebrew mindset. However, the new Israel, post 1948, is much more secular. There are undoubtably people groups and individuals who have a Hebrew mindset; but no nation.
The various mindsets do not necessarily operate in isolation. Barbarian groups may work within a democracy and vice versa. Also, to state the obvious, Bible believing committed Christians may live in democracies or in totalitarian states.
Why is it important?
If we don’t put God at the centre in our Christian walk and our Bible study, we will live on the fringes of what is available to us (Proverbs 3:5,13; Joshua 1:9; Psalm 1; 1 John 5: 13-15; etc.).
When considering the Book of Revelation, we need to overcome centuries of ‘Greek World-View’ interpretations and analyses that seek to apply logic and to deny or ignore any supernatural implications. Recently, it was made clear to me that the word ‘theological’ is a one-word oxymoron (contradiction in terms) implying that God can be explained by some logical process. We can learn a huge amount by a systematic approach to the study of theology, but the mystery remains and there comes a point where only faith and God-given spiritual discernment can help us.
God is in control and is shaking the foundations of our man-made democratic systems and liberal world view. I am convinced that churches which adopt the Greek mindset, and only operate in what they understand, will not see miracles. That is not to say that individuals with a Hebrew mindset within those churches won’t see miracles. Those with eyes to see and ears to hear will recognise that the weaknesses of democracy are being exposed.
BACK TO REVELATION
The word Revelation is synonymous with the word ‘Apocalypse’, which means unveiling or revealing. The Book of Revelation is so called because it reveals the glory of Jesus, and unveils God’s End-Time plan. Because of its “end of the world” association, the meaning of the word apocalypse has come to be used as a descriptive noun that denotes damage or destruction on a catastrophic scale.
John wrote the book of Revelation during the era of apocalypticism. This rather daunting word is more about how we view things than being a clearly definable literary style or type. There are historic plays and dramatic writings of the period, between 200 BC to 200 AD, that share some common literary themes with Revelation. Apocalypticism involves a view of reality where there is a disclosing, unveiling, or revealing of something that was previously hidden or secret. Put another way, when John was writing, an apocalypse would have been understood as a public disclosure of something that had previously been kept secret.
In a dream or trance-like state, John is transported to heaven and is given a conducted tour of God’s headquarters. There he gains some insights into the workings of heavenly realms and God’s operations room, and their interaction with the worldly realm. He sees and is briefed on various aspects of God’s End-Times plan, including some classified information which he is told he is not to reveal. For most of his tour he has an angelic guide who explains the meaning of the events and visions that John is witnessing.
The idea of an angelic mentor is not unique to Revelation. The books of Ezekiel, Daniel, and Zechariah have apocalyptic passages where angels provide commentary (Ezekiel 40:3–4, 43:6–27; Daniel 7:15–28, 8:15–27, 10:10–21; Zechariah 1:9–2:13, 4:1–6:15).
Further to this point, for a full appreciation of End-Times prophecy it is necessary to study a wide range of Old Testament prophetic books and New Testament scriptures. Revelation draws together many threads of End-Times prophetic writing. For example, the description of the antichrist given in Daniel 9 is developed more fully in Revelation 13. Similarly, the apocalyptical threads in Daniel 7-12, Isaiah 24-27, Ezekiel 37-41 and Zechariah 9-12 are all drawn together in Revelation. In other words, I don’t think that Revelation can be studied in isolation. Some theologians go so far as to suggest that the whole Bible could be studied (reverse-studied!) from Revelation: to which I would comment; such an undertaking would not be for the faint-hearted!
Apocalyptic works seek to inform the reader about aspects of an End-Times drama. The grand climax of the Bible is imminent — that is to say, it could happen at any moment. As the prologue of Revelation explains, “The time is near” (1:3). The Bible explains that two absolute powers or principles operate in the universe. A fundamental divide exists between good and evil. In the book of Revelation (and the whole Bible), God himself is the ultimate source of all that is good; Satan and his followers refuse to submit to God and are the ultimate source of evil. This ethical dichotomy underlies the conflict within the book of Revelation.
[First posted 1.7.20]
We continue Annex A to Simplicity and examine some items in earlier Briefings:
KEY END-TIME (or SECOND ADVENT) SIGNS and PROPHECIES
An awareness of End-Time signs will help us to see if any world events, as they unfold in the weeks, months and years ahead, can honestly be described as fulfilling Biblical prophecy. Analysis of world events in relation to prophecy requires care and integrity, both to ensure genuine spiritual significance, and to avoid “false news”, conspiracy theories and the pronouncements of false prophets. It will be exceedingly hard to convince a sceptical world that prophecy is being fulfilled!
Some prophecies in the Bible seem particularly significant, in light of current world events, especially in the Middle-East. The following prophecies are worth bearing in mind, especially by those who are intentional about marrying historic prophecies with contemporary occurrences. They are, in short, signs of the End-Times:
Egyptian will turn against Egyptian (Isaiah 19:2)
Damascus will be in ruins (Isaiah 17:1)
Gaza will writhe in agony (Zechariah 9:5)
There will be false teachers and prophets who lead people astray (2 Peter 2:1-2)
Earthquakes, famines, plague and pestilences will intensify (Luke 21:11)
People will prefer fantasy to reality, myth to Christian truths (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
Some other signs of note:
The Jews have returned to their Biblical homeland, however, not all of the Jews have returned, and not to all of what was originally the Promised Land. We can expect to see more Jews returning and there may be further expansion of the current borders of Israel.
The desolate land of Israel has become fertile and fruitful – Zechariah 7:14.
The Gospel will be preached to all nations – Matthew 24:14. The Gospel is being preached in many nations, though not yet in all nations. It may be difficult for us to determine when full coverage has been achieved! At the same time, it is surely significant that in a matter of a few years from now the Bible, or parts of it, will have been translated into every known language.
We can expect that in any communication on End-Time prophecies the message, and the messenger, will be mocked and ridiculed (2 Peter 3:3-4).
Jerusalem will be seen as a problem by the whole world (Zechariah 12:2-3). Zechariah made this prophecy in about 520 BC, when Jerusalem was in ruins. Today, as foretold, Israel and Jerusalem are the focus of massive media coverage that is totally disproportionate to the size of the city or nation.
Christians will be persecuted and martyred (Matthew 24:9).
Many will turn away from the Christian faith (Matthew 24:10).
The governance of Jerusalem will be free of Gentile involvement (Luke 21:24).
The “Man of Lawlessness” (the Antichrist) will appear on the world stage. He will be seen as a great and very effective unifying world leader (Revelation 13:3-8). He will establish a seven-year covenant of peace with Israel which, after 31/2 years, he will break when he declares himself as god in the Temple in Jerusalem.
A worldwide financial system will be established requiring people to register and show allegiance to the Antichrist, as a prerequisite to being able to shop and trade (Revelation 13:16-17). We hear talk today of a “new world order”, the need for a worldwide economic organisation and a world government.
A 31/2 year period of desolation and despair, the “Great Tribulation”, will follow the “Abomination of Desolation” by the Antichrist in the Temple.
In order for the prophecy at 11 above to be fulfilled, assuming it is not allegorical, we can expect to see the Temple rebuilt in Jerusalem.
All nations will gather to fight against Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:2).
Jesus will return and defeat the attacking nations at Armageddon (Zechariah 14:3-4, Revelation 16:14-16, Revelation 19:11, 19-21).
The awesome realisation that Jesus is the Messiah, and all that that implies, will come to the nation of Israel in absolute certainty (Zechariah 12:9-10).
Nations will be judged according to their treatment of the Jews (Joel 3:1-2).
(Annex A) CONCLUSION
Undoubtedly, more signs could be added. However, time and space dictate a degree of selectivity. Jesus gave us pointers for the circumstances that will prevail when he returns, but makes it clear that the specific time of his coming cannot be known. It seems clear that we are well along the time line of prophetic events. Those signs that await fulfillment could happen very quickly. Reading the Bible, watching what is happening, particularly in Israel and Jerusalem, and seeking to understand the spiritual significance of unusual signs and symbols in the world around us, are all key elements in our being ready for the return of Jesus.
Word of the Day: February 25, 2024 Great Britain, Ireland, and Scotland. “THE LAMB IS WORTHY TO TAKE THE SCROLL AND BREAK THE SEALS.
Today I saw the ‘traditional religious leaders” gathered in three nations, and the Lord wanting to draw them to His heart. It was like they looked up because they knew God was about to move, but they didn’t keep their heads up to see the revealing of the King of Glory and His purposes. Continue reading →
In submitting this Neil shares details of a visual spiritual attack in the early hours of one night and precedes and concludes the email as follows, and we thank the Lord for His never-ending strong encouragement that Neil should proceed:
“I had this on the back-burner when a demonic attack persuaded me to finish it…I have had a couple of God-incidences since and am convinced I needed to finish the attached.”
FAITH IN A SEA OF TROUBLE – Neil Mackereth
The Evil That Men Do
I am suffering from information overload! Watching, listening, reading and trying to
fathom (track and make sense of) the labyrinthian and Machiavellian machinations of
the Washington swamp, brought this quote to mind:
“Oh what a tangled web we weave, When first we practice to deceive” (Sir Walter Scott)
When Lord?
I am also suffering from the unfulfilled (so far) expectation that truth will prevail. We
stagger from one shocking revelation of deep-state manipulation to another and yet,
nothing seems to change. The network of insiders is so interwoven and self-protecting that any “damage” is either neutralised or bypassed.
In other words, would-be honest investigators find themselves embroiled in such a web of lies, such a morass of skullduggery, that they are either too confused, too frightened, or lack the credibility (clout) to penetrate the protective layers of conspiracy; and certainly not in a way that brings any perpetrators to justice. Many see appeasement as the only option. Turmoil, misfeasance and abuse of power are by no means confined to
the USA; conspiracy, dishonesty and deception are a world-wide malaise.
Faith
Nevertheless, I know that God is in control, nothing escapes His notice and victory is
assured. Faith is the requirement of the day!
We are journeying through huge and frightening storms, and they will get worse. Are
we convinced that our boat is up to the task? Or do we believe we will be swamped?
I had been thinking about this article for several days, and had decided to shelve it.
However, in the wee small hours of Tuesday morning (27/06), I came under demonic
attack. Suffice it to say, it was intense and scary. Later that morning God showed me
a picture, more like an insight, of Christians being persecuted and misled. I had the
clear impression that I was to complete this paper.
The attacks on Christians come in many shapes and forms. The perpetrators include: liberal intellectuals and “theologians”, who seek to reinterpret scripture or disparage biblical values (false prophets); those who worship other gods; brutal tyrants, scheming demagogues and violent despots; demonic interference and those practicing witchcraft and various forms of sorcery; and those who espouse the view that there is no God.
I was shown how the present disturbances affecting Christians are analogous, albeit
now on the world stage, with the harassment, mocking and derision of Jesus and His
followers. As Jesus’ ministry progressed that harassment intensified, and culminated
in His crucifixion. Satan was certain he had succeeded. But the crucifixion wasn’t
“culmination”: Jesus rose from the dead…!!
Similarly, today the outcry against Christians and Christianity is intensifying: the
powers of darkness are in the ascendancy. Satan is manipulating the minds of men
and causing chaos and confusion on many fronts. He is cultivating a “cancel culture”
against Christians. I tell you the truth, a time is coming when Satan will be convinced that he has succeeded in neutralising Christian influence. Then Jesus will return!
Then The End Will Come
In Habakkuk’s time, understanding came later. Likewise, the current turmoil will get
much worse, but in the end (in God’s perfect timing) all will be resolved and the
fullness of the Book of Revelation will be uncovered (understood).
All biblical prophecy will be fulfilled, victory is assured, Jesus will return. We are in
the interim, somewhere on the “birth pains” time line: it has never been more vital for
us to stand firm in our faith and pray without ceasing. “Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” Ephesians 6:13.
“Thank you so much, Richard, for endorsing my book. I’ve been following Richard’s Watch since 2016 or so, (before we actually met). Keep up the good work faithful servant.
Week 1: from John’s time to the start of the seven-year Tribulation (signalled by a new peace-treaty in the Middle East). Rev. 2 to Rev. 8.
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