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Revelation: Island of Patmos

Posted in Prophecy, Revelation with tags , , , , , on October 16, 2016 by paulthepoke

Revelation 1:9 I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

If a person is a believer of Christ and in the body of Jesus, this verse promises three things.

  • Tribulation…The Greek word is thlipsis/τηλιπσισ. It literally means: a pressing, pressing together, pressure; metaphorically: oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress, or straits. 
  • Kingdom…The Greek word is basileia/βασιλεια. It means: royal power, kingship, and dominion. It is the right to rule. Authority has been granted. 
  • Perseverance…The Greek word is hupomone/ηυπομονε. It means: steadfastness, constancy, endurance; a patient enduring. -Definitions per Strong’s Concordance 

…was on the island called Patmos…Patmos is an island in the Aegean Sea. The word “Patmos” means: my killing. The Apostle John was sentenced to the island of “my killing”. Where are you going? My killing.

Patmos is a small island approximately 10 miles by 6 miles. It is a rocky island. Tradition has John receiving the “Revelation” in a cave on the south side of the island.

Scholars generally believe Revelation was written during the reign of the Roman emperor Domitian. He ruled from 81-96 AD. The early church writers Irenaeus, Eusebius, Jerome and others indicated John was sent to Patmos by Domitian in 95 AD. John was released 1 ½ years later.

Historically Patmos was controlled by the Ottoman Empire. Today the island belongs to modern day Greece.

God chose to unveil or apokalupsis/αποκαλυπσισ in the Greek. It means to literally “take the cover off”. The word could be further defined as: laying bear, making naked; a disclosure of truth, instruction; concerning things before unknown; things withdrawn from view are made visible to all; manifestation, appearance.

The future end time’s scenario is completely revealed off of the coast of Turkey. All seven churches in the Book of Revelation are in modern day Turkey. The Apostle Paul planted many churches and spent a lot of time in Turkey…I suspect Turkey has a role.

Nelson’s Complete Book of Bible Maps & Charts; Holman Bible Dictionary.

Why was John placed on Patmos? …because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.

 

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Millennial Kingdom: Yasha` Yeshua

Posted in Gospel, Millennial Kingdom, Prophecy with tags , , , , , , , , , on May 22, 2016 by paulthepoke

Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.

The term “victorious warrior” is most interesting in the original language. The Hebrew word for “victorious” is yasha`. It is a verb. The grammar says the warrior is the cause. It means to save, deliver from moral troubles; to give victory to.

The Hebrew word for “warrior” is gibbowr, a strong and mighty man. –Strong’s Concordance

The strong and mighty warrior will be a savior. He will and has delivered from moral trouble or sin. He will give military victory to Israel.

The noun form of yasha` is Yeshua. The Hebrew name for Jesus is Yeshua.

The term for LORD is Yahweh, The Existing One. This is the definitive name for God. This is the proper name of the Hebrew God of the Bible. Jehovah is a word that has been translated to English from the Hebrew, Yahweh. The correct spelling is YHWH (Hebrew font is not available).  Scholars refer to this as the Tetragrammaton, Greek for four letters. This name is so sacred, Jews refuse to pronounce it. The name is first introduced in Exodus 3:14 when Moses and God are having a discussion. God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

The LORD, Yahweh is speaking in this verse in Zephaniah 3.

Yeshua Himself connects the dots in the Book of John. Jesus makes seven statements in the Book of John explaining “I am…”

I am the bread of life (John 6:35).

I am the light of the world (John 8:12).

I am the gate (John 10:9).

I am the good shepherd (John 10:11).

I am the resurrection and the life (John 11:25).

I am the way and the truth and the life (John 14:6).

I am the vine (John 15:5).

Yeshua is Yahweh, The Existing One. He saves. He will have military conquest.

John 8:58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM.”

Jesus Christ is the victorious warrior. He will dwell or tabernacle with the nation we know as Israel. The verse uses four different terms in Hebrew to describe the excitement and joy of Christ. He too will shout for joy with the introduction of His Kingdom. Yeshua will celebrate.

Good times are coming.

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White Horseman of the Apocalypse, Who Is It?

Posted in Gospel, Prophecy with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 23, 2014 by paulthepoke

Revelation 6:1-2 Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, “Come.” I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.

Who is the rider on the white horse? This is a source of controversy. Some say it is Jesus. Some say it is the antichrist. The verses above show there are two people involved. One is the Lamb. The second is the rider of the white horse. Notice, the rider of the white horse is obedient to the command of the Lamb. The Lamb says “come” and the rider on the white horse is on his way.

The Lamb is the One who opens the seals to all four riders of the colored horses. The seals are opened in Heaven. Revelation 6:3 When He (Lamb) broke the second seal…

Revelation 6:5 When He (Lamb) broke the third seal…

Revelation 6:7 When the Lamb broke the fourth seal…

The Lamb is in Heaven the entire time the seals are being broken. The Lamb is the One breaking the seals. The rider of the white horse is sent to Earth.

Who is the Lamb? Scripture says it is none other than Jesus. The point of Revelation 5 is defining Jesus as the Lamb. Revelation 5:12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” John the Baptist called Jesus the Lamb of God. John 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Jesus has been called the Lamb of God before the creation of the world. His death on the cross was planned before the Earth was formed. Believers in Christ were chosen before the world was made. Revelation 13:8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.

1 Peter 1:20a For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world…

Ephesians 1:4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love…

The rider of the white horse has a bow, but no arrows. The modern day equivalent would be having a gun but no bullets. Think of the symbolism of the white horse and the bow. He is a man of peace who gives conquest without war. We know initially in the tribulation there is no bloodshed because that comes with the next horseman in Revelation 6:3, the red horse. The wars and rumors of wars will initially be avoided. He will probably win the Nobel Peace Prize.

There is a hint in the type of crown the rider wears in Revelation 6:2. The rider of the white horse wears one crown. In the original Greek, the term is stephanos. Per Strong’s Concordance it is defined as: a mark of royal or (in general) exalted rank, the wreath or garland which was given as a prize to victors in public games, that which is an ornament and honor to one.

Compare this to the crowns (plural, as compared to single crown) worn by Christ in Revelation 19:12b …and on His head are many diadems. In the original Greek, the term is diadema. Per Strong’s Concordance it is defined as: the kingly ornament for the head, the crown. This type of crown is for a king.

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Resurrection Witnesses

Posted in Gospel, Isaiah with tags , , , , , , , , , on May 11, 2014 by paulthepoke

The Sadducees of Jesus’ day did not believe in the resurrection. Acts 23:8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.  This reference in Acts is after Jesus rose from the dead. The Sadducees were around when the event took place. They saw and talked to witnesses who acknowledged the resurrection, and they still did not believe. Some people will not let facts or history get in the way of their beliefs or religion.

What does the Bible have to say about witnesses to resurrection events. There are multiple examples.

The first example would be the resurrection of Jesus Himself. What proof is there? Are there any witnesses to this event? The first witnesses were likely the Roman soldiers standing guard over the tomb. The religious leaders of the day were suspicious and pestered Pilate to the point where guards were appointed to stand at the tomb of Jesus. A Roman guard was usually four men. These men were skillfully trained military assassins. Here is what they saw. Matthew 28:2-4 And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. This would be an attention getter first thing in the morning.

Women saw Him at the tomb (Matthew 28:8-10).

Jesus was not the only person resurrected. After Jesus rose, there were others raised from the dead. They were alive again and walking around Jerusalem. They were seen by people in the city. Matthew 27:52-53 and the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many. I imagine this would promote a scene of chaos and fear.

Jesus showed up and was observed by more than 500 people at one time. 1 Corinthians 15:6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep…

Jesus also made appearances to the apostles as a group of eleven (John 20:26-31, Matthew 28:16-20, Mark 16:15-18). He made individual appearances to Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9-11, John 20:10-18), Peter (Luke 24:34, 1 Corinthians 15:5), and James (1 Corinthians 15:7). Jesus appeared to two travelers on the road in Mark 16:12-13 and Luke 24:13-35. Jesus was also viewed by many at His ascension into Heaven (Mark 16:19-20, Luke 24:44-49, Acts 1:3-8).

Is it likely 1,000 plus people conspired the story of resurrections and the story stuck?

At some point in the future (currently May 2014), two witnesses in Jerusalem will be left dead and unburied in the street. The world will rejoice and send gifts to others. They are finally dead. They will be on display, dead, to rot. They will not be allowed a proper burial. Revelation 11:11-12 But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them. And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them. This event will convince many…

John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?“

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Revelation 8:10-11 Wormwood and Meteors

Posted in Prophecy with tags , , , , , , , , , on February 27, 2013 by paulthepoke

Revelation 8:10-11 The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters. The name of the star is called Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter.

This is the second event noted. The event takes place during the tribulation. God’s word leaves no doubt, this is a falling star. The star is described as a great star. The Greek word for great is mega. Again, this is a mega star. It is a huge, large object. This time it hits land and affects rivers and springs. Again, there is fire associated with the star as noted in verse 8-9 and as recently noted with the videos of the Russian meteor. These objects explode in midair.  Balls of fire with trails of smoke are visible for people to see. Parts of the star impact the rivers. Parts of the star are large enough to penetrate the earth’s crust and impact the water springs underground. In total, one third of the rivers and springs are affected.

Remember this book of Revelation was written by an old, elderly man, John, on the island of Patmos as a prisoner on a labor camp. He did not have the benefit of cable TV in the first century to see these events over and over. He did not have the benefit of the scientific community to explain what he saw. John had to take and believe God’s word. John’s written description looks exactly like what we have seen in February 2013 on TV, Youtube, or the Internet with our own eyes here in the 21st century.

The water supply of humanity is impacted by this mega falling star. According to multiple sources, less than 1% of all the water in the world is fresh water for human consumption. Pray this falling star does not impact the Great Lakes area. These lakes account for 84% of the fresh water in North America according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Wormwood is a bitter herb that was used to kill intestinal worms (NET Bible). The bitter star taints the water supply and people die.

Matthew 24:8 “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs” –Jesus, Olivet Discourse.

We see and read the end result in Revelation. But these birth pangs have to start somewhere in time. Birth pangs have a beginning. They become more frequent and more intense as the time draws near. Have the birth pangs started???

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