This was one in all the best discoveries for me after I preached chapter-by-chapter through the book. I used to be not aware of what number of categories of individuals God has. If you possibly can understand different categories, you won’t wander away within the narrative. Here is a fast breakdown of who to listen to:
Old Testament Saints
Those who died within the Lord before the Church Age.
New Testament Saints
The elders (The Church Age). I think the elders John saw represent the New Testament Church (from the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2 to the Rapture). During the Church Age, representatives of local churches were called elders, and I think John saw the New Testament Church Age across the Throne of God. Note that the Church is rarely mentioned again from the top of chapter three until the top of the Tribulation period in chapter nineteen. Why is the Church missing from the Earth? I think it’s because we’re raptured before the Tribulation begins.
Tribulation Saints
An interesting query is why John didn’t recognize Christians who would die through the Tribulation. I think it’s because they are usually not a part of the Church Age. Can people be saved through the Tribulation? This category of God’s people proves that they’ll and might be.
Israel
While chapters one through three deal with the Church Age (Every name for Christ is a Greek name, like Alpha and Omega.), the book shifts its focus to Israel. From chapter 4 on, every name for Christ is Jewish, just like the Lion and the Lamb. This is the time period described in Romans 11 when the blind eyes of Israel might be opened. The close of the Church Age might be the top of the times of the Gentiles, and the eyes of Israel might be opened. This can even include the 100 forty-four thousand sealed Jews who might be God’s worldwide evangelists.
The Two Witnesses
Could these witnesses be Moses, Enoch, Elijah, and even John the Baptist? Space doesn’t allow me to elaborate; nonetheless, I fastidiously preached this text of Revelation 10-11, and I give my opinion of who I think these two witnesses might be that may literally shake the Earth.
Angels
The ranks of angels and the 4 living creatures play a outstanding role throughout the complete book of Revelation. An isolated study of angels, their work, and their role within the last days is a captivating study all of its own. For example, when Satan is certain with a series for a thousand years, it will not be Christ that binds him, but simply an angel. What does this tell us? It says that Satan is not any equal to the Lord Jesus.
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