INTRODUCTION
The book of Revelation was written in symbolism, imagery and metaphor in order to seal (lock) the meaning of it away until God's appointed time. Some passages are just repeats of previous passages, but include new details, omits others and are told slightly different. Some actually overlap each other or are the same moment in time, but told from differing points of view.
We've all seen the way a movie trailer is screened. In a movie trailer, they will show you scenes from the middle of the movie, the beginning of the movie, then near the end, and it's so jumbled up we cannot understand nor make heads or tails of the plot.
The book of Revelation is done very similar and it's only when the Holy Spirit reveals pieces of this Revelation puzzle to us that we can begin to see a clearer picture of how these things will unfold. This book will follow the same "jumping around" format, so please forgive me if it appears to be somewhat erratic.
We are in the End Times (Last days) and scripture clearly indicates this in its warnings.
1 Timothy 4
1. But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2. by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, 3. who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. 4. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; 5. for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer. (NASB)
2 Timothy 3
1. But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3. unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good 4. treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5. holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these. 6. For among them are those who slip into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, 7. always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. (NASB)
Matthew 24
28. Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near. (NLT)
It is only just now that more and more verses in Revelation are being unsealed, unlocked, for us to understand what they mean and the Holy Spirit is beginning to reveal these meanings to us.
Don't we want to know what God is saying?
Psalm 19
1. The heavens tell of the glory of God; And their expanse declares the work of His hands.
2. Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge.
3. There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard.
4. Their line has gone out into all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. In them He has placed a tent for the sun,
5. Which is like a groom coming out of his chamber; It rejoices like a strong person to run his course.
6. Its rising is from one end of the heavens, And its circuit to the other end of them; And there is nothing hidden from its heat. (NASB)
Psalm 147
4. He counts the number of the stars; He gives names to all of them. (NASB)
Isaiah 40
26. Raise your eyes on high and see who has created these stars, The One who brings out their multitude by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, Not one of them is missing. (NASB)