 Okay, all right. Good morning and welcome everyone to BC 213. Let's pray and get started. Could somebody please pray? Amen. All right, let's pick up from where we paused last week in our journey through the end times. We are trying to get a sequence, understanding of the sequence of events. And so we talked about pre-tribulation rapture of the church. Okay, and now we are going to start looking at the seven years of tribulation. So we said the rapture of the church will happen before the tribulation. Believers will be in heaven. We said what will happen in heaven. Let me answer some questions on that. Now we're going to say, okay, what is going to happen during the seven years on earth? For this, what I just want to establish is about the seven years. If you go with me to Daniel chapter nine, and here the angel Gabriel is speaking to Daniel. And it gives him an understanding of this seven year period, which is referred to as Daniel 70th week. So we will be looking at the book of Daniel in detail next year. And we study all of the prophetic texts in Daniel. But I want us to just know, see here about the seven year period. So Daniel chapter nine versus 23 to 27. Daniel nine, 23 to 27. Could somebody read it for us, please? Daniel chapter nine was 22 to 27. At the beginning of your supplications that the man went out and I have come to tell you how you are greatly beloved. Therefore consider her matter and understand the vision. Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your relationship to finish the translation. To make an end of sins to make the reconciliation for iniquity. To bring in everlasting righteous means to seal up the vision and promise and to join the most vision. Know therefore and understand that from the going through of the command to restore and in Jerusalem and in Messiah the prince there shall be seven weeks and set it sixty two weeks. So he shall be given the king and the world even in the troublesome times. And after the sixty two weeks Messiah shall be done. But not for himself and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood and till that end of the world this dissolution is determined. Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week. But in the middle of the week he shall bring and claim to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes this only even until the consumption which is determined is brought out on the resume. So we said here that the angel Gabriel came to Daniel and then verse 24 he says 70 weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city. That means he's saying I've come to talk to you about 70 weeks. So keep the number 70. One week represents a period of seven years. We will prove that and I've given you, I mean in the notes I've shown that that a week which is seven days is equal to seven years. You can see that for example Genesis 29 verses 27 and 28. In the notes you'll see that in Bible times seven days were used to represent seven years. So for example, Laban told Jacob, you work for me for seven days and I will give you Rachel only seven days. What he meant was seven years. So seven days is used to represent seven years in Bible times. So the 70 weeks really is 70 times seven which is 490 years. So then he says from the command verse 25 and the command to rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be 7 plus 62 weeks. 7 plus 62 is 69, 69 weeks. That is 69 times 7 is 483 years. So from and this is historically proved that from the time King Cyrus said go back, told the Jewish people to go back and rebuild Jerusalem till Jesus came. Historically they say, oh, about 500 some years, 500 some years. But according to what the prophecy is, it will be 483 years. The reason nobody knows it correctly because we are reconstructing. We don't know exactly which year King Cyrus said go back. Roughly about 500 years, 450 years before Jesus this happened. So there was no accurate calendar. So roughly they say, but according to what Gabriel told Daniel, it is 7 plus 62 which is 69 weeks. 69 times 7 is 483 years. So 483 years out of the 490 years is already over. How many years are left? Seven years, seven years, seven years are left. And then Gabriel tells Daniel this seven years is reserved for the end. Okay, so in between, from till the Messiah is cut off till the seven years start. What is it? It's the church age. From the time Jesus died till the beginning of the tribulation, the last seven years is the church age. You understand? So once the church is wrapped, the church is taken out of the way, then the last seven years begin. And what happens in this last seven years? Look at verse 27. He says, then he that is referring to the Antichrist, he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week. But in the middle of the week, he shall bring an end to sacrifice an offering. And on the wings of abomination shall be one who makes a desolate, even until the consummation which is determined is poured out on the desolate. So he's saying, he will confirm a covenant, which is a peace treaty for one week. One week is seven years. So now we start talking about the last seven years. And he's talking about this man who will, you know, suddenly he will have this one covenant of one week and then he will stop sacrifice and offering. Now in the previous chapters, which we will study in chapter seven, eight and seven and eight, Daniel has had visions already about this man. And he has already had information that this man, this Antichrist will stop the sacrifices. So this is a repeat of what is already given in chapters seven and eight. Okay. We are not looking at it. So the background, you know, you may not have it right now, but we will look at it next year. But the point I want to make is Daniel 927, which is referred to as Daniel's 70th week. Daniel's 70th week. What is this? It is the last seven years, which has not been fulfilled. The first 483 years has already been fulfilled. From that time, the Jews went back to rebel Jerusalem till Jesus was crucified. That was already fulfilled. That has happened. So last seven years is left. And he tells us in the middle of the week, in the middle of the seven years, that is three and a half years, he will break his covenant and he will stop the worship that's happening. He will bring an end to sacrifice and offering the offering that's going on in the temple. He'll stop it. Okay. So this has already been given to us in Old Testament scripture. Right. And not just once, many times. We will see in chapter seven and eight that many times it's mentioned that there will be this times, time times and half a time. That is one year plus two plus half, that is three and a half years. It is mentioned many times, several times in the book of Daniel. Okay. So it is with respect to these seven years that we now go to the book of Revelation. Let's go to Revelation, the book of Revelation. What we are going to do is we're just going to go through an overview of the book of Revelation. That means we're not going to read every verse, but I'm going to tell you, you know, I'm just going to give you a summary of these words. Chapters and then next year we will go through, we'll read verse by verse and go through it. Okay. Now, when you read the book of Revelation, our approach is that this book has been written chronologically. That means we stay with how God has given this book. Right. We don't chop here and chop there and mix it, match and throw around. No, no, no. Just stay with how God has given, how John has written it, stay with it. Only understand that there are certain portions, and I will show you well pointed out, for instance, in Revelation 12, there's a portion that looks back at the time when Satan fell from heaven. And then there is a portion, there are portions in the book of Revelation, which are parenthetical. That means there is no judgment being poured out, but it's like almost a pause. There's silence in heaven or something like that. But otherwise it is a sequence of events that are happening one after the other, almost like you're watching example. I'm saying you're watching a movie and it's a story from start to finish. But sometimes in the middle of the story, they may say, Hey, remember this happened there, flashback, right? This happened there. Sometimes they will say it'll show or it might say it might for one person. It'll take just his life, start to finish and, you know, give you that. So we have that. For example, the two witnesses, they are only mentioned in Revelation chapter 11. But the information given in Revelation chapter 11 about these two witnesses is what they will do for three and a half years. That means what they will do for the entirety of the second half. But it's only given in one place in chapter 11 for three and a half years. So this many days they will be doing this. You're with me, right? So it's mentioned, but it says it will cover this whole duration of 10. So you have both flashback and you also have... Like this is the full journey. I'm telling you here itself, this is what they will do for three and a half years. Finished. Okay. Other than that, it is just a chronological sequence of events which we will follow. Revelation chapter 1, what God is telling... So John in chapter 1, John at this time is sent into exile. So John is very elderly. You know, we don't exactly have all, but maybe around 80 years old or something. This book is written around AD 90. That means it's towards the end of the first century, around AD 90. Or sometimes AD 96 or 93, 95, something. AD. AD, first century AD 90. So that means in the first century. So John has been banished to the island of Patmos. He's the last living apostle of Jesus. And it's one of the 12th, right? Of course, we know there were other apostles like Paul and so on, but not the same kind as the 12th. John is the last one alive. He's been sent to the island of Patmos. And there he has this vision. So the Lord Jesus gives him this vision, which he writes. And the Lord tells him to write. And at this point... So I want to write these things. So Revelation 1 verse 10, John says, I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day. And I heard behind me a loud voice. So he's in the Spirit and he is caught up into heaven. And he hears the Lord speaking to him. And then he says in verse 11, what you see right in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia. So he's saying, write these things, send it to the seven churches. And then verse 19, Revelation 1, write the things which you have seen and the things which are and the things which will take place after this. So he's saying, write what you have seen and the things which are. That means there are things that are happening right now and the things which will take place. So what you have seen, he's seen the vision of the Lord. Things which are. That means this is what is happening with these seven churches and things which will take place. That means after the seven churches, I'm going to tell you what the future is like. So in chapter one, it is John's vision of the Lord. Chapters two and three, it is the vision of the Lord is telling him, this is what is happening with the seven churches. Now, what I want to point out is that these seven churches actually existed at that time. They're not seven church ages that are going to come. So some people will say, oh, each of these seven churches represents a church age. And we are now in the Lava Desi and church age, the last church age and all that. But that's not what Jesus said. Jesus said, write the things which are. Write it to the seven churches which are in Asia. Send it to them. At least those churches were there. So we shouldn't take the seven churches to represent seven church ages. That's not it. They were literal churches existing that time. But we can learn from all of the seven churches. We can learn what Jesus found wrong with them, what he told them, what he told them to correct. These are things we can learn and apply from all the seven churches. We don't have to say we're only in the seventh church and we are in that church age and all of that. We don't have to say that. So let's go to chapter four. So in chapter four, verse one, could somebody read that, please? First of all, I will show you things. So chapter four, verse one is the transition. That means this is from here onwards. I'm going to tell you about the future. Right. So chapter one is things that you have seen. Chapters two and three are things which are, that means these chapters two and three were things that happened during John's time. Chapter four, verse one onwards is things which must take place. It's going to happen in the future. Okay. So chapter four and now next year, again, I'm saying next year, we'll read everything verse by verse and I'll explain. So now I'm just giving you quick summary of each chapter. In chapter four and chapter five, we are seeing, chapter four, we are seeing worship taking place in heaven. We are seeing the 24 elders. They're on either side of the throne. Worship is happening. They are bowing down. They're casting their crowns. And there are lots and lots of people are worshiping a lot. Okay. So this is a view into the future. Is worship happening in heaven right now? Yes. But this is a vision into the future. That means in time to come, these 24 elders will receive their crowns and they will be seated around the throne and all the saints will stand before the throne and worship. Meaning it's things to come. It's going to happen, right? Four and five. So in chapter five, while worship is happening, there's a problem. Problem means there's a question. Who can open the scroll? There's a scroll. In the scroll are written all the prophecies that are waiting to be fulfilled. Who can open the scroll? That means the opening of the scroll is symbolic of saying, let these things start to happen. Who's worthy to do that? Jennifer, who's worthy? It's like almost nobody's worthy. Then comes the Lamb of God, the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Then they begin to worship. Oh, this is in Revelation 5.8. You, the Lamb is worthy. The Lamb is worthy. And so Jesus comes. We know the Lamb of God, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, that's Jesus. He comes and He takes the scroll and He is ready to open it. Meaning now these prophecies will start being fulfilled. But in chapters four and five, what is happening? There is worship in heaven. All the saints are there worshiping God. So what we say is because He has said this is going to happen, we are saying that chapter four and five is a picture of heaven after the rapture of the church. The redeem, everyone has been taken up into heaven. And we are standing before the throne and we are worshiping the Father. The elders have received their crowns. That means the rewards. Everyone else is there worshiping. And at that time, after the rapture of the church, the beginning of the last seven years takes place. The scroll is opened. Those prophecies are going to be fulfilled. You understand? Yeah. Go ahead. Lamb of God will come back. So like it. So it seems like the rapture of the Lord comes and starts this thing. Yeah, so it doesn't mean Jesus is not in heaven. He's already in heaven. He's already there. But what this picture is telling us is at that moment, it's the Lord Jesus who is like the official one who says, let these prophecies begin to be fulfilled. Because you know, remember Jesus said only the Father knows the time. So at the right time, Jesus has come for the church. And when the Father gives the okay, it's the Lord Jesus who says, let these things begin to be fulfilled. So the Lamb of God opening up the scroll, coming to open up the scroll and to say, let these things begin. It's symbolic of Jesus saying, it's like Jesus striking the clock if you want or the bell for these prophecies to start being fulfilled. He's the one who opens the seven seals. That means, okay, this is going to happen from now on. So the seven years, what we know is, and as you go to the book of Revelation, the seven years there'll be pre-sets of seven judgment seals, seven seals, seven trumpets, seven bolts. Judgments are coming. And it's Jesus who opens it and says, okay, start. So then from chapter six, verse one, start. The first seal is opened, first judgment, second judgment, like that it keeps happening. So what we are saying is, because the Lord told John, John, this is going to happen. It's things to come. It's in the future. And at some point, the Lamb of God will take the scroll and he will say, these prophecies, it's time for these to be fulfilled. And then on earth, these things will begin to happen. Okay, so that's how we understand chapter four and five, worship is happening. We will read all this and I'll also explain there's a lot of symbolic things of which we are not going into. Go ahead. See the scroll angels crying like who is worthy to open the seal. It's in chapter five. And before the chapter two, chapter four is where God is being worshipped, like Jesus, it's on the throne. Yeah. So, but if we see, even now Jesus was in heaven, even now he was being worshipped, it's happening. So it's like... See part of Revelation five when it says, you know, who is going to come and open up the scroll and this whole thing. I think the emphasis, so whether this is going to be literally happening, there's, oh, nobody knows, you know, that somebody's going to cry out or whether it's expressing to us that the time has come. And there is a sense in heaven, a sense of wonder in heaven saying, who is going to come and take the scroll? Because none of the angels, anybody else is worthy and there's a sense of awe and wonder. And then Jesus comes and opens the scroll, right? So whether what we're seeing here in Revelation five is an expression of that happening as opposed to just literally somebody saying, oh, we don't know who's going to open. Not in the sense of a lack of knowledge, but more in the sense of awe and wonder. So that I think is the main thing that's happening in Revelation five. That means who is this great one who's going to open up the scroll? And then Jesus comes forward to take and say that now the things are going to happen. I think it's more from the awe and wonder of the moment rather than, oh, we don't know, nobody's here. Not that kind, but more in this very solemn moment, awesome moment. And into that moment Jesus steps, showing how he's the one who has complete authority to do this from that. I think that's what it captures for us in Revelation five. So remember, everything is being seen in a vision. It's not like this is happening, but he's seeing in a vision. God is showing to John through pictures and visions. What is going to happen? So when it says I see a lamb and a lion, it doesn't mean there's one lamb running in the throne room or some lion. It's representing, it's a picture. John recognizes this is Jesus. It's not like one lion is coming. Lion of Judah. It's Jesus. But he's seeing it as a lamb. There's a picture of a lamb or a picture of a lion, but it is really Jesus coming. So there is both the prophetic imagery that he's seeing. Remember, it's all a vision. It's not literally happening. It's a vision. And in the vision he's seeing this, but what does it mean? It means the Lord Jesus is doing this. He's coming and taking the scroll and opening. But it's being conveyed to John through the prophetic images. So John is able to interpret this immediately in his mind. Because he understands who the Lamb of God is, who the Lion of the tribe of Judah is. So when he says I see seven spirits and seven eyes and seven, it's talking about the omniscience and the omnipotence and the omnipresence of Jesus. So there are some things that we have to understand is literal. And there are some things that we have to understand as prophetic images, which have meaning, especially to the one who was being spoken to, which is John. So he understands that, those images. But you also must keep in mind, and as we go forward in the book of Revelation, that if the Lord is going to speak to John about things that are going to happen 2000 years plus into the future, how will he communicate those things to John and what will those things look like to John? So imagine 2000 years ago, somebody saw an aeroplane. What will they think? A bird is flying. They won't know it's aeroplane. They'll write down as a big word with a big nose, made a lot of noise. That's what he'll write. I saw a bird in a long nose and two wings in the front and two wings at the back and a long tail that went up. That's how he'll write. He won't know it's an aeroplane. Because God is showing him about things into the future, but to somebody who has no context. So you will see in some of the passages in Revelation, right? He sees and he writes, he describes some things. I see very strange things. Some things are flying and there is smoke, like yellow, sulphur and red colour. Smoke is coming. So for us today, we could say maybe that's a big bomb that is dropped and he's seeing all this happening. But for him, they didn't have a bomb in those days and no context. So he'll only write, I saw big smoke and I saw this colour, this colour, this colour and literally it's written there. So God is showing things way out in the future. What John is writing, for which John has no context. So he'll just record what he sees. Plus, there are some things John understands, meaning pictures like the lion or the lamb, which he understands. So he'll say, I saw the lamb of God, the lion or the tribe of Judah, those things he understands. But God is using prophetic images. Okay. So chapter 6, so in chapter 6, so from chapter 6 till 19, end of 19, it is all things that are taking place in those seven years. In those seven years. So chapter 6 to chapter 19. It looks like so many chapters, but it is taking place in a period of seven years. And the middle of this is chapter 11 verse 1. So if you see, if you go with me, chapter 11 verse 1, verses 1 and 2. It says, then I was given a read like a measuring rod and the angel stood saying rise and measure the temple of God, the altar and those who worshiped that. But leave out the cord, which is outside the temple and do not measure it. For it has been given to the Gentiles and they will tread the holy city under foot for 42 months. 42 months or verse 3. And I will give power to my two witnesses. They will prophesy 1260 days, 42 months or three and a half years. So chapter 11 is the middle of these seven years. So very clear. Okay. Chapter 6 verse 1 starts showing us what is happening on earth at the beginning of the tribulation. Chapter 11 verse 1 is from there on it is talking about the second half of the tribulation till end of chapter 10, first half. It's easy to mark it because he says correctly there chapter 11 verse 1. I'm telling you what is going to happen in the 42 months, which is three and a half years. So that means, okay, he's from now on is three and a half years. That means three and a half years over. So chapter 11 verse 1 is middle of the tribulation. Got it. So it's easy for us to understand. Oh, from chapter 6 to chapter end of chapter 10 is the first half of the tribulation. Chapter 11 to chapter 19 is second half of the tribulation. So what happens in the any questions from online class? Irran's following any questions? Okay. So what do we say in chapter 6? Chapter 6 verses 1 and 2, chapter 6 verses 1 and 2, there is the opening of the very first to see. So we said there are three sets of judgments, seven seals, seven trumpets and seven bowls. The seven bowls are the most terrible. That is like a set of very, very terrible judgments. So we begin with the seven seals. When the first seal is open, we see the Antichrist coming. So how do you know is Antichrist? Read it. Now I saw when the lamp opened one of the seals, that's the first seal. And I heard one of the four living creatures say with a loud voice like thunder. Come and see. And I looked and behold a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow and a crown was given to him. And he went out conquering and to conquer. So you're seeing somebody coming riding on a white horse. Now here again, remember the horse horses and these four seals was four seals. You see horses, horses are symbolic of speed and strength. So don't imagine Antichrist will come riding on a horse, not literal. Okay. This is again being used symbolic meaning it's prophetic images. And this man coming riding on a white horse, he has a bow, which is talking about his military strength. He has a crown. He goes about conquering and to conquer. That means authority is being given to him. Dominion is being given to him. So this man riding on a white thing, anything. All right, network connection. Okay. So Daniel, yeah. So this is in connection. This kind of is parallel to what we read in Daniel Leppenberg for the Antichrist. He has authority over many countries. So he comes riding on a white horse. Now, why are we saying it's the Antichrist? Because the Lord Jesus comes also riding on a white horse. This is Revelation 19. He also comes riding on a white horse, but he comes as king of kings. Lord of Lords. This, yeah, that's what's figured. Meaning, I don't think you'll see, come on, come on, come on, white horse. Come on, come on. You know, yeah, it's a picture. It's talking about him coming with strength and glory. But remember Acts 1, what the angels said, you will see him come as event. Did he go on a white horse? No. Acts chapter 1. Remember the angel told him, told all the disciples, this same Jesus that you saw him go, will come in like manner as you have seen him go. Acts chapter 1 verse number 11, correct. He will come in like manner as you saw him go into. Well, Jesus in his second coming is going to come and land exactly on Mount Olives. Zechariah chapter 14. So where were they? They were on Acts 11, Acts 11, they were on Mount Olives. He took off from there. He ascended from there. He ascended from there. And the angel saying he will come exactly like that. Zechariah 14 says he will come and land on Mount Olives. Okay. So Acts 11 is referring to that coming, the second coming. He'll come back on Olives. But as in the secret coming, he's not landing anywhere. He's in the clouds. He will not come to the ground. Yeah. So Revelation 19 says, you know, he comes and all of us riding on horses and all. I feel that it's going to happen so fast. Horse or no horse will come so fast. You know, I think it's a picture because when Enoch saw it, he says, I saw the Lord coming with thousands and tens of thousands of the saints. That time he said he didn't see any horses or anything. Okay. I saw the Lord is coming, thousands and tens of thousands of the saints. So, but what I want to say in Revelation 6.1 is it is a contrast, right? This man is coming on a horse, but he's not the real Christ. He's the Antichrist. The real Christ is depicted in Revelation 19 coming on a white horse with a sword out of his mouth. Doesn't mean literally there'll be sort of, you know, it's prophetic images, right? He's speaking his word. His word is so powerful, right? And so on. So Revelation 6.1 starts with the Antichrist coming on the scene. And remember when he comes, he comes as a man of peace, white horse comes as a man of peace. He sets up a covenant of peace for seven years, Daniel 9.27. Covenant of peace for seven years. But we know in the middle of the seven years he will break it. But he sets it up first as a covenant of peace. And then immediately we're seeing one after seal after the other. The second seal, and we're not going to read this now, but we will, you know, we'll do this next year. But just know of you, there's conflict, there's, you know, there's, there's a lot of war on earth. When the second seal is opened, a great sword. Third seal, Revelation 6, verse 5. There is famine on the earth. Food is depicting famine. Fourth seal, Revelation 6 and verse 7. There is death, death all over the earth. And then fifth seal, you see that there are a lot of people are being martyred. It says Revelation 6, 9. When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the Word of God and for the testimony they helped. So will people become believers in the tribulation? Yes. Why? How can you say that? Because look, it says here that many people are being killed for the Word of God and for the testimony they helped. That means people are going to believe suddenly, but they're going to die. They're going to be martyred. So you say, I see so many people are being killed, right? And they're coming up to heaven. They're giving, being given white robes. They should rest a little longer. And they are being killed. Lots of people are being killed. Revelation 6, 9 to 11. So that is the fifth seal saying that so many people are martyrs. Verse 12 onwards, Revelation 6, verse 12. Sixth seal and there are lots of disturbances in the heavenly bodies. And this is the fulfillment of what Joel said. Joel said, you know, I'll pour out my spirit in the last days. And I will show signs in the heavens above and on the earth beneath. So what signs are happening? It says the moon, this is in Revelation 6, 12. There's great earthquake. The sun became black. The moon became like blood. The stars of heaven fell to the earth as fig tree drops its late figs. And people were crying out, telling the mountains and so on. They, they, they're crying to the mountains fall on us. And they want to hide from the day of wrath. Okay. Now remember in 1 Thessalonians chapter five, Paul said, he will keep us from the day of, he'll keep us from the wrath to come. What is it? It's talking about here. Oh, great is the day of his wrath for the, for the great day of his wrath has come. He'll keep us from this day. So we won't be there. Okay. But this is also fulfillment of Joel prophesying the sun being turned into black, the moon and blood red and all those things. So it's happening now in the tribulation. Yes. Regarding calling communion. So when the people get saved on the tribulation time, so calling communion, they'll have like they'll participate. Yes, yes, yes. Yeah, I think everything will be there. So imagine, actually there may be more belief, more strong than us. Right. At that time. So just imagine after rapture happens today, they hear us and they are, what are these people talking? They make fun of us. What are these people? The Bible and a, but we are, we are, we are preaching. We are, we are, you know, so many Bibles are being printed, lots of things of that. Then suddenly rapture happens. We're taken out. These people are going to believe. They'll start reading the Bible full thing. They'll download the apps, everything, whatever. They'll watch every video. They, you know, all these things we're leaving behind. So they're going to be very strong. They'll get together for prayer. We'll see in chapter eight. There's a lot of prayer happening. Lot of prayer. So big prayer movement happening on earth. Prayer coming up before God. People are going to pray. Going to seek God, but no hope. Because they're in the tribulation. And what will happen is many, many lives. We read many times. We are reading in chapter six. I will read again chapter 12 and also other places that chapter seven also. Many souls will be killed. Many will be killed. Chapter 14, one of the angels are saying, don't receive the mark. It is better to be killed than receive the mark of the beast. So you die. It's okay, but don't receive the mark of the beast. That is the condition. Okay. So let us take a break. We'll come back. Thank you.