The three are as follows: One teaches that the church will be raptured just before the tribulation begins. The other teaches that Christ will come in the midst of the tribulation and will receive those who got saved during this period and had to live through the horrors of the anti-Christ. The third speaks for itself: that Christ will come in flaming glory and majestic power to end the tribulation and establish his reign on earth, upon David’s throne in Jerusalem. It will serve us well to take a closer look at John’s vision, that was so complete, it became the full volume of the book of Revelation. To do justice to our study, we need to consider the circumstances and the “revealed message” of the entire book. Our first order of business is to authenticate the entire work and its Author. The very first line in the first chapter of the book explains what the entire book would be all about; and from to time, we have shared this concept: but it is worth repeating! It is “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John.” This single verse becomes an outline—a synopsis of the entire book. But how was John involved in the forthcoming drama that continues to fascinate and even traumatize multitudes across the world to this day?

 The point being raised as we proceed is of paramount importance, especially as it pertains to those who whole heartedly adhere to the belief in the “literal interpretation of the bible—that it should be read and understood at face value—as it is written. Let us join John on the scene where it all happened, and under what circumstances were the events recorded. The apostle’s account follows: (remember that we have gone through this segment before.) “I was in the Spirit (he became Spirit, or was completely taken over by the Spirit) on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, what thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for ever more, Amen; and have the keys of hell and death. I personally believe that a message given and written in the Spirit and by the Spirit, must be understood the same way—by the spirit opening the eyes of our understanding.

To focus correctly on what John saw and wrote in Revelation 21, it is rather valuable for us to study several prophecies dating back to olden times. This will take us to the mount of clearer understanding, because we learn from that which is already fulfilled and recorded in the narrative of scripture and archived in the Holy Writ for us and for generations to follow. Before we join John again in the Revelation itself, let us look at the prophecies given and fulfilled in the days of our fore fathers. We’ll see that their times of fulfillment varies immensely.

 The first prophecy to consider is the first one given by God himself in the Garden; that the seed of the woman would bruise the serpent’s head. It took some 7,000 years for its fulfillment. This speaks in the present tense: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son IS GIVEN: and the government shall be on his shoulder.” Isaiah 9: 6. But it would take another 740 years before this particular Son to be born. By contrast, let us examine a prophecy given by Jesus Christ, at a time when he could have been crown king over Israel, but was rejected. Notice this momentous period on Israel’s history. Having come to the city, he wept over it saying, “If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong to thy peace! But now they are hid from thine eyes. (The following grips me in my stomach!) For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side. And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.” Luke 19: 41-44.

 This was spoken by Christ around the year 33, and within another 37 years, the Roman General Titus came with his armies, laid siege to Jerusalem. Those Jews who fled the city were caught and crucified until there was no more space to put the crosses. Human pus flowed down the hillside until Titus (a heathen) threw up his hands in dismay and swore to God that he was not responsible for this horror. Josephus, a Jewish historian was at the scene, serving as translator to Titus, and recorded the reaction of Titus to the destruction of the temple who remarked: “Surely, we fought with God on our side.” It was Christ who foretold that not one stone would be left upon another: and so it was. In only 37 years the prophecy spoken by Christ had its fulfillment in stark realities upon Jerusalem and its glorious temple. By now, we are assured that John saw the city—not heaven—but he saw it descending from God out of heaven adorned as a bride on her wedding day. The city had a single street made from transparent gold, even though it measured 1400 mile four ways. As we explained, it signified the path that saints must walk. The measure of the city wall bore the measure of a man. To render the grand finale, John saw God himself coming down to earth to dwell with us; to wipe away all tears: to abolish and remove all sickness and sorrow AND THERE SHALL BE NO MORE DEATH. Indeed the Lord said: “Behold I make all things new.” “That is God’s guarantee!”  Amen!