By Michael H. Exton
Eighth Edition
This booklet makes the book of Revelation clear and understandable—a book that few people truly understand. Discover the meaning behind the seven seals, the mysterious beasts, 666, and the incredible events leading to Christ's return!
Begin ReadingIntroduction, Church Eras, Four Horsemen, 144,000
End-time prophets, the Church, and Satan's war
The seven-headed beast, false prophet, 666, and the coming Antichrist
Mystery Babylon, the scarlet beast, and the seven last plagues
The final battle, millennial reign, and Great White Throne Judgment
Complete outline of the book of Revelation
The book of Revelation has fascinated many people for hundreds of years—a book filled with mysterious symbols and proclamations about the future. This booklet makes plain the true meaning of these intriguing prophecies.
The seven messages to the seven churches in Revelation 2-3 were primarily meant to record the history of God's true Church in advance. They describe the overall conditions and trials of God's Church from the first century until the return of Christ—seven successive time periods or "eras."
Today we are in the final era—the Laodicean Era. While the Philadelphia Era is spoken of highly, the Laodicean Era is described as "lukewarm, wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked" and is admonished to "be zealous and repent!"
False religion—a counterfeit Christianity masquerading as the real thing
War—nations rising against nations and kingdoms against kingdoms
Famine—severe food shortages with far-reaching consequences
Pestilence—shocking disease epidemics killing one fourth of humanity
Fifth Seal: Represents a final end-time massacre of true Christians—the "great multitude" who come out of the Great Tribulation.
Sixth Seal: Amazing heavenly signs—the sun darkened, moon like blood, stars falling. These cosmic disturbances announce the end of Satan's fury and the beginning of God's punishment: the Day of the Lord.
The 144,000 are sealed after the Great Tribulation and just before the Day of the Lord begins. They represent God's servants who survived the tribulation—protected from Christ's own punishment on sinning humanity. They include Philadelphia Era members who escaped to safety plus a remnant who repented during the tribulation.
The seventh seal represents the Day of the Lord—God's wrath. It is divided into seven trumpet blasts:
During the last three and a half years of this age, two men will proclaim the truth of God with awesome power. They will come from God's true Church—apparently one from the Philadelphia Era and one from the Laodicean Era.
After their testimony is finished, they will be killed but resurrected after 3½ days—right in the midst of their enemies!
In Revelation 12, the "woman" symbolizes God's true Church, and the dragon is Satan. The Child born is Jesus Christ. When Satan is cast down to earth after a heavenly war, he pursues the Church—but she is taken to a place of safety for 3½ years.
Enraged that he cannot harm the Philadelphia Era, Satan makes war with "the rest of her offspring"—the Laodicean Era. This marks the official start of the Great Tribulation!
By comparing Daniel 2 and 7 with Revelation 13, we can identify this beast. The seven heads represent successive world-ruling empires: Babylon, Media, Persia, Greece, Macedonia, and two manifestations of Rome—ancient and end-time.
The ten horns represent ten European political leaders who will unite to give their power to the end-time ruler—the Antichrist. This beast represents both a revived "Holy Roman Empire" and its leader.
The two-horned beast resembles Christ (a lamb) but speaks like Satan (a dragon). This "false prophet" is a false representative of Jesus Christ—the papacy—who speaks pompously, persecutes saints, and attempts to change times and laws.
The Antichrist (political leader) and false prophet (religious leader) will work hand-in-hand to deceive an unsuspecting world.
The Antichrist will make a seven-year agreement, but in the middle will break it, stopping sacrifices in Jerusalem and setting up the "abomination of desolation"—a statue that speaks! Those refusing to worship it will be executed.
A literal mark—the name or number of the beast—required to buy or sell. It represents allegiance to Satan's system.
The numerical value of the beast's name. "Lateinos" (Greek for Roman/Latin) equals 666.
"If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark... he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God" (Rev. 14:9-11). Those who accept this mark will face God's full punishment!
Revelation 17 describes a "great harlot" dressed in purple and scarlet, sitting on a scarlet beast with 7 heads and 10 horns. She is "Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots"—drunk with the blood of the saints.
This fallen woman represents a false religious system that has made the world spiritually drunk with perverted teachings. She is called "Mother of Harlots" because many false churches have come out of her—her Protestant daughters who received many doctrines directly from her.
Many "Christian" doctrines actually originated from the ancient Babylon Mystery Religion—centuries before Christ:
The seventh trumpet contains the seven last plagues—completing God's wrath and announcing Christ's return:
As the world stands on the brink of total annihilation, Christ will step in at the most critical moment—just before mankind is exterminated. But will humanity be grateful? No! The armies of the world will stop fighting each other and unite to war against the returning Jesus!
"Armageddon" (Mount Megiddo) is where armies gather before marching to Jerusalem's Valley of Jehoshaphat—where they will be utterly defeated by Christ.
After defeating His enemies, Christ will rule the earth for 1,000 years. The dead in Christ will be resurrected first, then living believers will be transformed into immortal spirit beings—literally born into God's Family!
Satan will be imprisoned where he can no longer deceive mankind for 1,000 years.
Nations will turn weapons into farming equipment. Even wild beasts will become gentle.
God's laws and way of life will be taught worldwide, including the true Sabbath and Holy Days.
Resurrected saints will reign with Christ as kings and priests from Jerusalem.
After the millennium, the vast majority of all humans who ever lived will be resurrected for their first real opportunity for salvation. They will live for 100 years to prove their willingness to accept Christ's sacrifice and live obediently.
Those who repent and overcome will be born as God's literal sons and daughters. Those who refuse to repent will face the second death—the lake of fire—ceasing to exist forever.
Finally, God will create a new heaven and earth with a spectacular new holy Jerusalem. God the Father Himself will come to dwell with mankind. There will be no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain—"for the former things have passed away."
Prophetic history of God's Church through seven eras
Four horsemen, martyrdom, heavenly signs — The Great Tribulation
The Day of the Lord — God's wrath (one year)
Two witnesses, God's Church, two beasts, mark of the beast, 666
Completing God's wrath, Armageddon
Satan bound 1,000 years, saints reign, final judgment
God dwells with mankind forever — Christ is coming soon!
"He who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming quickly.' Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"
— Revelation 22:20
Great Tribulation — Satan's wrath (~2½ years)
Heavenly Signs — Transition between tribulation and God's wrath
Day of the Lord — God's wrath (~1 year)
Christ's Return — Resurrection of saints, defeat of enemies
Millennium — 1,000-year reign of Christ and saints
Great White Throne — Final judgment of all mankind
Eternity — New heaven, new earth, God dwells with man
By Michael H. Exton — Eighth Edition
What an awesome world awaits those who overcome! May we all do our part to be there when Christ returns to establish God's Kingdom on earth.
© Michael H. Exton — All Rights Reserved