An in depth explanation of the book of Revelation would take a book. However, I would like to make a few points. I believe much of Revelation pertains to the fall of Jerusalem and the persecution that Christians suffered first at the hands of the Jews and then at the hands of the Romans. A small amount pertains to the Second Literal Coming of Christ when he will deliver the Kingdom to God the Father.

A Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to Him to declare to His servants things which must shortly come to pass. Blessed [is] the [one] who reads and hears the words of this prophecy, and the ones keeping the things written in it, for the time [is] near. Revelation 1:1,3 And he said to me, These sayings [are] faithful and true. And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show to His servants the things which must shortly be done.Revelation 22:6 And he said to me, Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this Book; for the time is at hand.Revelation 22:10

Contrast Revelation 22:10 with Daniel 12:4 shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end. All of these verses speak to the fact that what shall happen will be soon.

The first three chapters are to the churches that existed in John's day. Chapters 4 & 5 introduce the prophecy. Chapters 6- 11 deal with the persecution of the Christians by the Jews and culminate in the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

And a reed like a rod was given to me. And the angel stood, saying, Rise up and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and those who worship in it. But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it was given to the nations. And they will trample the holy city forty-two months.Revelation 11:1,2 It is clear from these two verses that the temple in Jerusalem is still standing. It also tells how long Jerusalem will be under siege. It is interesting to note that the Neronic persecution began in 64 A.D. and lasted until Nero's death in June 68 A.D. exactly 42 months.

Chapter 12 is a transitional passage where we are taken back to the time of Christ being in his mother's womb. Chapters 13-19 tells of the brief but intense warfare of Satan against the remnant of the woman's seed. These chapters deal with Rome's persecution of Christians, the fall of Jerusalem the Beast whom I believe to have been Nero Caesar. Neron Kaisar in Hebrew letters, totals 666. It finishes at the beginning of Christ's kingdom, which I have already shown began at his first coming. Chapter 19 has Jesus on a horse, not returning in the clouds as he will at his second coming. Therefore, this chapter cannot be referring to the second coming.

I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, that has the seven heads and ten horns.The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to ascend out of the abyss and go into perdition............The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sits. And there are seven kings; five have fallen, and one is, [and] the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goes into perdition. And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings, who have received no kingdom yet, but will receive authority as kings one hour with the beast.Revelation 17:7-12 This passage also points out the contemporary nature of the prophecy. Note it says five kings have fallen , one is and the other has not yet come. The king that is could have been Nero, as he was followed by Galba who reigned only 7 months, thus the book of Revelation would have been written before or about 68 A.D. The ten horns may represent the provincial governors and their provinces which at first gave their allegiance to Rome but in the end it was the provinces that destroyed her. Revelation 17:16.

But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you. Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house and spoil his goods, unless first he binds the strong one, and then he will plunder his house.Matthew 12:28,29.

Chapter 20 takes us from the binding of Satan, which Matthew 12:28,29 says occurred at Jesus first advent, through the church age, which is what I believe the true meaning of the thousand years is, to the end when there will be a final rebellion and then Satan will be cast in the Lake of Fire.

Chapter 21 and 22 describes what I believe the state of the earth will be after the church has finished her job of discipling the nations. The reason that postmillennialists do not hold that the new heavens and new earth are after Jesus 2nd coming as do amillennialists is because the new heavens and earth are mentioned in Isaiah 65:17-25. In this passage there is still death, therefore, it cannot refer to the heavenly abode.

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