Junior Tate

The last book of the Bible is not merely a book of beasts, judgments, and symbols. It’s very first words tell us what it truly 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:Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. (Revelation 1:1–3, KJV)- Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” Revelation is first and foremost a revelation of Jesus Christ; His person, His glory, His authority, His judgment, His kingdom, and His relationship to His Church. It was written to real believers in real churches in the first century, and it still speaks with power and urgency to every believer today. In this article we will walk through: Why Revelation Was Written  To Reveal Jesus Christ and God’s Plan The opening verse sets the purpose: (Revelation 1:1, KJV)- “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass…” This book is a revealing—an uncovering—of Jesus Christ and of the future events that fulfill God’s plan. It is not given to confuse God’s people, but to show His servants what is coming and to anchor them in Christ. At the close of the book, the Lord emphasizes again that these are faithful and true words: (Revelation 22:6–7, KJV)- “And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” Revelation is therefore prophetic, trustworthy, and Christ-centered. It displays God’s plan from the present Church Age, through coming judgments, to Christ’s return, His kingdom, and finally the new heaven and new earth.  To Bless Those Who Read, Hear, and Obey Unlike any other book; the Bible, Revelation contains a specific promise of blessing: (Revelation 1:3, KJV) – “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” And near the end: (Revelation 22:7, KJV)- “Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” God did not give Revelation to frighten His children into confusion, but to bless those who take it seriously, listen carefully, and obey its message. It calls believers to faithfulness, purity, endurance, and worship. To Strengthen Believers in Persecution and Suffering John tells us where he was when he received this vision: (Revelation 1:9, KJV)- “I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” John writes as a “companion in tribulation.” The early churches faced intense pressure from the Roman Empire, false religion, and spiritual opposition. Revelation shows that, no matter how dark things look on earth, Jesus Christ is still in control, and His kingdom will triumph. When believers suffer, Revelation reminds them that: (Revelation 17:14, KJV)- “…the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.” To Warn the World and Call to Repentance Revelation also serves as a solemn warning. It shows the coming judgments of God upon a Christ-rejecting world and the eternal destiny of those who refuse the Lamb. (Revelation 11:18, KJV)- “And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.” Yet, even with judgment, there is mercy. The book ends with a final invitation: (Revelation 22:17, KJV)- “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Who Revelation Was Written To  The Seven Churches in Asia Revelation was not written as an abstract prophecy with no audience. It is addressed to real churches: (Revelation 1:4, KJV) – “John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come…” Jesus Himself commands John: (Revelation 1:11, KJV) – “…What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.” Chapters 2 and 3 contain specific letters from Jesus to: Each letter ends with the same call: “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”(Revelation 2:7, KJV; see also 2:11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22) For All Believers in Every Age Though first sent to seven churches in Asia, the Lord’s repeated phrase “what the Spirit saith unto the churches” shows that this message applies to all churches and all believers. The problems in those churches; loss of first love, fear of suffering, compromise, tolerance of sin, spiritual deadness, lukewarmness; are still present today. Revelation calls every believer to examine their heart and overcome: (Revelation 3:21, KJV)- “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” Revelation speaks … Read more

Introduction: What Do People Mean by “The Age of the Gentiles”? When many believers say “the Age of the Gentiles,” they are usually describing a long period in history where Gentile nations hold ruling power over Jerusalem and the Jewish people experience national scattering and subjection, while God also brings salvation to the nations through the gospel of Christ. But Scripture uses two key Bible phrases that people often blend together: They are definitely two separate events! Both are real Bible themes. They overlap in history, but they are not identical phrases, and the safest approach is to let the Bible define its own terms. The Key Bible Text: “The Times of the Gentiles” Jesus Defines It (Luke 21:24) Jesus gave a prophetic marker that must be taken seriously because He ties it directly to Jerusalem: Luke 21:24 (KJV)“And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” From this single verse, Scripture gives several clear points: So “the times of the Gentiles” is not a vague idea. It is linked to Jerusalem and to Gentile control/pressure continuing for a defined season that ends when God’s prophetic timetable reaches its appointed fulfillment. The “Times of the Gentiles,” Will be fulfilled at the 2nd Advent/Christ’s Return at the Battle of Armageddon. The Old Testament Foundation: Why Gentile Rule Began The Captivity Was Not Random — It Was Judgment for Sin Before the Babylonian captivity, God repeatedly warned Judah that persistent rebellion would bring national punishment. The captivity (and Gentile domination beginning with Babylon) came because Judah refused to hear God’s words. 2 Chronicles 36:14–16 (KJV)“Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the LORD which he had hallowed in Jerusalem.And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place:But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.” This is the moral reason behind the shift. When God’s people rejected His covenant truth, God used Gentile empires as instruments of discipline. That discipline does not cancel God’s promises to Israel — but it does explain why Gentile kingdoms rose to dominance in the prophetic storyline. The Prophetic Timeline Begins: Babylon and the “Image” of Daniel 2 Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream: The Great Image (Daniel 2) God gave King Nebuchadnezzar a dream that Daniel interpreted, showing a sequence of world empires. This is one of the clearest “timeline” passages for Gentile dominion. Daniel 2:31–35 (KJV)“Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible.This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.” Daniel then interprets the head of gold as Babylon: Daniel 2:37–38 (KJV)“Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.” Then Daniel shows successive kingdoms: Daniel 2:39–40 (KJV)“And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things…” Finally, Daniel reveals the end of Gentile world-rule as God’s Kingdom crushes the entire system: Daniel 2:44–45 (KJV)“And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter…” Timeline truth from Daniel 2: The Same Timeline Told Another Way: Daniel 7 and the Four Beasts Daniel 7 repeats the same prophecy, but instead of a shining image (man-centered splendor), God shows Daniel the kingdoms as beasts (their true nature). Daniel 7:2–7 (KJV)“Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings…And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear…After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard…After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly…” Then Daniel is told plainly what these beasts mean: Daniel 7:17 (KJV)“These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.” And Daniel again shows … Read more