I know it is a large, debated topic. But I wanted to start a thread for people to freely share their thoughts, convictions and questions etc on the last book given to us by the last surviving apostle at the time...John.
Exiled and a prisoner on the island of Patmos, he received this message.
Let's hear it, y'all.
Revelation 1:1- 3 "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: 2Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. 3Blessed 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."
v.19 "Write the things which thou hast seen, AND THE THINGS WICH ARE, AND THE THINGS which shall be hereafter"
to me, and i think alot of folks miss this, v 19 John is told to write the things that already are, and also the things which will be afterward.
if I am going to explain something that i know is coming, I may have to start at what has already taken place to reveal the whole picture of what is coming. Alot of people look at revelation as a future event, not considering that it was written 1900 years ago, and John is not only told that He will be shown things which are ahead, but He is told to write things that ARE currently, and also things ahead.
its definately a different view than many hold, but when prior prophecy is then studied along with the gospel and things Jesus said such as " the prince of this world is coming" and the fact that there were evil spirits wreaking havoc in the 4 gospels, and Jesus saying " i saw satan fall from Heaven as Lighting" the fast that the epistles often make clear that the world is darkened already , and that satan is going about to devour....things like the dragon beoing cast into the earth with his angels, or the Lamb being exalted to the throne already have happened.
I look at revelation in the light of " let thy will be done in Heaven as on earth, some things are happening in Heaven, and others on earth.
Just my unpopular view though
God bless you