Hi i everyone, I decided to write this post to try and help those of you who do not understand end times revelation to understand it. The main scripture in the Bible used for end times is Matthew 24. I have written a couple of brief posts about end times on my blog and one was about the Rapture and I will link to those two posts at the end of this post.
Some people struggle with the Book of Revelations. The Book of Revelations was a vision given by Jesus Christ to John about prophecy. Some people do not understand some portions of this book about what is symbolic, allegorical or litreal. I must say the reply below is a consensus view of what I posted here amongst Christians as I asked them this question and wanted to share the answers I got with you. Hope this helps you to understand it more.
Question-
Does John really eat the Book? (Revelation 10:9).
Answer-
This means that prophecy has been done and no one as told in Revelations eats a Holy Book litreally.
Question-
Another one Jezebel isn't a single woman in (Revealation 2). It may appear it at first. She is though symbolic of the immorality of others in Revelations of how they undermine and cause immorality to men and women servants of God members of Christ. Your views?
Answer-
Jezebel: Rev. 2:18-29 is the letter of Jesus to the church in Thyatira and this is where 'Jezebel' is mentioned. Thyatira was an important centre for trade and had powerful trade guilds, each being under the patronage of a pagan diety. The letter commends the church generally for their faith, service and endurance, but condemns their tolerance of 'Jezebel'. Now in the OT Jezebel was a Baal worshipper and sought to kill God's prophets. She enticed her husband King Ahab to idolatry mixed with worship of Yahweh.
So Jezebel generally represents idolatry, sexual immorality and unrepentence. I believe she isn't an actual person here but a representation of evil. 'Her children' would be those who indulge in idolatry and sexual immorality. Just as Jezebel in the OT was unwilling to repent, so these latter will also not repent and as such God will judge them harshly. This letter serves as a warning to all the churches not to tolerate these practices.
Question-
It would be helpful as many people are here to point out what is literal and symbolic in (Revelations 12)- the woman sent out who was pregnant-symbolic or literal to you?
Answer-
Moving on: The pregnant woman and the Dragon (Rev 12) - the woman represents Israel (relating to the OT concept of Israel as the wife of Yahweh), the Dragon is Satan. The 12 stars are the 12 tribes of Israel. This is first seen in Joseph's dream in Genesis 37:9-11 where the Sun represents Jacob, later re-named by God as Israel. The vision of the woman about to give birth is the nation of Israel just prior to the birth of the Messiah. The 7 heads and 10 horns of the dragon represent the final form of the fourth Gentile world empire under Satan's authority.
The 7 diadems point to a concept of conquest. The dragon's tail sweeping down one third of the stars refers to one third of Heaven's angels falling with Satan. Satan tried to prevent the Messiah from surviving and fulfilling his destiny but as we know that failed and the child (Jesus) went on to fulfil that destiny and ascend to Heaven. The woman fleeing to the wilderness (Rev 12:6) represents the flight of the remnant of Israel into the wilderness mid-Trib where God will protect them for 3.5 years. Up to that time Satan persecutes Israel (which we can see today and over the history of the world). Verse 15 refers to a 'flood' which usually symbolises military invasion. This is yet to come.
Question
Two witnesses to you in (Revelations 11)-symbolic or literal to you?
Answer-
Two witnesses will be real people. Who they are exactly is open to speculation, some think Elijah, Moses or Enoch. Others think maybe people born at that time with a special annointing. Don't know! Their purpose is to witness to the Jewish people in Israel (mainly Jerusalem) and they will possess miraculous powers so they can't be killed or stopped till the appointed time (mid-Trib) when they will be killed. After 3 days they will be resurrected and ascend to Heaven, everyone will see it (how does everyone see it? Think power of the Internet and webcams! That's my take on that detail).
Question
Why to you was there not a Holy person enough to open the Book of Seals in Heaven or Earth. (Revelations 6). Interesting to hear your thoughts.
Answer-
Opening the scrolls - only Jesus was holy enough to do so because he is the only one without sin. None of us are, so no human could ever open the scrolls, only the Lamb can.
Question-
Do you think it will be difficult to have prayers answered towards the end as they say woe to pregnant women at this time and when it is in winter it will be difficult to live..The Abomination of Desolation
(Mark 13:14-23; Luke 21:20-24)
Answer-
The section in Matthew you are referring to (Matt 24:15-21) refers to the time immediately following the setting up of the Abomination of Desolation in the Temple (mid-Trib). The references to winter are connected to the climate of Israel. In winter the rainy season makes flash floods very likely and so escaping from Jerusalem will be much harder. Also being pregnant or with a baby would similarly be more difficult. Sabbath would also be harder as transport in Israel stops over Sabbath. I see Matthew's exhortation to pray as something that believers should do in those times to hopefully avoid winter and the Sabbath.
Question-
Will God be Praised in reality for his judgements (Revelations 19).
Answer-
Well my pastor's thoughts on this (and of course others may differ) is that they are 24 leaders representing the Church. The only other mention of 24 elders in relation to priests occurs in 1 Chronicles 24, where the priests are divided into 24 groups, and each selected one representative to stand before God. The Church, being a kingdom of priests, embodies this same idea. This would mean they're not angels but humans.
These elders are wearing stephanos crowns (victory crowns), which indicates a reward, given by God. So at this point in the narrative there's only one group of people that have received a stephanos crown, and that is the Church in its entirety. Since angels don't receive a reward this does rule them out as elders.
All are wearing white robes which indicates salvation. Angels have no need of salvation so again that would rule out angels being these elders. From the crown rewards it's most likely the Church who is represented here, not Israel, although Jews can still be part of the Church as believers.
Question
How about UN as being a One world government (Matthew 24:14).
Answer-
One world government (Daniel 7:23-24, Ezekiel 38:1- 39:16) - "The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all the kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and tread it down, and break it in pieces'. Sounds fun! Currently we have an east-west axis of power but one day the eastern power will collapse with the fall of Russian forces and the destruction of Russia. This will open the way for a one world government. It could be connected to the UN, or maybe not, but it will take over the entire world.
Question-
Do you think we have antichrists out there now?
Answer-
Yes many antichrists are already present but THE Antichrist has yet to be seen - he may be alive already, we don't know.
Keep working in the field till he comes " Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left." (Matthew 24).
Hope this can help you understand this more. There are the two posts about End times, the Rapture and an earlier post on the Book of Revelations.
https://www.racheltestimony.com/2025/08/yesterday-and-today-vision-of-church.html
https://www.racheltestimony.com/2014/06/the-book-of-revelations.html
