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Who wrote the books of the Bible and when?
Book of Revelation, a combination of letters to seven churches in the Roman provice of Asia (Asia Minor) and revelations of the end times, was written some time between 90 and 96 A.D. by John the Apostle, brother of James and son of Zebedee, during his exile on the island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea. The first visions deal with judgment on the churches in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. The remainder of the book contains visions about the end times, the antichrist and the false prophet, the second coming of Christ, the judgment of the Great White Throne, and the destruction of heaven, hell, and earth.
The Book of Revelation, also known as the Apocalypse, includes:
- An angel of the Lord is sent to his servant John with the revelations of Jesus Christ. (1:1-2)
- A vision of one "like a son of man" from Daniel 7:13, bright and glowing, with seven stars in his hand and standing among seven golden lampstands. (1:10-18)
- Exhortations and warnings from the Spirit to the churches in Asia Minor. (chapters 2 and 3)
- Vision of the heavenly throne of God, surrounded by the 24 thrones of the elders and the four living creatures from Ezekiel chapter 1. (chapter 4)
- The scroll with seven seals is given to the Lamb that was slain and 100,000,000 angels sing in worship. (chapter 5)
- The seals of the scroll are opened, revealing the four horsemen of the apocalypse and the souls of those slain for proclaiming the word of God. (chapter 6)
- 144,000 (12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel) are sealed for redemption. (7:1-8)
- The uncountable multitude in white robes who have come out of the great tribulation serve God before his throne. (7:9-17)
- Seven angels sound their trumpets at the opening of the seventh seal and destruction comes upon the inhabitants of the earth -- a third of the earth is burned up by hail and fire mixed with blood, a volcano turns a third of the sea into blood, a star named Wormwood poisons a third of the drinking water, a third of the day is without light, locusts that sting like scorpions are released from the Abyss to torture men for five months, and four angels are released from the Euphrates River to kill a third of mankind by an army of 200,000,000 mounted troops upon horses that breathe plagues. (chapters 8 and 9)
- An angel gives a bittersweet scroll to John to eat. (chapter 10)
- The two prophets clothed in sackcloth who have power to prevent rain and send forth plagues are slain and everyone rejoices. (11:1-14)
- The seventh angel blows his trumpet and God's temple in heaven is opened. (11:15-19)
- Sign of the pregnant woman pursued by the enormous seven-headed red dragon, which was cast out of heaven by Michael and his angels. (chapter 12)
- A seven-headed beast from the sea with ten horns and ten crowns is given power by the dragon to conquer the saints and rule over all the inhabitants of the earth. (13:1-10)
- A second, two-horned beast leads the inhabitants of the earth to worship the first beast with great and miraculous signs, then assigns them the mark of the beast, which is 666. (13:11-18)
- The 144,000 redeemed sing a new song to the Lamb on Mount Zion. (14:1-5)
- Flying in midair are angel of the gospel, the angel announcing the fall of Babylon the Great, and the angel warning not to follow the beast. (14:6-13)
- Son of Man harvests the earth and the winepress of God's wrath fills the land with men's blood for 180 miles. (14:14-20)
- Seven angels with seven bowls of God's wrath containing the seven last plagues: ugly and painful sores; everything in the sea dies; drinking water becomes blood; sun scorches people with fire; darkness and agony; three evil spirits of demons that look like frogs which gather the kings of the earth for battle at Armageddon; the most tremendous earthquake in history and hundred-pound hailstones. (chapters 15 and 16)
- Mystery Babylon the prostitute seated on the beast and the explanation of the seven horns and ten heads. (chapter 17)
- A mighty angel announces the fall of Babylon and the world mourns. (chapter 18)
- The multitudes in heaven shout Hallelujah! (19:1-10)
- Rider on the white horse whose names include Faithful and True, Word of God, and King of Kings and Lord of Lords goes to battle against the beast and the kings of the earth. (19:11-19)
- The beast and false prophet are thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulphur and those who followed them were killed by the sword that came from the mouth of the rider on the white horse, then all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh. (19:20-21)
- Satan is bound for a thousand years, during which time Christ reigns on earth with those who are brought to life at the first resurrection. (20:1-6)
- After a thousand years, Satan is released and deceives the nations, gathering them for war against God's people, but God devours them with fire from heaven and throws the devil into the lake of burning sulphur. (20:7-10)
- The white throne judgment, where those whose names are not found written in the book of life are thrown into the lake of fire, which is the second death. (20:11-15)
- A new heaven and a new earth, with a new Jerusalem where God will dwell among men and they will see his face. (chapter 21)
- The river of the water of life flows from the throne of God with the tree of life growing on each side, bearing monthly crops of fruit and the leaves of which are used for the healing of the nations. (22:1-6)
- Jesus confirms John's message and warns against adding to or taking away from this prophecy. (22:7-21)
"Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Lats, the Beginning and the End.
Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star."
(Revelation 22:12-16)
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