INTRODUCTION

We at Unlimited Glory Ministries prayerfully considered whether or not these five Chapters of Studies in Revelation should be put on-line at this time. The reason we initially hesitated is because this is still a work in progress. Unlike the other 4 volumes in this series, this study is by no means complete. However, as is true with each of the chapters in our other books, each chapter of Studies in Revelation stands on its own, even though it is an integral part of a larger work. Therefore, even though there are issues presented in the Book of Revelation which have not been addressed within these first five chapters, we felt that the information contained in these chapters is important enough to publish at this time. 

While it is true that the vast majority of the world's Christians do not adhere to the pre-tribulation rapture position, those who do advocate this teaching represent a disproportionate percentage of the media's evangelists. Furthermore, it is the pre-trib rapture doctrine which serves as the foundation for many of today's popular end time prophecy books. As such, much of what we see and hear concerning the end of the age on Christian TV and Christian Radio programs is by definition riddled with error. If for no other reason, this is true because the pre-trib rapture doctrine holds that the Church has been removed from the earth while much of what is described in the Book of Revelation is taking place. 

While discussing the Lord's return in Mark 13:37, Jesus commanded us to be on our guard and "Watch" for that day. While I know that no man knows the hour and the day on which the Lord will return, Jesus did say that there would be signs that we should be aware of. Now I ask you, "How can we rely upon any interpretation of these prophetic signs when that interpretation has a false premise?" Obviously, we can't. The pre-tribbers tells us that there will be a 7-year tribulation period even though there is not one single verse in the Book of Revelation which tells us this. The pre-tribber tells us that the 2 witnesses of Revelation 11:1-12 must be either Elijah and Moses, or Elijah and Enoch because all Christians will have been raptured by then. The pre-tribbers also tell us that the "Babylon" of Revelation chapters 17&18 could not have anything to do with a falsified or corrupted Church structure because the Church has been raptured. In fact, the pre-tribbers are forced to admit that no part of Revelation chapters 4-18 can have anything to do with the Church, because the Church has supposedly been taken off the earth. 

Taking all this into consideration, we have decided to put the first 5 chapters of Studies In Revelation on-line in order to provide the reader with an interpretation of portions of Revelation chapters 4-18 which does not automatically preclude the protected overcoming Church. We can never follow Jesus command in Mk.13:37 to watch for His return when we are looking for the wrong things. Obviously it is easier to keep watch for Jesus' return when we know what to watch for, and it is for that end that we present this as of yet, unfinished study.