A Brother In Christ
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Rev 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
rev 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter
this verse is a very general statement of an outline
rev 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door [was] opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard [was] as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
revelations 1-3 is dealing with the church
rev 4-5 is the church promises fulfilled and activity while waiting for the marriage supper
Rev 11:3 And I will give [power] unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
The church is still here during the wrath which God will pour out on the earth. IN fact, they are responsible for the coming of some of the plagues.
Rev 11:4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
Rev 11:6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
The other witnesses are angels who preach the everlasting Gospel for the first time.
Look at Rev 14
Rev 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Rev 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Rev 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive [his] mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Rev 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Rev 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed [are] the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
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It goes on to give the order of how the endtime judgement will be ministered out. First the vine of the earth is gathered and pressed into the winepress of the wrath of God. At this time will the church be separated from the wicked and this is where the rapture is done. During the wrath of God, not before for God will keep His people. Many will be killed for their testimony ala the two witnesses.
But the bottom line is, the church is here during the wrath poured out on sinful man. They are the last chance for many who will here them before they are taken by God. They are that which restrains and until they are taken out of the way, mankind still has a chance for salvation. What is the meaning of salvation? To be saved from the wrath of God which will befall all who do not heed the call.
hismessenger
God has already place us up in the heavens ... eph 2:4-7 ... rev 4 is when it happens
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