Highlights From the Book of Revelation
Greg Mason
The Righteous Judge Revealed (1:1-2)
The Book of Revelation is the revelation of Jesus Christ. If you miss this point, you miss the main subject of the Book. Yes, there are many exciting and amazing events, but the Revelation of Jesus is what we should be excited about. How this world needs the Revelation of Jesus Christ. The Righteous Judge Who extends His Grace and forgiveness to all who put their hope in Him!
Be Blessed (1:3)
Many have been told that the Book of Revelation is to hard to understand, and that we should just wait and see how things pan out. But I would say read it! Revelation 1:3 says, "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it."
John Writes to the Seven Churches in Asia (1:4)
John writes to seven churches that are in Asia. Why seven? There were certainly more than seven in Asia (modern day Turkey).
As you go through the Book of Revelation you are going to see the number seven used many times.
The number seven here means complete. It would "indicate the complete church." These seven churches represent all the churches as a whole, including yours and mine.
Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel says this about the number seven:
"The number seven is mentioned over and over throughout this prophecy. Seven is sometimes called God's perfect number because it represents completeness or totality. Seven days make a complete week, seven notes comprise the musical scale, and seven colors are in the rainbow. Thus, seven churches would indicate the complete church."
The Triunity of God Revealed in the Greeting to the Churches (1:4-5)
“John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.” (Revelation 1:4-5)
Notice in this greeting that there is a reference to the Trinity. First, there is God the Father, from Him who is and who was and who is to come. Next, from the Holy Spirit, the seven Spirits, and lastly from Jesus Christ.
From Jesus Christ “who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.” (1:5)
Have you been washed in this blood? This blood is not merely human blood, this blood is divine and pure. It is the only type of blood that can cleanse you or me from our sins. This blood will remove the guilt of your sins, and it also frees you of the power of sin. This blood opens the door for the Holy Spirit to come into your life to give you new life.
Jesus is the Ruler Over the Kings of the Earth (1:5)
At His Second Coming Jesus will rule over the kings of the earth. Tony Garland states it like this:
"The rule of Jesus over the kings of the earth is by divine right, not by the willing acceptance of the kings themselves. For the world will reject the reign of God. The arrival of God's kingdom on earth is a major theme of this prophecy given through John and culminates in the destruction of the armies of the kings of the earth at the Second Coming of Christ (Rev. 19:11-21)."
Is Jesus the ruler over your life?
Jesus will come in the clouds for all to see, and all will mourn (1:7)
“Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, including those who pierced him. All the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. Even so, Amen (Rev 1:7).”
After the 7-year tribulation which is described here in the Book of Revelation Jesus will come back to this earth. He will come back to a world that will be utterly devastated from the judgments that will proceed from God.
He will take back what is rightfully His, rightfully His because He paid the price on the cross for the redemption of the world.
When He comes back those that pierced Him will see Him. “And one will say to him, ‘What are these wounds between your arms? Then he will answer, ‘Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.’ (Zechariah 13:6)
Those of Israel will realize they were the friends that pierced Him, and they will mourn when they see Him.
But not only will the Nation of Israel mourn, but those of every nation.
Yet, God will pour upon the house of David, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications . . . (Zechariah 12:10)
Let God's Grace, His unmerited favor bring salvation and peace into your life. Jesus came to save us from our sins. Have you been saved from your sins? Trust in Jesus!
Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega (1:8)
Bible Commentator David Guzik explains chapter one verse eight. He refers to the Alpha and the Omega by saying, "In many translations, and in “Red-Letter” editions, these words are in red. This shows that the translators believed that these were the words of Jesus. John was finished with his introduction, and now Jesus introduced Himself. After all, it is His revelation (the Revelation of Jesus Christ, Revelation1:1), so it isn’t strange that He introduces it.
The idea behind these titles for Jesus is that He is before all things and will remain beyond all things. Alpha was the first letter of the ancient Greek alphabet, and Omega was the last letter. Jesus says, “I am the ‘A to Z,’ the Beginning and the End.”
"If Jesus is both the Beginning and the End, then He also has authority over everything in-between. This means that Jesus has a plan for history, and He directs the path of human events toward His designed fulfillment. Our lives are not given over to blind fate, to random meaninglessness, or to endless cycles with no resolution. Instead, Jesus Christ who is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End directs all of human history and even our individual lives."
Jesus is the Almighty, Who is, Who was, and Who is to Come (1:8)
"As shown in the comments on Revelation 1:4, this phrase communicates the idea behind the great Old Testament name for the Triune God, Yahweh. It reflects His eternal nature and His unchanging presence. Jesus has this eternal nature just as much as God the Father does. Micah 5:2 prophetically expressed it this way: Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting. Hebrews 13:8 expressed it this way: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
The Almighty: This word Almighty translates the ancient Greek word pantokrater, which literally means “the one who has his hand on everything.” It speaks of the great sovereign control of Jesus over everything – past, present, and future." (David Guzik)
In the Spirit on the Lord's Day (1:10)
In the Spirit (1:10)
John tells us he was “in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day. . . “
John is in the Spirit, giving us a revelation of Jesus Christ. Tony Garland gives us a good understanding of what John meant when he was in the Spirit:
“All prophetic revelation has its origin in the Holy Spirit (2Pe. 1:20-21) and never from man (Gal. 1:12-16). Mysteries, things which are unknown and unknowable by man, are revealed only by the Spirit (Eph. 3:3). Often, spiritual revelation by the Holy Spirit involves a transporting of the prophet, physically or in a vision, to a different location where information is revealed (Eze. 8:3; 11:24; 37:1; Dan. 8:2; 2Cor. 12:2; Rev. 4:2; 17:3; 21:10).
Here, John mentions he was in the Spirit indicating that what he is about to describe involves supernatural revelation by means of a vision. This statement puts an end to all speculation as to the motives and initiatives of John himself in writing the book of Revelation. For John didn’t write the book, he recorded it!
Revelation from the Spirit is found both in the OT and NT. Being ‘in the Spirit’ in the sense John describes is not something initiated by man. It is a sovereign action initiated by God in order to impart divine instruction. As Ezekiel describes it: “the hand of the Lord was upon him” (Eze. 1:3).”
On the Lord’s Day (1:10)
Many view on the Lord’s Day as the first day of the week (Sunday) when Christians come together for weekly worship, yet others would view this as the end time Judgement of God mentioned many times in the Bible as The Day of the Lord.
My personal opinion is the meaning of the Lord’s Day here in this verse is speaking of God’s judgement in the Last Days. It perfectly fits the context as we will begin to see starting in chapter six. It begins “at the Great Tribulation and concludes with the judgement of the Great White Throne at the end of the Millennium.”
A Loud Voice (1:10)
This loud voice is the voice of Jesus. It is loud and clear like a trumpet. Jesus says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last.”
Then Jesus says to John, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia; to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
So here we see that John was in the Spirit (supernatural revelation), on the Lord’s Day (Day of Judgement), and hears a loud voice, Jesus loudly telling him to write in a book what he sees to the seven churches.
Jesus in the Midst (12-13)
Jesus in the Midst of Seven Golden Lampstands (1:12-13)
In the preceding verses we learned that John was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day. He is receiving a spiritual revelation from Jesus Christ.
Here in verse twelve John hears a loud voice and turns toward the voice seeing seven golden lampstands.
The seven golden lampstands take us back to the tabernacle in the wilderness (Exodus 25:31-39). God instructed Moses to make a lampstand of gold which held seven lamps lighting the tabernacle in the Holy Place. The lampstand was made of one piece and was pure gold. It pointed to Jesus Christ who is the light of the world.
John also describes “One like the Son of Man.” The Son of Man here is Jesus Christ in His heavenly appearance in the midst of the seven lampstands which represent the seven churches.
Jesus tells John in verse twenty that the lampstands he saw were the seven churches.
These seven churches represent all churches historically and today. Jesus is in the midst of every true church today. I say true church because there are many churches called by His name that are truly dead. Jesus instructs several of the churches in Revelation chapters two and three to repent and to one of those he warned He would remove the lampstand from among them if they didn’t repent.
To remove the lampstand from a church would be for Jesus to remove Himself from the midst of their assembly. No longer would God’s Spirit move among them in power and love. They would grow cold and dark. There would be no light because Jesus is the light.
Does the church that you attend have Jesus in its midst?
Does your church believe that the Bible is God’s inspired Word? Does your church believe in the Virgin Birth, that Jesus came from heaven and took on flesh and died for their sins? Does your church believe Jesus when He says He is the only way to heaven (John 14:6)? Does your church believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus? Does your church believe Jesus is God?
If not, then repent.
If so, then keep walking in the Light as Jesus is the Light.
Touched by Jesus (1:17-18)
Touched by the One that Holds the Keys of Hades and of Death (1:17-18)
John had just seen a heavenly vision of Jesus walking in the midst of seven lampstands. The seven lampstands represented seven literal churches, and these seven churches also represent all churches past and present.
After John sees this vision, he falls at the feet of Jesus as dead.
This is often what happened when others in the Bible encountered God. Ray Stedman says it like this:
“His reaction is one frequently seen whenever a man encounters the glorious God. He "fell at his feet as though dead," struck dumb by the awesomeness of the character of God. Isaiah does the same when he sees the Lord high and lifted up with his train filling the temple.
Job does this also when to him is revealed the wisdom and wonder of God. Throughout the Bible it is the only place to be when God appears -- fall on your face as though dead. But the reaction of Jesus is typical, very characteristic of him. Notice that he does three things. First, he touched him! He laid his right hand upon him. Read the Gospels and Jesus is always touching people. When he healed a leper, he touched him. When he opened the eyes of the blind, he put his hands upon their eyes. So here, he touched him. And then, he reassured him.”
Jesus reassured John that everything was okay because He was in control of all things. Jesus went on to tell John, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.”
Jesus wanted John to know that he would be okay, and that He had the keys of Hades and Death. Hades being the place of the wicked, and death being the cessation of the physical life.
Maybe you need a touch from Jesus. Maybe you fear because of the circumstances that you’re in right now. But just remember Jesus likes to touch those who are in need.
Are you in Need? Call upon the One who is the First and the Last. Call upon the One Who has the keys of Hades and of Death.
The Key that Opens the Door to the Book of Revelation (1:19)
I have read the Book of Revelation many times, but for years I struggled to understand much of what it said. I began to understand more when I learned that verse nineteen was the key that unlocked the Book.
This verse gives us a three-part outline of the Book of Revelation in the Words of Jesus. Here Jesus tells John to “Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.”
1. Part One of the Book of Revelation: The things which John has seen (1:19a)
First let’s look at the things which John has seen. What has John seen? He has just witnessed here in chapter one a heavenly vision of Jesus walking among the seven lampstands which represent the seven churches (1:20).
2. Part Two of the Book of Revelation: The things which are (1:19b)
Next Jesus tells John to write the things “which are.” The seven churches in chapters two and three are the “things which are”. Keep in mind that these seven churches represent all churches historically and today.
3. Part Three of the Book of Revelation: The things which will take place after this (1:19c)
And finally, Jesus tells John to write the things which will take place after this, which is after the churches of chapters two and three.
Starting in chapter four through chapter twenty-two we have the third division of this three-part outline.
The first three words that John writes in chapter four are, “after these things . . .”
Again, after what things? After chapters two and three which deal with the seven churches, again these seven represent all churches throughout history.
After chapter three there is nothing more said about the church, and this is why many, including myself believe the Church will be raptured just before the Seven Year Tribulation period which starts in chapter six. There will be many who will trust in Jesus and be saved during this time of judgment, but they are not the Church.
In chapters four and five many believe the Church is in heaven. God removes the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) from the earth as God pours out His wrath on an ungodly and unbelieving world.
Conclusion:
- So, part one is the vision of Jesus that John has just seen (chapter one).
- Then part two, the things which are, which are the seven churches (chapters 2-3).
- Lastly, part three the things which will take place after this, (chapters 4-22) which include the Church in Heaven (chapters 4-5), the Seven Year Tribulation period (chapters 6-19), and finally, the Millennial reign of Christ including the new heaven and earth (20-22).
The Seven Churches (Chapters 2-3)
We have briefly looked at the seven churches in chapter one, but I wanted to make sure that we remember that these seven churches were literal historical churches that represent all churches, those in the past and those present with us today.
Ray Stedman says it like this:
"As we look at these seven letters in the book of Revelation, it is helpful to remember two things about them: First, they are a picture of seven kinds of churches that you find in any age, in any period of history. Every church in the world today will fall into one or more of these categories of churches. We fit into one of these ourselves. The second thing is the prophetic nature of these letters. They are a preview of the entire age of the church, falling into seven periods, from the first coming of our Lord to his second appearing."
John was instructed by Jesus to write to the church in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.
Jesus commended six of the seven churches for their works, yet five of these six churches He also rebuked.
He did not commend the church of Laodicea for any good thing but told them that they were neither cold nor hot, but lukewarm. He then told them He was about to vomit them out of His mouth. He also told them that those He loves He rebukes and chastens, and finally Jesus told them to repent (3:15-16).
The first church John was instructed to write to was in Ephesus (2:1). This church was commended for their perseverance and how they would not tolerate evil men. They also tested those who called themselves apostles. Yet, Jesus rebuked them because they had left their first love. Their first love was Jesus, but they had drifted away. Jesus told them to remember from where they had fallen and to repent and do the first works.
The churches of Pergamos, Thyatira, and Sardis had similar issues both good and not so good.
There were only two churches that were not rebuked, Smyrna and Philadelphia.
The church in Smyrna was known as the persecuted church and they were persevering under tremendous pressure.
To the church in Philadelphia Jesus said they had a little strength and had not denied His name. He also told this church that they would be kept from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth (3:10).
Many Bible scholars believe that the church of Philadelphia represent true believers in Jesus Christ and will be raptured before the seven-year tribulation begins. They will be kept from the hour of trial that comes upon the whole earth.
One thing for sure, we don’t want to take on the characteristics of the church of Laodicea, and many churches today have become lukewarm, and Jesus is ready to vomit them out of His mouth.
The characteristics displayed by the churches in Philadelphia and Smyrna should be on display in those we attend today.
What Happens to John Will Happen to the Church? (4:1)
Chapter 4 Starts the 3 Third Division of Revelation: What Happens to John Will Happen to the Church?
John caught up to Heaven through an Open Door (Revelation 1:1)
“After these things I looked and saw a door opened in heaven, and the first voice that I heard, like a trumpet speaking with me, was one saying, "Come up here, and I will show you the things which must happen after this." (Rev 1:1)
Chapter 4 starts the third division of the Book of Revelation.
Remember chapter one verse nineteen is the key to understanding the Book of Revelation. In this verse the Book of Revelation is divided into three divisions. Jesus gives John instructions to write the things he has seen, and the things which are, and the things which will happen hereafter.
You will notice that there are three distinct divisions of time in which John is instructed to write about. First, the things he has seen. What is it that John has seen? He has seen a vision of Christ walking among the lampstands which represent the churches. So, the first division is found in chapter one.
The second division that John is instructed to write about is the "things that are". What are the "things that are”? You will find that the churches are the things that are in Revelation chapters 2-3.
You and I are now living in the second division of time, the things that are which is the church age. The seven churches that John was instructed to write to were seven literal historic churches that represent all churches of all times, even to this present day.
The last division of time starts here in Revelation chapter 4 and continues through chapter 22, and it is the things which will happen hereafter.
Many Bible scholars believe that when John is caught up to heaven through the open door (Rev 1:1) that this also represents the church (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). The church will be caught up to heaven before the Judgement of God begins to fall on a God rejecting world which proceeds in chapter six of Revelation.
Ray Stedman says it like this:
“Most commentators see that as very significant. He heard a voice "like a trumpet" saying to him, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." That indicates the viewpoint of John throughout the rest of the book of Revelation is to be from heaven. Many commentators feel that this is the place in Revelation where what is called the departure, or rapture, of the church takes place. It is most noteworthy that from here on in this book the church, which has occupied center-stage through the opening chapters, is never mentioned again until the final chapter. There are saints referred to throughout the book, but the word church does not appear again until the Bride of the Lamb is seen at the end. What does that signify? Many feel (and I think they are right on this) that the church is represented by John the Apostle, and is at this point caught away into heaven. What John sees in the book from here on is what the church will see when it is caught away to be with Christ.”
I believe that Jesus could come anytime and take us to heaven (see 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). I believe He is at the very door!
A Throne in Heaven (4:2)
“Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.” (4:2)
John looked and he saw a door opened in heaven (4:1), and he was immediately in the Spirit and was ushered through the door into heaven.
The first thing that John saw was a throne, and this will probably be the first thing we see when we enter heaven.
This scene is of most importance because God is literally on the throne, and He rules over all creation.
As we look at earthly kings, we see how they sit on their thrones and rule their kingdoms. We know that there are those who are loyal to these earthly kings and obey their commands honoring their authority. Understanding these kings have the power of life and death. Yet we see those who have rebelled against earthly kings. We might call them rebels or traitors who try to usurp the king’s authority, but the One who sits on the throne in heaven always wins. His kingdom is eternal, and Satan nor man will ever sit on His throne.
There are those today that have heard the truth that God is on His throne. Yet, they have rejected the grace and mercy He extends through Jesus Christ His Son.
Why? Because they do not want to be accountable to their Creator, thinking they are the captain of their own souls. This is foolish and unwise because the only decision they are making is to rebel against the One on the throne in heaven, which means they will be banished from His presence for eternity. Being captain of their own souls will bring eternal damnation.
They place themselves or others on the throne, rebelling against the true King Who sits on His throne in heaven.
One Bible commentator says it like this:
“The bottom line of atheism is that there is no throne, there is no seat of authority or power that the entire universe must answer to. The bottom line of humanism is that there is a throne, but man sits upon it.
Essentially, man cannot live without the concept of a throne, a supreme ruler. So if man de-thrones God, he will inescapably place himself or some other man upon the throne. Perhaps a political leader, as was the case with the dictators Lenin, Stalin, and Mao.” (David Guzik)
God is yet so gracious and forgiving that though we have been in rebellion He made a way for any of us to receive forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Yes, we can enter heaven through the same open door that John went through if we humble ourselves and receive freely the gift of salvation that is given by the One on the throne.
What earthly king would give so much? What earthly king would have his son die on a cross for those in rebellion against him? None!
Only the Lamb is Worthy to Open the Scroll (5:1-10)
“And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.” (5:1)
In Revelation Chapter 5 John is before the Throne of God and he sees a scroll in the right hand of the One who sat on the throne (5:1). This scroll is the Title Deed to the earth.
Our Creator God can deed the earth to whoever He desires, and He gave Adam dominion over it (Genesis 1:26-28). But Satan “usurped that dominion when Adam sinned.”
“Nevertheless, the Creator is still the owner, and has retained a record of ownership in His possession.” (Henry Morris)
We read on in verse two that John saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?”
There was no one in heaven, earth, or under the earth that was able to open the scroll, or look at it, and when John realizes this, he “wept much.” (5:3-4)
But one of the elders told John not to weep because “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.” (5:5)
John then looked and “in the midst of the throne stood a Lamb as though it had been slain,” and this Lamb “took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.” (5:6-7)
Who is this Lamb? It is none other than Jesus Christ who shed His blood at Calvary on the Cross. He redeemed this world at the Cross, bringing salvation to all those who trust in Him as their Savior.
H. A. Ironside says it like this:
“He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him that sat on the throne. What right had He thus to act? Because He went to the cross in infinite grace to pay the great debt of sin, thus to redeem this forfeited inheritance and free it from Satan’s domination. The Lamb has title to the book! The Lamb can claim the title deed to this world because when He died on Calvary’s cross, He purchased the entire world to be His own. The glory of God is to be displayed in this world through a thousand wondrous years. It was His because He created it. He gave it to man, but man forfeited it through sin. The Lord Jesus Christ bought it all back when He hung on Golgotha’s tree; but for almost two thousand years He has been waiting patiently up there in the glory until the appointed time for claiming His inheritance. So the book of the title deed has been sealed. In this interval, men have been having pretty much their own way down here. The devil has been running things to suit himself, but in a little while Christ is coming again. He is going to put everything right, but He will have to act in judgment to do so. For the very world in which the Lord Jesus died is going to be the sphere in which the glory of God will be displayed. This will be true not only in the millennium, but afterward in the new earth as well as in the new heaven.”
Though we see darkness and so much tragedy in this world we have hope. One day the Lamb who is worthy to take the scroll is coming back. The price has been paid at the Cross, and we can sing the new song in Revelation 5:9-10:
“You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.”
The Seals: A Summary of the Judgements to Come (Chapters 6 and 8:1)
In Revelation Chapter 5 we see a scroll in the hand of the One who sat on the throne. This scroll has seven seals, and the Lamb (Jesus) is the only One worthy to break the seals and open the scroll.
In Chapter 6, six of these seals are broken one by one as God begins to unleash His judgements upon the earth. After the Lamb has opened six of the seven seals there is a pause so God’s servants can be sealed (chapter 7). After this, the seventh seal is broken in chapter 8.
These seals are a summary of the judgments that take place through chapter 19. Once we understand this it will make it easier to navigate through these chapters.
But remember, during this time of judgment the Church is in heaven singing the song of the redeemed! Have you been redeemed? Trust in Jesus Christ the Lamb of God. The only one worthy to open the scroll, and the only one worthy to die for our sins.
The Opening of the first seal: A White Horse
Chapter 6 begins with the Lamb (Jesus) opening the first of seven seals. John is told by an angel to “come and see.”
“And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.” (Rev 6:2)
Many have supposed the one on the white horse is Jesus, but this is not.
Those who hold to the Book of Revelation as a history book believe the one on the white horse is Jesus, but the context itself shows us this is none other than the future antichrist who will for a season unite the world through peace, then will bring war, famine, and death.
One Bible Commentator says it like this:
“The whole context and character of these seals absolutely forbid our thinking of this rider being the Lord Jesus, as so many affirm. His reign shall not bring war, famine, and strife in its train.” (Jennings)
Bible commentator David Guzik says it like this:
“Taking this to be the final satanic dictator over men, we see that he will be more terrible than all previous dictators were. He will rule over men as a false messiah, and lead man in organized rebellion against God, in the pattern of Nimrod, his first predecessor. He is the one often called the antichrist.”
Today we realize that the time is getting closer to the reality when a dictator will rule the entire world. We see the push now to unite globally. A One World Government that will control all aspects of life.
As we see the darkness approaching, we can be encouraged that Jesus is coming soon to make things right. If we trust in Him we have nothing to fear.
“We’re living in strange days, are we not? When I see what's happening to this world, if I didn't know the Lord Jesus Christ, I’m not sure what I would do. Yet, knowing the Bible and Bible prophecy, when I see all these things coming to pass, they do not shake me. Sometimes they grieve me, sometimes they sadden me, but they do not shake me. That’s because I know God's Word. I know they’re a fulfillment of prophecy. I can say with all the saints, “Praise God, it's getting gloriously dark.” (Adrian Rogers)
Darkness will come because of the evil and wickedness of mankind. Adrian does not mean he glories in darkness, but that when it does darken, we know that our hope will soon be fulfilled.