Interest in biblical prophecy and the apocalypse has renewed itself over the past few years. The popularity of the Left Behind fiction novels has brought about a wave of desire to know about the end times and the apocalypse. Unfortunately there is much misinformation distributed concerning the apocalypse and other biblical prophecies. Simply turn on the television and watch the “religious” attempt to predict the end of the world based upon various current events. Does anyone remember all the hype preached right before the year 2000? Yet these same teachers have not been called out for their errors. Even more unfortunate is if one would like to engage in a study of the apocalypse and biblical prophecy the person must purchase their book. Instead of freely distributing the message of the scriptures to the world, many simply are trying to make money on their fanciful interpretations.

The Apocalypse Project is an effort cut through the misinformation that exists in society and in the religious world concerning the prophecies found in the Bible. The purpose of this site is to deal with the prophecies of the Bible and explain each prophecy in simple, clear language. The primary focus of this site will be on apocalyptic prophecies found in Revelation, Daniel, Zechariah, and Matthew 24. Over time, this site plans to expand into the other prophecies of the scriptures, from Isaiah through Malachi.

As you begin your study of the apocalypse and biblical prophecy, consider the following article by L.A. Stauffer, written in Biblical Insights called Victory In Jesus: “Fear Not”:

The use of the book of Revelation to map out current events that will allegedly bring us to the end of time within this generation is a message that is at least three generations old. In the early 1800s the dispensational view of the Bible gave rise to the thought that the time of Jesus’ return could be calculated from figures in the books of Daniel and Revelation.

William Miller in his lectures of 1839 determined that the coming of Jesus would occur in 1843. Charles Russell first saw it coming in 1875 but later juggled his words and figures and arrived at 1914 as the correct year. His successor, Judge Rutherford, said it would be 1925, later leaders of the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ movement saw it coming in 1975, and Hal Lindsey’s Late Great Planet Earth envisioned it at about 1988.

All of these men and innumerable others over the past three hundred years have failed in their calculation for two reasons: One, they reject the biblical teaching that the time of Jesus’ return is unknown to anyone, except God himself (see 2 Peter 3:10). Two, they misunderstand the nature and message of the book of Revelation-a revelation that pertained to brethren and circumstances of the first century.

What then is the message of Revelation? To understand what John wrote demands an understanding of the nature, time, recipients, contents, and point of the book. When readers of the book have that information, they are prepared to determine its message.

First, the nature of the book is clear. It is a book of “signs” and symbols. To take the images of the book and press them into literal or actual fulfillments is to misjudge the book from the outset. Beasts, a dragon, blood up to the horses’ bridles, a harlot riding on a scarlet-covered beast, stars falling from the heavens, red/white/black horses, jaspers walls, pearly gates, etc. are largely visions from Old Testament prophets who used these figures in prophecies of earlier times to depict the downfall of ancient nations.

Second, the time of the book and the events it foresaw are not a mystery. John told his readers at the outset that these signs and symbols portray events that are “shortly to come to pass.” He repeats this at the end of the book (see Rev 1:1; 22:6). He also states plainly at the beginning and end of the book that the “time is at hand” for these visions to be fulfilled (see Rev 1:3; 22:10). All of this, the writer says is about to happen. The visions do not pertain to events of the twenty-first century.

Third, the recipients of the book, as of 1 Corinthians or 1 Thessalonians, were churches in the first century. John unequivocally directed the message of Revelation “to the seven churches that are in Asia” and the problems they faced in life under the rule of the Roman Empire. He was told to deliver this message “to the seven churches: unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamum, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea” (Rev 1:4, 11). As the contents of the epistles of Corinthians and Thessalonians concerned issues within those churches, so Revelation related to difficulties that churches in Asia encountered.

Fourth, the contents details the tribulations and persecutions these churches endured. Suffering, imprisonment, and death supply the material for the ongoing theme of the visions and image John beheld. John himself, who was exiled to the isle of Patmos, shared with these saints in tribulations (Rev 1:9). He warned the church at Smyrna that many of them would be cast into prison to be tried; that they would suffer tribulation for a time (2:10). The fifth seal was opened and showed the blood of the saints under the altar on which they had been slaughtered. Their blood cried out for God to avenge the death of the saints (6:9-11). On and on, the book highlights the painful life of the saints under the beastly power of Rome, who received its authority from Satan, the dragon (7:14; 11:7; 12:17; 13:7,15).

Fifth, the point of the book is reached when the bowls of wrath are poured out against the persecuting power of Rome-who is drunk on the blood of the saints. God avenges the death of his servants in the downfall of the beast and the false prophet (16:5-6; 17:6; 18:24; 19:2,11-21). The book concludes with a vision of beheaded souls, who overcame and received not the mark of the beast. They live and reign in victory with Christ.

Finally, the message of the book is stated at the beginning when the glorified Christ stood among the seven churches, holding the keys of death and Hades. He reminded them that he is the eternal one-the first and the last-and though he once was dead he is now alive forevermore. His own victory over suffering and death contains a message for them. Laying his right hand on John, who was awed by the vision of the majestic Lord, Jesus delivered to the apostle and the seven churches the comforting message: “Fear not” (1:12-18).

“Write these things,” he tells John, and “send it to the seven churches” (1:11,19). The content of this great book describes symbolically events and problems in the first century, but its application and message, as the epistles to the Corinthians and Thessalonians, is for any age that saints suffer from the forces of evil.

Fear not the things you are about to suffer, brethren, there is victory in Jesus (Rev 2:10; 20:4-6; see 1 Cor 15:5-58). This is John’s message!