UNVEILING ETERNITY

INTERPRETING REVELATION
Reading and understanding Scripture requires application and utilization of certain principles of inter-pretation. One could write an entire book on this topic and many have. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a very brief introduction of Biblical interpretation. The main idea of interpreting Scripture involves closing the gaps of time by understanding the intent of the original author and hearing as an original hearer. This field of study embraces three areas: exegesis, hermeneutics and homiletics. On-ly exegesis and hermeneutics are pertinent for the intention of this work unless you are a Pastor or educator of the Word. Homiletics deals more with the application rather than the interpretation. It gathers from the interpretation to formulate application and conclusion. Homiletics in its simplest form is the art of preparing the sermon and preaching plans based on what has been discovered. It touches on how to write the sermon and explores various approaches to preaching. For the purpose of this book the focus will be an overview of exegesis and hermeneutics.
EXEGESIS
Biblical exegesis is the critical interpretation and explanation of the Bible to find its intended meaning by its original author. Critical, in this sense, means an intensive and extensive evaluation or analysis. Prayerfully approaching the Word and followed by reading the passage multiple times is the first and foremost important part of exegesis. Interpretation of the Bible cannot be done without the Holy Spirit alongside of the reader. Prayerfully meditating on the passage is equally as important. After which exegesis can commence.
Through exegesis, the interpreter seeks to uncover the literal meaning of the text and reveal the in-tention of the author. Exegesis tries to make sense of what the text meant to the original writer and hearer and then apply it to today’s audience and situation. In other words, asking questions like when was this written?
THE RAPTURE
The Rapture begins when the Church Age ends. Hereafter in Revelation 4:1 is also translated as “after this”, “what happens next”, and “what takes place after this”. After this refers to after the Church Age.
At the time of the Rapture, Daniel 9:27 tells us the Antichrist will sign a Treaty with Israel for one week. The treaty signing happens at or near the time of the Rapture and before the Tribulation. One week is seven years. However, in the middle of the week, which is three and a half years, the Antichrist will break the treaty.
Revelation 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.”




REWARDS AND PUNISHMENTS
RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES
1. Look up “Judgment Seat” in Greek in the Strong’s Concordance. How many times is it used? What is the Greek word for it? How is it used in the ten Scriptures? How does it differ and how does it relate to the place of judgment for believers in the end times?
2. Study the bema seat where judges awarded athletes for their performance in the city of Cor-inth.
3. Study the five crowns and find other scriptures that may speak about them. Try looking up the word crown in Strong’s Concordance and that will be a great start. How many times is the word found in the Bible? Does each word have the same meaning? Compare any references to the crown in the Old Testament especially how it was used with Kings.

THE TRIBULATION
† The “Time of the End” in Daniel refers to the “End of Times” for Gentiles but not the final end of the world. It is the time when the Antichrist will rule and take authority when the “Times of the Gentiles” are fulfilled. The city of Babylon began the “Times of the Gentiles” in which the Antichrist is called the King of Babylon in Isaiah 14:4. The Time of the Gentiles” in Luke 21:24 refers politically to the time Israel is under the domination of Gentile rule. It began at the Bab-ylonian Captivity and will end at the Second Coming. The “Fullness of the Gentiles” in Romans 11:25 is different. It has more to do with numbers not politics. Fullness of the Gentiles is re-ferring to when the last person becomes part of the Church before she is raptured. It began on the day of Pentecost when the Church was born and will end at the Rapture. That is seven years before the Time of the Gentiles ends at the Second Coming.
† Daniel 12:9, “And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end."