THE MOST EMBARRASSING BOOK IN THE BIBLE, Understanding the Book of Revelation – eBook

I sat across the table from a very seasoned American missionary and his wife. My colleague and I had travelled half way around the world to enjoy this lunch. Being somewhat cut off from the outside world, they asked my colleague what world events were currently fulfilling Bible prophecy. The question hung in the air until my colleague, who had borne the brunt of my recent discoveries into Revelation, said boldly, “You should ask Andrew that. He’s been doing a lot of research into that lately.” Knowing just how radical my views would seem, I was (to say the least) reluctant to share anything on the subject. “You don’t want to hear my views on end times!” I said. “Yes we do.” “No you don’t!” I insisted. They thought I was being coy to gain their interest. I wasn’t. I have seen how unreasonably hostile believers have become with each other over the topic of Bible prophecy. I was a guest at this table in their adopted country and I had no intention of starting a hostile theological debate.

But I succumbed after reassurances that they would not martyr me if I upset or disagreed with their existing end-time views. I shared with them my journey of being a rapture-waiting-no-way-am-I-going-to-be-left-behind-type believer to becoming someone who realised that Scripture neither taught a rapture, a One World last days’ government, a future seven year tribulation, or a reconstructed Temple- to then becoming someone who realised that when Jesus said in Matthew 24:34 that all of the signs of the end of the age would take place within the generation which witnessed Him.

As the implication of this one verse dawned on me it drove me back to the Bible to search out what it really was saying about eschatology (end times). At the conclusion of the lunchtime conversation my hosts said, “That makes more sense than anything else we’ve ever heard!” I was relieved.

And it has generally been with great trepidation that I have shared with anyone what I have discovered. But at the end of every presentation (so far) I have had unanimous endorsement. This is not to say that it hasn’t provoked questions! What you are about to read is a major challenge to much of what is taught in Baptist, Charismatic and Pentecostal churches today. Just as those to whom I have already made this presentation have generally come from a Dispensational viewpoint and then immediately recognised the impossibility of their Dispensational theology, it is my humble hope that those who read this presentation will similarly be challenged to re-examine their views in the light of Scripture.

I don’t profess to have all the answers. But I trust that I can create some of the right questions. Neither do I claim to have made an enthralling presentation in this book. Some of this work might seem tedious to read, but I believe that if you take the time to wade your way through it you will be richly profited since that is the promise of the Book itself.