Who are these twenty-four elders that Revelation 4:4 mention? Some believe they represent the twenty-four groups or orders within the Levitical priesthood. This, in turn, represents all believers in Christ for, through Him as High Priest, every Christian is a member of the royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). Others believe the twenty-four elders represent the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles for a total of twenty-four. In other words, they say the elders represent God’s people of all ages. This is a good possibility since Revelation 21 describes the New Jerusalem, the names of the twelve tribes inscribed on the gates, and the names of the twelve apostles found upon the twelve foundations (see verses 12-14). Regardless of the view one holds, the four and twenty elders represent the children of God in the presence of the Lord, before the horrible Tribulation begins in chapter 6.

It is God's will for all Christians to love and pray for the Jewish people. It is true that no Jew can be saved apart from faith in Jesus Christ (John 14:6). This is true for both Jews and Gentiles. Romans 11:26 has to do with the conversion of Israel in the future when they turn to Jesus Christ. It does not guarantee salvation of all the Jews who have ever lived since salvation is only possible through Jesus Christ.

During the Tribulation there will be thousands of Jews converted. Revelation 7 speaks of 144,000 being saved and becoming the servants of God. That will be a wonderful day!

The Palestinian/Israeli conflict has been a long and seemingly never-ending battle.

They are mentioned as part of the Armageddon campaign in oppostion of each other. Ezekiel 38,39 is the war of the “latter years” and “latter days” (Ezekiel 38:8,11).

Russia will invade Israel from the “north” in the “latter years” (Ezekiel 38:15,16) when the Jews are in their own land.

Students of the Bible have always expected this to happen. The key names in Ezekiel’s prophecy are first mentioned in Genesis 10 as sons of Japeth, the son of Noah. They are Gomer, Magog, Tubal, and Meshech (Genesis 10:1,2). These key verses describe the repopulating of the earth after the Flood. It was customary in ancient times for the descendants of a man to adopt his name for their tribe. Using this system, scholars have furnished the following information:

1. Magog – his descendants are the Scythians or Tartars, whose descendants today are found in modern Russia. Scythians were called Magogites by the Greeks 2,000 years ago (Josephus, book one, chaper seven).

2. Tubal – his descendants peopled the region south and north of the Black Sea. Tobolsk (the “sk” being the Russian suffix) perpetuates the tribal name and is presently located southwest of Siberia.

3. Meshech – his descendants are northern nations mentioned in connection with Tubal and Magog. Meshech is the original name for Moscow.

4. Rosh – the word “chief” in Ezekiel 38:3 is “Rosh” in Hebew. “Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the Rosh prince of Meshech and Tubal”. “Rosh” was the name of the tribe dwelling in the area of the Volga and it is the word for “Russia” today in some languages of the world. The name “Russia” was formed from the ancient name “Rosh”. It is clear that Ezekiel was delivering a warning to the Russian prince of Meshech and Tubal. Gog is the prince, Magog his land, the reference to Meshech and Tubal (Moscow and Tobolsk) is a clear mark of identification.

Allies of Russia in that fierce conflict will be Persia (Iran and Iraq), Ethiopia, Libya, Gomer (Eastern Germany and Slovakia), and Togarmah (Turkey). Daniel adds Egypt to the names of nations coming against Israel (Daniel 40-44).

The Russians will be pleased to cooperate with the others, knowing that when their military forces overrun the Middle East they will control all the wealth there, including Arab oil. Add to this the mineral wealth of the Dead Sea (two trillion dollars), as well as the wealth being generated in Israel through industry and agriculture. The Arabs will join the attack to take a prey, Israel, while Russia will be invading to take a spoil (Ezekiel 38:11,12).

The Jews will be dwelling securely. It seems likely this security (vs. 11) will come from enacting a treaty with the head of the Western Alliance, or the revived Roman Empire. It is intended to last for seven years (Daniel 9:27).

It appears that the Russian invasion will come about the middle of the Tribulation period, approximately three and one-half years after signing the treaty. This attack on Israel will be her greatest military blunder ever. Though brief, the conflict will be one of the most destructive in history. Their casualties will be so great that only one-sixth of the fighting force is left after the battle.

Two important developments will follow the defeat of the invaders of Israel:

1. Russia’s attack will give Antichrist an excuse for full occupation of Israel under the pretense of protection and will extend his power over the entire world.

2. The divine protection of Israel, prophesied by Ezekiel and proclaimed by the 144,000 evangelists, will turn many Jews to their Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Russia will be driven back to Siberia (Ezekiel 39:1,2; Joel 2:20) where she will strengthen her forces and return to Israel once again. The scope and intensity of the offensive continues to increase until all nations become involved and are finally gathered together against Israel at Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:2). At that point, the Battle of Armageddon takes place (Revelation 16:16).

Daniel 2:44 says “And in the days of these kings (the alignment of the ten nations/regions) shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed…” Beloved, Christ is coming soon as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Be prepared! The final truth that I would have you see is that a world church is closely associated with this world government.

Revelation 17 portrays a woman sitting upon the beast who rules internationally. John says, 'So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns…and upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon the Great…' (Revelation 17:35). Who is she? Clearly an amalgamation of all denominations and religions who have been left behind because of being apostate or Christ rejecting. This church reigns '…over the kings of the earth' (Revelation 17:18). It will not be church and state, but church and world unification that then plagues our planet.”

When Jesus Christ returns for His own, He will take all of those who have accepted Him as their Saviour to heaven with Him. This will trigger the Tribulation hour’s beginning on earth. During this period, the Antichrist will require that people take the “mark of the beast” or his number, 666. They will not be able to buy or sell without this number. This is not in effect now and will not be for those that know Christ as personal Saviour. This is so because the believer is “raptured” in Revelation 4:1, then the Antichrist comes to power Revelation 6:1,2 and then midway through the Tribulation period begins the usage of his “666” identification system. During the Tribulation, the Antichrist will also have a false prophet who will be the religious leader of that period. He will be in charge of the World Church, which will be against Christ.

The unsaved do not listen to or understand the Gospel of Christ because “The natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (I Corinthians 2:14). Christians must get the unsaved curious or interested in God through the example of an obedient life to Christ. The joy that comes from knowing Christ as Saviour is something that the unsaved world has never experienced. The display of true joy and peace causes others to want Christ also. So if we are truly born again, then we will be a new creature in Christ. We will be different (II Corinthians 5:17).

Though God does not want us to be mute about our salvation, often our actions speak louder than our words. We must do everything we can to have a good testimony. We must live for the Lord, and pray that He will give us opportunities to witness to others verbally, that we might see souls saved.

God never promised that there would not be testing and trials. He promised that He would go through them with us (Isaiah 43:2). He said in I John 3:13, “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you”. The world hated Christ. I Timothy 3:12 says, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution”. The key to victory is: “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). We must trust in Christ for our strength and power to go through this world and be a positive testimony for Christ (Psalms 121:2).

In the very next to last verse of the bible, Jesus Christ said, “Surely I am coming quickly.” We must be about our Father God’s business now.

There will definitely be a pre-tribulation Rapture. The Lord will call Christians home before the Tribulation begins. Here are some verses that would be good for you to look up: I Thessalonians 4:16,17, I Corinthians 15:51,52 and Revelation 3:10. The book of Revelation was written chronologically. Revelation 1:19 says: “Write the things which thou hast seen, the things which are and the things which shall be hereafter” (past, present and future). Chapter 1 speaks of the past and chapters 2 and 3 speak of the present. Time wise, we are approximately at Revelation 3:15,16 and 17—the cold, lukewarm, lackadaisical Laodicean church. The future is shown in chapters 4-22.

The next event is Revelation 4:1 where John says: “After this I looked, and behold the door was open and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither…” This is the Rapture. Some people think this passage is speaking only to John but if you read ahead you will see that verses 10 and 11 talk about the 24 elders casting their crowns before the throne. This scene must take place after the Judgment Seat of Christ in order for the 24 elders to have crowns to cast at Jesus feet. The Judgment Seat of Christ cannot take place unless all Christians are present. This would mean that the Rapture has taken place.

The next event in Revelation, after the Rapture, is chapter 6, which is the Tribulation. Since chapter 4 comes before chapter 6 (the Tribulation) then we must conclude that the Rapture does take place before the Tribulation.

I believe the specific passage you are looking for can be found in Ezekiel 7:19. The bible the bible also mentions that calamity is set for the corrupted rich and wicked investor during the last days(James 5:1-6, Revelation 18:10, 17 & 19).

Contrariwise, God is pleased with those who with a pure heart give for the furtherance of the Gospel. There are many people today who are appealing to the body of Christ for support. Some are honest, sincere individuals who are attempting to do a real work for God. We can be thankful that there are many who are attempting to serve God and reach others with the Gospel. There are others who are selfishly motivated and have a desire for material gain (Titus 1:11, I Timothy 6:5). God gives a discerning spirit as to where we are to direct our money as we carefully examine the Biblical position and the methods that are used. It is always good stewardship to exercise wisdom and appropriate God's money where He leads and as He has prospered. We can then do what God enables us to do in helping those which He directs us to by His spirit.

As long as one is still breathing there is still hope.

Immediately upon death, every human being consciously arrives in either a literal Heaven or Hell. Hebrews 9:27 tells us that “it is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgment”. Where one spends eternity depends upon his decision to either accept or reject God’s free gift of salvation, the Lord Jesus Christ. II Corinthians 5:6 explains that the soul of the born-again Christian is ushered into the presence of the Lord at death while Luke 16:23 tells us that others arrive “…in Hell…being in torment”. A multitude of verses in the Scriptures confirm these facts.

Man is responsible for his final destination and without excuse. The Apostle Paul had this to say about the subject.

“For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made,even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse”(Romans 1:20)