Jesus calls everyone to learn what it means to follow Him. You must deny yourself and take up your cross to follow Him. Jesus Himself has blazed the trail for us to follow in His footsteps.

The apostle Paul begins his letter to the Philippian church with gratitude to God for them. He identifies them with the Holy Spirit by calling them "holy ones" in Christ Jesus. This singular identification among every Christian unites us all to be set apart for God's purposes. In effect, all Christians are united by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As a result of this unity, Paul was specifically thankful for their participation in the Gospel. His appreciation was naturally filled with joy. Our joy should blossom in the same way as Paul’s did namely, from a Gospel centered unity in the church that leads to every member's participation.

After a delay of a half an hour, the judgments of God prayed for previously (6:10) come upon those who dwell on the earth. These are extraordinary and supernatural plagues not unlike those of Egypt. But even as Pharaoh did not repent at the sight of all the miraculous signs of his day, so those during the tribulation do not repent either. One exception exists of those who were in Jerusalem at the resurrection and ascension of the two witnesses. But the overwhelming testimony of Revelation is that those who are tormented in the tribulation still refuse to fear God, repent, and worship the Lord.

The destination for raptured saints (and those resurrected at rapture) is heaven. The details of our heavenly home is given in the final three verses of Revelation 7. Strikingly, there are parallels between this destination and the New Jerusalem. But more than that, there are parallels also between the New Jerusalem and the garden of Eden. The stunning revelation of Scripture is the comprehensive goodness of God. He demonstrates His good will to bless man in Eden and concludes history with an analogous bookend so we are assured that His intent with man is to shower His goodness and His blessing upon him. Paradise is the heavenly home of the believer, the New Jerusalem.

Rapture is the next biblical prophecy to be fulfilled and it is the anticipation of the church given in Scripture. But what exactly is the rapture and when will it take place? What is the overall eschatological timeline in Revelation and where does rapture fit in? Moreover, what is the significance of an imminent return of Christ? How should we respond to those who hold to a different view on the timing of the rapture? These are the questions we consider in this study of Revelation.