Lesson 6 - Kingdoms of the World
I
first developed this Lampstand theory 42 years ago in 1978. I had just purchased a New American Standard Bible
translation the year before and enjoyed the modern day understanding
this translation provided me. As I began
reading through the first three books of Revelation, I realized Christ was
dictating to John His final message to the world. As I read Christ's exhortation to each lampstand,
the name of a nation or world kingdom came to my mind and I wrote it in my
Bible. I continued to read through Revelation and discovered the falling star
scenario described in chapters 6, 7, and 8 provide and exact picture of our
current ICBM technology. It was in
Revelation chapter 11 that I realized the seven lampstands in chapters 2 and 3
provide the key to understanding the nations involved in the final wars. The beast
makes war with the two witnesses who are defined as two lampstands. This lesson presents a theory for unraveling the mystery of the seven lampstands. The message to the world is REPENT before these prophecies are fulfilled for each lampstand.
Technology and Bible Prophecy
Technical Insights for
Bible Prophecy
by
Dwight Wickersheim
2018
Lesson 6 – Kingdoms of the World
The Mystery of the Lampstands
o Christ is standing in the middle of 7
Lampstands
o
Rev 1:12
And I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having
turned I saw seven golden lampstands;
o
Rev 1:13
and in the middle of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed in a
robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His breast with a golden girdle.
o The Seven Stars and Seven Lampstands are a
Mystery (Symbolic)
o
Rev 1:20
"As for the mystery
of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden
lampstands: the seven stars are the angels (Dan 12:3; John 10:28,29) of the
seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches (assemblies).”
o Suggested Theories for the Seven
Lampstands
o
They
are the seven churches in Asia that John addresses in Rev 1:4
o
The
Lampstands represent the condition of the church during periods of history with
the last church at the end of the age being represented by Laodicea.
o
Another
theory identifies these Lampstands as different types of churches or
denominations at the end of the church age.
o However, each of these theories conflict
with the specific details given by Christ about their outcome when He returns.
o
The
seven churches during John’s time do not exist today.
o
Laodicea
is not the only church that is mentioned to exist just before Christ’s return.
o
Denominations
can exist together in the same general location. How can they experience different tribulation
outcomes?
Developing a Lampstand Theory
o
The seven lampstands are defined as seven
different assemblies (Greek word ekklaysia is an assembly of people for any
purpose; political, economic, or religious).
o
These
assemblies are found within the boundaries of seven distinct locations like the seven cities addressed by
Christ.
o
These
assemblies have to exist at the time of Christ’s return; since there is an explicit prophecy for
them at His coming. The seven churches
in Turkey where John mailed his letter no longer exist and therefore cannot
fulfill the prophecies at Christ’s return.
o
Christ
is returning to rule all the earth and not just seven churches in Turkey;
therefore, the seven assemblies have to represent the
entire world.
o
To
each Lampstand assembly, Christ identifies Himself using a specific description
known by the people of that assembly.
o
Christ
addresses the general spiritual condition of the assembly for both unsaved
people that worship other gods and saved ones that belong to Him (overcomers).
o
The specific
end time prophecy for the
people of each assembly should also find it’s unique fulfillment later in
Revelation.
o
The
method for identifying the location for these seven assemblies should be
similar to the method used by other prophets in the Bible when they described
locations in the world that come into existence after their time.
o
The
symbol of a Lampstand in the Bible should be consistent in it’s understanding
and interpretation.
A World Lampstand Concept
o
The
definition of the Lampstand of the Old Testament represented the Seven Spirits
of God (7 branches in one Lampstand) brought forth in one nation, Israel – Zech
4.
o
After
Christ’s death and resurrection, the Body of Christ (Church) is spread
throughout the world into seven separate Lampstands – Christ with seven horns
(representing kingdoms) and seven eyes sent into all the earth – Revelation
5:6.
o
The
Seven Lampstands symbolize the nations, domains or people groups where the
entire church body is located. The Lampstand
is simply the location or the holder of the Light (believers in the church) – Matthew 5:14 – 16.
o
Prophets
like Daniel, Ezekiel, and Isaiah identify future kingdoms of the world by their
location relative to the nation of Israel.
They use terms like kings of the west, north, east, south and the
islands at the end of the earth.
o
The
general location of the Seven Lampstands can now be identified by their geographic
location to Israel, Isa
43:5-7. The method for determining the
location for each Lampstand is based on the spread of Christianity throughout
the world and the specific descriptions and outcome of world kingdom found in
prophecy.
o
The
Lampstand locations in general are orientated by similar national, political,
and geographic characteristics during the final years before Christ returns. The people of these Kingdom groups are
involved in the activities of the final years as Christ prophesied and is
specifically mentioned by John in the rest of his vision!
Lesson Six Summary
o
The Golden Lampstands in Revelation 1,2
& 3 are defined as a Mystery.
o
The Symbolic Progression of the Lampstand
goes from only one Lampstand (Israel) to seven separate Lampstands in the
world, see Exodus, Zechariah, and Revelation.
o
A World Lampstand Concept
was developed to explain the specific end time prophecies found within each
message to each Lampstand.
o
The Location of each Lampstand was
postulated for the our present time by the following methods and assumptions:
o
Military
Descriptions in the Bible identify nations in our generation,
o
Present
day World Military Forces can be identified from symbols in the Bible,
o
The
Prophets of Israel define the location of future Kingdoms in the world by their
location relative to the nation of Israel,
o
The
End Time Prophecy for each Lampstand is referenced later in John’s Vision.
o
The End Time Message to North America is
found in the Message to Thyatira.
o
Great
deeds of love, faith, service, and perseverance.
o
We
tolerate Jezebel ,who teaches immorality and leads bondservants astray.
o
Jezebel
will be cast on a bed of sickness, and her followers into Great Tribulation
(Nuclear War) and her children will be killed with pestilence (fallout
radiation).
o
All
churches will know Christ will give to each one according to their deeds.
o
Christ
places no other burden on His bondservants who do not follow Jezebel.
o
Bondservants
are told to hold fast to what they have until He comes.
o
Bondservants
are given authority over the Nations to rule with a rod of iron as one of the
two witnesses (Rev 11).
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