The Amplified Bible clearly says that Revelation chapter 12 verse 1 warns of an ominous and frightening FUTURE EVENT. However, in the study notes of the same Bible, they ignore that it is a future event and teach that these were events from the past. Their study notes say these verses speak of the Old Testament Patriarch Jacob, his wife Rachael, the nation of Israel giving birth to Jesus, and the ascension of Jesus to heaven after his resurrection. So, they are saying these future prophetic events symbolize things that already happened in the past. What happened to their ominous future event? Is it acceptable to say historical events are the fulfillment of future prophecy? Should we ignore the context of the end times and look to the past for understanding? Is this a series of prophetic future events or not? The Apostle John heard a voice like a trumpet that said everything that follows after Revelation chapter 4, verse 1, is a future event. So, who should we believe, John or the Amplified Bible study notes? My vote is for the Apostle John.

The Amplified translators are not alone; traditionally, this is how most Christians read this portion of the scriptures. So, we will look at some traditional viewpoints with their objections. The scripture plainly says that everything from Revelation, chapter 4, verse 1, going forward are future end-time events. The historical background adds to our understanding, but actual events must happen to fulfill future prophecies. The book of Revelation interprets itself, if you let it.

Jesus said the signs of his return would be like birth pangs. Things will come at us more and more frequently, hitting us with worse pain. Also, these pains are global, happening simultaneously worldwide. Can anybody say shutdowns? We see wars with Russia vs Ukraine, Israel vs Iran and its proxies, and rumors of China vs Taiwan, moving us to the brink of World War III. There is an axis of Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea versus the West, the United States, the European Union, Great Britain, and Australia. While the Russian and Chinese axis maintain their national sovereignty, the Western countries systematically and incrementally surrender their national sovereignty to a globalist agenda pushed by officials inside their governments, the United Nations, the World Economic Forum, the World Health Organization, etc. Globally, politicians are taking control over natural resources through international climate treaties, overriding the sovereignty of the nations. They are weaponizing waves of illegal immigration to bankrupt legal citizens and erase national identities, cultures, and borders to create global citizens. They engage in election interference, install puppets, and make election day into selection month, intentionally creating political upheaval and destabilization. They shut down free speech with algorithms and artificial intelligence censoring social media and the news. We are in a revolution, and the global shutdown proved it can happen. They want to take away the rule of law, ruin morality, faith, and family, and demolish the world so they can rebuild a Marxist utopia with a new world order. In reality, they are useful idiots of Satan, building the antichrist global government.

Real persecution is coming for the Christians and Jews in the West and the United States. Meanwhile, there's a great falling away from Christ; as more churches go apostate or get shut down, true believers may have to find or create small groups for fellowship. While we have time and freedom, we should study the scriptures, share the gospel, and watch and pray to be worthy when Jesus returns. Our website provides free Bible study resources: free books covering foundational & end-times teachings, free Bibles & charts, etc. Visit our website at Ears2Hear.online.