The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Revelation 6:1-6, “Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, ‘Come.’
2 I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
3 When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, ‘Come.’
4 And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.
5 When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, ‘Come.’ I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand.
6 And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, ‘A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine.’”

With the advent of Revelation 5, the Church on Earth disappeared into the heavens. This is the Rapture, where Redeemed mankind will stand before God at the Judgment Seat. It is there that the LORD will bestow crowns upon the saved who were active in sharing the Gospel with the lost on Earth. There are five areas in which specific mention is made of a reward:

(1)An Incorruptible Crown for those who gain mastery over the old, worldly man (1 Cor. 9:25).
(2)A Crown of Rejoicing for the soul-winners (1 Thes. 2:19).
(3)A Crown of Life for those enduring trials (Jas. 1:12).
(4)A Crown of Righteousness for loving His appearing (2 Tim. 4:8); and
(5)A Crown of Glory for being willing to feed the flock of God (1 Pet. 5:4).

But this is not the end of the world! The unsaved left behind now face the most torrential outpouring of God’s wrath yet known to man! The expulsion from Garden of Eden, the confusion of tongues at the Tower of Babel, and the dispersion of Israel throughout the world –all pale in the face of the GREAT TRIBULATION!

Commencing with Revelation 6 and continuing through chapter 18, emphasis is given to the outpouring of God’s wrath upon the world, Primarily, His wrath is focused upon the Jews. They were and are His chosen people. From Him and for them came the Messiah! The magnitude of their national rejection of Jesus as the Messiah is mirrored in the magnitude of God’s wrathful displeasure toward their nation.

It was this GREAT TRIBULATION of which Christ Himself spoke saying, “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall” (Mt. 24:21). This is “the time of Jacob’s trouble,” the “70th week of Daniel.” The LORD’s focus is primarily upon the Jewish nation, for it was Israel that cried, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him! We have no king but Caesar!” (Jn 19:15).

In this Great Tribulation, a series of defining judgments unfold: 7 seals, 7 trumpets, 7 bowls – each of which is subdivided into specific judgments upon the Earth, including all mankind. You can escape these judgments! You need not go through the Great Tribulation! A personal commitment in prayer to God is your escape! Dear LORD, forgive me of all my sins. Come into my heart and life and be my LORD and Savior.”

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Revelation 5:1-7, “I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals.
2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?’
3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it.
4 Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it;
5 and one of the elders said to me, ‘Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.’
6 And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.
7 And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.”

When I was a small boy, my mother told me about God’s Book, the Bible. But there was, another “book” that was not the Bible. The book she meant was the book in which God placed “black marks” behind the names of children when they were naughty. Exactly how many “black marks” were behind my name was known only to the LORD!

The Apostle John learned about God’s Book when he was on the Isle of Patmos. Only that that Book was a scroll, like the one which the Prophet Ezekiel referenced (Ezk 2:9-10a). Books in ancient times were often scrolled and sealed in various places, hiding portions from the eyes of others.

This book, however, was revealed to John: “I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back…” (5:1a). Doubtlessly, there have been many variant ideas about the content of that book; yet, it is revealed as the “Title Deed to the Earth,” and it is “…sealed up with seven seals” and further secured in the LORD’s right hand, connoting His authority. As for the seals, they were secured with perfection. Roman law required wills to be sealed seven times.

The Angel in our Scripture passage is obviously not Christ, since He is the recipient of the “little book.” We are not told who this angel is, but a good possibiity is that it is Gabriel; for it was he, who ordered the book closed to Daniel (Dan. 9:24). The Angel’s loud voice is intimidating, as he asks, “Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?”

John notes the universal disqualification of all creation to open the book (5:3). Faithful and faithless of men and of angels –all are disqualified! Why? Because disqualification is not based on intellectual lack, but upon moral unworthiness. No one is qualified to open the Book! Everyone lacks the qualification to view and know its contents!

This provoked John to weep profusely! If this “little book” is, as we believe, the Title Deed to the Earth, John’s weeping can be justifiably rebuked –and it was!– because weeping denotes an attitude of unsureness, instability; it betrays a lack of trust in God’s ability to control. Even when we do not understand, we must have confidence that the
LORD does understand. And beyond that, He is in control and will always take care of His people. Are you one of His people? I am praying that you are.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Revelation 4:5-11, , Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God;
6 and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind.
7 The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle.
8 And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME.”
9 And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever,
10 the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”

One of my dear wife’s heart doctors “died” one day as he and his staff were opening his office for the day’s activities. Subsequently, we met him one day just outside his office door and I asked him about his “death experience.” He said it was as if he had been mysteriously elevated above his body and the staff that surrounded it below. He could see it all, and talked to them; but they could not hear him. He gave them instructions on what to do; but again, they did not hear him. Through the grace of Almighty God, his heart came good, his life was released from his elevated position, and was returned to his body below. I asked him if he were a Christian, and he assured me that he truly was!

There are indeed some mysterious occurrences that defy human explanation. The Apostle John envisioned some Spiritual Wonders in a dream: “…flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder.” Also, there were “seven lamps of fire burning before the Throne, which are the seven Spirits of God…” The Throne pictures God’s universal sovereignty and Divine omnipotence (Psa. 115:3). The Throne produced “sights and sounds of judgment” (4:5a), and was closely associated with the Holy Spirit of God (4:5b). Further, the Throne offered a residence in peace: “and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal” (4:6a). What peace we would know if only we would adhere to God’s will and His precepts!

John also noted the characteristics of some Living Creatures; they were “full of eyes in front and behind” (vv. 6b-8). The Prophet Ezekiel had experienced the same (Ezk. 1:10).

(1)Each Living Creature possessed six wings that stood for Reverence, Humility, and Obedience.
(2)Each Living Creature possessed omniscience. The Rabbis said, “There are four holding the chief place in the world: among the creatures is man; among birds, is the eagle; among cattle, is the ox; and among beasts, is the lion.”

Note that their concentration and constant cry focuses on Christ! “Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.’”

Oh, that we would focus and concentrate on Jesus Christ! One Day we will. For One
Day we will stand before Him and He will say either “Enter thou into the joys of thy
LORD” or “Depart from me…I never knew you!” How will He address you on that Day?

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Revelation 4:1-4, “After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.”
2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne.
3 And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance.
4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads.”

The Key to unlocking the Revelation is in chapter one, verse nineteen: “Write, thererfore, the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall take place after these things.”

1.With the sound of the Voice in 4:1, we enter the third and final phase of the Revelation. The Apostle John is lifted up into Heaven; and just as the seven churches were real churches, they also symbolize periods of Christian history; so, John is real, yet he symbolizes the Rapture of the Church! The troubles of the Church are now left behind, and the Church is allowed to glimpse the LORD Himself, who has been her Refuge and Strength throughout the ages.

2.The LORD’s Church is then raptured (caught up) and carried through the “open door.” The LORD will then have delivered His Church“from the wrath to come” (1 Thes. 1:10). The earthly church is not any, particular religious denomination; rather, it is the entire group of “born again” believers, who are there with Christ. The earthly Church is not seen after Revelation 3!

3.The Apostle John then beholds the glories of Heaven (4:1-11). There are three heavens in existence: the atmosphere is the first; the planets and stars are the second; and the Heaven that John beheld is the third. He visualized Heaven and heard the LORD’s voice. Ellicott says, “The Voice of Christ has many tones; but none give an ‘uncertain sound.” The LORD’s Voice is always preeminent!

4.Most importantly, however, is it that John saw the LORD (1:2b-3: “…and behold, a throne was standing in Heaven, and One sitting on the throne. And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance.”)

(1)The LORD is our Righteousness: the Pure and Holy One.
(2)The LORD is our Redemption: He is their Judgment.
(3)The LORD is our Rest and Security.

Is the LORD your righteousness? Or are you relying on your own goodness?
Is the LORD your redemption? Either He is, or you are facing His judgment!
Is the LORD your Rest, your Security? If He is neither, you have neither.
Give your life to Him! Trust Him to be your Salvation. There is no other.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Daniel 9:24-27, “Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place.
25 “So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress.
26 “Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.
27 “And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.”

Jeremiah 30:7, “’Alas! for that day is great, There is none like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s distress, But he will be saved from it.”

The purpose of the tribulation is one of Divine Judgment upon the Jewish nation. The
nature of the tribulation is a period of divine wrath and judgment. The Scriptures teach
that God’s wrath is not directed against His Church!

1.“For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, (1 Thes. 5:9).
2.“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
(Rom. 8:1).

The Tribulation is a time of wrath and judgment throughout its seven years. The Scriptures teach that the Church will be delivered from the wrath of God, and is “…to wait for His Son from Heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come” (I Thes. 1:10).

The Antichrist will reign during the seven years of Tribulation (cf. Rev. 13:7). Everyone will be in subjection to him. Were the Church to be on Earth during that time, it would be in subjection to the Antichrist rather than the Christ. That is why the Church will have been Raptured prior to the Tribulation.

The Thessalonian believers were in confusion regardin the resurrection. Paul wrote them that believers who were alive at Christ’s coming for His own would have no advantage over believers who had died. If the Thessalonians had believed the Church would go through the Tribulation, they would either have rejoiced that some had missed the Tribulation, or would have reasoned that it was better to be with the Father in Heaven than to suffer on the Earth.

The New Testament epistles are amazingly silent regarding the Tribulation. This silence itself argues for the Church’s absence during the Tribulation era. Further, the Tribulation foretold by the Old Testament prophets always relates to Israel (Malachi 4:5-6).

While unconverted, unbelieving Gentiles will doubtlessly experience the Great Tribulation along with the nation of Israel, the absence of any Gentiles in the fiery furnace experience (Dan. 3:22ff) serves to emphasize that the Great Tribulation is primarily a judgment upon the Jews for their having rejected Jesus Christ as their Messiah.

This is why I pray urgently and witness fervently that people may come to know Jesus!
Do you know Him? He is your only hope of escaping Hell and Earth’s most tumultous era! Ask Him today to forgive you of your sins. Life is uncertain. Jesus is certain!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom