The Living Word

By Dr. Toh Eng Kiong (Peter)

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 30, 2023
• ISBN: 9781669861713

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Copyright © 2023 by Dr. Toh Eng Kiong (Peter) MD DSc PhD(SpHE) PhD(ThPh) SLD MBS MCE BBS MIAMI(US) FMSBL(US).

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Rev. date: 05/27/2023

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*Special thanks to all staff at Xlibris (US) publication especially to Ms. Gia Harris for her encouragement, scripts integration and submission, Ms. Kaye Parsons for production and design efforts, whilst not forgetting Ms. Clair Otis and Ms. Crystal Taggart, to make the publication of this book a success.

CONTENTS

Introduction

Epistemology of Eternal Life

Spiritual Healing Power

Fundamentals of Prayer and Fasting

Philosophy of Ethics

About the Author

INTRODUCTION

In this book, I have resort to the core concepts of Epistemology of Belief, justification, knowledge and truth depicted by the living word (Holy Bible), dividing concentration in seven scripts viz. the Epistemology of eternal life, repentance, salvation of God, spiritual healing, the power of word, fundamentals of prayer and philosophy of ethics, the latter script dealt with the issues concerning meta ethics and normative ethics and their relevance with metaphysics of healing, moral ethics and its environment. The Philosophical definition and comparison is studied in the script… Philosophy of Ethics.

The opening script Epistemology of Eternal life focuses on acquiring knowledge pertaining to the conduct of our life and ontological being, containing all their relevant entities and their relations on earth and the destiny of our soul through eternity, expounding on the grace accorded to the deserving souls who repented to receive eternal everlasting life beyond bodily death. Repentance is a short script emulating, why and how to achieve it to appease and be reconciled to God our creator, who programmed this phenomenal sensual development process of awareness through the saving grace of Jesus Christ, His trine

Spiritual healing revealing the divine spiritual power of the holy spirit (God in trine) empowers the Believer, who is saved by faith, by spiritual immersion in the crucified sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ, who shed it at the cross of Calvary, for the redemption of our sins, is expounded in the script … .. Spiritual Healing Power.

The script Fundamentals of Prayer and Fasting is fervently included as an important knowledge on the understanding of God’s attribute and attitude towards our prayer request and communication with Him; the necessity to interact prayer request and supplication in compliance with His will and timely purpose to answer. Much details were evaluated in this script with regards to accomplishing a desirous answer from the Lord to the needs of the seekers.

This book should answer many difficult questions and resolve the doubts of the little known aspects of our human relationship with our creator God, so as to glorify Him and the after life of our sojourning on earth. Biblical and Theological undergraduate students, care- givers, counselors and worshipers alike, should find this book useful. May the grace of God be with you.

Dr. Toh Eng Kiong

Email: [e-mail]

Website: www.lifebooks.webs.com

EPISTEMOLOGY OF

ETERNAL LIFE

INTRODUCTION:

The importance of acquiring the knowledge pertaining to our life and the destiny of our soul, especially after bodily death is not only a mysterious one but that which will determined the course of our life through eternity. This essential ontological study examines the entities of the being of our souls, the definition of bodily ‘death’, what it means to us, its relationship and relevance to the ultimate destiny of our soul; whether is there such a thing as ‘recarnation’ or does it make sense, in the context of sensibility of mind and in the perspective of reality. The scriptural expounds on ‘salvation’ by grace offered to men is distinctively highlighted in the extracting truth of the bible, determining the prospect of life after-death which sensible men must acknowledge or perish.

The Definition Of Death:

The two essential questions to ask when investigating on human death are, (1) what is the human death? And (2) how can we determined that it has occurred.

Apparently, the first question is ontological or perhaps conceptual, consisting of a definition; such as, treating death as the irreversible cessation of organismic functioning and human death as the irreversible loss of personhood. The second question seemingly is epistemological and a complete answer to this would involve a general standard (or criterion) for determining that death has occurred backed by specific clinical tests to show that the stipulated standard has been met in a particular case. Examples of standards for human death are the traditional ‘cardiopulmonary’ standard (that which affects the heart and the lungs and their functions) and the whole brain standard. Prolonged cardiopulmonary failure inevitably led to permanent complete loss of brain function. Clinical tests are primarily a medical concern and in this present entry, we will not discuss this aspect.

The correct definition and standard of death for human death are closely connected to other questions such as how does the human beings relates to the death of other living things. In this context, the human death can be simply said to be an instance of organismic death which is ultimately a matter of biology. Otherwise, we can define it on the basis of the essence of human death, entailing the necessary conditions; such as a ‘family resemblance’ and relationship of the varieties of death. Are life and death exhaustive categories of those things that are ever animated or do some people fall into an ontological neutral zone between life and death (something like in the hypnotized state). And how do human death relate conceptually to our essence and identity as a human person.

With the invention of mechanical respirators in the 1950s, it became possible for a previously lethal brain damage to coexist, with continued cardiopulmonary functioning to sustain the functioning of the other organs. It then become difficult to confirm whether a person is alive or dead. Hence, such technologies, as the mechanical respirators and defibrillator are used to restore cardiac malfunctioning, making it possible to separate cardiopulmonary from neurological functioning, thus raising the issue of how can we precisely determine the occurrence of human death. In this lesson, we will study the ‘whole brain’ approach which will explore the ‘standard’ and its corresponding definition of death, with discussions on the ‘higher-brain approach’, the ‘cardiopulmonary approach and several other radical approaches. Our discussion will examine each criteria and its assertion leading to arguments in favor or otherwise and also highlighting its difficulties, to develop a broad understanding of the ‘definition of death.

The Whole-Brain Approach:

According to this approach, human death is the irresistible cessation of the functioning of the entire brain, including the brainstem, usually associated with an organismic definition of death. This whole-brain standard assigns significance to the assisted and non-assisted respiratory procedures. As earlier mentioned, a mechanical respirator can enable breathing and thereby circulation, in a what is already a brain-dead patient, whose entire brain is irreversibly non-functioning. The old view stipulates that such a patient is counted as alive so long as respiration of any sort (assisted or not) occurs. But in terms of the whole-brain account, such a patient is counted as dead. On the present approach, however, someone who is a permanent (irreversible) vegetative state is still considered alive because his brainstem is still functioning in enabling spontaneous respiration and circulation of certain primitive reflexes.

Before we proceed to discuss on the concepts of the various states of permanent unconsciousness, it is needful and helpful to understand the basic concepts and functions of the ‘higher brain’ and ‘lower brain’: the ‘higher brain’ is that which consist of both the cerebrum (the primary vehicle of conscious awareness) and the cerebellum, the section of the organ that is concerned with the coordination and control of voluntary muscle movements and (2) the ‘lower brain’ or brainstem as it is also known, includes the medulla, which controls spontaneous respiration, the ascending reticular activating system, acting as an on/off switch that enables consciousness and the mid-brain with its connecting pons (a band of nerve fibers linking the medulla oblongata and the cerebellum with the midbrain).

Now, the death of the whole-brain involves the destruction of the entire brain, both the higher-brain and its stem. (Cranford 1995). By contrast, in the permanent vegetative state (PVS), the brainstem is largely intact while the higher-brain is extensively damaged to the extend of causing irretrievable loss of consciousness. Thence, according to the whole-brain standard, a PVS patient is still regarded as being alive, since his brainstem is still functioning. A PVS patient would exhibit some or all of the following unassisted respiration and heartbeat, wake and sleep cycles that is made possible by an intact and functionable reticular activating system (though the destruction of his cerebrum precludes consciousness); reflexes such as swallowing, coughing, etc and papillary reaction to light and eyes movements may still persist. A rare state of unconsciousness that can lead to permanent death is when a patient is in permanent coma, which is a distinct case of PVS in which the patient never appear to be awake, though he may persist in partial brainstem functioning and can still maintain breathing and heartbeat without mechanical assistance.

The advantages and disadvantages of the whole-brain approach:

There are two powerful considerations that appeals to the ‘whole-brain’ approach, the first, is that of the ‘organismic definition’ of death and the second, the emphasis of the brain’s role as the primary integrator of the overall bodily functioning, which is the primal for those who regarded the definition of death as unnecessary. Yet there is an additional influential consideration, which is logically separable from these two mentioned, that which involved the whole-brain standard updates distinct from the traditional approach to defining death.

According to the organismic definition, death is defined as the irreversible loss of the functioning of the organism as a whole (Baker 1975, Bernat, Culver and Gert 1981). This approach emphasize that death is a biological occurrence that is common to all organisms; implying that organisms are the only entities that literally is independent of the larger biological systems, all other individual cells, organs, live and die and that ideas, cultures and machines live and die figuratively. Thence, an adequate definition of death must also be adequate in the case for all organisms. Understandably, all living things, such as plants, rabbits and of course human dies when their organisms stops functioning as an integrated unit and decays, reducing what once used to be salient objects that absorbed energy and food from the environment to maintain and sustain its structure and functioning. For death to happen, the collapse of all integrated bodily functioning is necessary.

Seemingly, the whole-brain approach does not admit directly the organismic conception of death which assumes that human organism’s death occurs upon irreversible loss of the cardiopulmonary function. So do we have to consider the importance of the brain as an intrinsic question. The whole-brain approach, seemingly, suggested that it is the human brain that plays the vital role of integrating all the major bodily functions, so it is logically necessary for the entire brain to demise for sufficiency of human being’s death (Bernat, Culver, and Gert 1981), discounting heartbeat and breathing as the superficial indication of life. Notwithstanding, it is the brain that makes all the vital functions possible; such as, circulation and respiration, maintenance of body temperature, hormonal regulation and various other functions, including ‘consciousness’ in humans and other higher animals. Thence, the whole-brain standard consists in an organismic conception of death that couples the brain as the integrator of interdependent bodily functions.

Another view that advanced in favor of the whole-brain standard, positioned it as part of honorable tradition that claims the traditional focus on cardiopulmonary function as an integer of the whole-brain approach. The claim that the traditional focus on cardiopulmonary function as part of the whole-brain approach does not change our understanding of death but rather enhanced the brain’s crucial role.

It is reasonable to know that the three significant organs viz. the heart, lungs and brain assumed significant responsibilities in maintaining human lives; it is seen as that, the cessation of the functioning of any one, will inevitably cease the other two as well. Due to the fact that the performance of these three organs are easily measured, circulatory and respiratory conditions were traditionally the basic ‘vital’ signs commonly used as confirmation of ‘death’. This was the traditional means of diagnosing death by detecting an irreversible cessation of integrated functioning among the interdependent bodily systems. However, the advent of artificial means of recuperating respiration and circulation, presents to us a deceptive view of the definition of absolute death as it concealed the absence of integrated functioning of the organism as a complete whole.

We could see that the whole-brain approach has advantages; firstly, in whatever position the whole-brain standard acquire, whether it replaces traditional cardiopulmonary standard or not, it is fairly consistent with traditional practices and the understanding concerning human death. In many countries, current laws incorporates both standards disjointedly; some conceded that an individual who has sustained either irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory functions or irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brain stem, is considered dead.

Moreover, the present approach offers other advantages as well, especially the one that gives the whole-brain standard primal, a plausible specification of the organismic definition of death for human beings. This is seen as permitting a declaration of death when the whole brain stop functioning, yet allowing the retrieval of still viable organs while respiration and circulation continue with mechanical aids. Yet another practical advantage of modern-day approach, is permitting the discontinuation of costly life-support devices on brain dead patients, without prior directive or proxy consent. In some countries, the brain-stem standard is utilized as the measure to accomplish the theory of death. Apparently, this brain-stem standard (which includes the ascending reticular activating system, the on-off switch that regulates ‘consciousness’) requires very few clinical tests for asserting the occurrence of human death by irreversible cessation of brain-stem function, since, ‘consciousness’ is absolutely disabled when a person’s cerebrum stop functioning. Usually, it is the religious, who favor the cardiopulmonary standard, advocating that, one can still be alive even though the brain is dead while the other group consisting of liberal intellectuals, in contrary, favors the higher-brain standard (which we will discuss later in this course) instead.

At least for some members of our species, whole-brain death is not necessarily complete death, so to speak. It is reasonable, after all, human embryos (early fetuses) can experience death while still lacking in the maturity of the brain to satisfy whole-brain criteria of death. In the argument that ‘whole-brain death is not strictly necessary for human death’; if we consider a brain as part of a human organism and it is removed from this body but still kept functioning, perhaps by transplanting (we are exemplifying future endeavors here) into another de-brained body, then the body from which the brain was removed would surely die, although its brain continues to function, perhaps in another body – this argument would relate to the wisdom that the existence of a functioning brain is sufficient for continued existence of an organism, or life (refer: van Inwagen 1990)

Interestingly, recent empirical evidence suggests that the whole-brain approach is not sufficient for complete human death. This advocates that many of our interactive functions are not intermediated by the brain and can therefore persist in individuals who meet the criteria of whole-brain death standard clinically. Such corporally(bodily) integrating functions include the phenomena of homeostasis (the metabolic equilibrium actively maintained by several complex biological mechanisms that operate via the autonomic nervous system to offset disrupting changes), assimilation of nutrients, detoxification and recycling of cellular wastes, assisting healing, combating infections and cardiovascular and hormonal stress responses for organic procurement; and in some instances, brain dead bodies have even conceived a fetus that became matured sexually (Shewmon 2001; Potts 2001). In the development of this argument, the brain functions no longer is cited as an integrator but merely sustain an existing functional integration that suggests brain to be an enhancer of bodily functions.

The reflection on ‘Locked-in syndrome’ is yet another problem purporting on the sufficiency of whole-brain death for human. In this context, people with ‘lock-in syndrome are believed to be ‘conscious’ and alive, but completely paralyzed with the exception of the eyes. Which means with intensive medical support, they can still live. Relative to this analogy, it is interesting to note that some patient with this syndrome exhibit no more somatic (bodily) functioning that is integrated by the brain as brain-dead individuals does. That is to say the remaining functions of the body is maintained by external supports and by bodily systems other than the brain which merely preserve consciousness. It may also be argued that if the whole-brain death is supposed to be sufficient for absolute death, and accepted as true because of the loss of somatic functioning that is integrated by the brain, then the loss of those functions should also be sufficient to confirm death. Thence, the whole-brain definition of death must be rejected or this latter philosophy for accepting the whole-brain approach must be rejected, otherwise some good and substantive reasons must be applied to support it.

As our study here is in so far as to help us to understand the concept of death in its general terms, we will not go into its detailed analysis involving clinical adequacy. What the whole-brain theorists considered as ‘death’ on the basis of disregarding the residual functions (viz. electroencephalographic activity, isolated nests of living neurons, hypothalamic functioning) that may still prevail, as too trivial to be counted against the judgment of death, is still regarded as alive by clinical tests procedures (read Potts 2001; Veatch 1993).

In disputing the exact definition of death, a leading proponent made a revision endorsing that the organismic definition of death implies the permanent cessation of the ‘critical functions’ of the organism as a whole thus, the corresponding standard implying to permanent cessation of the critical functions of the whole brain (Bernat 1998). This means to say that the organism’s critical functions may be identified by reference to its ‘emergent’ function in the sense that properties of the whole organism are independent of its component parts and as such that an irretrievable loss of the organism’s emergent functions (that which occur unexpectedly and requiring urgent action) produces loss of the functioning of the whole organism and therefore, the death of the organism. This seems to emphasize that the basis of ‘critical functions’ does allow the declaration of death of patients with only a trivial brain function. So in this analogy, the human dies when the vital functions spontaneously ceases (breathing and autonomic circulation control) and the integrating functions that maintains the organism’s homeostasis (metabolic equilibrium actively maintained by several complex biological mechanisms that operate via the autonomic nervous system to offset disrupting changes) and the consciousness ceases as well. The judgment that some brain functions are trivial in this relevance invites the consideration of holding ‘consciousness’ as the decisive main criteria of organismic definition of death. But this and other implications are topics of on-going debates which we will not get indulged with in our study here. Our main purpose is to have an overall understanding of what and how human ‘death’ is defined, in pursuance with God’s redemptive plan in Christ, concerning the eternal destiny of human soul and what attachment and values does the human body holds in this regard.

The Higher-Brain Approach:

A progressive alternative in accordance to the higher-brain standard specifies that human death is the irreversible cessation of capacity for consciousness. ‘Consciousness’ here would mean, the subjective experience so that ‘wakening’ and ‘dreaming’ are considered as merely instances. In this nomenclature, the capacity for consciousness indicates that the individual who retains neurological panorama for consciousness, including those experiencing reversible coma and dreamless sleep is considered still alive. On this view, one dies upon entering a state in which the brain is incapable of returning to consciousness; this is the most common standard practice to day in most countries. This implies that a patient in coma is dead even though his brain-stem is still functioning and permitting spontaneous cardiopulmonary function. Many scholars supports this concept of definition of human death that connotes loss of property for which the capacity for consciousness is necessary. (refer Veatch 1975, Engelhardt 1975; Green and Wikler 1980; Gervais 1986; Barlett and Youngner 1988; Puccetti 1988; Rich 1997, Baker 2000). The evaluation of this ideology in support of the higher-brain approach can be apprehended in considering the following arguments we will discuss below:

One strategy for supporting the higher-brain approach is to appeal to the ‘essence’ of human persons on the basis of the capacity for consciousness. In this context, ‘essence’ here is regarded, in the ontological sense to mean the property or sets of properties of an individual, the loss of which would necessarily terminate the individual’s existence. This is to say that essentially beings with the capacity for consciousness cannot exist at any time without having this capacity; one dies when one go out of existence.

Ostensibly, the terminology as used here in respect of ‘persons’ can be varied and confusing. Some defined ‘persons’ in terms of the ‘beings’ relative to complex psychological capacities such as self-awareness, reasons and moral agency; which claims that human dies at the point of losing such advanced instinctive capacities. But this is like saying that a person undergoing ‘dementia’ (mental deterioration of organic or functional origin) dies when he loses this complex psychological capacity, even though a patient remains absolutely alive with and on the basis of this basic consciousness. Apparently, this view is ridiculous and would appears inconsistent with the higher-brain approach which equates death with the permanent loss of all consciousness, regardless. It is a difficult proposition to try to draw a line between what would appear as ‘sentient’ persons and what are not and the further consideration of the abuse of elderly. Consensus assessment would still vindicate that the higher-brain approach as admissible. There are other views that holds persons as beings that retains the capacity of consciousness, as the criteria of judgment for the qualification of existence and life. (refer: Engelhardt 1996; Barlett and Youngner 1988). Still others defended that the higher-brain beings are those possessing the capacity for consciousness of essentially of the ‘minds’ or ‘minded beings’, which also invariably, means to say ‘beings with the capacity for ‘consciousness’. With this collection of ideological arguments, we are able to construct an acceptable definition of death for human by resolving that irreversible loss of the capacity for consciousness entails the loss of what is essential for their existence (such as loosing the human minds), which is necessary and sufficient for death. Notably, the notion implying persons who become progressively demented as going out of existence at some point during the gradual decrement to permanent unconsciousness and newborn humans who lack the capacities that constitute what could have been regarded as meeting the complex forms of consciousness standards of humanhood, are rather ridiculous. Hence, in the general approach of understanding our essence in terms of psychological capacities, is to view that we are essentially beings with the capacity for at least some form of consciousness who die upon irreversibly losing that very basic capacity.

Another aspects that takes into view, the life of ‘permanent vegetation patient’ (PVS) who is spontaneously breathing, circulating blood and exhibiting a full range of brainstem reflexes and anencephalic infants who are born without cerebral hemispheres and who do not have the capacity for consciousness, both appears to be alive. But in response to this challenge, the higher-brain approach may assert that the PVS patient and the anencephalic infants are not alive despite their appearances or regards them as living organisms that are not of the same fundamental kind as persons of minded beings (refer: Puccetti 1988; McMahan 2002). This latter consideration would imply that for each of us minded beings, there seems to be a second associated being: a human organism. Thus, the prospects of the present strategy for supporting the higher-brain approach will then, have to depend on its ability to make sense of two closely associated beings; for instance, the organism, which comes into existence at conception or immediately thereafter, dies when organismic functioning radically decays or sentience beings, in the event of PVS or permanent coma, die before their organism does.

The prospect that there is only one definition of death that appeals to the capacity for consciousness and another, that appeals to organismic functioning for nonhuman animals and human organisms of persons, opens the higher-brain theorist to allow two closely associated beings for sentient human.

This argument pervades the significant challenges confronting the present approach relating between one of us and the associated human organism as not identical. Because the organism originates before the mind and even might outlive the mind; that we human beings are not animals, would render the two as being one. So are human beings part of the organism associated with them – namely the portions of brain associated with consciousness. But, when human supposedly goes out of existence, the brain still seems to survive death. So, is human a functioning brain which goes out of existence at the irreversible loss of consciousness? Or do we regard the ‘functioning brain’ as distinct from the brain, meaning to say, you are only some organ when it is functioning. Presumably, if you are otherwise considered as a substance or some bearer of properties under all conditions and not a substance only when it has certain properties. Could you be identified as a functioning brain, as a substance, distinct from the brain? Or is it that you are not the brain, but to be the mind that is understood as the conscious properties of the brain; which would imply that you are a set of properties, rather than a substance. But it is incredible in the stance of the philosophy of the mind to assert that you are a set of properties and not a substance.

One incident in the bible, depicting Elijah’s ministry; concerned the revival to life of the widow’s son who was sick and known to be dead as he had no breath in him- which apparently means that his cardiopulmonary functioning system had ceased. Through the manifestation of God’s resurrection power endued upon the dead boy invested by HIS divine sovereign Will in respond to Elijah’s prayer of intercession, the dead boy was resurrected to life (Elijah cried unto the Lord three times .....’O lord my God, I pray thee, let this child’s soul come into him again’ (1Kings 17:21) and the Lord heard Elijah’s prayer request and the soul of the child came into him to revive him (v22) (refer 1Kings 17:17-24). This historical event demonstrates the presence of God manifested to the widowed woman at Zarephath, as witness of God’s love to reconcile sinful men to HIMSELF through the grace of ‘believing’ and ‘receiving’ HIS free gift merely by faith. This eventful ministry of Elijah revealed in the old testament text is a shadow of what is to come, which is now revealed in the new covenant testament depicting the redemptive grace of Christ, who died and was resurrected for the sins of men; Christ being the author of eternal life for those who believe in HIM as a triune of God who came down to earth in the likeness of men to save their souls. Ostensibly, this historical event of Elijah’s miracle of the ‘dead brought to life’ the widow’s son, evinced that the human brain is still conscious, though indefinitely until consciousness totally ceased, even though the cardiopulmonary and respiratory functioning systems have permanently stopped. Given the extend of time unattended by divine provision to recuperate the boy, his life would have absolutely ended in total death.

On the issue of human morality pertaining to definition of death, vindicates a claim on the higher-brain approach (refer Veatch 1975, 1993; Gervais 1986). On the question of how to determine that a human has died with reference to this concept, is advanced by asking if we ought to discontinue certain life-support efforts and initiate such activities as organ donation, burial or cremation, grieving, change of a survival’s marital status, and even transfer of properties. Some of this are impervious to divine prescripts.

BRIEFING ON ESCHATOLGY – THE END TIMES:

The end times events and its anticipated occurrence is given in the scriptural books of Revelation and Daniel. The Revelation was given through an angel of the Apostle John around 100AD and it is a vision of things that must shortly come to pass in the very near future. Seriously the end time is near at hand and those who read or hear this ‘revelation’ will be blessed. Because when you are aware and knowledgeable of the events of the future, you will be in a position to prepare yourself for the eventualities. (Revelation 1: 1-3) If this is the first time you are going to read a Bible and do not know how to refer to various passages, no problem, i have specially written this book with people like you in mind and have included most important verses in this study. In case you do not have a copy of the Bible, you are advised to purchase a copy of this very important book, from any Christian book shop or contact us. This short study of Revelation is an organized summary giving an overview of the important future events that will occur.

Chapters 2 to 4 of ‘Revelation’ are letters of correction and encouragement addressed to the seven churches of Asia in John’s days and is relevant to the churches of our time. It deals with the various types of churches; the loveless, the persecuted (this is the one most sought after as they are being persecuted and suffer through tribulation and poverty while they work for God, their reward shall be the receipt of the ‘crown of life’), the compromising, the corrupt church (all these are written in chapter 2); the dead, the faithful and the ‘lukewarm’ churches (these are mentioned in chapter 3). You are strongly advise to read these two chapters on your own, depicting important revelations about the characteristics of the various types of churches mentioned to enable you to know what to expect from an ideal church; you being a member of universal church in the body of Jesus Christ.

Chapters 5-6 of Revelation tells of a Divine book with seven seals seen in heaven; this was the book that was given to John to enable him to prophesy about people, nations, tongues and kings (Revelation 10:8-10)

Briefly, the four seals are horses depicting the saga of human experiences tabulated below:

• a white horse going forth to conquer (Revelation 6:2)

• A red horse that took away peace from the earth and killed (Revelation 6:4)

• A black horse with a pair of scales denoting scarcity of earth (Revelation 6:5-6)

• A pale horse of death and hell, that killed a quarter of the population by various means (viz. through hunger, death and the beasts of the earth) (Revelation 6: 7-8)

• The fifth seal showed the martyrs in Heaven awaiting justice and the resurrection. They were all given white robes to put on (Revelation 6: 9-11).

• The sixth seal reveals cosmic disturbances of the future, depicting the day of ‘wrath’ ....(Revelation 6:12-17gnbv) And I saw the Lamb break open the sixth seal. There was a violent earthquake, and the sun became black like coarse black cloth, and the moon turned completely red like blood. The stars fell down to the earth, like unripe figs falling from the tree when a strong wind shakes it. The sky disappeared like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place. Then the kings of the earth, the rulers and the military chiefs, the rich and the powerful, and all other people, slave and free, hid themselves in caves and under rocks on the mountains. They called out to the mountains and to the rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the eyes of the one who sits on the throne and from the anger of the Lamb! The terrible day of their anger is here, and who can stand up against it?

The Evil Trinity Of The Tribulation – During the seven years of tribulation, there will be the evil wicked trio in power (Revelation 13:1-8).

• The Dragon, which is the devil himself, who gave authority to the beasts; the beasts and all the people whose names have not been written in the ‘Book of Life’ will worship him .........(Revelation 13:8nkjv) And all dwelling on the earth will worship it, those whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain, from the foundation of the world.

• The Beast, which is the Anti-Christ and the world’s worst blasphemer. He will probably be a computer genius, to enable him to reach out to the whole world with his evil fallacious incitations or he could probably be the head of the Common Market and a homosexual ......(Daniel 11:36-37nkjv) And the king shall do according to his will. And he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper until the fury is fulfilled. For that which is decreed shall be done. He will not regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god. For he shall magnify himself above all. (Additional reading: Daniel7: 8, 25; Isaiah 14:13)

To suspect this beast to be a computer genius is in consideration that this beast will be someone ‘exalted’, ‘magnified’, someone who dared and disregard God and someone who is prosperous, like the head of the Common market. To suspect that this beast to be a homosexual because he has no desire for women. These are the probable conclusions we can arrive at from the bible revelation of Daniel 11: 36-37.

• The second Beast are actually the ‘False Prophets’, who deceives the world by public demonstrations of his astonishing ‘psychic power’ and false deceitful doctrines. In adjunct, the false prophets make an image of ‘Anti-Christ’ to entice the world, to separate them from God. (refer Revelation 13:13-15)

No Neutrality – By this time, society will be so spiritually polarized; they will be caused to concentrate about two conflicting or contrasting positions, seemingly everyone will either worship the true God or the devil and his incarnation, the Beast (Revelation 13:8: see above)

Scary as will be, everyone must receive the ‘mark’ of the beast, symbolized as 666’ in their hands or forehead or they can’t buy or sell .....(Revelation 13:16-18nkjv) And it causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark on their right hand, or in their foreheads, even that not any might buy or sell except those having the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of its name. Here is the wisdom. Let him having reason count the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. And its number is six hundred and sixty-six. This occurrence will affect everyone’s survival though Christians can always trade or give things to one another. Isolated Christian ‘Believers’ will probably have all things in common, sharing what they have, as the early church did; the righteous shall be blessed .....(Psalm 37:19nkjv) They shall not be ashamed in the evil time; and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

The Lord provides and delivers the righteous who trusts in Him ..... (Psalm 33:19nkjv) to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.

In adverse times, under extreme conditions, there will be angels who will probably supernaturally minister to God’s elect (‘Believers) in prominent ways. These angels will promote the proclamations of the gospel (evangelistic), divine judgment and the fear and worship of God

.....(Proverbs 3:25-26nkjv) Do not be afraid of sudden fear, nor of the destroying of the wicked, when it comes. For Jehovah shall be your hope, and shall keep your foot from being taken.

The elect of God shall not fear, because God will be their ‘refuge’ and ‘fortress’ in times of needs ....(Psalm 91:5nkjv) You shall not fear the terror by night; nor because of the arrow that flies by day;

....(Revealtion 14:6-7nkjv) And I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those dwelling on the earth, even to every nation and kindred and tongue and people, saying with a great voice, Fear God and give glory to Him! For the hour of His judgment has come. And worship Him who made the heaven and the earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

Angels will warn people against the Beast, to fear God and to worship Him and give Him glory; they encourage the saints to be obedient, patience and faithful followers of Jesus, with promising blessing upon martyrdom. The Angels also warn the people against worshiping the Beast and the consequence of everlasting torment in fire and brimstone for evil worshipers who will receive the mark (the symbol 666) of the beast on their foreheads or hands .......

(Revelation 14:6-13nkjv) And I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those dwelling on the earth, even to every nation and kindred and tongue and people, saying with a great voice, Fear God and give glory to Him! For the hour of His judgment has come. And worship Him who made the heaven and the earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. And another angel followed, saying, the great city, Babylon, has fallen, has fallen; because of the wine of the anger of her fornication; she has made all nations to drink. And a third angel followed them, saying with a great voice, If anyone worships the beast and its image, and receives a mark in his forehead or in his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the anger of God, having been mixed undiluted in the cup of His wrath. And he will be tormented by fire and brimstone before the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever. And they have no rest day or night, those who worship the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name. Here is the patience of the saints. Here are the ones who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice from Heaven saying to me, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they shall rest from their labors, and their works follow them.

Global Chaos - there will be global chaos marked by numerous events; earthquakes, geological alterations, darkening of the earth, cosmic downpour, bloody-water, changes in the sky, great hail, mass panic, sweeping spiritual revival, sinning of men, solar scorching, islands sinks, river dries up. I will go through with you in some detail’s topic by topic in the following sections:

• Earthquakes – there seems to be at least 3 major earthquakes. Some could be so overwhelming that they will cause the world map to be redrawn.....

(Revelation 6:12nkjv) And when He had opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake......

.......(Rev elation16:18nkjv) And voices and thunders and lightnings occurred. And there was a great earthquake, such as has not been since men were on the earth, so mighty and so great an earthquake.

There will be a sudden uncontrollable violent convulsion in the Middle East that will reduce the city of Jerusalem to one-tenth its size, to rubble, crushing some 7,000 Jews to death, the survivors will turn to God......(Revelation 11:13nkjv) And in that hour a great earthquake occurred, and the tenth part of the city fell. And seven thousand names of men were slain in the earthquake. And the rest were frightened and gave glory to the God of Heaven.

But the most colossal planetary upheaval of all times is on the way that will be worse than what Jerusalem experienced (being spitted into 3 parts), but will crumple cities on every continent, killing millions: this one is beyond what the ‘Richter Scale’ can measure.

......(Revelation 16:19nkjv) And the great city came to be into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give to her the cup of the wine of the anger of His wrath.

• Geological Alterations – The mountains and islands will be moved: as the tectonic plates are dislocated, buckling the earth’s crust, probably also vomiting and spilling the lavas and every mountain will be displaced and every island will be uprooted or sinked.

Seemingly, the island will be moved out of their positions due to the earthquakes. Due to the torrid (enormously charged and vigorously energetic, characterized by intense emotion) temperatures melting the polar caps and glaciers everywhere, the sea level will rise up, thus causing the islands and the coastal lands to disappear, drowning them all.

......(Revelation 16:20nkjv) And every island fled away, and mountains were not found.

....(Revelation 6:14nkjv) And the heaven departed like a scroll when it is rolled together. And every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

• The Earth Darkened – These great spasms will throw out tremendous amount of volcanic ash, smoke and dust that will cloud the skies, darkened the sun, moon and the stars, predictably, reducing the intensity of light by some 30% (scientific prediction). This will reduce the moon lighting to look like a dim red ball .....(Revelation 6:12nkjv) And when He had opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake. And the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood.

........(Revelation 8:12nkjv) And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was stricken, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars, so that the third part of them was darkened, and the day did not appear for a third part of it, and the night also.

This prediction is also found in Jesus gospel of Matthew ......(Matthew 24:29nkjv) And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from the heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.

Thence, the kingdom of the beast (Anti-Christ) will be plunged into darkness ..... (Revelation 16:10nkjv) And the fifth angel poured out his vial on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom became darkened. And they gnawed their tongues from the pain.

• The Cosmic Downpour – the stars of heaven will fall unto the earth, apparently due to the outer space storm spraying the earth with asteroid debris, sending an unprecedented meteorite shower..... (Revelation 6:13nkjv) And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, even as a fig tree casts her untimely figs when she is shaken by a mighty wind.

(read also Revelation 8:10; 9:1 for additional reading)

There will also be some enormous flaming mass, the size as hugh as a mountain, will crash into the ocean, producing a tidal wave that will wipe out a third of the ships at sea, of course with their crews and destroying a third of all marine life ......(Revelation 8:8) And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea. And the third part of the sea became blood. And the third part of the creatures in the sea, those having souls, died; and the third part of the ships was destroyed.

In adjunct, there will be another Hugh fireball that will strike the earth, polluting the rivers with its noxious vapors. This ‘bitter comet’ will poison a third of our natural water supplies. ....(Revelation 8:10-11nkjv) And the third angel sounded, and a great star burning like a lamp fell from the heaven, and it fell on the third part of the rivers and on the fountains of waters. And the name of the star is called Wormwood, and a third part of the waters became wormwood. And many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter.

• Bloody Water – Inevitably, when the mega-planetary missiles pollute the rives and natural waters, most essential food sources, because of the bloody tide spreading, dies ....

.............(Revelation 16:3nkjv) And the second angel poured out his vial on the sea. And it became like the blood of a dead one, and every living soul died in the sea. (For additional reading you may wish to refer: Jeremiah 51:25; Ezekiel 14:19

• The Sky Changes – Apparently, due to the modification of the earth’s atmosphere, the ozone layer is depleted, thus exposing the earth to unfiltered cosmic rays. Of course, unlike the green house effect, it will be the ‘extremely hot’ kind of effects which are already experiencing now......(Revelation 7:1-3nkjv) And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth so that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying, Do not hurt the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

Accompanying these catastrophes, there are loud voices, thunder, lightnings, earthquakes and dangerous electrical storms ....... (Rev 11:19) And the temple of God was opened in Heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His covenant, and there occurred lightnings and voices, and thunders and an earthquake, and a great hail (also read Revelation 16:18)

• Great Hail – Very strange blood mixed hailstorm were thrown on earth, which will destroy a third of the timber forests and all vegetation.....

(Revelation 8:7nkjv) The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mixed with blood, and they were cast on the earth. And the third part of trees was burned up, and all green grass was burned up.......

.....(Rev 11:19nkjv) And the temple of God was opened in Heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His covenant, and there occurred lightnings and voices, and thunders and an earthquake, and a great hail.

........(Revelation 16:2nkjv) And a great hail, as the size of a talent, came down out of the heaven on men. And men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague of it was exceedingly great.

Very heavy mammoth ice-balls, something like 100pounds in weight, will dash down to earth, smashing houses and cars if one can imagine and men will blame God because of this exceedingly great hail plague............. (Revelation 16:21nkjv) And a great hail, as the size of a talent, came down out of the heaven on men. And men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague of it was exceedingly great.

• Mass Panic – these combined terrifying disasters will inevitably create public disorders and chaos in which all classes of people will hysterically seek for shelter.(Revelation 6:15-16nkjv) And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every freeman, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains. And they said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him sitting on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb

............(Luke 23:30nkjv) And they shall begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us! And to the hills, Cover us! (Additional reading: compare this to the prophesy of the Judgment on Judah in Isaiah 2:19; also read Hosea 10:8)

• Sweeping Spiritual Revival – there will be sweeping spiritual revival in the midst of these universal calamities and there will be 144,000 young amongst the Jews who will accept Jesus as their Messiah, who will clean up their lives and begin to serve God (read Revelation 7:4-8 ; the spiritual qualification of the elected amongst the Jews is given in Revelation 14: 1-5). You would be interested for your own information on the ‘mark of the beast’ and the devious compulsion of either having the extroverted mark of the beast or one cannot trade to live (the concerns of self-worth and demanding issues of living), read this in Revelation 13:11-18).

..... (Revelation 7:9-10nkjv) After these things I looked, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, out of all nations and kindreds and people and tongues, stood before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palms in their hands. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God sitting on the throne, and to the Lamb.

• Baptism of the Holy Fire – The Israelites and gentiles (we, who are not Israelites, the chosen people of God are known as the Gentiles) pray for to receive the mighty baptism of the Holy Ghost or sometimes called the Holy Spirit of God, to equip them for Spiritual warfare against the ungodly inhabitants of the earth ..... (Revelation 8:3-5nkjv) And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer. And many incenses were given to him, so that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints on the golden altar before the throne. And the smoke of the incense which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God from the angel’s hand. And the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar, and cast it into the earth. And voices and thundering and lightnings and an earthquake occurred.

This prophesy encourages us (as believers in Christ) to resort so much to prayers in times of needs and upheaval, to beseech the power of God to take control and subdue or inhibit the forces of darkness against you. Note what happens immediately after the saints prayed and God intervened through the works of His angels........(Revelation 8:6-13nkjv) And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mixed with blood, and they were cast on the earth. And the third part of trees was burned up, and all green grass was burned up. And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea. And the third part of the sea became blood. And the third part of the creatures in the sea, those having souls, died; and the third part of the ships was destroyed. And the third angel sounded, and a great star burning like a lamp fell from the heaven, and it fell on the third part of the rivers and on the fountains of waters. And the name of the star is called Wormwood, and a third part of the waters became wormwood. And many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter. And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was stricken, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars, so that the third part of them was darkened, and the day did not appear for a third part of it, and the night also. And I saw and I heard one angel flying in mid-heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, from the rest of the voices of the trumpet of the three angels being about to sound!

The prophesy also revealed the over-coming of the anti-Christ through much prayers, marked by the ‘harps of God’ and the songs of Moses and the Lamb (depicting Christ), glorifying God, whose name all nations shall come to worship .....(Revelation 15:2- 4nkjv) And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire. And those who had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song of

Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty, just and true are Your ways, O King of saints. Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You only are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your righteousness’s were made known.

(For additional reading; read what is ‘meaning of prayer of the Saints in revelation 5:8; the testimony of the martyrs’ in Revelation 6:9 and the significance of the ‘alter of incense’ (prayer alter) in Exodus 30:1)

Three woes ensued; the first woe was assumed by the fifth angel blowing his trumpet. The devil and his hoards of demons from hell (described as having shaped like horses, having gold crowns on their heads, faces like human faces, hair like women, teeth like lion’s, chest covered with breastplates like iron, noisy wings like chariots going to battle, tails like scorpions) are permitted to vex the people with their tails who don’t know God or refused Him. The king who rules over these devils is the fallen angel who is in charged of the abyss, known as ‘Abaddon’ in Hebrew or ‘Apollyon’ in Greek. They tormented men so severely for some five months that people affected wish they were rather dead but of course, Christians are protected by God and will not be hurt .......

Revelation 9:1-11gnbv) Then the fifth angel blew his trumpet. I saw a star which had fallen down to the earth, and it was given the key to the abyss. The star opened the abyss, and smoke poured out of it, like the smoke from a large furnace; the sunlight and the air were darkened by the smoke from the abyss. Locusts came down out of the smoke upon the earth, and they were given the same kind of power that scorpions have. They were told not to harm the grass or the trees or any other plant; they could harm only the people who did not have the mark of God’s seal on their foreheads. The locusts were not allowed to kill these people, but only to torture them for five months. The pain caused by the torture is like the pain caused by a scorpion’s sting. During those five months they will seek death, but will not find it; they will want to die, but death will flee from them. The locusts looked like horses ready for battle; on their heads they had what seemed to be crowns of gold, and their faces were like human faces. Their hair was like women’s hair, their teeth were like lions’ teeth. Their chests were covered with what looked like iron breastplates, and the sound made by their wings was like the noise of many horse-drawn chariots rushing into battle. They have tails and stings like those of a scorpion, and it is with their tails that they have the power to hurt people for five months. They have a king ruling over them, who is the angel in charge of the abyss. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon; in Greek the name is Apollyon (meaning The Destroyer).

• The Death Angel – this is the sixth angel, and the second woe; there will be four angels released, who were prepared to kill a third of all the human race. They will lead an army of two million demons, who have breastplates of fire Jacinthe (red transparent variety of zircon used as a gemstone) and brimstone, belching out fire, smoke and sulfur that will exterminate a third of human existence. Despite these plagues, the remaining men who survived still refused to repent of their sins (committing murders, practice occultism, sexual promiscuous, thefts and other crimes) and idol worship ....

(Revelation 9:13-21) And the sixth angel sounded his trumpet. And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, Loose the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates. And the four angels were loosed, who were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, in order to slay the third part of men. And the number of the armies of the horsemen was two myriads of myriads. And I heard their number. And so I saw the horses in the vision, and those sitting on them, having breastplates of fire, even dusky red and brimstone. And the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions. And out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. By these three the third part of men was killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone which issued out of their mouths. For their authority is in their mouth and in their tails. For their tails were like serpents with heads, and with them they do harm. And the rest of the men who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and golden, and silver, and bronze, and stone, and wooden idols (which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk). And they did not repent of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

(Additional reading: Revelation 14:9-11)

• The Two Witnesses – Sometimes in the middle of the Tribulation, two street preachers prophesied 1260 days in Jerusalem. They are protected and if anyone tries to hurt them, fire will proceed out of their mouths to devour the adversaries. They have power to shut the rain and they were given authority to turn water into blood and impose any plagues on earth as often as they desire. When they have finished, the beast will come out from the abyss to kill them and their bodies will lie in the street of the great city for three and half days, where their Lord was crucified; the symbolic name of that city is Sodom, or Egypt. Men was happy to see their death, blaming that they caused sufferings to them (the people), but soon, after the three and a half days, they will be raised from the dead and ascend to heaven ......(Rev elation11:3-13nkjv) I will send my two witnesses