Category Archives: New Testament

Summary of the New Testament

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Summary of the New Testament

The New Testament is a collection of twenty-seven books centered on the figure of Jesus of Nazareth. Each of these books has its own author, context, theme, and purpose.

The Gospels and Acts of the Apostles

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke are all the same story of Jesus Christ, however, told from different viewpoints and authors. This creates differences in some additions, special emphases on others, and particular omissions according to the interests of the author and the message the text are trying to convey. The Gospels tell the story of Jesus Christ, including His ministry, gathering of the disciples, trial, crucifixion, and, in the case of Matthew and Luke, his resurrection. John is also a Gospel, but is very different from the accounts of Matthew, Mark.

The Acts of the Apostles follows John, and picks up the story at the resurrection of Jesus Christ, when the early Apostles are commissioned to witness to the world. Acts is a chronological history of the first church of Christ.

The Epistles

The twenty-one books following Acts are epistles, or letters, written from church leaders to churches in various parts of the world. The first fourteen of these letters were written by Paul and are often referred to as the “Epistles of Paul”.

The seven letters following the Epistles of Paul were written by different church leaders and are addressed to the church as a whole rather than to particular churches. Following the seven letters with no clear authors are the First and Second Letters of Peter. These letters are followed by The First, Second, and Third Letters of John and then Jude attributes itself to Jude.

The Revelation to John

The last book in the New Testament is the Revelation of John, or The Book of Revelation. This book was written by John the Revelator, while imprisoned on the Island of Patmos. John received visions of the destruction of the earth, and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the Judgment of all mankind!

 

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Summary of Revelation

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Summary of Revelation

                As the last book of most modern Bibles (although not chronologically last), the Book of Revelations was written by John the Revelator. John wrote Revelation while a prisoner on the Island of Patmos. He wrote the book to warn the followers of Christ about the destruction of the world and to give Christians encouragement for the return of Jesus Christ during the Second Coming.

John opens the book with a blessing upon those who read the book; “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy…” (Revelation 1:3)

In Chapters 1-3: John describes the details of how he is receiving his revelations. While a prisoner on the island of Patmos, John received  an apocalyptic vision from an angel. With this vision he was instructed to write to seven churches about what he had seen.

In Chapters 4-20: John depicts what he sees in his vision and describes the 7 Seals on the book. Each one will bring about some sort of judgment on the face of the earth. After the 6th seal had been opened and 1/3 of the earth was killed from plagues, and those who had survived “…repented not of the works of their hands…” (Revelation 9:20)

After this, John receivesmore visions of which include the antichrist and Satan and 7 more plagues that are poured out upon the earth. Shockingly, yet believable after the 7th plague; “…men blasphemed God because of the plague of hail: for the plague thereof was exceeding great.” (Revelation 16:21) So, instead of repenting they cursed God!

In Chapters 21-22: John describes the New Heaven and the New Earth. He explains that from Heaven, God sends down the holy city of the New Jerusalem. There will no longer be any crying or tears, pain, mourning, or death. Only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life can enter this place to live eternally with Jesus Christ.

“Behold, I [Jesus Christ] come quickly…” (Revelation 22:7) We must be prepared always from the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and for Judgment Day. For we might not have tomorrow, to repent for today.

 

 

 

Revelation 22

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Revelation 22: Christ shall Come

                John saw; “…a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God… and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits… the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse…And they [the followers of Christ] shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.” (Revelation 22:1-4) Here we see that old things are once again done away. Curses will go away from the earth and out of the throne of God will the nations of the world be healed. Those who follow God will have His name on their foreheads (this might not mean literally). Those who follow God will have no need for light, because they will carry His light with them always. God told John; “Behold, I come quickly; blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” (Revelation 22:7) We need to be prepared always, for we do not know when the Second Coming will occur and therefore might not have time to repent tomorrow.

John explains of the consequences of those who change or add to HIS BOOK [i.e. The Book of Revelations]; “…I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life…” (Revelation 22:18-19) John explains of the consequences of adding, changing or taking away from the Book of Revelations and not from the Bible as a whole.

The Book of Revelations, The New Testament and the Bible as a whole end;

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” (Revelation 22:21)

Revelation 21

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Revelation 21: Sons of Christ – New Heaven and Earth

                John saw a New Heaven and a New Earth come down from heaven and; “…the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.” (Revelation 21:1) John explains that he saw; “…the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” (Revelation 21:2) The old things will be done with and a new beginning will start, those who overcame the world will be blessed; “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Revelation 21:4) Once the dust has settled and the wars are over, God will cause a new Heaven and Earth to be formed and there shall no longer be any pain or death. For God said; “…It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end… He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” (Revelation 21:6-7) Here we learn that we are literally Sons and Daughters of God, but if we overcome the world we will be adopted and accepted as Sons and Daughters of Christ as well.

John explains that those who still do not believe in God and refuse to make change in their lives or have sinned beyond forgiveness will burn; “…with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:9) John then says an angel carried him away to the top of a high mountain to show him the New Jerusalem;

“Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious… And had a wall great and high… the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones, The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a tpaz; the tenth, chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.” (Revelation 21:11-12;18-20) John goes on to explain that the twelve gates of the city were; “…twelve pearls… and the street was pure gold…” (Revelation 21:21) The symbolic elements John saw that compose the city; clear glass, precious stones, pearls, and gold all share the traits of being able to reflect light. These elements symbolize purity and beauty and do not decay or tarnish with time.

John saws that throughout the entire city he did not see a temple; “…for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it; for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof…And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.” (Revelation 21:22-23; 25)

Revelation 20

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Revelation 20: 1,000 Years of Peace

                “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having they key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold of the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:1-2) Satan is bound for 1,000 years and peace comes during the Millennium.

Satan is cast; “…into the bottomless pit, and shut… up… that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.” (Revelation 20:3) Here we learn that for one thousand years we will have peace and the world will be free from corruption. We also learn that Satan truly has no power, all the power he has is given to him and can be stopped at any time by God. But, as the scripture mentions, He must be released again for a season. John explains that he sees judgment being given to the nations of the world and those who were; “…beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God…lived and reined with Christ a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:4) These were the ones who died for the testimony of Jesus Christ and will be part of the first resurrection, where they shall “…be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:6) Then Satan will be released from prison one last time to deceive the world and to gather those who turn their hearts away from God one last time for a battle at; “…Gog and Magog…” (Revelation 20:8)

Since the beginning of time the outcome of the battle has been determined; Satan loses. After the battle is complete the dead will gather and come forth to be judged; this is the Second Resurrection. John describes this judgment;

                “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.” (Revelation 20:12-13) We learn that everyone great and small will be judged by the Lord through their works during their own lives. Everyone will regain their bodies and will be judged in the flesh. Those who are not found in the book of life, were; “…cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15) In other words, those who did not have good works in their life and instead chose wickedness will not be found in the book and will therefore be cast down to hell (or a lesser kingdom) according to their individual judgment by the Lord.

Revelation 19

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Revelation 19: The Spirit of Prophecy = Testimony

                John explains that the Great Whore is brought down and judged by the Lord and how heaven shouted; “…Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God…” (Revelation 19:1) and the 24 Elders and the four beasts in heaven fell down and worshipped God.

John hears a voice in heaven say; “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come… Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb…” (Revelation 19:7; 9) This of course is likened unto the Covenant relationship that Israel had made with God.  This marriage is a symbolic representation of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints explained;

“In this dispensation the Bridegroom, who is the Lamb of God, shall come to claim his bride, which is the Church composed of the faithful saints who have watched for his return. As he taught in the parable of the marriage of the king’s son, the great marriage supper of the Lamb shall then be celebrated. (Matt. 22:1–14.)” (Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. [1966], 469).

 

John saw the Lord, and explained that he was “…arrayed in fine linen, clean and white [made clean through His Atonement]…” (Revelation 19:8) John explained that when he fell at His feet to worship Him; “…he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (Revelation 19:10) Here we learn that Jesus does not see himself as superior (even though He is), but He treats everyone with respect. If Jesus Christ does that, shouldn’t we do that to our fellow man? Also, we learn that having a testimony in Jesus Christ means that you also believe in prophecy, and if someone believes in prophecy they will understand the need for a modern day prophet and obtain a testimony of those things.

 

John goes on to explain that when Jesus Christ comes for the Second Coming, He will come on a white horse and “…clothed with a vesture dipped in blood…And the armies which were in heaven followed him in upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.” (Revelation 19:13-14) and written upon the thigh of the Lord; “…KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:16) And the world went to battle Him and those who had followed the False Prophet, who had placed the mark of the beast (666) were destroyed from the face of the Earth.

 

Revelation 18

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Revelation 18: The Saints are Called out of Babylon

 

John explains that the Saints [The Followers of Christ] are called out of Babylon [the Earth/Worldly things] before her great fall. One of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints summed up what is happening around the world and the consequences;

 

“Much of the world is being engulfed in a rising river of degenerate filth, with the abandonment of virtue, righteousness, personal integrity, traditional marriage, and family life. …

 

“… Despite pockets of evil, the world overall is majestically beautiful, filled with many good and sincere people. God has provided a way to live in this world and not be contaminated by the degrading pressures evil agents spread throughout it. You can live a virtuous, productive, righteous life by following the plan of protection created by your Father in Heaven: His plan of happiness” (“How to Live Well amid Increasing Evil,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2004, 100).

 

Because of the great wealth and materialism sweeping throughout the world, we are challenged to avoid the ‘material things’ of life and to focus ourselves on more important things, like God, family and friends. Success and having material things is not, in of itself a bad thing. However, if we let it control our lives and our sole purpose is to obtain more stuff we need to re-examine what is important.

 

John goes on to speak of the evils of materialism and explains that in the end, those material things of the earth will go away. But he explains that the “…souls of men.” (Revelation 18:13) will be ensnared either through greed, lust, addiction, or through human trafficking in the Last Days. We know that the wicked men and women (governments and organizations included) will fall and GREAT will be the fall of them in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

 

Revelation 17

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Revelation 17: Babylon the Mother of Harlots

John sees a; “…great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.” (Revelation 17:1-2) Written upon her head is; “…MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” (Revelation 17:5)

While many wonder at this image of a ‘whore’ and who she might be, some scholars have interpreted her as a representation of something in John’s time, particularly the city of Rome, which was founded upon seven hills, as John describes; “…The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.” (Revelation 17:9) It is probable that John was speaking of the corrupt and immoral ways of people living around the world. Today, ‘Babylon’ is not just one city, but many cities across the Globe. But John explains that the saints will win and that; “…the works of God shall be fulfilled…” (Revelation 17:17)

Revelation 16

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Revelation 16: Armageddon

                John sees Seven angels with Seven vials of; “…the wrath of God…” (Revelation 16:1) Each Angel opens the vials, one at a time and many plagues are poured out against the wicked that are left on the earth.

“…the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.” (Revelation 16:2)

“…the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.” (Revelation 16:3)

“…the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood …For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink…” (Revelation 16:4;6)

“…the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.” (Revelation 16:8)

“…the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain.” (Revelation 16:10)

“…the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up…And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast…For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” (Revelation 16:12-14)

“…the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.” (Revelation 16:17)

Revelation 15

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Revelation 15: Celestial Glory

                John explains that he saw; “…another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues…” (Revelation15:1)

John also saw a “…sea of glass…” (Revelation 15:2) and those who had overcome the world and the power of the beast were on the sea of glass with harps, praising God and exclaiming; “…Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.” (Revelation 15:3) These are those Saints (members of the church) who will be given Celestial Glory.