The End of Times: Recognizing the Signs Interpreting the Book of Revelation

Copyright © 2019 Roy and Julia Burger.

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ISBN: 978-1-9736-5397-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-5398-1 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-5396-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019901873

WestBow Press rev. date: 03/04/2019

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Contents

About the Authors

The Burger Family Story

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Preface

Introduction

1.   Interpreting the Prophecy: Recognizing the Signs

2.   Daniel 9:26

3.   The Stoning of Stephen and the Calling of the Apostle Paul

4.   Daniel 11:31, 11:36, and 12:11

5.   Gentiles’ Rapture

6.   Revelation 1

7.   Revelation 4

8.   Revelation 5

9.   Revelation 6

10.   Revelation 7

11.   Revelation 8

12.   The Two Witnesses

13.   Revelation 9

14.   Revelation 10

15.   Revelation 11

16.   Revelation 12

17.   Revelation 13

18.   Revelation 14

19.   Revelation 15

20.   Revelation 16

21.   Revelation 17

22.   Revelation 19

23.   Revelation 20

24.   Revelation 21

25.   Revelation 22

26.   Conclusion

27.   Roy’s Testimony

About the Authors

Roy Burger

I was born in Great Falls, Montana, in 1960, but I lived most of my life in Southern California. I grew up in foster homes starting at age six and went through twelve foster homes by the time I was twelve.

I was adopted when I was twelve and a half, and I lived in a great home for about three years. My adoptive parents divorced when I was sixteen, and I was unadopted at age eighteen. I found my real dad when I turned eighteen and gave my life to the Lord. God gave the strength to overcome my demons.

I have been married for twenty-three years and raised three children, the youngest of whom is nineteen. I have a master’s degree in Christian leadership, and I work for the IRS as an order entry clerk. I teach Bible study with my wife from home.

Julia Burger

Originally, my name was Guglielmina Irace. I was born in Venice, Italy, in 1960. In my country, I graduated as an elementary school teacher and worked as such for twelve years. At that time, I was not satisfied with my life and could not find peace in anything I was doing in my late twenties. I was not married, my job was stressful, and I was not getting along with my family.

In 1992, when I was thirty-two, I decided to take a trip to America just to escape the concerns I had about what direction to take in life. Once I put my foot in American soil, I felt I was home. I flew from coast to coast and fell in love with America.

In Los Angeles, I became friends with one of the tour guides assigned to my group. Before I returned to Italy, we exchanged addresses and phone numbers.

One year later during summer break, something told me to go back to Los Angeles and check out some opportunities. I contacted my friend, who had meanwhile opened his own tour company, and he offered me work as an Italian-speaking guide. Excited about the new turn my life was about to embrace, I took a leave of absence from my teaching job and moved to Los Angeles.

In 1994, I met my husband, Roy, on a movie set working as a background actor when the tour guide business was slow. I found out that I also loved to work in the movie business as he did.

In 1996, we married and started on a roller-coaster between God working in our lives and our trying to pursue our dreams in the movie industry.

I received a master’s degree in Christian ministry, and I teach Bible study from home.

The Burger Family Story

I, Roy, started to study the Bible seriously ten years ago, and I developed a deep passion for Revelation. During my study in preparation for writing a book, I had dreams and revelations about the events of the end time. I told only Julia about my dreams, and she said she had the same dreams.

We always wanted to put our dreams in writing, but our busy lives did not allow that. Julia and I pursued two different paths in life that took us even further away from the idea of writing a book. In 2012, I obtained a bachelor’s degree in social services and Julia obtained a bachelor’s in psychology, the equivalent of her foreign degree.

In 2013, I became a high school special-education teacher, and Julia was hired as a social worker for Family and Children Services. We were very excited about our new careers.

In July 2013, while we were driving with our daughter, Priscilla, to Phoenix for Julia’s training, a car coming the opposite way crossed over the median and hit us head-on at sixty-five miles per hour. The driver of that car died on the spot; an autopsy revealed that she had a stroke.

Julia and Priscilla, who was thirteen then, lost consciousness and appeared to be seriously hurt. I did not lose consciousness; I was able to respond to the rescue team, but I did not know I had been hurt as well.

A helicopter took Priscilla to Phoenix Hospital and then transported her to Phoenix Children’s Hospital, where she was rushed into surgery. She had sustained injuries on her frontal lobe, cheek, eye, spine, and hips. Another helicopter took my wife to the ICU, where she was also rushed into surgery. She had sustained multiple fractures of her femurs, hip, knees, and arms. I was transported to the hospital for multiple fractures of a leg, hip, ankle, ribs, sternum, and arm.

Julia and I lost our new jobs because of our long stays in the hospital. Our recovery was lengthened due to other surgeries during the following two years that left us, mostly me, with permanent disabilities. My disabilities prevent me from walking normally. Julia can walk on her own, but she does have physical limitations. Priscilla recovered quickly from her injuries and was able to walk again four months after the accident.

We thank God every day for what He has done in our lives. When we all got home, we were so glad to see Alex and Travis, our sons. They had stayed home with a family friend the day of the accident.

We can say now that as we were without jobs, we found time to write this book.

Dedication

We dedicate this book to our parents, who are no longer with us, Roy and Ana Maria Serratto-Burger, and Luigi and Rina Marusso-Irace, and to our children, Alessandro, Priscilla, and Travis, who supported us wonderfully.

Acknowledgments

We offer a special thanks to the Lord for providing for our lives in ways we could not have imagined. To Him be all the honor and glory, amen.

We thank Roy’s sister, Ruby, his brothers Joseph and Chris, and the members of KCC (Kingman Christian Church) for the help they gave us during our time of recovery.

Preface

Human doctrine has manifold faces: The interpretation of the end-time prophecy is the arena of humanity’s domain. People might think they have the right to interpret the Bible in the way that best fits their thoughts, but when it comes to interpreting the Word of God, no one can surpass the infinite mind of the Creator and the immensity of His manifestations.

In 1 Corinthians 2:11 (ESV), we read, For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

Today, personal attitudes such as ambition and pride could guide us to understand the prophecies in multiple ways giving the mind the right to exercise a task that is not tangible by personal accomplishment only. We need to come humbly to the throne of God, as we could be wrong in interpreting the divine Word without biblical support or take scripture out of context and create comparisons with the Word of God and our words. In doing so, we would overstep our human boundaries and become opinionated and in some cases even creative about the interpretation of prophecies as in the case with popular doctrines regarding the end time today.

The interpretation of prophecies is a gift God gives some but not all. Matthew 19:11(KJV) tells us, But he said unto them, all men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. And Matthew 13:11(KJV) reads, He answered and said unto them, because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. Matthew 25:29 (KJV) says, For unto everyone that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

The Lord works differently with each of us depending on the distribution of His grace. Some do not receive the gift of interpreting prophecies, but they do receive many other precious gifts for the edification of the church. In 1 Corinthians 12:10 (KJV), we read, To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues. Romans 12:6–8 (NASB) reads,

Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Those who want to interpret scriptures should not follow their personal leads but abide in the Word. In 1 Peter 4:11 (KJV), we read,

If any man speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

This says that if any person speaks, he or she should speak as the oracles of God. The word oracles is translated as the very words of God according to the New International Version or as God is speaking through you according with the New Living Translation.

In fact, other people simply do better in interpreting prophecies by not straying from what the Bible says or does not say. I would never have grasped the understanding of the prophecy without the help of my husband. Interpreting prophecies is not my primary gift, but God still used me in writing this book for His purpose.

I am not saying that my husband is the only one who is right, but we may need to realize that we have different spiritual gifts and that God uses each of us in various ways to honor His truth.

—Julia Burger

When you think yours is the only true path you forever chain yourself to judging others and narrow the vision of God. The road to righteousness and arrogance is a parallel road that can intersect each other several times throughout a person’s life. It is often hard to recognize one road from another. What makes them different is the road to righteousness is paved with the love of humanity. The road to arrogance is paved with the love of self.

—Shannon L. Alder

Introduction

I n Mark 13:32 (NLT), we read, However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. This makes it clear no one knows when these things will happen, referring to the events of the end time, as the Lord teaches us about things to come.

However, the Gospel of Jesus does not revolve only around the passage in Mark; God’s revelations continue to warn us about more clues about the end time. In this regard, let us read Matthew 24:32–34 (King James 2000).

Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When its branch is yet tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near: So likewise, you, when you shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

In this scripture, the Lord did not mention the day or the hour that these things would happen; He mentioned the season being recognizable by its fruits (see all these things referring to the signs of the end time). We know which season is coming by looking at the signs of summer or winter, for instance, so we know what to expect from the weather, and we act accordingly.

Let us read more scriptures to learn about the vital reason for God’s warnings about preparation as we will need to prepare ourselves for difficult times ahead. Matthew 24:7(KJV) tells us, For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in diverse places. Genesis 41:56 (KJV) reads, And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.

The Lord warned Pharaoh through Joseph of the coming famine and used Joseph to prepare stores of grain during the seven years of plenty, which saved Egypt and Joseph’s family when a seven-year famine followed the times of plenty. The Bible records many other warnings, and those who heeded them were spared the predicted consequences.

Throughout history, God always made known to His people impending times of trouble and gave them time to prepare or escape them. His warnings told people of impending danger, evil, and misfortune so they could be on guard and exercise caution. We learn of God warning His people through the example of Noah and his family in Genesis 6:9–22; they were spared from the flood. God warned Lot and his family in Genesis 19:14 of the upcoming destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and told them to flee. He warned the wicked people of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, of God’s coming destruction through Jonah. When they repented, they averted the warnings, and judgment did not come for a number of years according to Jonah 3:4–5.¹

The parable of the fig tree tells us that the end time is nearing and we should prepare ourselves for it. We should keep in mind 2 Timothy 3:1 (KJV): This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come and prepare ourselves with what we need and to help each other in time of need: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name (Revelation 13:17 KJV).

Matthew 24:34 specifies that the message is addressed to our generation, which is witnessing the signs of the end time, but it is not all we need to know about the end-time prophecy. Recognizing the signs is just the first step in learning what to expect. Matthew continues to explain that once we see all these things, know that it is near, even at the door the rapture is near. Nevertheless, before the rapture, we acknowledge the signs of His coming and we prepare ourselves with the wisdom given by reading the Word. We must prepare ourselves spiritually as well as physically to meet Christ in the air. In 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NLT), we read, Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. Ephesians 5:27 (KJV) reads, That He might present to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

We will learn more clues throughout the Bible and receive additional instructions in understanding the will of God. For this purpose, let us read Revelation 22:10 (KJV): And he saith unto me. Seal not the saying of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. This verse in the Weymouth New Testament reads, Make no secret he added, of the meaning of the predictions contained in this book: for the time for their fulfillment is now close at hand.

Based on this passage, the prophetic words in Revelation are revealed to God’s servants in this generation witnessing the signs. We are living in a time when there should be no secrets about what will happen soon. The scripture says to seal not the saying of the prophecy because the time for the events to happen is closer than ever. It is different now from the time of Daniel, when God told him to seal up the vision and go his way because the time was not then. Daniel 12:4 (NIV) reads, But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge. Daniel 12:9 (NIV) reads, He replied, ‘Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end.’

Back then, the Old Testament prophets could not have understood what the revelations of the end time would signify because the prophecy was not for them. With this explained, we have to go back to the Old Testament, not just the New Testament, to trace the missing pieces of the prophecy because it is not all foretold in Revelation. Just like in a puzzle, we put little pieces together to obtain a bigger picture. Once the puzzle is completed, we can comprehend what the entire picture is illustrating. The study of Revelation means learning about metaphors whose meaning is disclosed throughout the Word.

Scriptures Used in This Book

God uses different ways to communicate to us. Therefore, let us read Joel 2:28–31 (KJV).

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also, upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I will shew wonders in heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come.

This passage describes how God will reveal things to us concerning the end time, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come. One of God’s ways to communicate with us has been always through dreams and visions. God is a spirit; His ways are spiritual in His relationship with us. Of course, the scripture might not be for everybody but for those whom God chooses for His purposes according to the distribution of His gifts.

As we mentioned in our testimony, my husband and I had similar experiences of the scripture about dreams referring to the end time, and we had other experiences with the Lord about certain scriptures. We have examples in the history of religions of people who claimed they had dreams or visions from God and thus produced their own Bibles to establish their dominion over God’s Word. These people advanced personal statements or ways to interpret scriptures just because, as they said, God told me so in a vision, and they consequently won many souls. However, the scriptures are clear about these people and warn us about them; In Jeremiah 23:21 (NLT), God said,

I have not sent these prophets, yet they run around claiming to speak for me. I have given them no message, yet they go on prophesying. I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran. I’ve had nothing to do with them, Yet they went on their own, presumptuously, to speak in My name.

Jeremiah 14:14 (NIV) reads,

Then the LORD said to me, The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds.

In Jude 1:8 in the Aramaic Bible in Plain English, we read, "In this likeness, these also