Roadmap Through Revelation by Rick Schworer

Video Book Trailer

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What People are Saying About Roadmap Through Revelation

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"We are reading Roadmap Through Revelation as part of our family devotions. We read two or three pages a day and then discuss. It has been a great opportunity to talk, as a family, about many things that are happening in the world today.

As Christians we must take the time to build relationships with our children by educating them to understand why we believe the things that we do and how Christianity relates to historical and current events. Our children won't pick up our Biblical Worldview through osmosis, we must invest the time.

I highly recommend this book to other homeschooling families."

Curtis Bowers
Producer of Agenda: Grinding America Down

"This is the first time that I did not get lost in such a hard book to usually understand. The way the author broke the book down from the different angles was Godsend. Thanks to the author for understanding.

When I purchased the book I bought two and passed one on to my pastor who when finished he passed it to the teenage Sunday school teacher. Now he (the Sunday school teacher) is using the book to abstract a guideline to teach his class.

eBook would be nice, but there's something about having this one in your library."

Phil H., North Carolina

"This book has been long overdue. Although there are several books referencing this material, already on the market, this one fills in the spaces that the others miss. It has a very readable layout, a detailed explanation of events that overlap, great charts, and really does justice to the book of Revelation. This is the kind of book that will clear up much of the confusion regarding the prophecy and details in the last book of our Bible. Get a copy and enjoy it!"

Missionary James Owenby, Gobi Desert, Mongolia

"The title of this book is perfect. Rick Schworer has not attempted to re-invent the wheel, or devise some dramatic "new" interpretation of the Book of Revelation; neither has he attempted to recapitulate all the traditional theological positions that have been taken through the centuries. Rather, he has given us a clear and practical guide to reading and understanding the one book of the Bible that most Christians are afraid to study. At the same time, he has presented a startlingly clear way of approaching and understanding the Book - - - a way that will be very new to many readers. This is not a commentary, or a literary soap opera; it's a very helpful roadmap for the highway through the future that God has provided in His word. Very helpful!"

William M., North Carolina

"I read the paperback format of this book and have been looking forward to the Kindle release. Whether print or digital, it's a resource that's well worth the money. I've always found the Book of Revelation to be one of the more confusing portions of scripture and Rick Schworer's "roadmap" approach to explaining it has really helped me to gain a better understanding."

Laura B., Ontario, Canada

"This morning I finished this book written by Rick Schworer. It took me awhile to read this book, not because it is hard to read, as a matter of fact I found it very easy to read and very interesting, it is just with all that I have had going on, reading time has been at a premium.

That it was well written and put together it kept drawing me back to it. I have read many books on Revelation and found them informative, but they were hard to read because they were dry, wordy, or written on a level that seemed very scholarly. I found Rick's book worded in a way that made me want to know what he had to say next.

I have not seen the Book (Revelation) laid out the way Mr. Schworer has, and it helps me see things in the Book in a new light. I believe he has put much time and prayer into this book. Some things seem to come together that before, were a bit murky.

Did I agree with it all? I must be honest and say no, but there is nothing that I would - in my humble opinion (no way would I even think I am a Bible scholar) - consider to not recommending this book to anyone. If we all agreed on everything, then we would already be in heaven - for there will be no disagreement anymore.

I liked and enjoyed the idea of the roadmap, and it pulls things together.

With all that said, I do recommend it, to the serious student of the Book, and to the new inquirer who needs a guide in his study of the Revelation."

Pastor Jim Nicholson
Living Word Baptist Church

Albuquerque, New Mexico

"When I sat down to read "Roadmap Through Revelation" for the first time, I suppose I had certain expectations or preconceived ideas about the book. As one who loves to study the deep doctrinal matters of the Scriptures, be it end times prophecy or Dispensationally Rightly Dividing the word of truth, perhaps I expected something from "Roadmap" that the author did not intend.

After finishing the book, however, I understood that the author's apparent intentions were realized quite well, with the progression through the timeline of events in Revelation unfolding like a Blow-Pop: tantalizing and imagination-piquing scenery exploding across a ravaged and unimaginably apocalyptic earth ("The Book of Eli" and "I Am Legend" have nothing on the vivid, cataclysmic imagery) tastefully hide -- instead of a Tootsie Roll or wad of gum -- a tender filet mignon of excellent doctrinal truths, grilled to perfection by a man who very clearly knows his craft.

While reading "Roadmap," I'll admit that I didn't look forward to writing this review, as I was expecting (as mentioned previously) a more cut-and-dried, freeze-dried package of doctrinal truths with charts, lists, and data tables. Instead, "Roadmap" provides a wonderful understanding of events that creates a spectacular jumping-off point for one's own personal foray into end-times study. The Dispensational truths revealed by "Roadmap" prove that the author holds an excellent understanding of the proper method of Rightly Dividing the Scriptures, yet simultaneously allow the uninitiated a guided introduction to the marvelous yet largely misunderstood truths contained within the covers of our Black Book.

While "Roadmap" should be on every pastor's bookshelf as a refreshing and enjoyable break from the monotony of dry, dusty doctrinal tomes, the target audience is more likely the layperson that seeks a more clear understanding and layout of the events of the book of Revelation. However, anyone who reads "Roadmap" will undoubtedly come away understanding things much better than when they first sat down to read."

Missionary Vince LaRue, Chili

"Absolutely amazing! Concerning the book of Revelation, particularly the End times, this is definitely one of the most intriguing books that I’ve ever read. Compelling and precise, it’s full of Biblically sound exegesis, and yet for its readers it’s clear and captivating. I could not put the book down once I started! Every Bible Believing Christian should own a copy of this book in his library.”

Cody Watters, Baptist1611.com

Who is Rick Schworer?

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I’ve had a number of people online ask me who I am, and where I came from. I’ve had several ask me if I’m a pastor and I was amused to receive a snail-mail letter this week addressed to a “Rev. Rick Schworer.” About a week ago I was looking at what people typed in google to find this site, and someone typed in “Who is Rick Schworer.”

Well, I suppose it would be a good idea if you knew who I was, now wouldn’t it? I mean, why bother reading anything I have to say - for all you know I may be some maniac on a smoke break from his prison cell or a loser living in his mother’s basement.

I was born in 1979 in Sunrise Hospital, within Las Vegas, Nevada. Fortunately, my parents didn’t raise me in that hell-hole. The city that is, I'm sure the hospital is just dandy. My parents both got saved around the time that I was three years old, and they moved to Idaho and began attending Treasure Valley Baptist Church when I was five. Part of the motivation for them moving out of Vegas was when I began to ask questions about women stripping on billboards. While I do understand that there are those called to hold the line as best they can in places like Las Vegas, I’m very thankful my parents were not and that they had the common sense and decency not to raise me around that sort of debauchery.

At Treasure Valley Baptist Church in Meridian, Idaho, we found a home. I was saved the very next year at our church’s very first Vacation Bible School. TVBC didn’t have another VBS for another twenty years; it was exciting to see it again not too long ago.

I discovered Superman and Batman as a kid.

At thirteen years of age, God moved us to Phoenix, Arizona, and my father was an assistant pastor in a small church in a run-down, bad side of town. It was fairly common to hear gunshots in the neighborhood and see a prostitute here and there. The church was dying, and when my dad came it brought a last breath of fresh air to the people there. We were able to be a blessing and to be used. I discovered Basketball and became a rabid Phoenix Suns fan as I watched the Suns, led by Charles Barkley, squash team after team only to fall to MJ's legendary Chicago Bulls.

One year later, the Lord moved us to Georgia. Dad taught in the Word for the World Baptist Bible Institute for the next three years, and while I was being homeschooled I took about twenty classes in this institute and also worked for my dad who was a painter. I discovered coffee at Bible class. Actually, I discovered that coffee is good if you mix it with a lot of sugar and cream.

We moved back to Idaho for a short while and eventually the Lord led us to go somewhere that no Schworer had gone before… Papua New Guinea. I was eighteen, and loved every minute of it over the next two years. I purposed in my heart that while I was there I’d do a few things: learn to preach and teach the Bible, learn the language, and learn the guitar. I did all three, for the most part. I haven’t really played a guitar since PNG (that was eleven years ago), and if someone asked me if I could play today I’d say, “I know a couple chords,” which really is the truth.

I did learn how to preach and teach the Bible; in fact I fell head over heels in love with the word of God. I would work in the garage area we had for hours on end, listening to Bible preaching and teaching tapes. I ingested thousands of hours of Bible teaching and preaching during those years. I preached on the streets, in churches, and regularly in High Schools.

I also learned the language. I got to where I was fluent in it, although I don’t know how well I’d do now, and I could translate on the fly. It was common for me to translate for an English speaking preacher. After doing this one evening, I was approached by a member of the translation committee for the PNG KJV. At that time there was no KJV Old Testament, but people were working on it. He asked me if I’d be interested in helping out, and I agreed. Over a course of time, I translated the book of Daniel.

Coming back to America was tough; all I really wanted to do was go back to PNG and have fun serving the Lord. As of yet, God has not chosen to allow that, but I’m still hoping He changes His mind. I jumped back into church and started serving the Lord and going to Bible school.

One night, while checking my e-mail, I decided to see if I could find a pretty girl online who was a Christian. What a dumb idea! God was merciful, and I found my wife today, who apparently was looking for a young man who was handsome and an amazing tap dancer, marksman, and writer, though a little sarcastic and somewhat of a whiner in real life. I contacted her, and the rest is history.

My wife, Melissa, is wonderful. She is very big-picture oriented and strives for holiness more than anyone I know. She is and forever will be my best friend. She puts up with me, encourages me, and spends time doing things with me. She was my very first real girlfriend, and the only woman I've ever kissed. It's a little known secret that she's a granddaughter of the late Bruce Cummons, but she'd rather be known as my wife. She has a Master's Degree in biblical counseling, and is an amazing stay-at-home mother to our children.

We were married on May 16^th, 2003. I graduated from Bible Institute, bought a house, and got married all within a two week period. Who says men can’t multi-task! We’ve had our bumps in the road, but overall we’ve had a wonderful marriage.

My father died on September 1, 2004. I had always dreamed of a time in which my children would get to know and grow up loving my dad. That dream died too; all my kids know about Grandpa is a few pictures and stories here and there. Outside of my wife, he was my best friend and I will forever miss him. Every year we go to his grave to celebrate his life. Before Mom and Dad, there was no Christianity with the Schworers.

On April 4^th, 2006, Kiera Elise was born. We moved into a different house so we’d have room for her and more kids. Kiera is our sanguine/melancholy type. She’s very silly, and very detail oriented.

On November 25^th, 2007, a day that will forever live in infamy, Lily Marie Schworer was born. Depending upon which way the wind is blowing at the moment, she is either the happiest little girl in the world or the saddest. Don’t get the wrong idea though; she is a wonderful little girl. She is by far the most compassionate little one we have in our family, the other two are slightly antagonistic. I have no idea where they get that. The same year Lily was born I graduated from a secular college.

My clone, in female form, was born on August 11^th, 2009. Charlotte Jane has my laid-back and slightly goofy personality and is the only person I know who loves chocolate milk more than me.

Why do I tell you about my family when this is supposed to be about me? Because my family is a lot of who I am. We do everything together, in fact we feel kinda weird and lonely when we do things by ourselves. We love our kids, and plan on having more - the Bible says they are a blessing! Melissa is pregnant with our fourth, and I’m hoping that maybe this time it will be a boy - ya right, who am I kidding?

My wife and I have been active in several ministries. She has a beautiful voice and has made two cds which are available at our webstore and in a few books stores here and there across the nation. She is very active in our church’s music ministry and kid’s ministries. I run the rescue mission ministry, and teach a Jr. Church class for bus kids.

I work in the insurance industry and have taken writing up as a hobby. When I was in PNG I used to try to study and figure out doctrinal subjects, and then I’d write an essay on them and give it to my dad to review and straighten me out. Years and years later I picked up a book by Sam Gipp called How to Get Your Book Published. It was a call-out for people who could write to write, and Brother Gipp’s publishing company would help you out. While studying the insurance industry and working three jobs I thought I’d go ahead and try it – why not? The book is finished now and published through Daystar Publishing, and it has been dedicated to my dad.

I have been so blessed and lived a very fulfilling and happy life up to this point. I’ve learned that sin only brings heartache and the happiest times in life are found in being busy serving the Lord. Though I’d love to be someday, I’m not a pastor or a missionary; but I am a husband, father, preacher, and writer. I’m just flesh, and all flesh is grass – “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love!” God has truly been merciful to me in not pounding me at times I deserved it (I'm not big into expounding on those times), and He’s been gracious in giving me so much more than I ever deserved.

Who is Rick Schworer? I’m one of the ones in Luke 17:10; I am an unprofitable servant: I have done that which was my duty to do.

UPDATE: Silas Richard is due to be born on 07/14/2011. Yes, Silas, as in a boy. :-)

Book Introduction

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Here's the introduction to Roadmap Through Revelation. I've included it here because I think it best describes the purposes of the book and where I'm coming from on it. I hope it's a blessing to you!

Introduction

A Personal Testimony and the

Purpose of this Book

I remember when I first decided to study this book of the Bible. I was eighteen at the time and my parents were running a missionary guest house in Papua New Guinea. This had opened up several opportunities, one of the most memorable being able to regularly teach and preach the Bible in public high schools as well as churches from time to time.

I had the desire to do a sermon off of Revelation, and so I sat down and read it one afternoon. I had heard bits and pieces of teaching about it, and when I read it all the way through I couldn’t help but get confused about a few things. Not the least of which was that fact that Armageddon kept happening over and over again.

That’s right; I used to think that the story of the Second Advent started at the beginning of Revelation and ended at the end of Revelation. What I mean is that I always assumed it to be chronological from beginning to end. What I learned is if you look closer you’ll see the story of Christ’s Second Coming is told four times in the book of Revelation.

I sat there very confused, wondering why there were multiple apocalyptic battles and why Christ showed up at them more than once. Then an idea came to my mind. I thought, “I should go ask someone older than me about this!” I know, I know, many of you are shocked that an eighteen year old would actually think of something like that. Regardless, the wise missionary that I asked about this told me something that would begin a long journey of study into Revelation.

He said something to the effect of, “Well, you know how there are four accounts of Christ's first appearance on Earth – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John? Same thing with his Second Coming, only all four of them are in Revelation.”

Immediately, a previously sad and dim light bulb was illuminated in a thought cloud above my head as I unloaded a flurry of questions upon him. I think that’s when his eyes glazed over and he wished he had just originally said, “Beats me, kid.”

When I discovered that Revelation is divided up four times, I tried to find a harmony of it. By that I mean a book or commentary that takes all the accounts and examines them separately and then intertwines them. There are several harmony of the gospels available, so I thought I could find a harmony of Revelation. I couldn’t, and I still haven’t. There are several commentaries that touch on the subject, but to the best of my knowledge there are no harmonies of Revelation. That’s where this book comes in; it’s the book I looked for when I was eighteen, only thirteen years later.

There are three purposes of this book. The first reason is to be a harmony of Revelation. To understand the end times you must understand Revelation, and the best way to study it is to examine it in accordance with the four separate accounts.

Secondly, is to be an easy to read commentary. My desire is that you will find this to be more than a reference book that sits on your shelf and gets pulled out for a tough verse or passage. In trying to make this a book that you will read in entirety I have decided not to go verse by verse. There are several other good commentaries that go verse by verse already out on the market. This is more of an event to event commentary in order to keep things moving. Also, to help bring Revelation to life, there are mini stories interjected periodically that tie in to what is being studied.

Thirdly, to examine all of the major Second Coming events that may or may not be in Revelation. The format of this book is based in Revelation, but it is not limited to just that book of the Bible. Events such as the Judgment Seat of Christ, the Judgment of the Nations, Ezekiel 38 and 39, and appropriate passages in Daniel will also be examined.

Lastly, before I end this introduction, I want to touch on some tendencies people have when it comes to commentaries. People tend to throw the baby out with the bathwater. If they find one thing they disagree with, the book is useless to them.

I wrote this book so it could be used. I would never presume to write a book so it could be believed. What I mean by that is there is only one book that should ever be believed, and that is the Bible.

I hate to admit it, but I’m sure this book isn’t perfect. It certainly isn’t inspired, and because of that you shouldn’t believe it. You should use it. Examine what I say for yourself. When it comes to end time events, it’s very difficult to be absolutely right about every detail. I certainly believe everything I wrote here, but if there is something you don’t agree with, take what you can and throw the rest out.

What I’m getting at is perspective. If you read a book with the proper perspective, you can get something out of it. I read and studied many books while I was writing this one, and I can tell you that they didn’t all agree on the “finer points” of doctrine. I was still able to get something out of them – because I used them, I didn’t believe them.

I hope you can use this book to better help you understand Revelation. One of the reasons I don’t put every verse of Revelation in this book is because I hope that while you read this you will have the Bible, the book you’re supposed to believe, right there next to you.

Front and Back Cover

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Book Excerpts

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Chapter Five: Route 666
VI. The Path of the Antichrist
3. His Rise in Economic Power.

"Ironically, regardless of what "ism" it wears at the time, big government has never been guilty of what it has commonly been accused of: sharing and redistributing the wealth. Freedom lovers are interested in sharing the wealth as they see fit without the interference of the government. What big government wants to do (and will always do) is consolidate and control the wealth. The Antichrist’s future financial grip of the world has its foundations in people giving up their freedoms in the name of peace and safety."

Chapter Six: All Roads Lead to Rome
III. Religious Babylon

"Nimrod's kingdom was contrary to God, and in chapter 11 of Genesis God confounds the languages to break it up. Alexander Hislop's book, The Two Babylons, goes in to great detail concerning the religion that came from Babel.

When Nimrod died, his wife Semiramis claimed that he was now the sun-god. Nimrod, extolled as the sun-god, was Baal. This is the same Baal that the Israelites had problems with throughout their history. It all started with his wife making him out to be a god after his death.

Not long after Nimrod's death, his widow Semiramis gave birth to a son named Tammuz, or Bacchus. She claimed that the son was Nimrod reborn, as some kind of messianic savior. The sun and fire became the symbols for Nimrod, the sun-god, and the golden calf became the symbol for Tammuz, the child of Semiramis.

Yes, the golden calf problem that Israel had so many times started with this mixed up family. This family was so mixed up that Semiramis married her son Tammuz. Tammuz was worshipped down through the ages and is mentioned by name in Ezekiel 8:14. In a vision Ezekiel sees women weeping for Tammuz inside of the LORD's house, and God calls this an abomination."

Chapter Four: Witness Way
I.The Arrival of the Winesses

"As the Antichrist raised his fist towards Heaven mocking God, two men entered the temple and stood near the golden candlestick. Neither one of these men looked like they belonged in this century. The taller one had white hair, a white beard, wore a robe, and held a staff in his right hand. The other man was dressed unusually as well. He had on some kind of leather garment covered with coarse hair, and there was a three inch thick strap of leather around his waist.

The moment these men appeared, the cameras turned from recording the man on the Mercy Seat and pointed towards the two strangers. Without hesitation, the old gray haired man raised his hand in the air and said, "Thus saith the Lord, Thou shalt not have any gods before Me, and thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image!" The man clothed in camel's hair said, "You have three and a half years, and then you‟ll be cut off! And in the mean time, the only rain you‟ll get is hail, fire, and blood!"

Finally coming to their senses, the temple soldiers who had just seen everything unfold rushed toward the two witnesses. As they came at the two men, Moses and Elijah looked at them and opened their mouth as if to speak. Only instead of words coming out of their mouth, out came fire and incinerated the troops immediately.

With that the two walked out the door of the temple and addressed the crowd outside with these words:

"Hear the word of the Lord of Israel, when ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the Holy Place, For then shall be Great Tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be!"

Chapter Four: Witness Way
V. Back to the Trumpets

"We are now about to go on a little rabbit trail, but this is very important. The first time Christ came, He preached the Gospel of the Kingdom (Mt. 10:5-7). It was this gospel, or good news, that was for the Jews and had the signs associated with it.

The purpose of the Gospel of the Kingdom was to get Israel to accept their Messiah as the Lamb of God first, then accept Him as their king (Jn. 1:29; Mt. 6:33). The people of Israel knew all the Old Testament prophesies about the glory of Israel and their Messiah reigning (Zech. 8:22-23; Is. 2:2-4). However, they wanted the blessings without the repentance, and they rejected Him.
Jesus, His disciples, and His apostles used signs and miracles to convince the Jews (Mt. 10:5-7, 15:24, Jn. 2:23; 7:31, I Cor. 1:22; 14:22). This is the reason the signs began to wane throughout the book of Acts, with Paul unable to heal himself or his friends (II Tim. 4:11, II Tim. 4:20, I Tim. 5:23). As it became more and more apparent that Israel was not going to repent, the gospel went to the Gentiles (Acts 7; 13:46-48; 18:5-6; 28:27-28).
The point is this, it’s important to understand that during the Tribulation God’s attention is once again back towards Israel! When that happens, there is a resurgence of the gospel of the kingdom (Mt. 24:14) and all the signs and wonders that came with it the first time. People are preaching that the kingdom is right around the corner and the Messiah will be here shortly! In this Third Trumpet we have water being poisoned and people dying from it. Those that have accepted Christ will not die from drinking the poisoned water, just like they didn’t during the Apostolic Age."

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