Revelation Bible Study 2
January 25, 2011
Revelation is an Apocalypse - It is part of a body of Apocalyptic writings. Daniel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, ect
It is written in literary style. The Prophecy is given through a series of visions.
Unveiling, a Revealing of Jesus
It is an intentionally veiled style with:
Coded Imagery
Coded References. Written to a specific group of people. It references something you studied or know.
The study of Revelation will therefore encompass a study of much of the bible.
Revelation reveals Jesus Christ in all of his offices:
There are seven:
Yeshua
King of Kings
The Lamb
The returning King
His Reign
The word of God
1st Corinthians 2:12-13
Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Through the mysteries revealed in this book, God reveals the things of the world and the things of the world to come. We will better understand our world from this study.
In Revelation 1:1 we find that God sent this message from the throne of God, to Jesus Christ, unto his angel to John, and he signified it through his angel. In other words, God sent it and interpreted it. Then he certified it.
To understand Revelation we cannot leave any Scripture in contradiction to any other part of the word of God.
In the sixth chapter of the book of Ephesians we read about powers and principalities. The study of Revelation is about angels and demons: powers and principalities: agents and nations, potentates and people.
The end days are dominated by the coming of Jesus to judge Babylon and make war against the world’s system called Babylon and its author Satan. Jesus comes with a two edged sword coming out of his mouth which is the word of God.
All of the soft persuasion of love and caring are put aside as Jesus faces the Satanic forces of this world. Jesus is coming to judge sin and the sinful.
Notice God sends this revelation to show his servants what must shortly come to pass.
This is a message of deliverance to the people of God. We should take great encouragement in this book because it shows our deliverance from the evil ways of this world that personally makes me sick.
It is a covenant promise from God of a much better life, an eternal life without the harassment of Satan and his demons.
Revelation 1:8
I am the alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.
Thus saith the Lord of host.
We must see and understand something else in this Scripture. It speaks of things which will shortly come to pass.
Please understand this introduction to Revelation.
God’s time is not our time. God measures time by order and events or dispensations. He has spoken a plan that he uttered before the world was established. His plan of events were made before the foundation of the world. Each event has a built-in timer. The next event takes up where the previous event left off. Each period is called the dispensation of which most theologians determine to be seven.
What he is saying in Revelation 1:1 is that there are only a few dispensations between the writing of Revelation and the 1000 year reign of Jesus Christ.
Interestingly, there are seven dispensations. (He is truly a God of order and events, a dispensational God.) Things will occur with a timing that suits God’s overall plan.
We would prefer that God just come right out and say it in our earthly dialogue, however, we must be sanctified and become like Jesus. If God chose our means of communication, man would distort the truth.
The creator will not become like the created; the created must become like the creator. God gives his word so that it takes an understanding of his character to understand it.
You cannot find his character without his word because his word reveals his character. In other words you have to have a personal relationship with Jesus and you can’t have that without his word. Jesus and God’s word are inseparable: Jesus is the Word. Spiritual knowledge and wisdom are found in his word; he is the word. His word is alive, because he is alive and he is real. The Holy Spirit brings us the truth.
The principles of God speak to the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit gives them to those who are God’s people; guiding them in all truth.
So the mysteries of his word in Revelation are conveyed through symbolism to those who belong to Jesus and have accepted his Lordship.
Symbolism is not weakened by time and it cannot be distorted. God has to give the discernment (through the Holy Spirit) to understand it.
James 1:5
if any of you lack wisdom, letting ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and unbraided not; and it shall be given to him.
“Unbraideth not” means do not separate the strands. Since we put wisdom will be given providing you don’t try to interpret Scripture out of context.
The whole word of God is true and you cannot separate it. You will not find any part of the word which disagrees with another part, therefore, the word is inerrant.
Many evaluate the word as having errors in it because human hands wrote it down disregarding the fact God gave it to man. If we find passages that disagree with other passages it is an error in our theology. God’s word is consistent, consistently correct! Scripture is a repeated message. You can’t unlink part of it from the rest.
The word of God is inerrant. If you seek him through his word, you will find him.
Symbolism, through discernment, imparts values and arouses emotions. It’s one thing to call a man a dictator, but call him a beast and it conveys a stronger message.
There is an ongoing war between good and evil, between the kingdom of God and the armies of Satan. Revelation shows the grand culmination of that war and God’s kingdom come to earth. God has given His plan to His Elect.
Revelation makes no sense to those who don’t know Scripture. It made no sense to the Roman soldiers. But it is:
A meaningful book:
In Revelation 22:10
And he said unto me, seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. When God spoke to Daniel in Daniel 12:4 he said shut up the words and seal the book, even to the time of the end. He instructed John not to seal it, but open it.
The time for this book is now!
It is a book written to the Body of Christ to encourage us and warn us so we will know how to handle the attacks of the enemy, Satan and his demons. (Know the enemy and his operations) Sadly, most Christians today can’t defeat even a small insignificant demon. Firstly, they can’t recognize one. Secondly, they would not know how to deal with him if they did. More on this later!
The spirit of God outlined the book. There is something here that’s not seen anywhere else in the Bible. That is: a picture of the whole plan of God. Revelation is laid out as follows:
Things that are seen-chapter 1
Things which are-chapters 2 and 3
Things which shall be hereafter-chapter 4 to the end of the book.
In chapter 4:1 it says: and I will show you things which must take place after this.
Let us summarize what they are:
In chapter 1 visions of God in glory.
Chapters 2 and 3 the dispensation of grace-visions of the church on earth.
Chapter 4 and following: visions of the final defeat of Satan, Babylon and the world system. The end of man’s futile attempt to govern himself without God.
Chapter 22 the end of the book: God’s glorious kingdom established
In the beginning there was God.
Grace - the church age
Government - God’s kingdom
Glory - the New World under God’s reign.
This is God’s outline!
The most exciting thing to me is that the spirit of God operates within the book!
This is a self interpreting book.
In Revelation 1:16 what are the seven stars?
Answer: Revelation 1:20 the angels of the seven churches.
Revelation 4:5 what are the seven lamps burning?
Answer: Revelation 4:5 the seven spirits of God
Revelation 5:6 what are the seven horns? or-seven eyes?
Answer Revelation 5:6 spirits of God sent to the earth.
The vast majority of symbols are explained in the book.
It is a miraculous book
Revelation deals with past, present and future; the only prophetic book in the New Testament. It is the future part of God’s presence.
It is a motivational book:
If there is anything we need today it is to be refreshed in Jesus Christ,
Prayer: Lord, wake us up. Lord your church is asleep. Lord we have lifted into complacency. Our relationship has gone stale. Make our study of Revelation bring us back to a passionate relationship with Jesus Christ. Amen
You will be blessed in the reading and the studying of this book, blessed if you read it understand it and obey it.
Revelation is a personal Book.
It is written to you !
God promised to exhalt His Son Jesus. Jesus sent this book through His unnamed angel to John for You.
Philipians 2:9-11
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Revelation is an opening or unsealing of what has not been disclosed, through Jesus Christ. God chose to work through His Son.
Let’s review a few facts concerning this book to prepare ourselves for our study.
The throne of God is mentioned 46 times in this book
The term King Jesus is mentioned 37 times
It talks about power and authority 40 times.
We will be tremendously moved to see God’s glory through his plan for those who love him.
This is the last book of the Bible which ushers in God’s kingdom come down to earth. In God’s time in order these things will shortly come to pass. This makes the message of Revelation urgent and holy.
We see in Genesis:
The beginning of Earth and the fall of man.
The beginning of Satan and his activities on earth and God no longer residing with man.
In Revelation we see:
The end of Satan and his activities.
We see man and God in a face to face relationship as it was in the beginning.
In Genesis the tree of life was relinquished and in Revelation is regained.
As a result of man’s Sin, death makes its entrance in Genesis, but is wiped out in Revelation.
In Revelation we are ushered right into God’s new Earth and eternal kingdom.
As we study Revelation we will feel as though the period of time from Genesis chapter 1 to Revelation chapter 21 is a parentheses in man’s chapter of life.
Real life was before the fall of man and resumes after his restoration.
Christians have much to celebrate and be joyous about in this book.
It is about the destruction of sin - Satan can harass us no more!
It’s about the end of Death, Pain and Suffering.
The one we have committed our lives to will Rule his Father’s Kingdom.
Revelation contains information to build our faith and prepare us for a successful life on this earth and a glorious future in the Kingdom of God.
Revelation is a book about overcoming.
Revelation 12:11
And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony: and they loved not their lives unto the death.
This book is about Jesus Christ and you.
No man can boast credit for anything.
Man is without excuse.
All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
Jesus does it all in Justification.
Then He sends the Holy Spirit with Sanctification. The process of making us like Jesus Christ.
We overcome evil by our testimony of what Jesus has done for us.
We overcome only when we are washed in the blood of Jesus. Empowered by the Holy Spirit
We overcome by the testimony of what Jesus did on the cross.
We overcome because we lose our life in his.
Revelation is about the great I AM, the alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.
My friend Vic Reasoner said-
Prophecy is not to tell the future, it is to enable us to see the present from the perspective of the future.
The spirit of prophecy is to give us life and change our lives.
God’s great plan is an intimate relationship with man.
God has determined that the things of Revelation will come to pass. They must occur. They will occur. God has determined these things are necessary to fulfill his purposes.
Blessed be the name of our God, the father of our LordJesus Christ.
God is gathering back to Israel the Jewish people. He has already started “ingathering” those of the tribes of Israel scattered among the nations, not physically to Israel, but spiritually through the principles of His word. Many are coming out of sin and into a study of the Torah, the principles of God.
Jesus gave us Revelation to prepare us. Those who love the Lord and obey His principles will be sustained even during the tribulation to come. Yes, we have much to joyous about. Ten Thousand may fall at our left and Ten Thousand may fall on our right, but our Lord Jesus will keep those who are known by Him. He said “If you love me, obey my commandments”. It’s time to return to the Principles of God. The call is out, Who will answer the call?
Statistics:
There are seven songs in Revelation
7 Promises to overcomers
7 Churches
7 Lamps
7 Candlesticks
7 Spirits
7 Heads
7 Kings
7 Seals
7 Stars
7 Crowns
7 Beatitudes
7 Horns
7 Eyes
7 Angels
7 Pleagues
7 7 vials
7 Mountains
7 Trumpets
7 Thunders
7 Years of Judgement
7 I Am of Jesus
Numbers:
2 3 3.5 4 5 6 7 12 42 144,000 2,000,0000
The Beatitudes of Revelation are found in the following passages:
Rev 1:3
Rev 14:13
Rev 16:15
Rev 19:9
Rev 20:6
Rev 22:7
Rev 22:14
Overcoming:
By the blood of the Lamb
The word of their testimony
Not loving their own lives
John is commanded often to write it down:
1:11
Chapters two and three: Write it down
14:13
19:9
21:15
Revelation is about the glory the Father promised the Son and those who will follow him
The destruction of sin and death
The glory of god as revealed through his son.
Revelation is not:
Intended to produce fear
About judgment
Only for the Jews - The house of Judah. It is for the house of Israel
Not warning us to hide in Mountains or caves
Not a survival manual or escape plan.
There is no need to fear if you are the Bride
Ex 14:10 - 14
Do not be afraid, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. Your enemies will be seen no more.
Romans 7 -- It’s either grace or the law. No bride can have two husbands, otherwise that person is an adulterer.
If Revelation is not encouraging, you have been on the Egyptian side of the Red Sea as you look at it.
- End -
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Revelation Meeting 1
Revelation Bible Study 1
Revelation 1:1
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servant’s--things which must shortly take place. And he sent and signified it by his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.
Things that John saw:
Weathermen in the United States do a good job of warning people of pending severe weather. People on the coast line and in low lying areas are always warned to evacuate in face of a hurricane. Officials go to great lengths to make sure there is an escape route provided. Many US officials warned the government of the strong possibility of an attack on Pearl Harbor. No matter how strong the warnings many choose to ignore them.
We are warned about drug usage, smoking, overeating, the usage of alcohol, and of many other things that may adversely affect our help.
Many choose to ignore these warnings.
But what about our spiritual life?
We’re living in a day when Bible prophecy is being fulfilled almost daily.. There are more signs than ever announcing the end of this age.
Old Testament prophecies were about a coming Messiah who would be both a suffering servant and a reigning King. Revelation is a book of prophecy.
Revelation 1:3
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
Revelation 22:7
Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.
Revelation 22:10
And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.
Revelation 22:18
For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, “if anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city and from the things which are written in this book.
Prophecy is to enable us to see the present from the perspective of the future. (Reasoner)
Prophecy gives us life and changes our lives. (Sancitification) If we read the words, hear the words and live by the words.
The Hewbrews relate it to the 213 principles of God for the Nations.
Isaiah 41:21-26
Present your case, says the Lord.
Bring forth your strong reasons, says the King of Jacob.
Let them bring forth and show us what will happen;
Let them show the former things, what they were,
That we may consider them,
And know the latter end of them;
Or declare to us things to come.
Show the things that are to come hereafter,
That we may know that you are gods;
Yes, do good or do evil.
That we may be dismayed and see it together.
Indeed you are nothing.
And your work is nothing;
He who chooses you is an abomination
I have raised up one from the north,
And he shall come;
From the rising of the sun he shall call on My name;
And he shall come against princes as though mortar,
As the potter treads clay.
Who has declared from the beginning, that we may know?
And former times, that we may say He is righteous?
Surely there is no one who shows.
Surely there is no one who declares,
Surely there is no one who hears your words.
Events which “must occur” means God has determined they will happen and God alone.
The apostle Peter warned us there would be scoffers in the end days.
Second Peter 3:3-4:
Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts and saying, where is the promise of his coming? Four cents the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.
The book of Revelation actually predicts the end of the age; the climax of the ages.
Revelation is a book of signs, of grand scenes in heaven and terrifying scenes on Earth. Revelation speaks of Angels and Christ and demons; of war in heaven and Armageddon on the earth.
As we read and study Revelation we hear of trumpets, the breaking of seals on ancient scrolls. We hear of a new heaven and a new earth.
A theologian named Milton wrote:
“Revelation reveals the majestic image of a high-end stately tragedy shutting up and intermingling her solemn scenes and acts with a seven fold chorus of hallelujahs and harpining symphonies.”
Milton’s poetic language captures the mystery and Majesty of the book of Revelation. To help us get into the study of this book we must be reminded of five characteristics of this book.
It is a misunderstood book
It is a messianic book
It is a mysterious book
It is written in code. It is written with the dialect and the customs of an ancient Hebrew period as a backdrop.
It is a meaningful book.
Most people misunderstand what this book is all about. Therefore, we must purge our minds of all preconceived notions or ideas about this book.
We could say that basically there are three types of people when it comes to the book of Revelation.
1.There are those who have either not read or lightly read Revelation and see no reason why they should study it.. 2.These are the ones who show up in church without a Bible and judge the service based own how entertaining it is or how it feeds their emotions.
3.There are those who have read Revelation and are either in fear of its prophetic message or who are not morally inclined to know it’s truths.
Finally, there are a few who seek to study it, understand it, and live by it’s wonderful words. They are few.
Daniel 12:10
Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; and none of the wicked shall understand it: but the wise shall understand.
If we, who know the Lord, struggle to understand this book; can you imagine those who have no interest in God ever picking up this book?
Most Christians pick up the book out of fear or selfishness. They are looking for it to tell them they don’t have to go through the tribulation. They want it to tell them that they are not going to have to sacrifice anything for the sake of the gospel.
1st Corinthians 2:14
But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
There are Christians who are not interested in Revelation because it takes them out of their comfort zone. Revelation is about judgment and change.
Then there are those who are hostile towards the book and will not take a literal translation of it. They spiritualize it so the truth is compromised and its message means absolutely nothing.
It is a messianic book - The Revelation of Yeshua, Jesus
In reality, Revelation is very simple. It is a book about Jesus Christ! Many over the ages including Martin Luther did not see Jesus in the book, yet it’s all about Jesus. It is truly hard to figure how these people missed Jesus in this book. The only explanation is that it was simply not God’s plan that it be revealed. The book is the revelation, or unveiling, of Jesus Christ. Look at the very first verse of Revelation chapter 1.
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass: and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John.
Jesus is the unseen head of the church; the despised carpenter of Nazarus is the object of all heaven’s worship. The King that Israel rejected is sovereign and sits at the right hand of the Father waiting for his Father’s command to go get his children.
The Holy One of God, who was with God before the foundation of the world; the one man who volunteered to be convicted as a criminal and sent to Calvary after living the first perfect earthly life is the coming judge of all mankind. His long awaited coming will bring judgment against all who have followed the King of darkness. There is no other book in the Bible that totally reveals Jesus Christ as does revelation. The Gospels present the Lord as a humiliated servant. He was born in a manger, and walked the dusty paths of this world. Then he went to the cross and was executed as a criminal. He appeared in the Gospels as a servant, with only a hint of his glory which came primarily from his own lips and the miracles that he performed.
But Scripture announced His coming, His purpose and His mission.
Philippians 2:9-11
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name. That at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of the father.
There is no place in the Bible that you see Jesus Christ like this except in the book of Revelation. In Revelation; he is no longer seen in the manger. He is no longer walking the dusty roads of Israel. He is not seen on the cross. He is no longer seen as a humble servant. He is seen coming in glory with his saints to set up his kingdom on earth and rule with a rod of iron.
To study this book is to fall deeper in love with Jesus or else we have missed the very point of the book. Those who will read this book, study this book and live by this book have the promise of sharing his glory.
Revelation is the only book in the Bible in which God specifically blesses the reader.
Revelation 1:3
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
Revelation is a mysterious book filled with symbols.
Many misunderstand this book or are intimidated because of the symbols in the book. God used symbols in Revelation so that time could not erode the message and so the truth would survive until Jesus second coming.
Revelation portrays the seen and the unseen. It portrays that which is seen in the natural and that which can only be seen with spiritual eyes.. Spiritual things cannot be seen with our fleshly eyes. The only way to see spiritual things is through the spirit of God. He controls what we are able to discern spiritually. One of the wondrous truths of the bible is the flow of power from God, through Jesus, into His children and back to God. We’ll talk more about that later.
Symbolism is not weakened by time
Symbolisim imparts values and arouses emotions
So Revelation is an Apocalypse - It is part of a body of Apocalyptic writings. Daniel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, ect
It is written in literary style. The Prophecy is given through a series of visions.
Unveiling, a Revealing of Jesus
It is an intentionally veiled style with:
Coded Imagery
Coded References. Written to a specific group of people. It references something you studied or know.
The study of Revelation will therefore encompass a study of much of the bible.
Revelation 1:1
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servant’s--things which must shortly take place. And he sent and signified it by his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.
Things that John saw:
Weathermen in the United States do a good job of warning people of pending severe weather. People on the coast line and in low lying areas are always warned to evacuate in face of a hurricane. Officials go to great lengths to make sure there is an escape route provided. Many US officials warned the government of the strong possibility of an attack on Pearl Harbor. No matter how strong the warnings many choose to ignore them.
We are warned about drug usage, smoking, overeating, the usage of alcohol, and of many other things that may adversely affect our help.
Many choose to ignore these warnings.
But what about our spiritual life?
We’re living in a day when Bible prophecy is being fulfilled almost daily.. There are more signs than ever announcing the end of this age.
Old Testament prophecies were about a coming Messiah who would be both a suffering servant and a reigning King. Revelation is a book of prophecy.
Revelation 1:3
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
Revelation 22:7
Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.
Revelation 22:10
And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.
Revelation 22:18
For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, “if anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city and from the things which are written in this book.
Prophecy is to enable us to see the present from the perspective of the future. (Reasoner)
Prophecy gives us life and changes our lives. (Sancitification) If we read the words, hear the words and live by the words.
The Hewbrews relate it to the 213 principles of God for the Nations.
Isaiah 41:21-26
Present your case, says the Lord.
Bring forth your strong reasons, says the King of Jacob.
Let them bring forth and show us what will happen;
Let them show the former things, what they were,
That we may consider them,
And know the latter end of them;
Or declare to us things to come.
Show the things that are to come hereafter,
That we may know that you are gods;
Yes, do good or do evil.
That we may be dismayed and see it together.
Indeed you are nothing.
And your work is nothing;
He who chooses you is an abomination
I have raised up one from the north,
And he shall come;
From the rising of the sun he shall call on My name;
And he shall come against princes as though mortar,
As the potter treads clay.
Who has declared from the beginning, that we may know?
And former times, that we may say He is righteous?
Surely there is no one who shows.
Surely there is no one who declares,
Surely there is no one who hears your words.
Events which “must occur” means God has determined they will happen and God alone.
The apostle Peter warned us there would be scoffers in the end days.
Second Peter 3:3-4:
Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts and saying, where is the promise of his coming? Four cents the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.
The book of Revelation actually predicts the end of the age; the climax of the ages.
Revelation is a book of signs, of grand scenes in heaven and terrifying scenes on Earth. Revelation speaks of Angels and Christ and demons; of war in heaven and Armageddon on the earth.
As we read and study Revelation we hear of trumpets, the breaking of seals on ancient scrolls. We hear of a new heaven and a new earth.
A theologian named Milton wrote:
“Revelation reveals the majestic image of a high-end stately tragedy shutting up and intermingling her solemn scenes and acts with a seven fold chorus of hallelujahs and harpining symphonies.”
Milton’s poetic language captures the mystery and Majesty of the book of Revelation. To help us get into the study of this book we must be reminded of five characteristics of this book.
It is a misunderstood book
It is a messianic book
It is a mysterious book
It is written in code. It is written with the dialect and the customs of an ancient Hebrew period as a backdrop.
It is a meaningful book.
Most people misunderstand what this book is all about. Therefore, we must purge our minds of all preconceived notions or ideas about this book.
We could say that basically there are three types of people when it comes to the book of Revelation.
1.There are those who have either not read or lightly read Revelation and see no reason why they should study it.. 2.These are the ones who show up in church without a Bible and judge the service based own how entertaining it is or how it feeds their emotions.
3.There are those who have read Revelation and are either in fear of its prophetic message or who are not morally inclined to know it’s truths.
Finally, there are a few who seek to study it, understand it, and live by it’s wonderful words. They are few.
Daniel 12:10
Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; and none of the wicked shall understand it: but the wise shall understand.
If we, who know the Lord, struggle to understand this book; can you imagine those who have no interest in God ever picking up this book?
Most Christians pick up the book out of fear or selfishness. They are looking for it to tell them they don’t have to go through the tribulation. They want it to tell them that they are not going to have to sacrifice anything for the sake of the gospel.
1st Corinthians 2:14
But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
There are Christians who are not interested in Revelation because it takes them out of their comfort zone. Revelation is about judgment and change.
Then there are those who are hostile towards the book and will not take a literal translation of it. They spiritualize it so the truth is compromised and its message means absolutely nothing.
It is a messianic book - The Revelation of Yeshua, Jesus
In reality, Revelation is very simple. It is a book about Jesus Christ! Many over the ages including Martin Luther did not see Jesus in the book, yet it’s all about Jesus. It is truly hard to figure how these people missed Jesus in this book. The only explanation is that it was simply not God’s plan that it be revealed. The book is the revelation, or unveiling, of Jesus Christ. Look at the very first verse of Revelation chapter 1.
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass: and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John.
Jesus is the unseen head of the church; the despised carpenter of Nazarus is the object of all heaven’s worship. The King that Israel rejected is sovereign and sits at the right hand of the Father waiting for his Father’s command to go get his children.
The Holy One of God, who was with God before the foundation of the world; the one man who volunteered to be convicted as a criminal and sent to Calvary after living the first perfect earthly life is the coming judge of all mankind. His long awaited coming will bring judgment against all who have followed the King of darkness. There is no other book in the Bible that totally reveals Jesus Christ as does revelation. The Gospels present the Lord as a humiliated servant. He was born in a manger, and walked the dusty paths of this world. Then he went to the cross and was executed as a criminal. He appeared in the Gospels as a servant, with only a hint of his glory which came primarily from his own lips and the miracles that he performed.
But Scripture announced His coming, His purpose and His mission.
Philippians 2:9-11
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name. That at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of the father.
There is no place in the Bible that you see Jesus Christ like this except in the book of Revelation. In Revelation; he is no longer seen in the manger. He is no longer walking the dusty roads of Israel. He is not seen on the cross. He is no longer seen as a humble servant. He is seen coming in glory with his saints to set up his kingdom on earth and rule with a rod of iron.
To study this book is to fall deeper in love with Jesus or else we have missed the very point of the book. Those who will read this book, study this book and live by this book have the promise of sharing his glory.
Revelation is the only book in the Bible in which God specifically blesses the reader.
Revelation 1:3
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
Revelation is a mysterious book filled with symbols.
Many misunderstand this book or are intimidated because of the symbols in the book. God used symbols in Revelation so that time could not erode the message and so the truth would survive until Jesus second coming.
Revelation portrays the seen and the unseen. It portrays that which is seen in the natural and that which can only be seen with spiritual eyes.. Spiritual things cannot be seen with our fleshly eyes. The only way to see spiritual things is through the spirit of God. He controls what we are able to discern spiritually. One of the wondrous truths of the bible is the flow of power from God, through Jesus, into His children and back to God. We’ll talk more about that later.
Symbolism is not weakened by time
Symbolisim imparts values and arouses emotions
So Revelation is an Apocalypse - It is part of a body of Apocalyptic writings. Daniel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, ect
It is written in literary style. The Prophecy is given through a series of visions.
Unveiling, a Revealing of Jesus
It is an intentionally veiled style with:
Coded Imagery
Coded References. Written to a specific group of people. It references something you studied or know.
The study of Revelation will therefore encompass a study of much of the bible.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)