M“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 1:3, NKJV).
BASIC ASSUMPTIONS ON THE BIBLE AND THE BOOK OF REVELATION
2 Timothy 3:16-17 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Romans 1:16-17 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith.
Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
2 Peter 1:19-21 19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Deuteronomy 29:29 29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
EGW—“The book of Revelation opens with an injunction to us to understand the instruction it contains. ‘Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy,’ God declares, ‘and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.’ When we as a people understand what this book means to us, there will be seen among us a great revival. We do not understand fully the lessons that it teaches, notwithstanding the injunction given us to search and study it.”—Ellen G. White, Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, p. 113.
Historicism, Idealism, Futurism, & Preterism; WHICH? What method of interpretation (hermeneutics) you use will determine how you understand the book!!
Relationship of Revelation to the Bible and Daniel. All the books of the Bible end in the book of Revelation, some 1/3 of the book being quoted or referenced from the Old Testament. And, Daniel and Revelation are companion books, Daniel revealing the time of Jesus’ First Coming to this earth, and Revelation revealing the “time” of Jesus’ Second Coming to this earth. They CANNOT be split up, as is done in the current religious world. Daniel is prophecy, being written in the time of Daniel, circa 580BC, NOT history, written circa 140 BC.
The Title of the Book
John (Jehovah is Gracious) is an exile on the Isle of Patmos for being a brother and companion in tribulation (oppression) for the Word of God. (1:9) He is the last living disciple at the advanced age of roughly 95. He was “in the spirit” on the Lord’s Day, (1:10) and heard a great voice. He turned and looked and it was his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The book was written about 95 AD, then he was released after Domitian’s death and live the remainder of his life in Ephesus.
2 Peter 1:16 16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
Revelation 1:1-2 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: 2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
The title is simple; The Revelation of Jesus Christ. The ἀποκάλυψις or unveiling means (to cause something to be fully known, reveal, disclose, bring to light, make fully known). Through his servant, the prophet John, Jesus intends to make fully known as much as humans can understand it, what is to happen in the future to the church till His 2nd Coming.
Chain of transmission from God to us. God gave Jesus the information, who sent it by his angel to his servant, John, so we could read it in the book.
The Purpose of the Book
Seven Major Purposes of the Book
1. Jesus reveals Himself.
2. Jesus reveals the future.
3. Jesus reveals events at the close of this earth.
4. Jesus reveals to us the fight between Himself and Satan.
5. Jesus reveals Himself in the sign language of the Bible.
6. Jesus reveals how we may overcome.
7. Jesus reveals that He is coming again
Beasts, time prophecies and symbols all have their place and function in the book, but Jesus is the central figure of Revelation.
“The Gospels lay the foundation in faith; Acts and the Epistles build upon it to nurture a holy life; the Apocalypse is the book of hope to the struggling Christian and the militant church, and it ensures final victory and rest. This has been its mission; this will be its mission till the Lord comes in His own good time.” Phillip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, p. 830.
Jesus is the central figure of Revelation. The book begins with Him (Rev. 1:5–8) and concludes with Him (Rev. 22:12–16). “Let Daniel speak, let the Revelation speak, and tell what is truth. But whatever phase of the subject is presented, uplift Jesus as the center of all hope, ‘the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright and morning Star.’ ”—Ellen G. White, Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, p. 118.
John 14:29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.
The Symbolic Language of Revelation
Rev. 1:1 “…and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
He “signified” it. (Σημαίνω) (to show by symbolic signs) (to make something known by signs, speech, or actions.) (See Daniel 2:45 for the same idea) Jesus sent John the message in the “sign language” of the Bible. E.g., the lamb in (5:6) is Jesus, the Lamb of God (John 1:29). We will typically interpret names, and things symbolically, and find the meaning of the symbol in Scripture, except where the noun, or person, or thing is obviously literal; (Jesus, John, Satan, heaven, lake of fire, saints, etc.) This is important!
Similarity of the two prophetic books, foretelling the future. (Not forthtelling the future)
Revelation 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
Daniel 2:45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.
From my commentary: page 84. (See a long list of symbols on pp. 113-115 of the commentary).
“You will find that practically all of the proper names in the book of Revelation are symbolic. Even in chapter 10, John becomes a symbol of those last-day Christians who eat the book and find it sweet in their mouth and bitter in their belly. To discover the meaning of the symbol, find the symbol in the passage and determine from scripture what is the symbol’s meaning. For example, in 2:20, the word Jezebel is used. Is John writing to the Jezebel of the Old Testament, Ahab’s wife? Is a woman by the name of Jezebel to be found in Thyatira? In this case, there appears to be some characteristic about the Old Testament Jezebel that is personified in the church of Thyatira. We’ll go into that more later.
Revelation uses pictures or symbols to convey meanings of the reality of Jesus, heaven, and His activities on our behalf. John would not have any clue as to the future of this world, so the language of Revelation is necessarily symbolic, to express eternal truths that cover the entire time of this world. This symbolic portrayal does not eliminate the reality of Jesus, heaven, and the New Earth—these are real. God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, angels, heaven, the New Earth, Satan, war, strife, death, etc., are all real. The reward for faithfulness is real—eternal life. The reward for evil is real—eternal extinction. Keep your perspective of reality in this pictorial journey through Revelation, and never forget that the reward and the consequences of this book are real and lasting.”
The Godhead
Does the Bible speak consciously of the “Trinity,” or Heavenly Trio? YES!
Rev. 1:4, 5. 4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from (1) him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the (2) seven Spirits which are before his throne; 5 And from (3) Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Rev. 4:2, 5, 8; Rev. 5:6
2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and (1) one sat on the throne. 3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the (2) seven Spirits of God.
8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, (1) which was, and is, and is to come.
5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a (3) Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
John 14:26 26 But the (2) Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost (πνεῦμα), whom the (1) Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. WHO IS SPEAKING HERE? JESUS (3)
Matthew 28:19 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the (1) Father, and of the (3) Son, and of the (2) Holy Ghost:
The Keynote of Revelation
Rev. 1:7 7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
Rev. 22:7, Behold, I come quickly:
12, And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
20 He which testifieth these things saith, surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
***World history (and therefore sacred history, as God functions in history) is linear and comes to a consummation. Nearly every other religion looks at history as cyclical. E.g. re-incarnation.
EGW—“More than eighteen hundred years have passed since the Saviour gave the promise of his coming. Throughout the centuries his words have filled with courage the hearts of his faithful ones. The promise has not yet been fulfilled; the Life-giver’s voice has not yet called the sleeping saints from their graves; but none the less sure is the word that has been spoken. In his own time God will fulfill his word. Shall any become weary now? Shall we lose our hold on faith when we are so near the eternal world? Shall any say, the city is a great way off?—No, no. A little longer, and we shall see the King in his beauty. A little longer, and he will wipe all tears from our eyes. A little longer, and he will present us ‘faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.’ ”—Ellen G. White, The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Nov. 13, 1913. F
EGW—“This revelation was given for the guidance and comfort of the church throughout the Christian dispensation. . . . A revelation is something revealed. The Lord Himself revealed to His servant the mysteries contained in this book, and He designs that they shall be open to the study of all. Its truths are addressed to those living in the last days of this earth’s history, as well as to those living in the days of John. Some of the scenes depicted in this prophecy are in the past, some are now taking place; some bring to view the close of the great conflict between the powers of darkness and the Prince of heaven, and some reveal the triumphs and joys of the redeemed in the earth made new.
“Let none think, because they cannot explain the meaning of every symbol in the Revelation that it is useless for them to search this book in an effort to know the meaning of the truth it contains. The One who revealed these mysteries to John will give to the diligent searcher for truth a foretaste of heavenly things. Those whose hearts are open to the reception of truth will be enabled to understand its teachings, and will be granted the blessing promised to those who ‘hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein.’ ”—Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 583–585.
Themes of Revelation
- Character The end-time is so close! Do we have time to change our characters and our habits? An old saying has it this way: Sew a thought, reap an action. Sew an action and reap a habit. Sew a habit and reap a character. Sew a character and reap a destiny. Chapter 22:11 describes the end result of the process of character development. In his apocalyptic Old Testament book, Daniel also describes the point of character fixation.
Chapter 22:11 alludes directly to Daniel 12:10. “Many will be purified, made spotless and
refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.” Both apocalyptic writers recognized the importance of character in being found faithful at the end. Character is all-important! In 2 Corinthians 6:2 we hear the clarion call: “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” As events of the era move rapidly to a close, do not delay in accepting Christ’s offer of a character that will go through to the end.
Does character matter to God? Do we find anything in Revelation that suggests character is an issue? Do the symbols point to the character issue? I propose that the study of the clothing of Revelation (and the rest of scripture) has to do with character. Having the proper clothing or character occupies John the Revelator throughout the book of Revelation. We look at the clothing the Christian will wear as a result of a relationship with the unveiled Jesus Christ. The Christian will do nothing in this world or the next without the proper clothing, or character.
- Choices “Then he instructed me, ‘Do not seal up the prophetic words you have written, for the time is near. Let the one who is doing wrong continue to do wrong; the one who is vile, continue to be vile; the one who is good, continue to do good; and the one who is holy, continue in holiness.’ ‘See, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me, to repay all according to their deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.’ Blessed are those who wash their robes so they can enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life. Outside the city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie (22:10–15, NLT).”
No other passage of scripture defines human choice any better than this passage just quoted. It describes what human beings become and experience as a result of their choices. It describes their destiny. Let the one who is holy continue in holiness, and let the one who is vile continue to be vile. That verse speaks to the results of our choices.
We meet a choice almost immediately in the book, in 1:3: “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.”
We have a choice to read, to hear, and to keep the things which are written in this book—it’s a matter of choice. In the last words to each of the seven churches, the Great Senior Pastor exhorts us to hear: “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches (2:7).” To hear with the ear, biblically speaking, is to be receptive to God’s Word and choose to obey what He says.
As the great controversy unfolds in the book of Revelation, we will observe that we have a choice between the two protagonists of the struggle—Christ or Satan (ch. 12). At the heart of the story in the book of Revelation is our decision to choose. We have a choice between two alternatives.
- Worship Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. (Rev. 14:7 KJV)
The fearful warnings of chapter 14:6–12 are proclaimed by the 144,000. This final message to the apostate Christian Church warns them that worship of the beast and receiving the mark of the beast shall result in their being thrown into the lake of fire at the executive judgment. They issue a call to worship the true God, not the other gods of this world. If you worship Satan, you will be able to “buy and sell,” but you will join Satan in the lake of fire at the end. Ifyou worship Jesus, you will not be able to “buy and sell,” but you will be with Jesus in heaveneternally. Who you worship and how you worship is of great importance.
A call comes to each of the seven churches and to each member of those seven churches: If you have an ear to hear, hear what the Spirit says to you. We shall show shortly that this call to “hear” involves listening and doing what the Spirit says. Worship is not just something you DO on Saturday or Sunday—it is the kind of person you ARE seven days a week. A true believer heeds the call to repent and comes to Jesus, well symbolized by those in need of Christ in Laodicea. They come for the eye salve, that they might see their desperate condition. They come for refining, that their faith in Jesus might be made perfect. They come for the white robe, which is Christ’s righteousness and which makes them just like Jesus.
Your conduct, your choices, and your character demonstrate who you worship. “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness (Romans 6:16).” “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men (Isaiah 29:13).”
In the earth made new, the kings of the earth will bring their glory or worship to the Holy City. The Holy City has no need for sun or light, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb, they are the light of it. “And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD (Isaiah 66:23).” “All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee (Psalm 22:27).”
Special thanks to Ken Mathews, MD
