"Judgment upon the Jewish Population and the Destruction of Jerusalem A.D. 70"

• Rev 5:1 appears to reflect covenantal imagery from the Old Testament.

• A Seven-sealed scroll... 
• Seven trumpets... 
• Seven vials.

• The Old Testament law states that adultery was to be punishable by death:

• And the Old Testament means of capital punishment was to be served by stoning:

• In Rev 6:21 John portrays the destruction of "Babylon" (which Jerusalem was referred to) was to be destroyed by stoning: (quite a parallel don't you think?)

• We now will take a look at the other woman since witnessing through the eyes of the Scriptures: where God legally disposed of His harlot wife, and who do we now see taking her place? A new bride:

• Now consider the thematic flow as the Scriptures unfold in Revelation:
  • In Rev 4 - God is seated upon His judicial throne.
  • In Rev 5 - God issues a seven-sealed divorce decree.
  • In Rev 6 - 19 God executes judgments upon the Harlot, stoning her to death.
  • Then in Rev 19 - John begins preparing us for the appearance of the new bride:

• Eventually, we see the bride coming down from heaven. In Rev 21:2 she is called the "New Jerusalem," implying that she is taking the place of the old Jerusalem. This is contrasted in the New Testament as well:

Continuing from our last post dealing with the literalist approach to interpreting Revelation we will see now how this process will have us paddling down some very strange waters for interpreting if we use this method. For instance, there will be some very bizarre and gross creatures in heaven.

Revelation 4:6 (KJV) ⁶ And before the throne there was a sea of  glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the  throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

Consider this imagery we just read in light of other Scriptures that teach us that people on earth have mistakenly assumed angels to be human (Gen 19:1, 5; Dan 9:21). Its obvious to conclude that Jesus does not actually look like a lamb that has been slain and who is standing in the center of the throne (Rev 5:6); although He will bear the physical marks as described herein of what He went through for our redemption and that He is the sacrificial Lamb. Just as we also cannot assume that the four horsemen in (Rev 6:1-8) will be literal riders upon horses riding all over the world doing their thing. Another difficulty for the literalist interpreter is found over in (Rev 7:14). Do these great multitudes referred here mean that they actually sat down and washed their white robes in the blood of the Lamb? What about the the locusts mentioned in (Rev 9:7)? Are we to literally take this image given and make it to be the same as is being described here? Or do we believe that a multi-headed dragon pulls down one third of a trillion stars from the universe according to the imagery reported over in (Rev 12:3-4)? By continuing to use the literalist approach, who is this woman given two wings of a great eagle that helps her to fly away from her would-be attacker who is vomiting a flood from its mouth?

The Error of the Literalism Approach:

The term literalism is often the contemporary method applied when reading the book of Revelation. But I doubt very seriously that anyone "truly" believes in the literal translation of this books symbolism or its imagery in that manner. Who could with all of its horrific and unbelievable creatures? While most believe that Revelation is God's truth, we cannot take that truth in literal form. What am I saying here? When ever we interpret another persons literary work we must remember to keep the information supplied by its author in its original theme, so as not to change its meaning to fit more of our own opinion or description of what he is saying. This is much the way we often fail at really understanding what someone says to us. This is because we interpret their words based on our own personal beliefs which possibly did not hear it in the same way that the person was saying it. This is why we have so many misunderstandings within our relationships today, because we thought we heard what they said, but actually we heard what we wanted to hear rather than what they meant. 

For instance look how Jesus was misunderstood regarding the temple in (Jn 2:19-22), or when He talked about being born again over in (Jn 3:3-10); or His message of eating His flesh in (Jn 6:51-56). Therefore, we can see through these few Scriptures offered just how easy it is to confuse the interpretation of a persons dialog; how much more where symbols and imagery is lined heavily throughout its pages. With this said, we will now look at some of the imagery disclosed within John's literary work and see if we can make some sense out of it without detracting from its real meaning to its original audience. If we look over in (Rev 1:12-20) we will see Jesus Christ walking among seven candlesticks. If we were to approach this passage in the literal sense then it would be said that Jesus walks among candlesticks in heaven. Yet John will not allow this interpretation to stand as he explains himself over in (Rev 1:20). Therefore, even though John saw seven stars in His right hand, and seven candlesticks; he clearly reveals what they really were. The seven stars represented the seven pastors (angels) of the seven churches which were described from the imagery of the seven candlesticks.

If we read throughout the book of Revelation, we will find that John continues this same practice of revealing the truer sense of what he actually saw through the fantastic imagery in his vision. John does not leave us with just one sample of this interpretation either. In fact, over in (Rev. 5:6) we see a lamb with seven eyes. Obviously this can be understood by most Christians as being Jesus Christ. The literalist form if applied here however, would assume that Jesus had seven eyeballs on His head. Our system of interpreting must never deviate from the method that our author consistently uses. For instance another sample would be the reference of "incense" within angelic bowls in heaven. John tells us over in (Rev 5:8) that the imagery of incense represented the prayers of the saints.

Again over in (Rev 17:9-10) the angel speaking unto John clears up any misunderstanding to what the imagery really meant. As we find here in this passage that the seven heads are seven actual mountains that this woman sits upon. An amazing note is the very coin of Rome has an emblem with the picture of a woman sitting upon seven mountains which are geographically encompassing the Old Roman Empire. When we read on we discover that there are seven kings: which five are fallen (Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece) and one is (Rome), and the other is not yet come (Revived Roman Empire). So as you can see through these noted examples that John consistently portrays his vision with a thematic process of imagery then explanation of what it means. To literally make your own conclusion in order to logically make it fit to a current time to which we now live is to embellish upon its truest meaning for its intended audience. We will continue in this study in part 3...

The second book of Timothy 2:15 instructs us to "accurately handle" the Word of truth. And again, over in the book of Acts 17:11 we find that the Barean's searched the Scriptures to make sure that what they were being taught was in fact, the truth! God has given us wisdom throughout His Word on how to live as a child of God and have good success; and without that divine wisdom of course, He goes on to tell us that His people perish for lack of it (Hosea 4:6). Therefore, we want the reader to keep this perspective in mind as we journey together through this book called the, Revelation of Jesus Christ.

The Audience:

It is clear that John received this message from the angel of the Lord Jesus Christ who was given it by the Father to give unto His servants the things that were to shortly come to pass (Rev 1:1). John also states that he bears witness to the "Word" (1 Jn 1:1-4); to the testimony of Jesus Christ; and to the very things that he saw in this particular vision for the revealing of these things to the seven churches by the angel of the Lord (Rev. 1:2). Now because of the closeness with his audience John instructs them, "Blessed are they who read and those who hear the words of this prophecy (Rev 1:3) because the time is at hand." The reader cannot avoid the thought line here, as John is making it very clear that the time was "near" concerning those to whom this letter was written to. An interesting note is that we must consider that John uses this very language in his opening statements of the book and its closing (Rev 22:6; 10) to validate his expectation of its soon to come manifestation. 

We also find that John is addressing seven particular churches to which he was obviously close to relationally (Rev 1:4) as he exhorts: "Grace be unto you, and peace, from Him which is, and which was, and which is to come." Then he reminds them that he too is experiencing the same tribulations for the sake of the gospel and the testimony of Jesus Christ (Rev 1:9). Next we find the Spirit instructing John to write to these seven particular churches in Asia Minor. Now, we all know that there were more churches than these seven throughout the region of Asia Minor, but these perhaps were the ones most familiar to John. The list of churches that John was given to address with personal letters (Revelation chapters 2-3) were on a known historical postal route. Therefore, these are very real first century churches and we must not forget that in our study of this book.

These churches were not only first century churches that he was writing to, but they were suffering great affliction for their stance and belief in the Lord Jesus Christ, just as John too was suffering for the same reason. We also will discover a theme that quite often bleeds throughout the whole book of Revelation which has to do with suffering and persevering (Rev 2:9-10; 3:9-10; 6:9-11; 11:7-8, 11-13, 18; 12:10; 13:10; 14:11-13; 16:5-6; 17:6; 18:20, 24; 19:2; 20:4, 6). It is very clear that John was attempting to encourage his friends in the faith what they were to expect in the very near future and how they must hold on to the end faithfully. Therefore, it is to be understood that these churches were to know what was about to happen so that they would be warned ahead of time in order to prepare themselves, which draws strongly from the Scriptures that God will do nothing until He reveals it first to His prophets (Amos 3:7).

Another observation that we would like to make here, so as to establish the "nearness" of this book concerning the first century Jeruslaem and its temple worship is found in the language used in Daniel and in Revelation which all students of the Bible know corresponds to each other dramatically. This point of course, is that Daniel was told in his vision to seal it up for it was for a great deal of time out (Dan 12:4); whereas, in Revelation John is told not to seal up the vision for it was at hand (Rev 22:10). As we can see by the language being used in these two end-time descriptions from two very different people; one was futuristic and the later was soon to unfold. We must not deviate from this disclosure of what the Scriptures are saying. The correct flow of exegesis (critical interpretation) is to be followed here in order to allow Scripture to interpret Scripture, rather than man's opinion to force a more logical approach to its meaning in order to satisfy his need for making it relevant to his day. We will continue in part two of this study in Revelation...

Introduction:

Many have probably already realized that the book of Revelation has proved to be a difficult book for the average reader who would elect to study it wholeheartedly to know what it means. The reasons of course for this confusion are varied but the most common is that we have been taught a certain way to interpret it by our respected peers that often take things out of context to fit their limited understanding. Therefore, much of the book has been greatly obscured because of the way that we apply it to make it relevant to our current day. This is not to imply that the book has no relevance spiritually for us today as believers; but rather it deals more clearly with the divorce between God and Israel within the first century that would end temple and sacrificial worship once and for all. In fact, the whole Bible is actually written in the "occasion" format to which simply means that it was written to a specific audience of the time of its writing which for the most part, makes it a historical (albeit not an irrelevant out-of-date) book for us the believer; but rather to afford us with many examples for godly living (2 Tim 3:16-17).

Am I suggesting that it does not have relevance to us specifically today? Absolutely not! Yet, I am saying it should be studied as a collection of examples (Heb 4:11; 1 Peter 2:21; Jude 1:7; 1 Cor 10:6) for our benefit that are born again in Christ Jesus, that we might know how we are to live our lives as well as avoiding and turning away from the very things that caused Israel to fall from God's grace in her dispensation of time.Throughout the Old Testament we find the constant struggle between Israel and her Master. Over and over again, God the Father reaches out to love Israel, but time after time Israel would disobey and commit the acts of a harlot by being unfaithful to her spiritual Husband. Even the book of Hosea records that this same prophet was instructed by God to marry a prostitute named Gomer and make her his wife that he might convey her unfaithfulness to Hosea to be likened unto the way Israel has treated her God. No matter where you turn in Scripture you will find this consistent pattern that is always dealing with God's chosen people Israel, who were in the beginning entrusted with the oracles of God's commandments (Acts 7:38; Rom 3:2).

The book of Isaiah opens up in the very first chapter pointing out Israel's rebellion to her God. Here it was prophesied by Isaiah, "that had it not been for the small remnant spared, Israel would have been utterly destroyed" from the face of the earth for her depraved activities that equaled to the same evil as the Babylonians.

Isaiah 1:9 (KJV) ⁹ Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.

An amazing bit of information for the student of the Bible is that the book of Isaiah is a miniature bible in of itself. What do I mean by this? Isaiah has 66 chapters just as the bible has 66 books. In Isaiah the first 39 chapters deal with the law and judgment which corresponds to the Old Testament period; and then there are 27 chapters of Isaiah that corresponds with the New Testament message of comfort and salvation through Christ the Messiah. The bible is truly a remarkable book! Therefore, in order to study the book of Revelation with insight to its real meaning we must have an understanding of the immediate audience to which John was addressing at the time of its writing; and then we must understand the imagery and thought pattern that John used throughout his book without veering off the original context to it's intended meaning. We must resist the temptation to create out of John's imagery something that makes for more sense in our current day.

The Lord impressed upon my heart strongly that His Word was doctrinally sound as most of us would obviously agree who may be reading this study that we are presenting; however the Lord impressed upon me that our vain imaginations were not doctrinally sound. Thereby they need to be renewed!
Unfortunately, this becomes why so many over time have created some of the most bazaar
interpretations to which are passed along from generation to generation, yet without any of those events proving to be true to date although the next generation will continue to embellish upon them in their day. These so called modern day prophets will predict endless dates to when all such catastrophic events will unfold based on similar signs or conspiracy theories of their day but only to see them never come to pass.

There are more eschatology books being written to fancy the curiosity of those who would fall prey to such outlandish creations of men equal to StarTrek or some other Sci-Fi motion picture. They say that in commercials sex sells...I must add to that, so does fear! Where does it all end? Why can't we grasp what this book is really saying without putting our own opinion on it? Doesn't the word revelation actually mean that it is to be revealed, uncovered, and explained to those that it is speaking to? Then why is it categorized by so many as being a book full of mysteries that are too hard to understand? I hope we can have an honest and revealing study of this book called Revelation to which I want to devote a great deal of time and detail in hopes that it brings into perfect clarity its truths for those who would be teachable to its truest meaning. We will continue in part one of this study in Revelation...