Book of Revelation
To begin with the study of Revelation we have to first understand the basic theological views of Revelation:
- Historical View:
This approach to the interpretation of Revelation really came to light in about the 1100-1200AD. Some of the proponents of this view are people such as Anselm of Havelberg (1129-1155), Rupert of Deutz (1111-1129), Joachim of Floris (1130-1201), Martin Luther (1500),[1]and so on. As you can see this approach seemed to have its roots in Catholic and Lutheran background. But this view wasn’t just from that background; there were also some of the protestant heroes of our resent history that also held to this view.
This view teaches that we can see world history, symbolically revealed to us through the book of Revelation. That each part of Revelation represents a different part of church history. So basically, Messiah through John, laid out church history from its start to the finish of the church.
Now, let me say this, if we understand prophecy, Revelation would have to have some element of historical content in it to be judged as truth, or true prophecy. Let me explain this a little more. According to the Bible, in Duet. 18:22 it says, ” When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.” In other words, when a prophet speaks, the way to tell if the prophecy is from Yahweh or not, is to see if it comes true.
- Preterist View:
Those holding to the Preterist position, see Revelation as already fulfilled. They say that this book was written prior to A.D. 70, and found its fulfillment in the destruction of the temple, and the destruction of Jerusalem. And later they say it was finalized when Rome fell. They believe that the value of this book is the same as any fulfilled prophesy.
So even though, some think that the fulfillment of Revelation had already taken place, and that this discourse is the same as we find in Mark, and Luke, careful study of the text shows that, that could not be true.
- Futurist View:
The Futurist position believes that everything after chapter three of Revelation is still to be fulfilled in the future. Basically, the revelation of Yahshua Messiah in this vision or visitation of Yahshua is in the past having been done when John saw Him in the 1st century on the Island of Patmos.
The seven congregations that John sees is both future and past, meaning that he is speaking to seven congregations that existed at the writing of this letter, and that they also represent the attitude or state the congregations will be in, in the future.
We don’t have to look very far in the congregation of today to see this is a very likely statement. We are able to see the luke warmness in the congregation, and the mixing of secular philosophy in the congregation, and even the fear of proclaiming the Gospel, in fear of not being politically correct, or hurting someone’s feelings, and actually calling them a sinner in need of salvation.
The futurist’s tend to interpret Revelation in a more literal sense, than do some of the other proponents of interpretation. Futurist believe in a literal seven year period of time called the tribulation period or Jacob’s trouble, with a brake at the end of that seven, which is the beginning of the 1,000 years reign of Messiah called the millennial period. At the end of the millennial reign of Messiah comes the Great White Throne Judgment and the eternal reign of Messiah in heaven.
- Spiritual View:
This position claims that there is no time period when this will take place, and that none of the things talked about in Revelation can be interpreted literally. This approach claims that the Book of Revelation is nothing more than principles and guidelines for all of us to follow.
We could say that this approach believes that the Book of Revelation would be similar to the parables taught by the Master when He walked the earth. They are not meant to be literal, but we should find the principles of life that Yahweh intended us to live by.
Now before we go on, I would like to say that it is very easy to say that one or all of these positions are correct or incorrect, but the truth of the matter is that all of these positions have some validity to them. Not just one position has everything all right and perfect.
I personally hold to another position, but I also see the mixture of these positions laced in like thread holding it all together. For instance, if we say that it is all just future, then how could it have spoken to all centuries since this revelation was given. And if it is all literal, then how could it speak to us spiritually?
The position I hold to is largely not discussed today. In Hebrews 8, the writer is talking about the tabernacle and the one in heaven. He says that the earthly tabernacle was a copy and a shadow of heavenly things. So could it be that all the things that happened in the Bible, with His people, are really a picture for us in the future? For instance the exodus, could that be a picture of the Tribulation period we read about in Revelation?
It seems to me if we really look at Scripture, and we see the people writing to us are using men of old as examples, it could mean we will be seeing this stuff again at some point. Scripture says that Yahweh is the same yesterday, today and forever, why would He change what He does all of a sudden?
To say that this book is just to be held to one position is to be too simplistic in our thinking, Yahweh’s thoughts are higher than ours, as He says in His Word.
This is a good place to discuss or introduce another idea. Did Yahweh replace Israel with the church, or do we become Israel? If we look at some key passages in Scripture we may find ourselves being challenged by some of the things we thought were true before, that may not be so true. These is an identity crisis that could change the way we think about things, or the way we see things.
Look at Romans 11:17-18, Paul in this passage talks about those of us that were not born Israel being grafted into, what Paul calls a cultivated olive tree and share the same roots with them. Now this is important, and it ought to make us want to understand what it means to be grafted into this so called cultivated olive tree. What is the cultivated olive tree?
Look at Jeremiah 11:16-17, we find this olive tree was a name that Yahweh gave Israel, and Yahweh says to Israel that the branches were set on fire because they had worshipped Baal by burning incense to them. If this is the case, and Scripture says it is, Israel was not replaced by the church, but those that come into faith with Yahshua Messiah instead are grafted into Israel and become part of Israel.
Look at Ephesians 2:18-22, According to this passage there was a time, before we had come into faith with Yahshua Messiah that we were foreigners and stranger’s to Israel, but now it says we have been brought near and are fellow citizens. So now having discovered our true identity, we can take a look at Scripture through a different lens and see how that the whole of Scripture applies to us.
So as we go through this book, my hope is for you to see as much as you can as to what Yahweh is saying to all of us, both for the future, and for our spiritual walk with Him as well. Having said this, let’s begin to look at this wonderful book that was given to us by Jesus Christ, through His servant John.
Chapter 1 of Revelation
If we had been living in the first century, especially at the close of the first century, having held onto the words of Jesus, which He spoke when He had ascended into heaven, saying that He would soon return, we too would be a little discouraged and need to hear from our Lord. Jesus being always faithful comes through with a word for His people, and that is what John begins to explain.
This revelation is not coming from John himself, even though he wrote in down, but from the Lord Jesus Christ, and is directed to the church, or to His bondservants, those that have become His slaves in carrying out His work until He comes. He explains this as things that that John has seen, things that are now, and things that must come to pass[2]. This is the answer that John, and most likely many others in the church had been praying about. This is a direct answer to their prayers, not just something that God wants to show them, but a direct answer, specific in nature, where all can say, God heard our prayers and has answered them.
The truth is, that sometimes we think that when we pray our prayers get stuck up in the clouds somewhere and never make it to God, He didn’t get them. But we need to look to Scripture and how He dealt with the saints in the first century, and trust in the God who never changes. During some of the darkest hours of their lives, when they were asking God about the promises He had made, when things seemed impossible to go on, He not only heard, but He answered. And that is for us, He hears and He answers us today, the same way He heard and answered them in the first century.
Just as important we can know that the message is from Him, because He lets us know. John tells us how Jesus described Himself, so we would know that it was Him and that in Him there is victory over everything. He said that He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. Everything is subject to His authority from start to finish, He hasn’t overlooked anything that is going on, it all fits into His master plan and will be used to glorify Him and build us up in Him because of His love for us.
Having said that, He lets us know that He is coming and when He does, everyone will see it, and no one will be able to mistake it, or miss it. And when He does come every authority that has ever claimed authority will be subject to Him.
One thing that needs to be pointed out is in verse 7 where Jesus speaks of those that will see Him and mourn over Him. These are those that have had the opportunity to accept Him as Lord and Savior and have refused to make Him Lord and Master of their lives, thereby becoming partakers of His crucifixion. The word the Greek uses is a more powerful term that means to wail over Him. Think about it, they will see Him take His rightful place on His throne and wail over their folly. This comes by some now knowing that it is too late for them, that they have made the wrong chose. Those that had mocked and persecuted the saints, claiming the falsehood of Christianity will then wail over their chose of death. This is something we don’t want, because we want all to be saved, but all of us who have held onto Christ will be justified before the foe.
This word to wail is not to just cry out, but is a gut wrenching wail, that only brings morns and groans because the pain is too deep to even express. We can only see this kind of wail at the loss of someone that we loved more than life itself. We see this kind of wail at the funeral of that one that we loved so much and have lost, or to understand that we are loosing that which we love more than life itself. And that is exactly what they have lost, is life itself.
This is written to all of the churches, in verse 1 it says, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John.” Notice, Bondservants is plural, meaning that this revelation is for all of those that are His bondservants. Those that are called to be His bondservants are those in the church. The church is called His servants that are bound to Him.
Verse 2 explains that John, who this revelation was given to, is faithful in reporting all that was given him. But also that John had been faithful in proclaiming all that had ever been given to him. He was a faithful preacher of the good news, or the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And even more important, John did not hold anything back from anybody, he preached to all that would listen.
The
next verse in Revelation is verse three. This verse states a
blessing on those who read, hear and do those things that are called for in
this book. Listen to it, “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the
words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the
time is near.”