UNDERSTANDING THE REVELATION: A Devoted Look at HIS RETURN

By J.S. Livesay

Breaking down each phrase and deciphering each of the symbols, types, analogies and mysteries by means of searching the rest of the Bible for the meanings, keys and insights -- "Understanding the REVELATION" brings clear and concise understanding of the most enigmatic and yet most

• Language: English
• Publisher: URLink Print & Media, LLC
• Release date: May 22, 2024
• ISBN: 9781684867172

J.S. Livesay

J.S. Livesay, born in 1959, was raised as a "child of the 60's" until, when in his early teens, God reached out and captured his heart, soul and mind. In 1981 he graduated from Portland Bible College (located in Portland, Oregon) having earned a Bachelor of Theology, with an emphasis on hermeneutics. He has continued his arduous study of the Holy Scriptures after graduating and while raising his family with his wife Marie, until this present day. He has applied his study of scripture and the wisdom it bestows to his professional life as well as to his duties as a husband and father. A focus on original languages and translations of the Canon (both Old and New Testaments) and the experience of the persistent faithfulness of God, during hard times and easy, inspired the production of this work. He resides in Tennessee with Marie, near four of their eleven children and four of their twenty-four (and counting) grandchildren.

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Understanding the Revelation

Copyright © 2024 by J.S. Livesay. All rights reserved.

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05.03.24

CONTENTS

Introduction

User’s Guide

The Outline

Understanding the REVELATION

Bibliography

Addenda

Worship in the Revelation

The Example of the Great Earthquake

Dedication

To our family – our wonderful children and their families: proof enough for me that God loves us even when we don’t deserve it.

PS - I am still working on the memoirs I promised you; in the meantime, I hope this explains to the adults you have become, what I may have been unable to express to the amazing infants, toddlers, children, teens and adults you were along the way, about how I see this world and therefore our places in it.

And to you Marie, for the faithfulness and dedication you have chosen to show all along this journey. What we have shared in this life sets a pretty high bar for our Eternity together with Him.

And to all those who have gone before who helped to make me a man who Trusts God, not because of what life brings in the way of blessings and experiences, but because of who He is, who He always will be – my thanks. See you all soon (as God measures soon)!

Introduction

The Revelation of Jesus Christ.

A unique book within a unique book.

It stands as the only prophetic book of the New Testament canon. Whereas we have confidence that the Holy Spirit inspired the rest of the New Testament canon, the Revelation declares that to be the case. From verse 10 of the first chapter until at least verse 10 of the 22nd chapter, John is in the Spirit, taking testimony of what he sees and hears – in the Spirit. It is helpful to know and remember that what John writes when not in the Spirit [Rev.1:1-9 and 22:12-21] includes John’s inspired (though personal) insights from the Revelation – the rest seems to have been written as he experienced it, in the Spirit.

It also stands as the only book to have both blessings for reading, hearing and heeding its words and dire warnings for adding to or taking away from them.

It opens with a declaration that sets the scale of its uniqueness; God unveiling truths about Jesus that, until He did, were hidden from everyone – including Jesus Himself!

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must come shortly into being and He sent and signified by His messenger to His bond-servant John, who bore witness to the Word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all that he saw. Revelation 1:1

This is a book that contains an uncovering from the Father to the Son – of the Son!

There were things (such as the timing of His return) that the Father alone knew…until they were Revealed!

From the Father to the Son to the Son’s messenger, who would send and signify to John, the bond-servant of the Lord, the events of time, that of a necessity will come into being. And John would bear witness of the Word of God, the testimony of Jesus (which, as we will see, will include the visions of His works during this Age, His return and beyond), and to all that John saw.

As for His bond-servants, those to whom John will be bearing witness:

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. Revelation 1:3

A unique book that contains a truly unique Revelation, a prophetic (meaning to tell beforehand) Revelation of Jesus Christ, that until this time only the Father knew.

For all of His bond-servants to be shown. And to understand. To understand that He is real; that though it is a story, it is not just a story – it is God’s story…and it is our story!

We receive the blessing promised when we read, hear, and watch over the words of the prophecy, the things written in the Revelation. We can ONLY heed, keep, guard and watch over the book of the words of this prophecy if we understand them.

So, why then is it presented in such a cryptic style? Especially when John himself was commanded by the messenger of Jesus to not cover it up or lock it away?

And he said to me, ‘Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.’ Revelation 22:10

Jesus Himself also reminds us:

And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book. Revelation 22:7

And:

If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. John 13:17

Why then all the types and symbols and mysteries if it was not to be sealed up?

Then there is the time issue itself. How are quickly and near to be heeded or even taken seriously, when these words, these promises, were given nearly 2,000 years ago?

Fair questions – and some of the very ones I was asking…and despite my searching, had not found answers to, at least not satisfactory answers. But then those searches were mainly outside of the book of the words of the prophecy itself.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ.

A unique book within a unique book that, on the surface, seems to raise two or three questions for every one answer it gives.

It is the last canonized book written. And therefore, must address the culmination of all prophecies, all words of the Lord still left unfulfilled; all of the types, and promises, and mysteries. Those things in His word unfulfilled: Their completions must be and (I will attest) are found in the Revelation.

The wonders of Redemption and the reasons for it, the mysteries of iniquity and of the bride, and of the New Creation; whatever has been left hidden must be revealed in this final book or remain a mystery until we see Him.

The Eternal Gospel, preached to our dying world from Jesus Himself, from His place in the Paradise of God; simple, stark, poignant.

And Words spoken by the Father from Eternity to those who have yet to accept His offer of Life and Blessing: Behold, I am making All Things New…

And what of the Beginnings – His Image and Likeness and Covenants and seeing Him unveiled and Ruling and Subduing and sin and curses and serpents and hiding from the face of God? These too must (and I believe do) find their Endings in the words of the prophecy of this book.

Then I thought: Must not this unique book, with all it contains, also pose a unique threat to the enemies of God and of God’s people? One that would motivate those enemies to keep it hidden and wrap it in confusion and conflict? And would that help explain the vast array of doctrines and theories and even fantasies connected to the Revelation? Would not even that be explained in the Revelation?

History indicates that this unique book was scribed by John some 25 years after his gospel and epistles – and was the last of the canon to be written. It draws from and harmonizes with the rest of scripture as no other of the books can.

In his book Interpreting Revelation, Merill C. Tenny graphs 348 quotations, references, or allusions from the Old Testament found in the one unique book – from 24 of the 39 Old Testament books.

Irving L. Jensen, in his book Revelation notes that of the 404 verses of this unique book, 278 include a reference or allusion to the Old Testament.

Keven J Conner’s book Interpreting the Book of Revelation charts (on pages 36-41) seed thoughts from the Old Testament that are found in the Revelation, with at least one from each of the 39 Old Testament books. He does the same for the other 26 New Testament books on pages 42-45.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, a unique book within a unique book – AND a book that, more than any other, draws from the rest of Scripture.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must come shortly into being…

But what of the cryptic language, the cyphers and riddles and symbols?

If this is to remain unsealed, then why is it not given in simple terms?

If God wants us to know and keep these words, why not just spell it out in plain English (or common Greek)?

The Bible is a book that God knew would be translated into many tongues (I am told there are over 700); a book that would source from multiple cultures and eras. The cyphers and types and riddles and symbols were drawn from the cultures and histories of the past AND yet had to be applicable to the cultures and histories of the future – if they were to be understood.

To enable that: Most, if not all symbols, cyphers, mysteries and types in the Revelation (actually in the entirety of the Bible) are, if studied, found to be interpreted within the whole of the Book. This is done either by highlighting the common characteristics via parallelism or drawing direct comparisons between the actual and the symbol being used.

Why is this important? The consistency that comes with a translation of the entire Bible into any given language ensures the ability for the reader and hearer of that language to understand any given symbol that has also been described and defined in that language – a truly remarkable and gracious gift from our God.

And so, within the Revelation are doors with locks and books with seals; locks and seals whose keys and discoveries can be found throughout His word and within the Revelation itself!

It begins with the things seen by John – the Man in the midst of the Lampstands – whose very visage provides discoveries and keys for the rest of the Revelation…especially for…the things that are – the next part of his charge.

(It is important to hold fast, in the front of our minds, the truth that all that John sees is real: Jesus, and the Father, and the Spirit, and Heaven, and the messengers, and the elders, and the redeemed, and the enemies of God. These are not visions of things that might be – these are the sightings of the things that are – or at the most surreal level – those things that must come into being within the confines of time.)

The Man in the Midst, in the things that are, speaks of the deeds and disciplining and commendations and corrections of His people. To those of the assemblies of the called out in seven cities of Asia Minor, near the end of the first century after His coming…the first time. The assemblies who somehow foreshadow all of His people through all of the years of this Age: He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to ALL those called out of darkness. And the promises to those who, if they do hear, will overcome. Overcome the debt of sins and the curses and the deaths they bring – but not on their own, with His help, with His Redemptive Sacrifice.

And from the things that are can be found keys, discoveries and insights that unlock, unseal, and uncover the complexities of all the things that must come into being after. The history of the end of time told to us before it will be seen in time – but history nonetheless, for God sees the Eternal Now; He is Everywhere, Always, At Once.

He makes promises of life without pain, mourning, tears, or toil. No curses, no sickness, no death, no sin.

Because: The Lion of the tribe of Judah is the Lamb who was Slain and He Who is Worthy to open the seals and to look into the book; and exercise the Rights as our Near Kinsman, our Redeemer.

One thing God knows about us, better than we know ourselves: we will not, absolutely will not, value something that costs us nothing. He knows it because He put that in us. Being in His Image and Likeness requires us to appreciate, to consider worth valuing – as being value-able – those things that cost us; and its complement.

God values Man equal to the cost He paid for us – His very life! Him becoming Man and then becoming our sins and dying a sinner’s death as a Guiltless and Innocent Man. That is how much we are worth to Him!

The question we all face: How much is He worth to me?

For it is the glory of God to conceal a matter. But the glory of kings is to search out a matter. Proverbs 25:2

In the main text, that follows the remainder of the Introduction material, are my efforts to use the keys He has given to patiently gain understanding of the words of the prophecy of this book.

In the User’s Guide I provide a schematic of the layout – how I approach each phrase in each verse, the outline of the Revelation as defined by the key topics and their timelines, and the principles I use to guide understanding.

After the main body of the text, I have included some additional samples and examples based on topics and events (so outside of the natural flow of the timelines within the Revelation itself) with the hope of providing a template or two for your future use and edification.

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.

User’s Guide

The Purpose:

Or, for starters, what is not The Purpose. The intent of this book was never to support or even uncover doctrine; and so, no discussion of the typical end-time doctrines that may or may not be aligned with the understanding of a phrase, verse, or topic is found (though they may be inferred) within this text.

That is not to say, that I hold no specific positions on topics of the end times.

Nor that this project didn’t disrupt a number of those positions previously held.

It was just not my aim or purpose or primary (even secondary) goal to lay claim to proofs or discoveries.

My intent was, as the title suggests, to support the effort to gain understanding of what was written and what was meant by what was written. (Proverbs 2:2-6) Selfishly, first for myself and my family – but then, anyone else that found value in it. The value I have found is contained in the understanding that I, that we all, matter to God so much, that He made a way for us to spend eternity with Him while still being His creation, those in His Image and Likeness. Knowing that has turned the truth of Romans 12:1-2 from a burning ember to a flame of fire in my soul.

I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, your logical service of worship. And do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and complete. NASB

Not because it will make me acceptable to Him; but because He Himself has done so already!

I believe the Revelation, and the understanding of it, is not merely a wild ride through symbols and types and mysteries (though it is that too), but a key – even a primary key – to better understanding the Lord our God and His ways and paths. It is His final letter to His beloved people filled with the Words He knew we would need.

The Premise:

I believe that a disciplined, logical approach to the Revelation, that patiently, almost forensically – and without prejudice – uses the keys within the whole of Scripture; can untangle the knots, unravel the mysteries, and uncover the meanings intended by the Father when He gave it to Jesus to give to us.

I also need to assert that it is demonstrably more important to God than to any one of us that the words of the book of this prophecy be read, heard, and watched over – and for that reason we can trust the Holy Spirit to shine the light on the words He originally inspired.

Also, nothing in my words or in my efforts and their conclusions should be inferred as an attempt to declare THE INTERPRETATION or to discredit others’ works, conclusions, or understandings of the Revelation. Though I have attempted to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, in my humanity I can be sure that I failed more than once in my efforts (but I will leave it to you to find those failings).

Lastly, I expect you to disagree with me, in fact I hope that you do – at times. At the least that means you are engaged in the art of understanding and that you are asking His Spirit to guide you into Truth.

The Principles:

As mentioned: to rightly divide the Word, principles must be defined and utilized with consistency. The 404 verses of the Revelation can, and should, be seen simultaneously as independent from, as well as interconnected with, each other.

The principles I used are as follows:

1) The structure of the books of the Bible is aided by the insertion of chapters and verses (which was primarily the result of the processes of duplication and translation). Under most circumstance these insertions are utilized in this work; on rare occasions, verses may be combined or parsed for reasons of clarity and understanding.

2) Most verses or phrases, with few exceptions, can be understood:

as written

as written, with clarifications

as an analogy or figure of speech

as including symbolism

as a mystery – an inexplicable statement or event

3) The methodology is to always attempt to apply a literal understanding first – and only when a literal reading fails to clarify the word, phrase, verse or context should we consider the possibility of symbolism or a figure of speech/analogy or even a mystery; starting at the top of the list and moving down if to not do so would result in a non-sensical or non-understandable conclusion.

4) There is no requirement that we must be provided the how of God’s works – so how is excluded from the determination of sensibility. But since it is His will for us to understand, I am confident that we will be given what we need to pursue and attain understanding.

5) Since John was writing as he witnessed events, I will honor that means of revelation. Therefore, understanding a subject or event may be progressive as determined by new visions or disclosures in later verses. (This is not suggesting however that what John witnesses is sequential within the confines of the timeline of history. In other words: events described in our chapter 6 may actually – in the confines of time – occur after events described in chapter 8 or 12 or 17.)

6) A figure of speech or analogy is used to enhance understanding of what was witnessed.

7) Symbolism is witnessing; with or without the symbol being directly noted. This is especially true when dealing with visions of heaven and the abyss (the spiritual realms).

8) The Bible interprets the symbols in itself the vast majority of the time by focusing on the common characteristics between the symbol and that to which it points. On occasion, God Himself provides the interpretation of a symbol.

A symbol is a depiction of a person, place, thing, idea/concept, or action. The word symbol comes from the Greek practice of using a token, split in half, as a means of the identification of someone sent by a mutually known third party. It is a thing that stands for or suggests something else.

In the Bible, a book that God knew would be translated into many languages and that would originate from multiple cultures and eras, symbols are used to help bridge those gaps of culture and history. Most, if not all symbols in the Bible are, if studied, found to be interpreted within the whole of the book. This is done either by highlighting the common characteristics via parallelism or drawing direct comparisons between the actual and the symbol being used. In other words, the consistency in the translation into any given language, ensured the ability to understand a symbol also described and defined in that language – a truly gracious gift from our God.

Care should be taken to allow a symbol’s meaning to be proven independent of one’s biases and perceptions. It is helpful to review as many passages as possible where a symbol is used in the effort to identify its meaning, allowing the weight of the characteristics described to provide emphasis and clarity; especially if the Lord does not provide a direct definition.

In our review of the Revelation, our goal is to facilitate understanding. As it relates to symbols, when necessary, the bridge between the actual and the symbol will be provided. For repetitious use or seemingly obvious symbols, the actual may be noted without further proofs being provided. The bibliography will include resources for expanded studies for those who are interested.

The Process:

Though it is possible to use this as a reference tool, it was written as more of a devotional aid. So, even though a person could find value in going directly to a particular chapter or verse within the Revelation, this work was intended to highlight the progressive revelation that John (and those who read and heard) experienced from start to finish. May I also suggest you have your favorite Bible with you so that you can read the verses and chapters without the commentary if you so choose.

I believe either approach (as a reference or devotional aid) will make more sense if the layout of the approach I use (with a sample) is provided in detail here and in an abbreviated format at the start of each chapter.

⇒ Each verse is broken down into phrases, sometimes a phrase can consist of the entire verse – typically however, that will not be the case.

VERSE 5 Phrases

There was given him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him.

⇒ The simplified form of the phrase will be identified – this will disclose which of the principles will be needed in order to affirm understanding of the phrase within the verse and the context.

(as written, with clarification)

⇒ After identifying the form of the phrase, any notes, comments, clarifications, and definitions are provided.

• given him a mouth may be a figure of speech or a literal statement – the language is straight-forward, so nothing stands out, but it is an odd turn of a phrase in our reading.

⇒ There are, within the text, topics of sufficient importance or of historical confusion that additional supporting materials have been provided; always with the intent of honoring the premise and principles above.

[One of the most controversial topics of this most controversial of chapters in what is most likely the most controversial book of the Canon, is the identification of the woman.

As we established at the beginning of our search for understanding for this chapter, patience would be needed.]

⇒ I have also taken the liberty (and yes, I understand it to be just that) to include summations of topics, passages or chapters as if John had provided them as an aside. The purpose of these inclusions is two-fold: to remind myself (and incidentally the reader) that John was both witnessing and experiencing these remarkable marvels of the Revelation; and to provide a summation, mostly without symbols.

I turned, only to see a man in the middle of seven lampstands – like the ones that were once in the temple in Jerusalem. He was a man, but not like any man I had seen before…and yet somehow familiar at the same time. He was dressed like a priest with a long garment down to His feet…I know because His brightness was such that I needed to turn my eyes downward to avoid His light. His feet were actually the first things before my eyes for that very reason.

⇒ Last – I am not a professional writer – I am a husband and a father and a grandfather and a retired businessman who believes the word of God is true – that He wants Good for us more than we want it for ourselves. In the text you will find bits of me, occasional moments of personal reflection and, maybe, humor. I hope they do not distract from His Word but serve as reminders of the fact that we are together on this journey for understanding.

The Outline

Sequential Timeline:

A diagram of the bible Description automatically generated

Understanding the REVELATION

SECTION 1

THE THINGS WHICH ARE SEEN

The beginning of John’s commission to Write.

The remarkable life that John, (the sent one, the elder, and one of the sons of thunder) had already lived; the things that he had already seen – things that would set him apart for Eternity – are about to pale in comparison.

On this Lord’s day, the things he will see and hear and even do… and then what he is told he should do about it, can only be described as utterly unique, miraculous, and literally world-changing!

In a room, on a small island with maybe 2 or 3 others, not because he wanted to be there, but because (even in his old age, even after all of the afflictions) he still refused to stop declaring the Truth about Jesus. And on this particular Sunday morning, during his time of celebration and devotion…his world (and ours) changed – for forever. He suddenly found himself in a chain of communication that started with God Almighty and would run through to the very last of those called out of darkness and into Eternity with Him! He is recruited by God to actively participate in the Revelation of Jesus Christ – not only to those of his day but to all of His bond-servants throughout and to the end of the age!

Chapter One

Process review: The complete, detailed user’s guide is provided with the Introduction materials.

VERSE under review

Verse Phrase (Rockwell Italic font indicates words spoken by Jesus)

Type of phrase form, indicating principles used to understand the phrase.

Comments and insights regarding the phrase

All Bible References are sourced from the (NASB1995), unless otherwise noted.

VERSE 1 Phrases

The Revelation of Jesus Christ,

(as written, with clarification)

The word translated revelation means to uncover, unveil or make known.

There is something about Jesus that must be uncovered is what is meant by this first phrase (as opposed to something that Jesus Himself is revealing or uncovering).

The fact that there is a veiling goes back to Man’s disobedience (the exercise of free-will used to choose to do wrong). Though the veiling we will see here seems less significant at first look, it is one and the same as regards its purpose. There, the veiling was the mercy of God covering over the full splendor of Himself and of Truth that would destroy us if unveiled. (Then, before the fall, and again, after His return and the final day of the Redemptive Week, the veil will be completely removed. Until then no man can see Him unveiled and live.) Here, the splendor that was covered is only less obvious to us.

which God gave Him

(as written, with clarification)

Him – occasionally multiple persons in a sentence can confuse to whom a pronoun is pointing – in this case it is to Jesus Christ.

There is an interesting dynamic here in that God the Father gave to God the Son something about Himself (the Son) that was veiled or unknown. Jesus truly had become man.

The fact that there existed a veil regarding Jesus is made evident by Jesus Himself when he tells His disciples (Matt.24:36) that no one knows including the Son of Man, the day or hour of His return.

to show to His bond-servants,

(as written, with clarification)

to show – is translated from a word that means to put on display, to exemplify, or to demonstrate.

bond-servant – is a term that more accurately would be translated slave but because there is a nuance that implies a willingness to serve; a servant bound to his master (a bond-servant) is accurate. Here it is referring to all who call Him Lord.

the things which must soon come into being (take place);

(as written, with clarification)

things – it may seem to be an excessive level of explanation, but the things or these things can become confusing down the road (like other pronouns) and will be defined as needed to make sure that understanding can be attained. Here it is referring to events that have not occurred on the timeline of history, but that will.

must – comes from a word that could be translated of a necessity – meaning it is not optional. I have separated it from soon in an attempt to emphasize that aspect.

soon – comes from a word that means quick, swift and can lead to some conclusions that shouldn’t be reached. More perspective will be provided when appropriate. In this phrase and context, it can be accepted as is.

come into being – is actually how the translation should read. The word here is a very creation-like word, (transliterated as ginomai,it is the Greek equivalent of the word from which the Name of God is derived in the Hebrew). I will insert this translation whenever the word is used; the standard translation is take place.

and He sent and communicated by His messenger

(as written, with clarification)

sent – comes from the same word from which the transliteration apostle is derived and means to send.

communicated – would be better read as signified; it comes from a word that means to give a sign.

by His messenger – I have made the choice to translate the word typically shown as angel by its actual meaning.

By way of explanation: the word in the Greek transliterates to aggelos – in early translations it was thought that it should transliterate as angelos and was therefore converted to the title angel. The concept was then inserted into the Old Testament where the Hebrew word for messenger was also replaced with angel. This led to situations when messengers (those performing a task), who were clearly human or divine, being perceived as created spirit-beings – whether upright or fallen.

I admit that the use of messenger may (will) result in the same contextual dilemma as regards which class of messenger we are witnessing, but the decision to remove the mental pictures too typically associated with the common transliteration and the fact that we are simply choosing to translate the word from Greek, overrode any hesitancy on my part.

In this case the specific class of messenger (human, Divine, fallen, or upright) is not yet known and remains unconfirmed until the last chapters of the Revelation.

to His bond-servant John,

(as written)

In the Chain of Communication John is the fourth link. The first is God the Father, then Jesus Himself, the unidentified messenger is third, and John.

The bond-servants noted earlier included John as well.

VERSE 2 Phrases

who testified to the word of God

(as written, with clarification)

The who here is John.

testified – means to bear witness.

In fact, John is commissioned, as we will see, to act – for all intents and purposes – as a court reporter, at times taking his own deposition. As a witness, he must be able to meet the standard of reliability; he must have seen, and/or heard, and/or come to know by other first-hand means and he must have integrity.

to the word of God – throughout the remainder of the book John provides witness to the validity of God’s spoken word.

and to the testimony of Jesus Christ,

(as written)

John also acts as a corroborating witness when it comes to the words and actions of Jesus. These include His works during His first coming (John’s Gospel account) as well as what is revealed through the Revelation.

to all that he saw.

(as written, with clarification)

The he is John, who will see things that were not directly classified under the two statements above, but because he was a witness of them, he will testify to them.

What John sees, all that he witnesses, is real – even the symbols, which, though used to point to something else, that something is just that: REAL!

I bring this up because one common fallacy in attempting to keep the words of the prophecy of this book is to drift into allegory, even fantasy. This revelation is a roadmap given to us by God the Father in order for us, His bond-servants, to understand Who He is and what He is bringing to His creation; the legend of the symbols of this map is made clear.

VERSE 3 Phrases

Blessed is he who reads

(as written, with clarification)

Blessed – happy. This is the first of seven blessings within the Revelation.

John is preparing a scroll/book to be delivered to others – primarily to groups or assemblies of Christians. Along with the fact that only one scroll/book would be available in any one location, is the reality that in many cases in that day and that region, only a small percentage of people could read, especially something as detailed and complex as this was going to be. In those assemblies, it was typical for there to be one or more assigned readers.

This practice may have also been assumed from the tradition in the synagogues (the gathering places) of the Jewish culture – which may also foreshadow the early signs of a developing clergy/laity divide.

Believers today are also readers since the Revelation was for all of His bond-servants.

and those who hear the words of the prophecy,

(as written, with clarification)

those who hear – would be those in the gathering together that are not reading, but listening to what is being read.

prophecy – this is another of those words that is more of a transliteration from a Greek word than an actual translation. The root of the word is a compound that would be translated to declare or tell before (in time or place). So, it can mean to speak before a group of people on a topic. Or to declare a thing as being true before – in time – it actually occurs. It is the second of these meanings that align with what John will be witnessing and scribing.

Believers today are also hearers since the Revelation was for all of His bond-servants.

and keep the things which are written in it;

(as written, with clarification)

keep – comes from a word that means to guard or watch over and is not to be construed as a command, but an action associated with the value placed in what is being guarded: so, to keep your eye on versus to keep a law.

This also completes the Chain of Communication we saw above. The first link is God the Father, then Jesus Himself, the unidentified messenger is third, followed by John, the readers, the hearers and the keepers – a total of seven links. (By some counts there are as many as 57 different 7’s in the Revelation!)

(An eighth link may be inferred when the Father tells John to make sure those who are thirsty also hear the message – but that comes much later.)

Believers today are also keepers since the Revelation was for all of His bond-servants.

for the time is near.

(as written)

As I mentioned before – implications of time and the amount of it to pass before something occurs can evoke an emotional response. I will provide more detail…soon.

VERSE 4 Phrases

John to the seven assemblies of the called out

(as written, with clarification)

assemblies of the called out – Another example of words that are not actually translated is the word church; an English word that can be sourced back (via Germanic etymology) to the Greek word kuriakos meaning of the Lord. It, kuriakos, is also where the Scottish word kirk comes from – which, of course, is their word for the building in which the gathering of Christians occurs, as well as the gathering itself. That is all well, until we look at how, in our Bibles, we get to the English word church. Because if it actually was from the Greek kuriakos and was translated of the Lord or Lord’s (as it is in the Bible when that Greek word is used in 1Cor.11:20) all would be good. However, the word behind church is ekklesia which is a compound word meaning those called out or called out ones.

The concept of being called out inferred a purpose, a gathering together with a specific intent and was used in Acts 19 (see verses 23-41) to describe the spontaneous gathering of the Ephesians in the theatre after Paul’s messages had disrupted the status quo of idolatry. (In that same passage the term assembly is used as a translation for ekklesia and for demos – which reinforces the Greek notion that it was the gathering of a group of people for a particular purpose; an assembling of common people for a common cause.) Peter’s understanding of the two aspects is reinforced by how he describes us (disciples of Christ) in 1Peter 2:4-10 – we are those called out of darkness but not left there; we have been called into His marvelous light – as a Chosen Race, a Holy Nation, a People for His Own Possession. It is reminiscent of how the people of Israel were called out of Egypt and into the Promised Land of covenantal relationship with Almighty God.

In the critical and often quoted passage from Matthew 16, Peter declares that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus let’s Peter and the disciples know that this revelation came from God, not man, and then says that it is upon this revelation that He will build my church or so the translations say. Considering the Greek, this would be better read: He will build a house for those called out. It is the House that He is Building – we are the material and we are its residents. The key to both readings: it is He that will be doing the building. And, that it will be based on the realization that He is the Anointed One and the Son of the living God (so, equal to God Himself – a truth that shook the Jews).

Why does it matter?

I believe there is a reason that the gathering of the early Christians was referred to as the assembling of those called out, and that when trying to understand the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which John is commissioned to share with the seven churches in Asia, we should use the actual term from the time, not a term that developed over the following centuries and for which there is no logical etymology that leads us to our English word church. I believe the gathering of the holy ones of God, in whatever number can fit in the room available, is the will of God. Here we will simply refer to them with a name that is closer to what they were called in John’s day (if they had spoken English of course).

One last point – who we are in Christ is the called out; what we do as the called out is assemble or gather together in the house He is building to share what God has given each of us (1Cor.12:1-26; 14:26-33).

in Asia:

(as written, with clarification)

Asia or Asia Minor is where Turkey is today. In fact, a few of the cities John will write to are still in existence.

Grace to you and peace

(as written, with clarification)

Grace – can be thought of as kindness;

peace – includes the implication of welfare – similar to shalom.

from Him who is and who was and who is to come

(as written)

This is a form of a traditional title of God Almighty, our Father in heaven. The order is often seen in the chronological order who was, and who is, and who is to come.

In the Greek this is less clear or substantial than in the Hebrew, such that it can almost be considered a figure of speech.

and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,

(includes symbolism)*

[*With this being our first experience in the Revelation of the use of symbolism, I believe it would make sense for us to review the rules we addressed in the Introduction.

1) The structure of the books of the Bible is aided by the insertion of chapters and verses (which was primarily the result of the processes of duplication and translation). Under most circumstance these insertions are utilized in this work; on rare occasions, verses may be combined or parsed for reasons of clarity and understanding.

2) Most verses or phrases, with few exceptions, can be understood:

as written

as written, with clarifications

as an analogy or figure of speech

as including symbolism

as a mystery – an inexplicable statement or event

3) The methodology is to always attempt to apply a literal understanding first – and only when a literal reading fails to clarify the word, phrase, verse or context should we consider the possibility of symbolism or a figure of speech/analogy or even a mystery; starting at the top of the list and moving down if to not do so would result in a non-sensical or non-understandable conclusion.

4) There is no requirement that we must be provided the how of God’s works – so how is excluded from the determination of sensibility. But since we know it is His will for us to understand, we are confident that we will be given what we need to pursue and attain understanding.

5) Since John was writing as he witnessed events, we will honor that means of revelation. Therefore, understanding a subject or event may be progressive as determined by new visions or disclosures in later verses. (This is not suggesting however that what he witnesses is sequential within the confines of the timeline of history. In other words: events described in chapter 6 may actually – in the confines of time – occur after events described in chapter 8 or 12 or 17.)

6) A figure of speech or analogy is used to enhance understanding of what was witnessed.

7) Symbolism is witnessing; with or without the symbol being directly noted. This is especially true when dealing with visions of heaven and the abyss (the spiritual realms).

8) The Bible interprets the symbols in itself the vast majority of the time by focusing on the common characteristics between the symbol and that to which it points. On occasion, God Himself provides the interpretation of a symbol.

A symbol is a depiction of a person, place, thing, idea/concept, or action. The word symbol comes from the Greek practice of using a token, split in half, as a means of the identification of someone sent by a mutually known third party. It is a thing that stands for or suggests something else.

In the Bible, a book that God knew would be translated into many languages and that would originate from multiple cultures and eras, symbols are used to help bridge those gaps of culture and history. Most, if not all symbols in the Bible are, if studied, found to be interpreted within the whole of the book. This is done either by highlighting the common characteristics via parallelism or drawing direct comparisons between the actual and the symbol being used. In other words, the consistency in the translation into