ProphecyStudyDon Koenig: The Revelation (CHAPTER ONE)

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The Revelation 

of Jesus Christ Through the Ages

 

A Complete Literal Common Sense Interpretation of the Prophecies - Contains Expanded Commentary on Babylon and Other Mysteries

Revelation chapter 1 commentary

by Don Koenig

 

The first Chapter of Revelation is so profound it supports many of the foundational truths of Christian theology in just the first ten verses.

 

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:

God (the Father) gives the revelation to Jesus Christ.  If God and Jesus are the same person as those in Oneness theology claim, this passage would not make sense. He would be giving a revelation to Himself! The purpose of this revelation is to show His servants things that must soon come to pass. Some make a big deal out of the word translated as "signified" and say it proves the book is a book of signs and symbols. Actually, the Greek word in context in today's English means to make known or to indicate. Thus, Jesus sent the angel to John to point out or make known the things that must come shortly come to pass.

Jesus sent the Revelation by His angel to John. The apostle John was one of the twelve of the inner circle with Jesus that He chose to witness His ministry on the earth. John was the only apostle that was still living when John wrote this book and sent it to the churches.

The Son of God in His humility and obedience to living the life of a human being, limited Himself to His human brain and what the Father revealed to Him. Jesus did not know all things while on earth in the flesh. Jesus spent much time in prayer talking with the Father for that reason. When God's Son entered the world as an embryo, He did not take all wisdom and knowledge with Him. The scriptures say Jesus increased in wisdom and learned obedience (Luk 2:52, Heb 5:8).

The Son of God came as a man with bloodlines that descended from Adam. Unlike the first Adam, Jesus obeyed God even to death on the cross. In His death, He even gained more authority. By Jesus taking our sin and dying for us and going to Hades, He took power and authority over the underworld where all imprisoned by sin and death and separated from God since the fall of Adam were confined (1 Pe 3:19).

To help you understand all this I will further explain:

Jesus, the creator of the universe, became cursed on the cross for us (cursed is anyone who hangs on a tree - Gal 3:13). He died as a sinner so He could go to the place where all souls were imprisoned by sin and death. He proclaimed the good news of liberty to those who had ears to hear and by faith believed. Death and creation simply could not hold the Creator of the universe. The Creator simply created a new spiritual creation where death and all the satanic angelic powers over the fallen universe have no authority. He proved He had this power by rising from the dead and beginning a new spiritual creation called the Body of Christ. Jesus is now redeeming the souls given to Him by the Father out of the old creation into this new spiritual creation. The way that is ordained to redeem those bound in darkness and under bondage to the corrupted spiritual hierarchy of the fallen angels is through the law of faith (Rom 3:27).

After Jesus completes this assignment of redemption, He must then come again in power with all His saints. These are the replacements for the fallen rulers of this world. The saints will rule and reign on earth with Jesus until all the enemies of God are defeated and the world is handed over to the Father in the state it was in before the fall of man. This is the prime reason for the thousand-year reign on earth.

 

1Co 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

 

Finally, the corrupted powers of darkness and the wicked forces in high places (Eph 6:12) that were ruling over the old creation will be judged and cast into the Lake of Fire and the universe corrupted by the fall of Satan and his angels will be restored.

 

After Jesus conquered sin and death by rising from the dead to a new creation this revelation, was given to Jesus by the Father about things that must shortly come to pass. Most likely at this Revelation from the Father, Jesus is no longer limited by flesh and becomes omniscient (all knowing) as He was before He in obedience to the Father, submitted Himself to the limitations of a body of flesh.

We can look around and see that all power and authority has not yet been put down, so the execution of this authority did not happen when Jesus ascended to sit at the right hand of His Father two thousand years ago, as most in Christianity claim. Having the power and authority to put down all power and authority does not come about until the one with the power and authority actually executes it. This is a great responsibility, because if Jesus uses His authority to destroy the works of the Devil before He saves all the Father has given Him out of the corrupted creation some will be lost. This is the mystery for the delay in Jesus having the authority but waiting on the Father s timing to execute this authority. Most of this book is about all the events that will happen until Jesus puts down all rule, power and authority in the old creation and all things are made new.

 

The first scripture verse in Revelation states that the purpose of this book is to show his servants what must shortly come to pass. Those who say this book is not about real future events have not even understood the first verse of this book. If the book is to show His servants future events, then it is relevant to the servants and cannot be about a mystical war between good and evil (amillennial idealist theology on Revelation).

 

2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

John bore record of the word of God and the ministry of Jesus Christ and this is why he was in exile. John saw Jesus after He rose from the dead, handled Him and saw Him ascend to heaven. All the things that Jesus received in the revelation were given to John. This is what John had to say about Jesus (the Word of God) in his gospel about Jesus:

 

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

 2 The same was in the beginning with God.

 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John

 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

 

 

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.

It says the person who reads, hears and keeps the things written in the book will be happy or blessed. Some say this promises a special blessing for those who read the book. I think it is more likely to mean, blessed are those who read the statements and follow the instructions or blessed are those who hold on to the truths within the book because they will nourish their soul. Contrary to what some think, just reading the words in the book gives no special grace. Rev 22:7 says, blessed are those that keep the sayings of this book.  If we read and tell people about the message to the churches and the end plan for His faithful servants (chapter 21 and 22 of this book), it will give them and us inner joy.

This verse also says the time is at hand or is imminent. The time certainly was at hand during the life of John because what was told to him started with the work of the Holy Spirit in His Church. The letters to the seven churches in Revelation actually begin where the book of Acts leaves off. The seven letters to the churches in Revelation could have the subtitle Acts II - The Works of the Assemblies Identified With My Name Until I Come.

 

4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

The book was written to seven churches in Asia. There were many more churches than these seven in the world and in Asia. The churches picked were not even the most prominent churches of John's time. These seven churches were picked because they had specific traits that Jesus wanted to address. Those seven churches represent the seven types of assemblies and the individuals within them that identify with Christianity throughout the entire new covenant Church age on earth. This age is from Pentecost until the marriage in heaven.

John announces grace to the Church and peace from Him which is, which was and which is to come. This person giving the greeting is not Jesus because Jesus is seen separately in the next verse. It can only be Father God.

There are seven Spirits before his throne. The names of the seven aspects of the Holy Spirit are given in the book of Isaiah.

Isa 11:2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;

 

5 And from 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,

Notice it says and from Jesus Christ; John sees Jesus as a distinct person from the one on the throne that just gave the greeting with a seven-fold Spirit before Him. The doctrine of the trinity is supported here and in other places in this book as it also is throughout scripture. The Father, the seven-fold Holy Spirit and the Son of God are identified in verse 4 and 5 of this first chapter of Revelation.

Jesus is the faithful witness and the first begotten of the dead. He also is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Verse five also gives us the doctrine of salvation. We must accept the sacrifice that Jesus fulfilled and have our sins washed away by his blood.

The verse also says that He saved us because He loved us and this implies that He loved us while we were still sinners.

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 

Under the law given to Israel it took a spotless lamb to atone for the sins of the nation once each year. This was looking forward to the spotless Lamb of God (Jesus) that would be our sacrifice once for all time. All are clean who accept this free sacrifice given by God for our sins. The fifth verse in Revelation disproves any theology that claims a limited atonement for sin. If the blood of the Lamb of God has cleansed us, then we are clean.

Heb 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God;

 

6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

John is talking about himself and all other believers. He says that Jesus has already made us kings and priests unto God by washing us in His blood. This is the destiny of the faithful Church. He does not say to become kings and priests we first must do all the requirements our denomination lays on us. John does not say we will become kings and priests if we live holy lives or persevere until we die. John says we are kings and priests because we were washed in His blood. In the tense John wrote this, all believers already have been born into a nation of kings and priests who will rule and reign with Christ.

The word dominion in this verse is not a good translation choice of words. Better choices from the Greek are "power" or "strength". The end of this verse should read, to Him be glory and power forever .

 

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.

 

When Jesus comes, He will come with the clouds of heaven. From the earth, they will look like clouds but perhaps they are what angels use for transport. When Jesus left, He was taken up into a cloud. A cloud by day that looked like a pillar of fire at night led Israel in the wilderness for forty years. The scripture says this cloud was an angel. There are scriptures that say the Lord descended in a cloud and rideth upon a swift cloud. Most say the clouds are the saints who come with Him riding on white horses (Rev 19:14). Whatever the makeup of these clouds, when Jesus comes with these clouds the Lords appearance will be glorious. When Jesus comes with clouds, everyone on earth will see Him including those that pierced Him. Those that pierced Him are dead, so it is certain that even the dead in Hades will see the second coming. The incorrect doctrine of soul sleep is disputed by this verse. God will have no problem converting the visual of the second coming to the eye of the soul so all will see Him. Actually, this verse is fulfilling what Jesus said:

 

Mat 26:64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

 

This verse also indicates that Jesus will have physical form at His coming. He will not come as a mystical spirit to indwell the people or a person. The Holy Spirit indwells people but Jesus will come back physically and every eye will see Him.

 

At His coming, all tribes of the earth will be in fear and trembling.

Rev 6:16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

 

8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

In verse four, the one which is, which was and which is to come was the Father but in verse eight in the context of verses 5 through 8 it applies to Jesus. This is verified in verses 11-18 where we see the person speaking is clearly Jesus. This verse also implies that the Son of God always exists in the three names by which we know or will know Him. The name, which was, is the pre-incarnate Son of God known as YHWH or Jehovah (literally I am who I am ). The name, which is , has to be the Son of God incarnated, the Savior who entered the world and died for our sins. His name is Jeshua (Jesus - or literally, Jehovah is salvation ). The name of the Son of God, which is to come, has a name no man yet knows when He returns in glory as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. It is the name we will know Him by for eternity.

Rev 19:12  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

 

Verse 8 along with 11-18 and many others indicates that Jesus is also Almighty God. Jesus is the only express or exact image of the Father. This is why God will not endure any other image but Jesus to represent Himself.

Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Isa 9:6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

 

 

9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

John tells us where he was located and says those he is writing to are brothers in the kingdom. That includes all believers. John was exiled to an island called Patmos. Some think they tried to kill John and could not, so they exiled him to this island. There are a few hints of this in ancient writings. Certainly, God would not have allowed John to die before this book was written. John says he was imprisoned there for teaching the scriptures and giving the testimony about Jesus Christ. He was not the only one in tribulation during that period. All the apostles had been killed at this point and the Jews were actively persecuting the Church. In this verse, John talks about the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ. Jesus has been very patient for almost two-thousand years so that the bride given to Him by the Father would be complete.

 

10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet.

After giving us the purpose of the book and the greetings, John tells us that he was in the Spirit on the Lord's day.  It might refer to Sunday but it could have deeper implications about being taken forward in time to the Day of the Lord. John hears behind him a great voice that sounded like a trumpet but before we go on to read what John saw and heard let us review the truths revealed in just the first 10 verses of Revelation chapter one.

 

Some of the fundamental Christian truths found in just the first 10 verses of Revelation

·       Verse one tells us that the idealist amillennial theological view on revelation is incorrect and that the book is a prophecy about future events.

·       Verse one also tells us that Jesus was given this Revelation by the Father, He thus was not all knowing as a man of flesh because He limited Himself to His brain of flesh and what the Father told Him. Therefore, Jesus and Father God could not be the same person.

·       Verse two says John bore record of the Word of God and John in his gospel tells us the Word he bore record of was God and this God dwelt among us in the body of Jesus.

·       Verse three teaches that the prophecy in Revelation is ongoing in the Church.

·       Verse four says that God always exists.

·       Verse four also tells us that God's Holy Spirit has seven characteristics.

·       Verse four and five make it clear that God is a triune being consisting of three divine persons, the Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit (seen through His seven characteristics).

·       Verse five tells us that Jesus is a distinct person from Father God.

·       Verse five also tells us that Jesus was the first to rise from the dead.

·       Verse five in addition teaches us salvation comes from the shed blood of Jesus alone.

·       Verse five further indicates a full atonement for sin by the shed blood of Jesus.

·       Verse six says believers will become kings and priests unto God by the work Jesus did and not by our own merits.

·       Verse six also tells us that Jesus has a Father so Jesus is not the Father.

·       Verse seven says that Jesus is physically coming back again.

·       Verse seven also implies that there will be judgment at His coming.

·       Verse seven further indicates that dead people are aware and it disputes the doctrine of soul sleep.

·       Verse eight tells us that Jesus is God Almighty and the beginner and ender of all things.

·       Verse nine implies that all Christians will be in tribulation while in this world.

·       Verse nine also says that all Christians are brothers and companions in the kingdom. 

·       Verse nine tells why the kingdom is not yet on earth; Jesus is patient not willing that any should perish (2 Pe 3:9).

·       Verse ten says there is a day called the Lord's day or Day of the Lord .

 

11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

John in the spirit heard a voice that sounded like a trumpet tell him that He was the Alpha and Omega (the First and the Last). He tells John to write what he sees in a book and to send it to seven specific churches in Asia-Minor. He did indeed do that and that is why we have this book today.

 

12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks

John in the Spirit turns to see the voice. When John turned, he saw seven golden candlesticks.

 

13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

The Son of Man was in the midst of the candlesticks. The Son of Man was a name Jesus used for Himself. The name literally means Son of Adam. Those who put a picture of a Norwegian on a wall and call him Jesus might consider changing their picture to one that portrays the glorified Son of Man given in these verses. This is what the Savior looks like now. His head and hair are blindingly white; He has eyes like fire and feet like brass glowing in a furnace. Jesus looks nothing like a Norwegian and I sincerely doubt if he ever did in the flesh either. I point this out because putting an Anglo-Saxon on your church wall does not foster good relations with your brothers of different features or skin hues. Jesus was a Jew and most likely He had Jewish features in the flesh but now He is no longer known after the flesh (2 Co 5:16).

The clothing and golden girdle indicate that this person is a high priest.

The voice of Jesus is not like our natural voices. When He speaks, He roars like Niagara Falls in John's ears.

 

16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

The being John saw was controlling seven stars in His right hand. We will later be told that the stars are angels or messengers. Out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword. This indicates that He spoke the word of God. (Heb 4:12). This being not only had a white head but it was blinding like the sun. When John looked at Him, he fell at His feet as dead.

I think it would be wise to assume that John's spirit was actually there with this being in person since he was actually touched by the being and raised up. Obviously, John did not know whom he was seeing; John was so afraid that he became like a dead man. This being then lays His right hand on John, tells him not to fear and apparently, John gets up. This should make it clear that the glorified Son of God does not look anything like the Jesus that John knew in the flesh. The being then tells John that He is the first and the last. This name only applies to God Almighty. Yet, He tells John that He lived, died and is alive forever. Only Jesus qualifies - Father God certainly did not die. The person seen here is the Son of God the Lord Jesus Christ. This passage is one of many that prove that Jesus is God. Jesus is the only visible image of the Father. He is the beginner and the ender of all things.

Jesus kept John alive into very old age to give him this Revelation. The fact that this Revelation was given to His most beloved disciple John also tells us that this being is the risen Jesus. Those who make Jesus less than Almighty God need to read what these and other scriptures actually say about Him instead of believing what some fallible person told them about Him.

Many Christians think that just asking for forgiveness of sins that already have been paid for by Jesus is all they need to do and then they wonder why they have no victory over the flesh. We must go in and possess the land to get victory over the giants. We must deny the lusts of the flesh and live in the Spirit to get victory over the flesh. It is not in asking for forgiveness that Christians get victory over the flesh. It is in doing the will of God in our lives that we get the victory.

 

19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

This is a key verse because it sets the parameters for the entire book.  John is the representative chosen to become a time traveler and see Jesus revealed in his Church through time through the working of His Holy Spirit in the Church. John will actually go through the same experiences the Church does through time. The inference in the Gospel of John that many thought John would not die until he experienced the coming of the kingdom makes a little more sense if the disciples were led to believe by the teaching of Jesus that John would experience it in his lifetime.

Joh 21:22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

 

Jesus told John:

Write what thou saw - Chapter one of this book - John sees the glorified Son of God. John also sees the candlesticks in verse 20 that have Jesus in their midst. The candlesticks we are told in verse 20 represent the Church.John in verse 17 then acts out what each person must do to become part of this assembly that will be with Jesus. He dies at the feet of Jesus and is resurrected by the right hand of God and raised to new life by the indwelling presence of His Holy Spirit.

Write what things are - Chapters two and three of this book - John as a member of the Church describes what is going on in the entire age of the new covenant Church on earth and what the specific message of Jesus is to each member identified with one of these seven church types or church ages. These seven churches represent the primary attributes and the works to be found in the Church through time during the Church age on earth. John is going forward in time to the day when Jesus comes for His Church so the message and the works in the seven letters are sequential in time.

Write what will be hereafter - Chapter four through the rest of the book - John goes to heaven with the faithful Church at the great snatching away of this Church (known as the rapture). John sees the events that happen in heaven and on earth after the church age on earth. Any prophecies in this book that start with events prior to the rapture of chapter four would have John looking back in time.

 

20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

Jesus tells us that the seven stars that He totally controls with His right hand are seven angels of the seven churches (literally messengers). It appears that each church, church type or church age has a special angel empowered by God to carry out His will. Some say these messengers are pastors but nothing in the text would suggest that they are anything other than angels. Pastors are not ever described as stars in scripture but in several places, angels are implied when the word star or stars is used.

The verse clearly says that the seven candlesticks are the seven churches. Since Jesus is in the midst of the candlesticks in verse 13 it should be clear that Jesus is in the midst of His Church. In the next two chapters, John will write the words of Jesus to the seven churches, church types and church ages that are on earth during the Church age.

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ProphecyStudyDon Koenig: The Revelation (Introduction)

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The Revelation 

of Jesus Christ Through the Ages

 

A Complete Literal Common Sense Interpretation of the Prophecies - Contains Expanded Commentary on Babylon and Other Mysteries

 

Introduction to "The Revelation of Jesus Christ Through the Ages"

by Don Koenig

 

Different views in the Church on the interpretation of the book of Revelation:

 

1. Preterist The judgments in the book already happen at or before 70 AD. The book was written prior to 70 AD to comfort Christians persecuted by Jews and by others. This view claims the Church has been reigning on earth in the kingdom since Pentecost. The world according to the preterist will become progressively more and more Christian and will get better and better. The Church is true Israel.

2. Idealist - The book contains mostly figurative symbolism and metaphors about the spiritual battle between good and evil. There is no future physical fulfillment of the judgments in Revelation on earth. The Church is true Israel or replaces Israel and inherits all promises to divorced natural Israel.

3. Historical - The events in Revelation unfold through history - the papal system fulfills the role of the Antichrist. The Church fulfills all promises given to Israel.

4. Futurist Most of the prophecies in Revelation have a future fulfillment. Christ will come again and set up His kingdom on earth from Jerusalem for a thousand years and the establishment of this kingdom will fulfill all promises given to natural Israel.

Within the Futurist camp, there are two main sub-divisions:

A.  Post-tribulation removal of the Church - The Judgments in Revelation are literal events on earth but the Church will go through most or all of this time of trouble.

B.  Pre-tribulation removal of the Church - The true Church will be removed at the rapture prior to the judgments described in Revelation but many will find salvation afterward during the time known as the tribulation on the earth.

Within the pre-tribulation view, there are two schools of thought:

a. Classical Dispensationalism - There will be a literal normal fulfillment of the things written in the book. The Church does not replace Israel and is distinct from Israel. Most see prophetic fulfillment in the return of Jews to the land of Israel.

b. Progressive Dispensationalism - There is a past and future literal fulfillment of prophetic scripture to the natural descendants of Israel. Most also claim spiritual fulfillment of some prophetic scripture to the Church "the Israel of God". Some claim the seal judgments had partial fulfillment in 70 A.D. However, many that do, claim there will be a more complete or progressive fulfillment of these prophecies in the future. Most progressive dispensationalists see no prophetic significance to the new nation of Israel and the return of the Jews to the land. Most believe God is not fulfilling and will not fulfill any unfulfilled prophecy to the descendants of Israel until they repent in the tribulation and accept their Messiah. The progressive dispensationalist viewpoint varies quite a bit. It attempts to bridge theologies on eschatology and is becoming the prevalent view taught in most evangelical seminaries.

 

My perspective of these different views:

 

The Historical view - is pretty much dead because history cannot produce the events in the book of Revelation. The papal system did not and could not possibly fulfill the prophecies of the Beast/Antichrist.

 

The Preterist view - requires that the book of Revelation be written prior to 70 AD. However, almost all historical scholars agree that the book was written in 95 to 96 AD. If this is true, preterist theology cannot stand. This view also requires us to believe that the prophecies were fulfilled in a manner different from the clear descriptions in the prophecies. Obscure historical events are used by the preterist to try to fulfill the prophecies but few if any credible historians think that past events happened as described in Revelation and the Olivet discourse.

This view also requires that many unfulfilled prophetic passages in the Bible be explained away by allegorizing them and spiritualizing them to the Church. The preterist says Christ is already ruling in His kingdom on earth and thus the earth will become progressively better. Yet, scripture indicates the world will get more evil until the judgment. What we see happening in the world confirms that the world is not becoming more Christian and less evil; it is becoming less Christian and more evil. Most in this theology have also embraced replacement or supersession theology (the Church is Israel or replaces Israel). They see no fulfillment of prophecy for natural Israel. However, any common sense reading of prophecy and the book of Romans makes it abundantly clear that God will restore the natural descendents of Israel in the end times.

 

The Idealist view - says the book is about a spiritual battle between good and evil and it contains allegorical metaphors describing this battle. Therefore, the Idealist denies that the prophecies in Revelation are predictive of any future events on earth. This is the prevalent view in most mainline denominations. It includes those who are amillennial and most who are postmillennial. This theology requires spiritualizing and allegorizing Revelation so the passages become an exercise of interpretation through denominational theology. Thus, only theologians who hold views close to their denominational belief can properly discern the symbols and give the correct allegorical and spiritual meanings of the book. The idealist believes all the unfulfilled prophetic scriptures in the Bible have spiritual fulfillment in the Church. Most of the clergy in these denominations think the book of Revelation cannot be understood by the average layperson, so the book is hardly ever taught or read in their churches. On rare occasions when Revelation is taught, it is always taught through an approved book that reflects the view of that particular denomination. The idealist believe none of the prophecies of a physical restoration for natural Israel can be literal events on earth, because natural Israel has been cursed and divorced and the spiritual Church inherits her promises.

This view makes all the earthly promises in the Bible to the physical nation of Israel about a restored kingdom totally meaningless. Most in this theology think the Church receives all the promises to Israel and none of the curses.

Both the Preterist and the Idealist interpretation require that most prophetic scripture be taken as allegory. However, there is proof that the very early Church believed that Jesus would come and set up his physical kingdom on earth and that they expected his return to be imminent.

This allegorical method of interpretation of scripture began with the Alexandrian school of theology in the second century. The Church later rejected most of this allegorical theology as heresy. Augustine refuted much of this allegory but retained allegory for the prophetic scriptures. He claimed Jesus would rule on earth through His Church spiritually for a thousand years and then He would return. Some think his theology may have been influenced by pressure from the Roman government. They would not allow a theology where there was any suggestion that Jesus would come back and rule in the time of their own reign. When Jesus did not come back after the thousand years were completed the Catholic Church allegorized the six passages in Revelation that said the reign would be a thousand years to mean it would be an undisclosed period of time .

The Protestants in the reformation retained this theology. Later, when the bible was printed and common people got educated in the bible, teachers emerged that claimed that the prophetic passages should be taken in a normal literal sense. Today the normal literal approach to prophetic scriptures is what is taught in many evangelical churches. The old mainline denominations still retain the idealist amillennial view, although there are some members within her that have become educated about the futurist view through popular books and teachers and some now accept the futurist view in private.

 

The futurist view includes mostly pre-tribulation and post-tribulation classical and progressive dispensationalists that hold to the theology that unfulfilled prophecy and the book of the Revelation are about literal prophetic events. They believe many other scriptures can support the position that Revelation is about future events that will happen on earth in the last days. In their opinion, this view is explicitly supported by Daniel and by Jesus in His Olivet discourse. All fulfilled prophecy in the Bible was fulfilled literally and they expect future prophecy will also be fulfilled literally. They believe this normal literal interpretation of prophecy is really the only view that makes any common sense and it provides logical answers for the things written in Revelation rather than mystical interpretation by theology.

 

I believe the futurist view is correct.

Although all these views have some theological merit and all may contain some Christian truths within the theology, only one view holds the truth that Revelation is a book of prophecy that is meant to be understood by all.  Only the futurist view makes common sense, is honest in following communication rules of language (by not taking liberties with the intent of the author without reason) and allows unfulfilled prophecies in the Bible to take place literally as written.

I am a modified dispensationalist but I am not sure which handle (Classical or Progressive) that one reading this commentary would want to place on me. I expect the Progressive would say I am Classical and the Classical would say I am Progressive. I find the theology of the Classical dispensationalists to be the sounder of the two on most points, but I also think they have missed some important points the Progressive dispensationalists have picked up on. The Progressive, on the other hand, fell off the scaffolding in their attempt to build bridges between theologies that cannot be bridged. I say I am a modified dispensationalist because I do not agree with a few of the usual dispensational views. Especially, on who it is that makes up the bride or body of Christ.

 

I believe the Bible and Revelation was given to be understood.

I do not think God would promise a blessing to those who read and obey what is written in this book if it required theology degrees to understand the message.

Many say that the book of Revelation cannot be understood by a common reading of the book because it is full of symbols and allegory. They make it a mystical book that can only be interpreted by theologians. Because of this belief, many in the Church avoid this book and do not teach it at all. Others allegorize and spiritualize the prophecies to make this book cryptic non-sense. 

The first part of the book contains seven letters to seven Churches in existence at the time of John. Just the fact that Jesus told John to give this book of prophecy to the seven churches and promised a blessing to those who read and obeyed what was written within should make it quite obvious that this book was given to the Church to be read, understood and obeyed.

Those that say most of the things John saw were only symbolic and are subject to allegorical interpretation have never adequately explained how symbolic allegory can also be applied to the things that John heard and then wrote about. The words John was told to record were so important that Jesus proclaims at the end of the book that if anyone takes away from what was written he will lose his salvation. Jesus also says, if anyone adds to the prophecies of this book, to him will be added the plagues that are within this book. This warning should be clear enough that no one should try to put mystical meaning on these prophecies that the author has not defined. That does not mean we cannot try to explain the events written but it does mean that the events written will actually take place as written.

If I live until Jesus comes for His Church, I hope to be taken in the rapture before the tribulation on earth, so that puts me in the pre-tribulation rapture camp. The post-tribulation rapture believers in the futurist camp may be right or wrong depending on their point of view of who the Church is. If the Church is all spirit filled Christians doing the work of the Lord, they are wrong. This Church will not go through the tribulation. However, if their view of the Church is everyone who claims to believe in Jesus they are correct; a large portion of these will be found unworthy to escape this time of trial.

 

A Brief introduction to Revelation:

The entire book of the Revelation is the unveiling of Jesus Christ in time. Catholics call the book the Apocalypse which in English used to have the same meaning, the unveiling.  Since the book called the Apocalypse has the end time judgments, the word apocalypse has now taken the meaning of a time of world judgment. In reality, the Apocalypse or Revelation of Jesus contains much more information than just these judgments.

John writes the book in 95 or 96 AD while imprisoned on the island of Patmos. The events that John writes about are actual events, even though symbols are sometimes used to give the message.

After a description of God and Jesus in the past and present, the book contains the message Jesus has to His Church. This is given in seven letters to seven churches that existed in the time of John.

Jesus picked just seven of many churches of that era so that He could give His message and foretell what was to take place in the Church and the Church age until He comes. The works of the Church did not end at the last page of the book of Acts. The work of God's Spirit in the Church will be ongoing forever and the works on earth before His coming is foretold in these letters. The seven letters foretell the successes and failures and the instructions that Jesus gives to all those identified with each assembly type or Church era.

After the Church era, Jesus will take a sealed book from Father God that shows the events that must happen before the kingdom is restored to Israel. As the seals are opened it speaks of a time of great war, famine and death on earth and a time of persecution for believers. The persecution will bring the wrath of the Lamb on the earth in the form of seven trumpet judgments. Before any judgment from Jesus begins, He remembers His covenant with Israel and the last week of years spoken of by Daniel the prophet begins. He sends two prophets and 144,000 Israelite witnesses who will receive the commission to spread the truth of Jesus and His coming kingdom to the whole world.

Next, the book tells us what will happen to those who will not allow Jesus to rule over them on earth. The book indicates that God will deal with these by giving them Satan incarnated into a counterfeit messiah called the Beast who will establish a counterfeit kingdom of god that will bring the earth to destruction. God deals with this counterfeit kingdom with seven last vial judgments and Jesus defeats the Beast and his armies at His coming.

The book also contains a chapter on Mystery Babylon and another on Babylon the Great. It tells about the judgments they receive from God, who they are and why they receive it.

After the judgments, the book tells of the return of Jesus, the resurrection of the tribulation saints and the binding of Satan for a thousand years. Jesus and the saints will rule with a rod of iron to restore all things on earth to the way they were before the fall of man. All enemies of God are defeated during this thousand-year reign with the last enemy being death.

The book then speaks of a final deception and rebellion led by Satan and tells of God's reaction to it. Satan is cast into the Lake of Fire and the earth is renewed by fire. Next, the book tells of a final resurrection where all who did not take part in the first resurrection appear before God and are judged according to God's eternal law for whatever they did in their body. After these are judged according to their deeds, all not written in the book of life are also cast into the Lake of Fire.

The last part of the book describes the fate of all that belong to Jesus and describes the Holy City where the bride of Christ will dwell for eternity.

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