This study is primarily about the book of Revelation itself, about Jesus, the statements of urgency, and the dating of the book. There is another study covering the contents of this blessed book, called "Revelation, Daniel, Symbols".
The Revelation is about Jesus the Christ, and your heart must be in the right place to begin to understand, on Jesus, not you. A blessed unveiling and revealing from Christ of things not seen by men, but made known to men by the Spirit of God in a very vivid and very symbolic form.
A better understanding requires an understanding of the way the prophets have spoken in the past (O.T.), the way Jesus, and others like John the Baptist spoke (N.T.), and an eager desire for truth. A closer understanding of our Good Father, the Word, the Holy Spirit, and the heavenly grand intention for mankind cannot be fully realized without this blessed book.
God seen to it that the words remained intact over the many years with a stiff warning to those who would copy the words over the years. It is holy. The Almighty seen to it that it this book was set in place firm, as a witness of Him unto you, revealing things unseen, heavenly principles, works of the powers of heaven, but made known unto mankind in poetic expression of the Holy Spirit.
A quick point:
*An angel to Daniel: "Seal the book until the time of the end"
*An angel to John: "Do not seal the book, because the time is at hand for all to be fulfilled"
The great book of Revelation really is a complete testimony of Jesus Christ presented in vivid symbolic form. A great book of symbols that vividly reveal many things pertaining to Christ, a behind the scenes look as seen by the Holy Spirit. It is not beside what Jesus said and did, but goes hand in hand with what He said and did, before and after His ascension, a masterpiece of poetic symbolism that describe His coming into power and bringing the kingdom of God unto all mankind.
Where to start? I once made the mistake of starting somewhere in the middle. I found it is best to start at page one. This verse is a great intro, right there on page one the whole time! :
*(KJV) Rev 1:1-3 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. 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 is "The testimony of Jesus Christ", The unveiling and revealing of all things pertaining to Christ. God revealed these things to the Christ Son, who signified the message with his angel, to reveal to his servant John, and fellow first century servants things that were to shortly come to pass, because the time was at hand.
Consider what is written of the Book and when. It is the time of fulfillment for Daniel's book. Daniel's book was sealed for the time of the end, but Revelation was not sealed, because the time was at hand for all to be fulfilled. So why do many tend to pass right over this so easily? Is the book pertaining to the past, or the future? What does the Bible say? As I see it, This verse says it very well:
*(KJV)Rev 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter
What had John seen at this point? He had turned around and seen the Lord. John had also walked with the Lord. John was also told to write of things that are as well, things that were, and were happening right then as this was being spoken in the first century. Also, John was told to write of things that were to be thereafter, And these things were to happen shortly. It is the most important and common theme in Revelation. Have you ever noticed these things when reading Revelation?
It is written:
*(KJV)Rev 1:1-3 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly [G1722 used with G5034] come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. 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. [G1451].
*(KJV)Rev 22:6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show unto his servants the things which must shortly [G1722 used with G5034] be done.
*(KJV)Rev 22:10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. [G1451]
The TIME is "at hand" does mean "near" (as many translations read):
G1451 "At hand"- (Strong's Concordance):
ἐγγύς
eggus
eng-goos'
From a primary verb ἄγχω agchō (to squeeze or throttle; akin to the base of G43); near (literally or figuratively, of place or time): - from, at hand, near, nigh (at hand, unto), ready.
G1722
ἐν
en
en
A primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), that is, a relation of rest (intermediate between G1519 and G1537); “in”, at, (up-) on, by, etc.: - about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-) by (+ all means), for (. . . sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-) in (-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-) on, [open-] ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, [speedi-] ly, X that, X there (-in, -on), through (-out), (un-) to(-ward), under, when, where (-with), while, with (-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) prep.
And "SHORTLY" come to pass does mean - "soon" (as many translations read)", within a brief space of time:
G5034 "shortly"- (Strong's Concordance):
τάχος
tachos
takh'-os
From the same as G5036; a brief space (of time), that is, (with G1722 prefixed) in haste: - + quickly, + shortly, + speedily.
The Urgency!
Daniel's book was sealed for a later fulfillment, but as for the great book of Revelation, John was told not to seal it...Why? Because the things were to SHORTLY COME TO PASS, the TIME was "ready", "a place of time", and the time was "soon" for all that was written to be fulfilled. There was a certain urgency about it, a thunderous sound of "imminence" throughout!
URGENT! (This list was made by another, JG. He added the caps for emphasis, to make a solid point.)
Rev.1:1--The apostle John was shown that those things being revealed to him in The Apocalypse were ALL: "things which WOULD SHORTLY TAKE PLACE.
Here, John admonishes those 1st century disciples to: "heed the things which are written in it; FOR THE TIME IS NEAR (Vs.3).
Rev.2:16--To the church at Pergamum, John was instructed to write: "Repent therefore; or else I AM COMING QUICKLY..."
Rev.2:25--To the church at Thyatira, John was told to write: "...Hold fast UNTIL I COME."
Rev.3:10,11--To the church at Philadelphia, he was instructed to write: "Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing which is ABOUT TO COME upon the whole world (land) to test those who dwell upon the earth. I AM COMING QUICKLY; hold fast what you have, in order that no one take your crown."
Rev.22:6,7--John wrote that: "These words are faithful and true; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants, the things WHICH MUST SHORTLY TAKE PLACE. And behold, I AM COMING QUICKLY."
Rev.22:10--John was warned by the angel: "Do NOT seal up the words of the prophecy of this book; FOR THE TIME IS NEAR."
Rev.22:12--John was told to write: "Behold, I AM COMING QUICKLY!"
Rev.22:20--And finally, John testified that Jesus said, "Yes, I AM COMING QUICKLY."
Dear person, if you followed all the many warnings in Revelation, by both the angel and also The Lord Jesus Himself, you certainly would have taken notice of one inescapable fact and that is the thunderous sound of "imminence" of our Lord's coming. With the many expressions such as: "Things that must soon take place; the time is at hand; behold, I am coming quickly," how could we see the many expressions like that, and yet come away with the understanding that they are things that are yet 20 centuries into their future?
Let's suppose for just a moment that Jesus definitely wanted the 1st century readers of the Apocalypse to understand that His coming was imminent; that He was even going to come in their generation. What sort of things do you suppose He could say so as to best convey that message? Well, I would think that an expression such as: "These are things that must shortly come to pass" would be good. Surely, He could say: "The time is at hand, or near!" Or, He could even say: "Behold I am coming quickly!" Please don't think that I am trying to be a "wise-guy" here! I'm only pleading that we allow His Word to simply interpret itself! That's all!
He might have said:
(Luk 21:22) For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
(Mat 23:36) TRULY, I SAY TO YOU, ALL THESE THINGS WILL COME UPON THIS GENERATION.
Jesus said to His servants and Apostles that everything must "shortly come to pass", "the time is at hand", and "the time is fulfilled", "some standing here that shall not taste of death", "this generation shall not pass until all be fulfilled", "before you can go over the cities of Israel", all meaning "quickly" or "without delay", or "shortly to be done", "within a brief space of time", or be done "soon", everything, even the day of the Lord!
Yet many will still insist that "shortly come to pass", "the time is at hand", and "the time is fulfilled", "some standing here that shall not taste of death", "this generation shall not pass until all be fulfilled", "before you can go over the cities of Israel", all meaning "quickly" or "without delay", or "shortly to be done", "within a brief space of time", or be done "soon"... means thousands of years in the future? What's up with that? Could it be that many just want it to be about them, (not Jesus), many a man deceived, and generation after generation?
The sad truth is, Revelation is being misused by those who have made it (or rather, their misunderstanding of it) the essence of their fanciful theories or religion. It has afforded curious souls that thrill of "sacred fortune-telling" by juggling the numbers and symbols which they do not in the least understand, making them mean what they want them to mean, and then confidently serving the result up as truth. It has been too long a gold mine for the lunatic fringe, the idle, the curious, those who are more interested in their neighbors' sins than their own, and those who have a singular pleasure in thinking themselves irremediably "saved" while a countless number of their fellow men are irremediably "lost".
PART TWO- The dating of Revelation.
Did you know the only evidence for a 96 AD dating is hearsay? It is hearsay because Irenaeus says nothing about when John began the first scroll and finished the last scroll while in prison on the island of Patmos. And it is hearsay because Irenaeus did not witness John, he referred to Polycarp who supposedly knew the Apostle John.
However there is Biblical evidence as to when it John sent out the first scroll to the seven Churches that were in Asia in the first century, a specific group of churches in Asia (Revelation 1:4). The importance of this statement cannot be overlooked (even though it has been by many scholars). There is only one small window of time in which there were only seven churches in Asia. The early AD 60's.
The apostle Paul established nine churches in that area, but only seven were addressed in Revelation. The reason for this is that the cities of Colosse, Hierapolis, and Laodicea, were all destroyed by an earthquake around AD 61. Laodicea was rebuilt soon afterwards, but the other two cities were not. This left only seven churches in Asia during the five years just prior to the beginning of the Roman/Jewish war that took place in the first century, from roughly 66.5 AD to 70 AD
This statement, even with all of this uncertainty, is the only evidence used to support the "late date" theory. It has been accepted by generations of people without really questioning it or examining it in light of the book itself. The late date has been passed on to us in the same way it was passed on to Eusebius, "it was handed down by tradition". Tradition is not the way to interpret Scripture.
Those who hold to the "late date," have Revelation written during the time of Domitian Caesar (AD 95-96). This date is determined by the following statement by Irenaeus (AD 130 to AD 202), as quoted by Eusebius, the church historian, in AD 325:
"We will not, however, incur the risk of pronouncing positively as to the name of Antichrist; for if it were necessary that his name should be distinctly revealed in this present time, it would have been announced by him who beheld the apocalyptic vision. For it was seen no very long time since, but almost in our day, towards the end of Domitian's reign."
There are things about this statement that need to be noted. First, Irenaeus did not witness this. He referred to Polycarp (who supposedly knew the apostle John). Secondly, the key part - "it is not long since it was seen", is ambiguous. According to Irenaeus' recollection, Polycarp saw "it" sometime in AD 95-96, during the last part Domitian's reign.
It seems to be about the vision John had of antichrist, saying they should not reveal the name since John didn't, as if they knew the identity of this antichrist faction, but feared making it known...still.
Even if it was the entire works of John that were seen, he did not say "it" was written towards the end of Domitian's, he said it was seen. If it was seen, it was written sometime before.
The Apostle John was banished to Patmos by the evil Nero, and with the time John had, and intricate wording involved in the great book, John's work while in prison, it probably took about seven years to finish...knowing how our Good Father likes things to be perfect.
I say it took many years for John to complete his work, even sneaking out scrolls from prison via respectful Christian guards and visitors, especially getting out the urgent letters to the seven assemblies that were in Asia first. I say evidence points toward John being banished in 63 AD, and finishing the last scroll by 70 AD.
I am certain, I know it in all my being with what I know about the Apostle John, and King of kings and Lord of lords. They had a special bond. John finished his work and was released from prison just as the smoke was clearing in Jerusalem.
He walked out into the light of the sun, blinded by the light, covering his eyes for a time, then seeing, he seen the smoke clearing in Jerusalem. He cried. He fell on his knees and praised the name of God. Just then a boat came.
I seen it in a movie or in a dream, and I just know it anyway.
It was no accident John was exiled into privacy, seclusion, and even safety, but for to remain and see it all come to pass, for He was The Apostle who remained!
As for the integrity of Irenaeus, he claimed Jesus was 50 years old when Jesus was crucified. Furthermore, "it" comes to us through three people separated by three centuries. Simply put, this is hearsay.
There were many others who gave witness of an earlier date as well. Here are a few:
Epiphanies (A. D. 315-403)
States Revelation was written under "Claudius [Nero] Caesar." (Epiphanies, Heresies 51:12,)
Arethas (A.D. 850-984)
(On Revelation 7:4) "When the Evangelist received these oracles, the destruction in which the Jews were involved was not yet inflicted by the Romans."
Henry Cowles (1881)
"On the other hand the Syriac translation of the Apocalypse has this superscription: "The Revelation which was made by God to John the Evangelist in the Island of Patmos to which he was banished by Nero the Emperor.'' "This superscription seems to testify, to a current tradition in Syria at least as far back as his day, assuming the date of the book to the age of Nero. Of later witnesses, Andreas of Cappadocia [flourished about A. D. 500], in a commentary on this book, favors the Neronian date".
PART THREE- SYMBOLS:
Now your thinking "When did this or that happen!", to which I would say "I understand!" There are many questions! I have asked a lot of questions! Please keep in mind, often times as the Spirit speaks, all is not as it seems, this is evident in the Old and New Testaments. Pray for understanding, cry out for it, stay close to the Father everyday, hear His Word, don't go anywhere else for truth, because everyday like that is a good day!
And please consider this carefully. Here are many of the words from the book of Revelation used as SYMBOLS:
candlesticks
horses
locusts
beasts
birds
animals
dragons
heads
horns
teeth
tails
eyes
mouths
wings
hair
feet
hands
foreheads
odours
books
gold
seals
crowns
names
cities
nations
kings
tongues
Antipas
Armageddon
Balaam
Balak
Abaddon
Apollyon
Babylon
Sodom
Egypt
Jezebel
book of life
tree of live
water of life
hours
days
months
seasons
rod of iron
sickle
bow
blades
swords
reap
harvest
grass
trees
thrones
garments
robes
signs
images
wonders
marks
numbers
vials
trumpets
winds
rivers
lakes
seas
waters
clouds
floods
mountains
islands
lightnings
voices
thunders
earthquakes
hails
songs
winepresses
grapes
wine
balances
wheat
barley
oil
eyesalve
pebbles
manna
wreaths
palm fronds
whores
harlots
fornications
keys
doors
temples
synagogues
pillars
rich
poor
blind
naked
hot
cold
lukewarm
blood
deaths
fire
sulfur
brimstone
smoke
sun
moon
stars
What Now?
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Would you like to download a FREE e-Bible?
