The Revelation Of
Jesus Christ

By John Henry



PREFACE

This is a revision and expansion of a work that I began on the Island of  Sicily in 1985 where I was stationed in the U.S. Air Force. I taught the Revelation of Jesus Christ to a few Airmen every Wednesday night for seven months during my tour of duty there. The lessons were completed in March of 1986 shortly before my tour of duty was up.

The King James Bible is the standard that judges the thoughts and interpretations of all men. Multitudes of new bibles are on the market that have their root in apostasy. All of them are rejected without apology. The King James Bible is the only Bible used in this work. It ought to be the Bible used by all English speaking people. Most of the archaic words can be understood by referring to a good dictionary. Dr. Laurence Vance has assembled a dictionary called Archaic Words and the Authorized Version which is excellent.

We will not spend time speaking to the false ideas of Post, Mid and Pre-Wrath Rapture theories, or Amillennialism, Postmillennialism, and other errors. This writer after 25 years of studying Bible Prophecy is totally convinced of the Pretribulation Rapture of Church Age saints and Premillennial return of Christ, and that these events will occur in the not too distant future. These are the Biblical positions.

The study of the Revelation of Jesus Christ from a Biblical perspective will give us a good understanding of the whole plan and program of God for man. It is by far most prophetic Book of the New Testament. Like every New Testament book it contains the preeminent theme of salvation, and other basic doctrines are also found (i.e. the Bible, the Trinity, the Deity of Christ, the Church, Satan, etc). There are more Old Testaments quotations and symbols in Revelation than in any other New Testament book. If you do not have a working knowledge of the whole Bible as you begin this study, with God's grace and your yieldedness to Him, you will have when we get to Revelation chapter twenty-two. Searched the Scriptures and received the Word with all readiness of mind.

It is my earnest prayer that this study of the Revelation of Jesus Christ be used of God to bring the lost to a saving knowledge of Him, and that it might be used to edify and strengthen believers.

"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth" (2 Tinothy 2:15).

"These were more noble ..., in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so." (Acts 17:11)

"... I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (Rev 19:10)

John Henry, Th.G., Th.M.
Nong Kai, Thailand
February, 2004
INTRODUCTION

UNDERSTANDING REVELATION

God has not mocked His people by giving them a Book that is impossible to understand (Luke 24:44-45; John 14:26, 15:26). However, the Book of Revelation has been misinterpreted, misunderstood, perverted and spiritualized perhaps more than any other book of the Bible. Granted there are difficult passages that are hard to understand. However, for the most part, if we can meet a few prerequisites then we can understand what God has recorded for us in this final Book of the Bible. The major prerequisites for understanding the Revelation of Jesus Christ are these:

1. SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH THE NEW BIRTH:

People cannot discern, see, or know spiritual things unless they are born again by receiving Christ Jesus by faith through the convicting power of God's Word. One with an unregenerated spirit cannot worship God, because he is spiritually dead and incapable of worshiping God in spirit and in Truth as He requires. Salvation come by receiving God's testimony concerning His Son Jesus Christ.
 
"Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me [Christ Jesus]." (John 5:39)
"If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (1 John 5:9-12)

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." (John 3:36)

"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: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:12-13)

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." (Titus 3:5)

" Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and RECEIVE with meekness the engrafted Word, which is able to save your souls." (James 1:21)

"So then FAITH cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." (Rom 10:17)

"For by grace are ye saved through FAITH; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Eph 2:8-9; cf. Rom 5:12-21)

"... Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot SEE the kingdom of God." (John 3:3)

"Now we have RECEIVED ... the spirit which is of God; that we might KNOW the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man RECEIVETH not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he KNOW them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Cor 2:12-14)

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." (Rom 3:23-26)

"And you hath he quickened, who were DEAD in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience." (Eph 2:1-2)

"... they RECEIVED not the love of the Truth, that they might be saved. ... who believed not the Truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (2 Thess 2:10, 12) "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in Truth." (John 4:24).

" ... Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." (John 3:5-7; Note: "water" here symbolizes the Word of God, not baptism: Eph 5:26; Isa 55:10-11; John 15:3, 17:17; Psalm 119:9)

"It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." (John 6:63)

"If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ASK him?" (Luke 11:11-13)

2. YIELDEDNESS TO THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:

"But be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the Word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." (James 1:22-25)

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil." (Prov 3:5-7)

"Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. ... Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? ... I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Rom 6:13, 16, 12:1-2)
"Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Phil 4:4-7)

3. ADHERENCE TO A FEW BASIC RULES OF BIBLE INTERPRETATION:

* Literal Interpretation

"To the law [OT] and to the testimony [NT]: if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them." (Isa 8:20)

God's Word is also called His testimonies, commandments, precepts, etc. There is no other way to take these except literally according to what He his written.

Just as literal interpretation is essential for our salvation (Psalm 119:9, 41, 58) it is also essential in understanding the Revelation. One must take Revelation, as every other book of the Bible, literally. The fact that Revelation is full of symbolic and figurative language dose not mean that these symbols and figures are not to be taken literally. The Bible must not be allegorized without Scriptural precedence either in the immediate context or elsewhere in the Bible.

* Biblical Context

Context is also very important. We must keep the context in mind, both the immediate context and that of the whole tenor of Scripture. This will help us understand what the symbolic and figurative language means.

If we search the Scriptures using the law of Bible interpretation which says, "Scripture interprets Scripture," it will help us immensely in the understanding what God has recorded for us in this final Book of the Bible. The Word of God says:

"Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little." (Isa 28:9-10)

"Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual." (1 Cor 2:13)

A working knowledge of the whole Bible is helpful in understanding of the Revelation Of Jesus Christ. There are more Old Testaments quotations and symbols in Revelation than in any other New Testament book (at least 358 from 24 of the 39 books of the Old Testament). A good understanding of the New Testament is also of great benefit, because many of the teachings of other New Testament books are referred to in Revelation. If you do not have a working knowledge of the whole Bible now, with God's grace you will have when we get to Revelation chapter twenty-two (John 5:39; Acts 17:11).

* Dispensational and Chronological Interpretation

Dispensational and chronological interpretation are required for proper understanding of the Revelation. The Book of Revelation covers 3 of the 7 dispensations, to wit, 1) the Dispensation of Law, 2) the Church Age, 3) the Millennial Reign of Christ. The 7 year Tribulation is the final 7 years of the Old Testament Age of Law. It is the last week of the 70 Weeks (of years) prophesied in Daniel 9:24-27. The first 69 weeks (483 years) were fulfilled at the first coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, but the final week of Daniel 9:27 is yet future. This last week is called the Tribulation. Between the 69th and 70th weeks there has been a parenthetical period called the Dispensation of Grace or the Church Age which has lasted some 2000 years now. After this Church Age will come the final 7 years of the Dispensation of Law, and after that the Millennial Reign of Christ.

The outline of the Book is given in Revelation 1:19. There it says, "Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter." Here the Lord Jesus told the Apostle John to "write the things which [he saw]," speaking of John's vision of Christ in chapter one, "the things which are," which are things that were in John's day and still are today, namely the things of this Church Age. This is the Church Age which is symbolized by the 7 churches of Asia found in chapters two and three. Finally the Lord told John to write "the things which shall be hereafter." This begins with the Rapture of all Church Age saints (Rev 4:1) to the throne of God (Rev 4 - 5), and includes the Tribulation (Rev 6 - 19), the Millennium (Rev 20:1-10), and eternity future (Rev 20:11 - 22:21). From this Divine outline we can see a chronological order.

The Tribulation as seen in Revelation (chapters 6 to 19) is broken down into two periods of 1,260 days or 42 months each (Rev 11:2-3, 12:6, 13:5). The two halves of the Tribulation are separated by three parenthetical sections (Rev 11, 12, 13) which describe the mid-point of the Tribulation. During the first half of the Tribulation God's 144,000 servants and His 2 witnesses will do exploits (Rev 7:3-8, 11:3-10; Dan 11:32). After the mid-point of the Tribulation all these are in Heaven (Rev 11:11-12, 14:1-5). After the middle of the Tribulation the saved will no longer be able to witness. This is the time that Christ spoke of when He said, "... the night cometh, when no man can work." (John 9:4)

Some believe that the seal, trumpet, and vial judgments are repetitions one of the other, but this is an erroneous assumption. They are rather chronological. The evidence for this is conclusive.

The fact of the chronological order of Revelation can also be seen in phrases like: "After this" (Rev 4:1, 7:9) "after these things" (Rev 7:1, 18:1, 19:1), "after that" (Rev 15:5, 20:3), "One woe" (Rev 9:12), "The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly" (Rev 11:14).

Furthermore, the opening of the 7 seals, the blowing of the 7 trumpets, and the pouring out of the 7 vials show the chronological order of the Book of Revelation. The opening of the 7th seal clearly introduces the 7 trumpet judgments (Rev 8:1-6). The seventh trumpet is sounded at the mid point of the Tribulation introducing the third woe, the casting of Satan and his angels to the earth (Rev 11:2-3, 14-15, 12:6, 8, 12 ). It is at this time that the Antichrist sets in the Temple pronouncing himself to be God and forcing to receive his mark (Rev 13). Then three angels continue to set the chronology in chapter 14, the third of which speaking of those that "worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark" (Rev 14:9). This image and mark was only instituted in the preceding chapter further showing the chronology.

RELATION OF REVELATION WITH GENESIS

Genesis is the Book of the World's beginnings, while Revelation is the unveiling of the World's future. In Genesis God created the Earth perfect for Man, but because sin entered in God cursed it. In Revelation sin is judged and the Earth restored to it's original condition and God's plan is for Man is fulfilled. Dr. Henry M. Morris gives these parallels between the books of Genesis and Revelation:

PROBATED WORLD (Genesis) 
ETERNAL WORLD (Revelation)
Division of light and darkness (1:4) No night there (21:25)
Division of the land and the sea (1:10) No more sea (21:1)
Rule of sun and moon (1:16) No need of sun or moon (21:23)
First heavens and first earth finished (2:1-3) New heaven and earth forever (21:1)
Man in prepared garden (2:8-9) Man in prepared city (21:2)
River flowing out of Eden (2:10) 
River flowing from God's throne (22:1)
Tree of life in the midst of the garden (2:9) Tree of life throughout the city (22:2)
Gold in the land (2:12)
Gold in the city (21:21)
Bdellium and the onyx stone (2:12) All manner of precious stones (21:19)
God walking in the garden (3:8) God dwelling with His people (21:3)
The Spirit energizing (1:2) 
The Spirit inviting (22:17)
Bride formed for her husband (2:21-23) Bride adorned for her husband (21:2)
Command to multiply (1:28 Nations of the saved (21:24)
Garden accessible to liar (3:1-5) City closed to all liars (21:27)
Man in God's image (1:27) 
Man in God's presence (21:3)
Man the probationer (2:17)
Man the heir (21:7)                   [1]

CURSED WORLD (Genesis)
 REDEEMED WORLD (Revelation)
Cursed ground (3:17)                                  No more curse (22:3)
Daily sorrow (3:17) No more sorrow (21:4)
Sweet on the face (3:19) No more tears (21:4)
Thorns and thistle (3:18) No more pain (21:4)
Returning to the dust (3:19) No more death (21:4)
Eating herbs of the field (3:18)  Twelve manner of fruits (22:2)
Coats of skin (3:21) Fine linen, white and clean (19:14)
Satan opposing (3:15) Satan banished (20:10)
Evil continually (6:5) Nothing that defieth (21:27)
Kept from the tree of life (3:24) Access to the tree of life (22:14)
Banished from the garden (3:23)   Free entry to the city (22:14)
Redeemer promised (3:15) Redemption accomplished (5:9-10)
Seed of the woman (3:15) Root and offspring of David (22:16)
Cherubim guarding (3:24)                      Angels inviting (21:9)              [1]

NUMEROLOGY IN REVELATION

God makes much use numbers in the Book of Revelation. There are 144,000 servants, 1,000 years , and a 666 mark. The numbers 12, 10, and especially 7 are not insignificant. Dr. Henry M. Morris has this to say about the use of numbers in the Bible:

"Actually, this same phenomena is found throughout the Bible, though not usually to the same extent as in Revelation. ... In fact, the numerical phenomenon in the Bible are so abundant that many authors have written extensive volumes on the subject. ... Although the phenomenon is undoubtedly real and meaningful, the present 'state of the art' of the interpretation and application of Biblical numerology is still to tentative for much confidence. In the special case of the book of Revelation, however, the mathematical apparatus is clearly intentional and meaningful, so that to ignore it would be to miss much of the message of the book." [2]

For example, the word "eight" is not found in the Revelation, but the words "ear" and "overcometh" are found 8 times each. Eight is the number of new beginning: Circumcision, a symbol of the new birth, was preformed on the 8th day of a baby's life (Gen 17:12; Deut 30:6; Jer 4:4, 14; Ezek 11:19, 18:31, 36:26; Rom 2:28-29; Col 2:11). There were 8 people saved from the Great Flood (1 Pet 3:20; 2 Pet 2:5). The Lord rose from the dead on the first day of the week (7 + 1 = 8). The Lord chose this 8th day as the new day for worship (John 20:19, 26). The Bible records 8 individuals that were raised from the dead not counting Christ and the saints that rose after His resurrection (1 Kings 17:17-25; 2 Kings 4:32-37, 13:20-21; Luke 7:11-18, 8:49; John 11:43-44; Acts 9:36-40, 20:9-10). Another very interesting fact about the number 8 is this: The alphabet of the Greek language which was used originally to write the New Testament was also used as numbers in those days. When we add the Greek letter / numbers for the Lord's name, JESUS, we get a total of 888 [3]. Now back to the words "ear" and "overcometh" in Revelation. There are 8 phrases in Revelation that use the word "ear." Seven of them have the word "overcometh" in the verse or a verse or two preceding it. If any man have an ear, let him hear." (Rev 13:9; cf. 2:7, 11, 17, 29, 3:6, 13, 22). The connotation of this phrase is clear. It is an invitation for all to hear God's Word. Likewise the word "overcometh" is found 8 times. Each time a promise is given to the overcomer. For example: "... He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death." (Rev 2:11, cf. 2:7, 17, 26, 3:5, 12, 21, 21:7). And how does one overcome? John answers: "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our FAITH. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" (1 John 5:4-5) Paul puts it this way, "... thanks be to God, which GIVETH us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Cor 15:57) Overcoming has to do with the new beginning of salvation by grace through faith! And how do we get saving faith? "... FAITH cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." (Rom 10:17) The number 8 is symbolic for new beginnings and salvation "by the hearing of faith" (Gal 3:2, 5-6) is a new beginning.

The number 7 is found in Revelation numerous times. The number 7 has to do with perfection and completion. Here are some examples of 7 in the Revelation of Jesus Christ:
 1.  Seven beatitudes (Rev 1:3, 14:13, 16:15, 19:9, 20:6, 22:7, 22:14)
 2.  Seven churches (Rev 1:4, 11,20)
 3.  Seven Spirits (Rev 1:4, 3:1, 4:5, 5:6)
 4.  Seven candlesticks (Rev 1:12, 13, 20, 2:1)
 5.  Seven stars (Rev 1:16, 20, 2:1)
 6.  Seven lamps (Rev 4:5)
 7.  Seven doxologies in Heaven (Rev 4:9-11, 5:8-13, 7:9-12, 11:16-18, 14:2-3, 15:2- 4, 19:1-6)
 8.  Seven seals (Rev 5:1, 5)
 9.  Seven horns (Rev 5:6)
10. Seven eyes (Rev 5:6)
11. Seven angels (Rev 8:2, 6, 15:1, 6, 7, 8, 16:1, 17:1, 21:9)
12. Seven trumpets (Rev 8:2, 6)
13. Seven thunders (Rev 10:3, 4)
14. Seven heads (Rev 12:3, 13:1, 17:3, 7, 9)
15. Seven crowns (Rev 12:3)
16. Seven plagues (Rev 15:1, 6, 8, 21:9)
17. Seven vials (Rev 15:7, 17:1, 21:9)
18. Seven mountains (Rev 17:9)
19. Seven kings (Rev 17:10, 11)

We will look at numbers as we come to them in the text of Revelation.

DATE AND AUTHORSHIP

Finally, before moving on to the text , a few commonly accepted facts about the authenticity, authorship and date of Revelation. The Apostle John certainly wrote this final book of the Bible in the twilight of his life. Several reliable witnesses affirm this. "Irenaeus quotes every chapter of the book of the Revelation. In like manner, Tertullian cites the author as 'the Apostle John' and quotes from almost every chapter of the book. Hippolytus quotes extensively from chapters 17 and 18, attributing them to John the Apostle. Many other early fathers can be cited .... The evidence for John the Apostle hangs largely on the question whether the Apostle John actually was exiled on the Isle of Patmos, as the author claims (1:9). There is good historical evidence in support of this claim. Clement of Alexandria refers to the Apostle John as returning from the Isle of Patmos. Eusebius not only affirms John's return from the Isle but dates it immediately following the death of [Emperor] Domitian, which occured in AD 96. Irenaeus [who was a disciple of Polycarp who was a disciple of John] adds his confirming word when he states that John lived in Ephesus after returning from Patmos until the reign of Trajan." [4]

The Revelation of Jesus Christ has been authenticated by God's seal of special numerics which we will see later. Furthermore, the authenticity of Revelation is verified, as we have seen, by trustworthy men of the early churches like Irenaeus [130-202 AD], Tertullian [160-240 AD] and Hippolytus [198-239 AD]. The Revelation has been accepted from the beginning till now by "... the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the TRUTH" (1 Tim 3:15). God has fulfilled the promise of John 16:13-14 which says:

"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of TRUTH, is come, he will guide you into ALL TRUTH: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you THINGS TO COME. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you."

Ever since the church has had the Book of Revelation, we have had ALL TRUTH and it shows us THINGS TO COME.


END NOTES:

1. Morris, Henry M., The Revelation Record, Wheaton: Tyndale, 1983, p. 22
2. Morris, Henry M., The Revelation Record, Wheaton: Tyndale, 1983, p. 30
3. Bullinger, E. W., Number in Scripture, Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1967, pp. 200, 201, 203
4. Walvoord, John F., The Revelation of Jesus Christ, Chicago: Moody, 1966, pp. 12, 13


___________________________

(c) Copyright 2004 by John Henry.

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-- John Henry


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