Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2007 4:02 pm Post subject: Reveleation chapter by chapter by interpretum
Interpretum
Post: #1Revelation, chapter by chapter
OK, I'm going to have an attempt at understanding and interpreting Revelation, chapter by chapter.
This is going to be tricky, because everyone here has their own "take" on Revelation. So this is just my "take".
I suspect there is a very simple "key" to understanding Revelation. It's about (a) perspective, and (b) allowing the Bible to interpret itself where possible - although since it is prophetic in nature, naturally we will have to refer to events outside of the Bible texts.
I am not a prophet, the second Elijah, resurrected John the Baptist, or anything like that - I'm "just a bloke". I just want to see where this thing goes.
I'm sure you are going to want to comment on my commentary, so my posts will be in PURPLE from now on.
Rev 1:1
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
Rev 1:2
who testifies to everything he saw–that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Rev 1:3
Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
This is the introduction to Revelation, presumably written after John had received the visions, because he says he "testifies to everything he saw". He can only testify to it, once he'd already seen it.
There is an obvious sense of imminence, to show "what must soon take place", and that "the time is near".
There is debate as to whether Revelation was written during Nero's time (in the 60's of the 1st century) or during the reign of Domitian (the 90's).
Personally, I think the first half of the book is the "closure" for the rest of the New Testament, dealing with the events concerning Jerusalem; and the second half deals with the long war between the "wild beast" and Christianity - and ultimately, Christ himself.
Either way, it must be relevant to all Christians, because Jesus says, "Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it."
Rev 1:4
John,
To the seven churches in the province of Asia:
Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits[fn1] before his throne,
Rev 1:5
and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,
Rev 1:6
and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father–to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
Rev 1:7
Look, he is coming with the clouds,
and every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him;
and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him.
So shall it be! Amen.
And so begins John's part of the letter. John is writing to a specific group of Christians - seven churches (aka "congregations") in Asia.
Jesus Christ is here given several titles, familiar to Christians: "the faithful witness", "the firstborn from the dead", and "the ruler of the kings of the earth".
John refers to these Christians as being made "to be a kingdom and priests". Collectively then, Christians are a kingdom and priests. At this stage, we see no division into "anointed" and "non-anointed".
In verse 7, John poetically refers to the claim by Jesus that he will come with the clouds. In front of the Jewish Sanhedrin and the High Priest, Jesus said: "Yes, it is as you say... But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." (Mathew 26:64)
This was blasphemy to these Jewish leaders... for they knew Daniel's prophecy well enough:
"In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed." (Daniel 7:13,14)
Jesus was essentially claiming to be that "Son of Man" who would be given the "everlasting dominion"!
Just as Jesus promised that these Jewish leaders would see Jesus sitting at God's right hand, and coming on the clouds of heaven, John was reminding his readers of Jesus' words. Even those who pierced him would see him!
We must bear in mind then, when reading Revelation, that the prophecies are also intimately linked with the ones in Daniel. Jesus is that Son of Man!
Rev 1:8
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Rev 1:9
I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
Rev 1:10
On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,
Rev 1:11
which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”
We know this is a true testimony, because there are now 3 witnesses. Jehovah God, the Almighty, adds the weight of His authority in verse 8.
John describes his situation - exiled on the isle of Patmos for his testimony to Jesus.
Verse 10 is a doctrinally crucial one for JWs, for they claim that John was writing under inspiration about "the Lord's day" from 1914 onwards.
However, most other translations simply assume (rightly or wrongly) that this is a reference to when John received his vision. John was still of Jewish descent, and he received it on the sabbath, "on the Lord's day".
Personally, I think it is wrong to assume that John was writing about events from 1914 onwards, as we'll discuss shortly. The themes of Revelation 4 and 5 show this not to be the case.
Rev 1:12
I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands,
Rev 1:13
and among the lampstands was someone “like a son of man,”[fn2]dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.
Rev 1:14
His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.
Rev 1:15
His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.
Rev 1:16
In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double‑edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
In a moment, we are given one of the keys to understanding Revelation, but here we are being given a description of the "son of man".
This is not all that different from an experience Daniel had, just before being given the final prophecy of the war between the kings of the north and south:
"I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of the finest gold around his waist. His body was like chrysolite, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude. I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; the men with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless." (Daniel 10:5-
The presence of the Son of Man has a similar effect on John, as we'll see...
Rev 1:17
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.
Rev 1:18
I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
Rev 1:19
“Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.
Rev 1:20
The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels[fn3] of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
John is told to write "what you have seen". Jesus explains that this describes "what is now and what will take place later."
Now we are given one of the keys to understanding this mysterious book - in many cases, Jesus interprets it for us!
Earlier, we saw him with "seven lampstands" and "seven stars". We are now given their meaning...
"The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches."
So Key #1 to understanding Revelation, in my opinion, is this:
"When we are told X means (or is) Y, then that's the interpretation!"
The interpretation is not symbolic - it is the actual reality of the symbol.
So it's not that "seven stars" mean "seven angels" which mean "seven elders". No. Seven stars mean seven angels. End of story.
The seven lampstands mean, or are, the seven churches.
This is Jesus' interpretation of his own propechies. To deviate from Jesus' own interpretation is to get ourselves in a world of hurt
Interpretum Wrote:
Either way, it must be relevant to all Christians, because Jesus says, "Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it."
While I agree that the book is "relevant" to all Christians in the sense that their faith can benefit by reading it, I am not so sure about "relevant" in the sense that the prophecies are for all Christians. I think you are reading a lot into "blessed is the one." You seem to think it means "blessed is anyone."
Quote:
Rev 1:4
John,
To the seven churches in the province of Asia:
Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits[fn1] before his throne
If one checks out Rev. 4:5, one will see that the "seven spirits" are actually seven lamps. Or maybe it's better to say that the seven lamps represent the seven spirits, in which case we still don't know exactly what the seven spirits are.
Quote:
Rev 1:16
In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double‑edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
This is one of several places where Jesus is said to have a sword coming out of his mouth. I think it is important to emphasize that his warfare is through speech, and by extension this applies to all Christians. Our war is a war of words, rather than actual bloodshed.
donbodo Wrote:
While I agree that the book is "relevant" to all Christians in the sense that their faith can benefit by reading it, I am not so sure about "relevant" in the sense that the prophecies are for all Christians. I think you are reading a lot into "blessed is the one." You seem to think it means "blessed is anyone."
Yes, I think Jesus' point is we can be blessed if we read and apply it.
Quote:
If one checks out Rev. 4:5, one will see that the "seven spirits" are actually seven lamps. Or maybe it's better to say that the seven lamps represent the seven spirits, in which case we still don't know exactly what the seven spirits are.
You're right, we don't get an interpretation. So I'm happy to just leave it at "seven spirits"... they are spirits, and there are seven of 'em
Quote:
This is one of several places where Jesus is said to have a sword coming out of his mouth. I think it is important to emphasize that his warfare is through speech, and by extension this applies to all Christians. Our war is a war of words, rather than actual bloodshed.
Interpretum Wrote:
Yes, I think Jesus' point is we can be blessed if we read and apply it.
Apply it? Hmm. I don't see how that's possible.
Let's say that a handbook on how to survive an attack from Al-Qaeda was published, and it opened with the words, "Happy are the ones who read this and take it to heart." Would you say those words would equally apply to people who read the book 2000 years later?
This is not to say that such a book would have no value at all 2000 years later. But would it have as much value as it does to people now?
Rev 2:1
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands:
Rev 2:2
I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.
Rev 2:3
You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
Rev 2:4
Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.
Rev 2:5
Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
Rev 2:6
But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Rev 2:7
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
For the letters to the 7 churches, I'm going to draw on material from a book called "Days of Vengeance" by David Chilton. It's a Preterist book, and there's some concepts I don't agree with, but there's certainly a lot of eye-opening material in it - especially with regard to these 7 churches.
Ephesus was a famous city, with its Temple of Artemis (or Diana, the goddess of fertility) now classed as one of the 7 Wonders of the World.
Despite that, Jesus guarded his established churches, for he "walks among the seven golden lampstands". This is Jesus establishing an early precedent for how he intends to use symbology in this book.
Paul's letter to the Ephesians shows a strong church enduring and persevering. Even 40 years later, Ignatius (who was martyred around 107AD) writes to them:
"You all live according to truth, and no heresy has a home among you: indeed, you do not so much as listen to anyone, if he speaks of anything except concerning Jesus Christ in truth... I have learned that certain persons passed through you bringing evil doctrine; and you did not allow them to sow seeds among you, for you stopped up your ears, so that you might not receive the seed sown by them. . . . You are arrayed from head to foot in the commandments of Jesus Christ." (Ignatius, Ephesians vi, ix)
So it is no real surprise that Christ himself commends them for their hard work, perseverance and their intolerance of wicked men. They are doctrinally firm.
Yet, Jesus has some counsel for them. "You have forsaken your first love."
Their desire for correct doctrine has allowed them to neglect the first commandment - love!
The city of Ephesus was "the temple keeper of the great Artemis and of the image that fell from heaven". (Acts 19:35) So it is perhaps an allusion to their own cities traditions that Jesus says to the Ephesians, "Remember the height from which you have fallen!"
"If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place." This is a clear warning from Jesus that their lampstand, their status as a church in Jesus' eyes, can be removed from them.
Jesus warns that he will "come" to them. Clearly then, Jesus is not limited to some distant "second coming", but can "come" to individuals and churches whenever he chooses.
Still, the church in Ephesus had other redeeming features. "But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate."
Who were the Nicolatians?
"According to the second-century bishop St. Irenaeus, “the Nicolaitans are the followers of that Nicolas who was one of the seven first ordained to the diaconate by the apostles [Acts 6:5]. They lead lives of unrestrained indulgence . . . teaching that it is a matter of indifference to practice adultery, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.” If St. Irenaeus is correct here – his viewpoint is certainly debatable – the deacon Nicolas (in Greek, Nikolaos) had apostatized and become a “false apostle,” seeking to lead others into heresy and compromise with paganism." (Days Of Vengeance, p50)
According to Chilton, Nikolaos in Greek means "conquerer of the people", and in Hebrew, Balaam means "conquerer of the people" also. So it appears Jesus is making a play on words, linking the Nicolations of Ephesus with the "Balaamites" of Pergamum.
Although the letter is addressed to the Ephesians, Jesus says, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches". So the message has application for us, too.
Jesus ends his message to the Ephesians by giving a general encouragement to all: "To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God."
Just as Christ possesses the keys of death and Hades, he can also grant access to the "tree of life", which was originally guarded by "cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth". (Gen 3:24)
Rev 2:8
“To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:
These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.
Rev 2:9
I know your afflictions and your poverty–yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
Rev 2:10
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Rev 2:11
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.
Smyrna was a city steeped in Emperor worship, and with a large population of Jews hostile to the Christian church. So it was certainly not easy living as a Christian in Smyrna.
So Jesus opens with an eternal reassurance that he is "the First and the Last, who died and came to life again."
No matter what happened to them, their master was from the beginning and the end, and died and came to life again - he was the defeater of death!
In all their tribulations, they were physically afflicted and poor. Yet Jesus points out that, really, they are rich.
Jesus is explicit in stating where the opposition was coming from: "I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan."
It is just as Paul said: "Not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham's children." (Romans 9:6,7)
Jesus calls them a "synagogue of Satan"! We only have to read in the book of Acts for the many times the fleshly Jews hindered the ministry of the apostles.
Jesus tells them, "Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer." The church in Smyrna was about to face a severe trial. "I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days."
However, Jesus says: "Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life." This is the ultimate assurance from the one "who died and came to life again".
Again, Jesus ends his message to the church with a message for all churches:
"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death."
Although at this point we are not told what the "second death" is, we can be fairly sure that his hearers already understood the concept. And they knew that those faithful to Jesus "will not be hurt at all by the second death".
Rev 2:12
“To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:
These are the words of him who has the sharp, double‑edged sword.
Rev 2:13
I know where you live–where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city–where Satan lives.
Rev 2:14
Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality.
Rev 2:15
Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
Rev 2:16
Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
Rev 2:17
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.
"Pergamum was another important Asian city, and played host to a number of popular false cults, the most prominent being those of Zeus, Dionysos, Asklepios (the serpent-god who was officially designated savior), and, most importantly, Caesar-worship. Pergamum boasted magnificent temples to the Caesars and to Rome, and “of all the seven cities, Pergamum was the one in which the church was most liable to clash with the imperial cult.”" (Days Of Vengeance, p53)
Pergamum was the official cult centre of emperor worship in Asia, so this may be the meaning of "where Satan has his throne".
We do not know who Antipas is, but Jesus identifies him as "my faithful witness", typical of the church in Pergamum.
However, the greater danger was from within. "I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality."
"When it was discovered that the people of God could not be defeated in open warfare (see Num. 22- 24), the false prophet Balaam suggested another plan to Balak, the evil King of Moab. The only way to destroy Israel was through corruption. Thus Balaam kept teaching Balak (cf. Num. 31:16) to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication (cf. Num. 25)." (Days Of Vengeance, p54)
This very thing is alluded to later in Revelation, by the dragon of chapter 12. When he cannot defeat the woman openly, "the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring–those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus." (Rev 12:17) It is then that the blasphemous and idolatrous wild beast arises, to whom all people worship admiringly.
Once again, Jesus demonstrates that his "coming" is not necessarily limited to some distant theological "second coming": "Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth."
Those ones of the Pergamum church who did not repent would find Jesus coming to them and fighting against them with the sword of his mouth!
Finally, Jesus promises two things to all those who overcomes, or conquers...
(a) some of the hidden manna. Manna was miraculously given to the Israelites during their trek in the wilderness. A portion of it was hidden in the Ark of the covenant.
(b) a white stone with a new name written on it.
There is a white stone connected in the Bible with manna, and it
is called bdellium (cf. Ex. 16:31 with Num. 11:7). Moreover, this stone is connected with the Garden of Eden, and is intended to be a reminder of it (Gen.2:12): Salvation is a New Creation, and restores God’s people to Paradise. (Days Of Vengeance, p55)
"Two onyx stones were placed on the shoulders of the High Priest, and on them were engraved the names of the tribes of Israel (Ex. 28:9-12). Yet the onyx stone was not a white stone – it was black. The explanation for this seems to be that the bdellium and onyx are simply combined in this imagery (a common device in Scripture) to create a new image that still retains the older associations. The connecting link here is the bdellium: it is associated in Genesis 2:12 with onyx, and in Numbers 11:7 with manna. Together, they speak of the restoration of Eden in the blessings of salvation." (Days Of Vengeance, p55)
Rev 2:18
“To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:
These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.
Rev 2:19
I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.
Rev 2:20
Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.
Rev 2:21
I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.
Rev 2:22
So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways.
Rev 2:23
I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
Rev 2:24
Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan's so‑called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you):
Rev 2:25
Only hold on to what you have until I come.
Rev 2:26
To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations–
Rev 2:27
‘He will rule them with an iron scepter;
he will dash them to pieces like pottery’-
just as I have received authority from my Father.
Rev 2:28
I will also give him the morning star.
Rev 2:29
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
"One of the most significant things about the city of Thyatira was the dominance of trade guilds over the local economy. Every imaginable manufacturing industry was strictly controlled by the guilds: In order to work in a trade, you had to belong to the appropriate guild. And to be a member of a guild meant also to worship pagan gods; heathen worship was integrally connected with the guilds, which held their meetings
and common meals in pagan temples. Two central aspects of the required pagan worship were the eating of meat sacrificed to idols, and illicit sexual relations. Any Christian who worked in a craft or trade was thus presented with severe problems: his faithfulness to Christ would affect his calling, his livelihood, and his ability to feed his family." (Days Of Vengeance, p56)
The first words of Jesus to Thyratira were a direct challenge to the local god, Tyrimnos, the son of Zeus, and also to the Emperor who was proclaimed the incarnate Son of God.
To the Thyatirans, Jesus says, "These are the words of the Son of God..." The only time in Revelation the designation "Son Of God" is used.
Jesus commends them for their love, faith, service and perseverance. In this respect they were the opposite of the Ephesians, who were doctrinally sound, but lacking in love.
The elders were tolerating "that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess."
It is not certain that Jesus is referring to any specific woman, because once again the outcome is like those of the Nicolations and the Balaamites - "By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols."
Jesus uses grim humour for those who wish to go to bed with Jezebel: "So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead."
Jesus uses the phrase "megas thlipsis" (suffer intensely), the same meaning as "great tribulation" in Mathew 24. So these great tribulations can acts as refiners.
"Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds."
Once again, we have evidence that Jesus can inflict punishment and pass judgement. He does not need to wait until "Judgement Day".
To those who conquer and do Jesus' will to the end, Jesus promises to give them authority over the nations.
Jesus paraphrases the reference in Psalm 2 (vs 7-9) of the Father to His Son:
I will proclaim the decree of the Lord:
He said to me, “You are my Son;
today I have become your Father
Ask of me,
and I will make the nations your inheritance,
the ends of the earth your possession.
You will rule them with an iron scepter;
you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”
It is ironic that it is Balaam who, against his own will, uttered a prophecy about Jacob:
“I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near.
A star will come out of Jacob;
a scepter will rise out of Israel.
He will crush the foreheads of Moab,
the skulls of all the sons of Sheth.
(Numbers 24:17)
Jesus refers to himself as, "the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star." (Rev 22:16)
As the root and offspring of David, and the bright morning star, Jesus can also grant his authority to whom he wishes. Just as he grants "him who overcomes and does my will to the end", "authority over the nations", so he can give them "the morning star".
Rev 3:1
“To the angel of the church in Sardis write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.
Rev 3:2
Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.
Rev 3:3
Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
Rev 3:4
Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.
Rev 3:5
He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.
Rev 3:6
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Here, Jesus is said to hold both the "seven spirits of God" and the "seven stars". Since Jesus has previously interpreted stars to mean angels, these angels are in his power. Presumably then, this is also the case with "the seven spirits of God".
Who are these "seven spirits"? They are included in John's greeting in Revelation chapter 1:
John,
To the seven churches in the province of Asia:
Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne,
and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
That they are ranked among Jehovah and Jesus Christ shows that they are spirits of high power. We see more about them in chapter 4. That they are in Jesus' hands, means that Jesus has authority over them, just as he has authority over the 7 angels of the 7 congregations.
Sardis had a reputation of being alive, but Jesus calls them "dead". This is not the first time Jesus has referred to living people as "dead". When a certain disciple wanted permission from Jesus to bury his father first, Jesus said: "Keep following me, and let the dead bury their dead."(Mathew 8:22)
This Christian congregation has an outward appearance of being alive - but still they were "dead".
Jesus issues them with a warning: "Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God."
Says Chilton:
"G. R. Beasley-Murray points out some interesting history about the town of Sardis which serves as an appropriate background to this statement: “Sardis was built on a mountain, and an acropolis was constructed on a spur of this mountain, which was all but impregnable. Yet twice in the city’s history it had been taken unawares and captured by enemies. The parallel with the church’s lack of vigilance, and its need to wake up lest it fall under judgment is striking.” Sardis is not quite completely dead, but these things are about to die. Although the Lord has not written off the entire church yet, the danger is real and immediate. The elders at Sardis must begin now to strengthen the things that remain." (Days Of Vengeance, p59)
Once again, Jesus points out the consequences of failing to wake up: "But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you."
Once again we have a direct threat of Jesus "coming" to that particular church in judgement.
Peter said: "For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?" (1 Peter 4:17)
This is a scripture to which JWs (and certain ex-JW self-appointed prophets) like to make frequent use. However, it is Jesus himself that demonstrates what this actually means. In his letters to the 7 congregations, he repeatedly emphasises his determination to judge a particular congregation, if they do not repent.
Once a person becomes a Christian, they join the "family of God", which is judged first. As Jesus pointed out to the Sardis congregation, if they did not "wake up", Jesus would "come like a thief" upon them.
However, not all of the Sardis congregation needed this counsel. "Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy."
We see that being dressed in white represents worthiness, "for they are worthy". This is in contrast to the majority, to whom Jesus had said, "I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God."
To reinforce this, Jesus says: "He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels."
Rev 3:7
“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.
Rev 3:8
I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
Rev 3:9
I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars–I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.
Rev 3:10
Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.
Rev 3:11
I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
Rev 3:12
Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.
Rev 3:13
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
To the church in Philadelphia, Jesus Christ declares himself to be the one "who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open."
This is an allusion to Isaiah 22:20-24, in which God accuses a royal steward of falsehood, of betraying his trust. God promises to replace the false steward with a faithful one:
“In that day I will summon my servant, Eliakim son of Hilkiah. I will clothe him with your robe and fasten your sash around him and hand your authority over to him. He will be a father to those who live in Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I will drive him like a peg into a firm place; he will be a seat of honor for the house of his father. All the glory of his family will hang on him: its offspring and offshoots—all its lesser vessels, from the bowls to all the jars."
Christ is thus declaring the officers of apostate Israel as false stewards, doorkeepers who had excommunicated the Christians from their synagogues.
But to these shunned Christians, Jesus had "placed before [them] an open door that no one can shut."
Jesus has only scathing words for the Jews who had apostatized from true Israel: "I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars–I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you."
Once again, this gives us a good idea of the time frame in which Revelation was written - a time when Jewish opposition was intense. Jesus intends to "make them [those claiming to be Jews] come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you."
Certainly the destruction of Jerusalem in 70CE - the city that was "the city of the great King" - would have been a wake-up call to these Jews - especially since Christ had prophesied such events some 40 years earlier!
But the Philadelphian congregation have proved loyal to Christ. "Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth."
"It is speaking of the period of tribulation which, in the experience of the first century readers, was about to come. Does it make sense that Christ would promise the church in Philadelphia protection from something that would happen thousands of years later? “Be of good cheer, you faithful, suffering Christians of first-century Asia Minor: I won’t let those Soviet missiles and Killer Bees of the 20th century get you!” When the Philadelphian Christians were worried about more practical, immediate concerns – official persecution, religious discrimination, social ostracism, and economic boycotts – what did they care about Hal Lindsey’s lucrative horror stories? By twisting such passages as these to suit their passing fancies, certain modern dispensationalists have added to the Word of God, and detracted from its message; and they thus come under the curses of Revelation 22:18-19." (Days Of Vengeance, p63)
To the Philadelphians, then, Christ says, "I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown."
Christ was clearly not talking about some "second coming" to take place 2,000 years after those Philadelphians were dead and buried. Otherwise, that would be making a mockery of Christ's words.
To him who overcomes, "I will make a pillar in the temple of my God." These Christians would no longer merely worship in a temple... they would become a part of God's new Temple!
"Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name."
Once again, this spiritual Temple was not one that needed to be entered or left - they would be permanently in it. And they would have "new Jerusalem" written on them - showing that new Jerusalem is first and foremost a spiritual construct, made up of people.
They would also have Jesus' "new name" written on them, as well. These are things we will learn more about later on.
Rev 3:14
“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation.
Rev 3:15
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!
Rev 3:16
So, because you are lukewarm–neither hot nor cold–I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
Rev 3:17
You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
Rev 3:18
I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
Rev 3:19
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.
Rev 3:20
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
Rev 3:21
To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.
Rev 3:22
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Chilton gives us a fascinating insight on the city of Laodicea which may have a significant bearing on the meaning of Jesus' words:
"Laodicea was lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold. This has often been interpreted as if hot meant godly enthusiasm and cold meant ungodly antagonism; but there is another explanation which suits the historical and geographical context better. Laodicea was situated between two other important cities, Colossae and Hieropolis. Colossae, wedged into a narrow valley in the shadow of towering mountains, was watered by icy streams which tumbled down from the heights. In contrast, Hieropolis was famous for its hot mineral springs which flowed out of the city and across a high plain until it cascaded down a cliff which faced Laodicea. By the time the water reached the valley floor, it was lukewarm, putrid, and nauseating. At Colossae, therefore, one could be refreshed with clear, cold, invigorating drinking water; at Hieropolis, one could be healed by bathing in its hot, mineral-laden pools. But at Laodicea, the waters were neither hot (for health) nor cold (for drinking)." (Days Of Vengeance, p64)
Thus, the church in Laodicea was like its own water supply - neither cold for refreshment for the spiritually weary, nor hot for the spiritually sick - it was totally ineffective.
Thus, "because you are lukewarm... I am about to spit you out of my mouth."
"The city of Laodicea was proud of its three outstanding characteristics: Its great wealth and financial independence as an important banking
center; its textile industry, which produced “a very fine quality of world-famous black, glossy wool”; and its scientific community, renowned not only for its prestigious medical school, but also for an eyesalve (called “Phrygian Powder”) which had been well known since the days of Aristotle." (Days Of Vengeance, p65)
So no wonder the church in Laodicea said to itself, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’
But Christ sees the reality of things, from the point of view of the Kingdom: "You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked."
But Jesus counsels them to "buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see."
When we understand how Jesus teaches, we understand that Jesus is teaching them to "buy" the things of value, from Christ himself. In this, he is alluding to his own Sermon on the Mount, which he spoke some 40 years before:
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!... Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?...
... So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them." (Mathew 6:19-33)
In this case, Jesus promises to supply them with real items of real value - "gold refined in the fire", "white clothes to wear", and "salve to put on your eyes".
Jesus has love for his bride. "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent."
Once again, Jesus reminds them of their roots as Christians, and makes them an invitation:
"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."
This should have reminded them of the meal the apostles had with Jesus on the night of his death:
"After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you." (Luke 22:17-20)
When debating with the Jews, Jesus said: "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him." (John 6:53-56)
So Jesus is inviting the Laodicean church to eat supper with him. In fact, the word used for "eat" is deipneō, which is often translated as "sup", "supper" (or as the NWT renders it, "evening meal").
"To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne."
Jesus once again reiterates the promise he made to the Thyatiran church: "To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations".
As the Son of Man, Jesus is the one who is given this authority, and Jesus is willing to share that throne with anyone who overcomes.
1 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne.
This is "setting the scene" for the rest of the book of Revelation - John is being invited up to heaven!
It appears John goes into some kind of trance or receives a "vision" of heaven, rather than actually being transported to heaven, because he says "at once I was in the Spirit". This is the same statement John makes near the beginning... "On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit"... when he saw the Lord Jesus Christ. (1:10)
In his vision, John sees a throne. "And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne."
This is remarkably similar to a vision that Ezekiel the prophet had, in which "the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God." (Ezekiel 1:1)
In Ezekiel's vision he sees the throne this way: "Above the expanse over their heads was what looked like a throne of sapphire, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. (Ezekiel 1:26-2
It's not surprising that Ezekiel and John's visions are so similiar - they are both visions of the same place: heaven!
However, we should also understand that, although this is a vision, John is here describing what he actually saw - just as Ezekiel did.
What is seen is a likeness of heaven. It may never match the exact reality, but this is the best flesh and blood can hope to do.
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4:4 Surrounding the throne were twenty‑four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty‑four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.
Here is the first mention of a group of "twenty-four elders" sitting on 24 thrones, surrounding God's throne.
Who are these 24 elders? It is difficult to say at this stage. However, that they are "dressed in white" is the same language Jesus has been using up until this point to represent worthiness and purity. That they wear "crowns" could imply they have conquered - as Jesus mentioned, in his letters to the 7 congregations.
We must understand, however, that so far every number connected with heavenly things has been interpreted literally - seven lampstands meant seven churches - and seven stars meant seven angels.
So there is no reason at this stage to deviate from this interpretation. We can say they are elders - and that there are 24 of them. Just who they are remains a mystery for the present.
"Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God."
There is a use of symbology here - John sees "seven lamps". However, they are immediately interpreted: "these are the seven spirits of God".
This strengthens the notion that these "seven spirits" are, in fact, seven spirits, just as Rule #1 says they should be.
The ancient Jews had a traditional that there were 7 "chief" angels, of whom Gabriel was one. Certainly Gabriel describes himself as one "who stands near before God". (Luke 1:19)
It is therefore entirely possible that these 7 angels are highly prominent spirits who perform functions not unlike the ones Gabriel has performed - such as giving prophecies to Daniel, or declaring the birth of the Messiah to Mary!
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4:6 Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying:
“Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,
who was, and is, and is to come.”
This is once again similar to Ezekiel's vision of heaven - except that Ezekiel goes into a lot more detail! But it is clear both John and Ezekiel are seeing the same place - heaven.
Here is the full passage in Ezekiel that describes these four living creatures in all their awesome yet bizarre (to us humans) glory, and also Ezekiel's equivalent of the "sea of glass", which he describes as an "expanse":
5 "I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north—an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal,
6 and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance their form was that of a man, but each of them had four faces and four wings.
7 Their legs were straight; their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished bronze.
8 Under their wings on their four sides they had the hands of a man. All four of them had faces and wings,
9 and their wings touched one another. Each one went straight ahead; they did not turn as they moved.
10 Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a man, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle.
11 Such were their faces. Their wings were spread out upward; each had two wings, one touching the wing of another creature on either side, and two wings covering its body.
12 Each one went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went.
13 The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it.
14 The creatures sped back and forth like flashes of lightning.
15 As I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the ground beside each creature with its four faces.
16 This was the appearance and structure of the wheels: They sparkled like chrysolite, and all four looked alike. Each appeared to be made like a wheel intersecting a wheel.
17 As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the creatures faced; the wheels did not turn about as the creatures went.
18 Their rims were high and awesome, and all four rims were full of eyes all around.
19 When the living creatures moved, the wheels beside them moved; and when the living creatures rose from the ground, the wheels also rose.
20 Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
21 When the creatures moved, they also moved; when the creatures stood still, they also stood still; and when the creatures rose from the ground, the wheels rose along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
22 Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was what looked like an expanse, sparkling like ice, and awesome.
23 Under the expanse their wings were stretched out one toward the other, and each had two wings covering its body.
24 When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of rushing waters, like the voice of the Almighty, like the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings.
Now, we should note that there are differences between the description given by Ezekiel and John. For instance, Ezekiel seems to mention four wings, while John counts six.
However, I think there may be a lesson here: John and Ezekiel are seeing almost the same things, but from two different perspectives.
Ezekiel is at the bottom of God's "glory cloud", looking up, and the "expanse" is above him and the four creatures.
John is (at least "in Spirit") in the heavenly court itself, looking down upon the "sea of glass".
So there is a possibility that Ezekiel cannot "see" the extra wings! Alternatively, maybe Ezekiel does see them, in the wings on each of the four sides, and the "two wings" that were "spread out upward". It might possibly be a misunderstanding of the original Hebrew.
Either way, perspective is important. From his vantage point in the heavenly court, John can see things we can't!
And this is what we must bear in mind from now on: John is, in Spirit, now viewing things from a heavenly perspective.
Isaiah also had a vision of Jehovah. And although it's much less descriptive than Ezekiel's, it seems John's and Isaiah's vision are also closely related:
1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.
2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.
3 And they were calling to one another:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”
4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”
6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar.
7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”
We should note that these seraphs in Isaiah make a very similar statement to the one recorded by John. Their functions seem intimately related to the heavenly Temple, for when they spoke, "the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke". Furthermore, when Isaiah felt he had sinned by seeing Jehovah, one of the seraphs took a coal from the altar to atone for the sin.
We shall see one of John's four living creatures performing a similar function later on!
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9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty‑four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
11
“You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.”
Again, we are really not given much detail about the identity of the "twenty-four elders" here, except that whenever the four living creatures give their praise, the 24 elders lay their crowns before the throne and give him glory as well.
I can't really think of anything to add to what they say. Except, perhaps...
Amen.
Oh, and looks like Dawkins is wrong. It was God that did it.
1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.
What is this scroll with seven seals?
"“The word biblion [book] itself permits of many interpretations, but for the readers of that time it was designated by the seven seals on its back beyond possibility of mistake. Just as in Germany before the introduction of money orders everybody knew that a letter sealed with five seals contained money, so the most simple member of the Asiatic churches knew that a biblion made fast with seven seals was a testament. When a testator dies the testament is brought forward, and when possible opened in the presence of the seven witnesses who sealed it; i.e., it was unsealed, read aloud, and executed... The document with seven seals is the symbol of the promise of a future kingdom. The disposition long ago occurred and was documented and sealed, but it was not yet carried out.” (Theodor Zahn, Introduction to the New Testament, Vol. III, pp. 393)
"The Book is nothing less than the Testament of the resurrected and ascended Christ: the New Covenant." (Days of Vengeance, p77)
Alas, nobody can open it! If it was a Testament, it first needed the death of the testator.
Could nobody be found to open it?
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5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” 6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.
There is one who is worthy!
He is the "Lion of the tribe of Judah". This is an allusion to the blessing given by Jacob to his 12 sons. To Judah, he said:
"Judah, your brothers will praise you;
your hand will be on the neck of your enemies;
your father's sons will bow down to you.
You are a lion's cub, O Judah;
you return from the prey, my son.
Like a lion he crouches and lies down,
like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?
The scepter will not depart from Judah,
nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,
until he comes to whom it belongs
and the obedience of the nations is his.
He will tether his donkey to a vine,
his colt to the choicest branch;
he will wash his garments in wine,
his robes in the blood of grapes.
His eyes will be darker than wine,
his teeth whiter than milk. (Gen 49:8-12)
To Mary, the angel Gabriel said of Jesus:
"You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." (Luke 1:31-33)
Jesus was also the "Root of David". In Isaiah chapter 11, Jehovah promises to raise a "signal" or banner from the "stump of Jesse", even for the nations:
"A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit... In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious... He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth."
Paul quotes from the LXX version of this passage, in Romans 15:12:
"And again, Isaiah says,
'The Root of Jesse will spring up,
one who will arise to rule over the nations;
the Gentiles will hope in him.'"
John sees a Lamb, "looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne".
This is undoubtedly representative of Jesus Christ. When John the Baptist saw Jesus, he proclaimed: "“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29)
Paul calls Christ "our Passover lamb". (1 Cor 5:7) Furthermore, we see later a great crowd who have "washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (Rev 7:14)
We should note that the symbology given to us here is not obscure or difficult, if we have a basic understanding of Christ, his teachings and his purpose.
It is interesting that the Lamb has "seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth."
This again reinforces the interpretation that the "seven spirits" are high-ranking spirits - they have been "sent out into all the earth." Certainly Gabriel is on record as having been "sent out" at least three times - to Daniel, Zechariah (father of John the Baptist) and to Mary.
That Jesus is denoted as having "seven horns" and "seven eyes" shows that he is a force, a power in his own right.
The Lamb takes the scroll - he alone is worthy to open it!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty‑four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song:
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased men for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth.”
When the Lamb takes the scroll, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fall down before the Lamb.
They each have golden bowls of incense. We should note that, once again, these things are interpreted for us almost immediately, for John says the incense "are the prayers of the saints." (This is following Rule #1 that we earlier established.)
Part of the installation procedure for the 12 chieftains of Israel was the offering of "one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense".
Furthermore, the 24 elders have harps, which they use to sing a song. In King David's day, he arranged service groups of Levite singer prophets into 24 divisions of 12. These were ones "for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals". (1 Chronicles 25:1)
Clearly then, an image of holiness and special holy service is being conveyed to John. However, physical incense has gone, to be replaced with "the prayers of the saints."
We must bear in mind the principle prayer of the saints was the very one taught by the Lamb himself:
"...your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Mathew 6:10)
These prayers are not to go unanswered, as we shall see!
With the Lamb's blood, he "purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation".
The 24 elders also sing: "You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."
Those purchased are collectively a kingdom, and priests - and as Jesus has already made clear in his messages to the 7 congregations, they will "reign".
Exactly where they will reign is in debate here. The word "on" is epi in Greek, which can also mean over. (Hence the NWT, "over the earth".)
I will leave that debate aside for now, since maybe the rest of Revelation can shed light on this.
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5:11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they sang:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”
13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”
14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
John now sees the whole vast angelic army of heaven encircling the throne and the living creatures and the elders.
Although the Greek word myriad is here translated "ten thousand", and so "ten thousand times ten thousand" is literally 100 million... I suspect John is using it in a more vague sense to mean "countless thousands", since he says "thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand". Just as in Psalm 91:7 it says, "A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you." This is not a prophecy of exactly how many are to die at someone's side, but is used to make a point.
Then, "every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea" joins in the praise!
Yes, the Lamb is universally acknowledged as worthy to take the scroll and open it.
Quote:
Now, we should note that there are differences between the description given by Ezekiel and John. For instance, Ezekiel seems to mention four wings, while John counts six.
However, I think there may be a lesson here: John and Ezekiel are seeing almost the same things, but from two different perspectives.
Ezekiel is at the bottom of God's "glory cloud", looking up, and the "expanse" is above him and the four creatures.
John is (at least "in Spirit") in the heavenly court itself, looking down upon the "sea of glass".
So there is a possibility that Ezekiel cannot "see" the extra wings! Alternatively, maybe Ezekiel does see them, in the wings on each of the four sides, and the "two wings" that were "spread out upward". It might possibly be a misunderstanding of the original Hebrew.
Either way, perspective is important. From his vantage point in the heavenly court, John can see things we can't!
And this is what we must bear in mind from now on: John is, in Spirit, now viewing things from a heavenly perspective.
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[dondobo]
Considering what you said in the first quotation above, I find this discussion surprising. John is not seeing heaven in reality. Neither is Ezekiel. They are not viewing things from a heavenly perspective, but from an earthly perspective. There are not creatures of this sort in the real heaven. These are merely earthly representations of higher thoughts. They are symbolisms. So why would Ezekiel and Isaiah and John have to see the same symbols?
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