BOOK OF REVELATION

The book of Revelation, written by the Apostle John in exile on the Isle of Patmos, is perhaps the most misunderstood book in the entire canon of scripture. The amount of confusion that has come out of the teaching of this, New Testament book, is more than just a little disturbing. As a child growing up, I was terrified. You see, when it comes to the things of God, Ignorance is NOT BLISS it is dangerous.

Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:

It would be some 30 years later that the truth of this wonderful book opened up to me, and now I am going to attempt to share some of that with you.

Without proper understanding people will believe any old thing that comes out of the mouths of the Religious Leaders of the world. For example there was a time I believed without a shadow of a doubt that I needed to have my son baptized when he was born, for fear that if he died, he would be sent to a place of endless torture. How sad it is that man has twisted the Good News of God in such a way, that everything we now do is simply because we are motivated by fear to do it instead of being motivated by love.

There are so many voices out there today, saying so many different things that it would be hard for anyone to truly know which way is “The Way”, which of course is another description of Christ (The power and wisdom of God). So instead of going right to God, mankind has been taught to go to “church buildings”, perhaps they were raised in a certain philosophy and brainwashed since birth that what their particular faith states is the only truth there is, regardless of how wrong it could be.

As I said, I bought into many religious doctrines and fear tactics as a child, but when I became a man I put away these childish things and I searched for the truth for myself. I simply hungered for God’s truth, I was thirsty for the truth, so I begged God daily, “TEACH ME THE TRUTH NO MATTER WHAT THE COST!”

I didn’t want to be wrong, I didn’t want to be misled, I wanted to know the truth. And this led me to the study of many holy books, as well as the scriptures which I cut my teeth on and till this day still use as my main source to relay what I now know to be true. But I always leave open the possibility that I could be wrong, the moment I think I know it all and that I alone have the answers is the very moment I will learn no more, and become deceived.

Proverbs 16:17-19
17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud

So, today we examine a book that people for years now have, in my opinion, truly misinterpreted… that of course being the last book in the cannon, “The Revelation Of Jesus Christ to John”.

First a brief history lesson: You see, people don’t know that their beliefs today actually were designed to contradict another belief that was designed to tear a certain religion down. In other words, the enduring beliefs about revelation today were simply strategic moves by members of RELIGION to further their RELIGIOUS agenda. And in doing so millions have now fallen into these erroneous teachings. SO LET’S TEAR THEM DOWN SHALL WE?

REVELATION’S HISTORY:

In the 3rd century AD, the dispute began over whether or not this book of symbols, and prophesies, written by John should be taken literally or figuratively.

Clement of Alexandria and Origen (two of the greatest theologians of their time) taught that Revelation COULD ONLY be seen as an ALLEGORICAL and that it DOES NOT REFER TO HISTORICAL OR FUTURE EVENTS. You’ll find I agree.

However, after the Reformation in 1517, The Book of Revelation became a weapon in the hands of religious men, using it to discredit those in opposing faiths. Three new interpretations came out of this, Historicism, Preterism, and Futurism.

“Historicism, states the prophesies of Revelation has begun to unfold in ancient times, and basically claimed the Papacy and the Pope were the Anti-Christ. ”

In defense of this, three Jesuits created two differing views, Luis de Alcasar, Francisco Ribera, and Robert Bellarmine came up with these two doctrines, Preterism, and Futurism.

Alcasar originated “Preterism”, which states the whole of Revelation was fulfilled by the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D, or, in another reading, by the fall of Rome in 410 A.D.

Ribera came up with the view that is wildly popular today, “Futurism” which states that the Apocalyptic events will occur at the end of time/humanrace, hence the idea of the Final Days or End Times. And today you don’t have to go far to hear about these dreaded “End Times” we are living in.

So which is it? You ask.

Well I will tell you that, the CLUE as to what is going on here is found right smack dab in the middle of the first page, THE TITLE.

You see many people will call it the “Book of Revelation”, this is why I titled this essay as such, but that is NOT the title JOHN gave. The title John Gave offers us GREAT INSIGHT. I want you to just look at that title for a moment. REALLY LOOK AT IT.

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ unto his servant John”

This is the ACTUAL title of the book. The Title does not say, the Future vision of scary things to befall mankind, or the past events of the fall of Rome, BUT, it states… this book is the… REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST UNTO HIS SERVANT JOHN.

Let me put this in words you best can understand. The title of the book LITERALLY refers to how the truth of Jesus Christ was REVEALED TO JOHN.

Dictionary.com defines REVELATION as such:
the act of revealing or disclosing; disclosure.
2. something revealed or disclosed, especially a striking disclosure, as of something not before realized.
3. Theology a. God’s disclosure of Himself and His will to His creatures.
b. an instance of such communication or disclosure.
c. something thus communicated or disclosed.
d. something that contains such disclosure, as the Bible.

If you are still unclear on what revelation is. Well, think of it like this, imagine a chair is covered with a blanket and all anyone knows is that blanket, but the chair is always there waiting for that blanket to be pulled off it. Revelation is what happens when that blanket is pulled away and the chair is revealed. You realize the chair was always there, you just didn’t know it until it was revealed, until the very thing keeping it hidden from you was pulled away.

You see, there is a great TRUTH within us all which has been HIDDEN and one day the VEIL/EVIL (the flesh=carnal mind/ignorance) which was keeping this great truth hidden is removed. Once the Veil/Flesh/Carnal Mind is removed the TRUTH is known.

This is what this last book in the scriptures is about, the revealing of the great truth which is CHRIST, which is IN YOU, which is the HOPE OF GLORY.

But how does one explain so great a truth? Jesus always taught in parable. There was a great reason for this. If Jesus were to come out and say things plainly it would not be received very well. Those that have had the revelation of Christ know that you can’t just go up and tell someone what you have learned, they would attack you, tear you down, and put you out. So, like Jesus, John wrote symbolically.

Mark 4:11
And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, ALL these things are done in parable

So “Revelation” is a book of allegorical symbols and shadows written to try to explain, that which cannot be literally explained. This book is John’s account of how HE finally understood the truth. It is a poetic documenting of his journey from Ignorance to Revelation (understanding).

Why so many people take this book literally is beyond me. I know how Elijah must have felt, everywhere he turned people were worshipping Baal and he alone had the wonderful truth, which was simple and wonderful, not filled with all the hocus pocus and yet the world wanted him dead.

Nevertheless, God prepared 7000 (not a literal number people) who have not bowed down/FOLLOWED/WORSHIPPED Baal (this LORD the world loves). This remnant is standing up today and shouting, “WAKE UP WORLD YOU ARE BELIEVING LIES!”

Throughout the years there have been “Profits” of doom, claiming the world would end, or Christ would literally appear. Whether it was Jim Jones, Benny Hinn, The Hale Bop cult, or most recently Harold Camping, we see the terrible fall out because of it all. People are desperate today to find peace, they want to escape a world where they only know misery and pain. So they believe in fairy tales where they are whisked away and everyone who is not like them is tortured. This belief is the very heart of the Carnal Man (do as I say, believe what I believe, OR ELSE).

The spiritual man knows that God is LOVE and will have ALL come to the knowledge of the truth.

Ephesians 4:13
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ

There Religious Leaders SEEM TO speak with such authority, that those who are desperate for a way out of the misery of their lives, they will buy into what they are selling hook line and sinker. And boy do these Religious leaders serve it up, itching people’s ears and giving them exactly what they want.

The sad part is, deceived and deceiving religious leaders will tear down and attack other deceived and deceiving religious leaders for their deceit. As we recently saw with the Harold Camping fall out. Almost every Evangelical teacher condemned the man for his false prediction of the Rapture, stating that they know scripture says no one knows the day or the hour, not even the son.

The irony is the Rapture teaching is a lie as well, and they are no better than the Harold Campings of the world. They are selling escapism, as opposed to teaching the truth which is the only path to freedom. There is no quick fix, no prayer to pray to be saved, no way out of our suffering without GOING TO THE CROSS (symbolically of course of crossing from our ignorance into enlightenment, hell to heaven). We need to put the son of man (ego man) to death, and allow the SON OF GOD to be revealed. For that is who we all actually are. But that is not what this paper is about.

So back to REVELATION:

This is what this book deals with, symbolic and allegorical stories of how Christ is revealed to MAN. And what wonderful symbolism John used. So let’s start diving in, by looking at one of the most misunderstood, fear inspiring, chapters. Chapter 10. I will simply state the verse and beneath it reveal what I believe is really going on there. I do this by searching the scriptures for witnesses of the words stated. For example if you want to find out what a “Thorn” represents go through the scriptures and read everything that is written about that thorn, and you will find it is an allegorical representation of “the cares of the world” – the Thorn strangles the Word/Logos/Logic/Wisdom/Truth/Christ.

REVELATION 10

1And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:

Who is this angel, what is an Angel? Well the word, ANGEL is literally translates as MESSENGER/MESSAGE/ENVOY. Look it up. 🙂

You see, an Angel is not some winged creature. An Angel is simply a messenger of God, it could be anyone who has been brought into a higher (heavenly) realm of understanding. An Angel is one who has the revelation of Christ and then relays this information to those in the Earth… In fact in most literal translations, the word Angel is never even used, it is replaced by Man or Men or Messenger, or Envoy…. Meaning an Angel delivers Gods truth to those who haven’t ascended into the understanding of God’s truth yet.

This is what Jacob’s Ladder is all about, going up to a place of enlightenment and then coming down to reveal it to others.

I want to remind you, Revelation is a book of “symbols” and so this description is symbolic as well.

This Angel is Clothed in a Cloud… A cloud is symbolic of the witnesses in the world. A literal cloud hangs directly in between Heaven and Earth. It receives the WATER (doctrine) and Releases the RAIN (doctrine/teaching). Clouds are a GREAT SYMBOL of the believers. Don’t believe me?

Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a CLOUD of witnesses.

The CLOUD (Those who witness to the world the things of God) led Israel through the wilderness during the DAY (a symbol of understanding/being about to see. When people can see what is beinG said they can follow it). As Many Men and Women of God lead others through the wilderness of this world. But not all CLOUDS (Witnesses) have the revelation of Christ and deliver truth.

Jude 1:12
These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots.

Those witnesses (clouds) had not the TEACHING/DOCTRINE of the Truth.

So we see the CLOUD is symbolic of the people who WITNESS the things of God to others. The ANGEL is the Message of Truth. So it is easy to see, that this ANGEL CLOTHED WITH A CLOUD, a WITNESS who had the TRUTH OF GOD (message of God) within to share.

The Glory of God was always found inside a CLOUD, clothed with a cloud…

Exodus 16:10
While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the LORD appearing in the cloud.

A lot of people don’t understand what this GLORY of God revealed in the cloud is. Well the Glory of God is to CONCEAL SOMETHING. God’s Glory is the HIDDEN TRUTH within us all.

Proverbs 25:2
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter

This Angel (Message of truth/Messenger of truth) REVEALS the GLORY (hidden things) OF GOD to others, because it is first revealed to them, and it resides WITHIN THEM.

This great treasure is in EARTHEN VESSELS! Let’s look at that verse again with new eyes.

1And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:

Now for the second part of this verse… A rainbow is upon his head. Now a head represents the thinking of a person, the authority of a person. So to understand what a rainbow on someone’s head means, we must first understand what a rainbow represents. A RAINBOW shows all the glory of the light, it reveals the entire color spectrum. And hows does this do this? Because the Sunlight hits the water just right. Do you see the allegory? … The head represents the thinking or the authority of a man. So this Witness, reveals all the glory of the light (TRUTH/CHRIST) and by looking at him it was as if we were looking at the Son of God…

This Angel is A MANIFESTED SON OR DAUGHTER OF GOD. Their FEET, which is a representation of our WALK with the LORD. And witness in the world, is as a FIRE which is symbolic of purification. Fire burns away everything that is not true. So the Feet as pillars of Fire another symbol of this Messenger’s walk and witness in the world.

Romans 10:15
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things

So now that we know, this Angel is not some supernatural creature, but simply a Manifested Son or Daughter of God sent to witness what they themselves have learned we can move on.

And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth, m>

The book, or scroll, is written so whatever is DOCUMENTED will be REMEMBERED and NOT FORGOTTEN.

A CLOSED/SEALED book is one whose knowledge cannot be known until it is OPEN… An OPEN BOOK is easily read, it is a TRUTH that is no longer hidden from men. It is an Epistle read of all men.

This MESSENGER of God is not keeping anything away from mankind. “He or She” is an OPEN BOOK to be read of all MEN.

They will set their Foot (ministry or walk) on the Sea (those who do not know God) and on the Land (those that may know God but still live in the carnal realm of the earth)

Let me show you, that the SEA AND WATERS are always a representation of the multitudes that don’t know God. This is what we must FISH MEN OUT OF, their ignorant thinking.

Revelation 17:15
And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

The whore of Babylon which sits upon the waters, is simply mankind’s Carnal Beliefs. Which keeps people drunk (intoxicated), and when people are drunk they can’t think clearly can they. False Beliefs and Ignorance is the very essence of what we find in the Sea. Which is why this Angel stands on both the Sea and the Land. These Manifested Sons and Daughters of God, Messengers of God will put their FOOT on both, in other words they will bring the GOSPEL of TRUTH to both, with authority.

Yes, these messengers are just regular old people, like you and me, who have the truth revealed to them, so they in return can reveal it to others, freely. As Jesus did, (as He is so are We in this world “1st john”) This is what John learned and tried to reveal in symbolic language, so those who were meant to understand would, and those that weren’t couldn’t. Because there is an order to God’s plan, and each man comes to the truth in his or her order.

3And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.

These SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF GOD boldly proclaim what the Lion of Judah proclaimed when he cried out on the cross… FORGIVENESS and LOVE! Seven, of course the number of completion. Thunder is what you hear after you see lightning. In other words these messengers will bring a completed and perfected message of truth and people will HEAR IT!

When the truth is sounded, as scripture tells us (God’s words are like THUNDER)… and these SEVEN THUNDERS are the “perfected and completed” total all-encompassing truth of God’s message TO ALL. On the seventh day God rests. This is the FINAL MESSAGE OF TRUTH, that is declared.

His Messengers DECLARE this TRUTH to all.

4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.

Now this message isn’t for everyone. There are MANY that cannot HEAR THE TRUTH, SEE THE TRUTH, or WALK IN THE TRUTH. For some, it just makes complete sense, for others, however, the book is SEALED. Here John is basically saying, he had to write the book of Revelation symbolically, it had to be sealed up. The completed and perfect message of truth came to him, but he knew not everyone would receive it, so he understood it had to be sealed, or should I say concealed from those that would probably kill him for saying what today many are beginning to say.

Mark 4:12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

A mature believer understands who he or she can share the TRUTH with. A Mature believer never wastes their pearls before swine (carnal believers). In your walk you have to veil you revelations for many. Moses did this, he veiled his face, which was symbolic of hiding the truth from people. Listen the fact of the matter is you can’t just go into any old church and say, HEY EVERYONE, ALMOST EVERYTHING YOU ALL BELIEVE IS A BIG LIE! Can you? No, you can only share the truth with those that can hear the truth. To those whom have been prepared to hear it.

John 10:27
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Despite the simplicity of Gods all-encompassing love and forgiveness… This is why this Message of seven thunders (God’s perfect Truth) is sealed up… Each man in his order will receive it when they are ready. And remember, God is no respecter of persons. If you have this understanding don’t get all puffed up with pride thinking yourself to be special. Don’t believe you have done better, or more, than those who do not understand. For God blinds those he blinds for good reason.

Romans 11:32
For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

God makes EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL in IT’S time. So for some, the BOOKS (understanding of God’s truth) are closed, for others they are wide open. And one day, they will be OPEN FOR ALL.

5And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, 6And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:

This messenger, when he or she speaks, the hearer of his or her words knows that this message of God is true… The HAND is symbolic of AUTHORITY… There is power in these MESSENGERS WORDS. So those who hear what these SONS AND DAUGHTERS of God say, have no doubt that this “Angel” is telling the absolute truth.

And when we hear the TRUTH of the MESSAGE as John heard it … that is when the great MYSTERY of the KINGDOM OF GOD comes to an end. It is no longer a mystery to us but now it is OPEN and CLEAR. This is the time, we will UNDERSTAND that the MYSTERY is “CHRIST IN US”. And when we understand this, the THINGS WE LEARNED before ARE NO LONGER VALID.

This last passage and the next are really a throw back to what Daniel said. Notice the similarity.

Daniel 12:7
And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished

When there is TIME NO MORE, then people understand that all we have is the MOMENT! And in that MOMENT as Jesus said before giving up the ghost, we understand IT IS FINISHED. Meaning, if you can hear it, whatever is now has already been. No one will be lost, nothing can fail, because it is FINISHED!

and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:

We don’t have time for the lies we once believed. The TRUTH is at HAND (in our grasp/understanding)… The Hope of Glory is finally understood. “Christ IN YOU”. Old things (traditions/beliefs) pass away and EVERYTHING BECOMES NEW (Alive) And we exist only for the MOMENT!

7But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

Well, that should be confirmation for you. All of this is a symbolic telling of how the TRUTH is revealed to us, and how it is revealed to others who in return share it with the rest of the world. Shouting, IT IS FINISHED!

This next verse, really proves this article. The SEVENTH ANGEL (which is the complete/finished message of God understood) when it is HEARD (believed) … THE MYSTERY OF GOD IS FINISHED… There is no more mystery, no more spooky demons and ghouls, no more worries of eternal torture, or fears of monsters crawling out of some literal pit. No more being tossed too and fro with every WIND OF DOCTRINE. No more worrying about what to eat, what to wear, how to act, how to pray, fasting, etc etc… When you finally understand the TRUTH as John did… IT IS FINISHED.

You become as GOD’S CHILD, because that is who YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN but forgot (died) the instant you took upon yourself the cares of the world/SIN mentality/ignorance. But in this moment we understand that everything that came before this moment MUST BE PUT AWAY! As God revealed his truth to the Prophets of the past, now that TRUTH is revealed to us and we no longer need to go back and forth looking for it.

Now we must BECOME ONE WITH IT (assimilate it)… We must digest it and make it known to the world.

8And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.

The day God enlightens us with the TRUTH, the day the BOOK IS OPENED FOR US to understand… is the SAME DAY that we MUST TAKE that BOOK… We must TAKE THAT KNOWLEDGE… In that moment, we want to TAKE WHAT WE’VE LEARNED, and share this great REVELATION to all.

9And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.

And when we take this book, we then have to DEVOUR IT WHOLE! We can’t pick and choose which part of the truth we want to believe… We have to take the ENTIRE MESSAGE and we eat it up.

When you eat something, like an apple, the APPLE becomes YOU. The same is true for the THINGS OF GOD. We must allow the truth of God to become ONE WITH US… Christ MUST take over.

John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

We must BECOME ONE with it, we must CHEW ON IT (think about it, contemplate it)… we MUST DIGEST IT! And this truth, when we first take it in is sweet as honey, this TRUTH is the PROMISE LAND, it is ENLIGHTENMENT… It is a LAND FLOWING OF MILK AND HONEY and at first yes we embrace it and we revel in the wonder of how much God loves us, and how God will complete creation in Victory… And when those Words are in our mouths and they are spoken to others… They are sweet indeed.

But when that TRUTH hits our bellies (Our carnal nature, our worldly side) It makes it bitter. Your old man is not going to want to give up the throne. This GREAT FINISHED TRUTH AND WORK will make your belly bitter. Who you THINK YOU ARE (your carnal soulish nature) is your BELLY! God formed you there, as he formed Adam in the Dust. But the BELLY (who you think you are, will not readily and happily receive WHO YOU REALLY ARE) – because that means the OLD CARNAL MAN must be cast off.

Psalm 44:25
For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth

The serpent (carnal soulish nature of man) goes about on it’s belly.

Genesis 3:14
And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life

The Truth is not EASILY digested. At first it may sound great, but when you really take it in (Ingest it) it changes everything. Your carnal nature has only known deceit, it won’t readily receive TRUTH.

Job 15:35
They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their belly prepareth deceit

Our lives become different after eating this Book… Our lives now seem to be filled with trials, and loneliness, and suffering… But we must remember, it is the path of the cross that leads us into the kingdom and this is what makes our bellies bitter… we don’t want to be filled with the knowledge that we must love all, put others first, and forgive even the most heinous of criminals.