A Revolutionary Look At the Revelation

By J. M. MacLeod

J. M. MacLeod examines out-dated interpretations of previous centuries in the light of recent worldwide developments as predicted in The Revelation. Does the Revelation pinpoint the timing (not the date) of the Rapture? How do the Jewish feasts outline God's plan to save mankind? Who will be the Antichrist and what does "666" mean?

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Sep 1, 2015
• ISBN: 9781483557908

Book preview

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CHAPTER 1

¹ The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass;

The opening verse of The Revelation is an answer to a question his disciples asked:

Mark 13:3-4… And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, Tell us, when shall these things be, and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?

Jesus startles them (and us, if we think about it) with his answer:

"But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is." (Mark 13:32-33).

Jesus didn’t know! The Father hadn’t revealed just when Jesus would return and establish his kingdom on earth. Jesus, who knew the Father intimately, guided ever so sensitively by the Holy Spirit, was kept from this vital piece of information. Imagine! There was some information to which Jesus was not privy! He was one with the Father and the Spirit, yet this information that the Father alone knew was kept from Jesus.

… which God gave unto him… But, the Father had at this interview with John bestowed that missing bit of information. God the Father, sometime after Jesus returned to heaven, let the Son in on the timing of His triumphant return to earth. Only after ascending to the Father’s right hand was Jesus fully informed of when his rendezvous with his Bride would take place.

…to show unto his servants… Jesus was allowed to reveal certain aspects of those End Times to Jesus’ faithful bondservants so the Church would be prepared. It was not to the merely curious and/or semi-committed, but to his bond-slaves (NASB)—those utterly dedicated to the pursuit of truth, unrestrained in obedience to God’s will—that this information is revealed. In effect, the kingdom secrets given to John are in code; believers and non-believers alike have access to the manuscript, but only those attuned to the Holy Spirit’s voice will be able to decipher these curious utterances and mysterious symbols. Those who are idly curious and thrill-seekers will not be able to grasp the symbolism and flow of events that were revealed to John.

Usage of the phrase, "things which must shortly come to pass… " has caused many to believe--that since these things were to take place shortly—the events described must have happened just before or just after the close of the first century. This is a misapplication of the word, shortly. Linguists, in parsing Greek text, allow for various shades of meaning, thus precise interpretation of many words into English is difficult; translators applied the meaning they thought best fit the general thrust of the message—according to the Christian world view in their day. The word for shortly is also rendered, quickly come to pass, i.e. once the long-awaited, predicted events begin to happen, they will follow to a conclusion in rapid succession.

Jesus is not showing John an allegorical review of what things had already taken place, as some believe, but rather was warning that once prophetic fulfillment of these events began—all these predictions would rapidly unfold. Thus an amillennialist interpretation that these events have already happened is fraught with inconsistency and illogic. Simple deduction demands that the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:11) hasn’t happened yet, therefore on what consistent exegetical grounds can it be assumed that all the preceding categories of events (seals, trumpets, thunders, bowls, et al) up to Jesus’ return (Rev. 19:11-16) and the Great White Throne judgment, have occurred in times past, especially when there’s no manuscript evidence to interpret it thus?

There is, however, manuscript evidence to suggest that everything after Rev. 4:1 is future to John’s time.

After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were, of a trumpet, talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter.

God made it so that even the wisest scholars couldn’t figure out the Revelation’s enigmatic symbols until they were ready to be set in motion, and if any tried to figure things out, they’d end up with errant, and possibly dangerous, misleading theories. That’s not to say, however, that believers don’t need to study the Word of God, seeking knowledge of both God and his works. How else will they check and balance prophetic insights and revelations unless they have a thorough knowledge of God’s Word? The problem comes when brilliant scholars assume that their understanding is sufficient to decode the symbolism of prophetic scripture. Instead of waiting on the Holy Spirit’s inspiration, they trust their own reasoning. Therefore, it’s only to Jesus’ utterly reliable bond-slaves, i.e. those who wait expectantly on the Lord, receiving epiphanies and insights, to whom he delights to reveal secrets; for they alone may be trusted implicitly. For instance: Paul, polished scholar that he was, despised his theological education, calling it so much dung, because it left him a cold-hearted Pharisee; whereas his profound understanding of God’s mysterious plan to redeem not only Jews, but all mankind, came not through intensive study—but through special revelation. Paul’s (pre-Christian) studies provided a groundwork for the fuller revelations God later gave him, but in and of themselves, proved fruitless.

Galatians 1:11-16 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. … But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen…

Imagine the tremendous, intellectual obstacles Paul had to overcome in order to embrace this concept of salvation by grace, let alone extend it to Gentiles! Judaism appears to teach redemption by works, i.e. sacrifices for sin and extreme effort to obey the Law; it states that God is not a man… yet Paul taught that Jesus is both God and man! Mercy is emphasized over judgment… all these concepts flew in the face of Paul’s Phariseeism. His studies only reinforced a slavish devotion to the Law; but when God gave him revelation, his mind opened to understand the proper use of the Law as a schoolmaster, leading men to realize that no one can keep the Law well enough to appease God.

So, we see that knowledge of the Word of God is indispensable as a framework for discovering and knowing God’s will, but also can be misinterpreted or misapplied, and even used at cross-purposes to the truth. God’s Word--especially in as yet unfulfilled prophetic literature--must be illuminated by the Holy Spirit if one is to be fruitful and mature beyond a simplistic or erroneous understanding.

We need to study the Bible so His Spirit has wherewithal to use as he reveals his will to those who thirst for him, but study is only the beginning. If our study doesn’t lead to deeper communion, understanding and obedience to his ways, it’s barren. The Holy Spirit’s activity is required, utilizing what we’ve studied to produce Christ-like character. Thus, those who consistently exhibit the character of Jesus in their lives are his bond-slaves, to whom he dares to reveal His secret purposes.

WHY METAPHOR AND SYMBOLISM?

Only foolish generals (and presidents) reveal their plans to their enemies; likewise, non-committed or lower-rank soldiers aren’t entrusted with battle plans either. The Lord only reveals detailed plans to trusted servants who have proven reliable. Indeed, he will prevent his people from discerning his will and the times if need be:

Deuteronomy 29:4 Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.

The Israelites to whom this was spoken were half-hearted in their devotion, therefore they weren’t allowed classified information.

Satan doesn’t know when Jesus will return—but he’ll know that his time is getting short, and will react with increasing rage. Satan understands biblical symbolism better than secular, Jewish or even Christian scholars, but isn’t on the Holy Spirit’s contact list. Therefore, he can only guess; and he’ll be caught off guard when seals break and trumpets blare… Sadly, casual (carnal and or deceived) Christians will be expecting one thing when quite another is unleashed upon the earth. They too will be caught off guard—like the five virgins without oil in their lamps! (Matt. 24:51vss)

Many previous scenarios of the End Times are erroneous because, obviously, it wasn’t yet time for their fulfillment, therefore, a leftover jumble of outdated theories exist about the revived Roman Empire and/or ten world governing districts and the Antichrist faking an assassination attempt… all bogus scenarios when subjected to a more careful examination of scripture. These artificial constructs were advanced in previous generations by those attempting to shoe-horn existing world conditions of their times into various and sundry prophecies. But world conditions change: the European Economic Community (by many thought to be described in Rev. 13 and represented in Daniel’s ten toes, Dan. 2:41)) no longer consist of ten member nations, but now boasts 27+ nations. So the EEC no longer fits the description previously applied to the revived Roman Empire. Nevertheless, modern prophecy buffs tenaciously cling to this obsolete interpretation, insisting that originally there were ten nations… instead of letting the Spirit reveal a current world entity that precisely matches the prophetic description given to John and Daniel. (More on this in chapter thirteen.)

…and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: It was John, the youngest of Jesus’ twelve, one of the inner circle of three, and the one who was always in close proximity to the Lord and who loved him and was loved by him, ² Who bare record of the word of God… John wrote a more intimate account of Jesus’ personal discussions and teachings than the Synoptic Gospel-writers. John’s gospel also reveals more teaching about the Spirit’s activity in the believer (John 14-17).

…and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. This should end any dispute about the authorship of this book. Who else could the writer of The Revelation be but the disciple whom Jesus loved? This is none other than the John who walked with Jesus, saw his miracles and love for humanity, and bore testimony, i.e. wrote an account for succeeding generations to know the life, teaching, sacrifice, resurrection and continuing priesthood of Jesus.

BLESSING

³ Blessed is he that reads, and they that hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are written therein:

The word blessed is usually rendered happy, but this falls far short of the actual meaning. In its fullest sense the word means extremely well off and fortunate. It goes beyond the merely natural emotion of being in a good mood, surging instead to a spiritual level of ecstatic peace of mind, trusting all things—no matter how externally dire—are under God’s control. Just reading (and hearing) and meditating on the words of this prophecy will be a source of peace to those caught up in the turbulent events described in the following chapters. It’s not, as some superstitiously assume, to be read as a talisman against bad luck or as a charm for good fortune, but the blessing comes with the acquired knowledge of and obedience to God’s will.

…for the time is at hand. Again, many have misinterpreted this to mean that it would all happen within a few years of John’s penning the book. Jesus is merely saying that the age in which the End Times would occur had begun, the age of the Mosaic Covenant having passed; now the New Covenant era—wherein the symbols of the previous era are fulfilled—the last age, is in progress.

I am dispensational as far as recognizing that God has dealt various ways with mankind through various eras. For instance: God didn’t require Cain’s death for killing Abel, as he would have during Moses’ administration. In the same way, John the Baptist wrapped up the Old Testament age of obedience to the Law as the only acceptable way to God (because it held the Gospel in type and shadow form.) Jesus’ death and resurrection ended the Ceremonial and Ritualistic Law’s reign (which exhibited only Meager Grace,) and ushered in Robust Grace—the next dispensation of God’s plan to redeem humanity. This age of Robust Grace is what we (and John, as he wrote the Revelation) currently live in. Thus, Jesus tells John that the final epoch preceding Christ’s millennial reign has just begun. The age that’s going to culminate in the prophesied events of chapters 4-19 has started, but there’s no hint as to how long this period will last, only that it’s at hand, i.e. now underway.

SALUTATION

⁴ John to the seven churches which are in Asia: On the surface this epistle is addressed to seven specific churches in Asia Minor.

Why seven? Weren’t there more churches in Asia Minor than these? The record of Paul’s journeys give ample evidence of other churches planted in the sub-continent..

These seven churches of Asia Minor are symbolic of seven Church ages from the first century to the rapture of the Church, each age displaying identifying characteristics through which the Church will morph, from the ‘more or less’ faithful Ephesian Church on through and culminating in the final lukewarm Laodicean Church, bringing an end to the age of Grace.

Israel’s purpose during the dispensation of Law (Meager Grace) was to manifest God’s wisdom and goodness, thereby convincing pagan cultures to forsake false gods and seek the true God. But Israel failed to perceive God’s true purpose in their Law, and so, failed in their mission. But in time he brought forth the Gentile Church—a branch sprung out of Judaism because it’s rooted in the Jewish Messiah—to manifest Robust Grace to the world and draw all mankind to the Savior. So, these seven churches addressed by Jesus, reveal warts and all, the characteristics, problems and heroics, however mixed and distributed, of every and any church down through history to the present day.

Grace be unto you, and peace, from Him which is, and which was, and which is to come; The Eternal One: God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Now begins a series of descriptions, which have as their purpose either introducing, or else confirming, the identity of the Author. Due to the startling nature of what John was about to witness, authenticity of this message as coming from God was necessary. Any church or individual who disregarded this warning would be held accountable.

…and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; There’s much confusion as to the meaning of this phrase. What seven spirits are before the throne of God? Some translators render this phrase Seven-fold Spirit of God meaning that the Holy Spirit has seven functions, or seven characteristics, or perhaps there is some enigmatic aspect to God’s being that’s unknown and only briefly mentioned here. Or else, there’s some mysterious new personage connected to the Godhead…

But the mystery resolves itself as these seven spirits before the throne are revealed to be the angels over the seven churches—and more specifically – the leading pastors of the churches.

⁵ And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, What was Jesus witness to? We are more familiar with believers witnessing for Jesus—declaring his virgin birth, sinless life, godly teaching, vicarious death, resurrection, glorification and coming again to rule the world. We seldom consider what Christ was a witness of…

At the time Jesus was born Jewish leaders had so parsed, dissected and re-codified God’s Word that even the best intentioned of them had a distorted concept of God. To Jewish rulers, God was a harsh taskmaster, demanding obedience, exacting cruel punishments on the disobedient and less favored. They also believed that God pampered the rich and powerful, no matter how despotic their actions or oppression of the poor. The simplicity and fairness of the Law delivered to Moses some 1500 yrs. prior had been revamped and reclassified so it no longer revealed their need of a Savior; instead it sanctioned the rich, proud and powerful, ensconcing them in positions of authority.

Then Jesus arrived, preaching a loving, merciful and forgiving God who hates sin and condemns despots and unrepentant evil-doers. He refuted the powers that opposed him with scripture and supernatural miracles. So, John tells us that Jesus was the reliable witness to God’s true nature as opposed to the prevailing concepts of God taught by the ruling Pharisees. Jesus Himself told Pilate that He had come to bear witness to the truth (John 18:37).

…and the first begotten of the dead, Jesus rose not only from the grave, but from hell after preaching to the souls awaiting Judgment in the chambers of hades. Death has no hold on him, sin made no stain on his soul, and after dying on the cross he cruised through hell’s domain, a conqueror over sin, death and Satan, the first and foremost to rise in his own authority (given by the Father) to live forever more! Others had been miraculously raised back to life in Elijah’s and Elisha’s day and more still when Jesus walked the earth and even some have been raised to life in Jesus name during the Church age, but Jesus alone has eternal life in himself and is able to transmit that life to whomever he wills.

…and the prince of the kings of the earth. Jesus is monarch of all that Satan once offered, attained by obedience to the Father in going to the cross.

Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, ⁶ And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

⁷ Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. John well remembered the day when Jesus ascended into heaven before his very eyes, the years since had not diminished that event, nor the promise from the angels as Jesus ascended— that he would likewise return—in the clouds of heaven. Now, however, John adds a prophetic note: that all people on earth will behold him when he comes!

The overwhelming concept here is that Jesus, once victimized and rejected by his own Creation, will return to claim his possession, and to vindicate and reward his faithful followers who suffered victimization and rejection as he had. Then he’ll deal ruthlessly with his enemies.

⁸ I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. Jesus is identifying himself with the Almighty YHWH, the Lord God of Israel, the beginning and the ending, the Eternal One who always was, is and always will be.

⁹ I John, who also am your brother (fellow believer in Christ), and companion in tribulation (suffered persecution for the name of Christ as did many of those who read this letter), and in the kingdom (future hope of every believer) and patience of Jesus Christ (endurance supplied by Christ to remain faithful when persecuted) was in the isle that is called Patmos (a mining island exploited by the Romans for valuable ores and used as punishment for criminals who were sentenced to hard labor), for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. Apparently John was one of those dangerous criminals who had to be put to forced labor to keep the empire safe from his corrosive influence. John confesses his crime: guilty of propagating the Gospel of a loving, forgiving God who had become a man in order to take mankind’s sins upon himself. Such a treasonous message of hope could undermine confidence in any government’s ability to solve all of mankind’s problems. Mankind would no longer need governments ruled by corruptible men… People who propagate such concepts must be eliminated, or at least isolated, so they can do no harm. That was John’s crime—constantly spreading the Gospel of Jesus everywhere he went, even as an old man in his nineties who could no longer work the mines, he was sentenced to Patmos. But John’s punishment turned out to be a great boon to Christianity, for this very vision of the Revelation reveals the end of human governments and the ushering in of the kingdom of Jesus Christ.

¹⁰ I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, Here’s a phrase that bears unpacking. Believers often assume they’re in the Spirit when they have no understanding of what it actually means. It doesn’t simply mean born again. Being born again means that the Spirit of God has come into the believer, and he is cleansed by the blood of the Lamb. But having the Spirit of God does not automatically make one filled with the Spirit—or as John (and Paul) termed it, in the Spirit. John is about to relate a supernatural phenomenon he experienced, therefore he was not just in the state of being born again. John uses the same wording as Paul to describe a heightened sensitivity to God’s Spirit. This spiritual state was commonly experienced by Christians in the first century (and still ought to be). Paul clarifies this euphoric state by contrasting it with the emotions of the flesh…he warns against the dangers of letting the mind be in an altered state due to drunkenness, drug abuse or trance-inducing spiritism (Pharmakeia): in Ephesians 5:18-20.

Paul advises believers to enter a holy, altered state—that is, other than solely focused on carnalthings of this world—of mind, and gives the formula for getting in the Spirit, by worshipping Jesus and expressing heartfelt thanksgiving. This is not mindless chanting or repetition of songs or verses or telling beads, but actually engaging the spirit, mind and body in acknowledging the Person and work of the Lord… entering a fully aware state of adoration of him. This is the condition John was already in when the Lord appeared to him on the Lord’s Day.

The Lord’s Day was Sunday—the first day of the week when Christ arose, adopted by believers in Christ over the Jewish Shabbat.

…and heard behind me a great voice as of a trumpet, There was one other occasion when the Lord appeared behind a prophet… Ezekiel 3:12. In both of these cases, the receiver of the visitation was about to be taken elsewhere by the Spirit to receive warnings. Since God does things in patterns, John’s visitation follows the pattern God used with Ezekiel.

Notice too, that John didn’t say he heard a trumpet, but a voice blaring like a trumpet, therefore this is not the trumpet blast inaugurating the Rapture. Nor is it the shout Paul says will accompany Christ’s return. This is Jesus’ presence being heralded.

¹¹ Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. John is appointed to record everything he’s seen, what he presently sees, and all he is about to see.

¹² And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. John had to turn around to see who was speaking. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; It’s interesting that the first thing John sees are seven freestanding, golden menorahs—and only after he sees them does he notice the Lord amongst the candlesticks. The candlesticks representing the churches are what the Lord drew John’s to. ¹³ And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, It doesn’t take John long to spy Jesus in the midst of the candlesticks … clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle (a golden sash like kings wore to denote their high office). ¹⁴ His head and his hairs were white, like wool, as white as snow (re: Daniel 7:9 description of the Ancient of Days—indicating that Jesus is of the same essence as the Father); and his eyes were as a flame of fire (penetrating); ¹⁵ And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace (symbolic of walking in judgment); and his voice as the sound of many waters. (The indication here is of a downpour of rain—a deluge; Jesus’ voice was no longer merely human, but greatly increased in volume and authority). ¹⁶ And he had