Parallels in Revelation: Chapters 13 to 22

By Dennis Herman

I’ve written this book with the idea of presenting Revelation as a book. Something I’ve not seen done before. Why? I don’t know. Why not read Revelation as a book and concentrate on it as a book from Heaven, a message from Jesus? John saw a series of visions in a particular order that was planned long before John arrived. Each vision built upon the previous vision. They are all recorded in the order they were viewed. The fact that the beginning and end of Revelation reminds us that this book was written by Jesus should leave some sort of impression on people.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Oct 23, 2019
• ISBN: 9780359998050

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Parallels in Revelation: Chapters 13 to 22

Parallels in Revelation: Chapters 13 to 22

Written by Dennis Herman

Copyright © 2019 Dennis Herman

All rights reserved

ISBN- 978-0-359-99805-0

Parallels in Revelation Chapters 13 to 22

by Dennis Herman

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Introduction to Parallels in Revelation Book 2

What are parable chapters in the Bible? In simple terms, parallel chapters in the Bible begin with a prophecy in the Bible. Then the prophecy is combined with the recorded fulfillment in the Bible. When the chapters are combined, they will show exactly how both chapters cover the same subject and theme. Parallel chapters are the highest form of Bible Study I know of. Parallel chapters remove all the guess work from prophecies because the inspired Word from God covers both the prophecy and its fulfillment. In other words, parallel chapters provided the evidence this world needs to know that only an Infinite God could have written the Bible.

This book on Revelation does not contain a lot of parallel chapters from other books in the Bible, but this book provides details showing how chapters inside Revelation parallel one another. Anyone who has read The Book of Revelation from beginning to end has seen how details have been repeated. An author repeats details because they are important. Jesus repeated details because they are a matter of enteral life and death. When we combine the information Jesus repeated, we see a much broader view of the story at hand. The prophecies in Revelation are revealed within Revelation. There is no reason to add or subtract any information from the Book of Revelation. The answers have been there for over two thousand years.

Finding the answers is a rather simple task. The first four chapters of Revelation are actually a teaching tool or text book showing us how to study scripture. When we follow those simple lessons as we progress through The Book of Revelation, we find more information than we could imagine. Answers you know in the back of your mind were there, but just could not put the information together. This book helps to put those stories and details together for a better understanding of Revelation and its Author.

Chapter 1 The Beast out of the Sea

Revelation chapter 13 has to be the most popular chapter in Revelation. The strange thing about Revelation chapter 13 is, it’s the only chapter in Revelation that begins on earth. That’s right. Take a look at the first sentence. Then I saw a beast rising up out of the sea. It had seven heads and ten horns, with ten crowns on its horns. And written on each head were names that blasphemed God. (Revelation 13:1 NLTse). Bow compare that to the first sentence in the previous chapter. Then I witnessed in heaven an event of great significance. I saw a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head. (Revelation 12:1 NLTse). Now go ahead. Compare the first sentence from every other chapter in Revelation to the first sentence in every other chapter. Every other chapters begins in Heaven. Chapter 13 begins on earth. Why do you think Jesus did that?

Look back at the first twelve chapters in Revelation. As a whole, they are a warning. They are also a tool and instruction manual for those who carry God's seal. Revelation is a book designed to teach Jesus’ disciples how to read and interpret scripture. Jesus explained how to read and understand scripture. After telling His disciples the parable about the seeds and how they are scattered in different ground, Jesus explained each of those symbols and their meaning. Jesus revealed their meaning. After explaining that story, Jesus spent weeks showing His disciples living examples often referred to acted parables. Those acted parables were a series of events  designed to emphasize lessons that opened the pages, words, and stories in scripture to the disciples. The information Jesus gave His disciples should have been enough for them to read and understand the prophecies about Jesus, and see how He would be arrested, tried, and condemned by the priesthood of that time. Also how Jesus would face three days in the grave and raise from the dead. All of that information was in the scriptures for generations. Jesus showed His disciples how to read those stories and understand the symbols. Jesus went as far as explaining His arrest, execution, and resurrection to the disciples a number of times. But something held those disciples back. Something stopped their learning. What was it?

For us that should be an object lesson. And Revelation chapter 13 is a good chapter to review what the disciples missed. I’ve seen no less that one hundred people try to explain Revelation 13. I’ve watched hundreds of videos on the subject. I’ve been sent countless messages about this chapter. I am sure there are more books in Revelation 13 than I could possibility read in a life time. The strange thing about all of that is, they all begin in Revelation 13, the only chapter that begins on earth. Jesus used that as a warning. All those people who dedicated so much time to studying this chapter are using earthly methods to study and interpret each of those symbols. Listen to them. There is no denying they are using earthly knowledge to interpret a book that originated in Heaven.

If you discuss some of the so called, facts, people present from a word or two, maybe a sentence from Revelation 13, you will hear the phrase, common sense. By discuss, I mean to question the facts presented, or ask them to reveal their source or information. What is common sense? Does common sense come from Heaven or earth? Common sense is combination of knowledge based on life experiences and things taught by other people. Common sense has nothing to do with Heaven. No one has lived in Heaven. There are no real life experiences from Heaven anyone could add to common sense. So why do people think they can use a guide such as common sense to interpret the Bible? I’m not sure why. The word common sense goes around and around like a hamster on an exercise wheel. All that effort exerted to get no where.

I’ve seen people take a few words out of Revelation 13 and come up with elaborate stories about secret societies with secret plans. They describe those plans in such detail, they appear to have an intimate relationship with those secret societies controlled by Satan. I see people mesmerized with those stories licking up every word like somehow that information will someday pay off with a free pass to eternal life. Needless to say, people who concentrate on Revelation chapter 13 are engulfed in prophecy. They live, breath, and eat prophecy. In their eyes, their prophecies are right, and every other prophecy in the world is wrong, misleading, and from the devil. But they cannot see how the entire chapter of Revelation 13 originates from earth, and all their tools and techniques for interpreting those symbols is from this world. Not from Heaven. All of it is from this world.

I’ve had people send me messages and invite me to seminars. They tell me, oh this is all new information recently uncovered, and you have to hear it. Sure enough. The first thing the teacher does is open his Bible to Revelation 13 and say, I saw a beast rising up out of the sea. Then explain what that beast is, where the beast is came from, and secret plans that beast has for this world. People use Revelation 13 to make themselves appear as prophets. They don't claim to be a prophet, but they claim to know the future. And they can’t be prophets. Prophets talk with God, and God talks to prophets. All of their information came from the same place that beast did – the earth.

Revelation 13:1-4 NLTse  (1)  Then I saw a beast rising up out of the sea. It had seven heads and ten horns, with ten crowns on its horns. And written on each head were names that blasphemed God.  (2)  This beast looked like a leopard, but it had the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion! And the dragon gave the beast his own power and throne and great authority.  (3)  I saw that one of the heads of the beast seemed wounded beyond recovery--but the fatal wound was healed! The whole world marveled at this miracle and gave allegiance to the beast.  (4)  They worshiped the dragon for giving the beast such power, and they also worshiped the beast. Who is as great as the beast? they exclaimed. Who is able to fight against him?

The first thing to do whenever you begin a chapter is to look back at the previous chapter. Revelation was written as a book and deserves to be read as a book.

Revelation 12:15-18 NLTse  (15)  Then the dragon tried to drown the woman with a flood of water that flowed from his mouth.  (16)  But the earth helped her by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that gushed out from the mouth of the dragon.  (17)  And the dragon was angry at the woman and declared war against the rest of her children--all who keep God's commandments and maintain their testimony for Jesus.  (18)  Then the dragon took his stand on the shore beside the sea.

When we look at the previous chapter, we can easily see how the devil has already been working hard to upset this earth and uproot every follower Jesus has. The devil has been defeated. The devil is restricted to this world. The devil is upset and has his sights set on every follower Jesus has. If we look back a few more chapters we see how the devil has a countless number of deceptions he is flooding this world with. I know there are hundreds of interpretations for the end of chapter 12 and the beginning of chapter 13, but which are correct? Or which one is correct? And how do we identify and verify the correct interpretation? We go back to Revelation chapter 1, onto chapters 2 and 3, and review the basic Bible Study rules Jesus recorded in that section of Revelation. We stick to what has been taught and verified in scripture.

All we need to do is back up a few verses and let the story in Revelation chapter 12 identify the dragon. This great dragon--the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world--was thrown down to the earth with all his angels.(Revelation 12:9 NLTse). Now we know it is Satan standing on the shore of the sea when that beast came out of the sea.

John saw a number of heads, crowns, and horns on that beast. Each is a symbol and by rule should be interpreted by the Bible. And only the Bible. The first thing to do is of course to search the Book of Revelation to see how the word beast has been used in other stories.

And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. (Revelation 4:7-8 KJV).

Back in chapter 4 John saw a number of beasts. When we follow those beasts through Revelation, we find one interesting fact.

And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. (Revelation 6:3 KJV).

And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. (Revelation 6:5 KJV).

And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. (Revelation 6:7 KJV).

Three of the four beasts showed John the second, third, and fourth seals. Those beasts in Heaven had the honor of sharing those visions with John. In other words, we have beasts in Heaven serving God, and in Revelation chapter 13 John introduced a beast designed to serve Satan. Which helps to explain an interesting feature of Satan’s beast. This beast looked like a leopard, but it had the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion! The main feature is a the body of a leopard. A leopard is designed with spots on its coat to break up its shape. Which makes it easy for a leopard to hide in the shadows. A leopard is designed to conceal itself. Which is what the sequence of beasts and images in Revelation 13 tells us. The story begins with Satan standing on a shoreline. Satan hides behind a beast, then another, and then hides behind an image.

How many agents does Satan have to conceal himself? Maybe too many to count. And countless others we may not know about. Science denies God and of course denies the existence of the devil. Satan has more stories and fables about himself than we could count. Stories designed to throw people off tract and keep them guessing. If we added all the time people put into studying the devil, his mark, and the beasts he controls, that would add up to generations. All that time is lost. Never to be regained. What shape would this world be in if people followed Enoch’s example and studied to grow closer to God? What would we be learning today? What types of sermons would we be hearing, videos would we be watching, and books would we be reading? Whenever we see beings in Heaven, they are praising God. They know God. Every being in Heaven knows what each of those symbols in Revelation represnt and