Lord of History: The Ancient Text Revealing the Course of History

By Richard Crane

Discover the hidden truths revealed in The Lord of History for all Christians during difficult times. The Lord of History uncovers the mystery of the apostle Johns revelation using the historical approach. Burning questions of all Christians are answered. What would be the outcome of life-and-death struggle between the Roman Empire and the church? Between the Caesars and Christ? Other issues discussed include the following:
Proof of Gods hand in history
Ultimate victory of good over evil
Prophecies of events, including conflict with Rome, Islamic conquests, the Dark Ages, Reformation, the Battle of Armageddon, the World Wars, the millennium, etc.
Identities of the Beast, the false prophet, 666
Personages of the Caesars, czars, Mohammad, Kaisers, Gutenberg, Hitler, Napoleon
Symbolic language of numbers, colors, creatures
Significance of the number seven
o Seven Blessings
o Seven-fold judgment on Roman Empire
o Seven new realities
o Seven dooms
o Seven personages
o Seven churches
o Seven visions

Thoughtful, provocative, and insightful, The Lord of History offers evidence that God directs and protects his people during troubled and foreboding times. The church lives on, forever and ever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jan 5, 2017
• ISBN: 9781524572433

Richard Crane

I am a veteran of the United States Navy and spend most of my time watching movies, drawing, or supporting my favorite sports team. I love building models and doing projects around the house, (the list never ends). I am a die-hard Science-fiction fan and also enjoy a good horror movie. I have many collections of movie items, (mostly Star Wars), and I enjoy long walks with my dog. I currently live with my family in Central Illinois.

Book preview

Lord of History

The Ancient Text Revealing the Course of History

Richard Crane

Copyright © 2017 by Richard Crane.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2016921230

ISBN:   Hardcover     978-1-5245-7245-7

             Softcover      978-1-5245-7244-0

             eBook           978-1-5245-7243-3

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Unless otherwise noted, all scriptures are taken from the Holy Bible, The Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1946, 1952, 1971 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture verses in chapter 18 are taken from King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture verses in chapter 22 are taken from The Living Oracles by Alexander Campbell.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 01/04/2017

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

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Contents

Praise for The Lord of History

Introduction

The Ancient Text

Part 1: One Greater than Caesar

Chapter 1:  The Magnificent Christ

Introduction to Chapters 2 and 3

Part 2: An Army Greater than Roman Legions

Chapter 2:  The Seven Churches I

Chapter 3:  The Seven Churches II

Introduction to Chapters 4 and 5

Part 3: Victory’s Manifestation

Chapter 4:  The Vision of Heaven

Chapter 5:  Christ Reigns in Heaven

Part 4: Future Conflict With Rome

Introduction to Chapters 6 through 22

Chapter 6:  Rome’s Glory and Decline

Chapter 7:  The Empire Given a Reprieve

Chapter 8:  Old Rome Falls

Chapter 9:  The Southern Part of the Empire Falls

Part 5: Future Of The Church

Chapter 10:  The Reformation

Chapter 11:  The Restoration Predicted

Chapter 12:  Church and Conflict

Chapter 13:  Rise of Persecution

Chapter 14:  A Remnant Still Redeemed through Dark Ages

Part 6: Western Rome Judged

Chapter 15:  Troubled Times

Chapter 16:  Judgments against Rome

Chapter 17:  More Judgments

Chapter 18:  The Fall of Babylon

Chapter 19:  Great Joy at Babylon’s Fall

Part 7: Victory Achieved

Chapter 20:  The Millennium

Chapter 21:  The New Jerusalem

Chapter 22:  Paradise Regained

Epilogue

I.    Symbolic Language

II.  Theories of Interpretations

III. Using Fulfilled Prophecies to Build Faith or Evangelize

Bibliography

Praise for The Lord of History

Richard A Cranes’s book The Lord of History is a breath of fresh air on a difficult subject, the Revelation of Jesus given to the Apostle John. He deals with the book from an historical perspective dealing with the subject expositionally verse by verse. His comments are based on sound research and a comprehensive understanding of the history of the church from the beginning until today. Having spent years studying this book, I have found few books that more competently, refreshingly, or accurately deal with the text. It is easy reading and a welcomed additional study aid, or teaching guide, for those who wish to receive the blessing that is promised to those that read and understand this Revelation of Jesus Christ.

—Dr. Charles A. Crane

BSL, M.A., M.DIV, D.MIN.

Retired President of Boise Bible College, Boise, Idaho

Seldom does the Christian market find as challenging a subject as the book of Revelation translated into wholly understandable common sense. You will study well past bedtime as you are convinced beyond doubt that our God really is in control, and that he desires beyond limits, perfect fellowship with his redeemed children. This practical commentary is well documented, logically organized, and easily understood. It is a verse-by-verse study showing prophetic history of the church and our ultimate destiny with the Father. This book belongs in every believer’s library.

—Dr. Gordon K. Bullock, DDS

Christian Bible Teacher, Eugene, Oregon

The Lord of History is a most interesting and informative book on Revelation. It is easy to read and understand. I found it hard to put down once I started. This is a book for both scholars as well as laypersons.

—Joann Biehler

Director of Music and Youth (retired)

The historicist view of eschatology has long had a place at the table of the many, competing views of the book of Revelation. Richard Crane’s book is one such historicist approach. And, with this updated edition, it furthers this approach in a thoughtful, respectful, and irenic way. I commend it to the reader as a clear and concise representation of that view. Read and enjoy.

Wes Wright, D. Min.,

Senior Minister,

Santa Clara Church, Eugene, Oregon

To June Crane, my wife, who was so patient while I worked on this book.

To CWO Harold L. Crane, USN, my father, who spent years helping to break the military code of the Pacific island empire that also fled away at the end of World War II. (See Rev. 16:20.)

Introduction

The Book of Revelation is a message of encouragement to Christians in difficult times. It comes from our Lord Jesus Christ, given through the Apostle John. John was imprisoned within the Roman penal colony on the island of Patmos because he refused to acknowledge the Emperor Domitian’s claim to being divine.

It is sent to the seven churches of the Roman province of Asia. By the design of apocalyptic literature, seven is inclusive and would indicate it is addressed to the whole church.

Revelation begins with a blessing promised for those reading this book (1:2). It then goes on to declare the main purpose of the book; making it clear that Jesus, not Domitian, is the ruler of the kings of the earth (1:15). Then in the rest of the first chapter it declares two glorious truths. First, Jesus is among his people as He promised: I am with you always (Matt. 28:20). Second, this Jesus is far greater or more exalted than any emperor could possibly be (see 1:12–20).

John records in chapters 2 and 3 a picture of the church destined to overcome since it is commanded seven times to do so. Everyone in that day thought Rome would overcome, but time would prove Jesus was right and that Christ, not Caesar, would reign. In addition, Jesus would be standing there, knocking to come in and by his loving fellowship and power provide the victory (see 3:20).

Next we get a trip to heaven. God is there in his holy splendor, but no emperors are there! It appears that all the possible honors they have acquired are of no consequence with the One True God! But the Lion of Judah (the Messiah) is there. And as they search for the worthy one who can open the seals on the book of the future, he is there and turns out to be the Lamb of God, Jesus. The world all believed then that the emperor held the future in his hands. But they were wrong. The one who loved us enough to die for you and for me, he holds it. Thank God, Jesus holds the future!

Then we see that in chapter 6, seals opened revealing the future. Originally, it looks good for Rome as the white horse symbolizing victory comes out. But soon behind the white horse enters the red horse symbolizing civil war, and it is followed by famine and death. Then an earthquake comes symbolizing Rome, changing from persecutor to benefactor under Constantine.

Chapter 7 tells us of the good times that followed the end of persecution. Great multitudes became Christian. Yet God’s judgment on Rome had to eventually come and did so with chapter 8 when the Germanic tribes overwhelmed Rome, and in 476, Rome in the West fell.

Chapter 9 tells us of the fall of the southern third of the empire to Moslem invaders from Arabia. They, like swarms of locust, take much of the Asian (Near East) and North African parts and even take Spain. In verses 9:13–19 we see the eastern third of the empire conquered by the Ottoman Turks. It was completed with the fall of Constantinople in May 29, 1453.

Chapter 10 begins the story of the church overcoming the empire’s domination, it explains great events we call the Reformation. Chapter 11 introduces the Restoration, and further chapters outline the further struggles against physical and spiritual Rome. The message is clear: the conflict will be difficult, but the outcome certain—Jesus Christ will win, the empire will cease to exist, and the missionary movement will reach out to ever greater multitudes. Eventually even that beyond the empire (Gog and Magog) will be defeated, Christ will return and judge, and the New Jerusalem will be the seat of an everlasting kingdom. Our Lord Jesus will have come and kept his beautiful promise. Amen. Come Lord Jesus.

The Ancient Text

To best understand the powerful message of this ancient text, place yourself into the context of those first receiving this amazing book. Many Christians, including Peter and Paul, had already died at the hand of Nero. In AD 94, Roman Emperor Domitian, trying to restore old standards of conduct and religion, executed Jews and Christians. He imprisoned John, the last of Jesus’s band of innermost followers, to the Roman island prison of Patmos.

What would become of John? What would become of other Christians? What consequence did they face? What should they think and do?

These were troubled times. The terrible blows Christians witnessed could not be forgotten, and fear filled each believer’s heart. The church was in a life-and-death struggle with the Roman Empire, and Jesus the Christ was being challenged by the emperor. Only one would ultimately survive. Only one was worthy of the title lord.

John’s apocalyptic message of hope, faithfulness, and great expectation allowed him to inform the followers of Jesus and at the same time keep the message unintelligible to any Roman authorities who might come across it. Since most early messianic communities included Jews familiar with the apocalyptic literature of Daniel and Ezekiel, every church most likely had someone who could uncover the truths.

The stage is set. The conflict will play itself out. As each generation down through the ages is threatened by the emperors of their world, the promises found in this ancient text bring reassurances that God is there. God is involved in history. Good will triumph over evil.

History and eternity will proclaim Jesus as truly the greatest and divine, the certain winner. None can match him. He alone is worthy!

Part One

One Greater than Caesar

Chapter 1

The Magnificent Christ

The Key to Understanding

1:1 "The revelation of Jesus Christ;"—Jesus Christ is the source of this revelation or uncovering. (Revelation comes from the Greek word apocalypse, which means uncovering.)

Which God gave him to show to his servants what must soon take place;—Christians are given one of the most important titles in scripture, servants. Every Christian should try to live up to this description and seek to perform a service for the Christ who poured his life into service of others (see Matthew 20:28). The real key to understanding this book is found in the words what must soon take place. This book begins with the things coming right after its writing and proceeds until Christ’s return. The soon is from the perspective of the writing or the end of the first century. Any method of interpretation which ignores this fact and skips ahead two thousand years to begin the interpretation of the material predicted, should be discarded as inadequate.

And he made it known by sending his angel to his servant John—The John mentioned here is well enough known to need no introduction and thus could be no one other than John the Apostle.

1:2 "Who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw."—Witness is a keyword in Revelation since its purpose is to encourage Christians to continue their witness for Jesus no matter how difficult the going becomes. Thus, we are to continue telling others the word of God or the message of God’s love and redemption through Jesus Christ.

1:3 Blessed is he who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written therein;—This is the first of seven blessings pronounced in the book (see 14:13, 16:15, 19:9, 20:6, 22:7, and 22:14). To bless someone is to wish happiness or good upon them. Thus God would bring good into the lives of those who read in public worship these words and to those who heard or believed them. We can safely say that the most certain blessing was upon those who keep them, for they were given to encourage faithfulness when many were denying the faith.

"For the time is near."—The prophecies of this book were to start happening very soon, for they were near. The futuristic approach to Revelation teaches that everything predicted in Revelation was to happen in a final three-and-a-half- or seven-year period after the church was raptured. This position does not take seriously the five statements in Revelation stating that things were to begin soon or near (1:1, 4:1, 22:6 and 22:10).

Trinity Described

1:4–5 John to the seven churches that are in Asia:—Seven churches are given personal messages in the next two chapters. The choice of seven is a figurative way to say all churches. There were more than seven churches in the Roman province of Asia. In fact, one of them, Colossae, was even written to by Paul, and another, Hierapolis, was mentioned in that letter (Colossians 4:13). The Roman province of Asia should not be confused with the modern continent of Asia. Asia in that day was merely the province on the western end of Asia Minor or modern-day Turkey.

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ.—The trinity of God the Father, the Holy Spirit, and the Son are introduced. The Father is acknowledged as eternal by the triple title was, is, and is to come. The Holy Spirit is presented as the perfect spirit or seven spirits since seven stands for perfection. Before his throne tells us that the Holy Spirit’s work is to do the bidding of the Father even as attendants and officials standing before earthly thrones do the bidding of kings.

"The faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth."—Jesus is given three titles to indicate his shared divinity with the Father. The first is faithful witness, which tells what he was while on earth and what Christians must now be as they follow him. The second is first-born from the dead. This not only points to his victory over the grave, which is further evidence of his divinity, but also leads us to realize that he as firstborn will be followed by many brothers and sisters who will also be raised from the dead. The third title, ruler of kings on earth, is another way of calling him Messiah or God’s king. Caesar is not ruler of kings, but Jesus is.

Gospel Described

"To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood

1:6 "And made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."—The threefold ministry of Jesus is to love us, forgive us by freeing us from our sins, and to make us a kingdom of priests. We all desperately need to know we are people of worth; this is proven by his love for us. We all need to know we are forgiven; his blood makes that certain, for God could require no more than what Jesus has done for us. We all need to have a purpose as followers of Jesus; being priests is that purpose. Priests have a threefold ministry of praying, teaching, and offering the sacrifice. All Christians should pray for others and teach the way and offer Jesus the perfect sacrifice. Our entire priestly ministry is to bring glory to God and extend His eternal dominion or reign into the lives of all people today.

1:7 "Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him,"—The wonderful and certain return of Christ is declared. It will not be a secret coming to rapture away the church, set up some organization, or start some heavenly judgment but will be totally visible since "every eye will see him."

"Everyone who pierced him; and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.—Those who pierced him were the Roman soldiers who acted at the bidding of the Jewish leaders. The probable meaning is that all people—Jews (those who caused him to be pierced) and Gentiles (all tribes of the earth)—will be shocked at what they did to God’s Messiah and thus wail at his return. Even so. Amen." makes it plain that shocked remorse at the injustice done to Jesus is called for. The awfulness of God’s judgment is also implied by the fearful response at His coming.

God Described

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."—Here is a triple picture of God. First, he is the first and last letter of the Greek alphabet (Alpha and Omega) and thus everything or the total of reality. Second, he is eternal (is, was, and is to come). Third, he is omnipotent or almighty.

Christian Life Described

1:9 "I John, your brother, who share with you in Jesus the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance,"—What a grand thing to know that we are brothers with the apostles. This brotherhood or sharing includes three things in Jesus or in our walk with him now. The first is the tribulation. All the church has shared in this one great tribulation throughout the centuries. We should not accept any theory that makes the tribulation some special time for a select group at the end. Rather we should remember the words of Jesus to all Christians, In this world you have tribulation (John 16:33). We also share in the kingdom right now and should not accept any theory that makes the kingdom some future age and not including the time of the church (also see 1:6). The hardest thing we share in Jesus is the patient endurance, but that is the way we live until Christ returns and makes all things perfect. Oh, that we might really seek to have patient endurance for Christ since he patiently endured so much for us and is still patiently enduring our slow growth in grace.

Was on the island called Patmos—Patmos was a prison island located off the southwest coast of the Roman province of Asia, or modern Turkey.

"On account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus."—There were two reasons John was banished to Patmos. These certainties he faithfully held were the word of God, which told the good news of God’s love and redemption and the testimony of Jesus that he was Lord and Savior.

1:10 "I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day,"—The Lord’s day was early to become the title of the first day of the week when Christians worshiped joyfully in honor of Christ’s victory over death on that day. (The church fathers were unanimous in understanding the Lord’s day to be the first day of the week or Sunday, rather than the seventh day of the week or the Sabbath.) The Greek text simply says in spirit and means that John was worshipping God in a deep spiritual manner when this vision came to him.

And I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet—something that commands attention.

Addresses

1:11 "Saying, ‘Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.’"—These seven churches represent the whole church and will be addressed individually in the next two chapters.

The First Vision

The Kingly Christ Described

1:12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands—The seven golden lampstands are symbols for the whole church, which by God’s design is to be a light to the world (see 1:20).

1:13 And in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man,—Jesus is introduced to us as in the midst of the lampstands or present with the churches. What a beautiful picture of our living Savior. This description of him as like a son of man means he is the coming future ruler from God referred to in Daniel as one like a son of man (Daniel 7:13, also see Matthew 16:13–17).

Clothed with a long robe and with a golden girdle round his breast;—These are the garments of a priest-king.

1:14 his head and his hair were white as white wool, white as snow;—His ageless eternal being is represented by the white hair.

"His eyes were like a flame of fire"—He is all knowing as his eyes burn through any pretense we submit.

1:15 "His feet were like burnished bronze, refined as in a furnace,"—He has elegant footwear capable of inflicting judgment.

And his voice was like the sound of many waters;—Truly impressive and awesome.

1:16 in his right hand he held seven stars,—The right hand is the powerful hand. The seven stars are the leaders of the congregations. They are called angels in verse 20, but the Greek word for angel is messenger. Christ has his messengers or leaders in his hand; what a comforting and enabling truth.

"From his mouth issued a sharp two-edged sword,"—The Romans fought with the sharp two-edged sword. God’s word which proceeds from his mouth is also likened to a two-edged sword in Hebrews 4:12. The judging and convicting power of Christ’s word is forcefully depicted here.

And his face was like the sun shining in full strength,—Nothing short of the brilliance of the sun shining in full strength can symbolize the glory and magnificence of Christ. Thus, we have one far more glorious and wonderful than any Caesar ever dreamed of being. This one, Jesus the exalted one, should capture our confidence and allegiance. None other can stand beside him; therefore, let Christians