Revelation:Hiding in Plain Sight

By Timothy Enders

Revelation is the most intimidating and challenging book in the Bible. The keys to unlocking it have been there all along-hidden in plain sight. Come and explore with a new look at this old book, and see what we've been missing! This is a forthright book that pulls no punches and lays concepts bare, using scripture to explain scripture. If you have ever wanted to understand Revelation, this is the book for you. Chapter by chapter, you will say, "That makes sense! Why didn't I see that before?" This book will challenge preconceived ideas and errors that have been taught for centuries. See the plan of salvation and the future that Jesus really revealed to John.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: May 29, 2018
• ISBN: 9781640039995

Book preview

Setting the Stage

It is time for Laodicea to wake up. Laodicea means you and me. We are the last, the remnant, the last of the bolt of cloth on the tube, just prior to its being thrown away. It is also time to understand God’s message, meant especially for us, not the earlier churches. We also need to clear up some things we have been taught incorrectly, at least over my lifetime, in relation to the church, Revelation, and the last days.

First, let me make it abundantly clear that I am not referring to doctrine. Simply, we have not correctly read and taught some things regarding the last church. Second, what we are taking this journey to discover has been there all along. We have just been lazy, busy in the world, and not too anxious to go home.

Let me illustrate an important point. I have been taught in school and sermons that the church is the bride of Christ. That is incorrect according to Revelation. For my entire life, the church, through its pastors and teachers, taught that the church is the bride of Christ. We begin our journey correcting this as it is very important to an understanding of the marriage, the marriage supper, the New Jerusalem, and even the Scroll with the seals.

Matthew 22 begins with the marriage of the king’s son. Those originally invited, representing the church, found excuses not to come. This did not end the marriage—the bride was still there. The angry king then commanded that the servants go out and collect others from the highways and byways to replace the former invited guests. They are not the bride, either. They are to be guests as illustrated further in the chapter by what they are wearing and doing.

Matthew 25 has the parable of the ten virgins. They are waiting for the bridal party. They are to be guests at the feast, not participate as the bride. The groom was not marrying the ten virgins, else the wedding could not have commenced without the missing five.

Revelation 19 makes abundantly clear that the wedding occurs before the Second Coming in heaven. We are invited to the marriage supper (verse 9) after the wedding. So who is the bride? Revelation provides the answer plainly in chapter 21, verses 9 through 11. Simply stated, the New Jerusalem is the bride of Christ. Still having trouble adjusting? A book from 1911, The Great Controversy, helps to clarify. I will quote a small portion:

The Holy City, the New Jerusalem, which is the capital and representative of the Kingdom, is called the bride, the Lamb’s wife. Said the angel to John: Come hither. I will show thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. He carried me away in the spirit, says the prophet, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. Clearly, then, the bride represents the Holy City, and the virgins that go out to meet the bridegroom are a symbol of the church. In the Revelation the people of God are said to be guests at the Marriage Supper, Revelation19:9. If guests, they cannot be represented also as the bride. Christ, as stated by the prophet Daniel, will receive from the Ancient of Days in heaven dominion, and glory, and a kingdom. He will receive the New Jerusalem, the capital of His kingdom, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband, Daniel 7:14 and Revelation 21:2. Having received the kingdom, He will come in His glory, as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, for the redemption of His people, who are to sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, at His table in His kingdom, Matthew 8:11, Luke 22:30, to partake of the marriage supper of the Lamb. (The Great Controversy, pp. 426–427)

When viewed in the light of the war between Christ and Satan, how God was accused before the universe as being unjust and having laws impossible to keep, our fall was a side issue, so to speak. How arrogant for us to think we hold that position! Had our planet never fallen, like the other worlds, the controversy and war over the governance of the universe would still be in play. In other words, God would still have sin and Satan to deal with, whether we fell or not. We have no idea how that would have worked out.

So it becomes clear that we need to understand God’s last message, intended for His church at the end of time without the clutter of misinformation—fake news, as it is currently referred to. The world applauds dodging, misremembering, inability to recall, obfuscation—what we call lies. Who is the father of lies? Satan. The importance of God’s communication to us is life and death. Our adversary is trying in many ways to keep us from understanding Revelation. Let’s explore.

Chapter 2

Making the Discoveries

The word revelation is the opposite of sealed. It means the opening to understanding what has previously been unknown. Man, in his normal, listless spiritual state cannot understand the Bible. In Isaiah 29:11, the prophet states that to those who will not see, the Bible is as sealed to them, they are not able to understand it. Those intentionally rejecting the truth are like those skipping class entirely. The truths in it are hidden from those who won’t listen as effectively as if it was sealed. A student not listening in class, playing, or talking with others, did not hear what the teacher said. Revelation 1:3 promises a blessing to those who read and study Revelation with the intent to follow and keep what it reveals. In the Acts of the Apostles, pages 583 to 585, we read that those whose hearts are open to the reception of truth will be enabled to understand its teachings, and will be granted the blessing promised to those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are written therein. Instead of being intimidated by this book and all the symbols, we should eagerly study it,

Especially should Daniel and Revelation have attention as never before in the history of our work. (Testimonies to Ministers, p.112)

The solemn messages that have been given in their order in the Revelation are to occupy the first place in the minds of God’s people. (Testimonies to the Church, Vol. 8, p. 302)

Teaching a group of Christian students, from grades 1 through 12, we studied Revelation directly from the Bible. We tore it apart, verse by verse. We became so excited by what we were learning that we shared our findings with the adults. The adults in church caught the fever, and we spent the next six months doing the same thing at prayer meeting each week. What we dug out the previous week in school, we shared with the adults at prayer meeting, staying a step ahead. The students learned how to take notes in outline form and then share this with others. We studied symbols, signs, seals, and many pertinent parts to assist in our understanding. One of our favorite tools was the Bible Commentaries. These provided great assistance, but do not take the place of the Word. Much of what we gained came from here and is gratefully acknowledged. It is highly recommended as