A Missionary Looks at the Love Letter: Revelation Chapters 1 to 8, a Spiritual Interpretation

By Richard Lehman

Jesus gave Revelation as a love letter for his servants to share with the church. It is addressed to us from, "...him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood," (Revelation 1:5) He reminds us that he personally suffered and gave his very best for his bride, the church. But then with a broken heart, in his first letter to the church he says, "...you have left your first love." (Revelation 2:4)

This book interprets Revelation by following the instructions given to us in the first chapter. We are told to compare Revelation to the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:2). Revelation is a heart heavy message, very carefully and personally delivered by Jesus Christ himself. He doesn't take it lightly when people write up their own interpretations and imaginations about what it means. That is why this particular book carefully considers the spiritual heart message that is being delivered to the ministry, and we will address each scripture within Revelation in the same order as it was originally given. Almost every scripture within Revelation (hundreds of them) are derived from other scriptures within the rest of the Bible. There is no way to interpret Revelation without carefully considering what those scriptures spiritually teach us, and then what Jesus is telling us with them through his Revelation.

This is exactly the way that the apostle Paul taught us to understand scripture, "Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual." (1 Corinthians 2:13)

Revelation is also a book of many sevens. Addressing things seven times is God's way within scripture of completing his purpose and his work. There are four different patterns of seven that are explicitly identified within Revelation: 7 churches, 7 seals, 7 trumpets, and 7 vials of the wrath of God poured out. This pattern of four sevens matches how God said he would correct his people back in Leviticus chapter 26. He said four different times that if his people stray away from him, he will correct them seven times, and in the last seven he will correct them in his fury. Accordingly, the last pattern of seven within Revelation is done in God's wrath and fury. Revelation finalizes the corrections for all the problems in the church.

"A Missionary Looks at the Love Letter" has been written so that you can respond from your heart to the love letter Jesus wrote to you. Christ died so that we can have a personal heart-to-heart relationship with him and his heavenly Father through the Holy Spirit. That is how he first established the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. Consequently, the purpose of Revelation is to fill us in a greater way with his sacrificial love. Intellectual understanding into the different symbols, types and patterns of Revelation are a byproduct of that heart transformation. Consequently this book will also explain all of these symbols, types, and patterns in complete detail directly from the scriptures.

The book is titled, "A Missionary Looks at the Love Letter…" because as a missionary, the author has taught this Revelation message to over a thousand ministers already. The purpose of Revelation is first to shake and awaken the ministry to their responsibility to respond directly to the heart of God. For those ministers where that spiritual heart change takes place, a revival breaks forth in their life and spreads to others!

Revelation is for revealing Jesus Christ in a greater way than we have known him before. And that is what will happen if we really get true understanding into the book of Revelation.

"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:17-19)

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Feb 19, 2024
• ISBN: 9798350946093

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Copyright © 2024 Richard Lehman

All rights reserved.

Any requests for reproducing and distributing the content of this book may be submitted via the Contact Us page at revelationjesuschrist.org

First edition

ISBN 9-798-35094-609-3

To my heavenly Father,

For by his mercy and grace I have come this far,

And by his love I am who I am.

And by the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ will I make it to heaven.

Contents

Preface

I have been seriously studying and preaching a spiritual interpretation of the book of Revelation since 2003, and I first started publishing it on the Web back in 2007. For many years previous to that I had understood some of Revelation, but a time came in my life where I had my deepest and most difficult trial. Like the Apostle John in Revelation, I found myself segregated onto my island of Patmos. In a dismal prison-like trial where a person who had been faithful to Jesus Christ was now isolated and targeted. In this hard place of personal trial, I learned to draw closer to the Lord than ever before. He burdened my heart much deeper into the book of Revelation. Like John, I began writing from my island of Patmos finding my new calling, including the call to the missionary field.

In 2008, via my website of the Revelation message, I received my first request from overseas. Since then I’ve connected with many others who are interested, allowing me to travel and minister in seven different countries.

Now I’m a full-time missionary. I teach a Revelation message that delivers people from the politics and corruption of divided church organizations. I bring many ministers from different denominations to one training room to learn about the heavenly vision given us by both Jesus Christ and his Revelation. So I ask the ministers, how many different church organizations and denominations exist in heaven? Every one of them always gives the right answer, None. Then I ask them, how much sin exists in heaven? Everyone always agrees, None. So if Jesus came here preaching, Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matthew 4:17) how come the church on earth does not look and operate like the kingdom in heaven? I usually get blank stares or nervous smiles looking around at each other at that point.

Why is it that most of us are in agreement regarding a vision of heaven, but yet there is much disagreement and contention concerning how the church should be here on earth? Most do not want to discuss this because the problem on earth ultimately lies within the heart. May God bring us back to a new purpose: responding directly to Jesus Christ from the heart, and faithfully following his Word, just like it is done in heaven.

So this same missionary now has written this book for you. I’m not a missionary under the oversight of a missionary board, to accomplish a missionary organization’s objectives in a foreign land. I work under the directions of the King of kings, to establish and nurture the heavenly Kingdom for Jesus Christ. Jesus did not establish a church organization. He established the heavenly Kingdom within the hearts of people, and for his heavenly Father,

And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which is in heaven, Hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. (Luke 11:2)

I hope that your heart will open to the sacrificial love that Jesus is speaking to us from the book of Revelation. Many people are into other spiritual purposes (including other spirits) around their church organizations. We need the true Holy Spirit to discern the difference. Discernment comes from a heart with a faithful, sacrificial love towards God,

But as it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him. But God has revealed them to us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:9-14)

A natural heart understands and discerns things through their attachment to this natural world. A spiritual person understands spiritual things through a sacrificial-love attachment with the heavenly Father’s heart. I hope and trust that is the heart you desire. Otherwise this book will not make sense to you and it will have little effect on your life.

I expect to write two more books on Revelation:

I also hope to write a book: A Missionary looks at: The Labor of a Minister - planting the Kingdom of heaven rather than planting church organizations.

All the proceeds from book sales go towards laboring in the missionary field.

Introduction

Revelation, like the rest of the Bible, is a spiritual book, therefore it requires a spiritual interpretation. When I say, Spiritual interpretation I’m speaking to that which reveals the love within the heart. In particular, the faithful sacrificial love we have towards Jesus Christ, or the unfaithful selfish love we may have while thinking we are serving Jesus Christ. Revelation reveals both.

Let us start clearing our understanding by reading the dictionary definition of the word spiritual,

Relating to or affecting the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things.

As the definition above implies, a spiritual interpretation instructs us concerning what affects our spirit and soul. In contrast, many modern books today focus on an interpretation of Revelation loaded with concern about material or physical things. The spiritual focus compares the heart and soul to the Creator because we were originally created in his image, and through Christ we are enabled to return to that spiritual image. In contrast, many modern interpretations cause us to be concerned with the material and physical things of this life and the world, to distract us from our spiritual needs. Consequently many of these modern interpretations are focused on an earthly kingdom to come. (The same focus that the Jews had when they rejected Christ the first time.) While the spiritual interpretation focuses on the heavenly kingdom Jesus has already brought for the heart and soul,

And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God comes not with observation: Neither shall they say, See here! or, see there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. (Luke 17:20-21)

The Bible is a spiritual book, because it comprises divinely influenced scriptures, and the ultimate purpose is to restore every heart and soul to God. Therefore, we consider the scriptures as having a spiritual purpose. The lessons we learn from the scriptures speak to the heart condition of humankind. This means they reveal what is in the heart, so people can understand their relationship with their Creator. In addition, through Jesus Christ, the scriptures reveal how we can have a faithful love relationship restored with God the Father.

Revelation does not depart from the same heart-changing purpose of the Bible. Therefore our purpose in this book is focused on the heart-restoration purpose of God, through the Revelation message. That’s why the subtitle states: …a Spiritual Interpretation.

Note: in the next chapter I will explain more about how hermeneutic principles are used to understand the spiritual message of Revelation. In addition, I will explain my approach to Revelation interpretation by comparing it to other common approaches used today.

Revelation is a book full of prophetic, symbolic meaning. Consequently, we will also focus on understanding the symbolic meaning, by comparing Revelation to the rest of scripture. Paul instructed us in 1 Corinthians Chapter Two, that we come to understand spiritual things by first having a spiritual conscience through the new birth. Then second, by comparing spiritual things to spiritual things. Further, Revelation specifically tells us it, Bears record of the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ… (Revelation 1:2). For this reason, we look for understanding by comparing to both his Word and his Testimony.

Have you ever taken a Dispensational college course in the Book of Revelation? Have you read a book about Revelation focusing on a future earthly millennial Kingdom? If so, this book breaks away from what you previously learned. Yet ironically, this book aligns with the rest of the Word of God. Dispensational college courses and related books have moved away from a spiritual interpretation, in favor of literalism and human imagination.

Per Wikipedia, Dispensationalism is a theological framework of interpreting the Bible which maintains that history is divided into multiple ages or ‘dispensations’ in which God acts with his chosen people in different ways. A framework is a basic structure underlying a system, concept, or text. The most commonly recognized Dispensational framework is made up of seven dispensations. But there are also other Dispensational frameworks that differ in the number of dispensations and the structure.

Most Dispensational books about Revelation depart from the deeper spiritual purpose of God through scripture. Instead, they focus on both literal and imaginative interpretations, and an earthly millennial Kingdom, all pasted together into a storyline that supports their particular book on Revelation or Dispensational Bible study framework. So that once you complete that study, it convinces you of their book or Bible study framework.

But when you complete this study on a spiritual interpretation of Revelation it will convince you of the purpose of God in your heart. This book isn’t academically challenging, but spiritually challenging. My hope is you are ready for the spiritual challenge of the Revelation of Jesus Christ to your heart and soul.

There is also a resource I have established on the web that you can use for a reference to help you understand other perspectives from a spiritual interpretation.

https://revelationjesuschrist.org/

The Bible is the exclusive book that covers the history of God’s people from Creation to the end of time. The Book of Revelation covers a portion of that same history, from the end of the Apostolic Age (from when the Apostles passed away) until the end of time. Jesus gave it to John roughly near the end of the first century, and in those days Jesus told John that the Revelation covers:

What Revelation discusses has now largely occurred over the past 2000 years.

Additionally, the Bible is unique above all other historical records because it identifies the genealogy of Christ from Adam until the birth of Christ. Then from Christ, it identifies the spiritual birth genealogy of all the saved, culminating with placing all their names within the book of Life. (See Phillipians 4:3, Revelation 3:5, 17:8, 20:12, 21:27, 22:19,)

And whoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)

Many of these names recorded in the Book of Life, are also identified within the spiritual history that is portrayed within Revelation. We don’t read their names written out individually within Revelation. But we are told that they are located within the Book of Life, and that Jesus knows each one by name. He alone is the one that personally maintains that genealogical record. Additionally, Revelation goes further to identify those who may think they are saved, but Jesus doesn’t know them,

…whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:8)

The historical record of God’s people since the Apostolic Age is also found through the seven letters of Revelation. These seven letters to the seven churches are highly related to one another, according to the order presented. Each church has a spiritual need Jesus warns them about. Every need is met by a characteristic of Jesus Christ described in Chapter One (because Jesus is the answer to every need.) What he will warn about in one church, ends up happening in the next. This shows that these are not just independent congregations, but that they also represent one church as it progresses through time. It is a clear history of the church’s spiritual journey. In particular it tells us about what happened to the church’s love for Jesus.

So the letters to the seven churches are actually a love letter from Jesus Christ to the church. In the first chapter it reads: And from Jesus Christ… …To him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood. (Revelation 1:5) Then in the first love letter he tells the church that, You have left your first love. (Revelation 2:4) Because of this, Jesus desires to help her correct what has gone wrong. In the letter to the church at Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7) we see the church has responded, and consequently there is a marriage feast between Christ and the church. Again, we see the letters are showing us a heart-history of what happened to the love relationship between the church and Jesus Christ throughout history.

Also within Revelation there is a spiritual battle plan in a pattern of sevens to reveal the defeat of a foe called, Babylon the great, the mother of harlots. (Revelation 17:5) Babylon represents a church organization claiming to be the bride of Christ, but is unfaithful to him. (Committing sin is unfaithfulness to Christ, and it is the ultimate wickedness that people indulge in as they practice hypocrisy.) This spiritual battle plan of sevens comprises seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven vials of God’s wrath poured out. The pattern matches the physical battle plan in the Old Testament for the armies of Israel to defeat Jericho. Through studying the spiritual types within this battle plan, we come to realize a spiritual battle plan for these last days.

Jesus Christ has purposed again to re-establish his church to be in the spiritual church image he first established: pure and faithful and in the image of God. Therefore in Chapter 19 (after removing spiritual Babylon from the hearts of people) we see the pure bride of Christ. She has prepared herself for the spiritual wedding feast adorned for her husband. We also see Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords in the hearts of those who love him.

You cannot understand Revelation by studying books. You must study the Bible in a deeper way than you ever have before. The scriptures will no longer be an academic study. Rather, they will become the very sacrificial love of Christ in you. The purpose of the Revelation is to change who you are through a clear revelation of Jesus that shows what you look like before him.

As you read, we will walk through the book of Revelation, starting from the first scripture, until the end. I will not be jumping from place to place to prove someone’s Bible study framework. Rather I will follow the framework given us within Revelation itself: seven churches, seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven vials of God’s wrath. As you read, we will carefully reference the rest of the Bible to understand what Revelation is telling us.

Note that we will quote Revelation scriptures that are part of our sequential read of Revelation with the citation preceding the text as follows (example):

Rev 1:12: And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

We will show other quoted references, including other scriptures, in block quotation style (example),

Then spoke Jesus again to them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12)

1. How to Properly Interpret Revelation

First, let’s go over some terms and approaches commonly recognized in the academic community for interpreting and understanding Scripture. I will not use these terms beyond this chapter, so don’t worry about remembering them. But as you read the rest of the book, you will notice that I will be following these commonly recognized principles in drawing out scriptural meaning. The principal difference in how I interpret Revelation is my heavy focus on the spiritual purpose for the individual and the church.

Biblical exegesis is the term often used to describe the actual effort of interpreting Scripture. While Hermeneutics is considered the study and establishment of different principles that have become commonly recognized for guiding the methods of bringing out the meaning of Scripture. The most commonly recognized hermeneutic principles are the following four:

Literal interpretation - refers to understanding the original word meaning, the grammatical construction of the text, and comprehending the full context including the historical context.

Moral interpretation - refers to the ethical lessons taught through the text.

Allegorical interpretation - is where persons, things, places, or events mentioned in text are interpreted to bring out a lesson in similar type or pattern. Many of the symbols, types, and patterns within Revelation are understood allegorically by comparing them to the rest of Scripture within the Bible.

Anagogical interpretation - refers to a mystical meaning which provides understanding by comparisons to the order of heaven and/or the person of God himself. As an example, Revelation reveals the church that Jesus established by comparing it to the character and order of heaven.

You will often find that when people write about Revelation with a Futuristic focus, they tend to neglect common hermeneutic principles for scripture interpretation. Here next I will compare the basic guidelines I follow for interpreting Revelation, and compare them to the error practices of Dispensationalists and others. You will notice that my recommended guidelines and examples include the common recognized hermeneutic principles. Here is what I follow:

Understanding original word meanings.

Leave the text of scripture within its original context, including understanding Revelation in the same scripture order as it was written.

Understanding symbols, types, and patterns within Revelation by allegorically comparing these to the rest of scripture (often to determine the moral lesson presented to us within the text.) Furthermore, we compare them to historical events, practices and norms that existed when the scripture was written.

Anagogically comparing many of the heavenly visions within Revelation to the Divine order Jesus first established for the church and his ministry.

Understanding what Revelation is saying about the love in the heart towards God. This is God’s ultimate purpose for Revelation and the whole Word of God.

To gain spiritual understanding, you must change your heart and mind by accepting Jesus’ salvation that frees you from sin, so there is no sin between you and God. Further to comprehend the depths of the Revelation your heart must be filled with the sacrificial love of the Holy Spirit.

A number of modern Revelation writers have abandoned good study principles. So instead they practice:

Using current dictionary definitions for biblical words without considering the original meaning within scripture.

By jumping from scripture to scripture outside of the original order, they present Revelation in an order that supports their own interpretation, instead of following the original sequence.

They invent ideas for what the symbols, types and patterns of Revelation mean, by comparing them literally and to physical things and events in this world.

They rarely compare the heavenly visions of Revelation to the church. Consequently even their operational vision for their churches is very humanly organized with a focus on self purposes and prosperity.

Their focus is not on revealing what is in the individual’s heart. So instead, they focus on earthly things, including an earthly kingdom to come in the future.

They say almost nothing about the necessity of a spiritual birth and change of heart in order to understand Revelation. Consequently their interpretations cannot transform lives through revealing Jesus Christ to the heart and soul.

Here next I explain in more detail the interpretation fundamentals that I follow to understand and interpret Revelation. To enhance understanding, examples will also be given.

1. Understanding original word meanings.

Revelation has many important words that require defining according to their original meaning in the scriptures. Here is one very important example:

(1) The word church

Common dictionary definition:

a building for public and especially Christian worship

the clergy or officialdom of a religious body

a body or organization of religious believers such as:

- the whole body of divided Christian denominations

- a denomination

- a congregation

Note: none of these dictionary definitions for church have anything to do with the word church in the Bible.

Biblical church definition: (Greek) ekklēsia - This word comprises the Greek words kaleo (to call), with the prefix ek (out). It should be understood as a called out assembly of people to God. Or people who respond to the call of the Holy Spirit. It is the same way that the angels in heaven respond to God and worship him.

Church describes a movement of the Spirit within the hearts of people. It does not describe an earthly organization. God moves on the hearts of people, and the ministry is supposed to help the people properly hear and follow the lead of what God is speaking to their hearts. This is a ministry waiting on and following the Holy Ghost’s lead. The tendency of organizational church ministry today is to organize people, and then ask God to bless what they have directed.

This example (and there are many more) shows that incorrect word definitions will lead to misinterpretations of many scriptures.

2. Leaving the text of scripture within its original context, including understanding Revelation in the same scripture order as it was written.

In one example in prophecy (Matthew 24) Jesus answers the question of the Apostles about the temple in Jerusalem. Misconstruing Jesus’ response, people have predicted events that have yet to happen. They ignore the final context that Jesus clearly gives concerning his prophecy,

Truly I say to you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. (Matthew 24:34)

Consider also that Revelation is the most highly structured book in the Bible. Four different times, it organizes the message into seven symbolic presentations of the oracles of God. There are seven churches, seven seals, seven trumpet angels, and seven vials of God’s wrath. Making for 28 symbolic messages progressing in a specific order, and for a specific purpose. You cannot ignore that order and still understand what God is trying to reveal to you. In this book, we will be carefully following that order and will explain that order.

3. Understanding symbols, types, and patterns within Revelation by allegorically comparing these to the rest of scripture (often to determine the moral lesson presented to us within the text.) Furthermore, we compare them to historical events, practices and norms that existed when the scripture was written.

From the very beginning of Revelation, Jesus tells us what Revelation reflects, so that we may understand how to interpret it.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to show to his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel to his servant John: Who bore record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. (Revelation 1:1-2)

The author tells us Revelation reflects the record found within the rest of the Word of God, and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Biblical scripture is the authentic record of Jesus’ testimony. Therefore it only makes sense to study that record to understand the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Additionally, Jesus also tells John the time periods that Revelation covers.

Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and