The Book of Revelations- Explained Part 1

For the past decades many people were lead astray by false doctrines and religions. Fear and superstition overwhelmed and blindfolded many believers and kept them away from the true power and knowledge of Jesus Christ.  I believe the reason for all this madness is, throughout the ages the focus of the gospel and the end time prophesies have always been on the darker side of things. The main focus has always been on the great evil that opposes our belief systems and ultimately threatens the existence of this earth and humanity. I believe that for the past decades an inferior Gospel has been preached by and through many, I also believe that for far too long we have underestimated the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

The scripture states whatever you seek you shall find, and for many years people tried to estimate the end of the world through the book of Revelations and through end time prophesies. It seems like every one wants the world to end or to come to an end. Many people have lost their passion for life and are now desperately in seeking of an escape route through the end time prophesies. The truth of the matter is, the whole bible is about Jesus. For decades many scholars have learned and study the book of Revelations, but it seems like they are blindfolded for the knowledge of truth.

The Opening

As we examine the first verses of the book, we find the key that unlocks the mysteries of one of the most fascinating yet rarely explained- or inadequately explained books ever written. 

Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
Rev 1:2 who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Explained:

This is the (Greek – apokalupsis – the disclosure and manifestation) of Jesus (Greek Iēsous ) Christ (Greek -Christos – the anointed one)
Also (Greek apokaluptō -) to take off the cover, that is, disclose: – reveal.
 ”This is the revelation of the divine mysteries of Jesus Christ the anointed one.”  (Freely translated)

God does not expect us to respond in an unintelligent way to the greatest revelation, of the truth of Jesus Christ. As it is written, it is God’s desire that we all will come to the knowledge of the truth.
Jesus stated in John 14:6   “I am the way the truth and the light, therefore it is God’s desire that we all come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
“Col 2:3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
This book not only unveils the hidden secrets of the mysteries of Jesus Christ but also gives us the understanding of the truth and wisdom of God.
1 Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
1 Co 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
God is the divine source of truth and He is the only giver of truth: therefore the verse is actually saying…
God gave the truth to Jesus Christ. (The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave to Him)
Jesus stated in John 12:49 for I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, He gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. John 12:50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

God wants His servants to see the truth, and therefore He revealed the vision to John. This message was not only for John but it was for all God servants -all the followers of Jesus Christ (Rom 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and
become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life).Therefore the revelation or unveiling of the truth is for all those whom are made free from sin through the blood of Jesus Christ, and are now servants to God. John received this revelation or vision from God approximately (96AD), yet God states; things that shortly must come past, and in verse three; the time is at hand. 
So there are things that must shortly come to pass, and things that were happening in the same time frame that John received his vision.
In verse two we read; John bare witness to the word of God, in the Greek it reads as follow: “Who has (greek- martureō – witness) (greek- marturia- the report) of Jesus Christ”  – who has witnessed the report of Jesus – John saw the report of the finished work of the cross, he bared witness to the truth of Jesus Christ. In verse three God also stated: that every one that reads or hears this prophesy will be blessed.

The book of Revelation was not written to provoke fear for the future;
2Ti 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
God gave John the vision to help us to unlock the treasures which are hidden in the report of Jesus Christ.
This book was included in the bible to help us to comprehend the divine mysteries and hidden wisdom of Jesus Christ.
Every one that reads or hears this report will be blessed, as the scripture states;
1Co 2:9, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

The Symbolic Language

Before we go on, we must understand, that John received all this in a vision- the word vision can be explained as a mystical experience of seeing as if with the eyes the supernatural or a supernatural being. Right through the bible, people saw visions in a symbolic code or a symbolic language.  Even when we receive a dream from God, God will give us the interpretation, or the accurate meaning of the dream. If the dream was not encoded with a symbolic language there would be no need for an interpretation or explanation.

Now let us try to encode the symbolic nature of the book revelations. Even in the very first verse we find the first symbolic expression- which sent and signified it by his angel- The Greek word for signified is (sēmaino) which means to mark or to make known or to indicate through a sign.  The word sign comes from the Latin word signum- which means a token or indication, a token is something that serves as a – figure, or symbol or used as an abbreviation for the word or words it represents.
Therefore the word symbol means to be made known by symbol or figure.

Throughout the bible people and God used figures of speech to explain certain ideas. Even Jesus spoke in parables and in figures of speech.
Joh 16:25(amp) I have told you these things in parables (veiled language, allegories, dark sayings); the hour is now coming when I shall no longer speak to you in figures of speech, but I shall tell you about the Father in plain words and openly (without reserve).
The apostle John used the same symbolic language in his gospel.
Joh 12:33 He said this to signify in what manner He would die.
Jesus explained the reason for the symbolic language to His disciples…
Mat 13:10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? Mat 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
So throughout the ministry of Jesus He spoke in figures of speech or in symbolic language.
Jesus used symbols like trees or salt or even light
Mat 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.

Jesus did not mean humanity is composed of sodium and chloride, nor did he suggest that we are an electromagnetic radiation that is visible through the human eye, it was just a figure of speech.

In Matthew 7 Jesus compared humans with a tree “Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

By this Jesus did not mean that humans, are perennial woody plants. Jesus taught through association, He took something natural and understandable and parallels it to the mystery of the supernatural to teach the spiritual or unseen truth. Paul used the same symbolic language in Act 20:29  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. By no means did Paul suggest that they would be attacked by physical wolves or by any of the dog families. He implied that people who have a wolf like nature are un-thoughtful greedy and even voracious Isa 56:10 His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Isa 56:11 Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.

To conclude the above; the symbolic language that is used in the book of Revelation is that of symbolic figures to explain the unseen supernatural or spiritual world through the natural.

Unlocking the treasures

Rev 1:4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, Rev 1:6 and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Rev 1:7 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. Rev 1:8 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.

These 4 verses hold many truths and wisdoms, since we have come to the knowledge and understanding of the encrypted or symbolic language, we can now unravel the golden nuggets one by on

In verse 4 John introduces us to the most dominant letter in the bible the letter “seven”. Many scholars believe that the letter seven symbolizes completeness and or fullness. The word seven is translated from the Greek word “hepta “
Although the main or most common meaning of the word simply means 7, it many other times means “sevenfold” 

The word seven donates completeness and perfection and is repeatedly used throughout the scripture.  In genesis 2 we read that on the seventh day God ended His work, He blessed the seventh day and said every thing that He had maid was perfect and complete.
The number seven has been used as a type, or a figure throughout the scriptures,
Gen 41:1 And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.
Gen 41:2 And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favored kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow.
Gen 41:3 And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favored and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river.
Gen 41:4 And the ill favored and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favored and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke.
Gen 41:5 And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good.
Gen 41:6 And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them.
Gen 41:7 And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream. God introduce the letter seven to Joshua;
Jos 6:15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.
Jos 6:16 And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.

In the New Testament Jesus gave seven parables, and throughout the bible the letter seven is mentioned over 325 times, and in the book of revelation fifty four times; there are seven churches, seven golden candlesticks, seven stars, seven Spirits of God, seven horns and seven angels…………

By now we understand that the letter seven plays a dominant role in and right through the bible, we also believe that the letter seven symbolizes completeness and perfection.
So when John addresses the seven churches not only did he refer to them as individual churches but also as the complete body or church of Christ.

The truth is there is only one church and that is the perfect church of Christ.
Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. So Jesus will build His church.

There is only one body (church)
Eph 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, Christ is the head of the church
Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.

So therefore there is only one body and only one church and that is the complete and perfect church that Jesus builds.
Even though John addresses the churches individually the message is still relevant today and applies to the complete body of Christ.

Grace be onto you
Rev 1:4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace,
Grace will enable you to raise the dead, do miracles, signs and wonders and enables you to say no to sin. If you understand Gods grace you will have peace, and you will live an empowered life style.
Grace will empower you to do the work of God, it will also give you a sense of safety and inner sense of significance, once you understand your value in Christ you will live a victorious life.

From he which is, and which was, and which is to come “God”
Rev 1:4-from him which is, and which was, and which is to come
Rev 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

Warm regards

Francois Janse van Rensburg

The Book of Revelation Chapters 1 – 2:11; “Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” – Galatians 1:10,
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