Getting Revelation: Part 1 – Interpreting the Apocalypse

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The Church Is Meant to Understand Revelation

The Revelation given to the apostle, John, was not meant to be obscure information to leave the Church bewildered and at odds with one another about its meaning. Instead, it was knowledge and insight given by God so that the “seven churches” and, by implication, the Church of every era would be comforted and warned. They would reflect on their behavior; witness multiple judgments by Jesus on the people of the earth, and face troubles from numerous and varied Satanic-inspired manifestations of the beast and the false prophet.

Interpretation

1.      Old Testament Terms

• The book uses OT terms figuratively.
• The author often interprets the meaning of terms used figuratively.
• The author has guided how to interpret where the figurative meaning isn’t explained.

2.      New Testament Theology

• The book confirms NT teaching. It gives clarity to what has already been taught.
• We don’t get a new revelation, only a dramatized revelation of what has been taught.

3.      Numerology

• There is evidence that the numbers in Revelation are to be understood figuratively.
• Numbers associated with the Old Testament and the New Testament have been used with a figurative meaning.
• The author has guided the recipients on how to interpret when the figurative meaning isn’t explained.

4.      Parallel Visions of the Church Era

• Revelation is not chronological but is a series of parallel visions of different focuses over the Church era.
• A chronological view of Revelation distorts and falsifies the intention.
• A futurist view of Revelation distorts and falsifies the intention.

Features of Revelation, a.k.a. the Apocalypse

1.      Revelation reaffirms that Jesus is equal to the Father and is God by

• the descriptions of Jesus and
• His actions.

2.      Jesus continually judges

• the “seven churches” which symbolically represent His Church;
• the people of the earth through the seals, trumpets, and bowls;
• evil world leaders, pictured as the beast;
• evil religious leaders, pictured as the second beast, a.k.a. the false prophet;
• Satan.

3.      Christ’s Church is depicted as

• “the seven churches” (Rev. 1:4, 1:11, 20),
• “the new Jerusalem” (Rev. 3:12, 21:2),
• “all the tribes of Israel” (Rev. 12:2),
• the “144000” (Rev. 12:2),
• “two witnesses” (Rev. 11:3),
• “a woman” (Rev. 12:6),
• . . .

4.      The prophecy is not about the end but about Jesus with the Church on her journey in the world for

• it deals with church behavior and
• the final chapter depicts leaves “for the healing of the nations” (Rev. 22:2).

Revelation 101

1.      What are Jesus’ thoughts toward me, my local church, and the entire Church? Consider what He said to each of the seven churches in Revelation Chapters 2 and 3.

• The church in Ephesus, who had lost their first love.
• The church in Smyrna was under Satanic persecution.
• . . .

2.      Who is Jesus currently judging with war, famine, plague, etc.?

• Somalia – famine,
• Russia and Ukraine – war,
• The entire world – plague (Covid-19),
• . . .

3.      Who are the current manifestations of the beast?

• Putin,
• Trump,
• Bolsonaro,
• . . .

4.      Who are the current manifestations of the false prophet?

• The Russian Orthodox Church for supporting Putin by endorsing the invasion of Ukraine.
• Evangelicals in America for their support of Donald Trump.
• Evangelicals in Brazil for their support of Bolsonaro.
• . . .

Conclusion

Revelation has been invaluable to Christians of all eras who have interpreted it properly. By way of this dramatic blueprint, God has given us a pattern that reoccurs in every era of the Church. Revelation, therefore, pertains to me and you, to all churches, to continual judgments occurring around the world, and to rogue religious and political leaders that spring up from time to time.

Rob Morley

The Bible Is Both Good News and Bad News

Picture: ba1969 (Billy Frank Alexander)

Do You Want The Good News or Bad News First?

The good news is that the Bible is 100% accurate and God’s word. The bad news is that the Bible is 100% accurate and God’s word. It is either good or bad depending on how you answer Jesus’ question, “Who do you say I am?” (Matt. 16:15).

The Good News

God chose to save the world by sending Jesus to die on the cross and pay the debt of their sins so that He could forgive any who seek Him for mercy and a new start. For though “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23), “[H]e is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9). “God made [Jesus] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21).

Jesus Is God’s Message of Salvation and Judgment, Death and Life

” . . . we [who share God’s word] are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life” (2 Cor. 2:15-16). For “[w]hoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them” (John 3:36).

The choice is yours. God, in His love for you, already made His.

Rob Morley

Excellent Outline of Covenant Theology

Here is an excellent outline on Covenant Theology by Ligon Duncan, which he gives in a podcast interview done through The Gospel Coalition: Ligon Duncan – Covenant Theology

 

Posts on Dismantling Dispensationalism

Do you know the Truth?

Image by SisCiel (Cécile Graat) http://www.rgbstock.com/user/SisCiel

Image by SisCiel (Cécile Graat) http://www.rgbstock.com/user/SisCiel

We all grapple at various times in life to know what’s best and what’s true. And, then, often when we’ve found a particular truth, in say science or philosophy, we still find ourselves only in the shallow-end of fully grasping its value and potential.

Have you ever wondered if there is an author to this truth we search for? Someone who’ll help us find what we’re looking for and who can help us properly utilize what we find?

There is a man who makes an astonishing and all-encompassing declaration to be “the truth.” Such a claim implies that all truth starts with him no matter where it may now reside. It also implies that this truth is only really able to be truly held together by him. And, that only he knows the true way things work. This man is Jesus! If not, then where does truth come from?

When we separate truth from Jesus, both are distorted. Our view of Jesus is diminished and the full application of the truth squandered or misused. All truth is from Him and of Him and handled best by Him. An essential part of His truth is captured in God’s word, the Bible. Like a love letter, it serves as a means to knowing Him, and like a plumbline, it’s the guide for all other teaching.

Do you know the truth?!! Because, He knows you and loves you! Have you read His love letter lately?

How about these portions:

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to receive God’s punishment for our sins” (1 John 4:10).

And,

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor 5:21).

Said another way:

“For our sake God made Jesus to be Everything Wrong who knew Nothing Wrong, so that in Jesus we might become what God calls Right.”

Rob

Interpreting Scripture Correctly

Man’s form of religion is full of rules and rituals in order to reach God or Karma or a state of perfection. At best, it’s merely a hollow shell with empty promises.

The Bible, by contrast, is not a burdensome book of religion; it’s the living Word of God. True Christianity is a dynamic ongoing relationship with the living Jesus Christ. As a result, we cannot treat the Bible as a book of mindless rules and build formulas out of scripture. Man, however, feels safe when the words that he reads are categorized, put into boxes, and formulas are built for instruction on how to live right.

If that is how we want to interpret scripture, then we strip the Bible of life.

Interpreting the Bible should be done in our relationship with its Author, Jesus Christ, who helps us interpret what is printed on its pages. It is by the power of the Holy Spirit that the living word of God can transform our corrupt minds and make us think and behave more like Christ.

When we don’t allow the Holy Spirit to be our Counselor, then we are in danger of misusing scripture. When we misuse scripture, we can easily damage people’s lives.

Each individual situation should be treated with individual care and prayer. Don’t rattle off scripture, because you might have grabbed the wrong one for that moment. We must not throw scripture around as we deem fit, because we might cause more harm than good and push people further away from God.

Besides putting verses in boxes, we must also be careful that we don’t place our own agenda onto our interpretation of the scriptures, because we can “see” what we want to see and miss what God is actually saying. That might require us to unlearn what we have been taught in our various churches and cultures and ask God to teach us afresh.

For an example of how we can misuse scripture if we are simplistic in interpreting it, you can go to my post, Misinterpreting Scripture on our blog, Restore the Word.

Tina

Get Connected!

 

Get Connected!

Let’s get into our Bibles and get connected to its power. Its words are charged with life!

When we get into our Bibles, it’s not that the Spirit of God makes the words come to life, because the word of God is already alive and active, and has been since He first spoke them. Rather, the Spirit uses God’s living and active word to make us alive and active for Him.

Do you want to be alive and active for God? Get connected!

Rob

If you are interested in more on this subject then I have a post that you can read titled The Words of the Bible are Alive.

The Written Word Equals a Direct Word from God

Receiving a word

God has used and still uses multiple modes of communication to speak to man. The Bible testifies of many ways that people have heard God speak to them and also of how we can hear God speak to us today.

For example, people can get revelation from God through members of the body of Christ through a word they are given or a testimony that resonates with them. They may even have dreams or visions from God.

God also speaks through His creation all around us and has even caused a donkey to literally speak to a man.

That said, God is Spirit and ideally He wants to ultimately be reaching man’s spirit when communicating with him.

The purpose of this post is to prove that receiving God’s word while reading the Bible is equivalent to receiving a word directly from God. Both are a way to receive revelation from God. Both are God’s word. The only difference is the route to get to us.

Below are examples of each, that is, God using writing and a direct word to give man revelation.

Revelation from God’s Written Word

The Gospel of John says, “these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:21).

Revelation Directly from God

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Mat 16:13-18).

Looking at these two examples, we can see that the written word of God is of equal authority to a direct word from God.

So, when we read the Bible, let us recognize that it is God’s word.

Here are further posts concerning the Bible:

Jesus and the Bible, Separate but Inseparable

“I Hate You” – The Living Power of The Written word

The Bible is God’s Word

What Did Jesus Write In the Sand?

Inerrancy of Scripture

The Words of the Bible are Alive

The Bible Is Jesus Speaking

Where the Bible is, God is

Is the Bible for Everyone?

Do What You Can Do

Rob

Jesus and the Bible, Separate but Inseparable

Jesus and God’s word, the Bible, are inseparable. When we separate them, they lose their purpose.

God’s Words Are Eternally Alive

God spoke the words of the Bible into being at various times in the distant past, yet they remain eternally alive. Time has not worn out their authority and power. What God said throughout the Bible stands as though He is still saying it.

Jesus Speaks to Us Too, but…

Now, it is true that Jesus personally speaks to those of us who know Him, yet He does not operate apart from God’s word, the Bible. Saying that having Jesus in one’s life means that one doesn’t need the word of God simply presents a disarmed notion of Jesus.

Here are some previous posts on God’s word, the Bible:

“I Hate You” – The Living Power of The Written word

The Bible is God’s Word

What Did Jesus Write In the Sand?

Inerrancy of Scripture

The Words of the Bible are Alive

The Bible Is Jesus Speaking

Where the Bible is, God is

Is the Bible for Everyone?

Do What You Can Do

Rob

“I Hate You” – The Living Power of the Written Word

Alarmed at how much attention my post, Homosexuality! got in comparison to another post of far more importance, I thought to re-advertise the latter under this title, “I Hate You” – The Living Power of the Written Word.

So, this is for those who haven’t read my last post, The Bible is God’s Word which I wrote in response to The Bible being rejected as God’s Living Word by many in Christian circles. For more, click here.

Rob

The Bible is God’s Word

The Written Word is Powerful

God’s Written Word Equals His Spoken Word

Whether written or spoken, whether ancient or today’s, whether rhema or logos, all of God’s words carry the same level of divinity. One doesn’t contradict the other and one isn’t more God’s or more alive than the other. Essentially, all of God’s words, in context, are equally alive, divine and authoritative.

When it comes to the Bible’s authority, it is clear that “All Scripture is God-breathed” (2Ti 3:16). While this text certainly covers the Old Testament, we also see in 2Peter 3:16 that Paul’s writing is considered by Peter as Scripture too. So, clearly, God intentionally gave a portion of His communication to us as a written revelation both before and after Jesus came.

Consider for a moment how our own written words are equivalent to our spoken words. What we write with our pen or type with our keyboard is what we would have said had we been present with those we are communicating with. Or, even if present with them, it is a way of leaving them with something secure.

So, when we write something, we effectively put our words on paper to speak for us. And, writing it doesn’t make it lose its validity or strength. In fact, writing it makes it more secure for those receiving it, especially seeing that people are prone to forgetfulness or are easily swayed.

God’s Written Word is His Living Word

In this vein, the Scriptures are like posts that a blogger wrote that we might only read days, months or years after they were written. And yet, despite our delay in reading them, we experience the blogger communicating to us as though he or she had just written them.

Think about it. When does a man’s blog post die? One day after posted? One week? A year later? No, as long as it is still relevant and true it remains as dynamic as when he first wrote it. How much more isn’t God’s word, the Bible, forever true and relevant, and living and active?

So, when I read the Bible I am not only hearing what God has said, but also what He is still saying. And, although written, the Bible is a living message that exists alongside God’s other forms of communication to us. And, better still, He is personally present to help us understand it and receive it.

The Wrong Words Can Hurt

Our Safeguard                                                   

Being written, The Word is a safeguard for our faith against subjective or external interferences. With all our differences of opinion on various issues even with the Bible (and often over the Bible), God knows how much worse off we would have been without the Bible.

In Acts 17:11, we have an example of how this worked: “Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” Examining the Scriptures was a way of testing things people said against what was considered the secure written revelation from God.

Just a thought: Perhaps Eve would have done better had Adam written down what God had said :).

God is Attached to His Every Word

If someone could remove one word from what God has ever said, then God wouldn’t be God anymore! God does not live apart from His words. He is eternally attached to every one of them. And, we would do well to live “from every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”

Rob