Understanding Revelation

 

John’s Revelation From Jesus Christ

 

This study is intended to be at your side when you’re reading the Book of Revelation. It will help you understand the symbolism that John uses to describe  the events which Jesus gave to him through visions.

Outline of the book

 

Revelation is a prophetic book.

19 of the 22 chapters tell us what will happen in the future when the Lord Jesus comes back to earth

It covers, the things John has seen: Rev: chapter 1
The things which are – letters to the 7 churches:  chapters 2 and 3.

The things that will take place in the future: chapters 4 to 22

 

Chapters 17 and 18 describe the downfall of Babylon. The marriage banquet of the Lamb (Jesus, the King of Kings, Lord of Lords leads the armies of heaven into battle against  Satan, the Antichrist and the false prophet. They are cast into a lake of fire: Chapter 19

Chapter 20  shows Satan bound for 1000 years, after which he is released and a final battle ensues. Followed by the final judgement at the great white throne.

In chapter 21: An incredible new universe is created, this time unspoiled by sin, death, pain or sorrow:
Chapter 22 assures readers that Jesus is coming quickly and invites all who wish to take part to come to the Alpha and Omega (Jesus)
Please understand that for people who do not do this the cosequance will be terrible eternal sufferring.

The future that will come
Jesus Christ and the existing church

 

The Rapture
People suddenly disappear
when Jesus meets them in the air

 

Tribulation 42 months

Great Tribulation 42 months

(Total 7 years of Tribulation)

 

Second advent when

Jesus comes back to earth. Not lowly as He did 2000 years ago, but with massive majesty and rejoicing and tremendous celebration in Heaven and from Christians.

Jesus defeats Satan’s armies at Armagedon

And then reigns on earth for a thousand years (millenium)

 

After the 1000 year reign of Jesus there is some rebellion. Satan will thrown into eternal torment, where the Antichrist and False Prophet are

 And after judgement - the Eternal state of Heaven

for those who’s names are writen into The Lamb’s Book of Life

I I aknowledge that much of the following is taken from the book, ‘Escape the Coming Night,’ by Dr. David Jeremiah, (see recommended reading at the end of this study.) And from the survey of Revelation contained in ‘The New Open Bible, New King James Edition.

Revelation Symbols

 

Alpha and Omega, Who Was, Is and Is To Come Rev: 1:8
      This is the Lord Jesus Christ

Seven Gold Lampstands Rev: 1:12, 1:20

The 7 churches of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis,    Philadelphia and Laodicea

 

Long Robe with a Gold Sash across His chest Rev: 1:13

Robe indicates authority – Gold Sash is a symbol of righteousness

Burning Eyes Rev: 1:14

His eyes look right inside you: You can’t hide anything from Jesus

 

Feet like brass or bronze Rev: 1:15

       Coming Judgement, enemies fully crushed

 

Sharp double-edged sword Rev: 1:16

Word of God - He judges everyone’s attitude of heart, nothing can be hidden.

          (Also Jesus’ weapon to defeat all the armies of Satan)

 

Seven Lampstands Rev: 1:20

The angels of the seven churches

 

White Stone Rev: 2:17

       White could indicate innocence, while black could indicate guilty

 

Eyes bright, like flames of fire Rev: 2:18

       No sin can hide from Jesus, nothing can be covered up. He judges everyone’s attitude of heart, absolutely nothing can be hid.

 

Jezebel Rev: 2:20

Refers to false preachers, teachers and false prophets, Christ imposters

Morning Star Rev: 2:28

       Light to understand and direct spiritual and physical lives

 

White Robes Rev: 3:4, 7:13.

Indicates the righteousness of the saints

 

Hour of testing/hour of trial Rev: 3:10

Jesus is saying that He will keep His people from the Tribulation, By Rapturing them before the Tribulation arrives: i.e. (Rapture means that those who truly believe in Jesus and follow him will suddenly be transported upwards to meet Jesus in the air.)

This is why you MUST accept Jesus as your saviour right away, don’t wait...The bible says, “Now is the accepted hour.”

 

Jasper and Carnelian Rev: 4:3

These were the first and last symbols in the High Priest’s breast plates and signified, ‘The First and the Last,’ i.e., Jesus

 

24 Elders and 24 thrones Rev: 4:4, 11:16

  It is thought that the 24 elders represent the church – In the same way that 24 elders of the Old Testament represented the entire body of priests.

Lamb Rev: 5:6
      The Lord, Jesus Christ

 

White Horse – Rider is Dark Prince Rev: 6:2

       Dark Prince represents the Antichrist

Red Horse Rev: 6:4
the rider is given authority to remove peace from the earth. Nation will rise up against Nation. There will be war, slaughter and assassinations

Black Horse Rev: 6:5-6

                      Follows the Red Horse - The rider holds a pair of scales in his hand.  
A voice shouts, ‘A loaf of wheat bread, or three loaves of barley for a day’s pay. And don’t waste the olive oil and wine.’ This indicates very severe famines, death, plagues, aids and cancers, throughout the earth

Pale Horse Rev: 6:7-8.
The rider of the pale green horse is   Death/Hades. Given authority to kill ¼ of all people of the earth

Jesus said that all these things are only the beginning of sorrows...there is worse to follow!

 

Mountains Rev: 6:14, 17:9

Appalling, (seemingly) natural catastrophes and signs from heaven,
Great Governments and powers which rule this world

Eagle crying loudly as it flew through the air Rev: 8:13

This could mean real eagles, because, with God, all things are possible, but it could be John trying his best to describe something almost 2000 years into the future such as radio, TV and other media that transmit bad news of world events.

 

 

Rainbow, over the angel’s head Rev: 10:1

Many believe that this Angel could be Jesus and the circular rainbow symbolises the complete circle of life.

 

Take and eat the scroll Rev: 10:9

The scroll contains the Word of God and the text means that we should read and study God’s word and with faith and ‘take it in’ (ref. eating it)

It will be sweet as honey at first, but the bitterness that comes later could refer to events that are about to follow on earth which indeed will be bitter.

 

Beast out of the earth, or abyss Rev: 11:7

This beast works as a false prophet, whose job is to mislead people and get them to worship his boss, the Antichrist. This false prophet has religious powers that control the lives of many people and mislead many. (Jesus tells us that this false prophet will have power to deceive even God’s elect, if that were possible.)

Jesus foretells the future: Mark: 13:1-37 pointing at the future times that John describes in his visions

 

Woman clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet and with a crown of 12 stars on her head Rev: 12:1

Probably a symbol of Mary about to give birth to Jesus, in which the sun could represent God, the moon, Jesus and the stars the 12 tribes of Israel.

Others think that the woman could represent Israel, whom Satan wants to eliminate.

 

Large red dragon, with 7 heads and 10 horns, with 7 crowns on his head

Rev: 12:3, 4

The large dragon represents Satan. It is not how Satan looks; the dragon represents his evil nature. Satan wants to destroy the baby Jesus and prevent our salvation, but he’s a master of disguise and might look like a handsome man wearing a smart suit, or a kindly person offering help, or a charismatic preacher, ably to sway masses with promises of world peace.
The 10 horns represent 10 kings/leaders of the European Union. (I know there are more than 10 countries in the Union now, but there will be 10 kings at the relevant time.) Seven heads represent Rome.

 

Beast rising up out of the sea, with 7 heads and 10 horns with 10 crowns on its horns Rev: 13:1, 2

This symbolises the antichrist. And the 7 heads indicate the 7 hills of the city of Rome, where the Antichrist may initially be based. The 10 horns again symbolise ten top European leaders.

 

One of Antichrist’s heads seemingly wounded beyond recovery Rev: 13:3

It appears that the Antichrist will be fatally wounded, and all of the unsaved in the world will be devastated at this, but then the Antichrist will suddenly recover and people, instructed by the beast from the earth, will start to worship him and to also worship a statue of him as he commits terrible slanderers about the Lord God.

 

Beast out of the earth with 2 horns like a lamb Rev: 13 11, 12

       This is the false prophet, the same beast described in Rev: 11:7

Mark on the right hand or on the forehead Rev: 13:16 - 18

This ‘mark of the beast’ will be necessary to receive    wages/pensions/dividends: no one will be able to buy or sell anything without the mark of the beast, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing his name, for it is the number of a man: his number is 666

Why is the mark of the beast 666? I admit that I don’t yet know. Superstitions about this number and its meaning could fill volumes. Some think it is the number inside a micro chip of six digits in each of three separate blocks, (as a credit card has a 4x4 blocks number.)

Dr. David Jeremiah in his book Escape the coming Night says, “Man was created on the sixth day, he has to work on six of seven days, A Hebrew slave could not be a slave for more than six years running.” Dr. Jeremiah suggests, “The most logical explanation is that the number six in the Bible is the number of a man. The beast represents the ultimate in human ingenuity and cleverness.”

In the Bible seven is regarded as the ‘complete number’ Satan has only six, but God has seven: Could this indicate that the Devil will never be able to fool all of the people for all of the time. (God doesn’t want you to accept the mark of the beast upon yourself.)

**One great thing is that we don’t really need to know all the details of what 666 means. What we really need know, and to do, is to confess our sins right now - repent and accept Jesus’ offer to be your personal saviour.

 

Babylon is fallen Rev: 14:8, 18:2, 3

Babylon has two meanings in the book of Revelation. First it refers to the city of Babylon, but it also means ‘prostitute’ in the way that God’s people choose false gods and false teaching, instead of being grateful to the One Almighty God and submitting themselves to Him - and His Son Jesus Christ - and the Holy Spirit. (The three elements of One God)

 

I will come as unexpectedly as a thief: Rev: 16:15

Jesus will return at a time we least expect it and it will be too late then to repent and accept Jesus as Saviour Anyone could die suddenly, without having chance to accept Jesus  and then it would be too late. “Now is the accepted hour,” says the Bible. HEAVEN will be absolutely wonderful, but the alternative, HELL, will be an awful place for you to spend eternally.

 

The mighty river Euphrates dries up, to enable the king from the East to marc his armies across towards Armageddon. Rev: 16: 12-16.
The biggest army the world has ever seen, a massive army 200,000,000   strong, will advance towards the final conflict at Armageddon for the final battle against The Lord on that great judgement day, when Jesus will defeat all his foes with the sharp sword of his tongue. He will speak and all the mighty powers opposing him will be defeated.

 

Woman sitting on a scarlet beast: Rev: 17:3

     The woman is the prostitute with whom the world is fascinated and also the great city that holds sway with the kings of earth. The scarlet beast represents the Antichrist, who has been friendly with the woman, but is soon about to kill her. (Verses 4-18 show the meaning of the chapter’s symbolism.)

 

Babylon is fallen: Rev: 18: 2-3

Babylon symbolises, (a) A false system of worship, prostituted by seeking false gods: (B) The city of Babylon and all it represents.

 

‘Faithful and True’ sits on the white horse: Rev: 19:11.

     ‘Faithful and True’ is of course Jesus’ receiving heavenly songs of victory, at a banquet prior to His defeating Satan and his followers at Armageddon. Jesus was accompanied by a vast number of saints, but they didn’t have to fight. He just spoke the word and the entire, massive army was killed, Jesus will then reign on earth for 1000 years. Rev: 19:21 and 20: 2

Blessed are those who wash their robes so they can enter:  Rev: 22:14.

(Some Bibles read, ‘Blessed are those who obey His commandments’)

 

 

**Recommended reading

**The Holy Bible: Jesus foretells the future in the following Gospels
Matthew: Chapter 24 - Mark: Chapter 13 - Luke Chapter 21:5-36

**Escape the Coming Night, by Dr. David Jeremiah. ISBN -13 978-0-8499-4368-3

**What in the World Is Going On? By Dr. David Jeremiah

*David’s website is: www.davidjeremiah.org.site