Revelation - Part 2

John saw what Jesus showed him:

Revelation 1:2 (John) Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

It is important to know that John didn't dream this stuff up on his own. His was shown to him. He saw things others could not see. Sacred writings (Books of Adam and Eve) refer to this as mankind's original condition before sin darkened their sight.  Therein, seeing spiritual visions is referred to as "bright eyes" and those with a "bright nature" could see even unto the heavens.

The Book of Revelation is a deposition providing testimony that John saw what he saw before it happened. His account of future events is as valid as any prophet of old. The veracity of prophecy has always been that it come true. What was written in scripture about Jesus has all came to pass. Likewise, with John's visions, the expectation is that they will also come to pass. What is written may seem to be of the same genre as Star Wars and science fiction, but it is serious business! Just as the eunuch was reading scripture, and did not understand it until Philip explained it, we too need scripture explained. 

I am not starting this commentary with a prideful attitude. I have studied Revelation under the tutelage of different people four times, and have read several books of commentary. Admittedly, I still do not even understand a fraction of it. On the other hand, if we seek knowledge in spirit and truth, it will be revealed. This is the one place in scripture wherein we must be cautious. It is literal in some places and symbolic in others. Don't let this surprise  you. The entire Old Testament (OT) was written as literal events which had symbolic meaning as well. Jesus's name was not used in the OT but yet it was all about Jesus!

Why should Christians read Revelation since it is not how to be saved? Because it is the destiny of the saved and unsaved! 

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.

What's more the readers shall be blessed - provided with contentment and happiness.  Everyone won't be blessed; some will be depressed. Readers must "hear the words of prophecy". It is possible to read all that is written and still not "hear" the spiritual message. Revelation reveals punishment. That scares most. However, it also reveals a utopian existence. I hope to share in that, and find it rewarding. Being both punishment and reward, the book is eschatological for everyone. If anyone had a desire to know their future,  a seer is not the place to go. All that can be seen has been seen and is written within the pages of this book. We are even warned not to add to or take away from what is written (22:19).

"For the time is at hand" for the things written to come about. Humans are impatient. For God "one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (2 Peter 3:8). We are also told in scripture to not endeavor to determine the day nor the hour of when Jesus's second-coming will be (Mat 24:36). Time was made for mankind. The equivocation is not a formula. It merely insinuates that God is not bound by time nor is he a clock-watcher. I believe that the Almighty God "thought and spoke" and it happened - instantaneously for Him but one earth day for us!

In the non-canonical Books of Adam and Eve, God made a covenant with Adam that he (Adam) would be saved in five-and-one-half days. That is likely where Peter got his equation. God went on to explain that that time was 5500 years. That is on the sixth millennial day. On the seventh day, God rested from His work. In the millennial scheme of things, on the seventh day "God's rest" is Jesus's millennial reign. (More on that later.) Eternity, God explained to Adam, is the eighth day or thereafter subsequent to the seventh day or seventh millennia. The "return to the Garden" is after Jesus's death when God died to save mankind.

If that is true, right now the anno mundi (A.M.) time is accepted as 5750. If it was 5500 A.M. when Jesus died in 30 A.D., then there is an accuracy problem with the current calculations of the world's age. It would already be 7487 A.M. The accuracy of 5750 is questionable, and has a 2000 or so years possible error. At any rate, it's easy to see that the end-of-days is at hand if it starts no later than 7999 A.M.

Julius Africanus and a few others early on calculated the earth's birth age as ca 5500 B.C. ("Answers in Genesis"). That is exactly, within a few years of course, the 5500 years from Adam's sin to Adam's reprieve with the death of Christ. That is the Adamic Covenant.

Looking further at 1:3, "at hand" in the Greek is eggus which best means "throttled". Those of us who are on the far side of fifty realize what throttled time means. The long hot days of summer in the fifties are mere instances in the new millennium. As we age, time accelerates in our minds. The end - death, approaches at lightening speed the older we get. Thus, time is throttled and events come much more quickly than we think:

22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

You see, at the end, Jesus testified that he said those things to John. He defined "at hand" as "quickly". Because Jesus is coming soon, it is imperative to know what will happen. It just may help us along with exercising our wills. The decision is:  shall I trust Jesus or not? Using our thought processes, we will come to a decision which has the most reward for us! After reading Revelation, you just may decide to be in the winners circle when the prize is awarded! Revelation should aid in making a wise decision!

Coming quickly, the reader must not hesitate nor falter, for "the time is at hand!" Now is the time for a decision. Perhaps Jesus will help you decide well. He never decides for us, but provides the Light for us to see better. Revelation is that Light! Through John's eyes, we can see Jesus, and have a "heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear" (Deut 29:4).

Jer 5:21 Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not...

"Hear" what John has written. Hear with the mind which God gave you. Your senses and faculties are not merely for your use, but are tools of God. Pick up those tools and build-up, not yourself, but God.

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...

John wrote these things to the "seven churches which are in Asia". They probably did get these words sooner or later. However, the content of the words are obviously for mankind! The Greek word ekklesia is transliterated "churches" but Strong's Dictionary indicates "for those called out" as the literal meaning. Specifically, those called out in "Asia". In context, "Asia" is now Asia Minor and specifically the eastern shore. This is specifically the place of those seven extant churches, but since "Asia" is the spiritual center of the world, it seems to be meant for all mankind. Indeed, the words in Revelation transcend time, and is for all the ages.

As such, the "seven churches" are specifically those of the apostolic age, and are named shortly in scripture. On the other hand, the words therein are appropriate for any locale or time. Hence, many theologians speak of the seven church ages or eras. It is obvious that the words in Revelation is for everyone who seeks truth. Therefore, it is timeless. We should look for us in what is written because it was written for us!

Also in 1:4 John writes of the "Existence" of God who is the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end (1:8). If God was in the beginning, where was He? Creating! If God is here now, where is He? Communing with His Creation? If God is there in the end, what will He be doing? Judging, punishing, and saving.  Revelation focuses on the latter three.

What or who are the seven Spirits (pneuma)?

Isa 11:2 And the spirit of the Lord (1) shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom (2) and understanding (3), the spirit of counsel (4) and might (5), the spirit of knowledge (6) and of the fear (7) of the Lord; 3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears. (parentheses and bold type mine).

These seven seem to be gifts of grace because all are necessary to be born-again, or enlightened (seeing the Light). We must be "born of the Spirit" (John 3:5, 6, and 8). God gives wisdom to those who seek it (James 1:5). The Word of God imparts understanding (Psalm 119:130).  In wise counsel there is divine safety (Prov 11:14). The ways of the Lord makes one mighty (2 Chron 27:6). "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge" (Prov 1:7). We're not to fear because God is with us.  (Isa 41:10).

Jesus held in his hand those seven "stars" (1:16) which are the angels of the seven churches (1:20).  Angels are messengers. It would appear that Jesus held up those seven messages to the seven churches. Do the seven churches represent all of us? Tomorrow we will look at that.