Monday: The Purpose of the Book
Revelation 1:1 also tells us that the purpose of the book is to show future events, starting from the time when the book itself was written. Anyone familiar with Revelation will notice that the prediction of events – whether those already fulfilled (at least from our perspective today) or those events still future (again, from our perspective today) – occupies most of the book’s content.
The primary purpose of biblical prophecies is to assure us that no matter what the future brings, God is in control. Revelation does just that: it assures us that Jesus Christ is with His people throughout this world’s history and its alarming final events.
Consequently, Revelation’s prophecies have two practical purposes: to teach us how to live today and to prepare us for the future.
Read Deuteronomy 29:29. How does this text help us understand why some things are not revealed to us? According to this text, what is the purpose of the things that are revealed to us? That is, why are we told them? See also Rev. 22:7.
Revelation’s end-time prophecies are not revealed to satisfy our obsessive curiosity about the future. The book reveals only those aspects of the future important for us to know. They are disclosed to impress upon us the seriousness of what will happen so that we will realize our dependence on God and, in that dependence, obey Him.
For centuries, speculation – and even more sensationalism – has accompanied so much of the teaching regarding end-time events. Fortunes have been made by those who, predicting the immediate end, have scared people into giving money to their ministry because, well, the end was near. Each time, though, the end didn’t come, and people were left disillusioned and discouraged. As with all the good things God has given us, prophecy can be misused, and misinterpreted, as well.
| Read John 14:29. What crucially important principle for the purpose of prophecy can we find here in this verse? |
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The Book of Revelation is like one of those giant murals depicting some aspects of history. I remember seeing a transport mural, starting with horses and carts, followed by steam trains and sailing ships, followed by motor cars and finally with planes and helicopters. Each period of transport overlapping but not eclipsing the previous period.
The Book of Revelation is like that, representing the conflict between Christ and Satan on earth, with a series of symbols, angels, lamp sticks, horses, trumpets, seals and so on. This is apocalyptic literature at its best, full of rich symbolism, often interpreted in a number of ways.
My observation is that over my own lifetime, I have witnessed a change in emphasis within the Adventist church from a physical, timeline interpretation, matching prophecy with historical events to a more spiritual application to both the state of the church and our own personal spiritual condition. I am not saying that one emphasis in better than the other. Maybe it simply represents an expansion or growth of the idea of how Revelation should be applied.
Several times in the letter to the churches the instruction is given:
The book of Revelation should be read with the instruction to listen foremost in our minds.
It has alot to do with how the Carnal mind preceives, as where prophecy may only be seen as something to expect making the whole thing unilateral. But when it's seen through open eyes as in a fresh mind. (Emptying the cup to be filled with fresh life giving water) meaning the deception runs deep and the minds have become tainted with poisoning opinions, judgments and beliefs which causes everyone to be asleep, missing the bridegroom. When you allow your hearts to be guided and see the book as warnings and signs to act accurately and of the commandments. The two witnesses may be heard, as they are God's final warnings to turn back and away from such destructive ideas. It is in their deaths that gods anger is kindled, it is only satans desire to lie steal and kill. God wants salvation of what can be saved. As it says Satan only has a short time to destroy as much as he can before being thrown into the fire. It is God who sends angels to intervene, if Satan had been wandering through and fro the earth for 1000 years deceiving humanity, only seeking to destroy as much as he can before the second coming or awakening. Everything makes more sense that way, trusting in God and knowing with God there are infinite possibilities of life and only the finality with Satan. The removal or killing of gods final messengers, being of the holy spirit, and of the prophets of old being the same holy spirit, and the second coming is the reason why the wrath is brought upon the earth. It would be a direct attack against the lord and God the holy spirit. It would also be the rejection which is unpardonable. There are so many important signs and warnings that seem to be ignored, but perhaps it's all a part of the plan. I seem to have been led to post this. God blessed and may God wipe the eyes of those whom become misled and allow them to hear with their souls as the flesh is deceived.
The revelation of Jesus Christ.
1: This revelation is from jesus since he was given by God to show things that must soon happen.
2: This revelation is about Jesus since whatever is revealed uplifts him.
Maurice,
You shook me greatly when you postulated that the second coming had a spiritual coming of Jesus in our hearts. -apart from Jesus being the 'finale to the current world experience'. It was a revelation to me to think that the second coming is within me. And it makes perfect sense; made even more so when you gave the ‘word picture’ of your transport mural idea: Time moves on and so does the world around us. Connections and culture change, we are all aware of that, the physical becomes spiritual. Science is showing (more how God works) that there is space between atoms – something unthinkable even 100 years ago. I must have Jesus in my heart for me to be moved by Jesus and live with Him among the people who are my family and neighbours. Thank you for sharing your insight. Godbless today, Mrs A Stolz.
There are secrets that is kept away from the people of God.
When God told Adam and Eve, "You will surely die."
He did not have a class explaining to them what does that statement really mean.
Adam and Eve had only experienced the goodness from the Lord, when sin entered they began to experience the effects of evil. Unity between God and men were broken, unity between Adam and Eve was broken, unity between man and nature were broken. God had shielded them from this knowledge.
Adam and Eve, now had the power to differentiate good and evil but did not know how to overcome the evil.
As we enter into this quarter of studying the book of Revelation, let us be bound only to the revealed Word of God.
Looking into the Greek words in Rev 1:1 , I find a broader interpretation suggested than merely the prediction of events. Rather, I find an a far richer portrayal of Revelation as an unfolding of what is to emerge (Greek word ginomai). Yes, this includes the mention of events, but more deeply and broadly it also includes an unfolding of all the actual details surrounding those events.
By way of illustrating what I mean, I recently watched the 6-part Waco movie that was released in 2018. This movie was about an event, but it portrayed so much more than merely an event. It unveiled details about the lives of all the key persons involved and showed the secret motives and dynamics that were going on for all parties. It unveiled the wider dynamics involving the ATF and the FBI with respect to egos and competition for Federal funding. It unveiled the background agenda towards increasing the militarisation of these entities. It unveiled Koresh's own dynamics and those of key members within the group. It unveiled dynamics within and between the lives of those living within Waco. It unveiled dynamics regarding Koresh's mother and Thibodeau's mother. And so on. I now have a far greater awareness of and appreciation for what went on, and continues to go on, in regard to the Waco 'event' and beyond.
I would encourage you to open your eyes wider, and take the time to look and ponder more deeply as we journey through Revelation this quarter. By all means, notice the events, but don't stop there. Look into the details and dynamics of all who are involved. You won't be disappointed if you take the time to do this.
I believe that Revelation was also written to expand on the message in Daniel and to confirm that the LORD will put an end to evil and because He is love He sends the message again, the Everlasting Gospel is the truth about the Everlasting Covenant - I will be your God and you will be My people and I will dwell with you.
In Revelation you understand how much you are Love,and the promise of our Lord and Savior return is soon to be prominent,that time is at hand and every eye shall see him.Let us be faithful to the end.
The specific question on why some things are revealed to us while others are not deserves our attention. While pondering on the meaning of Deut 29:29, Rev 22: 7 and John 14: 29 I would see a God that loves us so much and does not want us to stumble and fall thereby breaking ourselves in living in a trial and error manner. God has clearly made our paths clear and when tempted to think that our ways are brighter and better, prophecy clearly shows none has ever been wiser than God. May we be inspired to be obedient to this all-wise, all-loving, and all-knowing God.
To Phil van de Klift
I note that you seem to be an SBS fan too as I am. I saw the trailer of ‘Waco’ but was put off by the display of guns ready to kill and the fear, and the darkness. If I would have been able to view the trailer as how you described I might have watched it a as a type of documentary. Nonetheless I will take your advice and look for the Revelation background ‘details and dynamics of all who are involved’ as you suggest: I actually thank God many times for the internet, Mr Google, request for ‘commentaries’ and sites like this – to further my knowledge where I can easily spend ‘an hour a day’ where has been suggested, in furthering my bible studies. Godbless today and Happy New Year everyone. Mrs A Stolz.
When reading through Matthew 24 it is apparent that Jesus did not reveal every detail of the coming events to His disciples. The timing in particular was not mentioned. As we know," knowledge puffs up". Some things are better hidden, else we begin to rely on our own understanding and wisdom to face the future. Good desires we come to a place where we place our while trust in Him and Him only. Two things are apparent when we read and study Revelation. One, that we cannot know every detail, every specific timeline, of coming events. And two, whatever the specifics of coming crisis, we can believe that whatever transpires, is far beyond our own personal capabilities to handle or cope with. Our understanding of the future will avail nothing when the time comes to living through it unscathed. Yes, it is important we have a good basic appreciation of who the principle actors are in the drama... Their nature... Agenda... Their identity. Attempting to delve into details however is not only fruitless, but even dangerous to our spiritual well-being as we may end being being deceived by our own pretended insights and imaginations.
If there is one lesson above all others that I would like to see people learn, including myself,from this quarter's lesson study, it is the imperative that only in the Father and His Son, can we find peace, understanding, and an anchor for our souls.
While it is true that God does nothing but reveal His secrets to His servants the prophets, as the above article suggests, to speculate and make our selves clairvoyants regarding the future is fraught with danger.
If you were trying to help someone that has never read the Bible, where would you start, Genesis or Revelation? By choice, which books would you try to help understand a God that is our creator? Matthew 28:19,20 Are SDA' slanted or biased in their approach with some of it's doctrines ? Is spreading the Gospel equal to all 66 books? Some are more informative than others due to others recommendations. What say you?
It may sound a bit patronizing Paul but I would start by making sure that my life was a reflection of the principles of the Gospel as outlined in the Bible. Then the place where you start with the written Bible will be a response to that. And if they ask the question about why you live like you do, then one of the gospels is a natural starting point.
Paul, if you were to read any book for the first time, where would you begin?
Paul, I would recommend starting with gospel of John, because it starts with Jesus as God and John says he wrote it that you may believe that Jesus is Christ the Son of God and that believing you may have life in his name 20:31