Revelation (Written)

Monday, 14 December 2020

All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, Revelation 7:11

After noting the great multitude and hearing their cry of praise, John next says that “All the angels stood around the throne.” The verb is a pluperfect being used as an imperfect. It more correctly says, “were standing.” In other words, the angels were standing around the throne watching the scene of the great multitude just presented. These are the angels referred to in verse 5:11 –

“Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands.”

Like in verse 5:11, this verse now also includes “the elders and the four living creatures.”

The elders are those first referred to in verse 4:4. Of them, it said there –

“Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.”

The four living creatures were then first presented just a couple verses later in Chapter 4 –

“Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. ⁷ The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. ⁸ The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within.” Revelation 4:6-8

What is seen here is an outer circle comprising the angels. From there, the thrones of the twenty-four elders forms the next grouping, and that is then followed by a circle of the four living creatures. Within that circle, and near the throne, stands this great multitude. And on the throne sits the Lamb.

Of this vast multitude of the heavenly hierarchy which is now accompanied by this great multitude adorned in white, John says that they “fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God.” The implication is that this is occurring because of the presence of this great multitude. So vast is the number of redeemed, that the entire heavenly congregation falls down in praise to God for what has been accomplished.

What must be explained is the fact that the great multitude is actually closer to the throne than are the angels. There is a heavenly hierarchy being presented here and the angels, beings who were created sinless and who have never sinned, are outside of the redeemed who were sinners. How can this be?

The answer is found in Ephesians 2:13, which explains what occurs when a person, Jew or Gentile, receives Christ as Savior – “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

Because of Jesus Christ’s work, those who are saved by Him are covered in His perfection, symbolized by the white garments. They are deemed as sinless, and their past sins can never be brought forth again.

Life application: The infinite gap between God and fallen man is restored through the Person of Jesus Christ. The angels come after us because they are, as stated in Hebrews 1:14, “ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation.” The honors granted to the fallen sons of Adam are immense when Jesus is received as Lord. Sins are washed away and the benefit of being in the very presence of God is restored.

Hallelujah and amen for our great and awesome Lord! He is the One who suffered on Calvary’s cross in order to redeem fallen man to Himself. He is splendid. He is arrayed in light and majesty. He is JESUS.

Lord, it’s hard for us to grasp the complete significance of what You have done for us. We have sinned and rebelled, and yet You have lovingly granted us restoration to You and release from the debts we owed. How can we do anything but praise You for Your majesty and glory. Thank You for every good and kind blessing You have bestowed upon Your unworthy servants. Amen.

Sunday, 13 December 2020

and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” Revelation 7:10

The words of this verse complete the thought of the previous verse. Taken together, they say, “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, ¹⁰ and crying out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’”

With this context understood, a better evaluation of the words can be made. John sees the great multitude and now he hears their joyous cry – “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne.” As already noted, this is referring to Jesus. Jesus is the One who is “sitting at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1).

The right hand is not a physical position, as if God has parts. Rather, God is Spirit. What this means is that Jesus Christ is sitting in the position of power and authority, represented by the right hand. Thus, He is “our God who sits on the throne.” It speaks of the deity of Jesus Christ. Next, John says, “and to the Lamb!”

This now speaks of the humanity of Christ, taking us back to Chapter 5, where Christ is described as the “Lamb as though it had been slain.” It refers to the substitutionary death that Christ suffered for His people. It is this act that is highlighted out of His human existence. Yes, He fulfilled the law, but dying was a part of the law. As the law would not be fulfilled without His death, the epitome of the work of Jesus Christ is His crucifixion. This is what the saints here, and indeed all of the saints for all of eternity, will consider above all else when interacting with Christ Jesus.

The terminology in this verse goes back to many occurrences in the Old Testament, but specifically to Psalm 3:8 which says –

“Salvation belongs to the Lord.
Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah”

Salvation is of the Lord, meaning “Yehovah” of the Old Testament. This is yet another example of the deity of Jesus Christ being proclaimed. It is He who sits on the throne as the Creator, and it is He who is the Lamb as our Redeemer. The pattern of Creation/Redemption that is so notably seen in Scripture continues on in this verse. He fills both roles – He is the Beginning and the End of our walk with God. He is the One who calls us and the one who completes the work in us.

In a pun demonstrated throughout the New Testament, the word “salvation” is used in conjunction with Jesus. The name “Jesus” is the Hebrew name Yeshua which specifically means “salvation.” Therefore, the play on words is saying that Jesus is the One who is God and who is also the Lamb – Salvation belongs to our God. He is the fullness of the Godhead in bodily form and the One who reveals the Father to us.

Life application: As a point of doctrine, and as a point to apply to one’s life because it pertains to almost all of us, we wonder what will happen to those who do not receive Christ after the rapture. The answer is that the same options are available to them then as are available to them now – salvation or condemnation.

There is a horrifying lie taught in Christianity that if a person has heard the gospel and rejects it prior to the rapture, that person can never be saved. The Bible never even hints at that. As a seeming proof, the words concerning the strong delusion found in 2 Thessalonians 2 is brought forth as some sort of proof text.

This is a very poor interpretation of those verses; it is utter nonsense; it dismisses other parts of Scripture (such as the verses we are now evaluating); it completely overlooks the nature of God; and it diminishes the significance of the cross of Jesus Christ. To understand the meaning of those verses in 2 Thessalonians, you are invited to read the Superior Word commentary on them.

When considering such points of theology, or indeed any other that are the pet peeves of some supposed scholar, teacher, or pastor, the easiest way to determine if it is probably wrong is to simply try to insert that precept into John3:16. For example –

*For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him before the rapture should not perish but have everlasting life.

*For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him – and is baptized into the Church of Christ – should not perish but have everlasting life.

*For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him – and only reads the King James Version – should not perish but have everlasting life.

*For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him – and proves it by speaking in tongues – should not perish but have everlasting life.

As you can see, the ideas do not sync with what Christ Jesus has said. They are false notions that are unsupported elsewhere in Scripture, and they are the inane ramblings of those who have a perverse agenda that is being pushed.

Have sound theology, don’t get caught up in every wind of doctrine that blows across the waters, and don’t allow such things to cast you to and fro. Instead, realize that this book – the Holy Bible – is given to reveal God’s love for the people of the world as is found in Jesus Christ. The book of Revelation is the Revelation of Jesus Christ because it is revealing Him. To find any other doctrine than that which is laid out in Scripture, or to find any other symbolism than the Person and work of Jesus, is to deny the very foundation of the Christian faith. He is our Lord! He is our God! He is JESUS!

Truly salvation belongs to our God and to the Lamb! It is to Jesus that we direct our hope, our love, our devotion, and our praise. Glory to God in the highest for having revealed Himself to us in such a beautiful and loving way! May we as faithful Christians ever praise the beauty of the Lord in the Person of Jesus Christ! Amen.

Saturday, 12 December 2020

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, Revelation 7:9

The servants of God from the children of Israel who were sealed is complete. With that done, John’s attention is drawn to a second scene that occurs between the loosing of the sixth and seventh seals. And so, John begins the description, saying, “After these things.”

This indicates a progression of time, but this does not necessarily mean from our viewpoint or within the stream of redemptive history. Rather, it can simply be from John’s perspective as he watches the scenes appear. What he sees as sequential may be overlapping within the stream of time to us. And this is certainly the case with what he will now describe, saying, “I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number.”

Who are these people and at what point in history do they appear? The answer will be given in the verses ahead, saying that they are martyrs of the tribulation period – the final seven years before Christ’s return.

Because this is so, and because those who were just sealed in the previous vision were sealed during the tribulation, it shows that the events are only sequential as John views them, but they are overlapping within the stream of redemptive history. They are simply a categorical presentation of things that will occur.

Understanding this, John continues by saying that they are “of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues.” Because of this, they are not the same as the 144,000 Jews who were sealed in the first half of the vision. There may be (and indeed surely are) Jews included in the multitude, but the 144,000 are in a different category.

What is certain is that there will be an immense number of people saved out of the tribulation from around the earth, having realized too late for the rapture that Jesus really is who He claimed to be. Now they have proven their faith by being faithful even unto death. This is evident by the words that they are “standing before the throne and before the Lamb.”

They are portrayed in the vision as being in heaven. They have left the earthly behind. John next says that they are “clothed with white robes.” It is the same symbolism that has been seen several times already. The white robes signify the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ. Their sins have been covered over, and they stand before God without fault or blemish because of their faith in the Lamb that was slain.

John next says they stand there before the throne “with palm branches in their hands.” The palm in Hebrew is tamar. This comes from an unused root meaning “to be erect.” Thus, the palm is figuratively a symbol of uprightness or righteousness. On Palm Sunday before His crucifixion, John records –

The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, ¹³ took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out:
“Hosanna!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
The King of Israel!” John 12:12, 13

The palms signify their faith that Jesus was the upright Savior who had come to save His people, and thus He is the King of Israel. But the symbolism goes further. In Leviticus 23, it says –

“Also on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruit of the land, you shall keep the feast of the Lord for seven days; on the first day there shall be a sabbath-rest, and on the eighth day a sabbath-rest. ⁴⁰ And you shall take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, the boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. ⁴¹ You shall keep it as a feast to the Lord for seven days in the year. It shall be a statute forever in your generations. You shall celebrate it in the seventh month. ⁴² You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths, ⁴³ that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus 23:39-43

Palms were to be an integral part of the adornment of the booths constructed by the people of Israel during the Feast of Tabernacles. This was a pilgrim feast, one of the three feasts that anticipate the position of a believer in Christ. Each of the types of branches named carries its own significance, but the palm – as noted above – signifies being upright. This is the righteousness of Christ.

To understand the details of the feast (and indeed all of the Feasts of the Lord) in its entirety, it can be read or viewed at the Superior Word website. These people are now living out the more perfect fulfillment of their pilgrim feast for all eternity in the presence of the One who made that possible. This will be made more evident in the verses ahead.

Life application: Analyses of the events of Chapter 7 that try to align them as sequential, and literally occurring between the sixth and seventh seals in the overall chronology of the redemptive narrative, inevitably lead to a hopeless and confused timeline. The events are categorical, but not necessarily chronological. They are being placed at logical points within the narrative to teach essential truth, regardless as to the timeline in which they occur in actual human history. Holding fast to the dispensational model, without mixing the dispensational categories, will alleviate such problems.

Also, the feasts mentioned in the Old Testament – but which are carefully explained in the books of Moses, and in particular Leviticus – are Feasts of the Lord. They are not “Jewish Feasts,” nor are they “Feasts of Israel.” They were given to Israel to live out as typological representations of what the Lord Jesus would accomplish.

These feasts, all eight of them, are fulfilled in Christ. There is no future fulfillment of them. This is important to understand. If Christ Jesus did not fulfill these feasts, then He did not fulfill the law. If He did not fulfill the law, He is not the Messiah. To teach that the “fall feasts” are yet to be fulfilled in Israel is – therefore – heresy.

When reading up on these feasts, if they are called anything but the Feasts of the Lord, or if they are said to have a future fulfillment, you can give up on that analysis and move on. This is important to have sound theology. The feasts anticipate Christ Jesus, and they are fulfilled in His first advent.

To finish, the most important point to remember is that all of Scripture is ultimately about God’s dealings in redemptive history through His Son. It is this that brings all other things into proper focus. Someday, the redeemed of the Lord will stand before Him for all eternity, praising His glory and reveling in what God has done in and through Him. He is the Lamb of God. He is our King. He is JESUS.

Hallelujah and glory to God in the highest! Salvation has come to men in the Person and work of Jesus Christ our Lord. He has fulfilled the law, paid our sin debt, and prevailed over death – all the work of our Messiah who is our King. Praise You, O God, for the glorious work of Jesus Christ Your Son. Amen.

Friday, 11 December 2020

of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed. Revelation 7:8

The list of the servants of God who are of the children of Israel that are sealed in the future tribulation period is completed with this verse. To finish the list, John begins by saying, “of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed.” Zebulun was the youngest son of Leah and his name means “Glorious Dwelling Place.”

John next states, “of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed.” Joseph is the first son of Jacob’s wife, Rachel. He became Pharaoh’s right-hand man in leading all of Egypt. His name means “He Will Add.”

John finishes the list saying, “of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.” Benjamin is the second son of Rachel, and the last recorded of Jacob’s natural sons. His name means “Son of My Right Hand.”

Of note is that Joseph’s youngest son, Ephraim, isn’t mentioned in this sealing of the twelve tribes, but he was given the greater blessing by his grandfather Israel and therefore is certainly represented by Joseph. In other words, where Joseph is mentioned, we can infer that these 12,000 sealed include the tribe of Ephraim. Thus, all of the tribes, with the exception of Dan are mentioned and sealed.

As previously noted, many have tried to insert the church into these verses and claim that what is seen here is the church spiritually representing Israel. Other aberrant cults have claimed that they are the spiritual fulfillment of these sealed Israelites. Such claims are nonsense. Only an extremely poor interpretation, one biased against a literal reading of the Bible, or one that is possibly anti-Semitic, could hold this view.

Here are the blessings given by Israel to these three sons –

“Zebulun shall dwell by the haven of the sea;
He shall become a haven for ships,
And his border shall adjoin Sidon.” Genesis 49:13

“Joseph is a fruitful bough,
A fruitful bough by a well;
His branches run over the wall.
²³ The archers have bitterly grieved him,
Shot at him and hated him.
²⁴ But his bow remained in strength,
And the arms of his hands were made strong
By the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob
(From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel),
²⁵ By the God of your father who will help you,
And by the Almighty who will bless you
With blessings of heaven above,
Blessings of the deep that lies beneath,
Blessings of the breasts and of the womb.
²⁶ The blessings of your father
Have excelled the blessings of my ancestors,
Up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills.
They shall be on the head of Joseph,
And on the crown of the head of him who was separate from his brothers.” Genesis 49:22-26

“Benjamin is a ravenous wolf;
In the morning he shall devour the prey,
And at night he shall divide the spoil.” Genesis 49:27

Life application: It is obvious that there are literary tools used in the book of Revelation such as allegory, idiomatic expressions, and so on. These need to be interpreted as best as one can from the context of other such uses in Scripture. There are also things that are clearly not merely literary tools, but they are rather to be taken literally. At times, it may be hard to determine every instance of such things. However, there are some things that are presented that are obvious on the surface.

For example, when the Bible speaks of Israel, it is referring to Israel – not the church. What happened to Israel in the past can be used as examples for the church and its dealings with God through Christ (see 1 Corinthians 10:11), but this does not mean that Israel suddenly becomes the church.

Keeping the theological categories straight, and not mixing what is in those separate boxes, will keep us from great error. The only way to really be sure of such things is to read the word constantly, growing in understanding as what has been read is pondered and stored away for future reference.

Such an attitude should be a self-imposed obligation on each person who claims to follow Christ. The only way to know God personally is to know Jesus Christ. The only way to know Jesus Christ is to know the word of God. Read the word, cherish the word, and meditate on the word at all times. In it you will find peace and soundness of mind. In it you will find proper theology. And, in it you will find JESUS.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your faithfulness to the sons of Israel, even in the midst of their unfaithfulness. Likewise, for those who have called to You through Jesus, You keep every promise and You are ever-faithful in Your dealings with your redeemed. We know that, despite ourselves, You will also keep us in Your grasp, and You will bring us to Your everlasting home. Great and faithful are you, O God. Hallelujah and Amen!

Thursday, 10 December 2020

of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed; Revelation 7:7

The list of the descendants of Israel who are sealed continues in this verse, starting with, “of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed.”

Simeon was the second son of Israel’s wife, Leah. His name means “Heard.”

Next, John says, “of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed.”

Levi is the third son of Leah. His name means “Attached.”

John next continues with, “of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed.”

Issachar means “Wages.”

An interesting note concerning this verse is the mentioning of Levi. Under the Law of Moses, the Old Covenant, Levi had no inheritance of land because they were the priests. Because of this, they were given cities within the land areas of the other tribes. But here in Revelation, they are sealed among the other tribes.

This means that one tribe, Dan, is left out of these verses. What this appears to indicate is that Levi is to no longer be singled out as a priestly class. Instead, it is on the same level as the other tribes. And considering the tenets of the New Covenant, this makes complete sense. Here are the blessings of these sons by Israel from Genesis 49 –

“Simeon and Levi are brothers;
Instruments of cruelty are in their dwelling place.
⁶ Let not my soul enter their council;
Let not my honor be united to their assembly;
For in their anger they slew a man,
And in their self-will they hamstrung an ox.
⁷ Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce;
And their wrath, for it is cruel!
I will divide them in Jacob
And scatter them in Israel.” Genesis 49:5-7

 “Issachar is a strong donkey,
Lying down between two burdens;
¹⁵ He saw that rest was good,
And that the land was pleasant;
He bowed his shoulder to bear a burden,
And became a band of slaves.” Genesis 49:14, 15

Israel noted that Simeon and Levi would be divided in Israel and this is what happened. Levi, as the priestly class, was disbursed among the tribes and Simeon received its land within the borders of Judah. The tribe not sealed in Revelation, Dan, never claimed its intended property inheritance (Joshua 19:40-48) when it was allotted. This may be why they aren’t mentioned here, but the variety of speculation on this goes on and on.

Life application: It has been noted that the listing of these twelve tribes in Revelation 7 is complicated, and the speculation on why they are listed as they are is extensive. What should not be in doubt, however, is that these are actual tribes of the people of Israel. They are not allegorical divisions of the church. Nor do they validate nutty cults who make ludicrous claims that they are the fulfillment of these divine promises.

The Lord faithfully promised to preserve Israel, and He has. He has promised that they, as a nation, will enter into the New Covenant. He has even said explicitly when this will happen in Luke 13:35. His unfailing faithfulness to this unfaithful group of people is because He has covenanted with them. In the New Covenant, believers are given the promise of eternal salvation. We are sealed with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee.

If you are struggling with the Lord’s faithfulness to you because you have committed some great and terrible sin, all you need to do is come back and look at Israel. They remain a people despite themselves, and you will remain saved despite your own failings. Just be sure to ignore any pastor, preacher, or teacher who says you can lose your salvation. That person does not understand what the word “grace” means. Cling to the unmerited favor you have been granted, and trust in the faithfulness of God in Christ to carry you through to His place of promised rest.

Lord, it is so precious to look into Your word and to contemplate the reasons for the mysteries it holds. Open our eyes and our understanding to ensure that what we conclude is proper and aligned with Your intent. Let us not deviate from sound and reasonable explanations of these hidden treasures. Thank You for Your precious word! Amen.