How to read the book of Revelation?

[vinsight4u]

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[vinsight4u]

/nvm

 

[RevRude]

It is a vision of an event that has already happened, that is my point. Rev. 16 says when the Seventh Vial is poured out IT IS DONE meaning the Anti-Christ and his minions have been defeated. Rev. 19 is the whole Seven Year Period told in one chapter, from the Rapture it shows MANY PEOPLES IN HEAVEN, then we Marry the Lamb/Jesus and return on White Horses to help Jesus defeat the wicked or Babylon/Worldly people. This is the very same fight going on in chapter 16 when the Seventh Vial is poured out, most all of these chapters overlap each other, except the chapters with the Seals/Trumpets and Vials, and even some of those overlap, it is just the Seals/Trumpets and Vials which NEVER Overlap each other.

False Religion (Harlot) is destroyed in chapters 6 and/or 7 you see the Martyred Saints under the alter ? Well the Anti-Christ is destroying Christians, coming after Israel, and destroying Islam and all Religions at that very time. So Rev. 17 happens during Rev. 6 and Rev. 7.

Rev. 18 is Babylon, which is only this world and the Nations that come against Israel. We see the Seals happened in chapters 6 and 7, we see the Trumpets happened in chapters 8 and 9. Then the Vials come to pass in chapter 16.

MY POINT IS.....These are different Visions that OVERLAP, I did a blog on this a while back, I will post it below to give you a understanding of my thought process on this.

Revelation is not in chronological order

Revelation chapter six is the Seals being opened, so it is not ending right before the return of Christ with us Saints in Revelation 19. The end of each of these chapters I point out below ends close to Jesus' return, like chapter 12, we know it starts at around the birth of Israel/birth of Christ but it ends with Satan chasing Israel into the wilderness in the 42 month period and her being protected 42 months, which puts the end of the chapter right at Jesus' return.

1. Revelation chapter 7 ends with the Saints that died in the Tribulation standing before the throne of God.
2. Rev. 9 has the Armies of Armageddon/200 thousand, thousand.
3. Rev. 10 is John eating the the book which had the uttering's of the seven thunders, in 7:7 it says when he begins to sound, the mystery of God will be finished.
4. In Revelation 11 the two witnesses prophesy 1260 days. The end of the 1260 will be at the end minus the Seven Last Vials.
5. In Revelation chapter 12 I have already explained, it ends with Israel in the Wilderness for 1260 days.
6. Rev. 13 speaks of the Beast and his 42 months. This will be the end of the age no doubt.
7. Rev. 14 has Jesus and the 144,000 and ends with the angel thrusting the sickle into the earth to harvest the harvest.
8. Rev. 15 is the description of the coming Seven Last Plagues.
9. Rev. 16 is the Seven Vials of Gods wrath.
9. Rev. 17 is the Great Harlot being Judged of God. (Happened earlier in Rev. 6 and 7, but no doubt continues till the end.)
10. Rev. 18 is the World (Babylon) being judged by God by the Seals the Trumpets and the Vials.

Then in Revelation 19 we see the Saints who were raptured coming back with Jesus on white horses. They/we (Church) are in Heaven Marrying the Lamb and we are there for a Seven Year Period. So much of the book of Revelation is happening at the same time or overlapping. The only things that NEVER OVERLAP is the Seven Seals/Seven Trumpets and Seven Vials, except for the Seventh Seal bringing forth the Seven Trumpets and likewise the Seventh Trumpet bringing forth the Seven Vials.

Most all of those chapters are happening concurrently/overlapping.

The story of Rev. 17 is the Anti-Christ destroying the Harlot or False Religion, well since he DEMANDS WORSHIP by all in Rev. 6 when he conquers Israel and in Rev. 7 and even 13 is a retelling of Rev. 6 and 7, the Anti-Christ has power over the Saints for 42 months, the Anti-Christ starts conquering in Rev 6 which means this is when he conquers Israel.

These are IN TRUTH different visions, but just a different vision, or an enhanced vision, about the same events in many cases. AGAIN, only the Seals/Trumpets and Vials never overlap, everything else does.

God Bless

Yes, I see your point about chapter 17 and agree.

Do you see the seals, trumpets and bowls as happening concurrently, or in succession?

 

[Revealing Times]

Yes, I see your point about chapter 17 and agree.

Do you see the seals, trumpets and bowls as happening concurrently, or in succession?

They only overlap when the Seventh Seal brings forth the Seven Trumpets and when the Seventh Trumpet brings forth the Final Woe or the Seven Vials of Gods Wrath.

All the other Visions are pretty much visions showing things that happen during this seven year period, some goes way back to the birth of Christ, so they are "stories" of things that will happen during this seven year period for the most part.

Its like me telling the story of the 4 years the USA was in World War 2, I could tell stories that no doubt overlapped in time, but that doesn't make each story (VISION) have to be in a consecutive manner. If I wrote a book with 25 war stories, no doubt many would overlap in a time sequence somewhere.

 

[vinsight4u]

/nvm

 

[Revealing Times]

A new vision did not begin at Rev. 17:1.

John uses the word...after...as a key for when new
visions start.

after this
after these things

Rev. 17:1-6 was one vision about the Woman sitting on the Beast and describing the Woman. Rev. 17:7 asks a question, WHY DOD YOU MARVEL, then says I WILL TELL THEE THE MYSTERY OF THE WOMAN AND THE BEAST SHE RIDES UPON.

Then Rev. 17:8-18 is only the Angel explaining the Mystery of the Woman and the Beast she rides upon. The vision was still one single vision. And it is only found in Rev. 17.

 

[ghtan]

How did the great tribulation happen in Rev. 7 unless the dragon
and woman symbols were seen back then?

four angels....the four angels
Notice how a set of other angels shows up to seal people.
They leave and go where?
What did John say he saw by the time of Rev. 8:2?
the seven angels
John used the definite article. the
This means here is not the first place he watched them.

You are confusing the four living creatures in 4:6 with angels. They are not the same.

 

[ghtan]

The first 4 seals are opened by the four beasts in turn (Revelation 6:1-8) ... so I would say the symbolism of the lion must relate to our understanding of the first seal, the calf to the 2nd seal, the man to the 3rd seal, and the flying eagle to the 4th seal (Revelation 4:7).

I find it interesting that some have seen the symbolism of these 4 creatures reflected in the 4 Gospels, in the same sequence.

I don't think the beasts add to our understanding of the seals. The text tells us all we need to know about what the seals do. Unless you can think of a relationship between the beasts and the seals; I would be interested.

Yes, some people relate the beasts to the gospels but I am also sceptical that there is a relationship there.

 

[ken777]

I don't think the beasts add to our understanding of the seals. The text tells us all we need to know about what the seals do. Unless you can think of a relationship between the beasts and the seals; I would be interested.

Yes, some people relate the beasts to the gospels but I am also sceptical that there is a relationship there.

I suppose it depends on what you think the four beasts are - I consider them to be spiritual power emanating from God to help His people.

As for the Gospels, I think the 4 writers were influenced by God's Spirit to present a different aspect of Jesus Christ.
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, describe events from a similar point of view, as contrasted with that of John.
The first 3 beasts are terrestrial creatures whereas the 4th beast (flying eagle) seems a good symbol for John's Gospel.

 

[RevRude]

Yes, some people relate the beasts to the gospels but I am also sceptical that there is a relationship there.

You are skeptical for good reason. There were dozens of gospels circulating by the time John of Patmos received the Revelation.

 

[ghtan]

I suppose it depends on what you think the four beasts are - I consider them to be spiritual power emanating from God to help His people.

As for the Gospels, I think the 4 writers were influenced by God's Spirit to present a different aspect of Jesus Christ.
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, describe events from a similar point of view, as contrasted with that of John.
The first 3 beasts are terrestrial creatures whereas the 4th beast (flying eagle) seems a good symbol for John's Gospel.

Interesting idea of the four living creatures, but did you get that from Ezk 1? And how does that idea affect the way you understand the seals?

As for the gospels, I find it more useful to ask why subsequent gospel writers decided to add/subtract/modify any passage from the earlier gospels.

 

[ghtan]

You are skeptical for good reason. There were dozens of gospels circulating by the time John of Patmos received the Revelation.

Hi there! Did the idea of relating the four living creatures to the gospels come from one of those later gospels?

 

[vinsight4u]

/nvm

 

[vinsight4u]

/nvm

 

[vinsight4u]

/nvm

 

[Revealing Times]

Rev. 16:1
"And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels. Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth."

What can we glean from this verse?

And-shows this is not the first part of the story, prophecy, vision

a great voice - shows a new voice has come on the scene
John has not heard it before this point.

the seven angels - active before this point set of angels

The Seven Angels poured poured the Vials of Gods Wrath and John saw what WAS TO COME LATER so it was a Vision of the Wrath of God coming upon the Anti-Christ and his minions. The vision in Rev. 17 has nothing to do with the destruction of the Anti-Christ, it is the Anti-Christ and his Kings destroying all the Religions of the world, even Christianity, and trying to destroy Israel, whom God protects. So the Harlot is ALL FALSE RELIGION....Nothing more nothing less. So it is indeed a different vision.

Rev. 16:6
"For they have shed the blood of the saints..."
not are shedding the blood of the saints and prophets

Yes, these people beheaded Christians. At that time in the vision it was PAST TENSE.

Rev. 11 sounds the Last Trumpet. The Vials are poured out, not sounded. The Seventh Trumpet brings forth the Seven Last Vial.

 

[ver 2-10]

Who can interpret it Absolutely right and accurate?

No one can 100% correctly interpret it, only God has the full knowledge.

However, I believe that 2nd coming will be about righting the wrongs, the past misunderstandings and make things right.

Everybody will be judged, atheists as theists alike. Most religions around the world, roughly foretells about a man that will unite the world and bring peace.

 

[ModernMoses]

Who can interpret it Absolutely right and accurate?
Can you recommend me source of interpretation for this book?
I am very interested to know The End Time events.

With the book of Revelation there is no one "right" interpretation. It is a sort of every-man-for-himself scenario. Every single person on this Earth will interpret it differently. You also must understand when reading through the book that Paul (the author) was not quite sure what he was seeing as he was writing it. He was just as confused as those trying to interpret it. I am in no way shape or form saying that Revelation may not be accurate. Remember always: God gave the authors of the Bible the words they were to write. They are God's words. Not those of mankind. I too enjoy reading about the prophesy of the end times. Have fun exploring and good luck!

 

[Revealing Times]

With the book of Revelation there is no one "right" interpretation. It is a sort of every-man-for-himself scenario. Every single person on this Earth will interpret it differently. You also must understand when reading through the book that Paul (the author) was not quite sure what he was seeing as he was writing it. He was just as confused as those trying to interpret it. I am in no way shape or form saying that Revelation may not be accurate. Remember always: God gave the authors of the Bible the words they were to write. They are God's words. Not those of mankind. I too enjoy reading about the prophesy of the end times. Have fun exploring and good luck!

Sure there is "one right interpretation" of Revelation, because it means what it means. Now there are many who do not understand even remotely what God meant via the book of Revelation, that is true, but there is still just one meaning and thus one interpretation.

John wrote it not Paul, I figured you slipped up on that, I have done the same many times, just clarifying.

In truth John may not have understood much of what he saw, but some of the visions, no much of the book of Revelation are "ENCODED" with Old Testament verbiage, out of 404 verses 289 have Old Testament references. I offer that the key to understanding the book of Revelation is to use the Old Testament to unlock the "SECRET CODE" that God used to encode the book with. For instance:

The Woman in Revelation 12, many call her the Church, and the ones in the know say she is Israel. Where do the ones that call her the Church make the mistake ? She gives birth to Jesus, so they say she is the Virgin Mary thus the Church, which is of course wrong just using logic because there was no Church until Jesus' death, but the KEY is to use the Old Testament to interpret this passage.

The Woman was clothed in the Sun, Moon, and 12 Stars. In Genesis 37 we read that Joseph dreamed a dream that the Sun, Moon and 11 Stars would bow down and pay obeisance unto him. So we understand that the Sun (Jacob) Moon (Rachel/Leah) and the 11 Stars (Josephs Brothers) can only be Israel.

Israel gave birth to the Baby Jesus, which the Dragon tried to kill (Satan used Herod to try and slay the Baby Jesus, who turned into the Man-child, which then ascended to Heaven. Then later in the chapter the Woman (Israel) flees into the wilderness where she is protected for 1260 days thus God protects her, and then Satan the Dragon comes after the Remnant of the SEED and we understand the SEED was Jesus because Abraham was told much in Genesis, that his seed would save all mankind and Paul spoke about it in Galatians 3:16. So the Remnant of the SEED that the Dragon comes after is the Church or Christians who are the small part (Hence Remnant) of the Church that is on earth while the other part is in Heaven with Jesus having been raptured.

The whole book of Revelation is encoded like this.

 

[vinsight4u]

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