A Capsule of Revelation

[Gus Foster]

There have been those that have insisted on some revelation conclusions that require added info to achieve pronounced doctrine and understanding. This is my answer:

The understanding of Revelation is not a mystery, but is totally unveiled within the contents of its own book, and a concordance study of the whole Bible, every book. The meaning and knowledge (the seven-fold Spirit indwelling in the student, see Isa 11:1, 2 ; Rev 5:12; 7:12) can be found in all of Scripture, with the application of the Old Testament texts to Israel applied to the church, each individual for every age. Revelation is an extension, a further explanation and description of the Olivet discourse. Anyone who adds or takes away to the meaning of Jesus’ discussion with His disciples on this matter is changing His intended meaning.

Each church of Rev 2 & 3 uses the attributes of Jesus from chapter 1 to solve the failing condition of their time and place, especially to obtain victorious overcoming, which our Lord and Savior deems necessary for acceptance into His kingdom. Again, the text must be used for every individual for every time period in the church age.

Revelation 4 & 5 describes the ascension of Jesus to the throne and His coronation as High Priest to minister to His people the Father has given Him (refer to John 17). The four living creatures are certainly the Cherubim described in Ezekiel 1; and we must recognize the prolepsis structure and not assign different times to this occurrence. It is critical that we see John’s Hebrew writing structure where he introduces a subject, and then broadens the scope of explanation, and then enhances the understanding by submitting more detail. Matthew 24 & 25 is based on Daniel 7-9 and Revelation is a continuation of that prophecy.

The man of sin, the desolation, was always a religious system until about the time of the settling of the New World, at which time some very astute Catholic scholars concocted some brilliant detours of Scripture, which has been adopted by most protestants today, elaborating some imaginative scenarios. Many have missed Rev 12:1 that describes the transition of the nation of Israel as a favored nation into the church age which is the continuation of God’s people on earth. The birth of the Messiah was the completion of Israel’s task, and the promises to that nation were carried out in Jesus. At this point all efforts of heaven were for individuals, which incorporated into the Body of Christ. Many miss that the prophecy of Daniel was fulfilled when Christ declared Israel’s house desolate. It is imperative to recognize that the new temple, the New Jerusalem, the new sanctuary is God’s people described in Rev 21 (ie 1 Peter 2:4-9: Rev 21:18-21, 6 OT & 6 NT stones; Rev 2:17). The revelation of Jesus Christ is His people, portrayed as the mystery of all ages in such texts as Eph 3 and Col 1; and verified in other texts such as John 17:6; the mystery of all ages is His revelation.

When we connect the Cherubim with the horses of Zechariah (notice in Zech 1:8-11, God’s people are at ‘rest and peace’, not engaging in proselytism) we get the picture of all of heaven carrying out the duties of the Comforter (see John 16:8-11); to convict, convert, enhance, to purge, to cleanse and to separate God’s people; God speaks and/or thinks, the covering angels respond and the horses (messengers, both heaven and earth) carry out His bidding. And they all bear the everlasting gospel, to such a degree even unto death, by both the receiver and the messenger on earth. The bow is a message of peace, not an arrow launcher. The result of the seals is the trumpets, in the four corners of the earth. And they have both spiritual and literal applications; they purify God’s people and separate the professed ones. How can any Christian deny the suffering of Christ, and even His disciples, in the context that they, themselves will be spared such treatment. On the contrary, when one lives the gospel, hardship of every nature shall abound. At the end, the true, purified, victorious Christian will be the scourge of the earth, especially from religious factions. Further, how can one call another out of Babylon when he, himself, happily dwells in those walls? Salvation is not just forgiveness of past sins, but a life that does not deliberately commit willful acts outside of God’s providence; a changed, dedicated and selfless life.

[Gus Foster]

I've been challenged to prove that Rev 4 & 5 is the scene of Pentecost in heaven and not the judgment scene of 1844. Certainly it is the coronation of Christ in heaven following His ascension as the King and High Priest of the universe.

One of the keys is the phrase 'door', where the scene of Rev 3:7-9 is equated with the door of Rev 4. In Rev 4 the throneroom has the candlestick, and although this could be the throne of the table of shewbread, it may appear that there is one large throneroom, which includs both rooms of the earthly tabernacle minus the 'barrier', the curtain.

Ranko Stefanovic has some great contributions in his commentary and is quite complete on this query.

Those of us who quote EGW from Great Controversy in the chapter 24 of the Holy of Holies in putting the doors of Rev 3 and 4 as the same time period really need to study that passage deeper. All agree that Rev 1-14 are the church age inclusive, but have trouble in assigning times in a historical setting to a chronological order, which John does not follow chapter by chapter. The best way to identify that is to find the cross in every setting, and to see the entire history described in Rev 12 as in other parts of the book.

To me, the stem of Jesse is ascending the 'throne of David'!

[Gus Foster]

In the 1990's I belonged to a Revelation study group that conducted weekly studies for a number of years. There were several other groups in several other states that did the same, and we would compare notes from time to time. Our format was to use the concordance in Hebrew, Greek and English to study every word, every phrase; to learn of its origin and meaning in their cultural settings. We did not use other studies nor references to influence our conclusions, and yet I did check EGW writings to see where my conclusions were in reference to hers. All of our studies concluded that Rev 4 & 5 had a time setting of the enthronement of Jesus in heaven, and at the day of Pentecost. All of us had long ago concluded that the study of the sanctuary and the feasts day were critical in rendering correct scenerios of the book. We soon realized that following a strict regiment of the historical interpretation of Revelation curtailed the word study program. Thus, the beginning of the church age was Rev 2, 4, 6, 8, & 12.

Realizing that this is contrary to some popular traditional Adventist teachings and beliefs, I have recently studied other works in this area to compare conclusions. The SDA commentary, using the word door in Rev 3:7-9, equates it with 1844 with Rev 4:1. It uses for conclusive evident the chapter the Holy of Holies in Great Controversy. In studying that passage, EGW refers to Rev 3:9 but never to Rev 4:1. In fact, careful analysis reveals in the last sentence of the chapter, Ellen separates the first and second angels' message from the third, giving them a different time period and emphasis. In fact in Acts of the Apostles on page 39 she discloses her opinion that this is the time of Jesus' enthronement upon His return to heaven, assuming the role of King and High Priest. Christ's Object Lessons, pg 120 summarizes it this way; 'But after Christ's ascension his enthronement in His meditorial kingdom was signalized by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. On the day of Pentecost the Spirit was given. Christ's witnesses proclaimed the power of the risen Savior.'

When one studies Rev 4, he will find the seven candlesticks in verse 5, described as before the throne. This either describes the thone as the table of shewbread in the Holy Place, or one large throneroom with no partitions. Either way, this conforms with traditional Adventist teachings that Christ rose the Holy Place.

Other Adventist works proclaim the period of Rev 4 & 5 as the enthronement of Christ to the ,throne of David':

Leslie Hardinge in his work, With Jesus in His Sanctuary, has a whole chapter on the Day of Pentecost that includes Rev 4 as the time period.

Hans K LaRondelle, End-Time Prophecies of the Bible, uses chapter 8 to describe 'the enthronement of the Lamb of God' in regards to Rev 4 & 5.

Ranko Stefanovic, Revelation of Jesus Christ, uses 24 pages on the enthronement of Jesus in Rev 4 & 5. And, he quotes from Jon Paulien, 'The Seven Seals", and William Shea, "The Mighty Angel and His Message", among many others.

Realizing that there are other opinions on the matter, it is important that I tell you that I has stressed these points to offset many spurious interpretations such as the secret rapture and the forced return of the old Nation of Israel and all of its predictions for end time, which was fulfilled in the person of their Messiah.