Revelation Study Conclusions

[Gus Foster]

My study group, formed in 1986, recently concluded our weekly Revelation Bible study; and although some are still meeting, currently doing a concordance study on the word "walk," in our ongoing "Walk With Jesus" study, many have moved away in different directions. During this period of time of 20 years, we also studied the Bible books of Romans, Ephesians, James and 1 John, along with many studies from the Weimer Institutes' "NEWSTART" program.

Our Revelation study included a concordance study of every word and phrase in the book, in Hebrew, Greek and English, which, as you might surmise, details a study of every book in the Bible. It was most difficult setting aside pre-conceived ideas and teachings, especially since our Adventist understanding dictates a precise historical interpretation of prophecy. It was imperative that we personalized Revelation, and recognized that Jesus' messages to all of the churches was for every person of every church age.

It was also intriguing that 'The Revelation of Jesus Christ' did not only include a message from God to Jesus, and from Jesus to John, and from Jesus about Jesus, but also that Revelation is not just the verb 'uncovering,' but that Revelation is also a noun; the Revelation being Jesus' people, His prize possession. Our studies in other books made this clear; the mystery of all ages is that God be made known 'through the church.' (John 17:20; through their word, which is God's Word proclaimed, in every form)We found it necessary to study Revelation in the setting of Jesus building His church, stone by stone.

Here is a brief of what we found:

The description of Jesus' attributes and character are imparted to those of the church age who accept His imparted righteousness. The church is comprised of those who 'obey His commandments and have His faith and testimony.' Opposition is described in the attributes of Nicolaitans, Balaam and Jezebel; those that submit to idolatry, spiritual fornication, immorality, and anyone who rejects the guidance and control of the Holy Spirit, "the natural man."

The throneroom in heaven is in command of the whole universe, and the workings of its administration are described in Isaiah, Ezekiel and Zechariah; in a chain of command, from God or Jesus, to the covering cherubims, to angels and to human servants. Jesus is pictured as our 'Lamb,' and upon enthronement is given the destiny of every living being, and administers the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. The throneroom scene specifically details the only acceptable form of worship to our Creator.

A cherubim issues Jesus' command to 'go forth,' and the gospel is submitted through the chain of command. In the picture of the sealing of God's people, we also encounter the opposition, which becomes organized from without and from within the church setting. This images the death of the gospel presenter and the spiritual death of the opposer. It is worth noting that the 'horses' are objects to be prayed for to oppose sin in ones' life, or to purge sin from ones' daily routine.

As in the Old Testament, the trumpets serve two purposes; some used to call it sifting the wheat from tares; the separation of the 'professed' from the earnest Christian, and the cleansing and purification of the true. These plagues multiply in occurrence and intensity until they become the seven last plagues without mercy.

In the center of the book of Revelation, we see the birth of the Messiah, the desolation of the nation Israel, and the plight of the church, many fleeing into the wilderness, and many absorbing the false gospel of Satan. The proclaiming of the gospel and the warning against false doctrine and worship follows the pattern of the seals and trumpets, as the church parallels the nation Israel in becoming the opposition to the eternal gospel. John always reminds us that there are always those 'who do not knell to Baal,' described as a false trinity, dragon, beast and false prophet.

We encounter the false unity, a religious/political system, which seemingly controls the earth. And its destruction. Christ assumes all control, and His enemies are laid waste. The description of the 'bride,' the holy city, the new Jerusalem is a metaphorical picture of Christ's people, in the form of the Holy of Holies, made up of foundations and gates and 'stones with new names,' all clear and purified, so pure they are transparent.

From beginning to end, there are those whose only desire is to stay clothed in the garment of Christ's righteousness, and every one else. We see the period of 3 1/2 mentioned over and over, which although may have been a guidepost for the reformation in an historical setting, is the time period between the spring and fall feasts of Israel, the time between the 1st and 2nd Advents. Now, we all covet attendance at the feast of tabernacles, and the wedding banquet our Lord is preparing------Come, Lord Jesus

[Gail]

Sounds like a great group, Gus!

[Gus Foster]

An interesting thing about the color of the 'horses' in the Rev seals. There have been many opinions, and I believe my study group's deduction is as good as most, and in fact, I believe we are right on. What may seem astonishing to you, as it still is to us, us being study group members, is that sometime in the early '90's we learned how to PRAY FOR THE HORSES to do resolve human need and problem areas.

If it sounds incredible, it is!

First of all, the horses are the messengers, angels and/or humans, that carry out the gospel bidding of our Lord as directed by a covering cherubim. The color of the horses represent not only the opposition to the gospel (see LaRondelle, Naden, Paulien, and Stefanovic; in their Revelation commentaries) but by the intensity and power in which horse applies his mission.

Remember when Daniel was praying in Dan 10:13---"But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia." We have yet to understand the spiritual warfare for each soul. Can you imagine that----Gabriel was restrained from doing the bidding of the throneroom for 21 days?

When we have a need for the gospel in intensity, we pray for help. When we see a friend or brother in need for help, no matter what the cause or reason, we can pray for help. But more, much more. Prayer needs to be specific. One can pray generally, like for the health for everyone in the whole world, or for all wars to end, etc etc etc. But prayer should be for a specific person, a specific problem.

So, we have learned to ask for specific horses for specific people and happenstances. Especially in the area of sin. To pray for a black horse or a red horse for someone intentionally living outside of the will of Jesus really works. We have been doing it for years. We have seen it work. In the case of a family member living the prodical life, it is tough love to pray for animousity to befall their riotous living; but trust me, there will be much more bereavement to see them burning over the wall.

And for this number of years, we have informed some that we are praying for these horses and why. That is a trumpet to blow, a warning to give, and a gospel bed to plant, fertilize, grow and harvest. It is the work of the Holy Spirit as described by Jesus; sin, righteousness and judgment. And it is the duty of God's people in the caring and loving for others.

[Gerr]

Can you give a reference elsewhere in Scripture where humans are ever represented by horses?

Gerry

[Gus Foster]

We are talking about messengers in Revelation. The messengers may be angels and they can be human. Just follow the word angel thru Revelation. Look at the churches--to the angel of----for each church. Now what does Zechariah tell us about the horses he saw---

Zech 1:10--"these are the ones the Lord has sent to go throughout the earth." --- "And they reported to the Angel of the Lord"----to Jesus was understood by the writer, since Angel is capitalized. Now this Angel keeps telling these horses to proclaim---and to measure -- Rev 14:16 and Rev 11:1. Now go to Zech 6---who are these horses, chariots? And again, "these are the four spirits of heaven" ---again proclaiming-----

Since John uses this text to metaphoically describe the seal horses, whom do you think is proclaiming the gospel, the same gospel and warning that is issued in Rev 14:6-12; the same gospel that Peter issued at Pentecost also with warnings. Read Acts 2 and see the gospel with warning.

In other OT texts, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Joel and others, horses represent judgment and warfare, which is exactly what the proclaiming of the gospel brings----the two edged sword---The Sword in Jesus' mouth----notice in Rev 12 the false gospel spues forth from the Dragon. How? Thru people, thru the false church, the false prophet. The horses in the 5th trumpet represent false gospel. How? Thru false words. From whom? People. And fallen angels.

Using horses as messengers is no different that trees representing people, grass representing people, and every other 'sign' John uses to represent people. For Joseph, people were stalks, for Daniel, trees, etc etc etc. Whom did Balaam's donkey represent?

Although the Rev seals represent the gospel and its intensity and opposition, it still is the gospel "going forth unto all the world" which always causes calamity, and breaks up 'the peace.' The Greek word, 'come,' in the Rev seals is the word 'go forth'---the translations that use 'come and see' are unfortunate----just as in Zechariah, the angel says 'go forth,' and in Revelation the angel (cheribum) says 'go forth.'

[olger]

Thanks for your post, Gus. Keep studying, from a fellow buckeye.

gcw

[Gus Foster]

For any one that might be interested, Ellen G White recommended that we spend time studying Revelation very carefully, and in many instances, did not seem to comment on several given texts. Dr Bill Liversidge teaches that in "The New Great Controversy," that in chapter 38, "The Final Warning," EGW has direct comments on the seven trumpets. To follow the thought pattern, one must read the Revelation text and then read the references:

#1---pg 606 "Thus the message of the third angel will be proclaimed;"----thru the paragraph

#2---pg 607 "As the controversy extends into new fields" --etc

#3---pg 607 "The church appeals to the strong arm of civil power" ---etc

#4---pg 608 "As the storm approaches, a large class" etc

#5---pg 608 "In this time of persecution the faith" etc

#6---pg 609 "The same trials have been experienced" etc

and continue reading as it works into #7.

Rev 18:1 pg 611 "The angel who unites in the proclaimation," etc

This fits the Bible texts really good.