The Book Of Revelation

(May 11, 2008)

Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his
servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel
unto his servant John:

Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep
those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Rev 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of
this book.

At the beginning of this book we are told to "read, hear and keep the things which are written
therein, because the time is at hand." Then at the end of this book this admonition is repeated,
"I come quickly, blessed is he that keeps the sayings of the prophecy of this book."
How we are to approach this book
The only way to properly understand the book of Revelation is to acknowledge that this book
begins with the instructions to "read, hear and keep what is written in this book." What part of
this book is to be kept? There is no room for guessing and there is no excuse for not seeing that
the parts of this book to be kept are "what is written in this book." It is to be kept by all who
have read and heard its words and sayings. In other words, it is absolutely impossible to
approach this book as having anything at all to do with eschatological end-time events and still
make any sense of the words, "The time is at hand... I come quickly... keep the things which are
written therein...keep the saying of the prophecy of this book," a book which was penned 2000
years ago.

The dispensationalist critic will point to this verse as proof that this is a book about end time
events:
Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants
things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his
servant John
Certainly the word 'shortly' means 'quickly.' These are indeed things that will happen quickly.
But where in that verse, or anywhere else in God's Word, are we told that the words being spoken
were to be understood and having application only to eschatological end-time events? Where is
the scripture for such dispensational heresy? It does not exist. Christ did not say 'the kingdom of
God will be here in two thousand years.' Here is how He presented the kingdom to us, and this is
how we are to present it to others:
Mar 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of
the kingdom of God,
Mar 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye,
and believe the gospel.

Luk 21:31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of
God is nigh at hand.
Luk 21:32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
What generation is "this generation?" It is the generation that "reads and understands... the words
of this prophecy."
Mar 13:14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the
prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in
Judaea flee to the mountains: [the Lord, Psa 121:1-2]
"This generation... [which] reads and understands the sayings of the prophecy of this book... will
not pass away till all be fulfilled... [because] the time is at hand."

Speaking in proverbs
Christ told His apostles that ‘the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs,
but I shall shew you plainly of the Father’. For those who understand the Is, Was and Will Be
nature of Christ and His Word, that time begins when the Spirit of God is given.
These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs [Gk. Paroimia]: but the time cometh, when I
shall no more speak unto you in proverbs [Gk. Paroimia], but I shall shew you plainlyof the
Father. At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father
for you: (Joh 16:25-26)
This parable [Gk. Paroimia] spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they
were which he spake unto them. (Joh 10:6)
This Greek word paroimia is translated variously as 'proverb' and 'parable' in our King James
Bibles. Here is how this word is defined by Mr. Strong in his concordance.
G3942
παροιμία
paroimia
par-oy-mee'-ah
>From a compound of G3844 and perhaps a derivative of G3633; apparently a state alongside
of supposition, that is, (concretely) an adage; specifically an enigmatical or fictitious
illustration: - parable, proverb.
And here is Webster's definition of an enigma:
Enigma
E NIG' MA, n. [L. oenigma; Gr. - to hint] A dark saying, in which some known thing is
concealed under obscure language; and obscure question; a riddle. A question, saying or
painting, containing a hidden meaning, which is proposed to be guessed.
This study on the book of Revelation is for those to whom Christ is even now "showing plainly
of the Father" by revealing to them the enigma of His signs, His symbols, His parables and His
proverbs. When Christ said, "I shall no more speak to you in proverbs," He was not saying that
He intended to change His method of speaking in parables, in this age. If that was what He had
meant then He surely wasn't finished speaking in proverbs to John when He gave John the
visions of this book. What Christ meant by "The time comes when I will no more speak to you
in proverbs" was that His disciples would one day understand all of His enigmatic signs and
symbols in His parables. Here is what has actually happened:
Luk 24:41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye
here any meat?
Luk 24:42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
Luk 24:43 And he took it, and did eat before them.
Luk 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet
with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the
prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
Luk 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
Anyone who has read Rightly Dividing The Word on iswasandwillbe.com knows that those books
all speak of Christ in proverbs and parables. As the first verse of chapter one states, this too, is a
book which is "signified." For those who understand its signs…it speaks plainly. But the
understanding of those signs is not left to personal whim or interpretation, because ‘every scribe
which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven brings forth out of his treasures things new and
old." So each and every sign and symbol inspired of the Holy Spirit in this book is taken directly
from the "treasures" of both the New and the Old Testaments. They are never taken from the
fertile imaginations of some false prophet who sees no need to be bound or tied down to "that
which is written."
Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of
heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure
things new and old. (Mat 13:52)
When asked why He spoke in parables to the multitudes who came to hear Him, Christ told His
disciples it was for the purpose of keeping those very multitudes who followed Him and ate His
loaves and fishes from seeing and from hearing the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.
And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He
answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the
kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given,
and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even
that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and
hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. (Mat 13:10-13)
And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and
that they which see might be made blind. (Joh 9:39)
Many of us have made the mistake of thinking that this was a statement only for Babylon. After
all, right here in this same chapter, Christ's very own disciples thought that they understood His
parables…
Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.
(Mat 13:51)
…when they yet did not.
When Christ is glorified
These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then
remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things
unto him. (Joh 12:16)
"When Jesus was glorified then remembered they...that they had done these things unto Him" is
saying the same thing that Christ is saying in this verse in this same chapter.
Joh 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
Joh 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
Joh 12:33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.
Christ is not glorified within us until we are being judged, and we are not being judged until
Christ is living His life within us dying daily to the flesh.
It is all within
Christ cannot be "glorified" in us until we acknowledge that it was each of us who crucified
Him. Only after that confession, that accounting of our actions, can judgment begin within. And
that is where this book of Revelation occurs and must be kept - within. Until we know and
understand that this is the revealing of Jesus Christ, we will not understand that this revelation
cannot even begin as long as the "man of sin" has not yet been revealed as being on the throne of
God, in the temple of God, which temple we are:
1Co 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall
be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved;
yet so as by fire.
1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in
you?
1Co 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is
holy, which temple ye are.

2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a
falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped;
so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
2Th 2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
2Th 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth [will let], until
he be taken out of the way.
2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of
his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
When Paul was with them he told them that they were the temple of God, just as he had told the
Corinthians.

The chief of sinners and unworthy publicans

Christ came to this earth "to save sinners of whom I am chief."

1Ti 1:15 This [is] a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the
world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
Luk 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as
other men [are], extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
Luk 18:12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
Luk 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto
heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
Luk 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every
one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
We have all been guilty of declaring that we have never blasphemed the name of God. But those
who can acknowledge their blasphemy and see that they can "look behind them" and see that
they have kept what is written in this book and that it is all within them, will be justified.

Therefore the revelation of Jesus Christ will mean nothing to anyone who doesn't see the need
for a savior. As it was in the days of our Lord's experience in this dying flesh, in the day of "His
poverty," no one who was secure with his relationship within the church of that day was capable
of receiving the revelation of Jesus Christ.
2Co 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your
sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
Our slavery to our flesh is our poverty. Obedience to Christ's spiritual words are our wealth.
2Co 6:10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having
nothing, and yet possessing all things.
Christ emptied Himself of His spiritual body and "became poor" by coming as "the seed of
Abraham," in the same flesh and blood with which we must contend.
Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself
likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of
death, that is, the devil;
Heb 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Heb 2:16 For verily he took not on [him the nature of] angels; but he took on [him] the seed
of Abraham.
Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto [his] brethren, that he
might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things [pertaining] to God, to make reconciliation
for the sins of the people.
Heb 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that
are tempted.
An integral part of the revelation of Jesus Christ is the fact that He was despised by the spiritual
leaders of His day. His chosen ones will also be rejected by the established church to this very
day.
Joh 9:35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him,
Dost thou believe on the Son of God?
Joh 9:36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?
Joh 9:37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.
Joh 9:38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
Joh 9:39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not
might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
Joh 9:40 And [some] of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto
him, Are we blind also?
Joh 9:41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We
see; therefore your sin remaineth.
So keeping the words written in the book of Revelation is not for those who claim that they have
never blasphemed God, and were never blind. It is only for those who can acknowledge that they
have denied their Lord, and can acknowledge their part in His crucifixion, and who are given to
understand that the revelation of Jesus Christ includes "every word that proceeds out of the
mouth of God." It is only those who have gone into Babylon, have come to see themselves as
"chief of sinners," as having come to God but then have left their first love, and have wasted
their substance on riotous living, and then have come to see their own spiritual blindness "from
their mothers' womb", that is from their birth within "that great city wherein our Lord was
crucified in each of us, in whom Christ was, "in times past... not yet glorified." But all of God's
people come out of Babylon:
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not
partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. (Rev 18:4)
With this understanding that we are all, at our appointed time, in Babylon, and that we all, at our
appointed time, begin coming out of Babylon, we begin this study on the book of Revelation. In
this book Christ is continuing to do exactly what he promised His disciples He would do when
the time came that they would pray to the Father "in My name."
These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more
speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. At that day ye shall
ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: For the Father
himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. (Joh
16:25-27)
Christ is glorified within us
God's Word for us all is an ongoing project, one wherein we ‘labour, striving according to His
working, which worketh in us mightily’ to "search [out] the scriptures which... show you plainly
[the mind] of the Father," on each symbol and sign within the of Revelation Of Jesus Christ
Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
(Col 1:29)
This book of signs and symbols is not designed for casual readers. It is designed to be used by
those within whom ‘Jesus was glorified’…glorified in their lives. It is for those who already
know that "the time [has been] at hand" for more than two thousand years and those who already
want ‘to keep those things which are written therein’.
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living
water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the
Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (Joh 7:38-39)
And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. (Joh 17:10)

Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things
which are written therein: for the time is at hand. (Rev 1:3)
We always welcome any comments and contributions to our efforts. The revelation of Jesus
Christ is much more than the revelation of our ‘Head’.
But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is
the man; and the head of Christ is God. (1Co 11:3)

For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the
saviour of the body. (Eph 5:23)

The revelation of Jesus Christ includes His Christ, His body the church
The revelation of Jesus Christ is not simply the revelation of the man who walked this earth in
the flesh 2000 years ago. We are specifically admonished that we must grow beyond thinking in
terms of a physical manger, turning physical water into physical wine, physically feeding
thousands of people by miraculously increasing the loaves and fishes of a little boy. We must
grow beyond Christ physical healings, his physical raising of the dead, His physical abuse at the
hands of the Jews and the Romans, and His physical death burial and resurrection,

This book we are studying reveals to us that the revelation of Jesus Christ is far more than any
thing or any one, in physical terms. The revelation of Jesus Christ is the revelation of our ‘Head’
and His body.
For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. (Eph 5:30)
Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after
the flesh, yet now henceforth know we [him] no more.
Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold,
all things are become new.
And all things [are] of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to
us the ministry of reconciliation;
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses
unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech [you] by us: we pray [you]
in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the
righteousness of God in him. (2Co 5:16 -21)
It is nothing less than life eternal:
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom
thou hast sent. (Joh 17:3)
You may think you know Christ. You might even know that He is ‘the fullness of Him that filleth
all in all’. But until you know what it is that fills Christ you are still unaware of exactly who is
"the Lord and His Christ:"
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of
wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being
enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of
his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who
believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he
raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above
all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in
this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave
him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that
filleth all in all. (Eph 1:17-23)
It is Christ's christ, "the church which is His body, [which is] the fulness of Him [Christ] that
filleth all in all [the Father]:"
The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and
against his Christ. (Act 4:26)
And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of
this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever
and ever. (Rev 11:15)
When we all come to see "plainly of the Father" we come to see Him in His Word. We come to
see that ‘the revelation of Jesus Christ’ includes the revelation of the Christ, of Christ, "The
church which is His body, [which is] the fullness of Him that filleth all in all. " That is the true
"revelation of Jesus Christ.

Conclusion
We have seen from the instructions of the first and last chapters that we are to read, hear, and
keep the words which are written in this book. Yes, indeed, even the plagues of God's wrath
"which are written therein." We were told by the holy spirit that this is a book which "is at hand,"
and it has been "at hand" for all to whom "it is given...to read, hear...and understand," for the
past 2000 years. We have seen that the ability to see, hear, read, and understand, God's Word is
given to but very few. We have seen that Christ taught us that all these things were fulfilled in
His generation as well as in every generation which "reads and understands" the words of His
parables. We have seen the scriptures which demonstrate that the only eschatology in this book is
as it concerns the time of the end of the lives of all who "read, hear, and keep what is written
therein." We have seen that Christ's parables are what "show us plainly of the Father" and thus
are "no longer proverbs." We have seen that it is only those who can confess that they themselves
have been "children of wrath, even as others," who will understand and benefit from
acknowledging that they have "looked behind" themselves and seen within themselves the
keeping of all that is written in this book. We have seen, and we will see that this entire book is
all within each of God's elect.
Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye [God's elect] walked according to the course of this world,
according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of
disobedience:
Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all [God's elect] had our conversation in times past in the lusts of
our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of
wrath, even as others.
Finally we have seen that this book is not just the revelation of Christ in the flesh who "we know
no longer... after the flesh," but it is the revelation of the christ of Christ. What we will see is that
"no scripture of prophecy is of its own interpretation" and that this book of the revelation of
Jesus Christ cannot be understood by the speculations of false prophets, but only by being
considered within "the sum of thy word," each and every signified symbol being interpreted by
"words which the holy spirit teaches comparing spiritual things with spiritual."
1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, [even] the hidden [wisdom], which God
ordained before the world unto our glory:
1Co 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known [it], they would not
have crucified the Lord of glory.
1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but
which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are
foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Mat 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the
mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given
Mat 13:16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
Mat 13:17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to
see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye
hear, and have not heard them.