Revelation
The book of Revelation is full of images and symbols, and it would be foolish to attempt any kind of literal interpretation. In fact, all the imagery is first used in the Old Testament and an understanding of the Old Testament is essential if we are going to benefit from John’s prophecy.
Jesus at the Centre
The book begins: “The revelation of Jesus Christ …” which sets the agenda for all that is to follow. Revelation is not all about disease and disaster, nor demons and dragons. It is not exclusively concerned with grotesque beasts and nightmare monsters. It is all about Jesus!
It starts with John’s encounter with Jesus, in which the prophet hears, turns, sees and falls down like a dead man. He is raised in renewed strength to be God’s messenger to his church, for it, too, must hear what the Spirit is saying, turn back to the way of the Lord, see what is to come, and overcome all things in the strength that Christ will give.
Chapters 4-5 recount John’s call into the heavens, where he witnesses the unrivalled power (5:5), the universal praise (5:13), and the unfolding purpose (5:5, 6:1) of Jesus. He also demonstrates the centrality of Christ. He is in the centre of the throne, around which are four living creatures. He is encircled by a rainbow, surrounded by twenty four elders, and encircled by innumerable angels. We approach the rest of the book with the assurance that Jesus is king of the universe, Lord of history, ruler of current events, master of destinies, conqueror of nations, and victor over all.
Death is not Defeat
A confederacy of satanic evil and human wickedness conspires to oppose the Lord (see Psalm 2) and, although enjoying some short-term apparent success, they are constantly frustrated, decisively overcome and utterly defeated. Certainly there are Christian martyrs in the conflict, but Revelation teaches that for believers death is not defeat, for those who “die in the Lord” are considered blessed (14:13) included with the overcomers (12:11) and receive a crown of life (2:10).
Understanding the Numbers
Numbers figure largely in the symbolism of Revelation:-
3 1/2 - (Half of seven) is the number of years of drought through the prophetic ministry of Elijah and the years of Jesus’ ministry. Occurring in chapters 11-13 as 42 months; 1,260 days; times, time and half a time; three and a half days. It
represents the time of the churches ministry and conflict.4 - Has to do with the earth: four living creatures serve the Lord; there are four corners of the earth; four angels bring judgements on the earth
6 - Is the number of man (never reaching 7 – falling short of the glory of God) The number of the beast is a man’s number – 666.
7 - Is the number of fullness of completeness. Revelation is constructed around this number. There are seven churches; seals; trumpets; bowls; thunders. There are seven songs and seven “blesseds”. The Lamb has seven horns and seven eyes.
12 - and its multiples describe the government of God and his kingdom people. There are 24 elders; 144,000; and the heavenly city has 12 foundations and gates with walls 12,000 stadia long and 144,000 cubits wide.
1,000 - throughout Scripture represents the idea of “everything”, all embracing. 1,000 years is then the totality of Christ’s reign (ie all time) see Exodus 20:5; Psalm 50:10; 84:10; 90:4; 105:8.
The Two Cities
The later chapters of the book dramatically contrast two cities depicted as two women: Babylon the harlot city and Jerusalem the heavenly city. One is a brazen prostitute, the other a beautiful bride. As Babylon submerges in the depths (18:21), Zion emerges from the heights (21:10). The prostitute is cast down and is ruined, but the bride comes down and is radiant. The term “coming down out of heaven from God” (21:10) is not a literal description, for just as we have been born again (or born from above NASB margin) it describes the direction of our spiritual life. Jerusalem that is above is our mother (Galatians 4:26) and in this way the church has been coming down from heaven for 2,000 years.
Dictatorial and oppressive rule (the beast from the sea) and deceptive and enslaving religion (the beast from the land; the false prophet) are overcome (19:19-20) as, ultimately, is the devil himself (20:10).
A Victorious People
Throughout Revelation the church experiences the protection and provision of the Lord. His people serve him both as worshippers and warriors: they are prayerful and prophetic. They constantly experience his power as they confront and conquer all that comes against them, and play an integral part in the heavenly city as they live the life and radiate the light by which all the nations of the world will walk.
The prophecies of this book are not for someone other than you: not for a distant time nor an ethnic people. They do not predict things from which we should seek escape, for through these very dramas the Kingdom of God comes. The church is seen not as a refuge for the faint-hearted, nor as an escape route for the cowardly. It is God’s instrument in the earth, the body of Christ, to bring righteousness and justice to the nations; to release his life, establish God’s kingdom, and prepare the way for the coming of the Lord.
This background was written by Tony Ling who is a prophet who ministers as part of an apostolic team, and partnership of minsitries, that, for practical purposes, uses the name Ministries Without Borders but which is based on realtionship rather than organisation.
His book on Revelation, The Lion and the Lamb, is published by Destiny Image.