REVELATION KEY CONCEPTS

I will try to begin posting again. Here is an outline to use for study of the Book of Revelation.

Words to understand: Yahweh = LORD, the Eternal; Yahshua = Jesus; Elohim = Mighty one, God, or god (there are false gods); MK = Millennial Kingdom, the 1000 year reign with Yahshua.

 

REV 1 – GREETING AND VISION OF YAHSHUA

1.1 - Revelation = Greek = apokaloopsis = a disclosure of truth, an instruction, unveiling. Some call it the Revelation of John. It is really the revelation of Yahshua the Messiah. The book contains 285 quotations and references to the OT.

1.2 - bare record = to be sure, tell, understand, or wish. Testimony = record, report, witness, evidence given.

1.4 - to the seven assemblies – addressed to the seven assemblies in Asia Minor (Turkey). All these prophecies have not been fulfilled. They can apply to future assemblies.

1.6 – kings and priests = to be a kingdom and to be kings and priests: Ex 19.6; Isa 61.6; Rev 20.6

1.8 – Almighty = the all ruling El in the Greek = an absolute and universal sovereign

1.10 – Yahweh’s Day – the KJV translates “the Lord’s day.” This phrase is incorrectly applied to a weekly day of worship. Occurring 20 times in the Scriptures, the phrase refers to the Messiah’s return at the sound of the final trumpet. Ref: Joel 2.1; Amos 5.18; Zeph 1.11-17; Zech 14.1; Acts 2.20; 1 Thess 4.16; 2 Thess 2.2-3; and the context of 1.10 here.

REV 2 – MESSAGES TO THE ASSEMBLIES

2.9 – Jews and are not…synagogue of Satan. Many ways to interpret this verse. Could Jews and are not refer to the Judaizers who said you must be physically circumcised? Are they Jews who have rejected Yahshua? Are they Christians who refuse to cross over to the feasts of the Lord?

2.15 – Nicolaitans – According to early church fathers Irenaeus (a disciple of John) and Hippolytus (a disciple of Irenaeus) the Nicolaitans were founded by Nicolaus, the proselyte of Antioch, who was one of the seven deacons chosen to wait on tables in Acts 6.5. Nicolaus was a Gnostic. Nicolaitan means = control of the people.

2.17 – White stone – In ancient times, white and black stones were used as a means of acquittal and condemnation, as in Urim and Thummim, of the High Priest in Ex 28.30.

2.20 – Jezebel = False teacher with no morals. Harlot.

2.26 – power over nations…the saints will rule and reign with Yahshua in the Millennial Kingdom (MK).

REV 3 – MESSAGES TO THE ASSEMBLIES

3.7 – Key = power and authority

3.19 – Chasten = Greek = paideuo and refers to training or educating a child including the act of discipline or punishment. Those whom Yahweh loves He guides through admonition, correction, and training.

REV 4 – THE THRONE ROOM IN HEAVEN

This chapter describes heaven as Yahweh’s throne room and a place of divine council and government. Note that there are no people who have died present. There are only heavenly beings there.

REV 5 – THE SCROLL AND THE WORTHY LAMB

5.3 – the phrase…“neither under the earth,” is not found in the oldest known copy of the Bible the Codex Sinaiticus.

5.10 – “We shall reign on the earth.” During the MK (Isa 11.1) the saints will dwell on the earth (John 3.13) not in heaven. Those who are found worthy rule and reign with Yahshua. Ps 37; Isa 61.6; Matt 5.5; 1 Peter 2.9; Rev 20.6.

 

REV 6 – SIX SEALS

6.1-8 - The first four horses are: White = deception in government or false ministers of government. Red = war. Black = famine. Pale = khloros = greenish, green = death. Note: the flags of most Arab countries, including those that surround Israel, are white, red, green and black in color!

6.9 – The fifth seal = martyrdom. Some saints will find protection in the wilderness during the Great Tribulation while others will die as a testimony or witness of their faith. Isa 26.20; Zeph 2.3; Rev 12.14; Rev 13.7; 14.13; Dan 7.21.

6.10 – And they cried. This is a metaphor or figure of speech similar to when Abel’s blood cried out to Yahweh in Genesis 4.10. When we die we sleep in the grave.

6.12 – The sixth seal represents a great earthquake and celestial signs that occur with Yahshua’s second coming (Matt 24.29).

6.17 – the great day of his wrath = Day of the Lord…ref: Rev 1.10

REV 7 – 144,000 SEALED; THE GREAT MULTITUDE

7.3 - sealed = to stamp with a signet or private mark for security or preservation. The servants are sealed at the commencement of the Great Tribulation. Rev 7.14; 13.5. Also see Ezekiel 9 for the “Mark of God.”

7.5 – the tribe of Dan is missing due to their apostasy and idolatry. Ref; Joshua 18.1, 30.

7.9 – This great multitude are not the 144,000 but an innumerable group that comes out of the Great Tribulation and is washed in the blood of the Lamb.

7.13 – Elders = members of the celestial divine council. Revelation 4

7.14 – these are those who go through the great tribulation during the last 3.5 years of the 7 year covenant the Anti-Messiah establishes with many nations (Dan7.27). Note: Not raptured, these saints go through it. Raptured out is false doctrine that is not ever validated by scripture.

REV 8 – THE SEVENTH SEAL OPENED; FIRST FOUR TRUMPETS = THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS

8.8 – a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea…In scripture we see a mountain as representing Law or government. Seas would be the nations. A burning mountain (Sinai, where the law was given) thrown into the sea (the nations) and a third part of the sea became blood. Yahweh’s law has been disregarded by the nations and now there is great judgment in the earth. Yahshua was our blood sacrifice for our sin…sin is trespass against the law…we are saved by his blood…now the wicked are shedding their blood. Very figurative portion of scripture here.

REV 9 – FIFTH AND SIXTH TRUMPETS

9.4 – neither any green thing left out of the Codex Sinaiticus.

9.11 – Abaddon = Hebrew = a destroying angel. Greek = Apollyon.

REV 10 – THE ANGEL AND THE LITTLE BOOK

John is told to eat the little book and prophesy before many nations.

REV 11 – THE TWO WITNESSES; THE SEVENTH TRUMPET

11.1 – Temple – Greek = nahos – used of the temple at Jerusalem, the sacred edifice itself.

11.2 – Gentiles = a race, a tribe, as in foreign non-Jewish one.

11.3 – Two witnesses. Two individuals…and possibly Judah and Ephraim as witnesses to the nations.

11.8 – the great city – Jerusalem will be spiritually like Sodom and Egypt; a New World Order, false apostate, immoral and false worshiping church. Human secular in all forms.

11.11 – the spirit of life - they are resurrected from the dead. Does this coincide with the return of Yeshua and the dead rising from the graves at His second coming? Note that the 7^th and final trumpet immediately sounds in verse 11.5.

11.19 – the Ark of the Covenant – this is the ark in heaven. The one Moses built was a replica of this ark (Ex 25.9).

REV 12 – THE WOMAN, THE CHILD, AND THE DRAGON

This chapter covers a great expanse of time: Israel in a glorified state, Satan’s fall, the birth and resurrection of Messiah, war in heaven, and the assembly being taken into the wilderness during tribulation times.

12.14 – Although no man knows the exact day of Messiah’s return we can speculate on the season. We believe the fall feasts are the season of Yahshua’s return at the sound of the last trumpet at the Feast of Trumpets (the fall of the year). Prior to this many will be taken to a place of safety in the wilderness for three and a half years (the wilderness can be any place of protection). Counting backward three and a half years this time of protection would begin around the season of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. It was during this feast that Israel was taken into the wilderness as they fled from Egypt.

The Hebrew word for feast is Miqra = rehearsal, as in rehearsal for a future event.

12.17 – The dragon was wroth with the woman – that is enraged, become exasperated. Makes war with the remnant who obey the commandments of Yahweh – the saints (believers) will both obey commandments of Yahweh and hold to the testimony of Yahshua the Messiah.

REV 13 - THE BEAST FROM THE SEA; THE BEAST FROM THE EARTH = ANTICHRIST GOVERNMENT

13.1 – the beast rises out of the sea—the beast rises from within the nations (sea)—the Anti-Messiah. The ten kingdoms or nations will form an alliance against Israel—both spiritual and natural Israel.

13.5 – blasphemies = Greek = vilification, speak evil of; (especially against Yahweh and His people).

13.14 – image = likeness. Yahweh created man in His image.

13.18 – number of man. Man created in Yahweh’s image…man created on the sixth day…the number of man 666…this image will declare himself to be god. Six is the number of man…created day six, work 6 days, six thousand years.

REV 14 – THE LAMB ON MOUNT ZION; THE THREE ANGELS SPEAK; THE HARVEST OF EARTH

14.1 – The seal is the Name of Yahweh (Ezekiel 9). Salvation is through Yahweh’s Name, ref: Joel 2.32; Act 2.21; Romans 10.13.

14.4 – first fruits = persons in superior excellence to others of the same class—those who have paid a great price.

14.9 – those who receive the mark of the beast will serve the beast.

14.11 – ascendeth up for ever and ever – an allusion to the eternal destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

14.12 – the saints are obedient to the Law (Matt 5.17-20) and to the testimony of Yahshua. This is not legalistic obedience, but obedience from the heart.

14.20 – 1600 furlongs = nearly 200 miles – a large area of destruction for those forces opposing Messiah at Armageddon.

REV 15 – PROCLAIMING OF THE PROPHETIC BOWLS OR VIALS

The angels prepare the seven bowls of wrath.

15.3 – The Song of Moses Deut 32 – a song of redemption!

REV 16 – THE SEVEN BOWLS = THE DAY OF ATONEMENT

The vials are poured out on mankind with terrifying results.

16.16 – Armageddon – Hebrew = city or hill of Megiddo. Here the armies of the nations are gathered against Messiah…here Messiah will destroy his enemies as described in Rev 19.11-20. It is a large valley.

REV 17 – THE WOMAN AND THE SCARLET BEAST

17.3 – Woman – not a physical woman but the false religion which causes the earth to commit fornication and sin against Yahweh. Fornication = pornyoo in Greek = harlotry, and any sexual sins, often connected with idolatry and paganism.

17.6 – drunken with the blood of the saints – this false religion will (and has already) martyr many of the saints who follow Yahshua and keep His commandments (Matt 5.17-20).

17.12 – ten kings – these may be the Arab nations described in the Psalm 83 war.

17.16 – the ten kings hate the whore – this may be a final conflict between the west and Arab nations of Psalm 83. There are many different opinions on this.

REV 18 – BABYLON’S FALL AND LAMENTATION

This chapter describes the fall of Mystery Babylon. Most likely atomic warfare and destruction that appears to be the final end of the world—just when Yahshua returns to save mankind at the last minute from total atomic destruction. When the Jewish people cry out “Hosanna (Save us!), blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord (Matt 21.9)…and when they cry out for Him whom they have pierced (Zachariah 12.9-14). This is when Yahshua will appear.

REV 19 – REJOICING OVER BABYLON’S FALL; YAHSHUA’S TRIUMPHAL RETURN

19.1 – Halleluyah = “Praise you Yahweh.”

19.6 – Marriage of the Lamb has come – preparations being made.

19.11-21 – The description of the one and only second coming of Yahshua the Messiah with His armies of angels. Note: It does not describe dead believers returning with Him…only the angelic armies…we are dead, asleep in the grave…this is when we hear His voice and arise from the dead and receive our spiritual bodies (1 Corinthians 15).

REV 20 – SATAN’S IMPRISONMENT; THE MILLENNIUM; JUDGMENT OF SATAN AND THE DEAD = THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES

This is one of the most important yet least talked about or taught subject in the church today. It can only be clearly understood if you are sure about what happens when we die, understand Yahshua’s and Paul’s teachings on resurrection from the dead, and what happens at His second coming.

Read and meditate on the second death, Lake of Fire, White Throne Judgment, opening of the books, and the final casting of the wicked into the Lake of Fire (Hell). Ref. John 5, 6, 11; 1 Corinthians 15; 1 Thess 3.13, 4.13-18; 2 Thess 2; John 3.13.

 Then do a word search on sleep, grave, pit, spirit, soul, body. Ask the Lord to show you the truth and try not to be swayed by the traditions we have been handed down. Remember: Allow the Bible to interpret itself. Look carefully at each word.

Remember: Just because someone says they had a dream or vision that does not mean it is the truth—the word of Yahweh is the truth. Allow the word to speak to you and to interpret itself. That means to seek out the key words and keep things in proper context. The Bible itself is the final word—not somebody’s dream or vison. Pray for understanding.

20.3 – bottomless pit = Greek = abussos = abyss; the immeasurable depth.

20.5 – rest of the dead…they must wait until the 1000 year Millennial Kingdom is through before they rise from the dead…they are asleep awaiting judgment…Hebrews 9.27…they have not been burning in hell…now they will be judged and thrown into the Lake of Fire, which is hell.

20.6 – Those who have been resurrected from the dead at Yahshua’s coming rule and reign over the nations for a 1000 year period. After the war of Armageddon there are people living all around the world…these people are going to be taught by those who rule and reign with Yahshua. The MK is teaching the world about Yahweh and Yahshua.

20.10 – Lake of Fire – a place of death and complete destruction for all those cast into it (2 Thess 2.8). Ref: Hebrews 2.14; Isa 27.1; Ezekiel 28.18.

20.14 - Hades…death and hades were cast into the Lake of Fire. Hades = Greek = the grave, a pit. Ref: Do a word study on hell, hades, and Gehenna.for a complete understanding of these terms.

REV 21 – NEW JERUSALEM

21.1-2 – New heaven and new earth – In 1 Corinthians 15.27-28, Paul reveals that the Father cannot return until all enemies are subdued, including death. This means that the New Jerusalem will not come down from heaven until after the completion of the Great White Throne Judgment in Rev 20.11-15.

Note: The New Jerusalem comes down from heaven! Heaven, so to speak, comes down to us…we don’t go up there. There is a new earth and the new capital of earth is New Jerusalem.

21.8 – Note the type of people who are thrown into the Lake of Fire. These are those who had no regard for the commandments of Yahweh. We are not saved by the Law---but we must live according to the Law and how it relates to what the Father expects of us.

Yahshua saved us by His death on the cross—but the law instructs us in what is right and how the Father expects us to live. The key is that the law is our instructor or teacher. The Father has standards and those standards are explained in the Law. That should not be difficult to understand.

The verses in between here describe the New Jerusalem.

21.27 – The word repeats itself here: We must be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Transgressors (of Law) will not be in the New Jerusalem. Think on this…we are not talking legalism…we are talking about righteous living. 1 John 3.1-7

REV 22 – THE RIVER AND TREE OF LIFE; WARNING OF YAHSHUA’S RETURN

22.1 – The throne of God and the lamb. After the MK and the Great White Throne Judgment both the Father and Son will be present with mankind. This includes those who were resurrected from the dead at Yahshua’s coming and those found worthy at the second judgment.

22.2 – Leaves for healing…While the saints who were resurrected at Yahshua’s return have immortal bodies (1 Cor 15) those who lived into the MK at the end of Armageddon have mortal bodies. So, too,those found worthy at the second judgment (White Throne Rev 20.11-15) are still mortal. The leaves will bring healing to them.

Through the healing power of the leaves they will have the potential to live forever Ref: Ezekiel 37.1-14; 47.12…leaves are for medicine.

22.4 – We shall see Elohim’s face and his name will be on our foreheads (Ezekiel 9).

22.12 – My reward is with me – Salvation is based on faith, but rewards are determined by our works (1 Corinthians 3.14). Yahshua spoke about rewards in the parable of the talents (Matt 25.14-30) and the sower (Mark 4). The MK is where we receive our rewards. That is what Yahshua meant when he said, “there are many mansions in my Father’s house.”

22.14 – Blessed are they that do His commandments.

22.15 – Those who practice sin don’t get in—they have been destroyed in the Lake of Fire.

22.18 - We are told not to add or take away from this word. The same warning is given in Deut 4.2. This is why we must seek the Lord to teach us how to read the Bible and allow it to interpret itself…there are many things we must unlearn because we have been taught wrong. It is up to each of us to ask to understand and interpret the word as it stands. Amen.