KEYS TO UNDERSTANDING REVELATION - PART # 5

KEYS TO UNDERSTANDING REVELATION  !!!!!!!!
#  1  > Why was the book of Revelation written? As mentioned before, the book's very name means to reveal__to unveil, to open to understanding what otherwise could not be comprehended. Yet most people believe that this final book of the Bible cannot be understood at all__that its Revelation puts many of the earlier prophecies of the Bible into an understandable context and reveals a much-needed framework for prophecies relating to the end of the age. It accomplishes this partly through the use of symbols and figurative language that relate directly to some of the Bible's other prophetic writings. For example, the prophetic book of Daniel uses similar language and symbols. Many of its visions and figures of speech are clearly explained. But God revealed to A Daniel that the meanings of others were to remain mysteriously obscured until the time of the end. Then they, too, would be understood. Revelation contains many fundamental keys to that understanding, and the book of Daniel contains keys that help us understand the book of Revelation.

#  2  > Notice Daniel's explanation of one of his visions: "Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, My Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end" ( DANIEL  12:8__9 ). Contrast this with God's purpose of the book of Revelation. God the Father gave the prophecies contained in the book of Revelation to His Son, Jesus Christ. He passed it to Christ in the form of a scroll sealed with seven seals ( REVELATION  5:1 ). But as John__who wrote the book under God's inspiration__tells us in his concluding chapter, an angel  specifically commanded him, "Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book ..." ( REVELATION  22:10 ). John explains that God the Father gave most of the book of Revelation to Christ in the form of a scroll sealed with seven seals. Jesus then broke those seals and opened the scroll.

#  3  > "And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne [ God the Father ] a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, 'Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose it seals?' And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it ... But one of the elders said to me, 'Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals''' ( REVELATION  5:1__5 ). Here is the key to understanding the book. Jesus alone can unlock the meaning of its symbols, visions and descriptions. The first verse of this book announces that it is "the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him" ( REVELATION  1:1 ). Christ reveals its meaning. He unlocks its seals. But how does He do it?

#  4  > Two factors are crucial. First, the keys to unlocking the content of seven seals must be explained by Jesus Himself in His own words. Second, the Bible tells us that "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God" ( 2  TIMOTHY  3:16 ). Therefore we can expect clarification of some symbols in the book of Revelation in other parts of God's inspired Word. By relying on the Bible's own consistent interpretations of its symbols and figurative language, we can have confidence that our understanding is based on God's inspired Word rather than on our own opinions ( 2  PETER  1:20 ). After all, revealed knowledge is what the book of Revelation is all about. Remember, God told Daniel that some of the things revealed to him in visions were sealed, hidden until the time of the end. But then He added: "Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand" ( DANIEL  12:10 ). At the time of the end God intends that those He calls "the wise" will understand these prophecies. 

#  5  > Who are the wise in God's sight?
Those who scorn the concept that the Bible is divinely inspired choose to see its symbols are contradictory and confusing. They perceive no value in them. Because they scoff at the idea of God's inspiration, they are blind to prophetic understanding. They choose to be ignorant of what God reveals about the future ( 2  PETER  3:3__7 ). On the other hand, God tells us that those who respect Him and keep His commandments are the ones who are truly wise. As the Scriptures explain: "The fear [ respectful awe ] of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments" ( PSALM  111:10 ). Scripture also tells us that "the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple" ( PSALM  19:7 ).

THE BOOK OF REVELATION { PART # 3 }

IS IT RELEVANT TODAY?
#  1  > Is the book of Revelation relevant today? Is it possible for us to understand it? Can we know to whom it was written__and why? What are the meanings of its mysterious symbols? The name of the book, Revelation, is a translation of the title in the original New Testament Greek, Apocalypsis__the origin of the other name by which the book is now known, the Apocalypse. The Greek term denotes an unveiling or uncovering__thus, a revelation. It here signifies an opening up of hidden knowledge to understanding. This book has perplexed readers for almost 2,000 years. Over the centuries it has been one of the world's most misunderstood and misinterpreted books. Yet it need not be so. The fundamental message of the book of Revelation is simple. It promises that God will institute universal peace, prosperity and cooperation over all the earth immediately after the return of Jesus Christ. It reveals how this wonderful new world will be established and why it will never be destroyed or superseded by any other way of life or social order.

#  2  > The book of Revelation also describes an incredibly deceptive alliance of internationally powerful political and religious entities attempting to prevent Jesus reign from ever being established. Their opposition to Him and His saints will result in a time of international turmoil and suffering unlike anything the world has ever seen. The terrifying weapons developed and manufactured using modern technology are in indication that the terrible time of trouble may be much nearer than we think. Nations have already stockpiled more than enough weapons to annihilate all human life from the face of the earth. Rogue nations increasingly gain the ability to produce and use horrifying weapons of mass destruction. Even more frightful are terrorist groups, unable to attain their goals by conventional arms or diplomacy, that now have access to such deadly weapons. Respected advisers on international security warn that the danger of nuclear weapons being used by rogue nations or terrorist groups grows ever higher. Nuclear weapons are only one of several means of mass destruction available to unscrupulous leaders and terrorists bent on achieving their ends by any means, including mass carnage.

#  3  > The book of Revelation presents us with good news and bad news about the future, giving us both aspects of the picture. On the one hand it describes the terrifying tools of destruction our advanced technology will produce__and a deceived humanity will use__at the end of this age. But it also reveals how the living God, the Creator of the universe, will intervene to prevent the annihilation of humankind. It further reveals the wonderful time of peace and a transformed world that will follow those horrible days. You need to understand God's description of what lies ahead__and what it means to you. You need to understand how you can be a part of the good news He reveals about the future. Once you grasp the message of Revelation, you, too, will see that it contains the most remarkable message of hope ever written. Its fundamental message is plain and its conclusion certain.