2006-11-23 04:18:00
I have been a student of the Book of Revelation for over 40 years, but it is only recently that I have come to understand it. In fact, probably ninety percent of my understanding has come through the process of writing this treatise.
About forty-one years ago, about the age of 20, I had completed a fairly extensive study of the scriptures and came to a conclusion, which was this. The Book of Revelations is indeed the deepest, most profound writing in the entire Bible, and perhaps the planet. I thought within myself that if I could understand the mysteries of this book that I would then have access to great mysteries that would lead to greater understanding of the mind and purpose of God.
The question then, was how was I to go about understanding this great book? My church was of little assistance, for it discouraged its members from "delving" into mysteries and basically let us know that no one could understand it unless it was revealed to church leaders.
I therefore went outside my church and studied commentaries and expositions of the book. I found these interesting for they presented some stimulating ideas. Chapter 13 about the Beast was commented on much more than any other and the diversity of interpretation was mind boggling.
Every once in a while something I read spoke to my soul, but overall the book remained sealed to me as it also seemed to be sealed to even the greatest scholars.
Finally, I decided that if I really wanted to understand it I needed to embed it upon my psyche. I realized that the best way to do this was to memorize the book word for word. I thus began this project and continued working on it for some time -- a year or two. I concentrated on the vision beginning with chapter four and memorized it to the last chapter. By the end of my project I was fairly successful at being able to recite entire chapters of the book from memory.
There were two major benefits from the memorization.
First, I had the book in my mind so I had verses crossing my mind at times in quiet moments, providing seed thoughts for reflection.
The second thing that came to me was the realization that every word had meaning and that no line should be ignored. This was important because I noticed that every person who wrote about the book would comment on part of the words and then ignore others. No doubt they felt that if they could not understand something it was best to say nothing.
That said, even after this great effort, my understanding was still sadly lacking. I received a few insights from the memorization, but the basic keys to understanding it eluded me.
Over the years I lost the ability to recite chapters word for word but found the basic idea of imbedding the principles of it in my psyche through memorization was a good idea, as the book was never far from my mind.
Finally, over forty years later, my soul confirmed to me that the time of my understanding was at hand and I was to write about an important level of meaning for this period in time and space.
As the group knows, I did begin to write, but despite my long study and reflection on the Book I did not know most of the meaning of the Book until I wrote it down in this treatise. I probably enjoyed learning the symbology as much or more than the Keys members.
We began with the vision in Chapter 4 and proceeded toward the end. As we neared the end and I thought we were wrapping the book up the inner voice said, "Not so fast. You are not done yet. The letters in the first three chapters are more than letters to churches, but are instructions to aspirants of differing ray divisions. You must write again and finish the work."
When this revelation came I saw in an instant the wholeness of the book and kicked myself for not seeing it earlier.
I now see that this book, which mystified me for 40 years, is really simple once its language and purpose is understood.
To have a correct overview of the book [of Revelations] one must realize it is divided into three sections:
Now let us commence the finishing by going back to the beginning. I'll repeat my earlier comments on the first three verses:
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:
2 "Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
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."
(Revelation 1:1-3)
There are several interesting statements here that are ignored by many commentators:
"Revelation" here comes from the Greek APOKALUPSIS. Does this Greek word look a little familiar? It should for it is the word from which "Apocalypse" is derived. The book is sometimes called the Book of Revelation and sometimes The Apocalypse, but in reality the name is the same. "Apocalypse" is the Greek rendition and "Revelation" the English of the same word.
Let us examine the word a little more carefully. APOKALUPSIS is translated in a variety of ways including: "revelation, be revealed, to lighten, manifestation, coming and appearing." It is derived from the Greek APOKALUPTO which means "to take off the cover." This is perhaps the reason the Concordant version translates the word as "unveiling." In fact, their translation does not name the book Revelation or the Apocalypse, but "The Unveiling Of Jesus Christ."
"Unveiling" has a deeper meaning than the word revelation. A revelation of Jesus Christ could occur by having a short vision and seeing his image. But an unveiling is a different story. A short vision could not do this. To "unveil" Jesus Christ would imply the revealing of his mystery, layer after layer until there is a full understanding of the light received.
I therefore submit that the purpose of the book is much more than a mere revelation that there is such a being as the Christ, but that there is an unfolding of a mystery like the unfolding of a flower by the power of the light of the Sun. Keep this thought in mind as we proceed.
This seems to be an odd statement indeed when almost 2000 years has passed since it was written and most believe that the events have still not come to pass. Where is the great comet striking the earth? Where is the antichrist and where are the waters that are turned to blood, etc.? 2000 years is not a short time by any standard, yet the scripture says these things would shortly come to pass.
Now note the end of verse three: "the time is at hand."
Not only is the time short, but the time is at hand. Is it possible that all predictions within the book have already happened, or perhaps they repeat themselves on a cyclic nature? This is a good question to keep in mind as we examine the book.
This is a very interesting statement. Why?
Because most people who read the book do not feel blessed. Many feel almost cursed with fear instead because of all the calamities predicted there. How can you feel blessed when you feel that a good portion of the earth may be destroyed and many loved ones will suffer great calamities?
Or is it possible the book is misunderstood, that the real purpose is to unveil Jesus Christ and such an unveiling will bring a blessing and not a curse?
This is more than a possibility. This is the reality we will explore.
The next verses to consider are:
4 "John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
5 "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
6 "And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."
(Revelation 1:4-6)
"My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind."
-- Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)
Copyright © 2006 by J.J. Dewey, All Rights Reserved