Simply Revelation: An Easy Understanding to the Unveiling of Christ

Copyright © 2012 by T. R. Estep.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scripture quotations taken from the

New American Standard Bible®,

Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973,

1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

Used by permission (www.Lockman.org).

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ISBN: 978-1-4497-6461-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-6462-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-6460-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012915762

WestBow Press rev. date: 09/26/2012

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Preface

Introduction

Interpretation

Revelation 1 Introduction

Revelation 2 and 3 The Seven Churches

Revelation 4 Heaven and God

Revelation 5 Prelude to the Seals

Revelation 6 Outline of Future Things

Revelation 7 Spreading the Gospel

Revelation 8 Spiritual Attack upon the Earth

Revelation 9 Enforcing Antichrist as False Messiah

Revelation 10 Preparation for the End

Revelation 11 Rebuilding the Temple, Two Witnesses, Last Trumpet

Revelation 12 General Story Outline, Satan Cast Out

Revelation 13 Antichrist and False Prophet

Revelation 14 Signs Occurring at the Second Coming, The Two Harvests

Revelation 15 Preparing the Bowl Judgments and God’s Entrance

Revelation 16 The Seven Bowl Judgments - Har-Magedon

Revelation 17 The Harlot: The False Religion to False Religions of Present Day

Revelation 18 Babylon: The Worldly System

Revelation 19 The Triumphant Entry

Revelation 20 1,000-Year Earthly Rule, Satan Bound for 1,000 years, Resurrection, Judgment

Revelation 21 All Things New: Eternal State

Revelation 22 Water and Tree of Life: Call to Salvation

Closing

Citations

To my beautiful and beloved

wife,

my companion in life,

this work is affectionately dedicated.

Acknowledgments

I have to start by mentioning a mentor and very dear friend of mine: Eric S. Messelt, MDiv, JD. He is currently pastor-elder at Lakeside Bible Chapel in Sterling Heights, Michigan. Thank you for your time spent in proofreading part of this book.

Mostly, thank you for all the time you have spent with me over the years in presenting systematic theology, proper hermeneutics, thesis presentation, and an overall view to never have closure to a study. Your passion of teaching God’s Word has aided in my growth and scholarly approach toward the Bible. Your small contributions, as you state, are larger than you think. I could not have reached where I am today without you. Onward, Christian soldier.

I would also like to acknowledge Patrick Gallagher, a graphic artist. Thank you for all the artwork, charts, and maps for this commentary. You truly have a gift of using simple concepts to voice many details in your Christian art. The front cover design loudly proclaims so much.

Preface

Out of the vast stream of biblical interpretation, perhaps the largest tributary consists of commentaries upon the book of Revelation. Spanning centuries, some of the best minds and most devoted men and women have graced us with their works.

Since my youth, I have been fascinated with prophecy. In a lifetime of studying verses and commentaries, I found it difficult to understand Revelation as a whole, because scholars would excessively explain every detail. I never felt the connotation of Revelation was entirely solved. The spiritual attack upon the future world has never been fully addressed in chronological detail due to a misinterpretation of certain chapters and passages. Nor has symbolism of certain words and expressions amply made sense, until now.

Simply Revelation is an aspired work providing the reader elementary yet pertinent answers in each chapter that God has conveyed. Propel your mind and soul into a new perception of prophecy, enhancing your faith toward an intimate relationship with God. I invite the reader to journey along as we explore the last book of the Bible as God reveals Himself to us.

Introduction

The manner and intent in which this teaching guide is written is to provide a short, to-the-point interpretation of verses so the reader may understand the method, design, and overall plan of why and how God orchestrates His will through this future period of mankind. Even though much detail is needed to explain many topics of eschatology for the book of Revelation, it is the intent of the author to keep a simple, general interpretation to understand the main focal points and to bring to mind meanings of various words and expressions used throughout the book of Revelation.

Some verses require uncomplicated effort to interpret, and no commentary is administered. Due to the understanding of the author, a commentary on the verse is not needed.

Interpretation

Interpretation Methods Used

When a literal or figurative (symbolic idiom) interpretation is being used, the method of interpretation is always a literal understanding in both cases. A figurative interpretation is only used when the literal meaning of any word or expression does not make sense with the overall idea of what the writer of Revelation is trying to convey.

The author adheres to the premillennial, pretribulational, dispensation view and will proceed in interpreting in this manner.

The Abrahamic covenant will be a foundation in understanding the basis of the entire covenant program for the nation of Israel, which is a basis for the premillennial, pretribulational, dispensation view. The Abrahamic covenant will be alluded to in various chapters throughout this commentary.

Interpretation methods used throughout this commentary can be found in Things to Come by J. Dwight Pentecost, specifically in chapters 1–4.

Revelation 1

Introduction

Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must shortly take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John,

Rev 1:2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.

It is said by many Christians that the things which John saw may have been future sights that he tried to describe in comparison, to the best of his ability, with things he knew in his time. Adversely, the truth is that God revealed to John exactly what he wrote down. In this way, John would write down exactly what God wanted him to write.

Rev 1:3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.

Rev 1:4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne; (emphasis added)

Rev 1:5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood. (emphasis added)

These two verses are packed with information. Notice the three different uses of from, indicating

A) the Father, from Him who is and who was and who is to come; present, past, and future

B) the Holy Spirit, from the seven Spirits who are before His throne (explained in Isa 11:2 as the seven-fold Spirit):

i. of the Lord

ii. of wisdom

iii. of understanding

iv. of counsel

v. of strength

vi. of knowledge

vii. of the fear of the Lord

C) the Son, from Jesus Christ

i. The firstborn of the dead (1Co 15:20; Col 1:17, 18).

In Luke 16:19–31, Abraham’s bosom (or paradise) was a waiting-room type of place for believers who have died and were waiting for Jesus to pave the way to heaven. Therefore, Jesus is the firstborn of many brethren. Now that this event has occurred, when one’s body dies, the soul goes straight to heaven. Also, this speaks of Jesus to be the first with a resurrected body. Our bodily resurrection is scheduled and will occur in future events.

Rev 1:6 And He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (emphasis added)

This is due to the covenant—our salvation. From Adam to the present day, God has always offered His covenant to mankind. He has chosen us first, before the foundation of the world.

We can clearly see that God has dealt with and reached out to man differently throughout the history of mankind, but salvation has always been the same (dispensationalism).

(Refer to chart 1)

A Few Main Focal Points

A) The covenant between God (Father) and God (Son) in Genesis 15:9–17: Abrahamic covenant.

B) Atonement

i. The permanent promise in Genesis 3:15 of a Messiah to come for the atonement of sin (permanent, seed of the woman—women do not have the seed; they have eggs. Men carry the seed. Therefore, a virgin birth, indicating Messiah).

ii. The temporary atonement of sin implemented in Genesis 3:21 (temporary, until a permanent event—clothed in animal skin, blood sacrifice). Not naked or uncovered in a bodily or physical manner, but sins uncovered in a spiritual manner; hence, naked, uncovered.

The temporal method of animal sacrifice was used as an accountable blood sacrifice. This was a temporary method of God’s design, to be used prior to the coming of the Messiah’s first advent. It’s always about the intent of man asking for forgiveness of sin, not how it is done.

Abrahamic Covenant

Other covenants fall under the umbrella of the Abrahamic covenant, which is the main covenant. Its importance shows promises to Israel, not the church; thus, the tribulation and millennium are part of the Abrahamic promises of God to Israel. The church age ends with rapture.

(Refer to chart 2)

Rev 1:7 Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. Even so. Amen.

This is a decree. It seems this event will be seen by everyone who has ever lived, along with those living on earth. It is the most special day, the one day man has always hoped for: the reunion of God and man, as it was in the days of Eden.

Rev 1:8 I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

The beginning and end—present, past, and future—meaning He always has been and always will be.

Rev 1:9 I, John, your brother and fellow-partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos, because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

Rev 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a