Book of Revelation Book of Revelation Apocalypse Jesus is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, our Triumphant King with a total and eternal victory with his Church, for his Church, in his Church a[.]
Book of Revelation Apocalypse Jesus is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, our Triumphant King with a total and eternal victory with his Church, for his Church, in his Church and to his Church with the total and eternal defeat of Satan and his followers Jesus is called the Lamb 28 times in Revelation in the Gospels is called the Lamb only twice (Jn.1:29,36) Revelation - Apocalypse, a quick glimpse The Great Visions and Cycles Themes of Each Chapter A completely New Vision of the Book of Revelation Titles of Jesus Christ in Revelation Revelation Links Revelation: 1 2 4 5 6 7 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Revelation - Apocalypse, a quick glimpse: 1:1- The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants what must soon take place He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John Revelation is a book of prophecy In order to any clear understanding of the book we must never lose sight of its object, as stated in this opening sentence, to show to his servants what must soon take place soon! for you and for me, the day we die and at the end of the world, of course But even before that, the book is The revelation of Jesus Christ, as he is now, as he will be all eternity, and what he is doing now for you and me and it is not just "a" Revelation, but "The" Revelation "Apocalypse" means "revelation", "discovery" and the heart of the book is to discover the final total and complete triumph of Jesus Christ in his church, with his church, by his church, and for his church with a final total and complete defeat of Satan and his followers it is a book of the history of salvation of the church, and of you and me Revelation's message is that he who is with Jesus Christ will prevail: He will have joy and love and peace in this life, and a glorious eternal one in the New Jerusalem and he who is in sin, with Satan, will fail: He will have no love nor joy nor peace on earth, and he will go to eternal Hell A Book of Consolation: Although is has over 300 symbols with mysterious visions and catastrophic cosmic events that seem incomprehensible, it was very clear for the humble people addressed it was a letter of consolation rather than a book It was written for the Christians in a "great crisis of faith": They lived in the catacombs, persecuted and killed by the Romans who threw them to the lions in ridiculous feasts of diversion, and it seemed that Jesus was doing nothing, he was not moving even a finger to help them And here comes Revelation, to assure them, that eventually the final total and complete triumph is theirs and not for just 50 or 1000 years, but for all eternity! and soon! the day they die is the end of times for them, the glorious day of resurrection into the eternal New Jerusalem (1:1, 22:20) Each one of them, as you and I, would have to have their Seals and their Trumpets and their Plagues but they are nothing else that the signs of the immediate coming of glorification just have a little patience!. Jesus wants us to read Revelation so much that it is the only book in the Bible with a blessing to those who read it, Blessed is he who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written therein; for the time is near (1:3) because it essentially shows the triumph of Jesus Christ in His Church And Satan not want us to read nor understand it, because it shows the total failure of Satan and his followers and for centuries Satan has almost succeeded but he always eventually fails! read Revelation with much love and a little humility, and you will understand it as a glorious tool to help many to go to Heaven Man and woman are free, responsible, immortals like God, made to love eternally like God but, in their freedom, they can choose to fall into the abyss of the Devil The value of Sufferings in life: They are the Trumpets of God God loves us the way we are, right now but he loves too much to leave us that way! - He whispers in our ears with the nature and the Bible but often we don't listen to Him - Then, He talks to us through His Church and, again, we don't listen to God - Finally, God shouts in our ears, with the trumpets of God, the sufferings, pains they are the megaphones of God The meaning of each Prophecy: Each Prophecy of Revelation, and of the whole Bible, has at least meanings: 1- The one intended for the people who was written, at the time it was written 2- The meaning for your life and mine today the Bible is a living book 3- The possible meaning for the end of times The four schools of interpretation: There are four main schools or ways to interpret Revelation and the four of them are valid: 1- The preterist: It describes events of John's own time, and until the end of the Roman empire or at least the conversion of Constantine 2- The historicist: It is a chart of the whole of salvation history from Christ's first coming to his second, and beyond and the salvation history of your life and mine 3- The idealist: It deals chiefly with principles that are always valid in Christian experience 4- The futurist: It is largely a prophecy of events still to come, especially just prior to the return of Christ Cycles of Visions: The book does not provide a linear description of the end times, of the end of your life and mine, but presents several cycles of visions that warn about coming tribulations and the final total triumph The adversaries of God's people are depicted as a Beast and a Harlot, who are finally destroyed The final chapters culminate in the new Jerusalem, the city of God (21:1-22:5) Through its warnings and promises the book seeks to bring readers to renewed faith in God and the Lamb, who are the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end (1:8; 22:13) The Great Visions and Cycles of Revelation: There are actually Great Visions in Revelation, each one accompanied by great things (7 Letters, Seals, Trumpets ), plus some other treasures in them Each Great Vision leads a cycle, cycles, and each one shows the whole history of the world and of your life, but each one emphasizes certain special aspects of it so, chapter 20, for example, is not a continuation of chapter or chapter 10, but part of the Seventh Great Vision of chapters 20 to 22. Revelation is like a symphony, with the same melody repeated times, and the emphasis in different notes every time: The Great Visions and Cycles: 1- Vision of Jesus Christ (chapters 1-3): - Jesus Christ (1:10-20) as He is now and for all eternity - The Letters of Jesus to the Churches (2-3) Salvation history of the periods of the Church, and of your life - Other Treasures: Introduction, the Trinity, Special blessing, Christ coming, Jesus makes us Kings and Priests 2- Vision of the Throne of God (chapters 4-7): - The Throne of God(4) - The Eucharistic Lamb (5) - The Seals (6) like the warnings of Matthew 24:1-14 - The 144,000 sealed (7), the blood of the Lamb 3- Vision of the Altar and Prayers of the Saints (chapters 8-11): - Altar and Prayers (8:3-6) - The Trumpets (8-11) similar to the Plagues of Egypt (Ex.711) - The open book (10), the thunderstorms (10:3), the Witnesses (11), the Temple (11), the woes (9:12, 11:14,19) 4- Vision of the Woman and the Serpent (chapters 12-14) the Central Vision - The Woman and the Serpent battles lost by Satan (12) - The Signs: Antichrist, the Beasts (13) - The Visions: The triumphal Lamb with the 144,000 the Condemned the Harvest (14) 5- Vision of the Victorious (chapters 15-16): - The Conquerors (15:1-6), - The Plagues the Bowls or Cups or Vials (16) 6- Vision of Babylon the Great Armageddon(chapters 17-19): - Babylon the Great (17) - The Judgments of Babylon (18) - The triple Alleluia the Wedding of the Lamb Armageddon, the Lord of Lords in the White Horse (19) 7- Vision of the New Jerusalem, a new heaven and a new earth (chapters 20-22): - The Millenium and the Great White Throne of Judgment (20). - Revelation ends with the "Maranatha": "Come, Lord Jesus" "Yes, I am coming soon" the day of our death!. Theme of Each Chapter 1- Introduction.- Christ coming.- The Vision of the Son of Man 2- Letters to the Seven Churches 3- Letters to the last Three Churches 4- The Open Door in Heaven - The Throne of God and of the Lamb 5- The Book with Seven Seals - The Lamb standing like slaughtered 6- The Opening of the Seals 7- The Sealing of the Servants of God - The 144,000 and the multitude 8- The Altar and Prayers - First Trumpets, the Woes 9- 5th and 6th Trumpets - The Woe Trumpets 10- The Mighty Angel and the open sweet bitter Book 11- The Temple and the Two Witnesses- 7th Trumpet 12- The Woman and the Dragon - the Church battles lost by Satan 13- The Two Beasts from see and earth the Antichrist 14- The Triumph of Christ with the 144,000.- the Condemned the Harvest 15- The Victorious.- Victory over the Beast 16- The Last Plagues (or Bowls, Cups, Vials) 17- Woman on the Beast.- Babylon, the Great Harlot 18- The Doomed City.- Babylon's complete fall 19- Armageddon: The King of kings on the white horse- The quadruple Alleluia- The Marriage Supper of the Lamb 20- The Millennium and the Great White Throne of Judgment 21- The New Jerusalem- New heaven and new earth 22- The New Jerusalem.- River of Life.- Epilogue- "Maranatha": "Come, Lord Jesus" "Yes, I am coming soon" the day of your death! The First Great Vision of Revelation First Cycle First Great Vision, First Cycle (chapters to 3): Jesus Christ - Vision of Jesus Christ (1:10-20) - The Letters of Jesus to the Churches (chapters 2-3) - Other Treasures of this Vision (1:1-9) - Introduction, the Trinity, the alpha and omega, the Spirit, the Father - Special blessing to the one who reads Revelation - The Second Coming of Jesus - Jesus makes us Kings and Priests - The Lord's Day Jesus Christ Vision of Jesus Christ (1:10-20): It is the first great vision, and a most glorious one It presents Jesus Christ as He is now, as He will be for all the eternity, and what He is doing now for you and for me only comparable to Ezek.1, Song of Songs 5, and Dan.7 - A loud voice like a trumpet (1:10) his voice was like the sound of many waters (1:15) Jesus voice is heard all over Heaven and all over earth in many ways, like the sound of many waters, if we pay attention: 1- In the wonders of nature, in an atom, in a star who made the wings of a bird?, or the eyes of a mosquito?, or the hairs of your head? all scientists of history have been unable to make a petal of a rose, not even a leave of a tree! 2- In the Bible, in the teachings of the Church 3- The sufferings and pains are the megaphone of Jesus shouting into our ears! - Turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man (1:12-13) - Yes, he is now like a son of man, fully human and fully God and like that for all eternity - And in the midst of lampstands the universal Church of all times and all places always in our midst, on earth and in Heaven Jesus is now with you and more: He is in you! (Mt.28:20, Gal.2:20) you have never to be afraid of nothing and of nobody God Himself is with you, taking care of you always, in every second of every day so much, that even the hairs of your head has counted! (Mt.10:30) - The lampstands are of "Gold" the Church is the most valuable property of Jesus Christ - Clothed with a long robe (1:13) as a Priest always interceding for you and me - And with a golden girdle round his breast (1:13) as a King like in an.10:4 to rule always with his Sword of Love, the King of kings and the Lord of lords (Rev.17:14, 19:16) you and I, Christians are also kings, and Jesus is the King of kings but we are kings to rule with our love, our service, even giving our life to help others - His head and his hair were white as white wool, white as snow (1:14) His white head because he is pure His white hair because he is very old, eternal! like in Daniel - His eyes were like a flame of fire (1:14) full of love only love - His feet were like burnished bronze, refined as in a furnace (1:15) steady, secure, solid but refined, very smooth - In his right hand he held seven stars (1:16) the authorities of the universal Church in His right hand, again, the most treasured property of Jesus - From his mouth issued a sharp two-edged sword (1:16) yes, the Word of God The Sword is his Love, the two edges are his suffering and his humility with that Sword Jesus is conquering the world, little by little, today we are billion Christians! and it is the same sword of justice of Rev.19:15 at Armageddon, with the two edges of omnipotence and mercy This two-edged sword is the same rod of iron of Rev.2:27, 12:5, 19:15, and Psalm 2:9, with which He shall rule all nations, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces Jesus is braking our pride with his humility at Calvary and in the Eucharist, little by little who would like to go on horse on earth, when he sees the King carrying a cross? - His face was like the sun shining in full strength (1:16) glorious, the light of the world with a countenance like in the Transfiguration of Mt.17:2 - John rests in the Spirit: When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead But he laid his right hand upon me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one; I died, and behold I am alive for evermore (1:17-18) John falls in the Spirit and it always happens when we see just a glimpse of God! Ezekiel and Daniel are the champions in experiencing these fallings, the rest in the Spirit - I have the keys of Death and Hades (1:18) ) The Bible mentions several kind of keys, the third one, the Keys of Heaven, Jesus gave to Peter and his successors (Mt.16:19) that's why the Church can say who is in Heaven, but not who is in Hell or the day of Death, Jesus kept those keys - An Order: Now write what you see, what is and what is to take place hereafter (1:19) Revelation is a book for the present, "what is", and for the future, "what is to take place hereafter", a book of prophecy too - It is for the present: What is doing Jesus for the Church, for you and for me, to bring us to Heaven - And for the future: How and when things are going to happen - An Explanation of the meaning of the greatest property of Jesus, the symbols of his Church: As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.(1:20) Other "Treasures" in this First Vision: 1- The opening Statement: The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants what must soon take place; and he made it known by sending his angel to his servant John (1:1) Already commented in Revelation a quick glimpse 2- The Trinity: Already mentioned on 1:1: - God the Father gave - The revelation of Jesus Christ - The "Angel" of 1:1 is the same Holy Spirit of Gen.22:11-18, 31:1113 Immediately, in this first chapter, it mentions: - To "Jesus Christ", the first-born, the alpha and the Omega, the one that is, the one that was, the one that comes, the Almighty (1:1,5,7,8) - To the "Spirit", its fullness in the Church, the "7 spirits", and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne(1:4) - To the "Father", to whom is the glory and the empire by the centuries (1:6) 3- Blessings for the one who reads this book The only Book in the Bible who says it! Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near (1:3) There are Blessings in the Book of Revelation. ... church with a final total and complete defeat of Satan and his followers it is a book of the history of salvation of the church, and of you and me Revelation'' s message is that he who is with... the return of Christ Cycles of Visions: The book does not provide a linear description of the end times, of the end of your life and mine, but presents several cycles of visions... (3:5) the bottom line of Revelation and of your life and mine, To him who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God (2:7) the "tree of life" is Jesus at