Symbols and Types
Finally, there is the problem of symbols and types. Revelation is written in symbols and types more than any other book in Scripture. Ezekiel runs a close second. In some places, the Spirit gives a clear interpretation of what these symbols represent. However, in other cases, the reader is left without an interpreter. This will be discovered when we see the differences between the “scholars.” Revelation is a book of prophecy, and much of it will never be understood until the events take place. Hindsight is 20/20.
In this commentary, we attempt to follow the rules discussed in this introduction. We admit that there are times when our interpretation is, at best, a guess. We have also discovered that many of the so-called scholars have done the same thing. Their lack of agreement among themselves should convince us that there is only so much light given on the prophecies of this book, and that its full meaning will be known by those to whom it was written.
- Revelation is the 66th Book in the Bible
- Revelation is the 27th Book of the New Testament
- Writer: TheApostleJohn
- Date of the Book: Dates offered, A.D. 50-60, and A.D. 96
- Number of Chapters: 22
- Number of Verses: 404
STUDY OF REVELATION
The Vision of The Seven Churches On Earth
Chapter 1
“1:1-6 “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: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. 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. 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; 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, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”
The Gospels contain the prophecies of the Great Tribulation, and the Book of Revelation describes them. Between these two, come the Scriptures of the intermediate period: Acts and the Epistles. Chronologically, Revelation follows after the Epistles, though logically, in God’s purpose (Eph. 3:11), it follows the four Gospels. The scope of Revelation embraces the “wind-up” of the affairs of time. It records the end of prophecy, the end of “the mystery of God” (10:7), the end of all “enmity towards God,” and the dawn of the “ages of the ages.”
Dake lists for us the five ages in time, they are:
(1) The antechaotic age-from the original creation (Genesis 1:1) to chaos (Genesis 1:2), during which time Lucifer ruled the earth in perfection, before he fell and caused the earth to be flooded (Genesis 1:1-2; Isaiah 14:12-14; Jeremiah 4:23-26; Ezekiel 28:11-17; Luke 10:18; 2 Peter 3:5-7). This age took in all the period of the dateless past, the original creations, Lucifer’s reign in perfection (Ezekiel 28:15), the period of rebellion by Lucifer and pre-Adamites, the war between heaven and earth which culminated in Lucifer’s defeat (Isaiah 14:12-14; Luke 10:18), and the chaotic period on earth after Lucifer’s defeat (Genesis 1:2; Jeremiah 4:23-26; 2 Peter 3:5-7). These periods were of unknown length, and could be called the Eternal Past.
(2) The antediluvian age-from the beginning of the six days of restoration of the heavens and earth to a second habitable state (Genesis 1:3-2:25) to the flood ofNoah’s time; or, from the flood of Lucifer (Genesis 1:2) to the flood ofNoah(Genesis 6:8-8:14). This age included the dispensations of Innocence and Conscience-1,656 years (Genesis 5).
(3) The present or postdiluvian age-from the flood ofNoah(Genesis 6:8-8:14) to the Millennium (Rev. 19:11-20:7). This age takes in four dispensations: Human Government, Promise, Law, and Grace-already over 4,545 years by A.D. 2000.
(4) The age to come-from the second coming ofChrist(Rev. 19:11-21) to the New Heavens and New Earth (Rev.21-22). This age will last 1,000 years (Rev. 20:4-10).
(5) The age of the ages-from the end of the Millennium (Rev. 20:4-10) into all eternity when God will move His capital city from the planet Heaven to the planet Earth to reign forever (Rev. 11:15; Rev. 21:1-22:5; Genesis 9:12,16; Genesis 17:1-8; 2 Samuel 7; Psalm 89; Isaiah 9:6-7; Ezekiel 43:7; Daniel 2:44-45; Daniel 7:13-14,18,27; Luke 1:32-33; 1 Cor. 15:24-28). This could be called the Eternal Future. —Dake’s Topics
Pastor Ken Blue was born in Boswell, Ark. In 1955 he accepted Christ as his Savior. He and his wife Joyce were married in 1955. They have 5 children. He graduated from Midwestern Baptist Bible College in 1969 and started the Open Door Baptist Church in Lynnwood, Wa. where he pastored for 39 years. Because of health issues (ALS) he was forced to resign as pastor. It is his desire to continue to be used of God to help pastors and believers through this ministry.