Bernard Khaw

commented on Apr 23, 2014

Thank you for writing your article. I have been teaching this message of good news as well. Blessings to your ministry.

Callie Opperman

commented on Apr 23, 2014

Thanks for this contribution, Bernard. I had a NT lecturer years ago teaching us that Revelation is a Book of Comfort ("troosboek" in Afrikaans). Therefore, I think that the most important sentences in your good article is: "Believers are called to persevere through suffering: Revelation is not a prediction of escape from suffering. Rather, it?s a promise of future deliverance and reward for those who remain faithful while suffering." I shall add: It is a promise that Christ exalted is with his church in tribulation until the end. The believers are part of the conqueror's march and will survive!

Steve Badger

commented on Apr 23, 2014

This article was very good! An excellent resource to see how different scholars have interpreted "Revelation" is Steve Gregg's Revelation: Four Views: A Parallel Commentary--I use the (c) 1997 version, but there is a new edition too. Especially interesting is he personal account of having been taught "the right way" to interpret the Apocalypse, and what happened when later he had to teach the course. Read this in his "Introduction to this Commentary" beginning on page 1.

David Parks

commented on Apr 23, 2014

Fantastically useful article. People can spend hours trying to decrypt the symbols without ever understanding the message.

Larry Koen

commented on Apr 25, 2014

Are you implying if scripture is hard to understand we are to trust and article about the scripture? 2 Tim 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

David Ashton

commented on Apr 23, 2014

As long as we keep preaching millenialism we get it wrong. Read Michael Wilcock's "I saw heaven opened".

Suresh Manoharan

commented on Apr 23, 2014

An insightful article. Even as we read the Book of Revelation in the midst of our own suffering, it would serve us well to reflect on the following points... a) Our God is fair, He will not unleash the woes (Rev 6-16) till the wicked are deserving of that (Genesis 15:16) b) Jesus said when He returns' the sinful condition of the World would resemble that of Noah's day (Luke 17:26)...being ripe for punishment c) Just as gracious Lord made the obedient Noah escape the Flood, so too He will ensure that His obedient Ones' escape the woes described in Revelation by rapturing them. Our response at this time when World is fast resembling the "days of Noah" should be one of introspection...am I alert for the Rapture of the Church and am I alerting others.

E L Zacharias

commented on Jan 11, 2019

Suresh, the rapture is misunderstood by many theologians. Biblically, there is only one rapture, and that is on the day of judgment, when Jesus returns and calls all people to account for their lives. The dead will rise first, separated as sheep and goats; then we, who are living, will rise up to stand alongside of those who believe in Jesus. Jesus' parable is a snapshot of that moment. Whatever our situation, we will be taken away from our earthly business to stand with Jesus. The judgment happens, and we will have a new heaven, a new earth. Don't waste your time talking about "the rapture." Spend it telling them of the Savior whose death and resurrection is the atoning sacrifice for sin. Here is the forgiveness of sins, a holy life, and eternal joy & peace!

Jd Hine

commented on Apr 24, 2014

Is there a great message of comfort and hope in the book of Revelation? Absolutely! Every time Christ is unveiled there is hope. Revelation is the ultimate unveiling of Jesus Christ as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is the only One worthy to unlock the seals...the Alpha and Omega, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. However, to interpret Revelation merely as an allegorical picture of the first century church is to grossly miss the greatest book on prophecy in the New Testament. Is it rather scary to contemplate the future of those who reject Christ? Yes!

Jd Hine

commented on Apr 24, 2014

Sorry...did not mean to send this twice!

Jd Hine

commented on Apr 24, 2014

Is there a great message of comfort and hope in the book of Revelation? Absolutely! Every time Christ is unveiled there is hope. Revelation is the ultimate unveiling of Jesus Christ as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is the only One worthy to unlock the seals...the Alpha and Omega, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. However, to interpret Revelation merely as an allegorical picture of the first century church is to grossly miss the greatest book on prophecy in the New Testament. Is it rather scary to contemplate the future of those who reject Christ? Yes!

Larry Koen

commented on Apr 25, 2014

For you to say Revelation played out in the early church is naive unscriptural and contrary to sound doctrine. For instance can you cite a time in history when any of the following catastrophic events took place as mentioned in six verses of Rev.8:6-12, " 6 So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. 7 ? The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up. 8 Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9 And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. 10 Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11 The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter. 12 Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night." In all my studies of world history I find nothing. Again where in History do you see the following events of Rev 6:7-8 " 7 When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, "Come and see." 8 So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth." Indicating a series of events that destroy a quarter of the population of man! Given these events are not in our past they must be prophetic and future. Be careful before you dismiss the prophecies of this book! "Rev. 22:18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

E L Zacharias

commented on Jan 11, 2019

Larry, don't forget that the arrangement of Christ's Revelation is key to understanding the message. Six things are opened & revealed, but the seventh is preceded by an intermission in heaven; and so it repeats, six and the interim before God acts. This is how God operates. Every evil will rise against God's salvation, ultimately wanting it destroyed. In the same way, Jesus set his face toward Jerusalem, where he knew his enemies would bring death. On the 6th day, he was crucified, died, and was buried. On the 7th day, he rested in the tomb, revealing his living self on the third day. The Day approaches. Faithfully, preach Christ, the perfect revelation of God, whose perfect life, death, and resurrection is placed upon us as the righteous robe that covers our sin and fits us with the royal robes of his kingdom. Preach the joy of Baptism, by which we are clothed with Christ, and the Bread of Christ, by which we eat and drink of Christ, in this wedding feast of the Lamb in his kingdom.

Bryan Brooks

commented on Apr 27, 2014

Brother Koen, I am naive, unscriptural, and have no sound doctrine, thank you for those wonderful words of exhortation. As for the preterest view (Revelation in our past not our future), it is a system that lets Bible interpret bible. The things of Revelation 8 have been seen before. Verse 7, we have the siege of Jerusalem by the Roman army, Josephus writes that the Romans cut down every tree for 90 furlongs to build their war machine. Verses 8-9, the mountain refers to government (Ex 15:17). The 'sea' is a great many people (land is Israel, sea is Gentile). Read Josephus on the siege of Jerusalem, he speaks of people trying to run away from the city to the river, and the Romans killed them with darts, cutting off their heads, or hands, the river ran red. Verses 9-11, Wormwood is a warning for apostasy which the Jews are in (We have no king but Caesar and let His blood be on us and our children). Look at Deut 29:18, Jer 9:15, 23:15, Amos 5:7. Verse 12 sun, moon, stars are seen in Ex 37:9-10, it is the nation of Israel. Rev 6:7-8, we see the 4 horsemen. White horse the conquerer Vespasian or Titus, crown given by God to destroy Israel. Red horse is civil war, the 'earth' is translated from 'land' the Promised land, this is a local happening. Black horse is famine (Lam 5:10, Luke 21:23), and the pale horse is pestilence (Eze 14:21). The Book of Revelation is 'lights out' for Israel, Judaism (there cannot be 2 ways to the Father), and the Temple, it is the end of an Age, the Jewish sacrificial age. Remember, God tells Daniel to seal up his book (12:4), but Revelation is not to be sealed (22:10) 'for the time is at hand.'

E L Zacharias

commented on Jan 11, 2019

Christ himself speaks to John the message the Church needed to hear, as it lived in a time of persecution. He calls us to remain faithful to his Word and mission, until he comes again in glory. Satan will always be at work trying to diminish the faith and destroy the faithful ones. Nevertheless, Jesus is the Savior, whose death and 3rd-day resurrection defeated Satan, cancelling the power of sin and removing the power and fear of death. He reigns over all things in heaven and earth, but he rules esp for his Church, i.e., all who believe in him. Our painful battles are temporary; his victory, eternal.

E L Zacharias

commented on Jan 11, 2019

So, yes, teach and preach Revelation in this way; not with mystery and fear, but with joy in your hearts. For even if you are cut down by satanic foes, understand that your Redeemer is drawing near: Jesus at the head of the stairs, calling you home. A "thousand years" may seem like a long time. (And it is:-) But just as God gave his Son at the proper time (born of a woman, born under the Law, to redeem those who were under the Law), so the Son of Man will return at the proper time, with glory, to judge the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end. Every eye shall see him, for Christ shall raise up you and all the dead and give eternal life to you and all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true!