Revelation, and it's place in scripture. What does it all mean. Is the John who is claimed to have written Revelation John the disciple or John the divine, a man believed to be a contemporary prophet of the times.
It is clear that it was the Apostle John who inspired this work. If we consider that John would have been in his eighties while on Patmos, perhaps in ill health and sight failing, he might call for a scribe to write down his visions. The person chosen may not have been a Christian or even well educated in the Greek language. This would explain the odd spelling, strange wording and lack of punctuation that was so unlike John in the earlier writings attributed to him.
Many scholars have written books and commentaries on Revelation in an effort to explain it's meaning and placement in the Bible. Over the years I have read many of these books, Some written by well known authors, Scholars and Theologians. This author, after reading each of these books was left a little flat when it cam to understanding Revelation any better. I could come to no well founded conclusion from what they had written. In some cases I found myself even more confused after having read some of the books or commentaries.
It was at this point, along with being motivated when asked by one of my Bible study classes if I would explain it. It was then I decided to re-parse, retranslate and transliterate the book of Revelation.
As I set up to do a complete exegesis and an in depth word study of this text, I wondered if it may be beyond my scope. As I sat meditating and pondering the thought, I said a little prayer.
Dear God: "What makes me think that I can come to a better understanding of Revelation than those who have gone before me and those who will came after me. Please God, help me understand Johns words. Not for my sake but for those who have asked my help, that they may better understand." I sat there not knowing were to start. I didn't want to produce just another translation of Revelation, but where does one find the answers to the almost endless pile of questions now before me?
Then quietly without resound, as though from my deepest innermost thought came my answer. Why don't you ask the questions of someone who might know the answers. Why don't you ask John himself?
Ya right, Just ask John. I wonder where I'll find him these days? Once again from the deepest chasms of my thoughts came these words. " Look around, for he is there before you, ready to guide you through your task. Seek your answers from John."
Confused and perhaps even a little shaken, I looked around and suddenly I saw it, there he was. Spread before me as if shadows from another distant time. They were the many variant copies of John's text that I had gathered for my research. That's when I realized that John was right there with me. Right there in those piles of Greek text.
I knew then that if I kept an open mind, did not try to impose my own interpretations, and allowed John to read along with me, and then guide my hand as I wrote, most of what I needed to know would come to light through him by the Grace of God. And so I began.
several undeniable facts seemed to rise to the surface.
(1) John was not speaking to a vast and wide spread audience, but rather to the seven churches, and most significantly the Jews.
(2) The apocalypse was addressed to the seven Bishops or leaders of the congregations gathered in the named cities.
(3) John also describes in detail what information the book of life contains.
(4) He tells of the white pebble with our new names, depicting the new beginning.
(5) John shows us exactly how we can loose our place in the book of life, and what that means.
(6) John also describes the tribulation, gives the meaning of, 6, 60, 600 or 666 and how it actually represents Satins name.
(7) John explains that the mark of the beast, which is the number in the right hand is the number of commerce, and the number on your forehead can be either the name of God or Satin, your choice. (Written on your forehead means to placed in your thoughts or in your mind.)
(8) It shows how, if you know Satins name you will be removed from the book of life and are eternally separated from God.
(9) John describes the plagues that kill and their effect on mankind.
(10) In essence REVELATION is the book of last chance.
I have spent well over a year parsing retranslating and transliterating Revelation. This, along with researching every word of the text so that our modern language would reflect a better relationship between what they said and meant in the days of Christ compared with what we mean today.
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