THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST
Revelation 1:1 ¶ 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: 2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
Let us first settle our minds as to the biblical meaning of that word, “Revelation.” We must make sure that we do not mimic the Harlot Church’s pronunciation of it in the plural. For there is only one Jesus Christ, therefore it is not the “Book of the Revelations!” It is the one revelation of the one Lord Jesus Christ, by the one Father God. Isaiah 46:9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, This is highly important because the entirety of the Scriptures concern only that one subject.
Listen to the Lord Himself speak of this: Luke 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Later when he appears in that room where the disciples were residing, he even summarizes the entire Scriptures as pertaining to but two subjects. – His cross and His crown. Luke 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, (that refers to the cross) and to rise from the dead the third day: (to be highly exalted by the Father.)
Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance defines that word “revelation” as meaning “disclosure.” It comes from two Greek words meaning, “to take off the cover.” It is the same Greek word translated “manifestation” in Romans 8:19, and as “appearing” in 1 Peter 1:7.
And we must clearly understand that God’s words have a different meaning from those of mankind’s. You only have to read the ‘conversations’ between the Lord Jesus and the highly trained religious mind of Nicodemus in the third chapter of John to clearly understand this.
Listen to God speaking of his words and thoughts: Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
This is the reason that the very first act that the newly reigning king of the universe issues is to have his subjects “Come up hither.” (Rev. 4:1) For they must be raised up into the realm of the Holy Spirit in order to have proper understanding in their communion with the Lord God. And we must give careful attention to the Lord’s question to Nicodemus of John 3:10, “Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?”
Every one that the Lord grants the new birth, by sovereign grace alone, without fail, receives a spiritual understanding. 1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
The Lord instructed the Prophet Daniel that there would be a day at the end the age (which is our gospel age), that this would happen to God’s chosen ones. Daniel 12:10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
{Although God revealed many things to Daniel, he kept back from him that which we readily hear of in our day. For the gospel was kept as a mystery until the accomplishment of redemption by Christ on the cross, and its application by the Holy Spirit! Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: 27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.}
Consider the Apostle Paul informing the believers in Galatia of how he received the gospel. Clearly it was not by religious education, but by spiritual revelation! Galatians 1:11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
He informs us that God took three years to overcome his bare religious knowledge, to raise him up into spiritual understandings. Galatians 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, 16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: 17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
And also to those of Ephesus he relates of his prayerful desire for them to receive it the same way. Ephesians 1:15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Also we must not be misguided by the phrase in Revelation 1:1, “things which must shortly come to pass.” Many having done so have flooded the religious community for several decades with erroneous ‘prophecies.’ But what we must understand is that King Jesus is here referring to the setting forth of his kingdom. For true believers, as seen by the representative man, John, are weeping over an unknown providence, now that the first covenant was abolished. Revelation 5:1 ¶ And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. 4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. 5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
Hebrews 10:8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Everything in the previous realm of the law was passed away and superseded by the newness of grace! For the new heavens and new earth (a brand new world), had already come down from heaven at Pentecost at the receiving of the Holy Spirit! Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Lastly let us realize that “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” IS the ‘spirit of prophesy!’ Revelation 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Let us carefully consider Revelation 19:10 in the Amplified Bible. “For the substance (essence) of the truth revealed by Jesus is the spirit of all prophecy – the vital preaching and interpretation of the divine will and purpose [including both mine and yours].” (That is both John’s and the angel’s.)
For since everything in the scriptures concerns the Eternal Son of God, (as we saw in the Luke 24 passages, listed above) then God’s revelation of Him set forth the entirety of God’s divine will. And God’s divine will is all that can be preached and interpreted by the Holy Spirit through his true church! And their spirit of prophesy now is to “forth-tell” and not to foretell!
Therefore to those who have eyes to see, given by God’s provided ‘understanding,’ the Book of the Revelation is the most profound gospel book in the Scriptures! gb