Interpreting Biblical prophecies is a subject of much controversy, and most Christians are placed in groups according to what and how they believe.
As a result of this theologians use different principals in declaring Biblical prophecies. Some of the principals are so far removed from what is actually written that it is difficult to get back to the original text, which in turn casts doubt on the divine inspiration of the Bible texts.
The four most often used principles are as follows:
Up to the end of the fourth century after Christ the historical premillenniumism interpretation was the most widely used way of interpreting the end times. In terms of this the Antichrist would rise up and the church would go through the tribulation. At the end of the tribulation the dead in Christ would be raised and together with the living believers be taken up in heaven. They will then immediately return with Christ in order to end the tribulation, to destroy the Antichrist and his hordes of followers, the remnant of Israel save and the thousand year reign of Christ establish with Jerusalem as capital. Almost all the early church fathers held on to this way of interpreting the book of Revelation.
This method use as a basis that Biblical statements cannot be taken literally but must be interpreted allegorically or spiritually. This interpretation has its origin in the Alexandrian theological school in the third and fourth century after Christ.
Origenes (born 185AD) is the father of this interpretation and he wrote many books following this method of interpretation. He was however exposed to the Greek philosophy of Plato, and still wanted to stay a Christian but also follow the philosophical influences of Plato.
3. Postmillennialism
This method started during the 16th century and was a completely new way of interpretation. In terms of this way of interpretation the world would become a better place as the message of Christ is taught to all people, which would result in a world becoming better and will the church age and millennium start. At the end of this so-called “golden century” will Jesus return to earth for the final judgement. According to them there is no need for a need dispensation on earth with Jerusalem as capital.
The reformation along with the quick expansion of the British Empire and other European colonial powers started this idea that missionaries will carry the gospel across the earth which would lead to a Christian world where righteousness and law will prevail. Christian reformation and reconstruction must as a case of necessity continue until this ideal is reached.
These people obviously that the world is getting poorer in the spirit everyday and that morals are falling all over the world. They cling fast to the fact that the world must become a better place in order for the return of Christ and the millennial reign.
We still have groups that still hold on to this ideal. Some of these leaders turn into politicians in the hope that they and the LORD can appoint them and their followers in key positions in order to take over the world that way and establish a government centred on Christ and His commandments.
Other groupings and churches follow the wonders and supernatural power play in order to expand their own empire and to start a massive revival that way. They then establish groups to do spiritual warfare and to bring down the strongholds of Satan and to remove him from earth so that he is no longer able to deceive the people on earth.
4. Modern dispensational premillennialism
In dispensational theology the Bible is interpreted as it is using the perspective of how God communicated with man in different but following dispensations. The church dispensation is ended by the rapture of the saints in order for the following dispensation, the seven year tribulation and the reign of the Antichrist to happen. As the tribulation includes judgement from the LORD, the real Church will be raptured as these trials and tribulations are not intended for them but only for the sinners. A pre-tribulation rapture is an essential part of modern dispensational premillennialism.
Premillennialism is committed to the literal root meaning of Scripture, except where it is used out of context and it is very clear that it is symbolic language. Examples of such symbols are the red dragon with seven heads, which is described in the Bible as the devil. Symbols have therefore mostly a literal meaning such as the Lamb that suggests the Christ. When the Bible speaks of Israel, the Antichrist, the tribulation, the false prophet, the battle of Armageddon, the Second Coming of Christ and the binding of Satan in a pit for a thousand years, there are no grounds whatsoever to interpret these concepts symbolically or allegorically.
Chapter two – My interpretation – the example method of righteousness
I want to start here with a verse that I think most people do not pay attention to, but it is very important. “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”(Exo 20:2) We find in this chapter that the LORD gives them the 10 commandments, but He starts off by telling them that He is the One that is responsible for leading them out of Egypt. So in order for the Israelites to give Him their honour and glory, the LORD gives them guidelines on how they should behave towards Him and their neighbour. Like Israel I have to realise that He is the One that gives me the opportunity to rid myself of my sinful life, and as a result I will have to behave in a specific way and adapt a certain lifestyle and value system. That is the reason the LORD Jesus summarises the law with these words: “And He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?” And he answered, “YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” And He said to him, “You have answered correctly; DO THIS AND YOU WILL LIVE.” (Luk 10:26-28) Jesus here uses the example method, the same method I will use throughout this book. This is using Deuteronomy 6 where Moses told them: “(Deu 6:5) “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”
My method differs from the various other methods I mentioned earlier, as I would like to see that a prophecy must be able to withstand the test of time. I know that a lot of prophecies from the Old Testament were written for specific circumstances or specific times, but the principles behind these prophecies have not changed. We still serve the same God today. When we look at any prophecy in the Bible, we will always find that they all adhere to the same layout. The people are firstly informed of what is wrong with them, what the LORD wants them to change, and then there are always two possible outcomes. The one is what will happen if they alter their ways and do what they were asked to do, and then what the outcome would be if the people do not repent and continue on their own way. Many times the prophets would use metaphors, the same way Jesus used metaphors in his parables.
You can download the pdf here: The Revelation of John Revealed
Or the epub file here: The Revelation of John Revealed
The book addresses the following subjects
Revelation of John Revealed
Contents
Revelation of John Revealed 3
Chapter one 8
Interpreting Biblical prophecies 8
1. Historical Premillennialism 8
2. Amillennialism 8
3. Postmillennialism 8
4. Modern dispensational premillennialism 9
Chapter two – My interpretation – the example method of righteousness 10
Chapter three – Revelation 1 to 3 – The vision and the letters to the churches 19
The first vision 19
To Ephesus 22
Smyrna 24
Pergamum 27
Thyatira 28
Sardis 31
Philidelphia 31
Laodicea 33
Chapter four – Revelation 4 and 5 – The throne of the Lamb 37
The throne in heaven 37
The vision of the Lamb 39
Chapter five – Revelation 6 – The first six seals are opened 40
The first seal 41
The second seal 42
The third seal 42
The fourth seal 43
The fifth seal 45
The sixth seal 46
Chapter six – Revelation 7 – the 144,000 50
Chapter seven – Background for the rest of Revelation 53
Background for this chapter 53
The covenant with Jesus 55
1. Circumcision 56
2. Bread 57
3. Slaughter a lamb 57
4. Blood of the Lamb 58
5. Where was the law? 58
6. Who was the covenant applicable to? 59
Righteousness 59
What happens after I become part of the covenant with the LORD? 60
Leave Egypt by getting baptized 60
Baptism in the Holy Spirit 60
Our time of learning 60
Receive our calling – go to Canaan 60
Paradise and how the prophets of the Old Testament saw it 62
Assyria and the Church in Assyria 62
Egypt and the Church in Egypt 63
Edom and the Church in Edom 63
Ammon and the Church in Ammon 64
Moab and the Moabite church 64
The Philistines and the Church in Philistine 65
The Church in Jerusalem 66
The Babilonion territory 66
Chapter eight – Revelation 8 and 9 – The trumpets 69
The opening of the seventh seal 69
Now we can start with the seven trumpets 69
The first trumpet 70
The second trumpet 71
The third trumpet 72
The fourth trumpet 72
The fifth trumpet 73
The sixth trumpet 73
Chapter nine – Revelation 10 – The book 76
Chapter ten – Revelation 11 – The two witnesses 77
Chapter eleven – Revelation 12 – The onslaught on the Church and Jesus as the leader 83
Chapter twelve – Revelation 13 – The Antichrist 86
Chapter thirteen – Revelation 14 – The gathering of the harvest 89
Chapter fourteen – Revelation 15 – The reward for us as the redeemed 92
Chapter fifteen – Revelation 16 to 18 – The judgement of the whore 94
Teacher or liar? 94
Isaiah and otherprophets with their description of the whore 98
Chapter sixteen – Revelation 19 – Back in the throne room 105
Chapter seventeen – Revelation 20 – The book of life and the millennial reign of Christ 108
Chapter eighteen – Revelation 21 and 22 – The New Jerusalem 110
Donations / Donasies 113
Addendum 1 114
Introduction 114
The Dispensations of God – Do You Have the Correct Perspective? 114
1. The dispensation of innocence 114
2. The dispensation of the conscience 115
3. The dispensation of human government after the Flood 115
4. The dispensation of the law 115
5. The dispensation of grace (the church dispensation) 115
6. Dispensation of the Antichrist’s reign 116
7. The dispensation of the kingdom 116
Law and grace 116
Dominionism 118
Why do I then say that there is no difference between the Church and the Jews 120
Appendix 2 123
Appendix 2 – A new theology I bring to you 124
A new theology I bring to you 124
What does this covenant entail? 125
Steps to follow in this covenant 127
1. Circumcision 128
2. Bread 128
3. Slaughter a lamb 129
4. Blood of the Lamb 129
5. Where was the law? 130
6. Who was the covenant applicable to? 130
Righteousness 131
What then is the true meaning of the covenant of righteousness? 132
What are the consequences of this covenant on our common theological viewpoints? 136
Consequences of the covenant of righteousness on Israel 136
Concequences of the covenant of righteousness on Calvinism 140
Concequences of the covenant of righteousness on Dispensationalist doctrine 142
Concequences of the covenant of righteousness on the Rapture theory 143
Summary 148
Addendum 3 150
The Worship of Semiramis 150
Mother and Son Worship 150
Mother Worship 150
SEMIRAMIS, QUEEN OF BABYLON 153
BABYLONIAN RELIGION 156
Addendum 4 159
The end times as seen by Ezekiel 159
How can I compare these two books? 160
We can now start with discussing the book of Ezekiel 161
Who are we? 165
