Preface
“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.” (Revelation 1:3)
It is my mission to bring the revelation of Jesus Christ to the readers through exposition of the ancient book of Revelation, found in our Bibles as the last book of the New Testament. It is my purpose to bring the blessings of this book to the modern world in this generation. When Jesus is revealed, all else falls into its proper place in the universe. To again behold His face is the goal of Mankind; beholding His Face is Revelation.
I began the intensive study of the book of Revelation about 35 years ago when my older children began asking who was right after hearing sermons of contradictory interpretations. For many years I had studied the Bible from a devotional and inspirational viewpoint and had accepted the pre-millennial and dispensational doctrines espoused by my Church, although I had some serious questions and intellectual discomfort on several issues. At this particular time of my life, I was also facing a potentially terminal physical condition and did not expect to live but a few more months. As I attempted to find the answers for my children, I was also desperately trying to get answers for my own spiritual needs. I have come to realize that a prerequisite for finding the truth is to seek it from the viewpoint of a soul facing eternal judgment and consequences. At this point, nothing matters but the truth.
Although I had great respect for the Bible scholars who had studied and written before me, I proceeded upon the simple proposition that “He who seeks will find”. I felt that I would find the truth simply because I was earnestly seeking it with all my heart and willing to do whatever it would take to find it. As the months turned into years and the years into decades, I was led to return to college and study the Biblical languages, translation, literature and history.
One of the biggest challenges was to realize and admit that the teaching of my Church was in serious error. It seemed that they had a blind spot regarding the end of the fleshly nation of Israel in AD 70. It was a great struggle to admit this and to endure the consequent break that resulted. Only the vision of the greater and the higher Truth led me on. The basic doctrine of my Church, however, was the thing that sustained me in my search and that is: “We believe in the infallibility of the Scriptures.” That basic maxim led me to believe that the infallible Scriptures did not contradict themselves.
This faith gave me courage to continue and to adopt the method of interpreting the Scriptures in context. I came to understand that ‘context‘ can not be limited to the verses of Scripture immediately surrounding a text, but must include the whole Bible.
Controversy is certain when so many have attempted to interpret this book and is never so fierce as when one must defend that which is indefensible. Let us all remember that we are striving to keep the unity of the Spirit until we all come to the unity of the faith. The Spirit of Christ is manifest in love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, meekness, temperance, patience, and faithfulness.