Tag Archives: mystery

Mystery of the Seven Stars

Revelation Commentary, , ,

Revelation 1:19: “Write…what is to take place hereafter.”

The word “hereafter” must have a reference point. In this case, it meant “after the time of this vision to John.” The reference point was the time at which the words were spoken. It therefore could mean the same as “the things which must shortly come to pass” in verse 1:1.

“Hereafter” means “after this in sequence or in time.” It does not refer to a continually moving point of time, but to the time at which it is spoken. For example, the word does not refer to something that will happen “after” some event of the twentieth century, since it was spoken in the first century.

Mystery of the Seven Stars

Revelation 1:20: “The mystery of the seven stars.”

A “mystery” in the New Testament usage is a veiled truth. The “mysteries” of the Book of Revelation are being ‘unveiled,’ – that is the meaning of the Greek word “apocalypse” which is translated ‘Revelation.’

This verse is the first instance of many in the Book that gives a clear interpretation of the symbols, that is, the “mysteries.” It sets the tone of the rest of the Book wherein the voice of the Spirit interprets the symbols.

This verse shows the fulfillment of Jesus’ words to Nathanael in John 1:51: “Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

Christ is revealed here in the analogous position of the pole star. The “angels” or stars, are in the position of the Big-dipper constellation and rise and set, ascend and descend, around Him. Christ is the Center of the Universe. “In Him all things consist;” that is, “In Him all things hold together.” “In Him all of creation becomes a uni-verse, a united whole.”

4. Jesus Christ, The Revealer And The Revealed

Revelation Commentary, , , , , ,

Jesus Christ

The word Jesus is from the Hebrew word Yeshua, meaning “Savior.” The word Christ is from the Greek word “Christos,” translating the Hebrew word Messiah, meaning “the anointed one.” The very name Jesus Christ proclaims Him Savior and Anointed One.

In Revelation 1:1 we have the title “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” and in verse two it is called the “testimony of Jesus Christ.” This makes it clear that the subject of the Book is ‘Jesus Christ.’

In Daniel 9:25 the Hebrew word Messiah is also called a “Prince,” (KJV). It means “the anointed of Jehovah,” a title given to a consecrated person, as the priests, kings, or saints. Those consecrated to God by the anointing were therefore holy. It was revealed to Daniel that a Messiah would come before the final end of the Jewish nation and city of Jerusalem, (Daniel 9:24-27). The fact that the Messiah, Jesus Christ, had come revealed that it was the “time of the end” for the fleshly nation.

The Title ‘Revelation’

Zondervan’s Pictorial Bible Dictionary [ZPBD] says: “The title [Revelation 1.1] which the book itself assumes may mean either ‘the revelation which Christ possesses and imparts,’ or ‘the unveiling of the person of Christ.’ Grammatically, the former is preferable, for this text states that God gave this disclosure to Christ that He might impart it to His servants.” (ZPBD pp. 716-17)

We need not choose between the two meanings, for He is both. The Book of Revelation is actually both the unveiling of Christ and the revelation He possesses and imparts. He is both the Revealer and the Revealed.

His Revelation, then, is that which He reveals of the hidden wisdom, that which can only be known by spiritual insight, I Corinthians 2.10. This secret wisdom is also mentioned in Colossians 2.2b-3: “To have all the riches of assured understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, of Christ, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (RSV) These “treasures,” previously hidden in Christ, are now revealed in HIm.

The Hidden Wisdom

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians also speaks of this wisdom which is hidden in Christ: “For He has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ,” (1.9 RSV).

That Jesus is the source of a hidden wisdom is attested also in I Corinthians 2:7-8: “But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glorification. None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” (RSV)

The revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ is to reveal these hidden things: I Corinthians 4:5: “Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, [is revealed] who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart.”(RSV) He came “with clouds” during the destruction of the City of Jerusalem.

The Gospel Hidden in the Old Testament

Indeed, the gospel was preached to Abraham and the prophets in a hidden or esoteric form, (Galatians 3:8 and Romans 1:1-4). The Promised Seed through Isaac was Christ, hidden within the fleshly lineage until the time of His incarnation, (Galatians 3:16-19). The Heir of the Promise was hidden until the fulness of time, (Galatians 4:30-31). The hiddeness is not only visual but also auditory: the voice of God which was heard on Sinai and then through the prophets has now become silent except through this Jesus Christ, Hebrews 1:1-2.

So the Revelation of Jesus Christ is the visual, audible, intellectual and spiritual appearance of God.

Further discussion and referents for this lesson may be found on pages 72-74 of my book Revelation in Context and the accompanying notes.