Structure
It is necessary to view the overall structure of the book in order to see the broad outlines and how they are interrelated. The structure of this book is closely related to its cosmology, or worldview, – i.e., its universe. To speak of the Biblical view of the universe is such a task as to require either a reckless presumption or a holy boldness. I trust that my entrance upon this task is the latter.
Genesis 1 is the basis for understanding the Biblical view of the universe. The material universe was created by and for the Word of God Who is an immaterial Spirit. We understand these things by faith, not by sight; by revelation and not by reason, (Hebrews 11:3). The unseen spiritual universe is understood by the visible creation, (Rom. 1:20). The earthly sanctuary is therefore merely a shadow of the true tabernacle in the heavens; it is merely an example, and was made according to the pattern of the heavenly reality, (Hebrews 8:2, 5). Even Man, himself, was made according to the image of God.
Since the material universe reflects, as a mirror image, the spiritual reality, it serves a symbolic role in expressing that which is not otherwise accessible to the physical senses. In the attempt to speak of God and His heavenly kingdom which is infinitely superior in every way to the material universe, the analogy of the physical heavens as higher than the earth is used, (for example, as in Isaiah 55:9). Analogy is also used in many instances to the effect that the realities on earth have a corresponding spiritual reality in the heavens.
This subject will be dealt with in greater detail in the Commentary. However, in speaking of the overall structure of the book, it is necessary to understand that the continents on earth might be likened by analogy to the constellations in the starry heavens. Thus, “Asia” might be likened to the constellations now called Ursa Minor and/or Major; however, in the Near Eastern cultures of that day, these constellations were called “The Lesser and/or Greater Sheepfold (s)”. But what does that have to do with the structure of the book of Revelation? Let us examine the usage of the term “Asia”.
Two Documents
Two original documents may be combined in the book of Revelation; one to “Asia”, the Lesser Sheepfold and one to “Asia” the Greater Sheepfold. The “Lesser Sheepfold” would have represented the Churches in Jerusalem; the “Greater Sheepfold” the universal Church.
Message to the Lesser Sheepfold
The urgent message to the Churches in Jerusalem went forth in about AD 68 as the “Midnight Cry” to alert them that the appointed time had arrived for fleeing from Jerusalem as commanded by Jesus in Matthew 24:15-20 because of the impending destruction coming upon the City. This message, I believe, is contained in Revelation 1:[1-(4-7) 8]. It was given in a priestly format for the Christian leaders of those Churches and was so designed as to be obscure to the wicked Priests who were occupying the Temple.
The message announced the “coming” of Christ “with clouds”. “Coming and “revelation” are synonyms. His coming “with clouds” evokes the ancient view of God as arising with the ark of His Glory as in Numbers 10:35-36 and Psalm 68. It describes the majesty, power and glory of God as He comes to defend and vindicate His people, to take vengeance on their enemies and to manifest His glory and to permanently depart from the earthly city of Jerusalem. The “clouds” are the “thousands of myriad” of angels that accompany and attend Him.
Message to the Greater Sheepfold
The second of the two documents is to the “Greater Sheepfold“, the Universal Church. I believe this document was written at or near the time of the actual destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, but may have been written at any time up to AD 96. It is about the “Day of the Lord“, which means the “day” of the destruction of the City, the Nation, and the Jewish race. It is written as John saw it “in the Spirit”, just as Ezekiel was able to describe the previous destruction of Jerusalem, having been carried there in the Spirit and thereby having become an eye witness, (See Ezekiel 8 and following).
This second document consists of Revelation 1:(8),9-22:16. The editor or redactor has, under divine inspiration, added the epilogue in 22:17-21. I offer no argument with those who wish to see some variations in these divisions into two documents, for there may be seams, joints, beginnings and endings as described further in my Commentary. However, the fact that there are two letters seems clear.
This second letter may have been to the literal Churches in Asia which are named in 1:11; however, the words “which are in Asia” are not in the original manuscripts, but have been added at the translator’s privilege in our King James Version. The letter was ultimately to the Universal Church, the named Churches in Asia Minor merely serving as an analog for the Universal Church by their position and arrangement which bears a remarkable resemblance to the constellation of the “Greater Sheepfold“.
This second document, after the greeting and setting, (1:9-10) describes John’s vision of Christ in His full glory and power. It is addressed specifically to the “Angels” of the Church congregations, which, in the context of the culture, were considered to be the “Priests“. The whole tenor of this second document is admonition, exhortation, encouragement and warning in the light of the fall of Jerusalem, lest the Churches carelessly fall into the same error and the same fate. It was to confirm their convictions and to strengthen them in their most severe persecution from the wicked Priests of the religion of Judaism who were ruling over the Temple prior to and during the destruction.
Cosmology
As stated above, the Biblical view of the universe is based on Genesis 1. We find there that God created order from chaos and therefore there is a Pattern of the Heavens. Since these documents were written in light of the fall of Jerusalem, and since Jerusalem was previously regarded as the center of the universe, it was necessary for this document to describe the New Universe, the “new heaven and earth” and the New Jerusalem as its center. Christ is the Center of this New Jerusalem and this Center is before the Throne and part of its court. The vision of the Throne, (chapters 4 and 5), helps describe the order of this universe.
Since the old things had passed away and all had become new, the fate of the old City, Tabernacle, Temple, rituals, feasts, sacrifices, etc., are addressed and shown in their transformed place in the new universe. The structure of this new universe, its nadir and zenith, etc., is more fully described in my Commentary.
Language and Translation
My Commentary assumes that the book was originally written in Hebrew. Since our only extant translations of it are in Greek, this is an important issue in interpreting the book. This aspect is dealt with in various places in the Commentary.
Referents
I have compiled a separate work showing the relevant referents, (Part 2). The Bible is the primary source and is considered infallible. Historical sources include Josephus with his unique point of view and Strabo and Ptolemy who give a wider historical, geographic and astronomical view. Some anti-Christian writers, such as the Gnostics, who were contemporary with the book of Revelation, are cited to demonstrate a cultural viewpoint that was prevalent in that era. Rabbinic writings and other Jewish literature that bear upon the meanings and interpretations of words and passages of the book are used to show cultural or literary context. These referents were chosen to show that my interpretations are not merely arbitrary but are vindicated and justified by contemporary usage in these sources.
Seals
The section concerning the Seven-sealed book, (5:1-8:1), is to be seen as the opening of the book sealed by Daniel, (Daniel 12:4, 9), “until the time of the end.” The end prophesied by Daniel was to be the time when the seals would be opened, and that “end” was to be the end of the Jewish people and City, (Daniel 9:24-27). Since these “seals” are being opened, we know that it is the end of the Jewish Age.
Taking Daniel‘s pattern of historical prophesies of the events that were to occur upon the Gentile nations from Daniel’s lifetime up to the time of the expected “end”, (Daniel chapters 10-11), we might expect that the seals of the book would be the aspects or eras of Jewish history during that same period. In this light, they might be interpreted as:
First Seal: Return from captivity in purity and authority;
Second Seal: Internal strife;
Third Seal: International merchandising;
Fourth Seal: Four deadly plagues upon the rebellious;
Fifth Seal: Faithful Martyrs from this conflict;
Sixth Seal: From the take-over of the Priesthood and Kingship by foreign powers to the “Great Day of wrath”, (6:17).
Seventh Seal: The Lamb opens the veil, (crucifixion of Christ), as the High Priest to present incense offering; angels perform the oblation: the prayers of the saints mixed with the heavenly incense, (the Holy Spirit), ascends to God (ZPBD 374). The remaining fire is cast to the earth.
Questions
Questions that would have greatly hindered Daniel from understanding the visions concerning the end of the Jewish nation, people, Temple and City were: “How could God’s eternal promises be fulfilled if these were destroyed?” Answers to these questions are dealt with in the book of Revelation.
Tribes
Question: What about the promises to the twelve tribes? Chapter 7 shows the answer to this. There are 12,000, (a symbolic number), sealed unto God from each tribe, but there is also the thirteenth tribe that is not limited to the 12,000 nor to the Jewish people, but is numberless and universal.
More Questions Answered
Chapter 10 deals specifically with the problem: “What happens to prophecy in this new order of things?”
Chapter 11:1-14 deals with: “What happens to Kingship and Priesthood?”
Chapter 11:15-19: “What about the Temple and the Ark of the Covenant?”
Chapter 12: “What about the nation, the race?”
Chapter 13: “What about the fleshly nations, the Gentiles?”
Chapter 14:1-5: “What of the Jews who turn to Christ?”
Chapter 14:6-20: “What of the universal Gospel and the Church?”
Trumpets
Chapters 8 through 11 contain the sounding of the trumpets. According to 10:7, when the seventh of these sounds, there ends the “mystery” that had been announced to “his servants the prophets“, specifically referring to Daniel‘s prophecy. In 10:6 the angel swears that the time is up, “there will be no more delay.” The mystery is now revealed. Christ is the fulfillment of the Law, Prophets and Writings.
Plagues
In chapters 15 and 16 the long-awaited “end” has come and God’s wrath is being poured out in the plagues. At this point, the Jewish nation, race, Temple and City have come under the ban of cherem, utter destruction; there is no hope now for those who have chosen to reject Christ, the only Saviour.
Chapters 17 and 18 deal specifically with the plagues and destruction upon the wicked, fallen city of Jerusalem.
Denouement
After the accursed thing has been destroyed and purged from the earth, the saints celebrate and a wedding is announced, (19:1-10), for now the New Jerusalem can be manifest, the new center of the new universe.
The Bridegroom appears, conquering His enemies, (the Beast and the False Prophet), and executing judgment, (19:11-21). Then in 20:1-3 the archenemy, satan, is captured and bound. In 20:4-6 the last enemy, Death, is defeated by the resurrection of the Saints. In 20:7-10, satan is loosed temporarily only to be recaptured and cast into the lake of fire forever. With all His enemies destroyed, it is time for the White Throne Judgment, 20:11-15.
At last there can be a new heaven and new earth, filled with nothing but righteousness, fulfilling all of the promises, hopes and expectations of the Saints. It is a restoration of God’s perfect will on earth, a restoration and perfection of the Primal Light that began to shine in Genesis 1:3; a restoration of perfect fellowship with God; a restoration of eternal Life, ultimate in quality, infinite in duration and extent and absolute in degree.
Application
How, then, is this interpretation to be applied to our present world? The answer is clear from the Bible. Israel of the Flesh served as a shadow and example, (Hebrews 8:5; 10:1). God is no respecter of persons, (Acts 10:34). Christ is the only Saviour and without Him we are all under the ban of destruction and death. Just as the fleshly nation was utterly destroyed, so will every nation be that forgets God, (Psalm 9:17). No Flesh can stand in His presence except in the righteousness of the applied blood of Jesus Christ. Just as the Jewish people as a fleshly race were destroyed, so will every fleshly race be that rejects God. Just as the faithful remnant of believers out of Judaism who survived, thrived and became the Seed crop of the Church, so the faithful remnant in Christ will always be preserved and blessed.