Book of Revelation is the book, sealed with 7 seals. But, if we open the seals,
we can see inside of this book.
Inside of this book is full of descriptions about the disaster, and God’s wrath poured out against apostasy church and Christians.
These are hidden behind the parable and the mystery of the kingdom of God.
But, if we open the parables, we can see the contents hidden in this book.
Revelation is the book included in the New Testament bible, and it is written after the books of Gospel, the book of Acts, and epistles of apostles.
Books of Gospel and epistles talk about the basic doctrines or teachings of Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles. And the book of Acts describes the beginning of the New Testament church. Books of Gospel teach us Christians about eternal life and teaching of Gospel. Epistles of apostles also teach to us, Christians more detailed doctrines and practical teachings. What I have to know is: These are
basically and mainly the writings for and toward Christians, and these are not for secular people or unbelievers.
Revelation is placed at the end of these New Testament books written for Christians.
Therefore, we can consider this book of Revelation is also for Christians. This book of Revelation is written mainly for Christians and not for secular unbelievers.
This book is the prophecy about end-time church and Christians. This book prophesizes how the church will be changed and distorted and corrupted at the end time.
Can you not agree with this kind of view?
To understand and recognize the future of the church, I think to look back at the history of Old Testament people will give us a good suggestion.
If we see Old Testament scripture, we can roughly divide it as below:
Moses law: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
History: Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, etc.
Prophecy: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel etc.
What we can see from the Old Testament is:
Law:
Law is given at the books of Moses. If Old Testament Israel keeps the law, their
blessing is promised by God.
History:
History of Old Testament Israel is written on books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, etc. At the end of David Kingdom, the last kings of Judah became apostasy and delivered and captured into Babylon. They are plucked out from God Promised Land and to be delivered to Gentile land. House of David lost from the history during the captivity at Babylon.
Their last status is falling away and rebellion against God and its law.
Prophecy:
Many prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, etc.
Warned against Israel, Judah’s rebellion and falling away from
Law and idol worshipping. Many prophets are sent from God, and
they warned the people, but their falling away had not stopped.
Messiah killed:
At the end of the Old Testament, Messiah, Jesus Christ, appeared as per prophecies of the bible.
However, people of His time and Pharisees and priests and scribes
go against him and arrested him and crucify him at the cross.
Revenge from God:
God’s wrath revealed to rebellious people because of the killing of
His only begotten son.
At AD70, after 40 years from the crucifying of Jesus Christ, rebellious city,
Jerusalem was surrounded by Roman soldiers and every of Jerusalem citizens killed by them. Over one million Jews are killed this time.
This is the day that our Lord prophesizes, the day of revenge.
Luke 19: 41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
Luke 23: 27 And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.
28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.
29 For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.
30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.
31 For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?
Conclusion:
What is the conclusion of the history of the Old Testament Israel?
In a short word, it is the rebellion, falling away, and God’s wrath upon rebellious people.
And what Bible suggests us is:
The same story will be repeated at the history of New Testament Israel.
If we see the prophecy of 70 weeks of the book of Daniel, we can
see the same conclusions will be done on Old Testament people and also on
New Testament people.
“Daniel 9: 26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.”
Cut off of Messiah done at the first coming of Jesus Christ. And also destroy
the City (Jerusalem) done by the Roman Empire after His crucifying.
But, this prophecy will also be fulfilled at the end time. For Book of Revelation
prophesize the crucifying at the end of church days as below:
“Revelation 11: 8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.”
Crucifying of Messiah is prophesized at the time of Revelation. If it is so,
we can naturally imagine, the rebellion and lawless against God will be repeated at the end of church time.
In the end-time prophecy of Matthew chapter 24, Jesus prophesizes the destruction of the temple as below:
“ Matthew 24:1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”
We know this prophecy is the double prophecy and to be fulfilled twice.
This prophecy was fulfilled in AD70 with the Roman soldier’s invasion against Jerusalem. This temple is literally destructed. And we all know, this prophecy will be fulfilled at the end time again.
Before proceeding, we hope to know the meaning of the destruction of the temple.
We can see the scripture related to the temple destruction as below:
“2 Chronicles7: 19 But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them;
20 Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.
21 And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and unto this house?
22 And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them.”
From this scripture, we can see the significant meaning of the destruction of the temple.
The temple is not the usual building. Instead, it is the center of worshipping to God.
And God warned us, God’s house, the temple to be cast out if God’s people
forsake His commandments and serve to other God.
It actually happened at the time of Jesus Christ. They do not keep the commandments of God and rebellious to God and killed His only begotten son.
Therefore, God’s wrath arises, and the temple of Jerusalem casts out, and no stone remained.
And what we must know is: the same status, cast out of the temple, will be repeated
at the end of the church age. Why? The reason is simple: New Testament church will go apostasy and forsake His commandments.
This kind of idea not itchy for our ears but reflecting present church status.
The present church is welcoming same-sex marriage, tattoo, etc. They are actually forsaking God’s commandments.
So, we must know the New Testament Israel (Christians) actually repeat similar history with Old Testament Israel.
As an example, we hope to see below scriptures of the book of Revelation;
“ Revelation 6:1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.
2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.
4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.
6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. {A measure: the word choenix signifieth a measure containing one wine quart, and the twelfth part of a quart}
7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. {unto them: or, to him}
12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.”
Let’s see this chapter step by step;
“Revelation 6:1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.
2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.”
Here, there is about the white horse. The word white is similar to the word used below:
“ Revelation 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.”
So, word white indicates sinless or righteousness.
So, we may suppose this white horse as spreading of gospel or conquering of the gospel. Or this may indicate last days’ revival or pouring out of Holy Spirit.
“
3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.
4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.”
However, the blessing situation will change soon. There is a red horse.
What is the meaning of the red horse? The word “red” (purrhos) in Greek means the red fire. In the bible, fire relates with spirit as below;
“Acts 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.”
The Lord prophesized us the day of division will come related to fire as below:
“Luke 12: 49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?
50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!
51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.”
This is the parable story.
“49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?”
The Lord talks to us that he comes to send fire on earth. This is the Holy Spirit
that came down at Pentecost.
“ 50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! “
This baptism may mean the crucifying of our Lord suffers before the day of Pentecost.
“
51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:”
We may suppose if fire and Holy Spirit come down to the earth, everything will be OK, and peace come on. But, Lord says it will invite division. Why?
“
52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.”
He says, comes down of Holy Spirit will cause the division within God’s house. It seems unreasonable, but it reflects actual status.
If we read the book of Acts, we can see the coming down of the Holy Spirit caused the division and struggle among the houses of Jerusalem. It gives peace and blessing to Christians, but it also arouses anger and opposition to them from Jew priests and elders. The coming down of Holy Spirit fire really causes division in God’s house and makes “three against two, and two against three.”
“53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.”
This kind of division occurred at Jerusalem; therefore, Christians are persecuted and have to go out from Jerusalem. But why this kind of division?
The reason why is: There is a difference between the spirit of each people.
Christians receive new wine and new spirit, the Holy Spirit. However, traditional Pharisees and priests and elders receive the old spirit. It is different from the Holy Spirit and deceives them. Each spirit goes against it. Therefore, there arises a struggle.
Lord also warned us this matter as below:
“Mark 2: 22 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.”
There written Old wine and new wine can not go together. It causes trouble and struggle. So, we now return back to Revelation 6: 4
“ 4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.”
This red horse signifies the spirit supposedly not of the Holy Spirit, but evil spirit like
Tront blessing or Pensacola revival. At this time, two spirits exist within the present church. Holy Spirit and evil spirit. And therefore, struggle happens between the
Christians. Therefore, “take peace from the earth” and “they should kill one another:” Like the struggle of peoples at Pentecost, this division go and escalate
and to be serious like suing and kill one another.
“there was given unto him a great sword.”
To interpret this part, we should see the parable of the sword. Related to the sword, we can see below scripture;
“Ephesians 6: 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:”
Here, we can see the sword has a relation with the word of God.
Sword is the parable of the word of God or doctrine related to the word of God.
Meaning of “there was given unto him a great sword.” Is:
False effective doctrine is given to the enemy to justify the persecution of
faithful Christians.
“
5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse, and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.”
Here we see a black horse. Black is contrary to white. Black may signify Sin or rebellion. So, the coming out of the black horse means sin will spread in the church.
“a pair of balances.”
Word “balance” is used below:
Acts 15:10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
The same Greek word is used on this “yoke.” So, balance is the same as yoke.
This Revelation scripture also talks about “yoke.” It may mean the time will come
when heavy yoke to be put upon the neck of Christians at falling away church.
“
6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny (denarion), and three measures of barley for a penny (denarion); and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.”
Here, there written a measure of wheat costs one denarion and three measures of barley costs one denarion. Denarion the money labor can get one day work.
So, it indicates wheat and barley to be much costly one day. Wheat and barley both relate to bread, word of God. So, it may indicate the time when our spiritual bread,
graceful message to be costly and be difficult to get.
“See thou hurt not the oil and the wine.”
Oil and wine are both parables of the Holy Spirit. So, time will come when the work of
the Holy Spirit to be hurt in the church.
“7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. “
These horses all relate to Christians and churches, and they are not for
unbelievers. For basically, the bible is the book for Christians and not for unbelievers. Unbelievers never read the bible.
Here, there written about “pale horse.”
Word pale is used at below:
Mark 6:39 And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.
Word “green” used here is exactly the same Greek word with the word “pale.”
This word green is used as green grass. Green grass is the food for sheep and
Cows. Sheep is the parable of Christians. So, it relates to Christians’ food,
God’s word’s preaching or messages.
“and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him.”
Death and hell will come into the church. For sheep’s food, sermons to be distorted and false doctrines would be preached. These may be itchy to ears but guide us to spiritual death, and as a consequence, hell.
“And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth,”
Power was given to the enemy, and they can destroy the forth part of the earth.
This part talks about the church.
Earth means earthen churches and Christians.
They are against heavenly and faithful Christians as below:
Revelation 6: 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
They are dwellers of the earth, and this world involved the earth deeply. They are contrary to the Strangers and pilgrims on the earth (Hebrew 11:13)
“to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.”
They were killed with sword, false doctrine.
“and with hunger.”
Because of the shortage of true bread, the true message at earthen church,
they become hungry.
“and with death.”
Spiritual Death of Christian relates with sin.
Sin is permitted, and same-sex marriage and abortion and other sins are permitted on earthen churches. Earthen Christians welcome it, and as a consequence, they go into death.
“with the beasts of the earth.”
Beast people like Benny Hinn, who promote evil revivals, will drag the earthen church and Christians.
“12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;”
Earthquake means the shaking of the church, persecution. Church will go into the
target of criticism and attack. Government and secular people will increase the attack to the church. Church, the house of God, is shaken by this kind of earthquake.
“Sun became black as sackcloth of hair,”
Sun is the parable of a great vessel of the church.
From below, this description, we learn Israel, the descendant of Abraham is called as stars of heaven:
“Genesis 22: 17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; “
So, Christians, the New Testament Israel, are the stars of the heaven.
Among the stars of heaven, the sun and moon are the great stars. So, Sun and moon signify the great vessel in the church.
In the above passage, there described, “the sun became black.”
Black is the contrary color of white. White is the color that indicates sinless and righteousness. So, black means to sin and unrighteousness.
So, the above part means great vessels like the sun go into sin.
“and the moon became as blood;”
The parable meaning of blood is a spiritual matter. Lord talks about
Holy Communion as below;
“ 1 Corinthians 11:25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.”
Blood here means wine, and it means the Holy Spirit.
When there written “and the moon became as blood;” it is not about Holy Spirit, but
Evil spirit. So, this scripture indicates the status of a great vessel like the moon to be influenced with the evil spirit.
“13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. “
“The stars of heaven fell unto the earth,” means heavenly Christians fall into the earth, this world. The secular method and secular thought and secular way are spread within the church and many Christians to be secular.
“even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.”
Fig to be cast before it ripens to fruit. This means fruit of the Holy Spirit to be cast out.
Wind relates to the doctrine as per below:
“Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;”
So, “she is shaken of a mighty wind” means church to be shaken by mighty distorted doctrine like accepting of LGBT. As a consequence, fig, fruit of Holy Spirit to be cast down from Christians.
“14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.”
Scroll means the bible. When the bible is initially written, it is written on the scroll. So,
“scroll when it is rolled” means the attack on the scripture, word of God.
“Heaven departed” means heavenly teaching and heavenly people to be reduced from the church. That is to say, because of attack to the holy scripture, heavenly Christians to be influenced and heavenly doctrines and people to be disappeared from the church.
“every mountain and island were moved out of their places.”
Both mountains and islands are the parables of the church.
This means every church to be moved from their original position, from the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints, for they are influenced with distorted false doctrines.
So, as a consequence, we can know the book of Revelation and other scripture of end-time all talk about the disaster and distortion of church and its doctrine and God’s wrath upon the falling away from the church. We must fear God and pay attention to keep the faithful walk.
