“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written in it, for the time is at hand.” (Revelation 1:3)
Many don’t appreciate the prophetic books of the bible, like Daniel and Revelation because they seem to hard to understand. I think the problem for many of us is that we don’t understand prophetic language. There is a code that runs through these prophetic books that once understood opens up the scriptures in an amazing way. The same code or theme is consistent in Daniel as it is in the book of Revelation.
We have heard about the bible code discovered in scripture and its very complicated and obscure, but the code I am taking about is far easier to understand and reliable in all the prophetic books.
The secret lies in the use of ‘Symbolic’ or ‘Prophetic’ Language which I will explain to you as we go along. To really understand Bible Prophecy you will need to study the text and find out the “Spirit” of what is being said, rather than taking everything literally. That’s why many Christians get themselves into trouble and make a mockery of God’s word with strange interpretations that are not consistent.
A lot of what is being said in the book of Revelation is in Symbolic Language. When God speaks to us in dreams and visions it is also in ‘Symbolism’ or ‘Symbolic Language.’ Another book that has a type of Symbolic Language is the Song of Songs.
When you look at the Book of Revelation with an understanding of these symbols, you will see that its being fulfilled through history from the time it was written in 96 AD, right up to this present day and beyond. Look what it says at the beginning of the book of Revelation. The prophecy began straight away and isn’t still going to happen in the future as some bible preachers teach.
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified [it] by his angel unto his servant John:” (Revelation 1:1) KJV
As much as I love modern translations like the Passion and the Living Bible. I do not use these when it comes to understanding Bible Prophecy. The KJV and NKJV are the best as they are the closest to the Greek and Hebrew.
SYMBOLISM
The book of Revelation is a Prophetic book like the book of Daniel, and has lots of Symbolic Language. In Revelation 1:1 it says that it was ‘Signified’ to the Apostle John by an Angel. In other words, it was shown to him in pictures and symbols.
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, .......and he sent and signified [it] by his angel unto his servant John:” (Revelation 1:1) KJV
Right from the very first chapter it gives us clues as to how to interpret the book. Look at verse 20 for instance. It actually tells us what the Stars and the Candlesticks are symbolic of and sets the tone for the rest of this prophetic book.
“The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lamp stands. The seven stars are the angels of the seven Churches. The seven lamp stands are seven assemblies.” Revelation 1:20
The Seven Stars - are the ‘Angels’ of the Seven Churches:
The Seven Golden Candlesticks - are the Seven Churches.
The word Angel is the Greek word ‘Aggelos’ and means a Messenger. This can be a literal Angel or a Messenger of the Gospel such as a Pastor. Angels are bright and shining witnesses and that is why they are referred to as ‘Stars’ which is a good example of symbolism.
We note that John was to give this letter to the “Angels” of the 7 Churches. In the light of its context I would say that it’s referring to the Pastors or ‘Stars’ (Those in High Places over the Churches.) It would be strange for an Angel to come to John and give him a letter which he’s then to give back to a literal Angel. It’s more obvious that he’s to give it to the Pastors or Stars of the 7 Churches.
An important code to understand is that of ‘Prophetic Time.’ We need to understand that time is often measured symbolically and when it says 1 day its talking about 1 year; 1 day = 1 year.
Many periods of time are given in the Book of Revelation e.g. “3 and a half-times” - “3 and a half months,” or so many days. In most cases this is talking about Prophetic Years. We also need to understand that the Calendar being used here is also different to the one we use when it comes to prophecy. The Jews used the Lunar Calendar back in the day which was made up of 360 days instead of our 365 days.
HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF 1 DAY = 1 YEAR:
“They will tread the holy city under foot for forty-two months .” Revelation 11:2
“Forty and two months.”
= 42 X 30 days = 1260 days = 1260 years
On other occasions in the book of Revelation and Daniel we read of “3 and a half times”. We need to also realise that ‘A Time’ is a ‘Lunar year’ which is 360 days.
“3 and a half times” = 3 x 360 days + 180 days = 1260 days = 1260 years.
“3 and a half days ” = 3 and a half years.
Days often mean years. This type of symbolism was often used in scripture. Look at these examples: The code works all through the Bible, in Ezekiel as well as the book of Numbers.
“For I have appointed the years of their iniquity to be to you a number of days, even three hundred and ninety days: so you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Israel. Again, when you have accomplished these, you shall lie on your right side, and shall bear the iniquity of the house of Judah: forty days, each day for a year, have I appointed it to you. “ Ezekiel 4:5-6
“After the number of the days in which you spied out the land, even forty days, for every day a year, you will bear your iniquities, even forty years, and you will know my alienation.” Numbers 14:34
You can’t always take the Book of Revelation literally, as so many do, for if you do you will come unstuck. Look for instance at the revelation of Jesus in chapter 5:6.
“ I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, having seven horns, and seven , which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.” Revelation 5:6
This is a picture of Jesus the Lamb of God in heaven. When you get to heaven do you really think that Jesus will be there as a lamb? Do you really think He will have 7 Horns and 7 Eyes? Of course not, this again is symbolic language. Here is what the symbolism means.
Lamb = This speaks of Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross as the sinless Lamb of God - His humility and purity.
Seven = The perfect number - His perfection.
Horns = Horns speak of Power and Authority.
Eyes = This speaks of Jesus being the one who is ‘All Knowing,‘ and understanding all things. Its speaking of His revelatory gifting.
From this word picture we can gather that Jesus is the pure and spotless one who was sacrificed for us on the cross and has now been given Perfect Power. He is also all seeing and all knowing. As the saying goes “A picture speaks a thousand words.”
The Book of Revelation often speaks of the Sun, Moon and the Stars of Heaven falling to the earth? Is that literally possible? Many of those stars up there are far bigger than the earth, so how can they fall to the earth? What does it mean? Again the theme or code is eveident all through the bible and helps us interpret this mystery. The interpretation of the Sun, Moon and Stars is found in Genesis 37:9 -10
“He (Joseph) dreamed yet another dream, and told it to his brothers, and said, "Behold, I have dreamed yet another dream: and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars bowed down to me." He told it to his father and to his brothers. His father rebuked him, and said to him, "What is this dream that you have dreamed? Will I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves down to you to the earth?"
The sun and the moon and the eleven stars were symbolic of Josephs’ Father, Mother, and 11 brothers who were over him. So this speaks of those who are in authority over you. Leaders for instance. It can also speak of Rulers and Governments ruling over you.
‘Beasts’ can also speak of Kingdoms and Governments. We see this interpretation in Daniel’s vision. “These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, who shall arise out of the earth.” Daniel 7:17
Great Beasts = Political entities, Kingdoms.
“Then I stood on the sand of the sea. I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, “having ten horns and seven heads. On his horns were ten crowns, and on his heads, blasphemous names.” Revelation 13:1
So from this we see that the sea is speaking of Nations.
“All the world” Doesn’t always mean the world as we now know it, but the Roman World that was around when the prophecy was written.
“One of his heads looked like it had been wounded fatally. His fatal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled at the beast. Revelation 13:3
“Now it happened in those days, that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. “ (Luke 2:1)
There are so many more symbols that I could explain to you, that would help you understand the prophetic books. These things are not lying on the surface, they need to be sorted out. As it says in the book of Proverbs.
“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.” Proverbs 25:2
This code is not something new, for it was the way in which many famous Christians interpreted Bible Prophecy in previous centuries. Here are a few famous Christians that I know of.
If you would like to look at more teachings on this subject click on these links to the 7 Churches of Revelation below.