Rather than bifurcating views on current views of Revelation, I would rather have people focus on prophetic fulfillment that has yet to be fulfilled when interpreting Revelation. The consistency of the narrative and the interpretation thereof need to be in unity if the interpretation is to be correct. If we truly believe the Word of God to be complete and inerrant, all promises must be fulfilled, no covenants are broken or supplanted, and God’s eternal plan has to come to light. We will focus on the Old Testament Prophets and the New Testament Mysteries (disclosed by Paul) to understand what needs to be interpreted into the various patterns in Revelation.
GENERAL ASSERTIONS– Principles for Interpretation
- Revelation has to affect all people, there is no Biblical logic that applies to a regionally isolated conflict. Matthew 24:22 specifically states “if those days had not been cut short, no one would survive,” which is paralleled in Luke and Mark in the Olivet discourse. I tend to believe if nation rises against nation, and kingdom versus kingdom is applied; there are no safe havens. While I like Joel Richardson’s view on the Islamic Antichrist, ignoring the global nature of the prophetic words of Jesus does not lend to the conclusion that the conflict is isolated to the Middle East (or any other region).
- Jesus did not come to bring peace, but a sword (Matthew 10:34), nor abolish the law or the Prophets (Matthew 5:17); hence human ideals or spiritual interpretations are invalid. While I have listened to spiritual interpretations, and bought in to several during my youth, Christ identified those of a loving and servant nature being the worshippers sought. Matthew 22:36-40 identifies this principle, as does the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). The concept of a group (Christian sect or denomination) or national identity (race, gender, etc.) being elect does not correspond to Christ’s teaching in Matthew 5-7 (sermon on the mount). Christ rebuked pride (Pharisees countless times), delineated family relations (stating his family were those who obey God and were more valid than his bloodline in Mark 3:31-35; Matthew 12:46-50; and Luke 8:19-21), and pointed to intention over action (Matthew 5, hating is the same as murder, lust is the same as adultery). Even spiritual Israel has been turned into a lie contradicting what Paul actually stated in Romans 11:28 (“as far as the gospel is concerned, [Jews] are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs”). The fate of nations being judged after salvation is no longer an option (which supports the Rapture), lends the fate back to Israel and Christians who stand in faith against the final antichrist system, which would make sense why Christians beheaded for Christ are resurrected in Revelation 19.
- Interpretations of a hidden nature are invalid; in the end all things will be known, all things will be disclosed. Mark 4:22, Luke 8:17, and other passages assert that there is nothing hidden that won’t be revealed, nor nothing concealed that won’t be brought to light. The internet is great for that. Even the best of IT security cannot prevent breaches of data, nor stop the transmission of data (normally slanted with the bias of the observer). I always find it amusing when the battle for narrative gets tossed between the conspirators and the conspiracy theorists, since neither party is fully in control of what the actual narrative and actions (intentions) truly are. I would imagine most people are intentionally blinded to only view things from one perspective (or identity) as a means of controlling society by algorithms or data manipulation.
- Parabolic or cryptic cyphers, not given by God, are rabbit trails (logical black holes: great for conjecture, bad for understanding anything). I see way too many people looking at I Pet Goat II, Egyptian symbolism, and other tools from a different understanding when examining end times theology. It’s a rabbit trail, there is no truth that comes from speculation, rather projections of future failures from the side that creates division. I would assert to people focusing here, how have you let your worldview and hermeneutic change your biblical interpretation?
OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECIES– Promises for the Jewish Nation
- Jeremiah 29-31. Jeremiah 29 points to the Jewish nations presenting a curse to all nations in verses 17-19, bringing forth sword, famine and pestilence (sounds like the seals and Matthew 24). Jeremiah 30 furthers the description in line with Revelation: verse 6-7 talks of a battered remnant of only Jewish survivors; verse 11 specifies a full end of all nations (not isolated to a single region); and verse 20 point to a renewal of old times for Jewish folks (long life, during Christ’s millennial reign most likely). Jeremiah 31 also raises the discussion of the Jewish remnant of only Israel in verses 2 and 7, and verses 31-33 mentions a new covenant with Israel, the law written on the hearts of the house of Israel and house of Judah (that’s not a Christian promise although it’s similar to the grace covenant provided via Christ, it’s a Jewish one).
- Ezekiel 37-End. Ezekiel gives a pretty linear end times narrative. Chapter 37 describes the Valley of Dry Bones and the first resurrection which parallels Revelation 20:4. Ezekiel 38 ties out to Revelation: the phrasing in verse 22 suggests that a Gog Magog war occurs twice, as verse 22 resembles Revelation 20:9, while verses 19-21 and Ezekiel 39 resembles Revelation 15-20. Ezekiel 39 ties out the millennial reign: verse 4 ties out to Revelation 19:17-21 and the feasts of the birds and verse 11 and Hamongog remains unfulfilled. It is at this point where Ezekiel points to unfulfilled prophecy, namely the Third Temple. Ezekiel 40-end describes the Third Temple which is where Christ will likely reign from. Chances are, it will never be seen until the destruction of the Gentiles and prophecies in Ezekiel 39 are completed.
- Daniel 11. While we could point to Daniel 2, 9, 11, and 12 to point to the eras of prophetic fulfillment and the references to the abomination of desolation, Daniel 11 is the full prophecy that is still being fulfilled. It seems to point pretty clearly to the history of Islam (Daniel11truth.com), which would be the antithesis to the Jewish nation. This prophecy seems to suggest that the first beast in Revelation 13 is likely Islam (which did reign the Middle East in an empire for quite some time). However, that is not necessarily pointing us to the second beast of Revelation 13.
- Minor Prophets. Not minor by any other measure than the amount of pages in the Old Testament, Amos, Joel, and many others refer to the Day of the Lord and the subsequent troubles in the time of Jacob’s Trouble. They add more details to the accounts referenced in Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel (there are also some parallels in Isaiah as well). I did not list them (e.g., Joel 3 spells out Christ’s millennial reign for the Jewish people (physically, not spiritually)) in hopes that you will seek and see the consistency that I am mentioning yourself.
NEW TESTAMENT PROPHECIES/MYSTERIES– Promises for the Christian People
- Matthew 24-26. In Matthew 24: verse 7 indicates the world is going to be warring against itself, verse 22 identifies that all flesh will be in the conflict, and verse 31 appears to tie out to the promises in Revelation 14. Matthew 25 speaks of Jesus reigning physically, coming with his holy angels, and separating the nations (v. 31+32) which ties to Revelation 19 and 20. Matthew 26:52-54 return to the importance of intention and living by the love God/others, as Jesus says you will die by the sword if you kill by the sword, he could allow the order to remain (command angels), but chose to opens heaven’s door to his people (fulfilling prophecy). People need to keep in mind, when Jesus spoke, his promises were for all people, not just followers of Christ, so you have to look at what is foreseen in the Old Testament for the Jews and what is to be completed in the Gentiles (rightly divide the word of truth: 2 Timothy 2:15).
- Luke 21. I point to Luke 21:20 since, unlike Mark 13:14 and Matthew 24:15 which refer to the Abomination of Desolation and Daniel, Luke points to Jerusalem encompassed by armies. I believe he did this to state the abomination may not actually be something being placed on Temple Mount or a leader calling himself god on the site (which may happen), rather its the war against God and specifically Israel. The Dome of the Rock (currently on Temple Mount) is an abomination to any Jew or Christian, it’s a dome (shaped like a breast, similar to other pagan architecture and sex worship) and is inscribed with the phrase “there is no god but Allah, who has no son.” The Outer Court mentioned in Revelation 11 is Al Aqsa Mosque (Islam/gentile worshippers). I cannot imagine something more anti-Jewish and Christian than what is already on the Temple Mount.
- 1 Corinthians 15. The procession of being made alive is given, Christ the firstfruits (raptured via Revelation 7:14-17), Christ’s at his coming (Revelation 14:14-20), and the kingdom (Revelation 20). Since verse 25 states Christ must reign till he put all enemies under His feet, and the church worships Jesus and God, Christians have no purpose in the millennial Kingdom.
- 1 Thessalonians 4. In verses 16 and 17, we get a direct tie to Revelation 7:14-17. The Lord shall descend from heaven with a shout, the dead in Christ will rise, and we get caught up together with them in the clouds, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Serving the Lamb at the center of the throne is slightly different than the Lamb putting all enemies under God’s feet in the procession of 1 Corinthians 15. There’s no return with Christ to reign on earth for the Jewish millennium (except beheaded Christians during Tribulation who need 1,000 more years of learning). We live by service and humility, we continue in service and humility.
- Revelation 13: 11-17. We are told of a second beast with two horns that looked like a lamb, but spoke like a dragon. I tend to think this is the United Nations. USA and England established the UN and world peace system in the 1920’s (League of Nations), which created its current form post WW2. Both nations were Christian, but led by the principles of Theosophy and principles of Luciferianism. Just look at Alice Bailey, theosophy, and the UN history if you think I am exaggerating.
In conclusion, given the light of these Scriptures and principles, I’ll give you my stance on the procession of Revelation, including the Rapture, reasons for fulfillment, and how it ties out the Word of God in a coherent story when we look at the promises that have yet to be fulfilled (all the keys to interpretation were within the Scripture itself).
