The Interpretation Of The Revelation Of Saint John & It's Relationship With The Times The Past, The Present And The Future Abid Al - Ahad Dauod 17 \ 7 \ 1994 The Revelation Of Saint John Introduction and preface: 1 - The sequence of the church different stages: Chapter one: Chapters two and three:
When we examine the revelation we find out that it tells us
the sequence of the events as they happen, beginning with the
first coming of Jesus Christ and ending with his Second Coming,
and his reign in glory in the heavenly throne. The revelation
tells us the events in four different ways. The first
tells the sequence of the church's different stages. The second
and third tell us in two different ways the sequence of
the appearance of the different empires (the dragons). And the fourth
tells us the sequence of events that the angels implement on the
devil and his followers also the fury of the wrath of God that
awaits them.
It begins with the first coming of Christ and ends in the very
end of events. It includes the first, second, third and fourth
chapters. It tells the sequence of the different stages of
the church, beginning with the death of Christ, his rising from
death and the spreading and preaching of the word of God to all
the world as time passes by, till the very end. When everything
ends before the throne of God. John describes God’s throne
in great details.
The announcement to John, it describes the appearance of
Christ. Here he gives his messages to the different stages of the
church. The message begins with the death of Christ and his
rising as it says, "I died, and behold I am alive again
forever more."
They include the messages, which are sent to the different
church stages, beginning with the rising of Christ and till the
end of the world, and in chronological order. It describes the
faith of every church and the difficulties that come over it. It
describes its Sequential position in the redemption plan, beginning with
Adam and ending in the second coming of Christ in his heavenly
glory.
Chapter four :
It describes the heavenly throne and the living creatures that
serve the throne, that is the seraphim, finally the entire
events end in front of the heavenly throne.
Chapter five:
It describes how the Lamb was found worthy through the cross
to open the book and its seven seals. Which meant that we were
granted forgiveness for our sins, when he took our place on
the cross, provided that we accept his redemption and the
shedding of his blood, then and only then we are allowed to
approach and come close to the heavenly throne.
2 - The chronological order of the different empires:
It mentions the chronological order of the different empires,
beginning with the first coming of Christ and till his Second
Coming. It includes chapters six, seven eight, nine, ten and
eleven.It shows how every empire (dragon) driven by the devil resists
the word of God and his redemption plan, from the birth of Christ
and till the end of time.
Chapter six:
It includes the first six seals and their meaning it begins
with the birth of Christ.
Chapter seven:
After the opening of the sixth seal, and the earthquake which
happens thereafter. The sealing of the servants of God takes
place.
Chapters eight and nine:
They include the seventh and the last seal, the seven trumpets
and the first six plagues.
Chapters ten and eleven:
Here we see the coming of the two witnesses. The seventh and
the last trumpet (which ends the time) and the reign of Christ in
the heavenly throne.
( 2 )
3 - The chronological order of the empires in details:
This story gives details of the events that happen with every
sequential empire, beginning with the birth of Christ and till
his second coming, it includes chapters twelve, thirteen and
items(1 - 5) of chapter fourteen, it describes the character
and the works of every sequential empire, how it resists the
redemption plan beginning with the birth of Jesus Christ and till
his reign in the heavenly throne.
Chapter twelve:
It describes the birth of Christ from the virgin, his
crucifixion in the days of the Roman Empire.
Chapter thirteen:
It describes the Islamic Empire, the Anti-Christ and his
deceived followers.
Items ( 1 - 5 ) of chapter fourteen :
The conquest of Christ and his reign in the heavenly glory.
4 - the sequence of events implemented by the angels :
It tells what the angels do with the devil and his followers,
it includes items ( 6 - 20 ) of chapter fourteen, chapter
fifteen and sixteen. It describes the events that take place
from the time of the crucifixion of Christ till his final reign,
it concentrates on the plagues and the pressing of the followers
of the devil.
Items ( 6 - 20 ) of chapter fourteen :
It includes the crucifixion of Christ, the proclamation of the
eternal gospel to the whole world, the decline of the Roman
empire, the coming of the Anti-Christ, the great tribulation that
he inflicts and brings about, the first resurrection and the
second resurrection.
Chapters fifteen & sixteen :
In them the pressing, the plagues and the seven bowls of the
wrath of God and the reign of the Lord Jesus Christ in the
heavenly throne.
( 3 )
Chapter seventeen:
Tells the story of the empires which make war against the
different stages of the chosen people (the Jews & the
Christians).It describes how the devil grants his power and might to these
empires as they sit on his back one after the other when it is
their time to rule, as Rome did during John's life time. Finally
the chapter describes how the beast that ascend from the
bottomless pit (the Anti-Christ) takes power over the ten horns
( states ) and burns down the harlot who sits over the back of
the scarlet beast when it is time for him to be revealed.
Chapter eighteen :
Tells how Rome is burned down and how the Roman empire
declines and falls, to be but a symbol and example for the fall
and the burning of the state that sits on the back of the
scarlet beast, when Anti-Christ is revealed.
Chapter nineteen :
After the burning of Rome as an example to what happens to the
state that sits over the back of the scarlet beast when Anti-Christ
is revealed. And when the last trumpet sounds, we see the
heavenly throne and the reign of the Christ and his saints after
the seven wrath bowels are poured down on the Anti-Christ and his
followers. And in the end we see the battle that takes place
between God and the devil represented by the Anti-Christ and the
kings of the earth. Then the Anti-Christ and the beast are thrown
into the lake of fire and sulphur.
Chapter twenty :
The devil is bounded and thrown in the lake of fire for
thousand years then he is freed for a while. And we see the
battle of Gog and Magog (that is the devil last battle), then
fire comes down from heaven and consumes them, and the devil is
thrown into the lake of fire and sulphur forever and ever. Then
the second judgment and the resurrection take place.
Chapter twenty-one: Describes the heavenly Jerusalem its gates, its walls, the river of the water of life, the throne of God etc.
( 4 )
The Revelation Of St. John The Divine
Chapter one : ****************************** This wailing and piercing were mentioned in previous prophecies as in: Zechariah (12-9): ( 5 ) 12 And the land shall mourn, every family apart
;…………. The Lord Jesus has mentioned the way in which he will be
revealed when he comes back, the signs that will appear in the
heavens and over the earth as seen in Matthew, Mark and Luke: Matthew ( 24 - 29 ) : And in Mark ( 13 - 24 ) : And also in Luke ( 21 - 25 ) : ( 6 ) So we see that the Son of man, the judging Christ comes in the
clouds of heaven with great power and glory, and his sign
appears in the heaven, that is the sign of the cross,
the sign of his sacrifice, his humility, modesty and victory,
every body will see it preceding him. Then all tribes, all nation
and all people of the world will mourn and weep bitterly for him
and for themselves, for how stupid and unlucky they have been. The Jews will mourn when they see the Christ whom they have rejected,
crucified denied and never believed in, coming with power and
great heavenly glory. Those who had said that he was never crucified,
but men thought that they had crucified him will mourn when
they see the sign of his crucifixion preceding him in the
skies. All those who denied and rejected him, those who had
done evil thing and accepted false believes as a way of salvation
will mourn, grief and regret their false beliefs, but it will be
too late, they will find themselves standing before him in
judgment to give account for their deeds and false believes. How
horrible and terrible it is when you lose yourself in front of
the judging God? Christ glorious appearance takes place after the great
tribulation of those days; nations will be in perplexity at the
roaring of the sea and the waves. Men will faint with fear, and
of what is coming on the world, as the powers of the heaven will
shake. Then there will be signs in the sun and the moon, and
stars will begin to fall on the earth. So blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered, blessed is the man to whom the Lord
imputes no iniquity, blessed are those who wash their robes
and make them white with the blood of the Lamb, those who are
to receive his peace.
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him, to show
his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent
and signified it by his angel to his servant John:
2 Who bore record of the word of God, and of the testimony of
Jesus Christ, and all things that he saw.
3 Blessed is he who reads and they who hear the words of this
prophecy, and keep those things, which are written therein: for
the time is at hand.
4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be on
you, and peace, from him who is, and who was, and who is to come;
and from the seven Spirits who are before his throne;
5 And from Jesus Christ who is the faithful witness, and the
first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the
earth. To him who loved us, and washed us from our sins in his
own blood.
6 And made us kings and priests to God and his father; to him
be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
7 Behold, he will come with clouds; and every eye shall
see him and they also who pierced him: and all tribes of the
earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
And it shall come to pass in that day that I will seek to
destroy all the nations who come against Jerusalem.
10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of
supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have
pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for
his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one who is
in bitterness for his firstborn.
11 On that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem,
as the mourning of Hadad-rimmon in the valley of Megiddon.
Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun
be darkened, and the moon shall not give its light, and the stars
shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be
shaken:
30 And then the sign of the Son of man in
the heaven shall appear and then all the tribes of the earth
shall mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in
the clouds of the heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a
trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four
winds, from one end of the heaven to the other.
But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be
darkened, and the moon shall not give its light.
25 And the stars of the heaven shall fall, and the powers that
are in heaven shall be shaken.
26 And then they shall see the Son of man coming in the
clouds with great power and glory.
And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in
the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with
perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after
those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of the
heaven shall be shaken.
27 And then they shall see the Son of man coming in a
cloud with power and great glory.
The Revelation ( 1 - 8 ) :
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, says
the Lord, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty
9 I John, your brother and companion in tribulation, and in
the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is
called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony ofJesus Christ.
10 I was in spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a
great voice, as of a trumpet.
11 Saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the
last: write what you see in a book and send it to the seven
churches which are in Asia; to Ephesus, to Smyrna
to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis,
to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.
12 And I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me. And
as turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
13 And in the middle of the seven candlesticks one like
the Son of man, clothed with a
garment down to his feet, and with a golden girdle round
his breast;
14 His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as
snow, and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
15 and his feet like fine copper, as if they were burned in a
furnace, and his voice as the sound of many waters.
16 And in his right hand he had seven stars; and out of
his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and
his face was as the sun shinning in full strength.
17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. And
he laid his right hand upon me, saying to me, Fear not; I am the
first and the last;
18 I am he who is alive, and was dead; and behold, I am alive
for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and death.
19 Write the things which you have seen, and the things which
are, and the things which shall take place hereafter;
20 the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my
right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven
stars are the seven angels of the seven churches; and the seven
candlesticks which you saw are the seven churches.
The one who is like the Son of man described above in items thirteen & fourteen, has the same descriptions as those mentioned
in Daniel (10 - 5) :
Then I lifted my eyes up, and behold, a certain man clothed in
linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphasz.
6 His body was like the beryl, and his face as appearance of
lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his
arms and feet like in color to polished copper,
and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.
A quick comparison between the two descriptions shows that they are exactly the same, they are those of our Lord Jesus Christ. And the sharp two-edged sword is but the word of God, as St. Paul's says in:
Hebrews (4 - 12) :
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper
than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the
dividing asunder of the soul and spirit, and of the joints and
marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the
heart.
This is also mentioned in: Isaiah ( 49 - 1 ) :
Listen, O isles to me; and hearken you people, from far; The
Lord has called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother he
has mentioned my name.
2 And he made my mouth like a sharp sword; in
the shadow of his hand he laid me, and made me a polished arrow;
in his quiver he hid me;
3 and said to me, " You are my servant, O Israel, in whom
I will be glorified. "
Yes, the Father and the Son were glorified on the cross.
And as the Lord said, " The seven candlesticks "
are the seven churches and " the seven stars "
are the seven angels of the seven churches.
