Many people have spent countless hours, days, and years studying the book of Revelation. I’m sure we could fill a whole library with all the commentary that has been written about Revelation. I’ve heard many interpretations and ideas regarding the prophecy of this book.
My goal here today is not to address the often misunderstood prophecies contained in Revelation. No, you are not going to get my interpretation and ideas…
But there is a vital lesson for us to learn, and it does not require us to force strange, hard to understand scriptures into some kind of idea based on speculation.
All we have to do is read and apply. Let’s get started.
First of all, whose “Revelation” is it? Is it John’s revelation?
We get the answer in Rev 1:1
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants…”
OK, so that was an easy answer. The book contains the revelation of Yeshua our Messiah, and it was given to Him by the Father YHVH.
Let’s move on. Is there a blessing given in Revelation, and is this blessing conditional? Yes, absolutely, yes.
Let’s look at Revelation 1:3
Blessed are the reader and hearers of the words of this prophecy, provided they obey the things written in it! For the time is near! (CJB Version)
Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written therein: for the time is at hand. (ASV)
Yes, scripture indicates a blessing to those who read/hear, but it is conditional upon keeping/obeying what it says.
That’s nice to know, isn’t it? Who doesn’t love a good blessing from God?
Now for an important question; are we given any warnings regarding the words in this book of Revelation?
Absolutely, yes we are.
Check out Revelation 22:
18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (NKJV)
We are not to add to the words of this book or we will suffer the plagues mentioned in the book.
We are not to take away anything from the book of Revelation, or we will be removed from the book of life, and will not be allowed to enter the city of New Jerusalem.
Wow, that is a very harsh warning and consequence, maybe the harshest in the entire bible!!
Who wants some of those consequences? Not me. I would not wish that upon my worst enemy.
We have learned some important things in Revelation, just by paying attention to a couple of details. Let’s review:
1. The words of Revelation are Yeshua Messiah’s, as given to Him by the Father.
2. There is a blessing associated with the book, but only if we obey what the book says.
3. There are severe consequences for adding to or taking away from the words of this book.
Now that we have that straight, let’s look at a couple of very important verses in Revelation.
Revelation 14:12
Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
Revelation 12:17
And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Revelation 22:14
Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.
These three verses are taken directly out of the book of Revelation, which we are not allowed to add to nor take away from, otherwise we will suffer great consequences.
Per Revelation 1:3, we will be blessed if we obey these words.
What common theme do we see in these three verses?
All three verses mention that we are to keep the commandments of God.
Two of the three verses also mention that we are to have faith in Yeshua Messiah.
If we compare these verses to the Mainstream church message, do we find any problems?
Yes, we do. I can hear the air raid sirens going off in my mind. Danger, danger Will Robinson!!!
The Mainstream church does an incredible job of teaching us about the gospel message and about having faith in Jesus.
Check mark. “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”
But how does the Mainstream church do about teaching us to follow the commandments of God?
Ooops…
Houston, we have a problem.
The Mainstream message specifically teaches us to NOT follow the commandments of God. Yes, there is a reason they believe it is a correct teaching. But it requires them to ignore the blessings and the warnings of Revelation, and it requires them to ignore the words of Jesus in Revelation.
What is the consequence of taking away any words from the book of Revelation?
Revelation 22:19
and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
What do I see here? I see an absolute disaster for the Mainstream church. They do a great job of teaching half of what Jesus tells us, but they have removed the other half of these words in the book of Revelation. And the consequences for doing so are severe.
Without studying anything else, we can see just from Revelation what is expected of us, and what we are expected to teach. And the Mainstream church is doing a disservice to the masses by only teaching half of what is expected.
If Jesus tells us multiple times in Revelation to keep the commandments of God, and the church teaches us NOT to keep the commandments of God, is that a lie?
Whether intentional or unintentional, it is a lie.
Revelation 22:14 includes this phrase in its statement about whom is allowed access to the Tree of Life, and whom is allowed (or not allowed) into the holy city of New Jerusalem in End Times:
“and whoever loves and practices a lie.”
How does the church get this teaching wrong? It is because they misunderstand some of the writings of Paul. This misunderstanding has been passed down for many generations. Without having a solid understanding of God’s instructions (Torah, the law given to Moses, and what God says about these things being forever, for all generations, a perpetual covenant), the writings of Paul seem to teach against following the commandments of God. But if we do have a solid understanding of God’s commandments and what He says about them, Paul’s writings are able to be understood within that context.
How do I know this is true?
1. Paul was accused of teaching against God’s instructions in Torah, and he defended himself against those accusations, travelling to Jerusalem to do so.
2. Paul wrote about keeping the law and upholding Torah many times. Therefore, the mainstream message is built upon just half of Paul’s writings, not all of his writings. Does that mean Paul was schizophrenic? No, it just means that half of his writings are misunderstood.
3. Is there any evidence in scripture that supports the idea that some of Paul’s writings are misunderstood.
Absolutely, yes.
Misunderstanding some of Paul’s writings was a problem in the first century, just as it is a problem today. See Peter’s warning of this very thing in 2 Peter 3:14-18
Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. 17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
If you ask a Mainstream pastor if we should follow the law today, they will say no and will ALWAYS refer to the writings of Paul in the New Testament to prove it.
And it will make sense, but only if you ignore the rest of the bible.
1. God gave us His commandments and told us to follow them forever, for all generations, as a perpetual covenant. He also told us not to add to them or take away from them in Deuteronomy 4:2 and 12:32.
Deuteronomy 4:2
You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.
Deuteronomy 12:32
“Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.
2. When God’s people turned away from His instructions, the prophets, judges, poets, and wisdom writers advise the people to turn back to His instructions and commands.
3. Jesus Yeshua tells us to follow His commands, the commands of the Father many times throughout scripture.
4. Prophecy teaches us that 100% of Torah instructions, the law, God’s commandments, will be fully implemented when Jesus Yeshua returns. Why would it be fully implemented when Jesus returns if He did away with it?
5. The only scripture in the entire bible that seems to tell us not to follow the law are half of Paul’s writings. The Mainstream message is built upon the misunderstanding of Paul’s writings, and goes against EVERYTHING else in scripture, from start to finish.
If you are still unsure about this idea, just go back to the start of this study and look at the lesson we learned in Revelation only. What things did Jesus tell us in Revelation that we are not allowed to change?
If you accept what you have been taught about Paul’s writings, you have to REJECT the very words of Yeshua Messiah in Revelation.
Make a decision if you will believe and follow the words of Jesus in Revelation, or if you will follow the mis-taught writings of Paul, then we can look at more of the same throughout scripture.
Start small and build upon it.
