This content has been archived. It may no longer be relevant
Last week, in Part One of this series, I addressed the issue of the pre-tribulation Rapture doctrine in an effort to straighten out the proverbial “crooked path” and lay down a simple chronology with regards to the events presented to us in the Apocalypse of John (whose real name was Yochanon ~ y’know, just FYI…) It occurred to me as I sat to pen this weeks’ article however, that I never actually did lay out the chronological sequence…
Chronology
Are you ready?
The Seven Seals are opened, the Seven Trumpets (Shofars) are blown, followed by the pouring out of the Seven Bowls of Wrath.
I know, pretty radical right? The very idea that the sequence of events laid out in the Book of Revelation would unfold exactly as described is, sadly, too much for some to accept. In the first post published on this site, I explained that my spiritual awakening came about during an extensive period of study regarding end-times prophecy. During this study I encountered a number of perspectives that seemed to make sense, but only partially.
One such example would be the “fold the book in half” approach, wherein everything from chapter 12 onward is treated as occurring simultaneously with the events described in chapters 4 through 11. The problem with this, and other similar views is that it overlooks the chronology plainly presented in the text. As we move through the sequence, I think you’ll see what I mean.
The Letters
We’re going to start in Chapter 4 of Revelation, but I’d like to make a quick, concise commentary regarding the first four chapters; foremost being that there is a metric ton of relevant information within these chapters as Yeshua, through the hand of Yochanon (John), issues statements to the seven congregations in Asia-minor.
While it is beyond reasonable dispute that these were literal letters, written to literal congregations at that time, it may be less obvious to some that these also speak to different eras throughout “Church History” and, more specifically, different types of individual believers throughout all time. Speaking as a self-identified “former Laodicean”, I would advise anyone who finds themselves in similar circumstances to “run like hell for Philadelphia”.
No, really…
The Throne Room
Chapter four begins by laying out a magnificent scene unfolding within the Throne room of the King of the Universe.
Immediately I was in the Spirit, and a throne was standing in heaven with someone seated on it! And the one seated on it was like jasper and carnelian in appearance, and a rainbow looking like it was made of emerald encircled the throne. In a circle around the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on those thrones were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white clothing and had golden crowns on their heads.
Revelation 4:2 – 4
Although it’s a bit of a tangent, I want to take a quick moment to point something out about this particular passage. Do you understand that this differs in a way that is significant to the fulfillment of prophecy? It differs from prior visions and visits to the Throne room in that, no prior prophet, standing in the presence of the Almighty, ever spoke about the presence of these elders… not Micaiah (see 1 Kings 22), not Isaiah (see Isaiah ch 6) and not Daniel…
“While I was watching, thrones were set up, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His attire was white like snow; the hair of his head was like lamb’s wool. His throne was ablaze with fire and its wheels were all aflame…”
Daniel 7:9
This passage comes from a vision, related to us in intricate detail by the hand of the prophet Daniel himself. Note that, within the Throne room, he see “thrones” being set up… but not once does he explain who these thrones are for, nor does he indicate at any point that they become occupied during his encounter.
Why this is relevant is the fact that this speaks to the very heart of the prophetic – that God does nothing without first revealing it to His servants, the prophets (Amos 3:7) and what we see here is no different. He told us these thrones would be set up, He told us they would be occupied, and He showed us when they became occupied.
Just then the temple curtain was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks were split apart. And tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had died were raised. (They came out of the tombs after his resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.)
Matthew 27:51 – 53
These are the First Fruits of the Resurrection, recorded by Matthew as resurrecting right after the Messiah rose from the grave… not on “Easter Sunday”, but on the 3rd day of the Passover week… a day known as the Feast of First Fruits. In this case, Yeshua was resurrected and these who are the first fruits of the resurrection had yet to be presented to the Lord… then to take their place on the very thrones Daniel witnessed being set up. That to say, once again, you cannot understand the back of the book until you understand the front.
Each of the Feasts of the Lord is, in and of itself, prophetic. This is what Paul meant when he discussed types and shadows. Understanding that, we should also know that each of the Spring feasts has been fulfilled, e.g. Passover/ Unleavened Bread, First Fruits Shavuot/ Pentecost/ Feast of Weeks. The Fall feasts are those which are yet to be fulfilled, e.g. The Day of Trumpets, The Day of Atonement and the Festival of Booths or Shelters, otherwise known as Sukkot.
The point here is that these thrones being occupied speaks directly to the fulfillment of the Festival of First Fruits, much as Yeshua’s sacrifice on the cross fulfilled the Passover and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost fulfilled Shavuot…
Still with me?
Now, back to the Apocalypse; John is in the Throne room and describes everything he sees, from the Throne, to the Elders, to the Four Living Creatures gathered around the Throne. And then he sees the scroll…
The Scroll
Then I saw in the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne a scroll written on the front and back and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a powerful angel proclaiming in a loud voice: “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look into it.
Revelation 5:1 – 3
Full Stop.
Do you know what this scroll is? Do you understand why no-one is able to open or look into it? I mean, if you stop and think about that for a moment, you’re going to quickly realize that must be on hell of a scroll… no pun intended. I contend that, in fact, properly understanding what this scroll is and why it is so significant sets us up for a proper understanding of everything that follows. In fact, it witnesses to and explains everything that preceded as well… and by that I don’t mean the first chapters of revelation – I mean the whole of human history.
To grapple with this scroll, we must first understand a few things that, although I’ve discussed them previously, are entirely relevant here.
First is that the Bible is a “Hyperlinked Text“. This applies not only to the numerous direct quotations within certain passages of other writings and books within the Bible, but to precepts, tenants and principles as well. This is one of the issues making Paul at times “difficult to understand” – the fact is that he often points to principles that he clearly expects the reader to be familiar with and understand, but doesn’t provide explicit citation. He shouldn’t have to because he’s talking to students of scripture. That carries its own weight.
Secondly, as I point to in the article The Power of Prayer, Heaven is a court. Much of our legal systems, proceedings and structures aren’t simply the machinations of mere mortal men, but are in fact, inspired by, analogous to and in the best cases, attempted copies of the court of Heaven. Understand that what we’re seeing unfolding in the Throne room in the Apocalypse, is a legal proceeding – it therefore stands to reason that the scroll of which we are inquiring is a legal document. So, what exactly is it?
Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, after our likeness, so they may rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move on the earth.”
Genesis 1:26
Various translations render this passage differently, but it’s clear in all cases that the principle being conveyed here is that of dominion. This means authority was given to Adam over the Earth and, as Stan Lee put it, “with great power comes great responsibility”. Sadly, while many in our modern age know that quote from the Spider-Man comics, many miss the fact that this is a Biblical precept… but I digress.
So then, just as sin entered the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all people because all sinned — for before the law was given, sin was in the world, but there is no accounting for sin when there is no law.
Romans 5:12 – 13
That “one man” is a direct reference to Adam. You get that, right?
Hyperlink time…
But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing, among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God.
2 Corinthians 4:3 – 4
This is one of the most famous references to Satan being the present ruler of this world or, at least this age. It is certainly one of the most direct – understand that every reference to God in scripture, either by name (YHVH) or title is capitalized. It is not accidental that the ‘g’ in the first use of the word is not capitalized while the latter is. Context makes this evident.
While this passage is among the most direct in dealing with the issue, it is certainly not the only one:
Jesus said, “This voice has not come for my benefit but for yours. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
John 12:30 – 32
I will not speak with you much longer, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me, but I am doing just what the Father commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Get up, let us go from here.
John 14:30 – 31
… and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.
John 16:11
We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
1 John 5:19
So, you get it right? Satan is the – little ‘g’ – “god” of this present age. Obviously, this filled a vacancy left by Adam’s fall. I mean, I could belabor that with scripture and exposition, but I really shouldn’t need to press the matter further. Point is, Satan is, even now wielding the authority God had originally granted to Adam.
“What does that have to do with the scroll?” you may be asking. Good question, let me ask one of my own; how is the grant of authority legally conveyed? Answer: by formal documentation, generally signed and bearing the seal of the one by whom said authority is granted…
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the Title Deed to the World, as seen and conveyed by John in chapter 5 of the Apocalypse.
I don’t know about you, but when I consider this, coupled with the fact this was the record of authority granted to and abdicated by Adam, coupled with the fact the Yeshua came in the flesh as the second Adam (see 1 Corinthians 15:45 – 49), I see exactly why Yeshua is the only one in all of creation worthy to open that scroll.
Understanding all of this, we now have a solid foundation through which to explore the events that follow…
Until next time,
שלום עליכם – Shalom Aleichem – Peace Be Upon You