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Welcome to Thus Say the Prophets!
The Revelation of Y'shua HaMoshiach:
A Study in Authentic Messianic Judaism and Biblical prophecy
By Messianic Rabbi Yochanan Levine © 9.16.09 (last update: 6.25.2011)
Revelation Chapter One
Go to the index page for: The Revelation of Y'shua HaMoshiach
Audio Version: We pray to HaShem, the Holy One of Israel to fill our hearts with wisdom and understanding as we begin this study into the Revelation of our cheif rabbi, Y'shua HaMoshiach. Amen.
For ease of reading, throughout this study our main Bible texts will come from a slightly modified version of the Modern King James Bible. These modification replace certain Greek names with Hebrew ones and so on. You are invited to follow along in whichever version you prefer.
Revelation 1:1 A Revelation of Y'shua HaMoshiach, which God gave to him to declare to His servants things which must shortly come to pass. And He signified it by sending His angel to His servant John,
Rev 1:2 who bore record of the Word of God and of the testimony of Y'shua HaMoshiach and of all the things that he saw.We begin our study of the Book of the Revelation by pointing out that this is not the Revelation of the Apostle John as is often stated. Rather this is the only one of the sixty six books of the canonical Bible that is given by Y'shua HaMoshiach. This makes this book unique and of utmost importance!
We further note that this book, while given to us by Y'shua was received by him from HaShem, the God of Israel. This places the stature of this work among the other prophetic writings such as Daniel. Indeed the Book of Daniel ends with the promise of further revelation:
Daniel 12:8 And I [Daniel] heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, O my lord, what shall be the end of these things?
Dan 12:9 And He said, Go, Daniel! For the words are closed up and sealed until the end-time.
Dan 12:10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried. But the wicked shall do wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.
Dan 12:11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the desolating abomination set up, a thousand two hundred and ninety days shall occur.
Dan 12:12 Blessed is he who waits and comes to the thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.
Dan 12:13 But you go on to the end, for you shall rest and stand in your lot at the end of the days.HaShem, Who sent His angel to reveal to Daniel the things that would come upon the Earth is the very same God who revealed to Y'shua HaMoshiach this great work. It is indeed correct to say that the Book of the Revelation is the conclusion of the Book of the Daniel the Prophet. This is how intimately the two works are interwoven. Therefore as we make our way through this book we will often reference Daniel's writings as it would be impossible to accurately understand certain aspects of either book without referring to the other. We will also draw from the writings of other prophets from time to time. In this way we will seek to "rightly divide the Word of Truth" (II Timothy 2:15). Even so, much of this information will be new to you and may cause you some distress! I ask that you patiently read these things with an open mind because often Truth is not what we suppose it to be!
To make this study as clear as possible, our present text, the Book of the Revelation of Y'shua HaMoshiach will always be presented in navy font while most other verses will be presented in maroon or sometimes green font.
At the time of this writing John the Beloved Apostle was living on the prison Island of Patmos. The authority of his work and prophecy is that HaShem revealed these things to Y'shua HaMoshiach. Rebbe Y'shua then instructed "his angel" ("aggelo" or messenger) to reveal these things to John and John wrote them down for future generations.
Rev 1:3 Blessed is the one who reads and hears the Words of this prophecy, and the ones keeping the things written in it, for the time is near.This entire book is a prophecy of things yet to come. The word used to express this is propheteia which means it is the direct result of divine inspiration and is intended to reveal information from God, especially regarding matters of the future. Those who say propheteia simply means "discourse" are incorrect. Propheteia refers to specific types of discourses that have as their aim the divine revealation of future events and the calling forth of their hearers to preparedness to that end.
Notice also that this is the only book in the Bible that specifically states that those who study, read or even hear it will receive blessings from HaShem. By going through this material we are certain to be blessed! What better way to invest an hour each Shabbat? I hope you will join me for the entire journey and share your thoughts and questions as we go along! We will be sharing this information live online (1 PM pacific) and the videos will be up as well for later study.
The text also adds that those who "...keep the things that are written in it..." will be blessed. Head knowledge is important, but its not enough. As we come to understand these things we are called to act on them in faith in harmony with the Light we have received.
Notice that John says, "for the time is at hand." The time for teshuvah, returning to HaShem in repentance, is always at hand. The time for tzedek or righteousness is always at hand. However understand that neither Apostle John nor even Rebbe Y'shua knew when these things we will be dicussing would occur. This is because we humans have been granted free will. The Ruach or Spirit of HaShem had revealed through the prophets that these things would happen, but their timing depended on us. Of this we read:
Mark 13:32 But of that day and hour no one knows, no, not the angels in Heaven, nor the Son, but the Father.The prophets were shown only what they needed to reveal, some a bit more, some a bit less. They lacked the knowledge of the exact timing and certain details in order to protect human free will. This was because the timing depended on our use of free will. We were not predestined to fail. We had all oportunities afforded to us.
We humans constantly choose between the good and bad, between using our gifts to advance the Kingdom of HaShem or opposing it. HaShem alone knew how this choosing would turn out and so the prophets were forewarned of the overall trend of these events. They were shown enough detail to prepare the End Time Generation when time had come and yet not so much that those in rebellion against HaShem and His Kingdom would be forced to conceed. Human free will is of vital importance in the ongoing spiritual struggle as we will see as we continue:
II Thessalonians 2:3 Let noone deceive you by any means. For that Day shall not come unless there first comes a falling away, and the man of sin shall be revealed, the son of perdition,The generation of 1948 (or 1967 at the latest as will be discussed later) is the first generation in world history in which the essential prophetic requirements of the dawning Kingdom have all been met! This will be demonstrated as we continue on.
Rev 1:4 John [Yochanan in Hebrew] to the seven congregations which are in Asia. Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is coming; and from the seven spirits which are before His throne;The Seven Congregations:
The Congregation at Ephesus
The Congregation at Smyrna
The Congregation at Pergamos
The Congregation at Thyatira
The Congregation at Sardis
The Church of Philadelphia
And The Congregation of the LaodiceansAs we will discuss in chapters two and three these were seven literal Messianic shuls (assemblies). One could have gone to visit them back in the day. However from the prophectic context of this work it is clear that there is much more to these than local congregations.
We will likewise discuss "from the seven Spirits who are before his throne" as we examine the next two chapters.
Rev 1:5 even from Y'shua HaMoshaich the faithful witness, the first-born from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Rev 1:6 and made us kings and priests to God and his Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.Long had People Israel awaited the coming of Moshiach and the promised theocratic Kingdom! Those who had personally walked with Rebbe Y'shua, who heard his teachings and placed their trust in his words were understandbly sorely disappointed and confused when he did not fulfill the Messianic prophecies. But by free will choice the invitation of both Yochanan the Immerser (John the Baptist) and Rebbe Y'shua was not accepted and so the time was not yet ripe for the establishment of the Kingdom. John, as well as Paul to a lesser but equally vital extent, received later instructions about the establishment of the Kingdom and this book is John's presentation of how the Kingdom will soon be established. No wonder it is so singularly important! This is the book that heralds the coming of Moshiach and his theocratic kingdom!
Rev 1:7 Behold, he comes with the clouds, and every eye will see him, and those who pierced him will see him, and all the kindreds of the earth will wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
Rev 1:8 "I am the ‘Aleph’ and the ‘Tav’, the Beginning and the Ending," says Adonai, Who is and Who was and Who is to come, the Almighty.John is here referencing the eternal hope of his (Jewish) people (HaTikva). As we read:
Deuteronomy 30:1 And it shall be when all these things have come on you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and when you shall call them to mind among all the nations where Jehovah your God has driven you,
Deu 30:2 and shall return to Jehovah your God and shall obey His voice according to all that I command you today, you and your sons, with all your heart, and with all your soul,
Deu 30:3 then Jehovah your God will turn your captivity. And He will have compassion on you, and will return and gather you from all the nations where Jehovah your God has scattered you.
Deu 30:4 If you are driven out into the outermost parts of the heavens, Jehovah your God will gather you from there, and He will bring you from there.
Deu 30:5 And Jehovah your God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it. And He will do you good, and multiply you above your fathers.
Deu 30:6 And Jehovah your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your seed, to love Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.
Deu 30:7 And Jehovah your God will put all these curses on your enemies, and on those that hate you, who persecuted you.
Deu 30:8 And you shall return and obey the voice of Jehovah, and do all His commandments which I command you today.
Deu 30:9 And Jehovah your God will make you have plenty in every work of your hand, in the fruit of your body, and in the fruit of your cattle, and in the fruit of your land, for good. For Jehovah will again rejoice over you for good, as He rejoiced over your fathers;
Deu 30:10 for you shall listen to the voice of Jehovah your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the Law, and if you turn to Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul.This, Prophet John foretells, will come to pass in due time!
Note that at Deuteronomy 30:1 the end of the Diaspora (which had not yet begun!) is directly foretold. Through the future-history presented by the prophets we understand that the Jews will soon be gathered from among all the nations and returned to Jerusalem (Tzion), even from the "uttermost parts of the heavens." Part of the Revelation of Y'shua therefore is the revealing of those events that will bring about this momentous event. As important as the restoration of Israel was in 1948 and the restoration of Holy Jerusalem in 1967 to Jewish control, the fullness of this prophecy is yet future: The complete return of People Israel to Eretz Israel (land of Israel) has only begun! It will be completed when Moshiach establishes the Kingdom of HaShem.
John 1:8 is citing the following verse and affirming that it is HaShem alone who will bring about these things.
CJB: Isaiah 44:6 Thus says ADONAI, Isra'el's King and Redeemer, ADONAI-Tzva'ot: "I am the first, and I am the last; besides me there is no God.
7 Who is like me? Let him speak out! Let him show me clearly what has been happening since I set up the eternal people; let him foretell future signs and events.The "great cloud of God's people" (Genesis 32:12, Hebrews 12:1, I Thessalonians 4:17) will return to Israel under the leadership of Moshiach (Zecariah 8:23 Revelation 1:7) as the seventh and final shofar or trumpet blasts announcing the establishment of the Kingdom of God (Daniel 2:44, I Corinthians 15:52, I Thessalonians 4:16).
Isaiah 51:11 Therefore the redeemed of Adonai shall return and come with singing into Zion; and everlasting joy shall be on their head. Gladness and joy shall overtake them; sorrow and mourning shall flee away.According to Jewish tradition the following conditions will lead to the advent of Moshiach (Messiah) and the restoration of the people:
The events recorded by John in the Revelation will bring these conditions about and usher in the reign of Moshiach and the Kingdom of HaShem as we will see.
Rev 1:9 I, John, who also am your brother and companion in the affliction, and in the kingdom and patience of Y'shua HaMoshiach, was in the island that is called Patmos, for the Word of God and for the testimony of Y'shua Hamoshiach.
Rev 1:10 I came to be in the Spirit in the Lord's day [i.e. Shabbat] and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
Rev 1:11 saying, I am the ‘Aleph’ and the ‘Tav’, the Beginning and the Ending," Also, What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven congregations which are in Asia: to Ephesus, and to Smyrna, and to Pergamos, and to Thyatira, and to Sardis, and to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.As described above, John was living as an exile on Patmos. From there he gives paints a vivid picture of how this information came to him. Most Prophets do not go into such detail but John is certain that his revelation is of vital importance and so he wants his readers to understand its authority.
It was on the biblical Sabbath, the day of the Lord, and John was pondering the things of God.
Rev 1:12 And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me.
Rev 1:13 And having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands. And in the midst of the seven lampstands I saw One like the son of man, clothed with a garment down to the feet, and tied around the breast with a golden band.
Rev 1:14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like a flame of fire.
Rev 1:15 And his feet were like burnished brass having been fired in a furnace. And his voice was like the sound of many waters.
Rev 1:16 And he had seven stars in his right hand, and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword. And his face was like the sun shining in its strength.
Rev 1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying to me, Do not fear, I am the first and the last,
Rev 1:18 I am he that lives and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hades [the grave] and of death.
Rev 1:19 Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be after this,
Rev 1:20 the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand and the seven golden lampstands. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven congregations.In his vision Y'shua allows John to peer into the spiritual realms of existence to a degree seldom experienced by other mortals. Much of what John writes is beyond normal comprehension and experience as is clear as he attempts to relate his vision. This book however is his eyewitness account of future-history and the things he was shown will all come to pass soon.
Again, chapters two and three deal with the seven congregations and so I will leave this topic for there.
To confirm the obvious, standing in the midst of the seven lampstands or menorahs John beholds the radiant, eternal form of the Only Begotten Son of Elohiym who took birth as Y'shua ben Miryam, was executed, and who was then resurrected and returned to his previous state at the right hand of HaShem. The revelation granted to John is "signified by Y'shua's angel."
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