Revelation: Notes and Observations
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Revelation is a book describing an apocalyptic vision sent by Jesus to His disciple John.
Revelation 1
A revelation that The God gave to Jesus the Anointed One to show his slaves the things that must happen very quickly.
Jesus, through His messenger, sent to the apostle John in signs what must happen and John testified that everything he saw was the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus the Anointed.
Those who read it aloud, as well as those who listen to the words of this prophecy and obey the things that are written in it are blest, because the appointed time is near.
[2001 Translation: Messenger. In most translations for the word ‘aggelous’, the word ‘angel’ is used. However, aggelous in Greek just means messenger.
Messenger: There was a position in the Judaic arrangement where there was a position called the shalia (Hebrew for emissary, messenger or angel). This was not an official title but job description for the person who served that function. The job was shared among many and perhaps served annually on a rotating basis.]
Appointed time: Kairos (Greek): time, season, the suitable time, the right moment.]
The Apostle John testifies that everything he saw was the Word of The God and the testimony of Jesus the Anointed
From John, to the 7 congregations in Asia ([Minor]:
‘Look! He’s coming in the clouds and every eye will see him, including those who pierced him, and all the nations of the earth will wail because of him.’
John states that on the Sabbath day, he came to be in The Breath of God…..He heard a voice from behind him which was as loud as a trumpet which said write the things down you are about to see on a scroll and send it to the 7 congregations in Asia Minor:
Ephesus, Smyrna, PergaMom, ThyaTira, Sardis, PhilaDelphia, and LaoDikia.
[2001 note: The 7 congregations and 7 lampstands may represent all faithful congregations, lamp stands or Christian religions in our time as all problems of modern Christian religions seem to be represented by these 7 groups].
[LN remarks: If it represents ‘other congregations, thinking of the way Jehovah God and Christ Jesus speak, I believe He would have said so. I get the impression that it is just as it is written, to the 7 congregations which are named. Jesus did not mention anything else.]
John turned around to see who was speaking but instead saw 7 gold lampstands. Between the lampstands, John saw someone who looked like a son of man and he was dressed in a robe that came down to his feet and his chest was wrapped in gold. His head and hair were white as wool or snow and his eyes were flames of fire and his feet looked like the finest copper. His voice sounded like the noise made by large bodies of water and in his right hand he held 7 stars and a 2-edged sword protruded from his mouth. His face glowed as bright as the sun.
When John saw the man, he fell like a dead man at his feet but he laid his right hand on him and said: “Don’t be afraid! I’m the first, the last, and the living one. And although I died, Look! I am living throughout ages of ages. I also hold the keys to death and the place of the dead.”
Revelation 1:20: ‘You must now write down the things that you’re about to see…For they are things that are now and things that will soon be.
‘The seven stars signify the messengers of the seven congregations, and the seven lampstands signify the seven congregations.’
Revelation 22:18, 19.
‘I’m also testifying to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll, that if anyone adds anything to it, God will add the plagues to him that are written about in this scroll
‘And if anyone removes any of the words of this scroll of prophecy, God will remove his share from the Tree of Life and from the things that are written in this scroll concerning the Holy City.
[LN Remarks: I think this makes it very clear that Jesus is specifically referring to the 7 congregations named: Ephesus, Smyrna, PergaMom, ThyaTira, Sardis, PhilaDelphia, and LaoDikia in Asia Minor.].
Revelation 2
John was told to write this message down to:
The messenger of the congregation in EPHESUS
I know what you’re doing and you’ve worked hard and endured and don’t tolerate evil men and put to the test those who say they are apostles but aren’t and you show them to be liars. You are also patient because you’re bearing my name and haven’t given up.
However, you’ve lost the love you first had and I hold that against you. You must recognize how far you’ve fallen and turn around and go back to doing to what you were first doing.
If you don’t repent, I’ll be coming to you and remove your lampstand from its place. God’s Breath says to the congregations He’ll allow those who conquer to eat from the Tree of Life that’s in the Paradise of The God.
[2001 Translation: 7 Lampstands represent the 7 congregations which must mean callings or groups of Christians. When the lampstand is removed, it appears to indicate the group or gathering will be removed from its position of favor.]
[LN Remarks: As I already stated, I believe nothing should be added that is not written as Jesus would have indicated if it was otherwise.]
However, I can say this on your behalf, that you hate what the Nicolaitans are doing, and I also hate what they’re doing.
[2001 Translation: Nicolaitans are a sect which infiltrated into 2 of the 7 congregations which preached heresies and led lives of unrestrained indulgence.]
To the messenger of the congregation in SMYRNA
I know of your problems and poverty (although you’re really rich} and about the blasphemy of those who says they’re Jews but aren’t, they’re just a synagogue of the Slanderer.
[2001 Translation: Slanderer – ‘Evil One’, ‘Opposer’, and ‘Slanderer’.
Other translations use Satan, Devil, Lucifer and Beelzebub. These are just titles or descriptions but actual name is never given in the Bible.]
Don’t be afraid of the things you are about to suffer as the Slanderer is about to throw some of you into prison to test you and persecute you for 10 days. If you keep faithful to death, I’ll give you the garland of life. The ones who conquer won’t be harmed by the second death.
[2001 note: And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. This means death is the end of life, and fire destroys. Therefore things that are thrown there will be burned up and gone forever, with no hope of returning].
To the messenger of the congregation in PERGAMOM
I know the place you’re living is the very throne of the Slanderer and yet you keep hanging onto my name nor deny your faith in me even in the days of my faithful witness AntiPas who was killed among you there where the Slanderer is.
[2001 Translation: Antipas was martyred during the reign of Nero (54-68) by burning in a brazen bull-shaped altar for casting out demons worshiped by the local population.
*according to Christian tradition, the Apostle John ordained Antipas as bishop of Pergamom during the reign of the Roman emperor Nero.]
I still hold a few things against you as some of you are following the teachings of BalaAm who taught Balak how to set a trap before the sons of Israel by getting them to eat sacrifices to idols and be sexually immoral.
[2001 Note: Set a trap: While often translated as stumble in other bibles, the meaning has more to do with stumbling into a snare or trap].
You also have been following the teachings of the Nicolaitans.
[2001 Note: The Nicolaitans are an offshoot of the falsely so-called knowledge as they lead lives of unrestrained indulgence].
1 Timothy 6:20 from Paul: “O Timothy, guard this hope and turn away from all the unclean and opposing empty talk that is falsely called knowledge, through which some that once showed promise in the faith were turned aside.”]
To those who conquer, I’ll give some of the hidden manna and a white pebble which will have a new name written on it that no one will know other than those who receive it.
[2001 Translation: Hidden Manna: secret fuel and food that’s hidden until needed, just as in the desert with the Israelites.
White pebble. It was not uncommon to give a new name as God did to Abraham, Israel, Boanerges, Peter. It expresses the new steps which had been taken into a higher truer life, and the change of heart and the elevation of character because of it.]
To the messenger of the congregation THYATIRA
I know what you’re doing and I know of your love, faith, service and endurance. I know what you’re doing recently is more than you did in the past. However, I do hold this against you:
You’re still putting up with that woman Jezebel who calls herself a prophet but teaches and misleads my slaves into immoral sexual acts and eating things sacrificed to idols. I have given her enough time to change but she doesn’t wish to repent from her immorality.
[LN Remarks: Jezebel, also spelled Jezabel, (died c. 843 BCE), in the Bible (books of Kings), the wife of King Ahab, who ruled the kingdom of Israel. By interfering with the exclusive worship of the Hebrew God, Yahweh, by disregarding the rights of the common people, and by defying the great prophets Elijah and Elisha, she provoked the internecine strife that enfeebled Israel for decades. She has come to be known as an archetype of the wicked woman.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jezebel-queen-of-Israel]
I will be throwing her into a stretcher for carrying the death and bring a time of great difficulty upon others who have sex with her, unless they repent. I will also put her children to death so that all the congregations will know that I repay each one according to his deeds.
To the rest in ThyaTira I won’t lay any more loads on you, just hang on until I get there. Then, I’ll give those who conquer and obeyed everything that I told them to do down to the end, authority over the nations and shepherd them with an iron rod with the same authority I received from my father and shatter them like clay pots. I’ll also give them the morning star.
[2001 Note: Morning Star some have translated as dawn as Jesus referred to himself as bright morning star.
Revelation 22:16: ‘I am Jesus, and I sent my messenger to testify to you about these things that will be [coming] to the congregations.
‘I am the root and the descendant of David…The bright morning star.’]
‘Yes, let those who have ears listen to what [God’s] Breath says to the congregations!’
Revelation 3
To the messenger of the congregation in SARDIS
I know what you’re doing and having the reputation of being alive but you’re really dead!
So you must wake up and revive the things which aren’t quite dead yet as I don’t see where you’ve accomplished any of the tasks assigned to you in the sight of God.
Start remembering all the things you received and heard, hang on to them and repent! For if you don’t stay awake, I’ll come like a thief and you won’t be aware of it until I’m right there on you!
However, there are a few names in Sardis who haven’t dirtied their robes and will walk with me in white robes which they truly deserve. All those who conquer will be dressed like that…In white robes, I’ll never erase their names from the Scroll of Life, and I’ll admit to knowing their names before my Father and His messengers.
[2001 Note: The first actual mention of the scroll of life is in Exodus 32:33 where God said to Moses: ‘I’m going to erase the names of all those that have sinned against Me from My scroll.’ However, God Himself also pointed out their names can be erased from His scroll after they had been written there.
It's important to note that baptism wasn’t practiced during the time of David so it appears as though all Israel had their names written in that Scroll when they were born into a Nation that was chosen by God and their names remained there for as long as they stayed faithful.
Note that Jesus said at John 5:26 those whose names are written in the Scroll of Life will not be judged as they are viewed as the living, not the dead. Further, all the resurrections will already have taken place before these scrolls are opened. These individuals aren’t physically dead any longer for they are seen standing so that must mean that although they are no longer literally dead, they are still counted among ‘the dead’ in God’s eyes and must undergo judgment before their names can be written in the Scroll of Life.]
To the messenger of the congregation in PHILADELPHIA
I know what you’re doing and look I’ve put an open door before you that no one can close. I also know that although you don’t have much strength, you’ve kept my word and haven’t denied knowing my name. What I’m going to do to those from the synagogue of the Opposer that say they’re jews but aren’t and are just lying…. I’m going to make them come to you and bow at your feet and I’ll make sure they know how much I love you.
Also, since you’ve obeyed my instructions to be patient, I’m going to protect you from the hour of trial that’s coming upon the whole habitation of mankind which will try everyone who lives on the face of the earth.
[2001 Translation: Foundation of the world – Matthew 25-34 ‘Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’BSB
I’m coming soon, so hang on, and don’t let anyone steal your garland for I’ll make those who conquer pillars in the temple sanctuary of my God and they’ll never leave it I’ll also write the Name of my God upon them, as well as the name of the city of my God, New Jerusalem, which will come down out of the sky from my God along with my new name.
[2001 Translation: New Jerusalem: A glorious Holy City that is to be built on a foundation of the ‘Twelve Apostles of the Lamb.’ Revelation Chapter 22.]
To the messenger of the congregation in LAODIKIA
I know what you’re doing and you’re neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other. Since you’re neither, I’m going to vomit you out of my mouth!
You’re saying because I’m rich, I don’t need anything. You don’t realize you’re actually miserable, pitiable, poor, blind and naked!
Therefore, I advise you to buy gold that has been refined by fire from me, so you can become truly rich and wear white robes and nobody will see the shame of your nakedness. Also, buy salve to rub in your eyes so you can see because I correct and discipline those whom I really care for. Yes, you should repent and become zealous!
I’m standing at your door and knocking and if anyone hears my voice and opens that door, I’ll come in and we’ll dine together and I’ll allow the ones who conquer to sit down with me on my throne, just as my Father has allowed me to sit on His throne, because I’ve conquered.
Revelation 4
[LN Remarks: After the instructions to the 7 congregations, the Apostle John heard a voice that said ‘now come up here and I’ll show you what must happen next.
The Apostle John is witnessing and seeing first-hand what is going on in heaven i.e. what the positions are and what is still to be. ]
John saw a door opening in the sky and he heard a voice that sounded like a trumpet speaking to him saying now come up here and I’ll show you what must happen next. John was taken away like the wind and he saw a throne in the sky with someone sitting on it who looked like jasper and sardius gems and all around His throne was a rainbow that looked like an emerald.
Surrounding the throne, were 24 more thrones on which sat 24 elders dressed in white robes who had gold garlands on their heads. There was lightning, thunder and voices coming from the throne and in front of the throne were 7 flaming lamps which were the 7 Spirits of The God.
[2001 Note: The sevenfold ministry of the Spirit as depicted in the Book of Isaiah “The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD and He will delight in the fear of the Lord.” Isaiah 11:2-3.”]
Also in front of the throne was a transparent sea that looked like crystal and on each of the 4 sides of the throne was a creature that had many eyes on its front and back and looked like a:
*lion
*young bull
*face of a man
*flying eagle
Each of the 4 creatures had 6 wings wrapped around them, and the inner parts of their wings were full of eyes that didn’t rest night or day saying ‘Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah God the Almighty…The One who was, who is, and is coming.’
The 24 elders fell down before Him and bowed to their faces, and said: ‘You, the Lord and our God, deserve all the glory, honor, and power, because You created everything. Yes, everything was created and exists because You willed it to be!’
Revelation 5
John saw a scroll with writing on both sides in the right hand of the One who was sitting on the throne and had been sealed with 7 seals. A mighty messenger called out in a loud voice: ‘Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?’
John started to cry as there was no one in the heavens or on the earth that was found worthy to open and examine the scroll. But then one of the elders said to him ‘Stop crying.’ ‘Look’ The Lion from the tribe of Judah and of the root of David has conquered, so he will be able to open the scroll and its seven seals!’
John then saw a lamb that looked like it had been slaughtered standing between the throne and before the 4 cherubs and the elders He had 7 horns and 7 eyes which symbolizes the 7 Spirits of The God that have been sent throughout the earth.
[2001 Note: The No. 7 is the biblical understanding of No. 7 meaning Perfection. The ‘Perfect’ Spirit of God.
7 Spirits: The Spirit of the Lord, wisdom and understanding, of counsel and might, of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD]
[LN Remarks: The 7 Spirits simply put is our conscience.]
The lamb went right up and took the scroll from the right hand of the One who was sitting on the throne and the 4 cherubs and 24 elders who each held harps and gold bowls filled with incense symbolizing the prayers of the Holy Ones who fell down in front of him and sang a new song:
‘You’re the only one who’s worthy,
To receive the scroll and open it’s seals.
For, you’re the one who was slaughtered,
To buy a people for God with your blood.
From every tribe, language, country, and race,
That will serve as Kings and Priests of our God,
And to rule as Kings on the earth.’
John looked around because he heard the voices of many messengers, along with the cherubs and the elders that were all around the throne and that numbered into the millions and tens of millions.
They shouted in a loud voice:
‘This Lamb that was slaughtered deserves to receive the power, the wealth, the wisdom, the strength, the honor, the glory, and the blessings!’
After that, John heard all the creatures in the skies, on the ground, under the ground, in the seas, and everything else in those places say:
‘May the One who’s siting on the throne and His Lamb be praised, honored, glorified, and allowed to retain the power throughout ages of ages.’
During all that, the 4 cherubs kept saying ‘May it be so,’ as the elders fell down and bowed to their faces.
Revelation 6
John saw the Lamb open 1 of the 7 seals and one of the cherubs said ‘Come on out!’
John saw a white horse with someone sitting on it who had a bow and he was given a garland and went out to finish his victory.
The 2nd seal revealed a fiery red horse and the rider was given a large sword and authorized to remove peace from the earth so people would slaughter each other.
The 3rd seal revealed a black horse with a rider who held a balance scale in his hand. John heard a voice that sounded like it come from the midst of the 4 cherubs and said:
‘A quart of wheat for a silver coin and 3 quarts of barley for a silver coin……But don’t damage the olive oil or the wine.’
[2001 Translation: The context describes a famine or food shortage suggesting in modern language ‘don’t even touch them’.
The 4th seal revealed a greenish yellow horse and the rider was named Death…….And the Place of the Death was following closely behind him.
The 4 horsemen were given authority over ¼ of the earth to kill with the sword, with famines, with plagues, and the wild animals of the earth.
The 5th seal revealed that underneath the Altar John could see the lives of those slaughtered because of the Word of God and what they had testified to.
In loud voices they were crying and asking the Sovereign Lord how much longer He was holding back His judgments and bringing vengeance for their blood upon those on the earth.
They were given white robes but were told to rest a little while longer until the full number of their fellow slaves and brothers would be filled with those who were going to be killed as they had been killed.
The 6th seal produced a great shaking that caused the sun to become black as haircloth and the moon like blood. The stars in the skies fell to the earth.
Then it looked like the sky was being rolled up like a scroll and the mountains and islands were removed from their places.
Then all the kings of the earth and all important people, all military commanders, all the rich and powerful, as well as the slaves and free people went and hid themselves in caves and under rocks and mountains…..’For the Great Day of their rage has arrived and who’ll be able to survive?’
[2001 Translation: Great Day of their rage has arrived: The Day of Jehovah and the Day of the Lord.]
Revelation 7
Then John saw 4 messengers that were standing on each of the four corners of the earth holding onto the 4 winds of the earth so they couldn’t blow on the lands, seas or trees.
After that John saw another messenger arriving from the sunrise carrying the seal of the living God saying ‘Don’t harm the lands, the seas, or the trees until after we’ve sealed the slaves of our God on their foreheads.’
John heard the number of those sealed were 144,000 out of all the tribes of the sons of Israel:
12,000 out of Judah,
12,000 out of ReuBen,
12,000 out of Gad,
12,000 out of Asher,
12,000 out of Naphtali,
12,000 out of ManasSeh,
12,000 out of SimeOn,
12,000 out of Levi,
12,000 out of IsSachar,
12,000 out of ZebuLun,
12,000 out of JoSeph, and
12,000 out of BenJamin.
[2001 Translation: Luke 22:28-30 (Jesus to the Apostles): ‘However, you’re the ones that stuck with me during my trials; so, I’m making a promise to you, just as my Father made a promise to me, for a Kingdom…that you may eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom and sit on thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel.’]
John then saw a crowd so large that no one could count them coming from all countries, nationalities, ethnic groups and languages standing with a view of the Lamb and the throne. They were each wearing white robes and carrying palm branches in their hands, shouting: ‘We owe our salvation to our God who’s sitting on the throne and to the Lamb!’
Then all the messengers standing in a circle around the throne as well as the elders and the 4 cherubs started falling to their faces in front of the throne bowing low before God saying: ‘May it be so! May our God have all the praise, glory, wisdom, thanks, honor, power, and strength throughout ages of ages….May it be so!’
One of the elders asked John who are these people dressed in white robes and where did they come from? I told him surely he was the one who knew that. So he told John that they were the ones who came out of the time of difficulty and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. This is why they’re under the gaze of The God, serving him day and night in His temple sanctuary. The One sitting on the throne will spread His tent over them and they won’t be hungry or thirsty anymore, nor will the sun beat down on them with blistering heat.
The Lamb that’s in the midst of the throne will shepherd and guide them to the springs of the waters of life, and God will wipe all the tears from their eyes.
[2001 Translation: Temple sanctuary which contains the Holy and Most Holy compartments.]
Revelation 8
When the 7th seal was opened, the skies went silent for about a half hour.
Then John saw 7 trumpets distributed among 7 of the messengers standing before God.
Then another messenger arrived carrying a gold incense bowl. He stopped before the Alter and was given a large quantity of incense to be offered on the gold Altar that was in front of the throne, along with the prayers of the Holy Ones. The smoke being offered by the messenger kept arising before God along with the prayers of the Holy Ones.
Then the messenger took the incense bowl and filled it with some of the fire that was burning on the Altar and threw it down to earth causing thunder, voices, lightning and a great shaking.
Then the 7 messengers with the 7 trumpets prepared to blow the trumpets.
The first one blew his trumpet and hail and fire was mixed with blood thrown down to the earth causing 1/3rd of the lands, 1/3rd of the trees and 1/3rd of the green plants to be burned.
The 2nd messenger blew his trumpet and something like a huge burning mountain was thrown into the sea causing 1/3rd of the sea to turn into blood, killing 1/3rd of the creatures living in the seas and it destroyed 1/3rd of the ships traveling there.
The 3rd messenger blew his trumpet and a huge star burning like a lamp fell out of the sky onto 1/3rd of the rivers and 1/3rd of the spring waters. The star’s name was Wormwood.
[2001 Translation: Wormwood in Hebrew and Greek means bitterness i.e. making the water bitter killing the creatures living there.]
The 4th messenger blew his trumpet and 1/3rd of the sun was struck and 1/3rd of the moon and 1/3rd of the stars bringing darkness upon 1/3rd of the earth so daylight nor night appeared over 1/3rd of the earth.
Then John saw an eagle flying high in the sky shouting ‘Woe, woe, woe to those who are living on the earth, for there are three more trumpet blasts that the 3 messengers are getting ready to blow!’
Revelation 9
The 5th messenger blew his trumpet and John saw a star fall out of the sky onto the earth and it had been given the key to the abyss which he opened. Smoke poured out of it and darkened the sun and all of the air.
Locusts dropped to the earth out of the smoke who had the same power as earthly scorpions. They were told not to damage any of the earth’s vegetation or trees, only those men who didn’t have God’s seal on their foreheads. They were not allowed to kill them but sting them for 5 months. The men may look for a way to die but won’t find any.
The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. They had gold garlands on their heads and their faces looked like human faces. They had women’s hair, teeth like lions and breastplates that looked like iron. The flapping of their wings sounded like the attack of many chariots at war, and they had tails with stingers like scorpions being allowed to sting the people for 5 months.
These locusts also had a king who led them who is the messenger of the abyss, named Abadon in Aramaic and ApolLyon in Greek, meaning destroyer.
The 6th messenger blew his trumpet and John heard a voice which came from the gold horned edges on the Altar that are in front of The God. This voice said to release the 4 messengers that had been tied down at the great EuPhrates River.
These 4 messengers were untied and were prepared to kill 1/3rd of all mankind on a specific hour, day, month, and year. They led an army which John was told numbered 200 million horsemen.
In John’s vision, this is what the horses and riders looked like:
The riders wore fire-red, hyacinth-blue, and sulfur-yellow breastplates. Their horses had heads like lions, and fire, smoke and sulfur came out of their mouths.
The 3 plagues: fire, smoke and the sulfur came out of the mouths of the horses which killed 1/3rd of mankind. The power of these horses was all in their mouths and their tails were like snakes that had heads which was used to do all the damage.
The rest of the people who hadn’t been killed by these plagues still refused to repent of the things they were doing. They refused to stop bowing to demons, or their idols of gold, silver, copper, stone, and wood. Things that can’t see, hear or walk. They also didn’t repent their murders, occult practices, sexual immorality or thievery.
Revelation 10
Another very powerful messenger came down out of the sky which was wrapped in a cloud and he was wearing a rainbow on his head, his face was bright as the sun, his feet were like columns of fire, and he held a small opened scroll in his hand.
He put his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the ground and shouted in a loud voice which sounded like the roar of a lion. As he was shouting, 7 rumbles of thunder that each spoke in its own voice.
John was ready to write down the things the 7 thunders were saying but a voice from heaven told him not to write down what the 7 thunders said….to seal up [those words]!’
The messenger standing on the sea and on the ground raised his right hand towards heaven and he swore this by the One who lives throughout ages of ages, the One who created the heavens and everything in it and all the lands and everything in them
He shouted ‘The time has finally arrived! For when the 7th messenger blows his trumpet (which is about to happen), God’s mystery that has been revealed through the good news that He sent through His slaves the Prophets will then be fulfilled.’
Then the voice from the sky spoke to John again and told him to go and take the little open scroll out of the hands of the messenger standing on the sea and the ground. John went over and asked him for the little scroll and the messenger said that he must eat it and it would taste sweet as honey in his mouth but bitter in his stomach. John did exactly that.
[LN Remarks: So the 7 thunders’ words said to John were to be sealed up. I take that to mean, he couldn’t repeat it to anyone.
Then John took the open scroll which he must eat. So, I take that to mean, that whatever was on the scroll was only for John also.]
John then was told ‘Now you must go on to prophesy to peoples, nations, languages, and many kings a further time!’
Revelation 11
John was handed a cane that was like a large walking stick, and the messenger instructed John to go measure God’s Most Holy, the Altar, and those bowing low there. He said pay no attention to the courtyard outside the Most Holy…Don’t measure it as it has been given to the nations who will trample the Holy City under their feet for 42 months [3.5 years].
Then the messenger said he will have 2 witnesses prophesy for
1,260 days in sackcloth.
The 2 witnesses are the 2 olive trees and the 2 lampstands that stand on the earth before the Lord.
The 2 witnesses, if any enemies want to harm them, fire will come out of their mouths and consume them. If anyone wants to persecute them, they will be consumed by fire and that’s how they’ll die. They have been authorized to close up the skies so no rain will fall during the period of their prophesying.
The 2 witnesses are also authorized to turn water into blood and bring any sort of plague on the earth whenever they wish.
After the 1,260 days, the wild animal will come out of the abyss and fight them, conquer and kill them. Their corpses will lie in the main street of the great city which God’s breath refers to as Sodom and Egypt – it’s where their Lord was hung on a pole.
For 3½ days peoples, nationalities, tongues and ethnic groups will look at their corpses as they won’t allow them to be buried.
All the while those who live on the earth will be happy and approve of what happened to those two witnesses, even sending gifts to one another as those 2 prophets had brought so much pain to those living on the earth.
After 3½ days The God then sent His breath of life into them and stood them on their feet which frightened everyone.
Then the 2 witnesses heard a loud voice from heaven who said ‘Come on up here’ and their enemies saw them ascent into the sky in a cloud.
[LN Remarks:The 2 witnesses are the 2 olive trees and the 2 lampstands which had been sent down to earth and contained the 7 spirits of God. Since they went up to heaven, it must mean that the 7 spirits were taken away from the earth i.e. the conscience.]
This was followed by a tremendous shaking and 1/10th of the city toppled, destroying 7,000 people.
The remaining people got frightened and gave glory to The God in the heavens. This ended the 2nd woe.
Then the 7th messenger blew his trumpet and loud voices in the heavens shouted:
‘The kingdom of this world now belongs to our God and to His Anointed One, and He will be its ruler throughout ages of ages’.
[LN Remarks: So, once the 7 spirits have gone back to God, then the people on the earth are left to their own devices. The Spirits are no longer needed on earth as God and Jesus are in charge.]
At that the 24 elders sitting on their thrones fell to their faces before The God and bowed low before Him, saying:
“We thank You, O Jehovah God the Almighty (the One who is and that was), because You’ve finally assumed Your great power and started ruling as King.
Yes, this made the nations angry, but {the time for} Your rage has arrived when the dead will be judged, when Your slaves (the Prophets, the Holy Ones, and those who fear your Name – the small and the great) will be rewarded, and when those who are corrupting the earth will be thoroughly corrupted.
(Note from 2001: Thoroughly corrupted: to destroy utterly)
Then the heavenly Most Holy Place of God became visible to the Apostle John. Inside of His Most Holy Place John could see the Chest of His Sacred Agreement.
This was followed by lightning, voices, thundering, shaking and a great hailstorm.
Revelation 12
Thereafter, a great sign appeared in the sky. There was a woman who had the sun wrapped around her, the moon was under her feet and a garland of 12 stars on her head. She was pregnant and screaming in labor and agony to give birth.
Then another sign appeared in the sky:
A huge fire-red Dragon with 7 heads and 10 horns and on its heads were 7 royal turbans. It was dragging 1/3rd of the stars of the sky with its tail and threw them down on the ground.
[2001 Translation: ‘So, the huge dragon was thrown out. He is the first snake, the one that is called the Slanderer and Opposer, who is misleading the whole earth’ Revelation 12:9.]
Then the dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth so that he could swallow her child down.
The child she bore is a son, a male, who is to shepherd all the nations with an iron rod.
The child was snatched away to God and to His throne, and the woman escaped to the desert to a place God had prepared for her, where she would be fed for 1,260 days.
Next, a war broke out in heaven.
Michael and his messengers battled with the Dragon, and the Dragon and his messengers fought back.
[2001 Translation Note: Michael’s position: Greek word ArchAggelos or Archangel or more accurately as Highest Messenger of God.]
The Dragon lost the battle and couldn’t stay in the heavens and was thrown down to the earth along with his messengers.
Then the Apostle John heard a loud voice in heaven which said that the salvation, the power, and the Kingdom of God has arrived; for His Anointed has now been empowered and the accuser of our brothers has been cast down, who blames them before God both day and night.
(2001 Translation: Empowered - power to act, authority)
By the blood of the Lamb, he was conquered,
And by the things to which they’ve testified.
For they didn’t value their lives,
As they stared death in the face.
So, rejoice you heavens and all those who live there!
But woe to the earth and the sea,
For the Slanderer has come down to you in great rage,
Knowing that he has little time.
Then the Dragon when he saw he’d been thrown down to earth started persecuting the woman who gave birth to the male child.
However, the woman was given 2 wings of a huge eagle so she could fly away to the desert where she was to be fed for 3½ times and the snake couldn’t reach her.
[2001 Translation: according to Revelation and Daniel it mentions 1,260 days which would represent 3½ years or 42 months) Based on the 360-day Hebrew calendar.]
The snake shot a river of water out of its mouth after the woman in an attempt to drown her but the ground opened its mouth and swallowed the river the Dragon shot out of his mouth.
The Dragon became very angry and went off to wage war with the rest of the woman’s offspring…..Those who are obeying God’s instructions and carrying the testimony of Jesus.
*John stood on the seashore.
[2001 Translation: *These words belong in the next chapter]
[LN Remarks: I believe these events have already taken place and are just all told to the Apostle John. I don’t think there could have been any other way that John would have been aware of any of the events that happened.]
Revelation 13
John stood on the seashore and saw a wild animal with 7 heads and 10 horns come out of the sea and on its horns were 10 royal turbans and on its heads blasphemous names.
This wild animal looked like a leopard but had feet like a bear and a mouth like a lion.
The Dragon gave this beast power, a throne and great authority.
One of the wild animal’s heads looked like it had been mortally wounded but the deathblow had healed and the whole earth started following it admiringly.
They also bowed to the Dragon because it gave the animal its authority saying ‘Who else is like this wild animal and who can stand against it?’
The wild animal was given a mouth to speak great things and blasphemies and it was given this authority for 42 months which it did and spoke blasphemous things against the God, His Name, His Tent and all those encamped in the heavens.
Thereafter, the beast was allowed to go to war with the Holy Ones and conquer them and he was given power over every nation, people, language and ethnic group so all those whose names aren’t written in the Lamb’s Scroll of Life would have to bow low before him….This one who’d been slaughtered since the founding of the system of things.
[2001 Translation: Scroll of Life: As per King David’s song (Psalm 69:28) ‘From the Scroll of Life, may their names be erased; Among the righteous, may their names not be written.]
In Exodus 32:23: God says to Moses ‘I’m going to erase [the names] of all those that have sinned against Me from My Scroll.’]
Now, all who have ears should listen to this:
If anyone is a jailer, he’ll be thrown in jail.
If anyone kills with the sword, he’ll be killed with a sword!
For this is where the Holy Ones will need faith for endurance.
Then the Apostle John saw another wild animal coming out of the ground! It had 2 horns like a lamb but spoke like a Dragon.
(2001 Translation: ‘wild animals’ of Revelation appear to picture human governments in ‘the Lord’s Day’
The 2-horned wild animal that comes ‘out of the earth’ which is also identified as ‘the False Prophet’ appears to be the last world power. The 2 horns seem to indicate that it’s a combination of 2 countries.]
This wild animal has the authority of the first wild animal which it used in its presence to force all the lands and all those who dwell in them to bow low before the first wild animal whose deathblow had been healed.
It also performed great signs, even making fire come down from the skies onto the earth before everyone, so as to mislead those who live on the earth with the signs that it is allowed to perform in front of the wild animal.
It also told those who live on the earth to make an image to the wild animal that had survived the sword stroke.
(2001 Translation: ‘Wild Animals’ appear to picture human governments in ‘the Lord’s Day’]
Note: Revelation 17:10-12
‘And there are 7 kings.
5 have fallen (Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece),
1 is Rome
1 is England and/or the US hasn’t arrived yet.
When he gets here, he will only be allowed to stay for a little while.
However, the wild animal that was but isn’t is an 8th king that comes from the 7 and it goes off into destruction.]
[LN Remarks: Revelation 17:10-12 states the following:
‘And there are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, and the other hasn’t arrived yet. But when he gets here, he will only be allowed to stay for a little while
‘However, the wild animal that was, but isn’t, is an 8th king that comes from the seven, and it’ll go off into destruction.’
‘Now, the ten horns that you saw represent ten kings who haven’t received a kingdom yet. However, they’ll be authorized to be kings for one hour with the wild animal.’
Since no names are actually mentioned, it can only be a guess as to whom it all refers to.]
Then it was allowed to give breath to the image of the wild animal so it could speak and those who didn’t bow low before the image of the wild animal to be killed.
Thereafter, the wild animal forced everyone to receive a branding on their right hands or on their foreheads so no one else would be able to buy or sell except for those with the branding which is the name of the wild animal or the number of its name.
Let those who can reason calculate the number of the wild animal; it’s a human number 666.
Revelation 14
Then, John saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion and with him were 144,000 that had his name and His Father’s name written on their forehead.
John also heard a noise coming from the sky sounding like a lot of water and loud thunder.
The sound John heard were of people all playing harps and singing. They were singing a new song before the throne and before the 4 cherubs and the elders. No one was able to master that song but the 144,000 that were purchased form the earth.
These 144,000 hadn’t defiled themselves with women and were virgins who kept following the Lamb, no matter where he went. They were bought from among mankind as first fruitage to God and the Lamb, for no lies were found in their mouths and they didn’t have any defects.
Then John saw another messenger flying high in the sky who had age-long good news to proclaim to those who live on the earth…..To every ethnic group, nation, language, and people.
The messenger was shouting aloud:
‘Fear God and glorify Him, because His hour of judgment has arrived!
So bow low before this One who made the skies, the lands, the seas, and the springs of water!’
Then another messenger (2nd) following him, saying:
‘She has fallen….the Great Babylon has fallen!
She’s the one who made all the nations drink the wine of her sexually-immoral rampage!’
[2001 Translation: Although the Great Babylon could represent apostate Christianity, it could also include Judaism and Islam, and perhaps even all religions. It could also be the Catholic Church.
In Revelation 17:9 the ‘whore’ is described as sitting atop 7 mountains or hills, and this closely resembles the fabled terrain of Rome.]
[LN Remarks: I tend to think that all religions fall under this category as instead of following God’s Word, each religion has a different slant on what Jehovah God and Jesus preaches in the Bible.]
The 2nd messenger was followed by a 3rd messenger that was shouting aloud:
If anyone bows low before the wild animal and its image and receives its brand on his forehead or hand, he will have to drink the pure wine of Jehovah’s anger that’s being mixed in the cup of His rage, and he will be examined through torture by fire and with burning rocks in front of the holy messengers and in front of the Lamb.
The smoke from this torture of those who bow low before the wild animal and its image and those who receive the branding of its name will ascend throughout ages of ages, and they won’t have any rest either day or night.
[2001 Translation: Ages of Ages is really age or era. An undefined period.]
Yes, this is where the Holy Ones (those who keep the commends of God and have faith in Jesus) must really hang on!
Then John heard a voice coming from the sky that said:
‘Write this:
‘From now on, the dead that die in the Lord are blest!
‘Yes, [God’s] Breath said: let them rest from their hard labor….And may their ‘good’ deeds follow them!’
After that John saw a white cloud with someone sitting on top of the cloud that looked like a son of man. He held a gold garland on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.
Then another messenger came out of the Most Holy and he shouted this at the one sitting on the cloud:
‘Now, take that sickle and start harvesting, because it’s time for the harvest….And the harvest is absolutely ripe!’
Then the one sitting on the cloud lowered his sickle to the ground and started harvesting.
Another messenger came out of the Most Holy in the heavens that also carried a sharp sickle. [He was followed by] a messenger that arose from the Altar, whose responsibility was to burn. He shouted to the messenger holding the sharp sickle:
‘Now, take that sharp sickle and harvest the clumps of grapes from the vine of the earth… For its grapes are now ripe!’
So the messenger lowered his sickle to the ground and harvested the grapes of the earth. Then he threw them into the great winepress of God’s rage, where they were trampled by foot outside of the city.
What came out of this winepress was blood that flowed in a stream that was as deep as a horse’s bridle for 1,600 stadia [200 miles 320 km].
Revelation 15
After that John saw another great and wonderful sign in the sky…
7 messengers were bringing 7 plagues which were the last ones as they would bring an end to God’s rage.
Then John saw what looked like a sea of crystal and fire.
Standing beside the crystal sea were those who had conquered the wild animal, its image, and the number of its name. They were each holding harps of God, and singing the song of God’s slave Moses and the song of the lamb.
Song of Moses and song of the lamb:
‘Everything that You may do,
O Jehovah the Almighty God,
Is wonderful and great, King of Ages.
‘For Your ways are all righteous and true,
And who doesn’t fear You, Jehovah?
[Yes, who won’t] honor Your Name?
‘And because You’re the One we can trust,
All the nations will come and bow before You;
For Your righteous deeds have now been revealed.’
Then John looked and saw the heavenly Most Holy (which is inside the Tent of Proofs) had been opened up. At that the 7 messengers that had the 7 plagues came out of the Most Holy wearing clean, bright linen, and they had gold braids around their chests.
[2001 Translation: Tent of Proofs referred to in other Bibles as Ark of Covenant. However, more closely translated as Chest of Proofs as it housed the Box of Testimony or Chest of Proofs.]
Then one of the four cherubs gave each of the 7 messengers one of the 7 golden bowls that were full of the wrath of The God.
Then the Most Holy became filled with smoke because of the glory of God and His power that no one could enter it until after the 7 plagues had been delivered by the 7 messengers.
Revelation 16
After that John heard a loud voice coming from the Most Holy that told the 7 messengers to pour the 7 bowls of wrath of God onto the earth.
1st messenger - poured his bowl on the ground.
the men with the brand of the wild animal who bowed low before its image broke out in very bad malignant sores.
2nd messenger - poured his bowl into the sea, becoming like blood of dead men and everything in the sea died.
3rd messenger - poured his bowl into the rivers and springs which turned into blood.
John heard the messenger that was over the waters say:
‘O Holy One who is and that was,
You are righteous, because You’ve passed judgment on these things.
Since they’ve shed the blood of Your Holy Ones and Prophets, You’ve given them blood to drink….And that’s what they deserve!’
After that John heard the Altar speak. It said:
‘Yes, O Jehovah God the Almighty, Your Judgments are righteous and true.’
4th messenger - poured his bowl out on the sun, which caused it to sear men with fire.
The tremendous heat seared the men but they continued to blaspheme the Name of The God who has power over these plagues but they didn’t turn back and glorify him.
5th messenger - poured his bowl out on the throne of the wild animal which made its whole kingdom dark and its people were biting their tongues in pain.
Still they blasphemed the God of the heavens for all their pain and they didn’t repent.
6th messenger - poured out his bowl into the great EuPhrates River which dried up all its water. He did this to prepare the way for the kings from the sunrise.
Then John saw 3 unclean spirits that looked like frogs come out the mouths of the Dragon, the wild animal and the false prophet.
These were the unseen powers of demons that were to serve as signs. They were all sent to all the kings of the habitation of mankind in order to assemble them for the battle of the Great Day of the Almighty God.
‘Look, I’m coming as a thief!
‘So, whoever stays awake and keeps his clothes on will be blest…He won’t have to walk around naked and have people see his shame.’
They then assembled [all the earth’s kings] at the place that’s called in Hebrew, Har-Mageddon.
[2001 Translation: Har-Mageddon - Worldwide gathering of armies to fight against the Word of God.
Har in Hebrew means mountain, Mageddon means a gathering place.]
7th messenger - poured his bowl out into the air.
Then a loud voice inside the Most Holy proclaimed ‘It is now finished!’
This was followed by thunder, lightning, voices, and a shaking that was so great and covered so large an area that nothing has been seen like it since men lived on the earth.
It split the great city into 3 parts and all the cities of the nations fell into ruin!
Then God looked at The Great Babylon and He remembered to also give her the cup of the wine of His anger and rage.
[2001 Translation: Could be religions as well as governments although no particular religion can be pointed out although some believe it’s the Catholic church]
By then all the islands were gone and there were no more mountains. Also, a great hailstorm [like the weight of 100 pounds] fell out of the sky upon the people.
Still the people blasphemed God over the plague of hail although it was unusually bad.
Revelation 17
Then 1 of the 7 messengers that had the 7 bowls came over and spoke to John.
‘Come here and I’ll show you the judgment on the great whore that sits over many waters. [She’s the one] with whom the earth’s kings have had sex, and who made the people of the earth drunk from the wine of her sexual immorality.
[2001 Translation: acting promiscuously]
The messenger carried John on the wind into the desert where he saw
A woman sitting on a scarlet-colored wild animal covered with blasphemous names and had 7 heads and 10 horns.
She wore purple and scarlet clothes covered with gold, precious gems,
and pearls. In her hand [she held] a gold cup full of disgusting things
and the filth of her immoral sexual acts.
She had a mysterious name written on her forehead:
‘The Great Babylon, the Mother of Whores and of [all] the Disgusting
Things of the Earth.’
[2001 Translation: a composite of all religions that shared in
having a ‘throne over the kings of the earth.’
It’s felt that no other group has wielded as much influence over
Governments as religion]
John realized that this woman had been getting drunk on the blood
Of the Holy Ones, as well as on the blood of the witnesses of Jesus.
When John saw the woman,, he was confused and amazed.
The messenger asked John why he was confused and that he would tell him the mystery of the woman and of the wild animal with 7 heads and ten horns that she was riding.
The wild animal John saw had once been but then wasn’t. However, it was about to come out of the abyss again and will go off into destruction.
Yet when they see the return of the wild animal that once was but is no longer, those who live on the earth will marvel at it…But their names haven’t been written on the Scroll of Life since the founding of the world.
[2001 Translation: Scroll of Life – Revelation 20:12
‘Then I saw the dead – the great and the small – standing before the throne, and several scrolls were opened.
Then another scroll was opened, which was the Scroll of Life.
And the dead were then judged by the things that were written in the scrolls, according to the things that they had done.’]
‘This is where intelligence and wisdom are required:
7 heads are 7 mountains upon which the woman is sitting.
There are 7 kings; 5 have fallen, one is, and the other hasn’t arrived yet. When he gets here he will be allowed to only stay for a little while.
However, the wild animal that was but isn’t is an 8th king that comes from the 7, and it’ll go off into destruction.
The 10 horns represent 10 kings who haven’t received a kingdom yet.
[LN Remarks: Throughout the bible, and also in Revelation, ‘Kings’ is
used to explain authority and power. Since Jesus was
relating information to the Apostle John, He would have to explain it
in a way that John would understand. Kings were ruling then.
When Revelation foretells what will happen and how many ‘kings’
will be ruling before the end, it has to mean the two powers who are
dominating the earth. ]
They’ll be authorized to be kings for 1 hour with the wild animal. They have the same thought in mind…..To give their power and authority to the wild animal.
Then they’ll go and fight against the Lamb. As he’s Lord of lords and King of kings, the Lamb and those with him (the called, elected, and faithful) will conquer them.
The messenger then said that the waters over which the whore was sitting means peoples, crowds, ethnic groups, and languages.
The 10 horns and the wild animal will hate the whore and will take away everything she has until she’s naked. Then eat her flesh and burn what’s left.
God will put the thought in their hearts to do what she deserves, and the One who’ll give them the idea to hand their kingdoms over to the wild animal, so what God says will be fulfilled.
The woman John saw means the great city that dominates the kings of the earth.
Revelation 18
John saw another messenger coming down from the sky. This one was so powerful that the earth glowed with his glory.
Then he shouted in a mighty voice:
‘She has fallen…….the Great Babylon has fallen and has become a home for the demons, a prison for unclean spirits and a cage for scavenger birds!
[2001 Translation: The Great Babylon has been identified by some as a composite of all religions that have shared in having a ‘throne over the kings of the earth.’]
Because, all the nations have fallen victim to the wine of the rage of her sexual immorality, all the kings of the earth have had immoral sex with her, and the earth’s businessmen have become rich through power of her shameless luxury.
Then John heard another voice coming from the sky that said:
‘Come out of her my people!
‘Come on out, so you don’t share in her sins and receive part of her plagues!
‘For her sins have piled all the way to the heavens, and God has remembered all the unjust things that she has done. So, now she must be paid back for all of those [bad] things that she’s done!
‘In fact, pay her back with twice as much…….Double the payback for the things that she did! If she poured [poison] into a cup, then pour in twice as much for her!
‘Also, as she glorified herself and lived in shameless luxury, pay her back that much more in pain and sorrow!
‘Because she keeps saying in her heart:
‘I’m sitting as a queen. I’m nobody’s widow, and I’ll never have to mourn!’
So, that’s why her plagues will come upon her in a single day – death, mourning, and famine – and she’ll be consumed by fire, because the Almighty God Jehovah is passing judgment on her!
‘Then those kings of the earth that had sex and lived in shameless luxury with her will bawl and beat themselves in grief over her, as they stand and watch the smoke from her fire.
‘However they’ll stand at a distance, because they’ll be afraid of her torture.
‘And they’ll say:
‘Woe, woe, you great city….O Babylon you mighty city; for your judgment has arrived in a single hour!’
The earth’s businessmen will also bawl and mourn over her, as there won’t be anyone to buy their complete stock of goods….
This was also true of the ship captains and those who sail and make a living at sea. They stood at a distance as they watched the smoke of her burning and said ‘What other city was like this great city?’
They threw dust on their heads, bawled and mourned shouting:
‘O woe, woe, for this great city that made so many shipping companies rich with her wealth, because everything has been taken away from her in a single hour!’
‘O heavens, you Holy Ones, and you Apostles and Prophets!
‘Rejoice over this, because God’s judgment has brought vengeance upon her for your sakes!’
Then a mighty messenger picked up a stone that looked like a huge millstone and threw it into the sea, shouting:
‘This is how fast that city (the Great Babylon) will be thrown down, and she’ll never be found again!
Then the sounds of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpet players will no longer be found in her, nor will craftsman and tradesman be found there anymore.
No lamplight will ever shine in her again, and the voices of brides and grooms won’t be heard in her thereafter.
‘For although her traveling merchants were once the most important men on the earth, and she misled all the nations with her sorcery….the blood of the Prophets, the Holy Ones, and of all those who’ve been slaughtered throughout the whole earth….Have been found within her!’
Revelation 19
After that, John heard what sounded like voices of a huge crowd proclaiming from the skies:
‘Praise Jah! [Yes, praise] the salvation, the glory, and the power of our God, for His judgments are righteous and true!
‘Now He’s finally passed judgment on the great whore that made the whole earth filthy with her immoral sex, and He’s avenged the blood of His slaves [that died] at her hands!’
[2001 Translation: The root word in both Greek and Aramaic of sexual immorality refers to sexual acts that might be sold by prostitutes between unmarried individuals (male or female), even without exchange of money.]
Then the crowd shouted a second time:
‘Praise Jawas h! Because, the smoke from her will keep ascending throughout ages of ages!’
[2001 Translation: Ages of ages is actually an undefined period of time, not forever as translated]
At that, the 24 elders and the 4 cherubs fell down and bowed low before The God as He sat on His throne, saying: ‘May it be so! Praise Jah!’
Then a voice came out of the throne that said:
‘Praise our God, all of you who are His slaves Yes – you, the great and the small who fear Him!’
Then John heard what sounded like the voices of a huge crowd, along with the noise of a lot of water and heavy thunder.
They were shouting:
‘Praise Jah! For Jehovah our God the Almighty has started ruling as king! Let’s rejoice, shout in joy, and glorify Him, since it’s time for the Lamb’s wedding!’
‘Yes, his bride has now prepared herself, and she’s been found worthy to be dressed in bright, clean, fine linen…For the fine linen represents the righteousness of the Holy Ones.’
[2001 Translation: Righteousness implies justice and conformance to established standards i.e. following the ways of God.]
Then John was told to write this down:
‘Those who are invited to the Lamb’s wedding banquet are blest!’
And he added:
‘God really said this.’
When that happened, John fell down in front of his feet to bow low before him but he warned him saying:
‘Be careful…Don’t do that!
‘For I’m just a fellow slave of you and your brothers that are witnesses of Jesus. And testifying for Jesus is the spirit behind this prophecy.
‘You should bow low before God!’
Then John saw the sky opening up, and
There was a white horse, and the one who was sitting on it was called Faithful and True, because he judges and he fights his wars for righteousness!
His eyes were like flames of fire and he wore many royal turbans on his head.
He also had a name that was written which nobody knew but him, and he was wrapped in a robe that was splattered with blood.
The name he was called is, The Word of The God.
Following behind him were all the armies of the heavens [riding] on white horses and wearing white, clean, fine linen.
A long sharp sword was protruding from his mouth that he could use to strike the nations as he will shepherd them with an iron rod.
John then realized that he is the same one he saw crushing the grapes with his feet in the winepress of the Almighty God’s anger and rage.
On his robe and on his thigh he had the name written:
‘King of kings and Lord of Lords.’
John also saw a messenger standing on the sun and shouting in a loud voice saying to all the creatures that fly high in the skies:
‘You should all come and gather for God’s great supper.’
For here you can eat the flesh of kings, generals, mighty men, horses, and riders, as well as the flesh of all the freemen and slaves. Yes, both the small and the great!’
Then John noticed the wild animal, along with the kings of the earth and their armies, all gathering to wage war against the one who was lasitting on the white horse and his army.
However, the wild animal was thereafter captured, along with the false prophet that performed the signs in front of it that he used to mislead those who received the branding of the wild animal as well as those who bowed low before its image.
Then, while they were all still alive, they were tossed into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. After that, the long sword that was in the mouth of the one riding the white horse killed off all the rest….
Then the birds came and ate their fill of flesh.
[2001 Translation: Lake of Fire - The 2nd death]
Revelation 20
After that John saw a messenger coming out of the sky with a long chain in his hand that held the key to the abyss. Then he grabbed the Dragon – the original snake, the Slanderer and Opposer – and chained him up for *1,000 years. And then he threw him into the abyss, closed it up and locked it up over him, so he couldn’t mislead the nations anymore until after the 1,000 years had ended.
[2001 Translation: *1,000 years: Although bible translations agree on 1,000 years, in the Tischendorf translation it states Thousands of Years.
Constantin von Tischendorf (1815-1874) was a German biblical scholar who discovered the world’s oldest and most complete Bible dated to around the 4th century and called Codex Sinaiticus after Saint Catherine’s Monastery at Mount Sinai where Tischendorf discovered it]
After that, he will be set free for a little while.
Next John saw thrones and those who sat on them were the ones who had been executed with axes for testifying about Jesus, for telling about God, and those who hadn’t worshiped the wild animal or its image, nor had they received a branding on their foreheads or hands.
They were appointed to be judges.
They came to life and ruled as kings with the Anointed one for 1,000 years.
This is the 1st resurrection and those who have a part in it are blest and holy because the 2nd death won’t have any power over them as they’ll be Priests of God and of the Anointed One and rule for 1,000 years.
After 1,000 years have ended, the Slanderer will be set free from his prison and he’ll go out to mislead people – Gog and Magog – in all 4 corners of earth and will assemble for a war.
There’ll be many of them as there are grains of sand in the seas!
They will march across the whole earth and surround the camp of the Holy Ones and the loved city…But then fire will come from the sky and consume them!
Then the Opposer that misled them will be thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the wild animal and the false prophet will already have been, and they’ll be tortured there day and night throughout ages of ages.
[2001 Translation – Lake of fire – Revelation 20:14 ‘And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.’
Then John saw someone sitting on a huge white throne….And before him the land and the sky just vanished and couldn’t be found.
[2001 Translation: Isaiah 34:4
Then the powers of the heavens will melt;
The sky will be wrapped like a scroll;
And all the stars will then fall
Like the leaves of a grapevine or fig.]
John also saw the dead – the great and the small – standing before the throne, and several scrolls were opened.
Then another scroll was opened which was the Scroll of Life. The dead were judged by the things that were written in the scrolls, according to the things they had done.
[2001 Translation: So there are several scrolls that were opened as well as the Scroll of Life. Those who are written in the Scroll of Life will not be judged. Jesus says at John 5:26].
Rev. 20-12 ‘Then I saw the dead – the great and the small – standing before the throne, and several scrolls were opened.
Then another scroll was opened, which was the Scroll of Life.
And the dead were then judged by the things that were written in the scrolls, according to the things that they had done.]
Then the sea gave up its dead, and death and the place of the dead gave up the death in them and they were judged by the things they have done.
Finally, death and the place of the dead were thrown into the lake of fire (the lake of fire symbolizes the second death) and anyone whose name wasn’t found written in the Scroll of Life was also thrown into the lake of fire.
Revelation 21
Then John saw *new skies and new lands, because the previous skies and lands had disappeared as had the seas.
[2001 Translation: * New skies and new lands. In both the Hebrew and Greek bible texts there was only earth and land used and in the entire realm of creation only 3 descriptions were used, sky, earth and the seas. Men had no understanding of the planet or of the cosmos of stars as they had never seen the earth as a globe floating in space as is known today.]
John also saw the Holy City, New JeruSalem, stepping down out of the sky from God, prepared like a bride that had been adorned like a bride for her man.
[2001 Translation: The Holy City (New Jerusalem) is to be built on a foundation of the ‘Twelve Apostles of the Lamb.’]
Then a loud voice from the throne said:
‘Look! The Tent of God is with mankind! He’s going to put up his Tent among them, then they’ll be His people and He’ll be their God.
‘He’s going to wipe all the tears from their eyes and there won’t be any more death, mourning, wailing, or pain, because all that once was will be gone!’
The One sitting on the throne said that He was making everything new and told John to write this down as these words are faithful and true.’
Then He said to John: ‘It has all been accomplished!
‘I am the Alpha and the Omega – the beginning and the end – and
I’m going to give everyone who is thirsty a free drink from the Spring of the Water of Life!
‘Yes, those who conquer will inherit these things..
‘Then I’ll be their God and they’ll be My sons!
But as for the cowards, the unbelievers, the nasty, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who cast spells, the idol worshipers and all the liars…Their inheritance is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur…The second death!’
[2001 Translation: Death is the end of life, and fire destroys. Therefore things thrown in there will be burned up and gone forever.]
Then, one of the 7 messengers with the 7 bowls that were full of the 7 plagues came and spoke to John, and said:
‘Come here and I’ll show you the bride….The Lamb’s woman!’
The messenger carried John off on the wind to an enormously high mountain, and he showed John JeruSalem, the Holy City, as it was coming down out of the sky from God. It had all the glory of God, and sparkled like the most precious of gems, and gleamed like crystal-clear jasper stones.
[2001 Translation: Revelation 22 gives a vision of a glorious Holy City that is to be built on a foundation of the ‘Twelve Apostles of the Lamb’.]
The Holy City had high walls and 12 gates and there was a messenger standing at each gate inscribed with the 12 tribes of the sons of Israel.
There were 3 gates on the east side
3 gates on the north side
3 gates on the south side, and
3 gates on the west side.
The city wall also has 12 foundation stones on which the names of the 12 apostles of the Lamb were written.
The one talking with John held up a ruler (a gold reed) that he used to measure the city, along with its gates and its walls.
The city was square…As long as it was wide. He then measured the entire city with the reed with its length, width, and height (which were all equal) measured 12,000 stadions [1,170 miles / 1,900 km]
Then he measured [the thickness of] its walls.
The walls were the length of a man’s forearm (which is about the same as for a messenger (of God), time 144.
The walls were made of jasper, and the entire city was made of gold that was as pure as clear crystal.
The foundation stones for its walls were also decorated with all sorts of precious gems.
1st one decorated with jasper
2nd one with sapphires
3rd one with chalcedony
4th one with emeralds
5th one with rubies
6th one with sardius
7th one with peridots
8th one with beryls
9th one with topaz
10th one with chrysoprase
11th one with hyacinthe
12th one with amethysts.
The 12 gates were 12 pearls (each gate was made of a single pearl) and the city’s main street was paved with gold that was as pure as clear crystal.
John didn’t see a temple sanctuary within the city because Jehovah God the Almighty and the Lamb are its Most Holy.
The city didn’t need the sun and the moon to shine upon it, because it was lit by the glory of God…And the Lamb was its lamp.
So, all the nations were able to walk in its light, and the earth’s kings were bringing their glorious things into it.
It’s gates won’t ever be closed during the day, and night won’t exist there. For this is where they’ll carry the glory and honor of the nations.
[2001 Translation: Nations: Those who are not spiritual Israel as Israel didn’t remain true to God and the opportunity was therefore opened to all people.]
And nothing that’s dirty, nor anyone who does disgusting things or tells lies will ever enter it…..Only those [whose names] are written in the Lamb’s Scroll of Life.
Revelation 22
Then the messenger showed John the River of the Water of Life.
It was crystal clear and flowed out from under the Throne of The God and of the Lamb, down the middle of the street.
Along both its banks were the Tree of Life which bore 12 crops of fruit which they put out every month. The Trees’ leaves were used to heal the nations.
[2001 Translation: The fact that God had created a Tree of Life indicates that Adam needed to prove his faithfulness to God in order to continue living.]
Revelation 22:3-4
‘Then, everything that might cause people to sin will thereafter be gone. For the Throne of The God and of the Lamb will always be there, where His slaves can come to bow low before Him and see His face, and they’ll wear His Name on their foreheads.’
There won’t be any night nor need lamps or sunlight because Jehovah will be shining upon them…
And they rule as kings throughout ages of ages.
The messenger told John that those words were faithful and true.
Jehovah who gave His breath to the Prophets sent His messenger to show his slaves the things that will happen very quickly ‘And look…I’m coming quickly!’ Blest is the one who obeys the things that are prophesied in this scroll.’(Revelation 22:7)
John fell down at the messenger’s feet who had shown him all these things. However, the messenger warned him not to do that as he was only a fellow slave of John and his brothers who are Prophets and are obeying the things spoken of in the scroll. Rather bow low to God.
The messenger also warned John to not seal up the things that are said in the prophecy of this scroll, because the season is near and may those who are acting unrighteously stay unrighteous, and the filthy stay filthy.
‘However, may those who are righteous remain righteous, and those who are holy remain holy.
‘Look, I’m coming quickly!
‘And the reward that I’m bringing is the repayment to each one for what he’s done.
‘I’m the Alpha and the Omega;
The first and the last;
The beginning and the end.
Revelation 22:14
‘Blest are those who wash their robes, for they’ll be allowed access to the trees of life and they’ll be able to enter these city gates.
[LN Remarks: From what I understand, it means that the Holy City will be on earth and have 12 gates which can be entered day and night through which people can come to worship.
In my point of view, why else would the Apostle John have been given the descriptions in such detail of the Holy of Holies which was not done for the other areas.]
‘But the dogs, those who cast spells, those who are immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and everyone who enjoys lying will be left on the outside.
Jesus identifies Himself and says He sent a messenger to testify to John about the things that will be coming to the congregations. Jesus says: ‘I am the root and the descendant of David….The bright morning star.
‘Now the Spirit and the bride are saying to you, Come! And let all those who hear this also say, Come!
‘Yes, let all that are thirsty come; for anyone who wishes to do so may partake of the water of life freely!
‘I’m also testifying to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll, that if anyone adds anything to it, God will add the plagues to him that are written about in this scroll.
‘And if anyone removes any of the words of this scroll of prophecy, God will remove his share from the Tree of Life and from the things that are written in this scroll concerning the Holy City.
‘So the one who’s testifying to you about these things has said:
‘Yes, I’m coming quickly’.
[LN Remarks: I am of the opinion that the numbers used in the Bible are the numbers God wants us to know about. If some of the numbers are questioned and considered just to be approximate, then if that is the case, none of the numbers could be trusted. You can’t believe 7 spirits for instance and then question 144,000.]