Understanding the Book of Revelation

Understanding the book of Revelation has proven to be an intimidating and confusing undertaking for many in the Church. I hope, pray and expect that the teachings of this site will clear the understanding of the book of Revelation. Prayerful reading and meditation on this information will open spiritual eyes and ears, revealing a less fearful, clear and correct understanding of the book of Revelation.

Contextual knowledge of the Geo-Political environment 
John and the seven churches in Asia Minor faced
helps in understanding the book of Revelation

John wrote the book of Revelation in 95-96 A.D. He was the last surviving apostle, exiled to the Greek island of Patmos, about 55 miles southwest of Ephesus. He was exiled because of his position as a spiritual leader of the seven churches of the Apocalypse. Greco-Roman theology dominated the known world at that time. 

Temples for worshipping these Greek and Roman gods were scattered throughout Asia Minor and Mesopotamia.

Severe resistance against Christian teachings from non-believing Jews resulted in slander against believers to insight the Roman government to physically persecute Christians, even to death.

This slander and persecution had been happening since Paul's missionary journey there decades earlier.

Acts 19:8-10, 20 English Standard Version
8 And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. 10 This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. 20 So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.

For A deeper understanding of the challenges the seven churches of Asia Minor faced in John's day, visit this site's Bible study of Revelation chapter 2.

Contextual comparison of the spiritual worldview of
John and members of the seven churches,
versus the world view of us living in the twenty-first century A.D. world.

The Bible is a collection of writings by about 40 different writers over a period of about 1,500 years, writing around 1,446 B.C. to 90 A.D. These writings began with God the Father himself at Mount Sinai.

A painting by Jaoa Zeferino de costa completed in 1868.

Exodus 32:15-16 …ESV
15 Then Moses turned and went down from the mountain with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand, tablets that were written on both sides; on the front and on the back they were written. 16 The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets.

The rest of the Books of the Old and New Testaments were “breathed out” by God. The writings themselves were not word-for-word transcriptions but were written by men using their world views of both the seen and unseen realms.

God the Holy Spirit guided them to write using their own unique personalities and circumstances.

2 Peter 1:20-21 …ESV
20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

To get a clearer understanding of John's spiritual world view, read our page, spiritual worldview of Biblical writers.

John uses Old Testament prophetic and Psalm worship verses to contrast these mythical Greek and Roman gods with the one true God, Yahweh.

Understand our battle is not against flesh and blood.

People opposed to Jesus Christ and His Church are not the real enemy of Christ's church. The real enemies are evil, rebellious members of the spiritual realm, rebellious members of God's Divine Council. Another name for the divine council is the host of heaven.

The book of Revelation unveils this unseen spiritual warfare in which Jesus and His Bride, the Church, are engaged in. This war in heaven is between God, Jesus, the loyal host of heaven; and Satan and his rebellious, evil spiritual allies. Satan and his spiritual cronies were all participants in the three spiritual rebellions; Genesis 3:1-5; Genesis 6:1-4 and Genesis 11:1-4.