The Revelation Continued
This week, I will attempt to cover chapters 6-15 of the Book of Revelation using the same methods of interpretation I used last week. Once again, the use of numbers and periods of time are as symbolic as the use of beasts and creatures in the revelation. I am more and more convinced that all the references to time are symbolic because each one follows biblical numerological patterns.
After digging into the commentary and literature of these chapters and comparing them thoroughly with revealed knowledge, both personal and published, I offer my thoughts.
Chapter six describes the opening of the seals. The four horses encompass the calamities that befall us as a result of human corruption and natural disasters. These include conquest and control, war, famine, and death and hell. Each of these could be considered as the trials associated with temporal or earthly experiences. The fifth seal describes the souls of the saints and martyrs, pleading for justice at the throne of God. The fact that they suffered and died for the cause of righteousness proves that being faithful does not exempt us from the calamities described earlier.
The opening of the sixth seal represents times so tumultuous that all classes of people will recognize their sins and wish for mountains to cover them, rather than facing a just God. This reminds me of the lame efforts of Adam and Eve to cover themselves (or their sins) from God. It is impossible to hide from God, whether we use fig leaves or mountains as a covering. The signs of nature in upheaval also symbolize the chaos of conscience we feel when we are lost in the darkness of sin.
The last couple of verses in chapter six mentions “the wrath of the Lamb”. Now, there is a picture for you to imagine. I saw a video this last week of an evangelical pastor who is reading the Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 9 and was disturbed by the idea that Jesus lamented destroying so many people by natural calamities at the time of his death. This pastor could not bring himself to think of the loving Savior of the world as a harsh judge, but in these verses in Revelation, Jesus is precisely that. The fact that Jesus loves us enough to sacrifice himself for us doesn’t change the fact that he must execute judgment and its resulting punishment.
Chapter seven describes the 144,000 and an innumerable host of angels who receive salvation through the Lamb of God. The language used in this chapter is significant and should be readily recognized by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The opening of the sixth seal sees four angels tasked with protecting the earth, followed by another angel descending from Heaven having the sealing power of God. They are told to protect the earth until all the saints have been sealed. Those who receive this sealing reap the blessing of divine protection and become God’s chosen people. The number 144,000 represents those who are sealed of the house of Israel and the innumerable hosts, those of other nations who receive the same sealing blessings.
Mentioning that these people are marked in their foreheads is fascinating. Many religions and some cultures use forehead markings. This is an identifying feature, and signifies different things in each of the traditions. In the Christian tradition, it is associated with an anointing with oil. The symbolic meaning of receiving the mark in the forehead represents an association with the mind and identity of the person. It also suggests a clear allegiance with God.
Each of these marked individuals is given white robes that have been washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb. These individuals are seen serving God in his temple day and night. Being washed in the blood of the Lamb, anointed or marked in their foreheads, clothed in white robes, and sealed by authorized messengers from the throne of God promised specific blessings. The blessings are described this way, “and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes”. This powerful statement should compel each of us to seek the blessings of the temple.
After reading this chapter, I wonder why more faith traditions do not have temples and practices that reflect the symbolism outlined obviously in these verses. Perhaps because they have been systematically removed, either intentionally or otherwise, or lost to misinterpretation of scripture. Or what if they were eliminated by those who recognized that the sealing authority was lost with the death of the Apostles? Either way, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only religion that explicitly accepts and practices the things mentioned in that chapter.
Chapter eight describes the desolations that come as the seventh seal is opened. The fraction of one-third is used again and again. This takes my mind to the war in Heaven, where one-third of the hosts of Heaven were cast out for rebellion. Furthermore, one-third is not meant to represent 33.3333 percent, but rather a significant number. In each case, God renders judgment and a large portion of the world is destroyed. The destruction of corruption and wickedness comes because of the prayers of the saints that ascend to the throne of God.
The ninth chapter is best understood by knowing that the number five in Hebrew culture is associated with grace, covenant, and repentance. The locust symbolism in scripture is usually associated with torment. It is interesting that these tormenters unleashed on humanity do nothing to God’s green earth or to those who have the seal of God in their foreheads, but only to the unrepentant. I would liken this to the pain of sin or the guilt of conscience we feel when we are not aligned with God. This pain can be intense enough that the guilty wish for death that will not come. While the time seems long, it is not forever, and then comes the grace as we enter into covenants with God.
The last part of chapter nine says that despite the death, destruction, and pain caused as a result of sin, humanity as a whole still rejects the God of Heaven for earthly idols. Words of fire, smoke, and brimstone are the weapons used by the angels sent to destroy wickedness. I would characterize this as proclaiming the truth through the Spirit of God. Fire is often associated with the cleansing power of the Spirit. Smoke is symbolic of obscuring one’s vision, and brimstone with endless torment. The lure of worldly pleasure is indeed powerful enough to hold people in its grasp.
Chapter 10 begins with this, “And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire”. The might of the angel is authority, the cloud is divine guidance, the rainbow represents the covenants with God, the sun is light, life, and glory, and the fire is the purifying power of the Holy Spirit. Then, seven thunders uttered their voices, and John was commanded not to write them. These mysteries of God cannot be uttered, but can be understood through personal revelation. John is tasked with spreading the message but is commanded to withhold the mysteries.
The phrase, “and there shall be time no longer” has various interpretations. The most plausible for me is the culmination of events. This could be a time to repent, or a cutoff time in the plan for us to complete our work. Our coming into mortality was one of the cutoff times, and leaving mortality may be another. This is pure speculation on my part.
I think that will be it for this week. I will try to finish this series on the Book of Revelation in the next two weeks and hope to squeeze in a Christmas message. Furthermore, I hope you will use these messages as a starting point for your study of the scriptures.