Reading The Revelation

Have you read The Revelation all the way through? Have you been told that it is too difficult to read without a commentary?

I am reading and studying The Revelation now. Before I started studying this book, I read and studied other prophecy in the OT. I read and studied Isaiah, Jeremiah and Zechariah. Two times. I also read and studied the Gospel of John twice. And this is why you haven't heard from me in a while, too much reading, I guess.

So I read the book and made a few notes on each chapter. It was very different than I thought. It wasn't too difficult to figure out the figurative language. I am going through it now, chapter by chapter using inductive study guides (Irving Jensen's and Precept ministries- NISS). These help you observe what is said but do not interpret until the end of each chapter. I used a commentary once and put it away. To me, this complicated the message.

I'd like to look at 25 features. I'll share charts (some written, not typed) to show you how I read the book. John (who wrote this book) said that we are blessed if we read it. It is written to God's people though. Whether others can read with clarity is not addressed.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son That whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but shall have eternal life. John 3:16

The Gospel is this:

For God so loved the world (cause)

that He gave His only begotten Son (effect)

that whosoever believes in Him (anyone, not just Israel)

Shall have eternal life (promise)

and not perish (status of those who don't believe- does this include Israel?)

Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus, a Pharisee.

Comparing a term with other passages

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. John 1: 1,2

There are several ways to do word studies. Today, with free resources on the internet, you can check definitions in English and Greek. There are credible commentaries online that accurately interpret meaning and also add context to the meaning of the word.

However, I like to check my concordance first and look up other passages that refer to the word. My ESV concordance lists some Scriptures with the term “Word” and I check them out to see if they apply.

• Gen. 15:1: The word of the Lord promises Abram a son;
• Deut. 8:3: Moses reminds Israel of the manna in the wilderness and how man doesn’t live on bread alone but every word from the mouth of God;
• 2 Sam. 22:30-31: David can leap over a wall - the word of the Lord proves true;
• A psalmist (Ps. 33:4-6) reflects on creation- how by the word of the Lord the heavens and hosts were made.

I know these Old Testament stories. They all point to the promise of Jesus' coming.  

The concordance in the back of the Bible is a general list of terms don't always have the same meaning. Therefore, I also checked with www.biblestudytools.com to see what Strong’s concordance had on the Word.

Strong's concordance is a resource that gives each word a Greek and Hebrew number, plus an accurate definition. Greek numbers (New Testament words) are not the same as Hebrew (Old Testament words). 

Anyway, I found out that the “Word” is the Greek word logos (3056). It is “The Personal Word, a title of the Son of God”; it refers to the deity of Christ. This word is also related to Ephesians 6:17 -the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. Here, the Word of God does not necessarily refer to the whole Bible, but what the Spirit brings (the Word) to remembrance for use in time of need.

Memorizing Scripture

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life and the life was the light of man. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1: 1-4

Objective: memorize this passage.

When I can't grasp the meaning of a passage I memorize the Scripture and wait for the meaning to be revealed later. The Scripture says that when the Word of God dwells richly in your heart, the Spirit leads us to the truth. I can see that according to these verses, Jesus' timeline is before His existence on earth, since the beginning- as He  was 100% involved in the creation.  

It didn't take long to memorize the Scripture. I said the first two verses several times and then the second two verses several times. Then I tried to say them without looking but checked what I missed so I’d remember next time. 

I know the words. He is the Word, He is God. Now that I have it in my head I want to know it with all my heart. As I read the gospel of John I think that the meaning of these words will gradually become clear.

I already found one promise in these verses: In Him is the life and the life is the light of man.  

John 20:30-31 Purpose of John's Gospel

John 20:30-31

"Now Jesus did other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that by believing you may have life in his name."

John says “these things are written so that you…” and clearly states the purpose of the book. These verses remind me that if I am believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God then I will have life in his name. John shows the signs. The disciples respond, the people respond, and the Jews react. So I wonder, did they ever follow Christ or were they intimidated by what their fellow man thought of them? Who did they fear after the cross, God or man? 

Why am I reading the Gospel of John? To find out what Jesus says about himself and what really happened here that reversed history toward a hopeful existence. To see the signs and hear the testimony that proved to the people who saw and heard them that Jesus is the Christ .