The Perfect City of God—New Jerusalem

How does one describe the indescribable? How does one picture what seems impossible to imagine? The Spirit shows us how—by the use of picture language and symbols. So one of the great and wondrous messengers,  those mysterious beings who have watched the whole history of mankind on the earth, comes to John to show him the Bride, the wife of the Lamb - Rev. 21:10-27 ESV

And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed-- on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 

A reminder about the use of numbers in John's Revelation:

The biblical method of using numbers is not common to the haphazard conjecture of some modern interpreters, who claim that a sort of allegory lies behind the true meaning of the numbers of Revelation. Apocalyptic numerology should not be confused with eccentric interpretation. Apocalyptic literature is highly developed in its symbolism. When one is familiar with this genre of literature, a more historical, less arbitrary interpretation prevails. 

For years this blog has studied the background of the Bible's use of numbers. I refer my readers back to some of these studies as we encounter again this chapter's detailed use of the numbers 3, 4, 10 and 12. For instance, see the following:

• Biblical Numerology Background 
• Essentially The Revelation Is a Book of Symbols
• Symbolical Language Is Common

Each Hebrew letter has a numerical value - read from right to left

We join John now to look into the wondrous future God has prepared for His people. Three is the number used for God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Four is the number for man as he makes his way and lives his life upon this earth with all four of its directions.

This future is to come from heaven, from God, with all its wonder and glory and radiance, shining like the rarest of jewels, like jasper, a mineral belonging to the quartz family of gemstones.

One of many types of  Jasper

The appeal of Jasper is its interesting color patterns and formations. Though it can be a solid color, it is most often mottled, spotted, ringed, or striped. Each Jasper has a unique color or pattern, lending this gemstone much variety. Jasper is an ancient gemstone, and is mentioned in the bible and other classical sources. Though fairly common and affordable today, Jasper in antiquity was regarded as a very valuable stone.

The twelve gates of Jerusalem, the city of David, refers to the people of God, the twelve tribes, the twelve apostles, in other words all God's people gathered together by the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. These people come from all directions, north, south, east and west. They are many and varied, gathered by the love of God, revealed in Christ.

And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal. He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel's measurement. The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 

What an amazing gathering this is and how very immense and absolutely perfect on all sides. It is, in fact, a perfect cube, equal in all aspects. A stadia was an ancient unit of length equal to a bit over 600 feet. So 12,000 stadia would equal about 7,200,000 feet or about 1,400 miles in length, width and height. This description sounds strange, almost ridiculous until you remember again that it is symbolical, pointing to the endless love of God that gathers in His chosen people of all races, places and times.

Jewels of Rev. 21

And what a wondrously beautiful city this is, adorned with every kind of jewel, radiant and sparkling.

The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. 

And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day--and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life. - Rev 21:10-27 ESV

We Walk By Faith

As noted again and again in our study of The Revelation, apocalyptic literature commonly uses symbolical or figurative language. So we have read about

• Four horsemen (Rev. 6:1-8)
• Locusts (Rev. 9:1-11)
• Beasts (Rev. 13:1-18)
• Seven horns and seven eyes of Christ (Rev. 5:6)
• 144,000 sealed (Rev. 7:2-8; 14:1-5)

The goal is always to understand what the Spirit intends us to learn and grasp the meaning of such texts by unwrapping the symbols and figures of speech. I refer you back to comments on these texts in this blog. 

It is also important to realize that Biblical prophets frequently telescope both near and future events into one picture. Sometimes a prophet will focus on the immediate future. At other times he will show the distant future. Sometimes both will be pulled together. Jesus Himself prophesied in this manner. 

1. The Romans will destroy Jerusalem. This they did in A.D. 70 (Mark 13:1-2; 14-20)

"So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel (Dan. 9:27; 12:11), standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. - Mat 24:15-22 ESV

2. The church will be persecuted and deceived before Christ returns (Mark 13:3-13; 21-23)

Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There he is!' do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. - Mat 24:23-25 ESV

3. After the tribulation or persecution of those days Christ will return (Mark 13:24-33)

"Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. - Mat 24:29-31 ESV

"From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. - Mat 24:32-35 ESV 

4. But the when of Christ's return will remain unknown (Mark 13:32-37)

"But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. - Mat 24:36-42 ESV 

Consequently it is extremely important not to proclaim that you know when the millennium will literally begin or when the world as we know it will end, as is common among premillennialists and others as they turn symbols and figures of speech into literal forecasts. This has happened again and again over the past two thousand years of the church's history. Check out the list of dates predicted for apocalyptic events gathered in the Wikipedia article. The list continues with predictions for the near and distant future.

We walk by faith

Again, I refer my readers to a careful study of the document published by the Commission on Theology and Church Relations of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod: End Times—Eschatology and Millennialism. For we walk by faith, as did the saints of old, and leave the time of our LORD's return in the hands of our heavenly Father, even as the LORD Himself tells us. The good counsel of the Apostle remains:

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. - 2 Cor 5:1-10 ESV

The Millennium, Millennium, Millennium,Millennium

,As we come to the final two visions of John's Revelation, it is well that we review once again how the entire book is organized. We looked at that early on after examining the message John was to send to the seven churches.Then we learned that Jesus is the One worthy to open the seven seals. What follows are seven scenes or visions of these End Times. Note again the importance of symbols and the symbolical number 7.

Thus in chapters 6 - 21 seven scenes of the End Times are presented, each revealing more about what we are to expect in these last times as we await the return of our King.

1. Christ opens the Seven Seals (Rev 6:1-8:5)
2. Seven Trumpets are blown (Rev 8:6-11:19)
3. The battle between the Triune God and the Anti-Trinity (Rev. 12:1-14:20)
4. The pouring out of the Seven Bowls of Wrath (Rev 15:1-16:21)
5. Babylon, the Prostitute, is overthrown (Rev 17:1-19:21)
6. The Final Judgment (Rev 20:1-21:8)
7. The New Jerusalem, the Bride, the wife of the Lamb (Rev 21:9-22:5

Epilogue: Come, Lord Jesus! (Rev 22:6-21)

So we open chapter 20 to learn about The Final Judgment.

Michelangelo's  Downfall of Adam and Eve 

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while. Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years. - Rev 20:1-6 ESV

So here we come at last to THE MILLENNIUM, the source of so very much controversy over the years. What is it? When will it begin? Is it a reference to a literal 1,000 years? etc., etc. The Blue Letter Bible gives a quick summary of four prevailing interpretations of the thousand years. They are

1. Dispensational Pre-millennialism: tribulation, rapture, 1,000 year reign of Christ, armageddon
2. Historical Pre-millennialism: rise of the Beast, False Prophet, rapture, 1,000 yr. reign, conversion of Jews.
3. Post-millennialism: after destruction of Jerusalem, gradual conversion, all nations blessed, optimism
4. A-millennialsim: Christ reigns now, church=Israel, Kingdom of God, rapture at the end

This blog's position is that of historical Lutheranism, written from an Amillennial viewpoint. The Commission on Theology and Church Relations of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has published an extensive study of this topic with diagrams: The "End Times"A Study on Eschatology and Millennialism. Study that document in detail. In my next blog I will present a summary of the Amillennial view, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the understanding that the Revelation is a symbolical book, not to be interpreted literally on some occasions and symbolically on others.

Symbolical Language Is Common

Great Seal of the United States

The Great Seal of the United States is a round piece of metal cast on both sides.  It was first commissioned by Congress after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The final design was approved on June 20, 1782.

The Secretary of State keeps it for use on official documents (but only if the President orders it.)  The front of the seal is the Bald Eagle, wings spread, with a shield of the US on his chest.  The shield has 13 red and white stripes and 13 stars in the glory above the eagle's head for the 13 original colonies. The shield stands on the eagle's chest with no support to represent that the US relies on itself, it's own virtue, for right and justice. The top of the shield is a horizontal blue stripe that represents Congress.  And in one of the eagle's talons he holds an olive branch with 13 leaves for peace.  In the other it clutches 13 arrows for war.  In the beak is a ribbon with the inscription, "E pluribus unum" meaning "From many, one." The motto has 13 letters also. This was to mean, from many states come one nation. The phrase dates back to St. Augustine in his Confessions (Book IV), c. 397-8. Above the eagle's head is a circular cloud filled with 13 5-pointed stars to mean "a glory" or breaking through a cloud.

Back of the Great Seal

The back of the seal has a 13 layer pyramid, once again to represent the 13 original colonies. The stone of the pyramid is to represent lasting strength. And on the bottom is MDCCLXXVI  for 1776 (The date of the Declaration of Independence.)  So what does that big eye on the pyramid mean?  It is to represent the all-seeing eye of Divine Providence. It is open to many, many other interpretations. Above the pyramid are the latin words "Annuit coeptis --" He [God] has favored our undertaking." And at the bottom of the pyramid are the words "Novus ordo seclorum - A new order of the ages [is created]."

Gaillard Hunt wrote The History of the Seal of the United States. It was first published in 1892. It is available as editable web page on Open Library.

I mention all this to emphasize that people of all ages and nations have made wide use of symbolism to portray who they are and what they represent. As we proceed further into our study of the Revelation of St. John it remains important to remember that the book is indeed a book filled with symbols. It is a huge mistake to attempt to give the symbols of Revelation literal meaning as so many still persist in doing. And remember that those symbols can only be understood by referring back to the many symbols of the Old Testament. 

Blendspace: 3D Common Symbols

Symbols are and always will be all around us. Some of them are so commonplace that we simply take them for granted. No one needs to interpret many of them. Consider, for example, the symbols next to this paragraph. They are so common that you know at once what they stand for and understand how you are to respond to them. Nevertheless, if you do indeed understand what these symbols point to, it is because you have been taught their meaning. 

The very language we use is symbolic. For instance you may assume that there is some kind of link between the English word 'dog' and the animals that term represents. However, the same set of animals is represented by a completely different word and sound. In French it is 'chien', in Spanish it is 'perro', in German it is 'Hund'. We simply learn to associate the opaque symbol (sound 'dog') with the four legged creature that wanders around our houses. 

I won't belabor the point. If you wish to explore the development of symbolical language there are many, many websites available, e.g. Symbols, Symbols, Symbols. 

As I have emphasized again and again, the symbols of the Book of Revelation come directly from the Bible. And the Bible interprets itself. And it is a book that proclaims the Gospel. Christ has come, as promised by the prophets, to bear the weight of all men's sins upon the cross of Calvary. He rose from the dead, ascended into heaven and now reigns on high over all things. Revelation is thus is a book of hope and comfort. As we continue we will see and hear again and again this message. Christ reigns. His conquest of the dark forces of evil is certain. When He returns we who trust in Him will reign with Him forever. Amen. Even so come Lord Jesus (Rev. 22:20). Amen. 

The Mystery of God Revealed In Symbols

As we move deeper into John's Revelation it is increasingly difficult to believe that he writes in symbolical language. He seems to be writing a prophecy about certain actual, physical events that are  about to happen. And yet, as we move to the seventh angel and the sounding of the seventh trumpet everything appears to be more symbolical than ever. The series of seven trumpets parallels the series of seven seals (Rev. 6:1-8:1). In that series the first six seals deal with the unbelieving enemies of Christ and His church. Ultimately we read that the great ones of the earth will face the wrath of the Lamb. Then as the seventh seal is opened the promised salvation for the great multitude appears. They who come out of the great tribulation will never hunger nor thirst anymore and the Lamb will guide them to springs of living water (Rev. 7:9-17).

So it is in the series of seven trumpets. The first six speak about destruction and death coming upon the enemies of God. The earth is burned up, mountains are thrown into the sea, creatures and ships are destroyed, the waters become bitter wormwood, stars turn dark and all sorts of horrible beasts come pouring out of the abyss, bringing destruction and death. But now we come to the seventh angel who is about to sound the seventh trumpet as the mystery of God is fulfilled. Here is a mystery to be fulfilled, a mystery announced previously by the prophets, a revelation of God's mercy for all of his children.

Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a

Remember God's Rainbow

cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire. He had a little scroll open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the land, and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he called out, the seven thunders sounded. And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down." And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay, but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he announced to his servants the prophets. - Rev 10:1-7 ESV

John gazes upon this magnificent angel-messenger whose face is lit by the ancient rainbow-sign of God's grace and mercy as revealed after the great flood (Gen. 9:13-17). John is forbidden by the voice from heaven to write down what the seven thunders have said, but nevertheless something wonderful will be fulfilled when the seventh angel sounds the seventh trumpet. It is the mystery announced earlier to God's people through his servants, the prophets. And what is it? John discovers this as he obeys and eats the little scroll handed to him by this mighty angel. It is sweet as honey and bitter to his stomach.

And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it. It was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it my stomach was made bitter. And I was told, "You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings." - Rev 10:10-11 ESV  

 This is a mystery to be revealed for many peoples, nations, languages and rulers. It is a message from the eternal Creator of heaven and earth and the sea and all that is in it. It is a message both sweet and bitter. But sweet for whom and bitter for whom? And when will the fullness of this message be revealed? Only when the final seventh trumpet is sounded.

So we turn to chapter 11 of The Revelation and struggle to resist the temptation again to make the mystery a literal rather than a symbolical prophecy. We will struggle against the temptation to think that we can find the literal meaning of the temple of God, 2 olive trees, 2 lamp-stands,  42 months, 1,260 days, 3 ½ days, 24 elders and 7,000 people killed. But if we resist such the symbols will open a rich message of salvation, grace and mercy indeed. So on to Rev. 11 in the next post.

How Revelation Is Organized

In chapter 5 of John's Revelation four seals were opened to reveal four horsemen traveling across the earth. Three seals remained for the Lamb to open. The fifth seal reveals a crowd of martyrs:

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, "O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been. - Rev 6:9-11 ESV

Peter Paul Rubens - The Martyrdom of St Stephen

John's vision is rooted, as always, in the vision of earlier prophets. In this case we are drawn back to Ezekiel's vision of the heavenly Jerusalem and its huge Temple (40-44).  The earthly temple was a counterpart and prototype of the same. There, beneath or beside the altar are the souls of those who had been violently put to death because of their witness to the risen Christ. These include the deacon Stephen, stoned in Jerusalem (Acts 7:54-60), Peter, Paul, James the brother of Jesus (Josephus, Antiquties 20.9.1) and many others The Roman historian Tacitus tells of the many Christians martyred by the Roman ruler Nero in A.D. 64 (Tacitus, Annals 15.44). There will be others, says the Revelation. Ultimately the whore Babylon will be drunk with the blood of the saints, the martyrs of Jesus (Rev 17:5-6).

These martyrs are troubled. With a loud voice they cried out, ""O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"

As the prophets of old had comforted the believers when their cities and lands were ravished by the Babylonians (Isa 26:20-21), so these souls are comforted and told to rest a little longer. Given a white robe as a pledge that they will feast at the marriage of the Lamb (Rev 7:9,14; 19:7-8), they must wait until God's plan is complete.

The sixth seal's opening reveals further terrible things about to happen. Revealed in symbolical language used by the prophets of old, these catastrophes signal the end of world history:

They (heavens) will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, - Psa 102:26 ESV

All the host of heaven shall rot away, and the skies roll up like a scroll. All their host shall fall, as leaves fall from the vine, like leaves falling from the fig tree. - Isa 34:4 ESV 

At this point it seems wise to understand how John's Revelation is organized, lest we get caught up in a great argument about exactly when these things are to take place. The number seven is vital to our understanding, especially since it is the sacred number of creation and completion (Gen 2:2-3). The first two visions described our Lord appearing to John in His risen and ascended glory. John is to share a message to each of the seven churches. Chapters 4 and 5 are the heart of the Revelation. They describe the worthiness of Jesus, the Lion of Judah and the Lamb who was slain, to open the seals. He is the victorious Ruler. He will indeed rescue His people and judge the unbelieving world.

Thus in chapters 6 - 21 seven scenes of the End Times are presented, each revealing more about what we are to expect in these last times as we await the return of our King.

1. Christ opens the Seven Seals (Rev 6:1-8:5)
2. Seven Trumpets are blown (Rev 8:6-11:19)
3. The battle between the Triune God and the Anti-Trinity (Rev. 12:1-14:20)
4. The pouring out of the Seven Bowls of Wrath (Rev 15:1-16:21)
5. Babylon, the Prostitute, is overthrown (Rev 17:1-19:21)
6. The Final Judgment (Rev 20:1-21:8)
7. The New Jerusalem, the Bride, the wife of the Lamb (Rev 21:9-22:5 

Epilogue: Come, Lord Jesus! (Rev 22:6-21)

There is no need to get wrapped up in the many confusing and complex interpretations of these seven scenes with talk about the Rapture and the Millennium. This all comes about when modern self-proclaimed prophets turn John's symbolical language into a variety of literal timelines of days and years. As we continue through this most comforting book we will learn that Jesus, by His death and resurrection, has bound Satan. He can no longer accuse us. God's plan, hidden for ages, is now revealed in Christ. In Him we are bold, for we have direct access to the throne of God (Eph 3:7-12). Christ's perfect reign has begun, symbolized by the 1,000 years leading up to His return (10x10x10 = 1,000; 2 Pet 3:8; Rev 20:6).

So we join with the ancient church simply to proclaim in the words of the Apostles Creed our faith  in the Risen Christ who "sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead. . . We believe in . . . the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting."

Maranatha! Even so, Come Lord Jesus! (1 Cor 16:22)

The Third Heaven: Dwelling Place Of God

We now follow John as he goes through a door standing open in heaven! But where is that? Surely it is out there, beyond the clouds and the stars above, beyond human experience, outside of this world to that somewhere and everywhere where God dwells with all the great host of heavenly beings. This heaven was opened to Jesus at His baptism and he saw the Spirit of God descending, descending and descending like a dove to rest on him. And he heard a voice from that somewhere that said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased" (Matt 3:16-17).

Now John is invited into that other place, above and beyond us all. A door stands open and he passes through it. The Apostle Paul had been there. He wrote,

I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven--whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. - 2 Co 12:2 ESV

He called it the "third" heaven. How many are there? And to which of these did John go?

The Hebrew word for it all is shamayim, a plural word. The Hebrew has several other words that refer to the sky, the firmament and the clouds. John uses a Greek word that refers to the same location, but is not a plural. Rather John speaks about the heaven (ouranos). When Peter received his vision about clean/unclean food a voice from the heaven spoke to him three times, indicating that this was God's voice (Acts 10:9-16). The third heaven is the dwelling-place of God.

From the blog of Pastor Ray K Liu

So there are three heavens:

1. The firmament, our planet's atmosphere, where the eagles fly (Gen 2:19; Lamentations 4:19)
2. Beyond is the starry heavens, with the sun, moon and stars in their orbits. Out there they declare God's glory and show His handiwork (Ps. 19:1)
3. The third heaven is that place to which Paul was caught up, the place beyond, the dwelling-place of God, the heaven of heavens (Deut 10:14; Psalms 115:16; 148:4) 

There is no way to speak of that third heaven other than through the use of symbolical language. Paul knew that as well. He says "he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter" (2 Co 12:4). John, on the other hand, is given a revelation from that place of wonder and awe to share, using symbols and images familiar to this time, this world so that we may imagine in some small way what it is like there and what is going to happen in this world as we await Christ's return. These will appear all throughout the next chapters. Here's a partial list of the images we will want to study:

• thrones of precious stones like jasper and carnelian
• emerald rainbows
• crowns
• torches of fire
• people wearing white robes
• creatures like lions, oxen, men and eagles
• creatures with wings, full of eyes
• a mighty Lion
• the Lamb
• scroll with seven seals
• horses of various colors
• wars, blood, storms, people dying
• angels, elders, demons

So we move forward with a prayer that the Spirit will speak to our hearts and open our eyes as well.

Essentially The Revelation Is a Book of Symbols.

The Seven Churches of Revelation, also known as The Seven Churches of the Apocalypse and The Seven Churches of Asia (referring to the Roman province of Asia, not the entire continent), are seven major churches of Early Christianity, as mentioned in the New Testament Book of Revelation.

We continue with our study of the Apocalypse or Revelation of John (the Apostle), written from the Greek island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea, off the coast of modern Turkey. John writes to

... the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. - Rev 1:4-6 ESV

"Churches" in this context refers to the community or local congregations of Christians living in each city, and not merely to the building or buildings in which they gathered for worship. In fact, church buildings would not appear to any extent, until a couple hundred years later. John is instructed to write to seven of those Christian communities. There may well have been more. Seven here must be interpreted as a symbol for all churches.  Seven is an important symbolical number in the Bible denoting completion. Some examples:

• Gen. 1:31 - 2:3 - God completed His creation in six days and set the seventh day aside to rest. Thus seven became the number for completion. It still marks the completion of our week of days. 

• In Rev. 13:18 "the number of the beast" is called "the number of a man": 666. Man was created on the 6th day. If God's number is 7, then man's is 6, indicating clearly that man is not God. He was created by God on day 6. The number of man is written 3 times. The number 3, as we'll later learn, is also God's number, the number for the Trinity. In claiming 666 we will learn that the beast is claiming to be God and worthy of worship.  

• Series of sevens often appear in the Bible. So we find:

• Gen. 7:2 - 7 pairs of each clean animal enter the ark. 
• Exodus 25:37 - the Menorah, the tabernacle's lamp stand, has 7 stems
• Proverbs 6:16-19 - The LORD hates haughty eyes, a lying tongue, shedding of innocent blood, a heart devising wicked plans, feet that run to evil, a false witness and one who sows discord.
• Matt. 18:22 - wrongdoers are to be forgiven 70 X 7. 
• In the Revelation the number 7 is used more than 50 times. e.g. 7 letters to 7 churches in Asia and 7 spirits before God’s throne (Revelation 1:4), 7 golden lamp stands (Rev.1:12), 7 stars in Christ’s right hand (Rev. 1:16), 7 seals of God’s judgment (Rev. 5:1), 7 angels with 7 trumpets (Rev. 8:2), etc. 

So here in the beginning of The Revelation the number 7  represents completeness or totality: the 7 churches represent the completeness of the body of Christ, the 7 seals on the scroll represent the fulness of God’s punishment of a sinful earth, and so on.

Symbolical language is very important in the Bible. One study tells us that there are 1,670 symbols in the Bible. These include the rainbow (Gen. 9:13; Rev. 4:3), thunder, lightning, cloud and smoke (Rev. 4:5; 8:5; 11:19), trumpets (Exod. 19:19; Rev. 8:6), throne (Isa. 6:1; Rev. 4:2; 22:3), white hair (Dan. 7:9; Rev. 1:14), etc. Amazing Discoveries has created a Bible Symbols Chart that you may find helpful.

By the way, what do you think about when you see men like myself with white hair ? White is the symbol for purity (Rev. 12:9; 20:2) and for victory (Rev. 19:8; 3:5; 7:14). White hair in particular is apparently a symbol for experience and the consequent wisdom that comes from the same (Rev. 1:14). We are commanded to honor the old man with gray or white hair and consider it to be a crown of glory, glory gained by living a godly or righteous life (Prov.16:31). Obviously not all of us white-hairs have earned such honor, but many have, by God's grace.

What precisely is a symbol or symbolic speech? Webster's dictionary defines it this way: A form of speech that expresses an idea or emotion without use of words. A symbol represents or suggests something abstract, such as burning one’s draft card, bra, or flag, or picketing. So throughout the Revelation we will encounter symbolic speech and we must consequently be very careful never to interpret symbols literally. An obvious example of this is the number 144,000 (12x12x10x10x10). We'll want to explore that peculiar symbolical number later. But is it only symbolical?

The problem is how to decide if one should ever interpret the symbols of Revelation as literal rather than symbolical, pointing beyond the image to an abstract concept, like 144,000 (Rev. 7:1-4; 14:1-3). Jehovah's Witnesses, for instance, claim that 144,000 is the literal number of those who will reside in heaven. The rest will live forever on earth or be annihilated. We'll come back to interpreting that symbolical number later. For the moment I believe we need some guidance on principles of interpretation (sometimes called hermeneutics).

One basic hermeneutical rule is that Scripture interprets Scripture. So right at the start we read that the Revelation comes from God to Jesus. Jesus, in turn, is to show his servants what must happen soon . To do that our Lord sent his angel / messenger to signify or make known what must happen through symbols.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, - Rev 1:1 NKJV

The Greek word for signify here is sēmainō, a favorite verb used by John in his Gospel. So Jesus spoke about his being lifted up as the means by which he would draw all people to himself. John then writes, "He said this to show (or signify) by what kind of death he was going to die. - John 12:33 ESV. The snake lifted up on a pole was a sign of what would happen when Jesus was lifted up on a Roman cross. In its noun form that word is translated simply as sign. So when Jesus heals the son of an  official from Judea John calls it "the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee" (John 4:54). The healing was a sign pointing to Jesus as the Messiah.

So we hear from the outset that this is a book of signs or symbols that show us what must happen. Essentially the Revelation is a book of symbols. That is the primary way by which Jesus chose to communicate to us through His angel. If we are to interpret these symbols in some kind of literal manner, the Holy Spirit will make that clear as well. Otherwise we'll have to treat the various images as symbols or signs, not to be taken literally. If you'd like to read more about this process of interpretation or hermeneutics, read Roy Harrisville's article "A Primer on Lutheran Hermeneutics."