Alan Dale Gross
Active Member
The title of the thread is "Repeating themes in Revelation,"
The first six chapters in this .pdf of MORE THAN CONQUERORS by William Hendriksen are essential to gaining an understanding of how God has Structured the Book of Revelation into Seven Visions or Sections.
Then, we see how each of those Seven Visions or Sections cover the exact same Time Period, as they all overlap one another, telling the same story of Jesus' Spiritual Reign, starting from His Ascension and lasting until Jesus Comes Again, at The End of the World, when He separates the goats from the sheep. See my WordPress blog;
"A careful reading of the Book of Revelation has made it clear that the book consists of Seven Sections IN THE FORM OF VISIONS, and that these Seven VISIONS or Sections run Parallel to one another. Each of them Spans the entire New Testament Era of the The Lord's Churches, during the Gospel Age administration/dispensation, covering the Inneradvetal Period of Jesus Christ, from the First to the Second Coming of Christ. This Period is viewed now from one aspect, now from another.
CONTENTS of MORE THAN CONQUERORS by William Hendriksen.
I PURPOSE, THEME AND AUTHORSHIP OF REVELATION 7
"In the main, the purpose of the book of Revelation is to comfort the militant Church in its struggle against the forces of evil. It is full of help and comfort for persecuted and suffering Christians. To them is given the Assurance that God sees their tears (7: 17; 21: 4); their Prayers are influential in World Affairs (8: 3, 4) and their death is precious in His Sight. Their Final Victory is assured (15: 2); their blood will be Avenged (19: 2); their Christ Lives and Reigns for ever and for ever. He Governs the World in the interest of His Church (5: 7, 8). He is Coming Again to take His people to Himself in ‘the Marriage Supper of the Lamb’ and to Live with them for ever in a Rejuvenated Universe (21: 22)."
II GENERAL ANALYSIS 16
I. THE SEVEN PARALLEL SECTIONS
"1. Christ in the Midst of the Lampstands (i: 1-3: 22) The central theme of the first three chapters of Revelation seems to be Christ in the Midst of the Seven Golden Lamp Stands. These Lampstands represent the Seven Churches (1: 20). To each church John is directed to write a letter (see chapters 2 and 3). As this number seven occurs again and again in the Apocalypse and is everywhere symbolical of completeness, we may safely take it for granted that such is the case here, and that it indicates the entire number of The Lord's New Testament Churches throughout the full span of its existence to the very End of the World.
"Thus interpreted, each individual church is, as it were, a type, not indicating one definite period in history, but describing conditions which are constantly repeated in the actual life of the various congregations.
"Therefore this Section appears to span the entire New Testament Era of the Church Age administration/dispensation, from Christ’s First Coming to Save His people (1: 5) to His Second Coming to Judge all nations (1: 7).
"The last of these Seven Letters is written to the church at Laodicea. It is evident that chapter 4 introduces a new— though closely related—subject.
"2. The Vision of Heaven and the Seals (4: 1-7: 17) Chapters 4-7 constitute the next natural division of the book. Chapter 4 describes the One Who is sitting upon the Throne and the Worship of those who surround Him. In the Right Hand of the Lord there is a book sealed with Seven Seals (5: 1). The Lamb takes this book and receives Adoration. From chapter 6 we learn that the Lamb opens the Seals one by one. Between the Sixth and the Seventh Seals we have the Vision of the one hundred and forty-four thousand who were Sealed and of the countless multitude standing before the Throne.
"It should be carefully noted that this Section also covers the entire New Testament Era of the The Lord's Churches during the Gospel Age administration/dispensation, from the First to the Second Coming of Christ. The very first reference to Christ pictures Him as having been slain and as now Ruling from Heaven (5: 5, 6).
"Towards the end of this Section the Final Judgment is introduced. Notice the impression of the Second Coming on unbelievers. ‘And they say to the mountains and to the rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the Face of the One sitting on the Throne, and from the Wrath of the Lamb! For it came, the Day, the Great One, of their Wrath; and who is able to stand? ’ (6: 16, 17).
"Now notice the bliss of believers. ‘They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun fall upon them, nor any heat; for the Lamb that is in the Midst of the Throne shall be their Shepherd, and shall Lead them to Life’s Springs of Water; and God shall Wipe away every tear out of their eyes’ (7: 16, 17). This is a picture of the Lord's Churches triumphant, gathered out of all the nations and thus, in their entirety, standing before the Throne and before the Lamb, an ideal which is not realized until the Day of the Great Consummation. We have again spanned the entire Gospel Age.
"3. The Seven Trumpets (8: 1-11: 19) The next section consists of chapters 8-11. Its central theme is the Seven Trumpets that affect the world. What happens to the Lord's Churches is described in chapters 10 and 11 (the Angel with the Little Book, the Two Witnesses). Also at the close of this Section there is a very clear reference to the Final Judgment. ‘The dominion over the world became the Dominion of our Lord, and of His Christ: and He shall Reign for ever and ever. ’.. And the nations were wroth, and Thy Wrath Came, and the Time of the Dead to be Judged... ’ (11: 15, 18). Having reached the End of the entire New Testament Era of the The Lord's Churches, during the Gospel Age administration/dispensation, covering the Inneradvetal Period of Jesus Christ, from the First to the Second Coming of Christ, the Vision ends.
"4. The Persecuting Dragon (12: 1-14: 20) This brings us to chapters 12-14: the woman and the Man-child persecuted by the dragon and his helpers. This Section also covers the entire New Testament Era of the The Lord's Churches, during the Gospel Age administration/dispensation, covering the Inneradvetal Period of Jesus Christ, from the First to the Second Coming of Christ, again.
"It begins with a very clear reference to the Birth of the Saviour (12: 5). The dragon threatens to devour the Man-child. The Child is caught up to God and to His Throne. The dragon now persecutes the woman (12: 13). As his agents, he employs the Beast coming up out of the sea (13: 1) and the Beast coming up out of the Earth (13: 11, 12) and the Great Harlot, Babylon (14: 8).
"This Section, too, closes with a stirring description of Christ’s Second Coming in Judgment. ‘And I saw, and behold, a white cloud; and on the cloud I saw One Sitting like unto a Son of man, having on His Head a Golden Crown, and in His Hand a sharp sickle.... And He that sat on the cloud cast His sickle upon the Earth; and the Earth was reaped’ (14: 14, 16).
Con't
The first six chapters in this .pdf of MORE THAN CONQUERORS by William Hendriksen are essential to gaining an understanding of how God has Structured the Book of Revelation into Seven Visions or Sections.
Then, we see how each of those Seven Visions or Sections cover the exact same Time Period, as they all overlap one another, telling the same story of Jesus' Spiritual Reign, starting from His Ascension and lasting until Jesus Comes Again, at The End of the World, when He separates the goats from the sheep. See my WordPress blog;
SIXTY-SIX NEW TESTAMENT Verses Teaching
The SECOND COMING of JESUS CHRIST is THE END of TIME.
"A careful reading of the Book of Revelation has made it clear that the book consists of Seven Sections IN THE FORM OF VISIONS, and that these Seven VISIONS or Sections run Parallel to one another. Each of them Spans the entire New Testament Era of the The Lord's Churches, during the Gospel Age administration/dispensation, covering the Inneradvetal Period of Jesus Christ, from the First to the Second Coming of Christ. This Period is viewed now from one aspect, now from another.
CONTENTS of MORE THAN CONQUERORS by William Hendriksen.
I PURPOSE, THEME AND AUTHORSHIP OF REVELATION 7
"In the main, the purpose of the book of Revelation is to comfort the militant Church in its struggle against the forces of evil. It is full of help and comfort for persecuted and suffering Christians. To them is given the Assurance that God sees their tears (7: 17; 21: 4); their Prayers are influential in World Affairs (8: 3, 4) and their death is precious in His Sight. Their Final Victory is assured (15: 2); their blood will be Avenged (19: 2); their Christ Lives and Reigns for ever and for ever. He Governs the World in the interest of His Church (5: 7, 8). He is Coming Again to take His people to Himself in ‘the Marriage Supper of the Lamb’ and to Live with them for ever in a Rejuvenated Universe (21: 22)."
II GENERAL ANALYSIS 16
I. THE SEVEN PARALLEL SECTIONS
"1. Christ in the Midst of the Lampstands (i: 1-3: 22) The central theme of the first three chapters of Revelation seems to be Christ in the Midst of the Seven Golden Lamp Stands. These Lampstands represent the Seven Churches (1: 20). To each church John is directed to write a letter (see chapters 2 and 3). As this number seven occurs again and again in the Apocalypse and is everywhere symbolical of completeness, we may safely take it for granted that such is the case here, and that it indicates the entire number of The Lord's New Testament Churches throughout the full span of its existence to the very End of the World.
"Thus interpreted, each individual church is, as it were, a type, not indicating one definite period in history, but describing conditions which are constantly repeated in the actual life of the various congregations.
"Therefore this Section appears to span the entire New Testament Era of the Church Age administration/dispensation, from Christ’s First Coming to Save His people (1: 5) to His Second Coming to Judge all nations (1: 7).
"The last of these Seven Letters is written to the church at Laodicea. It is evident that chapter 4 introduces a new— though closely related—subject.
"2. The Vision of Heaven and the Seals (4: 1-7: 17) Chapters 4-7 constitute the next natural division of the book. Chapter 4 describes the One Who is sitting upon the Throne and the Worship of those who surround Him. In the Right Hand of the Lord there is a book sealed with Seven Seals (5: 1). The Lamb takes this book and receives Adoration. From chapter 6 we learn that the Lamb opens the Seals one by one. Between the Sixth and the Seventh Seals we have the Vision of the one hundred and forty-four thousand who were Sealed and of the countless multitude standing before the Throne.
"It should be carefully noted that this Section also covers the entire New Testament Era of the The Lord's Churches during the Gospel Age administration/dispensation, from the First to the Second Coming of Christ. The very first reference to Christ pictures Him as having been slain and as now Ruling from Heaven (5: 5, 6).
"Towards the end of this Section the Final Judgment is introduced. Notice the impression of the Second Coming on unbelievers. ‘And they say to the mountains and to the rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the Face of the One sitting on the Throne, and from the Wrath of the Lamb! For it came, the Day, the Great One, of their Wrath; and who is able to stand? ’ (6: 16, 17).
"Now notice the bliss of believers. ‘They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun fall upon them, nor any heat; for the Lamb that is in the Midst of the Throne shall be their Shepherd, and shall Lead them to Life’s Springs of Water; and God shall Wipe away every tear out of their eyes’ (7: 16, 17). This is a picture of the Lord's Churches triumphant, gathered out of all the nations and thus, in their entirety, standing before the Throne and before the Lamb, an ideal which is not realized until the Day of the Great Consummation. We have again spanned the entire Gospel Age.
"3. The Seven Trumpets (8: 1-11: 19) The next section consists of chapters 8-11. Its central theme is the Seven Trumpets that affect the world. What happens to the Lord's Churches is described in chapters 10 and 11 (the Angel with the Little Book, the Two Witnesses). Also at the close of this Section there is a very clear reference to the Final Judgment. ‘The dominion over the world became the Dominion of our Lord, and of His Christ: and He shall Reign for ever and ever. ’.. And the nations were wroth, and Thy Wrath Came, and the Time of the Dead to be Judged... ’ (11: 15, 18). Having reached the End of the entire New Testament Era of the The Lord's Churches, during the Gospel Age administration/dispensation, covering the Inneradvetal Period of Jesus Christ, from the First to the Second Coming of Christ, the Vision ends.
"4. The Persecuting Dragon (12: 1-14: 20) This brings us to chapters 12-14: the woman and the Man-child persecuted by the dragon and his helpers. This Section also covers the entire New Testament Era of the The Lord's Churches, during the Gospel Age administration/dispensation, covering the Inneradvetal Period of Jesus Christ, from the First to the Second Coming of Christ, again.
"It begins with a very clear reference to the Birth of the Saviour (12: 5). The dragon threatens to devour the Man-child. The Child is caught up to God and to His Throne. The dragon now persecutes the woman (12: 13). As his agents, he employs the Beast coming up out of the sea (13: 1) and the Beast coming up out of the Earth (13: 11, 12) and the Great Harlot, Babylon (14: 8).
"This Section, too, closes with a stirring description of Christ’s Second Coming in Judgment. ‘And I saw, and behold, a white cloud; and on the cloud I saw One Sitting like unto a Son of man, having on His Head a Golden Crown, and in His Hand a sharp sickle.... And He that sat on the cloud cast His sickle upon the Earth; and the Earth was reaped’ (14: 14, 16).
Con't
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