Trustworthy and True: Making sense of the Book of Revelation (Colour version)

Acknowledge it or not, we are hurtling towards the end times. The pre-conditions have never been more complete than today. More so in the past 80 years than in the previous 19 centuries.

Cautious scepticism is healthy but we have a duty to understand the warnings about what's happening around us and what's coming, so we can prepare and warn others.

Many prefer to shy away from any attempt to interpret the book of Revelation, viewing it as unfathomable and bizarre, full of symbolism, metaphors, and repetition of earthquakes, fire and hail from the skies, plagues and battles.

Some interpret it is relevant to the first Century only, (A.D. 70), when the Jewish revolt against Roman occupation was cruelly crushed. However, given it was written around the same time it would not have been much of a 'revelation'. It would not have been read by Jewish people, who perceived Christianity as blasphemous. It would also not have been helpful to the early Christian church and the 'book' is clearly written to both the Christian church and the Jewish people.

End-time scripture isn't so unfathomable when viewed through the lens of the people of Biblical times - their beliefs, practices, experiences and stories, and then superimposing understanding of things that are very familiar to us now but were alien to them. Some important insights also help interpretation - such as the fact that during Old Testament times a year was perceived as 360 days (and this was also adopted as the default for 'prophetic' years in the New Testament); Also, Jewish people often referred to themselves as people of the land and the gentiles as people of the sea.

Many expect evil influences to present themselves in obvious ways no one can deny - but the best strategy of these is to convince us all that they do not exist. So, we should not expect to see them for who or what they are until very late on, when it might be too late for the uninformed.

The USA, China, Russia and Europe are all referenced, if you interpret properly, through 'markers' that include: global trading status, economic size relative to military might, historical basis of their trading and legal systems, population size, direction of their homeland relative to Israel, the nature of their current leaders, initiatives in international expansion, colour of their battle flags, symbols and statues that they are renowned for, geological characteristics, and, historical names of tribes from which these nations originated. The combination of many markers helps make the interpretation less tenuous and more convincing.

There will be hard times ahead, even for Christians, but the Book of Revelation is fundamentally a message of HOPE - how to survive without compromising our eternal future, that evil will be dealt with once and for all, and that the world will be reshaped into the perfect paradise it was meant to be.

I invite you on an amazing exploration into the wealth of information that has been freely given to us on what is to come. I can boldly promise you a journey that will have huge consequences for you and your loved ones.

I have spent many years researching, grappling with and meditating on the scriptures - asking for divine inspiration to help interpret these prophesies. I hope and pray that this book is as accurate an interpretation as possible, and that it will spark the reader's interest in interpreting what's happening around them in the context of biblical revelation, so that they are forewarned of the dangers, can warn others, and can gain hope about the final outcome.

Alan was always enthralled with 'end-time' stories even before becoming a Christian, at age 26 in 1989.  Then he was drawn to the books of Revelation and Daniel.   He struggled to make sense of the prophecies, especially the number of years mentioned, which simply didn't add-up.   He  jumped at the chance to hear any speaker on Revelation.  Almost always, their interpretations simply did not sit right with his spirit and seemed too naïve, simplistic, biased, dismissive, worldly - seemingly quick, lazily formed interpretations, not well thought through, and not Holy Spirit inspired. For 35 years he sought a clearer, more rounded, unified, God-inspired interpretation.Alan has been happily married to wife Sian for 35 years.  They met in school (6th-Form).  They have 3 sons, all in their 20s.  Alan and Sian became Christians at the same Billy Graham event in Aldershot, a year before they married.  They moved from Somerset to Hook, Hampshire and found a lively, Spirit filled church.  Within months they were leading home-groups, involved in evangelistic outreach, attending international Christian conferences by John Wimber and other notable Christian pioneers.   For years they led Christian introduction (Alpha) courses.  Their journey of faith was on an exponential trajectory.  They are still very active in their walk of faith.  Until recently they were part of the core-team for a new Catch-the-Fire church plant in Farnborough.  Alan enjoys street evangelism, Healing-on-the-Street (HOTS) and Christian teaching.  Sian is gifted in hearing and responding to God's heart - demonstrating compassion for the lost and broken.