In terms of the written canon of Scripture, the Book of Revelation is God's 'last word.' Common logic would seem to dictate that a God who is intelligent, reasonable and articulate would speak 'last words' that would be easily understood by the vast majority of His audience. Unfortunately, in the case of The Revelation, the reality is quite different. For most of the last two millennia of Church history, Christians have fussed and fought (metaphorically, if not physically) over the intent, intelligibility and interpretation of The Revelation. What was given as a source of encouragement, unity and hope has become a cause of discouragement, division and fear. In this book, the author presents a series of "portraits" of Jesus Christ, which are revealed in the successive apocalyptic visions contained in the Book of Revelation. These visions were not given to stir fear or confusion but to inspire hope and to give courage to a young Church - a Church that was struggling with the harsh realities of living according to the teachings of Christ in the midst of a decidedly non-Christian world. The author claims that Jesus is the focal point and central figure of this mysterious and final book of the Bible. In this manner, he seeks to make the message of Revelation relevant and reasonable to every reader.

Unveiling Final Jesus

Portraits of Christ in the Book of RevelationBy Dean C. Knudsen

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2009 Dean C. Knudsen
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4389-9509-0

Contents

Author's Preface..........................................................ixIntroduction..............................................................xi1. The Final Christ.......................................................12. The Central Christ.....................................................93. The Central Christ (continued).........................................174. The Paradoxical Christ.................................................295. The Shepherding Christ.................................................416. The Promised Christ....................................................517. The Reaping Christ.....................................................618. The Warrior Christ.....................................................699. The Illuminating Christ................................................7710. The Coming Christ.....................................................85Epilogue..................................................................95APPENDIX 1: N.T. Greek words used for Christ's Return.....................97APPENDIX 2: Worship in The Revelation.....................................101

Chapter One

The Final Christ - Rev.1:1-3

'The last word.' What comes to mind when you hear that phrase? Normally, the person in charge or the person who is considered to be the expert gets to have 'the last word' on whatever matter is under consideration. You may or may not agree with that individual, but when 'the last word' has been spoken there is no further discussion. Those are the words left ringing in your ears. Those are the words that you are left to ponder, weigh and consider.

In terms of the written canon of Scripture, the Book of Revelation is God's 'last word.' Common logic would seem to dictate that a God who is intelligent, reasonable and articulate would speak 'last words' that would be easily understood by the vast majority of His audience. Unfortunately, in the case of the Book of Revelation (hereafter referred to simply as The Revelation), the reality is quite different. For most of the last two millennia of Church history, the people of God have fussed and fought (metaphorically, if not physically) over the intent, intelligibility and interpretation of The Revelation. What was given as a source of encouragement, unity and hope has become a cause of discouragement, division and fear.

Is it possible that God intended to leave His Church on earth in a state of perpetual agitation with regard to this book? Is it reasonable to suppose that the God who went to such lengths to produce and preserve the written revelation of Himself (the Bible) would conclude that sacred volume with gibberish? How could a God who so eloquently expressed Himself in the previous 65 books get things so muddled in the final one? If you were going on trial in a court of law, would you choose a lawyer who could argue circles around everyone else but then became tongue-tied when it came time for the closing argument? Of course not!

While I don't presume to have all the answers on every particular detail communicated in The Revelation, I am convinced that there is profound insight to be gleaned from a more careful study of the opening verses which will, in turn, shed significant light on the remainder of the book.

To begin, one must decide between two simple options. Either The Revelation is a dark mystery, unintelligible to all except highly trained Biblical scholars, disconnected from the rest of Scripture and relevant primarily for generations yet to be born, OR The Revelation is an integral part of the Bible, harmonious with the other 65 books, relevant to (and understandable by) all God's people. Is it the logical conclusion to a coherent, unified divine revelation OR is it merely an awkward appendage to the Bible, more of an embarrassment than a blessing? There really is no third option.

I'm sure that you have guessed by now which of those two options I have chosen and what will be the underlying theme of these pages. It is my deep conviction that God's final statement, His closing argument, His summation, if you will, is a unique portrayal of the One whose presence permeates the pages of holy writ. The central character of the Bible is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. The Old Testament books foreshadow Him, the Gospels and the Acts describe Him, the Epistles explain Him and The Revelation "reveals" Him in a manner that is authentic, artistic and apocalyptic.

In the book of Hebrews, the author's 'first words' focus on Jesus being God's 'last word' (Heb.1:1-4). He contrasts the "speaking" of God in ages past with the "speaking" of God in "these last days." This passage could well be paraphrased as follows: "God used to speak the language of Prophet, but now He speaks the language of Son." In fact, if anyone were to inquire as to 'what God is saying today,' the answer would be quite simple (though eternally profound) - "Jesus!"

While the Bible does not come to us with an author's Preface or Introduction, as is common in other writings, the individual 'books' within it often do have an opening statement of some kind to set the stage for what is to follow. In The Revelation, thankfully, we are blessed with three verses that marvelously set the stage for the strange and compelling visions that are to follow. In light of the mystery that permeates the pages of this 'last word,' why would any follower of the Lord Jesus Christ launch out into such uncharted territory without taking sufficient time to acclimate and acquaint himself with what is freely given to him in these three brief verses?

"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bondservants, the things which must soon take place; and he sent and communicated it by His angel to His bondservant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near."

Those first five words, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ," are the English translation of three Greek words, 'apokalupsis Iesou Christou.' These three words are, I believe, the most significant words in the whole book. This opening phrase is, in fact, the declaration of the primary theme of this book; it is a "revelation" of Jesus. All the other visions that follow are secondary and supportive of the Person and Work of Christ.

The word 'apokalupsis,' from which we get the English word 'apocalypse,' means "an unveiling, an uncovering, a disclosure of something that was previously hidden." Isn't it interesting that the very first word of God's "last word" tells us that something is about to be disclosed and uncovered. Think of the excitement that fills the air when a painter or sculptor stretches out his hand to unveil his artistic achievement. Think of the curiosity that captivates people when a formerly top-secret document is about to be declassified. That is but a small picture of the excitement that should fill the hearts and minds of God's people as they approach this book, realizing that within its pages, the God of heaven has stretched out His strong arm and pulled back the veil to show forth, to uncover, and to reveal His glorious Son!

The name 'Jesus Christ' is written in the 'genitive' case in the original Greek language. Scholars and theologians have debated as to whether this is a subjective genitive or an objective genitive. To state it simplistically, does this phrase tell us that Jesus Christ is the Author/Giver of this revelation or that He is the Subject of the revelation? Is The Revelation by Him or about Him? Of all the New Testament verses in which the word 'apokalupsis' is found together with the name 'Jesus Christ,' the majority clearly express the idea of the 'revelation' being about Jesus (cf. Rom.16:25, 1 Cor.1:7; 2 Thes.1:7; 1 Pet.1:7,13). It is my position that regardless of the answer to the technical Greek question, both statements are valid and true. The Lord Jesus Christ is both the revealer AND the revealed! This book is, indeed, "the testimony of Jesus Christ" (Rev.1:2)

Recall the words of those unnamed Greeks (Jn.12:20-21) whose interest and desire were expressed in their request to Philip, "We wish to see Jesus." It seems obvious that they were more than curiosity seekers who merely wanted a glimpse of the physical man Jesus. The fact that they were Gentiles who were "going up to worship at the feast" indicates that, though foreigners to the Jewish God and His Covenant, they were individuals with a sincere spiritual hunger and enough faith to recognize that this Jesus was someone special. Does not their verbalized request express the spiritual heart-cry of every true child of God throughout the ages? The Revelation is God's provision for the fulfillment of this request in the life of all believers.

Note that when Jesus was told of the inquiry of these Greeks, His response was to talk about "a grain of wheat falling into the earth and dying ..." (Jn.12:24). At first glance, it would seem that He totally ignored the Greeks' request. However, upon further consideration, one realizes that He was directing the attention of His disciples to the greater reality of spiritual vision superseding natural vision (cf. the Apostle Paul's comments in I Cor.2:14).

The historian Luke, in recording the account of Christ's heavenly ascension (Acts 1:9), says that "a cloud received Him out of their sight." Is this merely an in significant historical detail? Could it be that God wanted to remind His people that the glorified Christ is no longer perceived with the natural eye? Does not the writer to the Hebrews remind us that Christ is now "within the veil" (Heb.6:19-20; 9:24)? Is He not described by Paul as "the King ... invisible" (1 Tim.1:17)?

The day is surely coming when "every eye will see Him" (Rev.1:7). Jesus, Himself, told the Jewish leaders who opposed Him that on that coming day, "you will see the Son of Man ..." On that day, all men will have no choice but to see Jesus. That day will indeed be a day of 'revelation' for mankind. Yet for those who have entrusted their earthly lives and their eternal souls to Him, there is a 'revelation' of Jesus available to the eyes of faith, a revelation given "to show to His bondservants." Again, the writer to the Hebrews reminds us that even now "we do see ... Jesus." This final book of the Bible is not a revelation of the end times. It is not a revelation of the antichrist, the mark of the beast, Armageddon or the millennium. It is "the revelation of Jesus Christ," intended to comfort and strengthen a struggling Church to withstand the tests and trials of living in the shadows of persecution and worldliness. The Revelation is the Bridegroom's gift to His Bride. When this gift is ignored or dismissed, it is to our own spiritual detriment.

We are told that The Revelation was "communicated" (KJV: "signified") to the Church ("His bondservants") via "His angel" and "His bondservant John." The root of the word "signified" is "sign." At the risk of being simplistic, I would suggest that much of the confusion surrounding this last book of the Bible could be avoided if people would simply take this verse at face value and proceed further into the book with the understanding that the message contained therein has been 'sign-ified.' In other words, the book speaks in 'sign language' - a language of signs and symbols. John didn't just 'hear' this message, he "saw" it (v.2). It was a visual revelation, a panoramic unfolding of fantastic visions that simultaneously filled John with wonder and awe, dread and terror.

If, in fact, The Revelation is a book of signs and symbols, then surely God intended that there would be a way of understanding this encrypted message. And, indeed, He has already given us the codebook. The previous 65 books of the Bible serve wonderfully to illuminate and interpret the signs and symbols of this unique 'last word' from God.

It is clearly stated in these opening verses that there is a great blessing to be had for everyone "who reads ... hears ... and heeds the things which are written in it" (v.3; cf.22:7). Yet logic dictates that reading and hearing without understanding and comprehending are of no lasting value. The Revelation is no magic talisman! Also, it is impossible to "heed" (to keep, to observe, to watch over, to guard) anything if you're unsure of what it is!

Finally, let me focus your attention on one further item in the text. We are told that The Revelation is about "the things which must soon take place"... and that "the time is near." Does it not stand to reason that this opening declaration from the Author should preclude all attempts to push the contents of this book off into some distant future? If The Revelation is primarily about things that are still in the future after two millennia, how was that a "blessing" to first-century believers facing the daily struggle of living as a Christian in the midst of a very non-Christian world?

The Revelation was never intended to be a 'closed vision' (as was Daniel's Old Testament apocalyptic vision; Dan.12:4). It was given as an 'open vision,' to be read and understood by God's people. In Rev.22:10 John is told, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near." Sadly, the fanciful speculations and fearful musings of many, especially in modern times, have only served to "seal up" the Revelation of Jesus Christ and deny His people the "blessing" that is their inheritance. It is my earnest prayer and desire that in reading this book the hearts and minds of many will be opened to see their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in a fresh and wonderful way and to worship Him in a manner befitting the One who sits on the throne, to Whom be all glory forever and ever!

Chapter Two

The Central Christ - Rev.1:4-7

If The Revelation, God's 'last word,' really is all about the Person and Work of Christ, then it should come as no surprise that the opening chapter would be chock full of Jesus. And that is exactly what we find as we begin to move forward in the text. In each of the successive visions seen and recorded by John, all the way through the end of the book, there is a picture of Christ displayed in a way that communicates something unique about who He is and what He does (past, present and future).

Most of us have seen enough Hollywood depictions of early Christianity to know that those first-century followers of Jesus certainly didn't have an easy time being the first "Christians." We know (at least most of us do) that many of them were arrested, tortured, thrown to the lions, crucified, etc. because of their confession of faith. Yet despite knowing this at an informational level, most of us don't really grasp the reality of this harrowing situation at an emotional and psychological level. When was the last time that you really tried to 'get into the head' of an early Christian? How do you think you would feel if you saw your spouse being tortured or your children thrown into the arena as food for starving tigers and lions? What would be your response to an official government edict that you renounce your newfound faith or get ready to die a horrible death?

Well, that's exactly what so many of these young saints had to face. They needed much more than a feel-good sermon or a rousing worship service. Another church potluck supper wasn't going to prepare them for the ordeals they had to face. What they were in dire need of more than anything else was an unmistakable revelation of something and Someone who would give strength to their trembling knees, sweaty palms and weakened wills. They needed a clear understanding of some truth that would shine like a beacon to illuminate the emotional darkness that enveloped them. As sheep, they desperately needed to catch a fresh glimpse of the Shepherd who would, indeed, lead them safely through the valley of the shadow of death. And that is exactly what they got in this unique 'last word' from their heavenly Father. By means of a unique series of mysterious visions, these fearful and struggling bands of believers were privileged to see beyond the horizon of natural vision. It was given to them to understand a reality that supersedes natural wisdom. In The Revelation, it was made plain to them that all the insanity going on around them, all the lunacy that seemed to permeate the Roman Empire, was not the bottom line.

(Continues...)

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