"Sand and Camel Hair", by Dumas fils, 2021 Covid
1st John or 2nd John: Which John Is For Us?
Part One
There are two Johns in the Book of Revelation: one, the John who represents possibly the last of the apostles to pass physically through the early Christian era; the other, the John who represents the remnant saints—those who pass through the scenes just before the second coming. This dual pattern seems identical to the pattern in Matthew 24 and 25, where we find the answers to the disciples question ‘when shall these things be....’ Jesus's answer is a blend of things to come which are applicable to two distant generations: the disciples’ age, and the last Christians’ age. In both Matthew and the Book of Revelation the answers are packed and folded similar to the way the strings of DNA are doubly arranged and then complexly folded. In this final folded state is when the DNA somehow does all of its most powerful work. And today, like the folded complexity of DNA, the mystery of the unfolding of the gospel is still being studied by inquiring minds; its powerful last work, yet to flood the earth.
But in the Book of Revelation we are given 22 chapters blended with things for and about two different generations. And there is even more: these scenes which involve these two generations, or classes of people, are intricately connected to all the other books in the bible. Thus, the above details point toward the showing of this book to be an insurmountable aggregate of the deep things of God. We do not give the Book of Revelation the honor due it when we fail to forthrightly seek and clarify, time by time, both of its blended parts.
Found: 'Deep Things' of God
There are also two books in the Book of Revelation: the first, all the words that John wrote for his generation, and second, we find another book which is folded or blended spiritually somehow throughout the words that John wrote. The 1st book seems to address things which take place over a broad period of time; it was sent to be read to the churches in Asia; the 2nd book announces things which will quickly come to pass long after the 1st John generation has physically left the scene. ‘Long and then short’ seems to be a good identifying description of this pattern, and we can say the same for the Book of Daniel as well, for he saw long ages of history and also the quick scene of judgment at the end of the world.
This second book was intended to be read and understood by the last generation. Therefore, we can say that it corresponds specifically to and is applicable to the 2nd John, if you will. This book, more than any other book of the bible, exemplifies the grand wisdom of God—that 'skillful use of knowledge'. It is imperative that we obtain this skillfulness in our walk, by drawing life from all words that proceed out of His mouth. This dichotomy of the two Johns and the dichotomy of the two books make the Book of Revelation a remarkable book indeed, which outstands all the books of the bible, for in addition to this book being blended, we are also told that all the books of the Bible meet and end in this book. Every root of salvation throughout the bible, for example, is blended in some way into this writing of John’s.
Which book in the Book of Revelation should our generation read, hear, and keep? The answer is an easy one: both, right?
That indeed does seem to be the logical answer to that question, but the question that involves which John is for us is another more pointed and less talked about question. As we think and reason together further in the details below, the importance of the aspects of the two Johns and the two books should hopefully become clearer.
The Two Johns
The Book of Revelation comes on the scene 60 or so years after the apostles were sent out to evangelize the world. John, the Revelator, writes the book and delivers it to the 7 churches in Asia. This whole view of the Book of Revelation is for the 1st Johns, and covers their Apostolic period and also extends answers for them concerning what shall befall all the children of the promise clear out to the end of time. Thus, they too, were to learn from and be encouraged by how these two Johns were closely blended within this 22 chapter book.
The two examples of the two Johns and their two books that are the easiest to investigate in this study are found here: Revelation Chapter 1, and here: Revelation Chapter 10. In Part One of this Morning Paper, I desire to give answer to the above question: which John is for us? By looking into the 10th (and the llth chapter also, which is the expansion of the synopsis comprising the last two verses of chapter 10.) I think it will give more press to the specific words in this passage which define this 2nd John. At a later date I will begin the deeper exploration (Part Two) into how this 2nd John’s thread is connected to other passages in the Book of Revelation, and indeed to the rest of the bible.
In Rev. 10 we see this 2nd John doing and writing about exploits which are identified only with the end of the world. These actions and the words found here clearly reveal that this passage was written specifically to and about our last generation. And if we follow the trail of this short viewpoint, we will also see preponderant evidence that hinges directly and correctly to our salvation. Thus, a collective and earnest endeavor by the church as a whole to understand what this book shall mean to us should bring us a little closer to an understanding of ‘what shall be’ in the ends of the world which are now upon us. This knowing will make us truly men of Issachar; that we might know these things is the whole intent of the Book of Revelation, for only those that ‘know their God will do exploits.’
Just as there are very many points making up a strand of DNA, the ends of the world are specific and focused elements—and these elements are very, very many. So, as many of us have found, reading the Book of Revelation requires time and much thought. But doing this as a group will surely gain for us the power needed to wisely present the gospel faithfully as the church gives the gospel’s last announcing.
Without doubt, this gospel shall be given in an exponential way by humans who will out-shine their indwelling Comforter, as opposed to using the Medias of Television and Technology. In Jesus's time, pen, paper, and the lives and mouths of those who were personally converted were primarily ‘the media’ that was used to proclaim the good news; and while the media will undoubtedly have its effective part in this last spread of the gospel, the primary 'life and mouth' piece of the proclamation will be the people of the church: the saints. Else why would it be labeled: The Loud Cry? Else why will all the evil demons initiate death decrees to silence these ‘voices, lightnings, thunders…’ which attend the exploits of the saints.
Chapter 10: An Angel Announces
John sees an angel come down. Because spiritual things are spiritually discerned, John (the 2nd John) could see the angel through the cloud, whereas the rest of the unbelieving mankind perhaps could not. As we say: spiritual things are spiritually discerned. We have also no biblical record of Christ coming physically down to do a final gospel message while touching land and sea physically. In the same fashion as the early church advanced the gospel, so the last church. The Angel postures both feet, then announces: there shall be no more delay, i.e., no more time left. These words are for us. At the sounding of the 7th trumpet, God will begin His strange wrath-mode and executing his judgments quickly. He will be doing as He has said, giving in one hour to that Great City, the plagues that are due her.
Also, The God will be in forthright work, giving glory without measure to and through His people—all eyes are on the church. People will collect on the alive saints’ lawn, after having finally come to a knowledge that God has loved this group of persecuted people. There is light in the camp of the righteous, and darkness in all other kingdoms. In this terrible period will be found the answer to the question asked in Rev. 6: “How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?” The answer to this cry is not found in the dark ages; this plaint may have existed throughout that age, but it was not answered then. It will be answered in our future, however: fully, directly, and with finality. They will know that He is God and that He really did send those whom the nations have just persecuted.
This display will be truly a universal display. Every eye in the universe will be focused on these scenes. Just as every heavenly eye was focused on the crucifixion of Christ, which was the greatest universal display of the character of God, so this end time will have the attention of all the Kozmos. Imagine the joy in the Heavens over the millions of souls who come to repentance during this final overnight, next-day spread of the gospel. Why: because those in all churches in Christendom who thought they were converted, thought they were un-blind, will develop an unparalleled consensus of a love of the truth—not a love of the sensual, the fanfare, or the decibels of church theatrics.
We should expect this to be the largest evangelistic increase in souls to the truth possibly ever. Why: because there will be no more delay, no more probationary time after this trumpet blows, and God will have been the rider of the horse in this last evangelistic crusade. The import of the announcement of the 7th trumpet is that probationary time is at an end, and when the 10th chapter ends (at the end of chapter 11), there will follow the fulfillment of the mighty praise and prayer: ‘thy kingdom come.’
Two Nations…One Mystery
The Angel of the 10th chapter also tells us two more important things: when the Mystery will be finished (at the 7th Trumpet) and where it began: some of its origins (the prophets). What follows this announcement are the scenes of the two witnesses prophesying, the beast which ascends from the bottomless pit killing them, and then the two witnesses’ integrity being fully restored and they being vindicated in a miraculous way. (i.e., maybe all of the pages of the burned bibles being put back together—integrity restored—and returning back to stand before God again. If these witnesses were angels or sons of men made angels which stand before the throne in heaven, then how can they be hurt or killed physically in these scenes. This may be more symbolic than literal, but a blend of both symbolism and the literal for sure. Here again, we see a blended manifestation, which is consistent with our understanding of the Book of Revelation so far.)
Jesus was also blended. His blendedness is also to be related to the Book of Revelation, and to the believer’s experience in Christianity. At the same instant that the Mystery of Godliness (Christ in you…) is finished, the Mystery of Christ (you in Christ) is to be finished. We are settled into His truth forever (sealed), and shall go no more out, and then can the ends of all things sinful begin. This is expressly demonstrated by the taking of the beast and false prophet and throwing them alive into to a lake of fire at the Parousia. Their judgment comes in one day—no waiting another thousand years. It is immediate. Done. On the other hand, their counterpart in the war with the Lamb, the living saints, are taken also, received unto Himself and enter the lake of living waters, and the atmosphere of Heaven.
The conclusion of the whole last-days matter is that the representatives of the one army get no life: done, out of this universe; the other representatives who are with Him obtain eternal life. At the end of this last great battle, the final conflict, God expresses His ultimate ruling to all about this very long trial. This spiritual trail of tears has always been about life and death, and that is exactly what is here expressed: those entering a lake are destroyed: death, and those entering the heavens: life. These two expressions show the end result of the two plans, cultures, or system of choices that have existed on this planet since sin came here. This action of taking the beast and the false prophet is done in the direct sight of the billions who have participated in the war with the Lamb. These billions, who are left in awe of this display, finally give glory to God. They see that they have made wrong choices in entering this war, and realize that they have exulted in the blood of the innocent. But they now see their dear leaders are taken in the middle of the war: checkmate and stoppage of game for the ones that have lead them into the war.
Throughout the two witnesses’ prophecy the question must be asked: where are the people of God during all of this? If this is the last promulgation of the gospel, then where are God’s people? The answer lies in a question that looks back into all of history: has there ever been a time that the word of God on earth has not been within or at least close to His people? His word, His testimony has been promised to be with them always, even to the end of the world. When we see the two witnesses prophesying on earth, we should expect to see the saints in the blended midst of everything that will be happening.
The message in which the 2nd John gives to kings will comes from a book (words, the testimony of two which is required in a dispute). Through the 2nd Johns this book’s oil pours forth without measure, and without delay. In the miraculous ‘standing upon their feet’ scene, the two witnesses are seen returning to His throne—returning not void, but with mission accomplished. Quickly following this are the scenes in which all the saints in and on the planet earth are redressed in spiritual apparel and are brought up to the family carriage for the Ride.
Synoptic Answers
In this 10th chapter (and the 11th) is where we find a very short outline of what will take place; the details of that outline are revealed immediately following it. In this 10th chapter (and the 11th) we also find a synoptic answer to the statement in the Book of Daniel: ‘what shall befall thy people.’ We see here, also, a synopsis that has its origins in the 6th chapter where the four horses are told by the four living creatures to go out. This is where the ‘little-book-opened’ is unsealed; this is where the blended aspects regarding the sealed book seem to come sharply into first play.
The first four seals in the 6th chapter parallel the scenes in the 10th chapter. Both events present teamwork, and a going-out to the entire world and, by warnings, blood and whatever has been prophesied, they conquer the entire earth. Those who would be co-workers with Christ in this future time will show a deep interest in the truths of the Book of Revelation. And thus, as they follow the Angel’s footfalls on land and sea, they endure proudly the bitter outcomes.
John, The Facilitator
It would seem quite logical that John being there, observing apocalyptic times, and being there and being asked to interact with the things which unfolded would mean that John represents, so to speak, both intended associations. God brings him forward to a time which is not his, by far, as well as He brings him to a time where he sees things which also pertain to his immediate time period. In both these associations, his presence on scene represents the people of God. This is similar to how Daniel could ask and be told about things that shall happen to ‘thy people’ in the latter times: Daniel saw things which happen during his time, and also things which were strange to him, technologically speaking, because they were so very far into the future. The experiences of Daniel in Babylon are associative to our experiences in the future Babylon-beast rule.
The first book and its messages goes to the 7 churches and beyond; the second book, which is blended inside, comes down to our time for us; the blended things which pertain to our movement then carry us forward to the last times. This seems to also be the way in which Matthew 24 and 25 have traveled to us. But by eating the book in the 10th chapter, John, as facilitator, is almost certainly doing something that is clearly future. The words spoken to him attest to that as well when the word again is used. The 11th chapter is an enlargement of the synopsis of this edict to John that he must prophesy again. In its unblended aspect, and when this 2nd John eats the book, this John goes out and measures, not an epoch journey through the 1st century temple of his early days, but a journey that encompasses a people that belong to our time, a heavenly temple, and a final atonement of the sacrifice of Christ.
Additionally, the first century church, the 1st John, did proclaim this gospel to the then (8 million-ish) known world; this 2nd John will proclaim the gospel to the now known last 8 billion-ish inhabitants of this world. The church of Christ’s generation evangelized down a timeline that had been blended by Christ (Matthew 24 and 25); the last church of Christ goes out likewise, carried along by a blended revelation about things from Christ. This book written by John should be looked upon not as a revelation about Jesus Christ, but rather just what it says it is: a revelation about things that are coming; things we need to urgently know about and walk circumspectly through.
Unblending Practices
If the 24th chapter of Matthew is blended, and we have navigated well through its blendedness so far, would it be productive to use those same principles when we unravel the Book of Revelation? (As far as figuring it out for ourselves is concerned. DA p.628) Also, by the fervor of our desire to know, we can expect that the Master will lovingly give knowledge accordingly. The 4th chapter of the Book of Revelation presents to us John's intense interest in this offered book. His intensity was so compressed that it made him sob-cry in the presence of the King because of another apparent delay of the end. In our time, with these things just years ahead of this world, we need to know these things that are going to pass in their quickness, and we have not few moments to lose in getting those things right as a corporate institution.
The things revealed in the Book of Revelation to the world are about the corporate: the systems which are right and the systems which are wrong; more so than they are about the individuals which reside in those organizations. Doctrinal things feed the individual, more or less, but revelation is more for all the servants of God (future generations included). Both the individual and the corporate aspects of Christianity are, obviously, eternally linked, but which does the Book of Revelation highlight the most, and which venues have killed the greater amount of saints: the corporate ones.
Revelation 1:1 “…unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:” Things is plural, servants is plural in the context here; but He gives it to John, one of His best servants and John sends it to the 7-fold corporation. So: corporate; it is a corporate thing by preponderance.
Another Way of Saying Unfold
When the little book in the hand of God was given to the Lamb in the 5th chapter of Revelation, the first event that followed its opening was the gospel rider going out on a white horse. In the 10th Chapter, the 2nd John takes the book, eats and digests it; then he is told that he must go out…again. These two little books are obviously the same book. Another way of saying unfolding of the scroll (or its message) is to say ‘Take…eat the book, in thy belly bitter but in thy mouth sweet as honey…’, i.e., digest the meanings of it.
Another way of saying read is to say eat. As Christians we must eat His flesh and drink of His blood. When the words are unfolded during the processes in the belly in the intestines(the DNA of proteins being broken down, etc.), the message unfolds, and an experience and an understanding results.
Read= anaginosko, to obtain an exact understanding of. Rev. 1:3
In John’s belly= experiencing the exact, broken down meanings of the words. Rev. 10:9
Notice how closely the two words Read and Eat track with their meanings. Nuance for nuance, use for use, they are almost identical.
God Giving the Increase
During the event where The God says, “This is my son in whom I am well pleased…’John the Baptist knew that Christ would increase, and that he himself would decrease. When God opened up Heaven on the banks of Jordan, a door down here was opened and gave great opportunities for His son. Jesus’s life at that moment just got a whole lot more complicated. He began to increase acutely and went out performing thousands of miracles a day-ish.
The church which gathered at the foot of the cross, immediately afterward began studying as never before and when they finally became of one accord with themselves and had all developed a love of the truth in their inner man, they were signified as well-pleasing and within hours went about doing thousands of miracles a day –ish. One who opened his mouth on that day was opening a door of opportunity into the many tongues and peoples gathered for that special time. The lighting of the Holy Spirit was their sign that they were well pleasing in His sight. They went on to evangelize, even to the end of their present world.
The 2nd John, those who eat the little book opened in Rev. 10, are those in whom God shows that He is well pleased. They are His true servants mentioned in Rev. 1:1. This ‘eating of the book’ represents the Philadelphia church Experience. In Revelation 3:10 a door was opened to the Philadelphia church because they ‘kept my word, and hast not denied my name.’ Revelation 3:10 is also synonymous with the eating and digesting of the little-book-opened. Because they had developed a love of the truth, they were rewarded with increase, and the last church likewise will increase and overtake the entire present world. This will happen in our future during the latter rain.
God was well-pleased, also, with John the Revelator. After some sixty years of service, now at the end of his life, a door was opened to him in Heaven, and wondrous things were shown out of God’s law.
When the church of God becomes well-pleasing, they will increase and exponentially do the Acts of the last Apostles. As a gospel horse, the church will again go out conquering and to conquer.
The seal Jesus received was the Spirit of God from His father, and Jesus began to prophesy before all manner of men. The censer event in the 8th chapter of Revelation (fire from the altar of incense poured out onto the earth was the Pentecost) is that same spiritual power that will come from God to His latter day church.
In the last verse of the 10th chapter, we see that the 2nd John is well-pleasing in His sight. We know this is so because this 2nd John obeys and takes ‘the little-book-open’. He sees and loves what this Book of Revelation means to the church (else why did he cry so); it is that love of the brethren which prompts him eagerly to obey. He eats, digests, and in so doing, becomes, in symbol, our future corporate assembly. The next thing we see (the beginning of the 11th chapter) are details that must unfold about that general synopsis (verses 10 and 11of Chapter 10). The church of Christ accepts this book, reads it, experiences it and simultaneously goes out as witnesses. In the upper room, the 120 measure the Spiritual temple, the spiritual altar, and those who worship within, and from their oneness went out witnessing. What followed the disciples were spiritual voices, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake that turned the world upside down. This ‘again’ period of prophecy will also be followed by voices, thunderings, lightnings and an earthquake. This is the same pattern exhibited in the ministry of Christ. This increase of power and might of the spirit (exploits) always follows a receiving and an understanding of the words of God—that willingness to do the will of the Father—His exploits.
John eventually sends his book to the seven churches in Asia, so that each church could read Christ’s testimony about their condition, as well as so that they would be made aware of critical future things that directly involved them and the later saints. However, it was not just sent and given to the seven churches, but to the surrounding regions as well, and eventually to the rest of that historical world. We know this to be true because the book still exists today, and is read by nearly the entire world. It is a book of things which happened during the seven churches in Asia’s timeline, and it is a book of things which are yet to happen. There still remains, however, a collective reading of it by our generation so that we may gain for ourselves knowledge of those things which will quickly come to pass before our eyes. Christians are admonished to ‘Wait and Watch.’ We are watching for things; for deep things of God.
Similarly, Christ focused in on his disciples, and said, “Behold, I have told you before.” Five times in Matthew 24, the word things is written. The opening verse in the Book of Revelation pronouncedly states the objective of the book: to shew unto John’s generation and the last generation things which must be. The word things (referring to events, etc.) is written 36 times in the Book of Revelation. Revelation, then, is really about things, and a very many things, all of which have to do with our salvation.
They Shall Do Exploits
In Daniel 11:32 it says, ‘And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.’
Flatteries= fine promises
Fine= mid-13c., “unblemished, refined, pure, free of impurities,” also “of high quality, choice,” from Old French fin “perfected, of highest quality”…(see addendum)
Strong= display strength (to be or grow firm or strong, strengthen)
Know= to know
exploits= exploit (n.) late 14c., “outcome of an action,” from Old French esploit “a carrying out; achievement, result; gain, advantage” (12c., Modern French exploit), a very common word, used in senses of “action, deed, profit, achievement,” from Latin explicitum “a thing settled, ended, or displayed,” noun use of neuter of explicitus, past participle of explicare “unfold, unroll, disentangle,” from ex “out” (see ex-) + plicare “to fold” (from PIE root *plek- “to plait”).
This Latin derivation of exploits completes the idea I mentioned above about some of the other meanings of the word ‘unfolding’: the book once eaten is unfolded, obviously by God, in the life-experience of the one who has eaten it; they begin doing in concert their part in fulfilling the things prophesied. Thus, the church shall do, but God must be given the glory.
Our Visiting Angel
The church in John’s time (the 1st John) is visited by Christ; this visitation is the 2nd and 3rd chapters of the Book of Revelation. These golden lampstands are the people who ‘worship therein’ in John’s time: here they stand as lampstands, and here they are weighed, measured, and advised by Christ. This is a corporate visitation. We can tell this because its address is to the leaders: the princes and priests of the churches in Asia.
The measuring done by the 2nd John in the 11th chapter is a corporate one as well and is of the same intensity and import as the work which Christ did in AD 90-ish (chapter 2 and 3: the visitation). In these two chapters Christ is measuring them and giving them the call to inspect themselves (he that hath an ear, let him hear…). The condition of our ‘7 churches’ today is exactly the same condition as in AD 90-ish. Thus all of the details of these two chapters apply to us; we are undeniably the continuation of those churches, the remnant of her seed, and like they we also worship by faith in the heavenly temple of God.
Our Greatest Need
We, the believers of our day, are back again poised to deliver the gospel again before many kings. And once again, an inspection, a visitation must be done. We are called on to listen to what the Spirit is saying to us about our condition. Our condition today is not the highest good, and before we can go and do exploits, we must somehow do measuring: a preparation—a corporate one. The reed given is the perfect help we need to accomplish this. This reed is not something we already own, but is given to the 2nd John. With it the corporate entity must, where it applies, rend the heart and the garment.
As the repairers of the breach in Nehemiah’s time began their work after a measuring time, so must it be with us when we take up the restoring of the breaches in our day. Measuring is the first math one does before any repair, and likewise, before one turns the mind away from deception and evil, thoughtful math must be done…a counting of the costs.
Here is an interesting notice: notice that the reed is not the golden reed of the architect (like the one carried by the angel who finishes the settling of the City of God on the earth), but it is the examining reed, as it were. The temple of God is already finished, perfect, established by God in eternal times. The altar is also a structure that has been completed and well established by God during Jesus’s life on earth. Those who worship therein: because we are so unsettled in the truth, our greatest work of measuring lies here, and it is left with us to remedy the odd ‘measurements’ that the reed finds.
It is important to see that before the church can begin going out, they must first go in with a reed; both corporately and individually. John, at 90 –ish could go into the throne room because he was ready. Everything written about the character of the Philadelphians could be said about the life of John from the time he brought Peter with him into the room where Jesus was until Patmos. Because of his love of the truth, the door of the fourth chapter of revelation was opened to him freely. Like Daniel before him, John had kept and eaten the word for many years; had loved this message to tears. Now a door is opened which no man can shut: the meat of the things which God wants to show to us will only begin to happen when we read what happens beyond that door. But the visitation must occur first. In Chapter 2 and 3 the churches are commanded to measure themselves and do repentances; in the 11th chapter (our blended future time period) a measuring is required: a visitation period must happen. Christ tells Ephesus that its leaders have left their first love. We in remnant time who have left our first love are, like Ephesus, in danger of our whole church being removed out: a serious judgment indeed.
Read= to obtain an exact understanding of.
Measure= to ascertain spatial dimensions, quantity, or capacity of by comparison with a standard.
Notice how closely the two words track with their meanings. Nuance for nuance, use for use, they are almost identical.
Till First Things Are Put First
The Book of Revelation is a revelation about things! When we follow the historical details in the second and third chapters of the Book of Revelation, it is easily seen that the investigative walk-through by Christ did take place during that historical time period. However, I don't see the urgency of our present day fallen-needs being met by our applying these passages as largely historical things, pointing them out as only things which pertained to an earlier time. When we un-blend these chapters, however, and then measure (compare) them against what is happening in all of our church-life today, the serious relevancy of these things should give us fire-level alertness to read these two chapters with the thought of obtaining an exact knowledge of them. As we are told that all of the discourse of Matthew 24 and 25 was for our generation, so too, all of the discourse in Chapter 2 and 3 are for us—every single word and symbol.
If we can see that the second and third chapters are blended and simultaneously applicable toward two generations of people, then this one insight can help us better understand the other blended passages that come up in the rest of the Book of Revelation. This I think is the original intent of placing these two chapters toward the beginning of the book; I think it emphasizes the importance of the measuring which comes first before the going out: that measuring work that must come before the fall of the great Spirit-Rain. First things that are first, must be put first.
Serious Things
Our High Priest in Revelation 2 and 3 repeatedly says: these things reveal critical details concerning the state of the church and its future. The two chapters reveal things about their future. The angel in Chapter 1 also says: things which must shortly come to pass; again, things about the future. So whether we listen to the 1st John, or the 2nd John, we must listen to things, must know things, and, when the time comes, we must do things. We do somewhat an injustice when we put forth and stress that the Book of Revelation is the revelation about Jesus Christ: i.e. as a book about his character. What is more honorable is to pin point that this revelation is God’s revelation, and that He gave it unto His son, that His son might shew unto His servants things which will come, ‘things that will be…’ The book involves time-things and math-things. We also learn in Rev.1, that Christ has been given answers to things that concern those exact future details in which the disciples had asked Christ for. The Book of Revelation is Matthew 24 and 25 all over again, with blends and all. Revelation displays, however, greater details about those end-things. And though it is given by Christ, it is God’s revelation; and the overt purpose of the book is to shew things. And so it does; so let it be.
Another example: we don’t overview Matthew 24 by pointing out that it is a revelation of Jesus Christ’s character, etc. What we do with those two chapters (24 and 25) is listen to the words and digest the blended things which are about to come. Those are indeed the important things to get; after that we watch and wait—we serve and keep the words (Rev. 1:3; Rev. 3:10). Therein is the blessing. And, of course, by AD 90 –ish, John’s experience is full of deep revelations about Jesus Christ; his exact understanding has increased some 60 years by knowing more and more of His character and His saving grace. And by his 96th birthday-ish, he, like Daniel, was visited as a man greatly beloved, a man who was faithful at words.
To the point again: the word ‘of’ is here in context with having the meaning of the word ‘from’. This revelation is from The God. Honor is, where honor is due. And the church is in dire need to know things about the danger of the condition they are in first, and then to know things about what shall be in the last days--things that shall befall ‘thy people’. So, like as in Matthew 24, in Revelation, Christ can say: behold, I have told you before…but this time I am using 22 chapters to do it, plus I am adding some answers regarding those deep things which previously had only belonged to God.
The Book of Revelation is about things—urgent things, serious things. Today, if we look at these passages very closely, and if we measure these things, we will see that indeed we too have married a Jezebel; we too have somehow chosen to leave our ‘first love of the brethren’; that in our day there are and will be martyrdom of Christians (particularly like in Vietnam pre-war); that we the leaders allow Balaam and Nicolas among us; that we the leaders are hypocrites and have a name only; and that because of all these conditions, the church collectively is wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. But those who keep the words of His patience and do not deny his name will keep knowing their God and eventually do....
When we see the things written in the visitation more clearly for the grave dishonors they are, we will gladly take the little book open and decide on action. And oh, Brethren, there will be tears! When we finally see the gravity, the worth of this blended book, and see those applicable portends which will come upon us and go very quickly, then we will know that we are rightly dividing the words of truth. This ability to see the two blended paths will be the first collective sign that we are ‘getting the small things right.’ At that time there may be heard from among us cries such as this: "Oh, God, please send to us sons of Issachar, that we may understand the things of our time and that we may ‘know what to do?’" That ‘son of our need’ is that strong angel that comes down in the cloud and lets us take the open book, and then sends us out again as sons of Issachar to the leaders of all the earth. Like Daniel we will prophesy about things that our kings, great men and rich men do not know are coming.
‘Let Us Reason Together’ in This Book
The main purpose of prophecy is to develop faith, and the word purpose largely and forthrightly speaks about a marriage offer. God’s purpose is to marry Adam and Eve’s family—a corporate proposal to the long span of believers throughout history since the fall. This arranged, special proposal was covenanted long ago before the creation of the human family. God instituted the marriage of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. It was the first of its kind in the universe: on planet earth He created the first ever of two individuals made in the image of God which became a unique corporation. Now the so-loved arranged marriage of Adam and Eve has been supplanted at the cross by a second institution of marriage. This too, was to be the first of its kind, for The God is now making a new arrangement with a wife called the church. And He so-loves her.
In securing this corporate marriage we see His use of prophecy throughout scripture. These lines of prophecies help us develop faith, hope and charity to a level like that which existed before the fall. Understanding a prophecy and exercising faith demands the frequent use of math, as well as the frequent use of an upper room in which the parties involved can come and reason together regarding the points of the cross. Although prophecy, which has been fulfilled and has become history, does encourage and enrich future generations, only that prophecy, which is seen in advance by a generation, and then unfolds before their own eyes, will intensely increase and develop their faith. And in our time, we will need a level of faith which will allow us to navigate the unique terrors to come. With this kind of faith we will go ‘out’ with that ‘grace that much more abounds’ against the overwhelming storms of the end. Thus, we—those readers and hearers and keepers of this word of prophecy—should expect that this Book of Revelation would expressly speak from its very opening about rich and powerful things which pertain to the hope of our very lives.
In the past, without too much controversy, we have repeatedly stated that the Book of Revelation is especially written for the last generation. It is only by eating and digesting the book before future things come to pass that remnant Christians will be fit enough to go on from ‘faith to faith.’
The Remedy and the Faith are a Given
From time to time, all of us do the good and the evil works delineated in the 2nd and 3rd chapter of the Book of Revelation—and some of us do them on a continuous basis: sin is still in our camp. Church leaders are still waning in fervor from their first love. Solomons and Ahabs are still marrying the religious priests and priestesses, and also marrying the same old doctrines of the ‘Balaams of the ages.’ We all at times have a name we live, but are dead hypocrites, and from all these conditions go on to become wretched, miserable, poor, blind or naked. Likewise, blessing and faith and righteousness are also still in the camp—and that, only because of the Comforter. He has vowed not to leave nor forsake us till this probationary time ends.
1 Peter 2:5 Berean Study Bible:‘ As you come to Him, the living stone, rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight, you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: “See, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”
In the verse above there is a temple of God, an altar of great price, and there are worshiping priests (Zion, The Cornerstone, and the believers). In Rev.11:1, we have the same three elements which John is told to measure, examine, or in other words: ‘get them right.’
This remedy, and this faith is not something common in our experience, but something which is given from God to us ward. In the Revelation, ‘we have met the tabernacle, and it is us’, we are the living stones, the saints, and all who believe will rest their lives on the Cornerstone. In this symbolism of the 2nd John, we are given a reed from Heaven so that we will not be found wandering about like those who disallowed the chief cornerstone due to human stumbling at the studying of His word. This relationship of the saints and the cornerstone recapitulates very prominently throughout the Book of Revelation. When we really explore these details, the thrilling meanings will develop enduring faith for the individual, and for the assembly.
[An interesting aside: the measuring (i.e., the visitation) which the 2nd John does in chapter 10 and 11 is mirrored in the second and third chapters of Revelation. Christ is the one doing the measuring in chapter 2 and 3. He tells each church what he knows (what He has measured, the reading on the inch lines of His golden reed). John is made aware of the place where these seven churches worship—where their citizenship is—and the need for the measuring in both passages is revealed as urgent: their reading, listening and keeping will decide eternal outcomes. This is ‘Present Truth’ which must be talked about.
In both cases the three most prime Real Estates of the universe are inspected: the Temple of God himself, the symbol of the Cross of Christ, and the redeemed worshippers, the bride. There is a host of thoughts and details revealed in just these three elements which are being measured. All three pieces of Real Estate are connected to blood. Each element presented here is touched, in a forever-way, by the death of one person. And thus by measuring with a given reed, the entire universe gets to see somewhat of the inestimable value of this salvific compound.]
The Taking Command
In the 10th chapter John eats an open book. As a group, we seem to understand that, and we almost always celebrate that. But this act of eating, this dispensation, or experience, begins with a command to take the book and eat it. The 2nd John obeys this command without hesitation, for earlier in the book we saw him cry like a baby in the presence of the King over the sincere meat which he knew was in the words of this sealed book. (1 Peter 2:2 ‘as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word…that you may grow…’) He must have had some idea of what the book meant to the arrangment, and that one of its origins was the Book of Daniel. Also, we glimpse his love for the flock, for imagine the glad new things he would see and write for the flock that would give them even greater hope for the Dark Ages ahead of them, while he went on toward the close of his life. Oh the caring of an old man of faith. I prize; I heavily prize this detail.
Even before the command, however, there is the ‘giving’ of the book to John: the offer. This act is in sync with the word-theme of this book: to give things which must shortly come to pass. The little-book-open in the 10th chapter is obviously the book that has just been unsealed in the 6th chapter. If the book is at this point unsealed, and if the angel is reading things from within it while He proclaims seven thunders, etc., we can logically understand that those things vowed aloud, but not allowed to be written, are attached to this little-book-open and will become part of this 2nd John’s dispensation.
Thus, the question coming out of this 10th chapter is still the same one I posited at the first: 1st John, or 2nd John; which John is for us? The 1st John lived during the long dispensation of the four horses; the 2nd John must live during the short dispensation of the four horses, for the blaring of the lion’s voice which John was permitted to write, speaks about something beautiful. It announces the end of a mystery long promised; about a marriage arranged before probationary time; about the consummation of that marriage in the final atonement.
All of the details of the 10th chapter are clearly end-of-the-world things, for the sealed book is now completely opened. The reader may gain from the angel’s words, and His actions, something of what the phrase ‘Mystery of god…finished’ means. All the necessary depths of these details, in symbol, He has come down to the earth to give to the 2nd John. After John has partaken of the book, the angel mentors John about John’s renewed prophesying. (This whole event is an ‘opening of a door’; the beginning of a ministry.) Does the word ‘again’ here signify a second Pentecost, but one greater than the first, owing to the 7th trumpet now being associated with this ‘again’? Certainly the end of all things will be much more a pinnacle than the heights reached in Jerusalem at Pentecost and after.
Scenes, In Pinnacle, Given
Think about this: the book which no one but the lamb could handle is in the hand of a strong angel (Christ) which comes down in a cloud to our earth and eventually gives the whole book to the 2nd John. The 2nd John eats it and digests it. It is bitter in his belly but sweet in his mouth. The angel tells John that he must again prophecy to a world-wide group of people. This taking and eating passage becomes a synopsis. The 11th chapter is the unfolding of that synopsis. And all this seems to be happening at a time that is just before the 7th Trumpet sounds. These things directly surround the church (2nd John) and the Angel (Christ): for they are the only two who are actually present. This prophesying is prominently stamped with an again. And if John is to do a worldwide promulgation of the details in the book just eaten, then the angel will attend him (the church)—again. It will be an again for the angel as well.
Let’s think a little deeper about what is here given to us? It is a book that no one was found in heaven or under the earth to open or read. It is not a gospel, per se; not a direct revelation of Jesus Christ’s character, or earthly ministry. Rather, it is a book largely filled with scenes, in pinnacle, that have to do with those things which shall befall the people of God, and those judgments and warnings which will come to pass in rapid succession upon the people of the whole world.
In the 10th chapter we have a fulfillment, if you will, of the first verse of the Book of Revelation. All of the things promised to be shewn are represented as being in this book, i.e., that this revelation from God is in a book, and that this book is in the hand of God’s son, and the Son gives it to his servant the 2nd John, who here represents the church in our time. And what is given are things: words. It is fair to say as other theologians have already clarified, that everything that follows the 5th chapter of revelation becomes what is read or shown out of this sealed book. The things revealed out of this little book become in large part the Book of Revelation. The little book sealed is the last vision in the Book of Daniel; this book and the Book of Revelation become one.
What the 2nd John takes from the angel are things worth knowing, things that are from the deep mindset of the Father: things from His right hand of power. These things are designed to develop two things: a love of the truth and faith. How much love, and how much faith? That answer we can find by looking at how the book was first described throughout the 5th chapter of Revelation.
The law of God is a law that works by love—a law of love, one might say. And faith’s highest example is the faith of Jesus Christ, which translates to and is equal to His testimony, which again translates and is equal to His Spirit of Prophecy: all the things He did with the Spirit during His life on earth including His perseverance through the grave. This sevenfold Spirit is seen all over the lamb in the 5th chapter. When the strong angel in the 5th chapter asks, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” the beholder begins to see the worth of this great event (this Book of Revelation). This book must be equal to the worth of the Son of God, since He was the only one found equal enough to open, read and dispense it. Oh can we see how highly this book should be prized by us, and how much love and how much faith it will develop in us when we truly study it. It contains so much of the character and glory of the Son of God, that it affords much more power to change us, bringing us upward in standards and quality of life. How this is accomplished I will write in parts two and three.
Worthy= of equal value.
As the scroll is opened, read, and dispensed, deep things happen in the earth, and deep things happen within the church. We are given a worthy co-worker’s part in those things which come to pass. These things become a part of our history as we live and digest them; though they come with some things bitter and some things sweet.
This is just like another pattern in the gospel dispensation timeline, repeated quite often in the New Testament. The power and life which Christ's death had won for Him, He turns around and gives it to the saints: the out pouring of His Spirit at Pentecost is a marked example. The life He won, the righteousness He secured by His death, the propitiation: He gives all of these to those who believe—they have everlasting life through their relationship with the Son. But only as they eat His flesh, and drink His blood; only as they keep and not deny His words. So, there is nothing completely new in this 10th chapter passage. Nothing to be afraid of or relearn. Except, here we must seek to know when this prophesying again will actually happen.
If they reference the 1st John, then they pertain to the now-passed time of the apostles and their Pentecostal march to the end of their then known world. If these things reference the 2nd John, then these things are yet future, and will be things pertaining to the saints who receive not only Pentecost, but the latter rain. Is the latter rain experience found within this little-book-open? If the mystery to be finished is mentioned in-hand with this book, then the latter rain which completes the grain is almost certainly in the events of this chapter. Monumental! to express the joy of this in the least amount of words. Magnanimous! in order to be true to the unprecedented offer which is here represented.
Pentecost: There was no book offered; no seven thunders uttered; no strong angel coming down and asking the 120 in the upper room to participate with Him in his 'walk' during a time period which is connected to the 7th trumpet sounding.
Former and Latter Rain: Christ comes down covertly; there is an unsealed book in Christ’s hand; He signifies a movement is afoot by positioning his feet; He announces something about the close of probation; the church is invited to take part in His movement; the church obeys the instructions, then eats the book that only one had right to open; the angel and the church walk worldwide as two witnesses against all kings and rulers; the 8th beast comes on the scene and….
Two Groups of Saints, But the Same Church
Matthew chapter 24: there are two major events: "what will happen, and signs, etc."; there are two generations of peoples mentioned; they are of the same church; the disciples are invited to read Daniel; and the whole of Christ’s answer is a blend of those details belonging to each generation. It is left with us to figure the two events out: DA 628.
Book of Revelation: "Things which must quickly pass." There are two time periods blended here also. Two generations of peoples, same church, and two messages are blended from the very beginning of the book. If we can distinguish the two Johns throughout this book, then we eventually will unravel this blend. Another detail: during Pentecost, the little book in revelation was still closed, sealed; they could ‘so read’ the Book of Daniel, as Jesus invited them to do, but this particular ‘vision’ in Daniel was still sealed. The 2nd John eats the book while it is open. This little portion of the Book of Daniel is unsealed in the 5th chapter of the revelation sixty years after Pentecost. What is revealed at that time (when read by us) carries ‘us’ forward into the end of the world.
The Two Dispensations
The first time that John preached the gospel was when he was a younger man. The second time is when he is brought to the scene which the Angel comes down with the little-book-open in the figure (We don’t know if John preached what he saw in heaven later to those in his cell on Patmos; or if he was permitted to leave Patmos and become an evangelist again, traveling again through Asia. We are just not told what he preached regarding it after leaving heaven.)
The Taking: An Aggressive One, But a Honorable One
If the church does take this book, and if the church digests it, it must be done with a lot more aggressiveness than we are presently handling this book. The word take used here is a very forthright word in the Greek. It means properly: to lay hold of by aggressively accepting what is offered. Eating is normally a function that is done by the most powerful muscle in the human body, and digestion takes place among the most powerful acids in the human body, by which things are torn down very finely and then sent to be assimilated into the minute parts of the body.
And, Brethren, There Shall Be Tears On the Day of His Spirit!
When this eating and digesting does finally take place, where in the universal picture of things will it take place exactly? The 10th chapter (and yes, the 11th chapter also) will begin at the pinnacle of probationary time, and at a time when all the worlds in the universe will be looking in at the scenes afoot on our planet.
In the 5th chapter, all heaven and these un-fallen worlds have just scanned the universe for such a one whose right it was to open and read the little book; now they look-on, waiting to see exactly what the Lamb does with this book. After opening it with some dignity, He clandestinely comes down later to earth, gives it to humans, the church, and together they go out conquering and to conquer. I am repeating a bit too much, but there is such a precedent of repetition, recapitulation and rerun in the Book of Revelation—and throughout the bible as well—that it should not be counted as a harsh thing. It is a normality we should accept, especially among such a hard hearted humanity as exists here in our end time.
Among us there may be those who will exhibit in their experience that devastated look of Peter. A case in point where we who display that look will respond: “Lord, are you giving this little-book-open to me…The sickly, impetuous, backsliding one?! I am one worse than Peter who denied you and kicked and screamed, as it were, constantly at almost every direction your words of truth were heading!” Oh the honorable giving which we will preciously hold in our hands at that time; when we realize what this little-book-open will mean to us. And yes, Brethren, there shall be tears!
This counsel to take the book will come at a time when the church, the 2nd John of our period, is at its lowest state. This knowledge could not come to us at a more needed time, and like the condition that existed in Ahab’s kingdom, it is a time for men of miracles; a time when we must turn the heart toward God; a time to sue for the completion of the development of that Mystery of Godliness to its fullest. No higher bread could be given to us than this Book of Revelation; no higher worth in knowledge is here opened and offered to man. Only as we accept this book, will we fully understand why we are in need of this book. With love, a measuring rod, and a desire for all the deep things of God, the church moves forward to visit His Temple, His altar of sacrifice, and the least of the apples of His eye. And only then will the church go out to spread that final word with unlimited godly expression, in the spirit and power of many Elijahs.
Oh what a deep honor to take this word. Oh to finally be able to in-live that eternal weight of glory which nothing can surpass. And afterward, rise from the earth like Elijah, each of us taking that pinnacle of maturity with them into the ages of forever.
* * *
But in the Book of Revelation we are given 22 chapters blended with things for and about two different generations. And there is even more: these scenes which involve these two generations, or classes of people, are intricately connected to all the other books in the bible. Thus, the above details point toward the showing of this book to be an insurmountable aggregate of the deep things of God. We do not give the Book of Revelation the honor due it when we fail to forthrightly seek and clarify, time by time, both of its blended parts.
Found: 'Deep Things' of God
There are also two books in the Book of Revelation: the first, all the words that John wrote for his generation, and second, we find another book which is folded or blended spiritually somehow throughout the words that John wrote. The 1st book seems to address things which take place over a broad period of time; it was sent to be read to the churches in Asia; the 2nd book announces things which will quickly come to pass long after the 1st John generation has physically left the scene. ‘Long and then short’ seems to be a good identifying description of this pattern, and we can say the same for the Book of Daniel as well, for he saw long ages of history and also the quick scene of judgment at the end of the world.
This second book was intended to be read and understood by the last generation. Therefore, we can say that it corresponds specifically to and is applicable to the 2nd John, if you will. This book, more than any other book of the bible, exemplifies the grand wisdom of God—that 'skillful use of knowledge'. It is imperative that we obtain this skillfulness in our walk, by drawing life from all words that proceed out of His mouth. This dichotomy of the two Johns and the dichotomy of the two books make the Book of Revelation a remarkable book indeed, which outstands all the books of the bible, for in addition to this book being blended, we are also told that all the books of the Bible meet and end in this book. Every root of salvation throughout the bible, for example, is blended in some way into this writing of John’s.
Which book in the Book of Revelation should our generation read, hear, and keep? The answer is an easy one: both, right?
That indeed does seem to be the logical answer to that question, but the question that involves which John is for us is another more pointed and less talked about question. As we think and reason together further in the details below, the importance of the aspects of the two Johns and the two books should hopefully become clearer.
The Two Johns
The Book of Revelation comes on the scene 60 or so years after the apostles were sent out to evangelize the world. John, the Revelator, writes the book and delivers it to the 7 churches in Asia. This whole view of the Book of Revelation is for the 1st Johns, and covers their Apostolic period and also extends answers for them concerning what shall befall all the children of the promise clear out to the end of time. Thus, they too, were to learn from and be encouraged by how these two Johns were closely blended within this 22 chapter book.
The two examples of the two Johns and their two books that are the easiest to investigate in this study are found here: Revelation Chapter 1, and here: Revelation Chapter 10. In Part One of this Morning Paper, I desire to give answer to the above question: which John is for us? By looking into the 10th (and the llth chapter also, which is the expansion of the synopsis comprising the last two verses of chapter 10.) I think it will give more press to the specific words in this passage which define this 2nd John. At a later date I will begin the deeper exploration (Part Two) into how this 2nd John’s thread is connected to other passages in the Book of Revelation, and indeed to the rest of the bible.
In Rev. 10 we see this 2nd John doing and writing about exploits which are identified only with the end of the world. These actions and the words found here clearly reveal that this passage was written specifically to and about our last generation. And if we follow the trail of this short viewpoint, we will also see preponderant evidence that hinges directly and correctly to our salvation. Thus, a collective and earnest endeavor by the church as a whole to understand what this book shall mean to us should bring us a little closer to an understanding of ‘what shall be’ in the ends of the world which are now upon us. This knowing will make us truly men of Issachar; that we might know these things is the whole intent of the Book of Revelation, for only those that ‘know their God will do exploits.’
Just as there are very many points making up a strand of DNA, the ends of the world are specific and focused elements—and these elements are very, very many. So, as many of us have found, reading the Book of Revelation requires time and much thought. But doing this as a group will surely gain for us the power needed to wisely present the gospel faithfully as the church gives the gospel’s last announcing.
Without doubt, this gospel shall be given in an exponential way by humans who will out-shine their indwelling Comforter, as opposed to using the Medias of Television and Technology. In Jesus's time, pen, paper, and the lives and mouths of those who were personally converted were primarily ‘the media’ that was used to proclaim the good news; and while the media will undoubtedly have its effective part in this last spread of the gospel, the primary 'life and mouth' piece of the proclamation will be the people of the church: the saints. Else why would it be labeled: The Loud Cry? Else why will all the evil demons initiate death decrees to silence these ‘voices, lightnings, thunders…’ which attend the exploits of the saints.
Chapter 10: An Angel Announces
John sees an angel come down. Because spiritual things are spiritually discerned, John (the 2nd John) could see the angel through the cloud, whereas the rest of the unbelieving mankind perhaps could not. As we say: spiritual things are spiritually discerned. We have also no biblical record of Christ coming physically down to do a final gospel message while touching land and sea physically. In the same fashion as the early church advanced the gospel, so the last church. The Angel postures both feet, then announces: there shall be no more delay, i.e., no more time left. These words are for us. At the sounding of the 7th trumpet, God will begin His strange wrath-mode and executing his judgments quickly. He will be doing as He has said, giving in one hour to that Great City, the plagues that are due her.
Also, The God will be in forthright work, giving glory without measure to and through His people—all eyes are on the church. People will collect on the alive saints’ lawn, after having finally come to a knowledge that God has loved this group of persecuted people. There is light in the camp of the righteous, and darkness in all other kingdoms. In this terrible period will be found the answer to the question asked in Rev. 6: “How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?” The answer to this cry is not found in the dark ages; this plaint may have existed throughout that age, but it was not answered then. It will be answered in our future, however: fully, directly, and with finality. They will know that He is God and that He really did send those whom the nations have just persecuted.
This display will be truly a universal display. Every eye in the universe will be focused on these scenes. Just as every heavenly eye was focused on the crucifixion of Christ, which was the greatest universal display of the character of God, so this end time will have the attention of all the Kozmos. Imagine the joy in the Heavens over the millions of souls who come to repentance during this final overnight, next-day spread of the gospel. Why: because those in all churches in Christendom who thought they were converted, thought they were un-blind, will develop an unparalleled consensus of a love of the truth—not a love of the sensual, the fanfare, or the decibels of church theatrics.
We should expect this to be the largest evangelistic increase in souls to the truth possibly ever. Why: because there will be no more delay, no more probationary time after this trumpet blows, and God will have been the rider of the horse in this last evangelistic crusade. The import of the announcement of the 7th trumpet is that probationary time is at an end, and when the 10th chapter ends (at the end of chapter 11), there will follow the fulfillment of the mighty praise and prayer: ‘thy kingdom come.’
Two Nations…One Mystery
The Angel of the 10th chapter also tells us two more important things: when the Mystery will be finished (at the 7th Trumpet) and where it began: some of its origins (the prophets). What follows this announcement are the scenes of the two witnesses prophesying, the beast which ascends from the bottomless pit killing them, and then the two witnesses’ integrity being fully restored and they being vindicated in a miraculous way. (i.e., maybe all of the pages of the burned bibles being put back together—integrity restored—and returning back to stand before God again. If these witnesses were angels or sons of men made angels which stand before the throne in heaven, then how can they be hurt or killed physically in these scenes. This may be more symbolic than literal, but a blend of both symbolism and the literal for sure. Here again, we see a blended manifestation, which is consistent with our understanding of the Book of Revelation so far.)
Jesus was also blended. His blendedness is also to be related to the Book of Revelation, and to the believer’s experience in Christianity. At the same instant that the Mystery of Godliness (Christ in you…) is finished, the Mystery of Christ (you in Christ) is to be finished. We are settled into His truth forever (sealed), and shall go no more out, and then can the ends of all things sinful begin. This is expressly demonstrated by the taking of the beast and false prophet and throwing them alive into to a lake of fire at the Parousia. Their judgment comes in one day—no waiting another thousand years. It is immediate. Done. On the other hand, their counterpart in the war with the Lamb, the living saints, are taken also, received unto Himself and enter the lake of living waters, and the atmosphere of Heaven.
The conclusion of the whole last-days matter is that the representatives of the one army get no life: done, out of this universe; the other representatives who are with Him obtain eternal life. At the end of this last great battle, the final conflict, God expresses His ultimate ruling to all about this very long trial. This spiritual trail of tears has always been about life and death, and that is exactly what is here expressed: those entering a lake are destroyed: death, and those entering the heavens: life. These two expressions show the end result of the two plans, cultures, or system of choices that have existed on this planet since sin came here. This action of taking the beast and the false prophet is done in the direct sight of the billions who have participated in the war with the Lamb. These billions, who are left in awe of this display, finally give glory to God. They see that they have made wrong choices in entering this war, and realize that they have exulted in the blood of the innocent. But they now see their dear leaders are taken in the middle of the war: checkmate and stoppage of game for the ones that have lead them into the war.
Throughout the two witnesses’ prophecy the question must be asked: where are the people of God during all of this? If this is the last promulgation of the gospel, then where are God’s people? The answer lies in a question that looks back into all of history: has there ever been a time that the word of God on earth has not been within or at least close to His people? His word, His testimony has been promised to be with them always, even to the end of the world. When we see the two witnesses prophesying on earth, we should expect to see the saints in the blended midst of everything that will be happening.
The message in which the 2nd John gives to kings will comes from a book (words, the testimony of two which is required in a dispute). Through the 2nd Johns this book’s oil pours forth without measure, and without delay. In the miraculous ‘standing upon their feet’ scene, the two witnesses are seen returning to His throne—returning not void, but with mission accomplished. Quickly following this are the scenes in which all the saints in and on the planet earth are redressed in spiritual apparel and are brought up to the family carriage for the Ride.
Synoptic Answers
In this 10th chapter (and the 11th) is where we find a very short outline of what will take place; the details of that outline are revealed immediately following it. In this 10th chapter (and the 11th) we also find a synoptic answer to the statement in the Book of Daniel: ‘what shall befall thy people.’ We see here, also, a synopsis that has its origins in the 6th chapter where the four horses are told by the four living creatures to go out. This is where the ‘little-book-opened’ is unsealed; this is where the blended aspects regarding the sealed book seem to come sharply into first play.
The first four seals in the 6th chapter parallel the scenes in the 10th chapter. Both events present teamwork, and a going-out to the entire world and, by warnings, blood and whatever has been prophesied, they conquer the entire earth. Those who would be co-workers with Christ in this future time will show a deep interest in the truths of the Book of Revelation. And thus, as they follow the Angel’s footfalls on land and sea, they endure proudly the bitter outcomes.
John, The Facilitator
It would seem quite logical that John being there, observing apocalyptic times, and being there and being asked to interact with the things which unfolded would mean that John represents, so to speak, both intended associations. God brings him forward to a time which is not his, by far, as well as He brings him to a time where he sees things which also pertain to his immediate time period. In both these associations, his presence on scene represents the people of God. This is similar to how Daniel could ask and be told about things that shall happen to ‘thy people’ in the latter times: Daniel saw things which happen during his time, and also things which were strange to him, technologically speaking, because they were so very far into the future. The experiences of Daniel in Babylon are associative to our experiences in the future Babylon-beast rule.
The first book and its messages goes to the 7 churches and beyond; the second book, which is blended inside, comes down to our time for us; the blended things which pertain to our movement then carry us forward to the last times. This seems to also be the way in which Matthew 24 and 25 have traveled to us. But by eating the book in the 10th chapter, John, as facilitator, is almost certainly doing something that is clearly future. The words spoken to him attest to that as well when the word again is used. The 11th chapter is an enlargement of the synopsis of this edict to John that he must prophesy again. In its unblended aspect, and when this 2nd John eats the book, this John goes out and measures, not an epoch journey through the 1st century temple of his early days, but a journey that encompasses a people that belong to our time, a heavenly temple, and a final atonement of the sacrifice of Christ.
Additionally, the first century church, the 1st John, did proclaim this gospel to the then (8 million-ish) known world; this 2nd John will proclaim the gospel to the now known last 8 billion-ish inhabitants of this world. The church of Christ’s generation evangelized down a timeline that had been blended by Christ (Matthew 24 and 25); the last church of Christ goes out likewise, carried along by a blended revelation about things from Christ. This book written by John should be looked upon not as a revelation about Jesus Christ, but rather just what it says it is: a revelation about things that are coming; things we need to urgently know about and walk circumspectly through.
Unblending Practices
If the 24th chapter of Matthew is blended, and we have navigated well through its blendedness so far, would it be productive to use those same principles when we unravel the Book of Revelation? (As far as figuring it out for ourselves is concerned. DA p.628) Also, by the fervor of our desire to know, we can expect that the Master will lovingly give knowledge accordingly. The 4th chapter of the Book of Revelation presents to us John's intense interest in this offered book. His intensity was so compressed that it made him sob-cry in the presence of the King because of another apparent delay of the end. In our time, with these things just years ahead of this world, we need to know these things that are going to pass in their quickness, and we have not few moments to lose in getting those things right as a corporate institution.
The things revealed in the Book of Revelation to the world are about the corporate: the systems which are right and the systems which are wrong; more so than they are about the individuals which reside in those organizations. Doctrinal things feed the individual, more or less, but revelation is more for all the servants of God (future generations included). Both the individual and the corporate aspects of Christianity are, obviously, eternally linked, but which does the Book of Revelation highlight the most, and which venues have killed the greater amount of saints: the corporate ones.
Revelation 1:1 “…unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:” Things is plural, servants is plural in the context here; but He gives it to John, one of His best servants and John sends it to the 7-fold corporation. So: corporate; it is a corporate thing by preponderance.
Another Way of Saying Unfold
When the little book in the hand of God was given to the Lamb in the 5th chapter of Revelation, the first event that followed its opening was the gospel rider going out on a white horse. In the 10th Chapter, the 2nd John takes the book, eats and digests it; then he is told that he must go out…again. These two little books are obviously the same book. Another way of saying unfolding of the scroll (or its message) is to say ‘Take…eat the book, in thy belly bitter but in thy mouth sweet as honey…’, i.e., digest the meanings of it.
Another way of saying read is to say eat. As Christians we must eat His flesh and drink of His blood. When the words are unfolded during the processes in the belly in the intestines(the DNA of proteins being broken down, etc.), the message unfolds, and an experience and an understanding results.
Read= anaginosko, to obtain an exact understanding of. Rev. 1:3
In John’s belly= experiencing the exact, broken down meanings of the words. Rev. 10:9
Notice how closely the two words Read and Eat track with their meanings. Nuance for nuance, use for use, they are almost identical.
God Giving the Increase
During the event where The God says, “This is my son in whom I am well pleased…’John the Baptist knew that Christ would increase, and that he himself would decrease. When God opened up Heaven on the banks of Jordan, a door down here was opened and gave great opportunities for His son. Jesus’s life at that moment just got a whole lot more complicated. He began to increase acutely and went out performing thousands of miracles a day-ish.
The church which gathered at the foot of the cross, immediately afterward began studying as never before and when they finally became of one accord with themselves and had all developed a love of the truth in their inner man, they were signified as well-pleasing and within hours went about doing thousands of miracles a day –ish. One who opened his mouth on that day was opening a door of opportunity into the many tongues and peoples gathered for that special time. The lighting of the Holy Spirit was their sign that they were well pleasing in His sight. They went on to evangelize, even to the end of their present world.
The 2nd John, those who eat the little book opened in Rev. 10, are those in whom God shows that He is well pleased. They are His true servants mentioned in Rev. 1:1. This ‘eating of the book’ represents the Philadelphia church Experience. In Revelation 3:10 a door was opened to the Philadelphia church because they ‘kept my word, and hast not denied my name.’ Revelation 3:10 is also synonymous with the eating and digesting of the little-book-opened. Because they had developed a love of the truth, they were rewarded with increase, and the last church likewise will increase and overtake the entire present world. This will happen in our future during the latter rain.
God was well-pleased, also, with John the Revelator. After some sixty years of service, now at the end of his life, a door was opened to him in Heaven, and wondrous things were shown out of God’s law.
When the church of God becomes well-pleasing, they will increase and exponentially do the Acts of the last Apostles. As a gospel horse, the church will again go out conquering and to conquer.
The seal Jesus received was the Spirit of God from His father, and Jesus began to prophesy before all manner of men. The censer event in the 8th chapter of Revelation (fire from the altar of incense poured out onto the earth was the Pentecost) is that same spiritual power that will come from God to His latter day church.
In the last verse of the 10th chapter, we see that the 2nd John is well-pleasing in His sight. We know this is so because this 2nd John obeys and takes ‘the little-book-open’. He sees and loves what this Book of Revelation means to the church (else why did he cry so); it is that love of the brethren which prompts him eagerly to obey. He eats, digests, and in so doing, becomes, in symbol, our future corporate assembly. The next thing we see (the beginning of the 11th chapter) are details that must unfold about that general synopsis (verses 10 and 11of Chapter 10). The church of Christ accepts this book, reads it, experiences it and simultaneously goes out as witnesses. In the upper room, the 120 measure the Spiritual temple, the spiritual altar, and those who worship within, and from their oneness went out witnessing. What followed the disciples were spiritual voices, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake that turned the world upside down. This ‘again’ period of prophecy will also be followed by voices, thunderings, lightnings and an earthquake. This is the same pattern exhibited in the ministry of Christ. This increase of power and might of the spirit (exploits) always follows a receiving and an understanding of the words of God—that willingness to do the will of the Father—His exploits.
John eventually sends his book to the seven churches in Asia, so that each church could read Christ’s testimony about their condition, as well as so that they would be made aware of critical future things that directly involved them and the later saints. However, it was not just sent and given to the seven churches, but to the surrounding regions as well, and eventually to the rest of that historical world. We know this to be true because the book still exists today, and is read by nearly the entire world. It is a book of things which happened during the seven churches in Asia’s timeline, and it is a book of things which are yet to happen. There still remains, however, a collective reading of it by our generation so that we may gain for ourselves knowledge of those things which will quickly come to pass before our eyes. Christians are admonished to ‘Wait and Watch.’ We are watching for things; for deep things of God.
Similarly, Christ focused in on his disciples, and said, “Behold, I have told you before.” Five times in Matthew 24, the word things is written. The opening verse in the Book of Revelation pronouncedly states the objective of the book: to shew unto John’s generation and the last generation things which must be. The word things (referring to events, etc.) is written 36 times in the Book of Revelation. Revelation, then, is really about things, and a very many things, all of which have to do with our salvation.
They Shall Do Exploits
In Daniel 11:32 it says, ‘And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.’
Flatteries= fine promises
Fine= mid-13c., “unblemished, refined, pure, free of impurities,” also “of high quality, choice,” from Old French fin “perfected, of highest quality”…(see addendum)
Strong= display strength (to be or grow firm or strong, strengthen)
Know= to know
exploits= exploit (n.) late 14c., “outcome of an action,” from Old French esploit “a carrying out; achievement, result; gain, advantage” (12c., Modern French exploit), a very common word, used in senses of “action, deed, profit, achievement,” from Latin explicitum “a thing settled, ended, or displayed,” noun use of neuter of explicitus, past participle of explicare “unfold, unroll, disentangle,” from ex “out” (see ex-) + plicare “to fold” (from PIE root *plek- “to plait”).
This Latin derivation of exploits completes the idea I mentioned above about some of the other meanings of the word ‘unfolding’: the book once eaten is unfolded, obviously by God, in the life-experience of the one who has eaten it; they begin doing in concert their part in fulfilling the things prophesied. Thus, the church shall do, but God must be given the glory.
Our Visiting Angel
The church in John’s time (the 1st John) is visited by Christ; this visitation is the 2nd and 3rd chapters of the Book of Revelation. These golden lampstands are the people who ‘worship therein’ in John’s time: here they stand as lampstands, and here they are weighed, measured, and advised by Christ. This is a corporate visitation. We can tell this because its address is to the leaders: the princes and priests of the churches in Asia.
The measuring done by the 2nd John in the 11th chapter is a corporate one as well and is of the same intensity and import as the work which Christ did in AD 90-ish (chapter 2 and 3: the visitation). In these two chapters Christ is measuring them and giving them the call to inspect themselves (he that hath an ear, let him hear…). The condition of our ‘7 churches’ today is exactly the same condition as in AD 90-ish. Thus all of the details of these two chapters apply to us; we are undeniably the continuation of those churches, the remnant of her seed, and like they we also worship by faith in the heavenly temple of God.
Our Greatest Need
We, the believers of our day, are back again poised to deliver the gospel again before many kings. And once again, an inspection, a visitation must be done. We are called on to listen to what the Spirit is saying to us about our condition. Our condition today is not the highest good, and before we can go and do exploits, we must somehow do measuring: a preparation—a corporate one. The reed given is the perfect help we need to accomplish this. This reed is not something we already own, but is given to the 2nd John. With it the corporate entity must, where it applies, rend the heart and the garment.
As the repairers of the breach in Nehemiah’s time began their work after a measuring time, so must it be with us when we take up the restoring of the breaches in our day. Measuring is the first math one does before any repair, and likewise, before one turns the mind away from deception and evil, thoughtful math must be done…a counting of the costs.
Here is an interesting notice: notice that the reed is not the golden reed of the architect (like the one carried by the angel who finishes the settling of the City of God on the earth), but it is the examining reed, as it were. The temple of God is already finished, perfect, established by God in eternal times. The altar is also a structure that has been completed and well established by God during Jesus’s life on earth. Those who worship therein: because we are so unsettled in the truth, our greatest work of measuring lies here, and it is left with us to remedy the odd ‘measurements’ that the reed finds.
It is important to see that before the church can begin going out, they must first go in with a reed; both corporately and individually. John, at 90 –ish could go into the throne room because he was ready. Everything written about the character of the Philadelphians could be said about the life of John from the time he brought Peter with him into the room where Jesus was until Patmos. Because of his love of the truth, the door of the fourth chapter of revelation was opened to him freely. Like Daniel before him, John had kept and eaten the word for many years; had loved this message to tears. Now a door is opened which no man can shut: the meat of the things which God wants to show to us will only begin to happen when we read what happens beyond that door. But the visitation must occur first. In Chapter 2 and 3 the churches are commanded to measure themselves and do repentances; in the 11th chapter (our blended future time period) a measuring is required: a visitation period must happen. Christ tells Ephesus that its leaders have left their first love. We in remnant time who have left our first love are, like Ephesus, in danger of our whole church being removed out: a serious judgment indeed.
Read= to obtain an exact understanding of.
Measure= to ascertain spatial dimensions, quantity, or capacity of by comparison with a standard.
Notice how closely the two words track with their meanings. Nuance for nuance, use for use, they are almost identical.
Till First Things Are Put First
The Book of Revelation is a revelation about things! When we follow the historical details in the second and third chapters of the Book of Revelation, it is easily seen that the investigative walk-through by Christ did take place during that historical time period. However, I don't see the urgency of our present day fallen-needs being met by our applying these passages as largely historical things, pointing them out as only things which pertained to an earlier time. When we un-blend these chapters, however, and then measure (compare) them against what is happening in all of our church-life today, the serious relevancy of these things should give us fire-level alertness to read these two chapters with the thought of obtaining an exact knowledge of them. As we are told that all of the discourse of Matthew 24 and 25 was for our generation, so too, all of the discourse in Chapter 2 and 3 are for us—every single word and symbol.
If we can see that the second and third chapters are blended and simultaneously applicable toward two generations of people, then this one insight can help us better understand the other blended passages that come up in the rest of the Book of Revelation. This I think is the original intent of placing these two chapters toward the beginning of the book; I think it emphasizes the importance of the measuring which comes first before the going out: that measuring work that must come before the fall of the great Spirit-Rain. First things that are first, must be put first.
Serious Things
Our High Priest in Revelation 2 and 3 repeatedly says: these things reveal critical details concerning the state of the church and its future. The two chapters reveal things about their future. The angel in Chapter 1 also says: things which must shortly come to pass; again, things about the future. So whether we listen to the 1st John, or the 2nd John, we must listen to things, must know things, and, when the time comes, we must do things. We do somewhat an injustice when we put forth and stress that the Book of Revelation is the revelation about Jesus Christ: i.e. as a book about his character. What is more honorable is to pin point that this revelation is God’s revelation, and that He gave it unto His son, that His son might shew unto His servants things which will come, ‘things that will be…’ The book involves time-things and math-things. We also learn in Rev.1, that Christ has been given answers to things that concern those exact future details in which the disciples had asked Christ for. The Book of Revelation is Matthew 24 and 25 all over again, with blends and all. Revelation displays, however, greater details about those end-things. And though it is given by Christ, it is God’s revelation; and the overt purpose of the book is to shew things. And so it does; so let it be.
Another example: we don’t overview Matthew 24 by pointing out that it is a revelation of Jesus Christ’s character, etc. What we do with those two chapters (24 and 25) is listen to the words and digest the blended things which are about to come. Those are indeed the important things to get; after that we watch and wait—we serve and keep the words (Rev. 1:3; Rev. 3:10). Therein is the blessing. And, of course, by AD 90 –ish, John’s experience is full of deep revelations about Jesus Christ; his exact understanding has increased some 60 years by knowing more and more of His character and His saving grace. And by his 96th birthday-ish, he, like Daniel, was visited as a man greatly beloved, a man who was faithful at words.
To the point again: the word ‘of’ is here in context with having the meaning of the word ‘from’. This revelation is from The God. Honor is, where honor is due. And the church is in dire need to know things about the danger of the condition they are in first, and then to know things about what shall be in the last days--things that shall befall ‘thy people’. So, like as in Matthew 24, in Revelation, Christ can say: behold, I have told you before…but this time I am using 22 chapters to do it, plus I am adding some answers regarding those deep things which previously had only belonged to God.
The Book of Revelation is about things—urgent things, serious things. Today, if we look at these passages very closely, and if we measure these things, we will see that indeed we too have married a Jezebel; we too have somehow chosen to leave our ‘first love of the brethren’; that in our day there are and will be martyrdom of Christians (particularly like in Vietnam pre-war); that we the leaders allow Balaam and Nicolas among us; that we the leaders are hypocrites and have a name only; and that because of all these conditions, the church collectively is wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. But those who keep the words of His patience and do not deny his name will keep knowing their God and eventually do....
When we see the things written in the visitation more clearly for the grave dishonors they are, we will gladly take the little book open and decide on action. And oh, Brethren, there will be tears! When we finally see the gravity, the worth of this blended book, and see those applicable portends which will come upon us and go very quickly, then we will know that we are rightly dividing the words of truth. This ability to see the two blended paths will be the first collective sign that we are ‘getting the small things right.’ At that time there may be heard from among us cries such as this: "Oh, God, please send to us sons of Issachar, that we may understand the things of our time and that we may ‘know what to do?’" That ‘son of our need’ is that strong angel that comes down in the cloud and lets us take the open book, and then sends us out again as sons of Issachar to the leaders of all the earth. Like Daniel we will prophesy about things that our kings, great men and rich men do not know are coming.
‘Let Us Reason Together’ in This Book
The main purpose of prophecy is to develop faith, and the word purpose largely and forthrightly speaks about a marriage offer. God’s purpose is to marry Adam and Eve’s family—a corporate proposal to the long span of believers throughout history since the fall. This arranged, special proposal was covenanted long ago before the creation of the human family. God instituted the marriage of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. It was the first of its kind in the universe: on planet earth He created the first ever of two individuals made in the image of God which became a unique corporation. Now the so-loved arranged marriage of Adam and Eve has been supplanted at the cross by a second institution of marriage. This too, was to be the first of its kind, for The God is now making a new arrangement with a wife called the church. And He so-loves her.
In securing this corporate marriage we see His use of prophecy throughout scripture. These lines of prophecies help us develop faith, hope and charity to a level like that which existed before the fall. Understanding a prophecy and exercising faith demands the frequent use of math, as well as the frequent use of an upper room in which the parties involved can come and reason together regarding the points of the cross. Although prophecy, which has been fulfilled and has become history, does encourage and enrich future generations, only that prophecy, which is seen in advance by a generation, and then unfolds before their own eyes, will intensely increase and develop their faith. And in our time, we will need a level of faith which will allow us to navigate the unique terrors to come. With this kind of faith we will go ‘out’ with that ‘grace that much more abounds’ against the overwhelming storms of the end. Thus, we—those readers and hearers and keepers of this word of prophecy—should expect that this Book of Revelation would expressly speak from its very opening about rich and powerful things which pertain to the hope of our very lives.
In the past, without too much controversy, we have repeatedly stated that the Book of Revelation is especially written for the last generation. It is only by eating and digesting the book before future things come to pass that remnant Christians will be fit enough to go on from ‘faith to faith.’
The Remedy and the Faith are a Given
From time to time, all of us do the good and the evil works delineated in the 2nd and 3rd chapter of the Book of Revelation—and some of us do them on a continuous basis: sin is still in our camp. Church leaders are still waning in fervor from their first love. Solomons and Ahabs are still marrying the religious priests and priestesses, and also marrying the same old doctrines of the ‘Balaams of the ages.’ We all at times have a name we live, but are dead hypocrites, and from all these conditions go on to become wretched, miserable, poor, blind or naked. Likewise, blessing and faith and righteousness are also still in the camp—and that, only because of the Comforter. He has vowed not to leave nor forsake us till this probationary time ends.
1 Peter 2:5 Berean Study Bible:‘ As you come to Him, the living stone, rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight, you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: “See, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”
In the verse above there is a temple of God, an altar of great price, and there are worshiping priests (Zion, The Cornerstone, and the believers). In Rev.11:1, we have the same three elements which John is told to measure, examine, or in other words: ‘get them right.’
This remedy, and this faith is not something common in our experience, but something which is given from God to us ward. In the Revelation, ‘we have met the tabernacle, and it is us’, we are the living stones, the saints, and all who believe will rest their lives on the Cornerstone. In this symbolism of the 2nd John, we are given a reed from Heaven so that we will not be found wandering about like those who disallowed the chief cornerstone due to human stumbling at the studying of His word. This relationship of the saints and the cornerstone recapitulates very prominently throughout the Book of Revelation. When we really explore these details, the thrilling meanings will develop enduring faith for the individual, and for the assembly.
[An interesting aside: the measuring (i.e., the visitation) which the 2nd John does in chapter 10 and 11 is mirrored in the second and third chapters of Revelation. Christ is the one doing the measuring in chapter 2 and 3. He tells each church what he knows (what He has measured, the reading on the inch lines of His golden reed). John is made aware of the place where these seven churches worship—where their citizenship is—and the need for the measuring in both passages is revealed as urgent: their reading, listening and keeping will decide eternal outcomes. This is ‘Present Truth’ which must be talked about.
In both cases the three most prime Real Estates of the universe are inspected: the Temple of God himself, the symbol of the Cross of Christ, and the redeemed worshippers, the bride. There is a host of thoughts and details revealed in just these three elements which are being measured. All three pieces of Real Estate are connected to blood. Each element presented here is touched, in a forever-way, by the death of one person. And thus by measuring with a given reed, the entire universe gets to see somewhat of the inestimable value of this salvific compound.]
The Taking Command
In the 10th chapter John eats an open book. As a group, we seem to understand that, and we almost always celebrate that. But this act of eating, this dispensation, or experience, begins with a command to take the book and eat it. The 2nd John obeys this command without hesitation, for earlier in the book we saw him cry like a baby in the presence of the King over the sincere meat which he knew was in the words of this sealed book. (1 Peter 2:2 ‘as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word…that you may grow…’) He must have had some idea of what the book meant to the arrangment, and that one of its origins was the Book of Daniel. Also, we glimpse his love for the flock, for imagine the glad new things he would see and write for the flock that would give them even greater hope for the Dark Ages ahead of them, while he went on toward the close of his life. Oh the caring of an old man of faith. I prize; I heavily prize this detail.
Even before the command, however, there is the ‘giving’ of the book to John: the offer. This act is in sync with the word-theme of this book: to give things which must shortly come to pass. The little-book-open in the 10th chapter is obviously the book that has just been unsealed in the 6th chapter. If the book is at this point unsealed, and if the angel is reading things from within it while He proclaims seven thunders, etc., we can logically understand that those things vowed aloud, but not allowed to be written, are attached to this little-book-open and will become part of this 2nd John’s dispensation.
Thus, the question coming out of this 10th chapter is still the same one I posited at the first: 1st John, or 2nd John; which John is for us? The 1st John lived during the long dispensation of the four horses; the 2nd John must live during the short dispensation of the four horses, for the blaring of the lion’s voice which John was permitted to write, speaks about something beautiful. It announces the end of a mystery long promised; about a marriage arranged before probationary time; about the consummation of that marriage in the final atonement.
All of the details of the 10th chapter are clearly end-of-the-world things, for the sealed book is now completely opened. The reader may gain from the angel’s words, and His actions, something of what the phrase ‘Mystery of god…finished’ means. All the necessary depths of these details, in symbol, He has come down to the earth to give to the 2nd John. After John has partaken of the book, the angel mentors John about John’s renewed prophesying. (This whole event is an ‘opening of a door’; the beginning of a ministry.) Does the word ‘again’ here signify a second Pentecost, but one greater than the first, owing to the 7th trumpet now being associated with this ‘again’? Certainly the end of all things will be much more a pinnacle than the heights reached in Jerusalem at Pentecost and after.
Scenes, In Pinnacle, Given
Think about this: the book which no one but the lamb could handle is in the hand of a strong angel (Christ) which comes down in a cloud to our earth and eventually gives the whole book to the 2nd John. The 2nd John eats it and digests it. It is bitter in his belly but sweet in his mouth. The angel tells John that he must again prophecy to a world-wide group of people. This taking and eating passage becomes a synopsis. The 11th chapter is the unfolding of that synopsis. And all this seems to be happening at a time that is just before the 7th Trumpet sounds. These things directly surround the church (2nd John) and the Angel (Christ): for they are the only two who are actually present. This prophesying is prominently stamped with an again. And if John is to do a worldwide promulgation of the details in the book just eaten, then the angel will attend him (the church)—again. It will be an again for the angel as well.
Let’s think a little deeper about what is here given to us? It is a book that no one was found in heaven or under the earth to open or read. It is not a gospel, per se; not a direct revelation of Jesus Christ’s character, or earthly ministry. Rather, it is a book largely filled with scenes, in pinnacle, that have to do with those things which shall befall the people of God, and those judgments and warnings which will come to pass in rapid succession upon the people of the whole world.
In the 10th chapter we have a fulfillment, if you will, of the first verse of the Book of Revelation. All of the things promised to be shewn are represented as being in this book, i.e., that this revelation from God is in a book, and that this book is in the hand of God’s son, and the Son gives it to his servant the 2nd John, who here represents the church in our time. And what is given are things: words. It is fair to say as other theologians have already clarified, that everything that follows the 5th chapter of revelation becomes what is read or shown out of this sealed book. The things revealed out of this little book become in large part the Book of Revelation. The little book sealed is the last vision in the Book of Daniel; this book and the Book of Revelation become one.
What the 2nd John takes from the angel are things worth knowing, things that are from the deep mindset of the Father: things from His right hand of power. These things are designed to develop two things: a love of the truth and faith. How much love, and how much faith? That answer we can find by looking at how the book was first described throughout the 5th chapter of Revelation.
The law of God is a law that works by love—a law of love, one might say. And faith’s highest example is the faith of Jesus Christ, which translates to and is equal to His testimony, which again translates and is equal to His Spirit of Prophecy: all the things He did with the Spirit during His life on earth including His perseverance through the grave. This sevenfold Spirit is seen all over the lamb in the 5th chapter. When the strong angel in the 5th chapter asks, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” the beholder begins to see the worth of this great event (this Book of Revelation). This book must be equal to the worth of the Son of God, since He was the only one found equal enough to open, read and dispense it. Oh can we see how highly this book should be prized by us, and how much love and how much faith it will develop in us when we truly study it. It contains so much of the character and glory of the Son of God, that it affords much more power to change us, bringing us upward in standards and quality of life. How this is accomplished I will write in parts two and three.
Worthy= of equal value.
As the scroll is opened, read, and dispensed, deep things happen in the earth, and deep things happen within the church. We are given a worthy co-worker’s part in those things which come to pass. These things become a part of our history as we live and digest them; though they come with some things bitter and some things sweet.
This is just like another pattern in the gospel dispensation timeline, repeated quite often in the New Testament. The power and life which Christ's death had won for Him, He turns around and gives it to the saints: the out pouring of His Spirit at Pentecost is a marked example. The life He won, the righteousness He secured by His death, the propitiation: He gives all of these to those who believe—they have everlasting life through their relationship with the Son. But only as they eat His flesh, and drink His blood; only as they keep and not deny His words. So, there is nothing completely new in this 10th chapter passage. Nothing to be afraid of or relearn. Except, here we must seek to know when this prophesying again will actually happen.
If they reference the 1st John, then they pertain to the now-passed time of the apostles and their Pentecostal march to the end of their then known world. If these things reference the 2nd John, then these things are yet future, and will be things pertaining to the saints who receive not only Pentecost, but the latter rain. Is the latter rain experience found within this little-book-open? If the mystery to be finished is mentioned in-hand with this book, then the latter rain which completes the grain is almost certainly in the events of this chapter. Monumental! to express the joy of this in the least amount of words. Magnanimous! in order to be true to the unprecedented offer which is here represented.
Pentecost: There was no book offered; no seven thunders uttered; no strong angel coming down and asking the 120 in the upper room to participate with Him in his 'walk' during a time period which is connected to the 7th trumpet sounding.
Former and Latter Rain: Christ comes down covertly; there is an unsealed book in Christ’s hand; He signifies a movement is afoot by positioning his feet; He announces something about the close of probation; the church is invited to take part in His movement; the church obeys the instructions, then eats the book that only one had right to open; the angel and the church walk worldwide as two witnesses against all kings and rulers; the 8th beast comes on the scene and….
Two Groups of Saints, But the Same Church
Matthew chapter 24: there are two major events: "what will happen, and signs, etc."; there are two generations of peoples mentioned; they are of the same church; the disciples are invited to read Daniel; and the whole of Christ’s answer is a blend of those details belonging to each generation. It is left with us to figure the two events out: DA 628.
Book of Revelation: "Things which must quickly pass." There are two time periods blended here also. Two generations of peoples, same church, and two messages are blended from the very beginning of the book. If we can distinguish the two Johns throughout this book, then we eventually will unravel this blend. Another detail: during Pentecost, the little book in revelation was still closed, sealed; they could ‘so read’ the Book of Daniel, as Jesus invited them to do, but this particular ‘vision’ in Daniel was still sealed. The 2nd John eats the book while it is open. This little portion of the Book of Daniel is unsealed in the 5th chapter of the revelation sixty years after Pentecost. What is revealed at that time (when read by us) carries ‘us’ forward into the end of the world.
The Two Dispensations
The first time that John preached the gospel was when he was a younger man. The second time is when he is brought to the scene which the Angel comes down with the little-book-open in the figure (We don’t know if John preached what he saw in heaven later to those in his cell on Patmos; or if he was permitted to leave Patmos and become an evangelist again, traveling again through Asia. We are just not told what he preached regarding it after leaving heaven.)
The Taking: An Aggressive One, But a Honorable One
If the church does take this book, and if the church digests it, it must be done with a lot more aggressiveness than we are presently handling this book. The word take used here is a very forthright word in the Greek. It means properly: to lay hold of by aggressively accepting what is offered. Eating is normally a function that is done by the most powerful muscle in the human body, and digestion takes place among the most powerful acids in the human body, by which things are torn down very finely and then sent to be assimilated into the minute parts of the body.
And, Brethren, There Shall Be Tears On the Day of His Spirit!
When this eating and digesting does finally take place, where in the universal picture of things will it take place exactly? The 10th chapter (and yes, the 11th chapter also) will begin at the pinnacle of probationary time, and at a time when all the worlds in the universe will be looking in at the scenes afoot on our planet.
In the 5th chapter, all heaven and these un-fallen worlds have just scanned the universe for such a one whose right it was to open and read the little book; now they look-on, waiting to see exactly what the Lamb does with this book. After opening it with some dignity, He clandestinely comes down later to earth, gives it to humans, the church, and together they go out conquering and to conquer. I am repeating a bit too much, but there is such a precedent of repetition, recapitulation and rerun in the Book of Revelation—and throughout the bible as well—that it should not be counted as a harsh thing. It is a normality we should accept, especially among such a hard hearted humanity as exists here in our end time.
Among us there may be those who will exhibit in their experience that devastated look of Peter. A case in point where we who display that look will respond: “Lord, are you giving this little-book-open to me…The sickly, impetuous, backsliding one?! I am one worse than Peter who denied you and kicked and screamed, as it were, constantly at almost every direction your words of truth were heading!” Oh the honorable giving which we will preciously hold in our hands at that time; when we realize what this little-book-open will mean to us. And yes, Brethren, there shall be tears!
This counsel to take the book will come at a time when the church, the 2nd John of our period, is at its lowest state. This knowledge could not come to us at a more needed time, and like the condition that existed in Ahab’s kingdom, it is a time for men of miracles; a time when we must turn the heart toward God; a time to sue for the completion of the development of that Mystery of Godliness to its fullest. No higher bread could be given to us than this Book of Revelation; no higher worth in knowledge is here opened and offered to man. Only as we accept this book, will we fully understand why we are in need of this book. With love, a measuring rod, and a desire for all the deep things of God, the church moves forward to visit His Temple, His altar of sacrifice, and the least of the apples of His eye. And only then will the church go out to spread that final word with unlimited godly expression, in the spirit and power of many Elijahs.
Oh what a deep honor to take this word. Oh to finally be able to in-live that eternal weight of glory which nothing can surpass. And afterward, rise from the earth like Elijah, each of us taking that pinnacle of maturity with them into the ages of forever.
* * *