INTRODUCTION TO REVELATION
by W. T. Russel
The Bible has been translated into many languages for the benefit of many people
of various tongues down through the ages. The Greek name for this book is
Apocalupsis. The Latin name is Revelatio, and the English name, of course, is
Revelation. All these titles in their respective forms literally mean—the
unveiling. A veil hides from view and is a covering. So the name of this book in
any language signifies exactly what it is; namely, an uncovering or unveiling.
It is different from most being symbolic or figurative. Whether spoken or
written, regular or ordinary prophesy is the word of communication of the
prophet just as God spoke to him through the Spirit. Apocalyptic prophesy is
pictorial. The pictures are symbolic of what is being prophesied. It is received
by trance of vision by the Spirit of God.
All will agree the Book of Revelation contains figures or symbols which are
shadows or representatives of the substance. Two major sources of confusion of
the teachings of Revelation in the past and now are (1) the different methods of
interpretation, and (2) the place it occupies in time.
There are those who strive to interpret the figures and symbols literally which
make it utterly impossible to arrive at the truth. Examples of this are the
interpretation of the woman in the twelfth chapter to be the virgin Mary and the
man-child she bore Jesus Christ. A woman given as a symbol in this book can
never be interpreted as a real woman. We can understand this by referring to the
allegory which Paul used in the fourth chapter of Galatians. Hagar was a real
woman, but Paul said she represented “The Jerusalem that now is.” Sarah was a
real woman, but Paul said she represented “The Jerusalem which is above.” It is
impossible to rightly interpret the Book of Revelation unless we recognize it to
be symbolic apocalyptic prophesy and steer clear of interpreting the symbols
literally.
If we have studied the Old Testament, we will recognize many symbols related to
ancient Hebrew symbolic imagery in Revelation. Some of these are found in
Daniel, Ezekiel, Zecchariah, and others. If we will but take time to read these
Old Testament truths, we can see more clearly the use of symbols in Revelation
which are related, in many cases, to ancient Hebrew examples.
Since it is truth we are concerned about, I would like to point out the
experience of the Apostle Peter on the housetop in a vision. This experience was
in symbolic order which we will do well to study for a better approach to the
use of symbols in this book. Peter, in his vision, saw as it were a sheet, knit
at the four corners, let down from Heaven containing all manner of four footed
beasts of the earth, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a
voice saying, rise Peter, slay and eat. But Peter said, not so, Lord, for I have
never eaten anything that is common or unclean. This happened three times before
Peter got the message. It was said unto him, what God hath cleansed, call not
thou common.
We must understand that this was to prepare Peter for a call to go preach the
gospel to the Gentile household of Cornelius. Notice that which was shown Peter
by symbol, revealed to him that God was no respecter of persons. Peter was a
devout Jew, and under the law, was under obligation never to eat certain beasts,
only such as had cloven feet and chewed the cudd, and all others were regarded
as unclean and common. Now the strict Jew regarded the Gentile as common, and it
was unlawful for a Jew to visit with a Gentile. So the lesson Peter was to learn
was that God put no difference between Jew and Greek, that the same Lord over
all was rich unto all that called upon him. So you see if this vision were
interpreted literally, what would we have? All manner of four-footed beasts and
creeping things in Heaven, for God drew them back up into Heaven.
I would like to discuss another example of symbolic prophesy in Isaiah. I cannot
agree with the interpretation by many. Some would like us to believe Isaiah
11:6-7 teaches there will come a time when the wolf, lion, leopard, and bear
will be as tame as a house cat. Let us examine this in the light of Peter’s
vision as the fulfillment of prophesy.
“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with
the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little
child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones
shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.”
If this teaches what some claim it teaches, isn’t it strange that in both of
these verses a clean beast and an unclean are mentioned together? The wolf and
the lamb—leopard and the kid—calf and young lion—fatling cow and the bear. This
is prophesy of the very same lesson Peter learned on the housetop.
What then was the lesson? Peter was a Jew and had grown up under the instruction
that only the natural seed of Abraham were respected of God, and the Gentiles
were disregarded. Yet God assured Peter that the Gentiles had his respect the
same as the Jew. This is the fruit of figurative interpretation rather than
literal. The lion eating straw like the ox simply means both Jew and Gentile
have and enjoy the same spiritual food.
You will notice in the first chapter of Revelation that Jesus uses the symbols,
seven stars, seven golden candlesticks, as well as Alpha and Omega. He tells us
in plain words what they represent, but he leaves the other symbols in the book
for us to determine.
Truly, we are entering into the study of a book of symbolic imagery, and we are
under the same obligation to strive to rightly divide its teachings as any other
book. I do not desire to stand before God in judgment having added to or taken
away from this book or any other.
Three things we must not overlook concerning this revelation. John was told in
1:19, “Write the things which thou has seen, and the things which are, and the
things which shall be hereafter.”
That which John saw, of course, was the condition of things at that time; also,
things that were to be afterward. He saw his glorified Lord in relation to the
churches at that time, chapters two and three. He saw the revelation of the
throne of grace in chapters four and five. The things to come to pass thereafter
from chapter six to the end.
We may not understand thoroughly all the types, figures and symbols in this book
as they were able to in John’s day; however, if looked at with the right
viewpoint, the substance and basics can be reasonably understood.
As I have said before, it is a spiritual warfare between the true churches of
our Lord and the counterfeit organization. We, as well as the churches in that
day, are shown the ultimate victory of truth over falsehood and the true church
over the counterfeit. Before there can be a counterfeit anything, there must be
the real thing.
The illustrations used and positions taken in this book are honest sincere
applications of what I truly believe. Some may be confused about some of these
things. I, too, was greatly confused for a long time in reading this book, but
years of study have helped me to understand at least part of it. In the past, I
have had to back up on a few things I have preached. Regardless of how earnest
you may feel about some scriptures, when proven wrong by the scriptures, we need
to be honest enough with ourselves and God to give it up. I feel I can afford to
give up error anytime