- If Israel repents a single day;
- If Israel observes a single Shabbat properly;
- If there comes a generation that is totally innocent or totally guilty;
- If a generation of Jews loses all hope.
Welcome to Thus Say the Prophets!
The Revelation of Y'shua the Anointed:
A Study into the Noahide Nazarene Way
By Ben Ruach ha Kodesh (John of AllFaith) © 9.16.09
Chapter One
Go to the index page for: The Revelation of Y'shua the Anointed
We pray to HaShem, the Holy God of Israel and to our Holy Master Y'shua the Anointed to fill our hearts with wisdom and understanding as we begin this study into the Revelation of Y'shua the Anointed. Amen.
Revelation 1:1 This is the Revelation of Y'shua the Anointed, which God gave him to show to his servants the things which must happen soon, which he sent and made known by his angel to his servant, John, 1:2 who testified to God's word, and of the testimony of Y'shua the Anointed, about everything that he saw.We begin our study of the Book of the Revelation by pointing out that this is not the Revelation of the Apostle John as is often stated. Rather this is the only one of the sixty six books of the canonical Bible that is given by Y'shua the Anointed. This makes this book unique and of utmost importance!
We further note that this book, while given to us by Y'shua was received by him from HaShem, the God of Israel. This places the stature of this work among the other prophetic writings such as Daniel. Indeed the Book of Daniel ends with the promise of further revelation:
Daniel 12:8 I heard, but I didn't understand: then said I, my lord, what shall be the issue of these things?
9 He said, Go your way, Daniel; for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end.
10 Many shall purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be refined; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but those who are wise shall understand.....13 But go you your way until the end be; for you shall rest, and shall stand in your lot, at the end of the days.
HaShem, Who sent His angel to reveal to Daniel the things that would come upon the Earth is the very same God who revealed to Y'shua the Anointed this great work. It is indeed correct to say that the Book of the Revelation is the conclusion of the Book of the Daniel the Prophet. This is how intimately the two works are interwoven. Therefore as we make our way through this book we will often reference Daniel's writings as it would be impossible to accurately understand certain aspects of either book without referring to the other. We will also draw from the writings of other prophets from time to time. In this way we will seek to "rightly divide the Word of Truth" (II Timothy 2:15). Even so, much of this information will be new to you and may cause you some distress! I ask that you patiently read these things with an open mind because often Truth is not what we suppose it to be!
To make this study as clear as possible, our present text, the Book of the Revelation of Y'shua the Anointed will always be presented in navy font while most others will be presented in maroon or sometimes green font. As explained at the outset, all biblical quotations in this study are from the Noahide Nazarene Bible unless otherwise noted.
At the time of this writing John the Beloved Apostle was living on the prison Island of Patmos. The authority of his work and prophecy is that HaShem revealed these things to Y'shua the Anointed. Master Y'shua instructed "his angel" ("aggelo" or messenger) to reveal these things to John and John wrote them down for future generations.
1:3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written in it, for the time is at hand.This entire book is a prophecy. The word used is propheteia which means it is the direct result of divine inspiration and is intended to reveal information from God especially regarding matters of the future. Those who say propheteia simply means "discourse" are incorrect. Propheteia refers to specific types of discourses that have as their aim the revealing of future events and the calling forth of their hearers to preparedness.
Notice also that this is the only book in the Bible that specifically states that those who study, read or even hear it will receive blessings from HaShem.
As we make our way through this wonderful book therefore we will, merely by its words, be blessed by God! I hope you will join me for the entire journey and share your thoughts and questions as we go along!
The text also adds that those who "...keep the things that are written in it..." will be blessed. Head knowledge is important, but its not enough. As we come to understand these things we are called to act on them and the implications implicit in them according to the Light we have received.
And notice that John says, "for the time is at hand." The time for repentance is always at hand. The time for righteousness is always at hand. However understand that neither Apostle John nor even Y'shua the Anointed knew when these things would occur. This is because we humans have been granted free will. It was known that these things would happen, but the timing depended on us. Of this we read:
Mark 13:32 But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.The prophets were shown what they needed to reveal but even they lacked knowledge of the exact timing and certain of the details. They were however shown the overall events in enough detail that we today can recognize their fulfillment and know for certain that the Day has finally come:
II Thessalonians 2:3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, until the falling away come first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition...The generation of 1948 (or 1967 at the latest) is the first generation in world history in which the essential requirements have all been met! This will be demonstrated as we continue on.
1:4 John, to the seven assemblies (churches) that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from God, who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits who are before his throne;The Seven Churches:
The Church of Ephesus
The Church of Smyrna
The Church of Pergamos
The Church of Thyatira
The Church of Sardis
The Church of Philadelphia
And The Church of the LaodiceansAs we will discuss in chapters two and three these were seven literal assemblies. One could have gone to visit them. However from the context it is clear that there is much more to these local congregations.
We will likewise discuss "from the seven Spirits who are before his throne" as we examine the next two chapters.
1:5 and from Y'shua the Anointed, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and washed us from our sins by his blood; 1:6 and who made us leaders of the people and priests unto his God and Father; to him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.Long had Israel awaited the coming of Moshiach and the promised Kingdom! Those who walked with Y'shua the Anointed were sorely disappointed and confused when he did not fulfill the Messianic prophecies, but the time was not yet ripe. John, as well as Paul to a lesser but equally vital extent, received later instructions about the establishment of the Kingdom and this book is John's presentation of how the Kingdom will finally be born. No wonder it is so singularly important! This is the book that heralds the coming of Moshiach and his theocratic kingdom!
1:7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, including those who pierced him. All the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. Even so, Amen.
1:8 "I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."John is here referencing the eternal hope of his (Jewish) people. As we read:
30:1 It shall happen, when all these things have come on you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you shall call them to mind among all the nations, where Yahweh your God has driven you, 30:2 and shall return to Yahweh your God, and shall obey his voice according to all that I command you this day, you and your children, with all your heart, and with all your soul; 30:3 that then Yahweh your God will turn your captivity, and have compassion on you, and will return and gather you from all the peoples, where Yahweh your God has scattered you.
30:4 If any of you are even in the uttermost parts of the heavens, from there will Yahweh your God gather you, and from there will he bring you back: 30:5 and Yahweh your God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it; and he will do you good, and multiply you above your fathers.
30:6 Yahweh your God will circumcise your heart, and the heart of your seed, to love Yahweh your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, that you may live.
30:7 Yahweh your God will put all these curses on your enemies, and on those who hate you, who persecuted you.
30:8 You shall return and obey the voice of Yahweh, and do all his commandments which I command you this day.
30:9 Yahweh your God will make you plenteous in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your body, and in the fruit of your livestock, and in the fruit of your ground, for good: for Yahweh will again rejoice over you for good, as he rejoiced over your fathers; 30:10 if you shall obey the voice of Yahweh your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law; if you turn to Yahweh your God with all your heart, and with all your soul.This, Prophet John says, will come to pass in due time!
Note that at Deuteronomy 30:1 the end of the Diaspora is directly foretold. Through the future-history presented by the prophets we understand that the Jews will soon be gathered from among all the nations and returned to Jerusalem, even from the "uttermost parts of the heavens." Part of the Revelation of Y'shua therefore is the revealing of those events that will bring about this momentous event. As important as the restoration of Israel was in 1948 and the restoration of Holy Jerusalem in 1967, the fullness of this prophecy is yet future: The complete return of people Israel to Eretz Israel has only begun! It will be completed when Moshiach establishes the Kingdom of HaShem.
According to Jewish tradition the following conditions will lead to the advent of Moshiach (Messiah) and the restoration of the people:
The events recorded by John in the Revelation will bring these conditions about and usher in the reign of Moshiach and the Kingdom of HaShem as we will see.
1:9 I John, your brother and partner in oppression, Kingdom, and perseverance in Y'shua the Anointed, was on the isle that is called Patmos because of God's Word and the testimony of Y'shua the Anointed.
1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, like a shofar [trumpet] 1:11 saying, "What you see, write in a book and send to the seven assemblies: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and to Laodicea."As described above, John was in exile on Patmos. He gives us a vivid picture of how this information came to him. Most Prophets do not go into such detail but John is certain that his revelation is of vital importance and he wants his readers to understand this.
It was on the biblical Sabbath, the day of the Lord, and John was pondering the things of God.
1:12 I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. Having turned, I saw seven golden menorahs [lampstands]. 1:13 And among the menorahs was one like a son of man, clothed with a robe reaching down to his feet, and with a golden sash around his chest.
1:14 His head and his hair were white as white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire. 1:15 His feet were like burnished brass, as if it had been refined in a furnace. His voice was like the voice of many waters.
1:16 He had seven stars in his right hand. Out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest.
1:17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. He laid his right hand on me, saying, "Don't be afraid. I am the first and the last, 1:18 and the Living one. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. I have the keys of Death and of Sheol.
1:19 Write therefore the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will happen hereafter; 1:20 the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand and the seven golden menorahs. The seven stars are the angels of the seven assemblies. The seven menorahs [lampstands] are seven assemblies.In his vision HaShem allows John to peer into the spiritual realms of existence to a degree seldom experience by other mortals. Much of what John writes is beyond his comprehension as is clear as he attempts to relate his experiences. This book however is his eyewitness account of future-history and the things he was shown will all come to pass soon.
As I say above, chapters two and three deal with the Seven Churches and so I will leave this topic for there.
To confirm the obvious, standing in the midst of the Seven Lampstands or menorahs John beholds the radiant, eternal form of Y'shua the Anointed. The revelation is "signified by Y'shua's angel."
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