Revelation -- Read All About It!

For much of the past 150 years or so, most Christians have been led to believe that the prophecy of events contained in the Revelation to John describes future events occurring in a sequential chronology.  However, though widely popular and emphatically stated as "fundamentalist" doctrine in most modern seminaries and in many churches, this recent view is not that which has been understood by most Christians and most theologians since the 1st Century!  Rather, Christ's Revelation was a message applicable to the believers of every generation since John, and it is best summarized as a recurring cycle of 7 sections, all covering essentially the same events, but from rather different perspectives.  Each section unfolds the events with increasing detail, but all cover the rough timeframe from the First Advent of Christ to His Second Coming, hence the description "Progressive Parallelism."

PROGRESSIVE PARALLELISM:  THE SEVEN PARALLEL SECTIONS OF REVELATION

 

The following chart is summarized in William Hendriksen’s MORE THAN CONQUERORS

(This is the same view as Augustine, Berkhof, Warfield, Lloyd-Jones, etc.)

 

SECTION 1           Rev. 1:1 – 3:22)    VISION OF CHRIST IN THE MIDST OF HIS CHURCHES

(Rev. 1:1)                                                                                                                                                      (Rev. 3:21)

Revelation to John   …….Christ in Midst of Lamps/  The Gospel (Church) Age  ……. Christ’s Final Victory

 

SECTION 2:          (Rev. 4:1 – 7:17)   VISION OF HEAVEN & THE 7 SEALS / THE CHURCH TRIUMPHANT

(Rev. 4:1)                                                                                                                                                      (Rev. 7:17)

Ascension/Christ on Heavenly Throne ………………….. 7 Seals  the Church Triumphant……….. Christ

                                                                                                                                                                                     & His Saints

                                                                                                                                                                                        in Heaven

 

SECTION 3:          (Rev. 8:1 – 11:19)      VISION OF THE 7 TRUMPETS

(Rev. 8:1)                                                                                                                                                (Rev 11:15-19)

….. Christ’s Judgment upon the world which rejects Him (ch. 8 & 9) -------------------------- Christ’s Return

………. Christ’s Dealings with His Saints / the Churches (Ch. 10 & 11) ……….…………….. & Final Judgment

 

SECTION 4:    (Rev. 12:1 – 14:20)    VISION OF THE PERSECUTING DRAGON

(Rev. 12:5)                                                                                                                                            (Rev. 14:14-20)

Birth of Christ …………………..… Persecution of the Churches / Saints ……………………… Christ’s 2^nd Coming

 

SECTION 5:   (Rev. 15:1 – 16:21      VISION OF THE 7 BOWLS/VIALS OF WRATH 

(Rev. 15:1)                                                                                                                                            (Rev. 16:16-21)

Preparation for Judgment / 7 Bowls/Vials….. Battle of Armageddon …… Christ’s Return/Final Victory

 

SECTION 6:   (Rev. 17:1 – 19:21)     VISION OF THE FALL OF BABYLON

(Rev. 17:1)                                                                                                                                          --(Rev. 19:16-21)

Judgment upon Babylon / False Religions  …………………………………………. Christ’s Return & Final Victory

 

SECTION 7:   (Rev. 20:1 – 22:21)    VISION OF FINAL CONSUMMATION

(Rev. 20:1)               (Rev.20:4-5)   (Rev.20:7-11)  (Rev. 20:11-15)               ( Rev. 21 & 22) ---------------                                                                                               

Binding of Satan …. Saints in …… Final Battle …. Great White ………….   New Heaven ...     Eternity

& Beginning of         Heaven             & Christ’s           Throne                             & New Earth           in Heaven

Church Age            Awaiting              Final Victory   Judgment

                                Resurrection    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sacrifice Ceased

(Revelation 1:5 & Daniel 9:26-27)

 

By

 

RICHARD A. WALTZ

 

(adapted from a sermon preached June 7, 2009)

 

 

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church

325 Yetter Rd., Muncy PA 17756

Email:  pastor@localchurchpa.com

 

www.localchurchpa.com

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sacrifice Ceased

(Revelation 1:5 & Daniel 9:26-27)

 

 

Revelation 1:5

5  And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.  Unto him that loved us, and washed us from sins in his own blood,

Daniel 9:26-27

26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself:  and the people of the prince who shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

27 He shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease; and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

 

 

     As we take up this subject once again, we must identify the concluding remarks on the 70 Weeks of Daniel and their connection to the Revelation of Jesus Christ to the apostle John,

Dealing with the  Sacrifice Ceased, the focus is not really Daniel, nor prophecy, nor even eschatology, but a consideration of the One who is worthy of all honor, glory and praise.  The Lord Jesus Christ is that Faithful Witness, the giver of all divine revelation, the Prince and even the King of kings and Lord of lords.  Yet Scriptures tell us HE is also our Savior, our Brother, and our Friend.  In what is the central event of this passage, Daniel 9:27 reminds the reader that He shall cause the sacrifice and oblation, or offering, to cease.  From the first book of the Bible onward, as reaffirmed in both the Old and New Testaments, we see that, without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins (Gen. 3:21; Lev. 4:26; Heb. 9:22).

     Of course, we know that the Lord Jesus Christ Put an end to the sacrifices once & for all.  He is the One who shed His own precious blood.  It is not the blood of goats, rams, & sheep, but it is the blood of Jesus Himself which makes atonement for our sins.  That great Sacrifice was the climactic event which Daniel foresaw in Dan. 9:26 when he predicted that, after threescore and two weeks, Messiah shall be cut off.

     Daniel 9 is a much misunderstood passage, particularly verse 26 & 27.    As we have said before, this prophecy has been hijacked by those who, for their own theological reasons, seek to read something into it which is not there contextually.  It is our duty, as we read, as we study, and as we meditate upon it, to make sure that we are not adding our own philosophy, our own cultural blinders, or our own predetermined theological notions into the Word of God.  If we are successful in doing that, by the grace of God and with His illuminating Spirit, we might better grasp what should be an easy to understand passage.  We must also remember that it is only by the revelation of the Spirit of God that we have the ability to discern and to understand what He would have us to see in this prophecy, and must therefore be patient with those of our brethren who have not yet fully grasped this wonderful truth.

     The Bible clearly establishes that the 70 weeks of Daniel is split into 3 periods.  The first seven weeks represents the 7 weeks of years, or the 49 years during which the Temple was constructed, followed by the 62 weeks, the 434 years during which the people who had returned to Jerusalem experienced relative peace and prosperity in preparation, not for their own glorification, but in preparation for the arrival of the Messiah.  The Anointed One would arrive at God’s appointed time, in complete fulfillment of His prophecy and His promises.  These years ran from the going forth of the order to return and build the city wall and the Temple until the designated time for the arrival of Messiah the Prince.  So, it is after the completion of the middle period of 434 years, and actually in the midst of the final, or 70^th, week that Messiah would be cut off.   This all fits in to the specific timing of Almighty God.  It has been said many times that the events of world history were orchestrated in such a fashion by our Sovereign God that He had set the stage for the quick & easy spread of the Gospel.  Through the Pax Romana, the Roman peace, the universalization of the Greek language as the common language of the empire, the preparations had been made for the Gospel message to spread like wildfire to the various nations, to the far corners of the known world.  God never does anything early or late.  As He had appointed the time, even in this passage we see that the desolation and the destruction was appointed, that His supreme purpose might be accomplished.  But, to get to this point, Daniel had foretold certain events and occurrences that were appointed and scheduled according to the divine timetable.  The coming of Messiah was an event which had been promised.  It was an event which had been assured to Daniel that would occur in 483 years from the order to return and rebuild Jerusalem.  And we have looked at the timetable and how we can reconcile what, at first glance, appears to be a calendar contradiction with this prophecy  which is the perfect, infallible, sure Word of God.

     As planned on the divine calendar of Heaven, He arrived with an announcement, or, in reality, a series of announcements.  Daniel announced His coming, and, just before His arrival, the star of Bethlehem announced it, drawing observers and worshippers from even the land of Persia, to which Daniel himself had been transplanted by the will of God that He might influence the Wise Men more than five centuries later.  As the Lord grew and matured, John the Baptist announced Him.  But, even the announcer was announced in God’s Holy Word.

In Malachi 3:1, we read of that announcement of the one who would prepare the way.  This is the message of John the Baptist, as we read in Isaiah 40:3-11, which also makes reference to the messenger, the one who would be like a voice crying in the wilderness, the one who was as the spirit of Elijah, witnessing and applying the fulfillment of these Old Testament prophecies.  John the Baptist was clearing the way for the arrival of Messiah.  We read the familiar passage in Isaiah of how he would make the path straight, preparing the way for the arrival of the Lord, and that he is going to announce the coming Messiah.  In the middle of that passage, we also have a word of prophecy to the people of Jerusalem, along with the impending judgment upon them and their unholy city, Behold thy God (Isa. 40:9.)  It was not just Isaiah’s purpose to unveil coming events.  The purpose of prophecy is not merely that we might know the future, but it is that the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ might be exalted.  We are instructed and exhorted to recognize Him, His Person, His work, His ministry, as He perfectly and completely fulfilled the will of His Heavenly Father, and, more importantly at least from our perspective, that He might secure our redemption and our sanctification.   For it is His robe of righteousness that we claim.  It is not our own good works or good deeds (Eph. 2:8-9).  Yes, we have human responsibility, both to follow His example and obey His commandments by His grace and with His enabling, but we can never succeed, nor even hope to succeed, by our own efforts at living the Christian life, through our own diligence, intelligence, or anything that we could do.  It is the accomplished work of Christ that we rely upon as our only hope and assurance.    

     This is the point in Daniel 9: 26-27.  Though many have distorted it & read into it, we are again cautioned against adding to or deleting from the revealed Word of God.  There is great danger for any who would dare to read into a passage something which is not there.  It is our duty to expound, or to explain, that which is revealed within a passage, through a process called Biblical exegesis.  Those who interpret something in a passage which is not there, or those who consciously insert something into Scripture which is not actually present, are in violation of God’s commandments regarding His Word (Rev. 22:18-19).  It is our desire, our duty & obligation to make sure that, whenever we handle Scripture, whenever we deal with prophecy or any Biblical truth, that we be certain to practice solely Biblical exegesis.  We must expound and tell only what is written in the Bible, what the Word of God has for us, but not inserting conjecture or private interpretation.

     John the Baptist announced the coming of Messiah, but strictly according to the divine timetable.  That prophecy did not merely identify the year it should occur.  Through His prophets, God has said repeatedly that the hour was near and that the time had come.  He had ordained the exact time, down to the very second.  God is the God of all human history.  Indeed, it is “His story”, as He works out His marvelous plan throughout redemptive history.  Nothing can prevent Him from bringing to pass all that He has purposed to accomplish.  1 Peter 1:11 addresses this divine purpose as we are reminded by the manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify when it testified beforehand “the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow.  He had willingly gone to the Cross that He might fulfill His Father’s will.  Despite the objections of the disciples who had attempted to prevent Him from going to Jerusalem, Christ was intent on finishing the work.  He rebuked them by saying, “Get thee behind me, Satan,” recognizing that their hesitation and fear was actually the suggestion and temptation of the Devil.  Again, the Lord knew His purpose.  He was God Incarnate in the flesh, He lived perfectly and sinlessly under the Law, and He gave Himself in that High Priestly manner, fulfilling the many prophecies regarding His suffering and death, that He might provide the ransom for our sin debt, that the glory should then follow.   As with many prophecies, including this prophecy of Daniel, there is the good news vs. bad news.  Many people will often ask in preface to a significant announcement, whether one wants to hear the good news or the bad news first.  Such is the case here, but Romans 8:28 provides the wonderful comfort and assurance that, even in the bad news, God works it out for His glory and, ultimately, for our good!

     Christ underwent the sufferings that Isaiah foretold.  He suffered and endured the scorn, ridicule, torment, and injustice that the Psalmist had predicted.  Yet, even in these horrific sufferings at the hands of cruel, unjust, wicked men, it was all within the sovereign purpose of the Lord, that He might fulfill the task for which He had come to earth, that His glory should be revealed.  He had come to reveal Himself as the only possible Savior, the only Mediator and Reconciler of sinful mankind to an Holy and Righteous God.  He had determined before the foundation of the world to provide for our redemption, but now He had come to fulfill, to accomplish, and to finish that task.  For, after His death, burial, and resurrection, He ascended into the clouds, He sat down at the right hand of the Father, and He resumed His rightful place as the King of kings and Lord of lords, from whence He makes continual intercession for us, and from whence He shall one day return to judge the quick and the dead.  But, as Revelation reminds us, this time will not come until He has made all the earth and all His enemies to be His footstool, after He has prepared that place to which HE has gone to prepare for us.  Thus, His prophecy, and promise, and His guarantee to His children shall be accomplished and fulfilled.

     Now, however, we must return to our consideration of how Daniel fits into the eschatological purpose of these last things, the future events that will occur as prophesied in Revelation before the Second Coming, not the second, third, or fourth coming as some so-called Biblical scholars and prophetic experts would have us to believe, but the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.  As we look at these events, we must look at how Daniel 9:26-27 have been destroyed by the modernists, those who claim to be the “fundamentalists” and the self-professed guardians of historical, Christian “truth.  Nevertheless, they fail to admit that their scheme of events, their timeline and charts covering future happenings, are but a recent concoction of theories and assumptions concerning last things.  Their twist on prophecy is that which has no foundation, no basis of truth, within the Word of God.  Many people, however, fail to recognize the sharp deviation from the historical understanding of Scripture and prophecy because of the prevailing message which is taught in most seminaries, most churches, and, certainly, over most so-called Christian radio and television programs throughout this country and around the world.  Our challenge should not be to figure out what the great commentators on Scripture say, or what Scofield says, or what J. Vernon McGee says, or what David Jeremiah says, or whatever whoever says, and not even what I have to say, but, rather, we ought to seek to know and understand what the Word of God reveals on the subject.

     It says here that after the 62^nd week, after that 2^nd period within the 70 weeks that Messiah would be cut off.  He would be cut off, killed, put to an end.  This also has the sense of having nothing, as some of the old manuscripts have a marginal insert that, not only would He be cut off, but that He would have nothing.  This is a fulfillment of what actually happened. Of course, He was never married and never bore children.  Contrary to the fancies of those who believe in the Da Vinci code & all of the other nonsense that is twisted and inserted into their perception of the Biblical record, the Lord Jesus lived a perfectly holy and sinless life, , He was cut off, again, in complete fulfillment of prophecy.

     Isaiah Said He would be physically cut off from the land of the living.  But it also had a spiritual application. During His earthly ministry, though at times they did cry out “Hosanna!” and though they at times sought  Him for healings and for food, bread, when it came right down to it, they all cried “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”    Even those closest, the seventy, and, more so, the twelve disciples, on that fateful night when He was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemene, turned and ran.  Not only did one betray Him and sell Him out to the Sanhedrin and thus to the Romans, but the other eleven who said they would never leave Him nor forsake Him, also ran.  They fled into the night, and even though a couple of them followed behind to see what would happen, even the bold Peter, so proud and boastful, denied Him not just once, but three times with cursing, saying “I never knew Him!”.    But how wonderful it is that our Lord Jesus Christ says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you!  He is the One who is faithful to His Word.  He will not break His promise.  Though the world becomes increasingly darker, and the news seems to get crazier by the day, though our government “leaders”, whether the occupant of the White House or those sitting on the benches of the highest courts, seem to come up with a new anti-Christian policy or position every moment, God says “Fear not!”  He is still on the Throne, still in control.  When His sovereign plans and purposes are finished and complete, when the last of the elect has been brought in by the effectual call of the Spirit of God, then and only then, will He arise from His seat upon the Throne.  He will return in wrath and judgment upon the wicked, and in glory and majesty to reward those of His faithful ones.

     The inerrant, infallible Word of God thus affirms and confirms the fact that, although evil men shall wax worse and worse, we should never be dismayed or discouraged.  Scriptures assure us that, in the last days, it will be as in the days of Noah, and everyone shall do that which is right in his own eyes, as they will reject all standards, particularly Biblical standards, of right and truth.  They do not want to hear what the Bible says regarding a particular sin, and they often reject even the concept of sin, preferring to reclassify sin and evil as a disease, or perhaps the fault of the preceding generation.  They would have us believe that the Bible is hate speech, but the Word of God is the message of truth, love, hope, and compassion for a wicked world that is bent on destruction.  It is the only reliable message of salvation which God Himself has revealed unto us, that we might repent and believe upon the only One who can deliver us from the kingdom of darkness into His Kingdom of light.

     To accomplish all of this, He was cut off.  But, Isaiah 53:10 says that, even though He was to be sacrificed as an offering for sin, He would see His seed and prolong His days.  This is an amazing contradiction in light of the cruel death upon the Cross which had been foretold.  After all, He had died without seed.  Though the great Hebrew blessing was to grow old and die, leaving behind many descendants, He had no physical offspring.  Even spiritually understood, He was seemingly without any significant followers or disciples.  Even those closest to Him had been scattered in fear and confusion.  Throughout the Gospels, we read of their terror and doubts, as they huddled in the upper room, or wandered aimlessly on the road to Emmaus  They were hopeless, they were forlorn, and it appeared that His mission had utterly failed.  Yet, again, He had appeared to them, first to Mary, then to Peter, and then to them all individually and collectively, calming their fears, instructing them in His Word and showing how the Old Testament prophecies had been fulfilled by Himself.  He gave them hope, and assurance, and purpose through the power of the Holy Spirit, enabling them to go forth, preaching and teaching the Good News of salvation to others.  His final words from the Cross were thus not an admission of failure but, rather, a triumphant proclamation of victory as He finished the work of redemption.  With that new purpose and faith, fifty days later, He gave them the Holy Spirit, which enabled them, as the Scriptures say, to turn the world upside down.  Never again would they deny Him or defy Him, at least for any length of time and without repentance and restoration.  Of course, that does not mean that Christians are perfectly holy and without further sin, as some would dare to suggest.  Yet it does mean that sin will no longer have control over us, as we progress toward sanctification in the Christian walk, enabled by His grace.  We are thus encouraged and empowered to face whatever trials, tribulations, and temptations that may face us, knowing that it is He who will finish the work that He has begun in us, and that we, therefore, can be confident of finishing the race and receiving the commendation at that Great Day.

     God had again proven faithful to His Word.  Though Messiah was cut off, His seed was thus revealed.  Not just the eleven remaining disciples, but the 500 followers who witnessed His resurrection, and the thousands who believed at Pentecost, and all of the millions of Christians through succeeding generations even to the present day, bear testimony of His faithfulness and power.  We, like they, have believed, even though we have not seen His healing miracles, His resurrection, and, as John said, all those wonders which the world could not contain the record thereof.  But, as doubting Thomas overcame his doubts, having desired to see and touch the wounds of the Savior, repenting of that doubt and proclaiming Christ as His Lord and God, so we have triumphed over doubts and fears, demonstrating an even greater faith and greater works than those who witnessed His first Advent.  Thus, we, like all other true believers throughout history, are the fulfillment of the divine promise to faithful Father Abraham, as he was promised spiritual descendants more numerous than the stars of the heavens or the sand of the seashore.  And, while it seems an incalculable number, He knows all of our names, as we are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, not merely in indelible ink, but in the very blood of Christ Himself.

     Now, however, we come to a puzzling passage.  Not only do we have His Good News, but we have an ominous foreboding of judgment and destruction.  In the latter portion of verse 26, we have a promise of a desolation that is to come.  While Daniel is expectantly looking forward to that restoration that would come as prophesied in Jeremiah 25 and Jeremiah 29, he is looking forward to God’s keeping of His promise to Israel, of the return from the Captivity, of the rebuilding of the wall, and the city, and the Temple in Jerusalem.  But he is alarmed to receive the bad news.  We read of a coming destruction, even a desolation that would seemingly last until the end of the age.  It is apparent that Daniel is thrown for a tailspin.   Whereas there had been great joy in the anticipated restoration, there was now confusion and despair at the prospect of such utter desolation.  We read of how this shocking and troubling prophecy affected Daniel, as he was unable to eat or sleep for a period of about three weeks.  When we hear & understand the Word of God regarding what it means and how it will affect those who reject Him for eternity, it should affect us as well.  We ought not to smugly congratulate ourselves for being Christians, for having secured our ticket to Heaven, but there must be an evangelistic concern and zeal for winning the souls of the lost to that same deliverance and salvation which, by His grace, we have already received.  There should be a compassion for the lost, a concern for the lost and dying world.  This is not to say that Daniel did not have such a concern for evangelism, or even that we do not have this evangelistic zeal or commitment, but we ought to do more.

     We must then analyze why Daniel was so affected by this realization of divine judgment upon those who would reject Messiah.  Not because he was going to experience the desolation, not because he himself was going to suffer, but because he knew that the desolation and the suffering would inescapably fall upon those who would cause Messiah to be cut off.  Both Jews and Gentiles would experience the wrath of Almighty God as a judgment, even a righteous judgment, for their denial, for their refusal, for their rejection of the One who, by all evidence both prophetically and in demonstrated works, had so perfectly and completely fulfilled the Messianic prophecies of Old Testament Scriptures.

     Verse 26 is interesting for another reason, however, as we witness what has happened to it with regard to its interpretation or, rather, reinterpretation over the past 150 years.  As we read it, it would seem to be rather straightforward.  It says simply that, after the 62^nd week, “the people of the Prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.  Again, when He is cut off, there is going to be a subsequent event, or series of events, even as it says.  Later, we are given more detail as to the exact timing, that it should occur after three and one-half days, in the middle of the 70^th week, or, using the symbolism of days for years as previously established, after a period of three and one-half years.

     Of course, we know that the Lord’s earthly ministry, following His announcement, after His baptism by John, after His anointing by the Spirit in the form of a dove, lasted for a time period of exactly three and one-half years, fitting perfectly with the reference to the middle of the 70^th week.  But it also foretells that the people of the prince who shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.  Failure to recognize that Biblical prophecy often blends multiple fulfillments of several events into one passage has led to serious misapplication of this and other prophetic utterances from Daniel.  There is little disagreement that the object here is the destruction of Jerusalem and the sanctuary, or, in other words, the most sacred, holy place of the Temple.   

Indeed, the Temple was ultimately laid waste, to the extent that there was not one stone left standing upon another, completely pulverized decimated, and destroyed, in perfect fulfillment of the Word of God.  Divine judgment fell as a direct consequence of the rejection and injustice done to Messiah.  

     But there are many today who say that this reference to “the people of the prince who shall come” is a clear allusion to Antichrist, and that the predicted desolation in verse 26 in that 70^th week is the prophecy of events at the end of the age.  If we pause to ask where do they get that from Scriptures, however, we may arrive at what some would consider a rather startling conclusion.  In fact, we find that such a view, though the core teaching of premillennial dispensationalism, is not supported or even suggested when proper Biblical hermeneutics are applied.  Perhaps if we apply some of the lessons learned way back in grade school regarding the diagraming of sentences, specifically the rules regarding correct association of prepositional phrases with their proper nouns or pronouns, we might come to a rather different result than otherwise presented by prevailing logic, conventional wisdom, and modern theology.

No doubt some people hate all of those grammar rules, and most perhaps see no relevance in them whatsoever, but, if we look at the phrase “the people of the prince that shall come”, or said another way as “the prince’s people who shall come…” we can properly determine what is the noun, or the subject, in the phrase under consideration.  We must know exactly who is doing what in the prophecy.  For those who say that the one who shall destroy is Antichrist, it is plainly evident that, not only do they not understand the Bible or its prophecy; they do not even understand basic grammar!   If one looks carefully at this verse, especially in the context of the preceding verse which so clearly identifies Messiah the Prince, it says “the people of the prince who shall come…”  It is therefore a reference to the people who would destroy.  The rest is a series of prepositional phrases which describes those people.  Again, we must emphasize that it is the people, not Antichrist, who would come as predicted by this verse, and it is those people who would destroy the city and the sanctuary.

     If we ask ourselves to which people are referred, we may identify them by rightly dividing His Word.  Surprisingly, the answer is even more literal than even the supposed literalists would have us to understand.  It is important to note that it is the people who will destroy, and not the prince himself.  Even those who correctly link the first part of this promised destruction to the desolation of Jerusalem in 70 AD often misapply the reference to the prince.  They would suggest that the reference is to Titus, the Roman general, for he was in line to become emperor and was thus a prince.  Yet, the Prince is also a Messianic title, and, if we read the “people of the prince” as “the prince’s people” in the possessive sense of familial descent and cultural identification, then we see that the blame for the subsequent destruction of Jerusalem and their Temple was the responsibility of the Jews, both in their leadership among the Sanhedrin and collectively as a people, even as they had called for His blood to be upon their own heads and those of their children (Matt. 27:25).  Likewise, as our sovereign God has throughout history commissioned pagan armies and nations to be the agents of His wrath and judgment, in one sense, even the Roman armies were “the Prince’s people”, as He delegated the destruction to their responsibility.

     Furthermore, while we can clearly see the immediate application of this promised destruction in the events which occurred in Jerusalem in 70 AD, as the “flood” of the Roman army completed their barbarous and cruel task, we must also recognize the telescoping nature of this prophecy, as Daniel foretold that the desolation should be determined even “to the end of the war.  Again, we are reminded of the Apostle Paul’s assessment of the spiritual warfare (Eph. 6:12) in which we shall engage throughout our lives or until the Lord returns.  The desolation and effects from the consequences of sins shall plague the world, and indirectly, even Christians as we battle the old nature throughout our lives, but Christ has secured the victory. 

     Keeping all of this in its proper context, we are told in the previous clause that Messiah would be cut off “and not for Himself.”  It was not because of His own sins or His guilt before the Jews or the Romans for which He was crucified and cut off, but, rather, it was because of our sins that He came to earth and paid the awful price for our salvation.  And, here, it was the people who would destroy, and not the Prince, not because they were wicked people, which they were, but because God, in His sovereign purpose, had ordained the righteous judgment of those who had rejected Messiah, thus allowing the terrible desolation.  This, too, was a reminder that God’s ultimate purpose in the outworking of His sovereign will was that His message of salvation and redemption was intended not merely for the Jews, but for the elect remnant from the Gentiles as well.  The key event, then, is not really the subsequent destruction of the literal Temple and the city by the marauding Roman armies, but the fact that, as Daniel had so accurately prophesied, the Jewish sacrificial system was destroyed in the midst of the 70^th week when Messiah was cut off, as the veil to the inner sanctuary was torn from the top to the bottom.  By their unbelief and rejection, they had caused the ultimate desolation and injustice, as the most Holy of all, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, was cut off.  It is ultimately He who was promised, and it was He who came and finished the work.  He caused the sacrifices to cease, and He put an end to the dominion of sin.

     For those who say that Daniel’s prophecy refers to a coming Antichrist, we must again emphatically say, by the authority of the Bible and of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, “No!  No!  No!”  Instead, we have the reassurance of

the righteous judgment and justice of Almighty God.  He finished the work.  He made them pay the penalty for their rejection of Messiah.  He terminated the ceremonial sacrifices because He had come not to destroy the Law but to fulfill it (Matt. 5:17).  For the contextual proof of this fact, we come back again to Daniel 9:27, that He shall confirm the covenant with many for one week.

     Still using the familiar imagery of the weeks of years, the prophet thus foretells the 70^th week as a seven year period in which the covenant would be confirmed.  This was the final chapter in Daniel’s monumental vision, the first half of which constituted the Lord’s earthly ministry of three and one-half years, during which He confirmed the covenant.  He had kept His faithful promises and covenant relationship with the elect remnant of believers from among the Jews, as most of the initial converts to the Christian churches were of Jewish background.  Beginning with the conversion of the 3,000 at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit moved most noticeably among the Jews, as they dominated the ranks of the apostles, and, for the next three and one-half years, most of the converts came out from the Jewish synagogues in Jerusalem and beyond.  Yet, even as a precursor to the literal and complete fulfillment of the judgment upon Jerusalem and the Jewish religious ritual, in fulfillment of the Lord’s own promise that the Kingdom would be taken from them and given to others who would bear fruit, it was three and one-half years after Messiah was cut off, or at the end of the 70^th week, when Peter himself began to recognize the transition and expansion of the scope of the Gospel message.  Though a bit reluctant at first, having been instructed by a vision of divine revelation and confronted by the apostle Paul, he carried the Good News to the Gentile Cornelius and his family.  From that point forward, the Jewish predominance in the churches beyond Jerusalem was finished, though many of Jewish background both then and now continue to respond to the effectual call to repentance.  Peter thus came to accept what the Lord Jesus Christ had told them all along, that His Gospel was intended for both Jew and Gentile, male and female, bond and free (Gal. 3:28).  It was never limited to a mere national restoration for the Jews, nor even a spiritual restoration promised exclusively to Jewish people and those who became proselytes to Judaism.  Instead, the divine promise even to Abraham had been for a seed of many nations, from every nation and tribe and tongue.  And, in succeeding decades, especially after the conversion of Paul and his commission as the apostle to the Gentile world, the vision of the Christian churches was further expanded to the far corners of the earth.  He therefore has confirmed His covenant with many!

     Again, we must pause a moment to debunk that false notion that verse 27 of Daniel 9 predicts the scheming of Antichrist.  So many today teach that he was seize worldwide political power, that he will establish a covenant with Israel, and then that he will abrogate that relationship, revealing himself as the evil one.  They claim that he will thus terminate the sacrifices and desolate the Temple.  They teach that he will do many other things, none of which can be substantiated in the divine revelation of the Word of God.  Again, we must properly identify the “he” of verse 27.  He is not the Antichrist, or some pagan Roman general, but, instead, He is the Sovereign One, the Lord Jesus Christ, who has and will continue to work out His purposes in the affairs of men.  It is a prophecy of the Person and the accomplishments of Christ.  It was Christ who personally put an end to the ceremonial sacrifices, and it was He who authorized and allowed the destruction upon Jerusalem as a consequence of their actions, and upon the Roman armies and empire for their idolatry and cruelty.  It is He alone who has the power and authority to confirm His New Covenant with many.  It is also He who will serve as the Judge of all mankind when He returns in glory and in judgment.

     In conclusion, after keeping His promises to the Jewish people, He moved on to that work which had been the original commission to the Jewish nation from the beginning, to serve as an evangelistic outreach to the nations, a beacon of hope and salvation to the world.  But, of course, Daniel’s focus upon the events of the 70^th week of his prophecy does not by any means indicate that the work of the Gospel would cease after those seven years.  Though He was cut off in the midst of that week, and though He had ascended to Heaven, the message of the Gospel has gone forth, even as the hymn writer reminds us that Christ is “Conquering Now and Still to Conquer.”  We can take confidence and assurance from the realization that He has confirmed His Covenant in the events of that week, and that He still rules and reigns as the Head of His churches as we carry out His work in this world.  He had said that, if He be lifted up, He would draw all who would repent and believe unto Himself.

  Just as many among the Sanhedrin, of the Pharisees, and from the Jewish masses had repented, in fulfillment of His cry, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” so, too, we must look to Him in humble contrition.  We are thus confirmed as part of that great covenant as well.  He had every right to destroy those who mocked Him and those who crucified Him, but He responded instead with mercy and forgiveness.  Likewise, we are not deserving of the mercy and grace which He has bestowed upon us, yet, by His marvelous, infinite grace, He has mercifully and freely given us the gift of salvation and eternal life.

     Some object that He did not really cause the sacrifices to cease.  Despite the tearing of the veil in the sanctuary at the time of His crucifixion, some semblance of sacrifices actually continued for a time afterward, ceasing entirely with the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD.  As we look at these events in light of the spiritual application, we must recognize that, often, something is over even before it is really over.

Even in the sporting world, sometimes a game is over before the time clock actually expires.  The score of a football game might be 70-0 at halftime, but they still have to play the second half, even though the outcome is never in doubt.  In this sense, the sacrifices continued for a time, but Christ had stripped them of all relevance and significance.  For all practical purposes, as He had manifested Himself as Messiah and had given Himself as the once-and-for-all Sacrifice for His people, there was from that point forward no meaning to the Jewish rituals.  He had proven Himself a better High Priest than the repeated rituals of the Aaronic priesthood, and He finished the work on the Cross of Calvary.  This is spelled out for us in Hebrews 10:9-12, for those who cannot connect the dots, God’s Word affirms that He has taken away the first that He might establish the second.  We were and are sanctified by the sacrifice of the body of Christ Himself, once for all.  So, we must not look for a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem!  Jesus paid it all!  The Jewish priests offered their sacrifices daily, yet they could never atone for sin.  Those sacrifices were merely intended to point us to Him who would come as the perfect Sacrifice for our sins.  Throughout the Old Testament, He had reminded the faithful that He preferred obedience to sacrifice, and, now, by His obedience, He has imputed to us His righteousness, that we might have hope and eternal life.

     Finally, we must acknowledge that, even as the Jews blindly continued their religious rituals for nearly another forty years without realizing the full value of Christ’s atoning work, we often continue certain beliefs or practices, even though we know that, Scripturally, we ought not to do them.  Even the Apostle Paul admitted that he often did those things which he should not do, and he sometimes did not do those things which he knew that he should.  We have a constant battle with the old nature, the flesh, the world, and the Devil, but Christ has conquered them all!  By His grace and through His strength, we must persevere, striving for holiness and obedience, that we might do His will in all things (Heb. 10:23).  We must put on the full armor of God, clothed in Christ’s robe of righteousness.  He will keep His Word, and He will continue to accomplish His purposes in us and through us.  We cannot nor need not postpone this 50^th week of Daniel to some far future date, as some in the present day have sought to do.  We need only to look expectantly for the return of Christ, in the full confidence and assurance that He is still on the Throne and that He is accomplishing His purpose.  The prophecy of Daniel thus fits perfectly into the eschatology of Revelation.  The Messiah, who is our Faithful Witness and the Revealer of His Truth, is also the One who has loved us and washed us from our sins.  Likewise, we cannot properly understand and apply the Revelation to John unless we rightly understand Daniel’s prophecies.  And, just as Daniel was given some understanding and knowledge of the prophetic word which he received in the form of visions from the Lord, so we may gain insight into the events of the last days as we approach the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Not that we can know the exact date, or even that we need to know that specific date, but we are exhorted and challenged to make due preparation for His return, being about the work of His Kingdom until He calls us home or until He returns in glory.  In the meantime, we must continue to diligently study and live the Word of God, as He commands us and will enable us to do.

(from a series of expository sermons on the Book of Revelation, delivered by Richard A. Waltz, Assistant Pastor and Elder at Sovereign Grace Baptist Church, 325 Yetter Rd., Muncy, PA 17756.  Email:  pastor@localchurchpa.com

 

About the Author

 

     Richard A. Waltz serves as an assistant pastor and an elder at Sovereign Grace Baptist Church, 325 Yetter Rd., Muncy, PA 17756.  He is a licensed preacher after graduating with a Diploma in Biblical Studies from Toronto Baptist Seminary and receiving the endorsement of the elders of his local church.  Previously, he had earned a B.S., Ed. Degree, majoring in History and Political Science, followed by a Master of Public Administration degree.

     Rick and his wife Deb have 2 children, Nathanael and Hannah, whom they homeschool.

 

 

 

REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST: 

AN INTRODUCTION

(Revelation 1:1-3)

 

By

 

RICHARD A. WALTZ

 

(Adapted from a sermon preached on August 2, 2009)

 

 

 

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church

325 Yetter Rd., Muncy PA 17756

Email:  pastor@localchurchpa.com

 

www.localchurchpa.com

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revelation 1:1-3

1       The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass:  and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

2       Who bare record of the word of God and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

3       3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things that are written therein, for the time is at hand.

 

 

     The first verse of the book of Revelation is the key to understanding its origin.  It is the “Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him to show His servants things which must shortly come to pass.”  This is directly linked to John 15:15, where the beloved disciple, the longest-living Apostle, records the words of Christ, “Henceforth…”, or that is to say, from this point forward, “I call you not servants, for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth, but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard of my Father, I have made known unto you.”  Many attribute the book as a mere product of the mind of John.  Indeed, some translations even caption the book as the Revelation of John the Apostle, or the Revelation of St. John the Divine, but, as verse one so emphatically affirms, it is the Revelation of Jesus Christ.  It is indeed fitting that the closing book of the Bible, the consummation of all Scriptures, should be delivered to and through none other than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

     The failure on the part of many to properly grasp the origin of the revelation has led to a rather widespread misunderstanding of the prophecy itself and, to a greater degree, even the context of all of Scriptures.  As we focus upon this Revelation of Jesus Christ, we must realize therefore that the proper understanding and application of this book may run contrary to the generally perceived views held by many in the world today, even by many Christians whom we encounter.  Most regard the book of Revelation as a book without a great deal of application to our present situation, either because they regard it as having already been completely fulfilled during the lifetime of the Apostle John, or because they view the book as some far-off yet-to-be-fulfilled prophecy concerning others who will be here on earth long after all Christians have left the scene.  We cannot overemphasize, however, that the Lord has promised to give us edification, instruction, and encouragement through His Word.  It is a living Word. Though completely revealed in times past to the holy men and prophets, it nevertheless has practical application by the Spirit of God to believers of every generation and every age until the point of His return.  Revelation is an integral part of the rest of Scriptures, with the divine stamp of authority found upon the rest of the Biblical canon.

     As we begin to look at Revelation, many people assume that it simply cannot be figured out, that it somehow is too mysterious or too difficult to interpret or understand.  They regard the prophecy as a puzzle or something with which we really have to struggle to find some meaning.  Many preachers spend their entire lives in their favorite passages without ever touching the book of Revelation.  Others rely upon relatively modern sensationalist commentators, authors, and movie-makers for some application of Revelation, but, sadly, many of these espouse extra-Biblical teachings which run completely contrary to the context of the rest of Scripture and even the very nature of Christ Himself.

     While we must never presume to have come to a complete understanding of every facet of Revelation, or even of the Bible as a whole, as we must never forget that we have in Scriptures the unfathomable depths of the Word of God, it is also essential that we  acknowledge our duty and responsibility to delve into that Word, prayerfully seeking His illumination, to be Bereans as Paul commended diligent study and careful evaluation of even his own sermons, and to seek the light of God’s Truth.  Even as Peter challenges us to make our calling and election sure (2 Pet. 1:10), we must seek to ensure that our view of the book of Revelation is Biblically sound and that we are not driven off course by every false wind of doctrine.  We must strive to make sure that our view of future things is consistent with the historical and Biblical realities and to be prepared to affirm that our understanding of Revelation is grounded upon the instruction of God rather than men.

     There are many who seek to use Revelation for their own agendas, to sell their books and their movies.  The Word of God clearly states that we cannot know the day nor the hour of His return, yet there have been many who repeatedly calculate and reset the dates they expect Him to return.  We must not be fooled.  We cannot ignore the clear warnings of Scripture regarding such false prophets.  We must beware the false teachings of men. 

     The fact that Revelation is the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ should prompt us to a greater realization of the book’s authority and dependability.  In fact, verse three of Revelation Chapter One promises a great blessing upon him who reads the prophecy, as well as upon those who hear these words.  Yet there is a condition, a stipulation, that in order to receive that promised blessing one must keep those things which are written therein.  Mere head knowledge of the Bible is insufficient.  Knowledge of all of the facts and figures of Bible trivia cannot produce a thorough understanding and application of Scriptures, as such is possible only by revelation through the Holy Spirit.  We must apply the Word of God in our daily walk, in our daily profession of our faith, that we might receive the benefits promised to every child of God by His grace.

     One of the primary lessons of the book of Revelation deals with the Kingdom of Christ.  While many even well-intentioned Christians have fallen for the modern notion that Christ’s Kingdom is reserved for some far-off millennial reign, the Biblical reality is that He sits on His Throne even now.  He rules and reigns now, occupying the eternal Throne of David as prophesied in Scriptures.  Certainly there will be a yet future manifestation of His Kingdom, publicly displayed for every eye to see at the time of His Second Coming, but to deny His present reign is to detract from His very nature as God, the Second Person of the Trinity.  And, while there will be a yet to be fulfilled manifestation of the eternal reward that awaits us as His children, we likewise are even now joint heirs with Him (1 Pet. 1:4; Gal. 4:7; Rom. 8:17; etc.) .  He has called us to faithfulness and obedience, to be busy in the work of His Kingdom while we yet live in this life.  There is a spiritual warfare raging around us, and we concede much to the Enemy when we deny or ignore the present Kingship of Jesus Christ.

          The Greek word “apokalupsis”, from which we derive the word Apocalypse, often strikes fear in the hearts and minds of those who hear it.  Of course, most associate it with the terrible images of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, with the characterization of rampant warfare, persecution, famine, and death, but the literal rendering of the word from the Greek means only “revelation”.  This is all that is meant in the first verse, as it emphasizes the unveiling of God’s revelation to and through the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is He on whom we depend for a true understanding of the great mysteries of His prophecy, even as the Apostle had already told us that the Lord would reveal to us all of the things which had been revealed to Him by His Heavenly Father.  We can therefore derive much comfort and assurance from this revelation, as it was and is His intent to edify, strengthen, and encourage His people.  The book of Revelation was revealed for just such a purpose for the hearers of John’s day, for the faithful persecuted Christians of the past, for us today, and for those of the elect who will yet be born as long as the Lord shall tarry.

          The book is not an assemblage of unintelligible symbols and visions.  It is not a prophecy that has been totally fulfilled in the past, nor is it mere prophetic reference to some supposed future events.  Despite all of the sensationalism surrounding the modern attempts to interpret the book of Revelation, we must never lose sight of the fact that the prophecy is intended to provide spiritual discernment regarding the true nature of Christ and His Kingdom and to encourage all believers who are engaged in the spiritual warfare from His first Advent until His Second Coming.  John was given the task of writing the book to prepare his hearers and future readers for the trials and tribulations which we will necessarily face as Christians, and also for the purpose of preparing us for that glorious day when He shall return.  Part of its purpose is to signify, to provide landmarks, that as we experience events; we might recognize His sovereign purpose as He brings to pass all things which He has ordained even from the foundation of the world. 

     All of the types and shadows of the Old Testament find their perfect spiritual fulfillment in light of Christ as revealed in the New Testament.  Even as Daniel 2:28 foretold, “there is a God in Heaven who revealeth secrets”, making known the mysteries which will occur in the latter days.  It was Nebuchadnezzar’s great vision which serves as the backdrop for the divine revelation to Daniel regarding the great kingdoms of the world which culminated in the Roman Empire, all of which would make way for Christ and His Kingdom.  Those things which many historians foolishly regard as coincidence, the nearly universal use of the Greek language, the Pax Romana as Rome spread peace and stability throughout its empire, all collaborated under the sovereign control of God to usher in the Messiah and the manifestation of His Kingdom.  These events thus facilitated the rapid transmission of the Gospel message, outward from Jerusalem and Judea to the far corners of the earth.  Even as Tertullian and many of the early church fathers acknowledged, there was barely a village or a town which had not received the Word and heard the message of salvation through Christ’s Kingdom.  Scriptures record that, even beginning with the small band of Apostles and disciples who “turned the world upside down”, Paul’s missionary journeys quickly spread the Gospel to most of the known world by the middle of the first century.  How much more rapidly has modern technology, radio, television, and the internet, spread the Good News of Christ to the far corners of the globe.  But we can also be assured that He will not return until the last of the elect has been drawn into a saving relationship with Him.  Therefore, we still have the Great Commission and Christ’s instruction to us, with His promise that the Word will not return void.   What the world regards as foolishness, God is pleased to use to reach lost souls and bring them out of darkness into His marvelous light.  We must each be willing to let our little light shine, boldly standing upon His promises, in submission to His commands, that lost and dying sinners might be reached by the power of His Holy Spirit.  Many of our brothers and sisters of the past have given their very lives in defense of this truth, from the persecutions of Rome down to the present day.  Some have estimated that as many as 50 million Christians have been martyred for their faith in the past century alone.  Though we often do not experience the full extent of persecution on the scale faced by Christians in the communist countries or Muslim countries or other areas of the world which are hostile to the proclamation of the Gospel, we must be aware of the fact that there are concerted efforts even in this country to silence Christians, to deny the Gospel, and even to persecute those who would speak out against the political correctness and religious compromise of the day.  We may not always be blessed with the religious freedoms which we have enjoyed in the past.  There are many who proclaim that the true churches will be raptured out before things get really bad in the world, but to teach such is not only un-Scriptural, but it leaves many people ill-prepared to face real persecution.  Many today do not accept the Bible.  They hate Christians, they hate God, and they do not want to hear what the Word of God has to say.  However, even as God has made known His mysteries from the beginning of the world, we as His people must boldly stand for His Truth.

     Prophecy throughout Scriptures has been progressively revealed, unfolded in stages and by degrees.  Even the disciples who had been with Him for over three years were not yet prepared to hear much of what He told them, and indeed they did not fully understand until after His resurrection and ascension, when He gave them the Holy Spirit, that promised other Comforter, who would teach them all things.  Although they were initially dispersed in terror and in fear, He did not leave them there.  He returned unto them, taught them, and equipped them for the martyrdom that most of them would also face later in their lifetimes.  Just as He so mercifully appeared to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, so He also reveals Himself unto us, giving us strength, and equipping us for service and for suffering on His behalf.

     Revelation, therefore, is ultimately the unveiling of truth regarding our Lord Jesus Christ and His Kingdom.  Many will debate who it was that killed Jesus Christ on the cross.  Some say it was the Jews, as Scriptures record their self-righteous, self-preserving sham of a trial which they conducted under the cover of darkness.  Others say it was the Romans, as the Bible records the gutless indecision of Pontius Pilate in giving in to the will of the mob despite his conclusion that Jesus was innocent of the crimes alleged against Him. But, in a very real sense, it was not the Romans and it was not the Jews who killed Him.  Scriptures record that He laid down His own life for the sins which we committed.  Therefore, everyone has a direct role in causing His death.  Those who deny and reject Christ today would have certainly cried with the mob, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”  And, for those of us who have saving faith, His sacrifice was necessary for the propitiation in order that we as sinners might be reconciled to God through His blood.  His sacrifice, as God in the flesh, was the only possible means of salvation.  Adam and Eve had fallen, bringing sin and death upon all humanity.  National Israel had failed to follow God.  The Aaronic priesthood had failed to adequately atone for the sins of the people.  No one can be “good enough” to go to Heaven.  Yet Scriptures record that salvation is possible only through the shedding of blood, and not by the sacrifice of animals through religious ritual, but by the once-and-for-all Sacrifice of the Great High Priest Himself.

     As the last book of the Bible, Revelation thus concludes the marvelous Gospel of Christ.  It brings to fulfillment all of the prophecies of not only Daniel but also of all of the Old Testament prophets.  We cannot understand Revelation without relating its prophecies to those Old Testament types and shadows, but we must never revert to the essence of those very types and shadows.  Even as Paul reminded the Corinthians, the divine pattern is first the natural and then the spiritual (1 Cor. 15:46).  John was given the vision that he might relay to us the insight regarding those things which must soon come to pass.  It is true that many have twisted and mistranslated the revealed Word of God because of their own theological or political agendas, or because of the systems of interpretation which they have been taught, but, on the other hand, God has marvelously preserved His Word and His Truth, that even today we may have wisdom and discernment regarding those things which must soon come to pass.

     As for the timing of the book of Revelation, some claim that it was written prior to 70 AD and that its prophecies relate only to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Jewish religious structure.  Such a view, usually referred to as preterism or hyper-preterism, denies the spiritual nature of the book and robs today’s Christians of much blessing and comfort that is clearly inherent and applicable from a right understanding of Revelation.  Others see the events of Revelation as unfolding throughout the historical struggles of the Church, but, although there are some partial fulfillments of much of the prophecies, there is an undeniable future aspect to much of what was given to the Apostle John.  Revelation is far more than a mere historical timeline.  It is a spiritual book which requires the illumination of the Holy Spirit to properly discern its application.  Those who see only the destruction of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem because of the Jews’ rejection of the Messiah will miss the severe and inescapable warning of the coming eternal punishment for all who defy and deny the Lord Jesus Christ.  There is great glory and reward for those who follow Christ, but there is also judgment and divine wrath for the wicked, resulting in eternal damnation and separation from God.

          For Christians, we have His Word that He has gone to prepare a place for us.  John assures us elsewhere that, if this were not true, Christ would have told us.  We therefore have a blessed Hope and an unshakable confidence that, though we presently see through a glass darkly, the glimpse of Heaven provided by the closing chapter of Revelation will be even more magnificent in reality.  Even as Abraham looked for a city whose builder and maker is God, so, too, we await the appearance of our Lord that we may see the New Jerusalem in His new heaven and new earth.

     Many today attempt to understand Revelation by un-Scriptural means.  They defy all existing principles of Biblical hermeneutics, throwing away all historical doctrine and requirements that Scripture be interpreted only in light of other Bible passages.  The Reformers stood upon this principle with the rallying cry, “Sola Scriptura.”.  Instead, the modernists defy the Word of God, insisting instead that “God told me”, even when that position is clearly contradicted by the contents of the Bible.  Extra-Biblical revelation, even if it were possible, could never contradict His revealed Word.  And, if we believe that Scripture is inerrant, plenary, and complete, then we should never accept the sensationalist teachings about Revelation and eschatology which are so often proclaimed as “fundamentalist” Christian doctrine despite the fact that these notions of premillennial dispensationalism were largely unknown to believers until about 150 years ago.  Suddenly, however, the claimed visions of a Scottish peasant girl, and the system of interpretation that was drawn from them, have emerged as the supposed foundation of all future prophetic fulfillment.  Instead, we must rely upon the Word of God.  Daniel prophesied regarding things which must soon come to pass in the ministry of Christ as Messiah, calling that time the “latter days”.  Our Lord said, even during His earthly ministry, that the world was in the “Last Days”.  The replacement of world empires by that “little stone” which would grow into a mighty mountain, eventually conquering the whole world, was Daniel’s vision concerning the Kingdom of Christ.  He reigns now, and, when the whole of His enemies have been put down and made His footstool, and the last of the elect remnant has been saved, He will return.  Though the Devil has much influence on this earth, he is permitted to do only what the One who sits on the Throne of Heaven allows him to do.  Christ will never abdicate His Throne.  He will never be deposed or overthrown.  His Kingdom is eternal and will last forever.

     The vision of Jesus Christ given to John was sent and signified by His angel as a reminder that the Word of God is given with His full authority and purpose.  Some question whether this vision was given to John the beloved disciple, the one whom Jesus loved.  However, though Paul often asserted his apostolic authority over the Judaizers who sought to deny or dilute the true Gospel, John’s identification of himself only as a servant is completely consistent with his characteristic of humility with which he presents himself elsewhere.  Even as John the Baptist asserted that he must decrease that Christ might increase, so John demonstrates his own humility and focuses the attention upon the One who is the real source and object of the Revelation.  We, too, then should also place less emphasis upon ourselves and our degrees, works, and accomplishments, that we might focus upon Him who is worthy of all honor, glory, and power.  If we are faithful in small things, He will make us ruler over many things, not merely in matters of material and wealth as promised by the “prosperity gospel”, but in heavenly treasures through all eternity.

    John’s task was to bear witness, to testify of those things which had been delivered to Christ, then delivered to the angel, and ultimately to himself.  First, he witnessed of the Word of God.  John knew that, whenever preachers declare from the pulpit, whether Revelation or any other book in Scripture, we must focus upon divine revelation.  We must not be primarily concerned with best-selling books, commentaries, or our own philosophies.  Instead, we are commanded to preach and teach the whole counsel of the Word of God.

     Secondly, John testified concerning Jesus Christ.  Indeed, from Genesis through Revelation, Christ must be the focus of all of Scriptures.  He is the inseparable Second Person of the Trinity, the Creator and Sustainer of all things.  He is the only Way, Truth, and Life, and He will return one day to judge the quick and the dead.  The book of Revelation is the revelation of Jesus Christ.  He didn’t just appear in Matthew or Luke or the other Gospels.  We should not just look to those Gospels as a recording of the words and life of Jesus, turning to Paul’s epistles to put those words into practical living.  Instead, we must acknowledge Him as King of kings and LORD of lords.  We must demonstrate our profession of faith in Him and our love for Him by keeping the commandments which He has given.  We may feel alone at times, but Elijah also felt alone.  God reminded him, however, that there were yet 7,000 who had not bowed the knee to Baal, so we also should be encouraged that He is still faithful to His Word.  He will never leave us nor forsake us, and He will give us victory, finishing that work which He has begun in our lives. 

     Christ must remain as Head of His Church.  As so-called hate crimes legislation is adopted by federal and state governments, our liberties and freedoms are systematically taken away.  Consequently, the cost of such a bold and public testimony for Christ may increase dramatically in the very near future.  Yet we are exhorted not to fear man but to fear God and to serve the One who has redeemed us.  We are, after all, citizens of a heavenly Kingdom if we are in Christ.  Those “churches” however, which have surrendered their authority and autonomy, either as  501(c)3 corporations giving their headship not to Christ but to the state, or by implementing democracy and self-rule instead of the Biblical principles of eldership in submission to Christ, will no doubt realize too late the consequences of their departure from their Biblical mandate.  Any human authority which grants privileges and rights can also take them away.  We as Christians are constantly reminded to put our confidence not in princes, but rather to trust in God.  Christ has called us to follow Him, to count the cost, and to trust Him in whatever circumstances we find ourselves.  Paul reminds us that the eternal glory that awaits us will far overshadow any temporary persecution which we may face.

          The Revelation to John was a reminder to the people of his day, as it is to all in the present day, that we should not seek the best this world has to offer.  Instead, we should flee the wrath to come, which will indeed come upon all who reject Christ.  We are called to be about the work of the Kingdom, sounding the alarm, warning those of our families and friends who do not know Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.  Today is the Day of Salvation.  There was a popular Southern Gospel song a few years back called “John the Revelator”.  However, we must recognize that this message is not merely from John but comes from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.                                                

          John testified of the things he had seen and of what the Lord had done in his own life.  He had been transformed from a timid, fearful disciple into one of the Apostles who turned the world upside down.  John’s experience, along with the experiences of all of us who know Christ in a personal relationship, can attest to the fact that it is Christ who turns the world right-side up!  As an old man, probably in his 90’s, exiled and imprisoned on the isle of Patmos, whom his enemies had tried to kill, John was able to remain faithful.  Worshipping on the Lord’s Day, he thus received anew the glorious blessing and presence of God in his daily life, with the full assurance of God’s sovereignty over what remained of his life, convinced of Christ’s ability to triumph through His Church over all opposition by Satan and the world.

     Like John, we must go beyond mere knowledge of Bible trivia.  The head knowledge must become heart knowledge.  Indeed, we must train up a child in the way he should go, trusting the promise that when he is old, he shall not depart from it.  But true knowledge comes through the work of the Holy Spirit, who kindles the flame of personal faith in the hearts of true believers.  John saw Christ and witnessed His promise that He would one day return.  John believed it, and we must believe it as well.  He has called us to follow Him, to prepare for His return, and to anticipate the eternal glory that will accompany His reappearance.  Our faith must be personal and practical.  We cannot merely attend church on certain so-called holidays or even routinely every Lord’s Day.  We must be firmly grounded in the Word of God in order to properly understand it.  We have a duty and obligation to daily search the Scriptures, including the book of Revelation that we might know and apply His Truth.  We must be fortified and filled by the Holy Spirit, not just on Sunday and Wednesday, but 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Thus we can avoid the dangers and pitfalls of those who have not heeded the warning against adding to or taking away from revealed Scriptures.  The dangerous consequences of failure to do so are no more evident than when it comes to a study of Revelation.

     The book of Revelation gives us greater understanding of the true nature of His Kingdom.  Even the Apostles had a culturally skewed expectation regarding Christ and His Kingdom.  Like the rest of the Jews, they had initially expected a political Messiah who would lead them to freedom from the bondage of Rome.  Many today still need to hear the words of Christ Himself, as He reminded all that His Kingdom is not of this world, or else His servants would fight for it.  We need not expect political dominion in Jerusalem or anywhere else.  His Throne is a heavenly Throne, and His Kingdom is eternal and spiritual.  We cannot reform the world nor Christianize the world in some post-millennial sense.  The cause of truth and righteousness will never be ushered in by a moral majority.  True reform comes through the regeneration of salvation and indwelling by the Holy Spirit, which will in turn affect our families, our communities, our workplaces, our government, and the world.  We are in the world, but we must never be of the world.  We are first and foremost not citizens of the United States nor any other human political nation, but we are citizens of Heaven.

     We must interpret current world events in light of God’s sovereign Hand at work through the course of all human history.  While He does work among the princes and rulers of nations, He is also at work in individual hearts and lives.  The faithful remnant of the Old Testament experienced the outworking of God’s purpose in the historical events of their lives.  So, too, as we draw closer to the time of Christ’s Second Coming, we will experience the manifestation of His glorious return.  Many expect that future events somehow center around the Middle East and political Israel, but it is imperative that we realize that, throughout Scriptures, every restoration to the land was preceded by genuine repentance and faith.  Not so with the political state restored to Palestine in 1948, as it remains an apostate, even anti-Christian world government, as much opposed to the Gospel of Christ as any of the surrounding Muslim nations of the region.  Political Israel may be a military and political ally of the United States, but, as Christians, we look forward to the manifestation of the Heavenly Jerusalem, where Christ Himself has gone to prepare a place for us.

     We must therefore look to the book of Revelation as a key to understand the spiritual reality of Christ and His Kingdom.  We as Christians, according to Peter, are the holy nation, the peculiar people, the chosen generation, and the royal priesthood.  Our future is not a strip of sand in Palestine, but a mansion in that Celestial City on high.  As Augustine said, the Old Testament is the New Testament concealed, while the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed.  We cannot turn the clock back to a former reality, even if most of the modern commentators and theologians would desire to do so.  A right understanding of Revelation involves building a proper foundation upon the prophets and the Apostles, with Christ as the sure Foundation.

     As with all Old Testament prophecy, many regard Revelation as one looking at the future as through a glass darkly.  But He does give clarity and understanding by His grace.  We must only put on our spiritual glasses, prayerfully seeking His wisdom and insight, that we may receive the promised blessing.  Revelation is thus a book that will prepare us for the future, to enable us to withstand temptation and triumph over evil by His grace.  The Light of the world is indeed Jesus.

 

 

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(from a series of expository sermons on the Book of Revelation, delivered by Richard A. Waltz, Assistant Pastor/Elder at Sovereign Grace Baptist Church,    325 Yetter Rd., Muncy, PA 17756, Email: pastor@localchurchpa.com, Website: http://www.localchurchpa.com)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sacrifice Ceased

(Revelation 1:5 & Daniel 9:26-27)

 

By

 

RICHARD A. WALTZ

 

(adapted from a sermon preached June 7, 2009)

 

 

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church

325 Yetter Rd., Muncy PA 17756

Email:  pastor@localchurchpa.com

 

www.localchurchpa.com

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sacrifice Ceased

(Revelation 1:5 & Daniel 9:26-27)

 

 

Revelation 1:5

5  And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.  Unto him that loved us, and washed us from sins in his own blood,

Daniel 9:26-27

26 And after threescore and two weeks  shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself:  and the people of the prince who shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

27 He shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease; and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

 

 

     As we take up this subject once again, we must identify the concluding remarks on the 70 Weeks of Daniel and their connection to the Revelation of Jesus Christ to the apostle John,

Dealing with Sacrifice Ceased, the focus is not really Daniel, nor prophecy, nor even eschatology, but a consideration of the One who is worthy of all honor, glory and praise.  The Lord Jesus Christ is that Faithful Witness, the giver of all divine revelation, the Prince and even the King of kings and Lord of lords.  Yet Scriptures tell us HE is also our Savior, our Brother, and our Friend.  In what is the central event of this passage, Daniel 9:27 reminds the reader that He shall cause the sacrifice and oblation, or offering, to cease.  From the first book of the Bible onward, as reaffirmed in both the Old and New Testaments, we see that, without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins (Gen. 3:21; Lev. 4:26; Heb. 9:22).

     Of course, we know that the Lord Jesus Christ Put an end to the sacrifices once & for all.  He is the One who shed His own precious blood.  It is not the blood of goats, rams, & sheep, but it is the blood of Jesus Himself which makes atonement for our sins.  That great Sacrifice was the climactic event which Daniel foresaw in Dan. 9:26 when he predicted that, after threescore and two weeks, Messiah shall be cut off.

     Daniel 9 is a much misunderstood passage, particularly verse 26 & 27.    As we have said before, this prophecy has been hijacked by those who, for their own theological reasons, seek to read something into it which is not there contextually.  It is our duty, as we read, as we study, and as we meditate upon it, to make sure that we are not adding our own philosophy, our own cultural blinders, or our own predetermined theological notions into the Word of God.  If we are successful in doing that, by the grace of God and with His illuminating Spirit, we might better grasp what should be an  easy to understand passage.  We must also remember that it is only by the revelation of the Spirit of God that we have the ability to discern and to understand what He would have us to see in this prophecy, and must therefore be patient with those of our brethren who have not yet fully grasped this wonderful truth.

     We have already seen that the 70 weeks of Daniel is split into 3 periods.  The first seven weeks represents the 7 weeks of years, or the 49 years during which the Temple was constructed, followed by the 62 weeks, the 434 years during which the people who had returned to Jerusalem experienced relative peace and prosperity in preparation, not for their own glorification, but in preparation for the arrival of the Messiah.  The Anointed One would arrive at God’s appointed time, in complete fulfillment of His prophecy and His promises.  These years ran from the going forth of the order to return and build the city wall and the Temple until the designated time for the arrival of Messiah the Prince.  So, it is after the completion of the middle period of 434 years, and actually in the midst of the final, or 70^th, week that Messiah would be cut off.   This all fits in to the specific timing of Almighty God.  It has been said many times that the events of world history were orchestrated in such a fashion by our Sovereign God that He had set the stage for the quick & easy  spread of the Gospel.  Through the Pax Romana, the Roman peace, the universalization of the Greek language as the common language of the empire, the preparations had been made for the Gospel message to spread like wildfire to the various nations, to the far corners of the known world.  God never does anything early or late.  As He had appointed the time, even in  in this passage we see that the desolation and the destruction was appointed, that His supreme purpose might be accomplished.  But, to get to this point,  Daniel had foretold certain events and occurrences that were appointed and scheduled according to the divine timetable.  The coming of Messiah was an event which had been promised.  It was an event which had ben assured to Daniel that would occur in 483 years from the order to return and rebuild Jerusalem.  .  And we have looked at the timetable and how we can reconcile what, at first glance, appears to be a calendar contradiction with this prophecy  which is the perfect, infallible, sure Word of God.

     As planned on the divine calendar of Heaven, He arrived with an announcement, or, in reality, a series of announcements.  Daniel announced His coming, and, just before His arrival, the star of Bethlehem announced it, drawing observers and worshippers from even the land of Persia, to which Daniel himself had been transplanted by the will of God that He might influence the Wise Men more than five centuries later.  As the Lord grew and matured, John the Baptist announced Him.  But, even the announcer was announced in God’s Holy Word.

In Malachi 3:1, we read of that announcement of the one who would prepare the way.  This is the message of John the Baptist, as we read in Isaiah 40:3-11, which also makes reference to the messenger, the one who would be like a voice crying in the wilderness, the one who was as the spirit of Elijah, witnessing and applying the fulfillment of these Old Testament prophecies.  John the Baptist was clearing the way for the arrival of Messiah.  We read the familiar passage in Isaiah of how he would make the path straight, preparing the way for the arrival of the Lord, and that he is going to announce the coming Messiah.  In the middle of that passage, we also have a word of prophecy to the people of Jerusalem, along with the impending judgment upon them and their unholy city:, Behold thy God (Isa. 40:9.  It was not just Isaiah’s purpose to unveil coming events.  The purpose of prophecy is not merely that we might know the future, but it is that the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ might be exalted.  We are are instructed and exhorted to recognize Him, His Person, His work, His ministry, , as He perfectly and completely fulfilled the will of His Heavenly Father, and, more importantly at least from our perspective, that He might secure our redemption and our sanctification.   For it is His robe of righteousness that we claim.  It is not our own good works or good deeds.  Yes, we have human responsibility, both  to follow His example and obey His commandments by His grace and with His enabling, but we can never succeed, nor even hope to succeed, by our own efforts at living the Christian life, through our own diligence, intelligence, or anything that we could do.  It is the accomplished work of Christ that we rely upon as our only hope and assurance.    

     This is the point in Daniel 9: 26-27.  Tthough many have distorted it & read into it, we are again cautioned against adding to or deleting from the revealed Word of God.  There is great danger for any who would dare to read into a passage  something which is not there.  It is our duty to expound, or to explain, that which is revealed within a passage, through a process called Biblical exegesis.  Those who interpret something in a passage which is not there, or those who consciously insert something into Scripture which is not actually present, are in violation of God’s commandments regarding His Word (Rev. 22:18-19).  It is our desire, our duty & obligation to make sure that, whenever we handle Scripture, whenever we deal with prophecy or any Biblical truth, that we be certain to practice soley Biblical exegesis.  We must expound and tell only what is written in the Bible, what the Word of God has for us, but not inserting conjecture or private interpretation.

     John the Baptist announced the coming of Messiah, but strictly according to the divine timetable.  That prophecy did not merely identify the year it should occur.  Through His prophets, God has said repeatedly that the hour was near and that the time had come.  He had ordained the exact time, down to the very second.  God is the God of all human history.  Indeed, it is “His story”, as He works out His marvelous plan throughout redemptive history.  Nothing can prevent Him from bringing to pass all that He has purposed to accomplish.  1 Peter 1:11 addresses this divine purpose as we are remined by the manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify when it testified beforehand “the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow.  He had willingly gone to the Cross that He might fulfill His Father’s will.  Despite the objections of the disciples who had attempted to prevent Him from going to Jerusalem, Christ was intent on finishing the work.  He rebuked them by saying, “Get thee behind me, Satan,” recognizing that their hesitation and fear was actually the suggestion and temptation of the Devil.  Again, the Lord knew His purpose.  He was God Incarnate in the flesh, He lived perfectly and sinlessly under the Law, and He gave Himself in that High Priestly manner, fulfilling the many prophecies regarding His suffering and death, that He might provide the ransom for our sin debt, that the glory should then follow.   As with many prophecies, including this prophecy of Daniel, there is the good news vs. bad news.  Many people will often ask in preface to a significant announcement, whether one wants to hear the good news or the bad news first.  Such is the case here, but Romans 8:28 provides the wonderful comfort and assurance that, even in the bad news, God works it out for His glory and, ultimately, for our good!

     Christ underwent the sufferings that Isaiah foretold.  He suffered and endured the scorn, ridicule, torment, and injustice that the Psalmist had predicted.  Yet, even in these horrific sufferings at the hands of cruel, unjust, wicked men, it was all within the sovereign purpose of the Lord, that He might fulfill the task for which He had co