The breaking of the first seal reveals “…a white horse. Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown. He rode out as conqueror to conquer.” (Revelation 6:2). A rider on a white horse must be good, right? In chapter 19 there is another rider on a white …
Revelation 4-5: Challenge to the Throne
In the previous articles, I’ve tried to make the case for understanding the book of Revelation as revolving around chapter 12 and the “war in heaven” motif. This world is a mess! The book of Revelation explains how the sin problem began in the first place, it clarifies for the …
Revelation 4-5: Who is Worthy?
When George Bush Sr. was President (1988-92), the late Phil Hartman used to do a hilarious impression of his wife Barbara Bush on Saturday Night Live. During one of these skits, “Barbara Bush” was asked this question by an interviewer: “So tell me Barbara, you must be very proud of …
Revelation 2-4: The Ultimate Back-Stage Pass
I was fortunate enough to be asked to give a series of neurology lectures for a cruise that has traveled from Copenhagen to Estonia, St. Petersburg, Helsinki, today Stockholm, and eventually on to northern Germany, Oslo and Amsterdam. Thus far our city tours have revealed a dramatic contrast between the …
Temple Imagery in Revelation: Just Furniture?
For just a brief moment, close your eyes and imagine the three compartments of the sanctuary and reflect on this question: If you had to spend a day in the sanctuary, where would you like to be? Would you choose to be near the Shekinah glory in the Most Holy …
Revelation 1: Saved by Blood or Saved by Jesus?
The first major section of the book of Revelation is a description of seven churches. Leading up to this, John first “saw seven gold lampstands, and among them there was what looked like a human being…The seven lampstands are the seven churches.” (Revelation 1:12,20). Of course, this individual is Jesus, …
Revelation Overview: To be Saved is to be Healed
Back to the book of Revelation…sort of. Last time we discussed our mission as priests (Revelation 1:6; 5:10) and that this task involves a very specific purpose: “It is the duty of priests to teach the true knowledge of God” (Malachi 2:7). As priests we are to display the beautiful …
Revelation 1: Your mission, should you choose to accept…
Now we return to Revelation chapter 1 which opens by telling us that “This is the revelation of Jesus Christ… This is his report concerning the message from God and the truth revealed by Jesus Christ.” (1) Previously we listed the repeated use of this phrase “the truth revealed by …
Revelation 12: Cosmic Conflict Theology
This will be the last article on the “war in heaven” described in Revelation chapter 12 and then we will go through the book more systematically. For me personally, the things discussed in this article are at the heart and center of everything that is important. In addition, we can …
Revelation 12: Who is God?
As we have discussed, the “war in heaven” described in Revelation 12 represents the central theme of the book of Revelation. Last time we identified the dragon in this conflict to be Satan, the slippery snake in the tree, the sentient being described in Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28, and …