Daniel and Revelation

Jesus is the King who reigns over all things, and he does so as the Sacrificial Lamb and the Shepherd of the Nations . Jesus is the only one who unveils the “ mysteries of God ,” he alone is qualified to reveal the “ unseen God .” Only in him are all the promises of God fulfilled. He is the key that unlocks the Hebrew Bible and explains the “ times and seasons .” And only he is our absolute Lord and Sovereign– (Revelation 5:9-14).

The Inhabitants of the Earth refuse to follow the Lamb, choosing instead to swear allegiance to the Dragon and his Beast . In the  Book of Revelation,  there are no geographic restrictions on the reign of the “ Beast .” All the “ Inhabitants of the Earth ” take the Beast’s “ Mark ” or “ Number ” and venerate its image. No national government resists the monster from the Sea, for it is granted “ authority over every tribe, people, tongue and nation .” There are no exceptions.

The Slain Lamb is the Messiah in Revelation who overcomes and reigns over the Nations and the Kings of the Earth . In popular preaching, Jesus has become the “ Roaring Lion of Judah ” who will soon unleash his predatory cry as he slays his enemies. Unlike the man from Nazareth, this warrior-king will destroy everyone who resists him as he imposes his kingdom on the willing and the unwilling. No longer is he the savior who submitted to an unjust death to save the world. Does not the  Book of Revelation  tell us that he is the Messianic Lion?

The Book of Revelation is addressed to seven first-century congregations in the Roman province of Asia. It deals with their real-life struggles. Moreover, it presents messages relevant to the Church throughout the present age, the “ Last Days .” This period began with the Death and Resurrection of Jesus. The daily challenges of the Asian congregations provide us with a microcosm of the great cosmic battle that is being waged between Jesus and the Devil.

Jesus triumphed over Satan and Sin through his Death and Resurrection, therefore, he now reigns from the Messianic Throne . Jesus triumphed over his enemies on the Cross and began his reign as the promised Messianic King following his Death and Resurrection. He is not waiting for some future event before he receives his sovereignty over the nations. Unlike the political powers of this age, he conquered through his sacrificial death rather than tyranny, lies, political manipulation, or violence. It is the Crucified One who now reigns on Mount Zion!

The Lamb’s reign began with his Death and Resurrection. Since then, he has been shepherding the nations toward New Jerusalem . The  Book of Revelation  declares Jesus is the “ Ruler of the Kings of the Earth .” When it describes how he reigns over the “ nations ,” it presents a King of an entirely different nature than Caesar or the political rulers of this evil age. Christ is the “ Lamb ” who was slain to redeem men from every nation, and now, he is “ shepherding ” the “ nations ” so that the city of “ New Jerusalem ” will be fully inhabited.

Discussions on the “ Mark of the Beast ” focus on the significance of its Number, ‘ 666 .’ We wish to understand it, and thereby avoid taking it. But to better appreciate the ramifications of taking its “ Mark ,” we must perceive that the Book of Revelation contrasts the “ Mark of the Beast ” with the “ Seal of God .” Every man must choose between two irreconcilable alternatives, and either choice has consequences.

Jesus is the key that unlocks the Hebrew scriptures, understanding the end-times, and the nature and mysteries of God . Jesus Christ unveils the Mysteries of God. Only he is qualified to reveal the nature and glories of the “ unseen God .”  In him alone , all the promises of God find their fulfillment.  Christ is the key that unlocks the Scriptures and unveils the “ times and seasons .” This is especially so in the  Book of Revelation  which discloses the sacrificial “ Lamb ” and how he reigns over the Earth, or at least, to men and women who can “ hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches .”

In the Book of Revelation , Jesus is called the “ Faithful Witness ” and the “ Ruler of the Kings of the Earth ,” and the two designations are inextricably linked. The first title establishes HOW he obtained the second and established his sovereignty over the Earth. It was by his sacrificial death that he made the saints into a “ Kingdom of Priests ,” and because of his redemptive act for them, God exalted him to reign over all things as the “ Lamb .”

The fifteenth chapter introduces the seven angels who empty the contents of the “ seven bowls of wrath .” But first, the “ overcoming ” saints are found standing on the “ sea of glass mingled with fire ” where they “ sing the song of Moses and the Lamb .” They have overcome the “ Beast, its image, mark, and number .”

The reign of Jesus on the Divine Throne is based on his sacrificial death and resurrection, the unshakable basis of his universal authority . The Death, Resurrection, and the Exaltation of Jesus are all linked in the  Book of Revelation . Christ reigns supreme over the Earth because of his obedient death and subsequent resurrection, and he therefore is authorized to reveal and put the contents of the “ Sealed Scroll ” into action. He does not tyrannize his subjects; instead, he is “ the Shepherd of the nations ” who redeems men and women from every nation.

SYNOPSIS - Language from Daniel’s vision of the “little horn” that waged war against the “saints” is applied in Revelation to the church – Daniel 7:21.  In the interpretation of the image of the “ little horn ,” this malevolent figure made “ war on the saints and prevail over them .” That same image is reapplied in the  book of Revelation  to the “ war ” of the “ Dragon ” and his vassals against the “ saints ,” those who “ follow the Lamb wherever he goes .” Similarly, descriptive language from this same vision was applied by the Apostle Paul to the coming “ man of lawlessness .”

The sacrifice and exaltation of Jesus are prominent themes in the  Book of Revelation . The plan of God to redeem humanity and His creation is unveiled in its visions and images. It is his death and resurrection, and his consequent enthronement that have put this plan into action. His sovereignty over the Cosmos is the result of his faithful testimony given in his sacrificial death. Jesus of Nazareth is the “ Lamb who is worthy ”!

The second rider was sent to “remove peace from the earth” and to cause men to “slay one another”  –  Revelation 6:3-4 .  As with the first rider, the second one was commanded by one of the four “ living creatures ” to “ go forth .” Although each seal is opened by the “ Lamb ,” the involvement of the “ four living creatures ” serves to emphasize that heaven remains in firm control over the earthly events represented by each “ rider .”

The Messiah “shepherds” the nations by the “word” that proceeds out of his mouth in preparation for the final battle  -  Revelation 19:11-16 .  The vision now anticipates the destruction of the “ beast ” and the “ False Prophet ” by introducing the warrior figure riding a “ white horse .” The groundwork for the coming “battle” was laid with the announcement of the victory of the “ Lamb ” over the “ beast ” and the “ kings of the earth ” in chapter 17 (For he is “ Lord of lords and King of kings ”).

John saw a vision of a female figure identified as “ Babylon, the Great Harlot .” She was carried by the “ Beast with Ten Horns and Seven Heads .” She deceived the “ Kings of the Earth ” along with its “ Inhabitants ” with her “ fornications ,” and she was “ drunk with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus .” She was (and remains) the “ Mother of the Harlots and of the Abominations of the Earth .” Her powers of seduction were so great that even John found himself momentarily “ marveling ” after her.