God’s Words do not return to Him empty (Isa 55:11). If His words are indecipherable puzzles, they’re fairly useless to believers. So, as cryptic and mysterious as John’s vision seems to be, the good news is that it can be understood by using the same tools that were available to John – the books of the Old Testament and understanding common traditions and euphemisms.
Many have fallen under the delusion that only certain people can understand this apocalyptic language. But we have Jesus’ promise that his Spirit will lead all seekers to truth:
(*All Bible verses are from the NIV unless otherwise noted)
John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
I suggest that our human nature and intellect tend to over-theologize many things pertaining to God. We love mystical and secret things, and we sometimes complicate the simplicity of Jesus’ teachings to the point that it might not be recognized by first-century saints! We’re right to acknowledge that God’s Power, Might, Beginning, and End lie beyond human comprehension, but His Nature can be understood by looking at Jesus.
John 14:7-9 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.
Jesus exemplified everything God Is. Remember the familiar saying, Know Jesus, know God. No Jesus, no God? The premise of this book is that God gave John a revelation that was meant to be understood.
The Apostle Paul used the examples of the gift of tongues and prophecy to address the saints in Corinth on this very issue:
1 Cor 14:6-17 Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you unless I bring you some revelation, knowledge, prophecy, or word of instruction? 7 Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? 8 Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? 9 So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. 10 Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 11 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me. 12 So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church. 13 For this reason, the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. 16 Otherwise, when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, say, “Amen,” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying? 17 You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.
Although Paul was specifically addressing the use of spiritual gifts in the Church, the eternal principles involved are easy to see. God desires His Church to bring some revelation, knowledge, prophecy, or word of instruction to build up and edify the church (1 Cor 14:26). He also desires that we speak, pray, sing, and prophecy with understanding.
If the Father wanted the first-century saints to share gifts others could understand and profit from, it must follow that He wants all His children throughout time to understand the things of the Spirit.
1 Cor 2:12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.
Col 1:9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives…
Col 2:2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ…
1John 5:20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
This is why prophetic images are meant to be understood by any believer who asks, seeks, and knocks (Matt 7:7). Prophetic images can be interpreted by following these steps:
- Consider the image in terms of our culture’s common understanding: Example: Lion – Fierce, strong, dangerous, “King of the beasts”…
- Next, consider how an ancient culture might have perceived that same image: Example: Lion – Dangerous hunter, powerful, mighty…
- Explore other Bible verses where that image is used.
- From the context, determine if the reference is literal or symbolic.
Literal
Judg 14:5 Samson went down to Timnah together with his father and mother. As they approached the vineyards of Timnah, suddenly a young lion came roaring toward him.
Symbolic
Isa 31:4 This is what the LORD says to me: “As a lion growls, a great lion over its prey— and though a whole band of shepherds is called together against it, it is not frightened by their shouts or disturbed by their clamor— so the LORD Almighty will come down to do battle on Mount Zion and on its heights.
- Is the image interpreted within the text itself: For example, the image of the “lampstand” in Revelation 1:20 :
Rev 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Eternalism maintains that God’s revelation to the Apostle John can be understood in these same ways. God warned the people of Roman-occupied Judea of the coming destruction. The vision given to John was meant specifically to prepare the first-century saints for the persecutions and trials ahead. At the same time, the vision expresses eternal principles that apply to believers in every age of history.
Most of the symbols and images shown to John can also be seen throughout the Old Testament. Thankfully, passages from the other letters in the New Testament and explanations concerning symbols or analogies from the Old Testament make John’s revelation come alive with clarity and purpose. If the Bible is true, it’s message will be consistent. Verses that seem to be contradictory are made clear by other passages and chapters that speak plainly to the issues.
That being said, it cannot be denied that our finite minds and limited language find it ultimately impossible to fully describe the realm of the Spirit that John experienced. As Paul noted:
1 Cor 2:9 [NLT] That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”
Footnotes
*All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.comThe “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
