KNOWING THIS FIRST, THAT NO PROPHECY OF THE SCRIPTURE IS OF ANY PRIVATE INTERPRETATION

2Peter1:20

CODEX SINAITICUS:

Revelation 1

Revelation is made up of 3 sets of seven chapters, the last of each is a closing chapter, each set with its own introduction.  Each of the 3 sets run concurrent to each other, but with a different view of the same theme/event.

DEFINITIONS OFTEN COME AT A LATER TIME; for example, after verses 12 thru 17 comes verse 20:

THE MYSTERY OF THE SEVEN STARS WHICH THOU SAWEST IN MY RIGHT HAND, & THE SEVEN GOLDEN CANDLESTICKS.

THE SEVEN STARS ARE THE ANGELS OF THE SEVEN CHURCHES:

& THE SEVEN CANDLESTICKS ARE SEVEN CHURCHES

Many books give reference to the meaning of numbers: Smith's Bible Dictionary, William Smith, L.L.D., World Bible Publishers, Inc., p. 456 - Sevens' show completeness; tens' exemplify; five's' deliver punishment; fours' denote reference to the four corners of the world; three's are regarded, by both Jews & non-Jews, as mystic & complete; sixteen's' denote destruction, as in chapter 16; twelve's' pertain to Christ just as seven's pertain to God.

THE SALUTATION

1: THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, WHICH GOD GAVE UNTO HIM, TO SHEW HIS SERVANTS THINGS WHICH MUST SHORTLY COME TO PASS; & HE SENT & SIGNIFIED IT BY HIS ANGEL UNTO HIS SERVANT JOHN;

The angels of each era of Christianity are messengers [as becomes obvious as one reads on] - type of angel equates to type of message

2: WHO BECAME A WITNESS TO THE WORD OF GOD, & OF THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST, WHATEVER THINGS HE SAW.

3: BLESSED IS HE THAT READETH

Verse 3 disputes centuries of the papacy's doctrine thru many popes' - as well as many of the Reformation & even modern day priests. Popes Clement XI, 1700-21 & Pius VIII, 1870,  issue decrees forbidding Bible reading

In this day the likes of Jehovah Witnesses & Mormons are forbidden from reading other views [or to question their own tenants, for that matter]

4: JOHN TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES WHICH ARE IN ASIA: GRACE BE UNTO YOU, & PEACE, FROM HIM WHICH IS, & WHICH WAS, & WHICH IS TO COME; & FROM THE SEVEN SPIRITS WHICH ARE BEFORE HIS THRONE

Christ is the spirit at the end of each church era.

The seven spirits that make up the Prophet will be shown as the gifts, the reward Christ received from the Father for overcoming. In chapters 4:5 & 5:6 it is written that the Prophet can pass these rewards unto to us for going the route He has completed

Each of these church eras represents an epoch; without the Roman overtones of the next 7 chapters

At the time of John's writing Revelation no churches existed, rather, the word 'church' equals a kingdom. Church is a word, which held another meaning in John's days [just a circle of people] - a name later taken on by followers of Christ. John uses synagogue in Rev. 2:9.

Smith's Bible Dictionary gives an open-minded translation of the doomed church [William Smith, l.l.d., World Bible Publishers, Inc., p.117]

-The derivation of the word is generally said to be from the Greek 'kuriakon', belonging to the Lord.' 'But the derivation has been too hastily assumed. It is probably connected with 'kirk', the Latin 'circus, circulus,' the Greek 'kuklos', because the congregations gathered in circles.

-Ecclesia, the Greek word for church, originally meant an assembly called out by the magistrate, or by legitimate authority. --It was in the last sense that the word was adopted & applied by the writers of the New Testament to the Christian congregation.

In the gospel of St. Matthew the church is spoken of no less than thirty-six times as the 'kingdom'.

5: & FROM JESUS CHRIST, WHO IS THE FAITHFUL WITNESS, & THE FIRST BORN OF THE DEAD, & THE PRINCE OF THE KINGS OF THE EARTH. TO HIM THAT LOVES US & WASHED US FROM OUR SINS IN HIS BLOOD.

In Hebrews 1:6 for example 'First begotten' [The Greek word prototokos (first begotten) is found only eight times in the New Testament, with seven of those occurrences referring to the Lord Jesus] is used - not 'only begotten' of the dead, signifying others may follow Christ's path. The fact is that the FIRST BEGOTTEN may also be ONLY BEGOTTEN at that time, but others could follow.

6: & HATH MADE US A KINGDOM, PRIESTS TO GOD & FATHER; TO HIM BE GLORY & STRENGTH THROUGH THE AGES: AMEN.

7: BEHOLD, HE COMETH WITH CLOUDS; & EVERY EYE SHALL SEE HIM, & THEY ALSO WHICH PIERCED HIM: & ALL THE TRIBES OF THE LAND SHALL WAIL BECAUSE OF HIM: YES, AMEN

God's introduction to John ends with the seventh verse.

Christ to John

8: I AM ALPHA & OMEGA, THE BEGINNING & THE ENDING, SAITH THE LORD, WHICH IS, & WHICH WAS, & WHICH IS TO COME, THE ALMIGHTY

Christ takes over, a transfer of power & introduces Himself as the Authority figure from God.

He states that He shall be the Almighty! Is Christ blasphemous with this statement or will He also become a God? This is said different from Isaiah 44:6 - another God to be - rather more like Lev 26:12 I WILL WALK AMONG YOU, & WILL BE YOUR GOD, & YE SHALL BE MY PEOPLE - "WILL BE" is an odd insertion - possibly indicating an event in the far future

Rev. 21:7 Christ states 'I WILL BE HIS GOD & HE SHALL BE MY SON' - Sons of God are shown as angels. Rev. 21:17, He calls us angels, ACCORDING TO A MEASURE OF A MAN, THAT IS, OF THE ANGEL [why use space & print a correction, if this was the case:  rather it points to the fact that one could become angelic]  Matt 22:30 uses a referral to us as to be angels of heaven BUT ARE AS THE ANGELS OF HEAVEN

BIBLICAL GODS

Idol worship is covered in the Ten Commandments - eliminating idols as gods

Odd, that feminists have not spent more time on "Elohim" Who says, Genesis 1:26;  LET US MAKE MAN IN OUR IMAGE, AFTER OUR LIKENESS - Elohim, plural Eloah, feminine form of El

- much similar to Genesis 3:20 whereas these dominating male scribes obviously forgot to get rid of the verse - Male & female created he them; & blessed them, & called their name Adam, in the day when they were created

Leviticus 11:45 . TO BE YOUR GOD

The first Commandment is fascinating; THOU SHALT HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME - of course there can be many interpretations as to this pluralizing of Gods. Could 'BEFORE ME' suggest that there was another God? Why would God not say, as in Isaiah 44:6 - THUS SAITH THE LORD THE KING OF ISRAEL, & HIS REDEEMER THE LORD OF HOSTS; I AM THE FIRST,& I AM THE LAST; & BESIDE ME THERE IS NO GOD 

 Scripture gives accounts of 2 heavens [a 1st & a 2nd, Deut. 33:26; Job 35:5] & a new heaven in Rev.21:1

2Cor: 12:2 such a one was caught away even to the third heaven

Where is Christ in Old Scripture?

- Most religions believe their prophet shall return.

From Revelation 3:12, we know He uses different names - & I WILL WRITE UPON HIM MY NEW NAME

It is quite possible that this prophet from the Almighty could very well be the prophet of most religions; there are grounds for such thoughts in future chapters. Rev. 1:15 Christ is described by John as '& HIS VOICE AS THE SOUND OF MANY WATERS' 'Many waters' are defined in 17:15 as the different nations & tongues & races throughout the world

The commencement of St. John shows the Lord received the right to create the earth & the heavens; early Scripture shows 'Us' at work in the creation of the heavens & the earth.

9: I JOHN, WHO ALSO AM YOUR BROTHER, &COMPANION IN TRIBULATION, & IN THE KINGDOM & PATIENCE OF JESUS CHRIST, WAS IN THE ISLE THAT IS CALLED PATMOS, FOR THE WORD OF GOD, & FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST

John was in the Isle & was taken in the spirit to a dimension [call it Heaven] & there was given the testimony

10: I WAS IN THE SPIRIT ON THE LORD'S DAY, & HEARD BEHIND ME A GREAT VOICE, AS A TRUMPET,

'In the spirit' differs from seeing an angel. Those who have received messages from God know they are not spoken words - for a good word call it an image of pure white light radiating an unanticipated thought

Why mention what day it was - unless this remark is the first of the many angry words to come - chapter 4 states 'in the spirit' without a date

The Sabbath has been purposely entered -  Matthew 12:8 FOR THE SON IS LORD EVEN OF THE SABBATH DAY.  Perhaps an early indication as to where this cryptic writing is headed, in that the Papacy changed the Commandment's Sabbath to coincide with that of the Romans, very early in their growth - changed to Sunday from Friday at sundown thru Saturday at sundown.

The trumpet is Christ's voice in Heaven shown in chapter 8:13 [the voices from Heaven, loud messages].

11: SAYING, I AM ALPHA & OMEGA, THE FIRST & THE LAST: &, WHAT THOU SEEST, WRITE IN A BOOK, & SEND IT UNTO THE SEVEN CHURCHES WHICH ARE IN ASIA; UNTO EPHESUS, & UNTO SMYRNA, & UNTO PERGAMOS, & UNTO THYATIRA, & UNTO SARDIS, & UNTO PHILADELPHIA, & UNTO LAODICEA.

Christ opens the revelation to John

He lists the seven churches - eras - to where the future messages will be directed

12: & I TURNED TO SEE THE VOICE THAT SPAKE WITH ME. & BEING TURNED, I SAW SEVEN GOLDEN CANDLESTICKS;

13: & IN THE MIDST OF THE SEVEN CANDLESTICKS ONE LIKE UNTO THE SON OF MAN, CLOTHED WITH A GARMENT DOWN TO THE FOOT, & GIRT ABOUT THE PAPS WITH A GOLDEN GIRDLE.  HIS HEAD & HIS HAIRS WERE WHITE LIKE WOOL, AS WHITE AS SNOW; & HIS EYES WERE AS A FLAME OF FIRE; 15: & HIS FEET LIKE UNTO FINE BRASS, AS IF THEY BURNED IN A FURNACE; & HIS VOICE AS THE SOUND OF MANY WATERS

The keys for interpretation often lie ahead

Candlesticks are the era & the stars - the messengers of each era, shown in verse 20

'Many waters' are defined in chapter 17:15 as the different nations & tongues & races throughout the world.

16: & HE HAD IN HIS RIGHT HAND SEVEN STARS: & OUT OF HIS MOUTH WENT A SHARP TWOEDGED SWORD: & HIS COUNTENANCE WAS AS THE SUN SHINETH IN HIS STRENGTH. 17: & WHEN I SAW HIM, I FELL AT HIS FEET AS DEAD. & HE LAID HIS RIGHT HAND UPON ME, SAYING UNTO ME, FEAR NOT; I AM THE FIRST & THE LAST: 18: I AM HE THAT LIVETH, & WAS DEAD; &, BEHOLD, I AM ALIVE FOR EVERMORE, AMEN; & HAVE THE KEYS OF HELL & OF DEATH. 19: WRITE THE THINGS WHICH THOU HAST SEEN, & THE THINGS WHICH ARE, AND THE THINGS WHICH SHALL BE HEREAFTER;

seven stars are seven messages to be delivered to the seven eras. The sharp two edged sword denotes that these are not friendly messages

Hell [perhaps might be construed as Earth in later chapters] & death are two different directions. Christ could have used life & death if that was to be implied

He can reveal to the multitudes what many search for & never understand - the mystery of the cosmos & the enigma of the soul for example

20: THE MYSTERY OF THE SEVEN STARS WHICH THOU SAWEST IN MY RIGHT HAND, & THE SEVEN GOLDEN CANDLESTICKS. THE SEVEN STARS ARE THE ANGELS OF THE SEVEN CHURCHES: & THE SEVEN CANDLESTICKS WHICH THOU SAWEST ARE THE SEVEN CHURCHES

Again, these verses counsel us that definitions often lay ahead