I would like to begin a discussion about the Book of Revelation. Revelation begins with the charge that it is a message to show Jesus’ followers “the things that must shortly take place”. This clearly says that we need to understand the revelation message, yet it seems unclear. Why would God send us a message that we could not understand and then expect us to follow it? How could we understand the truth? This was the first challenge of Revelation to me. A second challenge comes from the book of Matthew. Jesus said, “See that no one misleads you” .
The bottom line, Jesus challenged us to try to understand the Book of Revelation and to not be misled. As I studied and prayed for a way to address these challenges a thought came to me; could it be that Jesus has left us the information we need to unlock the mystery of the Book of Revelation elsewhere in the Bible? This began my effort to assemble all the verses in the Bible that address the end times and, through the wonders of word processing, insert them into the Book of Revelations where they appeared to fit. As I began to bring similar subjects from across the Bible together, it occurred to me that similar subjects could be brought together within Revelation itself. This is what started me on the journey to write a book. It is an amazing story that is different than what I expected when I began. Jesus has provided us what we need to unlock Revelation.
The key is that Revelation was written out of chronological order at God’s direction to conceal its meaning until the end-times. But why would the Apostle John, who was directed to write the revelation by God, write it out of order? The answer is that he didn’t. He was told to “Write in a book what you see.” Do you see the key? Revelation is confusing because it appears to be written in chronological order but is not. It is like a play that God showed John, but several scenes were shown to him out of chronological order. As a result each generation could read events from their own time into the revelation events. This would lead them to believe that they were living in the end-times while preserving the true meaning of the revelation to be discovered as the end-times draws near. The reordered text also explains many other things including how God fulfills his covenant with the Jews and the Christians.
Charles Huettner, Author
Jesus Reveals Revelation
www.jesusrevealsrevelation.com
I read your sample pages, and--at the moment-- I have problems with your book on three points:
One, you say on page 17, "When this was done, it became clear that there are three tribulations described not one. The first is a tribulation of Christians by Satan, the beast. The second and third tribulations are by God on nonbelievers on earth." I'm okay with two tribulations, but not with three--given that the tribulation of Satan is a reference to Rome part 1. Scripture clearly talks about the Great Tribulation, the only tribulation that God involves Himself, as far as I can tell (Matt 24:21).
Two, the beast and Satan are clearly not the same person, as you strongly suggest in your quote, since the beast is thrown into hell prior to the Millennium and Satan is thrown in after the Millennium (Rev 19:20; 20:10). My feeling is that your appositive says more than what you intended it to say and that this may be a grammatical mistake rather than an intended theological one.
Three, on page 15, you say, "The rapture is also confusing. The gospels give the impression, and many Christians believe, that believers will be removed from the earth prior to the end time tribulation and therefore spared from the plagues described in Revelation. Yet Revelation speaks of believers being killed and seems to have them on earth after the seals are broken and many plagues occur. Do
these believers become believers after the rapture or are we confused about the rapture?" Your implication here clearly contradicts scripture since 1Thessalonians 5:9 says that we will be removed prior to the tribulation, as the use of "meta tauta" in Revelation 1:19 and Revelation 4:1 also suggests (I wonder if you will tie in the "meta tauta" from Rev 20 together with the references I gave you?).
I am open to your assertions that the Book of Revelation may not be in chronological order and that a new and better interpretation may be revealed as we get closer to the end.
Are you the author of that book?
revelation320,
Thank you for your comments. Unfortunately the sample pages simply introduce the book and do not tell the whole story so, I will address your issues as succinctly as I can.
As I searched for the way Revelation should be reordered it became clear that there are three periods described, the seals, the trumpets, and the seven bowls of wrath. The seals represent God and Satan working through people on the earth. In answer to your second point Satan’s representative on earth is the Beast so I agree that Satan and the Beast are not the same. The tribulation described in seals 1-5 is the Great Tribulation as described by Matthew. See Rev 7:14 “And I said to him, "My lord, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” But, a lot happens after this in the chronology of the revelation.
The second part of the tribulation is the trumpets. They occur beginning after Seal 6 when God seals his bond servants and 144,000 Jews. During this period God sends plagues to the earth, but those who are sealed are not harmed.
The third part of the end time tribulation occurs after the 144,000 Jews are brought to Mt. Zion / Heaven with Christ (Rev 14:1-7) and Christ’s return at the last trumpet (trumpet 7). At this time there are no believers left on earth and God unleashes the 7 bowls of wrath as his last tribulation on unbelievers. Read it yourself by reading Chapter 11 starting at Verse 14 then read Chapters 15 and 16 in that order (which is the order of the reordered text).
In response to your last point I can only say that when Revelation is reordered it becomes clear that believers are removed from the earth without death at Christ’s coming at the 7th Trumpet not the beginning of the Beast’s reign. This is consistent with Thessalonians 5:9 because God has sealed his followers prior to his wrath coming to the earth as I described above. We are not destined for his wrath, but this does not mean that we will not all go through tribulations including those of the Beast as I showed in Rev 7:14 above.
You are obviously learned in the subject of Revelation. I can only say that the thoughts I am presenting are new based on what I believe is a true insight into Revelation. My book walks you line by line through the reordered Revelation, describes why it is reordered in this way, and provides insights that can be gained. I hope that you will read the complete story in my book, because I would welcome your comments.
Charles Huettner, Author
Jesus Reveals Revelation
www.jesusrevealsrevelation.com
revelation320,
Thank you for your comments. Unfortunately the sample pages simply introduce the book and do not tell the whole story so, I will address your issues as succinctly as I can.
As I searched for the way Revelation should be reordered it became clear that there are three periods described, the seals, the trumpets, and the seven bowls of wrath. The seals represent God and Satan working through people on the earth. In answer to your second point Satan’s representative on earth is the Beast so I agree that Satan and the Beast are not the same. The tribulation described in seals 1-5 is the Great Tribulation as described by Matthew. See Rev 7:14 “And I said to him, "My lord, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” But, a lot happens after this in the chronology of the revelation.
The second part of the tribulation is the trumpets. They occur beginning after Seal 6 when God seals his bond servants and 144,000 Jews. During this period God sends plagues to the earth, but those who are sealed are not harmed.
The third part of the end time tribulation occurs after the 144,000 Jews are brought to Mt. Zion / Heaven with Christ (Rev 14:1-7) and Christ’s return at the last trumpet (trumpet 7). At this time there are no believers left on earth and God unleashes the 7 bowls of wrath as his last tribulation on unbelievers. Read it yourself by reading Chapter 11 starting at Verse 14 then read Chapters 15 and 16 in that order (which is the order of the reordered text).
In response to your last point I can only say that when Revelation is reordered it becomes clear that believers are removed from the earth without death at Christ’s coming at the 7th Trumpet not the beginning of the Beast’s reign. This is consistent with Thessalonians 5:9 because God has sealed his followers prior to his wrath coming to the earth as I described above. We are not destined for his wrath, but this does not mean that we will not all go through tribulations including those of the Beast as I showed in Rev 7:14 above.
You are obviously learned in the subject of Revelation. I can only say that the thoughts I am presenting are new based on what I believe is a true insight into Revelation. My book walks you line by line through the reordered Revelation, describes why it is reordered in this way, and provides insights that can be gained. I hope that you will read the complete story in my book, because I would welcome your comments.
Charles Huettner, Author
Jesus Reveals Revelation
www.jesusrevealsrevelation.com
Rev,
(So odd calling you that, since that is what people usually call me.) Are you backing away from three tribulations to a three-part tribulation? This I can live with. But I'm not sure because you are not being consistent in your wording: "The tribulation described in seals 1-5 is the Great Tribulation" and "The second part of the tribulation is the trumpets." I don't think this is merely semantic since so much rides upon on us not seeing wrath.
Let me confess that at first I thought you were just a wolf twisting scripture to your own ends, as I think this initially of any Christian with something to sell. But after doing some searching on you--you leave way too big a footprint--I think that I was wrong in that initial impression. I think I will still disagree with your findings and your independent religious streak, but I think you are an honest researcher. Forgive me for misjudging you.
I bought your book from Amazon tonight. I tried to buy it used, but for some reason, your book apparently appreciates in value. Is that a previous hard cover edition?
I haven't examined your verses yet, but I can't wait to find out how you get out of this seemingly conflicting scenario you've described in your last post where the "Great Tribulation" is of little wrath and the little wraths are of great tribulation. I hope you are up for some discussion.
BTW, there is no way that the US is the first seal. And I find it odd you would think that a seal of wrath could be a blessing to the world all based on the color white. But you got me thinking, giving recent events, that it could possibly be Gog/Russia and not the anti-christ as I've always thought. Thanks for getting me thinking and back into the text.
To Revelation1
I think the book of revelation tells about the same thing because it is important more than once with stereo effect. The day of the Lord is spoken of here and John tells visions he has of it but you have to figure it out your self.
Rev320,
Thank you for your comments and for getting my book. I look forward to some very exciting discussions with you when you have time to see my thesis as a whole. It is really a different interpretation from those I have ever read and I can truly say that the interpretation emerged as I worked on the book. I am very happy to have connected to you and Chad. It has not been easy for me to engage with Christians who are as knowledgeable and interested as you. I will continue to check this blog to get your reactions.
Rev1:
Where in your book is evidence that the straightforward view of Revelation is inadequate? Where does the text say that it is to be reordered? You say that we have to reorder the words of Revelation 1:9 to understand the verse's real meaning. Where is the biblical justification for reordering and what is the criteria for knowing when and where to reorder a scene or sentence?
You say that John wrote Revelation out of order and God didn't want us to know the true chronology until the end. How do you know that we are in the end times and that the time to reorder has come?
You say, on page 16-17, that because you didn't understand the chronology, that you re-ordered the "scenes" of Revelation to fit Daniel and the Gospels. How do you know that Daniel and the Gospels are in chronological order? If you reorder to Daniel, then you must still give the Jews their seventieth week. Your reordering makes the tribulation a wrath on non-Christians and Christians--as your commentary on Rev 1:9 implies and Paul denies--and not a time for God to once again deal with His people, the Jews.
Your whole thesis seems to be that Revelation needs to be reordered so that Daniel's words about the book being sealed until the end will be true. But no one needs to reorder Revelation for that to be true. No one a hundred years ago would have any inkling how people on one side of the earth could watch two witnesses killed on the other side or how commerce could run without money, etc. The mystery of Revelation is already being "unsealed" in the straightforward reading of it, isn't it?
Your argument about not changing the words but only "verses or chapters or thoughts or concepts" (page 13) doesn't hold water if, in fact, you present a different future (a re-ordered future) than the one that God has foreseen. If you lose biblical clarity on time or concepts, such as, what the first seal is talking about and how it relates to the beast of chapter 13 and and the king of Rev 17:11, shouldn't that be considered changing God's word, even if you are not literally changing a word?
If God wants us to reorder Revelation, why is it that previous prophecy didn't have to be reordered?
Rev 320,
I think that many of your questions will be answered when you have read the entire book, however I will attempt to answer your questions succinctly.
I base my thesis that, the truth about the revelation is revealed by reordering it, is based on the fact that people have been perplexed and argued over the meaning for hundreds of years. Revelation does not say that it has to be reordered, but when it is, it becomes understandable. As far as Rev 1:9 is concerned, I am simply pointing out that John is pointing out that being "in Jesus" is tribulation, the kingdom, and perseverance. My turning this sentence around is not part of my reordering of Revelation, but simply to make the point that these three words are key to being in / like Jesus. I justify the reordering of each section of my book each time I change the order from the Revelation's original order. I have the general concepts in the introduction to my book.
Chapter 9 of my book describes my thoughts about why we might be in the end times. I draw from the reordered text, the gospels, and the world today to make my point. As I say at the beginning of the book, Chapter 9 are my views where the previous chapters contain the verse by verse of the reordered Revelation with a discussion of why I reordered it this way and what insights I had as I wrote the book.
The answer to the questions in your third paragraph are spread throughout the book. I am not looking at the ordering of other parts of the Bible, but what these Biblical verses say that we can expect. The Jews time is discussed in Chapter 5 of my book. I draw a distinction between tribulation which is what we all go through and what the Beast (who is a person on the earth) does to those who do not take his mark. Wrath is what God does to those who are not sealed by God. As you will see in my book the choice of words is very important.
Paragraph 4. Yes we are seeing Revelation unfolding before our eyes today. Reordering the text simply helps us to understand it better.
Paragraph 5. Revelation 22:18-19 specifically says not to change any words. This admonition seemed to be placed there for a purpose. Well, if we shouldn’t change any words what could we change to gain greater understanding? This got me thinking about the idea of the chronology being the key. I go into this throughout the book as well. This interpretation is entirely different from traditional interpretations. It is therefore important to understand it in its entirety before we can get into specific issues.
The bottom line is that I did not receive this book on golden tablets on the mountain-top, but I do feel that the Holy Spirit was providing me insights as the book evolved. I ask you to read the book with an open mind, then we can dig into more specific issues. I hope we can learn from each other in the process.
Charles Huettner, Author
Jesus Reveals Revelation