Johann Quisumbing

By JQuisumbing

When it comes to solving mysteries, I’d love to think that I am like the fictional treasure hunter of that adventure movie, National Treasure (2004). The lead character’s name is Benjamin Franklin Gates played by Nicolas Cage. Ben Gates was both a treasure hunter or what he called himself, a treasure protector. To get to the treasure, he would use his knowledge of history, his cognitive way to break down clues and he would ask himself pertinent questions. This is what I am going to do with my approach in delving into this difficult document riddled with strange visions and dreams. I love mysteries especially when it comes from the Lord. And it is because it is from the Lord, that I would put a greater effort in digging into it until truth is revealed. This is what it would take to be truly blessed.

Now, this is for all of you. In the movie, Benjamin Gates would never have found the hidden treasure if he had not benefited from being an astute student of history. Approaching Revelation is very much the same way. You want to make sense of the last and 66th book of the Bible, then keen knowledge of the Bible, that is, from the beginning to the 65th book would come in real handy. But don’t worry, I am not expecting most of you to have read the entire Bible through. (Though it would help.) Now, I did say in my last post that I will avoid spoon feeding you. But for this post, I would like to demonstrate, step by step, how I would dissect, so to speak, Scripture for contemplation. Let us start with the first verse of Revelation 1.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place… (Revelation 1:1a NLT)

Right away, the first words, The Revelation of Jesus Christ, seem quite obvious and do not need too much analysis. But because these are the opening words of this document, I don’t think I would be honoring the Lord if I just casually skimmed through His words. Though I already know what revelation meant, I still make it a point to look up the biblical definition. After all, my Bible is in English and the original language of the Book of Revelation was ancient Greek. I am not a student of Greek, but I thank the Lord for many scholars throughout time to provide amateurs like myself with tools that help me look up actual terminologies and its nuances. I’m talking about the accumulated scholastics works found in Bible Dictionaries, Concordances, Lexicons and scores of Bible Commentaries.

Why do I bother doing this? Personally, I enjoy playing the detective in hunting down this kind of detail. Of course, I’m not as meticulous as a true scholar. It is a fun exercise (again, for me). But, more importantly, there is a practical reason why I discipline myself to do this extra research. Apparently, English, the language I grew up with, is not exactly perfect especially when it comes to translating text of ancient Greek. For instance, did you know that if you researched the Greek word for ‘LOVE’, you would actually find three different words each with its own meaning. I discovered this when a Bible teacher was telling us of when Jesus asked Simon Peter, three times, if he loved Him. The first two times, Jesus used a Greek word that depicted a love that is deeper and divine in its meaning. While Simon Peter responded with a love that was not as greater as what Jesus asked. At the third time, Jesus used the same ‘love’ term that Peter used. I’ll not get into the full details of that lesson here. However, I will say that my mind was blown away way back then. I learned that when I make that extra effort in digging a little deeper or peeling away into the word, I am blessed and my faith increases.

So, let us get back to the beginning text of verse 1.

[1] The Revelation of Jesus Christ… 

The Greek for Revelation is APOKALUPTÓ (pronounced as ap-ok-al-oop’-to). This is where we get the word of APOCALYPSE. What comes to mind when you hear this word? During my time of ignorance, the word, apocalypse, would raise up in me images of epic war scenes, destructive mushroom clouds, scored and ruined cities throughout the world. Here’s the truth. Even though the dictionary defined apocalypse as an event involving destruction on a catastrophic scale like the end of the world, the original Greek actually defined it as to uncover, bring to light, to reveal, or unveil what was hidden. I hope you know what this means. In its simplest terms, the final book of the Bible is an unveiling of those things that were left purposely vague and unanswered from the Old Testament to the New. Well, more or less anyway. 

[2] The Revelation of Jesus Christ… 

Let me ask this. As you just read the Lord’s name in the beginning of this sentence, what instant thoughts come to your mind? I asked this because whenever I study Scripture on my own, there are times that the Holy Spirit would cause me to pause on a word, a phrase and even a name; most especially the very name of Jesus Christ. I believe the Spirit may have been first rebuking me and rightly so. For I agree that I can be guilty of casually reading through His Holy name without thinking twice about it. His very name should invoke in me deep meaning, hence, the reason why the Holy Spirit quickly led me to the passage below.

Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. (Hebrews 1:1,2 NLT)

[3] The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place

From the verse above, guess what the Lord’s Spirit wanted me to pause on next? 

Does the underlined phrase above seem a little odd? For those who are not too familiar with the 4 Gospels of the New Testament, it can seem so. One could think, if Jesus is God, would He not already know ALL what His Father knows? The truth is, He is God and even though He came as man, He could have known ALL as His Father, but instead Jesus denied Himself this. Don’t take my word for it. Read…

Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. (Philippians 2:6-8)

By the way, looking at that underlined phrase, do you want to know what Bible texts the Holy Spirit sprung into my mind? Well, He brought me to Mark 13. Jesus and His disciples were on the Mount of Olives across the valley from Jerusalem’s Temple Mount. One of the followers was immensely impressed by the stunning view of the Temple complex with its glistening walls, majestic columns and its golden lined parapet. It was probably in their minds that the Temple would be there until the end of time. Well, Jesus popped their bubble by telling them that not one stone would be left standing. [This came true 40 years later when the Romans raised the city and tore down the Temple.] This then led to a long discourse of the ‘end of times’. When they asked when this would happen, this was what He said…

“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.” (Mark 13:32 NLT)

Note what I underlined. It fits, doesn’t it?

Now, as I promised earlier, I demonstrated the way I was taught to study and meditate in His word. What I showed above is just the first part of a method of discovering what God wants me to know so that I can act accordingly. So far, I am still in the observation stage of verse 1 of Revelation 1. The impatient part of me wants to present a conclusion right away. I could! But I feel that there is still much to observe before interpretation. After all, we have only covered the first part of verse 1.

I hope you will join me in my next posting as I… and you, as well, continue to peel away to get into the Lord’s truth. Meanwhile, I look forward to your INPUT. Please communicate to me your questions. Pertinent questions can give us direction. Message me your insights especially when the Spirit of God leads. Let us discuss.

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