Apocalypse. Interpretation of the XXI century

Often this same name appears in the Gospels, where sometimes Jesus refers to himself as:

But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he [Jesus] to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house (Mt 9:6; compare Mk 2:10; Lk 5:24).

And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men (Mt 17:22; compare Mt 20:18; 26:2, 24, 45; Mk 9:31; 10:33; 14:21, 41; Lk 9:44; 22:22).

And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead (Mt 17:9; compare Mk 9:9).

And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Mt 19:28; compare Mt 25:31; Lk 22:69; Jn 5:27; 13:31).

For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works (Mt 16:27; compare Mt 13:41; 18:11; Lk 9:56; 19:10).

For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day (Lk 17:24; compare Lk 17:30; 18:8).

See also Mt 8:20; 10:23; 11:19; 12:8, 40; 13:37; 17:12; 20:28; 24:44; 25:13; Mk 2:28; 8:38; 10:45; Lk 6:5; 7:34; 9:26, 58; 11:30; 12:8, 40; Jn 3:13; 6:27; 12:34.

Later, speaking to the seven churches in Asia, Jesus identifies Himself allegorically in various ways:

Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks (Rev 2:1).

And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive (Rev 2:8).

And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges (Rev 2:12).

And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass (Rev 2:18).

And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars (Rev 3:1).

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth (Rev 3:7).

And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God (Rev 3:14).

For Jesus Christ is the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God (Rev 2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 14).

It has the following meaning.

These things saith the first and the last (Rev 2:8). The First and Last (Protos and Eskhatos, the Beginning and the End) – these names represent Christ as the Beginning and the End of all things. Concerning the beginning of time, it says: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made (Jn 1:1—3). And about the reward received through Christ at the end of time: But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life (Rom 6:22). But the lot of sinners is eternal death (see Rom 6:21). It also says: I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty (Rev 1:8; compare Rev 1:10, 17; 2:8; 21:6; 22:13). Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, with which the Apocalypse was recorded. Also, Jesus Christ, the second Person of the Most Holy Trinity, is called Logos (the Word of God, God-the-Word). Thus, Alpha and Omega signify the fullness and perfection of the Word.

Which was dead, and is alive (Rev 2:8). Jesus was crucified, died, and rose again. Also: I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death (Rev 1:17—18). By his resurrection, Jesus destroyed death and rescued from hell all the Old Testament patriarchs by taking them to heaven.

Which hath the sharp sword with two edges (Rev 2:12). The sword in this vision is the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Eph 6:17). The Word is depicted as a weapon, because, coming out of the mouth of the Lord, it is primarily a sin-exposing prophecy that smites sinful thoughts: Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword (Mt 10:34); For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Heb 4:12); Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth (Rev 2:16); And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God (Rev 19:15; compare Rev 19:21).

The Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass (Rev 2:18). Jesus Christ is the second person of the Holy Trinity. In John’s vision, he appears in the radiance of his heavenly glory: His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; and his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace… and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength (Rev 1:14—16). The white wool and the fine copper are symbols of Divine purity (compare Dan 7:9). Fire stands for God’s power (compare Rev 20:9).

He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars (Rev 3:1). He that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks (Rev 2:1). The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches (Rev 1:20). The seven stars are the seven Angels or the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth (Rev 5:6), which are before his throne (Rev 1:4). They rule over the seven churches, which signify the seven periods of the Universal Christian Church.

He that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth (Rev 3:7). The key of David is the key to interpreting prophecy or the key of knowledge (Lk 11:52; compare Mt 23:13). If a prophecy is interpreted correctly, no one can distort its meaning. Since prophecies are often presented in a symbolic way, their meaning is locked until the time when the prophetic door is opened (compare Rev 3:8) by the above-mentioned key, named after the prophet and psalmist David.

The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God (Rev 3:14). Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Word, the second Person of the Most Holy Trinity, the true beginning of God’s creation, for it is said: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made (Jn 1:1—3). Through John’s prophecy, it is conveyed: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen (Rev 1:4—6). Jesus Christ, the Word, is Amen, that is, the Truth, for the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king (Jer 10:10). It also says: Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth (Jn 17:17). And more: Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life (1 Jn 5:5—12). Woe to those who, having the Truth before their eyes, still blindly inquire: What is truth? (Jn 18:38).

When John saw Jesus in his Divine glory, he was overwhelmed: And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not (Rev 1:17). And his voice as the sound of many waters (Rev 1:15). A great voice, as of a trumpet (Rev 1:10).

The Old Testament prophets often experienced something like this when they saw angels. Here is Daniel’s testimony:

And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel; then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz: his body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength. Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground. And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days. And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb. And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength. For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me. Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me, and said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me (Dan 10:4—19).

In the same way, Jesus laid his right arm on him (Rev 1:17) so he would take heart. He commanded: Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter (Rev 1:19).