End times 1

There are many theories about the meaning of portions of the book of Revelation. The framework in which one looks at the book makes all the difference. I shall attempt to sketch my point of view in broad strokes.

The Church is not the same as the Kingdom of God. The Church may be regarded as a "school" in which we learn how to behave in the Kingdom. Jesus did not engage in political activity. The Kingdom, on the other hand, is a political entity in which the rightful ruler will be the King. The earth was given to the human race (Genesis 1:26-28; Psalm 8:6-8). God does not intend to take it back so that he can implement his righteous laws. Yet he is taking it back in the sense that a Man who is completely dedicated to him will become its supreme ruler.

Jesus instructed his followers to pray "may your Kingdom come". He said all authority in heaven and earth was given to him (Matthew 28:18). He did not start his earthly rule when he rose from the dead. The apostles asked him when he would restore the kingdom to Israel. He answered them by saying it was not for them to know the times or dates the Father had set by his own authority (Acts 1:6-7). Only later did they realise that his Kingdom was to include all the earth and all the nations. When people from other ethnic groups received the Holy Spirit, they reluctantly accepted them (Acts 10:44-48). Even so, there were some who believed that all Jesus followers had to keep all the laws of Moses including circumcision (Acts 15:1-21).

The words "church" and "churches" occur only twice in the gospels and almost 100 times in Acts and the letters of the new Testament. The Kingdom of God/Heaven, on the other hand, is mentioned more than 120 times in the gospels. Is it any wonder that the apostles expected Jesus to set up his kingdom on earth after he was raised from the dead? But he sent the Holy Spirit to enable them to establish his Church (Acts 1:8). He had promised to build his Church but is doing so through his followers (Matthew 16:18).

The first command given to humans was to multiply and have dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:28). The author of the book of Hebrews wrote that he did not yet see all of creation subject to mankind. But he saw Jesus who had become a man (Hebrews 2:8-9). The Man to whom all creation was to be subjected, had been identified (Acts 2:34–35; Hebrews 1:13; Psalm 110:1). But first he had to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).

In Revelation 5 a scroll is handed to the Lamb. He was finally going to take possession of the earth. As he pulls off the first seal a conqueror is let loose. This conqueror is seen by some as Jesus conquering with the gospel. If that is the case, the first horse is the odd one out among the four. The other three are destructive and many people get killed. Whatever the first horse signifies, it implies an empire or empires of which there have been many. The Roman, Islamic, Chinese, British, Russian and American Empires come to mind.

In Revelation "kingdoms" mostly refer to evil kingdoms which will become "the kingdom of our God and of his Messiah" (Revelation 11:15).The Church is mentioned 19 times in the first 3 chapters of Revelation. They contain messages to the 7 churches of Asia minor. The churches are also addressed by Jesus at the very end (Revelation 22:16).

Most of us are curious as to what is next on God's agenda, just like the apostles (Acts 1:6). We would also like to know the meaning of chapters 4-21 of Revelation. Maybe the Lord's answer to us is not very different from what he told them. We need to be faithful in what he has called us to do and leave the rest to him (Acts 1:7-8). Nevertheless, we are encouraged to read the book, not necessarily to understand it (Revelation 1:3).