Revelation; justification by faith in verity

[By M. L]

In these series we will take a look at the book of Revelation. This book often awakens greet interest and rightfuly so. 

We, as adventists, have had the privilige of holding to the historical interpretation of Revelation that the Reformers held to. But since we have also had the time to expand this viewpoint the meaning of the book has become clearer and clearer.
But in these series we will put this book a very specific context. This will be in the context of the gospel; justification by faith. I intend to make these blogs as short as possible for better readability. 

What is the gospel?
Justification by faith. God did something for us we could've never done for ourselves. In Christ He made atonement. He died in our place, rose on our behalf and now minsters as our High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary were He applies the merits of His atonement to the account of those who simply believe. These saints receive this forgiveness by faith without any work of the law; whether it be moral or ceremonial.

But out of gratitude and respect to our God we start working out the righteousness of the law through the power of the Holy Spirit who is given to us through Christ.

The four gospels puts this message in an historical context. The epistles of Paul puts in a theological context. The prophets of old often predicted this work of Christ. The sanctuary was a shadow of His atonement.

But Revelation, more than any other book, puts the gospel in the context of eschatological context. Here the plan of Salvation is applied to the history from the time of Jesus on earth to the new heaven and new earth.

Here, in the most beautiful and most thrilling symbolism, is revealed the work and charachter of Jesus Christ. It is not only a revelation from Christ, but it is also a revelation about Christ. 

We have not a moment to lose! Light is to shine forth from God's people in clear, distinct rays, bringing Jesus before the churches and before the world. Our work is not to be restricted to those who already know the truth; our field is the world. The instrumentalities to be used are those souls who gladly receive the light of truth which God communicates to them. These are God's agencies for communicating the knowledge of truth to the world. If through the grace of Christ his people will become new bottles, he will fill them with the new wine. God will give additional light, and old truths will be recovered, and replaced in the frame-work of truth; and wherever the laborers go, they will triumph. As Christ's ambassadors, they are to search the Scriptures, to seek for the truths that have been hidden beneath the rubbish of error. And every ray of light received is to be communicated to others. One interest will prevail, one subject will swallow up every other,—Christ our righteousness.

Revelation is a very symbolic book and speaks in pictures. The pictures that are presented in this book should always maintain it's power. Let the symbolism speak! Don't just get caught up in the meanings of the symbolism, but let the symbolism work in the way as it was intended; to give us an impression of what the meaning behind the symbol actually is. 

Look at how Christ is depicted in Revelation 1 and let is speak! Behold the great throne room, the sanctuary, the seals, the four horses, the Day of the Lord, the seven trumpets with their judgments, the beasts, the seven plagues, the millennium, the new earth and heaven, the new Jerusalem and the great war between Christ and Satan! 

Don't just theorize about it's meaning, behold it for a minute! Let the other scriptures give commentary and clues so our thought process in reading this book get's molded and formed according to Gods own word. Only then we can understand it. 

With these impressions the gospel will unfold itself. It will become more real once we see it's influence in history. This is our work. 

And this is what we will try to do in these series.