Hello All,
(Just a general disclaimer that I must insert here at the beginning. I am but a lay person, like most of you. And these weekly “thoughts” are but my own. Not the definitive word on this or any topic. Just my own conclusions derived from my own study and faith in God. The greatest hope I have for these weekly “thoughts” is to have them be a springboard for further study on your part. Not to be a weekly treatise to be blindly accepted. So, please read them with this intent, this motive in mind).
A new “Adult Sabbath School Study Guide” lesson quarterly for a brand-new year titled “The Book of Revelation”. In the book of Matthew, Jesus tells us why he speaks in parables. “Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive; for the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them’” (Matthew 13: 13-15).
In this quote we see that the reason for the parables was NOT NECESSARILY for clarification and illumination. It was so that Jesus’ hearers would ask questions. And if His hearers did not ask nor want to understand, then they would be left with the blindness and ignorance that they love. The parables were not a trick nor a clever game God is playing with us. They were not an effort to obfuscate the truth, for Jesus came to reveal the truth. Speaking in parables was the only way that all of us sinners could even touch the hem of truth. The only way that the full brilliant truth of God could begin to dawn on our dark minds. We sinners are so warped in our thinking, so upside-down in our reasoning, that parables were the only way the truths of God’s universe can begin to be understood.
So as we begin the book of “Revelation” why do I bring-up parables? Because the book of “Revelation” is the “Revelation of Jesus Christ”. We see Jesus in the very first chapter as He introduces Himself to John who records what he sees. And because Jesus is the true author, we need to remember that “all these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them” (Matthew 13:34). Jesus tells us truth and reveals truth by speaking in parables. Therefore, THE “Revelation of Jesus Christ” is full of parables or symbols. We need to always remember this as we study. That the stories, images and accounts are largely parables, symbols, metaphors, dark sayings and figurative language. Not to hide the truth. But the only way we sinners can approach the truth.
The risk with parables is that the hearers/ readers take the symbolism literally. Are there literal gates of pearl in the New Jerusalem? “The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl” (Revelation 21:21). I’d sure hate to come across that oyster! Are the streets really gold there? “And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass” (Revelation 21:21). These descriptions may be literally true. Or it may be symbolism to show us how wonderful and magnificent a life with God will be. God painting a picture for us of such wonderfulness, peace and perfection that all our fears will be groundless. And that heaven is a real place with tangible beauty and excellence.
Parables (and therefore the book of “Revelation”) is designed to have us dig. Really dig, study and search to find the truth. Jesus told us of the need to thus dig to find truth, for it is hidden (see Matthew 13:44). Not intentionally hidden in order to keep it from being discovered. But for sinners, the process of discovery (digging) is necessary and essential for us to know and understand. Knowing and understanding the things of God is not easy for mankind. And the “digging” process is essential to achieve the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So how to “dig”? “Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:5). Be diligent, faithful, and virtuous. Study hard in order to know. Exercise self-control and perseverance. Strive and aspire to godliness, brotherly kindness and love. This is the “digging” and the path to know our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the “Revelation of Jesus Christ”, this is the “knowing”, “this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3). So let’s start digging into this new lesson quarterly! Do not assume you already know. Treasures await the faithful searcher!
With brotherly love,
Jim