The Time in the End in the Book of Revelation

This difficulty is compounded in much of the book because symbolic language is clearly mixed with language that can only be literal. Thus the book appears to be an enigma wrapped in a riddle.

The book is the only major example of NT apocalyptic writing. It appears to be so complex most Christians find it impossible to understand. As a result of its complexity, apparently few read it. That obtains despite the blessing pronounced on the reader in 1:3 for those who read it.

Some writers have said the book was never intended to be understood because there is no apparent pattern to the prophecy. They maintain that it will never be understood this side of eternity. That idea flies in the face of common sense. If God had not intended men to understand the prophecy in the book, it would surely seem a waste to cause it to be written. There may, however, be certain things in the book that will not be completely understood in this life. That situation, according to other writers, is intended to show the Divine origin of the book. There can be little doubt the book has in it the very mind of the Almighty. Because of that, it appears to demand Divine inspiration in order to understand its total meaning. Thus the correct interpretation of the total prophecy may be revealed to men when the time is right; probably very near the end of human history on earth.

The meaning of the prophecy in the book of Daniel was "sealed" or "shut up" (concealed) so that no one could completely understand it. That prophecy, according to Dan. 12:4 & 9, would be concealed until the arrival of the second (and last) "time of the end." That may be the short time period of several decades just before the end of human history when the full meaning of the Revelation also will be revealed to the followers of Christ.

That is true even though the Revelation has not been "shut up" or "concealed" for many long centuries. That the book has not been "shut up" or concealed is stated emphatically in the book. Although the meaning of the prophecy of Revelation has not been concealed, many writers say the book is far more complex and much more difficult to understand than the prophecy of Daniel.

Many hundreds (if not thousands) of commentaries have been written, over the centuries, in efforts to explain the prophecy. Many outlines also have been constructed in efforts to make the book more understandable.

The meaning of the prophecy of the 7 letters apparently is fairly well understood. But the majority of the remainder of the prophecy appears to be less well understood. No commentary written to date fully explains the total prophecy in a biblically correct and intelligent manner. It is as if the complete meaning eludes the human intellect. Thus despite the "unsealed" nature of the prophecy, much of the book still appears to be beyond the comprehension of most laymen as well as bible scholars. The present study is a calculated attempt to give the reader a full understanding of the total prophecy. If one understands the prophecy of Daniel, the book of Revelation is not difficult to understand. The reader should first read the book "The Time of the End in the Book of Daniel" by the present writer. That book "unseals" or reveals the true meaning of Daniel's prophecy for the first time in the history of the study of Daniel..

If Daniel is fully understood, both the Revelation AND the Olivet Discourse are relatively easy to understand. There appears to be a sequence attached to these 3 separate prophecies. One definitely MUST first understand the book of Daniel. Without an understanding of that prophecy, the Olivet Discourse CANNOT be understood. If one understands both of these, the Revelation is not difficult to understand.

However, bible prophecy is not a handy chart of future historical events. No historical date can be previously predicted from any prophecy in either the Old or New Testaments. The actual date of the fulfillment of most prophecy can only be known after history has responded to that prophecy. That is true despite the many dates that have been set over the centuries for supposed events in bible prophecy. The majority of these false dates appear to have been predictions of the second Advent of Jesus Christ and the end of the world.

After enrolling at the University of Houston, the author’s education was interrupted by service in the US Air Force during the Korean War. After being honorably discharged at war’s end, he continued his education obtaining a BA with majors in English and American history and English and American literature.

He began a career as a high school teacher but continued his University studies, eventually obtaining a Masters of Divinity degree. After twenty-two years of teaching he retired to a quiet, serene life on twenty acres of forested land in the Panhandle of North Idaho. There he began a systematic study of the prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation. As a result of these years of intensive search of the associated history and literature, he has written commentaries on both prophecies.

In addition to these rather large volumes, he also has written short studies on the correct identity of the "little horn" of Daniel 7 and also the true identity of the "scarlet harlot" of Revelation 17 and 18. The Protestant Reformers and many other bible students have identified both of these entities as the Roman Catholic Church. These theories CANNOT be true, according to a correct exegesis of these three chapters.

In addition he has written what is probably the ONLY correct explanation of the Olivet Discourse in existence. He maintains that NO ONE can fully understand that Discourse unless the prophecy of Daniel is first correctly understood. The reason is that the Olivet Discourse seems to also have been "sealed" from the understanding of mankind by the previous "shutting up" or "sealing" of the prophecy of Daniel. There is not one, but two "great tribulations" in that apocalyptic prophecy.

The author presently lives with his wife, Jerry Mae, in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho, close to their three grown children and their families.