A Covenantal View and Exposition of the book of Revelation

By Rev. Gary Elliott, The Lord’s Day, Sunday, September 19, 2010

*The revelation of the glorified Jesus Christ to the visible church

My interpretive view is that this book is arranged as a Covenantal Document—the glorified Christ’s covenantal suit (pledged judgment) against the world, the flesh, and the devil.

In my view both apostate Judaism, i.e. Jerusalem, and wicked Rome are historical representatives of Christ’s inclusive claim to judge the religious and secular worlds and the parallel spiritual world—the Revelation pulling back the curtain to show that if Jerusalem and Rome, including the spiritual dimension, did not escape the wrath of the Lamb, neither will the whole world individually and collectively.

*The Book of revelation is the Triune God’s exclamation point to the resurrection, ascension and glorification of Jesus Christ as the Conqueror and Judge of the world!

The burning question for the visible church in John’s day and for us today is do we have the vision of faith revealing the glorified Jesus Christ attested by the Holy Spirit for all His glory?

*The New Covenant expands the Old Covenant prophecies and promises by fulfillment

This is not some future scene like a disaster/ si-fi movie, this is an apocalyptic declaration of the glorified Christ’s presence with the visible church by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit through the power of the gospel!

Yes, Christian believers in the visible church are living out the prophecy and writing of the Book of Revelation by faith and repentance confessing the fullness of the Godhead in Jesus Christ now glorified and revealed to be the Ancient of Days.

*The revelation of the coming of the glorified Jesus Christ to the visible church in covenantal fulfillment as Messianic prophet, priest, and king

The Holy Spirit has providentially preserved the Apocalypse so that the visible church throughout the world and history may gather on the Lord’s Day and receive the blessing of the vision of the glorified Jesus Christ.

*By the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and His ascension into heaven something astoundingly changed not only on earth but also forever in heaven! For Jesus Christ returned to heaven not as He came, but with a glorified human nature...

One of the hardest challenges for the Apostles and disciples of Jesus’ day and for the visible church throughout history has been the greater glory of Jesus’ return to heaven. So wisely the historic Christian Church has recognized the need for emphasizing the resurrection and ascension as articles of faith and celebration.

*Jesus Christ is the glory presence of God in the midst of the church in heaven and on earth

It should be carefully noted that the emphasis of this prophecy is not on fortune telling or trying to divine the future, but Jesus Christ’s sovereign victory over the world, the flesh, and the devil.

*The revealing of Jesus Christ as king/priest is in the heavenly holy place –in the invisible realm of heaven connecting the visible and the invisible church

I believe in the sufficiency of Scripture, i.e. no extra-Biblical sources are necessary to understand the meaning of the Bible. Although information from outside the Bible can be helpful, I believe in the interpretive principle that Scripture interprets Scripture. The Holy Spirit of God has originally authorized and providentially preserved the Scriptures through the inspired prophets, apostles and writers.

*What may be scorned as of little power by nay-sayers, unbelievers and anti-Christians; Jesus says there is no power on earth, under the earth or from hell that can shut the door He opens when the church keeps His word and worships His name!

*The visions opening chapter 4 and following begin with the door from the heavenly holy place into the heavenly holy of holies where God’s throne is central and like a nuclear model the identified worshipers orbit and the revealed visions are unrolled like a scroll:

>opening 7 seals, >sounding 7 trumpets, >attesting 7 cosmic signs of the church militant & triumphant, >pouring 7 bowls of God’s wrath...

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