The Book of Revelation Explained Volume 1 Earl R. Borders The Book of Revelation Explained Volume 1 Chapters 1-3 Earl R. Borders Printed by: The Church of God, God's Acres 675 N. Cedar Street Newark, OH 43055 www.GodsAcres.org www.GospelTrumpeter.com Second Printing 2006 Do not copy or reprint without express written permission. All Rights Reserved. INTRODUCTION It is with a sense of great satisfaction, yet great humility, that I present you with Volume I of The Book of Revelation Explained. The work that you are now holding is the result of literally years of labor. The enemy has fought at every turn to prevent these truths from being presented in written form. Yet, we can say with the Apostle Paul, "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57). Though it has been a long and arduous process, the Lord has given us victory. It is our intention to provide several volumes, which when completed, will encompass the entirety of the Book of Revelation. However, we did not want to withhold presenting what was ready until the entire set of volumes was complete, as this may take several more years. Therefore, we felt we should publish and make available each volume as it was prepared. For a number of years I have had a tremendous burden to see the church provided with an up-to-date book dealing with the truths of the Revelation. These are the truths that the Lord has given us in this particular period of the Gospel Day, and they are the truths that need to be heralded in order for the Lord to accomplish the work that He desires in this age. It was my hope that brethren who are much more capable than I am would step forward and fill this great need. However, years have passed and this has not occurred. Thus, feeling the burden in a greater way, I have undertaken to address that great need. The only way that this mammoth undertaking has been possible is because of the many dedicated laborers that have assisted in this process. First, I would like to recognize the late Pastor Emerson A. Wilson as one who presented these truths to me as a young man coming out of sectism. Without his faithfulness to herald these truths in both preached and written form, I would possibly never have received the understanding of truth that I have today. Also, I want to acknowledge Pastor Roger L. Decker. Without his support and coordination of workers, this work would have been virtually impossible. I also appreciate his stance concerning the precious truths contained within this book. Also, I want to express my appreciation to those who spent tireless hours working on the manuscripts to enable them to be presented to you in an intelligible form. Brother Lloyd T. (Tom) Fowler who typed the original manuscripts, Sister Sheri Strelecky who had the unenviable chore of editing this book, and a host of typists and proofreaders much too numerous to mention, but the Lord shall reward each one for the great efforts they expended. It is my prayer that this book will be instrumental in enabling you to receive enlightenment concerning the precious truths of the Revelation. So, without further adieu, I humbly and prayerfully present for your edification, The Book of Revelation Explained, Volume I. Yours in Christ, Brother Earl R. Borders Newark, Ohio, June 2002 Table of Contents Chapter One – An Introduction to the Revelation Part One – The Introductory Verses ............................................1 Part Two – Introduction to Some Dominant Truths . 8 Part Three – Necessary Conditions to See the Truth of the Revelation .............................................15 Part Four – The Divine Christ Having a Faithful Ministry in His Right Hand ................................................22 Chapter Two – Letters to the Churches Ephesian Letter.............................................................29 Smyrnean Letter............................................................37 Pergamene Letter ...........................................................45 Thyatiran Letter............................................................55 Chapter Three – Letters to the Churches Sardian Letter..............................................................67 Philadelphian Letter.........................................................78 Laodicean Letter............................................................91 Chapter One An Introduction to the Revelation Part One – Revelation 1:1-3 The Introductory Verses ............................................................ 1 Part Two – Revelation 1:4-8 Introduction to Some Dominant Truths of the Revelation . 8 Part Three – Revelation 1:9-12 Necessary Conditions to See the Truth of the Revelation . 15 Part Four – Revelation 1:13-20 The Divine Christ Having a Faithful Ministry in His Right Hand ............................................................. 22 The Book of Revelation Explained–Volume 1 CHAPTER ONE – PART ONE The Introductory Verses Revelation 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: 2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. 3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. Divine Truth Comes Through a Divine Source As you examine these introductory verses to this vital, yet often misconstrued, portion of Scripture, you must be mindful that this is "the Revelation of Jesus Christ." A revelation of divine truth must come by "Jesus Christ." It is not something that one can merely study and attain. Sad to say, the religious masses are, as the Apostle Paul declared in 2 Timothy 3:7, "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." It is God's desire that we come to a knowledge of truth. The Apostle Paul taught this in 1 Timothy 2:4, when he said, "Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." Truth does not come through human means, only through divine revelation. The Prophet Isaiah, in prophesying of this Gospel Day, saw the truth when he penned Isaiah 29:11-14: "And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned. Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid." This divine pronouncement, which has prophetic fulfillment in this Gospel Day, reveals that truth is hid from the wise and the prudent because of the condition of their hearts. The Prophet declared in verse 13 that they were far from God. To receive an understanding of truth, the state of one's mind is not so vital, whether learned or unlearned, but rather the condition of one's heart is what is important. You can see that this prophetic utterance has fulfillment in this Christian dispensation because Jesus quoted it in Matthew 15:7-9: "Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." Isaiah taught in Isaiah 29:14 who would not be the recipients of truth. In contrast Jesus said in Matthew 11:25, "I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent [who, then, may receive these truths if those who are literate, scholarly, and educated cannot deduce them by their means and their studies?], and hast revealed them unto babes." Who are these babes? The Apostle Paul used this terminology in 1 Corinthians 3:1, when he said, "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ." The Apostle Peter also used this term in his writings. He wrote in 1 Peter 2:2, "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby." Both of these Apostles employed the term babes, which gives us insight to the spiritual condition of those people. First Peter 1:23 states, "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God . ." These babes are those who have entered into the new birth. The Apostle Paul stated that they are "in Christ." These Scriptures show the spiritual state one must be in to receive truth. One must be "born again" and "in Christ," as Jesus said in John 15:4: "Abide in me, and I in you." This is necessary because truth is divine and only comes through a divine The Book of Revelation Explained–Volume 1 1 source. Luke 24:45 says, "Then opened he [Christ] their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures." The Patriarch Job portrayed this truth as well when he penned the words of Elihu, the only comforter to whom God laid no charge, in Job 32:8, which reads, "But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding." Elihu acknowledged the same truth mentioned in Revelation 1:1.