3 - The Second Key

When we drive down a highway there is something we find nearly everywhere that is almost impossible to avoid. Alongside the roads there are many signs nearly everywhere we look. Billboards vie to attract our attention, highway signs alert us to all sorts of things having to do with safe travel and then there are signs telling us our relative location from various places on the road we are traveling if we keep going far enough in that direction.

This is just common knowledge for most people. But what might it have to do with gaining a better understanding of the book of Revelation? First let me ask another question that maybe we need to ponder seriously, one about how we think and reason.

When I am getting close to a town it is not unusual to see a sign alongside the road that states the name of the town and usually how many people are presumed to be living in it. We are familiar with this kind of sign and give it little thought unless we happen to have a hobby of keeping track of population figures. But what would you think if someone should suddenly pull off the side of the road and rush up to the sign, announcing to everyone else that they have now arrived. They have taken a journey to visit someone in that town and now the journey is complete, never mind that they are standing outside town, possibly in pouring rain or freezing snow alongside a cold metal signpost. They have achieved their goal and there is nothing left to do but maybe take pictures of themselves alongside the sign and post them online for their friends to see how they have achieved their goal.

Needless to say, if a person should do this and imagine that the sign is actually the city itself, we might begin to wonder if they might be in need of some counseling or medication. It is obvious to most of us that a sign is not the equivalent of a city, yet the same truth that seems so obvious to us in this scenario somehow eludes our thoughtful consideration when it comes to spiritual perspectives. We can confuse signs with the reality they are designed to convey. This causes a great deal of confusion, particularly when coming to discern what God is trying to convey to us in the book of Revelation.

Last time we discussed important keys that we must be sure to pick up and keep with us whenever we come to prayerfully examine Revelation if we wish to benefit from the promised blessings for those who read and listen to it. We discussed the first key which is to check and test everything we think we see in this book with the mission and message of Jesus who came to reveal the real truth about God. We learned that anything that does not align with the teachings and disposition of Jesus the Son of God should come under serious scrutiny or simply be discarded from our thinking and beliefs, no matter how long we have believed it or how many others insist it is true. Jesus is the truth, the light of the world and the only explicit revelation of God the Father, and this is core to keep in mind as the preeminent filter through which everything else must pass in order to be vieewed as reliable truth.

Now we want to consider what I believe is a highly important second key God provides for all who want to benefit from exposure to this book. It has to do with signs or symbols which is a very common way for God to communicate with us in order to convert realities beyond our capacity to even begin to process, into forms that can alert us to what God wants us to know. This second key is also found in the very first verse of Revelation along with the first key, but it is not nearly so obvious and can easily be overlooked depending on what translation you might be reading.

Here is how the New King James version reads.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants--things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John. (Revelation 1:1 NKJV)

Do you see it here? There is a word here that arguably could be translated various ways that may have nothing to do with signs or symbols. Yet few people would insist that everything we read in the book of Revelation must be taken literally. That would be nearly impossible and very implausible. Yet when it comes to figuring out what should be read as literal and what is symbolic, there is no end of debate among scholars and many others as to whose views are right and what belongs where. As a result there is such a diverse array of opinions about what this book means that it has largely been written off by many because there seems to be little consensus about why it was written originally. This is why I feel this second key is so important to hold close and use often, for it has the potential to unlock many mysteries that have baffled some of the smartest people for centuries. Additionally, I believe God never intended that this book be only useful for the most highly educated and that everyone else should be obliged to accept their opinions about what it means. I believe God meant for this book to be just what it says it is – a revelation of Jesus Christ. But this revelation is designed to be understood through a wide diversity of symbols that nearly everyone can appreciate if they are willing to humbly listen to the Spirit who can bring insights that others often miss in their rigid insistence on maintaining traditions and dogma.

When I prayerfully came to examine this book a few years ago to see what God might bring to light, and as I pondered it through a new perception of truth filtered by the testimony of Jesus as the only reliable view of God, I realized that this word itself contained an interesting paradigm if broken into pieces – sign-i-fied – converted into signs. It might be easy to insist I am making this all up, but there is evidence from Jesus Himself that this may be what God intends for us in this book.

He spoke to them many things in parables, saying, "Behold, a farmer went out to sow." (Matthew 13:3)

Parables are a form of signs. We know that some of the stories Jesus used were not necessarily to be taken literally, and all of them were intended to connect spiritual reality with physical experiences in order to anchor them in our memory. Yet the question remains, Why symbols? And why do so many insist that Revelation is a mix of symbols and literal descriptions of things or events? If this is so, who gets to decide? Is Revelation reserved only for experts? Theologians? Do we have to trust others more educated than us to interpret all this? If so, why didn't God tell us who is supposed to do this for us?

Is God trying to hide something from us by converting things into signs or symbols? That would seem to fly in the face of the very title of this book. That would make no sense at all. Is God trying to be evasive, or is that another presumption buried in our heart that needs to be exposed? What do we need in order to unlock these symbols, for clearly our views of God affect how we interpret symbols, for our beliefs about God affect how we view and read everything.

God is not into deception – ever. Yet like the parables of Jesus, some things are designed to be communicated in such a way that only those with open hearts can really begin to grasp the hidden meaning in His stories. This extends to prophecies too, though more obvious there. In this prophetic book filled with symbols, what we need most is a heart hungry to know God better and willingness to be transformed by the love found in the light of Jesus enabling one to see their true meaning.

He who has ears to hear, let him hear." The disciples came, and said to him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" He answered them, "To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them. For whoever has, to him will be given, and he will have abundance, but whoever doesn't have, from him will be taken away even that which he has.

Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they don't see, and hearing, they don't hear, neither do they understand. In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says, 'By hearing you will hear, and will in no way understand; Seeing you will see, and will in no way perceive: for this people's heart has grown callous, their ears are dull of hearing, they have closed their eyes; or else perhaps they might perceive with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and should turn again; and I would heal them.'

"But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear. For most certainly I tell you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things which you see, and didn't see them; and to hear the things which you hear, and didn't hear them. (Matthew 13:9-17)

Jesus spoke all these things in parables to the multitudes; and without a parable, he didn't speak to them, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, "I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world." (Matthew 13:34-35)

I have also spoken to the prophets, and I have multiplied visions; and by the ministry of the prophets I have used parables. (Hosea 12:10)

Signs can be like a two-edged sword (which itself is another example of a sign), for they can easily cut different directions. Throughout history people have related to signs as something they demand as a prerequisite for believing someone to be reliable or of God. Yet signs often do not accomplish what we imagine they will do in us, partly because we don't understand ourselves and how twisted our thinking is when it comes to faith. There is a place for signs and wonders, but it is not a secure foundation for healthy relationships of trust or even conversion.

I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.

(Exodus 7:3)

Yahweh said to Moses, How long will this people despise me? and how long will they not believe in me, for all the signs which I have worked among them? (Numbers 14:11)

Hear the word which Yahweh speaks to you, house of Israel! Thus says Yahweh, "Don't learn the way of the nations, and don't be dismayed at the signs of the sky; for the nations are dismayed at them. (Jeremiah 10:1-2)

For there will arise false christs, and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones. (Matthew 24:24)

In all of these instances and in many more, we can see the inability of signs and wonders to convert the heart. The reason that false christs and prophets are able to deceive so many is because of how many want to base their faith on miraculous experiences that titillate the imagination rather than giving heed to uncomfortable convictions of the quiet voice of the Spirit of Jesus.

Jesus therefore said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders, you will in no way believe."

(John 4:48)

And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? (Revelation 13:3-4 KJV)

He performs great signs, even making fire come down out of the sky to the earth in the sight of people. He deceives my own people who dwell on the earth because of the signs he was granted to do in front of the beast; saying to those who dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast who had the sword wound and lived. It was given to him to give breath to it, to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause as many as wouldn't worship the image of the beast to be killed. (Revelation 13:13-15)

We see clearly here that signs are also used on the enemy's side of this war. We need to be extremely cautious about our vulnerability to being deceived by signs and understand how to relate to them.

One of the most serious warnings for us is the example of Pharaoh whose heart became so hardened by the compassion and mercy of God that he was able to take insane risks that cost not only the life of his son and the ruin of a world super-power, but in the end it destroyed the lives of his entire army along with his own. The key truth usually missed in this story is that it was not the devastating plagues that decimated his country and people that hardened his heart against God, it was his repeated resistance to the kindness of God that ultimately led to his spectacular defeat.

Likewise we face the same danger. By clinging to our carnal cravings for supernatural manifestations to supercharge our supposed faith in God, we can ignore or even despise the many kindnesses God given us in spite of our blatant violations of principles of life. We do this often because we are so resistant to God's true methods, clinging to lies that He relates as we do, through manipulation in threats of punishment and enticements of reward just like His enemies. Thus we become highly susceptible to the seductive doctrines of demons because they align so well with how we imagine God must operate. But in Revelation we discover that the truth as exposed by the Lamb is very different than how we have been taught by religion or society.

Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But according to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are treasuring up for [in] yourself wrath in the day of wrath, revelation, and of the righteous judgment of God; who "will pay back to everyone according to their works:" (Romans 2:4-6)

Signs can involve visible demonstrations in the environment around us, or they can be in prophecies designed to convey deeper truths or future events God wants us to know. The physical world in which we operate is closely aligned with the far more real spiritual world beyond what can be seen or proven scientifically. It is likely that what is seen in our 'natural' realm may be highly reflective of what is going on in the spiritual realm of which each one of us are participants. This was God's design from the very beginning of the creation of this world.

God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of sky to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the expanse of sky to give light on the earth;" and it was so. (Genesis 1:14-15)

Note the sequence here. God says that the heavenly lights for our planet are designed for use as signs and seasons, for marking off days and years. Lastly they are to provide physical light for our world. While significant, this has been perverted by the enemy to lead many to give inappropriate attention to these designated messengers for God. This is true for nearly everything God has designed because the enemy has crafted his entire evil empire on counterfeits of God's original design.

But notice what is mentioned first by God as purpose for these lights. They were given to divide the day from the night. While this obviously applies to how we define the daily passing of time, we must be cognizant that the creation of this world as described in Genesis 1 and 2 was not the beginning of the universe. Our creation took place in the middle of an ongoing war in heaven that began long before and had possibly come to a stalemate. From this perspective, a careful reading of the creation story was God's surprising response to an apparent impasse in what intelligent beings were challenged over what to believe about God's power. The creation account is itself is full of signs revealing vital truths about what had already transpired and questions that had stymied progress to resolve the crisis.

God carefully and intentionally designed everything about our world as a venue in which He could expose fresh revelations to the watching universe that would address the stalemate and move the war between good and evil toward a final conclusion. We don't have time to unpack all of those signs and implications, but it is important to be aware that the creation of this world itself is full of signs and symbols with double meanings, partly to fill physical purposes but more importantly to reveal greater revelations of truth about God's mysteries and to answer questions that seemed impossible to resolve.

and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.

(Matthew 24:30)

There will be great earthquakes, famines, and plagues in various places. There will be terrors and great signs from heaven. (Luke 21:11)

There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and on the earth anxiety of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the waves; (Luke 21:25)

The true purpose of signs is to alert us to spiritual realities we easily overlook or are resistant to believing. Signs can highlight aspects of truth through the nature of the symbols used, like metaphors, illustrations and even through stories. It can be a mistake to put too much emphasis on signs as being literal, yet this is a common mistake made by many when coming to a study of Revelation. I find that if we take this second key very seriously and allow this book to speak to us first of all through signs primarily, seeking to discern their true meaning with the Spirit's guidance about what the deeper implications are behind the symbols, we make ourselves more available to receive many surprising revelations that others may be prevented from noticing, simply because we faithfully trust the keys offered to us at the very outset of this important document.

Now the natural man doesn't receive the things of God's Spirit, for they are foolishness to him, and he can't know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14)

Signs are designed to bridge the line between the physical world we are most familiar with and the spiritual world where often we have little awareness. God takes spiritual realities or events and converts them into a symbolic language we can relate to when we are guided by the Spirit of truth. Those who are humble and seek to know God will be led by the Spirit of God to discover truths that set free. They can be taught by God to pay attention to the messages of guidance and warning given in signs that God provides to alert His children of what is about to happen. This is why the two keys given in the first verse are linked to what is about to happen. God urgently wants us to be prepared for massive changes that are imminent. He wants us to know the issues that are at stake and the difference between truth and counterfeits so we may make intelligent choices as to whom we will serve and worship.

Surely the Lord Yahweh will do nothing, unless he reveals his secret to his servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7)

But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as he declared to his servants, the prophets. (Revelation 10:7)

Because God has arranged to convey to us vital truths and alerts through use of signs, it only follows that Satan likewise will employ signs and wonders to mislead or distract people to believe his spin on what is reality and who to trust. This is part of how the war is fought, for this is not a war between similar weapons of destruction and who has more force to overwhelm the other; we are in a war over whose methods and motives we will trust and practice in our own lives. This is part of worship, for worship involves honoring what others teach and embracing their version of reality, relying on their version of truth as the material we use to build our characters that in turn reflects their character.

Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will kill with the breath of his mouth, and destroy by the manifestation of his coming; even he whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deception of wickedness for those who are being lost, because they didn't receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

(2 Thessalonians 2:8-10)

In summary, as we come to a study of this most amazing book filled with stirring scenes of greatest import to each one of our lives, if we rely on the two keys given us at the door we will find they work amazingly well to unlock all sorts of enigmas and mysteries throughout this book that have long baffled and confused so many. Let's pick up the keys and not forget to use them, trusting Jesus to assist our perceptions through the presence of His Spirit who inspired this very book originally.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants--things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John. (Revelation 1:1 NKJV)