Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue
Revelation Study Class 6
V. 12. And I turned to see the Voice which was speaking with me] Here we have two
representations—”the voice” and “to see.” These Figures properly rendered mean, “and I turned to see
Him who spake with me.”
and, on turning, I saw seven lamp-stands of gold. They were realities that Yochanan saw, but realities
used as symbols; and what they are symbolical of we are told in verse 20. That they were real in Heaven
is clear from Heb. 8: 2, 5; 9: 23. But they are significant of things below. These seven lamp stands point
us to the seven-fold golden lamp-stand of the Tabernacle. Ex. 25: 31, 32, 37; 37: 23. Heb. 9: 2. Then,
there was but one lamp-stand: here, there are seven. There, Israel was one, and was gathered as one
nation: here, that nation is scattered and in its Dispersion. The same fact explains the absence of the table
of S hew-bread.
V. 13. and in the midst of the seven lamp-stands One like a son of man] i.e., by a Hebraism, a human
being, viz., the Son of Man Himself. The title emphasizes the human nature of Him who thus appears to
Yochanan. For its significance in relation to this book and its interpretation see Dan. 7:9; Ezek. 1: 26; 8:
2. We now come to the Vision proper, and present the Expansion of the member The Vision itself, as we
have seen above, is parallel with the vision Daniel saw (Dan. 10); and its object is the same (as there
stated). “I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days.” Then, it was
added,” for yet the vision is for many days.” Now, the many days have passed, and “the time is at hand
” (1: 3). The Day of the L-rd is to be revealed to Yochanan. We need not enlarge or dwell upon the
various aspects of the vision. clothed with a robe reaching to the feet, and girt about the breasts with
a girdle or gold:
V.14. His head and hair white, as white wool—as snow (Dan. 7: 9.) and His eyes as a flame of fire;
V.15.and His feet like unto polished brass (Ezek. 1: 7) glowing as in a furnace; and His voice as the
voice of many waters. This is a common Old Testament simile, see Ezek. 1:24; 43: 2.
And having seven stars in His right hand; and out of His mouth a sharp two-edged sword
going forth A like Figure is used of men (Ps. 4: 21; 7: 4; 59: 7). What is signified by it is clear from Isa.
11: 4; 49: 2, and 2 Thess. 2: 8. The Divine comment on it is in Rom. 13: 4. Compare Matt. 24: 50, 51.
Luke 12: 46. The sword is referred to again in chap. 2: 12, 16; and its final purpose is shown in 19: 15,
21. Luke 29: 27. and His countenance was as when the sun shineth in his strength.
And, when I had seen Him, I fell at His feet as dead: and He laid His right hand upon me,
saying, Fear not.]
and the Living One] Josh. 3: 10, the living G-d. I was dead, indeed, yet behold: I am living forever and ever We must keep our translation English, otherwise the Greek is, literally, ‘I came to be (as
in verses 9 and 10) dead, and behold I am living,’ The words “I live” are very emphatic, marking the
speaker as being the fountain and giver of life. and I have the keys of Death and the Grave] Greek, (…)
(Hacks). There is no occasion to introduce any idea of “souls” or of an “intermediate state,” so-called,
here. “Death and the Grave” is a comprehensive expression which explains itself. We translate it “grave,”
as the A.V. is compelled to render it in 20: 13 (marg.) and I Cor. 15: 55.V.19. Write therefore what things thou sawest and what they are So Alford and Rotherham and
others: i.e., “what they signify” (Stuart). even what things are about to happen hereafter] This is not
the same expression as in verse 1. There, it was necessity, “must come to pass”; here, it is sequence,
“about to come to pact” The command to write refers to all that Yochanan saw, and not merely what he
had seen in verses 12-16. We must remember that the Introduction was written last, as shown above. The
translation “What they are (or signify)” is so undoubtedly good that it seems rather Mercure to base a
whole system of interpretation affecting the whole book, on the common rendering—”the things which
are?” You may be aware that many books on the Apocalypse base their whole system of interpretation on
this rendering, but such a far-reaching system ought to have a firmer foundation. This, in
itself, is slightly enough: but, when chaps. 2 and 3 are nowhere spoken of as being “the things which are,”
we do not have sufficient warrant to adopt an interpretation of the book which rests on such hypothetical
grounds. That these Epistles are addressed to those who shall be on the earth during the Day of the L-rd,
V. 20-. The mystery (i.e., the secret symbol) of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand;
and the seven golden lamp-stands]. “The seven stars” represent (as in the previous verse) the angels of
the seven Assemblies; and the seven lamp-stands are (Le., signify) the seven Assemblies] Until recent
times no one had ever heard of such a title being given to any church-officer either in Scripture, in history, or
in tradition. To take the word “angel” as meaning “bishop,” in the absence of any evidence of any kind, is
one of the vagaries of interpretation so how should we understand the word “angels” as having any
connection with the Church? The Apocalypse has so long suffered this interpretation of the “church” to
hijack the Revelation for themselves, but this brings us to the consideration of the seven Epistles
themselves.
Now we come to the subject of People on the Earth: Chapters 2-3
Chapters 2 and 3: will find their true interpretation and fulfillment when used for special instruction by
the people on the Earth during the Day of the L-rd; by Israel, and especially by the Remnant. Please note,
in these Epistles, constant references to the condition of things as described in this book; references
which cannot be explained either by Church History or tradition; but which are quite simple and clear
when read in the light of future history, as prophetically recorded in the Apocalypse.
The difference between these Epistles (Letters to the assemblies) and all other Epistles in the New
Testament(Refreshed, renewed Covenant (“New” Testament as called by Christians is so great, that one wonders how it was possible for them ever to be supposed as being
addressed to the Church, if it were not for the fact that Christians have been brought up from earliest infancy to
believe it. Everything is different: circumstances, standpoint, references to the Old Testament,
terminology, phraseology, scope, style: everything points to a different order of things altogether.
I am going to present an example germane to this study using syllogism to make my point about interpretations or conclusions based on incorrect premises. That is, if we start with the wrong premise and
build on it what results is usually wrong. An example is:
1. Brown and white dogs are gender sensitive.
2. Brown and white dogs are female
3. Therefore all brown and white dogs are all female.
Obviously this is wrong although it might apply to certain species of cats whose coloring is specific to
females only.
The idea is that even when certain commentators arrive at the right conclusion many times their
foundation or formula of construction is wrong.
The following used as the underlying proof or the foundation upon which many Christian commentators
base their belief that the Book of Revelation cannot be written to the “Church” is given as verbatim.
“There is nothing in them about Christianity as such; nothing of Christians standing in Christ; nothing
that can be taken, even by application, as referring to the believer’s present position as being in Christ;
perfect, and complete in Him. Nothing about the “no condemnation,” or no separation of Rom. 8. But all
is warning or reproof. Promises are made only to the “overcomer,” and to those who shall “endure unto
the end.” It is clear that those who are “blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in
Christ” (Eph. 1: 3) cannot be those to whom these seven Epistles are addressed. Doesn’t it seem obvious
that they are written to those who are under a covenant of works, and not to those who are under the
covenant of grace. And those who interpret them of the church of G-d now must greatly lower that
standing which He has given them in Christ, or else be altogether ignorant of it.
“No! We keep our own truth as written to the churches by the Holy Spirit through Sha’ul(Paul);and leave that
which is equally truth written to other and different Assemblies by Christ through Yochanan. It is very likely
improbable that the covenant of works under which these Assemblies are addressed could co-exist, at one
and the same time, with those under the covenant of grace, that we seem to be shut up to a future
interpretation; when all these expressions, and references, and warnings and threatening, and promises (of
which history knows nothing), shall find their fulfillment and reach their end.”
The above quote is taken from Bullinger and is foundational for many of the commentators already
alluded to that agree that the Book of Revelation is not written to the “Church” but to Israel and the Jews.
So you might ask: has the Rabbi converted to Christianity? What’s going on? Why would I say this? I have been
teaching in the Introduction to Revelation classes that the Book of Revelation is written to the Jews and Israel and have
given grammatical and biblical reasons why I believe this without resorting to a premise that is a doctrine
of men and not the theology of G-d. It is the false premise above that I wanted to examine. After reading the above quotation, I hope that the reader/listener would recognize the falsity of the statement as quoted even though it supports the
fact that the Book of Revelation is written to Israel and not the church albeit from a wrong premise..
No covenant is given to the Gentile Church; only to Judah and Israel. There has to be a new heaven and earth before the Written Torah is no longer necessary but becomes a part of the inner being of every living being. Not one jot or tittle will be taken from the Torah until all is completed in the Tanakh (Old Testament). What Sha’ul (Paul) really taught does not support Bullinger’s commentary. Unfortunately, most of not all Christian commentators base their information on a manmade agenda of a quality of G-d called grace and the teaching of the Bible as it relates to salvation which in reality is a process and not a “once saved-always saved” event. It is nothing more than easy, non-accountability Christianity designed to appeal to the masses, as evidenced by the mega-churches we see today, and designed to create converts and not disciples. As a Messianic Jewish rabbi who attended a Christian seminary to see first-hand the curricula and the main focus, I quickly learned the focus is numbers and not teaching people what they must do to one day enter the Kingdom of G-d.
The Rosh Rebbe of Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue, Rabbi Milchama ben David of blessed memory repeatedly taught the following truths: G-d’s definition of a true believer is described seven times in seven different verses in the book of Revelation
No “New” Covenant has yet been given and there is no covenant given to the Gentile Church, but only to Judah and Israel
There must be a new heaven and a new earth before the Written Torah is no longer necessary but becomes a part of the inner being of every person
Not one jot or one tittle will be taken from the Torah until all is completed in the Tanakh (Old testament)
That what Sha’ul (Paul) taught sans the Gentile agenda of the “Church.” Rabbi Davis also taught and resolved through use of the Scriptures the contradictions in his epistles and with other apostles, etc. when he is correctly interpreted.
If we are really interested in the truth of G-d’s Word, including the book of Revelation, the time of which we are rapidly approaching, we must humbly, fervently, and diligently “hear, internalize, and act upon G-d’s commands/law/instructions that our names will be found in the Book of Life when we stand in judgement before Yahshua HaMashiach, the Kiing of kings, and L-rd of lords.
Shalom,
Rabbi Tamah Davis-Hart
(Continued next page)