Before time began … before the foundation of the world … God had a Plan. His Plan was for an epic journey through time, space, and eternity. God already existed eternally, so the first step in carrying out His Plan was to create time and space. We see that in Genesis 1 :1 – “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

Question: what was God’s Eternal Plan? That’s what we’ve been looking at in this series, so please look at previous parts if you haven’t already. I hope it will answer some of your questions.

The Grace Of His Son

Fortunately for us, God didn’t leave us to wonder the what, when, where, why, or how of His Plan. We know everything we need to know by reading His written Word, the Bible. Start with Genesis 1:1 and don’t stop until you reach Revelation 22:21. God started by creating the heavens and the earth. The last thing He wants us to know is that “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”

There is a lot between those two verses, but by just knowing Genesis 1:1 and Revelation 22:21 we can grasp God’s Eternal Plan and Purpose. God created so the amazing grace of His Son would be with us forever and ever. That’s God’s journey with us and our journey with Him. God wants us to know the grace of His Son.

It’s interesting that the Apostle John, who has been the focus of our most recent studies, points that out clearly to us in the first chapter of his Gospel account -“grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17b). John compared what Jesus Christ brought to earth to what Moses brought to earth – “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” John is not denigrating Moses and the work he did by bringing God’s Law to Israel. What John is doing is demonstrating that who Jesus is and what He has done is far greater than what Moses did. Moses was a flawed human being who God used to demonstrate His overwhelming power, righteousness, grace, mercy, and compassion. Jesus is God in the flesh.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. John 1:1-5

He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:10-13

Does that seem odd to you that the Son of God stepped into the world, but the world didn’t know Him? Does it seem strange that God came to His own, but His own did not receive Him? It doesn’t if you read the entire Bible. It makes perfect sense. It’s part of the epic journey God planned before time began, before He created the heavens and earth. God knew the end from the beginning – “Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure.” (Isaiah 46:10)

God’s Epic Journey is His doing all His “pleasure.” God is All-Powerful, All-Knowing, Everywhere Present at the Same Time, Unchanging, and Perfect. The “pleasure of His will” is perfect. The Epic Journey God is on, and has taken us with Him, is perfect. There is no flaw in it. No mistake. No error. It is perfect.

Revelation

We come now to the Book of Revelation. It was written by the Apostle John, who also wrote the Gospel of John, and three letters. John used a lot of Scripture (Hebrew Bible, Old Testament) in his Gospel and first letter. As we will see, John used dozens of Old Testament verses in the last Writing of the New Testament.

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, who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. Revelation 1:1-3

Jesus Christ is the “Revealer.” God gave Jesus the “Revelation” to show His servants “things which must shortly take placed.” God, as He often did, sent and signified the Revelation “by His angel.” Angels serve God and do everything from worshipping God in Heaven, to delivering messages to God’s people on earth, to protecting God’s people. In this case, the Apostle John was the person to whom God sent His angel.

John the Apostle “bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.” John was an eyewitness to what Jesus Christ did when He ministered on earth. John was a member of the inner circle of apostles, along with Peter and James. As John wrote in his first letter – “

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. 1 John 1:1-3

John saw what Jesus accomplished with his own eyes. John watched Jesus die on the cross. John saw and spoke with Jesus after He rose from the dead. John listened as Jesus taught His apostles that what was in the Hebrew Bible was about Him –

Then He said to them, ‘These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.’ And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Luke 24:44-45

John was a young man, possibly an older teenager or barely out of his teens, when he became an apostle. That was in the early part of the 1st century AD. John was an old man when Jesus Christ and angels appeared to him decades later at the end of the 1st century. Jesus had one more Message that He wanted to leave for members of the Church He was building.

Jesus addressed His Revelation to seven specific churches in Asia where members and leaders were familiar with the Apostle John. That was important to establishing both the authenticity and integrity of the letter that John wrote to them.

John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,’ says the Lord, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. Revelation 1:4-8

The Book of Revelation includes many references and allusions to Old Testament prophetic writings. That’s not surprising when you consider how many of the prophets referred to events that would occur at the end of time or the ages. God showed many of the Old Testament prophets how things would conclude for Israel and the world. Many of those details that were “sealed” in the Old Testament (e.g. Daniel 12:9), were “revealed” in the New Testament by Jesus Christ. We read about them in many places, including Matthew 24 – 25, Luke 13, apostolic letters (e.g. Peter, Paul, John, Jude) and in the Book of Revelation.

Examples

Here are some examples of verses in Revelation that correspond to verses in the Old Testament:

Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Revelation 1:4-6 (Exodus 19:6)

Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. Revelation 1:7 (Daniel 7:13; Isaiah 40:5; Zechariah 12:10-14)

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,’ says the Lord, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. Revelation 1:8 (Isaiah 41:4; 44:6)

Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. Revelation 1:12-13 (Zechariah 4:2)

His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters. Revelation 1:14-15 (Daniel 7:9; 10:5-6; Ezekiel 1:27; 8:2; 43:2)

He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. Revelation 1:16 (Isaiah 49:2)

And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, ‘Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.Revelation 1:17-18 (Isaiah 41:4; 44:6; Daniel 8:17; 10:8)’

These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands. Revelation 2:1 (Deuteronomy 23:14)

But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. Revelation 2:14 (Numbers 31:16)

Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. Revelation 2:20 (1 Kings 16:31; 21:23; 2 Kings 9:33)

I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches he minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. Revelation 2:23 (Jeremiah 17:10)

And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’—as I also have received from My Father; and I will give him the morning star. Revelation 2:26-28 (Psalm 2:9)

‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, ‘He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens. Revelation 3:7 (Isaiah 22:22-24)

Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. Revelation 3:9 (Isaiah 60:14)

To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. Revelation 3:21 (Psalm 110:1)

Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. Revelation 4:2-3 (Ezekiel 1:26-28)

And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. Revelation 4:5 (Exodus 19:16; Ezekiel 1:1-28; 11:1-25; Isaiah 6:1-13)

Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. Revelation 4:6 (Exodus 24:10; Ezekiel 1:5, 22; 10:12)

The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. Revelation 4:7 (Ezekiel 1:10)

The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: ‘Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come! Revelation 4:8 (Isaiah 6:2)

And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. Revelation 5:1 (Ezekiel 2:2)

And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Revelation 5:6 (Isaiah 53:7; Zechariah 4:10; 2 Chronicles 16:9; Psalm 141:2)

And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth. Revelation 5:10 (Exodus 19:6)

Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands. Revelation 5:11 (Daniel 7:10)

So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth. Revelation 6:8 (Ezekiel 14:21)

I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Revelation 6:12-13 (Isaiah 13:13; 24:18, 23; 34:4; Haggai 2:6; Joel 2:31)

Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. Revelation 6:14 (Psalm 102:26; Isaiah 34:4)

And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! Revelation 6:15-16 (Isaiah 2:9, 19; 13:13; Hosea 10:8; Psalm 110:5; Joel 2:11)

Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, ‘Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.’ Revelation 7:2-3 (Ezekiel 9:2)

They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat. Revelation 7:16 (Isaiah 49:10)

Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. Revelation 8:3 (Leviticus 16:12; Exodus 30:8; Psalm 141:2)

Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake. Revelation 8:5 (Ezekiel 10:2)

The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up. Revelation 8:7 (Exodus 9:23; Joel 2:30)

Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. Revelation 8:8 (Exodus 7:20)

The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter. Revelation 8:11 (Jeremiah 9:15)

Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night. Revelation 8:12 (Ezekiel 32:7)

The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle. Revelation 9:7-9 (Joel 1:6; 2:4-5)

He had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land. and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices. Revelation 10:2-3 (Ezekiel 2:9; Jeremiah 25:30)

Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, ‘Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them. Revelation 10:4 (Daniel 8:26)

The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand to heaven. Revelation 10:5 (Daniel 12:4-9)

Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, ‘Go, take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth.’ So I went to the angel and said to him, ‘Give me the little book.’ And he said to me, ‘Take and eat it; and it will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.’ Then I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. And he said to me, ‘You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings. Revelation 10:8-11 (Ezekiel 2:8; Jeremiah 1:9)

Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, ‘Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. Revelation 11:1 (Ezekiel 40:3; 41:13; 40:47)

The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. Revelation 21:23 (Isaiah 60:20-21)

Old Testament Allusions In Revelation

Some scholars estimate that almost 70% of the verses in the Book of Revelation make some allusion to Old Testament prophecies. How could you tell whether a verse in Revelation included an “allusion” from the Old Testament. One way is to have read and studied the Old Testament prophets methodically and often. If you’re interested in finding them, study the prophetic writings of Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and Zechariah. As you read those prophets and compare what you read there to what John wrote in Revelation, the allusions will show themselves to you. Those are not the only Old Testament writings to read, but they are a good place to begin.

Next Time

We will look at the writings of the two half-brothers of Jesus (James and Jude) in the next part of our special series, The Great Reveal.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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