The revelation of Jesus Christ : an open letter to the church from a modern perspective of the book of Revelation

170 Pages·2007·0.94 MB·English

by  Lynn Hiles

The Book of Revelation has been one of the most misunderstood books of
the Bible. Thank God for a refreshing look at the book that is intended to be a
revelation of Jesus Christ, not a revelation of the “beast,” “false prophet,” or
“antichrist.” No one has a keener insight into the true spirit of Revelation than
Dr. Lynn Hiles. It is refreshing to see someone who opens up the true message of
the King and His Kingdom.
In a world that is full of fear, hopelessness, doom, and despair, the true
Church should be offering hope; instead, it has been the propagator of more fear
and despair. Dr. Hiles is a model of a true New Testament prophet who sees the
need for an unfolding of the gracious truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ that
offers hope, not only to the world, but to the Church. The Book of Revelation
gives a panoramic view of a glorious, victorious, overcoming Lord and His
Christ. This message is the trumpet that is being sounded through a special voice
of the Lord in Dr. Lynn Hiles.
—Dr. Kenneth Meadors
Dean of Academic Affairs
Vineyard Harvester Bible College
Cedartown, Georgia
The Revelation of Jesus Christ
An Open Letter to the Church from a Modern Perspective of the
Book of Revelation
Dr. Lynn Hiles
Dedication
"F
JL
OR though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye
not many fathers” emphasized the apostle Paul two millennia ago (1 Cor. 4:15).
This reality is still true today. Two men who have parent-ed me are my natural
father, Pastor Jack Hiles, and my father-in-law, the late Rev. Robert I. Miller.
They are fathers to me in the natural realm, but they are also my spiritual fathers.
My dad is still my pastor to this day, and I’m very grateful that he is still
living. He encouraged me to follow my calling and be all that I could be.
In my teen years I traveled with my father-in-law, Robert, in his scenic
cruiser bus and learned a great deal about mobile ministry. To this day I still
travel extensively; I suppose I got the road in my blood from smelling diesel
fuel. Those were great days. Robert passed away in October of 2004 and is
greatly missed.
To these men who instructed me in the things of God, I dedicate this book
and echo the words of the writer of Hebrews: These are men “of whom the
world is not worthy” (see Heb. 11:38).
Special Thanks
I
would like to give a very special thanks to Peggy Valdez, who, while
transcribing the notes of this book for me, passed on to the other side. She
encouraged me to put in writing the things that God was showing me and
undertook the task of helping me with the first seven chapters. Her work will
live beyond her years.
Thanks are also in order to Roy Richmond who helped to transcribe the rest
of my dictations and to Corey Ann Klima for her editing. Thank you!
Table of Contents
Foreword by Bishop David Huskins
Preface
Chapter 1: God’s Significant Signifiers
Chapter 2: His Appearing
Chapter 3: An Island Called Patmos
Chapter 4: Seven Golden Candlesticks
Chapter 5: Come Up Hither
Chapter 6: Ephesus
Chapter 7: Smyrna
Chapter 8: Pergamos
Chapter 9: Thyatira
Chapter 10: Sardis
Chapter 11: Philadelphia
Chapter 12: Laodicea
Chapter 13: After This
Foreword
M
Y friend Lynn Hiles has successfully done in this book what I have heard
him do many times in person: take the unveiled truths of the Book of Revelation
and cause them to come alive. He transforms every chapter and verse into a clear
principle of relevant, life-changing truth that both the advanced scholar and the
freshman student stand amazed upon hearing.
Many modern-day teachers insist that the Book of Revelation is strictly a
book of prophecy. I contend, along with Dr. Hiles, that it is no more a book of
prophecy than Luke or John and probably less prophetic than Daniel or Ezekiel.
The first five words in Revelation give the true purpose of its content: “The
Revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Only when we see Jesus—what He has done for us and what He is doing
through us—can we come into our true identity. That is the purpose of this book:
to sound a trumpet proclaiming to everyone that Jesus Christ is Lord and King,
and His victory is our victory. That is good news!
In a time when the world is searching for good news and freedom from
bondage and fear, Lynn Hiles comes with this powerful book. He announces to
everyone that Christ has indeed made us free from bondage. By showing the
revelation of Jesus Christ he liberates believers from the fear of pending
catastrophe and, instead, encourages us to have faith to believe that the future is
bright because the victory has already been won.
This book echoes John’s original Revelation, providing a panoramic
overview of the entire Bible and the culmination of God’s covenant with
humanity. From the slain lamb to the voice in the midst of the candlesticks, the
message is clear: Jesus is the victor. From the Alpha to the One who sits on the
throne, you cannot miss the ultimate triumph of Christ and His own.
Few people can so effectively and accurately interpret God’s intentions for
His creation as Lynn Hiles does in this book. I am convinced that the truths that
are revealed in these chapters hold the key to a coming tsunami of the Spirit that
will bring the people of God into our greatest victories.
Jesus Christ is the firstborn of a nation of kings and priests that reign with
Him. Only as we understand the types and shadows of Revelation can we be
effective in our role on earth. Although many are planning to evacuate the
planet, I believe this book is much needed for equipping the saints of God to rule
and reign.
We are indeed moving from a church-age mentality into the age of God’s
Kingdom fully arriving. In this profound treatise, my friend has done the church
and the world a tremendous service by making the truths of Christ so lucid and
understandable. This book is a must-read for any serious student of the Word of
God.
—Bishop David Huskins, Th.D., D.D.
Presiding Bishop
International Communion of Charismatic Churches
Preface
Y
OU and I are on a journey. As we open the pages of the great Book of
Revelation together, be prepared to behold the great drama that God has been
unfolding throughout the ages. It is a panoramic view of a great mystery that
God has been progressively revealing to the human family since the beginning of
time. We’re going to take a fresh look at the Book of Revelation and consider
again the words of John the Revelator. We will discover that his prophetic vision
unveils the greatest of all revelations to the Church and a waiting planet: the
revelation of Jesus Christ.
It is worth noting that this unveiling of Christ is not exclusive to the Book of
Revelation alone; it is the theme of every book in the Bible, from the opening
words of Genesis, which declare, “In the beginning God created the heaven and
the earth” (Gen. 1:1), to the Book of Hebrews where Jesus refers to Scriptures
being written about Him. (See Heb. 10:7.) The entire book, or collection of
books, that we know as “the Bible” is an unfolding revelation of Jesus Christ. I
hope that by soaking in the Book of Revelation, one of the church’s most
contentious books, we’ll begin to see Christ more through the “single eye” of
faith.
“Come and see!” is repeated numerous times in Revelation 6. If somehow
by the spirit of wisdom and revelation we can do just that, if we will “Come and
see,” God will cause the eyes of our understanding to be flooded with light, and
we will be able to behold, perceive, and understand the revelation of Jesus Christ
throughout this entire book. It is much to our benefit to receive this renewed
vision; it will disarm us of the fear, intimidation, rhetoric, and flood of
misleading information that has come out of the dragon’s mouth. This overflow
of propaganda has kept the human family fearful of even reading the Book of
Revelation, when in fact it is Scripture’s only book that declares a built-in
blessing to those who read and understand it.
Some of us have been taught all of our lives that Revelation is about
Godzilla-like monsters coming up out of the ocean. We’ve been sold stories of
scud missiles, fighter planes, flying saucers, and other terrors that are just on the
so-called “end times” horizon. Virtually any fearful and paranoid vision can be
packaged and sold as gospel truth in the name of the last book of the Bible. But I
am persuaded that this book follows the theme of its title: the revelation of Jesus
Christ, given to John by God to show His servants what would shortly come to
pass.
Revelation is not about dreadful beasts or scary monsters, and there’s more
to it than just end-time global events and dispensational concepts. Revelation,
consistent with the rest of the Bible, is an ongoing revelation of Jesus Christ. It
reveals the fullness of God’s redemptive plan. It gives us not only a revelation of
the historical Jesus, but also renders a view of who He is today. Revelation gives
us a glimpse into what’s happening in the heavens right now and what’s taking
place within the presently unfolding life of the believer.
Sorting Through Perspectives
It may come as a surprise to Americans accustomed to the contemporary Left
Behind view of eschatology, but the Church historically has never held to one
“official” interpretation of the Book of Revelation. There have always been
varied viewpoints and opinions, and I believe there is merit to some of these
perspectives that we have neglected in recent decades. Two of the more common
ones are the “Historicist” and the “Preterist” viewpoints.
Proponents of the Historicist view believe that biblical prophecy is fulfilled
cyclically throughout many different ages in history. Preterists hold to the idea
that prophecy has been fulfilled with the closing of the “last days” of the Old
Covenant in the first century A.D. Without a doubt, there are many Historicists
and Preterists who can give you a legitimate and convincing argument
concerning these particular perspectives of the Book of Revelation. I have
studied these views and have concluded that they are quite possibly legitimate, at
least to some degree.
As you read the pages that follow, you may see things that could pertain to
world leaders, kingdoms, and events that have already transpired. If you embrace
the Historicist view or the Preterist view, you will find authors and teachers who
can profoundly touch your heart with that information. My purpose is not to be
at war with any view, but to share what I believe the Lord has revealed to me—
namely, that Revelation is not primarily about things and events, but rather, it’s
about a Person.
Truth be told, I have gleaned from all of the views and voices many ideas
that have brought greater clarity to me. None of us have all the answers, but in
“the multitude of counselors there is safety” (Prov. 11:14).
An Overview
In this treatise, I want to examine a Spiritual, Covenantal, and Christological
view of Revelation, and the redemptive purpose of God revealed in this vision.
Some scholars will tell you that the Spiritual view of the Book of Revelation is
an interesting one, but it breaks the flow of prophetic understanding in that it
doesn’t just foretell the future. I find this unconvincing. According to Revelation