Lehman A Missionary Looks at the Conquest of Babylon

Revelation Chapters 8 - 16, a Spiritual Interpretation
1. Auflage 2025
ISBN: 979-8-3509-9629-6
Verlag: BookBaby
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, Band 1, 448 Seiten

Reihe: A Missionary Looks at the Conquest of Babylon

Many recognize that Revelation reveals the most important last day's battle for mankind. But is that battle physical or spiritual? Is it only yet to come, or has it been going on already for a long time? What kind of battle is being described, and what should I be doing to ensure that I am on the right side of the battle? If you attempt to interpret Revelation literally (which most interpreters do to some degree or another) you come up with many different physical battle interpretations. So now the confusion comes from trying to determine what battle is actually coming and how to prepare yourself for it. But if you focus on a spiritual interpretation, you will find that there is only one interpretation, and that one points to the life and testimony of Jesus Christ (see Revelation 1:2). So if you prepare yourself to follow Jesus Christ's testimony revealed through Revelation, you will find that you are prepared for anything! In scripture the number seven is often used to represent the completed work of God. Revelation is a book of many sevens because it is intended to complete the testimony of Jesus Christ within you. With that purpose, this book is a follow-on from the first book that focused on Jesus Christ's 'Love Letter' to the church, covering the first eight chapters of Revelation. This book will continue by covering the next eight chapters, and by explaining the spiritual meaning of most of the many 'sevens' within Revelation. As those sevens are revealed, we will see a spiritual battle unfold, uncovering the greatest foe to the true church, which is hypocrisy. Revelation will ultimately describe this hypocrisy as 'MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.' (Revelation 17:5) As a missionary and author I am focused on exposing hypocrisy (which is spiritual harlotry) so that we might establish the kingdom of God that Jesus brought within the hearts of people.

Richard Lehman is from the USA. He is a non-denominational missionary, currently ministering the gospel primarily in East Africa. In the past he has ministered in seven other countries including: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Mozambique, Mexico and Cuba. Additionally, he looks to visiting other countries in the future. Richard is not sent and directed by a missionary board to an established outpost in a foreign country. He often has traveled to foreign countries alone, and when he arrives he meets many new people and prayerfully assesses their spiritual needs, as he labors together with them in the gospel. The principal audiences of his missionary work are ministers, so he spends much time personally developing instructional material specific to their needs. More recently he is sensing a need to inspire the ministers to work more intimately with their young people in these same countries. In addition to these missionary travels, he has been writing gospel related material for over 30 years. Including seriously studying and teaching a spiritual interpretation of the book of Revelation since 2003. Richard teaches a Revelation message that delivers people, especially ministers, from the politics and corruption of divided church organizations and returns their hearts back to responding directly to their heavenly Father. He brings many ministers from different denominations into one training room to learn about the heavenly vision given us for the church by both Jesus Christ and his Revelation. He presents Revelation as a very personal love letter from Jesus Christ to the church, because that is how Jesus first presented it to the church.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Lehman, Richard

Leseproben

INTRODUCTION

JUST AS IN the first book on Revelation chapters 1 through 8 addressing the “Love Letter,” this book also is based on a spiritual interpretation. “Spiritual” meaning that which reveals the integrity of the love within the heart towards God. In this book, we will walk further into Revelation, addressing chapters 8 through 16. We will again use the rest of scripture within the Bible for interpreting the symbols, types, and patterns within Revelation. The Book of Revelation itself instructs us to understand Revelation this way (see Revelation 1:2).
A spiritual interpretation focuses on the spiritual concerns which matter the most to almighty God. Most other Revelation writers focus on the literal/material earthly concerns, which matter to earthly minded people concerning their earthly kingdom existence,
As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. (1 Corinthians 15:48)
A loyal minister is concerned about the purity of the bride/church for the bridegroom Jesus Christ,
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:2)
The book of Revelation especially has this same concern. Therefore, a loyal minister is more concerned about spiritual life, then they are about earthly existence. Such was the case with John the Baptist, the first minister for Jesus Christ,
He that has the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. He that comes from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaks of the earth: he that comes from heaven is above all. (John 3:29-31)
Revelation is especially for warning the ministry to open their eyes to the corruption that a false ministry has now brought into what is called the “church.” Additionally, we must be aware that there is a ministry that will reinterpret Revelation literally, which distracts our attention back towards earthly concerns and matters,
Brothers, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as you have us for an example. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) (Philippians 3:17-19)
As a missionary, I have labored in several places in Africa, and repeatedly I would hear a similar testimony of the older ministers. They tell me that when they were young people, in the '80s and '90s, there was a movement of God's Spirit, especially amongst young people. Church organization boundaries did not constrain this movement. It caused these young people from their heart to reach many souls. (Note: there was a similar, even more powerful movement in China around the same time.)
But then there was a sad and dark day that followed. Several “charismatic evangelists” moved in on this movement and gathered the young people and others by promises of much emotional worship, manifestations of tongues, miracles, etc. At first it seemed like things were really “taking off” but gradually it melted down into big name preachers gathering people to themselves, along with a lot of corrupted minister behaviors following.
Those of the movement from the '80s and '90s experienced many subsequent disappointments and heartbreaks as the work that they were personally part of and witnessed seemed to be robbed and scattered, with no means to correct it. But now with a true spiritual interpretation of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, they have the true vision, and the true “captain of their salvation” Jesus Christ, to lead them!
This book focuses on the battle between a spiritual minded ministry, and an earthly minded ministry. Because Revelation especially describes a battle to defeat an army of hypocrisy led by a false ministerial leadership. It is a spiritual battle for the heart and soul of every person who has ever existed on this earth.
Some might wonder why I emphasize so much on teaching the Revelation of Jesus Christ? Why not just use the other scriptures of the Bible without the difficulty of laboring to interpret symbols, types, and patterns?
If I was just teaching people who had never heard the gospel, I would not use the book of Revelation. These people haven't learned denominational doctrines. They are a “clean slate” waiting to have the pure Word of God written on them. If I was teaching a congregation where they were all settled in correct doctrinal teaching, it would seem that the labor of interpreting the book of Revelation would be extra and unnecessary. Because they are properly nourished by the clear truth concerning Jesus Christ found in the rest of Scripture.
But when you are reaching and teaching people who are indoctrinated into some church organization’s scheme, you can no longer ignore the importance of Revelation. Anyone who has ever tried to teach denominational ministers clear Bible doctrines from the scriptures, understands the mark that these denominational doctrines leave upon the mind and the heart. No matter how clear your teaching is, nor how carefully you leverage proper hermeneutic principles to draw out true meaning, because their mind has a false doctrinal “wall” that must be broken through.
When you teach a spiritual interpretation of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, you bring out the full meaning of Revelation by referencing and interpreting the spiritual meaning of the symbols, types, and patterns from the rest of Scripture. This is a revelation that they have never heard before, and an approach to the rest of the Bible that they have never learned or considered before. Because you are now realigning the rest of Scripture with the genuine revelation of Christ and his testimony. You are making them accountable “face to face” with Jesus Christ himself.
The Revelation actually extensively and deeply teaches the true meaning of salvation, sanctified consecration, and a true vision of the ekklesia church. In fact, once you teach these biblical doctrines from the book of Revelation, you also overflow all the false doctrines that people have associated with other scriptures. They no longer have a false doctrine to hide behind anymore,
Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. (Isaiah 28:17)
Once we compare the true meaning of the rest of Scripture to the spiritual interpretation of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, the undeniable agreement between them becomes apparent. This is powerful, because it enables the mark of false doctrine to be removed from the conscience and the heart of the individual, causing a deep spiritual earthquake within their soul! This shaking brings them into a valley of decision which will determine the very eternal welfare of their soul, and the souls that they minister to. You are never the same once you experience a spiritual interpretation of the Revelation of Jesus Christ,
And this word, Yet once more, signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. (Hebrews 12:27)
Here is a very serious question for ministers who consider themselves genuine: are we going to prosper in our day without understanding and teaching the spiritual meaning of Revelation? In our day, does Jesus consider his message that he personally delivered in Revelation optional? The scripture teaches us,
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you... (Hosea 4:6)
Jesus told his apostles (because they inquired and wanted to know),
...To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. (Luke 8:10)
The fleshly kingdom of beast-mankind marks many people. "Man that is in honor, and understands not, is like the beasts that perish.” (Psalm 49:20) Therefore the prophecies of Daniel Chapter seven use beasts to identify the earthly kingdoms of people.
God himself spiritually marks and seals loyal people who are part of the heavenly Kingdom. Their heavenly Father seals them with His own Identity/name. These are part of the heavenly Kingdom that Jesus first established when he preached, “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” True Christians identify directly with God because that is where their heart is. The beast of Revelation marks others because that is where their heart is,
And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that has understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is six hundred three score and six. And I looked, and see, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an...