Good Afternoon

The subject of this presentation is the relationship between the words of Jesus Christ in the gospels and the book of Revelation. In past conferences, I have given presentations that stated many of the conclusions that I have arrived at regarding the interpretation of Revelation. My subjects included, the "gospel key", "covenant theology in the book of Revelation", the concept of "inaugurated and consummated eschatology", the recognition that "the church replicates the ministry of Christ", and even "using the book of Ephesians as a "Rosetta Stone" with which to see the purposes of God revealed in the thematic connectionsbetween Ephesians and Revelation.

For the sake of brevity, I will be limiting my study mainly to the words of Jesus found in the gospel of Matthew and will consider what value they offer in regard to the interpretation of Revelation. It is possible to readily recognize the similarities between Matthew chapter 24 and Revelation because both have an eschatological emphasis. If you have never seen the connection, even a cursory comparison between the two books using a bible with cross references will make it apparent. But what would be the basis and rationale for connections between the words of Jesus in the gospels and the book of Revelation that do not have an eschatological connection?

The major schools of the interpretation of Revelation are the Preterist, the Historicist, the Futurist and the Idealist (Philosophy of History). All of them have strengths and weaknesses. My view is that Revelation was relevant to those who read it when John wrote it. In the legal sense, Satan had been cast down at the cross. King Jesus had taken His seat at the right hand of God, the kingdom of God had been inaugurated, and the second coming of Jesus was imminent in the minds of the disciples. They understood that they were living in the last days. But Jesus did not return. Time went on. The church through the gospel age began to see that the message of hope in Revelation had validity for them. And we believe that it has validity for us today since Christ has obviously not yet come.

The last half of Revelation relates to events that take place just before or at the second coming of Christ. Nevertheless, the entire book of Revelation contains spiritual truths that have validity in all the centuries down through time. It is this ideological theme that I find is the basis for the connection between the statements of Jesus throughout the gospels with the book of Revelation.

It is important to recognize that Revelation is a "Christian" book. As I see it, Revelation was written in approximately 94 A.D. The city of Jerusalem had been destroyed almost 25 years previously. The Christians had been scattered all over the known world. The earthly sanctuary was no more. Israel as a nation had been wiped out. The Messianic King had not yet returned.

Based on the previous immediate history, and the timeless spiritual principles in the words of Jesus; John recast the vision and gave the people of God a message of hope for the future. John, along with the other New Testament prophets has redefined Israel. Israel is now recognized as the people who have believed on and submitted to the Lordship of Christ. They are the ones who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Rev.7v1-14) As God walked among His people in the Old Testament, Christ now walks among and in the midst of the church. They are a nation and a spiritual theocracy under their King. Their God rules from His throne in His Sanctuary. It is a heavenly sanctuary. As Israel was intended to do before them, the church finds its purpose in witnessing and testifying. It is a Christian witness. They are the witnesses of Jesus. They follow the Lamb. They are subjects of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

John utilizes a plethora of Old Testament echoes, allusions and reminiscences to restate and recast his vision for the future of the church. He utilizes the language of the past as a tool to state what will happen in the future. But, as I purpose to demonstrate, he Christianizes it. He does this by utilizing these Old Testament allusions in the context of the statements made by Christ in the gospels. These sayings of Jesus relate to His church, and expose the enemies of Christ and His church..

Today, I will be laying down another plank in the floor. I purpose to demonstrate a connection between the words of Jesus as recorded in the gospels with the Revelation and to state what I believe to be the purpose and rationale for these connections.

Let me start by saying that there are no direct quotations or citations within Revelation that link it with any of the previous 65 books. It is widely recognized however that Revelation is saturated with echoes, allusions, or reminiscences from the Old Testament. I have seen estimates that vary from between 229 to 518 connections. But what about connections with the New Testament? Many scholars have seen the relationship between the Olivet discourse as recorded in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 with Revelation. Because these chapters are clearly eschatological, they have been called the "synoptic apocalypse". What is not widely recognized, however, is the abundance of what I believe are strong connections between the words of Jesus throughout the gospels with book of Revelation.

The book of Revelation as I have already stated is eschatological. It is unlike any other book in the New Testament. Certainly, we see glimpses of eschatology in the rest of the New Testament but Revelation is different. Revelation is climactic. It ties together the various details. It speaks of and is driving towards consummation. A major theme in Revelation is the coming of Jesus Christ. We see a new heavens and a new earth. We see the culmination of God’s purpose as the final battle is won and Satan is vanquished. The saints enter the holy city and God Himself is in their midst. The bridegroom and the bride eat the marriage supper. The great multitude which is one and the same as the 144,000’s represents the continuity and the wholeness of the entire spiritual community of all ages.

But how are we to interpret eschatology? Is it a newspaper written in advance? I purpose to demonstrate that the timeless principles found in the saying of Jesus in the gospels are foundational in the interpretation of eschatology. When we link the understanding that we receive from these spiritual principles with a recognition that what happened to Christ in microcosm is a pattern for what happens to the church in macrocosm through time and finds it climax at the second coming, we are able to understand and make sense of the Apocalypse.

How would we go about recognizing a connection between the words of Jesus in the gospels if there are no citations or quotations in Revelation by which to make the connection? Would we necessarily expect quotations, in light of the relatively short time span between the time when the gospels were written and Revelation was written?

We recognize that are similarities and differences between the three synoptic gospels and the gospel of John. Would it not be reasonable to conclude that there was an oral tradition that was alive and well in the first century A.D. and that John felt comfortable drawing from it as he wrote Revelation. This oral tradition was dynamic and fluid. It was not, however, nebulous. It had a firm and recognizablebasis in the Words and even acts of Jesus Christ. John was an eye-witness. His writings are his own account of his experience with Jesus. Both John and Matthew were disciples of Jesus. They were no doubt both present on most occasions. Therefore, if indeed John the Revelator was utilizing the words of Jesus, which were part of the dynamic tradition that was alive and well at that time, we could reasonably expect that Revelation would contain some of the same words that Matthew used and moreover some of the same thoughts, concepts and ideas that Matthew used.

I have already stated that many have already recognized a connection between Matthew chapter 24 and the book of Revelation. Eschatology, however, should never be considered an end in itself. It should never be studied apart from the Moral Purpose of God. The "Moral Purpose" of God is what I believe to be the basis of a clear and powerful connection between the words of Jesus in the gospels and the book of Revelation. Where in the gospels do we find statements regarding this purpose? We find it in picture form in the parables. We find it in the authorization of the 12 disciples. We find it in the longest and most profound statement of Jesus in the Bible which is the Sermon on the Mount.

This particular subject is huge. I would like to start by establishing the basis for the connection which I see is the "Moral Purpose of God".

The first three chapters of Revelation set the stage for what follows. Let’s consider some texts in light of this premise. Rev.1v3 says: "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it…" This sounds remarkably like Luke 11v28, which says: "blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it."

We recognize that hearing means much more than recognizing an audible signal. It means to respond. In the letters to the 7 churches, there is recorded a moral imperative to each of them. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Rev.2v7,11,17,29; & 3v6,13,22) A similar exhortation is found in Rev.13v9. It is significant that these are the same words that Jesus Himself uttered 7x in the gospels. "He who has ears, let him hear." (Matt.11v5, 13v9, 13v43; Mark 4v9,23; Luke 8v8, 14v35).

In Matt.13, after stating, "He who has ears, let him hear"; Jesus goes on in verses 11 through 17, to explain what He means. "You will keep on hearing but will not understand", "the heart of this people has become dull", "they have closed their eyes, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and return". Mark 4v12, a parallel passage says: "return again and be forgiven". To return means to turn, to repent and therefore be forgiven. We are seeing a moral imperative here. It is this moral imperative that characterized the ministry of Jesus Christ. In Matt. 4v17, we hear Jesus saying, "Repent for the kingdom is at hand". His next imperative is to call men to " FollowMe".

The call to "repent" runs through the admonitions of Jesus to the 7 churches in Revelation. There is the continual call to repentance. (Rev.2v5 twice, 2v16,2v21 twice, 3v3 &19).The repentant ones can be contrasted with the ones who "do not repent of their deeds". (Rev.9v20,21;16v9,11) The ones who do repent "follow the Lamb wherever He goes." (Rev.14v4)

There is a "Blessing" recorded in Rev.1v3 for the ones who read, hear, and heed the words of the prophecy. This is part of the seven fold blessing that runs through Revelation. (Rev.1v3; 14v13; 16v15; 19v9; 20v6; 22v7,14) We are seeing herein the link between the moral purpose of God and the prophecy.

In the time remaining, I would like to deal with the connections that I see between the Sermon on the Mount and the book of Revelation. In the Sermon on the Mount, we have the principles of the kingdom stated by the Messianic King. We have the clearest presentation of the moral purpose of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the bedrock. The moral and ethical teachings of Jesus are the basis of everything that follows.

This passage is literally saturated with correspondences. Some of the connections may seem untenable at first, especially in light of the fact that this will be the first time that most of you may have even considered them in this light. It is my view that the apparently weaker connections only become visible and viable in light of the stronger , clearer correspondences. Because of the bulk of information, my hope is that a clear identifiable pattern will emerge.

The Sermon on the Mount opens with an 8 fold Blessing as Revelation opens with a "Blessing". The blessings of the covenant flow from the lips of Jesus who is at once the New Moses and the New Davidic King. From His lips comes the spiritual principles of the kingdom of God.

Matt.5v3 says: "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of God. They recognize their own spiritual poverty and are willing to repent and to submit to the King and the principles of His kingdom. Jesus in Rev.3v14-19, as the True Witness, warned the Laodicean church of the lukewarm nature of her attitude revealed by her deeds. He said to her in v17, "you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked". In v19, Jesus admonished her to "repent".

Citizenship in the kingdom of God is in the "now" for the poor in spirit. Rev.1v6 and 5v10 state that He has made us to be a kingdom. Matt.5v3 says: "theirs is the kingdom".

Matt. 5v4 says: Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." The ones who mourn over their sins, their unholiness, their unlikeness to Jesus will be comforted. On the other hand, the ones who have continued to rebel will "mourn" when Jesus returns. Rev.1v7 says: "all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him". They will hide in the caves of the rocks in fear from the wrath of the Lamb. (Rev.6v15-17) The saints by contrast will receive their reward. " He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes and there will no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, crying, or pain." (Rev.21v4) In other words, they shall be comforted.

Matt.5v5 says: "Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth." Rev.21v1 speaks about a "new heaven and a new earth". Rev.21v4 says: "He who overcomes will inherit these things". It will be a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells. (2Pet.3v13 & Rev.21v27) This is another manifestation of the moral purpose that runs through Revelation.

Matt.5v6 says: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." Rev. 22v6 says: "let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost." Jesus is the One who satisfies our spiritual thirst. He says in Rev.21v6: "I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost." Rev.7v16 & 17 says: "They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more……the Lamb…..shall guide them to the springs of the water of life." In Rev.19v7 & 8, the bride is clothed in fine linen which is the righteous acts of the saints. She is righteous and she still practices righteousness. (Rev.22v11) She has hungered and thirsted for righteousness. It is hers.

Matt.5v7 says: "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy." Only those who have truly seen the mercy of the Lord can truly be merciful. It is only when we recognize our great need for mercy and understand how unworthy we are when we receive it, that we are actually able to be merciful to others. Jesus rebuked the Laodiceans in Rev.3v17, because they didn’t know that they were wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. The word "miserable" here (1652) comes from the same root word that "merciful" comes from. The Laodiceans say that they are rich and wealthy and have need of nothing. Jesus says that they are actually "miserable" or to be pitied. Their problem is that they haven’t recognized their needfor the mercy of God. The ones who don’t rely on the mercy of God are incapable of being merciful.

Matt5v8 says: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Revelation contains many metaphors that represent the people of God. In Revelation chapter 21, the people of God are called the "holy city", the "new Jerusalem", "the bride", and "My Son". The city which has its basis on the kingdom number of 12 is a picture of the totality of the people of God. Rev.21v18 says: "the city was pure gold, like pure glass." Rev.21v21 says: "the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass." They have purchased the gold from Christ. (Rev.3v18) The pure gold is representative of the purity of character that is possessed by the saints. They are transparent, spiritual virgins, without guile, pure in mind and undefiled. (Rev.14v1,4,5) "They shall see God," as recorded in Rev.22v4.

In Matt.5v9, the peacemakers are called the "sons of God". In Rev.21v7, we read: "I will be his God and he will be My son."

Matt.5v10 says: "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness". The persecution of the saints is revealed in a recurring pattern that runs through the book of Revelation. (Rev.1v9; 2v9,10; 6v9,10; 7v14; 11v2-11; 12v13-17; 13v7,15; 16v6; 17v6; 18v24; 19v2.) An example of this persecution is: "I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained." The saints have incorporated the spiritual principles taught by Jesus into their hearts and mind. They live them and teach them to others. This is their testimony. Persecution soon raises its ugly head when the gospel of the kingdom is preached.

Matt.5v12 says: "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great." In a spiritual sense, the saints are "those who dwell in heaven" juxtaposed to the unbelievers who "dwell on earth". (Rev.13v6,8) In Revelation 19v1, we see the totality of the saints represented by a "great multitude in heaven".

In Matt.5v12, Jesus speaks of how they "persecuted the prophets before you". In Rev.18v24, we read: "And in her was found the blood of the prophets and of saints and of all who have been slain on the earth."

In Matt.5v13, Jesus uses the phrase: "trampled underfoot by men". Rev.11v2 says: "they will tread underfoot the holy city".

In Matt.5v14, Jesus says: "You are the light of the world". The city depicted in Revelation chapters 21 & 22 receives its illumination from the Lamb who is its lamp. (Rev.21v23) "There will no longer be any night (symbolic of spiritual darkness) and they shall not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God shall illumine them". Much more than the absence of external darkness, the saints will possess in the fullest sense, inner spiritual illumination.

Matt.5v14 goes on to say: "A city set on a hill (mountain) cannot be hidden." In Rev.21v10, we read: "And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem". Mount Zion (Rev.14v1) and the holy city Jerusalem are two metaphors that describe the kingdom of God.

Jesus has just told the believers that "you are the salt of the earth", the "light of the world", and a "city set on a mountain". He goes on in v15 to explain that the "lampstand….gives light to all who are in the house". In Rev.1v12 & 13 we read: "I saw seven golden lampstands; and in the middle of the lampstands was someone like a Son of man". Rev.1v20 states: "the seven lampstandsare the seven churches". Jesus is "the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands". (Rev2v1)

In Matt.5v16, the saints are to "let their light shine before men so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven". The message of the gospel is a call for men to "fear God and give Him glory". (Rev.14v7) Revelation 16, in speaking about those on whom the seven last plagues fall, says in verse 11: "they did not repent, so as to give Him glory." A pattern that emerges in the connections between the statements of Jesus in the gospels and the book of Revelation is the "Moral Purpose" of God. The Lord is looking for individuals that that will turn to Christ and repent of their sinfulness and spiritual poverty. The Lord uses these same blood bought forgiven ones to be His ambassadors to preach the gospel to the world and call others to give glory to God. We hear the great multitude of the redeemed in heaven exclaim in Rev.19v6 & 7: "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him".

In Matt.5v17, Jesus said: "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law and the Prophets". On the mount of transfiguration, Peter, James, and John beheld "Moses and Elijah appear to them". (Matt.17v1-13) Moses and Elijah are representative of the Law and the Prophets. They represent the first five books of the Old Testament and the writings of the Prophets in the Old Testament. The two witnesses of Revelation chapter 11, are imbued with the authority and power that was possessed by Moses and Elijah. Rev.11v3 states: "I will grant authority to my two witnesses and they will prophecy". Verse 5 states: "fire comes out of their mouth". Verse 6 states: "These have power to shut up the sky, in order that rain might not fall…..they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to smite the earth with every plague". The two witnesses represent the New Testament church, and they have the moral authority and power of Moses and Elijah.

Matt.5v18 says: "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the law". Heaven and earth have not passed away, but they will. Rev.21v1 says: "I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away". Rev.20v11 states: "I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, and from whose Presence earth and heaven fled away". It is only at the final great white throne judgment when this age moves into the next that a jot or tittle will be removed from the law.

In Matt.5v19 Jesus said of the commandments, "whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven". Rev.12v17 records how the dragon (Satan) was enraged with the woman (the church) and "went off to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God". Rev.14v12 says: "Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep thecommandments of God".

Matt.5v20 says: "unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven." The holy city depicted in Revelation chapter 21 is four sided with 12 gates. There are 3 gates on each side. A gate is a place of access. Believers will come from the east and the north and the south and the west to enter the kingdom of God. Rev.22v14 says: "Blessed are those who wash their robes…..and may enter by the gates into the city." Rev.22v15 says "Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters" etc. The kingdom is the reign and rule of God. We see the Lamb who is the coronated King. Rev5v13 says: "To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion". Only those who submit to the Lordship of the King and serve Him who sits on the throne enter the kingdom of heaven. (Rev.7v15,17)

In Matt.5v21, Jesus said: "You have heard that the ancients were told, you shall not commit murder". He went on in v27 to say: "You have heard that it was said, you shall not commit adultery." He then went on to describe the deeper spiritual implications and spirituality of the commandments; the law and the prophets. It is paradoxical that the Pharisees who outwardly advocated obedience to the law of God were in essence lawless and antinomian. They sought to restrict the commandments and to extend the permissions of the law. In Matthew chapter 23, Jesus pronounced woe after woe on the Pharisees as He indicted them with the curses of the covenant. He said in Matt.23v28: "outwardly you appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness." They were guilty of all the righteous blood shed from Abel on down to Zechariah. (v35) What Jesus has done in the Sermon on the Mount is to have put His finger on that evil rebellious mindset that has existed throughout the time of the Old Testament and will continue until the final judgment and the kingdom of God is consummated. Jesus speaks of "the ones who say they are Jews (spiritual) and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan." (Rev.2v9) They are committing adultery, albeit spiritual adultery, as they lead God’s bond-servants into idolatry. (Rev.2v20-22) In Rev.17v1-6, we see the harlot dressed in the garb and jewelry that is reminiscent of the High Priest in the Old Testament. She has committed acts of immorality (adultery) with the kings of the earth. (v2) She is drunk with the blood of the saints, with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus".(v6) Her two defining characteristics are murder and adultery. We are seeing here a major key into the interpretation of Revelation.

In Matt.5v29 & 30, Jesus warns us to remove any impediment that makes us stumble. It is better do this than to be "thrown into hell". It is the "hell of fire". (v22) Rev.20v3,10,14, & 15 speak of the devil, the beast, and the false prophet "being thrown into the lake of fire".

Matt.5v32 speaks of "unchastity" as a cause for divorce. On the other hand, in Rev.14v4, the are "the ones who have not been defiled,…they have kept themselves chaste".

In Matt.5v34 & 35, "heaven is the throne of God", and "earth is the footstool for His feet". By creation and by redemption, heaven and earth are the domain of God. We have already seen the terms "heaven and earth" used in Revelation. When the battle is finally over, we will finally be able to say: "The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever." Matt.5v34 says: "make no oath at all, either by heaven…or by earth". In Rev.10v5 & 6, we see an angel with the description of Jesus Christ, "lifting up his right hand and swearing (an oath) by Him who lives forever and who created the heaven …. and the earth.".

In Matt.5v38, we read: "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth". From our present western perspective this may seem harsh. This is not necessarily so. The principle of "lex talionis", which is the law of retaliation, was a clear warning and deterrent to the wrong doer, and also mercifully limited the extent towards which retaliation could reach. God’s desire is that we forgive. We are to leave vengeance to Him. He will repay. (Rom.12v19) It is in this area that we will see the connection between the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount and the book of Revelation. The saints metaphorically cry out in Rev.6v10: "How long O Lord….wilt Thou refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" We see this prayer answered in Rev.19v1 & 2 where the saints praise God, "Because His judgments are true….for He has judged the great harlot….and He has avenged the blood of His bond-servants on her." In Rev.16v5 & 6 we read: "Righteous art Thou….because Thou didst judge these things; for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets and Thou hast given them blood to drink. They deserve it." Here we are seeing the outworking of the principle of "an eye for an eye" revealed in the vengeance of God.

Matt.6v1 uses the word "reward". Rev22v12 says: "Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done." This applies in the positive or in the negative. (Rev.2v23) These passages in Revelation sound remarkably like the statement of Jesus in Matt.16v27 where He said: "For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and will then recompense every man according to his deeds."

Jesus, in Matt.6v1,2, &5 warns the church of the hypocrites whose purpose is to be "noticed by men", "honored by men", and "seen by men". In Matt.6v19 & 20, Jesus contrasts laying up treasure upon earth or in heaven. To be great in God’s sight usually means to be regarded as the off scouring of the earth. The kings of the earth and the great men are often the ones whose whole lives are dedicated to being seen, noticed and honored by others. To do so often breaches ones integrity. Rev.6v15 speaks of the "kings of the earth and the great men….and the rich and the strong" hiding from the wrath of the Lamb. These are the merchants who were the "great men of the earth". (Rev.18v23) The apostate church believes it can use the kings of the earth to fulfill her purposes, but in the end, the political powers will turn on the apostate religious powers to fulfill God’s purpose. (Rev.17v2,3,15-18)

Matt.6v23 says: "If the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness." When the light goes out there is darkness, spiritual darkness. In Rev.18v1, John "saw another angel coming down from heaven….and the earth was illumined with his glory". The call is given to come out of Babylon which is representative of false religion, that you might not receive of her plagues. (Rev.18v4) Revelation chapter 16 records the 7 last plagues. Revelation chapters 17 & 18 are an explanation of the last two plagues. Rev.16v10 says: "the fifth angel poured out his bowl upon the throne of the beast; and his kingdom was darkened". To reject the light of the gospel is to go into darkness. (Rev.8v12 & 9v2)

Jesus said in Matt.6v24: "You cannot serve God and mammon." Mammon means riches. In Rev.18v10-20, the merchants of the earth are weeping and crying "because in one hour, their great wealth has been laid waste".(v17) "The merchants…who have become rich from her" (v15), are weeping and mourning.

In Matt.6v26, Jesus said: "Look at the birds of the air….Your Father feeds them". In Rev.19 v17,18,19, & 21; the birds are filled with the flesh of the kings of the earth and their armies who have come to make war against Christ and his army.

In Matt.6v28-33, Jesus says that we should not be anxious about clothing. "If God arrays (clothes) the grass,… will He not do so much more for you?" (v30) The clothing that we really need to seek first is God’s righteousness. (v33) God’s people are equated with grass in Rev.9v4. "They were told that they should not hurt the grass of the earth nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads." In Rev.3v4 & 5; the ones who walk with Christ have not soiled their garments. They are clothed in white garments. Rev.19v8 says "it was given her to clothe herself in fine linen….the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints." The desire of Jesus for the Laodiceans is that they might buy white garments to clothe themselves that the shame of their nakedness might not be revealed. (Rev.3v18) Once again we are seeing God’s moral purpose being woven through the book of Revelation.

Matt.6v33 says: "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness". Righteousness in the context of the Sermon on the Mount is a relational term. Incredibly, Jesus used the term "Father" to describe our relationship with God 17x in three chapters. The repentant ones who follow God by purposing to do His will are described as the "righteous ones". He is their first priority. Jesus admonished the church of Ephesus in Rev.2v4, because they have left their first love.

Five times in Matt.6v25,27,28,31, & 34; Jesus tells the believers not to be anxious. In Rev.14v11 & 13; the saints have rest from their labors.

In Matt.7v2, Jesus said: "in the way you judge, you will be judged and by your standard of measure, it shall be measured to you." In Rev.17v1 we read: "I will show you the judgment of the great harlot". In Rev. 18v6 & 8, we see how she will be judged. (v6) "Pay her back even as she has paid, and give back to her double according to her deeds; in the cup which she has mixed, mix twice as much for her."

It is interesting to note that John is given a measuring rod in Rev.11v1 & 2 and he is told to measure the temple of God and those who worship in it. In Rev.21v15,16 & 17; we see the one who was speaking with John measuring the city.

In Matt.7 v3 & 4; Jesus used the word "eye" 6x.You have to take the log out of your own eye before you can see clearly enough to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. The Laodiceans also need eyesalve to anoint their eyes that they might see.

Matt.7v6 says: "Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces." In Rev.22v14 & 15, it is the dogs who are outside the city. As the dogs ate the flesh of Jezebel after the horses trampled her to death (2Kings 9v33-37), the beast will turn on the apostate church, strip her naked, and eat her flesh. (Rev.17v16)

It is interesting to note that in Rev.21v21, the 12 gates of the city are 12 pearls and each one of the gates was a single pearl. Entrance into the kingdom is based on the desire to possess the pearl of great price.

Matt.7v7 says: "Knock and it shall be opened to you." This is reminiscent of Rev.3v20 where Jesus says: "I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him". In one case we are standing outside knocking. In the other case Jesus is outside knocking. Luke 12v36 says: "be like men who are waiting for their Master….so that they may immediately open the door to Him when He comes and knocks." We begin to recognize the eschatological implications when we bring Matt.24v33 & James 5v8 & 9 into the mix. James 5v8 & 9 says: "the coming of the Lord is at hand", "behold, the Judge is standing right at the door."

Matt.7v9 says: "what man is there among you, when his son shall ask for a loaf, will give him a stone. The stone in this case is negative. Rev.18v20 & 21 says: "God has pronounced judgment for you against her. And a strong angel took up a stone like great a millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, Thus will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence". We will see a striking parallel with this passage and Matt. 18v6 which states: "but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it is better for him that a heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depth of the sea. Matt.21v21 says: "even if you say to this mountain, be taken up and cast into the sea, it shall happen." In Rev.8v8 we read: "and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea". God’s desire is that we receive the bread of life instead of the stone of judgment. We are again seeing how the words of Jesus are spread through Revelation.

Matt.7v10 says: "Or if he shall ask for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?" The snake in this case is negative. The same Greek word is translated "serpent" in Rev.9v9; 12v9,14,15; & 21v2. "The great dragon …the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan" is the snake.

In Matt.7v13 & 14 Jesus encourages us to enter into life by the narrow gate. We have already considered the texts in Revelation that deal with the 12 gates to the holy city Jerusalem.

In Matt.7v15, Jesus said: "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing , but inwardly are ravenous wolves." We see the false prophetmentioned in Rev.16v13; 20v10; & 19v20. Rev.19v20 says: "And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshipped his image". A false prophet looks like the genuine but he has disguised himself for the purpose of deceiving others. The false prophet is also identified in Revelation chapter 13; not by name, but by actions. Rev.13v11 says: "he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon." Here we see a link between Rev. 13 and the words of Jesus regarding the false prophet who would come to you in sheep’s clothing. Rev.13v14 says: "And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs". The false prophet looks genuine on the outside. It is the inward part, the inside, where the abominations are. In Matt.23v25-28; Jesus cursed the Pharisees for appearing righteous on the outside but inwardly full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. They are like beautiful whitewashed tombs on the outside but inside they are full of dead man’s bones and all uncleanness. They clean the outside of the cup, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. The harlot in Rev.17 as we have already seen is an adulterer and a murderer. She is the epitome of the Pharisaic attitude that the false prophet has been displaying down through the centuries. Rev.17v4 says she has a gold cup in her hand. Gold is symbolic of faithfulness and the purity of character that the saints possess. (Rev.3v18) But she is a harlot, she is a deceiver. The cup may be beautiful on the outside, but on the inside it is full of the abominations and of the unclean things of her immorality. It is filled with the blood of the saints. She has the same evil mind as the Pharisees who crucified Jesus and murdered the prophets.

In Matt.7v16-20, Jesus said that: "You will know them by their fruits. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree produce good fruit". In Rev.22v2 we see depicted a tree, it is the tree of life. It bears 12 kinds of fruit. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. When Adam sinned, God cursed the ground. "Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you." (Matt.7v16; Gen.3v18) Ever since the fall, man has wanted to get back to that tree. The tree of life is mentioned in Rev.2v7; 22v2,14& 19. The cross is where the curse is broken. It is the tree of life. From it comes healing and forgiveness. Trees are also symbolic of men. (Rev.7v1; 8v7; 9v4) In Rev.11v4, the saints are depicted as two olive trees. God’s purpose is that we should bear fruit for the healing of the nations

In Matt.7v16, Jesus speaks of the gathering, the harvest. Rev.14v14-20 speaks of the harvest of the earth and mentions the gathering of the grapes.

In Matt.7v21, Jesus said: "Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father." Rev.12v17 says that the saints are those "who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus." They are the ones who "hear the words of the prophecy and heed the things which are written in it". (Rev.1v3) "Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book." (Rev.22v7) "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates of the city". "Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying." (Rev.22v14 & 15) As we have already seen, the will of God is that men repent and follow Jesus and do and act on His sayings.

In Matt.7v22, the false professors claim to have prophesied, cast out demons and performed many miracles in Christ’s Name. They are a blasphemous power. We see this power depicted in Rev.13v1,5, & 6. This once again is reminiscent of the false prophet in Revelation who performs great signs. (Rev.13v13,14; 16v14; 19v20)

In Matt.7v24, Jesus said: "everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man". Once again, this reminds us of Rev.1v3 where Jesus blesses those who hear and heed the prophecy. These are the wise. They will understand the prophecy. Rev.13v18 says: "Here is wisdom." Rev.17v9 says: "Here is the mind which has wisdom." Wisdom is the property of the Lamb. (Rev.5v12 & 7v12) The ones who serve Him day and night in his temple receive guidance from Him as He is their Shepherd. They respond to His commands. Therefore, His wisdom is theirs.

Matt.7v25 says: "The rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst upon that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock." We see the serpent attempting to sweep away the woman in a flood in Rev.12v15. We see the 4 angels holding back the winds to prevent harm from coming to the saints in Rev.7v1,2, & 3.

In Matt.7v26,27; the foolish man built his house on sand. "The rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and it fell, and great was its fall". This is reminiscent of Rev.14v8 & 18v2 which says: "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great". Satan and his evil angels were thrown down to the earth when Jesus Christ won the victory over him. (Rev.12v4,8,9,10,12, & 13.) Satan is the "star from heaven which had fallen to earth".(Rev.9v1) Christ has already won the victory. It is the job of the church to announce it through the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom.

Jesus has herein anticipated the possibility that the "house" of Israel would reject Him as Messianic King. In the warning of Matt.23v38, Jesus would later state: "your house is being left to you desolate". Through the principle of lex talionis, we are able to identify the "abomination of desolation". We just need to look for the entity that the Lord desolates and lays waste. Rev.17v16; 18v17,19. We know that there is a link between Matt.23v34,35, & 37 and the Babylon of Rev.18v24. The Christians living in the first century A.D. must have seen the connection between the destruction of apostate Judaism manifested in a burnt and destroyed Jerusalem, in John’s prophecy of Revelation.

We can learn many things from this. Revelation must be studied in its historical context. John has utilized the destruction of Jerusalem, an event in the past when he wrote Revelation, as a type of the end of the world. This fact has implications regarding the dating of the writing of Revelation making a completely Preterist view untenable. The history of the apostasy of O.T. Israel is repeated by the N.T. church. John has utilized the language of the past to show us what the future holds. The most important thing to understand is the underlying principle. If my conclusion regarding the link between an apostate Jerusalem and a symbolic "Babylon" is correct, we would naturally conclude that history repeated itself and that the same principles can be manifested in multiple fulfillment’s.

Matt.7v29 says: "He was teaching them as one having authority". Rev.12v10 says: "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom and the authority of His Christ have come". Satan for a time is able to give his authority to the beast. (Rev.13v2) In the meantime, Christ has given His authority to the overcomers. ( Rev.2v26 & 27) They are His church, the ones who prophesy, (Rev.11v3 & 6) with authority and power during the church age.

The moral purpose of God revealed in the ethical teachings of Jesus Christ in the Sermon on the Mount is the tip of the iceberg. The remaining chapters in the synoptic gospels and the gospel of John contain many connections with the book of Revelation. In the limited scope of this presentation, my goal has been to awake an interest in further study on this subject.