Written in the occult style, the book of Revelation, penned c. 135-138, is not “revelation” at all but is embellishment upon mystery teachings concerning the dimensions and advancement of creation powers that were ancient even in Roman Empire times. The occult manner of presentation such as the repeated use of the number seven should be clue enough to alert any reader that the “revealed” information is being presented in a questionable mystical style. Consider for example—7 angels, 7 horns, 7 stars, 7 seals, 7 vials (of god’s wrath), 7 plagues, 7 candlesticks, 7 churches, 7 letters (to the churches), 7 spirits (before the throne), 7 dooms, 7 heads, 7 kings–and eventually 7 new things.
An important factor to remember about the book of Reveleation is the timeframe of its composition. The Roman Empire at the time was in an extremely critical state from barbarian invasions and the revolts of subject peoples, especially the Jews. Emperor Hadrian had been compelled to go to Palestine to put down the insurrection of the Jews that had escalated from 132 under the leadership of Bar Cocheba. Roman patience was running thin at the decades-long stubborn noncompliance of the Jews. Revolts had spread even to Cyrene, Egypt, Cyprus, and Mesopotamia. Jerusalem was destroyed by Hadrian’s army and Jews were forbidden to set foot on the site. It was established by Roman strategists that the spiritual obstinacy and consistent disquiet of the Jews was anchored in their priest-written and self-serving scriptures. Out of this came the inspiration for the work claimed to have been authored by “Saint John the Divine,” but was more likely the work of a Roman frustrated at Jewish resistance to Roman governance.
The Apocryphal vision presented in Revelation was unmistakably influenced by Hebrew stories such as that of Moses and the “war in heaven” allegedly fought between the archangel Michael and Satan for possession of Moses’ body. Obviously that tale was not about a mortal man but used Moses as analogous to the primal Earth. In other words, that tale was cosmology told in occult style. Among the elements borrowed from that Moses myth and incorporated into Revelation was the attention given to the number seven, as mentioned earlier.
Many of the symbols in Revelation are also found in Ezekiel; i.e. gates of heaven opening, a throne within, seven lamps, etc. As in Ezekiel, dead bodies are seen in the street which, after three and a half days, rise and walk. There are numerous other parallels. And all of them were borrowed from more ancient mystery teachings on creation processes and cosmology, but tossed together without proper sequence to present the ecclesiastic deception of man’s downfall if Christianity was not embraced by all.
Another example out of hundreds of the occult treatment used as Revelation can be discerned in chapter 4 verses 2-3 that describes “…a throne was set in heaven, and one sat upon the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.” More ecclesiastic deception: these gemstones symbolize the Zodiac constellations Pisces, Gemini, and Cancer. (See accompanying notes on Gemstones of the Bible.)
Another example of occult story handling continues in verses 6-7: “…and round about the throne were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had the face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.” Really? It all sounds suspiciously like the four quarters of the Zodiac (also used by Ezekiel) listed out of sequence—Leo, Taurus, Aquarius, and Scorpio (the eagle was Hebrew symbol for Scorpius). Why are Zodiac symbols part of Revelation? Because in cultures predating the Hebrews, creation-cosmology lessons were taught using the constellations as focus for the lessons. (As detailed in The Celestial Scriptures: Keys to the Suppressed Wisdom of the Ancients.)
The book of Revelation is not worthy spiritual material, which is probably why so many other “saints” could not comprehend it.
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