OTHER BOOKS BY DON CEROW:
When the Dragon Wore the Crown
Center and Circle: Putting Starlight Back Into Myth
Published in 2017 by Ibis Press
A division of Nicolas-Hays, Inc.
P. O. Box 540206
Lake Worth, FL 33454-0206
www.ibispress.net
Distributed to the trade by
Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC
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Copyright 2017 by Don Cerow
The author and publisher gratefully acknowledge
the permission of Penguin Random House LLC to quote:
The Jerusalem Bible Reader's Edition, Doubleday & Company, Inc.
Garden City, New York, copyright 1968
The New Jerusalem Bible Reader's Edition, Doubleday & Company, Inc.
Garden City, New York, copyright 1985.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Nicolas-Hays, Inc. Reviewers may quote brief passages.
ISBN 978-0-89254-223-9
EBOOK ISBN 978-0-89254-639-8
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Available Upon Request
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Jacket photo: EPA / ANSA / Alessandro di Meo
Printed in the United States of America
[MV]
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To Yvonne Paglia and Donald Weiser
for paving the way for all of us
Love to you both
Swimming in a Sea of Symbolism
Revelation has been the essential enigma of Christian culture for the last two thousand years, the ultimate mystery whose key has been provided, but whose lock has resisted being opened, until now.
The stories of the Bible have been celebrated in art, literature and music for the last three thousand years. It has become the cornerstone of Christian teachings. In the Bible, there is no chapter whose mystical cup overflows with more symbolism and hidden meaning than the Book of Revelation, a work that clearly provides an encouraging message on its very first page.
Happy the man who reads this prophecy,
And happy those that listens to him,
If they treasure all its says
because the Time is close.
Rev. 1:3
The question is, what is that message? What does it say, and what must one do to receive the rewards promised in this final chapter, the Bible's rear guard?
Drawing extensively from the Hebrew prophets, the imagery found in Revelation has its roots in the works of those who were to prepare the way for the new Messiah. His birth was foreseen in the stars by those who studied the stars, whether wise man or prophet. Three followed that legendary light to discover where it may lead.
All these centuries later we now follow that star and others in a quest to reawaken the pathways of old.
This is where the journey starts.
Author Contact Information
Website: athenasweb.com
Youtube channel: Don Cerow
Email:
Table of Contents
List of Illustrations
List of Tables
Outline of the Structure of the Book of Revelation
The Book of Revelation is a work consisting of twenty-two
chapters which may be loosely broken into seven groups.
Rev. 1 | Introduction and beginning of the Vision. |
Rev. 2 & 3 | Letters to the Seven Churches |
Rev. 4 & 5 | Setting the Celestial Stage |
Rev. 6 & 8:1 | Opening the Seven Seals |
Rev. 7 | The Twelve Tribes & White Robes |
Rev. 8:2 thru 20 | Eighth Seal, 3 years, 1000 years |
Rev. 21 & 22 | New Jerusalem and final blessing |
Chapter by Chapter Resume of the Book of Revelation
Rev. 1 | Introduction and self-description. The vision begins. |
Rev. 2 & 3 | Letters written to the seven churches. Each contains an encrypted message specifically composed for that church. |
Rev. 4 | Sets the stellar stage. A door opens in heaven and we're invited. Come up here: I will show you what is to come in the future. A vista of the heavenly landscape and the throne. |
Rev. 5 | We are introduced to the One sitting on the throne and the Scroll sealed with seven seals. The Lamb is able to open the seals. |
Rev. 6 | Six of the seven seals are opened. |
Rev. 7 | Twelve times 12,000 leading to springs of living water |
Rev. 8 | Verse 1: The seventh seal is opened. |
Rev. 8 | Verse 2: A great fanfare ensues. Four of the seven angels blow their trumpets, each with its tribulations. |
Rev. 9 | The 5th and 6th trumpets. |
Rev. 10 | Brings us to the brink with seven great thunderclaps. The message of these thunderclaps is kept secret. On high authority a powerful heavenly angel announces: The time of waiting is over; at the time when the seventh angel is heard sounding his trumpet, God's secret intention will be fulfilled, just as he announced in the Good News told to his servants the prophets. In the balance of Revelation 10, John is told, You are to prophesy again, this time about many different nations and countries and languages and emperors. |
Rev. 11 | The trigger. In this chapter the seventh angel blows the final trumpet. Two prophets will have been a plague to the people. The time has come and is marked by a huge earthquake. There came flashes of lightning, peals of thunder and an earthquake, and violent hail. We are introduced to the 3 years. |
Rev. 12 | A new sky picture. The opening words: Now a great sign appeared in heaven. The framework of heaven is set. We meet dragon and beast. |
Rev. 13 | Continues the relationship between dragon and beast. |
Rev. 14 | Summons the forces of light to the front of the throne who sing a new hymn. Follow the Lamb. The onset of the conflict as the two forces unleash. |
Rev. 15 | What I saw next, in heaven, was a great and wonderful sign. Paves the way for the final seven plagues, affirms power and glory of God. |
Rev. 16 | Seven angels release the contents of their bowls in sequence. |
Rev. 17 | The story of the great prostitute. The final line reads, The woman you saw is the great city which has authority over all the rulers of the Earth. |
Rev. 18 | Mourn, mourn for this great city. |
Rev. 19 | Victory, jubilation in heaven. Heaven opening, evidence of a great battle. |
Rev. 20 | A heavenly angel with a great chain overpowering the dragon, and his being held for 1000 years, after which time he will briefly return again. The dead are judged. |
Rev. 21 | Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; the first heaven and the first earth had disappeared now, and there was no longer any sea. |
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