Hey, mike!

How are you? I have been reading Revelation to familiarize myself with the scriptures before a more in- depth study. Near the end it talks about, ‘let him that is righteous be righteous still, and let he who is wicked be wicked still.’ (I’m paraphrasing.) What does that really mean? Also, could you help me understand what the scriptures say about consciousness (or the lack of ) after death, and the possibility of the paranormal and how they relate. Thanks, Mike.

S____

Hi S____,

I had the privilege of hosting a friend who also got to know me through my web page. He and his wife were on their way to Florida to visit his family. I felt honored that they came by and spent Wednesday with us. We discussed the book of Revelation while he was here. That book is “the revelation of Jesus Christ.” But everyone takes that to mean that it is a book about endtime events. Well, it is, but it is so much more than that. I would love to discuss it with you, but it is simply too big a subject to cover in an e- mail. [ Ed. note: We now have the very thorough treatis on the book of Revelation with an verse- by- verse series here]

You asked about Rev 22.

Rev 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

It seems incredible that you would ask this question, because this is what I was discussing with my guest when your letter came in. Like I said, I can’t cover the whole book here, but your question certainly forces me to point out that this book has nothing to do with endtime events in the sense that it is taught in Babylon. Look at what the context of this scripture is:

Rev 22:10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
Rev 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Rev 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Rev 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
Rev 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and [ from] the things which are written in this book.
Rev 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Rev 22:21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Do you see that word ‘quickly?’ It is the same root as the word translated ‘shortly’ in Rev 1:1.

Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

Now FRev 22:10 tells John not to seal this book because “the time IS AT HAND.” This was written nearly 2000 years ago. So “the time was at hand” then, ‘the time was at hand’ for each succeeding generation since that time and ‘the time is at hand’ right now! The reason for this is because of the most often repeated statement in this book. This book starts and ends with this same message, ‘I am the Lord who is, was and will be. Do what is in this book, because the time is at hand.’

Look at this verse in chapter one:

Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
Rev 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Now compare this with the verses you ask about:

Rev 22:10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
Rev 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Rev 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

There is no difference between the beginning and the end of this book. The statement that ‘I am the alpha and the omega, He that is was and will be’ is repeated 11 times in this book. That is an incredible number of repetitions. It is because it is that significant a point. We simply must come to understand that this book is concerned more with what each of the elect of every generation since Christ must DO, than it is concerned with when certain events will happen in only the last generation.”Keep the things that are written therein for the time is at hand…” and do “his part…[ of ] the things which are written in this book.” That is what this book is about. Now we do need to come to understand what all these symbols mean, or this book will still have seven seals on it, and we will be “weeping” because no one can open this book so we can see what our part in this book is and so we can keep the things that are written therein.

Rev 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
Rev 5:2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book [ this book, telling us what we must “Keep,” and what “our part in this book], and to loose the seals thereof?
Rev 5:3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
Rev 5:4 And I wept much [ He had just been told to “Keep the things in this book and now it appeared in the vision as if this book of instructions is sealed with seven seals], because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
Rev 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

The only people for whom Christ opens these seven seals are those who are “in Christ”; His elect, who literally weep to know what is His will for them. For all others this book is completely (seven) sealed. For all others we are instructed:

Rev 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

I hope you understand what I’ve said in this e- mail. The book of Revelation is not what most people think it is. It certainly has much to say about end time events, but not in the way that is normally understood. There would be much to discuss on this subject. All of the symbols of Revelation are interpreted in the Old Testament. It is not a guessing game coming out of the minds of men. The two olive trees of Rev 11 are interpreted for us in Zec 4:

Zec 4:2 And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all [ of] gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which [ are] upon the top thereof:
Zec 4:3 And two olive trees by it, one upon the right [ side] of the bowl, and the other upon the left [ side] thereof.
Zec 4:4 So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What [ are] these, my lord?
Zec 4:5 Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
Zec 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

The “word of the Lord” is not in most ministers. If it is in you, then you are one of Christ’s witnesses, and “two or three” is the number for witness in scripture. These “two olive trees” which feed the oil to the seven candlesticks are those who truly witness that Christ is in their lives.

Let me hear from you,

Mike