Revelation & Song of Songs

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These two Bible books, Revelation and Song of Songs,  are very closely related to each other. Both contains rich symbolism and requires revelation knowledge from the Holy Spirit for understanding.

 

The Bridegroom

We have been indoctrinated for many years to view the book of Revelation as something terrible. Most teachings about the book talks of total annihilation and is used as a mechanism to use fear to bring people back in line. It can sound something like: “to escape all these things, you have to do such and such”.

It’s a pity, because Revelation is actually the pinnacle of the revelation of the fulness of Jesus Christ. The opening words of the book are: “The revelation of Jesus Christ”. The Amplified translation states it beautifully:

This is the revelation of Jesus Christ [His unveiling of the divine mysteries]

 

Revelation doesn’t depict Jesus prophetically like by the Old Testament prophets. Also not only as the Saviour of the world like in the Epistles. No, in Revelation, we see Him in His full resurrection power, glory and holiness. He demonstrates his might and dominion. He also acts in His deserved authority as the One that activates the end-time judgements of the Father. Still, we see His amazing mercy towards mankind that persistently refuses to turn to truth. Every sign, event and warning allow for people to repent. He could’ve destroyed the whole earth in one morning, like with Sodom and Gomorra, but extends grace, over and over again.

 

In Revelation, we also experience His character, the essence of His being. He is simultaneously holy, righteousness, love, mercy, judgement, avenger, gentle, king and judge. For us these characteristics opposes each other; you are either one or the other, but cannot be all of them. Jesus Christ is the only One that is perfect in all of these characteristics. He doesn’t sacrifice one for the other. He is the One that tresses the Father’s winepress in vengeance and zeal, while being perfect love at the same time.

 

A diamond with different facets that are exact in size, explains this concept very well. Each facet is perfect when viewed separately, but in complete harmony when seen as a whole. Not one facet overshadows another. Combined, they form an awesome image.

 

Sometimes one facet may be lit up by a light shining from one side and another facet may appear darker. But then the diamond is turned and another facet is illuminated. Specific circumstances and events illuminate a certain facet of who Jesus is. For example, we will experience His tenderness and love intensely when we lose a loved one. At other times He is firm and strict and we shudder before His zeal. There are also times when the cup of iniquity of a nation or a person filled up and He pours out His judgement in righteousness. Regardless of which facet is illuminated at a specific point in time, He is never untrue to every single other facet of His character.

 

The moment we can truly grasp this truth, we are filled with even greater esteem for who He is. Admiration leads to worship. The more we worship Him, the more He fills us with His glory. This again results in joy and peace and we adore Him even more. And so this cycle is repeated until we are saturated by His beauty and awesomeness. There is truly nothing that can compare to this.

 

John, the beloved

Of all the books in the Bible, I believe that Revelation reveals the most about the character of Jesus. Even John, the beloved disciple, was overwhelmed by the facet of His glory and majesty. John did not experience this specific facet during his time with Jesus on earth, even though he was present when Jesus was transfigured on the mountain.

I cannot help but think how it must’ve been for John. He was such an intimate friend of Jesus that he was leaning again Him the night He was captured. The last time He saw Jesus alive was when Jesus was on the cross and placed His mother in his care. He then saw Jesus after He has risen and He saw Him ascending into heaven. But even after all of these experiences, nothing could’ve prepared Him for the fullness of the glory of Jesus. We read that he fell at His feet like a dead man (Rev 1:17)

 

Jesus is the price

We can be so casual when imagining our gathering together to meet Jesus. Some people want to ask Him about all the unexplainable things in their lives. Others want to hug Him. I’ve heard people wanting to know about creation and earthly mysteries. And so everyone has their own desire. I really believe that heaven will hold more than we can imagine. But I wonder how we will react when we really see Him in His glory and might. Will His being also overwhelm us, just like it did John? Will we ever get enough of Him, enough of His presence and glory?

I pray that we will be so saturated with Jesus Christ Himself in this life, that when crowns and rewards will be handed out, we will gladly fall down before Him and cast our crowns in worship before Him. He is worthy of all our worship. Every facet of Him is wonderful and deserving of our praise and honour. He is the price and He is our greatest reward.

…that I may gain Christ  (Phil 3:8b)

 

The more we grow in spiritual maturity, the more we fall in love with His fulness. A spiritual baby only desires His facets of love and mercy. For someone just rescued from the kingdom of darkness, it sounds impossible that the One who saved them is also able to judge.

 

But as we grow up and as we allow the Holy Spirit to teach us, we learn to love the facets that seems wrong to man. Then we cannot help but to stand in amazement of who He is.

 

Offence

Jesus warned us to not take offence at Him. Immediately we will answer: “never Lord, not me, don’t You know how much I love You?”. The problem is that many people only love the image they have of Jesus and how He is supposed to be. We then expect Him to act in the same way we would. We expect that Jesus must punish those that we want punished and He must have mercy on those we feel deserve mercy. And when He doesn’t comply, people take offence. It’s then that we’ll hear statements like: “but how can a God of love allow that?” or “The Lord will punish you, you just wait and see”. I have even heard Christians mixing these beliefs with pagan belief systems like karma. It all comes back to our understanding of the different facets of the character of God.

And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me. (Mat 11:6) 

 

Find Him in the desert

In chapter five of Song of Songs, in the midst of a desert season, the bride gives a powerful testimony of her personal experience of Jesus. She uses the most beautiful symbolism to share her love for many of His facets. Her testimony is so powerful that those listening to her also want to seek Him.

The depth of revelation we receive from Jesus depends on the measure we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us through various seasons, trials and lessons. Let us not rebel against our desert seasons and not complain in ungratefulness against the lessons of endurance. Let the prayer of our hearts and lips be to know Jesus Christ. We will never be able to experience the fulness of every facet on this side of eternity. But it’s possible to experience at least something of each facet. May we never focus on only one facet, but discover more and more of Jesus through the revelation of the Holy Spirit.

But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. (1 Cor 2:10) 

 

The bride

It should be no surprise that the two books in the Bible with the most symbolism are linked to each other.

Just like Revelation is a revelation of the Bridegroom, Song of Songs is a revelation of the bride.

In Song of Songs we read of the journey from a deep spiritual hunger to a place of total satisfaction. It tells us about the bride’s path to healing, identity change and view on the purpose of life, all weaved between the story lines. We also receive the blueprint; what spiritual maturity looks like. Desert seasons and seasons of dancing on the mountain tops are explained. Nothing in our spiritual journey should come as a surprise to us. It was captured ages ago by the pen of Solomon. The dialogue also reveals the heart of the Bridegroom for His bride.

 

The books are connected

The last two sentences in the both books further connect them with each other.

Revelation ends with:

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!  (Rev 22:20)

And Song of Songs ends with:

Hurry, my beloved and come quickly (Songs 8:14 AMP)