Understanding the Book of Revelation Part 6: Anointed Seer

In Revelation the rise of the Anointed Seer is juxtaposed with the rise of the Beast. While the Beast arises to power, through the establishment of the fullness of Babylon, he simultaneously destroys the world. On the other hand, the Lord’s Seer arises to save the world by leading the elect to God’s Kingdom and the establishment of Zion on the Earth.

During the three-and-a-half year reign of the Beast he destroys the world. During the course of his tyranny he confronts the Saints and overcomes them (Revelation 13:7). He is also confronted by the Servants, who defy him for a time, but he eventually overcomes them as well (Revelation 11:3-7). It isn’t until the Beast is opposed by the Anointed Seer, and his army of faithful Servants, that the Beast is finally overthrown and destroyed.

As you read the following verses try to read them from the perspective of the person on the white horse being the Lord’s Seer leading an army to overthrow the Beast:

“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war; His eyes as a flame of fire; and he had on his head many crowns; and a name written, that no man knew, but himself. And he is clothed with a vesture dipped in blood; and his name is called The Word of God. (Revelation 19:11-13)

These verses, which detail who will perform the work of overthrowing the Beast, are usually attributed to Jesus Christ at His second coming. This is only one level of interpretation. On a more literal level of interpretation these verses can be applied to the Lord’s Seer.

The Anointed Seer has “eyes [which are] as a flame of fire” due to his anointing. It is the Lord’s Seer who has had “a new name” given unto him by the Lord “that no man knew” (the promise given to those who overcome the level of Servant and become Seers; see Revelation 2:17). The Seer’s “name is called The Word of God” because he comes doing all things in the name of the Lord, speaking His words and doing His will.

The passage continues:

And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth proceedeth the word of God, and with it he will smite the nations; and he will rule them with the word of his mouth; and he treadeth the winepress in the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on a vesture, and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:14-16)

Why does the person on the white horse have the name “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS”, written on his thigh? The thigh was a means of entering into covenants in Old Testament times (see Genesis 24:2-3). Having “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” written on the thigh isn’t an indication of who’s thigh it is; rather, it is an indication of who has covenanted with that individual.

As the above verses indicate, the Lord’s Seer will lead an army of Servants in the final battle that will overthrow the Beast and establish God’s kingdom on the Earth.

In preparation for this mission, the Anointed Seer will overcome and ascend to the full measure of translation. He will overcome the status of Seer and will then be taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire, like Elijah, without tasting death.

“And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God; and I heard him cry with a loud voice…saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And the number of them that were sealed, were an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel” (Revelation 7:2-4, emphasis added)

Notice that this angel does not descend (from heaven to earth) as would be typical of a heavenly messenger. Rather, this specific angel ascends (from earth to heaven). This “ascension” is descriptive of a mortal who undergoes  translation.

Why does the Lord’s Seer need to be translated to fulfill his mission? It seems that in order for a person to seal the servants of God in their foreheads, and thereby organize the army of 144 thousand, that individual must be endowed with greater power than is granted to mortals. There must needs be a change wrought in him in order to fully accomplish what the Lord commissions him to do.

Avoid the tendency to think that translation is out of the realm of possibility for you. This isn’t the case. The scriptures have several examples of people who have been taken to heaven without tasting death. Our culture has taught us that only a select few have been successful in such an endeavor, so it is best to aim for something more attainable. This unwittingly diminishes faith and depicts God as a partial God.

Perhaps the biggest reason why so few have arisen to a glorious translation is because there have been a similarly small number of individuals who have believed it was actually a possibility for them.

How does one ascend to such spiritual heights? Chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation show the way very clearly. It is done by walking up the staircase (discussed here and here) that John outlines while addressing the 7 churches in Asia. This staircase is available to all.

What are the attributes of a Seer and what must they overcome? Thyatira, the fourth church in Asia, (and the apex of the chiasm of the churches) serves as the prototype for all that are anointed as Seers.

“And unto the servant of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.” (Revelation 2:18-19)

The attributes used here to describe Thyatira are the greatest that a person can possess. What is greater than charity, service, faith, patience, works, and to view the last as if they were greater than the first? These fundamental characteristics are the bedrock of true righteousness. Not the superficial type of righteousness that is used to build one’s own kingdom, but the kind that is done with pure and god-like intentions.

But do those who have arisen to the status of an Anointed Seer lack nothing? No. There is always a higher mission to fulfill.

“Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornications; and she repented not.” (Revelation 2:20-21)

It is the duty of all those who arise to a new level of spiritual progression to watch over and assist those who are lower on the staircase. Just as the Servants are to serve as watchmen to God’s People; the Anointed Seer is commissioned to watch over the Servants.

What will happen to the erring Servants if they do not properly accept correction by the Anointed Seer? The Lord gives the answer in these verses:

“Behold, I will cast her [Jezebel] into hell, and them that commit adultery with her [the unfaithful servants] into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts; and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.” (Revelation 2:22-23)

Jezebel’s children are those people, or entities, that arise as a result of the sinful relationship between this false-prophetess and the Lord’s unfaithful Servants. With the context of these verses in mind we can draw interesting conclusions.

Jezebel will be cast into Hell, her children will be killed with death, and the servants who adulterate with her will be cast into tribulation. Try to follow me here while I connect some dots:

“And I looked, and behold a pale horse; and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him.” (Revelation 6:8)

The man who rides on the pale horse is the Beast. Death is the name given to the him in this verse, and Hell is the name given to the false prophet who follows with him.

Now if we connect these titles (Death and Hell) with Revelation 2:22-23, quoted above, we can gain new insight into how punishments will be meted out in the last days.

As the verses indicate, it is Jezebel who seduces the Lord’s servants, and she will be “cast into Hell”. That is to say, Jezebel will receive her punishment at the hands of the one who’s name is Hell–the false prophet.

The same verse also indicates that the children of Jezebel will be “killed with death”. That is to say that those entities or individuals who grow out of the sinful relationship between God’s servants and Jezebel will be destroyed by the one called Death–the Beast.

We also learn that those servants who commit adultery with her will be “cast into great tribulation”. Do you remember which level on the staircase endures tribulation? It is the Saints. In other words, these unfaithful servants will not be cast off entirely, but they will fall back to their prior standing with God, and thereby lose their status as a Servant, as a result of not holding fast to that which they have received.

These connections are summarized as follows:

• Jezebel will be punished by the false prophet
• Jezebel’s children will be punished by the Beast
• The unfaithful servants will descend to the level of Saint

The purpose of these connections is to illustrate the fact that different people will be punished by different means, depending on their individual breaches and personal standing with God.

“But unto you I say, and unto the rest of Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. But that which ye have already, hold fast till I come.” (Revelation 2:24-25)

Thyatira is at the apex of the chiasm, so it is fitting that they are promised that the Lord would put on them “none other burden” in this life. There is no higher status that a mortal can attain to than to be an Anointed Seer. But if the Seer is faithful in overcoming then the promises which are available for him as a fully translated being are explained:

“And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star.” (Revelation 2: 26-28, KJV)

Those Anointed Seers who overcome are destined to rule not only in the days following the destruction of the Beast, but also in the eternities in the same manner that the Lord rules. Indeed, it is promised to them that they will be given “the morning star”. What is the morning star?

“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.” (Revelation 22: 16)

Jesus Christ is the morning star. To be given the morning star is to be given the very mantle that was placed upon Jesus Christ.

When one understands the spiritual progression detailed in The Revelation it becomes clear what the destiny of God’s children is. He doesn’t intend for his subjects to live in a state of eternal plateau. His deepest desire is for them to become like Him, to even carry the same mantels that He carries.

In the next blog of this series we will take this chiasm of spiritual progression, that we have been discussing over the last 6 blogs, and show how it can be applied to the entire book of Revelation. How do they relate to the 7 seals? How will we recognize the 7 trumpets that will sound? When will the 7 plagues happen?  It is my view that these questions can only be answered after understanding the levels of spiritual progression. Now that the levels of spirituality have been explained, each reader will be able to understand the entirety of Revelation much more fully, and the text of Revelation will become much more personal.