This means that the books of the Bible are not the product of human reasoning, but are in complete agreement with God. "For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." (2 Peter 1:21) An interpretation of the Book of Revelation is correct only when it agrees with the rest of Scripture. It is especially in Revelation that this unity becomes particularly evident. Every careful reader of the Bible has surely noticed that many of the symbols and expressions found in Revelation have already appeared elsewhere in Scripture.

For example, when we read in Revelation chapter 2 about the "sharp two-edged sword" (Revelation 2:12), we are reminded of the words in Hebrews: "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit..." (Hebrews 4:12) This makes it clear that the two-edged sword proceeding from the mouth represents the Word of God. Figuratively speaking, it judges the thoughts and intentions of the human heart more sharply than any literal sword. This is the first and most important principle by which we should interpret the Book of Revelation.

The Book of Revelation Contains Explanations That Serve as “Keys”

God has provided explanations at several places in the Book of Revelation that serve as keys for interpreting other passages in the book. For example, we are told: "The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches." (Revelation 1:20) This explanation gives us an indication of the way the text has been "encoded" or "sealed" and what kind of keys are needed to understand it.

Using the terms and images found elsewhere in Scripture, together with these keys—the explanations given within the Book of Revelation itself—we seek to understand the book. After all, it bears the name "Revelation." It is intended to be a message that is clear and understandable to us, not a "book of mysteries."

Structure of the Book of Revelation

The Book of Revelation follows a clear structure. The first three chapters serve as an introduction to the visions that follow in the later chapters.

1. First, we read the greeting and introduction in chapter one. 
2. This is followed by the description of a mysterious person. 
3. Next come the messages to the individual churches. 
4. Beginning with chapter four, John is shown an open door in heaven. Being in the Spirit, he enters heaven and sees additional visions and symbolic scenes that form the central content of Revelation. We will not consider these first, but instead begin with the very first symbol John sees in chapter one. 

We will not discuss the greeting and introduction but proceed directly to the section containing the symbolic imagery.

The First Mysterious Person

To identify this person, let us consider two characteristics found in the description which, when taken together, apply to only one individual. Among all people on earth and all heavenly beings, only Jesus fits both of the following statements simultaneously: "I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore," and "I have the keys of Hades and of Death." (Revelation 1:18) The Bible records only a few people who were raised from the dead and seen alive again. However, all of them eventually died once more. Only Jesus was raised in a different body and remains alive forever. And only Jesus has broken the power of death. Compare 2 Timothy 1:10 and Hebrews 2:14.

This explanation is also confirmed from another perspective. In the very first verse of Revelation, we are told that God wishes to reveal future events to His servants through Jesus and through angels. These messages are then communicated to John. Thus, it is fitting that, immediately after the introduction, the most important person is presented first. The attentive reader will notice that the description of this person—Jesus—is repeated in the messages to the churches in the following chapters.

• "These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands." (Revelation 2:1) This is the same description found in chapter 1, verses 13 and 16.
• "These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life." (Revelation 2:8) This expression also appears in chapter 1, verses 17–18.
• "These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword." (Revelation 2:12) This description likewise comes from chapter 1, verse 16.
• "These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine bronze." (Revelation 2:18) Here an additional detail is given, identifying the person more precisely as "the Son of God." This title appears many times throughout the New Testament and refers to Jesus. Therefore, we may conclude that the person described in chapter one is none other than Jesus Christ, making any further proof unnecessary.

The First Key in Chapter One

Next, let us turn our attention to the conclusion of the description of this mysterious person. We already know that this person is Jesus Christ. Here we find a verse that provides us with a key: "The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches." (Revelation 1:20)

Here we are told what the symbols of the stars and the lampstands represent. At this point, we must establish a principle for interpreting these symbols. Since God Himself has already explained these symbols—that is, He has provided their interpretation—they should not be interpreted a second time. The churches are Christian congregations, and the angels (Greek: angeloi—"messengers") are God's messengers on earth, that is, His servants.

Now let us examine the lampstands more closely in the light of Scripture.

Why Lampstands?

We recall the words of Matthew 5:14: "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden." If a congregation of believers in a village or a neighborhood lives in a manner that is pleasing to God, they will distinguish themselves from worldly people. It will not remain hidden from the local inhabitants that believers live among them. They will shine. Paul likewise exhorts believers in Philippians 2:15: "...that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world."

Just as individual believers are to be a light through their conduct and serve as an example to the world, so the entire congregation of believers is compared to a lampstand.

Why Stars?

At the very beginning of the Bible we read in Genesis 1:14–16: "Then God said, 'Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth.' ... Then God made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also." A similar statement appears in Jeremiah 31:35: "Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for a light by day, the ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night..."

From the earth's perspective, the stars do not possess the same prominent brightness as the sun or the moon, nor do they "rule" over the day or the night. They serve rather as helpers and guides, having been invaluable for navigation during the night. "...and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was." (Matthew 2:9)

In a similar way, true believers are compared to stars. They are people who often serve only within their local congregation or do not occupy a prominent position, yet they allow themselves to be led by God and are instruments in His hand. Like stars, they serve as examples both within the Christian congregation and in the world.

A further confirmation is found in Daniel 12:3: "Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever."

Summary

With the help of these keys and the comparisons found throughout Scripture, the entire picture can now be understood as follows: The mysterious person is Jesus Christ. He stands in the midst of His church, which shines like a lampstand on this earth through righteousness and love. In His hand He holds the angels—His messengers—who shine like stars through their righteous conduct. This interpretation agrees with other descriptions of Jesus, where He is called the Shepherd, the Head, and the King—the One who leads His church and exercises authority over it.