Speaking of leaning on others, I decided after reading Revelation that there was much I didn't understand, so I went to look for a book about it. I was very disappointed when I realized the author knew less than I did. I checked the bibliography to see what his sources were; and they were almost exclusively other books by men with their interpretations.Not many people really put much stock in faith in and toward God. They may often will use the word "faith" in their discussions or explanations, but they lean too heavily on their own understanding or the understanding of other men... usually carnal men. Their first faith, their primary trust, is not in God.
Science in itself is not an evil thing, nor are many of the other areas where men have supposedly excelled without trusting God, but many who use these alternate faiths have missed the highway of holiness without even knowing it. This is commonly, if not always, delusion, because they really do not love God... no matter what they say with their mouths.
The author had not obeyed the commandment to seek first the kingdom. He seldom quoted the Bible unless it was explicitly about prophecy. Only the "prophetic" seemed of interest; and that determined what books he read and how he thought.
I decided to read it again slowly -- and I found all kinds of new connections with parts of the Bible few people would think might have a bearing on Revelation. I found they helped explain Revelation, and Revelation helped explain them. I also saw a wonderful consistency in how the authors of the Bible used "symbols." It took me quite a while since some days I managed to get through only one or two verses.
Speaking of the carnal, I had to research what "grass" meant when reading Revelation. I had read the rest of the Bible; but to be honest, the passages about grass had gone right my head. I found that "man" is compared to grass. What Jesus said about the mustard seed gained new meaning -- first a herb, then it becomes a tree. Of course, I think John was talking about the same thing when he wrote about grass and trees. I even began to read Genesis in a new day. There is something about man that is very much like grass; and when I read "grass" in Genesis, I think it can mean both physical grass and the part of man that can be described as grass.
Then there is this wonderful verse about how God can help us grow as grass -- and I infer it's so we can become trees and not wither as the grass.
Deuteronomy 32:2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass: