Invitation to the New Testament 14: Revelation

REVELATION: 

REVELATION

Background: 

Background A. Authorship - John, the apostle 1. John's name occurs 5 times in Revelation (1:1, 4, 9; 21:2; 22:8) 2. 12 times in the book John is commanded to write [once NOT to write - 10:4]. B. Audience - 7 churches of Asia Minor ~ Tradition teaches that prior to his exile, John was the overseer of all these churches. Date and Place of Writing - 95 A.D. (during a time of terrible persecution under Domitian) from the Isle of Patmos - This island was a small, rocky, barren island in the Aegean Sea about 60 miles southwest of Ephesus.

Distinctive Features: 

Distinctive Features Revelation has more references to the OT than any other NT book, but no quotes. Revelation alludes to 8 key OT books (in order of most use): 1. Daniel 2. Ezekiel 3. Zechariah 4. Isaiah 5. Genesis 6. Exodus 7. Joel 8. Jeremiah

Distinctive Features: 

Distinctive Features Revelation is apocalyptic, i.e., a subtle unveiling of the future. Revelation uses more symbolism than any other book. 1. By nature, apocalyptic literature is symbolic (to be understood by the saved but not by the lost, thereby protecting Christians from further persecution should the material fall into hostile hands). 2. John was attempting to describe things his vocabulary didn’t cover, so he had to speak in metaphors.

Purpose: 

Purpose Through John, God has given us Revelation... 1. to show the things which must come to pass (1:1) 2. to reveal the person and work of Jesus Christ (1:1 - This book is the Revelation of Jesus Christ as given to John, not the Revelation of John.) 3. to purify, exhort, and encourage the seven churches as well as all churches (2 - 3) 4. to establish the ultimate triumph of Christ and His cause (4 - 22)

Theme, Key Verse, Outline: 

Theme, Key Verse, Outline A. Theme – Jesus Christ is the Lord of history B. Key Verse – 1:8 Outline - 1:19 1. Things Past (1) 2. Things Present (2 - 3) 3. Things Future (4 - 22)

Interpreting Revelation: 

Interpreting Revelation A. Methods of Interpretation 1. Allegorical/Idealist - approaches Revelation as a symbolic story which depicts the historical pattern of battle between the Devil and God 2. Preterist - believes the prophecies of Revelation were fulfilled in John's day and in the early church 3. Historical - sees the prophecies of Revelation as unfolding in church history both past and present

Interpreting Revelation: 

Interpreting Revelation * 4. Futuristic - takes the bulk of Revelation as pertaining to the future ~ Those who take a futuristic approach to interpreting Revelation will hold one of three millennial views: a. Amillennialism - The belief that Jesus will not literally reign on earth but that He reigns from Heaven in the hearts of His people who are presently on earth.

Interpreting Revelation: 

Interpreting Revelation b. Postmillennialism - The belief that Jesus will set up His kingdom on earth through His people who will usher in a thousand year period of peace and righteousness. (Postmillennialism was popular until World Wars 1 and 2 erupted and showed that man wasn't getting any better. Strangely enough, postmillennialism is regaining popularity among many today. People who espouse a social gospel tend to be post- millennialists .)

Interpreting Revelation: 

Interpreting Revelation c. Premillennialism - The belief that Jesus will suddenly and visibly return to earth and rule as King for one thousand years. ~ Regarding the time of Christ's return, premillennialists fall into three camps: 1) Pre-tribulation rapturists believe Jesus will come back for Christians prior to 7 years of Tribulation on earth. After the Tribulation He will return again for the Millennium of Peace.

Interpreting Revelation: 

Interpreting Revelation 2) Mid-tribulation rapturists believe Jesus will come back for Christians in the middle of the Tribulation period, prior to the second half which they designate as Great Tribulation. After the Tribulation they believe He will return for the Millennium. (Mid- tribulation rapturists also go by “pre-wrath rapturists .”) 3) Post-tribulation rapturists believe Jesus won't return for anyone until after the Tribulation and that the Millennium will begin immediately thereafter.

Interpreting Revelation: 

Interpreting Revelation B. Contents of Revelation 1. Chapters 2 - 3 - Jesus' 7 letters to the 7 churches were letters to 7 local churches which really existed in the first century. A strong parallel exists between these 7 churches and the 7 major periods of church history, i.e., the characteristics of each church characterize the 7 successive periods of church history. What Jesus said about these churches individually could be said about various churches in the world at any given time in history. Moreover, each church portrays a different type of Christian or a different stage in a Christian's life.

Ephesus: 

Ephesus The Loveless Church

Smyrna: 

Smyrna The Suffering Church

Pergamos: 

Pergamos The Compromising Church

Thyatira: 

Thyatira The Corrupt Church

Sardis: 

Sardis The Lifeless Church

Philadelphia: 

Philadelphia The Faithful Church

Laodicea: 

Laodicea The Lukewarm Church

Interpreting Revelation: 

Interpreting Revelation 2. Chapters 4-22 a. God's Control Center (4-5) b. The First Six Seals (6) c. An Encouraging Vision (7) d. The Seven Trumpets of the Seventh Seal (8-9) e. Seven Intervening Scenes (10-14) f. The Seven Bowls of the Seventh Trumpet (15-16) g. Destruction of Babylon (17-18) < city of man h. The King Returns (19-20) i . The New Heaven and the New Earth (21-22) (city of God)

The Story of the Bible: 

The Story of the Bible Creation Crisis Covenant Calling Out Conquest Kingdom Kingdom Divided Captivity Coming Home Christ Church Consummation