revelation

---

The Book of

REVELATION

Regarding Revelation, G. K. Chesterton once said,

“Though John the Evangelist saw many strange creatures in his vision, he saw no creatures so wild as one of his own commentators.”

There are 5,946 commentaries on Revelation for sale on Amazon! Revelation has become a very profitable business!!!

The Book of Revelation: Introduction  Revelation Defined  General Facts (Date of writing, authorship, place,

      

political period, genre, etc.) Important Terminology 4 Views of Eschatology Timeline of Revelation Revelation: The Presence of the number 7 4 Approaches to Revelation Use of Symbols…lots of Symbols! Interpretation Method: Expositional / Dispensational View; Source Text: The Bible New King James Version (NKJV)

Revelation: A Definition The word revelation is the translation of apokalypsis without the article, meaning a “revelation, disclosure, or unveiling.” It is a revelation of truth about Christ Himself, a disclosure of future events, that is, His second coming when Christ will be revealed. It is as well a revelation which comes from Christ. (Walvoord)

Revelation: Occasion of the Book The occasion or purpose of Revelation is stated in the first verse of the book:

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants--things which must shortly take place.” Revelation 1:1a(NKJV)

Revelation: The Author John, the Apostle is the author of Revelation:

“The evidence for the Johannine authorship is based first on the fact that four times the writer calls himself by the name John (Rev. 1:1, 4, 9; 22:8).” - Walvoord

Revelation: Date of Writing  Some (mainly Preterists) have place the writing of

Revelation before 70AD, on the belief that John was martyred before the fall of Jerusalem which occurred in that year;  However, there has been no evidence of the death of John before Jerusalem’s fall, and the early church fathers rejected the early date, having evidence that the Gospel of John was written in 95AD, in a style similar to Revelation.  BHBC along with conservative scholars agree with the later date.

Revelation: Political Period  Rome was the world empire at the time Revelation was

written;  Those who claim early authorship say that Nero was Caesar at the time of Revelation; Those who claim later authorship say that Domitian was emperor;  BHBC along with conservative scholars agree that Domitian was emperor; Nero would have never exiled John…he would have killed him!

Revelation: Genre  Revelation is apocalyptic literature; this

means that it contains symbolism, and predictive (prophetic) elements;  It is the only apocalyptic book in the New Testament;  There are many apocalyptic works known as “pseudepigrapha.” These works are nonscriptural and should not be viewed as authoritative.

Revelation: Inclusion in the Bible  The Book of Revelation was almost excluded from

the Bible for the following reasons: 1) Bad Grammar, and 2) Controversy over authorship.  Through analysis of the text, the early church fathers determined that poor grammar does not mean the text is not inspired, and that the Gospel of John contained the same elements of poor grammar. Therefore, John is the author and the book is inspired.

Revelation: Place of Writing “I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 1:9 (NKJV)

Patmos: A better look…

Important Terminology  Eschatology: The study (Greek logos) of last things

(Greek eschaton), i.e., the end of the world, the Last Judgment, the Second Coming of Christ, the resurrection of the body and, in general, anything relating to the future.  The Second Coming of Christ (also known as the Second Advent and the Return of Christ): Christ's physical return to earth, mentioned in such passages as Acts 1:11, 1 Thessalonians 4, and Hebrews 9:28.  The Millennium: The thousand-year reign of Christ mentioned in Revelation, chapter 20. Premillennialists ("Chiliasts") believe in a literal thousand-year reign in the future. Amillennialists and postmillennialists believe that the thousand years is a figurative number for the entire period from Christ's first coming until His second.

Important Terminology  Premillennialism (Also known as Chiliasm from the

Greek word for "thousand"): The belief that the Second Coming of Christ occurs before the millennium, which is a literal 1000 years. The resurrection of Christians occurs at the beginning of the millennium, the resurrection of the unsaved at the end of the millennium.  Postmillennialism: The belief that the Second Coming of Christ occurs after the millennium. There is an increase in the spread of God's rule in every area of life during the millennium (a figurative concept referring to the entire New Testament age).  Amillennialism: The belief that the Second Coming occurs at the end of history, like postmillennialism, but there is no earthly millennium. The millennium is purely spiritual, applying only to heaven and the Church.

Important Terminology  Dispensationalism: The belief that history is divided into

several distinct dispensations, or ages in which God relates to mankind in a different way. The most important distinction is between Israel's Age of Law on the one hand, and the Church's Age of Grace on the other. Dispensationalism is pretribulationist and premillennial. The Church Age ends and God's plan for Israel resumes when the Church is raptured at the beginning of the Tribulation. The millennium is Israelcentered: It rules over all other nations and animal sacrifices are performed in the Temple as in the Old Testament.  The Great Tribulation: The great judgment of God that is foretold in such passages as Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, and the Book of Revelation. The main events occur in the land of Israel.

Important Terminology  The Last Days: Most believe that these are the days of

great evil before the Great Tribulation. Some believe that the Last Days refers to the entire New Testament/Church period.  The Rapture: The physical resurrection of believers, both living and dead, who will meet Christ in the air at His Second Coming. The word "rapture" is a transliteration of the Latin translation of the word found in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, and translated in English as "caught up."  Futurist interpretation of the Tribulation: The Great Tribulation is yet to come.  Preterist interpretation of the Tribulation: The Tribulation has already occurred. (Historic premillennialist view).

Important Terminology  Church Historicist interpretation: The Tribulation is

experienced by the Church throughout its history.  Pretribulation (Pretrib) Rapture: The rapture occurs before the Tribulation. (The standard Dispensational view).  Midtribulation (Midtrib) Rapture: The rapture occurs in the middle of the Tribulation.  Posttribulation (Posttrib) Rapture: The rapture occurs after the seven years of the Tribulation.

4 Views of Eschatology: Post-Millennial

4 Views of Eschatology: Amillennial

4 Views of Eschatology: Historic-Millennial

4 Views of Eschatology: PreMillennial (Bhbc)

Timeline of Revelation (Bhbc)

The Presence of the number

Interpretation: Allegorical  This point of view, originating in the Alexandrian

School of Theology regarded the book of Revelation as one great allegory going far beyond the natural symbolism which is found in the book.  They understood in a nonliteral sense much of what other expositors interpreted literally. They claimed that their view was the true “spiritual” interpretation as opposed to the literalism of their opponents.  This is also known as the idealist or spiritual approach.

Interpretation: Preterist  In general, adherents of this point of view hold that

the book of Revelation is a record of the conflicts of the early church with Judaism and paganism, with the closing chapters (20-22) constituting a picture of the contemporary triumph of the church.  Though similar in some ways to the allegorical method, it considers Revelation as a symbolic history, rather than prophetic.  A variation of this is the idea that Revelation is descriptive rather than predictive.

Interpretation: Historicist  Adherents to this theory consider Revelation as a

symbolic presentation of the total of church history culminating in the second advent.  This method of interpreting the book of Revelation achieved considerable stature in the Reformation because of its identification of the pope and the papacy with the beasts of Revelation 13.  It has undoubtedly influenced a large number of subsequent expositors, especially those of the postmillennial point of view…

Interpretation: Futurist (Bhbc)  Limited to conservative expositors who are usually

premillennial, this point of view regards Revelation as futuristic beginning with chapter 4 and therefore subject to future fulfillment. Under this system of interpretation, the events of chapters 4 through 19 relate to the period just preceding the second coming of Christ.  This is generally regarded as a period of seven years with emphasis on the last three and one-half years, labeled the “great tribulation.” Chapter 19, therefore, refers to the second coming of Christ to the earth, chapter 20 to the future millennial kingdom which will follow, and chapters 21 and 22 to events either contemporary or subsequent to the millennium.  In contrast to the other approaches to the book of Revelation, the futuristic position allows a more literal interpretation of the specific prophecies of the book.

Symbols used in Revelation  The seven stars (1:16) represent seven angels (1:20).  The seven lampstands (1:13) represent seven churches

 

  

(1:20). The hidden manna (2:17) speaks of Christ in glory (cf. Exodus 16:33-34; Heb. 9:4). The morning star (2:28) refers to Christ returning before the dawn, suggesting the rapture of the church before the establishment of the Kingdom (cf. Rev. 22:16; 2 Peter 1:19). The key of David (3:7) represents the power to open and close doors (Isa. 22:22). The seven lamps of fire represent the sevenfold Spirit of God (4:5). The living creatures (4:7) portray the attributes of God.

More Symbols used in Revelation…  The seven eyes represent the sevenfold Spirit of God (5:6).  The odors of the golden vials symbolize the prayers of the

  

 

saints (5:8). The four horses and their riders (6:1 ff.) represent successive events in the developing tribulation. The fallen star (9:1) is the angel of the abyss, probably Satan (9:11). Many references are made to Jerusalem: the great city (11:8), Sodom and Egypt (11:8), which stand in contrast to the new Jerusalem, the heavenly city. The stars of heaven (12:4) refer to fallen angels (12:9). The woman and the child (12:1-2) seem to represent Israel and Christ (12:5-6).

And More Symbols…  Satan is variously described as the great dragon, the old serpent,  

 





and the devil (12:9; 20:2). The time, times, and half a time (12:14) are the same as 1,260 days (12:6). The beast out of the sea (13:1-10) is the future world ruler and his empire. The beast out of the earth (13:11-17) is the false prophet (19:20). The harlot (17:1) variously described as the great city (17:18), as Babylon the great (17:5), as the one who sits on seven hills (17:9), is usually interpreted as apostate Christendom. The waters (17:1) on which the woman sits represent the peoples of the world (17:15). The ten horns (17:12) are ten kings associated with the beast (13:1; 17:3, 7, 8, 11-13, 1&-17). The Lamb is Lord of lords and King of kings (17:14).

And More Symbols!!!  Fine linen is symbolic of the righteous deeds of the

saints (19:8).  The rider of the white horse (19:11-16, 19) is clearly identified as Christ, the King of kings.  The lake of fire is described as the second death (20:14).  Jesus Christ is the Root and Offspring of David (22:16).

Mode of Interpretation  Bhbc will employ a expositional (verse by verse)

interpretation based on the dispensational view;  Literal vs. figurative distinctions will be made for clarification;  Sources (John Walvoord, J. Vernon McGee, Steve Gregg, Personal Notes, and The Holy Spirit)  Source Text is the New King James Version (NKJV)

Revelation Looking Forward

Source: middletownbiblechurch.org