Introduction to the Study of Revelation 2021
I. God’s plan
The Book of Revelation is God’s last formal word to mankind
This book climaxes the God’s revelation of Himself and His great salvation
This book concludes 66 books from approximately 40 authors spanning a millennium and a half
I believe the purpose of the created universe is that God can show Himself as He is, reveal Himself to creatures who have a free moral nature, a real power of choice, and that as they perceive His character and His love, they can voluntarily love Him in return
God’s purpose in this world is to gather to Himself a people who love Him
With whom He can spend all of eternity
God’s purpose throughout the history of mankind has been redemption of all
This book is titled The Revelation of Jesus Christ
In the fourth gospel John refers to the Lord as the Son of God, the divine Teacher, the great Intercessor, and the crucified and resurrected Christ. He is seen as the humble Galilean
But now in the Revelation He is seen in His majesty and glory…
The King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Alpha and Omega, Eternal Victor, Glorified Christ
This book is essential in seeing the full picture of Jesus Christ
This book was written while the church was undergoing strong persecution
Of all the disciples, John alone was spared martyrdom
In AD 96, John was exiled to the isle of Patmos by the tyrant Domitian
He was sentenced there to hard labor in the lead mines
The island is barren and desolate, 60 miles off the coast
It is small, just 10 miles long
Historical record show John was recalled from exile when Domitian was silenced by death and the more humane Nerva ascended as emperor.
John, old and feeble by this time, pastored from his home in Ephesus until he died at around 100 years old
The book of Revelation is an amazing combination of symbols and word pictures
Symbols and word pictures are efficient at conveying ideas
Lion, lamb, fox, bear, sheep, goats all convey characteristics efficiently
These symbols and word pictures in the Revelation are often describing events yet future
Further, this writing was meant for the protection of Christians under persecution
While they could understand much of the meaning, it would remain a mystery
…thus it was able to be read and preserved
This book is a book of hope, its message a message of victory
It gives hope and courage in times of darkness and persecution
Battle on! Good will overcome evil, love will conquer hate, light will chase the darkness, truth will destroy error. Satan will be defeated and Christ the conqueror will forever reign
II. The revelation of the Lamb
This book was given for the encouragement of the churches during difficult days
The overall theme of this book is victory
Christ is risen and still leading His church
And He still had a message for them
Christ shall be triumphant
God is in control, knowing the end from the beginning
The first 3 chapters
From verse 11 in chapter 1 through the end of the 3rd chapter contains specific messages to the seven churches in the Roman province of Asia.
These churches were churches that John had nurtured
He lists them in the same order that he would have travelled to them on the main road
He traveled the same route as the mail, beginning at his home congregation at Ephesus to Smyrna, then Pergamos, Tyratira, Sardis, Philadelphia and then Laodicea.
There is no reason within the text of Revelation, the visions that follow, or elsewhere in the Bible to believe this is anything other than what it appears
Specifically, there is no internal scriptural reason to interpret these as seven eras of time
Nor is there historical support for seven corresponding eras of time
Chapter 4 begins a series of revelations, visions concerning the broad outline of the “things which must be hereafter”.
Chapter 4 is the Great Throne scene
(Rev 4:1 KJV) After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter.
(Rev 4:2 KJV) And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
Chapter 5 shows us the sealed book and one worthy to look into these things
It is the revelation of Jesus Christ
Chapter 6 begins a parallel series of visions to show those things which were to come to pass
(Rev 6:1 KJV) And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.
III. Revelation is a book of symbolic language
Revelation is a book of symbolic language
God’s plan, the future, is revealed in symbolism and symbolic language
I. Nature of Symbolic Language and Symbolism
Use of one object to represent another
Purpose to show more clearly the characteristics of that object being represented
Analogy - a comparison made on the basis of known characteristics of an object
Revelation is a book of symbols, but it is not the only use of symbolism in the Bible
In Joseph’s dream
… eleven sheaves bowing down
…sun, moon and eleven stars
His brothers understood and were angry
We also use this type of language in everyday life to help describe people and things
That guy is a horse, or a beast
That person is a weasel, or a wolf,
Lamb, lion, snake, fox, chicken all convey certain characteristics
Not necessary similar in all aspects, but used to bring out a major similarity
II. Symbols in the Revelation
John was told to write down those things which he saw
The Revelation was given to John in the form of visions, pictures
The vision, or picture conveyed things that mere words could not have
Revelation is a book of symbolism, so that we might better understand the nature of those things being described.
Much more concise.
Of course, not everything is a symbol.
Many easily understood or readily recognized items appear as themselves.
For instance, God : to what will you liken God?
However, the throne or some aspect may yet be brought out by use of a picture.
Many of the symbols employed in the Revelation are directly interpreted in the Revelation.
The seven stars are the seven angels of the seven churches
The seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches
The ten horns……are ten kings
The waters…..are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues
Other symbols are drawn from elsewhere in the Bible, predominately the Old Testament, especially Daniel
III. Interpretation not unique or unusual
We will follow predominately the historic reformation interpretation of Revelation (some differences)
Pre-millennial interpretation is relatively new, gaining acceptance in the last 100 years or so, and gaining support upon the disillusions and disappointments of the recent years of apostasy
Literal interpretation is a fallacy and disingenuous