Jesus's Revelation Part II
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Head's Up! He is coming! How do we understand his message?
Head's Up! He is coming! How do we understand his message?
Revelation 1:1-11
1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.
3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,
5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood
6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet
11 saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”
Jesus’ Instructions
Jesus’ Instructions
Revelation 1:19
19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.
Broad outline of Revelation:
What was seen: Jesus Glorified - Revelation 1:9-20.
What is: the Seven Churches - Revelation 2-3.
What will be: Jesus’ judgement in the seven seals, trumpets and bowls. Revelation 4-22.
Keys to understanding Revelation:
Keys to understanding Revelation:
Depend on the Holy Spirit.
Understand the Old Testament context.
Understand the original context.
Understand the imagery and symbology in the context.
Identify the lenses you are bringing to the text.
Depend on the Holy Spirit.
Depend on the Holy Spirit.
John 16:12-15
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
Understand the Old Testament:
Understand the Old Testament:
Hebrews to Revelation: Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary, Volume 4 (Prophetic Background)
Revelation has approximately 150 allusions and near quotations of Old Testament texts, a literary phenomenon called intertextuality.
Understand the original context:
Understand the original context:
Author - John, the Apostle
Dates - Early AD 56-68, or AD 95
Location - Written from the island of Patmos to the seven churches in Asia Minor, which is modern day Turkey Revelation 1:9-11.
Culture - Asia Minor is one of gross immorality and idolatry thus persecuting Christians.
Understand the imagery and symbology in the context:
Understand the imagery and symbology in the context:
Is there an explanation for the imagery and symbology in the immediate text?
Is there an explanation for the imagery and symbology in the whole Bible?
Is there an explanation for the imagery and symbology in the cultural context?
Identify the lenses you are bringing to the text:
Identify the lenses you are bringing to the text:
Ask, “What are my preconceptions?”
Revelation is too difficult to understand.
Revelation is a scary book.
Revelation is just weird.
What system of theology do I think in?
Covenant Theology - God has made three covenants as revealed in Scripture.
First, he made the Covenant of Works with Humanity.
Second, he made the Covenant of Redemption with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Third, he has made the Covenant of Grace with humanity.
Covenant theology does not emphasize the literal interpretation of prophecy. It is also known to combine Israel and the church into one entity, thus having a metaphorical interpretation of Christ’s thousand year reign, know as Amillennialism. (Elwell, Walter A. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology: Second Edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2001.)
Dispensational Theology - A theological system that attempts to understand the history of salvation as revealed in the Bible.
It sees God as working out his plan progressively through successive periods, or dispensations (e.g., innocence [Garden of Eden], human conscience [the Fall to the Flood], human government [the Flood to Abraham]).
While the ultimate goal of restoring the kingdom of God remains singular and the means of salvation remains by grace through faith, the terms of obedience and the way God works with humanity differ in each dispensation.
Dispensationalism is also commonly identified as a way of interpreting the Scriptures. It emphasizes the literal interpretation of Scripture, especially prophecy, unless the context dictates a metaphorical use. Theologically, it is noted for its commitment to the distinction of Israel from the church, and the promises made to Israel fulfilled in the thousand year reign of Christ, know as the Millennium. (James D. Hernando, “Dispensationalism,” Dictionary of Hermeneutics: A Concise Guide to Terms, Names, Methods, and Expressions (Springfield, MO: Gospel Publishing House, 2012), 158.)
What are my systems of interpretation?
Preterist Lens - is that many of the events described in the book took place during John’s lifetime, and thus provided a contemporary description of events that the churches were facing. Typically, its adherents hold to an early date of writing and thus see the events described as coming to pass during the turbulent reign of Nero, although some see fulfillment still taking place as late as the fifth century. This view was developed in the early seventeenth century and has enjoyed a resurgence of popularity in recent years. (Daniel D. Green, “Revelation,” in The Moody Bible Commentary, ed. Michael A. Rydelnik and Michael Vanlaningham (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2014), 2001.)
Historicist Lens - sees the events described in the book as a panorama of history from the time of John until the present day. A significant weakness of this position is its Eurocentric view of Church history as well as the constant need to reinterpret data in light of new developments. (Daniel D. Green, “Revelation,” in The Moody Bible Commentary, ed. Michael A. Rydelnik and Michael Vanlaningham (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2014), 2001.)
Idealist Lens - takes the details of the book as a general description of the battle between good and evil as it continues into the present Church Age. There is little attempt to associate the details of the book with any specific events of the past or future. This spiritualizing approach simply focuses on the ultimate triumph of Christ over the forces that oppose Him and His kingdom. (Daniel D. Green, “Revelation,” in The Moody Bible Commentary, ed. Michael A. Rydelnik and Michael Vanlaningham (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2014), 2001.)
Preterist/ Futurist Lens - interprets Revelation as being especially pertinent to John and his readers while at the same time showing how their first-century setting has parallels with the future. (Daniel D. Green, “Revelation,” in The Moody Bible Commentary, ed. Michael A. Rydelnik and Michael Vanlaningham (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2014), 2001.)
Futurist Lens - while focusing on the purpose of the book for the original audience, still holds that chaps. 4–22 will be fulfilled literally in the future. Thus, the details of these chapters will be worked out in real events yet to come. (Daniel D. Green, “Revelation,” in The Moody Bible Commentary, ed. Michael A. Rydelnik and Michael Vanlaningham (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2014), 2001.)
What books or movies have formed my thoughts on Revelation?
Perhaps authors like Joel Rosenberg, Jerry Jenkins, Tim LaHaye, Hal Lynsey, R.C. Sproul and Amir Tsarfati
Revelation 22:6-7, 16-21
6 And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.”
7 “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.
18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book,
19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.
It’s Jesus’ Revelation - Heads Up! He is coming! We can understand his message. Receive the water of life without price.
It’s Jesus’ Revelation - Heads Up! He is coming! We can understand his message. Receive the water of life without price.