Behold, He Is Coming
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
The book of Revelation has been either ignored by Christians or Christians have let the experts interpret it since they know “the code.” Much of this is due to the unusual nature or genre of the book.
This is what many call “apocalyptic” literature.
A.Berkley Mickelson: “Solid Teaching in Strange Forms”
Strange Forms
Crazy, startling, and heavenly visions.
Cataclysmic events that affect all of creation.
Figurative language including symbols, numbers, pictures, etc.
Why this kind of genre?
Startles the hearers to take what is being said very seriously.
Symbols or pictures can communicate in a vivid way the nature of what is being talked about. Picture is worth a thousand words.
Solid Teaching
Understand more deeply the nature of God.
Understand more completely the nature of our salvation in Christ.
Understand God’s plan and purpose for His creation.
Understand God’s plan and purpose for evil.
Understand what we as God’s people need to do in a world that is antagonistic to God and opposes us in light of those previous statements.
Blessed are those who read, hear, and keep these words.
Blessed are those who read, hear, and keep these words.
Blessed.
Fortunate—to extol the fortune occuring to someone and to exalt this person on the basis or condition of the good fortune. (Greek literature)
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Joy—The overwhelming religious joy which a person receives from his share in the salvation of the kingdom of God. (NT literature)
Romans 4:6–8 (ESV)
“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
and whose sins are covered;
blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”
3. Privileged—Congratulatory statements
And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
THOSE WHO KEEP
This is not a book to satisfy our curiosity.
This is a revelation that calls us to faithful obedience because of what is revealed.
Revelation from Jesus Christ
Revelation from Jesus Christ
A. From God the Father, to Jesus Christ, to His angel, to John, to Jesus’ servants.
1. Angels (messengers)
Full of angels (messengers) that do God’s bidding. 79 times, more than any book in the Bible.
His Angel....Angel specifically designated for Jesus’ bidding.
O.T.—The Angel of the Lord.
2. John
The Apostle John
Justin (155A.D)
Irenaeus
Tertullian
Clement of Alexandria
There was a significant debate who this John is in the early church.
John the Elder
Eusebius
Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 52A: Revelation 1–5 III. External Evidence
And if anyone chanced to come who had actually been a follower of the elders, I would enquire as to the discourses of the elders, what Andrew or what Peter said, or what Philip, or what Thomas or James, or what John or Matthew or any other of the Lord’s disciples [said]; and the things which Aristion and John the elder, disciples of the Lord, say.
He was a Prophet
Known to the churches of Asia minor
He was a Jew who had emigrated to the Roman Province of Asia.
It was considered as the authoritative word of God early on by the church fathers.
3. His Servants (Slaves)
B. John bore witness to;
1. The Word of God
2. The testimony of Jesus
3. Prophecy
To all that he saw to show.
What Must Soon Take Place
What Must Soon Take Place
This phrase and “the time is near” are the most problematic phrases in this passage.
Just what is meant with regard to time?
A. Interpretative Frameworks
1. The Futurist
4-22 represents events still future for present day readers.
Distant future for the first hearers and readers.
2. The Historicist
4:1-20:6 symbolize the chronological order of successive historical events that span the entire era from the apostolic church to the return of Christ and the new heaven and earth.
3. The Preterist (partial)
That most of the things in the book have already been fulfilled in the early church (the destruction of Jerusalem and the fall of the Roman Empire.)
Some of the events, however, are still future such as the return of Christ and the new heaven and new earth.
4. The Idealist