Revelation - An Introduction
Notes
Transcript
Basic Facts
Author - John the apostle. There is more evidence that John wrote Revelation than there is for the authorship of any other NT book.
Date - toward the end of the reign of Domitian, 95-96
Genre
Apocalyptic?
The Book of Revelation I. Revelation and Apocalyptic Literature
The book of Revelation is normally considered as belonging to a class of literature referred to as apocalyptic. The term “apocalypse” used to denote a literary genre is derived from Rev. 1:1, where it designates the supernatural unveiling of that which is about to take place. In contemporary discussion “apocalyptic” applies more broadly to a group of writings that flourished in the biblical world between 200 B.C. and A.D. 100 and to the basic concepts contained in those writings.
Epistle?
Prophecy - Revelation was given to us to be understood. With confidence (not pride).
Approaches to interpretation
Preterist (contemporary historical)
Historical
Idealist/allegorical (like Pilgrim’s Progress) - Revelation, then, teaches us “the action of great principles and not special incidents
Futurist (chapter 4 - end)
Historical Curiosities
For the most part the Western church (Rome) accepted Revelation a canonical, but many in the Eastern church (Alexandria, Jerusalem, Antioch, Constantinople/Byzantium) did not. Why? because of its Jewish character
Luther - My spirit cannot accommodate itself to this book. There is one sufficient reason for the small esteem in which I hold it—that Christ is neither taught nor recognized
Because many of our NT manuscripts come from the East, these would be lacking Revelation. And so there are fewer copies of Revelation than other books of the NT.
Interpretation Challenges
“Revelation is filled with symbolism and is nearly impossible to understand”
Actually, Revelation is clear when it uses symbols (“like”, “as a”) and clear when it refers to people and events
“Revelation is too complicated”
It may not be easy, but it’s not overly hard. God’s Prophetic Blueprint - 100 pages
Historically though - it has been misunderstood. Why?
Tendency of early theologians to have an allegorical approach. This is seen in all of scripture, but certainly in Revelation
Origen believed that the Bible contained multiple layers of meaning, and he sought to uncover deeper spiritual truths through allegory. In his interpretation of Revelation, he often focused on the moral and spiritual significance of the symbols presented in the text. For example, he interpreted the seven churches mentioned in Revelation as symbolic of different stages in the soul's spiritual journey
In his book "The City of God," Augustine interpreted the symbolic elements in Revelation in light of the ongoing spiritual battle between the City of God and the City of Man. He saw the millennium mentioned in Revelation 20 as a symbolic representation of the entire Christian era, rather than a literal thousand-year reign of Christ on Earth. Augustine's allegorical interpretation aimed to convey moral and spiritual lessons rather than focusing on specific predictions of future events.
What is the problem with allegorical interpretations? They are subjective?
Focus of the reformers - salvation, justification by faith; Revelation was not a priority
What changed?
John Nelson Darby - 1800-1882; dispensational theology (vs. covenant theology)
C. I. Scofield, Scofield Reference Bible, 1909
Bible Institutes, Seminaries (Dallas Theological Seminary)
Current events - WW1, WW2
Israel becomes a nation - 1948
Perhaps as the time draws near for the Lord’s return, He has enabled the proper interpretation to become more clear
What about the SBC?
Article X: Last Things
God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord.
What does it take to understand Revelation?
The right approach (futurist)
Accept a literal interpretation where it makes sense (1000 years = 1000 years)
Study related books of the Bible, especially Daniel (Daniel unlocks Revelation and vice versa)
Not essential but helpful - Constable notes, a book such as God’s Prophetic Blueprint
Message of Revelation
Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible Introduction
The Book of Revelation is one of the most encouraging books in the Bible because in it we see Jesus Christ vindicated before the world. Revelation is really a very simple book. It boils down to this: Jesus wins!
1. The Worthy Champion
1. The Worthy Champion
1 The revelation of Jesus Christ that God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, whatever he saw. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in it, because the time is near.
v.1 revelation - apokalypsis, the appearance of something which is hidden or unseen
“him” - John
“soon” - that the events to be revealed could happen at any time without delay
“his angel” - who else saw angels (recently)? Mary, Joseph, Zechariah (Elizabeth’s husband), the wise men. Not evidence of “apocalyptic literature”
v.2 “whatever he saw” - 44 times
John testified to the book as being an inspired word from God, specifically from and about Jesus Christ
2. John’s Vision
2. John’s Vision
9 I, John, your brother and partner in the affliction, kingdom, and endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard a loud voice behind me like a trumpet 11 saying, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.” 12 Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me. When I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was one like the Son of Man, dressed in a robe and with a golden sash wrapped around his chest. 14 The hair of his head was white as wool—white as snow—and his eyes like a fiery flame. 15 His feet were like fine bronze as it is fired in a furnace, and his voice like the sound of cascading waters. 16 He had seven stars in his right hand; a sharp double-edged sword came from his mouth, and his face was shining like the sun at full strength. 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. He laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid. I am the First and the Last, 18 and the Living One. I was dead, but look—I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades.
The details will be covered, but notice how different this description is of Jesus’ first coming. How poor our understanding of Jesus would be without this perspective!
3. John’s Mission
3. John’s Mission
19 Therefore write what you have seen, what is, and what will take place after this. 20 The mystery of the seven stars you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
What you have seen - Rev 1
What is - Rev 2-3
What will take place after this - Rev 4-22
Application - in revealing the future, Christ is revealed