INTRODUCTION TO REVELATION

The Background

The meaning of the word “revelation”:

the act of revealing for the purpose of making something known

the thing that is revealed

to expose in full view what was formerly hidden, veiled, or secret.

In theology (the study of God), revelation refers to “God’s self-disclosure or manifesting of himself or things concerning himself and the world.”

The Author was the Apostle John (see Revelation 1:1, 9).

It was addressed to seven churches in Asia Minor (present-day western Turkey). The first letter is directed to the church in Ephesus, the city closest to the island of Patmos. The remaining recipients of the letters are Smyrna, Sardis, Thyatira, Pergamum, Philadelphia, and Laodicea, which geographically form a loose circuit.

Revelation was written to give hope to God’s persecuted people by assuring them that the victory belongs to the Lord.

The Controversy

Historicist Interpretation:

View: Revelation is seen as a symbolic prophecy of the entire history of the Church from the time of John until the end of the world.

Example: The seven churches of Revelation are often interpreted as representing seven periods of church history from the Apostolic Age to the Second Coming.

2. Preterist Interpretation:

View: Most or all of the prophecies in Revelation were fulfilled by the time of the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.

Subcategories:

Partial Preterism: Believes that most prophecies were fulfilled by AD 70, but some (like the Second Coming) are yet to be fulfilled.

Full Preterism (or Hyper-Preterism): Believes all prophecies were fulfilled by AD 70, including the Second Coming and Resurrection, which are seen as spiritual events.

3. Futurist Interpretation:

View: The majority of Revelation's prophecies (from chapter 4 or 6 onwards) describe future events that are yet to occur, often associated with the end times or the Second Coming of Christ.

Example: The Tribulation, the Antichrist, the Rapture, and the Millennial Kingdom are seen as future events.

4. Idealist (or Symbolic/Allegorical) Interpretation:

View: Revelation is not about specific historical events but rather about timeless spiritual truths, depicting the ongoing struggle between good and evil, God and Satan.

Focus: Emphasizes the symbolic nature of the text, where elements represent recurring themes in Christian life like persecution, faith, and divine protection.

5. Eclectic or Synthetic Approach:

View: Combines elements from two or more of the above methods, recognizing that Revelation might have multiple layers of meaning. For instance, some parts might be historical, others symbolic, and still others prophetic of future events.

Each of these approaches can be further nuanced by different theological traditions within Christianity. Moreover, interpretations can vary even within these broad categories, influenced by one's eschatological views (e.g., premillennialism, postmillennialism, amillennialism).

Premillennialism: Christ returns before a literal 1,000-year reign on earth.

Postmillennialism: Christ returns after a long period of peace and Christian influence on earth.

Amillennialism: The 1,000 years is symbolic, representing the current church age, with Christ reigning spiritually from heaven.

These interpretive lenses significantly affect how one reads and applies the visions, symbols, and narratives in Revelation to contemporary Christian life and future expectations.

The Big Idea

Revelation is all about the victory, rule, and reign of Christ. It chronicles the defeat and judgment of Christ’s enemies and the divine blessing and protection for His people.

See Genesis 3:14-15, 12:1-3, 49:8-10...

See 2 Samuel 7:12–13...

See Psalm 2:1-12, 110:1-7 (quoted or alluded to 21-25 times in the New Testament)...

See Daniel 2:31-45, 7:1-14...

Christ is pictured as a conqueror over death (1:18; 2:8), Hades (1:18), the dragon (12:9–11; 20:10), the beast (15:2; 19:20; 20:10), the false prophet (19:20; 20:10), and all those who worship the beast (19:20). In other words, He will conquer everyone and everything that opposes Him. Those who pledge their allegiance to the lamb will one day reign with him in the new heavens and the new earth once he returns victoriously to rescue his people and finally and fully defeat his enemies.