Revelation Introduction
Introductory overview of the Apocapyse of John
Revelation for Christians
the book of Revelation is the climax of the New Testament. Irrespective of the dates when the New Testament documents were composed, the church has been wise to order the canon in such a way that it begins with the story of Jesus (the four gospels) and the story of the early church (the Acts); it continues with twenty-two letters of apostolic instruction about the Christian faith, life and hope; and it concludes with the book of Revelation, which brings eternity near.
Revelation for Adventists
The book of Revelation opens with an injunction to us to understand the instruction that it contains. “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy,” God declares, “and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” When we as a people understand what this book means to us, there will be seen among us a great revival. We do not understand fully the lessons that it teaches, notwithstanding the injunction given us to search and study it.
The book of Revelation opens with an injunction to us to understand the instruction that it contains. “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy,” God declares, “and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” When we as a people understand what this book means to us, there will be seen among us a great revival. We do not understand fully the lessons that it teaches, notwithstanding the injunction given us to search and study it
“The book of Revelation opens with an injunction to us to understand the instruction it contains. ‘Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy,’ God declares, ‘and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.’ When we as a people understand what this book means to us, there will be seen among us a great revival. We do not understand fully the lessons that it teaches, not withstanding the injunction given us to search and study it.”
We have no time to lose; God calls upon us to watch for souls as they that must give an account. Advance new principles, and crowd in the clear-cut truth. It will be as a sword cutting both ways. But be not too ready to take a controversial attitude. There will be times when we must stand still and see the salvation of God. Let Daniel speak, let the Revelation speak, and tell what is truth. But whatever phase of the subject is presented, uplift Jesus as the center of all hope, “the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright and morning Star.”
What is the book about?
What is the book about?
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.
Genesis and Revelation
Comparisons with the Book of Genesis
Table 4. Parallels Between the Books of Genesis and Revelation
The Number Seven
It has been observed that, from the most remote times, the number seven has had symbolic value. The Sumerians, Babylonians, Canaanites, and Israelites regarded the number seven as the symbol of totality and perfection.28 During the intertestamental period, number symbolism, especially of the number seven, was very popular. As we already indicated, Carol Newsom has attested to the similarities between the Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice and the book of Revelation based on the use of the number seven. She explains that its prominence is derived from the number of the Sabbath day. In the New Testament, the number seven occurs a total of 88 times, 55 of which are found in the book of Revelation. There are seven lampstands, seven stars, seven seals, seven spirits, seven angels, seven plagues, seven horns, seven mountains, etc. John molded the book of Revelation around the number seven.
Even more intriguing is the sevenfold occurrence of the designation Christ, the 14 occurrences of Jesus, the 28 occurrences of the word Lamb referring to Christ, the sevenfold use of the declaration I am coming, the seven occurrences of significant divine titles,33 and the seven beatitudes scattered throughout the book of Revelation.
Richard Bauckham shows that John has deliberately used certain words and phrases either four times, seven times, 14 times, or 28 times to convey theological truth. Gregory Beale supports this observation, saying that “these patterns involve the Apocalypse’s most crucial theological and anthropological terms.”36 Within the context of Scripture, this frequent use of the number seven as the number of completeness and fullness justifies the suggestion that, through it, the writer of Revelation may be alluding to the seventh-day Sabbath.
Conclusion
Table 4. Parallels Between the Books of Genesis and Revelation
Parallels Between the Books of Genesis and Revelation
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Gen.
Parallel Concept
Rev.
Parallel Concept
1
1:1–2:3
A new beginning
21:1–22:5
A new creation, a new order
2
1:2
Darkness was upon the face of the deep.
21:25
In the Eternal Order, there is no night at all.
3
1:2
The deep or the salt sea exists.
21:1
No salt sea exists in the new order.
4
1:16
Rule of the sun and the moon
21:23
No need of sun or moon
5
2:8–9
Man is placed in a prepared garden.
21:2
Man is placed in a prepared city.
6
2:9
The Tree of Life is in the midst of the garden.
22:2
Tree of Life is in the midst of the river.
7
2:10
A river flows out of Eden.
22:1
A river flows out of God’s throne.
8
2:12
Gold in the land
21:21
Gold in the city
9
2:12
Only the bdellium and onyx stones
21:19
Twelve types of precious stones
10
3:1–8
Sin enters human experience.
21:8; 21:27
Sin is expelled.
11
3:8
God walks in the garden.
21:3
God dwells or lives in the city.
12
3:8–10
The walk with God is broken.
21:3
The walk with God is resumed.
13
3:13
Triumph of the serpent
20:10; 22:3
Triumph of the Lamb
14
3:15
Shows Satan opposing
20:10
Shows Satan banished
15
3:15
Redemption promised
5:9–10
Redemption accomplished
16
3:18
There are thorns and thistles.
21:4
There is no pain.
17
3:17
The ground is cursed.
22:3
There is no more curse.
18
3:17
Daily sorrow
21:4
No more sorrow
19
3:16–19
There is death.
21:4
No more death
20
3:18
Eating of herbs
22:2
Twelve manner of fruits
21
3:19
Sweat of the face
21:4
No more tears
22
3:21
Coats of skin
19:6–9; 19:14
Clothes made of fine linen
23
3:23
Paradise lost
21:25; 22:14
Paradise regained
24
3:24
Mankind is kept from the Tree of Life
22:14
There is access to the Tree of Life
25
6:5
Evil continually
21:27
Absolutely nothing defiling
M. Genesis and Systematic Theology