Rev Intro

I. INTRO

A. The Class & expectations:

a. Breakdown:

b. Length

c. structure:

II. BODY

A. Authorship?

B. Who is John?

a. Son o Zebedee

b. fisherman along w/brother James

c. follower o John the Baptist, then Jesus

d. man w/a temper “sons of thunder” vs

e. inner circle w/Peter & brother James

1. In Matt we c ‘em 2gether exclusively 1x: (transfiguration)

2. In Mk 4x:

i. : (Jairas’ daughter’s resurrection)

ii. (transfiguration)

iii. & Andrew Included (asks about destruction o temple)

iv. (the garden where Jesus prayed & wept)

3. Luke 2x (Jairas’ daughter, & transfiguration)

f. was the closest to Jesus

1. Disciple Jesus loved (most likely)

2. found right next 2 Jesus at Lord’s Supper (vs)

3. Only 1 o the 12 that was at the cross

4. Jesus gave care o his mama 2 (vs)

g. wrote (arguably 5 books o the NT)

h. Common theme for John: love (116x in 78vs out o 287x in 228vs) 7x in Rev

i. Faithful servant

Revelation 1:9 ESV

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.

Rev 1:9

1. endured persecution

2. considered himself a bro, & heir o the Kingdom

3. Endured in Jesus

4. Proclaimer o God’s word & all he’d seen o Jesus

i. & was exiled by the romans 4 it!

C. What is this letter?

a prophecy: the uncovering of something hidden, the making known of what we could not find out for ourselves. It makes plain that the book it introduces is not a book of human wisdom, nor for that matter a discussion of philosophical or theological problems. It is revelation. It is a setting forth of what God has made known

the uncovering of something hidden, the making known of what we could not find out for ourselves. It makes plain that the book it introduces is not a book of human wisdom, nor for that matter a discussion of philosophical or theological problems. It is revelation. It is a setting forth of what God has made known

D. How should we read it?

4 schools o thought:

Preterist View: written by 1st Cent Christian, to 1st Cent Christians describing 1st Cent Christians problems. that’s it

means there’s lots o meaning & use 4 them, not much use for us prominent view o modern scholars

Historicist View: inspired forecast o all o human history (including what hasn’t happened yet

means that there’s a great deal o use for us, but would have left 1st Cent Christians confused (& I don’t think that was johns intent)

Futurist View: everything written happened in the future tense

useless 4 every1 accept whoever’s right b4 the end

Idealist View: not about practical happenings, but about concepts & principles

I believe that this book was written by a 1st Cent Christian, in the time of the 1st Cent Christians…some o the prophecy is timeless, some o it has happened already, & some yet to happen. It’s chalked full of concepts & principles that affect us 2day as well as did then, & will help generations 2 come continue in the faith in the face of persecution

I believe we get a powerful view of What God’s space looks like & what it will be like when God’s space fully invades & overtakes man’s space!

All things will b set 2 right w/no more sorrow & no more pain!

We must read this letter grounded in the 1st century b4 we can understand what it means 4 us 2day!

John clearly states:

Revelation 1:4 ESV

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,

frm Jn to the 7 churches!

III. DIGGING IN

Revelation 1:1–3 ESV

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.

rev 1:1-3

Rev 1:4-