Introduction to Revelation
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Introduction to Revelation
Introduction to Revelation
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The letter John wrote to seven churches was written around 95 AD, when John was on the Island of Patmos as a prisoner of Rome. The letter is a message, to the seven churches, and also to the world of things to take place at a time yet to be determined. A time only the Father knows (; ). What is to take place is commonly known as the apocalypse, a time when God will judge mankind.
Some things to note:
I do not know everything written in apocalyptic literature, no one does.
It is important to pray through all that you read and we discuss, prophecy and interpretation of prophecy is from God and not from man ().
There are four theories about the seven year tribulation. They are Pre, Mid, and Post Tribulation. There is also a theory where there is no tribulation, this is because some see Revelation as allegorical and not literal at all.
Pre-Tribulation - Jesus will return for the Church (Those whom have put their faith in Him) before the tribulation. Therefore, they will not have to go through the judgments which await humanity.
Mid-Tribulation - The belief that Jesus will return for His Church after the beast has set himself up to be worshipped in the 3rd Temple.
Post-Tribulation - Jesus will return for His Church after the Great Tribulation of seven years.
Regarding the Millennium, there are Four theories.
Dispensational Premillennialism - Dispensational premillennialism holds that a seven-year tribulation (forseen in ) will precede a thousand-year period () during which time, Christ will reign on the throne of David ().
Historical Premillennialism - Historical premillennialists place the return of Christ just before the millennium and just after a time of great apostasy and tribulation.
Postmillennialism - The postmillennialism believes that the millennium is an era (not a literal thousand years) during which Christ will reign over the earth, not from an literal and earthly throne, but through the gradual increase of the Gospel and its power to change lives.
Amillennialism - The amillennialist believes that the Kingdom of God was inaugurated at Christ's resurrection (hence the term "inaugurated millennialism") at which point he gained victory over both Satan and the Curse. Christ is even now reigning. is not considered literal.
Jesus will return for His Church and make all things new.
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,
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must happen very soon. He made it clear by sending his angel to his servant John,
Revelation
BEB
ἀποκάλυψις (apokalypsis), revelation, what is revealed, a disclosure (; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
God gave Jesus Christ an unveiling to the world, which will soon take place. This has and will always be part of God’s great plan to judge the world. Jesus will be revealed to the world at a time only God knows.
Servants
LSJ
δοῦλος (doulos) born bondman or slave, one made a slave
AYBD
✪ δοῦλος (A), Cret. δῶλος Leg.Gort.1.1, al., ὁ:—prop. born bondman or slave, opp. one made a slave,
LSJ
1528 I. δοῦλος (doulos), ου (ou), ὁ (ho): n.masc.; ≡ DBLHebr 6269; Str 1401 & 1400; TDNT 2.261—LN 87.76 slave, servant (; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ) 1529 II. δοῦλος (doulos), η (ē), ον (on): adj.; ≡ Str 1401—LN 37.3 subservient to, slavish, servile ((2×)+)
DBL Greek
servants CSB
to … servants ESV
to … slaves LEB
unto … servants KJV 1900
Text Comparison
τοῖς tois
ὁ hothe
ο o the
DDPM article, dative, plural, masculine
G3588 Greek Strong’s
LN 92.24 Louw-Nida
δούλοις doulois
δοῦλος doulosslave
δουλος doulos slave
NDPM noun, dative, plural, masculine
The revelation was given to show those who were slaves of Christ what was to come, to prepare them for what is ahead and to teach others. Only followers of Christ will understand the hope of His coming, which is part of this prophecy. It is a promise from God to redeem His people and have a place prepared for them where there will be no more death, pain, sin, and sadness.
G1401 Greek Strong’s
LN 37.3 Louw-Nida
slave noun
Apocalypse Revelation
Prologue 1:1–8
Allusion, Old Testament 1
Angels, Blessing and Cursing, Obedience and Disobedience, Prophecy, Revelation, Service
1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; likewise for servant later in this verse
c ch. 22:16
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star!”
Angel
d
And the person who saw it has testified (and his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth), so that you also may believe.
e ch. 6:9; 12:17; 19:10; See
Now when the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been violently killed because of the word of God and because of the testimony they had given.
So the dragon became enraged at the woman and went away to make war on the rest of her children, those who keep God’s commandments and hold to the testimony about Jesus. 12:18 And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore.
Who is this angel? It does not say. Why an angel? Again, it does not say. However, what we might infer from the passage and a time to come is that Jesus’ time on earth had come to an end and He would not return until the appointed time. This may be one possibility. Or, the angel was a messenger sent by God, as has happened many times before.
So I threw myself down at his feet to worship him, but he said, “Do not do this! I am only a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony about Jesus. Worship God, for the testimony about Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
just as the testimony about Christ has been confirmed among you—
f ver. 11, 19
John
saying: “Write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches—to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”
This is the John whom was one of Jesus’ closest disciples, the one Jesus loved. John also wrote the Gospel of John, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John. The letter also notes what kind of servant he was, one who was a witness to the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Therefore write what you saw, what is, and what will be after these things.
who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.
John was the oldest living disciple of Jesus and had spent his life witnessing to the world about Christ. This is the reason why he was on Patmos ().
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.
Blessed
μακάριος (makarios) happy, fortunate
John makes a special note of a blessing regarding the letter. The blessing is marked for those that read and hear it. There is another clause which must be noted, “and who keep what is written in it.” It does not seem to be enough to just read or hear, you must follow, obey, keep its message in your heart and life.
This is also the 1st of 7 blessings which follow in the book of Revelation, (See also 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14).
637 ἀποκάλυψις (apokalypsis), εως (eōs), ἡ (hē): n.fem.; ≡ Str 602; TDNT 3.563—LN 28.38 revelation, what is revealed, a disclosure (; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; )
Michaels, J. R. (1997). Revelation (Vol. 20, ). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
Keep
τηρεω (tereo) keep, observe
The revelation ESV, KJV 1900, LEB, CSB
This word is actually very important, because it connects how one is to use this prophecy. It must be obeyed, or observed, for the blessing. It can be seen as a command of sorts. It is interesting to note that John uses this particular Greek word the most in the NT, as it is found in throughout all his letters. John uses it 28 times of the 39 occurrences in the NT. Consider how this word is used in other passages.
Text Comparison
:15
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
Ἀποκάλυψις Apokalypsis
but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:
ἀποκάλυψις apokalypsisrevelation
The Time is Near
καλυπτω kalyptō hide; conceal; cover
This is the age to come, a time period. J Ramsey Michaels, in his commentary, the interesting parallel between Daniel and John’s letters.
NNSF noun, nominative, singular, feminine
Daniel 12
He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end.
G602 Greek Strong’s
The message is clear, we, as believers, must be ready for what is to come. Remember the blessing.
LN 28.38 Louw-Nida
revelation noun
Apocalypse Revelation
Allusion, Old Testament 1
Angels, Blessing and Cursing, Obedience and Disobedience, Prophecy, Revelation, Service
a , ; [; ]
Now they understand that everything you have given me comes from you,
because I have given them the words you have given me. They accepted them and really understand that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.
I have many things to say and to judge about you, but the Father who sent me is truthful, and the things I have heard from him I speak to the world.”
Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you, I do not speak on my own initiative, but the Father residing in me performs his miraculous deeds.
b ch. 22:6
Then the angel said to me, “These words are reliable and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must happen soon.”
1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; likewise for servant later in this verse
c ch. 22:16
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star!”
d
And the person who saw it has testified (and his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth), so that you also may believe.