Revelation Introduction

As one historian mourns, “end-time thinking has been incredibly elastic”; elements of the “prophetic jigsaw puzzle” have achieved “a chameleon-like character—it has been regularly adjusted to suit the changes in current events.”16 As we will see, the “revelation of Jesus Christ” to John (1:1) uses not only the Greek language but images and symbols that made sense in his generation, and modern prophecy teachers have often tried to jump to what it “means” without first understanding what it “meant.”

Keener, Craig S.. Revelation (The NIV Application Commentary Book 20) (p. 26). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

Keener, Craig S.. Revelation (NIVAC) (p. 26). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

This is summed up in the saying of E. F. Scott, who called Revelation ‘a trumpet call to faith’ (The Book of Revelation [SCM, 1939], p. 174). The book was written to strengthen the faith and courage of John’s fellow-believers in Christ, to nerve them for battle with antichristian forces in the world, and to help them bear witness to the one true Lord and Saviour of the world.

The New Bible Commentary The Purpose of Revelation

This is summed up in the saying of E. F. Scott, who called Revelation ‘a trumpet call to faith’ (The Book of Revelation [SCM, 1939], p. 174). The book was written to strengthen the faith and courage of John’s fellow-believers in Christ, to nerve them for battle with antichristian forces in the world, and to help them bear witness to the one true Lord and Saviour of the world.

Revelation reminds us that we do not belong to this world and must not be seduced by what it values. John’s Revelation calls for persecuted churches to remain vigilant (2:10; 3:11) and other churches to resist compromise with the spirit of their age (2:16, 25; 3:3, 18–20).78

This is summed up in the saying of E. F. Scott, who called Revelation ‘a trumpet call to faith’ (The Book of Revelation [SCM, 1939], p. 174). The book was written to strengthen the faith and courage of John’s fellow-believers in Christ, to nerve them for battle with antichristian forces in the world, and to help them bear witness to the one true Lord and Saviour of the world.

Keener, Craig S.. Revelation (NIVAC) (p. 43). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

John

The NET Bible Chapter 1

The revelation of Jesus Christ,1 which God gave him to show his servants2 what must happen very soon.3 He made it clear4 by sending his angel to his servant5 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,

NE

(NET)

The NET Bible Chapter 1

The revelation of Jesus Christ,1 which God gave him to show his servants2 what must happen very soon.3 He made it clear4 by sending his angel to his servant5 John,

2 tn Grk “slaves.” Although this translation frequently renders δοῦλος (doulos) as “slave,” the connotation is often of one who has sold himself into slavery; in a spiritual sense, the idea is that of becoming a slave of God or of Jesus Christ voluntarily. The voluntary notion is not conspicuous here; hence, the translation “servants.” In any case, the word does not bear the connotation of a free individual serving another. BDAG notes that “ ‘servant’ for ‘slave’ is largely confined to Biblical transl. and early American times … in normal usage at the present time the two words are carefully distinguished” (BDAG 260 s.v.). The most accurate translation is “bondservant” (sometimes found in the ASV for δοῦλος), in that it often indicates one who sells himself into slavery to another. But as this is archaic, few today understand its force.

3 tn BDAG 992–93 s.v. τάχος has “quickly, at once, without delay D; 12:7; 17:15 D; 22:18; 1 Cl 48:1; 63:4 … soon, in a short time … ; … shortly .”

Revelation 1:1 NRSV

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place; he made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

4 tn Or “He indicated it clearly” (L&N 33.153).

1 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,

5 tn See the note on the word “servants” earlier in this verse.

Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Biblical Studies Press, 2005), .

Since the second century ad many have identified the author with John the son of Zebedee, one of the twelve apostles (Justin Dial. Tryph. 81) and disciple of Jesus (Irenaeus Adv. Haer. 3.11.1–3; 5.26.1; Clement of Alexandria Strom. 6.106–7; Tertullian Adv. Marc. 3.14.24)...

ad anno Domini, in the year of our Lord

Dial. Tryph. Dialogus contra Tryphonem

Adv. Haer. Adversus haereses

Strom. Stromateis

...Others have argued that the writer could have been John the Elder of Ephesus. This view depends partly on whether or not the tradition of Papias cited by Eusebius (Hist. Eccl. 3.39) was referring to someone other than the apostle. In the end, therefore, the precise identity of “John” remains unknown.

Adv. Marc. Adversus Marcionum

Hist. Eccl. Historia ecclesiastica

Loren T. Stuckenbruck, “Revelation,” in Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible, ed. James D. G. Dunn and John W. Rogerson (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2003), 1535.

ad anno Domini, in the year of our Lord

Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible Author

Others have argued that the writer could have been John the Elder of Ephesus. This view depends partly on whether or not the tradition of Papias cited by Eusebius (Hist. Eccl. 3.39) was referring to someone other than the apostle. In the end, therefore, the precise identity of “John” remains unknown.

Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible Author

Others have argued that the writer could have been John the Elder of Ephesus. This view depends partly on whether or not the tradition of Papias cited by Eusebius (Hist. Eccl. 3.39) was referring to someone other than the apostle. In the end, therefore, the precise identity of “John” remains unknown.

Dial. Tryph. Dialogus contra Tryphonem

Adv. Haer. Adversus haereses

Strom. Stromateis

Adv. Marc. Adversus Marcionum

Loren T. Stuckenbruck, “Revelation,” in Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible, ed. James D. G. Dunn and John W. Rogerson (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2003), 1535.

Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible Author

Others have argued that the writer could have been John the Elder of Ephesus. This view depends partly on whether or not the tradition of Papias cited by Eusebius (Hist. Eccl. 3.39) was referring to someone other than the apostle. In the end, therefore, the precise identity of “John” remains unknown.

John is exiled on the island of Patmos

Likely at the end of the First Century, during the reign of emperor Domitian

Early Date, during the reign of emperor Nero

(NET)

The NET Bible Chapter 1

From John,13 to the seven churches that are in the province of Asia:14 Grace and peace to you15 from “he who is,”16 and who was, and who is still to come,17 and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,

5 and from Jesus Christ—the faithful18 witness,19 the firstborn from among the dead, the ruler over the kings of the earth. To the one who loves us and has set us free20 from our sins at the cost of21 his own blood

6 and has appointed22 us as a kingdom,23 as priests24 serving his God and Father—to him be the glory and the power for ever and ever!25 Amen.

4 From John, to the seven churches that are in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from “he who is,” and who was, and who is still to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ—the faithful witness, the firstborn from among the dead, the ruler over the kings of the earth. To the one who loves us and has set us free from our sins at the cost of his own blood 6 and has appointed us as a kingdom, as priests serving his God and Father—to him be the glory and the power for ever and ever! Amen.

5 and from Jesus Christ—the faithful witness, the firstborn from among the dead, the ruler over the kings of the earth. To the one who loves us and has set us free from our sins at the cost of his own blood

6 and has appointed us as a kingdom, as priests serving his God and Father—to him be the glory and the power for ever and ever! Amen.

Apocalypse

Prophecy

Letter

Knowledge of the First Testament

Faithlife Study Bible Introduction to Revelation

• Prologue and vision of Christ (1:1–20)

• Messages to the seven churches (2:1–3:22)

• Vision of heaven and the seven seals (4:1–8:5)

• The seven trumpets (8:6–11:19)

• The powers of evil attack the Church (12:1–14:20)

• The seven bowls (15:1–16:21)

• The fall of Babylon (17:1–19:10)

• The final victory and the new Jerusalem (19:11–22:5)

• Epilogue (22:6–21)

• That God is awesomely majestic, as well as sovereign in our troubles

• That Jesus’ sacrifice as the Lamb ultimately brings complete deliverance for those who trust him

• That God’s judgments on the world are often to serve notice on the world that God will avenge his people

• That regardless of how things appear in the short run, “sin does not go unpunished,” and God will judge

• That God can accomplish his purposes through a small and persecuted remnant; he is not dependent on what the world values as power

• That worship leads us from grief over our sufferings to God’s eternal purposes seen from a heavenly perspective

• That proclaiming Christ invites persecution, the normal state of committed believers in this age

• That Christ is worth dying for

• That a radical contrast exists between God’s kingdom (exemplified in the bride, the new Jerusalem) and the world’s values (exemplified in the prostitute, Babylon)

• That the hope God has prepared for us far exceeds our present sufferings

• That God’s plan and church ultimately include representatives of all peoples

Keener, Craig S.. Revelation (NIVAC) (pp. 41-42). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

In short, the theme of this book is stated most gloriously and completely in these words: “These shall war against the Lamb, and the Lamb shall conquer them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings; and they also shall conquer that are with him called and chosen and faithful” (17:14).

Hendriksen, William. More Than Conquerors (p. 9). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Revelation Introduction

What Revelation Is Not

What Revelation Is

Author

Date and Setting

Date and Setting

Audience

Genre

Structure

Themes