Revelation Study 1 Intro
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The Revelation of/from Jesus Christ
The Revelation of/from Jesus Christ
Introduction to the Book
Introduction to the Book
AUTHOR
AUTHOR
Most believe and agree that the beloved apostle John is the author of Revelation
Most believe and agree that the beloved apostle John is the author of Revelation
LOCATION
LOCATION
This letter was written while John was in exile on the Island of Patmos. Legend has it that John was to be executed in Rome by being lowered into a vat of boiling oil, when he didn’t die, he was exiled to Patmos.
This letter was written while John was in exile on the Island of Patmos. Legend has it that John was to be executed in Rome by being lowered into a vat of boiling oil, when he didn’t die, he was exiled to Patmos.
DATE
DATE
It is believed by most, and we will discuss this further as we read the letter, that John wrote Revelation sometime around late AD 80’s early AD 90’s during the reign of the Roman Caesar/Emperor Domitian.
It is believed by most, and we will discuss this further as we read the letter, that John wrote Revelation sometime around late AD 80’s early AD 90’s during the reign of the Roman Caesar/Emperor Domitian.
AUDIENCE
AUDIENCE
The 7 Churches/Christians living in and around modern day Turkey and living in the Roman Empire during the reign of Caesar Domitian.
The 7 Churches/Christians living in and around modern day Turkey and living in the Roman Empire during the reign of Caesar Domitian.
STYLE
STYLE
John writes in a style of literature called apocalyptic, the key feature of apocalyptic literature is it offering a divine perspective on human history. It contains allusions to the writings of the Old Testament as well as signs and symbols that must be understood as the writer intended.
John writes in a style of literature called apocalyptic, the key feature of apocalyptic literature is it offering a divine perspective on human history. It contains allusions to the writings of the Old Testament as well as signs and symbols that must be understood as the writer intended.
PURPOSE
PURPOSE
John is writing a letter to a recipient. The recipients of the letter were Christians living under Roman rule that are facing threats and seductions of life in and under the Roman empire. They are either being persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and God, or being asked to compromise that faith in order to avoid persecution. They are also at risk of being seduced by the “Babylon” in which they are living and all that it is promising. John is drawing on the Old Testament prophetic critique of economic injustice, imperial power, and idolatrous claims, and reapplying that critique to his day.
John is writing a letter to a recipient. The recipients of the letter were Christians living under Roman rule that are facing threats and seductions of life in and under the Roman empire. They are either being persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and God, or being asked to compromise that faith in order to avoid persecution. They are also at risk of being seduced by the “Babylon” in which they are living and all that it is promising. John is drawing on the Old Testament prophetic critique of economic injustice, imperial power, and idolatrous claims, and reapplying that critique to his day.
THE SETTING
THE SETTING
Caesar Augustus, (the emperor who issued the decree for the census that caused Mary and Joseph to travel to Bethlehem and Jesus to be born there), allowed a temple to be built for the cult worship of the goddess Roma, but also allowed a statue of himself to be put there. After his death, Augustus was deified and his son, Tiberius (the emperor during Jesus’ ministry) became known as the “son of God.” Caesars that followed were referred to as “the savior of the world”, and “the lord”. Caesar Caligula proclaimed the good news that he had been deified and required himself to be worshipped as god during his lifetime. They built temples where Caesar was worshipped as God and at the time of John’s writing, their were 40 such temples including 1 in each of the 7 Churches addressed in chapters 2-3.
Caesar Augustus, (the emperor who issued the decree for the census that caused Mary and Joseph to travel to Bethlehem and Jesus to be born there), allowed a temple to be built for the cult worship of the goddess Roma, but also allowed a statue of himself to be put there. After his death, Augustus was deified and his son, Tiberius (the emperor during Jesus’ ministry) became known as the “son of God.” Caesars that followed were referred to as “the savior of the world”, and “the lord”. Caesar Caligula proclaimed the good news that he had been deified and required himself to be worshipped as god during his lifetime. They built temples where Caesar was worshipped as God and at the time of John’s writing, their were 40 such temples including 1 in each of the 7 Churches addressed in chapters 2-3.
Another element at play is that the imperial cult was a big part of commercial life through the trade guilds. This network let to political and commercial advancement, but also meant being a part of the imperial cult of emperor worship. Tim Chester writes,
Another element at play is that the imperial cult was a big part of commercial life through the trade guilds. This network let to political and commercial advancement, but also meant being a part of the imperial cult of emperor worship. Tim Chester writes,
“Pressure to participate came from neighbours as much as from officials. People were urged not to make trouble and to be grateful for Roman rule. This inevitably put Christians on a collision course with the culture and, ultimately, the authorities. Faithful believers believed in Jesus as the one and only Son of God, the only Savior of the world, and the one true Lord. But to express this belief out loud was culturally awkward, commercially disastrous, and politically treasonous.” Revelation for You, pg. 12
“Pressure to participate came from neighbours as much as from officials. People were urged not to make trouble and to be grateful for Roman rule. This inevitably put Christians on a collision course with the culture and, ultimately, the authorities. Faithful believers believed in Jesus as the one and only Son of God, the only Savior of the world, and the one true Lord. But to express this belief out loud was culturally awkward, commercially disastrous, and politically treasonous.” Revelation for You, pg. 12
FOR US
FOR US
We must first read this letter as a letter to a specific audience and understand its message to them before we begin to look for how this is speaking about today. We need to put ourselves in their shoes before we apply this message to ourselves in regards to the “Babylon” in which we are living. We will draw parallels from the original audience to ourselves and also the 7 churches and life in Christian America. In this letter John is drawing on the Old Testament prophetic critique of economic injustice, imperial power, and idolatrous claims, and reapplying that critique to his day, and we would be wise to do the same.
We must first read this letter as a letter to a specific audience and understand its message to them before we begin to look for how this is speaking about today. We need to put ourselves in their shoes before we apply this message to ourselves in regards to the “Babylon” in which we are living. We will draw parallels from the original audience to ourselves and also the 7 churches and life in Christian America. In this letter John is drawing on the Old Testament prophetic critique of economic injustice, imperial power, and idolatrous claims, and reapplying that critique to his day, and we would be wise to do the same.
THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR
THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR
7’s John will write of 7 lamps, 7 seals, 7 trumpets, and 7 bowls. As for the 7 seals, trumpets and bowls, we will not look at these as sequential events but rather as a zoom in for a closer look and from a different perspective as we work from the seals to the trumpets to the bowls. (see “it is done” Rev. 16:17 and 21:6)
7’s John will write of 7 lamps, 7 seals, 7 trumpets, and 7 bowls. As for the 7 seals, trumpets and bowls, we will not look at these as sequential events but rather as a zoom in for a closer look and from a different perspective as we work from the seals to the trumpets to the bowls. (see “it is done” Rev. 16:17 and 21:6)
There is some intensification as the cycle of 7’s develop, from 1/4 to 1/3 to 1/2
There is some intensification as the cycle of 7’s develop, from 1/4 to 1/3 to 1/2