Intro to Revleation

Over the next several weeks we will be looking at the first three chapters of Revelation together. Recently, I have had several conversations with some of you concerning the Last Days. This topic generates a lot of discussion and emotion. For some, talk about the last days generates fear, others are filled with excitement. While many are focused on the tribulation, persecution and the “great falling away” as the last days approach, many others focus on the HOPE and the PROMISES of the New Heaven and the New Earth.

In reality all of these things are true. Paul tells us some of the characteristics of the last days:

2 Timothy 3:1–5 ESV

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

These characteristics are not pretty. Days of great difficulty lie ahead.

But days of great HOPE lie ahead as well:

Revelation 21:1–4 ESV

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

The book of Revelation talks a lot about the Last Days and the coming of the Lord. My goal is to do a few series through the Book of Revelation over the next several months and talk about these things very candidly. Today’s message not only serves as an introduction to this series, but also as an introduction to this book as a whole...

The Book of Revelation falls into the category of Apocalyptic Literature. Dr. Bruce Barnes, one of my friends and the FWB Promotional Director in the state of Virginia recently published his commentary on the Book of Revelation. He says this concerning “apocalyptic literature.” It is filled with:

symbolism, figurative [language], [which is] weighed toward judgment, much to say about the “Day of the Lord” (Barnes)

Revelation is without a doubt PROPHETIC! Before Scripture was completed God often spoke through His prophets. These were individuals who received special revelation from God through dreams, visions and even through hearing God’s voice.

These prophets would record God’s message. Sometimes the message would come through visual and/or symbolic pictures. We are called to interpret these prophecies based upon what the AUTHOR meant these prophecies to mean. We must approach these prophecies honestly, making every attempt to explain its truth simply and how it applies to practical living!

With that said, you may know there are different schools of interpretation when it comes to Revelation. I want to mention these briefly with the help of Gwyn Pugh’s commentary and then share the view that I personally take:

Past-Time View: Those who hold to this view believe that the prophecies in Revelation were fulfilled between 70 AD (the fall of Jerusalem) and 476 AD (the fall of Rome). Those who hold to this view believe the demand of the worship of the Antichrist was reflected in the command to worship the emperor of the time, they view the Second Coming of Christ as not literal, but rather the judgement that came on the 1st Century Jews who crucified Christ and the destruction of Jerusalem that took place in 70AD. They believe that God’s program for Israel ceased and God’s focus shifted to the church. They even believe the New Jerusalem that God promised is not literal, but rather is the “church.”

Symbolic View: These individuals believe that basically everything in Revelation is “symbolic.” They believe that Revelation is symbolic literature that discusses the battle between “good and evil.” They believe that Revelation just serves to encourage believers in every century and teaches them how to face things like: persecution, false doctrine, pagan culture, dealing with the devil and immorality. They do not believe in a final consummation or a literal second coming of Christ.

Continuous Time View: Those who hold to this view believe that most of Revelation has already been fulfilled. They look to past historical events like the reign of Charlemagne, the Protestant Reformation, Napoleon and even Hitler as the fulfillment of many of the seals, trumpets and bowl judgments that Revelation talks about. Many under this view tie Babylon and the Antichrist to the Catholic Church and believe that the seven churches that are written to represent SEVEN Church Ages throughout history.

Future Time View: They believe that what happens between Revelation 4-19 represents a literal seven year period. They believe this is tied to Daniel’s prophecy and the 70th week of Daniel talked about by the OT prophet. They believe this is a FUTURE period of tribulation and catastrophe that affects the entire population of planet earth. They believe in a literal, human Antichrist that will be revealed during this seven year period and at Christ’s literal Second Coming, Christ will literally destroy him and his forces and will reign on earth for 1,000 years. At the end of this 1,000 year reign there will be an insurrection by Gog and Magog and the resurrection and judgment of unbelievers at the Great White Throne judgment. The present universe will give way to a new and final universe crafted by God, described in the final two chapters. Even within this view there are differences regarding when they believe the church will be raptured…that leads us to what we may refer to as the...

Millennial Views:

Pre-millennial: This view believes in a literal, thousand year reign of Christ after the Second Coming. Pugh says, “It was the dominant viewpoint in early church history until the 4th century.” Pre-millennialists also believe in a literal, seven year tribulation period although some are divided about when the church will be raptured.

Pre-Tribulationists believe that the church will be raptured at the very beginning of the tribulation period and be spared the outpouring of God’s wrath on an unbelieving world.

Mid-Tribulationists believe the church will be raptured after the first 3 1/2 years, delivering the church from the worst of the tribulation period…the last 3 1/2 years.

Post-Tribulationists believe the church will be raptured at the very end of the tribulation period at the Second Coming. They basically view the rapture and the Second Coming as the same event.

Amillennialists: These individuals do not see the 1,000 year reign of Christ as literal, but symbolic. They see Christ’s reign with believers who are either already in Heaven and in the hearts of the believers on earth. They believe that this period began at Christ’s first coming and continues throughout church history. They believe Daniel’s 70th week was fulfilled when Jerusalem was destroyed in AD 70 and the great tribulation has already taken place. Typically, they also believe the OT promises are applied to the church.

Postmillennialism: Postmillennialists believe that the world is gradually being changed for the better by the preaching of the Gospel and Christian influence. Christ’s return will not be to conquer the world, because the world has already been conquered by the Gospel. This view is commonly seen in those who promote reconstructionism…those who seek to try to reintroduce God’s laws into ethics and government. They believe the world will get better, not worse and so they encourage continual involvement in social concerns because they believe is one way the Gospel will transform society. Many who practice the “social gospel” lean to this view.

Based upon my own research and reading through the years I fall into “Future Time Pre-Millennial View of Revelation.” While I believe there are some good Christians who don’t see Revelation the way I do, I do believe that is the best interpretation of the Scriptures.

As we explore the Book of Revelation together we will find out that it is broken up into THREE main sections:

Chapter One: “What John Saw”. John is the human author that God used to pen the words of this book under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. While John was exiled on the “Isle of Patmos” Christ appeared to him and gave him a vision. Chapter one details the things John saw.

Chapters Two & Three: “What Was Currently Taking Place in the Churches”. Before Christ revealed to John the things that would take place, he showed John “What was Currently Taking Place in the Churches” in Asia. We will look at these things as we explore Revelation 2 & 3.

Chapters Four & Beyond: “The Things that are to Come”. Chapters 4 through the end of the book discuss the things that are to come. The events in these chapters discuss the future events surrounding the Last Days and the Coming of our Lord for the Second time!

It’s also important to remember the THEMES of the book of Revelation. Gwyn Pugh mentions a few of these:

Jesus

Jesus will personally defeat the forces of evil

Jesus will judge all mankind by the Gospel

Jesus will banish Satan and all unbelievers to Hell

Jesus will reward the saints with eternal life in a new Heaven and earth

Heaven

Activity will be the worship of God

It’s beauty

It’s songs

Diverse population

Quality of Eternal Life

Absence of sin and sinful things/people

Absence of death, tears and sorrow

Absence of the sun and the moon

Warfare between God and satan

An Introduction to Revelation (vv. 1-2)

As John opens this book he immediately reveals to the readers “it is the REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST.” The word for “revelation” in the Greek language means “an unveiling or disclosure” (BKC) or the “uncovering of something that was previously hidden.”

It is known as the “revelation OF Jesus Christ.” This can be translated “from Jesus Christ” or “about Jesus Christ” or “belonging to Jesus Christ.” Dr. Barnes leans toward the interpretation that it is “about Jesus Christ. He says:

[it] suggests the unveiling or disclosure of the person Jesus. Revelation is generally understood as a book unveiling end-time events, but these happenings are those revealing the place of Jesus Christ in the universe.

No matter the correct interpretation, ALL are true. These are the things that God the Father and God the Son want His servants to know. As Randall House Commentor Gwyn Pugh says:

He pulls back the curtain of time to reveal present realities and future events.

Also notice WHO this book is addressed to. It is addressed to “HIS SERVANTS.” Servants are those “who belong to another” in this case, those who belong to Jesus! This book is written to believers, to Christians, to EVERY child of God…including YOU if you know Him!

John says that these things will “soon take place” (v. 1). When we think that these words were written 2,000 years ago, we may think, “How soon is soon?” From heaven’s perspective Peter says,

2 Peter 3:7–8 ESV

But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

We would probably be better to think of “soon” as “IMMINENT.” In other words the things that the Spirit is writing Peter to record WOULD happen SUDDENLY. We are reminded of this in

Romans 16:20 ESV

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Satan is one day going to be SUDDENLY CRUSHED under the feet of those who have been saved and redeemed by the blood of Jesus!

God gave this message to John through an angel and John says that he was a witness (v. 2).

Let’s not forget who John was. Yes, he is the recipient of this revelation, but he was also an eyewitness of Christ and His life and work. He saw Jesus’ miracles and leaned upon Jesus at the Last Supper. He stood at the cross as Christ was dying for the sins of the world and was one of the first disciples to be made aware of Christ’s resurrection! As Dr. Barnes says:

John stands uniquely qualified to confirm that the revelation give is from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

Kendall Easley says that John uses the language of the courtroom when referring to a witness. A witness is to “reliably testifies to everything he saw.” He goes on to say this was John’s way of saying that the book of Revelation was “the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.” Both Jesus and John serve as witnesses to the things that are about to be shared.

We also see...

A Three-Fold Blessing Promised (v. 3)

Verse 3 uses the word “blessed” for the first time in the book of Revelation and it will be used a total of SEVEN times throughout this book. In this verse alone we are we are told of THREE blessings that come as a result of something related to this book. In the Greek these blessings are given using “present participles.” In other words this is to be something that CONTINUES!

The word “blessed” refers to someone who is considered “fortunate”. It can also refer to someone who has “JOY” as a result of said blessing...

The first blessing comes to...

Those Who Read it Out Loud

Notice again

Revelation 1:3 ESV

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.

According to William Barclay Scripture reading was not only an important part of the Jewish synagogue, but history tells us that it was an important part of the early church as well. Both Justin Martyr and Tertullian speak of “readers” in the early church. There would be very few copies of this manuscript to go around in these days, and so the person would would stand and read it to others would receive a blessing from the Lord for doing so. Those who had the honor and privilege of being “readers” of this text would be especially fortunate.

The second blessing comes to...

Those Who Hear It

There were the readers and there were the “hearers.” The hearers would be those in the congregation who were hearing the reading.

I love Barclay’s comments on this passage:

We do well to remember how great a privilege it is to hear the word of God in our own language, a privilege which was bought at great cost. People died to give it to us; and, for a long time, the professional clergy sought to keep it to themselves. To this day, the task of giving people the Scriptures in their own language goes on.

Blessed are Those Who Keep It

Those who hear the truth of this book and the Word of God and continually put these truths into practice will be those who experience a great blessing from the Lord.

James also reminds us of this truth

James 1:22 ESV

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

James 4:17 ESV

So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

Isn’t it interesting that oftentimes the Book of Revelation is the LEAST read of many of the books of the Bible. We shouldn’t be scared of this book or neglect this book, but we should EMBRACE what God has to say to us through this book and realize there is a special blessing coming as a result!

Gwyn Pugh rightly states:

To ignore its instruction at this critical juncture of world history, because it seems to difficult or controversial, potentially forfeits personal blessing and future readiness. Revelation clearly instructs as to what everyone ought to be doing about the future RIGHT NOW (emphasis mine).

As we conclude today notice the last few words of

Revelation 1:3 ESV

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.

The TIME is NEAR.

I believe the time is IMMINENT. It could happen anytime.

If Christ raptured His church TODAY would you be ready? Do you really think you would follow Jesus during the tribulation period if you won’t follow Him now?

One day He’s coming again. One day He’s going to make all things right! One day He’s coming to get His bride! Are you ready?

If you aren’t ready we want you to be ready! Jesus said YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN. If even Jesus doesn’t come back in your lifetime, you have no promise of tomorrow. You will one day face God, either through death, the rapture or the Second Coming. There is NO ESCAPING that fact!

When He comes there will be no time to get ready. You must BE READY and you must STAY READY!

Share the Gospel about how to GET READY!