Sermon Tone Analysis
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*Relating to Revelation*
July 27, 2003
*Uncle Sam*
· Take a look at this political cartoon.
Q: Who is this guy?
Q: Where is he?
Now imagine someone a *1000 *years from now, who knows *nothing* of the *context*, trying to understand this *bizarre* picture.
Q: Is he supposed to be a *giant*?
Is he turning into *stone*?
*You* know why his *legs* are *steel*, his *feet* are *buildings*, he’s surrounded by *smoke*, and he’s staring resolutely to the *East*.
You can easily understand the artist’s intent, because:
· When we know the *context*, we can identify the *symbols*.
*A very strange book*
The Book of Revelation has got to be the *scariest* and most *bizarre* book in the NT.
The *locusts* looked like horses prepared for battle.
On their heads they wore something like *crowns of gold*, and their *faces* resembled *human *faces.
Their *hair* was like *women's hair*, and their *teeth* were like *lions'* teeth.
They had *breastplates* like breastplates of *iron*, and the *sound* of their *wings* was like the *thundering* of many horses and *chariots* rushing into *battle*.*
*/Revelation 9:7-9 NIV /
And *because* it is so strange and filled with bizarre, *abstract* images, the book of Revelation invites *extremes*.
· Some people just *love* this book...for all the *wrong* reasons!
· They *scour* it for clues to create *theories* about the *end times*.
As a *teenager*, I read through Revelation more times than I could count, trying to *discover* how the world was going to *end*.
I was *especially* interested in the “*Number of Beast*,” 666.
· Taking the *other* *extreme*, many people *avoid* it altogether, finding it both *scary* and *irrelevant* to daily life.
\\ *exhortation, not speculation*
After spending *countless* hours reading Revelation, I realized that I wasn’t any *closer* to *God* or a *stronger* in my *faith*.
In frustration, I put the book down and *avoided* it for a *long* time.
· I wondered *why* God put such a *useless* book in the Bible.
· It only seems to encourage *unproductive* *speculations*.
I knew better; if *God* put in the Bible, it was for our *benefit*.
After *10 years*, I was ready to give it another try, from a *new* perspective.
· For the *first time* ever, I was able to *enjoy* reading Revelation.
· I learned that it’s a book of *exhortation*, not *speculation*.
I can’t tell you if there will be a “*pre-trib*” or “*post-trib*” rapture or who the *Antichrist* is … but I can show you what I have *learned* and how you can *relate* to *Revelation*, and grow *closer* to God.
*Principles for reading Revelation*
There are three *principles* essential for *relating* to *Revelation*:
1) We must approach the book of Revelation with *humility*.
· The may be *Bible* infallible, but *our* *interpretation* of it is not.
Revelation is hard to understand and there are many things *impossible* to nail down.
If we lack the *humility* to confess our *ignorance*, we will make the mistake of claiming *certainty* where there isn’t any.
I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.
But I have stilled and quieted my soul.... /Psalm 131:1-2 NIV /
People have been struggling to understand Revelation for *1900* *years*.
They have fallen into one of four groups:
· Futurists: The majority of the events *will* occur in the *end* *times*.
This is most common view among *evangelical* Christians and it’s the view of the “Left Behind” series.
It’s *only* been popular since *1850*.
· Idealists: The majority of the events are strictly *symbolic*, describing timeless truths.
The idealist looks for *themes*, such as *God* triumphing over *evil*.
For *1500* years, this was how *almost* *all* Christians and theologians understood Revelation.
· Historicists: The events cover the span of history, *not* the *end* times.
And so, the *Antichrist* may have been *Hitler* or *Napoleon* or *Caesar*.
· Preterists: The majority of the events occurred in *lifetime* of John’s *original* audience.
The preterist believe John was writing about “*current*” *events* and events soon to come.
· Incidentally, this is what I lean towards.
*Some alternate explanations*
Remember the *Number* of the *Beast*?
In John’s day, it was common for names to have a *numerical* *value* based on its *letters*.
In *Pompeii* they found some *graffiti* that said “I love her whose *number* is 545!”
· The number of the deranged emperor *Nero* was *666*.
· John had to be *discreet* or he’d be *executed* for *sedition*.
And the *Mark* of the Beast?
It *may* be no more than a *highly* imaginative way of referring to *money* with Nero’s *name* and *face*.
In John’s day, it was very difficult for Christians to be involved in *commerce* without participating in *pagan* worship.
· *Some* scholars believe *this* is the infamous Mark of the Beast.
And *Babylon* who rides on the beast with *seven* heads?
The Bible tells us the seven heads are seven *hills*; *Rome* sat on seven hills.
*Regardless* of what interpretation you follow, knowing that godly men and women have *legitimately* approached Revelation in such *different* ways should foster *humility* and *caution* in our approach.
2) We must attempt to understand the *context*.
Just like the political cartoon of Uncle Sam, when we know the *context*, it is much easier to identify the *symbols*.
John was using *common* symbols of his day, understood by his *readers*.
[Handouts]
He also uses a writing *style* that was very *common* in his day, called *Apocalyptic*, which is known for using *wild* images and *rich* symbols.
· Apocalyptic writings were the *Picassos* of literature:
· *Bold* images that are confusing in *detail*, clearer as a *whole*.
· *We* also use *confusing* expressions: “All hell broke loose.”
We will *never* understand the imagery as *well* as the first century readers, but we *can* learn the *same* *lessons*.
3) Prophecy is given to encourage *action*, not *speculation*.
Throughout the Bible, God always intends prophecy to *benefit* us.
*Nineveh* was warned of impending doom so they could *repent*.
Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.
/Revelation 22:7 NIV /
· How do we “*keep*” prophecy?
*I* want to be blessed!
· Is it by *outlining* the events and *labeling* the figures?
· We keep prophecy by *responding* to it; by learning its *lessons* and *applying* them.
*Lessons from Revelation*
Revelation teaches us three main lessons: It is a book that *unveils*, *warns*, and *encourages*.
1) It *unveils* Jesus in his glory.
This is *one* and *only *time we see Jesus since he *ascended* to heaven.
In the Gospels he was the suffering *servant*, the *lamb* led to *slaughter*.
In Revelation he is the glorious conquering *King*.
· Then, he *veiled* his divine *majesty*, now he appears *unveiled*.
As I read this, remember this is written by Jesus’ *closest* *friend*:
His *head* and *hair* were *white* like wool, as white as snow, and his *eyes* were like blazing *fire*.
His *feet* were like *bronze* glowing in a furnace, and his *voice* was like the *sound* of rushing waters….
His *face* was like the *sun* shining in all its brilliance.
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though *dead*.
/Revelation 1:14-15; 17 NIV /
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