Sermon Tone Analysis

Starter Quote

Lectio Continua Commentary Series

Revelation tells us that Jesus Christ, as the Lamb of God, is seated on the throne of heaven.

He is the theme of this book, as the One revealed.

But He is also the Revealer, the author of the book.

Verse 1 says this book is “the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass.”

“Things which must shortly come to pass” can also be translated as “things which must soon begin to happen.”

This phrase is the key to understanding the book of Revelation: Jesus Christ wants to show us things that must shortly come to pass.

Background Information

Author

John the apostle

Date

60-64AD

19th century

Under Nero

~95AD

Every other century minus 19th

Under Domitian, not Nero

Audience

7 Churches

Ephesus

Smyrna

Pergamum

Thyatira

Sardis

Philadelphia

Laodicea

Genre

Apocalyptic

Supernatural revelation of things that will take place centered on God destroying evil and establishing His Kingdom

Prophecy

John refers to his letter as prophecy 5x

Foretelling while calling to obedience

Epistle

Letter to the seven churches from John the apostle

Outline of Book

Introduction - Revelation 1

The Seven Churches - Revelation 2-3

The Throne Room - Revelation 4-5

7 Seals - Revelation 6-8:1

7 Trumpets - Revelation 8:2-11

7 Visions - Revelation 12-15:4

7 Bowls - Revelation 15:5-16:21

Judgment - Revelation 17-19

Millennial Reign - Revelation 20

New Creation - Revelation 21-22:5

Epilogue - Revelation 22:6-21

Old Testament Influence

More OT allusions than all other NT book COMBINED

OT books:

Pentateuch

Judges

1-2 Samuel

1-2 Kings

Book of Psalms

Proverbs

Song of Solomon

Job

Major & Minor Prophets

Ezekiel - Greatest Influence

To understand the revelation John takes us back before going forward

Schools of Interpretation

Preterist

All or most events in Revelation were fulfilled in the first century

Generally believe the book was written between 60-64AD

Historicist

Prophetic representation of the church age from the apostles to the end of the ages

Most people place the last few chapters of Revelation in their current time

Most scholars/interpreters have abandoned this view

Idealist

Spiritual/allegorical approach to the book

No tie to any specific historical events

Ongoing battle between God and Satan

Introduced by Origen and made prominent by Augustine

Futurist

Chapters 4-22 are future events taking place after the rapture

Most popular view in evangelical circles today

Emphasis on the ultimate victory of Christ and His church over the world

Eclectic

Embraces the strengths of the dominate four views and rejects their weaknesses

Personally, I believe this is the best interpretative approach to take - Redemptive-Eclectic:

Redemptive

God ultimately delivers the world and followers of the Lamb from the bondage of sin, evil, and Satan

Eclectic

Preterist - Written to real churches in the first century who would have expected this to apply to them

Idealist - Rightly sees that the letter relates to first century Christians and throughout the ages as a cosmic battle - cyclical in nature (Revelation 6-19)

Futurist - John prophesies about events in the future that are eschatological in nature

Purpose of Revelation

The purpose of Revelation is to challenge/encourage believers, who are expectantly awaiting the reign of Christ, to live faithfully for Him despite worldly circumstances, persecution, and the cosmic battle between God and Satan.

Theology

Revealing of Jesus Christ

The Lamb is victorious

God’s final eschatological judgment

Persevere despite persecution

Quotes on the book of Revelation

Revelation:Preaching the Word - James Hamilton

We have been lulled to sleep by the ordinariness of our lives.

Our senses have been dulled by the humdrum of one day after another.

We need to see God as he is.

We need to be convinced that Jesus is reigning as the risen King.