Revelation 1 Notes

Revelation Notes --- Chapter 1

REVELATION

REVELATION --- apokalýptō, apokálypsis. TO UNVEIL , UNCOVER, DISCOVER, REVEAL,

ἀποκαλύπτω; ἀποκάλυψις, εως f: (figurative extensions of meaning of ἀποκαλύπτω and ἀποκάλυψις ‘to uncover, to take out of hiding,’ not occurring in the NT) to cause something to be fully known—‘to reveal, to disclose, to make fully known, revelation.’

Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 338). New York: United Bible Societies.

APOCALYPSE APPEARS 18 TIMES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT --- ALWAYS USED OF A PERSON WITH THE MEANING TO BECOME VISIBLE --- LUKE 2:32 ROMANS 8:19 I PETER 1:7 I CORINTHIANS 1:7

AUTHOR --- JOHN

AD 135

JUSTIN MARTYR --- "THERE WAS A CERTAIN MAN WITH US, WHOSE NAME WAS JOHN, ONE OF THE APOSTLES OF CHRIST, WHO PROPHESIED, BE REVELATION THAT WAS MADE TO HIM, THAT THOSE WHO BELIEVED IN OUR CHRIST WOULD DWELL A THOUSAND YEARS IN JERUSALEM; AND THAT THEREAFTER THE GENERAL, AND , IN SHORT, THE ETERNAL RESURRECTION AND JUDGEMENT OF ALL MEN WOULD LIKEWISE TAKE PLACE."

AD 140-198

IRENAEUS AS BOY WAS A DISCIPLE OF POLYCARP, WHO IN TURN WAS DISCIPLE OF JOHN THE APOSTLE ---

"JOHN ALSO, THE LORD'S DISCIPLE, WHEN BEHOLDING THE SACERDOTAL AND GLORIOUS ADVENT OF HIS KINGDOM, SAY IN THE APOCALYPSE."

AD 160-210

TERTULLIAN --- CLAIMED THAT JOHN WAS THE AUTHOR

DATE

TWO VIEWS

REIGN OF NERO AD60

REIGN OF DOMITIAN AD 96

INTERPRETATION

PRETERIST --- NOT AS FUTURE --- BUT HISTORICAL RECORD OF EVENTS IN THE FIRST CENTURY

HISTORICIST --- A RECORD OF CHURCH HISTORY FROM APOSTOLIC TIMES UNTIL THE PRESENT

IDEALIST --- TIMELESS STRUGGLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL

FUTURIST --- PREDICTIONS OF PEOPLE AND EVENTS YET TO COME IN THE FUTURE

ESCHATOLOGY --- DERIVED FROM TWO GREEK WORDS

ESCHATOS --- MEANING LAST

LOGOS --- MEANING WORD OF SIGNIFICANCE

REFERS TO THE BIBLE DOCTRINE OF THE LAST THINGS

Amillennialism The amillennialists (the alpha negative prefix has the sense of “no”) is the position of those who believe that most of the eschatological materials in the Bible referring to the end of the age should not be understood in a strictly literal fashion. They anticipate no kingdom age on this earth and understand the kingdom solely in the terms of its eternal expression.

Postmillennialism On the other hand, postmillennialists (so called because the word post means “after”) believe that there will be a kingdom age of sorts on the earth that will be consummated by the coming of Christ. Hence, the coming of Christ is “post” (after) the millennium. This view, which was more popular in church history prior to World War II, sees the church and its missionary movement as being wonderfully prolific and successful. Consequently, at some point the reign of Christ through the church is experienced on the earth, the culmination of which is the coming of Christ at the end of the millennium.

Premillennialism Another popular view that attempts to understand the Scriptures generally in a more literal fashion sees Christ returning to the earth before the millennium (hence, the prefix “pre”). According to this view, the kingdom age on earth cannot begin without the King in residence. Hence, Christ returns to the earth, subdues all of His enemies, and establishes a kingdom of righteousness for a thousand years.

Among premillennial scholars there are three primary positions and a number of subsidiary positions. The three major positions are designated pretribulationism, midtribulationism, and posttribulationism.

Pretribulationists believe that Christ will be revealed at the outset of the tribulation period of seven years. The dead in Christ will rise, and every true believer will be caught up to be with the Lord in the air. A period of seven years of the outpouring of the wrath of God upon the earth, which will conclude with the return of Christ to establish His millennial kingdom, will follow. Hence, Christ comes for the church prior to the tribulation and prior to the millennium to establish His kingdom.

Midtribulationism, on the other hand, notes that the Apocalypse divides the tribulation into two periods of three and one-half years each. Midtribulationists suggest that Christ will return for the church after the first half of the tribulation. The church, therefore, will have to experience the first forty-two months of the tribulation period but will be rescued from the most debilitating portion of it.

Posttribulationism (referred to as historic premillennialism by its advocates), however, argues that the church endures the Great Tribulation but is not the object of God’s wrath poured out on the wicked. They see only one return of Christ in Scripture, in opposition to the two posited by either pretribulationism or midtribulationism. Therefore, Christ comes at the end of the tribulation to receive the church to Himself and then returns immediately to the earth to establish the kingdom age. Patterson, P. (2003). Eschatology. In C. Brand, C. Draper, A. England, S. Bond, E. R. Clendenen, & T. C. Butler (Eds.), Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (p. 505). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

Revelation is an open book in which God reveals His plans and purposes to His church. When Daniel finished writing his prophecy, he was instructed to “shut up the words, and seal the book” (Dan. 12:4); but John was given opposite instructions: “Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book” (Rev. 22:10). Why? Since Calvary, the Resurrection, and the coming of the Holy Spirit, God has ushered in the “last days” (Heb. 1:1–2) and is fulfilling His hidden purposes in this world. “The time is at hand” (Rev. 1:3; 22:10).

Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 566). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

It has been estimated that 278 of 404 verse allude to the Old Testament.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? ALL THESE OLD TESTAMENT REFERENCES?

ANCHOR OUR INTERPRETATIONS TO WHAT GOD HAS ALREADY REVEALED.

God is

Holy --- Revelation 4:8

True --- Revelation 6:10

Omnipotent --- Revelation 4 :11

Wise --- Revelation 7:12

Sovereign --- Revelation 4:11

Eternal --- Revelation 4:10

The Gospels present Christ coming in His humiliation

Revelation presents Christ His second coming in exaltation

WHAT IS THE REVELATION OF?

JESUS CHRIST

MANY TITLES

FAITHFUL WITNESS --- Revelation 1:5

FIRST BORN OF THE DEAD --- Revelation 1:5

RULER OF THE KINGS OF THE EARTH --- Revelation 1:5

THE ALPHA AND OMEGA --- Revelation 1:8 Revelation 1:6

THE FIRST AND THE LAST --- 1:17

THE LIVING ONE --- 1:18

THE ONE WHO HOLDS THE SEVEN STARS IN HIS RIGHT HAND WHE ONE WHO WALKS AMONG THE SEVEN LAMPSTANDS --- 2:1

THE ONE WHO HAS THE SHARP TWO-EDGED SWORD --- 2:12

THE SON OF GOD --- 2:18

THE ONE WHO HAS EYES LIKE A FLAME OF FIRE AND FEET OF LIKE BRONZE --- 2:18

THE ONE WHO HAS THE SEVEN SPIRITS OF GOD AND THE SEVEN STARS --- 3:1

THE ONE WHO IS HOLY AND TRUE --- 3:7

THE HOLDER OF THE KEY OF DAVID WHO OPENS AND NO ONE SHUT, WHO SHUTS AND NO ONE OPENS --- 3:7

THE AMEN THE FAITHFUL AND TRUE WITNESS --- 3:14

THE BEGINNING OF THE CREATION OF GOD --- 3:14

THE LION THAT IS FROM THE TRIBE OF JUDAH --- 5:5

THE ROOT OF DAVID --- 5:5

THE LAMB OF GOD --- 5:6; 6:1; 7:9-1; 8:1; 12:11; 13:8; 14:1; 15:3; 17:14; 19:7; 21:9; 22:1

THE LORD HOLY AND TRUE --- 6:10

THE ONE WHO IS CALLED FAITHFUL AND TRUE --- 19:11

THE WORD OF GOD --- 19:13

THE KING OF KINGS AND THE LORD OF LORDS --- 19:16

CHRIST THE MESSIAH RULING ON EARTH WITH HIS GLORIFIED SAINTS 20:6

JESUS THE ROOT AND DESCENDANT OF DAVID --- 22:16

THE BRIGHT MORNING STAR --- 22:16

Most first-century ad correspondence: a prologue and a salutation (vv. 4–8). The prologue serves as a general introduction and sets up the revelation; the salutation identifies the audience and sets the tone for the book.

The phrase of Jesus Christ can be translated “from Jesus Christ” (source), or “about Jesus Christ” (content), or “belonging to Jesus Christ” (possession).

Revelation is an open book in which God reveals His plans and purposes to His church. When Daniel finished writing his prophecy, he was instructed to “shut up the words, and seal the book” (Dan. 12:4); but John was given opposite instructions: “Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book” (Rev. 22:10). Why? Since Calvary, the Resurrection, and the coming of the Holy Spirit, God has ushered in the “last days” (Heb. 1:1–2) and is fulfilling His hidden purposes in this world. “The time is at hand” (Rev. 1:3; 22:10).

Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 566). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

What must soon take place must be understood from the perspective of heaven rather than earth.

VERSE ---1

WHICH GOD GAVE HIM --- MARK 13:32 NOT REALLY THIS BUT PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11

DOULOS --- BOND-SERVANT --- SLAVE --- ONE WHO SERVED OUT OF LOVE --- EXODUS 21:5-6

NATURAL MAN CAN NOT ACCEPT THE THINGS OF GOD --- I CORINTHIANS 2:14 MATTHEW 13:11, 13

SOON TAKE PLACE --- FUTURE EVENTS --- THIS SEPARATES THIS BOOK FROM OTHER NEW TESTAMENT BOOKS. --- FIRST 5 BOOKS OF THE NT ARE ABOUT THE PAST --- THE NEXT 21 BOOKS ARE ABOUT THE PRESENT --- THE LAST BOOK IS ABOUT THE FUTURE

SOON --- "TACHOS" MEANS NOT THE SPEED BUT THE NEARNESS

COMMUNICATED BY ANGELS --- ONLY BOOK IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

ANGELS APPEAR IN EVERY CHAPTER EXCEPT 4 & 13

ANGELS OR ANGELS IS USED 71 TIMES --- MORE THAN ANY OTHER BOOK

1/4 OF ALL THEIR REFERENCES TO ANGELS ARE IN THIS BOOK

VERSE --- 3

Blessed is The first of seven beatitudes in Revelation (see 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14), reminiscent of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5:3–11). This is the only book of the Bible that openly pronounces a blessing upon its readers and hearers.

Barry, J. D., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Re 1:3). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

It is worth noting that there are seven “beatitudes” in Revelation: 1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14. The number seven is important in this book because it signifies fullness and completeness.

IMPORTANT WORDS --- READ --- HEAR --- HEED ARE ALL PRESENT TENSE

In Revelation, you will find seven seals (Rev. 5:1), seven trumpets (Rev. 8:6), seven vials (Rev. 16:1), seven stars (Rev. 1:16), and seven lampstands (Rev. 1:12, 20). Other “sevens” in this book will be discussed as we study. Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 567). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

The seven spirits may allude to Isaiah 11:2 or the seven angels mentioned in verse 20

VERSE --- 1:5

What do you think verse five means? What is it telling us? It is one of the most profound doctrines of redemption.

Faithful witness --- John 1:18 & John 18:37

First bon from the dead --- Colossians 1:15

Ruler of the kings of the earth --- Daniel 2:47 --- Revelation 17:14 Revelation 19:16

By His Blood --- Hebrews 9:7; 9:22 & Isaiah 53:10-11