The Prologue (Revelation 1)

Intro

*Show College Humor video about finishing sentences*

As much as possible, we want to let the book of Revelation speak for itself

Put aside pre-concieved ideas, fears, worries and ignorance

Don’t decide ahead of time what Revelation will say or what it means

Approach the book seeking to understand what the original message was

Revelation is a book that is designed to be understood

Apply the truths we learn to our own spiritual journey

This is a relevant book to us today; in the present

In order to do this, we are going to set a number of “ground rules” for our interpretation

Ground rules are necessary in baseball

Universal ground rules: i.e., all yellow lines are in play

Unique ground rules: i.e., Wrigley Field vines = double

We will set up our ground rules today for Revelation

Most will be universal (rules of good biblical interpretation)

Some will be more specific to a unique book

Prologue (Read 1:1 - 3)

“The revelation of Jesus Christ”

Revelation = apocalypse = make known (disclose) something that was formerly unknown

We have unfairly used this word to describe the end times

Also where we get ‘apocalyptic literature’

This was not the only apocalyptic book of its time

Unique genre requires great care (as we will learn more of)

Specifically revealing things that are true about Jesus (of Jesus Christ)

From Jesus Christ

This is His testimony (v. 2)

About Jesus Christ

He is the main focus of the entire book

“Blessed is the one who read aloud the words of this prophecy”

Revelation is also a prophecy

Not just telling the future, but declaring God’s truth in a way that demands a response

The blessing is found in a response of obedience

“Keep what is written in it”

This is our goal: To live differently because of what is revealed to be true about Jesus Christ

Greetings (1:4 - 8)

Not only is Revelation apocalyptic literature, and a prophecy, it is a letter (Read traditional greeting in verse 4a)

Written by John (church tradition has the Apostle John)

He declared himself a “partner in the tribulation” (v. 9)

Tribulation = great trouble; same word throughout the book

Not a future event, but a present reality. John and the churches were living during the great trouble, and so are we

John was exiled to Patmos, where He received these visions

Written “to the seven churches that are in Asia”

Listed in verse 11; chapters 2 - 3 have dedicated messages

We will skip over these messages (time constraints)

The WHOLE book is written for THOSE churches to make sense of THIER world and THIER situation

Ground Rule #1: The message of Revelation must be understood by the original audience

No hidden messages of nuclear warfare, modern information tracking, etc. would make sense

We must start by asking, “How would the initial, addressed hearers understand this message?”

Only once this question is answered do we take that universal truth we learn and apply it to our own context

What were the seven churches in Asia facing? What was their context?

Intense religious persecution from the Roman government, either under Nero (A.D. 60s) or Domitian (A.D. 90s)

Most likely Domitian, due to his intense focus on emporer worship

Required people to worship him as Lord and God (Dominus et Deus)

Not a big deal for panthiests… huge for Christians

He had over 40,000 Christians killed in A.D. 92

This was about radical discipleship and true allegiance in the face of intense persecution and martyrdom

Opening of the letter similar to language we find Paul use

Read verse 4 - 5a

Peace from God the Father (who is and was and is to come), Jesus Christ and “the seven spirits who are before his throne”

Numbers are incredibly important in Revelation!

7 is the number of completeness/fullness

Seven spirits = sevenfold spirit = Holy Spirit

Peace from the Triune God

After the greetings, Jesus is praised with 2 things in focus:

Praised for what He did in His first coming:

Loves us, freed us from our sins by his blood, made us a kingdom and priests (v. 5b - 6)

This is the Gospel, and a helpful reminder to us all

Praised for whate He will do at His second coming:

“He is coming with the clouds” (v. 7)

Clouds = presence of God (Exodus, Temple, Ascension)

“All the tribes of the earth will wail on account of Him” (v. 7)

Jesus will bring justice, and for some that will be terrible

Alpha and Omega = first and last; eternality of God

Who is, who was… and who is coming

The future of God is that He is coming again!

Vision of the Son of Man (1:10 - 20)

John was worshipping when he received his first vision of the revelation of Jesus Christ

Read verses 10 - 16

Ground rule #2: Revelation uses imagery and symbolism that must not be taken literally

That does not mean it is any less true; it is about allowing Revelation to “speak for itself”

Symbolism points to a greater truth; like a political cartoon

*Show 3 examples of symbolism in political cartoons*

What did John see? Seven golden lampstands

John explicity interprets this for us in verse 20: the seven lampstands = the seven churches

Ground Rule #3: Use clues from the rest of Revelation to interpret accurately and consistently

Lampstands are the churches, and Jesus is in their midst

He is WITH His people; even when it doesn’t appear that way

This is no less true today; Jesus is in our midst

He is our common bond (holds us together) and He is our strength to persevere through tough times

We are not alone, even when the world is arrayed against us

In order to make sense of the vision of Jesus, we need to turn to 3 visions from the book of Daniel

Cf. Daniel 7:13 - 14 (Son of Man)

Cf. Daniel 10:5 - 6 (description of Jesus)

Cf. Daniel 7:9-10 (the Ancient of Days)

John calls Jesus the Son of Man but describes Him as the Ancient of Days!

Jesus is God! This is a claim of full divinity; seen in glory

Ground Rule #4: Use clues from the rest of Scripture to interpret accurately and consistently

Especially the OT; over 500 quotes/allusions

The Son of Man/Ancient of Day/Deity of Christ has seven stars in his right hand

Again interpreted for us in verse 20; stars = angels of the seven churches

But what does that mean? We don’t really know

Ground Rule #5: Sometimes, mysteries will go unsolved.

If we aren’t sure, don’t try to answer

Details can also be unclear (i.e. Jesus’ voice as a trumpet in v. 10 and many waters in v. 15)

John falls down like a dead man… and I can’t blame him

“Fear not;” a great reminder for us? Why isn’t John to fear? Or the churches, or us today?

Because Jesus is God eternal (read v. 17a)

He is, He was, and He is coming again

Because Jesus has conquered death and now has authority over it (v. 18)

“Keys” denote authority; Christ has it alone

Because this eternal, conquering Jesus walks in the midst of His church, holding them in His hand

As we have learned, fear fades in the presence of God

Pray