BOOK OF REVELATION -AN INTRODUCTION

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place.” (Revelation 1:1)

WHAT THIS IS NOT…• This is not a class about how

events of the day are somehow tied to the prophecies found in the Book of Revelation

• Won’t tie in World War II or Russia or ISIS or the Blood Moon or Obama with prophecy outlined in the Book of Revelation

• Won’t scare you with some sort of connection between events of today and something written 2000 years ago

• Won’t ask you for a dime in exchange for leading a discussion about the Book of Revelation!

Week Date Topic

1 11 Mar 15 Introduction

2 18 Mar 15 Prologue, Greetings, Doxology, and Vision: Chapter 1

3 25 Mar 15 To the Seven Churches: Chapter 2 and 3

4 01 Apr 15 The Throne in Heaven and The Scroll: Chapter 4 and 5

5 08 Apr 15 The Seals: Chapter 6 and 7

6 15 Apr 15 The Seventh Seal: Chapter 8 and 9

7 22 Apr 15 The Angel and the Two Witnesses: Chapter 10 and 11

8 29 Apr 15 Woman, Dragon, and the Beast: Chapter 12 and 13

9 06 May 15 The Lamb and Seven Angels: Chapter 14 and 15

10 13 May 15 God's Wrath: Chapter 16 and 17

11 20 May 15 Babylon: Chapter 18 and 19

12 27 May 15 Thousand Years - A New Heaven and Earth: Chapter 20-21

13 03 Jun 15 Eden Restored: Chapter 22

Book of Revelation

THIS WEEK

• Provide an overview of the Book of Revelations

• Discuss the author, timeline, and purpose for writing the book

• Discuss key geopolitical factors that were occurring in the region when the book was written

• Discuss various interpretational viewpoints and determine how we should interpret it

NATURE OF THE BOOK• The word “revelation” in the Greek is apokalupsis, which means

“an uncovering” or “unveiling" - therefore it is book designed to uncover or unveil, not conceal

• Part of the challenge in understanding the book is that it is written in a style not familiar to us today - it is an example of what is called “apocalyptic literature” which was quite popular from 200 B.C. to 200 A.D.

• This style of literature well known to the Jews and Christians of the first century church

• Features of apocalyptic literature include the use of highly symbolic or figurative language (cf. “signified”, Re 1:1)

• It was normally written in times of persecution, usually depicting the conflict between good and evil.

• There are other examples of apocalyptic literature in the Bible. In the Old Testament, for example, the books of Ezekiel, Daniel, and Zechariah each contain elements of this style of writing. In the New Testament, Matthew 24 contains apocalyptic elements.

PURPOSE OF THE BOOK• Its purpose is clearly stated at the beginning and end of the book (cf. Re 1:1,3;

22:6,10): To reveal “things which must shortly come to pass”

• In particular, it is a revelation from Christ Himself of the judgment to come upon those who were persecuting His people (cf. Re 6:9-11; 16:5-7). This judgment was directed especially toward those who had been deceived by Satan to attack the Church of Christ

• To reveal how Christ was going to bring judgment on Jerusalem and Rome for rejecting God and persecuting His people - This judgment occurred with the destruction of Jerusalem in the fall of 70 A.D., and with the final cessation of persecution by Rome in 313 A.D. when Constantine became an emperor supportive of Christianity

• In fulfilling this purpose, the book is designed to warn and comfort. For erring disciples, it is a book of warning (“repent” or else, cf. Re 2:5,16). For faithful disciples, it is a book of comfort (“blessed” are those who “overcome”, cf. Re 1:3; 2:7; 3:21; 14:13; 22:14)

UNDERSTANDING REVELATION• The early church likely did not have the problem understanding the book

as we do today

• They were well acquainted with the style of apocalyptic literature

• They were living at a time when the symbols of the book were likely familiar to them

• Our difficulty with this book is due to our unfamiliarity with apocalyptic literature as a method of communicating a message.

• We are also far removed from the historical and cultural context of the times which would make the symbolism easier to understand

• To properly interpret the book, we must try to understand the historical context in which it was written. We must also interpret it in a manner that would have been meaningful to those to whom it was first addressed.

METHODS OF INTERPRETATION• The “preterist” view - The book refers to events that were fulfilled in the first

century A.D., or shortly thereafter. It was written primarily to encourage the original readers. Its value for today would therefore be didactic (teaching the value of faithfulness to God).

• The “historicist” view - The book provides a panoramic view of the experience of the church as it proceeds throughout history. This view finds in the book such events as the rise of Catholicism, Islam, the Protestant reformation, world wars, etc., ending with the return of Christ. As such it would encourage Christians no matter when they lived

• The “futurist” view - Apart from the first few chapters, the book depicts events which immediately precede the second coming of Christ. Therefore most of the book has yet to be fulfilled (or is being fulfilled now), and its value is primarily for Christians who will be living at the time Jesus returns

• The “idealist” view - The book does not deal with any specific historical situation. Instead, it is simply enforcing the principle that good will ultimately triumph over evil. As such the book is applicable to any age

HOW DO WE INTERPRET?• The “preterist” (events have already occurred primarily in

the first century AD) is the most accurate interpretation

• First, the book was written specifically to seven churches in Asia (modern Turkey) - Re 1:4

• Second, the books purpose was to uncover or reveal “things which must shortly come to pass” - Re 1:1,3; 22:6,10

• John was told, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand” - Re 22:10, see Dan 8:26

• However, there are elements that are futurist - Ch 20-22

AUTHOR• John, identified as one “who bore witness to the word of

God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Re 1:1-2)

• While debated by some, he was most likely the apostle John

• Son of Zebedee and Salome and brother of James

• Fisherman in the Sea of Galilee

• Author of the gospel of John, three Epistles of John, and Revelation

• His authorship of this book is supported by the testimony of Justin Martyr (165 A.D.), Clement of Alexandria (220 A.D.), Hippolytus (236 A.D.), and Origen (254 A.D.)

DATE (PRETERIST VIEW)• Two dates are identified

• An “early date”, around 64-68 A.D., during the reign of the Roman emperor, Nero

• A “late date”, around 95-96 A.D., during the reign of emperor Domitian

• In support for the late date, appeal is often made to a statement of Iraneaus who lived in the late 2nd century A.D. His statement is rather ambiguous

• In support for the early date, the Syriac version of the New Testament (dating back to the 2nd century A.D.) says the book was written during the reign of Nero

• External dating is contradictory, therefore we place our focus on internal evidence (evidence from within the book itself) - supporting a date of 70 A.D., before the destruction of Jerusalem and during the reign of Vespasian

SUPPORT FOR 70 A.D. DATING• In Re 11:1-14 the temple, which was demolished in August of 70 A.D., also, the allusion to the

crucifixion of our Lord (Re 11:8) compel us to think of the historical Jerusalem

• In Re 17:9-11, we find mention of EIGHT “kings”. If these “kings” are emperors of Rome, then starting with Augustus the first FIVE were: Augustus (d. 14 A.D.), Tiberius (Lu 3:1), Caligula, Claudius and Nero (who died June 9, 68 A.D.). Nero’s death left the empire in an uproar. This may be the “deadly wound” in Re 13:3,12,14. Three men (Galba, Otho, and Vitellius) tried vainly to consolidate power over the empire, but it was Vespasian who restored order in 70 A.D. Thus, the “deadly wound” was healed, and Vespasian would be the SIXTH “king” (or the “one is” in Re 17:10). This would make Titus the SEVENTH emperor and Domitian the EIGHTH

• In Re 17:8,11 John was told that the beast “is not”. It “was”, and “is about to come” (ASV), but at the time the Revelation was being given, the beast “IS NOT”! If we understand that the “beast” represents imperial Rome as personified in its emperors Nero and Domitian, then Revelation could NOT have been written during the reigns of either Nero or Domitian

• The condition of persecution that had been experienced already by those in the book are similar to that mentioned by Peter. He wrote to the Christians in Asia Minor also, just a few years before (cf. 1Pe 1:1). They were undergoing persecution similar to that described in Rev 2 & 3 (cf. 1Pe 1:6; 4:12; 5:9); i.e., persecution by the Jews with the help of Roman authorities, something that had been going on since the days of Paul’s first missionary journey (Ac 13:1-14:27)

YEAR OF THE FOUR EMPERORS 69 A.D.•Nero ruled from 54-68 A.D. • Most of Rome is destroyed by a fire in 64 A.D. • Christians confessed to the crime, but it is not known whether

these confessions were induced by torture • Began the first Roman-Jewish War in 66 A.D. • In 67, Nero dispatched Vespasian to restore order• Nero committed suicide in 68 A.D.

•A civil war followed Nero’s death

•The social, military, and political upheavals of the period had empire-wide impacts

•Four emperors ruled in succession – Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian in 69 A.D.• Galba’s Praetorian Guard killed him in the Forum• Otho committed suicide• Vespasian’s loyalists tracked down and killed Vitellius

•The first Roman-Jewish war ends in 70 A.D. with the Temples destruction

SUMMARY Provided an overview of the Book of Revelations

Discussed the author, timeline, and purpose for writing the book

Discuss key geopolitical factors that were occurring in the region when the book was written

Discuss various interpretational viewpoints and determine how we should interpret it

Next week - Chapter 1