INTRO TO: REVELATIONThe Apocalypse of John

• Old, 100• Exile to Patmos• The disciple whom Jesus

loved• Son of Thunder• Brother martyred early

JOHN

• John• 1 John• 2 John• 3 John• Revelation

LIST THE 5 BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT WRITTEN BY ST. JOHN

• Portraying future events through amazing images.

• We are to interpret it literally as a vision.

• We are to interpret it through the lens of the gospels. – Let Scripture interpret Scripture.

REVELATION IS APOCALYPTIC

• Written because the young Church was experiencing intense persecutions and needed to be assured that, contrary to appearances, the ultimate victory was theirs.

REVELATION

Revelation was written so that Christianswould know that Jesus wouldreturn and therefore Christians could stand firm.

• The Church will go through much trial and tribulation but it will prevail.

• Matthew 16:18, Acts 14:22

THE THEME OF REVELATION

• A series of seven different visions

• Written to seven different churches

• The first three chapters describe the world as it is now

REVELATION

• 3 and sets of 3 = God, the trinity

• 4 = man, 4 corners of world, language, tribe, nation, people

• Combined numbers have combined meanings.

• 3x4, 12 = God combined, interacting with man, 12 is the number of believers, 12 represents the church, 12 tribes, 12 disciples

• 24 = 12 together (Old and New)

REVELATION NUMBERSSYMBOLS

• 7 = God and man together, 3+4, completeness, Christ

• 6 = Satan tries to supplant God in the life of man, but falls short

• 31/2 = 7 cut short, evil forces that oppose God’s plan, broken

• 10 = perfection• 144,000 = combination

10, 12

REVELATION NUMBERSSYMBOLS

• 1/3 = minority portion, short time, 3 ½ (42 months, 1260 days)

• 1,000 years = long time

REVELATION NUMBER SYMBOLS

• Jesus = one like a son of man, lamb with 7 horns and 7 eyes, lion, angel

• Woman = the Church• Dragon = Satan• Beast = Antichrist• Prostitute, Babylon = the

sinful, sensual world, false Christians

• Heads = Usually kingdoms• Horns = Usually power

REVELATION SYMBOLS

• White = purity• Purple = royalty• Blue = heaven, faithfulness• Red = sins, ransom, blood• Green = earth, life, nature• Gold = divine, the best• Silver = truth, value less

than gold• Black = evil

REVELATION COLOR SYMBOLS

• Jesus now sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence he will come to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

WE BELIEVE IN A SIMPLE SUMMARY OF END TIMES ROOTED IN REVELATION