The Revelation to JohnOverview

The Revelation to John:

Part I: Revelation 1-11

Revelation 1: John on Patmos

• Revelation 1.9

• “I John, your brother, who share with you in Jesus the persecution and the kingdom and the patient endurance was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.”

Patmos: Revelation 1

Vision of the exalted ChristRevelation 1.12-20

• John Sees the Son of Man

• 7 Golden Lampstands• White hair; golden

sash• Bronze feet• [Compare Dan 7.13;

Dan 10.5-9; Rev 19.11-16]

Structure of the Revelation to John • Rev 1: Introduction: John’s Vision• Rev 2-3: 7 Letters to 7 Churches• Rev 4-5: The Kingdom of God in Heaven• Rev 6-9: 7 Seals: 7 Plagues

7 Trumpets: 7 Plagues• Rev 10-14: Interlude: Christians in the Present• Rev 15-16: 7 Bowls: 7 Plagues• Rev 17-19.10: Lady Babylon• Rev 19.11-20.5: The Parousia; the Millennium; Final

Defeat of Satan• Rev 21-22.5: Lady Jerusalem • Rev 22.6-21: Conclusion

Cycles of Seven Other Material

1.1-20: Introduction; Prophetic Call

Vision of exalted Christ2.1-3.22 7 Letters

4.1-5.14: God on his Heavenly Throne;

The Lamb6.1-8.5b 7 Seals (7.1-17: the Present Situation:8.5-9.21 7 Trumpets Sealing of 144,000)(11.15-19) 10.1-15.4: the Present Situation

Satan on Earth15.5-16.21: 7 Bowls

17.1-19.10: Lady Babylon 19.11-20.5: the Parousia;

Millennium; Defeat of Satan

21.1-22.5: Lady Jerusalem: theKingdom of God on Earth

22.6-21: Conclusion

The Central Vision

John sees God the Father on his Heavenly Throne

Note: Worship of God by

--4 Living Creatures

--24 Elders

Revelation 4-5

Holy, Holy, Holy

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;

Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!

God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,

Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;

Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,

Who was, and is, and evermore shall be.

Holy, holy, holy! though the darkness hide Thee,Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,Perfect in power, in love, and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!All Thy works shall praise Thy Name, in earth, and sky, and sea;Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity!

Revelation 5: the LambPresented to the Heavenly Court

• Revelation 5: A Key to the Action of the Book

• The Lion who is also a Lamb

• Appears before God and Receives Worship

• Is Worthy to Open the Scroll= the Eschatological Plan of God

• *The Two Advents of Christ: Rev 5 Relates to Rev 19.11-16: the Second Coming

REVELATION 5, HYMN: ”11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 singing with full voice,

‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughteredto receive power and wealth and wisdom and mightand honour and glory and blessing!’ 13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth

and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing,‘To the one seated on the throne and to the Lambbe blessing and honour and glory and mightfor ever and ever!’ 14 And the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ And the elders fell down and

worshipped.

HANDEL’s MESSIAH#2 “Worthy is the lamb that was slain,

and hath redeemed us to God by his blood,to receive power, and riches,and wisdom, and strength,

and honour, and glory, and blessing.”

#3 “Blessing and honour, glory and powerbe unto Him that sitteth upon the throne,

and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever. (Rev 5:12-13)“Amen” (Chorus) "And the four living creatures said 'Amen!"

Worship of the Lamb: Revelation 5Amen

The Book with 7 Seals

• Book: symbolizes the plan of God for Judgment and Salvation of the World

• Seals: indicate secrecy

• Only the lamb is worthy to open the Seals

• Why?

Results of the Death of Christ=Beginning of the Eschatological Events

• Battle between Good and Evil begins in Earnest: Christ and Satan; Cross as Preliminary Victory

• Drawing up the Battle Lines: Some Marked for Christ and some for Satan (the Beast)

• Eschatological Woes: Plagues and Suffering on Earth

• Judgment of All People• Rewards and Punishment:• The New Jerusalem; the Lake of Fire

The Eschatological WoesPortrayed 3 Times: in Cycles of 7 Plagues

• 7 Seals (Rev 6)

• 7 Trumpets (Rev 8-9; 11.15-19)

• 7 Bowls (Rev 15-16)

Revelation 10-11Interlude: The Situation of Christians on Earth

• Rev 10: John is given the Little Scroll to Eat

• Rev. 11: The Two Witnesses

Revelation: Part IIRevelation 12-22

The Cosmic BattleSaint Michael Battles Against Satan

• Revelation 12• Michael= the Chief of

the 7 Archangels according to Jewish Tradition

• He Throws Satan=the Dragon out of Heaven

Satan Attacks the WomanRevelation 12.1-6:The Woman Clothed with the Sun

[The Heavenly Battle: and Victory Hymn: 12.7-12]

Revelation 12:13-17Excluded from HeavenSatan Works Mischief on EarthAttacking the Woman clothed with the Sun a with a Flood of Water

Revelation 13The Beast from the Sea

And the Beast from the Earth

The Beast from the Sea=the Earthly Incarnation of Satan

Rev 13.1: “And the dragon gave his power to the beast”

**Compare the Four Beasts in Daniel 7

Revelation 14-16Repetitions

• Rev 14 cf. Rev 7: Marking out of the Elect

• Rev 15-16: cf. Rev 6-9: The 7 Plagues:• (This Time with Allusions to the Plagues of the Exodus)

The 2 Ladies• Lady Babylon: 17.1-19.10: Rome the Evil City

--Second Coming of Christ 19.11-20.5Last battle against SatanResurrection of the DeadThe Last Judgment--

• Lady Jerusalem 21.1-22:5: the Kingdom of God

Revelation 20:1-10• 1. The Millennium: Satan is Bound for 1000

Years= Reward of the Righteous, who Reign with Christ for 1000 Years (20:4-6)

• =the First Resurrection

• 2. Then Satan is Let Out and Defeated for the Last Time (Didn’t this Already Happen? Reprise of the Battle) (20:7-9)

• 3. Satan and the Beast are thrown into the Lake of Fire: Eternal Torment (20.10)

Final Defeat ofSatanRev 20:7-9

Revelation 20:10 Satan and the Beast areThrown Into the Lake of Fire

Revelation 20.11-15

• The Last Judgment“And I saw the dead, great and

small, standing before the throne, and books were opened…And the dead were judged according to their works, as recorded in the books. And the sea gave up the dead that were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and all were judged.”

[Compare Daniel 7: Judgment of the Ancient of Days]

Revelation 21-22: The New Jerusalem

• “And I Saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem coming down From Heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”

• Rev 4 cf. Rev 21-22“Thy Kingdom Come, on earth (Rev 21-22) as it is in Heaven (Rev 4-5).”

The New Jerusalem

The New Jerusalem: Zion, City of our God

Glorious things of thee are spoken,Zion, city of our God!He, whose Word cannot be broken,Formed thee for His own abode.On the Rock of Ages founded,What can shake thy sure repose?With salvation’s walls surrounded,Thou may’st smile at all thy foes.

See! the streams of living waters,Springing from eternal love;Well supply thy sons and daughters,And all fear of want remove:Who can faint while such a riverEver flows their thirst t’assuage?Grace, which like the Lord, the Giver,Never fails from age to age.