Transcript New Testament Survey: The Book of Revelation

New Testament Survey:
The Book of Revelation
“Behold, He is
coming with
clouds, and every
eye will see Him,
even they who
pierced Him. And
all the tribes of the
earth will mourn
because of Him.
Even so, Amen.”
(1:7)
Background
• This book brings to a close the New
Testament and its history.
• It completes the perfect, divine revelation
of God’s Scheme of Redemption.
• It is a special revelation, given in a
special way, to convey a special
message.
• Revelation—”to reveal or unveil.”
Background
• Through this revelation, given to the Apostle John
on the isle of Patmos, our Lord draws back the
“veil.”
• To show the early church, not only the forces that
were at work against God and human redemption,
but a glimpse into what the future held for those
who were faithful.
• The only book of prophecy in the New Testament.
Background
• Belongs in the “apocalyptic” literature category.
• The prophetic element is predominate. The book abounds
in figurative language, signs, and symbols.
• Comparable to the OT books of Daniel, Ezekiel, and
Zechariah.
• Uses symbolic and figurative language to convey its
messages to those to whom they were directed. To serve
that purpose, it used language with which they-- especially
the Jewish elements--were familiar.
• At the same time, the language meaning was withheld from
those who were enemies of the Lord!
Background
• Written around 95 or 96 A.D.
• Written by John while he was in exile during the
later part of Domitian’s reign (81 to 96 A.D.)
• Written during the time when Emperor worship
demanded that they worship him as “Lord.”
• Faithful Christians refused to do so—thus bringing
on persecution.
• This is the backdrop; it gives great reason to reject
the book’s early writing date.
Background
• The book is addressed to the seven churches of
Asia.
• John’s home was probably Ephesus, but he worked
throughout the province of Asia Minor.
– “John, to the seven churches which are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was
and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are
before His throne.” (1:4)
Keys to the Book of Revelation
• Key words
– “Overcome”
• Key phrase
– “Blessed are they who do
His commandments”
• Key chapters
– Chapters 1 and 21
• Key verses
– 1:1
“The Revelation of Jesus
Christ, which God gave
Him to show His servants
things which must shortly
take place. And He sent
and signified it by His
angel to His servant
John.”
Keys to the Book of Revelation
• Key words
– “Overcome”
• Key phrase
– “Blessed are they who do
His commandments”
• Key chapters
– Chapters 1 and 21
• Key verses
– 1:19, 2:10
• “Write the things which
you have seen, and the
things which are, and the
things which will take
place after this.”
• “…Be faithful until death,
and I will give you the
crown of life.”
Keys to the Book of Revelation
• Key words
– “Overcome”
• Key phrase
– “Blessed are they who do
His commandments”
• Key chapters
– Chapters 1 and 21
• Key verses
– 22:18, 19
“For I testify to everyone who
hears the words of the prophecy
of this book: If anyone adds to
these things, God will add to him
the plagues that are written in
this book; and if anyone takes
away from the words of the book
of this prophecy, God shall take
away his part from the Book of
Life, from the holy city, and from
the things which are written in
this book.”
Purpose of the Book
• Written at the direct command of the Lord:
– “I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard
behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, ‘I
am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,’
and, what you see, write in a book and send it to the
seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to
Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to
Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.” (1:10,11)
Purpose of the Book
• The theme of the book is the glorious triumph of
Christ and the ultimate victory of the righteous.
• Victory of the Lamb!
• This book was designed to give comfort and
support to Christians who were undergoing
persecution by assuring them that all enemies of
Christ and His church would be subdued!
• Their only hope was in Christ!
Purpose of the Book
• Severe persecution had already begun:
– “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to
suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you
into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have
tribulation ten days…” (2:10)
– “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's
throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not
deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My
faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan
dwells.” (2:13)
Purpose of the Book
• Severe persecution had already begun:
– “Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who
commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless
they repent of their deeds.” (2:22)
– “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I
also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come
upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the
earth.” (3:10)
Purpose of the Book
• The conflict between Christianity and atheistic
heathenism increased rapidly, endangering the lives of
God’s people throughout the Roman Empire.
• Because they refused to submit to the Roman Emperor,
many would die for their faith.
• History confirms that this did occur.
• During her first 30 years, the church enjoyed peace in
the Roman Empire.
• This peace ended abruptly, and it took great courage to
be a Christian.
Purpose of the Book
• The early church was looked upon as a sect of
Judaism.
• Beginning with the reign of Nero (64 A.D.), dangers
and difficulties multiplied.
• Nero blamed the burning of Rome on the
Christians.
• Often, remaining faithful resulted in loss of
occupations, property, possessions, family
members, and even their own lives!
Purpose of the Book
• This revelation was given to unveil to God’s people
what they would be called upon to suffer for Christ’s
sake.
• It encouraged faithfulness and renewed to them the
promises of God’s providential care over His own.
• In the end, truth and righteousness would ultimately
triumph over the forces of evil.
• In the present despair, they received assurance of a
more intense hope of future divine intervention.
Purpose of the Book
• This revelation emphasized God’s sovereign rule
over the nations.
• It assured believers of God’s judgment of the
wicked and their destruction, along with the glorious
triumph and reward of the faithful
• A message of encouragement to these Christians—
and for all Christians.
• A last means of warning those who might be
tempted to take the “easy way” out!
Methods of Interpretation
• PRETERIT:
– Those who try to understand the book by
making its symbols and visions relate only to
the events of the period during which it was
written and who, therefore, believe the book,
in its entirety, was fulfilled by the destruction
of Jerusalem. Necessary in order to accept
the early writing date.
Methods of Interpretation
• HISTORIST:
– Those who approach the book using this
method believe that its visions form a
complete historical outline of the entire course
of church history, from its beginning to the
Lord’s second coming.
Methods of Interpretation
• FUTURIST:
– This approach is taken by those who believe that
the prophecies in the book’s first three chapters
were fulfilled during the time in which it was
written; or else that the seven churches of Asia
represent seven different epochs, or periods, of
church history, from the apostles to the Lord’s
second coming.
Methods of Interpretation
• IDEALIST:
– This represents the method used to understand the
book by those who believe in making a spiritual
application of its various visions and symbols. They
believe that the book becomes a symbolic picture of the
struggle between Christ and Satan, the church and the
world, truth and error, righteousness and sin, and
Christianity and its enemies. It ends with the ultimate
triumph of Christ and His church over all forces of error
and sin.
Some Things to Keep in Mind…
• Remember what blessing is promised.
• This necessitated an open mind, a willingness to
learn and study without prejudice or a closed mind.
• Approached with all humility.
– “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the
words of this prophecy, and keep those things which
are written in it; for the time is near.” (1:3)
Some Things to Keep in Mind…
• Whatever God wanted those who read and study
the book to understand without any doubt or
uncertainty, He has made unmistakably clear and
positive.
• Source of revelation:
– “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to
show His servants--things which must shortly take
place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His
servant John.” (1:1)
Some Things to Keep in Mind…
• The message was concerned with…
• Some of the things in the vision were being fulfilled
and some things would occur “thereafter.”
– “Write the things which you have seen, and the things
which are, and the things which will take place after
this.” (1:19)
• How much time “thereafter” embraces, no man
knows or can discover—only God knows when the
world will end.
Some Things to Keep in Mind…
• Avoid speculative guessing in your efforts to
understand this book. Avoid being dogmatic about
what is not plainly made known.
• Some things in the book are figurative. God has
disclosed their significance or meaning (fine linen is
the righteousness of the saints).
– “The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My
right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The
seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and
the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven
churches.” (1:20)
Some Things to Keep in Mind…
• One of the primary rules for interpreting any kind of
literature is to avoid giving the language under
consideration a figurative meaning, unless
demanded by the context, or for some other reason.
• In a visionary scene full of symbolic representation,
we must be careful about making a literal
interpretation.
• Example: Revelation 20…
– An angel with chain; the dragon, old serpent; souls
seated upon the throne
Some Things to Keep in Mind…
• Consider the martyr scene in chapter 6:
– Crying beneath the altar
– Seeking revenge for the blood being shed
• Then again in chapter 20:
– Envisioned as seated upon thrones reigning with Christ
– Their blood has been avenged, and the cause for which
they died has triumphed.
– A spiritual scene expressed in figurative language
• First resurrection is spiritual—not bodily
– 1000 years is figurative—not literal (2 Peter 3:8)
Some Things to Keep in Mind…
• The expression “shortly come to pass” does not
justify believing that the things John wrote were to
be considered necessarily imminent, or that their
fulfillment would begin immediately.
• Many NT passages discussed the coming of the
Lord as being “near or at hand,” but 2000 years
have passed, and He still hasn’t come!
– 1 Thessalonians 4;13-17; Philippians 4:5; James 5:8; 1
Peter 4:7.
Some Things to Keep in Mind…
• It is quite simple to discern whether a
symbol--whether just a figurative
expression, or a vision--represents good
or evil.
• One might not know exactly what the
symbol represents, but there is no difficulty
in determining, from this much of its
meaning, whether it represents good or
evil.
Contents and Characteristics
THE ABSOLUTE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD (1:1)
• A message given by God through Jesus Christ
• The message emanates from God—therefore, it
is divine revelation.
• By His good providence and power, He will
overrule and accomplish His purposes.
– “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.”
• The throne of God
– 4:2-11; 5:1-10; 6:14-17; 7:9-12; 11:15-19; 15:3,4; 19:16.
Contents and Characteristics
THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST (1:1)
• The beginning of the book and one of its most
prominent themes
• Christ—the book’s central figure—is set forth, along
with His authority!
– “Faithful witness”
– “First begotten from the dead”
– “The prince of the kings on earth” (1:5,6; 17:14)
– “Cometh in the clouds” (1:7)
– “Alpha and Omega” (1:8)
Contents and Characteristics
THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST (1:1)
• Christ is in the midst of His church.
• Glorified in it forever (Ephesians 3:21)
• His authority over the church is, therefore, absolute
and exclusive!
• He is the “Lamb” who, because of His redemptive
work, has the right to administer judgment under the
authority of the “sealed book”!
– (5:4-7)
Contents and Characteristics
THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST (1:1)
• He is revealed as a “conqueror” riding on a white
horse at the head of a triumphant procession, as
the Roman emperors did with their victorious
armies.
– 5:9-14; 7:9-17; 15:3-5; 17:14; 19:11-16
– “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud
voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world
have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His
Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’” (11:15)
Contents and Characteristics
THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST (1:1)
• All of these foregoing passages, and others could
be listed, reveal Jesus Christ as “King of Kings
and Lord of Lords.”
• They DO NOT prophesy that he will become King at
His second coming; John’s vision of Him reveals
that He is King now, with all authority over the
Kingdom of God and the nations and rulers of the
earth!
Contents and Characteristics
THE OFFICE AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
• In all of these visions, John was under the Holy
Spirit’s power and guidance.
– 1:10; 4:1,2; 17:1-3; 21:9,10
• All four great cycles of visions began with the
assertion that John was “in the Spirit.”
• Not an imaginary dream, but true revelation from
the Lord--all testimony recorded by John while
under the Spirit’s influence.
Contents and Characteristics
THE OFFICE AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
• John, in what he wrote to the seven churches,
reminded them, “hear what the Spirit saith unto
the churches.”
– 2:7; 2:11; 2:17; 3:6; 3:13; 3:22
• John affirms the whole revelation given by the Spirit
– “And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him
who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come.
Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.”
(22:17)
Contents and Characteristics
THE CHURCH IS REVEALED AS THE BRIDE OF
THE LAMB OF GOD.
• The Church as the “bride” is a common
figure of the NT.
– Ephesians 5:22-33; Romans 7:1-4; John 3:29
• Figure used in Revelation to reveal the
relationship between Christ and His
church
– 19:7-9; 21:9
Contents and Characteristics
THE CHURCH IS REVEALED AS THE BRIDE OF
THE LAMB OF GOD.
• At His coming, He will receive her unto Himself as a
chosen bride, escort her into His Father’s presence,
and dwell with her in God’s eternal city.
• In eternity, she will partake of His everlasting glory.
– 2 Thessalonians 1:7-12
• Great conflict between the Great Harlot and the
Bride of the Lamb
– 17:1—21:9
Contents and Characteristics
THE EVERLASTING CONFLICT BETWEEN CHRIST AND
SATAN—THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE KINGDOM OF
DARKNESS
• From the beginning, the Kingdom of God and Christ
had been engaged in conflict with the forces of evil.
(Ephesians 5:5)
• In every generation, there is an everlasting struggle
between the enemies of righteousness and God’s
Kingdom.
Contents and Characteristics
THE EVERLASTING CONFLICT BETWEEN CHRIST AND
SATAN—THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE KINGDOM OF
DARKNESS
• During some periods, opposition has been stronger
than in others.
• Constant struggle to allow Christ to reign in the
hearts of men.
• Satan constantly uses all of his wiles to struggle
against truth.
Contents and Characteristics
THE EVERLASTING CONFLICT BETWEEN CHRIST AND
SATAN—THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE KINGDOM OF
DARKNESS
• The first 11 chapters, not only contain messages to
the churches, they also seek to encourage them to
persevere.
• There is a series of visions concerning:
– God’s might and power.
– The worthiness of the Lamb
– The glory of His reign through the church
Contents and Characteristics
THE EVERLASTING CONFLICT BETWEEN CHRIST AND
SATAN—THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE KINGDOM OF
DARKNESS
• Chapter 12—”the great red dragon”—the serpent
of old called the Devil and Satan
• He persecuted the woman; she gave birth to a man
child; the dragon sought to devour it.
• A man destined to rule over a nation with a “rod of
iron” (Psalm 2:9; 110:1-4)
Contents and Characteristics
THE EVERLASTING CONFLICT BETWEEN CHRIST AND
SATAN—THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE KINGDOM OF
DARKNESS
• The man child is caught up into heaven where he
struggles with Satan and Michael and his angels.
• Satan and his angels fail to prevail!
• They are cast out onto the earth to deceive the
nations of the world.
Contents and Characteristics
THE EVERLASTING CONFLICT BETWEEN CHRIST AND
SATAN—THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE KINGDOM OF
DARKNESS
• The woman fled to a place prepared by God; there,
she was sustained and nourished by God’s good
providence.
• The dragon continued his war with the woman’s
seed.
• A direct picture of Satan’s attempt to prevent and
overthrow the reign of Christ
Contents and Characteristics
THE EVERLASTING CONFLICT BETWEEN CHRIST AND
SATAN—THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE KINGDOM OF
DARKNESS
• Chapter 13, first beast comes out of the sea (seven
heads, ten horns, and upon those horns ten
crowns); upon his head is the name of
“blasphemy.”
• Beast given power by Satan (13:4)
• Mouth speaking great things and blasphemies
Contents and Characteristics
THE EVERLASTING CONFLICT BETWEEN CHRIST AND
SATAN—THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE KINGDOM OF
DARKNESS
• Spirit of blasphemy belongs to the antichrist; it
vividly pictures heathenistic unbelief.
• Came to a peak in opposition to Christ and His
church when Rome demanded that the entire world
recognize the head of the civil state as “Lord.”
• They were to confess him and burn incense unto
him.
Contents and Characteristics
THE EVERLASTING CONFLICT BETWEEN CHRIST AND
SATAN—THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE KINGDOM OF
DARKNESS
• The beast made war against the saints and
destroyed man’s faith.
– “It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to
overcome them. And authority was given him over every
tribe, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the earth will
worship him, whose names have not been written in the
Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the
world.” (13:7,8)
Contents and Characteristics
THE EVERLASTING CONFLICT BETWEEN CHRIST AND
SATAN—THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE KINGDOM OF
DARKNESS
• Another great beast came up out of the earth; he
had two horns like a lamb and spoke as a dragon.
• Exercised all power of the first beast; caused all the
earth to worship him
– 13:11-18
Contents and Characteristics
THE EVERLASTING CONFLICT BETWEEN CHRIST AND
SATAN—THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE KINGDOM OF
DARKNESS
• Another enemy of Christ—false religion—
identified first by religious Rome and the false
prophet
• Countless hearts of millions on the earth have been
deceived by Roman Catholicism and protestant
denominations.
Contents and Characteristics
THE EVERLASTING CONFLICT BETWEEN CHRIST AND
SATAN—THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE KINGDOM OF
DARKNESS
• “The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and
adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls,
having in her hand a golden cup full of
abominations and the filthiness of her fornication.
And on her forehead a name was written:
MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER
OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF
THE EARTH.” (17:4,5)
Contents and Characteristics
THE EVERLASTING CONFLICT BETWEEN CHRIST AND
SATAN—THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE KINGDOM OF
DARKNESS
• Evidently, this is a picture of:
– Seduction of evil
– Ungodliness
– Lasciviousness
combined with other enemies of Christ.
Contents and Characteristics
THE EVERLASTING CONFLICT BETWEEN CHRIST AND
SATAN—THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE KINGDOM OF
DARKNESS
• These three enemies--pagan atheism and
heathenism, false religions, and a spirit of
lasciviousness and ungodliness--are the sources
from which destruction has so widely been wrought
on the souls of men who have contested and
opposed wrong!
Contents and Characteristics
THE PARALLELISM OF THE BOOK
• The book’s last two sections are parallel:
– 17:1—21:8 depicts the destruction of the
world system of evil represented by the harlot,
Babylon.
– 21:9—22:5 pictures the final appearance of
the bride of Christ, the New Jerusalem.
• The two sections are parallel by way of
contrast, as well as by similarity.
Contents and Characteristics
THE PARALLELISM OF THE BOOK:
• Each section shows the consummation
of a purpose:
– One, the end of the trend away from God
– The other, the end of redemption
• Each is introduced by “seven angels”
and “seven bowls.”
Parallelism…
• “So he carried me
• The first section
away in the Spirit
introduces a harlot
• The latter a bride
– The wilderness
scene of the harlot
– 17:3
into the wilderness.
And I saw a woman
sitting on a scarlet
beast which was full
of names of
blasphemy, having
seven heads and ten
horns.”
Parallelism…
• “And he carried me
• The first section
away in the Spirit to
introduces a harlot
• The latter a bride
– The mountain
scene of the bride
– 21:10
a great and high
mountain, and
showed me the
great city, the holy
Jerusalem,
descending out of
heaven from God.”
Parallelism…
• “So he carried me
• The first section
away in the Spirit
introduces a harlot
– Harlot full of names
of blasphemy
– 17:3
into the wilderness.
And I saw a woman
sitting on a scarlet
beast which was full
of names of
blasphemy, having
seven heads and ten
horns.”
Parallelism…
• The latter a bride
– Names of the 12 tribes
and 12 apostles
– Inscribed on the Holy
City
– 21:12-14
• “… and names written on
them, which are the
names of the twelve
tribes of the children of
Israel... Now the wall of
the city had twelve
foundations, and on
them were the names of
the twelve apostles of
the Lamb.”
Parallelism…
• “I saw the woman,
• First section
drunk with the blood
introduces a harlot
– Babylon, city of
corruption and
judgment
– 17:6
of the saints and
with the blood of the
martyrs of Jesus.
And when I saw her,
I marveled with
great amazement.”
Judgment…
• JUDGMENT
– Judgment centers
around God’s
throne.
– God’s absolute
sovereignty
• 18:1-5
• 20:7-10
• 20:14,15
• “Then Death and
Hades were cast
into the lake of fire.
This is the second
death. And anyone
not found written in
the Book of Life was
cast into the lake of
fire.”
Three Judgment Series
• THREE SERIES OF JUDGMENTS IN THE SECOND VISION
– Seven seals
– Seven trumpets
– Seven bowls
• Terrible picture of God’s judgments upon those who
dwell on the earth
• Man remained unrepentant
– 6:15-17; 9:20,21; 16:9,11,21
Three Judgment Series
• DEFEATING THE FORCES OF EVIL, GOD REIGNS
SUPREME!
• The Lord’s chief enemies:
– The dragon
– The first beast
– The second beast and the false prophet
– The scarlet woman riding upon the beast
• Failure in “war with the Lamb”
• Overcome and consigned to their doom
– 19:19-21; 20:10
Three Judgment Series
• THE HEART OF THE BOOK’S MESSAGE
• “These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will
overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of
kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen,
and faithful.“ (17:14)
• Great certainty of the final triumph of the Lamb of
God and the forces of righteousness over the forces of
evil and error. Message of comfort and hope!
• Victory with the Lamb!