Overview of The Book of Revelation. Barney s Staycation 2017 Rt Rev Dr Michael Stead, Bishop of South Sydney

Transcription

1 Overview of The Book of Revelation Barney s Staycation 2017 Rt Rev Dr Michael Stead, Bishop of South Sydney

2 Introduction A paradoxical name Revelation Bewildering number of approaches When? How? Who? What? How should we live in light of Revelation? My approach

3 Rev 1-3 Rev Rev 4-5 Rev 20 Rev 6-7 Rev Rev 8-11 Rev Rev 12-14

4 Linear? Rev Letters Rev 4-5 Rev 6-7 Rev 8-11 Rev Seals 7 Trumpets Woman,Satan Time

5 Rev 1-3 Rev 4-5 Rev 6-7 Rev 8-11 Rev Rev Rev Rev 20 Rev 21-22

6 Overlay / concurrent Like colour printing (CMYK)

7 Present What was and is? Future What is to come?

8 Present What was and is? Future What is to come? Rev Seals Rev Judgment on World Rev 1-3 Rev Trumpets Rev Judgment on Babylon Rev Rev 4-5 Rev Woman, Satan Rev 20 Judgment on Satan

9 How the read the book of Revelation Revelation as Apocalyptic Symbolic Numbers Symbolic Imagery Listening for the Echoes of the OT

10 Revelation 1-3 Letters to 7 specific churches addressing 1 st century issues

11 Revelation 4-5 Rev 4 Rev 5 Worship God Worship the Lamb (Creator) (Redeemer) The Lamb s victory as past-tense (5:5) The gospel foundation for what follows

12 Revelation 6-7 : 7 Seals 1-4 : Conquest, War, Famine, Death 5: Persecution - How Long, O Lord? 6: Earthquake interlude: sealed and clothed 7: Silence in heaven for ½ hour Theme: Suffering Implication : Protected (Sealed)

13 Revelation 8-11 : 7 Trumpets 1-4 : ⅓ land, ⅓ sea, ⅓ freshwater, ⅓ sky 5: Locust from abyss 6: Earthquake interlude: scroll & witnesses (Rev 10-11) 7: Loud voices in heaven for ½ hour ⅓ = partial judgment, 42 months =3½ years Purpose of the judgment repentance (9:20)

14 Revelation : The woman & the lamb, the dragon and two beasts Man child = Jesus Woman = faithful Israel (cf. Isa 66:7-13) Dragon, Beast, & False Prophet (16:13,19:20) In the first instance, referring to Rome Theme: Spiritual Conflict

15 Revelation : 7 Plagues=Bowls 1-4 : Land, Sea, Freshwater, Sky 5 Darkness (overtones of Exodus..) 6 miraculous signs => battle 7 Earthquake Theme: Final judgment on the world

16 Revelation : Babylon and her fall Babylon = Ancient Rome Persecutor of Christians 7 heads & 10 horns The wedding of the Lamb has come Theme: Final judgment on the oppressor

17 Revelation 20 : The End of Satan The 1000 years The book of deeds & the book of life Theme: Final judgment on Satan

18 Revelation : No More Tears! New Heaven & New Earth The Bride of Christ The river of life Behold I am coming soon Theme: New creation

19 When does it all happen? 2 main options : Premillennial OR Amillennial Millennium = 1000 Years (Rev 20:2) Premillennial = Literal 1000 years of Christ s rule, preceded by 7 years of tribulations (ie. Rev 6-22 is all future for us) Amillennial= millennium has begun Christ has begun to rule, and yet we are in a period of tribulation at the same time

20 Present What was and is? Linear? Future What is to come? Rev Letters Rev 4-5 Rev 6-20 Rev 20 Rev Seals, trumpets Millennium New Creation 7 years 1000 years Time You are here

21 Premillennialism You are here

22 Overlay / concurrent Metaphor: Colour Printing (CMYK)

23 How to Put the Blocks Together Rev Seals Rev Trumpets Rev Woman, Birth

24 Now Future Rev 6-7 suffering world Rev Judgment on World Rev partial judgment Rev Judgment on Babylon Rev Woman, Satan Rev 20 Judgment on Satan

25 Present What was and is? Future What is to come? Rev Seals Rev Judgment on World Rev 1-3 Rev Trumpets Rev Judgment on Babylon Rev Rev 4-5 Rev Woman, Satan Rev 20 Judgment on Satan

26 Amillennialism You are here

27 What was and is now Rev letters to 7 churches Under threat from idolatry, immorality, false teaching, forsaking our first love, lukewarm Rev 4-5 The Lord and Lamb. The Lord God is worthy of praise (creator) The Lamb on the throne is worthy of praise (saviour) Rev Seals A world of suffering This isn t the perfect world (yet) - Conquest, war, famine, death, persecution & disaster. Rev Trumpets Rev Woman, Satan Warning judgment on rebellious world God is pouring out a partial judgment on the world to bring people to repentance. Spiritual conflict Satan is actively opposed to Christians and seeks to make war against us