An Introduction to the Book of Revelation Introduction: I. Goal of our study: A. To encourage people to spend more time in the book of Revelation. B. To make the book of Revelation more understandable by focusing on its broad themes and centering upon the truths that it clearly reveals. C. To give assurance to the child of God that it is worth the struggle to remain faithful to God. We will reign with Him. II. Interpretive issues: A. There are four major Schools of Interpretation for the book of Revelation 1. The Preterist School: The preterist approach views Revelation not as future, predictive prophecy, but as a historical record of events that took place in the first-century Roman Empire. 2. The Historical School: The predictions cover the entire period between John s day and the return of Christ. In this view, the churches of Revelation chapters 2 and 3 are viewed as representing various periods in church history. However, the book of Revelation clearly identifies the churches of Revelation as those churches already existing in Asia Minor. Revelation 1:4 (ESV) John to the seven churches that 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, 3. The Idealist School: The Idealist approach sees depicted in Revelation the timeless struggle between good and evil that is played out in every age. 1
According to this view Revelation is neither a historical record nor a predictive prophecy. The book of Revelation is reduced to a collection of myths and allegories designed to convey spiritual truths 4. The Futuristic School: The futurist approach sees in chapters 4-22 predictions of people and events yet to come in the future. We will adopt the futuristic approach in interpreting the book of Revelation. B. The use of symbols in the book of Revelation: 1. Boring, in his commentary on Revelation states, John used symbols in order to communicate that which cannot be expressed in any other way, not to conceal something that could be said more straightforwardly. 2. Thus, one is not to find a secret code to unravel the mysteries of the book of Revelation. 3. Rather, we are to take a straightforward approach in seeking to understand the entirety of Revelation; including its many metaphors and other figures of speech. 4. We are to employ the same hermeneutic that we would in studying any prophetic portion of Scripture. III. An outline to the Book of Revelation A. The book of Revelation furnishes its own outline. The book of Revelation divides itself into three sections based on past, present and future events as they relate to the apostle John. Key Verse: Revelation 1:19 (ESV) Write therefore (1) the things that you have seen, (2)those that are and t(3)hose that are to take place after this. B. The things which you have seen - 1:1-19 Revelation 1:12 (ESV) Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 2
Rev 1:12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; Revelation 1:17 (ESV) When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, Fear not, I am the first and the last, Rev 1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: Revelation 1:19 (ESV) Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. Rev 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; C. Those that are - the messages to the seven churches. 2:1-3:22 Revelation 1:19 (ESV) Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. Revelation 1:20 (ESV) As for the mystery of the seven stars that 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 are the seven churches. D. The things which shall take place after these things. 4:1-22:21 Revelation 1:19 (ESV) Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. Rev 1:19 (NASB) "Write therefore the things which you have seen, and the things which are, (3) and the things which shall take place after these things. Revelation 4:1 (ESV) After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this. Rev 4:1 (NASB) After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things." 3
Thus, Rev. 4:1 is a transition point into the third section of the book of Revelation. They speak of future events that lead up to the ultimate establishment of Christ as king over all. IV. Theme: The book of Revelation is a revelation of Jesus Christ as king of kings and Lord of Lords. It is a message of His actively reigning over heaven and earth. A reign that is exercised over all people. A. The book of Hebrews depicts the tension that presently exists in Christ's rule. In one sense Christ rules over all things. In another sense Christ s rule is yet future. Heb 2:8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. B. The book of Revelation reveals the process by which Christ will come to exercise His rule (kingship) over all people and entities. Revelation 11:15 (ESV) Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever. Revelation 11:16 (ESV) And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, Revelation 11:17 (ESV) saying, We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign. 1. The book of Revelation opens with a glimpse into the throne room of God. Revelation 1:4 (ESV) John to the seven churches that 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, 2. The book of Revelation has as its mainstay or centrality the throne of God. 4
Revelation 4:1 (ESV) After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this. Revelation 4:2 (ESV) At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. Revelation 4:3 (ESV) And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. Revelation 4:4 (ESV) Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. Revelation 4:5 (ESV) From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, Revelation 4:6 (ESV) and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: Revelation 4:7 (ESV) the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. Revelation 4:8 (ESV) And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come! Revelation 4:9 (ESV) And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, Revelation 4:10 (ESV) the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Revelation 4:11 (ESV) Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created. V. The setting of the book of Revelation: A. The backdrop to the book of Revelation is the battle that rages between God and His company and Satan and his company. It is the battle between Satan and Christ for the rule of this world. B. Satan and his cohorts win some battles. 5
Revelation 11:7 (ESV) And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them, Revelation 13:7 (ESV) Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, Rev 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. C. Though God, in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, along with His company are the ultimate victors. Revelation 17:14 (ESV) They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful. D. I like to think of the book of Revelation as the cataclysmic book of Job. 1. Just as there is battle between God and Satan over the man Job, so too, in the book of Revelation there is a battle between God and Satan over the kingdom of this world. 2. Just as there is a lifting of the curtain in the book of Job so that we are able to see the "unseen" events taking place in heaven that play themselves out in the life of Job, so too, in the book of Revelation, there is a lifting of the curtain to see the "unseen" events taking place in heaven playing themselves out in the events of this earth. 3. Just as there is an ultimate triumph of Job and a unique blessedness that comes upon him, so too there is the final and ultimate triumph of the people of God along with the unique blessedness that is theirs. VI. Purpose of the Book of Revelation: To point out the blessing that is to be had by the people who walk with God and the curse that comes upon the unrepentant. A. Note the 7 beatitudes, or the sevenfold blessing, for the people who walk with God referred to in the book of Revelation. 6
1. Revelation 1:3 (ESV) Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. 2. Revelation 14:13 (ESV) And I heard a voice from heaven saying, Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Blessed indeed, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them! 3. Revelation 16:15 (ESV) ( Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed! ) 4. Revelation 19:9 (ESV) And the angel said to me, Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me, These are the true words of God. 5. Revelation 20:6 (ESV) Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years. 6. Revelation 22:7 (ESV) And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. 7. Revelation 22:14 (ESV) Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. B. In the book of Revelation the sevenfold curses come in the form of three series of seven judgements upon the unrepentant. Each judgement is more serious than the one that preceded it. 1. The seal judgements Note the heavenly scene that precedes the seal judgements. Rev 5:11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 7
Rev 5:12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. Rev 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. Rev 5:14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever. Rev 6:1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. Rev 6:2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. 2. The trumpet judgements Rev 9:20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Rev 9:21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts. 3. The vial or bowl judgements. Rev 16:8 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. Rev 16:9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. Rev 16:11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds. 4. It should be noted that there are a great many similarities between the judgements that came upon Egypt and the judgements in the book of Revelation. VII. Conclusion: 8
A. The people of God will be blessed in the end. B. The unrepentant rebels will be cursed in the end. C. God will overcome His enemies. D. God will reward His servants. E. It will be well worth it to stay faithful to God. 9