Instructor: Dirk Rodgers

Instructor: Dirk Rodgers

Slide 2 The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John. Revelation 1:1 John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia... Revelation 1:4* John, the Apostle* John, the Elder Another John Multiple Authors? *All scriptural citations in this session, unless otherwise noted, are from the New International Version, 2011. 18 th century Russian icon of the Apostle, Wiki Commons

Slide 3 c. 95 AD (Majority View) Roman Persecution under Domitian* c. 70 AD (Minority View) Just prior to Roman destruction of the temple under Titus Bust of Domitian, Louvre Museum, Wiki Commons

Slide 4 The revelation (lit,ἀποκάλυψις, apocalypse ) from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. Revelation 1:1 [I]t is best to understand apocalyptic as an intensification of prophecy. Beale, G. K. (1999). The book of Revelation: a commentary on the Greek text (Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, Cumbria: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press), 37.

Slide 5 Preterist Prophecies in Revelation were fulfilled in the destruction of the temple in 70 AD (assuming an early date of composition), or in the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5 th century. Historist Prophecies in Revelation predicted various periods in Church history: Medieval papacy, Protestant Reformation, empirical efforts of Napoleon, Hitler, etc. *Note: These categories are adapted from Beale, Commentary, 44-48, and Alan F Johnson, Revelation, in The Expositor s Bible Commentary, Hebrews Revelation (Rev., 2006), 584-587.

Slide 6 Futurist Chapters 4-22 refer primarily to events yet to come. o Dispensational Futurism Restoration of physical Israel, rapture, literal anti- Christ, 7-year tribulation, literal, physical millennium, etc. o Modified Futurism Less literal interpretation of numbers and signs, and less specific account of end times

Slide 7 Idealist Prophecies symbolically represent ongoing struggle between God and His creation o Original Idealism Timeless principles, no promises about future consummation o Modified Idealism Prophecies include promises regarding the end and consummation of this world

Slide 8 Nothing short of the careful exegesis of the text, uninhibited by prior dogmatic conclusions, is required for the fullest understanding of the Apocalypse. Johnson, Expositor s Commentary, 587

Slide 9 Both\And, not Either\Or When, not Whether Images, Types & Numbers The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Revelation 1:1-2

Slide 10 The familiarity with the Old Testament, with the spirit which lives in the Old Testament, is a most essential condition for a fruitful reading of the Apocalypse. Fransen, I., Cahier de Bible. Jésus, le Témoin Fidèle (Apocalypse), Bible et Vie Chrétienne 16 (1956 57), cited in Beale, Commentary, 97.

Slide 11 The author has drawn most from the books of Daniel, Ezekiel 4 and, to a lesser degree, Zechariah, which have supplied the forms to express new apocalyptic revelations. But his mind was also saturated with other parts of the Old Testament, particularly Isaiah (whose words are reflected more than any other), Jeremiah, Joel and Exodus (in the parallels with the plagues). Indeed so basic is the Old Testament to the writer s mental concepts that out of 404 verses in the entire book there are only 126 which contain no allusion to it. Guthrie, D. (1996). New Testament Introduction (4th rev. ed., Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press), 965 966

Slide 12 Daniel 2:28 But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known what will be in the latter days. (ESV) Revelation 1:1 The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place.(niv) days, Later/end of יוֹם א ח ר י period, or times ἐν τάχει soon, quickly, in a short time

Slide 13 1. Clear allusion: the wording is almost identical to the OT source, shares some common core meaning, and could not likely have come from anywhere else. 2. Probable allusion: though the wording is not as close, it still contains an idea or wording that is uniquely traceable to the OT text or exhibits a structure of ideas uniquely traceable to the OT passage. 3. Possible allusion: the language is only generally similar to the purported source, echoing either its wording or concepts. Beale, Commentary, 78

Slide 14 This problem is compounded since many, indeed most, of the OT reminiscences are combined in groups. Sometimes four, five, or more different OT references are merged into one picture. Good examples are the descriptions of Christ (1:12 20), God on the throne and the surrounding heavenly host (4:1 11), and the diabolic beast (13:1 8). Beale, Commentary, 79

Slide 15 A blessing and curse of John s Apocalypse are the many commentators who have attempted to interpret the book. This is especially true of the many outlines proposed for its literary structure. The diverse proposals are a maze of interpretative confusion. Beale, Commentary, 108

Slide 16 More Symphony than Outline

Slide 17 Repeated Sevens Seven Letters Seven Seals Seven Trumpets Seven Bowls etc. Repeated Themes God s Glory Jesus, Lamb & King Judgment Persecution Salvation/Reward Already/Not Yet Time/Eternity Two Scenes Heaven Earth Also, Hades, Abyss, Lake of burning sulfur

Slide 18 1. Prologue, Vision & Calling (1:1-20) 2. Seven Letters to Seven Churches (2:1-3:22) 3. The Lamb Opens Seven Seals (4:1-8:1) 4. Seven Angels Sound Seven Trumpets (8:2-11:19) 5. Dragon, Beasts, Protection & Judgment (12:1-14:20) 6. Seven Angels Pour Out Seven Bowls (15:1-16:21) 7. Babylon Defeated & A New King Reigns (17:1-20:15) 8. A New Heaven and A New Earth (21:1-22:5) 9. Conclusion (22:6-21)

Slide 19 God will bring to conclusion His sovereign will: A Holy People eternally communing with their Holy God in a Holy Land Creation Human Rebellion Divine Judgment New Creation

Slide 20 Christ s glorious victory over sin and death will one day be fully revealed to all, but, in the meantime, we who believe must remain patient and faithful so that we can share completely in this victory.