Revelation – BBTC

Dr. Ed Gross – Instructor – Aug 2014

1. Its Author

1.1 The Apostle John, based on:

4 times named (1:1, 4, 9; 22:8) Few others could write as John and be known

2nd & 3rd c writers: Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Clement & Tertullian id him as author

Phrases in Revelation found only in John’s gospel:

o Christ as logos – only in Gospel 1:1ff and Rev 19:13

o Christ as the Lamb John 1:29, 36; Rev 5:6…)

o The water of life to those who thirst (Jn 7:37 & Rev 22:17

o Satan being “cast out”, the first resurrection, overcoming the world

2. Its Date

2.1 During Domitian’s brutal reign (81- 96 AD)

Nero’s persecution not widespread The conditions in Ephesus, Sardis &

Laodicea require more time than right after founding. Smyrna postdated Paul according to Polycarp its bishop

Irenaeus who knew Polycarp who knew John said Domitian was emperor when Rev was written

3. Purpose – to encourage believers to be faithful during severe persecution, not to yield to emperor worship. To stand fast even to death.

4. The Uniqueness of Revelation

Revelation is at once an apocalypse (1:1) a prophecy (1:3) and an epistle (1:4; 22:21).

4.1 It is the apocalypse of Jesus Christ, given to him by His Father

– Apocalyptic Literature

It belongs to a special type of literature – apocalyptic (9)

The Bible is a library, w/ difft types of books that appeal to the readers thru different avenues: Psalms=poetry (emotions) Exodus=law (will)

Genesis= narrative (every day relevance) Epistles=solutions that argue thru reason (intellect) Revelation = apocalyptic (imagination) 11

A book containing a series of word pictures, snapshots or video clips projected on a great screen – we should allow ourselves to be carried along by the impressions these pictures create – 11

Ezekiel’s dry bones = Israel’s re-establishment as a nation following the exile (37:1-4)

Visions in Acts (9:10; 10:11;16:9; 18:9; 22:17 cf 27:23) – Peter in 10:11 this is not a literal sheet filled with various creatures – but a lesson taught thru a pix 12-13

Characteristics= revelations to heroes, symbolism, pessimism, the shaking of foundations, triumph of God – in his time, Rigid determinism, dualism: present/future, evil/good, Ladd = OT ideas of a redeemed earth = Isa 32:15-18; 11:6-9; 65:17; 66:22).;

Apocalyptics are under the control of others (foreign powers)

Apocalyptic sections of OT = Isa 24-27; Eze 38-39; Zech 9-14 where there are frequent refs to “the day of the Lord”

Extra biblical = Book of Enoch; Apocalypse of Baruch; 4th Book of Ezra; Ascension of Isaiah; Apocalypse of Zephaniah; some of the Sibylline Oracles

Writers received their info in dreams or visions and wrote of persons as animals and of events as natural disasters with colors and numbers holding meaning, too

Trends of apocalyptic literature:o World = good and evilo Control = God and Satano Judgment time is coming when the 2

will be separatedo Predictions about last age, with

present troubles as birth painso New Order or paradise restored after

a Great final conflict. The end will be like the beginning

o No other NT book was written in this style, but between 200Bc and 100 AD Jewish writers produced a large

number of these: Enoch, Baruch, The Book of Jubilees, The Assumption of Moses, The Psalms of Solomon, Testaments of the 12 Patriarchs….

o Similar to above in ff ways Angels appear commonly as

tour guides and interpreters Written during intense time of

persecution of believers Use of vivid images and

symbols in depicting the conflict between evil and good – symbolism is the rule and literalism the exception

Numbers convey concepts rather than just numbers

Different in following ways:

Claims to be inspired by God as a prophecy

Identifies its true author Predicts the future

Summary: Apocalyptic genre had and has a special interpretational grid. Literal if

possible is as disastrous in interpreting apocalyptic genre as in poetry

4.2 It is prophecy

Based on OT (esp Ezekiel, Daniel & Zechariah) – Of the 404 verses in Revelation, 278 contain allusions to OT Scriptures – so we must know the OT to understand Revelation13)

Rev is unlike other NT epistles – Rev is prophecy (1:3; 22:7,10,18,19)

As prophecy, John uniquely writes within redemptive history in connection with God’s people on earth, within the structure of OT and NT revelation and with predictive power.

4.3 It is a pastoral letter

o A letter is not a narrative and therefore he is not chronicling. The composition begins with Christ’s death and exaltation (5-11) and continues with the church’s present difficulties (12-13) and concludes with Christ’s return (19-21).

o By reading Revelation as a letter the reader is reminded that the real battles of the Christian faith are fought in local congregations.

o John writes down his visions in letter format to clarify his pastoral intentions.

o The primary intent of this literature is to reveal the mysteries of God to a people experiencing oppression and suffering.

o John also has an evangelistic purpose. o Revelation is an apocalyptic-prophetic

epistle written to encourage the whole faith community to focus its faith and life on the triumph of a sovereign God’s reign which has now been disclosed through the exaltation of God’s Christ.

o We will interpret Revelation as a letter, written by a pastor who utilizes apocalyptic forms and prophetic purposes to pastor his congregations.

o Letters are written not to tell stories but to fix problems.

5. Some Distinctive Features

5.1 – The book contains the only words of Jesus beyond the book of Acts

5.2 – Based on the OT – though not using fulfillment phrases like, “as it was written”. 404 verses in Revelation – 278 allusions to the OT but no quotations. Hundreds of allusions but not a single quote: Isa (79) Dan (53) Eze (48) Pss (43) Exo (27) Jer (22) Zech (15) Amos (9) Joel (8)

5.3 - The theme of this book – Victory of Christ & his Church over the Dragon and his helpers

6. Its Interpretation

6.1 – 17 Preliminary considerations - Factors concerning interpretation

All Scripture = salvation thru Christ Jesus - The testimony of Jesus is the spirit/essence of prophecy

John is the Apostle of love - The readers shared one another’s stories and needed to respond

Has to relate to readers and apply to all

Which interpretational approach is most helpful, uniting & likely to have been the interpretation of the original readers?

Revelation stands at the end of inspired Scripture – does it look both ways?

John is like Daniel The original readers were about to go

through a terrible persecution, which, like all others prefigures the final conflict

In what ways is repetition GRANTED? How does the intro outline the book? WAS,

IS and IS TO COME. What passages are history, current and future?

Was the book as difficult for the original readers as for us?

*Don’t let your Eschatology shape your Christology.

The clues given in chapter 1 guide us for the rest of the book

Interpretations that lead to disunity cannot be right

The interpretation that best helps all churches in all ages is right

The timing of Jesus is what guides the time statements

All who READ and study are blessed – not just the endtimers

Earliest interpretations were chiliastic

6.2 – Structural Parallels - Structural Parallelism in Revelation:

After these things refers to when he saw them not to the chronological order of fulfillment

Futurists see two parallel sections Spiritual approach see 7

o 7 letters 1-3 – (Return of Christ: 1:7)o 7 seals 4-7 – (6:14-17)o 7 trumpets 8-11 (11:18)o 12-14 (14:14-20)o 15-16 (16:20-21)o 17-19 (19:11)o 20-22 (20:9)

Daniel’s parallels – chaps 2 & 7 both of which cover the same 4 successive kgdms

3 difft battle sections in Revelation: 16:14; 19:19; 20:8 – same battle?

The Beast persecutes 2 witnesses (11:7) before rising to power (13:1) and Babylon

is fallen in 14:8 but later not yet fallen (17:1-5; 18:21)

7 bowls and trumpets are similar in that:o The first of each affects the earth

(8:7; 16:2)o The second of each affects the sea

(8:8; 16:3)o Third – rivers (8:10; 16:4)o Fourth – heavenly bodies (8:12; 16:8)o Fifth – affects men (9:1; 16:10)o Sixth – Euphrates (9:13; 16:12)o Seventh is the end (11:15; 16:17)o The whole world may not be

universal accdg to dan 7:23; acts 2:5; col 1:23

6.3 – Three enduring interpretational options

Three abiding interpretations = preterist, futurist and spiritual

Historicist = Revelation surveys the whole of church history – inability of adherents to agree – seldom views the church outside of Europe!

Preterist = fulfillment in the past, shortly after time of writing – the book has only such value to modern readers as does any fulfilled prophecy – shortly come to pass or about to take place (Rev 22:10). Many pts do correspond to Fall of Jerusalem.

The Rev is John’s Olivet Discourse Much of the Olivet Discourse was given in

response to the question concerning the timing of the destruction of the temple (Mk 13:1-4)

Some preterists see the first half of the book = Fall of Jerusalem, 2nd half predicts the Fall of the Roman Empire and the final chaps describe the 2nd Coming

Origin of preterism = Jesuit Alcazar = Roman Catholic responses to Protestantism. They demand an early date of writing.

Futurists – everything from 4:1 awaits fulfillment in the future

Chronologically continuous tho some follow a strictly chonological approach

Walvoord admits to 26 images to be taken symbolically

90% irrelevant to original readers Spiritual approach – no single fulfillment;

only transcendant principles & recurring themes

Hendriksen – Progressive Parallelism = 7 parallel segments

Ladd blends the preterist, futurist and spiritualist as well.

Futurists recognize John’s intention to write prophecy, but fails to appreciate the apocalyptic and epistolary nature of the book. It also devalues the moment of origin for controlling the interpretation

Historicists – like above and is too abstract to be of practical value

Preterists – makes everything of the moment of origin.

My view – I see Revelation as a blend of all three interpretational structures, with specificity to any ONE not being reasonable.

So let’s study what we know best and leave the conjecture up to history and to the God of history to reveal.

7. The Outline

2 Major sections:1. Section 1 – Struggle on earth –

Church persecuted by world. The church is avenged, protected and victorious (1-11)

2. Section 2 – Struggle beyond earth showing Christ/Church opposed by the Dragon (12-22)

These 2 major sections reveal a progress in depth or intensity of spiritual conflict. Section 1= the church-indwelt by Christ-persecuted by the world. Church is avenged, protected & victorious. Section 2= reveals the deeper, spiritual; background of this struggle. It is a conflict between Christ and the dragon, in which Christ & his church are victorious

Focus of book = Jesus Christ: Up to & including 1st coming, present reign over John & churches, 2nd coming to eternity

Series of parallel but progressing sections showing the struggle of God’s people and their victory over the world

9 minor sections divided as:1. Prologue – 1:1-82. 1:9-3:223. 4:1-8:14. 8:2-9:215. 10:1-14:206. 15:1-17:187. 18:1-19:218. 20:1-22:69. Epilogue – 22:7-21

Note how each of the last 5 sections is introduced by angels

Their role is significant in the book

8. Love in Revelation

9. Highlights of Revelation

Highlights of Prologue (1:1-8) – 0 visionso The source is God, who speaks

through his Son, who reveals to God’s people the things that are to be—so he is the faithful witness—the prime agent and the object of God’s revelation

o The book is concerned with Jesus: His character, His conduct, His centrality & His coming

The Character of Jesus – Who He is

10 names not previously applied to him

1. Faithful witness (1:5), true witness (3:14)

2. Prince of the kings of the earth (1:5) – Ps 89:27

3. Alpha, Omega, 1st, Last (1:11) – Isa 44:6

4. The Living One (1:18)5. The Amen (3:14) – “truly,

truly I say to you”6. The Lion of the tribe of

Judah (5:5)7. The Root of David (5:5)8. The King of the nations

(15:3)9. The Offspring of David

(22:16)10. The Bright &

Morning Star (22:16)**One name given special emphasis - The Lamb – 28x – lamb is the title of sacrifice/atonement

The Conduct of Jesus – What He does

12 wonderful things Jesus does

1. He shows his servants things that must shortly come to pass (1:1)

2. He commands John to write & send it to the 7 churches (1:11)

3. He dictates to John the 7 messages to the churches (chaps 2 &3)

4. He calls John upward to see what must take place hereafter (4:1)

5. He takes a sealed book out of the hand of God (5:1,7)

6. He stands as a Lamb in the midst of the throne (5:6)

7. He opens the seals of the book (6:1-17; 8:1)

8. He stands as Lamb on Mt Zion (14:1)

9. He reaps the harvest of the earth as Son of Man (14:14-16)

10. He appears on white horse with sword to smite the nations (19:11ff)

11. He warns against adding or detracting from the words of this prophecy (22:18-19)

12. He announces his speedy return (22:7,12,20)

The Centrality of Jesus1. Rev 1:12ff2. Rev 53. Rev 12:1-124. Rev 14:1-55. Rev 14:15-166. Rev 15:1-47. Rev 19:9-108. Rev 19:11-219. Rev 21:22-2710. Rev 22:7-21

The Coming of Jesus1. Rev 19:11-212. Rev 22:7, 12, 20

o Must= God’s purpose wins

o His angel – angel used 70+ times in Revelation

o 7 churches in the Roman province of Asia—even though there were many more churches in the province at this time.

o From the 7 spirits = the sevenfold Spirit - from the Jewish understanding of Isa 11:2

o OR 7 angels (more likely) b/c They are before not on the

throne Mtt 13:41; Heb 1:14 – sent forth 7 archangels – Gabriel &

Michael in Scripture The role of angels in

apocalyptic genreo The one who IS = the primary thing to

say about God= omnipresence Highlights of Section 1 (1:9-3:22) – 1

vision** significant facto John was on Patmos b/c he had

proclaimed God’s message and the truth Jesus revealed – 10 mi long & 6

mi wide – Romans used it as a place of banishment

o 7 lampstands = 7 churches = Christ is not the absentee landlord – who wore that kind of clothing? Kings!

o Dan 7:9 – not crass literalism but like a love letter where the beloved is describing the beauty of his beloved.

o Keys of death and hell= having authority over their domain

o We do not fear that death can separate us from his love

o 1:19 – hard to distinguish between what is and what is to come

o 7 churches NOT 7 separate letters They all have a 7-fold structure

1. The identity of the glorified Christ2. Message directed to the

angel of the church3. I know = Christ knows the

specific situation of each4. Commendation or

condemnation

5. Appeal to hold fast 6. Appeal to hear what the

Spirit is saying to all7. Those who

conquer/overcome will be rewarded

Ephesus*100,000 sq feet = 2x a soccer field – 100 columns – marble – 55 ft high – *Diana and the silversmiths – Acts 19*The presence of Christ departs when well-intentioned people, zealous to defend the right way, depart from the ultimate way—which is loveThe tree of life which was denied to Adam is available to those who conquer thru Christ

Smyrna

*35 mi north of Ephesus

*Devoted to Rome & to the ritual worship off its emperor – the first

temple in the world to the goddess Roma was built at Smyrna 200 AD – a new one to Tiberius was built ca 20 AD

*No condemnation (like Phila) only commendation

*STILL they had to suffer!

*Polycarp – Bishop of Smyrna was a famous martyr

*Crown of life – the victors crown (stephanos) not kings crown (diadema)

Pergamum

*50 mi north of Smyrna – capital of Asia

*Renowned for library

*Utterly pagan – esp to Zeus – huge altar on a terraced hill behind the city – surrounded by columns the altar

area burned sacrifices 24/7 to remind citizens of Zeus’ supremacy. And special honor to Asclepius – the god of healing – whose symbol was a snake. There were sacred snakes in the temple and the sick wanted them to crawl over them.

*Antipas – actual name – actual martyr – God knows individual suffering

*Manna – Ex 16:32-34

*White stone – precious in ancient days

Thyatira

*45 mi SE

*Known for its commerce – woolworkers, linenworkers, outer coats, dyers, tanners, leatherworkers, potters, bakers, bronzesmiths & slave traders all had guilds and these

would hold banquets in temples and eat meat sacrificed to the gods – every Tn needs to ask – how far with the culture do I go?

*Jezebel – false prophetess (calls herself)

*The deep things of Satan (2:24)

*To conquer is to do His works to the end! 2:26

*2 great rewards = reigning with Christ & the Morning star – not literal but Jesus (((22:16)

Sardis

*30 mi S

*6th c BC reigned over by King Croesus – situated on an impregnable hill – 2x conquered when the citizens were not watching – devastated by earthquake in 17 AD - rebuilt by Tiberius – 5 yrs of taxes remitted

*Wool center*Name of being alive but was dead – except a few*5 commands= wake up! Strengthen what remains! remember! obey! Repent!*If they do not awaken – the church, like the former city, will be taken by surprise*Pagan shrines forbad those entering with dirty clothes*Dressed in white – what Roman Emperor wore*Blot name out = Roman custom of erasing name at death or via treason*There is a divine record: Lk 10:20; Phil 4:3; Rev 3:5; 13,8; 17,8; 20,12&15; 21,27Philadelphia (named from Attalus love of bro – Eumenes)*35 mi SE – youngest city – Strabo – a city of earthquakes – decimated in 17 AD*Poor, small & harassed

*An open door = the gospel opportunity (1 Cor 16:9; 2 Cor 2:12; Col 4:3)*The hour of trial (3:10) = to be kept in not from b/c of martyrs*Made a pillar in God’s temple but later there is no temple (21:22) = John is not concerned to keep the details of one vision consistent with another*Their pillar would not be removed or overturned by any power!

Laodicea

*40 mi SE (and 100 mi East of Ephesus – semi-circle*61 devastated by earthquake but proudly rebuilt by its own wealthy citizens who refused Rome’s help!*One of the wealthiest cities well known for its wool industry – jet black. Also for its eye salve. *No word of commendation – materialistically thot there was a

middle ground between Christianity and Emperor worship*Wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, naked vs Proud, admired, rich, eye health & well clothed – industries of banking, clothing & medicine developed*Christ is outside knocking NOT forcing – with tender & loving entreaties. *Concluding formula refers to “the churches”7 things can go wrong in any church:

a. Losing 1st loveb. Paralyzed by fear of

sufferingc. Doctrinal compromised. Moral compromisee. Spiritual deadnessf. Failure to hold fastg. Lukewarmness

Highlights of Section 2 (4:1-8:1) – 16 visions

*Focus now in heaven

*“in the spirit” – (cf 1:10)*He uses earthly metaphors that hardly portray the heavenly glory*24 elders = 12 & 12 – white robes & thrones = kingly priests*4 living creatures = Eze 1*John expects to see a lion and sees the Lamb – The might of Christ is the power of love!*7 horns = complete power*101million = an infinite number*The main section of the book which portrays the struggling church and the judgment of God on its foes*7 seals & 7 trumpets essentially tell the same story with the trumpets being more from heaven’s/God’s standpoint*4 seals borrows from Zech 6:1-5*The disasters of violence, famine & death follow those who persistently reject God’s rule*6th seal = punishments in typical Hebrew allegory – earthquake (Hag 2:6), sun turns black and moon to blood (Joel 2:31); stars fall (Isa 34:4); sky rolls up like a scroll (Isa 34:4). Cf Jer 4:23-26*Seal = under God’s protection

*Washing garments in blood do not make them white (7:14)

Highlights of Section 3 (8:2-9:21) –4 visions

*7 angels = real angels including Michael & Gabriel (5 others named in Tobias & Book of Enoch).*79 AD – Vesuvius volcano engulfed the city of Pompeii (like 8:8)*5 mos is the natural lifetime of a some locusts*3.5 years = the time of Gentile domination in Dan 9:27 & 12:7

Highlights of Section 4 (10:1-14:20) –6 visions

*2 witnesses – cf Zech 4:1-14 (Zerubbabel & Joshua) but what they do resembles Elijah & Moses.*Sodom = moral degradation & Egypt = spiritual degradation or oppression

*Returns again and starts all over again w/ 12 as a flashback*Domitian demanded that Tns refer to him as “our lord and god” to the cities John wrote to*666 = symbol of the greatest imperfection (777 minus 111)

Highlights of Section 5 (15:1- 17:18) –5 vision

*The writer has given a series of parallel yet ever progressing revelations

*Armageddon = Mt of Megiddo – no mount but the name of a city w/ many pivotal battles (Judges 5; 2 Kgs 9 & 23)

Highlights of Section 6 (18:1-19:21) 4 visions

Highlights of Section 7 (20:1-22:6)– 6 visions

o 7 visions beginning with v 11 saying I saw…

o 2 books = Book of Merit & Book of Mercy

o Heavenly register taken from Ex 32:32-33; Ps 69:28; Dan 7:10; Mal 3:16) – 5 x in Rev = Book of life

o Isa 65:17; 66:22 – the promise of new heavens and earth that would abide forever

o New does not mean simply another but a new kind of heaven and earth

o 21:5 – present tense = 2 Cor 3:18; 4:16-18; 5:16-17; Col 3:1-4

o Believers are both bride and cityo

Highlights from Epilogue (22:7-22) – 0 visions

o Daniel was told to seal up the vision (12:4,9) and John told not to b/c the time is near (22:10)

10. The Coming of Christ & the Rapture

o Coming of the Lord – 12x usually that it will not be very far distant

o Sometimes it is spiritual – Rev 3:20o When judgment comes – God comes

– see refs on p 24-25o Coming quickly – 3:11; 22:7,12 – o His coming does not always refer to

Second Coming

11. The Millennial Question

Postmillennialism (positive points)-Kingdm of God

-modern digression

-Christian activismMtt 24:9-14

-Optimistic - --millennium

-Christian cooperation with morality2 resurrections

Amillennialism (positive points)

o Symbolismmillennium

o Understands pessimism

Premillennialism (positive points)

o Eschatological earnestnesssparseness of 1000 yrs

elsewhereo Exegesis literal interpretation of OTo Rev 20 best job Jewish flavoro Why is a millennium needed?o Is the Millennium the golden age of

the OT? Ps 72; 110; Isa 2:1-4; 11:1-11; Eze 34; Dan 2)

o Papias – Bishop of Hierapolis – future age ffd by Justin, Ireneaus & Tertullian & Lactantius

o Justin Martyr writing to Trypho admits that “many true Christians think otherwise.”

o Irenaeus id the first beast of Rev with Paul’s man of sin and considered a

possible id of 666 (Gk – Lateinos) suggesting Rome. He thot the empire would be divided into 10 kgdms and Rome to ashes.

o Western Fathers – somewhat literal and eschatological approach

12 Grading

12.1 Read through the book of the Revelation this week (5 Pts)

12.2 Prepare and deliver a sermon from the Revelation (25 pts)

12.3 Write a one page paper on one of the following topics: (20 pts)

-Marks of discipleship in Revelation are:

-The greatest lessons I learned from Revelation were:

-My home church/denomination and lessons on first love from Rev 2:1-7

12.4 Take the final test (50 pts)

List of Works Consulted

Erickson, Millard – Contemporary Options in Eschatology- Baker Book House

Gregg, Steve – Revelation Four Views – Thomas Nelson – USA

Gross, Edward – Are You a Christian or a Disciple? – Xulon Press

Hendriksen – More than Conquerors – Baker Book House – Grand Rapids

Jones, Timothy – Four Views of the End Times – Rose Publishing

Metzger, Bruce- Breaking the Code Abingdon Press Nashville

Morris, Leon – Apocalyptic - Eerdmans Publishing

Mounce, Robert – Notes on Revelation in NIV Study Bible

Smith, JB – A Revelation of Jesus Christ – Herald Press

Wall, Robert - Revelation (NIBC) Hendriksen Publishers

Wilson, Geofrey – Revelation – Banner of Truth Trust