New Testament Survey no.8: John - Book of Revelation

Section 1: Introduction
Read : Revelation Chapter 1:
• verses 1 – 3
• verses 4 - 8
• verses 9 - 20

Revelation 1: 1 - 3 = Title
 Type Writing = a revelation – Visions “disclosure of unseen realities”
 Divine Author = Christ
 Central Focus = Work of Christ throughout History & His return
 Originally = Read aloud
 Blessing to those who hear / read
 Are we being blessed by this writing ?
 The time is near – comes like a thief in the night
 Therefore written to both 1st century believers & us now
 Are we realising this is near ?
 Are we prepared ? (e.g. wedding feast)

Revelation 1: 4–8 = Opening
 Standard structure of letter of Time
 From : John
 To : 7 churches in Asia
 Greeting = Grace …..
 We are free from our sins
 We are a kingdom – a new nation/society on earth
 We are priests – direct link to God
 Christ’s return = all will see Him
 Shock & Regret by millions who ignored/disobeyed him

Revelation 1: 9–20 = Christ’s Presence with Believers
 John - Brother in the tribulation + endurance
 John doesn’t escape troubles – endures through it
 Imprisoned - Island Patmos
 Focus = Christ – present with the churches/believers through
persecution & suffering
 First & the Last (alpha & omega) & forevermore
 Power over death & Hell
 Therefore – fear not death = Christ has overcome
 To 7 churches
 Commanded to write – past + situation now + future

Question 1.
Who was the Writer?
How do we know He
wrote this book?

How do we know?
Issue . .
 States in chapters 1: 1,4,9 & chapter 22:8 : John wrote it
 Question = John who? – the apostle or another John?
External Evidence for Apostle John . .
 Irenaeus (church father) states apostle John wrote it
 Rev.1:9 states John received revelation on Island Patmos
 Clement of Alexandria & Eusebius state John the Apostle exiled there by
Romans
Internal Evidence . .
 John does not give his position / details - assumes known by 7 churches to
whom first written : missionary & apostle to them
 Vocabulary very similar to other 4 books by John
 Rev.19:13 – Christ is the Word – same as John 1:1
 But poor Greek – was using secretary earlier but now on own?

Question 2.
When + Where
was this book written ?

When?
 During rule of emperor Domitian – AD 95 (most view)
Where?
 Visions : Island of Patmos
 Written : either Patmos or Ephesus (according to some church fathers)

Question 3.
Who was this written to ?

Who ?
Primary Audience
 7 churches in Asia Minor – suffering persecution
 Each church Represents different types of churches through all time
Overall Audience
 All churches & believers
 In every year from AD 95 to Now
 Speaks to :
 believers in North Korea executed by government for their faith
 believers in communist countries imprisoned during 1950s,60s, 70s,80s
 believers in China imprisoned for 20 years for following Christ
 believers in Muslim countries discriminated & jailed for their faith
 believers in Syria executed by ISIS for their faith
 Not a book for the past or the future - for every situation then & now

Question 4.
Why did John write
this book?

Situation
 Under Emperors Nero & Domitian
 Pressure to worship Caesar as Lord
 Christians were
 Discriminated
 Attacked
 Imprisoned
 Executed
 for claiming that - Jesus is LORD – not the Roman emperor
 Following Christ can have serious political & social
consequences – this is not just internal

Purpose
 To give hope – that Christ has the victory over all time
. – that God has plans He will accomplish
 To show – that God is in control – He is Lord of all history
. - for all ages, for eternity - Greater than any ruler
 To encourage – believers to persevere through difficult times
 To strengthen – believer’s faith in Christ as Lord
 To warn – believers not to give up or compromise their faith
 To urge – to stay faithful to Christ and following Him alone

Effect
 “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this
prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart
what is written in it, because the time is near.” (Revelation 1:3)
 Hope for the future
 Understand what is & will happen nationally & globally
 Greater faith in God’s plans
 Prepared for Christ’s return soon – priorities on eternal value

Question 5.
What type (genre) of
writing is this ?

Genre ?
Form of Prophecy
 Predicting events of the end times (Christ’s 1st coming to 2nd return)
 Only book in N.T. devoted to prophecy
Apocalyptic Writing
 Many Jewish writings before +after Christ = apocalyptic
– 4 Ezra, 1 Enoch, 2 Apocalypse of Baruch etc.
 ‘Pulls back veil between heaven & earth’
 Explains God working out his purposes through suffering experienced
 Involves visions & dreams
 Uses symbolic language – many applications
 Predicts total judgement & destruction wicked + deliverance righteous

Question 6.
What are the background
prophecies to Revelation
& End Times?

Key Scriptures ?
 Gospels : Matthew ch. 24 – 25
 Epistles : Thessalonians book 1: ch.4 – 5 + book 2: ch.2
 O.T : Daniel ch.9
 Note : When interpreting prophecy
– check first in relation to Gospels & Epistles

Matthew 24-25 …
Matthew 24:6-14
(6) You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed.
Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.
(7) Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines
and earthquakes in various places.
(8) All these are the beginning of birth pains.
(9) "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be
hated by all nations because of me.
(10) At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other,
(11) and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.
(12) Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,
(13) but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
(14) And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony
to all nations, and then the end will come.

Matthew 24-25 …
Matthew 24:29-39
(29) "Immediately after the distress of those days "'the sun will be darkened, and the
moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies
will be shaken.'
(30) "Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of
the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of
heaven, with power and great glory.
(31) And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect
from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
(36) "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the
Son, but only the Father.
(37) As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
(38) For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and
giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark;
(40) Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left

2 Thessalonians 2 …
2 Thessalonians 2: 3-10
(3) that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is
revealed, the man doomed to destruction.
(4) He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is
worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
(6) And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the
proper time.
(7) For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it
back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.
(8) And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with
the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.
(9) The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will
use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie,

Daniel 9 …
Daniel 9:24-27
(24) "Seventy 'sevens' are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish
transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in
everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most
Holy Place.
(25) "Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and
rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven
'sevens,' and sixty-two 'sevens.' It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in
times of trouble.
(26) After the sixty-two 'sevens,' the Anointed One will be put to death and will have
nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the
sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and
desolations have been decreed.
(27) He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the
'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set
up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured
out on him.”

Question 7.
What is the
Structure of Revelation?

STRUCTURE
 Rev.1 : 19 – write (a) what you have seen (b) those that are, (c) those that
are to take place after this
 Ch. 1 – What you have seen
– Vision of resurrected Christ – in heaven as God
 Ch. 2-5 – what is now
– Letters to 7 churches of Asia Minor
– Warnings of judgement and Instruction to overcome
 Ch. 6-22 – what will take place
– Judgements (tribulations)
– Return of Christ
– Millennium
– Eternal New Heaven and Earth

Structure
1. Chapter 1 : Introduction & Vision of Christ
2. Chapter 2-3: Letters to the 7 churches
3. Chapter 4-5: Vision of Christ Now as Lord
4. Chapter 6-18: The 3 waves of judgements / wrath upon the earth
5. Chapter 19: Return of Christ – defeat forces of Antichrist
6. Chapter 20: The Millennium Reign of Christ & Defeat of Satan
7. Chapter 21-22: The Eternal State – New Heaven & New Earth

Section 2: Letters to 7 churches
Read : Revelation Chapter 2 – 3
What are these 7 letters about ?

Layout
1. Depiction of Christ for their need
2. Their Situation
3. Praise
4. Condemnation
5. Challenge - to hear & change
6. Warning - if no change
7. Call to Overcome & Receive Promises

Main issue
 Under Emperors Nero & Domitian
 Persecuted = attacked, imprisoned, fed to lions + executed for
claiming that Jesus is LORD – not emperor
 Pressured = to worship emperor
 Tempted = to worldly wealth + power + temptations
 Result
 Some remained Faithfull to God
 Many worshipped BOTH Christ & Caesar - as Lord
 Answer
 Only Christ is LORD to worship
 even if results in persecution or execution

Churches (represent churches to this day)
1. Ephesus
 Works + endurance + faithful + reject false teaching (capital of
magic & worship of evil spirits)
× Abandoned 1st Love of Christ & each other
2. Smyrna
 Successfully Endure Struggles + poverty + attacks
 Prison, persecution, death
3. Pergamum
 Hold fast to Christ + not give up Faith
× False teaching + sexual immorality
Predicted persecution
to believers !

4. Thyatira
 faith + love of Christ >> service + endurance
× Following false prophetess + sexual immorality
5. Sardis
× Dead – spiritual coma - not walking in Christ’s ways
 Some still follow Christ – loyal + pure
6. Philadelphia
 Enduring + Keep to God’s word + not denied Christ
 Hold fast to Christ
Reputation = Alive
Reality = Dead !
The Lord sees all our
works & service

7. Laodicea
× No longer living for Christ + spiritually bankrupt
- Cold water= useful > refreshes in the heat
- Hot water= useful > warmth when chilly
- Lukewarm = useless – neither hot nor cold
- Referred to the useless lukewarm water they received by aqueduct from hot springs
× Arrogant - Rely on Riches
Which > praises or warnings – are familiar & apply your church ?
Reliance on material wealth
instead of Christ results in
spiritual bankruptcy

Section 3: Vision of Christ
Read : Chapter 4 – 5

Rev. 4:1 = Future tense
 (Chapter 4:1) “take place after this”
 beginning of visions on the future to come.
 The future working out of Christ’s victory on the cross until
his final return and resulting new heaven & earth

Symbols : Chapter 4 - 5
Relates to the symbols of the Roman Emperor’s divinity:
– Rev 4:2 – Relates to the throne of an emperor / King
– Rev.4:2-3 - Courtrooms show their power + majesty
– Rev.4:5 - Servants linked to astrology
– Rev.4:8-11 - Servants songs of worship to divine King
– Rev.5:1-8 - King ruled justice over empire
Message = Christ’s majesty, power and glory are far
greater than of any human king or emperor

Message :
 Christ’s power, majesty, and glory = far greater than
any human emperor, King or ruler
 Christ = the only ruler who conquers - by giving his life
as a sacrifice for all humanity to come out of sin &
death to salvation
 Christ = supreme NOT Emperor Caesar nor any other
human ruler
 Call to worship Christ - NOT Caesar or any human ruler

Question 8.
How do I understand
chapters 6 - 18 ?

Sections & Time Periods
1. Introduction & Vision of Christ (Rev.1)
2. Letters to the 7 churches (Rev.2-3)
3. Vision of Christ : Now as Lord (Rev.4-5)
4. 3 waves of judgements / wrath upon the earth (Rev.6-18)
5. Return of Christ – defeat forces of Antichrist (Rev.19)
6. Millennium Reign of Christ & Defeat of Satan (Rev.20)
7. Eternal State – New Heaven & New Earth (Rev.21-22)
First
Century
Final
Future
Past ?
Present ?
Future ?

4 Approaches to Interpreting Revelation =
Historical (Preterist) = Benware
 Most about history – real events & people in 1st century
Futurist
 Most about future – real people & events in centuries to come
Symbolic (Allegorical)
 Not only History or Future – Symbolic of battle Christ versus Satan
– believers & church face throughout history
Combination = Berding & Williams
 Covering all : History + Past + Ongoing
 To encourage all Christians through persecution in all times

Discussion :
Is this book of Revelation written for believers
 in the Past ?
 in the Future ?
 for all times ?

Section 4: Tribulation
Judgments of God upon the Earth
Read : Chapters 6 – 18

3 Waves of Judgements upon the earth (ch. 6-18)
 God will pour out 3 waves of Judgements / wrath upon the
earth
 Predicted in the O.T & N.T
 Similar to plagues upon Egypt (Exodus 7 – 11)
 Increasing intensity towards Christ’s return
 3 waves of :
 7 Seals
 7 Trumpets
 7 Bowls

Overview : 7 Seals > 7 Trumpets > 7 Bowls

Seven Trumpets : chapters 8 - 10

Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath : chapter 16

Question 8.
Are Believers to
ESCAPE or ENDURE
these Tribulations ?

POINTS OF AGREEMENT
 TRIBULATION / Affliction upon the Earth – increasing in intensity
 Either : Ongoing or as intense seven year period at the end
 RAPTURE of believers to Christ when he comes in glory
 FINAL JUDGEMENT of the Living & the Dead
 SATAN DESTROYED and his forces of evil
 ETERNITY in God’s Kingdom by Christ’s Salvation
 END to suffering, pain and death
 NEW Heaven & New Earth
Understanding Revelation -
Focus on the BIG picture
- not overwhelmed by
controversies

ESCAPE
View = Pre-
Millennialism
Great
Tribulation =
7 years at the
end of time
Rapture =
before
tribulation starts

ESCAPE [Pre-Millennialism view = Pre or Mid-Tribulation]
 Rev.6-18 = Great Tribulations: only at the end of time before 2nd
coming (no great suffering of these types before)
 Interpretation from Daniel 9 = 7 years only
 Believers Raptured before the 7 years tribulation
 Believers return after tribulations finished
 Follows literal pattern of Revelation
 Direct link to Daniel 9 prophecy
 Doesn't fit Rev.1:9 – John is partner in Tribulation & Endurance
 Doesn't fit 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 = No Tribulation after Rapture
 Doesn't fit 1 Corinthians 15:51-53= No Tribulation after Rapture
 Doesn't fit 1 Thessalonians 3:3-4 = We will endure Tribulation & afflictions
 Doesn't fit Matthew 24:9-31 = Believers endure Great Tribulation before Rapture

Theory : ENDURE
Ongoing tribulation

ENDURE [Post-Millennial & A-Millennial view ]
 Rev.6-18 = Ongoing Tribulations : throughout human history –
intensifying towards the 2nd coming
 Believers Endure & are Sealed (protected) through these tribulations
 Rapture after the tribulations – before Christ’s Return
 Follows Matthew 24:9-31 = Believers endure Great Tribulation before Rapture
 Follows message of 1 Thess. 3:3-4 & Rev.1:9 – we endure tribulations
 Speaks to tribulations believers experienced in 1st century & ongoing in history
 Does not take a completely literal understanding of Revelation
 Does not fit with the prophecy of Daniel 9
 Luke 17:26-32 states - as with Noah & Lot : we will be removed from God’s wrath
 Rom.5:9 states we shall be saved from the wrath of God
 1 Thess.5:9 states the church is not destined for the wrath of God
 Rev.3:10 states Christ will keep Philadelphia church from the Great Tribulation

Section 5:
Return of Christ
Chapter 19

Section 6:
The Millennium Reign of Christ
Chapters 20

Different Understandings of the ‘Millennium’

View of Millennium decided by –
• if we interpret Revelation as completely literal or more symbolic
• source texts we start with – Daniel or Matthew

Section 7:
The Eternal State
Chapters 21 - 22

Overall Message of Revelation (points of agreement)
 CHRIST is Lord & in control of all world events
 TRIBULATION / Affliction upon the Earth – increasing in intensity
 Either : Ongoing or as Great Tribulation : 7 year period at the end
 RAPTURE of believers to Christ when he comes in glory
 RETURN OF CHRIST
 FINAL JUDGEMENT of the Living & the Dead
 SATAN DESTROYED and his forces of evil
 ETERNITY in God’s Kingdom by Christ’s Salvation
 END to suffering, pain and death
 NEW Heaven & New Earth

New Testament Survey no.8: John - Book of Revelation

New Testament Survey no.8: John - Book of Revelation

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