Introduction

• 1^st – Interpretation…
  • Next book…
    • Having finished Jude – we pick up our study through the Bible today in Revelation
    • Revelations is the 27^th – and FINAL – book of the NEW Testament…
    • It has 22 chapters – and 404 verses – it will take about 6 months to finish!
  • Challenging Book…
    • There is no doubt the Book of REVELATION is VERY controversial…
    • People have a LOT of different ideas about what this book means…
    • The main reason for the DIFFERENCES – is how the book is INTERPRETED!
  • 1^st – Allegorical…
    • The FIRST way people try and INTERPRET the Book is ALLEGORICALLY…
      • ALLEGORY – means to have a HIDDEN or SECOND meaning…
      • The idea being the Book is NOT to be taken literally…
      • It is to be INTERPRETED as a series of ILLUSTRATIONS meant to teach MORAL truths!
    • The problem with ALLEGORY…
      • The use of allegory in teachings is a common practice in many churches today…
      • Unfortunately it is a VERY dangerous way to INTERPRET the Bible…
      • IGNORING the obvious meaning of a passage – teachers seek a DEEPER meaning…
      • ABANDONING boundaries – the passage is left to be ANYTHING the teacher wants…
      • This had led to many FALSE teachings – HERESIES being taught in churches!
  • 2^nd – Historical…
    • The SECOND way people try to INTERPRET the Book is HISTORICALLY…
      • The idea being John was writing about events that have ALREADY taken place…
      • Connecting the Book to the destruction of Jerusalem by Rome in 70 A.D.
      • We call this view – PRETERIST – from Latin [praeter] – meaning something in the PAST…
      • This is the most COMMON view of the book of Revelation in the church today!
      • PRETERIST believe there is no RAPTURE…
      • They do not believe the WORLD will get WORSE – or in the rise of the ANTICHRIST…
      • They believe instead the WORLD will get BETTER…
      • Following the Great COMMISSION – the church will establish the KINGDOM of God…
      • They see the MILLENNIAL reign of Jesus as SYMBOLIC – a LONG time…
      • They are AMILLENNIAL – there is NO 1000 year REIGN of Christ – Revelation 20:1-4
      • Or POSTMILLENNIAL – Jesus will come back AFTER the church builds His KINGDOM!
    • The problem with PRETERISM…
      • Satan is BOUND during the MILLENNIAL reign – Revelation 20:2
      • If satan is currently CHAINED up – his leash is too long…
      • The WORLD is NOT getting better – it is getting WORSE…
      • People are NOT coming to know Jesus – they are FALLING away…
      • FALLING AWAY – apostasia – meaning to depart – II Thessalonians 2:3
      • The world has become POST CHRISTIAN – where many if not most – have DEPARTED…
      • In many parts of Europe today – less than 10% of people attend church regularly…
      • Across the world – church attendance has plummeted over the past TWENTY years!
      • Matthew 24:12 – “Sin will be rampant everywhere – and the love of many will grow cold.”
        
  • 3^rd – Literal…
    • The THIRD way people can INTERPRET the Book is LITERALLY…
      • This is the CORRECT view – and how we will be going through Revelation…
      • Which means once we get to past – Revelation 1-3
      • We will be dealing with EVENTS that have not yet occurred – Revelation 4-22
    • There will be IMAGERY given in the Book…
      • When the BOOK uses key WORDS – such as LIKE or AS…
      • Revelation 1:14 – “His head and hair were white like wool – as white as snow – and His eyes like a flame of fire.”
      • Jesus LITERALLY – had HAIR that was WHITE as SNOW…
      • But His hair was NOT made of WOOL – it looked LIKE wool…
      • And His eyes were NOT on FIRE – they looked LIKE a flame of fire!
    • The Bible does use symbolism…
      • Galatians 4:24 – “Which things are symbolic [ἀλληγορέω].”
      • The Bible does use IMAGERY – but when it does it tell us…
      • The key to PROPER Bible interpretation – take the text LITERALLY!

• 2^nd – Author… vs. 1-2
  • 1^st – John the APOSTLE…
    • Not the same as John the Baptist – wrote MANY books in the NT…
    • He wrote the Gospel of John – as well as I – II – III John – and the book of Revelation
    • This is very little debate over who wrote to the book – John references himself FIVE times!
    • Revelation 1:1 – Revelation 1:4 – Revelation 1:9 – Revelation 21:2 – Revelation 22:8
  • 2^nd – Jesus Christ… vs. 1
    • The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave Him…
      • To show His servants things which must shortly take place…
      • And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John!
      • The MESSAGE was given to JOHN – but it came from GOD…
      • It was a MESSAGE about things that would QUICKLY [τάχος] happen…
      • Do NOT miss – the WORDS of this BOOK – are coming QUICKLY!
      • God gave the MESSAGE to Jesus – who then gave it to His SERVANTS [δοῦλος]
      • The MESSAGE was SENT [ἀποστέλλω] by an ANGEL – who delivered it to JOHN!
    • John may have written the WORDS – but they are the WORD of God…
      • If I wrote an email to someone – they would not give credit to the computer…
      • It was just the tool that was used by me to send the message!
      • In the same way God used men – to SPEAK to us – though the Old Testament!
      • II Timothy 3:16 – “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God…”
  • 3^rd – How the REVELATION was given… vs. 2
    • Who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus – to all things that he saw!
    • John received this REVELATION – through what he SAW – Revelation 1:2
    • SAW [εἴδω] – used 70x throughout the Book…
    • But John also received this REVELATION – from what he HEARD – Revelation 1:10
    • HEARD [ἀκούω] – used 46x throughout the Book!
    • John was not given us his IDEAS – or his OPINIONS…
    • He is giving us the WORD [λόγος] of God he had WITNESSED [μαρτυρέω]!
    • There is a whole world out there – who does NOT know Jesus…
    • Like John we are called to bring the REVELATION of Jesus to them…
    • Not by giving them our idea or options – they do not need those…
    • We do so by telling them about what we have HEARD [Bible] and SEEN [in our lives]!
• 3^rd – The Audience… 
  • The SEVEN churches…
    • Revelation 1:11 – “Write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia…”
    • The BOOK was written to the SEVEN churches in the Roman province of Asia Minor [Turkey]
    • There are THREE views on WHO these SEVEN churches are!
  • 1^st – Literal CHURCHES…
    • Jesus is addressing the SEVEN churches located in what is today modern day Turkey…
    • Ephesus / Smyrna / Pergamos / Thyatira / Sardis / Philadelphia / and Laodicea…
    • There is no doubt there were LITERAL churches – we have visited the ruins!
  • 2^nd – CHURCH history…
    • It is also possible that these churches represent the HISTORY of the CHURCH…
    • Ephesus represents the early church – beginning with the book of Acts…
    • With the remainder running sequentially through the last 2000 years…
    • Up until Laodicea that represents the final church just before the rapture!
  • 3^rd – Kinds of CHURCHES…
    • The churches can also be interpreted as different KINDS of CHURCHES…
    • The condition of ALL churches today can be found in the example of one of these SEVEN…
    • Jesus is addresses SEVEN literal churches – but the application is for ALL!

• 4^th – Where and when…
  • 1^st – Where it was written…
    • Unlike the other FOUR books that the Apostle John wrote…
    • We know EXACTLY where the BOOK of Revelation was written…
    • Revelation 1:9 – “I John… was on the island that is called Patmos.”
    • PATMOS – is a small island about 70km off the coast of Ephesus [Turkey]
    • It is a small rocky island – about 16km long – 9km wide…
    • The Romans used the island as a PRISON for their worst criminals…
    • Church tradition [Tertullian] – tells us Rome tried to kill John by boiling him in oil…
    • When he miraculously survived – he was exiled to PATMOS…
    • There on a desolate island – with no distractions – he received this REVELATION of Jesus!
    • We have BUSY lives – full of all kinds of DISTRACTIONS…
    • We are bombarded constantly with things – cell phones – demanding our attention…
    • Then we wonder why we do not SEE Jesus – why He is not REVEALED to us…
    • It might be time to put away the distractions – sit quietly – and LISTEN…
    • God may be trying to SPEAK to us – we have just been too BUSY to hear Him!
  • 2^nd – When it was written…
    • Although we do NOT know the time – the best guess is around 95 A.D.
    • According to some of the early church fathers – Irenaeus – Eusebius – Jerome 
    • John was exiled to PATMOS – in the FOURTEENTH year of Emperor Domitian – 95 A.D.
    • He was then released from PATMOS – under the reign of Emperor Nerva – 96 A.D.
    • And he went to Ephesus and served as the pastor there till his death – 98 A.D.

• 5^th – Purpose…
  • 1^st – The REVELATION of Jesus Christ…
    • REVELATION [ἀποκάλυψις] – where we get the word APOCALYPSE…
    • APOCALYPSE – has come to mean something catastrophic…
    • People associate the WORD with the END of the WORLD…
    • But is actually means to UNCOVER something that was HIDDEN…
    • This BOOK is meant to UNCOVER or REVEAL to us – Jesus Christ!
      
  • 2^nd – All about Jesus…
    • The BOOK of REVELATION – also REVEALS to us – WHO Jesus is!
    • Jesus – the FIRST person to be PERMANENTLY risen from the dead – Revelation 1:5
    • Jesus – the FIRST and the LAST – Beginning and the END of ALL things – Revelation 1:8
    • Jesus – who has the KEYS of death and hell – Revelation 1:18
    • Jesus – the LION of Judah – who can open the SEALS – Revelation 5:5
    • Jesus – the LAMB of God – slain before the world began – Revelation 13:8
    • Jesus – the KING over all kings – the LORD over all lords – Revelation 19:16
    • This book is ALL about Jesus – He is the FOCUS of the REVELATION…
    • Therefore if we come to the BOOK looking AMAZING prophecies about the FUTURE…
    • If we are excited to get into REVELATION – because it talks about the END times…
    • Then we are missing the POINT – we want to read this BOOK because it REVEALS Jesus!
  • 3^rd – The CONTRAST…
    • The BOOK of REVELATION – REVEALS to a very different Jesus from the Gospels…
      • The Jesus of the GOSPELS – was the Healer – Peacemaker – and Servant…
      • And when He rose into Jerusalem for the final time – he came on a DONKEY – Mathew 21:1
      • Zechariah 12:9 – “Your King is coming to you… having salvation… riding on a donkey!”
      • A king would never come to conquer riding on a DONKEY – it was a sign of PEACE…
      • Jesus was not coming to conquer – He came to bring PEACE between God and Man!
    • The Second coming…
      • The Jesus of the book of REVELATION – is the Judge – Conqueror – and King…
      • Jesus will NOT be riding a DONKEY when He returns!
      • Revelation 19:11 – “I saw heaven opened – and behold – a white HORSE. He who sat on him was called Faithful and True – and in righteousness He judges and makes WAR.”
      • When Jesus comes for the SECOND time – He will NOT come to make PEACE…
      • He will come with all the armies of heaven for WAR – to set up His Kingdom here on Earth!
  • 4^th – The OLD Testament
    • The BOOK of REVELATION – also REVEALS to us – the OLD Testament…
    • In the 404 verses of REVELATION – there are 278 references to the OT!
    • There are MANY churches today who no longer teach the Old Testament…
    • Some have gone so far as to say that it is NOT history – just FABLES…
    • Those same churches tend to AVOID the book of REVELATION!
    • Most people assume that the book of REVELATION is something NEW…
    • But more the HALF of the BOOK – is built off of quotes from the OLD…
    • Because the majority of people – even in the church – do not KNOW the OT…
    • They tend to find the IMAGERY unfamiliar – and the BOOK as a whole confusing…
    • Which is WHY it is so IMPORTANT to know the WHOLE Bible!
  • 5^th – Jesus is COMING…
    • The BOOK of REVELATION – also REVEALS to us – Jesus is COMING!
    • Revelation 1:7 – “Behold – He is coming with clouds – and every eye will see Him – even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so Amen.”
    • Most of us probably did not wake up this morning – and think I might see Jesus today…
    • But as we go through this BOOK – it WILL change our perspective…
    • We will be left to ask the all important question – are we ready…
    • No man knows the day and the hour – so we need to be constantly prepared!
    • Luke 21:28 – “Stand straight and look up – for your salvation is near…”

• 6^th – Outline…
  • 1^st – THREE sections…
    • Revelation 1:19 – “Write the things which you HAVE [past] seen – and the things which ARE [present] – and the things which WILL [future] take place after this.”
    • The BOOK of REVELATION has a VERY simple outline – all based on sets of THREE…
    • PAST – John wrote the things he HAD seen – vison of Jesus – Revelation 1
    • PRESENT – John wrote the things which ARE – the SEVEN churches – Revelation 2-3
    • FUTURE – the final section – are the things which will take place AFTER this – Revelation 4-22
  • 2^nd – THREE events…
    • The final section is also broken up into THREE sections…
    • Revelation 4-5 – the RAPTURE of the church [as seen from heaven]
    • Revelation 6-18 – the WRATH of God [the Great Tribulation]
    • Revelation 19-22 – The RETURN of Jesus Christ [the Second coming]
  • 3^rd – THREE Judgements…
    • Revelation 6-18 – the WRATH of God is broken up into THREE sets of Judgements…
    • The seven SEAL judgments – Revelation 6-8
    • The seven TRUMPET judgments – Revelation 8-14
    • The seven BOWL judgment – Revelation 15-18

• 7^th – The blessing… vs. 3
  • 1^st – Reading…
    • Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy!
    • BLESSED [μακάριος] – to have GREAT Joy
    • The FIRST of SEVEN blessings in Revelation…
    • The BLESSING is for those who READ the WORDS [λόγος] of this PROPHECY…
    • READ [ἀναγινώσκω] – from the ROOT word to KNOW…
    • Not just KNOW these WORDS – even the SPACE between [ἀνα] the WORDS…
    • Because they are PROPHECY [προφητεία] – to declare the PLANS and PURPOSES of God!
    • The NEWS can tell us what happened yesterday – but what about tomorrow…
    • There is NO truth in HOROSCOPES – the best people can do is GUESS!
    • Which is why READING the book of REVELATION is a BLESSING…
    • Not only does it REVEAL Jesus to us – it also tells us about the PLANS of God…
    • We get to KNOW what the FUTURE holds – as we learn about the one who HOLD the FUTURE!
  • 2^nd – Hearing…
    • The BLESSING is for those who HEAR the WORDS [λόγος] of this PROPHECY…
    • HEAR [ἀκούω] – to LISTEN and UNDERSTAND!
    • We are often challenged in our BUSY schedule to find TIME for the BIBLE…
    • But what are we LISTENING to – when we exercise – or are stuck in TRAFFIC!
    • We are NOT limited to just READING – we can also LISTEN…
    • We can LISTEN to an audio tract of the Bible – LISTEN to the BOOK of REVELATION!
  • 3^rd – Keeping…
    • And keep those things which are written in it – for the time is near!
    • The BLESSING is for those who KEEP the WORDS [λόγος] of this PROPHECY…
    • KEEP [τηρέω] – to GUARD the WORDS written in the BOOK…
    • Because they are NEAR – the TIME of them being fulfilled is CLOSE!
    • The Bible is not a textbook to memorize – it is an instruction manual to OBEY…
    • We can KNOW all words – but if it does not change our actions – it means NOTHING…
    • Jesus is COMING – the WORDS of this PROPHECY are CLOSE to being fulfilled…
    • If we want to be BLESSED – we will not just READ – LISTEN – we will DO!
    • James 1:22 – “Be doers of the word – and not hearers only…”