Revelation Introduction
Author- John the Apostle
Date- Testimony of Early Church says 95-96 during reign of Domitian
Themes- The unveiling of JESUS MESSIAH. It also speaks heavily of the REDEMPTION of everything. Some things contrasted between Genesis and Revelation: Earth Created/Destroyed, Sun Created/ No Sun, Darkness/ No darkness, Seas/ No seas, Sin entered/destroyed, Curse/ No more curse, Death/ No more death, Tree of Life guarded/ Access, Sorrow/ No more Sorrow, Babylon started/ Destroyed, Marriage of 1st Adam/ Last Adam, Man’s dominion ceased/ restored.
Approaches- 1) Preterist- fulfilled by 70AD; 2) Historicist- Allegorical method where sweeps entire church history; 3) Idealist- Cosmic struggle of good versus evil; 4) Futurist- agrees with book (1:3; 22:7, 10, 18-19).
Hermeneutical Principle
“When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense; therefore, take every word at its primary, ordinary, usual, literal meaning, unless the facts of the immediate context, studied in light of related passages and axiomatic and fundamental truths, indicate clearly otherwise.” Dr. David Cooper. (Jesus with sword out of his mouth)
Book of Sevens (completeness)
churches, lampstands, spirits, stars, lamps, title-pairs, promises to overcomer, seals, horns, eyes, angels, trumpets, thunders, thousand, heads, crowns, plagues, bowls, mountains, kings, divisions of letter, personages, beatitudes, years of judgments, I AM’s of Jesus, doxologies in heaven, new things, etc.
Important Vocabulary
Amillennialism- no 1000 year reign
Post-Millennialism- Jesus comes after 1000 years of church peace
Pre-Millennialism- Jesus rules for 1000 years on earth from Jerusalem
Pre-Tribulational- Rapture happens before Tribulation
Mid-Tribulational- Rapture happens in middle
Post-Tribulational- Rapture happens after Seven year tribulation
Seven Reasons to Study Prophecy
1) Able to see God’s entire plan through His perspective (John 5:39)
2) Prophecy accuracy brings deeper faith (Isaiah 55:11)
3) Fulfilled prophecy proves Divine authorship (Isaiah 46:9-10, 41:21-23)
4) ¼ of Bible was prophetic at writing, Jesus chides leaders (Matthew 16:1-3)
5) Evangelistic opportunities because we KNOW the future (1 Peter 3:15)
6) Rev 1:3 promises special blessing as we joyfully wait (2 Timothy 4:8)
7) Should produce holiness and expectant attitude (1 John 3:2-3; Luke 21:36)
“which you have seen” “which are” “after these things”
John’s vision of Ch. 1 Churches of 2-3 Chapters 6-19
OVER 800 ALLUSIONS to OT in 404 verses.