The Book of Revelation

“These shall war against the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings; and they

also shall overcome that are with him, called and chosen and faithful”

Revelation 17:14

World Views of Revelation

Preterist view Events of Revelation were fulfilled in the

1st century. Armageddon is God’s judgment on Jews Nero is the “666 Beast”

Historical View

View Revelation as a prophecy taking place from the time of writing till the second coming of Christ.

Spans the fall of Rome to the rise of Europe and Arabian Empires. These alliances will seek to recreate the Roman Empire

Christ comes again and destroys European alliance

Futurist View

Events of Revelation to occur just before Christ comes again.

Foretell of a rapture of true Christians

A period of seven years of “Great Tribulation”

Christ will then return to the earth… reign for a thousand years on the earth (a physical kingdom) – “Premillennialism”

Eastern Orthodox View

Revelation is seen as a warning to be spiritually and morally ready for the end of times (whenever that may come).

Eastern Orthodox read from the book of Revelation only once per year (i.e., Apocalypse night or bright Saturday.. The eve of the resurrection)

Paschal Liturgical View

Held primarily by Catholic and Protestant theologians

Revelation, in form, is structured after creation, fall, judgment and redemption.

Revelation provides insight into the early Eucharist, saying that it is the new Temple worship in the New Heaven and Earth… a foretaste of the heavenly banquet.

Esoteric View

View the book as delivering both a series of warnings for humanity and a detailed account of internal, spiritual processes of the individual soul.

Revelation is symbolic of the body and that each emblem, emotion and condition relate to self. For example, the 24 elders of Rev. 4:4 relate to the 12 pairs (24) of cranial nerves…”

Radical Discipleship View

Revelation is best understood as a handbook for radical discipleship; i.e., how to remain faithful to the spirit and teachings of Jesus and avoid simply assimilating to surrounding society.

The primary agenda of the book is to expose the worldly powers as impostors which seek to oppose the ways of God.

Aesthetic and Literary View

Revelation is a work of art and imagination

The imagery is a symbolic depiction of victory of good over evil.

Dismissal View

Robert G. Ingersoll – “The insanest of all books”

Thomas Jefferson omitted revelation out of his “Jefferson Bible” – ravings of a maniac no more worthy of explanation than the incoherencies of our nightly dreams.

Does not belong in the cannon of inspired scriptures.

Our Approach to a study of Revelation

Revelation (Deut. 29:29; Jn. 8:32; I Cor. 14:33) A respect for God’s authority Approach no different than any other book in

Bible Takes time and extreme effort to understand

Why does God reveal His mind in veiled language? Those who truly desire truth will seek it out

(see Matt. 13:11) God reveals His message in diverse manners

(Heb. 1:1)

Date of Revelation

Early date – Days of Nero AD 64-68 Late Date – Days of Domitian AD 91-96

Proclaimed Christianity was a crime against Rome

Persecuted Christians in and out of Rome Christians were exiled, put to death, tortured

into confessions of Domitian’s deity, and had their property confiscated.

Internal evidences: Paul’s Ephesian Letter (all is well with Eph. Yet not so in Rev. 2:4)

All seems well with church in Col. Yet not so in Rev. 3:14ff.

Author of Revelation

John: see 1:4, 9-12 etc.

Theme of Revelation

Revelation 17:14 “These shall war against the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings; and they also shall overcome that are with him, called and chosen and faithful”

Note that the word “overcome” (Greek nikao) is found 17 times in the book of Revelation.

The Christian can be victorious over the most formidable difficulties faced in life (Rev. 12:11; 21:7).

End Part I

Next week: Read Revelation Chapter one and be prepared to study.