Thursday, December 31, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
Revelation Seminar - Manuscript (rough)
Alright, we’ve got a lot to cover, so we’re just going to get started. Let me tell you what our goals are for this time together –
1) That you feel like you can study Revelation and apply it
2) That you’d develop a better understanding of what the Bible says about ‘eschatology,’ or the end times
3) That you’d get the theme of the book.
And here’s the theme of the book: Jesus’ death and resurrection has saved a people for God from every nation and secured his position as King and Judge of the world. Therefore, persevere in your witness to Jesus Christ. Be comforted, Jesus is coming soon. And beware, lest you compromise and not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Here’s where we’re going. First, we’re going to look at principles for interpreting the book. Second, before we get to the book, we’re going to get a whole picture of what the New Testament teaches about eschatology, or the end times. Third, we’re going to just do a run through of the book. Last, we’ll have a short time for q and a – so write down questions as they come up.
Let’s pray, and then we’ll get to it.
First, let’s look at some principles for interpreting Revelation.
First principle, we need to exercise humility here. This is a difficult book. We need to be able to distinguish major issues from minor. There are essential issues to the Christian faith – namely, the Trinity and justification by faith alone. If you don’t have a good, in depth understanding of those things, your homework is to go learn them.
Second, Revelation is a book of symbols. Revelation 1:1 says this: The revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave him to show his servants the things that must soon take place. The word ‘show’, there means to show by ‘signs.’
In other words, the things that John saw are symbols. Don’t try to mix interpretive methods – take some things literally and some things as symbols. What John saw were symbols, including the numbers. Jesus does not have seven eyeballs.
Third, Revelation is a series of visions that are not in chronological order. They’re introduced with the formula, “I saw” and “after this.” One way that we see that Revelation isn’t chronological is that the world ends 5 times. Think of Revelation like replays while you’re watching football. When you watch a replay, it’s from a different camera. What’s going on in Revelation is that we’re watching the same scenes over and over from different cameras.
Fourth, interpret unclear passages with clear passages. You don’t base doctrine (what you believe) on passages that aren’t clear.
Fifth, the New Testament interprets and explains the Old Testament. Now, the Old Testament can inform us about concepts in the New; BUT, the New Testament is the fulfillment of things in the Old that were shadows and are now explained. Paul says in Col. 1:25-26 that his ministry is to ‘make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints’ – and he’s talking about Christ and the Gospel.
Sixth, our present world situation does not interpret Scripture. Scripture, not your interpretation of world events, should tell you who the beast is.
Seventh, this book is about the whole period of the end. We’ll get into this a little more in a moment, but Revelation 1:1 (and a few other times) says that the book is about the ‘things that must soon take place.’ This is a direct allusion to Daniel 2:28-29, 44-45.
The vision was about the whole period that would begin with the first coming of Christ. So the book of Revelation is about the whole period between Christ’s first and second comings – not just about some time far off in the distant future.
So – given that we need to interpret unclear passages with clear passages, we need to take a look at what the whole New Testament says about what I just said – that there is a period which is described as being between Christ’s first and second comings. We need to look at what the whole New Testament says about the ‘end times,’ or ‘eschatology.’
First, we need to see that God talks about two ages. Turn to 1 Cor. 2:6-10, by the way. Matt 12:32 says, “whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.”
1 Cor 2:6-7 say this: “among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away, but we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God…”
A few observations. This age exists, but will end. The wisdom from the next age has been revealed already. What is this wisdom? In the context of the book, it’s that Jesus died for our sins, rose for our justification and is returning to establish a new world – and all the effects of those truths.
So the future age, heaven, has come crashing into the present dying age in the person and work of Jesus.
God also talks about this in terms of the Kingdom of God. He says this when he’s talking about his judging humanity at the end of the world: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven…”(Matt 7:21). So there’s a future aspect of the Kingdom of God. We are to enter it in the future.
However, there’s also a present aspect of the Kingdom of God. Jesus said in Matt. 12:28, “if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.” So there’s both a present aspect of the Kingdom of God – Jesus reigns now as King through his Spirit’s work on earth – giving people faith and citizenship in heaven by saving them – and he will reign in the future when he returns to judge and recreate the world physically.
This is the point of most of the parables about the Kingdom of God, by the way. It exists now in an invisible way; Jesus reigns as King from heaven; but at the end it will be made visible.
Make sure you check out those other Scripture references.
A third way God talks about the two ages is using the terms ‘flesh’ and ‘Spirit.’ Flesh refers to things that pertain to this present age; Spirit refs to things that pertain to athe next age – the age in which everything is governed by the Spirit of God. That’s why in John 3, Jesus tells Nicodemus that he must be born of the flesh – in this present earth – AND born again of the Spirit – such that the Spirit gives him a new soul that belongs to the New heavens and New earth and thinks and desires accordingly.
1 peter 3:18 also reflects this reality: “Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring us to God by being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.” So Christ’s resurrection is something that pertains to the age of the Spirit.
A fourth way God talks about the ‘end times’ is with the language of New Creation. We live in creation – the old creation. When Jesus returns, he will re-create the physical world. 2 Peter 3:13 says this about when Jesus returns: “…according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”
BUT, 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “…if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” So if you are united to Christ, through faith, you are a new creation. You have a new soul, mind, heart and you belong to the future creation, which is yet to come.
A fifth way that God talks about the end times is in the language of resurrection. Daniel 12:2 prophesied a coming time when the dead would all physically rise and be judged. But Colossians 1 says that Jesus is the firstborn of the dead; so the resurrection has begun; and Ephesians 2 says we have been ‘raised with him.’ So the future resurrection has already begun in Jesus’ resurrection and in his giving new spiritual life.
BUT, 1 Corinthians 15:22-23 say this: “as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits (the first that guarantees the rest; it’s a harvest analogy – the first fruits shows that your crop will come through), then at his coming those who belong to Christ”
So there will be a future resurrection from the dead as well. It’s begun, and it will be completed when Jesus returns to earth.
Sixth way the Scriptures talk about the end times: ‘in terms of ‘latter days.’ This phrase is all OVER the Bible. We talked about Daniel’s prophecy to the Babylonian King before; he introduces it by saying that his prophecy is about the ‘latter days.’
This phrase is all over the new testament. For instance, Hebrews 1:1-2 says, “Long ago, at many times and in various ways, God spoke to our forefathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.”
In other words, the latter days have begun with the coming of Jesus! That means that the latter days do not refer to some distant future time. They are now.
I want to make one final note, a seventh, about the end times according to the New Testament. And that’s that Jesus is the true Israel; he is obedient Israel. And when we come to faith in Christ, we are united to him in God’s sight. Therefore, the promises that God made to Israel are not ethnically guaranteed – they’re guaranteed by being in Christ. In other words – the promises given to Israel are given to the Church.
While I’m talking, flip to Galatians 3. We get this from the fact that when the New Testament cites the Old, it always does it in a way that shows that the Old was talking about Jesus and His Church.
That means that there is only one people of God. There are not two. There is one people, and it is a people because of Jesus alone. Galatians 3:16, 22, 26-27, 29 say this: “the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say ‘and to offsprings,’ referring to many, but referring to one ‘and to your offspring,’ who is Christ.” “The Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.” “In Christ Jesus, you are all sons of God, through faith, for as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ… and if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.”
This paradigm shows up all over the New Testament. You can see it notably in Romans 4 and 11, Ephesians 2, all over Matthew, 1 Peter 2 – everywhere.
I think we’ve now got some good background for being able to interpret the book. Let’s march through it.
1:1-9 introduces the book. We saw in verse 1 already that Revelation is a book of symbols that is about the time that has begun through Jesus’ death and resurrection.
V. 4 says its to the seven churches. These were of course real churches – but 7 also represents wholeness or completeness; the idea is that this letter is applicable to the whole church.
v. 5 says that Jesus is the faithful witness and firstborn from the dead; and he’s about to exhort us to be faithful witnesses, encouraging us that we will rise from the dead.
Look at the comfort offered: Jesus was, is, and is to come – in other words, he’s sovereign over history – he’s in control of everything – even persecution. And v. 7 tells us that he is coming back and the enemies of his people will mourn.
Then, v. 10, John hears a voice that sounds like a trumpet – the announcement that the end times have arrived and that the heavenly armies are ready for battle, and he looks and sees Jesus dressed in the attire of a Kingly, priestly judge – scary, and ready to judge in holiness – And more than that, Jesus appears with the same description that God has in Daniel 7.
He is standing amidst lampstands, which were temple furniture.
The temple was the symbol for the place where God dwelt. But if you look at the references to ‘temple’ in the New Testament, we see that in Jesus, the whole Church is the temple.
And we see in Zechariah 4 that God would build his temple – and his lampstands to show off his light – his glory – to worship him – by the power of his Spirit.
And so the Church is God’s temple – it is powered by the Holy Spirit to show off God’s light to the world. And Jesus dwells among his people, his Church.
Jesus is pictured as holding seven stars in v. 16; 20 tells us that these are representative angels for the churches. And Jesus shows that he rules heaven and earth.
In v. 17, Jesus tells John, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.” In other words, Jesus has control over all history. He rose from the dead – and he controls who dies and lives, who is saved, and who is damned.
This vision of Jesus now begins to tell John what to write to the churches. Most of the letters have these common characteristics: there’s an opening, commendations, rebukes, a promises if they repent, and warnings.
In the openings, Jesus says something about himself that’s pertinent to the church. For example, he reminds a church that’s about to suffer severe persecution that he died and came to life. He reminds a church that needs to repent of major compromising that he is a judge with a sword.
Jesus then gives commendations; most often, it’s that they’re not tolerating false teaching. And you’ll notice in the New Testament that false doctrine and sinful living are never divorced. Wrong doctrine was leading to unholy living, and Jesus commends the churches that aren’t falling prey to that.
He also commends some churches for being bold for Christ’s sake, despite persecution or even martyrdom.
Then he rebukes most of the churches, mostly for compromise. They’ve started to live like the culture. They’ve started to live like everyone around them, but with Christian veneer.
Jesus gives promises to those who will repent: they will inherit eternal life and have fellowship with Jesus forever – and they will be vindicated against the persecuting nations.
He then ends with a warning: if they don’t repent, he will remove their lampstand – their church. And when Jesus says, as in 2:7, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says,” is saying something that he said while on earth (See Matt 13), and alluding to Isaiah 6. And what he’s saying is that those who have pure hearts before God – who are born again – those will hear and obey. However, those that do not have born again souls will hear these words and be hardened – and these words are judgment to them.
The next vision begins in chapter 4:1 – “After this, I looked…” And John sees God in his glory, as he appeared in Ezekiel chapters 1/9/10 and Daniel 7 . V. 4 tells us that there are 24 elders – representing the fullness of God’s people – 12 tribes of Israel and 12 apostles. Everything worshiping God. We see God as judge with lightning and thunder – and v. 6 says, “and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass…”
The sea to ancient Jews represented chaos and evil. God is seen to rule over evil.
Rev 5:1: “I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll…” instantly John would’ve remembered the scroll in Daniel 7 and Daniel 12, which was sealed in Daniel 12 until the last days should begin. Its contents – the way that God would redeem his people from this present evil age and punish those who persecuted them.
v.3 – no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll – and John weeps – because if no one can open it the people of God cannot be saved and vindicated against their persecutors.
But Jesus shows up – v. 5 “Weep no more, behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David” – that’s a reference to Gen. 49 and 2 Sam 7, promising a King that would save God’s people, “has conquered so that he can open the scroll”
And how did he conquer? V. 6 “I saw a lamb standing as though it had been slain.” He conquered by his death. His seven eyes represent his sovereignty over all things.
And the lamb is worshiped – look at v. 9, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation…”
Jesus is worthy to reign over history because he died for and therefore saved his people – from every culture all over the world.
As he opens the seals, demons come forward to harm humanity. Jesus is sovereign over demons – for example, 6:7-8, “When he (Jesus) opened the 4th seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, ‘come!’ And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him”
What’s the point here? Jesus is sovereign over earthly calamity – even when it’s brought about by Satan – and it is the beginning of judgment against the world.
6:9-11: “When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, ‘O sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer…”
Christians cry out for justice against those who persecuted them because of their witness to Christ. The world’s people throughout Revelation are called ‘earth dwellers,’ by the way. And their white robes are promises for vindication- they are the righteous ones and God will judge those who harmed them.
The Lamb opens the sixth seal – and a bunch of things happen that will only happen at the final day – and vv. 16 and 17 say that everyone on earth will cry out in fear, and speaking of the Father and Jesus v. 17 says – for the great day of their wrath has come and who can stand?
And then God wants us to know who will stand. 7:3 “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” Notice that his had to happen before judgments began – so before the world was. And seals are a symbol of ownership. In other words, God has set his ownership on a people. The 144,000 represents the full number of God’s people – 12 being the number of the people of God, squared and multiplied by a thousand – it’s a great multitude of the fullness of God’s people.
And then John has another vision – this same people again – v. 9: “A great multiude that no one could number, from every nation… STANDING before the throne” – worshiping. Why? Because they were sealed by God and they – v. 14 – have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
Jesus opens the final seal in 8:1. Silence we see in the Old Testament, especially Hab. 2:20/Zech2:13 – is a sign of the final judgment. And we see that God ends the world in response to the prayers of the saints – v. 5 – then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake. These are the same signs of the world’s end as in ch’s 11 and 16.
Already a second vision of judgment has begun in 8:2 – seven angels with trumpets show up. John would’ve instantly thought of the way that ancient Israel attacked Jericho by blowing trumpets – and that Jesus had said that his coming would be with a trumpet blast.
vv.6-12 tell us that Jesus is judging the world through economic distress. V.13 – “Then I looked, and I heard an eagle (representing judgment from jer. 4:13/hos8:1) crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead, “woe, woe, woe (shorthand for being under God’s condemnation) to those who dwell on the earth…”
And chapter 9 tells us of how God pours out his wrath on those who will not repent – through depression and death – through demonic oppression.
10:1 – “I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud (like Jesus in Dan.7), with a rainbow over his head (like God’s throne in Rev.4) and his face was like the sun (Jesus in ch. 1), and his legs like pillars of fire (like God’s presence with Israel in the wilderness)” - who do you think this is?
Jesus gives John a scroll to eat that’s bitter and sweet – just like the prophecy he must preach; blessings and judgments.
11:1-2-Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff (measuring is a symbol of spiritual protection from Satan), and I was told, ‘Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there’ (remember, the temple is God’s people – John immediately would’ve thought, too of Ezekiel 40-48 – the promise of God’s latter days temple), but do not measure the court outside the temple, leave that out, for it is given over to the nations (in other words, Rev.13:6 shows us with this that God’s people’s citizenship in heaven will be protected – but they will not be protected from persecution) – and they will trample the holy city for fort-two months (a symbolic reference to the time of trial of the people of God, from Daniel 7:25,9:27;11-12; calling to mind the length of Elijah’s ministry of judgments against Israel AND the number of encampments of Israel in the wilderness before entering into the promised land.)
vv.3-4 “And I will grant authority to my two witnesses (two were required in the Old testament to accuse someone at trial), and they will prophesy for 1260 days (3.5 years), clothed in sackcloth (mourning sin). These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.”
Again, this is a reference to Zechariah 4. The lamps are the Church. The Church is seen to have a prophetic ministry – proclaiming the Gospel and judgments if the world will not repent.
At the end of the Church’s ministry, it seems to be defeated, but then God pours out his wrath and ends the world. V.15: Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.”
The scene changes radically again. 12:1 “And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of 12 stars”- the people of God; see Is. 60:19-20 and Genesis 37:9. The people of God are about to give birth to the Son of God – Jesus. But a dragon waits to eat the child. He’s born and caught up to reign with God; and God protects the woman spiritually in the wilderness.
Another scene tells the same story: the angels fight a war against Satan and his angles and cast him out of heaven.
When does this happen? V. 10-Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down.
When did Satan lose his ability to accuse the saints, as in Zech. 3? With the cross of Christ; Rom. 8:34- “who is to condemn? Christ is the one who died-more than that, who was raised…” – and during Jesus’ ministry, in Luke 10:18, he said, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven”
But the dragon goes off to make war against God’s people.
Chapter 13 begins to tell us how. Satan calls up a sea monster (reference to Job 40) that looks a lot like him – exercising complete authority (hence the heads and horns). The beast is a conglomeration of all the beasts of Daniel 7 which represent the different kingdoms that persecuted God’s people. It’s all the beasts because the worldly authorities still exist and still persecute the church wherever it is .
Why was its head wounded? Because Jesus died on the cross – Gen. 3:15. But the thing’s still living – just as Jesus’ death has secured the new creation – but the old one, controlled by sin, still lingers.
Our allegiance will either be to the beast – the world’s political systems – or Christ. And the only way to be secured is to be written in the Lamb’s book of life, by grace – v. 8.
Who’s the beast, then? Saddam? Hitler? Anti-Christian Sudanese factions? Muslim or Communist governments that kill Christians? Nero? Yes, yes, yes.
A second beast comes – resembling the beast in Daniel 8 and in Job 41. It’s the world’s religious system, which has been tied in to the political and economic systems – so much that Christians will be persecuted for not being identified as part of the system. (a lot of this is direct reference to Rome in the 1st century, btw – but, it also makes specific and direct references to Christian compromisers – false teachers within the Church)
Another vision: ch. 14. – but this time, instead of the name of the beast on the foreheads of people in the world, we see Jesus with his people, who are sealed by him (allusion to Ezekiel 9). The contrast? They have NOT compromised. They have not been spiritual whores .
We then see three angels, proclaiming the Gospel, and declaring the judgment of God against anyone who allies themselves with the world’s political or religious systems.
Why the announcements of blessings and judgments? 14:12: Here is a call for the endurance of the saints!
The next scene: two angels reap the earth of all of those who are identified with the world’s systems: and God pours out his wrath on them; and the world ends.
15:1: Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished. In other words, this is the last in the series of complete judgment scenes we’ll see.
And what do we see? Bowls of God’s wrath, and plagues like the ones ancient Egypt experienced when they wouldn’t let God’s people free. Implicit in this is that all the things the world holds dear – worships – will be taken away by God; whether explicit false gods and false doctrines or money, sex, and power.
Again at the end of this we see the world powers gather to destroy the Church once and for all – but then God ends it.
17 - John then sees a vision of a prostitute who rides the beast. She’s beautiful, mimicking the bride of Christ – but she is in league with the world system and the devil himself. She is false doctrine, false religion – the culture of the people
Jesus will decree that the world political system will crush the people and religion at the last, and then Jesus will conquer all of the world powers.
Ch. 18-19:10 is a song celebrating the collapse of the world’s false religious system. The 1st main point is in v. 4: “Come out of her my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues.”
I wonder if we believe false doctrines or tolerate them. I wonder if we are living in a way that is indiscernibly different from the world; Jesus says, ‘come out!’
The 2nd main point is v. 20: “rejoice over her, o heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment for you against her!” we’re to rejoice – because if we suffer with Christ at the hands of the world, God will vindicate us at the final day.
Chapter 19 gives us two scenes: 1st, the bride of Christ, vindicated by God; 2nd, Jesus and his army riding to judge the rest of the world. The results are the opposite of the wedding feast of the bride of Christ. Vv. 20-21: And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.” And the world ends – the Bride, who is righteous and hasn’t compromised, has a marriage feast with Christ; the rest are a feast for birds.
Ch. 20 - New scene: God gives life to those Satan has persecuted. They have conquered the devil and gained life through suffering to bear witness to Christ. Satan is allowed to make a frontal attack on God’s people again – but Jesus casts him into hell.
The rest are now judged. 20:12- And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. V.15- and if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
God judges everyone based on works – but for those who are in Christ – we are in his book of life, his death is for us, and we gain what we’ll see in chapters 21-22.
John sees the new heavens and new earth – and there’s no evil, since there’s no sea (v. 1). This is also the new Jerusalem – the city where God dwells. This is also the bride of Christ – the Church.
John has to measure the city, seen in its glory, later – and he finds that it’s a cube – it has the same shape as the Most Holy Place in the temple – God’s throne room – the very center of the temple.
So – v. 22 – and I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.
In chapter 22, we see that the Bride, the city, the temple, and the new creation is a garden – just like Eden, and fellowship with God is completely restored.
vv. 18-19 are a reference to Deut 4:1-2, 12:32, 29:19-20 – the point is that you don’t get to pick and choose which commands of Christ’s you obey. You do not compromise.
And for those who do not compromise, Jesus death counts in their place, and they will inherit the new creation forever.
vv. 20-21 – He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.”
Revelation Seminar - Completed Handout
REVELATION
Goals
1) That you feel like you can study Revelation and apply it
2) That you’d develop a better understanding of what the Bible says about ‘end times’
3) That you’d get the theme of the book and apply it.
Theme: Jesus’ death and resurrection has saved a people for God from every nation and secured his position as King and Judge of the world. Therefore, persevere in your witness to Jesus Christ. Be comforted, Jesus is coming soon. And beware, lest you compromise and not inherit the Kingdom of God. (Rev. 12:12-21)
Principles for Interpreting Revelation
1) Humility (distinguishing major issues from minor; forest and trees)
2) It’s a book of symbols (1:1)
3) The visions aren’t in ‘order’. (The world ends 7 times; ‘I saw’; ‘after this’)
4) Clear passages interpret unclear passages.
5) The NT interprets the OT.
6) Our present world situation does not interpret Scripture;
7) The book is about the whole period of the end. Rev. 1:1, 19, etc. and Dan 7:28-29, 44-45.
New Testament Eschatology
1) Two ages. Matt. 12:32; 1 Cor. 2:6-10; Luke 18:29-30; Heb. 9:6-12; Gal 1:3-4
2) God’s Kingdom. Matt 4:15-17; Matt. 7:21; Matt 12:28; Matt. 13; Heb. 12:22-29; Gal 5:21; Col. 1:13
3) Flesh-Spirit - 1 Peter 3:18; John 3; Rom. 1:1-4
4) New Creation – 2 Cor. 5:17; Is. 65:17; Rom. 8:21-22
5) Resurrection – Dan 12:2; John 5:24-25; Eph. 2; 1 Thess 4:13-18
6) Latter Days – Dan. 2:28-29; Heb. 1:1-2
7) Redemption – Rom. 3:24-26; Rom. 8:23
8) Jesus, and thus all in him, are Israel, recipients of the OT blessings – Gal. 3:16-29; Rom. 4; Rom. 11
Revelation
Introduction (1:1-8)
This is about the age of the Church/latter days (1:1)
It is revealed through symbols (1:1)
It is meant to be obeyed (1:3)
We are described as freed from sins, a kingdom, and priests (1:4-5)
God reigns over all history; Jesus is returning (1:7-8)
Jesus introduces the visions (1:9-20)
The letter is for the whole Church (1:11)
Jesus is pictured as God in Daniel 7 (1:12-16)
Jesus is pictured as a King/Judge/Priest among the churches (1:13)
He’s with us – good if we’re obedient; bad if we’re not
The Church exists to offer Spirit-empowered worship (Zech. 4)
Letters to the seven churches (2:1-3:22)
Openings - about Jesus’ reign over the churches, including judgment
Commendations
Not tolerating heresy or being licentious
Enduring persecution
Rebuke – Compromising works/witness with the culture
Promises pending repentance – eternal life, fellowship with God in the new creation; authority over the nations; vindicated/clothed
Warnings – removal of the church. “He who has ears to hear…” (Matt 13: Is. 6)
God’s Throne Room (4)
The image is from Ezekiel ch’s 1, 9, and 10; and Daniel 7
God is seen as glorious and worthy of worship from all creation (4:11)
All creation (hence the beasts)
The whole Church (24 elders)
God is sovereign over evil (4:6)
Jesus on God’s throne earned the right to be King and Judge (5)
The scroll is a reference to the books in Dan 7/12, referring to redemption of God’s people and judgment of enemies; hence John being sad (5:3-4)
The Lion (Gen. 49) conquered by dying (5:5-12) for his people, from every nation
The first vision of Jesus’ judgment of the world (7 seals) (6:1-8:5)
Jesus’ opening of the seals reflects his sovereignty over suffering
Saints in heaven pray for vindication, and have it given (6:9-11)
The vision of seals doesn’t end until we see a vision of how God has set aside a people for himself from every nation for entry into the Kingdom (7)
God answers the saints’ prayers and judges the world (8:1-5)
The second vision of Jesus’ judgment of the world (7 trumpets) (8:2-11:19)
The seven trumpets reflect the battle of Jericho and prophesy regarding the end (1 Cor. 15:52)
Jesus uses the economy to judge the world (8:5-12)
An eagle (a sign of judgment) declares that judgment is coming (8:13)
Demons are allowed to cause severe depression (9:1-11)
Demons are allowed to kill (9:12-21)
John gets a vision of Jesus reigning over all things, and must again prophesy judgment AND blessing (10)
God promises to protect his people spiritually (ref Ez 40-48) (11:1-2)
The Church imitates Christ through witness, suffers, and is vindicated (11:3-13)
After the final assault of the world on the Church, God judges (11:15-19)
Satan, already conquered, uses the state and false religion to attack God’s people (12-14)
The woman (12:1) represents the people of God (both OT/NT) (Gen. 37; Is. 60:19-20; Rev. 12:14)
The baby goes to heaven to reign, and God protects his people spiritually (12:5-6)
New scene: Satan thrown down because of Jesus’ death, as in Zech. 3; see also Luke 10:18 and Rom. 8:34 (12:7-10)
The saints conquer by dying! (12:11-12)
Satan uses political and religious systems to attack God’s people (Job 40-41)
Satan uses the whole world polticial system, reflecting Egypt and the 4 beasts of Dan 7, to do his work against the Church (13:1-10) – God protects his own
A second beast (like Dan 8) represents false teaching, persecuting God’s people, reflecting the practices of the trade guilds in Rome (13:11-18)
The Lamb keeps a people for himself, who haven’t been spiritual whores (14:1-5)
Angels declare God’s judgment and call the saints to endure (14:6-13)
Jesus pours out his wrath on the world (14:14-20)
The last vision of Jesus’ judgment of the world (15-16)
Those God has sealed worship; God having defeated their enemies and rescued them (15:2-4)
The pictures of the wrath of God are completed with these (15:1)
These plagues mimic the plagues against Egypt, judging idolatry
God decrees that Satan will instigate the world to final battle against the Church- but God will pour out his wrath on the world (16:12-21)
The political, economic, and religious systems of the world are judged (17-19)
The religious system of the world is seen to be something to ‘marvel’ at; but which causes idolatry, and with whom the political powers work (17:1-6)
The political system is close to ending; and will be ended after a final assault against the Church (17:8-14)
The religious system will be brought down by the political system (17:15-18)
Celebration that God has judged the world’s religious systems (18-19:10)
This is the basis for God calling his people to be separate from her (18:4)
It is also basis for rejoicing (18:20)
It is also the basis for worship (19:5)
It is also the vindication of the Bride (19:7-9)
Jesus is shown to judge the world systems and every non Christian (19:10-21)
God re-creates his world (20-22)
Satan/the beasts’ persecutions have no effect, since through those persecutions, God raises people to life to reign with him (20:1-6)
Satan will seek to instigate a final battle against God, but he will be defeated, and everyone whose name isn’t written in the Book of Life will be cast into hell with him (20:7-15)
The New Creation, which is the New Jerusalem, which is the Bride of Christ, appears, in which our relationship with God is fulfilled (21:1-8)
The Bride is also seen as the glorious Holy of Holies, united to Jesus forever (20:9-27)
The New Creation is also a Garden, with the tree of life for the healing of the nations, in which the saints are identified perfectly with God (22:1-5)
Jesus reminds us that he’s coming soon to judge; so we need to obey his commands (22:6-21)
For Further Study
The Triumph of the Lamb – Dennis Johnson
The Bible and the Future – Anthony Hoekema
http://www.enjoyinggodministries.com/studies/eschatology/
http://kimriddlebarger.squarespace.com/
You may email me short questions - derekrjoseph@gmail.com - and you can check my blog for this completed handout – derekjoseph.blogpost.com
Revelation Seminar - These are my personal notes; I prepped the talk from these
Goals, then where we’re going (outline)
Goals for this seminar
1) That Revelation is a book you feel like you can study without a lot of confusion
2) That you’d get a better understanding of not only the book, but the whole Bible
3) That really, you’d get and apply the theme of the book, which is…
theme – Jesus’ death and resurrection have earned him his right to reign over all creation – AND – has saved everyone who believes in him. Therefore, persevere in your witness to Jesus Christ in light of the fact that Jesus is reigning now and will return to earth to establish his Kingdom forever.
-comfort in light of persecution: Jesus reigns now and is coming back
-warning – some of you who think you’re Christians are compromisers; repent, if you would enter the new heavens and new earth
Outline
1) Principles for interpreting revelation
2) A synopsis of what the NT as a whole says about the ‘end times’ (eschatology)
3) a run through of the book
4) 5 minutes q/a – which isn’t much; email at the bottom of handout, you can email me.
(make sure I also include things for further study at the end)
principles for interpreting revelation
-book of symbols (1:1)
-book of spastic visions (and I looked, and I saw)
-book that is descriptive of the age which began with the first coming of Christ (1:1; 1:19; 4:1)
-Daniel was sealed – Revelation is OPENED.
-the OT can shed light ON the NT – but the NT interprets the OT – not the other way around. (We have the fullness of God’s revelation!)
-clear passages interpret unclear passages
-humility – there is disagreement about some of this stuff – going to try to hit the forest and not the trees – but we need to hold doctrines in terms of their importance (Gospel/Trinity = Christianity; HOWEVER – Revelation is HERE for a reason and we are responsible to God to seek to understand/obey his word)
-Not missing the forest for the trees
-Not in order (the world ends 7 times!)
-LOTS of OT allusions – study the OT!
-don’t interpret biblical prophecy by what’s going on in the world – interpret Scripture with Scripture
-segue: in light of clear interpreting unclear, and in light of the fact that the book itself says that it’s about the AGE beginning with Christ’s first coming, we should look at what the NT says about the ‘end times’
NT Eschatology
-two ages (flesh/Spirit; Kingdom of this world/God’s Kingdom; world/The Kingdom of God; old creation/new creation; first resurrection/future resurrection; latter days; justification and redemption now and not yet; antichrist)
-therefore, when it says ‘the things that are necessary to take place’ = PRESENT AGE between Christ’s first and second coming
-the sum and substance of OT prophecy is JESUS – not the nation of Israel
Run Through of Revelation (sectioned off)
Introduction 1:1-8
Key Points:
About the Church age (v. 1)
Symbols! (v. 1)
It is meant to be kept – applied
Jesus is presented as faithful witness, who died, rose, and reigns
We are seen as freed from sins, kingdom, priests
Jesus is returning to judge the whole world
God is eternal – reigning over all history
Letter is to the whole church – communicating grace from God
Letter is about worship (to him…)
Questions:
‘the time is near’ meaning what? Synonymous to ‘latter days’ expressions in dan 2:28-30, 45-47
The first vision – Jesus (1:9-20)
Key points
The tribulation, kingdom are now (1:9)
Jesus is pictured as a King-Priest, who is among the churches (vv. 12-15)
Jesus is pictured as GOD from Dan 7 (1:12-15)
Jesus is in control of the churches, among the churches, interceding for them
He is a judge! ((1:14-16)
Jesus is in control of history and who goes to hell – he died and rose again. Therefore, we shouldn’t be afraid (1:17-18)
Questions
Bronze from beginning of Daniel 10? Representing? (Jesus as the protector of Israel?) no – Jesus as pure – ‘burnished’ is key
Stars in Jesus’ hand? Why? (sovereign over the churches?) stars in dan 12:3 says glorified saints are like stars, rev. 1:20 – angels; point? Jesus is ruler of heaven and earth
Connection to Zech 4? Yes – God was going to build the temple, just like he is building his Church by the Spirit
The letters to the 7 churches (the whole church!) (2:1-3:22)
Openings – words about Jesus – either of sovereignty (to the 2 good churches) or warnings of judgment (to the 5 compromising ones)
-Jesus knows about the churches
-Commendations
-not tolerating heresy/licentious
-enduring persecution; not denying Christ
-Calling them out
-loss of first love, tolerating heresy/compromise; dead/lacking works; lukewarm/wretched/naked
-Promise for repentance
-tree of life, crown of life, escape second death, hidden manna, white stone/new name; morning star/authority over nations; clothed in white; name not removed from book of life; pillar in God’s temple; dine with/reign with Christ
-Warning – removal of Church - “He who has an ear to hear…”
Questions
-he who has ears… (reference?) – gospels! It refers to how the elect will receive the Gospel but the nonelect will be hardened – matt 13:9-17; is. 6
-works = witness? I’m not sure I buy Beale here. The fact that Jesus talks about himself here among the lampstands gives credence to it…
-what’s it mean that Laodicea is naked,e tc?
They’re thinking that they’re okay – and they’ve compromised financially with the world and so are living like it. But Spiritually, they’re naked. They got nothin’.
-what’s it mean that Laodicea is supposed to buy from Christ?
The idea is refining.
-hidden manna? Fellowship in eating with God
-white stone? (acquittal, invitation to Jesus’ supper – 19:9
-morning star? Tied to rule
-white clothes? Purity – not compromising w/ idols in culture
-pillar in God’s temple? Is 56:6-7 – promised to be in temple
-Second vision – God’s throne (4:1-11)
-Key points:
-Image from Ezekiel ch. 1/9/10 and Daniel 7
-God is being worshiped
-God rules over evil (the sea)
-God’s heaven is at peace
-God is sovereign over everything (the creatures)
-Elders: God has representatives of his whole people with him
-Questions
-is it Ez. 1 imagery because God’s calling out the churches?
-significance of jewels? God’s glory, combined w/ new creation having begun in heaven – w/ rainbow, in view of God’s mercy
-why the beasts? Represent creation AND Creator
-the seven spirits of God…? Anticipates 5:6, ref to Zech 4
-Third vision – The Lamb and the scroll (5:1-14)
-Key points
-No one can open the scroll; John’s sad because the scroll means redemption/vindication
-unlike Daniel’s scroll (if it is the Dan 12 scroll), Rev is to be OPENED (22)
-The Lion (Gen. 49) has conquered by dying, and is sovereign and to be worshiped
-The Lamb has made people from every nation kingdom/priests!
-The Lamb is worshiped the same way the Father is
-Questions
-scroll reference to Dan 12? Yes – and 7.
-The lamb opens the 7 seals! (6:1-8:4)
-Key points
-His opening the 7 seals = sovereignty! Sovereignty over suffering.
-The lamb is sovereign over evil- conquering, wars, murder, economic hardship, death
-These beings are evil! (Death/hades thrown into hell in 21!)
-The saints pray for vindication – and are given white robes
-The end begins with seal 6 (day of wrath), but is interrupted by making sure we know that the people of God are protected (sealed – as in chs. 22:4 and in 14; Ezekiel 9) (144k = fullness; not Israel; no list is this one/contrasts mark of the beast; all the redeemed, 9:4 says sealed are all Christians, etc) (seal=ownership)
-the vision is expanded to its end – God’s people (from every nation!!) are sealed, and then we will be worshiping in his presence
-section ends with judgment of the world (ch’s 11, 16…)
-Questions
-Why white robes? (vindication?) yup
-any other arguments for 144k being the Church?
-references on 8:1-4 being the very end? Silence = people cannot answer back in the judgment – ps 115:17; ps 31:17; Is 47:5, Ezek 27:32; Amos 8:2-3; 1 sam 2:9-10 - Hab 2:20/ Zech 2:13 esp.
-The Lamb calls forth the angels with seven trumpets (8:2, 8:5-9:21, 11:11-19)
-Key points
-7 trumpets recall Jericho AND prophesying of the end
-The Lamb brings about economic distress (8:5-12)
-woes are judicial condemnations!
-mimics plagues against Egypt (vs. whole earth!)
-9:1-11 – the first woe – demons released to bring depression
-9:12-21 – demons released and kill people – but people won’t repent
-10:1-11 – John told by Jesus(?) to prophesy again
-John is told in 10 that the very end (7th trump) is coming, BUT that he must, like Ezekiel, prophecy (judicial judgment!)
-reassurance that God will protect his people spiritually! (11:1ff)
-ref to Ez 40-48!
-the Church (ch. 11 prophesies the Gospel/judgment), mourning
-the Church is attacked, but revived – cataclysm is followed by the END (vv. 15ff)
-the Church imitates Christ – preaches, suffers, vindicated
-Questions
-why the eagle crying woe? Eagle=judgment; jer 4:13; hos 8:1 – hovering over its prey…
-wormwood star? Babylon’s rep angel Is 14:12-15; wormwood an herb that makes water slowly poisoned
-the mountain? Kingdom being judged
-why the description of the demons in 9:1-11? Joel 1-2; terrible
-why in 10 can’t John write down the thunder speak? Thunders=judgment; ps 29; ex 19; God doesn’t want us to know about it yet
-are we sure the angel is Jesus in ch. 10? Probably – clouds, rainbow, fire pillars rep God’s presence in wilderness; dan 10-12 heavenly being=son of man; face as sun…
-why the Ezekiel reference in ch. 10 with the scroll? Prophetic commission; promises of blessing and judgment
-how’s the spiritual protection analogy work w/ measuring the inner ct? (11) - ultimate heavenly destiny of believers; 13:6;
-Why in ch. 11 42 mo, 1260 days, 3 ½ days? 42 months is a reference to dan 7:25, 9:27, 12:7; 11-12 – time of trial; and also Elijah’s ministry of judgments and Israel’s wilderness encampments
-Satan’s defeat made secure by Jesus’ death – but he still seeks to undermine the Church through persecution from the state, and through religious and economic culture, as well as false teaching – until Jesus returns to gather his sealed ones and destroy the rest (chs 12-14)
-Key points:
-The people of God -> the Son of God
-woman protected in the ‘wilderness’ like Israel
-point: Jesus has thrown Satan DOWN – JUSTIFICATION!
-the Devil in his loss goes after God’s people to persecute them.
-The Devil’s first move: raises up political forces to persecute God’s people and to replace God in the public square
-the only protection from worshiping the beast is being in Jesus’ book of life
-a second beast comes up (like Medo-Persia in Dan. 8) – he ties religion and politics together – and economics – just like the imperial cult/trade guilds
-The Lamb has set aside people for himself – to worship him. They have not committed spiritual whoredom, and they have spoken with pure lips – witnessing
-3 angels: calling out: you end up with whom you’re marked by: so ENDURE, saints
-The section ends with the world being judged
-Questions:
-Why’d the dragon cast down the stars? Dan 8:10
-How’d we go from woman -> children being God’s people? Ref to Joseph’s dream and Is 60:19-20;; the woman herself is protected in the wilderness; individuals – heavenly -> earthly
-I need to figure the beast out again… Job 40/41 as two beasts warring against God who are defeated in the future; he mimics the dragon, from Dan 7; 1 John 2:18; wond reflects Gen 3:15; sea monsters also = Egypt;
-book of life? (read comments…) ref’s dan 7/12 and everytime in Revelation refers to the fact that the saints were determined before history
-how is the second beast throughout history? Reflects dan 8; image worship reflects Nebuchadnezzar;
-Seven bowls of God’s wrath (15-16)
-Key Points
-These plagues mimc the Egypt plagues; and then the saints sing Moses’ song (ex15); their world is stilled (like the sea)
-These judge the full world, and are similar to the seals…
-God decrees demons to be able to assemble people against God’s people – but then God judges them all – the world ends.
-Questions
-why couldn’t people enter the sanctuary? (15:8?) -OT allusions – God’s wrath is freaky
-why are these similar to the seal judgments? Vision expanded
-The whore of false religion – which is tied to money and culture – is judged (17-18); along with the beast and false prophet (19)
-Key points, “
-The woman is a parody of the Bride of Christ, beautiful but blasphemous
-She partners with the political process and creates idolatry
-eventually, there will be fighting between the political and religious forces which are both satanic, and the political will overtake the cultural
17:17 – God’s decree!
-18:4 – come out of her, people of God!
-17:8 – protected from the whore by being written in the book of life
-The true bride is ready! (19:8) - > worship!
-end of 19 – Jesus comes and judges the whole earth
-Questions
-what’s up with the kings, the seven plus one? The fullness is almost over; the 10 kings are across history but with a final effort against Christ
-what’s up with 19:9-10? John is about to worship the angel in response to the announcement of the bride; but the thing is that all Spirit-guided testimony is to Jesus
-The very end (20-22)
-key points:
-Satan can only kill the body – those who are Christ’s conquer in dying and separating themselves from the beast
-final cataclysmic events: Satan assembles the nations against God – but God throws them all into hell forever
-people are judged according to works – but SAVED by being in the book of life (20:15)
-images of the new world: a whole new world (no sea), the New Jerusalem; a bride
-Point – GOD dwells with us! Those who conquer – but not cowards/compromisers
-The holy city is the Holy of Holies in the temple – glorious – God is there
-entrance via BOOK of LIFE
-Return to the garden (!) –
-we will reign with Christ over the new creation.
-22:7 – blessed is the one who keeps the words of prophecy
-questions:
-Gog and Magog? Is that Dan. 11? Nope – Ez 38-39 – equated with all nations
-22:18? Deut 4:1-2; 12:32, 29:19-20 – references to the covenant – keep it or die – specifically with reference to idolatry
-22:7- keeps the words of prophecy? Obey and be saved