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
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