new testament literature 3,4 revelation what is revelation all about? a uthor b ackground o utline u...

NEW TESTAMENT NEW TESTAMENT LITERATURE 3,4LITERATURE 3,4

REVELATIONREVELATION

WHAT IS REVELATION ALL ABOUT?

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John, on Patmos island

Patmos

PATMOS is a small rocky island off the southwest coast of Asia Minor where the apostle John wrote the Book of Revelation. The barren and desolate island, about ten miles long and six miles wide, was used by the Romans as a place to house prisoners. Because Christians were regarded as criminals by Roman emperor Domitian (ruled 81-96 A.D.), the apostle John probably suffered from harsh treatment during his time on Patmos. Early tradition places John in exile for 18 months.


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7 churches in Asia Minor

7 CHURCHES IN ASIA MINOR

Around 70 AD John lived in Ephesus and worked with a number of churches in Asia Minor, including the 7 mentioned in RevelationAnti-Christian attitudes and persecution from Rome brought heavy tribulation upon these churchesJohn writes to encourage the 7 churches and systematically reveal God’s plans for the last days


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(see front page)

REVELATIONREVELATION1:191:19

THINGSSEEN

(PAST)1

THINGSWHICH

SHALL BE(FUTURE)

4-22

THINGSWHICH ARE(PRESENT)

2-3


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(see front page)

literary style of Revelation

LITERARY STYLE OF REVELATION

Revelation’s style is referred to as apocalyptic literature.Apocalyptic literature contains futuristic, prophetic information.The information in Revelation should be understood as literal events that will happen in God’s prophetic future.


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(see front page)

literary style of Revelation

The Revelation of Jesus Christ in His future Glory

THINGS SEEN (PAST) 1THINGS SEEN (PAST) 1

The Prologue1:3 Blessed are those who “read and heed” the things written- John tells the readers to both understand and obey

The Salutation1:8 Jesus is referred to as the “Alpha and Omega”- the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, describing His eternality

The Vision1:11 The 1st of 12 times John is commanded to write what he sees- Revelation was meant to be recorded and read1:12 The 7 golden lamp stands = the 7 churches (see 1:20)1:20 The 7 stars = the “angels” of the 7 churches (in this case, angel may refer to a messenger and not an angelic being)

THINGS SEEN (PAST) 1THINGS SEEN (PAST) 1

The 7 churchesEphesusSmyrna

PergamumThyatiraSardis

PhiladelphiaLaodicea

THINGS WHICH ARE (PRESENT) 2-3THINGS WHICH ARE (PRESENT) 2-3

7 Churches of Asia Minor7 Churches of Asia Minor

1 Pergamum1 Pergamum2 Thyatira2 Thyatira3 Sardis3 Sardis4 Philadelphia4 Philadelphia5 Laodicea5 Laodicea6 Ephesus6 Ephesus7 Smyrna7 Smyrna

1122

3377

66 4455

To each church John writes 5 things:1. Christ- reference to His attributes or

abilities2. Commendation- area of success3. Rebuke- area of failure4. Exhortation- instruction or warning5. Promise- assurance given to those

who “overcome”


Promises to YOU who overcome!

Promises to those who overcome…


Ephesus- “I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God. (Rev 2:7b)

Smyrna- “Shall not be hurt by the second death.” (Rev 2:11b)



Pergamum- “I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no ones knows but he who receives it.” (Rev 2:17b)

New names - Isaiah 56:5, 62:2



Thyatira- “To him I will give authority over the nations…and I will give him the the morning star. (Rev 2:26,28)

Sardis- “Shall be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels. (Rev 3:5)



Philadelphia- “I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem…and My new name. (Rev 3:12)



Laodicea- “I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” (Rev 3:21)

GOOD PLACE TO STOPGOOD PLACE TO STOP

THINGSWHICH

SHALL BE(FUTURE)

4-22

The book of Revelation is mostly prophecy. As with all prophecy nobody can be 100% certain of their interpretation until the prophecy has been fulfilled. When reading Revelation we are really

all flying blind.We must wear

special glasses to understand Revelation.

Depending on which pair you

wear you will see something different.

But no matter what glasses you wear the ending remains the same…

TERMS

The Millennium (Latin for 1,000):The 1,000 year reign of Jesus Christ on earth, in fulfillment of O.T. prophecy

Psalm 2

Joel 3

Isaiah 11, 49, 60, 62, 66

Micah 4,7

Zephaniah 1, 3

Jeremiah 30-31, 33

Zechariah 3:11-13; 9:9-10; 12; 14:16-21

Ezekiel 34-37, 39-48

Matthew 26:29

Mark 14:25

Revelation 20:1-15

TERMS/GLASSES

Premillennium view:The events of the Tribulation and the 2nd Coming occur before the MillenniumAmillennium view:There is no literal millennium- the world declines until Christ returns as JudgePostmillennium view:Christ returns after a millennium of symbolically ruling through His church

GLASSES

Premillennium view:

Amillennium view:

Postmillennium view:

(church)

TERMS

The Tribulation (Daniel’s 70th week, time of Jacob’s trouble):The 7 year period of time in which “there will be distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time” (Daniel 12:1b)

The Great Tribulation:The final 3.5 years of the Tribulation- the judgments intensify (signified by the beast breaking his covenant with Israel)

TERMS/GLASSES

Pretribulation view:The rapture of the church occurs before the Tribulation beginsMidtribulation view:The rapture of the church occurs at the midpoint of the TribulationPosttribulation view:The rapture of the church occurs at the end of the Tribulation. Sometimes called no rapture view.

Pretribulation view:

Midtribulation view:

Posttribulation view:

GLASSES

TERMS/GLASSES

Pre-Wrath Tribulation view:

The first six seals are Satan’s Wrath and the church remains until the rapture just before God’s Wrath in the seventh seal

SW GW

Preterist View:

holds that some or all of the biblical prophecies concerning the Last Days (or End Times) refer to events which actually happened in the first century after Christ's birth.

TERMS/GLASSES

WHAT GLASSES SHOULD I WEAR?

That choice is up to you.

The most commonly believed in America is pre-millennial pre-tribulation

The new fad is amillennial or post-millennial preterism

If you want to be the most alone in your belief take post-tribulation, they lost people

to the pre-wrath idea.

QUICK PRO-CONPremillennium view:

-The millennium is in the future, we haven’t yet experienced it and hope it’s better than this.

-This matches the literal interpretation of the OT prophets.

It’s not trendy or different to believe this

QUICK PRO-CONAmillennium view:

You don’t have to study the millennium period because it’s not literal

The world will get worse and worse and worse with no hope of the future kingdom, just a final judgment.

QUICK PRO-CONPostmillennium view:

We are living in the 1,000 year spiritual reign of Christ

This is the millennial kingdom…

QUICK PRO-CONPre-tribulation rapture view:

-We won’t experience any of the tribulation!

-”Come up here” (Rev 4:1) could point to it

-It’s a like a thief in the night

-Hard to reconcile Matt. 24 and 2 Thess. 2 to this view

-It’s new (or is it something recently re-discovered?)

QUICK PRO-CONMid-tribulation rapture view:

-Rev 7:9 could be the rapture

-Christians still miss the really bad parts

-We have to go through 3.5 years of tribulation

-This could be calculated to an exact day and not a “thief” experience

-Not exactly avoiding God’s wrath

QUICK PRO-CONPost-tribulation rapture view:

-The word rapture doesn’t appear in scripture so we wait for the 2nd Coming

-We have to go through all 7 years of tribulation

-This could be calculated to the day and not a “thief” experience

-Not exactly avoiding God’s wrath AT ALL!

QUICK PRO-CONPre-Wrath rapture view:

- Rev 7:9 could be the rapture

-It’s still like a thief in the night

-No problem reconciling Matt.24 & 2 Thess. 2

-We have to go through about 4 years of tribulation

-You can’t prove God’s wrath waits till the 7th seal

QUICK PRO-CONPreterist view:

-You don’t have to study the tribulation period because it’s past

-You can be trendy

-No problem reconciling Matt.24 & 2 Thess. 2

-Not all end times prophecy was fulfilled in 70 AD if any.

-Kinda hopeless, nothing to look forward to

CONFUSED YET?

PICK A PAIR! TIME TO FLY

The Scene in HeavenThe 24 elders represent N.T. believers who have received their crowns and new bodies OR

The 24 elders are Christ’s first fruits who were raised to life with Jesus (Matt. 27:50-53)

THINGS WHICH SHALL BE (FUTURE) 4-22THINGS WHICH SHALL BE (FUTURE) 4-22

The 7 Spirits of God = mystery, possibly the Holy Spirit’s fullness7 is the number of God (perfection)

The 4 living creatures = angels (cherubim?)

The elders cast their crowns before the throne.


The Scene in HeavenGod the Father holds a scroll with 7 sealsJesus is viewed as both the Lion of Judah (power) and a Lamb (sacrifice)- He has 7 horns (power) and 7 eyes (wisdom)

Jesus is the only one worthy to open the seals


The JudgmentsThe judgments of Revelation are organized into 3 groups of 7: seals, trumpets, bowls

A suggested chronology of the judgments is the “telescopic arrangement”


seals trumpets bowls 123456 7

123456 7

1234567



123456 7

1234567


God’s Wrath

God’s Wrath

Pre-Tribbers Say…


123456 7

1234567


SatansSatans Wrath

God’s Wrath

Pre-Wrathers Say…

GOOD PLACE TO STOPGOOD PLACE TO STOP

The 7 seal judgments1. White horse: the “antichrist” or

beast rider with a bow: passive conqueror

2. Red horse: war peace removed from the earth

3. Black horse: famine & inflation one day’s wages = one meal

4. Ashen horse (pale): death ¼ of the earth destroyed


The 7 seal judgments5. Tribulation martyrs

saints killed for their faith6. Worldwide earthquake

sun becomes black, moon turns to blood man will think it’s the end of the world


The 144,000 Jews12,000 from the 12 tribes of IsraelProtected by God during the Tribulation for some purpose

7. ½ hour of silence in heavenbeginning of the trumpet judgments


The 7 trumpet judgments1. 1/3 of the trees and all grass destroyed

by hail and fire- decrease in oxygen2. 1/3 of the sea and sea creatures

destroyed- limiting the rainfall process

3. 1/3 of the rivers polluted- worldwide water shortage

4. 1/3 of the sun, moon, and stars darkened- limiting potential new growth


The 7 trumpet judgments5. “The First Woe” demonic locusts

the “fallen star” (Satan) unleashes “locusts” (demons) from the abyssthe locusts torment but do not kill for 5 months


The 7 trumpet judgments6. “The Second Woe” 200 million

demonic horsemen1/3 of the earth’s population killed

After all of this, the “earth dwellers” do not repent!


A suggested structure for Revelation 6-19:

Part 1: chapters 4-10the Tribulation period with an emphasis

on eventsPart 2: chapters 11-19

the Tribulation period with an emphasis on people


The 2 witnessesTwo individuals (Moses and Elijah, or Enoch?) prophesy for 3 ½ yearsAfter 3 ½ years, the beast kills them and they are left on the street in Jerusalem for 3 ½ daysGod resurrects them, takes them to heaven, and unleashes an earthquake


The Beast and the False ProphetThe Beast= the political rulerHe receives his power from SatanThe 7 heads represent the 7 continentsThe 10 horns represent 10

kings/kingdoms who give authority to the beast

The Beast is “killed” but Satan restores him to life (mimic Christ’s resurrection)

The Beast is worshipped by “earth dwellers”


The Beast and the False ProphetThe False Prophet= the religious rulerThe False Prophet is another beast of the

same kind and natureThe False Prophet promotes worldwide

worship of the Beast using signsThe False Prophet erects an idol of the

Beast, causing it to communicate- people must worship the idol or die


The Beast and the False ProphetThe False Prophet is also in charge of the

economic systemThe False Prophet promotes a mark on

the right hand or forehead associated with the number of man (666 or 616)


“CUTE PURPLE DINOSAUR”

D=500 V=5C=100 I=1L=50

CVTE PVRPLE DINOSAVR

CVTE PVRPLE DINOSAVR

C V V L D I V

BARNEY IS THE ANTICHRIST!

100+5+5+50+500+1+5 = 666

The 7 bowl judgments1. Sores (foul boils or ulcers) on the

bodies of those who worship the Beast2. Sea becomes like blood- every living

thing in the sea dies3. Rivers and springs become like blood 4. “Earth dwellers” scorched by the sun-

they do not repent


The 7 bowl judgments5. Darkness- “earth dwellers” gnaw their

tongues in pain, but do not repent6. The Euphrates River dries up- this

allows the armies of the Beast to mobilize quickly for war


The 7 bowl judgments5. Darkness- “earth dwellers” gnaw their

tongues in pain, but do not repent6. The Euphrates River dries up- this

allows the armies of the Beast to mobilize quickly for war

7. Great earthquake accompanied by hailstones up to 100 pounds in size- again, the “earth dwellers” do not repent!


The 2nd Coming (Advent) of Jesus ChristThe Marriage Supper of the Lamb is announced (Hallelujah= praise to God)Christ is pictured as Warrior and Judge, accompanied by His armies (angels, glorified believers, or both)The Beast, False Prophet, and kings of the earth with their armies assemble for battle in the valley of Megiddo


The 2nd Coming (Advent) of Jesus ChristThe earthly armies are completely destroyed by Christ- He speaks, they die!The Beast and False Prophet are thrown into the lake of fire


The MillenniumThe 1,000 year earthly reign of Christ begins as Satan is bound and cast into the abyss (bottomless pit)Satan cannot affect or deceive the nations for the entire MillenniumAfter the Millennium, Satan is released, and he turns the nations against ChristGod destroys them with fire, and Satan is sent to the lake of fire forever!


The Great White Throne JudgmentThis judgment, reserved for unbelievers only, begins with the destruction of the old heavens and earthThere exists a book, the book of life, containing the names of those who believeThere also exist books, listing the deeds of unbelievers


The Great White Throne JudgmentThe deeds listed in the books, along with the fact that his/her name is not listed in the book of life, causes an unbeliever to be cast into the lake of fireThis passage may suggest the existence of degrees of eternal torment (not “levels of hell”, but varying degrees of punishment, because of the deeds in the books)


THE NEW HEAVENS AND NEW EARTH

1 Corinthians 15:24-28 “then comes the end (of time, beginning of eternity),

when He delivers up the kingdom to God the Father, when He has abolished all

rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His

enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death



1 Corinthians 15:24-28

“…And when all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all

things to Him, that God may be all in all



The old heaven and earth pass away.The holy city New Jerusalem comes down to new earth from new heaven.God again lives among His people!

-no tears -no death-no mourning -no pain



New Jerusalem-walls like crystal clear jasper-12 pearl gates, 12 angels, 12

names-3 gates per wall -12 foundation stones w/apostles

names, made from brilliant gems

-walls 1,500 miles square



New Jerusalem-City inside pure glassy gold-Streets of pure glassy gold-No temple, no church-No sun, no moon-God’s glory is the light-There is no night



New Jerusalem- Only Lambs Book of life members

may enter-River of life inside-River flows from throne down

middle of street with trees of life on each side


CONCLUSION

“Behold I am coming quickly and My reward is with Me, to render to

everyman according to what he has done.

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

Revelation 22:12-13


CONCLUSION

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter by the

gates into the city.” Rev 22:14

“Amen Come, Lord Jesus.” Rev 22:20b


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