01 Revelation A Book To Be Understood
- 1. Lesson 1 The Alpha and the Omega (1) A Book to be Understood Amen! Hallelujah! – A Study of the Book of Revelation By Dale Wells Text: Rev 1.1-8; Rev 22.8-12
- 2. Revelation is a book to be understood Rev 1:1-3 WEB This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ … Apocalypsis – an “unveiling”, “revealing”, or “disclosure” The book is not a “mystery” (mysterion), but a “revelation”
- 3. The difference between “mystery” and “revelation” Eph 3:1-7 WEB … by revelation the mystery was made known to me … it has now been revealed … that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of his promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel … What was once a “mystery” is now a “revelation” A mystery isn't understood till revealed. Once revealed, it is no longer a mystery In Revelation, a mystery was also revealed The book begins with a blessing on the attentive, obedient reader and hearer
- 4. “Blessed” (makarios) – the word of the Beatitudes Mat 5:3-12 WEB “Blessed are the poor in spirit … Blessed are those who mourn ... Blessed are the gentle … Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness ... Blessed are the merciful ... Blessed are the pure in heart … Blessed are the peacemakers … Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness' sake ... “Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake ...” The Beatitudes describe the character Jesus expects No one thinks they are unattainable Neither are the blessings in Revelation unattainable
- 5. "Blessed is he who reads" Rev 1:3 WEB Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written in it... Ho anaginooskon – “the one reading aloud” Apparent in blessing “those who hear” Envisions one reading to a congregation
- 6. “Blessed are those who hear” Akouoo with a genitive noun meant “hear” With the accusative, as here, it meant “understand” Jesus intended the message to be understood
- 7. An example of “hear” vs. “understand” Accounts of Paul's experience seem contradictory Act 9:7 KJV And the men … hearing a voice … Act 22:9 KJV And they that were with me … heard not the voice ... Modern translations clear up the confusion Act 9:7 WEB The men … hearing the voice ... Act 22:9 WEB “Those … with me … didn't understand the voice …
- 8. “Blessed are … those who … keep the things … in it” Terountes means “observe”, or “obey” God intended people to “understand” and “obey” the book, so he must have written one they could understand and were capable of obeying! Why is the book misunderstood? People misunderstand the book because of faulty assumptions they bring to the text, not because of what the text, itself, says
- 9. Popular approaches to Revelation Some see it as a “summary of history” They see the Catholic Church, Reformation, Luther & Calvin Philip Melanchthon, Luther’s contemporary, took this approach Recent authors are Albert Barnes and John Hinds Each reapplies history to put himself in the last days Some believe it only deals with the end of time Authors since 1948 think we are in the last moments of time Each rewrites when time proves him wrong Something is wrong with an approach that rewrites interpretation every time history disproves it
- 10. The time frame is set by two phrases Dei genesthai en tachei - “which must happen soon” Rev 1:1 WEB … the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show … the things which must happen soon... Rev 22:6 WEB He said to me, “… The Lord God … sent his angel to show … the things which must happen soon.” Some believe that en tachei means “certainly” Not so! Tacheoo always means “quickly”. Act 22:17-18 WEB “… while I prayed … I fell into a trance, and saw him saying to me, 'Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly,” Gal 1:6-7 WEB I marvel that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different gospel … 2Ti 4:9 WEB Be diligent to come to me soon... Readers of Revelation understood that the fulfillment would be soon - from their point of view, not ours!
- 11. The time is at hand Ho gar kairos engus – “for the time is at hand” Engus means “in hand” or “within reach” The use of “the time is at hand” Rev 1:3 WEB Blessed is he who reads … those who hear … and keep the things … written in it, for the time is at hand. Rev 22:10 WEB He said to me, “Don't seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. This same expression is used elsewhere Mar 1:14-15 WEB … Jesus came … saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand! …” Rom 10:8-9 WEB The word is near you... Phi 4:5 WEB The Lord is at hand. No text uses engus of something far away
- 12. Reasons for interpreting the book in light of its time: It was a “revelation” to its readers, not a “mystery” It was intended to be read, understood and acted on Its time of fulfillment was close at hand Picture yourself as a Christian in Pergamum Antipas has been executed for his faith. You may be next! A messenger comes with John's letter. Do you want to know what to expect in 2000 years? No! You want to know if you’re going to be alive tomorrow! If not, what then? Was it worth it for Antipas – or for you? You don’t care about 21st Century writers. You want to know what’s going to happen to you and what God is doing about it! A message to early Christians about their concerns!
- 13. Keys to understanding Revelation All literature is not read alike Elizabeth Barrett Browning vs. Edgar Allen Poe William Shakespeare vs. Stephen King Newspaper vs. poetry; biography vs. prophecy; history vs. a math textbook They are not interpreted the same way Revelation is written in apocalyptic style Makes heavy use of symbols Imagery that is not intended to be taken literally
- 14. What if I told you that yesterday, I saw a vision I saw what looked like a living creature It had four legs, but it stood up on two, like a man. It had a prominent nose. It was brown with long ears I saw another living creature It looked like a bird without wings. It was blue and had two legs with three toes on each foot The first creature sat astride a red cylinder The first creature sped toward the second creature The second stepped aside as the first sped past Who are the two creatures?
- 15. Read Revelation the way you watch animations – use your imagination 7-headed dragon, 7- headed beast, lamb with 7 horns and eyes, prostitute on a beast Don’t let details distract you from the picture Let the picture grab your imagination and you will understand it Revelation uses symbols extensively Some are self-evident
- 16. Consider John's description of one like a son of man in Rev 1:13-18 Robe and gold sash Hair like white wool Eyes like a flame of fire Feet like brass Sword out of his mouth Face like the sun I am the first and the last, and the Living one I was dead, and … I am alive forevermore Who is it? This is clearly Jesus!
- 17. Look at the description of the Lamb of God in Rev 5:5-6 Lion of Judah Root of David He who opens the book and its seven seals Lamb standing, as though it had been slain Who is it? It has to be Jesus!
- 18. Consider the vignette about two witnesses in Rev 11:6 Shut up the sky that it may not rain Who’s the picture? Elijah! Turn water into blood and strike the earth with plagues Who’s the picture? Moses!
- 19. A radiant woman gives birth to a unique child in Rev 12:1-5 Clothed with the sun Moon under her feet Crown of twelve stars Pregnant and in labor Gives birth to a son who is to rule the nations Who’s the woman? Mary! Who’s her child? Jesus!
- 20. A conquering king rides in on a white horse in Rev 19:11-16 Faithful and True Eyes are a flame of fire Many crowns Covered with blood “The Word of God” Sword out of his mouth Rules with a rod of iron King of Kings and Lord of Lords – Who is it? Jesus – the woman’s son grown up!
- 21. The text explains the less obvious symbols What are the stars and lampstands? Rev 1:20 WEB … The seven stars are the angels of the seven assemblies. The seven lampstands are seven assemblies. The lampstands are churches and the stars are their messengers
- 22. What about the dragon out to devour the child? Rev 12:9 WEB The great dragon …, the old serpent, he who is called the devil and Satan ... In the Apocalypse, the dragon is Satan
- 23. John sees a prostitute riding on a seven-headed beast in Rev 17 Rev 17:18 WEB The woman … is the great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.” Rev 17:9-11 WEB The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sits. They are also seven kings … Rome sat on 7 hills and ruled the world – the prostitute is Rome
- 24. The Sea Beast in Rev 13:1-8 10 crowned horns 7 blasphemous heads Power, throne, and authority of the dragon Blasphemes God At war with the saints Authority over nations The prostitute is Rome Rome rides atop the Roman Empire Roman Empire receives its power from Satan
- 25. The Earth Beast in Rev 13:11-18 Looks like a lamb – a religious figure Speaks with the dragon's voice Dragon has been identified with Satan Forces people to worship the first beast (the Roman Empire with its kings) on pain of death
- 26. The Earth Beast is also called the False Prophet in Rev 19:20 Worked signs in sight of the sea beast Deceived those who received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image Satan uses religion to promote his agenda Emperor cults (concilia) enforced worship of the emperors toward the end of the 1st Century
- 27. A puzzle to solve, not a mystery to ignore Start with what you know Lamb is Jesus Dragon is Satan Prostitute is Rome Heads are emperors Start there and the picture comes together!
- 28. Revelation for Dummies God Rules! Jesus is Lord! We win!
- 29. The symbolism of numbers Apocalyptic literature used numbers symbolically Four numerals are oppositional pairs. 7 stands opposed to 3 ½ 12 stands opposed to 6 Others are not paired 1/3, 2, 4, 10, 1,000 Oppositional pairs are a feature of Revelation
- 30. There are two lambs The Lamb of God Rev 5:6 WEB I saw in the midst of the throne … a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain A lamb that speaks with the voice of a dragon Rev 13:11 WEB I saw another … He had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke like a dragon.
- 31. Two oppositional women The prostitute Rev 19:1-2 NIV … God … has condemned the great prostitute … The bride of the Lamb Rev 19:7 NIV Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.
- 32. Two who claim dominion God on the throne Rev 4:2 WEB … Behold, there was a throne … and one sitting on the throne Dragon who attempts to invade heaven Rev 12:7 WEB … Michael and his angels made war on the dragon. The dragon and his angels made war.
- 33. Two marks on people’s foreheads The seal of God Rev 7:3 WEB Don't harm the earth… until we have sealed the bondservants of our God on their foreheads! The mark of the beast Rev 13:16-17 WEB He causes all … to be given marks on their right hands, or on their foreheads …
- 34. Kings of the earth and the King of Kings Rev 17:12 WEB The ten horns … are ten kings … Rev 19:16 WEB He has … a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” There are others, but this gives you the idea We’ll begin with oppositional pairs of numbers next week