Seven Keys to Unlocking HISTORICAL-BACKGROUND INTERPRETAION APPROACH Text defines its own limits The historical context in which it was written is given priority Fits with other New Testament teaching Appropriate to whom it was addressed Applicable to the people of the time Revelation Seven Keys to Unlocking Revelation

SEEING THE BROAD PICTURE

SEVEN KEYS To Unlocking Revelation Written in symbols Primarily about events which will “shortly come to pass” Given to comfort persecuted Christians Identifies the Dragon, 1st Beast and 2nd Beast Identifies the Harlot whose name is Babylon Identifies the period of 1260 days Tells of a spiritual, not a physical kingdom

FIRST KEY Written in Symbols Revelation uses symbols to express what John saw Unexplained symbols White stone (2:17) The elders (4:4) Two witnesses (11:3)

FIRST KEY Written in Symbols Revelation uses symbols to express what John saw Explained symbols Seven stars = seven angels (1:20) Seven lampstands = churches (1:20) Incense bowls = saints’ prayers (5:8) Waters = peoples, nations(17:15) The women = great city (17:18)

FIRST KEY Written in Symbols Numbers are often symbolic One – Unity, independent existence Two – Strength, two are better than one Three – Deity Four – World, four corners, four winds, cosmic order Five – Human completeness, doubled to 10 (five fingers, toes) Six – Man’s number with evil, falls short of 7 Seven – God’s number of perfection (4 + 3=7) Twelve – Organized religion Three-and-a-half - incompleteness

Events in Revelation are to occur soon SECOND KEY Shortly Come to Pass Events in Revelation are to occur soon “Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave him to show unto his servants ...must shortly come to pass.” (1:1) tachei “the time is at hand” (1:3) engus “I come quickly” (3:11) tachu “the things which must shortly come to pass” (22:6) engus

Events in Revelation are to occur soon SECOND KEY Shortly Come to Pass Events in Revelation are to occur soon “I come quickly” (22:7) tachu “Seal not up the words of the prophecy of this book …the time is at hand (22:10) engus “Behold, I come quickly” (22:12) tachu “I come quickly” (22:20) tachu

THIRD KEY Comfort Persecuted Christians Scriptures point to the persecution of Christians John was a partaker in their tribulations (1:9) Six of the seven letters mention persecution “Souls of those beheaded” (6:9)

Third Key Comfort Persecuted Christians Scriptures point to the persecution of Christians Those in heaven who came out of the great tribulation (7:14) Death of two witnesses (11:7) War on those who testify to Jesus (12:17) Second beast to kill those who refuse to worship the first beast (13:15)

THIRD KEY Comfort Persecuted Christians Scriptures point to the persecution of Christians “blessed are the dead who die in the Lord” (14:13) Harlot spills blood of the saints (17:6; 19:2) Blood of the saints in Babylon (18:24) Souls of beheaded for testimony of Jesus (20:4)

FOURTH KEY Identifies the Dragon & Beasts Dragon is Satan (Rev. 12:9; 20:2) Dragon described (12:3) Dragon and his angels waged war with Michael & his angels (12:7) Dragon persecuted the woman and her offspring (12:13, 17) Dragon gave authority to the beast & the beast was worshipped (13:4) Satan cast into the Lake of Fire (20:10)

FOURTH KEY Dragon & Beasts Identified First Beast-Roman Empire which persecuted early Christians (Daniel’s fourth beast) Beast described (13:1-2) Seven heads =seven hills (17:9) Harlot sits on seven hills -Rome Seven heads=seven kings (17:10) Authority from dragon (13:2) Make war with the saints (13:7) The beast is worshipped (13:8)

FOURTH KEY Dragon & Beasts Identified Second Beast-Those who enforced worship of first beast/emperor - Rev. 13:12 Second beast described (13:11) Spoke as a dragon Exercised all the authority of the first beast Caused those who did not worship the first beast to be killed (13:15) Caused people not to be able to buy or sell unless they had the mark of the beast, 666 (13:16-18)

The harlot is the city of Rome FIFTH KEY Identifies Harlot & Babylon The harlot is the city of Rome Harlot Great city ruling over the kings of the world (17:18) Kings of the earth commit immorality with her (17:1, 2) Sits on the Beast (17:3)

The harlot is the city of Rome FIFTH KEY Identifies Harlot & Babylon The harlot is the city of Rome Harlot Her name is Babylon (17:5) Drunk on blood of the saints (17:6) Water she sits on are peoples and nations (17:15, 16) Corrupting the earth (19:2)

Always a time of persecution of God’s people SIXTH KEY Identifies the 1260 Days Always a time of persecution of God’s people 1260 days = 42 months 1260 days = 3 1/2 years Five occurrences in Revelation Time and time in a half (12:14) 1260 days (11:3; 12:6) or 42 months (11:2; 13:5) Two occurrences of 3 1/2 days 3 1/2 days (11:9, 11)

Kingdom currently exists as a spiritual kingdom of priests SEVENTH KEY Spiritual, not Physical Kingdom Kingdom currently exists as a spiritual kingdom of priests Kingdom of priests (1:6; 5:10) John, fellow partaker of the tribulation & the kingdom (1:9) Kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord (11:15) Kingdom of our God has come (12:10)