STUDY IT FOR YOURSELF! Have the attitude of the Bereans… … take what you are taught and search the Scriptures each day to see if what was taught is what the Word of God says [Acts 17:11]! Have the attitude of the Bereans…

UNCOVERING the uncovered A Study of the Revelation of Jesus Christ

UNCOVERING the uncovered Part One: An Introduction

To UNDERSTAND The REVELATION Letter… … Build Upon a FIRM FOUNDATION

ALL SCRIPTURE IS GOD-BREATHED 2 Timothy 3:16 ALL SCRIPTURE IS GOD-BREATHED [inspired by God] and PROFITABLE for TEACHING, for REPROOF, for CORRECTION, for TRAINING in righteousness;

2 Peter 1:20-21 but men MOVED BY the HOLY SPIRIT SPOKE FROM GOD. [20] But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, [21] for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men MOVED BY the HOLY SPIRIT SPOKE FROM GOD.

HOLY SPIRIT The BIBLE is a SPIRITUAL Book written by GOD, a SPIRITUAL Being given by GOD the HOLY SPIRIT to SPIRITUAL PEOPLE!

UNCOVERING the uncovered Some Introductory Thoughts

NOW I DECLARE NEW things; Isaiah 42:9 “BEHOLD, the FORMER things have COME TO PASS, NOW I DECLARE NEW things; BEFORE they SPRING FORTH I PROCLAIM (them) to you.”

Isaiah 46:8-10 [8] “REMEMBER this, and BE ASSURED; RECALL IT TO MIND, you transgressors. [9] “REMEMBER the FORMER things long past, FOR I AM GOD FOR I AM GOD, and there is no other; (I am) GOD, and there is no one LIKE ME,”

Isaiah 46:8-10 [10] “DECLARING the END from the BEGINNING And from ancient times things which HAVE NOT BEEN DONE,…”

‘MY PURPOSE WILL BE ESTABLISHED, Isaiah 46:8-10 [10] “… SAYING, ‘MY PURPOSE WILL BE ESTABLISHED, And I WILL ACCOMPLISH ALL MY GOOD PLEASURE’;”

I CREATE NEW HEAVENS and a NEW EARTH; Isaiah 65:17 “FOR BEHOLD, I CREATE NEW HEAVENS and a NEW EARTH; And the FORMER things SHALL NOT BE REMEMBERED or COME TO MIND.”

2 Peter 3:13 BUT ACCORDING TO HIS PROMISE we are LOOKING for NEW HEAVENS and a NEW EARTH, in which RIGHTEOUSNESS DWELLS.

Revelation 21:1 PASSED AWAY…. And I saw a NEW HEAVEN and a NEW EARTH; for the FIRST HEAVEN and the FIRST EARTH PASSED AWAY….

What is apokalupsis?

Revelation – the Meaning apokalupsis (G602) Meaning, an UNCOVERING, to LAY something BARE. Metaphorically, a REVEALING, a revelation: a disclosure of divine truth.

“How can I UNDERSTAND all of those SYMBOLS and MEANINGS?”

Let’s Begin with an Authoritative Witness – Jesus! Matthew 24:15 “Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),”

Let’s Begin with an Authoritative Witness – Jesus! what can we UNDERSTAND from what Jesus says in Matthew 24:15 concerning Daniel? 1. Jesus EXPECTS His readers to UNDERSTAND! 2. Daniel was a PROPHET!

Understanding the ‘Context’ ANY STUDY of the Bible MUST BEGIN with the ‘CONTEXT’. ESPECIALLY TRUE of the HISTORICAL books, PROPHETIC books, and APOCALYPTIC books

A “literal” and “historical” approach is required A “literal” and “historical” approach is required. Consider the following areas of context: the context of passages the context of chapters the context of the entire book the context of HISTORY in which the events took place

The READER MUST first UNDERSTAND the Lord God’s original INTENT and PURPOSE of the GOD-BREATHED message for the original RECEIPIENTS Then and only then attempt to understand the message in application for your life today

Prophecy and Apocalyptic Prophecy A quote from Homer Hailey, from Revelation An Introduction and Commentary, [Grand Rapids: Baker, p.19.] “Apocalyptic writings differ from the prophetic works in substance and form…”

“… yet in both there are predictive and apocalyptic elements “… yet in both there are predictive and apocalyptic elements. “In the prophetic preaching and writing moral issues at hand receive the greater attention, while in the apocalypses the material is more PREDICTIVE and the extent of the matter is more inclusive and far- reaching. …”

“… Apocalyptic literature flourished during a time of great national crisis ** when a formidable enemy threatened the life of the people – a time of trial and stress.” [**emphasis mine]

“This type is characterized by symbols in dreams and visions, in actions and consequences, instructing and encouraging the people under such conditions.” [**emphasis mine]

The HISTORICAL Context: Daniel Chapters Two, – Seven and Eight

The FOUR KINGDOMS of Daniel Head of Gold [2:32, 38] Winged Lion [7:4] #1 BABYLON

The FOUR KINGDOMS of Daniel Chest and Arms of Silver [2:32] Bear [7:5] Ram [8:3, 4, 6, 7] #2 MEDIA-PERSIA

The FOUR KINGDOMS of Daniel BELLY and THIGHS of Brass [2:32] WINGED LEOPARD with Four Heads [7:6] HE-GOAT [8:5, 8] #3 Grecian

The FOUR KINGDOMS of Daniel LEGS of IRON [2:33] Terrible and Strong MONGREL BEAST [7:7] #4 Roman

The FOUR KINGDOMS of Daniel #4 Roman The TEN KINGDOMS of the WEAKENED Roman Kingdom (Ten) TOES [2:33, 41-43] TEN HORNS [7:7, 10, 20, 24]

A Comparison of the Chapter Symbols [page 2 of handout] The THREE KINGDOMS that passed into OBSCURITY Three DISPLACED HORNS [7:8, 20, 24]

A Comparison of the Chapter Symbols [page 2 of handout] The Dark Dominion of APOSTATE RELIGION The Little HORN of chapter Seven [7:8-11]

A Comparison of the Chapter Symbols [page 2 of handout] Antiochus Epiphanes The Little HORN of chapter Eight [8:9]

A Comparison of the Chapter Symbols [page 2 of handout] Kingdoms of God and of Christ The church Mount Zion The New Jerusalem Stone cut out without hands that becomes a great mountain that fills the earth [2:34-35] Son of Man Coming to the Ancient of Days [7:13-14]

Timeline 605 BC 603 BC 552 BC 551 BC Daniel carried into exile Nebuchadnezzar’s dream Daniel’s vision of chapter 7 – the four beasts Daniel’s vision of chapter 8 – the He-goat and Ram

Timeline 539 BC 532 BC Babylon, the “Head of Gold” falls to Media-Persia the, “Chest and Arms of Silver” Believed date of the end of Daniel’s writing

Timeline 330 BC 323 BC Media- Persia, “Chest and Arms of Silver”, falls to Greece, the “Belly and Thighs of Bronze” Alexander the Great dies Alexander’s empire divided between 4 Generals

Timeline 175 – 163 BC 63 BC The LITTLE HORN of Daniel chapter 8 - Antiochus Epiphanes The Grecian provinces, the “Belly and Thighs of Bronze”, becomes the Roman Empire, the “Legs of Iron”

612 BC – BABYLON 539 BC – MEDIA-PERSIA 330 BC – GRECIAN 63 BC – ROMAN 33 AD – Kingdom of GOD and CHRIST The REVELATION: IF 64-68 AD [~66 AD] Nero IF 91-96 AD [~94 AD] Domitian [Page 2 of handout] ~678 years ~706 years

WHY study the REVELATION Letter?

BLESSINGS in Revelation 7 BLESSINGS in Revelation

and KEEPING the THINGS WRITTEN IN IT; Revelation 1:3 BLESSED is the ONE READING and the ONES HEARING the WORDS of this PROPHECY, and KEEPING the THINGS WRITTEN IN IT; for the time is near.

BLESSED are the ONES who KEEP the WORDS of the PROPHECY of this book. Revelation 22:7 “And behold, I AM coming quickly. BLESSED are the ONES who KEEP the WORDS of the PROPHECY of this book.

Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘BLESSED are the dead who DIE IN THE LORD from now on!’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may REST from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.”

BLESSED is the one who STAYS AWAKE and KEEPS his GARMENTS, Revelation 16:15 “BEHOLD, I AM COMING like a thief. BLESSED is the one who STAYS AWAKE and KEEPS his GARMENTS, lest he walk about naked and men see his shame.”

Revelation 19:9 And he said to me, “Write, ‘BLESSED are those who are INVITED to the MARRIAGE SUPPER of the LAMB.’” And he said to me, “These are TRUE WORDS OF GOD.”

Revelation 20:6 BLESSED and HOLY is the one who HAS A PART in the FIRST RESURRECTION; over these the SECOND DEATH HAS NO POWER, BUT they will be priests of God and of Christ and WILL REIGN WITH HIM for a thousand years. over these the SECOND DEATH HAS NO POWER,

BLESSED are those who WASH their ROBES, Revelation 22:14 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. THAT they MAY HAVE THE RIGHT to the TREE OF LIFE,