LAST WEEK: Looked at FOUR major keys in properly interpreting Revelation: Key One – The book is divided into two major sections – “What is” - Chapters 1-5 and “What is to come” - Chapters Key Two – The book is NOT in a perfect Chronology. It is a series of vignettes beginning and ending at different points, highlighting different features of the future along the same line. Most of this is centered around the 7 Seals, the 7 Trumpets and the 7 Bowls. Key Three - We MUST understand – IT IS ALL ABOUT JESUS! Not times, dates, anti-christ, mark of the beast, Armageddon, etc. Key Four - You must be saved and serious! LET’S READ – Chapter 1:1-8

KEY STEPS OF BIBLICAL “EXEGESIS” When we come to a new text we ask – WHO, FROM, TO, and WHAT. All of this helps to put the text in CONTEXT! ISOGESIS – on the other hand, says… “See the text…I ‘feel’ it might mean this…so…what do I WANT it to say or mean?” We will keep our study in CONTEXT and ask these FOUR questions as the outline for today’s message. WHO-FROM-TO-WHAT.

I. WHO Written by JOHN – (Not the Baptist…the Disciple). The youngest of the disciples, the “beloved,” a part of the inner 3. JOHN 20:20-25 We get a hint that Jesus may use him in a special way in the years to come in his life. Written – about AD. John would have been in his 80’s. He was on the Island of Patmos – a Roman Prison Camp Island. He was there for his preaching of Jesus! (Rev. 1:9) The next time we “SUFFER” for Jesus’ sake – remember John and the saints of old…and KEEP ON SUFFERING!

II. FROM Verse 1. THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST! From Jesus, through His angel (messenger). In the book – The angel speaks to John, and Jesus speaks to John. It is all about JESUS! THE BOOK OF THE LAMB! Chapter 1 – The WORDS of the Lamb. Chapters 2-3 – The WARNINGS of the Lamb. Chapters 4-5 – The WORSHIP of the Lamb. Chapters 6-18 – The WRATH of the Lamb /the TRIBULATION of the World. Chapters – The WAR of the Lamb. Chapter 20 – The (Great) WHITE Throne of the Lamb. Chapters – The WONDERS of and WORSHIP of the Lamb in Glory!

III. TO V1 – His “servants” - Christians…individually – them and US! V4 – To the 7 Churches - them and US! LIKE ALL OF GOD’S WORD – It always had a meaning and message in the day it was written for the people of that day…and…for all generations to follow, including US! God’s Word is Living – Hebrews 4:12 – A prayer that God ALWAYS answers… “Lord, speak to me from Your Word today!” The 7 Churches – some of the first Christian churches in the world! These 7 Churches are located in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey).

The NUMBER SEVEN “7” The Biblical number of COMPLETION. 7 Oceans, 7 Continents, 7 Chords of a musical scale, 7 Seals, 7 Trumpets, 7 Bowls, 7 Angels, 7 Days in a week, The 7 th Day is HOLY, The 7 fold Spirit, 7 things God hates (Prov. 6:16), Earth is number 7 from Pluto and number 3 from the Sun!, there are 7 colors in the rainbow and 3 primary colors, The 7 last “words” of Jesus, the 7 CHURCHES! THIS BOOK IS THE BOOK OF COMPLETION! IT IS TO THE 7 CHURCHES - THEM and US!

IV. WHAT What is the book about? What is the message? Why was it given? 1. Jesus wants us to know what He is up to! God has always been gracious like this with His children! (Abraham, Noah, Moses, Daniel, Prophets, The Bible, ….and then…the ultimate…JESUS – GOD IN THE FLESH!) The Book of Revelation is Jesus “revealing” to US! Can’t others, God’s enemies, read it too? - Yes…but “they don’t have eyes to see…” For God’s children, this is why church, Bible study, etc… is so important! 2. So we never forget…the world and history are moving LINEARLY! There is a beginning, and there will be an END!