Revelation, #1 An Introduction

Revelation #1, An Introduction The limitations of “our” study of the Book: >Your “teacher” is neither a scholar nor authority on this or any other subject- what little I know, I learned mostly from others. >The parameters of our study (seven lessons slated, but considering possibly three more) do not allow for detailed exposition of the book. >Thus we will shoot for a general knowledge of the book, its symbols and applications.

Revelation #1, An Introduction This book stands alone in the N.T. It is: >the only book devoted mostly to prophecy >the most neglected and misunderstood >and yet it is also the most grossly perverted book with regard to applications!

Revelation #1, An Introduction General attitudes of brethren manifested toward Revelations: 1. Great doctrinal/application help and value contained in the Letters to the Seven Churches in chps Comfort in time of sorrow or hardship in chps But no one understands chps.4-20 anyway so ignore them.

Revelation #1, An Introduction But the attitude of other religious folks regarding Revelations seem to be: 1. An almost endless fascination with chps.4-20 (almost to the exclusion of the rest) 2. And an insatiable appetite for its signs and symbols which they manipulate to prove almost anything! (i.e. Napoleon, wars in the Balkins, European War of , ex-emperor Wilheim of Germany, Hitler, Mussolini, USSR, and more recently 911, Ahfganistan, Osama, et.al.)

Revelation #1, An Introduction Both of these extremes (either ignoring or obsessing over chps.4-20) are wrong! 1. The first ignores the fact that the Holy Spirit saw fit to include chps.4-20 as necessary to the recipients- therefore it is both important and understandable. 2. And the second ignores the fact that the signs and symbols of the book do have meanings but are not the primary focus of the book! 22:18-19

Revelation #1, An Introduction The proper perspectives of the book: 1. The book was written first and foremost to people of its own time and for their benefit! 1:1 & 22:6 (especially 6:9-11) *Not for people living and events occurring two thousand years later! *It was God’s answer the tears and prayers of severely persecuted Christians toward the end of the first century living in and around Asia Minor.

Revelation #1, An Introduction The proper perspectives of the book: 2. But, it was preserved and included (again, by the Spirit) so people of all times could read, understand, and benefit from its teachings. Why? -Afflictions of the first-century church would be mirrored throughout the ages, 2Tim.3:12. -The Letters of chps.2-3 are addressed to “Seven Churches” symbolizing the Church as a whole throughout the ages. -The address of the book encompasses Christians throughout the ages, 1:3 22:18.

Revelation #1, An Introduction Other important introductory considerations: Authorship- Though some suggest others besides the apostle John (who also wrote the Gospel and Three Epistles), none of their evidence is convincing. Date- Some see 11:1 as a literal reference to the Temple still standing therefore requiring a date before A.D. 70, mostly 64. But vv.4-5 especially show this context to be figurative rather than literal.

Revelation #1, An Introduction Additional evidence against the early date: -Other N.T. books of the early date period do not mention John’s exile, but often speak of Paul’s imprisonment(s). -Emperor worship was not common under Nero, but 13:8 seems to indicate worldwide emperor worship as demanded by Domitian, cf. 13:12, The woman sitting on the beast seems to fit Rome much better than Jerusalem, 17:18.

Revelation #1, An Introduction What is the evidence for a late date of A.D ? -Ephesus had left its “first love”- cf. 2:4. This was certainly not their state when Paul wrote to them in A.D. 62. (cf. Eph.1:15ff) -Laodicea, which was destroyed by earthquake (~A.D. 60) during Nero’s reign ( ), had already been rebuilt and was boasting of spiritual wealth, 3:17 -John has been exiled on Patmos- a common form of persecution under Domitian’s reign (A.D ), 1:9. -The Church had already endured severe persecutions commonly brought on by the Roman authorities, cf. 20:4 & 6:9.

Revelation #1, An Introduction Why is all this stuff about the date of the book so important? Because date of writing, in this case especially perhaps, influences interpretation. For instance, >Was the Spirit through John using symbolic language to reveal the coming destruction of Jerusalem as early date proponents insist? >Or was the book written primarily to encourage prepare and encourage Christians for the coming severe persecution from Rome under Domitian? The latter of these two seems to make more sense!

Revelation #1, An Introduction This brings us to methods of interpretation. There are principally five general methods: 1. Futurist- held by millenniallists who view the book as yet unfulfilled prophecy. Consider chps.4-19 as just before the coming of Christ; 20:1-10 the millennial reign; 20:11-15 as the final judgment; the final state. Obviously, they view the signs and symbols of Revelation as literal. 2. Continuous-Historical- views the book as a forecast, in symbols, of the history of the church. They tend to understand the book as a prophetic work detailing the apostasy of Catholicism and then the Reformation.

Revelation #1, An Introduction Additional general methods of interpretation: 3. Philosophy of History- views the events of the book as not really occurring but as symbolic of forces at work. They understand the book as manifesting the principles with which God deals with men of all ages. 4. Preterist- (completed or past) views the book as being for and concerning only the people of John’s day- that it has little or no value for anyone after that time. 5. Historical-Background- seeks to find the meaning of the book for the people of that time while at the same time understanding what it should mean to people of all time through this background.

Revelation #1, An Introduction The problems of these methods of interpretation: 1. Futurist- is inconsistent with the time element of the book, 1:3; 22:6,7,10,12, Futurist / Continuous Historical- ignores the needs for encouragement in the face of persecution of the primary audience: Christians of the first/second centuries. 3. Philosophy of History / Preterist- makes the book so vague as to be useless to anyone after the first/second century.

Revelation #1, An Introduction However, the Historical-Background method seems best because: 1. It recognizes and acknowledges the value of the book to first century Christians in explaining future events and preparing them for them…. 2. While at the same allowing for future generations of Christians to benefit from the valuable lessons taught through its historical background to face and overcome their own particular persecutions and challenges.

Revelation #1, An Introduction A final word about ground-rules for studying and interpreting Revelation: 1. Remember the primary audience- it was written to and for them. 2. Remember it is written largely in symbolic language and therefore it is a mistake to try to make figurative symbols literal. 3. It is a book of visions, or better a series of visions. You can’t see the big picture by staring at minute details of one vision. 4. Interpret difficult passages in light of the clear ones. 5. Make interpretations consistent with the rest of the Bible.

Revelation #1, An Introduction Hopefully, this background information and these general guidelines for interpretation will allow us to see the message of Revelation. Tonight, we’ll begin our study in earnest by looking collectively at the Letters to the Seven Churches of Asia.