1. 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

2. SEEING THE BROAD PICTURE

3. 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

4. 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)

5. 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)

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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)

10. 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)

11. 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)

12. 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)

13. 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)

14. 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)

15. 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)

16. 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)

17. 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)

18. 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)