REVELATION---RETURN OF THE REDEEMER

INTRODUCTION

1.    The language of the book is Greek, but its thought and idioms are Hebrew and it is saturated with O.T. symbolism. (1:1) i.e., golden candlestick, 1:2-16; seven stars, 1:20; tree of life, 2:7; key of David, 3:7; elders, 4:4, 10, 5:5, etc.

2.    There are about 550 references to the O.T.

3.    It is closely related to the book of Daniel. (cf. Dan. 12:9) (Opens the sealed book of prophecy)

FOUR INTERPRETATIONS

There are four main schools of interpretation of this book.

1.    The Preterists - maintain that the greatest part of the book has already been fulfilled in the early history of the church. Conflicts with Judaism and paganism with closing chapters 21 & 22. A picture of the triumph of the church.

2.    The Historicists - believer that the book of Revelation covers the whole period of history from the apostolic period to the present time. Interpretation depends on what era of history you are viewing.

3.    The Idealists -spiritualize the teaching of the book and that its symbolism depicts spiritual realities. (Amillennial) Regarded only as a form of spiritual encouragement and the ultimate triumph of Christianity - total conflict between Christianity and evil.

4.    The Futurists - believe that the major part of the book has to do with that which is still future. (ch. 1-3, historical; ch. 21, 22 may be contemporary or futuristic.)

THE PURPOSE OF THE BOOK

1.    “The revelation of Jesus Christ”

A.   Not the unveiling of John

B.   John the apostle was not divine.

2.    The revelation of Christ as He is

A.   He has never been seen by the world as He is. (cf. Zech. 12:10)

B.   Hitherto He has been seen as

1)    A man of sorrows (Isa. 53:3)

2)    A man wearing the coarse, seamless robe of a peasant

3.    The Son of God in humiliation (Phil. 2:5)

3.    “To show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass” (1:1)

A.   His servants are His bondslaves.

B.   All willing subjects of Christ will have little difficulty in understanding the book.

C.   The future is made plain to those who will surrender to Christ. Much confusion has come from the unsurrendered.

4.    Blessing (1:3) As we see God in control and His ultimate victory

THE PERSON OF THE BOOK

1.    His dignity

A.   “The faithful witness” (1:5)

1) “Faithful” is in marked contrast to all previous witnesses for God.

2)    Christ was the first to demonstrate a perfectly true and faithful witness of God’s holiness and love.

B.   “The first begotten from the dead” (1:5) He is both

1)    The first-fruit of the dead (I Cor. 15:23) He is the first to be raised with respect to time.

2)    The first-born of the dead (1:5) He is first in rank of all that will be raised from the dead.

C.   “The prince of the kings of the earth” (1:5)

D.   The redeemer (1:5)

2.    His deity

A.   Alpha and Omega (1:8, 11)

B.   The Almighty (1:8)

C.   His description as to office

1)    As the High Priest who brings eternal life (1:12, 13)

2)    As the Judge of all who oppose Him (1:14-16)

THE PLAN OF THE BOOK (1:19)

  I.    “THE THINGS WHICH THOU HAST SEEN” (ch. 1)

       The vision of the glorified Christ which was shown to John

 II.    “THE THINGS WHICH ARE” (chs. 2, 3)

A.   The letters to the seven churches

B.   The history of the church pre-written from Pentecost to the Rapture--this present dispensation.

III.   “THE THINGS WHICH SHALL BE HEREAFTER” (chs. 4-22)

       All from ch. 4 through the end will occur after the church as been raptured.

CONCLUSION

Many Christians will not read this book because they feel they cannot understand it. This is unfortunate since the book is called a REVELATION and not a HIDING. This book, like the others in the Bible, is given by God and is profitable, and God has made a definite promise of blessing to those who will read it. (1:3)