Scripture: Revelation 1:1-3

C.I.: What in the World Is this About?

Today a new series… Revelation. – With only 4 weeks we aren’t going to complete it.
But we will learn how to interpret the book - and we will see the book’s theme.

I. Understanding the Revelation

A. Schools of Interpretation

1. Futurist: All of the events (chs. 4-22) immediately precede the end of the world.
a. Those who hold to a premillenial view (briefly describe) of scripture hold to this thought.
b. Objections to this method of interpretation:
1) Changes the meaning of words –
a) (Rev. 1:1), “…the things which must shortly take place” – they say = “certainly”
b) II Tim. 4:9, 13, “Make every effort to come to me soon … When you come bring the
coat I left in Troas with Carpus.” – Did Paul mean in 1,000-2,000 years???!
2) Those who hold it pick & choose figurative vs. literal – Neutron bombs vs. mark of the beast!
3) It does not relate to the needs of the churches to whom it is addressed!

2. Idealist: Symbolism pictures the enduring struggle of Good vs. Evil (Xnity vs. Paganism)
a. Objections:
1) The book has no predictive value (to which it purports to have, cf. 1:1; 22:6).
2) It means less to the addressed – than it does to believers today (their struggles missed).

3. Historical: The book outlines the entire history of the church from Pentecost to the 2nd Coming.
a. Objections:
1) It leads to calculations of times & periods which have been falsified to reach a desired end.
2) It also puts the book out of touch with the people to whom it was originally addressed.

3. Preterist: The symbolism of Revelation relates the day in which it was written.
a. Yet the principles being taught – still apply to God’s people today!
1) Some (primarily the Futurists) say the book has no value for the present day believer.

B. Methods of Interpretation

1. Jesus tells us from the very beginning how to interpret this book.
a. (1:1), “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must shortly take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His….”
1) “Communicated” = singnified (sign-ified), i.e., it is communicated by signs and symbols.
2) (Jn. 12:32-33), “If I be lifted up … He said this to indicate the kind of death by which….”
3) Knowing the book is symbolic helps, but how are we to understand the symbols??!

2. There are three tools needed for us to be able to understand the symbols:
a. Understand O.T. allusions: We need to understand what was written before it.
1) (5:5), “…behold, the Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David has overcome.”
2) (Gen. 49:9-10), “Judah is a lion’s whelp … as a lion who dares rouse him up? The scepter”
3) (Isa. 11:1-2), “Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit. – And the Spirit of the Lord will rest upon Him….”
4) All acts of worship are from O.T. – so are to be understood figuratively & not physically.

b. Understand Context of Revelation: The interpretation for the passage is made within the book.
1) (Rev. 2:9; 3:9; 21:8), “I know your Trib. & pov. (but you are rich), and the blasphemy of… I
will cause those of the syn. Of Satan, who say they are Jews, and are not … But for the…”
2) See handout on “Key Terms in Revelation”

c. Logic & Biblical Numerology: Some things we can understand because of logic & others num.
1) See handout on “Numerology in Revelation”.
2) (Rev. 20:2; Psa. 50:10), “And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is called the
devil and Satan, and bound him for 1,000 years.” – “Every beast of the forest is Mine, the
cattle on 1,000 hills.” – What if there are 1,001 hills? To whom do those cattle belong???!

3. Revelation should be understood as a picture book/tapestry.
a. We should not get “bogged down” in every stroke of the brush – nor in every stitch of thread.
1) The question we should ask ourselves, “What is the main idea being conveyed?”
1) Once that is understood – we shouldn’t have too much difficulty understanding this book.

C. “Write in a book what you see…,” (Rev. 1:9-20)

1. The Introduction to the Vision, (vs. 9-11)
a. “I John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation & kingdom & perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos, because of the word of God & testimony of Jesus.
1) John didn’t believe either the “tribulation & Kingdom” were future; partaker = present tense.
2) “In the Spirit” = had a vision (4:2) - “Lord’s Day” = Sunday (resurrection, communion, etc)

2. The Vision, (vs. 12-16)
a. “I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. – And having turned I saw 7 golden lampstands; and in the middle of the lampstands was one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, girded across His breast with a golden girdle. – And His head & His hair…
1) Don’t miss it!! – This One is in the midst of His church (v. 20). – He knows what’s going on!
2) His physical description = like the “Ancient of Days” in Dan. 7:9; Jn. 17:5 Son = Father!
3) He also had“7 stars” & out of His mouth came “a sharp 2-edged sword” – Imposing!!!

3. The Interpretation of the Vision, (vs. 17-20)
a. “Do not be afraid; I am the 1st & last, and the living One (Eternal); I was dead & behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death & hades (no need for Xns to fear death – martyrdom). Write the things you have seen; the things which are; … as for the mystery…”
1) Xns who were being persecuted had no reason to fear death – our Lord has the keys!!!
2) “Angels” = Messengers (preachers, elders). – Message to be read (v. 3).

4. Its purpose is to comfort & encourage those Xns – who needed perseverance – because of the
tribulation they were facing – due to “…the word of God and the testimony of Jesus!”