Revelation

Coastland University

Pastor Brett Peterson

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND TO REVELATION

THE AUTHOR• Four times in Revelation the writer calls himself

John (1:1, 4, 9; 22:8)• Ways John refers to himself

– Servant of Jesus Christ (1:1)

– Brother of the Christians in Asia Minor and a fellow sufferer in the tribulation (1:9)

– Exiled to the isle of Patmos (1:9)

– Saw and heard the things record in this book (22:8)

Uniqueness of Revelation

• “The canonical Revelation is unique in being ascribed not to a figure of the distant past, but to a contemporary member of the first-century church named John. The work is also unique in being the only surviving document by a Christian prophet, which was a common function or office in the early church.” (340)

Introduction to theBook of Revelation

• Date of Writing– Between 95-100 AD– During the persecution of Domitian

• Author– John, “a prophet and servant of Jesus

Christ”– Most agree this is the Apostle John.

Evidence:• Writer assumes audience will know he is an

Apostle• Identification of Jesus as “the word”

Introduction to Revelation(continued)

• Place of Writing– From the Island of Patmos

• Rugged island in the Aegean Sea 20 miles from Ephesus

• Rome use it as a place of exile for offenders/criminals

• Destination of the Letter– Written to the seven churches in Asian

Province• Each city mentioned a center of

communication• Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira,

Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea

Purpose of Revelation

• Present Broad/Sweeping Portrait of Future Events

• Goal is to:– Strengthen the church– Promote endurance in the face of trials– Encourage suffering believers

• It is a clarification of all end time prophecy

• Desires to Instill Moral Earnestness• Urges Readers to Obey the Words of

the Prophecy

Genre of Revelation

• 3 Different Types of Literature– Apocalyptic

• Usually appeared in times of crisis• Claim by the author to be passing on mysteries• Mysterious, rapturous visions• Use of symbols, parables, and allegories• Concludes with the entrance of God’s kingdom

– Prophecy—written to change moral actions and here to reveal Christ as King

– Epistle/Letter• Circulated to 7 churches in Asia Minor• Opening address and closing salutation• This book is written for the Church

4 Schools of Interpretation• Preterist

– Revelation relates to the time it was written– Describes struggle between Church and Rome– Strength=Revelation relevant to the early

church– Limitation=no significant message beyond 1st

century

• Historicist– A continuous chronicle of church history– Symbols represent different events in history– Strength=strong emphasis on sovereignty of

God– Limitation=leaves room for multiple

interpretations

4 Schools of Interpretation(continued)

• Futurist– Bulk of Revelation deals with the future action of God in

history– It’s focus is on events leading to Christ’s return, kingdom,

final judgment, eternal state– Strength=emphasis on God’s progressive activity– Limitation=None

• Idealist/Spiritual– Revelation paints picture of struggle between good/evil– God is strengthening the church with hope of victory– Strength=some appropriate uses of symbols in

Revelation– Limitation=skeptical attitude toward predictive prophecy

Millennial Perspectiveson Revelation

• Premillenial– Christ will return before the millennium

• Pre-tribulation/Pre-millennial– Christ will rapture the church before 7 year tribulation– After the tribulation, Christ begins 1,000 year reign

» Before reign begins, Satan is defeated at Armageddon

» Christ established his earthly kingdom/rules for 1,000 years

» Christ and His people then enter eternity– Mid-Tribulation/Pre-millennial

» Christ raptures the church at mid-point of tribulation-Pre-WrathChurch ruptured prior to the wrath

– Post-Tribulation/Pre-millennial» Christ will meet the church in the air after the

tribulation» Millennium begins with Christ’s & church’s descent

Millennial Perspectives on Revelation (continued)

• Post-Millennial– The return of Christ will occur at the

conclusion of the millennium– Return occurs at the close of a lengthy

period of human progress

• Amillennial– 1,000 year is a symbol of Christ’s

present spiritual kingship at the right hand of God

– Millennium is this present period• Gospel can spread freely• Church can influence history by bringing

people to faith

1. Preterist - limit the historical references to the 1st century & the struggle b/t the church and the Roman gov’t.

A. Strength: Rev. is relevant to life of early church.

B. Weakness: Unable to find significant message beyond 1st century. Not substantiated with scripture.

2. Historicist - a continuous chronicle of church history from apostolic times until Christ’s return. Seals, trumpets and bowls are different events in history.

A. Strength: Sovereignty of God.

B. Weakness: Widespread interpretations linking Rev. to world events.

All of these views leaves Revelation up to man’s own interpretation.

2Pe 1:20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation,

3. Futurist - bulk of Rev. (4-22) content refers to the future action of God in history: Christ’s return, establishment of kingdom, final judgment & eternal state.

A. Strength: progressive activity of God in world history.

B. Weakness: None

4. Idealist - (spiritual) omits reference to time since the reference is to a continuous struggle b/t good and evil in the church and the history of the world. God is strengthening the church with a promise of ultimate victory.

A. Strength: recognizes symbols.

B. Weakness: skepticism toward predictive prophecy, failed perspective of the actions of God in history.

Revelation – An Introduction

• Interpretation: the four views

Review

• Interpretation: the four views

– Idealism – no historical or predictive value; symbolic struggle between good and evil

Revelation – An Introduction

• Interpretation: the four views– Idealism – no historical or predictive value; symbolic

struggle between good and evil

– Preterism – No predictive value. Depiction of the struggle of Christianity against Roman persecution

Revelation – An Introduction

• Interpretation: the four views– Idealism – no historical or predictive value; symbolic

struggle between good and evil

– Preterism – No predictive value. Depiction of the struggle of Christianity against Roman persecution

– Historicism – symbolic pre-narration of church history. Antichrist = Pope; “locusts” = Islamic invaders, etc. No value now

Revelation – An Introduction

• Interpretation: the four views– Idealism – no historical or predictive value; symbolic

struggle between good and evil

– Preterism – No predictive value. Depiction of the struggle of Christianity against Roman persecution

– Historicism – symbolic pre-narration of church history. Antichrist = Pope; “locusts” = Islamic invaders, etc.

– Futurism – describes a future and chaotic time called the “Tribulation” - in scripture it is only referred to as the 70th week of Daniel

Revelation – An Introduction

• Interpretation: the four views– Idealism – no historical or predictive value; symbolic

struggle between good and evil

– Preterism – No predictive value. Depiction of the struggle of Christianity against Roman persecution

– Historicism – symbolic pre-narration of church history. Antichrist = Pope; “locusts” = Islamic invaders, etc.

– Futurism – describes a future and chaotic time

called the “Tribulation”

• And a fifth – Historical

Revelation – An Introduction

• And a fifth – Historical• Combines preterist and futurist

– Like much of Old Testament prophecy, Revelation then has a dual meaning

– This is known as ‘double fulfillment’

Revelation – An Introduction

• The Millennial Question

Revelation – An Introduction

• The Millennial Question

Millennium = 1000 years. Reference in Revelation 20 to the future time when Christ will rule on earth.

Revelation – An Introduction

• The Millennial Question

Millennium = 1000 years. Reference in Revelation 20 to the future time when Christ will rule on earth.

The various views deal with the interpretation of the term “millennium”

Revelation – An Introduction

• The Millennial Question– Pre-Millennial View: Christ will return

before the millennium and will reign 1,000 years. A literal interpretation of the term.

This includes all Bible based Eschatologies, including pre-trib, mid-trib, pre-wrath, and post-trib.

Revelation – An Introduction

• Pre-millennial Events include: – Rapture of the church– Judgment seat for believers– Israel rebuilding their temple under the antichrist’s

rule

Revelation – An Introduction

• Pre-millennial Events include: – Rapture of the church– Judgment seat for believers– Israel rebuilds the temple under antichrist’s rule– The 70th week of Daniel– Open return of Christ– Battle of Armageddon– 1000 year reign of Christ– Final judgment– New Jerusalem

Revelation – An Introduction

• The Millennial Question– Pre-Millennial View: Christ will return before the millennium

and will reign 1,000 years. A literal interpretation of the term.

– The Dispensational Pre-Millennial View (started ‘pre-trib’)

• More rigid view originated by J.N. Darby around 1860. Divides history into seven dispensations.

Revelation – An Introduction

• The Dispensations[1] Age of innocence – Garden of Eden

Revelation – An Introduction

• The Dispensations[1] Age of innocence – Garden of Eden

[2] Age of conscience – after expulsion

Revelation – An Introduction

• The Dispensations[1] Age of innocence – Garden of Eden

[2] Age of conscience – after expulsion

[3] Age of human government – covenant with Noah

Revelation – An Introduction

• The Dispensations[1] Age of innocence – Garden of Eden

[2] Age of conscience – after expulsion

[3] Age of human government – covenant with Noah

[4] Age of promise – covenant with Abraham

Revelation – An Introduction

• The Dispensations[1] Age of innocence – Garden of Eden

[2] Age of conscience – after expulsion

[3] Age of human government – covenant with Noah

[4] Age of promise – covenant with Abraham

[5] Age of law – covenant with Moses

Revelation – An Introduction

• The Dispensations[1] Age of innocence – Garden of Eden

[2] Age of conscience – after expulsion

[3] Age of human government – covenant with Noah

[4] Age of promise – covenant with Abraham

[5] Age of law – covenant with Moses

[6] Age of grace – the church age

Revelation – An Introduction

• The Dispensations[1] Age of innocence – Garden of Eden

[2] Age of conscience – after expulsion

[3] Age of human government – covenant with Noah

[4] Age of promise – covenant with Abraham

[5] Age of law – covenant with Moses

[6] Age of grace – the church age

[7] Millennial reign of Christ

Revelation – An Introduction

• The Dispensations[1] Age of innocence – Garden of Eden

[2] Age of conscience – after expulsion

[3] Age of human government – covenant with Noah

[4] Age of promise – covenant with Abraham

[5] Age of law – covenant with Moses

[6] Age of grace – the church age[7] Millennial reign of Christ

Revelation – An Introduction

• The Dispensations[1] Age of innocence – Garden of Eden

[2] Age of conscience – after expulsion

[3] Age of human government – covenant with Noah

[4] Age of promise – covenant with Abraham

[5] Age of law – covenant with Moses

[6] Age of grace – the church age[7] Millennial reign of Christ

Dispensationalists believe we are

in the last part of the age of

grace. It is broken into seven

sub-periods, each represented by

one of the seven churches in

Revelation 2-3. We are in the

“Laodicean” age – the last of the

seven churches.

Revelation – An Introduction

• The Millennial Question– Pre-Millennial View

• Christ will return before the millennium and will reign 1,000 years. A literal interpretation of the term.

– The Dispensational Pre-Millennial View• More rigid view originated by J.N. Darby around 1860.

Divides history into seven dispensations.

– The Amillennial View• There is no literal or figurative millennium. A

more accurate concept would be that we are experiencing the “millennium” now – the period between the 1st and 2nd advents of Christ. Things would get better and better, much like the next view…

Revelation – An Introduction

• The Millennial Question– Pre-Millennial View– The Dispensational Pre-Millennial View– The Amillennial View

– The Post-Millennial View• The now obsolete view that the world is

getting better and better – the “figurative” millennium we’re presently living in. When it reaches a certain point, Christ will return.

• A view popular from the industrial revolution to the world wars of the 20th century

• Preterist View

• The preterist view regards Revelation as a symbolic picture of early church conflicts which have already been fulfilled. This view denies the future predictive quality of most of the Book of Revelation.

Our Stance

• We will let the text speak for itself.

• This is an interactive class – I encourage questions, comments, and interaction.