Revelation Bible Study #01

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Revelation Series #1

The Revelation of Jesus Christ

Revelation 1:1-3

INFORMATION

There are 4 basic views of Interpretation on Revelation

Preterist - Revelation is a description of 1st Century Events in the Roman Empire that have already taken place … It is however impossible to see ALL the events in Revelation as already fulfilled.  Christ, for example didn't return in the 1st Century.

Historicist approach - Revelation as a panoramic view of church history from apostolic times to present - symbolism such as barbarian invasions, the rise of the Catholic Church, Islam, French Revolution.  This method robs Revelation of any meaning for those to whom it was written, it also ignores the time livitations in the book itself for certain events to unfold - this view has produced many different and conflicting interpretations of actual historical events

Idealist approach - Revelation as a timeless depiction of the struggle between good and evil.  Contains neither historical NOR predictive prophecy.  Ignores Revelations prophetic character and, severs the book from any connection with actual historical events.  Then Revelation becomes a collection of stories designed to teach spiritual truth

Futurist approach - insists that the events in chapters 6-22 ( or 4-22) are YET future and that those chapters literally and symbolically depict actual people and events yet to appear on the world scene.  Describes the events surrounding the 2nd coming of Jesus, the Millennium and the final judgment, and the eternal state.  Only this view does justice to Revelations claim to be prophecy and interprets the book by the same grammatical-historical method as chapters 1-3 and the rest of scripture

Read Verses 1-3

Now let me work backwards through this with 7 observations for us about This Reveltion

#7 The Time is Near

  A. Time - kairos (kahee-ros) - due time - a measure of time; a fixed and definite time - the right time

There is a "clock" in God's Office that is counting backwards to the time of this end and the point of the new beginning for God's creation and his people.

It's a fixed time in the heart and mind of God

Since the writing of this Revelation it's only been a "couple of days" (2000 years) actually about 1990 years is less than 2 days - (a day is a 1000 years)

It may be another "day" or a week or a matter of seconds until he comes but it is fixed

  B. Near - eggus (eng-goos) - near in position or place - imminent … soon to pass

#6 - Blessed those who Read, Hear, and Puts into Practice

  A. Blessed - makarios (mak-ar-ee-os) means HAPPY

This is a book with a blessing -

  B. Reads anaginosko (an-ag-in-oce-ko) - to distinguish between, to recognize, to know accurately, to acknowledge

This is more than just a verb about reading.  The happiness / blessing comes when we read for the purpose of knowledge or recognition

Happy why? Because you will focus on Jesus and understand who is in charge

  C. Hears  akouo (ak-oo-o) - to be endowed with the faculty of hearing - to consider what is being said - to perceive by ear what is announced in one's presence - to give ear to a teaching

-3  Raisin Bran Crunch Commercial - speaking but not hearing - In the Presence of but not hearing and perceiving

Happiness comes from committing to turn a hearing ear NOT a def ear to give consideration to what is said to perceive

  D. Takes to Heart - Heeds - tereo (tay-reh-o) - to attend to carefully - to guard - to undergo something

This Revelation should be guarded in you heart; followed and should cause a change to take place inside and outside

  E. Prophesy - prophetia (prof-ay-ti-ah) - discourse emanating from divine inspiration - declaring the purpose of God - whether by reproving and admonishing wicked, comforting the afflicted, or revealing hidden or future events

#5 Made Know by Angel to John who Testifies

  A. Made Know

God took the initiative to see to it that we would know what we need to know

  B. Angel - his messenger - envoy

  C. Servant - John - his humble, broken, slave,  John

    1. JOHN wrote this book - his brother James was killed by Herod Acts 12 all other disciples had been Martyred … he is the last

    2. John 21 - Jesus said - "what if I let him remain alive until I return" - he didn't live that long but outlived the others and saw Christ's return in faith and revelation

John Identifies himself 4 x (1:1,4,9; 22:8)

2nd Century writers Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, all wrote of John's authorship and since the book was written around 100 AD many who had read the 1st edition / original were alive and could have refuted John as author

There are SOME differences between John's other writings and Revelation but nothing to separate them

Similarities - BOTH Revelation and John

-4  call Jesus the Word - R 19:13 - J 1:2

-5  translate Zech 12:10 different than tradition Septuagint but translate them the SAME with each other in R 1:7 and J 19:37

-6  call Jesus the Lamb - R 5:6,8; J 1:29

-7  call Jesus a Witness R 1:5; J5:31,32

Written about 94-96 AD which agrees with the early church writers

Ireneaus says it was written toward the end of Doatians Reign (81-96

Clement, Origen, Victorinus agree in later writings and Eusebius and Jerome agree

The later time allow for the decline of the 7 churches and the rising of the false teaching of the Nicolatians and they aren't mentioned in Paul's letters

John had been exiled to Prsin Island, Patmos, on Aegean Sea for his faithful preaching  and only living apostle

  D. Testifies - to be a witness; to give honorable testimony,

John's raising his arm to say "I swear to give the truth and nothing but the truth

This is NOT John's ideas and desires … he is a witness to what God showed him - which is …

The Word (logos)  of God (theos)

The Testimony of Jesus Christ

There is a pattern developing ---

Who is this Revelation about?  JESUS

Who is this Revelation FROM? - THE FATHER

Who is this Revelation FOR? - Servants - US

All saw -

#4 Must Soon Take Place

  A. soon - táxos (takh-os) - quickness; speed

why so "long" then? - Remember God's glory, his character - Ex 34; Dt 23; Neh, Joel, Jonah - We FORGET …. But it is … he is Slow to Anger / Abounding in Love

But "soon" - 2 Peter 3 8-10 "do not forget … day like 1000 years … the Lord is NOT slow … as some understand … he is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but everyone to come to repentance but the day of the Lord WILL come …

  B. must … take place

Be not deceived … this is NOT a pretty book of images and life lessons

This is a Revelation of things that not only WILL but MUST  take place

Must - dei (die) - it is necessary, right and proper, necessary - in nature, in circumstances, in requirement, in law and command, by God's counsel

Take place - ginomai (ghin-om-ahee) to become, to appear in history, to take center stage

#3 To Show his Servants

A.  Show - deiknuo (dike-noo-o) - to show, expose to the eyes - to give evidence or proof - to show by words or teaching

This Revelation is given for the purpose of REVEALING - DUH -

So that when it happens there will be no doubt who Jesus is, who God is, and to teach you now so you will know and expect it then

WHO?

B.   Bond Servants - doulos (doo-los) - slave, bondman - a man/woman of servile condition - one who gives himself up to another's will - devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interest -  

THAT is who God is talking to

God's revelation never makes sense to the proud, haughty, self absorbed, those with personal agenda

We have to come to this Revelation with a broken, humble, and servant's heart with God's best interest at heart and this is the Glorification of Jesus Christ

#2 Which God Gave Him

A.  God - The Father - 1st Person of the Trinity

The book of the Revelation of Jesus is our Heavenly Father bragging on his Only Begotten Son

As you read this book you need to see God Almighty beaming from the wings as his Son gets his "due" and takes center stage

His son who has been both loved and hated, persecuted and adored, worshipped and ignored, abandoned and embraced

The Father watches as his WORD comes true, as salvation is fulfilled as Satan and those who choose his way receive what Justice demands and as those who received Christ receive what Grace and Sacrifice have provided

  B. Gave - did-omi (did-o-mee) to give to SOMEONE

  C. HIM - JESUS

Everything good we have is FROM the Father and THROUGH Jesus - James 1:17,18 - every good and perfect gift is from above … from the Father .. to us … through the Word of Truth …

 

Who is the Word of Truth?  JESUS

#1 - The Revelation of Jesus Christ

  A. Revelation - apokalupsis - laying bare; making naked - disclosure of truth, instruction - concerning things before unknown - things which before have been removed from view are made visible - manifestation, appearance

OF ….

  B. Jesus Christ -

Let's lay the groundwork right now about what the center of the Book IS and IS NOT

If you are coming to this study for …

Ø2 … revelation of the End Times - you might be disappointed at times - while we will learn about the End Times - YES - but his is NOT the Revelation of the End Times

Ø3 … revelation of the Antichrist - You will not get complete disclosure of truth or manifestation of everything that is hidden because while you are going to learn about the Antichrist, this is NOT the Revelation of the Antichrist

Ø4 … revelation of the Tribulation and Rapture of the Church or the Millenial Reign of Christ … you are going to learn some things about those events … but this is NOT the Revelation of the Tribulation, Rapture, or Millennium

Ø5 … This is NOT even The Revelation of John as even I have called it

Ø6 … This is The Revelation of Jesus Christ

2   Jesus Christ will be laid bare in his person, purpose, and position

3   Jesus Christ will be disclosed in truth/instruction

4   Jesus Christ will be seen in ways that may have been previously unknown about him

5   Jesus Christ will be manifest in every part of this Revelation and HE ALONE will make his appearance taking center stage in the culmination of HIS STORY - History is and always will be HIS STORY

THIS IS THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST

 Wednesday Night Bible study Fall 2005-Spring 2006

The following resources were used among others in preparation

Bibliography:

Revelation Four Views: A Parallel Commentary – Steve Gregg

W.A. Criswell Expository Sermons on Revelation

Dr. J.A. Seiss Expositions on Revelations

MacArthur Bible Studies: Revelation – John MacArthur

Dr. David Jeremiah Expositions on Revelation

The Pulpit Commentary: Revelation

Wiersbe: The Bible Exposition Commentary

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