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Revelation

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)

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Revelation

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  1. Revelation Coastland University Pastor Brett Peterson

  2. 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)

  3. 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)

  4. 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”

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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-Wrath Church 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

  11. 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

  12. 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.

  13. 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,

  14. 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

  15. 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.

  16. Revelation – An Introduction • Interpretation: the four views

  17. Review • Interpretation: the four views • Idealism– no historical or predictive value; symbolic struggle between good and evil

  18. 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

  19. 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

  20. 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

  21. 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

  22. 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’

  23. Revelation – An Introduction • The Millennial Question

  24. Revelation – An Introduction • The Millennial Question Millennium = 1000 years. Reference in Revelation 20 to the future time when Christ will rule on earth.

  25. 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”

  26. 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.

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

  28. 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

  29. 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.

  30. Revelation – An Introduction • The Dispensations [1] Age of innocence – Garden of Eden

  31. Revelation – An Introduction • The Dispensations [1] Age of innocence – Garden of Eden [2] Age of conscience – after expulsion

  32. 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

  33. 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

  34. 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

  35. 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

  36. 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

  37. 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

  38. Revelation – An Introduction 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. • 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

  39. 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…

  40. 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

  41. 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.

  42. Our Stance • We will let the text speak for itself. • This is an interactive class – I encourage questions, comments, and interaction.

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