Introduction to Revelation

Overview of the structure

• Seven series of seven visions (see handout: Overview of the structure of Revelation [pdf])
• The story told in 2 mins

The Four Approaches to Interpretation of Revelation

1. Preterist
   • The prophecies were entirely fulfilled in the first century
   • Plus: It would have been intelligible to John’s readers
   • Minus: It is not massively relevant for us
   • Minus: To be consistent, it means that Jesus must have already returned 1900 years ago
2. Historicist
   • The book is a description of European history over 2000 years
   • Plus: It is interesting for us
   • Minus: Every age has had a different interpretation, relevant to themselves
   • Minus: Everyone disagrees what it means
   • Minus: It would not have been intelligible to John’s readers
3. Futurist (Dispensational)
   • Apart from the first few chapters the book is exclusively concerned with events right at the end of the age
   • Christians will not even be on earth for most of it (raptured)
   • Minus: The book is not very relevant for us
   • Minus: Much of the detail will not be understood till it happens, so it would not have been very intelligible to John’s readers (or to us)
   • Minus: The Dispensational view makes the 7 churches = 7 ages
     • The last age (Laodicea) is a total failure and then Christ returns
     • Very pessimistic about the Kingdom and demotivating for the church
4. Idealist
   • The book is not about specific events, but patterns of events that occur right through the age
   • It sets out principles for how God works in human history
   • Plus: It would have been intelligible to John’s readers
   • Plus: It is relevant for us and for Christians in all ages
   • Plus: There are examples of “repeated fulfillment” in O.T. prophecy
     • e.g. some of Daniel’s prophecies which are already fulfilled in Antiochus Epiphanes are repeated by Jesus with future application
   • Minus: The meaning can end up being so vague and general that the value of the book is much reduced
   • Minus: This would make it different to all other “apocalyptic” literature in the Scriptures which tends to be more specific

• So what is the solution? All of them seem badly flawed?
• I am going to go with an approach which is:
  • mostly a modified Futurist (but non-Dispensational)
  • some aspects Historicist
  • some Idealist which make it relevant and intelligible to John’s readers
    • “repeated fulfillment” makes it relevant to all ages

Good Principles for Interpreting the Book

1. Allow the simple and straightforward parts of Scripture to interpret the complex and difficult
   • Jesus’ teaching on the events preceding his coming in Matt 24
   • Paul also gave similar teaching in II Thessalonians
2. Understand the language of symbols from other similar literature in the Bible
   • Symbols can be understood from other prophetic (apocalyptic) literature in the Scriptures (e.g. Daniel)
   • e.g. dragon/serpent → Satan
   • e.g. Sun darkened & stars fall → collapsing of earthly powers
     Ez 32:1-10 (Pharoah), especially v.7 & 8
     Daniel 8 (Macedonian empire), see v.10
     Joel 2:1-11 (Great army), see v.10

The language of Symbols

• Have to be consistent as much as possible
• Scripture (e.g. Rev 12)
  • Vision recorded (A sign appeared in heaven...)
    • symbol in vision (e.g. Dragon)
      • meaning of symbol (e.g. Satan)
• so, if he sees a vision of a great battle, this does not necessarily mean a physical battle

Analysis of the Structure of the book

• There are several options

1. All in sequence:
   • Christ’s first coming — 1 — 2 — 3 — 4 — 5 — 6 — 7 — eternity
2. All in parallel:

3. Some combination, e.g. telescope all of 2 inside the last 7th of 1
4. We are going to see four parts to the book:

Updated on 2011-05-27 by Andrew Fountain - loveintruth.com/teaching

Part 1 - Letters to the Seven Churches [1-3]

note: this are very brief notes

Introduction

• Author: It is written by “John” and every indication is that this was the same John as wrote the Gospel and the 3 letters.
  • He is the “beloved disciple” —it is interesting that Daniel, his Old-Testament prophetic counterpart, was also beloved of God. [Dan 9:22–23]
    22. He made me understand, speaking with me and saying, “O Daniel, I have now come out to give you insight and understanding.
    23. At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved. Therefore consider the word and understand the vision.
• [1:4] is the formal introduction to the letter
• These seven churches were very close together geographically in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey)
• Why did John write to them? Maybe he had a close relationship, or apostolic oversight.
• They were planted by Paul on his 1st and 2nd missionary journeys, so were some of the very earliest churches
• This is written to specific churches, but has general application. They are like 7 sample churches which the church through the ages can relate to.
• “the one who was, and is, and is to come” = the Father
• Seven spirits = sevenFOLD Spirit, the Holy Spirit. Seven means perfection and omnipresence—he is present in each of the churches.
• “Firstborn from the dead” refers to Jesus’ resurrection. Jesus is the first of the new creation—he received a new body. We get the new birth in two stages: first our spirit is made new, then later our bodies, when we see him we will be like him (1 John). Psalm 2—begotten, Colossians—firstborn.
• Lots of OT terminology in Revelation, e.g. [1:6]—Israel. We are now all priests, we can all enter God’s presence.

Vision of Jesus

• [1:7] is an aside—lots of asides in Revelation. OT quote.
• Alpha & Omega—first and last.
• [1:9]—John had been exiled to Patmos and later died there.
• “in the Spirit” = special presence of God.
• Lord’s Day = Sunday
• Lampstands = the churches. A temple scene. In the OT temple, there was one lampstand with seven branches. Now all the churches have the presence of God, not just one place like the temple. We worship in Spirit and in truth, not in a place.
• Seven stars/angels. Are they angels or people?
  • The word “angel” is used 60 times in Revelation, always to mean a heavenly being. This is not the senior pastor of the church.
  • Literally means “messenger” —they are usually pictured as God’s military and people who see them are frightened
  • God has appointed an angel to every church to represent it and care for it. Later in Revelation an angel puts believers’ prayers in a censer and pours them out before God. Angels represent us before God.
  • This is saying that the churches are in his hand, represented by the angels.
• Sword from Jesus’ mouth = his word. He speaks and the sword does his bidding. As in creation, his words actually accomplish what they say. John 1—Jesus created and he is the Word of God. His words have the power to do what he says. In [Ephesians 6], part of the armour is the sword. This is prophetic words—under God we have this power for words to come to pass. (His word will not return void.)
• Falling down: a common reaction to the presence of God in Scripture, e.g. Daniel.

The Messages to the Churches

• Very structured—each follows the same pattern.
• John is going to send it to the actual churches—not to the angels. The churches are in the presence of God.

Show photos of some of these places today

1. Ephesus

• Jesus walks among the lampstands. He is present with them—the church is his passion, he is involved and he cares.
• This church is theologically correct and has a passion for the truth, but has neglected their relationship with Jesus.
• deeds = loving others. [1 John 3:16,17].
• remove lampstand = his presence will be taken away and their testimony will be gone. This is the most severe condemnation given to any of the churches.
• who are the Nicolaitans? we don’t know. Lots of theories through church history, but no evidence for any of them.
• every letter ends with a promise taken from the last four chapters of the book. Links the beginning with the end.

2. Smyrna

• churches tend to alternate between strong and weak—this is a strong one. (The fourth, the middle church is mixed)
• most early persecution was from the Jews, not the Romans. Why does he call them “not Jews”?
  • because they are proving themselves to be not real children of Abraham, not part of the people of God.
• 10 days = symbolic time. Time in Revelation is relative. 10 days is a fairly short time, sustainable.
• second death = eternal death, hell. He is encouraging them by saying you can only die once, even if you are killed in persecution!

3. Pergamum

• Satan’s throne = temple of Diana. Main pagan deity in that region. Harks back to OT, Babylonian worship of the “Queen of Heaven”.
• Balaam seduced Israel with prostitutes. This is referring to sexual immorality and worship of idols.
• Jesus will deal with the problem people in the church if we don’t deal with them. E.g. [1 Cor], man committing incest. We can’t have fellowship with such people. Jesus may kill them or send them sickness. We must have a balance—we are a church which welcomes sinners, but at some point we have to make a stand for the laws of the kingdom and make God’s demands clear, what it means to follow Jesus. Matthew 18. What matters is not where people are, but their attitude. Are they willing to deal with sin, do they want to obey God. Discipline is for unrepentant sin.
• White stone and new name—this is for all of us. Hidden manna = Jesus (Bread of Life). White stone symbolizes purity, the new name a new person.

4. Thyatira

• eyes = he sees everything. Feet = action, strength.
• is this woman really called Jezebel? no. The reference is back to Jezebel of 1 & 2 Kings.
  • She corrupted God’s people with a heavily sexualized pagan religion
  • [2 Kings 9:30]: When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it. And she painted her eyes and adorned her head and looked out of the window.
  • The Jezebel spirit is sexual immorality and worship of idols. Most pagan religions at that time were sex-based—sex with prostitutes was “worship”. These people were bringing pagan practices into Christianity.
• punishment was disease. other places in Bible connect sin with sickness—e.g. James “confess your sins and be healed”; Corinth—Lord’s Supper, some were sick and dying. But we must be careful not to always equate sickness and sin. E.g. blind man, Jesus said no one had sinned. Not all sickness is a result of sin, but we must accept that it is a possibility.
• “deep secrets of Satan”—this is the beginning of Gnosticism. Initiation and inner secrets. Reminds us of Freemasons.
• rod of iron = you will rule with Jesus.
• “morning star” is Jesus. Symbolizes hope, the dawning of a new day.

5. Sardis

• can you imagine reading this letter aloud on a Sunday morning in church!
• looked good on the outside—doing a lot of “stuff”, programs etc—but really dead. If it were a church today it would have a huge building program, TV programs, lots of activities, a great reputation.

6. Philadelphia

• enemies bowing means to acknowledge their wrong, maybe even to be saved, bow the knee to Jesus.
• in contrast to Sardis, this church doesn’t look good on the outside, looks weak, but is strong.
• New Jerusalem = the bride. they are secure in their place.

7. Laodicea

• a rich church
• how do we buy these things? without money and without price. Just come to Jesus and he will give
  • allusion to Isaiah 55:1–3 [“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price...]
• he loves them, therefore he is disciplining them. Cf. [Hebrews 12].
• v. 20—this is addressed to Christians. Jesus is saying—I have so much more for you, just open the door. It is his presence he wants to give us.
• It is extraordinary how much grace he offers, even to the worst church!

Updated on 2017-05-10 by Andrew Fountain - loveintruth.com/teaching

Part 2a - The First Scroll: Order of End Time Events [4-6]

Introductory Scene

• 24 elders = 2 x 12 —12 tribes, 12 apostles. the OT and NT people of God.
• we are seated with Christ in the heavenlies in the Spirit. Our prayers are ruling prayers because God does them.
• 24 elders are representative, not literal
• Four living creatures are allusions to Ezekiel chapters 1 & 10
  • Eagle=king of birds, Lion=king of beasts, Ox=considered strongest animal, Man=Pinnacle of creation
  • These beasts are symbolic representatives of the whole creation, worshipping God
• 7 flaming torches = Holy Spirit
• breaking the seals = releasing history
• 7 horns and 7 eyes are not literal!
  • Horns represent strength, eyes, seeing.
  • Why are his eyes spirits?
    • Jesus is present with us in the Spirit—we experience him in the Holy Spirit.
    • Our experience of Jesus and our experience of the Spirit are one and the same.
• songs of praise. Revelation is filled with worship. It kicks off the book.
• [5:6] Jesus takes his place in Heaven after dying as the lamb, being raised and ascending
  • This gives us a starting time point
  • The idea is that the future is “sealed up”, and the one who opens the seals is opening up each phase of history

Fitting the Seals into a Chronology

• Our principle is to allow the simpler and more straightforward Scriptures to interpret the complex and symbolic
• There are two other places where the future events are predicted
  • Jesus in the Gospels, particularly Matthew 24
  • Paul in 2 Thessalonians 1-2
• Since the Spirit has inspired all of the Scriptures, it should be possible to fit them together

Prophecy of the future in Matthew 24:3-44

• First read the passage: Matthew 24:3-44
• Outline:

Prophecy of the future in II Thessalonians 1:7-2:12

• First read the passage: II Thessalonians 1:7-2:12
• Combined Outline:

Now we will fit the Seven Seals into this framework

• Read through the seven seals in Revelation 6

Connection between the Seals and the Trumpets

• There is a key connection that gives us a huge clue into the relationship between these two sets of visions
  • Since both of them end with a judgement scene, the temptation is to make them run in parallel

• However, [7:2] tells us that near the beginning of the 6th seal, the first trumpet is about to be sounded
  • The angels who hurt the earth, sea etc (trumpets) cannot start until the 144,000 have been marked to keep them safe
• This is so helpful because it places the whole sequence of trumpets as an expansion of the 6th and 7th seals
  • particularly the 6th, but synchronizing when they get to the 7th

This is shown on the: Chart of the First Scroll of Revelation

Updated on 2011-05-27 by Andrew Fountain - loveintruth.com/teaching

Part 2b - The First Scroll: The Seven Seals and the Seven Trumpets [6-11]

The Seals

• who is commanded to seal God’s servants? Four angels. These are the angels in the second section who are given power to damage the earth. The trumpets don’t start until the sixth seal.
• number four symbolizes creation. 4 winds, 4 corners of the earth. 4 living creatures symbolize all of created order.
• 1st four angels connected with the earth. 2nd 3 angels, the heavenly world. Three is the number of heaven/spiritual reality.
• literal stars falling? no, impossible. This is OT imagery of all the earthly powers being shaken and falling, governments etc. This is not the end of time. There is great fear.
• The trumpets are a detailed explanation of what happens in the 6th seal. the 7th begins the new age.
• See notes on structure
• 144,000 = 12x12. A perfect large number of believers. The seal is the Holy Spirit. This is not what every believer receives at salvation, it is something extra, an extra equipping.
  • Note that these are all “the servants of God” [7:3], not a special elite group of Christians
• 7th seal = silence. ½ hour = a long time. This is a pause for rest like the rest on the 7th day of creation.

Summary of The Seven Seals

• They span all of history, from the ascension of Jesus, the Lamb into Heaven though to eternity.
• There are two parts to this period:
  • Wars and rumours of wars, famines etc (the four horsemen)
  • An intensified period of conflict in which true believers (the sealed) are protected

The Trumpets

1st—4th Trumpets

• the prayers from [6:9-11] are being answered
• [7:9-11] is the Great Praise between the Great Tribulation and the end. It brings us into the next phase of history.
• Trumpets recall the Egyptian plagues. God is plaguing his enemies to let his people go into the promised land of heaven—Exodus imagery.

5th Trumpet

• falling from sky—A fallen angel. The abyss is a place where demons are imprisoned before they are destroyed. Cf. Legion—they begged not to be sent there. When demons are cast out this is where they go. Unlocking it lets them free.
• all believers are sealed and can’t be touched.
• people are tortured by their demons. they long to die but can’t.
• angel of the abyss = Satan, the one who unlocked the abyss.

6th Trumpet

• Euphrates = a reference to Babylon? This is “east of Eden” where Cain was sent, thus symbolizing outside the presence of God? Demonic activity.
• the dragon and the two beasts = demonic trinity.
  • Dragon = false Father
  • beast = antichrist
  • False prophet = false Holy Spirit
• But note that at the same time this is happening, people are marrying, burying, and carrying on with normal life (cf. Matt 24). This is happening in the spiritual realm. The plagues are designed to drive people to God, but they won’t repent.
• chapter 10 is an interlude. Like the 6th seal (144,000). We are missing the 7 thunders, but will hear what they are later.
• reference to 7th trumpet: is the end. Cf. Jesus saying a trumpet would be sounded at his return.
• eating the scroll—cf. Ezekiel. Bitter and sweet = a prophecy with good and bad elements. He is told to prophesy again, which is chapter 12.

Interlude: Chapter 11

• temple of God. This is us, believers.
  • Gentiles means unbelievers.
  • 42 months = 3½ years.
  • 1260 days = 3½ years.
  • See list of symbols in Revelation
• 2 witnesses = the church, both Jew and Gentile. Same as the 144,000.
• beast from the abyss [11:7] is Apollyon [9:11] — Maybe Satan.
• prophesying = giving the gospel. We follow in the footsteps of Christ. (killed, resurrected)
• killed = their witness is silenced for a little while. Jesus comes and then we are raptured. the end.
• olive trees and lampstands—reference to Zechariah. The king and the high priest are pictured with olive trees, they are sustained by the oil. This is Holy Spirit, in the same way we are sustained by him. Paul in Romans compares Jew and Gentile believers to olive trees. There will be a revival among the Jews, maybe during the Great Tribulation, because at the end all of God’s people are sealed.
• sealing up the clouds—reference to Elijah. Water to blood and plagues—ref. to Moses. 2 main prophets of the OT—symbolic of great and powerful prophets.
• whole era is divided into 2 periods of 3½ years, making history a perfect 7. From Christ coming to the Great Tribulation is 3½ years, and from the sealing of the 144,000 to the end is another 3½ years. Sealing of the 144,000 is a great and awesome power poured out on God’s people so they can witness in a time of great darkness.
• 144,000 and the great multitude are different. The great multitude are those who are already dead and with Christ (all believers who die up until the period of the 144,000 after the Great Tribulation). They wear long white robes which symbolizes rest, no work. 144,000 are the army left on earth still alive during this period. They will be fighting the spiritual battle.

7th Trumpet

• the trumpet with Jesus returns. This is the end. We have now covered the whole of history, and the rest of Revelation is an elaboration of what has already been seen.

Summary of the First Scroll

• Spans all of history, from the ascension of the Jesus, the Lamb into Heaven though to eternity.
• There are two parts to this period:
  
  1. Wars and rumours of wars, famines etc
     • the four horsemen (with Jesus on a white horse, building his kingdom)
  2. An intensified period of suffering in which true believers (the sealed) are protected
     • Plagues on a physical level (like those in Egypt)
     • Demons who were imprisoned are let loose, but cannot hurt true believers
       • Purpose is to bring people to repentance
     • This builds up into some kind of final conflict with the forces of evil
     • It ends with the final judgement, but there the scroll comes to an abrupt end

Updated on 2011-05-27 by Andrew Fountain - loveintruth.com/teaching

Part 3a - The Second Scroll: Warfare (Seven Visions & Plagues) [12-16]

note: these are very brief notes

chart of the second scroll (pdf format)

A. Seven Visions of Warfare

• All of Revelation makes use of O.T. symbolism, but this part is particularly dependent on it
  • Any culture has well known events or motifs in its history which can be used as metaphors which everyone will understand
  • “We are going to hit the January sales, D-day is tomorrow”
  • “The insurgents seemed to be making progress, but June 2008 was their Gettysburg and they never recovered”
    • (For the English, subsitute “their Waterloo”)
  • Sometimes there is an organic relationship between the O.T. symbol/event and the event in revelation
    • e.g. there is an O.T. account that relates Eve to the serpent which has a relationship with the story of the woman & dragon
    • But sometimes the symbol can be used independent of the original event (e.g. stars falling in the O.T. are political collapses but are not necessarily in any way related to those in Rev.)

1. The Woman [12:1-2]

• woman = covenant community, OT & NT
  • The promise is made to Eve in [Gen 3:15] that her offspring would defeat the serpent’s seed
  • The imagery repeats through history, e.g. Pharoah and the Israelites (even killing baby boys)
  • This was finally fulfilled in Mary’s child
  • crown of 12 stars symbolizes the old and new Testament people of God (12 tribes / 12 apostles)
• child = Jesus [quote from Psalm 2]

2. The Great Red Dragon [12:3-6]

• dragon = Satan (we don’t have to guess, [v9] tells us! and repeated later in [Rev 20:2])
  • ⅓ of the stars falling = the original rebellion. Stars are angels who revolted with Satan against God.
• Satan’s attacks
  • ever since the promise to Abraham of a seed, Satan has attacked the Messianic line to try to keep the seed from being born
  • e.g. Pharoah & baby boys, David & Goliath, Queen Athaliah & Josiah, Herod killing baby boys
• 1260 days = 3½ years (approx 40 months)
  • Elijah was sustained in the wilderness for 3½ years, hiding away from the wrath of Jezebel, and he was fed by ravens.
  • (maybe an allusion to Israelites escaping into the wilderness for 40 yrs

3. War in Heaven, Dragon thrown down to earth [12:7-18]

• battle—cf. Jesus saying to disciples “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. . .”
  • Satan’s power was utterly broken at the cross and from that time onward he knew he was defeated and his time is short
  • But why does it say Michael defeated him?
    • God uses subordinates to fulfill his purposes, angels and humans.
• time, times and ½ a time = 3½ years.
• spewing water—some think this is a reference to Pharaoh and the Israelites at the Red Sea?
  • this is a pattern of history, repeated again and again
  • I might say “I am going through a wilderness experience”—I don’t mean that I am the Israelites! I am using it as a metaphor
  • In the same way Old Testament events are used as symbols that everyone would understand to speak of future events
• the rest of the offspring of the woman [12:17] = people of God (the church)
• the church is protected for 3½ years. this is a measure of protection, not total and complete
  • the church is protected compared to what will come later.
  • many examples throughout history, e.g. Martin Luther

4. Beast from the Sea [13:1-10]

• who is the beast?
  • Nebuchadnezzer’s dream in Daniel—statue with 4 parts which are 4 kingdoms
  • Followed by Daniel’s dream in Daniel 7 which is very similar, except there are 4 beasts out of the sea
    • Destroyed by the the Kingdom of God
    • Stone hewn by no human hands cut it down.
  • This beast is all the kingdoms wrapped together in one, with multiple heads.
• The five which have been are:
  • Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medes & Persians, Macedonians under Alexander the Great. See [Rev 17:10]
  • Rome is the 6th which now is. These are all satanic anti-God kingdoms which persecuted the people of God. See 17:7ff.
  • The 6th kingdom which has a wound is Rome, which was destroyed by Christ.
• The wound and recovery are a fake resurrection—imitation of Christ.
• In [13:5] a new era of the beast is begun
  • as the final head is given a mouth and allowed to start a period of persecution
  • 42 months = 3½ years. This is the rest of history from the Great Tribulation to the end of time.
  • Endurance is required
  • This is not exactly synchronized with the seals, since the events of the 5 seal (Great Tribulation) are being started just before the end of this 4th vision, with the last king
• This beast is the false Messiah, false Christ

5. Beast from the land (False Prophet) [13:11-18]

• this is a false Holy Spirit
  • his role is to do signs and wonders to authenticate the beast and draw people to worship him
    • as the real Holy Spirit does for Jesus
• there is now a false trinity—dragon/Father, beast/Son, false prophet/Holy Spirit
  • a false bride—Babylon, the prostitute
  • a demonic army vs. the 144,000
• are the beast and the false prophet one person or several? we don’t know.
• In some ways this has happened many times throughout history
  • although the text seems to point to a final, climactic fulfillment
  • Note the parallel with the the 5th seal—many were killed [13:15]
  • [13:13] would correspond to the Great Tribulation in Jesus’ chronolgy where the false prophets will do amazing signs and wonders.

Number of the Beast

• One theory is the numbering of people’s names
  • in ancient languages letters had numerical value, and by totalling up the numerical value of a person’s name you can make 666 and discover who is the beast.
  • The problem is that it is easy to make almost anyone’s name into 666 if you are prepared to make enough changes to it (adding a title, translating it, dropping out letters)
• We are missing the point if we focus on the number 666. The key phrase is “the number of a man.”
  • The point is that the antichrist is a MAN. He pretends to be God but is human.
  • The number of perfection is 7, so 777 is a Trinity of perfection.
  • 6 is one short, so has something missing. 666 is symbolic of the fake trinity
  • Everyone else is deceived by him, but Christians are not.
• false sealing—mimics the sealing of the 144,000 by the Holy Spirit
  • a seal is a mark of ownership, the same as being given a new-name
  • they are given the name of the beast

6. The Lamb with the 144,000 (hour of judgement) [14:1-13]

• “have not defiled themselves with women” sounds like it supports celebacy
  • It is a picture of being totally devoted to God (God never puts value on literal celebacy)

7. Judgement begins [14:14-20]

• rather shocking image in [14:20]

Summary of Seven Visions of Warfare

1. God promised to his people that they would eventually give birth to a Messiah, but there are many attempts to destroy the line of Jesus
2. These attempts are from Satan, the dragon, but Jesus is born and later ascends to heaven, and the Satan turns his attack on God’s people
3. Jesus’ victory on the cross was Satan’s defeat and he is no longer able to accuse believers
   • He attacks God’s people, but they are supernaturally preserved, just like Elijah and Israel were
4. Satan’s opposition to Christians begins to be through anti-God kingdoms (the beast from the sea)
   • There are a series of these kingdoms which eventually culminate in a particularly evil one that is the manifestation of anti-christ
   • This time ends with an intense persectution and martyrdom of Christians, the “Great Tribulation”
5. The final member of the anti-trinity is the false prophet, (the beast from the earth)
   • He does supernatural signs and wonders and makes people worship the anti-christ
   • He puts a mark on unbelievers which is a fake of the sealing of the Spirit
6. But Jesus is assembling all the true belivers, whose worship song is amazing and can’t be faked
   • events rapidly hasten towards the final judgement
7. Jesus appears in the clouds and judgement begins

B. Seven Plagues (bowls poured out)

• These mirror the seven trumpets very closely
  • They are an expansion of the 6th/7th part of the previous series
  • The link (like with the seals & trumpets) are the 144,000
  • In [14:2-5] the ones who have not given into the beasts and taken their number sing a song of praise
  • This story and song is picked up in [15:2-4]
• believers are not touched by the plagues—like Israel in Egypt. This could be spiritual or physical protection, or both.
  • the description of the first four are very similar to the first four trumpets: earth-sea-rivers-sun
  • the last three are similar to the last three trumpets
    • Throne of the beast—darkness and pain
    • Demonic army from Euphrates—preparing for the great battle
    • Start of judgement—great hailstorm
• Once again, as Jesus said, stay alert—don’t be deceived
  • Jesus’ statement that he will come like a thief is quoted just before the seventh plague
• 7th angel
  • A great earthquake and then later a great hailstorm are mentioned, just as at the end of the trumpet sequence
    • but this scene tells a bit further into the future
  • Babylon is mentioned for the first time
  • The islands and mountains vanish as creation comes to an end
  • this scene is expanded in the next section: “7 visions of Victory”

Summary of Seven Plagues (bowls poured out)

1. — 4. the earth is damaged by plagues, but the true believers are not hurt

5. The beast causes darkness and extreme pain. This was supposed to lead people to repent, but (most of them) refused to
6. A demonic-inspired army is raised up for the final confrontation (this may or may not be literal)
7. Creation comes to an end

Updated on 2011-05-27 by Andrew Fountain - loveintruth.com/teaching

Part 3b - The Second Scroll: Seven Visions of Victory [17-19]

note: these are very brief notes

C. Seven Visions of Victory

1. Description of Babylon [17]
   • If Jerusalem represents the people of God, the bride of Christ adorned for her husband [21:2]
   • Babylon is the prostitute, the evil counterpart to Jerusalem
   • She is the fake bride [17:3-4]
   • She represents the seduction of wealth and sex and has damaged the people of God [17:6]
   • 10 kings will rule for one hour and turn on Babylon
2. Babylon will fall in a single day, a single hour [18]
   • There is a surprisingly long description of the weeping and mourning for the loss of this city
   • Many people have identified Babylon with the Roman empire because of the 7 hills on which Rome was built [17:9]
     • When Rome fell, the whole world was plunged into centuries of dark ages
     • The Roman empire was an empire of trade, of luxury, and of increasing sexual corruption
     • [v.8-9] tell us that (along with the beast that carries it) it “was”, “is not” and “is to come”
   • Some have speculated that in many ways our world system is like the Roman empire both in wealth and corruption
     • If this were true, this event could be world economic collapse
   • What is Babylon?
     • probably the culture of sensual luxury, entertainment, sexual immorality, idolatry, earthly and fleshly pleasure that “rides on the back of the beast”, i.e. is supported by its economic/power system
3. A vast throng praises God for his judgements [19:1-5]
4. The wedding of the Lamb and his bride is announced [19:6-10]
5. Christ appears with army dressed in white [19:11-16]
6. Announcement of battle [19:17-18]
7. Great battle: Beast & False Prophet thrown into lake of fire [19:19-21]
   • Note the order of destruction is the reverse of the order they are introduced in this scroll
   1. Dragon
   2. Beast
   3. False Prophet
   4. Babylon
   • Note also that the images are consistent throughout all 4 visions of the second scroll, re-enforcing the idea that they form a unity, separate from the first scroll

Parallel’s with the History of Israel

• There are some Interesting parallels between the events of Revelation and the history of the nation of Israel in the O.T.

Updated on 2011-05-27 by Andrew Fountain - loveintruth.com/teaching

Part 4a - The Second Scroll: The End of the Age and the New Creation [20-22:5]

note: these are very brief notes

• This section is expanding on the very last few events of the victory of God
  • But takes us further into the future than any other visions

1. The Dragon: subdued for 1000 years [20:1-6]
2. The Dragon: released, fights, and is thrown into lake of fire [20:7-10]
3. Great white throne. The dead are judged [20:11-15]
   • Judgement —for believers this is not on works but on what Christ has done for us

• See the chart for where these things might fit

4. A new heaven and a new earth [21:1]
5. A bride adorned for her husband. “Behold, I am making all things new!” [21:2-8]
6. The beauty of the city (the wife of the Lamb) [21:9-27]
   • there is no temple because Jesus is there, he dwells in the city so he is with us and in us
   • gold and precious stones is US. WE are the city, this is not where we will live.
   • this is new Eden imagery. Eden was described with precious stones, and the presence of God was there
     • Similar language was used to describe Solomon’s temple, which is a picture of the church, the people of God
   • But in Eden there were only two people—now there is a city
     • The new creation will be unimaginably more amazing than even Eden
   • Just as Adam was given a task in Eden, we will be called into new destinies and responsibilities
   • Picture language has to be used to describe the new creation because there is something about it that is totally out of our comprehension in its wonder and glory
7. The River of Life [22:1-5]
   • [21:22]—the Father and Jesus are mentioned, but where is the Holy Spirit? [22:1,2]—the River of Life maybe symbolizes the Holy Spirit.
   • He flows through the city, so he is flowing through US, in an unlimited amount.
   • will there be animals in heaven? Rom. 8 says the whole creation groans and longs for its redemption.
     • Probably, but we can’t be sure. Anyway, it will be good!

Updated on 2011-05-27 by Andrew Fountain - loveintruth.com/teaching

Part 4b - Epilogue [22:6-21]

note: these are very brief notes

Epilogue

• Jesus is coming soon—so take this seriously!!!
• there is an invitation for whoever wants to come and take the water of life freely

Some Problems in understanding Revelation

• Revelation seems so dark compared to other parts of the NT: Jesus and the kingdom and Paul’s teaching on the end times
  • Revelation is not a balanced view of the future. It is presenting the military side. We must take it with other parts of Scripture, e.g. Ephesians’ teaching that the church will come into maturity
• What about all the bloodshed?
  • Notes on Violence and Bloodshed in Revelation
• Why is there no evangelism?
  • there are hints of evangelism in Revelation e.g. people giving glory to God—something people never are said to do involuntarily
  • in spiritual warfare, people get saved, not killed!
  • chapter [11:15]—it is the evil rulers who are destroyed, but maybe lots of people who followed them will be saved
• We are told just to endure, to hang on. Is this all we will be doing?
  • We are part of Christ’s army. this means we will fight (spiritually) and have victories!
• What about transforming our culture. Should we even try?
  • yes!

Response

• Praise God for the amazing and extraordinary future we have and destiny we are called into
• Pray that the power of the Spirit in us will give us strength to endure the persecution and be victorious as we join Jesus in smashing the strongholds of Satan

Updated on 2011-05-27 by Andrew Fountain - loveintruth.com/teaching