 |
 |
|
|
Revelation of John
Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION
A. Four major approaches to the interpretation and study of Revelation.
1. Historical
A. General information
1) Most common protestant method historically.
2) History beginning with John and ending with second coming.
3) Most prophecies already fulfilled.
4) Strong emphasis against the Papacy.
B. Value of this approach
1) Encourages familiarity with Church history;
i.e. persecutions.
2) Encourages holiness and church seperation from the world.
C. Drawbacks to this approach.
1) Too much focus upon the papacy. (Narrow mindness)
2) Some absurd interpretations to make prophecy "fit".
3) Tendency towards date setting. (Day/Year Theory)
4) Completely misunderstands Israel's place in prophecy
2. Preterism
A. General information
1) Most popular method throughout theological circles.
2) History of Church and Imperial Rome of John's day.
a. Destruction of Jerusalem
b. Fall of the Roman Empire
c. Christianity victorious over Judaism
3) Papacy's response against the historical protestant approach.
B. Value of this approach
1) Strictly a secular theological approach
a. Who is the author?
b. When is it written?
c. To whom was it written?
d. What was the current state of affairs?
e. Compare with other apocalyptic / historical writings.
C. Drawbacks to this approach.
1) Reject Holy Spirit inspiration
2) Declare John's prophecies never fulfilled.
3) Invent clever meanings and interpretations for symbols
4) Suggest imaginative roads that lead to nowhere
5) Like the pyramid without the capstone,
they can never finish the picture.
3. Idealism (Spiritual, Symbolical, and Dramatic approach)
A. General information
1) Depicts transcendent spiritual realities.
2) Historical fulfillments are of a reoccuring pattern.
3) Future may possibly be linked due upon prophetic patterns.
4) Not concerned with possible future Literal fulfilments.
B. Value of this approach
1) Relevant to all Christians throughout church history.
2) Emphasises spiritual types;
a. War of Light against the Darkness
b. Christ against Satan
c. Church against the World
d. Promotes church unity without stressing doctrine.
C. Drawbacks to this approach.
1) Anything goes.
2) No emphasis upon the literal return of Christ.
3) No dependency upon other scriptures.
4. Futuristic
A. General information
1) Most prophecies are yet to come in the future.
2) Prophecy begins with John and continues until the end ...
B. Four different futuristic approaches.
1) Amillenialism
2) Post-millenialism
3) Pre-millenialism
a. Pre-tribulation rapture
b. Mid-tribulation rapture
c. Post-tribulation rapture
4) Dispensationalism
a. Pre-tribulation rapture
b. Mid-tribulation rapture
c. Post-tribulation rapture
C. Drawbacks to this approach.
1) Almost completely disregards Church history.
2) Of no value to the historical church, reformation, etc.
3) Generates additional confusion throughout the church.
5. Futuristic Amillenialism
A. General information
1) 1000 years symbolizes a long undetermined church age.
2) Satan has been bound since Christ's ascension.
3) Satan will be loosed again upon the earth in the near future.
4) Christ's return brings an end to the dramma.
5) Judgment with fire, New earth, etc.
B. Value of this approach
1) Encourages future hope regardless of one's situation.
2) Emphasis is upon the tangible here and now of life.
C. Drawbacks to this approach.
1) Completely disregards Israel's place in God's plan.
2) Only a light emphasis upon Old Testament.
3) Complete disregard for Old Testament prophets.
6. Futuristic Post-millenialism
A. General information (includes Christian Reconstructionists)
1) Most prophecies are already fulfilled.
2) Christ will return after the millenium.
3) The prophetic disasters have pretty much passed.
4) Church evangelism and kingdom teaching shall usher in
the millenium.
B. Value of this approach
1) Encourages an attitude of optimism and evangelism.
2) Encourages belief in the power of prayer and faith,
and the present day kingdom authority of the believer.
C. Drawbacks to this approach.
1) Completely disregards Israel's place in God's plan.
2) Tendency towards Spiritualizing Old Testament.
3) Complete distortion of Old Testament prophecy.
7. Futuristic Pre-millenialism and Dispensationalism
A. General information
1) Most prophecies are yet to be fulfilled.
2) Christ will return sometime before the millenium.
3) Most of the prophetic disasters are yet to come.
4) Christ will return and usher in the millenial kingdom.
B. Value of this approach
1) Encourages a belief in Christ's imminient return and
the catching away or rapture of the church.
a. pre-tribulation
b. mid-tribulation
c. post-tribulation
d. dispensationalism
C. Drawbacks to this approach.
1) Promotes some confusion as to the timing of the rapture.
2) Pre-trib approaches do not prepare the church
psychologicaly for what is coming upon the earth.
3) Some approaches completely distort Israel's place
in fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: -- Rev 1:1 (KJV)
A. Apocalypse (Revelation) of Jesus Christ
apokalupsis, ap-ok-al'-oop-sis;
om G601;
disclosure:--appearing, coming, lighten, manifestation,
be revealed, revelation.
601. apokalupto, ap-ok-al-oop'-to;
from G575 and G2572;
to take off the cover, i.e. disclose:--reveal.
575. apo, apo'; a prim. particle;
"off," i.e. away (from something near),
usually denotes separation, departure, cessation, completion, reversal, etc.
2572. kalupto, kal-oop'-to;
akin to G2813 and G2928;
to cover up (lit. or fig.):--cover, hide.
B. Apocalypse (Revelation) V.S. Parable of Jesus Christ
And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? -- Mat 13:10 (KJV)
He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. -- Mat 13:11 (KJV)
For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. -- Mat 13:12 (KJV)
Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. -- Mat 13:13 (KJV)
And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: -- Mat 13:14 (KJV)
For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. -- Mat 13:15 (KJV)
But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. -- Mat 13:16 (KJV)
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: -- Rev 1:1 (KJV)
Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. -- Gal 4:7 (KJV)
Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; -- Gal 4:1 (KJV)
But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. -- Gal 4:2 (KJV)
Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. -- John 15:15 (KJV)
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: -- Rev 1:1 (KJV)
A. They MUST shortly come to pass.
B. NOT left to chance.
C. They must shortly come to pass.
For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. -- Rom 9:28 (KJV)
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. -- 2 Pet 3:8 (KJV)
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. -- 2 Pet 3:9 (KJV)
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. -- 2 Pet 3:10 (KJV)
Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, -- 2 Pet 3:11 (KJV)
Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? -- 2 Pet 3:12 (KJV)
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. -- 2 Pet 3:13 (KJV)
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. -- 2 Pet 3:14 (KJV)
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: -- Rev 1:1 (KJV)
A. sign - i - fied it
4591. semaino, say-mah'-ee-no; from sema
(a mark; of uncert. der.); to indicate:--signify.
to give a sign, to make known.
made it clear by using these signs and symbols.
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
This he said, signifying what death he should die. -- John 12:32-33 (KJV)
And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. -- Acts 11:28 (KJV)
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: -- Rev 1:1 (KJV)
Who bare record [or witness] of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. -- Rev 1:2 (KJV)
A. bare record - past tense
The introduction was probably written last!
Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. -- Rev 1:2 (KJV)
A. bare record of the word of God
Indicates a Direct Prophetic Communication
And the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying, -- 1 Ki 6:11 (KJV)
And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, show thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth. -- 1 Ki 18:1 (KJV)
Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, -- Jer 2:1 (KJV)
Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. -- Rev 1:2 (KJV)
A. bare record of the testimony of Jesus Christ
And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. -- Rev 19:10 (KJV)
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. -- Rev 12:11 (KJV)
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. -- Rev 12:17 (KJV)
Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. -- Rev 1:2 (KJV)
A. bare record of all things that he saw
And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things. -- Rev 22:8 (KJV)
B. John not only heard these things, he also saw them !
Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. -- Rev 1:3 (KJV)
Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. -- Prov 8:34 (KJV)
But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it. -- Luke 11:28 (KJV)
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. -- Hosea 4:6 (KJV)
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. -- Dan 12:1 (KJV)
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. -- Dan 12:2 (KJV)
And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. -- Dan 12:3 (KJV)
But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. -- Dan 12:4 (KJV)