Revelation is an apocalyptic book. This is a Greek word meaning “revealing” of hidden or unknown material, from which we get the common name of this book of the Bible. Most people think of apocalyptic writings (such as Ezekiel, Zechariah, Daniel and Revelation) as difficult to understand, symbolic and cryptic, perhaps confusing. Except perhaps for science fiction, we are unacquainted with apocalyptic writings. But they were very popular in the years between the Testaments and in the formative years of the church. Only a few attained canonical status. Jewish thought had developed a scheme of history -- a present age which was totally bad and an age to come which was wholly good, with a cataclysmic transition time overseen by God Himself. Apocryphal books like Enoch, the Ascension of Isaiah, the Apocalypse of Baruch, Fourth Ezra and many others were popular even in Jesus’ day. The ancient prophets like Isaiah and Micah had visions and spoke of the future, but tempered it with calls to repentance and warnings of consequences for unrighteousness. They wrote out the message they previously spoke. Apocalyptic writers often “borrowed” other names like Enoch and Moses and wrote in symbolic and dramatic ways of coming catastrophes and judgments of God.

Revelation is John’s report of visions of Jesus and angels and what they showed and told him. We are told to read it aloud and be comforted by what is told there. It was written at a time when the church was being severely persecuted and needed to have hope. It has the same message to us today--to persevere in our faith, no matter what the opposition, knowing that God has already won the victory.

In our study of Revelation we will seek to understand the symbols and allusions by referring to the rest of the Bible itself. Revelation seldom quotes but often alludes to Old Testament passages. It has the greatest number of allusions to the Old Testament of any book of the Bible. We will see how the people of John’s day might have understood these visions. We will try to understand the timeless messages that are found in this book. We will refer to Jesus’ teaching about his second coming and relate it to what is shown in Revelation.

THE AUTHOR: Though some scholars (including Barclay) postulate a different person named John as the writer, there is no reason to stray from the witness of early church historians that John the Apostle wrote the book in his old age, between 85 and 100 A.D. The circumstances of writing are mentioned in the book itself in 1:9.

THE SITUATION: Caesar worship had come to be the required religion of Rome. It required that once a year a man would burn a bit of incense and proclaim that “Caesar is Lord.” If one refused to do this he was considered an “atheist” and a threat to the authority of Rome. He might practice any additional religion he desired, but this one act was required as a subject of Rome. The mad emperor Caligula (who reigned A.D. 37-41) was the first to require this rite (even for Jews who had been exempted by previous Caesars). His successor, Claudius (A.D. 41-54), relaxed the edicts somewhat, but Nero (A.D. 54-68), while not taking his divinity very seriously, still persecuted Christians as the best scapegoat for his own reputed burning of Rome. After a period of governmental confusion, Domitian (A.D. 81-96) reigned as a cold-blooded persecutor. Under his reign John was exiled to Patmos. Domitian demanded to be worshipped, and was severe in his persecution of any who would not bow to him. After him there was 200 years of more or less consistent persecution of Christians, through Diocletian (A.D. 284-305) who sought to abolish Christianity forever. He was followed by Constantine, the first emperor to embrace Christianity.

So the same Roman citizenship that had shielded Paul in many instances, now became a threat to life itself unless a person put Caesar-worship first.

FOUR INTERPRETIVE VIEWS OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION

1. The Preterist which emphasizes the contemporary situation of Christianity’s struggle with the Roman Empire. Strict preterists believe all of Revelation was fulfilled in John’s time or shortly thereafter.

2. Historically continuous interpretation (This view says that the revelation is a panorama of the Church’s history from John’s day to the end of the world.)

3. Spiritualist interpretation (These see the book as symbolic only...symbolic of the struggle between good and evil.)

4. Futurist interpretation (The most common view of evangelicals today. They believe that from Chapter 4 on is an unveiling of the consummation of the Age. Therefore most of the book speaks of the future to come. This is the view held by the LaHaye Left Behind series of books.)

None of the above views is without problems when strictly held. The truth is probably a combination of elements from each of the above. Dogmatism in interpretation is common, but hardly helpful. God will do what He has planned, no matter what our understanding of it is.

A BRIEF OUTLINE OF REVELATION

Chapter 1 -- “The things which you have seen.” John’s vision of the glorified Lord.

Chapters 2-3 -- “The things which are.” The letters to the seven churches of Asia.

Chapters 4-22 -- “The things which shall be hereafter.”

A. Chapter 4 -- John’s transfer to Heaven

B. Chapter 5-7 -- Unsealing of the book with 7 seals of God’s judgment

C. Chapter 8-9 -- The 7th seal leads to the opening of 7 trumpets

D. Chapter 10-11 -- Contrast between bitter and sweet, saved and unsaved

E. Chapter 12-13 -- Details of struggle between the Devil and God, the beast, etc.

F. Chapter 14 -- The 144,000 saved from Israel and the multitude besides

G. Chapter 15-16 -- The 7 vials of wrath of God’s judgment

H. Chapters 17-18 -- Judgments of God on Babylon, the commercial system

I. Chapter 19 -- The Battle of Armageddon

J. Chapter 20 -- The Millennium interlude and final judgment

K. Chapters 21-22 -- The New Heaven and New Earth.

There will be more on this later...