The Book of Revelation

Cliff Notes – Chapters 1-7

Introduction and the contents of chapter 1:

1.  The Writer

  1. Which John is the one credited for writing the book?
  2. John the Apostle?
  3. Evidence

“Whether further investigations such as that of Poythress prove fruitful in bearing out this theory or not, the fact remains that the case for the authorship of the Apocalypse by the apostle John rests solidly on the near-unanimous testimony of the early church and a significant body of internal data that liken it to John’s other NT books.” (Robert Thomas, Revelation 1-7, 19)
“We are thus inclined to accept the testimony of those who were in a position to know about these matters, and we attribute both books [Gospel of John and Revelation] to John the apostle, ‘the beloved disciple.’” (Carson & Moo, An Introduction to the New Testament, 705)

  1. EXTERNAL EVIDENCE
  2. Almost universally accepted as writer from 2nd century through the 18th century.
  3. Examples: Papias, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Clement (Alexandria), Tertullian, Hippolytus, Origen, Methodius
  1. INTERNAL EVIDENCE

i.  Similarities between Revelation and the Gospel of John (see Thomas, Revelation 1-7, 11-17 for a list of examples)

1.  Description of Christ as the LAMB (used 30x in Revelation)

2.  Description of Christ as SHEPHERD

3.  …as the WORD (Revelation 19:13)

4.  Both books offer invitation to the thirsty (John 4; 7; Rev 22:17)

5.  Both books cite Zech 12:10 with unique word for pierce…(The word John uses is not the word from the LXX...)

6.  Both books refer to angels in white clothing (depending on how interpret 24 Elders)

7.  Both books use witness and signs

ii. The character of John fits the book of Revelation

iii.  Revelation is more like Johannine books than any other NT books

  1. Questions
  2. None raised until the rise of German Rationalism and Higher Criticism in the late 1800s.
  3. The ones that were brought up include:
  4. The writer never claims to be an apostle
  5. Different style and vocabulary
  6. Inferior Greek grammar
  7. Different emphasis in Theology
  1. John the Elder?
  2. This view grew out of the teachings of Gaius and Dionysius…
  3. They were wanting to stop the Chiliastic (Millenianarism) Movement
  1. John the Palestinian Jew?
  2. It doesn’t really matter who wrote it…just some “John” in Asia Minor…
  3. Again, this approach ignores all the church history and tradition that has been handed down from generation to generation…
  1. John the Pseudepigraphical Guy?
  2. It was a friend of John’s who thought he should have written another book…so they wrote it for him!
  3. This is rarely argued today (at least not convincingly)

2.  The Date

  1. Liberals like the date between 66-70 AD…this implies that all of the book has already been fulfilled.
  2. Conservatives argue for 90-96 AD
  3. This was the belief of early church
  4. This gives time for churches in Asia Minor to reach conditions described in Revelation 2-3
  5. The persecution is in Asia Minor; Nero’s persecution was only in Rome
  6. The Exile to Patmos was in keeping with Domitian; Nero simply beheaded people

3.  Methods of Interpretation

  1. Allegorical / Spiritual
  2. Problem: we interpret no other book, or writing like this…
  3. Problem: there can now be no right or wrong interpretation since it is subjective
  4. Historical (Continuous-Historical)
  5. Symbolic representation of church history
  6. Rests on allegorical interpretation
  7. People of this persuasion cannot agree on what the symbols mean…
  8. Preterist
  9. The events have already happened
  10. Yet, the book describes events that have not happened!
  11. Futurist
  12. This is the approach we are taking in the class
  13. Revelation 4-22 will be fulfilled after John’s day, not during it
  14. This is based on the normal interpretation of words/grammar, etc

4.  The Method of Delivery

  1. God
  2. Christ
  3. Angel
  4. John
  5. Churches of Asia Minor

5.  Description of Jesus

  1. From last time John saw Him
  2. At the Last Supper
  3. On the Cross
  4. Post-Resurrection
  5. Now
  6. Clothed like a Priest
  7. Clothed like a Judge
  8. The very sight of Him took all life from John

Chapter 2-3

1.  The Seven Churches

a.  Ephesus 2.1-7

b.  Smyrna 2.8-11

c.  Pergamos 2.12-17

d.  Thyatira 2.18-29

e.  Sardis 3.1-6

f.  Philadelphia 3.7-14

g.  Laodicea 3.15-22

2.  The Overcoming Promises

a.  2.7

b.  2.11

c.  2.17

d.  2.26

e.  3.5

f.  3.12

g.  3.21

Chapter 4

1.  The Rapture?

  1. Some argue that 4.1 is a “rapture” event
  2. Problem:
  3. Only John is called up
  4. What he sees is “in the Spirit”
  5. He is receiving a vision, a “revelation” from Christ

2.  The 24 Elders

  1. Men?
  2. Angels?
  3. I believe they are angelic beings…
  4. They are always connected to other angelic beings
  5. They have the ability to offer incense, or the prayers of the saints to Christ
  6. Whatever they are, there are “12” – these are not symbolic leaders; this describes a literal 24-seat chamber in Heaven where the elders gather around the throne.

3.  The Four Beasts

  1. Probably Cherubim
  2. Similar to those seen by Ezekiel
  3. They are, to say the least, Heavenly creatures, not earthly creatures…

Chapter 5

1.  The Throne and the Book

a.  The Father is seated there

  1. The Son comes to take the book
  2. The Son is described as:
  3. Lion of Juda
  4. Root of David
  5. The Lamb
  6. The Son and the Book
  7. It is a Seven-Sealed Book
  8. It is within the hand of God
  9. Indicates a divine source
  10. Indicates its supreme authority
  11. Best argument is that this book:
  12. Represents Christ’s title-deed or contract-deed to the earth. (See Thomas, Revelation 1-7, An Exegetical Commentary, 377)
  13. Or, it is the Counsels of God as revealed in the visions beginning at chapter 6…
  14. These would be the judgments that will fall from God upon the earth
  15. The contents are enacted, not read
  16. This scroll contains a comprehensive view of the future wrath of the Lamb.
  17. This is the view I take…

Chapter 6

1.  The Horsemen

a.  White Horse False Peace

b.  Red Horse War

c.  Black Horse Famine

d.  Pale Horse Death

NOTE: The Four Horsemen are identical to the first FOUR SEALS

2.  The Identity

a.  Demons?

  1. They are being sent from Christ…That’s a problem for me…
  2. The Antichrist?
  3. It appears the rider is coming from heaven…
  4. Special Angels for Judgment
  5. This is my view

3.  Remaining Seals

  1. Seal 5 Martyrs
  2. Seal 6 Earthquake and Catastrophes

Chapter 7

1.  The Pause

  1. Before the Seventh Seal is opened:
  2. Four Angels holding back the wind
  3. Another Angel who seals God’s servants
  4. 144,000 Jewish Males are sealed
  5. 12,000 from each tribe (except Dan)

Chapter 8

1.  The Seventh Seal is opened

a.  This will unleash 14 consecutive judgments

  1. Considering the gravity of this event, all Heaven is silent for half an hour
  2. When this seal is opened an angel offers the prayers of the saints upon the altar

2.  The opening of the Seventh Seal brings forth the Seven Trumpets

  1. First Trumpet
  2. Hail and Fire mingled with blood
  3. Third part of trees burnt up
  4. Green grass is burnt up
  1. Second Trumpet
  2. “As” a great burning mountain cast into the sea
  3. Third part of seas became blood
  4. Third part of creatures in the sea die
  5. Third part of ships destroyed
  1. Third Trumpet
  2. Great Star falling from Heaven
  3. The “Star’s” name is Wormwood
  4. Third part of the waters become bitter wormwood
  5. Many men die because of the waters
  1. Fourth Trumpet
  2. Third part of sun smitten
  3. Third part of moon and stars affected
  4. This affects light and heat

NOTE: After these four trumpets sound, an angel can be heard flying through the midst of heaven crying out, “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabiters of the earth because of the other trumpets that will sound.

Chapter 9

1.  Fifth Trumpet

  1. Another “star” falls from heaven with the keys to the bottomless pit
  2. Sun and air are darkened because of the smoke that arises from the pit
  3. Locusts come from the pit (A demonic-entity bent on destroying)
  4. Afflict those who have not the seal of God for five months
  5. Men will want to die because of the pain, but cannot
  6. They are organized behind the leader Apollyon / Abaddon
  7. One woe is past; two more are coming…

2.  Sixth Trumpet

  1. Loosing of the four fallen angels in Euphrates
  2. These four will slay the third part of men
  3. Seem to be leading an army of 200,000,000 horsemen that cause great damage

NOTE: The seventh trumpet will not sound until we come to 11:15.

Chapter 10

1.  A Mighty Angel

a.  Clothed with a cloud

b.  Rainbow is on his head

  1. He holds a little book open
  2. He utters a seven-thunder judgment, but it is not recorded
  3. Identification of this angel?
  4. Probably not Jesus
  5. Verse 6 – this angel swears by him that lives forever, that created heaven and earth…
  6. This is not the normal way in which we see Jesus in Revelation
  7. Best to take it as a “mighty angel” that is not named

2.  The Little Book

  1. This open book has a message that is delivered simultaneously with the days in which the seventh trumpet sounds (for example, the 5th trumpet sounded for five months…)
  2. The message of the book refers to the completion of the “mystery of God” that was declared by the prophets.
  3. Based on the remainder of the book and what is revealed, this “mystery” must somehow relate to God’s kingdom being brought to fruition.
  4. This can be seen by comparing 10:7 with 11:15 and the response of the 24 Elders

Chapter 11

1.  The Temple

a.  John measures this temple.

  1. He does not measure the court for the Gentiles will have 3.5 years in which they trample and tread the holy city
  2. Which temple is this?
  3. This is the future temple that will be rebuilt before Christ returns
  4. This is the only way to understand this passage if you believe that words have a prescribed meaning. If not, we are left with fanciful imaginative interpretations

2.  The Two Witnesses

  1. These two associate with the Temple and hence find favor
  2. Who are they?
  3. Elijah and Enoch
  4. Elijah and Moses
  5. Two men that come in the power of either of the first two men
  6. The Bible and the Church

NOTE: I am not dogmatic on who they are as long as you use a literal interpretation to arrive at your conclusion. I believe, based on the way that the men are described, that they are Elijah and Moses. You are welcome to disagree with that proposition.

3.  The Seventh Trumpet

  1. Begins to blow in 11:15 with the intent that the third woe is coming quickly
  2. There will be a brief interlude in the drama to fill in some gaps
  3. The “woe” will come in chapter 15 in the form of seven vials

Chapter 12

1.  The Woman

a.  Not Mary

b.  This is Israel

  1. This Israel is a “remnant”
  2. Satan tries to destroy the “remnant” by destroying Christ (v1-6)
  3. Satan tries to destroy the angels that protect the remnant (v7-12)
  4. Satan tries to destroy Israel from whom the remnant comes (13-17)
  5. They are protected, so he attacks those who hold the testimony of Christ, regardless of ethnicity.

Chapter 13

1.  The First Beast

  1. Comes out of the sea…
  2. Sea is much more frightening than the land for this culture
  3. Has seven heads, ten horns, and ten crowns
  4. Receives a deadly wound, but comes back to life
  5. He receives power for 42 months
  6. He is worshiped by the earth-dwellers

2.  The Second Beast

a.  Comes out of the earth

  1. Two horns like a lamb; speaks like a dragon
  2. He is able to perform miracles that deceive the nations
  3. He causes everyone to receive a mark in order to buy or sell

Chapter 14

1.  The 144,000

  1. Satan cannot destroy the Lamb or the 144,000
  2. They stand at Mt Zion singing a new song pure and undefiled – despite the efforts of Satan to bring about death or blemish

2.  The Angels

  1. God sends an angel to protect the everlasting Gospel (v6-7)
  2. God sends an angel to proclaim the destruction of Babylon (v8)
  3. God sends an angel to bring judgment to those who received the mark (9-12)
  4. God sends a voice, perhaps an angel, to give a blessing for the martyrs (13)
  5. God sends an angel to say the earth is ripe for the Son of Man to reap (14-16)
  6. God sends an angel with a sickle to get the grapes of wrath ready (17-20)