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The Book of RevelationIntroduction
Lesson 1.1
Terms Hermeneutics
• “The science of Biblical interpretation”• From the Greek “Hermeneuo”• Means “to interpret” or “explain” or “translate”• Hebrews 7:2
Eschatology• “The study of last things”• From the Greek “Eschatos”• Means “last”• Revelation 22:13
Author John (Revelation 1:1, 4, 9; 22:8)
• John is also the author of the gospel according to John, as well as 1 John, 2 John, & 3 John.
• John was one of the 12 disciples of Jesus along with his brother James Matthew 4:18-22 and Mark 3:14-19 records the
calling of John as a disciple James and John were nicknamed “The Sons of
Thunder”
Setting
John directed this prophetic word to seven selected churches in the Roman province of Asia (1:3-4)
Because of John’s effective witnessing for Christ, Roman authorities exiled him to the small, desolate island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea (1:9)
bibleatlas.org
Date Scholars continue to debate over the
exact date that this book was written
Suggestions range from 67 AD to 96 AD
Date
“For [the vision] was seen…almost in our own day, toward the end of Domitian’s reign”
– Irenaeus (2nd century)
“Ante Nicene Fahers,” Vol 1, p 559, Irenaeus
Date Domitian (Ruled 81-96 AD)
• Persecution (20:4) & “Banishing”• Demanded to be worshipped (13:4)
Attitude Toward the Roman Empire• Acts 16:36-40• Acts 23:12-31• Romans 13:1-7• 1 Peter 2:12-17• 2 Thessalonians 2:7
Date Roman Empire
• Revelation 17:5-6, 9 Worship of Caesar
• Demanded by Domitian (81-96 AD)• Revelation 13:8• Repealed by Nerva, Domitan’s successor.
The Churches 95 AD
Theme & Purpose Recipient
• Seven Churches Asia Minor/Turkey (1:4)• Believers throughout the Church Age
(22:18) Purpose
• Comfort (7:17; 21:4)• Vengeance (6:9; 8:3)• Assurance of Victory (15:2; 19:11-15)• Past, Present, Future (1:19)
Four Views Non-literal or Allegorical
• The book does not necessarily predict the future
• Symbolism is a key to understanding Preterist
• The book is associated with history more than the future
• Little, if any, future significance• Symbolism is a key to understanding
Four Views Historical
• The book presents the totality of Church history concluding at the Second Coming
• Historical and spiritual interpretations Futurist
• The majority of the book is descriptive of future events
• Literal and chronological interpretation is necessary
Divisions of the BookVICTORY OF THE CHURCH OVER THE WORLD (1-11)
VICTORY OF CHRIST OVER THE DRAGON (12-22)
1. Christ & the Lampstands(1-3)
2. Book with Seven Seals(4-7)
3. Seven Trumpets(8-11)
4. The Woman & Child Persecuted by the Dragon(12-14)
5. Seven Bowls(15-16)
6. Fall of the Harlot & Beasts(17-19)
7. Judgment of the DragonNew Heaven & EarthNew Jerusalem(20-22)
