Revelation – Things are Not As They Seem Scripture Reading Revelation 1

Revelation – Things are Not As They SeemRevelation – Things are Not As They Seem

Scripture ReadingScripture Reading

Revelation 1Revelation 1


Advise given when I started ministry:Advise given when I started ministry:

““A preacher should never preach A preacher should never preach from the book of Revelation until he from the book of Revelation until he or she has been in ministry for 20 + or she has been in ministry for 20 +

years.”years.”


““Only the persecuted church can Only the persecuted church can rightly interpret the book of rightly interpret the book of

Revelation.”Revelation.”


The book of revelation raises loads of The book of revelation raises loads of questions:questions:

What’s with all the crazy images?What’s with all the crazy images?

Are we to read it literally or Are we to read it literally or figuratively?figuratively?

How do we read the many numbers How do we read the many numbers in the book?in the book?


There are so many difficulties in the There are so many difficulties in the book.book.

There are so many different [often There are so many different [often opposite] ways of interpreting this opposite] ways of interpreting this

book.book.


We have said that each type of We have said that each type of biblical literature needs to be biblical literature needs to be

interpreted different tools interpreted different tools appropriate to the genre.appropriate to the genre.

Before we look at the genre, let us Before we look at the genre, let us ask some of the basic questions we ask some of the basic questions we

have asked of other parts of the have asked of other parts of the Bible.Bible.


1.1. Who is the author?Who is the author?

2. Who were the recipients or2. Who were the recipients or

original hearers?original hearers?

3. What was the historical and3. What was the historical and

cultural context?cultural context?


Author:Author:

John, the apostleJohn, the apostle-Pastor of the churches in Asia MinorPastor of the churches in Asia Minor

Recipients:Recipients:-The 7 churches in Asia minorThe 7 churches in Asia minor


Historical Context:Historical Context:-Believed to have been written 96 Believed to have been written 96 AD, during the reign of DomitianAD, during the reign of Domitian

- Domitian was insecure and made Domitian was insecure and made all subjects proclaim: all subjects proclaim:

““Caesar is Lord.”Caesar is Lord.”

and worship himand worship him


John refused to do that.John refused to do that.

Only Jesus was his Lord.Only Jesus was his Lord.

So John was tried for “atheism” So John was tried for “atheism”

and sent to the penal island of and sent to the penal island of Patmos.Patmos.

-Work prison camp.Work prison camp.


The churches in Asia were also faced The churches in Asia were also faced with this same choice:with this same choice:

Declare “Caesar is Lord” or “Jesus is Lord.”Declare “Caesar is Lord” or “Jesus is Lord.”

They were facing the increasing They were facing the increasing persecution.persecution.


Genre of Revelation: Hybrid of 3 genres:Genre of Revelation: Hybrid of 3 genres:

1.1.Letter/Epistle Letter/Epistle ““John, To the seven churches in the province of John, To the seven churches in the province of

Asia: Grace and peace to you …” 1:4Asia: Grace and peace to you …” 1:4- hence: need to focus on author, recipient hence: need to focus on author, recipient

and contextand context- Can only understand it if we understand it as Can only understand it if we understand it as

the first hearersthe first hearers


Genre of Revelation: Hybrid of 3 genres:Genre of Revelation: Hybrid of 3 genres:

1.1.ProphecyProphecy““Blessed is the one who reads the words of this Blessed is the one who reads the words of this

prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.” Revbecause the time is near.” Rev..1:31:3

- Prophecy is not just “for-telling” the future.Prophecy is not just “for-telling” the future.- Prophecy is also “forth-telling” God’s Word in Prophecy is also “forth-telling” God’s Word in

the present context.the present context.- ““Telling forth” bringing a Word of God to the Telling forth” bringing a Word of God to the

present lives of his people.present lives of his people.


Genre of Revelation: Hybrid of 3 genres:Genre of Revelation: Hybrid of 3 genres:3. 3. ApocalypticApocalyptic

““The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. must soon take place. ”” Rev.1:1 Rev.1:1

- Revelation = “Apocalyptic”Revelation = “Apocalyptic”- ““Apocalyptic” = ?Apocalyptic” = ?

““Unveiling” “Revealing” “Lifting the Lid”Unveiling” “Revealing” “Lifting the Lid”““Write, therefore, what you have seen, Write, therefore, what you have seen,

what is now and what will take place what is now and what will take place later.” Rev.1:8later.” Rev.1:8


Some characteristics of Apocalyptic Some characteristics of Apocalyptic Literature:Literature:

1.1.Written during times of oppressionWritten during times of oppression2.2.Given as visions and dreams Given as visions and dreams 3.3.People portrayed as animalsPeople portrayed as animals4.4.Highly symbolic - #’s & coloursHighly symbolic - #’s & colours5.5.Gives broader perspective on Gives broader perspective on present realitypresent reality


Darrell Johnson:Darrell Johnson:

““Apocalyptic seeks to do two things:Apocalyptic seeks to do two things:

first, it seeks to first, it seeks to set the present in set the present in light of the unseen realities of the light of the unseen realities of the

future. future.

For if we know what the future holds For if we know what the future holds it determines the choices we make of it determines the choices we make of

the present.” the present.” Discipleship on the EdgeDiscipleship on the Edge, p. 26, p. 26


Darrell Johnson:Darrell Johnson:““Second, and more importantly, it seeks Second, and more importantly, it seeks to set the present in light of the invisible to set the present in light of the invisible

realities of the present.realities of the present. The fundamental conviction of The fundamental conviction of apocalyptic literature is that apocalyptic literature is that

‘‘things are not as they seem’; things are not as they seem’; there is more to reality than meets the there is more to reality than meets the unaided eyes or ears” unaided eyes or ears” Discipleship on the EdgeDiscipleship on the Edge, p. 26, p. 26


Darrell Johnson:Darrell Johnson:

““And apocalyptic writing seeks to And apocalyptic writing seeks to unveil that unseen reality of he unveil that unseen reality of he

present, to pull back the curtain on present, to pull back the curtain on the present so that we see what is the present so that we see what is really going on.” really going on.” Discipleship on the EdgeDiscipleship on the Edge, p. 26, p. 26


So John, the pastor to these churches So John, the pastor to these churches facing persecution and death, is seeking to facing persecution and death, is seeking to strengthen his flock with this “unveiling”strengthen his flock with this “unveiling”

Things are not as they seem.Things are not as they seem.

Caesar seems all powerful and in control.Caesar seems all powerful and in control.

But things are not as they seem.But things are not as they seem.


This is the “revelation” [unveiling] of This is the “revelation” [unveiling] of Jesus.Jesus.

Let us look at how Jesus is portrayed Let us look at how Jesus is portrayed here in the opening chapter.here in the opening chapter.


1:4-5:1:4-5:““Grace and peace to you from him Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits come, and from the seven spirits

[seven-fold spirit] before his throne, [seven-fold spirit] before his throne, 5and from Jesus Christ, who is the 5and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from faithful witness, the firstborn from

the dead, and the ruler of the kings the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.”of the earth.”


1:5-6:1:5-6:

““To him who loves us and has freed To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6and us from our sins by his blood, 6and has made us to be a kingdom and has made us to be a kingdom and

priests to serve his God and Father—priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever to him be glory and power for ever

and ever! Amen. ”and ever! Amen. ”


1:7:1:7:

““Look, he is coming with the clouds, Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; even those who pierced him;

and all the peoples of the earth and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it will mourn because of him. So shall it

be! Amen.”be! Amen.”


1:12-16:1:12-16:““And when I turned I saw seven golden And when I turned I saw seven golden

lampstands, and among the lampstands was lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man, dressed in a robe someone "like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden reaching down to his feet and with a golden

sash around his chest. His head and hair were sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he

held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the

sun shining in all its brilliance.”sun shining in all its brilliance.”


1:17-19:1:17-19:““When I saw him, I fell at his feet as When I saw him, I fell at his feet as

though dead. Then he placed his right though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid.

I am the First and the Last. I am the I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the alive for ever and ever! And I hold the

keys of death and Hades. ‘Write, keys of death and Hades. ‘Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.’” now and what will take place later.’”


What do you think Pastor John is What do you think Pastor John is telling his people?telling his people?

Things are not as they seem.Things are not as they seem.


Darrell Johnson tells this story:Darrell Johnson tells this story:

About some seminarians and a About some seminarians and a janitorjanitor

Discipleship on the EdgeDiscipleship on the Edge, p. 20, p. 20


Thing are not as they seem!Thing are not as they seem!

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Revelation – Things are Not As They Seem Scripture Reading Revelation 1