The Book of Revelation Introduction. “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his bond- servants, the things which must shortly

The Book of RevelationThe Book of RevelationIntroductionIntroduction


““The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his bond-God gave him to show to his bond-servants, the things which must shortly servants, the things which must shortly take place; and he sent and take place; and he sent and communicated it by his angel to his communicated it by his angel to his bond-servant John, who bore witness to bond-servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near. John to the seven for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia . . . churches that are in Asia . . .


““. . . I, John, your brother and fellow . . . I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos, Jesus, was on the island called Patmos, because of the word of God and the because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the Spirit testimony of Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet, saying, ‘Write in a book what trumpet, saying, ‘Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.’” (Revelation 1:1-4,9-11)Laodicea.’” (Revelation 1:1-4,9-11)


AUTHOR: John, one of Jesus’ AUTHOR: John, one of Jesus’ 12 disciples & author of 4th gospel 12 disciples & author of 4th gospel & 3 letters& 3 letters

DATE: 85-95 AD, while exiled on DATE: 85-95 AD, while exiled on Patmos during Emperor Patmos during Emperor Domitian’s persecutionDomitian’s persecution

AUDIENCE: 7 churches in western AUDIENCE: 7 churches in western TurkeyTurkey


AUTHOR: John, one of Jesus’ AUTHOR: John, one of Jesus’ 12 disciples & author of 4th gospel 12 disciples & author of 4th gospel & 3 letters& 3 letters

DATE: 85-95 AD, while exiled on DATE: 85-95 AD, while exiled on Patmos during Emperor Patmos during Emperor Domitian’s persecutionDomitian’s persecution

AUDIENCE: 7 churches in western AUDIENCE: 7 churches in western TurkeyTurkey

STYLE: Apocalyptic (highly STYLE: Apocalyptic (highly symbolic visions of the end of the symbolic visions of the end of the age) & based on Danielage) & based on Daniel


STRUCTURE: 4 sequential visionsSTRUCTURE: 4 sequential visions- The glorified Jesus & his The glorified Jesus & his

message to the 7 churches (1-3)message to the 7 churches (1-3)- God’s judgmental & redemptive God’s judgmental & redemptive

activity at the end of the age activity at the end of the age (4-16)(4-16)- God’s judgment on “Babylon” & God’s judgment on “Babylon” &

the victorious return of Jesus to the victorious return of Jesus to establish God’s kingdom (17-20)establish God’s kingdom (17-20)- The “Bride of Christ” & the New The “Bride of Christ” & the New

Jerusalem (21,22)Jerusalem (21,22)


PURPOSE: To fortify Christians to PURPOSE: To fortify Christians to be faithful witnesses in a hostile be faithful witnesses in a hostile world by describing Jesus’ world by describing Jesus’ authority over human historyauthority over human historyEvil will intensify as this Evil will intensify as this age draws to an end . . . age draws to an end . . . but Jesus will have the but Jesus will have the

last word.last word.


PURPOSE: To fortify Christians to PURPOSE: To fortify Christians to be faithful witnesses in a hostile be faithful witnesses in a hostile world by describing Jesus’ world by describing Jesus’ authority over human historyauthority over human history

The end of the age The end of the age will be a time of will be a time of

intense judgment . . . intense judgment . . . but it will also be a time but it will also be a time of intense evangelism.of intense evangelism.


PURPOSE: To fortify Christians to PURPOSE: To fortify Christians to be faithful witnesses in a hostile be faithful witnesses in a hostile world by describing Jesus’ world by describing Jesus’ authority over human historyauthority over human historyChristians can expect to Christians can expect to

suffer persecution . . . suffer persecution . . . but Jesus will enable us but Jesus will enable us

to be “overcomers” & to be “overcomers” & fully compensate us fully compensate us

when he returns.when he returns.


PURPOSE: To fortify Christians to PURPOSE: To fortify Christians to be faithful witnesses in a hostile be faithful witnesses in a hostile world by describing Jesus’ world by describing Jesus’ authority over human historyauthority over human history

Jesus is both the Jesus is both the Savior who serves us Savior who serves us

& the King whom we are & the King whom we are to serve.to serve.


““. . . from Jesus Christ, the faithful . . . from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and witness, the first-born of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us, and released us from him who loves us, and released us from our sins by his blood, and he has made our sins by his blood, and he has made us to be a kingdom, priests to his God us to be a kingdom, priests to his God and Father; to him be the glory and the and Father; to him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the tribes of who pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over him.”the earth will mourn over him.”

Revelation 1:5-7Revelation 1:5-7


““. . . I saw seven golden lampstands; . . . I saw seven golden lampstands; and in the middle of the lampstands one and in the middle of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed in a robe like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across reaching to the feet, and girded across his breast with a golden girdle. And his his breast with a golden girdle. And his head and his hair were white like white head and his hair were white like white wool, like snow; and his eyes were like a wool, like snow; and his eyes were like a flame of fire; and his feet were like flame of fire; and his feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been burnished bronze, when it has been caused to glow in a furnace, and his caused to glow in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of many voice was like the sound of many waters . . . waters . . .


““. . . And in his right hand he held . . . And in his right hand he held seven stars; and out of his mouth came seven stars; and out of his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and his face a sharp two-edged sword; and his face was like the sun shining in its strength. was like the sun shining in its strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as a dead man. And he laid his right hand a dead man. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying, ‘Do not be afraid; I upon me, saying, ‘Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.’”of death and of Hades.’”

Revelation 1:12-18Revelation 1:12-18


What if you What if you only see Jesus as only see Jesus as

King & Judge?King & Judge?


What if you What if you only see Jesus as only see Jesus as Savior & Servant?Savior & Servant?

NEXT WEEK:NEXT WEEK:Revelation 2,3Revelation 2,3

Jesus’ Priorities Jesus’ Priorities For His ChurchFor His Church

Let’s Pray!Let’s Pray!

Documents

The Book of Revelation Introduction. “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his bond- servants, the things which must shortly