Revelation Bible Study
Introduction
Lesson 1 May 28, 2021
Writer: John the apostle Date: About A.D. 90-95
OVERVIEW
Primary subject of the book is the Second Coming of Christ – this time as Judge and Lion, unlike His First Advent as Lamb and propitiatory sacrifice.
The Second Advent was prophesied several hundreds of years before even the First Advent. The prophetic truths contained in the book of Daniel, (as well as Moses, David, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Zechariah, and other OT writers), as well as those in Matthew 10, Matthew 21, Mark 13, Luke 21 point us to His return. (See handout)
And finally, the canon of scripture closes some 60 years later when Jesus, through His angelic messenger, unveiled (apocalypsis) additional end-time truth to the Church through His apostle, John. This further unveiling, as well as that information gleaned from the other prophetic books, is vital for our understanding of the last days.
It is not an accident that of the 404 verses in Revelation, 278 verses contain references to the Old Testament. Nearly 70%!!! Clearly, an understanding of this book requires a working knowledge of the Old Testament.
Revelation is the only prophetic book in the New Testament (The Old Testament contains 17 prophetic books). It is also important for our study to understand (contrary to what many have said about the book) Revelation is not a sealed book (Revelation 22:10). Revelation is NOT a mish-mash of unintelligible symbols and pictures. Rather, it is one of the most ORGANIZED books of the Bible.
If it were unintelligible then Jesus would never have said at the very outset of the book (1:3 – Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.
And at the end of the book (22:7) “And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.”
The Revelation (Aποκάλυψις -- apocalypsis) of Jesus Christ is an ‘unveiling’ – i.e. unveiling of things concealed as divine mysteries, and which are presented to John, and interpreted to him by Jesus Christ through His angel(s).
A. Four Primary Theories of the Book
1. Preterist theory: All of Revelation has been fulfilled in the past. It had to do with local references in John’s day. It had to do with the days of either Nero or Domitian.
2. Historical theory: Fulfillment of Revelation is going on in history, and Revelation is the prophetic history of the church, according to this theory.
3. Historical-spiritual theory: This theory is a refinement of the historical theory. It states that the two beasts are Imperial and Provincial Rome. The point of the book is to encourage Christians. According to this theory, Revelation has been largely fulfilled and there are spiritual lessons for the church today.
4. Futurist theory: This theory holds that the Book of Revelation is primarily prophetic and yet future, especially from Revelation 4 on to the end of the book. This is the view of all premillennialists* (*see next paragraphs).
* Premillennialism is the belief that Jesus will literally and physically be on the earth for his millennial (1000 year) reign, at his second coming. Postmillennialism is an interpretation of chapter 20 of the Book of Revelation which sees Christ's second coming as occurring after (Latin post-) the "Millennium". Amillennialism (Latin: a- "no" + millennialism) is a rejection of the theory that Jesus Christ will have a thousand-year long, physical reign on the earth. Preterism holds that most or all of the biblical prophecies concerning the End Times refer to events which have already happened in the first century after Christ's birth. The system also claims that Ancient Israel finds its continuation or fulfillment in the Christian church at the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. This signifies that either all or a majority of Bible prophecy was fulfilled by 70 A.D.
What we DO NOT want to do in this study is get caught up in the questions, “What will happen in the end times? And ‘When will it occur?’ Searching those answers is both futile (the Lord said no one knows the time. And it is not important for us because the WHEN can occur at any time for any of us individually in our death. After death, we are told, comes the judgment.
However, the question, ‘What happens in Revelation’ can be answered in a simple statement, based on the entire Bible message: Death, destruction, and an outpouring of the wrath of God on a willfully rebellious and malevolent humanity.
We will focus our attention on the PRINCIPLES related to us in this book. This focus is consistent with the purpose of God stated in many places of both Old and New Testaments. For example:
Psalm 119 (Much of the 176 verses talk about the value of knowing God’s word, and how it gives wisdom, direction, encouragement, and so forth.)
Romans 15:4 4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
1 Corinthians 10:11 (Context: Israel’s failures in the 40-year wilderness journey) 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness
Chapter 1, verses 1-7
1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place . . . .
a. Must soon take place . . . .
What does ‘soon’ imply about ‘soon’ in God’s timing?
Consider eternity. For example:
2 Peter 3 8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.
a. What can we glean from this section from 2 Peter?
b. What does Peter’s comment tell us of God’s patience and mercy? See also: Ezekiel 33:11 11 Say to them [Israel], ‘As I live!’ declares the Lord God, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?’
c. Application?
2. . . . . and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, 2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.
Compare Amos 3:6 “If a trumpet is blown in a city will not the people tremble? If a calamity occurs in a city has not the Lord done it? 7 Surely the Lord God does nothing Unless He reveals His secret counsel To His servants the prophets. 8 A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken! Who can but prophesy?
a. Why do you think God first reveals His plan to His prophets?
b. Did God reveal information about Jesus’ FIRST advent to the prophets? (SEE THE LAST PAGE OF THIS OUTLINE)
c. Consider Luke 24:25-27 - “How foolish you are, how slow you are to believe everything the prophets said! Was it not necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and then to enter his glory?” And Jesus explained to them what was said about himself in all the Scriptures, beginning with the books of Moses and the writings of all the prophets . . .
d. Might we expect God to reveal information about Jesus’ SECOND Advent? Consider Matthew 24:3-31
e. What does this tell us about the importance of knowing the scriptures?
Continued next time
|
3 Messianic Prophecies of Jesus |
|||
|
|
Prophecies of Jesus |
Old Testament |
New Testament |
|
1 |
Messiah would be born of a woman. |
Genesis 3:15 |
Matthew 1:20 |
|
2 |
Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. |
Micah 5:2 |
Matthew 2:1 |
|
3 |
Messiah would be born of a virgin. |
Isaiah 7:14 |
Matthew 1:22-23 |
|
4 |
Messiah would come from the line of Abraham. |
Genesis 12:3 |
Matthew 1:1 |
|
5 |
Messiah would be a descendant of Isaac. |
Genesis 17:19 |
Luke 3:34 |
|
6 |
Messiah would be a descendant of Jacob. |
Numbers 24:17 |
Matthew 1:2 |
|
7 |
Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah. |
Genesis 49:10 |
Luke 3:33 |
|
8 |
Messiah would be heir to King David's throne. |
2 Samuel 7:12-13 |
Luke 1:32-33 |
|
9 |
Messiah's throne will be anointed and eternal. |
Psalm 45:6-7 |
Luke 1:33 |
|
10 |
Messiah would be called Immanuel. |
Isaiah 7:14 |
Matthew 1:23 |
|
11 |
Messiah would spend a season in Egypt. |
Hosea 11:1 |
Matthew 2:14-15 |
|
12 |
A massacre of children would happen at Messiah's birthplace. |
Jeremiah 31:15 |
Matthew 2:16-18 |
|
13 |
A messenger would prepare the way for Messiah |
Isaiah 40:3-5 |
Luke 3:3-6 |
|
14 |
Messiah would be rejected by his own people. |
Psalm 69:8 |
John 1:11 |
|
15 |
Messiah would be a prophet. |
Deuteronomy 18:15 |
Acts 3:20-22 |
|
16 |
Messiah would be preceded by Elijah. |
Malachi 4:5-6 |
Matthew 11:13-14 |
|
17 |
Messiah would be declared the Son of God. |
Psalm 2:7 |
Matthew 3:16-17 |
|
18 |
Messiah would be called a Nazarene. |
Isaiah 11:1 |
Matthew 2:23 |
|
19 |
Messiah would bring light to Galilee. |
Isaiah 9:1-2 |
Matthew 4:13-16 |
|
21 |
Messiah would be sent to heal the brokenhearted. |
Isaiah 61:1-2 |
Luke 4:18-19 |
|
22 |
Messiah would be a priest after the order of Melchizedek. |
Psalm 110:4 |
Hebrews 5:5-6 |
|
23 |
Messiah would be called King. |
Psalm 2:6 |
Matthew 27:37 |
No comments:
Post a Comment