The Revelation of Jesus Christ
Synthesis of the New Testament Arturo Pérez
[email protected]
www.cornerstonebiblechurch.com
Contents – Revelation of Jesus Christ
Review – The Nature of Revelation Main Subject of the letter of Revelation Author; Date and Place of writing Recipients and Main Purpose Contents of the letter Summary of the letter Landmarks of the letter
Key concepts Important Doctrines Well Known Passages
REVIEW: What have we seen?
I- The Nature of the Book of Revelation
If we are wrong about the nature of the book of the Revelation, we will be wrong in the way we handle it. It is NOT a treatise of prophetical history written beforehand describing in secret language or encrypted codes the details of the future history of the world or the church. It is NOT a pre-written narrative of the events that will be limited by a few years before the end of the world. It IS a book of DISCLOSURE, UNVEILING, REVELATION, written in pictorial language or apocalyptic language. It IS a long letter or short book sent to seven (7) existing churches in Asia Minor probably around 95 A.D. It IS a book sent by an exiled Apostle to churches experiencing a great conflict and suffering.
II- Characteristics of the Content of Revelation 1. 2. 3.
4.
It is highly ethical and practical. It is relevant contemporary content. The content is essentially oriented to the subject of conflict and conquering. The content is essentially Christ-Centric.
Main Subject of Revelations The Victory of Christ and His Church over the dragon and his minions
A subject about victory
It’s about Christ’s kingdom
Rev. 17:14 “They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful." (Conflict and Conquering)
The word “Throne” is mentioned 40 times.
Christ-Centric content. The Lamb of God. A subject about Worshiping the Lord. Rev 4:10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Rev 4:11 "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."
Author, Date and Place of writing
Author: The Apostle John (Rev.1:4) Date: around 95 AD Place: The island of Patmos (Rev.1:9)
Troas Lesbos
ASIA
Pergamum
Thyatira Smyrna
Sardis Philadephia
Ephesus Laodicea Colossae
Patmos
LISIA Patara
Recipients and Purpose of Revelation
Recipients: Seven churches in Asia Minor: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and to Laodicea. (1:4,11) Purpose: Contemporary: To strenghten Christians of those existing churches in Asia Minor who were suffering, by communicating to them the Revelation of Jesus Christ for them to know that victory is assured and it Troas is warranted by the Lord. ASIA Pergamum Lesbos Thyatira Permanent: To give hope and Sardis Smyrna encouregment to persecuted Philadephia Ephesus Laodicea Christians in the babylon of this world. Colossae
Patmos
LISIA Patara
Schools of Interpretation On the Content of Revelation 1st Coming
2nd Coming
School
Time of Fulfillment
Preterist
By the end of the Roman Empire
Futurist
During a final crisis
Historicist
Throughout church history
Idealist
In a repeated pattern as birth pains
When and how does the imagery of the Beast (13:1-8) find fulfillment? •Preterist: The Beast represents the persecution of Christians by the Roman emperor Domitian (1st Century). •Futurist: The future Antichrist, the man of lawlessness of 2Tes.2:3-12. •Historicist: The Pope who persecuted the Reformers (But Roman Catholic historicists see Martin Luther?) •Idealist: This vision represents the anti Christian persecuting power in any aspect and subsequent personifications, whenever and wherever it rises to threaten Christians. This beast represents the status and power of persecution of the forces of hell in any moment, in any place, against Christians of all times.
Combined Idealism A combination of these views is probably closest to the truth.
The Idealism thinks that Revelation has an abiding message expressed in general principles that are useful for the church of the past, the present and the future. The Idealism acknowledge the connection between the book of the Revelation and the particular situation of 7 churches in Asia Minor who were the recipients of this books; and, chapters 2 & 3 have details especifically related to those 7 churches as suggested by the preterist. (But they have a permanent application for us today). Idealism teaches that the general principles in Revelation will reach their climax, their maximum expression, during a final crisis at the moment of the 2nd Coming of Christ (Rev. 22:20; 2Tes.2:1-12). So the futurist vision in Revelation it’s true for those events that will happing at the completion of this age. Historicism is the weakest school because it does not exist a historical chronology in the book of Revelation; it has a non consecutive structure. Taking Historicism out, these 3 schools: preterist, futurist and idealist, have some credit. From an idealist perspective, it is easy to combine these schools. The most important symbols in Revelation represent a repetitive pattern. This pattern has a fulfillment in situations of the First Century with the 7 Churches, and also today, and in the future.
Content of Revelation 1-3
Christ in the midst of the 7 golden lampstands
4-7
The sealed book with 7 seals.
8-11
The 7 trumpets of judgment.
12-14 The woman and her son persecuted by the Dragon and his minions (the beast and the whore).
15-16 The 7 golden bowls full of the wrath of God. 17-19 The fall of the whore and the beasts. 20-22 The judgment over the Dragon (Satan), and then the new heaven and the new earth, the new Jerusalem.
1 – 11 The conflict in the earth: the persecuted church. The church is victorious and protected by the Lord.
12 – 22 A deeper spiritual meaning: Christ (and His church) are persecuted by the Dragon (Satan) and his minions. Christ and the Church are victorious.
The Non-Consecutive Structure of the Book of Revelation
The book of the Revelation is divided in a natural pattern of 7 sections. Each one of these sections are Parallel to one another. Each one of these sections go throughout the Evangelical Dispensation from the 1st Coming of Christ until His 2nd Coming. Therefore we say that Revelation has a Non-Consecutive Structure.
It does NOT start a story in Chapter 1 ending that story in chapter 22. Rather, it describes in each section of the book, according to natural divisions, all the evangelical dispensation since the 1st coming of Christ until his 2nd coming in glory, but it goes deeper in its scope.
Progressive Parallelism The Church, the dweling of Christ in the world (1 – 3) 1:18; 3:20-22
1:7
Lapmstands
F I R S T
4:1; 7:9-17
6:12-17
Seals
AND THE WORLD The Church avenged, protected and victorious (8 – 11) 11:15,18
Trompets
C O M I N G
Christ fighting against the Dragon and his minions (12 – 14) 12:5; 14:14-20
Dragon
CHRIST The final wrath over the unbelievers (15 – 16) 16:15-21
Bowls
AND The fall of Babylon and the beasts (17 – 19) 17:1; 18:10
19:11-21
Babylon
THE DRAGON Dragon’s destruction. Christ & Church’s triumph (20 – 22) 20:2,3; 20:11 – 21:22
Consumation
THE FI NAL JUDMENT S E C O N D C O M I N G
The Church, suffering trials and persecutions (4 – 7)
NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH
THE CHURCH
Revelation 11-12
Revelation 20
Satan was thrown from heaven down to Satan is bound and thrown into the pit; the earth and he is unable to accuse his power over the nations is Christians (12:5-12). The devil’s restrained. (20:1-3) influence is restrained (12:14-17) There is a long period of time for the church to have power to witness being kept away from the presence of the snake (Satan) (11:2-6)
Instead of the nations conquering against the church, it’s the church that starts to conquer (evangelizing) the nations. (20:1-6)
There is a brief period with the most severe persecution; this is the “”short time” Satan knows he has, where it will be the most terrible manifestation of antichrist power in persecution (12:12; 14:14-20).
A brief period with the most severe persecution: Satan gathers the nations in Gog and Magog to fight against the church. (20:7-15)
The only one coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for judgment (11:17,18; 14:14-20)
The only one coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for judgment (20:11-15)
Landmarks Key Concepts
Pictorial language. Apocalyptic Genre. A letter sent to 7 existing churches in 95 AD. Conflict and Conquering (“war” = 16 times). Word “throne” appears 40+ times. It has a non-consecutive structure. 7 parallel sections describing in each one the complete evangelical dispensation since the 1st coming of the Lord until His 2nd coming.
Landmarks Important Doctrines in Revelation
Revelation is not a theological treatise… but rather an “unveiling” message. It has some eschatological teaching but its purpose is to give comfort and counseling and ethical advice in the midst of the tribulation and suffering. The deity of Jesus Christ is emphasized:
In His titles: “the Alpha & Omega.. Who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (Rev.1:8) In His worship: (4:10,14; 15:4;19:1-10; 20:4-6; 21:1 – 22:5).
Worship to God is a key element. (Rev.19:10; 22:8-9) The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the redeemed. The subject of the Kingdom of Christ. Rev 20:1-7 is a controversial passage: is it a literal kingdom of one thousand years or this is a pictorial description of the kingdom that has been inaugurated with his first coming? We believe the latter.
Landmarks Well known texts written in Revelation
1:3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy… 1:7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him... 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." 2 – 3 The message of Christ to the 7 churches in Asia Minor. 4:10 la adoración en el trono de Dios 13:1-7 “the beast” 17 y 18 “the prostitute” 20:1-7 The millenium 21:1-7 The new heaven 21:8 The list of sinners not coming to heaven 22:5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. 22:6 These words are trustworthy and true. 22:7 "And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps these words 22:17 let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.
