Bible Studies In The Word of God

INTRODUCTION: In the midst of the blitz, few people in the world believed that England would be able to hold out against the seemingly irresistible mass of the German armed forces. But Winston Churchill was certain of eventual victory. The last book in the Bible, the book of Revelation, has the same message. God's people are going to be victorious!

 

BODY: 
I. THE BACKGROUND OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION.

    A. Who wrote the book?
        1. John, the Apostle who wrote three epistles and a gospel account. The ancient Christian
            writers (Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Clement, Tertullian, Origen, etc.) are all agreed on the
            conviction that John the Apostle is the writer.

        2. He had be exiled to the island of Patmos for his loyalty to Christ. 

            a. Revelation 1:4, 9 - "John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you
                and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven
                Spirits who are before His throne, 9-I, John, both your brother and companion in
                the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is
                called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ."

    B. To whom was it written?
        1. Written to the seven churches of Asia Minor, present day Turkey.

        2. Revelation 1:4,11- John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and
            peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits
            who are before His throne.... saying, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the
            Last," and, "What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are
            in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia,
            and to Laodicea."

    C. What was the circumstance of the writing of the book?
        1. The church was under pressure from extreme persecution from the Roman
            government.
            a. Revelation 2:12-13 "And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, 'These
                things says He who has the sharp two_edged sword: 13- "I know your works, and
                where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did
                not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who
                was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

            b. As has already been stated, John was being imprisoned by the Roman authorities
                for his loyalty to Christ.

        2. There was another threat, from internal forces, that was threatening the church as
            much as the outside pressure.

            a. Revelation 2:14-15 "But I have a few things against you, because you have there
                those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block
                before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual
                immorality. "15" "Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the
                Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

 

II. WHAT IS THE PROPER INTERPRETATION OF REVELATION?

     A. Four different ways of interpreting of Revelation traditionally.

         1. Preterist - Most if not all of the book was fulfilled in the past.

         2. Futurist - The things in the book are to be fulfilled sometime in the future.

         3. Historical - The things in the book have been fulfilled in the life of the church in
             great events throughout history.

         4. Spiritual - The things found are not literal but symbolize the struggle between the
             forces of good and evil throughout the centuries.

     B. What is the proper method?
         1. The key is found in the first few verses of the book.
             a. Revelation 1:3 -Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this
                 prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

             b. The things that would happen in the book of Revelation would be unfolded in the
                 near time in the first century.

         2. The futurist interpretation is built on the false premise that all the things in the book
             were to be fulfilled in the far future.
             a. How could the time be near in the first century and really be intended for the 21st
                 century?

             b. How could something that would be fulfilled two millennia later have any comfort
                 for those seven churches in Asia?

             c. The futurist also tends to make literal those things obviously meant to be held
                 figurative and makes figurative those things intended to be held literally.

         3. The historical interpretation has the same problems.
             a. It has little comfort or relevance for the very ones to whom it was written.

             b. Interpreters have to constantly revise the event which are applied to any historical
                 view toward Revelation.

         4. The spiritual interpretation has the advantage of finding the great eternal lessons that
             Revelation teaches and does not engage in wild attempts at speculation.

             a. But again it goes too far in not leaving literal those any message of comfort for
                 those brethren to whom John was writing.

         5. The preterist view seems to be the most satisfying interpretation.
             a. It gives comfort and encouragement to those to whom it is written, the Christians
                 of the first century.

             b. It avoids wild speculation that accompanies the futurist view.

             c. Most who hold to this position are convinced that the events, or at least the events
                 leading up to Revelation 21, began to be fulfilled in John's time.

         6. Good brethren disagree on the interpretation of Revelation. Brethren in the last
             century largely held to the historical interpretation. There is disagreement between
             the spiritual and preterist views today. Even among the preterists there is
             disagreement as to when the fulfillment took place, in the destruction of Jerusalem or
             the fall of the Roman Empire.
     C. Two great aids in understanding Revelation.
         1. An understanding of Old Testament figures and prophecy. Since Christians, both and
             Jew and Gentile, had a great deal of knowledge of the Old Testament it is logical that
             John would use many of the prophetic figures used in the Old Testament. 

         2. An understand of culture of the first century and the nature of apocalyptic literature
             that was prevalent in John's day.

 

III. GREAT THEMES FOUND IN REVELATION

       A. Christ is vitally concerned about the congregations of his church.
           1. Revelation 1:11-13

           2. Revelation 2:29 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the
               churches."'

           3. Revelation 3:8 "I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and
               no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not
               denied My name.

           4. This illustrates clearly what Jesus said about being with his people always.

               a. Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I
                   am there in the midst of them."

               b. Matthew 28:20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded
                   you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

       B. God's people must be willing to suffer, and even die, for the faith of Jesus Christ.
           1. Revelation is about a great titanic struggle between forces of Satan and the people
               of God.

               a. Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to
                   make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God
                   and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

           2. Revelation 2:10, 13 - "Do not fear any of those things which you are about to
               suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be
               tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give
               you the crown of life....I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's
               throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days
               in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan
               dwells. 

           3. Revelation 6:9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of
               those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they
               held.

       C. Not all the enemies of God's people are outside the wall of Fortress Zion, they are
           also within the walls!
           1. God's people face the challenge of false doctrine, immorality among brethren, and
               lukewarmness.

           2. Jesus' counsel to his erring people.

               a. Revelation 2:5 "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and
                   do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand
                   from its place; unless you repent.

               b. Revelation 2:16 'Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against
                   them with the sword of My mouth.

               c. Revelation 2:21-22 "And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality,
                   and she did not repent. "22" "Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who
                   commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.

               d. Revelation 3:3 "Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold
                   fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief,
                   and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.

               e. Revelation 3:19 "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous
                   and repent."

       D. God's people are going to win!
           1. Revelation 17:14 "These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will
               overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with
               Him are called, chosen, and faithful."

           2. Revelation 20:11-12 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from
               whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for
               them. "12" And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books
               were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the
               dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the
               books.

           3. No matter how bad the world seems, no matter how much pressure we may face,
               we can have confidence that God's people will be victorious in the end!

 

CONCLUSION: Never forget, if we remain faithful we shall overcome! And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. "3" They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: "Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! "4" Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested." (Revelation 15:2-4)