"THE BOOK OF REVELATION"

Introduction (Part One)

INTRODUCTION
  1. "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants--things which must shortly take place." (Re 1:1a)
  2. So begins the book of Revelation, one of the most challenging books of the Bible
  3. It is the first book that many people new to the Bible want to study, while it is often neglected by mature Christians
  4. It has been used by false teachers and false prophets to lead people into doomsday cults
  5. Yet when properly handled, it can be a wonderful blessing to those who read and meditate upon it!

[How is this book different from other books of the New Testament? How should we interpret it? These are questions we will seek to answer in this introduction to the book. Let's start by noticing...]

  1. THE UNIQUE NATURE OF THE BOOK
    1. IT IS A DIFFERENT KIND OF BOOK...
      1. Revelation is certainly different from other books of the New Testament
      2. It is also very different from most kinds of writing familiar to people today
      3. Unfortunately, this has caused many people to shy away from the book
      4. Or on the other hand, to misuse it in propagating wild and fanciful theories
      5. Most people conclude it is just too mysterious to understand
      6. But it was actually written to make things clearer!
        1. The word "revelation" in the Greek is apokalupsis
        2. Which means "an uncovering" or "unveiling"
        3. It is therefore a book designed to uncover or unveil, not conceal!
    2. IT IS APOCALYPTIC LITERATURE...
      1. A style of writing not familiar to modern man, but quite popular from 200 B.C. to 200 A.D.
      2. A type of literature well known to Jews and Christians in the first century A.D.
      3. Features of apocalyptic literature include the use of symbolic or figurative language
      4. It was normally written in times of persecution, depicting conflict between good and evil
      5. There are other examples of apocalyptic literature in the Bible
        1. In the OT, the books of Ezekiel, Daniel, and Zechariah each contain elements of this style of writing
        2. In the NT, Matthew 24 contains apocalyptic elements

        [Though Revelation is written in style of literature with which many are not familiar, it is possible to understand much if not all of the book...]

  2. UNDERSTANDING THE BOOK
    1. BY THOSE IN THE FIRST CENTURY....
      1. The early church likely did not have the problem understanding the book as we do today
      2. They were well acquainted with the style of apocalyptic literature
      3. They were living when the symbols of the book were likely very familiar to them
        1. Similar to how a picture of a donkey and elephant fighting would be understood today
        2. I.e., depicting conflict between the Democratic and Republican parties
      4. In fact, the book was originally intended to be understood by a casual hearing! Note the opening beatitude:
        1. "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." (Re 1:3)
        2. This verse suggests a setting in which one is reading while others listen
        3. The listeners were expected to understand enough to be blessed by what they heard!
    2. BY THOSE IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY...
      1. Our difficulty with this book is due to our unfamiliarity with apocalyptic literature as a method of communicating a message
      2. We are also far removed from the historical and cultural context of the times which would make the symbolism easier to understand
      3. To properly interpret the book, we must try to understand the historical context in which it was written
      4. We must also interpret it in a manner that would have been meaningful to those to whom it was first addressed
      5. It also behooves us to pay close attention to those passages or statements which are clear and easy to understand, interpreting difficult passages that is consistent with easier ones

      [While challenging, The Book of Revelation can be understood and bless those today who read "the words of this prophecy". It helps to be aware of different methods of interpreting the book, which generally fall into four distinctive views...]

  3. METHODS OF INTERPRETATION
    1. THE "PRETERIST" VIEW...
      1. The book refers to events that were fulfilled in the first century A.D., or shortly thereafter
      2. It was written primarily to encourage the original recipients to whom it was sent
      3. Its value for today would therefore be didactic (teaching the value of faithfulness to Jesus)
    2. THE "HISTORICIST" VIEW...
      1. The book provides a panoramic view of the experience of the church as it proceeds throughout history
      2. This view finds in the book such events as the rise of Catholicism, Islam, the Protestant reformation, world wars, etc., ending with the return of Christ
      3. As such it would encourage Christians no matter when they lived
    3. THE "FUTURIST" VIEW...
      1. Apart from the first few chapters, the book depicts events which immediately precede the second coming of Christ
      2. Therefore most of the book has yet to be fulfilled (or is being fulfilled now)
      3. Its value would be primarily for Christians living at the time Jesus returns
    4. THE "IDEALIST" VIEW...
      1. The book does not deal with any specific historical situation
      2. Instead, it is simply enforcing the principle that good will ultimately triumph over evil
      3. As such the book is applicable to any age

      [I have studied all four views, and have changed my interpretation of the book the more I've studied it. Allow me to share with you my currently...]

  4. PREFERRED METHOD OF INTERPRETATION
    1. ECLECTIC, BUT MOSTLY PRETERIST...
      1. I believe a proper understanding of the book incorporates some of all these views
      2. I.e., there are historicist, futuristic, and idealist elements in the book
      3. But in my estimation the "preterist" view has the most merit
    2. REASONS FOR A PRETERIST INTERPRETATION...
      1. The book was written specifically to seven churches in Asia (modern Turkey) - Re 1:4
      2. Its purpose was to uncover or reveal "things which must shortly come to pass" - Re 1:1,3; 22:6,10
      3. John was told, "Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand" - Re 22:10
      4. Compare the previous two points with Daniel 8:26
        1. Daniel was told to "seal up" his vision, "for it refers to many days in the future"
        2. Yet we know that his vision was fulfilled within several hundred years
        3. John was told "do not seal" what he had seen, "for the time is at hand"
        4. How could this be, if the bulk of Revelation refers to what has yet to occur more than two thousands years later?
        5. This is a problem I see with the "futurist" view, which places primary fulfillment of the book thousands of years after its composition
      5. Place yourself in the position of Christians in the churches of Asia in the first century, A.D.
        1. They were told that the things described in the Revelation would "shortly come to pass", which should comfort them
        2. But according to the "futurist" view, it has been nearly 2000 years and much of the book has yet to be fulfilled!
        3. That would be like someone today writing that something is soon coming to pass, when in reality it will be 4000 A.D. before it does!
        4. How would a book depicting events to occur thousands of years in the future comfort those who were suffering in the first century A.D.?
      6. This is not to say there are no "futurist" elements in the book
        1. I understand chapters 20-22 to deal with the ultimate destiny of the redeemed, which would have been of great interest and comfort to the Christians suffering in the first century
        2. My approach to the book, therefore, will be primarily from the preterist viewpoint, with occasional elements from other viewpoints as the text warrants

This concludes PART ONE of this Introduction to the Book Of Revelation. In PART TWO, we shall consider the Author, Date, Purpose, Key Verse, and Outline of the book.