Introduction to Revelation

April 24, 2020

Today is Friday. According to the Bible, this is the day Adam was created. Thus, the number 6 became the number of man.  Eventually this is reflected in Revelation to be “666.”

A lot of ideas swirl around the book of Revelation and it’s images. I know the book is a difficult nut to crack, or even scratch, but let’s take a look at it. I know these are uncertain times, and this study maybe opportunistic, but let’s set aside the strange things happening in our world and have some fun with the book of Revelation.

The book of Revelation was written by John while on the island of Patmos around the year 95 A.D. He had been banished by Emperor Domitian.

Other than its unique style several qualities of the book of Revelation distinguish it:

1. Only book to pronounce blessing for reading, hearing, and keeping its contents.
2. More references to the Old Testament than any other New Testament book [400].
3. Only New Testament book of prophecy.
4. Only book authored by Jesus.

The book of Revelation starts with these words, “A revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. Christ made it known by sending it through his angel to his servant John” [Revelation 1:1 CEB]. Basically, we have the two-pronged gist of the book. The intention is to “reveal” Jesus Christ and to show what will take place on the stage of God’s eternal plan of redemption.

If we take the standard manner of how books are titled, Jesus is the author. For instance, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ” [1 Peter 1:1 CEB], “From Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for God’s good news.” [Romans 1:1 CEB].  In the Greek, it would be correct to also understand the first words as, “The revelation FROM Jesus.” [Revelation 1:1 NIV] John is the servant who receives the words, watches the events unfold, and worships Jesus. John watches it happen, making it a history. John writes, or doesn't write, as instructed.

The word translated “revelation” is the word “apocalypse” in the Greek. It means “disclosure: - appearing, coming, lighten, manifestation, be revealed, revelation” [Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionary]. It is used once in Luke. Paul uses the word 13 times. Peter uses it three times. Our concept of apocalypse is that of cataclysm and violent upheaval. When studying the book of Revelation, a tendency is to focus on the turbulence of events rather than on the Lord.

The interpretation of the Revelation depends on theological perspective (a framework or construct) and hermeneutics (the science of interpretation). Let’s start with theological views. There are three theological ways to understand the events of this book based on the key concept of the "millennium" (1,000 year time period) mentioned in Revelation chapter 20. The theological views surrounding this concept can determine much of our conclusions. The three main views of the millennium are 1.) Premillennialism, 2.) Amillennialism, and 3.) Postmillennialism. 

There are five flavors of the premillennial view and four hermeneutical views. I’ll briefly unpack them tomorrow. Hopefully this will trigger various reactions for you. I hope it makes your head spin and cause you to begin to rethink what you thought you knew. The interpretation of Revelation is not as simple as some would pretend. Consensus on meaning does not exist. 

I suspect we should consider new theological ideas and interpretations with extreme suspicion. The problem is, the interpretation of Revelation and future events comes from where you sit geographically, politically, and in time.  See you tomorrow.