Apocalypse: The Appearing of the King - Revelation Bible Study #1

Revelation Bible Study #1

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Introduction

I have heard it said that the study of prophecy either finds a man mad or leaves him that way. (John Calvin) I’m hoping that won’t be the case with our study.

To really benefit from a study of the Book of Revelation you need to understand why it was written. 

What is the true purpose of this book?

The purpose for the book of Revelation is not to know the future but to know who holds the future. It is not to know when the Lord is coming back but to know, without a doubt, that the Lord is coming back.

It is especially written for those who will be caught in the midst of the Great Tribulation, to give them hope that this is not the end of the world but actually the beginning of eternity.

Stat Sheet

Author: John the apostle, also called the beloved, and the evangelist.  Rev 1:1, 4:9, 22:8

Date: Approx. 96 AD

Sent to: The seven churches of Asia 1:11

Title: The first word of the book in the Greek is , which means unveiling or uncovering something hidden.

Theme: From vs. 1-3 To reveal the Person, Jesus Christ, and to give revelation to the churches.

Interpretation Views:

Symbolic, only a series of pictures teaching spiritual truths

Preterist, history, already fulfilled in 1st Century.

Continuous, history mostly fulfilled since Christ until now.

Futurist, except for chapters 1-3 all is still future.

Rapture View

Pretribulational, Christ will rapture his saints before the tribulation.

Midtribulational, the rapture is at the midpoint of the rapture.

Posttribulational, the rapture will occur at the end of the tribulation

Millennial Views

Premillennialism, Christ will come to earth before the 1000 year reign.

Postmillennial, Christ will come to earth after the 1000 years.

Amillennial, there is no literal reign of Christ for a 1000 years.

Revelation Bible Study: Background

The Dispensations

Adam	Innocence
The Fall	Conscience
The Flood	Government
Abraham	Faith
Sinai	Law
Cross	Grace
Return	Righteousness

Dispensationalism is an approach to biblical interpretation which states that God uses different means of administering and revealing his will to people during different periods of history, usually seven chronologically successive periods.  It attempts a literal interpretation of scripture with a premillennial and pre-tribulation rapture view.  It sees Israel and the church as distinct bodies.
 

The Key to Biblical End Time Prophecy

Daniel 9:24-27

What is the purpose of the seventy weeks?

9:24   Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. (Temple)

2 Chronicles 36:20   And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia:  21   To fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her Sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept Sabbath, to fulfill threescore and ten years.  70 x 7 = 490 years

What time period is a week?

From Hebrew word shabuwa` {shaw-boo'-ah} meaning seven, or a period of seven (days or years), heptad, week

When would the 70 weeks begin?

25   Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

When would Messiah be revealed?

At the 69th week

When would Messiah be cut off?

26   And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself:    After the 69th week

Who will destroy the city and sanctuary?  When?

the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary;

How many weeks are left after Messiah is cut off?

One 70-69=1 week

When will this final week begin? By who?

 27   And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week:  The coming prince of verse 26 when he confirms the covenant

What marks the middle of the final week?

and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate,
 

The Seventy Weeks of Daniel

Restoration of  Israel 538-424 BC From command to rebuild Neh 2:1-8 445 BC	7 Weeks to rebuild the wall	Nehemiah receives permission to rebuild the wall. 49 years	Start of God's Countdown
Unto Messiah  Zech 9:9 Mt 21:1-12,14-17 Mr 11:1-11 Lu 19:29-44 Joh 12:12-19 30 AD	62 Weeks	434 years Jesus Revealed 483 years	Four Centuries Between Testaments
Messiah cut off after 69th week Mt 27; Mr 15; Lu 23; Joh 19 City Destroyed  70AD Matthew 24:1-2		Jesus Crucified	Church Age
He shall confirm the covenant for 1 week Daniel 9:27	1 Week	Begin of Tribulation 7 Years	Great
Oblation to cease, The abomination of desolation Daniel 9:27 Matthew 24:15		Midpoint 3 1/2 years	Tribulation
		Jesus Returns	Second Coming

Background

     John the apostle, who was also called the evangelist and was a first cousin of Jesus Christ, was exiled on the island of Patmos probably to die since he was already near 100 years old. There he wrote the book of Revelation and sent it as a letter to the seven churches in Asia.  These churches are located on a major Roman highway and would have been visited in exactly the order John wrote the in the book.

The churches were not chosen at random but specifically by the Lord for typical lessons to all future churches. Some see in these churches the history of the Universal Church through the ages, others see typical churches in any location throughout the ages to come. That is our view as we cannot see the universal church idea taught anywhere in scripture.

PATMOS. An island of the Dodecanese, lying some 55 km off the SW coast of Asia Minor, at 37° 20' N, 26° 34' E. To this island the apostle John was banished from Ephesus, evidently for some months about the year ad 95, and here he wrote his Revelation (Rev. 1:9). The island is about 7.5 miles long, with a breadth of up to 4.5 miles, and it has been suggested that the scenery of its rugged volcanic hills and surrounding seas find their reflection in the imagery of the Apocalypse. See Pliny, Nat. Hist. 4. 69. The island now belongs to Greece.  j.h.p.

 

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Survey of Revelation 1-5

What is the Outline of the Book according to Rev 1:19?

19  Write the things which thou hast seen (Ch.1), and the things which are (Ch 2-3 conditions in Churches), and the things which shall be hereafter (Chapter 4-21, the future);

What is Chapter 1 about?

The background of the vision, time, setting, persons involved.

What is Chapter 2 about?

Letters to the Churches

What is Chapter 3 about?

Letters to the Churches

What is the setting of Chapter 4?

The Throne Room in Heaven

What is the focus of Chapter 5?

The Book and The Lamb

Survey Chart of Revelation

Things thou hast seen	Things which are
Introduction
Vision Begins 1		Seven Churches 2         3			Throne Room in Heaven 4			The Book and The Lamb 5
Narration			Messages			Songs
Christ In The Midst							God on Throne

Conclusion

What assurance to know that the end of the world, time and history is just the beginning of heaven, eternity and glory. What a joy to realize that all we have lost, suffered and endured has been replaced and rewarded with peace, love and the presence of God and His people. What a realization to understand that all we love and those that love the Lord will be together for all eternity.

I can hold on a little longer and I can be a little stronger when I’ve seen the end of the story and realize its really the beginning. That is the power of the Book of Revelation. I can see the end and it is glorious.