FIVE REASONS WHY YOU MAY EXPECT TO UNDERSTAND THE MESSAGE OF THE BOOK:

I. BECAUSE OF WHAT IT IS: AND THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH IT IS GIVEN;

It is a revelation to show...or reveal...Ch. 1: vs.1

II. IT IS NOT A SEALED BOOK;

There is a parallel study in the O. T. Book of Daniel and the N. T. Book of Revelation...

A. Daniel was seal...Dan. 12:8-9,13

B. Revelation is not sealed...Rev. 22:10

III. THERE IS A THREE-FOLD BLESSING CONNECTED WITH THIS BOOK: Ch. 1:3
A. For the reader...
B. For the hearer...
C. For the keeper of the things therein...

IV. THE OUTLINE OF THE BOOK IS SIMPLE; Ch. 1:19

A. The things which thou hast seen; 1:1-20

This is the vision of Christ as He is now reigning as our
great high priest in heaven.

B. The things which are: Chapters 2 & 3

This present church age. From Pentecost until the rapture
of the church...

C. The things which shall be hereafter: Chapters 4-22

This section deals with the events that will follow this church
age.
Namely: The tribulation period, 6:1.- 2:17; I Th. 4:16:
The rapture of the church: 4:1-3:
The marriage supper - 19:1-10 -
The revelation or the second coming of Christ - 19:11-21.
The millennial reign..20:1-6.
Earth's last rebellion and battle. 20:7-10.
The great white throne judgment - 20:11-15.
The new heaven, the new earth and the eternal state; Ch. 22:1-2

V. THE SYMBOLISM OF THE BOOK IS BIBLICAL:

I Cor. 2:13.. When the symbols are not previously used they are
immediately explained. I.E., Ch. 1:20, 7:13-14

(Introduction cont.)

I. THE PENMAN OF THE BOOK: John the Apostle

John: 1. "That disciple whom Jesus loved*'. Jo. 19:26

2. Was one of the inner circle: Peter, James, John

3. Was one of three witnesses to the Resurrection
of Jairus' daughter. Mark 5:37

4. Was witness to the transfiguration. Matt. 17

5. Jesus committed care of his mother to John

6. Was the first to recognize the risen Savior. John 21:7

7. Suffered persecution in the early church. Acts 4:13-22

8. Was banished to isle of Patmos. Rev. 1:9

9. Was only living disciple at time of writing and the
only disciple to escape violent death.

II. THE PERSON OF THE BOOK: -1:19 1:1

A. It is the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ
(He is the central theme of the book)
(The word "REVELATION" means unvailing, revealing disclosure,
showing, making known. The word occurs once in gospels, Luke
2:32. It occurs many times in the writings of Paul. Eph. 3:3, Gal. 1:12)

(This book is a revelation to God's servants; Ch. 1:1. God
does give special revelations unto his servants. See Amos 3:7)

III. THERE ARE SEVEN VISIONS OF CHRIST IN BOOK:

A. In Chapter One He is seen as the great high priest in the midst
of the churches. 1:13-18

B. In Chapter 5:6 - He is seen as the slain lamb who, by His death
has redeemed all creation and has legal right to open the book;

which contains the judgments of God on this entire creation.

C. In Chapter 8 V.3: He is seen as the high priest at the golden
altar. This is a transition scene. His work as high priest
rejected by this earth. He moves as judge to signal the sounding of the trumpets of Judgment.

D. In Chapter 14 He is seen again as the lamb on Mt. Zion with
the 144,000.

E. In Chapter 19 He is seen as Heaven's warrior riding the white
horse, leading the armies of Heaven. Here He is coming in the
revelation not for peace, but to make war. He is seen as righteous judge who will put down all opposition and set the wrongs of this old world aright, at His coming.

F. In Chapter 20:11-15 He is seen as the righteous judge of all
the earth. This is the scene of the great white throne judgment. This will fulfill Paul's declaration of Acts 17:31, that the Father's appointed Savior is also the Father appointed judge.

G. In Chapters 21 and 22 - The Lord Jesus Christ is the controlling power for all eternity.

REVELATION
(Introduction cont.)

IN THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTH HE IS

 

1.	The Temple	21:22
2.	The Light	21:23 - 22:5
3.	The Comforter	21:4
4.	The Bridegroom	21:9
5.	The King	22:3
6.	The Rewarder	22:12
7.	The First and The Last	22:13
8.	The Soon Coming One	22:20

 

 

IV. THE PURPOSE OF THE BOOK:

1:1 "To shew unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass."

A. The book deals with (4) major subjects:

1. The ultimate triumph of God's Son and the establishment

of His Kingdom upon this earth.
Phil 2:9-11; Rev. 5:8-10, 11:15; 19:11-16

2. God's judgment and wrath on this Christ reject - world.
The final overthrow of this world system.
This is effected by three phases of judgments:

Seven seals, seven trumpets, seven vials.

3. The salvation of the Jewish remnant and fulfillment
of promises to Israel concerning the Messianic Kingdom.

4. The final glorification of the church of Christ and
unification of the bride and bridegroom.

V. THE PROVISION OF THE BOOK;

God through Christ has provided for man's every need;

A. In Christ, God has provided salvation for man's sin.
B. In this Book, God has provided a revelation of what is to come.
C. By His Second Coming, He will provide safe shelter and

from wrath and judgment.
D. In the new creation. He will provide a place for His own for

all eternity.

HIS PROVISION FOR BELIVERS IS REVEALED IN THE SEVEN LETTERS OF CHAPTER TWO AND THREE:

HE PROVIDES FOR:

1.	Ch. 2:7	The Overcomers to eat of the Tree of Life
2.	Ch. 2:11	The hearers to escape the Second Death
3.	Ch. 2:17	Hidden manna, white stone, new name
4.	Ch. 2:26	Power over the nations
5.	Ch. 3:5	White raiment, not blot name out.
6.	Ch. 3: 11-12	A crown, a place in the City of God
7.	Ch. 3:18	Gold, white raiment, eye salve. ( Need of this, deceived, blinded age)

 

(Introduction cont.)

HIS PROMISES ARE COMPLETE IN CHRIST:

VI. THE PROMISE OF THE BOOK:

The Book promises the soon Coming of the Lord Jesus to this
earth. Ch. 1:7 (See Ch. I: V. 1, & 3)
In the last chapter of the Book, this promise is restated three
times. 22:7, 12, 22.

VII. THE PROPHECY OF THE BOOK:

This is a book recording not history which is a record of fulfilled events, but prophecy which is a promise of coming events.
A. WHAT IS COMING?

1. Jesus is coming 1:7

2. The completion of Salvation is coming. 12:10

3. The Hour of Judgment is coming 14:7 14:8

4. The overthrow of Babylon is coming. 18:17 18:2

5. The marriage of the Lamb is coming. 19:17

6. The overthrow and destruction of

this world system. Dan. 2:44-45; 2 Pet. 3:10-11; Rev. 14:8

7. A new creation is coming. 2 Pet. 3:13, Rev. Ch. 21 & 22

VIII. THE PROCEDURE OF THE BOOK;

The procedure is chronological...orderly
A. In Chapter 1: Christ is seen in Heaven, as our interceding

High Priest. He is the mediator between God and man during

this entire church age. I Tim. 2:5

1. During the days of His flesh. He was God's prophet. He
spoke for God. Jo. 6:63

2. From the upper room until His Second Coming He is our
Great High Priest. Heb.9:ll-15; Heb. 10:10-12; 19-23

3. He will come again and establish His kingdom on this
earth to rule and reign as King of Kings and Lord of
Lords. For 1,000 yrs. Rev. 20:1-6
B. In Chapters 2 & 3: The history of this entire church is covered.

This church age is divided into seven unequal periods
of time. The messages to each of these churches are
applicable in chronological order to the seven periods
of church history from Pentecost to the rapture.
C. Chapters 6-18: Deal with the tribulation period. This will
be. the 70th week of Daniel's trouble. It will be the time c
the pouring out of God's wrath on Jew and Gentile alike because of their rebellion and rejection of Christ. During this time period, Christ will subdue, conquer, and crush this world system, and prepare the way for the establishment
of His Kingdom upon this earth.

REVELATION

(Introduction cont.)

Chapter 19: 1 - The marriage supper of Lamb

2 - The Tribulation period ends in the Second Coming of Christ and the Battle of Armageddon.
Chapter 20:1-6 - The Millennial Reign of Christ.
20:7-8-9 at the end of the Millennial Reign Satan will be
loosed out of his prison. He will gather the last rebellion
against God. This will end in the battle of God and Magod,
with Christ as Victor.

20:10 Satan will be cast into hell forever.
20:11-15 The great white throne judgment.
20:11 The destruction of this present earth and the satanic
world system. This parallels: 2 Peter 3:10-11

Chapters 21 & 22; Describes the new Heaven and the new earth
and the condition of the redeemed for all eternity.

By David E. Hubbard

(Used with permission)

Created by SuzyB