TITLE: ''Revelation'' is from the Latin word revelatio (from revelare ''to reveal or unveil''). The Greek term is apokalupsis (''a disclosure, an unveiling''). The book of Revelation is an unveiling of the character and program of God.
AUTHOR: The author of Revelation called himself ''John'' (1:4, 9; 22:8). He was a prophet (22:9) and a leader who was known in the churches of Asia Minor to whom he writes (1:4). Furthermore, Early Church Fathers state that John was the author, and there is historical evidence of John's exile to Patmos. Revelation indicates a similarity with the gospel of John, employing words that are common to both: word, lamb, witness, true, overcome, dwell, fountain of living waters, and others. Most Bible students believe that the Holy Spirit used John, Christ's beloved disciple, to give us three kinds of inspired literature: the gospel of John, three epistles, and the book of Revelation.
THE PURPOSE: The stated purpose of Revelation is to reveal Jesus Christ (1:1): His person, His power, and His plan for the future.
THE THEME: The ultimate victory of Jesus Christ over all enemies and the establishment of His earthly kingdom.
DATE AND ORIGIN: The traditional view for the date of Revelation is during the reign of emperor Domitian (A.D. 81-96). The early church fathers affirmed this and most scholars since have agreed. The date has been traditionally set between A.D. 94-96 (during the final and most severe years of Domitian's reign). It is likely that John wrote Revelation during his exile on the island of Patmos.
IMPORTANCE:
1. Revelation, like all Scripture, is ''profitable'' (2 Tim 3:16).
2. Revelation reveals Jesus Christ like no other book (Rev 1-22).
3. Revelation deals with ''things, which must soon take place'' (Rev 1:1).
4. Revelation is the one book that promises a blessing to all who will read it (Rev 1:3).
5. Revelation contains unique warnings and challenges to the church (Rev 2:1-3:22).
6. Revelation discloses conditions that will be present in the end-times (Rev 6:1-19:21).
7. Revelation is not to be sealed up (Rev 22:10).
8. Revelation is the capstone of Scripture.
9. Revelation is the only prophetical book in the New Testament (NT).
KEY IDEAS: The book opens and closes with similar ideas and phrases, among them are the words of Jesus, ''I am coming soon'' (1:1-8; 22:12-21). In between, the book deals with vivid descriptions of God's judgments on sin.
KEY VERSES: Revelation 1:7: ''Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen'' (cf. 19:11-16). Revelation 1:19: ''Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things.''
KEY WORDS: Two key words are repeated throughout the whole letter. They are ''lamb'' (29 times) and ''throne'' (47 times). The dual ideas of sacrificial atonement and God's sovereignty and judgment dominate the letter. Four numbers also play a significant role throughout Revelation: ''seven'' (55 times), ''four'' (29 times), ''twelve'' (23 times), and ''ten'' (9 times).
KEY FEATURES: There are no formal quotations from the Old Testament (OT), however, there are many allusions. Revelation contains 404 verses of which 278 contain allusions to approximately 550 OT references.The most frequently referenced books appear to be Psalms, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. Revelation also has more songs in its pages than any NT book. On 14 occasions the angels break into song, making the book a model for worship expressed through singing. The letter is also structured around a series of over 20 sevens (e.g., seven Beatitudes, seven angels, seven plagues).
John structured Revelation around a series of sevens:
1. Seven Beatitudes (1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14)
2. Seven spirits of God (1:4; 3:1; 4:5; 5:6)
3. Seven lampstands (1:12)
4. Seven stars (1:16, 20; 2:1)
5. Seven churches (2-3)
6. Seven lamps of fire (4:5)
7. Seven seals on the scroll (5:1)
8. Seven horns, seven eyes of the lamb (5:6)
9. Seven attributes of Jesus praised (5:12)
10. Seven seal judgments (6:1-8:5)
11. Seven types of men (6:15)
12. Seven attributes of God praised (7:12)
13. Seven angels before God (8:2, 6)
14. Seven trumpets held by the seven angels (8:6; cf. 15:1, 6, 7, 8; 17:1; 21:9)
15. Seven signs (12:1, 3; 13:13, 14; 15:1; 16:14; 19:20)
16. Seven heads, seven diadems of the red dragon (12:3)
17. Seven heads of the sea beast (13:1; 17:3, 7)
18. Seven angels (14:6-20)
19. Seven plagues (15:1; 21:9)
20. Seven hills (17:9)
21. Seven kings (17:10)
22. Seven things that are no more (21:1, 4 [4x]; 21:25; 22:3)
NUTSHELL OUTLINES:
1. Introduction (1:1-20)
2. Letters to the seven churches in Asia (2:1-3:22)
3. Visions of the end of this age and the new heaven and earth (4:1-22:5)
4. Conclusion (22:6-21)
Interpretive Models:
Historically there have been four major divisions of interpretation (with many variations):
1. The preterist: everything has already been fulfilled.
2. The historical: the predictions are in the process of fulfillment.
3. The spiritual: the events described are only symbols of spiritual realities and struggles, without any literal or historical application.
4. The futurist: all predictions are in the future. This is the view adopted for this study.
CHRIST IN REVELATION: Since Revelation is ''The Revelation of Jesus Christ,'' it demonstrates His glory, wisdom and power (1:1-20), and portrays His authority over the church (2:1-3:21) and His power and right to judge the world (5:1-19:21). But as the revelation of Christ, it is loaded with descriptive titles. In particular, it describes Jesus Christ (1:1) as:
