Book Introduction -
Revelation
Read
first chapter of Revelation
WRITER: The Apostle John ( 1:1)
DATE: A.D. 96
THEME: The theme of the Revelation is Jesus Christ
(
1:1), presented in a threefold way:
- As to time: "which is, and which was, and which is to
come" (1:4);
- As to relationships--the churches (1:9-3:22), to the
tribulation (4:1-19:21), to the kingdom (20:1-22:21);
- In His offices--High Priest (8:3-6), Bridegroom
(19:7-9), King-Judge (20:1-15).
But while Christ is thus the central theme of the book, all
of the events move toward one consummation, the bringing in of
the covenanted kingdom. The key-phrase is the prophetic
declaration of the "great voices in heaven" (Revelation
11:15), lit, "The world kingdom of our Lord and of his
Christ has come." The book is, therefore, a prophecy (Revelation
1:3).
The three major divisions of Revelation must be clearly
held if the interpretation is to be sane and coherent. John
was commanded to "write" concerning three classes of "things"
(Revelation
1:19):
- Things past, "the things thou hast seen," i.e. the
Patmos vision, 1:1-20.
- Things present, "the things which are," i.e. things then
existing--obviously the churches. The temple had been
destroyed, the Jews dispersed: the testimony of God had been
committed to the Churches (1 Timothy
3:15). Accordingly we have seven messages to seven
representative churches, 2:1-3:22.
It is noteworthy that the church is not mentioned in
chapters 5-18.
- Things future, "things which shall be hereafter," lit.
"after these," i.e. after the church period ends, 4:1-22:21.
The third major division, as Erdman (W.J.) has pointed out,
falls into a series of six sevens, with parenthetical
passages, making, with the church division, seven sevens.
The six sevens are:
- The seals, 4:1-8:1.
- The seven trumpets, 8:2-11:19.
- The seven personages, 12:1-14,20.
- The seven vials (bowls), 15:1-16:21.
- The seven dooms, 17:1-20:15.
- The seven new things, 21:1-22:21.
The parenthetical passages are:
- The Jewish remnant and the tribulation saints, 7:1-17.
- The angel, the little book, the two witnesses,
10:1-11:14.
- The Lamb, the Rmnant, and the everlasting Gospel,
14:1-13.
- The gathering of the kings at Armageddon, 16:13-16.
- The four alleluias in heaven, 19:1-6. These passages
do not advance the prophetic narrative. Looking backward
and forward they sum up results accomplished, and speak of
results yet to come as if they had already come. In
Re14:1, for example, the Lamb and Remnant are seen
prophetically on Mount Sion, though they are not actually
there till Re20:4-6.
The end of the church period (2-3.) is left
indeterminate. It will end by the fulfilment of 1 Thessalonians
4:14-17. Chapters 4-19. are believed to synchronize with
Daniel's Seventieth Week ((See Scofield "Daniel 9:24).
The great tribulation begins at the middle of the ")
week," and continues three and a half years (Revelation
11:3-19:21). The tribulation is brought to an end by the
appearing of the Lord and the battle of Armageddon (Matthew
24:29,30; Revelation
19:11-21). The kingdom follows (Revelation
20:4,5); after this the "little season" (Revelation
20:7-15), and then eternity.
Interpreters of the Revelation should bear in mind two
important passages: 1 Peter
1:12; 2 Peter
1:20,21. Doubtless much which is designedly obscure to
us will be clear to those for whom it was written as the
time approaches.
- Revelation 01:1