The Book of Revelation

Author and Background

• Authorship: Written by John, possibly the Beloved Disciple or a different John, a Messianic Jewish prophet.
• Nature of the Book: Described as a revelation or apocalypse, a type of literature familiar to early Jewish readers.
  • Greek word "Apokalypsis" indicates symbolic dreams revealing God's perspective.
  • Also considered a prophecy, delivering God's message to His people.
• Audience: Addressed to seven churches in Asia Minor (symbolic completeness).

Interpretation and Symbols

• Symbolism: Heavy use of symbolic imagery and numbers (especially sevens) from the Old Testament.
• Purpose: Not a predictive code about the world’s end but guidance for understanding historical context.
• Communication: Through symbolic imagery, John addresses the situation of first-century churches.

Jesus' Message to the Seven Churches

• Vision of Jesus: John sees Jesus among seven burning lights (churches symbol, adapted from Zechariah).
• Church Issues:
  • Some were apathetic due to wealth.
  • Others were morally compromised.
  • Some remained faithful under persecution.
• Call to Faithfulness: Jesus calls for choosing faithfulness over compromise.
• Historical Context: Persecutions by Roman Emperors Nero and Domitian.

Vision of God's Throne Room

• Heavenly Vision: Creatures and elders worshiping God.
• Scroll with Seals: Represents the message of Old Testament prophets about God's kingdom.
• The Lamb: Jesus depicted as the slain lamb, crucial for understanding the book.
  • Overcomes enemies through sacrificial death, enthronement through crucifixion.

Cycles of Sevens

• Three Cycles: Seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls.
• Interconnectedness: Like nesting dolls, each set of seven culminating in final judgment.
• Interpretation: Represents time between Jesus's resurrection and future return from different perspectives.

The Opening of Seals

• Four Horsemen: Symbolize war, conquest, famine, and death.
• Martyrs' Cry: Under the altar, waiting for justice.
• Great Day of the Lord: In response to martyrs' cry.
• 144,000 Sealed: Symbolic military census, but fulfillment seen as a multi-ethnic group.

The Seven Trumpets

• Retelling the Story: Using images from Exodus.
• Lack of Repentance: Despite plagues, nations do not repent.
• Intermission: John eats the scroll, proclaims its message.

The Opened Scroll

• Two Symbolic Visions:
  • Temple Measurement: Protection for God's people.
  • Two Witnesses: Prophets symbolizing the church.
• Beast's Conquest: But witnesses are vindicated.
• Repentance: Nations repent through the Lamb's followers' sacrifice.

Conclusion of the First Half

• Final Trumpet: God's kingdom on earth.
• Witness of the Church: Church’s role in bearing witness through sacrifice.
• Upcoming Revelation: More about the beast and story continuation in the second half.