Introduction to the Book of Revelation

Welcome to the Book of Revelation!

Before we jump into Revelation chapter 1, I want to take a little time to lay the foundation and understand the who, when, where, and why of this incredible book. Knowing something about John, the time period in which Revelation was written, and what was happening in the early church helps us understand the words we’re about to study in their proper context. This background may seem like a lot before we get to the “good stuff,” but I think it’s incredibly important!
Just so you know, the weekly studies will NOT be this lengthy! 😀

And if you’re joining us for the first time, I’m so glad you’re here!
You do not need to have studied Revelation before, and you certainly don’t need to have all the answers (I don’t!!).
As we go verse by verse, please ask questions, share what you’re finding, and don’t be afraid to see things differently.
We’re here to open the Word and dig in together!

+Who wrote the Book of Revelation?
This book is directly spoken by Jesus and written down by John, the son of Zebedee (Matthew 4:21), and one of Jesus’ 12 disciples.  This same John is also the author of one of the 4 gospels (Book of John), as well as the New Testament Letters known as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John.  Bible scholars believe that John was about 95 years old when he was given these words and visions while exiled on the island of Patmos for preaching Christ.  When the Emperor Domitian died, John was freed and returned to the church in Ephesus, where he lived for the rest of his life, the last remaining of the 12 disciples.

+Who was Revelation written To: 
The book of Revelation was written to more than one group of people.
There were parts very specifically written to the 7 Churches in Turkey, but also as we read in the first few verses of this book, these Words were written to all who were, who are, and who will be “Christ’s bondservants”  (Rev. 1:1)

+When was Revelation written?
The words of Revelation were written in approximately 95 AD, on the island of Patmos, which is modern day Seltnik, Turkey. Patmos was a hard labor work camp, the ancient Roman equivalent to Alcatraz.
The dating is heavily based on the writings of Irenaeus, a student of Polycarp, who was the personal student of John himself.

+What was happening there at the time when Revelation was written?
Revelation was being written during the reign of the  Roman Emperor Domitian.
The early Church by this time had endured years of intense persecution, including the reigns of Nero and this emperor.

+WHY did John write the book of Revelation?

+The Revelation of Jesus Christ
The first and clearest purpose of this book begins with it’s title.  Revelation.  (More on this below!)

+The record of the things that were, the things that are, and the things that are to come
The book of Revelation stands to reveal to His bondservants through John’s first hand witness, the things that “were and are” happening, and what will soon be taking place!   (Rev. 1:1).
This book serves as a spoiler to tell the saints from every age, that indeed, and though by fire, that the King of Kings and His KINGDOM would surely come in the PHYSICAL just as they had hoped for and only had tasted SPIRITUALLY.
This book would have us be AWARE and HOPEFUL and PREPARED for all to come, mostly KING JESUS!
Therefore His purpose also is to BLESS all who read, and hear, and keep the words of this book, as Jesus promises in Rev. 1:3!

+Revelation, similarly to Genesis, purposes to show the absolute SOVEREIGNTY and OMNIPOTENCE of God.
If at any point in our study things get a bit muddy, we can return to this foundation for clarity!
THIS is the FULFILLMENT of all Jesus promised to do!

+WHY study the Book of Revelation?
Still not sure you’re ready to study this book?
Here are a few reasons why we should read this book (even though it can be a challenge)!

-It is included in the Scriptures, so it is profitable for doctrine, correction, instruction in righteousness, and for equipping us for every good work!   (1 Timothy 3:16-17)

-It’s main focus is revealing JESUS!
There are  *NINE* names of Jesus mentioned in the first chapter alone!! (Rev. 1:1)

-Even though it can be difficult, it is meant for us to understand- it isn’t a “sealed” book  (Rev. 22:10)

-It is to PREPARE us to know the SEASON of His return!   (Matthew 24:32-33; Rev. 4:1)

–A BLESSING is promised to the one who reads the Book, and the one who hears the words of this prophecy  (Rev. 1:3)
And actually there is a myriad of blessings promised in this book!
+“Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”  (Rev. 14:13)
+“Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.”   (Rev. 16:15)
+“Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!”  (Rev. 19:9)
+“Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.”  (Rev. 20:6)
+“Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”   (Rev. 22:7)
+”Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.”  (Rev. 22:14)

+One more reason you might WANT to read this book-
You may be encouraged to know that the enemy of your soul very likely doesn’t want you to read it!
Satan has got to HATE this BOOK!  He’d probably be quite happy for you to believe it can’t be understood, and just skim through the words, or skip it altogether!
The book of Genesis (where his FAIL is written about, and also his ultimate fall and end), and this book of Revelation  (where he loses his rule over the earth) seem to have the largest controversy and debate about them… even between Christians.
Why ?
I’d guess that is because these books outline God’s UNSTOPPABLE plan from the beginning, and satan’s complete and utter DEFEAT and eternal damnation.  Which is the other reason you may want to give this study a try.
This book will bring you HOPE in the face of the trials of this world!! 
It’s easy to feel the pressing of satan and his affect on this world, but REVELATION will remind you of the TRUTH!!
We will read over and over again the CERTAIN and complete VICTORY of all those who are on the side of Christ!
And to satan’s ultimate irk, these books tell us that GOD is OMNIPOTENT and there is NO ONE including satan who will not BOW their knee to the King of Kings!!!

*John 16:33-
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  (Lots more on this in the Letters to the 7 Churches!!)

+What comes to your mind when you hear the word  APOCALYPSE?
Panic?  Chaos?  Zombies?  😀
Did you know that the TITLE of this book, the word “Revelation” in Greek is apokálypsis!
The same word as apocalypse in English!

+What does the word APOCALYPSE really mean?!
(We’ll cover this briefly again in Revelation 1:1-2)

This is where we get the English word “apocalypse” from, and from that connotation perhaps also where our fear of this book comes from.  However, the word apokálypsis literally means the uncovering, unveiling, or revealing!
THIS isn’t as scary of a connotation is it?!?

If the words written in this book were meant to be HIDDEN, and not understood, then the title of this book would be ridiculous.

Revelation can be one of the most difficult books in the Bible to understand.
Likely that is because it is an Old Testament kind of book in the New Testament, and most of us (unless you are coming from a Jewish foundation) tend to know our New Testament way better than the Old Testament!
It is brimming with allegory, images of things we can’t easily make sense of,  and prophetic in nature so we have difficulty putting it neatly into a linear, chronological timeline like we love to do!  Other OT books like Daniel, Isaiah, and Ezekiel fall into this category as well.
Yep.  Gulp!  BIBLE PROPHECY!

And we aren’t alone. 
There are many preachers who avoid it, Bible teachers who don’t feel qualified to teach it, and believers in general who are too intimidated to even read it.  I’ve been there.  BUT what I have discovered is that there are WAY more reasons to want to read this book, than there are to skip it!

*Luke 12:54-56-
“He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does.  And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is.  Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?”

Revelation is a “prophetic book”.  And prophecy can be intimidating… like the word apocalypse!
Many people (including Martin Luther) think that this book is entirely just too hard to understand, and that a futuristic book of prophecy like this one is just not that important.
Keep in mind that ALL the other books of prophecy in the Old Testament were once and partly still are, futuristic as well.

∆ prophēteía– prophecy- from prophḗtēs, “prophet,” which is derived from pró, “before” and phēmí, “make clear, assert as a priority”) – properly, what is clarified beforehand; prophecy which involves divinely-empowered forthtelling (asserting the mind of God) or foretelling (prediction).  -From Bible Hub

*Revelation 19:10-
“Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he *said to me, “Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brothers and sisters who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”   

Jesus’ testimony here is the spirit of PROPHECY, or GOD speaking to MAN! 
The angel warns John not to worship him as the deliverer of this prophecy, but ALL prophecy should point us to worship JESUS alone! And so we know that though these events have yet to occur, we can read them today CONFIDENTLY and HOPE-FULLY because this prophecy is as much the Word of God as the gospels or any other part of the Scriptures are!
The words in this book should point us to WORSHIP JESUS and give glory to the Father!!

+HOW To Understand This Book-

#1-  Know that there are 3 ways that people interpret this book.
Though there can be more, these are the 3 main ways you will see this Book understood and explained.  We will cover these more in depth as we go along, and I will tell you the point of view that I will be teaching from.  Don’t let this bog you down before we even begin.  Just know that we can talk about this as we study onward!


*Allegorical-
This interpretation stands on the fact that the entirety of the text is simply symbolic, and is not prophetic of future events, nor is it literal in nature at all.   Symbolic Good vs. Evil book.

*Historical–
This understanding explains everything in this book as happening already in the past during the life of the early Church
(7 churches).  The explanation in context of the persecution of Roman Empire. You may hear this referred to as a “Preterist View”.

*Literal/Futuristic–
This view uses the plainest meaning of Scripture as the context for a literal interpretation of the events in this book, understanding that just as in much of the Bible, there can be a “was, is, and is to come” truth to the words.  This view also allows for both historical context and the use of symbolism as well.  You may hear this referred to as a “Dispensational View”.

#2-  Look for Jesus REVEALED!
Perhaps the first and best method to understanding this book, especially if we get to a place where we feel stuck, will be first asking ourselves if there is a way in the words that JESUS is being revealed.  We can go back to Jesus’ stated purpose of giving this book and look how the text might be highlighting that!

#3-  Go to the Old Testament
Constant referencing of the Old Testament is a big key to understanding the Book of Revelation.
God’s nature and PURPOSE is unchanging, and THIS is the HOPE that anchors our souls!  (Hebrews 6:17-19).  There are over 400 references to passages or events in the Old Testament!  The Book of Daniel in particular is helpful, and we will reference it A LOT.  The Old Testament helps us understand Revelation and Revelation helps us understand the Old Testament.  Win, win!!

#4-  Understand the Physical/Spiritual relationship
Keeping sight of the PHYSICAL and SPIRITUAL  being manifested plainly to mankind on the earth and in the heavens.  John wrote often in his gospel comparing the physical and spiritual, and as we studied, we saw how Jesus taught and manifested God to man in this same way as He walked on the earth. This book is the collision of the MANIFEST physical and spiritual REVEALED! The REVELATION or REVEALING of Jesus, this time as He RETURNS AGAIN, in the end times and all Jesus said about this during His time on earth, will  be EXPERIENCED by EVERYONE!   When Jesus came the FIRST time, His glory was “VEILED”, but when He comes again as described in this Book, His glory is “UNVEILED”!
We see, through what John saw, the unveiled GLORY of the resurrected Jesus, the answer of Jesus’ own prayer in John 17- “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.  And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.”
Jesus said, I am the Bread of Life…the Living Water… the Good Shepherd… the physical symbols Jesus used to tell us who He is have comforted us and given us HOPE, not confusion or fear!

#5- Recognize Symbolism
WHY did Jesus use so much symbolism?!?!
DO you think He wanted us to be confused? (Who is the author of confusion?)
Symbolism is another layer we can add to the understanding of this book. It goes along with all the other layers we’ve already discussed above.
   
Firstly, Jesus has given us the entire Old Testament as a context to interpret these symbols, which is always the best hermeneutical practice!  Let Scripture interpret Scripture!  So when we are faced with trying to figure out what a symbol in this book is representing, we will always go to the Old Testament to see if we can find the same symbol used there!  As an added bonus, studying this book is going to really sharpen our knowledge and understanding of the Old Testament!!

Also, we still use many forms of symbolism everyday!
Imagine trying to describe something so AMAZING as the Throne Room of God without being able to compare it with something FAMILIAR!  How could you even begin to describe that without symbolism?

Here’s an example of what I mean.
Take our US flag.  Each part has a specific meaning to us.  It is based on HISTORIC events that lead to the birth of our country,  the United States of America. If you are not familiar with our country and our history, you may not know what the colors, or stars, or design of our flag signify.  It might take awhile for you to learn, but it isn’t impossible.   Symbols tend to create pictures in our minds much fuller than a few words can paint.  And single words can change meaning with time.   Jesus was a babe in a manger… but if a man calls   his girlfriend a “babe” it isn NOT the same idea at all!   But a great, fiery red dragon coming up out of the sea pretty much paints  one kind of picture in mind… TERRIFYING!

The symbolic language we will find in this book is mostly 3 types we’ve all learned in English class-
  +Similes-  comparison using as, like, then   (As brave as a lion)
  +Metaphors- state that one thing IS another  (He is a couch potato)
  +Hyperbole-  purposeful exaggeration to show strong emotion  (I’m starving to death!  My feet are killing me!)

#6- Go back to the Outline!
Don’t leave me!  This isn’t English 101~~
Believe it or not, the book of Revelation is SUPER easy to outline!  Perhaps this is one of the most surprising (and reassuring) facts to know before we get started.  Revelation pretty much outlines ITSELF in the very first chapter.  This alone can keep us on track!  Especially when timeline loving personalities (ahem… me!) are needing some structure!
Keep in mind all we’ve learned about the WAS, IS, and IS TO COME nature of God and His Kingdom!

*Revelation 1:19–
“Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. “

–What you have seen (Chapter 1)
  [Jesus alive and glorified]

–What is now (Chapters 2-3)
[The messages to the 7 churches]

–What will take place later (Chapters 4-22)
  [ The Throne Room of God ]
  [ The Tribulation   (Half of the book speaks to this period!)]
  [ Marriage Supper of the Lamb]

  [ The Second Coming of Christ]
  [ The Millennial Reign]
  [ The New Heaven and Earth]

Also, PLEASE join our Gather Around The Table Facebook group page if you haven’t already!
Leave your comments to each week’s study there too if you want.  It’s an easier way to share if you like that platform.
I’m learning how to take my notes and put them into bite size studies.  It’s more challenging than I thought it would be.
I really would love to hear your ideas of any ways you can think of to make this study more concise or engaging!

–> Revelation Chapter 1 !

Share on Facebook

Post on X

Follow us

Save