Module I: Introduction to the Book of Revelation: By: Ronald Theril Woods Blue Sea Ministries:

 

Module I:

Introduction to the Book of Revelation:

By: Ronald Theril Woods Blue Sea Ministries:

Secession 1 of 2:

Revelation means to take the cover off from the Greek Word Apokalupsis meaning unveiling, uncovering disclosure, It is the uncovering or unveiling of the glory of Christ and future events.

Revelation was written by John the last living original apostle of Christ. He had been banished to the Greek Island of Patmos, a penal colony of Rome, sentenced to a life of hard labor by Emperor Domitian. His crime was the preaching of the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 1:9) At the time of his exiles John was in his nineties. He was suffering for Christ and the Lord was not through with him-God can use both the young and old to further his kingdom. In his Nineties Johan was given this important Revelation of Jesus Christ.

This Book is written to the churches of Asia Minor. (Revelation 1:4) It was written at a time the churches were under gong persecution and difficulty. The church sufferevd most under the reigns of Nero A.D. 37-68 and Domitian A.D. 51-96.

There are four different interpretation of this book:

Preterist View: It holds that the events and visions described as belonging to the past particularly to the Roman Empire of the first century. The proponents of this view explain that the book is written in code to hide the real meaning from the general populace but making it relevant to the believers of that day. They believe that the purpose of the writing was to encourage the believers as to God’s intervention in the affairs of man. This view does not hold up factually as they have difficulty in explaining the prophetic nature of the book. (Rev 1:3) Some events described cannot possibly be past events.

Historical view: is the view that maintains Revelation is a panoramic view of history from the first century to the second coming of Christ. This view is not sustainable because historian cannot identify events described that correspond to past events.

Allegorical View: This view contends that Revelation portrays the continuing conflict between the forces of good and evil throughout the span of human history. The proponents of this view hold the belief that Revelation is to give encouragement to believers because good eventually triumph over evil.

Literal Futuristic View: This viewpoint contends that from chapter four to the end of the book deals with end time events. The holders of this view contend that Revelation is not concerned with the events of John’s time as much as later historical events particularly those things concerning the second coming of Christ. It is to be taken literally. This is the view point of Blue Seas ministries. The book can be outlined as follows:

Chapter 1 deals with the past.

Chapter 2, 3 discuss things that are taking place during John Times and throughout the church age.

Chapter 4 to the end of the book outlines things that are yet to come such as the Day of the Lord and the Second coming of Christ Rev 4:1.





































Questions:

1 What is the meaning of Revelation?

2 Who is the last surviving Apostle?

3 How old was John when he was banished to the island of Patmos?

4 Was John sent to Patmos by the Emperor because he was rewarding one of his loyal subjects am expense paid vacation?”

5 There are four methods of interpreting Revelation. Name them. Describe each viewpoint.



















PART 2: INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF REVELATION:

The Book of Revelation is one of the most complicated books in the bible. The symbolism employed by the author carries the reader on a trip that is filled with nightmarish figures. A trip that carries the reader through a land plagued with catastrophic events. Meteorites crashing into the earth, Fresh water turned into blood, Hailstones weighing over 60 kg, humans suffering from boils, disease’s. The death of millions of people.

The events are not in a chronological order which contributes to the mystical nature of the book. It is not easy reading with logical developed themes. The presentation is disjointed with scenes changing abruptly with illogical combinations. Pastor Gary Hamrick Cornerstone Chapel in a mid-week bible study points out that John is using limited languages to describe scenes that are taking place in the far future. Pastor Gary illustrates this point by the following example: Imagine George Washington in a room with a flat TV screen with modern day images rolling across the screen. . Using the language of his day it would be difficult to give an accurate description of what he is witnessing due to limited language.

It.s as if John is standing in a circular room and on the walls are flat screen tv’s with a hundred different futuristic videos playing. He did not know how to describe what he was seeing. The pastor pointed out that he used the terms it’s sound like, its looks like, trying to relate to the churches in AD 95 in language they could relate to.

“God uses symbols as a means of communicating ideas. Symbols freed John to represent transcendental and spiritual experiences. The Lord employs symbols in almost every sentence of the revelation. But He did not create them ex nihilo; these symbols are consistent with the Old Testament and Jewish apocalyptic literature.” (1)

The purpose of revelation is to give us hope and the joyful expectation of the imminent return of Jesus second coming.

Foundation of the book of the Revelation:

John gives us the outline for the book of Revelation in Chapter 1:19 , Jesus instructed him to “Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

The journey to understanding the Book of Revelation begins with knowledge of the Death of Jesus Christ on the Cross, his Resurrection, and ascension into heaven.

The foundation is laid out in Acts verses 1-11.

1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

2Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:

3To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infalli-le proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

4And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

5For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

6When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

7And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

8But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

9And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

10And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

11Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

After the Lord Jesus rose from the grave he tarried on earth forty days being seen and teaching the Disciples about the kingdom of God. ( Acts 1:3). Luke the author of Acts wrote in verse one that he had recorded all that Jesus began to do and teach. (Acts 1:1).

In (Acts 1:8-9), Jesus told his apostle that when the Holy Ghost comes they will be given power and they will be witness to the uttermost parts of the earth. In verse, ( 9), gives the account of Jesus being taken up in the clouds to be with the father in Heaven.

With Jesus ascension into Heaven the church age began. It will end when the trumpet sounds and the dead in Christ will rise first then the saints on earth will be snatched to meet Jesus in the air.

1,Thessloans 4:16-17.

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:



17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.



At some point after the rapture of the church the tribulation period will begin. It will be the pouring out of God wrath upon a sinful world. The horrific events that will take place is God giving the non-believers and evil people their last chance to repent and turn to him.

If you are a non-believer there are indications that we are nearing end times. I pray that all who study this book will let Jesus in your heart so as you will be in heaven with the saints.



Questions:

1. What event triggers The Church Age?

2. When will the Church age End?

3. Is revelations and easy book to read? Explain why?

4. Do the symbols have special meaning to a specific culture? If so which one?”

5. Summarize the first eleven verses in the Books of Acts chapter 1.

6. If the trumpet blows tonight what are the sequence of events? Will you be left behind or will you be on the trumpet express direct to the throne of God.

7. What are the catastrophic events that will befall mankind during the Tribulation”

You may send the answers to me via email ronaldwoods2744@yanoo.com If you need to talk to someone you can send me a message at Theril Woods on messenger.