Revelation

THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST

JOHN'S VISION OF THE FUTURE
Because of its length (50 pages) most of this study is only available as a pdf

Dr. Paul Manuel—2018

Outline

I. Salutation: John addresses seven churches in Asia Minor (Rev 1:1-3:21).

A. He introduces himself to his audience (1:1-20).

B. He addresses each of the churches (2:1-3:22).

1. He writes to the church at Ephesus.
2. He writes to the church at Smyrna.
3. He writes to the church at Pergamum.
4. He writes to the church at Thyatira.
5. He writes to the church at Sardis.
6. He writes to the church at Philadelphia.
7. He writes to the church at Laodicea.

Application: As a Christian, your life is not a private matter, as some might assume, but a public testimony of your faith (2 Cor 3:2).

II. Judgment: John predicts the seven seals of God's wrath (Rev 4:1-6:14).

A. He describes the heavenly court (4:1-5:14).

B. He describes each of the seals (6:1-17).

1. The first seal is about conquest (white horse and rider).
2. The second seal is about war (red horse and rider).
3. The third seal is about famine (black horse and rider).
4. The fourth seal is about death (pale horse and rider)
5. The fifth seal is about martyrdom (saints requesting vengeance).
6. The sixth seal is about upheaval (nature in turmoil).
7. The seventh seal is about announcement (seven trumpets).

C. He describes five angelic representatives (7:1-3).

D. He describes 144,000 Jewish servants (7:4-8).

1. He describes innumerable gentile martyrs (7:9-17).

Application: Being a follower of Jesus may entitle you to more than a normal share of difficulty (John 16:33).

III. Judgment: John predicts the seven trumpets of God's wrath (Rev 8:1-9:21).

A. He describes each of the trumpets (8:1-9:21).

1. At the first trumpet God destroys 1/3 of earth vegetation.
2. At the second trumpet God destroys 1/3 of sea life.
3. At the third trumpet God pollutes 1/3 of fresh water.
4. At the fourth trumpet God obscures 1/3 of day light.
5. At the fifth trumpet God torments unsealed people (= first woe).
6. At the sixth trumpet God kills 1/3 of mankind (= second woe).

B. He describes a little scroll of prophecy (10:1-1 1).

C. He describes two witnesses in Jerusalem (1260 days = 42 mo.), executed and resurrected (3.5 days later; 11:1-14)

Application: Hell is a very lonely place, in stark contrast to heaven, which is a very lovely place, especially because God is there (Matt 5:8).

IV. Judgment: John predicts the seven bowls of God's wrath (continued; Rev 11:15-14:20)

7. At the seventh trumpet God empties the seven bowls of His wrath (= third woe).

A. He describes the dragon's assault against the woman and her male child (protected 1260 days; 12:1-17)

1. The dragon in heaven attacks the angels, and God expels him.
2. The dragon on earth attacks the woman and her other children, and God protects them (3.5 x).

B. He describes two satanic manifestations (13:1-18).

1. There is a beast from the sea.
2. There is a beast from the earth.

C. He describes Jesus' elite servants (14:1-5).
D. He describes four more angels (14:6-13).

1. The first angel has a positive message: "the eternal gospel" (v.6).
2. The second angel has a negative message: the fall of Babylon.
3. The third angel takes action and 'reaps' the ripe grain.
4. The fourth angel takes action and 'treads' the ready grapes.

Application: The true God is immutable and will not promote in one instance what He prohibits in another instance (1 Sam 15:29).

V. Judgment: John predicts seven bowls of God's wrath (Rev 15:1-18:24).

A. He introduces the completion of God's wrath (15:1-8).

1. The saints proclaim their praise.
2. The angels distribute the plagues.

B. He describes the final plagues as bowls (16:1-21).

1. With the first bowl all mankind contracts sores.
2. With the second bowl all sea life dies.
3. With the third bowl all fresh water brackens.
4. With the fourth bowl all people are sunburned.
5. With the fifth bowl all day light darkens.
6. With the sixth bowl all Euphrates River evaporates.
7. With the seventh bowl all nature convulses.

C. He describes the fall of wicked Babylon (17:1-18:24).

Application: When you practice righteous behavior yourself, you promote righteous behavior in others (1 Cor 11:1).

VI. Vindication: John recounts the culmination of God's plan (Rev 19:1-22:7).

A. There is great rejoicing in heaven (19:1-10).
B. The messiah returns to rule the kingdom (19:11-20:15).

1. The messiah arrives with an escort.
2. The angel invites to the great supper.
3. The messiah defeats the forces of evil.
4. The devil is confined to the abyss.
5. The martyrs are rewarded for their loyalty.
6. The devil is released from the abyss.
7. The wicked are raised from the dead.

C. A new creation exists for the saints (21:1-22:5).

1. The righteous will be included and comforted.
2. The unrighteous will be excluded and tormented.
3. The city will be glorious.
4. The city will be grand.
5. It will always be light.
6. It will never be night.

D. Jesus and John certify the words of this book (22:6-21).

1. These events are true.
2. These events are near.

Application: Because worship will be your primary activity later, you should take advantage of opportunities to perfect this important skill now (Ps 44:8).

Introduction: The book of Revelation is a vision reported by John, that the aging disciple of Jesus receives while in a Roman prison on the Greek island of Patmos. The reason for his incarceration is unclear. Perhaps seditious political views have run him afoul of the Roman authorities. Whatever the reason, his movements are restricted but his correspondence is not, and he pens this missive to several churches in Asia Minor informing them about God's plans for the future.

Revelation is not a common object of study for many Christians, who view it as arcane and difficult to understand, best suited to prophecy enthusiasts. They prefer a less controversial New Testament text like one of the gospels or Pauline epistles, a book that is more obviously straightforward in its message not one shrouded in symbolism. Moreover, its pervasive and mysterious imagery encourages extremes of interpretation, often contradictory. Indeed, the book of Revelation does possess features that distinguish it from most other biblical literature. Its very setting as a vision of what takes place primarily in the future and in the heavenly sphere, activity often among supernatural creatures, almost encourages wild flights of fancy rather than straightforward interpretation. Yet, as there is no limit to speculation, it is better to choose a simpler approach to this book, one that recognizes its innate literary genre.

Perhaps the most prominent feature is the author's use of the number seven to mark major sections of the book:

• Seven Churches (chap 1-3)
• Seven Seals (chap 4-6)
• Seven Trumpets (chap 8-11)
• Seven Bowls (chap 16)

In each of the first two series of seven judgment signs (seals and trumpets) the last item of seven is recursive and, like Russian nesting dolls, contains the next series, although there is no decrease in the scope of God's judgment (as the dolls decrease in size). If anything the intensity of His retribution increases. For the remainder of the Revelation study see the pdf here.