Revelation Introductory Notes

Revelation was intended to be read and understood (special blessing for those who read it
out loud in public). Still is!
Must find keys to interpreting this type of literature (and use them consistently).
To understand: must find Johns intended meaningwhich is also something that his readers
could have understood from it
not irrelevant last 7 years of human history (though some dual and final)

Importance of context
Historical context: real church in real world; clear situationprophetic word given to
church suffering persecution, martyrdom, suffering and death, at the hands of the beast
Literary context: be aware of literary style of Jewish apocalyptic literaturecarefully
constructed word pictures with repetition, symbolic imagery and dependence on OT
Genres of Revelation:
Bible contains history, didactic work, poetry, prophecy, biography, wisdom, law, gospels,
letters... each with own form and norms for interpretation; reading must be genre specific.
Revelation is mixed, including:
Epistle reading to real people in real places, not just generalised thoughts
Prophecy not history, nor allegory, nor parable: foretelling more than forthtelling;
exhortation (1Co 14.3); think OT Gods voice, call to moral and spiritual response in line
with what he has already revealed about himself and what it means to follow him
Apocalyptic common Jewish literary style in period 200BC-100AD (i.e. written, not same
as prophecy a collection of spoken oracles), normally characterised by:
pseudonymous author (not in Johns case)
formal style and order, painting pictures with words
communicated in fantasy images, in form of dreams and visions
sealed until a later time (supposedly)
dealing with end of world and Gods judgement of evil
narrated by (angelic) interpreter
understood by recipients, obscure to outsiders
Four major schools of interpretation:
Preterist:
all has already been fulfilled in first century
Historicist: inspired forecast of whole of human history
Futurist:
apart from first few chapters, all concerned with future end-time events
Idealist:
not concerned with any specific events, but rather with ideas and principle
Millenium:
Premillenial: literal description and sequence of events after (first) return of Christ
Amillenial: millenium is another symbol of age between 1st and 2nd comings of Christ
Postmillenial: church age leads to literal period of great peace followed by Christs return

Outline forget biblical chapters; all outlines are tentative!

Michael Wilcock the Message of Revelation (BST)
Passage
Theme
Content

Transition

1:1-1:11

Introduction

1:12-3:22

Scene 1 the Church in the World

7 letters dictated

John turns to see who is

speaking to him

4:1-8:1

Scene 2 Suffering for the Church

7 seals opened

A door is opened in heaven,

a voice says Come

8:2-11:18

Scene 3 Warning for the World

7 trumpets
sounded

Angels with trumpets

appear, thunder & lightning

7 visions of
cosmic conflict

In heaven temple is opened,

thunder & lightning

11:19-15:4 Scene 4 the Drama of History

15:5-16:21 Scene 5 Punishment for the World 7 bowls poured

out
17:1-19:10 Scene 6 Babylon the Whore

7 words of justice Angel says Come, John

taken into wilderness

19:11-21:8 Scene 7 the Drama behind History 7 visions of

ultimate reality
21:9-22:19 Scene 8 Jerusalem the Bride
22:20-21

In heaven temple of tent of

witness is opened

Heaven itself is opened

7 final revelations Angel says Come, John

taken to a mountaintop

Epilogue

Faithful witness concludes

Robert Mulholland Biblical Training

Introduction (1:1-8)
Earthly Vision (1:9-20)
Seven Churches (2:1-3:22)

Heavenly Vision (4:1-5:14)

Seven Seals (6:1-8:5)

Seven Trumpets (8:6-11:18)

Heavenly Vision (11:19-15:5)

Seven Bowls (15:6-16:21)

Harlot = Fallen Babylon

(17:1-19:10)

Heavenly Vision (19:11-21:8)

Bride = New Jerusalem

(21:9-22:9)

Conclusion (22:10-21)
William Hendriksen More than Conquerors
1 1-3
The Son of Man in the midst of the Seven Lampstands
2 4-7

Vision of Heaven and the Seven Seals

3 8-11

The Seven Trumpets

4 12-14 Christ versus the Persecuting Dragon and his Angels

5 15,16 The Seven Bowls
6 17-19 The Fall of Babylon and the Dragons Allies
7 20-22 Victory through Christ at the Great Consummation
Leon Morris The Revelation of Saint John

1:1-20

Prologue

2:1-3:22

Messages to seven churches

4:1-5:14

A vision of heaven

6:1-8:5

The seven seals

8:6-11:19

The seven trumpets

12:1-14:20

Seven significant signs

15:1-16:21

The seven bowls

17:1-20:15

The triumph of Almighty God

21:1-22:5

A new heaven and a new earth

22:6-21

Epilogue