Left Behind?

To end our series it is important to take a look at the book of Revelation, also known as the Revelation of Jesus Christ. There have been many speculations over the centuries as to the timing of Jesus’ return. There is also variation in views concerning such things as the “Rapture of the Church” including books and movies that depict this exact scenario.

It is most important, when discussing an apocalyptic book such as Revelation, that we are good students of the Bible and not just end time thrill seekers. Therefore, practicing Biblical hermeneutics as we read this book is critical. It is also important to have a good understanding of the entire Biblical narrative, especially Old Testament books that compliment and confirm things spoken of in this New Testament book, and this is what really gives apologetic value to our case for Christ.

Some important tips to remember when studying the book of Revelation:

• Study to grow closer to Jesus and to gain an understanding of what He says about His return
• The Holy Spirit is the Teacher, pray for His guidance as you read and study (See 1 Corinthians 2:10)
• Keep in mind that there are some things we can know for sure, and some that are still hidden since this is an apocalyptic book about things to come

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.  Isaiah 55:8 (NIV)

Why study the book of Revelation?

1. Revelation is the last book of the Bible, and knowledge of the Bible and what God has planned is incomplete without a careful study of this book.

2. Revelation is the only prophetic book of the New Testament.

• • 2000 of 2500 Bible prophecies have already been fulfilled, the remaining 500 (most in Revelation) are yet to be fulfilled.
  • Because the Bible has been 100% correct so far, we can be 100% sure that the rest will also be fulfilled.

3. Revelation describes the Second Coming of Christ and the events leading up to it.

• • The reality of the Second Coming is an important part of the hope of the Christian faith and the finality of the plan that God started in Genesis.

4. Revelation explains how Satan, the great enemy of God and humankind, will be finally and forever defeated.

• • Jesus called Satan ‘the prince of this world’ (John 14:30).
  • The Apostle Paul called him ‘the god of this evil world’ (2 Corinthians 4:4).
  • The Apostle Peter referred to Satan as ‘your great enemy’…

(paraphrased) but, no matter how much damage he does, he is doomed to defeat; and that should be a great comfort to us when we struggle and search for answers to the questions of suffering and evil.  (1 Peter 5:8-11)

5. The message in Revelation is relevant for us today, even if a lot of what it speaks of is yet to come.

• • (Jesus said) “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father… Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”  Matthew 24:36; 42 NIV
  • Matthew 24 is the blueprint for the book of Revelation.

6. God promises to bless anyone who reads Revelation and obeys what it says:

• • Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.  Revelation 1:3

7. In Revelation, as in the whole Bible, Jesus is the theme and Jesus is the scarlet thread of redemption (this is the Gospel in a nutshell):

• • God created you.
  • God loves you.
  • God sent Jesus to die for you.
  • God is going to send Jesus again to bring you back into that relationship with Him that was originally intended in the Garden of Eden, prior to the fall.

The Beginning & the End

The beginning of the Bible and the end of the Bible have a lot in common, they both show us God’s love and original intention for us and all of His creation:

• In Genesis, the creation of heaven and earth are described.
• In Revelation, the new heaven and earth are described.

• In Genesis, God says, “Let there be light”.
• In Revelation, Jesus is the light of the new heaven.

• In Genesis, sin is born.
• In Revelation, sin is destroyed.

• In Genesis, Satan makes his entrance.
• In Revelation, Satan makes his exit.

• In Genesis, death comes to humankind.
• In Revelation, death dies.

One of the main reasons the book of Revelation intrigues us so much is that we wonder what Heaven will be like. What will we do in this next life? Watch this short presentation by Allen Parr as he gives 7 Biblical references concerning things we will be doing in Heaven:

A hermeneutical study

Author

John, Apostle and Disciple of Jesus

• John wrote Revelation while exiled on the island of Patmos.
• The Roman emperor Domitian banished John there for preaching the Word of God and speaking about Jesus.

Audience

Two main audiences

1. The seven churches in the province of Asia.
2. Christians everywhere and for all time.

Genre’

1. Prophetic literature: Predictions for future events and predictions based on Old Testament prophecy.
2. Apocalyptic literature: A specific type of Jewish writing that has its roots in Old Testament prophecy. Apocalypse=Revelation or Greek for “uncovering.”

*Revelation is both

Purpose

Three main reasons:

1. To encourage the churches and the Christians facing Roman persecution.
2. To address the spiritual complacency of Christians.
3. To deliver the harshest of warnings to a rebellious world.

Context/Outline

Letters to the Churches (Chapters 1:1-3:22)

1. Ephesus
2. Smyrna
3. Pergamum
4. Thyatira
5. Sardis
6. Philadelphia
7. Laodicea

Message for the Church (Chapters 4:1-22:21)

1. Worshiping God in Heaven
2. Opening the seven seals
3. Sounding the seven trumpets
4. Observing the great conflict
5. Pouring out the seven plagues
6. Seizing the final victory
7. Making all things new

Themes

• Jesus is Lord (5:12)
• God is Sovereign (11:16-17)
• Judgment Day is Coming (11:18)
• God’s People Will Persevere (21:3-4)
• Jesus is Coming Back (22:12-13)
• We Have Hope (22:20)

This is a great presentation, by Allen Parr, that will give you a quick overview of the book’s context: The Book of Revelation in under 5 minutes

Interpreting Revelation:

Four Main Approaches

1. The Idealistic/Symbolic Approach

This view says that all of Revelation should be interpreted symbolically. Strict symbolists believe that none of the symbols in Revelation should be interpreted as real, historic events; rather they represent spiritual truth and timeless conflicts between good and evil.

• The problem with this view is that it severs Revelation from the rest of the Bible and says it contains neither historical nor prophetic predictions. It merely becomes a series of stories and has no real connection to Christ’s Second Coming. We must remember that Biblical prophecy has both an immediate and a future application, like we find in Old Testament prophecy. Thus we can understand the book within its broader literary context.

2. The Historical Approach

This view says that the prophecies coincided with actual historic events from the time of the early church and sees it as a panoramic view through to the present time, encompassing all historical events up through modern history.

• The problem with this view is that it ignores time limits that the book itself places on the unfolding events and has produced many different, and often conflicting, interpretative meanings such as identifying 666 being attributed to people over the centuries like Caesar Nero, Hitler and even Ronald Regan.

3. Preterist Approach

This view says that the symbolism related only to the early church and was fulfilled in the first century. This view believes that most of revelation has nothing to do with the future prophecy since it has already been fulfilled.

• The problem with this view is that it conflicts with the book’s own repeated claim to be prophetic and apocalyptic in nature (1:3; 22:7, 10, 18, 19).

4. *The Futurist Approach

This view says that the first three chapters apply to the time in which it was written (1:9) and the rest of Revelation deals with events yet to come (1:19). This is the only view that does justice to the book’s claim to be prophecy and interprets the book by the same grammatical-historical method as chapter 1-3 and the rest of Scripture. It connects to Jesus’ claim that He will return for His Church.

• The caution here is to remember that Jesus himself said that no one will know the day of His return before it happens.
• Most futurists hold to either a pre (rapture), mid or post tribulation perspective as to when Christ will return.

*In light of using the futurist approach, like Old Testament prophecy, we can apply what God was saying to the seven churches in Asia to our churches and our lives today. In this way Revelation offers guidance for all believers at all times because it teaches us about the person of Jesus Christ and shows us how to live for Him right now.

Views on Christ’s return:

1. Dispensational premillennialists hold that Christ will come before a seven-year period of intense tribulation to take His church (living and dead) into heaven.
2. Historical premillennialists place the return of Christ just before the millennium and just after a time of great apostasy and tribulation.
3. Postmillennialist believes that the millennium is an era (not a literal thousand years) during which Christ will reign over the earth, not from a literal and earthly throne, but through the gradual increase of the Gospel and its power to change lives.
4. Amillennialist believes that the Kingdom of God was inaugurated at Christ’s resurrection at which point he gained victory over both Satan and the Curse. Christ is even now reigning at the right hand of the Father over His church. After this present age has ended, Christ will return and immediately usher the church into their eternal state after judging the wicked.

Good reference site:

https://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/mill.cfm

It is important to remember what is “Essential vs. Non-Essential” for salvation, all other things are a matter for Christians to discuss, not divide upon:

Essential Truth –

• Jesus died on the cross for our sins and then resurrected in defeat of death and permanent separation from God, both physically and spiritually
• Jesus is the (only) way, the truth and the life (John 14:6)
• Jesus will return to earth a second time for those who have trusted Him as their personal savior
• The Bible is the inspired Word of God

Non-essential –

• The timing of Jesus return, the rapture, pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation, post-tribulation, etc.

Conclusion-application

It is important to understand that God’s plan for the consummation of history centers on the person of Jesus Christ.  The second coming offers hope to all believers who have lived in every time period since John wrote this book, especially those who have experienced persecution. It describes a time when Jesus Christ will defeat sin and death – once and for all.

Keep checking in on a weekly basis – special posts the next few weeks and we will be starting a new series soon…

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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in!  Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.

Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.

Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.

Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15