Introduction

About Revelation • Revelation is unlike any other book of the Bible. Nowhere else in Scripture are the majesty and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ and his future plans for the earth revealed so clearly. Many Old Testament prophets including Isaiah, Ezekiel, Zechariah, and especially Daniel, give us prophetic insight into these themes. Jesus taught his disciples about them, Peter and Paul expanded upon them, but John had the great privilege of writing this final book of the Bible, which culminates in the events of the end of the age.

The apostle John received this revelation through a series of detailed visions that peer into eternity future. He received these visions when he was a prisoner in exile on the island of Patmos probably in the 90’s AD.
Traditionally there have been four ways to interpret the book of Revelation. Those who hold the preterist view (from the Latin word that means past) interpret Revelation as a book that has already been fulfilled in events such as the destruction of Jerusalem and the fall of the Roman Empire.

Those who hold the historicist viewpoint see the events of Revelation as a panoramic picture of church history beginning with the apostolic times. Historicists read into Revelation all sorts of events such as the barbarian invasions of Rome, the prominence of the Roman Catholic Church, several specific popes, the rise of Islam, and various other historical events. Historicists believe that most of the events of Revelation have already occurred.
Those who hold the idealist view believe that the events of Revelation are not actual future events, but symbolic events of the great conflict between good and evil. The idealist views Revelation not as actual events, but as a collection of stories that teach spiritual truths.

Finally those who hold the futurist view see the events of Revelation as future events that are either plainly or symbolically described. This is the approach that we will take in this study of Revelation. The events of Revelation will not be explained away as something that has already happened or as only symbolic of a cosmic struggle. The depictions in Revelation will be interpreted in their plain, common sense meaning unless the text clearly specifies that they are symbolic, and then the symbolism is given either in the text or in other Scriptures.
The book of Revelation is an orderly book. Revelation 1:19 lays out the order of the book. “Write, therefore, the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall take place after these things.” In Revelation 1 John writes about the things that he has seen, the amazing unveiling of Jesus Christ in his glory in heaven. In Chapters 2 and 3 he writes of the things that are, the letters of Jesus to the seven churches; in chapters 4-22 he writes of the things that shall take place after these things, the successive judgments that will be unleashed against the Antichrist culminating in the return of the Lord to earth, His millennial kingdom and the future heaven and earth.

Many scholars see the text of Revelation falling into five chronological sections that describe actual events and five parenthetical sections that bring angelic explanation of the events. The chronological sections lay out the time line and order of events. The angelic explanations answer questions about the events and elaborate with details that further describe the events. It will be very helpful if you will mark in your Bible these divisions.

1st Chronological Section: Revelation 6
1st Parenthetical Section: Revelation 7
2nd Chronological Section: Revelation 8-9
2nd Parenthetical Section: Revelation 10:1-11:13
3rd Chronological Section: Revelation 11:14-19
3rd Parenthetical Section: Revelation 12-14
4th Chronological Section: Revelation 15-16
4th Parenthetical Section: Revelation 17:1-19:10
5th Chronological Section: Revelation 19:11-21:8
5th Parenthetical Section: Revelation 21:9-22:5

Revelation is an amazing book that unveils the plans of the triune God for the earth and His followers at the end of this age. It reveals the heart of love that the risen Lord Jesus Christ has for His bride, the church. He is not caught by surprise by the end of the age events and He does not want His followers to be caught by surprise either. He does not want us to be defeated and afraid, but to be overcomers. He invites us to take a proactive role as we join with Him in accomplishing His purposes through prayer. He is not going to abandon His bride when she is in the grip of an evil world ruler who is completely opposed to God’s purposes. Although the world situation may look hopeless and out of control from an earthly perspective, God has given us this book so that we can have hope and gain His perspective knowing that He is in control. He will be victorious and because we know the final result, we can persevere and not fall into compromise.

The book of Revelation promises a blessing for all who hear and heed its message, Revelation 22:7: “I am coming quickly, blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.” May you be filled with hope and blessed as we embark on the study of this awesome book. “Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus” (Titus 2:13).