Part 1 Jesus’ Body: Revelation Chapter 1
RULES FOR STUDYING BIBLE PROPHECY
1. LITERAL RULE
Take it literally unless Biblically or contextually you must take it symbolically to interpret it correctly. The Bible does use symbolic or metaphorical language. However, just because something seems complex or difficult to accept, does’t mean it is not literal.
Consider the fact that there are over 300 prophecies in the Old Testament that concern the first coming of Christ, all of which were literally fulfilled. The predictions surrounding the Messiah’s birth, life, betrayal, death and resurrection were not fulfilled allegorically or in a spiritual manner. Jesus literally was born in Bethlehem, performed miracles, was betrayed by a close friend for 30 pieces of silver, was pierced in His hands and feet, died with thieves, was buried in a rich man’s tomb, and was resurrected three days after His death. All these details were predicted hundreds of years before Jesus was born and were literally fulfilled.
Consider Daniel chapter 9 which includes the passage on the 70 “sevens” which predict the precise years of the building of the 2nd Jewish Temple and the 1st coming of Christ. The destruction of the 2nd Jewish Temple is predicted along with a future and last “seven” yet still to take place. All the “sevens have been literal time periods so far, supporting that the final “seven” would be also.
Chapter 11, there are135 specific and detailed prophecies covering 375 years, 536-167 bc. Starting in verse 36 the prophecies jump to events best described as yet to take place. All the previous events happened literally, supporting that the future events would be literal, also.
2. SYMBOLIC RULE
Symbols, metaphors, apocalyptic language still point to a true reality.
And, while there is symbolism used in various prophecies (e.g., dragons, horsemen, etc.), all of it portrays literal beings or events, in much the same way as Jesus is spoken of as a lion and a lamb.
3. FUTURISTIC RULE
The Bible clearly states that prophetic books like Daniel and Revelation contain not only accounts of historical events, but also predictions of future events. After John was given his messages for the churches of his day, he received visions concerning what would occur in the end times. John was told, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things” (Revelation 4:1)
There are many other prophecies and texts like Ezekiel and other prophets that include prophecies, partially concerning Israel, that contain promises from God yet to take place. A literal reading of scripture indicates those promises are still going to be fulfilled at future time.
4. WHOLE SCRIPTURE RULE
We must look at scripture as a whole to let scripture interpret scripture. Clear passages and Biblically based conclusions interpret complex ones.
5. TRUST GOD RULE
We can ask why would God do that? But many times that isn’t the right question. If something is clear or the preponderance of evidence points to a conclusion, and we don’t understand or like it, we have to trust God that He is just, right, loving, and that for some reason we will need to wait to receive more revelation in Heaven on the topic to see it clearly
Non-Negotiable's (We can vary on many things, but these should be agreed)
1.Gospel : Christ only, faith alone, grace alone
All people would be judged guilty due to our personal sin if not for Jesus.
Old Testament believers were still saved by Christ, by their faith in God’s mercy and grace, based on God’s revelation to them at the time, which was ultimately fulfilled in Jesus.
What about those who never hear the gospel? The Bible is clear that the only name under heaven by which we must be saved is Jesus (Acts 4:12). Therefore, we can conclude, anyone who is saved, will be saved through Jesus. Perhaps this appears more difficult if you live somewhere that doesn’t have much gospel influence. However, the Bible says God is revealed to all people, and that people can either receive or suppress that truth (Romans 1-2). As people suppress what revelation of truth they have, the more darkness ensues. As people receive what revelation of truth they have, scripture points to more revelation being given to them. If people must hear and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ to be saved, we must to trust that the Judge of all the earth will do right by each person when it comes to having an opportunity to respond to the truth. Also, we should urgently share the gospel with all the world (Genesis 18:25).
2. A Literal 2nd Coming
Christ does come again to decisively bring victory, judgement, and salvation
3. Eternal Heaven and Hell
4. There is a Physical Literal Ressurection
//// Revelation Chapter One Notes
Verse 1-2
To Jesus this is soon, near
Revelation means “apocalypse”, to be revealed or unveiled
Reveal what?: Jesus and what will happen
Purpose of this series, of Revelation
To know Jesus better
To be secure in God’s plan for you and the world
Verse 3
Blessed to read and hear this: why we are talking about it!
Studies, and just plain experience, show small KiDS asked a question every two minutes.
But at some point most of us lose our sense of curiosity. How often do you think about heaven… or what Jesus is like? Revelation is an opportunity to ask questions, push the limits of our knowing and theology.
It is good to enjoy life now, with God, but let’s not forget that our ultimate future life with God in eternity will be better than we can even imagine.
And we are called to share that with as many people as we can.
Verse 4 - 8
The 7 churches: 7 Real historic churches, Asia Minor, modern day Turkey
Also they represent 7 types of situations we as Christian can be challenged with
Also, many people, can see 7 distinct periods of church history we can learn from
Our plan is to teach on each letter over the next two months.
7 spirit or seven fold spirit: key to number 7 means complete, fullness, Holy Spirit is full, complete, everywhere, all knowing
Faithful=Reliable witness, he knows what will happen, also witness, martyr. (Claims Example).
First born from among the dead - 1 John 3:2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
Ruler of the kings of the earth: Jesus will powerfully reclaim the earth and be King.
Has freed us from our sins by his blood. The Cross is central to end times.
Made us kingdom of priests: Priest co-labor with God, image of God, new-creation partner with God.
Look coming on the clouds Daniel 7:13, 4 Beasts, Babylon, Medo-Persian, Greece, Rome, and eventual the AntiChrist conquered by one like the son of man, coming on the clouds.
Those who pierced him… Zechariah 12:10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit[a] of grace and supplication. They will look on[b] me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.
Alpha and omega who is and was and is to come, first and last letter or greek alphabet used to designate the comprehensiveness of God, implying that God includes all that can be
Verse 9-11
Background of book, context of John, church, around AD 95, post AD 70 Temple destroyed
In the Spirit on the Lord’s day, challenges us to be in the Spirit, to commit to Lord’s day.
Verse 12-16
7 Lamp stands are 7 churches, and this amazing figure among them.
7 stars are the angels or messengers/leaders/Pastors, likely the church elder or pastor as John is instructed to write letter to the angel of the church, doesn’t seem would need to write a letter to a heavenly angel, point to it being a human leader/pastor.
Jesus described as:
Robe and golden sash: Priest, Mediator
White hair: wisdom
Eyes blazing fire: sees all, knows all
Feet bronze: justice and judgement
Voice rushing water: power in His Word
The messengers. Leaders pastors are in his hand…
He was among the lamp stands among the churches
Sword out of mouth, his word is the weapon, not in his hand in his mouth
Verse 17
When I saw him I fell at his feet as dead: yes when we meet Jesus, nothing will compare to it.
But no fear
Jesus restates gospel, its the central thread throughout
Verse 18
First and the Last
He was dead, now alive, the Living One.
Hold keys to death and hades
Hades, Matthew 16:18, Jesus will build his Church and the gates of Hades will not prevail.
He can handle anything death and hell can through at you.
He’s got death, hell, and Satan locked up, they can only go as far as he allows.
Verse 19
What you have seen, chapter 1
What is now, chapters 2-3, the Church Age
What will take place later, chapters 4-22
Last Days - Time between Jesus’ 1st and 2nd Coming
End Times: Can be broad term, but I see it more as specific to the end times events starting with the Rapture
End times timeline graphics
Flow of Revelation
Chapters 1-3: The Church Age
Chapters 4-5: The Raptured Church
Rapture views: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:50-52
Views; No Rapture, Post-Tribulation, Mid-Tribulation, Pre-Wrath, Pre-Tribulation (I believe Pre-Tribulation Rapture is the best view, upholds the scriptural emphasis of imminence and not knowing the day or hour, certain passages seem to describe Pre-Tribulation Rapture, it appears God shields His Church from His wrath as they partner with God in heaven through prayer and intercession during the Tribulation.)
Chapters 6-18: The Tribulation
Views
Literal 7 year period, Daniels 70th “seven” or “week”, Daniel 9
Symbolic but real influence of Satan and judgments of God during the Church Age.
Scripture seems to point to a literal specific 7 year period where God’s prophetic end times purposes take place to bring salvation and judgement.
CHAPTER 19: 2nd Coming of Jesus to earth with the Church
CHAPTER 20: Millennium, Jesus bring justice to earth
Views:
Post-Millennial: No literal 1,000 year reign, the world becomes progressively more Christian as the gospel spreads and at some point Jesus returns, no literal 7 year tribulation and no rapture. One common resurrection.
Amillennial: The 1,000 year is symbolic of the current Church Age, the Kingdom is spiritual in our hearts, possible 7 year tribulation or just symbolic of Church Age, the Rapture is not the Church taken to heaven but the Church meeting Christ in the air as He returns at His 2nd coming. One common resurrection.
Pre-Millennial: The church Age leads into a 7 year tribulation, after which Jesus returns to earth for Millennial Kingdom.
Two Views:
1. Historic: Post-Tribulation Rapture, blurs Israel and Church, doesn’t link Old Testament prophecy
2. Dispensational: Pre-Tribulation Rapture, upholds distinctions between Israel and the Church, links Old Testament prophecy. Multiple resurrections of different groups of people.
A Post-Millennial or Amillennial view tends to interpret Biblical prophecy in a way that is more symbolic and fulfilled in a more general manner. For example, they view that the Millennium is not a literal time where Christ establishes an earthly kingdom, it is symbolic of the current Church Age where the Kingdom is a spiritual one in our hearts and worked out to a certain degree in our lives and world. While I would agree the Kingdom is in our hearts and world right now, as the Holy Spirit is in us and the ministry of the Holy Spirit currently does bring freedom to people and communities, I believe there is an even more ultimate and literal fulfillment of the many prophecies concerning the time of God’s Kingdom on earth, the Pre-Millennial view.
Great White Throne Judgement: those who rejected the truth.
Chapters 21-22: New Heaven and New Earth, our home with God forever.
Verse 20
Mystery: a truth hidden and then revealed.
The progressive aspect of Scripture
Lamp stand and stars, churches and its leaders. Among them, in his hands
Before Jesus reveals end times events He calls his Body, the Church to examine self.
CHALLENGE AND ALTAR TIME
What is standing in the way of you knowing Jesus more?
Because the more we allow Jesus to reveal himself to us the more we will be secure in the truth.