Revelation - Introduction

Revelation, by its name, indicates that it is intended to reveal something.  Revelation is the other bookend to Genesis.  Therefore, it should be expected that it is a summation that wraps it all up, but it is much more than that.  In fact, Revelation seems to confuse the rest even more to the casual reader. 

J. Vernon McGee says that “this is the 66^th book of the Bible, it comes last, that means we need to know 65 other books before we get here. … We need to have a working background of all the other books.”  My Dad indicates from his research that Revelation refers to all the other 65 books.  278 of the 404 verses in Revelation refer to the Old Testament and even more are indirectly referenced.  Therefore, it is important to consider that Revelation should not be studied apart from or without reference to the other books of the Bible.  Revelation concludes all the prophecies began in other books.  It’s the station that the prophecy trains began in other books pull into. 

Revelation leads many people into the study of prophesy or eschatology.  People are drawn to mystery, complex knowledge of the unknown, or otherwise uncommon knowledge about what we can’t see or the future yet to come.  The simple truth is the book is uncommonly interesting because of its incredible symbols and picture descriptions along with the tragic disasters and horrible wars.  In a time of visual media where disasters and wars are so intensely shown in movie after movie, it is hard to believe that these were so described several millennia ago.  But what is it a reference to and how do these touch us today?

I have read that there is an interest by the non-Christian in Revelation prophecies.  It is speculated that this is because of declining church membership as a percent of population.  While the non-Christian may not want to purposely know about Jesus and the obedience associated with that knowledge, they are interested in what the possible foretold future might hold, just in case it’s actually true.  So, for the Christian, it is important to understand that some interpretations of Revelation are false.  They are non-Christian musings.  I urge any Christian to take careful attention to the authors of any writings associated with Revelation. 

That said, in my brief research, I’d say that half the books are repeats of other books.  It’s just one guy saying the same thing a different way.  Many of these books didn’t need to be written.  This can be assuring and unsettling at the same time.  Either a lot of people have all been led to the same wisdom, or the majority of schools teach the same theologies, or it’s easier for everyone to accept the interpretations of others because of the difficulty in understanding Revelation. 

Five systems of interpretation of Revelation.

1. Preterist theory: All of Revelation has been fulfilled in the past.  It had to do with local references in John’s day.  It had to do with the days of either Nero or Domitian.  
2. Historical theory: Fulfillment of Revelation is going on in history, and Revelation is the prophetic history of the church.  The events in Revelation describe a historical instance throughout history. 
3. Historical-spiritual theory: This theory is a refinement of the historical theory and was advanced by Sir William Ramsay.  It states that the two beasts are Imperial and Provincial Rome.  According to this theory, Revelation has been largely fulfilled and there are spiritual lessons for the church today.  Amillennialism, for the most part, has adopted this view.  
4. Idealist theory: The events in Revelation speak about the spiritual battle between Satan and God throughout history.  
5. Futurist theory: This theory holds that the Book of Revelation is primarily prophetic and yet future, especially from Revelation 4 on to the end of the book. This is the view of all premillennialists.

Most of the books and teaching I’ve heard come from the Futurist theory.  However, in this intentional study, I’m determined to be taught and to see for myself if possible, rather than blindly accept anything.  I believe that I will come to an understanding that crosses some of the lines and doesn't fit into a single system.  Yet, I can say immediately that I am not able to accept any theory that defeats the purpose of the book.  Anything that is intended to marginalize the writing of the book and the spiritual lesson to be learned as though they don’t apply today can’t be received.  If we allow this degradation to persist for the written Word that is accepted as from God then why have any of it?  The society of today is very intentional in its work to un-define any Christian morality and it wants to un-purpose all the words of the Bible.

Revelation is unique in many ways.  It is the only book in the New Testament that is prophetic.  While Jesus said prophetic things in the Gospels, the books were not prophetic books as a whole.  The Old Testament has 17 such prophetic books.  It promises a blessing to the one that reads it.  Rev 1:3 says, “Blessed is the one who reads aloud 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.”  It provides a warning to anyone who adds or subtracts from its words.  Rev 22:18-19 says, “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll.  And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.”  And it is a series of visions using symbols dealing with reality.  All of these make Revelation a special book to study.  

In addition to those unique markers, Revelation makes it clear that we are participants and objects of an unseen warfare.  While there is evidence from Daniel 10 where an angel indicates that he was obstructed from reaching Daniel and Paul wrote in Ephesians 6 that our fight is against the unseen world, Revelation amplifies this to a new stratosphere.  Revelation also indicates that God’s message exists in our physical world and in this unseen world.  His message is for all.  Finally, Revelation declares that a Christian’s eternal destiny depends upon his relationship with the winner of the conflict.  

If nothing else is gained from the study of Revelation, it must be that we look ever so more intently for the return of Jesus.  The great Christian giants of the past were not looking for Armageddon, they were looking for Jesus to return.  These great men always looked for Jesus to come with anticipation.  The second to last sentence in Revelations says, “Come, Lord Jesus.”  We are to look with expectation for the advent of Christ.  It may be that we look into the sky for the glorious return or we look into our daily lives in all its aspects for the return of Jesus, maybe it’s both.  In all ways, let us not grow weary but seek where He can take position in our lives today and tomorrow.