REVELATION It’s all about Jesus!
REVELATION IS APOCALYPTIC LITERATURE • Apocalyptic literally means “to reveal” • Which is ironic because it seems so weird and hidden (like secret code) • It is often used by biblical prophets describing the end times (Ezekiel, Daniel, Zechariah, etc.) • It includes many symbols and symbolic language not to be taken “ literalistically ”
APOCALYPTIC SYMBOLISM • Numbers (such as 7, 12, 24, 1,000, 144,000) • Visions while “in the Spirit” (includes heavenly realities described in earthly terms) • Angels (real creatures but unusually prominent in apocalyptic literature) • “Living creatures” and “Beasts” (multiple faces, heads, wings, eyes, etc.)
AN EXAMPLE OF APOCALYPTIC LANGUAGE • Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit. Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. . . Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. . . The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle. They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. (Revelation 9:1-10)
SO WHAT IS IT?
NOT SEQUENTIAL BUT CYCLICAL In other words. . . it’s not first this happens, then this happens, then this happens, etc. Second First Third
THE CYCLICAL VIEW OF REVELATION • Each image is a different way of saying the same thing • Not each thing happening one after another Seals (Rev. 6-8) Trumpets (Rev. 8-11 Bowls (Rev. 16) “War in Heaven” (Rev. 12) and “Millennium” (Rev 20) Jesus’ 2 nd Coming Jesus’ 1 st Coming
It’s a blessing to read Revelation “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) It has the most happy ending for believers in Christ win in the end. “No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and His servants will serve Him. They will see His face. . . and they will reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 22:3 -5)
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