Prelude to Book of Revelation Study

• Why study prophecy?
• Ice-breaker: pan-millenialists
• From, a theological point of view, the bible is full of prophecy and it is a large part of its content.  Revelation pulls together the entire bible in theme and other prophecies and is critical in developing a coherent understanding
• Fruchtenbaum, in his book, argues that Revelation references every book in the bible, except Ruth, Esther, Philemon, and 3 John (2003)
• There are over 500 references to the OT in the book of Revelation (Fruchtenbaum, 2003)
• Revelation is the only book of the bible with a promise of blessing to those who read it, actually 7 blessings mentioned


• Idiosyncrasies
• Doers of the word and not just hearers (James 1:22)
• Studiers, not opinon-ers or idolaters
• What does the bible say, not what do I think
• When you say, to a particularly difficult scripture, "well, my God doesn't do that …," you are an idolater because you have created a god according to your whims and desires and not according to truth
• Use good bible study principles
• Bible overrules current events
• Involvement, not a lecture (don't be chair-cushion noise absorbers)
• Focused and making progress (we will finish the study, and not continue aimlessly)
• Humility in our interactions


• How to study? Hermenuetics -- the science of bible interpretation (Theology for Today, Elmer Towns, 2003)
1. Interpret the bible in light of its historical background
1. Can't apply to a modern context without an understanding of the historical context from which the passage was derived
2. Interpret the bible in light of the author's purpose and plan
1. Each book has a clear message or purpose
2. Most of the time that purpose is given up front, like any good paper
3. When we spiritualize or seek mystical interpretations, we move away from this basic principle
3. Interpret the bible within the author's meaning of words
1. Etymology -- original meaning (gives understanding)
2. Koine -- common meaning (of the time)
3. Usus Loquendi -- the use within the context (ex: body for church)
4. The Law of Context -- A text apart from its context is a pretext
1. This is where the statement, "you can prove anything by the bible" has some validity (if you break the rule)
2. A pretext (adj: pretextual) is an excuse to do something or say something that is not accurate. Pretexts may be based on a half-truth or developed in the context of a misleading fabrication. Pretexts have been used to conceal the true purpose or rationale behind actions and words. From <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pretext>
3. Example: Zech 13:2-6. Some use verse 6 to refer to Jesus, but the passage is about false prophets
4. Start with the context of the verse, then paragraph, and so on
5. The Golden rule of interpretation -- When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense
1. Not technically a literal view but a common sense view
2. Read scripture as you would any other book (written in the common language of the time)
3. Interpret the bible according to grammar
1. "Language is not a string of words but a series of related words" (p.87)
2. Consider tense, position, and relationship between words
6. The law of cross-reference
1. Scripture interprets scripture
2. Based on the fact that God is the ultimate author and all things will fit together
7. The Law of double reference (I call this the law of God's view of time)
1. A single passage of scripture may refer to two different persons or two different events that are separated by a long period of time
2. Example: Zech 9:9-10. Verse 9 speaks to the first coming and 10 speaks to the second coming
3. Example: Isa 11:1-5. Verses 1-2 speak of the first coming while verses 3-5 speak to the second coming
8. The Law of Recurrence
1. Some passages will record an event and then immediately retell the event giving more details
2. Example: Genesis 1-2:3 tells the creation story including day 6 (however you view days), and then Genesis 2:4-25 retells the sixth day


• Draw out a picture of the Gentile age and Church age
• Key passages
• Genesis 1-3: restoration of the original creation
• Abraham leaves Haran--2091
• Jacob (Israel) to Egypt--1876
• Exodus (also alluded to repeatedly in the revelation plagues)--Nation leaves 1446; conquest finished 1395
• Judges--1395 to 1043
• United kingdom (Promises to David that are unfulfilled)--1043 until 931
• Divided kingdom (warning to NK with Assyria)--722
• Destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon (starts the age of Gentiles)--586
• Gentile age is from 586 BC (destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon) until tribulation
• Church age begins with Pentecost (30/33 AD) and continues until the rapture (prior to Tribulation)


• There are three main views of the tribulation, what are they?
• Pre-tribulation (rapture precedes tribulation)
• Mid-tribulation or pre-wrath rapture (rapture occurs somewhere in the tribulation--seventh trumpet)
• Post-tribulation (rapture occurs at end of tribulation)
• There are also three views of the millennial kingdom
• Pre-millennial: tribulation occurs prior to the millennial kingdom
• Post-millennial: tribulation occurs after a thousand year reign of Christ (making things better view)--often this is not literal, but a general idea of Christ ruling through his people
• A-millennial: we are in the midst of the millennial, the millennial age is not literal
• The rapture is imminent but the Great Tribulation is not -- what does that mean?
• There are specific events related to the Tribulation which must occur first, whereas the rapture can happen at any moment



Approach	Purpose of Revelation
Preterist	Predicts first century events
Historical	Predicts church history
Idealist	Symbolic of the continuous struggle between good and evil
Futurist	Predicts future the End Times