Revelation29 Jun
The book of Revelation is a powerful account of the things to come. Because of the genre, apocalyptic literature, there is rich and symbolic imagely that makes the book hard to understand. This overview from the preceptaustin.org is helpful. There are four main ways to look at John’s book:
Preterist (from Latin praeter meaning "past") holds that through the use of symbols and allegory, the Revelation deals with events that were fulfilled in John’s time and that it was written primarily to provide hope and comfort to the first century church persecuted by Rome. For example, this view interprets the beasts of (Rev 13:1, 2, 11) as imperial Rome and the imperial priesthood. The preterist view is held by many modern scholars, especially liberals and others who deny that the Revelation is predictive of specific future events.
The historicist approach views the Revelation as a symbolic or allegorical prophetic survey of church history from the first century up to the Second Coming of Christ. This was the view espoused by most of the "reformers" and thus dominated Protestant eschatological teaching for centuries. This view however has been discounted by many as it does not adequately address the prophecies in the Revelation. The discerning reader needs to be aware that the historicist view is reflected in most of the "older" commentaries (many of which are public domain works easily accessible on the internet) including the works of John Knox, Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Wesley, Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, C. H. Spurgeon (although Spurgeon did believe in the Millennium), Matthew Henry, Adam Clarke and Albert Barnes. Unless you understand their historicist approach to prophecy, you may become very confused when reading these older "classic" commentaries. Note that with the exception of Spurgeon, these works are not included in the list of resources. It is also important to realize that many of these "classic" commentaries tend to treat many of the OT promises to Israel as primarily applying to the NT Church. An example of a historicist interpretation is the belief that the strong angel of Revelation 10 symbolizes the Reformation and that the harlot in Revelation 17 represents the Roman Catholic church, both interpretations which a plain reading of the text simply does not allow!
Idealist. This approach argues that the symbols in the Revelation do not relate to historical events but rather to timeless spiritual truths. Idealists feel that Revelation relates primarily to the church between the first and second coming of Christ. They feel Revelation relates to the battle between God and evil and between the church and the world at all times in church history. The seals, trumpets, and bowls are thought to depict God’s judgments on sinners at all times, and the beast refers to all the anti-Christian empires and rulers in history. Thus the Revelation is viewed as describing the victory of Christ and His people down through history. The Millennium in this approach is not a future event but the final cycle of the book describing the church age. The weaknesses of this view include the failure to see the futuristic aspects of many of the prophecies or to connect them in any way with history. (Adapted from Grant Osborne: Revelation. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) (See another discussion of Idealist Interpretation)
Futurist. This view is variously referred to as the spiritual approach, the idealist approach or the symbolic approach and makes no attempt to find individual fulfillments of John’s visions, instead viewing Revelation as a great drama depicting transcendent spiritual realities, such as the spiritual conflict between Christ and Satan, between the saints and the antichristian world powers. Fulfillment is seen either as entirely spiritual or as recurrent, finding representative expression in historical events throughout the age, rather than in one-time, specific fulfillments.
(From Gregg, S. Revelation, Four views: A Parallel Commentary. Nelson Pub)
A literal reading of prophecy will generally lead to a "futurist" interpretation. Thus futurists interpret Revelation 4-22 as predictive of future end time historical events preceding, during and after the return of Jesus Christ, the establishment of His 1000 year (thus futurist are usually "premillennial". Amillennialists spiritualize the 1000 years and postmillennialists spiritualize the resurrection which precedes it), millennial kingdom on earth, followed by the creation of a new heaven and new earth. Variations of this view were held by many of the so-called early church fathers, including men like Justin Martyr (164AD), Irenaeus (195AD), et al. This futuristic approach has enjoyed a revival since the 19th century and is widely held by many if not most modern evangelicals.
6 Responses to “Revelation”
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Pastor I have a question and I think you once answered it but in Rev. 1:20 The mystery of the 7 stars in His right hand are the 7 messengers to the churches. Are these messengers the Pastors of the 7 churches who God revealed to them what was going on behind closed doors and the pastors were not privy to it?
The word is messenger, and is most often translated angel instead of pastor. The term ἄγγελος occurs seventy-seven times in Revelation, and only in 1:20–3:22 is the term used for the angels of the seven churches (eight times). Elsewhere in Revelation ἄγγελος is used of supernatural beings serving as messengers or agents of God (within 1:20–3:22, this meaning is clearly intended in 3:5).
This leads me to believe that John is talking about a super-intending angel over the church body. As there are guardian angels over people, it would not be out of the question to have a supernatural being that guards the local church. Part of the symbolic form of the book leaves us hanging. I think it is easy to read “pastor” or “leader” as the one who will take what Jesus said and apply it.
Good stuff Pastor. Thanks for putting my question to rest.
The Book of Revelations: In chapter 1:3 a blessing is invoked on those who read and take heed to this book. That is motivation in itself. I also find the letter to the Laodiceans, the last of 7 letters actually comforting (Rev.3:14-22). The Lord reproves them for their indifference and lethargy to the things of God. But in vs. 19 the amplified bible reads…Those who I dearly and tenderly love, I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasen (I disciple and instruct them). So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning zeal and repent (changing your mind and attitude). Then once again an invitation in vs.20…Behold I stand at the door and knock: If anyone hears and listens and heeds My voice and opens the door, I will come into Him and will eat with him and he will eat with Me. Wow! We have individually been invited out to dinner with the lover of our souls. But He is speaking about partaking of His Spirit life in the hidden inner man, that produces the fruit of His Spirit and grace to motivate us to do His will and pleasure, for without Him we can do nothing. ….in vs. 21 some more motivation… Rev 3:21 He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father in his throne. Rev 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.
Pastor, after reading Revelations this time around- with new eyes you may say- I have a question… Throughout the book, the warning to repent pops up- in the messages to the 7 churches, even referring to Jezebel it says “I have given her time to repent of immorality, but she is unwilling…”(Rev 2:21), “the rest of mankind were not killed by these plagues still did not repent…” Rev 9:20 to name a few. Then, towards the end of the book “Let him do does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who does vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and him who is holy continue to be holy.” Rev 22:11. And finally, “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go trhough the gates in to the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” Rev 22:14,15.
Now, am I understanding it correctly that the key word to Rev 22:11 is CONTINUE? If someone who does “wrong” and is “vile” REPENTS (ie: “wash their robes” with Jesus blood by accepting Him as their Lord and Savior) then they can still be saved- even as all these end of the world events are occuring??
Let me rephrase- Let’s say the plagues are happening and there are those who say “OH WOW! THERE IS A GOD. JESUS IS OUR SAVIOR. WE HAVE BEEN WRONG ALL THIS TIME. LET US REPENT…” is it too late for them?
Also, several weeks ago they had that man (I forgot what state it was in) who killed a few people many years ago- he chose to die by firing squad- and he said that it was his way of repenting. While I was watching his story in the news, I thought, I wonder if someone like this man, who killed these people in cold blood and he went to jail and he accepted Jesus as his Savior in jail- if he CAN be saved.
Great questions-I think that the book of Revelation points to a time when repentance is not possible. In a sense, seeking to escape punishment and repentance are two different things. I see that in children (and in myself)…often people are sorry that they got caught, not that they did the sinful behavior in the first place. There comes a time when God’s judgement falls, when Jesus is revealed, and faith is replaced by sight. I think that one of the key components to Revelation is that even in the sight of the end times, people will not repent.
Might God allow repentance at this point? Certainly he can if he wants.
Rev 22:11 references Daniel 12:9-10 about sealing up the book, and the sustained action of the ungodly. It is almost saying “all of this knowledge will still not change people’s actions.”
On the man executed…anyone can be saved. God’s grace is not the same thing as our determination of worthiness. If he recognizes his sin before the Lord, and not just this sin, but all sin, then God can work in him. Again, repentance from sin is not the same thing as seeking to avoid punishment.