“Eschatology”

(Part 32: The Book of Revelation, Review)

III. The Book of Revelation.

Y. Review.
1. Views of Revelation:
a. Historicist view: outlines in a linear fashion the events between the first and
second coming (Historic Postmillennial view).
b. Futurist view: the events are future, correlate with the seventieth week of
Daniel’s prophecy, are primarily meant for Israel, but come upon the whole world
(Dispensational Premillennialism).
c. Idealist futurist view: a series of seven cycles, each covering the time frame
between the first and second comings of Christ, but describing events in a
symbolic way with ever increasing intensity (typical Amillennial view).
d. Radical Preterist view: describes events that took place at the destruction of
Jerusalem and the Temple in AD 70; all prophecy fulfilled.
e. Moderate Preterist view: the majority of the book was fulfilled in AD 70, but
looks forward to the kingdom, final judgment and eternal state (usually
Postmillennial view).
f. These views differ according to principles used to interpret them.
(i) Dispensationalists understand the book literally wherever possible.
(ii) The others allow for symbolic language, though they differ as to what the
symbols actually mean.

2. Audience, purpose, date and theme.

a. Audience: Christ addresses this letter through John to seven historical churches
that these events would directly impact (1:4-5; 11; cf. chapters 2-3; 22:16).
b. Purpose: It was a warning to help them avoid the Tribulation that was near (1:3;
2:7, 11, 17; 3:10; 22:6, 7, 12, 20) and in some sense had already begun (1:9).
c. Date: The book was written just prior to 70 AD, as indicated by the Temple’s still
standing (11:1), the sixth Caesar being in power (17:9-10), and the fact that it is a
declaration of judgment on the generation that crucified Christ (1:7).
d. Theme: It describes Christ’s coming in judgment against that generation of Jews
who crucified Him: “Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will
see Him, even those who pierced Him, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn
over Him. So it is to be. Amen” (1:7; cf. Matt. 26:64).
(i) God was intending to take the kingdom from the Jews and give it to another
nation (i.e., the church; Matt. 21:42-44), after He had gathered His elect from
Israel (144,000; Rev. 12:6; 14:4-5).
(ii) That judgment would fall on the generation living at the time of Christ’s
crucifixion: “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all
these things take place” (Matt. 24:34, cf. vv. 32-33).
(iii) This is why the time frame following the crucifixion of Christ is called the
last days (Acts 2:15-17; 1 John 2:18): it was the last days of the Jewish
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economy before the establishing of the Kingdom of Heaven, which would last
forever.

e. The book is a prophetic communication from Christ (1), addressed to seven

historic churches (2-3), to warn them of God’s coming judgment on the Jews (4-
19), and to encourage them with the glorious future kingdom both during the
present time (20:1-10), and the time to come (21-22).

3. Outline.
a. Chapter 1: Introduction to the book.
b. Chapters 2-3: Appeal to the churches to get ready.
c. Chapter 4: The glory of God’s justice.
d. Chapter 5: Introduction to the One (Jesus Christ) who will prosecute
judgment/the divorce against Israel.
e. Chapters 6-19: Judgment against Israel for covenant infidelity and the marriage
of the Lamb.
f. Chapter 20: The binding of Satan; the kingdom of Christ; release of Satan;
Second Coming; and final judgment.
g. Chapters 21-22: New heavens and earth; invitations and warnings.

4. Overview (chapters 5-22).

a. Covenant divorce (5):
(i) God presents the writing of divorce (vv. 1-2; Deu. 24:1-4); Israel has become
a harlot (Rev. 17:1-6) and so will be dealt with righteously before the Lord
takes to Himself a new bride (Rev. 19:7; Matt. 21:43).
(ii) Christ will prosecute the lawsuit (5:1-14).

b. Seven seal judgments (6): Judgment begins on Israel.

(i) The first seal (white horse): the Roman army marches towards Jerusalem
(6:1-2).
(ii) The second seal (red horse): authority to take peace from the land – Jewish
Civil War (6:3-4).
(iii) The third seal (black horse): one with scales in his hand – famine (6:5-6;
Josephus, Wars, 5.10.3).
(iv) The fourth seal (pale horse): the death of one-fourth of Israel through sword,
famine, pestilence, wild beasts (6:7-8; Covenant Curse, Deu. 28:15-26).
(v) The fifth seal: martyrs in heaven promised vindication (6:9-11).
(vi) The sixth seal: cosmic upheaval/the collapse of Israel (6:12-17; Matt. 24:29;
Isa. 13:1, 9-10, 13).

c. Interlude (7): the saints are protected.

(i) The four winds are held back: the Roman armies are held back at the
Euphrates (9:12-21; cf. Jer. 49:36-37), giving the church time to flee to safety
(7:1; cf. Matt. 24:15-18).
(ii) The 144,000 sealed: symbolizes the Lord’s protection of His elect Jews (the
first-fruits; 7:2-8; cf. Ez. 9:4-6).
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(iii) A multitude of martyrs before the throne: Jewish and Gentile converts
martyred during the Jewish War (7:9-17).

d. Trumpet judgments (the seventh seal): Judgment continues (8-9).

(i) The trumpets review and intensify the seals: the destruction is increased from
one-fourth (6:8) to one-third (8:7-12).
(ii) The first four (8) are reminiscent of God’s judgment on Egypt: Jerusalem has
become like Egypt and so receives her plagues (Rev. 11:8).
(iii) The fifth trumpet: an outbreak of demonic torment (9:1-12; something
Christ warned; Matt. 12:43-45); their description very similar to Roman
soldiers; Romans lay siege to Jerusalem, famine drives Jews mad.
(iv) The sixth trumpet: four winds released; Roman troops march on Jerusalem
(9:12-21).

e. The strong angel (10).

(i) The strong angel is Christ (10:1; cf. 1:13-16).
(ii) His message: The end of national Israel is near (1 John 2:18; the last hour) –
there will be delay no longer.
(a) The martyrs’ wait for vengeance is over (10:2-6; cf. 6:9-11).
(b) The mystery of God is finished: the Gentiles are now full members of
God’s household (Eph. 3:1-6); the Temple is about to be destroyed with its
wall of separation (10:7).

(iii) The little book: Jesus gives John the message to preach (10:8-11).

f. The temple measured, the two witnesses, earthquake, vision of Christ’s reign (11).
(i) The temple is measured:
(a) The inner temple measured symbolizing protection of the church (the true
essence of the temple that continues in Christianity; 11:1; cf. Zech. 2:1-5).
(b) The outer temple is not measured symbolizing destruction of earthly
temple (11:2).

(ii) The two witnesses: two historic persons (perhaps Peter and James) who
prophesied against Jerusalem during the Jewish War as a legal witness against
them (11:3-12; cf. Deu. 17:6).
(iii) The earthquake: a great earthquake took place just before siege of Jerusalem
(11:13-14; Wars, 4.4.5; 4.5.1).
(iv) The heavenly vision of Christ’s reign and judgment (11:15-19).

g. The woman and the dragon: The vision backs up to show Christ’s protection of
the church during the Jewish War; Satan is introduced as one of the primary
antagonists behind the scenes (12).
(i) Christ’s ministry is reviewed from His birth to His coronation (12:1-2, 5).
(ii) His ascension means Satan’s downfall (12:7-9; cf. Matt. 12:28-29).
(iii) Satan seeks to persecute Jewish believers as one means of revenge (the
144,000; 12:12-17) but is thwarted (12: 6, 14; cf. Matt. 24:15-21).
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(iv) The saints rejoice over Christ’s victory over Satan and His reign (12:10-12).

h. The unholy trinity: the dragon, the sea beast, the land beast/false prophet (13).
(i) Satan enlists the aid of the beast (Rome/Nero) against the saints (13:2-10).
(ii) The second beast (Roman Procurator, or Jewish Priestly Aristocracy)
enforces the first beast’s rule (13:11-18).
(iii) He requires everyone to receive a mark, representing submission to the first
beast (13:16-18).

i. The 144,000, the three angels, and the reapers (14).

(i) The 144,000 – the redeemed of the Lord – are seen glorified with the Lord in
heaven as an encouragement to John’s audience to persevere (14:1-5).
(ii) The three angels:
(a) The first angel announces God’s judgment has come (14:6-7).
(b) The second angel announces the fall of Babylon/Jerusalem (14:8).
(c) The third angel issues a warning of the lake of fire to those who worship
the beast (emperor worship; 14:9-12).
(d) Those who persevere are encouraged with the promise of rest (14:13).

(iii) The reapers (14:14-20).

(a) The first reaping is the gathering of the faithful of the land by Christ
(14:14-16).
(b) The second reaping is that of judgment (14:17-20).
(c) The wheat was to be gathered into the barn before the chaff was burned up
(Matt. 3:12).

j. Prelude to the seven bowls (15).

(i) The faithful martyrs appear to worship before the Lord, singing the song of
Moses and the Lamb, representing both Old and New Covenant believers
(15:2-4).
(ii) The seven angels with the seven final plagues appear (15:1, 5-8).

k. The seven bowls (16).

(i) The first four are again reminiscent of God’s plagues on Egypt.
(a) The first bowl: those who worship the beast in the land are afflicted with
malignant sores (16:2).
(b) The second bowl: the sea becomes blood, everything dies (16:3).
(c) The third bowl: rivers and springs become blood (16:4-7; cf. Matt. 23:35,
guilty of righteous blood spilled).
(d) The fourth bowl: sun scorches men (16:8-9).

(ii) The fifth bowl: throne of the beast in Jerusalem is judged (16:10-11).
(iii) The sixth bowl: great judgment on Jerusalem; Euphrates dried up to make
way for the Roman legions; the kings in league with Rome gather to fight the
Jews at Har-magedon (an historic site of one of Israel’s greatest defeats;
16:12).
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(iv) The seventh bowl: city split into three parts; hailstones (16:17-21).
(a) During the siege, the Jews were split into three factions (Jewish Civil
War).
(b) The city is pummeled with huge stones while under siege by the Romans;
the Lord stones Jerusalem for her adultery (Deu. 22:23-24).

l. Judgment on Babylon (17-18).

(i) Vision of the woman sitting on the beast: showing that Jerusalem is in league
with Rome (17).
(a) The harlot is Jerusalem: She is drunk with the blood of saints (17:6; cf.
Matt. 23:34-35); she would be made desolate by Rome/the beast (17:16);
she is the great city (17:18; cf. 11:8); she is represented as a harlot for her
spiritual adultery (17:4-5).
(b) The beast is Rome: the seven heads are seven mountains (17:9), and they
are seven kings (17:10); the sixth is Nero (17:10); the eighth is Vespasian
(17:11); the ten horns are ten kings in league with Rome (17:12-13), who
join with Rome against Jerusalem (17:14); they will make her desolate
(destroy the temple; Dan. 9:26-27) and burn her with fire (17:15-17; cf.
Matt. 22:2-7, He will set their city on fire).

(ii) Judgment on Babylon (18).

(a) Announcement of the fall of Babylon (18:1-2).
(b) Why Babylon/Jerusalem was destroyed: idolatry – her rejection of her
Messiah and aligning herself with Rome/Caesar (John 19:15; Rev. 18:2-3).
(c) Warning for the church to flee to escape her judgment (18:4-5; cf. Luke
21:20-22).
(d) The Lord repays her double, showing the seriousness of her sins (18:6; cf.
Jer. 16:18).
(e) Her refusal to acknowledge her crimes increases her judgment (18:7-8).
(f) Her destruction brings great mourning among those who profited by her
idolatry (18:9-19).
(g) But the saints rejoice in God’s judgment on their behalf (18:20; cf. 6:9-11).
(h) God’s judgment on her would be swift and final (18:21-23), because she
persecuted the saints (18:24; cf. Matt. 23:34-36).

m. Marriage of the Lamb; judgment on the Beast (19).

(i) Marriage of the Lamb (19:1-9).
(a) The unfaithful harlot has been put away (19:1-6).
(b) Now the Lord joins Himself to His new bride: the church (19:7-8).
(c) Invitation to come to the wedding (19:9).

(ii) John tempted to worship the angel (19:10).

(iii) Judgment on the beast and false prophet (19:11-21).
(a) Christ comes to judge Rome (19:11-15).
(b) Invitation to the judgment supper (19:17-18).
(c) The beast and false prophet judged (19:19-21).
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n. Satan bound, the kingdom grows, Satan released, final judgment (20).
(i) Satan is bound so that he may not deceive the nations and that the kingdom
might progress (20:1-3; cf. Matt. 12:28-29).
(ii) The kingdom advances (20:4-6).
(iii) Satan is released, gathers the nations for the final war, Christ returns (Second
Coming), Satan is defeated and thrown into the lake of fire (20:7-10).
(iv) The final judgment (20:11-15).

o. The new heavens and new earth; the glorified church (21).
(i) The consummation of the creation (21:1-8).
(a) All things made new for the arrival of the bride (21:1-5).
(b) Encouragement to overcome and inherit these things (21:6-7).
(c) Warning to those who don’t repent that they will inherit the lake of fire
(21:8).

(ii) The consummate bride (21:9-27).

(a) Invitation to see the bride (21:9-11).
(b) Description of the glory of the bride (21:11-21).
(c) The Lord God and the Lamb are its temple and illumine the world with
their glory (21:22-26).

(iii) Warning as to who will enter and who will not (21:27).

p. The river and tree of life, final appeals (22).

(i) The river of life flowing from the throne symbolizes the fullness of the Spirit
given to the bride (22:1-5).
(ii) The tree of life represents the eternal life she will receive (22:2).
(iii) The blessings of the new world: the curse removed, God among His people,
the Beatific Vision, He will own them (22:3-4); His glory will illumine the
world; the bride will reign with Christ forever (22:5).
(iv) The vision is true based on the Lord’s faithfulness; exhortation to listen
(22:6-7).
(v) John tempted to worship the angel; rebuked (22:8-9).
(vi) Warning not to seal the book; the time is near (22:10).
(vii) Warning to respond in faith and repentance (22:11-15).
(viii) Confirmation that this vision is from the Lord Jesus (22:16).
(ix) Invitation to those who desire these blessings to come (22:17).
(x) Canonical curse: warning not to add or take away from the book (22:18-19).
(xi) Final warning of the nearness of these events (22:20).
(xii) Benediction (22:21).

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