NT Survey II

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NT Survey II

• Revelation

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Christian Churches in A.D. 100
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Seven Churches of Revelation
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Introductory Matters for Revelation

• Author The Apostle John. John came to Ephesus
  shortly after Pauls martyrdom and oversaw
  churches in Asia Minor until his exile.
• Date About A.D. 95, during the reign of the
  Roman Emperor Domitian.
• Audience The immediate audience was the seven
  churches of Asia Minor.
• Character of the book The most prophetic book of
  the NT, Revelation describes events that close
  world history as we know it and culminate with
  the return of Jesus Christ.

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Different Interpretive Approaches to the Book

• Preterist This view maintains that the book
  describes first century conditions in the Roman
  Empire. Christs coming with the clouds in
  chap. 1 is not a literal coming to earth, but a
  judgment that came upon Jerusalem in 70 AD.
• Continuous-historical This view treats the book
  as a panorama of church history from Johns time
  until the Second Advent, finding correspondences
  between the 7 churches and various epochs in
  church history.
• Idealist This view maintains that Revelation
  depicts the eternal conflict between good and
  evil in every age, and that the details should
  not be pressed.
• Futurist This is the best approach if one is
  committed to a literal hermeneutic. It views the
  book as focusing on the last periods of world
  history, culminating with the return of Jesus
  Christ to the earth.

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Major Themes in Revelation

• The Return and Glory of Jesus Christ (Rev 17)
• The Old Testament
• Of the 404 verses in Revelation, 278 make some
  allusion to the Old Testament. Books drawn upon
  include Daniel, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Psalms.
• The Wrath of God
• The Future Work of God
• Judgment
• Establishment of His Kingdom
• Blessing of His People

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Purpose Statement for Revelation

• John records the revelation given to him by
  Christ to rebuke believers concerning sin and to
  encourage them to hold fast until Christ comes,
  describing the events that will precede and
  follow that coming.

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Outline of Revelation

• Part One The Things Which You Have Seen
  (11-20)
• Introduction (11-8)
• Vision of the Glorified Christ (19-20)
• Part Two The Things Which Are (21 322)
• Message to Ephesus (21-7)
• Message to Smyrna (28-11)
• Message to Pergamos (212-17)
• Message to Thyatira (218-29)
• Message to Sardis (31-6)
• Message to Philadelphia (37-13)
• Message to Laodicea (314-22)

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Outline of Revelation

• Part Three The Things Which Will Take Place
  After These Things (41 2221)
• Visions of the Father and the Lamb as the Source
  of Judgment (41 514)
• Vision of the Seven-Sealed Scroll (61 196)

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Daniels 70th Week and the Seven-Sealed Scroll
Rapture of the Church
Return of Christ to the Earth
Abomination of Desolation
3 1/2 Years
3 1/2 Years
Beginning of Birth Pangs
Great Tribulation
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The Seventh Seal
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Outline of Revelation

• Part Three The Things Which Will Take Place
  After These Things (41 2221)
• Visions of the Father and the Lamb as the Source
  of Judgment (41 514)
• Vision of the Seven-Sealed Scroll (61 196)
• Seven Seals of Judgment (61 85)
• Seven Trumpets of Judgment (86 1119)
• Explanatory Prophecies (121 1420)
• Seven Bowls of Judgment and Rejoicing over the
  Fall of Babylon (151 1910)

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Outline of Revelation

• The Closing Visions of John (1911 225)
• The Coming of the King of Kings (1911-16)
• The Great Supper of God (1917-21)
• The Binding of Satan (201-3)
• The Thousand-Year Kingdom (204-10)
• The White-Throne Judgment (2011-15)
• The New Heaven and New Earth (211-8)
• The Holy City (219 225)
• Epilogue (226-21)