When Are We Now? The first of three studies of The Revelation of Jesus Christ by Paige Ramsey
“The Time is at Hand”
– Lesson 1: An Introduction to The Revelation
Revelation 1:1-3
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him, to show His servants – things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John, who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, and to all things that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it: for the time is at hand.
As we begin this journey, let me inject a thought for consideration: do not expect to comprehend the book of Revelation in one study or series of lessons. I began studying this book in the late 1970’s, and have been through it several times, each time gaining a little more understanding than before. I am still a student of this book, and not an expert. Dr. Dan W. Cozart, one of my teachers of the book of The Revelation, and from whom I will be borrowing information for this study, effectively used the allegory of building to illustrate. Just as it takes a long time and much effort to build a building, it takes much time, effort, and intent to retain an understanding of The Revelation. Before one begins a building project, the ground must be prepared and a foundation must be laid, then the framework must be established, and so on until finally the last details are completed and it is ready to be inhabited.
Today, we are just getting the ground ready for this study –we’re plowing up the dirt and leveling it so that a foundation can be laid. “It’s a very dangerous thing to take proof texts out of the book of Revelation and try to build a theological system on it.”[i] The book of The Revelation is a complex book, and must be studied with much prayer and understanding of the entire context of God’s Word. In this study, we will be reflecting upon much Scripture throughout the Word of God so that every plank is put into its proper place and bolted securely.
Please be patient and diligent as we begin so the foundation and framework will be in place for you to better comprehend the entire picture of The Revelation. Make this study a priority. Come to as many of the classes as you can. This study is divided into four parts: 1) When Are We Now? 2) The Judgments of God 3) The Millennium and 4) The New Beginning, which will conclude the study.
On a scale of 1–10, rate your level of commitment to study The Revelation:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Why?
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Some people are apprehensive about digging into the book of The Revelation. Express any anxieties here about beginning this study:
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Let’s take a moment to reason through some of the fears people have that steers them away from studying the Book of the Revelation.
[i] John 14:27
Though he is not the central figure, Satan is a major part of the book of The Revelation.
“If Satan had the power – and I’m glad he doesn’t have – Satan has
only ever had the power that God gives him. He is under the dominion
and authority of God Almighty. He only exists because God makes him
exist. But if he could have the power to destroy any three books from the
Bible, I believe it would be 1) the book of Genesis, 2) the book of Jonah,
and 3) the book of Revelation.”[ii]
Dr. Cozart goes on to explain that Satan would destroy the book of Genesis because it is the foundation book for the entire Word of God. The word genesis = beginnings, and in this book of beginnings, God declares Satan’s ultimate demise.
Genesis 3:15 – And I will put enmity between you [Satan] and the woman,
and between your seed and her Seed; He [the woman’s Seed] shall bruise
your head, and you shall bruise His heel.
It is from this point forward that man has looked for the Savior [the woman’s Seed], and prophets have given their prophecies so that we should recognize Him: He would come from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, from the tribe of Judah, of the lineage of David, born of a virgin, in Bethlehem, and so on. In the book of Genesis, God lays the requirement of sacrifices. When Adam and Eve saw that they were naked, they tried to cover their nakedness with fig leaves. They made clothes. But God knew that fig leaves would never cover their sins. Instead, God killed the first animal –it was, most probably, a lamb, perfect, innocent, and blameless. An innocent animal had to die so the man and his wife could be covered with bloody skins.
Hebrews 9:22 – Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.
No, Satan does not like the book of Genesis, because without Genesis, the coming Savior makes no sense. If there is no sin, there is no need for a blood sacrifice – no need for a covering– no need for a Savior.
Then, the book of Jonah gives us the only sign that will be given – the only way for us to truly recognize the Savior of the world. In Matthew 12:39-40, Jesus says,
“An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and there shall no
sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah: For as Jonah was
three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be
three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
This sets the means by which Satan’s execution will be brought about. Satan will be executed through the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. When we look to Jesus’ sacrifice for the payment of our sins, Satan loses his control over us. So Satan would destroy the book of Jonah.
The book of The Revelation reveals exactly how and the order of events that lead up to Satan’s demise.
Revelation 20:1-3a, 10 – And I saw an angel come down from heaven,
having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he
laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and
bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut
him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no
more…
…And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and
brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall
be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Satan does not want us to know this book of The Revelation.
Therefore, Satan places doubt upon these books so people will not believe them. Take the book of Genesis – for centuries, more so in the last two hundred years, there has been a falsehood taken as truth by many people that says the book of Genesis is mythical. It is filled with fables that are there to teach a lesson, but are not actual history, and absolutely must not be taken as fact. This falsehood is so widely spread even God’s own children are uneasy about saying outwardly they believe God created the world in six days, or man was made from the dust of the earth and woman was made from the rib of man. To say you truly believe a man named Noah built an ark and saved his family and the whole animal kingdom from a world-wide flood is asking for career-disaster in our academic society. But keep in mind: for many years, historians discredited the account of Abraham having any influence in Egypt, until modern archaeological discoveries indicated it was actually quite probable.[iii]
If you are normal, at some time in your life you have wondered if the stories found in Genesis were fictional myths written to explain the unexplainable. Have you settled this question in your mind and determined in your heart to believe God’s Word?
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What are your thoughts at this time about the validity of God’s Word? _____________
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The book of Jonah is thought to be a fable as well. No learned man of higher education would ever assert that he actually believes Jonah was swallowed by a great fish, giving it a stomach ache, vomiting him back up on the shore so that Jonah could dash off to Nineveh, preach in the streets and when he did so, the whole town – even the king – repented in sackcloth and ashes. Satan has made that book seem quite unbelievable, and unreliable– even comical – as a resource for knowledge.
Some think you are fanatical if you study the book of The Revelation. There are many, many falsehoods circulating with regard to the book of The Revelation. There is much confusion concerning this book, and many steer clear of teaching it. Satan has created a fear to study this book, and a belief that one cannot ever hope to understand it, giving the notion that there is no use to try. Truly, there is much that we do not know and will never know until we sit at the feet of our Lord Jesus Christ and all is divulged. Also, there is much about which we cannot be dogmatic. You may disagree with me on certain points, and that is perfectly alright. I am studying many different viewpoints – there are so many, it is impossible to adequately teach all of them. I’ll point out some differences, and explain why I take the views that I understand to be the truth. We’ll also find many things on which I do not hold any particular view because, quite frankly, I do not know enough to be definite. So, it is with careful steps that we delve into this mysterious study.
First, let’s establish facts about the book and its author.
The Name of the Book
The name is clearly established in verse 1: The Revelation of Jesus Christ. Now, some editors have renamed this book. Some of you may find your book entitled The Revelation of St. John the Divine, but, you see, John is not the one being revealed. If the editors had simply read the first line that John wrote by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, they would have found the proper name of the book. Remember, your entitlements, chapter and verse divisions, and any study notes and references are not divinely inspired. Also, though it may seem trivial, it is not the Book of Revelations (in the plural), but The Revelation. This is not a series of revelations that John had, but one single, flowing revelation. This is important, because if it were a series, we could question if the various revelations were given in any particular order. But it is clear in the writing that as one event was left, the next event began – one revelation.
The word “revelation” comes from the Greek “apokalupsis” (ap-ok-al'-oop-sis) which means disclosure: – appearing, coming, lighten, manifestation, be revealed, revelation.[iv] The words revelation and apocalypse do not mean “the end times” or “prophecy” as many assume. It is a revealing. If something is being revealed, it is no longer clouded, or hidden – rather, that it is made clear -uncovered! This book is clearly depicting what will be happening! So, we do not need to be afraid to read and study this book – God desires to REVEAL himself to us! We should keep this in mind as we progress.
How do you feel knowing the God of the universe desires to reveal Himself to you?
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The unveiling of Jesus Christ: this is the purpose of The Revelation. This book is not about the antichrist, not about 666, not about the plagues, or the judgments, but about revealing the Lord Jesus Christ.
There are some differences in Jesus’ first coming to the earth – as a babe in a manger – and His second coming.
The First Time – Jesus came as a babe in a manger
The Second Time – He’ll come as a conquering King
The First Time – Jesus came covered by his manhood, his flesh
The Second Time – He’ll come uncovered and revealed as the Son of God
The First Time – He came in meekness
The Second Time – He’ll come in majesty
The First Time – He rode on a donkey
The Second Time – He will ride a white horse
The First Time – He stood before Pilate
The Second Time – Pilate will stand before him
The First Time – He wore a crown of thorns
The Second Time – He’ll wear a crown of pure gold
The First Time – He came as a sacrificial lamb
The Second Time – He’ll come as the lion of Judah
The First Time – He came to die
The Second Time – He’ll come to rule and reign
The First Time – He came as a servant of man
The Second Time – He’ll come as the King of kings and Lord of lords
The First Time – He was rejected by His people (the Jews)
The Second Time – He’ll be accepted by His people
Can you think of other differences?
The First Time – ______________________________________________________
The Second Time – ___________________________________________________
The First Time – ______________________________________________________
The Second Time – ___________________________________________________
The Author of the Book
“John, who bore witness… to all things” – John did not dream this, he didn’t go crazy, he wasn’t senile, and he didn’t make it all up. He actually saw these things and recorded them for us.
The Apostle John authored five books in the New Testament: The Gospel of John, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and the book of The Revelation of Jesus Christ. John was then and is still today a common name. This is the same John who became one of the “inner circle friends” of Jesus, along with his brother James and Simon Peter. These three were with Jesus when He raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead, saw Jesus transfigured with Moses and Elijah, entered Gethsemane to pray with Jesus. The same John who laid his head on the breast of Jesus during the Last Supper, and, at the cross, witnessed the
crucifixion of his Lord, Who gave him the commission to care for Mary, Jesus’ mother. John later became the pastor of the church of Ephesus. In Ephesus, John preached the gospel so stringently that the emperor of Rome sent out a decree to arrest him.
“An unsubstantiated legend holds that John was taken to Rome during a persecution and thrown into boiling oil but emerged unhurt. He was then exiled to the island of Patmos. John supposedly outlived all of the disciples, dying of old age on the isle of Patmos perhaps about A.D. 98.”[v]
Think about that for a minute. Boiling oil. We use boiling oil today for french-fries, chicken, catfish, and other things. We say they are deep-fat fried.
John the apostle was deep-fat fried like a chicken fried steak – but God was not finished with him. He emerged from that pot of boiling oil unharmed! Now that had to scare the socks off of Domitian! Domitian, emperor of Rome, had issued emperor worship, declaring that he was a god and must be worshipped as such. Domitian knew that pot of boiling oil would have turned him into a crispy critter, yet John is not even singed. Which is most likely to claim godhood? Domitian just tried to execute someone who truly demonstrated an attribute of divinity –avoiding death. God Almighty spared John, and Domitian must have been shaking in his boots! He immediately sent John off to a deserted island.
Even though this incident scared Domitian so much that he had John exiled to Patmos, it should actually give us much comfort and hope! You will not die – or be harmed (apart from what will prepare you or glorify the Lord) – until you have finished the tasks God has ordained for you to do!! Wow!! What a wonderful thing to grasp! As I seek God’s will in all that I do, and obey His directive, He will use me and keep me so that which He has laid out for me can be accomplished! That just makes me want to get in there and get to work!
How does the story of John being boiled in oil make you feel? _________________
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When the Book was Written
Let’s look at some historical facts leading up to the writing of the Book of The Revelation:
4 BC Jesus is born – Octavian (also called Caesar Augustus) was the Ruler of
the Roman Empire
29 AD Jesus is crucified and the church is established – In the eyes of Rome, the
church is competition for the authority of Rome
35 AD Stephen is martyred; Paul converted
42 AD the Apostle James is beheaded by Herod Agrippa I
49 AD the Jews are expelled from Rome
54-69 AD Nero ruled Rome
64 AD Nero sets fire to the city of Rome and blames the Christians. Nero then
launches severe Christian persecution
65 AD Nero orders Peter and Paul to be executed
70 AD Vespasian, the general of the Egyptian legions, becomes the new
emperor
70 AD Titus (son of Vespasian) destroys the city of Jerusalem, the temple, and
expels the Jews from the city, hoping to destroy the church
80s AD Domitian develops emperor worship
90 AD John is exiled to the Isle of Patmos
95 AD Domitian executes or exiles several family members on charges of
"atheism" (not worshipping the emperor)
98 AD John dies on the Isle of Patmos
The book of The Revelation was written somewhere around 95 AD while John was on the Island of Patmos. Patmos is located in the Aegean Sea, off the coast of modern-day Turkey. Ephesus was on the coast of modern-day Turkey, further north of Patmos.
When John was exiled, he was an older man. Life spans weren’t as long at that time as they are today. John was the youngest disciple, maybe even still a teenager when he began to follow Jesus, heard Him teach, and saw the miracles. If he were 21 when Jesus was crucified, he would have been eighty-seven years of age in 95 AD and ninety when he died – an extremely old man in his day. John saw many things happen since Jesus ascended back into heaven. He was there when the Holy Spirit came on Pentecost and 3,000 members were added to the church and probably baptized many of these new converts. He saw the church go through many trials as it began – settling the question of Gentiles in the church, Paul’s conversion and apostleship, the scattering of the church in 70 AD, the relentless persecution of Rome. And now, in 95 AD, he is the last of the ones who walked with the Lord. Though he worked diligently to spread the gospel, write his memoirs and instructions as God spoke to him, he finds himself alone on an island where he feels useless and destined to die with no other task to accomplish for his Lord and Savior. I know he was wondering if he had done enough, had said the right things, had left sufficient instructions. I know he questioned, “What will happen to the church now?” “How will God’s work continue?”
Imagine for a minute that you are John at this time in his life. What are some things you would be questioning?
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Then, the Lord he loved revealed Himself to John in all His majesty! Wow. John saw what no mortal eyes had ever seen before.
Reading Revelation 1:1 can be tricky because of the pronouns. Pronouns are wonderful things because they allow us to relate an event without repeating the noun over and over, making the story more palatable for our ears. For instance: Marty took Marty’s mother’s car to the store where Marty bought a package of nails for Marty’s father. With pronouns: Marty took his mother’s car to the store where he bought a package of nails for his father. It just sounds better. However, pronouns can be confusing. If you had said, Marty and his dad took his mother’s car to the store… then, the reader would not know if it was Marty’s mother’s car or Marty’s grandmother’s car as the second “his” could refer to either Marty or his dad.
I used to read Revelation 1:1 like this: “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him (John), to shew unto his (John’s) servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he (Jesus) sent and signified it by his (John’s) angel unto his (Jesus’) servant John:”
Don’t ask me why I read it like this – it was pure ignorance. My New King James Version cleared up the confusion. It capitalized the pronouns He and His when referring to God or Jesus. The New King James reads, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him (Jesus), to show His (Jesus’) servants – things which must shortly take place. And He (Jesus) sent and signified it by His (Jesus’) angel unto His (Jesus’) servant John:”
Now, I knew that the rule of pronouns is to use a pronoun only after or just before using the noun to which it refers, but it never occurred to me that God gave Jesus the revelation in order for Jesus to give it to John. That is an amazing detail that explains to me a little about how God operates. The Godhead (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) must work together – that much is obvious. Therefore, Jesus, although He is God, doesn’t do anything of His own accord. The Father, Son, and Spirit all work together to accomplish God’s will. Also… it isn’t meant for John’s servants, but for Jesus’ servants – US!!
The word “servants” is also translated “bondservants.” A bondservant was one who had completed his time as a slave, but voluntarily continued his service out of love for his master. This is the kind of servant hood we have – willing to continue in service even after Jesus has set us free! Not because we are obligated, but out of love we desire to serve our Master well.
The words “shortly come to pass” or “shortly take place” does not mean in the next 30 minutes. Note what Peter shares with us in his second letter:
2 Peter 3:8-9
– But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the
Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not
slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is
longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that
all should come to repentance.
Now, don’t get too hung up on “a thousand years is as one day”… Remember, it also says “one day is as a thousand years.” Some have actually tried to build a theology upon the middle third of verse eight, declaring that the six days of creation is really six thousand years, etc. Instead, this statement simply says that time is not the same thing with God as it is with us. Someone who is 65 years old may say in October, “I can’t believe it’s almost Christmas again.” While his five year old grandchild thinks Christmas is a very long time away. Two months is over 3% of the life of a five year old, but only 0.25% of the life of a 65 year old. God is eternal. We who are living within the boundaries of time measure everything by its beginning and its ending. This little blurp of “time” is like nothing to God! A thousand years to me, one who hopes to live to see one hundred years, is an extremely long time. But, to an infinite God, it is like the snap of a finger.
The Promise and the Curse
There is a promise connected with the book of The Revelation. No other book in God’s Word comes with a promise like this. Revelation 1:3 says:
“Blessed is he who reads, and they who hear the words of this prophecy,
and keep those things which are written in it: for the time is at hand.”
I bought a book once that came with a promise – it promised that if I used the techniques in the book, I could get rich. After a few attempts, I concluded that the promise was flawed, untrue, and bogus. However, this is God’s promise. I can assure you it is true. I have read the book of The Revelation several times, and each time, I am blessed with not only knowledge and understanding, but comfort, confidence, and peace. God promises us a blessing for reading this book and hearing the words of this prophecy – if we keep (guard) those things which are written. The Lord must want us to read this book and guard it – not avoid it.
There is also a curse connected with the book.
Revelation 22:18-19
– For I testify unto every man who hears the words of the prophecy of this
book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the
plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from
the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of
the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are
written in this book.
We don’t tamper with this book (or any divinely inspired scripture, for that matter) – we guard it, protect it, so that the words remain exactly as God gave them. We read, study, and enjoy the wonders that are written here, and God will bless.
The Time is at Hand.
So, when are we now, if the time is at hand?
Hebrews 1:1-2
– God, who at various times and in different ways spoke in times past to the
fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son,
whom He has appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the
worlds...
We, who have attended church for any length of time, have heard it over and over: “We’re living in the last days!” Yet we read in the New Testament the same thing. They were living in the last times. Is it just a saying? Does it have any meaning at all? How could those days be the last days when they were so long ago?
The last days had their beginning 2,000 years ago when Christ established His church, and sent the Holy Spirit to live in the hearts of those who believe. We call this time “The Church Age” because the church began and has continued for 2,000 years. The Church Age is the last dispensation of time before the events of Revelation chapters 4-22 begin, and we’re in the ending part of the last days. John said, “…the time is at hand” 2,000 years ago. It is much closer now than ever!
Next week our lesson is entitled “Behold! He Comes with Clouds!” We will be doing more of the ground-work by explaining the different viewpoints regarding The Revelation, briefly introduce the churches mentioned in the salutation or greeting, and go over Biblical numerology which is significant in the symbolism of this book.
To prepare for the next lesson:
1) read Revelation 1:4-8,
2) write down any questions or thoughts you may have concerning these five verses.
After this lesson, rate your level of commitment to study The Revelation:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
[i] Cozart, Dr. Dan W., http://www.sermonaudio.com/playpopup.asp?SID=31411173790.
[ii] Cozart, Dr. Dan W., http://www.sermonaudio.com/playpopup.asp?SID=31411173790.
[iii] Sweeney, Emmet, Ages in Alignment, ©2013 emmetsweeney.net, http://www.emmetsweeney.net/article-directory/item/70-abraham-and-egypt.html.
[iv] Strong’s Greek Lexicon, 602.
[v] Zavada, Jack, http://christianity.about.com/od/newtestamentpeople/a/JZ-John-The-Apostle.htm.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him, to show His servants – things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John, who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, and to all things that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it: for the time is at hand.
As we begin this journey, let me inject a thought for consideration: do not expect to comprehend the book of Revelation in one study or series of lessons. I began studying this book in the late 1970’s, and have been through it several times, each time gaining a little more understanding than before. I am still a student of this book, and not an expert. Dr. Dan W. Cozart, one of my teachers of the book of The Revelation, and from whom I will be borrowing information for this study, effectively used the allegory of building to illustrate. Just as it takes a long time and much effort to build a building, it takes much time, effort, and intent to retain an understanding of The Revelation. Before one begins a building project, the ground must be prepared and a foundation must be laid, then the framework must be established, and so on until finally the last details are completed and it is ready to be inhabited.
Today, we are just getting the ground ready for this study –we’re plowing up the dirt and leveling it so that a foundation can be laid. “It’s a very dangerous thing to take proof texts out of the book of Revelation and try to build a theological system on it.”[i] The book of The Revelation is a complex book, and must be studied with much prayer and understanding of the entire context of God’s Word. In this study, we will be reflecting upon much Scripture throughout the Word of God so that every plank is put into its proper place and bolted securely.
Please be patient and diligent as we begin so the foundation and framework will be in place for you to better comprehend the entire picture of The Revelation. Make this study a priority. Come to as many of the classes as you can. This study is divided into four parts: 1) When Are We Now? 2) The Judgments of God 3) The Millennium and 4) The New Beginning, which will conclude the study.
On a scale of 1–10, rate your level of commitment to study The Revelation:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Why?
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Some people are apprehensive about digging into the book of The Revelation. Express any anxieties here about beginning this study:
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Let’s take a moment to reason through some of the fears people have that steers them away from studying the Book of the Revelation.
- A fear of the unknown future. You may be simply afraid of what you do not know for certain, and none of us know exact details of what the future will bring in our lives. If you are a child of God, this fear should be at a minimum, because Jesus promised to be with you. He is with you always, giving you wisdom and guidance to avoid pitfalls in this life, and then He is with you when you leave your earthly body to take you to be with Him forever. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” –Jesus.[i] Do not hold on to fear. Reading this book will be a tremendous blessing to you. If you are not a Believer, then this fear should not keep you from reading this book – after all, you have no belief that anything in it is true. So, read it – study it. See what others have learned from its pages, and consider its message. Have no fear.
- A fear of not understanding the deeper meanings. It’s the school syndrome: “I was never the brightest in the class, so I’m sure not going to get into a class on the most controversial book in the Bible, and I know I could never understand it on my own, so I’ll just leave that to someone else – not my thing.” The simple truth is that the Holy Spirit speaks to each of us independently in such a way that we can understand.
[i] John 14:27
Though he is not the central figure, Satan is a major part of the book of The Revelation.
“If Satan had the power – and I’m glad he doesn’t have – Satan has
only ever had the power that God gives him. He is under the dominion
and authority of God Almighty. He only exists because God makes him
exist. But if he could have the power to destroy any three books from the
Bible, I believe it would be 1) the book of Genesis, 2) the book of Jonah,
and 3) the book of Revelation.”[ii]
Dr. Cozart goes on to explain that Satan would destroy the book of Genesis because it is the foundation book for the entire Word of God. The word genesis = beginnings, and in this book of beginnings, God declares Satan’s ultimate demise.
Genesis 3:15 – And I will put enmity between you [Satan] and the woman,
and between your seed and her Seed; He [the woman’s Seed] shall bruise
your head, and you shall bruise His heel.
It is from this point forward that man has looked for the Savior [the woman’s Seed], and prophets have given their prophecies so that we should recognize Him: He would come from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, from the tribe of Judah, of the lineage of David, born of a virgin, in Bethlehem, and so on. In the book of Genesis, God lays the requirement of sacrifices. When Adam and Eve saw that they were naked, they tried to cover their nakedness with fig leaves. They made clothes. But God knew that fig leaves would never cover their sins. Instead, God killed the first animal –it was, most probably, a lamb, perfect, innocent, and blameless. An innocent animal had to die so the man and his wife could be covered with bloody skins.
Hebrews 9:22 – Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.
No, Satan does not like the book of Genesis, because without Genesis, the coming Savior makes no sense. If there is no sin, there is no need for a blood sacrifice – no need for a covering– no need for a Savior.
Then, the book of Jonah gives us the only sign that will be given – the only way for us to truly recognize the Savior of the world. In Matthew 12:39-40, Jesus says,
“An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and there shall no
sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah: For as Jonah was
three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be
three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
This sets the means by which Satan’s execution will be brought about. Satan will be executed through the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. When we look to Jesus’ sacrifice for the payment of our sins, Satan loses his control over us. So Satan would destroy the book of Jonah.
The book of The Revelation reveals exactly how and the order of events that lead up to Satan’s demise.
Revelation 20:1-3a, 10 – And I saw an angel come down from heaven,
having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he
laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and
bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut
him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no
more…
…And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and
brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall
be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Satan does not want us to know this book of The Revelation.
Therefore, Satan places doubt upon these books so people will not believe them. Take the book of Genesis – for centuries, more so in the last two hundred years, there has been a falsehood taken as truth by many people that says the book of Genesis is mythical. It is filled with fables that are there to teach a lesson, but are not actual history, and absolutely must not be taken as fact. This falsehood is so widely spread even God’s own children are uneasy about saying outwardly they believe God created the world in six days, or man was made from the dust of the earth and woman was made from the rib of man. To say you truly believe a man named Noah built an ark and saved his family and the whole animal kingdom from a world-wide flood is asking for career-disaster in our academic society. But keep in mind: for many years, historians discredited the account of Abraham having any influence in Egypt, until modern archaeological discoveries indicated it was actually quite probable.[iii]
If you are normal, at some time in your life you have wondered if the stories found in Genesis were fictional myths written to explain the unexplainable. Have you settled this question in your mind and determined in your heart to believe God’s Word?
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What are your thoughts at this time about the validity of God’s Word? _____________
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The book of Jonah is thought to be a fable as well. No learned man of higher education would ever assert that he actually believes Jonah was swallowed by a great fish, giving it a stomach ache, vomiting him back up on the shore so that Jonah could dash off to Nineveh, preach in the streets and when he did so, the whole town – even the king – repented in sackcloth and ashes. Satan has made that book seem quite unbelievable, and unreliable– even comical – as a resource for knowledge.
Some think you are fanatical if you study the book of The Revelation. There are many, many falsehoods circulating with regard to the book of The Revelation. There is much confusion concerning this book, and many steer clear of teaching it. Satan has created a fear to study this book, and a belief that one cannot ever hope to understand it, giving the notion that there is no use to try. Truly, there is much that we do not know and will never know until we sit at the feet of our Lord Jesus Christ and all is divulged. Also, there is much about which we cannot be dogmatic. You may disagree with me on certain points, and that is perfectly alright. I am studying many different viewpoints – there are so many, it is impossible to adequately teach all of them. I’ll point out some differences, and explain why I take the views that I understand to be the truth. We’ll also find many things on which I do not hold any particular view because, quite frankly, I do not know enough to be definite. So, it is with careful steps that we delve into this mysterious study.
First, let’s establish facts about the book and its author.
The Name of the Book
The name is clearly established in verse 1: The Revelation of Jesus Christ. Now, some editors have renamed this book. Some of you may find your book entitled The Revelation of St. John the Divine, but, you see, John is not the one being revealed. If the editors had simply read the first line that John wrote by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, they would have found the proper name of the book. Remember, your entitlements, chapter and verse divisions, and any study notes and references are not divinely inspired. Also, though it may seem trivial, it is not the Book of Revelations (in the plural), but The Revelation. This is not a series of revelations that John had, but one single, flowing revelation. This is important, because if it were a series, we could question if the various revelations were given in any particular order. But it is clear in the writing that as one event was left, the next event began – one revelation.
The word “revelation” comes from the Greek “apokalupsis” (ap-ok-al'-oop-sis) which means disclosure: – appearing, coming, lighten, manifestation, be revealed, revelation.[iv] The words revelation and apocalypse do not mean “the end times” or “prophecy” as many assume. It is a revealing. If something is being revealed, it is no longer clouded, or hidden – rather, that it is made clear -uncovered! This book is clearly depicting what will be happening! So, we do not need to be afraid to read and study this book – God desires to REVEAL himself to us! We should keep this in mind as we progress.
How do you feel knowing the God of the universe desires to reveal Himself to you?
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The unveiling of Jesus Christ: this is the purpose of The Revelation. This book is not about the antichrist, not about 666, not about the plagues, or the judgments, but about revealing the Lord Jesus Christ.
There are some differences in Jesus’ first coming to the earth – as a babe in a manger – and His second coming.
The First Time – Jesus came as a babe in a manger
The Second Time – He’ll come as a conquering King
The First Time – Jesus came covered by his manhood, his flesh
The Second Time – He’ll come uncovered and revealed as the Son of God
The First Time – He came in meekness
The Second Time – He’ll come in majesty
The First Time – He rode on a donkey
The Second Time – He will ride a white horse
The First Time – He stood before Pilate
The Second Time – Pilate will stand before him
The First Time – He wore a crown of thorns
The Second Time – He’ll wear a crown of pure gold
The First Time – He came as a sacrificial lamb
The Second Time – He’ll come as the lion of Judah
The First Time – He came to die
The Second Time – He’ll come to rule and reign
The First Time – He came as a servant of man
The Second Time – He’ll come as the King of kings and Lord of lords
The First Time – He was rejected by His people (the Jews)
The Second Time – He’ll be accepted by His people
Can you think of other differences?
The First Time – ______________________________________________________
The Second Time – ___________________________________________________
The First Time – ______________________________________________________
The Second Time – ___________________________________________________
The Author of the Book
“John, who bore witness… to all things” – John did not dream this, he didn’t go crazy, he wasn’t senile, and he didn’t make it all up. He actually saw these things and recorded them for us.
The Apostle John authored five books in the New Testament: The Gospel of John, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and the book of The Revelation of Jesus Christ. John was then and is still today a common name. This is the same John who became one of the “inner circle friends” of Jesus, along with his brother James and Simon Peter. These three were with Jesus when He raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead, saw Jesus transfigured with Moses and Elijah, entered Gethsemane to pray with Jesus. The same John who laid his head on the breast of Jesus during the Last Supper, and, at the cross, witnessed the
crucifixion of his Lord, Who gave him the commission to care for Mary, Jesus’ mother. John later became the pastor of the church of Ephesus. In Ephesus, John preached the gospel so stringently that the emperor of Rome sent out a decree to arrest him.
“An unsubstantiated legend holds that John was taken to Rome during a persecution and thrown into boiling oil but emerged unhurt. He was then exiled to the island of Patmos. John supposedly outlived all of the disciples, dying of old age on the isle of Patmos perhaps about A.D. 98.”[v]
Think about that for a minute. Boiling oil. We use boiling oil today for french-fries, chicken, catfish, and other things. We say they are deep-fat fried.
John the apostle was deep-fat fried like a chicken fried steak – but God was not finished with him. He emerged from that pot of boiling oil unharmed! Now that had to scare the socks off of Domitian! Domitian, emperor of Rome, had issued emperor worship, declaring that he was a god and must be worshipped as such. Domitian knew that pot of boiling oil would have turned him into a crispy critter, yet John is not even singed. Which is most likely to claim godhood? Domitian just tried to execute someone who truly demonstrated an attribute of divinity –avoiding death. God Almighty spared John, and Domitian must have been shaking in his boots! He immediately sent John off to a deserted island.
Even though this incident scared Domitian so much that he had John exiled to Patmos, it should actually give us much comfort and hope! You will not die – or be harmed (apart from what will prepare you or glorify the Lord) – until you have finished the tasks God has ordained for you to do!! Wow!! What a wonderful thing to grasp! As I seek God’s will in all that I do, and obey His directive, He will use me and keep me so that which He has laid out for me can be accomplished! That just makes me want to get in there and get to work!
How does the story of John being boiled in oil make you feel? _________________
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When the Book was Written
Let’s look at some historical facts leading up to the writing of the Book of The Revelation:
4 BC Jesus is born – Octavian (also called Caesar Augustus) was the Ruler of
the Roman Empire
29 AD Jesus is crucified and the church is established – In the eyes of Rome, the
church is competition for the authority of Rome
35 AD Stephen is martyred; Paul converted
42 AD the Apostle James is beheaded by Herod Agrippa I
49 AD the Jews are expelled from Rome
54-69 AD Nero ruled Rome
64 AD Nero sets fire to the city of Rome and blames the Christians. Nero then
launches severe Christian persecution
65 AD Nero orders Peter and Paul to be executed
70 AD Vespasian, the general of the Egyptian legions, becomes the new
emperor
70 AD Titus (son of Vespasian) destroys the city of Jerusalem, the temple, and
expels the Jews from the city, hoping to destroy the church
80s AD Domitian develops emperor worship
90 AD John is exiled to the Isle of Patmos
95 AD Domitian executes or exiles several family members on charges of
"atheism" (not worshipping the emperor)
98 AD John dies on the Isle of Patmos
The book of The Revelation was written somewhere around 95 AD while John was on the Island of Patmos. Patmos is located in the Aegean Sea, off the coast of modern-day Turkey. Ephesus was on the coast of modern-day Turkey, further north of Patmos.
When John was exiled, he was an older man. Life spans weren’t as long at that time as they are today. John was the youngest disciple, maybe even still a teenager when he began to follow Jesus, heard Him teach, and saw the miracles. If he were 21 when Jesus was crucified, he would have been eighty-seven years of age in 95 AD and ninety when he died – an extremely old man in his day. John saw many things happen since Jesus ascended back into heaven. He was there when the Holy Spirit came on Pentecost and 3,000 members were added to the church and probably baptized many of these new converts. He saw the church go through many trials as it began – settling the question of Gentiles in the church, Paul’s conversion and apostleship, the scattering of the church in 70 AD, the relentless persecution of Rome. And now, in 95 AD, he is the last of the ones who walked with the Lord. Though he worked diligently to spread the gospel, write his memoirs and instructions as God spoke to him, he finds himself alone on an island where he feels useless and destined to die with no other task to accomplish for his Lord and Savior. I know he was wondering if he had done enough, had said the right things, had left sufficient instructions. I know he questioned, “What will happen to the church now?” “How will God’s work continue?”
Imagine for a minute that you are John at this time in his life. What are some things you would be questioning?
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Then, the Lord he loved revealed Himself to John in all His majesty! Wow. John saw what no mortal eyes had ever seen before.
Reading Revelation 1:1 can be tricky because of the pronouns. Pronouns are wonderful things because they allow us to relate an event without repeating the noun over and over, making the story more palatable for our ears. For instance: Marty took Marty’s mother’s car to the store where Marty bought a package of nails for Marty’s father. With pronouns: Marty took his mother’s car to the store where he bought a package of nails for his father. It just sounds better. However, pronouns can be confusing. If you had said, Marty and his dad took his mother’s car to the store… then, the reader would not know if it was Marty’s mother’s car or Marty’s grandmother’s car as the second “his” could refer to either Marty or his dad.
I used to read Revelation 1:1 like this: “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him (John), to shew unto his (John’s) servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he (Jesus) sent and signified it by his (John’s) angel unto his (Jesus’) servant John:”
Don’t ask me why I read it like this – it was pure ignorance. My New King James Version cleared up the confusion. It capitalized the pronouns He and His when referring to God or Jesus. The New King James reads, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him (Jesus), to show His (Jesus’) servants – things which must shortly take place. And He (Jesus) sent and signified it by His (Jesus’) angel unto His (Jesus’) servant John:”
Now, I knew that the rule of pronouns is to use a pronoun only after or just before using the noun to which it refers, but it never occurred to me that God gave Jesus the revelation in order for Jesus to give it to John. That is an amazing detail that explains to me a little about how God operates. The Godhead (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) must work together – that much is obvious. Therefore, Jesus, although He is God, doesn’t do anything of His own accord. The Father, Son, and Spirit all work together to accomplish God’s will. Also… it isn’t meant for John’s servants, but for Jesus’ servants – US!!
The word “servants” is also translated “bondservants.” A bondservant was one who had completed his time as a slave, but voluntarily continued his service out of love for his master. This is the kind of servant hood we have – willing to continue in service even after Jesus has set us free! Not because we are obligated, but out of love we desire to serve our Master well.
The words “shortly come to pass” or “shortly take place” does not mean in the next 30 minutes. Note what Peter shares with us in his second letter:
2 Peter 3:8-9
– But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the
Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not
slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is
longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that
all should come to repentance.
Now, don’t get too hung up on “a thousand years is as one day”… Remember, it also says “one day is as a thousand years.” Some have actually tried to build a theology upon the middle third of verse eight, declaring that the six days of creation is really six thousand years, etc. Instead, this statement simply says that time is not the same thing with God as it is with us. Someone who is 65 years old may say in October, “I can’t believe it’s almost Christmas again.” While his five year old grandchild thinks Christmas is a very long time away. Two months is over 3% of the life of a five year old, but only 0.25% of the life of a 65 year old. God is eternal. We who are living within the boundaries of time measure everything by its beginning and its ending. This little blurp of “time” is like nothing to God! A thousand years to me, one who hopes to live to see one hundred years, is an extremely long time. But, to an infinite God, it is like the snap of a finger.
The Promise and the Curse
There is a promise connected with the book of The Revelation. No other book in God’s Word comes with a promise like this. Revelation 1:3 says:
“Blessed is he who reads, and they who hear the words of this prophecy,
and keep those things which are written in it: for the time is at hand.”
I bought a book once that came with a promise – it promised that if I used the techniques in the book, I could get rich. After a few attempts, I concluded that the promise was flawed, untrue, and bogus. However, this is God’s promise. I can assure you it is true. I have read the book of The Revelation several times, and each time, I am blessed with not only knowledge and understanding, but comfort, confidence, and peace. God promises us a blessing for reading this book and hearing the words of this prophecy – if we keep (guard) those things which are written. The Lord must want us to read this book and guard it – not avoid it.
There is also a curse connected with the book.
Revelation 22:18-19
– For I testify unto every man who hears the words of the prophecy of this
book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the
plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from
the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of
the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are
written in this book.
We don’t tamper with this book (or any divinely inspired scripture, for that matter) – we guard it, protect it, so that the words remain exactly as God gave them. We read, study, and enjoy the wonders that are written here, and God will bless.
The Time is at Hand.
So, when are we now, if the time is at hand?
Hebrews 1:1-2
– God, who at various times and in different ways spoke in times past to the
fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son,
whom He has appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the
worlds...
We, who have attended church for any length of time, have heard it over and over: “We’re living in the last days!” Yet we read in the New Testament the same thing. They were living in the last times. Is it just a saying? Does it have any meaning at all? How could those days be the last days when they were so long ago?
The last days had their beginning 2,000 years ago when Christ established His church, and sent the Holy Spirit to live in the hearts of those who believe. We call this time “The Church Age” because the church began and has continued for 2,000 years. The Church Age is the last dispensation of time before the events of Revelation chapters 4-22 begin, and we’re in the ending part of the last days. John said, “…the time is at hand” 2,000 years ago. It is much closer now than ever!
Next week our lesson is entitled “Behold! He Comes with Clouds!” We will be doing more of the ground-work by explaining the different viewpoints regarding The Revelation, briefly introduce the churches mentioned in the salutation or greeting, and go over Biblical numerology which is significant in the symbolism of this book.
To prepare for the next lesson:
1) read Revelation 1:4-8,
2) write down any questions or thoughts you may have concerning these five verses.
After this lesson, rate your level of commitment to study The Revelation:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
[i] Cozart, Dr. Dan W., http://www.sermonaudio.com/playpopup.asp?SID=31411173790.
[ii] Cozart, Dr. Dan W., http://www.sermonaudio.com/playpopup.asp?SID=31411173790.
[iii] Sweeney, Emmet, Ages in Alignment, ©2013 emmetsweeney.net, http://www.emmetsweeney.net/article-directory/item/70-abraham-and-egypt.html.
[iv] Strong’s Greek Lexicon, 602.
[v] Zavada, Jack, http://christianity.about.com/od/newtestamentpeople/a/JZ-John-The-Apostle.htm.