Hey guys, the slides are made available.
Unfortunately, my notes are not accessible in the PDF (and besides- isn't that cheating?)
I'll post my notes to this page after each program, so bookmark it and check back frequently.
NOTES:
SUMMARY of REVELATION
•The last book of the Bible is the last book recognized as orthodox Canon. It is the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
•Written by the Apostle John on the island of Patmos, 95AD
•The Revelation means Apocalupsis (to reveal or unveil) contrasted with Apocrypha (means to hide or conceal)
•If we remember back in Daniel, the angel Gabriel tells Daniel “But as for you, Daniel, keep these words secret and seal up the book until the end of time; many will roam about, and knowledge will increase.” Dan 12:4
•The Revelation contains 404 passages, and in them, has 278 references back to the Old Testament
•Although the book is largely given in signs, the signs (symbols) aren’t arbitrary or open for interpretation. They pull from the OT.
•The number 7 is used in Revelation 52 times. Seven: Letters, churches, angels, lampstands, spirits before the throne, seals, trumpets, thunders, bowls, horns, eyes, heads, etc.
•The number 7 is the foundation of God's word. It derives much of its meaning from being tied directly to creation and symbolizes completeness and perfection (both physical and spiritual).
•The book has three major divisions; Past (Chapter 1), Present (Chapters 2-3), and Future (Chapters 4-22) This is from Rev 1:19
Controversy: Was Revelation written early, or late? FTR, the late dating is correct. How do we know? Three Major Proofs
Testimony of the Ante Nicene ECF:
Irenaeus' testimony in Against Heresies 30, states that John received the Revelation toward the end of the reign of Domitian (81-96AD)
Clement of Alexandria (150-215) mentions that John was exiled to the isle of Patmos until “after the death of the tyrant” (a ref to Domitian who died in 96AD) (Who Is the Rich Man? 42) Eusebius identifies the “tyrant” as Domitian (Ecclesiastical History III.23)
Victorinus (d. 304AD) mentions that John had the vision of the apocalypse “while he was on the island of Patmos condemned to the mines by Caesar Domitian”
Eusebius (260-340AD) known as ‘the father of church history’ due to his classical work Ecclesiastical History. He dates the book of Revelation to the reign of Domitian several times
Jerome (A.D. 340-420) said, “In the fourteenth then after Nero, Domitian having raised up a second persecution, he [John] was banished to the island of Patmos, and wrote the Apocalypse” (Lives of Illustrious Men 9)
The Seven Letters
The City of Laodicea had a devastating earthquake in 60AD. Tacitus wrote, “One of the famous cities of Asia, Laodicea, was that same year overthrown by an earthquake, and, without any relief from us, recovered itself by its own resources.” Estimates is that it took 25-30 years to rebuild Laodicea. The lukewarm persona of the church doesn’t seem fitting for a first-generation church. More in line with a second=generation church.
Antipas Martyred: Revelation 2:13 says that Antipas of Pergamum was martyred for his faith in Christ. Tradition records that Antipas was roasted alive in AD 92 in a brazen bull-shaped altar.
No Smyrna? According to the Bishop of Smyrna, Polycarp, who was a disciple of John, he stated there was no church in Smyrna during Paul’s day
No Nicolaitans? The Pauline Epistles never address the “Nicolaitans” who seem to be plaguing the seven churches
The Antichrist Criteria
Caesar Nero died on June 9, 68AD by suicide, thus CANNOT be the Antichrist. (did not fulfill 2 Thess 2: 8, or Rev 19:20)
Nero’s persecution was largely localized to Rome proper, while Domitian's persecution was widespread
Why was that? Domitian was first Caesar to demand to be worshipped as a ‘living god’ and thus, attempted to implement his self-worship throughout the Roman Empire, but was significantly felt in Asia Minor
CHAPT 1
The heavy use of trinity clauses
1.who is, who was, who is to come
2.the faithful witness, firstborn from the dead, ruler over the kings of the earth
3.tribulation, kingdom, patience
4.who lives, write the things you’ve seen, what is, what is to come after
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must [a]shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. 3 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 near.
(engys [engoos] from primary verb agcho-meaning to squeeze or throttle; nigh (13x), at hand (6x), nigh at hand (4x), near (4x), nigh unto (1x), and ready (1x)
Greeting the Seven Churches
4 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: (Why not the churches in Rome, or Judaea, or Antioch?
Christian were first called that in Antioch. The Church began in the Middle East, and has circumvented the globe many times, but the influence began moving westward, and is now in China, which are in Asia (maybe the church ages ends like it began?)
Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Trinity of trinities, (kings and priests as opposed to Israel- who were to be a kingdom of priests (Exodus 19:6))
7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. (when before the Sanhedrin’s court- Matt 26:64)
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Vision of the Son of Man
9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation (thlipsi and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
Tribulation: pressure (literally or figuratively):—afflicted(-tion), anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble. John 16:33 is not the same as Jer 31:7, Dan 7:24, Matthew 24:21’s “megas thlipsis”
12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.
14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; (compare with Dan 7:9)
16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. (reflect back on Transfiguration- Luke 9:28-36)
17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.
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(reflect back on Transfiguration- Luke 9:28-36: it seems that every time Jesus went to pray, His disciples were “heavy with sleep” [ever notice how the disciples always are caught sleeping when He is praying] The phrase “heavy with sleep is bareo hypnos--- (bareō - to burden, weigh down, depress //// hypnos (hoopnos) - sleep)
18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
19 Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.
20 The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.