Revelation Bible Study Week 1 - Rev 1:1

[Cool_Hand_Luke]

Post #1 - General Overview of this study on "The Revelation of Jesus Christ"

O Happy Days!!!

Hello |CoR| and anybody else who may be interested in following along with us in this most exciting book of the Bible, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ".

This first week will be mostly an introduction so we can all get ourselves familiar with and prepared for what God has for us.

Post #1 - General Overview of this study on Revelation
Post #2 - General Outline of Revelation
Post #3 - General Time Line of Revelation
Post #4 - General Introduction of Revelation 1:1



Starting in week 2, the structure will look like this:

* Post #1 - Revelation Text will have the text with a couple of different translations, a link to listen to those corresponding verses online, and a link to download the same corresponding verses in MP3.

* Post #2 - Revelation Study will have the actual Bible study using the complete Inductive Bible Study Method (IBS) with a devotional side to it.
IBS involves an 8 step process:
1-Pray For The Passage= (Psalm 119:18, John 14:26, Hebrews 4:16)
2-Read The Passage= (Nehemiah 8:3, Matthew 22:31)
3-Observe The Passage= (Matthew 13:10) asking questions about various things, like what does that word mean, or what significance does that Old Testament quote or illusion have, or what does that number mean, or who is speaking, or who is being spoken about, etc.
4-Interpret The Passage= (Nehemiah 8:8) answers to the observations.
5-Apply The Passage= (1 Corinthians 4:6) how does this information apply to my daily life, is there a sin to forsake, are there steps for spiritual growth, etc.
6-Obey The Passage= (Luke 11:28)
7-Pass On To Others The Passage= (Acts 18:9, Hebrews 10:25)
8-Praise The Lord For The Passage= (Revelation 19:5)


May God richly bless you as you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

 

[Cool_Hand_Luke]

Post #2 - General Outline of "The Revelation of Jesus Christ".

I. THE THINGS WHICH YOU HAVE SEEN, Introduction
1. Title and Address (Rev 1:1-8
2. Vision of Jesus and Message to the Seven Churches of the Province of Asia (Rev 1:9-20)

II. THE THINGS WHICH ARE, The Letters to the Seven Churches (Rev 2; 3)
1 Ephesus (Rev 2:1-7)
2. Smyrna (Rev 2:8-11)
3. Pergamos (Rev 2:12-17)
4. Thyatira (Rev 2:18-29)
5. Sardis (Rev 3:1-6)
6. Philadelphia (Rev 3:7-13)
7. Laodicea (Rev 3:14-22)

III. THE THINGS TO COME, First series of visions: the seals and trumpets
1. The Vision of Heaven
(1) Adoration of the Creator (Rev 4)
(2) The 7-Sealed Book; Adoration of God and the Lamb (Rev 5)
2. Opening of Six Seals (Rev 6)
(1) The White Horse (Rev 6:1, 2)
(2) The Red Horse (Rev 6:3, 4)
(3) The Black Horse (Rev 6:5, 6)
(4) The Pale Horse (Rev 6:7, 8
(5) Souls under the Altar (Rev 6:9-11)
(6) The Wrath of the Lamb (Rev 6:12-17)
3. Interludes (Rev 7)
(1) Sealing of 144,000 on Earth (Rev 7:1-8
(2) Triumphant Multitude in Heaven (Rev 7:9-17)
4. Opening of Seventh Seal: under This Seven Trumpets, (Rev 8; 9)
(1) Hail and Fire on Earth (Rev 8:7)
(2) Burning Mountain in Sea (Rev 8:8, 9)
(3) Burning Star on Rivers and Fountains (Rev 8:10, 11)
(4) One-third Sun, Moon, and Stars Darkened (Rev 8:12). “Woe” Trumpets (Rev 8:13)
(5) The Fallen Star-Locusts (Rev 9:1-11)
(6) Angels Loosed from Euphrates—the Horseman (Rev 9:12-21)
5. Interludes—
(1) Angel with Little Book (Rev 10)
(2) Measuring of Temple and Altar—the Two Witnesses (Rev 11:1-13)
6. Seventh Trumpet Sounded—Final Victory (Rev 11:14-19)

IV. SECOND SERIES OF VISIONS: the women and the red dragon;
The two beasts; the bowls and last plagues
1. The Woman and Child; the Red Dragon and His Persecutions (Rev 12)
2. The Beast from the Sea, Seven-headed, Ten-horned (Rev 13:1-10); the Two-horned Beast (Rev 13:11-18
3. Interludes (Rev 14)
(1) The Lamb on Mt. Zion; the 144,000 (Rev 14:1-5)
(2) The Angel with “an Eternal Gospel” (Rev 14:6, 7)
(3) Second Angel—(Anticipatory) Proclamation of Fall of Babylon (Rev 14:8)
(4) Third Angel—Doom of Worshippers of the Beast (Rev 14:9-12)
(5) Blessedness of the Dead in the Lord (Rev 14:13)
(6) The Son of Man and the Great Vintage (Rev 14:14-20)
4. The Seven Last Plagues—the Angels and Their Bowls: the Preparation in heaven (Rev 15)—the Outpouring (Rev 16)
(1) On Earth (Rev 16:2)
(2) On Sea (Rev 16:3)
(3) On Rivers and Fountains (Rev 16:4-7)
(4) On Sun (Rev 16:8, 9)
(5) On Seat of Beast (Rev 16:10, 11)
(6) On Euphrates—Har-Magedon (Rev 16:12-16)
(7) In the Air—Victory and Fall of Babylon (Rev 16:17-21)

V. EXPANSION OF THE JUDGMENTS(Rev 17 through 19)
1. The Scarlet Woman on Beast—Her Judgment (Rev 17)
2. Doom of Babylon and Lament over Her (Rev 18
3. Interlude—Announcement of Marriage of the Lamb (Rev 19:1-10)
4. Rider on White Horse (“The Word of God”) and His Armies—Last Battle and Doom of Beast, False Prophet, and Their Followers (Rev 19:11-21)

VI. THE MILLENNIUM—NEW HEAVENS AND EARTH (Rev 20 through 22)
1. Satan Bound; First Resurrection and Reign of Saints for 1,000 Years (Rev 20:1-6)
2. Loosing of Satan and Final Conflict—Doom of Adversaries and of the Devil (Rev 20:7-10)
3. General Resurrection and Last Judgment (Rev 20:11-15)
4. New Heavens and New Earth
(1) The New Jerusalem from Heaven (Rev 21:1-9)
(2) Description of the City (Rev 21:10-27)
(3) Blessedness of Its Citizens (Rev 22:1-7)
(4) Epilogue (Rev 22:8-21)

 

[Cool_Hand_Luke]

Post #3 - General Timeline of "The Revelation of Jesus Christ".

ISRAEL RESTABLISHED
State of Israel established in 1948
Jerusalem returns to Jewish control in 1967. Luke 21:24

SIGNS OF THE END
Prophetic warning signs.
According to Christ the following are the beginning of birth pangs. The worse is yet to come.
Godlessness in the last days - 2 Timothy 3:1-5,7
False Messiahs. Prelude to the First Seal - Matthew 24:5,11
Wars and Rumors of Wars. Prelude to the Second Seal - Matthew 24:6
Famines. Prelude to the Third Seal - Matthew 24:7
Pestilences - Matthew 24:7
Earthquakes - Matthew 24:7

RAPTURE
The instantaneous removal of God's people from the earth.
Matthew 24:31,40-41, 1 Corinthians 15:50-53, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, John 14:1-3, 2 Thessalonians 2:3,6-7, 2 Thessalonians 2:5,9-10, Luke 21:34-36, Isaiah 26:19-21, Revelation 4:1-2

SEVEN-YEAR PERIOD OF DANIEL BEGINS
Seven-year covenant or peace treaty with Israel is confirmed by the Antichrist. Daniel 9:27
Antichrist is revealed. 1st Seal - White Horseman 2 Thessalonians 2:3,6-7, Daniel 11:36 Revelation 6:1-2
Rebuilding of the Third Temple in Jerusalem -Daniel 9:27
False Prophet is revealed. Revelation 13:11, Matthew 24:11
Miracles of the False Prophet cause deception amongst the people of the world. Revelation 11:13-14, Matthew 24:24
War - 2nd Seal - Revelation 6:3-4, Matthew 24:6
Mark of the Beast is required on all people to buy or sell. This signifies worship of the Beast. Revelation 11:16-18
Famine - 3rd Seal - Revelation 6:5-6, Matthew 24:7
Resurrection of the Beast/Antichrist after a fatal wound. Revelation 11:12
Two witnesses of God prophesy against the Antichrist causing drought and plagues to come upon the earth. Revelation 11:3-6

TRIBULATION MIDPOINT
(3 1/2 years after the peace treaty with Israel)
Breaking of the covenant with Israel by the Antichrist. Daniel 9:27
Abomination of Desolation - The image of the Antichrist is placed in the temple at Jerusalem and given breath by the False Prophet. Daniel 9:27,11:31, 2 Thessalonians 2:4, Matthew 24:15

GREAT TRIBULATION
Persecutions of Christians Begins - Matthew 24:21-22, Revelation 13:5-7
Death - 4th Seal - One-fourth of the world's population (new Christians and Jews) are killed by the Antichrist/Beast with the sword and with starvation. None can buy without taking the mark of the Beast. - Revelation 6:7-8
Martyrs of the Tribulation period cry out to the Lord. - 5th Seal - Revelation 6:9-11, 2 Timothy 3:12, Daniel 7:25
Signs in the Sky - 6th Seal - (Great Earthquake, Bloody Moon, Blackout of the Sun #1, Meteors falling, Mountains and Islands moving, Sky splits apart) Revelation 6:12-14, Matthew 24:29, Joel 2:30-31, 3:14-16
144,000 of the tribe of Israel are sealed - Revelation 7:2-4
Martyrs that came out of the Great Tribulation stand before God - Revelation 7:9-17

DAY OF THE LORD
7th Seal - Trumpet Judgments of the Wrath of God - Revelation 8:1,6
1st Trumpet - Hail and Fire Destruction of all the grass and 1/3 of trees. Revelation 8:7
2nd Trumpet - Meteor falls into the Ocean destroying 1/3 of ships and sea life. Revelation 8:8-9
3rd Trumpet -Wormwood falls from the Heavens causing fresh water to become bitter. Revelation 8:10-11
4th Trumpet - Darkening of a third of the sun, moon, and stars. Revelation 8:12, Joel 3:13
5th Trumpet - Locusts from the Bottomless Pit and Blackout of the Sun #2. Revelation 9:1-10
6th Trumpet - Eastern army of 200,000,000 men kill 1/3 of mankind. Revelation 9:13-19

Death of the Two Witnesses. Revelation 11:7-10
Resurrection of the Two Witnesses on the Third day occurring in view of the World. Revelation 11:11-12
Earthquake strikes Jerusalem destroying 1/10 of the city - Revelation 11:13

7th Trumpet - Consists of seven Bowl Judgements of the Wrath of God.

1st Bowl - Sores on men with the Mark of the Beast. Revelation 16:2
2nd Bowl - All creatures in the sea die. Revelation 16:3
3rd Bowl - Rivers and Springs become blood. Revelation 16:4
4th Bowl - Sun scorches the earth. Revelation 16:8-9
5th Bowl - Kingdom of the Antichrist/Beast becomes full of darkness. Revelation 16:10-11
6th Bowl - Euphrates river dries up allowing the Chinese army to move to Armageddon. Revelation 16:12
7th Bowl - Greatest earthquake ever, Spiritual Babylon and/or Rome is destroyed. Revelation 16:17-19, Jeremiah 51:24,26

ARMAGEDDON
Gathering of the Antichrist, kings and, armies of the world. Zechariah 14:2-5, Revelation 16:13-14,16, Revelation 19:19, Daniel 11:40-45
Final Conquest and Plundering of Jerusalem. Joel 3:2,12, Zechariah 14:2,3
SECOND COMING OF THE MESSIAH
Second Coming - Revelation 19:11, Zechariah 14:3-5
Beast and False Prophet thrown into the Lake of Fire. Revelation 19:20-21
Destruction of the armies by the word of God. Revelation 20:15,21, Zechariah 12:98, 14:2-5,12

MILLENNIUM
Christ rules on Earth.
Satan bound in the abyss for 1000 years. Revelation 20:2-3
Satan released to make war for the last time. Revelation 20:7-9
Satan thrown into the Lake of Fire forever. Revelation 20:10

GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT
Judgment of Nations Revelation 20:11-15

NEW HEAVEN AND EARTH
Revelation 21:1-2,12-14

 

[Cool_Hand_Luke]

Post #4 - General Introduction of "The Revelation of Jesus Christ".

We are going to study about a period of time in which no other period is talked more than what is revealed in the book of Revelation. There are 404 verses in Revelation and over 800 of them are direct illusions or quotations from the Old Testament. It is said that, “The Old Testament is in the New Testament revealed, and the New Testament is in the Old Testament concealed.”

God has done His part to reveal all that we need for life and godliness. Have we done our part to receive it?

This brief introduction to the book of Revelation will help us to understand the background of the book. Let us never forget that the focus of this book is to reveal the glory of Jesus Christ. Read Revelation 1:1

First, The Author of Revelation
1. Writing in the first person singular, the author of Revelation identifies himself several times as John, a brother and companion of his readers.
a) Revelation 1:4 (NKJV), John, to the seven churches which are in Asia:
b) Revelation 1:9 (NKJV), I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation 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.
c) Revelation 21:2 (NKJV), Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
d) Revelation 22:8 (NKJV), Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things.
2. Because of its contents and its address to the seven churches in Asia minor, Revelation quickly circulated and became widely known and accepted in the early church. It was frequently mentioned and quoted by second and third century Christian writers and was received as part of the canon of the New Testament books. From the beginning, Revelation was considered an authentic work of the Apostle John, the same John who wrote the gospel and three Epistles.
3. Look in verse one to see who gave this revelation to John. “which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place.” God the Father gave this revelation to man through the Apostle John.

Second, The Book of Revelation
1. Just as Genesis is the book of beginnings, Revelation is the book of consummation. God’s divine plan of redemption comes to fruition and the Holy name of God is vindicated before all creation.
2. The title of this book in the Greek text is Apokalypsis Ioannou, “Revelation of John.” A common title given comes from the first verse: Apokalypsis Iesou Christou, “Revelation of Jesus Christ.” The word Apokalypsis is transliterated into Apocalypse. This word means “unveiling,” “disclosure,” or “revelation”. Thus the book is the unveiling or revealing of Jesus Christ, which otherwise could not be known. It took an act of God to reveal to man something that man didn’t know before. God the Father revealed the glory of His Son Jesus Christ.
3. The word Revelation means an uncovering, a bringing to light of that which had been previously wholly hidden or only obscurely seen. God has been pleased in various ways and at different times (Heb. 1:1) to make a supernatural revelation of himself and his purposes and plans, which, under the guidance of his Spirit, has been committed to writing. The Scriptures are not merely the “record” of revelation; they are the revelation itself in a written form, in order to the accurate preservation and propagation of the truth. Thus, Revelation is the supernatural communication of God’s truth to the human mind.
a) When I was in grade school, I went to the unveiling of Mazda’s new RX-7. The car had a tarp over it so no one could see it until the appropriate time. The RX-7 had an industry trade secret and they didn’t want anybody else to know what it was. That afternoon, the tarp came off revealing Mazda’s new model. It was the same model (RX-7), but it had several modifications. Jesus is the same Jesus, but He has been glorified, and God wants us to see Him.
4. Notice that the title in verse one is “Revelation” singular, not plural. It is not Revelations. There is only one Revelation of Jesus Christ. In the Greek, were the definite article is present; it denotes the word “The”. In Greek, the definite article is automatically assumed when you’re speaking of singular terms. So, we cannot say that this is a Revelation of Jesus Christ, because that would mean that there is more than one. Rather this is “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.”
5. Now, why am I harking on this so much? When looking at John 1:1. The Jehovah Witnesses have inserted the indefinite article, which is the letter “a”. Rendering the reading to be, “the Word was a god.” Instead of, “the Word was God.” What is the difference? The text is talking about unique singular things, resulting in the use of the definite article “the” or by legal Greek grammar able to leave it out. By adding the letter “a” makes Jesus Christ just another god among many other god’s, plural. Too often we as Christians read over the Word of God and miss the significance of the basic simplicity of the text.
a) A couple of years ago, I read a book that talked about Hell, Demons, and the spiritual realm. The problem with this book was that it claimed to be a new revelation of these things. They contradicted what God’s Word already said. As a result, I had to discount everything that was written in it and claim it as fiction.

Third, The Christ of Revelation
1. Revelation has much to say about the Godhead, but the focus of this book is to reveal the glory of Jesus Christ
a) He is called Jesus Christ, 1:1.
b) The faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, the ruler over the Kings of the earth, 1:5.
c) The first and the last, 1:17.
d) Holy and true, 3:7.
e) The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God, 3:14.
f) The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, 5:5.
g) The Lamb, 5:6.
h) Faithful and True, 19:11.
i) The Word of God, 19:13.
j) King of Kings and Lord of Lords, 19:16.
k) Alpha and Omega, 22:13.
l) The bright and morning Star, 22:16.
m) The Lord Jesus Christ, 22:21.
2. The overall outcome is that God triumphs over every adversary – Satan, sin, evil, and death. His kingdom is victorious, His eternal reign is established, and His people enter joyful eternity worshipping and fellowshipping with God.

Fourth, The Keys of Revelation
1. Key phrase for this book is in 22:20, “I am coming soon.”
2. The key verse for this book is in 1:19, “Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.” Jesus is giving the outline to His message.
3. The key chapters for this book are from Revelation 19-22. The glory of Jesus Christ is consummated in these chapters.

Fifth, The Survey of Revelation
1. As for a survey of Revelation, I have already posted a Time Line of the book of Revelation. Post #3 - General Time Line of "The Revelation of Jesus Christ".

Sixth, The Time of Revelation
1. During the reign of the roman emperor Domitian, who reigned from A.D. 81-96, the Apostle John was exiled for a time on the island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea, 100 miles southwest of the city of Ephesus. There on Patmos is where John had received this revelation from God in around A.D 95. The early church father Irenaeus tells the story of how John was preaching that only Jesus is Lord and in Ephesus and the local government rioted against John. They arrested him and cast him into a pot of boiling oil. John survived without even a red mark on his skin. The people were afraid that they were not able to kill John so they exiled him to Patmos instead.

Seventh, The Understanding of Revelation
1. There are four principle viewpoints concerning the interpretation of this book:
a) The Preterist view sees the prophecies in Revelation as having been fulfilled in the early history of the church.
b) The Historical view sees the book as portraying a panorama of the history of the church from the days of John to the end of time.
c) The Symbolic view sees everything as symbolic and allegorical language. It all has a spiritual meaning, but is not to be taken literal.
d) The Futurist views Revelation literally. Chapters 4-22 are prophetic and to be taken as events yet to be fulfilled. This is the viewpoint I hold as well as most evangelical Christians.

Is God revealing Himself to you today? Is He knocking at the door of your heart and asking you to let Him in so that He might have fellowship with you? Do you feel like God wants to reveal Jesus Christ to you in a more personal way? If so, open the door to your heart and let Jesus in. God has already revealed Jesus Christ, He is not hidden from you, so don’t you hide from Him.

If you need prayer, PM or e-mail me; I’d love to pray with you and talk with you about Jesus.

 

[Zeena]

SEVEN-YEAR PERIOD OF DANIEL BEGINS
Seven-year covenant or peace treaty with Israel is confirmed by the Antichrist. Daniel 9:27

That was amazingly detailed!

Very thorough, only one [easily] mistakable error that I noted so far;

That's not talking about Satan, but Messiah, Jesus!

Daniel 9:27a He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering.

Look at it in the Light of Chirst and tell me it ain't so

And keep up the good work!

 

[Zeena]

http://www.bible.ca/ef/expository-daniel-9-24-27.htm

 

[David's Sling]

Interesting fact about the book of Revelation itself:

The Authorized King James Version of the Bible contains at least one account of heresy!
The title line of its last book reads: "The Revelation of Saint John the Divine" (emphasis added)

The true title, as stated by the actual God-inspired contents of the book, is...

"The Revelation of Jesus Christ"

 

[Zeena]

Interesting fact about the book of Revelation itself:

The Authorized King James Version of the Bible contains at least one account of heresy!
The title line of its last book reads: "The Revelation of Saint John the Divine" (emphasis added)

The true title, as stated by the actual God-inspired contents of the book, is...

I'm appauled!