Revelation Study

Introduction

A BOOK OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD

There is probably more speculation and false doctrine that encircles the book of Revelation than any other book. Admittedly, it is unlike any other book in the New Testament because its message is concealed in symbols, which often may create an air of obscurity.

4 THINGS TO SEEK

• to place your self

• to picture it

• to perceive the principle

• to practice the purpose

AUTHOR

• “John” (1:1, 4, 9; 22:8)– would have to have an apostolic

stamp to survive

– Justin Martyr, Irenaeus and Tertullian referred to it as being from the Apostle John

AUTHOR

• Similarities between “John” & “Revelation”– In no other New Testament book

does a writer refer to Jesus as the Word except John and Revelation (Jn. 1:1; Rev. 19:13).

– In no other New Testament book does a writer refer to Jesus as the Lamb of God (Jn. 1:29; Rev. 5:6).

DATE

• Suggestions range from A.D. 41-54 with Claudius to Trajan A.D. 98-117

• 2 Most accept dates– A.D. 65-66

(thematic to destruction of Jerusalem)

– A.D. 91-98 (thematic to Rome)

EVIDENCE PROVIDED FOR THE EARLY DATE

• Temple still standing (11:1-2)

• Assertion that Nero’s persecution was for religious purposes

problems with the temple evidenceproblems with Nero

EARLY DATE EVIDENCE CHALLENGED

• if one accepts the “temple” as literal Jewish temple, why not also accept other things in passage as literal (2 witnesses, 1260 days)

• church is referred to as the “temple” (Eph. 2:19-22; Heb. 11:10, 16; 12:22, 23; Rev. 21:2, 3)

RETURN

NERO’S PERSECUTION—NOT RELIGIOUS BUT POLITICAL TO DEFLECT GROWING SUSPICION THAT HE WAS BEHIND THE FIRE

“But all human efforts, all the lavish gifts of the emperor, and the propitiations of the gods, did not banish the sinister belief that the conflagration was the result of an order. Consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their center and become popular. Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty; then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind. Mockery of every sort was added to their deaths. Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burnt, to serve as a nightly illumination, when daylight had expired. . . . Hence, . . .there arose a feeling of compassion; for it was not, as it seemed, for the public good, but to glut one man’s cruelty, that they were being destroyed.”(The Complete Works of Tacitus. New York: The Modern Library, pp. 380- 381, 1947.)

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NERO ACCUSED OF BEING BEHIND FIRE BECAUSE HE DIDN’T LIKE THE CROOKED STREETS & OLD BUILDINGS

“But he showed no greater mercy to the people or the walls of his capital. When someone in a general conversation said: "When I am dead, be earth consumed by fire," he rejoined "Nay, rather while I live," and his action was wholly in accord. For under cover of displeasure at the ugliness of the old buildings and the narrow, crooked streets, he set fire to the city so openly that several ex-consuls did not venture to lay hands on his chamberlains although they caught them on their estates with tow and firebrands. . .”

(Suetonius: De Vita Caesarum—Nero, XXXVIII,Ancient History Sourcebook )

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NERO’S PERSECUTION—LIMITED TO ROME AND NOT THE WHOLE WORLD

“But all human efforts, all the lavish gifts of the emperor, and the propitiations of the gods, did not banish the sinister belief that the conflagration was the result of an order. Consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their center and become popular. Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty; then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind. Mockery of every sort was added to their deaths. Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burnt, to serve as a nightly illumination, when daylight had expired. . . . Hence, . . .there arose a feeling of compassion; for it was not, as it seemed, for the public good, but to glut one man’s cruelty, that they were being destroyed.”(The Complete Works of Tacitus. New York: The Modern Library, pp. 380- 381, 1947.)

THIS WAS FOR ROME

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EXTERNAL EVIDENCE FOR LATE DATE• Irenaeus, “We will not, however incur the

risk of pronouncing positively as to the name of Antichrist; for if it were necessary that the name should be distinctly revealed in this present time, it would have been announced by him who beheld the apocalyptic vision. For that was seen no very long time since, but almost in our day, towards the end of Domitian’s reign.”

(Against Heresies, V, xxx, iii, ANF, I, pp. 559-560.)

IRENAEUS

• separated by one generation

• places the apocalyptic vision towards the end of Domitian’s reign– “Revelation” GK. (apokalupsis)

[ap-ok-al’-oop-sis] (Rev. 1:1)

EUSEBIUS QUOTING TERTULLIAN, A.D. 325

“Tertullian also has mentioned Domitian thus: ‘Domitian had reigned fifteen years, and Nerva succeeded to the government, the Roman senate decreed, that the honours of Domitian should be revoked, and that those who had been unjustly expelled, should return to their homes, and have their goods restored.’ This is the statement of the historians of the day. It was then also, that the apostle John returned from his banishment in Patmos, and took up his abode at Ephesus, according to an ancient tradition of the church”

(Ecclesiastical History, III, xx 103.)

EUSEBIUS, A.D. 325

“About this time also, the beloved disciple of Jesus, John the apostle and evangelist, still surviving, governed the churches in Asia, after this return from exile on the island, and the death of Domitian. But that he was still living until this time, it may suffice to prove, by the testimony of two witnesses. These, as maintaining sound doctrine in the church, may surely be regarded as worthy of all credit: and such were Irenaeus and Clement of Alexandria”

(ibid. xxiii, 104.)

CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA, A.D. 193

Clement penned about A.D. 193, “For when, on the tyrant’s death, he returned to Ephesus from the isle of Patmos, he went away, being invited , to the contiguous territories of the nations, here to appoint bishops, there to set in order whole Churches, there to ordain such as were marked out by the Spirit”(Who Is The Rich Man? XLII, ANF, II, p.

603.)

INTERNAL EVIDENCES FOR THE LATE DATE

• recipients of letter (1:4)– if focus is on the destruction of

Jerusalem, why was it written to Asia Minor, 500 miles away?

• Patmos (1:9)– how would the Jews have gotten John

banished to Patmos– history doesn’t mention Nero banishing

John

• Scope = worldwide (3:10)

INTERNAL EVIDENCES FOR THE LATE DATE

• Acts 19:10—all in Asia heard word ~ A.D. 54-57– improbable that in 10 years many

of the churches would have reached the sore state that is described in Revelation

BACKGROUND

• Rome was nearly at the peak of power– extended from British Isles to the

deserts of Africa

– Atlantic Ocean to Euphrates

BACKGROUND• Wealthy and worldly

– Caligula spent $500,000 on a banquet– “. . . he became a vicious tyrant after a severe

illness. Historians believe that he probably went insane. He squandered his fortune on public entertainment and building projects; banished or murdered most of his relatives; had people tortured and killed while he dined; made his favorite horse a consul; declared himself a god; and had temples erected and sacrifices offered to himself. In 41 the officers of his guard formed a conspiracy against him, and he was assassinated.”(Microsoft® Encarta® Encyclopedia 2002. © 1993-2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.)

BACKGROUND

• Dangerous times to be a Christian– Domitian demanded worship– Book of Revelation had to be

written in “symbols” to safeguard its message and messenger

– Revelation identifies Satan as the one who is at the core of the adversity (Rev. 12)

NOTES ON NUMEROLOGY

• Numbers in Revelation mean more than the obvious– “one” (unity)– “two” (strength, sufficient

testimony: Deut. 17:6; Rev. 11:3)– “three” (divine, whole, complete: 2

Cor. 12:8)– “four” (whole, entire: Job 1:19; Is.

11:12; Ezek. 7:2)

NOTES ON NUMEROLOGY

• Numbers in Revelation mean more than the obvious– “five” (short duration, meaning tied

to ½ of 10)

– “six” (failure, to fall short, meaning tied to understanding “7”)

– “seven” (complete: 7 days in week; addressed to 7 churches)

NOTES ON NUMEROLOGY

• Numbers in Revelation mean more than the obvious– “3 ½” (tied to the meaning of 7,

broken, incomplete, cut in half)

– “ten” (fullness: Gen. 31:7; Num 14:22; Neh. 4:12; Job 19:3; Dan. 1:20; Rev. 2:10; Rev. 12:3)

NOTES ON NUMEROLOGY

• Numbers in Revelation mean more than the obvious– “twelve” (covenant, religion)– “1000” (meaning tied to “10” and

“3,” 10 X 10 X 10)– “144,000” (God’s covenant

people, meaning is tied to “12,” “1000,” “10,” and “3,” [12 X 12] X [10 X 10 X 10])

CAESARS IN 1ST CENT.1. Julius Caesar 48-44 B.C. (Dictator)

2. Octavian (“Augustus”) 27 B.C. – 14 A.D. first Emperor (Lk. 2:1)

3. Tiberius 14-37 A.D. Ruled when Christ died (Lk. 3:1)

4. Caligula 37-41 A.D.

5. Claudius 41-54 A.D (Acts 11:28)

6. Nero 54-68 A.D. Persecuted Christians

7. Galba June 68-January 69 A.D.

8. Otho January 69-April 69 A.D.

9. Vitellius April –December 69 A.D.

10. Vespasian December 69 –June 79 A.D.

11. Titus 79-81 A.D.

12. Domitian 81-96 A.D. 2nd persecutor of Christians.

13. Nerva 96-98 A.D.

14 Trajan 98-117 A.D persecuted Christians