The Last Book...
REVELATION
Week One...
Welcome to the End
This study is written in conjunction with the sermon series presented at
Opawa Baptist Church titled, “The Last Book...”, preached by Rob Petrini.
The study was written in its entirety by Rob Petrini with the help of
references listed at the back of this study.
This study is free of charge and cannot be sold for any monetary gain.
For a complete copy of the sermon audios and transcripts, as they are
released please go to www.opawa.org.nz or contact the church office for
a hardcopy.
On the back page of this study, all
references used to help produce
this study is listed along with a
detailed bibliography.
Introduction
A BOOK THAT INSPIRES MISINTERPRETATION
There is no other book that has caused more
debate, concern and confusion than the Book
of Revelation. From who wrote it, to the basic
interpretations of many of the prophetic words
that are communicated, Revelation continues to
stoke debate between Christians and non
Christians alike.
Humanity, in general, has always been blessed
with an insatiable curiosity to know their future.
To get a glimpse of what will happen at the end,
an end that we all acknowledge will happen
one day, we just don’t know how or when. Yet,
those that purport to know the future, especially
the end, can only seem to communicate it in a
rather dubiously cryptic manner, take
Nostradamus for instance. Why?
The Book of Revelation is no stranger to being
cryptic in its written manner. Many today regard
it as the hardest book to understand in the
Bible (in fact, many get it’s name wrong too, It
is Revelation, singular, not Revelations, plural).
Cryptic might be an understatement. Weird may
be better! It is full of strange creatures and
imagery.
For those of us that love science fiction movies,
or those clever, plot within a plot, driven
movies, should find Revelation right up our
alley. But that is not the case. In fact many of us
are quite alienated by the imagery that we get
from it.
The fact is though, the Book of Revelation
presents one of the clearest and sharpest
visions of God’s ultimate purpose for the whole
of creation. Unfortunately many of us have
“barked up the wrong tree” when it comes to
understanding the true meaning and purpose of
Revelation, spending too much time promoting
an ungodly fear about being left behind at the
rapture, or pointing the finger to the identity of
the mythical Antichrist, or trying, contrary to
Christ’s warning, to figure out the date of the
second coming.
The world is no less a dangerous and complex
place as it was in the first century when the
book was written, but the truths in the last book
of Bible can be understood. It speaks a
powerful message of prophecy and promise,
understood clearly by those who first read it
and clear for us today, for those of us who have
an ear to hear.
History
THE ‘WHAT, WHERE, WHO’
The is some conjecture as to when the
book of Revelation was written. It really
is down to two dates. An early date prior
to 70AD during Emperor Nero’s Reign.
A later date, circa 95AD during Emperor
Domitian’s reign. The later date is
definitely the more traditional one, being
a f fi r m e d b y e a r l y c h u r c h f a t h e r
Irenaeus. All of my study presented
here is based on this later date, as I
believe there is no hesitation in regards
to the timing being at the close of the
first century.
Domitian was the Roman ruler at that
time, and he really began the first,
definitive persecution of Christians.
Even though Nero, before him, had
persecuted Christians, Domitian was the first to
make it policy of the Roman Empire to actively
work against Christianity. Even though he did not
limit himself to persecuting Christians, there was
no doubt that he certainly went out of his way to
destroy Christianity. Where Nero toyed with
Christians, Domitian saw them as a threat to his
reign.
Ephesus was his patron city and he spent much
time there holding competitive games and
gladiatorial contests. His father was the Emperor
Vespasian, founder of the Flavian dynasty.
Vespasian was the one to lay siege on Jerusalem.
During the siege, Nero committed suicide, and
after a civil war, the Roman Senate declared
Vespasian Emperor. He left to siege of Jerusalem
to his eldest son Titus, who then proceeded to
demolish Jerusalem and the Temple, entering the
Most Holy Place and desecrating it. He
succeeded his father as emperor (the first Roman
Emperor to do so) in 79AD. Even though he only
ruled 2 years he is credited with completing the
Colosseum and opening the Roman storehouses
to help support the victims of the Mount Vesuvius
eruption (where Pompeii was destroyed).
He died of a fever in 81AD and his younger
brother, Domitian, became emperor. !
Ephesus, at the time of Domitian’s rule, was the
second largest city in the Roman Empire. It
numbered close to 500,000 residents. It
contained one of the seven wonders of the
ancient world in the Temple of Artemis (known as
the Temple of Diana to the Romans). It contained
one of the largest libraries in the Empire, the
Library of Celsus. The largest temple in the city
was the Temple of Domitian, today, one of the
few remains connected with the Roman Emperor.
It also contained the largest outdoor theatre in
the Empire, and the largest agora (commercial
markets) in the Asia province. !
John is believed to have written the book of
Revelation. There is a question mark as to which
John, whether it was John the Apostle or John
the Elder. I do not think it is relevant which John it
was. Both Johns were key leaders within the
Ephesian church. It could have quite easily have
been either. Many scholars would believe the
book would have more credibility if it were written
by an apostle. I don’t think it matters. If we
acknowledge it as God’s word, then does it really
matter who wrote it?
1.
Welcome to the End
THE END IS ONLY THE BEGINNING.
The revelation from Jesus Christ,
which God gave him to show his
servants what must soon take
place. He made it known by
sending his angel to his servant
John, who testifies to everything
he saw...
Revelation 1:1
Blessed is the one
who reads aloud the
words of this
prophecy, and
blessed are those
who hear it and take
to heart what is
written in it, because
the time is near.
Revelation 1:3
1.
What comes to your mind when it comes to the Book of Revelation? What
words and/or images come to mind?
2.
What have been your experiences, whether positive or negative, with the book
of Revelation?
3.
Why do you think some people seem to have an obsession with Revelation?
4.
What do you hope to gain from the study of Revelation?
5.
What is your understanding of the world at the time of the writing of
Revelation? What was going on in the church at the time? Who was emperor
and what impact did that have on daily living in the empire?
6.
Read Revelation 1:1-8. Who is this book all about and what do we learn about
Him in these opening verses?
7.
What does it mean that this book serves as a “testimony” or “witness” (v.2)
8.
Read Revelation 1:9-20. Where is John when he writes this letter and why is
he there?
9.
Why would this be important to John’s original readers?
10. What does John see when he turns to find out who is speaking to him?
11. What is John’s response when he sees who is speaking to him?
12. What is the significance of the number 7 and the imagery that goes with it (the
lampstands, the angels, Jesus being in the midst of it)?
“This vision of Jesus draws together the vision
of two characters in one of the most famous
biblical visions, that of Daniel 7. There, as the
suffering of God’s people reaches its height,
“the Ancient of Days” takes seat in heaven, and
“one like a son of man” (in other words,
humanity, a human figure, representing God’s
people and, in a measure, all of the human race)
is presented before him, and enthroned alongside
him. Now, in John’s vision, these two pictures
seem to have merged. When we are looking at
Jesus, he is saying, we are looking straight
through him at the Father Himself.”
N. T. Wright “Revelation for Everyone”
Bibliography
Michael J. Gorman! !
“Reading Revelation Responsibly”
One of the best books on helping to read and understand Revelation. Not a
commentary per se, but a great, objective, and well measured overview. A must
for anyone serious about studying Revelation. A lot of the questioning in this
study comes directly from this book.
Mark Wilson!!
!
!
“Charts on the Book of Revelation”
This book contains charts on many topics in Revelation. You will probably not find charts like this anywhere
else. From charts on Old Testament allusions to views on the millennium, it’s all there. It’s not a commentary
or a Theological treatise, it’s just charts. A fantastic way of breaking down Revelation.
N. T. Wright !!
!
“Revelation for Everyone”
N. T. Wright goes through each chapter of Revelation with his usual, simple 'no nonsense' approach to what
it must have meant to the original readers and what lessons should be taken on board by those of us
coming now much later in history, although he does not shy away from stating where passages are difficult
to interpret. Easy to read, clears misconceptions and very helpful in understanding complicated passages.
It comes with a study guide.
Craig S. Keener! !
“NIV Application Commentary - Revelation”
Though the symbolism of Revelation is not well touched on in this commentary, the life application it brings
is unique and well written. It really does a good job of answering what Revelation has to do with us today. It
has helped me with bringing down to earth some of the far fetched imagery you’ll find, along with a very
practical approach to it’s importance to the church today.