A
STUDY OF REVELATION
“Blessed is he who reads and those who
hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for
the time is near.”
(Revelation
1:3)
By
Richard Bartholomew
October
2005
A
STUDY OF REVELATION
The book of Revelation is a difficult book to study because its symbolic nature and vivid imagery have led to varied interpretations down through the ages. However, it is the only book in the Bible that contains a specific blessing to those who read the words of prophecy, hear what it has to say and take heart to what is written (1:3). There are five primary methods of interpretation of the book of Revelation, outlined as follows:
1. The Philosophy of History (Spiritual or Idealist) Method – This theory is that the book contains no references to specific events or to any people in the past, present or future. Instead it simply presents great principles intended to guide and stimulate the followers of Christ throughout time, ultimately with good winning over evil. This position is not widespread, but has been adopted in some respects by the 7th Day Adventists and other “fringe” groups.
2. The Continuous-Historical Method – This view presents Revelation as a forecast of the history of the church, the rise of the papacy, Islam, the Reformation, etc. Each major event in the history of Christendom, from Pentecost to the 2nd Coming of Jesus, is supposedly foreshadowed in the book. This makes it simply a calendar of events written in advance.
3. The Futurist Method – This position regards Revelation as almost wholly dealing with the events of the end of the world. Therefore, it is a book of unfulfilled prophecy. People in this camp place Chapters 4-19 as just before Christ’s return to earth, Chapter 20:1-10 as the Millennial (1000 year) Reign, Chapter 20:11-15 as the time of Judgment and Chapters 21 and 22 as the final state of the established kingdom. This is the most common view being taught in the denominational world.
4. The Preterist Method – This view is nearly the opposite of the Futuristic approach. Futurists assert that none of the book has been fulfilled, while Preterists, in the strict sense of the term, say that all that was written was fulfilled during the time of the Roman Empire.
5. The Historical Background Method – This view regards revelation as being written primarily to Christians of that day for their encouragement and edification, but with a message for all time. To understand the full message is to learn: a) what the book meant to Christians in the Roman Empire; b) the relationship of the book with the Old Testament, especially in regards to the symbolism; c) that the interpretation must be consistent with the teachings of the rest of the New Testament.
From the research and study I have done, this class will focus on the premise that the Revelation of Jesus Christ as given to the apostle John was intended to provide comfort and encouragement to Christians suffering persecution for their faithfulness. God sees all that goes on in the world and the ultimate victory of Jesus will provide eternal rest and glory to those who remain steadfast, regardless of how they are treated by fellow citizens of earth.
The word “revelation” comes from the Greek word apokalupis, which means “an uncovering, a laying bare or making naked.” Thus, the Revelation of Jesus Christ (1:1) is the uncovering or unveiling of Jesus Christ in His present glory and power. As A.W. Hendrikson wrote in “More Than Conquerors”, “Where in literature do we find anything that excels the majestic description of the Son of Man walking in the midst of the seven golden lampstands? (1:12-20) Where in scripture do we find a more vivid and picturesque portrayal of the Christ, faithful and true, going with a garment sprinkled with blood, followed by the armies of heaven? (19:11-16) It is truly a revelation of who Jesus the Christ is, what power He holds and what peace He offers to those who obey.” Though Revelation is a book of prophecy (1:3, 22:7, 10, 18, 19), it is not merely a book predicting future events. Lenski called the Revelation letter “Immediate prophecy that is given directly by God and reveals not only the future, but together with it also the divine realities of the present and of the past.” Another Bible scholar, Summers, says “The purpose of the writer was not to cover up his message, but to make it increasingly vivid by unveiling through signs and symbols.” Since the letter was written during dangerous and threatening times, it was both a concealing and a revealing. The personal safety of both the writer and the reader was endangered if their persecutors understood the true meaning. And since a full understanding of the Old Testament was necessary to comprehend the content, only Christians, students of the Word, could fully grasp what was being said.
There are
two time frames during which the book of Revelation was most likely written. It
was, obviously, written during a time when Christians were about to experience
or were already experiencing severe persecution. The reign of Emperor Nero (A.D.
54-68) was one such period and A.D. 66 marked the destruction of Jerusalem. It
was Nero who had Paul and Peter put to death around A.D. 65. However, as the
apostle John would have still been relatively young at that time and was not
exiled to the island of Patmos until much later in his life, most scholars (Iraneus,
Clement, Eusebius, Albert Barnes, Victorinus, Orosius, etc.) agree that the
writing was done during the reign of Domitian (A.D. 81-96), more specifically
circa A.D. 95. The writings of Iranaeus, Eusebius, Jerome and others state that
John was exiled to the isle of Patmos during the 14th year of the
reign of Emperor Domitian (95 A.D.) and was released 18 months later during the
reign of Nerva. Patmos is a small island off the coast of modern day Turkey in
the Aegean Sea. It is about 8 miles long, 6 miles wide at its greatest width and
covers a total area of only about 22 square miles. A few contend that the
writing took place between the reigns of Nero and Domitian, but internal and
external evidence seems to point towards the A.D. 95 time frame. Several decades
after their establishment, the Asian churches
begin deteriorating, particularly in Ephesus, Sardis and Laodicea. The
Nicolatian party had time to rise to prominence and become rooted with false
teachings. Emperor worship had been entrenched throughout the Roman Empire and
Domitian was the Caesar who history records as being the most ruthless in
enforcing this decree, bathing the empire with the blood of Christians who
refused to conform to these demands.
To the
Christians of the late 1st century, the book of Revelation was
delivered at a very critical time. For many years after the establishment of the
church, Christianity had remained virtually anonymous within the Roman Empire.
Authorities had regarded it as part of the Jewish religion, which was a legal
faith as decreed by Rome. When it became known that Christianity was not just a
new patch on the old garment of Judaism, the Christians found themselves in
increasing difficulty with the government and their fellow man. Antagonism was
directed towards them for the following reasons:
1. Christianity was an illegal religion. Rome tolerated the religion of the people they conquered as long as they did not proselyte. Of course, Christians exist(ed) to save others.
2. Christianity aspired to universality. With the Empire, the State was the primary focus and worthy of priority consideration in all matters. With Christians, the kingdom of God took precedence over any other form of rule.
3. Christianity was an exclusive religion. Christians, in pure form, refused to compromise with the social life and paganistic customs of the land when such practices conflicted with their faith.
4. Christians were accused of all sorts of evil. Because they held meetings at night and were fond of each other, the idolatrous people deduced that these gatherings were for lustful gratification. When they heard references from the Lord’s Supper to “eating flesh and drinking blood”, Christians were accused of cannibalism.
5. Christian converts, by and large, came from the poor and outcasts of society. Most respectable people looked down on them.
6. Because of their enthusiasm and zeal, Christians were viewed as wild fanatics.
7. Christians refused to worship the emperor.
There was
tremendous pressure on churches, early leaders and individual Christians to
compromise their beliefs and practices in order to assimilate into local society
and the Roman Empire. In many areas they did succumb, particularly after periods
of economic and physical persecution. The threat from external sources was
great, especially when Domitian set out to totally exterminate all remnants of
the Christian faith. But the internal threat, while not as immediately apparent,
was just as deadly and ominous. Gnosticism and blendings with various local
religions produced bewilderment, controversy and dissension, threatening
fellowship and the very permanence of the truths taught by the apostles just
50-60 years earlier. The Book of Revelation was God’s answer to the faithful
and a warning to those who were drifting.
Old
Testament Background – Although often using reference by allusion
rather than direct quotation, the book of Revelation draws heavily upon Old
Testament writings, particularly in regards to the oppression of God’s people.
The circumstances of Christians at the time of Revelation were very similar to
those the Israelite nation found themselves in throughout their history.
According to the research of Rick Billingsley, preacher in Downer’s Grove,
Illinois, there are at least 282 Old Testament references in Revelation found in
the following seven books: Isaiah
(79), Daniel (53), Psalms (43), Ezekiel (43), Jeremiah (22), Exodus (22), and
Zechariah (15). Brief discussions of a few of these books as they relate to
Revelation are as follows:
Isaiah
– Isaiah appeared on the scene at a critical time in Judah’s history.
Assyria was ascending as a world power while Egypt was on the decline. The
prophet’s main purpose was to teach that salvation would come only from God
and never from man. Therefore, no alliance should be made with foreign nations.
Two brief examples of the similarities in the two books are: 1)
The throne scene in Rev. 4 & 5 is similar in language to the visions of the
Lord upon His throne that Isaiah saw in the year King Uzziah died. 2) The description of the new heaven and earth from Rev. 21 & 22
finds comparison in Isaiah 65.
Daniel
– Daniel lived during the Babylonian captivity of the 6th century
B.C. He was among the first captives taken by King Nebuchadnezzar (605 B.C.) and
was educated according to the royal wishes of the king. The book of Daniel
provides a philosophy of history using Babylon as an example and is similar to
Revelation in the following ways: 1)
The authors were both in exile; 2)
God’s people were oppressed by ungodly forces; 3)
Both writers spoke of the overthrow of the evil power and the continuing rule of
God. Rev. 4 & 5 asserts that God is always in control and the book of Daniel
is a testament to that fact. There is one striking difference in the
circumstances surrounding these two books – Israel was in captivity because of apostasy while Christians of the 1st
century were persecuted because of their faithfulness.
Ezekiel – “Ezekiel” means “God strengthens” and his name was prophetic of his mission. Ezekiel was carried captive around 597 B.C. and he wrote to speak the truth against the lying prophets of his time. There was a desperate need for the people to be saved from their despair and Ezekiel uses the phrase “the word of the Lord came unto me” 49 times to stress that his message came from God. At the time God’s people were held captive in Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar made Zedekiah King over Judah, Jerusalem was besieged and ultimately destroyed. Ezekiel’s role was to labor among those in Babylonian exile, while Jeremiah worked among the Jews left in Judea. The term “Son of Man” was first used by Ezekiel, then used by Jesus and then again by John in Revelation. Both books used symbolic language extensively and alluded to the judgments against nations.
Jeremiah
– Jeremiah rose to prominence during the reign of Josiah (abt. 627 B.C.), with
his writings being directed towards the Jewish remnant in Judea. Most of the
references to the book of Jeremiah are found in Rev. 16-19, in which the
overthrow of the great Babylon is described.
Zechariah – This prophet began his ministry around 520 B.C. in the 2nd year of King Darius of Persia. His writings are full of messianic references, with 4 principal allusions in Revelation that reach back to Zechariah: 1) The lampstands (Zechariah 4 & Rev. 1); 2) The “seven eyes of the lamb” (Zechariah 4:10 & Revelation 5); 3) The symbol of the four horsemen (Zechariah 6 & Revelation 6); 4) The two witnesses who are the two olive trees (Zechariah 4 & Revelation 11).
The other
Old Testament books with significant ties to Revelation are Exodus
and Psalms. In studying the heavily symbolic language of the book of
Revelation, we must remember that John drew heavily upon the prophets of the Old
Testament to deliver his message and we cannot accurately study or understand
Revelation without sound knowledge of the Old Testament. As with any other
Biblical study, we need to look at the context of the entire Bible and
understand that a symbol as used in the Old Testament will have the same meaning
as a symbol used in the New Testament. The book of Revelation cannot be
separated from the rest of the Bible and treated as a separate writing with no
contextual or symbolic link to the rest of the inspired work.
The
Symbolism of Revelation – John’s writing in Revelation uses both the
symbolism of words and the symbolism of numbers. When a symbol is used, we must
learn its’ meaning and then apply it consistently wherever it applies. A
symbol, by definition, stands for something and cannot type itself. Thus, a
literal interpretation of a symbol is never possible. Also, as the Bible is
consistent, we must accept the premise that a symbol, once used and interpreted
correctly, never changes its meaning. Homer Hailey stated, “One is cautioned
to be careful to avoid explaining each aspect of a symbol. Neither should he
look for literalism in the symbols, for some are grotesque when viewed
literally. Symbols, signs and images are used to express ideas; one must look
through John’s particular vision, with his symbols and images, and strive to
grasp the idea in the mind of God as He revealed it to the writer.”
The
Oriental mind has always had a fascination with numbers and their uses for inner
significance. Numbers were often used to replace words in conveying a moral or
spiritual truth or to suggest a defined concept. The scriptural use of numbers
in the Bible is consistent with historical/cultural uses of the times and is
explained as follows:
1. The number one references unity or independent existence. It stood for that which was unique and alone and does not appear symbolically in the book of Revelation.
2. Two signifies strength and companionship. Two are better than one and the number “2” stands for strength confirmed, redoubled energy and courage. In Revelation, two witnesses who are slain and rise again confirm the truth. Two beasts present a formidable foe.
3. The number three signifies perfection, as mankind finds love in the home (father, mother, child). The Godhead consists of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. “3” carries a perception of divinity.
4. To early man, the world was flat with four boundaries. There were four winds and walls with four sides surrounded towns. The forces of earth, wind, fire and water controlled worldly life. Thus, thoughts of the world and the elements were defined by the number “4”. Four became a cosmic term and in Revelation there were 4 living creatures and 4 horsemen. The world in which we live, work and die became symbolized by the number “4”.
5. When man studied himself, we observed hands and feet with five digits on each. A perfect man with all his members intact possessed 10 of each. So the number 5 doubled to “10” came to represent human completeness. In Revelation, 10 horns are mentioned and often ultimate completeness is referenced by large multiples of “10” (70, 1000, etc.).
6. When we take the perfect world number, “4”, and add to it the perfect divine number, “3”, we get the most sacred number to the Jews – 7. Seven is the most prevalent symbolic number in the book of Revelation.
7.
When multiplying the perfect world number, “4”,
by the perfect divine number,
“3”, the result is “12”,
the symbol of organized religion in the world. 12 x 12 is 144 and 144 x 1000 is
144,000, which could easily represent the multitude being sealed and protected
in the church. (See Gal. 6:16, Psalms 50:10-12 & Rev. 14:4)
8. When the most sacred number, “7”, is cut in half to 3½, we achieve incompleteness or that which is imperfect. This number seems to always represent the indefinite and the dissatisfied, those with restless longings whose aspirations are unfulfilled. However, there is generally a hope and patient waiting for a better day when truth would be delivered and wrongs would be avenged.
9. The final number to look at is “6”, a sinister number to the Jews and other cultures of the day. It had the ability to be great and nearly was (being one number from 7), but met defeat with success within its grasp. It failed to measure up.
With all of
this stated, we need to see numbers in Revelation for what they are – symbolic
in nature, not real numbers with numerical value. Mathematical thinking cannot
be used if we are to truly see their symbolic significance. The
misinterpretation of the symbolism of numbers has led many religious groups into
false thinking. In regards to the symbolic words used in Revelation, the same principals that apply to numbers
must apply to words. A symbol represents something else and once interpreted and
understood as to what it represents, the symbolism remains constant. Rick
Billingsley came up with 87 words used as symbols in John’s writing. This list
is followed below. In a few instances (blood, bow, city, harvest, lamb,
mountains, mystery, robes), the word symbolizes more than one meaning. Thus the
context must be carefully studied to determine which one to apply.
WORDS AS SYMBOLS IN REVELATION
Air – Kingdom of Satan – Ephesians 2:2
Altar – Place of sacrifice or offering
Alpha & Omega – The first and the last, beginning and end –
Revelation 1:8
Angel – Any messenger, divine or human, employed by God
Ark – Symbol of God’s presence – Exodus 25:21-22; Revelation 11:19
Ascension – Place of dignity and honor – Revelation 11:12
Babylon – Ancient nation that held God’s people captive.
Spiritual Babylon holds spiritual Israel (church) captive – Revelation 18:21
Balances – Emblem of either scarcity or justice
Blasphemy – Denotes idolatry – Isaiah 65:7
Blood – War, slaughter – Ezekiel 14:19; To avenge – 2 Kings
9:7
Book – Sealed, it’s meaning hidden; Open, contents revealed
Bottomless Pit – Satan’s Throne – Luke 8:31; Revelation 17:8
Bow – Symbol of Peace – Genesis 9:13; Also, a weapon of war –
Revelation 6:2
Beast – A tyrannical power; a succession of lawless men, either
civil or religious; a cruel kingdom – Daniel 2:40
Binding – Restraining from action; Forced under control
Brimstone – Torment, destruction – Job 18:15; Revelation 14:10
Candlestick – Light in tabernacle; a type of seven-fold or perfect
light in the church
Chain – Bondage – Lamentations3:7
City – Corporate body; Holy City, the new Jerusalem – Revelation 21:2
Cloud – When bearing a rider, to rule or conquer
Crown – Power, dignity; Crown of Life = eternal life –
Revelation 11:8
Dragon – Satan – Revelation 20:2
Earth – A dwelling place; a defined, material state – Isaiah
13:13; Jude 13
Earthquake – Political or moral upheaval – Haggai 2:21-22;
Revelation 6:12
Egypt – Official leaders of experience or slavery
Elders – Official leaders of experience and maturity
Eating Flesh – Consuming riches – Ecclesiastes 4:5; Revelation
17:16
Fire – Terrible destruction – Isaiah 42:25; Revelation 17:16
Flood – Persecution, judgment, desolation – Daniel 9:26;
Revelation 12:15-16
Forehead – To be seen by all; Mark in forehead = Open confession
– Exodus 28:38; Revelation 22:4
Fornication – Idolatry, worldliness – Ezekiel 6:9
Frogs – Imperfection, seeking favor among the lowest
Hail – Destruction – Isaiah 28:2; Revelation 16:21
Harlot – Idolatrous community; apostate church – Jeremiah 3:8;
Revelation 17:5
Harvest – Judgments – Joel 3:13; Prepared for conversion –
Matthew 9:37-38; Revelation 14:14
Head – Government where supreme power resides – Colossians 1:18
Heaven – Symbolically, the highest place in government – Haggai
2:21-23 – Throne
Horns – Power; well known symbols of a king or kingdoms
Horses – War and conquest
Incense – Prayers of the saints – Revelation 8:3
Jerusalem – The true church; the redeemed in Christ – Galatians
4:25-26; Revelation 21:2
Lamb – The Messiah, mentioned 26 times in Revelation. The false
lamb is held in contrast – Revelation 13:11
Leopard – emblem of cruelty – Jeremiah 5:6
Locusts – Destructive army – Nahum 3:15-17; Revelation 9:3
Light – Knowledge – 2Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 21:23
Lion – Kingly power and strength – Genesis 49:8-10; Revelation
5:5
Merchants – Traffickers in religion – Revelation 18:3
Moon – Changing times and seasons
Mountains, Hills – Governments – Isaiah 2:1-5; Jeremiah 51:25;
Revelation 8:8
Mystery – Never before made clear – Romans 16:25-26; Revelation
10:7
Naked – Sinful State – Exodus 32:25; Revelation 3:17
Open Door – Opportunity – 2 Corinthians 2:12; Revelation 3:8
Rainbow – Covenant of Peace; mercy – Genesis 9:9-17; Revelation
4:2
Resurrection – Deliverance from persecution or bondage; recovery
of lost rights – Ezekiel 37:6-10; Luke. 15:32; Revelation 11:1; Revelation
20:4-6
Right Hand – Protection, support – Psalm 18:35; Revelation 1:16,
20
Rivers – Blessings, fruitfulness – Psalm 1:3; Revelation 22:1-2;
Drying up, portends death, sorrow, affliction – Ezekiel 29:3; Revelation 16:12
Robes – White = Righteousness – Revelation 19:8; Scarlet =
Royalty – John. 19:2; Scarlet also = Exceedingly sinful in Revelation 17:4-6
Rod – Power, rule – Psalm 2:6-9; Instrument for measurement –
Revelation 11:1
Sea – Large body gathered together; multitude – Genesis 1:10;
Revelation 17:15
Seal – Marking a period of time – Revelation 6:1-2; 7 seals a
perfect number – Revelation 5:1; Ownership – 2Timothy 2:19; Revelation 7:3
Serpent – Same as Dragon – Adversary/Evil Opponent
Smoke – To obscure; false doctrine – Revelation 9:2; Sign of
punishment – Revelation 14:11
Sun, Moon, Stars – High authorities, civil and religious –
Genesis 37:9-11; Isaiah 13:9-11
Sword – Slaughter – 1Chronicles 21:12-14; Judgment – Ezekiel
28:23; Persecution – Jeremiah 29:18; Also, The Word of God – Ephesians 6:17
Tail – Falsehood – Isaiah 9:15; Degradation – Deuteronomy
28:44; Revelation 9:10
Teeth – Cruelty – Proverbs 30:14; Revelation 8:17; 11:4
Temple – Place of God’s Throne – Revelation 16:1; The church
– 2Corinthians 6:16
Thunder – Judgment – Isaiah 29:6; Warning of a revelation about
to be made – Exodus 19
Time – Created by God for man. Hour, Day, Year - Used to convey
definite, established periods of time for man’s understanding that God is in
control and not bound by our rules. One hour = very short period of time;
travail, anguish, anxiety – Jeremiah 4:31; Galatians 4:19; Revelation 12:4
Trees – Great men – Zechariah 4:10-12; Isaiah 1:29-2:13;
Revelation 8:7
Trumpet – Increase sound to assemble (Numbers 10), call to feasts
(Leviticus 23), warn against invaders Or sound an alarm (Amos 3:6)
Vials/Bowls – God’s wrath about to be poured out – Revelation
16:1
Waters – Affliction, multitudes, peoples – Isaiah 8:7-8;
Revelation 17:15
Wilderness – Desert, waste, afflicted state – Deuteronomy 32:10;
Deuteronomy 8:15; Revelation 12:6
Wind – Destruction – Jeremiah 51:1; Revelation 7:1
Wings – Protection – Psalm 17:8; Revelation 4:8
Winepress – Slaughter; To crush – Isaiah 63:3-6; Revelation 14:19
The symbolism of Colors – Throughout the Bible, but especially in Revelation, God uses three primary colors to represent specific things:
Red – Symbol of war and bloodshed
Black – Symbol of suffering, weeping, famine
White – Symbol of victory and purity
In all
cases, the definition must be determined from the context in which the word is
used, combined with the historical/cultural use to which the people were
accustomed.
How can we know figurative language?
Rule 1 - The sense of the context will indicate it.
Rule 2 - When the literal meaning of a word or phrase involves an impossibility.
Rule 3 - If the literal meaning makes a contradiction.
Rule 4 - Compare language with other passages that use the same language.
Rule 5 - A symbol never changes meaning.
Rule 6 - A symbol never symbolizes itself.
Rule 7 - Any inspired interpretation or application of the language. (The Bible explains)
Rule 8 - When it is said to be figurative. (The Bible says so)
Now that extensive groundwork has been laid, we are ready for our study of the book of Revelation. To quote Revelation 10:9-11 (also, see Ezekiel 2:7-3:11), “And I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little scroll. And he said to me, “Take it, and eat it; and it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.” And I took the little scroll out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was in my mouth sweet as honey; and when I had eaten it my stomach was made bitter. And they said to me, “You must prophesy again concerning many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.” Let us study with the same eagerness.
REVIEW
OF THE INTRODUCTION
The book of Revelation was written by _______. It is the Revelation of _________________.
The word ‘revelation” comes from the Greek word ________________, which means ___________________________.
What interpretation of the book do you accept? Why?
Why was Revelation written?
By the late 1st century, why were Christians so hated by the world around them?
List Old Testament books that hold significance to our study of Revelation.
Explain the symbolic nature of the numbers “7” and “10”.
How can we determine if symbols or figurative language are being used?
Chapter 1
Whose Revelation is it, who gave it to Him and to whom is it to be shown? (1:1)
What is the time frame of the events of what is being revealed? (1:1)
How is the information being given? (1:1) Why is this critical?
Did John expect the readers of Revelation to be able to understand it? How do you know?
How does John describe Jesus in 1: 4-6?
Who is the “us” referred to in verse 5 and what did Jesus make us, as stated in verse 6?
How does Jesus describe himself in 1:8 & 1:17-18?
Under what conditions are John and fellow Christians in at the time Revelation was written? (1:9)
What does “in the Spirit” mean in verse 10? (See Revelation 4:2 as well)
How does John describe the “Son of Man” among the seven lampstands? (1:13-16)
What did Jesus instruct John to write? (1:11, 19)
What does the Bible say the 7 stars and 7 lampstands symbolize? (1:20)
Chapter 2
Ephesus - Ephesus was given the title “Supreme Metropolis of Asia” during the time it was under the control of the Roman Empire. In ancient times, commerce tended to flow down river valleys or through key ports, as roads were neither numerous nor very well built or maintained. The city of Ephesus lay at the mouth of the Cayster River near the Aegean Sea, so people from all over the world ventured through there to sell their goods. Because the Roman rulers recognized the value of Ephesus to the stability of their kingdom in that part of the world, they made it a free city, meaning that the Ephesians were granted the right to self-government within the boundaries of the city. Furthermore, Ephesus was made an assize town, a place where the Roman governor came to dispense justice in the territory.
Ephesus was, also, a city of great religious importance, housing a massive temple in honor of the goddess of fertility, called Diana by the Greeks, Artemis by the Romans. The temple was 425 feet long, 220 feet wide and 60 feet tall. Huge doors to the temple were made of cypress, while the roof was made of cedar. There were 127 pillared colonnades made of marble, with each pillar being a gift from a king and 36 of them being overlaid with gold and other precious jewels. The temple of Diana became known as the “Bank of the Ancient World”, as even in times of war and civilian uprisings, the temple would seldom be violated. So, the wealthy often placed their most valuable possessions and money within the walls when they felt endangered.
Worship in
the temple has been described as weird, ecstatic and hysterical. To the
accompaniment of shouts, wailing, the burning of incense and the playing of
instruments, worshippers worked themselves up into emotional frenzies in which
dark, shameful events often took place. In addition, the temple of Diana
possessed the right of asylum. This meant that if any person who had committed a
crime could reach the precincts of the temple before they were arrested, they
were safe and protected. Because of this, streams of criminals poured into
Ephesus from all over the world. The prevailing character of Ephesus, over time,
became notoriously wicked. Throughout Asia, Ephesians were considered
superstitious, fickle and immoral. The “weeping” philosopher Heraclitus, one
of the most prominent citizens of the city, wrote, “The morals of the temple were worse than the morals of the beasts,
for even promiscuous dogs do not mutilate each other. The inhabitants of Ephesus
were fit only to be drowned and I can never smile or laugh because I live amidst
such terrible uncleanness.”
Remember that Paul stayed in Ephesus longer than in every city and truly loved the Christians there. Anytime we want to say how hard it is to be a Christian in today’s world, with its modernism, humanism, materialism and so many things to distract us, we should think about Ephesus and the strong Christians who remained faithful in their time.
Smyrna – Smyrna was between 35-40 miles north of Ephesus on a rather long gulf with two excellent harbors. It ranked only second to Ephesus in the export business and was especially noted for its beauty. The city was surrounded by rolling hills and groves of trees and contained well-paved streets leading past stately buildings and temples. Its acropolis on Mount Pagas gave the appearance of a crown, which became the symbol of Smyrna.
Politically, Smyrna was a free city and an assize town, like Ephesus. It had allied itself to Rome very early in the empire’s rise to power and, therefore, enjoyed great prosperity during this time period. Smyrna claimed to be the “first city in Asia, the first in beauty, first in literature, the first in loyalty to Rome.” As an expression of its allegiance to Rome, Smyrna erected a shrine to Roma, a Roman goddess, around 195 B.C., and then built another temple in honor of Tiberius during his reign (A.D. 14-37).
The Roman Empire was a vast conglomeration of states, cities, nations and cultures and the main problem the rulers faced was how to control and unifying its subjects. Rome offered a lot of positives to the people it conquered – peace, better roads, effective communication (by way of letters), flourishing trade opportunities. Men no longer lived under the rule of unaccountable tyrants and pirates, who were overthrown on a regular basis, but under the control of strict and impartial Roman justice. The religions of the conquered peoples were so diverse and fractionalized, Rome needed a means of creating a “Spirit of Rome” throughout the empire. This was attempted by the gradual institution of emperor worship. Smyrna was one of the first cities to accept emperor worship and became a center of it in that part of the world.
Pergamos – The road from Ephesus ran north along the seacoast for 40 miles and then turned inland to the northeast. About 15 miles on this inland route in the valley of the Caicus River, stood the city of Pergamos. Pergamos was a capital of the Attalid kingdom, which was one of the resulting parts of the Greek empire of Alexander the Great after his death. In 133 B.C., Pergamos’ dying king willed the city into the Roman Empire and, in turn, Rome made it the capital of the province of Asia, which it retained until 130 A.D.
Pergamos had one of the most famous libraries in the world, containing over 200,000 books, a huge number considering that every book had to be written and copied by hand. So close was the connection of Pergamos with literary activity that the word parchment is derived from the city’s name. Parchment, also called vellum, was a writing material made from animal skins. All the manuscripts of the New Testament were written on parchment.
Pergamos was, also, internationally famous as a center of religious worship and was considered the last outpost of Greek civilization. It was proud of its historical zealousness for the Greek gods, but the became equally enthusiastic for worshipping the Roman emperor. Pergamos became a city known dedicated to Caesar worship, a place where emperor worship was at its most intense. Other cities in the world at that time posed great danger to Christians on certain days when incense was to be burned, or Roman leaders came to town and insisted that the locals bow to them. But in Pergamos, Christians were in jeopardy of persecution and death 365 days a year.
Thyatira
- Thyatira signifies "sweet savor of labor"
or "sacrifice of contrition." It
was a city in the province of Asia, a small outpost town scarcely mentioned by
ancient writers. Thyatira was a garrison town just 40 miles east of Pergamos. It
was referred to as the “Gateway to Pergamos” and the city’s role in case
of invasion was to fight a delaying action to give the larger city of Pergamos
time to prepare.
Roads
going through Thyatira were often crowded with people carrying their wares and
it became somewhat of a center of commerce, especially in royal purple dye.
Historical records contain references to trade-guilds being prominent in the
area. Each type of occupation had its own guild, similar to forceful unions.
Each guild had their own god(s) they worshipped and membership in a guild
indicated a person’s acceptance of the god(s) of that guild. In order to
advance in career or to make a decent living to support the family, Thyatirans
had to be a guild member. This, obviously, made the temptation to compromise, or
even abandon, one’s religious beliefs very strong. Lydia, whom Paul met in
Philippi, was a Thyatiran seller of "turkey red", a product of the
madder-root. .
How did Jesus describe Himself as He addressed the church at Ephesus?
What does it mean to “lose your first love”?
What are some things that could cause a person to lose their first love?
What are the positives and
negatives of the church at Ephesus?
What would happen to the people if they did not repent?
How did Jesus describe Himself as He addressed the church at Smyrna?
How could the Christians at Smyrna be in poverty and yet be rich?
How can a believer become a “synagogue of Satan”?
What are the positives and negatives of the church at Smyrna?
How did Jesus describe Himself as He addressed the church at Pergamos?
What are the positives and negatives of the church at Pergamos?
What will happen to those who do not repent?
What will be given to those who overcome?
How did Jesus describe Himself as He addressed the church at Thyatira?
What are the positives and negatives of the church at Thyatira?
How did the church at Thyatira resemble the church at Pergamos?
What kind of person was Jezebel and what did she teach?
What does it mean to not know the “deep things of Satan”?
What does it mean to “overcome” and “keep my deeds until the end”?
How do we know that the letters to the 7 churches are intended for the benefit of more than just the members of the specific churches to whom they are addressed?
Chapter 3
Sardis -The city of Sardis was located on a nearly inaccessible hill in the rich Hermus valley 30 miles south of Thyatira, which provided the people with a sense of great security and confidence. With five roads converging below the city, Sardis had been the capital of the Lydian Empire and was a wealthy city that had achieved long term success as a center of commerce. Emperor worship was not prominent there and there was no apparent problem with the Jews or false teachings creeping into the church. Overall, most Sardisians were well off; but over time they became proud, arrogant and highly immoral, even being despised by the heathen for the extent of their materialism and sinful lifestyles. The problems with the church at Sardis seemed to be internal and, like the Ephesians, had lost their zeal.
Philadelphia
– The city of Philadelphia, located about 25 miles southeast of Sardis,
was named after Attalus II, (King of Pergamos from 159-138 B.C.) whose loyalty
to his brother, King Eumenes II, won him the title “Philadelphus”, meaning brotherly love. He commanded his brother’s armies, was his most
loyal assistant and even served as his ambassador to their greatest ally, Rome.
An imperial road passed through it from Rome to the east and so Philadelphia
became known as the “Gateway to the East.” It was founded as a center for
the spreading of the Greek language, culture and lifestyle – a missionary city
with a defined purpose. The people were accustomed to teaching others and
spreading a message, so were ready for another type of missionary work when
Christianity arrived. The New Bible Dictionary comments, “As
Philadelphus was renowned for his loyalty to his brother, so the church, true
Philadelphia, inherits and fulfills his character by its steadfast loyalty to
Christ.”
Laodicea – Laodicea was located 45 miles southeast of Philadelphia, 90 miles east of Ephesus and 10 miles west of Colossae. Located on the banks of the Lycus River, it was the most important city in the Roman province of Phrygia. With 3 main roads crossing it, Laodicea was one of the richest commercial centers in the world. With the wealth it amassed, the city became the banking capital of the region. Laodicea was a clothing and fashion center and was especially famous for the shiny, black wool it produced and the beautiful black garments sold in its markets. The sheep that produced this exquisite wool were valuable and those who raised them became rich. The Laodiceans had so much wealth that when a great earthquake nearly destroyed the city, they refused to accept governmental aid, preferring to retain their independence and rebuild the city using their own means.
Laodicea, also, has a renowned medical school and hospital that discovered or invented a special type of eye salve, called “Phrygian powder” in 82 A.D that was sold throughout the known world. The one problem this great city had was the lack of good drinking water. Virtually all of the streams in the area came from hot springs filled with impurities, so by the time it reached the city it had cooled to lukewarm. Archaeological excavations have shown that the Laodiceans built huge aqueducts out of stone pipes to transport cool water from an outside source. But by the time this water reached the city it had warmed to lukewarm and contained limestone deposits, making it no better than the water that came from the thermal springs.
How did Jesus describe Himself as He addressed the church at Sardis?
What are the positives and negatives of the church at Sardis?
What does it mean to “have a name that you are alive, but you are dead”? (3:2)
Can a church be corrupt and with sin, but some of the members remain faithful members of the Lord’s Body? How do you know?
How can one have their name erased from the book of life?
How does Jesus describe Himself as He addressed the church at Philadelphia?
What does Jesus, through John, say about the church at Philadelphia?
Is it possible that churches and Christians can function in such a way that Jesus will have no complaint? How do you know?
How does Jesus describe Himself as He addressed the church at Laodicea?
Describe the problems with the church at Laodicea?
How important is zeal to a church and to individual Christians?
What three tools of Satan are introduced in the letters to the seven churches?
Chapter 4
The
underlying theme of Chapters 4 and 5 is the Glory of God the Father. God is
shown as ruling and in control, not man. The first 3 chapters of the
“revealing” have been an introduction leading up to this primary theme. The
physical picture of the world was that the Roman Empire was in charge, that
Christians were in various stages of disarray and trouble and that the future
looked bleak. Beginning the “throne scene” in Chapter 4 and going in rapid
sequence afterward, visions will be presented to John to be relay
While Christ’s kingdom is not of this world, He understands that His people must reside in it. Children of God will not be spared the horrors of war, famine, pestilence and other evils that creep into our lives. God uses these things sometimes to bring judgment on the wicked of the world (Ezekiel 14:21), but, also, uses them to test and strengthen His people for our spiritual growth. As we study the rest of this book, we should remember this two-fold principle about God’s judgments. By remembering that our true citizenship is in heaven, Christians can overcome and not suffer the fate of His enemies. But as the following chapters vividly demonstrate, the conflict will often be fierce and the casualties high. Only the pure, honest hearts, washed clean by the blood of Jesus, will be victorious.
Visualize the scene around the throne in heaven as John describes it. What is the central focus?
Realizing the admonitions that have just been delivered to the 7 churches and the suffering Christians are told they will undergo, what is the significance of the “throne scene”?
What is the sea of glass?
Read Ezekiel 1 & Ezekiel 10 and the compare what you read with the description of the 4 living creatures of Rev. 4:6-9.
Could the 4 living creatures be Cherubim, the Hebrew word meaning “Special Guardian”? How are they similar to angels? (See Ps. 103:20-21, Luke15:10; 20:36, Dan. 9:21)
When faced with the presence, glory and might of God, what is the expected reaction?
What does the rainbow represent, both in this book and in Genesis?
Chapter 5
Why does John weep? How was he comforted?
How can the Lion, the Root and the Lamb be the same person?
What is the difference between the “book” in Rev. 5 and the one described in Ezekiel 2?
What is the significance of the book in Rev. 5 and what does it represent? (See Ezekiel 1:8-10; 3:9-11; John 17:1-8; I Peter 1:10-12; Revelation 1:1; 15:1-4)
Why was the Lamb worthy to take the scroll?
How was the new song different from the song sung in Revelation 4:8? (See Isaiah 6:1-3; Daniel 7:13-14)
Chapter
6
As we begin Chapter 6, the Lamb is holding “the book” and has been asked to break its seals. As the seals are broken, things begin to happen. We learn that as long as the book it sealed, its contents cannot be read, nor can the events it described take place. The seals represent hidden knowledge and the opening of them is the revealing of the truths contained therein. It appears that the book contains an explanation of God’s real purpose for the persecuted church and Chapters 6 through 11 provides a detailed explanation of what is in store for those who remain faithful to Christ and His cause.
What colors are the 4 horses and what do they and their riders represent?
Who is the rider on the white horse?
What is the significance of the “bow” and the “crown”?
Who is the logical rider on the red horse?
Why could he take peace from the earth and cause men to slay one another?
What is the message behind the 3rd seal, with the black horse and rider with scales in his hand?
How was the rider on the ashen or pale horse able to kill over ¼ of the earth with sword, famine and pestilence?
To this point, what comfort have we seen so far for Christians?
Why is the 5th seal so significant?
What happens when the 6th seal is opened? What does this signify?
Chapter 7
Why is there an interlude between the opening of the 6th seal at the end of Chapter 6 and the 7th seal, which is not opened until Chapter 8?
What are the two visions given in this chapter?
What was the purpose for putting a seal on the forehead of the 144,000?
What does this symbolize?
Who are the 144,000? (See Revelation 14:4)
Who are the multitude in white robes?
What is in the future for those who obey God?
Does God want martyrs and those wronged for their faith avenged? Who will do the “avenging”?
Chapter 8
Why was there a time of silence when the 7th seal was opened? (Zechariah 2:8-13; Zephaniah. 1:7-12)
How important were the prayers of the saints to all that is happening? Explain
What have trumpets historically signified? (Numbers 10:1-13; Zephaniah 1:14-18)
Discuss the idea of God using 7 letters to instruct; 7 seals to reveal; 7 trumpets to warn; 7 bowls to execute judgment.
Why do you think the calamities described in Rev. 8 only damaged or destroyed 1/3 of what they touched?
What is the symbolism of the mountain and the sea in this chapter?
What is Wormwood and what does it signify?
What is the eagle’s warning?
Chapter 9
Just as a reminder, John has been sharing his visions with the reader using signs and symbols as shown to him by God. There are no literal trumpets, hail, fire, a burning mountain, a sea of blood, locusts, scorpions or horsemen. These all represent something that only Christians who understand the Old Testament can comprehend. So, as we move into learning about the “three woes” from Chapter 8, verse 13, we should be looking for what those woes represent. Chapter 9 reveals the internal decay that will destroy the Roman Empire, but also tells who will be protected during this time.
Who is “the star”? See Isaiah 14:12 and Revelation 12:7-12
What does the smoke symbolize? (II Corinthians 4:4; Colossians 1:12-13; II Thessalonians 2:9-12)
Who was protected from this first “woe”?
Describe the 4 horses and their riders released by the 6th angel.
How did the survivors of the plagues respond to what had gone on around them?
Chapter 10
From Chapter 10:1 through Chapter 11:14 there is another interlude in John’s story. We must remember, again, that the book of Revelation is symbolic. While referring to the fall of the Roman Empire, it stresses God’s control and protection of His people. Remember that in Chapter 7, the 4 angels were restrained until God’s people were sealed. Then in Chapter 9:13-15 they were released to go ahead with their destruction. This message, with accompanying warnings, has applied down through time and still applies to us today. To fully understand Chapter 10, a reading of Ezekiel Chapters 1, 2 & 3 will help in understanding the symbolism. Early Christians knew the Old Testament and could relate to all the imagery John was using in his writing.
What is the similarity between the delay between the opening of the 6th and 7th seals and the blowing of the 6th and 7th trumpet?
What does this tell us about God?
Describe the mighty angel and what he did.
What was John instructed to do at this point?
What is the meaning of the scroll (little book) and its’ effect? (Ezekiel 2:8-3:5, Jeremiah 15:16)
Chapter 11
What is the purpose for measuring the temple of God?
What does this “measuring” symbolize? (Ezekiel 43:1-12; 43:15-20; Zechariah 2:1-10; 4:1-14)
Who are the Two Witnesses?
Describe the 3 divisions in the visions of Revelation 11:4-13.
What is the symbolic meaning of sackcloth, olive trees and candlesticks?
What do verses 15-19, the blowing of the 7th trumpet, tell us?
SUMMARY THOUGHT QUESTION: What great lesson can we learn from the first 11 chapters?
Chapter 12
Chapter 12 introduces some new symbols, but we are not being introduced to any new characters or to a new battle. The characters, the battle and the outcome remain the same as before. However, John moves from a general overview to a more detailed, revealing description of this great conflict.
Keep in mind that the action called for by the sounding of the last trumpet (11:15-19) is suspended while John takes us behind the scenes in Chapter 12-14 to show us more detail about what is behind the conflict between the church and her enemies. This conflict is the earthly expression of the spiritual struggle between Jesus Christ and the devil. God is having John outline the big picture, and then has an interlude in order to provide certain details within the larger overview. This is done several times in Revelation as God reveals greater magnification the deeper we get into the book, always reminding us never to lose sight of the big picture, which is Victory for the faithful.
Describe the 3 scenes described in this chapter.
How are the forces of evil and righteousness depicted in Chapter 12?
Who are the woman and her child? Explain.
How does Satan turn people away from God and His kingdom?
How does one overcome the accuser?
Why does the dragon pursue the woman?
What does it mean that the serpent “poured water like a river out of his mouth….so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood”?
What is the symbolism of the earth helping the woman? (I thought the world was a tool of Satan!)
Who are the woman’s offspring?
Chapter 13
The scene in Chapter 12 dramatized the war between, Satan, Christ, the woman and her offspring, leaving us in the end with the conflict between Satan and the woman’s offspring. This chapter introduces us to Satan’s helpers, the two powerful agents he will use to attack his enemies.
Why does Satan, the dragon, need helpers to accomplish his purpose?
What did the sea beast do with the authority he was given?
What is the most likely identity of the Sea Beast? Why? (See Daniel 7 & Revelation 17)
Who worshipped the Sea Beast?
In addition to the authorities of the Sea Beast, what did the Earth Beast do for the dragon?
What are the characteristics of the Earth Beast?
What is the purpose and meaning of 666?
What or who is the Earth Beast? (See Revelation 16:13; 19:20; 20:10)
Chapter 14
Chapter 13 ends bleakly, with the forces of evil appearing to have prevailed. But Chapter 14 is where the “good guys” come in to save the day, as the forces of righteousness are introduced.
Read Psalm 2 and explain its significance in light of understanding the power of verse 1.
Who are the 144,000?
Why are the 144,000 protected by God and enjoying the benefits of Mount Zion?
What are the proclamations of the 3 angels and what are their meanings?
How are the saints able to persevere?
What do the cloud and sickle represent?
Who are God’s helpers, set in place to combat Satan and his helpers?
What is the conclusion to be drawn from Chapter 14?
Chapter 15
Chapter 14 ended with the judgment depicting the wrath of God coming upon Satan and his helpers. Remember that the overall theme of the book of Revelation is victory. The victory song was sung by the saints who overcame Satan (14:3) and they had sung the song of salvation in Chapter 5. In this chapter, the saints sing a victory song because they have endured the trials of the beast and prevailed. After that, John brings the reader back to the execution of judgment on His enemies, as begun in Chapters 5-11. To better understand the full meaning of Chapter 15, we need to go back and read Chapter 11:15-19, then begin reading Chapter 15:1 as a continuation of that thought process. As preparations are made for the “pouring out” of the judgment, we need to remember that this is not the last judgment, which is revealed in Chapter 20. This is describing instead the last of the judgments God is sending upon Rome. Keep in mind that Satan is using political means to hurt the church, utilizing its power to force false religion upon the masses in an attempt to destroy the faith of Christians in t