A Guide to Understanding the Book of Revelation to John
by Ron Yougerman
Contents
Steps in Understanding the Revelation
The Title -- Two common mistakes 
The Historical Setting 
What Apocalyptic Literature Is 
Four Distinctive Features of the Revelation 
Symbols and Numbers 
Maps 
Caesars of the Raman Empire 
Tips for the Course


Outline of the Book of Revelation Verse-by-Verse Commentary
I. Steps in Understanding the Revelation

For many people, the Revelation is a confusing book. Once readers step into chapter 4, they become bewildered by the wild & wonderful visions, the bright & graphic symbols. And so, by the end of chapter 5, readers begin to feel they've lost their footing and give up in frustration. It is my hope that this "companion" will help you read and understand the Revelation.

A. The Title -- 2 common mistakes

Mistake #1... the book is not entitled, "Revelations ". The correct title is the Revelation to St. John or "The Revelation of Jesus Christ".

Mistake #2... The book is not primarily intended to be a manual of secret information to enable us to predict the when & how of end time events. Rather, it uses the apocalyptic literary form to reveal who Jesus Christ is.

Remember 3 points as we go along:

a) the cumulative batting average of all the "calendarizers" who claim to know when & how the end time will come is 0.000 (those who fit John's events into today's newspaper)
b) Jesus & Paul reminds us not to spend our time trying to figure out when he'll again (see Acts 1:6-8; Matthew 24:36; Matthew 24:42-44; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2; 2 Peter 3:8-10). It will come suddenly, unexpectedly. We are to be about witnessing & living the Christian life--not calendarizing.
c) John tells us what the book is about in the very lst verse of chapter 1: "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place". This book is about Jesus Christ -- who he is & what he accomplishes for his people.

This verse also refers to what must soon take place. Soon, as in today -- tomorrow -- next week, rather than 1986 years later!

Remember, the Revelation was written & addressed to the 7 churches in Asia (ch 1, verse 4). Therefore, it must 1st & foremost be relevant & meaningful to them.

For example, lets say your uncle has just been arrested by the Romans and you fear for his life. How would you find comfort in a book describing Russia & Amererica battling it out in Israel 2000 years later?

B. The Historical Setting Briefly, the situation is this...

1) The date is somewhere between 81-96 AD.

2) Domitian is the emperor of Rome -- a moody, jealous, unpredictable tyrant who cut down any & all he thought to be a threat to his authority.

3) He demanded to be addressed as divine Lord and God, issuing a decree, that all loyal citizens worship him. In western Turkey, he erected a temple in which burned an eternal flame. Citizens were to come & cast a pinch of incense on the altar, paying homage to Caesar as their god, and receiving a paper stating they'd worshipped him.

4) This put the Christians in conflict with the emperor. Living in Ephesis was old Bishop John, who wasn't about to bend the knee to Caesar. The Romans had him arrested & exiled him to the Alcatraz -- like penal colony on the island of Patmos. A fierce persecution of Christians in Turkey erupted -- many more brutally tortured & killed as enemies of the state. It was a dangerous time to be a Christian.

5) John writes to the 7 churches in Turkey to encourage them & bring them hope as they faced martyrdom. (see 1:3, 1:9)

6) There arose a disagreement among the Christians about how to deal with this danger. Some felt it would be OK to offer incense to the emperor if you told Christ that in your heart you really didn't mean it. Then you could get that little piece of Roman paper & save your life. Others felt it would be OK if you paid someone else to go for you, offer the incense in your name & thereby not stepping foot personally into the temple. Others insisted that if you weren't willing to stand up for what you believe, you weren't worthy of the name "Christian".

It is to these people John writes.

C. What "APOCALYPTIC" literature is

1. "Revelation" is from a Greek word (translated "apocalypse") meaning a disclosure of something hidden and unknown.

2. Characteristics of apocalyptic literature

a. a literary style used by Jews and Christians between about 165 BC and 135 AD (for example, the Old Testament book of Daniel)
b. uses lengthy dialogue between the seer and an angelic interpreter
c. uses symbols/visions/numbers that point a deeper truth. One must know the secret code to discover what a symbol/vision/number really means. (1:20, 17:1, 21:9-10)
d. believes the end of the world is near. Sees evil as very real and in a dire struggle with God. Pictures the intervention of God into history to do battle, win the ultimate victory and bring about a new heaven and a new earth (a return to the glories of paradise) where the faithful dwell with the Lord.
e. the purpose of apocalyptic literature is to provide hope in the face of evil; to encourage believers to be faithful to God in times of persecution by reminding them of who has the last word, the final victory. D. Four Distinctive Features of the Revelation 1. The use of the Old Testament. The Revelation is more saturated with Old Testament references than any other New Testament book. Of its 404 verses, 278 references.
2. The emphasis on Jesus Christ. He is Lord, Victor, the fulfillment of the Old Testament hope.
3. The inclusion of liturgical material from the worship of the early church, such as its wealth of hymns.
4. Frequent use of the number 7.. .52 times. E. Major Symbols and Their Meaning

1. Numbers..

2. animals... 3. People & places & things... F. Maps

Figure 1

Figure 2

G. The Caesars (Emperors) of the Roman Empire

Gaius Julius Caesar* absolute ruler, 45 B.C.E.; died 44
Octavian Agustus* 27 B.C.E. -- 14 C.E. (see Luke 2:1)
Tiberius 14 -- 37 (see Luke 2:1)
Caligula 37 -- 41
Claudius* 41 -- 54
Nero 54 -- 68
Galba 68 (June) -- 69 (January)
Otho 69 (January -- April)
Vitellius 69 (April -- December)
Vespasian* 69 -- 79
Titus* 79 -- 81
Domitian 81 -- 96
Nerva 96 -- 98
Trajan 98 -- 117
Hadrian 117 -- 138
* deified by action of the Roman Senate H. Tips for this course

1. Use your imagination as well as your logic as you read. Try to picture and see what John describes.

2. As you read, ask yourself 1st "How would those early Christians understand this passage?" "What hope and strength would they gain from this thought?"

3. Once you've figured out what the message of the Revelation was to those early Christians, then, and only then, try to discover how this message from God touches your life.

4. As you are reading, write down the questions you have right away (so you don't forget them when its time for class)

OK...let's begin! Enjoy!

II. Outline of The Book of Revelation

Remember.... .John writes in an orderly fashion.

The book falls into 7 major divisions (how about that! 7!) In each division, there are 7 visions (well, well, 7 again!) There is an "anchor" in each division that stands as the background by which to view each of the 7 visions. In this outline, this anchor is referred to as the "setting". As you read, keep this setting in mind -- and you won't get quite so lost!

Introductory Material:
1:1-3 the title
4-6 Greetings to the 7 churches
7-6 Confession of faith in the risen, victorious Christ

A. The Church on Earth (1:9 - 3:22)
1. Setting: The 7 golden Lampstands (1:9-20)
2. The letters to the 7 Churches: (2-3)

B. God's Purpose in History (4:1-8:1)

1. Setting: The Throne of God

2. The Opening of the 7 Seals (6:1-8:1) C. The Church in Tribulation (8:2-11:18)

1. Setting: Angels & Altars (8:2-6)

2. The Sounding of the 7 Trumpets (8:7-11:18)

D. The Salvation of the Church (11:19-15:4)

1. Setting: The Ark of the Covenant (11:19)

2. The Showing of the 7 Pageants (12:1-15:4)

E. The World in Agony (15:5-16:21)

1. Setting: The Tent of Witness (15:5-16:1)

2. The Pouring out of the 7 Bowls (16:2-21)

F. The Judgement of the World (17:1-20:3)

1. Setting: An angel issuing from the sanctuary (17:1-2)

2. The Unfolding of the 7 Plagues (17:3-20:3)

G. The Church in the Millennium (20:4-22:5)

1. Setting (20:4-10):

The Church enthroned with Christ (20:4-6)
Satan's limited authority & defeat (20:7-10)

2. The Fulfilling of God's Seven-fold Plan

Conclusion: Reasons for believing this book to be true (22:6-20)

Closing Blessing: (22:21)

Contents