Revelation - Introduction, Part 9

© 2003-2004 Tony Garland - contact@SpiritAndTruth.org

COURSE COMMENTARY

Related Passages and Themes

• Intimately Connected with the Rest of Scripture
  The Book of Revelation is intimately connected with prophetic passages and themes which occur in other books of the Bible, especially the Old Testament.
• Importance of Understanding these Connections
  Lacking familiarity with themes and prophecies from the Scriptures written prior to Revelation, we are like students looking at the answers in the back of a textbook, but never having understood the questions which the answers relate to.
• Scripture Interprets Scripture
  The "Golden Rule" of interpretation says that the text is to be "studied in the light of related passages." Interpretation must recognize the interwoven nature of this miraculous book -- evidence of its supernatural design by the Holy Spirit.

Acceptance of the Gospel

• How Does God's Kingdom Arrive on Earth?
  Conflicting views within Christianity: some expect the message of Christianity to succeed in changing the world; others believe that although many individuals will respond, the mass of humanity will reject the message.
• Ushering in a Golden Age?
  Will the gospel message carried by the Church eventually convert the world's peoples, social systems, and political processes to Christ? Will this usher in an age of righteousness on the earth to which Christ will return?
• Ultimate Rejection?
  Or will the gospel message, after having resulting in the salvation of countless individuals, ultimately be rejected by humanity at large necessitating the direct and dramatic intervention of God?

Trouble Ahead

• Jewish Rabbinical Thought
  We don't study the rabbis to know the truth, but to know what they understood the Old Testament (Tanak ) to reveal. They understood that the advent of Messiah (Christ) would be preceded by cataclysmic events.
• The Pattern of the Past
  In each period of time, or dispensation, where man has been tested, he has miserably failed.
  1) Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden: the Fall and expulsion.
  2) Man outside the garden: the Flood.
  3) Noah's family all knew God: the tower of Babel and dispersion.
  4) Abraham, Isaac, Jacob called: Israel rejects her Messiah.
  5) The church commissioned, the gospel preached: ?????
• What Does the Bible Say?
  Many Scripture passages make plain that the arrival of God's kingdom on earth is characterized by conflict and judgment. For example, Psalm 2.

A Kingdom Coming On Earth!

• Denied or Ignored by Many Christians
  Much of Christianity either denies (reinterprets) or ignores the Scriptural teaching of the future earthly kingdom of God. Allegorical interpretation coupled with the reality of a present spiritual kingdom, causes earthly passages to be misinterpreted.
• The Lord's Prayer
   " Our Father Who Art in Heaven, hallowed by Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. " 
  
  But how does His will come to be done on earth?

A Dramatic Intervention

• The Kingdom Arrives Dramatically
  1) Earth's rulers reject God and His Christ (Psalm 2).
  2) God's kingdom finally smashes all other kingdoms (Dan. 2:34-35, Dan. 2:44-45)..
  3) Saints persecuted until God intervenes (Dan. 7:21-27).
  4) Jesus stains His garments with blood at His Second Coming (Isa. 63:1-6; Rev. 19:11-18).
• A Time Like No Other
  The arrival of God's Kingdom on earth will be a time of trouble like no other,especially for the Jews (Dan. 12:1-4; Jer. 30:3-7; Mat. 24:15-22).
• Scriptural Terms
  The more notable terms given for this period by Scripture include: "The 70th Week of Daniel" (Dan. 9:27); "The Time of Jacob's Trouble" (Jer. 30:7); "The Day of the Lord" (Joel 2:1); "The Great Tribulation" (Mat. 24:21).
• Tribulation Precedes the Kingdom
  
  
  Copyright © 2003 Ariel Ministries (www.ariel.org), P.O. Box 3723, Tustin, CA 92781. Used by permission. [Fruchtenbaum, Footsteps of Messiah, 2].
• Darkest Before the Dawn
  These dark passages are followed by incredible blessing and hope as the Messianic kingdom is established (Zec. 14:8-11). This is the kingdom spoken of by the disciples prior to Jesus' ascension (Acts 1:6) and within which they (Mat. 19:28) and fellow believers in Christ (Rev. 20:4) will rule.
• The Millennial Kingdom on Earth
  
  
  Copyright © 2003 Ariel Ministries (www.ariel.org), P.O. Box 3723, Tustin, CA 92781. Used by permission. [Fruchtenbaum, Footsteps of Messiah, 2].

Revelation and the Olivet Discourse

• What Did Jesus Say?
  In Matthew 24, Jesus responds to three questions by the disciples:
  1) When would Herod's Temple be destroyed?
  2) What would be the sign of Jesus' coming?
  3) What would be the sign of the end of the age?
• The Olivet Discourse compared with Revelation
  
  

  Event	Revelation 6	Matthew 24	Mark 13	Luke 21
  False messiahs, false prophets	Rev. 6:2	Mat. 24:5,11	Mark 13:6	Luke 21:8
  Wars	Rev. 6:2-4	Mat. 24:6-7	Mark 13:7	Luke 21:9
  International discord	Rev. 6:3-4	Mat. 24:7	Mark 13:8	Luke 21:10
  Famines	Rev. 6:5-8	Mat. 24:7	Mark 13:8	Luke 21:11
  Pestilences	Rev. 6:8	-	-	Luke 21:11
  Persecution, martyrdom	Rev. 6:9-11	Mat. 24:9	Mark 13:9-13	Luke 21:12-17
  Earthquakes	Rev. 6:12	Mat. 24:7	Mark 13:8	Luke 21:11
  Cosmic phenomena	Rev. 6:12-14	Mat. 24:29	Mark 13:24-25	Luke 21:11

Genesis and Revelation

• Genesis and Revelation as Bookends
   " The Book of Revelation is the sequel to the Book of Genesis, the two books together bounding all history and bounding all of God's revelations to mankind. They constitute the alpha and omega of God's written Word, the Book of Beginnings and the Book of Unveilings. " -- Henry Morris, The Revelation Record, 14.
• Extensive Correlations
  Given the extensive correlations between Genesis and Revelation, it is difficult to understand how the authority of the Book of Revelation could have been questioned and the text neglected by some.
• Probationary vs. Eternal World
  
  

  Genesis (probationary world)	Revelation (eternal world)
  Division of light and darkness (Gen. 1:4)	No night there (Rev. 21:25)
  Division of land and sea (Gen. 1:10)	No more sea (Rev. 21:1)
  Rule of sun and moon (Gen. 1:16)	No need of sun or moon (Rev. 21:23)
  First heavens and earth finished (Gen 2:1-3)	New heaven and earth forever (Rev. 21:2)
  Man in a prepared garden (Gen. 2:8-9)	Man in a prepared city (Rev. 21:2)
  River flowing out of Eden (Gen. 2:10)	River flowing from God's throne (Rev. 22:1)
  Tree of life in the midst of the garden (Gen. 2:9)	Tree of life throughout the city (Rev. 22:2)
  Gold in the land (Gen. 2:12)	Gold in the city (Rev. 21:21)
  Bdellium and the onyx stone (Gen. 2:12)	All manner of precious stones (Rev. 21:19)
  God walking in the garden (Gen. 3:8)	God dwelling with His people (Rev. 21:3)
  The Spirit energizing (Gen. 1:2)	The Spirit inviting (Rev 22:17)
  Bride formed for her husband (Gen. 2:21-23)	Bride adorned for her husband (Rev. 21:2)
  Command to multiply (Gen. 1:28)	Nations of the saved (Rev. 21:24)
  Garden accessible to the Liar (Gen. 3:1-5)	City closed to all liars (Rev. 21:27)
  Man in God's image (Gen. 1:27)	Man in God's presence (Rev. 21:3)
  Man the probationer (Gen. 2:17)	Man the heir (Rev. 21:7)

  
  Morris, The Revelation Record, 22.

Summary

1. Revelation Intimately Tied to Previous Biblical Revelation
   Understanding related passages and themes is essential to understanding Revelation.
2. God's Kingdom on Earth!
   Although there is currently a "mystery" form of the kingdom where God dwells in the hearts of the saved, the literal earthly kingdom is yet future.
3. Trouble Ahead
   The kingdom of God will not arrive peacefully or gradually. God will unexpectedly, suddenly, and dramatically intervene in history.
4. A Dark Day followed by Light
   The "Day of the Lord" is a day of deep darkness and God's wrath (Joel 2:1-2; Amos 5:18-20). But it ushers in the return of Christ and the blessing of His subsequent millennial reign on the earth.
5. Restoration of Creation
   The eternal state includes a new heavens and a new earth within which God's original design of sinlessness and full fellowship between God and man will be restored.