Bible Study Steve Case Institute of Youth Ministry

Bible Study Steve Case Institute of Youth Ministry May, 2017

What comes to your mind when you hear the following term? The Book of Revelation

Revelation 1: 1 (NIV) “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. ”

Revelation 1: 1 (NIV) How does your translation read?

Revelation 1: 1 (NKJV) “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants things which must shortly take place. And he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John. ”

2 Key Words “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants things which must shortly take place. And he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John. ”

1 st Key Word The word revelation in Greek is the word apocalypsis, which means to unveil, like taking a covering off of a piece of art when it is unveiled.

2 nd Key Word The word signified in Greek is the word semaino, which means to symbolize or to show with a sign.

In other words The book of Revelation is an unveiling of Jesus in symbols.

Question Does the book of Revelation have any symbols in it?

Question What is the source for breaking the code to the book of Revelation?

Statement Without the code for the symbols, the book of Revelation will not reveal Jesus.

Seven Keys

Seven Keys 1. Literary Context 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Matthew 27: 5 (NKJV) He [Judas]. . . went and hanged himself.

Luke 10: 37 (NKJV) Go and do likewise.

John 13: 27 (NKJV) What you do, do quickly

Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me.

Revelation 3: 20 (NKJV) Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me.

Revelation 1: 4 (NIV) John, to the seven churches in the province of Asia.

Revelation 1: 11 (NIV) Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.

Seven Keys 1. Literary Context 2. Historical/Cultural Context 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Revelation 1: 9 (NIV) I, John, both your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus,

Revelation 1: 9 (NIV) was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus.

Ancient Hebrew Cosmology Heaven Earth

Ancient Hebrew Cosmology Heaven Earth Hell, Hades, Sea or “the Abyss” (under the Earth)

Revelation 1: 18 (NIV) I am the Living One. I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

Hekate A popular goddess in the area of the seven churches when John wrote Revelation.

Hekate She traveled between heaven and earth and determined if you would go to heaven or Hades (Hell) when you died.

Hekate was believed to be the one who holds the keys to death and Hades.

Revelation 1: 18 (NIV) I am the Living One. I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

Seven Keys 1. Literary Context 2. Historical/Cultural Context 3. Key Words 4. 5. 6. 7.

Revelation 1: 1 (NRSV) The revelation of 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.

Revelation 1: 1 (KJV) The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly come to pass, and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John.

semaino to show by a sign or symbol

Revelation 1: 1 (paraphrase) The revelation of Jesus Christ in symbols.

Revelation 1: 1 (NIV) 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.

Seven Keys 1. Literary Context 2. Historical/Cultural Context 3. Key Words 4. Compare With Other Scripture 5. 6. 7.

Revelation 1: 4 -5 (NIV) John, to the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits before His throne,

Revelation 1: 4 -5 (NIV) and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

Who are the “ 7 Spirits” before throne?

Revelation 4: 4 (NIV) In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.

Isaiah 11: 2 (NIV) The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD.

Revelation 5: 6 (NIV) Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders.

Revelation 5: 6 (NIV) The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Revelation 1: 13 -16 (NIV) Among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.

Revelation 1: 13 -16 (NIV) The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.

Revelation 1: 13 -16 (NIV) In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

Daniel 10: 5 -6 (NIV) I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist.

Daniel 10: 5 -6 (NIV) His body was like topaz, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.

Seven Keys 1. Literary Context 2. Historical/Cultural Context 3. Key Words 4. Compare With Other Scripture 5. 6. 7.

Three More Keys 1. Literary Context 2. Historical/Cultural Context 3. Key Words 4. Compare With Other Scripture 5. Look for Old Testament Roots 6. 7.

Matthew 1: 22 -23 (NIV) All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet, “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel. ”

Romans 1: 17 (NKJV) The just shall live by faith.

Habakkuk 2: 4 (NKJV) The just shall live by his faith.

There approximately 300 Old Testament quotations in the New Testament

There approximately 300 Old Testament quotations in the New Testament How many of these 300 quotations can be found in the Book of Revelation?

There approximately 300 Old Testament quotations in the New Testament How many of these 300 quotations can be found in the Book of Revelation? Answer: 0

Revelation 1: 1 (paraphrase) The revelation of Jesus Christ in symbols.

Revelation 1: 1 (paraphrase) The revelation of Jesus Christ in symbols. The code for the symbols: The Old Testament

Revelation 1: 1 (paraphrase) The unveiling of Jesus through the symbols of the Old Testament.

Revelation 13: 13 (NIV) It [another beast] performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people.

Revelation 1: 12 -13 (NIV) I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man.

Revelation 14: 7 (NIV) Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.

Three More Keys 1. Literary Context 2. Historical/Cultural Context 3. Key Words 4. Compare With Other Scripture 5. Look for Old Testament Roots 6. Structure of the book 7.

Repetition and Parallels 7 Churches 7 Seals 7 Trumpets 7 Bowls/Plagues

Parallel Sevens 7 Trumpets 7 Bowls/Plagues

Seven Beatitudes/Blessings in Revelation

Numbers in Revelation

Numbers in Revelation Numbers make us think of Quantities Numbers made John (a Jew) think of Qualities

Numbers in Revelation In Revelation Numbers are not Statistics Numbers are Symbols

What do various NUMBERS Mean?

Numbers in Revelation 3

Revelation 4: 8 (NIV) Holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty who was, and is to come.

Numbers in Revelation 4

Revelation 7: 1 (NIV) After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth.

Revelation 14: 7 (NIV) the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation tribe language people

Numbers in Revelation 3+4=7

Numbers in Revelation 3 x 4 = 12

How Westerners Expect a Story to Flow Climax Start

How Middle Easterners Expect a Story to Flow Climax Start End

Was the book of Revelation written by a Westerner or a Middle Easterner?

Pyramid (Chiastic) Structure Climax Start End

Pyramid Structure of Revelation Climax Heart of the Book 11: 19 - 15: 4 7 Trumpets 8: 2 - 11: 18 7 Bowls 15: 5 - 18: 24 Christ Conquers Sin Forever 7 Seals 4: 1 - 8: 1 Start Prologue 1: 1 -8 19: 1 - 20: 15 New Jerusalem 7 Churches 1: 9 - 3: 22 21: 1 - 22: 5 Sessions Session 3 4 5 6&7 8 9 10 End Epilogue 22: 6 -21

Seven Sanctuary Scenes Precede the Seven Major Divisions in Revelation

The Seven Keys 1. Literary Context 2. Historical/Cultural Context 3. Key Words 4. Compare With Other Scripture 5. Look for Old Testament Roots 6. Structure of the book 7. Jesus changes everything

Luke 24: 15 -16 (NIV) As they talked and discussed these things with each other Jesus himself came up and walked along with them. But they were kept from recognizing him.

Luke 24: 27(NIV) Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

Luke 24: 31(NIV) Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.

Revelation 1: 5 (NIV) From Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

Genesis 1: 26 (NIV) The God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky,

Genesis 1: 26 (NIV) over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground. ”

Psalm 8: 5 -6 (NIV) You made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them ruler over the works of your hands, you put everything under their feet.

Arche Ruler

Arche Ruler as in the words: Monarchy Oligarchy Patriarch Matriarch Anarchy

Old Testament Points to Jesus

Jesus is the new: Adam JESUS

Deuteronomy 18: 15 (NIV) The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.

Jesus is the new: Moses JESUS

Jesus is the new: Aaron JESUS

Jesus is the new: Joshua JESUS

Jesus is the new: David JESUS

Jesus is the new: Children of Israel JESUS

Jesus is the new: Adam Moses Aaron Joshua David Children of Israel JESUS

New Testament Flows from Jesus

Jesus Changes Everything!

JESUS “Abraham’s Seed” is The Church All God’s People = Kingdom of Priests

Jesus Changes Everything! What was “Literal” in the Old Testament becomes “Spiritual”or “Symbolic” in the New Testament

Because of Jesus we now have: Literal J E S U S

Because of Jesus we now have: Literal J E S U S Spiritual or Symbolic

Because of Jesus we now have: Lamb J E S U S

Because of Jesus we now have: Lamb J E S U S Lamb of God

Because of Jesus we now have: Children of Abraham J E S U S

Because of Jesus we now have: Children of Abraham J E S U S Church

Because of Jesus we now have: Priests J E S U S

Because of Jesus we now have: Priests J E S U S Kingdom of Priests

Jesus Changes Everything! What was “Local” in the Old Testament becomes “Global” in the New Testament

Because of Jesus we now have: Local J E S U S Global

Jesus Changes Everything! Old Testament Local “Babylon” becomes New Testament Global “Oppressors of God’s people”

Because of Jesus we now have: Babylon J E S U S

Because of Jesus we now have: Babylon J E S U S Oppressors of God’s people

Jesus Changes Everything! Old Testament Local “Jerusalem” becomes New Testament Global “All of God’s people throughout the world”

Because of Jesus we now have: Jerusalem J E S U S

Because of Jesus we now have: Jerusalem J E S U S All of God’s people

Jesus Changes Everything!

Participant’s Guide p. 24 OT Points to Jesus and the NT Flows from Jesus JESUS IS THE CENTER OF THE ENTIRE BIBLE

The Seven Keys 1. Literary Context 2. Historical/Cultural Context 3. Key Words 4. Compare With Other Scripture 5. Look for Old Testament Roots 6. Structure of the book 7. Jesus changes everything