“The Beginning of the End?”
(Rev. 1:1-3)
Dr. Richard S. Koole
Chapel Pointe #1
March 11, 2007 a.m.
I. Introduction
A. Unlocking the mysteries of Revelation
1. Frustrated early leader
a. Martin Luther
· Couldn’t see how it could be a part of the Bible
b. Soooo confusing!
2. Like trying to do a jigsaw puzzle
a. Every Christmas at the Koole’s
1. You have to get the corner pieces first
2. And then the edges
b. Until recent years many of the corner pieces of the puzzle were missing
1. Neither Daniel nor Revelation made much sense
2. Corner pieces called Israel, Iraq, and Iran
3. All in my lifetime
c. Pieces coming together before our very eyes
B. Revelation wraps up all of Scripture
1. Incomplete without it
2. We see –
Genesis – The commencement of Heaven and earth (1:1)
Revelation – The consummation of Heaven and earth (21:1)
Genesis – The entrance of sin and the curse (3:1-19)
Revelation – The end of sin and the curse (21:97, 22:3)
Genesis – The dawn of Satan and his activities (3:1-7)
Revelation – The doom of Satan and his activities (20:10)
Genesis – The tree of life is relinquished (2:9, 3:24)
Revelation – The tree of life is regained (22:2)
Genesis – Death makes its entrance (2:17, 5:5)
Revelation – Death makes its exit (21:4)
Genesis – Sorrow begins (3:16)
Revelation – Sorrow is banished (21:4)
3. The other books show Jesus Christ in His humiliation
a. Revelation shows Jesus Christ in His glory!
4. The first three verses give an introduction to the book
a. Verse 1...the purpose for writing Revelation
b. Verse 2...the person who wrote Revelation
c. Verse 3....the promised blessing for those who study Revelation
5. We’ll look at these plus a bunch of background
II. Text
A. The Purpose of Revelation (v.1)
1. “The Revelation of Jesus Christ”
a. “revelation”
1. “ap o ka lap sis”
2. Apokalipse
· The Revealing
· The Unveiling
c. It unveils Jesus Christ and His plan
1. …and in His glory
d. He is the subject of the whole book
2. “He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John”
a. Angel = messenger
b. Gave the plan to John
3. But why?
a. “to show His servants what must soon take place”
4. To encourage suffering Christians
a. The year was AD 95
1. Christians had been fortunate under Rome
2. Paul actually looked to Rome for protection
3. The “Pax Romana”
a. Conquered people enjoyed the peace
b. Rome displayed religious tolerance
c. The growth of “Caesar worship”
1. Seemed harmless at first
a. More the deification of ROME
b. To unite a diverse empire
c. A test of political loyalty
2. But it gradually switched to the man
a. Julius Caesar
· died in 29 BC
b. Augustus
· Octavian
· 29 BC – 14 AD
· When Jesus was born
· Never enforced Caesar worship
c. Tiberius
§ AD 14-37
§ Discouraged Caesar worship
§ Time of crucifixion
§ When church began
§ Offered Paul protection
d. Caligula
§ AD 37-41
§ “An insane devil”
§ Demanded worship
§ Wanted his image in the Holy of Holies of Temple
e. Claudius
§ AD 41-54
§ Reversed Caligula
§ Religious freedom
f. Nero
§ Never insisted on it
§ He persecuted Christians, but only because he had to have a scapegoat for the great fire of Rome
g. Vespasian & Titus
§ During ruin of Jerusalem in 70 AD
§ Military action against Jews
§ Fulfilled prophecy
§ Both were wise
§ never insisted on worship
h. Domitian
§ AD 81-96
§ Christianity became persecuted
§ Demanded worship
a. “A sane devil”
· Demanded each subject once a year bow and say “Caesar is Lord” (Lord God!)
a. Christians were imprisoned, etc.
· When John wrote “Revelation”
6. The worst persecution Christians had ever endured
a. They wondered what God planned to do
b. And then God told them
7. The encouragement
a. “to show His servants what must soon take place”
b. He gives them the last chapter to the Eternal Drama
c. They see Christ victorious
d. And God’s Kingdom on earth
8. “must soon take place”
a. Two thousand years ago?
b. “soon”
1. “en tachinôs (root)
2. Quickly – swiftly – suddenly
3. Tachometer – speed
c. Once it starts – quickly
d. Be encouraged!
9. Why we study Revelation
1. Encouragement
2. Completes the Bible
3. Presents the true glory of Jesus Christ
4. I want to know what will happen next
a. Be ready
5. Presents the most comprehensive view of prophecy
6. God has a promise for those who study Revelation (v. 3)
B. The Penman of Revelation (v.2)
1. John….the last of the 12 Apostles
a. An old man when he wrote Revelation
a. 60 years after resurrection
c. Sent in chains to Patmos, an island in the Aegean sea
1. Between Modern Italy and Greece
2. Worked the mines of Patmos while chained
c. Other Christians hid for their very lives
2. The brother of James
a. The son of Zebedee and Sa lo' me
b. Called them the “sons of thunder”
3. One of the inner three (Peter – James – John)
5. Had already written
a. Gospel of John
b. I, II, III John
6. Called himself “The disciple whom Jesus loved”
a. Meant it in humility
7. Jesus allowed him an unparalleled look at the coming glory
8. Told John to tell the others through letters to Seven Churches
9. How to interpret Revelation
a. Rules of interpretation
1. Don’t try to read into a symbol more than the context demands
a. The eagle – USA
2. Interpretation must be consistent with the rest of Scripture
3. Beware of discovering “a new interpretation”
4. Always assume the literal unless the text and context demands another view
a. Allegories – Metaphors – Figures of speech should be textually apparent
5. Don’t let current world affairs determine how you interpret Scripture
a. Luther & Reformers
b. Where’s Israel for 2000 years?
c. May 14, 1948!!!
B. Views of Revelation
1. Preterist
a. Hold that John spoke of events of his day
1. All completed by his death around 100 AD
b. Ridiculous
1. Spoken of as future
2. Don’t match what happened
3. And this certainly doesn’t feel like the Millennium
c. Developed by the Roman Catholic Church
1. Didn’t know how to make Rev. 17 future
2. Historical
a. John was describing the history of the church up to the Reformation
1. 1500’s
b. WRONG!
1. They don’t match
2. Juggle events and prophecies
3. Still doesn’t fit
c. View of the Reformer
1. Saw themselves setting up the Millennium
3. Spiritualized (non-literal)
a. John was talking about a spiritual conflict and not a physical experience
b. A spiritual not physical kingdom
c. Don’t take it literally
1. 1000 years means a long time when things are good
2. The 7 years of tribulation means a time of suffering
3. The nation of Israel means the church
c. Gained popularity when it didn’t appear feasibly literal
d. Why and how popularized
1. Early years
a. Persecutions of Nero à Domitian
b. Must be the tribulation
c. But no Jesus after 7 years
*and no 1000 year millennium
d. Persecution continued
e. Must not be literal
*Israel must refer to the church
*Because there was no Israel
2. Part of Roman Catholic dogma
a. Survived the reformation
1. Not an area of controversy
b. Accepted into major new denominations
4. Literal & Future
a. John was referring to events that had not yet happened
b. And His words were to be taken literally
1. Unless clearly stated or applied, the Bible is to be taken literally
c. A literal
1. 7 year tribulation
2. 1000 year millennium
3. Anti-christ
4. Battle of Armageddon
5. Return of Christ
6. Israel
d. Besides, John said he was talking of the future
(Rev. 1:19) “Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.”
e. What Chapel Pointe believes
C. The Promise of Revelation (v.3)
1. A two-fold blessing
a. The reader
1. “Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy”
2. Private and public reading
a. Here, referring to public
b. Preacher / teacher
4. Especially important then
a. No printing presses yet
b. Hand copied books
1. Few existed
c. Few were literate
d. They read it to the people
e. Sent copies to the 7 churches of Asia Minor
e. The reader receives a special blessing
b. The listener
1. That’s you!
2. “blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it”
3. Why blessed?
a. You will learn of Christ in His Glory
b. You will know what is coming next
c. You will be able to prepare
d. You will gain a sense of urgency
e. You will rest assured that God has it all under control
2. Why the encouragement?
a. “because the time is near” (v.3)
1. Greek, “the time is at hand”
b. The very next event on God’s calendar is the return of Jesus
c. Only awaits one thing
1. The voice of the Arch-angel and the trumpet of God!
2. The corner pieces are all in place
3. Have never been closer
III. Summary
A. About to embark on a great adventure
1. Will look at mysteries that have baffled people for 2000 years
2. Will learn the role of Iran and Iraq
3. Will understand the source of the tension in the Middle East
4. Will learn how and when Christ is returning
5. Will address the present place and condition of the dead
6. Will question the person of the Anti-Christ
7. Will explore the eternal heaven…and hell
8. Will see what Christ did as his body lay in the grave
B. I want to do more than stir your mind
1. More than dazzle you with unbelievable prophecies about world events
2. I want to stir your heart
a. “blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it”
b. You must “take it to heart!”
3. Will see the undying love of Jesus for his people
4. And His desire for our love
a. “My Jesus we love you”