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Typical Outline: Revelation 1-3 records messages to 7 literal churches of the 1 st century Revelation 4-20 symbolizes the 1 st century churchs immediate past, present, and immediate future Revelation 21-22 symbolizes the church and/or heaven

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It is recent in origin It is a minority view

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It does not seem to work well with passages throughout the book that present end of the age imagery The extreme version that denies a future second coming of Christ is an unnatural reading A reasonable interpretative method will listen to the preterist emphasis upon the 1 st century context, but will not limit the book

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Typical outline 1-3 records messages to 7 literal churches of the 1 st century and symbolizes 7 successive periods of church history 4-19 depicts a 7 year period of Great Tribulation 20 depicts a 1,000 year millennial reign for Christ and the nation of Israel 21-22 depicts heaven

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Not popular until recently Used by some Protestant Reformers

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Dose not work well with the emphasis in the opening chapter that the message of Revelation is relevant to its 1 st century readers Conclusions constantly being revised Strong liberal hermeneutic of this view does not fit apocalyptic literature Too elaborate unless you take the dispensational premillennial view

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Typical Outline: 1-3 records messages to 7 literal churches of the 1 st century 4-19 depicts key historical events and periods from the 1 st century to Christs return 20 depicts a 1,000 year millennial reign on earth from Christ and the nation of Israel (or spiritual Israel) 21-22 depicts heaven

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Goes back to the Middle Ages

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Conclusions drawn form this methodology are constantly being revised as history continues Does not work well with passages that introduce events out of chronological order Minimal relevance to the original 1 st century readers If you are not a dispensational premillenialist it does not work well

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This approach emphasizes the symbolism of Revelation as teaching spiritual lessons rather than expecting literal fulfillment. The prevailing lesson pertains to the constant warfare between good and evil, both in Heaven and on earth.

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Very popular with some throughout history What is the problem with this? Does not see the future aspects or the historical aspects that are evident

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Typical Outline 1-3 messages to 7 literal churches of 1 st century 4-20 symbolizes the conditions in which the church must always live and minister (done is six different ways) 21-22 symbolizes the ultimate destiny of the church (heaven)

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Apparent in the early Church Augustine made it very popular (354-430 AD)

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Best accounts for the apparent repetition of events throughout the book Follows precedent of the other prophetic passages in which God uses repeated visions with different story lines to tell the same basic idea Seems best to fulfill the intent of the book that it is relevant to the 1 st century reader and to the all subsequent readers

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Purpose of the book: The emphasis of the book is to encourage Christians to persevere in their commitment to Christ even in the midst of suffering Key text is Rev. 1:9 It is both a promise and a demand Promise of His Providence Demand to be His witnesses

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First, one ought not to expect to receive here a guaranteed, valid interpretation of all figures. God cannot tell us of the future with such a certainty that takes away the freedom of mans will as he lives out his period of probation

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Second, one should not to expect to put the figurative on a literal screen. Finally, one should not expect for everyone to agree

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First, a focus on the main point of Gods purpose in revealing the truths recorded in Revelation. Second, one should expect to think and imagine. Third, one should be encouraged to be alert to the signs of the time. Last, one should expect to apply the principles urged in the book of Revelation to ones own life

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God is awesomely majestic, as well as sovereign in our troubles The sacrifice of Jesus as the Lamb of God ultimately brings complete deliverance for those who trust Him God brings judgment on the world to avenge His people In the end God will judge, no matter how it looks now

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God is not dependent on world powers, we should not be either We can view our early sufferings from a different perspective from heaven When we proclaim Christ, persecution is not far behind in this age Christ is worth dying for There is a great contrast between Gods Kingdom (the bride, the new Jeruslem) and the worlds values (the prostitute and Babylon)

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Something greater is coming God will include all people groups of all times in His plans

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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 to His servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.

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To reveal Tells us that symbolism is going to play a large role.

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To communicate with signs and symbols John 12:32-33 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die. John 21:18-19 "Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish. This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me."

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Daniel 2:28 But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days So he came near where I stood, and when he came I was afraid and fell on my face; but he said to me, "Understand, son of man, that the vision refers to the time of the end." Daniel 11-12

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Gods time is not our time 2 Peter 3:8 He may well be waiting patiently for more to come to Him Matt. 24:14; 2 Peter 3:9, 12 We should be ready at any time Mark 13:32-37; 1 Thess. 5:2 However, we should not set deadlines on Gods plan

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Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

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1:3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near 14:13 Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. 16:15 Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.

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19:9 Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb! 20:6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. 22:7Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.

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22:14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

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Luke 11:28 But He said, "More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. Acts 13:15 And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, "Men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on."

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John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne Significance of the number 7 Colossians 4:16 Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.

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Father Exodus 3:14-15 Seven Spirits Isaiah 11:2-3 The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. His delight is in the fear of the LORD, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of His ears

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And he said to me, "What do you see?" So I said, "I am looking, and there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps. "Two olive trees are by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left." So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, "What are these, my lord?" Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, "Do you not know what these are?" And I said, "No, my lord." So he answered and said to me: "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, Says the LORD of hosts.

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and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

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Why do you think he put Jesus last in the list?

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The word is marturia Jesus was the original marturia Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears my voice. Pilate said to him, "What is truth?"

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What does this mean? He was the first with immortality We will be the second This is a passage of hope Col. 1:18 He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the first- born from the dead, that in everything he might be pre-eminent. 1 Cor. 15:20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

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He conquered death and won the victory Why would this be comforting to readers? Why would it be for us?

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Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

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