© Jeremy Dehut REVELATION AN INTRODUCTION & OVERVIEW

© Jeremy Dehut

REVELATION

AN INTRODUCTION & OVERVIEW

© Jeremy Dehut

REVELATION: OutlineNEW KINGDOM

VICTORIOUS!Chapter 1

PEP TALK

Chapters 2-3

INFANT KINGDOM BEYOND BELIEF

Chapters 4-5

OLD TIMER HATES NEW KID

Chapter 6

PROTECTION PROMISED

Chapter 7

LEADER SENDS WARNINGSChapters 8-9

OLD MAGIC STILL ALIVE

Chapter 10-11:10

COMEBACK HISTORY!

Chapter 11:11-19

WHERE DID THIS ROMAN HOSTILITY COME FROM?

SATAN vs. ISRAELChapter 12:1-12

SATAN vs. THE CHURCHChapter 12:13-19

NEW PUPPET SHOW IN TOWNChapter 13:1-10

STRANGE TENT MEETING STARTSChapter 13:11-18

FAKE RELIGIOUS LEADERS TAKEN TO COURT

Chapter 14

ROME IS CONVICTED & SENTENCEDChapter 15-16

MOST INFLUENTIAL CITY IN THE WORLD PUNISHED

Chapter 17-18

VICTORIOUS LEADER PRAISED BY FOLLOWERS

Chapter 19-20:10

DEDICATED FOLLOWERS ARE REWARDEDChapter 20:11-22

WHAT WAS THE RESULT OF THE COURT BATTLE?

© Jeremy Dehut

REVELATION: Past or Present?

Many believe that the events symbolized in Revelation are prophecies that find their fulfillment in our day; but let’s look at what the book says about itself on ten different occasions.

1. “The things that must soon take place…” - 1:1

2. “For the time is near…” - 1:3

3. “I will come to you soon.” - 2:16

4. “I am coming soon.” - 3:11

5. “The third woe is soon to come.” - 11:14

6. “What must soon take place.” - 22:6

7. “I am coming soon...” - 22:7

8. “For the time is near.” - 22:10

9. “I am coming soon.” - 22:12

10. “Surely I am coming soon.” - 22:20

© Jeremy Dehut

REVELATION: Symbols

The book of Revelation is a book of symbols, not descriptions of literal, physical creatures and events. The word “like” is used 54 times in the New King James translation. Some of these symbols are:

The 144,000 - 7:4 Gigantic unearthly locusts - 9:3 The two witnesses - 11:3 A woman clothed with planets - 12:1 The dragon - 12:3 Beasts from the sea and earth - 13 The mark of “666” - 13:18 Stream of blood 200 miles long - 14:20 Harps of God - 15:2 Armageddon - 16:16

© Jeremy Dehut

REVELATION: Symbols

“All the scriptural imagery (harps, crowns, gold, etc.) is, of course, a merely symbolical attempt to express the inexpressible. Musical instruments are mentioned because for many people (not all) music is the thing known in present life which most strongly suggests ecstasy and infinity. Crowns are mentioned to suggest the fact that those who are united with God in eternity share His splendor and power and joy. Gold is mentioned to suggest the timelessness of heaven (gold does not rust) and the preciousness of it. People who take these symbols literally might as well think that when Christ told us to be like doves, He meant that we were to lay eggs” (Lewis, C.S. The Best of C.S. Lewis. Washington, D.C.:Canon Press, 1973).

Quote found in Harkrider’s commentary on Revelation.

© Jeremy Dehut

REVELATION: Use of Numbers

1 - This number suggests unity, or something unique or special.

2- Twice the number of one, this became strength and truth.

3 - The “Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,” three came to represent the divine.

3 1/2 - Half of complete, hence incomplete, indefinite.

4 - There are four points on the compass. This number stands for where mankind lives.

6 - One number short of perfect, failure or incomplete.

7 - Like the days of creation, and the days of the week, this came to symbolize complete or perfect.

10 - By combining 7 and 3, we have another number that represents perfection or completeness.

12 - The number of Israelite tribes, as well as apostles called by Jesus. This number symbolizes God’s people.

© Jeremy Dehut

REVELATION: Chapter 1

NEW KINGDOM VICTORIOUS! A letter to the seven churches of Asia. - 1:4 From Jesus, the Ruler of the kings of the

earth. - 1:5 He has made us a kingdom of priests! - 1:6 John is a fellow partaker in this kingdom. - 1:9 He is told the write the things he has seen. -

1:19

© Jeremy Dehut

REVELATION: Chapter 2-3

NEW RULER GIVES PEP TALK! To the seven churches of Asia:

Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea

Order of the letters:1) Greeting 2)Description 3)Commendation 4)Condemnation 5)Warn 6)Reward 7)Invite

© Jeremy Dehut

REVELATION: Chapters 4-5

NEW KINGDOM BEYOND BELIEF!

12

3

4

57

8

61. Altar2. Sea (Laver)3. Showbread4. Lamp stand5. Altar of Incense6. Holy of Holies7. Ark of Covenant8. Cherubim

“…There are those who offer the gifts according to the law; who serve a copy and a shadow of heavenly things” (Heb. 8:4-5).“We have such a high priest, who has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man” (Heb. 8:1-2).

1. Altar2. Sea3. Seven lamps4. Elders w/incense5. Throne6. Living Creatures

12

3

5

6

4

CC

C C

© Jeremy Dehut


OLD KINGDOM HATES NEW ONE

SEAL 1: Pure person sent to conquer

SEAL 2: After that, persecution would come

SEAL 3: Everyday life would become harder

SEAL 4: Common woes of life would exist

SEAL 5: A cry for justice from the martyred saints

SEAL 6: Judgment will come

© Jeremy Dehut


PROTECTION IS PROMISED

THE NUMBER: 144,000 (12 x 12 x 10 x 10 x 10).

THE GROUP: Spiritual Israel. - Rom. 2:28-29; Gal. 3:7-9

THE PROMISE: To be in God’s presence. - Rev. 7:14-17

THE SEAL: What is the seal?

© Jeremy Dehut


THE SEAL - Rev. 7:3-8

In the past, seals have been used for several reasons.1. Protection from tampering - Matt. 27:66; 2 Tim. 2:192. Designates ownership - S. of S. 8:6; Jer. 32:11-12n Certifies authenticity - Esth. 3:12, 8:8; Dan. 6:17n Indicates confirmation - Jn. 3:3n Marks the completion of a transaction - Jer. 32:9-10

God does all of this for the Christian!1. We are marked as God’s possession. - 2 Tim. 2:19; 2 Cor. 1:20-222. When we accept the revealed word of God as Jesus taught, we add

our “seal” and certify to the authenticity and truthfulness of Christ’s testimony. - Jn. 3:33-34

3. None of these things takes place without us interacting with God’s written word. - Eph. 1:13-14

© Jeremy Dehut


HEAVENLY RULER WARNS ROME

“The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands…” (Rev. 9:20).

n One third of the earth burns.n One third of the sea turns to blood.1. One third of inland water turns to blood.2. Light sources from the sky fail.3. Smoke and locusts ravage the land.4. One third of the people remaining after that will die.

© Jeremy Dehut


OLD KINGDOM HAS COMEBACK MAGIC

A little book is seen. The temple is measured. 1,260 days are mentioned. 2 witnesses are killed by a beast & resurrected. The great city is introduced & described.

© Jeremy Dehut


THE LITTLE BOOK

• ON SEA & EARTH: He covered the whole world.• IT WAS SWEET: The words of God are sweet. - Ps. 119:97-104• IT WAS BITTER: The woes of God are bitter. - Ezek. 2:8-3:4

God’s word must be spoken!

It is sweet to the obedient, but bitter to the unrepentant.

© Jeremy Dehut


THE TEMPLE & HOLY CITY

• THE TEMPLEDuring the Mosaic dispensation the temple is where God’s presence dwelt, it was a meeting place between God and man (Ex. 25:8-9, 40:34-38; 2 Chron. 7:1-3).

• THE HOLY CITYIn the Old Covenant this was Jerusalem, first introduced to us as the “city of peace” by Melchizedek (Gen. 14:18), and as the “lion of God” by Isaiah (Is. 29:1). Matthew called it “the holy city” (Matt. 4:5, 27:53).

• CHRIST’S CHURCHIn the New Covenant we are taught that God’s presence and the “Holy City” are spiritually found in the church (1 Cor. 3:16-17; Eph 2:19-22; 1 Pet. 2:4-5, 9; Heb. 12:22-24). The symbols of the temple and the holy city are describing God’s people. They are describing Christians.

© Jeremy Dehut


1260 DAYS

1,260 Days

=

11:3

12:6

42 Months

=

11:2

13:5

3 1/2 Years 12:14

7 is the symbol for complete, so half of that number (3 1/2) would symbolize a short, indefinite period of time.

© Jeremy Dehut


THE TWO WITNESSES• The number “2” refers to strength and truth (competent

testimony) when talking about witnesses.• The witnesses’ job was to speak God’s word.• They were a source of oil for the light of the candles (which are

the churches).• They perform miracles to validate their message.

When was 1) God’s word spoken with 2) competent testimony, 3) providing enlightenment for 4) the churches, and backed up by 5) miracles?

© Jeremy Dehut


THE TWO WITNESSES

1. Speaking God’s word - Acts 8:25

2. Competent testimony - Acts 8:25

3. Providing enlightenment - Eph. 1:15-18

4. To Churches - Eph. 1:1

5. Supported by miracles - Acts 8:13

The two witnesses symbolize the gospel, and attempts to “kill” it. Every time someone was killed for spreading it, it spread even faster, as if resurrected (Acts 4:16-18, 8:1-4).

© Jeremy Dehut


WHERE DID THE PERSECUTION COME FROM?

1st Character: A Woman

2nd Character: A Child

3rd Character: A Dragon

4th Character: God

Who are these four characters, and what do they have to do with Christian suffering?

© Jeremy Dehut


THE WOMANGave birth to Christ:

Rev. 12:5; Mic. 5:2 - In this first part of the chapter, the woman describes Israel, the nation that Christ came from.

Her children keep the testimony of Jesus:Rev. 12:17 - Later on, she symbolizes the spiritual remnant of Israel.

The woman is the collective spiritual body of God’s people. Before Christ’s birth she is the faithful remnant of Israel, after Christ’s ascension she is the church.

© Jeremy Dehut


THE CHILDHe was…

…to rule all nations - Rev. 1:5; Psalm 2:5

….with a rod of iron - Rev. 19:15; Psalm 2:9

…caught up to God’s throne - Acts 1:9-11, 7:55-56; Eph. 1:20-23

The child in chapter twelve describes Jesus Christ!

© Jeremy Dehut


THE DRAGONSerpent, devil, Satan - Rev. 12:9

Seven heads - 2 Cor. 11:3 - Fullness of intelligence

Ten horns - Eph. 6:12 - Mighty power

Seven crowns - Authority but no victory (stephanos/diadema)

The dragon is Satan!

© Jeremy Dehut


THE BATTLEThe heavenly battle is over by verse 10, when “now is come…”

Salvation - Heb. 2:14-15; Eph. 1:7

The kingdom of our God - Col. 1:13-14; Rev. 1:5-6

The power of his Christ - Eph. 1:20-23; 1 Pet. 3:22

Satan lost the battle against God when Christ was victorious over death by living a sinless life.

© Jeremy Dehut


NEW ENTERTAINMENT APPEARS!

THE SEA-BEAST - Rev. 13:1-10Come see the puppet-show!

The sea-beast is Rome in military might.

THE LAND-BEAST - Rev. 13:11-18Come be a part of the tent-meeting!

The land-beast is Rome in emperor worship.

© Jeremy Dehut


THE PUPPET SHOW!The sea-beast…

1. Received power from the dragon - v. 22. Is worshipped - v. 43. Antagonizes God and His people - vs. 6-74. Has authority over all the world - v. 75. Was worshipped by all the world - v. 86. Gave the Christians something to endure v. 10

The sea-beast is Rome in its military might!

© Jeremy Dehut


THE TENT-MEETING!The land-beast…

1. Had horns like a lamb - v. 112. Spoke like a dragon - v. 113. Shared authority with the sea-beast - v. 124. Made everyone worship the sea-beast - v. 125. Performed false signs - v. 136. Deceived - v. 147. Made images to aid worship - v. 14-158. Enforced worship - v. 159. Identifies its own people - v. 16-18

The land-beast is religious Rome in emperor worship!

© Jeremy Dehut

REVELATION: Chapter 13:18

THE MARK OF THE LAND-BEAST!

Throughout Revelation we have said that numbers were symbols. To be consistent we must say the same about this number “666”. So what does the number symbolize? Remember to keep it in the context of the land-beast (emperor worship).

© Jeremy Dehut

REVELATION: Chapter 13:18

THE MARK OF THE LAND-BEAST!

7 symbolizes completeness or perfection. It can be used to represent God.

What did emperor worship claim about the emperor? Domitian insisted on the title “dominus et deus,” “lord and

god.” Was emperor worship really centered on a god, or was

it centered on a man? He could not be symbolized by the number 7, but one shy of it (6)!

The number represents imperfect x imperfect x imperfect!

© Jeremy Dehut


FAKE RELIGIOUS LEADERS TAKEN TO COURT!

Angel 1: Turn to God, His wrath is comingAngel 2: Destruction of an immoral cityAngel 3: Punishment of beast worship is pendingAngel 4: Time to deliver the righteousAngels 5 & 6: Reap the wicked and punish them

Chapter fourteen describes the deliverance of the Christians when God judges and punishes immoral Rome!

© Jeremy Dehut


ROME IS CONVICTED…

SEA OF GLASS MINGLED WITH FIRE:The way to God means withstanding the flame of persecution. - 1 Pet. 1:6-7

THE TEMPLE FILLED WITH SMOKE:God’s mind was made up, and no one could interfere with the impending judgment. - 1 Kings 8:10-11; Matt. 25:10-13

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…AND SENTENCED!

Rome was primarily destroyed by three things:

1. Natural disasters2. Social decay3. External invasions

Look at the following chart on the vials of God’s wrath and see if the fit Rome.

© Jeremy Dehut


…AND SENTENCED!

NATURAL DISASTERSVial 1 - Earth had grievous sore, on all with mark of beastVial 2 - Sea became as blood, every soul in it diedVial 3 - Rivers, fountains became bloodVial 4 - Sun scorched men

INTERNAL CORRUPTIONVial 5 - Darkness on beast’s kingdom, men gnawed tongues

OUTSIDE INVASIONVial 6 - Army from Euphrates, gathered at Armageddon

© Jeremy Dehut


WHAT IS ARMAGEDDON?

If this battle is literal, then everything associated with the battle is also literal.

1. There were generals like frogs - 16:132. 200 horsemen must fit in the valley of Megiddo (which would be a

column 1 mile wide and 85 long, not physically possible) - 9:163. There would be a stream of blood 200 miles long (not possible) -

14:20

The battle of Armageddon is the spiritual battle between God and Satan. God defeated Satan’s puppet-agent of Rome.

© Jeremy Dehut


MOST INFLUENTIAL CITY IN THE WORLD PUNISHED!

Her doom is so certain,the language is instantaneous - 18:8

All her allies, merchants & shipmasters will mourn her - 18:9-19

© Jeremy Dehut


WHO IS THE HARLOT?

1. She encouraged unfaithfulness - v. 22. She controlled the religious and military beasts - v. 33. At the same time, she was supported by the beasts - v. 34. She appeared royal and rich - v. 45. She was large world influence, compared to Babylon - v. 56. She was drunk on the blood of martyred saints - v. 67. She sat on seven mountains - v. 98. She sat over peoples, nations, etc. - v. 15

The harlot is the city of Rome, the capital of the empire!

© Jeremy Dehut


WHO ARE THE TEN HORNS?

1. Ten (symbolic number) represents complete - v. 122. Kings which have received no kingdom as yet - v. 123. Receive power…one hour (short time) with the beast (Rome) - v. 124. They shall hate the whore (the city of Rome) and shall…etc. - v. 16

The ten horns are Rome’s rulers in the provinces, puppet or vassal kings!

© Jeremy Dehut


WHO ARE THE TEN HORNS?

“St. John looks beyond the end of Domitian’s reign to a future which he does not attempt to fix. He has a pre-vision of forces within the Empire taking shape under the leadership of men who, without Imperial purple, would posses Imperial powers, and would use them for the destruction of Rome. His forecast was verified by the long series of disasters sustained at the hands of Alaric, Genseric, Ricimer, Totila, and representatives of the hordes which overran the West in the 5th and 6th centuries; not to mention later sieges by less barbarous foes. No reader of the Decline and Fall can be at a loss for material which will at once illustrate and justify the general trend of St. John’s prophecy.”

-Henry Barclay Sweete

© Jeremy Dehut


VICTORIOUS LEADER PRAISED BY FOLLOWERS!

Praise is offered by saints because of Rome’s righteous destruction - v. 2

Blessed are those who endured persecution - vs. 8-9 The military might of Rome, and its emperor worship

was eliminated by Christ - v. 20 Contrast the wedding feast (v. 9) with the bird’s feast

(vs. 17-18)

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SATAN IS DEFEATED!

Satan is bound for a complete period of time (10 x 10 x 10) - v. 2

After being defeated, Satan is loosed for a complete period of time (10 x 10 x 10) - v. 3

Those martyred are with Christ - vs. 4 & 6 The people who reign with Christ by overcoming Rome

have a part in the first resurrection - vs. 5-6

© Jeremy Dehut


HOW IS SATAN BOUND?

1. He no longer has power to posses people with demons - Matt. 12:28-29

2. He no longer has power to accuse the redeemed to be worthy of the second death - Heb. 2:14-15; Rev. 20:6

3. He no longer has power to raise the beast (world kingdoms) against God and His people - Rev. 19:19-21; 20:1-7

4. We have been given the power to resist him - 1 Pet. 5:8-9

© Jeremy Dehut


WHO ARE GOG AND MAGOG?

1. In Ezek. 38:2 & 39:1 they symbolically stood for the pagan forces which fought against God - v. 8

2. These forces are marshaled after Satan is loosed for a little season - vs. 3, 7-10

3. This battle is spiritual, because that is what Christ’s kingdom is (John 18:36; 2 Cor. 10:4) and they are fighting that kingdom.

© Jeremy Dehut


DESCRIPTIONS OF ETERNITY

1. The eternal inheritance of the redeemed - vs. 1-7

2. The eternal inheritance of the wicked - v. 8

3. The protection of God’s people - vs. 9-27

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THE COMING OF CHRIST

To stay within the immediate context of Revelation and Rome being punished for her persecution of God’s people, Christ’s coming is to be seen as a day of impending judgment on Rome, not as His literal second coming. Look at these verses that clearly show that God came down in judgment multiple times in the O.T. (Gen. 11:5; Ex. 3:8; Is. 19:1; Mic. 1:3-4).

It is likely that the coming of Christ in the close of Revelation begins with the judgment of Rome and finishes with a promise of eternity for the faithful.

© Jeremy Dehut


DWELLING WITH GOD

Before the garden of Eden was created, God had a plan to redeem us from wickedness so that we could eternally dwell with Him. This chapter symbolically explains that the relationship we lost with God in Eden will be regained after the final judgment.

EDEN HEAVEN

Tree of life - Gen, 2:9 Tree of life - Rev. 22:2

River - Gen. 2:10 River - Rev. 22:1

Absence of sin - Gen. 3:22-24 Absence of sin/curse - Rev. 22:3

God’s presence - Gen. 3:8 God’s presence - Rev. 22:4-5

© Jeremy Dehut

REVELATION: Chapter 22:14a

“BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO WASH THEIR ROBES…”

- Revelation 22:14a

Versions that give this reading based on translation from manuscripts older than the Textus Receptus:

1) NASB

2) UNASB

3) NRSV

4) Amplified Bible

© Jeremy Dehut


“BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO DO HIS COMMANDMENTS…”

- Revelation 22:14a

Versions that give this reading based on translation from the Textus Receptus, also known as the Majority Text:

1) King James Version

2) New King James Version

© Jeremy Dehut


In the Greek texts, all of the words were written in capital letters, without any spaces between words. Here is the same paragraph you have just read in English in capital letters, without any spaces or punctuation.

INTHEGREEKTEXTSALLOFTHEWORDSWEREWRITTENINCAPITALLETTERSWITHOUTANYSPACESBETWEENWORDSHEREISTHESAMEPARAGRAPHYOUHAVEJUSTREADINENGLISHINCAPITALLETTERSWITHOUTANYSPACESORPUNTUATION

© Jeremy Dehut


Now, to make this more difficult on the scribes who made the slight mistake when the copied the Greek text, look at the English transliteration of the Greek words!

HOIPOIOUNTESTASENTOLAS…

Those who do His commands…

HOIPLUNONTESTASSTOLAS…

Those who wash their robes…

© Jeremy Dehut


Did you catch the slight difference in the two phrases? Let’s make the font a little bigger. We’ll also separate the words and underline the differences this time. Do you see it now?

HOI POIOUNTES TAS ENTOLAS…

Those who do His commands…

HOI PLUNONTES TAS STOLAS…

Those who wash their robes…

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© Jeremy Dehut REVELATION AN INTRODUCTION & OVERVIEW