Introduction and Timeline ?_____?_??____________?___?__ Slide 2
Introduction 2 Reading Revelation Would the churches which received
Johns Revelation have sat down and studied it verse by verse?
Question: What would have happened? Task: Sit down with a coffee,
and with a modern version (like the NIV) and read Revelation right
through in one go. That is: Get the gist, without worrying about
the detail. Parts that are clear; parts that are incomprehensible.
Slide 3 Introduction 3 This would have been the same for those
first century Christians. They would have read it or heard it read,
many times. It would have stimulated much discussion for a very
long time... And it is the same today. If you do that sit down and
read it right through what do you find. Slide 4 Introduction 4
Chapter 1: an interesting introduction. Chapters 2-3: letters to
churches: strength and weakness Chapters 4-20: visions of future
events, in heaven and upon earth Chapter 21: the creation of the
new heavens and new earth and new Jerusalem Chapter 22: concluding
chapter If you do read right through Revelation ask yourself these
sorts of questions Slide 5 Introduction 5 Who did John write to?
Jewish Christians or Gentile Christians? Did John assume any prior
knowledge from his readers? If so, what? What event is the focus of
much of Revelation? What period of time is Revelation mainly
dealing with? The central part of Revelation changes back and forth
between heaven and earth and it seems to go over events three
times. When dealing with the earth, which part of the earth is the
main focus? Slide 6 Introduction 6 Sit down and read right through
Revelation and enjoy its climax. Revelation 21:1-2: (Read) Then I
saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the
first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw
the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from
God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. Slide
7 Introduction 7 Revelation 21:3-4 (Read) And I heard a loud voice
from the throne saying, Look! Gods dwelling-place is now among the
people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and
God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every
tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or
crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. Wow!
How? Why? Slide 8 Introduction 8 How? Why? No more sin Note 2 Peter
3:12-13: That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens
by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping
with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new
earth, the home of righteousness. KJV: wherein dwells righteousness
But beware if you read on. Slide 9 Introduction 9 Revelation
22:14-15: Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may
have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates
into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practise magic arts,
the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who
loves and practises falsehood. Note: John has gone back to the
Jerusalem of the Millennial Kingdom. First and second advents put
together in OT prophecy Millennium and New earth also put together
in OT and NT prophecy. How can you tell? Is there sin and death
around? Slide 10 Introduction 10 Isaiah 65:17-21: (Read): See, I
will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not
be remembered, nor will they come to mind. 18 But be glad and
rejoice for ever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem
to be a delight and its people a joy. 19 I will rejoice over
Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and
of crying will be heard in it no more. 20 Never again will there be
in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does
not live out his years; the one who dies at a hundred will be
thought a mere child; the one who fails to reach a hundred will be
considered accursed. Slide 11 Introduction 11 Ch 1: Introduction Ch
2 & 3: The people on earth in Johns Day: The letters to the
Seven Churches Ch 420: Visions of future events in Heaven and on
Earth Ch 21-22:5: The people on the New Earth Ch 22:6-21:
Conclusion The central part of Revelation (chapters 4-20) changes
back and forth between heaven and earth and it seems to go over the
same time period three times. It is not linear (which is what we
like). Slide 12 Serious questions 12 (1) Which group, or groups, of
people is a prophecy intended to benefit? Those to who it was
originally given? Those alive when the prophecy comes true? Those
living between those two times? (2) Which group(s) are most likely
to get the interpretation wrong? Note: Humility Slide 13 A time
line 13 Slide 14 A time line 14 Hand-out: Point A ? Some time in
the future Israel will again be ammi My people Lo ammi not my
people Started after Acts 28:17-28 (Read) Started at Acts 28:28
(about AD 63) and confirmed in AD 70 by the destruction of the
temple. Slide 15 A time line 15 Need some years before we get to
Point B as a number of prophetic events (especially from Daniel)
have to be fulfilled before we get to Point B (e.g. battles between
the King of the North and the King of the South). The King of the
North emerges victorious Point B The King of the North makes a
seven year agreement with Israel Daniel 9:27: He will confirm a
covenant with many [the Jews] for one seven [seven years]. Slide 16
A time line 16 Slide 17 A time line 17 Question: What are the
likely terms of the covenant? Rebuilding of the Temple and the
setting up of the evening and morning sacrifice. Note: Daniel
8:13-14: Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one
said to him, How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled
the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that
causes desolation, the surrender of the sanctuary and the trampling
underfoot of the L ORD s people? He said to me, It will take 2,300
evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated.
Slide 18 A time line 18 Note: 2300 days is short of seven years 7 x
360 = 2520 2520 2300 = 220 About 7-8 months Question: Is that how
long it will take to get the temple into a fit state for the first
evening and morning sacrifice? Between Point B and Point C is a
time of peace for Israel but Slide 19 A time line 19 Point C 1
Thessalonians 5:1-3: Now, brothers and sisters, about times and
dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that
the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While
people are saying, Peace and safety, destruction will come on them
suddenly, as labour pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not
escape. Question: Why? What happens? Slide 20 A time line 20 Point
C: What happens? Slide 21 A time line 21 Slide 22 A time line 22
Point C 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3: Now, brothers and sisters, about
times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very
well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
While people are saying, Peace and safety, destruction will come on
them suddenly, as labour pains on a pregnant woman, and they will
not escape. Question: Why? What happens? Slide 23 A time line 23
Daniel 9:27: He will confirm a covenant with many for one seven. In
the middle of the seven he will put an end to sacrifice and
offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that
causes desolation... That is: after 3 years he [the King of the
North] breaks the covenant he made with the many (Israel). Why?
Slide 24 A time line 24 Just before Point C: Daniel 11:25-28: With
a large army he will stir up his strength and courage against the
king of the South. The king of the South will wage war with a large
and very powerful army, but he will not be able to stand because of
the plots devised against him. Those who eat from the kings
provisions will try to destroy him; his army will be swept away,
and many will fall in battle. The two kings, with their hearts bent
on evil, will sit at the same table and lie to each other, but to
no avail, because an end will still come at the appointed time. The
king of the North will return to his own country with great wealth,
but his heart will be set against the holy covenant. He will take
action against it and then return to his own country. Slide 25 A
time line 25 Daniel 11:29-30: At the appointed time he will invade
the South again, but this time the outcome will be different from
what it was before. Ships of the western coastlands will oppose
him, and he will lose heart. Then he will turn back and vent his
fury against the holy covenant. He will return and show favour to
those who forsake the holy covenant. Note 1: This person is not the
all-dominant world- wide antichrist that some people make him out
to be. Note 2: Those who forsake the holy covenant renegade Jews.
Slide 26 A time line 26 Back to Daniel 9:27: He will confirm a
covenant with many for one seven. In the middle of the seven he
will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he
will set up an abomination that causes desolation... Slide 27 A
time line 27 Matthew 24:15: So when you see standing in the holy
place `the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through
the prophet Daniel Slide 28 A time line 28 Matthew 24:15: So when
you see standing in the holy place `the abomination that causes
desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel Slide 29 A time
line 29 V 15: So when you see standing in the holy place `the
abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet
Daniel Note: If we are going to understand Matthew &
Revelation, we need to have some understanding of Daniels prophecy.
Slide 30
