PRIMER ON THE PRIMER ON THE APOCALYPSEAPOCALYPSE

Revelation and the Close of Revelation and the Close of Christ’s Earthly Ministry.Christ’s Earthly Ministry.

By Noel PlattBy Noel Platt

Revelation and the Close Revelation and the Close of Christ’s Earthly of Christ’s Earthly Ministry.Ministry. The Close of Christ’s Earthly Ministry has more to do The Close of Christ’s Earthly Ministry has more to do

with interpreting Revelation than anyone has hitherto with interpreting Revelation than anyone has hitherto expected.expected.

The Old Testament Prophecies point towards these eventsThe Old Testament Prophecies point towards these events It is relevant to the book’s original audienceIt is relevant to the book’s original audience

– Providing the encouragement to endure Jewish & Roman Providing the encouragement to endure Jewish & Roman persecutionpersecution

– Mirroring what first century Christians were enduringMirroring what first century Christians were enduring Relevant to Christians todayRelevant to Christians today

– Providing a role model for Christian livingProviding a role model for Christian living– Providing the meaning of HistoryProviding the meaning of History

The Close of Christ’s Earthly Ministry anticipates the future.The Close of Christ’s Earthly Ministry anticipates the future.– With the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the end of With the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the end of

history has already (in a sense) occurred because the end of the history has already (in a sense) occurred because the end of the world will be on a COSMIC scale, what has already taken place in world will be on a COSMIC scale, what has already taken place in Christ.Christ.

Revelation and the Close Revelation and the Close of Christ’s Earthly of Christ’s Earthly Ministry.Ministry. Revelation was written towards the end Revelation was written towards the end

of the first century AD when the false of the first century AD when the false doctrine of doctrine of DocetismDocetism was threatening was threatening the Churches of Asia minor.the Churches of Asia minor.

This is attested by other Johnine This is attested by other Johnine Epistles written to counter docetism.Epistles written to counter docetism.

Docetists believed that the Christ event Docetists believed that the Christ event was an illusion (Christ was a mere was an illusion (Christ was a mere appearance and not a real person).appearance and not a real person).

Revelation and the Close Revelation and the Close of Christ’s Earthly of Christ’s Earthly Ministry.Ministry. Revelation was written to counter Docetism Revelation was written to counter Docetism

by emphasizing the shear and ultimate by emphasizing the shear and ultimate reality of Christ and the Christ event.reality of Christ and the Christ event.

John did so by using Old Testament John did so by using Old Testament symbolism to write Revelation as an symbolism to write Revelation as an allegorical illusionallegorical illusion behind which lay the behind which lay the ultimate realityultimate reality of the Christ event. of the Christ event.

To do this he was drawing upon the fact that To do this he was drawing upon the fact that the use of symbols and illusions the use of symbols and illusions always always assigns greater significance to the assigns greater significance to the meaning behind the symbols and meaning behind the symbols and illusionsillusions..

PRIMER ON THE PRIMER ON THE APOCALYPSE :APOCALYPSE : Revelation 6 Revelation 6 LESSONLESSON Read Matt 24:4-10 & compare it with Rev 6:1-8Read Matt 24:4-10 & compare it with Rev 6:1-8 1. What does Matt 24:5 suggest is indicated by the 1. What does Matt 24:5 suggest is indicated by the

symbol of the first horseman?symbol of the first horseman? 2. What does Matt 24:6 suggest is indicated by the 2. What does Matt 24:6 suggest is indicated by the

symbol of the second horseman?symbol of the second horseman? 3. What does Matt 24:7 suggest is indicated by the 3. What does Matt 24:7 suggest is indicated by the

symbol of the third horseman?symbol of the third horseman? 4. What does Matt 24:9,10 suggest is indicated by the 4. What does Matt 24:9,10 suggest is indicated by the

symbol of the fourth horseman? symbol of the fourth horseman? Read the parallel passage to Mat 24 in Luke 21.Read the parallel passage to Mat 24 in Luke 21. Under the fifth seal, the Under the fifth seal, the SoulsSouls under the Altar are under the Altar are

encouraged to be patient. How does this relate to encouraged to be patient. How does this relate to Luke 21:19 ?Luke 21:19 ?

PRIMER ON THE PRIMER ON THE APOCALYPSE :APOCALYPSE :

Read Matt 24:29 -31 and compare Read Matt 24:29 -31 and compare it with Rev 6:12-17it with Rev 6:12-17

5. What does the text in Matthew 5. What does the text in Matthew suggest about the happenings suggest about the happenings described under the sixth seal?described under the sixth seal?

The anointing at Bethany The vision of the angel & censer.The anointing at Bethany The vision of the angel & censer.

PRIMER ON THE PRIMER ON THE APOCALYPSE :APOCALYPSE :

Read John 12:1-8 and compare Read John 12:1-8 and compare this with Rev 8:3-5this with Rev 8:3-5

List the similarities & parallels.List the similarities & parallels.

PRIMER ON THE PRIMER ON THE APOCALYPSE :APOCALYPSE :

Read Mat 21:19-20 and compare Read Mat 21:19-20 and compare it with Rev 8:7it with Rev 8:7

List the similarities and parallels:List the similarities and parallels:

In Revelation: In Matthew:In Revelation: In Matthew:Burning Mountain cast into the Jesus mentions a Mountain Burning Mountain cast into the Jesus mentions a Mountain cast cast sea. Into the sea. The same sea. Into the sea. The same mountain with the mountain with the dried up figdried up fig tree. tree.

PRIMER ON THE PRIMER ON THE APOCALYPSE :APOCALYPSE :

Read the reference to a mountain Read the reference to a mountain in Mat 21:21 and compare it with in Mat 21:21 and compare it with the mountain in Rev 8:8. the mountain in Rev 8:8.

What are the similarities?What are the similarities? What are the differences?What are the differences? How can the ‘burning’ be How can the ‘burning’ be

accounted for in terms of the text accounted for in terms of the text in Matthew? (Read the section in Matthew? (Read the section prior to verse 21)prior to verse 21)

REVELATION CHAPTER 17REVELATION CHAPTER 17In his crucifixion Jesus became sin, which means that he In his crucifixion Jesus became sin, which means that he

became all those who are evil, sinful wicked and became all those who are evil, sinful wicked and abhorrent to God. Hence he spiritually became the abhorrent to God. Hence he spiritually became the

Whore of Babylon.Whore of Babylon.

PRIMER ON THE PRIMER ON THE APOCALYPSE :APOCALYPSE : REVELATION REVELATION

17.17. Read Rev 17 and the account of Christ’s crucifixion in Read Rev 17 and the account of Christ’s crucifixion in

Mat 27:33-50, Mat 27:33-50, Which symbol in Rev 17 represents Jesus as SIN?Which symbol in Rev 17 represents Jesus as SIN? Which symbol in Rev 17 corresponds to the crucifixion Which symbol in Rev 17 corresponds to the crucifixion

nails?nails? Which symbol in Rev 17 corresponds to the inscription Which symbol in Rev 17 corresponds to the inscription

above Jesus’ cross?above Jesus’ cross? Which symbols in Rev 17 are used to represent the Which symbols in Rev 17 are used to represent the

drunkenness drunkenness usually but not alwaysusually but not always induced into induced into crucifixion victims in order to help dull the initial pain of crucifixion victims in order to help dull the initial pain of crucifixion? (Mat 27:34)crucifixion? (Mat 27:34)

Which symbol in Rev 17 corresponds to ‘the place of the Which symbol in Rev 17 corresponds to ‘the place of the skull’?skull’?

Which symbols in Rev 17 represent the sufferings Which symbols in Rev 17 represent the sufferings endured by crucifixion victims (burning fevers, endured by crucifixion victims (burning fevers, nakedness etc.)?nakedness etc.)?

The angel of the Lord descends The White Horse The angel of the Lord descends The White Horse RiderRider& overcomes the Roman guards & overcomes the & overcomes the Roman guards & overcomes the armiesarmies of the beast of the beast

PRIMER ON THE PRIMER ON THE APOCALYPSE :APOCALYPSE : REVELATION REVELATION

1919 Read Rev 19:11-21Read Rev 19:11-21 Read Mat 28:2-4Read Mat 28:2-4 List the similaritiesList the similarities List the differences.List the differences. How can the differences be How can the differences be

accounted for?accounted for?

In Matthew Previously dead In Revelation.In Matthew Previously dead In Revelation.Saints rise & appear to The first Saints rise & appear to The first ResurrectionResurrectionmany after Christ’smany after Christ’sResurrection.Resurrection.

PRIMER ON THE PRIMER ON THE APOCALYPSE :APOCALYPSE : The First The First

Resurrection.Resurrection. Read Mat 27: 52,53, 54 and Read Mat 27: 52,53, 54 and

compare it with Rev 20:4-6compare it with Rev 20:4-6 How do you think these texts How do you think these texts

relate?relate? What number is embodied in the What number is embodied in the

term ‘Centurion’ (Mat 27:54)?term ‘Centurion’ (Mat 27:54)? How do you think this number How do you think this number

relates to a thousand?relates to a thousand?