INTRODUCTION

I. AUTHOR.

 The author of this book is John the Apostle.  He also wrote four other books, all of which bear his name (John, I, II, III John).  He is very prominent in the first twelve chapters of Acts. Tradition says that he was the only apostle to die a natural death.

II. DEFINITION OF “REVELATION.”

 The word “revelation” comes from the Greek word “apocalypse.”  It means “to unveil.”  It is used 44 times in the New Testament.  The verb is used 26 times:  Matthew 10:26; 11:25,27; 16:17; Luke 2:35; 10:21,22; 12:2; 17:30; John 12:38; Romans 1:17,18; 8:18; I Corinthians 2:10; 3:13; 14:30; Galatians 1:16; 3:23; Ephesians 3:5;      II Thessalonians 2:3,6,8; I Peter 1:5,12; 5:1.  The noun is used 18 times:  Luke 2:32; Romans 2:5; 16:25; 8:19; I Corinthians 14:6,16; 1:7; II Corinthians 12:1,7; Galatians 1:12; 2:2; Ephesians 1:17; 3:3; II Thessalonians 1:7; I Peter 1:13; 4:13; 1:7; Revelation 1:1.  This book has a great deal of figurative language and deals almost exclusively with the sufferings and trials faced by God’s people.  Since it is figurative, its real meaning was hidden from their enemies, but very clear to the early Christians.

III. DATE OF THE WRITING.

 Two years, A.D. 69 and A.D. 96, are the dates that are most often proposed for the writing of Revelation.  This writer believes that it was about A.D. 69 for the following reasons:

 A. Much of the language in the book is similar to the language that Jesus used when He described the destruction of Jerusalem (which came in A.D. 70).  Note the following references:

  1. Matthew 24:34 and Revelation 1:1.
  2. Matthew 24:21 and Revelation 1:9; 3:10; 7;14.
  3. Matthew 24:2; 23:37 and Revelation 11:8; 18:10,21.
  4. Matthew 24:16-21 and Revelation 12:6.
  5. Matthew 24:7,8 and Revelation 18:8.
  6. Matthew 24:31 and Revelation 11:15.

(Read Matthew 24:1-35; Mark 13:1-31; Luke 21:5-33).

 B. The temple is represented as still standing; (Revelation 11:1,2,8; see Luke 21:24).  It was not standing after A.D. 70 (and still is not).

 C. The Jews still had some influence as a major threat to the church (Revelation 2:9; 3:9).  This was not nearly the same kind of threat later on.

 D. John still had much preaching to do (Revelation 10:11).  But if he had written in A.D. 96, he probably was too old to do much traveling and preaching.  In A.D. 69, though, he was not so old and was still able to do a great deal.

 E. John says that these things would happen very soon, and that they would come to pass in the city where our Lord was crucified (Revelation 11:1,2,8; 11:8).  This fits very well with the A.D. 69 date.

IV. TO WHOM DID JOHN WRITE?

 The letter is addressed to the seven churches of Asia (Revelation 1:11).  The warning and encouragements applied to every soul who would take heed (Revelation 1:3).  Keep in mind that the dangers which they faced are described in Revelation.  There is no hint anywhere that John was speaking of persecutions that were hundreds of years away.

V. WHAT CAUSED THE PERSECUTION?

 A. Christianity was an illegal religion.  It remained such because it would not be bound by Roman laws and Jewish tradition.

 B. Christianity is a universal religion, and Rome wanted a universal empire.  Thus, they clashed.  It also clashed with Judaism by making the gospel available on equal terms to Jew and Gentile.

 C. Christianity was an exclusive religion.  Christians refused to participate in the heathen way of life, or to carry over the law of Moses into the new dispensation.

 D. Christians were constantly being accused of evil.  First the Jews, and then Rome, thought that by eliminating the church, some of their problems would cease.
 
 E. Many Christians were from the poor and outcasts of society.  Hence, they were looked down upon by the rich.

 F. Rome hated them more than the Jews because the Christians refused even more steadfastly than the Jews to compromise.

 G. Christians were regarded as wild fanatics because of their zeal (Acts 17:6).
 
 H. The way of Christ conflicted with the temporal interests of the day, such as the shrine-makers of Acts 18.

 I. Christians refused to worship the Emperor and actively taught against it.  They also taught that the Law was nailed to the cross and that Jerusalem would be destroyed (Acts 6).

VI. THE CONDITIONS IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

 During the first part of the first century A.D., the Roman Empire  was approaching the zenith of its strength.  Its boundaries were from the African deserts to the British Isles; and from the Euphrates River to the Atlantic Ocean.  The Empire was held together by a large, well-trained army.  On its frontiers were Roman colonies composed largely of “retired” soldiers.  Rome was built on two things:  conquest and commerce.  The great system of highways made widespread commerce possible.  Palaces were dazzling.  Men rivaled one another in extravagances.  Slaves were everywhere.  Many of them were more cultured than their masters.  Women had different slaves for everything.  They wore extravagant jewelry.  In contrast with such wealth, there was dire poverty.  Nearly everyone was either rich or very poor.  There was no work for hire because the slaves did it all.  The poor swarmed to the capitol—Rome.  They were fed by an enormous dole system and entertained at the games.  Teachers taught purity and lived in sin.  They were hypocrites.  The moral depravity is reflected in Romans 1:18-32.  They threw away everything that was good and honorable.  Crime was nothing.  They made no attempt to hide graft, corruption, bias.  Marriages were a commercial endeavor.  Some women counted their years by their number of marriages.  One had 8 in 5 years.  Children were considered a burden.  If sickly, they would let them be exposed.  If the baby were a boy, that was all right.  But if a girl, some would raise her and later sell her to prostitution.  Others would let her die of exposure (see Romans 1; “without natural affection”).

 In the midst of it all was the church.  How did they feel when they were converted to Christ?  Terribly shocked!  They had to die to the world.  The weaker ones would say, “Sin will overwhelm us.  The church will be destroyed.”  But the Bible taught, “Do not conform to the world.  Rise over it and the church will not die” (Romans 12:1,2).

 The churches of Asia Minor were faced with pagan rituals and heresies; thus the message of Revelation is faith will conquer (see I John 5:4,5; Revelation 19:6).

 The Roman religion emphasized emperor worship.  It came about from deification of the city of Rome.  In the years before Christ someone suggested paying homage to Rome.  So rituals were held.  During A.D. 29 a shrine was built in Pergamum.  Emperor worship took a distinct ring at that point.  Christians were faced with a choice: submit to the Lordship of Christ or compromise.  Compromise would be idolatry.  So they refused—as a body (for the most part), and suffered.

 In this God presents a call to loyalty: at any cost.  Your faith will make you triumphant in the end (Revelation 2:10).  Die in order to live!  You have to pay for your faith.  Revelation shows how to do it.
 
 Revelation is to the Christian a call to choose:

 A. The spiritual over the material (Matthew 6:24-34).
 B. Eternal over temporal (II Corinthians 4:17-5:4).
 C. Resist temptation and the devil will flee (James 1:13-16; 4:1-10).
 D. Refuse any and all compromise with pagan culture, secularism, or    Judaism (II Corinthians 11:3).
 E. To place the conscience over every demand of the world (I John    2:15-17).
 F. Cherish the thought, “God is on His throne,” and therefore all will end well   for His children (Revelation 19:6).

VII. FOUR OF THE MAIN LESSONS OF REVELATION.

 A. God has provided reassurance for Christians (Romans 8:31-39).

 Throughout the book of Revelation, the first century Christians were assured that God would deliver their souls because of one fact: He is able.  He is stronger than all other powers because He is their creator.  He does with them what He wills and He saves Christians through His Son; the worthy Lamb; Who too is our redeemer because He is able; He conquered Satan.  (See Revelation 1:3,17,18; 2:7,10,17,26,27; 3:5,12,21; 6:9-11; 10:11; 11:15; 17:14; 19:9; 20:6; 21:4; and 22:1-7 as examples of this).

 B. Divine retribution (Galatians 6:7,8).

 John assured the Christians that the Romans, and everyone else, would reap as they sow.  So they were therefore encouraged to patiently endure the hardships of Christianity.  (See Revelation 2:5,16,22,23; 3:9,16; 6:14-17; 8:13; 9:20,21; 11:8; 12:9; 14:18-20; 17:1; 18:5; 20:1-15; 21:8; and 22:18,19 as examples of this).

 C. It is essential for Christians to remain faithful (I John 5:4,5).

 John taught in Revelation that those who overcame through their faith would not be hurt of the second death.  The converse is true: those whose faith is weak—and who fall from God—shall be hurt of the second death.  (See Revelation 2:10; 7:14-17; 9:4; 12:11; 13:10; 14:12,13; 16:15; 18:4; 21:27; and 22:14 as examples of this).

 D. The Godhead is worthy (John 4:24).

 The characteristics of the majesty, power, and faithfulness of the Godhead run through this book as the most significant theme of all.  Let us learn about God!!  Only then can we know why we are here, how to live, and where we are going.  (See Revelation 1, 4, 5, 15, and 19 as examples of this).

        Skip Andrews
        3249 Highway 120
        Duluth, GA 30096