Revelation
Summary[i]
Writer: The Apostle John (1:1).
Date: A.D. 96
Theme: The theme of the Revelation is
Jesus Christ (Rev_1:1), presented in a
threefold way:
1. As to time: "which is, and which was,
and which is to come" (Revelation 1:4);
2. As to relationships--the churches (Revelation
1:9 - 3:22), to the tribulation (Revelation 4:1 - 19:21), to the kingdom
(Revelation 20:1 - 22:21);
3. In His offices--High Priest (Revelation
8:3-6), Bridegroom (Revelation 19:7-9), King-Judge (Revelation 20:1-15).
But while Christ is thus the
central theme of the book, all of the events move toward one consummation, the
bringing in of the covenanted kingdom. The key-phrase is the prophetic
declaration of the "great voices in heaven" (Rev_11:15), lit, "The world kingdom of our
Lord and of his Christ has come." The book is, therefore, a prophecy (Rev_1:3).
The three major divisions of
Revelation must be clearly held if the interpretation is to be sane and
coherent. John was commanded to "write" concerning three classes of
"things" (Rev_1:19):
1. Things past, "the things thou hast
seen," i.e. the Patmos vision, (Revelation 1:1-20).
2. Things present, "the things which
are," i.e. things then existing--obviously the churches. The temple had
been destroyed, the Jews dispersed: the testimony of God had been committed to
the Churches (1Ti_3:15). Accordingly we
have seven messages to seven representative churches, (Revelation 2:1 - 3:22).
It is noteworthy that the church is not mentioned in chapters 5-18.
3. Things future, "things which shall be
hereafter," lit. "after these," i.e. after the church period
ends, Revelation 4:1 - 22:21. The third major division, as Erdman (W.J.) has
pointed out, falls into a series of six sevens, with parenthetical passages,
making, with the church division, seven sevens.
The six sevens are:
1. The seals, (Revelation 4:1 - 8:1).
2. The seven trumpets, (Revelation 8:2 - 11:19).
3. The seven personages,(Revelation 12:1 -
14:20).
4. The seven vials (bowls), Revelation
Revelation 15:1 - 16:21).
5. The seven dooms, (Revelation 17:1 - 20:15).
6. The seven new things, (Revelation 21:1 -
22:21).
The parenthetical passages are:
1. The Jewish remnant and the tribulation
saints, (Revelation 7:1-17).
2. The angel, the little book, the two witnesses,
(Revelation 10:1 - 11:14).
3. The Lamb, the Remnant, and the everlasting
Gospel, (Revelation 14:1-13).
4. The gathering of the kings at Armageddon,
(Revelation 16:13-16).
5. The four alleluias in heaven, (Revelation
19:1-6). These passages do not advance the prophetic narrative. Looking
backward and forward they sum up results accomplished, and speak of results yet
to come as if they had already come. In Rev_14:1,
for example, the Lamb and Remnant are seen prophetically on Mount Sion, though
they are not actually there till Rev_20:4-6.
The end of the church period
(Revelation 2-3) is left indeterminate. It will end by the fulfilment of 1Th_4:14-17. Revelation 4-19 are believed to
synchronize with Daniel's Seventieth Week
See Scofield
- Dan_9:24). The great tribulation begins at the middle
of the week, and continues three and a half years (11:3-19:21). The tribulation
is brought to an end by the appearing of the Lord and the battle of Armageddon
(Mat_24:29-30; Rev_19:11-21). The kingdom follows (Rev_20:4-5); after this the "little
season" (Rev_20:7-15), and then
eternity.
Interpreters of the Revelation should bear in mind two important passages: 1Pe_1:12; 2Pe_1:20-21. Doubtless much which is designedly obscure to us will be clear to those for whom it was written as the time approaches.