Chapter XXXIX.
Revelation.
Author. John, the Apostle, while in exile on the Isle of Patmos, 1:1,
4, 9; 22:8.
Date. About 95 or 96 A. D.
The Book. (1) It is a book of symbols and imagery, and constantly
creates excitement and wonder. (2) It is a book of wars, but war
always ends in peace. The word war occurs seven times in Revelation,
and only seven times in all the rest of the New Testament. (3) It is a
book of thunder, but the thunder and earthquake die away and are
followed by liturgies and psalms. (4) It is a book of the rewards of
the righteous. This is seen in the letters to the seven churches, and
in the victories of the right in all conflicts and wars of the book.
(5) It is, therefore, a book of optimism. Everywhere God overcomes
Satan, the Lamb triumphs, Babylon falls, etc.
Its Interpretation. There are several classes of interpreters, as
follows (1) _The Praeterist_, who thinks it has been fulfilled in its
primary sense. He makes all the prophesies and visions refer to Jewish
history down to the fall of Jerusalem, and to the history of Pagan
Rome. (2) _The Futurist_, who interprets literally and thinks all the
events of the book are to come just before or just after the second
coming of Christ. (3) _The Historical or Continuous School_. These
think some have been fulfilled, some are now being fulfilled, and some
will be fulfilled in the future. (4) _The Spiritualist_, who objects
to the other three classes of interpreters because they make so much
of the time element. He lays stress upon the moral and spiritual
element of the book and reads the book “as a representation of ideas
rather than of events.”
Value. The chief value of the book seems to lie in its testimony to
the faith and hope of persecuted Christians and in the comfort and
inspiration it has brought to sorrowing and oppressed souls of every
age. It points outthat there will be an end of conflict, that God and
the Lamb will triumph that the enemies of our souls will be punished
and that the followers of God will be rewarded with eternal reward.
Analysis.
Introduction, 1-8.
I. The Seven Churches, 1:9-3 end,
1. A preparatory vision of Christ, 1:9 end.
2. The addresses to the churches, Chs. 2-3.
II. The Seven Seals, 4:1-8:1.
1. A preparatory vision of the throne, Chs. 4-5.
2. Six seals opened in order, Ch. 6.
3. An episode-sealing God’s servants, Ch, 7.
4. The seventh seal opened, 8:1.
III. The Seven Trumpets, 8:1l end.
1. A preparatory vision, 8:2-6.
2. Six trumpets sounded in order, 8:7-9 end.
3. An episode-Little book, measuring the temple and two witnesses,
10:1-11:14
4. The seventh trumpet sounded, 11:15 end.
IV. The Seven Mystic Figures. Chs. 12-14.
1. The sun-clothed woman, Ch. 12.
2. The red dragon, Ch, 12.
3. The man-child, Ch. 12.
4. The beast from the sea, 13:1-10.
5. The beast from the earth, 13:11-18.
6. The Lamb on Mount Sion, 14:1-13. Three angels.
7. The son of man on the cloud, 14:14-20. Three angels.
V. The Seven Vials, Chs. 15-16.
1. The preliminary vision, Ch. 15-a song of victory.
2. Six vials poured out in order, 16:1-12.
3. An episode, 16:13-16. The spirits of the devil gather the kings
of the earth to the battle of Armageddon.
4. The seventh vial poured out, 16:17-21 (end).
VI. Three Final Conflicts and Triumphs, 17:1-22:5.
1. The first conflict and triumph, 17:1-19:10.
2. The second conflict and triumph, 19:11-20:6.
3. The third conflict and triumph, 20:7-22:5.
VII. The Epilogue Conclusion, 22:6-21 end.
1. Three-fold testimony to the truth of the vision. Angel, Jesus.
John, 6-8.
2. Directions of the angels concerning the prophecy, 9-10.
3. The moral of the book, 11-17.
4. John’s attestation and salutation, 18-21.
For Study and Discussion. (1) The vision of Jesus, 1:9 end. (2)
The letters to the seven churches: (a) Which churches are given noting
but praise? (b) Which nothing but blame? (c) Which both praise and
blame? (d) What is commended and what condemned in each. (3) The
twenty-four elders, four living creatures, sealed book and the Lamb,
Chs. 4-5. (4) The sealing of God’s servants, Ch. 7. (5) The little
book, Ch. 10. (6) The measuring rod and two witnesses; 11:1-14. (7)
Each of the seven mystic figures, Chs. 12-14. Describe each. (8)
Mystery Babylon, Ch. 17. (9) Song of triumph over Babylon, 19:1-10.
(10) The judgment of Satan, 20:1-10. (11) The description of the
general resurrection and judgment, 20:11-15; 22:10-15. (12) The
description of heaven, Chs. 21-22. (13) Verify the following points of
similarity in the seven seals, seven trumpets and seven vials, (a)
that heaven is opened and a preliminary vision before each series, (b)
that the first four in each series refer especially to the present
natural world, while the last three in each series refer more
particularly to the future or spiritual world, (c) that in each series
there is an episode after the sixth which is either an elaboration of
the sixth or an introduction to the seventh. (14) Compare these three
series again and note, (a) that they portray the same events in
similar language, (b) that the victory of the righteous and the
destruction of the wicked are portrayed in each, (c) that the victory
of the redeemed predominates in the first (seals) while the
destruction of the wicked predominates in the last (vials). (15) In
the series note the progress in the severity of punishment, (a) one-
fourth afflicted in the first (seals), (b) one-third afflicted in the
second (trumpets), (c) all are destroyed in the third (vials). (16)
From the following scriptures make a list allowing how nearly the same
thing is affected in each of the seven trumpets and vials, (a) 8:7 and
16:2, (b) 8:8 and 16:3, (c) 8:10-11 and 16:4-7, (d) 8:12 and 16:8-9,
(e) 9:9-11 and 16:10-11, (f) 9:13-21 and 16:12-16, (g) 11:15-18 and
16:17-21. (17) The contrasts and resemblances of the trumpets and
vials.
Trumpets. 1. Hail, fire blood cast on earth, one-third of the trees
burned.
Vails. 1. The Vial poured out on the earth, affliction upon the
followers of the beast.
Trumpets. 2. One-third of the sea made blood, one-third of its
creatures and of its ships destroyed.
Vails. 2. The whole sea made blood, and every soul therein destroyed.
Trumpets. 3. One-third of the rivers made bitter, many men destroyed
Vials. 3. All the rivers made blood and vengeance upon all men.
Trumpets. 4. One-third of the sun, etc., smitten, one-third of the day
darkened.
Vials. 4. The whole sun smitten, men are scorched, they blaspheme and
repent not.
Trumpets. 5. The stars of heaven fall into the pit; locusts sent
forth; men seek death.
Vials. 5. The throne and kingdom of the beast smitten, men suffer and
blaspheme and repent not.
Trumpets. 6. One-third of the men destroyed by the armies of the
Euphrates; men do not repent. Episode: God’s two witnesses witness for
Him and work miracles. War against them by the beasts.
Vials. 6. A way prepared for the kings beyond the Euphrates. Episode:
The dragon’s three unclean spirits witness for him and work miracles.
War by the world at Armageddon.
Trumpets. 7. Voices in heaven, judgment, earthquake, hail, etc.
Vials. 7, Voice in heaven, fall of Babylon, earthquake, hail, etc.
(18) The benedictions and doxologies of the book. (19) Things taught
about Jesus. (20) Things taught about Satan.
END.
