Coming Agenda Week #11 (tonight) Contextualizing the Book of Revelation Week #12 Resurrection of the Dead Ones (plural) Week #13 Synthesis Solution to

Coming Agenda Coming Agenda

Week #11 (tonight)Week #11 (tonight)

Contextualizing the Book of RevelationContextualizing the Book of Revelation

Week #12Week #12

Resurrection of the Dead Ones (plural)Resurrection of the Dead Ones (plural)

Week #13Week #13

Synthesis Solution to Four Competing ViewsSynthesis Solution to Four Competing Views

The Book of RevelationThe Book of Revelation

The The mostmost——mismis-read, -read, mismis-understood, and -understood, and mismis-taught books of the Bible. -taught books of the Bible.

The Historical Jesus The Historical Jesus

The Contemporary ChristThe Contemporary Christ

The exalted, glorified, transformed, transfigured, transcendent Christ of the Apocalypse.

The Book of RevelationThe Book of Revelation

A A personalpersonal story . . . story . . .

““An Exegetical Basis for a An Exegetical Basis for a Preterist-IdealistPreterist-Idealist Understanding of the Book of Revelation,” Understanding of the Book of Revelation,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society,Society, Vol. 49, No. 4 (Dec. 2006). Vol. 49, No. 4 (Dec. 2006).

Contextualizing Contextualizing the Book of Revelationthe Book of Revelation

• Location! Location! Location!Location! Location! Location!

• Context! Context! Context!Context! Context! Context!

• #1 Reason#1 Reason mis-read, mis-understand, mis-read, mis-understand,

mis- teach . . .mis- teach . . .

• FailFail to place it in divinely determined to place it in divinely determined context.context.

• Before they Before they trytry to interpret and understand to interpret and understand it.it.


• ClimaxClimax of prophecy. of prophecy.

• PinnaclePinnacle of God’s of God’s progressiveprogressive revelation revelation

• How much is How much is basedbased on your on your personalpersonal search of the Scriptures? search of the Scriptures?

• Versus how much is Versus how much is basedbased on what on what othersothers have have saidsaid??

• SevenSeven simple contextualizing simple contextualizing keyskeys. .

Contextualizing Key #1Contextualizing Key #1

Revelation’s Purpose Revelation’s Purpose

and Over-arching Themeand Over-arching Theme


• How do you picture Jesus in your mind’s eye?

Just a closer walk with Thee,

Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,

Daily, walking close to Thee,

Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

• Warner Sallman’s “Head of Christ” (1941).


• ““a a meekmeek and and mildmild Jesus eventually is a Jesus eventually is a borebore. He doesn’t . He doesn’t inspireinspire us.” us.”

• ““the aspect of church that the aspect of church that menmen find find leastleast appealing.”appealing.”

Brandon O’Brien, “A Jesus for Real Men,” Brandon O’Brien, “A Jesus for Real Men,”

Christianity TodayChristianity Today, April 2008, 49-50., April 2008, 49-50.


Little Jesus, Little Jesus, meekmeek and and mildmild,,

Look upon a little child.Look upon a little child.

~~

Christian children all must beChristian children all must be

MildMild, obedient, good as He., obedient, good as He.

Quoted in J.B. Phillips, Quoted in J.B. Phillips, Your God Is Too Small Your God Is Too Small

(1952, 2004), 26-27.(1952, 2004), 26-27.


• ““the the leastleast appropriate.” appropriate.” • ““someone who is a bit of a someone who is a bit of a nonentitynonentity, both , both

uninspireduninspired and and uninspiringuninspiring.” .” • ““we can hardly be surprised if children we can hardly be surprised if children

feel fairly soon that they have feel fairly soon that they have outgrownoutgrown the ‘tender Shepherd’ and find their heroes the ‘tender Shepherd’ and find their heroes elsewhereelsewhere.”.”

Ibid., 27-28.Ibid., 27-28.


• Other visual images.

• Jesus in The Passion of the Christ.

• “Touchdown Jesus.”

• Safe and sanitized manner.

• Who can object to a baby?

• Comely and sedentary Jesus?


• The The historicalhistorical Jesus— Jesus—

• The The mostmost challenging and controversial challenging and controversial figurefigure of human history. of human history.

• He’s He’s notnot like that like that anymoreanymore!!

• Unveiling and revealing Jesus Unveiling and revealing Jesus todaytoday..


• FirstFirst fivefive words. words.

• PurposePurpose and over-arching and over-arching themetheme is . . . is . . .

• To unveil and reveal a To unveil and reveal a greatergreater Jesus as Jesus as He He nownow is . . . is . . .

• ContemporaryContemporary Christ. Christ.


• “Revelation” is Revelation” is apokalypsisapokalypsis. .

• MeansMeans an “unveiling” or “uncovering” an “unveiling” or “uncovering”

• OfOf Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ.

• FromFrom or or aboutabout. .

• Satan, his cohorts, and the Antichrist.Satan, his cohorts, and the Antichrist.

• Search in Search in vainvain to find to find anyany mention of mention of an/the an/the AntichristAntichrist in the Revelation. in the Revelation.


• OnlyOnly source that source that unveilsunveils and and revealsreveals Jesus in his present-day, pertinent, and Jesus in his present-day, pertinent, and full full realityreality. .

• Jesus of the Jesus of the Apocalypse.Apocalypse.

• ContemporaryContemporary Christ. Christ.

• MuchMuch greater Jesus than greater Jesus than mostmost of us have of us have been been ledled to believe! to believe!

• To meet, know, and take To meet, know, and take seriouslyseriously. .


• ““made a little made a little lowerlower than the angels” (Heb. than the angels” (Heb. 2:7, 9). 2:7, 9).

• ““made Himself made Himself nothingnothing, taking the very , taking the very naturenature [form] of a servant, being made in [form] of a servant, being made in humanhuman likeness” (Phil. 2:7). likeness” (Phil. 2:7).

• No longer No longer confinedconfined in an earthly in an earthly humanhuman body. body.

• BothBoth the the samesame and a and a greatergreater Jesus. Jesus.


• “God God exaltedexalted him to the him to the highest placehighest place and gave and gave him the name that is above every name that at him the name that is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth, and every tongue confess heaven and on earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:8-11; also Eph. 1:20-23). Father” (Phil. 2:8-11; also Eph. 1:20-23).

• ““So he So he becamebecame as much as much superiorsuperior to the angels to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs” (Heb. 1:4). theirs” (Heb. 1:4).


• SameSame Jesus has Jesus has changedchanged. . • BeforeBefore creation creation toto cradle cradle toto cross cross toto coronation. coronation.• Much greaterMuch greater Jesus Jesus thanthan has been or is has been or is

generally being generally being presentedpresented, , preachedpreached, and , and perceivedperceived. .

• WholeWhole message of Christ message of Christ mustmust include Jesus as include Jesus as He is He is todaytoday..

• MoreMore blessings and power (Rev. 1:3; 22:7). blessings and power (Rev. 1:3; 22:7).


• The The latestlatest picture of Jesus (Rev. 1:12-16). picture of Jesus (Rev. 1:12-16).

• Jesus Jesus as He is right as He is right nownow!!

• No longer the No longer the historicalhistorical Jesus of Jesus of popularpopular thought and tradition. thought and tradition.

• ContemporaryContemporary Christ! Christ!

• ““Well Well donedone, good and faithful , good and faithful servantservant” ” (Matt. 25:21, 23). (Matt. 25:21, 23).


• ““Jesus Christ is the Jesus Christ is the samesame yesterday and yesterday and today and forever” (Heb. 13:8). today and forever” (Heb. 13:8).

• PersonhoodPersonhood and and divinitydivinity. .

• Preexistent Preexistent formform into a into a babebabe, into a , into a boyboy, , into a into a man,man, into a into a dead mandead man, into a , into a resurrectedresurrected body, and then ascended and body, and then ascended and glorifiedglorified..

• 12,000 12,000 literalliteral “yesterdays.” “yesterdays.”


• ““When I When I sawsaw him, I him, I fellfell at his feet as at his feet as though though deaddead” (Rev. 1:17a). ” (Rev. 1:17a).

• He just He just diddid. . • ““But we know that when he But we know that when he appearsappears [is [is

made known / is manifested] . . . made known / is manifested] . . . we we shall shall seesee him him asas he he isis” (1 John 3:2). ” (1 John 3:2).

• ““SpiritualSpiritual reading.” reading.” • Apocalyptic, heavenly Apocalyptic, heavenly lightlight (see 2 Cor. (see 2 Cor.

5:16). 5:16).


‘‘Though Though seeingseeing, they do , they do not seenot see;;though though hearinghearing, they do , they do not hearnot hear or understand.’ or understand.’

In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:‘‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;You will be ever hearing but never understanding;

you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.For this people’s heart has become calloused;For this people’s heart has become calloused;

they hardly hear with their ears,they hardly hear with their ears,and they have closed their eyes.and they have closed their eyes.

Otherwise they might Otherwise they might seesee with their eyes, with their eyes,hearhear with their ears, with their ears,

understandunderstand with their hearts with their heartsand and turnturn, and I would , and I would healheal them.’ them.’(Matt. 13:13-15, from Isa. 6:9-10;(Matt. 13:13-15, from Isa. 6:9-10;

also see Ezek. 40:4; John 12:39-41; Acts 28:25-27) also see Ezek. 40:4; John 12:39-41; Acts 28:25-27)


• Can you Can you seesee Jesus Jesus nownow? ?

• Slain Slain lamblamb with seven horns and seven with seven horns and seven eyes (Ch. #5). eyes (Ch. #5).

• Mighty Mighty angelangel holding a little scroll (Ch. # holding a little scroll (Ch. # 10). 10).

• Male Male childchild Who was to rule all nations with Who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron (Ch. #12).a rod of iron (Ch. #12).


• SittingSitting on a white cloud on a white cloud wearingwearing a golden crown a golden crown and and holdingholding a sharp sickle (Ch. # 14). a sharp sickle (Ch. # 14).

• RiderRider on a on a whitewhite horsehorse with the armies of with the armies of Heaven Heaven followingfollowing Him (Ch. # 19). Him (Ch. # 19).

• On a great On a great white thronewhite throne from whose face the from whose face the earth and the heaven earth and the heaven fledfled (Ch. # 20). (Ch. # 20).

• AlphaAlpha and and OmegaOmega, the , the rootroot and and offspringoffspring of of David, and the David, and the brightbright MorningMorning StarStar (Ch. #22). (Ch. #22).


• ““WriteWrite, therefore, what you have , therefore, what you have seenseen, , what is what is nownow and what will take place and what will take place laterlater” ” (Rev. 1:19). (Rev. 1:19).

• SetsSets the the stagestage. .

• Much moreMuch more to be unveiled and revealed. to be unveiled and revealed.

• MuchMuch greatergreater Jesus than we have been Jesus than we have been ledled to believe. to believe.


The Revelation Uses Figurative The Revelation Uses Figurative Language and Symbols to Reveal Language and Symbols to Reveal

Spiritual/Physical Events and RealitiesSpiritual/Physical Events and Realities


• Behind-the-scenes Behind-the-scenes peekpeek at the reality at the reality behindbehind the the reality. reality.

• The The unseenunseen world behind the world behind the seenseen natural world. natural world. • Spiritual Spiritual realityreality can can onlyonly be grasped by be grasped by faithfaith, ,

through spiritual through spiritual earsears (see 1 Cor. 1:18-25; 3:19; (see 1 Cor. 1:18-25; 3:19; Rev. 2:7; 2:11; 2:17; 2:29; 3:6; Rev. 2:7; 2:11; 2:17; 2:29; 3:6; 3:13; 3:22) 3:13; 3:22)

• and and eyeseyes (Matt.13:13-15, from Isaiah 6:9-10). (Matt.13:13-15, from Isaiah 6:9-10).


• Physical/material Physical/material mindsetmindset..• ““I have spoken to you of I have spoken to you of earthlyearthly things and things and

you do you do notnot believe; believe; howhow then will you then will you believe if I speak of believe if I speak of heavenlyheavenly things?” (see things?” (see John 3:1-13).John 3:1-13).

• ““and he [God] sent and and he [God] sent and signifiedsignified it by his it by his angel unto his servant John” (Rev. 1:1 angel unto his servant John” (Rev. 1:1 KJV). KJV).

• Greek word, Greek word, semainosemaino means “ means “sign – ifiedsign – ified.”.”


• VisualVisual parables of spiritual/physical parables of spiritual/physical realityreality. .

• DeniesDenies or or ignoresignores the dimension of the the dimension of the spiritspirit..

• BlindsBlinds us to the us to the spirit-worldspirit-world realities of the realities of the Revelation. Revelation.

• NeverNever understand the physical world understand the physical world

untiluntil we we betterbetter understand the understand the worldworld of the of the spiritspirit..


The Revelation Most Likely Was The Revelation Most Likely Was

Written Prior to Jerusalem’s Destruction Written Prior to Jerusalem’s Destruction in A.D. 70in A.D. 70


• A.D. 95 or 96—the “A.D. 95 or 96—the “latelate date.” date.” • Prior to A.D. 70—“Prior to A.D. 70—“earlyearly date.” date.” • ““on two points I have changed my opinion – the on two points I have changed my opinion – the

second Roman captivity of Paul . . . and the second Roman captivity of Paul . . . and the datedate of the Apocalypse (which I now assign, with the of the Apocalypse (which I now assign, with the majority of modern critics, to the majority of modern critics, to the year 68 or 69year 68 or 69 instead of instead of 9595, as before).” , as before).”

Philip Schaff, Philip Schaff, History of the Christian ChurchHistory of the Christian Church, Vol. , Vol. 1, 1,

1910 [third revision]) 1910 [third revision]) vivi, also 420, 834n., also 420, 834n.


• MajorMajor evidence for “ evidence for “latelate date”—an date”—an ambiguous and questionable ambiguous and questionable passagepassage written by written by IrenaeusIrenaeus. .

• InternalInternal and and externalexternal evidence. evidence.

• Major Major internalinternal evidence favoring the “ evidence favoring the “earlyearly date” is the identity of date” is the identity of BabylonBabylon in Rev. 18. in Rev. 18.

• ““Who is the Who is the BabylonBabylon?” – Session #5.?” – Session #5.

• Four simple Four simple syllogismssyllogisms. .


• AD 65AD 65 or or early 66early 66 would seem most would seem most suitable.suitable.

• ““if Revelation was written if Revelation was written beforebefore A.D. 70, A.D. 70, then a then a casecase could be made that it could be made that it describes chiefly those events leading up describes chiefly those events leading up to Jerusalem’s to Jerusalem’s fallfall.”.”

R.C. Sproul, R.C. Sproul,

The Last Days According to JesusThe Last Days According to Jesus, ,

1998), 132.1998), 132.


The Revelation Is Time RestrictedThe Revelation Is Time Restricted

Contextualizing Key #4Contextualizing Key #4← the ← the wholewhole prophecy→ prophecy→

Rev. Ch. #1Rev. Ch. #1

1:1 (soon)1:1 (soon)

1:3 (obey)1:3 (obey)

1:3 (at hand)1:3 (at hand)

FRONT FRONT BOOKENDBOOKEND


22:6 (soon)22:6 (soon)

22:7 (obey)22:7 (obey)


22:10 (do not seal up)22:10 (do not seal up)

22:7, 12, 20 (coming soon)22:7, 12, 20 (coming soon)

BACKBACK

BOOKENDBOOKEND


Other tacticsOther tactics• Figuratively.• Just ignore and jump in. • “But do not forget this one thing, dear

friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day” (2 Pet. 3:8).

• “to serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years” (Gen. 1:14).


• Refer to the Refer to the speed.speed.

• Merely convey Merely convey certaintycertainty. .

• AlwaysAlways viewed as being viewed as being nearnear. .

• MeaninglessMeaningless. .

• A A pretextpretext fulfillment fulfillment createdcreated. .

• Did Did notnot understandunderstand these words and these words and phrases in the phrases in the wayway these theorists are these theorists are suggestingsuggesting. .


• ““this is this is surprisingsurprising since this line of since this line of argumentargument is is most often put forth by those who insist on a most often put forth by those who insist on a literalliteral interpretation of Scripture.” interpretation of Scripture.”

• ““calls into calls into questionquestion the the reliabilityreliability of the Bible and of the Bible and makes makes nonsensenonsense of clear statements of of clear statements of Scripture.”Scripture.”

Gary DeMar, Gary DeMar,

Last Days MadnessLast Days Madness, 214-215., 214-215.


• If written If written priorprior to the destruction of to the destruction of Jerusalem Jerusalem in A.D. 70in A.D. 70 . . . . . .

• TimeTime statements make statements make perfectperfect sense. sense.

• Make a Make a distantdistant fulfillment fulfillment untenableuntenable..


• If this If this relevancyrelevancy was was notnot true—ask true—ask yourself . . . yourself . . .

• WhyWhy weren’t the weren’t the originaloriginal recipients recipients everever informedinformed of this fact? ( of this fact? (Amos 3:7Amos 3:7 ???) ???)

• This non-mention This non-mention omissionomission, if , if truetrue, would , would givegive the Revelation the character of the Revelation the character of deceptiondeception rather than of rather than of revelationrevelation. .

Contextualizing Key #4Contextualizing Key #4← the ← the wholewhole prophecy→ prophecy→


1:1 (soon)1:1 (soon)

1:3 (obey)1:3 (obey)


FRONT FRONT BOOKENDBOOKEND


22:6 (soon)22:6 (soon)

22:7 (obey)22:7 (obey)


22:10 (do not seal up)22:10 (do not seal up)

22:7, 12, 20 (coming soon)22:7, 12, 20 (coming soon)

BACKBACK

BOOKENDBOOKEND


The Revelation Is Fulfilled


• In perfect In perfect harmonyharmony with: with:

• Daniel’sDaniel’s “time of the end.” “time of the end.”

• 44thth version version of the Olivet Discourse. of the Olivet Discourse.

• Jesus’ “Jesus’ “thisthis generation.” generation.”

• For its For its ownown time and time and originaloriginal audience. audience.

• OccurredOccurred “soon” and “shortly” “soon” and “shortly”

• Within Within twotwo to to sevenseven years. years.


• These events These events endedended, forever, , forever, biblicalbiblical Judaism. Judaism. • Its Its ageage and the old covenant and the old covenant systemsystem (Heb. 8:13; (Heb. 8:13;

9:10). 9:10). • ““there must be an element of truth in this there must be an element of truth in this

approach for surely the Revelation was intended approach for surely the Revelation was intended to speak to its own generation.” to speak to its own generation.”

George Eldon Ladd, George Eldon Ladd,

A Theology of the New TestamentA Theology of the New Testament, 1974), , 1974), 672.672.


• MeaninglessMeaningless to modern-day Christians. to modern-day Christians.

• PastPast fulfillment does fulfillment does notnot exhaustexhaust its its meaning, relevance, and symbolism. meaning, relevance, and symbolism.

• Revelation Revelation itselfitself shows us . . . shows us . . .

• It is It is moremore than a than a tracttract for its for its ownown time !!! time !!!

• The The majormajor weaknessweakness of the of the preteristpreterist view. view.


The Revelation Is Also Timeless The Revelation Is Also Timeless

and Universal in Its Relevanceand Universal in Its Relevance


• EatEat the scroll the scroll (Rev. 10:9b). (Rev. 10:9b).

• Eating always Eating always transformstransforms something. something.

• NotNot exhaustedexhausted in its A.D. 70 fulfillment. in its A.D. 70 fulfillment.


• SixSix additional additional insightsinsights..• UniversalUniversal application and application and timelesstimeless relevance. relevance. • SensusSensus PleniorPlenior—i.e. “a —i.e. “a fullerfuller sense . . . . the sense . . . . the

possibility of possibility of moremore significance to . . . [a] significance to . . . [a] passage than was consciously apparent to the passage than was consciously apparent to the original author . .original author . . . .” . .”

Henry A. Virkler, Henry A. Virkler,

HermeneuticsHermeneutics, 1981, 25., 1981, 25.


First and foremostFirst and foremost

• The The wholewhole from from firstfirst to to lastlast..

• PrimaryPrimary focus—in focus—in oneone, immediate, , immediate, specific, and specific, and realreal coming of Jesus Christ in coming of Jesus Christ in judgmentjudgment and and consummationconsummation in A.D. 70. in A.D. 70.

• OneOne and and onlyonly fulfillment. fulfillment.

• ControllingControlling rolerole in a in a sensus plenior.sensus plenior.


SecondlySecondly

• Different and broader group of recipients.

• Than John’s original area and audience of the seven churches (Rev 1:4, 11).

• Minimize the meaning of this dramatic symbolism.

• Personal application for John.


ThirdlyThirdly

• Similar expressions are found five other times . . .

• In Revelation 5:9; 7:9; 13:7; 14:6; and 17:15 (also see Rev. 22:9 and Dan. 4:1; 7:14).

• Universalizes the application of Jesus’ sacrifice.


FourthlyFourthly• If If useuse in Rev. 10:11 is in Rev. 10:11 is consistentconsistent with this book’s with this book’s

other other fivefive uses . . . uses . . .• ““Scripture interpret Scripture” . . . Scripture interpret Scripture” . . . • SameSame universalized and timeless universalized and timeless meaningmeaning here, here,

as wellas well. . • Textual Textual rationalerationale for for applyingapplying the the wholewhole

prophecy prophecy beyondbeyond its A.D. 70 fulfillment. its A.D. 70 fulfillment. • WholeWhole of humankind from of humankind from bothboth a corporate and a corporate and

an individual an individual sensesense. .


FifthlyFifthly• Relevance Relevance cannotcannot be be limitedlimited to a to a oneone-time, -time,

historic, and static historic, and static eschatologicaleschatological fulfillment. fulfillment. • Serves in a Serves in a typologicaltypological and and controllingcontrolling manner. manner. • TypeType for for repeatingrepeating patterns. patterns. • Of Christ’s Of Christ’s ongoingongoing involvement and activity involvement and activity • In In historyhistory and in individual and in individual liveslives. . • Timeless and multifaceted—Timeless and multifaceted—relevancyrelevancy..


FifthlyFifthly

““If anyone If anyone addsadds anything to them, God will anything to them, God will addadd to him the to him the plaguesplagues described in this described in this

book. And if anyone book. And if anyone takes awaytakes away from this from this book of prophecy, God will book of prophecy, God will take awaytake away from from him his him his shareshare in the tree of life and in the in the tree of life and in the

holy city, which are described in this book” holy city, which are described in this book” (Rev. 22:18-19).(Rev. 22:18-19).


Key #1—Purpose and Over-arching Theme.Key #1—Purpose and Over-arching Theme.Key #2—Uses Figurative Language and Key #2—Uses Figurative Language and

Symbols to Reveal Spiritual/Physical Symbols to Reveal Spiritual/Physical Events and Realities.Events and Realities.

Key #3—Most Likely Written Prior to Key #3—Most Likely Written Prior to Jerusalem’s Destruction in A.D. 70.Jerusalem’s Destruction in A.D. 70.

Key #4—Is Time Restricted.Key #4—Is Time Restricted.Key #5—Is Fulfilled. Key #5—Is Fulfilled. Key #6—Is Also Timeless and Universal in Its Key #6—Is Also Timeless and Universal in Its

Relevance.Relevance.Key #7— Key #7—

Coming AgendaComing Agenda

Week #12Week #12

The Many Comings of Jesus in RevelationThe Many Comings of Jesus in Revelation

Resurrection of the Dead Ones (plural)Resurrection of the Dead Ones (plural)

Week #13Week #13

Synthesis Solution to Four Competing ViewsSynthesis Solution to Four Competing Views

Documents

Coming Agenda Week #11 (tonight) Contextualizing the Book of Revelation Week #12 Resurrection of the Dead Ones (plural) Week #13 Synthesis Solution to