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Revelation Intro

1) The document provides background information on a study group's first introduction to the book of Revelation. Most group members were teachers or students who had some prior exposure to Revelation through sermons or readings but wanted to study it directly. 2) It summarizes the biblical context around the term "antichrist" and warns against preconceived notions that could hinder understanding Revelation. 3) It introduces the historical context, including information about the author John of Patmos, who was exiled to the island of Patmos around 95 AD where he received the Revelation.

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Jobelle Vergara
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38 views3 pages

Revelation Intro

1) The document provides background information on a study group's first introduction to the book of Revelation. Most group members were teachers or students who had some prior exposure to Revelation through sermons or readings but wanted to study it directly. 2) It summarizes the biblical context around the term "antichrist" and warns against preconceived notions that could hinder understanding Revelation. 3) It introduces the historical context, including information about the author John of Patmos, who was exiled to the island of Patmos around 95 AD where he received the Revelation.

Uploaded by

Jobelle Vergara
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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First Session

Introduction to Revelation

August 20, 2015

As your pastor and teacher, I asked a number of questions in order to understand the background
of the group.
I noticed that most of you are teachers coming from different churches. 4 are students from TLFA
while 3 others are parents. Religious background are varied.

Only 6 of you have read through the book of Revelation while 10 of you have heard of at least
one sermon on Revelation or the Second Coming.

When asked for a description, several of you gave feeling wordswords of excitement and
curiosity. Then there are words like signs and symbols, rapture and tribulation, angels and
dragon, and numbers (7, 666, etc.)
I appealed to you to have an open mind because some of the things you may have learned
from your past may obstruct or hinder your understanding of Revelation. For example, the
idea of anti-christ. Many people have the idea that it is only one person that will appear in
the future and he will go against God.
Then we went through the following verses:
1 John 2:18

Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now
many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.
18

1 John 2:22

Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he
who denies the Father and the Son.
22

1 John 4:3
3
and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the
antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.
2 John 1:7

For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the
coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.
7

Matthew 24:24

"For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and
wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect."
24

Mark 13:22

"False christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead
astray, if possible, the elect."
22

So for this reason, we need to read through the book of Revelation and understand first
what was Gods purpose and message for the early church of that time. Then we can
come to understand Gods purpose and message for us today.
John the Beloved
Also known as John the Evangelist, John of Patmos
He was born 6 8 AD in Bethsaida, Galilee. One of the sons of Zebedee and Salome
(Mary). His eldest brother was James who was also counted among the Twelve disciples
and was the first disciple of Jesus martyred under the hand of King Herod Agrippa
(grandson of Herod the Great).
John was the youngest of the Twelve disciples. There was a rumour that circulated that he
will not die (John 21:22-23)
Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You
follow me!" 23So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to
die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, "If it is my will that he remain
until I come, what is that to you?
22

In the early church, John was often seen with Peter (Acts 3-4:19, 8:14, Galatians 2:9). He
was considered a pillar of the Jerusalem church along with James (the brother of Jesus).
After the Fall of Jerusalem, extra biblical source pointed out his ministry in the church of
Ephesus and that he stayed there for a long period of time. Under Emperor Domitian (81
96AD), Christians were very much persecuted. In fact, this period was called the Second
Great Persecution. Many Christians died in the arena during his reign. John the Beloved
was unsuccessfully killed in a cauldron of hot oil. As a result, he was banished to the
island of Patmos (95AD) until the death of Emperor Domitian.
From the perspective of the early church, Revelation was written as a polemic (a strong
verbal or written attack on someone or something.) against Domitian. True to Christs
prophecy, Christians found relief upon the death of Domitian in 96 AD.
John died at a ripe old age in Ephesus sometime in 103 AD.
Essentially, after the introduction, my objective in the study of Revelation will be primarily a
concern about the message of Revelation to the early church and then objectively, the four
views.
Of utmost is an understanding and deep appreciation of
1. The Biblical understanding with regard to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
2. Ones faith that persecution and tribulation are inevitable.
3. Revelation as a comfort and encouragement to all believers.

There are (4) views with regard to studying the book of Revelation:
1. Preterist believes that the bulk of the prophecies are already fulfilled in the first few
centuries, especially in connection with the fall of the Roman Empire.
2. Futurist believes that the prophecies will be fulfilled prior to and in the Second
Coming of Jesus Christ.
3. Historicist believes that the prophecies are fulfilled in the history of the church from
the 1st century until the 2nd century.
4. Idealist believes that the prophecies depict general patterns of conflict that
repeatedly occur from the First and Second Coming of Christ.
Lastly, I appealed for everyone to read through the book of Revelation and avoid
commentaries or sermon series on this topic.
If possible, to chart patterns or observations.

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