The Book of Revelation

I know that we’re about a month into the book of Revelation but it’s a long book and I wanted to give you a good foothold. So, I’ll give you a brief introduction to the book. There are far better introductions elsewhere, but this will help. I want to go over the four ways of reading Revelation that I covered in my introductory sermon. Then I’ll end with a few helpful resources on Revelation and end times theology.

A Brief Introduction

John the Apostle is the author though one could rightly say that John is merely a recorder and that Jesus himself is the author, Rev. 1:1,4. It is typically dated to around the mid-90’s, but some do date it before the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. around A.D. 54-68. But like I said it’s typically dated later due to what is said about the churches in chapters two and three. Revelation is what is called an apocalypse, the Greek word for unveiling. It reveals a cosmic spiritual war and reassures its readers/hearers that Jesus, The Lamb, has won. It is written to the seven churches of western Turkey. It is likely however that Revelation was intended for a much broader audience given that the number seven is a sign of wholeness, written for the whole church. It is written to bolster the church as it is threatened by false teaching, idolatry, immorality, spiritual complacency, and persecution.  

Four Way to Read Revelation

Preterist: This view understands that much of the book has already taken place mostly in the decades following the book. A heavy emphasis is placed on the phrase “soon take place” in verse one. It would say that we currently reside in Revelation 20:1-6 with the only future events yet to take place are those described in Revelation 20:7-22:5.

Historicist: This view believes that the visions symbolize a chronological order of historical events that span from the apostles to the return of Christ. This view is like Preterist but differs on several key points. Historicists believe in a future millennium while Preterist say that we’re in it. Historicists believe that Satan is being bound. Preterist believe Satan is bound. Historicists believe that the tribulation began in the first century and will end when all nations are converted. Preterist believe the tribulation ended in 70 A.D. Historicists struggle to agree on exactly which historical events have taken place, are taking place, and are yet to take place.

Idealist: This way of reading sees the visions of Revelation as archetypal for the church of all ages. They do not hold to a chronological fulfillment of the book’s visions. They understand that the visions seem to be covering similar events multiple times or recapitulation. This view would see the book of Revelation as equipping Christians to persevere in the face of the archetypal forces it highlights.

Futurist: This approach views the book of Revelation as still mostly concerning the future even for modern day readers. They would understand the book “literally” and stick to a strict order of events described in Revelation. This view awaits a literal seven-year tribulation and a thousand-year reign of Christ. Then there will be a general resurrection and the inauguration of the new heaven and new earth. Most of you probably grew up with Pastors and Churches that held to a futurist vision of Revelation. This is the Left-Behind crowd or the pre-millennial dispensationalist theology. One proponent of this view would be Hal Lindsey, the writer of The Late Great Planet Earth. This view is typically filled with what are called speculators, meaning that they speculate current events as fulfillment of Revelation prophecy.

 I would say that for me, I am coming to read Revelation more and more as an Idealist though I don’t discount the prophetic elements of the book. I am coming around to this approach for a few reasons. First, it makes the book immediately relevant to all Christians over the past two-thousand years. Second, it rightly dislocates the western church from being “the focus” Revelation. When things get “difficult” in the west we can panic and say the tribulation is coming. There are Christians all over the globe and all throughout history that have experienced what could rightly be call the tribulation. It’s simply a little too self-serving to only worry about it when its white westerners catching a little bit of flak. Lastly, it makes the book far more useful for discipleship. If it’s only about a far-off future, it’s easy to not take the urgency seriously. If the book strives to show us archetypal of forces all Christians everywhere and in all ages will face, then we better disciple them to persevere and overcome.

Here are some resources I think are helpful and I’d encourage you to investigate if you’re interested.

The ESV Study Bible’s Introduction to the book of Revelation.

This is a short resource but is quite thorough. It covers in more detail authorship, purpose, dating of the book, four ways of reading the book, different millennial views, and more. I imagine other translations of the Bible have similarly good Study Bible intros to Revelation, but I use the ESV and its the study bible I own. Study Bibles are expensive, so if you want to come into the church and read the intro my door is open.

Revelation for the Rest of Us by Cody Matchett and Scot McKnight

My wife and I are currently reading this book and we have enjoyed its perspective and its approachableness. I think sometimes they go a bit farther than I’m comfortable with, but it’s a thorough book. This will give you more depth than simply reading an introduction. It’s written by theologians, but they make the book understandable. It has an Idealist bias but even if you don’t buy that approach it still provides great insight into the book. They have several appendices that cover many relevant and common questions.

Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright

This isn’t a book about Revelation, but more a book on eschatology. Wright is an Anglican and so there may be things in this book I don’t agree with, but it’s a good reframing of our end times thinking. So much of how we think about the end times is influenced by culture and not the Bible. Wright does a good job of tracing the lines of Biblical eschatology. You may be surprised that some of what you believe is far more Americana than Biblical. It’s been a while since I’ve read this book, so I’m not going to tell you it’s perfect, but I do remember it being quite good.

I have several single volume commentaries on Revelation as well. They all have different perspectives, but it’s good to see the scope of interpretation. If you’d like to peruse them stop in. If you want other resources email our other Pastor’s, they have their own perspective and resources that you may find more helpful. 

I could be wrong about how I read Revelation and that is part of the fun of this book, it sparks the imagination. I’m not trying to convince of my view just to maybe highlight a few of my reasons. Over the next four months we’re going to discuss a lot about the book of Revelation, and we all have different histories, experiences, and bents to how and why we read Revelation the way we do. Let’s be gracious, let’s have fun, and let’s be humble. When we discuss the specifics of end times theology it’s ok to be “wrong”, it’s not an issue of heresy or salvation. What we all should agree on are three basic truths: Jesus is coming back, Satan will lose, and Jesus will win.