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Revelation: God's Word for the Biblically-Inept
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By: Daymond R. Duck
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Copyright © 1998 by Starburst, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Electronic Edition STEP Files Copyright © 1998,
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Link to Printer Ready PDF Version of this document. |
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Revelation: Introduction
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Welcome to Revelation: God's Word for the Biblically-Inept. It is the first book in a new series that will take the Bible and make it fun and educational. This is not the traditional humdrum, boring Bible studies and commentaries you are use to seeing. It is a Revolutionary Commentary™ that will change your outlook on the Bible forever. You will Learn The Word!™
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Revelation: God's Word for the Biblically-Inept is for those who are not interested in all that complicated stuff. You can be sure that I have tried to take an educational approach, but much effort has gone into keeping things simple. I always end up making things so complicated when I try to explain them, so my wife, Rachel, laughingly told me to use the "KISS" method, "Keep It Simple Stupid"!
She always seems to know what I am qualified to do. And, believe it or not, I have tried to do just what she said.
Jesus promised a blessing to all those who read, hear and keep those things written in Revelation. He also promised a curse on all those who add to, or take away from it. I take that seriously, so I have undertaken this project with great care. To help explain things in Revelation I will use the age-old Golden Rule of Interpretation which states: "When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense… The Bible explains itself." You do not need to go anywhere else. That is why I have included other verses of Scripture from the Bible to explain difficult areas of Revelation.
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We are living in perilous times. The constant barrage of bad news has many people frightened and disturbed about their future. And now the year 2000 is just around the corner—a new millennium. Today, one out of every four Christian adults believe Jesus could return in their lifetime. Revelation is God's message to all of us who are concerned about the future. It reveals, unlike what many would like to believe, that the world is not going to get better, but worse.
Revelation reveals that God is the one who is really in control. It encourages faith and perseverance, warns against making certain mistakes, and tells how to gain eternal life.
Anyone who picks up this book might ask, "Why study Revelation?" Here are seven good reasons:
- Revelation is the Word of God (the Bible).
- Jesus told us to watch for signs of things to come.
- If we do not study Revelation our understanding of the entire Bible will remain Biblically-Inept.
- Revelation reveals God's plan for the future.
- A special blessing is promised to all those who read Revelation.
- Revelation will change our lives.
- Revelation will give us a concern for those who reject God and his Son, Jesus.
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As you study Revelation keep in mind its three main divisions:
- Part One is called "The Church Age" (Chapters 1–3).
- We are now living in the Church Age, and it is almost over.
- Part Two is called "From the Rapture to the Second Coming" (Chapters 4–19).
- It will be a terrible time in which to live. Many prophetic signs indicate that it is drawing closer, so we need to learn what to watch for and what to do so we can avoid it.
- Part Three is called "The Millennium and Beyond" (Chapters 20–22).
- Some of the most precious verses in the Bible are found in these chapters. They are filled with inspiration and hope for the future.
Also keep in mind the four ways to interpret (explain) Revelation:
- As a message to each one of us.
- As a message to the entire Church.
- As a message to seven specific churches.
- As a message of prophecy.
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John, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus, wrote Revelation under the guidance of its true author—the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity. The word "trinity" is not found in the Bible, but it is used to explain the three different ways God reveals himself—as God the Father, his Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. These are three different expressions of God just as thoughts, spoken words, and written words are three different expressions of every person.
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Revelation was originally written in the Greek language around 96 A.D. By 250 A.D. the entire Bible had been translated into what is known as Old Latin, but the first officially recognized Latin translation (the Vulgate) did not appear until 382 A.D. The first officially recognized English translation (the King James Bible) was circulated in 1611 A.D
Revelation is the last book in the New Testament. It is divided into 404 verses of which at least 265 contain quotes drawn from the Old Testament, and many quotes from the New Testament. This does not mean one has to be a Bible expert to understand it, but it does mean that John had an excellent understanding of all the other books of the Bible. Therefore, it is good for all of us to have some knowledge of these books.
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Revelation is filled with symbols. John was in prison when he wrote it, and some believe he used symbols to smuggle it to the outside world. They seem to believe that he had to convince the prison authorities that these were the writings of a madman. Others believe God had John write with symbols to make us study the entire Bible to understand their meaning. Whatever the reason, the symbols make some people believe one needs a Ph.D. to understand Revelation. No one can deny the value of a good education, but people of all educational backgrounds do read it; even people who are not theologians, seminary professors, or pastors. They are just ordinary people who seem to love it and get a lot out of it. They learn about God, Jesus, the Church, and the future. I ask, "If they can do that, why can't everybody?" The answer is, "Everybody can if they want to—even the Biblically-Inept."
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Obviously, with so many symbols there are bound to be many different interpretations. I try, as much as possible, not to take sides, and to explain each viewpoint. One of the biggest areas of discrepancy involves when the Church will go to heaven (a.k.a. the Rapture). I explain these, but take what is the most widely accepted viewpoint "pre-Tribulation" throughout the book.
Many are tempted to date the events found in Revelation. Don't do it! Many have tried and failed. Believe what the Bible says, "No man knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father" (Matthew 24:36).
I have tried to look at Revelation as the experts would, but have also tried to write it for the Biblically-Inept. I want it to be easy to read and understand. That's why I chose to use the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible. It is a scholarly translation that accurately expresses the original Bible in clear and contemporary English, while remaining faithful to the thoughts of the Biblical writers. That is what I want and think you, too, would want.
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Revelation: God's Word For The Biblically-Inept
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The chapter divisions in this book correspond to the chapter divisions in the Bible. There are twenty-two chapters in Revelation and twenty-two chapters in this book.
Here's what you will see:
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"Section Heading"
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Revelation, Chapter #
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Chapter Highlights
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- The chapters most prominent points.
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Chapter Aids
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- Chapter navigational aids.
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Let's Get Started
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Verse of Scripture
What you came for—the Bible
Commentary—my thoughts on what the verse means.
Key Point:
- A major point in the chapter.
Key Symbols:
- Mini-outlines to help you.
What Others are Saying:
- If you don't believe me, listen to the experts.
Something to Ponder
- Interesting points to get you thinking
Remember This…
Related Current Events
- Tidbits from today's news
Warning!
- Red lights to keep you from danger.
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- Questions to get you discussing, studying, and digging deeper.
- Each question "links" to the appropriate answer.
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- The most prominent points revisited
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There are several interchangeable terms: Scripture, Scriptures, Word, Word of God, God's Word, Testimony of Jesus Christ, etc. All of these mean the same thing and come under the broad heading called the Bible. I will use each one at various times, but I will use Bible most of the time. Also, it is a common practice for many to call the last book of the Bible: The Book of Revelations, The Revelation of Saint John the Divine, Revelation, and The Revelation of Jesus Christ. We will keep it simple and call it Revelation.
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Prayer and meditation can be very valuable. God wants you to understand the Bible, and the Holy Spirit can do wonders to open your mind. So pray and think on the things you read. It is surprising how much you can learn and retain when you put your mind to it.
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A thought to keep in mind when reading your Bible during a study program:
- Read several verses before and after the specified (recommended) Bible study text in order to develop the true context of the lesson.
- Remember: "Text, taken out of context, can become pretext!"
Christian Konnections firmly believes that the Good News of our risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is to be given freely to all mankind. Therefore, there will never be a charge for the use of any of the material contained on this website.
Click on link below here for more information on:
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Link to Printer Ready PDF Version of this document. |
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