This document provides an overview and analysis of key aspects of understanding the Book of Revelation. It discusses: - The book's intended meaning and time frame, noting it was meant to be understood by early Christians facing persecution. - Two common approaches to interpreting Revelation (historicist and futurist) and arguments for understanding it in its original context. - Important symbols and their meanings, either explained directly in the text or through comparisons to other Bible passages. - Features like repeated themes of judgment, paired opposites representing good and evil, and the need to solve Revelation like a puzzle rather than view it as a mystery.

1. Amen! Hallelujah! – A Study of the
Book of Revelation
By Dale Wells
Copyright © 2013
Dale R. Wells
Scripture quoted by permission. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the NET
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1

2. LESSON 1
A BOOK TO BE UNDERSTOOD
Revelation 1:1-3
2

3. GOD INTENDED REVELATION TO BE
UNDERSTANDABLE
Revelation 1:1-3
3

4. Revelation 1
[1] The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him
to show his servants what must happen very soon. He
made it clear by sending his angel to his servant John,
[2] who then testified to everything that he saw
concerning the word of God and the testimony about
Jesus Christ. [3] Blessed is the one who reads the
words of this prophecy aloud, and blessed are those
who hear and obey the things written in it, because the
time is near!
4

5. Revelation 1
[1] The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him
to show his servants what must happen very soon. He
made it clear by sending his angel to his servant John,
[2] who then testified to everything that he saw
concerning the word of God and the testimony about
Jesus Christ. [3] Blessed is the one who reads the
words of this prophecy aloud, and blessed are those
who hear and obey the things written in it, because the
time is near!
5

6. Revelation 1
[1] The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him
to show his servants what must happen very soon. He
made it clear by sending his angel to his servant John,
[2] who then testified to everything that he saw
concerning the word of God and the testimony about
Jesus Christ. [3] Blessed is the one who reads the
words of this prophecy aloud, and blessed are those
who hear and obey the things written in it, because the
time is near!
6

7. Revelation 1
[1] The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him
to show his servants what must happen very soon. He
made it clear by sending his angel to his servant John,
[2] who then testified to everything that he saw
concerning the word of God and the testimony about
Jesus Christ. [3] Blessed is the one who reads the
words of this prophecy aloud, and blessed are those
who hear and obey the things written in it, because the
time is near!
7

8. Revelation 1
[1] The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him
to show his servants what must happen very soon. He
made it clear by sending his angel to his servant John,
[2] who then testified to everything that he saw
concerning the word of God and the testimony about
Jesus Christ. [3] Blessed is the one who reads the
words of this prophecy aloud, and blessed are those
who hear and obey the things written in it, because the
time is near!
8

9. Revelation 1
[1] The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him
to show his servants what must happen very soon. He
made it clear by sending his angel to his servant John,
[2] who then testified to everything that he saw
concerning the word of God and the testimony about
Jesus Christ. [3] Blessed is the one who reads the
words of this prophecy aloud, and blessed are those
who hear and obey the things written in it, because the
time is near!
9

10. It is not a “mystery”, but a “revelation”
Mysterion
• “a secret”
• “a mystery”
Apocalypsis
• “an unveiling”
• “a revealing”
• “a disclosure”
10

11. Ephesians 3:3-6
… by revelation the divine secret was made known to me,
as I wrote before briefly. [4] When reading this, you will be
able to understand my insight into this secret of Christ. [5]
Now this secret was not disclosed to people in former
generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles
and prophets by the Spirit, [6] namely, that through the
gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the
body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.
11

12. THE BOOK BEGINS WITH A SERIES
OF BLESSINGS
Makarios – word of the Beatitudes
12

13. Matthew 5:3-12
“Blessed are the poor in spirit … [4] “Blessed are those who
mourn … [5] “Blessed are the meek ... [6] “Blessed are those
who hunger and thirst for righteousness … [7] “Blessed are
the merciful … [8] “Blessed are the pure in heart … [9]
“Blessed are the peacemakers … [10] “Blessed are those
who are persecuted for righteousness … [11] “Blessed are
you when people insult you and persecute you and say all
kinds of evil things about you falsely on account of me …
13

14. Revelation 1:3 Blessed is/are …
• Oral reading to a congregation
The one who
reads … aloud
14

15. Revelation 1:3 Blessed is/are …
• Oral reading to a congregation
The one who
reads … aloud
• “Understand”Those who hear
15

16. An example of “hear” vs. “understand”
Acts 9:7 KJV And
the men … hearing
a voice
Acts 22:9 KJV And
they that were with
me … heard not the
voice
Acts 9:7 … the men
… heard the voice
Acts 22:9 Those
who were with me
did not understand
the voice …
16

17. Revelation 1:3 Blessed is/are …
• Oral reading to a congregation
The one who
reads … aloud
• “Understand”Those who hear
• “Observe” or “obey”Those who obey
17

18. TWO POPULAR APPROACHES TO
THE BOOK OF REVELATION
18

19. Historicists see history unfolding from
the 1st Century to the end of the world
16th • Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Protestant Reformers
17th • Isaac Newton and Matthew Henry
18th • Charles Wesley (Methodist)
19th • William Miller (Adventist) and Albert Barnes
19

20. Each author reapplies history to put
himself in the last days
Predicted the
world’s end in
1794
Charles Wesley
Predicted the
world’s end
Oct. 22, 1844
William Miller
Predicted the
world’s end
Sept. 6, 1994,
May 21, 2011,
Oct. 21, 2011
Harold Camping
20

21. Futurists believe it only deals with the
end of time
John Nelson
Darby
C.I. Scofield Hal Lindsey Tim LaHaye
21

22. THE TIME FRAME OF THE BOOK IS
SET BY TWO PHRASES
22

23. First: “What must happen very soon”
Revelation 1:1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God
gave him to show his servants what must happen very
soon.
Revelation 22:6 Then the angel said to me, “…The Lord,
the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel
to show his servants what must happen soon.”
23

24. Some say “certainly” – Certainly Not!
Acts 22:17-18 … I
fell into a trance
and saw the Lord
saying to me,
Hurry and get out
of Jerusalem
quickly …
Galatians 1:6-7
I am astonished
that you are so
quickly deserting
the one who called
you by the grace
of Christ and are
following a
different gospel …
2 Timothy 4:9
Make every effort
to come to me
soon.
24

25. Second: “The time is near”
Revelation 1:3 Blessed is the one who reads the words of
this prophecy aloud, and blessed are those who hear and
obey the things written in it, because the time is near!
Revelation 22:10 Then he said to me, “Do not seal up the
words of the prophecy contained in this book, because the
time is near.
25

26. The expression is used elsewhere
Mark 1:14-15 ….
Jesus went into
Galilee and
proclaimed the
gospel of God.
He said, “The
time is fulfilled
and the kingdom
of God is near. …
Romans 10:8-9
But what does it
say? “The word
is near you, in
your mouth and
in your heart” …
Philippians 4:5
Let everyone see
your gentleness.
The Lord is near!
26

27. THREE REASONS FOR INTERPRETING
REVELATION IN LIGHT OF ITS TIME
27

28. Its time of fulfillment was close at hand
It was intended to be read, understood and obeyed
It was a “revelation” to its readers, not a “mystery”
28

29. Picture yourself as a Christian in First
Century Pergamum
29

30. WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF
REVELATION FOR US TODAY?
30

31. Immediate/remote nature of prophecy
Isaiah 7:14 Look, this young woman is about to
conceive and will give birth to a son. You, young
woman, will name him Immanuel.
Matthew 1:23 "Look! The virgin will conceive and
bear a son, and they will call him Emmanuel,"
which means "God with us."
31

32. Immediate/remote nature of prophecy
Psalms 16:10 You will not abandon me to Sheol;
you will not allow your faithful follower to see the
Pit.
Acts 2:27 … you will not leave my soul in Hades,
nor permit your Holy One to experience decay.
32

33. Repetitive themes of judgment
Isaiah 13:1-13 This is a message about Babylon … [9] Look,
the LORD's day of judgment is coming; it is a day of cruelty
and savage, raging anger, destroying the earth and
annihilating its sinners. [10] Indeed the stars in the sky and
their constellations no longer give out their light; the sun is
darkened as soon as it rises, and the moon does not shine.
[11] I will punish the world for its evil, and wicked people for
their sin …
33

34. Repetitive themes of judgment
Joel 3:14-16 Crowds, great crowds are in the valley of
decision, for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of
decision! [15] The sun and moon are darkened; the stars
withhold their brightness. [16] The LORD roars from
Zion; from Jerusalem his voice bellows out. The heavens
and the earth shake. But the LORD is a refuge for his
people; he is a stronghold for the citizens of Israel.
34

35. Two questions to ask of Revelation
What did it mean
to the Christians of
the First Century?
What does it mean
to Christians
today?
35

36. KEYS TO UNDERSTANDING THE
BOOK OF REVELATION
36

37. All literature is not read alike
Elizabeth
Barrett
Browning
Edgar Allan
Poe
William
Shakespeare
Stephen
King
37

38. The Book of Revelation is an example
of the apocalyptic genre
38

39. The Book of Revelation is an example
of the apocalyptic genre
39

40. Read Revelation the way you watch
animations – use your imagination!
Dragon and
Beast
Lamb Woman on
Beast
40

41. THE MEANINGS OF SOME SYMBOLS
ARE SELF-EVIDENT
41

42. One like a son of man
Who is this?
This is clearly
Jesus!
42

43. The Lion of Judah/Lamb of God
Who is this?
It has to be
Jesus!
43

44. The two witnesses
Who are they?
Elijah
Moses
44

45. The radiant woman and her child
Who is the
woman?
Mary
Who is the
child?
Jesus
Who is the
dragon?
Wait and
see!
45

46. The conquering king on a white horse
Who is this?
Jesus
46

47. THE TEXT EXPLAINS THE LESS
OBVIOUS SYMBOLS
47

48. What are the stars and lampstands?
Revelation 1:20 The mystery
of the seven stars that you
saw in my right hand and the
seven golden lampstands is
this: The seven stars are the
angels of the seven churches
and the seven lampstands are
the seven churches.
48

49. Who is the dragon?
Revelation 12:9 So that
huge dragon - the ancient
serpent, the one called the
devil and Satan, who
deceives the whole world-
was thrown down to the
earth, and his angels along
with him.
49

50. Who is the woman riding the beast?
Revelation 17:18 … the great city that has
sovereignty over the kings of the earth.”
Revelation 17:9-11 … The seven heads are
seven mountains the woman sits on. ....
The woman is the City of Rome
50

51. What is the sea beast?
Revelation 13:1-8 … [7] The beast … was
given ruling authority over every tribe,
people, language, and nation …
Rome rides atop the Roman Empire!
The Roman Empire receives its power
from Satan!
51

52. What is the earth beast?
Resembles
lamb; sounds
like dragon!
Forces
worship of sea
beast!
AKA the false
prophet
Satan uses
religion for his
purposes
Concilia -
emperor cults
52

53. REVELATION IS A PUZZLE TO SOLVE,
NOT A MYSTERY TO IGNORE
53

54. You start with what you know:
Lamb is Jesus
Dragon is Satan
Beast is Roman Empire
Heads are the emperors
Earth beast is the concilia
Prostitute is city of Rome
Once you get
those pieces in
place, the
picture starts to
come together!
54

55. The Book of Revelation for Dummies
God Rules!
Jesus is Lord!
We win!
55

56. OPPOSED PAIRS ARE A FEATURE OF
THE BOOK
56

57. There are two lambs
Lamb of God Lamb that sounds
like the dragon
57

58. Two women oppose one another
Prostitute who
is judged
Bride of the
Lamb
58

59. There are two who claim dominion
God on his throne Dragon who tries to
usurp God’s throne
59

60. Two marks on people’s foreheads
Some wear the
seal of God
The rest wear the
mark of the beast
60

61. Kings of earth oppose the King of Kings
61

62. LOOKING AHEAD
Our next lesson will focus on the symbolic
use of numbers in the Book of Revelation.
62