Introduction to a study of the Revelation of Jesus Christ using bible passages from Old Testament prophets to understand the figurative, apocalyptic language Jesus provided to the apostle John in writing the book. Noting the internal evidence in the book and statements of other apostles to show the early date for its production and its reference to the destruction of Jerusalem. These conclusions are not original to me having been published by others such as Foy Wallace whose work I refer to throughout where I agree with it.

1. THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST
INTRODUCTION
A. Much interest in the book
1. Fanciful theories – Premillennialism (Rev 20:3)
2. Signs of the “end” – ten horns, 7 heads (Rev 13:1)
3. Looking for unfulfilled prophecy (Rev 19:10)
4. Figurative and codified (Rev 1:1-3)
5. Genuine interest – John 6:68-69)
B. Who wrote it? Where?
1. John (Rev 1:1)
2. On Patmos (Rev 1:9-11) On the Lord’s Day
C. When was it written?
1. Not stated. Leave for study of internal evidence.
2. Things written must shortly come to pass (Rev 1:1 & 3)
D. Who was it written to?
1. Seven churches of Asia (Rev 1:4, 11)
2. Those washed in His blood (Rev 1:5-6), Kings & Priests
3. Those in tribulation (Rev 1:9), in the kingdom
E. What did it contain? How given?
1. Things…sign – ified (Rev 1:1) codified.
2. Words of prophesy (Rev 1:3)
F. What was its purpose?
1. To show things to His servants (Rev 1:1)
2. To warn them (Rev 1:3, 2:5, 7)
3. To comfort them (Rev 2:10)
G. How does Revelation apply to us?
1. Blessed is he and they that read (Rev 1:3)
2. Blessed are they …whosever will (Rev 22:7, 14-22)
BASIC OUTLINE
A. Introduction and the epistles to the seven churches (Ch 1-3)
1. Prologue – 1:1-8
2. Vision of Christ among the lampstands – 1:9-20
3. Letters to the 7 assemblies – Ch 2-3
B. The throne scene and the seven sealed book (Ch 4-7)
1. The throne scene – Ch 4-5
2. The seals broken Ch 6-7
C. The sounding of the seven trumpets (Ch 8 – 11)
1. Six trumpets sounded Ch 8 – 9
2. The interlude Ch 10:1 – 11:14
3. The seventh trumpet Ch 11:15-19
D. The dragon and his helpers persecute (Ch 12 – 14)
1. The persecution and redemption Ch 12:1- 14:5
2. The pronouncement Ch 14:6 – 13
3. The judgment depicted Ch 14:14-20

2. E. The seven bowls of plagues (Ch 15-16)
1. Prelude Ch 15
2. Outpouring Ch 16
F. The fall of the harlot (Ch 17 – 19)
1. The harlot Ch 17
2. The fall Ch 18
3. The aftermath Ch 19
G. Christ and His church victorious over Satan (Ch 20 – 22)
1. Doom of Satan and his followers Ch 20
2. The holy city, new Jerusalem described Ch 21:1 – 22:5
3. The conclusion Ch 22:6 – 21
EVIDENCE FOR EARLY DATE OF REVELATION – PRE 70AD
1. Persecution referred to throughout Rev 2:10, 3:10
2. Nero blamed Christians for the burning of Rome. This resulted in their
persecution. This happened in AD64. Persecution is referred to as future in the
book. Remember also that Nero was the emperor that gave the initial order to
destroy Jerusalem, although it was not carried out until later. Nero was also
generally agreed to be the sixth emperor.
3. References to the things that “must shortly come to pass” for “the time is at
hand”. It has to do with the great city, Jerusalem where “our Lord was crucified”.
It had become the harlot and was called Sodom, Egypt, etc. Rev 11:8 is parallel
to Matt 24.
4. Jewish persecution – 2:9, 3:9
5. These activities are referred to in the letters to the 7 churches – 2:1-6, 11:13
6. The Jewish state was in existence – 6:12-13, (Matt 24:27-34), 9:1-21
7. Implication that the temple was still standing 11:1-19 the command to measure it.
8. Indication that other apostles besides John were still alive - 2:2
9. Indications are that the sixth Roman emperor was ruling 17:10-12. Seutonius and
the Sybellian Oracles list the emperors as: 1 – Julius, 2 - Augustus, 3 – Tiberius,
4 – Caligula, 5 – Claudius, 6 – Nero. Nero ruled from 54AD to 68AD. Domitian
was the 12th emperor.