Dear Beloved Church Family,

Starting on September 8th, we’ll begin a sermon series in The Book of Revelation.

Many Christians think of this as a difficult, even frightening book. The style of writing is unfamiliar to us. The imagery is disturbing. The symbols are confusing. We’ve heard enough unhinged interpretations of it that we might be tempted to avoid it altogether.

In times of social upheaval and religious compromise, Christians have often turned to Revelation in an effort to gain clarity about their own circumstances. Unfortunately, that obsession with finding ourselves and our current events in the text has led to all kinds of misguided interpretations, ranging from unhelpful to dangerous. But when we read Revelation carefully with an eye towards Christ, we find that it holds an encouraging message of joy, peace, and hope.

Our goal is modest: we won’t answer every question or chase every detail. We simply aim to be encouraged just as the original recipients were—by gaining a vision of the exalted Christ calling His embattled church to endure in faith in anticipation of eternal glory.

Over the coming weeks, we’ll see:

• Things are not as hopeless as they may appear. Our questions about the apparent victory of evil and unanswered cries for justice are quieted when circumstances are viewed from heaven’s perspective.
• We don’t need to reach to make it relevant. Revelation's timeless truths, warnings, and promises relate to Christians in every generation.
• The hard-earned value of being distinct. First-century Christians stood out among a pagan society, often facing persecution and suffering for their distinct beliefs and practices. But the risen Christ encourages his sheep to endure and remain faithful to the end in the face of societal pressures and threats.
• Human kingdoms won’t sustain your hope. The political systems of this earth are temporary and flawed, ultimately falling under God’s judgment. The true hope of the world lies in the eternal Kingdom of God, where Christ reigns supreme and justice prevails.

It takes a little over an hour to read Revelation. Consider using the suggested outline below as a guide to read manageable portions over the next few weeks. Remember, what you gain from Gathered Worship is related to how much heart preparation you do in advance.

Quick Info on Revelation

• Author: most likely the Apostle John, the son of Zebedee
• Date: 80s or 90s AD
• Purpose: to comfort and challenge the Church with a vision of Jesus’s ultimate victory over sin and suffering (17:14)
• Genre: epistle; prophetic; apocalyptic

The "Apocalyptic" Genre

• The term “apocalyptic” comes from αποκαλυψις (apokalypsis), used in Rev 1:1. It means “unveiling” or “revelation.” This kind of literature seeks to give a view of reality from God’s perspective, introduced by a specific historical crisis, using symbols and pictures to illustrate God’s victory that introduces the final state of heaven or hell.
• It is intentionally surreal. The visions disorient us so we can gain a renewed vision of God, our own present, and the end of history. It is designed to offer ethical guidance by presenting truths in unexpected and attention-grabbing ways.
• This genre has a few distinctive features we need to be aware of in order to interpret it appropriately:
  • Symbolism: A symbol is a sign that points to or represents one or more other things. For example, Jesus is represented by both a lion and a lamb, but he’s not two animals. The intentional use of symbols means we must adapt to interpreting it literarily, not literally.
  • A Heavenly Vantage Point: Human history is viewed from a heavenly perspective, revealing that God orchestrates it all from His throne room. It is presented in three horizons (near future, intermediate future, and end-time future) and sometimes all three horizons are in view and overlap each other.
  • Historical Context: Revelation was meant to provide hope and guidance for its first readers/hearers. So the circumstances for the original audience must be kept at front of mind as we interpret.
  • Recapitulation: This is a literary technique of revisiting a single theme or event multiple times from different perspectives. Like a sports play reviewed at different speeds from different angles, it provides a more complete picture.

We must faithfully interpret it according to the way it was designed to be interpreted:
⇢ Romans communicates ideas through a series of logical arguments.
⇢ The Psalms communicate ideas through poetry.
⇢ John’s Gospel communicates ideas through a progressing historical narrative.
⇢ John’s Revelation communicates ideas through a kaleidoscope of surreal visual clips.

Key Concepts

• Eschatology: the doctrine of "the last things" related to cosmic history (e.g. the return of Christ, the general resurrection, the final judgment, heaven, and hell).
• God's Sovereignty: God's unshakeble, almighty authority over all his creation
• Christ's Victory: Jesus Christ’s victory over evil includes his role as the Lamb who was slain and his return as a victorious warrior King
• Judgment and Justice: Revelation speaks extensively about divine judgment, including the final judgment and the destruction of evil forces. This is depicted through various symbolic images and events.
• Worship and Witness: We gather weekly between the already and the not yet of God's kingdom to worship him on earth as he is in heaven, witnessing to his work of redemption in anticipation of the coming consummation.

Suggested Outline

1. 1st Vision: Christ and His Lampstands (1-3)
   • Jesus addressing his churches with tough love letters
2. 2nd Vision: Heaven and the Seals (4-7)
   • God’s plan for history, judgment on earth, and the sure salvation of the elect
3. 3rd Vision: The Seven Trumpets (8-11)
   • God’s judgment over creation and Jesus’s return from one angle
4. 4th Vision: The Relentless Hostile Dragon (12-14)
   • The second coming again, as the great dragon, Satan, persecutes the church
5. 5th Vision: The Seven Bowls (15-16)
   • God’s wrath poured out climaxing in a final battle
6. 6th Vision: The Beast and Babylon Fall (17-19)
   • The world’s powers in opposition to God fall
7. 7th Vision: The Consummation (20-22)
   • Christ’s ultimate victory over evil and the new heavens and new earth revealed

Memory Verses

Revelation 1:8 (ESV): “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Revelation 17:14 (ESV): They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”

Equip Class Overview

• Detailed Handout

Articles and Resources

• The history of Revelation's reception in the church (Text and Canon Institute)