REVELATION: AN INTRODUCTION~

***The outcome of the war between God and His People vs Satan and His Associates!
I. The book of Revelation is the conclusion to the whole story of the Bible. This story began in the Garden. What we
lost in Adam because of sin; is restored through Christ, the Son of Man in Heaven, the Restored Paradise.

Paradise Lost! Through the “Son of Man” Paradise Regained!

cf. I Cor. 15:22-23 Heb. 2:5 - 16 Rev. 21 -22
I Cor. 15:45-47

II. Why begin with the Old Testament?

A. The Book of Revelation is the conclusion of the entire Bible, not just the New Testament.
B. There are more quotes and references in Revelation from the Old Testament than there are verses in the
entire book of Revelation. We could say that the Old Testament is the dictionary for the book of
Revelation. The vocabulary and imagery, as well as the theology, is largely from the Old
Testament. One must have some knowledge of the prophets to understand Revelation.
C. The “war” between God and Satan began in the Garden. It continues to go on from the time of the “seed”
promise in Gen. 3:15 until the present. Throughout the Old Testament, Satan was trying to destroy the
“seed.” And in Rev. 12, He tries to destroy the “SEED,” even Jesus. Having failed to do so, He then
turns to the “seed,” the church (woman in the wilderness) in an effort to destroy her. Books like
Daniel, Ezekiel and Habakkuk help us to have the courage and faithfulness to “overcome” as does the Book of
Revelation.

III. When studying Revelation, it is important to undertand the theology of the “Promise to Abraham:”
A. Gen. 12:1-3 identifies that there are two aspects to this “Promise.” (1) The “physical” nature or ingredients.
That is, the beginning and preparation of the “Promise” is that of the physical nation of Israel. This
involves physical land, a physical government and a physical temple. Each of these items was intended
to be temporal. They prepared for the coming of the “SEED,” the Christ. And they would be
terminated when the Christ would come (Gal. 3). The key word for proper understanding of the
physical nation of Israel is “temporary.” (2) In Gen. 12:3, there is the “SEED” promise through which
“all nations will be blessed.” This is a promise of the coming of Jesus, the Christ (cf. Gal. 3:15ff).
This is of the nature that we call “spiritual.” This includes all of the saved people of God from the
beginning to the end (Heb. 11:1-40; Heb. 12:1-2, 22-24; Luke 13:28-29 ~ cf. II Sam. 7:11-16). The key
word for proper understanding of the “spiritual” aspect of the “Promise” is “eternal.” Or in the
words of Dan. 2:44, it is a “kingdom which will never be destroyed.”
B. It is the “spiritual” or “eternal” aspect of the “promise to Abraham” that has priority. The “Promise” is
fulfilled by Jesus.
1. Peter affirmed that the “restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy
prophets from ancient time” (Acts 3:21) was fulfilled in the process of receiving the salvation
or “blessing” of Abraham “by turning every one of you from your wicked ways” (Acts 3:
25-26). These people who have by faith been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for
the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38) are the new spiritual Israel, and are called the “church” (Acts
8:3; 13:22, 26; 20:28).
2. Jesus appointed the apostles in His Kingdom to “sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel”
(Luke 22:28-29). This means that the people of God or the new spiritual Israel will be those
people that follow the “apostles’ teaching” (cf. Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 2:42). This will be the
result of Jesus having built His Church (Matt. 16:18). The church is the new and true Israel.
C. The destiny of the “physical” nation of Israel is clearly determined by the teaching of Jesus in Matt. 21:33-
46. Jesus stated as a result of “Israel’s” rejection of Him that this “physical” nation would be
“broken to pieces...and (He, Jesus) will scatter him (physical Israel) like dust” (Matt. 21:43).
D. Paul teaches that the true “Israel” is made of those who are “spiritually” circumcised and is no longer related
to the physical or “outward” Jews (Rom. 2:25-29).
E. Peter affirms that those who stand on the rock foundation of Jesus, that is the church (cf. Matt. 16:18); “are a
chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession...” (I Pet. 2:6-9; cf.
Ex. 19:5-6). That is, the church after the cross is precisely called the “holy nation” (Israel, that is!).
REVELATION - Introduction, page two:

F. By the time of the writing of the book of Revelation, the Jews that were not disciples of Jesus were
considered to be outside of God’s people, even being called a “synagogue of Satan” by Jesus (Rev. 3:9).
 G. This concept is clearly part of the conclusion to the book of Revelation. John describes the “new Jerusalem”
as “the twelve tribes of the children of Israel... And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones,
and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb” (Rev. 21:10-14).
H. It is important to understand the above information before one begins to study the book of Revelation. Not
understanding this or not accepting this as being a proper interpretation, some try to interpret the
teaching of Revelation as providing a future hope to both “physical Israel” and the “church.”
Thus, I want you to understand that my understanding of Revelation is built on the above foundation. The
“church” is the total sum of God’s people. This book is written for the church and to give the
church the courage to be “faithful unto death” that it (the church) might receive the eternal hope of
life in heaven.

IV. The Language of the Book of Revelation: “APOCALYPTIC LANGUAGE”

A. The term “apocalyptic language” means “to reveal,” or to give a “revelation.” It provides the idea of that
which is hidden being “unveiled” or “uncovered.” And this is accomplished by means of very
unusual figurative pictures. It might be called “picture language.”
1. We have examples of this in many of the books of the prophets, such as, Isaiah, Joel, Daniel and
Ezekiel. Also, this language is used by Jesus in Matt. 24 (cf. Mk. 13 & Lk. 21).
2. It includes exaggerated language describing things like beasts, stars, sun, seas, diseases, etc.
A good example is Rev. 12. (Take the time to read that, now.)
B. The Language of “Dualism:”
1. Typical to this language in Jewish literature is the description of the battle or war going on between
God and Satan. It “shows” the victory of God and His People and the defeat of Satan and His
companions.
2. This language is referred to as being “dualistic.” That is not in the sense of Gnosticism! But rather
in the contrasting of: (1) God vs. Satan; (2) Temporal (or present time) vs. Eternal (or what is
for us “future”); (3) Evil vs. Good (or righteousness); (4) the church vs. Satan’s helpers; etc.
3. Apocalyptic language in the Bible reveals that God is always in control and that His People will
always be victorious.
C. The “Purpose” of Apocalyptic Language:
1. This language is designed to give wisdom or “understanding” to God’s saints so that they can make
the proper decisions in urgent times of trials. Through this “revelation” we can know what is
really going on, even behind the “stage.”
2. The “pictures” have an emotional impact and make the revealed truth easy to remember and recall
for making the right decisions in times of persecutions and urgency.
3. Thus, this language builds an inner courage and confidence that our great God is our faithful
Warrior (Ex. 15:3). He will give us the “victory” if we will be faithful to Him (Jn. 16:1 & 33).
This is the message of the book of Revelation.
4. Such books as Revelation, using this type of language helps us to understand the presence of “evil”
and suffering in our lives and in this world.
5. I do not believe that “apocalyptic” language is what is called “cryptic” in its purpose. That is, it is
not some kind of secret code. Its truths are available to anyone who will take the time to read
it in its proper background. The Roman authorities could have easily obtained the services of
a back-sliding saint to explain the book to them, if it had had that purpose. There is no evidence
to support the “secret language” theory.

V. Interpreting the Book of Revelation:

******* Remember ~ “THE BOOK WAS NOT WRITTEN TO US! BUT IT IS FOR US!
A. “It is difficult to say what anything means until one has decided in a sense what everything means.”
(Mounce)
Thus, you must read the entire book and understand it in harmony with itself and with the entire Bible.
B. We must try to understand the book in view of its own historical background. That is, what did it mean to the
saints or churches to whom it was addressed?

Revelation ~ Introduction, page three:

C. The book was intended to comfort and give courage to those churches. They were to read and understand it
(cf. Rev. 1:3; 2:7, etc.). Jesus expected them to respond, such as “repenting” and making wise
decisions without compromising with Satan and his companions. This action requires an understanding
of the book.
D. The date of the book is controversial.
 1. Some prefer dating the book in the 60’s during the time of Nero. Generally, this date is the result of
understanding the book to be primarily focusing on God’s judgment of the Jewish nation. They see it
as parallel with Matt. 24 and Luke 21. They see the message of the book to be about the destruction of
Jerusalem which occurred in A.D. 70. Thus, they need the book to have been written before that date.
(My good friend, Larry Haverstock, has printed a very helpful booklet on Revelation presenting this
view. I recommend that you study this approach with the help of his booklet.)
2. A later date of the A. D. 90’s is the date that I have understood to best fit the apparent circumstances
of the book. This is during the time of the Roman Caesar, Domitian. He promoted and influenced the
empire more than his predecessors to honor him as a “god.” One writer said, “There was not a great
persecution in the 90’s - but enough to suggest the coming of a storm of persecution.” In A.D. 110,
Pliny who was the governor of Bithynia, wrote an interesting letter to his Roman Emperor, Trajan. He
explains his problem with a group of persons that refused to burn incense in honor of the Caesar.
When he had them arrested, he gave them the opportunity to deny their Christ and honor
Caesar as a god. If they refused, he had them put to death. He explained in this letter that there were
many in his province that had already denied this Christ and confessed Caesar! Bithynia is the province
just to the north of the churches of Asia. Thus, I believe that the book of Revelation was written for the
purpose of preparing God saints to be faithful during this coming persecution and any such events,
thereafter. This fits the pattern that Daniel has already established. His book was preparing God’s saints for
persecutions to come in the future...such as in the time between the Testaments (cf. Dan. 8 & 11); as well
as the same time as that of Revelation, relating to the time of the fourth empire Rome. By means
of a vision, Daniel saw the future terrible trials coming upon his fellow saints. He nearly fainted, and
yet, these things did not occur in his day. Daniel wrote for the benefit of those who would face that period of
extra ordinary trials (cf. Dan. 10-12). So, it is with the book of Revelation.

VI. Theories of Interpretation:

A. Preterist: The term has been used to refer to the process of interpreting Revelation to have had an immediate
application to the churches to whom the book was addressed. That is, with this approach, the reader
tries to interpret this book with same system of thinking that one would apply to I Corinthians,
Galatians or I Peter. The interpreter is determined to ask the question, “What did this mean to the
original audience of the book?” Thus, one must research the historical background, cultural and social
circumstances, language and linguistics, etc. With this approach, one is committed to the
approach that the book is dealing with the struggles and crisis of God’s people during persecutions brought
about by the Roman Empire. We will be studying Revelation from this viewpoint. And in this sense
the book is very parallel with the book of Daniel. {It is unfortunate that in recent years, the term
“Perterist” has come to refer to a group who teach that all prophecy of the Bible was fulfilled in A.D. 70. I
have no sympathy with that approach. I decry that the term “Preterist” has been given that wrong
connotation. I do not use the term in that way at all. (jp)}
B. Historical: This approach attempts to interpret the book as a calendar of major historical events from the 1st
century to the present time of the person doing the interpreting. This view sees the books as having
foretold the coming of the Roman Catholic church. They are generally affirming the harlot to be the
Roman Catholic Church. This takes place during the dark ages, followed by the Reformation, etc.
This became somewhat popular during the Reformation Movement with men like Martin Luther and John
Calvin. This was used as a way of fighting the power of the Pope and the Catholic church. The view
has absolutely nothing to commend it.
C. Futurist: This is a broad term intended to include all approaches presented by those associated with
Premillenialism and Dispensationalism. This view generally (with a few exceptions) interprets Rev. 1-
3 as having some historical application. But from chapter 4 to 22, they see only the description of things
yet to take place in the future. This means “future” from our viewpoint. These chapters have not yet
been fulfilled and have only to do with events that relate in some way to the Christ coming back to the
earth for an “earthly, literal 1000 year reign on David’s literal throne in the literal physical city of

Revelation - Introduction, page four:

Jerusalem. This interpretation is committed to making the language as “literal” as possible. In some
instances they even suggest that an approach that finds figurative language to be more appropriate is a
denial of the inspiration of the writer. Of course, this is not so and such claims only serve to prejudice
the reader. It is unfortunate that this view has become so popular in our day. We will be making some
observations about the problems of this approach as we study each chapter of the book.

D. Idealist: The book is understood by this approach to have no particular historical background. The book is a
presentation of “principles”---principles which govern the history of the world and the church. It is a
 picture of the struggle between light and darkness - good and evil. And, God and His people are
always the victors. In this sense, the book is seen to be “timeless.” Principles are ageless and not limited to
any historical situation. This view has value. I believe that the book does teach principles that are at work
in every age. And in that sense, the book is “for us.” But, first, the book must be interpreted in its
original historical context. And, then, one can extract principles of application for one’s own time.
Thus, I suggest that the most useful way to approach the book of Revelation is to combine the Preterist view
(as I have defined it in this outline (jp) with this view called “Idealist.” We, then, have an approach that
will make the book useful to us in our lives as Christian. We, too, struggle within the war or battle with
Satan. This book teaches how fight and win this battle through our Warrior and Captain of our faith, that is,
Jesus Christ.
E. Principles learned from Revelation:
1. God is at work behind the scenes to work in all things “for good to those who love God” (Rom. 8:28,
NIV).
2. It is the “END” that gives meaning to the “present” and the process of life!
3. The Eternal State is the reward for the Saints. The “Redeemed” are given courage by the visions of
the eternal bliss that awaits them!
4. The book deals with and describes the “source” of the hostility that confronts God’s people.
5. We see the “final” destruction of evil and “vindication and victory” of God’s people.
The Message: DO NOT COMPROMISE !!

REMEMBER: JESUS SAID: “IN THE WORLD YOU HAVE TRIBULATION,

BUT TAKE COURAGE; I HAVE OVERCOME THE
WORLD.” (Jn. 16:33)
VII. Some random thoughts that help:
A. Rev. 1:1-2 ~ Observe the words: (1) “show”-v. 1; (2) “signified”-v. 1; (3) “he saw”-v. 2.
B. The “time” of fulfillment:
1. Rev. 1:1 - “shortly” --- (“tachei” - cf. Luke 18:8); Rev. 22:7, 12, 20 - “quickly.”
2. Rev. 1:3 - “time is near” cf. - at hand.
3. Rev. 22:10 - “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.”
This is the opposite of the statement in Dan.12:9 ~ “Go your way, Daniel for these words are
concealed and sealed up until the end time.” For Daniel, the “end time” is during the fourth
empire (cf. Dan. 2:28). His book would be sealed for 500 to 600 years. A reader would not
fully understand the visions of the three remaining empires until the events actually take place.
As time unfolds, each stage of the visions would be “unsealed.” Revelation is not to be
sealed...the reason being the “time is near.” Therefore, we can conclude that the
visions of this book will be fulfilled in a time period much shorter than the time allowed for the
fulfillment of the book of Daniel. In fact, the idea seems to suggest that the message of Revelation
would be understood during the time of the churches (saints) to whom it was written.
4. John provides several direct references to Daniel. The two most obvious are:
(1) Rev. 1:12-20 ~ the vision of “one like a son of man” draws upon Dan. 7:13-14, plus Dan.
10:5-6.
(2) Rev. 13 is building on Dan. 7, which is the vision of the 4 beast. These political empires
are being used by Satan to war against the saints of the Most High God. One must
interpret Rev. 13 in a way that is in harmony with the established fulfillment of
Daniel 7. Both of these text stand as crucial beginnings of sections of their book. This
provides a key that the beast of Rev. 13 is the 4th beast of Daniel 7. It seems
very clear
Revelation, Introduction---page 5
in paralleling Dan. 2 (Nebuchadnezzar’s dream) and Dan. 7, that the concluding and
fulfilling time of these visions is that of the Roman Empire persecuting God’s people.
And because these saints are now following the “son of man” and are part of an
eternal kingdom, the “fourth beast” is unable to conquer and destroy these “people of the
saints of the Highest One.” This is because the rule or dominion of the “Highest One” is an
“everlasting kingdom” (Dan. 7:17). The theme or message of Revelation is parallel
with the theme of Dan. 2 and Dan. 7. Therefore, I conclude that this book is
affirming the victory of God’s saints, the church, over the fourth empire, the Roman
Empire.

Jim Puterbaugh---11/2000 (Revised-4/2004)