| Back to Home Page | Back to
Book Index |
Introduction to the Book of Revelation
I.
Writer
The author of this book called himself
“John” (See 1:1
2
4
9; 22:8). In the last years of the first century
the
only one who was alive among the twelve apostles was John and as long as John
was mentioned among the churches
everyone would know that it was John the
apostle and the introduction was not needed. According to the tradition of the
early church
John the apostle fulfilled his duty at work in
John the apostle was the son
of Zebedee (Matt.10:2)
the younger brother of James. His mother Salome (Matt.
27:56; cf. Mark.15:40; 16:1)
one of the sisters who followed and served Jesus
from Galilee (Matt. 27:55)
was possibly the sister of the Lord’s mother (Matt.
27:56; cf. John.19:25). John and his brother James were therefore possibly the
Lord’s cousins. No wonder that the two brothers asked their mother to seek
favor in the face of the Lord
so that they could sit in His kingdom
one on
His right hand and one on His left (Matt. 20:20-21).
Probably
John was born in a wealthy family: his father
possessing boats and hired
servants (Mark. 1:20)
was a great fisherman. And John also knew the high
priest (John. 18:15). Apart from his house in Galilee
it appears that he had
another house in Jerusalem (John. 19:27).
Originally
he was the disciple of John the Baptist. When John the Baptist testified toward
his disciples: “Behold
the Lamb of God”
two of the disciples followed Jesus
and abode with him. One of them is Andrew
and the other unnamed is John the
apostle (John. 1:35-40)
for he had never mentioned his own name in the gospel
written by himself.
It
seems that he had been called by the Lord more than once. In the first time
the Lord said to them: “Come and see.”(John. 1:39) But after following the Lord
for a period of time
he returned to his fishing business. Later
the Lord
called him the second time by the Sea of Galilee and he left his father
partners and the boat
thus becoming a fisher of man (Matt. 4:18-22). Still
later on
the Lord called him out of the disciples to be one of the twelve
apostles (Luke. 6:13-14).
Of
the twelve disciples
there were three who were especially intimate with the
Lord----Peter
James and John (Luke. 8:51; 9:28; Mark. 14:33). Of these three
John was the one nearest to the Lord. John had leaned on the breast of Jesus
(John. 13:25); he was the one whom Jesus loved (John. 13:23); he was the only
disciple witnessing the Lord’s suffering below the cross (John. 19:26); and he
was the one who was entrusted by the Lord with the responsibility to take home
the Lord’s mother (John. 19:27).
John
and his brother were called “Boanerges
which is
the son of the thunder”
(Mark. 3:17). It was therefore imaginable that John was an irritable man. When
he saw someone casting out demons in the Lord’s name
who did not follow
together with them
John was provoked to jealousy for the Lord and forbade his
work (Luke. 9:49). When John saw that the people in Samaria refused to receive
the Lord
he and James asked the Lord to permit them to replay the story of
Elijah----to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them (Luke.
9:54). However
his disposition as son of thunder was melted by Lord’s love and
gradually became an apostle who specialized in preaching love.
After
the Lord’s ascension
he left and dwelt in
Before
the fall of Jerusalem
John the apostle had moved westward to minister the Lord
in the churches in Asia Minor (Paul was martyred in that days.). He abode in
Ephesus
from which he was exiled
in the reign of the Roman despot Domitian
to the island of Patmos----a desolate island in the Aegean Sea----where he saw
the vision of the glorious Lord and wrote the Book of Revelation.
John lived a long life of almost 100 years on
earth. It was then spread among the disciples that John would not die
but John
himself clarified the rumor (John. 21:23). We knew from his disciple Polycrates
that John the apostle was martyred for his Lord in his old age.
II.
The Time and Location the Book was Written
Probably John the apostle recorded the signs
while he saw them (See 10:4) and he arranged them into a book after he was
released from the island called Patmos and returned to
III.
The Recipients
This epistle was written to His servants (See
1:1) and the angels of the seven churches (See 2:1
8
12
18; 3:1
7
14) and
it was also written to the whole church (See 1:4)
that all the saints could
read
hear and keep the words (See 1:3).
IV.
The Motivation for Writing the Book
At that time
the churches were both
persecuted by the
1)
Exhorting all men to turn their eyes away from tribulations and look upon the
Lord
regain their first love
overcome all the circumstances and be faithful
to the end
that they shall partake in the kingdom.
2) Warning all men not to follow heresies or the
trend of the world but to hold fast to the word of God and the name of the
Lord
that they shall be rewarded in future.
3) Opening the spiritual mysteries to make us see
that the progress of the worldly things is arranged and managed by the hand of
God so that we could turn our eyes to Him from the outer things and therefore
we could receive consolation.
4) Opening the mysteries of eternity to change our
insight from the earth to the heaven and from this age to eternity so that we
shall be encouraged and strengthened to finish the race of this life.
V.
The Importance of This Book
This book is a summary of the Bible. Without
this book
the Bible would have a beginning but no end and the difficult
problems in other books would be unsolved.
This book is one that realizes the hope. Without
this book
many of the promises and hopes recorded in each book would seem to
be unfinished to us.
This book states the end of Satan and its
followers. Without this book
many believers would be still puzzled about God’s
power and plan.
This book makes us long for the second coming of
the Lord
be encouraged in tribulation
that we can’t help crying out that
“come
Lord Jesus”.
VI.
General Description
This book brings believers into the heaven
and the spirit: first knowing the greatness of the Lord from every aspect
our
relation with Him; knowing ourselves from the church history and the real
conditions and knowing the heavenly mysteries------everything in the earth will
be realized according to the eternal plan of God and the world is striding
forward the final result gradually. If believers have not come to realize the
truth
we will be left on the earth and our bodies shall suffer various
disasters. However
if we are faithful unto the end
we shall reign with Christ
for a thousand years. A little glorious condition of eternity is also revealed
in this book so that our hearts will be attracted to seize opportunities to
make us prepared as a bride adorned for the second coming of the husband.
VII.
Special Points
The features of this book are as follows:
1) there are many signs in this book. The mysterious
things cannot be expressed by concrete words and therefore signs
metaphors and
implied meanings are used in the narrative. Only those who have a willing to
pursue the knowledge of them will understand them with the help of the Holy
Spirit.
2) numbers are frequently used in this book
and here an example of seven is given and various things related to seven are
listed: “seven churches” (1:4
11
20)
“seven Spirits” (1:4; 3:1; 4:5; 5:6
6)
“seven golden lampstands” (1:12
20
20)
“seven stars” (1:16
20
20; 2:1;
3:1)
“seven lamps of fire” (4:5
5)
“seven seals” (5:1
2
5
9; 6:1; 8:1)
“seven horns and seven eyes” (5:6)
“seven angels” (8:2
6; 15:1
6
7
8;
16:1; 17:1; 21:9)
“seven thunders” (10:3
4
4
4)
“seven thousand people”
(11:13)
“heads” (12:3
3; 13:1
1
3; 17:3
7
9); “seven woes” (15:1
1
6
8; 21:9)
“seven bowels” (16:1; 17:1)
“seven mountains” (17:9)
“seven kings”
(17:10
11).
3) this book could be read from various angles
for
example: the epistles to the seven churches in the second and third chapters
could be read by four ways: a) they are the real conditions of the seven
churches in the province of Asia; b) they are the seven kinds of conditions of
the churches in every phase; c) they are the types of the development of the
church history; d) they could be warnings and exhortations to everyone who
reads this book.
4) this book elevates men into the heavenly state
to see the development of all the things on the earth with the high and
everlasting insight.
5) this book is one that talks about judgments and
it includes the judgment of the seven churches
the judgment of antichrists
the judgment of
6) this book reveals the mystery in heaven
the
mystery of the spiritual conflict
the mystery of disasters in the last time
the mystery of the new Jerusalem and a new heave and a new earth and etc.
7) this book is “the revelation of Jesus Christ”
and it completely reveals our Lord from various angles
so that we could know
Him more deeply.
8) it is specially mentioned in this book that the
great tribulation shall come in the last time and its terrible condition is
unprecedented and unrepeatable. “Woe
woe
woe” to all those who experience it
indeed.
9) this book still has seven promises of “blessing”
and seven heavenly “praise” in the awesome description. “Seven” refers to the
perfect works from God. All those who love God are encouraged by love to pursue
blessings and sing the praise.
VIII.
It’s Relations with Other Books in the Bible
There are 404 verses in this book and 278 of
which are quoted from the Old Testament. The quoted scriptures are from 25
rolls and there are more than five hundred places. Almost every roll of the Old
Testament is related to this book
however
the Book of Genesis is the closest
one.
1) the Book of Genesis is
the beginning of the Bible and in which the beginning of all things is
recorded; the Book of Revelation is the ending of the Bible and in which the
ending of all things is recorded.
2) the old heaven and the old earth and the
creation of old life are recorded in the first three chapters of the Book of
Genesis; the old heaven and the old earth and the ending of old life and that
everything is renewed is recorded in the last three chapters of the Book of
Revelation.
3) how men lost the enjoyment of paradise and the
tree of life because of sin is recorded in the Book of Genesis; in the Book of
Revelation it is recorded that overcomers shall enjoy the fruits from the tree
of life
which is in the midst of the Paradise of God and all the people of God
shall partake in the river of life and the tree of life.
4) the building of the towel and the city of Babel
is recorded in the Book of Genesis; the ending of the city of Babel and that
the city of New Jerusalem shall come down out of heaven is recorded in the Book
of Revelation.
5) it is recorded in the Book of Genesis how Satan
deceived men to sin and fall and the death was brought in; it is recorded in
the Book of Revelation that Satan
sin and death are thrown into the lake of
fire out of the city of
6) the marriage of “the first Adam” is recorded in
the Book of Genesis; the marriage of “the last Adam” is recorded in the Book of
Revelation.
7) how God had destroyed all flesh by flood is
recorded in the Book of Genesis; how God will destroy all the negative persons
and things by fire.
IX.
Key Verses
“Write the things which you have seen
and the things
which are
and the things which will take place after this.” (1:19).
“He who testifies to
these things says
"Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so
come
Lord Jesus!” (22:20).
X.
Key Words
“Revelation” (1:1)
“open” (5:2
5
9; 6:1
3
5
7
9
12; 8:1).
“Witness” (1:2
5
9; 2:13; 3:14; 6:9; 11:3
7;
12:11
17; 17:6; 19:10
10; 20:4; 22:18)
“testify” (1:2; 22:16
20).
“Judge” (6:10; 11:18; 14:7; 18:8; 19:11; 20:4
12
13)
“judgment” (17:1; 18:10)
“wrath” (6:16
17; 11:18; 14:10
19)
“the wrath
of God” (14:10; 15:1
7; 16:1).
XI. Outlines of the Book
The
Revelation of Jesus Christ
I. Foreword (1:1-8)
A. the
origin
contents and functions of this book (1:1-3)
B. the
recipients of this book
grace and blessing (1:4-6)
C. the
will of this book------declaring that the Lord shall come again and He lives
forever and is almighty (1:7-8)
II. The things which you have seen------the sign of
glorious Christ (1:9-20)
A. the
condition at that time of the one who saw the sign (1:9-11)
B. the
sign of glorious Christ that had been seen (1:12-16)
C. the
reaction and the reception of instructions after he had seen the sign (1:17-19)
III. The things which are------the seven churches
(2:1-3:22)
A. the
church of
B. the
church in
C. the
church in Pergamos (2:12-17)------the worldly church
D. the
church in Thyatira (2:18-29)------the licentious church
E. the
church in
F. the
church in
G. the
church of the Laodiceans (3:14-22)------the lukewarm church
IV. The things which will take place after
this------the last time and eternity (4:1-22:17)
A. the
scenes in the heaven (4:1-5:14)
1. One who sits on the throne receives worship
(4:1-11)------the arbitrator of the universe
2. a scroll sealed closely (5:1-4)------the hidden
will of God
3. the Lion and the Lamb (5:5-14)------only Him is
worthy to open the scroll
B.
opening the seven seals (6:1-8:5)
1. the first seal------a white horse (6:1-2)
2. the second seal------a fiery red horse (6:3-4)
3. the third seal------a black horse (6:5-6)
4. the forth seal------a pale horse (6:7-8)
5. the fifth seal------the cry under the altar
(6:9-11)
6. the sixth seal------the heaven and the earth
shake (6:12-17)
The first inserted sign: the sealed children of
The second inserted sign: the conditions after the
church has been raptured (7:9-17)
7. the seventh seal------the seven trumpets are
brought in (8:1-5)
C.
sounding the seven trumpets (8:6-11:19)
1. the first trumpet------a third of the things on
the earth were burned up (8:6-7)
2. the second trumpet------a third of the sea was
ruined (8:8-9)
3. the third trumpet------a third of the waters
were damaged (8:10-11)
4. the forth trumpet------a third of the sun
the
moon and the stars were struck (8:12)
5. the fifth trumpet------the first woe (8:13-9:11)
6. the sixth trumpet------the second woe (9:12-21)
The third inserted sign: a mighty angel and a
little book (10:1-11)
The forth inserted sign: the holy city and two
witnesses (11:1-13)
7. the seventh trumpet------the third woe
(11:14-19)
The fifth inserted sign: a woman in labor and a
great
fiery red dragon (12:1-17)
The second inserted sign: a beast rising up out of
the sea and a beast coming up out of the earth (13:1-18)
The forth inserted sign: three kinds of reaping and
four kinds of declarations (14:1-20)
D.
pouring out the seven bowls (15:1-16:21)
1. the preparation of the last seven plagues and
praise (15:1-8)
2. the first bowl------the plague that a loathsome
sore came upon men (16:1-2)
3. the second bowl------the plague that the sea
became blood (16:3)
4. the third bowl------the plague that the waters
became blood (16:4-7)
5. the forth bowl------the plague that the sun
scorched men (16:8-9)
6. the fifth bowl------the plague that the kingdom
of the beast became full of darkness and men became painful (16:10-11)
7. the sixth bowl------the plague that three
unclean spirits stirred up the battle of great day (16:12-16)
8. the seventh bowl------the plague of great hail (16:17-21)
E. the
kingdom of a thousand years and the two wives
two cities and two suppers
before and after it (17:1-22:5)
1. the judgment of the great harlot (17:1-18)
2. the falling of
3. the marriage supper of the Lamb (19:1-10)
4. the supper of all the birds in the midst of
heaven (19:11-21)
5. the kingdom of a thousand years and the judgment
before the great white throne (20:1-15)
6. the bride of the Lamb is adorned (21:1-9)
7. the holy city
New Jerusalem (21:10-22:5)
V. Epilogue (22:6-21)
A. the
message (22:6-16)
B. the
reaction (22:17)
C. the
warning (22:18-19)
D. the
praise and blessing (22:20-21)
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Sharon Ren