Students of Revelation fall into four broad categories, those who believe it’s mostly 1) past history, 2) foretells Christian history, 3) mostly future or 4) symbolic. Revelation is apocalyptic literature, a symbolic genre.
Who and what does this book reveal?
“The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place…” (Revelation 1:1 ESV)
Should a church avoid this book?
“God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near.” (Revelation 1:3 NLT)
As symbolic literature, Revelation is mysterious by design. Should all churches listen carefully?
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 2:7, 11; 17; 29; 3:6, 13, 22 NKJV)
The seven churches are loveless, persecuted, heretical, sexually immoral, dead, faithful, and materialistic. Is overcoming still possible in all seven churches?
To “the one who conquers [overcomes]…” (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 17 ESV)
What did John see in heaven?
“Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads.” (Revelation 4:4 NASB)
Who opens the secret seals?
“I saw that the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying, as with a voice of thunder, ‘Come and see!’ ” (Revelation 6:1 WEB)
Where are Christian martyrs?
“When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their testimony.” (Revelation 6:9 NLT)
Christians are sealed by the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 1:22), a mark or inscription of belonging (2 Timothy 2:19), a seal of holiness (Exodus 39:30). What does an angel say?
“I saw another angel coming up from the east, holding the seal of the living God… He said, ‘Don’t damage the earth, the sea, or the trees until we have put a seal on the foreheads of those who serve our God.’ ” (Revelation 7:2-3 CEB)
Are overcomers from all nations dressed in white, a symbol of righteousness?
“After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were robed in white with palm branches in their hands.” (Revelation 7:9 HCSB)
Who has been the ultimate source of humanity’s self-destructive ways?
“Their king is the angel from the bottomless pit; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon—the Destroyer.” (Revelation 9:11 NLT)
How large will the evil army be? There are currently not that many horses in the entire world, so what could this symbolize?
“By listening, I could tell there were more than 200,000,000 war horses.” (Revelation 9:16 CEV)
Could modern weapons cause such a large death toll?
“By these three plagues a third of humankind was killed: by the fire, smoke, and sulfur coming out of their mouths.” (Revelation 9:18 CEB)
Do these disasters result in the repentance of humanity?
“The rest of humankind, who weren’t killed by these plagues, didn’t change their hearts and lives and turn from their handiwork…” (Revelation 9:20a CEB)
Humanity’s biggest lies will be exposed (Romans 1:18-32). Will time to repent run out?
“There will be no more delay!” (Revelation 10:6b NIV)
Beasts symbolize oppressive human kingdoms (Daniel 7). Will their rule come to an end?
“And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15 KJV)
Will the nations be angry or repent?
“The nations were filled with wrath, but now the time of your wrath has come… It is time to destroy all who have caused destruction on the earth.” (Revelation 11:18 NLT)
Will there be a faithful remnant?
“And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” (Revelation 12:17 KJV)
Who will worship this worldly political power?
“All those who live on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name was not written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slaughtered.” (Revelation 13:8 HCSB)
Is the next beast a false prophet, who looks innocent but speaks evil?
“Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon.” (Revelation 13:11 NASB)
Do we judge false prophets by their miracles or their lying words (Deuteronomy 13)?
“He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.” (Revelation 13:13 NKJV)
Are miracles surrounding religious statues anything new?
“He was then permitted to give life to this statue so that it could speak. Then the statue of the beast commanded that anyone refusing to worship it must die.” (Revelation 13:15 NLT)
What will happen to this tyrannical Babylonian system?
“Another angel, a second one, followed and said, ‘Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She made all the nations drink the wine of her lustful passion.’ ” (Revelation 14:8 CEB)
Is God angry with this brutal rule?
“And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.” (Revelation 16:1 KJV)
The scarlet woman is rich, royal, filthy with sin and carries what looks like a communion cup but full of abominations. What is on her forehead?
“And on her forehead a name was written: Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots and of the Abominations of the Earth.” (Revelation 17:5 NKJV)
Like the religion of ancient Babylon, she exploits and oppresses people. How much influence does she have?
“Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.” (Revelation 17:15 NIV)
As the mark or seal of the beast is in people’s foreheads and hands, God’s words are a sign or mark in the hands and foreheads, in thoughts and deeds (Exodus 13:9, 16; Deuteronomy 6:8; 11:18; Jeremiah 31:33; Romans 2:15; Hebrews 8:10; 10:16) and we are sealed by the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13; Ephesians 4:30). Which will you choose, the mark of the beast or the seal of the Holy Spirit? You decide!
