This series of Bible Studies interprets the Book of Revelation based upon the ‘parallelism’ understanding of the book. This is based upon sound Biblical interpretation, as will be seen throughout the studies. The Book of Revelation is made up of seven sections, each section being parallel with the other sections and each spanning the entire Gospel dispensation. What this means is that Revelation covers the period from the first coming of Christ to His second coming, and even beyond this.
Each section is intended to portray the same period of time but from varying perspectives. Yet, as each section is reached, there is a definite movement in thought, or a progression in the development of themes and focus toward the very end of the dispensation. For instance, the final judgment is barely mentioned in the beginning, yet it becomes a more clearly developed theme as one moves through the book toward the very end.
2.1 Outline and Survey of Revelation
The following is a suggested outline for, and brief survey of, the Book of Revelation.
A. THE EARTHLY PERSPECTIVE (1:1-11:19)
The lamp stands represent the seven churches (1:4,11,20), to which John is to write. The number seven is to be taken as symbolical of completeness and fullness (1:4,12,13), as it is throughout the Book of Revelation. What this means is that the seven churches are symbolic of the whole church throughout the gospel dispensation. With this in mind, each church is to be seen as typical of conditions in individual churches at any given time throughout history (2:7,11,17,29; 3:6,13,22).
This section describes the One who is sitting upon the throne in heaven, the worship toward Him by those surrounding Him, and the book sealed with seven seals (7:1) in His right hand. The Lamb takes the book, receives adoration, and opens the seven seals one by one. Between the sixth and seventh seal we see the 144 000 who are before the throne.
That this section also covers the entire gospel dispensation is seen by Christ having been slain and now ruling from heaven (5:5,6), the mention of the final judgment (6:16,17), and the position of believers in the presence of the Lord (7:16,17).
This section describes the seven trumpets that affect the world. What happens to the church is described in chapters 10 and 11. Note that the section closes with a clear reference to the final judgment (11:15,18), again indicating the parallel nature of Revelation.
Notice that this section describes the same period of duration as that of the persecuting dragon (11:2,3; 12:6,14), and also the same thing as that of the seven bowls (15:1-16:21).
B. THE SPIRITUAL PERSPECTIVE (12:1-22:21)
This section describes the woman and the Man-child persecuted by the Dragon and his allies. Note the birth of Christ (12:5), the dragon persecuting the woman (12:3), the dragon using the two beasts and the harlot in his quest to destroy the church (13:1,11,12; 14:8), and Christ’s second coming and judgment (14:14,16). The actual fall of the dragon and his allies is described in two different sections, the two beasts and the harlot in that of the fall of Babylon (17:1-19:21), and the dragon in that of the final consummation (20:1-22:21). All this indicates parallelism in the seven sections.
Notice that this section describes the same period of duration as that of the seven trumpets (11:2,3; 12:6,14).
This section describes the seven bowls of wrath, and concludes with a clear reference to the final judgment (16:14, 20), again indicating parallelism.
This section describes the same thing as that of the seven trumpets (8:1-11:19).
This section describes the fall of Babylon, and the judgment executed upon the beast and false prophet. Notice the reference to Christ coming in judgment (19:11ff), indicating parallelism.
This section describes the threshold of the new age, with the present age coming to an end (20:8ff).
2.2 Other Understandings of Revelation
A. PRETERIST
This understanding of Revelation seeks to interpret the book from the standpoint of its first century setting. It limits the fulfilment of the prophecies of Revelation to the period of the first century.
The strength of Preterism is that it seeks to understand the book in the light of its original setting, however, it has gone too far in doing so.
B. HISTORICIST
This viewpoint more or less implies that the Book of Revelation had little value to the first century church. For the Historicist, Revelation is an outline of history, providing a glimpse as to the unfolding of history.
C. FUTURIST
This viewpoint understands Revelation to refer to the brief period of time at the very end, as seen in Pre-Millennialism.
2.3 Understanding Revelation
Revelation has a reputation of being a difficult book to understand, and it is a rightly earned reputation. However, the bulk of the difficulty in understanding Revelation is the necessity of wading through countless interpretations that have been bandied about for centuries, and the requirement to move away from favoured interpretations of men in order to settle for the sound self-interpretation of the Scriptures. Like all Scripture, Revelation should be interpreted with the light of other passages, and it must stand within the context of the overall message of the Bible. This is not a book that stands alone, for it stands as part of the united revelation of God to man, and should be so interpreted.
It is necessary to understand that Revelation was first written to persecuted Christians of the first century, and had a message for these believers. Seen in this setting, many of the illustrations can be more readily understood. The symbolic language was written in such a way that these first century believers would understand the message of Revelation, and be helped in their own setting.
It needs to also be remembered that when interpreting Revelation, there is a need to not get too bogged down with individual pictures within a passage. It is necessary to go with the flow of the overall picture being developed, and not to get stuck with the detail of the picture. It is far too easy to get lost while trying to find a meaning for each and every detail of a picture or vision in Revelation instead of grasping the overall symbol and developing message of the passage.
Please Read The Entire Book of Revelation if you have not yet done so.
All Bible Studies by the webmaster may be freely copied, printed and distributed. We ask only that the site name and homepage URL be included in all copies distributed. This Bible Study is by Kevin Matthews. Thankyou.
To assist in the study of Revelation Aussie Outpost is developing The Outpost Study Bible and other Bible Study Aids. Links to these further resources are listed below:
http://particularbaptist.com/library/biblecontents.html
http://particularbaptist.com/library/matthewhenry_comcontents.html
http://particularbaptist.com/library/calvin_comcontents.html
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17/10/2006
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