Adult Class
March-June 2006
Revelation
Lesson 2
The book of Revelation describes some startling images and fantastic scenes. It is sometimes difficult to know precisely what is being discussed but we are blessed that God interprets His own word for us and tells us what some of the most important images represent. There are five elements of the book that are identified for us in the pages of the book of Revelation. Understanding the identification of these elements makes it easier to understand the entire book. Since these elements are frequently misrepresented and misinterpreted, it is important that our identification be accurate!
Identification #1: The purpose of Revelation is to comfort persecuted Christians.
We pointed out that one feature of apocalyptic literature is its roots in some historical crisis. In this book, the crisis has to do with persecution of the early church by God's enemies. Many different verses point to the stresses and difficulties of the early Christians.
Revelation 1:9 mentions suffering; six of the letters to the seven churches recorded in chapters two and three mention their stresses, 6:9 speaks of those slain for the testimony of Christ; 7:14 mentions tribulation; chapter 11 mentions the murder of two witnesses; chapter 12 speaks of Satan attacking God's followers; 13:15 mentions those who were to be killed for refusing to worship an image; the blood of saints or servants is mentioned in 17:6, 18:24, and 19:2; and in 20:4 we hear from those beheaded for the testimony of Jesus. Obviously, the book is written to Christians who are being tormented and killed for Christ. Yet the book makes plain that God is ultimately in control and this situation will not endure.
Identification #2: The kingdom is a spiritual, not a physical, kingdom.
This may seem an obvious truth, but some people consider Revelation to be speaking of an earthly kingdom in which Jesus will reign for 1,000 years. Yet Revelation 1:6 and 1:9 both point out that the kingdom was already established and that it could not in any way be considered a physical kingdom. This agrees perfectly with Jesus' words in John 18:36 when He declared to Pilate that His kingdom was not of this world. The book deals with events in the spiritual kingdom of God, not with events in some future, physical kingdom to be set up on the earth.
Identification #3: The dragon is identified as Satan; the first beast is shown to be the Roman Empire; the second beast is a system of emperor worship.
The imagery of the dragon is startling and threatening: he's red, has seven heads and 10 horns, his tail sweeps a third of the stars from the sky. Some have launched off in flights of fancy about what these various details can mean, but Revelation 12:9 and 20:2 state in no uncertain terms that the dragon is the devil, or Satan. All the lurid details aside, we can be confident that the dragon is Satan.
The first beast, mentioned in chapter 13:1-10, is definitely shown to be on the side of evil, made up from other kingdoms (consider Daniel 7 regarding the leopard, bear and lion), is given power, a throne and great authority, blasphemes God, makes war against the saints and is given authority over the world. In chapter 17:9-12, it is declared that the seven heads are seven hills and seven kings. The entity in the ancient world most widely celebrated for its seven hills was the city of Rome. The first readers would have instantly understood the first beast as the Roman Empire.
The second beast, mentioned in chapter 13:11-17, speaks like a dragon, exercises the authority of the first beast in its behalf, makes the earth worship the first beast, killed those who did not worship the first beast and identifies the beast worshippers with a mark. It is further called a "false prophet" in 19:20. The two beasts rise and fall together, not one after the other.
In all, it is clear that the dragon is identified as the devil, the first beast is the Roman Empire and the second beast is a system of emperor worship.
Identification #4: The "harlot" and "Babylon" are two names for the same entity: the city of Rome itself.
The "harlot" is specifically called a "city" in Revelation 17:18. She rides on the back of the beast (17:3) and is drunk on the blood of the saints (17:6). She committed adultery with the kings of the earth (17:2) and is dressed in luxury (17:4). She is also identified as "Babylon" in 17:5.
The city "Babylon" is designated a "great city" in Revelation 18:21. That city committed adultery with the kings of the earth (18:9) and was dressed in luxury (18:16). In that city were shed the blood of prophets and saints (18:24).
What city, sitting on seven hills, dressed in luxury, responsible for the death of many saints, and ruling over the kings of the earth (17:18) would fit the description given of the harlot and Babylon? Only the city of Rome could possibly fit that description.
Identification #5: The time of 1260 days, 42 months or "a time, times and half a time" all refer to the same brief but violent persecution related to the Roman Empire.
In Revelation 11:2-3, the Holy City will be trampled while two witnesses prophecy for 42 months or 1260 days. After that, the witnesses will be killed and then raised again on the third day. In Revelation 12:6 and then 12:14, a certain woman will be cared for and sheltered from the attacks of the devil for 1260 days or "a time, times and half a time." Then in 13:5-7, the first beast is given the authority of the devil for 42 months to make war against the saints.
In each of these cases, at the end of the time designated, God reasserts His control and judges the enemies. The violence and intensity of the persecution would be fierce, but the duration would be fairly limited, and the entire program of attack against the followers of Jesus Christ would be related to the Roman Empire.
With these five identifications, the stage is set to read and understand the rest of the book. The various visions given to John must be understood in the context of these markers. This is the only way we can avoid being bogged down in speculation regarding various details or losing our way entirely and being unable to come to clear conclusions regarding the nature of the book.