REVELATION 1:1, 2

 (1) The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants — things that must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, (2) who bore witness to the Word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.

• Not to be called Revelation(s).

• Written by the apostle John while on the island of Patmos (1:1, 4, 9; 22:8).  Tradition has it that he was banished there by Emperor Domitian (A.D. 81-96); although this cannot be proven.  Chitwood’s position is that John was positioned there by God specifically to reveal to him end-time events.

• From the Greek word apokalupsis (Apocalypse) — “unveiling” or “disclosure.”

• An unveiling of that which the Father had previously given to the Son (John 3:34, 35; 5:20-22; 7:16; 8:28), revealed through the Son. 

• More specifically it is the further unveiling or opening up of Jesus Christ, who is God’s Word (i.e., Old Testament Scripture) and who became flesh (John 1:1, 2); and,  who indeed is God (i.e., God, the Son, and the written Word are inseparable).

• Everything revealed in the New Testament may be found (have a basis) in the Old Testament.  The New can only be an opening up and revealing of that previously seen in the Old, which is why Christ after His resurrection could make Himself known to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus by reading from “Moses and all the prophets” (an expression covering the whole of the Old Testament) — Luke 24:13-31.

• In fact, the entire Bible is about one subject — Jesus Christ — “typology” being profuse throughout the Old Testament.
   

• The only New Testament book that focuses primarily on prophecy.  Genesis — book of “beginnings,” Revelation — book of “consummation.”  In it the divine program of redemption is brought to fruition, and the holy name of God is vindicated before all creation.  Concerns itself mostly with the reason man was created — to rule and reign (regality).

• Parallels the book of Daniel, specifically the final seven years of Daniel’s seventy-week prophecy.  Covers events just after the Rapture, the 7-year Tribulation Period, the Messianic Era (1000-years), and that which follows.

• Deals initially with the Church, but mostly with Israel.

The selection of the Bride at the Judgment Seat (1-3).

The relinquishing of crowns (4).

The redemption of the inheritance (5-18).

The marriage ceremony (19a).

The second advent of Christ and domination of earth (19b).

The Messianic Era (20a).

The destruction of Satan and his rebellion (20b).

The great white throne judgment (also in 20b).

The ages beyond (21, 22).

• About soon-to-happen events (which all Christians should anticipate).

• The word “signified” (Greek: semaino) is the verb form of semeion, the word for “sign.”  And just as God through John developed the Gospel of John (12:33; 18:32; 21:19) using 8 signs, God, throughout His revelation to man, uses types, numbers, signs, metaphors, and parables to make Himself, His plans, and His purposes known.  And signs are prolific throughout Revelation.

• To go beyond the “letter” of Scripture—to understand its “spirit”— one must understand and be able to interpret it according to its typical nature (2 Corinthians 3:6).  The “type-antitype” relationship (i.e., “comparing spiritual things with spiritual things” [1 Corinthians 2:13]) is fundamental in correctly understanding doctrine, a process used prolifically by the apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 10:6, 11) and other New Testament writers (Hebrews).

• So in the very first verse God makes it clear that Revelation has been structured in a particular manner, i.e., with various signs (numbers, metaphors, etc.), which reveal specific truths.

• And God conveyed His end-time truths in Revelation, as He does all things, utilizing His angelic ministry.  God governs His universal kingdom through angels, each one ruling or having some rulership-connection (directly or indirectly) to a particular province in it.  And God has used angels in various capacities down through the ages, e.g., the giving of the Law (Acts 7:53; cf. Deuteronomy 33:2; Psalm 68:17; Galatians 3:19; Hebrews 2:2); the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19), the birth of Christ (Luke 1, 2; Matthew 1, 2), to minister to the saints in various ways (Hebrews 1:14), etc.

• And God’s angel bore witness to (i.e., validated) God’s Word and the testimony of Christ relative to all things that were shown to John in this book.