Revelation Now Advanced Seminar 9 Keys to Interpreting Prophecy

1. Revelation NowAdvanced Seminar9 Keys to Interpreting Prophecy By Jac Colón Thank’s for turning off phones

2. 1. Revelation is Symbolic “The revelation (Apocalypse) of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 1:1,2 • σεμάίνω(Semaino) means to symbolize • Interpret Revelation symbolically unless it is obviously literal. …1B

3. 1. Revelation is a Symbolic Prophecy Example: Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon.” Revelation 12:7 What does the dragon symbolize? “The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan” ...Revelation 12:9 #1 Lit

4. Literalism “If the plain sense makes good sense, seek no other sense, or you will learn nonsense.” “We must consistently apply the plain, normal, literal interpretation.” C. C. Ryrie “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” (Genesis 3:15).

5. Literalism The Bible refers to locusts with the power of flight, the bodies of horses, heads like lions, breastplates of iron and stinging tails like scorpions” (Rev 9). “This might seem outlandish, unless you’ve ever seen a modern infantry unit in full chemical protection gear coming off a transport helicopter.”

6. 2. Let the Bible Interpret Itself “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter 1:20,21 • No private interpretation • Let the Bible interpret itself! How? • By comparing Scripture with Scripture 2B (Ex)

7. Compare Scripture with Scripture Example: “I saw a beast coming up out of the sea.” Revelation 12:7 What does a beast symbolize?The four great beasts are four kingdoms. Daniel 7:17 What is the water?“The waters you saw are peoples, multitudes…”Revelation 17:15 #2C

9. Compare Scripture with Scripture to Get the Whole Picture Example: What did the sign say? • Mark 15:26 “The King of the Jews” • Luke 23:28 “This is The King of the Jews” • Mat. 27:37“This is Jesus, the King of the Jews” • John 19:19 “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” “This is Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews” #3

10. Compare Scripture with Scripture to Get the Whole Picture Mark 15:26 “The King of the Jews” Luke 23:28 “This is The King of the Jews” Mat. 27:37“This is Jesus, the King of the Jews” John 19:19 “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Example: What did the sign say? “ This is Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”

11. 3. Outline Prophecies • Outlines only cover the high points. • Outlines are not concerned with every detail. • The Bible is a History-- only as it shows how God relates to his people. #4

12. 4: Parallel Prophecies

13. Daniel 2 • Babylon • Medo Persia • Greece • Rome • Europe • Jesus Comes

14. Medo-Persia Babylon Greece Rome Daniel 7

15. 4. Parallel Prophecies • What is Parallel? A B Daniel 2 Gold | Silver | Bronze | Iron | Stone Babylon| Medo-Persia | Greece | Rome| Jesus 7 Lion | Bear | Leopard | FierceBeast | Judgment • Both begin with Babylon and end with the return of Christ. 4B

16. ` world ends Seven Churches [Rev 2-3] Seven Seals [Rev 6-8] Seven Trumpets [Rev 9-10] Seven Plagues [Rev 16] I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake... The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. …They called to the mountains and the rocks, ‘‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” (Re 6:12-17). 4. Parallel Prophecies • Why is parallellism important? The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: ‘‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.” (Re 11:15). The seventh angel poured out his bowl… Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake... God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath. Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found (Re 16:17-20). The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. (Rev 1:1). “So, because you are lukewarm… I am about to spit you out of my mouth… the hour of his judgment has come” (Re 3:16, 14:7). The 7 churches give a glimpse into the future of the church with 7 successive periods ending with the Judgment, as well as a cross section of the church during the time of John. • They all end with the same event. 4C

17. Seven Churches Seven Seals Seven Trumpets Seven Plagues 4. Parallel Prophecies • Hebrew thought vs. Western thought… • Otherwise there is Confusion Rapture??? Why Parallel Prophecies? #5

18. 5. Repetition & Enlargement Daniel 2 Gold | Silver | Bronze | Iron | Clay |Stone Babylon| Medo-Persia | Greece | Rome| Europe |Jesus Daniel 7 Lion | Bear | Leopard | Fierce |Judgment 5B

19. 5. Repetition & Enlargement Daniel 2 Gold | Silver | Bronze | Iron | Clay | Stone Babylon| Medo-Persia | Greece | Rome| Europe |Jesus Daniel 7 Lion | Bear | Leopard | Fierce | |Judgment 5C

20. 5. Repetition & Enlargement • Enlargement focuses on the end time Daniel 2 Gold | Silver | Bronze | Iron | Stone Babylon| Medo-Persia| Greece| Rome| Jesus Daniel 7 Lion | Bear | Leopard | Fierce | 10 horns|Little horn |Judgment Pagan | Europe | Papal #6

21. Parallel 6. Old Testament Foundation • Over 600 Quotes or Allusions to Old Testament • How Many Quotes or Allusions to Old Testament? • Must compare the prophecies in Revelation to the Old Testament first. Example:Revelation 12:5 “She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.” Psalm 2:9[Referring to future Messiah] “You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.” Daniel 2:44 “The Stone will crush those kingdoms and bring them to an end.” Revelation 19:11, 15 #7

22. 7. Revelation is Christ Centered “The revelation (Apocalypse) of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place.” Revelation 1:1,2 • every interpretation must center in and focus on Jesus Christ…. 7B

23. Paul For Real

24. Our Two For Real Jason & Mom Paul & Ania

25. 7. Christ is the Center • On the Emmaus Road, "He said to them, 'How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?' And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself." Luke 24:25-27 • "They asked each other, 'Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?’...Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures." Luke 24:32, 45 • Our minds must be opened by Christ to understand the Bible. The Old Testament Foreshadowed Jesus 7C- 3 types

26. 7. Christ is the Center Three Types of Christ-Centered Interpretation • Direct Predictions • Types and Antitypes (shadows) • Non-Predictive Historical Passages 7Dir

27. Direct Predictions • "But you, Bethlehem... out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." Micah 5:2 • “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14 7Typ

28. Types and Antitypes In the OT, the Lamb was offered as a sacrifice. “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" John 1:29 The Lamb Was a type or shadow of Jesus the Antitype (in place of) 7Typ

29. More Types • Priest: "I tell you that one greater than the temple is here." Matthew 12:6 • Prophet: "Now one greater than Jonah is here." Matthew 12:41 • King: "Now one greater than Solomon is here. Matthew 12:42 The Antitype replaces the type! (Anti= in place of) The Antitype (fulfillment) is greater than the type! 7Typ

30. More Types • Adam: “pattern of the one to come.” Rom 5:14τύπος [tupos /too·pos/] • God opened a wound and took something from his side from which he formed his bride. • Jesus: The second Adam has come. • From his wounded side flowed water and blood out of which God formed his bride, the church. 7Nar

31. Non-predictive Historical Stories • There was a famine in Israel • They were slaves in Egypt • God raised up Moses to deliver them out of Egypt. • He led them through the Red Sea to Freedom. • "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son." Hosea 11:1 • "So he [Joseph] got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'Out of Egypt I called my son'." Matt. 2:14, 15 #7N

32. Non-predictive Historical Stories • 1 Cor 10:1-4 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual foodand drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. #7N

33. More Narrative Prophecies Jesus went over the same ground as Israel, but He succeeded where they failed. #8Ch

34. More Narrative Prophecies Jesus went over the same ground as Israel, but He succeeded where they failed. #8Ch

35. 9 Israel Symbolizes the Church • The Beginning of the Promise: Gen 3:15 • Abraham: Genesis 12:2,3“Through you, all nations will be blessed.” • Gathering and Scattering Promises: Deuteronomy 28 and 30 • Fulfilled in Christ: Galatians 3:7,8, 16, 29 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed The Scripture does not say ‘‘and to seeds,” meaning many people, but ‘‘and to your seed,”meaning one person, who is Christ. “If you are in Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs to the promise.

36. 9. Israel Symbolizes the Church Examples of New Testament Fulfillment of Israel’s Prophecies #8Ch

37. Double Fulfillment of Israel

38. Double Fulfillment of Israel

39. Double Fulfillment of Israel

40. Jerusalem Symbolizes the Church Amos 9: 11, 12“In that day I will restore • David’s fallen tent. • I will repair its broken places, • restore its ruins, • and build it as it used to be, So that they may possess the remnant of Edom What would have to happen for this passage to be literally fulfilled?

41. Jerusalem a Symbol for the Church Acts 15:15-17 The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written: • After this I will return • and rebuild David’s fallen tent. • Its ruins I will rebuild, • and I will restore it, as it used to be that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who bear my name

42. Literal • “In that day I will restore David’s fallen tent. • I will repair its broken places, • restore its ruins, • and build it as it used to be, so that they may possess the remnant of Edom.” Amos 9: 11,12 Jeru-salem Edom The Mediterranean Sea

43. “So that they may possess the remnant of Edom.” Amos 9: 11,12 The Mediterranean Sea Jerusalem Edom

44. “Simon has described to us how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself. • Acts 15:14-17 Edom The Mediterranean Sea • The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written: ” • ‘After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. • Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, • that the remnant of men may seek the Lord,.” Caesarea New Testament Fulfillment Jeru-salem

45. Edom symbolized the Gentiles. The restoration of the walls of Jerusalem to possess the remnant of Edom, Symbolized the Gentiles coming into the church. The Mediterranean Sea Caesarea Jeru-salem Edom

46. Jerusalem Symbolizes the Church • The New Testament applies an Old Testament prophecy of the restoration and expansion of Israel to the expansion of the church by receiving Gentiles into the church. • The New Testament totally disregards any ethnic or geographic limitations, and interprets Israel as the church, the body of believers in Jesus Christ.

47. Even the Land is a Symbol • The LORD appeared to Abram and said, ‘‘To your offspring I will give this land” (Gen 12:7). • All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever (Genesis 13:15). • He gave him [Abraham] no inheritance here, not even a foot of ground. But God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land (Acts 7:5).

48. Even the Land is a Symbol • By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went.. he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.(Heb 11:8-10). • Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world (Rom 4:13) • Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5).

49. All Promises Fulfilled in Christ For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘‘Yes” in Christ(2 Cor 1:20).

50. Double Fulfillment of Mount Zion In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son. Hebrews 1:1, 2