STUDY IT FOR YOURSELF!

1. STUDY IT FOR YOURSELF! Have the attitude of the Bereans… … take what you are taught and search the Scriptures each day to see if what was taught is what the Word of God says [Acts 17:11]!

2. UNCOVERING the uncovered A Study of the Revelation of Jesus Christ

3. UNCOVERING the uncovered Part One: An Introduction

4. To UNDERSTAND The REVELATION Letter… … Build Upon a FIRM FOUNDATION

5. 2 Timothy 3:16 • ALL SCRIPTURE IS GOD-BREATHED • [inspired by God] • and PROFITABLE for TEACHING, for REPROOF, for CORRECTION, for TRAINING in righteousness;

6. 2 Peter 1:20-21 • [20] But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, • [21] for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, • but men MOVEDBY theHOLY SPIRITSPOKEFROMGOD.

7. The BIBLE is a SPIRITUALBook written byGOD, a SPIRITUAL Being given by GOD the HOLYSPIRIT to SPIRITUALPEOPLE!

8. UNCOVERING the uncovered Some Introductory Thoughts

9. Isaiah 42:9 • “BEHOLD, the FORMERthings have COME TO PASS, • NOWI DECLARE NEWthings; • BEFOREtheySPRING FORTH I PROCLAIM(them)to you.”

10. Isaiah 46:8-10 • [8] “REMEMBER this, and BE ASSURED; RECALL IT TO MIND, you transgressors. • [9] “REMEMBER the FORMER things longpast,FOR I AM GOD FORI AMGOD, and there is noother; (I am)GOD, and there is nooneLIKEME,”

11. Isaiah 46:8-10 • [10] “DECLARING the END from the BEGINNING • AndfromancienttimesthingswhichHAVE NOTBEEN DONE,…”

12. Isaiah 46:8-10 • [10] “… SAYING, • ‘MYPURPOSEWILLBEESTABLISHED, • AndIWILLACCOMPLISHALLMYGOODPLEASURE’;”

13. Isaiah 65:17 • “FOR BEHOLD, • ICREATENEWHEAVENS and a NEWEARTH; • And the FORMER thingsSHALLNOT BE REMEMBERED • orCOMETOMIND.”

14. 2 Peter 3:13 • BUTACCORDINGTO HISPROMISE • we are LOOKINGfor NEWHEAVENSand a NEWEARTH, • inwhich RIGHTEOUSNESSDWELLS.

15. Revelation 21:1 • AndI saw a NEWHEAVENandaNEWEARTH; • for the FIRSTHEAVEN • and the FIRSTEARTH • PASSEDAWAY….

16. What is apokalupsis?

17. Revelation – the Meaning • apokalupsis (G602) • Meaning, an UNCOVERING, to LAY something BARE. • Metaphorically, a REVEALING, • a revelation: a disclosure of divine truth.

18. “How can I UNDERSTAND all of those SYMBOLS and MEANINGS?”

19. Let’s Begin with an Authoritative Witness – Jesus! • Matthew 24:15 • “Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place • (let the reader understand),”

20. Let’s Begin with an Authoritative Witness – Jesus! • what can we UNDERSTAND from what Jesus says in Matthew 24:15 concerning Daniel? • 1. Jesus EXPECTS His readers to UNDERSTAND! • 2. Daniel was a PROPHET!

21. Understanding the ‘Context’ • ANY STUDY of the Bible MUSTBEGINwith the ‘CONTEXT’. • ESPECIALLY TRUE of the • HISTORICAL books, • PROPHETIC books, • and APOCALYPTIC books

22. A “literal” and “historical” approach is required. • Consider the following areas of context: • the context of passages • the context of chapters • the context of the entirebook • the context of HISTORY in which the events took place

23. The READERMUST firstUNDERSTAND the Lord God’soriginalINTENT and PURPOSE of the GOD-BREATHED message for the originalRECEIPIENTS • Then and onlythen attempt to understand the message in application for your life today

24. Prophecy and Apocalyptic Prophecy • A quote from Homer Hailey, from • Revelation An Introduction and Commentary, [Grand Rapids: Baker, p.19.] • “Apocalyptic writings differ from the prophetic works in substance and form…”

25. “… yet in both there are predictive and apocalyptic elements. • “In the prophetic preaching and writing moral issues at hand receive the greater attention, • while in the apocalypses the material is morePREDICTIVE and the extent of the matter is moreinclusive and far-reaching. …”

26. “… Apocalyptic literature flourished during a time of great national crisis** • when a formidable enemy threatened the life of the people – a time of trial and stress.” [**emphasis mine]

27. “This type is characterized by symbols in dreams and visions, in actions and consequences, instructing and encouraging the people under such conditions.” [**emphasis mine]

28. The HISTORICAL Context: Daniel Chapters Two, – Seven and Eight

29. The FOUR KINGDOMS of Daniel • #1 BABYLON • Head of Gold[2:32, 38] • WingedLion[7:4]

30. The FOUR KINGDOMS of Daniel • #2 MEDIA-PERSIA • Chest and Arms of Silver [2:32] • Bear [7:5] • Ram [8:3, 4, 6, 7]

31. The FOUR KINGDOMS of Daniel • #3 Grecian • BELLY and THIGHS of Brass [2:32] • WINGEDLEOPARD with FourHeads [7:6] • HE-GOAT [8:5, 8]

32. The FOUR KINGDOMS of Daniel • #4 Roman • LEGS of IRON [2:33] • Terrible and StrongMONGRELBEAST [7:7]

33. The FOUR KINGDOMS of Daniel • #4 Roman • The TEN KINGDOMS oftheWEAKENED Roman Kingdom • (Ten) TOES [2:33, 41-43] • TEN HORNS [7:7, 10, 20, 24]

34. A Comparison of the Chapter Symbols[page 2 of handout] • The THREE KINGDOMS that passed into OBSCURITY Three DISPLACEDHORNS [7:8, 20, 24]

35. A Comparison of the Chapter Symbols[page 2 of handout] • The LittleHORN of chapter Seven [7:8-11] • The DarkDominion of APOSTATERELIGION

36. A Comparison of the Chapter Symbols[page 2 of handout] • The LittleHORN of chapter Eight [8:9] • Antiochus Epiphanes

37. A Comparison of the Chapter Symbols[page 2 of handout] • Kingdoms of God and of Christ • The church • Mount Zion • The New Jerusalem • Stone cut out without hands that becomes a great mountain that fills the earth [2:34-35] • Son of Man Coming to the Ancient of Days [7:13-14]

38. Timeline • 605 BC • 603 BC • 552 BC • 551 BC • Daniel carried into exile • Nebuchadnezzar’s dream • Daniel’s vision of chapter 7 – the four beasts • Daniel’s vision of chapter 8 – the He-goat and Ram

39. Timeline • 539 BC • 532 BC • Babylon, the “Head of Gold” falls to Media-Persia the, “Chest and Arms of Silver” • Believed date of the end of Daniel’s writing

40. Timeline • 330 BC • 323 BC • Media- Persia, “Chest and Arms of Silver”, falls to Greece, the “Belly and Thighs of Bronze” • Alexander the Great dies • Alexander’s empire divided between 4 Generals

41. Timeline • 175 – 163 BC • 63 BC • The LITTLE HORN of Daniel chapter 8 - Antiochus Epiphanes • The Grecian provinces, the “Belly and Thighs of Bronze”, becomes the Roman Empire, the “Legs of Iron”

42. [Page 2 of handout] • 612 BC – BABYLON • 539 BC – MEDIA-PERSIA • 330 BC – GRECIAN • 63 BC – ROMAN • 33 AD – Kingdom of GOD and CHRIST • The REVELATION: • IF 64-68 AD[~66 AD] Nero • IF 91-96 AD [~94 AD] Domitian ~678 years ~706 years

43. WHY study the REVELATION Letter?

44. BLESSINGS inRevelation 7

45. Revelation 1:3 • BLESSED is the ONEREADING and the ONESHEARING the WORDS of this PROPHECY, • and KEEPING the THINGSWRITTENINIT; • for the time is near.

46. Revelation 22:7 • “And behold, I AM coming quickly. • BLESSED are the ONES who KEEP the WORDS of the PROPHECY of this book.

47. Revelation 14:13 • And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, • “Write, ‘BLESSEDare the dead who DIE IN THE LORD from now on!’” • “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may RESTfrom their labors, for their deeds follow with them.”

48. Revelation 16:15 • “BEHOLD, I AM COMING like a thief. • BLESSED is the one who STAYSAWAKE and KEEPS his GARMENTS, • lest he walk about naked and men see his shame.”

49. Revelation 19:9 • And he said to me, • “Write, ‘BLESSED are those who are INVITED to the MARRIAGESUPPER of the LAMB.’” • And he said to me, “These are TRUEWORDS OF GOD.”

50. Revelation 20:6 • BLESSED and HOLY is the one who HAS A PART in the FIRSTRESURRECTION; over these the SECONDDEATHHASNOPOWER, • BUT they will be priests of God and of Christ and WILLREIGNWITHHIM for a thousand years. over these the SECONDDEATH HAS NO POWER,