Participants: Ranko Stefanovic
Series Code: RCK
Program Code: RCK000003
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00:18 Welcome again, to our program that we have titled,
00:23 "Revelation of the Coming King." 00:27 I'm excited that we are back here. 00:29 And I would like to say a few words about myself. 00:34 I'm Professor of New Testament at the Seventh-day Adventist 00:38 Theological Seminary, Andrews University. 00:43 I have a wonderful wife. 00:46 Yes, I'm very young person but we- 00:48 this year we're celebrating our 40th anniversary. Amen. 00:54 We have two children, they are adults. 00:59 But we are so glad that we know Jesus Christ 01:03 as our personal Savior and that's what 01:07 keep us moving on until the day 01:10 when finally He will come in glory. 01:15 So we want to now to going to study very interesting topic 01:20 from the Book of Revelation. 01:22 And I would like to inform all of you, 01:25 if you want to continue this subject for yourself 01:29 and to go deeper understanding of this subject. 01:33 The pages in my commentary, 01:35 I hope that you are able to afford 01:38 and to provide for yourself 01:39 a copy of my commentary is from pages- 01:43 from page 11 then 12, 13 and go on. 01:47 These are the pages that we will focus 01:50 primarily during our studies. 01:55 In our last study we saw that the contents 02:00 of the Book of Revelation were written by means of symbol. 02:06 I hope that you could see how it's clearly, 02:09 clearly specified in the book. 02:13 Yes, we are struggling, we are doing our best 02:16 in order to understand that symbol. 02:18 But we saw some safe guidelines, 02:22 how to deal with that symbol. 02:24 And we saw when we go to the Old Testament 02:28 which is actually the main source of the symbolic language 02:33 of the Book of Revelation when we go there. 02:35 Then how suddenly many difficult passages 02:39 of the Book of Revelation appear much easier to understand. 02:42 I'm not saying that it's always easy to interpret it. 02:45 But we are much, much closer to interpretation. 02:49 And this is very important because many Christians, 02:52 I know I'm not putting people down. 02:54 We are doing our best but many Christians unfortunately, 02:57 when they try to interpret the Book of Revelation, 02:59 they use contemporary events and little bit imagination. 03:04 And it's interesting is, how 10 people can produce 03:08 15 different interpretations. 03:11 And the problem is that one of those 03:13 interpretations has anything in common. 03:17 I'm not saying when we follow the principles 03:19 that we will always agree on interpretation. 03:23 We will agree of the meaning of the symbol, 03:26 but sometimes in order to apply the meaning 03:31 of that symbol to the historical situation, 03:33 sometimes we have to wait for the future 03:35 to reveal the meaning of that. 03:38 But the very message that comes out of that text 03:42 becomes very clear to us. 03:44 And I wanted to mention something last time, 03:47 so please allow me to do it, to do it now. 03:51 When John under the inspiration 03:52 of the Holy Spirit wrote down in the book 03:58 what was shown to him in visual presentations 04:05 that book appealed first went to the Jews. 04:11 They knew the Old Testament so well, 04:15 so many passages, many scenes 04:18 as we will be going through the Book of Revelation, 04:19 we will document it, that you will see for yourself. 04:22 They were very clearly presented to them. 04:26 The same was about Gentiles 04:29 because the Gentiles in the 1st Century, 04:30 their Bible was the Old Testament. 04:33 But at the same time the Book of Revelation 04:36 reflected the lives of those people in the 1st Century. 04:39 So I'd like to show to you how the Book of Revelation 04:44 appealed to both group of people. 04:46 You will see very soon, 04:48 we'll come to Revelation Chapter 1. 04:51 And there at Patmos in the vision 04:54 John had encountered with Jesus Christ. 05:01 The way how Jesus Christ revealed Himself- 05:04 revealed Himself to John was very unusual. 05:08 John expected to see that man of Galilee. 05:11 That he knew so very well, 05:13 now before him is the glorified Christ. 05:17 The way how Jesus Christ revealed Himself to John 05:19 and the way how John by using the word 05:21 "like" or "as" try also to describe it. 05:25 Now all images taken from the Old Testament. 05:28 His face like shining like a sun, 05:30 it's taken from the Old Testament.. 05:32 His feet-by the way if you compare Daniel Chapter 10 05:37 with Revelation Chapter 1, 05:40 you will see that one and the same heavenly messenger 05:43 was actually Jesus Christ Himself appeared to both. 05:48 But then with the Gentiles read that vision of Jesus Christ, 05:52 keep in mind we are dealing 05:53 with the real vision with real Jesus Christ, 05:56 but we are dealing with symbolic language. 05:58 When the Gentiles read it 06:00 something would come to their mind 06:02 because in the 1st Century, there was a goddess 06:07 that the people in Asia Minor worshipped so much. 06:11 She was so well known, she had different reflections. 06:16 One of those reflections was the Artemis or Diana in Ephesus, 06:21 she had another manifestation in different cities. 06:26 But the main goddess was Hecate. 06:30 Let me put it here. 06:39 Hecate. 06:40 And let me tell you in just few words, 06:42 I have it here in my commentary, 06:44 you can find all this information. 06:46 In the 1st Century at the time of the Book of Revelation, 06:49 the Hecate was portrayed with holding the keys. 06:54 And the Gentiles, Pagans, they called the key bearer. 07:01 About her head it was, "I'm the first and the last" 07:07 and beneath her feet there was an inscription, 07:11 "I have the keys of Death and Hades." 07:15 The Gentiles spoke about Hecate, 07:18 how she was in heaven but she communicated 07:21 with human beings by sending her angel to them. 07:25 Let me ask you, 07:27 all that language that I'm mentioning to you, 07:29 does it look familiar to you? 07:32 What, why John under inspiration 07:35 of the Holy Spirit uses that language 07:37 that Pagans could connect to Hecate to tell them. 07:41 You believe that Hecate is the savior 07:44 that she has the keys of Death and Hades, 07:47 that she is the first and the last, but she is not. 07:51 It's Jesus Christ because by virtue 07:53 of His death on the cross and His resurrection- 07:57 He won the victory over death 07:59 and He is your only hope not Hecate. 08:02 Are you still with me? 08:03 In order to fight the pagan ideas, 08:05 he used their language that they understand 08:08 but that message is taken- 08:09 that language is taken from the Old Testament. 08:12 Praise God, He understand the human situation 08:16 and He speaks to us in the language 08:18 that we can understand, that language is imperfect, 08:21 but that language works for us. 08:24 But now we are confronted with one question. 08:28 If the Book of Revelation clearly specifies 08:31 how it was written. 08:34 And we have the guidelines from the very book, 08:37 how that language to be interpreted. 08:40 Then why do we have so many people interpret 08:45 the Book of Revelation in different way. 08:48 Not only that, I'm not talking just about individuals, 08:52 I'm talking about the mass of Christians, it's a group. 08:56 They hold one opinion, another opinion. 08:58 Let me just tell you the problem are about presuppositions. 09:05 We are actually talking 09:06 about four major approaches to the Book of Revelation 09:11 that are based on certain presuppositions. 09:15 So we see presuppositions is important. 09:18 When we take the Bible, 09:20 I must have some presuppositions. 09:22 What are the presuppositions? 09:24 That for instance the Bible is the word of God. 09:30 I must have that presupposition. 09:32 I must have presupposition that the Book of Revelation 09:35 is a symbolic book, this is important. 09:38 But we are dealing here with something else. 09:40 So four approaches, some people call it 09:43 the four schools of prophetic interpretation. 09:47 So please allow me to describe those schools 09:51 and I hope that also our viewers will be able to test 09:56 these four approaches and say is this really, 09:59 is this approach really according to dictation 10:03 that God had when He gave us this book. 10:06 Okay, so please allow me, I will put here on this board. 10:13 I will go one after one, the first- 10:17 the first method or approach is called the preterist method. 10:30 The preterist method of the prophetic interpretation. 10:34 What is this method? 10:36 What is this method all about? 10:42 The word "preterist" comes from the Latin word preterist, 10:47 see if you take these three letters- 10:50 if you take out, you simply have the word "preter" 10:54 and preter is Latin and simply means past, 11:00 p- a-s-t, past. 11:04 So why do we call this approach Preterism 11:11 and the people who practice this approach, 11:13 why do we call them preterist? 11:15 What is the teaching, what is that really? 11:17 We are dealing with presuppositions that they have. 11:19 You see the preterist, 11:22 they believe that John the Revelator, 11:27 he wrote his book exclusively for his time. 11:33 Please every word that I mention here 11:36 is very important is one- let me repeat one more time. 11:40 They believe that John the Revelator, 11:43 he wrote his book exclusively for the 1st Century, 11:50 for his own time, 11:51 for the Christians of his own time. 11:54 May I ask you a question? 11:57 Is this wrong or correct? 12:00 Let me go on. 12:02 They believed that Revelation address 12:05 the situation of the Christian church 12:08 in the Roman province of Asia, in the 1st Century. 12:12 Please now you have to be with me. 12:16 Can you turn to Revelation Chapter 1? 12:20 Please I want to challenge you a little bit. 12:23 Let's read verse 11. 12:28 We hear he even glorified Christ appeared to John in Patmos. 12:32 Now He commissions John the Revelator, telling him. 12:34 Chapter 1 verse 11 saying, "Write in the book 12:38 what you see and send it to the seven churches 12:42 to Ephesus and to Smyrna 12:44 and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis 12:48 and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea." 12:51 Do anything about these cities. 12:53 Very soon, we will go from one to another of these cities. 12:58 See, there were all the cities 13:00 in the 1st Century during the time of John. 13:02 So let me ask you something. 13:04 Please you have to help me 13:05 and my question is very tricky including you viewers. 13:09 Are preterist wrong? 13:13 Let me put in this way, yes. 13:16 According to the Book of Revelation, 13:18 the Book of Revelation- 13:19 I just want to repeat the concluding sentence 13:21 from our previous presentation. 13:23 The Book of Revelation was originally 13:25 written to those Christians. 13:30 But what is the problem of Preterism? 13:32 I think you mentioned it, is the word exclusively. 13:37 They believed that the Book of Revelation 13:40 was written just not only to them but just for them. 13:46 So when they read the Book of Revelation, 13:49 they simply try to see how the Book of Revelation 13:53 spoke to the Christians of the 1st Century. 13:58 But there is no step further. 14:00 We are dealing with presuppositions. 14:03 People who are preterist, 14:04 they're usually secular scholars. 14:07 They don't believe in this inspiration of the Bible. 14:11 And they said that the Book of Revelation 14:13 does not contain any predictive prophecy. 14:17 They believe in prophecies, 14:20 but not predictive prophecies. 14:23 The purpose of the book was rather to provide 14:26 the hope and encouragement for the church 14:30 facing impending persecution 14:32 but in Imperial Rome in John's name. 14:35 Let me just illustrate. 14:37 You know the time of John. 14:39 There was a persecution of Christians. 14:43 So the Romans who summoned all the Christians 14:46 before the statue of the emperor 14:50 and asking them to offer an incense before the emperor. 14:55 So when you offer the incense, they will give a certificate, 14:59 and you can do your business, 15:02 and you can freely live as Roman citizen. 15:05 If you don't do it, it means that you're destined 15:10 to ruin your life and you cannot take. 15:13 So how do preterist interpreted? 15:15 They say, you see this is the mark of the beast. 15:21 What is the problem with Preterism? 15:22 The main problem is they have a secular approach to the Bible. 15:28 And they say the Book of Revelation 15:29 should be started scientifically, 15:31 this is usually the language that they're using. 15:33 The Book of Revelation was written exclusively 15:36 for the 1st Century Christians. 15:38 And please allow me, 15:39 when they started the Book of Revelation 15:41 they had the same approach as people are studying 15:44 Shakespeare or Greek classical authors. 15:49 By the way we will come 15:50 little bit later to this problem. 15:52 And we will see about what 15:55 Book of Revelation is really telling us. 15:57 We saw that the Book of Revelation makes very clear, 16:00 it was written to the Christians of the 1s t Century. 16:03 But keep in mind, it was not written only for them. 16:06 You will see it in few moments. 16:09 Another approach which is actually 16:14 the twin sister in many ways of Preterism 16:18 or twin brother, sorry. 16:21 It's Idealism. 16:30 Many idealists are basically preterist. 16:35 And this method does not see 16:37 any historical significance of John's vision. 16:41 Keep in mind historical significance, 16:43 they don't see any historical significance. 16:45 Well, they say that the Book of Revelation 16:47 contains a symbolic description of the ongoing struggle 16:51 between good and evil, 16:54 which cannot be applied to any 16:56 historical time and period or place. 17:00 The symbols of the book do not refer 17:02 to any specific event in history. 17:07 You see, the idealist method 17:10 is actually based on the preterist presuppositions. 17:15 You see, they see and they put those stress 17:19 on the timeless ethical truth and principles 17:23 that apply to believers at any time 17:25 and place in history rather than historical occurrences. 17:28 Let me illustrate it. 17:30 They say, you know, the John Revelator, 17:35 wrote in the 1st Century about Babylon. 17:38 He meant Rome in the 1st Century. 17:41 But then you ask, why do you read the Book of Revelation. 17:45 The preterist would say, 17:47 it's because we want to see how the Christians 17:49 in the 1st Century believed about God, that's all. 17:53 But according to idealism, 17:54 you see, next generation of Christians 17:57 faced Rome or Babylon in their own time. 18:01 Today you have family problems, 18:03 you have problems at work, 18:05 you are suffering because of terrible illness, 18:07 that's your Babylon. 18:09 And it's the Book of Revelation provided 18:11 the hope and encouragement 18:12 to the Christians in the 1st Century 18:14 telling them that Babylon or Rome will come to its end. 18:18 So you have that promise 18:19 that God will also bring your Babylon to its end. 18:24 Are they correct or wrong? 18:28 Yeah, we can really take any visual of the Book of Revelation 18:32 and trying the spiritual message that is to us. 18:36 But to say that the Book of Revelation 18:39 does not contain prophecy and that those prophecies, 18:42 they cannot apply to any historical time or the place. 18:47 That's against the very nature of the Book of Revelation. 18:51 When we read in verse 3 of chapter 1, 18:54 it makes very clear that this is the word of prophecy. 18:58 The conclusion on the book also telling us 19:00 that the book was sent to us 19:02 to be the prophetic word of God sent to our hearts. 19:07 Are you still with me? 19:08 So this approach, as a person who believes 19:14 in despise the word of God should be discarded. 19:19 Without denying yes, 19:20 but there is a timeless truth 19:22 in every vision of the Book of Revelation. 19:23 Are you still with me? 19:26 The third approach, we call it futurism. 19:32 Sorry I would like to change this, 19:35 I would like to put everything 19:37 in the same way so idealist, okay. 19:40 So let's put it preterist. 19:46 Ah sorry. 19:58 It's futurist. 20:01 You see while Preterism limits the significance 20:08 in the meaning of the Book of Revelation 20:10 just for the 1st Century 20:12 and exclusively to the 1st Century. 20:14 Futurism goes to completely different extreme. 20:19 And futurists are divided among themselves. 20:23 The extreme futurists, 20:24 they say the entire Book of Revelation 20:27 from chapter 1 to chapter 22. 20:30 Everything is about the future 20:33 before the second coming of Christ. 20:36 Today futurists generally, 20:40 the majority of futurists they say no the message 20:43 is for seven churches were originally sent 20:47 to those Christians of the time of John. 20:50 But this is very important is, 20:52 but everything what from Revelation 4:1. 20:58 Everything from Revelation chapter 4 21:00 until the end of the Book of Revelation 21:02 describes end time events that would take place right, 21:09 right before the second coming of Christ. 21:13 Does make sense with the translate. 21:17 So what is the problem? 21:18 Please, I like now that you be with me. 21:24 Preterist, it goes to one extreme. 21:27 Puts the Book of Revelation everything in the past. 21:31 The Book of Revelation is not relevant to the Christians 21:35 who live today or the Christians 21:37 who lived 500 years ago or 1000 years ago. 21:40 Everything is about the 1st Century. 21:43 What about futurism. 21:46 They put the significance 21:48 and the relevance of the Book of Revelation 21:51 only for the last generation Christians. 21:55 The events that would take place 21:57 right before the second coming of Christ. 21:59 The Book of Revelation does not have any relevance 22:02 to the Christians who lived before. 22:06 And this is the problem, this is the problem, please. 22:12 I want to explain something else. 22:15 If you are a futurist. 22:18 Now, you have to follow certain logic, 22:20 we're dealing with presuppositions. 22:22 If you're futurist and you believe 22:27 that the entire Book of Revelation 22:29 or at least chapters 4 to 22, 22:32 it's strictly about the time of the end, 22:35 short time before the second coming of Christ. 22:37 But see when you try to apply that method 22:41 to the Book of Revelation, 22:43 you come into certain problems. 22:46 For instance, you go to those time designations, 22:53 time periods in the Book of Revelation 22:55 on the base of the information that we got before 22:59 is that the Book of Revelation is a symbolic book. 23:02 It also includes those time periods. 23:05 But you see, if you take futurism 23:09 as your method of interpretation, 23:12 try to put all those events 23:16 right before the second coming of Christ. 23:20 That symbolism does not work. 23:23 Because you must take 1000 for instance, 23:27 260 days or 42 months or time, 23:31 times two times and half time. 23:32 You have to take it in a literal way 23:35 as you put it symbolic day, 23:37 year principle then it doesn't work. 23:40 And this is actually what futurists are struggling 23:43 because when you take those time designations 23:47 and apply them literally nothing fits. 23:51 And on course there is a stretching, 23:53 there is different way trying somehow 23:56 to apply it to those events 23:59 and to the time short before the second coming of Christ. 24:03 So in order to understand it 24:05 is that actually futurism takes 24:09 a very literal approach to the Book of Revelation, 24:12 but in order to be fair futurists will never say 24:16 that there will be two beasts coming out of the sea etcetera. 24:19 They take it symbolically, okay. 24:21 But whenever and wherever they're able to take 24:27 a literal approach that they're doing it. 24:30 So for instance, the river Euphrates, 24:34 it's a literal river. 24:39 It's the place where the final battle 24:40 that would take place. 24:42 That's why the near east and Palestine, 24:44 they're in those events are very important for futurism. 24:48 For instance 144,000 it's a literal number 24:53 but not only literal number is, 24:55 that the 12 tribes of Israel mentioned 24:58 in the Revelation 7 are literal tribes. 25:02 And for- for futurists 25:04 unfortunately there are some futurists 25:08 who try to practice futurism 25:10 but they see the problem with literal tribes of Israel. 25:13 They are not antecedents in organize, 25:14 they try to avoid it but then there is no consistency. 25:19 When something fit to my interpretation then its literal, 25:23 when it does not fit then it's symbolic. 25:25 And this is usually how- how it works. 25:31 Actually if you want to understand about futurism- 25:33 I'm talking with full respect about people. 25:35 Just to recognize it that this is the method 25:38 of prophetic interpretation of protestant evangelicals. 25:42 We're dealing with million and million 25:44 very good Christians in North America. 25:46 The secret rupture idea is based on the futurist ideas. 25:53 The main point of futurism is they are concerned 25:56 about the events in Middle East. 25:59 And what is going on because when they believe 26:01 about 12 tribes of Israel 26:04 and everything will take place 26:05 about Jerusalem and about the temple. 26:07 Then you know the presuppositions 26:10 that actually this approach is based on. 26:15 Okay, just to be informed. 26:19 I want to- sorry. 26:24 The fourth approach, it's called historists. 26:39 It's the historist, it's the historist approach. 26:43 Let me explain 26:46 the presuppositions of historism. 26:49 The historist approach is to view the beliefs 26:55 that the Book of Revelation 26:56 provides in a symbolic presentation, 26:59 the prophetic outline of the huge course of- 27:04 future course of history. 27:05 From the apostolic times until the time of the end. 27:09 So please, let me show something to you. 27:13 See while Preterism limits the Book of Revelation 27:17 just for the 1st centuries, exclusive to the 1st Century. 27:20 Futurism trust with the time of the end. 27:24 Idealism denies any historical application 27:27 of the Book of Revelation to any period or point in history. 27:32 Historism will tell us, 27:34 yes the Book of Revelation spoke to the Christians 27:38 and applies to the Christians in the 1st Century. 27:41 Yes, they're many things in the Book of Revelation, 27:46 they are relevant to the last generation of Christians. 27:50 And they speak about the time 27:52 before the time of the end. 27:54 But historism also say, that there are many events, 27:58 many prophecies of the Book of Revelation 28:02 that portray the events in the world 28:04 from the 1st Century until the time of the end. 28:09 So let's just- I just want to tell you 28:13 historism is not compatible with Preterism 28:17 because Preterism denies 28:20 the predictive character of the Book of Revelation. 28:24 Historism is based on that- 28:27 the Book of Revelation contains the prophecy. 28:31 You see, historism cannot comply with futurism 28:36 because futurism limits the meaning 28:38 of Book of Revelation strictly to the time of the end. 28:42 That's why I want to tell you that I'm historicist, 28:49 because historism is the approach, 28:53 is the only approach that makes the book relevant 28:56 to the Christians in the 1st Century, 28:59 those who lived after the 1st century 29:01 all through the centuries until our time today and also- 29:08 see the relevance of the Book of Revelation 29:11 also to the last generation of Christians. 29:13 I believe that we are that last generation of Christians. 29:18 So it applies to our time in which they live. 29:22 Okay, historism takes a symbolic approach 29:27 to the Book of Revelation. 29:28 So when we talked last time about the symbolic language 29:31 of the Book of Revelation it applies. 29:33 So historism say, yeah the Book of Revelation 29:36 is given to John and through John to us by means of symbol. 29:41 This is the primary language of the Book of Revelation 29:44 unless the context indicates clearly 29:47 that the literal language is applied there. 29:52 Historism believes that all those events 29:56 predicted in the Book of Revelation are real events, 30:00 real places and real systems. 30:06 Take place through history and also at the time of the end. 30:10 However, they were shown to John by means of symbol. 30:17 Okay, so these are those four approaches. 30:19 You will notice something 30:21 and this is the lesson that we learn. 30:24 How people can take one presupposition, 30:27 one idea and say this is what I believe 30:32 and what they believe the idea that they take impacts 30:36 the entire interpretation of the Book of Revelation. 30:39 And I just want to tell you something, 30:40 I want to be very fair that so many times the people, 30:44 even who follow this approach I'm historicist. 30:46 This is the method and my church practices this method 30:50 and I'm so happy that practicing this method 30:53 we can get the real meaning from the Book of Revelation 30:56 as God intended to be. 30:58 But sometimes people can have different presuppositions, 31:01 even practicing historicism 31:03 in order to reach certain conclusions 31:06 trying to mix historicism 31:08 either with futurism or idealism or Preterism. 31:11 It's very dangerous thing. 31:14 We cannot base our interpretation 31:16 of the Book of Revelation on presuppositions what we have. 31:19 We have to take the text and ask ourselves, 31:21 Lord what was your intention when you inspired 31:26 John the Revelator to write this text. 31:30 So please, we have some time left you can help to be with me. 31:36 Yeah, people can disagree and you can say, 31:38 yeah, you see I've just explained. 31:40 And this is what you are 31:42 and that's why you believe that the Book of Revelation 31:45 should be interpreted in that way. 31:48 By the way, in the course of our seminar 31:52 and the series that we have, 31:54 we will test regularly all these four reviews. 31:58 So the viewers, you'll be able to test 32:01 the content of the Book of Revelation 32:03 and to see which one of these approaches is correct. 32:07 But then I'd like us to take the time 32:11 that is left for this presentation. 32:14 And ask ourselves some questions. 32:18 Is this method correct? 32:23 I'd like to, that you turn with me to Revelation Chapter 1, 32:27 I know that you're already there. 32:29 We are still in that first chapter. 32:34 And we'll see in the second part of this chapter 32:44 that Jesus Christ as we explained already appeared 32:48 to John there on Patmos. 32:51 So in their conclusion of that encounter, 32:56 John had with Jesus Christ, 32:58 Jesus now commissions John again. 33:01 You remember in verse 11, 33:02 He commissioned him to write to those seven churches 33:05 but then He commissions in the following verse. 33:07 It's verse 19, verse 19, 33:11 "Therefore write the things 33:15 which you have seen, and the things which are, 33:21 and the things which will take place after these things." 33:28 Please I would like to ask you 33:30 that you look carefully here in this text. 33:34 Because we have here something very, very important 33:38 for the understanding of the general content 33:41 of the Book of Revelation because Jesus' commission 33:43 John telling him, "Therefore John 33:47 write the things which you have seen." 33:50 The biblical commentators are divide 33:54 about this thing what you have here. 33:58 What are the things that John had seen? 34:02 Some scholars they think that what have John, 34:05 what John just had seen 34:07 it's actually the vision of Jesus Christ. 34:10 Is it possible? Yeah. It is possible. 34:14 I hold different view 34:17 with full respect to those people 34:19 and may be they're correct, 34:20 is that actually Jesus said to John, 34:23 write the things which you have seen 34:26 and actually at that point John saw all the content 34:30 of the Book of Revelation that was before him. 34:32 And now you have to put a comma, it works in Greek perfectly. 34:36 The things that you have seen namely, 34:39 the things which are and the things 34:42 that will take place after these things. 34:45 Are you still with me? 34:46 So the things which are 34:47 and the things that will take place after these things 34:51 are the things that John have seen. 34:52 This is not really too big a deal. 34:56 When people tell me I disagree with that, 34:58 I respect them because they have as strong arguments as I have. 35:03 Even though, I call the second part, 35:04 I think it's more logical. 35:06 But still you know, it's not big deal. 35:09 But the big deal is that Jesus made very clear to John 35:13 that there are two kind of things, 35:16 that John saw in the vision what kind of things. 35:18 The things which are, this is how also it's in Greek. 35:24 What tense is this? 35:27 The things which are- it's a present tense. 35:29 When Jesus said to John, "The things which are", 35:33 what does it mean? 35:36 It's time about the time of John. 35:39 Okay. But then Jesus said to John, 35:42 you know, I will show you also- 35:44 you have also to write about the things 35:46 that will take place after these things, 35:49 okay, one more time. 35:50 If you say the things which are 35:52 and the thing that will take place 35:53 after these things, which things? 35:55 After the things which are. 35:57 Now there is a question. 35:59 What are the things which are? 36:03 I would like to suggest to you 36:05 that they are primarily the messages to seven churches, 36:07 but please we will come to messages to seven churches, 36:09 don't reach any conclusion. 36:11 You will see that those messages are relevant, 36:13 they are prophecies. 36:15 But they were originally and primarily sent 36:18 to the Christians of the time of John. 36:20 They have prophetic significance, 36:21 we will come to that. 36:24 But now, I would like you to turn your Bible 36:27 to Revelation 4:1. Revelation 4:1. 36:32 Keep in mind the things which are 36:35 and the things which will take place 36:38 after the things which are. 36:39 Now, chapter 4, verse 1, 36:42 "After these things I looked, and behold, 36:48 a door standing in heaven. 36:52 and the first voice which I had heard." 36:55 What was the first voice that John heard? 36:57 The voice of Jesus in chapter 1, okay. 37:00 "Like the sound of a trumpet 37:02 speaking with me, said, "come up here. 37:06 And I will show you what must take place after these things." 37:13 Greek meta-touta, it's the same expression 37:18 that is found in Revelation 1:19. 37:20 Are you with me? 37:22 Jesus said to John, write what things 37:25 that are and the things 37:27 that will take place after these things. 37:29 Now, John saw the messages for seven churches. 37:32 Now, Jesus is telling him. 37:34 I will now show you what will take place after these things. 37:38 So please, now you have to help me. 37:39 Preterits, they say that the Book of Revelation 37:44 simply about the time of John. 37:47 Does that presupposition, 37:49 does it feel fit into the context 37:51 of the Book of Revelation? 37:52 Revelation 4:1, tell us clearly 37:59 that what Jesus was about to show to John 38:02 goes beyond 1st Century. 38:08 Yeah, the things will take place after the time of John, 38:12 so you see preterits are not correct. 38:17 And my friends futurist, they will say, "Amen" to that. 38:24 Unfortunately I don't believe that they are correct as well 38:28 because they say now from chapter 4, verse 1, 38:32 it's about the second coming of Christ. 38:34 Actually see here in the text what Jesus says to John, 38:39 I will show you what will take place. 38:41 When? 38:42 After the seven churches. 38:46 Are you still with me, friends? 38:48 It suits simply about the second coming of Christ. 38:52 Those events they must start taking place 38:55 after the time of John, going through history, 38:59 leading to the time of the end 39:01 and finally to describe about those events 39:04 that will take place about of the time to end. 39:06 You see friends, we are not dealing here 39:08 about three presuppositions are wrong. 39:13 And I am at this because I believe this is correct. 39:16 See, we have to go the very Book of Revelation 39:20 and to test those views. 39:23 Because the presupposition that I take, I can justify it 39:28 the correctness of the presupposition, 39:30 I can believe that the presupposition is correct. 39:33 The question is, does it match with the purpose 39:37 and the intention of the Book of Revelation? 39:40 We have to test every view 39:43 what the Book of Revelation is telling us. 39:46 How actually this book and how those visions 39:49 should be interpreted. 39:51 Does it make sense to you? 39:52 So let me now suggest to you. 39:55 And after that I will conclude with beautiful message 39:58 going back to our first presentation 40:00 that I have as result what I now present to you 40:04 came this commentary known as Revelation of Jesus Christ 40:08 or the Revelation of the Coming King. 40:10 So let me share with you, I would like to suggest to you. 40:13 On based of the historicist approach, 40:16 the structure of the Book of Revelation 40:19 is actually justified by the content of the book. 40:27 Okay, I will not write anything there. 40:30 When you read the Book of Revelation from first chapter 40:35 you will notice that there are several parts 40:38 in the book they're little bit different. 40:44 And actually there is a natural line of division 40:47 between those parts. 40:48 Now, let me invite you something. 40:50 When you read the Book of Revelation carefully, 40:53 what is the first and the most obvious part of this book. 40:59 By the way I would like to invite the viewers 41:03 that what I'm now presenting, 41:05 it's found in my commentary 41:08 from page 40 to page 43. 41:15 Okay, please study more for yourself. 41:17 We just want to cover this topic 41:19 in the time that is left to us. 41:21 But you have now to help me. 41:24 What is the first and the most obvious part 41:28 of the Book of Revelation that is different 41:30 from the rest of the book. 41:32 The messages to seven churches. 41:34 You will notice we have- not seven letters 41:37 we will talk about that there was one letter 41:39 with seven messages to send to those congregations. 41:43 The language is very straight forward, 41:47 there is no too much symbol. 41:48 Here and there, there are some symbol 41:50 but its natural symbol easy to understand. 41:53 Okay. So, we are dealing with the first three chapters 41:57 of the Book of Revelation for the purpose 41:59 to make it easier to memorize. 42:01 If you want correctly Revelation 1:9 42:04 to the end of chapter 3. 42:06 This is the first major division 42:08 and you have it there in front of yourself. 42:12 Okay. So, this is the first one. 42:13 We saw that those things are the things which are- 42:18 you see, those messages were written 42:21 in the prophetic style but written as letters. 42:25 Okay, as letters. 42:28 Language is very easy to understand. 42:31 They are written primarily to the time of John, 42:34 but we will come to that next time. 42:36 We will see at that those messages 42:38 they have a great prophetic significance, 42:40 I want to make it very, very clear. 42:42 We will come to that. 42:44 Now, let's go, next step number two is. 42:48 What will be the next major division 42:53 of the Book of Revelation 42:54 that comes after the messages of seven churches? 42:59 Actually it's from chapter 4 to verse 11. 43:03 When you go to chapter 12, you see it's different, 43:06 you have a new beginning, 43:07 bringing us to the brand new sections 43:09 of the Book of Revelation that somehow it's different, 43:13 what comes before from chapter 12. 43:17 Oh, sorry from chapter 12. 43:19 Okay. You see this section is different 43:22 from first section of the Book of Revelation. 43:25 Suddenly the language changes, 43:30 its highly symbolic language. 43:33 It's not easy, easy to understand 43:35 we saw already in verse 1, 43:38 John was told I will show you now 43:40 what will take place after these things. 43:44 We name, actually I named that section 43:47 as the historical section of the Book of Revelation. 43:50 What we are trying to say 43:52 that this section of the Book of Revelation 43:54 covers the course of history 43:57 from the time of John until the time of the end. 44:02 Keep in mind that some chapters of this section 44:07 they talk about the time of the end. 44:09 Their function is a kind of interlude, okay. 44:12 But the focus of this second major division 44:15 of the Book of Revelation is on history on the time, 44:21 from the time of John until the time of the end 44:26 is the historical section of the book. 44:28 Are you with me? 44:30 And now what is left? 44:32 The third major division of the Book of Revelation. 44:35 We call it eschatological because the Greek word 44:39 "Eschatos" means the last thing. 44:42 So, it means that the last major division 44:46 of the Book of Revelation deals primarily 44:50 and exclusively with the time of the end. 44:53 And there are some sections and some cluster of verses 44:59 they are going little bit earlier, 45:00 but you will see the reason for that. 45:02 But the main purpose of this section 45:05 of the Book of Revelation is to inform us 45:08 about the time of the end. 45:10 You'll see that friends, how this structure fits 45:15 into the historicist approach to the Book of Revelation 45:19 is telling us really that the Book of Revelation 45:23 covers the whole span of history 45:26 from Christ ascension there to the heavenly places 45:30 until the time when He will come again and even after death. 45:34 How He will create the new heaven and the new earth, 45:37 that's why I'm historicist. 45:39 With full respect my friends who are preterits, 45:42 my friends' who are idealist and futurist, 45:44 I respect them, I love them. 45:49 But we disagree on the presupposition 45:53 because I am not holding historicism 45:56 because of certain presupposition, 45:58 is because the Book of Revelation is telling me so. 46:03 Telling me how the book was written 46:05 and that the book was intended to be for the Christians. 46:09 Throughout the Christian history or until the time of the end. 46:14 But there is some thing more that I learned about this 46:19 and please I would like to share this with you. 46:26 I noticed something very interesting, 46:29 that's what intrigued me. 46:30 And during these series, 46:34 I will pay strong attention to that. 46:38 I noticed that each one of these three major divisions 46:42 of the Book of Revelation, 46:44 each one of these three major divisions 46:47 begins with special vision of Jesus Christ. 46:53 That was my discovery and what you will find 46:56 in my commentary this for the first time 46:58 that appears in any commentary. 47:01 Because of that I named this to be "The Revelation", 47:05 actually "Revelation of Jesus Christ." 47:07 Please let me explain to you. 47:11 What is the first major division 47:14 of the Book of Revelation about? 47:17 We will see next time, 47:18 when we go into the Book of Revelation to study. 47:23 But the Christians at the time of John, 47:26 they faced different struggles 47:28 living in pagan society as we all do today. 47:33 Okay. The churches, some of the churches were divided, 47:38 some churches were in serious apostasy. 47:42 Now, Jesus Christ come to visit John there on Patmos, 47:46 first to encourage John himself. 47:47 We will see it next time and also to provide John 47:50 with those beautiful messages for those churches. 47:54 Okay, to help them. 47:56 But you know, what happens? 47:59 You can experience it with your own kids. 48:01 You can experience it with your church members, 48:04 fellow church members that are there. 48:06 When people are in a spiritual trouble 48:10 and you try to talk to them, 48:12 to help them to get out of that- 48:14 of the situation, they usually will resist. 48:18 They know that you are correct but they resist. 48:20 And you know, when you try to talk to your kids, 48:23 they are rebellious but then you put them there 48:26 on the chair in front of our self and says, 48:29 I am your father or your mother. 48:32 Do you know how much I love you 48:34 and you can try to trick other people 48:37 but you cannot trick me because I know you very well. 48:42 And then they shut up and they listen to you, 48:46 because they know that you love them, 48:48 that you care about them but you know them very well, 48:52 they cannot hide anything before you. 48:54 You see before Jesus sends those messages 48:58 to those seven churches, the messages of rebuke, 49:02 terrible rebuke but the messages of encouragement 49:07 and advice how to come out and He says repent. 49:11 But before Jesus gives them those messages, 49:14 Jesus introduces Himself to them. How? 49:18 Is the one walking among those seven candlesticks. 49:22 So I hope you will not miss next presentation, 49:24 that's my special that's the vision of Jesus Christ 49:26 that changed my life completely, 49:28 I just want to tell you. 49:29 See, Jesus, actually the Book of Revelation 49:32 is telling us that those seven candlesticks, 49:34 they represent the seven churches. 49:36 So, Jesus is there trimming the lamps, 49:39 caring about each one of those lamps. 49:43 What is the message there to tell them, 49:45 I know you very well 49:47 because the lamps represent those churches. 49:50 What is the keyword of the message to seven churches? 49:53 I know you. 49:55 I know where you dwell. 49:58 I know your difficulties. 50:00 I know you're a labor. 50:01 I know of all your troubles that you have. 50:04 So when those messages reach those Christians, 50:07 they were listening to the voice of Jesus. 50:09 Because it came from one who knew them very well. 50:14 What a kind of revelation of Jesus Christ. 50:16 Let's go to the next section. 50:19 Please, now you have to help me. 50:21 What is the second major division 50:23 of the Book of Revelation all about? 50:26 About history. 50:28 We will come, we will cover it. 50:30 The seals, they talk about the history 50:34 of the Christian church during the Christian age. 50:38 But the trumpets we will see that. 50:41 We will go one after another 50:43 to study in details they are talking 50:46 about the hostile world for the churches. 50:51 So you have the history of the church 50:52 and the history of the world. 50:54 Let me ask you. 50:56 Is the history something nice? 50:59 When you study history, there is so much mess. 51:02 What about the Christian church? 51:04 Oh, we have many Christians. 51:06 So many times when you see the history, 51:07 how Christians they behaved throughout history. 51:10 You ask the question, Lord where are you? 51:13 Are you in control of history as well? 51:17 But you see, 51:19 before Jesus Christ shows to John 51:25 the course of history of the church 51:27 and the world in the symbolic language 51:30 of the seals and the trumpets. 51:32 Jesus Christ, first He wants 51:35 to introduce Himself to John and to us. 51:39 And that revelation of Jesus, 51:41 that introductory vision of Jesus Christ is found 51:43 in the Revelation chapters 4 and 5. 51:47 All the evidences that they show that actually Revelation 5 51:51 describe dethronement of Jesus Christ 51:55 on the heavenly throne here. 51:58 After His ascension there to the heavenly places. 52:00 Jesus sat at the right hand of the Father 52:03 and he was given that scroll. 52:05 The scroll that portraits 52:07 Lords covenant relationship with His people. 52:09 But also portraits the course history 52:12 that will take place in the future. 52:15 What is the purpose of this vision 52:17 before John receives the description of history 52:20 to telling us Gods history can be messy. 52:23 So many times you wonder if God isn't control, 52:28 the political history world is mess after mess after mess 52:31 and Gods people are lost within those political events. 52:37 The message of the Revelation 4 and 5 52:39 is to tell us don't worry, I am on the throne. 52:46 The scroll of the history of the world is put into my hand 52:51 and I am in control. Amen. 52:56 So, now let's go to the last major section 52:59 of the Book of Revelation. 53:01 How did we call it? 53:02 The Eschatological section. 53:04 What is the purpose of the last major section 53:07 or division of the Book of Revelation? 53:09 To inform us about the time of the end. 53:11 So please, now I am asking you one question, 53:15 that you'll to give me an honest answer. 53:17 Are the final events pleasant ones? 53:23 We already addressed that issue in our first presentation. 53:26 It can be very messy. 53:29 It can be very frightening, make us to worry. 53:36 By the way if you go to the conclusions 53:39 of Revelation chapter 6 that talks 53:41 about second coming of Christ. 53:43 We will see the wicked going all around 53:44 asking the greater wrath of God has come 53:48 and who is able to stand. 53:50 Yeah. 53:52 Those events are bizarre and frightening. 53:55 But you see before we go to that major sections 54:00 we have Revelation 12, it's my favorite chapter. 54:04 Actually Revelation 12 concludes with a statement. 54:07 And the dragon became so much enraged with the woman 54:13 that is determined to win that war 54:17 against the remnant of her offspring 54:20 those who keep the commandments of God, 54:22 they have faith in Jesus. 54:24 Okay. So, what is the rest of the Book of Revelation about? 54:27 About, angry Satan. 54:31 Who is preparing himself for that final war? 54:35 That's why those events, 54:37 final events are so scary and frightening. 54:41 And God knew that, God knew 54:44 that we'll will be concern about that. 54:46 But before giving us the description 54:48 of the final events we have Revelation 12. 54:52 Boy, when you come to the chapter 54:53 you will fall in love with the chapter. 54:56 We saw the woman that's pregnant 54:59 and the dragon Satan 55:00 waiting for the child to be born and the child is born. 55:03 How long was Satan waiting? 55:06 Since, Genesis 3:15. 55:09 And the child is born 55:11 and he is there to destroy the child. 55:12 What happened to the child? 55:13 The child is taken there to heaven 55:15 and Satan is the loser. 55:17 Then after that there is the war in heaven. 55:21 Satan is there with his demons to wage the war. 55:24 And he is cast out from heaven. 55:27 He is loser again. 55:29 When Satan sees that he is cast out from heaven. 55:32 You read verse 13, he starts persecuting the church. 55:39 And he is about to destroy the church 55:41 after the period of 1260 days there in the wilderness 55:45 when he pours out the water there 55:47 and just to destroy the church. 55:48 He says a friendly earth appears 55:51 and swallows that water and saves the church. 55:54 And Satan is a loser again. 55:58 And now after that comes the text. 56:00 And Satan becomes so much angry 56:06 and decides to wage the war. 56:07 What is purpose of chapter 12 to tell us? 56:09 Yes, church. Yes, Christians. 56:13 You are facing an angry enemy. 56:17 He's furious, he's a dragon don't take him lightly. 56:21 But, Jesus don't worry, he's already a defeated enemy. 56:27 I am a constant victor. 56:29 I defeated him already so many times, 56:31 he's just a piece of cake. 56:35 That's why the promise of Jesus, 56:39 "I will be with you always until the very end of the age." 56:46 Friends I know, there are some people 56:49 so eager to defend their presuppositions. 56:53 We have in modern time even my fellow members 56:57 in my own denominations they are turning to futurism 57:02 with different agendas to prove the points 57:05 to establish the date of the second coming of Christ 57:07 different agendas they have there. 57:10 And I believe that these are all methods of Satan 57:13 to turn us away for the meant of the Book of Revelation 57:16 to telling us that this is the revelation of Jesus Christ. 57:20 Yes, He is with us. 57:21 And because of him through Him we will one day be there. |
Revised 2015-03-24