OPENING THE BOOK OF REVELATION- PART 2 Listen to Audio

                                      June 7, 2009-06-05

 

  The opening line (as well as title) is “The revelation of Jesus Christ”,

indicating the subject of the book is an unveiling or appearance of our Lord.

The syntax is called a plenary genitive where Christ is both the subject and object.  It is a revelation about  Jesus as well as a revelation to Jesus.  Revelation = apokalypsis; [apo- from and kalupto – to cover]-  the word is used by Paul for incidents of personal and individual disclosure to him by the Lord- Gal. 2:2, Eph.3:3.  But it is used more frequently with respect to eschatology (doct.of last things)- note I Cor.1:7; I Pet 1:7, 4:13; Romans 8:19.

  Revelation will disclose or unveil  Christ as a discerning judge;  first, in the midst of the 7 churches in ch. 2-3 and then as morally qualified to dispense

Divine wrath in ch.5-20.   One should be acquainted with John 5:22, 27, 30

and Acts 17:31, II Tim.4:1.

  The Christian gospel is not only the wonderful message is how our Savior

died for our sins and then triumphed over death in resurrection; but, that those events qualified Him to act as Administrator of Divine judgment. 

  Note in vs.1 “which God gave Him to show to His servants”- this underscores the fact that Christ (as the Word) is the Revealer of God’s plans.

Christ is not only the Revealer of the Father (John 1:18), but the One through

whom the Father expresses all revelation of truth (John 5:19-20); in turn, the Father and Son sends the Holy Spirit to make this known to man (John 14:16-17, 26).  This is the way in which the economic Trinity functions.

   “his servants” denotes the ones to receive this message are those who

know the Lord and serve Him.  In the hands of the unsaved, this message or

book will be mishandled.

   “things which must shortly take place”- the constructive of these words

makes use of infinitives pointing out the events (things) will occur with great

speed, not that the events will occur momentarily to John’s time.  See 22:6.

It is the first reference to the brevity of the time covered by ch.6-19 (7 years)

in fulfillment of Daniel’s 70 “weeks”.

   “sent and signified it by His angel”- ‘signified’ is the verb with ‘sent’ as a participle.  The importance of “signified” may be understood from the following:

1) “signified”- from seimeion – or “signs”- John 2:18, 23, 4:48, 20:30

2) The word indicates to invest an action or event with meaning that reaches

  further than the obvious event itself.  It underscores the purpose of the event

  as a mechanism to instruct or impart spiritual insight

3)  Therefore, “to signify” is to establish a relationship between the event or

  action and a larger meaning or purpose.  For instance, the 7 miracles disclosed

  in John’s gospel not only gave evidence of Jesus as a miracle worker, but as

  the divine Son of God, that would lead to believing on Him as Savior -20:31.

  One would need to see  beyond the mere miracle to comprehend the nature

  and identity of Jesus.- note John 6:26-27 where that was missed.

 

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4) In Revelation, what God has shown Christ that, in turn, is given to His

  servants, are a series of prophetic events invested with meaning of larger    

  truths.  Christ remains the central focus of the entire series of events, although

  lesser personalities will appear and act, but they all are subservient to knowing

  and seeing Christ as in majestic control.

5)  Language, such as 12:1 where “a great sign” appears, utilizes descriptive

   words like “clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet” in order

   to convey critical status.  That is, what one reads directs us to greater

   truth via the symbolic or figurative language.

6) Such symbolic or figurative language should not be discounted.  Rather,

   it marvelously infuses richer meaning to the actual person or event that

   will occur.  Also, it allows for its significance to be appreciated over the 

   centuries instead of restricting the truth to the occasion of its fulfillment.

7) Therefore, by use of “signified” in 1:1, we are cautioned that discernment

   will be necessary as we read/view these yet-to-occur events.  The events that

   are described should not be isolated or disconnected from greater truths

   that are found in scripture.