OPENING OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION – PART Three Listen to Audio

                              June 14, 2009

 

  In this prologue, John, the apostle, is described as not only the servant of Jesus

Christ (vs.1), but “who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.”  Both the words,

“witness” and “testimony” are derived from marturio  and are repeated throughout the book.  It invests John with authority as one who verifies the

authenticity of Christ.  This is a theme in John’s gospel as well—see 1:32 (John Baptist), 3:11, 32, 33,  5:32-37, 8:14, 18, 15:26.  John, the apostle has given

his testimony in I John 1:2 as well.

  Chap.1, verse 3 then promises a blessing on those who read, hear and keep the words of this prophecy.  This concept of “prophecy” indicates

this book will center on predictive material.  “for the time is near”-

 

1.  Church age is not a period of prophetic activity.  The only prophetic event to be fulfilled in the church age is the rapture of the church – I Thess.4:13-18

which occurs simultaneous with resurrection of ch. age believers.

2.  Therefore, the Biblical prophetic “time-clock” is currently not moving; prophecy is in remission awaiting the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week which at some point follows the rapture of the church. 

3.  What are often referred to as “prophetic events or fulfillment” are what

may be called historical trends.  These are positive and negative developments

in culture, politics, and religious activity that fluctuate in parallel to the

collective state of believers.  Serious decay among a generation of believers

results in negative historical trends (moral decay, cultural deterioration,

civil unrest), while growth and maturity among a generation of believers

results in peace, prosperity, advancement and such (positive hist.trends).

4.  Many students of prophecy misunderstand historical trends and interpret

them as fulfilled prophecy  (example:fall of communism) and these same students proclaim that Christ is coming momentarily.  This is Biblically unsound and contradicts the doctrine of imminency of Christ’s coming.  One cannot teach the “any moment” coming of Christ for His church and simultaneously claim to observe signs (prophecy) that show He about to come; although this is done, it is not correct.  If prophecy awaits fulfillment IN THE CHURCH AGE before Christ can return for the church, then the coming of Christ for the Church CANNOT be imminent.

5.  The amazing return of Israel to statehood in 1948 is said by some to be

the fulfillment of scripture (a prophetic event- Jere.32:37-42).  That Israel will have some political identity appears to be a pre-requisite to Daniel 9:27 [the “many”], but the 1948 status of statehood of Israel is not necessarily the event that gives them the same political status referred to in Dan.9:27.  The perspective of political and financial support for present Israel is based on Gen.12:3, not Dan.9:27.

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6.  The study of prophecy is blessed (1:3), but requires appropriate application as well (“keep” in 1:3).  As believers, our anticipation is that Christ may come

at any moment- Titus 2:13, Phil.3:20, Col.3:4, I Thess.1:10—and that should move us to obedience- I Tim.6:14, James 5:7 and I John 3:2-3.

 

7.  As a believer, I should study God’s word, including portions dealing with

prophecy and the final plan of God- II Tim.2:15, II Pet.3:2-3; yet, I must

not become a “prophecy-nut” turning present political and religious events

into fulfilled prophecy by personal interpretation.