The Revelation to John
A Five-Lesson Bible Study for the Modern Reader
Welcome to the Revelation to John
This is a five-lesson course on the Revelation to John. Each class session is in a separate PowerPoint deck and includes reference materials for the class leader. These materials may also be used for a self-directed Bible study.
Your time spent in knowing the Book of Revelation will be a great comfort. This course was originally presented as a special class during Lent, with each class lasting about one hour.
Classroom Use
The PowerPoint deck when used for a class may be projected to a screen or television. The screen or television used to exhibit the slides during class time should be large enough so that all participants can comfortably read the text and see details in the artwork.
Once you as the leader download the PowerPoint deck you can change or present the slides as needed for your particular circumstances. The course as designed deals with the text of the scripture itself with artwork as illustration. Each lesson starts with a review and the leader should encourage and listen as the class participants add comments, thoughts and feelings in reaction.
Class members should be encouraged to read the Revelation to John as the course progresses. The Oxford Annotated Bible is used for the text and footnotes, but the participants can use any version of the Bible that they prefer.
Lesson Descriptions
Five lessons — each in a separate downloadable PowerPoint deck.
Introduction to Revelation
An introduction to the Book of Revelation as apocalyptic literature. Covers the meaning of apokalypsis, the relationship to Daniel, Enoch, and Baruch, the End of the Age, the Mount of Olives, the Desolating Sacrilege, and the Coming of the Son of Man. Distinguishes between 'forth-telling' and 'foretelling' in prophetic writing.
Letters to the Seven Churches
The letters to the Seven Churches of Asia — Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea — and the first of seven mysterious, vivid visions. Addresses materialism, infantilism, eroticism, hedonism, and idols. Introduces John of Patmos, the Nicolaitans, and the figure of Jezebel.
Number Symbolism and the Horsemen
Number symbolism in Revelation: the significance of twelve, seven, and 144,000. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse — white, red, black, and pale green — and their connection to Zechariah. The Mark of the Beast (666), Nero Caesar, the Seventh Seal, and the woman clothed with the sun.
Babylon, Armageddon, and the New Jerusalem
Christianity and the Roman Empire. The faithful worship of God versus idols — Jupiter and modern idols. The destruction of Babylon the Great. Armageddon and the assurance that good will prevail over evil. Dragons, plagues, and terrible fates. Satan cast into the lake of fire. The New Jerusalem — 1,500 × 1,500 × 1,500 miles — where the water of life flows from the throne of God.
The Structure of the Visions
A systematic overview of the seven visions as divided by the Oxford Dictionary of Christianity: the Glory of God and the Book with Seven Seals; the Four Horsemen; the 144,000 sealed; the Trumpet calls; the Angel's book; the Kingdom of God proclaimed; the woman persecuted by a dragon; war in heaven; the beasts from sea and earth; the judgment of Babylon; the marriage feast of the Lamb; the general resurrection; and the New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem.
The Structure of the Visions
The Oxford Dictionary of Christianity divides the visions of Revelation into six major sequences:
The Initial Vision
The Glory of God and the Book with Seven Seals which only Christ can open. As the seals are broken: four horsemen presaging the end; the 144,000 of Israel sealed on the forehead; the opening of the Seventh Seal begins a series of Trumpet calls heralding various disasters; the Seven Thunders; the Angel's book; and the proclamation of the Kingdom of God and Christ.
Two Eschatological Visions
The woman clothed with the sun, persecuted by a dragon — the child is taken away for 1,200 days — and war in heaven between Michael and his angels and Satan.
A Pair of Visions
A beast from the sea who blasphemes against God, and a beast from the earth who compels all to worship the first beast.
Judgment Against Babylon
The execution of judgment against Babylon the Great — described as a Harlot — followed by world judgment in various forms.
The Marriage Feast of the Lamb
The beast and a false prophet are destroyed in a great battle. Satan is bound for 1,000 years and then cast into a lake of brimstone forever.
The New Creation
The general resurrection and judgment of souls, and the creation of the New Heaven, the New Earth, and the New Jerusalem — where the water of life flows from the throne of God with the Lamb, and the tree of life bears twelve kinds of fruit.