Studies In The Book of Revelation
A chapter by chapter study with Robin Hawkins
Senior Elder, The King's Church in Ilford
- Revelation ~ A closed book?
- In the past, this has been a closed book for many people. These studies are unlikely to be the last word on the matter, but the reactions of those who have attended on Sunday evenings have been very positive.
- Revelation ~ Speculation?
- Revelation has often been the playground for sensational speculation, and sadly many Christians have widely differing views about how we are to interpret it.
- Revelation ~ Exploration ...
- As he's taken people through it, Robin has tried to explore some of these different views, and the basis for them, but frequently asking the question: "What would this have meant to the church in John's day, persecuted and under great pressure to deny the gospel?
Audio recordings from Studies in The Book of Revelation
Overview of The Book of Revelation
- In the Overview, we looked at why Revelation was written, and how to understand its apocalyptic style. We looked at the different ways that people have interpreted Revelation over the centuries; and then finally gave a brief summary of the different sections in order to get the big picture.
- Ok, so most people who study Revelation want to know what happens at the end! So to help us concentrate on the rest of it, this talk introduces the different views people have taken about the Millenium. It's a tad risky doing this, because we're in danger of taking it out of context. But as long as we're aware of that we can get the feel of it, and it won't be completely unfamiliar territory when we get back to it in the course of our studies.
Click here to listen to Introduction to Revelation 19 & 20 .
- Chapter 1 introduces us to the vision John saw, and where and when he saw it. We are introduced to the symbols and imagery that dominate so much of the book. The One walking among the candlesticks is not specifically identified as Jesus, but the imagery John describes is so familiar that there is no doubt at all as to who he's describing. It is also the only description we have in Scripture that gives us any idea of what Jesus looked like.
- In Chapter 2, Jesus speaks to specific churches in Asia Minor, commending and rebuking them in ways that are timeless, and which have much to say to us today.
- In this passage, Jesus commends the church at Thyatira for their works, faithfulness and endurance; but then he takes them to task for tolerating "that woman Jezebel". This talk looks at what was she was doing in the church in Thyatira, the background of Jezebel in 1Kings, the impact of this demonic stronghold on the church today, how people become affected, how to recognise this stronghold at work today, and how to take a stand against it.
- In Chapter 3, Jesus speaks continues to address specific churches in Asia Minor, speaking to them in ways that they would have identified with because of their immediate surroundings or culture. Nevertheless, these same messages continue to speak powerfully to us also.
- In Chapter 4, we move into Heaven. There John sees this throne occupying the centre stage. Although John doesn't name Him, it is clearly the throne of God; but who are these strange creatures around it, and what does it all signify?
- In Chapter 5, we see that God's purposes for bringing history to its conclusion are contained in the Scroll; but no-one could be found worthy to open it. Until someone worthy is found, the end cannot come. But then the Lion of the tribe of Judah steps forward - yet it is not a lion we see, but a lamb - a Lamb that had been slain, and yet lives...
- In Chapter 6, the Lamb starts to open the seals, removing the protective hand of God from society, and thus unleashing the four horsemen of the apocalypse, conquest, war, famine, desease and death. The 5th Seal speaks of disaster for the church, and the 6th speaks of the disruption of nature.
- In Chapter 7, there is an interlude before the opening of the 7th Seal. This chapter explains what is happening in this interlude, and we find that the final expressions of God's judgement are being held back until the saints have been secured with a seal. The model used to understand Revelation will tend to govern how people interpret this chapter, and especially who the 144,000 are. Robin presented reasons why we should consider this number to be symbolic of the whole of God's people - those from the Old and New Testaments times
- Chapter 8 starts with the opening of the 7th Seal and with it a warning that there is worse to come. The chapter continues with the vision of the Seven Trumpets, the first four of which describe disasters in nature. The fifth and sixth trumpet describe the release of hoards of evil creatures upon the earth. What are they? What is their purpose? The answer comes at the end of chapter 9.
- Ch. 10, with its vision of the angel and the little scroll, reminds us that not everything that's going on in the spiritual realms has been revealed to us. Ch.11 focuses on the Two Witnesses and the Seventh Trumpet. Who are the Witnesses, and are they people who are yet to come? Click here to listen to Revelation 10 & 11 .
- Ch.12 introduces us to some key players in the spiritual realms. We attempt to identify these characters, and as we do, realise that we are embroiled in a conflict that has been going on between Christ and Satan since the Garden of Eden. Click here to listen to Revelation 12 .
- In this chapter Satan, the dragon, calls up two allies, the beast from the sea, and the beast from the earth. But what or who, are they? We looked at two possibilities: firstly that the beast is a man - the Antichrist; second: that the beasts represent antichristian governments and antichristian philosophies and religions. We went on to explore the mark of the beast and asked ourselves whether this is an end-time visible mark, or something which we see in all who persecute the church, and deny that Jesus is the Messiah.
- This chapter is divided into three parts. It opens with the Lamb and the 144,000 - but now they're in heaven, as opposed to their being on the earth as they were in ch.7. The second part contains warnings to the people the earth to repent while they can. They won't escape the judgement of sin, and it will be a terrible judgement when it comes. In the last part the earth is harvested of its inhabitants and all appear before the judgement seat of Christ.
Click here to listen to "The Lamb and the 144,000" - Revelation 14 .
- This is the darkest section of Revelation. The judgements warned of with the Seals & the Trumpets were partial and served as warnings. Now they are total, and confirm people in their unrepentance. Armageddon, the Sixth Bowl, needs to be kept in the context of the other Bowls which are set against an OT background. Thus it becomes that ultimate conflict where the Saints are facing destruction in the light of impossible odds against Satan, the beast and the false prophet - and Christ steps in to rescue us.
- If the previous section was the darkest part of Revelation, we're really still in it in these passages. The Woman speaks of all that allures, seduces and tempts us away from God. She sits on the Beast that represents all the anti-Christian persecuting governments throughout history. The Woman and Babylon are one and the same, and these chapters describe their utter destruction which is so certain, it is described as having already happened
- Ch. 19 brings us to the end of the vision which started in ch.17. Now at last Babylon - all that lures Christians away from following Christ - has been destroyed forever. Great rejoicing follows, and in the midst of this song, is the announcement that the wedding of the Lamb has fnially come. Robin set these words against a background of a Jewish wedding, from where it makes much more sense. This is followed by the most graphic description of Christ's return that we have in Scripture. The Victor returns to do battle with the Beast of the Sea, and all the Kings of the earth - a one-sided conflict! The Beast and the False Prophet are captured and thrown into the Lake of Fire.
- Ch.20 is understood here to be introducing a new vision, and hence does not follow chronologically on from ch.19. The 1000 years is seen as a number symbolic of the whole church age during which Christ is reigning from heaven. We should take special note of the fact that Satan, although bound during this age, and thus unable to prevent the spread of the gospel, has not been totally destroyed. But now that moment has come, and Satan is finally cast into the Lake of Fire.
- Chapter 21 introduces us to the Eternal States. We find the new Heavens and the New Earth have characteristics of which we have already had a foretaste. Eg, God's dwelling is with us now by His Spirit, but of course, what we have now is nothing like what it will be. The New Jerusalem, "dressed as a bride" is clearly identified as the Church in Rev 19, and here John expands upon the theme, giving us several characteristics of the New Jerusalem, many of which are already familiar to us to some degree
- Chapter 22 describes Heaven as the environment in which the City Of God - the Church - will spend eternity. The stream of ch. 21 becomes a river, and the Tree of Life, last seen in Genesis 3, reappears. In conclusion, Jesus says three times that He is coming soon. This has to be looked at in the light of an apparent delay of at least 1900 yrs. Nevertheless it is a mighty climax to an amazing book! Click here to listen to Revelation 22 .
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- Downloading to listen to later or on an mp3 player
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Click here to listen to Overview Of Revelation .
A Quick Peek At The Millenium!
Chapter 1 - "One Like A Son Of Man"
Chapter 2:1-17 - "The Messages To The Churches At Ephesus, Smyrna, and Pergamum"
Chapter 2:18-29 - "The Message To The Church At Thyatira"
Chapter 3:1-22 - "The Messages To The Churches At Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea"
Chapter 4:1-11 - "The Throne In Heaven"
Chapter 5:1-14 - "The Scroll And The Lamb"
Revelation Chapter 6 - "The Opening Of The Seals"
Revelation Chapter 7 - "The 144,000"
Revelation 8 & 9
Click here to listen to Revelation 8 & 9 .
Revelation 10 & 11 - "The Two Witness"
Revelation 12 - "The Woman, The Child, & The Dragon"
Revelation 13 - "The Beasts From The Sea & The Earth"
Click here to listen to Revelation 13 .
The Lamb and the 144,000" - Revelation 14
"Armageddon & The Seven Bowls of Wrath" Revelation 15 & 16
"The Woman On The Beast & The Destruction of Babylon" Revelation 17 & 18
"The Wedding Supper of The Lamb & The Return of The King" Revelation 19
"The Millennium & The Final Destruction of Satan" Revelation 20
"The New Heavens, New Earth, & The New Jerusalem" Revelation 21
"The River Of Life" - Revelation 22
How to listen to these recordings
Barred Spiral Galaxy NGC 1300
Distance from Earth = 75 million light years
Diameter = 150,000 light years
The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Psalm 19:1
And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Psalm 19:1