In three lectures presented at a conference, Dr. Greg L. Bahnsen gives an overview of the book of Revelation and the various millennial positions and concludes with a positive presentation of the biblical view of last things.
This is a continuation of the summary of the first lecture. I have republished the first part of the summary in red.
Conference Theme: Confidence About the Future
Lecture 1: Understanding the Book of Revelation - 1 of 3
Many have interest and curiosity about the future of economics,
politics, etc. for various reasons. But as Christians, we would like to
know what God has in store for planet earth because we are part of
His kingdom and plan, and we should be thinking His thoughts after
Him. First, Christians have and continue to argue about this.
Secondly, this subject appears to be very difficult. Most Christians
simply give up on trying to figure it out. Dr. Bahnsen's hope is that
upon completing these 3 lectures, his audience will have a sense of
understanding about God's plan for the future. Of course, he will not
be able in this short time to answer every conceivable question nor
persuade on every point. He hopes to encourage his audience with
the realization that they can understand God's word concerning the
future and that God has good news about the future. There is a
glorious future ahead. There may be many judgments and tough
times along the way, but our sovereign God is not going to turn
history over to the devil. Rather, God's kingdom is going to be the
final word and He is going to govern the nations upon the earth.
Thus, we have a glorious future to look forward to. This is not just
optimism or wishful thinking. God's word gives substance to the idea
of God's glorious future kingdom.
So, what does God's word teach about the future? Open your Bibles
to the book of Revelation. Remember, all Scripture is inspired of
God (2 Timothy 3:16, 17). As God's own word, it is profitable:
beneficial for teaching, correcting, reproving, and instructing us that
we may be furnished for every good work. But, it cannot be
beneficial to you if you don't read it; and it can only be beneficial if
you understand it.
1. The title of the book: Revelation, i.e., unveiling (not an
obscuring). Thus, you may understand what God wants you to know
about what He intends to do. God wants to open our eyes so we can
see.
Rev. 1:3 -- God expects us to respond in a certain way to this book.
He expects us to KEEP (i.e., respond to obediently) the book of
Revelation. God expects you and me to behave in a certain way in
the midst of history because of what He is going to reveal in this
book. If you don't read the book and understand it properly, how can
you obey it? You can't. Thus, get busy and read it in addition to the
rest of your Bible.
But, the book of Revelation is so difficult, you say. However, God
does not intend for this book to be difficult for you. Consider
Revelation 17. After John has been shown a very distressing picture
of a harlot that is sprawled out over the heads of a seven-headed
beast whose name is Babylon the Great, Mother of Harlots and All
Abominations of the Earth, he says that he wondered with a great
wonder (vs. 6). This wonder is the trembling type of wonder. What
should he make out of this? Then in verse 7, the angel said to him,
"Why did you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and
of the beast that carries her, who has the seven heads and ten horns."
Then the angel goes on to explain. Isn't that a comforting verse?
God didn't give us the book of Revelation to confuse us. He wants
us to read it and along the way He explains it to us. Although
particular images may be difficult, overall, the book is not all that
difficult to put together.
The book may be troublesome if you read it for something it doesn't
intend to be. You must respect the kind of literature that it is, i.e.,
highly figurative literature with visions, symbols, etc.
There is a school of thought that goes to the book of Revelation as
though it is a newspaper written ahead of time. But, is the book of
Revelation written like a newspaper narrative? A news report? Of
course not. The book of Revelation is very figurative with lots of
imagery and symbols. Some say they interpret the book of
Revelation literally (that is, as if it is devoid of images and symbols
that have to be interpreted). None, without hypocrisy, can make that
claim. No one reads the book of Revelation literally. Consider the
description of the Beast (Rev. 13): seven heads, ten horns, comes up
out of the sea. That could be literal. But no one in the Christian
church considers this as an actual created monster. The
dispensational school of thought often hypocritically criticizes those
who do not agree with their interpretation as not being literal, and
thus playing fast and loose with the text of Scripture. In fact,
dispensationalists do not read the book of Revelation "literally". You
must understand that the book of Revelation is very visionary,
dramatic, and highly figurative. But, remember, God promises to tell
us what it means (Rev. 17:7). Every Christian can take this clearly
written book and make sense out of it, even though it is highly
figurative.
2. What is the book of Revelation all about?
THEME:
What does God want us to know from the book of Revelation? He wants us to know that His kingdom, the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, is going to triumph over all opposition. The author, John, was on the isle of Patmos under persecution when he received this revelation from God. He was exiled because of his testimony to the word of God. The Christian church also was undergoing persecution. Under Emperor Nero, Christians were being severely persecuted. In Asia Minor at this time there was the emperor cult: the worship of the emperor as god himself. Eventually this cult spread throughout the Roman Empire. The seven churches identified in the book of Revelation are located in Asia Minor. Those in Asia Minor who would not worship the emperor were killed (often thrown to the lions in the stadium to entertain the public). There was great hatred of the Christian church by the Roman world,including even the Jews: those who professed to be the people of God. The Jews stirred up trouble for the Christians (see the book of Acts). In the midst of this persecution, John writes and says here is good news for you: Jesus is going to triumph over all opposition.
TIME PERIOD:
At the beginning and at the end of the book of Revelation, John clearly tells us the timing of the fulfillment of the prophecies given.
Rev. 1:1 -- things that must shortly come to pass
Rev. 1:3 -- the time is at hand
This timing refers to the main body, the most basic essential purpose of the book, that John is talking about, not every detail.
Rev. 22:6 -- things that must shortly come to pass
Rev. 22:10 -- the time is at hand
These things are going to begin to happen right away. The main body of the book of Revelation has to do with John's own day, the generation shortly to follow; the early days of the church.
OUTLINE OF THE BOOK:
The book has its own outline. The book has its own interpretive guide built right into it.
Rev. 1:19 -- Preceding this verse, John has been given a vision of the glorified Christ and he has given a description of this vision. This verse gives John his commission: Write about (1) what you have seen already, (2) the things that are contemporary, and (3) those things that will shortly come to pass hereafter.
Rev. 4:1 -- Now I am going to show you the things hereafter.
(1) WHAT YOU HAVE ALREADY SEEN: John has already seen the glorified Savior in the midst of the candelstands (i.e., the churches). Jesus is with the church, in its midst, as a glorified sovereign Savior. (Reminds us of Christ's ascension where He said He would be with His church always.) This is a figurative repetition of that promise. So as the church is in the midst of persecution, the glorified sovereign Savior, Christ, reminds His church that He is with them.
(2) THE THINGS THAT ARE NOW: Chapter 4 begins "hereafter". Chapter 1 deals with "what has already been seen". So, by subtraction, Chapters 2 and 3 deal with "the things that are now". Chapters 2 and 3 are letters to the seven churches in Asia Minor. The persistent theme in these seven letters (with one minor exception): an address to the minister (the angel) of the church, Christ is given a particular designation from the Revelation 1 vision, a commendation of the church, a rebuke of the church, an exhortation, then the formula "he that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches", and then a promise (about overcoming, triumphing) is made.
Christ speaks directly to His church, "Repent of the things that are wrong, be encouraged by My presence, and know that I will give a reward to those who overcome and are victorious in My name."
(3) THE THINGS THAT ARE HEREAFTER: So how far hereafter are we talking about? For the most part we are talking about the generations of the early church because "these are things that will shortly come to pass". That does not keep John from looking ahead to the Second Coming and the New Heavens and New Earth, but that is the P.S. almost at the end of the book. The main body of the prophecy of the things to take place hereafter (chapter 4 through the middle of chapter 20) have to do with two particular dramas. So why two particular sections? Because of literary clues. In chapters 4 and 5 John has introduced to him a seven sealed scroll. To get in to the scroll, the seals must be broken. At the breaking of each seal, John gets a preview of what is to come (kind of like the inside flap of the dust cover of a book that tells you what you are going to see in the book). Later on, John is given another book, a little book, and he is told he is to prophecy again, this time internationally over many nations, tongues, peoples, and kings (Rev. 10:7-11). Previously he's prophecied about one particular people and nation. Now he's going to prophecy about many. Thus there are two prophecies. Then at the end of the book of Revelation we see a reference to what God is going to do at the end of history. The important thing for the church at this time to know is that Christ is going to defeat all their enemies. They are going to see the victory of Christ's kingdom. So, there is going to be a judgment prophecy against a particular nation (i.e., Israel). God is going to be finally done covenantally with these people who crucified the Messiah. So John sees a prophecy where Israel is going to be destroyed by God. And then there is going to be an explanation in chapter 12 of how that victory was possible. That explanation will have to do with what goes on behind the scenes (i.e., a battle between principalities and powers). John explains that Satan has been cast down to earth from his position of ascendency. Satan has not been successful persecuting the Jewish church. Satan will persecute the Jewish church but he will not destroy those faithful Jews who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jerusalem will be destroyed, but God's people (who truly belong to Him) will escape to the mountains. Satan will then be wrathful all the more. So in chapter 13 John sees that Satan is working with another power (beast rising from the sea). Satan is behind the scenes and is foiled when God destroys the Jewish people and the temple (A.D. 70). But before the destruction, the Christians fled to the mountains and escaped the devastation. Thus Satan did not accomplish what he had tried, so he now goes to persecute the rest of the seed of the woman (i.e., the gentile church throughout the world). Now we see the second enemy, the beast rising from the sea (i.e., Rome and the Roman Empire). So, the seven sealed scroll deals with prophecy of judgment against Israel, and the little book deals with prophecy of judgment against the Roman Empire. Similarly, in chapter 20 John goes behind the scenes again and gives the explanation of how Christ's kingdom triumphed over the opposition of the Roman Empire. Not only had Satan been cast down to earth but had been bound by Jesus and cast into the pit of hell for a particular purpose (explained later in lecture 2).
So the book of Revelation tells us what is going to happen hereafter: God's going to judge those who persecute you (i.e., apostate Jews). Jerusalem will fall. The account for that is Satan has been cast down to earth. Satan is then going to go and persecute the rest of the church in the empire and the Roman Empire will persecute you but God will destroy the Roman Empire and only the kingdom of Jesus Christ will be sustained in history. Behind the scenes, the reason for that is that Satan has been bound so as not to deceive the nations anymore. Now the Great Commission can be fulfilled. Then at the end of that time, God will for a very short time release Satan and there will be apostacy. Jesus will then return in judgment on the world after we've seen this great world wide victory for His kingdom. Then there will be a final apostacy, Jesus will return, then the Great White Throne Judgment and the introduction of the New Heavens and New Earth (the eternal future that belongs to God's people).
So to recapitulate.
Jesus says, I am the glorified sovereign Savior, and I am with you. The Jews hate you, the Romans persecute you, but I am with you. I have all power, so you are going to obey Me and disciple the nations. In chapters 2 and 3 Jesus writes to the seven churches: I have things I want to commend, I have things I want to rebuke in you. Repent. I expect you to be a victorious, overcoming church. Surmount this opposition. My kingdom is going to prevail. Here is what is going to happen. I am going to judge those wicked Jews who are persecuting you. God in history is going to repay them. Thus we see the judgment on the Jewish people. Then we find out that is because Satan has been cast down to earth. But God's people will be victorious over the Jews because Satan is being controlled and dominated by God Himself. But Satan not being satisfied, is going to persecute the church in the Roman Empire as well. The Roman Empire will rise against the church, but I will destroy it as well. The vision of God destroying the Roman Empire is capped in Revelation 19 with the vision of Jesus Himself riding forth on a white horse going out and conquering all opposition. Jesus rides upon this white horse using a sword that proceeds from His mouth. This if figurative language (the sword is the word of God). This is a figurative description of the Great Commission being fulfilled. How is this possible. The millennial explanation in chapter 20 is that God is restraining Satan. Now the word of God, not Satan, is going to conquer the nations. Then at the very end of history, when there is a final apostacy, we will see that Jesus will return in judgment and introduce a New Heavens and New Earth wherein righteousness dwells, and God will wipe every tear from our eyes. This certainly is an encouragement to Christians under persecution. Jesus is going to have the final word in history and in eternity. And in eternity He will comfort me. All of my tribulation will have been worthwhile.
----------Next: A Brief Demonstration of This Thesis---------------
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