1. The book of Revelation is a drama.

a. One of the major keys to understanding the message of Revelation is found in the structure of the book. Without the comprehension of the structure, it is almost impossible to correctly relate the recorded scenes and events - past, present, future - to one another.

b. The book is organized in the fashion of a Greek mystery or tragedy drama. The plays were divided into acts and scenes. Each scene would represent a partial aspect of the total picture being portrayed. The various scenes that are presented on a given topic have to be analyzed, and then brought together in order to get a more complete picture of what is being communicated.

Illus. Like studying a large panorama. There are various scenes presented. But each individual scene is only a part of the total picture.

c. Each scene presented is a context within itself. The details of a given scene must be analyzed and interpreted according to what is being presented in that particular scene.

d. Figures are used that may be the same that are used in other parts of the Bible. Interpretation must be made according to the way the figures and figures of speech are used in a given scene. The context determines its own interpretation.

A word of caution: Extreme care must be exercised to keep from reading into a figure or figure of speech what someone else has communicated in his writing some- where else in the Bible. The figures and figures of speech may be the same or similar, but each writer uses figures according to his own purposes to communicate the message the Lord has given him. We must let each writer speak for himself.

e. Each of the acts of this drama carries its own progression within the purpose and method of the individual writer. There is a chronology in each act that carries its own meaning that is essential to its own message. Each scene within a given act contributes to that purpose and message. Each act has its own chronology with its own purpose and message and interpretation.

f. A word or term or phrase derives its immediate meaning and application from the context in which it is used. Former uses of a word or term or phrase may help explain ways it has been applied in other situations and contexts. The basic meaning of a word contributes to its meaning in all passages where it is used. But interpretation comes from its immediate context.

g. When used figuratively, or idiomatically, the word may reflect shades of meaning not clearly shown in its basic meaning the word normally has. Again, the context helps determine how a word is being used - whether literally, or figuratively/ idiomatically/ metaphorically/ symbolically.

2. The purpose of God for "man" (mankind) remains the same throughout Scripture whether referred to or alluded to or not - "to worship and to obey" (Gen. 2:15). The consequences for disobedience remain the same (Gen. 2:16-17), and are foundational to comprehend the thrust of Scripture. Genesis 3:1-6, while historical, is representative of the spiritual struggle of every individual (Matt. 4:1-11; 1 John 2:15-17). The struggle is between the spirit nature and the flesh nature of man. Is the aim of man to please God? or to please himself by trying to satisfy the three-fold flesh nature of the physical appetite, aesthetic appetite, and ambition, pride, ego, power appetite (Gen.3:6)?

3. The book of Revelation is said to be a letter to the seven churches that are in the Roman province of Asia. It has a salutation (1:4) and a closing like a letter in those days (22:20-21).

Revelation was sent to specifically named churches, with specific concerns and specific needs, and probably had specific questions about the present and the future. The Act I does not show any movement toward any historical goal, but rather shows spiritual conditions of only seven of the churches in the province. It is concluded that the churches are representative of all churches that are under attack by Satan who is trying to defeat God's purpose for them. This indicates that the "seven" churches are representative of all churches throughout history.

4. The book of Revelation is said to be a prophecy (1:3). What is prophecy? Prophecy is always two-fold, but can be three-fold.
a. Forthtelling (1 Corinthians 14:1-3) - Encouragement and instruction.
b. Foretelling - "what things must take place shortly...." (1:3).
c. Both (1:19) - "the things you have seen, and the things that are, and the things that are about to take place at the same time as these things."

5. The book of Revelation is an unveiling of a mystery - what was unknown about God and His methods. The people lacked awareness of the significance of what was taking place on the earth. They did not understand the "why" of many observable events of both the past and the present that were taking place in the world, and that would take place in the future. Greek mythology misunderstood and misinterpreted God and history and the significance of present events. Mythology communicates actual events in history not understood, but in terms representative of their concept of history without God and His revelation.

6. The book of Revelation is an unveiling of the activities of God, and His perspective of historical events.
God's authorship (1:1) - God's means of communication.
God's omnipresence (1:1,8) - God's involvement in the events of history.
God's omniscience - God's complete knowledge of the past, present, and future.
God's omnipotence - God's power to act in ways beyond human comprehension.
God's immutability - God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
God's timelessness - God is eternal. The time of God's existence cannot be measured.

7. The message of the book of Revelation is communicated through:
a. The use of signs (1:1). Words, terms, events, and persons that are recognizable and visible, but used to communicate divine truth. Fulfillment may or may not be through a miracle or supernatural event - but through the recognition of the divine significance.
b. The use of figures and figures of speech -places, events, and persons - past, present, and future - are used to communicate God's perspective.
c. The use of actual historical events - either past, present, or future. This means that there will be past, present, and future fulfillments from the standpoint of the writer's place in time at the time of his writing.

8. Prophecies of God are fulfilled in and through recognizable historical events. If prophecies are not fulfilled in and through recognizable historical events, what, then, is the value of prophecy? Where, then, is its relevance?

Therefore, the content of the book of Revelation, the letter, the prophecy - unveils God's knowledge of history that He wants His people to understand. This includes past history, present history, the unfolding of history, and specific future historical events.

9. The book of Revelation is the record of the personal experience of John while he was on the isle of Patmos. "I saw, I heard, I wrote, the angel talked with me, the angel said to me, I said to him, and the elder said to me," etc.

John said, "I became in spirit" (Rev.1:10; 4:2). There is no "the" in the Greek. It is simply "in spirit" in Rev.17:3 and 21:10. God enabled John to see the visible and the invisible at the same time. John was transported "in spirit" where the angel desired to take him, while his body remained where it was.

There are other unique experiences recorded in the Bible.
a. Joseph - Genesis 37:1-10
b. The servant of Elisha - 2 Kings 6:15-17
c. Isaiah - Isaiah 6:1-13
d. Daniel - Daniel 2:17-23; 7; 8; 9:20-27; 10:1 - 12:13.
e. Peter, James and John - Matthew 17:1-13 Mount of Transfiguration
f. Stephen - Acts 7:54-60
g. Peter - Acts 12:1-11
h. Paul - 2 Corinthians 12:1-10
i. John - Revelation 1:10; 4:2; 17:3; 21:10

10. How does God look on events on earth? What is His perspective? Is God's perspective the same as man's? How does God communicate His message? How does God look on Israel? How does God evaluate Israel? (See: Deuteronomy 28:15-68).

What God desired, and what Israel desired was not always the same. Note: The same can be true of us today - both as it pertains to Israel and to us. What God desired for Israel and what He got was two different things. Is God getting the worship and the obedience He desires from us?

11. Another key to understanding the message of Revelation is correctly identifying the scarlet woman of chapter 17. Her identity is given as Jerusalem by numerous references in the Old Testament. (Isaiah 1:21; Jeremiah 2:20; 3:1-10; 5:7; Ezekiel 16; 23)

12. Luke 21:20-28 and Revelation 11:1-13 are different perspectives of the same event. Different details are given in each account that give a more complete picture to help us understand what has taken place and what will be taking place just prior to the appearing of Messiah Jesus.

13.The book of Revelation gives the final stage of the fulfillment of God's pronouncement of Genesis 3:15 against Satan. Satan had been using the serpent (Gen.3:1-5,14), and the literal serpent was cursed because he had allowed Satan to use him. Now God speaks directly to Satan that there would always be conflict between him and the Woman, between Satan's seed (plural) and the Woman's seed (plural) (Gen. 3:15; Rev.12:17). There would also be a final conflict between Satan and the Seed of the Woman who is Jesus that would last throughout history (Psalm 2). Satan would bruise the heel of Jesus (Luke 22:3-6; John 13:18, 21-27). Jesus would be victorious over Satan when He cast Satan into the lake of fire and sulfur (Rev.20:10).

14. Another key to understanding Revelation is comprehending the passing of time. God spoke to the serpent Satan in the Garden of Eden when He made His pronouncement against Satan. There was a long passage of time from the moment of that pronouncement until Satan actually bruised the heel of Jesus by the betrayal of Jesus by Judas that led to Jesus' crucifixion. Then there is a passage of time from the time of Jesus' resurrection until the moment Satan is cast into the lake of fire and sulfur. This last period of time is also spoken of as the last days, or the latter days in which we are living.

Note: We need to remember this passage of time that took place after the "God saids" of Genesis 1 - 3. When God says something is going to take place, it is as good as done even though it may take thousands of years to accomplish it. This is clearly recognizable in the pronouncement of God against Satan and its final fulfillment.

15. This passing of time is also given in Jesus' explanation of what was going to happen to Jerusalem in just a few years ahead, that did occur in 70 A. D.

"For these are days of vengeance, that all things (concerning Israel and Jerusalem) which are written (in the Law and the Prophets) may be fulfilled (completed)." (Luke 21:22). This is in reference to Deuteronomy 28:15-68.

Jesus then makes another statement that involves the passage of time. "And Jerusalem shall be trampled by nations (ethnic groups, Gentiles) until the time of nations be accomplished (fulfilled, ended)." (Luke 21:24).

Jerusalem came back under Israeli control on June 5-10, 1967, during the Six-Day War. This means the time of the Gentiles spoken of by Jesus was for 1,897 years (Luke 21:24). This brings the prophecy of Jesus (Luke 21:25-26) that is being fulfilled to include us in our day. We are to accept it as true and live in anticipation of the appearing of Jesus (Luke 21:27).

"My desire is that all may know the truth so they will escape the snare of the devil."