A Study In Revelation

The Book of Revelation has been referred to as The Revelation of John, The Revelation of John the Apostle, The Revelation of John the Divine, etc. The opening line of John’s letter clearly refutes these titles: The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to Him… This letter is not a revelation of John’s but a revelation of Jesus Christ, and even in that, given to Him by God the Father. John is fulfilling the role of God’s prophet in his writing down and delivery of this message under the direction and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The origin of the content is from the highest, most authoritative source from every perspective, God the Father. 

John’s letter is identified in this opening line as a revelation. Revelation means to reveal something that is otherwise unknown or unseen; it means to make clear and understandable something that is unclear or that the masses are unable to understand. It has the opposite meaning of concealing or hiding something or making something difficult or impossible to understand. The clear implication in this letter’s use of revelation is that without the explanation provided, no one will understand the meaning of the events about to take place. This identification clearly indicates that the contents of the Book of Revelation are intended by God the Father to be read and understood by its intended audience. John uses many elements of symbolism and many Old Testament references, which does give portions of his letter a mysterious tone. To understand John’s letter the way God the Father intends it to be understood, it is necessary to read and study all portions of his letter in its proper context.

Threads are woven throughout the scriptures that connect many Old Testament prophesies to the book of Revelation. The investigation, study, and understanding of these threads aid in and are truly necessary and critical to the correct understanding of the book of Revelation. There are many direct and indirect Old Testament references in the book of Revelation. It is easy to overlook, miss, and, as a result, misunderstand and misinterpret these references unless one slows down to indepthly study the background and context in which John wrote his letter. The book of Revelation is truly the most Old Testament oriented book in the entire New Testament.

Why are there so many Old Testament references in the book of Revelation? The book was written in the mid-60’s AD which is towards the end of the first generation after Christ’s death on the cross, resurrection, and ascension. The destruction of the Temple in 70AD marks the absolute close of the Old Covenant; the end of the Levitical priesthood, animal sacrifices, Temple services of all types, and the destruction of all lineage records.  The book of Revelation focuses on and foretells these events; this is a major element supporting the Covenantal view of eschatology. If Revelation is describing and communicating events that have not yet happened, are still in our future, and not the events of 70AD (i.e., the Futurist or Dispensational view), the great number of Old Testament references would not have been necessary and would even seem out-of-place.

John’s letter was written to a particular group of churches who were going through very serious persecution by the Roman government because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Through John, God is warning and preparing these saints for the tribulation that awaits them.

It is very tempting to rush through or skip over the first 8 verses, John’s introduction to his letter, as many have done and continue to do. The temptation is to “get to the good stuff” of John’s many uses of interesting and sensational symbolism to describe what he is being shown. To do so is a grave mistake. John lays an important and necessary foundation for his entire letter in the first eight verses. He establishes who is writing the letter, to whom the letter is written, and the ever important explanation of why the letter is written. To slow down, study, develop, and understand the first 8 verses puts one is a far greater position to better and more fully understand the entire letter. The introduction is meant to be remembered and referenced throughout the reading and studying of all that follows it; to keep the reader rooted in who wrote the letter, to whom it was written, and why it was written.

The following pages are a verse-by-verse journey through the book of Revelation finding and linking references made by John to Old Testament prophetic references, primarily (but not exclusively), in the books of Daniel and Ezekiel and also to connect and explain John’s many and sometimes subtle references to Old Testament events and principles with which his audience was well familiar but today’s generation might not be.