Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction
Middle Section of Revelation (Chapters 4-19)
Four Interpretive Views of Revelation
1) Preterist
Rev. 4-19 happened in the first century
2) Historicist
Revelation is referring to specific history events throughout church history.
The view suggests that the letters to the seven churches (in chapters 2 and 3) represent seven stages of church history.
Some who held to this position also saw the seals, trumpets, and bowls illustrating the successive stages throughout church history.
3) Futurist
Everything in Chapters 4-19 are about future events
That means that these chapters are only relevant to the last century church,
Rapture: These chapters don’t apply to the church at all.
4) Idealist
The idealist approach sees Revelation as espousing timeless principles that relate to every generation.
This view suggests that, in its entirety, the book symbolically presents the ongoing battle of good and evil.
My Approach - An Eclectic View
• The approach that resonates most with me, is best described as an eclectic view.
It affirms that three of the four approaches— namely, the preterist view, the idealist view, and the futurist view—each offer ideas that can help us interpret Revelation in the most natural way.
• All three of those view are helpful, until they become so rigid that Revelation is forced to say what it doesn’t actually say.
• Revelation was written to seven church in the first century, who were edified, encouraged, and challenged by the book’s message (the preterist view is helpful here).
• Revelation includes prophecies about patterns that relate to both the first century and future generations until Christ returns (the idealist perspective is helpful here).
• Finally, Revelation forecasts God’s ultimate judgment and justice coming to the earth and the future consummation of His Kingdom.
Holding rigidly to one of the four interpretive views, I think runs the risk of forcing certain passages into saying things that they were never mean to say.
Consequently, I believe the eclectic view is most beneficial, because it helps us read the text naturally.
In chapters 4-19, I lean towards the “already, but not yet approach.”
The judgments described seemed to have been happening and yet, they will happen—likely to a Greater Degree— in the final tribulation.
There have been many antichrists throughout history, but their will be one final and ultimate antichrist.
Chapter 4
John receives that heavenly vision and is taken—in the Spirit—to God’s throne room.
We get a glimpse of the infinite majesty and beauty of God the Father.
God is seen as the Sovereign Creator of all things and thus, is worthy of all worship, honor, and praise.
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John sees God holding a scroll in his right hand that is sealed with seven seals.
I) What is the Scroll?
A) Some see it as the Lambs Book of Life
It seems though, according to Rev 20:12, that the Lamb’s book of life is “another book.”
B) Many people see it as a sealed book of Judgments
(Daniel 7:9-10)
(Ezekiel 2:8-10)
Some scholars believe that it is just the seals themselves that represents God’s judgements upon the wicked, and that the scroll itself points to the believers inheritance.
C) Place of Agreement
It seems that the what is in agreement, is that the scroll contains God’s purposes for history.
It is His sovereign plan to bring about new creation.
II.
Who Can Open the Scroll?
The might angel asks a question, who can break the seals and open the scrolls.
That scene conjures up images of a sealed last will and testament that can only be appropriated by the executor.
The Important Question is “Who is Worthy?”
A) The Answer
No one is worthy.
No one on the earth and no angelic beings are found to be worthy to open the scroll.
No one under the earth—those in the realm of death—is worthy to open the scroll.
B) John’s Response
Why would John weep and wail?
If the scroll cannot be opened, God’s ultimate plans for humanity and all creation will not be realized.
John wants us to see how bleak and hopeless life would be, should no one be able to open the seals.
John is crushed, because without God’s the scroll being opened, the church is without hope!
Justice will never come.
Evil will never be banished.
III.
What John Hears
A) There is One Worthy to Open the Scroll
The 24 elders are beings who represent God’s people
One of the elders instructs John to “weep no more,” because there is one who has conquered, and can open the Scroll.
B.) Who is He that is Worthy to Open the Scrolls?
The elder describes Him as...
i.)
The Lion of the Tribe of Judah
This image comes from Genesis 49, which the Jews applied to their coming Messiah.
ii.)
The Root of David
The Lord had promised that an heir of David would rule forever (2 Samual 7:12-14).
This figure became known as the Messiah.
The “Root of David” references the Messiah who would come from the truncated house of David, to establish His eternal kingdom.
This prophecy is found in Isaiah 11:1 and is repeated in Isaiah 11:11.
In between those two verses, is God’s promise of new creation that will be come through the root of David, who will judge God’s the wicked and shepherd God’s people.
So, what John hears is that the Messiah (this Strong Lion) is worthy to open the scroll, because He has CONQUERED
Remember, conquering was a common theme in the letters written to the churches.
Those who would receive eternal life would be those who conquered.
(Rev.
2:7)
Our conquering is based on Christ’s Conquering.
We don’t “conquer” by pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps.
We conquer by remaining faithful to Christ, even in the midst of persecution.
Our victory results from His victory.
No one, except Christ, could open the scroll (which included judgements) because no one had been tempted and conquered.
Human beings are unworthy to open the scroll because of our sin.
Angels are unworthy because they were not tempted as men, and thus, have not overcome.
Yet Christ, was tempted, but was victorious over temptation.
IV.)
What John Sees
A) The Slain Lamb
What John would have expected to see was a roaring lion, lining up with what he “heard.”
Remember, Israel expected their Messiah to come as a warrior who would crush their enemies to bring God’s Kingdom upon the earth.
What John saw, instead, was a slain lamb.
The slain land, standing, represents the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Jesus conquered, not by brute force, but by laying down His life for His enemies.
The crucifixion was not a loss, but it was a victory, through which Christ was enthroned as the eternal King.
B) Seven Horns
Seven = number of completion
Horns represent power and authority
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