CONTENTS

 

Revelation Chapter 1

 

Introduction and Salutation   1:1-8 …………………………………          1

   Introduction   1:1-3  ……………………………………………...…        1

   Salutation   1:4-5d  ……………………………………………….…        7

   Dedication   1:5e-8  …………………………………………………       13

THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST      1:9-18 

   (The things which you have seen) ………………………………...        22

 

   Preparation for the vision   1:9-10  ………………………………..…     23

Revelation ………………………………………………      26

Inspiration ………………………………………………     27

Illumination …………………………………………..…     28

Interpretation ………………………………………....…    29

 

   Presentation of the vision   1:11-18  …………………………………     33

   The Revelation to John    1:11-16  ………………………………..….     33

The Golden Stands    1:11-12  …………………..….……     33

The Glorified Savior    1:13-16  …………………….……     37

The Reaction of John    1:17-18  …………………………    47

 

THE PRESENCE OF JESUS CHRIST IN THIS AGE      1:19-3:22

   (The things which are) ……………………………………………..      51

 

   Insight about the Church   1:19-20  …………………………..……       51

 

Revelation Chapter 2

 

 Instruction to the Church   2:1-3:22…………………………………        57

To Ephesus   2:1-7

(Apostolic Church – AD 33 to AD 100)  ……………       59

Connection  …………………………………………..…     62

Commendation  …………………………………………    63

Complaint  ………………………………………………     66

Critique ……………………………………………….…    68

Historical Fulfillment (Apostolic Period) ……….…      71

Counsel  ………………………………………………….    72

 

 

To Smyrna 2:8-11

(Persecuted Church – AD 100 to AD 312)  …………      75

Connection  …………………………………………..…    76

Commendation  ……………………………………....…    77

Historical Fulfillment (Persecuted Period) ……..       78

Complaint  ………………………………………………     80

Critique ……………………………………………….…    81

Counsel  …………………………………………………     86

 

To Pergamum   2:12-17 

(“Married”/Compromised Church–

   AD 312 to AD 476) …………………………...….…     87

Connection  …………………………………………..…     89

Commendation  …………………………………………    90

Complaint  ………………………………………………     99

Historical Fulfillment (Compromise Period) ...…       101

Critique  …………………………………………………    104

Kingdom Work  ……………………………………     105

Counsel  …………………………………………………    108

 

To Thyatira   2:18-29   

(Middle Ages of the Church – AD 476 to AD 1517)...     111

Connection  …………………………………………...…    113

Commendation  …………………………………………    114

Complaint  …………………………………………….…    117

Historical Fulfillment (Middle Ages) ………………………………………………………    123

Major Changes in the Church before the Middle Ages.

Priesthood, Confessional, Calling Priests “Father”  

Infant Baptism …………………………………   127

Compromise with the World …………………     128

Salvation by Works ………………………….…   129

The Eucharist – Continual Sacrifice/

   Christ on the Cross ………………..…………    130

Integration of Church and State ………….…       132

Celibacy of the Clergy ……………………….       133

Veneration of Mary …………………………..      133

“Pontifex Maximus” and the Papacy …………   136

Major Changes in the Church during the Middle Ages  ……………………………………………………….    138

The Mass / Sacrifice of the Mass ………….….   139

The Rise of Islam …………………………….      139

The Use of Images in Worship ………………     140

The Holy Roman Empire ……………………      142

Sainthood / Prayer through the Saints ………     142

The “Dark Age” ……………………………..…   143

Split with the Eastern Orthodox ………………   144

Infallibility ……………………………………...   145

Indulgences …………………………………….   148

The Crusades ………………………………..…    149

The Inquisition ………………………………      151

Restriction of Laity from Reading the Bible…     153

Purgatory ………………………………………    154

Critique ……………………………………………….…    155

Counsel  …………………………………………………    160

 

Revelation Chapter 3

To Sardis   3:1-6  

(Reformation Church 1517- Mid 1700’s)  ………..…      169

Connection  …………………………………………..…     171

Commendation  …………………………………………    171

Complaint  ………………………………………………     172

Historical Fulfillment (Reformation Period) ……      173

What was Good about the Reformation ………   174

Bible Translations and Printed Bibles……   174

Rejection of Obvious False Teaching

   and Practices ………………………….…   174

Return to the Bible as the Only Infallible

  Source of Truth ……………..…………...    177

Return to Faith instead of Works for

  Salvation …………………………..…..…    177

Courage and Conviction ……………….…   177

What was Wrong with the Reformation ……..     178

Baptism of Infants / Limited Evangelism     178

Church/State Alliance ………………….…   179

Persecution of Anabaptists and Other

  Reformers ………………………..………    181

Misunderstanding of the Future …….…       183

Early Church Eschatology …………      184

Catholic Eschatology ………………      185

Reformation Eschatology ………….      186

Later Developments in Eschatology       186

The Counter Reformation ………………     187

Rise of the Jesuits …………………………   187

The Council of Trent ……………………      189

Need for the Fullness of the Holy Spirit ...   190

Critique ………………………………………………..…   191

Counsel  ……………………………………………….…    194

 

To Philadelphia   3:7-13  

(Missionary Church  Mid-1700’s – 1900’s)  ………..        204

Connection  …………………………………………..…     204

Commendation  …………………………………………    209

Missionary Activity during the Seven Periods of

  Church  History…………………..………………..    217

Historical Fulfillment (Missionary Period) ….…        231

Powerful Revivals and the Emphasis on the Holy

  Spirit………………………………………….     232

Proliferation of Bible Translation and Printing   234

Pioneer Missionaries and Their Biographies…   235

Unprecedented Opportunities for Expansion

Colonization  ………………………………  236

Transportation  ……………………………   237

Communications and Technology  ….…      237

Formation of Effective Missionary

  Organizations ……………………….…       237

Missionaries and Missions Organizations     238

Complaint  …………………………………………….…    241

Critique ………………………………………………..…   241

Counsel ………………………………………………..…    243

 

To Laodicea   3:14-22  

(Worldly Church  1900’s – Present)  …………………     245

Connection  …………………………………………..…     245

Commendation  …………………………………………    249

Complaint  ………………………………………………     250

Critique ………………………………………………….    251

Historical Fulfillment (Worldly Church) ……..…       253

Science, Philosophy and Liberal Theology ….     260

The Renaissance ……………………….…    260

The Enlightenment, ………………………   260

Christian Forces Defeated Islamic Troops    260

Biblical Criticism, ……………………..…     261

Socialism and Communism, …………..…    261

The Theory of Evolution, …………….…      262

Psychology ……………………………..….   262

The Slippery Slope, ………………………….…   263

Theological Upheaval, ……………….…       263

Progressive Education, …………………      265

Urbanization and Materialism, ……….…     267

Corruption of Government, ………………   267

World Wars, ………………………………    268

New Philosophies, ……………………..…    269

Lukewarm Christianity  , ………………………   270

Birth of Israel: Beginning of Birth Pains,      270

Evangelical Response, …………….…    273

The Ecumenical Movement and the Social

  Gospel, ………………………………...…    274

Evangelical Response, …………..…       275

Moral Relativism and the Sexual Revolution.

Prayer in Schools Abolished ….…  277

Bible Reading in Schools Prohibited                                                               

Sexual Revolution …………….…   278

Death of God Theology ………...    278

Legalized Abortion ……………...   278

Postmodernism………………..…   278

Evangelical Response, …………..…       279

Outstanding Churches…………      279

Contemporary Christian Music ..    280

Sunday School Movement……...     280

Christian Youth Ministries……..    281

Apologetics Teachers………….…  282

Parachurch Organizations …….     283

Evangelistic Mass Meetings ……    283

Christian Radio, Television and

    Films …………………………..   284

The Plot Thickens, …………………….….   285

World-wide Turmoil ……………    286

Wars  ……………………………     286

Increase of Knowledge……….…    287

Immorality ………………………   287

Non-confrontational Christianity    289

Biblically-illiterate population ….    289

Politically Correct Messages ……   290

Pastoral scandals…………………   291

Lack of Interest by Young People   291

Emergent Church …………….…   291

Ecumenism ………………………  291

Evangelical Response, ………………    292

Successful Missionary Work……    292

Outstanding Churches…………      293

Small Groups……………………     293

Good News Clubs………………     293

Christian Schools…………………  294

Homeschooling………………..…  294

New Parachurch Organizations .    294

Additional Apologetics Resource    295

Contemporary Christian Artists..    296

Christian Books…………………..  298

The Internet……………………...   298

Counsel  …………………………………………………    300

Final Thoughts about an End Time Revival…..…     307

 

Appendices

 

Appendix A –Jesus’ Own Outline of the Future …...…     312

Appendix B – Apostate or Worldly? ………………..….     318

 

       Endnotes ………………...………    323