Bosquejos Biblicos

The Book Of Revelation

A Study Guide With Introductory Comments, Summaries, And Review Questions
(Student Edition)

This material is from ExecutableOutlines.com, a web site containing sermon outlines and Bible studies by Mark A. Copeland. Visit the web site to browse or download additional material for church or personal use. The outlines were developed in the course of my ministry as apreacher of the gospel. Feel free to use them as they are, or adapt them to suit your own personal style. To God Be The Glory! Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2007

Mark A. Copeland

The Book Of Revelation
Table Of Contents
Introduction Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten ChapterEleven 3 12 17 22 27 30 34 38 41 45 49 52 Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Chapter Eighteen Chapter Nineteen Chapter Twenty Chapter Twenty-One Chapter Twenty-Two 57 61 65 69 72 76 81 86 91 95 100

This study guide was developed in preparation for teaching adult Bible classes. The objectives for each section are usually things I planto emphasize during the class. I have found that summarizing and outlining helps me to better understand the Word of God. It is a practice I highly recommend to others.

The Book Of Revelation

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Mark A. Copeland

The Book Of Revelation
Introduction
AUTHOR
John, identified as one “who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ” (1:1-2). While debated bysome, he was most likely the apostle John, brother of James, and author of the gospel of John and three epistles. His authorship of this book is supported by the testimony of Justin Martyr (165 A.D.), Clement of Alexandria (220 A.D.), Hippolytus (236 A.D.), and Origen (254 A.D.).

THE UNIQUE NATURE OF THE BOOK
Revelation is certainly different from other books of the New Testament. It is also verydifferent from any kind of writing that is familiar to most people today. Unfortunately, this has caused some people to shy away from the book; or on the other hand, to misuse it in propagating wild and fanciful theories. Most people conclude it is just too mysterious to understand. But it was actually written to make things clearer! The word “revelation” in the Greek is apokalupsis, which means“an uncovering” or “unveiling.” It is therefore a book designed to uncover or unveil, not conceal. Part of the challenge in understanding the book is that it is written in a style not familiar to modern man. It is an example of what is called “apocalyptic literature” which was quite popular from 200 B.C. to 200 A.D. As such, it was a type of literature well known to the Jews and Christians of thefirst century church. Features of apocalyptic literature include the use of highly symbolic or figurative language (cf. “signified”, 1:1). It was normally written in times of persecution, usually depicting the conflict between good and evil. There are other examples of apocalyptic literature in the Bible. In the Old Testament, for example, the books of Ezekiel, Daniel, and Zechariah each containelements of this style of writing. In the New Testament, Matthew 24 contains apocalyptic elements.

THE DIFFICULTY IN UNDERSTANDING THE BOOK
The early church likely did not have the problem understanding the book we do today. They were well acquainted with the style of apocalyptic literature. They were living at a time when the symbols of the book were likely familiar to them (similar to how apicture of a donkey fighting an elephant would be understood by us as depicting conflict between the Democratic and Republican parties). In fact, I believe the book was originally intended to be understood by a casual hearing, as implied by the opening beatitude: “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is...