Session 5
Notes on Revelation
Chapters 1-8
August 5, 2026
Session 1
Revelation Teaching Notes
Week One - January
Introduction and Chapter 1
This is important but it is not a first order issue. It’s important because it helps us see:
The glory of Jesus
The victory of Jesus
How God feels about evil
The end of evil
The sovereignty of God
God’s ultimate plan
But, there are some things that are not clear and that godly, well-meaning theologians
and church members disagree on. Let’s agree to remain brothers and sisters even
though we may have significant disagreements about the interpretation of this book.
Some might ask, why is it so unclear? Why does God not make it clear? I cannot say for
sure but I suspect that God is fine with people wrestling with different views of
interpretation within reason. I think He probably intends for this to be the case.
We need to remember a couple of things whenever we struggle to understand
something about God.
1. A God we can completely understand is not God.
2. Most of the best scholars of the say missed Jesus the first time. We need to be
humble enough to accept the fact that we won’t get it all correct.
I also need to tell you that my views have changed over the years and as I have studied
this recently.
I’m going to give you a brief overview of the 4 views of interpretation but before I do,
let’s begin where nearly everyone agrees we will end up. Let’s begin in Chapter 20. I am
going to read this without comment, mostly.
Revelation 20:1–21:8 (ESV)
1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the
bottomless pit and a great chain.
2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound
him for a thousand years,
3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not
deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must
be released for a little while.
4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge
was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony
of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its
image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to
life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is
the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second
death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with
him for a thousand years.
7 And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison
8 and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog
and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea.
9 And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the
saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them,
10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where
the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever
and ever.
11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence
earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.
12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were
opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were
judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.
13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who
were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had
done.
14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the
lake of fire.
15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the
lake of fire.
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had
passed away, and the sea was no more.
2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is
with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be
with them as their God.
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall
there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed
away.”
5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also
he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the
end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.
7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my
son.
8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually
immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with
fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
This is exciting stuff! Let’s take a minute and celebrate the victory of Jesus.
Everyone agrees that this is where we are headed.
Jesus wins
Satan is defeated
God’s people are given an incredible heavenly home
There is a new heaven and new earth
God will dwell with His people
Death and mourning are no more
Here is an overview of the 4 major views of how Revelation should be interpreted.
Please note this is a simple description. There are many nuances and variations.
Preterist –
Primarily Catholic
The book was written to the seven churches and all of the events happened
within the first century AD.
The second coming of Jesus is assumed to have happened in 70 AD with the
destruction of the temple and Jerusalem
Post-millennial
Jonanthan Edwards, R. C. Sproul
The Gospel will continue to transform the world leading to a golden age on earth
of 1000 years after which Jesus will return
Outlook for the future: The world will get better
Premillennial
Two types
o Dispensational –
John MacArthur, David Jeremiah, Dallas Theological Seminary,
Scoffield Study Bible
Furturist – Chapters 4-22 all happen in the future
Rapture => 7 years of Tribulation => 1000 year reign of Jesus on
earth => Judgment new heaven and new earth
Outlook for the future: The world will get worse
o Historical
Erasmus, John Piper, Darrell Bock
Not futurist, events have been happening since book was written
Tribulation has happened and will continue to happen until Jesus
returns
Jesus returns => 1000 year reign of Jesus on earth => Judgment
new heaven and new earth
Outlook for the future: The world may get worse
Amillennial
Augustine, Voddie Baucham, Sam Storm
The millennium in not a literal 1000 years but instead refers to a long time
The millennium began when Jesus ascended and will end when He returns
Some believe Jesus is reigning in the intermediate state now
Some believe Jesus reigning on earth now.
Tribulation has happened and will continue to happen until Jesus returns
Outlook for the future: The world may be worse or may stay about the same
The Genre of Apocalyptic literature
Lots of images
Not necessarily in chronological order
The question of how literal it intends to be is to some degree left open.
Let’s begin with Chapter 1
Date:
Either 60-65 AD – during the reign of Nero
Or 90-95 AD during the reign on Domitian
Both were brutal Roman leaders who persecuted the church
Author
While some disagree, in general the author is believed to be John the Apostle
Revelation 1:1–20 (ESV)
1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things
that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all
that he saw.
3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those
who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is
and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,
5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of
kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood
6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion
forever and ever. Amen.
7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who
pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is
to come, the Almighty.”
9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient
endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of
God and the testimony of Jesus.
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet
11 saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus
and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and
to Laodicea.”
12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven
golden lampstands,
13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and
with a golden sash around his chest.
14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame
of fire,
15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the
roar of many waters.
16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword,
and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me,
saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last,
18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of
Death and Hades.
19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take
place after this.
20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven
golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the
seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Revelation 1:1–2 (ESV)
1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things
that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all
that he saw.
Is it a revelation that reveals Jesus or is it a revelation the belongs to Jesus that Jesus
delivers? Reading the book seems to say both. It both reveals Jesus and it tells the rest
of the story of Jesus.
Revelation 1:3 (ESV)
3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those
who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
There is a blessing for those who read this aloud and for those that hear and keep it.
The time is near – what could that mean?
Revelation 1:4–8 (ESV)
4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is
and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,
5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of
kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood
6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion
forever and ever. Amen.
7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who
pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is
to come, the Almighty.”
Notice who the book is addressed to. These are seven churches in what is now
western Turkey. There were real churches in real places
Jesus is presented as alive, powerful, and coming.
Revelation 1:9–11 (ESV)
9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient
endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of
God and the testimony of Jesus.
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet
11 saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus
and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and
to Laodicea.”
John presents his setting as in the midst of tribulation.
Revelation 1:12–16 (ESV)
12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven
golden lampstands,
13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and
with a golden sash around his chest.
14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame
of fire,
15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the
roar of many waters.
16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword,
and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
Contrast this picture of Jesus with Jesus on the cross. Jesus is revealed here for
who He truly is. This may be how He appeared at the transfiguration.
Revelation 1:17–20 (ESV)
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me,
saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last,
18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of
Death and Hades.
19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take
place after this.
20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven
golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the
seven lampstands are the seven churches.
When you know Jesus, you should not be afraid.
Resources:
Thomas Schreiner
Revelation
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament
Paige Patterson
Revelation
New American Commentary
Dr. Voddie Baucham
“When is the Millennium?”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVbsgUzonK4
Dr. John Piper
“An Evening of Eschatology – Premillennialism, Amillennialism, Postmillennialism”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4S0TQ2dXnms
Thomas Schreiner
“Thomas Schreiner on Revelation A Fresh Take and the Millennium”
Church Grammar Podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thomas-schreiner-on-revelation-with-a-fresh-
take/id1449161376?i=1000640943347
Session 2
Feb 4, 2026
Let’s review a little from our last meeting.
This is important but it is not a first order issue. It’s important because it helps us see:
The glory of Jesus
The victory of Jesus
How God feels about evil
The end of evil
The sovereignty of God
God’s ultimate plan
But, there are some things that are not clear and that godly, well-meaning theologians
and church members disagree on. Let’s agree to remain brothers and sisters even
though we may have significant disagreements about the interpretation of this book.
Some might ask, why is it so unclear? Why does God not make it clear? I cannot say for
sure but I suspect that God is fine with people wrestling with different views of
interpretation within reason. I think He probably intends for this to be the case. I believe
it is a good thing for us to consider the different viewpoints and be open to the possibility
they could be correct. This is particularly true of the 4 major views of the millennium.
Here are the 4 views:
Preterist – Least likely
Primarily Catholic
The book was written to the seven churches and all of the events happened
within the first century AD.
The second coming of Jesus is assumed to have happened in 70 AD with the
destruction of the temple and Jerusalem
Post-millennial
Jonanthan Edwards, R. C. Sproul
The Gospel will continue to transform the world leading to a golden age on earth
of 1000 years after which Jesus will return
Outlook for the future: The world will get better
Premillennial
Two types
o Dispensational –
John MacArthur, David Jeremiah, Dallas Theological Seminary,
Scoffield Study Bible
Furturist – Chapters 4-22 all happen in the future
Rapture => 7 years of Tribulation => 1000 year reign of Jesus on
earth => Judgment new heaven and new earth
Outlook for the future: The world will get worse
o Historical
Erasmus, John Piper, Darrell Bock
Not futurist, events have been happening since book was written
Tribulation has happened and will continue to happen until Jesus
returns
Jesus returns => 1000 year reign of Jesus on earth => Judgment
new heaven and new earth
Outlook for the future: The world may get worse
Amillennial
Augustine, Voddie Baucham, Sam Storm
The millennium in not a literal 1000 years but instead refers to a long time
The millennium began when Jesus ascended and will end when He returns
Some believe Jesus is reigning in the intermediate state now
Some believe Jesus reigning on earth now.
Tribulation has happened and will continue to happen until Jesus returns
Outlook for the future: The world may be worse or may stay about the same
Chapter one is a vision of the resurrected Jesus His command to John to write what He
sees.
One question that came up after our last sessions was about chapter one verse 4:
Revelation 1:4 (ESV)
4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is
and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,
“The reference to seven spirits, of course, does not mean that there are seven Holy
Spirits. The number seven is used symbolically, referring to perfections of the Spirit.”
Thomas R. Schreiner
Revelation
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament
Session 2
Chapters 2 and 3
These chapters contain the letters to the seven churches. There are some important
things to consider before we get into the text.
It is important to note
First, how do we interpret the inclusion of these letters in this book? There are
several approaches.
1. The churches represent 7 eras of the church.
2. The churches represent 7 types of churches.
3. The churches describe the church age that ends with a time of tribulation. This is
true of dispensational premillennials who see everything after chapter 4 as future.
4. The churches portray 7 actual churches that help set the context for the material
to come.
Second, chapters 2 and 3 seem to be a completely different type of literature.
The 7 churches at the very least represent a different genre, a different type of literature.
Most refer the letters epistles while the rest is referred to as apocalyptic or prophetic.
Epistles remind of the letters of Paul and Peter and the three other letters John has
written. Epistles typically address specific issues faced by a church or a group of
churches. Chapters 2 and 3 provide a setting for the rest of the book while
providing the modern church a roadmap of how to prepare for difficult times.
Third, the 7 churches are all facing difficulties from without and 5 seem to facing
difficulties from and within.
All 7 are under some pressure of persecution that is likely to get worse. If written in 60s
Nero was actively persecuting the church and if written in the 90s Domitian was
persecuting the church. Jesus delivers this book to the churches to help them through
this persecution.
Fourth, 2 of the churches are not corrected by Jesus at all.
Smyrna and Philadelphia are encouraged and not corrected. This could help us
understand the role of the true church later in the book.
The Text
Ephesus
Revelation 2:1–7 (ESV)
1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven
stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.
2 “ ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear
with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are
not, and found them to be false.
3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have
not grown weary.
4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.
5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at
first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you
repent.
6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who
conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’
Compliments
o You are theologically sound
o You are careful and diligent to call out heresy
Corrections
o You have left your first love
Warning
o Repent and return to who you were at first
Lampstand removed – cease to exist
o Listen
Promises
o Eat from the tree of life
1
Smyrna
Revelation 2:8–11 (ESV)
8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last,
who died and came to life.
9 “ ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those
who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of
you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be
faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who
conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’
Encouragements
o I know what is happening to you
o I know how hard things have been
o Do not fear suffering
Corrections
o None
Promises
o Be faithful and receive the crown of life
Pergamum
Revelation 2:12–17 (ESV)
12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the
sharp two-edged sword.
13 “ ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and
you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed
among you, where Satan dwells.
14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of
Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that
they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.
15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword
of my mouth.
17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who
conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a
new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’
Encouragements
o You have some faithful history even in times of severe persecution
Corrections
o You allow false teaching to flourish among you
o You participate in idol worship by eating food offered to idols
o You practice sexual immorality
Warnings
o Repent or you I will go to war with you
Promises
o Hidden manna
Thyatira
Revelation 2:18–29 (ESV)
18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who
has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.
19 “ ‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that
your latter works exceed the first.
20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a
prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and
to eat food sacrificed to idols.
21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality.
22 Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will
throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works,
23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who
searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.
24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned
what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other
burden.
25 Only hold fast what you have until I come.
26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give
authority over the nations,
27 and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces,
even as I myself have received authority from my Father.
28 And I will give him the morning star.
29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Encouragements
o You’re doing so great things – love, faith, service, patient endurance
o Some of you are doing well
Corrections
o You tolerate one who teaches sexual immorality
Promises
o Authority over the nations
Sardis
Revelation 3:1–6 (ESV)
1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven
spirits of God and the seven stars. “ ‘I know your works. You have the reputation of
being alive, but you are dead.
2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your
works complete in the sight of my God.
3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not
wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against
you.
4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments,
and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.
5 The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his
name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his
angels.
6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Corrections
o You think you are alive but you are dead
Encouragements
o
Warnings
o Wake up!
o Strengthen what remains
o Remember what you received
o Repent
o I am coming when you do not expect it
Promises
o The one who conquers will be clean, His name will remain in the God of
life
Philadelphia
Revelation 3:7–13 (ESV)
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the
true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no
one opens.
8 “ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able
to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have
not denied my name.
9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and
are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and
they will learn that I have loved you.
10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the
hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.
11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he
go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my
God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own
new name.
13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Encouragements
o Open door
o You have kept my word
o Hold fast to what you have
Corrections
Promises
o The synagogue of Satan will bow before you
o I will make you a pillar in the temple of God
o I will write my new name on you
Laodicea
Revelation 3:14–22 (ESV)
14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful
and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.
15 “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or
hot!
16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my
mouth.
17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are
wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white
garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be
seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I
will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also
conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”
Corrections
o Hot nor cold
o You think you are rich but you are poor
Encouragements
o I stand at your door knocking
Promises
o Conquer and you will sit with me on my throne.
Revelation
Session 3
Revelation 4-5
March 4, 2026
This begins the visions section of the book. John will be describing things that he has
never seen before. Remember, the book of Revelation is about these things:
This is important but it is not a first order issue. It’s important because it helps us see:
The glory of Jesus
The victory of Jesus
How God feels about evil
The end of evil
The sovereignty of God
God’s ultimate plan
One of the most important aspects of the book is that it portrays God as both powerful
and victorious.
The true setting of the book is the 7 churches described in chapters 2 and 3. They are
exhorted to conquer and to hold fast. Chapters 4-22 are written to help them hold fast.
Jesus is winning. God is in control. The triune God is more powerful than any of us can
imagine. We must approach these visions with the understanding they were written to
encourage churches in various conditions to endure and hold fast.
The Text
The Throne Room
Revelation 4
Revelation 4:1–3 (ESV)
1 After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice,
which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show
you what must take place after this.”
2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on
the throne.
3 And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the
throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald.
John is transported into another realm. God is bringing to a place that will change his
entire perspective. He will see things from in the present that will happen in the future.
John cannot fully describe the appearance of God the Father sitting on the throne. God
is indescribable. He uses the luster and glow and brilliance of gemstones to help us get
an idea for what he is seeing.
The rainbow around the throne reminds us of God’s faithfulness to Noah in
Genesis. More importantly it is a way to express His stunning glory.
Thomas Shreiner puts it this way:
“The stones and the rainbow together constitute a unified whole and a single
vision, communicating that the sovereign God, who reigns over all, is
inexpressibly glorious and beautiful.”
Revelation 4:4–8 (ESV)
4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-
four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads.
5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and
before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God,
6 and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the
throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and
behind:
7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living
creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight.
8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around
and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God
Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”
There is considerable debate about these elders and who they are. Some see them as
humans, some as angels, some see them as heavenly beings. Most all agree they
represent God’s people combining the 12 tribes of Israel with the 12 apostles. They are
clothed in purity. They have crowns which indicate they are ruling with God.
The lightning and thunder are indications of God’s power. Even in heaven, God is still
fearful and awe inspiriting.
They 7 torches burning represent he presence of the Holy Spirit.
The sea of glass probably indicates that God is separate from His creation.
The four living creatures remind us of the creatures in Ezekiel. They represent creation
with the lion representing the greatest wild beast, the ox the greatest domestic beast,
man representing the crown of creation, and eagle the greatest flying animal. The idea
is that God rules creation through His agents.
The eyes all around communicate the reality that God sees everything that is
happening.
The four living creatures are constantly worshipping.
Revelation 4:9–11 (ESV)
9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is
seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever,
10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship
him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you
created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”
This scene would be received in stark contrast to the scenes of emperor worship the
churches were used to. This would have been incredibly encouraging for them to know
that their God is so much greater and so much more worthy to be praised.
Revelation 5
Revelation 5:1–4 (ESV)
1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within
and on the back, sealed with seven seals.
2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the
scroll and break its seals?”
3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to
look into it,
4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to
look into it.
The scroll is written on both sides. This is unusual for a scroll, and it probably means
there is a lot of content in the scroll.
Schreiner describes the scroll:
“The scroll probably represents God’s redemptive plan for the world since the
opened scroll, according to verses 9–10, leads to the redemption of human
beings and to their rule on earth as kings and priests.”
There is only one who is worthy to open it.
Revelation 5:5–6 (ESV)
5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of
Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven
seals.”
6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a
Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes,
which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
Jesus is clearly in view now as both the lion and the lamb, the lamb who was
slain.
The seven horns and seven eyes represent His infinite strength and infinite
comprehension.
Notice that the slain lamb is standing,
Revelation 5:7 (ESV)
7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the
throne.
Christ taking the scroll signals His rule over the world.
Revelation 5:8 (ESV)
8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders
fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which
are the prayers of the saints.
Great praise and worship erupt when Jesus takes the scroll. Notice the addition of
incense representing the prayers of the saints. Prayer for Jesus’ victory have been
answered.
Revelation 5:9–14 (ESV)
9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its
seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every
tribe and language and people and nation,
10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on
the earth.”
11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders
the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands,
12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and
wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”
13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea,
and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be
blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
The worship expands to the entire universe.
Jesus is victorious. The church does not need to fear any empire or nation or leader.
Session 4
Revelation 6 and 7
April 1, 2026
Remember what we have been saying from the beginning of this study:
Revelation is important to study because it reveals”
The glory of Jesus
The victory of Jesus
How God feels about evil
The end of evil
The sovereignty of God
God’s ultimate plan
How you understand Revelation plays an important role in how you live and how
you see the present and the future.
The setting for chapters 6 and 7 is the throne room of heaven and Jesus has just taken
the scroll that has seven seals. The scroll is likely God’s redemptive plan for the world.
Another view is John Macarthur’s that it is the title deed to earth. The fact that it is
written on both sides mitigates against this as this unusual and indicates that the scroll
has a lot of content.
At first, no one is found who can open the scroll. But then the lamb who was slain takes
the scroll and there is rejoicing in heaven.
As we read these two chapters, keep in mind that Revelation was originally written to 7
churches. The view most of us were taught in Baptist churches is the premillennial
dispensational futurist view held by MacArthur, David Jeremiah and others. This view
claims that everything in chapters 4-22 is future and that the church will have been
removed by the rapture before any of these events take place.
The problem with that view is that this material was written to 7 churches to help them
endure to the end. It’s designed to help them be ready for what is coming. MacArthur
says that these events are the beginning of the tribulation and were given to the
churches to empower them to warn the lost about what is coming. While this is certainly
possible, it seems more likely that much if not all of these events will happen while the
church is present.
The other thing to consider is the different views of how we see the present and the
future. Futurists see the world getting worse and worse culminating in tribulation and the
great tribulation. The other view which is held by historical premillennialists and
amillennialists is that these judgments are happening between the first and second
comings of Jesus.
Revelation 6:1–2 (ESV)
1 Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the
four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!”
2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was
given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.
“The seals demonstrate the Lamb’s sovereign rule and control over what takes place in
the world.”
Thomas Schreiner
Revelation
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament
The lamb is executing God’s redemptive plan for the world according to Schreiner.
MacArthur says that Jesus, the Lamb, taking control of the earth by executing judgment.
As the first seal is broken one of the four living creatures thunders come. This indicates
an excitement or exultation in heaven that this first seal has been broken.
Some, including most dispensationalist including Patterson, interpret his first horse as
spreading evil in the world or war in world. They see the rider as a false Christ. Again,
this supports the view that all seals are future and are just waves of judgment.
Schreiner and others view the seals as descriptive of the way the world will be
between the resurrection of Jesus and His return. This view identifies the first
horse and rider as representing the Gospel message going forth in victory. These
are the days when the Gospel message will save many, but not all.
Revelation 6:3-4 (ESV)
3 When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!”
4 And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the
earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.
The second seal represents war. The color red probably illustrates the blood of war.
This lines up with the words of Jesus.
Matthew 24:6 (ESV)
6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this
must take place, but the end is not yet.
I believe this is the best explanation. War is a constant part of life during the church age
we live in. Peace has been removed. Rome had claimed that its rule of the world would
bring peace. This was known as “Pax Romana” and is proven to be a myth.
The futurists see this second rider as representing war far worse than anything we see
in this age.
Revelation 6:5-6 (ESV)
5 When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I
looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand.
6 And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying,
“A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not
harm the oil and wine!”
“The third seal reveals that famine and hunger characterize life on earth in the period
between Jesus’s resurrection and return (against Fanning 2020: 245). Yet this doesn’t
mean that everyone would suffer from famine, but that famine would be common during
the interadvent age.”
Thomas Schreiner
Revelation
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament
Preterist see this as relating to Domitian and the famine he caused by persecution of
Jerusalem. This seems unlikely given that Revelation was written to churches in Asia.
Revelation 6:7-8 (ESV)
7 When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say,
“Come!”
8 And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades
followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword
and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.
The world will also be characterized by death by disasters including wars, murder,
famine, disease, and even wild animals. These should not be viewed as individual
punishments but as a result of living in this fallen world. It’s best to see the
phrase, “over a fourth of the earth” as a a way to express that this kind death will
be familiar to everyone but not kill everyone.
Revelation 6:9–11 (ESV)
9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been
slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne.
10 They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before
you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
11 Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number
of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as
they themselves had been.
“We should not conclude from this text that John thinks all believers will be put to death.
It is possible that the church is pictured as a martyr church, while in reality only some
are being put to death.”
Thomas Schreiner
Revelation
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament
The fifth seal deals with martyrs. This was an important issue for the churches the letter
is addressed to. What happens to martyrs? Why does God allow it? Will they ever be
avenged? Who will avenge them?
These three verses tell us those who have been killed because of their faith in Jesus
are under the altar in heaven in the place of worship. They are asking God how long to
they are avenged. The answer is that there is still more martyrs to come. They are given
white robes signifying they are holy before the Lord.
To the early church, this communicates that martyrs are well taken care of and
that it will still be some time before they are avenged. This supports the idea of
their being many, many years between the first and second coming of Jesus.
Futurist dispensationalists see this as the martyrs over the course of history crying out
for vengeance and that God is about to give it.
Revelation 6:12–17 (ESV)
12 When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake,
and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood,
13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when
shaken by a gale.
14 The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island
was removed from its place.
15 Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the
powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the
rocks of the mountains,
16 calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is
seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb,
17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”
Session 5
Revelation 8
Remember what we have been saying from the beginning of this study:
Revelation is important to study because it reveals”
The glory of Jesus
The victory of Jesus
How God feels about evil
The end of evil
The sovereignty of God
God’s ultimate plan
How you understand Revelation plays an important role in how you live and how
you see the present and the future.
“The suffering martyrs (6:9–11) are asking, “How long?” Here we see that God is
listening to and answering the prayers that saints have voiced all through history. The
prayers will be answered fully and finally when the kingdom comes, when God’s will is
done.”
Thomas Schreiner
Revelation
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament
“The judgments in Revelation are both progressive and recapitulatory, both more
intense and recursive. And the seals, trumpets, and bowls all conclude with the
final judgment.”
Thomas Schreiner
Revelation
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament
Revelation 8:1–5 (ESV)
1 When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an
hour.
2 Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to
them.
3 And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given
much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the
throne,
4 and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the
hand of the angel.
5 Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the
earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an
earthquake.
“The sixth seal concludes with 6:17, and chapter 7 pauses to explain who will be spared
from the wrath of God and the Lamb on the final day.”
Thomas Schreiner
Revelation
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament
The trumpets begin in 8:6 but are inextricably intertwined with the seals since the
seventh seal leads us to the trumpets. We might wonder why a seventh seal is
necessary since the world is coming to an end with the sixth seal. In addition, chapter 7
concludes with the saints in the new creation before God’s throne. Here we observe the
recursive and recapitulatory character of Revelation because, strictly speaking, the
narrative has concluded. John uses the seventh seal as a literary device to connect
the seals to the seven trumpets, thus rehearsing from another perspective the
judgments poured out on this world. John ties the narrative together for us as
readers, shaking the kaleidoscope again so that we are given another picture of
life on earth before the end of history.
Thomas Schreiner
Revelation
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament
“The silence for half an hour signals that the judgment is coming soon, that the time is
near (1:3; 22:10), as John tells us elsewhere; the short time period increases the
dramatic effect (de Villiers 2007: 72–73).”
Thomas Schreiner
Revelation
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament
“Maston (2019: 85) rightly says, “God does not judge like a tyrant, nor is his judgment
comparable to a toddler’s irrational tantrum. Rather, God judges precisely to bring
justice, to restore what is right and vanquish evil.”
Thomas Schreiner
Revelation
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament
This is a transition to the seven trumpets which are likely a different perspective on the
same judgments in of the seven seals.
“The trumpet judgments are an answer to prayer, and thus Tonstad’s claim (2019:
141–45) that the trumpets are a revelation of what is happening on earth instead of
divine retribution is flawed.6 The angels with the seven trumpets who introduce the
judgments are God’s agents, inflicting God’s judgments on the world.”
Thomas Schreiner
Revelation
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament
Revelation 8:6–13 (ESV)
6 Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them.
7 The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and
these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of
the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.
This trumpet likely depicts disasters and difficulties on earth on the land. The age
between the resurrection of Jesus and His ascension will have a many natural disasters
in earth.
In any case, the earth isn’t completely destroyed, though famines and catastrophes,
including hurricanes and tornadoes, blight the world. Life on earth is constantly beset by
danger, and the world of nature isn’t only a haven but also a constant threat. If the
natural world is damaged, human beings are imperiled since they depend on food from
trees and grass for pasturing animals
Thomas Schreiner
Revelation
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament
“Both the seals and the trumpets conclude with the end of history. They rehearse history
from different perspectives, although the judgments in the trumpets are more intense
and direct than what we find in most of the seal judgments.”
Thomas Schreiner
Revelation
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament
The failure to repent doesn’t signal that these judgments are the wrong agent. Instead,
they highlight the stubbornness and evil of human beings since the judgments reveal
the consequence of wickedness.
Thomas Schreiner
Revelation
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament
8 The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with
fire, was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood.
9 A third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
The second trumpet predicts the difficulties and disasters on the seas.
The terror on the seas represents God’s judgment in the present world, a judgment that
forecasts the final judgment.
Thomas Schreiner
Revelation
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament
10 The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch,
and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.
11 The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and
many people died from the water, because it had been made bitter.
This probably represents the pollution that contaminates water.
“The very food we consume, food that is needed to live, can have bacteria and
organisms that also kill us. Such is life under the judgment of God because of the sin of
humanity.”
Thomas Schreiner
Revelation
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament
12 The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the
moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light might be darkened, and a third
of the day might be kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night.
13 Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly
overhead, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other
trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!”
The spatial realm is also touched by God’s judgment so that life isn’t all that it should be
for the flourishing of the human race. The fall touches every part of the created order.
Thomas Schreiner
Revelation
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament