1. Revelation, not revelations (1:1.)

1. However, both are true. Verse 1 calls it "the revelation of Jesus Christ." And John did receive more than one vision.
2. "Of Jesus Christ" could mean about Jesus (there is much that is revealed about Him in this book) and from Him (so says verse 5).
3. Often the titles placed on the books of the Bible come from the first words of the text. "In the beginning" Genesis. The titles were added by compilers, but are not a part of the text by inspiration.

2. In the Spirit on the Lord’s Day (1:10.)

1. Indicates the role of John as a prophet. The Spirit is going to speak through John.
2. "He that hath ears to hear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." (7 times in chapters 2&3.)
3. We should not say (as I heard a minister once misuse the passage) that we should also be in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day.

3. Be faithful unto death (2:10.)

1. Preachers often refer to this passage urging people to remain faithful all the days of their lives.
2. John meant something else by these words. He meant "be faithful even in the face of death."
3. Preachers once argued that there was a great difference between "unto" and "into." Their point was drawing one near. This is a misuse of these two words. Both words come from the same Greek word.
4. Acts. 3:1 says Peter and John went up together into the temple. But verse 3 says, who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
5. "Unto" in Rev. 2:10 means when persecution results in death, not when it falls short.

4. Cold, hot and lukewarm (3:15-16.)

1. Some zealous evangelistic preachers have used these words as if they mean the following. "Hot" means zealous, faithful, on fire for God; "cold" means dead, unmoved, an unbeliever, an atheist; "lukewarm" means something in-between the two.
2. This explanation can discourage people who really care and are trying to follow Christ. Jesus said, I would that you were either cold or hot. We can understand why Jesus would want us to be hot, but why would He want us cold if the above definition applies?
3. Americans and Europeans tend to think about coffee when reading this passage. The only good gradient is hot.
4. What else could be meant where "cold" would be something that Jesus would want us to be? Well, there were Roman baths in all these cities where both hot and cold baths were used. Both were good beneficial things. Lukewarm was unacceptable.

5. Only 144,000 are going to heaven (chapters 7 & 14)

1. 12,000 from 12 tribes makes up the 144,000. This number is taken literally.
2. There were others much greater in number. There was a great multitude which no man could number. (7:9.)
3. These 144,000 are described as those who follow the Lamb where ever He goes. They were virgins (not literally); that is, they were pure spiritually.
4. Galatians 4:27 says that the spiritual descendents far outnumbered the physical.
5. Philippians 3:20 says that our citizenship is in heaven. He did not indicate that this is true for just 144,000 people. The only place we read about this number is this text of Revelation 7 & 14, and it includes a far greater number before the throne.

6. Time shall be no longer (10:6.)

1. Some preachers will repeat these words to indicate the end of time. Such is not the meaning. Revelation is not primarily about the end of time.
2. 5 passages say that the main events discussed in Revelation are about to be fulfilled in John’s day.

* Rev. 1:1 "must shortly come to pass"

* Rev. 1:3 "for the time is at hand"

* Rev. 22:6 "must shortly be done"

* Rev. 22:10 "for the time is at hand"

* Rev. 10:6 "time shall be no longer"

3. Revelation is often interpreted as something which will happen in the future. Yet, the truth is that the events were accomplished near to the days of John the apostle.
4. "Prophet" or "prophecy" does not mean that his words are far into the future. "The words of this prophecy"—1:3, 22:18-19. A prophet was one who spoke for God. The events were often nearby. Jonah was a prophet. His message was, Repent or in 40 days Nineveh will be overthrown.
5. John saw 7 thunders in Rev. 10, but he was not permitted to reveal them because the time was so near.

7. Measure the temple of God (11:1)

1. Some mistakenly argue that since the temple is mentioned, then it must have still been standing. Remember that Jesus foretold the destruction of the Jewish temple in Matthew 24. It was destroyed by the Roman army 68-70 AD. But was Revelation written before AD 68 and before the temple was destroyed?
2. John is literally on the isle of Patmos. The temple is in Jerusalem. John was told to measure the temple and the altar. Did John leave Patamos in order to do that? Of course not!
3. John saw this in a vision. Can one see something in a vision that does not literally exist? Yes.
4. "Measuring" means the protection of God. These are my people. They are identified or marked in their hands and on their foreheads.
5. Revelation is about persecuted Christians by the old red dragon (Satan), the beast, and the false prophet. It is not about the fall of Jerusalem. Christians were not being persecuted in the fall of Jerusalem; Jesus was judging the Jewish nation and effectively bringing it to an end.
6. For the Romans to destroy cities in Asia minor (present day Turkey), it would be like the USA bombing Atlanta, Miami and the Keys on the way down to Havanah to bomb Cuba!

Conclusion: Three major texts, key passages, in Revelation.

1. Rev. 1:1
2. Rev. 11:15
3. Rev. 17:14