hello everyone Professor leadar Lopes here we have been in a journey together we have been studying introduction to the New Testament since the first book of the New Testament we have dive into all of them and uh with a very introductory uh mindset they introduction to the New Testament is just a a door that opens up for you to pursue your knowledge and understanding of the word of God of the New Testament the plans of God for your life and through your life and today I'm intend to resume our uh module with uh the book
of Revelation this has been a a very interesting uh journey in the Book of Revelation it's been a challenge for many people but the Book of Revelation is not because it's the last one in the pages of the New Testament and the last one in the pages of our Christian Bible it's not because is the last one is the least or not we don't have to pay much attention or we have we have to be with a lot of fear because of the things that we read in the Book of Revelation yes it's very strange
The Book of Revelation it's scar sometimes and and and the The Book of Revelation seems like like a a a a movie that you're watching uh that talks about the end of times not to just be in very introductory uh words I would like toart us to a more General uh introduction to the book and the book book calls an English Revelation but originally uh the book calls uh apocalypse and apocalypse or Revelation if you may uh it's a book that we will find a prophetic and a apocalyptic text text and uh we will see
down in our studies today that John who wrote the book he were a instrument an instrument in God's hand to have the revelation of what we are about to start uh to study well let's start from the beginning the word apocalypsis where that word come from why we use that word apocalypse eological it's very important for us to understand uh the word so apocalypse comes from a Greek word apocalypsis apocalypsis if you want to repeat you may repeat after me apocalipsis yeah lses which means Revelation unveiling or disclosure the Greek term is deriv from the
verb Apocalypto Apocalypto which means to uncover or to reveal and I want to just to show you I gave you this okay you will have as uh material of his studies a very outlined uh slides so that will be helpful to you so let's go back again and do this the word apocalypse comes from the Greek word apocalypses okay so uh which means Revelation unveiling disclosure and that comes from a Greek term derived from the verb Apocalypto Apocalypto which means to uncover or to reval but this word Apocalypto or apocalypse uh it's a a kind
of a a conjunction of true words okay let's break this down a little bit so we'll be able to understand better so we have two words combined AO means away from or off away away from or off calypto means to cover or to conceal calypto means to cover or to conceal well when we combine these two uh words we have apocalypsis or apocalypse essentially meaning to take the cover off yeah that's the meaning I want you to understand this very clearly the word apocalypse and the book that we are about to study uh means to
take like how such I'm doing with this book to take the cover off to review what is in it got it yeah to take the cover off to review what is in it okay so basically that's the meaning of the word apocalypses okay and meth metaphorically referring to the act of revealing something something previously hidden or unknown in our case that was really hidden from humans or the humankind historically and that also that were not were not known from anyone until we have the Revelation until we have this uh being revealed to us until we
have this all the things that is about to happen to be uncover okay R all right let's let's move forward and uh I I I really want you to to to have this the the the the main idea of what we are about to study so apocalypsis is uh uncovering the things that is yet to happen okay and uh this Revelation aims to not to make you feel scary but to comfort and encourage persecuted Christians assuring them that God is in control and that the final Victory belongs to him all right let's move forward so
you have the last uh phrase that I just mentioned okay let's go so the book of apocalypses like any other of the the books that we have touched before has its own Division I just want to give you a highlight of the divisions of the book before we dive into the ins and outs of the um background of the book okay so the book has a a division very very much purposefully draw so we understand what this apocalypsis or Revelation is all about and what is being revealed to us okay let's go there so so
on the division first on the first chapter we have an introduction from verse 1 to8 uh it's a kind of a prologue uh and greeting introduction to the revelation of Jesus Christ given to John John introduces himself and offers a blessing to the readers highlighting the imminence of the prophecies fulfillment yeah one of the things that we we must be clear here is that the apocalypse is being misunderstood it's being misguided and it's being misinterpreted we have to be very careful because there's so many people out there that they're trying to give a significance that
it's not there however all the significance all the revelations that is being revealed to us has a a a level a higher level of importance and it is about to come to pass matter of fact I I I just want to advance to you even though we are not going to be doing an exeresis of the the tax of the Apocalypse but I want to advance to you and saying that most of the prophecies that are are there it's already here we are living in the days of the end okay and it's approaching each and
every day it's approaching the the Fulfillment of this prophecy it's approaching each and every day every hour every minute every second we are closer to the close of everything that is revealed to us so so John introduce himself and introduce everything that Jesus revealed to him to his the recipients of this uh uh uh revelation of this uh prophecy okay so our introduction which is very important to have introduction because uh s uh it's a kind of a proclamation Annunciation of the things that is yet to come so to make the recipients understand what it
is about and how will be the process or and the proceedings of these whole things that is yet to come introduction is very important so we'll give them a foundational and Assurance where that came from didn't came from no no body but a revelation coming from from Christ Jesus to his servant John okay so uh going ahead uh uh uh from the chapter in the chapter 1 9- 20 we have the the vision of the glorify Christ John on the the island of Patmos we will see uh down the road in our studies today we
will talk a little bit about Paton okay John Rec his vision of the glorified Christ yeah you will see from the beginning to the end uh the glorified Christ in this Revelation uh something that is very unique and has to caught our our attention is this that from the first book of the Bible to the last one God is uh an architectural uh being because everything makes sense everything that from the first chapter to the last chapter are very synchronized even though here and there we have some sort of difficulties to understand and to um
to to have a a clear uh understanding but the whole thing makes the whole sense so this Revelation shows and recounts the vision of the Christ glorify who instructs him to write to the seven churches Christ is described in the Majestic and thef finding terms emphasizing his authority and Glory yes this is a book that will show definitely finally Christ glorify and the way that it shows himself is a very thine ways and the we will see in a bit uh the style of the composition of this Revelation and that makes a whole sense not
only for the the time being but for us today okay so the book shows and gives a vision of the Christ glorifying uh then the letters to the seven churches there is a seven churches this book The Revelation came to the seven churches okay uh that were in Asia Minor Which churches are those okay we have Ephesus smna peram Chira tar staris or Sardis Philadelphia and laa okay these are the seven churches the and the communication to those churches come in a format of a letters to those churches the letter to Ephesus it's very important
for us to understand the seven letters down the road I will explain a little bit more even though we don't have the time uh in this class to be um exotical uh in our studies but Ephesus the letter to Ephesus commended for hard work and perseverance but reprimanded for abandoning their first love yeah the Lord was very very serious about this even though he know he commended them but he reprimanded and called them to identify where they have fall off repent confess and go back to the practices of the first love oh we don't have
time for this but it's worthy for you to dive in to those letters smea praise for Faith and suffering encouraged to remain faithful unto death pamus praise for Keeping the Faith but rep reprimanded for tolerating false teachings Tia praised for love Faith and service but criticized for tolerating the false propheties Jezebel Sardis reprimanded for being spiritually dead despite having a reputation for being alive exhorted to wake up and is strengthened and remains Philadelphia praised for persever for pers perseverance encouraged with the promise of being kept from the hour of trial l sayah repr or reprimanded
for being lukewarm exhorted to repent and seek through his spiritual riches each one of those churches they were in a region we have to remember this we have to recall those churches most of the churches were planted by Paul and some of his disciples and those cities they most of them they came from the Greek Empire to uh Roman Empire they brought their culture they brought their religiosity all their practices to serve and coat to other goddess and Jews that were converted to Christ but they were trying to bring the Judaism into the Christian the
Christianity and trying to force them the Christians to do the practices of the law so most of these churches they were not only suffering the persecution of the emperor because of their faith because of the preaching of the Gospel but they were uh facing persecution from the brothers and sisters within the system and that's why God revealed those uh things to John not only to reprimand not only to uh uh curse those churches but to help them understand where they came from where they were but mostly important how they have to pursue their life and
how they have to practice their faith in order to stand still even though they face death so the John he received Revelations and these Revelation were to touch and reach those seven churches okay in a little bit we will understand better what those churches were about and what they have what relation they have with us okay how we can relate with them okay Heavenly visions and the sealed books yeah revelation bring Heavenly visions and the book The Throne of God John is taken to to heaven and sees the Throne of God surrounded by living creatures
and Elders who worship God continuously I always say there people sometimes they they they they don't like to go to church people sometimes they they don't like this thing Church and then they start to create invented so many distractions oh I don't have to go to the church to be a Christian no no we we we do have the church the body it's a very important for and with our Christian Life and the the thing interesting is once you see at the end that you see Elders who were worship worshiping God continuously if we ought
to or we will worship God eternally and we don't like to go to church we don't like the church why we are even thinking of Heaven because the church is all about God the church is all about Jesus the church is all about the Holy Spirit if I don't care about the church why am I why I'm going to be minding myself thinking about going to heaven here something to think about it so Heavenly Visions in the SE book the book with Seven Seals the lamb who is Christ is found worthy to open the seal
book which contains God's plans for the end times okay so John has this Revelation okay Revelation okay the this book were seal the seal or everything that were on top the cover that were covering were took over the Revelation the apocalypse took place and unfold uncover the book and Christ on his Revelation he saw Christ the Lamb of God who were capable to break the seal and reveal what is in the book so was Christ Alone that reveal the plans of God to the end times to his servant John okay so the Seven Seals chapter
6 to chapter 85 first seal refers to rider in a a white on a white horse symbolizing Conquest second seal Rider on the red horse uh symbolizing War third seal Rider on the black horse symbolizing famine uh fourth seal Rider on a Pale Horse symbolizing death fifth seal uh SS of Martyrs crying out for justice six seal great earthquake and Cosmic disturbances seventh seal silence in heaven for half an hour followed by the seven trumpet okay so the Seven Seals they are so important because these are things that is happening or yet to happen at
this final hour okay and is just to a nice break here somebody just said the other day a while we ago that in heaven uh in this exactly moment maybe we don't we will we will not see ladies woman in heaven and somebody asked please can you explain why is that well because in heaven we we read that uh the seventh seal you know uh revealed that was a half half an hour without you know nothing silence complete completely silenced for half an hour uh that was meant to be a joke okay I'm so sorry
listen the Seven Seals are very important things will happen things that we are seeing earthquakes disturbances you know uh crying for justice uh death uh famine uh we see this now and throughout history we have seen here and there throughout history but right now we are in the very EP Center of everything that is happening and is uh pointing out to the revelations to the apocalypses the seven Trumpets from chapter 8 to chapter 11 we have the seven trumpets first trumpet hail and fire mixed with blood burning a third of the world yeah that's somehow
something is going to happen I'm not going to be doing exercises here I'm not going to be giving a Bible study of this but I want you to dive in and to understand second trumpet something like a great Mountain Burning uh with fire is thrown into the sea destroying a third of the ships okay okay um the third trumpet is star called warmwood falls into the waters making them bitter fourth trumpet a third of the sun moon and his stars are darkened um sixth trumpet release of the Four Angels bound at the erratus river uh
resulting in a great is Slaughter seventh trumpet proclamation of God's kingdom and the opening of the temple in heaven so each one of these Trumpets They Come announcing something that is happening or is yet to happen once again throughout history we have similar similarities uh things that are very similar that happen throughout history but nothing is like this that is unfolding and it's about to happen so after the seven trumpets we will have we see uh in the division of the book just to for us to understand the woman the dragon and the Beast yes
the chapter 12 to chapter 14 the woman and dragon uh the woman symbolizing Israel or the church and the dragon Satan who pursue her pursu Israel or the church the first beast beast rising from the sea symbolizing political power and persecution the second beast beast rising from the earth symbolizing false religious power the lamp are and the 144,000 vision of redeemed who follow the lamb 144,000 here we have to be very careful and because it's just introduction I want to encourage you to dive into more because there's a lot of Revelation here in this section
of the book of apocalypses okay then uh we have the seven balls of God's Wrath from chapter 15- 16 first ball uh malignant uh source on the worshippers uh of the Beast second ball sea turns to blood third ball rivers and springs turn to blood fourth sun is scorches man with fire fifth Darkness over the kingdom of the Beast sixth drying up of the erratus river to prepare the way for for the king of the East seventh great earthquake and destruction of cities including Babylon okay and those seven balls uh they are very important also
within uh the context of apocalypsis okay then we go to the fall of Babylon chapter 17 to 19 destruction of the great prostitute vision of the condemnation and Falls of Babylon representing a corrupted World System yes this is not new for us this is were not new for them but now he not new for none of us you know the world that we're leing to it it's very corrupted and uh it's just representing uh what he came about it okay uh rejoicing in heaven afterwards celebration of God's justice and the fall of Babylon okay so
then we will have the final battle and judgment chapter 19 to 20th Victory presenting the victory of Christ Christ returns as a Victorious Warrior binding of Satan Satan is Bound for a Thousand Years Millennial Reign uh of the Saints Christ thousand year reign with the Saints release and final defeat of Satan Satan is released at the end of this Millennial final defeat and cast into the Lake of Fire okay there's a lot of Revelation there's a lot of understanding uh to take place while you're studying this because there's a lot of symbols here that represent
reality okay and final but not least Great Wide Throne judgment the Judgment of the dead and the condemnation of the wicked so the final battle and the Judgment this is real people this is real this is not a joke this is not a book that promis uh if if you die here you're going to have a certain amount of of of of ladies on the other side there's nothing about that this is a all of that is a nothing in comparison of the truth of God that is before our very own eyes Okay so uh
new Heaven and new earth chapter 21 to chapter 22 so we will see there the New Jerusalem okay the New Jerusalem the scripture of the holy city and the eternal life with God renewal of all things yes after all that happens that take took place all things will be a new creation where God will dwell with his people forever and ever Hallelujah and then we have the conclusion chapter 22 verse 6 21 final exhortations yes at the end final exhortations exhortations to faithfulness and the promise of Christ's coming believe me my beloved students believe Christ
is coming somebody might say well since the the days of the Apostles they were saying that the Christ were coming throughout the Reformation they all always said that Christ is coming and uh today you you are hearing me Christ is coming he's just about so the book it's here there's an ex exhortation to be faithful and to to be faithful to the promises of Christ because he's coming he's coming for you he's coming for me he's coming for us I pray that there's no doubt in your heart if you need help in understanding this you
can call the University you can call the teachers you can call me I will be Mar GL to help you out invitation then to life invitation to drink from the Water of Life and final blessings and the final bless blessings yes this is the division of the Book of Revelation the apocalypses okay well after all let me bring to you the key verse in the entirety of the book is revelation 22 verse 13 that reads I am the Alpha and the the Omega the first and the last the beginning and the end who says that
Christ Jesus the Lord who revealed this to John I am the alpha the first letter of the Greek alphabet and I am the Omega the last letter of the Greek alphabet emphasizing I am the first and I'm the last last I am the beginning I am the end he stating at you were there at the beginning Genesis chapter 1 first verse when says at the beginning God the word god Elohim comprises of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit he were there and I I am the end and he is the last one and
he's coming this verse encapsulates the sovereignty and Eternity of Christ summarizing the central message of the book about God's Supremacy over time and history the key statements of the book Christ sovereignty judgment and reward renewal and hope and perseverance Christ sovereignty Jesus Christ is the Lord over all history and he will triumph over evil judgment and reward the end times will bring judgment for the wicked and eternal reward for the faithful renewal God will establish a new Heaven and a new Earth where he will dwell with his people hope and perseverance Believers are encouraged to
persevere in faith amidst tribulations trusting in God's final Victory Hallelujah literally J it's important for us to understand the literary J we have as a j this book is apocalyptic why Revelation belongs to the apocalyptic literary uh characterized by Vision symbols and vivid imagery uh to reveiew spiritual truth and prophecies about the future prophetic besides being apocalyptic the book is also prophetically conveying Direct in messages from God about future events uh epistolary uh the letter uh to the seven churches at the beginning of the book give it an epistolary character addressing a specific message to
real Christian Community now the historical content Roman persecution this book were written during a period of Christian persecution likely under Emperor uh domian uh around 81 to 96 we're going to talk about the date of the book but the the mission uh emperorship were around 81 to 96 Revelation provides Comfort uh and hope to Believers facing uh oppression and martyrdom situation of the churches the church the seven churches of Asia Minor faced various challenges from external persecution to internal doctrinal and moral issues the book addresses these issues D directly uh as I mentioned before the
book gave us Direction not only brings us a scare moment thematic Union Revelation is uh unified by its Central message of God's sovereignty and Christ is triumph over evil despite its uh complex uh uh visions and symbols the theme of divine Victory and eternal hope pervades the entire works okay there is a Unity uh in this uh Central message uh in the central message of uh this book now uh the the authorship okay the authorship the author identifies himself as a John once you start to read the Revelation in chapter 1 4 9228 uh traditionally
this John is identify with the Apostle John the author of The Gospel of John and the Janine uh Epistles however listen is the John the the Beloved disciple of Jesus Christ who wrote In This Book okay however some Scholars they try to complicate and they try to uh uh connect this book to another uh Christian Prophet but this is so weak that there's no um basis enough basis for that um we don't have time to discuss uh things like this but um the recipients of the book uh seven churches of Asia okay and we already
uh spoke a little bit about the the churches Ephesus Philadelphia and and these churches represent different spiritual uh conditions and challenges faced by Christians of the time and throughout times until now the same thing those seven churches experience we do today the same challenges that those brothers and sisters has we already we we all have today so that makes a whole sense for us there's a universal application for it oh before going there Universal application although this book addresses these specific churches the message have a universal application for all believers throughout history even including me
and you and location and date yeah a location that he wrote this book he were in the Patos Island that is a Greek island okay and U I just want to mention John he was a pastor in Ephesus because of his preaching his teaching people around they just come about it to condemned him because they were concerned because of his teachings his teachings were were uh changing the city uh and uh CH taking people from serving other godess I mean it was a a real disruption uh the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ we
need to know once we leave and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ when Christ is in it changes will come transformation will come for sure and definitely so here were a pastor in AES and then he were uh persecuted he were prosecuted by the emperor most like do dominician and they sent him to the island of pmus where you were there until die until death and where he have the Revelation uh of of it here we have a picture more recently I visit with that region uh a couple of weeks ago and this is a
a nice place of a monastery John's Monastery in the island of patimos okay uh and here is a cave many attribute that John some of his Revelation he has in this place uh in the island of Patmos and uh uh the same picture just to illustrate it but the date the composition date is generally placed between the 90 and 19 of our times during The Reign and of the emperor do domian known for his persecution of Christians this Emperor he were very vicious and he persecuted the Christians to death and John were sent to the
island of Patmos where where he stood that there until he died because of the preaching of the gospel and matters of inter interpreting Revelation remember once once I mentioned to you that the the the there's a lot of ways of interpreting and understand uh the apocalypsis and some people they make some cases uh to interpret that concerns me a lot okay we need to stay close to the Bible okay and there are some methods to interpret fist preterist historical idealist or symbolic and eclectic okay on the material you uh on the PDF you will have
uh a clear explanation for each one of those so with all that that say folks we end right here and I couldn't be more thankful for the opportunity to walk with you throughout this semester in introduction introduct uh uh introductory of the New Testament studying and visiting each one of the books of the New Testament ending now with the apocalypse my prayer is this that you understand um exactly the plans of God to your life and wherever you go whatever you do make sure that you are in him because I would love to meet with
you in glory my hugs and God bless you see you sometimes bye-bye
