Not Easy the book of Revelation (Apocalypse)!
The book of Revelation is unique in its literary style. We are no longer used to them and the images, symbols, descriptions can leave us perplexed, frighten us, and even discourage us in our reading.
An Essential Reading
However, these revelations are encouragements given by God to the first recipients who know or will experience persecution. This book is not only for them but also for us:
“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of prophecy and keep what is written therein, for the time is near!” Revelation chapter 1, verse 3.
Contrary to popular belief, the central point of the book is not in the register of predictions (although there are many that demonstrate the inevitable victory of Christ), but in what Christ has already accomplished. Deliverance is not yet to come, it has already taken place:
“To him who loves us, who has washed us from our sins with his blood and made us a kingdom, priests for God his Father, to him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever! Amen! » Revelation chapter 1, verse 5b-6
Respect the particular literary style of the Apocalypse!
It is by respecting the unique literary style of Apocalypse and by seeking to understand the meaning for the first listeners (yes, this letter was read in the assemblies: Revelation 1. 3) that Pierre Constant leads this series of studies scriptures followed by the book of Revelation so that we can all be strengthened as the first recipients.
Who is teacher ?
Pierre Constant has been Associate Professor of the New Testament at Toronto Baptist Seminary (https://tbs.edu) since 2003.
Married with four adult children, Pierre and his wife, along with his family, serve at the Plateau Christian Church in Gatineau, Quebec (https://eglise-plateau.ca).
In addition to his responsibilities as a full-time professor, Pierre is involved in the training of young adults as a mentor and facilitator, teacher and trainer with university students.
Also committed to developing teaching materials, he also serves as a preacher and teacher at conferences in Canada and Europe.
Pierre Constant is the author of “Survol des évangiles”, a training manual published by the Séminaire Baptiste Évangélique du Québec.
Videos (Apocalypse playlist on YouTube in French ) and notes in pdf format on the subject of the book of revelation are made available and form an integral and detailed commentary on the book of Revelation. The bible studies made available here are a direct translation of the original French version available on our website under Etude bibliques=> Apocalypse. Links to verses all point to the King James Version (KJV bible). The KJV Bible is available as an audio podcast:
Revelation #14b: (chap 22) – An open book
If many people perceive Revelation as a difficult book to understand, full of 'mysteries' and incomprehensible symbols, muddled announcements of predictions about the future, if many see only promises little related to the present world , the final chapter sets things right. This chapter (1) reminds us of the aim of the whole book, (2) it certifies the truth of the testimony given therein, (3) it brings its main character back to the fore, and (4) it indicates the relevance of all this revelation for the present time. Revelation is not a book that is lost in the future, but a divine message that challenges us in the present time.
Revelation #14: (chap 21) -New heavens, new earth, new Jerusalem
After the judgments, after the suffering, the martyrs, the total victory against the dragon, the beast and the false prophet, after the last judgment, John finally turns to heavenly bliss, to the new heavens and the new earth, the new Jerusalem, the Lamb's bride.
Revelation #13b : The 1,000 Year Reign – Revelation 20
Even before distinguishing the various schools of thought, it is worth quoting in full certain warnings written by Frédéric Buhler already more than fifty years ago: No prophetic view is entirely immune to objections. None agrees perfectly with all the biblical texts. One could even believe that there is a providential intention in the imprecision of certain teachings. If certain future events are well attested by the Scriptures (corporeal and glorious return of Christ, resurrection of the dead, removal of resurrected or transformed believers, final judgment, destruction of the earth with the works it contains, appearance of a new earth and new heavens where justice will dwell), the sequence of events is not given to us with enough precision to enable us to establish a detailed and rigid program. We also note among the proponents of each thesis a variety of nuances. That said, we can roughly distinguish four schools of thought on this subject:
Revelation #13 : The return of the king chapter 19
Revelation 19 accomplishes two things: • it resumes the fall of Babylon (19.1-11), itself being subdivided into two parts (under the angle of two women) : o the judgment of the great harlot (vv. 1-4), o and the announcement of the marriage of the Lamb with his bride (vv. 5-11). • This chapter then presents the return of the King (19.11-21), again from two angles: o the victory of the King of kings accompanied by the celestial armies (vv. 11-16), o and the complete and utter defeat of the beast, the false prophet, and the kings of the earth and their armies (vv. 17-21). This chapter is actually a flash, a quick snapshot of what will be covered in more detail in chapters 20–22. Let us remember that apocalyptic literature is very rarely chronological; rather it works by sequence of images, similar to a movie trailer.
Revelation #12 : The fall of Babylon the great chapter 17-18
After the three cycles of judgments (seals, trumpets and bowls), John returns to a theme he has already discussed: the judgment of Babylon (Revelation 14.8), or the destruction of the throne of the beast (evoked during the fifth and sixth trumpets, as “God remembered Babylon the great”—Revelation 16:19). We have once again clues to the effect that the Apocalypse presents us with a series of "flashes" of which some are superimposed on each other.
Revelation #11 : The 144,000 in the Bible, the harvest and the vials, the mark of the beast 666 – chap 14-16
Many children of God are concerned and worried about the mark of the beast , the number 666 ; they fear receiving it involuntarily and thus being excluded from the presence of God for eternity. Speculation about the meaning of the number 666 of the beast is rife and continues to feed the religious imagination. The good news is that if we are children of God, we cannot receive the mark of the beast, simply because we have received another mark, another sign: the seal of God, the seal of the Lamb. It happens that the division into chapters in our Bibles does not help us to clearly perceive the continuation of the story; this is the case here, between chapters 13 and 14 of Revelation: Revelation 14 .1-5 comes immediately after the paragraph dealing with the sign of the beast 666 (Revelation 13.16-18 ). One is placed immediately after the other, with the aim of signaling the contrast between the two signs, between belonging to the beast or belonging to God. One of the fundamental truths of the book of Revelation is that there are only two clans: that of God and the Lamb.
Revelation Bible Study #10 : The Woman, the Child, the Dragon, and the Two Beasts, the Mark of the Beast “666” – chap 12–13
When trying to analyze certain events and determine their causes, several answers are possible. What are the difficulties the Church has to face due to: her own sins, economic, other causes sucsh as political, cultural, sociological causes? The identity of this woman is debated, partly depending on whether one interprets the text literally or metaphorically. Some see it as a reference to Mary giving birth to the Messiah. Others see it as a reference to the Church.
Revelation Bible Study #9 : The book, the city, the two witnesses of Revelation – chapters 10–11
In Revelation 10-11, we therefore have essentially two elements: first an angel having a small book opened that John is called to swallow (Revelation 10), and then the holy city and the two witnesses (Revelation 11.1-14), after which the seventh trumpet sounds (11.15-19). The symbolism is denser and more opaque in these chapters, but it is not impossible to understand. Let us remember once again that we are in the midst of apocalyptic literature, and that the symbols there are many.
Revelation Bible Study #8: ; God judges the earth and the inhabitants of the earth (chap 8,9)
As a reminder, we have also seen that the relationship between the seals, the trumpets and the vials was not necessarily in chronological sequence but that each of the heptads, each of the groups of seven (judgments), essentially repeated the whole of the judgments of God upon the inhabitants of the earth, i.e. on a world that prefers darkness to light. Thus the opening of the 7th seal, after the description of a great judgment during the opening of the 6th seal (Revelation 6.12 -17), gives rise to a silence of half an hour, followed by a new cycle of 7 judgments, the trumpets. In a way, the 7th seal consists of the following trumpets.
Revelation Bible Study #7 ; THE OPENING OF THE SEALS , the 144,000 in Revelation, chap 7
Revelation (Apocalypse) #7 ; THE OPENING OF THE SEALS , the 144,000 in Revelation Revelation #7 THE OPENING OF THE SEALS, God’s people persevere “For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall take care of them, and shall lead them unto springs of the waters of life, and God shall wipe […]
Revelation Bible Study #6: ; Opening of the 7 Seals, Judgement to Come ; chap 6
Revelation (Apocalypse) #6: ; Opening of the 7 Seals, Judgement will Come ; chapter 6 Introduction We saw the last time the vision of the throne room (Revelation 4-5). In this view, Jesus, the Lamb who obtained the victory by his death and who is worthy of all honor in the same way as he […]
Revelation Bible Study #5: ; The Vision from the room with the Throne Room (Part II) chapter 5
Revelation (Apocalypse) #5: ; The Vision from the room with the Throne Room (Part II) chapter 5 God worshiped because He is redeemer “The Lamb that was offered in sacrifice is worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and praise.” Revelation 5.12 After the frame, here is now the content of the vision: […]
Revelation Bible Study #4: The vision from the room with the throne ; chap 4
“Worthy are you, our Lord and our God, [you the Holy One,] to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things and by your will they were created and 'they exist.' Revelation 4.11. These two chapters should be read together. Chapter 4 is actually the framework, while Chapter 5 presents the content of what will be presented later, from Chapters 6 to 19.
Revelation Bible Study #3: The Letters of the Son of Man to the 7 Churches of the Apocalypse ; chap 3
The study of revelation continues with the 2nd part of the letters of the Son of Man to the 7 churches. We study the 4 remaining churches in chapter 3: The Ephesus, Sardis and Laodicea. The chapter concludes with the very well known verses : Revelation 3:20 . Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Revelation Bible Study #2: The Letters of the Son of Man to the 7 Churches of the Apocalypse
Each Church receives a letter which is addressed to it in particular, but all the Churches have read all the letters (cf. Rev. 1.4, 11); certain teachings are given so that “all the churches know . . . (2.23). Examination of the letters to Ephesus, Smyrna and Pergamon.
Revelation Bible Study #1: Introduction (Chapter 1)
Introduction to the book of Revelation. It is a book to warn, to console. A book addressed to the Christians of Asia Minor of the first century to warn them, to console them because of the persecution of Christians. It is the revelation of Jesus Christ, that is to say from Jesus Christ or about Him.