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LESSON 02 - The Revelation Of Jesus Christ

INTRODUCTION 2 OF 3

The KEYS to Understanding the Book of Revelation[1]

A REMINDER

These lessons are written as an accompanment to
Charles C. Ryrie's [1996] Book
REVELATION
Everyday Bible Commentary
Moody Publishers
Chicago
ISBN: 978-0-8024-1825-8
(You Must Own your own copy)
(Ryrie's book text is not included in these lessons)

Key Number 1: PROPER INTERPRETATION

The Pre-Tribulational View

Reasons for holding to this interpretive view:

Contemporary eschatology, accordingly, hinges on the question of whether the Bible is what it claims to be, the inspired Word of God, and, therefore, is authoritative in prophecy and in history and constitutes an accurate, divine revelation. Those accepting the Bible as inspired continue to be divided on the issue of whether prophecy should be interpreted absolutely literal, normal-literal, or non-literally. Those choosing a normal-literal interpretation are almost invariably premillenarian. The opinions of those adhering to a non-literal interpretation vary widely and normally deny a future millennium. The are, therefore, classified as amillennial, as are those who reject inspiration.

At the outset of any attempt to interpret the prophecies of the Bible, the interpreter faces two decisions: whether or not he believes the Bible is inspired and what method of interpretation he will follow. The literal interpretation of prophecy provides some uniformity in agreement among those who follow this method, but the non-literal method turns the interpreter loose on the broad sea of varying opinions which usually involve a measure of unbelief as to any specific program of future events. Accordingly, for those who reject the literal interpretation of prophecy, it is almost impossible to find any areas of major agreement. The adherents of the non-literal method usually turn away from eschatology as a major area of theological study.

Key Number 2: UNDERSTANDING JESUS CHRIST

Jesus Christ is the center of theology (the study of Biblical doctrine: Angelology; Anthropology; Bibliology; Christology, Soteriology, Systematic Theology Proper [including the Trinity]) and eschatology (the study of Biblical future time and events).

Specific verses:

Romans 14:11 Every knee shall bow to Him.

1 Corinthians 15:24-28 He is the Victor over Satan, sin & death.

Genesis 3:15 He is the offspring of Eve.

Genesis 12:3 All the Earth is blessed in Him.

Genesis 17:19 He is a descendent of Isaac.

Genesis 28:14 He is a descendent of Jacob.

Genesis 49:10 He is a descendent of Judah.

Psalm 110:4 Predicts His Priesthood – According to the order of Melchizedek.

Deuteronomy 18:15, 17-18 The Lord God says, “I will raise up a Prophet like you (Moses) from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him.”

2 Samuel 7:12-16 He will be a descendent of David.

2 Samuel 7:16; Psalm 2:4-5; 1:10; Isaiah 9:6-7; Daniel 7:13-14; Micah 5:2; Zechariah 9:9 His Lineage shall reign forever.

Psalm 2:6-9 His utter triumph

Psalm 16:10 His Resurrection

Psalm 26:6 He is King on Jerusalem

Psalm 22:1-18 Description of His death

Psalm 72; 89 His Millennial Reign

Isaiah 7:14 His virgin birth

Best Quote Ever: Isaiah 9:6-7

Isaiah 50:4-7; 50:13-52:12 His humiliation & death

Isaiah 61:1; Daniel 9:25-26 The Spirit of God is upon Him (Luke 4:16-19).

Micah 5:2 He is born in Bethlehem.

Zechariah 9:9; 11:12-13; 13:6-7; Malachi 3:1; Matthew 11:10; Mark 1:2; Luke 7:27 He is Israel’s King.

He is King of King’s and Lord of Lords:
2 Samuel 7:1-17; Psalm 89:35-36; Isaiah 9:6-7; Jeremiah 23:5-8, Jeremiah 6; Luke 1:31-33; Matthew 25:31; Acts 2:29-31; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28; Revelation 20:4-6; Psalm 72:8-11; Isaiah 2:1-4:11; Jeremiah 23:5-8; Daniel 7:14; Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 19:15-16.

The Humanity of Christ
The doctrine of the humanity of Christ is absolutely essential to the Christian faith, for without His genuine humanity, He would not have had a genuine death on the cross and could not have fulfilled His work as prophet, priest, and king. John 1:14, Hebrews 2:14; Hebrews 10:5; Matthew 26:38; Mark 14:34; Matthew 27:50.

The Deity of Christ
Both the Old Testament and the New Testament bear abundant testimony to the deity of Christ. Isaiah 9:6-7; 7:14; John 1:1-2; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 13:8; 1:10-12; Revelation 1:8; Philippians 3:21; John 2:24-25; 21:17; Revelation 2:19; Matthew 18:20; 3:13

An Eternal Purpose[2]
Though the people of Israel, by choice, rejected and crucified their messiah, they were carrying out God's sovereign purpose; for in God's plan, the death of Christ would result from His rejection by Israel. Here we have another illustration of the fathomless truth of the coexistence of human responsibility and divine sovereignty (Acts 2:22-23; 4:27-28).

Because the nation rejected its Messiah, God's program for Israel is held in abeyance temporarily while God introduces another purpose, His purpose concerning the Church (Rom. 11:11-12,15,25; Matt. 16:18; Eph. 3:1-6).

This clear differentiation seen in the Word between God's purposes for Israel and the Church must be grasped if one is to understand the Old Testament and New revelation concerning the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. According to the New Testament, God's purpose for the Church must be completed and the Church translated to meet the Lord in the air before God resumes, in the tribulation period, His program with Israel nationally with a view toward bringing to fulfillment His eternal promises to that nation.

The Second Coming
Prophecies of Christ’s second coming are a major theme in both the Old and New Testaments. Deuteronomy 30:3; Psalm 2:1-9; 24:1-10; 50:1-5; 96:10-13; 110:1; Isaiah 9:7; 11:10-12; 63:1-6; Jeremiah 23:5-6; Ezekiel 37:21-22; Daniel 2:44-45; 7:13-14; Hosea 3:4-4; Micah 4:7; Zechariah 2:10-12; 6:12-13; 12:10; 13:1-9; 14:3-4. Matthew 19:28; 23:39; 24:27-31; 25:6; 31-46; Luke 12:35-40; 17:24-36; 18:8; 21:25-28; Thessalonians 2:8; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; James 5:7-8; 2 Peter 3:3-4; Jude 1:14-15; Revelation 1:7-8; 2:25-28; 16:15; 19:11-21; 20:4-6; 22:20.

KEY NUMBER 3: UNDERSTANDING THE COVENANTS
THE BIBLICAL COVENANTS
BETWEEN GOD AND MANKIND

The Biblical covenants form the unifying thread of God’s saving action through Scripture, reaching fulfillment in the New Covenant, ratified through the shed Blood of Jesus Christ.

In the background of the Scriptures is God’s plan whereby in the end result, He will be seen as absolutely holy and righteous through the entire process. Salvation offered based upon the individual’s personal faith in God would be His desire as the outcome of each stage of the process – found in each of the covenants.

One way to view this process is to envision each stage of time throughout the Scriptures as a test of each of the offerings to mankind for the taking on of His salvation offering. The reward for each test comes to fruition upon the death on the Cross of God’s Son, the Messiah, Jesus the Anointed Christ. The positive finished results of that plan produced His resurrection.

The Bible speaks of eight different covenants, four of which (Abrahamic, Palestinian, Mosaic, Davidic) God made with the nation of Israel. Of those four, three are unconditional in nature; that is, regardless of Israel’s obedience or disobedience, God still will fulfill these covenants with Israel. One of the covenants, the Mosaic Covenant, is conditional in nature. That is, this covenant will bring either blessing or cursing depending on Israel’s obedience or disobedience. Three of the covenants (Adamic, Noahic, and New) are made between God and mankind in general, and are not limited to the nation of Israel.

Within the discussion of the biblical covenants, there are a few issues that Christians are not agreed upon. First, some Christians think that all of the covenants are conditional in nature. If the covenants are conditional, then Israel failed miserably at fulfilling them. Others believe that the unconditional covenants have yet to be totally fulfilled and, regardless of Israel’s disobedience, will come to fruition sometime in the future. Second, how does the church of Jesus Christ relate to the covenants? Some believe that the church fulfills the covenants and God will never deal with Israel again. This is called replacement theology and has little scriptural evidence. Others believe that the church initially or partially will fulfill these covenants. While many of the promises towards Israel are still in the future, many believe that the church shares in the covenants in some way. Others believe that the covenants are for Israel and for Israel alone, and that the church has no part in these covenants.

1. The Edenic Covenant

The Edenic Covenant (innocence) and the Adamic Covenant (grace) (Genesis 3:16-19). The Edenic Covenant is found in Genesis 1:26-30; 2:16-17. The Edenic Covenant outlined man’s responsibility toward creation and God’s directive regarding the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

2. Adamic Covenant:

This covenant (innocence broken), made with Adam and Eve, was a covenant of works, meaning their obedience to God was required for them to remain in the garden and enjoy God's blessings. Their disobedience resulted in the fall of humanity.

The Adamic Covenant included the curses pronounced against mankind for the sin of Adam and Eve, as well as God’s provision for that sin (Genesis 3:15).

3. Noahic Covenant:

This covenant was announced prior to the flood (Gen. 6:18) but was established following the flood. God established this covenant with Noah, promising never to destroy the earth with a flood again, demonstrating His grace and mercy.

The Noahic Covenant was an unconditional covenant between God and Noah (specifically) and humanity (generally). After the Flood, God promised humanity that He would never again destroy all life on earth with a Flood (see Genesis chapter 9). God gave the rainbow as the sign of the covenant, a promise that the entire earth would never again flood and a reminder that God can and will judge sin (2 Peter 2:5). It is implied from the scope of this covenant that God’s redemptive goal will ultimately encompass the whole of creation.

COVENANTS WITH ISRAEL

4. Abrahamic Covenant:

Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:1-3, 6-7; 13:14-17; 15; 17:1-14; 22:15-18). In this covenant, God promised many things to Abraham. He personally promised that He would make Abraham’s name great (Genesis 12:2), that Abraham would have numerous physical descendants (Genesis 13:16), and that he would be the father of a multitude of nations (Genesis 17:4-5). God also made promises regarding a nation called Israel. In fact, the geographical boundaries of the Abrahamic Covenant are laid out on more than one occasion in the book of Genesis (12:7; 13:14-15; 15:18-21). Another provision in the Abrahamic Covenant is that the families of the world will be blessed through the physical line of Abraham (Genesis 12:3; 22:18). This is a reference to the Messiah, who would come from the family line of Abraham. Thus this covenant establishes God’s intention of creating a people through Abraham (because of his faith – both in originally following God and in his willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac at the calling of God (Genesis 22).

5. Palestinian Covenant

Palestinian Covenant (Deuteronomy 30:1-10). The Palestinian Covenant, or Land Covenant, amplifies the land aspect that was detailed in the Abrahamic Covenant. According to the terms of this covenant, if the people disobeyed, God would cause them to be scattered around the world (Deuteronomy 30:3-4), but He would eventually restore the land and the nation (verse 5). When the nation is fully restored, then they will obey Him perfectly (verse 8), and God will cause them to prosper (verse 9).

6. Mosaic Covenant (or Sinaitic Covenant):

Mosaic Covenant (Deuteronomy 11; et al.). This covenant (conditional), given through Moses, involved the giving of the Law to the Israelites. It established a formal relationship between God and Israel, with blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. In order to be God’s “treasured possession,” “kingdom of priests,” and “holy nation,” Israel must keep God’s covenant by submitting to its requirements (i.e., the stipulations set forth in Exod. 20–23). By adhering to these and the subsequent covenant obligations given at Sinai, Israel would be manifestly different from other nations and thus reflect God’s wisdom and greatness to surrounding peoples (cf. Deut. 4:6–8). Failing to do so would undermine the very reason for Israel’s existence – which was the establishing a royal line through which Abraham’s ultimate seed and covenant heir would eventually come (cf. Gal. 3:16).

The Mosaic Covenant was a conditional covenant that either brought God’s direct blessing for obedience or God’s direct cursing for disobedience upon the nation of Israel. Part of the Mosaic Covenant was the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) and the rest of the Law, which contained over 600 commands—roughly 300 positive and 300 negative. The history books of the Old Testament (Joshua–Esther) detail how Israel succeeded at obeying the Law and how Israel failed miserably at obeying the Law. Deuteronomy 11:26-28 details the blessing/cursing motif.

7. Davidic Covenant:
Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7:8-16). God promised David that his lineage would endure forever, establishing a royal line that would ultimately lead to the Messiah.

The Davidic Covenant amplifies the “seed” aspect of the Abrahamic Covenant. The promises to David in this passage are significant. God promised that David’s lineage would last forever and that his kingdom would never pass away permanently (verse 16). Obviously, the Davidic throne has not been in place at all times. There will be a time, however, when someone from the line of David will again sit on the throne and rule as king. This future king is Jesus (Luke 1:32-33).

8. New Covenant:
New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34). This covenant, established through Jesus Christ, is based on God's grace and forgiveness of sins. It is offered to all who believe Jesus, and believe in what He has accomplished, promising a transformed relationship with God and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This new inner renewal would result in the ideal divine-human relationship, which this and earlier covenants express in terms of the covenant formula: “I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

The New Covenant is a covenant made first with the nation of Israel and then ultimately with all mankind. In the New Covenant, God promises to forgive sin, and there will be a universal knowledge of the Lord. Jesus Christ came to fulfill the Law of Moses (Matthew 5:17) and create a new covenant between God and His people.

According to the NT Gospels and letters, the new covenant was ratified through Jesus’s death on the cross (cf. Matt. 26:28; Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20; 1 Cor. 11:25).

Now that we are under the New Covenant, both Jews and Gentiles can be free from the penalty of the Law. We are now given the opportunity to receive salvation as a free gift (Ephesians 2:8-9). Much of the New Covenant deals with the new Kingdom of Israel of the future millennial age.

[1] Walvoord, John F., “The Final Drama,” Kregel Publications, Grand Raids, MI, 1993

[2] McGahey, Dr. John F., Chairman, Department of Biblical Exposition, Philadelphia College of Bible, Philadelphia, PA, The PCB STORY, June, 1978

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2025-10-03