The Art of Revelation Taking a step back The First 7 Roman Emperors Rev 17:10 "Five have fallen..." • • • • • Julius Caesar (49-44 BC) Augustus (27BC- AD14) Tiberius (AD14-37) Caligula (AD37-41) Claudius (AD41-54) "one is.." • Nero (AD54-68) "the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while." • Galba (June AD68 - January AD69, a six month rulership) Old Testament Timeline? • • • • • • • • Adam and Eve (The garden of Eden) Noah Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Egyptian slavery , Moses (the exodus) Joshua The Judges King Saul King David King Solomon ....then it gets tricky? • After Solomon - Israel divided - both sides go into decline with many evil rulers but Israel is majorly worse than Judah • Elijah and Elisha fight against the tide of evil • Isaiah, Ezekiel and Jeremiah prophesy about the coming destruction upon Jerusalem for her wickedness • Babylon brings destruction on Judah and takes Daniel and others. Assyria destroys the Northern kingdom, whose 10 tribes are now gone from history • Daniel writes book while in Babylonia captivity • Esther protect her people from destruction whilst in captivity • Finally the exile in Babylon ends and the Israelites return to Jerusalem. They rebuild the city and then the Temple under Ezra and Nehemiah • Between Solomon and Nehemiah are the smaller books of minor prophets. The Medium of Revelation and Ezekiel Content Revelation Ezekiel The Throne Vision 4 1 The Book 5 2-3 The Four Plagues 6:1-8 5 The Slain under the Altar 6:9-11 6 The Wrath of God 6:12-17 7 The Seal on the Saints foreheads 7 9 The Coals from the Altar 8 10 No more delay 10:1-7 12 The Eating of the Book 10:8-11 2 The Measuring of the Temple 11:1-2 40-43 Jerusalem and Sodom 11:8 16 The comparison continued... Content Revelation Ezekiel The Cup of Wrath 14 23 The Vine of the Land 14:18-20 15 The Great Harlot 17-18 16,23 The Lament over the City 18 27 The Scavengers’ Feast 19 39 The First Resurrection 20:4-6 37 The Battle with God and Magog 20:7-9 38-39 The New Jerusalem 21 40-48 The River of Life 22 47 The timing fulfilment... • • • • • • • • What must shortly take place (Rev 1:1) For the time is near (Rev 1:3) I am coming to you quickly (Rev 2:16 & 3:11) The third woe is coming quickly (Rev 11:14) The things which must shortly take place (Rev 22:6) Behold, I am coming quickly (Rev 22:7 & 12) For the time is near (Rev 22:10) Yes I am coming quickly (Rev 22:20) A text cannot mean what it never could have meant to its author or his or her readers.” Gordon Fee 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 Revelation 1:1