Apocalypse and Revelation

The Apocalypse

• The final destruction of the world
• The end of time as we know it
• Described in detail in the Book of Revelation

Revelation

• The last book of the New Testament
• Known as the apocalypse of John of Patmos (the writer)
• A series of prophetic visions and warnings
• Includes monsters and beasts
• Culminates in the second coming of Jesus Christ

Video

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jftOwxJWdRc

Judgement Day

• According to the Bible; God will decide who will spend eternity with him in Heaven
• The rest are sent to Hell

Judgement Day'cont

• (Genesis 2:15-17; Romans 5:12.)
• The first human couple rebelled against God. As a result, they lost the prospect of eternal life for themselves and brought sin and death to all of their descendants.
• A period of 1000 years during which humans will have the opportunity to regain what Adam and Eve lost.

The Revelation of Jesus

• Communicated to John of Patmos through prophetic visions
• John is told to write everything he hears or sees

The Seven Churches of Asia

• Ephesus- denies all evil and tests those who say they are apostles and are not
• Smyrna- acts rich when poor
• Pergamum- holds fast to God's name and never denies their faith
• Thyatira- perform works of love, service, faith, and patience

Important Churches Continued

• Sardis- Warned to strengthen their faith
• Philadelphia- keeps Gods word and never denied his name
• Laodicea- Warned to repent their sins

Purpose of Churches

• Each church had a specific task
• Each task would lead to apocalypse
• Church in this context actually means community

The Throne of God

• Appears with 24 other thrones with 24 elders seated in them
• A lion, an ox, a man, and an eagle are introduced
• A scroll with seven seals is presented
• A lamb with seven eyes and seven horns receives the scroll

The Seven Seals

• The seals are similar to the signs of the end of the age as described by Jesus in Matthew 24.
• a horseman is released once a seal on each scroll is opened by the Lamb(Jesus)
• Releasing a series of apocolyptic events

The horsemen

• First seal: White horse, rider holding a bow (conquest)
• Second seal: Red Horse, rider wielding a sword(war)
• Third seal: Black Horse: rider holding a pair of scales(famine)
• Fourth seal: Pale Horse, rider being followed closely by hades

The Seven Trumpets

• Each is sounded by an angel
• Like the scrolls, they will set off more apocalyptic events

Seven Spirituals Figures

• A woman- pregnant
• A dragon- tries to eat her baby
• 4 beasts- like devils who want to rule earth
• A lamb- fights the beasts on Mount Zion

Seven Bowls

• Get poured onto earth
• Make the earth unliveable
• Blood, fire, and darkness

Judgement

• The beasts and false prophets are thrown into fire
• The dragon is imprisoned for 1000 years; then sent into fire
• Martyrs live with God

The New Heaven

• Heaven replaces earth
• No more suffering or death
• Sin is ended
• The tree of life heals the sinners

The Number 7

• Used 860 times throughout the Bible and 54 times in The Book of Revelation.
• The Sabbath is the 7th day
• Religiously thought to be the number of completeness and perfection

The Mayan Calender

• The calendar dates back to at least the 5th century BCE and is still in use in a few Mayan communities today.
• First calendar to predict the end of the world
• 21 December 2012, was the date the originally predicted

Relation to Text

• Mumbo Jumbo - the Jes Grew plague
• Revelation includes plague
• Hearing Trumpet members of home prepare for end of the world
• Sun no longer shines, very cold

Quotes

• Page 162 - " The sun had not risen. Something really cataclysmic must be afoot."
• Page 167 - "The trees shook with a force that might have been the wind. Yet the cold air was still."

Discussion Questions

• Can you think of any other religions or societies that have their own interpretation of the end of the world?
• Do you believe in the possibility of an apocalypse?
• Why do you think people are so interested in the end of the world?

Sources

• http://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/7.html
• http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/apocalypse/explanation/brevel...
• http://www.drbo.org/chapter/73001.htm