During this study, we will mention a new book by Doug Van Dorn, "The Rings of Revelation" While I don't necessarily agree with his conclusions, he has done some excellent work on textual analysis. That I do find very useful.

• Revelation24 1 Introduction and Discussion of Symbols

  Media File
  Discussion of end times perspectives and why the Tanak can provide context and commentary on the symbols in Revelation. Chapter 1, the Risen Lord. His explanation of the lampstand and the seven stars.

• Revelation 2 - Letters to the Churches

  Media File
  Christ dictated letters to seven churches in Asia Minor. These letters correlate with the seven Kingdom Parables in Matthew and with Paul's pastoral letters to seven churches. While these were seven actual churches active at the time of John's vision, there are other ways to look at the letters. The symbols used in the letters appear elsewhere in the TANAK.

• Revelation 3 - Letters to the Churches

  Media File
  Letters to Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. These churches form the second half of the chiasm described in last week's recording. Discussion of each church's strengths and weaknesses.

• Revelation 4-5, Ceremony in the Throne Room

  Media File
  John is invited into the Heavenly Throne Room where he sees God and the Lamb. The arrangement of that heavenly venue is mirrored in the stellar constellations. The ceremony John witnesses is the delivery of a sealed scroll to the Lamb - the only one in creation who is worthy to receive and open it.

• Revelation 6-8, The Seven Seals

  Media File
  Once it was determined that the Lamb was worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, the unsealing process began. Since the scroll represents the legal title to the earth, as each seal is removed, there is a corresponding reaction on the earth. The first six seals seem to be sequential in time and then there is an out of sequence vignette where the 144,000 are sealed.