 he Drama of Redemption that began with Genesis chapter 3 comes to a climactic conclusion in Revelation, the last book of the Bible. God’s Romantic Comedy Restores all that He promised so long ago in human history. According to Quentin Stewart, a major theme of Revelation is “Victory through defeat and sacrifice. The Lamb of God and His saints overcome the world even while clothed in weakness. Ironically Victory comes through Defeat.” Christians throughout the ages are to persevere & overcome suffering. We have seen that God’s Drama of Redemption takes place in Two Acts with an Interlude or intermission. Genesis 1-11 is the Prologue of Creation & God’s initial dealings with man & sin. Genesis 11 - Malachai 4 completes Act 1; followed by an interlude of no canonical revelation for about 400 years between the Testaments of our present Bible.
 ct 2 begins with Matthew & runs thru Jude. The epilogue & consummation of God’s dramatic redemptive story, then, climaxes with the book of Revelation. Throughout the scriptures we read & learn of God’s Redeeming purpose expressed thru the Patriarchs, the Exodus, the giving of the Law of Israel, the Kings, the Prophets, the first Advent of Jesus Christ, the beginning of the Church of Christ, the work of the early Apostles, their letters to the churches. All in all the Bible gives us an unfolding progression of divine revelation expressed variously thru the covenants, the dispensations, the men & women of God who lived & died in the light of God’s romantic comedy, faithfully living out God’s consistent Transforming Reversals of Fortune. It is these Reversals of Fortune that mark the book of Revelation. Two words capture these cross-Covenantal, cross-Dispensational transforming reversals of fortune: God’s Grace. God does for us & His world what we are helpless to accomplish for ourselves. That is the Drama of Redemption expressed as Romantic Comedy. What began so badly with Paradise Lost ends so wonderfully with Paradise Regained for the Redeemed of the Lord, the bride of Christ. Finally, God’s Love is requited, His Judicial Sovereignty is exonerated. In the end, God enables us to Repent & to Overcome the world by His Grace.
 evelation is Grand Central Station for the whole of God’s Word revealed to us throughout the Bible. Revelation includes at least 50 direct quotes & over 290 direct allusions from the Old & New Testament scriptures (See chart & go over some of the scriptures). Prominent books of the Bible that play a revealing part of Revelation are Isaiah (46 references), Daniel (31 references), Ezekiel (29 references), Psalms (27 references). Since the Bible is intertextual, in some fashion, almost all of the books of the Bible are alluded to. However, this is not to say that Revelation does not have its own message and vocabulary, its own unique rhetoric and personal style. G. Scroggie has counted up 107 words used nowhere else in the Bible. Part of the challenge for interpreting Revelation is the absolute newness of some words & imagery mixed in with the words & symbols used throughout the Bible. Finally, Revelation strikes us as a rich mosaic of the old & new finely pieced together into a prophetic whole for the church & the world to learn from yesterday, today, & into the future. It is truly the Alpha & Omega of God’s Transforming Words of Revelation. Some considerations for the Study of Revelation:
Authorship/Date
Comparisons to other writings by the Apostle John
Emperor Worship
Geography/Background of the Churches
1st Century Persecution of Christians
Cultural Setting & Purpose of Revelation
Prophetic/Apocalyptic/Letter Genres
Interpretation of the Symbols (use of numbers, cities, places, dramatic actors/animals)
Methods of Interpreting Revelation
Actual Text of Revelation & Canonicity
Language & Grammar
Use of the Old Testament
Unity & Literary Structure
Three Outlines (simple, dramatic, complete)
Theology of Revelation
lso consider:
- Futility of Satan
- Christology
- Holy Spirit
- Cosmic Warfare
- Theodicy
- Perseverance of the Saints
- Worship/Hymns/Music/Revelation as grand Opera
 IKE / NIKOS / NIKAO (Victor / Winner / Victory / Overcomer / Overcoming)
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