Revelation, chapter 1, introduction

Revelation 1

An Introduction, then verse selection for Chapter 1

Verse selection below

   In my own study of the prophecies, I strive for interpretations consistent with the context and with the rest of the inspired Word. That means digging deeply into any passage to find a harmonious picture. We can't take a few isolated verses and hang our whole belief system on them. Still, it's good to meditate on isolated verses and prayerfully ask for the blessing God has in them for us. Then, as we have opportunity, we should study the context and compare with other verses.
   I consider my interpretations basically sound although improvements and corrections are always in order when new light is discovered. We must always study for ourselves no matter who is telling us what they think is truth. And truth is tested by the Scriptures (Isa. 8:20; 2 Tim. 3:16, 17; Matt. 4:4; John 17:17).

Chiastic structure
   The Revelation of Jesus Christ which we are about to study is a marvelous book. Before starting to move through it, I'd like to look at the overall book. It has an interesting literary structure — a chiasm (KI-as-um, I as in "kite"). It's named for the Greek letter chi (same pronounced KI) which looks like our X. We find the structure in many books and passages in the Bible. Many of the Psalms have it. I believe the whole Bible has that structure, in fact — not every word and chapter, but the theme is from paradise lost to paradise restored with the cross in the middle. Basically it is a series of thematic blocks of text which match by level like a style. The pattern is like A B C D E D' C' B' A' When you see a similarity between the beginning and end of a passage, you have a clue that it might be a chiasm. On another page, I will lay out the block at the beginning and at the end of the book. Below I'll make up a chiastic pattern:

    He stopped the car by a house.
        A dog barked as he approached the door.
            His girlfriend came out and they chatted happily for a few minutes
        while her cat slept on the porch.
    He returned to his car and drove home.

Do you see how line 1 matches 5? Movement of the young man in the car is one element. The destinations are also a pair. Line 2 matches 4, and 3 makes a nice centerpiece. One sentence is split with one part being the center and the next part matching the dog and the dog's activity. This is a chiasm. It is a poetic form used often in the Bible especially in the apocalyptic books and the psalms.

Ted Wade

Chapter 1, verse selection
. Understanding is often developed in preceding verses so you might want to move back to begin reading. For a verse not listed, choose the verse before it. And always remember to pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

0	About the book and its literary structures (above)

1a	The revelation of Jesus Christ
1b	The long short time
2	Two channels of revelation
3	A magnificent promise
4	For whom was the book written
5	Great fullness of Christ
7a	Behold He is coming !
7b	The rapture and the visible coming
9	John's experience, channels of light
10	Which is the Lord's day?
11	A book for the seven churches; is it also for us?
13	The glorified Christ
20	Keys to understanding the seven churches
N3	How to understand the Bible

X	Other discussions about the day of worship
y	Links for discussions about death and heaven
S	Study questions

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