First Century Living: Understanding the Background of Revelation
Prague, Czech Republic,
October 2008
I.
The Importance of
Understanding the Historical Background
a.
This was written
to real people, in a real place, in a real time, by a real person.
II.
The Historical
Setting of Revelation Can Be Summarized With One Word: CONFLICT
a.
Conflict – when
two people or two kingdoms try to occupy the exact same space at the exact same
time.
b.
How do we know
there is conflict in Revelation?
i.
There are over 95
passages that refer to conflicts and/or oppositions.
1.
Rev. 1:9; 2:2, 3,
4, 5b, 6, 7b, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17b, 19b, 20-23, 26; 3:3, 9, 12, 16;
5:6, 9, 12; 6:2, 4, 6, 8b, 9, 11, 12-17;
7:2b, 14b; 8:5, 7, 8-9, 10-11, 12; 9:3-11, 15-19; 11:2b, 5, 7, 10b, 13, 18;
12:4, 7, 8-9, 12b, 13, 15-16, 17; 13:6, 7, 10b, 15, 16-17; 14:8, 9b-11, 12,
13a, 19-20; 16:1, 2, 3, 4, 5b, 6a, 6b, 8-9, 10-11, 14b, 19b; 17:6, 14, 16;
18:8b, 20b, 21, 24; 19:2, 15, 17b-18, 19, 20b-21; 20:2-3, 4a, 7-8, 9b, 10, 15;
22:18, 22.19.
ii.
Refer to the Maps
of: The Roman World and the Spread of Christianity in the Roman World.
c.
Who is in
Conflict and Why?
i.
God and Satan
1.
There are two
kingdoms that are trying to occupy the same space at the same time – people on
earth in the 1st century.
ii.
Christians and…
1.
Jews in the Roman
Empire
a.
History of the
Jewish Persecution
i.
Jews use Rome to
destroy Jesus (cf. Matt. 12:14; 21:33-46; 26:4; Mark 11:18; 12:1-12; 14:1; Luke
19:47; 20:9-19; John 5:18; 7:19, 25; 8:37, 40).
ii.
Jews persecute
early Christians (cf. Acts 7:54-60; 8:1-3; 9:1-6).
iii.
Jews persecute
Paul and his companions (cf. Acts 17:5-9, 13-15; 18:6; 21:27-36; 23:1-11,
12-22).
iv.
Jews persecute
Christians in Asia Minor, as recorded in the book of Revelation (cf. Rev. 2:9,
14, 20-24; 3:9).
b.
Reason for their
Persecution
i.
Christian Message
ii.
Christians and
Synagogues (cf. Acts 9:20; 13:5, 14, 42; 14:1; 17:1-2, 10, 17; 18:4, 19, 26;
19:8).
iii.
Christians were
attempting to occupy the same space at the exact same time.
c.
Result
i.
Jews attempt to
destroy Christianity through:
1.
Leading them
astray (2 Thess. 2:1-3)
2.
Stirring up
trouble for them (Acts 17:5, 13)
3.
Killing them
(John 19:6-16; Acts 7:54-60)
ii.
The problem was
that the Jews did not have the power to kill (although they found ways at
times). How did they accomplish this ultimate goal?
2.
Imperial Cult
a.
Definition –
Worshipping the emperor as a god
b.
Origin – Used as
a political tool to unify a diverse empire
c.
Perversion of the
System
i.
Caligula (A.D.
37-41)
ii.
Nero (A.D. 54-68)
iii.
Domitian (A.D.
81-96)
d.
The Essence of
the System (Empire-wide) – As a part of the Roman Empire, you can worship as
many other gods as you want, but all will worship the empire as the supreme
god.
e.
The Essence of
the Problem between the Roman Kingdom and the Kingdom of Christ
i.
The kingdom of
Rome and the Kingdom of Christ are trying to occupy the exact same space at the
exact same time – people on earth in the 1st century.
3.
Roman Society
a.
Christians were
accused by the Roman Society at large of being:
i.
Cannibals
ii.
Incestuous
iii.
Atheists
iv.
Anarchists
iii.
Result of these
conflicts
1.
Christians were
seen as a subversive threat to the prosperity of the Roman Empire and the unity
of Roman society.
2.
They were dealt
with harshly.
d.
What does the
Conflict Look Like?
i.
Physical
Persecution
1.
Oaths/Decrees of
Rome – Roman Empire unified under pledges to keep the empire pure of
dissension.
2.
Polycarp (A.D.
69-155) – Bishop of Smyrna martyred for his faith in Christ.
3.
Biblical Texts
(Matt. 5:11-12; Acts 5:17-41; Romans 5:1-5; 2 Cor. 2:3-11; 1 Thess. 1:6; 2:2,
14; 2 Thess. 1:5, 8; 1 Pet. 4:16; Rev. 1:9; 2:10ff.)
ii.
Non-Physical
Persecution
1.
Slander – See
“Roman Society” above.
2.
Attempts to
Deceive Christians with False Teachings (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3; 3:17)
3.
Social Seduction
– Pressure from society to compromise (Thyatira - Rev. 2:18-29; Laodicea -
3:14-22)
III.
Conclusion – We have
victory through suffering (Rev. 13:10a; 12:11; 13:10b)
