Emmaus Road Publishing
827 North Fourth Street
Steubenville, Ohio 43952
2005 by Michael Barber
All rights reserved. Published 2005
Printed in the United States of America
09 08 07 06 2 3
Library of Congress Control Number: 2005929577
ISBN: 1-931018-26-X
ISBN: 978-1931018-26-5
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken
from the Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (RSV-CE)
1965, 1966 by the Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the
United States of America. Used by permission.
Excerpts from the English translation of the
Catechism of the Catholic Church for the United States of America
1994, United States Catholic Conference, Inc.
Libreria Editrice Vaticana
English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
Modifications from the Editio Typica 1997,
United States Catholic Conference, Inc.
Libreria Editrice Vaticana
Cover design and layout by
Beth Hart
Cover artwork:
Raphael, The Disputa of the Sacrament
Nihil Obstat: Rev. James Dunfee, Censor Librorum
Imprimatur: R. Daniel Conlon, D.D., J.C.D., Ph.D., Bishop of Steubenville
February 21, 2005
The Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur are official declarations
that a book or pamphlet is free of doctrinal or moral error.
No implication is contained therein that those who have
granted the Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur agree with
the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.
Contents
CHAPTER 1
Holy Ghost Writer
Who Wrote the Apocalypse and When
CHAPTER 2
The End of the World as Weve Known It
The Importance of AD 70
CHAPTER 3
Revelations Mass Appeal
The Liturgy of Heaven
CHAPTER 4
In All His Glory and Splendor
Johns Vision of the Son of Man (Rev. 1:120)
CHAPTER 5
P. S.: Repent!
The Seven Letters (Rev. 2:13:22)
CHAPTER 6
On Earth as It Is in Heaven
The Seven Seals (Rev. 4:16:17)
CHAPTER 7
Ransom Captive Israel
The Restoration of Israel with the Nations (Rev. 7:117)
CHAPTER 8
Trumpeting Gods Victory
The Seven Trumpets (Rev. 8:111:19)
CHAPTER 9
Archetypical Woman
The Woman Clothed with the Sun (Rev. 12:117)
CHAPTER 10
Beauty and the Beasts
The Church and Her Enemies (Rev. 13:115:8)
CHAPTER 11
When He Reigns, He Pours
The Chalice Judgments and the Fall of Babylon
(Rev.16:116:21)
CHAPTER 12
The Whore-able City
(Rev. 17:119:21)
CHAPTER 13
The Perennial Millennial Question
The Thousand Year Reign (Rev. 20:115)
CHAPTER 14
City of Angels
The New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:122:21)
CHAPTER 15
Hindsight Is Twenty-Twenty
Getting the Big Picture
ABBREVIATIONS
The Old Testament
Gen./Genesis
Ex./Exodus
Lev./Leviticus
Num./Numbers
Deut./Deuteronomy
Josh./Joshua
Judg./Judges
Ruth/Ruth
1 Sam./1 Samuel
2 Sam./2 Samuel
1 Kings/1 Kings
2 Kings/2 Kings
1 Chron./1 Chronicles
2 Chron./2 Chronicles
Ezra/Ezra
Neh./Nehemiah
Tob./Tobit
Jud./Judith
Esther/Esther
Job/Job
Ps./Psalms
Prov./Proverbs
Eccles./Ecclesiastes
Song/Song of Solomon
Wis./Wisdom
Sir./Sirach (Ecclesiasticus)
Is./Isaiah
Jer./Jeremiah
Lam./Lamentations
Bar./Baruch
Ezek./Ezekiel
Dan./Daniel
Hos./Hosea
Joel/Joel
Amos/Amos
Obad./Obadiah
Jon./Jonah
Mic./Micah
Nahum/Nahum
Hab./Habakkuk
Zeph./Zephaniah
Hag./Haggai
Zech./Zechariah
Mal./Malachi
1 Mac./1 Maccabees
2 Mac./2 Maccabees
The New Testament
Mt./Matthew
Mk./Mark
Lk./Luke
Jn./John
Acts/Acts of the Apostles
Rom./Romans
1 Cor./1 Corinthians
2 Cor./2 Corinthians
Gal./Galatians
Eph./Ephesians
Phil./Philippians
Col./Colossians
1 Thess./1 Thessalonians
2 Thess./2 Thessalonians
1 Tim./1 Timothy
2 Tim./2 Timothy
Tit./Titus
Philem./Philemon
Heb./Hebrews
Jas./James
1 Pet./1 Peter
2 Pet./2 Peter
1 Jn./1 John
2 Jn./2 John
3 Jn./3 John
Jude/Jude
Rev./Revelation (Apocalypse)
PREFACE
Of all the biblical books about which to write, why would anyone ever choose Revelation? After all, its so complicated! Well, the need for this kind of book was made clear to me after I taught two Bible studies in southern California. Almost three hundred people came to the weekly studies to hear Johns Apocalypse explained. It soon became clear that, while most people remain uninterested in Scripture in general, they are very curious about the Apocalypse.
Most people ought to begin their Scripture studies with a Gospel or the Book of Genesis. Unfortunately, many people unfamiliar with the Bible have a hard time getting excited about reading these books. Yet these same people are often fascinated with the Apocalypse. Whether this is your first Bible study or just one more in a long series, its my prayer that once you see the glorious riches of the Book of Revelation, you will be eager to learn more about the rest of Scripture. And once you learn more, that youll keep coming back to this wonderful book, as I do.
INTRODUCTION
Its Greek to Me
Revelation in Greek literally means unveiling. But if the last book of the Bible is supposed to contain the unveiling of Gods plan, we might be tempted to insist, Put the veil back on! Dragons, beasts, horsemen, a killer lambits almost too much to bear. Its scary, its frighteningand its many peoples favorite biblical book.
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