I.  Introduction--difficulty of Revelation     A.  Struggles of theologians with this book     B.   Disadvantages of apocalyptic style     C.  Advantages of apocalyptic style     D.  Skills needed to understand Revelation II.  Difficulty with dating and authorship     A.  External evidence     B.  Internal evidence         1.  Rev. 17:10  (Beast with seven heads)             Julius Caesar (d. 44 B.C.)             Augustus (31 B.C.--A.D. 14)             Tiberius (14-37)             Caligula (37-41)             Claudius (41-54)             Nero (54-68)

    A.  Preterit: book refers mostly to events of 64-70 A.D.
    B.  Historical: book forshadows all subsequent history
    C.  Futurist: book describes a still-future conflict w/antichrist
    D.  Allegorist: book describes spiritual forces, not hist. events

IV.  Beautiful aspects of Revelation in general and especially Chapters I-IV
    A.  Beautifully constructed book
        1.  Repeated/modified images: theme and variations
        2.  Strikingly appropriate images
    B.  Message of hope
    C.  Depiction of majesty of God and heavenly worship

V.  Difficult passages
    A.  Revelation 5-7 seven seals.  A difficult passage, but a comparison with Matthew 24 helps (maybe!)

1.  Many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ and shall deceive many (vs. 5).
2.  And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars (vs. 6)
3-4.  There shall be famines and pestilences (vs. 7-8).
5.  Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted (vs. 9)
6.  Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light and the stars shall fall from heaven (vs. 29). And he shall send his angel with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect form the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other (vs. 31).

V.  Beautiful conclusion of Revelation