The Revelation of The Revelation of JesusJesus

An InvestigationAn Investigation

What Type of What Type of Literature Is This?Literature Is This?

Name: “Name: “ApocalypseApocalypse””– From the Greek work meaning “From the Greek work meaning “uncoveruncover” or “” or “revealreveal””

Genre: Genre: Apocalyptic LiteratureApocalyptic Literature– Temporal dualism: strong distinction between current and Temporal dualism: strong distinction between current and

coming agescoming ages– Pessimism about current age, optimism about future agePessimism about current age, optimism about future age– History is to be understood as occurring in eons or History is to be understood as occurring in eons or

segments (4, 7, 12) reflecting a divine plansegments (4, 7, 12) reflecting a divine plan– Imminent arrival of God’s reign which will destroy current Imminent arrival of God’s reign which will destroy current

temporal powerstemporal powers– Cosmic vantage point and global impact of unfolding eventsCosmic vantage point and global impact of unfolding events– Vindication of “the Righteous” and restoration of natural Vindication of “the Righteous” and restoration of natural

perfections and harmoniesperfections and harmonies– Involvement of supernatural beings in current conflicts, as Involvement of supernatural beings in current conflicts, as

well as future gories & glorieswell as future gories & glories– Clear Messianic figure who is at the center of all things and Clear Messianic figure who is at the center of all things and

eventsevents

Other Biblical Other Biblical Examples of Examples of Apocalyptic LiteratureApocalyptic Literature Daniel 7-12Daniel 7-12

– Imminent political changes that will be resolved only by divine Imminent political changes that will be resolved only by divine imposition of a global kingdomimposition of a global kingdom

Ezekiel 38-39Ezekiel 38-39– The great battle when Gog & Magog align against God and God’s The great battle when Gog & Magog align against God and God’s

peoplepeople Zechariah 9-14Zechariah 9-14

– Current conflicts expanding into eschatological battles that will Current conflicts expanding into eschatological battles that will usher in the Messianic kingdomusher in the Messianic kingdom

Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21– Jesus’ talk with his disciples about the destruction of Jerusalem, then Jesus’ talk with his disciples about the destruction of Jerusalem, then

conflating it into scenes of End Timesconflating it into scenes of End Times 2 Thessalonians 22 Thessalonians 2

– Paul’s instructions about what must happen before the return of Paul’s instructions about what must happen before the return of JesusJesus

2 Peter 32 Peter 3– Peter’s understanding of the times and manner of the end of the Peter’s understanding of the times and manner of the end of the

worldworld

Revelation: Revelation: Background NotesBackground Notes Language & perspective very similar to Language & perspective very similar to

both the Gospel and Letters of Johnboth the Gospel and Letters of John Several theories about the identity of Several theories about the identity of

the author, but none more compelling the author, but none more compelling than the internal and widely accepted than the internal and widely accepted view that it is the Apostle Johnview that it is the Apostle John

John was exiled to Patmos under John was exiled to Patmos under Domitian who ruled from 81-96 A.D., Domitian who ruled from 81-96 A.D., and Revelation was written during this and Revelation was written during this exileexile

Major Schools of Major Schools of InterpretationInterpretation Preterist:Preterist:

– Revelation is a coded document designed to give Revelation is a coded document designed to give comfort & encouragement to those in John’s day, comfort & encouragement to those in John’s day, but its specifics largely escape us todaybut its specifics largely escape us today

Historicist:Historicist:– Revelation outlines the history of the church Revelation outlines the history of the church

through the centuries; close analysis can pin through the centuries; close analysis can pin today’s eventstoday’s events

Futurist:Futurist:– Revelation prophesies the specific events leading Revelation prophesies the specific events leading

to the end of the world and the return of Jesusto the end of the world and the return of Jesus

Further Note on Further Note on Futurist ViewFuturist View Many who hold this view are “dispensationalists”Many who hold this view are “dispensationalists”

– Dispensationalism appeared in 19Dispensationalism appeared in 19thth century century– Was popularized by “Scofield Reference Bible” of early Was popularized by “Scofield Reference Bible” of early

2020thth century century Dispensationalism understands human history in Dispensationalism understands human history in

seven “dispensations”:seven “dispensations”:– Innocence: Adam & Eve pre-FallInnocence: Adam & Eve pre-Fall– Conscience: From Fall to NoahConscience: From Fall to Noah– Government: From Noah to the PatriarchsGovernment: From Noah to the Patriarchs– Promise: From the Patriarchs to SinaiPromise: From the Patriarchs to Sinai– Law: From Sinai to JesusLaw: From Sinai to Jesus– Grace/Spirit/Church: Current time (since Jesus came)Grace/Spirit/Church: Current time (since Jesus came)– Kingdom: Future millennial ageKingdom: Future millennial age

Major Schools of Major Schools of InterpretationInterpretation

Idealist:Idealist:– Non-historicalNon-historical– Revelation is a type of allegory which Revelation is a type of allegory which

powerfully pictures the on-going combat:powerfully pictures the on-going combat: between God & the Devilbetween God & the Devil between the Church & the Worldbetween the Church & the World between Good & Evilbetween Good & Evil

– Most widely held view by theologians Most widely held view by theologians historically, and the church generally, at historically, and the church generally, at least until the recent “Left Behind” least until the recent “Left Behind” popularizations of Dispensational Millennial popularizations of Dispensational Millennial approachesapproaches

Revelation’s Unfolding Revelation’s Unfolding PatternPattern

Three major visions of Jesus (1, 4-5, 19)Three major visions of Jesus (1, 4-5, 19) Each is followed by series of “Seven”Each is followed by series of “Seven” Overall progressive move from:Overall progressive move from:

– Local congregational tensionsLocal congregational tensions PersecutionPersecution HeresyHeresy CompromiseCompromise

– Global battlefieldGlobal battlefield– Transcendent victory and creational renewalTranscendent victory and creational renewal

Revelation Literary Revelation Literary DevelopmentDevelopment

Jesus Addresses the Church in the City of Jesus Addresses the Church in the City of Humanity (1-3)Humanity (1-3)– Vision of Jesus as Risen Lord (1)Vision of Jesus as Risen Lord (1)– Letters of Jesus to Seven representative Churches (2-3)Letters of Jesus to Seven representative Churches (2-3)

Jesus Judges the City of Humanity (4-18)Jesus Judges the City of Humanity (4-18)– Vision of Jesus as Lion/Lamb Redeemer (4-5)Vision of Jesus as Lion/Lamb Redeemer (4-5)– Three series of Sevens:Three series of Sevens:

Seven Seals anticipate divine judgment (6-7)Seven Seals anticipate divine judgment (6-7) Seven Trumpets announce divine judgment (8-11)Seven Trumpets announce divine judgment (8-11)

Interlude: Clarifying the Combatants (12-14)Interlude: Clarifying the Combatants (12-14) Seven Bowls of Plagues accomplish divine judgment (15-18)Seven Bowls of Plagues accomplish divine judgment (15-18)

Jesus Restores the Holy City (19-22)Jesus Restores the Holy City (19-22)– Vision of Jesus as Bridegroom/Conquering King (19:1-10)Vision of Jesus as Bridegroom/Conquering King (19:1-10)– Seven Actions of Restoration (19:11-22:5)Seven Actions of Restoration (19:11-22:5)

Epilogue (22:6-21)Epilogue (22:6-21)

Critical Interpretive Critical Interpretive IssueIssue What is the “Thousand Years” (What is the “Thousand Years” (MillenniumMillennium) () (20:2, 3, 20:2, 3,

5, 65, 6)?)?– Amillennialists:Amillennialists:

Metaphor of the complete period between Jesus’ first & Metaphor of the complete period between Jesus’ first & second comingssecond comings

Should not be taken literally (hence Should not be taken literally (hence aa-millennial-millennial))

– Postmillennialists:Postmillennialists: Period of great gains for Church preparing the way for Jesus’ Period of great gains for Church preparing the way for Jesus’

return to usher in Messianic Agereturn to usher in Messianic Age Literal thousand years, beginning:Literal thousand years, beginning:

– At the Reformation?At the Reformation?– With the Enlightenment?With the Enlightenment?– With the Social & Scientific Revolutions of the 19With the Social & Scientific Revolutions of the 19 thth Century? Century?

– Premillennialists:Premillennialists: Period of future reign by Jesus on earth from JerusalemPeriod of future reign by Jesus on earth from Jerusalem Literal thousand years (Dispensationalists: “Age of Kingdom”)Literal thousand years (Dispensationalists: “Age of Kingdom”)

Notes of Special Notes of Special InterestInterest

Numbers in Revelation:Numbers in Revelation:– 4: dimensions of created reality (“four corners”)4: dimensions of created reality (“four corners”)– 7: number of God, perfection7: number of God, perfection– Half of 7 plus half of 7: complete history of Half of 7 plus half of 7: complete history of

humanity (half before Jesus, half after):humanity (half before Jesus, half after): ““A time, times and half a time”A time, times and half a time” 3 ½ years3 ½ years 42 months42 months 1260 days1260 days

– 24: symbolic union of Old Testament (12 tribes) 24: symbolic union of Old Testament (12 tribes) with New Testament (12 Apostles)with New Testament (12 Apostles)

– 1000: symbol of completeness in human realm1000: symbol of completeness in human realm– 144,000: symbol of complete gathering of 144,000: symbol of complete gathering of

God’s peopleGod’s people

Notes of Special Notes of Special InterestInterest Interlude of 12-14:Interlude of 12-14:

– ““Clarifying the Combatants”Clarifying the Combatants”– Evil Creatures:Evil Creatures:

Dragon—evil mirror of Creator Father?Dragon—evil mirror of Creator Father? Beast from the Sea—evil mirror of Redeemer Beast from the Sea—evil mirror of Redeemer

Son?Son? Beast from the Earth—evil mirror of Sanctifying Beast from the Earth—evil mirror of Sanctifying

Spirit?Spirit?

– What is the “Mark of the Beast” (666)?What is the “Mark of the Beast” (666)? Evil mirror of Baptism (777)?Evil mirror of Baptism (777)?

Notes of Special Notes of Special InterestInterest Virtually all the images in Revelation Virtually all the images in Revelation

draw upon similar images in:draw upon similar images in:– Exodus: the plaguesExodus: the plagues– Ezekiel:Ezekiel:

The scroll of prophecy/judgmentThe scroll of prophecy/judgment The war with Gog & MagogThe war with Gog & Magog The restored temple and new creationThe restored temple and new creation

– Daniel:Daniel: The use of terms (“Son of Man,” “seven”)The use of terms (“Son of Man,” “seven”) Tour of spiritual visions by way of angelic guideTour of spiritual visions by way of angelic guide

Notes of Special Notes of Special InterestInterest To be Christian is to be in conflictTo be Christian is to be in conflict To opt out from conflict is to join the To opt out from conflict is to join the

other sideother side Faithfulness to Jesus leads to Faithfulness to Jesus leads to

martyrdommartyrdom Message:Message:

– Be faithfulBe faithful– SufferSuffer– Die in hopeDie in hope– Remain confident of Jesus’ ultimate victoryRemain confident of Jesus’ ultimate victory