Who s Who and What s What in the Book of Revelation What comes to mind about the book of Revelation? 1
To turn to the Apocalypse from the rest of the NT is like entering a strange foreign land full of angels, trumpets and earthquakes, strange beasts, dragons and a bottomless abyss Sean Kealy Who s Who & What s What??? 1. Interpretation of this Book 2. Historical, Theological + Literary Context 3. Reading Tips 4. Dramatis Personae 5. Value for Today Interpretation of the Bible Authors intention Literary genres/forms used Context historical, theological, literary 2
Historical Context Persecution Dates to mid 90s AD Roman Persecution under Domitian died 96 Author John, seer, prophet, in exile on island of Patmos 7 Churches of Asia Minor Resistance to Imperial Cult Purpose Trust in God, not the Empire Theological Context Good vs. Evil Eschatology Gk = eschaton / end times = heaven, hell, death, judgment Apocalyptic Gk = revelation about future from God through seer / prophet Day of the Lord future cosmic intervention by God to vindicate the just and punish the unjust, Amos 5:18 20, Dan 12:1 3, Zeph 1:2 7 Present Age / Age to Come Rapture???? Apocalyptic Mindset in the OT Present age Day of the Lord Age to come Sin, death, evil resurrection of dead, life, justice 3
Apocalyptic Mindset in the NT Present Age Age to Come Day of the Lord as Parousia Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ Literary Context Apocalyptic Literature Daniel, Ezekiel, Mk 13, Lk 21, Mt 24 Present age = sin, death, evil, persecution Creatively envisions the end of the present world order Visions disclosed / unveiled to seer by God Uses symbolic images to portray collision of good/evil Salvation for faithful who persevere = consolation + encouragement Apocalyptic Literature in OT and NT Heavenly secrets about a cosmic struggle and eschatological victory are revealed in symbolic word pictures as presented by angels to a seer who writes down God s message which is intended to promote repentance among the sinful and consolation and encouragement to the faithful who will ultimately share in God s glorious salvation 4
Symbols Lamb Christ Horns power of rulers Heads rulers Eyes knowledge 7 perfection 6 imperfection 12 Israel, apostles 1000 countless 4 whole world 3½ years, 1260 days, 42 months time of oppression Babylon Rome Sexual infidelity idolatry New Jerusalem God s redeemed The Big Picture The Book of Revelation is a mix of prophetic warning/encouragement presented in apocalyptic word images portraying the consequences of sin Reading Tips 3 rd c. Christian Victorinus Wrote the earliest known commentary on Revelation His great insight the plot doesn t unfold in a straight line. Instead, the book repeats the same basic message multiple times in multiple forms untamed disorder (Sean Kealy) 5
Reading Tips 1. Read, reread, out loud (1:3) 2. Do not expect logical, linear progression of narrative 3. Do not try to make visual sense out of every image/vision 4. Realize that scenes + understandings have OT roots 5. Numbers = qualities, =/= quantities 6. Literal / Fundamentalist reading = confusion, misunderstanding 7. Use the footnotes! The Book of Revelation: Big Picture 1. The Risen Christ appears to John, gives him messages to be sent to 7 churches in Asia 2. J caught up into heavenly throne room, sees Christ/Lamb open sealed scroll 3. 7 th seal opens into 7 trumpet scenes, then leads to 7 bowls of wrath = horrific images. Lead to destruction of Babylon (oppressive Empire). 4. Next come visions of final triumph of God as Christ returns: the dead are raised, final judgment is held, the new Jerusalem is established = redeemed creation (new heavens/new earth) Dramatis Personae God Alpha / Omega, the Almighty (1:8); sits on the throne (5:7) Truth of salvation + all creation originates from Him The Risen Christ Faithful witness, 1 st born of the dead, ruler of kings of the earth (1:5) Two edged sword in his mouth (1:16, 2:12, 2:16, 19:15) Lamb w/ 7 eyes, 7 horns (5:6) Worthy to open scroll (5:9) / shed his blood King of kings, Lord of lords (17:14, 19:16) Offers hope to Christians being persecuted for faith 6
John Exiled to Patmos for proclaiming God s word (1:9) Commissioned by Christ to convey God s message to 7 churches (1:19) 24 Elders Heavenly court dressed in white, gold crowns, thrones at God s throne, participate in heavenly liturgy (4:4) Throw down crowns before throne (4:10) 12 tribes of Israel > OT + 12 apostles > NT 4 Living Creatures Covered w/ eyes, 6 wings Lion, ox, human being, eagle = God s creation holy, holy, holy glory, praise, honor (4:11) Later associated w/ 4 evangelists (Mk, Lk, Mt, Jn) 7 Churches of Asia Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea (see map) 7 letters from Risen Christ = consolation and challenge in chapters 2 3 Attacks false teaching, complacency, assimilation affirms faithfulness Eternal rewards promised for fidelity The Elect Sealed by the Lamb = faithful under duress White robes + palm branches, worship before God s throne (7:9 17) 144,000 (12x12x1000) = elect (7:4) Lamb s companions, Spiritual virgins (14:4) Name of Christ + Father on foreheads (14:1) The Martyrs Souls of those who had died under Roman persecution Located under the altar of sacrifice (6:9) Cry out for vindication How long? (6:10) 7
Woman Clothed with the Sun, Wearing Crown of 12 Stars Story of cosmic conflict between God and destroyers of earth Woman = Israel/Church, gives birth to messiah (12:1) Also identified as Mary Pursued by Dragon/Satan, defended by Michael the archangel Flees to desert for 1260 days (12:6, 14) Dragon thrown out of heaven, to earth to carry on war against faithful Dragon/Satan (12:9) Unholy Trinity 1 st Beast from Sea = Rome/Emperor, 666, Antichrist (ch. 13) Also imaged as richly adorned harlot of Babylon (ch. 17) 2 nd Beast from Earth = false prophets a/o enforcers of imperial cult forcing stamped images (13:6) Will all be destroyed eventually (19:20, 20:10) John s Favorite Number? 7 letters to Churches of Asia Minor (2 3) 7 Seals opened by the Lamb (6:1 8:1) 7 Trumpets blown by angels (8:7 11:19) 7 Bowls of wrath poured out (16:1 21) 7 eschatological events (19:11 22:8) 7 Beatitudes scattered throughout (1:3, 14:13, 16:15, 19:9, 20:6, 22:7, 22:14) 8
Value for Today God reigns supreme, deserves worship Christ s death + resurrection have already conquered sin and death Be faithful during oppression, do not compromise truth! Final judgment will vindicate the faithful Read Revelation 1 7 For Next Session Consider these questions: 1. What does the Risen Christ say to each of the 7 churches in chapters 2 3? 2. What does John see when he enters the door to heaven in chapters 4 5? 9