1 1 Revelation—Introduction and Background General Some commentators William Barclay— “Not only is Revelation different, but it is also notoriously difficult to understand… has as many riddles as words” David Levy— “like an unsolvable puzzle whose meaning is unknowable or, at best, was forgotten centuries ago.” Bruce Metzger— “Most church members…avoid it, thinking it too mysterious for them to understand.” Elaine Pagels— “One of the strangest books in the Bible.” Title of the Book in Greek is “” which is translated “Revelation” but literally means “unveiling” like “drawing back a curtain” to reveal what has been there all along Apocalyptic Literature--One of the most common forms of literature in the period between the Old Testament and the New Testament (see Barclay) The Jews could not forget that they were God’s chosen people…to them that involved the certainty that some day they would arrive at world supremacy. But the whole history of Israel contradicted these hopes—conquests by the Assyrians and the Babylonians and they were also later ruled by the Persians, Greeks and Romans. Jewish thought stubbornly held to the conviction of “chosenness” but had to adjust to the facts of history, so they came to see Two Ages—the age of the present which was wholly bad and beyond redemption and the age to come, an age of the peace, prosperity and the righteousness of God’s Kingdom. Apocalyptics came to believe that the first age would be ended and the second begun by the direct intervention of God since mankind couldn’t do it. Many of these Apocalyptic books were written in times in which people lived under tyranny and so were frequently written in “code,” deliberately couched in language that would be unintelligible to outsiders. As Pagels says, “John probably used such cryptic images because open hostility to Rome could be dangerous; he may have feared reprisal.” As Metzger says, “Other symbols in Revelation can be understood in the light of the symbolism used in the Hebrew Scriptures, particularly the books of Ezekial, Daniel, and Zechariah. Of the 404 verses that comprise the 22 chapters of the book of Revelation, 278 verses contain one or more allusions to an Old Testament passage.” Such symbols would not be common knowledge to Roman leaders. Apocalypse is somewhat different than prophecy. Prophets thought in terms of the present world—often issuing a call for social, economic and political justice, to serve God by acting in ways to reform this world as opposed to apocalyptics who didn’t believe the world could be reformed by man, but only through the action of God. The prophet’s message is always
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Revelation—Introduction and Background General
Some commentators
William Barclay— “Not only is Revelation different, but it is also notoriously difficult to understand… has as many riddles as words”
David Levy— “like an unsolvable puzzle whose meaning is unknowable or, at best, was forgotten centuries ago.”
Bruce Metzger— “Most church members…avoid it, thinking it too mysterious for them to understand.”
Elaine Pagels— “One of the strangest books in the Bible.” Title of the Book in Greek is “” which is translated “Revelation” but literally means “unveiling” like “drawing back a curtain” to reveal what has been there all along
Apocalyptic Literature--One of the most common forms of literature in the period between the Old Testament and the New Testament (see Barclay)
The Jews could not forget that they were God’s chosen people…to them that involved the certainty that some day they would arrive at world supremacy. But the whole history of Israel contradicted these hopes—conquests by the Assyrians and the Babylonians and they were also later ruled by the Persians, Greeks and Romans. Jewish thought stubbornly held to the conviction of “chosenness” but had to adjust to the facts of history, so they came to see Two Ages—the age of the present which was wholly bad and beyond redemption and the age to come, an age of the peace, prosperity and the righteousness of God’s Kingdom. Apocalyptics came to believe that the first age would be ended and the second begun by the direct intervention of God since mankind couldn’t do it. Many of these Apocalyptic books were written in times in which people lived under tyranny and so were frequently written in “code,” deliberately couched in language that would be unintelligible to outsiders. As Pagels says, “John probably used such cryptic images because open hostility to Rome could be dangerous; he may have feared reprisal.” As Metzger says, “Other symbols in Revelation can be understood in the light of the symbolism used in the Hebrew Scriptures, particularly the books of Ezekial, Daniel, and Zechariah. Of the 404 verses that comprise the 22 chapters of the book of Revelation, 278 verses contain one or more allusions to an Old Testament passage.” Such symbols would not be common knowledge to Roman leaders. Apocalypse is somewhat different than prophecy. Prophets thought in terms of the present world—often issuing a call for social, economic and political justice, to serve God by acting in ways to reform this world as opposed to apocalyptics who didn’t believe the world could be reformed by man, but only through the action of God. The prophet’s message is always
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spoken whereas the apocalyptics’ message is always written due to the code and complexity of it. Revelation proclaims itself to be Prophetic but is also Apocalypse. Pattern of the Apocalyptic according to Barclay
The Messiah is a divine, pre-existent, other-worldly figure of power and glory, waiting to descend into the world to begin his all-conquering career. The coming of the Messiah will be preceded by the return of Elijah who will prepare the way for him. The coming of the Messiah will be like the agony of birth. The last days will be a time of terror in which the world will be shattered, a time of cosmic upheaval when the universe as we know it will disintegrate and human relationships will be destroyed. The last days will be a time of judgment. The Gentiles will have their place—but it is not always the same place.
Sometimes the vison has the Gentiles being totally destroyed Sometimes there is one last gathering of Gentiles and Jews and one last battle in
which they are destroyed Sometimes there is a picture of the conversion of the Gentiles through Israel
In the last days, the Jews who have been scattered throughout the earth will be gathered into the holy city again The New Jerusalem, which is already prepared in heaven with God will come down among men and women An essential part of the apocalyptic picture is the resurrection of the dead
Author Barclay says the author is a ‘man named John who is a Christian living in Asia in the area of the 7 Churches…probably a Jew of Palestine who came to Asia late in life” based on the poor quality of the Greek text which he describes as vivid and powerful but grammatically poor. Pagels says that “the earliest defenders [of Revelation] sought to lend it legitimacy by insisting that Jesus’ disciple John wrote it, but this is disputed by Dionysius of Alexandria around 260 AD.” Metzger generally agrees and says that “interpretation of the book does not depend on certainty concerning [authorship].”
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The author claims authority as a prophet commanded by Jesus to prophesy but does not call himself an apostle so it is unlikely that he was or he would have claimed that authority. When we were in Patmos, our guide referred to several different people of their history named John. John the Beloved disciple by tradition came to Ephesus and lived with Mary the Mother of Jesus to her death. John the Theologian founded the monastery that still exists in Patmos today. John the Elder may have been the author.
Date of Writing Tradition has John being banished to Patmos during the time of Roman Emperor Domitian where he saw the vision of Revelation and after the death of Domitian he was freed and returned to Ephesus where he wrote it down which would be around 95 AD. Barclay also describes the “blazing hatred for Rome” in Revelation seeming to be due to the widespread development of Caesar-worship in the Roman Empire which because of their refusal to conform to its demands (an annual requirement to appear before magistrates to burn a pinch of incense and declare “Caesar is Lord” which Christians couldn’t, in good conscience, do) resulted in Christians being persecuted and killed. Caesar worship peaked with Nero and later Domitian.
Sources Willam Barclay, The New Daily Study Bible Commentary David M. Levy, Revelation, Hearing the Last Word Bruce M. Metzger, Breaking the Code—Understanding the Book of Revelation Elaine Pagels, Revelations—Visions, Prophecy and Politics in the Book of Revelation
The Setting of Revelationc. A.D. 95John addressed the book of Revelation “to the seven churches that are inAsia,” namely Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia,and Laodicea, although there were undoubtedly other churches elsewhere inthe province of Asia (e.g., Miletus and Colossae, see Acts 20:17; Col. 1:2).John had apparently been exiled from Ephesus to the island of Patmos,southwest of Ephesus, and it is there that he recorded his visions.
Troas
Thyatira
Smyrna Sardis
Rhodes
Priene
Philadelphia
Pergamum
Patara
Nicea
Mitylene
Miletus
Laodicea Hierapolis
Halicarnassus
Ephesus
Colossae
Assos
Cyzicus Abydos
M a p 1
Church Reference Description of Christ
Commendation Rebuke Solution Consequence of Disobedience
Promise for Conquerors
Ephesus 2:1–7
holds the seven stars in his right hand; walks among the seven golden lampstands
doctrinal vigilance and endurance
loss of first love
remember, repent, and do the works done at first
removal of their lampstand
will be given the tree of life in paradise to eat
Smyrna 2:8–11the first and the last, who died and came to life
spiritually rich, enduring persecution
— be faithful unto death —
will be given the crown of life and will not be hurt by the second death
Pergamum 2:12–17has the sharp two-edged sword
holding fast Christ’s name, not denying their faith
false teaching repent
war against them with the sword of Christ’s mouth
will be given hidden manna and a white stone with a new name on it
Thyatira 2:18–29
has eyes like a flame of fire, feet like burnished bronze
growing love, evidenced in deeds of service
lack of discernment; toleration of heresy
hold fast and keep Christ’s works till the end
each given as their works deserve
will be given the morning star and authority over the nations
Sardis 3:1–6has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars
— dead works keep the Word and repent
Christ will come like a thief
will be clothed in white garments; name never blotted out of the book of life; name confessed before God and angels
Philadelphia 3:7–13the holy one, the true one, who has the keys of David
patiently enduring, keeping God’s word and not denying his name
— hold fast what you have —
will be made a pillar in the temple of God, inscribed with the names of God, the new Jerusalem, and Christ
Laodicea 3:14–22
the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation
—
spiritually blind, bankrupt, naked, lukewarm
buy gold, white garments, and salve from Christ; be zealous and repent
will be spit out of Christ’s mouth
will dine with Christ; will be granted to sit with Christ on his throne
chart.66-1.indd 2 6/10/08 11:26:08 AM
Christ's Edict-letters to His Seven Churches Chart 1
The Seven Trumpets of 8:7-11:19
Restrained judgements from heaven are sent in response to the saints’ prayers.
Trumpet Reference Result
Trumpet 1 8:7 hail, fire, and blood cast on land— one-third burned
Trumpet 3 8:10-11 burning stars fall on rivers and springs— one-third embittered
Trumpet 4 8:12 sun, moon, and stars – one-third darkened
Trumpet 5 (1st Woe) 9:1-11 demons from the Abyss
Trumpet 6 (2nd Woe) 9:13-21 invasion from the east –
one-third of mankind killed
Trumpet 7 (3rd Woe) 11:15-19 kingdom of world becomes kingdom of God
Four Series of Seven Messages or Visions
Seven Letters to Churches chs. 2-3
Seven Seals on a Scroll 5:1-8:1
Seven Trumpets 8:2-11:19
Seven Bowls of Wrath chs. 15-16
Chart 2
Chart 3
The Seven Benedictions
Blessed is the one who reads aloud, hears, and keeps the words of this prophecy 1:3
Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord 14:13
Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on 16:15
Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb 19:9
Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection 20:6
Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book 22:7
Blessed are those who wash their robes 22:14
The Seven Bowls of Wrath (16:2-21)
The Unrestrained, Comprehensive Expression of God’s Wrath
Bowl Area Affected Reference Result
Bowl 1 earth 16:2 sores on the beast’s worshipers
Bowl 2 sea 16:3 blood and death Bowl 3 rivers and springs 16:4-7 blood to drink Bowl 4 sun 16:8-9 burning heat Bowl 5 beast’s throne 16:10-11 palpable darkness Bowl 6 Euphrates River 16:12-16 gathering for the battle
Bowl 7 air 16:17-21 earthquake shattering the great city
Chart 4
Chart 5
The "Bookends" of Biblical Theology
God in eternal glory
Creation God and _C_r _ea_ti_on ___________________________ co_m..cp_le_te _ _. his people
good good creation _evil progressively overcome perfect in eternal
Creation
Genesis 1-2 • heavens/earth • day/night • 7th day holy
Garden • tree of life • river of life
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Fall
Genesis 3 in Adam • Satan • sin
• death • curse
. Abraham / Genesis 4-11 '--.._
• sin 4 David • judgment • grace
serpent cursed
Redemption
1r <tew and entile Christ)
2nd Adam son of Abraham
son of David
Final New Creation Judgment Revelation 21-22 Revelation 20 • new heaven/earth
• no darkness
Q • all holy
Garden • evil • tree of life • death • river of life • Satan
I
llake of fire
Gae's ultimate purpose in redemptive history is to create a people to dwell in his presence, glorifying him through numerous varied activities and enjoying him forever. The story begins with God in eternal glory, and it ends with God and his people in eternal glory. At the center stands the cross, where Goe revealed his glory through his Son.
The biblical story of redemption must be understood within the larger story of creation. First Adam, and later Israel, was placed in Gae's sanctuary (the garden and the Promised Land, respectively), but both Adam and Israel failec to be a faithful, obedient steward, and both were expelled from the sanctuary God had created for them. But Jesus Christ-the second Adam, the son of Abraham, the son of David-was faithful and obedient to Goe. Though the world killed him, God raised him to life, which meant that death was defeated. Through his Spirit, God pours into sinners the resurrection life of his Son, creating a new humanity "in Christ." Those who are "in Christ" move through death into new life and exaltation in God's sanctuary, there to enjoy his presence forever.
The "bookends" concept of biblical theology illustrates that in the third-to-last chapter of the Bible (Revelation 20) God removes his enemies-Satan, death, and evil-that entered the story line in the third chapter of the Bible (Genesis 3), thus completing the story of redemption. The last two chapters (Revelation 21-22) don't simply restore the first two chapters (Genesis 1-2); they go beyond them to a world that is fully ordered and holy, in which God is fully present with his people, completing the story of creation. (Chapter divisions in the Bible are, of course, human contributions, not divinely inspired.)