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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 2 8:8-9 burning mountain cast into sea – one-third bloodied

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.)

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