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The Purpose Of The Book

Revelation was written to comfort the early church in its struggle against a totalitarian state that was influenced by evil powers opposed to God’s kingdom. God saw the church’s tears [ 7v17, 21v4 ], heard her prayers [ 8v3-4 ] and had secured her victory [ 15v2 ]. Her persecutors would be called to account [ 19v2 ]. Christ reigns over the world in the interest of the church [ 5v7-8 ]. He will come again to gather his people to himself and will live with them for ever in a rejuvenated universe [ chap.21-22 ]. God’s people are encouraged to enter his victory [ 17v14 ]. “They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of Kings - and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.” Presentation 01

Background To Apocalyptic Literature

Revelation is a piece of apocalyptic literature. The word ‘apocalypse’ appears in 1v1 and describes a ‘supernatural unveiling’. More generally the word ‘apocalyptic’ is used to describe a group of writings that flourished between 200 BC and AD 100. They generally claimed to be divine disclosures, usually given through an angelic intermediary, or, a ‘hero’ from the past, and describe God’s promise to intervene in history, to bring times of trouble to an end and to judge and destroy all wickedness. Symbolism played a major role in this literature and very bizarre symbols became the norm.

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Background To Apocalyptic Lite rature

Many scholars argue that biblical apocalyptic literature is quite distinct: 1. Unlike other authors, the author of Revelation considers his work to be prophetic [ 1v3, 22v7,10,18,19 ]. 2. While other apocalyptic literature of the age was regularly pseudonymous, the author of Revelation describes himself as John [ 1v4,9; 22v8 ].

3. Other apocalyptists were pessimistic in outlook but the author of Revelation develops the theme of God triumphing over evil; he is always in control of the historical process bringing good out of evil. 4. There is a moral imperative in the book of Revelation that is not found in other apocalyptic material e.g. the repeated summons to repentance in 2v5,16,22 and 3v3,19 . Presentation 01

Authorship

The view held here is that John the apostle was the author. This was the view of the early church fathers such as Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, and Clement of Rome. It was not until the time of Marcion in the 2

nd

C that John’s authorship was questioned [Marcion was dismissive of anything that betrayed a Jewish background!]. The first serious objection to John’s authorship was advanced by Dionysius of Alexandria in the middle of the 3

rd

C. He did so for no other reason than his theological opponents constantly quoted from Revelation. His object was therefore to undermine its authorship.

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Date

It is thought that the book was written in the reign of Domitian [AD 81-96]. The internal evidence of the book suggests its background is one of conflict between a totalitarian secular power and those loyal to Christ. The demand of universal worship is one that arose from the development of the Imperial cult. Emperor worship reached new heights in Domitian’s reign, for only then was failure to honour the emperor as god a punishable political offence. That some had already paid the price for failing to honour the emperor as god is suggested in 2v13 and in the church at Smyrna was warned of the danger of future imprisonment, persecution and 2v10 martyrdom. ‘For that [the apocalyptic vision] was seen not a very long time since, but almost in our own day, towards the end of Domitian’s reign’.

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Circulation Within The Early Church

No other N.T. book seems to have enjoyed such wide circulation and early recognition. If the seven churches addressed were circulation centres for the surrounding areas, then in a brief period, the book would have been read in the whole province of Asia Minor, quickly spreading beyond to every part of the empire. Certainly the subject matter of the book - written to comfort a persecuted church - would put it on the best sellers list of every church bookstall. The Apocalypse was in the Muratorian Canon [the earliest extant list of books considered to form part of the inspired scriptures of the N.T.].

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Width Of Interpretation

It is perhaps not surprising that no other book in scripture has lent itself to such a breadth of interpretation. Not only because of the difficulties surrounding the interpretation of the language and symbolism used but because of the apparent failure of the book’s eschatological promises. By the time of Constantine, when for the first time Christianity enjoyed the protection of the state, impending persecution seemed to be an unreal spectre over the church. Over the years four basic categories of interpretation have emerged: Presentation 01

Width Of Interpretation

1. The Preterist View: understands the book exclusively from the stand point of its C1 st setting. The church, threatened by the growing demands of Emperor worship faced a period of severe trial. Those enduring persecution are promised they will enter into God’s final victory. This approach focuses upon the plight of the C1

st

church, the original recipients of this book. Preterists hold that all the major prophecies of the book were fulfilled either with the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70 or the fall of Rome in AD 476. The major difficulty with this view is that the decisive victory portrayed in the latter part of the Apocalypse was never achieved.

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Breadth Of Interpretation

2. The Historicist View. This view sees the book as forecasting the course of history right up to its own time. It is viewed as of little significance to its original readers. The book of Revelation is seen to sketch western history through various popes, the Protestant Reformation, the French Revolution, the rise of Communism, WW II and the advent of the European Community. This leads to a very subjective interpretation and for this reason there is little agreement among its major exponents. The weakness of this view is that it offers little of immediate comfort to the original readers providing instead a detailed picture of events which lay in the remote future.

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Width Of Interpretation

3. The Futurist View. This view considers that the book has little to do with history and finds its major emphasis to belong to a period yet in the future [everything after 4v1 ]. Some see the seven letters to the churches as representing successive periods of church history which lead up to the rapture of the church in 4v1 the heavenly summons to John to, ‘Come up here’. The weakness of this view is that again it leaves the book with little significance for those to whom it was addressed.

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Width Of Interpretation

4. The Idealist View: does not believe that the book of Revelation refers to specific historic events but rather expresses basic principles on which God acts throughout history. These principles are in symbolic language, doctrinally and symbolically expressed. The weakness of this view is that is denies the book of Revelation any historic fulfilment there is no consummation of the historical process.

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Width Of Interpretation

It can be argued that we need to hold aspects of all of these views together as links in a chain. The Preterist view is relevant to the C1

st

providing a history of these times. and C2

nd

, The Historicist points beyond the day in which it was written right through to our own day and beyond it to the end. The Futurist view focuses our attention on what is yet to be, a period of final consummation and conflict. The Idealist view reminds us of doctrinal principles which are evident throughout the course of history.

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The Structure Of The Book

As we come to examine the structure of the book we need to determine whether or not John intended his readers to understand the visions recorded in his work in a straightforward chronological sense or as a series of parallel lines, each one focusing on a particular aspect of the whole. The continuous chronological approach is not held by many contemporary writers.

“There is progress in the book, but it is more a progress that moves the reader to a fuller experience of the divine plan for final victory than it is the progress which tick off the minutes on an eschatological clock. Each new vision intensifies the realisation of coming judgement”. R.H.MOUNCE

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The Structure Of The Book

This parallel structure is an adaption from W. Hendriksen.

1. CHRIST IN THE MIDST OF THE LAMP STANDS [ 1v1-3v22 ] Christ stands in the midst of his church [lamp stands]. The churches addressed, while real, also typify the life of various congregations throughout history and until the return of Christ.

2. THE VISION OF THE THRONE AND THE SEALS [ 4v7-17 ] This division of the book is located in the throne room of God. In [ 5v5-6 ] we have the first reference to Christ describing him as having been slain and now ruling in heaven. The opened seals describe events which will unfold in history until the second coming ushers in awful judgement on unbelievers [ 6v16-17 ] and bliss for the believer [ 7v16-17 ].

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The Structure Of The Book

3. THE SEVEN TRUMPETS Chap. 10-11 [ 8v1-11v19 ] The theme is how the seven trumpets affect the world. describe what happens to the church. With a reference to final judgement at the close [ 11v15,18 ] 4. THE PERSECUTING DRAGON birth of Christ [ 12v5 second coming of Christ [ [ 12v1-14v20 14v14,16 ] ] The woman and the man child are persecuted by the dragon [Satan] and his helpers. This section also covers the complete church age beginning with a reference to the ] and closing with a picture of the 5. THE SEVEN BOWLS [ 15v1-16v21 reference to final judgement [ ] The seven bowls of wrath describe the operation of God’s judgements throughout the church age but with a clear 16v20 ].

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The Structure Of The Book

6. THE FALL OF BABYLON [ 17v1-19v21 ] Babylon describes the world as a centre of seduction at any moment in history. As such it is judged throughout history. Its influence and power are brought to and end at the second coming [ 19v11ff.

] 7. THE GREAT CONSUMMATION [ 19v22-22v21 was ‘cast down’, here we are told in 20v2-3 ] A new subject is introduced. The devil’s doom. In chap 12v9 we were told that with Christ’s ascension and coronation the devil that he was bound for a thousand years after being cast into the abyss. This is followed by a brief period when Satan is loosed from prison [ 20v7 ]. Again this is followed by an account of his final overthrow and Christ’s coming in judgement [ 20:10ff.

] and so the way is cleared for the creation of a new heaven and earth.

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A Detailed Analysis

1. CHRIST IN THE MIDST OF THE LAMP STANDS [1:1-3:22] PROLOGUE [1:1-20] Superscription [1:1-3] Salutation and Doxology [1:4-8] Inaugural Vision and Commission 1:9-20 LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES Ephesus [2:1-7] Smyrna [2:8-11] Pergamum [2:12-17] Thyatira [2:18-29]Sardis [3:1-6] Philadelphia [3:7-13] Laodicea [3:14-22] Presentation 01

A Detailed Analysis

2. THE VISION OF THE THRONE AND THE SEALS [4:1-7-17] ADORATION IN THE COURT OF HEAVEN [4:1-5:14] Worship of God as Creator [4:1-11 Worship of the Lamb [5:1-11] THE SEALS [6:1-8:1] The first four seals: The four horsemen [6:1-8] The fifth seal: Cry of the Martyrs [6:9-11] The sixth seal: The great earthquake [6:12-17] INTERLUDE: VISIONS OF SECURITY AND SALVATION [7:1-17] The sealing of God’s servants [7:1-8] The bliss of the redeemed [7:9-17] The seventh seal: A dramatic pause [8:1] Presentation 01

A Detailed Analysis

4. THE PERSECUTING DRAGON [12:1-14:20] The woman, dragon and male child [12:1-6] War in heaven [12:7-12] War on earth [12:13-17] The beast from the sea [13:1-10] The beast from the earth [13:11-18] The redeemed of the lamb on Mt. Zion [14:1-5] INTERLUDE: VISIONS OF FINAL JUDGEMENT [14:6-20] Impending judgement announced [14:6-13] Harvest of the earth [ 14:14-16] Vintage of the earth 14:17:20] Presentation 01

A Detailed Analysis

5. THE SEVEN BOWLS [15:1-16:21] Preparation for the bowl - plagues [15:1-8] The plagues poured out [16:1-21] 6. THE FALL OF BABYLON [17:1-19:21] The harlot and the scarlet beast [17:1-6] Interpretation of the Harlot’s destruction [17:7-18] Babylon declared desolate [18:1-8] Lament of kings, merchants, and seamen [18:9-20] Babylon destroyed [18:21-24] Hymn of vindication [19:1-5] Presentation 01

A Detailed Analysis

THE FINAL VICTORY [19:6-20:15] Marriage of the lamb announced [19:6-10] The warrior Messiah appears [19:11-16] The antichrist and his allies destroyed [19:17-21] 7. THE GREAT CONSUMMATION [20:1-22:21] Satan bound [20:1-3] The thousand years [20:4-6] Satan destroyed [20:7-10] Final judgement [20:11-15] THE NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH 21:1-22:5 The new creation [21:1-8] The new Jerusalem [ 21:9-22:5] EPILOGUE [22:6-21] Presentation 01

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