The Revelation*

*from How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth

Images of Judgment and Hope

I. The Nature of The Revelation:

A. Apocalypse—a literary form
--1. Came out of persecution or oppression; looked to a violent, radical end. It was literature-not spoken like prophets
--2. Visions and dreams-very cryptic & symbolic
--3. Images are forms of fantasy-not natural
--4. Very stylized-numbers, sets, visions
--5. Not pseudonymous, however & not sealed

B. Prophecy---John wrote a prophetic word to the church. See 1:3, 22:21

C. Epistle---letter to the seven churches


II. The Necessity of Exegesis (again!)

--1. “The primary meaning of the Revelation is what John intended it to mean, which in turn must also have been something his readers could have understood it to mean.”

--2. The book is prophetic, so there is the possibility of a secondary unseen meaning, but exegesis (interpretation) is limited to what it meant to them. Application is the next step.

--3. We can’t presume that they knew Matthew or I & II Thess. Their frame of reference was primarily the book itself and other older sources (Daniel, Ezekiel…)

--4. Images:
-----a. images taken from other places don’t have to have the same meaning in Revelation. Mostly taken from OT, but also apocalyptic and mythology
-----b. Some images are standard, others not…
The beast at sea is a world empire 11:7, 13:1
The lion turns out to be a lamb Rev. 5:5-6
One woman is positive, another negative Ch.12 & 17
-----c. …Some are specific and some are not.
Specific:
seven lampstands=seven churches
Dragon=Satan
General:
4 horses=general human fallenness

-----d. John’s definitions must be firmly held to and be held as a starting point for other images:
Son of man=Christ 1:17, 18
Lampstands=churches 1:20
Seven stars=seven angels 1:20
Dragon=Satan 12:9
Seven heads=seven hills 17:9
Harlot=great city (Rome) 17:18

-----e. The visions are meant to be taken as a whole. Details cannot be pressed.
Black sun or falling figs not specific, 6:13
Locusts w/ long hair, human faces seem to resemble the barbarian horde. 9:7-11

--5. A detailed chronological account of the future was not what was in mind. The focus is on God being in control despite present circumstances. The church will suffer, but will triumph in Christ. Christ’s enemies will be judged.


III. The Historical Context

• -many were experiencing suffering because of their commitment to Jesus. (We today cannot expect to escape this.) The church was going to undergo even more suffering. Were they ready?

• -tribulation-the suffering that believers would go thru

• God is in control

• -wrath-the judgment of God on unbelievers. (not the same as tribulation)


IV. The Literary Context

Structure of the Book
– 1-3 main characters introduced (John, Christ, church)
– 4-5 continue to set the stage: God reigns in majesty
The Lamb saved us through suffering
– 6-7 drama unfolds

-------------------------
There are three sets of 7: 7 seals, 7 trumpets, 7 bowls
4+2+2 interludes +1 (repeated in 8-11)

7 Seals
1.-4. 4 colored horses (one picture)
5. “How long?”
6. earthquake
a. 144,000
b. multitude in white robes
7. God’s wrath

7 trumpets
1.-4. Four angels bring natural disasters
5. Fifth angel opens the Abyss
6. Sixth angel releases four angels
a. angel and the little scroll
b. Two witnesses
7. World becomes God’s kingdom

7 Bowls of God’s Wrath
1. Sores
2. Blood in sea
3. Blood in rivers
4. Sun
5. Beasts throne afflicted
6. Euphrates dried up
a. 3 evil spirits gather kings
b. kings are gathered at Armageddon
7. Earthquake-splits the great city
------------------------

8-11 Content of God’s judgment-Natural disasters

12-22: Details of Judgment and Triumph
– 12 Satan attempts to destroy Christ, but is himself destroyed
– 13-14 Persecution by Rome (for the moment), but they will be defeated (15 & 16)
– 17-22 The city of earth is defeated, but God’s people dwell securely in the city of God


V. The Hermeneutical questions

1. Some things have happened, yet some have yet to happen.
2. It’s God’s word of comfort and encouragement to those undergoing trial and suffering. (We are not promised freedom from suffering, but triumph in it. God is in control.)
3. But chapter 18 seems to refer to the fall of Rome and is tied to the end times. How do we understand this? (This happens in the prophets too.)


Suggestions for understanding

1. These are pictures of the future, but not an exact representation-the calamities accompanying the trumpets may not take place exactly as stated.
2. Some pictures express the certainty of God’s judgment; time is short, but no definite time is given.
3. No ideas given about the end -- Red China not foretold. Don’t spend too much time matching current events to Revelation.
4. Yet to be fulfilled sections are impossible to pin down: Antichrist-It may be a specific person, as in Paul or Revelation, or a philosophy (1 Jn. 2:18)-we shouldn’t be dogmatic. We don’t have the key to open that lock.
5. The pictures of the end that we see are just pictures and the reality is something else. It is figurative.


Four Views of Revelation: see

http://fide-o.blogspot.com/2007/03/4-views-of-revelation.html

Wisdom Literature

Wisdom
-The ability to make godly choices in life. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

Abuse of Wisdom Literaure
1. Taken out of context: Eccl. 3:2 A time to be born and a time to die
---a)Does it mean that God has set out the length of our life?
---b)Or does it say life is full of futility?
2. People misunderstand wisdom terms
---a) Prov. 14:7 Stay away from a foolish man…
-------1)What does foolish mean? Unintelligent? Lacking in common sense? Self-indulgent and self-centered?
3. Don’t follow the argument
----a)Job 15:20 How is this to be understood?


Who is Wise?
Thinking and acting according to the truth
Not brains; Being rightly oriented to God
Not knowledge; application
Responsible, successful living

The place of wisdom in ancient Israel

Teachers of Wisdom-wise men

Wisdom in the home-Proverbs—doing God’s will is ultimate wisdom

Wisdom among colleagues-literature-Ecclesiastes & Job

Wisdom through Poetry-more memorable

The Limits of Wisdom-not theological; must be applied


Ecclesiastes: Cynical Wisdom

1:2; 1:14; 2:15;
3:19; 5:16; 8:14;
9:9-10; 11:8

Compare to Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

Most of the book is what life would be like
--if God were not involved in the world and
--if there were no life after death.

Don’t live life without God—it is meaningless


Wisdom in Job

A structured dialogue
Again, wrong views are argued
Ecclesiastes “God is involved in the world”
Job “God is not directly involved in every event” Suffering is not just punishment for sin.
Job is urged to repent by his “comforters”, but he’s done nothing wrong.
God’s ways are above our ways.


Wisdom in Proverbs

What are some modern day proverbs?
What are some that seem to contradict each other?
Haste makes waste; He who hesitates is lost.
Two heads are better than one; too many cooks spoil the broth.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder; Out of sight, out of mind.
It’s better to be safe than sorry; Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
What is the purpose of the proverb?

Prudential wisdom—practical attitudes
Choose wisdom and not folly.

Folly:
violence, careless pledging, laziness, malicious dishonesty, sexual impurity

Wisdom:
fear of the Lord, discipline, prudence, caring for the poor, respect for leaders, disciplining children, moderation with alcohol

Proverbs 3:7-8 Shun evil and you will be healthy
Proverbs 16:3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

Not meant to be detailed or comprehensive—these are proverbs, not promises

Hermeneutical Guidelines for Proverbs

1. Not legal guarantees from God
Prov. 15:25 Proud man’s house vs. the widow’s boundary line

2. Must be read as a collection. (15:25 above and 23:10-11).
15:22 and 16:3 Success
15:27 and 17:8, 17:23, 21:14, 29:4 Bribes
Materialism; obedience to father

3. Proverbs are memorable, not precise.
Proverbs 15: 19 The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns,
but the path of the upright is a highway.
Proverbs 31 A wife of noble character—a diligent business woman

4. Translation required: king’s friend, corner of a roof

Hermeneutical Guidelines--Summary
1. Parabolic, figurative
2. Practical, not theological
3. Memorable, not precise
4. Not supportive of selfishness
5. Translation may be needed
6. Not guarantees, but poetic guidelines
7. Literary techniques—specific, exaggeration
8. Good advice, but not exhaustive
9. Not for a materialistic lifestyle;practical advice for daily living

What are the benefits of studying the Proverbs?


Song of Songs

Interpretations:
1. Allegory-God & Israel, Christ & the Church
--there is no actual historical event
2. Typology-Solomon takes a Gentile Bride
--This event is taken as an actual event, an actual marriage of Solomon and is likened to the relationship between Christ and the church
3. Drama-a maiden prefers a shepherd
4. Natural-a depiction of romantic love

Why is it not an allegory? See Hosea 2:11-23
1. Not part of a prophetic book
2. Not obviously allegorical
3. No references to Israel’s history
4. No national symbolism

Purpose:
It shows us how beautiful and pure love is within the boundaries God set for it. (Carr, The Song of Solomon, Tyndale OT Commentaries pp 35-36)

In brief,
1. Monogamous heterosexual marriage is what is expected.
2. What is referred to is love in marriage.
3. Song of Songs is suggesting godly choices rather than a set of rules.
4. There is often a suggestion of technique these days when it comes to sex. Valuing the other person and romantic love in marriage is more the focus in Song of Songs.--Stuart, How to Read the Bible…

Review Questions for Final Exam

Interpretation

1. Some claim that we should just read the Bible and its meaning will be obvious, that there is no special need for training, or interpretation and that training is just prejudiced anyway.

2. What is it about people and what is it about Scripture that shows that interpretation is necessary?

Exegesis

3. What is Exegesis?

4. What is one of the steps in exegesis that only scholars can do?

5. What are a couple of steps in exegesis that anyone can do?

Translations

6. What are two of the advantages of the New International Version (NIV) over the King James Version (KJV)?

7. What is the Textus Receptus?

8. What is the idea of dynamic equivalence, and what advantages does this method have over other methods?

Exegesis of Epistles

9. What are the important steps to take in analyzing (exegeting) a letter? (These are the steps that we took to look at 1 Corinthians, and that we have been taking to look at Philippians.)

Hermeneutics

10. What is hermeneutics?

11. What are some important principles that we should remember as we apply letters/epistles to our own situation? Give examples.

12. What are three difficulties that we face when we determine how to apply scripture to our lives today?

OT Narratives

1. What are the three levels of understanding that we should remember as we interpret the OT narratives? Explain each level.

2. What are a couple ways that we shouldn’t interpret OT narratives?

Acts

3. Luke has written Acts in six major sections.

a. What, in general, is the structure of Acts in these sections? (You don’t have to label all the sections, but do need to give the basic idea.)
b. How does this structure show one of the major interests of Luke in Acts?

4. Do events in Acts provide an example for how we should act today or how we should function as a church? Why or why not?

6. What does Luke see as the model church?

The Gospels

5. How would you explain the fact that there are four gospels? Why wasn’t one enough?

6. Why were Mark and John written?

7. What are some of the important things that we should remember about the gospels which would help us to interpret them?

8. What are the two historical contexts of the gospels? Give some basic information about the two contexts.

10. What does it mean to think horizontally when looking at the literary context? What is one example of how that can be a help in understanding?

The Psalms

8. How can we benefit from the Psalms?

9. What are some of the characteristics of the poetry in the Psalms?

Parables

1. In general, what factors are important in understanding and interpreting the parables of Jesus? Use the parable of the Good Samaritan to explain some of your points.

2. What general points did Dr. Kenneth Bailey bring out as important in understanding the Parables? How did his interpretation tend to differ from Fee’s point of view? (Give examples from the video series , e.g. The Woman in the House of Simon, The Lost Sheep, The Pharisee and the Tax-Collector, if you can.)

OT Law

20. What are four of the guidelines in understanding the OT Law? Give a brief explanation of each.

21. What sort of laws clearly do not apply to us any more?

22. What did Jesus have to say about the Law?

23. Is the OT law still the Word of God for us? To us? Explain.

24. How do laws like “do not reap the borders of your fields” function?

25. What do we learn about the laws about slavery?

26. How does the OT law compare to the laws of other countries at that time?

27. In what ways did the OT law benefit Israel?

28. What factors are important in understanding the OT Law and how to apply the OT Law to us today? Use at least three examples from the Law to explain your points.

Prophets

3. What is prophecy? When should we expect events that are foretold to take place?

4. What is the role of a prophet?


5. What is one of the main reasons that the prophets are often difficult to understand?

6. What is the general historical setting for the prophets?

34. Why did prophets say what they did?

35. Are the prophets a new stage in Israel’s relationship with God? Why or

why not?

7. How can we apply what the prophets said to Israel to us now?

Wisdom Literature

8. What are some guidelines in understanding Proverbs…what do we have to be careful about as we apply them?

42. What are some of the themes that are discussed in Proverbs?

9. What is the basic point of Ecclesiastes?

10. What is the main message in Job? Why does one need to be careful in quoting from Job?

11. What is the main point of The Song of Songs?

Revelation

1. What type of literature is Revelation, primarily? What things are typically found in this type of literature?

2. What are three of the main messages of Revelation? Give examples to support your thought.

3. What are the 4 major ways Revelation is interpreted? Define each view.

4. What are the strengths and weaknesses of one of the above views?