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
No comments:
Post a Comment