TABLE 1 Symbols in Revelation Ref Symbol Johns
TABLE 1 Symbols in Revelation Ref. Symbol John’s interpretation 1: 8 Alpha and Omega The One who was, who is, and who is coming 1: 20 Seven stars and lamps Angels and churches 8: 3 Angel with censer Prayers of the saints 10: 1 -11 Little open book 11: 7 Great city, Sodom Where the Lord was crucified 13: 6 God’s tabernacle Those dwelling on earth 13: 18 Six-sixty-six Number of (a) human 14: 14 -20 Winepress Wrath of God 17: 9 -15 Seven heads Seven mountains and kings 17: 12 Ten horns Ten kings 18: 21 Angel with millstone Babylon cast down 19: 8 The fine linen of the bride The righteous deeds of the saints 19: 11 -16 One on a white horse Word of God Must prophesy again
TABLE 2 John’s Use of Numbers Three The spiritual order Four The created order Seven Perfection (contrast six) Ten Totality Twelve Israel (God’s People) Three & one-half The number of evil Multiples & repetitions Intensification
TABLE 3 Parallels in the Opening and Closing Opening Closing Revelation 1: 1 -4 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place; he made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and who keep what is written in it; for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, Revelation 22: 6 -10 And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true, for the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place. ” “See, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. ” I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of The angel who showed them to me; but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your comrades the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. “Worship God!” And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. Revelation 1: 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, “ says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. Revelation 22: 13 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. ”
TABLE 3 (Continued) Opening Closing Revelation 1: 10 I was in the spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet Revelation 22: 17 The Spirit of the bride says, “Come. ” And let everyone who hears say, “Come. ” And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift. Revelation 1: 16 -17 In his right hand he held seven stars, and from his mouth came a sharp, two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining with full force. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he placed his right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, …” (see 1: 4 previous slide. ) Revelation 22: 16 “It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star. ” (See 22: 8 previous slide. ) Revelation 22: 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.
TABLE 4 Points of Correspondence between the Opening and Closing Opening Points of Correspondence Closing 1: 1, 4, 9 John names himself 22: 8 1: 1 An angel sent 22: 6 1: 1 Will soon take place 22: 6 1: 1 The servants 22: 6 1: 3 Reader blessed 22: 7 1: 3 The time is near 22: 10 1: 4 Grace to you 22: 21 1: 8 The Alpha and Omega 22: 13 1: 10 The Spirit 22: 17 1: 16, 20 Stars and angels 22: 16 1: 17 John falls at feet 22: 8
TABLE 6 Intertextual Echoes in the Opening Scene Ref. Other Literature Echo 1: 9 Dan 8: 15; 1 Enoch 12: 3; Prophet names self in vision scene 4 Ezra 3: 1 1: 10 Ezek 3: 12, 2: 2 Hears loud sound behind him while in in the Spirit 1: 12 Zech 4: 2 Lampstand, seven lamps 1: 13 Dan 7: 13, 10: 5 One like a human being Clothed, girded with gold belt 1: 14 -16 Dan 7 -10 Elements of the description: white hair, fiery eyes, brasslike feet 1: 15 Ezek 43: 2 Voice like many waters 1: 16 Isa 11: 4; 49: 2 Sword (rod) of mouth 1: 17 Dan 10: 7 -9 Vision causes prophet to fall to the ground 1: 18 Dan 10: 10 -11 Seer touched by visionary visitor, comforted and addressed
TABLE 7 Parallel Characterization of Jesus Opening Vision 1: 13 and in the midst of the lampstands I saw one like the Son of Man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash across his chest. 1: 14 His head and his hair were white as white wool, white as snow; his eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined as in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of many waters. 1: 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and from his mouth came a sharp, two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining with full force. Seven Letters 2: 1 Ephesus. . . him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands: 2: 18 Thyatira write. . . the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze: 2: 1 Ephesus. . . him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lamptands: 3: 1 Sardis write: . . . Him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: 2: 12 Pergamum. . . Him who has the sharp two-edged sword: Note: Exact matches are printed in italic type; parallels in bold.
TABLE 7 (Continued) Opening Vision 1: 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he placed his right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living one. I was dead, and see, I am alive forever and ever; and I have the key of Death and of Hades. (And from the opening address) 1: 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. Seven Letters 2: 8 Smyrna. . . the first and the last, who was dead and came to life: 3: 7 Philadelphia. . . the holy one, the true One, who has the key of David, who opens no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens: 3: 14 Laodicea. . . the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the orgin of God’s creation. . . Note: Exact matches are printed in italic type; parallels in bold.
TABLE 8 The Promises of the Letters Promises to Those Who Conquer. . . Parallels Letter to Ephesus 2: 7. . . I will give permission to eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God. 22: 2 through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of Life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing it’s fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 22: 14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life. Letter to Smyrna 2: 11. . . Will not be harmed by the second death. 20: 6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. Over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him a thousand years. Letter to Pergamum 2: 17. . . I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give a white stone, and on the white stone is written a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it. Not said but see: 19: 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems; and he has a name inscribed that no one knows but himself. With 22: 4 they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
TABLE 8 (Continued) Promises to Those Who Conquer. . . Parallels Letter to Thyatira 2: 26 -28. . . I will give authority over the nations; to rule them with an iron rod, as when clay pots are shattered – even as I also received authority from my Father. 20: 4 Then I saw thrones, and those seated on them were given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony to Jesus and for the word of God. They had not worshipped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ as thousand years (see 19: 15) 22: 16 It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendants of David, the bright morning star. . I will also give the morning star. Letter to Sardis 3: 5. . . You will be clothed like them in white robes, and I will not blot your name out of the book of life; I will confess your name before my Father and before his angels. 6: 11 They were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number would be complete both of their fellow servant and of their brothers and sisters, who were soon to be killed as they themselves had been killed. (see 7: 14; 15: 6) 20: 15 and anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. (see 21: 27)
TABLE 8 (Continued) Promises to Those Who Conquer. . . Parallels Letter to Philadelphia 3: 12. . . I will make you a pillar in the temple of my God; you will never go out of it. I will write on you the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem that comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. Contrast 21: 22 I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 19: 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems; and he has a name inscribed that no one knows but him. Self. 21: 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Letter to Laodicea 3: 21. . . I will give a place with me on my throne, just as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 20: 4 Then I saw thrones, and those seated on them were given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been Beheaded for their testimony to Jesus and for the word of God. They had not worshipped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (see 22: 1)
TABLE 11 The Concentric Structure of the Apocalypse Letter frame Vision report frame Letter scroll: Vision of the majestic human on Patmos Worship scroll: Vision of the throne in heaven War scroll: Vision of the dragon’s war and defeat Vision Report Frame Letter frame
Prophecy and Apocalypticism Most historians of ancient Judaism agree that the apocalyptic views found in such books as Daniel and the non-canonical works of 1 Enoch and 4 Ezra are closely linked to the older prophetic views found in the classical prophets, including Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, and Micah. Both prophets and apocalypticists believed that God was going to intervene on behalf of his people Israel to alleviate their suffering. But they disagreed on why the suffering was occurring, who was at fault, and how it would be removed. Prophetic View Apocalyptic View Why do God’s people suffer? They have sinned against God, and he is punishing them for it. There are evil cosmic forces in the world that are opposed to God and are creating havoc among his righteous people. Who is causing the suffering? God himself. He is punishing his people in order to get them to repent. The evil cosmic forces. They are bent on hurting God’s people. Who is at fault? The people of God, because they have sinned. The cosmic forces in the world, who oppose God’s righteous ones. What must happen to bring the suffering to the end? The people of God must repent and turn back to him. God must intervene on behalf of his righteous people, and destroy the forces of evil. What must the people of God do? Turn away from their sin and return to God. Remain faithful and wait for God to intervene.
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