THE 5511 NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY CLASS IX THEOLOGY

THE 5511 NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY CLASS IX: THEOLOGY OF REVELATION

THEOLOGY OF REVELATION 1. 1 Introduction to Revelation • Some critical issues in Revelation • Relationship to other John’s writings • Genre: apocalypse, prophecy, epistles or combination • Relationship to Jewish apocalypses • Hermeneutical issues • • • Correct interpretative framework Interpretation of apocalyptic symbols Eschatological controversies • • Issues concerning the Millennium Issues concerning the rapture, mark of the beast, etc.

THEOLOGY OF REVELATION 1. 2 Interpretative paradigms of Revelation • Influence of interpretative paradigms • Preterist • First century fulfillment • Historicist • Correspondence to epochs in church history • Idealist • Timeless truths – victory of good over evil • Futuristic • Focus on the end times and final event • Eclectic • Mixture of above views

THEOLOGY OF REVELATION • What difference does it make? – Number 666 (13: 18) • Preterist/historical • Reference to Nero or Domitian – ancient gematria • • Neron Caesar – numerical value in Hebrew equals 666 (or 616 w/o “n”) Domitian’s inscription on some coins equals 666 in Greek • Idealist • 666 is a symbol for anyone supremely evil (cf. no: 7) • Futuristic • • Code name for the supremely evil person at the end of the age Recent suspects: • • • Pope Benedict XI (13 th century pope) Pope Benedict XVII (pope b/f current Pope Francis) Ronald Wilson Reagan (six letters in each name)

PRETERISM Millennial Views* 1. ) Preterism Many preterists also believe in the literal 2 nd coming of Jesus

2. ) Premillennial PREMILLENIAL Dispensationalist View DISPENSATIONALISM

3. ) Historic Premillenialism HISTORICAL PREMILLENIALISM

4. ) Amillenialism AMILLENIALISM

POSTMILLENIALISM 5. ) Postmillenialism

PROPHETIC VISION

THEOLOGY OF REVELATION 2. 1 Theology of Revelation • Situation and circumstances • Relationship of the church to the Roman Empire • Dates: c. AD 95* (Domitian) or right after Nero’s death (c. AD 68) • Persecution OR focus on “high social boundaries” Powerful and all-pervasive rule of the Roman empire • Imagery and symbolism of the first century world • • OT & Jewish imagery Popular myths transformed(? ) – e. g. Nero redivivus* (Rev 13: 3) 1 st century background as starting point

THEOLOGY OF REVELATION 2. 3 Theology of Revelation – themes 4 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, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. (1: 4 -5) God centered “Trinitarian” salutation

THEOLOGY OF REVELATION Chiastic pattern in Revelation* A B B 1 A 1 1: 8 (end of prologue) 1: 17 (Beginning vision of Christ) 21: 6 (end of vision) 22: 13 (beginning of epilogue) God – alpha and omega Christ – first and the last God – alpha and omega Beginning and end Christ – Alpha and omega Beginning and end Connection w/ parousia (1: 7) Connection w/ new life (1: 18) Connection w/ new life (21: 56) Connection w/ parousia (22: 12)

THEOLOGY OF REVELATION • God and His Victory • Central conflict: Worship God or worship the beast – ? • Visionary experiences and polished literary working • Theology and Christology developed in liturgical worship And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS TO COME. ” 9 And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before throne, saying, 11 “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created. ” (4: 8 -11)

THEOLOGY OF REVELATION • Description of throne room invites worship and awe • “one seated on the throne…appearance of jasper and carnelian” (4: 2 -3) • Trishagion – “Holy, holy” (4: 8) • “was, is to come” (1: 4, 8; 4: 8; 11: 17; 16: 5) • Creator to receive honor, glory, and power (4: 11) • Further descriptions of God I am the first and I am the last. * There is no God but Me. (Isa 44: 6) • Alpha and omega, beginning and the end (1: 8; 21: 6) • See also Isa 41: 4; 44: 6; 48: 12 • The Lord God Almighty (1: 8; 4: 8; 11: 17; 15: 3; 16: 7; 19: 6; 21: 22) • One seated on the throne (4: 2 -3, 7; 5: 1, 7, 13; 6: 16; 7: 10, 15; 19: 4; 21: 5)

THEOLOGY OF REVELATION Ἀποκάλυψις Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἣν ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ὁ θεὸς δεῖξαι (Rev. God cannot be fully described*, only worshipped 1: 1) Majesty, power, and otherness of God “The One seated on the throne” (4: 2 -3) • Revelation of Jesus Christ from Father (1: 1) • God hands the sealed scroll to Christ (5: 7) • Further hymn material • First interlude (b/w 6 th and 7 th seal) – nations b/f the throne • • • Glory, wisdom, honor, power (7: 12) Worship God and the Lamb (7: 12 -17) God’s care and shelter (7: 17) Worship of God and Christ due to experience of God’s victory

THEOLOGY OF REVELATION • 7 th trumpet – loud voice proclaims • “kingdom of the world…[now] kingdom of our Lord” (11: 15 -18) • “One who was and is” (11: 17; 16: 5) Proclamation of complete victory • Salvation, power, kingdom of our God (12: 10) Expulsion of Satan is victory of the Lamb • Lord Almighty…just, holy…all nations worship (15: 4) • God’s victory is proclaimed in • Justice and punishment over the rebelling nations (11: 18); dragon/Satan (12: 10 -12), great whore (19: 1 -6) Lord God reigns victoriously in power and justice

THEOLOGY OF REVELATION • Significance of the titles of God (and Christ) • “Alpha and Omega”; “First and the Last, Beginning and the End” • Alpha and omega – first and last of Greek alphabets Interchangeable titles used for both God and Christ • Seven occurrences in self-declaration by God and Christ Seven as symbol for completeness* • “I am the first and the last, beside there is no God” (Isa 44: 6; 48: 12) • YHWH as the sole God and Creator against Babylonian deities God precedes all things, Creator & brings eschatological conclusion First Word in Creation and last Word in New Creation**

THEOLOGY OF REVELATION • “One who was, is, [is to come]” (1: 4, 8; 4: 8; 11: 17; 16: 5) • Interpretation of the divine name YHWH (Ex 3: 14) • Divine eternity and/or past, present, future of God • 11: 17&16: 5 “present-future”* coming as eschatological fulfillment • The role of “coming” has begun Eternal God chooses to be involved w/ Creation by His coming • Lord God Almighty x 7 – Pantokrator (1: 8; 4: 8; 11: 17; 15: 3; 16: 7; 19: 6; 21: 22) • Associated w/ divine name – YHWH (Hb. elohe hassebaot**) God’s unrivalled power and supremacy in history

THEOLOGY OF REVELATION • One who sits on the throne x 7 (4: 9; 5: 1, 7, 13; 6: 16; 7: 15; 21: 5) • Glorious heaven and throne room vs. situation on earth • God’s sovereignty acknowledged in heaven – true reality of things • God’s rule will be established on earth, despite opposition • “One who sits on the throne” surrounded by… • • Constant adoration of strangelic creatures (4: 6 -8, 11) Everything depends on Creator God (4: 11) 13 And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever. ” (5: 13) • God worshiped by the “heavenly kings” (4: 4) God alone to be worshipped as source of all power and authority

THEOLOGY OF REVELATION • Christ and His victory • God and Christ intimately connected, yet distinct Chiastic pattern in Revelation* A B B 1 A 1 22: 13 (beginning of epilogue) 1: 8 (end of prologue) 1: 17 21: 6 (Beginning vision of (end of vision) Christ) God – alpha and omega Christ – first & the last God – alpha and omega Beginning and end Christ – Alpha and omega Beginning and end Connection w/ new parousia (1: 7) life (1: 18) Connection w/ new life (21: 5 -6) Connection w/ parousia (22: 12) Christ always belonged to the reality of God

THEOLOGY OF REVELATION • Worship and throne visions of God and Christ • Worship of God (4: 8, 11) “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power” (4: 11) – God Almighty Creator • Worship of the Lamb (5: 9 -10, 12 -13) “Worthy…receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing” (5: 12) – Slaughtered Lamb as Redeemer • Worship of God and the Lamb (5: 13) And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever. ” And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen. ” And the elders fell down and worshiped. (5: 13) God and Christ connected, yet distinct

THEOLOGY OF REVELATION • God’s victory and Christ’s victory • Christ’s victory over death and Hades (2: 1, 8, 12, 18; 3: 1, 7, 14) “faithful witness, first-born from the dead, ruler of the kings of the earth” “freed us from sins…made us kingdom”(1: 5 -6) • Son of Man: lampstands, stars*, sword, keys of death and Hades (1: 12 -18) • Salvation belongs to God and the Lamb (7: 10) • Kingdom of the world now kingdom of God and Messiah (11: 15) • Salvation, power, kingdom of God & authority of Messiah (12: 10) • New Jerusalem – God and Christ its Temple and light (21: 22, 23) Christ has won the victory and He will share it w/ the faithful

THEOLOGY OF REVELATION • Victory through the cross – slaughtered Lamb & Lion of Judah • Lamb – expression of victory by crucified Messiah through cross • Lion of Judah identified as slaughtered Lamb (5: 5 -6) • Victory and redemption through shedding blood (5: 9 -10) • • Victory through death, not by might and power Worthy to open seven-sealed scroll – whole plan of God • Call to part-take into Lamb’s victory by remaining faithful unto death • Not to take part in physical war or battle • Victory through mighty parousia • Son of Man on the cloud w/ sharp sickle (14: 16)* • “Faithful and True” & “King of kings” conquers the beast and the kings of the earth (19: 11 -21)

THEOLOGY OF REVELATION • God’s people and their victory People of God in Revelation Rev 1 -3 Message to 7 churches (local community) Specific message to churches: remain faithful OR repent Rev 4 -22 Message to all people of Ultimate victory God (universal church) certain: remain faithful Perspective of the risen Son of Man and the heavenly throne Remain faithful to the end

THEOLOGY OF REVELATION • Presence of the risen Christ w/ his people Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— 6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father (1: 5 -6) • Son of Man walks among the lampstands (1: 12 -13, 20) • Delivers warning, consolation, encouragement (2 -3) Assurance of abiding presence & faithfulness Following visions: victory guaranteed, remain faithful

THEOLOGY OF REVELATION • Victory is guaranteed – remain faithful unto death • 5 th seal: martyred believers in heaven (6: 9 -11) • …the seven lampstands are the seven churches. (1: 20) Victorious BUT “number not yet complete” – persevere • 144, 000 & “great multitude…no one can count” b/f the throne (7: 1 -9) • Seal of God and “those from the great ordeal ” (7: 14) These are the two olive trees and • The two witnesses (11: 1 -14) • the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth (11: 4) God’s authority & timing; beast kills them but God raises to life Parable of “church’s witness” or specific “end-time figures”(? ) • Woman and the dragon (12: 1 -7) • Glorious woman gives birth, is chased by red dragon; boy caught up to God and woman protected in “place prepared by God” Satan not able to conquer the woman – “the people of God” or “Israel”

THEOLOGY OF REVELATION • Another vision of 144, 000 – w/ Lamb on Mt. Zion (14: 1 -5) • New song of the conquered to the Lamb b/f the throne • “chaste” “blameless” “follow Lamb” “purchased among men” “first fruit” • New heaven and new earth (21: 1 -27) • Dwelling place of God, Christ, and His people (21: 3, 9) Destiny of God’s people • Victory is the victory of the Lamb • Final victory guaranteed – to those who remain faithful • Compromise not possible with the world

THEOLOGY OF REVELATION • God’s enemies and their defeat • Holy “trinity” vs. Satanic “trinity”* • God, the Lamb, people of God • Red dragon (12: 3), beast from the sea (13: 1), beast from the earth (13: 11) • Dragon = Satan; beast from the sea = imperial power of Rome; beast from the earth = imperial cult • Dragon unable to defeat God’s people (Woman and child, 12: 1 -7) • Dragon cast out of heaven – already defeated (12: 9 -17) • Dragon gives power to the beast out of the sea (13: 2) • Defeats God’s people – has authority over every nation (13: 7)

THEOLOGY OF REVELATION • Comparison of the Lamb and the beast(s) • Slain lamb w/ all power and authority (5: 9) – “Who is worthy…” • • • Lion of Judah (5: 5) & Slain Lamb (5: 9) Lamb who has conquered – power and authority over nations (5: 9) Worship and honor (5: 11 -14) – “Who is worthy to open…” (5: 2) • 1 st beast (from the sea*) w/ all power authority – “Who is like…” • • • Leopard, bear, lion & “head slain…mortal wound healed” (13: 2 -3) Victory; all power and authority over the nations (13: 2 -4) Worship and honor (13: 4) – “Who is like the beast…” • 2 nd beast (from the earth) – enforces the authority of the first (13: 12) • • Mark of the beast (13: 16 -18) Mark of God and Lamb – 144, 000, name written on foreheads (14: 1)

THEOLOGY OF REVELATION • Who will be victorious? • The Lamb already conquered, overcame death & hades (1: 4 -8) …who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood, 6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father – to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. • Jesus overcame the enemies of God and God’s people • Babylon the great whore • Beast, dragon, false prophet, “kings of the nations”

THEOLOGY OF REVELATION • Babylon the great city [“great whore”] vs. New Jerusalem the city of God • 7 th bowl announces the fall of Babylon (16: 17 -21) “Babylon…to giver her the cup of…His fierce wrath” (16: 19) • Woman sitting on a scarlet beast…great city…reigns over kings (17: 3 -18) • “great whore…sit on many waters” (17: 1 -2)* • Babylon – human arrogance, oppression, violence – celebrates luxury • Babylon vs. New Jerusalem • “dwelling place of demons” (18: 2) vs. “dwelling place of God” (21: 3) • • • Unclean and sinful (18: 2 -3) vs. holy, “no unclean shall enter” (21: 7 -8, 27) Self-glorification and murder (18: 7 -8, 24) vs. God-glory and life (21: 4, 6) Luxury by extorting nations (18: 12 -17) vs. nations bring glory (21: 26) Mourning and destruction (18: 9 -24) vs. peace and life (22: 1 -5) Riches through exploitation (18: 10 -24) vs. God’s holy “treasury” (21: 11 -21) Thrown down…be no longer (18: 21) vs. eternal dwelling (21: 22 -23)

THEOLOGY OF REVELATION • Ideal city: security and prosperity under divine blessing • Splendor of Rome or New Jerusalem? • Saints conquer: “come out of her…not participate in her sins” (18: 4) Symbolical separation from Babylon (Rome/world) and spiritual allegiance to New Jerusalem – splendor of both cities compared • Final battle(s) and defeat of Satan (Rev 19 -20) • Parousia: “Faithful and True” defeats the beasts and kings (19: 11 -20) • Beast and the false prophet into Lake of fire (19: 20 -21; 20: 7 -10) • Christ’s reign for 1000 yrs. (20: 1 -6) • Satan bound • Dragon released and final battle – defeat and Lake of fire (20: 7 -10) • Defeat by “fire came down from heaven and devoured them”

THEOLOGY OF REVELATION • Faithful endurance of the churches before final victory (Rev 2 -3) • Those who conquer (w/ Christ) receive… • • • “eat from the tree of life” (2: 7) “not harmed by second death” (2: 11) “hidden manna…white stone with new name” (2: 17) “authority over nations…morning star” (2: 27 -28) “clothed with white robes” (3: 5) “be pillar in the temple of God” (3: 12) & “a place on his throne” (3: 21) Metaphors for participating in the life of heavenly Jerusalem • What and how to conquer…? • • What: dragon, the beast, and Babylon – their power & deception How: by witnessing to God and the Lamb; come out of her (Babylon) Task of God’s people: Be separated from the evil world system. Actively resist, through faithful witness, dragon and beast, which is concretely manifested in the imperial power of Rome and its practices

THEOLOGY OF REVELATION • Eschatology and parousia • Myriad of views – depend largely on • Interpretative paradigm • Interpretation of the rest of the NT (esp. Mk 13/Mt 24/Lk 21; John 14; 1 Cor 15; Phil 3; 1 Thess 4; 2 Thess 1 -2) • Place and interpretation of the 7 seals, trumpets, and bowl • Interpretation of the Millennium (Rev 20) • Revelation focuses on the futuristic eschatology • Realized eschatology present also (1: 5 -6; 12: 10; 13: 10; 14: 13)

THEOLOGY OF REVELATION • Interpretation follows the moderately futuristic model* • Rev 1 -5: 14 strictly in the time of Revelation • Rev 6 -22 about the future – language & imagery of 1 st century world • • E. g. “Babylon the Great” Great ordeal (7 -19) & Millennium and eternal state (20 -22) • Exceptions to the above scheme • • • First five seals (6: 1 -11) – lead to 6 th seal and “Day of the Lord” (7: 14) 7 th Trumpet and 7 th Trumpet about the End Flashbacks and Proleptic** judgement & salvation (7; 11; 12 -14; 17 -19)

THEOLOGY OF REVELATION • Seals (6: 1 -8: 1), trumpets (8: 6 -11: 15), and bowls (15: 5 -16: 21) • “stars fell of the sky… great day arrived” (6: 12 -17) Parallel, successive (chronological) or telescopic*? Present age 1 Great tribulation 2 3 4 5 6 Seals “No more 1 2 3 4 5 6 delay… mystery of God fulfilled” Trumpets (10: 6 -7) 1 2 3 4 5 6 Bowls Consummation** 7 s i Suspense Kingdom t. The of the world y …kingdom of 7 our Lord…time I for the dead to n be judged (11: 15, 18) 7 t It is done (16: 18) e n T i m e Silence 8: 1 Interlude II; Rev 12 -14 Interlude III; Rev 17 -18

THEOLOGY OF REVELATION • Number 7 – complete and final judgment • Progressive nature of judgments: 1/4 th [†], 1/3 [trees burned], 100% • [†] (6: 8; 8: 7 -12; 9: 18) BUT… “The End” mentioned at least three times • • • 6 th Seal (6: 12 -17) “stars fell…sky vanished” + vision of the victors in heaven (7: 1 -17)* 7 th Trumpet (10: 6 -7; 11: 15 -19) – “mystery of God fulfilled” + The Two Witnesses + “time of judgment has come…great and small” 7 th Bowl (16: 17 -21) – “It is done…every island fled…no mountains” • Parousia or manifestation of Christ depicted in Rev 19: 11 -21 • The Rider on the White Horse and gory carnage (19: 11 -21) • • • For the purpose of judgment Destruction of the existing world order Christ’s reign

THEOLOGY OF REVELATION • Millennium (20: 4 -6) • Literal Millennium – 1000 yrs. or “extended period” • • OT promises for national Israel fulfilled Who will take part? Only martyrs or all believers? (20: 4 -5)* • Symbolical reign of Christ in heaven • Christ’s rule & Satan’s binding facilitates evangelism • Satan’s release and doom (20: 7 -10) • Final Judgment (20: 11 -15) • New heaven and earth, heavenly Jerusalem (21 -22) • • Unification of heaven and earth God’s dwelling with people – final state