Interpretive Issues in Revelation

Martin Luther "Again, they are to be blessed

who keep what is written therein; and yet no one knows what that is, to say nothing of keeping it. It is just the same as if we had it not, and there are many far better works for us to keep."

Approaches to Reading Revelation

1. Preterist – Everything already fulfilled1. Preterist – Everything already fulfilled 2. Futurist – Everything yet to be fulfilled2. Futurist – Everything yet to be fulfilled 3. Idealist – Focus on spiritual message3. Idealist – Focus on spiritual message

THE ANTICHRIST

400400’’s – Vandal King Genseric = 666s – Vandal King Genseric = 666

THE ANTICHRIST

14001400’’ss Joan Of ArcJoan Of Arc

THE ANTICHRIST

ReformationReformation

THE ANTICHRIST

Late 1700’s – French Revolution Late 1700’s – French Revolution

Revelation 9:11 – Revelation 9:11 – ““They had as king over They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek Apollyon.Apollyon.””

THE ANTICHRIST

In French – NIn French – N’’ApollioneApollione

THE ANTICHRIST

THE ANTICHRIST

Revelation 20:4

4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Millennialism

A-millennialism A-millennialism – 1000 year reign is – 1000 year reign is symbolic, not literalsymbolic, not literal

Post-millennialism Post-millennialism – Conversion of the – Conversion of the nations inaugurates a 1000 year reign and nations inaugurates a 1000 year reign and then Christ returnsthen Christ returns

PremillennialismPremillennialism – Christ returns, then a – Christ returns, then a 1000 year reign1000 year reign

Dispensational Premillennialism

J. N. Darby (1827)J. N. Darby (1827)

Father of DispensationalismFather of Dispensationalism 7 Dispensations (eras)7 Dispensations (eras)

Symbolism

Ezekiel 29:2-5 2 2 Mortal, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against Mortal, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against

him and against all Egypt; him and against all Egypt; 3 3 speak, and say, Thus says the Lord speak, and say, Thus says the Lord God:: I am against you,I am against you,

    Pharaoh king of Egypt,    Pharaoh king of Egypt,the great dragon sprawlingthe great dragon sprawling    in the midst of its channels,    in the midst of its channels,saying, “My Nile is my own;saying, “My Nile is my own;    I made it for myself.”    I made it for myself.”4 4 I will put hooks in your jaws,I will put hooks in your jaws,    and make the fish of your channels stick to your scales.    and make the fish of your channels stick to your scales.I will draw you up from your channels . . .     I will draw you up from your channels . . .     

5 5 I will fling you into the wilderness . . .  you shall fall in the open field, and I will fling you into the wilderness . . .  you shall fall in the open field, and not be gathered and buried.not be gathered and buried.To the animals of the earth and to the birds of the airTo the animals of the earth and to the birds of the air    I have given you as food.    I have given you as food.

Revelation 1:16

In his right hand In his right hand he held seven he held seven starsstars . . . . . .

Revelation 3:12

If you conquer, I If you conquer, I will make you a will make you a pillar in the pillar in the templetemple of my God of my God

Revelation 5:8

When he had taken the When he had taken the scroll, the four living scroll, the four living creatures and the creatures and the twenty-four elders fell twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, each before the Lamb, each holding a holding a harpharp and and golden bowlsgolden bowls full of full of incense, which are the incense, which are the prayers of the saints.prayers of the saints.

Revelation 12:1

A great and A great and wondrous sign wondrous sign appeared in heaven: appeared in heaven: a woman clothed a woman clothed with the sun, with with the sun, with the moon under her the moon under her feetfeet

Revelation 12:3

Then another sign Then another sign appeared in heaven: appeared in heaven: an enormous red an enormous red dragon with seven dragon with seven headsheads

Revelation 13:2

The beast I saw The beast I saw resembled a resembled a leopardleopard, but had feet , but had feet like those of a like those of a bearbear and a mouth like and a mouth like that of a that of a lionlion..

Revelation 17:9

““This calls for a This calls for a mind that has mind that has wisdom: the seven wisdom: the seven heads are seven heads are seven mountains on mountains on which the woman which the woman is seated”is seated”

Revelation 17:9

““This calls for a mind that has wisdom: the This calls for a mind that has wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; also, they are seven the woman is seated; also, they are seven kings”kings”

Why do Christians suffer? – Revelation 12

Revelation 12:1-2

12:1 A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head.

2 She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth.

Revelation 12:3-6 3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: an

enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads.

4 His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was born.

5 She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne.

6 The woman fled into the desert to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.

Cast of Characters

1. Pregnant Woman = Messianic 1. Pregnant Woman = Messianic Community (Israel)Community (Israel)

2. Red Dragon = Satan2. Red Dragon = Satan 3. Child = Jesus (Psalm 2:9)3. Child = Jesus (Psalm 2:9)

Greek Combat Myth

Universal myth of struggle between good Universal myth of struggle between good and eviland evil

Common ThemesCommon Themes 1. Dragon seeks to kill young god to keep him from power (often 1. Dragon seeks to kill young god to keep him from power (often

because he knows the god will kill him)because he knows the god will kill him) 2. Dragon is defeated2. Dragon is defeated

Rev. 12 and Apollo/Leto Myth Apollo/Leto MythApollo/Leto Myth 1. Woman (Leto) is pregnant 1. Woman (Leto) is pregnant

with a child (Apollo)with a child (Apollo) 2. Red dragon (Python) pursues 2. Red dragon (Python) pursues

the woman to kill her childthe woman to kill her child 3. Zeus rescues and has 3. Zeus rescues and has

Neptune protect the pregnant Neptune protect the pregnant womanwoman

4. The child defeats the dragon4. The child defeats the dragon

Revelation 12Revelation 12 1. Woman is pregnant with a 1. Woman is pregnant with a

child (Jesus)child (Jesus) 2. A red dragon pursues the 2. A red dragon pursues the

woman to kill her childwoman to kill her child 3. God rescues and protects the 3. God rescues and protects the

pregnant womanpregnant woman 4. The child defeats the dragon 4. The child defeats the dragon

(12:9-11)(12:9-11)

Revelation 12:7-9

7 And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.

8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven.

9 The great dragon was hurled down-- that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

War in Heaven

Gigantomachy (Battle of the Giants)Gigantomachy (Battle of the Giants) Giants = half-human, half-serpentGiants = half-human, half-serpent Went up to heaven to fight against Zeus Went up to heaven to fight against Zeus

and the godsand the gods Defeated in heaven and cast down to Defeated in heaven and cast down to

earthearth

War in Heaven

GigantomachyGigantomachy 1. The gods fight a war in 1. The gods fight a war in

heaven against hybrid heaven against hybrid human-dragonshuman-dragons

2. The gods are victorious2. The gods are victorious

3. The Giants are cast out 3. The Giants are cast out of heavenof heaven

Revelation 12:7-9Revelation 12:7-9 1. Michael and his angels 1. Michael and his angels

fight a war in heaven fight a war in heaven against a dragon and his against a dragon and his angelsangels

2. Michael and his angels 2. Michael and his angels are victoriousare victorious

3. The dragon is cast out 3. The dragon is cast out of heavenof heaven

Casting Down: Luke 10:17-18

17 The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!"

18 He said to them, "I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning.”

Revelation 12:10-12 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now

have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.

11 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short."

The Christian Story

Israel – Messiah - CrossIsrael – Messiah - Cross

Revelation 12:13-16 13 When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to

the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.

14 The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the desert, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent's reach.

15 Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent.

16 But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.

Exodus Imagery in Rev. 12

ExodusExodus 1. Israel flees from Pharaoh1. Israel flees from Pharaoh 2. Pharaoh pursues them2. Pharaoh pursues them 3. God carries Israel on 3. God carries Israel on ““eagleeagle

ss’’ wings wings”” to the desert where to the desert where they are protectedthey are protected

4. Pharaoh send an army to 4. Pharaoh send an army to overtake themovertake them

5. Sea opens and swallows the 5. Sea opens and swallows the armyarmy

Revelation 12Revelation 12 1. Woman flees from dragon1. Woman flees from dragon 2. The dragon pursues her2. The dragon pursues her 3. The woman is given eagle3. The woman is given eagle’’s s

wings to fly to the desert where wings to fly to the desert where she is protectedshe is protected

4. Dragon sends a river to 4. Dragon sends a river to overtake the womanovertake the woman

5. Earth opens and swallows 5. Earth opens and swallows the riverthe river

Revelation 13:1

And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea.

Genesis 3: The Curse 14 So the LORD God said to the serpent, "Because

you have done this, "Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.

15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."

16 To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children."

Revelation 12:17

Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring-- those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

Genesis 3 and Revelation 12

Genesis 3Genesis 3 1. A serpent leads Eve astray1. A serpent leads Eve astray 2. There is to be enmity 2. There is to be enmity

between the serpent and the between the serpent and the womanwoman

3. There is to be enmity 3. There is to be enmity between the serpent and the between the serpent and the womanwoman’’s s offspringoffspring

Revelation 12Revelation 12 1. A serpent leads the whole 1. A serpent leads the whole

world astray (v. 9)world astray (v. 9) 2. Serpent seeks to kill the 2. Serpent seeks to kill the

womanwoman 3. Serpent goes off to wage war 3. Serpent goes off to wage war

on the womanon the woman’’s offspring.s offspring.

Israel Messiah CrossIsrael Messiah Cross

Christian Existence (War!) Christian Existence (War!)