RevelationRevelationContent, Style, Authorship and DateContent, Style, Authorship and Date

ContentContent

• God rules history, and he will bring it to its God rules history, and he will bring it to its consummation in Christ. “At the center of consummation in Christ. “At the center of the book are the visions of Christ (1:12-16) the book are the visions of Christ (1:12-16) and of God (4:1-5:14)…The central visions and of God (4:1-5:14)…The central visions foreshadow the consummation of History, foreshadow the consummation of History, when God’s glory will fill all things (21:22-when God’s glory will fill all things (21:22-23; 22:5; see the commentary on 4:1-5:14)” 23; 22:5; see the commentary on 4:1-5:14)” (Poythress, (Poythress, The Returning KingThe Returning King, 40)., 40).

Major themesMajor themes::

God:God:

• ““Revelation is first of all God-centered. God Revelation is first of all God-centered. God controls the course of history. He protects controls the course of history. He protects his people and punishes rebellion. He will his people and punishes rebellion. He will bring his purposes to final, spectacular bring his purposes to final, spectacular realization in the new heaven and the new realization in the new heaven and the new earth” (Poythress, earth” (Poythress, The Returning KingThe Returning King, 40)., 40).

WorshipWorship

• 1:12-201:12-20 the vision of the Son of Man cast in the the vision of the Son of Man cast in the clothes of the ancient of days from Dan 7 and clothes of the ancient of days from Dan 7 and 10. Notice the response: Fear, and falling to the 10. Notice the response: Fear, and falling to the ground as though dead; ground as though dead;

• 4:1-5:144:1-5:14 Read (4:8-11) Notice the threefold Read (4:8-11) Notice the threefold reference of Holy which is only used to describe reference of Holy which is only used to describe God; furthermore there is a reference as to why God; furthermore there is a reference as to why God is to be worshiped: He is the CreatorGod is to be worshiped: He is the Creator

• 5:9-145:9-14 The Lamb is worthy because he was The Lamb is worthy because he was slain, and again we see the response to this slain, and again we see the response to this vision: falling down and worshiping.vision: falling down and worshiping.

WorshipWorship

• 7:9-177:9-17 Read (7:10-12) and notice that the response Read (7:10-12) and notice that the response to God is that of falling down and worshiping him.to God is that of falling down and worshiping him.

• 11:16-1911:16-19 Read 11:16-18 and notice the fact that Read 11:16-18 and notice the fact that again the twenty-four elders fall on their faces as they again the twenty-four elders fall on their faces as they worship God.worship God.

• 12:10-1212:10-12

• 14:1-7 14:1-7 Read verse 7 and note the fact that in the OT Read verse 7 and note the fact that in the OT God is worthy of worship because of His great acts; God is worthy of worship because of His great acts; and that would especially include creation; and that would especially include creation;

• 15:2-815:2-8; ; 16:5-716:5-7; ; 19:1-1019:1-10 Notice the response from Notice the response from the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures and then finally from the angel who commands that and then finally from the angel who commands that John worship God; John worship God; 20:4-620:4-6; ; 21:1-22:521:1-22:5. .

The LambThe Lamb: :

• Jesus is presented as the lamb because Jesus is presented as the lamb because of his sacrificial death. Jesus shares of his sacrificial death. Jesus shares “God’s name (the Alpha and the “God’s name (the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, 1:8, 17; Omega, the First and the Last, 1:8, 17; 22:13), his throne (22:1), his attributes 22:13), his throne (22:1), his attributes (1:13-16 compared to Dan. 7:9-10), and (1:13-16 compared to Dan. 7:9-10), and his worship (5:13)” (Poythress, his worship (5:13)” (Poythress, The The Returning KingReturning King, 41). , 41).

• Furthermore it is by the person and Furthermore it is by the person and work of Jesus that God’s plan and work of Jesus that God’s plan and purpose for history is unfolded (5:1-10) purpose for history is unfolded (5:1-10) and God’s ultimate judgment is and God’s ultimate judgment is arbitrated through Christ (6:1; 19:11-arbitrated through Christ (6:1; 19:11-21).21).

VisionsVisions: :

• God’s purpose is disclosed in a visionary God’s purpose is disclosed in a visionary form which is often accompanied by sound form which is often accompanied by sound effects and verbal messages.effects and verbal messages.

• TheophanyTheophany: Is another way of talking : Is another way of talking about the appearing of God and his about the appearing of God and his presence. Notice the centrality of God’s presence. Notice the centrality of God’s throne and its place in relation to the action throne and its place in relation to the action that takes place in Revelation. that takes place in Revelation.

Spiritual WarSpiritual War: :

• Humanity is caught in the middle of this Humanity is caught in the middle of this great battle. great battle.

• ““By adopting this spiritual perspective, By adopting this spiritual perspective, Revelation does not eliminate human Revelation does not eliminate human responsibility and the significance of responsibility and the significance of human action, but rather sets them in their human action, but rather sets them in their final, cosmic, and theistic context” final, cosmic, and theistic context” (Poythress, (Poythress, The Returning KingThe Returning King, 43)., 43).

Bipolar contrastsBipolar contrasts: :

• Purity and corruption, Beauty and Purity and corruption, Beauty and Ugliness, Truth and Deceit.Ugliness, Truth and Deceit.

• As Revelation contrasts between these polar As Revelation contrasts between these polar opposites it has the effect of shocking its opposites it has the effect of shocking its readers: to those who are comfortable in their readers: to those who are comfortable in their faith Revelation afflicts them, and to those faith Revelation afflicts them, and to those who are afflicted Revelation comforts them. who are afflicted Revelation comforts them.

Witness and Witness and MartyrdomMartyrdom::

• The seven churches in Revelation 1:12-14, The seven churches in Revelation 1:12-14, 20; 2-3 are said to be lampstands, which 20; 2-3 are said to be lampstands, which resurrects an OT theme of Israel’s witness to resurrects an OT theme of Israel’s witness to the nations as the light for the nations (cf. the nations as the light for the nations (cf. Matt 5:14-16). Matt 5:14-16).

• The warning that Christ gives is that of The warning that Christ gives is that of taking away their lampstand (Rev 2:5) which taking away their lampstand (Rev 2:5) which would in effect make them void in a world of would in effect make them void in a world of spiritual battle and cosmic struggle. spiritual battle and cosmic struggle.

•

MartyrdomMartyrdom

● ● John witnesses or “testifies to everything he John witnesses or “testifies to everything he saw” (1:2).saw” (1:2).

● ● Jesus is the “faithful witness” (1:5).Jesus is the “faithful witness” (1:5).

● ● Christians or saints face persecution and Christians or saints face persecution and death for their testimony (2:10, 13; 13:15; death for their testimony (2:10, 13; 13:15; 6:9). Revelation in and of itself is a call to 6:9). Revelation in and of itself is a call to faithful witness (note the call to overcome in faithful witness (note the call to overcome in Rev 2-3).Rev 2-3).

Reward and Reward and PunishmentPunishment

• God is sovereign and just; he punishes rebels God is sovereign and just; he punishes rebels and rewards his faithful followers. and rewards his faithful followers.

• ““The punishment and rewards include both The punishment and rewards include both the preliminary judgments in history, short of the preliminary judgments in history, short of the Second coming, and the final judgments the Second coming, and the final judgments at the Second coming itself” (Poythress, at the Second coming itself” (Poythress, The The Returning KingReturning King, 44). , 44).

Final note on StyleFinal note on Style

• ““Some people today come to Revelation Some people today come to Revelation with the recipe, ‘Interpret everything with the recipe, ‘Interpret everything literally, if possible.’ That recipe literally, if possible.’ That recipe misunderstands what kind of book misunderstands what kind of book Revelation is. Of course, John literally saw Revelation is. Of course, John literally saw what he says he saw. But what he saw was what he says he saw. But what he saw was a vision. It was filled with symbols, like the a vision. It was filled with symbols, like the Beast of 13:1-8 and the seven blazing lamps Beast of 13:1-8 and the seven blazing lamps in 4:5. It never intended to be a direct, in 4:5. It never intended to be a direct, nonsymbolical description of the future”nonsymbolical description of the future” (Poythress, (Poythress, The Returning KingThe Returning King, 47)., 47).

Authorship and Date:Authorship and Date:

• Human Author = John (Rev 1:1, 4, 9; Human Author = John (Rev 1:1, 4, 9; 22:8):22:8):

• Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, and Clement of Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, and Clement of Alexandria identified the author as the Alexandria identified the author as the apostle John.apostle John.

• Justin Martyr lived in Ephesus (only 30 miles Justin Martyr lived in Ephesus (only 30 miles from Patmos) in the early second century.from Patmos) in the early second century.

• Irenaeus was a disciple of Polycarp who was Irenaeus was a disciple of Polycarp who was a disciple of Johna disciple of John

Questions of Questions of Authorship:Authorship:

• Dionysius (bishop of Alexandria) compared Dionysius (bishop of Alexandria) compared Revelation to the Gospel and said that it Revelation to the Gospel and said that it must be a different author rather than John.must be a different author rather than John.

• How would Genre answer this question?How would Genre answer this question?• Other options for authorshipOther options for authorship

• John the ElderJohn the Elder• Someone writing under the Pseudonym “John”Someone writing under the Pseudonym “John”

Questions of Questions of Authorship:Authorship:

• Common themes shared between Common themes shared between revelation and the gospel: “Among the revelation and the gospel: “Among the foremost of which are the Exodus-foremost of which are the Exodus-Moses motif, Christology (Jesus as Moses motif, Christology (Jesus as Word, Lamb, and Son of Man and as Word, Lamb, and Son of Man and as glorified even through death), glorified even through death), eschatological ideas, and the manner eschatological ideas, and the manner in which both use early exegetical in which both use early exegetical traditions” (Beale, Revelation, 35).traditions” (Beale, Revelation, 35).

God is the ultimate author of God is the ultimate author of Revelation:Revelation:

• The message of Revelation comes straight The message of Revelation comes straight from Jesus himself (1:1, 11; 2:1; 22:16, 20).from Jesus himself (1:1, 11; 2:1; 22:16, 20).

• It is divine authority (22:18-19).It is divine authority (22:18-19).

Date of the Date of the ApocalypseApocalypse

• What are the characteristics of the What are the characteristics of the time when Revelation was written? time when Revelation was written? Persecution was a real and impending Persecution was a real and impending threat (2:10, 13). Emperor worship threat (2:10, 13). Emperor worship was rampant. The church seems to be was rampant. The church seems to be entrenched in major cities throughout entrenched in major cities throughout Asia Minor.Asia Minor.

• Question: “What time period of the Question: “What time period of the first century is characteristic of these first century is characteristic of these events?”events?”

Late Date:Late Date:

• Irenaeus says that it was written near the end Irenaeus says that it was written near the end of the reign of Domitian (81-96).of the reign of Domitian (81-96).

• Domitian (81-96) was thought to be one of the Domitian (81-96) was thought to be one of the worst emperors in terms of persecuting worst emperors in terms of persecuting Christians. He claimed divinity for himself and Christians. He claimed divinity for himself and made the people address him as “god and made the people address him as “god and lord.”lord.”

• Emperor Worship and the imperial cult (e.g., Emperor Worship and the imperial cult (e.g., 13:4-8, 15-16; 14:9-11; 15:2; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4). 13:4-8, 15-16; 14:9-11; 15:2; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4).

• Letter to Pliny (113 A.D.) would illustrate the Letter to Pliny (113 A.D.) would illustrate the Roman sentiment toward the Christians. During Roman sentiment toward the Christians. During the reign of Trajan, Pliny wrote to ask Trajan the reign of Trajan, Pliny wrote to ask Trajan what he should do about the Christian sect. what he should do about the Christian sect.

Late Date:Late Date:

• The Roman historian Suetonius writes: “Besides The Roman historian Suetonius writes: “Besides other taxes [under Domitian], that on the Jews other taxes [under Domitian], that on the Jews was levied with the utmost rigour, and those was levied with the utmost rigour, and those were prosecuted who without publicly were prosecuted who without publicly acknowledging that faith yet lived as Jews, as acknowledging that faith yet lived as Jews, as well as those who concealed their origin and did well as those who concealed their origin and did not pay the tribute levied upon their people” not pay the tribute levied upon their people” (Seutonius, (Seutonius, DomitianDomitian 12.2). Before the fall of the 12.2). Before the fall of the Temple in Jerusalem Jews paid a two drachmas Temple in Jerusalem Jews paid a two drachmas tax that went to the temple, yet after 70 A.D. the tax that went to the temple, yet after 70 A.D. the money went to the temple of Jupiter in Rome. money went to the temple of Jupiter in Rome. This tax could be paid as an alternative to This tax could be paid as an alternative to emperor worship (Poythress, emperor worship (Poythress, The Returning KingThe Returning King, , 52). 52).

Late Date:Late Date:

• Under the Roman system the Jews were Under the Roman system the Jews were protected in their monotheism; however, protected in their monotheism; however, the Christians were free game. Judaism the Christians were free game. Judaism was known as a (was known as a (religio licita)religio licita) “Permitted “Permitted Religion.” Religion.”

• Ancient Roman writers said that toward the Ancient Roman writers said that toward the end of Domitian’s reign there was more end of Domitian’s reign there was more chaos in the cultural and social spheres of chaos in the cultural and social spheres of the empire than at any prior time.the empire than at any prior time.

• The use of the title “Babylon” in Revelation The use of the title “Babylon” in Revelation points to the probability of a late date. points to the probability of a late date. “’Babylon’ refers to Rome in Jewish “’Babylon’ refers to Rome in Jewish literature literature afterafter 70 A.D. and roughly 70 A.D. and roughly contemporary with the Apocalypse” Beale, contemporary with the Apocalypse” Beale, RevelationRevelation, 18-19). , 18-19).

Early Date:Early Date:

• Nero:Nero: It could also be dated to the end of the reign It could also be dated to the end of the reign of the emperor Nero (54-68).of the emperor Nero (54-68).

• He blamed Christians for the fire in Rome in AD 64, He blamed Christians for the fire in Rome in AD 64, and used this excuse as a reason to persecute the and used this excuse as a reason to persecute the Christians. Christians.

• The Nero Myth:The Nero Myth: Many believed that Nero would Many believed that Nero would return from the dead and lead a Parthian army return from the dead and lead a Parthian army against the Roman Empire. Rev 17:10 is often cited against the Roman Empire. Rev 17:10 is often cited in favor of the Nero date. in favor of the Nero date.

• There is no evidence that Nero persecuted There is no evidence that Nero persecuted Christians living in Asia Minor; his main persecution Christians living in Asia Minor; his main persecution centered on Rome because of the great fire.centered on Rome because of the great fire.

What about the context of What about the context of the Seven Churchesthe Seven Churches

• It points to a later date. It points to a later date.

• It is plausible that the spiritual lethargy of It is plausible that the spiritual lethargy of Ephesus, Sardis and Laodicea took a Ephesus, Sardis and Laodicea took a considerable time to develop. considerable time to develop.

• Laodicea is called wealthy (3:17) but the Laodicea is called wealthy (3:17) but the city experienced an earthquake in 60-61 city experienced an earthquake in 60-61 A.D. so it is natural to assume that it took A.D. so it is natural to assume that it took some time for the city to bounce back some time for the city to bounce back economically.economically.