Revelation

1. Revelation • Reminders before approaching Revelation • Revelation has a series of Contexts(CIE) • 1. Literary context. • •Immediate Context: Book of Revelation • •Larger Context: Old Testament Allusions • •Apocalyptic World / Imagination • 2. Social / Historical context. • •Contemporary World of John and 7 churches • •Contemporary World of readers

2. Revelation Reminders before approaching Revelation 2. Revelation is an oral/aural event. It is meant to convey its message first by hearing (1:3). Thus, it would be important that the structure and logic of the work would be perceptible in oral performance Thus, for this first run through Revelation, I want to relate the logical structure I find to linguistic or verbal markers (listener clues). Think about what might trigger your ears in hearing rather than your eyes in seeing.

3. Revelation Psalm 40:5-6 5 Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare. 6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced (dug out, Gen 26:25); burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.

4. Revelation Reminders before approaching Revelation 2. Revelation is an oral/aural event 2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. 2:11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. 2:17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. 2:29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. 3:6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. 3:13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. 3:22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." 13:9 He who has an ear, let him hear. Hearing (Rev. 1:3, 10; 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:3, 6, 13, 20, 22; 4:1; 5:11, 13; 6:1, 3, 5ff; 7:4; 8:13; 9:13, 16, 20; 10:4, 8; 11:12; 12:10; 13:9; 14:2, 13; 16:1, 5, 7; 18:4, 22f; 19:1, 6; 21:3; 22:8, 17) Testify (Rev. 1:2; 22:16, 18, 20) Word (Rev. 1:2f, 9; 3:8, 10; 6:9; 12:11; 17:17; 19:9, 13; 20:4; 21:5; 22:6f, 9f, 18f)

5. Revelation Prologue Epilogue 1:1-8 22:6-21

6. Revelation Prologue The Revelation of Jesus Christ Epilogue Verbal echoes between 1:1-3 & 22:6-7 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, Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. Rev 1:1-3 The angel said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place. Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book."Rev 22:6-7 1:1-8 22:6-21

7. Revelation Prologue The Revelation of Jesus Christ Epilogue Single Lord’s Day Vision 1:9-10 From Heaven to Earth (1:1) GodJesusMessenger/angelJohnServants Across the Earth and Time (1:3, 19) John testifies what he saw word and testimony (1:2) John wrote (1:19), Reader reads aloud words (1:3) 1:1-8 22:6-21

8. Revelation Prologue The Revelation of Jesus Christ Epilogue Single Lord’s Day Vision 1:9-10 • I was in the Spirit (1:10) evgeno,mhn evn pneu,mati • In the Spirit (4:2) evgeno,mhnevn pneu,mati • In the Spirit (17:3) avph,negke,n me evn pneu,mati • In the Spirit (21:10) avph,negke,n me evn pneu,mati 1:1-8 22:6-21

9. Revelation Prologue The Revelation of Jesus Christ Epilogue Two Women Inaugural Vision of Christ and 7 Messages to 7 Churches Inaugural Vision of Heaven (4-5) and Subsequent Judgment (6-16) Parousia City: Babylon the Harlot and her fall City: New Jerusalem and Bride of Lamb 19:11- 21:8 1:1-8 1:9 3:22 4:1 16:21 22:6-21 17:1-19:10 21:9-22:5 In the Spirit evn pneu,mati

10. Revelation What are the reader clues which cause me to think that 17:1 and 21:9 are major shifts? And for that matter that I would put them in parallel with one another? Revelation 17:1-3 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute. . . 3 Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. Revelation 21:9-10 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.

11. Revelation These clear parallel beginnings 17:1-3 and 21:9-10 also have equally clear parallel conclusions in 19:9-10 and 22:6-9 Revelation 19:9b-10 And he added, “These are the true words of God.” 10 At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Revelation 22:6-9 The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true…” 8 I heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. 9 But he said to me, “Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!”

12. Revelation Prologue The Revelation of Jesus Christ Epilogue Intro:21:9-10 Two Women Intro:17:1-3 7 Churches Series of 7 Judgments City: New Jerusalem and Bride of Lamb City: Babylon the Harlot and her fall Conc:19:9b-10 Conc:22:6-9 1:1-8 1:9 3:22 4:1-16:21 17:1 22:9 22:6-21

13. Revelation • Two structural questions of concern: • I have identified 22:6-9 as both the conclusion to the major section 21:9-22:9 and as the beginning to the epilogue of 22:6-21. But I am convinced this is part of John’s artistry of overlapping and interweaving sections of his work. • a. Those parts of 22:6-9 that are not verbally parallel to 19:9b-10 are indeed parallel to 1:1-3; its counterpart serving as an introduction to the whole book.

14. Revelation • Two structural questions of concern: • b. Note: When 19:9b-10 stands as the conclusion to the section 17:1-19:10, the “true words of God” that the angel refers to in the immediate context is the beatitude of 19:9a, “Then the angel said to me, ‘Write: 'Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’” • But when 22:6-9 stands as the intro to the prologue of 22:6-21, “These words are trustworthy and true” refer to the words of the entire book, referring back to 1:1-3. For no reader would expect the conclusion of the vision to merely be the fall of Babylon but it must include the vision of the New Jerusalem

15. Revelation • Two structural questions of concern: • 2. Between section 17:1-19:10 & 21:9-22:9 comes another section which stands as the interlude or a transition (19:11-21:5). The Rider on the White Horse and millennial reign. • Does it begin with a parallel to Chap 4, heavenly vision? • Note: After 19:11, all the accounts take place from an earthly perspective, looking up. From this point forward nothing is seen or heard that happens in heaven. All action takes place on earth, as it did before 4:1.

16. Revelation • Two structural questions of concern: • Note: After 19:11, all the accounts take place from an earthly perspective, looking up. John’s vision of the Parousia is that no longer does the divine act from heaven but rather breaks into the world. • Note: Connections with other places in Revelation. 19:18 vs. 6:15; 19:15 vs. 12:5 • 19:19 vs. 16:14, 16 19:16 vs. 17:14

17. Revelation Note verbal connections / literary links from one section to another Prologue The Revelation of Jesus Christ Epilogue Two Women Inaugural Vision of Christ and 7 Messages to 7 Churches Inaugural Vision of Heaven (4-5) and Subsequent Judgment (6-16) Parousia City: Babylon the Harlot and her fall City: New Jerusalem and Bride of Lamb Voice at outset of book (1:9-11) is the same who summons him to heaven (4:1) and connects with angel in 17:1-19:10 & 21:9-22:6 19:11- 21:8 1:1-8 1:9 3:22 4:1 16:21 22:6-21 17:1-19:10 21:9-22:5

18. Revelation Prologue The Revelation of Jesus Christ Epilogue Introduction7 Churches Each letter is relevant to a specific church situation but each is also serves as a different introduction to the rest of the book. •7 Promises to conquer (2:7,11,17,26-28; 3:5,12,21) •Call is to be victorious. But “victory” is only defined in rest of book. (Promise does not occur again until 21:7) •Call to engage in eschatological battle (Chap 4-18) to reach destiny (Chap 22) Two Women Inaugural Vision of Christ and 7 Messages to 7 Churches Inaugural Vision of Heaven (4-5) and Subsequent Judgment (6-16) Parousia City: Babylon the Harlot and her fall City: New Jerusalem and Bride of Lamb 19:11- 21:8 1:1-8 1:9 3:22 4:1 16:21 22:6-21 17:1-19:10 21:9-22:5

19. Revelation Note verbal connections / literary links from one section to another Prologue The Revelation of Jesus Christ Epilogue Link between 1:9-3:22 comes in the seventh (climactic) promise made by the angelic voice “To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.” (3:21) This is last of 7 promises and it is not so much directed to the church at Laodicea but anticipates Christ’s conquest and enthronement in Chapter 5 and worship scenes in Chap 19. Thus, book is not just seven letters to seven churches but more! Two Women Inaugural Vision of Christ and 7 Messages to 7 Churches Inaugural Vision of Heaven (4-5) and Subsequent Judgment (6-16) Parousia City: Babylon the Harlot and her fall City: New Jerusalem and Bride of Lamb 19:11- 21:8 1:1-8 1:9 3:22 4:1 16:21 22:6-21 17:1-19:10 21:9-22:5

20. Revelation • Observations about structure of Introduction: • 1. The uses of seven introductions enables the book to engage with seven different contexts in which the book would be heard. Thus, it shows how issues at work in each local context are to be understood in light of God’s cosmic battle and plan for establishing His Kingdom • 2. Book is written as more than just a generic application of “grace to endure in the midst of persecution.” For encouragement in the face of persecution was only one of the needs of the churches. For some, judgment in the rest of the book may apply to them, since they may be compromising with the “beast.”

21. Revelation • Observations about structure of Introduction: • 3. The seven letters also prepares us to recognize that John assumes a wider readership than just seven individual churches. • •That John sees this as the culmination of all biblical prophecy assumes relevance for all Christians. • •The number 7 assumes these 7 as representative of the whole church. • •The conclusion of each oracle summons all people to listen: “Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit says to the seven churches.” (2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22)

22. Revelation Spatial Breakdown Heaven & Earth Heaven-Centered Dominated by Praise & Worship 19:1-10 Prologue Epilogue 14-15 10 7 19:11-22:5 Heaven & Earth United Vertical component; God’s final plan unfolded. Horizontal aspect; Church should worship in spite of present sufferings 4-5 1 2-3 6 8-9 11-13 Earth-Centered Dominated by Chaos & Judgment 16-18 1:1-8 22:6-21

23. Revelation Climax 22:1-5 Prologue The Revelation of Jesus Christ Epilogue Two Women Inaugural Vision of Christ and 7 Messages to 7 Churches Inaugural Vision of Heaven (4-5) and Subsequent Judgment (6-16) Parousia City: Babylon the Harlot and her fall City: New Jerusalem and Bride of Lamb Climactic Movement to New Jerusalem/Eternal Reign 19:11- 21:8 1:1-8 1:9 3:22 4:1 16:21 22:6-21 17:1-19:10 21:9-22:5

24. Revelation Prologue The Revelation of Jesus Christ Epilogue Two Women Inaugural Vision of Christ and 7 Messages to 7 Churches Inaugural Vision of Heaven (4-5) and Subsequent Judgment (6-16) Solution: Worship the Lamb Problem: Church is in the World; but world is winning Parousia City: Babylon the Harlot and her fall City: New Jerusalem and Bride of Lamb 19:11- 21:8 1:1-8 1:9 3:22 4:1 16:21 22:6-21 17:1-19:10 21:9-22:5

25. Revelation Prologue The Revelation of Jesus Christ Epilogue Two Women Inaugural Vision of Christ and 7 Messages to 7 Churches Inaugural Vision of Heaven (4-5) and Subsequent Judgment (6-16) Parousia City: Babylon the Harlot and her fall City: New Jerusalem and Bride of Lamb 19:11- 21:8 1:1-8 1:9 3:22 4:1 16:21 22:6-21 17:1-19:10 21:9-22:5

26. Revelation Prologue The Revelation of Jesus Christ Epilogue Heavenly Throne Earthly Rule Seven Seals (6:1-8:1; 8:3-5) 7 Churches Two Women Babylon & New Jerusalem Vision of Heaven Seven Trumpets (8:2; 8:8-11:19) Seven Bowls (15:1; 15:5-16:21) 4:1- 5:14 1:9- 3:22 16:21 1:1-8 22:6-21 6:1 17:1-22:5 Note the overlapping of the 7 Trumpets into the 7 seals and the 7 Bowls into the 7 Trumpets. This may indicate that these are not sequential/chronological but interlocking (particularization). E.g. 7 Trumpets as a whole is described as the 7th seal and the 7th Trumpet as a whole is the 7 Bowls.

27. Revelation Prologue The Revelation of Jesus Christ Epilogue Heavenly Throne Earthly Rule Seven Seals (6:1-8:1; 8:3-5) Seven Trumpets (8:2; 8:8-11:19) Interlude – Chap 12-14 Seven Bowls (15:1-16:21) Inaugural Vision of Heaven 7 Churches Two Women Babylon & New Jerusalem 6:1 16:21 1:1-8 1:9-3:22 4:1-5:14 22:6-21 17:1-22:5 Ends: All heaven Worship (5:13-14) Means: Earthly Judgment Ends: All heaven and earth Worship

28. Revelation Prologue The Revelation of Jesus Christ Epilogue Heavenly Throne Earthly Rule Seven Seals (6:1-8:1; 8:3-5) Seven Trumpets (8:2; 8:8-11:19) Interlude – Chap 12-14 Seven Bowls (15:1-16:21) Inaugural Vision of Heaven 7 Churches Two Women Babylon & New Jerusalem 6:1 16:21 1:1-8 1:9-3:22 4:1-5:14 22:6-21 17:1-22:5 Note the verbal connection: “God’s temple in heaven opened” (11:19) and “In heaven, the temple, that is the Tabernacle of witness was opened (15:5) to reconnect after the interlude of 12-14

29. Revelation 4-16 Heavenly Throne (4-5) Earthly Rule (6-16) Seven Seals (6:1-8:1; 8:3-5) Seven Trumpets (8:2; 8:8-11:19) Seven Bowls (15:1; 15:5-16:21) 1 1 1 Vision of Heaven 5 5 5 2 2 2 7 7 7 3 3 3 6 6 6 4 4 4 4:1- 5:15 16:21 6:1

30. Revelation 4-16 Heavenly Throne (4-5) Earthly Rule (6-16) Seven Seals (6:1-8:1; 8:3-5) Seven Trumpets (8:2; 8:8-11:19) Seven Bowls (15:1; 15:5-16:21) Interlude 3: Chap 12-14 Delay for the sake of the People of God & their conflict with evil. (Note: New material, new language, New chronology) Interlude 1: 7:1-17 Between 6 & 7 Seal The delay is for the sake of protecting God’s people from Judgment. Interlude 2: 10:1-11:13 Between 6 & 7 Trumpets Delay for the sake of the prophetic witness of God’s people 1 1 1 Vision of Heaven 5 5 5 2 2 2 7 7 7 3 3 3 6 6 6 4 4 4 4:1- 5:15 16:21 6:1

31. Revelation Note recurring phrase in each series of Judgments The seventh in the series is linked to one another and anchored to the vision of the Throne by the following phrase(s): Throne: 4:5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. 7th Seal: 8:5 And the angel took the censer; and he filled it with the fire of the altar and threw it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake. 7th Trumpet 11:19 And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple, and there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm. 7th Bowl 16:18-21Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. Prologue The Revelation of Jesus Christ Epilogue Heavenly Throne Earthly Rule Seven Seals, Seven Trumpets, Seven Bowls Inaugural Vision of Heaven 7 Churches Two Women 6:1 16:21 1:1-8 1:9-3:22 4:1-5:14 22:6-21 17:1-22:5