The Revelation to John - First Baptist Church Conway SC

The Revelation to John:
Its Purpose and Meaning,
Then and Now
“Handouts, Notes, and Reading List”
Robert W. Guffey, Jr.
Adult Bible Study
2007–2008
Contents
Bibliography and Suggested Reading...............................................................................................3
Brief Outlines...................................................................................................................................4
A Structural Outline........................................................................................................................5
Ancient Cosmology .........................................................................................................................6
Apocalyptic Writings.......................................................................................................................7
Relating Prophecy to Apocalyptic Hope and Its Interpretation.....................................................8
Biblical Hope for the Church ..........................................................................................................9
The Seven Churches and the Church...........................................................................................12
Names for Jesus in the Letters to the Churches ............................................................................13
Interpreting Revelation’s Violent Imagery....................................................................................14
First Century Eschatology..............................................................................................................15
“What About Those Charts”.........................................................................................................16
Unlocking (a part of) the Code.....................................................................................................17
Seven Groups of Seven .................................................................................................................19
Revelation 10:11, “Parallels in Israel’s History, the Early Church’s and Today ...........................22
Revelation 12:1-6, Parallels & Meaning”......................................................................................24
2
Bibliography and Suggested Reading
General Reading
James L. Blevins, Revelation as Drama (Nashville: Broadman, 1984).
Stephen Gregg, Revelation: Four Views: A Parallel Commentary (Nashville: Nelson Reference,
1997).
Bruce M. Metzger, Breaking the Code: Understanding the Book of Revelation (Nashville: Abingdon,
1999).
Earl F. Palmer, Mastering the New Testament: 1, 2, 3 John and Revelation/Volume 12
Communicator's Commentary: Mastering the New Testament) (Dallas: Word, 1982).
Eugene H. Peterson, Reversed Thunder: The Revelation of John and the Praying Imagination
(San Francisco: HarperCollins, 1988).
Commentaries
G. B. Caird, The Revelation of St. John the Divine (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1966).
Mitchell G. Reddish, Revelation (Macon, GA: Smyth & Helwys, 2001).
Eugene Boring, Revelation (Interpretation: A Biblical Commentary for Teaching and Preaching)
(Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1989).
Ray Summers, Worthy Is the Lamb: Interpreting the Book of Revelation in Its Historical Context
(Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1951).
3
The Revelation to John
Brief Outlines
Worthy Is the Lamb: An Interpretation of Revelation
Ray Summers
Professor of New Testament
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Fort Worth, Texas
1951
The Lamb (1:9-20)
The Lamb and the Churches (2:1-3:22)
The Lamb and the Sealed Book (4:1-5:14)
The Lamb Opens the Seals (6:1-11:19)
The Lamb and the Conflict (12:1-20:10)
The Lamb and Eternal Destiny (20:11-22:5)
Conclusion (22:6-21)
Controlling Image(s):
Interpretation: Revelation (A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching)
M. Eugene Boring
Professor of Religion-Studies
Texas Christian University
1989
God Speaks to the Church in the City (1:1-3:22)
God Judges the “Great City” (4:1-18:24)
God Redeems the “Holy City” (19:1-22:21)
Controlling Image(s):
Revelation: Weaving a Tapestry of Hope
David M. May
Associate Professor of New Testament
Central Baptist Theological Seminary
Kansas City, Kansas
Getting Oriented: A Sense of Beginning (1:1-20)
A Cyclorama of What Is and What Will Be (6:1-8:5)
Cosmic Conflicts and Earthly Wounds (12:1-17, the theological “center” of Revelation)
A Sense of the End (21:1-22:21)
Controlling Image(s):
4
Revelation: A Structural Outline1
1
Howard Clark Kee, Understanding the New Testament.
5
Ancient Cosmology2
2
Illustration from The Interpreter’s Bible Dictionary.
6
Apocalyptic Writings
Even though the Bible contains only two complete apocalypses (Daniel and Revelation), many Jewish
and Christian works of this genre were produced. The dates given for these works are, in many cases,
only approximate.
Jewish Apocalypses
1. The “Book of the Watchers” (1 En. 1–36)—3rd century BC
2. The “Book of the Heavenly Luminaries” (1 En. 73–82)—3rd century BC
3. The “Animal Apocalypse” (1 En. 85–90)—2d century BC
4. The “Apocalypse of Weeks” (1 En. 93:1-10; 91:11-17)—2d century BC
5. Jubilees 23—2d century BC
6. The Testament of Levi 2–5—2d century BC
7. The Testament of Abraham—1st century BC–2d century AD
8. The Apocalypse of Zephaniah—1st century BC–1st century AD
9. The “Similitudes of Enoch” (1 En. 37–71)—1st century AD
10. 2 Enoch—1st century AD
11. 4 Ezra—1st century AD
12. 2 Baruch—1st century AD
13. The Apocalypse of Abraham—1st–2d century AD
14. 3 Baruch—1st–2d century AD
Christian Apocalypses (Gnostic Christian works are not included in this list.)
1. The Shepherd of Hermas—1st or 2d century
2. The Book of Elchasai—2d century
3. The Ascension of Isaiah 6–11—1st or 2d century
4. The Apocalypse of Peter—2d century
5. 5 Ezra 2:42-48
6. Jacob’s Ladder—2d century?
7. The Testament of the Lord 1:1-14—3rd century?
8. The Questions of Bartholomew—3rd century?
9. The Apocalypse of Sedrach—2d–4th century?
10. The Apocalypse of Paul—4th century
11. The Testament of Isaac 2-3a—1st–5th century?
12. The Testament of Isaac 5-6—1st–5th century?
13. The Testament of Jacob 1-3a—2d–5th century?
14. The Testament of Jacob 2-5—2d–5th century?
15. The Story of Zosimus—3rd–5th century
16. The Apocalypse of St. John the Theologian—2d–9th century?
17. The Book of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ by Bartholomew the Apostle 8b-14a—3rd–6th century?
18. The Book of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ by Bartholomew the Apostle 17b-19b—3rd–6th century?
19. The Apocalypse of the Virgin Mary—4th–9th century?
20. The Apocalypse of Esdras—5th–9th century?
21. The Apocalypse of the Holy Mother of God Concerning the Punishments—4th–11th century?
22. The Apocalypse of James, the Brother of the Lord—pre-11th century
23. The Mysteries of St. John the Apostle and Holy Virgin—pre-11th century
7
Relating Prophecy to Apocalyptic Hope
and Its Interperation3
I.
Prophet = One who fortells or tells for (ethical forth-telling)
II. Biblical Hope
A. Israel’s Hope: Land and Progeny
B. Apocalyptic Hope: Messiah
C. For the Church: Kingdom of God as Future in Christ; a fundamental change in understanding of Messiah and nature of God’s Kingdom (Our hope is in Christ.)4
III. Relating Prophecy (judgment within history) to Apocalyptic (new day beyond history)
IV. Literary Characteristics of Apocalyptic Literature
A. Pseudonymity (not deliberate deception; as though one wrote an essay under a pen-name)
B. Secrecy
C. Division of History into Periods
D. Determinism (everything run by a rigidly controlled plan)
E. Nearness of the End
F. Otherworldly or Cosmic Dimension (context: loss of hope for help in this dimension/time)
G. Pessimism
H. Dualism (not necessarily absolute, but stress on the power of evil)
I. Mythological Symbolism
J. Concern for the Status of Those Who Will Not Survive Before Deliverance at the “End”
V. Contrasting OT and NT Concepts of Afterlife
VI. Interpreting Apocalyptic Literature
A. Preterite (meaning in ideas and events of that time; “what it meant”)
B. Historical (meaning in the times after the book foretold; “what it means”)
C. Futurist (referring all parts of the book to the “end time”)
D. Spiritual (references to history unimportant; deals in ideas and principles)
E. Balanced (takes into consideration all four of these aspects and makes use of whatever is
Valuable in each)5
VII. Summary
A. The Basic Approach
situation then/situation now : meaning then/meaning now
B. Jesus is the key to understanding. (Revelation 19:10) (hermeneutical key)
3
Kerygma: The Bible in Depth (Pittsburgh: The Kerygma Program, 1984, 1992).
See next page for note on II.B.
5
My approach in this study. RWG
4
8
II.B. Biblical Hope for the Church
1 Corinthians 15:1-58 (NRSV)
The Resurrection of Christ
(Cp Mk 16.9—20)
15 Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters,a of the good newsbthat I proclaimed to you, which you
in turn received, in which also you stand, 2 through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to
the message that I proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe in vain.
3
For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our
sins in accordance with the scriptures, 4 and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in
accordance with the scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared
to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some
have died. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he
appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted
the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in
vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them—though it was not I, but the grace of God that
is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe.
The Resurrection of the Dead
(Cp 1 Thess 4.13—18)
12
Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no
resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; 14 and
if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain. 15
We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of God that he raised Christ—whom
he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has
not been raised. 17 If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then
those also who have died in Christ have perished. 19 If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are
of all people most to be pitied.
20
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. 21 For since
death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being;
22
for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first
fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he hands over the
kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed every ruler and every authority and power. 25 For he
must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27
For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “All things are put in
subjection,” it is plain that this does not include the one who put all things in subjection under him. 28
When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to the one who put all
things in subjection under him, so that God may be all in all.
29
Otherwise, what will those people do who receive baptism on behalf of the dead? If the dead are
not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf?
30
And why are we putting ourselves in danger every hour? 31 I die every day! That is as certain,
brothers and sisters, as my boasting of you—a boast that I make in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32 If with merely
human hopes I fought with wild animals at Ephesus, what would I have gained by it? If the dead are not
raised,
“Let us eat and drink,
for tomorrow we die.”
a
b
Gk brothers
Or gospel
9
33
Do not be deceived:
“Bad company ruins good morals.”
34
Come to a sober and right mind, and sin no more; for some people have no knowledge of God. I say
this to your shame.
The Resurrection Body
35
But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” 36 Fool!
What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 And as for what you sow, you do not sow the body
that is to be, but a bare seed, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as he has
chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. 39 Not all flesh is alike, but there is one flesh for human
beings, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. 40 There are both heavenly bodies and
earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one thing, and that of the earthly is another. 41 There is
one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; indeed, star differs
from star in glory.
42
So it is with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable.
43
It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a
physical body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 Thus
it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46
But it is not the spiritual that is first, but the physical, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from
the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so are those who are
of the dust; and as is the man of heaven, so are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the
image of the man of dust, we will also bear the image of the man of heaven.
50
What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God,
nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die,
but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the
trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this
perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When this
perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is
written will be fulfilled:
“Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
55
“Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”
56
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the
victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58
Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because
you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
Romans 8:1-39 (NRSV)
Life in the Spirit
8 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of
life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For God has done what the law,
weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal
with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us,
who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the
flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds
on the things of the Spirit. 6 To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life
and peace. 7 For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s
law—indeed it cannot, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
10
9
But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone
who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, though the body
is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus
from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also
throughkhis Spirit that dwells in you.
12
So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— 13 for
if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body,
you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15 For you did not receive a
spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba!m
Father!” 16 it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if
children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we
may also be glorified with him.
Future Glory
18
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to
be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; 20
for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it,
in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of
the glory of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains
until now; 23 and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan
inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in hope we were saved. Now
hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopespfor what is seen? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see,
we wait for it with patience.
26
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that
very Spirit intercedesq with sighs too deep for words. 27 And God, who searches the heart, knows what is
the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
28
We know that all things work together for goodu for those who love God, who are called according
to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his
Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. 30 And those whom he predestined he
also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.
God’s Love in Christ Jesus
31
What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not
withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? 33
Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? It is Christ
Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. 35
Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or
nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all day long;
we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced
that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39
nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
k
Other ancient authorities read on account of
Aramaic for Father
p
Other ancient authorities read awaits
q
Other ancient authorities add for us
u
Other ancient authorities read God makes all things work together for good, or in all things God works for good
m
11
The Seven Churches and the Church6
6
Mitchell G. Reddish, Revelation (Macon, GA: Smyth & Helwys, 2001).
12
Names for Jesus in the Letters to the Churches
Ephesus (patient and hard working, but no longer filled with love)
Him who holds the seven stars and walks among the seven golden lampstands
The Spirit
Smyrna (poor in material things, but rich in spirit)
The First and the Last, who was dead and came to life
The Spirit
Pergamum (threatened by contemporary society, but for the most part withstanding its evils)
Him who has the sharp two-edged sword
The Spirit
Thyatira (filled with love, faithfulness, service and patience, but too tolerant of those of
their number
who mislead some of the congregation)
The Son of God
The Spirit
Sardis (once faith filled and alive, but now mostly dead)
Him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars
The Spirit
Philadelphia (powerless and threatened, but faithful)
The Holy One (of Israel)
The Spirit
Laodicea (rich in wealth, but lukewarm in faith)
The Amen (“master workman,” Proverbs 8:20; “firm,” 1 Cor. 1:20), the Faithful and True
Witness (marturia),
Origin of God’s Creation (word infers “beginning” but see John 1:1-3)
The Spirit
Ask yourself the following questions:
1. What is the situation facing our church today?
2. What meaning does John’s message have for our congregation?
3. If John were alive today and writing a letter to the angel at the church of Wilton Baptist
Church, what would he write?
4. What new feelings do you have about the book of Revelation?
13
Interpreting Revelation’s Violent Imagery7
I.
The “Givenness” of John’s Situation
(Pss. 35; 55; 69; 109; 137)
II.
John’s Appropriation of Tradition
A.
Ancient Near Eastern Myths
B.
Jewish Apocalyptic Thought
C.
The Language of Scripture
(Is. 13; Jer. 51:1-19; Ps. 69:24 ||s Rev. 16:1)
III.
IV.
7
John’s Use of Language
A.
Visionary
B.
Confessional
John’s Theology and Purpose
A.
Conviction of Universal Sinfulness and Need for Redemption
B.
A Transformation of Traditional Imagery through Christ
M. Eugene Boring, Revelation (Louisville: John Knox Press), 1989.
14
First Century Eschatology
15
16
The Revelation to John
Unlocking (a part of) the Code: Gematria
Examples and Introductions on Figurative Language
Eagles, Bears, Four Corners and Big Apples
Jesus as Bread, Life, Door, Water, Lord, Christ and King.
Gematria: a practice in Jewish mysticism, is a system of associating numbers with Hebrew letters.
Each letter of an alphabet corresponds to a number. Numerical values of words are totaled up and
compared with other words to discover hidden truths and meanings. Gematria goes back at least as far
as 8th century B.C. Babylon.
History.
‹ The Babylonian king Sargon II, in 8th century BC, is believed to have been the first to use
gematria when building the wall of Khorsabad exactly 16,283 cubits long, because that was the
numerical value of his name.
‹ In Jewish mysticism (pursuit of direct, immediate consciousness of God; direct experience of
religious truth) this is a traditional system of associating numbers with Hebrew letters for the purpose
of discovering hidden meanings in words. Systems related to the Hebrew implementation of gematria
are still used.
‹ The Hebrews also used gematria for divination (seeking spiritual help by communicating with
the supernatural).
‹ The ancient Greeks used gematria in dream interpretation. It also appears in the literature of the
magi, and has been used in connection with the Greek alphabet.
‹ The Gnostics applied gematria to names of deities such as Abraxas and Mithras, equating them
because both of their names equaled 365, the number of days in a year.
‹ Gematria carried over into early Christianity which helped make the dove a representation of
Jesus; the Greek word for dove, peristera, equals 801 as do the Greek letters in alpha and omega,
which represent the Beginning and the End.
‹ It was the Kabbalists, however, who seriously studied gematria and developed it into an art form.
The Kabbalists of the 13th century seriously believed that the Old Testament was written in a
hidden code inspired by God. They used gematria as one of the chief means by which to decipher
this code. An example of this is shown in their interpretation of Jeremiah 9:9, "From the fowl of the
heavens until the beasts are fled and gone". This was interpreted as meaning, that no traveler passed
through Judea for 52 years, because the Hebrew word for beast, behemah, has the numerical value of
52.i
Why else was it used?
17
Why is gematria acceptable for interpreting the Revelation to John but not other scripture? (literalism,
Qabalah and other concerns)
Meaning Behind Meaning.
Modern Literary Uses.
The Chosen (Chaim Potok) “Who is ‘The Chosen’? At first glance it would seem that Danny is ‘The
Chosen,’ chosen to follow in the footsteps of his father who followed in the footsteps of his father,
etc. to be the leader of their [particular] Hassidic congregation. This is only superficially true;
essentially God is ‘The Chosen.’ The Hebrew word for ‘chosen’ is neevkh. The gematria of the
Hebrew letters for neevkh—nun, beit, chet, reish—produces a sum of 260, which reduces, by adding the
digits of the sum, to 8, and 8 corresponds to the Hebrew letter chet. This reduction produces the
central meaning of the word chosen. Two levels of understanding are revealed: ‘essential life’ and ‘life
to enliven.’ In both of these levels God is manifest, [as] the source of life (essential life) and our
relationship with Him is what enlivens our life. True living comes when one finds, recognizes and
exemplifies God. Therefore, God is ‘The Chosen,’ chosen because it is through him that man’s
understanding of who he is and his purpose in life is realized.”
Giving Up America (Pearl Abraham) “… about the loss of faith that complements the collapse of a
marriage. Deena Binet grew up in a Hasidic household. Deena stays behind in the USA as her family
returns to Israel, and snags a job in advertising and loves the pop materialistic culture. Although her
family disapproves, she marries Daniel, an Orthodox (non Hasidic) Jew (but the sum of the names of
the bride and groom in gematria equals ‘pain’.)”
It’s Kind of Like Jazz.ii
i
The Kabbalah (also Cabala, Kabala, Qabalah) is system of thought which was originally included in Jewish
theosophy, philosophy, science, magic and mysticism. 'Kabbalah' is Hebrew for "that which is received" and refers
to a secret oral tradition of teaching which extends from teacher to pupil.
Kabbalah, which is the spelling usually preferred by scholars, specifically refers to oral mystical teaching
not normally revealed to the general population, but passed on from the adepts to the initiates.
The term "Kabbalah" itself was first applied to secret mystical teachings in the eleventh century by Iba
Gabriol, a Spanish philosopher, and has since become applied to all Jewish mystical practice.
Although the Kabbalah is founded on the Torah, the Jewish scriptures and other sacred writings, it is no
intellectual discipline; and the mystic is not to practice it in solitude, but is to employ it to enlighten humanity.
The Kabbalist seeks two things: an union with God while maintaining a social, family, and communal life within
the framework of traditional Judaism. Those who have adopted the Kabbalistic teachings have modified these latter
aims.
In legend God taught the Kabbalah to some angels, who in turn after the Fall taught it to Adam. The
Kabbalah was to help humankind to return to God. It then passed to Noah, to Abraham and Moses. Moses
included the first four books of the Pentateuch, leaving out Deuteronomy, in the Kabbalah before he initiated
seventy Elders into it. The Elders initiated others into it. It is thought that David and Solomon were Kabbalistic
adapts. Eventually the oral tradition ended and the knowledge was written down.
Many of the basic ideas and principles found in the Kabbalah are also found in Gnosticism because both
were in the Eastern Mediterranean near the time of Christ.
ii
http://www.tbe.org/site/sog/050325.htm
18
Revelation’s
Seven
Groups
Of
Seven
The Revelation to John
Seven Groups of Seven1
1. Seven Churches
(Revelation 2:1–3:22)
1
Letter
Church
Post-M/Geographical
Non-M /Actual
Pre-M/Ages of History
1
2:1-7
Ephesus
Backslidden
Loyal but lacking
70-170
Apostolic Church
2
2:8-11
Smyrna
Persecuted
Poor but spiritual
170-312
Persecuted Church
3
2:12-17
Pergamum
Sinful
Sinful but hopeful
312-606
Worldly Church
4
2:18-29
Thyatira
Compromising
Tolerant but condemned
606-1520
Catholic Church
5
3:1-6
Sardis
Dead
Dead but unaware
1520-1750
Reformed Church
6
3:7-13
Philadelphia
Loyal
Weak but loyal
1750-1900
Missionary Church
7
3:14-22
Laodicea
Lukewarm
Rich but worldly
1900-Tribulation
Apostate Church
“Seven Groups” pages based on Donald R. Potts, Professor, East Texas Baptist University
The Revelation to John/Seven Groups of Seven
2. Seven Seals
(Revelation 6:1–8:5; Matthew 24:4-30))
Seal
Symbol
Post-M/Geographical
Non-M /Actual
Pre-M/Ages of History
1
6:1-2; Mt 24:4-5
White Horse
Power of the Gospel
Conquest
Antichrist
2
6:3-4; Mt 24:6-7
Red Horse
Divisive Gospel
War
War
3
6:5-6; Mt 24:7
Black Horse
Catholic Influence
Famine
Famine
4
6:7-8; Mt 24:7-8; 9-13
Pale Horse
Persecution of Believers
Death
Death
5
6:9-11; Mt 24:9-13
Martyred Saints
Reception of Martyrs
Reason for Judgment
Martyred Remnant
6
6:12-17; Mt 24:15-30
Earthquake
God’s Wrath on Sinners
Approach of Judgment
Anarchy/Calamity
Interlude
7:1-8; 9-17
144,000/Sealing of Servants
Opportunity for Salvation
Organized Religion;
Protection of Redeemed
Saved during tribulation;
Redeemed Jews & Gentiles
7
8:1
Silence
God’s Wrath Withheld
Transition to Trumpets
Suspense
The Revelation to John/Seven Groups of Seven
3. Seven Trumpets
(Joel 2:28-32; Revelation 8:6-11:19; Acts 2:16-21)
Trumpet
Symbol
Post-M/Geographical
Non-M /Actual
Pre-M/Ages of History
1
8:7
Hail, Fire, Blood
Fall of the Roman Empire
Partial Destruction of Land
(Roman)
Electrical Storm
(7th Egyptian Plague)
Volcano (“fall”)
Shower of Meteors
(1st Egyptian Plague)
2
8:8-9
Volcano Burning
Mountain
Fall of the City of Rome
Volcano
Partial Destruction of Sea
(Roman)
3
8:10-11
Falling Star
Apostasy of Catholic
Church
Partial Destruction of Fresh
Waters (Roman)
A Large Meteor
4
8:12
Sun, Moon, Stars Smitten
Apostasy of Church
Leaders
Partial Destruction of
Heavenly Bodies
Shaking of the Universe
5
9:1-11
First Woe: Locusts
(Five months of torture)
Corruption Prior to
Reformation
6
9:13-21; Joel 2:4-10
Second Woe: Horsemen
(200 Million)
Moslem Invasion of Greek
Church
Partial Destruction of
Humankind (Internal;
Roman Empire)
Partial Destruction of
Humankind (External;
Roman Empire)
Interlude
10:1-11:14; Joel 2:4-10;
Zechariah 4:11-14
Strong Angel
Little Book
Measuring the Temple
Two Witnesses
Christ
Gospel, Reformation
True Church
True Church, True Preacher
Messenger of Vindication
Proclamation
Protection
Victory
Christ
Daniel’s Book (Dan. 12:4, 9)
End of Gentile Power (Protctn)
Moses, Elijah
7
11:15-19; Joel 2:4-10
Third Woe:
Kingdoms of World
Triumph of True Church
Transition to 7 Bowls
End of Tribulation
Locusts, Demonic Jews
Satan’s Horsemen
Revelation 10-11: What Does Revelation Have to Say
Parallels in Israel’s History, the Early Church’s and Today
Setting
In
Life
Message
y18th Cent. African Slave
y20th Cent. European
Christian (1940s; 1990s)
y21st Cent. __________
Ezekiel
Daniel
John of Patmos
Exile
Babylon
Loss of Basic Identity
Shadrach, Meshach, …
Syncretism in Worship
“Singing in a Strange
Land”
(Psalm 137)
_______________
Army of Occupation
Antiochus Epiphanes
(opposer god manifest)
Hellenism
Abomination of Desolation
Pagan Worship
_______________
Army of Occupation
Exclusion from Synagogue
False Leaders in Churches
Economic Uncertainty
Threats of Bodily Harm
Pagan Cult and Emperor
Worship
_______________
y
Hope in God
Rescuer/Savior is Nigh
Return to the Land
Hope in God
Rescuer/Savior is Nigh
Freedom in the Land
Hope in God
Persevere
“Be faithful, even to the
point of death.”
Our Home Is Christ.
y
Rescuer/Savior is Nigh
As Agent(s) of the Lord
Cyrus of Persia and
Babylon
(Isaiah 44:28-45:1)
The Maccabees
(I-T Period)
The Alpha-Omega,
Faithful Witness, Firstborn
of the Dead, Son of God,
Lion Who Is the Lamb
Timing
1000-586 B.C.
2nd Century B.C.
ca. 95-96 A.D.
y
y
y
y
The Revelation to John/Seven Groups of Seven
4. Seven Personages
(Revelation 12:1–13:18)
Personage
Symbol
Post-M/Geographical
Non-M /Actual
Pre-M/Ages of History
1
12:1
Woman
True Church
Israel (Mary)
Israel
2
12:3, 9
Dragon
Satan
Satan
Satan (Anti-God)
3
12:5
Man Child
Martyred Christians
Christ
Christ
4
12:7
Archangel
Michael
Michael
Michael,
Protector of Jews
5
12:17
Woman’s Seed
Christian Remnant
Christians
(“rest”=all)
Roman Emperor
Domitian
(Imperial Rome)
Jewish Remnant
Anti-Christ
Revised Roman Empire
(10 nations) (Rome)
Emperor’s Committee
(Emperor Worship)
False Prophet (Anti-Spirit)
(Jerusalem)
6
13:1
Sea Beast
Holy Roman Empire
(Civil Rome)
7
13:11
Land Beast
(Papal Rome)
Revelation 12:1-6: Parallels & Meaning
The Difference Between Myths, Folklore and Meaning
Solar myths
Revelation 12:1-6
Greece
Egypt
Rome
John of Patmos’ critique
and response
Woman/Mother
Leto
Isis
“Mother Goddess” cults
THEAN ROMEN*
(Roma, the goddess)
False queen/“Jezebel”
(Rev. 18:7) vs.
Mother of Messiah/Mary/
Messianic Community
Set the Red Dragon
“Not-Rome”
Satan/Accuser/Beelzebub
Apollyon/Belial
Horus
AUGUSTUS
Imperial Caesar
(xref. Luke 2:1-14)
Emperor as one of the
dragon’s underlings vs.
Messiah and Messiah’s
Children/Church
Dragon of darkness
Dragon
Python
Sun god
Child/Prince
Notes
Apollo,
Newborn son of Zeus
*Coin of Pergamum; Coins as universal form of propaganda; coins stamped with emperor’s head
irradiate, “light” to the world, “victory” of light over darkness; eternal cosmic struggle
Astrology and Astronomy
12 stars
zodiac
1/3 stars Daniel 8:10
angelic representations of pagan power (“thrown down” and “trampled”)
OT xrefs
š“birth pangs” Isa. 66:7-9 (Mother Zion)
š “iron bar” Ps. 2:7-9
šdesert/eremon
šoffspring/seed
Day of Atonement, “scapegoat”
Gen. 3:15
How does John appropriate
“currency” of myth for
gospel purposes?
For John, “birth” = the
cross. (dragon defeated by
death of Son. Overturns
the “myths” of salvation.
Escape to the eremon
The Revelation to John/Seven Groups of Seven
5. Seven Bowls (Vials)
(Daniel 9:27; Revelation 15:1–16:21; Matthew 24:15–22)
Bowls (Vials)
Symbol
Post-M/Geographical
Non-M /Actual
Pre-M/Ages of History
1
16:2
Boils
Judgment on Idolatry
Judgment of Land
(Roman Empire)
Boils on Evil
(6 Egyptian Plague)
2
16:3
Blood (Sea)
Judgment on Church
and State Union
Judgment of Sea
(Roman Empire)
Death of Sea Animals
3
16:4–7
Blood (Fresh Waters)
Judgment on Corrupt
Philosophy
Judgment on Fresh Waters
(Roman Empire)
Drink Blood
(1 Egyptian Plague)
4
16:8–9
Great Heat
Judgment on Pope
Judgment of Sun
(Roman Empire)
Scorching Heat
5
16:10–11
Darkness (Throne)
Judgment on Hierarchy
Internal Decadence
(Roman Empire)
Darkness
(9 Egyptian Plague)
6
16:12
Euphrates Dies
Judgment on Catholicism
(Reformation)
External Invasion
(Roman Empire)
Failure of Influence
on Eastern Armies
Interlude
16:13–14
16:15–16
1st Frog
2nd Frog
3rd Frog
Armageddon
Council of Trent, 1563
Vatican Council, 1870
Mariolatry
Catholicism vs. “ True Church”
Satan’s Recruiting Agents to
Rally the Forces of Evil
Frog-like Demons
Lead Eastern Armies
Fall of Rome
Anarchy (Collapse of
Civiliazation)
(7th Egyptian Plague)
7
16:17–21
Great Hail
Judgment on Roman
System
th
st
th
The Revelation to John/Seven Groups of Seven
6. Seven Dooms (Triumphs)2
(Revelation 17:1–20:15)
Dooms (Triumphs)
Symbol
Non-M /Actual
Pre-M/Ages of History
Destruction of
Ecclesiastical Babylon
(Papacy)
1
17:1-18
Scarlet Woman
Scarlet Beast
Defeat of False Church
Doom of the Roman
Empire (City)
2
18:1-24
Fall of Babylon
Defeat of the Papacy
Doom of Allies of Rome
Hallelujah Chorus
Rejoicing of True
Christians
19:1-7
Hymn of Redemption
Destruction of Commercial
Babylon (Rome)
Heaven’s Praise for
Triumphs
Marriage of the Lamb
Uniting of True Church
with Christ
Announcement of the
Union of Christ and the
Church
Christ and Church United
10:11-19
Battle of Armageddon
Struggle between RCC and
True Church
Decisive Conflict
(Against Rome)
Victory of Heavenly Army
over Anti-Christ
3
19:20
Beast and False Prophet
Union of Church and State
Doom of Domitian and
Roman Concilia
Anti-Christ and AntiSpirit Cast into Lake of Fire
4
19:21
Slain Remnant
Destruction of State
Churches
Restraint of Satan
(Emporer Worship)
Destruction of AntiChristian Nations
19:8-10
2
Post-M/Geographical
Much agreement among the three interpretations.
20:1-3
Satan Bound
Beginning of 1000 Year
Sabbath
Restraint of Satan
(Emperor Worship)
Satan in Bottomless Pit for
1000 Years (Last Chance)
20:4-6
Interval
First Resurrection
Souls of the Righteous
Triumph
Triumph of the Martyrs
(Domitian)
Resurrection of the
Righteous
20:4-6
Millennium
Saints Will Rule in Peace
Symbol of Complete
Triumph of Righteousness
1000 Year Reign of Christ
on Earth (Physical and
Eternal Beings)
Satan Loosed
Carelessness of Christians
Satan’s Struggle to Deceive
the Nations into
Secularism
Release of Satan to Reveal
the Unregenerate
5
20:8-9
Gog and Magog
Battle between Christ and
Incarnate Satan
Antiochus Epiphanes and
Greeks (Victory of Good
over Evil)
Rebellion of Unregenerate
in Final War
6
20:10
Satan
Complete Overthrow of
Satan
Complete Overthrow of
Satan
Final Destiny of Satan
(Lake of Fire)
7
20:11-15
Great White Throne
Final Judgment and Eternal
Destiny
Final Judgment and Eternal
Destiny
Judgment of the Wicked for
Sinfulness (In Space)
20:7-8
The Revelation to John/Seven Groups of Seven
7. Seven New Things
(Revelation 21:1-22:5)
New Things
Symbol
Post-M/Geographical
Non-M /Actual
Pre-M/Ages of History
1
21:1-8
Heaven
Eternal Abode of God’s
People
Perfect Fellowship in
Heaven (Tabernacle)
Atmosphere
2
Earth
Renovated Earth
“
Regenerated Earth
3
21:9-26
City
Heavenly Capital
(Cube, Hexagon)
Perfect Protection in
Heaven (City)
Capital of Earth
(Jerusalem)
(Pyramid Shape)
4
Nations
Self-Motivated
Government
“
Christian Nations
5
River
Heavenly Paradise
(Place of God’s Abode)
Perfect Provision in
Heaven (Garden)
River of Life
22:1-5
6
Tree
“
“
Tree of Life
7
Throne
“
“
Residence of God