Apocalyptic Literature pt 1: “Literary Types” to “Characteristics of Apocalypse”

Question 1

Revelation is a finely blended combination of what three distinct literary types?

Answer 1

Form of LETTER/EPISTLE
Form of PROPHECY
Form of APOCALYPSE

Question 2

Form of Letter (epistle)

Revelation was sent in letter format to the 7 ______ of ___ _____.

Answer 2

Sent in letter format to the 7 CHURCHES of ASIA MINOR.

• Rev 1:4-7 & 22:21 reads like a LETTER.

Question 3

Form of Letter (epistle)

As a letter it becomes important to understand the ______ context of the 7 churches.
• Beyond chapters 2 & 3 there is encouragement to believers who are facing _________.

Answer 3

As letter it becomes important to understand the HISTORICAL context of the 7 churches.
• Beyond chapters 2 & 3 there is encouragement to believers who are facing PERSECUTION.

Question 4

Form of Prophecy

Some suggest that Revelation stands in the tradition of the major prophets of the OT: _____ as well as ________.

Answer 4

Some suggest that Revelation stands in the tradition of the major prophets of the OT: FORETELLING as well as FORTHTELLING.

Question 5

Form of Prophecy (Different Perspectives)

_______: all events through chapter 19 as past [then & there]
• _______: all still in the future

Answer 5

PRETERIST: all events through chapter 19 as past [then & there]
• FUTURIST: all still in the future

Question 6

Form of Prophecy (Different Perspectives):

________: tracing the development of the entire church age.
_________: timeless struggle between good and evil.

Answer 6

HISTORICIST: tracing the development of the entire church age.
IDEALIST: timeless struggle between good and evil.

Question 7

Form of Prophecy

________ of preterist - futurist

• The prophecies predict _______ events, though the descriptions do not portray the events literally

Answer 7

COMBINATION of preterist - futurist

• The prophecies predict LITERAL events, though the descriptions do not portray the events literally

Question 8

Form of Apocalypse

‘apokalypsis’ as ______ or _______
- A Greek word that means ”__ ______,” with the idea of the manifestation of a person or the revelation of a spiritual mystery through symbolic imagery dominant in the genre designation

Answer 8

‘apokalypsis’ as DISCLOSURE or REVELATION.
- A Greek word that means “TO UNCOVER,” with the idea of the manifestation of a person or the revelation of a spiritual mystery through symbolic imagery dominant in the genre designation

Question 9

Form of Apocalypse

There were ______ of apocalypses that were well known to both the Jews and Christians between 200 B.C. to A.D. 200

Answer 9

There were DOZENS of apocalypses that were well known to both the Jews and Christians between 200 B.C. to A.D. 200

Question 10

Form of Apocalypse

Typically such a revelation was _____ by another worldly being to a human recipient.
• Taproot of apocalyptic is _ _ prophetic literature.
• Apocalypses are _____ in their nature.

Answer 10

Typically such a revelation was MEDIATED by another worldly being to a human recipient.
• Taproot of apocalyptic is OT prophetic literature.
• Apocalypses are LITERARY in their nature.
(*not scientific, technical, or strictly historical)

Question 11

Form of Apocalypse

Material is presented in the form of _____ and ______.
• Images are often forms of _____ rather than ______.
• It is formally ______ literature.

Answer 11

Material is presented in the form of VISIONS and DREAMS.
• Images are often forms of FANTASY rather than REALITY.
• It is formally STYLIZED literature.

Question 12

Characteristics of Apocalypse!

1. _______ towards the present age.
2. The ______ of salvation or restoration.
3. A view of _______ reality.

Answer 12

1. PESSIMISM towards the present age.
2. The PROMISE of salvation or restoration.
3. A view of TRANSCENDENT reality.

Question 13

Characteristics of Apocalypse

4. A _________ was observable in which God completely controlled all of history.
5. A modified _______ in seen in the two ages.

Answer 13

4. A DETERMINISM was observable in which God completely controlled all of history.
5. A modified DUALISM in seen in the two ages.

Question 14

Characteristics of Apocalypse

6. The ________ of the cosmos.
7. There is a major __________ perspective at work.

Answer 14

6. The RECREATION of the cosmos.

7. There is a major ESCHATOLOGICAL perspective at work.