Revelations

Question 1

Two extremes towards Revelation

Answer 1

• Never want to read again
  It’s weird!
• Obsess over it
  I have to figure out every detail!

Question 2

Authorship of Revelation

Answer 2

• The only early challenge to the authorship of John was from Dionysius of Alexandria.

Question 3

Date and Historical Setting

Answer 3

• Nero - persecutions in Rome 64-68 AD
  
  • Domitian - emperor worship 81-96 AD
  • Churches face three opponents
    
    • Jewish leadership spelled Jewish
      
      • Christians from synagogue
    • Increase in emperor worship is Asia Minor
    • Docetist’s wrong belief about Jesus/Christ

Question 4

Old testament Source

Answer 4

No specific quotes from the Old Testament

Out of 404 verses contains 278 allusions out of the OT

Question 5

Take the Context seriously

Answer 5

• Book about Jesus, coming from Jesus, through an angel, written by John.
  
  • Addressed to the 7 literal, historical churches in Asia minor.
  • Must interpret images as John does.
  • First ask how they received the information.
  • See the visions as wholes.
  • What is the timing?
  • Remember God is in control

Question 6

3 Sources of pressure on Christians

Answer 6

• Rome itself
  - Imperial cult, social, economic.
  
  • Jews
    
    • their exemption not granted to others.
  • False teaches
    
    • Nature of Jesus
    • Compromise faith to avoid hardship

Question 7

The purpose of Revelation

Answer 7

• Who is Lord?
  
  • Temples, coins, statues.
  • God defeats and judges evil power.
  • Rescues His people & transforms creation.
  • Hope above difficult & desperate life.
  • God wins

Question 8

Revelation communicates by:

Answer 8

Epistolary - letter - truth of present.
Prophetic - prophecy - truth in future.
Apocalyptic - unveiling in picture language.

Question 9

Revelation as Epistle:

Answer 9

• It has - Introduction.
  
  • It has postscript - conclusion or closing.
  • It has letters to the 7 churches.
  • It is rooted in the real history of its day.

Question 10

Apocalyptic Literature

Answer 10

• Use of symbolism and vision.
  
  • Angelic mediator of the revelation.
  • Bizarre images.
  • Expectation of divine judgement.
  • Emphasis on the Kingdom of God.
  • New heavers and new earth.
  • Dualism of this age and the age to come.

Question 11

Differences from other Jewish Apocalyptic Literature

Answer 11

• Revelation is prophetic - in line with OT.
  
  • Revelation is not pseudonymous.
  • Revelation is not pessimistic about God’s intervention.
  • Revelation does not recast past events as future prophecy.
  • Revelation is set in contemporary world of the first century AD.

Question 12

Focus on main theological message of each vision

Answer 12

• God is in control
  
  • He will accomplish His purpose
  • How to live faithfully in light of His future!

Question 13

Picture image / historical truth

Answer 13

• Symbols and images
  
  • How does text interpret?
  • Historical context - How would they understand?
  • Symbols in OT - not always but often have the same meaning.
  • Symbols in NT - not always but often.
  • Dan. Eze., Zech., Mt., 1 Cor., 1, 2 Thes.
  • Fluid symbols