The Cosmic Battle A.D.? Anno Domini – The Year of our Lord We owe this to a monk named Dionysius Exiguus in 465 A.D. Throughout history, dating has been done when a new king or sovereign came to power. e.g. Diocletian 248A.D…. 132 AD Bar Kochba… 1792 in French Revolution

The Cosmic Battle In 465 Dionysius Exiguus changed the calendar to declare that Jesus was sovereign. He chose March 25 th, not Dec 25 th or Easter Why? It was the day of Gabriel’s announcement to Mary This did not change for the next 1,000 years, Pope Gregory in 1582.

The Cosmic Battle A. None of the imagery of this section of the last book of the Bible would have been foreign to its first readers/hearers. 1. Much of it comes from the Old Testament Pharaoh as a dragon (Ezekiel 29:3, 32:2) King of Babylon as dragon (Jeremiah 51:34) Powerful nations as beasts (Daniel 7) Leviathan the sea monster, Behemoth the earth monster (Job) 2. Much of it comes from the mythology of the day (We need to understand “deep stories” to understand other cultures or another person.) Python the dragon seeking to kill the child Python the dragon seeking to kill the child Apollo slays the dragon Apollo slays the dragon

B. The imagery of this section is very fluid — more like a music video than a political cartoon. C. Remember the two-fold pastoral purpose of apocalyptic literature: The present in light of the unseen realities of the future The present in light of the unseen realities of the present D. This section is the “theological center” of the book (see chiastic structure). E. The setting of this “apocalypse” - a throne in heaven 4:1-5:14 - an altar before the throne 8:2-5 - the temple/sanctuary is opened (naos – Holy of Holies) - the ark of the covenant appears the ark= place where God resides/dwells on earth The Cosmic Battle

What we have in this section is a “drama in seven scenes”. We know it constitutes a separate unit within the whole book because it is “bracketed” by the words (12:1, 15:1)- the only place in the book where the term is used-and “overcome” (12:11, 15:2). The Cosmic Battle

1. Scene one (12:1-17) a. the characters a woman a dragon a child b. the plot war in heaven won on earth “thrown down” — lit. “bounced” goes after the “rest of her offspring” (12:17) c. how to overcome - 12:11 The Cosmic Battle

2. Scene two (13:1-10). a. the beast from the sea (13:1) b. usurps c. death-wound healed (13:3) d. Revelation 13 and Romans Scene three (13:11-18) a. the beast from the earth (13:11) b. imitates signsimage-making mark (cp.7:1-3) false prophet (16:13) c. encourages worship of the beast of the sea d. the mark of the beast (13:16-18)— 666 The Cosmic Battle

4. Scene four (14:1-5) a. the Lamb and His followers b. Mt. Zion—Psalm 2 5. Scene five (14:6-13) a. the angel-messengers b. their three-fold message 14:6—14:8—14:9— c. “perseverance of the saints” (14:12) The Cosmic Battle

6. Scene six (14:14-20) a. “one like a son of man” with a sickle b. two harvest 14:14-16 — reaping grain 14:17-20 — treading grapes 7. Scene seven (15:1-4) a. prelude to the seven bowls (15:1) b. “overcame the beast”— the great mystery of the Gospel c. the Song of the Lamb (15:2-4) Exodus 15:1—18 Deuteronomy The Cosmic Battle

Discipleship implications of this section 1. To be “in Christ” is to be in a battle, against Christ’s enemy 2. Please, do not take it personally 3. Enemy does not come at us directly 4. Develop a “healthy” suspicion of institutions both “religious” and “political” The Cosmic Battle