1. Revelation Special Lecture #2
Dr. Dave Mathewson
Gordon College/Denver Seminary

2. Introduction to Revelation
Review
Persecution largely at local level from those keen on showing their allegiance to Rome
Problem: Christians compromising with Rome
Revelation to unmask/expose Rome’s arrogance, it’s pretentions, its desire for wealth at the expense of others, imperial oppression

3. Review
John exposes the whole system, it’s a hideous blood thirsty beast
God’s people shouldn’t give in to it no matter what the consequences

4. Genre of Revelation Genre: We don’t read or write apocalypses today
It’s a vision into the heavenly world, lifting the veil so the readers can see behind the empirical world.
An apocalypse is a first person narrative of that heavenly vision

5. Analogy : Modern Political Cartoon
One possible modern literary parallel might be the political cartoon
Political cartoons refer to actual specific historical events and people, rooted in reality
The way they do it is by highly exaggerated symbols of those persons or events
Because we know the present scene and because we know their symbols we can identify with them and resonate with them

6. Revelation As Political Cartoon
Dave’s analogy: Rebuilding a cabin: old political cartoons in 1930’s didn’t understand because didn’t know that time or the symbols
A commentary on the political circumstances of the 1st century to help his readers understand the true nature of their conflict with Rome
Some of the symbols are stock: eagle=USA; donkey or elephant= political parties
So too in Revelation: 7 headed beast or a dragon, says something about the true nature of the Roman empire

7. Sampling of sections of Revelation
1) Chapters 4-5 Vision of God and Lamb upon the throne
Begins the heart of John’s vision: John ascends to heaven, God lifting the veil giving him a glimpse into the heavenly reality
Symbolic depiction: Rev. 4:1-7;
Throne and lightning = judgment
This throne in heaven is meant to usurp and replace the throne of Caesar; Caesar is not on the throne but God is on the throne being worshipped
So what is happening on earth is not all there is

8. Revelation 4-5 Section Chapter 5 introduces scroll
Scroll is probably God’s plan to establish his sovereignty and bring salvation and judgment
No one who can open it, John weeps
John is introduced to the Lamb who can open it
Jesus described as lion and lamb (symbolically)

9. Revelation 4-5 Section
Jesus can open it and divulge its contents, so Jesus through his death can enact the contents of the scroll
The rest of Revelation tells how that God’s sovereignty and worship permeate the rest of creation
Cf. Lord’s prayer, God’s will/rule in heaven now extents to the entire creation is the rest of Revelation
Revelation 4-5 is the fulcrum of the rest of the book

10. Sampling of sections of Revelation
3 sections of 7: 7 Seals opened; 7 Trumpets sounded and 7 Bowls poured out
What are we to understand of the symbolism? What are they suggesting?
Need to understand the OT background
Rev. 8:1-9:3 Trumpets sounding
Bowls are much of the same: whole earth darken, frogs, locusts, water to blood

11. Sampling of sections of Revelation
What do these plagues recall in your canonical memory?  Exodus
Plagues on Egypt and the deliverance of his people
In the same way God judged Egypt God will once again judge an arrogant human empire
These are not literal descriptions

12. Sampling of sections of Revelation
What is their meaning? God will judge wicked humanity (wicked Rome) in the same way he did in Egypt via the exodus
Combination of physical and spiritual judgments
Judgment on Egypt’s commerce and life similar to the judgment on Rome

13. Sampling of sections of Revelation
Relationship between the seals/trumpets and bowls
Do the seals/trumpets and bowls follow each other sequentially?
Are they sequential? seals, then trumpets, then bowls
Do they overlap? seals; describe it again as trumpets; describes it again as bowls

14. Sampling of sections of Revelation
John’s point is not to speculate how many now or in the future
John’s primary point is to evoke the imagery of the exodus; don’t give in to Rome’s evil system because God is going to judge it

15. Numbers In Revelation
In Revealtion Numbers must also be interpreted symbolically
As the beasts, water to blood, stars falling and making the water bitter, = symbolically portraying God’s judgment on the earth; so too the numbers
Many try to take the numbers literally, should be just the opposite

16. Numbers In Revelation What about the number 666?
This number was taken literally by some  Caterpillar tractor company, credit cards, computer chips, mark of beast identified with all sorts of modern things
Any interpretation that John could not have intended and his readers would not have understood should be looked at with suspicion

17. Numbers In Revelation
The concern not with the exact numbers but what they symbolize
1) Perhaps the number 6 is one short of 7 the number of perfect; (Rev. 13) 666 is short of 777, the number of humanity, falls short of perfection
Imagery may evoke more than one meaning
2) 666 may have suggested the name “Nero” when the letters are added up it = 666

18. Numbers In Revelation
If John is writing under Domitian maybe John is wanting them to recall Nero as that evil beastly ruler. Now the spirit of Nero is resurrected and the true evil of Rome is being exposed

19. Numbers in Revelation
The number 7 has symbolic value: 7 days of creation perhaps, completeness, perfection
7 seals, trumpet, bowls: completeness, perfect number of God’s judgment on the world
3 ½ is half of seven: only half of perfection; so often persecution of God’s people is 3 ½ years; not significant for temporal value but symbolic value; intense time of conflict it will be cut short
So trouble 3 ½ years the point is it will be cut short, it won’t last

20. Numbers In Revelation
The number 12 is 12 tribes of Israel, 12 apostles 144,000 = people of God; new Jerusalem measured in unit that are multiples of 12  people of God

21. Sections of Revelation : Rev. 12-13
Revelation 12 and 13
Vision of 5 main characters
A woman
A child
Dragon
2 Beasts

22. Sections of Revelation : Rev. 12-13
Woman with child; when child is born the dragon goes after the child of the woman [people of God; Israel as the wife of Yahweh common in OT]
Dragon enlists 2 beasts one from the sea and one from the land. They will help the dragon destroy the offspring of the woman

23. Revelation 12-13 What is the Old Testament background?
Genesis chapter 3:14f cursing of the serpent and Proto-evangelium–enmity between the serpent and woman, he will crush your head and you will strike his heal
How many of those motifs get repeated in Revelation ?
The dragon is clearly identified as the serpent of old (Gen. 3)

24. Comparison Gen. 3 and Rev. 12-13
Gen. 3:15-16 serpent and the woman in enmity
Gen. 3: the offspring in enmity also
Gen. 4:15=16 describing head crushing
Gen. 3:15-16 woman undergoing pain in childbirth
Rev. 12 dragon and woman in battle
Rev. 13 the dragon and two beasts go after the woman’s offspring
Rev beast has a damaged head
Rev woman suffers pain

25. Revelation 12-13 What is the function of Rev. 12-13
Rev is showing the true nature of the conflict.
The conflict ultimately goes all the way back to Gen. 3 so they should not be surprised by their struggle with Rome
Their struggle with Rome is really their struggle with Satan and goes all the way back to Gen. 3.

26. Revelation 12-13
Rev is a commentary in Eph. 6 spiritual armor; your battle is a spiritual battle in heavenly places; conflict with Rome is not the whole picture, John lifts the veil and shows the connection with the age old struggle (Gen. 3)
The death blow has already been dealt so all they need to do is resist Rome