The Book of Revelation
John treats his subject matter in three different ways in the opening four verses of the book: Revelation (Greek apocalypsis), Prophecy and Epistle. And herein lies the difficulty which has given rise to the many bizarre interpretations of the work over the centuries. I shall follow most of the recent evangelical commentators who treat it predominantly as apocalyptic literature: something akin to political cartoon: caricatures and broad brush strokes, the detail of which must not be pressed. And like all Scripture, the obscure must be interpreted in the light of the plain, so Revelation can only be understood when it is meted against the rest of the Bible's teaching.
Apocalyptic has certain characteristics, which receive a little 'twist' from John:
(1) Pessimism - about contemporary culture where demons are seen as being 'in control'. John tempers this with an overriding confidence that Jesus is Lord of history and present society.
(2) Dualism - the world is in cosmic conflict, reflecting war in heaven. John's God is always in ultimate control. He urges us to remember (as Luther did) that "the Devil is God's Devil."
(3) Two Ages - the Present Evil and the Coming Glorious. We live in the tension in between; in the Shadowlands (CS Lewis).
(4) Transcendence - God is awful, unapproachable and speaks through intermediaries. John reminds us of God's loving immanence as he walks among the churches in Christ.
(5) Determinism - man is at the mercy of the inevitable. But John points to significant choices that the churches can make.
(6) Secrecy - visions and angels bring mysteries which are only for the initiated. Yet John tries to understand and orders the letters to be read out for all.
(7) Symbols - strange animals, demons and angels, numerology. These are all in John's book (7 woes, 7 trumpets…) sometimes with explanation, but often not.
The author may have been John the Apostle. But whichever John, he was probably writing in about 95AD at the height of the Domitian persecution. However, he wants his hearers, of every era and in all circumstances, to have confidence in the ultimate victory of the risen Christ. Blessed are those who take this to heart. (1:3)
for Scripture Union Notes
