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Home , Gog and Magog

Revelation: Interpretive Decisions

Interpretive Decisions

Genre Millennium Prophecy

Judgments

Interpretive Decisions

Genre

Interpretive Decisions

I. Genre— (1:1) A. Correlate 1: highly symbolic Historical development Jewish roots: 4 , 2 Baruch, 1 , Daniel 7–12, Zechariah 9–14, Qumran Christian preservation: , Apocalypse of Peter, etc. Interpretive implications numbers are symbolic imagery is fantasy, details only background Interpretive Decisions

I. Genre—Apocalypse (1:1) B. Correlate 2: freely innovative Using both biblical and non-biblical imagery Revised meaning: examples from OT ancient of days, Daniel 7 (1:12–16) four sea beasts, Daniel 7 (13:1–2) four colored horses, Zech. 6:1–3 (6:1–8) four creatures, Ezek. 1; Isa. 6:2–3 (4:6–8) dirge, Isa. 23, 47; others (Rev 18) new heaven/, Isa. 65–66 (21:1–22:5)

Interpretive Decisions

I. Genre—Apocalypse (1:1) B. Correlate 2: freely innovative Using both biblical and non-biblical imagery Revised meaning: examples from OT ancient of days, Daniel 7 (1:12–16) four sea beasts, Daniel 7 (13:1–2) four colored horses, Zech. 6:1–3 (6:1–8)

four creatures, Ezek.Jer. 1; 50–51; Isa. Ezek.6:2–3 26–27 (4:6–8) Babylon dirge, Isa. 23, 47; others (Rev 18) new heaven/earth, Isa. 65–66 (21:1–22:5)

Interpretive Decisions

Daniel 7 Rev 13

1st beast lion

2nd beast bear one beast 3rd beast leopard

4th beast ten horns

Interpretive Decisions

Daniel 7 Rev 13

4th beast ten horns one beast

ten sequential kings of ten kings all the Seleucid dynasty contempo- preceeding the infamous rary with the Antiochus IV Epiphanes sea beast Interpretive Decisions

II. Genre—Prophecy (1:3) A. Correlate 1: obedience is goal Prophecy as forthtelling challenged, judged (Seven Letters) world challenged, judged (Judgment Cycle) Prophecy as foretelling B. Correlate 2: concord message: is the standard Canon decision: authoritative for church

Interpretive Decisions

III. Genre—Epistle (1:4) A. Correlate 1: historical setting Historical specificity Asia Minor, first century, persecution Seven Letters (2–3); Judgments (6–19) Falsified “prophecy” B. Correlate 2: unified whole Epistolary structure unifies the work Chapter 1 = christological (1:1–8) and hermeneutical (1:9–20) key to the whole

Interpretive Decisions

Epistolary Opening (1:4) Main Text Epistolary Closing (22:21)

Interpretive Decisions

IV. Genre—Summary A. Apocalypse highly symbolic freely innovative B. Prophecy faith obedience (persuasive, not predictive) gospel concord (passion, not ) C. Epistle historical setting unified whole Interpretive Decisions

IV. Genre—Interpretive Guidlines A. Apocalypse + Epistle symbolic + historical = Revelation’s language is symbolic, but the reality is first-century. innovative + unitary = Revelation’s allusions are recognizable, but the meaning is internal. B. Prophecy + Epistle persuasive + historical = Revelation’s message is prophetic, but the burden is imminent. concord + unitary = Revelation’s theology is biblical, but the crux is the passion of Jesus.

Interpretive Decisions

Prophecy

Interpretive Decisions

I. Prophetic Fulfillment—Viewpoints A. Preterist: all past = all prophecies fulfilled in the original first-century setting of the author B. Historicist: all history = prophecies trace major historical developments up to time of writer C. Futurist: all future = all prophecies point to brief interval ending history at the writer’s time D. Idealist: all time = prophecies symbolize time-less struggle of good/evil in every generation

Interpretive Decisions Interpretive Decisions

Interpretive Decisions

I. Prophetic Fulfillment—Viewpoints E. Historical Table of the Viewpoints Timeline of History Idealist Preterist Historicist Futurist Time A.D. 70, 95, 313 A.D. 95—Current Future Period 1st/3rd Century Church or Western History “End Times” Subject Jer., AsMin., Milan Church or Kingdom “Tribulation”

Interpretive Decisions

II. Prophecy Fulfillment—Critique A. Preterist (especially fall of , A.D. 70) Ignores lack of early canonical attestation Mitigates word of universal, final judgment B. Historicist Completely arbitrary and too specific Biased view of only Western church history LIttle relevance to original readers “Last age” always = time of a given writer

Interpretive Decisions

II. Prophecy Fulfillment—Critique C. Futurist Begs the question of knowing the time Defective doctrines of soteriology, ecclesiology, and Christology Rev. 1:19 not road map to book’s structure Meaningless to original readers Characteristically spawns the most socially abberant and dangerous movements Interpretive Decisions

II. Prophecy Fulfillment—Critique D. Idealist Inadequate philosophy of history (no end) Biblical evidence: history’s consummation Problem of evil never resolved

Interpretive Decisions

Judgments

Interpretive Decisions

I. Judgments (6—20)—Complex Structure A. Judgment Sequence Triad (6:1–8:1) (8:2–11:19) (15:5–16:21) B. Judgment Sequence Interruptions Seven Seal Plagues Vision of 144,000 (7:1–8) Vision of Great Multitude (7:9–17) Interpretive Decisions

I. Judgments (6—20)—Complex Structure B. Judgment Sequence—Interruptions Seven Trumpet Plagues Three Woes (8:13; 9:12; 11:14; trum. 5–7?) Seven Thunders (10:1–4) Little Scroll (10:1–11) Measuring Temple (11:1–2) (11:3–14) Seven Bowl Plagues Song of (15:2–4) Battle of Armageddon (16:13–16)

Interpretive Decisions

I. Judgments (6—20)—Complex Structure C. Judgment Sequences—Additional Material Great Red Dragon (12:1–6; 12:13–17) (12:7–12) Beasts from Sea and Earth (13:1–18) Lamb on Mount Zion (14:1–13) Wheat and Vine Harvests (14:14–20) Great Whore of Babylon (17:1–19:10) Victorious Rider (19:11–21) Martyr’s Millennium (20:1–6) Gog and (20:7–15) Interpretive Decisions

I. Judgments (6—20)—Complex Structure C. Judgment Sequences—Additional Material Great Red Dragon (12:1–6; 12:13–17) Archangel Michael (12:7–12) Beasts from Sea and Earth (13:1–18) Seven BowlLamb Plagues on Mount (15–16) Zion (14:1–13) Wheat and Vine Harvests (14:14–20) Great Whore of Babylon (17:1–19:10) Victorious Rider (19:11–21) Martyr’s Millennium (20:1–6) Gog and Magog (20:7–15)

Interpretive Decisions

II. Judgments (6—20)—Progression Theories A. Linear: 21 chronological, historical punishments B. Telescopic: 7th telescopes out into next series C. Recapitulation: cyclic intensifying to climax

Seals, Trumpets, Bowls Recapitulation: 1-7 x 3 Linear: Judgments 1, 2, 3, . . . 21 Seals

Trumpets Seals . . . Trumpets . . . Bowls Telescopic: 1-6, 7 =1-6, 7 = 1-7 Bowls

Interpretive Decisions

Millennium

Interpretive Decisions Interpretive Decisions I. The Millennium—Review of Theories A. Lecture Rev05—History of Millennial Theories B. Conclusions Conclusion 1: Millennial interpretation is an exegesis of the the times, not the text. Conclusion 2: Millennial theories are generated by specific historical contexts, paradigm shifts. : Constantine, 4th Century : Reformation, 16th Century : New World, 18th Century Conclusion 3: Nineteenth-century American movements still dominate millennial thought.

Interpretive Decisions

II. The Millennium—Return and Reign A. Premillennial: return ends history to inaugurate earthly, monarchial reign for a thousand years

Christ

Mil1000enniu Years m Premilennial

Interpretive Decisions

II. The Millennium—Return and Reign A. Premillennial: return ends history to inaugurate earthly, monarchial reign for a thousand years B. Postmillennial: return climaxes a thousand year earthly reign of church at the end of history

Church

Mil1000enniu Years m Postmilennial

Interpretive Decisions

II. The Millennium—Return and Reign A. Premillennial: return ends history to inaugurate earthly, monarchial reign for a thousand years B. Postmillennial: return climaxes a thousand year earthly reign of church at the end of history C. Amillennial: return climaxes the symbolic reign of church throughout the church age

Amilennial Church

MilChurchenniu Age m Interpretive Decisions

II. The Millennium—Return and Reign A. Premillennial: return ends history to inaugurate earthly, monarchial reign for a thousand years B. Postmillennial: return climaxes a thousand year earthly reign of church at the end of history C. Amillennial: return climaxes the symbolic reign of church throughout the church age

Amilennial Church Church Age

ChrisMt il1000enniu Years mChurch Premilennial Postmilennial

Interpretive Decisions

Genre Millennium Prophecy

Judgments