Scholars Crossing LBTS Faculty Publications and Presentations Fall 2003 The ‘Earth-Dwellers’ and the ‘Heaven-Dwellers’ in Revelation: An Overlooked Interpretive Key A. Boyd Luter Liberty University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/lts_fac_pubs Part of the Biblical Studies Commons, Comparative Methodologies and Theories Commons, Ethics in Religion Commons, History of Religions of Eastern Origins Commons, History of Religions of Western Origin Commons, Other Religion Commons, and the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons Recommended Citation Luter, A. Boyd, "The ‘Earth-Dwellers’ and the ‘Heaven-Dwellers’ in Revelation: An Overlooked Interpretive Key" (2003). LBTS Faculty Publications and Presentations. 286. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/lts_fac_pubs/286 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Crossing. It has been accepted for inclusion in LBTS Faculty Publications and Presentations by an authorized administrator of Scholars Crossing. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 2 Faith & Mission Faith & Mission 201l (Fall 2003) 3-18 3 The "Earth Dwellers" and the "Heaven Dwellers": An l THE LIFE OF JESUS Overlooked Interpretive I(ey to the Apocalypse A. Boyd Luter Writer in Residence II~=I Coeditor, Criswell Theological Review r= = Emily K. Hunter Assistant to the Editors, Criswell Theological Review The Criswell College = '== Dallas, Texas 75246 Presented at the Evangelical Theological Society 54th Annual Meeting Toronto, Ontario, Canada, November 21, 2002 search and publication on the Book of Revelation has escalated to a frenetic pace.2 In such a climate, in which, seemingly, every exegetical R!nd theological nuance has been treated from virtually every conceiv­ able angle, it would seem unlikely that any material of significance would be overlooked. However, as will be seen, careful study of two overlooked groups in the Apocalypse, to whom we will refer, shorthand, as the "earth dwellers" and the "heaven dwellers," provides considerable insight in regard to both the ex­ 0-8010-2370-X • 704 pp .• $39.99c 0-8010-24S1-X • 240 pp .• $18.99p egesis and biblical theology of this challenging book. Further, building from the "Darrell Bock is a well-known expert on the Studying the Historical Jesus is an introduc­ exegetical/biblical theology conclusions, it is possible to approach a systematic Gospels. Here we have a much more ful­ tory guide to conducting historical inquiry theological issue that is ever vexing to many evangelicals-the location of the some and helpful portrait ofJesus than is into the material found in the Gospels. Rapture in Revelation-from a largely fresh perspective. offered in many recent treatments of the Darrell Bock introduces the sources of our This article will proceed through all the uses of the Revelation phraseol­ historical Jesus. Highly recommended." knowledge about Jesus, both biblical and -Ben Witherington III, extra-biblical. He then surveys the history ogy having to do, first, with the earth dwellers, then the heaven dwellers, in Asbury Theological Seminary and culture of the world of Jesus. The final sequential order. A number of conclusions in the exegetical and biblical theol­ chapters introduce some of the methods "This book is a wonderful illustration of the ogy areas will be stated at that point. Then, the fruit of these studies will be used to study the Gospels, including histor­ value of canonical criticism. Bock's work has mined for their implications in regard to the Rapture. Before concluding, as is ical, redaction, and narrative criticisms. This a wonderful balance between a respect for book offers an informed scholarly approach necessary for thorough theological reflection on such a highly debated topic, the uniqueness of each Gospel and an that takes the Gospels seriously as a source several other relevant considerations and several anticipated objections to the appreciation of the overall unity in the por­ of historical information. trait ofJesus provided for the church." resulting view will be discussed. -c. Stephen Evans, Baylor University Baker Academic Tracking the "Earth Dwellers" through Revelation Subscribe to Baker Academic's electronic newsletter (E-Notes) at www.bakeracademic.com It is, frankly, surprising that no more insightful study of the earth dwellers in the Apocalypse has been forthcoming. The virtually identical wording is used in 3:10; 6:10; 8:13; 1l:10 (twice); 13:8; 13:14 (twice); 17:2; and 17:8 (see table 4 Faith & Mission The "Earth Dwellers" and the "Heaven Dwellers": An Overlooked 5 Interpretative Key to the Apocalypse 1 on page 5 below}. In addition, an equivalent expression is employed in 13:12 made clear. In 17 :8, their ultimate spiritual explanation for their behavior is and a similar, though ultimately ironic, usage is found in 14:6.3 stated: They have not been included "in the Book of Life from the foundation of The first use in Rev. 3: 10 has been only minimally treated by exegetes and the world. "10 Simply put, they are the nonelect.1l commentators, ostensibly because of its location. The ongoing debate among There is a climactic "zinger" to be noted, however, in regard to what is many premillenialists over the meaning of, "1 will keep you from the hour of expected of the earth dwellers and what actually takes place. When the antici­ trial," in regard to the timing of the Rapture, has largely obscured the fact that pated ultimate avenging of the blood of the martyrs (6:10) is climactically pro­ "the hour of trial" is "to test those who dwell on the earth" (3:10). In other claimed in heaven, the judgment is focused on "the great harlot" (19:2), Babylon words, while focusing on those who will be in some sense kept from the "hour of the Great. This unexpected shift in focus requires plausible explanation. trial," we have almost entirely overlooked whom "the hour" is focally designed It appears that one of two possibilities would have to be the case. Either: to test. 1) The earth-dwellers are so closely identified with Babylon the Great behavior­ At this point, we do not have the information to understand what the ally (17:2) that to judge Babylon is effectively to judge the earth-dwellers; or 2) nature of the "testing" will be, or how long the clearly figurative expression, given that the Bride of the Lamb, who is clearly compared with Babylon in the "the hour," will last. In fact, we do not even know how to take the phrase "earth latter chapters of the Apocalypse, seems to serve as a corporate image for all dwellers,"4 other than that it is in obvious contrast to the kind of Christians in believers (19:7), as well as the eternal new Jerusalem (21:2,9-10), the nonelect the church at Philadelphia, who will be, because of their perseverance, kept earth dwellers may well have been incorporated into the broader image of Babylon from the hour of testing (3:10). the Great. 12 The second use (6:10) of earth dwellers is in relation to the fifth seal being removed from the scroll in Revelation 5. It has to do with an impassioned re­ Table 1: Tracking the "Earth-Dwellers" through Revelation questS by a group of martyrs (6:9) that God specifically avenge their blood which was shed by the earth dwellers (6:10).6 The Lord's answer is that the vengeance ,1;!Q .!.fu2.:ll ill ll.i.!.ft .l.fu!!..!lli!l Jl;M for the martyr's blood would be delayed "a little while longer" (6:11). Those l'the Martyrs' prayer Implies that "Earth- "Earth·dwellers" "Earth- The blood hour of is answered judgment on the dwellers" worship the Beast dwellers" of God's Whatever else is involved in regard to this delay, it seems clear that "the hour of testing" with "n little "earth-dwellers" rejoice at because their drunk on the bond· (=Trib. longer"until has begun and deaths of names are not immorality of servants trial" focused on the earth dwellers has not yet begun to unfold in the Book of Period) the judgingl will accelerate the two written in the Babylon the avenged on Revelation. The implication of that point will be explored later in this study. is designed avenging on with the "woes" prophetsl Lamb's Book of Great Babylon the to '~test": the "the earth- witnesses Life great harlot. The third inclusion (8:13) of earth dwellers, however, reflects that "the "earth-dwellers" dwellers'l Babylon ap­ begins parently hour of trial" is, in fact, now in progress. By the time of the fourth trumpet drunk with blood (in fulfillment of (8:12), the anticipated ultimate testing of the earth dwellers has not only begun 6:9-11) of saints in earnest, but will accelerate with the "woes" of the final three trumpets (8: 13). and witnesses of Jesus (see 6:9-11) The next two uses of earth dwellers are both in 11:10. Here we note that not only are the earth dwellers considered guilty for the death of the martyrs in 6:9-10, they also celebrate the death of God's two witnesses at the hands of "the Tracking the "Heaven Dwellers" through the Apocalypse beast,"7 the Antichrist figure of the Apocalypse (11:7,10). This three-and one­ half-day "party" (11 :9-11) takes place after the witnesses "finished their testi­ If the identity of the earth dwellers in Revelation has not been adequately mony" (11:9) at the end of"1,260 days" (11:3), apparently the first three- and­ studied, the heaven dwellers have been almost completely overlooked. The ob­ 8 a-half years ofthe seven years of "the hour of trial" (3: 10), commonly called the vious reason for the lack of attention is that the specific terminology is only Tribulation period in eschatological discussion.