What makes Revelation unique?
The word translated as
"revelation" (1:1) comes from the Greek word apokalypsis, meaning a
revealing or an unveiling. Revelation belongs to a kind of writing
called apocalyptic literature. Apocalyptic writings attempt to reveal
the secrets of heaven to human beings, and are often about the way
human history will end. Such writings usually divide the whole universe
into two parts, one good and one evil. At the end of time, the good
part of the universe, which God rules, will win a final victory over
the evil part, which Satan has ruled. Having defeated evil, God will
bring in a new creation, and everyone who has been faithful will live
with God forever. Apocalyptic passages can be found in other books of
the Bible such as Daniel 7-12 and Mark 13, but this is the only book of
the Bible made up entirely of apocalyptic writing.
Revelation
excites the imagination. It features brilliant visions of a coming Day
of the Lord. These visions are expressed through many symbols,
including people in the shape of animals or monstrous beasts, colors
and numbers that have secret meanings, and predictions about when God
will bring the world to an end.
The writer of the book knew
the Jewish Scriptures (Old Testament) very well. Over half the verses
in Revelation are directly or indirectly based on Old Testament
passages. This is important for understanding the meaning of the book.
Why was Revelation written?
Around
the end of the first century A.D., all people in the Roman Empire were
ordered to offer prayers and sacrifices to the Roman emperors, who had
declared themselves gods. This practice is referred to as the Imperial
Cult. Those who refused were regarded as traitors to the Empire, and
could be put to death. Christians wondered whether their disobedience
would mean the end of the church. What would happen to the hope that
God would rule on earth? The writer of Revelation received a special
message from God that answered these questions. He shared it with seven
churches in Asia, but the message is really for all Christians. This
message has three main parts:
1. Evil forces are at work in the world, and Christians may have to suffer and die;
2. Jesus is Lord, and he will conquer all people and powers--including the Roman Empire--that oppose God; and
3. God has wonderful rewards for those who remain faithful to him, especially for those who lose their lives while serving him.
This
was a powerful message of hope for those early Christians who had to
suffer or die for their faith. In this book, they learned that, in
spite of the cruel power of the Roman Empire, Jesus (the Lamb of God;
5:6) would win the final victory.
What's the story behind the scene?
The
exact identity of John, the writer of this book, is still debated
today. John was a common name among Jews and Christians, and he never
claims to be one of Jesus' twelve key disciples. If we take Revelation
1:9 at face value, which most biblical scholars do, then the fact that
the author had been exiled rather than put to death indicates that he
may have been a person of some social standing, because exile was a
punishment reserved for those who held a certain degree of status.
Therefore, there would have been a great deal at stake for the author
in taking the sort of world-rejecting action that he advocates
throughout the book. He would have appreciated deeply the consequences
of such a strong religious and political position.
The issue
of authorship is inextricably tied to the more complex (and perhaps
more relevant) issue of determining when the book was written.
Domitian, who ruled the Roman Empire from A.D. 81 to 91, was the first
Roman emperor who tried to make Christians worship the emperor as a
god. The emperor Trajan later made a policy that also required everyone
to worship the Roman emperors who had died. Since Revelation seems to
speak to Christians who were being persecuted for not worshiping the
emperor, many scholars think the book was likely written sometime late
in Domitian's reign, or even later, when Trajan ruled. Other scholars,
however, believe the book was written much earlier, just before the
destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.
Revelation uses many
numbers as symbols, such as the number seven, which stands for
completeness or perfection. Other kinds of symbols are also used. For
example, the main symbol for the powers opposed to God is the city
"Babylon." Christian readers knew that this really meant Rome, and they
also knew that when the book says "the Lamb," the writer means Jesus
Christ.
How is Revelation constructed?
This
complicated book was written in a series of sections that show the
struggle of the church against the enemies of God. This struggle begins
in the story of seven earthly churches and ends with a vision of God's
great victory and the completely new heaven and earth that God will
bring in the future. Revelation can be outlined in the following way:
- John's prophecy and prayer (1:1-8)
- Vision for the seven churches (1:9 - 3:12)
- Vision of God and the Lamb (4:1 - 5:14)
- Opening the seven seals (6:1 - 8:5)
- The seven trumpets (8:6 - 11:19)
- The opponents of God (12:1 - 13:18)
- Visions of God's judgment and protection (14:1 - 16:21)
- Victory over the enemies of God (17:1 - 20:15)
- God makes all things new (21:1 - 22:5)
- Final promises, blessings, and warnings (22:6-21)
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