Approaches to the Apocalypse

Revelation as Theopoetic Vision?
Introduction and Approaches to the Apocalypse

1. Authorship: 1:1, 4, 9; 22:8

early traditions (Justin, Irenaeus) attribute Revelation to John the Apostle
Greek of Revelation differs sharply from John's Gospel and Epistles
author nowhere claims to be the apostle (cf. "the 12 apostles of the Lamb" at 21:14--no apparent self-reference)
internal evidence is minimal: author was an early, well-known and respected Christian prophet
question of authorship cannot be answered with absolute certainty

2. Date

during Nero's reign, after 64 CE, c. 68
during Titus' reign: 79-81
during Domitian's reign: 81-96 (many: c. 95-96)
- What is the significance of the seven kings of 17:7-11?
  - 5 were "fallen"
  - 1 "is" [as I (John) write this?]
  - 1 "has not yet come"
- Which emperor counts as the first? Which ones were included? Was the number seven literal or symbolic?

***In Search of the "Seven Kings" of Revelation 17:8-10***
Counting from One to Seven				Years in Power	Roman Emperors
1				49-44 BCE	Julius Caesar, dictator
period of civil wars
2	1			27 BCE - 14 CE	Augustus (= Octavian; considered 1st Roman emperor)
3	2			14-37	Tiberius
4	3	1		37-41	Caligula (Gaius; as first blatant enemy of God?)
5	4	2		41-54	Claudius
6	5	3	1	54-68	Nero (as first to persecute Christians?)
7			2	68-69	Galba	period of civil war
8		4	3	69	Otho
9			4	69	Vitellius
10	6	5	5	69-79	Vespasian
11	7	6	6	79-81	Titus
12		7	7	81-96	Domitian
13				96-98	Nerva
14				98-117	Trajan
15				117-138	Hadrian

the curious myth of Nero Redivivus
- Nero committed suicide in 68; rumors circulated afterward that he was still alive.
- Various ones thought he would return to seize power again.
- Is he the figure symbolized in 17:8? Is Domitian a "second Nero"? Does he symbolise a future AntiChrist?

Evidence for Popular Belief in a Returning Nero

Sibylline Oracles 5.28 [date: between 80 and 132]

"One who has fifty as an initial will be commander, a terrible snake, breathing out grievous war, who one day will lay hands on his own family and slay them, and throw everything into confusion, athlete, charioteer, murderer, one who dares ten thousand things. He will also cut the mountain between two seas and defile it with gore. But even when he disappears he will be destructive. Then he will return declaring himself equal to God. But he will prove that he is not.

Suetonius, Nero, 57 [early 2nd century]

"Nero died at the age of 31, on the anniversary of Octavia's murder. In the widespread general rejoicing, citizens ran throught the streets wearing caps of liberty. But there were people who used to lay spring and summer flowers on his grave for a long time, and had statues made of him. . .; they even continued to circulate edicts pretending he was still alive and would soon return to confound his enemies. . . . In fact, twenty years later, when I was a young man, a mysterious individual came forward claiming to be Nero; and so magical was the sound of his name in the Parthians' ears that they supported him to the best of their ability, and only handed him over with great reluctance."

Ascension of Isaiah 4:2-4 [date: near the end of 1st century]

"And after it has been brought to completion, Beliar will descend, the great angel, the king of this world, which he has ruled ever since it existed. He will descend from his firmament in the form of a man, a king of iniquity, a murderer of his mother--this is the king of this world--and will persecute the plant which the twelve apostles of the Beloved will have planted; some of the twelve will be given into his hand. This angel, Beliar, will come in the form of that king, and with him will come all the powers of this world, and they will obey him in every wish. . . .

3. Characteristics

historical context includes persecution (1:9; 2:2,10; 3:10; 7:13-14?)
writer calls churches of his day to persevere in the face of persecution, amidst pressures to be unfaithful to God and to doubt God's goodness (6:10).
extravagant use of symbolism and fantastic imagery (similar to Daniel and many Jewish apocalyptic works produced between 200 BC & 100 AD)

***Types of Symbolism in Revelation***
Edenic	2:7; 22:1-2 (cf. Gen 2:8-17; 3:22-24)
Cosmic	6:12-14
Angelic	7:1-3; 12:7-9
Danielic	13:1-6 (cf. Dan.7:2-8)
Numerical	7:2-5; 13:11-12,16-18
Unreal	8:12; 10:10; 12:4,14; 17:9

4. Approaches to Revelation

Predictive: Revelation depicts the plight of the church and the events surrounding the return of Christ
- Reformation: Revelation contains prophecies of the history of the church.
  - popular among reformers (e.g., Luther)
  - seals, bowls, trumpets, etc. are linked up with people, nations, events within church history
  - Beast = papacy
  - no agreement on how symbols in Revelation correspond to historical events
  - would be virtually incomprehensible for original audience
- Dispensationalist
  - the seven letters of Rev.2-3 may refer to seven periods of church history
  - church is raptured at 4:1 and thereafter appears in heaven as the 24 elders
  - tribulations of Rev.6-18 target Israel, and do not involve the church
    Dispensationalism generally distinguishes between two peoples of God: Israel and the church.
  - the 144,000 of Rev 7:3-8 are Jewish converts on earth during the Great Tribulation
  - the 1000 years of Rev 20:4-7 involve Christ's literal reign on earth over the restored nation of Israel
- Qualified Futurist
  - Revelation has in view both first century events and subsequent generations, including the history of the church in the world (1-6) and the climax and consumation of human history (7-22).
  - Rev.2-3 refer to actual first century churches rather than ages of church history
  - interprets first century history typologically; events point beyond themselves to the end of the age
  - seals represent forces used by God to accomplish his redemptive and judgmental purposes
  - following the 7th seal (8:1), the 7 trumpets are the contents of the book (5:1) = unfolding of events of end
Historical (Preterist): Revelation describes events that occurred in the first century.
Theopoetic (Idealist, Symbolical): Revelation describes forces and powers at work throughout history.

Revelation as Theopoetic Vision? Introduction and Approaches to the Apocalypse

Counting from One to Seven

Years in Power

Roman Emperors

Revelation as Theopoetic Vision?
Introduction and Approaches to the Apocalypse