Occasion, Purpose and Occasion, Purpose and Revelation’s use of the Revelation’s use of the

OTOT..

OccasionOccasion

• Situation of the churches:Situation of the churches: – Sovereignty of God and the situation of the Sovereignty of God and the situation of the

churches.churches.

– Persecution: John is in exile on the Island of Persecution: John is in exile on the Island of Patmos, Antipas has been martyred for the Patmos, Antipas has been martyred for the faith (2:13), and the church of Smyrna has faith (2:13), and the church of Smyrna has undergone economic persecution (2:9) and undergone economic persecution (2:9) and many will be imprisoned and executed in the many will be imprisoned and executed in the future (2:10).future (2:10).

Situation of the churches:Situation of the churches:

• The book also envisions a The book also envisions a greater persecution that greater persecution that would take place in the would take place in the future.future.

• Rev 6:9-11 could refer to Rev 6:9-11 could refer to past persecutions but at past persecutions but at least implies that there least implies that there will be more serious will be more serious persecutions in the near persecutions in the near future.future.

• 11:7 refers to a worldwide 11:7 refers to a worldwide trial for saints at the trial for saints at the future end of history, as future end of history, as does also 20:7-9.does also 20:7-9.

Situation of the Situation of the churches:churches:

• There was compromise in the There was compromise in the Christian circles with trade guilds and Christian circles with trade guilds and their patron deities. their patron deities.

• There were false teachers in the There were false teachers in the church that preached that Christians church that preached that Christians could identify with pagan cults (2:14-could identify with pagan cults (2:14-15, 20-24). 15, 20-24). – I call this thought today the American lie.I call this thought today the American lie.

Situation of the Situation of the churches:churches:• Some Christians, when faced with persecution Some Christians, when faced with persecution

were recanting and denying their faith.were recanting and denying their faith.• The churches are encouraged to disassociate The churches are encouraged to disassociate

from the depravity of the Roman system, and if from the depravity of the Roman system, and if they do so consistently, John expects consistent they do so consistently, John expects consistent persecution. Bauckham, persecution. Bauckham, TheologyTheology, 38. , 38.

• ““If the seven churches represent the church If the seven churches represent the church universal of the first century and throughout the universal of the first century and throughout the church age (see on 1:4, 11), then…the church in church age (see on 1:4, 11), then…the church in any generation is typically not a healthy, any generation is typically not a healthy, witnessing church. Nevertheless, there is always witnessing church. Nevertheless, there is always a small part of the church which faithfully a small part of the church which faithfully maintains its witness like Smyrna and maintains its witness like Smyrna and Philadelphia.” Beale, Philadelphia.” Beale, RevelationRevelation, 33., 33.

Purpose:Purpose:

• John’s purpose is to encourage those who are John’s purpose is to encourage those who are not compromising with idolatry and to shock or not compromising with idolatry and to shock or jolt those who are compromising out of their jolt those who are compromising out of their spiritual slumber so that they will perceive the spiritual slumber so that they will perceive the real spiritual dangers and repent and become real spiritual dangers and repent and become faithful witnesses of Christ.faithful witnesses of Christ.

• The Judgment scenes in Revelation are aimed The Judgment scenes in Revelation are aimed primarily at the church. The book is written to primarily at the church. The book is written to the church and not to the broader pagan world.the church and not to the broader pagan world.

• The book is focused on the Christian community The book is focused on the Christian community to get them to witness in the midst of a to get them to witness in the midst of a compromising and idolatrous church and world.compromising and idolatrous church and world.

Revelation’s use of the Revelation’s use of the OTOT

• Literary pattern:Literary pattern: – This is a modeling of OT contexts or This is a modeling of OT contexts or

sequences that John uses as a pattern sequences that John uses as a pattern through which he establishes the literary through which he establishes the literary and thematic structure of the and thematic structure of the Apocalypse. These structures are only Apocalypse. These structures are only apparent when one looks at the OT apparent when one looks at the OT context. context.

Revelation’s use of the Revelation’s use of the OTOT

• Thematic Uses:Thematic Uses: – John uses several OT texts to develop John uses several OT texts to develop

critical OT themes in the book of critical OT themes in the book of Revelation. It is almost as if John Revelation. It is almost as if John reinterprets the themes of the OT by reinterprets the themes of the OT by drawing on specific texts. drawing on specific texts.

Revelation’s use of the Revelation’s use of the OTOT• Analogy:Analogy:

– Analogy is the act of comparing an OT Analogy is the act of comparing an OT text to something in the NT. By using text to something in the NT. By using analogy, John compares specific “well-analogy, John compares specific “well-known persons, places, and events” in known persons, places, and events” in the OT to the NT. An analogy of the OT to the NT. An analogy of judgment can be used as an example; judgment can be used as an example; the plagues that inflict judgment in the plagues that inflict judgment in Exodus (7:14-12:57) are compared to Exodus (7:14-12:57) are compared to the trumpets (Rev. 8:6-12) and the bowls the trumpets (Rev. 8:6-12) and the bowls (Rev 16:1-14) of Revelation.(Rev 16:1-14) of Revelation.

Revelation’s use of the Revelation’s use of the OTOT

• Universalize:Universalize: – Universalization in the apocalypse Universalization in the apocalypse

describes John’s inclination to apply OT describes John’s inclination to apply OT texts relating specifically to Israel or texts relating specifically to Israel or other groups to the entire world. other groups to the entire world. Looking at Exodus 19:6, John applies the Looking at Exodus 19:6, John applies the title that God gave Israel “Kingdom of title that God gave Israel “Kingdom of priests” to the church in Revelation 1:6 priests” to the church in Revelation 1:6 and 5:10. and 5:10.

Revelation’s use of the Revelation’s use of the OTOT• Indirect fulfillment:Indirect fulfillment:

– This describes the act of John referring This describes the act of John referring “informally” to OT texts in an effort to “informally” to OT texts in an effort to elucidate present and future fulfillment of elucidate present and future fulfillment of the OT “verbal” prophecy to the the OT “verbal” prophecy to the Apocalypse. John alludes to Dan. 7:13 Apocalypse. John alludes to Dan. 7:13 “Son of man” in Rev. 1:13-14 in order to “Son of man” in Rev. 1:13-14 in order to show that Jesus had begun to fulfill the show that Jesus had begun to fulfill the prophecy of the Son of man’s “exaltation.” prophecy of the Son of man’s “exaltation.”

Revelation’s use of the Revelation’s use of the OTOT• Inverted Use:Inverted Use:

– Occasionally John alludes to OT texts in a way Occasionally John alludes to OT texts in a way that seems contradictory to its original context; that seems contradictory to its original context; however, he uses this “reversal of application” however, he uses this “reversal of application” to make prophetic, polemical and sometimes to make prophetic, polemical and sometimes ironic points. This reversal phenomenon is ironic points. This reversal phenomenon is illustrated in Dan. 7:21 and Rev. 12:7-8. In illustrated in Dan. 7:21 and Rev. 12:7-8. In Daniel the “horn” is described as overpowering Daniel the “horn” is described as overpowering the saints, yet in Revelation it is applied to the saints, yet in Revelation it is applied to Satan’s downfall by Michael and his angels. Satan’s downfall by Michael and his angels.

Revelation’s use of the Revelation’s use of the OTOT• Stylistic Use of Old Testament Language:Stylistic Use of Old Testament Language:

– The Apocalypse contains a multitude of The Apocalypse contains a multitude of grammatical irregularities or “solecisms.” These grammatical irregularities or “solecisms.” These are not a mistake on John’s part; rather, they are not a mistake on John’s part; rather, they portray his allusions and dependence on Semitisms portray his allusions and dependence on Semitisms and Septuagintalisms in the OT. The purpose of this and Septuagintalisms in the OT. The purpose of this was to shock his readers into a state of reflection on was to shock his readers into a state of reflection on various OT allusions. various OT allusions.

– (Rev 1:4) John uses (Rev 1:4) John uses apoapo with the Nominative instead with the Nominative instead of the usual genitive; this seems like a mistake but of the usual genitive; this seems like a mistake but John then uses the phrase John then uses the phrase ho ho ōn. This is an allusion ōn. This is an allusion to Exod 3:14.to Exod 3:14.