Revelation II
10.18.09
Revelation: three principles of interpretation
1. Revelation is a symbolic vision not a literal vision of the future
John is not seeing the actual literal future like a camera would record it
some say “interpret all details in the literal sense where this is possible”
rather be wary of any attempt to make it literal (even numbers)
2. Revelation is not complex outline and detailed plan of the future with many different stages in it
the sort of thing you get in prophecy charts, teachings, conferences
I do not believe in the rapture or the “left behind” approach
3. Revelation is not in sequential order of future events: not an outline
it a series of visions about the same thing
Major theme of the whole book:
The Messiah’s War
The Messiahs fights a war
leading an army of his followers
against all oppressors
defeating the pagan powers who contest God’s rule
conquering them
liberating the people of God
and establishing the rule of God
because the book is symbolic
this is not a literal war
with Jesus leading a literal army in a war
unseen spiritual war going on even now
three stages: first stage
1. conquered by his death and resurrection
5.1-10
he conquers but by his sacrifice
when he is killed
he wins the victory
he purchases men for God
they will reign on the earth
because of his victory at the cross
second stage
2. his followers continue the war now in the present and they are called to conquer
chapters 2-3
2:7, 11, 17, 26
3:5, 12, 21
this is a present call to the churches
also at the end of the book
21.7
He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
12.11
They overcame him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much
as to shrink from death.
15.2
And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name.
we are called to participate in the Messiah’s war against evil: Satan and the nations
we are called to fight now and conquer
not simply wait for Christ to come
7.4-8
144,000 an army
census of the tribes of Israel
only males of military age are counted
to build an army
this is you! the church, Christ’s conquering army
not ethnic Jews
or some special elite group
14.1-5
they are an army
virginity is a symbol of preparedness
you don’t sleep with your wife during the military campaign
1 Sam 21.5
11:3
two witnesses
all this speculation about who are these two witnesses and at what stage of the final events will this happen
this is you!
this is the church
this is how we conquer
this is how we fight this war
by bearing witness and being faithful unto death
Why two? Deut 19.15 (not literal)
standard Biblical idea of two witnesses
sackcloth: message of judgment and a call to repentance
1260 days (42 x 30) same as 42 months
not literal (half of seven years)
time of assault by enemies (vs 2)
but also time of their prophetic work
this is the church age in which we live now
4
lampstands are symbols of the church in chapter 1
5
protected by God so they can preach
6
imagery of prophecy from the OT
Elijah and Moses
not waiting for great prophets…
we are the prophetic word to the world when we proclaim Christ and the gospel to them
7
the Beast which is the power of the Roman Empire
but also all nations which have great power and oppress the church of God
this is the war we are called to fight not by violence but by witness
“Conquers” the two witnesses
13.5-7 says the exact same thing about the same era:
the ones who are conquered by the beast are the saints or Christians
this is not an eternal conquest
they conquer by killing us
we conquer in our faithful witness to the point of death– this is our victory
from the perspective of the world, the beast or the empire has won
from heaven’s perspective, the witnesses or the church has won
the Christians were so powerless against Rome, they must have often despaired and given up the war
this revelation given to strengthen them
8-10
the Roman Empire celebrated the destruction and killings of the Christians
11-12
image of the victory we will win by resurrection and ruling with Christ
as Christ was killed and raised
we will be as well
this revelation given to strengthen us
we will be raised
we will have the ultimate victory
third stage
3. Final victory at his coming
11.15-18
at the end Christ will conquer and
“the kingdom of the world will become the kingdom of our Lord of his Christ” 11:15
you have begun to reign
the nations opposed you
you destroyed the destroyers of the earth
17.14
14They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”
19.11-21
