Written by Lesallan Bostron ®
BIB3560 Revelation (ONLSP23)
Ohio Christian University
Pastor Al Soultz
April 14, 2023
Describing Apocalyptic Literature and the Implications
The Book of Revelation is foremost a prophetic book with apocalyptic literature as a subgenre. The purpose of apocalyptic literature is to give the reader pieces of information on God’s purpose through Revelation. In addition, apocalyptic literature aims to provide hope and comfort to the oppressed and persecuted people of God. Apocalyptic literature further implies that God is the “One” in control of the time past (history), the world we live in today (the now), and in the time of future things yet to come; “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8, KJV).
When interpreting the Book of Revelation, it depends on how one relates the events and symbols found in the book to historical or future realities. This Book of Revelation is the Christian tradition’s most famous and influential apocalyptic literary genre. This week’s other discussion post finds the views and perspectives used in interpreting the Book of Revelation. Revelation must always be read humbly, and people should always be open-minded regarding different interpretations. Respect must always be shown to those that disagree with our opinion or viewpoint.
Describing an apocalypse would depend on which view or perspective the word apocalypse is looked at from. Many people only see life events that have transpired as an apocalypse – the end of all things. The end of life, be it a spouse or child or significant others; or the end of personal relationships (love and marriage), are all tragic and forever events. The English use of the word apocalypse points towards the world’s destruction, with the Bible and the Book of Revelation being the focal points of the definition. From how God has described the apocalypse, it has not been defined singly. God has revealed many aspects of the apocalypse using many prophetic visions and symbols found within the pages of the Holy Bible. The Bible uses the word apocalypse to mean a revelation or unveiling of God’s plan and purpose for the world.
Apocalyptic features appearing in reading the Book of Daniel, 1 Enoch, and 4 Ezra are as follows: first found is the use of pseudonymity or the attribution of the writings to ancient Biblical figures such as Daniel (Daniel 1:1), Enoch (1 Enoch 1:1-3), and Ezra (4 Ezra 3:1).
Visions and dreams are often accompanied by symbolic imagery and numbers used to convey messages about this world’s past, present, and future and God’s people. For example, in the Book of Daniel, Daniel sees four beasts which represent four kingdoms (Daniel 7:1-28), Enoch sees a vision of Israel from the past (history) the idea seen is from Adam to the Maccabean revolt (1 Enoch 85-90), and Ezra saw the vision of the woman who mourned for her son and transforming into a city (4 Ezra 9:38-10:5
Various mysteries and secrets are shown to the seer using sacred journeys or ascents, i.e., Daniel is lifted between heaven and earth by an angel (Daniel 8:15-27), Enoch is raised to heaven by angels, shown the secrets of creation and judgment (1 Enoch 14-36). Next, a woman is shown all the many signs of the apocalypse. Finally, Ezra was taken to a field by an angel and was then shown many apocalyptic signs (4 Ezra 5:31-6:34).
The contrast or the use of dualism is the difference between wrong and right, good and evil, light and darkness, God and Satan, the respective allies and domains. In the Book of Daniel, he saw conflict between the holy ones of God and the little horn that spoke blasphemy (Daniel 7:21-27). The conflict between the righteous children and the wicked evil children of darkness was seen by Enoch (1 Enoch 91:9-19). The woman Ezra saw the conflict between God’s people, those that believed, the faithful people of Israel, and the eagle with the twelve wings that oppressed them (4 Ezra 11:1-12:51).
The use of eschatology is the expectation of a final judgment and of a spiritual (cosmic) transformation at the end of time when God comes again to intervene and destroy evil and establish His Kingdom. Daniel saw a judgment scene where the Ancient of Days gives one to one that is like a son of man (Daniel 7:9-14); Enoch, through his visions, saw a judgment scene where the spirit of the Lord of Lords, the Lord of Spirits, executes vengeance on the fallen angels and their offspring. Ezra is told to have and to hold on to courage because God will not forget His people and their struggle (4 Ezra 12:40-51).
The Book of Revelation shows the reader an apocalypse, meaning it is a revelation of the Divine mysteries of God. It was God that used visions, symbols, and allegories to His chosen prophets and gave the things that He still uses even in this present day and time to provide a message to His chosen prophets to show a way to lead the way and the world a message of hope and encouragement. The Book of Revelation shows Christians that have faced or will face persecution and suffering that God has a plan. Therefore, we must understand and interpret Revelation to appreciate its historical context and its relevance to the churches of that day and time. We must recognize the eschatological perspective and that God will have the final victory over evil when the end of time is upon us. The Book of Revelation should always require that one knows the Old Testament and all things that the Book of Revelation has come from. Particular attention must be given to the Books of Daniel and Ezekiel.
As people, we need to examine all the Biblical sources of Revelation, such as that found in the Old Testament prophets and the New Testament Gospels. This must be reviewed to understand that the Book of Revelations uses imagery and symbolism. Evaluation is necessary for all the various interpretations of Revelation, such as the preterist, historicist, futurist, and idealist. Evaluation is essential to understand the strengths and the weakness of each.
Applying the message in the Book of Revelation to our personal life, such as being faithful to God, resisting evil, and looking forward to God’s kingdom’s promise, is a significant question. The Revelation that God has revealed His plan for the end of history and the eternal destiny of humanity according to God is His encouragement found in His people in Revelation. God has assured us that even though we have been persecuted and endured suffering, God is in control of this universe and the history that will unfold just as God intends. At the end of times, God will bring about the ultimate justice, and His perfect Kingdom will live on forever. The ideal Kingdom of God and His sovereign love will last forever.
Another way to apply Revelation to life is to let it change our perspectives on earth and life, also changing our priorities. What does God want? He wants us to be holy like His son. He wants us to live for His glory. God does not want us to live for personal comfort or pleasure. God’ chosen must be faithful witnesses of His Gospel. Never be afraid or in fear of persecution; He wants us to long for His return, not things of this world.
There are many practical principles to follow that will enhance our understanding of Revelation. First, we as people must pray for spiritual guidance and ask God for the wisdom and knowledge needed in this thing called life. We as people, and those that believe, must read, and study the Scriptures with reverence and humility, always seeking to find God’s will and obey it. Emotions must be eliminated, emotions such as anger, hurt, or defensiveness that drive away the Holy Spirit and hinder Revelation. Being submissive and patient to God’s timing, trusting He knows what is best in our lives, is essential. Seeking the counsel or the opinions of other faithful followers of Christ, those that can help us discern God’s voice and direction. People in this thing called life and in this world must never forget that the Word of God is living and active “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12, KJV).
References:
Beasley-Murray, G. R. (1997). “Revelation, Book of.” In Dictionary of the Later New Testament and Its Developments, edited by Ralph P. Martin and Peter H. Davids, 1025–38. Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity.
BibleProject. (2021). How to Read the Bible: Apocalyptic Literature. Www.youtube.com. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNDX4tUdj1Y
Describing Apocalyptic Literature and the Implications
The Book of Revelation is foremost a prophetic book with apocalyptic literature as a subgenre. The purpose of apocalyptic literature is to give the reader pieces of information on God’s purpose through Revelation. In addition, apocalyptic literature aims to provide hope and comfort to the oppressed and persecuted people of God. Apocalyptic literature further implies that God is the “One” in control of the time past (history), the world we live in today (the now), and in the time of future things yet to come; “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8, KJV).
When interpreting the Book of Revelation, it depends on how one relates the events and symbols found in the book to historical or future realities. This Book of Revelation is the Christian tradition’s most famous and influential apocalyptic literary genre. This week’s other discussion post finds the views and perspectives used in interpreting the Book of Revelation. Revelation must always be read humbly, and people should always be open-minded regarding different interpretations. Respect must always be shown to those that disagree with our opinion or viewpoint.
Describing an apocalypse would depend on which view or perspective the word apocalypse is looked at from. Many people only see life events that have transpired as an apocalypse – the end of all things. The end of life, be it a spouse or child or significant others; or the end of personal relationships (love and marriage), are all tragic and forever events. The English use of the word apocalypse points towards the world’s destruction, with the Bible and the Book of Revelation being the focal points of the definition. From how God has described the apocalypse, it has not been defined singly. God has revealed many aspects of the apocalypse using many prophetic visions and symbols found within the pages of the Holy Bible. The Bible uses the word apocalypse to mean a revelation or unveiling of God’s plan and purpose for the world.
Apocalyptic features appearing in reading the Book of Daniel, 1 Enoch, and 4 Ezra are as follows: first found is the use of pseudonymity or the attribution of the writings to ancient Biblical figures such as Daniel (Daniel 1:1), Enoch (1 Enoch 1:1-3), and Ezra (4 Ezra 3:1).
Visions and dreams are often accompanied by symbolic imagery and numbers used to convey messages about this world’s past, present, and future and God’s people. For example, in the Book of Daniel, Daniel sees four beasts which represent four kingdoms (Daniel 7:1-28), Enoch sees a vision of Israel from the past (history) the idea seen is from Adam to the Maccabean revolt (1 Enoch 85-90), and Ezra saw the vision of the woman who mourned for her son and transforming into a city (4 Ezra 9:38-10:59).
Various mysteries and secrets are shown to the seer using sacred journeys or ascents, i.e., Daniel is lifted between heaven and earth by an angel (Daniel 8:15-27), Enoch is raised to heaven by angels, shown the secrets of creation and judgment (1 Enoch 14-36). Next, a woman is shown all the many signs of the apocalypse. Finally, Ezra was taken to a field by an angel and was then shown many apocalyptic signs (4 Ezra 5:31-6:34).
The contrast or the use of dualism is the difference between wrong and right, good and evil, light and darkness, God and Satan, the respective allies and domains. In the Book of Daniel, he saw conflict between the holy ones of God and the little horn that spoke blasphemy (Daniel 7:21-27). The conflict between the righteous children and the wicked evil children of darkness was seen by Enoch (1 Enoch 91:9-19). The woman Ezra saw the conflict between God’s people, those that believed, the faithful people of Israel, and the eagle with the twelve wings that oppressed them (4 Ezra 11:1-12:51).
The use of eschatology is the expectation of a final judgment and of a spiritual (cosmic) transformation at the end of time when God comes again to intervene and destroy evil and establish His Kingdom. Daniel saw a judgment scene where the Ancient of Days gives one to one that is like a son of man (Daniel 7:9-14); Enoch, through his visions, saw a judgment scene where the spirit of the Lord of Lords, the Lord of Spirits, executes vengeance on the fallen angels and their offspring. Ezra is told to have and to hold on to courage because God will not forget His people and their struggle (4 Ezra 12:40-51).
The Book of Revelation shows the reader an apocalypse, meaning it is a revelation of the Divine mysteries of God. It was God that used visions, symbols, and allegories to His chosen prophets and gave the things that He still uses even in this present day and time to provide a message to His chosen prophets to show a way to lead the way and the world a message of hope and encouragement. The Book of Revelation shows Christians that have faced or will face persecution and suffering that God has a plan. Therefore, we must understand and interpret Revelation to appreciate its historical context and its relevance to the churches of that day and time. We must recognize the eschatological perspective and that God will have the final victory over evil when the end of time is upon us. The Book of Revelation should always require that one knows the Old Testament and all things that the Book of Revelation has come from. Particular attention must be given to the Books of Daniel and Ezekiel.
As people, we need to examine all the Biblical sources of Revelation, such as that found in the Old Testament prophets and the New Testament Gospels. This must be reviewed to understand that the Book of Revelations uses imagery and symbolism. Evaluation is necessary for all the various interpretations of Revelation, such as the preterist, historicist, futurist, and idealist. Evaluation is essential to understand the strengths and the weakness of each.
Applying the message in the Book of Revelation to our personal life, such as being faithful to God, resisting evil, and looking forward to God’s kingdom’s promise, is a significant question. The Revelation that God has revealed His plan for the end of history and the eternal destiny of humanity according to God is His encouragement found in His people in Revelation. God has assured us that even though we have been persecuted and endured suffering, God is in control of this universe and the history that will unfold just as God intends. At the end of times, God will bring about the ultimate justice, and His perfect Kingdom will live on forever. The ideal Kingdom of God and His sovereign love will last forever.
Another way to apply Revelation to life is to let it change our perspectives on earth and life, also changing our priorities. What does God want? He wants us to be holy like His son. He wants us to live for His glory. God does not want us to live for personal comfort or pleasure. God’s chosen must be faithful witnesses of His Gospel. Never be afraid or in fear of persecution; He wants us to long for His return, not things of this world. There are many practical principles to follow that will enhance our understanding of Revelation. First, we as people must pray for spiritual guidance and ask God for the wisdom and knowledge needed in this thing called life. We as people, and those that believe, must read, and study the Scriptures with reverence and humility, always seeking to find God’s will and obey it. Emotions must be eliminated, emotions such as anger, hurt, or defensiveness that drive away the Holy Spirit and hinder Revelation. Being submissive and patient to God’s timing, trusting He knows what is best in our lives, is essential. Seeking the counsel or the opinions of other faithful followers of Christ, those that can help us discern God’s voice and direction. People in this thing called life and in this world must never forget that the Word of God is living and active “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12, KJV).
References:
Beasley-Murray, G. R. (1997). “Revelation, Book of.” In Dictionary of the Later New Testament and Its Developments, edited by Ralph P. Martin and Peter H. Davids, 1025–38. Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity.
BibleProject. (2021). How to Read the Bible: Apocalyptic Literature. Www.youtube.com. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNDX4tUdj1Y
