Apocalyptic Thought

Development

Definition

ΑΠΟΚΑΛΥΨΙΣ = Revelation

Idea is to see what is happening in heaven

Heaven affects earth

Development from Prophetic literature

c.f. Joel 2:28-32, Isaiah 6:1-7

Intertestamental Development

Assumption of Moses, Apocalypse of Adam, Apocalypse of Levi, Enoch, etc.

Two types:

“Tour of Heaven” (not found in Bible)

“Lord of History”

Generally involves:

Human being given heavenly vision

Angelic interpreter (see both Daniel and Revelation)

Tons of Imagery, largely drawn from OT and OT worldview, esp. prophets

Only one OT Apocalyptic work: Daniel

A worldview as much as a literary genre

Present throughout Gospels, Epistles

Only work that fits genre of “apocalypse” in NT: Revelation

Daniel

Only in latter half of the book (i.e. from chpt. 7 on)

Largely about Antiochus Ephiphanes IV

“Son of Man” passage, c.f. v. 7:9-14

Judgement in heaven affecting that on earth

In Jesus

Present in Parables (e.g. Dragnet, Matt 13:47-50)

Matthew 24

In Paul

All throughout Paul’s writing, but esp. Ephesians

Excursus: The Rapture

Only two places in scripture, but both have been misinterpreted

Once in Matt 24:36-44

Once in 1 Thess 4:13-18

Revelation

Written as letter

By “John”

to Asia Minor

Christ addresses 7 churches

Gives us idea of purpose of the book

3 clues

“Nicolaitans” (c.f. 2:6, 2:15)

Teaching to eat idol food and “commit fornication”

“Jezebel” (c.f. 2:20)

Teaching to eat food and “commit fornication”

Reference to Jezebel in book of Kings

“False Jews” (c.f. 2:9, 3:9)

Probably background of Christian/Jewish Seperation

Legal Problems

Other clue, v. 1:19, “write what you have seen, what is, and what is to come” Past, present, future.

Throne Room Visions (4:1-11:19)

About Jerusalem (70AD)

v. 11:1-3, explicitly mentions Judgement against Jerusalem

Lots of army/siege imagery

Scroll = Judgement, divorce scroll

Trumpets: finalized decision

Persecution and martyrs ( chpt. 7)

Related to “False Jews”

Eagle’s woes (8:13)

Eagle = Rome

Two Witness (11)

Possible Peter and Paul

Killed in “Sodom and Egypt” , i.e. Rome

Signs in heavens (12:1-20:15)

About Rome

Beasts = Satan -> Caesar -> Cult of Emperor

anti-trinity

Nero Redivivus Myth

Number of the Beast = Nero

Domitian thought to be second coming of Nero

Whore of Babylon

Roma coin

New Heaven/Earth (21-22)

About Messianic Hope