Revelation 6-16

Thesis: John sees the manifestation of Satanic power in the Roman Empire and thus uses features of the Empire to depict the present, ongoing, eschatological victory of God over evil.

Chs. 1-5

Prologue, Rev 1:1-8

Imminence

Relevance: “to the seven churches”, v. 4

New Exodus imagery, vv. 5-6

Inaugural Vision, Rev 1:9-20

“on the Lord’s day” v. 10

Cosmic high priest in a living temple: “in the midst of the lampstands I saw one like the Son of Man”, v. 13; cf. 20

Cosmic ruler

“I have the keys of Death and Hades”, v. 18

Messages to the Seven Churches, Rev 2-3

there is persecution, occasionally leading to death

there is false teaching

there is the eating of meat sacrificed to idols

there is spiritually deadening wealth

Inaugural Vision of Heaven, Rev 4-5.

Throne theophany, Rev 4:5

Praise of God as creator in the heavenly temple

Introduction of the Messiah-Lamb-Redeemer who can open the scroll

Praise of God and the Lamb for redemption by the whole of creation

So it is in heaven, and this is how it will become so on earth…(cf. Rev 11:15)

Chs 6-16

Seven Seals, Trumpets, Bowls

Both the seven seals and the seven trumpets divide into 4 & 3

The first four seals are the four horses (“this is but the beginning of the birth pangs” Mark 13:8)

The last three trumpets are the three woes

Each of these two series features a delay (an interlude or intermission) between the sixth and seventh in the series, dramatizing the sense of delay in God’s coming

The seventh seal contains the seven trumpets

Between the seventh trumpet and the seven bowls there is also long delay, chs. 12-14, but the seven bowls are poured out with no intermission between them

The seventh seal, the seventh trumpet, and the (entire) seven bowls feature the elements of the throne theophany (Rev 4:5; cf. Rev 8:5; 11:19; 15:5-8, 16:18), and thus...

The seven bowls, as well as the seventh seal and the seventh trumpet, represent the Day of the Lord itself, come finally at last (“how long?” Rev 6:10; “there will be no more delay [. . .] in the days when the seventh angel is to blow his trumpet . . . the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah” Rev 11:6, 7, 15; “It is done!” Rev 16:17)

Cast of Characters

The 144,000, Rev 7, 14

The Two Witness, Rev 11:1-14

“the holy city” Rev 11:2; cf. Rev 21:2, 10

“the great city” Rev 11:8; cf. Rev 16:19; 17:5; 18:18, etc.

“the beast” Rev 11:7; cf. Rev 13

The Woman Clothed with the Sun, Rev 12

The Dragon, Rev 12

The Beast out of the Sea, Rev 13:1-10 (cf. Dan 7:1-8; Rev 12:3; 17:1-6)

The Beast out of the Earth, Rev 13:11-18

the above three are enumerated to in Rev 16:13

[For “A time, and times, and half a time” (Rev 12:14), “one thousand two hundred sixty days” (Rev 12:6), and “forty-two months” (Rev 11:2; 13:5); cf. Dan 7:25; 9: 27; 12:7. The period, in Revelation, may represent an unnatural time, one artificially shortened (“And if the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he has cut short those days” Mark 13:20)]

The identification of the above characters varies in large degree depending upon how one understands the book, primarily as symbol of first century realities; as futuristic prophecy; or as symbol of eschatological conflict between God and Satan. So the two witnesses could represent Jewish Christians in pre-fallen Jerusalem; Moses and Elijah redivivus; or the witness of the Church.