Apocalyptic Literature

Illustration: A number of years ago, retired NASA engineer Edgar C. Whisenant wrote a book called 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988. The book, which he self-published, placed the expected date of the Rapture between September 11 and September 13 of 1988, and became a massive bestseller. By the time the end of the year was reached, more than 4.5 million copies had been sold. Whisenant was certain he had the date right. He said, “Only if the Bible is in error am I wrong; and I say that to every preacher in town. I would stake my life on Rosh Hashanah 1988.”

Whisenant’s later books predicting the Rapture in 1989, 1993, and 1994 did not sell nearly as well as the first one—but he kept right on making those predictions despite the clear teaching of Scripture that we are not meant to know the date and time of Christ’s return.

Apocalypse: When we use the Greek word for revelation it is the word Phonetic Spelling:

(ap-ok-al'-oop-sis) where we get the word apocalypse in English this word is translated revelation.

When we think of apocalypse we think of the world coming to an end and the sky falling. An overtaking of the world by a mighty alien force or something on a mass destruction scale. Apocalypse has entered our vernacular one more time because of the events of on the international scene in the last weeks with Russia and the presence of nuclear options.

But the word Apocalypse means “uncovering”

Screen:

apokalupsis: an uncovering

Original Word: ἀποκάλυψις, εως, ἡ

Phonetic Spelling: (ap-ok-al'-oop-sis)

Definition: an uncovering

Usage: an unveiling, uncovering, revealing, revelation.

Apocalyptic Literature carries some important themes:

They will usually deal with the Revelation of Who God is, Revelation of God’s plan, but it is also about His Sovereign Control.

The point and purpose is about men stuck in the Mundane to catch a glimpse of God’s perspective. It is the wake up call to we who were made to walk in fellowship with God to once again prioritize our fellowship with Him.

Text: Daniel 2:16–23

God reveals himself to humanity through his sovereign control, infinite wisdom, and ability to reveal secrets. Application Point: We can learn to trust God through Apocalyptic Literature, by understanding that the future is in his hands.

Sermon Ideas and Talking Points:

Apocalyptic Literature refers to those books concerning God's revelation of the ending of this current age and the final advent of his kingdom. This revelation is mostly described through visions and prophecies. Apocalyptic Literature in the bible can be found in both the Old Testament and the New, in the books of:

Daniel

Zechariah

Joel

Amos

1 Thessalonians

Revelation

We can best understand God's revelation through these books by knowing that their main concern is to unveil something previously unknown or to release information concerning future things. Whether this involves Old Testament prophecies concerning the plight of Israel or the New Testament revelation of Jesus Christ given to John, both instances call for much study due to heavy symbolism, metaphors, and historical context.

“The word ‘apocalyptic,' derived from the Greek word apokalypsis in Revelation 1:1, means ‘revelation' or ‘unveiling,' and is applied to these writings because they contain alleged revelations of the secret purposes of God, the end of the world, and the establishment of God's kingdom on earth. After the days of the post-exilic prophets, God no longer spoke to Israel through the living voice of inspired prophecy. … Instead of God's kingdom, evil kingdoms ruled over Israel: Medo-Persia, Greece, and finally Rome” - Merrill C. Tenney

(Merrill C. Tenney, “Apocalyptic Literature,” Zondervan's Pictorial Bible Dictionary [Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan], 49).

In Daniel 2:16–23, Nebuchadnezzar has just declared that all wise men must be killed since none of them could interpret his dream. Daniel and his friends pray to the Lord concerning the issue, and God reveals the secret to Daniel in a vision (vv. 18–19). God is the all-knowing and all-powerful God who holds all truth in his hands.

God's revelation to Daniel here is described as a secret; something not known to anyone except him. The heart of these books is that all secrets, prophecy, and symbolic vision begin with God and flow from him; they will only be revealed if he desires for the secret to be made known.

“The ‘mystery' in view was something unknown that they prayed God would reveal. In Scripture, this is the consistent meaning of a mystery. It is not something spooky but something previously hidden by God but now revealed by Him. The writer narrated these events to help us understand that God revealed the mystery as a response to the prayers of the four men (cf. James 4:2)” (Thomas L. Constable, Notes on Daniel, [Sonic Light, 2018], 31).

Daniel 2:21–23 KJV 1900

And he changeth the times and the seasons: He removeth kings, and setteth up kings: He giveth wisdom unto the wise, And knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: He knoweth what is in the darkness, And the light dwelleth with him. I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, Who hast given me wisdom and might, And hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: For thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter.

Verses 21–23 conclude the scene with a vivid prayer by Daniel, thanking the Lord for wisdom and answers that will end up saving his life.

God bestows the blessing of gratitude for his sovereignty, wisdom, and knowledge (v. 21), as well as his ability to shine light on hidden things (v. 22). Daniel's prayer is an example to us, showing us that it is in God's wonderful mercy that he decides to reveal any hidden thing to us. Since he holds all truth and sees all things, we can praise him for making things known to us.

There's an old magic trick that involves making a woman disappear after she's entered a life-sized box. The audience is led to believe she has actually disappeared, due to a series of actions by the magician that prove she is not inside anymore. However, the lady, in actuality, has never left the box but has always been hidden in a secret door inside. In the same way, God holds information that is “secret” to us but is still just as real, even when we can't see it. Just because these things were previously hidden to us doesn't mean they weren't always there.

We have the secret of his word.

We have the secret of his gospel.

We have the secret of his church.

And these are designed as that upon which we can build our lives in full faith of his promise.

And lastly it is meant to purify this current life we live. It is mint to keep the mind full Ness of his return ever present so that there is no shame when he appears.

A gentleman visiting a certain school gave out that he would give a prize to the pupil whose desk he found in the best order when he returned. “But when will you return?” some of them asked.

“That I cannot tell,” was the answer. A little girl, who had been noted for her disorderly habits, announced that she meant to win the prize. “You!” her schoolmates jeered; “why, your desk is always out of order.”

“Oh! but I mean to clean it the first of every week.”

“But suppose he should come at the end of the week?” someone asked.

“Then I will clean it every morning.”

“But he may come at the end of the day.” For a moment the little girl was silent. “I know what I’ll do,” she said decidedly, “I’ll just keep it clean.”

Source: One Thousand Evangelistic Illustrations, Aquilla WebbSubmitted by the homiletics class of West Coast Baptist College