Consider the daily newspaper. It has one thing in common with the Bible; they both contain different types of literature. So which section is the Book of Revelation in?
News: (literal news of the future) – Hal Lindsey said that you can sit down for breakfast with the newspaper in own hand and a Bible on the other and check off events as they happen. But if so, is it international (worldwide events), national or local (Jerusalem or Rome) news?
Comics: light entertainment (more interesting than wading through Leviticus, for example) but with no real impact on your life.
Sports: Often goes beyond mere entertainment and becomes an obsession that takes over one's life to the detriment of other pursuits.
Letters: two types of letters: (1) editorial letters -- Comments on current events and and how we should properly react. (2) letters to Dear Abby that involve situations in one's personal lives and advice on how to handle them.
Daily Horoscope: Idealists, for example, look at Revelation as predictions of future events but written in general terms so that they could apply to just about any person or situation.
Puzzles: For some, figuring out the Book of Revelation turns into an intellectual game where words (crossword or word jumbles) and numbers (like Sudoku or KenKen) are manipulated until the grand secret is revealed. And the reward comes in demonstrating how smart you are, especially in comparison to others who are not in the know.
Political Cartoons: Surprisingly, the highly respected George Beasley-Murray and Bruce Metzger are just two among other commentators who state that the visions in Revelation are most closely related to political cartoons.
Try looking up the most famous political cartoonist, Thomas Nast, on Google Images. Examine any of his cartoons from the 1800's. I'm sure you will be able to get a rough idea of what the cartoonist is driving at recognizing that the details will be exaggerated and expressed in terms of sometime rather bizarre symbols (a politician pictured as a vulture or a sack of money, political parties represented by animals, religious leaders as crocodiles, etc.). The problem is that unless you know what was going on historically at the time, you may only get a rough idea of who or what is being lampooned.
Since the proper understanding of a book in the Bible depends greatly on the type of literature it is, what is the genre of Revelation? There are three main candidates.
Epistle
We all recognize that chapters 2-3 are letters to sent to real churches existing at the time of writing. But
the whole book is a letter also. See Revelation 1:11: "Write in a book what you see and send it to the
seven churches, to Ephesus, etc." So it is the whole book that is addressed to the seven churches, not
just chapters 2-3. These churches were the intended primary recipients of the whole book and we are
the secondary recipients.
Also, the book as a whole contains most of the elements found in ancient letters, including those of
Paul.
Greeting: "John to the seven churches that are in Asia" (1:4a)
Opening Prayer: "Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to
come......Amen" (1:4b-8)
Special Contents: (1:9-22:20)
Final Prayer: "The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen." (22:21)
So, as with any other NT epistle, to understand it properly, we must first ask ourselves how that
original audience would have understood it (so it helps to know the political, economic, geographic,
religious situation of the times). Of course, the clearest examples that the book is addressed to historical churches at the time of writing are found in chapters 2-3. Just look at two of these letters:
Pergamum:
"These are the words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword." (2:12) The sword is the Word of God, in contrast to human wisdom. This was important in Pergamum where there was a university with a library of about 200,000 volumes. Also Pergamum was known for the manufacture of parchment paper known as pergamena.
"I know where you are living, where Satan's throne is." (2:13) The throne probably refers to the altar to Zeus, chief of all the gods, now preserved in the Berlin Museum.
Then there are references to a martyr named Antipas, current teachings of Balaam, and a heretical group called the Nicolaitans. We know nothing about these matters, but certainly it was clear to the original recipients of the letter. Perhaps we may uncover historical clues in the future.
"To everyone who conquers I will give...a white stone." (2:17a)
1.It may be allusion to inscribed stone, metal or pottery tokens used as theater tickets in the
ancient world and inscribed with seating area (symbolic of a ticket to enter into heaven).
2. Or allusion to tessera hospitalis inscribed with a host's name and given to someone
extending them an open invitation to the other’s house (invitation to the heavenly banquet
table).
3. Alternatively, allusion to white stone used by jury members in voting guilt or innocence of
one on trial. This indicates they would be declared innocent at the Final Judgment.
Laodicea:
"I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm...I am about to spit you out of my mouth." (3:15) This verse has usually been misunderstood to say that Jesus would prefer us to actively oppose him (be cold) rather than being a wishy-washy follower. But both hot and cold are good attributes of drinks in general.
Therapeutic hot mineral springs were found in neighboring Hierapolis and cold (bracing, refreshing) water was available in Colossae from mountain run-off from snows, but Laodicea's water had to be piped in from far away and arrived lukewarm and most of the therapeutic minerals had deposited out.
"For you say, 'I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing.'" (3:17) That was especially meaningful to Laodicea in light of an earthquake that happened there in 60 AD. Tacitus–“Laodicea arose from the ruins by the strength of her own resources, and with no help from us.”
"Therefore I counsel you to buy from me...white robes to clothe you." (3:18a) White garments are a possible contrast to the black wool Laodicea was known for.
"...and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see." (3:18b) Laodicea was in the region of Phrygia which was known for its “Phrygian powder.” This was prepared by mining stone with high zinc content, which was formulated with olive oil into a paste used for eye ailments.
Allusions in the seven letters, as well as any references in the rest of the book to the Roman world of the time would have been well understood by John's original audience. We are somewhat at a disadvantage today because of our relative lack of knowledge. Note that this understanding is the exact opposite of that of many prophecy experts today who state that most of the book meant little to Christians of John's day since only we in the 21st century can identify the events as they happen. The interesting fact is that practically every generation from the 1st century on has felt they were living out the events in Revelation. On the one hand, it is a form of egotism to feel that our era is the crucial one in God's eyes. On the other hand, it is a tribute to the genius and divine inspiration of the book that it speaks to every generation.
Prophecy
The most popular understanding of Revelation is as a straightforward prophecy of future events. Seven times in the book itself, it is called prophecy. However, prophecy is a term with multiple meanings. For example, the Jews considered the books of Samuel and Kings as the Former Prophets. And in Greek, prophecy can encompass what is more properly called apocalyptic, a type of literature which actually gets its name from The Apocalypse we are studying. So let's first distinguish between the two types of literature. This distinction is found in any standard book of hermeneutics.
Prophecy Apocalyptic
mainly poetic mainly prose
literal and figurative language symbolic words and numbers
images taken from everyday life imagery often bizarre
future options are conditional future events are certain
emphasis on moral teachings, repentance emphasis on comfort and hope
direct revelations from God often mediated through an angel
usually given orally usually given through visions
designed primarily for oral communication meant to be written down
mainly an earthly perspective reveals transcendent reality behind events
God works through historical events intervenes directly into world history
“local” events worldwide events
Note that some of the characteristics of prophecy can be seen in the seven letters of Revelation 2-3 such as the direct revelation from God, emphasis on moral teachings and repentance, and promises or threats that are conditional upon their behavior. However, the rest of Revelation seems to fall firmly in the category of apocalyptic and should probably be viewed as such.
As a class of literature, apocalyptic started around the time of the Exile and became very popular in
years between the OT and NT: 200 BC-100AD. It includes:
Ezekiel
Daniel
Zechariah
I -III Enoch
Assumption of Moses
Ascension of Isaiah
II-III Baruch
Qumran War Scroll
Matthew 24
I Corinthians 15
I Thessalonians 4
II Thessalonians 2
II Peter 2-3
Jude—quotes from Enoch
Shepherd of Hermas-- a later book sometimes included in the canon of early churches
Let's take a sample passage (according to some, the most difficult passage in the whole book) to see
how these three views on the genre of the book might play out in practice: Revelation 11:1-12.
The temple is measured (1)
Nations will trample the outer court and witnesses will prophesy for 3 ½ years (2-3)
These are the two olive trees and two lamp stands (4)
They can kill with fire out of their mouth (5)
They have authority to stop rain, turn the waters to blood and strike the earth with plagues (6)
The beast from the pit will kill them after their testimony in the city, which is Sodom, Egypt and Jerusalem (8)
Peoples from all nations will gaze on their bodies and celebrate for 3 ½ days (9-10)
Witnesses will be resurrected and taken up to heaven (11-12)
Epistle: What would this passage have meant to the original audience? Remember that they were well
aware of Paul's letters which had been circulating among them for years, one of them to Ephesus itself.
Looking at it from the early church's point of view:
Temple had been destroyed, as predicted by Jesus, but they were now the temple. “In Him the whole
structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are built
together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.” (Ephesians 2:21-22); “Do you not know that you are
God's temple?” (I Corinthians 3:16-17); “your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit” (I Corinthians
6:19); “Come to him, a living stone, ..and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual
house.” (1 Peter 2:4-5).
Lamp stands (1:4) had already been explained to them as standing for themselves, the church. Note that
Christ threatened some of the churches with having their lampstand removed, so they might have taken
that as a warning that they should each strive to keep the light of Christ shining though times of
persecution.
Two witnesses: They were familiar with the Old Testament and knew that according to Jewish law you
couldn't convict someone on the testimony of only one witness, which was also one reason Christ sent
out the disciples two-by-two. At the Transfiguration, both Moses (law) and Elijah (prophets) witnessed
to Jesus.
In addition, God reminds them that he will give them the same power to proclaim the truth against
idolatry that he gave to Elijah and Moses—the descriptions obviously allude to them. 3-1/2 year
drought while Elijah was prophet and plagues of Egypt, especially Exod. 7 where the water was turned
to blood. Note that temple, lampstand, and the two witnesses could all apply to the witnessing church
under persecution according to this way of looking at the passage.
Beast is a common term in the Epistles applied to an enemy of the church:
evil individual(s) (I Corinthians 15:32—in Ephesus. Jewish opponents in the Temple and
Demetrius the silversmith); Titus 1:12; 2 Peter 2:12; Jude 10
They were now undergoing persecution for their testimony (same word in 1:9 applied to them)
The city where they are to witness and die is simultaneously compared in verse 8 to Egypt (where
God's people were in bondage), Sodom (where God's people were surrounded by immorality), and
Jerusalem (where Christ was killed and his people persecuted). They would have recognized all of
these aspects of society as present in the Roman Empire in which they were living.
Prophetic
The Temple
If Revelation is considered as the last in a long line of biblical prophecies, then the OT prophecies
concerning the Temple should be consulted first since many have not been fulfilled literally yet. One of
many is: “In the days to come the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established as the highest of
the mountains...Many peoples shall come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD to
the house of the God of Jacob..” (Isaiah 2:2-3) Taking this prophecy literally, none of the past temples
built in Jerusalem meet this requirement since they weren't located on the highest mountain and people
from neighboring nations did not exactly flock to them. Therefore, there is speculation that one of the
future earthquakes mentioned in Jesus' prophecies may change the whole topography of the Middle
East to elevate Jerusalem; the rebuilt temple will be located there; and believers from all parts of the
world will come to worship.
3 ½ years would be taken as a literal time period, but it is not clear if the 3 ½ years in verses 2 and 3
run concurrently or subsequent to one another. Difficult to construct an exact timeline. But if some
commentators are correct in saying that the Tribulation lasts seven years, this might indicate that
something significant will happen at the midpoint of it: the Rapture perhaps.
First Witness
Moses
“The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall
heed such a prophet.” (Deuteronomy 18:15) This prophecy is felt by some to be Moses himself or
Enoch, since he never died (Genesis 5:24). However, Acts 3:17-26 indicates that the prophet like
Moses was Jesus.
Second Witness
“Lo, I will send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes.” (Malachi
4:5) We will talk about Elijah elsewhere.
Beast is one detail in this passage that is almost never taken literally, even by literalists.
City in verse 8 is Jerusalem, for three reasons:
The temple is located there (but remember that that there is good evidence for taking it
symbolically as the church, and the other fourteen instances of “temple” in Revelation refer to
God's heavenly temple or the fact that there is no temple in the New Jerusalem),
Jerusalem called the “great city” in Jeremiah 22:8 (but Nineveh is called the great city in the
Book of Jonah, and Babylon is called the great city in Revelation seven times and called “great
Babylon” three additional times)
notice the punctuation (“that is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt” is given as a parenthetical
phrase). Only the first two cities, Sodom and Egypt, are taken as metaphors while the identity of
the city is described literally as “where Christ was crucified.” There are three problems with this
view:
a. Jerusalem is never called Egypt or Sodom in the OT or NT.
b. There is no punctuation in NT Greek so it can be just as easily translated with three spiritual
descriptions instead of two.
c. There is tricky grammatical point in Greek according to which “where” most likely refers
back to “spiritually” rather than “great city.”
There is a third type of literature to consider: Apocalyptic. We need look more specifically to the Old
Testament apocalyptic literature for similarities in language to help understand these passages from this
point of view. And here, in fact, is where the closest parallels to this chapter in Revelation appear.
Temple One would be the measuring of the Temple in verses 1-2. A similar vision appears also in
Ezekiel 40-47 which many commentators feel does not refer to a literal temple since the Jews returning
from exile did not use it as the plan for the Second Temple; Herod's Temple was not built according to
this plan; and it is a poor blueprint because it doesn't even mention the height of the walls. It perhaps
stands for the heavenly temple, or symbolically for Christ's body as the temple of God.
Beasts Another parallel in the OT apocalyptic literature is in the imagery of Daniel's visions where
beasts usually stand for world leaders.
Lampstand and olive trees Perhaps the closest parallel comes from Zechariah 4:14 where there is a
vision of a lampstand and two olive trees. Note that the imagery is similar but has been subtly changed.
The latter are explained to be “two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.” The
anointed ones, in the original context, are felt to refer to the two leaders of Israel at the time-- the
governor Zerubbabel and the high priest Joshua. So by analogy, perhaps the two witnesses refer to
godly leaders in the church who stand firm in the face of persecution.
3 ½ years (or days) This time period also appears in Revelation as “time, times and half a time”
(12:14), 1260 days (11:3; 12:6), 42 months (11:2; 13:5), and 3 ½ days (11:9,11) . “Time, two times and
half a time” appears in Daniel 7:25, 12:7 and is explained in 12:11-12 as roughly, but not exactly, 3 ½
years. As previously mentioned, there is a symbolic meaning in the OT and NT for the repeated
number 3 ½ as a limited time period of testing. “Half a week” (3 ½ days as in Revelation) also appears
in Daniel 9:27, a passage in which it looks like a week stands for a week of years.
Summary:
The combination of viewing Revelation in turn as different genres is a powerful tool in interpreting the
text. Note that each understanding adds somewhat to the previous one. Of course, some of the ideas are
contradictory to one another but each of them can be used to give us new spiritual insights.
Extreme views to avoid are:
If you view it as an epistle: It was only intended for John's original audience,
If you view it as prophecy: It was addressed exclusively to us in the 20-21st century and
meant little to anyone before now.
Or it is only applicable to those living in the future Tribulation
If you view it as apocalyptic: It is just a lot of bizarre images we can never understand.
Yes, there will always be some details which we will continue to puzzle over, but knowing about the
history of the the time it was written and the shared symbolism with the OT writings will help clarify
much of it.
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