“Going down the rabbit hole!”

RevelationRevelation

Reign of Emperor Domitian (81–96 CE)• Dated to 95 CE• Or, the reign of Emperor Nero (54–68 CE)

Purpose: to reveal “what must soon take place” (1:1)• Encourage obedience in difficult circumstances• Arouse indignation at social injustice in Empire• Provoke repentance in the lax Christians• Inspire praise of God

Date and PurposeDate and Purpose

John the Seer, on the island Patmos • “Because of the word of God and the

testimony of Jesus” (1:9)• Different “John” from other NT figures

Jewish Christian prophet• From Palestine?• Known to Asia Minor churches

Writes Greek as an Aramaic speaker Knows Jewish scriptures Knows Jewish apocalypses and prophets

Author and PlaceAuthor and Place

Seven churches of Asia Minor Local persecution and social

alienation• No evidence of empire-wide persecution in

first century• Local pressures are strong• Christians did not participate in imperial

cults,state celebrations, or public honoring of gods

Historical SettingHistorical Setting

Letter(s)• To seven churches

Prophecy• Social, political and

economic critique of the prophet’s situation

• Does not predict events in a distant future

• Uses imagery and themes from Jewish prophetic tradition

Apocalyptic (see box 29.1)• Dualistic view of

time and space• Symbolism

Numbers Creatures Names, Cities

• Fantastic creatures• Transcendent reality

GenreGenre

Historical: refers to first-century context• Letters are correspondence with local churches• Number of beast = Nero (emperor in 54–68 CE)

Idealist: describes “universal themes and symbols”• Letters offer generic advice• Number of beast = supreme evil (in general)

Futuristic: predicts future times/events• Letters describe situation of future churches• Number of beast = code for some future evil

leader

How to Read This BookHow to Read This Book

Unveiling of the really real• God’s power is more real than the emperor’s

Human society is corrupt• Imperial economic system exploits the poor• Priests, leaders, merchants are unjust

God’s judgment is coming• Injustice will end• Righteousness will win

God is in control, even in a chaotic world WORSHIP GOD

Key ThemesKey Themes

Blessing, salutation, John’s vision (1:1–10) Son of Man and seven letters (chaps. 2–3) View of heaven (chaps. 4–11)

• Throne of God, Lamb and scrolls, angels and trumpets, thunders and eating of little scroll

View of earth from heaven (chaps. 12–20)• Woman and dragon, worship of beast, judgment

of Babylon the whore, funeral banquet of whore Heaven come to earth (chaps. 21–22)

• New heaven and earth, wedding banquet of the Lamb, new Jerusalem on earth to worship God

OutlineOutline