17 - Revelation

Question 1

4 main interpretive approaches

Answer 1

pretorist, historicist/timeline, futurist, idealist/symbolic

Question 2

preterist approach 2

Answer 2

• most common among modern commentators
• reads in relation to its 1century historical context, for ex as seeing the roman empire as an enemy of the gospel/church

Question 3

historicist/timeline approach

Answer 3

attempts to decode various symbols in application to major events, periods, and figures that have unfolded in western world history

Question 4

futurist approach

Answer 4

attempts to decode symbols and applies them to predictions ab major events, periods, and figures yet to take place in a period prior to Christ’s return, often held to include the rapture

Question 5

idealist/symbolic approach 2

Answer 5

• reads apocalyptic visions metaphorically as representing the continuing contest between good and evil, and the experience and struggle of believers in all ages
• intended to reassure them that the cross has defeated sin and death, the righteous will be vindicated, and the wicked punished, God’s purposes fully and finally restored

Question 6

literary form

Answer 6

apocalyptic prophecy in the form of a circular letter

Question 7

apocalypse form 3

Answer 7

• seeks to reveal (greek word) the divine will at work in the world, seen in 2 key theological features
• aims to reveal and communicate a transcendent perspective upon the world
• addresses an urgent question common to all apocalypses: who is Lord over all? God is, not roman emperor

Question 8

prophetic form 3

Answer 8

• john is a Christian prophet who uses ot prophecies in relation to their fulfillment in Jesus
• is saturated with allusions and echoes of the ot
• draws on and adapts for its own purposes a startling series of images from OT architecture, rituals, and festivals

Question 9

circular letter

Answer 9

sent to 7 churches in Asia Minor, which are representative of all other churches

Question 10

letters to the churches common pattern 6

Answer 10

• opening instruction to write to a specific church
• Jesus identified with a brief description
• statement “I know” followed with an account of the church’s situation
• praised for endurance or blamed for abandoning the faith (ephesus both)
• encouraged and or exhorted in some way
• final word

Question 11

cycles

Answer 11

• always cycle through themes of vindication, judgement, and God’s glory
• always end with God being praised

Question 12

act 1 cycles 3

Answer 12

• 1 - Christ and the 7 churches in Asia Minor
• 2 - heavenly thone room and the 7 scrolls unsealed
• 3 - 7 trumpets

Question 13

act 2 cycles 3

Answer 13

• 4 - dragon and the beasts
• 5 - 7 bowls, the beast, the harlot
• 6 - Christ defeats the dragon and the milennial kd, then final conflict and new heaven and new earth

Question 14

ch 4 and the vision of God 4

Answer 14

• set in divine throne room
• portrays worship of God
• uses temple imagery
• political imagery

Question 15

divine throne room

Answer 15

• gives John’s readers a heavenly perspective upon the nature of and final resolution to their earthly situation

Question 16

worship in the throne room

Answer 16

• rather thn focus on the form of God himself, John portrays the throne-centred worship of God by the 4 creatures and 24 elders

Question 17

temple imagery 2

Answer 17

• heavenly throne room counterparts to the earthly jerusalem temple
• 4 living creatures heavenly counterparts to the 2 angels on either side of the temple’s mercy seat

Question 18

political imagery 2

Answer 18

• 24 elders (political term) govern heavenly world on God’s behalf
• their worship of God indicates any authority they have comes from Him

Question 19

throne room implications

Answer 19

• God, not Rome reigns over all that is, was, and will be
• Rome and satan’s domain will come under divine judgement via the victorious Lamb

Question 20

role and worthiness of the Lamb 3

Answer 20

• God entrusted His sovereign plans to the only one worthy, the Lamb of God
• He alone, via the redeeming cross, can open the scroll and unfold the fixed plan of God for the future of His creation
• Jesus has defeated death and is now exalted, worshipped by the elders, creatures, and angels