Page 179 - Advanced Biblical Backgrounds Student Textbook

He employs apocalyptic language of cosmic battles, heavenly hosts, and world renewal under Messiah.
He speaks of the coming Kingdom followed by the eternal state. Jesus will reign from Jerusalem. He
prophesies how the events will unfold as God brings about the promise. Some use the apocalyptic
imagery to dismiss the overarching message of the literal coming Kingdom followed by an eternal state.
They make it a literary device rather than part of the assured future. The early church until Augustine,
did not understand it this way. Augustine, 300 or so years after Christ asked the question of why Jesus
hadn’t come. His response was to reinterpret Revelation as allegory rather than stay faithful to the
dominant view in the church up to his time. Many views of Revelation have developed since that time.
You would do well to study them as they provide a fascinating alternative interpretive methodology for
understanding Revelation.

19.4 Let’s Practice…

1. What is prophecy and what is apocalyptic in Jewish literature?

2. What was the early church view of Revelation as a future called?

3. What is an allusion?
4. Why did John use citation and quotes? How does it help us understand Revelation?

5. What is an echo?

6. What is the main point of Revelation?

7. Why did Augustine reinterpret Revelation?

8. What situation prompted God to give John his prophecy of what God would do?

19.5 Let’s Personalize this lesson…

Read through the book of Revelation and ask yourself how a Jewish or Christian audience in
John’s time would have viewed the overall message. What should it teach you as a pastor
about encouraging your congregation when God doesn’t seem to be keeping His promises?

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