Page 165 - Biblical Backgrounds

others idealist. Rather than assuming it must be understood one way exclusively, it seems best to affirm
that it is clearly prophetic and regularly utilizes apocalyptic imagery.

Different types of Old Testament usage in Revelation as background:

There are multiple types of Old Testament usage in the book of Revelation. Some have pointed to
anywhere from 400 to over 500 instances of Old Testament usage in Revelation. Trying to understand
Revelation without understanding those references is difficult; it may be said to be like trying to
understand wedding customs in Southern Africa without any culture or history. You will understand that
there is a wedding happening. You will be unlikely to understand the symbolism and imagery without
knowing the cultural background. In what follows, we will summarize four ways in which the Old
Testament is used in Revelation. This list is not exhaustive. It could be expanded upon both in detail and
scope. The goal is to help you categorize how the Old Testament is being used as you read Revelation.

OT allusions in Revelation:
In Revelation, some usages of the Old Testament (hereafter “OT”) may be understood as allusions. An
allusion is a figure of speech that references an event, individual, thing, or location. In this case, we
focus on an event, individual, thing, or location in the Old Testament referenced in Revelation. An
example of this would be the throne room of Heaven in Revelation 4-5. In Isaiah 6, Yahweh is described
as seated on the throne in Heaven. Another example of an OT allusion is the locust swarm in Revelation
9:7-11. In Egypt, locusts were a plague of judgment from God. In Joel 1, they represented God’s
judgment in an invading army before the ultimate Day of the Lord (1:4 and 1:15). It is also understood as
a form of judgment in 2 Chronicles 7:13-15. It is also a picture of being devoured (Nahum 3:15).
Sometimes, the focus of the locust reference is the scale of the judgment. In certain cases in Scripture, it
refers to large numbers as being “like locusts” or “like the locusts.”

Many other examples of allusions are found in Revelation. Gog and Magog are referenced in 20:9, which
is an allusion to Ezekiel 38:2. The river of life and the healing trees are mentioned in Revelation 22:1-3
and are an allusion to Ezekiel 47:1-12. Isaiah 11:1 and 11:10 promised a branch from the root of Jesse.
Revelation names Jesus as that branch/root in Revelation 5:5 and Revelation 22:16. The New Jerusalem
promised in Isaiah 65:18 is prophesied in Revelation 3:12 and 21:1-2. This city is the same New
Jerusalem that the author of Hebrews kept encouraging his listeners to seek (Hebrews 11:9, 11:16,
12:22, and 13:14).

Why does the author use allusions as he does? We must realize that there may be multiple reasons
depending on which instance we are looking at. For example, he may want to emphasize a theme from
the OT and use it to explain his point. He may use a quote that is not in context, but the concept applies
to his point.

OT citations and quotes used in Revelation:
Revelation quotes and cites the OT writers frequently. A quote is a word-for-word recounting of what an
author has said. A citation is less of a word-for-word quote and can be a group of quotes that are
condensed together. Compare Psalm 2:8-9 and Revelation 2:26-27 below.
Psalm 2:7-9
“I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, 'You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask
of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You
shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
Revelation 2:26-27

163