Page 172 - Advanced Biblical Backgrounds Revised

Why does the author use allusions as he does? The first thing we must realize is 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

“The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over
the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in
27
pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.”

Also, consider Revelation 4:8 and Isaiah 6:2-3.

Revelation 4:8
“And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within,
and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was
and is and is to come!”

Isaiah 6:2-3.
“Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two
he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy
is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”

Another example is Babylon’s fall in Revelation 14:8 and both Isaiah 21:9 and Jeremiah 51:8.

Revelation 14:8
“Another angel, a second, followed, saying, ‘Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all
nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.’”

Isaiah 21:9
And behold, here come riders, horsemen in pairs!” And he answered, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon;
and all the carved images of her gods he has shattered to the ground.”

Jeremiah 51:6-10
“Flee from the midst of Babylon; let everyone save his life! Be not cut off in her punishment, for
this is the time of the LORD’s vengeance, the repayment he is rendering her. Babylon was a
golden cup in the LORD’s hand, making all the earth drunken; the nations drank of her wine;
therefore, the nations went mad. Suddenly Babylon has fallen and been broken; wail for her!
Take balm for her pain; perhaps she may be healed. We would have healed Babylon, but she was
not healed. Forsake her, and let us go each to his own country, for her judgment has reached up

171