1.1. Why we’re reading this as a church

1.1. Why We’re Reading Revelation

This year, we have been focusing on the mission of the church, emphasizing outreach and social justice. But even as we seek to be disciples in society, that journey of discipleship can sometimes be discouraging given the circumstances we see around us and in the world at large. We can easily give in to despair and the temptation to give up.

If we are to faithfully persevere as God’s church, we need to have an Unshakeable Hope. Despite overwhelming persecution and oppression under the Roman empire, the early church persevered through a renewed vision of God’s sovereignty and his ultimate reign. This is the pastoral burden of the book of Revelation.

As readers of this book, we are frequently told to look (ἰδού) – to see, to behold – so that we may
not give in to fear.

Instead, we are called to:

perseverance/ patient endurance
ὑπομονή / ‘hupomone’
1:9; 2:2; 2:3; 2:19; 3:10; 13:10; 14:12

keep/ obey (his words)
τηρέω / ‘tereo’
1:3; 2:26; 3:3; 3:8; 3:10; 12:17; 14:12; 16:15; 22:7; 22:9

repent
μετανοέω / ‘metanoeo’
2:5; 2:16; 2:21; 2:22; 3:3; 3:19; 9:20; 16:9; 16:11

hold fast
κρατέω / ‘krateo’
2:13; 2:25; 3:11

overcome
νικάω / ‘nikao’
2:7,11,17; 2:26; 3:5; 3:12; 3:21 (2x); 5:5; 12:11; 15:2; 17:14; 21:7

*For original language studies, go to www.stepbible.org

1.2. How should we read Revelation?

In his book, “Reading Revelation Responsibly”, Michael Gorman lays out five ways people have historically approached the book of Revelation.

The first two approaches, while most popular, should be avoided.

“And though St. John the Evangelist saw many strange monsters in his vision, he saw no creature so wild as one of his own commentators.”

G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy

1. The Predictive Futurist
This first approach is why Revelation is seen as controversial. In this approach, it is used to predict the end of the world, as though it is a crystal ball that we need to gaze into or a secret code to be cracked. (ref. “the late great planet earth” by Hal Lindsey and the “Left Behind” series by Tim LaHaye) This approach assumes that the original readers could not fully understand its meaning because the events have yet to happen.

2. The Preterist
The second approach avoids the pitfall of the first by isolating all of the events and meaning
of Revelation to the first century. However, this approach then assumes that Revelation holds
nothing for modern day readers and ignores all future aspects of the book.

The subsequent three approaches, however, are helpful lenses to adopt in approaching the text.
These approaches stem from the genre of the book. (see Section 1.2)

3. The Poetic/Theopoetic
Revelation is saturated with symbols, metaphors and imagery that should be felt and
contemplated like poetry. Reading Revelation with attention to its artistic and literary nature
should lead to our imaginations being shaped by the heavenly hope that is arriving on earth.

4. The Political/Theopolitical
Revelation critiques corrupt political powers; their prideful abuse of power, wealth and
people. In the midst of such injustice, the book asks the rhetorical question, ‘who is really on
the throne?’ In the end, will we follow the Lamb or the beast? Will we worship the Creator?
Or kneel before the idols of consumerism, nationalism and violence?

5. The Pastoral/ Prophetic
Revelation was also written as a pastoral letter to the struggling church. While it is anchored
in the past, it is also meant to speak to every generation; its imagery and perspective
providing comfort and challenge for us to live faithfully as the church here and now.

1.3. What kind of literature is this?

Foundational Principle: We must read any piece of communication as its author intended for it to be read, i.e. according to its genre.

Letter
A good portion of the New Testament books is this genre. These could be letters to an individual (Titus, Philemon), to a single church community (Corinthians, Galatians) or to group of churches (1 Peter, James). Revelation is a letter in the third category. It is not seven letters, but one letter meant to be read and circulated among a wide audience in different church communities.

The book’s epilogue (1:1-8) and prologue (22:8-21) take the form of the beginning and end of a letter.
Rev 1:4 “John to the seven churches…”
Rev 1:11 “Write in a book/scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches…”
Rev 2:7, 2:11, 2:17, etc “Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches (plural).”

Prophecy
Revelation describes itself as prophecy:

Rev 1.3 “Blessed is the one reading, and the ones hearing, the words of this prophecy…”
Rev 22.7, 10, 18, 19 “…the words of prophecy of this book/scroll”

Prophecy is never entirely about the future. Prophecy in the Bible has elements of both foretelling (describing blessings or punishments, in the future) and forth-telling (calling God’s people to repentance or to action, in the present).

Apocalypse
This is the genre that is most unfamiliar to us. It is mainly found between 250 B.C. to 250 A.D. in the Eastern Mediterranean. The apocalyptic genre can also be found in portions of Daniel, Joel, Zechariah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Matthew.

Apocalypse does not originally mean “worldwide destruction” or “catastrophic devastation” or “doomsday”, though it bears these connotations today. Rather, in its original Greek context, Apocalypse means “to uncover” or “to reveal”. Hence, “Revelation.”

Characteristics of Apocalyptic literature:

Unveils divine mysteries or an unseen reality, via visions, dreams, or heavenly journeys.
The symbolic visions are often highly dramatic and cataclysmic.
There is frequently an eschatological (end-times) emphasis.
Sometimes, a heavenly figure is present as a guide-interpreter.
Makes connections between heavenly-and-earthly realities & present-and-future realities.
Showcases the sovereignty and cosmic power of God.

Purpose of Apocalyptic literature:

To set the present moment with all its ambiguity in light of the unseen realities of the present and future.