I wrote this essay for my PhD comprehensive examinations at Bob Jones University on July 20, 2005.
1a Title: The name Revelation or Apocalypse comes from the Greek word ἀποκάλυψις meaning “unveiling,” “uncovering,” or “disclosure.” This name is drawn from the opening verse of the book.
2a Genre:
1b One might be tempted to wonder sometimes if the book really is an unveiling, given the complexity of its genre.
2b But while one might not understand all the details, he cannot miss the main theological themes.
3a Message:
1b The message of the book cannot be dealt with apart from its central character—the Lamb of God.
2b He is portrayed as the Victor and the crucified Lamb of Calvary. The revelation of the Lamb is the disclosure of the conquest of the crucified (5:6, 9, 12; 13:8; cf. 5:5; 17:14). In quite an ironic fashion His death and His victory go hand-in-hand.
3b The message of the book is that this conquering Christ is coming quickly to reward the righteous and judge the wicked.
4a Purpose:
1b God gave this revelation “to show to his servants the things that must soon take place.”1 And in 22:6 the stated purpose is that God “sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place” (cf. 22:16).
2b The message of the soon returning conquering Lamb is intended then to give comfort to the persecuted and motivation to be ready for His soon return when He will judge and reward everyone according to his deeds.
5a Sovereign Kingship of God:
1b Throne: The word for throne (θρόνος) occurs 47 times in Revelation (and only 15 times in the rest of the NT).
2b King*: In addition, the kingship terminology (βασιλεία, βασιλεύς, βασιλεύω, and ἐξουσία) occurs with great frequency in Revelation.
3b Most of the references are to God as the one who is seated on it and reigns over the affairs of the world, a distinction being made between God and the Lamb (5:13; 6:16; 7:9, 10).
4b However, the Lamb also shares the throne with the Father (3:21; 11:15, 17; 22:1, 3; cf. 7:17). The one on the throne is described as the one who is, and was, and is to come (1:4). This one looks like beautiful stones and is surrounded by an emerald rainbow (4:3). He is the one who lives forever (4:9), rules forever (11:15, 17), and receives the worship of the living beings (4:9; 19:4), the 24 elders (4:10; 11:16; 19:4), the 144,000 (14:3), all the saints (19:6), and every creature (5:13; 7:9, 11). From His throne He dispenses grace and peace (1:4), salvation and life (7:10; 22:1, 3), and judgment and rewards (6:16; 16:17–18; 20:11). The sovereign power of this one is seen by the imagery of lightening and thunder that proceed from the throne (4:5). Though Satan and his minions have a throne (2:13; 13:2; 16:10), the King of kings and Lord of lords is unparalleled in His sovereign authority and invincible power. The earthly kings (6:15; 17:2, 18; 18:3, 9; 19:19) are nothing in comparison to the King of Kings (17:14; 19:16) who is King over them all (1:5; 15:3).
6a The Slain and Conquering Lamb: John introduces the main character of the book as the Lamb in 5:6, who earlier was seen as a majestic High Priest (1:12–15; cf. Ex. 28, 29, 39). The Lamb appeared as if He had been slain (5:6, 12; 13:8), and He prevailed to take the book and open its seals (5:7–8). The Lamb had the authority to do this because He had been slain and purchased a multitude of people for God (5:9). This bloody death is central to the Lamb’s conquering, a fact which seems quite ironic—victory through apparent defeat. His own death is the means for His victory over death and hell and the forces of evil.
1b He possesses the keys of death and Hades (1:18; cf. 3:7).
2b The blood of the Lamb is what the saints are said to wash their robes in so that they become white (7:9, 14). Believers will also conquer Satan and his host “by the blood of the Lamb” (12:11). Consequently, the living beings, the elders, and multitudes of saints worship Him and ascribe to Him the greatest worth (5:8–14; 7:9–10).
3b The Lamb shares in the same sovereign authority over life and judgment as His Father. The book of life is more fully called the Lamb’s book of life (13:8; 21:27). In 7:17 there is an interesting imagery presented: the Lamb is the Shepherd of His people, and He leads them to the living water. The Lamb also is the one who opens the seals of judgment upon the earth (6:1–17), which the wicked regard as the wrath of the Lamb (6:16). The unbelievers who are punished are ultimately punished eternally “in the presence of the Lamb” (14:10). The hosts of evil will attempt to make war against the Lamb, but He will conquer them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings (17:14). Toward the end of the book, John presents the marriage of the Lamb to His people (19:7–9; 21:9). He purchased His bride by His own blood (1:5; 5:9). The final chapters of the book present the Lamb as the temple in the city (21:22), the lamp of the city (21:23), and sharing the throne with His Father (22:1, 3).
7a The Worship of God and the Lamb: It has more to say on the subject of worship than any other NT book.
1b Objects: There are basically two objects of worship: God and Satan.
2b Worshipers: There are two groups of people: those who bear the mark of God and give worship to Him alone and those who bear the mark of the beast and give him their worship.
3b Chief End of All: God is the object of worship of the 24 elders along with the four living creatures (4:10; 5:14; 11:16; 19:4), the great innumerable multitude of the redeemed from every people group (7:9–11), and the inhabitants of the temple (11:1). Those who have God’s mark refuse to give worship to the beast and thus are slain (13:15; 20:4). The angels call men to worship God alone (14:7; 19:10; 22:8–9) and warn of what will happen if worship is given to the beast (14:9–11). In addition, the saints sing of their eschatological hope that all the nations will come and worship God (15:4).
4b Judgment on Idolaters: In contrast, there are those who have the beast’s mark and worship him (13:4, 8, 12; 14:11; 16:2; 19:20). Even though God sends great judgment on those idolatrous beast-worshippers, they still refuse to repent (9:20). As a result, they are the eternal objects of God’s righteous wrath as they are tormented unendingly with fire and brimstone (14:10–11). God will not tolerate being robbed of the worship which He is due.
8a Wrath of God: The wrath of God is also an important theme is the book (6:16, 17; 11:18; 14:10, 19; 15:1, 7; 16:1, 19; 19:15). God pours forth His wrath in judgment on the wicked of the earth (16:5, 7; 17:1; 18:8, 10, 20; 19:2, 11), which is manifested most fully in the seals, trumpets, and bowls.
9a The Unity of God and His People: The theme of God’s union with His people reaches a new level in the progressive revelation of the Scriptures in this final eschatological book.
1b Share Throne: Just as Christ shares the throne of His Father and rules with Him, so Christ’s people will sit on His throne and rule with Him (3:21).
2b Pillar in the Temple: Those who conquer will be made a pillar in the temple of God (3:12). But in 21:22 John says that there will be no temple in the in New Jerusalem, because “its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.” Proceeding with much caution, it appears that believers are so united to God that they become a part of Him, like a pillar is part of the temple. As a result of being made a pillar in the temple of God (i.e., the temple which is God), the believer will never go out of it. He is forever and eternally united to God.
3b Name of God: He will write on him the name of His God, the name of God’s city, the New Jerusalem, and His own new name (3:12).
4b New Jerusalem: At the end of the book, the marriage theme continues this union of God and His people. The Lamb is wedded to the city, the New Jerusalem. John describes how God will dwell in His people (21:3). They are the city and He is its inhabitant. This city is composed of all of God’s people from the OT and the NT (21:12–14).
5b Revived Eden: The last chapter climaxes in reflection on the paradise in the Garden of Eden, where God and His people had formerly dwelled together in perfect intimacy and fellowship (22:1–2). That intimacy will finally be restored and even exalted to new heights of ever-increasing glory.
10a Conclusion:
1b Big Picture: While this book certainly is a complicated one which poses many difficult and unanswerable problems to the interpreter, God has not intended that His people get bogged down with all the details and miss the grand and glorious message of comfort and motivation expressed in the conquering and coming Christ.
2b Endure Through Suffering: Christ indeed has overcome and will ultimately bring all of His enemies into subjection. Just as He suffered and won the victory, so His people will conquer through suffering. Believers must remain faithful to God as their sole object of worship and patiently endure the trials of this life, relying on God to bring justice in His own time.
Notes
1. See 1:1, 3; 2:16; 3:11; 11:14; 22:6, 7, 10, 12, 20. ↩