Revelation - Deciphering Symbols | BIBL 162

Revelation - Deciphering Symbols

Giving John’s Readers a Heads-up

In Revelation 1:1, John gives readers his personal disclaimer — that the letter

that they are approximately to read will comprise symbolism. Within the New

King James version of the Bible, Revelation 1:1 starts off evolved, “The

Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants —

matters which have to rapidly take region. And He dispatched and signified it

via His angel to His servant John [. . .]” (emphasis ours).

Humans regularly used the Greek phrase semainein, translated as “signified”

(or “made it known” inside the NRSV), whilst talking about Delphic oracles in

historic Greece. Oracles had been prophetic decrees discovered by means of

a clergyman or priestess, communicated via symbols. The Septuagint (the

Greek translation of the antique testimony) makes use of the equal word in

Daniel 2:45 whilst speaking approximately the interpretation of a symbolic

dream.

In analyzing the phrase semainein, the original readers could’ve recognized

proper off that John’s writing became going to outline and convey reality thru

figurative or inventive snap shots in place of thru simple text. In other words,

because God “signified” the message, readers ought to anticipate God to

communicate his message through symbolism. This symbolism became no

longer supposed to difficult to understand reality but changed into simply the

mode of communique chosen to carry it.

for the reason that principle, a few commentators move even further in

terms of the way to interpret Revelation. They endorse that during spotting

semainein, the authentic readers might have acknowledged, as a popular

rule, to interpret Revelation figuratively till it’s plainly obvious that they

should accomplish that literally.

Why Use Symbols?

The easy fact is that almost all of us these days might’ve favored for John to

be Captain obvious, laying out the Revelation of Jesus in as clear a manner

as viable. Expertise the point of the book would be a lot less difficult if

specifics such as those had been used:

Jesus may be coming returned on March three, 2019. Be there or be

rectangular.

Watch out, the Antichrist will be named Gilligan. His cohort may be

recognized because the Skipper.

The Millennium is a figurative time period supposed to symbolize the

incredible Bowl halftime display.

In different words, as opposed to Scripture, almost all and sundry might

decide on a glorified felony file that lists out the whole records of the

remaining days. After all, with this kind of report in hand, humans wouldn’t

want to struggle with the interpretations. If lawyers didn’t get involved

decoding the obvious, you’d simply need to decide what to do with the

records John provided in his ebook. But we've got what we have.

Following biblical subculture

Even though Revelation may be quality known for its use of symbolism, the

truth is that symbolism is present in many parts of the antique and New

Testaments. in the antique testament, God frequently speaks though the

prophets in symbols. The books of Daniel, Ezekiel, and Zechariah make

heavy use of apocalyptic imagery, a literary tool that employs wild and

wealthy symbolism to represent ancient occasions, international locations,

and men and women.

Jesus may not have used commonplace apocalyptic symbolism in the

Gospels, however he did speak through parables, which can be, in impact,

symbolic memories intended to outline and illustrate truth. In Luke 8:10, he

says, “To you it's been given to understand the secrets and techniques of the

dominion of God; however to others I talk in parables, in order that

‘searching they will now not understand, and listening they'll now not

understand.’” In other words, folks that definitely need to discover his fact

will do so, however people who do now not will by hook or by crook pass over

out on what precisely he’s attempting to say.

Those words from Jesus grow to be even greater sizable when you see the

message that Jesus offers to the seven churches in Revelation 2–3 on the

quit of his personalized messages: “let anyone who has an ear concentrate

to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.”

Including extra meaning than plain textual content

You already know the vintage announcing a photograph is worth a thousand

phrases. Nicely, in the equal manner, symbolism and imagery can offer

greater which means to outline reality than simple phrases on my own.

Consider, as an example, John’s use of the name “Babylon” to explain a top

notch evil energy in Revelation. To any Jew, the mere point out of Babylon

might have dramatic and emotional significance given the history of what

the actual-existence historical Babylon did to the Israelites in their records.

Consequently, the symbol of Babylon in Revelation had a much more effect

on John’s original readers — Jew and gentile alike — than if John would’ve left

it as an unnamed demonic force.

With a twenty-first century Western attitude, symbolism is regularly

considered a shape of example. In different words, humans have a reality or

truth and then use a symbol to illustrate or assist to give an explanation for

the idea. for instance, don't forget the fact that, in keeping with the Bible,

God sacrificed his son Jesus due to the fact God loved the arena. A Westerner

may explain this by way of coming up with a story about a father who makes

the agonizing choice to let his son die while stuck on the teach tracks in

preference to killing each person aboard the train through derailing it.

But, from John’s mindset, this thinking is reversed. Alternatively, from a

Middle Eastern attitude, parables and symbolism actually outline which

means and truth; they don’t simply illustrate truth. In different words, you

could glean actual insight from discovering the details and essence of the

story in preference to simply looking to summarize the principle factor of it.

Getting people’s interest

The Old Testament prophets and Jesus himself often used symbolism and

parables to get the attention in their listeners. Even nowadays, the use of

symbolism and imagery receives human beings’s interest more than directly

textual content does. After all, in a church sermon on Sunday morning, the

congregation always seems to pay extra interest while the pastor or priest

presents an illustration or tells a tale rather than turning in a immediately

sermon of bullet points.

Symbolism engages a reader’s head and heart. It forces readers to take an

image and interpret it with the aid of actively thinking about it in mild of their

knowledge base and private reviews. within the method, they make more

intellectual connections and are much more likely to bear in mind the picture

and the message at the back of it.

John’s imagery honestly adds shock fee to get the church buildings out of

complacency. as an example, describing Babylon because the harlot or

prostitute in Revelation 17 can provide a deeper impact than merely writing,

“Babylon represents some thing virtually terrible you want to watch out for.”

Reinforcing harmony

Symbolism works best if readers have the equipment and revel in to

interpret it. for that reason, symbols can help bond the reader and writer and

provide continuity amongst memories.

Connecting the original readers

To the cutting-edge-day reader, John’s symbolism appears ordinary and

overseas. After all, the reader nowadays is eliminated in several ways from

human beings of the early church — subculture, language, information of the

famous literary genres of the day, and so on. In reality, some pupils have in

comparison the symbolism of the modern-day political cool animated film to

that of Revelation. A political cartoon, in spite of everything, makes little

sense until you apprehend the symbolism and troubles being poked amusing

of.

In evaluation, believers inside the churches of Asia Minor might’ve

understood the symbolism because of their know-how of each the vintage

testimony and the popular pagan myths of the day in the Roman Empire. To

the unique readers, the symbolism turned into now not a special “Bible

code” for which you needed unique expert know-how.

Tying the vintage and New Testaments collectively

As bankruptcy 3 describes, the full-size majority of symbols that John makes

use of in Revelation in the beginning seemed inside the vintage testimony

from prophets inclusive of Daniel and Ezekiel. Consequently, whilst you study

the symbols inside the context of the whole Bible, then all of God’s prophecy

and plans begin to make greater feel as one cohesive message throughout

the pages of the Bible.

Retaining a few secrets

The ebook may be known as Revelation, however symbols provide sufficient

ambiguity to hold it from being a tell-all. a few level of thriller covered the

authentic readers and endorsed believers to retain to appearance to God for

steerage.

Shielding the underlying message

When you take a look at the political and social context of most apocalyptic

literature, you notice that most of its authors wrote in times of turmoil and

misery. No matter whether John scribed Revelation for the duration of the

60s or 90s CE (see chapter 2), he clearly wrote in the course of a time of

extreme hassle and persecution. Consequently, he might also have used

symbolism to masks his message of desire from capability persecutors. If

that’s genuine, then folks that actually need to find out the truth will do so,

however skeptics will by no means apprehend.

Encouraging endured reliance on God

Although commentators regularly fall into the lure of trying to dodge this

reality, the anomaly of symbolism prevents human beings from pinning God

down on the exact information concerning the ultimate days. in any case,

take into account the essential interpretations of the e-book (see chapter 4).

Preterists examine Revelation and see its achievement as having already

taken area in first century. Futurists observe the way the world is heading

and see its success as occurring in the destiny. Idealists factor to cycles of

evil for the duration of history as evidence of success. No less than, this

diversity of opinion have to humble people as they are trying to find

answers.

Silence in heaven

When the 7th seal is opened in Revelation eight, there’s silence in heaven for

approximately 1/2 an hour. The silence is noteworthy because it indicates a

factor of no go back for the existing global — the vintage is passing away

and the brand new is starting. John well-known shows the overall details of

that new international in Revelation 21.

So why half-hour? The jury’s nonetheless out on that one. Some believe that

the vagueness of the time “about half of an hour” means that the precise

time can’t be discerned from the text.

The trumpets

In Revelation eight, John tells of 7 trumpets that are performed by means of

seven angels. The trumpet became a vital image in the history of God’s

humans. It became used to direct and lead the Israelites throughout their

desolate tract wanderings as properly as at some stage in wartime battles.

Now not handiest became it a rallying name, but it became also a reminder

of God’s directing them and preventing on their behalf.

The trumpets in Revelation 8 characterize the “amplification” of judgments

in the closing days main as much as the second one Coming of Jesus; they

function a reminder that God is main the fight.

Babylon

Babylon is a dominant military and political strength in vintage testament

records, however it also appears in Revelation 14. Some believe that readers

ought to take this reference literally, maintaining that historic Babylon will

rise again inside the center East as a effective pressure inside the world and

the seat of the Antichrist’s electricity. Others see Babylon as symbolic of

first-century Rome. Every other view is that Babylon represents the capital of

the Antichrist’s empire.

The bowls

Just like the seals and trumpets that come earlier than them, the seven

bowls in Revelation sixteen characterize a fixed of judgments on humankind

over the past days. The seven bowls represent the final, terrible,

unprecedented stretch of activity simply before the second Coming of Jesus.

The Millennium

In Revelation, John speaks of a 1,000-yr reign of Jesus, a time-frame that’s

normally called the Millennium. Here are the traditional interpretations:

Premillennialists accept as true with that that is a literal 1,000-year period so

one can take location following the second Coming of Jesus. Many

premillennialists also are dispensationalists, who consider that human

records is split into seven “dispensations” (eras), that are represented by the

seven churches of Revelation 2–3.

Amillennialists trust the Millennium is purely figurative, relating to the

cutting-edge church age or the reign of deceased saints with Jesus in heaven

(or perhaps each).

Postmillennialists believe the Millennium happens previous to the second one

Coming of Jesus; it’s an age wherein the arena might be transformed by

using the gospel.

The 24 elders

Scholars have numerous theories about the 24 elders in Revelation 5. a few

see them as glorified folks that represent the either the whole people of God

(Jews and gentiles) otherwise just the brand new testament church

(Christians). Others agree with they’re angelic choirs making a song praises

to God in heaven. a few contend that John is referring to a 24-factor big

name god of historic Babylonian mythology.

The powerful angel

The robust angel in Revelation 10 is a supply of dialogue. Some contend that

the robust angel is Jesus because he’s defined in terms generally associated

with God. Others counter, announcing that nowhere else is Jesus depicted as

an angel. Alternatively, they recommend that this reference is speaking

about an archangel, maybe even Gabriel. Archangels play a crucial function

at some stage in biblical history.

The two witnesses

Revelation 11 introduces readers to “witnesses” who will prophesy for 1,260

days whilst carrying sackcloth. John then refers to these two people as “olive

bushes” and “lampstands.” some interpret the two witnesses as the

continuing witness of the church. Others interpret the passage extra literally

and see them as preachers preaching to Jews in Jerusalem. Of direction,

precisely who that dynamic duo is leads to in addition debate. Some

alternatives consist of Zerubbabel and Joshua the excessive priest, the law

and the Prophets, Peter and Paul, Israel and the church, Enoch and Elijah,

and Moses and Elijah.

The 144,000

The144,000 in Revelation 7 has long been a subject of dialogue and

resentment. Some people agree with that this institution of human beings

symbolizes all Christians. Others think that this refers to Jewish Christians

because the passage mentions the tribes of Israel. A final interpretation is

that the a 144,000 is an elite institution of Christians (possibly martyrs)

who've special repute due to the fact of their devotion.

Pregnant woman

John describes the pregnant woman in Revelation 12 as being “clothed with

the sun, with the moon below her toes, and on her head a crown of twelve

stars.” once more, people have various perspectives on who exactly this girl

symbolizes. a few see her because the humans of God for the reason that

very beginning (ancient Israel and the church). A second view is that the

imagery is a Christianized version of historical myths. a 3rd view is that the

pregnant woman is Domitia, the mother of the Roman emperor Domitian’s

son; he declared her to be the “mom of God.” some Catholics keep that the

pregnant woman is the Virgin Mary, mom of Jesus.

Crimson dragon

The symbolism of the pregnant female in Revelation 12 is difficulty of a good

deal discussion, however there’s little debate over the crimson dragon that’s

menacing the woman. The pink dragon, embellished with seven heads and

ten horns, is devil himself.

The wings of a notable eagle

Whilst analyzing about the wings of a brilliant eagle in Revelation 12, you

can marvel whether J.R.R. Tolkien picked up on this imagery whilst writing

The Lord of the earrings. a few see the creature as the same eagle

mentioned in Revelation 8:13. if so, then John is speakme approximately an

angel offering safety for faithful believers during the last days. another take

is that John is absolutely speakme of a powerful kingdom that uses an eagle

as a symbol.

The beast and his mark

In Revelation 13, John writes approximately two of the most interesting

symbols in all the e book: the beast and the mark of the beast. According to

Revelation, the beast, who is a false prophet, would require his followers to

receive a variety of stamped on their right fingers or foreheads; the mark is

needed for surviving inside the world financial system. That mark, says John

in Revelation 13:18, is 666. Many have long speculated on whether 666 is a

literal variety or an image for something else. A few futurists have

speculated that Social security numbers, bar codes, microchip implants, or

some different identification generation is the mark of the beast. Others see

666 as pointing to a deal with, place code, or the numeric value of a person’s

name. because the early days, many have speculated on the identity of the

beast, figuring out him as Nero Caesar, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Hitler, as

well as cutting-edge leaders ranging from Ronald Reagan to bill Clinton.

Maximum pupils do agree with that the beast symbolizes a real individual.

However, they hold that 666 is symbolic, especially because the quantity six

appears some other place in Scripture as a sign of imperfection and

fallenness.