Apocalyptic Literature

RELG 201 Claflin University Dr. Battle

Assyrian Cherubim: Assurbanipal s Palace, Nineveh, Courtesy of the Calaway Museum Pictures

Apocalyptic Literature in the Bible

Revelation Daniel 7-11 Elements of Ezekiel

Assyrian Cherubim: Assurbanipal s Palace, Nineveh, Courtesy of the Calaway Museum Pictures

Apocalyptic Literature A distinctive type of religious literature that can be identified by common themes and elements that are combined with a visionary presentation.
Assyrian Cherubim: Assurbanipal s Palace, Nineveh, Courtesy of the Calaway Museum Pictures

Common Themes
A dramatization of the conflict between Good and Evil.
Dualism Overpowering evil forces that oppresses the righteous. A decisive divine intervention rescues the righteous. A vivid description of divine judgment.

A revealing of hidden realities.

Assyrian Cherubim: Assurbanipal s Palace, Nineveh, Courtesy of the Calaway Museum Pictures

Apocalyptic Elements
A vision that is immediately written Revelatory content: Descriptions of spiritual realms, judgments, secret of ages, and so forth Deterministic view of history Numerology

Apocalyptic Vision
Written to the minds eye. Highly Symbolic
Symbols heighten certain details. Symbols obscure other details.

There is a lot unsaid.

Assyrian Cherubim: Assurbanipal s Palace, Nineveh, Courtesy of the Calaway Museum Pictures

Apocalyptic Warning
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. (Revelation 22:18-19 ESV)
Assyrian Cherubim: Assurbanipal s Palace, Nineveh, Courtesy of the Calaway Museum Pictures

Matthew 24:36-39 ESV

But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Assyrian Cherubim: Assurbanipal s Palace, Nineveh, Courtesy of the Calaway Museum Pictures

Apocalyptic Literature
RELG 201 Claflin University Dr. Battle

Assyrian Cherubim: Assurbanipal s Palace, Nineveh, Courtesy of the Calaway Museum Pictures

Exercises
Revelation 5:1-5

Revelation 8

Jan & Hubert van Eyck: Agnus Dei, Ghent Altar 1432

Assyrian Cherubim: Assurbanipal s Palace, Nineveh, Courtesy of the Calaway Museum Pictures

Exercises
Revelation 5:1-5

Jan & Hubert van Eyck: Agnus Dei, Ghent Altar 1432

Assyrian Cherubim: Assurbanipal s Palace, Nineveh, Courtesy of the Calaway Museum Pictures

Exercises
Revelation 8

Assyrian Cherubim: Assurbanipal s Palace, Nineveh, Courtesy of the Calaway Museum Pictures

Eschatologies
RELG 201 Claflin University Dr. Battle

Assyrian Cherubim: Assurbanipal s Palace, Nineveh, Courtesy of the Calaway Museum Pictures

Exegesis versus Eisegesis

Most Interpreters of Revelation use preset theological frameworks.
Dispensationalism Postmillennialism Amillennialism (ESV Study Bible 2455-2460)

Assyrian Cherubim: Assurbanipal s Palace, Nineveh, Courtesy of the Calaway Museum Pictures

Premillennial Diagram

Present Church Age

Tribulation

Millennial Reign

Pre-tribulation Rapture
Christ raptures the Church before the Tribulation and returns to set up His kingdom after the Tribulation.

Tribulation

Millennial Reign

Postmillennial Diagram

Millennium Church Age

Eternal Kingdom

Amillennial Diagram

The Age to Come Church Age

Fully Consummated

This Age

Apocalyptic Warning
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. (Revelation 22:18-19 ESV)
Assyrian Cherubim: Assurbanipal s Palace, Nineveh, Courtesy of the Calaway Museum Pictures

Matthew 24:36-39 ESV

But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Assyrian Cherubim: Assurbanipal s Palace, Nineveh, Courtesy of the Calaway Museum Pictures