Understanding the Book of Revelation

A Zondervan Digital Short

J. Scott Duvall, J. Daniel Hays, C. Marvin Pate

• Publisher: Zondervan
• Year: 2012
• eBook ISBN:
  9780310496175
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Studies

Informative and non-sensationalistic, Understanding the Book of Revelation explores the literary genre and historical situation and purpose of Revelation, along with interpretive approaches to it. This digital short also includes an outlined overview of the book's content and reflections on its overarching theological message. Easy to read but substantiated by solid scholarship and biblical study, Understanding the Book of Revelation is a handy reference tool for personal Bible study or Bible teachers tackling this admittedly difficult book of the Bible. This short is derived from a longer resource entitled the Dictionary of Biblical Prophecy and End Times.

Understanding the Book of Revelation

Revelation, Book of

The last book of the Bible is known as “the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Rev. 1:1). This phrase can denote a “revelation about Jesus Christ” (the central character) or a “revelation from Jesus Christ” as he reveals a divine message to John. Perhaps Revelation includes some of both.

As the final chapter in the divine story of salvation, God pulls back the curtain to reveal his plans for human history, plans that center around Jesus Christ. Revelation presents in colorful language and powerful imagery the final chapter in God’s story, where he defeats the powers of evil, reverses the curse of sin, restores his creation, and lives among his people forever. While the details of this awesome and mysterious book are often debated, the main idea is not. God intends the vision of Revelation to transform his people so that they will live faithfully in a fallen world until Jesus returns.

Many people have trouble understanding Revelation primarily because they are unfamiliar with Old Testament prophetic books, with Jewish apocalyptic writings, and with the historical setting of this particular book. This overview of Revelation will touch on Revelation’s literary genre, its historical situation and purpose, the various approaches used to interpret the book, an overview of its content, and the book’s purpose and theological message.

Literary Genre

Revelation is a strange book when compared to other biblical books because it combines three different literary types or genres — letter, prophecy, and apocalyptic.

A letter. The opening of the book contains a conventional letter greeting (Rev. 1:4–5) and benediction (22:21). John is commanded to write what he sees and send it to the seven churches (1:11). As a result, the entire book of Revelation (not just chs. 2–3) is a single letter addressed to seven churches in Asia Minor. Because the number seven symbolizes wholeness or completeness in Revelation, a letter to seven churches is in reality a letter to the whole church.

New Testament letters were meant to be read aloud to the gathered congregations, and this is true also of Revelation. In fact, the opening beatitude (Rev. 1:3) pronounces a blessing on the one who reads the book and on those who listen and obey what they hear: “Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.” The book closes with a warning to anyone (reader or listener) who tries to change the book in any way (22:18–19).

Also, New Testament letters were situational, meaning that they addressed the specific situation of the readers. Revelation is no different in that its message is directed to the churches of Asia Minor at the end of the first century. Its message may (and perhaps does) extend beyond the first century, but it does not neglect its original audience. Any approach to Revelation that ignores its message to the seven churches fails to grasp the nature of Revelation as a letter.

A prophetic letter. Both the letter’s opening (Rev. 1:3) and closing (22:7, 10, 18–19) describe the book as a “prophecy.” John is viewed as a prophet of God commissioned by the Lord to write this prophecy. In 19:10 the angel tells John, “I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus … For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” In 22:9 John is told again by an angel, “I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book.” Revelation is a prophetic book in line with Old Testament prophetic books.

Biblical prophecy includes both prediction of the future and proclamation of God’s truth for the present, with the emphasis falling on the latter. Often in the very places where Revelation is described as a prophecy, the readers are commanded to obey the prophecy (Rev. 1:3; 22:7, 18–19). The emphasis falls on proclamation rather than on prediction because it is difficult to imagine someone being commanded to obey a prediction. Most interpreters agree that Revelation has something to say about the future, though it is not only about the future; it is also a book about what God wants to see happen in the here and now.

A prophetic-apocalyptic letter. In the phrase “the revelation of Jesus Christ,” the term “revelation” is a translation of the Greek term apocalypsis, which means “unveiling; revealing what is hidden” (see APOCALYP...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Copyright
• Contents
• Understanding the Book of Revelation